POTW 9 Full of Joy

Hello there lovelies

This weeks POTW is the Joyful Hand and Body Cream from Antipodes. I got this as a free gift from Only Naturals, who I can’t fault for customer service, it came free because I ordered 2 Antipodes products, which was a bit of a result as it was on my wishlist so I got to cross that off too. Sadly that deal has now ended (sad sigh) but I’m so glad I got this. The clue is in the name- Joyful, sums it up nicely. The smell is gorgeous with blackcurrant and hibiscus flower it instantly transports you to a tropical island, I can’t help but keep smelling my arm when I have this on I’m just in love with smell. It’s totally non greasy and the smell really lasts, I don’t really wear perfume but when I’ve got this on everyone asks me what I’m wearing. I was worried it wouldn’t last long but I’ve used it quite a few times and have hardly made a dent. I love the packaging some people aren’t keen on the whole metal squeezy tube thing but personally I love it, granted it could get punctured by keys if it was in your bag but that’s not an issue for me as this doesn’t leave the house, I have a travel size hand cream for my bag. I just love the Antipodes range and this product doesn’t disappoint, this is a pricey product but so worth it especially as it's not just a hand cream, it could be reserved for special occasions if you didn’t want to use it daily, it’s always nice to have those special products and this is certainly one of those. I’m not quite that sentimental, I use the products I love rather than keeping them as they’re there to be used. I hate products sitting there unused. If your feeling extra generous it would make a beautiful gift for someone special and one they would really enjoy. I don’t think anyone could dislike this product the smells divine, the texture is amazing and the packaging is so pretty. If I’m honest I want every item from the Antipodes range, it’s not very often that I get so excited about a skincare range but ever since first using their eye cream I’ve been hooked. If you haven’t tried Antipodes I highly recommend them. And to all the mummies out there- HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.

Have you ever tried any Antipodes products? What did you think?

Until next time

Love From March

Hello there lovelies

So I thought I’d do a post at the end of each month giving details of the things I’ve been loving during that month. I don’t want to call it a monthly favourites post but more a list of things I’ve been enjoying using or eating or have enjoyed doing. I’ve not done a post like this before so bare with me as I’m not sure how it’s going to turn out.

Seventeen Mirror Shine Lipstick. I got this in the shade Beehive and I really love this, it’s a lovely nude it’s so sheer and moisturising that I feel comfortable wearing it during the day and even for work, it’s so subtle with high shine but zero glitter a bit like a tinted balm. I’m not the most confident lipstick wearer but I really like lipstick especially nudes and this one is great, and a great price too. I think the pull out mirror is a great idea too.

Tea Pigs. I’m such a tea lover and I really wanted to try these, as 1.the name is too cute and 2. I’ve been seeing them more and more and was a bit intrigued. I got the popcorn tea flavour as I’m not keen on fruit or herbal teas and my local supermarket didn’t have the everyday ones, I did manage to get some online though and I’m awaiting their arrival. It’s a very strange taste, it doesn’t taste of typical popcorn as your drinking it and isn’t sweet at all. It leaves an after-taste of savoury popcorn in your mouth a nutty sort of taste almost. I’ve been enjoying these during the day as an alternative to regular tea.

Rich Tea Biscuits. I forgot how good these are; so moorish before you know it you’ve eaten half the packet. I’ve eaten so many of these this month with my evening cuppa, I’m not a “dunker” though, can’t stand it, I think I had too many dunking fails when I was younger and now have a complex about dunked biscuits.

Essie Nail Varnish. I got this in the shade Vanity Fairest. I got it instead of the one I’d got previously which was Mademoiselle because I wanted a different nude colour. This is a great shade, like your nails but better, I even got away with wearing it for work, very naughty of me but great if you don’t like completely bare nails or aren’t keen on the typical nude colours.

MUA blush. I got this in the shade cupcake which isn’t my usual colour as it’s a bit more coral toned and I like a pink flush of colour but people have commented on how nice my makeup looks when I wear this and it’s a total bargain at £1.

Morrisons cotton wool pads. A bit boring but I think these are so soft and for £1 for 100 pads are great value too. They could be thicker but they get an A* for softness from me.

Seeing Fall Out Boy. I wrote a whole post on this so won’t go over it again but it was bloody brilliant.

Maybelline Volum’ Express Turbo Boost Mascara. This is such a good mascara, I’ve been using it a while now and can’t fault it, it separates lashes brilliantly while giving volume, zero clumps and the mascara I will wear most days.

So these are a few of the things I’ve been loving during March. I hope this post was ok. I could probably list a hundred things that I’ve loved but that would just be silly wouldn’t it.

What have you been loving during March? What are you looking forward to in April?

Until next time

My Blogging Experience So Far

Hello there lovelies

Today I thought I’d share how I’ve been finding blogging so far. I’ve been at it a couple of months now and I’m really enjoying it. I can be whoever I want to be here; it’s such a release. I love sitting at my kitchen table with my cup of tea and writing, it's a chance for me to attempt to get a bit creative. I work in a world where beauty and glamour are not of high priority and I wouldn’t want people to think I’m vain- I’m really not I just bloomin’ love beauty products (a fascination that started when I was very small thanks to my mum liking lovely things and the fact that I was never allowed to touch her Channel products which just fed my curiosity of all things beauty and makeup) and I think the only people that truly understand that are beauty bloggers and MUAs but maybe bbloggers more.

Discovering blogging has opened up a whole new world for me, I never even knew this world existed until about November last year (I know!) when I stumbled across a blog by complete accident through YouTube and I’ve been hooked ever since. I just used to use the products and not think anything of it now I can actually talk about the beauty products I love too. I really wish I’d found out about this years ago. I don’t like saying I review products I don’t think I’m qualified or experienced enough to write a “review” I just think of it like I’ve used this product and this what I think and how its worked for me etc. I don’t think I’m saying anything that hasn’t been said a thousand times before about products I’m just adding my opinion into the mix. I’m not doing this for money or free gifts I enjoy buying the stuff myself, going to the shop, trying the testers then making my purchase. I really do get a buzz from buying beauty products (a buzz that my husband just doesn’t understand, but other bloggers do). I’m doing it to share an interest with likeminded people I never thought anyone would read it, I’m still not 100% convinced that anyone reads it although I have been getting a few more comments recently which is lovely, I love reading the comments and replying. Blogging is my hobby not my job, I have a job that helps to fund my hobby (like most people). I do worry about my content not being good enough and running out of things to write about as I always seem to buy a new product quite a while after its come out as I don’t like regretting purchases, especially high end ones so like to be entirely sure when making the purchase.

I’ve also been completely blown away by how supportive and welcoming the blogging community has been, especially when at the end of the day we are kind of each other’s “competition”. Its never come across to me like that though, everyone’s willing to help and offer suggestions and tips I just love readings peoples opinions on things and I may read quite a few before my minds made up on whether to buy a product. It’s more like a journal for me to document what things I like and don’t like. I don’t go into the ingredients of products as it’s far too mind blowing for me. I try to write more positive reviews as just because a product doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean its an awful product, everyone is different and I just give my opinion. I also really enjoy taking part in the chats on Twitter, another thing I didn’t know existed until I started blogging, of course I knew Twitter existed (I’m not that behind with the times) just not the chats and they’re so fun.

So all in all I’m loving it and I’d like to thank any of you who read this little blog, leave comments or follow me on Bloglovin’, Instagram or Twitter, it really does mean the world to me. I usually post on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but from next week I’m changing to a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday just to give me a couple of extra days to myself and plan my posts better plus I need more time to actually go shopping and buy the products I blog about. Thankyou so much for all your support, I will continue to write posts that hopefully you enjoy reading.

What’s your favourite thing about blogging?

Until next time

Going Balmy

Hello there lovelies

I’ve got a bit of a thing for lip balms; I get really dry chapped lips so always have to have one close by, in my pocket or in my bag. My absolute favourite is the Nuxe Rêve de Miel® which I’ve mentioned before but they’re not the only lip balms I use and I love to try different ones to see how they match up.

Balm Balm. This smells so lovely but as a lip balm is no good for me, it sort of melts when you put it on your lips and goes quite thin and watery, I like really thick balms. Although this can be used on other parts of the body to help dry skin and I imagine its much better used for that. I love the cute packaging though.

No7 Protect and Perfect Lip Care. I like this one, it’s more like a cream that instantly relieves lips and is a good product if you don’t like the feeling of lip balms.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner. This has got a nice texture when applied to the lips and smells so nice. I like this one, containing shea butter it’s lovely and nourishing.

Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm. I got it with pomegranate oil and to be honest I’m not so keen on the smell, the texture is quite nice although it does go a bit thin when it warms up, I think it’s more hydrating than nourishing. I just find the smell so strong which I wouldn’t mind if I liked it more.

Bioderma Atoderm Moisturising Stick. This smells like a big bag of pick and mix- really sweet. It feels nice on the lips and is really good for soothing sore lips and leading them on the road to recovery.

Antipodes Organic Lip Balm. I absolutely love the smell of this, with lime leaf and cocoa butter it smells so fresh but it does go a bit thin when it warms up, if it was a bit thicker I’d love this rather than just liking it. It’s nice during the day if you don’t want anything to sticky and don’t mind reapplying to get the balmy feeling.

La Roche-Posay Barrier Repairing Balm. This is a super thick squeezy balm that really does help to repair chapped lips, a good one to wear overnight or if lips need protection during the day from harsh weather.

Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm. Ok so I only got this because I liked the packaging, this is another one that goes really thin and watery on the lips therefore I’m not so keen, I think the smell is really subtle, it contains essential oils of sweet orange oil, rose geranium and ylang ylang which sounds lovely but I can only smell a slight hint of orange.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick. This has the classic Palmer’s scent which I love but it does make me want to eat it. This is really nice on the lips although I’d prefer it if it was slightly thicker but that's personal preference. This is much larger than the typical lip balm stick because it can be used all over on rough dry skin, a really handy do-it-all product to have in your handbag and to whip out and sniff every now and then.

Nivea Hydro Care and Essential Care. I love the Essential care and it’s my favourite lip balm after Nuxe, mainly because I absolutely LOVE the smell- for me it just smells of holiday. Maybe because the first time I got this I was on holiday about 15 years ago and have been using it ever since as it just reminds me of sun lotion and transports me to a sunnier place. I love the way it feels too, so thick and really nourishing and soothing. I got the Hydro care thinking it would be the same but with the added benefit of SPF but I was disappointed, it’s a lot thinner in texture and hasn’t got the same lovely smell but is handy that it has SPF for use in the summer.

What lip balms do you love? What would you recommend I try?

Until next time

POTW 8 FALL OUT BOY

Hello there lovelies

This weeks POTW is when I went to see Fall Out Boy on Thursday night. Get ready for a bit of a gushy post- I don’t often use the word awesome in everyday life other than when describing myself (hmmm) but Fall Out Boy are AWESOME. I’m a die hard FOB fan and have been for many years, I absolutely love them and have been to quite a few of their gigs in small venues like Hammersmith Apollo to the big arenas like The O2 and Wembley and they never disappoint. Their stage presence is amazing and Patrick Stumps voice blows me away every time I hear it. I’ve been disappointed in the past when seeing live bands through lack of stage presence and atmosphere but never by Fall Out Boy. I think this was the first time I’d seen them since 2009 and they just get better and better.

If you haven’t heard of Fall Out Boy or heard their music just go onto iTunes and listen to the samples. Pete Wentz is a lyrical genius. They really know how to put on a show too, they don’t just stand there and belt out a couple of top tunes they throw themselves around the stage with their instruments and really are full of energy until the very last note is played. They seem to have an older fan base (looks at self) too which is nice, their fans have stuck by them and followed them through to the present even though they had a few years off from FOB to explore individual projects but they always said they haven’t split up and will be back and they stuck to their word which I think earned them a great deal of respect. I understand that this type of music isn’t to everyone’s taste but it absolutely is my taste, I love rock emo type music and these 4 are the best in the industry. They are in a different league to the bands of today they are the masters and they know how to entertain their fans. The atmosphere in the arena was electric and everyone was buzzing waiting for them to come on. Towards the end they used clever diversion tactics to divert our attention to a clip being played on the big screen then they appeared on a small stage in the middle of the arena and played a few acoustic numbers, which was brilliant, they’ve never played acoustic when I’ve seen them before and it really shows off Patricks voice.

Whenever I see them live I fall in love with them all over again and Thursday was no exception. It just cements their music further into my heart and it’s just a reminder of how truly great they are at what they do. I’m just desperate to see them again now. If you’re a FOB fan and you haven’t seen them live you really must try to one day and if you’re not a fan just give their music a listen as you may just find a new love. To be honest this isn’t just my Pick Of The Week but my pick of the year.

I hope they continue to tour and as long I can get tickets I will always be there showing my support and appreciation for the fantastic music produced by 4 blokes from across the pond. FALL OUT BOY- Thnks fr th Mmrs.

Wemberrrrleeeeeey.

In the middle of the arena.

I apologise for the poor picture quality, I only had my phone and the pictures really don’t do anything justice. Although we was quite far from the stage we had a totally unobstructed view but my phone just wouldn’t pick anything up.

What music do you like? Are you a major fan of any bands?

Until next time