these girls fall like dominoes

Top - H&M
Skirt - H&M
Jacket - H&M
Necklace - Lola Rose
Ring - Lauren's Dressing Room's Jewellery


Another day, another outfit and it would seem I am unconsciously channelling a lot of love for H&M here. It probably is one of my favourite stores of the moment if you have the time and patience to have a proper root around. The moment I saw this layered netted skirt, my inner ballerina squealed with delight. It is so sweet, and floats around prettily as I walk, I just had to buy it! My sequin jacket is quite ancient now and has made numerous appearances in my outfit posts in the past. I think it is one of my most loved items. 


Jewellery-wise, my friend Claire and I both picked up one of these Lola Rose cross necklaces at London Fashion Weekend last year. We both loved them, and we thought it would be nice to have a similar piece of jewellery each to wear, much like a friendship bracelet, but a friendship necklace if you will. My domino ring is from the lovely Lauren. She currently has a site selling some really pretty pieces of jewellery if you fancy having a look.


I hope you are all having a good (4 day) week :)
Time to dash off and make a cuppa in preparation for tonight's viewing pleasure...The Apprentice!

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Luminaire

Late nights, early mornings, far too little sleep will inevitably plague you with those troublesome dark circles and tell-tale lines. Sleek Makeup's new Luminaire Highlighting Concealer could be the answer to banish those dark areas and awaken your eyes with an instant brightness and flawless finish. The highlighting concealer, with moisturising properties, can brighten dark circles, conceal blemishes and fade out imperfections.

Firstly, the concealer was a lot thicker than I anticipated, but is creamy and easy to apply. There are five shades available in the Luminaire highlighting concealer, L01 - L05. I was sent the lightest shade, L01, which was probably one shade too light for me. This wonderwand can be used around the eyes as well as camouflaging blemishes, uneven skin tone and adding a natural highlight to the nose and cupid's bow. The concealer is simply dispensed by clicking the top of the wand. The brush is soft but not ideal for blending the product in once applied. I opted to softly buff the product in with a MAC 224 blending brush, but using your fingers, dabbing gently around the area, would work just as well.

I don't think I suffer too badly with dark circles, and sometimes don't even bother with concealer full stop. But some days, I do feel I need a little radiance to my eye area. Before is me simply with my foundation applied. Afterwards, you can see how the concealer has really brightened up the area under my eyes and flawed out the uneven skin tone. It works particularly well when applied in the corner of the eyes as well, to add luminosity to those dark regions.
I do really like this product as an under-eye concealer, and is a quick answer to perk up your eyes with a nice glow. However, I don't think it's amazing when used as a concealer elsewhere on the face. I found the consistency a bit too loose and the coverage wasn't brilliant, but for the eye area, it is perfect.


The Luminaire Highlighting Concealer (£6.49) is a permanent product and is currently available from Superdrug stores and Sleek Makeup online.


Have you tried this?
What is your miracle product for banishing those dark circles?

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i've got butterflies

Playsuit: AX Paris

When approached by AX Paris to potentially feature one of their items, I logged onto their site with slight trepidation. I have often seen their range stocked in New Look but have never really been drawn to it, believing it was just a collection of super-slinky body-con dresses which are not my thing. However, I was pleasantly surprised by many of the pieces they had to offer, in particular this sweet playsuit prettified with colourful butterflies. I was pleased that the size I opted for fitted perfectly which is always the tricky issue when ordering online. It is 100% cotton so hangs nicely and is lovely and light for summer days. I love that it has pockets; adding a casual tone to the outfit, and think the draped panels, front and back, makes it extremely flattering.

As for my nails, I am no nail art whizz by any stretch of the imagination, but confronted with a lazy Friday night and fuelled by too many nail varnishes, I thought I would have a play. I don't even have a nail art pen or anything fancy like that, I simply dipped the end of an orange stick into the polish and blobbed! 

I hope you are all well and enjoying the LONG weekend.

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prolong the red

Tips for the perfect red lips:
1. Prep the lips before applying your lipstick. Lightly scrub them (maybe with a toothbrush) and apply a balm to rid them of any dry skin.


2. Line the lips with a lipliner, delicately following their natural shape. This will create a barrier, preventing your lipstick from feathering, as well as giving you a guide when applying the lipstick.


3. Use a small lip brush to apply your lipstick with precision.


4. Go around the outside of your lips with a fine brush and some concealer to sharpen up the edges and erase any lipstick mishaps.


5. Smile


This is MAC's pro longwear lipcreme in Prolong and I think I am in love.
It has a wonderfully creamy texture and finish, with a rich intense colour. It smoothes onto the lips like a dream and really does keep its vibrancy for a long time. What I love about this lipstick is that it has a subtle cherry-red hint to it, yet remains a true, classic shade.


Do you like to flaunt a ruby lip?
Which is your classic, red go-to lipstick?

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3 day straight?

With my hair being the way it is; thick, curly, unruly, prone to frizz...the list goes on, I was very excited to try this product out, as I hoped it could be the answer to all my hair woes.  I saw the words 'made with keratin' and my heart skipped a beat. I have been harbouring after a keratin treatment for my hair for many moons now, but slightly awed by the high cost, and the fear of the fuzzy re-growth. For a mere fraction of the price, I hoped this spray could be by new best friend.
John  Frieda's 3-day straight semi-permanent styling spray contains a heat-activated formula that helps eliminate frizz as the hair is straightened. The hair is 'styled' straight and keeps it that way for up to three days. Frizz is banished and hair is left looking glossy and smooth.

The instructions for use are very straight-forward, simply spritz the product onto towel dried hair, varying the amount depending on the thickness and length. I divided my hair into sections as it is that thick and I wanted to ensure that every last strand was coated! I then combed the product through my hair before beginning the epic task of blow-drying my hair. Usually, I tend to just blast my hair to get it dry and then laboriously straighten it with straighteners to tame the mane down to a more modest size. However, I thought after spraying the 3 day straight through my hair, I should be good and attempt to dry my hair as straight as I could with a barrel brush, to optimise the results. Instantly I cringed at how sticky my hair felt, a feeling that didn’t really improve as a blow-dried my hair. I was worried that I had either been too liberal with the product or I had left some conditioner in my hair. I persevered until I had dried all my hair and looked optimistically in the mirror in the hope that a halo of glossy straight tresses would be reflected. Alas, no. However, this product requires the heat of the straighteners to begin working its magic. The moment I started straightening my hair, the stickiness melted away and I definitely noticed that my hair felt smoother and easier, maybe even quicker, to straighten. Once I had finished, my hair was definitely straight. A lot straighter than normal and was lightweight and frizz-free.

However, over the next few days, I didn't feel the product really kept my hair straight or frizz-free. Due to my type of hair, it takes very little to induce the frizz. Humidity, wind, rain or exercise, and poof, I am reaching for the hair straighteners! I honestly think for most other hair types, this product could have a really positive effect and you would see some great results. However for me, and my type of hair, this product was not able to tame the mane. I don’t feel it made any difference to my hair over the three days and I did have to reach for the straighteners every morning. 
I will say though that the way my hair straightened, and felt, immediately after using the spray was really lovely, and made my usually exhausting job a little bit easier, leaving my hair smooth and free of frizz. I am a big fan of John Frieda Frizz-Ease products, faithfully purchasing and repurchasing the serum and finish spray, but sadly, my hair was too bigger task for the 3-day straight spray.

The 3-day straight spray is available from Boots and is £6.99 (100ml)
Have you tried this product? I'd love to know your thoughts.

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making macaroons

Move over cupcakes, it would seem another colourful, sugary delight is coming back into food fashion and is becoming the sought after treat, perfect with tea or boxed and ribboned making a wonderful gift.
You cannot mention macaroons without being transported to Paris. Ladurée, the home of luxury cakes and pastries, made these little treats infamous, colouring them with the most endearing pastel shades and flavouring them with delicate scents such as rosewater and lavender.
You will pay an arm and a leg for a beautifully-packaged assortment of macaroons, so I thought I would don my apron and give them a whirl myself. Making macaroons, in essence, is very simple, comprising of only four basic ingredients. The key for perfect macaroons is precision, patience and practice...

Recipe:
175g icing sugar
125g ground almonds
3 free-range egg whites
75g caster sugar
(will make 16-18 macaroons)


Preheat your oven to 60°C/fan140°C/gas 3





1. Whisk the egg whites, with a pinch of salt, until they have formed soft peaks. Gradually add the caster sugar, making the mixture thick and glossy.
2. If you wish to create colourful macaroons, add your food colouring at this stage and whisk until you have achieved your desired shade.





3. In a food processor, whizz together the ground almonds and the icing sugar into a fine powder.
4. Add half the almond/icing sugar mix into the meringue mixture and fold in gently with a spatula. Once completely combined, fold in the remaining half. The mixture should be glossy and fall off the spatula with a ribbon-like consistency.

5. Line two trays with baking paper.
6. Fill a piping bag with the mixture and  pipe small rounds, about 3cm across.
7. Leave the macaroons to stand for 10-15 at room temperature until they form a slight skin.
8. Place in the oven for 15 minutes but keep your eye on them. My ones only took 8 minutes so it can vary and you don't want the tops to burn or discolour. You want your macaroons to have a lovely glossy domed top and a beautifully bubbly base. Leave to cool before removing gently.

For the filling, the sky is your limit and you can be as adventurous as you like. The typical filling is a standard buttercream (1 part butter, 2 part icing sugar) but you could try a luxurious chocolate ganache, lemon curd or jam. Or simply colour or flavour your buttercream to add a bit of je ne sais quoi! Decorate with chopped nuts, rose petals or desiccated coconut. Macaroons are the perfect chance to let your creative juices flow.

Before you add your sandwich filling, pair up your macaroon halves so both are a similar shape and size. The perfect macaroon should be crispy on the outside and delectably soft and sweet on the inside.
For the pink and yellow macaroons, I filled them with buttercream. For the white macaroons, I added spoonfuls of Nutella to the buttercream mix to create a chocolatey contrast.







Eat your heart out Ladurée! ;)
x

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having a ball

Dress: Karen Millen

Peacock feathers: Accessorize
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Nails: Barry M's Orchid (166)
Tan: Lauren's Way


Last weekend was my end of season hockey dinner and dance. It's a great evening which allows the whole club the chance to come together, share the triumphs of the previous season whilst indulging in some food, drink and unashamedly bad dancing! The night is quite plush, with the men donning a tuxedo, making them almost unrecognisable from the usual hockey attire I am so use to seeing them in. I bought this dress maybe 4 years ago for a wedding and then sadly after that , have never worn it since. I just love the colour of it, which shimmers between dark emerald green and a rich deep blue. I opted for a clean neckline, choosing some statement peacock feather earrings and stepped out into my carriage in my Jimmy Choo's.


I hope you are all well and having a good weekend. 
I made a multitude of macaroons yesterday, so I am very excited to share them with you, providing I haven't scoffed them all by then...

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