Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette | Review with Swatches
10 December 2017
I hadn't fallen for the Huda Beauty hype until my friend leant me her Desert Dusk palette to play with and now I can't get enough. If there's ever a palette you need to add to your wish-list it's this one and although it's on the pricier range of the palette spectrum it's safe to say it's well worth it!
Festive Sleek Make-Up
25 November 2017
The festive period is the perfect time of year for bold red lips and all the sparkle, if you're looking to twinkle like a festive fairy on a budget then Sleek Make Up have got you covered. I was kindly sent some of their bits to try and was pleasantly surprised with each product.
St. Moriz Tan Enhancer and Dry Tanning Oil
22 November 2017
St. Moriz have always been a firm favourite in my tanning choices, there was a time when I would slather myself in the stuff and look like the annoying orange in a wig but I thought I looked proper fit. These days, I prefer a more subtle glow to make myself look less walking dead and more walking health. However, because I am a complete tool – I can often struggle to apply fake tan without something disastrous happening.
4 Make Up Mistakes
11 November 2017
I’ve made a lot of makeup mistakes over the years, I was born before Youtube which meant that I had to find it all out for myself and with minimal internet access (shout out to dial up connection) as well as not having any older siblings to direct me I kind of had to wing it and hope for the best. And the best rarely came; there are those classic mistakes we all used to make like applying our dream matte mousse with our fingers and applying a darker foundation just to add a touch of colour and my old school favourite of using concealer as a lip shade.
Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Mermaids Vs Unicorns
8 November 2017
I never buy myself a colourful palettes so when this little rainbow beauty appeared in October's Glossy Box I was dead chuffed to have a go at shoving some colour on my face - with my recently dyed hair I was also excited to see how much the colours would stand out against my darker locks in comparison to my old blonde hair. Now, I've become a bit of a palette snob over the past couple of years, truth be told I rarely wear that much eye shadow (because I don't get up within enough time to put some on) and I certainly don't play around with colour, partly due to thinking I'd look like and idiot and also due the fact that I don't wear it enough to be brave enough to blend some bold shades in me old sockets. Anyway, this lack of effort and experienced has allowed me to justify splashing the cash on my trusty old warm toned brown palettes and leave the colourful colours to the proper mermaid / unicorn princesses out there.
Maternity OOTD and Nude Jewellery
28 October 2017
Ok, so nothing in this outfit is actually maternity wear, I’m still just about getting away with wearing sized up leggings and baggy tops but I don’t think this will last very long. I didn’t anticipate how difficult finding comfy and practical clothes would be during pregnancy. Whilst I want to look marginally fashionable, I also want to be in PJs or naked for the rest of my life. To try and make myself feel a little more human I’m concentrating on accessorizing my boring baggy tops and leggings.
20 Week Pregnancy Update
14 October 2017
Baby Freddie has been living in my womb for a whole 20 weeks and has hit the half way mark *round of applause for Freddie* the scan showed that his organs are functioning properly; he has a proper skeleton and is drinking his pee (nice). Pregnancy is continuing to be the weirdest experience that I’ve ever had and I’m sure it’s only going to intensify as we get close to the actually popping him out. I gave up trying to battle through morning sickness and got myself some medication that became my new favourite thing. So, here are some thoughts and moments from the past eight weeks.
Little Update ππΆπΌπΉ
17 September 2017
Well Hello there, been a while hasn't it?
I've not been the best blogger lately, pregnancy has taken all my motivation and energy to do anything other than sleep and eat but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Not much has changed around here, Albie and Cecil are the naughtiest cats to ever walk the earth, I still think periods are shit, Trump is a dick and avocados aren't nice.
Preggo? The low down on my first trimester
19 August 2017
If you don't follow me on social media (which you totally should btw) you'll have missed me announce the amazing news that after two years of tests, tears and a little bit of treatment Luke and I finally managed to make a baby. I thought that I'd embrace pregnancy with open arms and be some mother earth ethereal glowing princess basking in the joys of growing a baby but I've ended up giving the girl from the Exorcist a run for her money and felt rotten for the past 8 weeks, not to mention all the other fascinating yet terrifying changes that my body has gone through; with this in mind, I've compiled a list of the thoughts, changes and experiences I've had the past 12 weeks:
Too Faced Sweet Peach MOTD
2 July 2017
The Palettes
I got the Too Faced Sweet Peach collection way back in April but never got round to posting about it because there's only so many variations of the same review that the Blogosphere can take. After having a couple of days off work due this pesky fertility medication making me feel rotten I decided to perk myself up by having a big fat pamper bath followed by a little experiment with some colour. My eye make-up look often consists of similar shades of brown and a generic smoky eye, the whole purpose of getting the sweet peach eye shadow palette was to introduce my make-up routine to some colour.
We Love Coffee ☕️*
28 June 2017
It's no secret that I love coffee, after Albie and Cecil coffee is probably my second love so any opportunity to sample coffee is snapped up. With age, I've become somewhat of a coffee snob - nothing tastes better than freshly ground coffee and instant just doesn't do it for me anymore. When We Love Coffee sent me three bags of their ground coffee I think I died and went to heaven. After spending the entire day sniffing the bags I couldn't wait to get them in a cafetiere.
GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment
27 June 2017
Application & Details
Glamglow kindly send me a sample of this and I was so impressed that I had to buy it. The Supermud Clearing Treatment works best on blemish prone skin to target, prevent and heal seemingly poreless skin with a heavenly scent of eucalyptus and a plethora of ingredients such as, activated charcoal with a koalin clay-base. For me, his mask isn't like any other out there - I apply it with my hands because I'm too lazy to commit to washing a brush after every application, a little goes a long way but it needs to be applied quickly as it's drying time is short. I tend to focus on my most problematic areas such a T-zone, chin and cheekbone areas but it can be used as an individual treatment on specific spots or blemishes.
Bare Minerals Original
25 June 2017
I first remember hearing about Bare Minerals in a rather cheesy infomercial that was on very late at night years ago - women were dramatically gasping at the results of it and I immediately thought it was too good to be true and brushed it off. It wasn't until a few years later when Bare Minerals really took off that I realised that there must be something in it. More recently, I've been drawn to trying Bare Minerals Original foundation out as a healthier alternative to liquid foundation.
The Clomid Diaries | Cycle 1 - 50 mg
21 June 2017
The time to begin my first cycle of Clomid finally arrived and with that here is the first in what I hope will be short series, The Clomid Diaries. I explained in my previous post about our Second Fertility Appointment what Clomid and why I need it and am using these posts to log the side affects and feelings of each cycle.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm π
17 June 2017
This stuff is an absolute game changer, I now genuinely look forward to taking my make-up off. On Tuesday I put a full face on just so that I could take it off with this. As per, Clinique have given us a collection of fantastic products to make our faces cleaner then ever and this balm is my favourite of the Take The Day Off collection. The balm is a solid formula that reacts with the temperature of your hands and face to transform into a liquid oil that's non-greasy and non-drying and feels fan-flipping-tastic.

5 Reasons not to get a kitten πΌ
7 June 2017
Kittens are undeniably cute, fluffy little creatures that melt the coldest of hearts but having one (or two) isn't always fun and games (for you). I see any animal as a member of family and therefore see my boys as my actual babies but that doesn't mean they're any less hard work. Getting any animal is a massive commitment and not one that should be taken lightly. If you're unsure about getting a kitten, here's five reasons why you shouldn't:
Out & About: Anglesey Outdoors Eco Lodge Glamping
3 June 2017
Last week's mini break to Wales has probably been one of my best kept secrets - my little old lady of a mother turned the big 50 this year and as part of her birthday surprise we dragged her all the way over to Holyhead to photograph some sea birds (especially Puffins) and have a nice break away. I wanted to stay somewhere as close to the coast as possible that was also affordable. After a quick google search, Anglesey Outdoors popped up and I was relieved with their easy to navigate website that shows when bookings are available as well as clearly outlined prices.
Fertility Clinic Appointment 2 | May 2017
27 May 2017
It's been a long and hard four months since our last appointment and we finally have some answers. Following on from the first appointment, I had the various blood tests need to create a full hormone profile of my cycle and awaited the results. I've previously mentioned what a mind f*ck infertility is and the best outcome for this appointment would be that I don't ovulate and the worst case, that I do ovulate and more investigative work would need to be undertaken which, would be bordering on unexplained infertility - the dead scary stuff.
Piss Pot Poor Professionals πΈ
21 May 2017
Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt recently struggled to understand / define the complex reasons as to why nurses are reported going to food banks, like being flat broke isn't the reason why. I can understand why people earning higher incomes would fail to comprehend that qualified professionals are struggling to put food on their tables but the majority of people know that nurses aren't the only piss pot poor professionals out there. Being a professional often means having contracted hours and a pro rata, per annum salary that is above (if only slightly) NMW, based on experience and level of qualifications but being on a salary above NMW doesn't mean that surviving financially every month is possible, I should know.
Update Your Skincare Routine // Pixi by Petra
13 May 2017
I've been wanting to update my skincare routine for a while and feeling a bit bleh about myself was the perfect incentive to start having a snoop around some routines that would be suitable for my skin that is almost as problematic as me. After perusing some of my favourite blogs, I decided I was going to treat myself and try out some products from Pixi, it's not often I'll go all out and buy full sized products for my skin let alone a whole haul but I had an inkling that Pixi might be the one for me, and I was right.
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Glow Tonic // Glow Mud Cleanser // Milky Serum // Fixing Mist |
Infertility makes me ugly
6 May 2017
I know it's irrational and terribly problematic to say that fertility defines my level of attractiveness but it does and I promised to be candid with this series so here's some ugly truths about infertility π.
I'm coming out of this phase (thank goodness that that's what it was) and am back to making an effort with my appearance and feeling comfortable in my skin again but for a few months I've felt ugly and unattractive and what's disturbed me more about these feelings was my complete lack of motivation to do anything about it. It was almost as though I was punishing myself, as though I deserved to not find my faulty body attractive or be comfortable within it.
Barn // It Manchester
30 April 2017
I don't often get my hair done professionally, in a all honesty I find the process boring and expensive especially in those dead fancy salons where you're made to feel crap with one look because you fessed up about trimming your own fringe. Barn It in Manchester have completely changed my mind. Barn It is an up and coming Super Salon that smashes every other salon out of the park with it's classy yet funky design, luxury treatments but good old down to earth northern vibe that makes any visitor feel like a princess / real life unicorn. I first noticed Barn It on Anoushka loves and Hello Terri Lowe and immediately knew I had to visit.
L'Oreal Infallible Total Cover - How much coverage does it really give?
22 April 2017
L'Oreal are bouncing around the Blogosphere like a ping pong ball at the moment and have caught my eye with product releases and campaigns not to mention the fact that they're new collections are a little bit of alright. They've gone from a brand that I usually ignore to the first stand that I head to when I'm in Boots / Superdrug. After trying their Lip Laquers and the oh so famous Miss Baby Roll, I found myself in the market for an affordable foundation and there was this Infallible total cover screaming my name from the middle of Rimmel and GOSH, literally howling.
How to lead train your Cat
16 April 2017
When we first decided that we were going to get a kitten we knew we wanted to train them on a lead - living in a first floor flat means that we don't have outdoor access and me being a clingy mess of a woman means that I'm never comfortable wit cats going out on their own but taking them for walks means that they get to explore the world superglued to my metaphorical apron strings. I ordered these teeny tiny harnesses from Amazon a few weeks ago, they only just fit safely and the boys are ten weeks old - this means that I'm more confident with trying to get them to actually walk on their walks rather than be stuffed down my coat.
Travelling with Cats
9 April 2017
A lot of us cat owners know how it goes down when it's time to take out little angels anywhere. Charles is an absolute nightmare when it comes to travelling and getting him his cat carrier is a good 15 minute long event that results is one stressed cat and a human on the brink of an emotional breakdown. This is because Charles lived a very settled life in the countryside where his entire world was his little cottage and garden and small surrounding area. He didn't need to go into a carrier nor did he need to go in a car so when it came to moving house at the age of two you can only imagine how traumatising it was for both parties, so much so that the mere site of a cat carrier turns him 2D and wide-eyed in fear.
Catit Senses Circuit
2 April 2017
Meet Albie
30 March 2017
This little stunner was supposed to be our only baby way before Cecil pounced into our lives. We went to visit little Albert just over six weeks ago when he was the sized of a hamster. After what seemed like forever, he finally came home and immediately settled in in with his brother. Albert was a 'normal' kitten when he came home, he was nervous shy and somewhat sad, not like the little diva that is Cecil. He's already shown his much softer nature and will creep up to me for cuddles rather than plonk himself in front of me and demand a tummy rub, he leaves some dinner in his bowl and doesn't growl whilst stuffing his face. I thin Albie looks more like a majestic Egyptian cat than the fluff ball, he has long gangly legs and paws that are slightly too big but he's bloody handsome.
Finding a silver lining
26 March 2017
I’m of the mentality that forcing positivity on people can be just as damaging as negativity but when you’re going through one of your absolute worst nightmares, you have to try and find a silver lining somewhere, right? So, with gritted teeth in slight hysterics I miraculously came up with the following pros and some of of the most concerning cons.
Hello Cecil
22 March 2017
This little chap was supposed to be staying at our house for a few days, considering I'd recently looked after Lucy's cat and successfully handed her back I thought I could do the same with this one. Oh how I was wrong, as it happened this little stunner was in the market for the new family and me, being and emotionally unstable cat addict pestered Luke until he said yes - which took all of forty five minutes because look at that face.
The Bodyshop all in one BB Cream
18 March 2017
A month ago I noticed that my skin was turning bad again, I'd started using the new Clinique foundation which worked wonders for a couple of weeks but as usual, with anything that I put on my face it started to not settle properly and come away in patches during the day. I'd had enough and decided to bite the bullet and go bare faced. My skin needed a break and to be frank, so did I. It sounds dramatic but not being able to find a product that my skin can work with gets frustrating to say the least. After two days of sporting my naked face and just as I was starting to feel a little more confident someone made a comment about me looking tired and that was it. I needed something to cover my face up, even if it was just a little bit.
Fertility Clinic Appointment 1 | February 2017
14 March 2017
It’s been six months since our last appointment regarding fertility and we finally got the referral to the clinic for the help. Although it’s a horrible process to undergo we feel so grateful that we’re entitled to get help as the criteria it so incredibly tight. We could have got the referral sooner but it was held up with breast appointments and smear tests (which were all fine). After being told by my GP that we were getting the referral on the 3rd Feb, I received a letter the following Friday advising me to call the my book system at the Hospital to get an appointment at the clinic – I was told on the phone that the soonest available appointment would be in May, I tried booking this but was told it had been taken and there weren’t any other appointments available…ever. This was weird and disheartening, I was then told to wait for a letter, if I didn’t get this letter by the 20th Feb I should contact my GP and get re-referred. Cheers, thanks a lot.
Initial fertility tests and ruling out PCOS | July 2016
21 February 2017
Our journey to getting the initial fertility tests completed was slightly different to the majority of couples and we were consulted and tested separately. This is because I am classed as essentially 'at risk' of ovarian, uterine and / or cervical cancer. Thankfully, all tests I've had thus far have come back surprisingly healthy - taking my family history into consideration. You see, my Mum, being the utter legend that she is, went and won the female cancer bingo and racked up a full house with ovarian and uterine and cervical cancer all within close proximity and managed to live to tell the tale - shout out to Rhiannon. Now, I know that doesn't mean that I'm going to get cancer but, in our family, if you haven't had a hysterectomy by the time you're fifty we do start to think you're not related.
Things people say when you're TTC
17 January 2017
Humans are funny old creatures; when we go to another with problems we immediately try and relate to help come up with a solution or to show that we can truly empathise. Telling someone you're struggling to get pregnant is a lot like when and English person meets an Irish person - there's always a Cousin, Great Granddad or distant Aunt who is Irish and they've definitely drunk guinness at least once. The same applies, someone they know or a friend's friend has also struggled to get pregnant and that makes this person the wisest person in the world and arguably a fertility expert. I know this sounds a bit bitter, truth is I am a bit but 80% of this is in jest so please don't take too much offence at my offence.
Tracking our fertility with Ovia
9 January 2017
There’s a plethora of cycle tracking apps out there to use to determine projected period dates or in my case, aid fertility. I don’t know where we’d we be without Ovia, I mean we’d probably still not be pregnant but we’d certainly have less of a clue as to what is going on with my body. I’ve been using Ovia for the past two years and have managed to accumulate a host of information about every aspect of my cycle. Ovia works in the sam way as most tracking apps – you begin inputting the details of your cycle and after a certain amount of time, the app can calculate your next projected period date and fertile window based on the information that you provide.
Why not us?
1 January 2017
TTC, AF, BFN and BD are just a few of the acronyms I pray that any of you reading this aren't familiar with because knowing and using these usually means that you're on the emotional roller coaster of trying for baby and by trying, I don't mean deciding to start a family and getting knocked up within a few months. I mean physically and emotionally having to literally try because for some cruel reason, mother nature won't let your body undertake it's most primary function.
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