Grab a Cuppa & We'll Have a Catch Up! ♥

Evening Ladies :) 

Due to the fact I haven't blogged in a while I thought I'd write a quick 'catch up' post to update you all with what has been going on recently...

Firstly...

I am now in my final [ever] semester of University and with triple modules and a portfolio to pull together by June, I know I've got my work cut out for me. It's a lot of work to be completed so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my blogging doesn't suffer; I aim to keep my blog as a place for me to be able to relax and spend time doing something I enjoy, rather than 'have' to do [for example Uni work]... A lot of you girlies helped my out with some of my research for my Dissertation proposal by filling out my survey, so if you were one of them I want to say a massive massive thank you! My final print for my Beauty Magazine work was handed in just 2 weeks ago and here is a sneak peek of one of the makeup looks I created, along with a friend on my sister...

 

My Beautiful Sister Helen

Secondly...

If you follow me on Twitter or are a friend on Facebook, you will know the trials and tribulations we have faced with one of my Horses. Billy had been on and off lame for around a year and we just weren't getting any satisfactory answers from the vast array of specialists he had been taken to see. We eventually took him to Yarm last Monday for a thorough investigation and off the back of this he ended up having an operation last Friday to cut ligaments in both of his front feet. As awful as this sounds, he is now back at home and has returned to the cheeky chappy we all love him for! It's amazing what the surgery has achieved so far and we are hoping that the improvements will only continue. His stitches and bandages are removed next Thursday by which time he will have healed up nicely and will be allowed to be turned out with his pals in the field :) .. Just can't wait to see him back out on the grass and pain free!

Handsome Billy Boy in the snow :)

Lastly...

I have had a massive clear out of my wardrobe & shoes, including both high street and designer items. I'm thinking of uploading everything to eBay, but wondered if any of you girls would like a sneak peek or first dibs on anything before I do... Just let me know! 

Oh and just before I sign off so to speak, here are a couple of snaps of me and my gorgeous cousin Natalie which were just taken at the weekend at a family birthday party. Nat lives in London so don't get to see her all that often, but it's extra nice when I do!.. What do you think.. Any resemblance? 

 

Smiley Girls to...

 

Trout Pouts! 

Lots of Love :) 

Xx

Keeping Chic in Black...

Evening Lovelies! 

It's been such a while since I posted a proper 'OOTD', I know my New Year post included my outfit from the night, but it was also an opportunity to say that I hoped you had all had a fabulous night! 

So here we have my first 'proper' OOTD post from 2011! 

Yesterday I had my 4000 word dissertation (part one) to hand in at Uni, it had been sent to the printers on Friday to be printed & bound and so all I had to do was pick it up and make the drive into Newcastle and hand it in!.. Afterwards I decided, along with my gorgeous little sister to have a little bit of a shopping spree as a reward for all of my hard work.. So off we trotted to The Metro Centre! 

This is what I chose to wear, from top to toe...

Long Black Cardigan - Ted Baker

Mauve Silk Shirt - Zara 

Leather effect topped leggings - Zara

Thigh high boots - Dune

I wore Barry M's Dusky Mauve on my nails and teemed the outfit with my Pandora & my Bibi Alhaja Bijoux charm bracelet..

Hope you're all well

Muchos Love Xx

P.S. Remember, if you have any questions you wish to ask but don't want to e-mail me about you can contact me via my Formspring account by clicking here...

Brightening up the Bronze Age...

Evening Sweet Peas!

I was lucky enough to get quite a considerable amount of makeup for Christmas, in fact apart from beauty items there wasn't much else I'd asked for! 

My MAC Shadow Palette is now completed and the attachment I feel to it is rather absurd! hehe .. Here is how I wore my makeup yesterday, featuring a few new products :) 

Face

MAC Studio Fix Fluid NW25 & MAC Pro-Longwear NC20 (mixed)

I've recently been applying my foundation with a new brush I received as part of a set; The Sigma F84 is a angled synthetic kabuki [Obviously made by Sigma Makeup] .. The brush is amazing, buffs foundation in perfectly and really gives a totally flawless finish, well at least I think so.. I really can't wait to try some more brushes from Sigma, have any of you had much experience with Sigma?..What are your thoughts? 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Deep Dark

Another brush which I received as a present was the Sigma F25 or the Tapered Face Brush.. This has been the most ideal brush in gently applying a contour shade and working it in under my cheek bones. The brush is super soft and again gives such an amazing finish...

NARS Orgasm Blush

I featured this blush in my New Years FOTD and I'm even more in love with it than I was then.. Such a gorgeous coral shade with just the right amount of shimmer, not a hunt of chunky glitter as it's so finely milled.. You only need a touch on your blush brush, I use a MAC 116 and it applies it perfectly :)

Eyes

UDPP in Sin 

Obviously used to prime my eyes; it offers up just the right amount of shimmer and looks so beautiful when on the wand! Keeps my shadows on so well, so much so they look exactly the same when I come to take my makeup off on a night.. You can ask much more than that can you? .. I'm definitely a convert from MAC's Paint Pots which I used to swear by..

MAC Shadows in Nylon and Bronze

Nylon in the inner corner and up on the brow bone

Bronze on the lid

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold Deposit

I used this on a MAC 222 to blend out the Bronze shadow; again receiving this for Christmas I've really been enjoying it's many uses! 

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara 

MAC Smoulder Eye Khol

Lips

As the title of this post suggests, I wanted to brighten up an otherwise everyday bronzey eye... 

I used my YSL Rouge Volupte in shade No 7 - Lingerie Pink 

I hope you all like this post and don't find it borrrrrringgggg...

I kind of got out of the habit of doing 'FOTD' posts with me being so busy recently, but as long as you lovelies enjoy them then I shall keep them coming :) 

Hope you're all having a lovely night... One of my besties is currently on BBC 1 as her Mum got chosen to be in Dale Wintons 'In It To Win It'! .. Check it out! 

Lots of Love Xx

High End Cosmetics Survey... Please lend a hand?

Hey girls, 

As a lot of you know, I study Fashion Communication at University and I'm now, finally in my final year! 

As part of my dissertation research proposal we have to have carried out an extensive survey covering as many age ranges as we think possible. 

I've created a quick & easy survey on the topic of High End Cosmetics; So something I know you're all interested in hehe! 

It will literally only take you a minute to answer it and I'd appreciate it so much! 

If you just click on this link here... http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8MYRVP5  You'll be directed straight to it :) 

Thanks again girls! 

You're all super stars :) 

xx

New Years Eve: Outfit & Makeup..

Hello Lovelies & a very warm welcome to 2011! 

I hope you all had a fabulous New Year, whatever you may have gotten up to :) 

I've been mega busy these past couple of weeks; finishing Uni to then working full time hours at work in retail hasn't exactly been the holiday I'd hoped, but Christmas was lovely all in all and I was a very spoilt girl! 

I've seen a few of these post, with people sharing what 'glad-rags' they decided to don to hope off and celebrate the turning of a New Year...

Myself and the boyfriend decided on keeping this year pretty low key; Family drinks, a few at a local bar over the 12 o'clock period & then back to his parents for more drinks into the night!

Here are a few snap from my night...

My dress was picked up as a last minute option from ASOS which you can see here it was a super freezing cold night, so decided to team it with my Dune thigh high boots rather than heels [..I certainly didn't want numb toes!!..]

Here is me & the other half before we set off out...

I also thought I'd include a rather creepy close up of my eye to show you how I wore my eye makeup hehe..

- I took MAC's Nylon and placed it on the inner corners and my brow bone then blended out

- MAC's Patina on the lid and along lower lash line

- MAC's Satin Taupe blended through the crease and on outer corner of lower lash line into Patina

- MAC's Carbon [just a touch] in the outer V and blended into the Satin Taupe

I also used MAC's Grease Paint Stick in 'Oil Slick' along my lower lash line and then slightly smudged it out..

Face

I used MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NW25

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Deep Dark to Contour 

NARS Orgasm Blush

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold deposit - Used across cheeks and also on a huge kabuki all over my arms, decolletage etc

Lips

I swapped it up all night between MAC's Fresh Brew & YSL's Rouge Volupte No 24 Praline Delight

I truly hope you all had an amazing night & 2011 is a great year for each and every one of you :)

Lots of Love & New Year Wishes...

Laura Xx