Treats To Brighten a Bad Day

So yesterday I was walking down the street minding my own business when a dog bit me! Fortunately I had a last minute change of heart with my outfit and changed out my skirt into jeans. If it weren't for my jeans I may not be here to tell the tale. I jest. But the event seriously traumatised me and was made even worse by the owner implying it was my fault for scaring the dog with my flip flops, I didn't think they were that ugly. 

Anyway I was really upset by this incident, I love dogs they're probably my favourite animal and I can't believe one bit me and made a hole in my jeans. So to get over the trauma (and to put to the back of my mind the fact I will soon have to do a dreaded jeans shop) I did what all good beauty bloggers do, I bought makeup. 

 

Though the incident actually took place in Camden where I had already picked up this really cute T-shirt. 

I really like the baggy oversized fit of it and it says "come with me to touch the sky" which I think it's absolutely adorable and I just love it. Though I did but this before the bite it has definitely helped, along with the other purchases, with the healing process. 

Though I knew to fully cheer me I would need to hit Zara and Space NK. Well when I got off the tube at Oxford Circus I knew I could do one better than that and headed for the mother of all department stores, Liberty. With my loyalty card and a nice little £5 voucher in hand I headed for the NARS counter and picked up something I've been meaning to try for ages. 

Though this now takes me up to a total of 12 foundations I currently use I just couldn't go another day without it. For those who don't know it is the NARS sheer glow foundation and I'm the colour Fiji, though I am a little nervous that once I've got some colour on my skin it'll be too light. What is Chanel Bronze Universal for though eh? I did however make the rookie mistake that everyone makes when they first get this in that I forgot to also get the pump. I'll add that to the list of things I 'need' from Space NK. 

Finally slightly happier I went to check out the Zara sale and found a couple of hidden gems amongst the mess. 

This blouse was £25.99 reduced to £12.99. I already have one similar to it that I picked up in a Zara sale past that I have just worn into holes so I know this one will be just as loved. 

My other purchase may actually be my favourite from the day, this skirt was reduced from £79.99 to (wait for it) £19.99! At that kind of reduction I just couldn't say no. I have no idea what it was doing in the summer sale because for me this is a total Christmas party skirt, but there's no harm in thinking about Christmas party outfits already is there? 

What I learnt from yesterday is, not only am I magpie and I'm just attracted to anything sparkley, but also that no matter how bad you are feeling a little self indulgence is always a good place to start a recovery. 

Office Outfit of the Day Part 3

Here it is again, the weekly work outfit. For some reason this week the aircon has been on steriods and it is absolutely freezing in the office, the men are wearing their suit jackets at their desks and us girls are sporting scarves already. 

Today's outfit was a Jack Wills shirt with a grey Next skirt and black tights. This was hot enough on the tube this morning so I kept my cream pashmina in my bag and wacked it on when I got to my arctic office. 

My hair was left in a lose French plait overnight so I wore the the waves in a high ponytail with natural makeup and my pearl earrings. 

Gosh I hope next week they turn the air con down, I have too many nice summer skirts to carry on in this fashion. 

Naughty End of the Month Splurge

Despite the fact that it is the end of the month and I can't even afford to buy food until payday, it did not stop me having a wild moment (more like an hour) in New Look.

For me Saturday's are often a slow start as I enjoy the freedom of the lie in and it definitely has nothing to do with the fact that I got home at 3.30 last night and was nearly up for 24 hours, sometimes I feel like I have more wild nights out with work than I used to at uni but that is an entirely different story.

So after the slow start and finding my local sorting office to pick up my new bottle of Bioderma I headed to the gym and indulged in some pampering to help my sore head and tired body. This is my new favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning/afternoon, go for a swim and then take full advantage of the jacuzzi and sauna and steam rooms to sweat out the toxins and the alcohol. Once I left the gym feeling much better than I did when I entered I decided that now was the perfect opportunity to go and buy a new work skirt in the Next sale. Well one thing led to another and this then happened...

I did manage to get not only one but two new plain black skirt for work.

 Priced at £12.99 each (with a nice 10% student discount thrown in) they're good value and hopefully good quality. 

I then found this adoreable mini skirt in the sale reduced to £8, for me it has a very 90's clueless vibe to it and lets face it who doesn't want to be Cher Horowitz.

I also definitely did not add to my ever growing collection of mint green blouses... This one was only £5 though so I don't think it really counts. 

While I'm waiting on my new sandals to be delivered from Office (which feels like years I've been waiting, sort it out Office) I decided I needed a stop gap pair as at the moment I'm wearing ones so old I think I may have been still in school when I bought them! These ones are leather and have lilac green and orange beading (which matches my nails!) and some little gems in the detailing so for only £19.99 again taking off 10% they'll do just nicely. 

This next purchase was inspired by my best friend. She has the most incredible enviable shoe wardrobe I have ever seen and I spent the two years I lived with her at uni cursing my big feet wishing they were two sizes smaller so we could have shared. Anyway she has a pair very similar to these which she rocks with checkered trousers and those sorts of things so I though for £12 reduced from £29.99 I am going to attempt to recreate her cool look, attempt being the operative word. 

This last one I was actually in the queue doing some quick mental addition and figuring out which card I could afford to put these on when I spotted this skirt. By this point I was very tired and there was no way I was facing the changing rooms again so I risked my chances thinking I'd bring it back if it didn't fit and thankfully it does. It's £15 and that's full price too so even without my discount it is very good value. I adore the colour and the pattern and generally everything about it, I'm already figuring out which day next week it's going to make it debut at work. 

So with heavy bags and a considerably lighter purse I made my way home to throw on some of my new purchases and some makeup (as mentioned here I now occasionally brave the shops bare faced). The ensemble is a vest top from Sainburys, which I definitely did not have to change after spilling red wine down it... with my new Clueless skirt, new sandals and new bag and purse from last weeks Westfield haul. 

The reason for the change of outfit was because this afternoon/evening myself and a few friends went to the Ealing jazz festival, a definite recommendation if you find yourself in the area and at a lose end tomorrow with £5 burning a hole in your pocket. You are allowed up to 4 cans per person but they don't rigorously check bags so we got away with wine decanted into plastic bottles (classy I know). London really is fun.

As a footnote I thought I'd mention the changes to my blog. Regular readers will notice a change in my background, well I'm no longer living in Cardiff (sob) and I felt it was time for something a little more beauty related and an update. My new background photo is just a couple of special items. 

'Healthy' Summer Berry Brownie Recipe

This is a little different from my usual posts, but tonight I went a little baking mad. After a long day at work I decided to bake a 'healthy' brownie recipe. Though once I saw how much sugar went into it I quickly realised that wasn't going to be the case. 

The recipe calls for 3 eggs which you then separate, 250g caster sugar, 300g of low fat or fat free Greek yoghurt, 300g self raising flour, 200g cocoa powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, some frozen fruit (I went for summer berries) and some pieces of chocolate. 

The last two items are optional as the brownies taste amazing on their own, but to add that extra burst of flavour (and to make it feel healthy by putting fruit in it) I would recommend adding them. 

To star off you preheat the oven, I'm not going to give advice on temperatures here because if I've learnt anything for living in four different houses and baking in four different kitchens over the past 2 years is that every oven is different and everyone knows their own oven, but I went for gas mark 4. 

Anyway, you then mix the egg yolks, sugar, oil and yogurt before sifting in the flour and cocoa powder. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they are fluffy and then fold into the mixture. 

At this point it would recommend taking a mid baking selfie. 

I just love any excuse to wear my apron. 

After the mixture is all mixed (and licking the spoon is now too tempting to resist) pour onto a greasproof lines baking tray. Then place the fruit where you want it and as an added extra I used crunchy chocolate pieces (chocolate with small peices of cereal in) which I broke in half and scattered in the mixture with the fruit. 

The mixture should now look something like this. Then pop it in the oven, again I'm not going to advise on times, just keep an eye on it. It could take 20 minutes or if you have a really old oven like me it could take 45. When it looks like it's done though put a knife in the middle of the mixture, if it comes out with nothing on then it's ready, if there's mixture on the knife it needs a little longer. 

When you've cleaned up the mess you'll inevitably make because let's face it, it's chocolate, hopefully the brownies will be ready and look a little something like this. 

And a little like this inside. Like all baked goods they're best hot from the oven, but mind the fruit as that can be very hot. 

Let me know if any of you guys try out this recipe. I want to start including more baking on here as I feel I am becoming the perfect housewife managing to incorporate the gym at 6.30am, a 9-5 job and cooking and cleaning daily. Sometimes being a grown up can actually be fun, if only paying bills was this fun. 

Evening Skincare Routine

Tonight I'm going to talk you through the junk I slap on my face before bed each night. Now that was written very lightheartedly because as all makeup lovers know the secret to good makeup is good skin and good skin comes from good skincare so it is important to keep on top of.

My skin has improved dramatically over the past six months from the point where I didn't even like my housemates seeing me without my makeup to where I feel comfortable enough to walk to the park (and even popped into the shopping centre by it) with absolutely nothing on my face. I think that this is due to a number of reasons, but good and consistent skincare is definitely a factor in this. 

This is what my evening skincare looks like at the moment. 

First things first, almost as soon as I get in, unless I have to go back out, I take my makeup off. For that I use two cotton pads, one for each eye, and one large one for the rest of my face with a squirt of Bioderma on which I've previously raved about here. 

Before bed I tie my hair back with a novelty hairband, these two are my favourites. 

Remember these? I could never find things with my name on as a child so having a headband with it on obviously warranted keeping. 

This almost looks like I have a skin irritation and am applying cream for that. I promise it is just moisturiser but the important point is that my headband has the Powerpuff Girls on it! Serious points for anyone who remembers and can still name the Powerpuff Girls and their monkey evil arch nemesis. 

That was completely off on a tangent, back to the skincare. For cleanser and toner I (and my bank balence) have been enjoying keeping it simple so I use Botanics cleanser and Boots Tea Tree & Whitchazel toner. The next step is the most pricey and the one I need to replace but am not looking forward to the investment. It is the Estée Lauder Advance Night Repair serum and I absolutely ruddy love this stuff. It is horribly expensive and I think is the most expensive beauty thing I own (outside of hair appliances) but everyone says that they really notice the difference when they stop using it so I haven't figured out yet whether or not I'm going to take the risk of seeing if this is true of me as well or if I'll just take the plunge and repurchase it. Next is another simple (and much cheaper) item which is my moisturiser, it is just Number 7's night cream in the formulae for combination to oily. I then use an eye cream, I've not found any that I believe to be miracle workers so at the moment I'm just working my way through testers I've revived over the years. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Finally I have been using Bio Oil on the very bad area of scarring on the right hand side of my face. Again I'm not pinning the improvement down to one thing, but I definitely think the Bio Oil has played it's part in contributing to my better complexion. 

Office Outfit of the Day Part 2

This week's work outfit of the day includes an item featured before as a favourite of mine.

It's the good old purple vintage blouse which I wore with a plain black skirt from M&S and my RayBan Aviators. 

I wore my hair in a very lose French plait and had natural makeup. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love getting ready for work. 

Westfield: A Review

Even before I moved down here I liked to think of myself as experienced when it came to the London shopping scene. However I have a confession to make, I have never been to either Westfield. Shocking I know, but today I decided to go and see what all of the fuss was about and went to the one at Shepherds Bush.

To begin with my outfit was very casual, I spent all day yesterday dressed up and in slightly uncomfortable shoes and so I decided for just a trip to a shopping centre I couldn't be bothered to dress up. Very out if character for me I know. 

I wore floral print baggy trousers from Zara, a white vest top from Laura Ashley, a denim shirt from M&S and Animal flip flops with Topshop sunglasses and a pale blue handbag from TK Maxx. 

Next onto the actual shopping. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the right frame of mind or if I chose to go at the wrong time of year, but I just couldn't find anything I was looking for. I had forgotten that it is near on impossible to buy sandals in July because the shops have now started stocking the autumn collection! 

Though this does mean that there are sales on and this is where my day has been successful. 

I bought this adorable bag from Fossil. It was in the sale reduced from £109 to £55. I've been looking for a small summer bag for a long time now and this one is surprisingly spacious with pockets for phone keys and oyster on the inside and a secret zip pocket on the back. So although it is meant to be for days where I don't need to carry around my massive Mulberry or my other huge handbags, it will fit a lot in. 

Though saying that my purse is too big and bulky to go in this bag. 

So I went to Aspinals where I found this beautiful seaude purse. Though it was described as a cosmetics pouch I'm going to use it for cash change and essential cards with the Fossil bag. It was reduced from £59 to £29.50 and had an extra 10% off so it came in at £26.55.

Finally something I had actually been looking for. When I was on the tube this morning I noticed that my beloved Animal flip flops had gone through the sole. Disappointly there was no Animal or any other kind of surf shop there (or not that I could find anyway) but I did stumble across these in Fat Face. They were £15 but with 10% student discount came in at £13.50 and the more I look at them the more I like them actually, though I am still on the hunt for sandals and flip flops. If anyone knows of anywhere still stocking nice ones, and not just the crappy end of season ones, in July let me know. 

Anyway slightly disappointed with what I had hoped was going to be a big day of big spending I made my way home only to pop into Sport Direct (glamorous I know). I need a new water bottle and shorts for the gym and again I'm not sure if I was being daft but Westfield just didn't seem to have that. Fortunately the Sport Direct near mine did and I picked these up. 

Nothing too exciting. The shorts are essential for exercise in this weather and we're £6 and the water bottle was the only one in a nice colour way and was £5. Good old Sport Direct. 

So after having felt I had spent lots of money but achieved nothing whatsoever I was about to go home when I walked past a nail bar and knew exactly what to do to cheer myself up.

I got bright orange shellacs and I can't stop looking at my fingers and smiling. 

All in all I was disappointed with Westfield today, but I'm willing to give it another go at a different time of year and I am also prepared to try the bigger one at Stratford to see how that compares. The things I do for research eh.