September Favourites ’19

Image taken from GIPHY

How are we now in October? My favourite month whizzed by so damn quickly and I didn’t get much chance to see or enjoy it. I did really love September though, it was a month of going out and doing things, as well as staying in and spending time with Dane, which I’ve really loved.

September was also a bit meh and I received some crappy news, including the Japanese language course I enrolled to being cancelled last minute (I got my money back FYI), I found out I can’t get anything to help with my anxiety on flights and I found out I have the first potential signs of cavities in my teeth. People who know me know how much I love my teeth. I’m using some special toothpaste now that may help to reverse this and I really hope it does.

So yeah… September wasn’t the best, sadly. 😦

I’m glad we’re in October now as I’m excited for so many things this month! Halloween, the Pokemon Center having a pop up shop in London, a week off with Dane and even some days off to relax. It’ll be a lovely month to chill and start enjoying autumn.

Anyhoo, enough of me rambling, here are my favourites from September!

• Philosophy Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette.

I love this EDT so much from Philosophy and I’ve owned it for what feels like forever! My mom gifted me this whilst I still lived at home as she received it in a set and didn’t want to use it herself. It’s a gorgeous soft scent and isn’t like anything else I own. I use this daily for work as it’s my go to right now, but once a week I’ll change it up for something else. It’s just perfect and the scent isn’t too strong either so if I don’t want anything heavy, this perfect.

• LISTERINE® Total Care Mouthwash.

Since my dentist breaking the news about my teeth that I mentioned earlier, I was recommended to mouthwash after meals, which I do after every meal right now. If I don’t, I used chewing gum instead. I bought some little miniature bottles so that I could carry these around, take to work and even think about taking on holiday in the future. I also have some Colgate mouthwash too, but I love the LISTERINE one more! I plan to pick up a big bottle of this in the future and I can fill up the little bottles. This mouthwash really does leave my mouth feeling clean and fresh, which I love! The Colgate one doesn’t do that.

• Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream.

I’ve owned this since the start of 2019, as I planned to use it loads to help my cuticles go lovely and soft. However, it was only from the start of September that I began to use it properly! When I cut my nails and paint them, I decide to use it all over my hands, as well as my cuticles to help my eczema. It’s been really bad lately with the change of weather but the cuticle cream really is helping. 🙂 It smells gorgeous too!

• Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash.

I picked this up towards the end of September and it’s by far one of the best things I have bought in 2019! I love the Tangle Teezer brushes and discovered them last year and since then I am so grateful that I finally gave them a go. I decided I wanted to give the wet version a go, but I wanted to try and pick up the old version as it looked good. Since buying this drying my hair after washing it has already become so much easier! When I brush my hair in the shower after washing, I feel like I’m brushing away loads of excess water, as well as smoothing is ready to be brushed and dried after. It really is a pleasure to use! I picked mine up from TK Maxx for £7.99, which I thought was a decent price.

• Yankee Candle Snowflake Cookie.

This was a brand new candle at the start of September, one that Dane had bought me years before and that I have only just started to burn! I love burning candles, especially during the colder months so when September started, I knew I had to start getting my candles going again! I decided to start burning Snowflake Cookie as it was one of the few large Yankee Candle jars that just appealed to me. Christmas scents from Yankee Candle are my favourite, so I make sure to burn them all year around!

So now my beauty favourites are done, time to talk about the miscellaneous favourites of the month!

Image taken from Seventeen.com

Favourite TV Show – 13 Reasons Why Season 3.

I binge watched this at the end of the month (mostly as I worked through my October newsletter, this post and even my October wish list post) and I LOVED it so much. I worried that this would make me think, “Oh God they’ve ruined it even more!” after how bad season 2 was. To be fair, nothing could top season 1… So when season 2 came out I wasn’t expecting much. It felt like they were constantly bashing Hannah and it was boring. However, season 3 has really brought it back and I loved it! I don’t want to talk too much about it in case of spoilers, but something has happened to Bryce and everyone is trying to find out what and how, all whilst trying to keep their shit together. It’s crazy! The show (as it does) covers a lot of serious topics that are good to be spoken about and it’s good. If you’re yet to watch season 3, then get to it! If you’ve never watched 13 Reasons Why then I recommend it, but be careful if you have mental health issues like I do. Season 1 was good, but some of the topics were upsetting, especially as suicide is a massive factor.

Image taken from GIPHY

 

Favourite Movie – Detective Pikachu.

I know this was mentioned on my monthly favourites back in May but I have to mention it again 4 months later as this film is now out and I made sure to pre-order it ready for when it came out. The day it came out me and Dane played games instead of watching, but the day after I cooked us a yummy dinner and we sat down to watch the movie as we chilled out. It was just as good as I remember it being in the cinema and we even watched all the extras too, which were decent but sadly not as good as I feel they could have been. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t feel that extras and behind the scenes stuff on DVD’s/Blu-rays are as good as they used to be…

Image taken from GIPHY

Favourite Book – Erm…

Yeah I didn’t read throughout September. Which sucks to be fair. I read so much in August and then September came and I read sweet FA. I either didn’t have time due to busy, or I didn’t want to as I was playing games instead. I’m terrible for reading manga these days and due to that I do feel sad. I still have Elfen Lied to start reading again, as well as catching up with Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and Himouto! Umaru-chan. I know I’ll catch up with reading… I honestly will! I’d take manga to work but I like to play Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and do blog work on my break.

 

Favourite Album – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade.

I loved this album back in the day when it came out and I remember buying it from HMV as I had some gift vouchers I needed to use. I loved it and listened to it all the time… Even if my friends at the time hated it. I made some friends through this band, one of them who is now my best friend. One of the best live performances I’ve seen was MCR when they toured for this album. They played the set in the order of the album, it was amazing and I adored it. I’ve started using Spotify at work so I have my music on that I want to listen to, without annoying YouTube adverts coming up every 5 minutes. So I decided to add loads of my favourite albums, including this one. This album just has so many memories behind it and I love it.

Image taken from GIPHY

Image taken from GIPHY

Favourite Game – Borderlands 3 and Untitled Goose Game.

I couldn’t just mention one of the other of these games this month. Both deserved a spot on here!

First of all, I LOVE the gif I chose to use for Borderlands 3 because these two characters (Zane and Amara) are the two that me and Dane play when we play together. The day the game came out, me and Dane both booked it off so we could play together and relax. It was awesome! The whole weekend we pretty much played this game nonstop! This has got to be the first time I have played a first person shooter game without dying constantly (like seriously every 5 minutes!) and rage quitting. I love this game, it’s hilarious and fun to play with people. I’ve not been playing it much the past week as I’ve been busy chilling out, or playing other games instead. I never played the previous 2 Borderlands games but that doesn’t matter anyway! Honestly, go and pick this game up. 🙂

I wrote in September how excited I was for certain games to come out (which you can read here), with Untitled Goose Game being number one on that list, as it was coming out the soonest. I got home from work and downloaded it to play. Everyone was mad for this game when it came out and so was I! Both me and Dane played this game together and it was absolutely hilarious to play! We still have some bonus stuff to do, even after “completing” the game, which is proving to be so much fun. Honestly, if you own a Nintendo Switch or a Steam account, definitely download and play. Some people said to me that they don’t see what’s the point of this game before it came out. Those people clearly don’t know how to open their minds to new things. 😛

So those are all my favourites for September! September did indeed go by in a blur and I can’t believe we’re in October now. Before we know it, it’ll be December and Christmas will be upon us. It’s crazy!

How were your September’s for you? What were your favourites throughout the month and overall how was it? Please let me know in the comments down below.

Until next time, take care all and I hope you’re having a lovely week so far!

October Favourites ’17

It’s definitely and rapidly becoming my favourite time of year! It’s getting darker earlier now, we get an “extra hour” in bed, Halloween was yesterday, Bonfire Night is over the weekend AND Christmas is going to be here before we know it.

It’s a new month, November at that which can only mean one thing, it’s time for a new favourites post. It also means Christmas is looming, AHH! 😀

Let’s just jump straight into this months favourites.

• Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shampoo.

I picked this shampoo up not long after I got back from holiday. I knew I was short of the Liz Earle shampoo I use so went to order some more, only to find out that Boots doesn’t appear to be stocking it anymore! I know I can get it elsewhere… But at £10 a bottle I wanted to try and pick something up a little lighter on my monies. This was definitely cheaper and it’s amazing for the price too! I’ve found it’s really helped my hair stay cleaner for longer, as well as look and feel soft and healthy. The Liz Earle one did too, but I just felt like it didn’t leave my hair feeling as clean as this one does! It also carries a gorgeous coconut scent which reminds me of Fuerteventura.

• Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet EDT.

I’ve owned this perfume quite a while now and when I first bought it I loved it, but after a while I fell out of love with it… I found that whilst it smelt amazing, due to it being a toilette that the scent wouldn’t last as long as I wanted it to. This being said it’s also really nice to use a light perfume and it’s one I wore to work one day and it’s just stuck in my handbag since. I’ll probably end up switching it up soon, as I always tend to do, but I am trying to use up some of my older perfumes so I can make way for any new ones I wish to try.

• Nails Inc Rainbow Wishes Nail Polish.

This is one part of the Unicorn Nail Polish Duo Kit and although I love both shades just as much, I prefer this one out of the two. I love wearing it on my weekends off of work as it looks so pretty without being over the top. I think I’ll wear this Bonfire Night alongside the other shade from the duo.

• Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Paint in shade Pop Up (review here).

I haven’t worn my Barry M lip paints much since buying them, which is a shame as they’re actually amazing! My mental health hasn’t been too great towards the end of October so to try and cheer myself up I wore this shade quite a lot and I forgot what a gorgeous cherry red it is! I know I’m going to wear the hell out of it throughout the festive period!

• Palmolive Gourmet Chocolate Shower Cream.

Ages ago when these shower creams first came out I made sure to stock up on them whilst the were a £1 each and after stocking up on those I bought LOADS of other shower cream/gel. Finally those are all gone and used and I can start using this amazing chocolate shower cream again. These are some of my favourite shower creams to use as they smell and even look like melted milk chocolate. Not only does it smell amazing but it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth all day long. I really recommend these shower creams in all of the scents!

So now my beauty favourites are done, time to talk about the miscellaneous favourites of the month!

Favourite TV Show – Stranger Things.

As many people will know season 2 of Stranger Things came out under a week ago and everyone has gone crazy for it, including me and Dane! As soon as it went live on Netflix me and Dane started to watch it. We got the new season completed in just 2 days and it is AMAZING! I didn’t know what to expect from watching the trailers and I didn’t really think much about it. Only when we watched it was I trying to constantly guess what was going on. At one point towards the end of the season I was shouting at the character(s), you know, as you do. 😛 I just enjoyed it so much and I already can’t wait for season 3… Which sounds like it’s already been announced.

Favourite Film – The Anthem of the Heart (Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda).

This was a film Dane had told me about and we watched it one of the days in October. I can safely said I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and would gladly watch again! It’s about a girl who loves to talk and talks loads, which ends up getting her into some “trouble”. She is cursed after this and whenever she talks after she feels like she needs to be sick. From there she becomes part of a school project which involves music, which also seems to help her find her voice and start to talk again. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to give anything away! It’s an amazing anime film and one you should watch if you love films such as A Silent Voice or Your Name.

Favourite Book – Erm…

I actually don’t know why I have this option on here anymore as I don’t seem to read these days! I feel bad for not reading, but I feel like all I do lately is write my blog, watch random films and shows and play games. Reading hasn’t really factored into it lately. I really want to start reading manga again however! I have loads of K-ON! that I need to read! November will definitely be the month of starting to read again. 😛

Favourite Song/Album – Saliva – Back Into Your System

This is an album I actually listened to earlier on in the week when driving my car and I always forget how much I love it. It’s by far one of my favourite albums and whenever I listen to it it cheers me up so much. I’ve had a crappy couple of months recently so to listen to this album before and even after some good news it’s made me very happy. This is the song that introduced me to Saliva and due to that it’s my favourite of theirs, as well as from this album.

Favourite Game – South Park: The Fractured But Whole.

I can’t believe how long I had to wait for this game to come out, but it has definitely been worth it! I’m surprised I haven’t finished it yet to be honest but this is due to various reasons, Netflix being the main one. 😛 It’s nothing like the first game in my opinion and if anything it’s way better! There just feels like there’s more to do and it already feels like there’s more game play as well which is amazing. I just can’t wait to finish it! I intend to play loads Friday when I finish work as well as over the weekend.

So those were my favourites from October! I still can’t believe we’re into November now, the year is still going by way too quickly and it creeps me out.

Not only is Christmas and New Year next month, but my birthday will be the month after and I can’t believe I’ll be 28!

I’m excited for all those things to come however! So what were your favourites from October? Make sure to let me know in the comments down below!

Until next time, take care all and I hope you had an awesome Halloween.

Holiday Haul!

Woohoo I’m officially back from my holiday (almost a week to be exact!), and boy was it good. The sun was out most days, and I’m now sporting a gorgeous natural tan. Don’t be too jealous! Whilst I was away I did a little bit of shopping. How could I not take advantage of a tax free island? Would have been rude not to… I didn’t buy as much as I actually thought I was going to, which left me feeling pleasantly surprised. Not only did I buy myself some odd bits and pieces, but I also bought some Christmas and birthday presents too.

The first things I picked up were actually from Birmingham airport. Duty free is always a must have to splurge on before you get on your plane, but this being said I didn’t exactly grab many offers… I won’t lie when I say that I wished I had waited until I had arrived at Fuerteventura to buy the first thing, but no point in crying over spilt milk, eh?

• Dior Blooming Bouquet 100ml EDT Gift Set

I’ve had my eye on this perfume for quite some time now after receiving a sample of it in the post back in the summer. It’s an eau de toilette so it’s a lovely light perfume, and perfect for summer due to it’s fruity, and floral notes. This set cost a purse crying £80.00, which came with a 100ml bottle of Blooming Bouquet, as well as a 7.5ml refill bottle. The refill bottle is stunning, definitely a posher version of a Travello bottle. So for the high price tag, it was sort of worth the money really. I wore this every evening we went out and I loved it. This will probably be my go to scent for my new job, as well as for spring and summer.

• Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer

I LOVE this stuff! It’s definitely a must have for me now since it recently returned into my beauty regime. I’m really low on my first tube so I decided to pick up another one whilst I was in duty free. I used this in the evenings whenever we went out, and due to how light weight it is on the skin, it meant it was perfect when it was still warm outside.Due to this, I would say this is a definite must have for holidays! The airport had a special offer where if you bought one it would cost £20.00, but if you bought the three/four gift set, it was only £53.00! I was really tempted by the special gift set (as you can only buy it at the airport… apparently), but considering how much I had just spent on the Dior perfume, I decided to leave it. Next time my parents fly out I’ll ask them to pick the set up for me and give them the money back. My boyfriend will be jetting out in January for a holiday, so I may even ask him to pick it up for me!

I have to say that one thing I hate about Fuerteventura is how they have a chain of lingerie shops called Women’s Secret, and we don’t! This being said, we can order online from there but meh it’s not the same thing as going in store and going through all the amazing pieces they have on offer. That and it’s cheaper in Euro’s. This being said we now have Victoria’s Secret, and that’s my favourite lingerie shop so I can’t be too sad about not getting Women’s Secret. I only picked up a couple of things whilst I was in Women’s Secret. I didn’t intend on bringing anything back, but alas I couldn’t help myself, and even then I was pretty good. The possibility of bringing back some pajamas really did tempt me, but I left it and just bought loads of knickers instead… 😛

• Hipster briefs (in black, white, and grey)

As you can see I bought quite a few of these knickers… This wasn’t even my intention to be honest! I originally bought a pack of black briefs to keep at my house in Fuerteventura, which I left behind but I loved them so much I just had to buy another pack to bring home with me. This resulted in my buying two more packs, a white pack, and a grey pack. I have no regrets because these knickers are just so bloody comfortable! If there is a pair of knickers sent from heaven, then they’re these. As you can probably see these are hipster briefs, comfortable, and perfect for hugging my curvy bum in all the right places. These weren’t on sale or anything, but cost €12.99 a pack, and you get three in a packet. I didn’t mind paying this price to be honest as I just love these so much, and doubt I’ll find any as good in the UK.

• Mickey and Minnie Mouse knickers

These were a bit of an impulse buy but they were on sale from €12.99 down to just €5.99. Who could say no to that? These are really cute, yet sexy, and comfortable. They’re grey with a picture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse having a kiss and a cuddle on the one side, super cute! I am such an unsexy person when it comes to lingerie, so I choose childish, and comfortable over sexy, and lace any day!

One of my favourite places to shop in Fuerteventura is Correlejo, it’s basically like a smaller version of London (WAY SMALLER) to the island, and thus the place to go shopping. It’s especially a great place for surfing, and the fashion there is the best with the surf, skate, and (surprisingly) snow shops. This is the main reason why I like going there, as there are over a handful of these shops dotted around Correlejo, and although I wanted to go twice to make sure I visited all the shops, I only managed to pop into a couple on one visit. My favourite shop is one that is near the top of the high street as they sell some complete bargains in there, and they’re all high brand names such as Vans, DC Shoes, Roxy, Billabong, etc. So I picked up a couple of t-shirts from there.

• Vans Disney The Little Mermaid Ariel Raglan T-Shirt

I’ve mentioned on my blog in the past how much I’ve loved the collaboration between Vans and Disney. I did really like the look of The Little Mermaid goodies they brought out in the first collection, but not enough to actually pay the prices Vans had things for sale at. When I spotted that this shop were selling one of the Ariel t-shirts with 30% off I decided to snap one up quick. They only had large sizes left and whilst I probably should have tried it on, I decided to get it anyway. There’s nothing wrong with a baggy t-shirt. I’ll be teaming this up with some baggy jeans, denim shorts, and anything really. It’ll be perfect for lazy days, and shopping trips. I picked it up €23.00, bargain! When I tried it on at home, it felt baggy enough that it wasn’t swamping me, which is perfect really. I intend to rock this Christmas Day.

• DC Shoes T-Shirt

Another t-shirt from the same shop. I saw this and knew I had to have it. I didn’t want to worry if I left it behind I would regret it. This is a navy t-shirt with the DC Shoes logo in red, and white. It actually reminds me of a t-shirt my boyfriend owns by DC Shoes which is one of the reasons I picked it up. I love that t-shirt of his, and when we first got together I would constantly ask to borrow it to wear, or tell him to wear it. So it’s nice to kind of have my own version. That’s just so soppy isn’t it? I picked this up in a medium which is the only size they had for this one, I’m sure it’ll fit fine! This was 50% off in then sale so I only paid €13.00 for it. When I finally got this home and tried it on, it fit lovely but has a very odd boxy looking fit on the top half of it. I’m sure this will go away the more I wear it.

I didn’t buy much make up whilst on holiday, which I am somewhat surprised about, but at the same time I didn’t want to buy much anyway. So this being said, I did really good! Although I have three things here, I only bought two of them as one was a gift, but I still wanted to mention it here. These are all things I have wanted for years, so it was lovely to finally treat myself to them.

• YSL Kiss & Blush Soft Matte Colour in shade 3 Rose Libre

One evening when I stayed in I watched the 2014 film about Yves Saint Laurent which I’d downloaded specifically to watch on the plane to or from my holiday. I’m glad I didn’t watch it on the plane now to be honest, as I enjoyed it more during an evening in, whilst chilling in bed. It kind of gave me the push to buy the lip colour which I had nearly bought when I came here in January. It’s a gorgeous creamy lipstick and blush, which reminds me of a creamier version of Collection 2000’s lip cream (in shade Cotton Candy). Rose Libre is a cool neutral rose shade, and one that can be worn all year around, especially in spring! Due to how light it is on the lips this will be perfect to wear for my new job. It’s definitely a shade for wearing to smart events and such. I doubt that I’ll wear it as a blush, as regular readers will know, I don’t wear a full face of make up. This was an absolute steal at just €29.00 considering they cost £28.00! I’m sure I’ll be reviewing this in the New Year.

• Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Protector in shade 01 Rose Shimmer

This is another product that I’ve been lusting after for ages, again since January and even before then! My friend Ali over at (Maliberry Makeup) reviewed this not long ago (link to that review here), which opened my eyes to this shade, as I had my eyes on another shade beforehand. This is a lovely non sticky lip gloss that gives a nice conditioning feeling to the lips, whilst leaving them with a natural shade, this one being a delicate pink shade, which is somewhat bright. These Clarins Lip Protectors also have a gorgeous sweet scent to them as well, an aspect I love in lip products. I’ve worn this to work a few times now and it looked natural and beautiful. It’s going to be a staple for me when I don’t fancy wearing anything dark on my lips. These cost £18.00 in the UK, but I picked this up for just €12.00 which is so damn cheap! I wish I had bought more now I’m back home, but two of these is more than enough.

• Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Protector in shade 05 Candy Shimmer

This was actually a gift from my dad. He managed to snag it alongside another present for me for just €8.00! I couldn’t believe it when he told me, but he’s got a way with words, like myself really when it comes to trying to snag bargains. This is the shade I have been lusting after for years after my friend Poppy reviewed it over on her blog years ago. It just looked like such a gorgeous darker pink nude shade, something I don’t find myself going towards to be honest. It’s more of a peach shade and definitely darker than Rose Shimmer. Like Rose Shimmer, it has the sweetie scent to it, which really gives it a lovely feel overall. I’m going to be wearing these loads throughout the warmer months of the year, as they’re not sticky at all, and are also lightweight.

I didn’t intend on buying any games whilst I was on holiday, but alas I did… Oops!

• Nintendo 3DS games – New Style Boutique 2 Fashion Forward and Cooking Mama Bon Appetit!

I wasn’t going to buy any games whilst on holiday… Even though I was looking for the Style Boutique game the day after arriving. I had downloaded the demo to play whilst there, and I fell in love with the game after finishing the demo. I didn’t buy it until a couple of days before we were due to go home, and I paid hardly anything on it too! It costs £28.00, but over there it only cost me €27.99, which I thought was pretty decent. A day later I went back to the electronic shop I bought the first game from and picked up a Cooking Mama game. I loved Cooking Mama when it first came out, so to be able to play a newer version of the series made me happy, and I paid even less for it than Style Boutique. It only cost me €21.99. I didn’t bring the games boxes back to the UK with me, instead I just bought the game chips with me, which is of course what you can spy in the picture above.

In the part of the island we live in/stayed in they have their market every Tuesday and Saturday from 10am until 2pm, so we had to go and have a quick mooch around before we were due to come home. We went on the last Tuesday we were there, and within an hour we were done looking around, and buying things for ourselves, as well as for other people. I bought myself a little something, and my dad bought me and my mom a few things too.

• Black Baggy Genie Pants/Trousers

This is what I ended up buying for myself. I saw one of the waitresses wearing some pants similar to these, and I fell in love with them, so I knew I had to find myself something similar. These were only €10.00 which is cheap as chips! I wish I had bought another pair now, but alas I left it to just one pair. I wore them loads the last couple of days we were on holiday, and I knew I would be bringing them home with me. They’re pretty thin so they’ll be good if I just want to quickly pop out to run errands, and especially great for summer days, and evenings out with friends.

• Rainbow Scarf

This was another purchase from the market, and one my dad bought for me. He wanted to buy my mom something nice to bring home for her, and the only thing he could think of getting her was a scarf. You could buy one scarf for €7.00, or two for €20.00 so he offered to get me one too. I couldn’t really find much I was after, but when I spotted this scarf I knew I had to have it. I used to love anything with a rainbow pattern on, have done since I was a kid. I don’t know why to be honest. Since getting home I’ve been wearing this scarf for my new job, and it’s really lovely.

• Michael Kors Small Riley Satchel in Navy

I didn’t buy this, but it was a gift from my parents, bought whilst me and my dad were on holiday. It’s an early Christmas present, and I would have bought it myself but it was pretty expensive, and since buying all my Christmas presents before I went on holiday I was pretty skint… This bag was really cheap too, and before anyone assumes it must be fake it is NOT. It is very much real. This originally cost €294.00 but with 30% off it went down to €210.00. This in pounds made it £152.00, a complete steal for a Michael Kors bag, especially when this is meant to cost £260.00 (in John Lewis) it was a really good price! So far I’ve been using it since the last couple of days of holiday, and so far at work and I love it. It’s a small bag, but it fits loads in there, and it fits in all the things I need and that’s it! I picked it up in the colour navy, even though they had it in a nude shade too. I would have loved it in red or purple to be honest, but beggars can’t be choosers and quite frankly navy is gorgeous anyway! I will be writing a post about this bag before the New Year, so keep your eyes peeled for it.

But that is all I picked up whilst I was on holiday! I don’t think I did too bad to be perfectly honest, as I could have bought more. I did also buy some presents for my mom, and a couple of things for my boyfriend, and my friends.

I had a lovely holiday though, and being able to treat myself after graduating from university was really good to do.

I doubt I’ll be treating myself anytime soon… Well maybe not until the Boxing Day sales anyway, or my birthday!

Have any of you bought yourself some little treats at all in the lead up to Christmas? Make sure to let me know in the comments down below.

Until next time, take care all, and I hope you’ve all had a great week so far.

December/Christmas Wish List

Yes it’s finally December, the month of Christmas and splurging on the ones you love! I’m currently not in the UK, instead I’m basking in some warmer weather on holiday. However that doesn’t mean that I’m not thinking about Christmas looming and what presents I wish to buy for my loved ones… Of course what gifts I would like to receive myself.

As I do every year, this is my December/Christmas wish list! It was pretty hard to do because there isn’t much I want that I haven’t already mentioned in previous wish lists.

• Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

If there is one thing I love about Lush Christmas, it’s when they bring back their old classic Snow Fairy. I’ve only ever owned one huge bottle of this stuff, which surprises me as I love it so much. It reminds me of the children’s medicine Calpol, in both the shade and scent. Now Lush have brought out their huge 1kg bottles, I want to get one for Christmas as a present is possible, or I’ll treat myself to some before Christmas. Either way, I’ll be getting some yummy Snow Fairy in my life this year!

• Yankee Candle in Christmas Eve

Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love Yankee Candle’s. Lately I haven’t been burning them as much, but as soon as I’m back from my holiday I’ll be burning my Christmas scents in preparation for the big day. I have my eye on three of the Christmas scents, but this one is at the top of the list. I’ve smelt Christmas Eve year after year and always lusted after it. It smells fruity, yet warm. Not a sickly scent at all! It doesn’t particularly remind me of Christmas to be honest like some of Yankee Candle’s other scents, but even so it is still a lovely scent and one I would like to add to my collection.

• Pokemon Center Chiku-Chiku Sewing Vulpix Plush

I love Pokemon, and due to how much I love it, I hate that I can’t live in Japan to be able to regularly visit the Pokemon Center stores. However, some lovely people over there as well as in the UK will buy products and sell them to desperate and sad people like myself. eBay is one of the places that is great for picking up Pokemon Center items, and it is there where I have seen this adorable Vulpix plush. I am such a huge nerd when it comes to Pokemon, so I’m even more so of one when it comes to plushies. My favourite part about this one is the tails, they just look so adorable and realistic. I just need this plushie in my life!

• Pandora Christmas Puppy Charm

Every Christmas, birthday, and anniversary I ask for a Pandora charm, or at least hint as it which ones I like. It’s a good time of year for an extra special treat like this and this year Pandora have brought out some really nice Christmas charms, including this one. The majority of charms on my Pandora bracelet are all animal themed, this wasn’t done on purpose either. I love puppies, so this cute little Christmas puppy charm is a must have for me! With his cute little Father Christmas hat on too, what more can you ask for?

• Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet EDT

At the time of writing this post (a week before it’s due to be published!) I should have bought this for myself either at duty-free before getting on the plane, or even whilst I’m on my holiday as a treat to myself. I don’t need anymore perfume to be fair, but I am a perfume collector, it has to be said. Plus I don’t intend to take any on holiday with me, so I shall be picking this up to keep me happy during my two weeks away. I used to really dislike EDT perfumes due to them not lasting that long, or having a strong scent, but these days I sometimes opt for them due to those reasons. I don’t know if it’s due to age, but strong perfumes sometimes give me headaches of late and it kind of sucks. So I often opt for something lighter. Some EDT perfumes tend to last just as long as EDP so I don’t see the issue myself. This will be lovely and light to wear throughout the day, and in the evening for when I don’t fancy anything heavy.

• The Unloved DVD

I love this film! I would watch it online monthly without delay but these days I cannot seem to find it lately. I didn’t know it was available to buy on DVD until recently, and now it’s something I want to add to my collection. I contemplated picking this up myself but I may as well leave it for someone to buy for me, or even pick up myself if I get any Christmas money. It’s written and directed by Samantha Morton (most known role being Minority Report) and is based on her experience in the UK care system. It is true at times due to this, and is such a wonderful, and hard-hitting film. I recommend everyone to watch it if you haven’t done so already.

• Olivia Burton Woodland Squirrel and Bunny Watches

Just to get things straight first of all, I don’t want both of these. I like them both yes, but I just can’t decide which I prefer, which is why both are featured in this post. In the blogging world Olivia Burton watches are big, and a must have item. I myself am not a huge fan of watches. I wear one yes, but I’m not obsessed with how it looks and such. I never really have been. As long as it looks lovely, doesn’t get in the way, and most importantly tells me the time… I’m happy! Everyone was obsessed with one of her watches that featured a bee (this one to be precise) and it is gorgeous, don’t get me wrong but it didn’t appeal to me. I recently had a look around the website just to be nosey, and see if she made a watch with a fox on… Although she doesn’t have one with the little orange, sly cutie on, she does infact have some woodland animal themed watches, two of them that I now have my eye on and will be talking about on this post. First of all we have the squirrel watch, a gorgeous dark brown and gold watch with an adorable squirrel on the face. This is a simple and classic watch, with a cute twist, and reminds me of the sort of thing I would wear in autumn due to the colour scheme. The second watch is a cute little bunny watch, a more girly watch than the first due to the rose-pink and silver colour scheme, and who can say no to the cute little bunny? This one is a must have for any girly girls out there, and bunny lovers alike. This is definitely a more spring and summer watch due to the colour scheme. I am swaying more towards the squirrel due to the colours, but I also then sway to the bunny as it just looks that little cuter to me. I guess I just wish that Olivia Burton would bring out a fox watch! Then I wouldn’t have this dilemma…

Either way, that is the end of my December/Christmas wish list! I could have probably put more on here, but alas I guess I don’t really want all that much.

So, what are you after for Christmas? Make sure to let me know in the comments.

Until next time all, take care and I’m off to soak some more rays!

September Wish List

I’m so poor, I swear to God. I shouldn’t even be making a wish list! But it’s called a wish list for a reason… So it’s kind of acceptable, right?

I’m lusting after quite a lot with Christmas just around the corner and my parents offering to get me a gift for finishing my MA. But even so, I’m still poor and I can’t even treat myself after finally finishing uni. Oh well, when I have money I’ll treat myself for sure!

However, until then I’ll just have to lust after these gorgeous things. Oh be still my beating heart… There are quite a few let’s say luxurious items on my wish list this month and that’s because that is all I seem to be lusting over at the moment. Which in turn is extremely annoying!

• OPI Nail Lacquer in Coca Cola Visions of Georgia Green.

I love me some OPI polishes and one of the collections I love the most definitely has to be the Coca Cola collection from last summer. I picked up some of the shades in January in the miniature form and I love them all! So when I heard that OPI were bringing out a couple of more shades to go alongside the collection, I wondered what they would look like, and of course they’re gorgeous. There are two and the one that I loved the most is this gorgeous metallic shade called Visions of Georgia Green. This looks like a pretty sheer polish and one I would wear throughout the year. I’d love to pick this up for when I go on holiday, but we shall see!

• Christian Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet EDT.

I recently got this as a sample in the post and it really does smell beautiful! I remember giving this a sniff when I was on holiday in January and it didn’t seem to smell as nice then as it does now I have the sample. I’m very wary about EDT perfumes due to how weak they can smell, as well as how much they need to be topped up. It’s just a really fresh and light scent that smells beautiful. This isn’t cheap, but I think when I go on holiday I’ll pick this up in duty free, or whilst I’m away considering it’s a tax free island.

• Nintendo New 3DS XL Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Bundle.

This is something I have already mentioned on my wish list, I’m pretty sure it was last month to be honest. BUT in August Nintendo finally announced that they would release a bundle with a special edition 3DS, as well as the new Animal Crossing game. I LOVE Animal Crossing, it really does make me happy and helps me to relax when I’m stressed out as well. My boyfriend has mentioned buying me this for Christmas, but I would ideally like it for when it comes out. It isn’t out for another month yet, so we shall see what happens.

• Lush Granny Takes A Dip Bubble Bar.

I never liked the original bath bomb version of this. I found it smelt way too strong and if anything gave me massive headaches. However I really did like this one due to the scent not being a strong. It would be one of those treats to have after pole dance fitness in the coming autumn and winter times. I may treat myself to this soon, especially since my MA is now finished. But I shall see… I have plenty of Lush products to get used up.

• Microsoft Xbox One.

This is a luxurious item and one I doubt I will get for a very long time… Probably Christmas if at all! Me and my boyfriend always play Minecraft when we’re at his with two of our friends and it’s definitely become a love of mine. Minecraft like Animal Crossing is such a relaxing game, and after being so stressed out lately, and my anxiety being really high, it has helped me calm down and unwind. When I felt poorly on Monday I played Minecraft and it really did help. So I would like my own Xbox One so I can play with my boyfriend and our friends from my own home, instead of just from his. Of course, this is expensive and the TV I have in my room would also struggle to run it’s graphics on it… So it would be rendered useless I guess.

• Yankee Candle in Cotton Candy.

This is one of the special appearances that Yankee Candle bring out on a regular basis and one I have been eyeing up for a while. I gave this a sniff last month and it smells delicious! I was imagining it would be really strong and sickly, but it’s actually really light and smells like sugar. It’s a very nice scent, and one I would like to own soon for when autumn time comes. I think if I have any cash spare soon, and it’s still for sale, I’ll pick it up.

• Vivienne Westwood Henry Winter Tartan Bag.

As old readers will know, I love Vivienne Westwood bags and it’s a brand I’ve always wanted to own something of, especially a bag. I saw my dream one at the start of the year, but I made the mistake of not ordering and missed my chance. However, I have soon realised not to let such a good deal in the sales slip by again so I’m making sure to keep my eyes peeled out for one of these bags for in the future. If I don’t get a new one, I’ll try and pick up a second hand one from eBay. I’ve eyed a couple up that I like the look of, but it’s about parting with such a large amount of money, without actually seeing said item first. I’ll have to see… But as I said at the start of this post, I’m pretty skint!

So, that’s my wish list for September, and boy what a wish list it is… What are you eyeing up this month? Make sure to let me know in the comments.

Until next time all, take care.

The Fragrance Shop Discover Club 5th Edition – Review*

This post and review is a rather exciting one… It’s my first review to have a * next to it. Yep, this is my first product sent to review and boy is it amazing and as the title reads, it’s The Fragrance Shop Discover Club 5th Edition*.

I was asked by the lovely Steph at Sparkle PR to review this and I gladly accepted! I love reviewing things and I also love perfume, so this was just my ideal first product to review on my blog.

I test ran the Discovery Club box over a week and over the week I really couldn’t wait to tell you all about this! First of all I shall talk about the box itself and what it’s all about and then I shall go onto the perfumes for both women and men that I received in my Discover Box!

So, without further ado, let’s get on with this review, which I warn you is going to be VERY long, but well worth a read!

The Discovery Box has been available for a year now, this being the 5th box. Boxes cost £5 each and you receive a new box every quarter, which you can cancel receiving at any time!

Inside the box you usually receive 5 perfume samples for both men and women, but with box number 5, you will receive 9! As well as that you also receive a booklet with some further information about the Discover Club, as well as vouchers for each perfume inside of the box itself. The vouchers are all worth £5, so with 9 samples you have £45 worth of savings in there!

So for £5 a box, could it get any better?!

So onto what samples are in the 5th Edition, I know I pretty much love them all.

This box is called the “Christmas Classics Box” and boy did they put in some classics! I love this box and it contains one perfume I own, one I have wanted since the day it came out, two I own in their EDP versions and some I have smelt in the past and thought about buying in the future, but as of yet, never have.

As I mentioned, there are 9 samples in this box, 6 are for women and 3 are for men so he can have something too! As well as that they’re all EDT scents, which makes a pleasant change for myself, as a majority of my perfumes are infact EDP’s. It was a real treat trying out all the scents in this box over a week and I rather liked the males ones on my boyfriend too.

For women you have:

Jean Paul Gaultier – ”Classique”
Nina Ricci – Nina
Gucci – Gucci Guilty
Thierry Mugler – Angel
Thierry Mugler – Alien
Givenchy – Very Irrésistible

For men you have:

HUGO BOSS – HUGO MAN
HUGO BOSS – BOSS BOTTLED
Issey Miyake – L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme

Now there are a hell of a lot of samples for me to talk about here, but I’m going to try and keep each one as short as possible, but at the same time making sure to talk about everything.

Female perfume samples:

Jean Paul Gaultier – ”Classique”

Launched in 1993, Classique has become a true icon in the fragrance world. The supremely seductive oriental floral fragrance pays homage to the beauty of women with its corset inspired design. A sweet and bold EDT.

An old friend of mine used to own this and before a night out I gave it a spritz on my neck and I can tell you the scent lasted all night, which impressed me seeing as this perfume is an EDT. It’s a very warm scent and something I’d personally only use during the autumn and winter months. As well as warm, it is somewhat musky and this is down to its base notes containing vanilla and amber. It’s a very grown up and seductive perfume, one to definitely use for Valentine’s Day or a romantic evening. I have contemplated buying this in the past but never made the plunge, maybe soon I will.

Nina Ricci – Nina

A magical scent captured inside a glass apple. Nina offers charm and enchantment with a dash of seduction in what is a fresh floral fruity fragrance.

A few Christmases ago, my brother actually bought me a 30ml size of this and I still own it, even though it is running out! This is a beautiful light perfume and perfect for anyone who doesn’t like anything heavy, but wants something that will stand out. I find that the bottle for this is misleading, as whilst DKNY – Be Delicious is in an apple shape bottle and smells of apples, this doesn’t in my opinion. This being said it does contain red toffee apple in its heart notes but alongside that there are also some lemon and lime top notes to give it a slight zesty scent. What makes this perfume different from Be Delicious is the base notes, which contain cotton musk to give it a slight musky smell, but at the same time this keeps its citrus scents. It’s a beautiful perfume and I can definitely see me buying this again and with a 30ml bottle costing less than £30.00 (£27.99) it’s well worth buying!

Gucci – Gucci Guilty

Gucci takes as a catalyst its iconic entwined G’s and brings us a heroine who regards this emblem as an incitement to subvert. For this most contemporary of rebels, Gucci is the brand of sex and power. In Gucci Guilty, this woman discovers the very scent of defiance.

I have wanted this perfume ever since it came out! Alongside Thierry Mugler and Chanel, Gucci is next to them in my top 3 for favourite perfumes. I smelt this when it first came out and eventually over time whenever I have been near a Gucci counter I have looked at this perfume and smelt it and just wanting to buy it… But I never have. This is a gorgeous floral EDT perfume, which lasts just as long as an EDP and as well as it being floral, Gucci describe this as a “modern and daring Oriental Floral” which is right up my street! The notes for this fit to the type of fragrance it is with the top notes being mandarin and pink pepper, heart notes being peach, lilac and geranium and finally the base notes being amber, patchouli, and more lilac, and geranium.  I have to say that this perfume no longer reminds me of Envy Me, but of an aftershave my boyfriend owns, so when I wore this one of the days at work last week, it just reminded me of him. This is a gorgeous scent and will have heads turning! I need to have this in my perfume collection by the end of the year.

Thierry Mugler – Angel

Angel, the first fragrance by Thierry Mugler, is a voluptuous oriental gourmand with a truly beautiful bottle resembling dazzling stars cut from a night blue sky.

This is an iconic perfume and one that either perfume lovers love, or hate. I know my friend Poppy hates it, whilst I love it! I have the EDP version of this, so to be able to try out an EDT was a nice change and in one way pleasant. An EDP can sometimes be too much, but that depends on how much you apply! This was the first fragrance by Thierry Mugler and to be honest, I don’t think he needed to bring anymore out! Although I’m glad as Alien is amazing and one of my favourites. BUT ignoring that, this is a mouth-watering perfume and contains yummy heart notes of fruit and honey and even yummier base notes of vanilla, chocolate and caramel. Angel is a scent that cannot be forgotten and is extremely unique, the perfect scent for anyone going on a first date, he’d never forget you.

Thierry Mugler – Alien

Distinctive and mysterious, yet comforting and soft. The EDT conveys passion, sensuality and the essence of absolute femininity with a rich floral woody with a magical trail for a fragrance that is truly out of this world.

Probably my all time favourite perfume, although the version I own is the EDP. Another unique smelling perfume and the second fragrance by Thierry Mugler. The EDT version of this is a lot softer than the EDP and yet lasts just as long on the skin, which was a lovely surprise. This is a citrus fragrance mixed with musk, which is really nice! The top notes contain mandarin orange and citrus, whilst heart notes and base notes contain jasmine and amber. There isn’t much I can say about this perfume, other than how much I love it already in its EDP version, as well as its EDT! This is will be perfect for summer when I just want something light to wear and with a 30ml bottle I can quickly throw it into my bag to spritz whilst out and about. Therefore I can really see me buying this with my £5 voucher! It costs £31.50 for a 30ml size and with my £5.00 voucher it’ll only cost me £26.50… Bargain, much?!

Givenchy – Very Irrésistible

A very dynamic sensual fragrance possessing the elegant floral top notes of rose and the exotic daring combination of peony and rose fantasia. A very appealing feminine scent by Givenchy.

This is probably the only women’s perfume sample in this box that I’d never smelt before until spraying the sample onto my skin. It was the first one I tried and I have to say, I really do like it. It’s a lovely light floral scent and something that can be worn whenever, whatever time of day! This contains lovely notes, top notes including star anise flower and verbena leaf, heart notes including rose garden, peony and centifolia rose, and finally base notes including more rose with passion, fantasia and emotion rose. For a floral perfume it does have some slight zesty scents in there and that’s due to the top notes. I really quite like this perfume and it’d be lovely to spritz on during the warm summer months. This is another perfume I have been contemplating buying with my £5.00 voucher as the 30ml costs £34.50 without the voucher, so with it this would only cost £29.50!

Male perfume samples:

HUGO BOSS – HUGO MAN

Fresh, sharp and extremely masculine, HUGO is about living life on your own terms with a certain irreverence. It is created not for those who go with the trend of the moment, but for those who seek a style of their own. The chunky glass bottled is topped off with a masculine metal topper, capturing a fresh, lively scent.

Although I don’t wear male perfumes, HUGO BOSS is one of my favourites on mine, alongside Paco Rabbane, Chanel and Diesel. I’ve never smelt this one before until opening the sample to give it a sniff and boy, do I want my boyfriend to pick this up! It’s a gorgeous, fresh, and very masculine smell, it’s the sort of scent that when you smell it on a man, your knees tremble! Jared Leto does the advertisements for this aftershave, which is just perfect really. 😛 But aside from that! The notes for this aftershave are lovely! Top notes contain grapefruit, green apple and mint, which quite frankly make my mouth water! Heart notes contain lavender and jasmine, which sound rather feminine and finally the base notes contain musk and pine needles. Overall this perfume sounds delicious but also smells delicious too! This would make a perfect Valentine’s Day presents for your loved one, or even a Christmas or birthday present. If my boyfriend doesn’t buy this for himself, I know I will! To me he looks gorgeous, so for him to smell like it too, is just an added bonus. 😉 This only comes in one size of 40ml, but for £26.50 a bottle it’s damn cheap, but for the money it smells beautiful!

HUGO BOSS – BOSS BOTTLED

A true male iconic fragrance that remains as popular now as its launch in 1994. The juice is fresh and sharp with a warm woody base whilst the bottle offers a sleek, uncomplicated but very masculine look.

When I was younger I was obsessed with Ryan Reynolds and so much in love with him that the only reason I smelt this back in 2011 was due to the fact that Ryan Reynolds started to do the advertising for it. It smelt lovely at the time but I prefer the NIGHT version to this one, but that’s just me. Also I’m pretty sure my boyfriend owns this and whilst it smells lovely, I prefer other aftershaves to this one. This being said it still smells gorgeous and whilst it is somewhat similar to HUGO MAN, this one is just a tad lighter. The top notes include oakmoss, bergamot, apple and lemon to give it zesty scent. Heart notes include cinnamon and mahogany to give it some warmth and finally base notes include sandalwood and oakwood, with some vanilla to give it a lift. It’s a gorgeous scent and for a 30ml bottle it costs just under £30 at £29.99! I recommend that if you like the smell of this one, to smell the NIGHT version as it smells delicious.

Issey Miyake – L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme

Since 1994, L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme has become a hallmark of sophistication in the world of fragrances. It awakens the senses with its blend of citrus, precious woods and spices. The pure, energising scent is perfect for a modern, independent man.

Top Notes – Fresh and energizing yuzu, a Japanese citron

Heart Notes – Spicy nutmeg and cinnamon

Base Notes – Woody, Masculine amber tobacco, sandalwood and vetiver

I think I’ve heard of this before in the past, but I never gave it another look as with all ignorance, I don’t recognise the name so I can’t be bothered to look at it… Plus it’s for men! The sample I got is the sport version, which isn’t mentioned in the booklet or anywhere for that matter… So I wonder if I was sent the wrong one… Even if I was it doesn’t bother me much, as my boyfriend is being given all the samples anyway. Either way this aftershave is gorgeous! It smells really fresh and reminds me of summer, which is nice of course. As I received the sport version I’ll be mentioning the notes for both and as you can see, I have already mentioned the original versions notes above. I don’t at ALL like the sound of the original and quite frankly I’m glad that I received the sport version as it smells a lot more fresh and citrus than the original, which sounds far too musky and reminds me of a hot car on a winters morning that has too many vanilla scented air fresheners… This was my childhood by the way! SO the notes for sport! Top notes include grapefruit and bergamot to give it its citrus scent, heart notes include nutmeg to give it warmth and freshness, and base notes  include vetvier which give it an elegant smell as well as character and depth. Overall I rather like this aftershave… But I still prefer HUGO MAN more!

So now that I have covered all 9 samples that you receive in the 5th Edition Discover Club box, I’ll let you know which female (okay two female scents, I couldn’t pick one!) and male scents won…

Drum roll anyone?

Jean Paul Gaultier – ”Classique”, Givenchy – Very Irrésistible and HUGO BOSS – HUGO MAN

Out of all the women’s samples, “Classique” lasts the longest out of them all and reminds me of something, that I can’t quite put my finger on, probably something from my childhood! I would love to pick up a bottle of this, but right now I can’t really afford it… Which is a total shame as I have my £5 voucher! I guess I’ll have to pop in store soon and see what bargain I can get.

I couldn’t pick one and the other sample I rather liked was Very Irrésistible! I’d never smelt this before and it was a real treat to smell and try out over the week whilst I was at work. It didn’t last as long as I’d have hoped but I know if I were to keep a small 30ml bottle in my bag I’d be able to spritz this whenever I do so wish. Also I really want a new perfume for summer and I think this could be it!

Finally we have the male sample and I could only pick one! This was the first one I smelt and I don’t think anything else could compete as this just smells divine! It’s a gorgeous fresh and sexy aftershave and one I’m DYING for my boyfriend to buy! I know he said that he liked the idea of buying a new aftershave and as I have vouchers, he may as well use one. This aftershave is pretty affordable and with £5.00 knocked off, it would be a bargain he would be silly to pass up on.

So, after what seems like one of my longest reviews, what do I think of The Fragrance Shops Discover Club 5th Edition? Well I LOVE it and I really can see me subscribing to these since receiving this one.

I had thought about it a year ago when they first came out, but I never did go through with it, which I now regret, but I guess the term, “No time like the present” springs up here and as soon as the 6th Edition is released, I’ll be ordering it straight away!

If you’re interested in the Discover Club 5th Edition, or even the concept of samples in a box, then definitely click this link to head over to The Fragrance Shop’s website to tell you all about it and even order your own!

If you’re planning on getting yourself one, I suggest you do it soon as at the end of February the vouchers in the booklet run out, so I assume a new box would be coming out. But even so, you can always wait and pick up the 6th Edition if you do so wish!

So, what do you think of the Discover Club boxes? Have you ever bought any before, if so, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments down below and if you have any questions, please ask away!

Until next time, take care all!

*Product sent for reviewing purposes.

P.S. Apologies for how long this post was, but I wanted to make sure to cover everything! 😀