Workout playlist? What are your top 5 workout songs?

Ok, so I'm getting bored with my playlist and need some heart bumping workout songs. I generally like remixes of pop songs - something I can run on the treadmill to but equally do weights with. Here are my current top 5 songs on repeat - what are yours? I need some fresh songs : D

Release me by Agnes
Funk So Brother by Fat Boy Slim (gets me working every time)
Uninvited remix by the Freemasons (actually any of their songs)
Sweet Dreams by Beyonce (love the 80s influence in this)
Lately by Lisa Scott Lee (I know, I know, but it's great to work out to!)


So share - what are the songs that get you going?

Nail workout - a twist on the frenchie

This twist is not new, but it's the first time I have done it! I'm trying to be a bit more adventurous.

I'm pretty conservative on the whole - especially at work. But I am loving this manicure I did this week, a basic french manicure but with nail stickers applied! I bought the nail stickers from HK (cheapo at HK$10! Which is about £1). Pretty gold and white bows and hearts.


I used the white polish from the Loreal French Manicure set for the tips and Essie's Fed Up on top. Then I applied the stickers and set over this with Sally Hensen's Top Coat. It was much easier than I expected : D

What's your favourite manicure/pedicure this week?

Bank Holiday Outfit workout - and a mini accessories haul

So I noted that one of my favourite things at the moment is surfing ebay for vintage dresses and worked them out (as least I think I did) over the bank hols with my favourite piece of clothing after my Lee jeans - a good old pair of black leggings (courtesy of M&S). I can also see both these dresses working it in Autumn/Winter, paired with thick black tights and my beloved Pied A Terre patent Mary Janes.

Here's the first one - my take on the flowy/hippie-ish/festival-ish look (perfect with middle parted long hair, with a braid or two). I love the butterfly sleeves:


I had a 20% discount magazine voucher for Dorothy Perkins, I bought 2 things. To replace my wallet that was stolen : ( I bought this lovely sturdy leather studded wallet with a lovely tassle - perfect to use as a clutch too. The blushed pink patent platforms are a total impromptu purchase - I don't have anything like it in my wardrobe - but I thought it would go great with an outfit to my cousin's wedding next year, as well as add to the beige/nude collection I am trying to carve into my wardrobe : D But a good shoe purchase at £29! They had them in black too and looked very Pamela Anderson : D


So I had to try out the new heels with my outfit:


To my UK subscribers there is a 20% voucher to Dorothy Perkins with this week's Look Magazine (the one with Cheryl Cole on the cover) - just in case you were interested.

Onto my 2nd outfit, teamed with black leggings of course, is this lovely blue floral cotton dress with pockets which I put together with an old denim shirt as a jacket too:






I just love the gathered sleeves at the top and also the granddaddy collar.

I love finding vintage dresses on ebay - most of them go for pretty cheap (though some are outstandingly expensive!). I'm digging this fashion thing : D

Do you like vintage? What's your style?

My first beauty blog tag! 5 FABULOUS THINGS

The lovely Yi over at The Style Neighbourhood tagged me to post 5 fabulous things. So like a good beauty web girl I followed suit and so to take her precise wording, the rules with this award are:
1. List five current obsessions
2. Pass the award on to five more fabulous blogs
3. On your post of receiving this award, link back to the person that awarded you
4. Link your five winners, and let them know that they've been awarded

5 Current obssessions
1. The Hills (my eyes are still glued to this, even watching reruns)
2. Elle UK magazine and US Shape magazine (both my fashion and health fixes)
3. Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Powder Foundation (I've been road testing this and cannot WAIT to do a review on it!)
4. Surfing ebay for vintage dresses (have got back into ebay vintage!)
5. Having come back from Seville, researching next hols!

The 5 fabulous blogs I tag are:

birdsdecoratebranches.blogspot.com

belledujournewyorkcity.blogspot.com

baby-blonde.blogspot.com

thebeautylookbook.blogspot.com

londonmakeupgirl.blogspot.com

In the meantime hope you enjoyed!

I had my bag snatched.......................

This is a brief post as I'm just a bit shocked to be honest. 12 years in London - a city that I love - without incident.....until now.

This last Saturday a little teenage punk decided to swipe my bag from my hand. Thank god I didn't have much in it at all - no cash - so to be honest it wasn't a very good theft for him. It's more frustrating and annoying than anything - I can get over the admin side of it all by cancelling cards and waiting for insurance etc but what gets me is that he thought he could just mosey on up to me and take what was mine. Like he had the right to.

Yes I am thankful that my SO was with me and we both weren't hurt. I am ever so thankful for that.

My MAC MSF, Bobbi Brown kabuki, new MAC Patisserie lipstick and Hello Kitty double sided mirror were the victims too. My Bobbi Brown kabuki was the best. The best.

I'm just disappointed someone so young hasn't had the guidance and/or the self direction/confidence to know what is right from wrong. I know it's the world. And there are many other more shiny, loving, happy elements to the world.

Thanks for reading all....

COMPUTER WORKOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABSENCE UPDATE

Hi all

Just a brief update I came back from a lovely hols in Seville, Southern Spain, last Saturday to turn on my computer to catch up on the web beauty world - and I have no internet connection!!!!

I am pretty frustrated as this has now happened twice in 2 months with my service provider (BT) and it is a pain in both bottocks to get through to BT in addition to getting some answers. This ain't no Asia for sure : (

I'm trying to resolve it as soon as possible - but BT in my experience are incredibly slow. In the meantime I am also looking at other providers for now......

B#LL#CKS!

I had a great time in Seville - was pretty hot at 45 degrees! - but I was road testing a foundation (the one I posted as a mystery foundation in the last post) and I will tell you that it is from Prescriptives : D

I'll be back soon!
xxxx

A weekend FOTD workout

Just to post 2 looks that I did on the weekend - trying out a new foundation. Won't say which one it is yet til I have tried it out for a couple of more weeks - but I am loving it so much. Is that mean of me?! If you do want to know what it is - NOW -I'll spill just let me know : D

So the 1st look:


FACE
A mystery foundation : D
Becca Duo Concealer in Tahini
Blushing Peach from the LM First blush palette


EYES
MAC Bare Canvas paint
Smokey eye with Mary Quant e/s in black and bronze (sorry no code numbers because the shadows are glued to a palette) and MAC Brule e/s to highlight.
Tarte Rest Assured pencil
MAC Dark Devotion e/s for brows (Fascinating Ruby Smokey Eye palette 2008)
Maybelline Full & Soft waterproof mascara in black

No lips yet!


The 2nd look


FACE
A mystery foundation : D
Becca Duo Concealer in Tahini
MAC Improper Copper CCB and topped up with Korres Blush in #45 Coral

EYES
MAC Bare Canvas paint
Creating a smokey eye with MAC's Fascinating Ruby palette using Scant e/s as an all overwash and in inner corners, MAC Dark Devotion on upper and lower lashline
MAC Dark Devotion (from above palette) on brows
Maybelline Full & Soft waterproof mascara

LIPS
Shiseido Maquillage l/s in PK 347 (a HG!)

I like the 2nd look better - I like the combo of the stronger blush colour with a paler lip.

Thanks for reading!

Recent fave FOTD workout for the office

My computer is driving me crazy! It is running so slow because it is ancient and it just takes ages to write a post and import pics. So that's why it's taken me so long to update! Anyways, I'm on the search for a new computer so hopefully this situation won't last much longer.

I wanted to post a recent fave FOTD that I've been using for the office a lot lately, using my fave taupes from MAC - Satin Taupe e/s and Subtle pigment.

Here's what I used:


And here's the look:




FACE
Korres Wild Rose Foundation in WRF2 mixed in with Olay Radiance cream (to make my TM)
MAC CCB in Improper Copper (love!) and then topped with
Korres blush in Peach #18 (love!)

EYES
MAC Paint in Bare Canvas
Tarte Rest Assured pencil
MAC Subtle pigment used as a wash
MAC Satin Taupe e/s used on top and bottom lashlines
Maybelline Full & Soft WP mascara in black

LIPS
Just carmex in the pic, but I used NARS Roman Holiday

TOOLS
Shu Uemura eyelash curler
MAC #217 to apply MAC Subtle pigment
MAC #226 to apply Satin Taupe to lashlines (more precise application)
Shu Fan brush to apply Korres blush

It's pretty subtle - and I really like how the 2 taupe e/s complement each other.

What's your go to FOTD for work?

London Summer Sales - my chance to a haul workout!

I'm taking every opportunity I have to make posts between work and entertaining family (which is a 24/7 business!) and yesterday was the 1st time that I was able to have a bit of 'me' time. I managed to get a few things so here they are:

A tribal/ethnic style bag (Accessorize) - I just love everything about it. The embroidery and decoration on the main body of great fuschia pink, plus the twisted colour strap. I'm thinking of using this for an evening out as a clutch - am thinking that it'll look great against block colours - but also during the day with jeans - strapped on the diagonal. I've always liked this tribal trend but never really saw anything that looked not too OTT or a little contrived. But I think this is perfect!


Another trend that I love but haven't quite replicated in my wardrobe is the nautical theme and this great canvas bag (love the twisted handles) introduces me to it. Great for mu items to get lost in : D


Some cute hairpins (Accessorize) - I don't have anything with swallows on it - so am following the trend with this one!


I thought this was a great necklace (again, Accessorize) to jazz up a workoutfit but also perhaps a wedding outfit - as I have a few to go to over the next year! If you saw my YT vid on my fave jewellery pieces - you know I love these kind of statement necklaces. It's a combination of blue/green/grey stones...very pretty IMO


Then I coudln't resist this delicate looking blue glass stone and gold bracelet which I thought just looked classy - and would be great for wedding season too! Thanks Accessorize!


And then I popped along to John Lewis on Oxford Street and braved the crowds - but saw these great Dune sandals. They are more off white cream than white than they appear in the pics but I loved the heel height (manageable and comfy) and I thought it's really difficult to get cream coloured heels that don't look trashy. They also have it in tan (though not my size) which if I am lucky enough to find in my size - I will also purchase!


Of course, the sales wouldn't be it without some makeup or skincare purchase and I saw the Bliss Sleeping Peel Masque for sale in Harrods. The SA told me that it was on sale because they were changing the name and packaging due out in winter, but the product will remain the same. I am going to try this to help with my blackhead congestion around my nose specifically - and will do a YT vid once I've used it a few times!


PS. Sorry the photos are not upright in some of them , trying to do this in a rush before the computer is needed by someone else in the fam!

Any sales gems you've scored this summer?

CCO HAUL WORKOUT

Hey there all! Just popping in to post because I've been MIA and super bizzy with my family and some friends that have been visiting from abroad. So went to Somerset last week and had a good ol' English Countryside long weekend break - and on the way back to London stopped off at Bicester Designer Village. Of course, no visit to Bicester would be without a mandatory stop at the CCO. And these are my goodies:



MAC Spaced Out Sheertone shimmer blush (love the orange packaging on this one!)
MAC Drizzlegold Loose powder
Clinique Egyptian gel eyeliner

I have been forever wanting to get Spaced Out blush and Drizzlegold. I am turning into such a MAC hoarder! And one that always sees the new collections, doesn't get anything, but then wants after seeing makeup posts and reviews! So I was super pleased to discover these at the CCO.

Any good discoveries lately?