Quick Review: Three Recent Mascara Releases

I'll cut right to the chase: one of these mascaras is good. No7 Lash Adapt has been my mascara of choice since I picked it up with a handy £5 off Boots voucher towards the end of last year.

The medium-sized bristle brush allows you to coat all of your lashes, creating lots of volume while keeping a soft, fluttery look. The 'lash adapt' element means you can add as many layers as you like for a lighter or heavier effect. It's quite simply a fab mascara and one I can see myself sticking with until something else throws itself at my eyes.

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast came free with a magazine and my Lash Adapt had dried up so I put it into makeup bag circulation. The wand is massive and I find it nearly impossible not to blob mascara around my eyes as I apply. The bristles are in a spiral shape with gaps between each layer; not conducive to catching all of your lashes or creating a soft, voluminous look. The formula applies unevenly. Do. Not. Want.

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic was given to me and, still without a new Lash Adapt and with the above failing to impress, I faithfully gave it a go. The rubber wand is long and skinny and allows for precise application. I already have long lashes so am not the target customer for this mascara, however I don't see the point in having twelve spindly, stabby lashes when you could have a normal amount of shorter, thicker lashes that actually make your eyes look pretty. When I apply this my lashes stick together in spears and I have to use the end of the wand to try and prise them apart. They're also crispy. The only thing 'false lash' is how unnatural it looks to have twelve spider legs stuck to your eye. One plus point: the skinny wand is good for bottom lashes.

My recommendation if you're looking for a reasonably priced, reliable mascara is Boots No7 Lash Adapt, which costs £12.50. If you have any suggestions for me please leave them in the comments!

Stay Little Valentine, Stay

Pink sparkly pedicure courtesy of Illamasqua and Filthy Gorgeous.

'Slutty Brownies' for the boy thanks to Rose at The Londoner.

Oozingly good but my heart was soon broken... and eaten.

Homemade chocolates for me from my love. Delicious!

French toast with berries and maple syrup - how lucky am I?!

New Cath Kidston tablecloth we bought in the sale.

Beautiful roses and candles with breakfast.

... Onto dinner and time for some champagne.

And chocolates. Dreamy day. Thank you J. xxx

Trilogy Launch Helping Hand Wash for Charity

To celebrate their tenth anniversary, Trilogy are introducing Helping Hand Wash, with 100 per cent of the profits going to the Child's i Foundation. The charity was founded by former television producer Lucy Buck to help end the tragedy of baby abandonment in Uganda.

Helping Hand Wash combines the natural antibacterial properties of elderberry and burdock with natural vegetable oils in an effective, low-foaming liquid soap. It's scented with lavender, rose geranium and frankincense, so is sure to smell delicious too. Why not keep your hands and your conscience clean by supporting this fab product! 

Trilogy Helping Hand Wash is available from Boots, £13.50 (300ml).

Wintery Weekend in Cornwall

A few weeks ago we headed down to Cornwall for J's brother's 30th birthday. It was absolutely freezing but the cloud-dotted skies made for some pretty hipstamatic pictures. On our last day we drove from Falmouth to Porthleven to meet up with my nan, aunty and aunty's fiance who live nearby. Porthleven is a pretty harbour town with some great pubs and a very precarious breakwater you can walk out onto if you like risking getting at best soaked, at worst swept out to sea! Obviously I was stood right on the end twatting around posing for photos. I love Porthleven – it reminds me of my childhood and family.

We stayed at a superb B&B in Falmouth called 'Sixteen'. It was absolutely immaculate with lovely sheets and towels, a living room with open fire for us to lounge in (I wish we'd had time) and a wonderful host called Sharon who baked homemade cakes every day and left them out for us to enjoy whatever hour we returned! She also made delicious breakfasts. The B&B is well-situated, fairly priced, has its own parking and I highly recommend you stay there if planning a trip to Falmouth!

Review: Stella by Stella McCartney Perfume

I feel like this perfume came to me by osmosis. Years of occasionally smelling it on other people allowed it to filter into my brain via my nose and take root there as a scent I began to love. A couple of friends either wear or have worn Stella but somehow it hasn't become too 'them' to be 'me' as well. Perhaps because I don't see either of them frequently. Its smell is distinct and original in a perfume market full of bland clones.

The top notes are rose essence, peony flower and mandarin essence. Rose absolute is the heart note and the base notes are 'woody notes' and amber. If you dislike rose scents and therefore have avoided this perfume, I suggest giving it a try. I find some rose-based products too 'granny floral' but I absolutely adore Stella. It's intoxicating!



The concept behind the fragrance is the contrast between the freshness and softness of rose, and the dark sensuality of amber. On application it's quite strong but you don't keep smelling it on yourself all day. I think other people may catch a whiff though as I remember from past experience of smelling it on my friends. I rarely like perfumes that are so pervasive you cannot forget about them for a moment.

The bottle is pretty, like a faceted amethyst gem. The limited edition floral print bottles in three different designs are also beautiful if you can still find them. While it may have taken a few years for this gorgeous perfume to find its way to me, I think it's definitely here to stay.

Stella by Stella McCartney is available from Escentual.com, from £38.

Competition Update: Guess What?

I won the Friday Night Fashion Frock-off! Pompoms for everyone!

My friend Bryony made me into a 'pomeranian' on Fotoshop. Sexy.

I wore very elongated Eylure 'party perfect' falsies that were not subtle!

Friday Night Fashion Frock-off

All women know the power of the Little Black Dress. The magic LBD can be worn any number of ways and lends itself to many occasions. This was the idea behind ellos.co.uk's Friday Night Fashion Frock-off. Four bloggers were sent the same dress and asked to style it however they wished. A panel of judges will choose a favourite and the winning blogger gets £150 towards a meal out for them and their friends. Wish me luck! Here's my entry...

Marc Jacobs heels, homemade pom poms, a slick of Sleek 'cherry' lipstick and not forgetting a lot, lot, lot of backcombing. Thank you to my lovely friend Bryony who could have laughed a lot more than she did while taking the photos. What do you guys think of the look?

January So Far...

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I don't know about you but it takes me ages to get into the swing of January. We're supposed to be refreshed and raring to go but I'm more like a dormouse emerging from a nest of chocolates and Home Alone.

I am very much enjoying my new Chanel compact mirror – well the look of it anyway, it has yet to come out of the present pile and 'into circulation'. My Jigsaw wallet is huge and beautiful. Thanks Mummy Wheat for these lovely gifts.

Other happenings have included a little one-year anniversary for J and I for which I was treated to a lovely meal at the same restaurant we went to for our first real date. He also bought me flowers both days of the weekend which equalled one huge, heavenly bunch.

The last of the Christmas chocolates have nearly gone – I was down to the disgusting orange and strawberry Roses but don't worry I still ate all of them. The tape measure is an old cracker gift. I've decided to keep it in my bag as I'm always in need of one and trying to wrap J's metal tape measure around my waist just isn't practical.

I found the necklace in the Accessorize sale. It had a disgusting white backing and some dangly chain things, both of which I removed. I've already had to glue two stones back in but I do love it.

How's your January going?