Halloween nails: pumpkins 'n' gradient glitter

May or may not have pinched the inspo for the nail art hear from Launa at Launa in Ponderland ,but I'll say no more! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Nails: by me
Hand: courtesy of sister

If you have noticed a change in hand then you are very cunning and spy like and should probably join the CIA, because it is indeed an alien had, as in, not mine, but my sisters.

She wanted Halloween nails, and I wanted to try out some pumpkin face nail art and have a go at gradient glitter (which was so simple I could weep! why have I never done this before!?) put the two together and BAM, this is what we end up with. Not too shabby if I say so myself!

Sorry for the fleeting post, but I am feeling fleeting! catch me on the tweeter if you can! x

Cheerful baking for dreary days!

Hello E-numbers! Together we can make it thought the dark evenings!

(((buzzzz)))

Apologies for Gems's ravaged nail varnish, matches though!

As you can tell I've been having a food colouring bake trial, the results of which had to be disposed of in some way so we were forced to eat them, all of them. Poor us!

BB Dakota navajo coat: the UK's offering

After having mahoosive lust for the BB Dakota navajo coat (centre) from Modcloth, I set about finding a version available in the UK.

River Island £85   Modcloth $119.99  Topshop £75

As you can see I didn't have a huge amount of luck! the best 'dupe' was the River island one on the left, but if I'm honest I just doesn't hit the spot, it's too 'tube' like, and I want toggles! The only other attempt the UK has is the Topshop one on the right, which isn't really anything like the BB Dakota one, but it does have a snuggy borg lining, so I'll let it off!

Overall I'm a bit disappointed, I'm still madly in love with the original Modcloth one, and it's sitting hundreds of miles away. I'm not sure I dare buy it though, what if it doesn't fit or (shock horror) I don't like it, it'll be a bit tough to return! plus $119.99 + shipping from U.S to UK, I'll be seeing $$$! Oh what to do!

Models own Beetlejuice Collection!

As you can probably tell the blog has been heading in a nail based direction of late, it's just a current obsession of mine for the time being, but who knows how long it'll last!? so fear not fashion lovers!

As I was saying above, my recent nail polish fascination has lead me to the discovery of the Models Own Beetlejuice collection, due for release in November, and only available from the models own website.

Here's one of the press release pics of the whole collection to whet your appetite!

I want them all, they are all so mesmerising! I love duo-chrome's, they are so much more interesting to look at than plain old creams, and at £5 each, roll on November I say!

Also, big hello to my new followers! and thank you so much, you've lead me to a whole world of amazing blogs I never would have found with out you!

*update: just found some exclusive swatches at British Beauty Blogger! Click here!*

Buys 'o' the week: Autumn staples & XMAS JUMPER!

XMAS JUMPER ALERT! I have found The One, it's sickeningly retro and comes straight out of 'White Christmas' I love it! One word: Reindeer!

Primark (men's section)- £12

It's brilliant and baggy on, and super warm. Perfect for food babies and coldness, both of which I'm particularly prone to near christmas.

Jack Wills (on ebay) - £60

Also splashed out on this lovely off ebay, for the cut price (but still ridiculous) sum of £60. As I've said before, I live in these gilets in the colder months, and I've found nothing to beat them on warmth and flattering-ness if that makes sense!

Galaxy nails- my attempt!

So, I'm being original as always when it comes to my nails (not!) and have had a go a what seems like a huge trend at the moment; Galaxy nails!

Messy cuticles, tut!

All pre-clean up in artificial light

With flash

Direct sunlight

I didn't apply much method to these, but more made it up as I went along! I started of with a base coat of no7 Betty blues, and then lightly sponged on no7 vivid violet and spun sugar and did some random white dots with ORLY French manicure using a cocktail stick. When all that was thoroughly dry I did one coat of BYS starlette (silver glitter) and then a few little blobs of nubar 2010 in the the main 'galaxys'.

Then some in just natural light, all cleaned up!

I'm quite pleased with them, but it's made me realise just how much I need to get a good top coat! 

Have you got any simple nail designs/art that you fall back on? because I could really do with some inspiration! Also I've recently purchased rimmel matte top coat, so look forward to some swatches of the mess I make experimenting with that!

OPI Limited Edition Muppet's Collection

Okay, so I'm a bit behind the times when it comes to the latest in the nail polish world, but I have an insatiable penchant for the stuff, that makes me throw caution to the wind and give this lot a blog début anyhoo!

If you haven't seen it already this is OPI's limited edition Muppet's collect which is being launched along with the movie for release in November (which I will so definitely be going to!)

Animal-istic, Meep-Meep-Meep, Wocka Wocka!, Pepe’s Purple Passion, Designer, de Better!, Warm & Fozzie, Rainbow Connection, Excuse Moi!, Gone Gonzo!, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Divine Swine, Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It!

I'm so in love with all six of the glitters but the absolute winner of the lot, the crème de la crème of all polishes, has got to be this one: Rainbow Connection-

I've been ogling swatches of this all day, (please google image this, I don't really want to use another bloggers pictures on principal!) and as a result this is winging it's way to me now, It's a multi coloured glitter with hexagons and circular pieces, it looks pretty chunky from what I've seen. I don't think I've ever been more in love with a nail polish, there's nothing it won't go with, I can't wait to pile it on!

So has anybody got any of these yet? (I'm not sure there in stores yet in the UK) what do you think of them? This will be my very first OPI polish, so I'm excited to see if I can tell the difference between £10 and a £2 polish.

Swatches and reviews to follow soon!

Liebster Blog Award

She of utter lovelyness and the occasional shortbread man; I am of course talking about Talitha from T time chatter! has awarded me the Liebster Blog award for upcoming blogs under 200 followers, so big and huge thankies to her for nominating me! (by the way, please check out her latest post it's hilarious and almost had me licking the screen!)

I would love to award this to the following wonderful blogs!

Annest at jumper jungle- So good I followed her twice! I seriously think her blog is an untapped wonder, there's not been a post I haven't loved!

Mabel from mabel-time- One of my newest blog discovery's she's cute kitschy and quirky, and blogs about a really good range of topics; food, fashion and random musings- my favourite combination!

Katy at caught up in cake- Amazing and inspirational outfit posts, I WANT her wardrobe!

Launa from Launa in Ponderland- And of course, last but most definitely not least, my sister in gingerness; lovely Launa! the only reason I need give for nominating her blog, is that it is awesome. Simple as.

Out Grazing in my field...

There's been some what of a craze on the Lush forum for the last year or so for the postal snack boxes of lovelyness that are Graze.com. If you haven't come across Graze before, they basically send you a lush, surprise selection, of to dye for healthy snacks, including nuts, seeds, dips, crisp breads and dryed fruit mixes, think holland & barrett on crack, and you'll have a fair picture of what's on offer!

Here's the preview of my box I got the day before it arrived, I had to peak! You can also view it by clicking here. 

How to Graze:
1) Go to Graze.com, and pick the type of box you want (one gives you a choice of only the healthiest foods, the other gives you free reign of the lot, guess which I chose!)

2) Choose which day you'd like to get you box every week- you can change, push back or cancel this compleatly at any time.

3) Enter your address and billing details- I think it's important to point out that this is not a direct debit, as that was the misconception that put me off for so long, they will always ask before charging you.

4) The fun part- browse there mahoosive range of goodies and rate the lot! you can choose from Bin (which will make sure they never send you that particular item) Try, Like and Love, and you can also filter by dietary requirements in some cases.

Apple and cinnamon flapjack- you get three this size

Having now had a taste of everything I got, I can say it is absolutely delish, and thank goodness the portion sizes are limited, because I could eat the bounty hunter mix (coconut, cranberry & milk choc) forever. That, along with the cheddar gorge mix (salsa sticks, herb bites & cheese cashews) are my favourites, though the cinnamon & apple flapjacks and the roasted seeds are by no means bad! there's just not enough of them!

Also when you sign up you get a code to pass on, mine is H2Q4P5L By using this you'll get a Graze box COMPLEATLY free, no extra postage, or minimum time, no catch, I know because I used a code to get started myself, so I can vouch that it is indeed entirely free!

Go forth and Graze people!

Outfit post

Bonjour again!

 

Gilet- Jack wills
Hoody- Republic
Top(just seen)- H&M
Jeggings- Internacional
Boots- River Island

Random head shot for you!

OOTD! with my newest purchase, my burgundy republic hoody, on sale for £30 (a little dear I'll admit) I used  to have a jack wills hoody in exactly the same colour, but it was a bit small, so I sold it on and brought this one instead. To be honest, I really prefer this one! It's got a much better shape and fit than the JW one, and cost a lot less! I love their gilets, but apart from that, I'm no Jack Wills fan girl, they're simply not worth the price tag in my opinion. I was expecting something amazing when I first bought from them, and though their stuff is lovely aesthetically, the quality's really not up there! Sorry JW fans!

Turtle Ring-Accessorize
Plain Ring- International

Sorry for blurriness!

I've shown you these nails before, but I think there better this time, I put even more coats of flakies on (NYX-pink avenue) and it looks so much prettier, only thing is it's so chunky you really need a thick layer of top coat to seal it all in and not be left with a rough finish. I love how it looks almost like a foil in the ring picture, I heart green!

P.S- the quality of these pics seems a bit off to me, no idea why, perhaps I just used the wrong setting, anyhoo, I'll check it out, any digital camera advice appreciated!

Cleanin out ma closet...

I've been having a bit of a clear out and cull of my wardrobe this weekend, which leads me on nicely to the introduction of a blog shop, hopefully coming soon, nothing too formal, just an area to pawn my delicately used items! Also, I was thinking about offering made to order, felt charms like the mushroom one here I also do trees and acorns, and other bits 'n' pieces, what do you think? would you be interested in something like that?

Whilst having my clear out, it also got me to pondering, do you colour order your wardrobe?

As you can see mine is loosely ordered by colour, but not strictly so, often, when I've told people this they've given me a funny look! It's not that weird is it!? so do you have a particular order for your clothes? size, season, colour, or as I wish mine was; ordered by outfit? I'd love to know!

As I mentioned a couple of posts back, I have some good news and that is that I've got a job! Sorry if it's a bit of an anti-climax, but for me, it's pretty huge, It will be so nice to actually have some income again!
I also want to say a huge thank you for all the kind and supportive comments I got on my last outfit post, it really means so much to me that you took the time to comment and give a little love. It can be a really touchy subject for a lot of people, and it means even more to me because of that, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you. x

Oh and just before I go, token cute dog pic 'o' the week!

Those are his "food please?" eyes

Follow Fivesday

the blog of worldly delights

Isle Of Tea

T time chatter

Sorry for the super speedy nature of this post, but since I totally failed at doing a follow fivesday last week I though I'd better fit one in now! So here are three totally fab blogs, go forth and follow!

Outfit post + a bit more about me...

Cardigan- Topshop
Shirt- Trift
Belt- homemade
Leggings- Primark
Boots- Ebay

Necklace- Ebay

Okay, so I have to be honest, this is from last week *bad blogger* I'm really not loving this outfit, I like the shirt, but the whole outfit together...I'm just not feeling it. It make's me look far chubbier than I'm comfortable with, but then, I guess it could just be these pictures.

If you read my very first post then you'll know I had/have an eating disorder, I say have because I don't believe you ever really, fully recover once you've been there. Up till now I haven't said too much about it for lots of reasons, mainly I don't want this to be triggering, and also this is not what the blogs about, I want it to be a body positive place, so this may be the first and last time.

As you can probably tell I'm having a bit of a tough time at the moment, It's always hard at times, of that I'll make no secret. Having an eating disorder is one of the most horrible things I've ever been though, and putting on the weight I have, to recover physically (this time last September I was 6st), was horrible, traumatising and upsetting, and incredibly hard to do, I can't truly articulate the feelings that go with it, other than to say that it was emotionally painful.

But I must try to remember why I made my self recover, I need to remember the bad things; constantly being cold and irritable, tired, weak and dizzy, I was covered in bruises from my bones knocking together. I remember lying in bed, just thinking I was going to die. Worst of all is the permanent damage I've done to my body.
It will always be in my head, but I literally have to just ignore it, I must. I must try to disconnect my self worth from my weight, when I can finally and compleatly do that I will have recovered, and that is my goal. It may take forever, but it is worth striving for. The past seven years of my life have been consumed by this, and I won't let it take any more, I need to be more than my eating disorder, and to have a life without it.
It's a working progress, but I will make it.

Apologies if this post has been a bit heavy, for want of a better word, or in keeping with the rest of the blog promise I'll be back with the status quo in the next post! I will point out that I am actually okay, I'm just having a bit of a slip, but that happens from time to time, it probably all sounds a bit loony if you haven't been there yourself, so other wise just ignore me, no need to call the men in white coats just yet!

Autumnal Lusty List

1) River island
2) Topshop
3) River Island men's section
4) River Island men's section
5) Topshop
6) Barrats
7) Accessorize
8) Republic

1) I heart this scarf so much, it has so much going for it, from the cute fox shape to the gorgeous rusty colour, if I get only one thing off this list, it'll be this.

2&5) Having seen coloured skinny jeans around so often, I have to admit I'm falling for them a bit, still, if I do go there I'll be playing it safe with these dark autumnal tones of forest green and berry.

3&4) I'm so jealous of the men's knitwear on offer this year, but why be jealous when I could just wear them slouchy and over sized! one word: Reindeer's

6) I love a good chunky boot, and due to my midget statistics, I can do with the heel, plus it'll elevate me a few inches above the inevitable puddles!

7) What's not love about woodland inspired stacking rings?! also I find that rabbit head very Alice in wonderland.

8) Borg lining and slightly grungy autumnal check, I love this sort of semi tomboy-ish stuff, great over a khaki skinny rib top for a walk in the woods.

Also I have some really good news to tell but, I'll share that in my next post when I've a bit more time, so, till then!