Stay smart at festivals

Hi everyone. As a teenager, I used to go to festivals and concerts regularly and I was always worried that some of my things might get stolen. Why? Because when I was 16 my bag was stolen when I was out with my friends. I lost my phone, my documents, all my makeup etc. I was only 16 and absolutely devastated. Since then, I like to stay safe and keep my eye on all my belongings at all times. When I was asked by Allianz Your Cover, if I would like to publish this infographic with tips on how to stay safe and smart during the festival season, I couldn't say no.

Sunday Manicure and Accessorize Rock Star Gift Set

I recently ordered a super cheap Accessorize Rock Star Gift Set from Superdrug and it came with some lovely nail polishes. I have no idea what the shades are called,  because there is no info on the bottles or the packaging, but... they are beautiful! One bottle costs £4, if bought separately, but if you buy a gift set, you get everything for a fraction of the retail price.

July favourites: body, hair, makeup and nails

My July favourites are a bit late, but... I am very excited to share some of my new finds with you. I am including body care, hair care, makeup and nails and I will prepare a separate skincare favourites post for August. I just noticed that I featured a lot of lip products, but I have been using them non stop, because my lips get really dry in Summer.

Essie Haul: Spring 2013 and some popular shades

Hi everyone. I am sure that every beauty blogger knows about the £1.99 Essie nail polishes from Fragrance Direct, but... I had to share my finds. They were such a  bargain! I wrote a similar post last year and I still can't figure out how can FD sell Essie for the fraction of the retail price. Anyway... I check the website regularly to see, if they have any new colours available and when I noticed the full Spring 2013 Collection in stock... I ordered every single shade. I have been lusting after  Avenue Maintain, Maximillian Strasse Her and Madison Ave-Hue for months and they are finally mine! I also bought some other colours, including Bikini So Teeny, Fear & Desire and Off The Shoulder. 

My Ultimate Summer Driving Playlist

I love road trips and I am always responsible for the music we will be listening to in the car. It drives my husband insane most of the time :) haha. I always sing on the top of my lungs, until I lose my voice. Yes, I am the annoying passenger, who sings every single song :) Oooops...

Fragrance review: Paco Rabanne Lady Million EDP

Paco Rabanne Lady Million* £42.99 (50ml)

This sophisticated EDP stole my heart when I spotted it in Boots about 2-3 years ago. I have been a big fan ever since and I love using it for special occasions, or when I want to feel like 'a million dollars'. I might sound a bit cliché, but seriously... it smells incredible and screams luxury. 

New bag: Brown floral laser-cut tote

I added a photo of this beautiful bag to my instagram and many of you asked about it and ordered it already. It is such a gorgeous design. I always wanted a laser-cut leather bag in brown, so I had to have this beaut! There is one problem though. I didn't realise that it is a Ralph Lauren replica. I had no clue at all.

My swimwear/beachwear picks and a dream bikini :)

When it comes to swimwear and beachwear, I prefer to cover up as much as I can. I usually go for full size swimsuits or high waisted bikini briefs and a bikini top with a lot of support. High waisted briefs are a fantastic invention and I love them, as they are so comfy!  I can't imagine wearing a tiny bikini at the moment... but to be honest, I've never been confident enough to wear one, even as a size 8. I was meant to be going on holiday in August and I was eyeing up some  beachwear, but unfortunately I will have to wait till next summer to enjoy a long break :( I prepared this wishlist anyway. Let me know if you like my picks.

My new fitness gadget: Pink Polar FT4 Watch

Hi everyone. I get asked a lot of questions about my new Polar FT4 Watch, so I decided to write a post about it, to let you know where you can buy it, what to expect from it etc. I received it as a birthday present from my husband and I have been loving it so far.

Recent makeup and beauty buys

It looks like my spending will never stop, haha :) I always find an excuse to order something online, either to put me in a better mood, or because I actually need the product :) I don't know why I buy so much makeup... I am gearing up for a blog sale, so it is a bit ridiculous... Anyway... I ordered a couple of things from Feelunique, The Body Shop, Illamasqua, Kiko and other bits and bobs. I am pleased with most of my purchases, but I definitely didn't need most of them... Ooops :)

Life: quick update...

Hi everyone. I hope you had a great weekend. I mentioned on Twitter, that my laptop is officially dead and I am currently struggling to keep up with all blog related stuff. I lost all photos taken in the past two years, including pictures of my baby boy, videos of his first steps, birthdays etc... I am devastated and every time I think about it, I burst into tears. 

I knew that my laptop was on it's last legs and was about to die, so I was planning to order an external hard drive in August, to store all important photos before the laptop totally fries itself... but... I didn't get a chance to do it. Unfortunately, my 2 year old son decided to jump allover my laptop when I was in the kitchen, broke the screen and caused more damage than I could imagine. I didn't really care about the laptop, because I was planning to buy a new one really soon, but losing the hard drive was something I didn't expect at all. My husband is a tech-geek and tried every possible way of trying to save the files, but he had no luck so far. There is one more thing we can do to save the hard drive and I already ordered the parts for it, so fingers crossed. I don't want to get my hopes up though...

All I can say is... Please, please, please BACK UP your precious photos, on an external hard drive, saved onto a dvd, usb stick or simply printed out and kept in a photo album. I usually print out some photos every 4-6 months, so I will have some memories saved for the future, but if I can't get the hard drive repaired... all the videos and thousands of photos of my son will be lost :( 

I also lost all my blog photos and I will have to retake the ones I needed for future reviews, which is very annoying! I bin the outer packaging of most products right away, so I won't be able to photograph it for my blog posts.... 

I am currently using my husbands old PC to keep up with my blog and all requests, but it is a big inconvenience... I am not getting a new laptop for another month or two, so I am not sure if I will be able to post daily, but I will try my best :) 

If you don't have any plans for the evening, please back up your important, irreplaceable files, so you don't end up absolutely devastated, like me. 

Sunday Manicure: Nails Inc Notting Hill

If you follow me on instagram, you might have seen this gorgeous nail polish already. I received it in the Latest In Beauty Summer Nails Box last week and I am in love with the colour! I still can't believe that I managed to get my mitts on this fabulous box. I was on the reservation list for nearly two months! There is no point to review it, as it was a limited edition box and it is sold out now, but if you would like to see all the contents of the box, you can find a fab review on Kayleigh's blog here. 

Back to the nails. The nail colour I am wearing is from Nails Inc and it is called Notting Hill.

Abahna Mandarin And Sicilian Bergamot Reed Diffuser review

Abahna Mandarin and Sicilian Bergamot Reed Diffuser* £36.00

Hot weather usually stops me from burning candles, so I placed a couple of new reed diffusers in the house to fill it with a gorgeous fragrance. From three different diffusers I am currently using, Abahna's offering is definitely the most powerful scent. It is really strong and ...utterly gorgeous! 

Paul and Joe Cheek Color Compact and Cheek Color Refill in shade 01 Secret d'or

I have been lusting after a Paul & Joe Cheek Colour Compact for ages and my birthday was the perfect excuse to order one :) The compact itself is super cheap and only costs £6.00, but you have to buy the refill separately and it will cost you £12.50. I wouldn't normally pay £18.50 for a blusher, but I really wanted to own a gorgeous Paul & Joe compact. They are simply beautiful!

Ciate Megaphone Corrupted Neon Manicure Kit Review and Giveaway

Ciate Corrupted Neon Manicure Kit - Megaphone* £18.00

I mentioned in one of my recent posts, that I have been experimenting with various nail art trends this summer. The latest addition to my nail polish collection is the Ciate Corrupted Neon Manicure Kit. I opted for the yellow combo called Megaphone and it consists of: a Yellow Taxi Paint Pot, Megaphone Glitter Topping and Black Light UV Top Coat. The Corrupted Neon Collection is available in four colour combinations:

Sunday Manicure: Bourjois Laser Manicure Toppings

I have been experimenting with the new Bourjois Laser Manicure Toppings* (£5.99) in the past week and I quite like the effect I can achieve with just one coat. The range consists of three shades: Blue Neon, Aqua Purple and Sun Scales and the last one is definitely my favourite. 

Boosting Your Ability to Conceive In Your 30s

There is no right age or time in your life to start a family. Many people have goals they want to tick off before settling down to have kids or things they want to achieve. Having all of your ducks in a row before starting your family can be beneficial in many ways, but this can be different for each and every person. Whether you choose to start a family young so you can check off your tick list when you get older, or you do it all in your 20s and leave your baby-making until your 30s, the ideal time and age are something that should be you decide on personally, not pick out of a myth or old fashioned way of thinking.

Beauteco Box July 2013

I am very impressed with the July Beauteco Box*. All their boxes have been fantastic since the website launched in May and I love the fact that you can pick from three different options each month and you always know what you are getting in your box. The element of surprise is gone, but... you won't be left disappointed :) To read more about the box, have a quick read of my May and June Beatuco Box reviews. In July I picked menu number 2 with four full size products and one sample. Impressive? Definitely!

How To Live It Up Every Day: Expert Tips And Tricks

Unsplash - CC0 License

For many people, the key to a good life is to live it up, have a good time, and connect with others. But how can you do that in a healthy, productive way that’s not going to wreck your life?  Well, you’re about to find out. This post takes a look at all the ways you can live it up every day and boost your lifestyle to the next level. 

New additions to my skincare routine

I adore face masks and I use them very often. I really hope I am not overdoing it :) Can you overdo it? They can work wonders on dull, congested or dehydrated skin and the choice is endless. If my skin feels horrible, I know that a face mask will sort it out. Most of my favourite face masks are from REN (Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask and ClearClam 3 Clarity Restoring Mask), but I recently discovered other gems worth mentioning.

5 Ways To Get Back On The Fitness Train

It’s tough to stay on top of your health and fitness when you become a parent, while juggling your career, keeping up with friends, and completing all your side projects. Still, trying to stay motivated to stay in shape can be a struggle. Although it’s challenging to squeeze some exercise and activity into your day, it isn’t impossible. If you feel overwhelmed hitting the gym or pulling your sneakers back on, here is some advice for getting back on the fitness train when you've been away for a while. 

Home Decor: Cable and Cotton Lights

You might have seen a sneak peek of Cable & Cotton lights in my previous home decor post or on my instagram, but they definitely deserve a separate post and... loads of pictures :)

Sunday Manicure: Barry M Pink Flamingo and Butter London West End Wonderland

When I was reading last month's Allure magazine, I was inspired to paint my nails with one of the color combinations, suggested in an article about nail trends for summer.

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons Review: Fuchsia Libre and Orange Punch

Another new release from Bourjois? Yes! This time, it is their Color Boost Lip Crayon. It comes in four gorgeous shades and I adore the formula. I was kindly sent Fuchsia Libre and Orange Punch to try out, but I will be buying two remaining colours as soon as I step into Boots or Superdrug.

Bourjois Maxi Delight Bronzer and Bronzing Base Review

Every time I review a Bourjois product, I mention that they are my favourite high street brand :) It will never change! Their products are great value for money and the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation and Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation are absolutely amazing. I also adore the Bourjous Little Round Pots and I recently fell in love with the Colour Boost Crayons (review coming soon).

This summer Bourjois released a range of bronzing products, including the Maxi Delight Bronzer, a Bronzing Primer and Bronzing BB Cream. I love having a bronzed complexion, so I was super excited to give the products a go.

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

Salads are my favourite Spring/Summer dishes and I could eat them for every meal. I absolutely love them! That's why I always experiment with different ingredients and try to come up with new ideas. My new favourite is the Roasted Butternut Squash Salad. Oh my... It tastes amazing!

My favourite body scrubs: Neom, Organic Surge, Lulu & Boo, Chery Lin, Next and a Homemade Pumpkin Spice Scrub

I adore sugar scrubs and I can honestly say that they are the only body care product I use religiously. They are a hassle free way of exfoliating and moisturising at the same time and help to keep my skin in great condition. As you can see, my selection includes six different scrubs and most of them are natural and organic. I also make DIY scrubs regularly, but I will talk about it at the end of the post.

Smooth "summer ready" legs

Hair removal is the only beauty related task I absolutely hate! I love the feeling of smooth legs though, so leaving them "au naturel" is not an option. There is many ways of getting rid of those pesky hairs, so I decided to share my thoughts and let you know what works best for me :)

Sunday Manicure: Paul & Joe Rio and L'Oreal Confetti Top Coat

This weekend I decided to give the beautiful Paul & Joe nail polish in shade Rio some love :) It is such a pretty summer shade! To make the manicure more fun, I added the L'Oreal Confetti Top Coat. I adore the final effect and I will definitely use this combo again. I also used one coat of Seche Vite, to add shine and prolong wear. 

Pretty Flowers

Photography is a big part of my blog and I spend a lot of time taking thousands of photos. Not all of them are beauty/blog related though :) Roses in our garden started to bloom this week and they are absolutely beautiful. For some reason, flowers make me very happy and I always get excited to see them bloom. I put some of them in small vases to make the house look more summery and pretty and it gave me an excuse to take some photos. 

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine :) xo