NOTD: Barry M

 Barry M's Mushroom is pretty much my favourite everyday nail polish. I work as a journalist for a graphic design agency and have to meet clients face-to-face so sometimes a more subtle nail polish is needed.

I'm a huge fan of Barry M nail paints. They're really pigmented and last for ages. I've heard a few people say they take forever to dry but I have a secret weapon...

This Elegant Touch spray dries your nails in 60 seconds - and it actually works. I hate sitting around waiting for them to dry & always chip them so this is ideal for people like me! You might not be able to go taking off skinny jeans but they're perfectly dry in about 2 mins! 

Shopping Haul: Peacocks & New Look

I got paid on Friday so have already spent a few £££'s! I'm going to Reading festival in the summer (so excited!!!) and needed some shorts. First I order these ah-may-zing aztec print shorts from New Look:

These were £19.99 and are gorgeous. I'm obsessed with aztec patterns so these are my summer (and festival - yay!!) esential. They're not as thick as denim shorts so will be a nice alternative when the sun eventually rears its head!

I also brought some high waisted shorts from Peacocks for about £10. These will go with everything and will also be joining me at Reading Fest! The shorts look like denim but they're not as thick which is hopefully good because my old pair from Topshop lost their shape reall quickly.

Finally I brought this cable knit cardigan from Peacocks for about £20. I live in chunky knits - my boyfriend brought me a stunning poncho/cardi from Republic for Christmas and I live in it! The detail and colour of the wool won me over and I expect I'll wear this all through the winter and spring!


What have you been buying this payday?

Last Friday Night...

Quick OOTD...well OOTN! Went to Propaganda in Birmingham last night with 2 of my best mates and we really did drink far too many shots!

Top: Wallis

Shorts: Boohoo

Shoe Boots: Peacocks

Clutch: New Look

These are my fave going out shoes, they're so comfy! Toughened up my pastel pink top with the boots and leather-look shorts. The shorts are a really flattering length - especially as I don't have stick pins!

  

Looking a little worse for wear at the end of the night! <3

Beauty Haul: Number 17, Soap & Glory, Garnier

I popped to Boots the other day to spend more money.I brought the New Number 17 'Peep Show' Mascara. I was lured in by the stunning packaging and introductuary offer - I payed £5.29 instead of £7.29. 

The fiberlash mascara is in brown/black so matches your natural lashes and is really amazing. It really lengthens my lashes and gives them a really natural looking curl. Will certainly repurchase!

My second purchase was Soap and Glory's 'Flake Away' body scrub. I've only ever used Soap & Glory's hand wash and hand creme as I have super sensitive skin but I need a decent exfoliator so thought I'd give this a go after reading loads of good reviews.

It smells really nice, and is quite a rough exfoliator - which I like - smooth skin here we come! My legs were super smooth after using this and its a huge tub so it'll last me a while.

Finally I treated myself to Garnier's tinted eye roll on in Shade 02 Fair. I suffer with quite bad bags under my eyes and think conceler sometimes make this worse. My cousin recommended this and at £6 instead of £10 I thought I'd give it a bash.

Idon't know how I ever lived without this! I can notice a real difference and as it goes on smoother than conceler it looks more natural.

Wednesday Wishlisht #2

 1:Nikka Peter Pan Collar Dress - Missguided

2. Coral Printed Mesh Neck Top - Miss Selfridge

3. Knitted Textured Grunge Jumper - Topshop

This weeks wishlist is all about spring summer and pastel colours - I also have a minor thing for collars! It is also a short wishlist as I'm yet to be paid from my new jobbie! Send sympathy my way please, I'm about as skint as they get!

1. This Missguided dress is stunning. Its avaliable in loads of colours and is really summer and cute!

2. I HAVE to have this collared top to add to my work wardrobe! Its colourful and cute and collared - thats a winner in my book!

3. This jumper is perfect for cool spring days. I love the ice blue colour too. If someone want's to buy me this it'd be much appreciated!

What are you lusting over this week?

New Look Sale Haul

As I work full time I tend to spend my lunch hour internet shopping and it's becoming dangerous! I thought most of the things left in the sale would be rubbish and not my size but I did manage to pick up some bargins from New Look:

Floral Dress: £9 down from £30

 This navy dress is stunning, I love it! I don't think I'd of paid full price for it but its so pretty and summery. I don't tend to wear things like this so it'll be a nice change. My graduation ceremony is next month and as our robes are navy I think I might wear this?

Cracked Stone Ring: £3

S'cuse my PJ's! I have a mini obsession with big rings and I love this. I ordered a medium though and as I've got tiny fingers it's a little bit big (I'm too lazy to take back a ring so it'll do!)

Oversize Tribal Studs: £3

My earring collection is huge but its mainly small studs so these will be great for dressing things up and mixing things up. They're massive black studs with gold detailing, very excited to wear them! 

 

NOTD: Number 17 Magnetic Nail Polish

Anyone that knows me will know I'm a complete nail polish junkie. I think I have every Barry M colour going! So when I saw 17's Magnetic Nail Polish I had to give it a try!

 I brought this in Teal (above) and Gun Metal and I LOVE it! The polish has metal particles in and when its still wet if you hover the magnet (in the lid) over it you get this amazing pattern. 'scuse the scruffy nails!

The first time I tried this I had major issues but if you give the bottle a good shake before you paint each nail it works. I also found it works better if you paint your nails normally first so theres a decent base colour.

Have you tried the maganetic polishes, what do you think?

Review: MUA Heaven & Earth Palette

I've brought the odd eyeshadow and mascara from MUA. Stocked in Superdrug stores, most of MUA's range costs just £1 and the quality is always impressive. When I saw their pro palette ranges I knew I'd have to treat myself.

I picked up the Heaven and Earth palette for £4 and I love it. The browns, bronzes and nudes are great for everyday and subtle smokey eyes. I'd been debating whether to buy Urban Decay's Naked Palette but there really is no need - this is an amazing dupe.

The shadows are really pigmented and for £4 you really can't go wrong. I'd definatly pick up another MUA Palette next time I needed some new eyeshadows!

Have you used MUA makeup before? What do you think? And what products should I try?

Wednesday Wishlist

1) Vivien Leather Contrast Dress, missguided

2) Contrast Zip Back Vest, Topshop

3) Glamourous Navy Olive Playsuit, ARK

4) Mulberry Alexa

5) Dip Dye Hair

I am desperate for dip dye hair. I've currently got blonde highlights so am considering going back to my natural brown and dipdying the ends...or staying blonde and dying the tips dark? Ideas/hints welcome!

Republic's S/S 12 Collection

I've just stumbled across Republic's spring/summer collection and I'm head over heels. It's full of Aztec prints, spring florals and sherbet colours. I'm obsessed with the whole collection but these are a few of my faves:

 I have to get this sheer shirt. Its completely stunning and will look great with skinnies or a skirt. I may have to order and have zero pennies until payday!

 I want these shorts for Reading festival, amazing!

These aztec print tube skirts are lush! I love the blue and black one. You can get all of these on republic's website.

What are your favourite pieces of the collection?

Saturday Night, Dance, I Like The Way You Move...

Belated OOTD/OOTN from Saturda night. Me & my cousin went clubbing at Snobs in Birmingham. Snobs is basically an indie/rock dive in B'ham that tends to be full of students. Its dirty but I love it! Here's what I wore:

 Top: Next

Leggings: Boohoo.com

Tusk necklace: Forever 21
Braclets: L-holidays to various sunny climates, R-Pandora

Cross double finger ring: Topshop

OOTD: Aztec Antics

Quick hungover OOTD. Went to my little cousins' birthday teaparty so was comfort over anything else. Teamed my aztec top and studded slippers with trusty black leggings.

 Top: ARK

Bracelets: Various holidays, Pandora

Necklace: Swarovski

...Studs and Shoes Excite Me

My inner indie couldn't contain it's excitment when I spotted these amazing studded slippers on the Topshop website.

These are the most beautiful - and comfiest - pair of shoes I've ever owned. It really was love at first sight! Think I paid about £25 for them. I adore them!

Shopping Haul: Next & ARK

I'm not the biggest fan of sales shopping at the best of times, safe to say I HATE them - rummaging through untidy rails and racks of clothes is my idea of hell. This year I headed to Merry Hill and snapped up a few bargins. I dont normally shop in Next but I managed to pick up some amazing bargins! First was this snake print shirt.

I'd had my eye on this when it was full price and for some reason I never brought it. It was down from £18 to £8, not that I needed a reason to get it! My next purchases were from ARK, one of my new favourite places to shop. I'd seen this top on MissGuided.co.uk but prefered this red colour and at the same price (£7.99) can't complain! 

I also brought this vest top - love at first sight. This cost £11.99 and is a sure fire summer wardobe staple/ These tops are my Reading Festival wardrobe sorted, Roll on August!

Did you get any bargins in the sales?

NYE NOTD: Festive Sparkles

When I payed a visit to Boots just before New Years I spotted a special offer on the Barry M nail varnishes. When you spent £6 you got a limited editon, silver glitter for free (or £3.99) to buy on its own. Obviously I couldn't resist and snapped up the polish to add to my ever growing collection.

I used 'Coral' as the base colour as it was bright enough for New Years and would really bring out the glitter. Just applyed a few coats of the coral base coat and once it was dry painted the glitter over the top.

 

It's a really sparkley silver glitter (not showing up brilliantly, thanks BlackBerry!) and you can apply a single coat for just a bit of sparkle or more to really brighten up your old nail polishes. I used about 2 coats to give a good coverage but using less would make for a suitable all day polish too!

 

Christmas NOTD: Fancy Foils

Anyone that knows me will know I own more nail polishes to rival Superdrug. I literally can't walk past Barry M without treating myself to a varnish or six. So when I popped into my local Bodycare just before Christmas I couldn't resit trying out these Elegant Touch nail foils.

Having seen expensive packets in most drug stores that barely contain enough stickers for both hands, this purse friendly alternative - £1.99 for 3 sets - was a must buy! With the help of my mommy, a glass of Rose and E.T. on the tv - am I the only person TERRIFIED of him!? - we managed to jazz up my nails.

I'd half expected these to be really fiddly and difficult to apply but they were really quick and easy. After selecting the right size for each finger, you just peel them off, stick them on and voila! These lasted about 5 days before they chipped off too which was great considering how cheap they were.

Here's the finished article...

  

...what do you think? Have you ever tried nail stickers? Any I should try?