While there is tea there is hope. We're back!

I'm ever so sorry guys, it's been a while hasn't it? We've both been super busy for the past few months, Sophie had her exams to endure and work has put a downer on me lately so I've not felt in the right frame of mind to blog. However, September brings a change to all that so hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of us. 

June, July and August have been jam packed full of trips and memories. I took a week off to visit Soph down in Plymouth where we danced like lunatics. I've celebrated my dads birthday at Windsor, had a 1940's inspired afternoon tea with Amber at Stratford-Upon-Avon, and behaved like a classy lady with Rosie and Maisy in London.

I even celebrated my own birthday last month (I turned the big two one) and seeing as I had such a lovely time, I'm going to dedicate this post to it. 

Like everyone else who is remotely sane, I love cake and I love tea so I thought I'd combine the two and host a vintage inspired afternoon/ garden tea party for the big day. Lots of preparation was involved (a whole two days of solid cooking and baking!), drink and obviously dress shopping. I had been searching for months for the one and after many tantrums and dragging everyone round the shops with me, I finally went with this beauty.

It's a white, off the shoulder tea dress from Topshop (was £70, but I got it for £45 in the sale and Sophie's student discount!) It fitted perfectly and I'm not ashamed to say that I felt like a little princess in it. The white feather fascinator was also a bargain buy from Dorothy Perkins, however I can't be exactly how sure it was as my mother bought it me as a gift. (This is why I know it was a bargain.) 

Everyone else looked like absolute dolls, and I'm glad everyone went to such an effort! Lots and lots of goodies were involved including my own vanilla, chocolate & ginger cupcakes and cookies and I can tell you now that i've never been so full in my entire life. You could of rolled me to bed and I wouldn't of cared. 

That's it for now guys, just a quick post to get back into the swing of things. I hope you have all been well and enjoyed your summers! 

Much love

XXX

OOTD: spot of leopard

 It isn't very often that I truly want to write an outfit post. Why? Well, I don't think any blogger will be ashamed to say how much bloody effort goes into one. Firstly, you have to reaaalllllyyy plan what you're going to wear because, I don't know about you, but I love nothing better than to just shove on my comfies and be done with it.

Secondly, once you've selected your outfit you then have to find a place to shoot it. There is literally no blank walls in my house to photograph against so I have to improvise by taking off all of my coats and scarfs off the back of my door (I have tons, it takes forever) and then balance my camera on makeshift podiums to get the right height. There is also no good source of natural light, it's like living in a cave.

Thirdly, my face always looks a mess, which is why I'm always cutting it out. It is the outfit that counts though, right? 

However, it's sunny and quite warm out and i'm in a good mood so I don't mind going through all of the above to show off my outfit for today/ this evening where i'll be going out for a bite to eat with my parents. 

(But, i'm not taking the rubbish off my door. Sorry!)

What I love most about this outfit is that it all cost under £30, yay!

Cream collar blouse- Primark 

Black peplum sweater- Primark 

Light wash skinny jeggings- Urban Outfitters

Leopard print shoes- Primark 

Leather bag- Charity 

Green leopard earrings & ring- Unknown, gift

I love my knitted peplum so much because it's so easy and versatile to wear and I really think it's an item of clothing that everyone should have in their wardrobe as it gives curves whilst at the same time hiding anything you don't want the world to see. It's also a bonus that I only paid £3 for it in the Primark sale but I know that they also do cotton/ t shirt versions and also a more fancy formal version in lace cream and black. 

So, I am hoping you all have a lovely day and rest of the week :) 

Enjoy the sun whilst it lasts!

XXX

BE MINE? Valentine's- Part Two

Hello Lovelies, it's Jenn (:

So last week I wrote a post about Valentine's gifts/baked goodies and I thought I would continue today into part two- the looks. I've never been out for Feb 14th, and if you read part one you'd see that i'm not a massive fan of it, so it was a be difficult to choose different outfits but I hope i've done well, let me know! 

The English Rose- Theatre Trip 

 White Ruffled Dress- Topshop

Cream & Rose Cardigan- Primark 

Floral Bag- Topshop 

 Make Up

For my make up, I used my trusty MUA Undressed Palette, Clinique Blushing Blush Powder in Sunset Glow, Clinique Chubby Stick in Plushest Punch, Diorshow Mascara by Dior, Body Shop Virgin Mineral Liquid Foundation in Shade 105/Rose Ivory, Benefit POREfessional, Technic High Lights & a eyeliner pencil in plum (non branded).

To prep, I put a pea sized amount of Porefessional all over my face, focusing more on my lids and around my eyes. I brushed blusher onto my checkbones and up towards my temples. You don't have to apply it that high but I advise you to if you have puffy skin around your eyes because it makes it less noticable. 

For my eyes, I loaded my eyeshadow brush with Shade 2 from the Undressed Palette and brushed it all across my lid. I then lightly applied Shade 1 just under my brows to widen my eyes and blended heavily. Next, I applied a darker rose shimmer (Shade 9) into the crease and blended as much as I could, I then made a wing shape with the same shade and connected it to the outer corner of my eye. I penciled in a line (you don't have to be too neat) and then blended that into my lash line, top and bottom. I then applied one coat of Diorshow mascara.

For my lips, I wanted a bright pop of rosy colour so I chose Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Plushest Pink. Sophie bought me this after I was lusting after it for ages. I'll do a proper review of this in a later post but I do love it and you should definitely invest in one.

The Retro- Lunch Date 

Red Skirt- Vintage 

Make Up

 Products Used-
MUA Undressed Palette, Clinique Blushing Blush Powder in Sunset Glow, Maxfactor Colour Effect Flipstick in Gispy Red, Diorshow Mascara by Dior, Body Shop Virgin Mineral Liquid Foundation in Shade 105/Rose Ivory, Benefit POREfessional, Technic High Lights & a eyeliner pencil in plum (non branded) 

I used the same make up as the look above so have a read there to see how I did it (:

  The only thing I changed was my lip colour which was one of Maxfactor's Flipsticks in Gipsy Red. I really love these lipsticks, as you've pretty much got 3 shades in one. Mine comes in with a coral/pink and a gold shimmer. To apply just sweep the pink across your lips and then apply the gold just in the middle for a subtle look. I'll do a proper review in a later post (: 

 Hair

Now, I apologise for the photo quality, I understand it's the dreaded mirror photo but I couldn't get a decent photo of my hair otherwise (it's still not that decent). 

If you look closely then you'll notice the heart shaped rolls at the top of my head, I'll definitely do a proper tutorial post on this later in the week because it's a really lovely style and suprisingly easy. 

Basically, all you have to do is section your hair front to back and side to side so you have 4 sections. Kirby grip the back 2 sections just either side of your parting. Roll one back section into a sausage and then grip the ends, do it again on the other side. Repeat with the front two sections so eventually you'll end up with two sausage rolls either side your parting. 

The Sultry- Cocktail Bar Date

 

 Two Tone Colour Block Blazer- Primark

Lace Black Bralet- Primark

Black Wet Look Leggings- River Island 

Make Up 

 Products Used-
MUA Undressed Palette, Clinique Blushing Blush Powder in Sunset Glow, Black Liquid Eyeliner (non branded), Diorshow Mascara by Dior, Body Shop Virgin Mineral Liquid Foundation in Shade 105/Rose Ivory, Benefit POREfessional, Technic High Lights & Maxfactor Colour Effect Flipstick in Gipsy Red. 

For my eyes, the only product I used was lqiquid eyeliner so a clean and dramatic look. Feline flicks are pretty timeless and go perfectly with that sexy/sultry outfit you've picked out. If you don't have a steady hand, don't try and do it all in one go. Do half the line, starting from the inner corner and stop in the centre. Join the line up from the outer corner and flick it up (I find this easier to do with my eye open, rather than closing it). 

I didn't change my lip colour from the previous look but I would definitely pick a bricky red. Sleek do a lovely shade called Dare which you should definitely look out for. 

Simple Elegance- The Dinner Date 

Thin Black Jumper- Primark

Burgundy Maxi Skirt- Primark 

Burgundy Wedges- Matalan 

So, there are you go. These are my 4 ideal Valentine's date looks. If you've got any of your own that would you like to share, then get in touch!

XXX

Something for the weekend

Hey guys, here’s a look I put together to meet some friends I hadn’t seen in far too long for Bella Italia and drinks.

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV

I did a goldy browny smokey eye using my Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, this was originally around £40 from Urban Decay at Debenhams - as far as I know they don’t carry it anymore but you might be able to find one knocking around Ebay or somewhere! 

I used Baked, Bust, Sin and Midnight rodeo:

Swatches of Urban Decay eyeshadows in Baked, Bust, Sin and Midnight Rodeo (Left to right)

Baked is a gorgeous shimmery, brassy gold with orangey undertones, ‘Bust’ is a really soft, satin medium brown with pinky-purpley undertones, ‘Sin’ is a beautiful soft shimmery rose pink, and ‘Midnight rodeo’ is a shimmery medium brown with glitter particles.

Here’s what I did:

• Smoothed some Urban Decay Primer Potion (in Original - £14.50) over my eyelid with my finger, as I find that UD shadows work best and last longer with their primer underneath.
• Packed Baked onto my lid with a packing brush, and really layered it up to get a strong colour, all the way from my lash line to my socket line.

• Blended Bust into the outer corners and about half way across my socket line with my trusty Mac 239, winging it out slightly.
•  Took some Bust underneath the eye to add some definition.
• Tight-lined my upper waterline in a black eyeliner (Smolder by Mac - £14.00) and a really thin line of a dark brown kohl (Black Brown by Elizabeth Arden) on the top lash line, which I really smudged out and blended up into the shadow.
• If I could find my nude kohl pencil I would have used this on my lower waterline!
• Finished off with plenty of black mascara (Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama - £7.99)
• and just a touch of Urban Decay Sin as a highlight on my brow bone, blended down into the shadow underneath with a clean 239.

And here’s my face!

I went for my current favourite pinky nude lipstick – Hue by Mac (£14.00) and topped off with a super thick, light-reflecting gloss:  Angel Food Cake by Bare Minerals, as it’s so wet looking and glossy (if a little sticky!).

I wore one of my new black shift dresses (as discussed here) with lacy shoulder panels and ¾ sleeves.

I let my hair fall loose in my usual messy natural curls and finished off the look with my trusty black heeled shoe boots (New Look).

Thanks for reading guys I hope you liked the look! What are your plans for the weekend??

Sophie xxx