The Liebster Blog Award!

Well hello again!

I logged onto my blog last night to see a comment from the lovely Lizzie ( Lizzie Loves Red ) and she has nominated me for the liebster blog award...and if you have been lucky enough to have won blog awards or been nominated for them, it makes you feel pretty amazing! It's my first ever nomination and feels eeek so good! Couldn't believe it when I logged in! So thank you very much Lizzie, and make sure you all go check her blog out, as it's pretty awesome!

I don't know about you when you read it, but the word 'Liebster' intrigues me, so I did a bit of google defining (standard!) and discovered that it is a German word and translate as: 'friend', 'love', beloved'. And the idea is the nominee is to have less than 200 followers, and the award then can bring some attention to these blogs.

So lets get down to the nitty gritty part:

The Rules!

1. You must share 11 things about yourself.

2. Then you need to answer the 11 questions that your tagger has given you.

3. Then you are to choose 11 fellow blogs to nominate. The nominees must have under 200 Google Friend Connect followers and be told in a comment on their blog.

4. Next you have to think of 11 questions to ask the bloggers you have nominated.

5. Finally thank the person that nominated you and link back to their blog.

Rule 1: 11 Things About Me 

1. I am left handed but apart from writing and using cutlery I do everything with my right hand or foot. 

2. I don't drink alcohol - I just don't see the need to become drunk and be a complete wreck and feel awful the day after!

3. I can say the alphabet backwards as quickly as I can forwards. 

4. I think I probably could make and bake a cake with my eyes shut I've done it so many times!

5. I need to block e-bay from my computer as I spend waaaay too much money on there. Thank goodness it's cheap!

6. I am addicted to milkshakes. At home. At cafes. In parlours. Love them. 

7. My favourite season is spring. Not too cold and not over hot and I like to see all the new baby animals in the fields!

8. I love sports and exercise. Watching it, playing them, reading about it. I am still getting over the no Olympics for 3 and a half years!

9. I enjoying reading books I choose. But I find the motivation hard to continue reading! I can read the first 50 pages in a couple of nights and enjoy it. But then I loose interest, even though I've really enjoyed what I've read. Eventually when I feel the need to read again and pickup the book on page 50 I've forgot everything which happened prior to it. So have to begin again!

10. I hate having my hair cut! The whole process from start to finish!

11. I am the lightest sleeper ever. If someone sneezes in the next room boom I'll be awake! 

Rule 2: 11 Questions Answered From My Tagger

1: What do you prefer, Fashion & clothing, or make up & beauty?
- Ooh this question is tough but I think I'll go for make up and beauty as I enjoy it most and experimenting with new looks and products and colours. And although I'm no make up expert in the slightest through YouTube and blogs I feel I know a lot about it now!

2: What's your favourite make up brand and why?
- Well I think I've got to pick what I have the most of and what I've been using for the longest and that is the natural collection found in boots! I have very sensitive and dry skin and this doesn't affect it at all and also with the collection being called 'the natural' collection... It gives off a nice natural look which is what I aim for! Also the pricing is SO reasonable. Love it!

3: What's the thing that you most HATE?
- I really cannot stand it when people do not smile back. Like if I'm walking down a street or am sat in a restaurant and I smile at someone whether it be a man lady or teenager and they just look at you... Aargh I can't bare it! I find it impossible not to smile at someone who smiles at me!

4: Where your favourite place in the world & why?
- Ooh I could say a whole heap of places here. Think the best is the Isle of Wight. Spent so many happy holidays there. It's usually always warm. There is so much to do, the scenery is beautiful and although you are still in England. You could easily feel like your abroad!

5: What's your favourite clothing shop?
- It's a toss up between Primark and New Look for me! That's pretty much where my whole wardrobe is from! Their pricing is reasonable. There is such a variety of fashion in them both and without fail I can always find something to buy in there!

6: What is your most used skin care item?
- Pretty boring answer to this really but it's moisturiser. I get super dry skin so it's a must to apply as much as I can! I use 'simple moisturiser'. 

7: Do you have any pets, and if so what are they?
- No pets for me! I'm pretty scared of anything with fur! I used to have 2 pet goldfish though!

8: What's your favourite piece of clothing, the one most used by you?

- Another pretty boring answer but its the truth and its my plain black skinny jeans. They go with practically everything. They are comfy to wear. And you can dress them up and down. And they are under a tenner in Primark!

9: What can't you live without?
- Apart from the obvious things like my family, food and money etc for me is music! I love it. It helps to lift my mood. It makes me laugh with my crazy dance routines I can do to it. It's a great time passer. And it's a great distracter!

10: What's your favourite food?
- Doughnuts. Krispy Kreme ones. Hot sea side ones. Home made ones. Jammy ones. Bakery ones. Supermarket ones. Sugared ones. You name it, if its a doughnut I like it ;). 

11: What's your favourite nail polish brand?

- Eeek I love so many. Another super hard question to pick one but my winner is going to be..... Nails Inc. I love the names of the polishes. I love how bright and pigmented the colours are. I like how you get pretty big bottles of it and they look such a good quality on my nails!

Rule 3: My 11 Nominations

1. http://bluebellsandowls.blogspot.co.uk/

2. http://hannahheartss.blogspot.co.uk/

3. http://lexiaa2202.blogspot.co.uk/

4. http://lizzielovesred.blogspot.co.uk/

5. http://resterbelle-x.blogspot.co.uk/

6. http://thelittlekoala.blogspot.co.uk/

7. http://www.lifeasizzie.blogspot.co.uk/

8. http://emily-etc.blogspot.co.uk/

9. http://kehmrb13.blogspot.co.uk/

10. http://ateenageshopaholic.blogspot.co.uk/

11. http://petitmoibigworld.blogspot.co.uk/

Rule 4: My 11 Questions For My Nominees! 

1. If you could only have one social site out of facebook, twitter, youtube, blogger, instagram etc, which one would you pick?!

2. Given the choice, would you rather buy cheaper things and have more, or buy more expensive things and have less?! For example, would you rather go into Primark and buy 5 vest tops for £10, or would you rather go into Topshop and buy 1 vest top for £10?!

3. What is your 'song on repeat' right now?

4. What is one of your pet hates?

5. Who are your top three youtubers?

6. What one make up item could you not live without?

7. Do you prefer your hair straight, waved or curled?

8. If you were to go on 'Come Dine With Me' what would your 3 course menu be?!

9.  What are your guilty pleasures?

10. What is the best holiday you have ever been on?

11. Which day of the week is your favourite?!

So that is all the rules done with! I want to say thank you so much once more to Lizzie, I really enjoyed thinking of and answering these questions! Good luck to everyone :)

Happy Mother's Day!

This day of the year seems to soon whip round, and as I've got older I have began to appreciate the day more. I don't know about you but when I was younger I was always like

"Pfffft Mother's Day, what do you need that for, well tight why can't we have a children's day?!"

But now I see it as an extra special day to make a fuss of your Mum and show her how much you love her and how you appreciate all she does for you. It's not until you sit down and think about it or either have children of your own or perhaps are left in charge for a couple of days that you realise how much in fact Mums do!

One pretty amazing category of people I say!

So if you can today I hope you show your Mum what you think of her and treat her special. And remember that it's not always about buying big bunches of flowers or expensive chocolates. As long as its from you, their son or daughter they will be happy with anything. Even if its doing the house chores ALL DAY or writing her a poem.... A motto I always say is:

"It is the thought, time and effort that counts!"

Which is completely true!

I made my Mum her favourite cake, chocolate and orange drizzle cake with marbled chocolate on top. Can't wait to see her face!

So with it being Mother's Day I read some Mother related facts the other day and thought I'd share them with you!

- The surnames of Chinese people often start with a variation of or a word similar to 'mother'. They believe this is a way of honouring mothers past and present.

- Every year in the UK Mother's Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

- Mother giraffes often give birth standing up. So their new baby's first experience in the outside world is usually a 6 foot drop! (The poor things...getting them used to heights early though haha!)

- With over 12,000 babies being born on this day - Tuesday was the most popular day to give birth and become a mother in 2012!

- The majority of the world's languages for the word 'mother' begin with the letter M.

- In her life time female oysters can produce over 100 million babies! (That's a lot of Mother's Day cards to open hehe!)


Have a great day with your Mum if you can today, and until next time,

Timotei - Golden Highlights Shampoo and Conditioner

Hey you lovely lot! Today is going to be my thoughts on "Timotei Golden Highlights" Shampoo and Conditioner.

So as usual I will answer: 

What Brought me to this product?

I have had blonde hair since I was born and I am very lucky to still have it now I am 21.

I have never had highlights or dyed my hair. The dying part is something I particularly feel strongly about. The main reasons are of the damage to the hair, the expense, the keeping up to it, the roots and so on...its just never been something I've wanted to do.

But having blonde hair is something I've wanted to maintain. It's fine from April to November, the sunshine and the being out in the fresh air more frequently definitely lightens it naturally and leaves me with a nice bright natural blonde colour, however from December - March it dulls down quite alot and that bugs me!

So I have been on the hunt for a shampoo to naturally brighten my hair. I researched LOADS of products and read reviews online, and I also wanted something which wouldn't break the bank and the winning product came out as these.

The Product:

- Both the shampoo and conditioner contain 0% parabens.

- It is aimed for people with blonde or highlighted hair.

- It is infused with 100% natural extract of camomile (a natural lightener).

- They come in 400ml bottles.....

- They come in easy to get out bottles with flick lids like this:

- They are vastly available through the U.K in numerous shops, supermarkets. I get mine from Superdrug.

                         - 400ml Shampoo at Superdrug Link £2.00

                         - 400ml Conditioner at Superdrug Link £2.00

And at the date of posting this Superdrug have FREE UK Delivery, so £4 for 800ml of hair product...bargainous!

My Review:

- I really love this shampoo and conditioner.

- It leaves my hair feeling soft, clean and smooth.

- It hasn't dried it out, or created any issues.

- It didn't brighten my hair after one wash, but after the 4th wash I could notice a difference, my family were commenting on it too.

- It looked natural and a brighter, lighter blonde, just as I wanted it!

- I won't use this product all year through as I don't want my hair to become used to it, and also, I don't need it through the summer months, but certainly at the end of the year and few months at the start of the year it will be out in my shower!

- I don't use this product every wash either, every other wash, and it has certainly worked for me!

Have you used this before? Did it work for you?

Are there any other natural hair lightening remedies you know of?!

See you all soon,

Avon Cosmetics - Sleeptherapy - Sleep Balm

Well hello everyone!

Finally I am back with a normal post, as I said in my last mini post, so sorry I haven't blogged for quite some time, I have been so busy with one thing and another, blogging just hasn't been able to fit in! Anyway I am back in action now and I am bringing you my thoughts on: Avon's Sleeptherapy range - "Sleep Balm".

What brought me to this product?

A couple of years ago, I was having horrendous nights sleep, about 3 hours max per night, it was horrible, and if you have had bad nights sleep reading this...literally like how loooooong do them nights last?!?! Feels like the clock does 1 minute forwards, and then 5 minutes back! Anyway, my Auntie knew about my bad sleep and was placing an order with Avon herself, so she added this sleep balm to the order for me to try....

The Product:

- It comes in a 10ml pot.

- It's consistency is quite waxy, very similar to vaseline, for example if vaseline scored 10/10 on the grease/wax front, I'd give this a 6/10..(I hope you can imagine what I mean there!)

- For it to work best it is suggested for you to apply it to: your temples, and other pulse points such as your neck and wrists.

- It has a calming soothing scent, nothing over powering, but you can tell you have something on!

Where can I buy it from?

Well there are three products in the 'Sleeptherapy' brand:

- Sleep Balm

               - Currently £1.50 on this avon link

               - £3.60 from this ebay seller

- Body Wash

               - Currently £1.75 on this avon link

               - £4.45 from this ebay seller

- Pillow Mist

               - Currently £2.25 on this avon link

               - £3.25 from this ebay seller

My Review:

- I like this product ALOT. So much so I have spotted I am scrapping the bottom so I have just ordered another pot.

- I don't use it every night and I wouldn't advise you to either, as I think your body becomes used to things and then doesn't do its job any more.

- I think the packaging is cool - I even find looking at the blue cloud like lid relaxing (haha), its small, easy to store or travel around with.

- You can get the product out so easily.

- It doesn't stain or mark anything.

And now for the burning question on all your minds...does it work?!

- Yes! I really think it does, I mean its not a miracle sleep cure, like it doesn't pass chemicals through your body to make you sleep or anything like that, it is more the smell which is meant to be soothing and calming to you (and probably more science like things which I don't know!).

- Every time I put it on, I always have a better nights sleep, now whether that is because of the product or my mind thinking: 

"Oh I have got sleep balm on tonight I will have a better nights sleep."

I'm not sure, but nether the less, I am having better sleep with using it, and even if it is just my brain playing tricks on me, I don't really mind, as I am getting the results I want, the product is not harming me in anyway or leaving any side effects like sleeping pills may do for example, and it smells lovely, so I can only see a win win situation!

- The price is great, mine has lasted me at least 2 years if not more, so you are definitely getting your moneys worth!

So let me know, do you have trouble getting to sleep? Are there any other great sleep balms or sprays you can use? Or have you used Avons sleep balm before? Do you agree with my thoughts?!

Thanks for reading, untill next time...

Kenwood Compact CH108A Mini Chopper White – A Review

What's happening guys? Another Sunday afternoon has come round again, it gets to this point so quickly doesn't it?!

Today I am here to inform you all about the "Kenwood Compact CH108A Mini Chopper", what it does, how it works and what I think of it!

So what brought me to this purchase? As you may know from reading my previous posts or my ‘about me’ page, I am a keen baker, and I am always looking for new devices to aid me in my cooking missions! We used to have a huge kenwood mixer, but it was rather old and unfortunately stopped working, so it had to go! Now, I didn’t have (and still don’t!) have the funds to replace the large one, as they are much more expensive, but I did have £19.99 to spare to buy this (link to site)and boy oh boy am I glad I did!

The ‘Experts’ Product Specification:

•   Made from plastic
• 300 watts.
•  It has a 0.35 litre container.
• It has removable stainless steel blades.
• Parts are dishwasher safe.
• It has a safety locking lid – if the lid isn’t locked, it won’t start!
• It has a non slip base.

    So What Can You Use It For?

•      Crushing digestive biscuits for a cheesecake base.
•      Blitzing bread to crumbs for a treacle tart.
•      Crushing nuts (as my pictures will later show).
•      Making cake into crumbs for cake pops.
•      Making salad dressing.
•      Cutting up onions.
•      Garlic.
•      Spices.
•      Herbs.
•     And many more things!

    My Review:

•     It is affordable being £19.99 at Argos (link is above).
•     It is small, it doesn't take much space up in your cupboard or on your kitchen top if you decide to keep it out.
•     It is easy to use - you don't have to spend hours going through instruction manuals before you use it.
•     It does the job of a large mixer, the only difference being it's size, for example, instead of putting a whole 8 inch cake in, you may only be able to put a quarter in at a time.
•     It is easy to clean, wash and piece together.
•     When you mix it is very loud, and you do have to keep your finger on the 'on'  button, or else it will not mix!

One bit of advice I would say though, is personally I wouldn’t mix a baking things with cooking things. This may just be my personal preference, but with how strong garlic and onions are, I wouldn’t want to blitz a cake in it afterwards because of any potential lingering onion odor!

The Packaging

The Packaging

The Packaging

The Packaging

UK Plug

The Size Of The Chopper In Relation To A Standard Cereal Box

All 4 Parts Of The Chopper, The Device, The Blase, The Container And The Lid.

I don't know about you, but I really DO NOT like nuts! But being a 'super food' and extremely good for you, I find them important to have, so I stick some in the chopper usually brazil nuts and walnuts and they come out like the image below, all the goodness there, but much better to taste, I sprinkle them on my weetbix on a morning for my breakfast!

   Hope you found this post useful and informative to help you make a decision!

   Do you have a Kenwood mini chopper? What do you use yours for?

   Untill next time, 

Justin Bieber Girlfriend Eau de Parfum - Review

Whats going on bloggers?

So yesterday I got myself another unexpected treat, I got "Justin Biebers - Girlfriend" perfume.

I have never smelt this before, but I was walking through Debenhams and it was there at the end of the counter and I thought:

"Oooh let's have a spray"

And whoahhh, it is gorgeous! I have only ever had 2 brands of perfumes in my life, my nose only seems to like certain scents, and when I like something, I like it... hence why I have stuck to the same two for so long, in case you are wondering which two they are:

- Paco Rabanne Black XS - (LINK TO BLACK XS)
- Christina Aguilera - (LINK TO CHRISTINA AGUILERA)

Anyway, I sprayed it on and continued my shopping and I kept smelling my wrist and thinking:

"Oh man I love this smell so much, I think I need to buy it!"

Then I got into Boots, and it was 30ml for £24.00 or an offer of 50ml for £19.96!! (LINK GIRLFRIEND PERFUME) Well needless to say, that did it, I felt like I had no choice but to buy it for under £20!! 

My Review:

- It lasts! Having sprayed this on my wrist at 11am, when I was watching television that evening around 9pm I could still smell the fragrance on my wrist - granted it was weaker, but nether the less, I could still smell it!

- The scent contains the smells: pink freesia, star jasmine, apricot nectar, orange blossom, sparkling pear, crisp mandarin, rich blackberry, mara strawberry, vanilla orchid and luminous musk. (I apologise I am terrible at describing scents, so I thought I would stick to the facts!)

- As you will be able to see from the images below, the overall packaging design is pretty funky to look at, it is bright, bold, unqiue and it makes you want to touch it. However, from a practical, carrying it around in your hand bag point of view though - it is perhaps not so great!

- The bottle slips out of the packaging very easily and then you are just left with a standard bottle...one which is suitable for carrying around! It is a deep purple colour in the shape of a love heart.

- I cannot fault this product, especially the price I managed to get it for, Boots are doing a killer offer at the moment!

If you are thinking of getting a new perfume soon, I would suggest going for a free spray of this - see what you think... what is the worst that can happen? ;)

Let me know your favourite perfumes, have you bought any recently?!

See you next time, 

Nike Bruin Trainers - A Review

Hey blogging world,

How are you all doing? How windy is it at the moment?! Eeek, I feel like the house is going to blow away like Dorothy's from the Wizard of Oz!

Anyway, as the title may suggest I am here to show you what I have just bought, and give my thoughts and opinions on it (Detailed pictures will follow right at the bottom)!

So I have just got the womens "NikeBruin Hi" trainers, and I blooming love them! I got them from JD Sports in a size 7 and they were £65.00, here is the link if any of you are interested to check them out.... (JD LINK).

Now I love Nike clothing and footwear. I literally can walk into JD Sports or Sports Direct and see more I like to buy in there than I do if I walk into River Island! 

So, if you are anything like I was, when I bought them yesterday, I was like Nike Bruin's...what are they?! Hi-tops, blazers I've heard of, and to be completely honest, I did go shopping to buy Nike Blazers, and when I tried these on I thought that is what they were...until I asked the shop attendant!

What is the difference then I hear you ask? Well not too much really, because they both have the suede feel to the main trainer, they both come over your ankle and they both come in various colours with the large nike tick on them. However, the blazers are much more padded at the back of the trainer, it is much thicker and softer, whereas the bruins, the neck of the shoe is very thin and harder...this does become a problem and digs in if you point your toe downwards...but lets face it... who either walks around or sits pointing their toe like they are a ballet dancer?! Another difference is the white edge around the circumference of the shoe (I don't know it's technical name!!) On the blazers it is textured bumpy to run your hand over, whereas the bruins it is a smooth edge all around.

My Review: 

I would say that:
-  Nike Bruins are more delicate and girlie than the blazers (I think that's why I opted for them!) and also the purple colour I preferred to the ones which were available in the shop for the blazers.
- They are comfy to wear...although it does take a while to get used to a high trainer to be surrounding your ankle, especially if you are not used to it.
- They feel like they are made really well, they feel strong and sturdy and have a good grip on the sole.

- My only negative is the tongue in the trainer. It isn't sewn up all the way around so you can see a yellow sponge in between it and the fabric does seem to fray a little. I'm not sure why Nike have made them like this. I asked the shop assistant, as I did think it was an error with the shoes I was trying on. He replied though saying "oh no it is how they are made, we have actually had a few customers return the trainers thinking it is an error with their pair" The shop are unable to refund them though, as it is how they are made.

Here is the yellow sponge tongue....I'm not a fan of this aspect of the trainer!

Advice:

I would say shop around for these first if you are wanting them. It has taken me over a month to buy them, cos let's face it £65 is not cheap! Different shops do different prices, colours and styles so don't buy the first pair you see, maybe remember what you have seen in that shop, then head to the next street to that shop to look there too.

I have seen them stocked in:
Schuh
JD Sports
Office
Footlocker

Also the nike website (nike customise link) obviously sell them and for an additional £10 you can customise your shoe, you can add your name to the back, choose what colour you want the main trainer to be and indeed the famous nike tick, you can choose what laces you want and many more features! I think this is so cool and a great feature nike allow!

I hope this review has helped some of you make a decision or has just been informative about the Nike Bruins!
If you go to buy some... happy shopping!

Please leave comments below if you are thinking of buying some, or already have, what colours do you have?

Until next time,