Father's Day : Last Minute Gift Ideas!

If like me you've been stuck for Father's Day gift ideas this year then keep reading.  I've put together a list of 10 great gift ideas that will make the amazing Father's and Father Figures in your life feel extra special. Just click on the items below for more details. 

Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lip Color - Review

The Festive Season is in full swing and things are about to get super busy! What with juggling work, Family, Christmas Shopping, Events at the school(s), Christmas parties etc, our diaries are jam packed and there is so much to organise this month. However, there is no denying this really is 'The Most Wonderful Time of The Year'. As I get into the Christmas Spirit

My Autumn/Winter Skincare Routine!

At this time of the year my skin starts to become as unpredictable as the weather. My skin type is 'oily', however during the colder months it can become dry/flakey. I guess its understandable, as the largest organ on the human body, our skin is subjected to some pretty harsh extremes during Autumn and Winter. On a typical day I leave my warm and cosy home and venture into the chilly outdoors, where I jump into my car - which is freezing, quickly start the engine and turn the heat on full blast. Then I'm back 

10 Things I Love About Autumn!

As the weather gets cooler and the days become shorter, we welcome back one of the prettiest seasons in the calendar - Autumn! As we go about our everyday lives, commuting to and from work, doing the school run or just being out and about we can't help but notice the beauty Autumn brings.

Here are 10 things I love about Autumn:

1.  My Birthday!

Yes I am a September baby! I'd say I was a typical Virgo. September is a special month in my family because there are so many birthdays. The effect on my bank balance during September is pretty much the same as Christmas lol. This time of the year is a time for reflection, as I turn a year older I look back at the things I've learned and how much I've grown as a person in the last twelve months. It's also the start of a new year for me, new chapter, and I'm always incredibly grateful to hit a new milestone and to continue on this journey.  

2. The Trees!

I was driving along a tree-lined street the other morning and as I drove the leaves on the trees were falling like snow around me. The sun was shining and the colours were so pretty. Accents of gold, yellow, copper, red, brown and orange covered the streets. Scenes like that just take my breath away. In the chaos of life and the everyday routine, it was one of those moments when you just take a second to look around you and appreciate the beauty of nature. The trees are doing what they are meant to do. The same thing they do every year. It's a process of loss, regeneration and rebirth, as the new leaves come in for Spring. It's a life cycle that we bear witness to year after year, yet every year it seems to bring with it new beauty.  

3. Long Walks.

During the week I spend a lot of time in my car, driving kids from A to B, so whenever I get the opportunity, I love going for long walks. We are lucky enough to live within walking distance of beautiful parks, rivers and green spaces so that does motivate me to get out and about. The kids love being outdoors and Aaliyah always insists we take bread with us so we can feed the ducks. The weather this time of year is great. When theres frost on the ground and you can't feel your fingers that's not the most appealing time to go for a leisurely stroll. So I like to take advantage at this time to have as many outdoor adventures as we can. 

4. Transitional Pieces.

I have a little confession!... I love to shop! I love planning my wardrobe around the different seasons. I especially love my Summer wardrobe as I definitely invest more time and effort into what I wear during the warmer months. In the Winter I can get away with not putting much effort into an outfit because I can just hide under a big cosy coat. Living in the UK means we don't experience as many sunny days as we'd like, so I love items that I can carry over to Autumn. I find ways to enjoy my Summer clothes for as long as possible. I like to layer items during Autumn and by re-introducing knee-high boots and ankle boots I am able to continue wearing some of my favourite dresses and skirts from Summer. My go-to items for Autumn are light knits, off the shoulder jumpers, skinny jeans, jumper dresses, shirt dresses, denim shirts and high-waisted jeans. 

5. Autumn Colours.

Whether its clothes, nail colours or lipsticks I tend to gravitate towards darker, richer colours. I love Burgundy or dark Cherry colours for lips and nails. Lately I've been living in my khaki green Mac. I've had it for about 5 years and its one of those pieces that I wear every year and I always get compliments. On colder days I wear it with a scarf and it's been perfect for the weather we've had so far. I've seen a few online retailers doing Burgundy Aviator Jackets this season. They have caught my eye. I'm actually tempted to get one. For example boohoo.com (here) and prettylittlething.com (here) offer their own versions of the trend.  

6. Coffee Dates!

Now who doesn't love a Pumpkin Spice Latte at this time of the year? During the colder months I enjoy day-dates. When its dark and cold outside, I'm less excited about going out in the evenings. However, I'm all for catching up with friends, or escaping the kids for a few hours with the O.H, and enjoying any kind of caffeinated beverage with lots of cream on top. (Its the little things in life that make me happy :))

7. Home Touches.

I like to make my house as cosy as possible as I know we are all going to be spending more time there. I love scented candles. I like to update my cushions by adding different textures. I like suedes and faux fur at this time of the year, and my favourite faux fur throw takes its place back on the sofa. As a family we are not big on halloween, but being unable to resist all the marketing and halloween paraphernalia I'm bombarded with every time I go to the local supermarket or to the shopping centre, in keeping with the spirit of things (no pun intended), you may find a few pumpkin shaped lanterns and the odd eyeball or spider, sitting above the fireplace or on a side table from around mid October onwards... and you will definitely find lots of candy.  

8.  Cosy Nights In.

I love when we are all together, cuddled up on the sofa, watching a movie. The lights are turned down low and there's the twinkle of a few candles. A good movie and lots of snacks, thats my perfect night in. 

9. Good Food.

I love good old hearty food this time of the year. Soup, with dumplings, Meat Stews, Anything with lots of Gravy makes me happy. I'm less inclined to eat salad during the colder months, but I do make sure we eat lots of vegetables. All year round there's lots of fruit in the house. The kids eat a lot of fruit, especially Aaliyah, so I always make sure that we have plenty. Aaliyah's favourite thing to have for breakfast at the moment is porridge with half a banana sliced on top.   

   

10. Christmas is just around the corner! 

I love this time, just before all the madness starts. I've still got time to think about presents, how we're going to decorate the house and all the things I want to do during the Christmas period - like take the kids to Winter Wonderland and visit relatives. Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I try not to get stressed out. For me it's more about spending time with my family and making amazing memories. It's less about what's under the tree and more about who's around it. 

Product Review: The Urban Decay Naked Skin Shapeshifter

I purchased the Urban Decay Naked Skin Shapeshifter palette a few weeks ago and since then it's become a staple in my makeup bag. You'll find everything you need to contour, colour correct, bronze and highlight, all in one beautifully packaged palette. The thoughtful design contains both creams and powders, both blend like a dream. The cream formulas are on one side and the powders on the other, separated by a double-sided mirror. This would be an ideal kit to travel with as its compact, neat and convenient. Urban Decay are known for producing high quality products, and this addition to the range is no exception. Also the amount of product you get is quite a lot. The pan size is very generous. You could use this palette everyday and not have to worry about running out. I use mine regularly and it looks like it's hardly been touched.   

I bought mine in the shade Medium Dark. There are 4 powders: A Dark Contour - which is a cool toned brown, A Medium Contour - which is a warm brown. I use this as a bronzer, I love this shade as its not orange and it doesn't have any red in it. It is just a great shade for adding warmth to the face. Next  there is a Light Contour - this is like a banana powder. I use this to set my under eye concealer. Its a finely milled powder with a light texture that leaves a nice finish. Finally there's a Pearl Highlighter - this looks pink, but on the skin its a really pretty gold shimmer. Its not super glittery like some highlighters, it just gives a pretty, natural looking glow. I was not expecting much from the highlighter at first glance, however I was pleasantly surprised. The Powders are great to use alone or you can layer them on top of the Cream shades. They are also highly pigmented so a little goes a long way, but they are really easy to blend.

On the other side of the palette you get 5 Creams: A Dark Contour - this is a cool toned brown shade (I must stress a little really does go a long way as this is super pigmented), next there is a Light Contour - This is great to highlight down the bridge of the nose. You also get 2 colour correctors - an Orange shade and a Yellow Corrector/Highlighter. Finally a Pearl Cream Highlighter is included. 

This palette is so easy to use and I'm really impressed with the colours and tones included. I can honestly say that I've been able to use every shade in the palette. I would definitely recommend the Urban Decay Naked Skin Shapeshifter  to anyone looking for a good quality, quick and easy to use contour palette, with the added bonus of unique, yet very practical packaging. For just under £40 I'd say the price point isn't too bad, it is similar to other high-end contour palettes. If you shop around you may be able to get it for less. Department stores like Debenhams and House of Fraser often hold beauty events offering savings on all beauty products, both in store and online. If you shop at Debenhams be sure to sign up for their Beauty Club, if you haven't done so already. Its a reward scheme which gives you the chance to collect and spend points on beauty products (in store and online), as well as offering other benefits - like free delivery when you order online, samples and pampering treats for your birthday.