Coconut Cupcakes

It was Auntie's birthday a couple of days ago and knowing that she is a cupcake fan I baked accordingly:

Weekend Baking: Cupcakes!

Testing out my new KitchenAid to the full I baked these goodies at the weekend:

NOTD: Nails Inc Wilton Row

Today's nails.  And also yesterday's AND the also day before that!  

Weekend Nails

I decided after my French demure manicure I needed something bright so Mayfair Mews being an red/orange neon fitted the bill:

NOTD: A Classic French Mani

This is very unlike me and unusual... I never wear the classic French... I love colour and darks and brights!


But after getting VERY stressed with lack of nail-spiration when I was painting my nails last night I opted for this safe classic option:

Four Random Facts

Rather than do a Five Friday Facts post this week I decided to link up with Cait from Fit, Fierce and Fabulous and do four random facts about me instead:


1.I had an imaginary friend when I was little called Daniel.
2.I am right handed.
3.I used to be a vegetarian (was for four years until I could no longer resist bacon!)
4.I actually LOVE my personalised mon monogram Louis Vuitton with all my heart!

Nail Growth in Six Weeks

Mid January came and my nails were horrific.  Peeling.  Flaking.  Catching and snapping so I cut them off:

A Week in Nails...

This is my week in nails from a couple of weeks ago as I've never got chance to collate all pics etc.

OPI, Bastille My Heart, matte and gloss finish: 

Cupcakes for Church

The Church in my City runs a homeless shelter.  For lent I've decided to 'give back' and do something to help others.


I thought I'd bake some cupcakes and drop them off at the Church for their coffee morning which helps raise funds for said homeless shelter:

NOTD: A neon nude inspired alternative french!

The 'neon and nude' mani is supposed to be the next big thing in the nail world... and I admit, I love it!  However I'm not summery enough yet to sport bright neons... it's far too cold up in the North of England for that!  (Plus I have NO tan so neons would look PANTS on me!)

I decided to create a twist and paint my nails grey and have colourful tips but using colour with the same tone as the grey:

Reminiscing... Kenya I miss you!

This time last year I was getting very excited for my holiday to Kenya and was prepping for it like mad!!


I had my nails painted animalesque:

Lent

Okay so I'm not a practising Catholic.  Like at all!  But I was raised a Catholic and I know that Easter is the most important event in the Catholic calendar.

Shrove Tuesday

Happy Pancake Day peeps!


I woke up to a plate full of buttermilk pancakes ready and waiting... (Dad often makes pancakes for breakfast...he probably has made them without realising it is actually pancake day!) 

Muted Monday

NOTD: OPI Barefoot in Barcelona.  


This is a 'nude' shade from OPI which lies in the same family of You don't Know Jacques and the ilk.


But I must say, on me, Barefoot in Barcelona has quite a pink tone to it:


First pic: with flash.  Second: without.

Weekend Nails - covering chips

My Saturday consisted of a massive lie in followed by housework and ironing:

The 7 sins of Beauty

The 7 sins of beauty I admit to commit:

1.GREED - What is the most expensive beauty product and what is your cheapest?

My most expensive apart from my visits to the hair dresser every four weeks is a purchase I've made JUST recently... my Clarisonic:  

Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Inspired Nails

I am OBSESSED with My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding on channel four.


It's literally compulsive viewing for me... I mean high five anyone who goes ahead and themes their wedding 'highlighter pink'!!

Leighton Denny Friends of Dorothy Collection

This is a MUST for all Wizard of Oz fans out there!


A 4 piece collection called Friends of Dorothy is available on QVC, item number 200867, by Leighton Denny:

Leighton Denny Castaway Collection - Update

I have it on good authority that Leighton's new Spring/Summer 2012 collection called Castaway will be released in March 2012!!  Yay!  Not long to wait... :O)


There are six colours in the collection... click here to see them :)

Nails Inc, Piccadilly Arcade - Swatch

This is a real bubble gum/candy floss pink:

Nails Inc, Belgrave Mews - Swatch

Belgrave Mews is a dark forest green with a gold shimmer throughout it:

The shimmer is more visible with the pic with the flash:

I think this is possibly a good Christmas Shade so I'm not sure why it's been included in a collection for Spring from February to May??

I do like this and I think it works with my skin tone nicely; I can't imagine many people being huge fans though.

Nails Inc, Royal Mews - Swatch

Okay I'm not a silver person at all...


BUT... look at this pic with the flash:

Without the flash it is a lot more subtle but the holo lovers out there will love this all the same:  

I think it's because it's holo that I like it cos I ADORE me some My Private Jet and the likes :o)

Nails Inc, Cadogan Place - Swatch

This is possibly my new favourite colour!! 

Top pic with flash, bottom without.

I love greys and this one has a taupe tone to it.  It's hard to see in the pics but it's not a flat grey... it does have a warmth to it.  I love it!!  Actually HEART!!

Nails Inc, Mayfair Mews - Swatch

Mayfair Mews is described as a neon coral shade, however I'm thinking it's more of a red/orange neon.  To me, coral needs to be more pink than what this is:

Top pic is with flash and bottom is without.

I think it needs to be compared against an actual red/orange colour to appreciate the 'coral' tone.  Below is the original Baker Street by Nails Inc:

When you see the two swatches together you can see Mayfair Mews does have a 'coralesque' tone to it.  It isn't as red a red/orange glossy creme but I still think it could have been more pink... 

Nails Inc Wilton Row - Swatch

I purchased a Nail's Inc TSV Collection from QVC on Valentine's Day and amongst the 7 polishes was this:

Wilton Row. Top pic is without flash, bottom is with.


This is a glossy creme maroon/plum colour.  In the bottle it looks similar to Victoria and Paddington Street but there are some definite differences.


Paddington St has more brown to it:

Victoria is more of a black/red and doesn't have that plum base to it:

Which one is your favourite?  I'm stuck between Victoria because it is one of my all time favs and Wilton Row because I love the plum undertone to it... :)

NOTD: Nails Inc Baker St

Friday is here!!  The weekend is fastly approaching so I've opted for bright nails that scream 'WEEKEND!':

Baker Street (neonesque blue) by Nails Inc:

Top pic is with flash; bottom without.  

This polish gives great coverage!  I think 'bright' polish often needs three coats but this needed two max!  I used Nails Inc Hyde Park Base Coat:

Then two coats of colour... then Albert Bridge Top Coat and I'm left with uber glossy nails :o)

February Empties so far...

Inspired by the lovely blog Discovering Beauty I have decided to try and use up my almost empty beauty products.  We're JUST over the half way through the month and already I've finished up some products which have been lying around for a little while:

Timotei Hair Conditioner for coloured hair - smells gorgeous.  Whenever I've used this in the past my boyfriend always commented that my hair smells nice.


John Frieda Sheer Blonde conditioner - if I'm honest is has no difference to the colour of my blonde but it's a good hair conditioner none the less.


L'Occitane Ruban D'Orange Body Lotion - I love this lotion.  It's milky and has a similar consistency to Elemis's Nourishing Milk Bath which I also use as a body lotion.  It does smell of orange but just ever so slightly; it's a true orange scent as opposed to orange juice! 


Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo - quite a thick shampoo which cleanses well and lathers up lovely but it does take A LOT of rinsing out.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Body Lotion - this is my favourite body lotion of all time and use it most weeks at some point.  I have a stash of this so when one bottle gets used another gets opened!

Philosophy Whipped Vanilla Cream Shampoo, Bubble Bath and Body Wash - I don't use this as shampoo but I have in the past and it's okay... it cleanses the hair but it is a bit too drying for my liking.  I used this as a bubble bath more than anything.  It fills the bathroom with the sweet scent of Vanilla ever so nicely.  I'm a fan and would repurchase this one again.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair - I've had this in my bathroom drawer for a little while.  I came to the end of the tube (approx 3 applications left) and decided I wanted to keep it for when I was going somewhere nice and use it then... that never happened though so I just used it anyway.  It's a good conditioner and when used in-conjunction with the shampoo it's a bit of a win.  I reviewed this here last year. 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - come on... any beauty junkie knows what this is!  This is totes self explanatory!  It takes your makeup off.  It cleans your skin.  It cleans it uber good.  Job done!! 

Lush, The Jilted Elf - a body wash jelly thing which was used in the shower.  I didn't master this very well and ended up with more on the floor in the shower than on my actual body every time I used it!

NOTD: Nails Inc South Molten Street

After adorning my nails in brights and darks of late I opted for a soft nude shade today.

This classic Nails Inc shade is the street name of Nails Inc's flagship store.  I love South Molten Street too because that's where Browns is and Butler & Wilson.  When you walk into Butler & Wilson it really is like walking into Aladdin's Cave... but anyway I digress...

This shade was once dubbed 'the french manicure in a bottle' because it is supposed to make the pink of your nails pinkier and healthier looking whilst allowing the white tips to be visible and 'cleaner' looking too!  That's a lot of promise in one bottle!

For me yes it does pink up my nail plates but for to work on me better it needs to be more blue based like Leighton Denny's, Starkers.  It doesn't brighten the whites of my nails at all... in fact it tinges them a bit peachy/yellowy...

But as a shove on until I decide what to paint my nails next, it will do!

New Arrival...

My Nails Inc TSV from QVC arrived this morning!!


How divine are these colours?! 

I don't know which one to use first!! 


Which one would you dive into?!

11 Questions Tag

I have been tagged by the lovely Going To The Showing  for the 11 Questions Tag.


The Rules:
Post 11 things about yourself on your blog.
Answer the questions the 'tagger' (me) has asked you...
Create 11 new questions for the people you will tag...
Tag 11 people and let them know by posting on their blog...


So here goes:


11 Things About Me
1.I like wearing red lips although I never do enough!

2.I adore going on holiday; my favourite of which was probably last year when I went to Kenya and done safari on the Masaii Mara.
3.I like FAST cars.
4.I REALLY fancy Rupert Grint.
5.I love being in the kitchen.
6.I stress bake like Monica from friends... come home to scones and cakes and know something IS up!
7.I had my first professional manicure at the age of 8.
8.Chocolat Riche from Thorntons is my FAV ever chocolate.
9.I prefer dogs to most people.
10.I don't feel properly dressed without my nails painted; in fact I feel vile and naked.  Not that I'm dramatic or anything!
11.I don't like sleeping on my own.


Going To The Showing's Questions:
1.Do you have a middle name?
-Elizabeth
2.Do you play any sports?
-Hell to the NO!
3.What's your favourite all time movie?
-AHHHH can't pick ONE!  Pollyanna, Move Over Darlin', The Notebook.
4.Do you prefer high heels or flats?
-To look at... high heels... to wear... flats.
5.What kind of food could you not live without?
-Potatoes.  Baked with just a bit of butter!! Mmm.
6.Do you play any instruments?
-Not now no but I can play the guitar and the piano.  Neither of which brilliantly.
7.What got you into blogging?
-It was suggested to me.
8.Are you afraid of any type(s) of animals?
-Do spiders count?  
9.How long have you ever shopped without stopping?
-Probably about 10 hours?
10.What colour is your bedroom?
-Dark brown
11.What blog did you last visit?
-My old one


My Questions:
1.Summer or Winter?
2.Sausage or Bacon?
3.Red or Blue?
4.Beach holiday or Skiing holiday?
5.Jeans or a skirt?
6.iPhone or Blackberry?
7.Sheldon or Leonard? 
8.Car Air Con or Window rolled down?
9.Glossy creme polish or Shimmer?
10.Glitter polish or Crackle?
11.Cake or cupcake?


The 11 people I've tagged:


Yamiidoesnails
Laura's Laquers
lovebeangirl
Talesofknitandnails
apolishedtouch
clothescosmeticsandchat
charlottesnails
nailpolishismycrack
perkypolisher
polishedcriminals
keepcalmandpolishon

My Valentine's Day Nails

Okay so I'm getting into the spirit of Valentine's quite nicely (apart from the fact my period has arrived... JOYOUS!)  


However I'm not one to follow the norm and although the cute, pink, girly Val's Day nails are lovely as too are the red and my favourite dark and seductive vampy mani I just don't like doing what EVERYONE else does so here are mine:

This is a dark green by Leighton Denny called Persian with Essie's Matte About You top coat and on the very tip I used Leighton Denny's Crystal Finish top coat.


I'm going out for dinner tonight and the plan will be to wear black over the knee boots with black tights and black tube skirt with a silk blouse from Zara which is a dark green/teal colour which matches above.  That's the plan at the moment anyway... I may change my mind later and opt for something else entirely which will mean Valentine's Day Mani Part Deux... 


What do you guys think?  Should I have gone down the classic road??  Is my Val's Day nail choice a bit too off the mark?! 

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!

Happy Valentine's Day people!!

What a difference a year makes eh?!  Last year I was wishing people Happy Singles Awareness Day!

I still kinda feel the same way...  I don't think the day is necessary.  I do think it's hyped up nonsense however because I'm a girl it's still an excuse to be all 'awww' and cute.  

This is my FAV image relating to Valentine's on my Pinterest board:

It's a Valentine's Day fort!  Imagine snuggling under your home-made tent with mugs of hot chocolate and marshmallows or a nice glass of champers with strawberries and cream?!  Now that's my idea of Valentine's.  Cosy and intimate with the one you love <3

Vampy Valentine's Nails

The ultimate VAMP nail varnish I believe is Victoria by Nails Inc:

The top pic is with the flash... the bottom without. 

I've worn this colour for YEARS.  I really love it.  I use three thin coats rather than two normal... I just think you get the best colour of this shade that way.  It is a dark, dark, cherry black colour and it is chic and simply beautiful.  

Worn in the depth of winter, during the festivities of Christmas, to a glitzy New Year's bash, for a romantic Valentine's dinner or just with jeans and a jumper going for coffee this works.

It's one of my favourite polishes of all time! 

:o)

Nails Inc QVC TSV on Valentine's Day

So... how many of you are buying the Nails Inc TSV today as your Valentine's Day present to yourself?  


Well I am!  Sorry... I'll rephrase that... I have! ;P

I purchased mine just shortly after midnight and yes I went for the auto-delivery option.  Naturally!


Before I found out what was in the TSV I had seen the press reviews of Baker St; as when Beyonce stepped out wearing it, the whole nail world was ITCHING to know what it was:

I was convinced Nails Inc had released a Baker St before so I consulted my stash and I was correct:

I knew I wasn't losing the plot!  It is a red/orange glossy creme and it's YEARS old.  Please ignore the polish covered bottle but I had a bottle smash in my box (that's NOT an euphemism!)  I do like this colour and I've worn it a few times... now that I've remembered it I think I'll dip into it more often although I've noticed I have some VNL on my pinky which does freak me out a little... I'll have to try it with three coats next time!

I wonder which will be my favourite Baker St... the red or the blue?  Are you a blue person or a red person?