When In Rome

Hi everyone!

As you can probably tell from the title of this post, I am jetting off on a trip to Rome in July! I booked the holiday yesterday as a birthday surprise for my Mam. This may seem extravagant but I have an extremely close bond with my Mam and really wanted to do something extra special to show her how much I appreciate her!

We have both always wanted to visit Rome as it is such a beautiful, historic city. We are very lucky to be staying right next to Vatican City and we will definitely be paying the Vatican a visit! My Mam loves the Da Vinci Code films so as an extra treat I have booked us both on the special 'Angels and Demons' tour of Rome where you visit all of the places in the film.

We will also be paying Germany a sneaky visit as our plane has to connect in Dusseldorf and Munich, so although I'll just be inside the airport I can still say I've been to Germany!

If any of you have been to Rome I would love to hear your tips on where to visit, places to eat and all sorts of touristy things!

I hope any of you who are jetting off this summer have an amazing time!

Love from Natalie xox



Urban Decay Naked Palette Rave!

Hi everyone!

If you caught my post last week you'll know I ordered the much coveted Urban Decay Naked Palette from Debenhams and was eagerly awaiting its arrival.

It came yesterday and I squealed with happiness! I couldn't wait to get it open! I know you've probably all seen it before but it wouldn't be a complete post without my shoddy photos so here goes!

The palette comes with a mini version of the Primer Potion, which I've always wanted to try! It's a lovely thin consistency and it really does work brilliantly at maintaining your eyeshadow all day!

I love the packaging too, I thought it was going to be a hard, smooth palette but it's actually soft and velvety! It feels so nice!

The shadows are just so me it's unreal! They're so pigmented and they compliment each other beautifully, I know that I can make any combination work! I love the inclusion of dark colours at the end, it just makes it so easy to do a smokey eye if you wish!

My particular favourites are Sin (second from left) and Sidecar (fourth from left), they go so well together!

I really love this palette, it's amazing if you're into neutral colours. I can't see me needing to buy an eyeshadow unless this runs out, in which case I will rush to get another one!

Do you have the Naked Palette? What do you think about it?

Love from Natalie xox



How Much Is My Face Worth?

Hi everyone!

I've seen this post on a few blogs lately and thought it would be a fun one to try out! I've gathered the products I'd usually use on my face on a day time to see how much it all costs! Eek!

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation: £23.00

MAC Blushcreme in Ladyblush: £17.00

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Lies (as highlighter): £16.50

Maybelline Colossal Volum Express Masacara: £7.19

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer: £4.19

L'Oreal Super Liner: £6.19

Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil: £2.99

MAC Lipstick in Hue: £13.50

Eyeko London Lips Lipgloss in Knightsbridge: £6.50

= £97.06

I don't think that's bad! I was expecting a bit more but I suppose I didn't include eyeshadows but that's only because I regularly use different ones so there isn't a specific one I always include in my daily routine.

I hope you enjoyed and will also do this post!

Love from Natalie xox



Mini Boots Haul: 17, Barry M and Soap and Glory

Hi everyone!

Hope you are all well :)

Today I popped into Boots as I knew they had the 3 for 2 offer on all cosmetics and I needed something a bit special (see below!) so I ended up indulging in three lipsticks! My 'Naked' palette arrived yesterday (review coming soon!) and has proved that I never need another eyeshadow again so lippies were the choice today!

I also picked up a much raved about item from Soap and Glory!

So, on with the mini haul!

Lipsticks from left to right: Barry M in shade 37; 17 Mirrorshine in Beehive; 17 Mirrorshine in Hollywood.

Now, don't think I've gone all crazy Marilyn Manson on you with the black lipstick! It's all in the name of fancy dress, as one of my pals from Uni is having a Lady Gaga themed outing, and I am attempting to dub her lips as below:

(Image from Google)

So that was the something special (or spooky!). As part of the 3 for 2 I picked up two of 17's Mirrorshine Lipsticks.

The much raved about Beehive instantly appealed to me, in part because of the hype and also because I swatched it and instantly thought, 'I see what everyone means!' It's a gorgeous glossy, pinky nude and it's like a 'my lips but better' shade. It's going to look gorgeous when I'm just casual on a daytime!

 I've been searching for a wearable red for aaages! I've had a few lipsticks but I've never picked the right shade for me and a few of them have been matte which my often dry lips can't deal with! I swatched Hollywood and LOVED it! It's glossy and a little sheer, and just the right shade of red that suits me!

Swatches:

I also picked up The Breakfast Scrub from Soap and Glory as I don't have a great exfoliater, just a cheapo one I picked up in Wilkinsons, and this has gotten great reviews!

It's really thick in consistency, I was expecting it to be gloopy! You can see the dint where I had a little go of it! It smells de-eee-licious! I think this will be a great scrub for my dry skin!

So that's it!

Have you taken advantaged of the 3 for 2 offer?

Love from Natalie xox



Can't Get Naked Quick Enough!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share a little something with you all as sadly I am so, so excited about it!

I was browsing through the Debenhams website just now, as I usually do when I'm a little bored, and I hopped onto the Urban Decay page and searched the famous Naked Palette, expecting as always to see it out of stock.

It wasn't!!!

I had to get it as I've wanted it for so long! Best of all, it was a little cheaper thanks to Debenhams having money off their beauty section at the minute.

I cannot wait until this gets delivered. The colours are just so me it's unreal, I am definitely a neutrals girl and every single colour appeals to me. I probably won't ever need another eyeshadow again!

I will make sure to review this once it arrives!

Have you got the Naked Palette? What do you think about it?

Love from Natalie xox

Summer Lips: Lipstick Recommendations

Hi everyone!

With summer fast approaching, it's time to break out the bright colours! I thought I'd do a post showing you all the lipsticks I'll be wearing in summer, they're all really affordable (except one which is MAC...) and gorgeous colours for the summer.

I took these in my wardrobe as it's so sunny outside that my dressing table was a terrible shooting spot!

Without flash:

Left to right:

Rimmel Moisture Renew 620 Coral Queen, MAC Lustering, MUA Shade 6, Maybelline Colour Sensational 148 Summer Pink

With Flash:

Same order as above.

Flash just shows the true colours a little better for you!

These are all gorgeous pinks except the Rimmel Coral Queen lipstick, which is a really punchy coral. I was wary of it at first but I've actually had loads of compliments about it when I've worn it so I urge you, if you're used to your baby and neutral pinks, be brave this summer!

Lustering is well used, as you can see! It's a gorgeous, stand out pink that I love to wear on a night out. It's a lustre finish and it looks glossy on the lips.

MUA Shade 6 was only a pound! Bargain! It's so pigmented and glides on so smoothly, it's the best lipstick formula I've tried, and for a quid it's amazing!

Maybelline Summer Pink is a lovely hot pink with slight shimmer. It's a great colour, it just doesn't apply that well. Maybe I got a dud because my other Maybelline lipsticks apply fine. It's still a beautiful colour!

Swatches, which don't showthe true colours and do the lipsticks justice, but I threw it in anyway!

So there's my Summer Lipstick Recommendations!

What will you be wearing on your lips this summer?

Love from Natalie xox

Time To Get Fit!

Hi everyone...

and good bye to this!

(Pictures from weheartit.com)

This is probably going to turn out to be a bit of a rambly post, so apologies about that! There's no need for you to read this, I just wanted to put my thoughts down here for extra motivation and inspiration.

So, getting fit is going to be my new priority, and I will also admit, it's not just about getting fit, it's also about losing weight.

I've always been a skinny girl, and even now if I mention diets to people they act like I'm being stupid and there's always the old chestnut of: 'there's nothing on you!' Sorry to say, there is, I just don't show it to people!

I'm also short and I don't think I'll have a growth spurt anytime soon, so I want to maintain the right weight for my height.

So here's the ugly truth. I eat all of the time. KFC, McDonalds, pizza. Crisps, chocolate, biscuits, you name it. I cannot stop myself from snacking, if I get a craving I just think about it and don't stop until I have it.

I also drink more alcohol than necessary and of course that has an affect on weight too.

I'm now in a position where I'm getting unhappy and self concious about myself, which I hate to be but I think it happens to the best of us!

So, I'm making an oath to myself to start exercising and eating healthily. I thought I could do a weekly segment on how I'm doing, as much to track my progress as to share with you all.

Any tips on good workouts and diets to follow would be so appreciated!

Thanks for reading!

Love from Natalie xox