I WON

Hello everyone and merry Christmas!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day, I'm sat here taking a break from board games (I don't have the patience for cluedo with the grandparents) to write this little post telling you about some lovely beauty products I won a few months back and the trouble I had to go through to get them.

So it all started when I entered a competition on Twitter through FeelUnique.com to win the Yes To skincare range. I didn't think anything would come of it as I had entered competitions like this before and never won anything, but this time I did! When I got the notification on my phone I was so excited I called my mum to tell her about the goodies I had won. They DMed me to ask for my address and I sent it to them right away. A week passed and still nothing had arrived, I felt a little disheartened but told myself these things take time and they were probably sorting it. Another week went by and I decided to email them to check what was  going on and they said they were shocked that Yes To had not sent the products yet and would chase it up for me.

I started to feel hopeful again, but then another week ended and I thought that's it they are not going to sent it. I was pretty fed up at this point and took to Twitter to ask other people if they had received their prizes and surprise  surprise they said no! We mentioned  feel unique in our tweeting session and they decided to do something about it and explained they had a lot of prizes to send so that was why it was taking so long. That's fair enough but it shouldn't take over a month!

So a month and a week later I came home to a white box with snowflakes on it placed on my bed, I could not wait to rip that thing open after all of the fuss I'd had! Inside was everything shown in the photo above: yes to carrots day cream, yes to coconut shampoo and conditioner, yes to blueberries body wash, yes to cucumber facial wipes and yes to tomato face mask. I have tried out all of the products now and they all smelt lovely but for some reason my skin didn't like the wipes and day cream and they made it go all red whenever I used them. My favourite was the face mask it was a clay one which I find to be the best when it comes to masks and after washing it off my face felt so clean and refreshed. I think it was a nice range to try but choose carefully before splashing out on their products and be sure to get the right one for your skin type. If you don't know what type you are I have a post that explains them HERE.
That's all from me for today I'm going back to being festive, please leave a comment letting me know what you did for Christmas or if you have tried any of the yes to skincare range as I would love to hear about it! Thank you for reading!

Love from Lily xxxx

10 WAYS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL HAPPY ☺

Hi Everyone :)

We all feel down from time to time and the worst thing is when you don't know how to deal with it. I'm no expert but I thought I would share with you some things which I do to try and keep my mood up and a smile on my face. So sit back with a cup of your favourite tea, get your cosy socks on and enjoy this post because no matter what things will always get better!

1. Put on your favourite outfit 

Even if you are just sitting at home not doing anything, take a shower, put on a full face of makeup and wear an outfit that you know looks good on you. This might seem like a lot of effort but trust me, once you have done it you will feel a little bit better and the process of doing this will take your mind off whatever is making you sad.

2. Get in touch with an old friend

It might not seem like it, but there are lots of lovely people around you that you might have forgotten about because of a problem you've had on your mind. Just send them a little message and see how they are doing, they will undoubtedly be happy to hear from you and once you get chatting who knows where it will lead. Surrounding yourself with positive caring people will make your life so much better and it all starts with taking a few minutes to reach out to them.

3. Tell yourself it's going to be okay

Say it out loud. I know this sounds a bit weird but just say it, regularly. Whatever you want from life tell yourself it's going to happen. Therapists say this works and at first I thought it was nonsense, but it really does help.

4. Call your Mum (or other close family member)

People come and go from your life, but the one person who will always be there for you is your Mum. You can shout, scream, cry and she will still be there so just let it all out.

5. Binge watch your fave TV show

Sometimes all you need is a distraction, get Netflix on and just watch an entire series of a show you enjoy, preferably something funny. This is not a long term solution, but if it gets you through the night with minimal bad thoughts then go for it.

6. Treat yourself

Buy yourself that thing you have wanted for ages but couldn't justify getting. The reason for buying it is because it makes you happy and that's as good as any! For me it would be some Benefit makeup or a nice fluffy jumper from M&S.

7. Go to the gym

It doesn't have to be for long but just venturing out and getting some exercise out of the way will make you feel like you have achieved something and little things are important to make you smile. Small steps working towards being in charge of your own happiness and not letting your problems and anxiety take over.

8. Say 'yes' to things you normally wouldn't

When we feel down it's so easy to just isolate ourselves and refuse any offers to do things. However this is just setting yourself up to feel even worse, so try and break out of your comfort zone and make that extra effort to agree to things, you never know you might even have fun!

9. Set goals for yourself

Make a list of things you want to achieve in the short term (for the week) and in the long term (by the end of the year) and tick them off as you complete them. This will make you aware of the things you are doing right in your life rather than dwelling on the things that are going wrong.

10. Try to keep a tidy living space

Now this one I struggle with following myself, but I know that every time after I've had a big tidy up I feel so relaxed and happy. It's true what they say 'tidy room tidy mind' or however the saying goes you get the idea!

So there's my list of things to make yourself happy, I hope it helps you and you can always revisit it when you need a little boost. See you next time!

Love From Lily xxxx 

MY FAV ASOS FINDS! ❤

Hi Guys!

We all know that asos.com is one of the best places to do you online clothes shopping and with Black Friday coming up what better time to do it! The only thing is there is so much to choose from you can be on there for hours, so I thought I would make it easier by showing you a few of my favourites that you might like too.

T-shirts

LINK

LINK

I'm loving slogan tees at the moment, they're such a fun way of expressing your style.

Knitwear

LINK

LINK

Every girl needs a chunky knit cardigan in their wardrobe for winter, personally I am a fan of grey or dusty pink/purple.

Dresses

LINK

LINK

I have always been a fan of shift and A-line dresses and the shirt dress trend is one not to be missed, it's one of those styles that looks good on everyone.

Shoes

LINK

LINK

If you're going to make a statement, what better what to do it than with shoes. Show off your personality with a pop of colour or a soft suede (faux obvs).

Bags

LINK

LINK

Black bags go with everything, and these two are super cute for everyday use.

That's all for now, remember to look for pieces that can be styled in several different ways to get the most use out of them. Don't forget to take full advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals guys!!

Please let me know your favourite ASOS finds in the comments as I would love to see them :)

Love from Lily xxxx

Life Update #2

Hey everyone!

Hope you are all well, just thought I would do a little post to let you know what I've been up to lately. Firstly I have recently started a new job at Starbucks, I used to work there but I decided to come back when I saw that there was a new store opening close to me. I'm currently doing my training and it's so weird to be a new-old person if that makes any sense? I remembered quite a bit but of course there's plenty to catch up on and things that have completely changed that I didn't know about, but I'll get there! I'm so excited to meet the new team I will be working with but it will be a few weeks until that happens. I will keep you updated about how it goes when I start at my store.

The second thing I have been focusing on is trying to get sorted for Christmas. There is so much to do and I know if I don't make an effort to get on with it then it will creep up on me and everything will be done in a panic, which is not what I want as this will be the first Christmas I stay home and spend  with Jack. We have decided on a black Christmas tree with silver decorations, I have even got silver wrapping paper and tags to match the theme. I like that it's something a little different, I have never been into traditional style. So far present-wise I have two for Jack, my mum's and my nan's so I still have a few to get before I've finished! Plus I don't know if I am seeing my family in person to give them their presents after Christmas or if they want them posted, that part is all a bit up in the air at the moment. It should be good though, I have an image in my mind of our perfect day together, opening presents, having a lovely dinner and watching a film with a nice cozy blanket. Let's hope it goes to plan! I will be looking to Pinterest for my decor and foodie ideas, but more on that later.

Another thing I have been seriously considering for a while now is becoming vegan, after watching many videos about it on YouTube from people such as Freelee the Banana Girl and Kalel it made me realise how disgusting the dairy industry really is. The way they use and abuse those animals is heart-breaking and we basically choose to ignore it because the reality of it all is so unpleasant and people don't want to recognize they are supporting this. I admit I am one of those people right now, I still eat cheese, chocolate and yogurt. I no longer drink cow's milk and am trying to gradually stop eating one product at a time. I understand they are hard to give up, I really do. However there are alternatives for eeeeeverything so I am going to get those instead and see how it goes. Not preaching at you guys, I just feel people should be aware of what happens to the animals before they make their choice of whether to eat them/their products or not, a little bit of education never hurt anyone.

Anyway I think that's all for today I'm going to make some dinner and enjoy the rest of my evening, I hope you do the same. See you in the next post!

Love from Lily xxxx

HOW TO SAVE MONEY OVER CHRISTMAS

Hi guys!

I don't know about you but most of the time I avoid checking my bank balance (unless it's payday) because I'm scared of what I will see. That being said there are a few things that I do to try and save a bit of cash and thought I would share them with you.

1. Sell things on eBay - any old clothes that are still in decent condition, my boyfriend's PS4 games that he no longer plays, old phone cases that don't fit anymore, any jewellery or hair items that I don't use, you won't make loads but it helps when you need a little extra.

2. When buying things online always type in '[shop name] discount codes' into google and 9 times out of 10 you will be able to get a cheeky percentage off your shop.

3. Take advantage of deals when food shopping e.g buy seasonal fruit and veg (it's always cheaper, will probably be at the front) and don't be scared to buy store brand food, it's basically the same you are just paying extra for the brand label and if you don't believe me check the ingredients!

4. Sign up to stores emailing list - They have flash sales that only you will know about (tends to be week day evenings or lunch time), they will send you discount codes and its free so why say no?

5. Go points card crazy! Just get a points card for everywhere, make sure you register it and keep it in your purse at all times. They add up and you won't regret it when you get free coffees, money off makeup, clothing discounts and with a Nectar card for example you can spend your points on eBay so just buy doing a food shop that could mean a free xmas present for someone!

6. Don't be scared to ask - Staff of most stores will be happy to help you get the best deal and there could be something you've missed so don't be scared to check with them if there are any promotions on or that will be happening in the near future.

That's all I can think of for now, if there is something I have forgotten I will be sure to update this post or if there is anything you do please leave a comment and let me know! Thank you so much for reading and I hope this helped.

Love from Lily xxxx

THE BEST MASCARA EVER! :)

Hey guys!!

Hope you are all doing well, sorry I disappeared for a bit life just sort of happened and I didn't get a chance to post. But I'm back now because I wanted to tell you about this awesome mascara that I recently re-purchased. It has been around for years (I believe I used it all the time in 2013) but I got curious and wanted to try a new brand every time I needed a mascara. However after lots of trial and error I still think this is the best one (well apart from They're Real! by Benefit but lets face it we aren't always going to have £19.50 to spare on buying a single makeup item). So with that being said I picked one up in Boots and have not regretted it. The wand is literally magical guys, it is the easiest thing to use ever, no clumps, no mess, no fuss. Plus you don't have to stand there applying it for five hours to get a decent look it just takes a few swipes and you're good to go!

You're probably thinking "Tell me the name already!" so here it is:

THE ROCKET VOLUM' EXPRESS

BY MAYBELLINE NEW YORK

At £7.99 you can't really get anything better on the market for this price in my opinion. And yes I even think it's better than the famous Lash Sensational Mascara that they recently brought out. Calm down I don't hate it, I frequently use that products as well but I just think this one is so much better and deserves a little more attention. Okay I will admit the bright blue and pink packaging is kinda childish compared to the sleek metallic purple that Lash Sensational has, but that's probably the only fault I can find here.

Something else I like about this product is how long it lasts, you can wear it all day without any smudging or panda eyes and it's pretty easy to remove unlike other long wearing mascaras. One tube (not sure if that's the right word please correct me if I'm wrong) will last me a couple of months wearing is approximated 6 out of 7 days per week. I try to give my face a day off makeup if I'm not doing anything that requires me to look presentable just to help my skin and such. When I was a teenager I would get so many spots as I have oily skin, but thankfully now that I am in my early twenties this has died down a lot and I only get the odd one or two. If you would like an advice about preventing breakouts please see my post about it here: http://lovefrmlily.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/beauty-101-how-to-prevent-breakouts.html

Anyway I kind of got off topic a bit there so basically just go buy this mascara, it will change your life and make you feel like a magical princess.

Love from Lily xxxx

GIRLY NIGHT IN ESSENTIALS ♡

Hey guys!!

Whether you are by yourself or with some friends there always time for a girly night in. I won't bore you by telling to watch When Harry met Sally, Mean Girls or Say Anything... (although they are great films and you definitely should watch them) but why not try watching a TV series instead? I am currently watching S3 of Drifters on E4, it's a show about three twenty-something girls who live pretty normal lives but they are hilariously real and relatable. I rarely find a programme that actually makes me laugh, but this one never fails! I'm pretty sure you can watch the first two series on catch up so don't worry you won't miss anything! I would also recommend watching Awkward, Faking It, The Mindy Project and Dash Dolls for something to keep you entertained during your girly down time.

Something else I like to do when I'm having a girly night is make myself a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate (depending on how healthy I'm feeling) and grab some veggies and dip to snack on (plus some cheeky chocolate, it's OK if you have a balanced snack haha). To set the chilled out vibe I light some scented candles or use my Yankee Candle wax melt burner -  also if you're stuck for christmas present ideas this would make a great one. Another essential you will need is some cute/funky/character pajamas, fluffy socks or slippers, a dressing gown and a blanket (also fluffy) can't get more cosy than that!

So now for the pampering: here's some beauty products that are easy to apply, affordable and fun!

 Elegant Touch nails in Jelly Twinkle £7.95 www.eleganttouch.com

Montagne Jeunesse Fruity Beauty Face Masque Sachets £1-£2

These face masks are great, you can buy them from pretty much anywhere that sells beauty products such as Boots, Superdrug or Amazon. There's so many to choose from and you can buy individuals or a multi-pack.

If you are alone for your girly evening why not take a relaxing bath, preferably with some Radox bubble bath or bath soak and some Bath Tea from The Body Shop. Alternatively you could treat yourself to a bath bomb from Lush, I have to be careful with these because I am allergic to some of them so please ask in store for advice if you have sensitive skin.

However you choose to do it, the main thing is that you are chilled out and having some you-time. I hope that this post has reminded you to take one evening this week to have a girly night in and now you have a couple of ideas of what to do. Please let me know how they went and if there's something you do which I haven't mentioned.

Thanks for reading, I am so grateful!

Love from Lily xxxx

MY HALLOWEEN OUTFIT

Hi guys!!

I am so so excited to go out this Halloween it's such a fun holiday and I've decided to wear something a little different this time. Rather than going for the standard character dress up I have decided to wear some 'Halloween-chic' style clothes that I found online on ASOS.com.

Here's the over sized tee I'm going to wear as a dress cause hey why not! When I was telling my mum about this she did not get the pun or find it funny at all, but personally I think it's great! £18

http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-halloween-witch-please-glow-in-the-dark-oversized-tee/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5443992&clr=Multi&SearchQuery=halloween&pgesize=36&pge=3&totalstyles=465&gridsize=3&gridrow=11&gridcolumn=3

I'm going to pair it with these tights, I was drawn to them because of how cool the bats look on the sheer background, I think it looks really effective. £8

http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5453401&CTARef=Mini+Bag

As for shoes I am not going to wear these exact ones but a similar pair that I already own which I bought ages ago. These ones are very cute though, I wanted to go for just a simple heel because I didn't want to take away from the rest of the outfit and make it look too busy. £25

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-PACEY-Pointed-High-Heels/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5650223&abi=1&clr=black&CTAref=Complete+the+Look+Thumb

I have an obsession with tassels at the moment, I realise they are not for everyone but I just think they are so fun and pretty. Plus you can obviously use this for other occasions not just Halloween and black goes with everything so you basically can't lose! £18

http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-clutch-bag-with-suede-fringing/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5528544&clr=Black&SearchQuery=clutch+halloween&pgesize=9&pge=0&totalstyles=9&gridsize=3&gridrow=1&gridcolumn=2

If you felt like adding a fun accessory and a little bit of glitter to your outfit then this spider phone case is definitely one to consider. It's all about seasonal accessories right now I love it! (for iphone 5 only in this design) £8

http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-halloween-metallic-spider-iphone-5-case/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5716630&clr=Multi&SearchQuery=spider+phone+case&SearchRedirect=true

Then just add a few sparkly black/grey jewellery pieces and you'll be golden! All items were from ASOS.com, a truly amazing site that I have been using for years.

So that's what I'm going to be wearing for Halloween, hope you enjoyed reading about it and that it's given you a few ideas if you haven't got anything already. If you have I would love to know what you're wearing please leave a comment about it!

There will be more posts to come soon, see you then!

Love From Lily xxxx

WHAT'S ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST 2015 PART 2! ❆ (quick post)

Hi guys!!

I'm feeling pretty cheery today has been a good one. I managed to have a cheeky browse around the shops before work and saw some things that I NEED in my life which I'm sure you will too once you see them. I don't have loads of time but I really just wanted to throw it out there so sorry if this looks a little messy.

1. The Yankee Candle advent calendar

I saw this in Clinton's (sooo glad that they sell Yankee in there now!) you get 24 tea lights and one votive and it costs £25 which I think is pretty reasonable as it works out at £1 per candle! I'm not sure of the scents but I'm guessing it will be the Christmas ones which smell foodie and delicious.

2. This ADORABLE penguin duvet set from M&S

At £49.50-£79 (single-superking) this is pretty expensive but hey for a christmas gift it's all good right? Plus it's worth every penny in CUTENESS! I took this photo myself when I went to the huge M&S back home, I find it's always a good idea to take photos of stuff you can't get at the time just as a little reminder or maybe to send to people you want to hint at hehe ;)

Sorry it's such a short one from me this time, I have several ideas of posts I want to put up and will try and get it done within the next couple of days but you know how it is, life happens!

Hope you are all doing well, has anyone started their christmas shopping yet? I haven't bought anything but I've got a few ideas, plus I get paid tomorrow so I'll have some coins in the bank to get this stuff with! I'll let you know what I have purchased.

Love from Lily xxxx

WHAT TO GET YOUR MAN FOR CHRISTMAS ❤

Hi guys!

Whether you have only been with your man a few months or have been with him a couple of years like myself, it's a well known fact that people of the male variety are SO much harder to buy for than ladies. There's just less out there to choose from and there's only so many pairs of jokey socks and shower gel sets they can handle! So if you are looking for something original and heartfelt to get your partner for Christmas I have created this post to give you a bit of inspiration.

1. A Personalised Destination Print

A personalised gift is always the best kind of gift because it is one of a kind and this one will remind your man of all the fond memories of holidays and events from the past whilst making a stylish piece that you can both agree will look lovely. £54 from www.notonthehighstreet.com (exact item link: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/betsybenn/product/framed-personalised-destination-blind)

2. Wood Watch Made From Sandlewood With Military Canvas Strap

I have seen a few one these around recently but this one I particularly like because it is handmade by an American company called tmbrwood and looks really well put together. They have loads of different designs so if this one isn't quite your cup of tea check out the other ones, I believe they also do handmade wooden phone cases as well. £52.50 plus shipping from www.esty.com (exact item link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/198444573/wood-watch-made-from-sandalwood-and?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=gifts%20for%20him&ref=sc_gallery_6&plkey=3be515ee9963249c6b07ec6920fbdf288c7c8649:198444573 )

3. Bullshirt's Men's Value Christmas T-Shirt

I have to admit this did make me laugh when I saw it, purely because I'm always being told by the BF that I'm stingy with my money (I'm not I'm just sensible, someone has to be obvs) and I'm sure he would get a giggle out of it too. It makes a change from the obligatory rudolf/santa/snowman jumper anyway! £14.99 from www.amazon.co.uk (exact item link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00P6JL3FG?keywords=christmas%20gifts&psc=1&qid=1445200011&ref_=sr_1_18&sr=8-18-spons)

4. Merci Maman Stirling Silver Personalised Men's Infinity Bracelet

I think this is super thoughtful and I love the fact you can get it engraved, it's a cute present but still very manly of course! It comes in all standard man colours (black, blue, brown and grey) so you can take your pick and you can have up to 20 characters on each side. It's really easy to get your message on there you just send them an email with the details or someone will call you within 3 days of ordering. £39.00 from www.johnlewis.com (exact item link: http://www.johnlewis.com/merci-maman-sterling-silver-personalised-men's-infinity-bracelet/p2009461?colour=Black )

I would recommend having a look at the websites I have featured on here in general as well as the items shown in the post because you will be pleasantly surprised! There's lots to look at not just for couples but for brothers, friends, fathers, uncles... you name it! And if all else fails just get them a gift card from GAME and you'll be sorted!

Hope you are all having a lovely day, and that you now have a few Christmas present ideas for the men in your life. Let me know in the comments what you thought of the post and if there's any really good present ideas I have missed. See you next time.

Love from Lily xxxx

HEALTHY SNACK REVIEW: PERKIER QUINOA BAR

Hey everyone!

Today I'm going to do a review on this healthy snack bar by a company called Perkier, I chose the Cacao and Cashew flavour as you can see. I am always on the hunt for things I can just throw in my handbag to eat on the go, but most of them are bad for me so when I was looking in the gluten free section in ASDA I found this. I have tried healthy bars before but had never come across one with quinoa in it so I thought why not give it a go? Also I have heard very good things about cacao (all the vegan bloggers and youtubers are always raving about it) it's meant to taste like chocolate but without all the nasty stuff!

"Our cacao is cold pressed, so unlike cocoa, cacao retains its vitamins, minerals & antioxidants" -perkier.co.uk

And if I'm honest it does! I really enjoyed this bar, I was worried it might taste grainy because of the quinoa but it didn't at all and the nutty chocolate flavour was delicious! If you're not already curious this bar is wheat, gluten and dairy free, vegan, plant based and rich in vitamin E antioxidants - so it's even good for your skin as well!

Here's the nutritional info (per bar):

Energy (KCal): 144

Total Fat (g): 6.2

– of which saturates: 1

Carbohydrate (g): 16.9

– of which sugars (g): 13.5

Total Fibre (g):1.8

Protein (g): 5

Salt (g): 0.1

Vit E (mg) 1.8

– % ref intake 15%

Phosphorus (mg) 102

– % ref intake 15%

I really liked this and will be purchasing it again in the future, here's where you can get it from:

ASDA = 75p each (also comes in goji and cranberry flavour)

Sainsburys = 75p (currently stocks chia, cashew and pumpkin seed flavour and goji and cranberry)

It's worth mentioning the other big supermarkets, whole foods, ocado and amazon also stock products from this brand but not the one mentioned in this post. 

Hope you enjoyed reading this, I thought it would be nice to do something a little different. Let me know if you would like to see more posts like this in the comments below and follow me on google+ if you like!

Love from Lily xxxx

I GOT A NEW SHIRT + LIFE STUFF

Hey guys!!

Look I got a new shirt isn't it pretty!? Well if I'm honest we were doing a food shop in ASDA and when I spotted it my lovely boyfriend offered to get it for me. :) I just adore the pattern and the rose gold button detail, plus when I tried it on it was super comfortable and soft material. I was wearing black leggings at the time which I thought it looked alright with but jeans would have been a better option for me personally.

I rarely go to ASDA so I hadn't taken the time to have a proper look at the George range before, but now that I have I love it! I will be sure to check out their range more regularly, most likely online purely because the store is not that easy for me to get to. If you like the pattern but want to make it a bit more girly then they also do it in a shift dress which comes down to the knee. They also had lots of extremely cosy looking knitwear which I was tempted by but as I recently got my wraps from M&S it was probably best that I wait for a bit! Besides the next thing I want to buy is some slippers because I live in bed socks when I am walking around the house but it would be nice to have something a little more shoe-like you know?

Here's some close up pics of the shirt:

 (This one shows the lovely pattern)

(This one shows the gorgeous rose gold buttons, sorry my iphone 6 camera won't focus properly... my iphone 5 was better!)

This shirt cost £14 from ASDA, if you are from outside of the UK they will most probably have the same range in Walmart.

Life update:

I know I have been neglecting the blog recently and for that I am really sorry! It's just down to me being too tired to write anything, but as I have a day off today I thought I would catch you all up. Plus I am currently suffering with a cold so constant sniffling, achey eyes and headaches are also occurring. However much like Gloria Gaynor I will survive! I have some melon slices and vitamin tea to get the old immune system working again (hopefully).

I hope you all are well, as always would love to hear what's going on in your lives and any comments about this or my other posts will be very much appreciated. Follow me on Google+ for all the latest updates as a share everything on there. Thanks for reading!

Love from Lily xxxx

A FOUNDATION THAT ACTUALLY WORKS

Hey guys 

Hope you are all good, I'm sat here with my low cal hot chocolate with sugar free marshmallows wrapped in a lovely white blanket from Primark. Not gonna lie my nose is running like a tap which means I'm probably getting a cold. :((( However I tried a new foundation today and it actually DID all the things it claimed to on the packaging so I thought why not share it with you. Plus it wasn't even expensive!

The foundation I am talking about is called Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Foundation by Collection. You may have noticed I have a lot of products by this brand and that's because it's cheap and it WORKS! Here's a list of everything the product claims to do:

• LAST FOR 16 HOURS
• OIL FREE
• SPF 20
• FLAWLESS COVERAGE
• MINIMISES IMPERFECTIONS

Ticks all round from me, I can work all day and it won't fade or seep into pores, oil free is always a bonus as well if you have an oily or combination skin type. I will say that you may need to top up on the powder every so often if you're using it for the full 16 but that's due to your skins natural cycle not the foundation. SPF 20 hasn't really been tested out as its not exactly the right season but it's good to know it's there if you burn so easily like I do. As for flawless coverage and minimising imperfections I would have to agree, it doesn't go on quite as smoothly as other foundations I have used in the past but once it's on the finish its beautiful and matte.

If you are looking for a new foundation but don't know which one to go for I would definitely recommend this one. Price £5.99 from Boots.

Also while you're in Boots you can check out their Christmas stuff as it has now come out, bring on the beauty gift boxes!!

Love from Lily xxxx

PRIMARK HAUL!

HEY GUYS!

I am obsessed with Primark's home items at the moment, they are sooo pretty and seasonal. It caught my eye when I was having a browse in town the other day, they had a window display with some candles, fluffy blankets and a cute wolf canvas print. Jack liked the wolf as well so we decided to have a gander upstairs to see how much it was. After going up two lots of escalators we reached the top floor where the home section was and were delighted to find that our friend wolfie was only £2.50! 

So obviously we got that and then began exploring all the other cosy looking treats. As usual I gravitated towards the candles and proceeded to smell each of them systematically. I always struggle whether I should buy them based on scent or if they match my colour scheme, if it has both then it's basically fate. I picked up one that smelt of red berry and jasmine (£1.50) (very nice indeed) and one that was called 'falling star' which apparently smelt like old ladies but it was in this gorgeous jar with a little star charm attached to it (£4)so I got it anyway, there is also a snowflake one which I may pick up at a later date. Not sure what's wrong with me at the moment but sometimes when I mean to type 'I' I type 'A' so I apologize if you notice this at any point, please let me know!

I spent ages looking at these slippers that had memory foam in the sole but when I found the perfect pair (grey mini boots with faux fur around the trim and inside with a cute bow detail) of course they didn't have my size. :( I went back the next day and still nothing but as I work in the shopping centre I guess it's okay as I can keep checking. 

Another item I got was the most comfy, fluffy, elegant looking throw I could find. We needed one for our sofa as it's not in the best condition, we figured why not just dress it up with a smart looking throw and some cushions. Now I am cushion mad, and I had to restrain myself from buying one with an adorable raccoon on it, but if it's still there next payday I'm going for it. I do have a sizable cushion collection already though so don't worry it won't be looking bare.

The last thing I got was some fluffy bed socks, you can never have too many pairs of these. They are great for just going around the house when the evenings get cooler there's nothing worse than having chilly toes! I get most of my bed socks from Primark because they have such a big selection and you can get a two pack for £2 in most of the designs. 

Don't get me wrong I would be all over Laura Ashley Home, M&S and John Lewis if I could actually buy any of their stuff without going broke! But for now I'm good with Primark, they are reasonably priced, have lots of choice and their stuff is decent! Well worth a look, here's some pictures of what I got:

Let me know what you thought of this post or what you would like to see in future posts in the comments and link you own blogs so I can have a look! See you next time :)

Love from Lily xxxx

BEAUTY 101: SAVE YOUR LIPS THIS WINTER ❤

Hi Everyone!

At the moment my lips are driving me crazy because they keep getting super dry and flaky (sorry for that image lol) so I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you some of the things I use to try and make them better.

I have chosen to put an image of the Baby Lips range be Maybelline at the top of my post today because I absolutely LOVE them. Let's be honest it was the cute packaging that made me first want to buy them, but after using them I thought they were so good I even repurchased. I have tried the orange one 'cherry me' and the pink one 'pink punch', I have to say they both are brilliant because they make my lips feel really soft and they both add a dash of colour. The only negative thing I have to say about them is that you do have to reapply fairly often, especially if you eat or drink anything. If you wish to purchase them there are available in a lot of shops that sell this brand and from Boots or Superdrug they are priced at £2.99 each.

This is a slight variation on the classic Burt's Bees lip balm, I like the fact that it comes in a squeezy tube (I always think the ones where you have to put your finger in are really unhygienic). In addition the hint of mint feels very pleasant on the lips and Vitamin E will protect and repair them. If you would like to buy this you can get it from www.burtsbees.co.uk for £4.99. Be sure to check out the other lovely natural products they have on their site as well!

Now moving on from lip balms, I have been told another way to keep your lips looking and feeling good is to use a sugar or salt scrub. This will really exfoliate your lips and leave them soft and smooth. You can buy these from most cosmetic stores or you can even make your own by mixing salt or sugar with honey. Simply rub it all over your lips and wash off with warm water, then apply a lip balm of your choice to give your lips some moisture.

Tip: If you love your lipsticks make sure during the colder months you apply a lip balm underneath to stop them from drying out.

That's all  you have to do, simple! 

I really hope you enjoyed reading this, I have something exciting to tell you all about soon but I have to wait 'til it arrives. Please leave any comments below I love hearing what you have to say! Also please follow me if you want regular updates!

Love from Lily xxxx

WHATS ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST 2015 ❄

Hi guys!

So we are in the early days of October which basically means it's Christmas time right? I am one of those people who loves the holiday season (sorry if you find that annoying~) and I make sure I am prepared early! 

I am going to share some things I've had my eye on this season NOT so people know what to get me but just to give you a little inspiration of what to get your family and friends or even some things you might want to treat yourself to, I know I do.

1. The Benefit 'Party Poppers' Beauty Advent Calendar 2015

I don't want to ruin the surprise and give away what's inside but I'm telling you now there's a bunch of CLASSICS that you will LOVE. It's not a bad price either at £34.50 considering the contents is worth £79.17! This will be available to buy from www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk from 15th October.

2. The Naked 3 Palette by Urban Decay

I know a lot of you may already have this but I personally have never had the chance to try one of the Naked palettes out. This one caught my eye because it has some great colours to go in the crease such as 'nooner' and 'limit', plus 'mugshot' would look great with a dark lip. It's priced at £38 which to me seems quite a lot to spend on eyeshadow, but for a one off treat or present it would be ideal. It also comes with a good quality brush which is always a bonus! You can buy this from most department stores or from www.urbandecay.co.uk.

3. Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs

 A nice lady in Boots approached me and got me to smell a sample of this and I thought it was lovely. (I'm not one of those people who gets annoyed when people approach them because they are simply doing their jobs! Really bugs me when people are rude and ignore them you only have to say "no thank you"). Anyway I thought I would go back and get it close to Christmas because both the packaging and smell were amazing! You can get the 50ml bottle from Boots for £59 online and in store. Also comes in an EDT or EDP (Daisy Dream Forever) version.

There we have it, I will probably do a part two when I have spotted a few more things! But as promised here is a photo of what the nail polish mentioned in my previous post looks like on (its Field Day by Collection in shade 2. Peony):

Hope you enjoyed the post, let me know what you thought in the comments. :)

See you next time.

Love From Lily xxxx