064 : February Favourites

Gosh, another month down. I can't actually believe we're already a quarter of the way through the year, I turned 26 last week and I'm feeling super old! This month has been ridiculously busy for me, hence the lack of posting, luckily I have a really quiet few weeks coming up so I can catch up with blogging and get back into the swing of things!

Last month there was so many products that I absolutely loved, I always have this issue when posting favourites post. I can never decide between products! I've popped a mixture of a beauty, body and other little bits I've been loving throughout February in for you this month, it's always good to mix things up a little!

Beauty

Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick - Coral/£34
I've been loving the new Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks, I got colour matched at my local Bobbi Brown counter and had my heart set on one of the pinker shades, they matched me up with Coral as my skin is super pale. It gives a really sheer, dewy glow to my skin, I love that these are so versatile and you can sweep it all over your face, I can see this seeing me through the whole of the spring and summer months!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - 30ml/£49 & Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum - 15ml/£46
Hi, I'm Heidi and I'm always late to the party. Hypothetical party being the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair range. I've always steered clear of these just because they're so pricey, but they're definitely worth the investment. I pop this little duo on before bed with a little moisturiser and my skin is far softer in the mornings and I look way more awake, even if I feel like I haven't slept, I don't look it, which is always a winner.

Mac Bao Bao Wan Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow - 4g/£33
I've been using this gorgeous Bao Bao Wan shadow palette religiously over the last month or so, the shades are stunning, from soft pink, to gorgeous gold, a dewy brown and a bright blue. They blend together so well and you can create so many different looks. Love, love love!

Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Day Cream - 40ml/£29
This is my first ever Jurlique product, I'm not sure why I waited so long to jump on the bandwagon with this one, as I love it. It's a really soft moisturiser which is so incredibly nourishing and keeps my skin hydrated all day long. It's amazing for dry skin, if your skin already has a little natural moisture it would probably be too much, but for those with skin which is really dehydrated, it's a must have!

Mac Lipstick - Lovelorn/£15.50
I first saw this on Milly of the lovely Pearls and Poodles Instagram and fell in love with it, it's one of those things you just know you have to have! It's a really classy, soft pink, which easily transitions from the daytime through to the evening. I don't often wear lipstick but this hasn't budged from my lips just lately!

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - Shade 2/£34.50
Having been hooked on Nars' Sheer Glow for ages now, I felt it was time to add a new foundation into the mix. I saw this on Tanya Burr recently and just loved how it looked. It's a really dewy foundation which gives the absolute perfect amount of coverage. I like my coverage heavy enough to cover any blemishes, but not so heavy it looks like its been trowelled onto my face!

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Eau De Perfum - 30ml/£45
Another little beaut from Estee Lauder, this fragrance is so pretty. It's really light and floral. I love the scent of anything sweet and this is just so soft and feminine. It's been so perfect for daytime wear.

Soap & Glory Archery DIY Brow Bar - £12
Having been using Anastasias Dipbrow for a while, I felt the shade I'd bought was slightly too dark against my hair colour. As someone who gets their hair lightened fairly frequently, I needed something slightly less harsh. I picked up the DIY Brow Bar in Boots and I've been loving it, it has a clear gel, highlighter and two different shades, so it's a one for all. The teeny brushes are great for getting a good shape to the brows, and plus its so affordable! 

Body/Haircare

Lee Stafford Ubuntu Oils Shampoo & Conditioner - 250ml/£9.99 Each
My hair really lacks moisture and dries out quickly, the Ubuntu Oils range from Lee Stafford has left it so much softer and full of moisture. I've found I do have to wash it more often as it's been getting greasier quicker, but this is the only shampoo/conditioner I've found thats actually put more moisture back into my hair! It contains vitamins A & E, to replenish the hair, I've been using it alongside the Argan Oil hairspray and I absolutely love it.

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Body Scrub - 300g/£37
I have a thing about soft skin, I love my skin to be softer than a babys butt. This Laura Mercier Body Scrub is absolutely delightful, it comes with the cutest little scoop so you don't have to put your wet hands into it, and it smells just divine. I usually apply this to my skin before shaving and rinse it off afterwards, the scent is sweet, full of fig, apricot and ylang-ylang. It's been a good bathtime buddy for the last month or so.

Decléor Aroma Cleanse Exfoliating Body Cream - 200ml/£31
Another amazing body scrub, I first tried this a few months ago at Center Parcs while I was having a spa day with my mum. I absolutely loved it. It leaves your skin so, so soft. It smells utterly gorgeous too. A lot of cleansers and scrubs have beads in that I find slightly irritating to my skin, they feel almost a little too abrasive. The Decléor Aroma Cleanse is so gentle to use. Perfect on even the most sensitive skin!

Bio-Oil - 200ml/£19.99
Bio-Oil is full of natural vitamins and oils, Vitamins A & E, Calendula Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil & Chamomile Oil. I've been using this on stretch marks for years since having children, but my skins been so dehydrated lately I've been using it to put some much needed moisture back into my skin. It softens and feels amazing. It keeps my skin hydrated for such a long time, if like me, your skin drinks Cocoa Butter like its going out of fashion, Bio-Oil is an amazing alternative.

Life

Love, Tanya - £6.49
Tanya Burr was one of the first YouTubers I ever watched. I've always been a massive fan of hers and it's amazing to see someone you really admire grow, change and become super successful! Tanyas book is so pretty, it has some gorgeous photography. Tanya talks beauty, fashion, food & love. It's so well written and Tanya is so down to earth, plus the recipes are to die for. Someone pass the Smarties Flapjacks!

Daisy Earrings - £3
I've been wearing this little Daisy earrings non stop since I bought them, they're so perfect for spring (and a bit of a steal at three quid!) - they're ear 'jackets' so the stud goes through your ear and then a bar curves around behind your earlobe and hangs underneath. They're really delicate but statement at the same time. Love.

Ferrero Rocher - 24/£6.50
I'm absolutely hooked on these. Whenever I fancy a little chocolatey snack, I reach for the Ferrero's. I've been munching oodles of these, which hasn't been great for the waistline but my taste buds are totally satisfied!

Vita Coco Coconut Oil - 250ml/£5.99
I actually got this in February's Birchbox, coconut oil has SO many different uses, you can use it on your face (apparently Kim Kardashian is a massive fan of using this on her chops - who knew?!), your hair, for cooking... the list goes on. I've been using it in the bath to shave my legs and it's left my skin so nourished and hydrated. I don't particularly like the smell but it's amazing for giving you super soft, supple skin!

Melodie Notebook - £5.59
I'm a self confessed stationary junkie. I love pretty staitionary and spend hours upon hours in Paperchase picking up things I don't need just because they look too pretty not to buy. I actually got this notebook from WH Smith and I love it. I've been using it to write down all my ideas for blog posts. Plus its hardback so it doesn't get all mishapen in your handbag! WH Smith have some really pretty stationary in at the moment, definitely worth a look!

What have you guys been loving this month?!

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063 : Life - 25 Things I've learned by my 26th Birthday

Tomorrow I turn 26! It recently dawned on me how much has changed in the last year, I've ended and began relationships, I've battled my way through severe depression and anxiety. I've started and left jobs. I've blogged my little heart out. I wanted to share with you everything I've learned in the last 25 years.. so here goes!

1. When it comes to friends, quality over quantity is best. I spend my time with people I care for, trust and know would be there for me no matter what. A lot of my friends completley deserted me in my time of need, the ones who cared stuck around.

2. If a relationships just not working, end it. My ex-boyfriend coming back from uni for the summer with an STI should have been a sure sign it just wasn't working, but I stuck by him and it was the biggest mistake I've made in the last 25 years!

3. Being a mother is the most important job you'll have. I had my first son when I was just 18, my second when I was 21. Being a mother has changed my life for the better, it's the most rewarding, challenging and wonderful job I've ever been given.

4. Stand on your own two feet. Learning to be independent and not rely on others for anything was one of the biggest challenges. I moved out of the family home when I was 18 years old and have never looked back. I had a little person in my life who relied on me for everything, getting my independence and learning to live alone was one of the biggest feats for me.

5. Never leave the house without make-up. Fake it to make it, right? I never leave the house without wearing make-up. I'd rather look bright eyed and bushy tailed, even if I feel more like the walking dead!

6. Spend time with those you love. It's difficult to spend time with family and friends when you all go your separate ways and start to live different lives. One of the biggest regrets I have over my short 25 years is not spending enough time with my grandparents before they passed away, there's so much I would have loved to known and asked them while they were still here.

7. Setting timelines just isn't healthy. I always had it in my head that I'd want to be married by the time I'm 30 and have children either just before, or not long after. Obviously things didn't work out that way for me, setting timelines just never works out. I've learned to take each day as it comes, if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't!

8. Don't waste your time stressing. I've always been a bit of a worrier, I get stressed super easily, I realised I've wasted so much valuable time fretting about things and worrying about things that actually, really didn't matter all that much.

9. Look after yourself. This is something I've learned really recently, as a lover of junk food, three sugars in my tea, chocolate.. I've realised it's time to be healthy, fill myself with goodness and reap the rewards of a healthier mind and body.

10. Don't buy cheap shit. Everyone loves a bargain, but over the last few years I've realised it's better to spend my money on things that are seen as more of an investment, things that mean more and will last that little bit longer. Rather than rubbish that I really don't want. (Chat magazine every Thursday is absolutley essential, promise!)

11. Start every day with a positive mind. Waking up feeling miserable sets you up for a miserable day. I always try and wake up feeling refreshed and positive for a more productive day!

12. Eyebrows are important. I'll be honest, probably up until the last year or so, I did absolutely nothing with my eyebrows. I make sure to get them waxed regularly now and fill them in when essential, it's amazing how good eyebrows changes your face and makes you feel that much better!

13. Learn from your mistakes. And don't make them again, ever!

14. Take risks once in a while. Playing safe is boring, I never hold back anymore and am more likely to take a risk than I used to be. 

15. Be kind. It's so easy to judge others and to be unkind, we've all said and done things we regret, I fill every single day with kindness, towards myself and others.

16. Don't dwell on the past. I've spent so much time thinking about the past and all the negatives that have happened in my lifetime, if I'd spent it thinking about the present and the future I would have had a much more positive mindset. The past can't be changed, but you can do things to ensure a positive future.

17. There is such a thing as bad sex. 'Nuff said.

18. Build on your strengths. I wish I'd spent more time doing this, improving my skills at certain things and doing more of things I love.

19. It's okay to rest. If you're feeling tired, rest. I always try and squeeze a little nap in every day, especially if I'm tired. Resting does you the world of good and you feel way better for it afterwards.

20. If you don't do your dishes, they stay dirty. You know when you're young and everything is mysteriously clean, your laundry's always done, there's always fresh sheets on the bed. Yep? It doesn't do itself. Moving out made me realise this, it may have take twenty years but if you don't do your washing, you have no clean pants.

21. Quit bitching and change things. We have the ability to control our own lives, if you're not happy in your job. Quit. Do something that makes you happy and stop moaning if it doesn't, you can change it!

22. Your body changes. It's normal. After having children, I thought I'd still have the body I had when I was 18. I was wrong, after having babies, it's natural to have stretch marks and a bit of a wibbly tummy! 

23. It's okay to still enjoy the Sims and Theme Hospital. I played these games growing up, and I still love them now. And that's just fine!

24. Learn to cook. When you leave home, suddenly your food isn't prepared for you anymore and you have to learn to fend for yourself, it's taken me 25 years and I still can't cook well, it's something I wish I'd learned at a much younger age!

25. Going to bed early is a blessing. When I was young, going to bed at 9pm seemed really uncool. I always wanted to stay up later than I was told, now, I feel relieved to be able to go to bed at 9!

 

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062 : Mother's Day Gift Guide 2015

It's Spring! February came and went really quickly, we saw Pancake Day and Valentines come and go in a flash, now, I'm not a massive fan of sentimental days, but I am a firm believer in Mother's Day, it's so nice to have a day to appreciate the woman who bought you into the world & spend time with family. I'm really lucky to have a wonderful mum who's supported me through my brightest and darkest days. Mother's Day also gives me time to reflect on myself as a mother, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be blessed with my two beautiful sons. While I'm incredibly close to my own mum, I do find her difficult to buy for, we have entirely different tastes in everything which always makes it a little tricky. I've put together this little guide with a few of my favourite gift ideas for Mothers Day 2015, spoil her rotten!

(in numerical order, Elemis Sparkling Care Gift Set - £56, Neom Happiness Travel Candle - £16, Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath - £33, Emma Bridgewater Personalised Rose & Bee Vase - From £25, Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne - £82/100ml, Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball Gardening Range - £9-£25, Ted Baker Casine Cascading Floral Skinny Scarf - £35, Cath Kidston Clouds iPad Cover - £28)

For the beauty loving mum, I've picked this gorgeous little Elemis Sparkling Skin Gift Set, it comes in an adorable silver box with lots of little Elemis goodies in it, including; Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm, Aboslute Eye Mask, Rehydrating Gingseng Toner, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser, Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream and White Flowers Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover. This set is designed to rejuvinate and revitalise the skin,ideal for those mama's that work just a little too hard! Second up, I have the 'Happiness' Travel Candle by Neom. I'm an absolute sucker for a scented candle, I love anything that smells amazing and makes me feel super chilled. The Happiness candle contains white neroli, mimosa, lemon and fresh grass notes, helping to balance emotions and promote a more uplifted and positive state of mind. Neom products are also vegetarian and Neom are massively against animal testing. This sweet little candle would be perfect to have lit whilst having a nice long soak in the bath, hopefully using the Laura Mercier Creme Brulee bath, with scents of caramel, vanilla beans, white musk and creme, it smells divine - it also firms, lifts and tones the skin. Containing vitamins A & E, it moisturises and conditions the skin too. I bought the Laura Mercier Fig Body Scrub a few weeks and I'm besotted with it, it smells gorgeous and has left my skin so soft - a nice alternate option! 

On the subject of smelling gorgeous, is the Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, described as having the 'sensuality of a seductive red dress' this dark, enigmatic fragrance is laced with pomegranate, raspberry & plum, with subtle hints of pink pepper and Casablanca lily - you can also get your bottle engraved on the Jo Malone website too. I think any mama would be happy to get this on Mothers Day (and Jo Malone boxes with the black ribbons... love some good packaging!). For the mum that loves flowers, I found this amazing vase by Emma Bridgewater, you can have these personalised with anything you like and they come in a range of different designs, I think it's a really nice touch rather than buying a standard vase. It's far more personal & just looks a little more thoughtful, if you've never shopped online with Emma Bridgewater before you also get 15% off your first order. Next up is the Sophie Conran range for Burgon and Ball - this range is priced from £9-£25 so it's good for the purse strings and its a really sweet little range, I love the herb pots - there's a lot of choice, it's worth a look if your mum likes to spend a lot of time preening the garden!

For the more fashion savvy mum, I love this Ted Baker Casine scarf, it's probably not something my own mum would wear but I think it's really chic and I love the bright cascading florals against the dark fabric. At £35 it's a bit of a steal! Finally, if your mum is a little more technologically advanced than mine and knows how to work an Apple product (sorry mum!) this Cath Kidston clouds iPad cover is utterly beautiful, I love the new Clouds range and can imagine laying on the beach or in the garden, iPad in one hand, cocktail in the other! 

I really love the idea of homemade gifts, they're so thoughtful and you can make them so personal to your mum. A little hamper of her favourite homemade foods, you can handmake soap or bath bombs, candles, if you're good at sewing perhaps a sweet cushion. And pop in your favourite picture of the two of you together. Pinterest is full of amazing ideas for homemade Mothers Day gifts - it's definitely worth a browse.

I hope this has given some of you a little inspiration on what to buy one of the most important women in your life this Mothers Day! Let me know what you have planned for your mum this year! 

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