The Essentials; Desk ♥

After my post on what I keep by my beside, which you can read here...I decided to do a desk version along with a few more coming up in the next few weeks all under the title 'The Essentials..'. Taking you around the most important parts of my desk (not the messy parts)

Here is a birds eye view of my desk, it is from Ikea and comes in many other colours as well as white, I like this one as you can see that it has different sections and I like to be a organised freak and keep everything sectioned up. I won't be showing you the draw on the left and the cupboard underneath as it is a state full of school stuff! 

Here is a birds eye view of the top of my desk, which is where all the 'magic' happens! I sit here and blog, write, read as well as do all my homework therefore I keep it as tidy as I can so that everything is at hand. My desk is also the first thing you kind of see when you enter my room so I like it to look pretty and cute! 

Let's start on the left hand side, I have this lamp from Ikea that I love switching on at night as it lights up my room. I received this beautiful mask from a good friend and it fits my whole room colour scheme of 'purple', this is standing on a plate that I decorated when I was very young! The owl ornament is something I bought at Christmas time from Store Twenty One and love how scary and pretty it looks at the same time, it used to be to hold down some papers but now I love it on its own. Next to this small but deadly owl is a pack of sticky notes, which are a absolute life saver in my opinion. There are a endless list of things you can do with them such as writing down things you need to remember to do, or even write a motivational quote down and then read it when you are working. 

The photo frame to the side of this, is of me and my bestie Aamira from prom that she got for me for Christmas and I love having on my desk as it constantly makes me smile! 

Then we move to the centre part of my desk, where I have my laptop - or in other words my life. Without this little heavy, hot machinery I would not be able to survive. I am always needing it to do some blogging, homework, or even just browsing the internet. Next to it I have a Pukka Pad I am a list making freak and having this by my side is great as I can write down any tasks I need to do, or even any ideas that I have when it comes to blogging. 

As we move towards the right of my desk, we have the cute section in my opinion. I have some highlighters as I am always needing them for revision or even note taking as it makes everything look a lot more comfortable!  On top of that I have a small notepad that is the easiest thing I have ever discovered, thanks to this I can now carry something around in all of my bags so if I ever remember anything, it is easier to note things down. Then we have a big pot of Cadbury's hot chocolate; which it just a guilty pleasure of mine. I have recently been loving to have a cup of hot coca with some cream and it keeps me going when I am hard at work.

Then on top of the treat box, I have a plant pot from Ikea that I have decided to use for something else as it is such a multi functional product. I currently have another for lip glosses and in this one I store some paper clips, rubber bands, biro pens and a memory stick for all my school work - which makes life easier as I am always needing to save work. 

This draw is the one I use the most and is the tidiest of them all. In here I keep my purse, phone, cables and little bits of pieces. As well as some cheeky chocolate to have with that cup of hot chocolate after a long night. I like to keep my desk as organised as I can so that it is easier to find things when I need them. 

To buy all off my essentials, be sure to check out Viking where you can buy everything you need to give your desk a makeover and even colour co-ordinate everything! 

Hope you enjoyed this post and look out for more posts like this! 

*post in collaboration with Viking-

Outfit Of The Day ft The Front Row ♥

I know, I know, a well over do outfit of the day! Today I am just sharing with you a simple/casual outfit that I chose to wear to be comfortable and warm!

Jumper//Primark - I love this jumper so much, that I have worn it that many times and then washed it and I swear that it is now shrinking! I love knitted jumpers like and love wearing them in winter time, with and without a t-shirt underneath.

Leggings//Primark - This is a staple item in my wardrobe. good old leggings. these things come in handy all the time, whether I am wearing it with a jumper or even just a t-shirt to lounge around in; every girl needs a pair of comfy leggings.

Necklace// New Look - As I thought that the jumper was quite plain I decided to go with  a statement long necklace from New Look the it place for me and my jewellery at the moment. And I love having a necklace with a jumper as it makes feel so much more decent enough to wear outside.

The other two items of jewellery that I have currently been lusting are these two amazing and unique items from The Front Row. On the left is this gorgeous gold coloured bracelet* with pink studs around it, I love how simple it is yet looks so amazingly elegant and great on your hand and with my necklace it works perfectly together! The second is something unusual and quirky which has now become my absolute favourite, this sweetheart inspired sweet ring* looks good enough to eat. And a splash of yellow colour can never do any harm to a plain white outfit.

If you like things like this or want to expand your collection of different necklaces, bracelets and rings then check out the full range here.

*product sent for consideration of review

Sleek Makeup Haul from Cosmopolitan Magazine Subscription ♥

Writing this blog post is getting me soooo excited! Today I bring you a small Sleek Haul, that I got as part of a magazine subscription. One day I was stalking some bloggers on instagram and came across Amy from ThriftyGirlLoves who had posted a photo of some makeup from Sleek with the caption saying that she got all of that with a magazine subscription! And I could not believe it, and asked her which magazine..and the sweet person that she is; she linked me to this website where I can sign up to Cosmopolitan magazine and receive all of this! Unfortunately, this offer stopped just a few days after I signed up. Nevertheless, I am sure that some other magazine will pick up a offer like this and if they I would persuade you to go for it, it is so much easier to order magazines in advance and then get them in the post either every week/month or fortnight. 

When the parcel of goodies arrived last week - I screamed with excitement! I have been wanting to try out Sleek for the longest time, but the closest Superdrug to mine and Boots does not stock it :( so when I saw this offer on the internet I just had to try it out and see what the big 'fuss' is about! Here is a quick overview of some of the things I got, but not in lots of detail as I will be showing them to you separately with swatches! 

I-DIVINE IN OH SO SPECIAL - Oh So Special includes ultra flattering pink and brown shades that will deliver perfect results no matter the occasion.

I DIVINE IN BAD GIRL -  The ultimate palette for classic smokey eyes, containing strong shimmery blues and deep matte shades of green and purple. This is a smoky lovers dream, ideal for creating either sophisticated or sensual dark eye looks.

LIP 4 PALETTE IN BALLET -  Packed with satin soft pinks and creamy nude hues. Subtly sweet and ultra girly, Ballet will make you feel as elegant and graceful as a prima Ballerina! Choose from Tutu, Plié, Swan Lake and Pirouette in matte, satin and gloss finishes.

TRUE COLOUR LIPSTICK IN BABY DOLL - is a sheen Pale Pink that can be teamed with shades from the Oh So Special palette adding Burmilla Lashes for a flattering finish.

BLUSH IN ROSE GOLD - Rosy pink with gold shimmer ideal for all skin tones and offers a golden pink highlight.

I am so excited to try everything out! Let me know your favourite Sleek products!

Diamond Blend Mineral Eye Patch||Review+Demo♥

My lack of sleep and stressful school days have been leading me to having dark circles under my eyes, and no matter how much concealer I put on it still shows through a little underneath. I have tried eye creams, roll ons and cucumbers - but to be honest to my self I have never stuck to anything. When the chance came up to review the 'Mineral Eye Patch*' By Diamond Blend I couldn't wait to see what they where like and how they worked! 

'Treat yourself with our Diamond Mineral Eye Patch as it instantly lifts the eye area restoring radiance that is lost with age. The treatment goes cell deep to target signs of ageing such as dark circles, puffiness, dryness, fine lines and wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Can be applied either above or below your eye.'

What is so special about these eye gels?

These patches are made with a high technology diamond formula that helps to revive the dull skin and leaves behind this healthy glow and radiance. It is enriched with Q10 which is something that I have heard of before, it helps to repair your skin and regenerates it like the Doctor! And it does exactly what I want it to do- reduces dark circles! As well as fine wrinkles and crows feet - is all sounds amazing and I put them to the test, with exam season just finished for me it was the perfect time to use them! 

THE RESULT.
Before - you may not be able to see them as they hibernate on camera but they are there. 

During+Application

So I opened up the packet carefully as there was water inside that I forgot about, and carefully placed each eye patch underneath my eye. At first when I put them on they were cold, but as they sat on my eye they became very warm and really comfortable. I did have a struggle with them at first and had to keep blinking or looking up, but after they got them selves stuck to me they were ok. 

I left them on for around 20 minutes as advised and then slowly removed them, to leave a much better looking under eye area. 

The end result!

After taking them off, my eyes instantly felt so much more relaxed. I would say that this has definetley made a difference to my under eye area, it isn't a product that is meant to remove/get rid of any dark circles or fine lines just to help with the process and I think that this has!

Diamond Blend are a company that I haven't ever heard of before, and I am super impressed with this patch* that I may just try and buy some more things from their range -  like the matching face mask!

*product sent for consideration of review

Savin' Pennies || Sales Gossip ♥

Here I am again, with another Savin' Pennines posts, this time about vouchers and discounts! There are so many websites out their that you can find out about the latest deals that are going, but after recently discovering Sales Gossip I have never turned back!

The only really thing I can tell you about this site, is that when you sign up with a login...you can browse the women's and men's deals from high street to designer! It also lets you know about sample sales that are going on, which are not usually advertised and for me student discount offers!
I decided to contact them through twitter to tell you a lot more information!

''SalesGossip is revolutionising the way people shop. A daily style destination for more than 250,000 UK shoppers, SalesGossip features news and promotions for over 900 fashion & beauty retailers. In 18 months, SalesGossip was named one of the best websites for savvy shoppers by The Times, won the RBS EnterprisingU Competition and was awarded the SMARTA100 Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Additionally, the company secured financial backing from several of the most successful entrepreneurs in the UK.''

Another fun thing that I found out is that they update their style journey (blog) everyday with the latest trends and news from around the fashion world. How cool? You can get on the go information whenever you want!

Accidental Sales Haul|| Victoria Secrets,Next&More ♥

Well, well, well, what can I say..I spent more money! I feel as though I need to stress the fact that this haul was not meant to have happened; I said to my self that I wasn't going to buy anything at the start of the year as I really want to save my money(that worked out well didn't it!) Nevertheless, I am going to be sharing with you the things that I have picked up along my way these past few weeks!

 

First up, is Superdrug! And I went in to pick up some skincare goodies! I am always needing cotton rounds, so to be on the safe side I bought two small packets..another purchase that I really needed to make is to buy some new wipes from Nivea as my beloved Primark ones are coming to an end. And finally, after much debate about whether or not to get it..I bought the L'oreal Micellar water! It was on offer, so I thought ah why not and I have been using it for about a week or so and I am loving it - there will be a full review very soon.

Whilst wondering around Superdrug doing my rounds, I decided to pop to the NYC section and saw this foundation that seemed very interesting! It claims to give you maximum radiance yet feel light so your skin can breathe easy.

Another big purchase that you have already seen is the Naked 3 palette, which you can find more about here. I love this palette and have been loving to create different looks with it. 

I have been needing a new school bag for a long time now, as my current one doesn't seem to fit everything in when i need it to! So when I got told by someone at school that there is a big sale on bags at Accessorize, I jumped with joy! I saw their 'Luca' bag had been reduced from £25 to £12.50 I just clicked buy without thinking, I also had a voucher and student discount so I only ended up paying for delivery! BARGAIN! 

I am one of those crazy people that goes to the Next sale on boxing day, and yes yes I am very sad and some may say crazy but I actually don't mind it. I have ordered some things online and still waiting for them to come through, but one of the things that I bought in store was this very cute jumper that I fell in love with because of the collar/jumper look.

My last sneaky purchase was from Victoria Secrets, they had a 50% off all of their body sprays and how could I say no when the store was looking right at me. I came out with only one which is good! They are originally £11 and I got it for £5.50 including VAT in the smell 'Strawberries+Champagne' which not only sounds delicious but also smells yummy enough to eat! 

You may see another one of these posts, as I heard that Boots have a 70% sale on!!! And that is it for this small not on purpose haul! Did you pick anything up? 

BHF Perfect White/Black Toothpaste||Review ♥

After having braces, there has been thing that I am always making sure of - how good my teeth look. The bottom ones are still a bit uneven, but the top are straight - in my opinion straight teeth doesn't mean everything! You need to have some white sparkle as well to really make them stand out and for people to go 'WOW You're teeth look amazing' and that is exactly what I have had with this black toothpaste* from 'Beverley Hills Formula'.

At first I was terrified to use it because the colour put me off, but then once you toughen yourself up and start brushing with it turns into white paste and has a minty flavour that is lovely in your mouth. I have found that after using this every morning for one week before school, my teeth have never been better! The activated charcoal coats your teeth and removes any bacteria from forming which then leaves your teeth looking white and fresh! 

''Low in abrasion, Perfect White toothpaste helps remove surface and deep stains caused by tea, coffee, red wine, tobacco and spicy foods, to brighten, lighten and whiten your teeth. Regular use of Perfect White will also help to prevent tartar build up, effectively keeping your teeth whiter for longer.''

Beverly Hills Formula have so many other products that you can try out, to see which is best for your teeth type. I have very sensitive teeth that I struggle with things like ice cream, and this has worked on my teeth better than any other sensitive toothpastes you can find. You can buy this is Superdrug for around £4.99 which is so much cheaper compared to the other pastes that claim to give you a white smile. 

If you want to achieve that 'hollywood' smile the right way, then I suggest giving this wonder tube a wiz and see whether or not you are a fan. I hate toothpastes that are minty, but this isn't unbearable and actually smells amazing! 

*product sent for consideration of review

Personalised Phone Case from MrNutcase ♥

Personalised Phone Case*

I don't know if anybody else has noticed this, but it seems to be trend lately to have a personalised phone case?! And like any other person, I just had to follow the trend and try one out for my self...and their are so many sites that you can get one from but MrNutCase it by far my favourite! 

You have a option to either create a personalised one or one of their pre designed ones, and as well as that when you deicide to go with the personalised version you can decide from so many different collages, and all you have to do is import your pictures, adjust them to your preference and then your're done! 

One thing that I love about MrNutCase, it that there is only one price for everything, it will only cost you £14.95 no matter how many photos you want, or even which design you go with. 

There are so many different phones that you can pick from, and trust me you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking your photos you will have a whale of a time trying to decide which picture to put on. 

Delivery was super speedy and I was sooo excited when I opened it, and it feels very light weight as I went for this option however you are able to get a leather sleeve as well.

Top Left - I wanted to put a quote on my phone case, to have something to read and make me smile every time I picked it up and this was the one that I loved the most 'Everyone Deserves To Sparkle'

Top Right - A picture of me and my bestest friend Kirsten from New Years Eve looking all pretty! 

Middle Left - My favourite picture of them all, with my 'good friend (i wish) Kimberley Walsh from when I met her, a few months ago. 

Middle Right - A family picture from when we went to the Olympics, and the funny thing about this picture is that it was taken on the Samsung S3 when it was just released and now I have it!

Bottom Left - Me and my closest at prom, I picked this picture as we had it done there with the proper camera and everything! 

Bottom Right - And finally a recent picture of me and my brother, when we looked posh and are actually smiling! 

If you would like to buy a case like this, then be sure to check out Mr Nut Case here and at the links down below! 

https://twitter.com/MrNutcase

*pr sample sent for consideration for review

Nails Of The Week|| Essie Wraps in 'So Haute' ♥

The first nail post of 2014 is here, and this week it is all about the nail wraps. I usually stay away from them because I don't like the faff and if it gets complicated then I loose interest in doing them. These Essie ones are totally different to any of the wraps I have used in the past on myself and other people, you don't have to heat them and then apply you just have to measure, stick, press and file. Easy as pie!

The first thing you need to do is find out which sticker best fits your nail, to make it easier to find this out I cute around the plastic instead of having to guess. 

I didn't use them or all or even as many as I thought,as when I filed some off one nail it fit on to another nail and this way I saved on the wraps. And after completing both hands - I just fell in love. Not only was the application really easy but I love the overall finish and design, after realising that the pattern isn't as bright as I thought originally! 

Urban Decay Naked 3; Review+Swatches♥

I just want to start off with apologising, if you are one of those people who are reading yet another post on the UD Naked 3 palette! The entire world has gone loco for this palette, and there have been many reviews and swatch posts already posted, but I thought that I would just share my opinion with you as I just have to rave about it! 

This has been one of the most anticipated makeup releases ever in my opinion, Urban Decay have stolen so many hearts and one of them being mine. I adore by Naked 1 palette and had my heart set on buying 2 last month, but it all changed when 3 popped along and stole the spotlight! I decided to skip buying 2 and move straight onto 3 instead. I am unsure about whether or not I am going to buy 2 yet, but am hoping to buy Basics..anyway enough of a ramble lets' get on with it!

After days of sitting beside the door waiting for the postman to deliver this as a parcel, IT CAME! When I opened it, my heart skipped a beat. I was in complete shock, it was just so beautiful to look at and touch that I was so scared to even use it.After photographing everything and staring at for the whole day, I decided to use it and it was like putting pure heaven on my eyes. 

What comes with the palette? With the Naked 1 I got a full size of the original primer potion(that I love) and this palette comes with a double ended brush from UD and 4 samples of their primer potion, each with a weeks worth of primer enclosed > Original, Eden,Sin, and Anti-Aging.

Packaging+Shadows? The case is a rose gold colour with waves that are indented across it and it snaps shut. It is filled with 12 beautiful eye shadows that are all very soft, blendable and very pigmented. There is a mix of matte and glitter/satin shadows that are just overall amazing. My skin is fairly dark, and all of the shadows swathed fine apart from Dust which took a few layers to show up as it is very heavy with glitter and Trick which would not show up on my skin at all, so there is no swatch - apart from they were all a treat to use!

Here are a few pictures and the swatches, you can expect a face of the day tutorial in a few weeks using this palette! I am also really proud of my photography with the palette as the light was awful!

R- No flash L- With flash

Let me know your thoughts on the palette down below, and what looks you have already tried!