Thank you

I have never been lucky with on line competitions, however in the last two weeks I have won a pair of shoes from Kandee and some L'Occitane goodies via a Glossy Box / L'Occitane twitter competition.

The Kandee shoes were a Lime colour of their Skinny Bitch range, which is great as I know I can wear them. Although I was a little worried about the colour and as most of my friends will tell you I am usually conservative in my colour choices, I found this pair match some white outfits I have so it has worked out wonderfully.

The skin products from L'Occitane were a full size skin cream and hand cream. So again a worth while prize. Although this one I have to fight off mum as she wants the hand cream. I may well give in and be a nice daughter and just let her have it.

Anyway I am not bragging, I just wanted to say thank you to the companies concerned, and also I want to say to all those who enter these competitions on Twitter and Facebook, keep going you never know your luck.

Pity the delievery men

Thanks to the sales, the luck of the Irish and EBay, my front path is getting well trodden. This pleases me, but unfortunately Orinoco has a thing against deliveries and the people who make them. Everything from the post man to the Kleeneaze man they all get the same reception, a loud one. What I want to know is how the heck he knows to sit by the door and wait but he has mastered that.

The poor man from DPD has been so busy with Kandee deliveries that he knows just to laugh at the dog and totally defeats the noise. How ever the new yodel man nearly hopped over the fence with shock. Anyway we should have  had a few days off from the noise till Friday when the next lot is due, by which time my headache may have subsided.

In the mean time I am now resting my back as the case of Coke that arrived today has totally stuffed it. The thing is the delivery men make it look very light to carry these parcels, and up to five years ago I used to be able to swing these cases about, but now a days anything more than a kilo and I am in trouble, so a case of 24 cans are well out of my limit. However as no one tells you what is in the box till you sign for it and take it , I had no clue and now my back is seeking revenge.

As I started writing this page it was Tuesday, and I have just got to complete this blog to a) find the poor postman carrying 90% of the outstanding parcels down my path and b) having won something else to add to the total of the parcels expected. So I have increased my postman's loathing for me, and the dog induced headache. But I look at this way, by being a total girl I am keeping many postal services in order.

Kandee Sweetness

Now normally I blog about new ranges and what in the ideal world I would buy from Kandee. Well for once there 80% sale hit my pay day and now my one pair of shoes has multiplied to three pairs, two handbags and a clutch bag. That is not counting the pair I was fortunate to win yesterday.

My first purchase was a set of pink skinny bitch heels, and a matching clutch and normal handbag. They were gorgeous and all cost me less than £90 including postage. I feel in love so much that I had to get a bag to go with my black skinny bitch heels I received for my 40th last year so I got brave and went for a tangerine orange one as they had sold out of the black bags. My final purchase was the Galaxy heels all red and sparkly. They make me feel like Dorothy out of the Wizard of Oz, but standing a little taller. What surprised me was that set came with an extra pair of heels for when they get worn down.

It is little features like that, and the individual shoe bags and dust bags for the handbags, that makes me fall in love with the brand more and more. What I will receive for my prize I don't know, but I do know I will be hoovering till the driver arrives with the package. Just the anticipation is enough to make it an event in itself.

Every pair is hand crafted leather and the shoes feel in balance unlike cheaper heels. There have been teasers for the S/S13 range and the mention of a separate Haute Couture range. So I for one will be waiting with anticipation for that. In the meantime I suggest if you have a few spare penny's this sweetness of a sale won't break your lent diet,  but will make you feel like a princess.

I personally can't wait for the new season with the promise of wedged trainers and polka dots it is all very exciting, I just pray for a couple of pairs of flats, for as much as I adore my heels I want to wear Kandee's at places you wouldn't expect them and that requires flats.

 

 

 

Fragrance Direct Purchases

I knew it would happen after my first successful purchase from this website, I was bound to go back. Sure enough last Friday I went a looking, mainly for more Dainty Doll products. What I found was a whole lot more

To start with I purchased a Dainty Doll eye base primer and eye liner at £2.99 and £0.99 respectively. I also picked up a Bojouis eye shadow £1.99 and powder brush 99p, Macadamia nut leave in conditioner £2.99, two face powders £1.75 each, two nail files 99p and 75p, three Essie nail polishes £1.99 each. Even with second class postage (which arrived today Monday) I had change of £25, not bad how ever you look at it, especially as the Macadamia range normally price at £9.99 and so on.

I am not going to go into major detail of every product today, mainly because I have yet to try everything. However one thing I was aware of when I went to this site is not everything is current range, that said I picked up three colours of Essie nail polish. Wrapped up which is a burgundy red with gold flecks, Imported bubbly which is a nude with a sheen and Sweet Talker which is an on trend pastel blue. Now that does prove that some trends run for more than one season and you can pick up the new look at a better price.

Granted for me it was more a tester practise to try out different brands with out breaking the bank, I have come up with more than one little gem. The Dainty Doll eyeliner in Shake your Tail is a wonderful peacock green and the Lentheric pressed powders especially the translucent were also good choices.

For a bargain or to experiment I can't recommend it highly enough. Next month I will be replacing my shampoo for something more suited to the new colouring so guess where I will be looking first.

Dainty Doll via FD

Now I have never used either Fragrance Direct as a shop or Dainty Doll as a product till this week, but thanks to fellow blogger Fee I decided I needed to try both in my life. I was shocked when I saw how cheap the products are on Fragrancedirect.com but if you have never been there before it is worth a look. If nothing else delivery is only £2.99 1st class and £1.99 2nd class.

Needless to say with the low delivery charges and cheap prices I bought more than I intended and still had change from £25 purchases were 5 Dainty Doll products, 3 Essie nail polishes, 2 nail files, A macadamia leave in conditioner, a boujois eye shadow and a NYC lip stain. You don't need a math degree to work out even with first class postage that's on average £2 per product. Definitely cheaper than anywhere else. That said you won't necessarily find this seasons range on there but for classics and favourites you may well find a bargain, some of the essie nail colours were last years stock but defiantly go into this years trends.

However today I will focus on the Dainty Doll purchases. I have yet to try the eye primer but the other four are as below

I choose a lipstick in 008 shade, it is a nude but not as pale as my other one. In fact it is near a possible to my own shade of lips. There is a little of the gritty feel and by the scent of it, I expect to have to use it with in the year then ditch. That said for £1.99 I won't have lost out. I love the solid metal casing as well it will mean I won't break it as I usually do.

I bought one powder blush for £2.99 in shade 004 which as come up a bit dark to look up but on skin it soon blends in naturally so I am very happy. Love the mirror in the compact, but I will have to invest in a nice brush as nothing comes with it.

The other purchases were two cream blushes in shade 001 and 002.  They both blend in nicely with my skin especially if they are blended together and then I have finally found a way to wear blush with out those lines of the 80s.

The problem I have is a very mixed colour complexion with a very pale base colour and then high pigmentation on the cheeks. So I found these products worked incredibly well with my complexion. I had heard of the brand before but never dared to try them, as I was weary of the hype as it was the label of one of the members of Girls Aloud. That said I an see me adding to my collection of these and probably via Fragrance Direct as they are hard to beat on prices

March Birchbox

So everything is runnng early this month Birchbox included. Although as it's theme is Mothers Day it is technically late. That said I am not complaining the contents as usual is great.

Inside we are treated to Laura Geller gel liner, which as I have yet to try a gel liner is rapidly onverting me as I have worn it every day since  To buy it is £24.50 retail but I am seriously considering this one .

There is Molton Brown Valbonnee Fragrance at £65. I don't get on with this at all but thats not to say it is a bad perfume, it just doesn't work for me.

Next was RMK Cleansing Balm. Now I have already stated how much I don't get on with rose frangranced products so my heart dropped when I saw this. But I did try it and I was overruled with the result. Although I still have an issue with the scent I cant deny the result and softness it left was at the supieror end of the market. Full size it is £29 but compared to the amount you require to use it will probably work out very economical.

La Sultane De Saba Body Lotion, was a surprise as the scent reminded me of the Tunisian markets I have visited and it didn't let the memories down. Containing argan oil is left my skin so soft and smelling so sensorous. the only down side is the strength of the smell it won't always work with other fragrances. To buy a full size bottle you are looking at £26.50 which I personally also think is a little steep.

Then we got Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream at £19.50 I am mixed on this one and to be honest the sample size didn't give me enough to test it fairly. It intially smells of tiger balm, but it left soft silky skin, however I am just not sure.

There was also two little extras a valentines tin of Lindor which is yummy and  a tester of Sanctuary themal spa which I have already reviewed, but always grateful for another freebie.

All in all a box of surprises, and I am overall happy with it. Anyone else got an opinion?

New Glossy Box

Now those who read these posts will know I am still mixed about Glossy Box. Last months was ok but the first one really let me down. So when I received this months box I opened with mixed feelings as if I was unimpressed I would be cancelling my subscription.

Its leaflet stated it was a city chic themed box, which does sound promising so now I opened the wrapping a bit faster. Inside for once I was elated with everything in the box, in fact it was so perfect that this box could have been designed just for me. The contents is as follows.

Nails Inc mini in Brunton Street, it is described as a dusty pink nude, personally I would say it was an ashes of roses colour, which is among my favourite colours.
Full size £11 and definitely on my to buy list

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour skin protector 7ml.  I have been dying to try this range as it is meant to be a beauty bible stable, I will let you know if it lives up to its hype.
£25 for full size glossy box subscribers get a free creme lip protector stick worth £20 if they spend £25

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Creme 15ml. I just love this cream as it seems to just lift my skin and make glow and feel so soft.
£43 for 50ml

Tresemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray 100ml. I have yet to find  hairspray that works on my hair so I will try this out after my big hair cut in the next month
Full Size £4.69

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush in cranberry Full size. I have loved this brand for years and it is nice to know that they are a cruelty free brand. They are usually quirky and cute and good quality. As I am new to lip stains I will happily try this out
£12 full size

So as you see it is quite a selection, Keep this up Glossy Box and I may forget why I thought about leaving you.

Confused now

Fair enough I have had the day from hell, involving one back injury (me) one fall causing ankle damage ( mum) and one husband back on the unemployed list due to work sudden cut backs. But none of this can explain the mess of my email.

You see as I said a post back I am now expecting something in the region of 10 deliveries, so I am reliant on Hermes tracker, ups tracker and a miracle regarding Royal Mail. Anyway thankfully my email now goes to my wonderful new phone which I swear is a PC in disguise. That aside I was wonderfully awoken in the early hours by hubby and I checked email, nothing on there about any deliveries being dispatched, so after replying to a few alerts and looking at the pursuing blizzard outside I opted for a duvet day.

Not an hour later was there  familiar bang on the door followed by a lunatic of my dog going mental. So out of my bed I fell and collected two unexpected parcels. Bleary eyed I realised one wasn't even on my list of due in for another week. Not that I am complaining as I always like my beauty boxes, but that is another post. But this is not the puzzle that came later.

Two hours later actually when I received an email saying my glossy box was due for dispatching. Well DUH! I was already in possession of such box.  Then an hour later I got another email saying my ASOS order had just left the warehouse and would be with me in 3 - 5 days. OK this is getting silly, I also had received that this morning. So when I got the third email stating my glossy box was now with my local delivery service, I was a bit fed up. So much so I turned on my PC to check the times on these emails were right and not my phone on time delay. However the phone was running right to time. So basically when I started further emails about other deliveries I am now just guessing when they will arrive or should they have already got here?

This circus will continue because I am due 3 deliveries tomorrow and one on Wednesday. Not mention 2 others are due by the end of the week. Apart from my local Hermes man hating me who wants to bet that none of the parcels arrive in the correct order?

OMG I have turned into a ..GIRL!

I have never been what you would call normal, nor for one second would I want to be. But I have always bucked the trends and idea of designer being better. Over the last few years I have gradually developed my own quirk on fashion and makeup. But even then it came and went as the mood took me. Since I have started to blog and really since that last big birthday I decided makeup might be a good idea as with skin care.

However something weird has happened in the last few weeks. I an only put it down to having time on my hands due to my illness and mums little glip in health. But thanks to the tax man being nice and returning the overpayment he owed me, I had the inclination to treat myself. However this little treat turned into a major shop that has ended up with 2 spring weight jumpers, a skirt, a top, some make up, a lot of body shop bath stuff, shorts and a Kandee set of bags and matching heels. Now I am not here to gloat, but thanks to a careful shop and the joys of the Internet I have to admit I have only spent less than a third of the labled price. Now this was majorily helped by Kandee having a flash 80% sale so the set of 2 bags and matching pair of heels cost less than the labled price of the shoes alone by 40%. But nothing was bought at full price and now I realise I have ended up with a core spring / summer wardrobed and enough bath products to last the year lol.

I have found that the internet has some major plus points not just because I can't  get up and about easily round endless shopping malls, but also for compairing prices. Not last month thanks to the net and a voucher I purchased 3 pairs of new look shoes for the price of one.  The only place that is suffering is the high street. For that I am sorry, but the lack of foresight towards less able customers is a major downfall, and the fact that once I have struggled there I find they haven't got what I want in my size and colour and I have to go to a different branch for it is pure madness.

Anyway it was only after this madness of shopping and my come down that it was pointed out to me there were no combats, baseball boots or other tomboy stuff in my purchases. Now this is most unusual especially as I have trashed yet another pair of combats this week alone. In fact there are defiant shades of pink in my purchases which has caused much laughter in my house when it was announced I have gone all girly. No I haven't gone to the dark side of every barbie pink and frightened to break a nail. But next time I am at a car event you may have to check under the ball cap to check for make up.

Besides as I told them here, I am having a radical hair changed booked next month and I want to try a look that will go with it.

Good ridance to Febuary

The unusul quietness of my blogging can only be put down to the lousy sinus infection that has been going round. There is little constructive that can be writen about the onstnt bleeding nose that alternates with headaches that make a person wish to smash their head against the wall. In fact the only relief I have found is when I am so overwhelmed by pain I have passed out.

That said after about two weeks of varying levels of hell I have managed to fit in a couple of things worth blogging about, which I will catch up on in the next few days. However I am hoping the weather will also changed with the change of month. I am sick to death of winter now. It is time for the spring to raise it's colours and fill the skys with a hint of sun minus, rain/sleet/snow take your pick.

Anyway be warned there will be a storm of posts in the next week or so.