AW12 Trend - The Midi Skirt

Its been around for a few seasons now but this Autumn I have finally discovered The Midi! By The Midi I'm of course talking about to the super-flattering calf-skimming skirts that have pervaded both the catwalk and the High Street! The Midi comes in lots of shapes and styles - floaty and feminine, pleated, A-line or my personal favourite, the pencil skirt!

The Midi, http://www.asos.com/Women/Skirts/Midi-Skirts/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=12906

The Midi is super versatile! Dress it up with heels or down with ballet flats. They're cute with bodies and crop tops and look fantastic with this season's other big trend, The Peplum!

Pull-on dogtooth check pencil skirt, Primark, £11 | Pull-on textured pencil skirt, Topshop £20

Pull-on green flock spot pencil skirt, ASOS, £20

 My favourite way to wear The Midi is with a cropped tee or bralet, bare legs, chunky socks and my lovely Topshop ankle boots! Autumn chic!

I'd love to hear about your favourite seasonal trends!

Xx

Review - New Boots Botanics

A few weeks ago I had some time to kill while waiting to meet my lovely friend Ciara and so decided on an aimless browse around Boots, something I frequently find myself doing! On my amble around the enormous Newcastle store (I think I burned at least a 100 calories on my mooch!) I stumbled across the recently revamped Botanics range.

Botanics has been around since 1995 and to be honest its never really been on my radar, but when I heard that the range had had a makeover, with a little help from leading plant scientists at the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew I thought it was worth a little investigation!

On first glance the new Botanics range doesn't look like anything to shout about. The packaging is pretty average (although it is sustainably produced) however the products inside have definite appeal...at least for  me! Botanics ethos is to "combine natural ingredients with scientific formulations to create effective skin care products" - many of the products in the new range are 100% Organic and all formulations are now SLS, SLES and paraben-free! And after all, who wants to put nasty chemicals on their skin! Not only that, those clever scientists at The Royal Botanic Gardens make sure that each formulation contains enough of each active plant extract to actually work!!

 I bought two products from the range to trial, the All Bright Refreshing Eye Roll-On with Hibiscus and the Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask with Willowbark. 

Like lots of people I have dark, shadowy under-eye pigmentation and while I love my Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair, at £14.25 for a 10ml tube, it is a little on the pricey side. So I've been on the hunt for a new eye product for a while now! After the ladies at Pixiwoo.com recommended Clinque's latest eye roll-on I must admit I was tempted but again, its not cheap. So when I spotted this product from the Botanics range I thought it was worth a try. Like lots of eye products on the market, including Clinque's latest innovation, this little baby has a cooling roller-ball which massages the refreshing gel into the delicate under-eye area (that's the theory anyway) however I must admit to some gentle patting to help things along! The gel formulation is definitely cooling and refreshing and, importantly (for me at least) doesn't impact on the application of make up! However, I'm sad to say I didn't see a noticeable reduction in my dark circles, despite using the product in the morning and before bed! If you're after something light and refreshing this could be for you but if you need a little more help in the under-eye department then look elsewhere! For me, its back to the Liz Earle!

I'm glad to say that my second purchase, the Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask was far more successful! There are hundreds of clay-based masks on the market, ranging from the super-cheap to the insanely expensive and pretty much all of them promise to rid us of those pesky blocked pores and blackheads. I've been suffering from blackheads since I was in my teens, so I've tried and tested lots of masks and only one has ever come close to actually working - Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask! Unfortunately at £20 for 100ml, its a bit on the pricey side! Thankfully, this Botanics mask shares a lot of the qualities I loved in the Orgins product - to start with, it works! Like most clay masks, this product is a pretty unattractive grey sludge, its very liquid and needs a good shake before use. Despite being very runny, the mask is super easy to apply, is fragrance free and even a thick layer dries in about ten minutes. Its equally easy to wash off and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry, just clean, fresh and de-congested! At only £4.99 for 100ml this is a bargain product but it still manages to feel pampering and luxurious! Definitely one to re-purchase!

Overall I'm pretty impressed with the re-vamped Botanics range! I love their ethos, the use of organic ingredients and the price tag! Admittedly the All Bright Eye Roll-On was a little disappointing but the Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask more than made up for it! Next on my list to try, this 100% Organic Facial Oil with Rosehip! Watch this space!

Boots Botanics range is available in all Boots stores and online at http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics/

Xx

Things that go bump in the night: American Horror Story

Happy (slightly belated) Halloween! I hope everyone has had a spooktacular week...sorry, I couldn't resist that one! Not only did this week see the joyous annual Halloween fancy-dress-fest, my favourite TV show of the moment (sorry Homeland) was also back with a second series. American Horror Story: Asylum is the follow up to last year's American Horror Story, created and produced by the brains behind Glee, Ryan Murphy. However if you're after a little tooth-achingly sweet highschool musical drama then AHS is definitely not the show for you...buuut...if you're a fan of a good old-fashioned ghost story or a little Gothic Horror then read on!

Season One of AHS is set in present day and follows the Harmon Family: Psychiatrist Ben, his wife Vivien and their teenage daughter Violet who move into a restored LA mansion only to find that, horror of horrors, their new home holds some bloody secrets and worse, is haunted by the ghosts of its former inhabitants. While not for the faint-hearted, American Horror Story is full of unexpected twists, turns and terrors!

Season two, otherwise known as American Horror Story: Asylum is a complete departure from season one, at least in terms of storyline and location! Scares still abound as the terror is transported to, you guessed it, an asylum for the criminally insane. The drama swings between 1964, when Briarcliff Mental Institution is home to, amongst others, serial killer Bloody Face and is governed by some seriously creepy nuns, and present day, when the asylum is deserted...at least by the living! If episode one is anything to go by, American Horror Story: Asylum promises to be just as fantastically spooky as the original series!

If that hasn't got you hiding behind the sofa already these little sneaky peaks definitely will...

American Horror Story Season One is available to buy and download.

American Horror Story: Asylum airs in the UK on Tuesday at 10pm on FX.

Xx

Creepy Costumes and Crazy Pumpkins: Halloween Party

Last night my lovely friend Amy-Lea through a fantastic Halloween party! As the pennies are always a little tight on the run up to Christmas, the theme was 'budget', but that didn't stop everyone going all out with their costumes, or Miss Amy and her flatmates getting into the creepy swing of things with some spooky decorations!

 Amy-Lea and I as a Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull and the Black Dahlia...

 Tom and Ben as Luigi and Die Hard's John McClane...

Hope everyone who's celebrating All Hallow's Eve this year has an amazing time!

Xx

North East - Krispy Kreme, Sunderland

Krispy Kreme opened its doors in Sunderland this Tuesday and today I gave in to my sweet tooth and went to check it out! The store is pretty compact and bijou, with only a few tables inside, there are a few extra seating on The Bridges concourse opposite the store.  Most of the space in the American-dinner style store is taken up by a counter jam packed with yummy, if calorific doughnuts! There were around ten varieties available on my visit, ranging from an Original Glazed to the more gourmet White Chocolate and Pistachio Noughat, price at around £1.75 each. Doughnuts can be bought individually or by the dozen. After much deliberation I opted for a Lemon Meringue Pie for Mama C, a Salted Caramel for my Pa and on the recommendation of my very sweet-toothed friend Ol,  a Chocolate Fudge Praline pour moi. Delicious!

Brocade Shorts, Beautiful Lipsticks and Blakes Coffee House, Newcastle.

Do you ever have those days when you have nothing much to do but doing nothing seems like waste? I do and on such days I invariably end up shopping, its sort of my default activity. Yesterday was just such a day and so I decided on a trip to Newcastle for a little cheeky shopping with my lovely friend Amy-Lea. Here are a few of the things I treated myself to,one day I'll learn just to browse...

I'm in love with this seasons trend for all things Gothic and glam and so when I spotted these gorgeous high-waisted brocade shorts in Topshop I couldn't resist! The party season is very nearly upon us after all! Brocade Shorts, £30, Topshop.

I've had my eye on MAC's lipstick in Rebel for a while now, ever since I saw the lovely YouTube Beauty Guru Tanya Burr sporting it in one of her Monthly Favourites videos (did I mention I love her!) Although not for the faint hearted, Rebel is the perfect grown-up, berry-red Autumn/Winter colour! Rebel Satin Finish Lipstick, £14, MAC Cosmetics.

Spending money really take it out of you and so Miss Amy and I headed to Blakes Coffee House on Grey Street for a little post-shopping Afternoon tea. Although Amy had been before, this was my first visit to Blakes. This little coffee house with its miss-matched chairs and tables has bags of rustic charm, although in my opinion a few squashy sofas or armchairs would add to the cosy factor! Blakes has a lovely selection of what looked like home-made sandwiches, quiches and cakes and an extensive breakfast menu served till 2pm, I've been reliably informed by Amy-Lea that the American Pancakes, Bacon and Maple Syrup is out of this world! They also have a great range of coffee and loose-leaf teas, always a winner in my book! I opted for a pot of Earl Grey and a Toasted Teacake, which came to just less than £5. Definitely one to add to my list of Newcastle haunts! Find Blakes Coffee House at 53 Grey Street,  Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 6EE.

Xx

North East - Scotch Eggs & Second-Hand Furs: Mrs Mustard and Ding Dong Vintage, Durham

Today I managed to persuade Mama C to take a break from her mountain of work and join me for a late lunch and some browsing in Durham. Neither of us had visited the city for a while and we were initially disappointed to see that one of our favourite lunchtime eateries, Hide, had disappeared. Our disappointed was short-lived however as Mrs Mustard, the self-styled 'totally scrumptious food emporium' now occupying the prime spot on Saddler Street, proved the perfect place for ladies that lunch!

The decor at Mrs Mustard has a lovely run-down, antique feel and although it was quiet as we were rather late, there was still a cosy, welcoming atmosphere. The lunch menu offers a selection of small and large plates, Mama C and I opted for two small plates priced at £5 each, plus a side of Hand-Cut Chips (£3), perfect for sharing!

Both dishes we had were simple, British fair with a twist and used fantastic, fresh ingredients. The Black Pudding and Garlic Portobello Mushrooms on Toast were delicious, particularly with the addition of Mrs Mustard's home-made Mulled Wine Mustard and the Smoked Trout Scotch Egg and Tartar Sauce was honestly out of this world, made even better when accompanied by Tarragon and Mascarpone Mustard!

  We rounded off a yummy lunch with a Kahlua Baked Custard with Dates and Caramelised Sugar to share...who knew you could improve on Creme Brulee!

 After our lovely lunch Mama C took me to her latest discovery, Ding Dong Vintage at The Gates. If you're a vintage lover like me then this place is heaven! An Aladdin's cave of vintage clothes, accessories, jewellery,  shoes and knick knacks Ding Dong Vintage has an overwhelming array of retro goodies! I fell in love with their fabulous selection of vintage furs and am now saving the pennies for a Champagne coloured Mink fur bolero...I didn't take a picture because I don't want anyone to steal it away!

For more info about Mrs Mustard visit http://www.mrsmustard.co.uk/

Xx 

North East - Lazin' On A Sunny Afternoon - Tynemouth

It was such a gorgeous day here in the North East yesterday that I decided lounging around the house (my usual Sunday MO) was just not an option! I've been wanting to visit Tynemouth Market for weeks and with all the lovely autumn sunshine, yesterday seemed like the perfect time for a trip to the seaside!

This was my first visit to Tynemouth and I wasn't disappointed! Located at the mouth of the river Tyne (obviously) and about 6 miles from Newcastle city centre, Tynemouth is small but perfectly formed!

Dominated by the 11th century Priory and Castle, Tynemouth is full of lovely little bars and cafes and offers some unique shopping, 'Raspberry Bazaar' is an Aladdin's cave of kitsch worth checking out! If kitsch is your thing then the weekly weekend market at Tynemouth Station is definitely for you! With a mix of stalls from vintage clothing, arts and crafts to car boot and food and drink, there's a bargain for everyone! Although tempted by a vintage mink fur stole I managed to limit myself to a stick of Sarsaparilla - my favourite!

For more info about Tynemouth Market visit http://www.tynemouthmarkets.com/market-info/

For info about Raspberry Bazaar visit http://www.razzberrybazaar.co.uk/

Xx

Dip Dye Hair Tutorial

Dip Dyes (sometimes known as Tip Dyes) were a big trend for Spring/Summer 2012 and with Autumn upon us they don't show any signs of going away!

This is good news for me because I love my pink hair but I know from experience that mastering the Dip Dye and making it last can be a little tricky! I'll admit now that I don't usually Dip Dye my hair myself! Instead I leave it to my lovely hairdresser Lisa, but over the months I've been sporting this look I've picked up a few tips and tricks that I thought I'd share with you!

To begin with you'll need...

A hairbrush, rat-tail comb, tinting brush, hair clips, tin foil, some old towels and the dye of your choice, I like La Riche Directions Semi-Permanent hair dye! They have a fantastic range of colours (below) and they contain no ammonia or any other harsh chemicals.

 Each pot of directions hair dye has instructions printed on them - ignore them! Trust me, they don't work! Instead begin by giving your dry hair a good brush (it doesn't matter whether your hair is clean or dirty), then clip up any hair you don't want to dye (fringe/bangs etc.) and section your hair into to layers (around your head.)

 Before you begin dying make sure to cover the area where you're sitting with an old towel as the dyes can stain, a towel around your shoulders is also a good idea! Take a small-ish section of hair and a piece of tin foil roughly 6"x 6.5" in size, I like to use a pin-curling clip to hold the hair and foil together.

 Using a tinting brush, apply a generous amount of dye to the ends of the hair, I usually take the dye about 2" up. Fold the excess foil over the hair, making sure you make a well-sealed little packet. Repeat on the rest of your hair. Remember - if you have layers cut into your hair, you need to decide whether or not to dye your layers. If you'd rather not, you need to keep these layers clipped up.

Once you've finished applying the dye and you're rocking the roast chicken look, its time for my first insider tip - Using a hairdryer, heat the tin foil packets for a minute or so to help the dye get going. Tip number two - Leave the dye on your hair for at least two hours! The Directions instructions recommend leaving the dye on for 20 minutes but believe me this is no where near long enough and the colour will wash out in a few days! As I mentioned above, Directions dyes have no harsh chemicals so there's no problem leaving the dye on for a couple of hours or longer. Tip number three - Use your hairdryer to heat the foil packets ever half and hour or so to help the dye along! When you're ready to wash off the dye take care to use cool water and do not apply shampoo directly to the ends of your hair! Instead just shampoo the roots and crown of your head and let the shampoo wash down through your hair (you should continue to wash your hair like this between dyes)

Tip number four - Dip dying can make your hair dry so invest in a good conditioner! I like Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Treatment and Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner, I also treat my hair to a Vo5 Hot Oil Treatment once a week. Finally - Blue-based dyes like the Lavender colour pictured here don't take so well as the red or yellow-based dyes so you will need to re-apply more frequently. I've tried both Flamingo (seen in the first, very posey photograph of yours truly) and Carnation Pink and can get a good 4-5 weeks out of my Dip Dye, bearing in mind that my hair is bleached. If you have darker hair, Directions do a range of pre-lightening kits!

And that's it! While I'm definitely not a beauty guru, I hope my little tips and tricks will help you to achieve a lovely, long-lasting dip dye! I'm loving experimenting with different colours! Dark Tulip is next on the agenda, a lovely deep purple/red, perfect for Autumn/Winter!

For Directions stockists visit http://www.lariche.co.uk/distributors

Stargazer also do a good range of dyes http://www.stargazer-products.com/category/?id=1

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