Blogger Who?!

So, only I could start a blog and then neglect it for 7 months (covers face in shame!) I do not deserve blogger status, whatsoever, but I am going to redeem myself! Starting a new job, relationship hiccups, holidays and sadly, losing my dear Uncle got the better of me, but I am back and I am here to stay!

Sucker for Stationary

My posts have been incredibly quiet after starting my new job! I have thrown myself straight in and cannot get enough! The location, the people and obviously the role itself are amazing! I just had to share my cheeky lunchtime purchases with you! I am a complete sucker for stationary and couldn't believe these gorgeous notepads from TKmaxx at £4.99 each! So now all of my pretty ideas have a pretty notepad to go with them!

The New Girl

So this past week I have been pretty quiet with my posts but my reason for this is because I started my new job! My first week of being the new girl has been absolutely amazing and I have a feeling that this is the start of something really good! I am continuing with Product Development but this time in hair care. One of the highlights? My new location is Covent Garden, need I say more?! The atmosphere is amazing, not to mention the shopping, oh and did I mention I finish at 1pm on a Friday? Winning!

My new team are lovely, I couldn't ask for a nicer mix of people (age, gender etc.) everyone has been so welcoming which has put me 100% at ease! I have wasted no time in throwing myself into my projects along with endless induction meetings, I feel as though I have blinked and missed this whole week (not complaining at all!) Now that I am a city girl I commute by train, something everyone had made sound so negative, but it's not been too bad, the one thing my journey is missing is a good book, which will be purchased over the weekend!

The first day outfit choice was a big decision (when isn't outfit choice a big decisions?) and this office is a lot more formal than what I am used to, however, we do have dress down Fridays! I was unsure about footwear so opted for loafers, however, due to being 5ft 1" and the fact everyone else wears heels Monday-Thursday, I will be definitely joining the rest of them to save feeling and looking like a child. But after Tuesdays footwear choice resulting in major blisters, trainers will be my choice for my journey!

New Look Mixed Stripe blouse with pocket detail

£19.99

ASOS PETITE Trouser with High Waist
£15.00 was £22.00

Russel & Bromley Chester Tassle Loafer
£175.00

I felt this outfit looked smart but also edgy, I teamed it with my gold accessories and my red Hermes Birkin!

I am looking forward to sharing my new role with you all along with my Covent Garden adventures.

One door closes

So today I say Goodbye to my current job before starting a new chapter on Monday! Celebrations began yesterday with a farewell lunch and what else? Cocktails! We went to the good old pub for a combined hello/goodbye lunch as one of my college friends has just joined the team! I opted for Peri Peri Chicken with salad and red cabbage slaw, as I am trying to be as healthy as possible!

Celebrations continued last night as we headed to Be At One, Spitalfields for happy hour cocktails. 7 cocktails and a jagerbomb later I was having a whale of a time! As mentioned before daiquiris are my favourite cocktail EVER so you can image the look on my face when I found a page in the menu devoted to all the different flavour daiquiris they have to offer, passionfruit daiquri, if you haven't tried it yet then I am telling you put it on your bucket list (slight exaggeration!) George came to meet us before making his way home with a very tipsy girlfriend in tow.

After being here for almost 2 years I am feeling quite emosh with the goodbyes, particularly with my boss, who went above and beyond her call of duty whilst I was in a black hole of anxiety, I will forever be in debt to her and everything she done for me! I was so shocked when she presented me with 'The New Girl Survival Kit' full of everything I will need for my new role. I was even more overwhelmed when I was presented with a beautiful Kate Spade bracelet engraved inside saying 'Clean Slate'.

My "New Girl" Survival Kit

Although I am sad to leave a select few people behind, I could not be happier or more excited about my fresh start and all the exciting things ahead. 

Sugarhut Shenanigans

Friday night consisted of champagne, vodka and spag bowl in the comfort of my second home, Georges' house, an evening that sounded so relaxed equaled 3 people getting sick, pie in the face and shots of 70% rum! So, after finally recovering from the hangover from hell and a serious anxiety meltdown, I was due to join my friend Isabelle for a night out to celebrate her 21st.

My anxiety almost stopped me from missing out on girls night out that I was seriously in need of and I am so glad I didn't let it beat me. We had dinner at one of my fave restaurants, The Fat Turk Meze & Grill, Ongar. Turkish food is the gift from Gods as far as I am concerned. This was also my choice of restaurant for my birthday and Valentines!

Strawberry daiquiri was my choice of beverage, of course along endless skittle vodka shots. It wouldn't have been a celebration without some pink vodka clearly! 4 of us then made our way to the most Essex of them all nightclubs, Sugar Hut, Brentwood. We danced until our tootsies seriously couldn't take anymore which was difficult because the music was incredible. There were such a mixed bunch of people, ages, accents etc. and it was a real eye opener on how men approach women on a night our, I swear, a man barked in my face?! When did it become acceptable for a man to bark in a women's face, shortly after, myself and Isabelle were patted on the head, another move I cannot say I have seen in action before! It got to the end of the night and then there were 3 before making our way home and there is no better way to finish a night out than by having a heart to heart with you Mum until 4am!

I adored my outfit choice which was a black, plunge halter neck dress with lace detail. Plunge isn't usually my sort of thing, but I was clearly feeling daring! The dress was from Rare and a steal at £49.00 (find it here). I paired it with black Christian Louboutin shoes and my caviar Chanel handbag and finished it with my Christian Louboutin satin rouge lipstick. 

Take a look at my next post devoted to Saturday night's make up look.

Weekend War Paint

When I had this blog in mind, once thing I did want to focus on was my passion for make up, however, 1 - I do not have the confidence to post pictures of my face and 2 - I haven't quite got a good enough camera to take the pictures well enough... yet! SO for now I will write about the products I LOVE and swatch some of my fave's.

My make up look for Saturday night mainly consisted of my new purchases from NYC 

FACE

MAC PRO LONG WEAR NOURISHING WATERPROOF FOUNDATION - NC25

MAC PRO LONGWEAR CONCEALER - NC20

MAC BLOT POWDER - MEDIUM/DARK

FAKE BAKE AIRBRUSH INSTANT

BARE MINERALS STROKE OF LIGHT CONCEALER - LUMINOUS O2

SLEEK MAKEUP FACE CONTOUR KIT - LIGHT

The above 3 products have become my go-to for my base. I suffer with really oily skin and must have tried every foundation on the market! However, being as I work in the cosmetic industry we are sampling products all the time, so it was fluke that I happened to try MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation and I have never looked back! It is the only foundation I have ever used that doesn't need touching up throughout the day. The finish is the perfect balance of being matte enough without looking powdery (my pet hate!) and being dewy enough without a super shiny t-zone. The amount I tend to need is about the size of a 5p using either my Beauty Blender or the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I hate feeling like I have a lot of make up on and feel this gives enough coverage without feeling cake on.

I didn't get much from my Grandad, but the things that I did inherit were short leg, chunky thighs and dark circles under my eyes, which I thank him for every day (NOT!) therefore a good concealer is crucial for me. I have revently started using the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer and at the moment I am really enjoying this product, it is easy to blend, good coverage and doesn't crease under my eyes. 

Lastly, my Mac Blot Powder, this product is a heaven sent and I cannot thank my colleague Olivia enough for recommending it to me! A good powder is just as, if not, more important than a good foundation as this is what sets your foundation and ensures that your make up is staying put. I use this product all over my face and would recommend it to anybody with oily skin or an oily t-zone.

I do like to tan up when I have an event, not just being I am from Essex but also because my skin tone replicates that of Snow Whites! I often get spray tans, but another fave of mine is Rimmel Sun Shimmer Light Matte. When my body is bronzed I have to ensure my face matches the rest of me so I spritz on my Fake Bake Airbrush Instant. It's not easy to find a tan for my face that doesn't give me a breakout so I found this is perfect as its a light airbrush.

My final step in creating my base is my contour, I do like a bit of contour! I have recently purchased the Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Concealer after watching a tutorial on YouTube, I have only used it a couple of times and have found it really does brighten the eyes, I also use it for the bridge of my nose, my forehead and cupids bow.

Lastly, my Sleek MakeUp Contour Kit this is one of my favorite products EVER for those of you who don't know its a duo product with a matte contour powder and a shimmer highlighter. This is perfect for contour you cheeks, nose, forehead and under your chin. To contour the hollows of my cheeks I use the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush from there Sculpting Collection, using my Real Techniques Setting Brush contour my forehead and under my chin. Once I am all contoured up, I take my setting brush and highlight above and below the hollows of my cheeks, my brow bone, the bridge of my nose and my forehead.

EYES

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE 

MAC - AMBER LIGHTS 

BENEFIT LUST DUSTER - NUGGET

BENEFIT BAD GAL EYELINER

TOO FACED BETTER THAN SEX MASCARA

EYLURE TEXTURE LASHES - No 117

DUO LASH GLUE

I began my look by using MAC Amber Lights in the middle to the outer corner of my eyes as this colour really suits blue eyes and I felt it would make them pop. I also blended this out slightly on into the crease. Then using my favorite brown smokey eye colour, Urban Decay Dark Horse, I put this into my crease and blended it out slightly onto my brow bone. I sometimes add another layer if I am going for a dramatic look. I then add Urban Decay Sidecar to the rest of my lid as it really brightens the look. Using the flat eye brush included in with my Naked Palette I use use both the shades to do a thin line under my lower lashes.

I then take my Benefit Lust Duster and pop it in the inner corners of my eyes to make them look really open a bright, I sometimes add this to my brow bone for a little extra highlight. Lastly, using the other end of my Naked brush I take a little bit of Urban Decay Sin and ensure everything is blended within my crease and brow bone, I feel this is a really effective transition colour! I then apply a layer of liner Benefit Bad Gal in the water line of both my upper and lower lashes. 

I always LOVE lashes not just for a night out, even for a daytime look! I often have LVL lash treatments which makes my eyes pop for daytime but for a night out I am usually a fan of MAC 35 lash but recently I have been loving Eyelure Texture Lashes No 117 they are perfect for a glamorous look but I have also used them during the day to perfect a more natural shadow. I apply this with my Base Duo glue and then ensure they are stuck and look as natural as possible with a couple of layers of Too Faced Better than Sex mascara on my upper and lower lashes.

CHEEKS

MAC BRONZING POWDER - REFINED GOLDEN
NARS BLUSH - TORRID

To finish off I add some MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder on my cheeks, this is a new product of mine but I really like the slight shimmer that it leaves. I have also been a big NARS Laguna fan but since using this it has converted me. Then to finish I add NARS Torrid onto the apples of my cheeks, although I like to be very bronzed, I think a pink blush can finish any look really nicely, I must say, I favor Torrid over Orgasm as it is a more subtle shimmer.

FINISHING TOUCHES

MAC PREP + PRIME FIX +
LANOLIPS GOLDEN OINTMENT

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LIP STICK - SATIN ROUGE

The final touches were a spritz of my MAC Prep + Prime Fix +, another new member of my make up family that I am thrilled with. My makeup has been staying put all day and night! I am yet to use it pre-foundation as a primer and will be sure to let you know on my thoughts. Unfortunately, I suffer with really dry lips so depend on my lovely Lanolips Golden Ointment to ensure they are smooth and moisturized before applying lipstick. My lipstick choice for Saturday night was so difficult as I have quite a collection, but it has to be none other than my Christian Louboutin Satin Rouge.

There you have my Saturday Night Slap as mentioned I will start swatching my favorite products for you to see in the flesh. I will also post some of my make up tips and tricks!

Mother's Day