Black Friday

Well it's Christmas Eve Eve and it's the infamous black Friday or Mad Friday whichever you want to go with. I was in work till 9pm but still managed to squeeze in a bit of spending this morning with the cleverly marketed 'VIP' Next sale slot (which everyone on my Facebook appeared to have!) that I was booked in for at 7am. The crazy thing is I managed to rack up about £300 on 'bargains' but I can't even remember what I've bought. *mental note to self: New years resolution number 1- stop buying everything with a sale tag on! So, that being said I'm not hitting the town as I'll be far too tired and far too broke. To everyone who is having a few Christmas tipples... Have fun and be safe, cheers!

Did anyone else grab some bargains today in the sales?

Jen xoxo

Lulu Guiness Anna Bow Bag

Look at my lovely new bag! I already have it in black but I heart it so much I've purchased it in stone (just red and purple to collect!)
It's in patent leather with a chain strap and bow detailing. The strap can be worn doubled up as a shoulder bag or as a long strap and although it's small in size it fits a lot in it.



It has the signature 'lips' lining and dust bag... Isn't she a beauty?




Jen xoxo

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Wine-o-clock Nails

My nail varnish reminds me of two of my favourite things this week 1. Christmas and 2. WINE, it's been on for a week so please excuse the chips :-/

It's velvet bow by China Glaze with
Seche Vite overlay. It's a very dark crimson colour which is not really my cup of tea but it's growing on me and feels quite sophisticated.

Jen xoxo

iPad!!!!!

Yay! The hub and I have a new addition to the family... Our shiny IPad 2! We've decided to go a little light on the gift giving this year as we have spent a fair few pounds on the kitchen (ahem and on beauty buys!) so it was our joint gift to each other.
I recently got the new iPhone 4S and have been driving everyone mad with my conversations with SIRI... Will it snow tomorrow? Etc, so I gave my hub my old iPhone and bless he is made up with it and has discovered the addiction of twitter!





In order to protect my new baby, I attacked Selfridges with gusto and bought this fab Marc Jacobs case to keep it warm :-) it cost £45. It's extra padded and squishy for protection in a simple black colour to avoid mucky finger marks.

Jen xoxo



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Feeling Festive... Yankee Candles

Christmas is only a few days away and I am definitely feeling very festive, my kitchen is complete, all my presents are wrapped and I have treated myself to a few cheeky early Christmas gifts!
I adore Yankee Candles, I could literally harp on about them forever with their gorgeous scent, super long burning times and fabulous packaging... You could say I was a fan!
Well move over clean cotton, baby powder and sparkling lemonade (some of Yankee's fragrances) I'm bringing out the Christmas spirit with this festive swirl collection, I bought a set of three large jar candles that burn for upto a whopping 50 hours each...



Peppermint swirl- a combo of cranberry peppermint & jack frost
Mrs Claus' Cookie- a delicious helping of Christmas Eve & Christmas Cookie
Holiday Welcome- a pairing of home for the holidays with balsam & Cedar

They smell divine in the different rooms of my home and create a lovely warming atmosphere, Merry Christmas to me :0)

Jen xoxo

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy hands :-)

On the theme of winter blogs today I have another little extra saviour for the cold months ahead and that is my mini L'Occitane hand cream tubes. In this weather my hands can become dry so these tubes are perfect for popping in my bag.

They contain shea butter which is wonderfully moisturising and they smell divine. What I also think is cute is the old Victorian-esqe packaging, on the interior design perspective they look fab on the dresser!

Cooling hand cream gel with organic verbena extract and Fleurs se ceriser cherry blossom hand cream

Jen xoxo

French Fancy!

I picked up these two jumper's in H&M for some new warmies for work, the added bonus is that they were in the sale! I'm loving the 'Au Revoir' one, I think I may go all French and wear my beret with it :-)

Jen xoxo

Stepping into Winter

I'm really starting to feel the chill now, so much so the heating is on full temp and my slanket has made its way out of the cupboard and onto the couch. With winter comes winter clothes, so here are my three must have pairs of winter boots for the cold months ahead...

I know that I'll be wearing these three pairs of boots all through winter as they are comfy, warm and go with pretty much everything..

I heart my Michael Kors wellies!

 I bought these in Vegas and I love them, they are shorter than most wellies so are great for my chunky calf's. I'll be donning these in the snow and for walking Bruno in the park. Whilst I like the classic look of the must have Hunter wellies, I'm all about the funky wellies and would love a pair of bee's or frog's like what kids have, hee hee.

My new Emu's! *I got staff discount on these beauties

Knee length Rider boots.

These boots I got from Next and are really comfy and go with all kinds of looks. I bought them in the wider fit as I generally have trouble getting boots to fit my calf's as I have chunky muscles from doing boxing/thaiboxing from when I was younger. On the plus side they easily fit, on the negative they are that big I can pull them on and off... I can't really win, so I wear them over jeans or chunky tights. Either way they were a bargain and I'veworn them loads already.

Which are your must have winter boots?

Jen xoxo

Bruno in his dingy!

Just a quick one from Bruno... getting cosy in his doggy doughnut bed, how cute is he?

A couple of weeks ago we had a day out at the lake as the weather was lovely, Bruno decided to take a dip and annoy the fishermen and ducks. Unfortunately, he stepped on some glass on our way home and cut his pad :( I felt really guilty, but luckily for Bruno his mum did some doggy first aid on him and he is now all fully recovered!

Jen & Bruno xoxo

Microwave Meal skin!

My skin has been really bad lately what with lack of sleep and a diet of high salt content microwave meals, so in an attempt to nurse it back to fresh faced health I have embarked on an Elemis detox!

I have always had a love affair with my Elemis products but I'm always chopping and changing my routine. Currently I'm using the Balancing Lime Blossom cleanser & toner and using my favourite moisturiser Pro-Collagen Marine cream (and night cream) twice daily. Two or three times a week I'm using skin buff and fruit rejuvenating skin mask and I am really starting to see an improvement in my skin tone, it feels fresh, bright and smells fabulous! My secret ingredient to this detox has been drinking plenty of water and  Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules...

 

These capsules have really given my previously dull skin that extra boost, leaving it looking revitalised. They contain pure Moringa Oil which is said to have anti-ageing properties to renew the skins elasticity and youthfulness. The key part for me is the anti-oxidants which counter-act signs of pollution (all the demolition going on in my house!) and ridding skin cells of toxins (cue the microwave meals!).

One pink cap is used in the morning and the green at night, the top twists off to reveal just the right amount of the essential oil to be massaged into the skin. My face has never looked so fresh!

 Jen xoxo

Building site blogging!

I am currently blogging in a building site... this building site is called home. You may have noticed a serious drought in my recent blogs, I've been pretty hectic and rather than state this in words I thought that I would display it in pictures...

The original tiny kitchen!

Kitchen removed and wall knocked down!

Bomb site

Bricking up the back door

False wall and electrics go in...

Other side of the wall!

Getting plastered (non-alcohol variety)

Parts of the new kitchen delivered.. yay!

My little nephew Finley checking out the larder cabinet :-)

Starting to take shape

Looking forward to not washing the dishes in the bath!!

Cooker in

Ice cube lights

Sneaky extra... me having a go at tiling the floor!! *pat's back*

So... this is were we are currently up to, hopefully by the end of this week we will be fully functional (it's been 6 long weeks!) My skin is terrible from eating non-stop microwave meals and serious lack of sleep, so I've embarked on a new skin care regime and will soon be cooking up some healthy dishes in my new kitchen!!

                                                 Jen xoxo

Bath Time! Philosophy Hazelnut Espresso shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath

Mmmm Mmmm Mmm... had to share this most gorgeous bath product with you! Philosophy is a brand that I really love, their products are fun with cute little recipes and definitions on the bottles (a little light reading in the tub!) and they have unique scents that smell absolutely divine!!

Today's amazingness comes in the form of HAZELNUT ESPRESSO high-foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath. It has such a yummy smell to it that is rich and velvety, It kind of reminds me of a Starbucks caramel latte! However its not too coffee-ish (a phrase I obviously just made up, but seems fitting) it could also be mistaken for chocolate, either way its G-o-rgeous.
I only ever use these mammoth bottles as bubble bath, as they seem rather rich for the other aforementioned uses but this is just personal preference. They do create a just the right amount of bubbles in the bath and I have found that although the fragrance is strong the product is still kind on the skin.

Anyhow that's my quick little summary, I'm off to run myself a lovely latte bath good enough to sip :)

Jen xoxo

Cineworld Unlimited Card

I have been missing in action lately, largely due to the fact that my lovely hubster bought us both Cineworld unlimited passes and we have been glued to the little seats at our local cinema ever since, watching all the latest movies!
We are both total movie buffs (my degree covered Film and Cinematography) and will literally watch anything, so the idea of being a movie VIP appealed to us.
The membership costs £14.99 per month (not the West End) and you can watch as much as you like, whenever you like. The only draw backs so far, you cannot book online or more than one day in advance (some movies will be booked out before screening, i.e Twilight, Harry Potter etc). It's an extra £1.50 each to see the movie in 3D (80p for dodgy specs), and obviously you can only use it at Cineworld.
These are not really big issues for me, as I prefer to wait till the hysteria of a movie has subsided a little as I don't want lots of noisy nibblers around me.
So far I have watched 4 movies in my first 7 days, with adult tickets costing £7.50 each, I have well had my monies worth!
This is what I went to watch;
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 in 3D- Loved the whole Potter franchise, brilliant finale 5/5
Bridesmaids- Genius comedy, hysterical 5/5
Zoo Keeper- All round family entertainment, cute talking animals 4/5
Horrible Bosses- Very funny, Jennifer Aniston plays a great role 3/5

We forgot to use this code at the checkout SUMMER27 but if you do, then you get the first month for free!

Were going to see Captain America tomorrow, which is not something I would have picked but that's the great thing, I don't have to pay and I may just really enjoy it... if I don't, I can always leave half way through!

Jen xoxo

Mini MAC Haul

 My latest little splurge at MAC was on the small side but still rather successful. I took a quick look at the Semi Precious collection which I found was really pretty and 'grown up', but the only thing that really wow'd me were their new split fibre brushes.

I picked up the 128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush (RRP £24.00)

It's a combination of both synthetic and natural fibres, which is super soft for application of blush with a natural blended look. I heart it already as it will be fab for travel as its like two amazing brushes in one!

My next item was a perfect match to my gorgeous new brush... Powder blush in 'Fleur Power' (RRP £17.00) 

I opted against a pro palette pan refill as I wanted an everyday blush to chuck into a small make-up bag for on-the-go application just for myself. The assistant in store was really helpful and suggested this shade for me and I was pleased with the colour pay off as sometimes I struggle to get a nice shade for my skin tone.

Lookin' flush!

One of my biggest regrets on my wedding day was not having this next item in my pearl clutch! No matter what oil/shine free products or powders I use I always end up with a big shiny face and it REALLY bugs me. I picked up these blot film sheets (RRP £10.50) They are super sized an you get 30 in the pack. If I didn't get discount I'm not sure I would have initially paid £10.50 for them, however I have found them pretty amazing so they were worth every penny. I think I'll buy a range of blotting sheets and do a little comparison for a future blog, perhaps I'll find a cheaper alternative.

OIL BE GONE!!

My final product is new from the 'Sized to go' collection and is sooo cute...

Pro eye make up remover in a handy 30ml travel size container (RRP £7.00), ready to chuck in my make-up bag or take on board a flight. They have also created lots of other mini's of your favourite MAC skincare products including Fix+, Cleanse off oil, Demi wipes, Strobe cream and Oil control lotion. They are really convenient in a hurry and also so you can trial them before you commit to a full size and get stuck with a product that you don't like or causes a break out. I asked in store and was also told that these items count in their Back2Mac scheme, which is extra good news!! On a value rating however you are losing out as a 100ml size of this item is £13.50 so that's a loss of  approx. 40mls of product to £s, if you are into saving cash you could always purchase the larger bottle (if you love the product!) and de-canter into a smaller bottle. Personally I like the convenience and I will save my mini bottle when I'm done as it will be labelled for future use. I think I'll be picking up the Fix+ next time as it's always a pain taking the full size on holiday or to festivals.

What do you think of the new collections, are you loving or loathing?

Jen xoxo

 nkkl

for excetional B lush application, this split fibre brush delivers a soft, diffused look with its unique combination of natural & synthetic fibers.

The Next Summer Sale

This weekend has been a little bit of a wash out with the weather, which unfortunately (for my husband) lends itself to idle thumbs in need to keep themselves busy...obviously in the form of my favourite past time SHOPPING! For some unknown crazy reason I decided to humour my sister-in-law and drag myself out of bed at 4am to join her and the mass hysteria called The Next Sale.

I could not believe my eyes when I saw that other 'crazy' people had also awoken from their slumber for this spectacle, consequently creating a que to the front door as long as my bank statement. Whilst I do not wish to experience such a traumatic morning again for a long time, I was really pleased with some of the bargains I picked up for our home and a few little treats for the hubby and myself.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE  PURCHASES

How cute is this cushion? It's for Bruno!

Some 'everyday' tops

Yes! I fought off the under my legs lady for these sets.  Jen 1  Leg lady 0 

 

£12, Great as it charges my phone too!

I thought this was really sweet, nice to open the door to!

Some of the other happy shoppers *cough, cough* present that morning were running around the store like they were on an episode of supermarket sweep, which was quite funny to witness. At one point a woman actually crawled under my legs to nab herself a double duvet set, at which point I started to crack. The poor husbands that had been dragged out as bag carrying mules had strategically placed themselves on the half price sofas in the home department surrounded by swag, whilst their other halves ransacked the underwear rail and children's section. The word 'SALE' to me is a double edged sword, beautiful items at half the price but at the cost of crazy people stalking your purchases to try and take them from you. So, in conclusion to this subject, if you want to grab a bargain you've got to be prepared to get your hands dirty, and the early bird gets the best bedding!

NOTE: I also had a VIP online slot booked in on Wednesday and was really dissapointed as the site kept crashing/kicking me off, I did manage to still spend a small fortune but its nice to come home from work each day to different little parcels :) 

Jen xoxo

Outfit of the day!

This is what I wore on Sunday to a Christening (Congrat's Mason James!) 

For the first time ever I wore clip in hair extensions that I bought from Sally's, They didn't add much length as my hair is quite long and thick but I was just having a little trial.

Look at Bruno trying to stop me going out, little monkey!

The weather on Sunday was rather pants and I was going into Liverpool afterwards so I opted for a full shoe, these lace up wedges are from New Look and I got them for the bargain price of SSssshhh £8.00 in the sales!!

Dress: ASOS

Jacket: Topshop

Necklace: River Island

Watch: Michael Korrs

Bag: Louis Vuitton

Jen xoxo

Reebok Runtone: My bargain purchase!

I picked these up on my little trip to JJB sports in Oxford, I couldn't resist as they were such a bargain and I had previously had my eye on the Reebok Easytone.

 

They are designed for making your run a little bit more beneficial on toning up your body, due to the air pods positioning in the bottom of the shoe. The sales assistant was incredibly rude and pushy, plus she didn't really promote the footwear in a positive light, telling me not to get them wet (so buy there JJB £2.99 spray) and the air pods could burst (so buy there JJB insoles). I'm not one for the hard sell and if the sales assistant has a really bad attitude problem, she ain't getting anymore cash out of me even if her miracle spray is only £2.99! I'm not too sure if I'm convinced in their 'technology' but I hate running so anything will help! They are however extremely comfy and have slight reflectors which is a plus when running at night. For £22.49 instead of £89.99 I'm not going to complain, but I'll let you know on how they fair up... so far I've only worn them to a Zumba class and to play on the XBox Kinnect, so not really quite the 10K or London Flora Marathon!

BARGAIN!!!!

Jen xoxo