A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I thought the Husband was looking a bit shifty this morning.

Indulging his inner 12yr old. Again.

Afternoon my lovelies,

As promised, I have a Bodyform inspired giveaway for you.

Leave me a comment letting me know: What items would you include in your personal PSK (period survival kit) – axes, machetes.. that kind of thing 😉

The best comment will win themselves a little prize of girlie treats! – say WOOOO!

There is a little twist to my giveaway.  I won’t be choosing the winner… No siree, not me.

I couldn’t think of a more appropriate person to deliberate and cogitate on your answers than a lady who has seen yours truly through many a bad “time of the month”.  She’s been there with hot water bottles, chocolate and even the odd cup of milky coffee.

The lady herself…

My Mum.

Yeah, I know… doesn’t really look the most approachable sort in the world with that GREAT BIG KNIFE in her hand… and the expression is slightly “Heeeerrrrrrree’ssssssssss Mummy!”… but don’t let that put you off, she’s a good sort really.

~ Contest is open to UK residents only (sorry my lovely international friends)

~ Contest closes Monday 12th October at 1 minute past midnight. (so get your entries in Sunday night at the latest!)

GET SET…. GO!

1. Mood: Optimistic! Getting over a cold that caught the whole family by surprise.

2. I’m lovin’ it (makeup related): Estee Lauder Shadow Cremes in Vintage Violet and Antique Gold, Cutex Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover & Illamasqua Brow Powder in Gazed

3. I’m lovin’ it (non-makeup related): Halls Soothers in Cherry, I’ll miss them when my cold is gone.

4. Reading for the week: Your Baby Week by Week (sad, I know)

5. Hair: Over-straightened and under-nourished at the moment.

6. Something you’d never guess about me: I’m a huge Ghosthunters fan, but don’t get me started on Most Haunted – grrr…

7. Next on my to-do list: Transfer all my crap over to my new PC

8. Last person I laughed with: My lovely husband Paul

9. Purse: Dunno, some brown leather messenger bag my sister gave my Mum and I promptly stole.

10. Weekly goals: Sell some of Leila’s newborn bits on eBay and shake off the lurgy!

If you want to join in with the weekly (when I remember) Monday Poll shenanigans you can find the poll here

Right, that’s it. I can’t be arsed to wait for my 100th follower – lagging behind like the LAZY mare she is.

So here’s my 99 followers giveaway extravaganza.

Please note…

 ~ You DON’T need to be a ‘follower’ to enter.  I love lurkers too, and anyway… If you’re gonna follow, It would make me happier to know it’s ‘cos you quite like my blog.

~ You WON’T get any extra entries by posting this on your blog.  You can if you want to, although personally I’d keep it to myself – more chance of winning that way 😉

This little giveaway (and it is little I’m afraid) is just my way of saying thanks for taking the time to read my rambling, incoherent and often self-indulgent nonsense.  This blog would be here with or without you, but it’s much more fun with you!

Onto the goodies!

One lucky winner will receive:

~ Maybelline XXL Curl Power Mascara in Power Black
~ PURE Lip Gloss in Peggy (What would my first giveaway be without a lipgloss eh?)
~ GOSH Nail Polish in Carmine (better pic here, your one is of course new and unopened – I’ve been scouring eBay for one for my giveaway ever since posting the original NOTD)
~ Body Shop  Home Fragrance Oil in Almond (I’m addicted to buying these things)
~ RUSK Hair Toggle thingy (gorgeous for Xmas, I actually bought this for myself.. and then cut my hair short a week later)

Hope it’s not too measley… I did consider giving away my new Helena Rubenstein Mascara set too… but came to my senses just in time.

Giveaway is OPEN internationally, and I will be closing it in 1 weeks time! 00:01 Sunday 27th September (GMT).

To enter, you need to make yourself useful… read on…

I have a £25 Topshop voucher burning a hole in my purse.  Great huh?  Only problem is, I’ve been OVER a size 16 for aslong as I can remember sooooo I dunno what to spend it on?

Leave a link showing what you’d buy IF you were me (no size 6 leopard print bikinis please or I’ll poke you in the eye. with a pencil.)  It can be upto £35, £40 if it’s REALLY nice.

1 entry per person and if you don’t have a blog… please leave your email address too.

It’s a win-win situation! Good luck!

Remember last time? When we went to Somerset? We didn’t quite have enough room (see pic) and we’re going for 5 days this time, so we thought it best to take 2 vehicles:

Lucky old Bournemouth is playing host to our holiday this time round.  It’s only 40minutes away, so slightly galling to have to pack up the entire house only to unpack it again in less time than it takes to do my nails.  Oh well, at least it’s not enough time for a car argument (they’re different to normal ones) about who has control of the CD player.  Actually, who am I even kidding?  Neither adult gets a look-in.  It’s ‘Wheels on the Bus’ all the way.  On repeat.

I have no posts lined up for whilst I’m away.  Not a one! (Stop cheering at the back there!)

I do however, have lots of lovely things in the pipeline for when I get back including a giveaway when I reach 100 followers, a BIG Autumn/Winter Urban Decay Collection review, A FOTD featuring my lovely new Kryolan palette, Some more Nails Inc and Mavala NOTDs, A new Oil Cleanser comparison – will it live up to the DHC?, Gorgeous new gel liners and my favourite under-eye illuminator for less than £5.

Stay tuned, miss you already!

xxxx

I don’t own a normal diary, so please indulge me this post that I wanted to record someplace, somewhere for posterity.

You are 4 months and 1 week old today. 

I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown since I first found out I was expecting you.  9 months (+ 2 weeks, you lazy little bugger) of anticipation, excitement, fear and expectation culminating in one very early morning dose of pain that (at the time) I was sure I wouldn’t be able to survive.

For what?

For 3 weeks of disbelief, an adrenalin rush that will never be rivalled contradicted by falling asleep whilst eating my dinner.  3 weeks spent mapping each eyelash, every skin crinkle and being astonished by how perfectly we’d managed to make you.

For 5 weeks thinking “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”… 5 weeks of feeling like we were battling with you every step of the way, amazing ourselves with limitless patience we never knew we were capable of.  You seemed such a sad little girl, lost and homesick… perhaps you were.  We couldn’t comfort you, couldn’t make you happy and on top of that, I lost the ability to feed you and couldn’t get it back.

Then one day, the sun shone.  It shone until it blinded us and made the tears prick our senses.

You are a strong little thing, always trying to achieve feats that your tiny body won’t allow you to do.  You’re always listening, always watching, always learning… looking for the next person to charm with your infectious dimples.  You reach for anything and everything… straight in the mouth as if you’re going to taste your way to adulthood.  You talk to us, cooing and grumbling “ehgoowa” ’till we agree with your point of view.  Sometimes, we catch each other looking at you… soaking up the ‘pig in poo’ feelings that you instill in us.  We look at one another and smugly bask in that shared experience, silently congratulating each other on a job well done.

You don’t laugh too much, despite our best efforts (we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re just not that funny).  Instead, you are a smiling machine.  Your (slightly crooked) grin lights up the room, everything goes a little bit soft around the edges and the only thing we can see is you.  You make little piggy sounds that make us laugh (especially if you do them when you’re trying to be cross with us).  When you grizzle in the car, Daddy repeatedly puts his palm to your open mouth so that your complaints turn into Indian “wah wahs” instead.  We promise to take them more seriously when you get older.  You love to hear me sing (you’re the only one who does) and your favourite smile-inducing ditty is “Black Hills of Dakota“, so you’re already a Doris Day fan (yay!) and  just as uncool as Mummy (double yay!)

You drool like a St. Bernard, and sometimes… just when it’s got so long that gravity is sure to overcome… you suck it back up and make Daddy and me feel a little bit sick.  Then you blow a huge spit bubble just ‘cos you can.  You would walk if you could, you’d walk a marathon… we fear that you may leave home when you are 6 just so that you can have an adventure.  We can’t decide if your hair is red or blonde… we try not to hope too hard for red.  When Mummy holds you, Daddy says that we become the same person.  He says that because our complexions are identical, we merge into one.  I hoped that you might be a little more tan like Daddy… but no, you’ll be sharing my SPF before I can say “factor 50”.

We hope you will have Daddy’s temperament and gentleness, Mummy’s openness and loyalty and get some confidence from someplace else.  Don’t ever stop lighting up rooms.

We love you Leily-Bum, our joyful little girl.  Happy 17 weeks old.

Did you miss me? No, of course you didn’t thanks to my post scheduler.

We went here, here and here

This place sucked (perhaps would have been better if it hadn’t been chucking it down at the time).

This place surprised me by not sucking as much as I thought it would.

This was fun (despite the rain)

&

This place does a mean bacon & brie baguette

Leila was lots of fun to be with on her first holiday… although we did get treated to a total meltdown every evening at bedtime… too much stimulation, too much awake time, too much out of routine… etc… but the morning smiles more than made up for it.

There!  Our holiday summed up in less than 8 pictures and not too many more words.  Hope you all enjoyed your bank holiday weekends!

…Somerset holiday. *childish*

I nearly forgot I booked this el-cheapo Travelodge jaunt back when they were doing rooms for £9 a night.  I was pregnant at the time, and obviously delusional thinking it would be fine with a 3mnth old in tow.  Travelodge’s have no fridges… so I’ve spent a small fortune on those little pre-made formula cartons.

I only have a small car.  A small, 3-door car.  This barely computes – the amount of crap I have to pack today beggars belief. 

Anyway, enough of all that…

I’ll be back on Wednesday in time for the Illamasqua Dystopia preview on Thursday.  I haven’t arranged to meet anyone, so I’m bricking it a little at the thought of going in alone… ho hum… *don’t think about it, denial denial la lala la la*

I have at least one blog post scheduled, but things are probably gonna be VERY quiet around here ’till Friday.  Have a fab week lovely readers – weather forecast looks set to be crap so send me some holiday sunshine vibes (oh, and some extra confidence for Thursday!)

Much love,

Me xx

I am very lazy with my makeup application.  I rarely apply more than one colour to my eyelids. I never bother with things like lip liners (despite owning many).  I rarely contour (it scares me) and most of the time I can’t be arsed with highlighting either.

And I call myself a makeup fanatic? *hangs head in shame*

This week, I will endeavour to make more of an effort.  What’s the point of having all these lovely products if I don’t use them?  So, amongst other makeup resolutions, this week I will be ditching my taupe-y eyeshadows and may even attempt blue again *eek*

I also have a confession… I don’t own a blending brush.  There, I said it.  Disown me if you like – just don’t tell me that you could ‘like, totally already tell from your FOTD shots’ or I might have to find a dark corner to sob in.

look, my skillz are awesum!

Anyway, I know that the pinnacle of blending brushes involves the MAC 32174893 *bleh, I can’t remember numbers* – I know what one I’m talking about.  However, funds aren’t gonna stretch this month… so please recommend me a relative cheapie that I could cut my teeth on.  I’ve heard some good things about a Boots No7 one and also a Revlon one I think?

IN

~ Controlling my urge to spend at Portsmouth’s CCO this week – all the more for London!
~ Finding a cheap train ticket to the Illamasqua event next Thursday
~ Looking forward to my break in Somerset this weekend!
~ My gorgeous winter woolly tights from Marks & Spencers (simple things!)
~ Shopping with my lovely sister-in-law
~ Tisserand Bath Oils… review coming soon.
~ SJP – Covet, I love that it’s a little bit brave for a celebrity perfume.
~ The Tesco checkout man letting me use all my newborn nappy coupons even though I wasn’t buying the nappies – woohoo, saved £8 off my weekly shop!

OUT

~ Short hair getting greasier quicker than long hair – why?
~ Procrastinating about getting my winter boots stretched
~ Cutting Leila’s fingernails – terrified I’m gonna slip with the baby clippers
~ Waiting impatiently for new gel eye liners to come in stock
~ Leila outgrowing her beautiful clothes faster than I can put her in them
~ Washing mountain piling up in the spare room.
~ Being super nervous about not knowing anyone going to the Illamasqua event
~ Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude looking orangey on me

I had an idea last night, it’s always scary sharing ‘ideas’ like this incase it encourages a humiliating David Brent type moment of epic embarrassment, so if you think it’s shit… just pretend it’s good anyway.

So, I thought it might be nice to play a little game which will encourage us to get to know our fellow beauty addicts whilst honing our application skillz and having a little fun…

I’m calling the game “Pick-a-Look” (‘cos it’s too late at night to think of anything better) and it’s a Secret Santa type affair.

If you’re up for this frivolity, say so by leaving a comment below.  Your comment needs to include your email address (I shall remove email addresses from comments after I’ve read them to prevent spammers).  It should also include (if applicable) a link to your blog.  Once enough people have expressed an interest, I will secretly pair you up with a partner.

I’ll email you to let you know the name of your secret partner (and a link to their blog).  After you’ve had a look at their blog and gotten to know them a little better, email me back with a link to the ‘look’ that you’d like to see them recreate.

The look can be editorial, celebrity or everyday… but remember, keep it secret!

Once everyone has been assigned their ‘looks’, you’ll have 1 week to create your interpretation of it before you need to submit an image of your efforts to me.  I’ll display it on the blog and reveal the identity of the person who chose it for you.

Does that make sense?  I’m sure I could have written it more coherently… but I’m struggling on so little sleep.

For this to work, it needs participation people! So spread the word and let’s see if we can get this daft little game off the ground!

I shamelessly stole this post from the fabulous LionLovingTiger, go check out her blog if you haven’t done so already!

About a year ago I went for an eye test as I realised that I couldn’t read the Sky EPG without squinting.  The optician told me that my eyesight had deteriorated a little and that I wasn’t to drive without sorting myself out with some contacts.  “Contacts, schmontacts” said I, and off I skipped to find myself the baddest face furniture I could lay my grubby little hands on!

I’ve always loved glasses (strange girl that I am) but when my eyesight was 20:20, I could never bring myself to buy a set of frames to put blank lenses in… I’m not quite twattish enough for that kind of nonsense.  So I was actually pretty excited to be buying some specs!

My first pair (and probably still my faves) are these Missoni lovelies.  I think I paid around £50 in the sale for the frames.

My next purchase was lust at first sight, I’d tried these on a few times…loved them, but winced everytime I looked at the price tag – then they became like “SO last season” and disappeared from the shops…. fast forward a few months and I found a girl selling her old pair on eBay.  I very nearly peed myself with excitement when the auction ended and they were mine!

My most recent pair are a Ted Baker offering.  Lurve these, but I haven’t got round to ordering lenses for them yet as I’m still too busy loving my Missoni and Chanels and there’s only so many opportunities to wear them considering I only really need them for driving.

Group Photo!

Thanks for indulging me in my shameless showing off of my lovely glasses!  Anyone else sporting gorgeous eyewear?  Show me/Tell me!