Flutterbydott... Gets Engaged!!

A little insight into the most surreal week of my life!

On April 12th, I woke up early after planning to go to the gym with my friends. My boyfriend Andrew had other plans!

Andrew and I don't do the typical 'date nights' - I have nothing against them, it's just something which we have never decided to do! Instead in 2015 we made a bucket list of everything we wanted to do in 2015. Andrew decided he wanted to do something form the list, but this something would be kept a secret - kind of like a date night albeit it was in the morning.

Anyone who knows me know that /i am the most organised person in the works so a change of plan and having no clue where I was going was a complete nightmare for me! All I wanted to know was what to wear and whether our day out was worthy of straightening my hair!

A short car journey later and we arrived on at the Norfolk Broads. The weather was perfect so we decided to hire a boat for the day. After circling the river trying to find the closest pub, Andrew switched the boat engine off, took my hand and asked me to marry him. Words cannot describe how happy I was, after 8 years of being together, this feels like the start of a new journey.

Through heaps of watery mascara, I obviously said yes and we sailed to the next pub where Andrew had arranged for both of our families to meet (isn't it typical that on the one day which is all about you, you end up looking like a watery mess! - must buy waterproof mascara for the wedding!).

I've never been able to find the words to tell Andrew just how special he is and how much I love him but I can honestly say that I couldn't find a better match! We are two peas in a pod and just meant to be together!

So these past few weeks have been pretty surreal and I've been desperate to get my laptop fixed so I can do this post!!

With weddings comes planning - yay!! This means new stationary, magazines and a new series of blog posts - Wedding Wednesdays! I'll be telling you everything about my wedding plans. The good the bad and the ugly!!

I'd love to follow other brides journey on planning their big day so please comment below if you're getting married or know any good wedding blogs! I would love to see them!

Love Charlotte X

Classic Red Lip

Give a women the right lipstick and she can conquer the world

Lipstick... Aghhhhh. Wearing lipstick always makes me nervous, probably becuase I have the teeniest lips around.

I've seen so many people over the last few months wearing gorgeous berry lipsticks that I decided to purchase one - yes that's right just one. If you're looking for an armful of lipstick swatches then look away now because this blog post is dedicated to the only and only, the gorgeous, fablous Mac Diva!

Mac Diva.... and oh yes, did I feel a diva wearing it. There's something about wearing a deep red lippy which just makes you feel glam. I'm rubbish when it comes to buying lipstick mostly becuase I never do, so I took a reccomedation from a fellow blogger.

There's always lots of hype over Mac lipsticks and now I know why. Diva is a matte shade which glides on the lips and once applied doesn't feel too heavy. The colour is strong upon first application but can be built up for a darker colour. During the day this can be worn for around 4 hours without the need to touch up. As always with a dark red lip, if you're eating out then you will find that you need to apply more regularyl.

Overall I love this shade and now I know why my friends love Mac lipsticks so much! I think I may now have the lipstick bug and want to try a deep purple shade. If you have any suggestions on the colour then please let me know!

Love Charlotte X

Hair Care - Moroccanoil

Like most of us, I'm constantly trying to find ways to be good to my hair but in a world of straighteners and curling tongs, it can be a challenge!! I'm naturally blessed (ok, so I'm being sarcastic) with frizzy hair. I don't know what happens between getting out of the shower with a perfectly sleek style and ending up like a lion after drying - but I'm in serious need of some help!!!

I've used Moroccanoil previously, but with a price tag around £30 for 100ml, I have to admit, that I haven't repurchased this for a while. I recently had my hair Ombred and before I tackled it too much with the straightners, I wanted to make sure that I provide it with as much protection as possible.

I tend to wash my hair 3 times a week. Currently I'm using the Catwalk honey and oatmeal shampoo and conditioner. I find this restores moisture in my hair and keeps it looking as frizz free as possible! To give my hair some extra pampering I wanted to use an oil - enter Moroccanoil! The number one, highly rated and highly blogged about hair oil! If you haven't already tried it, then where have you been? Drugstores have recently provided some cheaper alternatives but as with most hair care, I really thing splashing a little extra cash really does pay!

After conditioning, I apply 2 to 3 pumps of Moroccanoil to my towel dried hair. My hair is medium length and I find this amount of oil plenty.  Moroccanoil smells similar to most hair oils on the market, but I always find that the real deal works the best on my hair.

Moroccanoil not only gives my hair some much needed moisture, it also makes it much more manageable and I find it dries quicker.

I'm really loving this product at the moment and I will definitely be repurchasing it. The 100ml bottle usually lasts me around 6 months. I've also bought the slightly smaller bottle which is great for taking on holiday. Once you have bought it once, you can then use your larger bottle to refill!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for hair care!!

Love Charlotte x



Make A Statement

It's nearly Spring time and whilst I love the Spring, I often find that the shops are really in between seasons this time of year. As we're coming into the warmer months, I don't want to be buying big bulky jumpers but equally I don't think it's quite warm enough to be buying teeny t-shirts.

So whilst the British weather makes up it's mind, I've been looking at ways to jazz up my Winter wardrobe.

As always, Accessorize have some gorgeous statement necklaces in store. Spring time at Accessorize is always my favourite time of the year! Gorgeous pastels and turquoises - a perfect way to pop some colour to any dull Winter jumper!

Over the next few weeks I'll be scouring the shops to find my 2015 statement jewellery, but in the meantime here's my current collection of jewels which are just perfect to wear with a plain jumper, t-shirt or shirt.

All of these necklaces are from Accessorize and were defiantly worth spending a little extra cash on.

This indigo necklace goes perfectly with a white shirt!

Adding a pop of colour to those plain Winter jumpers!

My current favourite! It's sooo sparkley!!!!

Lush Rose Jam Bubbleroon

A macaroon inspired Bath Melt! What more could a girl ask for?

 

I have to a admit that I've previously avoided this product in Lush for no other reason that there has always been something else which has taken my fancy! Pass me a seasonal shaped bubble bar any day! But, in truth, I couldn't have been more wrong to ignore this little ball of pink goodness!!! 

 

The best thing about this  product is the scent! I was bought this as a gift and as soon as I was handed the present I could smell the gorgeous floral fragrance of rose and geranium. It's smells just like a beautiful garden on a Spring day.

Smells good enough to eat!!

I feel like I always go on about how much I love a bubble bar inspired product but for someone who spends their life in the bath (yes I'm a wrinkly prune) this product hits all the marks for me! The best thing about a bubble bar is that you can crumble your desired amount into the tub. I used a quarter at a time so was able to get 4 baths out if the £3.65 price tag. For that reason, I would always pick up a bubblebar over a bath bomb. The bubbleroon contains shea butter which leaves your skin feeling really conditioned and silky smooth! I find that the scent also sinks into your skin so hours after bathing you can still smell the rosey goodness!

 

This is my go to Lush product at the moment and if I need a pick me up after a bad day at work then there's nothing better than knowing your coming home to this! I have a couple in my bathroom at the moment for emergencies!! Plus they make my bathroom smell amazing!

 

Leave me a comment with your Lush favourite!

 

Love Charlotte x

City Break Style

I'm going away for the weekend at the start of February and my Becky Bloomwood head tells me that I must buy a new outfit especially!! I must I must I must!!

So, whilst searching the Internet for the perfect outfit I came across some little beauties  which I just had to share with you!

This outfit screams city break, it's smart casual and super comfy! The deep red lipstick also provides some glam to a daytime outfit, making it perfect to pop into a champagne bar after a day of shopping.

Shop The Look

Jacket -  Topshop £85
Rucksack - Whistles £280
Boots - Office £68
Lipstick - Mac Diva £15.50
T-Shirt - Topshop £16
Jeans - Joni, Topshop - £36

I absolutely love the Whistles bag. It's a little out of my price range but it's definitely something which I'll be saving up for! I have seen a dupe in H&M which I may have to purchase! Rucksacks are great for weekends away as you can pop your makeup, hairbrush, camera, water etc into it without aching arms all day!

I also love love love the lipstick. I've been looking for a deep red lippy for some time when I came across the beautiful Katie over at 'The Last Souvenirs' Mac post. If you haven't seen it then you must take a peek! Wow, does she have an amazing collection of Mac lipsticks! Plus they're all photographed in colour order. Now for someone with OCD, this is pretty much heaven! Mac Diva doesn't feature on the post but on Katie's advice, I popped into Mac and checked out the colour. One swatch later and I'm at the till buying it!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I think it's a great idea to pull together a collage like this when you need a new outfit. I'm off shopping next weekend to recreate this look!

Love Charlotte x

Do More Of What Makes You Happy

I love this quote and as we're nearing the end of January I thought it would a great time to say goodbye to those January blues and hello to all the super fun stuff which we can do in February!!

There seems to be a preconception these days that fun things are expensive things. Shopping, afternoon tea, champagne lunches, pamper days. The list goes on!

Why do we now live in a world where we must fill our time with doing everything to 'fit in' with the crowd? Social media. That's why!

Whilst social media is a great for many reasons, it can also act as a way to prove ourselves within our friendship groups. This shouldn't be the case. Our spare time is all about having fun and as they say, the best things in life are free!

So get out there. Do more of what makes YOU happy! Don't try to fit in with the crowd. After all were all unique and we all have our own lives to lead!

Today I've been reflecting on what makes me happy and what I'll be doing more of this February!

1. Exercise
This doesn't have to mean joining the gym. Take a walk everyday after work/school. Take the stairs rather than the lift. Do some exercises in the ad breaks on TV.
Exercise has been known to release endorphins, making you feel great about yourself. Not to mention it also improves sleep.

2. Pamper nights
We all love a pamper but we don't need to be spending hundreds of pounds on expensive spa days. Why not invite your friends over and ask them to bring 5 beauty products each. Clear a space in your bathroom and set up your own Spa! It's a great way to try new products before your purchase them!

3. Learn something new
Ever wanted to learn a new talent but just not been able to afford the lessons? These days You Tube opens us up to some many opportunities of learning something new. Whether it's a language, a sport or even just learning about another country, it's a great way to keep our brains working! All for free!

4. Bake
I'm such a lover of popping out to the local cafe and ordering a freshly made cake! There is something about homemade cakes which just isn't the same as any you buy in the shops, so why not make you own? I think were all guilty of owing a load of recipe books but never actually using them! So get your apron out and get baking!!!

5. Spend time with people you love
For me, this is the most important. I am at my happiest when I'm surrounded by the people I love. Last week we spent the evening with my family playing the game 'Boggle'. Some people may think this is boring but I actually really enjoyed going back to my childhood and having a giggle!

I hope this has inspired you to think about what makes you happy and start to do more of it!

Let me know what makes you happy!

Love Charlotte x

Lush Sale Haul

Relax and Unwind

Last year I tried to avoid the sales and limit myself to just one sale splurge - LUSH! I loved all of the Christmas Lush products and every week since they launched bought something new from the range. In the end I obviously ran out of weeks and so had a number of bath bits which I still wanted to try.

I had heard that the Lush sale is amazing (they did have some problems with the website on Boxing Day but I have to say their web team are brilliant). All of the products were 50% off which meant that I got double the products for the amount of money I spent!

Some of the items in the photo above were actually presents, so what did I get in the sale?

• Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb
• Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds Bubble Bar x2
• Drummers Drumming Reusable Bubble Bar
• Christmas Hedgehog Bubble Bar
• Snow Fairy Gift Set

I paid around £24 for these products including postage which I think is a steal. If you missed last years sale then set your alarm for Boxing Day 2015!
My favourite products are the snow fairy shower gel (I had heard that the scent is too much but I think you either love it or hate it - I love it!) and also the Hedgehog (pretty much because he is so cute!).

Lush products are so pretty that I try to display them so they're on show! They also make my bathrooms smell amazing! I keep mine in a plain white bowl which I bought in M&S - It holds around 8 Lush products so is a great size. With the Christmas and Birthday overflow I have also been keeping some of my products in a glass jar- they look really pretty when they catch the sunlight and you can remove the lid to freshen up your rooms!

Hope you enjoyed this post. It's the last Christmassy blog which I will be doing until we get back to the festive season!

If you love lush as much as me and have some lush blog posts then please comment with the links as I love to read them.

Love Charlotte



Birthday Haul

I'm not getting old... I'm getting better

Last week I turned 28 and celebrated getting one year older with a trip to the beach! Typically it rained, so my idea of walking along the beach hand in hand whilst eating fish and chips actually turned into eating chips in the shop and running back to the car in the pouring rain!

When we were finally back in the dry I blew the candles out on my cake and opened some of my presents. You all seemed to love my Christmas haul and so I though I would post a quick Birthday haul too! My birthday is super close to Christmas and so I usually tend to get vouchers and money to spend throughout the year along with some lovely gifts. 

So, in no particular order, here are a couple of pressies I received.

The Sanctuary Shower Gel and Body Creams

I love this set! I tend to go running on my lunch break and so these teeny tiny shower gels and body creams are just a perfect way to relax in the shower before going back to work. At this time of the year Boots usually have the Sanctuary products in the sale - a get time to stock up for the year!

GHD Air

I have been meaning to buy a new hairdryer for a while now as I find the one I use currently takes a long time to dry my hair. To be honest I have no idea what to look for when buying a hairdryer but luckily my Mum did her research and found the GHD Air. I've since watched You Tube reviews of it and I have to say I am really excited to use it! It claims to give you a 'more powerful and efficient blow dry'  whilst giving softer, shiny results and removing frizz. That's a lot for one hairdryer so I will let you know how I get on with this. If you have tried it then let me know.

Tanya Burr Lashes - Everyday Flutter

I am so excited to try these lashes! I used to have really long lashes but I find with stress at work I tend to pull on them throughout the day which causes them to fall out. I think I will save these for a night out or a trip away - an occasion where I need some extra flutter!

Zoella Fix Bar

My friend bought me this as she knows how much I love to watch Zoella! I also received a lot of Lush bath bombs for Christmas and my birthday (I have 21 to get through!). The thing I love about this product is that it comes in a wrapper. This means I can pop it in my bathroom cabinet and save it until I need a relaxing soak without worrying that the product will get damaged.



Lush - Unicorn Horn

I was super excited to open this present! As soon as I saw the packaging I was hoping to find the unicorn horn inside! My friend actually bought this for me when it was first released and so it didn't come with a product label but I could straight away recognise the Lavender scent. This is a bubble bar which means you can break bits off it and use in more than one bath. I will probably get three uses out of this and save it for an occasion where I need a really good nights sleep! 

The White Company Shower Gel Set

This set contains 4 good sized white company products. These will add a little bit of luxury in my bathroom and once I have used them I will probably fill them with cheaper products (we all do that right!!). My favourite scent is the White Lavender. I often find it really hard to switch off at night so Lavender products are a must have for me.

Emma Bridgewater - Notebook and Pen

I have mentioned this many times before but I love making lists! I also love Emma Bridgewater so this little set is perfect for me!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Apologies for the quality of photos here - we have had a super wet and windy weekend so any form of natural light in my house was impossible to find!

Love Charlotte



Dress Like A Celeb - Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton turned 33 yesterday and for those of you who don't know, she is my number one style icon!

To celebrate Kate's birthday, I'm dedicating my weekly 'dress like a celeb' post to her. Ok, so we don't all have royal engagements to attend. Likewise we can't all afford LK Bennet shoes, but Kate's style is actually really affordable.

You'll often see Kate reusing outfits. Her style is classic yet timeless. This makes it easier than ever for us to recreate her royal look (I mean come on.. who doesn't want to wake up looking like a Princess!).
Kate often sticks to neutral colour in her casual looks.Think navy blues, olive greens and beige's. These colours immediately give a smart appearance which is why no matter what Kate wears, she always looks like Royalty.

I have so many favourite Kate outfit's but the outfit I have chosen to recreate is my all time favourite. It's classic, doesn't date and can be recreated at an affordable price.

Bag - Long Champ, Selfridges £45
Top - French Connection £25
Jeans - Topshop, True Blue Joni Jeans £36
Shoes - Dune £35
Watch - New Look £17.99
Ring - Debenhams £22.99

This is such an easy look to recreate and many of us will already have some of the staple pieces in our wardrobes.
I love the colour of these Joni jeans.Joni jeans are great because they're high waisted so they not only pull your tummy in but you can also get away with wearing shorter tops without baring your belly! I'm also really loving this New Look watch, it's only £17.99 but turns an outfit into instant glam.

Let me know if you recreate this Kate look or any others. I couldn't quite end this post without adding some more of my favourite Kate look, so enjoy!

Love Charlotte

 

 

Christmas Haul

Is it still the season to be jolly?

 

In a bid to cling on to the festive season for as long as possible, I thought I would share with you some of my lovely Christmas presents. So grab a mince pie, a glass of your favourite tipple and put your feet up for the next five minutes.

I was really lucky in the Christmas present department this year - perhaps I was extra good throughout the year! Anyway, this is by no means a list of my favourite presents, just those which I've yet to find a safe place for!

Long Champ Bag
This has been on my wish list since the Summer and I have to admit that before this, I hadn't heard of the brand. Luckily my friend introduced me to the wonderful world of Long Champ and the rest as they say is history. At first I was unsure what colour to ask for (it was between black, white or navy). I opted for black as it will not only go with everything but when you have an expensive bag, the last thing you want is to constantly worry if it's getting dirty. For me the black option was an easy answer!

Stella Mccartney Perfume
My favourite fragrance of all time was Stella in Two Peony. Unfortunately they discontinued this a couple of years back but The original Stella is a close match. The top notes of Peony, Rose and Amber make it a really light fresh scent to wear.
The only thing which is a slight negative to this product is the price. I have been able to buy this previously in boots for £35 for 100ml. Stella has recently been relaunched, as has the price tag at £45-£50 for 50ml. In my eyes this is completely worth the money but if you've not tried this perfume before then it's worth testing a couple of times before purchasing to make sure your 100% happy with the scent.

Jo Malone Gift Set
I love Jo Malone - it's never just about buying the perfume, it's about the experience when you visit the shop. As this was a present I didn't think I'd experience the excitement that you do when you work with the Jo Malone team to design the fragrance just for you but I was wrong. My boyfriend bought me this gift as a present and the Jo Malone team had helped him carefully tailor the gift just for me. He chose my favourite scent (English Pear and Freesia) and bought the 30ml perfume, travel candle and bath oil. It was all packaged up as a set, ready for me to pamper myself in the bath. As always with Jo Malone even the gift wrap was scented and the bag finished off with a Christmas bow.

Nars Laguna Bronzer
Something I have been wanting to try for a while and so far I really love this product. I find the colour quite dark so I tend to use this bronzer after I've applied fake tan.
I've only been using this a couple of weeks so can't provide a full product review but will let you know how I get on with it.

White Lilly and Silk Candle
I am a massive candle hoarder (there I said it) so needless to say I got quite a few candles for Christmas this year!
This one is from Berry's and Grey which is my favourite shop in Norwich. They sell gorgeous house bits ranging from candles, fake flowers, fur throws and quirky signs. Basically if you want to make your house a home then this shop must be paid a visit! I love the scent of this candle and the cute tin it comes in. As soon as I opened the tin, the scent filled the room without even having to light the candle. This candle is priced at £10.99 and for those who don't live local, they do post starting from £2.50 I beleive.
If you havn't heard of this shop before then click here to view their lovely stuff!

Emma Bridgewater Diary
I'm a massive Emma Bridgewater fan which you can read all about here.
I spotted this diary in Boots and added it straight into my wish list. Every page has a weekly view on the left hand side and a page of lined paper on the right. Perfect for keeping up to date with blogging routines or a to do list!

Pearl Braclett
One of my favourite presents. This came from Lisa Angel who are again local to Norwich but do have a website if you fancy a sneaky peak! My Mum had this bracelet made for me - It's personalised with the Stirling silver C charm and butterfly. My love for butterflies comes in memory of my amazing Grandad which is what makes this present extra special.
Lisa Angel have a sale on at the moment - to visit them click here.

Vanilla Chai Bath & Body Works Candle
Another candle to add to my collection. I have never tried bath and body works before so when my sister visited America late last year she picked one up for me.
The scent is vanilla and reminds me very much of baking cupcakes - something which my sister and I often do together! Iv had a look online and the shipping cost is reasonable so I maybe tempted to order another!

Well that's Christmas over with for another year. If you have done a similar post then leave the link below - I'd love to see what presents you received this Christmas.

Charlotte X

New Year New You

We're a couple of days into 2015 already and no doubt there's some people out there who have already broken their New Years resolution? Hands up this would usually be me, but this year I have ditched the New Years resolutions for a 2015 bucket list. That's right, a bucket load of stuff which I want to do in 2015.

The reason for this is that there is always a negativity around New Years resolutions. We usually set ourselves unrealistic goals which we spend so much time trying not to break that inevitably we fail at the first hurdle.

Instead of this, my boyfriend (Andrew) and I have made a list of everything we want to do in 2015. Now, if there are two things I love, it's planning and stationary. So this kind of thing is right up my street!

Our bucket list is currently at about 25 things long so rather than tell you everything, I have picked out 10 of my favourites and shared with you below.

1. Eat fish in chips in the paper on the beach
2. Spend the day on a boat on the Norfolk broads
3. Sunday lunch at the Mulberry pub
4. Monthly surprise date night
5. Ice skating at Somerset House
6. Try lobster
7. Walk dogs at a rescue home
8. Visit a new city
9. Visit  Buckingham Palace gardens
10. Complete the colour run

Bucket lists are a great way to get outside and see the world. You don't have to spend loads of money visiting other countries, the best stuff is often on your doorstep!

I hope this has inspired you to do something similar. I'll keep you updated on our bucket list. We're planning on visiting Paris in February so looks like this will be the first to be ticked off our list!

Charlotte X

2014 - You've been good

We’re coming into the final few hours of 2014 – which means we’re more than likely all full of turkey and chocolates and ready to start our new year’s resolutions.

Well the festive period has really got me thinking.. I love writing my blog, but for some reason I stopped September/October time. With so many popular blogs out there I think the pressure of writing a blog post every other day got too much for me and with working it alongside a full time job, I started to push the blogging to one side.

Over the past few weeks I looked back at my first blog post and reminded myself why I started writing it - to share my experiences. Good or bad I wanted a little space to be able to tell people about what I’ve been doing – in the hope that it may inspire you to share the same experiences or try new things.

So I’m not promising that you’ll see a new post from me every week to start with, but I want to get back to why I started writing this blog – not to compete with the top bloggers out there but for some me time. To share what I love with you. Even if it’s just one of you reading this!!

So let’s raise a glass for all the little blogs out there! May your 2014 end with smiles and happiness and 2015 bring you everything you always dreamed of and more!

With Love, Charlotte

Goodbye Summer - Holiday Snaps

I think it's safe to say that I have had a little bit of a break from blogging! Summer has been super busy and I found it really hard to actually sit down and spend some time on my blog. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and was reluctant to be publish anything which didn't feel 100% me or rushed.

To give you a little bit of a sneaky peak into my Summer, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite photos from the past few months.

Dress: Ted Baker Shoes: Next

At the beautiful 'La Sommita' hotel in Ostuni

These photos are taken in Ostuni Italy at a family wedding. My dress is from Ted Baker and I am in absolute LOVE with it! It's actually reversible although I personally don't have the right figure to wear it the other way round! The back has a gorgeous lace collar detail and the gold buttons which run down the back remind me of THAT Pippa Middleton bridesmaids dress (ok, so that's the real reason I bought it!)
My pearl bracelet is from Tiffany and my shoes are Next. I really wanted some white strappy shoes to wear with this dress but I just couldn't find them in time!!
Ostuni is such a beautiful setting for a wedding and we'll definitely be revisiting!

I also really loved my hair on the day - I had it professionally styled with a curling wand. Sadly I'm unsure which wand the hairdresser used - such a shame as I love the look of the curls.

Curly Locks

Summer is officially over now so it's back to work, chilly nights and for me, weekends watching my boyfriend play football! Oh and not forgetting SHOPPING! Well... it would be rude not to!

Anyone who knows me on Twitter will know that my laptop is playing up so I'm unable to load as many photos on here as I would like! I'll be updating more photos on my instagrammpage so come andfollow me - flutterbydott.

Over the coming weeks I'll be having a little change round on my blog so keep your eyes peeled!!

Charlotte

Dress Like A Celeb - Mollie King

This series is back and this time I'll be showing you how to dress like the super stylish Mollie King! One fifth of the Saturdays!

As we're in between seasons at the moment, I've copied one Mollie King look but also created one of my own.

Mollies style is great to pull off as she's a massive lover of high street fashion and buying just a few staple items will mean that you'll be looking like Mollie in no time at all.

The first look which I've recreated is perfect for those chilly Autumn days which are all too quickly on their way.
The pale blue shirt provides just a little break in the all black outfit - holding onto a little bit of Summer before we get the scarves and hats out!
My favourite part of this outfit is the rolled up jeans with the brogues. I am a massive lover of Topshop Joni jeans and think the black coated jeans are a great way to dress up an outfit. I'm on the look out for some brogues for the Autumn - think I may have to go and try these ones on!

Shop The Look

Hat - Topshop New Big Felt Floppy Hat £28
Shirt - Topshop Casual Chambray Shirt £29
Jeans - Topshop Moto Black Coated Joni Jeans £40
Nail Varnish - Essie Nail Polish Licorice £7.99
Shoes - ASOS Makeshift Brogue Lace Ups £25
Bag- Zara Leather City Bag with Front Pocket £69.99

I absolutely love this look and will definitely be purchasing the bag and jeans!! I'm also a massive lover of a collar under a jumper. If you are too then why not try to find some pretty lace or embellished shirts? Primark always have pretty shirts at affordable prices so get ready to spruce up your wardrobe ready for Autumn!

 

The second look hasn't been copied directly from Mollie, but it's an outfit I've put together using her style as inspiration.

 

Mollie (like me) is a massive lover of tans, beige's and stripes so I've teamed them all together to come up with this perfect daytime outfit.This look is great for shopping and weekends away and effortlessly says glam!

 

This double breasted trench coat has been on my wish list for some time and this year I think it's just about time I purchased it! You can wear this casually, with jeans or converse or really dress it up by doing up all the buttons and teaming it with some heeled ankle boots!

 

Shop The Look

 

Coat - French Connection Smart Catch Belted Trench Coat £165

Jeans - Topshop Moto Dark Vintage Wash Joni Jeans £36

Top - Gap Stripe Luxe Boatneck Tee £16.95

Nail Varnish - Essie Forever Yummy £7.99

Boots - Topshop Blight Chelsea Boots £45

 

If you try any of these outfits, then please tag me in some photos!

 

Charlotte

Mini Haul

 

I promised you all a little haul after my shopping trip yesterday so here it is!!

I didn't buy too much, but added a LOT to my wish list!!! Hope you enjoy this post.. I always prefer reading mini regular hauls rather than one massive monthly update.

So... here's what I bought!!

Yankee Candle Sampler - Pink Dragon Fruit
I love a Yankee Candle and at the moment Clinton Cards have 50% off selected scents. I picked up this teeny little sampler as had been wanting to try this one since it launched. As we moved into our new home in January, we found a lot of people bought us Yankee Candles as moving in presents so I'm trying to finish them all off which is why I only bought the sampler. I also noticed that they have started to stock their Christmas candles - so I'm trying to make room for the Christmas Eve large jar! That's my all time favourite Yankee and I'll defiantly be buying that from October onwards!!

The sampler is usually £1.80 but I managed to grab this bargain for 90p!

BlanX White Shock Toothpaste
I have been longer to have my teeth whitened for some time, but whilst I save some cash, I have been using BlaX shock white toothpaste.
Unlike normal whitening toothpastes, this product is super affordable at £6 a tube and I find that it really works. Whilst it doesn't give you really white teeth, it does visibly brighten teeth without providing damage. It's also activated by light - so clean your teeth using this before sunbathing and by the evening your teeth will be noticeably whiter!
I tend to use this the week before any important trips and so as I'm off to Italy this week for a wedding, I thought it would be a great time to start using it again.
I have to admit that I never use more than one tube at a time. Once this runs out I will be going back to Colgate just to make sure I'm protecting my enamel.

 

Lush BB Seaweed Face Mask

If you didn't already know (where have you been!!) I love Lush products. Not only are they 100% natural, you get to try the products in store before purchasing!! Not many shops do that but it just adds that little something extra to your shopping experience - the staff are also really helpful.
I have been suffering from a cold this week and because of this, have really dry skin on my nose. I asked in store if they could recommend a product which would start to bring some much needed moisture back into my skin. They suggested the BB Seaweed Face Mask- a mineral rich mask to cleanse, soften and beautify. All things which my face is crying out for this week!
I was sceptical about using this as sometimes you see horror stories of face masks bringing you out in massive spots! Luckily this didn't happen! The product has to be kept in the fridge which means when you apply it, it instantly cools your skin. This mask actually has  bits of seaweed in it - which is not only pretty cool, but it also cleanses your skin as you apply it. Its recommended that you leave this on for 10 minutes before washing off with warm water.
My skin felt refreshed, smooth and glowy directly after removing. I woke up this morning expecting to find a couple of pimples - but nothing!! It's actually calmed a spot I already had down - bonus!!!

Hope you enjoyed this post - I'd love to know what you've been buying recently so please comment below or send me your links

Charlotte

Lush Tea Tree Range

A few weeks back I reviewed the Lush teat tree toner tab. If you missed it, click here for the full review.

I absolutely love this product as it helped me out massively when suffering from a breakout of spots. I usually don't suffer from spots but I think a combination of this lovely British weather plus the mix of sun creams has caused a slight irritation to my skin.

As we've been lucky enough to have a warm Summer in Norwich, I needed to invest it some products which would prevent another breakout. I know tea tree isn't for everyone but it's always worked wonders for my skin.

I repurchased the tea tree toner tab as it's such a good product to keep in your beauty stash ready for any unexpected breakouts. I also love to build up a stock of little beauty treats for a weekly pamper night.. my bathroom cabinet is just full of beauty products to try from Boots and Lush!!

I also purchased the Tea Tree Toner Water. Tea Tree acts as an antibacterial so it's great for keeping away the grime and bacteria which causes spots - ewwww gross!!
It also contains grapefruit water which is really refreshing on the skin. There is nothing better than taking your make up off with a cleanser and then spraying this water on your face! Especially in this hot weather! If spraying directly onto your face isn't for you then you can also apply a couple of squirts onto a cotton pad. I tend to do this is my skin is already feel really hydrated. If it's particularly dry then I apply directly onto the face to ensure maximum coverage.

I would highly recommend these products to anyone who suffers from sudden breakouts. AS always with Lush, they're super affordable, made from all natural ingredients and to be honest I just love the shopping experience they create in the store in general!!

Happy Lush Shopping!!

Boots Haul

I'm back after a little bit of a break from blogging.. but rest assured, I have still been purchasing a LOT of beauty products!!

Whilst I try some of them out, I wanted to share with you some recent purchases from Boots. We all have those moments (you know what I mean) you go to do your makeup and realise that every product you own has run out!! Typical.. and why it is that they always run out at the same time?

So, a super expensive time for me! Here's a sneaky peak into what I bought.. I highly recommend all of these products and always repurchase them. If anyone has any alternatives for me to try then please please please comment below!

Boots coconut and almond leave in conditioner
This has been my every day leave in conditioner for 7 years now! It's super affordable at only £1.49 and is great for de tangling hair before styling. I'm not sure how protective this product is for heat as I have always suffered from split ends so I would highly recommend using this product alongside a heat protector spray.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
I bought this as Tanya Burr highly recommends this on every tutorial! I have to admit I'd never used a powder before but this is now a staple product for me. The Rimmel stay matt powder lasts all day and provides great coverage against oily skin. It's been a godsend for me in this heat!

Rimmel Natural Bronzer Sun Bronze
Again this has been a staple for me for years. Sun Bronze is the perfect subtle colour for me so if you're hoping for the orange effect then this product is not for you!!. I tend to wait until Boots have a 3 for 2 offer and buy two bronzers and a powder as I find the bronzers run down a lot quicker than the powders.

L'Oreal Million Lash Mascara
This featured in my April favourites which you can read here. All I can say about this mascara is that if you haven't already tried it, then you must! And let me know what you think of it!

L'Oreal MagicLumi ConcealerA fairly new product for me but another product which I'm loving at the moment! I usually use YSL Touché Éclat but have been looking for something more affordable for some time. For me this really hits the mark and provides long lasting coverage under the eyes. I also use it as a highlighter around my nose to remove any redness.

The Lush tea tree products have sneaked into this photo! I'll be reviewing those later in the week so keep an eye out!

Summer Nail Varnish

The last week before payday can only mean one thing - we've all spent far too much money during the month on beauty products and clothes meaning we have only have a handful of cash left!

We're probably all in the same boat on this one and if your anything like me, you'll be scouring the shops, trying to find any products which your last few pennies will stretch to!

We'll... we're in luck. we're now into Summer so it's the perfect time to make sure your nails are in their best condition. I mean trimmed, filed and perfectly manicured. I myself am a little bit of a nail biter, so I need a couple of weeks prep in order to grow my nails to a suitable size to paint!

In preparation for beautiful hands and feet for the summer, I use the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment and the Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream. I love Clarins products - not only do they make your skin feel super soft after using them, the smell of the products provide you with the setting of being in a spa. Definitely a splurge product but something you'll use time and time again. The great thing about Clarins products too is that when you buy more than two items, they often give away free gifts which are usually mini versions of the products. These are great as they allow you to try products you've never used before. This is usually how I fall in love with a product and always end up buying the full size!

So, onto some Summer Nail Varnish's which won't break the bank - perfect to brighten your week up before payday! This is just a sample of my favourite Summer colours and brands. The colours I have chosen vary from coral to nude and are from a variety of brands. My favourite brand of nail varnish have to be Essie and Estee Lauder. Whilst these are high end brands, the quality is amazing and leaves you with salon finish nails. They're also super hard wearing, meaning you won't need to reapply regularly.

I have chosen these colours as they'll go with any outfit. They're perfect to either compliment an outfit, or if worn with casual clothes, make a subtle statement.

From left to right, they are

1. Rimmel Salon Pro - Soul Session
2. Estee Lauder - Tempting Melon
3. Ted Baker - This one doesn't seem to have a name!
4. 17 - Supreme Shine - Simply Pink
5. Essie - Fiji

I hope you enjoyed this post. I'm now off the start growing my nails so I can wear some of these beautiful polishes!

How I Edit My Blog Photos

 

 

Recently a lot of you've been asking what camera and apps I use to edit my photos. Whilst I use my I phone 5 for a number of photos, I'm also lucky that my Dad allows me to borrow his Cannon. He's really into photography so has a load of different cameras and lenses which I borrow!

Choosing Your Background  

Whilst text makes up the main body of the blog, photos draw the readers eye to the article and therefore need to be really engaging.
A lot of beauty bloggers have white furniture which they use as a background - please do not think you need to go out and buy loads of expensive white furniture! It's easy to find some simple yet exciting backgrounds around the home.
When I'm trying to show off a product, I tend to use a white background for no other reason that it makes the product stand out to the reader. Sometimes busy backgrounds can distract from what you're talking about. My top ideas for a great background are:

1. Simple white
2. Grass
3. Plants
4. Pattern quilt cover
5. Into the sky

Turn a Photo Into a Picture

One of my favourite parts of blogging is to get the photo just right! Whilst a white background makes your product stand out, on it's own it's also rather boring so I try to accessorise the photo as much as I can, without cluttering! For example choosing flowers which compliment your product not only look great, but show how much effort has gone into the set up of the photo. My top 5 favourite accessorise are

1. Flowers
2. Candles
3. Fairy lights
4. Glass bottles
5. Other products if out of focus

My top tip is to be careful to show off too many products in one photo - it's great if you do but try to blur them slightly so you're only showing one at a time. You don't need fancy cameras to do this, this can be easily faked using Instagram.

Lighting
It's hard to get the lighting just right when blogging, especially if your only able to work on your blog in the evenings. Again there is a great app which allows you to brighten the light on your photos. I usually use whiteagram but I'm sure there are some similar apps out there which do the same thing.

Editing Using Apps 

If you've read my blog before, you'll notice that I love to add sparkles to my photos! I think it adds something extra and also makes the photo look super pretty! My favourite apps to use are

1. Whiteagram

2. Instagram

3. Afterlight

4. Repix

5. A Beautiful Mess

I don't want this to be a really long blog post but I want to show you the process of one of my images from start to finish and how you can completely change the look of an image.



Whiteagram, Repix, Afterlight, A Beautiful Mess

 

It's great to make our photos look better but be careful not to change the colour too much. If you're reviewing a product we want to know what it actually looks like!

And now for a little glimpse behind the scences of my blogging pics! I mentioned earlier that you don't need to spend loads of money on expensive white furniture. I'm currently in the process of redecorating my dressing room. I bought some shoe shelves from Argos for £11 each and they're just sitting in the room waiting to be put in my new wardrobe. And here's the secret.. Every time I want to take a blogging photo, the shoes all come off, the flowers/fairy lights/candles go on and there you have it... My very own backdrop for blogging! All for £11! Here's a photo of what it looks like behind the camera - the part which you never see!!

 

 

I hope this has answered some of the questions you had plus inspired you to take some photos for your blog! With Summer on its way, I can't wait to get out there and take some photos outside!

Happy snapping!!