DIY: Festive Bird Feeders

Excuse the impromptu post and slightly off topic subject (oh, and the fact that the photos were taken with my phone) but I thought up this ridiculously simple DIY today and it would make a sweet gift (or gift tag?) for anyone who likes gardening or wildlife.

You'll need:

A bag of 'monkey nuts'....*ahem*...or unshelled peanuts

A couple of old wire coat hangers (they are awful for your clothes so this is a great way to recycle them)

Some ribbon or string of your choice

Pliers and wire cutters

1. Snip the hook off the hanger to leave one piece of wire.

2. Using pliers, bend the wire into whatever shape you like. I opted for hearts (simple) and stars (fiddly!).

3. Bend a 1cm length at one end of the wire into a right angle - this will stop the peanuts falling off as you thread them and allow you to join the ends when you're finished.

4. Poke the straight end of the wire through the peanuts - watch your fingers! 

5. When the wire is filled with peanuts make the same 1cm bend at the other end of the wire and hook onto the bend you made first.

6. Loop onto some festive ribbon and hang.

Gift Guide Series Vol. 9 - He Steals Your Beauty Products

1. Bluebeard's Revenge Shaving Cream  2. Korres Eye Cream  3. Malin + Goetz Rum Soap

4. Clarins Moisture Balm 5. Clarisonic Classic 6. L'Occitane Cade Shower gel

7. Aveda Grooming Clay 8. Kiehl's Facial Fuel Scrub 9. Mulberry Wash Bag

...so buy him his own.

xx

Foundations

Today I had a rather epic session of applying then removing my foundation collection. For reference (and if you don't want to hear me ramble on) there are photos and info after the jump. If not here's my verdict in video form:

(comedy thumbnail courtesy of Youtube)

Gift Guide Series Vol. 8 - Explorer

1. Zara Leather Gloves 2. Neal's Yard Wild Rose Daily Moisture SPF 3. Victorinox Huntsman

4. Water Bobble 5. Pringle Chunky Marl Socks 6. Fjall Raven Kanken Rucksack

7. Rapha Classic Cycling Jersey 8. Field Notes Memo Books 9. Map Hip Flask

A third gift guide for the guys as people often complain that they are the hardest to buy for. There is one more to come so if the male on your list is not the outdoorsy type check back soon! 

xx

Gift Guide Series Vol. 7 - Bibliophile

1. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 2. Topshop Alphabet Sweat 3. Walt Whitman Poster

4. Book Bag 5. Moby Dick Journal by Out of Print 6. Penguin Classics Mug

7. True Grace 'Library' Scented Candle 8. Brewhaha Everyday Tea 9. TLS Subscription

Ok, I admit it. This gift guide is rather unashamedly self indulgent. Though with almost 4 years experience as an English student I think I'm well placed to assess the needs of anyone whose time is largely occupied with books. 

Occasionally the imagination needs a helping hand and gently flickering candles set the scene for an isolated manor on blustery moor. The True Grace's 'Library' candle promises notes of amber, wood and moss to evoke 'memories of that old library and its well-worn books and furnishings'. 

Tea is also very important to the reader. Personally I'm a PG Tips girl, bar the occasional adulterous fling with my Northern bit-on-the-side (Yorkshire Tea). But for gifts try Brewhaha - they have awesome retro packaging and are UK based.

Just add hot water...maybe some milk, a couple of biscuits and a nice wooly blanket.

xx

p.s. One month until Christmas!

Gift Guide Series Vol. 6 - Gourmand

1. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer 2. Anthropologie Artichoke Ornament 3. River Cottage Veg

4. Russian Doll Measuring Cups 5. White Truffle Oil 6. Hotel Chocolate Salted Caramels

7. Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Cards 8. Mozzarella Making Kit 9. Peyton and Byrne British Baking

I don't know about you but I always have quite a few foodies on my Christmas list, hence me putting together this unisex selection that should satisfy most ages and tastes. 

As an aside, I own a copy of the Peyton and Byrne cookery book so can vouch for the beautiful photography and flipping amazing recipe for Tunnock's Tea Cakes. 

Everyday Makeup - Part II

Here's another version of my everyday makeup routine, this time in video form. If you have any (within reason!) questions you want answered in the next video feel free to pop them below.


Products used:
NARS Sheer Glow - Ceylan
Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus
Sleek Contour Kit in Light
MAC Sheertone Blush in Loverush
MAC eyeshadows in Charcoal Brown (eyebrows) and Mulch (lids)
Rimmel Flash Eyeliner
MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara
Brushes:
Sephora Mineral Powder Brush
Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush
Eco Tools Bronzer Brush
Real Techniques Multi Task Brush
Bobbi Brown Brow Groomer
Louise Young Angled eye brush
Sigma Tapered Highlighter Brush F35
Sigma Tapered Blending Brush E35


xx

Gift Guide Series Vol. 5 - For Small People

1. Dragon Booties 2. Organic Christmas Tree Walnut Teether 3. Corduroy Rhino

4. Cath Kidston London Playing Cards 5. H&M Penguin Cardigan 6. L'Occitane Baby Balm

7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle 8. Ikea Toy Vegetables 9. Zara Needlecord Dress

Glossybox

I know the internet is awash with Youtube videos and blog posts about beauty boxes but I thought I'd offer my two pence after I was contacted by Glossybox asking if they could send me a box for consideration. 

I'll admit I was frustrated by Glossybox's first contact with me. It is all to easy for an email to be impersonal but if a business is contacting someone regarding (what is essentially) free advertising for their company, I feel the very least a company could do is research your blog and Youtube channel name - rather than simply writing 'your blog/channel'.

A little pedantic perhaps, but I feel this is part of a wider problem about  the 'personalised' service that was a key selling point of Glossybox when they first launched. Since then I've read numerous blog posts in which subscribers have been disappointed by a disparity between their demographic and what they have received in their boxes (see 18-year-old Hollie's great review of October's box here).

Nevertheless I was intrigued and will freely admit I was hoping there might be something of the calibre of the HD brow kit in this month's box.

Before I start on the products, I wanted to say that one thing I do really like about Glossybox is how cohesive their branding is. I'm a bit of a nerd like that. Whilst all that pink isn't for everyone (me included, usually), from the moment it turns up at the door - or at the Post Office if your postman rings at 8am on a Saturday (and 1pm every other day of the week) and nobody wants to get the door - you know who the parcel is from and this is a nice touch which all adds to the anticipation factor. The consistency of colours, fonts and logos is really pleasing to look at and makes the whole concept feel more polished and thought out.

Gift Guide Series Vol. 4 - The Boy

1. Topman Jumper 2. Star Wars Limited Edition Print 3. Universal Works Bobble Hat

4. Solar System Mug 5. Felt iPad Case 6. Charles Bukowski Poetry 

7. Topman Snowflake Socks 8. Hendrick's Gin 9. New Balance 420's

Gift Guide Series Vol. 3 - Dad

1. Whisky Rocks 2. Monthly Selection from The Cheese Society 3. Toast Wool Felt Slippers 

4. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 5. Malin and Goetz Tobacco Candle 6. Custom Wall Calendar

7. Tweed Wash Bag 8. Liz Earle for Men Cleanse & Polish 9. Kindle 3G

Gift Guide Series Vol. 2 - Mum

1. Zara Plaited Shopper 2. Bobbi Brown Powder Brush 3. Origins Ginger Rush Moisturiser

4. Diptyque Figuier 5. The White Company Cashmere Socks 6. Toast Hand Crochet Throw

7. Alkemie Lavender Bangle 8. Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate 9. Rifle Paper Co. 2012 Botanical Calendar 

Gift Guide Series Vol. 1 - The Best (female) Friend

1. Alpabet Bags Wash Bag 2. Essie Angora Cardi 3. The Gentlewoman magazine 

4. NARS Yachiyo Brush 5. Regal Rose Mini triangle necklace 6. Nebula Silk Scarf 

7. Topshop Lipstick in Inhibition 8. Zara Sequin Wallet 9. Burt's Bees Banana Hand Creme

I've decided to run a little series of gift guides leading up to Christmas, so welcome to part one - the BFF.

I'll try to cater for as many ages, genders, budgets and tastes as possible but if you are buying for a particularly tricky individual and would like me to post some ideas, do let me know in the comments.

Happy shopping!

xx

Frontcover AW11

I wanted to squeeze in time to review a couple of sets from Boots' fastest selling brand, Frontcover, as they are currently on 3 for 2 alongside lots of other Boots gift sets. The first set from this years AW collection is Moon Dust* which retails at £16. The set comes with six pigments, two holographic glitters, a Shadowbase and a double ended eye applicator. Many of the Frontcover sets come with helpful hints and directions from makeup artists, making them ideal gifts for makeup beginners, as well as those who have a little more skill wielding an eyeshadow brush and can truly appreciate the flexibility of these kits. 

Here are the pigments and glitters swatched on top of the Shadowbase:

   

L-R: Periwinkle, Moondance, Lime Lime, Coal Hoal

L-R: Coinage, Saddle Brown, Burnt Carrot, Doubloon

As you can see, Coinage is absolutely stunning. It's really quite similar to MAC's Amber Lights, but packs considerably more punch in the pigmentation department. The pigments are all buttery soft and easy to work with. However the holographic glitters, Doubloon and Periwinkle, feel rather gritty to touch. This may not bother some people, and they are very pretty, but they would almost certainly irritate my eyes.

I'm a little perplexed by the inclusion of the Lime Lime pigment as, even with the MUA directions, it doesn't seem particularly cohesive with the rest of the set. Any thoughts?

Next up is the Gilt Edged* set which retails for £25. It promises 'Glitter, shimmer and shine all over from your head to your toes'...which is slightly obscure as the set doesn't include nail polish - but I suppose there are possibilities for experimentation with your own nail polish and the pigments and glitters included in the set.

  

As before, the set comes with a dual ended applicator and also an applicator for blush - both pretty useless in my opinion, but perhaps useful for someone starting out in makeup. There is a Peachy Peach Domed Baked Powder Blush, which is a little disappointing in pigmentation, but offers a pretty sheen. The Shimmer Stick is very similar to NARS multiples with an easily blendable, silky texture which gives a healthy glow, only let down by slightly chunky gold glitter. I'm not a lipgloss kind of girl but the dual ended lipgloss included has a nice dose of colour and is surprisingly not particularly sticky. 

 L-R: Peachy Peach blush, Pink Frost lipgloss, Peach Sparkle lipgloss, Shimmer Stick

L-R: Chunky metallic pencil end 1 and end 2, Burnt Carrot, Doubloon

Also included are the Burnt Carrot pigment and Doubloon glitter, a Shadowbase and a super pigmented, creamy dual-ended metallic pencil.

Of course in any gift set or palette, high end or low, there always seems to be one or two duds that are a little lacking pigmentation or not to something you'd usually opt for. However both sets essentially work out as about £2 per item which is fantastic value considering some of the items are really excellent quality. 

Have you tried any Frontcover makeup before? What do you think of the new sets?

xx

*PR Samples

The Little Deer

If you've been keeping tabs on my Youtube channel, you may have already seen an 'Outfit of the Day' video featuring a company called The Little Deer. If you haven't, it's here:



The Little Deer are a British based company and if you're of the Etsy persuasion or are looking for quirky Christmas gifts then it's really worth checking out their (rather adorable) website. They stock a great selection of ladies vintage and an impressive selection of work by independent designers. Check these beauties out:

Bandit Print A by Laura Jayne Weeks - £10 It's actually taking a lot of self control (aka my empty bank account) not to snap this up. It's just friggin' adorable. 

Cold Picnic Coiled Bib Necklace - £17.60 This is the necklace I'm wearing in the video and it falls right in with my current collar necklace obsession (I bought yet another from H&M last week). It was designed by partners Phoebe Sung and Peter Buer...no, I don't know who they are, but they have rad names!

I love finding talented independent artists and small boutique companies, so if you know of any please do leave links below! x

Purchase of the day

'Purchase of the day' makes me sound rather like I buy something everyday (I don't, promise) but I thought I'd write a quick post about this buy as it's a good example of spending some time researching before you part with your cash...or in my current situation, pennies.

I spotted these mittens in the press just before Kurt Geiger released this line of accessories and thought they were pretty lust worthy. There was also a gorgeous iPad cover but I don't own one of those, I do however have hands and they often get cold. These little beauties are knit and leather with the leather mitten unzipping to reveal a knit fingerless glove - perfect for a bit of smartphone usage.

Just one problem then. They cost £70. Yes. Really.

So I picked up Elle magazine this morning, a costly £3.80 but far superior to Vogue in its quality of content (in particular, journalism, though granted that can also be a bit patchy) and it just so happened to come with a £20 Kurt Geiger gift card. That brings the mittens down to £50, or £53.80 if you include the magazine. Are you still following? However there is another code floating around the web that you receive when signing up to the KG newsletter which then gives you 25% off. So over all I managed to get the mittens for £34 including shipping and hopefully no more cold fingers!