Tag: holiday

Best Festive Sweaters: Christmas Jumper Round-up 2015!

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I’m not going to lie. From November until January, I wear as many Christmas jumpers as I possibly can. December is obviously reserved for the most Christmassy of my collection, but there’s nothing wrong with wearing a nice Fair Isle inspired sweater, or a cute reindeer print in the dark days of January (and beyond…?)

With that in mind, I’ve scoured some of my favourite retailers to bring you my best of the festive selection!

The Best Christmas Jumpers

Here’s where to get your hands on these beauties, starting from the top left, then moving left to right, row by row:

Which is your favourite? I have to say, it’s hard for me to pick, but the Joules navy stripe with stag print might just be my favourite – I’ve purchase one, and it’s so soft I don’t want to take it off! And, as a bonus, the stag head is knitted with gold sparkly wool, too! Heaven!

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9 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Pillow Fight

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9 Dec text

Under the door today is Pillow Fight, a deep and moody purple with a playful side!

9 Dec opening

Ciate says: “Creamy delicate grey with the smallest hint of lilac, innocent looking with an edge. Get ready to release your playful side.” You can buy a full bottle here.

9 Dec montage

The straight up colour is on the left, and on the right is OPI’s matte top coat over it. And I thought I’d pose with my favourite trinket – a ceramic pot which used to hold Fortnum’s relish, but now holds my earrings on my bedside table!

As for the colour itself, I’d argue this is purple with a hint of grey, rather than the other way around – and it’s Christmas, so that means arguing is pretty much par for the course!

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8 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Kiss Chase

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8 Dec Text

It’s bright, neon pink for Sunday, with Ciate’s Kiss Chase – under door number eight of my advent calendar!

8 Dec Opening Montage

What can I say other than this is unashamedly girly.? Ciate’s decription reads: “A dreamy pink to make the boy’s wink, super girly and sure to become the Paint Pot equivalent of your BFF. Bold high coverage one coat colour with luminous pastel tendencies. Pucker up!” Buy a pot here.

8 Dec Montage

Bold pink is not really my thing, but even Kiss Chase is growing on me! And what do you think of the matte version, on the right? (By the way, I added three coats to my nails, because it seemed slightly sheer to me, somehow! But then, I was painting my nails at 2.30 in the morning!)

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7 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Fit For A Queen

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7 Dec Text

Today it was like Christmas on the Starship Enterprise, thanks to the sci-fi glam of Fit For A Queen!

7 Dec Opening Montage

Here’s Ciate’s decription: “A classic chrome silver. Just what you need to finish that super duper sequinned dress. Think liquid platinum, full of glamour and seduction. Team with your favourite silver studded boots for the glam rock look or with a LBD for sexy sophistication.” You can buy a full bottle here.

7 Dec Montage

I tried Fit For A Queen with matte top coat (top right), Ciate’s Snow Globe from earlier in the month (bottom left) and Pirouette My Whistle from OPI (bottom right). Which one is your favourite? I probably sound like a stuck record, but I’m digging the matte effect!

7 Dec

Couldn’t resist posing with my latest favourite purchase: the beautiful Zara necklace that Kate Middleton was wearing on the red carpet this week – and of course, it was also seen on the delightful Mary Berry during Graham Norton’s show! Sadly, it’s now sold out, but you can bag one on eBay if you don’t mind paying a premium!

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6 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Sugar Plum

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6 Dec Text

A pretty pastel shade for Friday – it’s Sugar Plum under door number six of Ciate’s Mini Mani Month advent calendar!

6 Dec Opening

Ciate’s description reads: “Baby doll parmaviolet. Delicious creams create a colour perfect for the spring and summer. Unique and flirtatious that screams pass me my floral skirt and pussybow blouse.” You can purchase a full bottle here.

Pastel shades aren’t really my thing, although this is a pretty shade if you want to fully embrace your girly side!

6 Dec Montage

I also gave it a whirl under a matte top coat (bottom left – although I didn’t really dry it enough, the finish is much more matte than it appears there!). What do you reckon to this colour – are you a Sugar Plum fairy?!

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4 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Miss Mistletoe

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4 Dec text

Behind door number four is the beautiful and glamorous Miss Mistletoe! I was very excited to try out the month’s first sequin set and I wasn’t disappointed.

4 Dec Opening montage

Miss Mistletoe isn’t available to buy separately from Ciate’s site, but you can still buy sets with sequins included, like the emerald set, which also has caviar, velvet and a full sized lacquer, all in green of course!

4 Dec montage

The sequins are pink and gold, and perfect for a luxe take on festivities! I love the name too – I definitely like getting nods to Christmas in the advent calendar, as pretty much everything I do in December revolves around Christmas, so it’s nice to co-ordinate! I really think this is a contender for a New Year’s Eve mani, too – that gold is just gorgeous.

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It’s easy to apply too, although you will end up with sequins everywhere – just like Ciate’s caviar, you simply paint your nail the desired colour, then pour the sequins over the top, press to firm everything up, then allow the excess to fall off. You may have to tidy the edges and remove any sequins not quite flush. Then, for added protection, paint a top coat over everything to keep it in place!Square logo initials

2 Dec: Ciate Mini Mani Month – Boudoir

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2 Dec text Boudoir

The second day of Mini Mani Month brings with it one of my favourite colours for nails – red, in the form of Boudoir!

2 Dec opening Boudoir

Ciate’s site describes it as: “A sassy flirtatious red. Pink may make the boys wink, but this red will knock ’em dead. Team with that figure hugging dress and killer heels to unleash your inner diva.” (Buy it here.)

A bit heartier and darker than last year’s cheery bright Mistress, and lighter than the brooding Dangerous Affair, this is another brilliant red for Christmas. The only criticism I’d give it is that it’s very slightly sheer – I used two coats (plus bottom and top coat) and my nails were still slightly visible.

2 Dec montage Boudoir

I decided to have a little fun with a matte top coat (from OPI), and then tipped my nail’s with last year’s Ladylike Luxe for a festive finish! I’d definitely recommend this one for anyone who was after a classic red for nails. It practically screams Christmas.

2 Dec Bleached

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Halloween at Fortnum and Mason

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F&M have really knocked it out of the park with their seasonal selections this year. At the beginning of the month, I headed to London with my husband for my birthday and had a blast taking a look at both the Halloween and Christmas displays at the department store. I’ll save the Christmas pics for now, but I thought I’d share these spooky visual treats with you in celebration of Halloween tomorrow!

Fortnum Mason Montage 1

There will definitely be some lucky trick or treaters in London tomorrow if these goodies are anything to go by! You can order online at http://www.fortnumandmason.com/, or pop into the store at 181 Piccadilly. If you’ve never been, you really should visit this most beautiful and historic department store – and if you’re already a regular, I hope I’ve induced you to pop in again to see their amazing seasonal displays!

Personally, I am lusting over that lollipop, those skulls, and those darling little hampers. I’ve always wanted a F&M hamper, and those ones with the orange ribbons are just too adorable!

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Halloween Snakeskin Nail Art Tutorial

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I’m really getting into the Halloween spirit here, and this is my third and final Halloween nail tutorial. (You can see my post about a pretty starry night tutorial here, and a pumpkin confetti tutorial here.)

As I’m going to be dressing as Medusa this Halloween, I thought a snakeskin mani was the only appropriate choice for nail art! Luckily, it’s pretty easy to replicate this.

Snakeskin Montage 1Indigo Skull Scarf, Alexander McQueen

All you need is are two contrasting colours, some lace, and a makeup sponge. I’ve found that this effect works best if you use a dark colour underneath and a lighter colour on top. My tools are in the top left, and my first attempt is on the top right. Bottom left shows you how to place the lace over your varnished nail: basically, paint your nails as usual with your base and colour, then stretch over the lace and sponge the lighter top coat over the top, very sparingly. You then end up with the effect on the right! I used Ruby & Millie in Green, and topped with Revlon’s Gold Coin. Then, a slick of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, if you’re happy with the look. But me, I’m NEVER happy…

Snakeskin Montage 2Snake Finger Tip Ring, ASOS / Grey Snakeskin Bag, Primark / Snake Bracelet, ASOS / Snake Necklace, eBay / Grey Skull Bracelet, Links of London

The top two images are the plain snakeskin mani, but if your base colour is very opaque, you can paint that over the top again, and get a really subtle snakeskin look, especially if you use a metallic glitter like I did…

But wait! There’s more!

Matte montageEmerald Ring, Primark

If you’re going the whole hog, you may as well add some OPI Matte Top Coat, too! I found it really makes the snakeskin effect pop through the opaque layer…

Matte nails 2

Any plans for fancy nails this Halloween? Is anyone going to try out these tutorials? Let me know below!

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