This Month's Favourites | December 2015

It's New Year's Eve, people all over the world are getting dolled up and ready for a night on the town, and I'm sat here in my pj's binge watching Jersey Shore. What can I say? I'm too old for partying like it's 1999 2015. 

Before the year is out and I settle down to some scrumptious food and a night of documentaries with my better half, I wanted to share my December favourites with you all. Featuring a few essentials, a couple of products which have become real hero products for me in 2015 and a couple of new products I can't get enough of, these are all more than deserving of a spot in my December favourites.

The December Subscription Boxes 2015

Last month I introduced a new way of sharing my monthly reviews of UK subscription boxes, the November subscription boxes 2015, and it seemed to go down pretty darn well. Instead of featuring each different subscription box in it's own individual post (which with the amount of monthly boxes I receive, can often take up a lot of posts throughout the month), the new way I will be sharing each month's subscription boxes is in one handy round-up review post. 

With December - and 2015 - almost over, it's time to share this month's subscription boxes with you all. December boxes are always fun, it's a great time for the different brands to up their game and make their box not only festive, but one which stands out from all the other boxes who are also trying to make that perfect end of year box. With so many subscription boxes going above and beyond in 2015 to step up their game when it comes to brands and products featured inside of their monthly boxes, the December box has never been such an important box to get right.

Budget Baby Wardrobe

The 2 week countdown has officially begun, I am now 38 weeks pregnant and baby could arrive any day now. Every day I keep telling myself to slow down, that I could go into labour at any point and baby could be here before I know it, but it still seems surreal. I've been pregnant for 8 and a half months, I've known since I was 5 weeks pregnant on the dot, the majority of my 2015 has been spent pregnant. The idea that soon I won't be pregnant, but in fact I'll be a 'mother' with a baby to look after, it's all a little mind blowing if I'm honest.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Face Mask

When I first started blogging one of the most popular skincare products that everyone was trying, was the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream. An eye cream I have used and adored myself, it's one of the few eye creams I have repurchased several times and was a particular favourite of mine when I was in University and had lots of early mornings for the commute down to London. My love for the eye cream soon become a love for the ever-expanding Ginzing range, finding the Ginzing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser to be one of the most lovely and beneficial facial moisturisers I have ever come across, and one I always ensure to have stashed away in my skincare drawer. Since then more and more products have joined the Ginzing family, and the latest to join my ever-growing list of Origins favourites is the Ginzing Refreshing Face Mask, a mask I couldn't resist giving a try.

When Plans Unravel

Today I am 37 weeks pregnant exactly. All the professionals, the baby books, the baby apps, everything tells you to have your hospital bags ready by the front door by 36 weeks, as from that point onwards baby could technically arrive at any moment. I planned for months that by 36 weeks I would have my hospital bags ready and raring to go - I even had a post drafted for last Tuesday, to share my hospital bags with you all. Alas, the last couple of weeks have seen things go a little off plan for me.

I have had the majority of my hospital bags packed for a good couple of weeks, with just a few things left to tick off on my 'to pack' list, but they're still not quite 100% ready. Why? Because our midwife appointment last week at 36 weeks didn't quite go to plan, and everything is a little bit up in the air right now.

Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten

A couple of weeks ago when I shared my post on Christmas gifts under £30, I included a limited edition eyeshadow palette from Soap & Glory which got a lot of attention and love on Instagram and Twitter. Since then this has been one of my most used eyeshadow palettes, adoring the shade selection and finishes which are particularly lovely for this time of year. 

The Perfect Ten Eyeshadow Palette (£16) is limited edition, not to mention currently part of the Boots 3 for 2 offer across all Christmas gifts, I thought it would be a great time to share a more in-depth full review with you all, as this really is a beautiful palette not to be missed! It would make a fantastic gift for any friends or loved ones who you are yet to tick off on your Christmas list, or even a nice end of year treat for yourself. Plus, it's a bit of a bargain buy - what's not to love?!

Lush Pink Flamingo Reusable Bubble Bar

There's no denying I'm a huge Lush fan, I go on about them enough on all my social media platforms as well as reviewing them very often here on the blog. I love baths and for me there's no better way to indulge in a bath time pamper than with Lush products. One of the products I love the most from Lush is their huge bubble bar range, loving them as an alternative to your traditional bubble bath which you would pour into the bath, there's something so much more fun about crumbling a fun and quirky bubble bar that smells delicious and turns your bath water crazy colours whilst creating tons of bubbles. 

One type of bubble bar in particular that I've never been swayed by though, is the bubble bar wands. Stars, moustaches, flamingos, I've always steered clear of them because they seem to be a bit of a fuss to use. You have to find somewhere for them to dry after each use and they don't simply crumble by hand for you to pop under running water like the usual bubble bars which I am so used to using. The wands are meant to be held under running water or swished through your bath water, for them to create bubbles.

Christmas with tarte

There's just one week left until Christmas and the time for dashing out to finish off your Christmas shopping is quickly disappearing. For those last minute Christmas gifts for the makeup adorers in your life, there's a huge range of Christmas gift sets available over on QVC, with one brand in particular ticking all the boxes when it comes to beautiful makeup gift sets and limited edition collections that are hard to resist.

Of all the overseas brands which have branched out to the UK, tarte is definitely the brand to get the most excited about. A brand I absolutely adore, their products have the most beautiful packaging with some incredible product formulas throughout the range which boost amazing colour pay-off and fab longevity, making tarte a brand to be rivalled with. I've personally always purchased tarte products when making Sephora orders online, but having seen the pretty reasonable prices of the collections and gift sets on QVC, it's definitely swayed me into making a few UK based orders in future. For a brand which is so popular and products that are such great quality, their gift sets, collections and palettes are all very, very reasonable in price. There's a huge selection on offer, many of which can still be ordered in time for Christmas delivery, something to suit all beauty tastes and needs.

Neal's Yard Remedies Mother & Baby Organic Collection

We've now hit the 36 weeks pregnant mark and with just 4 weeks left until our due date, things are getting serious. At the end of this week I will be considered full term and our baby could technically come at any point from now onwards. That's a pretty scary thought, although I suspect I will go overdue! All of our baby clothes have been washed, our hospital bags are packed and my birth plan has been written. All that's left is a couple more midwife appointments and to decorate the nursery, which we plan on starting this weekend. Time has absolutely flown by and it is crazy to think that in just 4 short weeks, our baby could be here.

If you've been reading my weekly pregnancy posts which I started sharing from just over 15 weeks pregnant, you will know that it is really important to my partner and I that we do whatever we can to ensure our baby is safe and healthy, and that includes the products we use on our baby and it's delicate, sensitive skin. This means we won't be using any products which use unnecessary filler ingredients, or ingredients which I know can cause skin sensitivity issues; instead we will be opting to use products and brands which use organic and natural ingredients.

Body Care Favourites of 2015

Whenever the end of year drawers near I always find it really lovely to go through all the products I've enjoyed using that year. Usually it's the makeup and skincare posts I get most excited to share my favourite products of the year for, but this year there are some real stand-out products which have become regulars in my body care routine, that I am really excited to share them all with you today. A couple are pregnancy-specific (although products which would be just as lovely for those not expecting, too), with a couple of indulgent treats, some delicious scents and a real budget-friendly all-round winner. Let's get stuck in, shall we?

Reaching for Berry Lips

The berry lip. Typical to autumn and the festive season, a shade which is reignited each year as soon as the weather turns dark and cold and the winter candles and cosy blankets come out. Berry hues will always have a place in the run up to Christmas, no matter what trends come and go, and there are few shades which make me feel as confident - and happy - as a bold berry lip. Lipsticks, lip pencils, liquid lacquers and glittering glosses, all of them have a place in my berry lip arsenal. 

Bee Good Youth Enhancing Lift & Brighten Eye Cream

Applying eye cream morning and night is a really important part of my skincare routine, just as much as ensuring I cleanse properly, as the skin under our eyes is so thin and delicate it really does need that extra loving care. Now I'm on the dark side of  my 20's with my 30's drawing near, it's even more important than before that I use an eye cream which will look after that delicate skin, helping to keep skin healthy as it ages.

Over the past 5 weeks I've been trying the Bee Good Lift & Brighten Eye Cream, part of the new 3 product Youth Enhancing skincare range from cruelty-free Bee Good, which features a serum, eye cream and moisturiser which together aim to keep skin youthful, healthy and happy. A range which is suitable for all skin types but especially beneficial for mature or ageing skin, it holds big claims - but does it deliver?

Pregnancy essentials & must-have products

Today I am 35 weeks pregnant, which means I have been documenting and sharing my pregnancy with you all for 20 weeks now, since just after I hit the 15 week mark and felt brave enough to publicly share the news. If you missed my announcement post, when your life changes forever, you will know that I was in two minds about whether to share such a personal aspect of my life so publicly, but I am glad I did. This blog is an extension of me and I have never shied away from sharing my life before. With such a huge thing happening in my life offline, I don't think I would have been able to keep it secret online.

It seems like I've been sharing these weekly posts with you all forever and I have to admit that with only 5 weeks left to go until my due date, I will miss sitting down each week in the countdown to baby arriving and sharing my thoughts, excitement and nerves. Of course I'll still be posting weekly with a baby themed post, but they will be very different from my pregnancy posts, documenting life as a first time mum with a newborn and getting to grips with being a parent. Parent, that is a scary word! I'm going to be a mum, wow.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

One of the most exciting beauty releases of the year is undoubtedly the stunningly presented Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette from Urban Decay. For makeup fans, the news of a new Urban Decay palette is always exciting, but for me the collaboration with Gwen Stefani really did top the makeup releases of 2015 for me. I am a huge fan of Gwen Stefani, not just for her solo work, but more so for her work with No Doubt, a real favourite band of mine whose albums I grew up with. Gwen has a really unique, feisty and delicious personal style that stands out from other women of her status, a style I could never pull off myself but a style I admire and swoon over nonetheless. 

Christmas with Bobbi Brown

Oh Bobbi Brown, you always know the way to this girl's heart.

When it comes to luxury few brands get it as right as Bobbi Brown. Products which team beautiful product formulas with incredible shade ranges and gorgeous finishes that together work to create stunning ranges which are easy to work with and let you enhance your look, adding just the right amount of oomph to the areas that you want to stand out whilst keeping your overall look natural, chic and oh so very glamorous. The Christmas releases are the perfect example of Bobbi Brown's ethos when it comes to makeup and beauty, without the need for fancy packaging or Christmas themed shade selections, just classic Bobbi Brown with that simplistic yet bold packaging and a lovely mix of new and old to satisfy any beauty adorer this festive season.

Cooking made easy with Gousto

I've always loved cooking, in fact it's one of my favourite things to do and from a very young age I have cooked all of my own meals. I used to love Food Technology back in high school and since around the age of 11 as soon as I started learning the basics of cooking and a few core meals, I started to cook my own meals at home. I wasn't the biggest fan of my mum's cooking, so it gave me the opportunity to cook meals to my own taste, seasoning and adding spices to my liking and experimenting with different cuisines, tastes and textures. I look cooking for myself, for friends, for family, oh and of course for the other half. 

Luxurious Christmas Gifts Under £50

December is under way, Christmas is just 22 sleeps away and I'm here with my final Christmas gift guide. So far we've covered the best budget beauty gifts, with all gifts featured coming in at under £15, as well as beauty gifts under £30 for those of you looking for something with a bit more oomph. We've gone through delicious edible treats and beautiful seasonal scents with my Christmas gift guide for the home and we've even covered babies and those under 5 in my gift guide for children. Today for my final gift guide it's time to feature the luxurious beauty gifts worth adding to your Christmas list this festive season, the extra indulgent sets to help you really spoil your nearest and dearest and a couple of things you should definitely treat yourself to after another long year; it's time to delve into my top beauty picks under £50. 

Ragdale Hall Experience Day

On Sunday I had the pleasure of popping along to Ragdale Hall Hydro Health and Thermal Spa, which is located very close to me within a 15 minute drive. I've been to Ragdale Hall once before, last summer with fellow blogger Charlotte who writes over at Lilmisschickas, and it was a heavenly day spent enjoying the Pure Detox Spa Day. Ever since that first visit I have been absolutely in love with Ragdale Hall and it's a spa I always recommend to friends and family. Situated in the heart of the British Countryside nearby Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, it's a slice of heaven tucked away from busy life, the perfect place to get away from everyday stresses and take some much needed 'me time'. 

On this visit I got to experience the 'Ragdale Hall Experience Day', which is the perfect package for anyone who wants to see what Ragdale Hall has to offer without going for a full spa package, with the added benefit of being able to upgrade or amend the day to suit your needs. My Experience Day included a treatment specifically tailored for expectant mama's; the Elemis Nurturing Massage for the Mother-to-Be. 

Theraline Original Maternity and Nursing Pillow

Yesterday we reached the 34 weeks pregnant mark. I cannot even begin to tell you how surreal it feels knowing that not only is our due date only 6 weeks away, but now that we are in December I can also officially say 'our baby is due next month!'. How crazy is that? 

If you've followed my weekly posts so far throughout my pregnancy then you will know I have had a pretty easy pregnancy so far with no morning sickness or severe pregnancy issues. In fact, everything has gone pretty smoothly. There's only a few niggles I've had, and most of them have been to do with having an extremely sore back and shoulders.

Makeup Favourites of 2015

With the end of 2015 drawing to a close and the Christmas countdown officially starting tomorrow, it's time to start sharing my favourite products of the year. The first of a few posts coming your way, today I'm going to be sharing the makeup products which stood out for me the most. From budget-friendly brands whose products left me pleasantly surprised, to high-end favourites that are well worth the splurge. These are the makeup products I have used the most in 2015, the products I have been reaching for time and time again - my makeup favourites of 2015.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Children

Over the past couple of weeks I have shared a few different Christmas gift guides with you all, with a couple more still to go. So far we've covered the best budget-friendly beauty gifts with my top picks of Christmas gift ideas under £15 as well as a few more extra special beauty treats with my favourite Christmas gifts under £30. I've also taken care of scents and tasty food related gifts, with my gift guide on Christmas gifts for the home. Today is the turn of gifts perfect for children, covering toys, books, keepsakes and even beauty sets that are perfect for the little ones in your life, covering newborns to young children.

The November Subscription Boxes 2015

Subscription boxes have always had a place on Tattooed Tealady, ever since I first started writing this blog back in early 2012. I used to share monthly reviews of every beauty box going, both brands which are still around now as well as those who have fizzled out and long-since stopped business. Over the years the boxes and brands of monthly subscription boxes I shared has gone down, finding myself with a couple of select favourites and ultimately realising that I didn't need to be subscribed to every single box going; at the time it was a good way to introduce myself to new products and brands, but over time it just ended up with me having mountains of boxes and samples I never got around to using.

The boxes which feature on Tattooed Tealady now are boxes which I really do love and look forward to receiving each month. Not just specific to beauty any more, either, but including home and lifestyle boxes which are full with beautiful scented and exceptionally tasty treats each month. Today I wanted to share these boxes with you in a new format; one post a month sharing each fabulous subscription which has popped through my door that month. Let's get stuck in shall we?

Lush Christmas Haul

A well over-due haul, I actually picked up these few bits from the recent Lush Nottingham Bloggers Event, and now that I'm finally getting round to using them I thought it was about time they made an appearance on the blog, especially as I can give you a proper review of how each works and whether I think they're worth adding to your pampering box (hint: they absolutely are). 

This Month's Favourites | November 2015

OK who else is slightly alarmed by how quickly November flew by? I can't believe December is just a few days away and then it's officially the countdown to Christmas. Excitement overload! There's a few old favourites cropping up in this month's favourites as well as a couple of new products I've been indulging in. Overall I'm pretty smitten with this month's picks and all are products which I have really struggled to put down. 

Blooming Lovely Pretty Silver Bola Necklace

Today I am 33 weeks pregnant. Time is absolutely flying by and I can't quite get over how little time we have left. I know, I know, I say that every week lately, but honestly? It's starting to really kick in just how close our due date is and the nerves are seriously taking over. I'm even dreaming about it, and not always in a positive way either - anyone else wish labour was as easy as clicking your fingers or waving a magic wand? I'm nervous, and scared, and more than a little bit apprehensive. 

One benefit of being so close to our due date is that I'm starting to do the things I 'need' to do at this stage. My hospital bags are almost packed, I'm writing my birth plan, I'm trying to take time to relax and unwind, to remember that although labour may not be a fun experience, we will have our baby at the end of it, and spending a fair bit of time trying to get in a positive mindset. One thing which is helping me to feel more calm and soothed when I find myself getting a little over-worried, is my new Pretty Silver Bola Necklace. 

Christmas Gifts Under £30

With the final week of November underway, the run up to Christmas has never been closer. I've been talking about Christmas a lot over the past few weeks, but I can't help it. As soon as November 1st comes around each year it's like an alarm goes off in my brain and I can't help but think of Christmas and how much I love the festive season and everything it brings. 

My Christmas Gift Guides are now well underway, having shared the best beauty gifts under £15 as well as some lovely Christmas gifts for the home featuring a few delicious treats and an amazing array of incredible home scents. Today I'm back with another beauty themed gift guide, covering all the best gifts you can pick up for between £15 - £30. With gifts perfect for all ages and covering a variety of beauty needs, my under £30 gift picks are sure to make the perfect presents this Christmas.

Sunday Post #49

It's been awhile since one of my Sunday posts was dedicated to a good old catch up, but after my first weekend in as long as I can remember being at home without any plans giving me the chance to get a lot of things ticked off on my to-do list, I think it's the perfect time for a good old chinwag, don't you?

Soft Autumnal Cheeks

If you've caught my autumnal posts so far you'll have seen me share my top tips for making autumnal hues work for you, some stunning purple, red and nude hues that make perfect autumnal lips, how I like to spend my cosy autumn evenings and most recently, my autumn scent library. Continuing on with the autumnal theme, today I've pulled out all my favourite autumn blushes starting from the very budget-friendly picks to some more high-end splurge buys. Blushes and shades which are lovely for this time of year, work with a variety of looks and which ultimately work to compliment a look, with flattering finishes and workable hues. 

Mama Mio for Pregnancy Skin

If you've read any of my pregnancy posts so far (which go up every Tuesday, if you're interested) or my recent monthly favourites posts, you will know that I have seriously upped my body care routine over the course of my pregnancy. I've always been one to pamper and preen, it's one of my favourite ways to relax and unwind and I'm a firm believer in taking some time out of everyday just for yourself, even if it's only 10 minutes. 

I've always had a morning and night time body care routine, which includes cleansing and moisturising, applying various lotions and potions. I think it's something I picked up from my mum - she was always applying some cream or other and so it was something I started doing from a young age. I actually find a lot of friends don't bother with moisturising, even those friends who are super into their skincare or love adding every product you can imagine to their hair, our bodies definitely get forgotten about sometimes yet they deserve the love just as much as our faces or hair!

Christmas Gifts for the Home

With the festive season about to take over, Christmas has been dipping it's toes into some recent posts on Tattooed Tealady and this week I kicked things off with my first of five Christmas Gift Guides, featuring the best beauty gifts under £15. Today it's the turn of home and food to take spotlight, with my gift guide featuring all the best home scents and delicious treats which will make the most perfect Christmas gifts this year.

The Autumn Scent Library

There's been a little bit of an autumnal theme on Tattooed Tealady recently, firstly sharing how to make autumnal hues work for you before delving into my favourite autumnal lip products and even going so far as to give you a little window into life outside of the beauty reviews, with a feature on how I like to spend cosy autumn evenings. Today I wanted to talk scents with you, with my autumn scent library, featuring a beautiful array of fragrances perfect for this time of year; those in-between beauties that are great for transitioning from summer to autumn, and those deeper, muskier scents that are perfect for the colder weather.

The Gro Company Baby Essentials

Today marks 32 weeks pregnant and with just 8 weeks to go until our due date, it's time to start putting the nursery together and preparing all the essentials which will help us when we have a newborn to look after.

A company that has made that extremely easy for us is The Gro Company, who specialise in safer sleep solutions for babies and young children. For me, one of the things I worry the most about is keeping our baby safe - I'm sure that's a natural feeling and worry to have, whether it's your first or your tenth. With an award-winning range, The Gro Company are endorsed by The Lullaby Trust, a safe sleep charity which helps to provide safe sleep advice and materials, making The Gro Company a brand who you can put your trust in and your faith in their ever-expanding range of products. Not only do The Gro Company products work to promote a safer sleep, but they have already taken a huge weight of worry of off my mind, before baby has even arrived.

Christmas Gift Ideas Under £15

With December just a couple of weeks away and the Christmas rush soon to start, it's time to start sharing my Christmas Gift Guides with you all. I like to plan in advance and get everything prepared and ready for Santa's visit early, so that I can enjoy a stress-free Christmas season. Over the next two weeks I'll be sharing five gift guides with you all, covering beauty gifts for all budgets as well as gifts for the home and perfect presents for children. 

If you like to plan in advance then these gift guides will be a perfect way for you to get this year's Christmas gifts sorted before the festive season begins, and if you like to leave things to the last minute you can rest assured that the brands and websites I'll be featuring have fantastic and reliable delivery options to make sure you get all those important gifts in time for Santa's visit! Kicking things off today we have a beauty inspired wishlist, with all gifts included being £15 and under.

Sunday Post #48 | The Advent Calendars

OK, I know we're still in November, but my Christmas planning is almost complete and the advent calendars are already out on the fireplace ready to be started on December 1st. I like to be prepared when it comes to Christmas, this year even more so - it'll be our last Christmas as a '2' before baby arrives and we become a 3. The last few weeks of my pregnancy are going to be smack bang in the middle of the festive season and I want to enjoy our last quiet Christmas, savouring the indulgent eating and festive plans with friends.

NEOM Real Luxury Skin Treatment Candle

NEOM are a wonderful brand. Their products are of exceptional quality with phenomenal scent ranges and the stand-out feature for me; each scent range has a specific treatment which works in harmony to treat and enhance your mind. When I first started blogging they were a brand that was getting a lot of love in the blogging world, with bloggers raving about their candles, making them a brand I had to try. After several visits to the NEOM displays in Selfridge's they soon became a regular on my 'treat' list, having now tried quite a few products from both their home scents range and body care ranges.

New Skincare Favourites

At the beginning of 2015 I made a very big change in the way I approached skincare. Skincare has been a huge passion of mine for several years now and something that has become even more important to me since starting this blog. Since starting Tattooed Tealady back in April 2012 I have learnt so much more about the world of skincare, from the different products you can use, ingredients to look out for as well as ones to avoid, as well as learning how to understand, treat and look after my skin, in a way that I truly believe would not have been possible without this blog and reading skincare reviews on other blogs, too. 

It also meant that I was constantly switching up my skincare products, testing new brands and product releases for review here on the blog, always buying the latest must-have product hoping it'd be a skincare saviour for me like all the rave reviews. I'm extremely lucky that my skin has never had any issues with products, specific ingredients or constantly changing things up, but in 2015 I wanted to concentrate on specific routines. Keeping with the same products until they were completely used up before moving onto something new, working with my skins needs opposed to what took my fancy at the time. My skin has been so much happier for it since, and today I wanted to share some of my new favourite skincare products, products I've been using over the past few months which I am absolutely besotted with.

Cosy Autumn Evenings

Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. I'd even go so far as to say that it's my favourite season, as I just really love the change in colours around us as everything turns from green to beautiful oranges, reds and bronzes. There's something very cosy feeling about autumn and as soon as the leaves start to crunch under my feet I feel ready for cosy nights in, Christmas planning and winter warmer food.

3 Things I'll Miss When I Become a Mother

Today marks 31 weeks pregnant, we are now officially into the single figures countdown and I'm starting to feel all sorts of crazy emotions. I'm excited, of course, like kid on Christmas Day excited, because it means in 9 short weeks our baby will be here. But I'm also nervous and scared, about to start a whole new journey in my life for the first time, just hoping I get it right.

Humble Natural Beauty

I love discovering new beauty brands, especially when that brand advocates natural beauty. Humble Natural Beauty is a lovely range of bath and beauty products which have been created by Kate Humble; a TV presenter, author, environmentalist and farmer (you may recognise her from quite a few BBC shows!). Kate wanted to create a range of beauty products that was environmentally friendly, a product range which avoided the pollution and environmental impact many products in the beauty industry can create, and so Humble Natural Beauty was born. Created with natural, biodegradable ingredients, Paraben and SLS free, with recyclable packaging that's simple and beautifully designed. 

The Sunday Post #47 | The Good Spa Guide

Sundays have always been about pampering for me. The one guilt-free day of the week where everyone indulges in sleeping in late, binging on Netflix and trying to get as much 'me time' in as possible before the start of a new working work. Ever since I can remember, Sunday's have been my favourite day of the week to pamper and preen, relax and indulge in some of my favourite things. Disappearing into my current book, sinking into a hot bubble bath and pampering from head to toe, something made all the more luxurious this Sunday thanks to The Good Spa Guide.

Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess

Ever since Charlotte Tilbury first released her exquisite beauty range back in September 2013, it's been the brand every beauty adorer wants to get their hands on. World renowned for her makeup artistry, the move to her own beauty range was one which has been welcomed and celebrated ever since. Every visit to Selfridges is that little bit more special when you visit the Charlotte Tilbury stand, alongside a stunning and effortlessly interactive website that makes online orders a breeze. The recent move to making her products available in John Lewis, both online and in-store, this stunning range is set to adorn more and more dressing tables across the UK. 

20 Years of Lush

2015 marks 20 Years of Lush. That's a blooming long time, especially when you've spent many of those 20 years watching the brand grow and expand. I've been using Lush products for 13 years now, since I was 14. I was first introduced to Lush back in school, where for my year 10 Art & Design coursework we had to create a window display for a Lush bathbomb. I'd never heard of Lush before then and I was amazed by the Lush magazine and bath bombs we were given as inspiration. Everything was new to me, and the imaginative designs, beautiful scents and enchanting effects of Lush products was completely mesmerising. 

Those Perfect Autumnal Lips

Oh how I love lipstick. It's probably my biggest weakness when it comes to buying makeup, you only have to look at my Muji storage to see that I have a little bit of a lipstick addition (5 drawers is completely normal, right?!). Autumn is when I switch from the brighter shades of summer, when I pick my shades to make an impact, moving to softer, warmer shades which fit the season, working in harmony with deeper eyeshadow hues and cold flushed cheeks. It's time to share my favourite autumn lipsticks.

Brand Spotlight | Merumaya

It's only been a year since I started adding Merumaya products into my routine, but ever since each new product has earned it's spot in my daily and weekly skincare regimes. Merumaya is one of those brands that never fails to impress me, whose products are effortlessly effective with incredible ingredients that work wonders with my skin. The benefits Merumaya products have shown for my skin have been amazing, but what is most surprising about Merumaya products is the fact that each and every product within the range, which covers both skincare and body care, is incredibly affordable and purse-friendly, with products that would suit any budget. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on my favourite Merumaya products and exactly why you should be giving this brand a try for yourself.

Plus Size & Pregnant

Today I am 30 weeks pregnant and that is absolutely crazy. Going down a different route with this week's pregnancy post, this post isn't going to be about my latest adorable baby buys or my hopes and dreams for a happy future ahead. Today I want to talk about some of the harder aspects of pregnancy, of the things I've struggled with, thoughts I've battled with and assumptions I've faced. Today I want to talk about being plus size and pregnant.

Clarins Festive Eye Make-Up Palette 2015

In 2013 Clarins amazed beauty adorers worldwide with the release of the limited edition The Essentials Palette 2013, a beautiful 10 shade eyeshadow palette that was perfect for the Christmas season and full with stunning shadows essential for creating everything from an everyday eye to a subtle night-time look. I was completely smitten with the release and couldn't help but treat myself - you can check out my full review here. 

In 2014 Clarins followed this with the release of another limited edition, The Essentials Palette 2014, a release I was incredibly excited to see after falling so in love with the first palette back in 2013. Even more beautiful than the first, it had some real stand-out shades that gave it that something-something more than the original 2013 palette. You can check out my full review here.

Now in 2015 with the festive season upon us, Clarins have released another stunning limited edition palette - The Essentials Festive Eye Make-Up Palette 2015, a limited edition palette that completely stands out from other palette offerings from Clarins, a palette absolutely perfect for the festive season with shades that will work all year round too.

Sunday Post #46 | Radley Autumn Rose

November 1st. The end of year countdown. Christmas is just 8 weeks away, 2016 is suddenly looking a hell of a lot closer - oh and it means I have just over two months left until baby is here. 

Time feels like it's speeding by and yesterday I spent much of my day just marvelling at where this year has gone. It feels like it's been the quickest yet - although the older I get the more it feels like time whizzes by before I've had a chance to stop and take it all in. Since getting pregnant this has been the case even more so; I'm constantly looking towards my due date, almost forgetting to live 'in the now', counting down days and weeks and then wondering why time is going so fast. In fact, yesterday whilst getting ready to head out for a Halloween themed evening with the girls, it almost sent me into a panic - November is here and I don't have half as much time on my hands as I'd like. 

Making Autumnal Hues Work For You

A couple of years ago you would have been hard pressed to find me sporting the warmer berry shades akin to autumn, especially a deep red lipstick. A lack in confidence and struggling to find the right autumnal shades which worked against my olive complexion meant it was definitely a case of trial and error when it came to making the typical shades adored through autumn work for me. Now? Autumn is by far one of my favourite times of year makeup wise, the perfect in-between of summer brights and dark winter hues, where you can still go playful with a pop of colour or try something more sultry with shades that have that something-something extra that makes them stand out. 

It's not just berry shades that I love in autumn either, but a whole host of shades which I love to turn to in my favourite season. As leaves turn to copper and crunch under our feet, the days start getting darker earlier and we sneak the heating on that little bit more often than we should, it's the perfect excuse to get out my favourite autumn products. Today I'm going to share some of my favourite autumnal hues with you all, with tips and tricks on making them work for you.

This Month's Favourites | October 2015

October is about to disappear, Halloween is taking over for the weekend and November is about to be upon us. I don't know about you, but I for one am more than a little bit excited for what November brings. Bonfire Night, our local fair and of course, the excitement as Christmas draws near. Not forgetting that the closer we get to 2016, the closer my due date gets, but hey, no biggy.

This month has been all about the pampering. The long hot baths, the night time rituals and the subtle changes in my makeup routine switching from summer brights to autumn hues that are deeper and warmer in tone.

Lush Cup O' Coffee Face and Body Mask

Back in August when I headed over to the Nottingham Lush store to check out the new product releases (see here), one of the products which caught my eye the most on the night was the new Cup O' Coffee Face and Body Mask. I am a big fan of face masks on offer at Lush, adoring their Fresh Face Mask range, so I was pretty excited to give this new face and body mask a try - especially as I've been so smitten with stimulating coffee themed products this year.