Highlights of 2012 & my goals for 2013!!

So here we are again, at the end of yet another eventful year!! time seriously flies when your having fun. Looking back at last years post, I can see just how much my life has changed, im no longer a student after graduating in July and beginning to take my first steps in the big bad world outside of education (ok I want to do a masters so im not quite there yet). Ive learnt who I am, made new friends and left the ones holding me back behind, rekindled my love affair with fashion, much to my bank balances dismay (not that Zara will be complaining ha). In March I went to Poland with a group of uni friends as part of a final year module. With the help of vodka, dining in fabulous restaurants for the grand total of £4 (yep you read that correctly), late night hot chocolates and my first visit to Sephora, once back in the UK I sat in the taxi with 5 new life long friends. I went to several gigs, consumed far to many macaroons, started a course in sugarcraft, met bob the cat and celebrated 3 years of being with my best friend, but my highlight of all? I got whisked away to New York to celebrate my 21st in style, taking in the sites, shopping bags in tow, sipping cosmos whilst fully enjoying the sex and the city life (oh Carrie Bradshaw would be proud).

So here we are on new years eve and I find myself thinking of generic resolutions that go along the lines of not biting nails, losing weight blah blah blah, but there are a few things I know I can achieve with a little hard work and a lot of saving that will help to make 2013 even better than 2012.

• I plan to blog each day! I love writing my little blog, its grown so much since my first post on cupcakes (dear lord I still cringe), and so it deserves to have a little more of my time. 
• Apply for my masters, and move to Cardiff (if I can't live in Manhattan then the diff will have to do)
• Tim and I are planning a four day trip to Paris after discussing doing so for the past two years.
• finally if I follow my dreams I know I can sit here December 31st 2013 and tell you all that I succeeded!!

So here's to a great 2013, Happy New Year you lovely lot!! 

Melting Snowmen Biscuits

So this little Christmas treat seems to have caused a bit of a stir on Instagram. I first saw the idea on Becky's Blog (she seriously has the best festive ideas), and after seeing different takes of these cute little guys on Instagram, I decided to have a go at making my own, during a baking fest with my best friend the other day.

Fancy having a go aswell??

you will need:

Icing sugar

Biscuits (I used shortbread)

Marshmallows

Icing pens

These are seriously easy to make, all you need to do is make your icing , use a little to stick the marshmallows to the biscuits. Then cover both the biscuit and marshmallow in icing. Once dried draw design onto biscuits with icing pens to your hearts content!! 

there you have it a quick and simple Christmas treat!!

Alpha-H Liquid Gold

Hello lovelies,

So when a sample of Alpha-H liquid gold landed on my doorstep a few weeks back, I was oblivious to the hype around this product containing glycolic acid, revita and firming solution. I actually received this after winning a weekly 'try me' with Whats In My Handbag. In all honesty I cannot remember doing it, but im so glad I did. 

With the use of glycolic acid, the treatment helps to improve the complexion by dealing with pigmentation, breaking down dead skin cells and helping out acne prone skin, working overnight to help the overall appearance of the skin. It works like an exfoliator but applies like a toner. A clear liquid solution, I apply this of an evening once or twice weekly with a cotton pad, avoiding the eye and lip area. 

In all honesty I was rather apprehensive about using this due to the ingredients, but during a pretty bad breakout I decided that enough was enough, so I bit the bullet and used it. Although my skin was nowhere near perfect, it was smoother and redness and spots were reduced the following morning, pretty good eh??

After using this for the past few weeks I have noticed a big reduction in spots and like the first time I used it, my skin is noticeably smoother.

The price tag of Alpha-H liquid gold may not be to everyone's taste due to its £30+ price tag. 

I received a 4ml sample which has lasted me around six weeks, so personally I would be willing to purchase the full size product. 

Have you tried Alpha-H liquid Gold?? What did you think of it?? 

Wordless Wednesday...Chanel Spring/ Summer 2013

Source

Primark Spring/Summer 2013

So with Christmas festivities well and truly in full swing, its hard to look past cosy knits, Oxblood red skinny's and skirts/dresses adorned in gold sequins. But with press pictures emerging left right and center, with sneak peeks of  up and coming spring/summer fashion, Its hard not to get a teenzy bit excited about the prospect of summer brights, lots of patterns and of course my faviourite thing about spring/summer, new sandals. 

Lets face it we all have a secret love affair with Primark.The perfect shop to indulge in the latest season must haves without having to splash the cash on the catwalk versions. Although lets face it we've all been in to Primark and seen ladies with bags full of what can only be described as pure tat. Anyway above are my top picks from Primark's Spring Summer Collection.   

In terms of clothing only one or two pieces take my fancy as much of the styles are quite grungy or out of my comfort zone. As for the accessories on the other hand, get me to Primark asap.

Ive been admiring Satchels for a while, but with the nicest ones selling at £100 a pop, I cant commit to something that may just be for myself a fad. However I am loving Primarni's Alternative, bright pink? check, studs? check, whats not to love. Along with the clutch I cant help but take a fancy to the neon bracelet and box clutch (in all honesty im a sucker for pink). 

The rose gold watch looks rather lovely but at £5 im rather dubious as to how long it will last, or if its possible to pick one up that works at all. 

What do you think of Primark's Spring/Summer Collection? What do you think is it drab or fab? 

Ciate Advent Christmas Countdown.. Days 6-13

6. Angel Wings... 7. Cutie Pie... 8. Vintage... 9. Mistress... 10. Ladylike Luxe... 11. Bumble Bee... 12. Twilight... 13. Glass Slipper

Hello lovelies, I hope your all well, and feeling festive! After consuming one to many glasses of homemade mulled wine, and eating one to many portions of Christmas Dinner with friends I am well and truly wrapped up in the spirit of Christmas. I seriously cannot believe that its a mere 11 days till Christmas, and a sad 10 days left of the Ciate Advent Calender. Being the nail addict that I am I have thoroughly enjoyed opening a brightly coloured door each morning to be greeted with miniature glass bottles, filled with fabulous shades, adorning a little black bow. So although I will be ex tactic to see Christmas morning arrive, I will also be sad to open the last door of my advent (I think theres a gap in the market, and a yearly calender should be released ha). 

So behind the doors of days 6-12 theres been yet another bottle full of beautiful Caviar beads, aptly named Bumble Bee due to the mix of yellow and black shades. A shimmery silver and a gorgeous gold. An unexpected new faviourite to my collection in the form of Vintage, a creamy dark grey with a somewhat green tint to it. Two classic shades Cutie Pie a creamy baby pink, and Mistress a creamy bright red.Twilight a stunning black with gold flecks that run throughout, and last but not least one of my faviourite shades so far a beautiful bright blue glitter polish 'glass slipper', a limited edition exclusive to the advent. 

On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ciate's Cabaret... 

Cabaret is a gorgeous deep shade of purple, a shade very much similar to Models Own's Purple Grey!! In all honesty I found this streaky to apply unlike the others I have received so far, and after three coats I still feel like it could do with another! On top of this my brush was a little damaged, but ah well, its a lovely shade none the less. What did you lovely lot think of Door number 5? On a side note I adore the quote on the inside of the door, wise words from Coco Chanel. 

Wordless Wednesday..Its beginning to look alot like Christmas..

On the Fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ciate's Caviar Pearls in Prom Queen...

 I really like the treat behind door number 4, it gives nail addicts the opportunity to try the Caviar trend without the £18 price tag!!  When it comes to painting my nails, a nail art pen is the most imaginative I ever get. So the prospect of a bottle full of little beads leaves me a little overwhelmed, but im definitely up for the nail art challenge after seeing what can be achieved.

On the Third day of Christmas my true love gave to me..

Ciate's Halo..

Another day another polish! On the back of the box Halo looks like a lilac shade, but it is actually the most gorgeous clear topcoat filled with lots of iridescent glitter!! due to the pretty pink and blues within this shade, its a perfect polish to wear subtly on its own, or as a perfect topcoat to add a little sparkle during the upcoming festivities. 

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ciate's Dangerous Affair..

I think I could get used to the whole painting my nails with a new polish every day thing!!.. shame its not a yearly advent ha. I slightly ruined my excitement this morning by logging onto instagram to be greeted with everyone else's pictures before opening door number two to reveal the next little bottle of polish with its dainty little bow (note to self, open advent then log onto instagram ha). Enough of my rambling, Dangerous Affair is a lovely wine red, and the perfect shade for this time of year, im already planning on teaming it up with Barry M's red glitter, for that extra bit of Christmas Sparkle!! 

On the First day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

Ciate's Cupcake Queen...

Hello lovelies, so its finally December which means only one thing, Its now acceptable to feel all christmassy, of course this means blasting out Christmas music (hello pogues), wapping out the oversized reindeer jumper, covering everything in site with sprinkles of glitter, and of course counting down the days till jolly old st Nick arrives, and what better way to do so with my less than conventional but none the less fabulous Ciate Advent Calender. For an added countdown ive decided that I will share my Ciate offerings each day with you lovely lot!!

So door number one, unveiled Cupcake Queen, a shade oh so similar to Ciate's Jellybean, a barbie pink , filled with blue undertones. A very bright, but perfect pink to add to my already brimming collection!!