ROSE DRENCHED WEDDING AT ANNADEL ESTATE WINERY

ROSE DRENCHED WEDDING AT ANNADEL ESTATE WINERY

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Amanda and Bryan were married inside the beautiful stone wall ruins at Annadel Eastate Winery in Napa California in the fall of 2017. These centerpieces were all about ROSES. We had thousands of stems of full, fragrant garden roses for this event, all of them coming from local farms.

We kept the design here classic and feminine, inspired by the venue and the delicate lace of the bride’s gown and veil. The groom is a chef, so food was an important piece of this wedding. To incorporate some of this into the décor, Little herb, berry, and acorn bundles were tied to cards with each guests name and seating assignment. It was such a beautiful golden October day for them, congrats Amanda and Bryan! Published on Oncewed here.

Cloud 10 Beauty | ft. Sleek & Blank Canvas

Cloud 10 Beauty | ft. Sleek & Blank Canvas

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Changing my makeup routine is something that occurs seasonally, especially the transition from the cool winter tones to vibrant summer shades. Summer is all about colour for me - I love to spice up my eyeshadow routine by adding a splash of colour to my crease or applying a dramatic orange lip. Either way, I am always excited to increase my Summer appropriate makeup collection. As you will see throughout the next few months, many of my upcoming posts will show you how I like to style my clothes, what I get up to and of course, my go-to makeup of the ever-loved season of Summer.

Today's post includes a beautiful little palette chaperoned by a very practical blending brush...more onto that later. First, I'm here to talk about Cloud 10 Beauty - an incredible online online retailer, similar to Feel Unique, that sells some of the nation's most popular brands including : Sleek, Bioderma, Bourjois, theBalm, EOS, Eylure, Sigma and many other worldwide favourites. Want to know the products I received in my first ever parcel from Cloud 10 Beauty? Then carry on reading, I'm sure you will love the palette as much as I do... 

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette - Storm

Storm - one of the most raved about palettes since I bought my first product Sleek product. I was ecstatic when I received this; an array of deep colours that push me out of my comfort zone. I'm not one to wear lots of bright, 'out-there' shades, as I don't think they suit me but I do love to add a pop of colour to an Summer outfit. This palette will do just the job because the blue and green shadows are toned down, allowing those who aren't as comfortable at pulling off crazy colour, like myself, the chance to branch out a bit more. Prior to this package, I own and have tried Sleek shadows before so I was expecting great things from this palette. The creamy and highly pigmented formula enabled the product to be applied onto both the lid and the crease with ease. Pigmentation is something I love about eyeshadow; the product can last for ages as you only need the tiniest amount on your brush. Also, the chalky texture allows efficient blending - when I first swatched the Sleek shadows in store, I was scared about the chalky feel. However, the product is easily blendable and simply to work with. I would also recommend applying this before face makeup as you can get a lot of fall out on your cheeks. Finally, the palette is filled with matte and shimmer shades - the shimmer are so pretty for evening wear and the matte shades are insane as transition colours. My favourite shades are Sand Storm (a golden glitter), Perfect Storm (a rose gold) and Storm Cloud (a cool-toned green, not my usual type but I think it will look pretty against dark eyes). 

Blank Canvas Cosmetics - Eye Brush E10

Cloud 10 Beauty clearly thought about practicality when they generously sent a blending brush alongside the palette. This was exciting as I had never used, or heard of, Blank Canvas Cosmetics before; an Irish Cosmetics brand that sell brushes, applicators and makeup products. The brush sent was perfect to fit comfortably in my crease, not too big and not too small. The thin, fluffy bristles allow product to be swept over the lid, creating a soft finish as well as being flexible to fit into the crease. E10 was utilised to my advantage; this is simply because I do not get on with the doe-foot applicators present in drugstore, and even highend, shadow palettes. They always apply products too cakey onto my lid and feel rough against my skin. Fortunately, Blank Canvas Cosmetics had soft-haired brushes that left my lids in good, healthy condition, as they should be! Haha! If you want to pick up a bargain, definitely head over to Cloud 10 Beauty through the link above as all eye brushes are below £10 which is insane for the quality you are given.

Let me know if you wish to see an in-depth eye look revolving around these two products, either on my blog or my upcoming Youtube channel.

Do you own anything from Sleek or Blank Canvas? What is your go-to eye look for the Summer?

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Cloud 10 Beauty; however all opinions are honest and my own.

The Perfect Beauty Guide

The Perfect Beauty Guide

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Rebateszone Scarlet Slipper

Historical evidence suggests that by 8000 BC humans had started domesticating animals. It was also during this time that the concept of agriculture was developed. After these two things had been

achieved, civilization came along naturally. The oldest known human civilization to date is the

Mesopotamian civilization. And even as far back as that beauty was a thing worthy of pursuit. Almond oil, a material used in most modern moisturizers, was the primary moisturizer used to beautify the skin. It was also used as a perfume. Likewise, another popular product today, kohl (eye liner), was used by Mesopotamians for beauty and to treat eye diseases.

After such a long history documenting the pursuit of beauty, it is only natural that we are inclined to

follow in the footsteps of our ancestors. It is not only essential from a purely aesthetic perspective, but also from a health perspective. Taking care of your skin and body will keep you away from awful

diseases and fast aging. However, we understand that beauty was generally considered a pastime of the rich. This is no longer valid. Today we have something which the past generations did not: extensive knowledge of the human body. So, we disagree with the popular perception that pursuing beauty is expensive. But, it does take your time.

The best way to go about it is to make a routine and follow it strictly. Divide activities on a daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly basis. Daily activities would cover proper hygiene and a good night’s sleep, along with a good healthy diet. Weekly activities can include yoga sessions, hair care, taking care of your nails, have a spa like experience, etc. Fortnightly activities include hair removal, manicure, pedicure, etc. Of course, most of these are a matter of personal preference and you can devise your own activities along the way. You can buy most of the stuff via these coupons from Groupon.

We have arranged all this and more in a neat little infographic to make it easy for you. Modify it to your needs for maximum benefit.

101 in 1001 Days...

101 in 1001 Days...

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Setting goals is something I love to do - not only to motivate myself but also to have that sense of accomplishment. On a daily basis, I love to write down things down that I need to do or goals I want to achieve before the end of the day. The satisfaction of ticking each task as the day goes on fills me with a humble feeling of pride. A couple of days ago, I saw 'Perks Of Being Ami' write a post called '101 in 1001' which you can read here. In this post she made a list of 101 things she wanted to do, achieve and purchase in the next 1001 days. This style of post was right up my street and inspired me to create my own personal list of 101 things I wish to achieve before 28th February 2019 (OMG THAT'S SO SCARY!!) 

Things to Buy 

1) Tiffany necklace
2) Designer Handbag (Valentino, Kurt Geiger or YSL)
3) Own an Hourglass beauty product
4) My first car
5) A DSLR camera
6) A New Laptop
7) A Beauty Box Subscription
8) Pair of Quay Australia Sunglasses
9) New Fur Coat for Winter
10) Polaroid Camera

Places to Visit

11) Greece (Mykonos/Santorini)
12) Venice
13) Fancy Hotel in London
14) Theatre Cafe in London
15) Paris again (sightseeing)
16) Harry Potter Studios London
17) Go to another country for my birthday
18) Have a Spa Day
19) Trinity Laban University
20) Switzerland

Things to do

21) Go on the London eye
22) Drive through safari in my own car
23) Go camping in a random field
24) Drive in cinema
25) Take blog pics outside cool cafes/cool houses in London
26) Vlog an entire holiday
27) Take a photo everyday until 1001 days are reached
28) Drive to somewhere random and have a picnic
29) Carve a pumpkin
30) Attend a masquerade ball
31) Host a themed party
32) Release a lantern
33) Go to a music festival
34) Make a scrapbook of memories
35) Watch Les Miserables in the West End
36) Make my own face mask.
37) Bake 30 new recipes.
38) Learn how to cook...
39) Play messy twister
40) Name a star
41) Do a colour run
42) Catch a last minute flight to a random destination
43) Ride a gondola in Venice
44) Visit the Louvre in France
45) Go on a long bike ride
46) Wake up early and get ready before 12
47) Have a romantic dinner on a rooftop
48) Go on a road trip with my best friend
49) Try new foods
50) Be part of a flash mob
51) Skydive!!!
52) Go to Bounce/Gravity Force
53) Stay at a 5 star hotel
54) Take a yoga class
55) Bungy Jump
56) Get a standing ovation in a theatre production
57) Watch the sunset on a beach
58) Go on a boat trip in Greece
59) Meet some of my blogger friends for lunch
60) Write to someone in a different country
61) See Beyonce in concert
62) Learn to do an aerial (no-handed cartwheel/walkover)
63) Improve my posture
64) Improve my diet
65) Watch a Derren Brown show
66) Visit a psychic
67) Stay in a log cabin for a night
68) Learn how to do accents
69) Row a boat
70) Go windsurfing
71) Adopt a puppy
72) Keep my room tidy for at least a month!!
73) Cut out carbs for a month.
74) Give up chocolate for lent (this is defo the hardest)
75) Put a lock on the love bridge in Paris
76) Go to a bonfire event in November
77) Make a wall full of polaroid photos
78) Go to Winter Wonderland in London
79) Get a piercing other than my ears
80) Make my own lemonade
81) Set a scavenger hunt for a friend/boyfriend to a fun surprise
82) Make fruit ice lollies
83) Win a bowling game against someone (I SUCK!)
84) Have an incredible 18th birthday WEEK
85) Plan an incredible summer
86) Pay for a first holiday without parents
87) Waste a day solely watching Disney films
88) Go to a water park outside the UK

Goals to Reach  

89) Get into a dance company
90) Get my Driving License
91) Own an apartment
92) Get into a dance/theatre university
93) Have my blog reach 1,000,000 views
94) Start a Youtube Channel
95) Reach my goal weight and maintain it
97) Be invited to a Blogger's Event
98) Audition for a West End Performance
99) Have my blog reach 20,000 followers
100) Achieve half of this '101 in 1001' days list before 28th Feb 2019.
101) Receive good A level grades in 2017.

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I've tried to be as realist as possible, evidently with some extremities. However, I hope to achieve as many as I can in the time frame. It seems like ages away but I bet it will come round sooner than I think... Will keep you updated every couple of months to see I've achieved any of the above :)

Lots of love

Ombre Matte Lips ¦ Cailyn Cosmetics

Ombre Matte Lips ¦ Cailyn Cosmetics

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Ombre lips have become an ongoing, increasingly popular trend over the past two years. Being a beauty fanatic, I quite disappointed in myself that I hadn't indulged in this trend sooner as I'm a huge fan of the outcome. I absolutely love the gradient effect as one colour merges into another; bright colours always look incredible. They make your lips pop and give that plumped effect, giving the illusion your lips are bigger than they actually are.

Cailyn Cosmetics are a beauty brand that specialize in cosmetics and skin care. They offer non animal-testing products and the majority do not contain harmful ingredients, like phthalates and petrochemicals. This company derived from the United States and ship internationally. When the people at Cailyn Cosmetics contacted me, I was more than thrilled to receive one of their infamous lip contour kits! Read more to find out how I achieved this ombre lip look and a little insight into the 3 shades...

Bright colours are the 'go' this season so I had no other choice than to opt for the beautiful 'Purple Lilac Trio' from the 8 Blossoms range. Wrapped in a double layer of brand-printed tissue paper, I was excited to see the three different colours and how they complimented each other. Each liquid lipstick is held in a sleek plastic tube with a mirrored lid - the packaging is simplistic which I think gives the brand an appearance of sophistication.

When it comes to the application, the thin doe-foot applicators are easy to use; it took me a while to get used to them, as I had never owned a lipstick/gloss with a flexible wand, but I got the hang of it after a couple of practices. The formula is a huge winner for me! After applying the product, you have to wait 1-2 minutes, which really isn't long at all, for the formula to dry and set. A matte effect is swiftly created, leaving the product feeling secure on the lips. Therefore, the lasting power exceeded my expectations; I have eaten and drank with this lipstick on and nothing moves. Not even a glimpse of purple on the side of my glass. I was impressed that it survived a whole day without budging, although it took a hell of a lot to come off. It took 3-4 cotton pads with cleansing water to take off, which left my lips slightly sore. However, finding a product that lasts on the lips for an entire day without budging is impossible so really, this isn't a negative downfall. 

"High Voltage Colour + Perfectly Matte + Waterproof"

The lightest shade I received was the shade 19 - a blue-toned 'barbie pink' that appears true to the colour in the tube on the lips. This is probably the most wearable of the three shades, if you would prefer to wear them individually for easy, day time use. Although 19 is the lightest shade of the three, the colour is opaque on the lips, only one swipe of product is needed to achieve a single layer. This is such a fun summer shade for those wanting to create a bold look or want to match a vibrant outfit to your makeup. Also, this colour works the best with the lighter purple, as seen in the ombre look above. These two cooperate to form a wearable ombre effect on the lips, without feeling too self conscious.

Out of the trio, this definitely has to be my favourite shade. The deep indigo-purple complements my dark hair and cool complexion. Shade 14 will be perfect for an intense evening look or even to go bold at a festival. This shade is very well-loved already and I know this will be on my lips all summer. Although bright colours are usually a Summer thing, I totally think this can work all seasons!

The darkest shade is this extremely deep purple with navy blue undertones; however, when applied to the lips this can look almost black. All shades are cool-toned so work in favour of one another when applied all together. The purple arises after the formula dries on the lips. If I were to solely wear Shade 16 on its own, I would definitely rock it at a halloween party. I think it will look incredible with a dark purple eye and thick lashes. Despite the dark colour, it is not any more difficult to get off than the other colours.

Above are swatches of all the colours mentioned in order. Let me know in the comments which is your favourite. Overall, my ultimate impression is very high. The formula is impressive with its ability to turn matte after 2 minutes - a lot of companies 'catfish' and say their lipsticks are matte but still have that glossy sheen left on the surface. Additionally, I love how the three colours work together - you are able to pair two colours up, wear them individually or all together. Now, I would absolutely love to try one of the nude sets because I'm yet to try a nude lipstick that stays matte for an entire day.

Are you a fan of the ombre lip trend? Which colour of the Purple Lilac Trio was your favourite?!

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Cailyn Cosmetics. However, all opinions are honest and my own.

Brand Focus : Butter London

Brand Focus : Butter London

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Vibrancy and intensity are always summer 'thing' but this year companies are going crazy to compete for the best, unique range of summer perfect products. For some reason, the sun energizes me and gives me more confidence in my skin and my general being. I'm not sure exactly why that is but I'm sure that there is a scientific reason for it - everyone associates the sun with positivity after all...

Butter London is a brand I'm sure most of you have heard of - they are a company who are infamously known for their buttery, opaque nail polishes. Being rather slow in the grips of social media, I never really knew they sold other makeup products so when I got the opportunity to give some of their cosmetics a test, I was more than merrier to do so. Personally, I'm a huge fan of glossy, bright lips in the summer - moisture is key and I cannot stand matte lipsticks sinking into the crevices of my lips. NO THANK YOU. Instead, I opted for some very 'out there' liquid lipsticks that leave a glossy shine.

Fortunately, Butter London ever so kindly wrapped up two nail polishes to accompany my requested liquid lipsticks. I was thrilled to see varnishes that matched the seasonal colour scheme - bright oranges and yellows are incredibly eye-catching and on the nails, they can add extra warmth to a Summer's day outfit. The two shades I received were CHUFFED and CHEEKY CHOPS. Chuffed is a stunning orange glitter with golden flecks of glitter running throughout. The glitters would complement a gorgeous golden cheekbone highlight - matching nail colour to makeup can really help to enhance your favourite features. As this polish is a glitter, application requires two thin coats to achieve a full opaque coverage. Cheeky chops is bright yellow; it is slightly toned down which makes it more wearable for those not brave enough to rock a crazy fluorescent number. This shade achieves opaque perfection with a single light coat, leaving a glossy finish. Butter London nail varnishes contain vitamins that aid nail strength - something I definitely need with my poor stubby excuses for nails! They also provide a consistent, smooth layer on the nail.  

Liquid lipsticks are an evergrowing trend among the beauty lovers out there; I am a huge fan of this trend - who wouldn't want moisturized, opaque lips in the simple swipe of an applicator? The two shades I received are La Moss and Primrose Hill Picnic. La Moss is a burgundy, red-wine - the coverage lays between an opaque matte lipstick and a lipgloss with a formula rich in shea butter, creating a beautiful moisturized feel on the lips. Primrose Hill Picnic is a tropical pink - I'd say it is in between a fuschia and 'Barbie' pink. The underlying blue tones allow the product to compliment my cool skin tone, which is always a bonus on vibrant colours you are a bit tentative to wear in public. This shade would look insane on holiday - it reminds me all the tropical flowers you would see on a secluded, exotic island. You can tell I've got eternal holiday blues!!!

Don't forget to head over to Butter London to check out all their cosmetics range, as well are their very-loved varnishes. Let me know what you think of them.

Which lip colour is your favourite? Do you own any products from Butter London?

Lots of love

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This post is in collaboration with Butter London, however all opinions are honest and my own.

The Summer Classics

The Summer Classics

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Throughout the Summer, I find it almost impossible to avoid the classics - pinks and florals. These two factors are my fashion essentials in times where I 'don't have anything to wear' or 'anything Summer appropriate'.  Summer is also a season known for the lighter, vibrant colours to pop out! Pale pinks can look incredibly sophisticated under the sun's glow, making the colour perfect for evening wear alongside the entirety of the day. 

To add something extra to my block colour outfits, I love wearing light, detailed kimonos to 'spice up' my attire. For today's Summer look, I've opted for this rose-patterned kimono - the weightless, flowing material and cuffed hands worn over a strapped white crop feels comfortable under the Summer heat (looks like we finally have some this year in England!!). The mid-length pastel skirt can be easily flaunted at Summer events, evenings out or simply at a family barbecue; the thick mesh strip at the bottom was my favourite touch to the skirt, initially temping me into buy it!

Floral crowns are another of Summer's many hypes - especially for all the festival lovers. I believe choosing the right flower type/colour for your hair is vital when attempting to accentuate an outfit. For me, I always accessorize with white as it contrasts and complements my dark brunette locks. You can find these beautiful bad boys in shop and online - they are everywhere at the minute. Primark do lots of great deals on headpieces (usually ranging from £1-£3!).

The sun really brings out my skin's natural radiance; therefore, I turn to my BB creams during Summer. Fortunately, this is handy as less coverage makeup feels lighter on the skin. However, you know me, I don't love anything more than full coverage so it is very rare that I'm comfortable in my skin. To complement the 'pink overload', I popped some Bourjois Jasper Rose on my cheeks to add a rosy sparkle with the NYX Matte Lipstick in Aubrey to incorporate some vibrancy into my look.

Finally, I decided to add a gold chained, pink floral necklace to my look - as if this outfit wasn't girly enough? Statement necklaces are a winner in Summer - they make such a beautiful addition if you are wearing low cut tops and block colours.

Top - H&M (similar here)

Kimono - Select

Skirt - Matalan (alternative here)

Headpiece - Primark (huge range of crowns here)

Necklace - Next

What are your Summer Fashion Essentials?! Let me know in the comments below...

Lots of love