Tuesday 29 October 2013

Claire's Candles

Recently I have developed a slight addiction to candles, candle holders and fairy lights from Ikea, Primark and B&M :s so I thought I would share all my addictions with you. the summer scents have al been put away making space for the new autumn/winter ones...exciting, sad I know but I love it.

Welcome to my bedroom.




L-R Ikea plant pot, a trio candle holder from Asda and a larger lace design candle holder (see here). I actually have the smaller candle holder which looks fab with an LED but I now use it to store my make up brushes as I have a part in my desk to hold a cup and it fits perfectly in that little space. But instead of potting plants or using large candles I decided to put a press LED inside the 2 ikea pots which are also from Ikea. Something a little different, the LED's with the lace cut outs leave a beautiful reflection on the wall in a bluey tone. There are a few different styles of these plant pots


 Heart wooden fairy lights from B&M only £3.99 , I think. I've bought so many lights lately its hard to keep track. So I've got one set wrapped around the bottom of my bed and also around the head.....These are battery operated and give off a soft light.

 Sweet heart dishes. 3 in a pack 2 polka dot and 1 plain from New Look. I suppose you could use these for anything keeping your rings on, a little tealight as I have done or even just left sitting on their own. They are soo cute I couldn't resist at £4.99. Sorry I couldn't find these guys on New Looks website but I'm sure they are still in store.

 Ikea lantern found here for just £2.  Its made to hold a tealight but I have now popped a little set of fairy lights inside that I got from Primark for only £1.50 amazing.


 Glittery glass candle from Primark just £2.50 bargain! Photo doesn't do it justice.

 I love these little things! I actually got these free. Last Christmas my bosses cousin came into the salon and left a big box of goodies one of which was these little glass lanterns filled with marshmallows, mini choco buttons all the goodies for a great hot choc. It wasn't until Sunday night that I actually looked at them properly and decided to clean them out and whala (is that how it's spelt?).


I snatched these up from Primark  only £2.50 and they are so delicate. Silver on the inside and a mauve pink/purple with this stunning design repeated all around which allows the candle light to flicker through.
 I really like anything hearty at the moment. This larger heart glass plate, from B&M £2.99. Again this can probably be used for numerous this but I tend to use it to sit tealights on or for placing my watch etc on at night as I have a terrible memory and always forget where I put my jewellery.

 Same heart plate as above but with a larger candle.


This is my newest edition to my candle family. Cranberry & Orange yankee lookalike from B&M for only 99p, cheap as chips! I have a berry candle the same as this one for when summer comes back around...got to be prepared. Although this is a relatively small candle the scent it gives off fills my room with sweetness, I can't wait to go back to B&M for more.



I hope I have given you some nice ideas for your room when it comes to small details (clutter as my dad calls it). My 'clutter' has made me my dads best friend as his electricity bills will be reduced from me using all these candles and battery run lights :)
Every girl needs a few candles, they are great for a pamper night in, relaxing & creating a calming atmosphere, my only problem is I can't stop buying them and with the seasons changing new scents available of course I want them all:)

Do you have a favourite scent for autumn? How do you show off your candles?


most photographs taken by Mark McGrory and his fabulous camera. Thank you:)

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Bloglovin'


Hello sorry I am resetting my 'bloglovin' account as I was a total numpty and forgot to update my bloglovin' account when I updated and revamped Diva Days so this is just a little post to insert the code...how boring but its got to be done.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11114129/?claim=vwk9day9dyy">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Fingers crossed this works I'm not amazing at technology:)

I would really appreciate it if you could press the follow button and help me out ...thank you love



Wedding bells featuring NOTW, OOTD


I love weddings I've now only ever been to two but I have done the make up for many. Although working at a wedding obviously isn't as much fun as actually going. The whole experience from stressing over what to wear, doing your hair and make up to toddling over to the church and then dancing the night away... I just love it.

 This was the 1st time I had met Marks family and the 1st time anyone had seen Mark in a suit and very smart he looked I must say. I must admit I was a little nervous meeting the whole family as I can be pretty shy in big groups but I didn't need to worry as the all made me feel soo welcome.







               








The 12th October was Aimee (Marks cousins) & Stevens wedding in St Ann's just outside Blackpool. When we 1st received our invitation I began looking around for dress ideas and I to my surprise bought one fairly quickly...bad idea I should know by now that I constantly change my mind when it comes to fashion but I thought I was being organised but in actual fact I had just made my life a whole lot more stressful. I know I'm not the only girl but it's hard convincing the other half that.

My 1st choice of dress was a 'New Look' number, white background with navy zigzag outlined with a biscuit coloured thinner zigzag, with a cut out at either side at the waist. To go with it I bought a navy blazer and nude wedges. The closer to the wedding the more I went off my shoes so began searching for a new pair, which I didn't expect to be too hard...oh how I was wrong!

Due to my feet deciding not to fit into a size 4, 4 half or even a 5 I ended up trying every pair of shoes on that weren't too expensive and not ankle breakers which proved extremely difficult.
After days and nights out shopping with Mark I eventually went a trip to Braehead with my mum and sister and oh how successful it was.

My mum and sister found this stunning dress in 'Primark' which I ended up buying. A very plain yet dressy blush pink sleeveless dress which came in at the waist and was stitched around the bottom almost puff ball without the puffing to attach the under dress to the sheer over dress. As soon as I seen it I was 100% set on that being the dress I was going to wear after trying a very similar one on just before in 'New Look' in a different colour but didn't fit.

Later that night my sister and I took a run over to the 'Fort' where finally we found the perfect pair of shoes. A slightly darker coloured blush pink lace design, platform with stiletto heel and ankle strap (as I can't keep shoes on unless there is a strap as I normally walk out of them...how annoying). Fitted me perfectly and didn't pinch my toes in the slightest.
Having a beige clutch, belt and a blush pink blazer already in my wardrobe, my outfit was finally set.

Once I was all done up and ready I felt so comfortable in my dress and totally confident in my new shoes which by the way I kept on the whole night they were that comfy...loved them. It's amazing how the wrong dress or shoes can make your entire outfit fall apart. I can't wait to get dressed up again.


For my hair I decided it would suit the dress better if I wore it up. So I plaited up the back of my hair and put a doughnut in the rest adding 3 rose clips to the right side to dress it up a little (jeezo how many times am I going to say dress in this post?) For my make up I didn't want to go over board so I used 'Maybeline' colour tattoo in 'Eternal Gold' on my lid and 'Matallic Pomegranate' in the crease and them powdered over with 'Urban Decay 'honey (gold shimmer) and lightly lined with 'zero'(black) and kept a nude lip.

As for my nails , I "Shellac" attacked them with "Rose Bud" with a "rockstar" ring finger and a small gold stud on my thumb and pinkie.
ps sorry for the 2 week regrowth I forgot to take a picture of my nails :O

The wedding was beautiful and so much fun. I loved seeing Mikey (marks brother) & Kristy (mikeys stunning girlfriend and writer of a beautiful blog 'smugpugsunday') they are both so much fun and meeting all of Marks family was lovely, they made me feel part of the family. All in all a great weekend and can't wait to catch up with Kristy & Mikey again soon hopefully.





Sunday 20 October 2013

Mad About Murad Product Review





(images taken by Mark McGrory)


For a while I have been feeling down due to my skin changing again. My chin ( hormonal area) has been breaking out for a good few months now. I can handle one or two pimples popping up now and then but when it comes to 2 or 3 huge, pussy spots with their own pulse & red and purple scars from previous spots that's when it becomes more annoying. It's soo hard not to squeeze them all for some relief. I was fighting that urge (most of the time sometimes I would catch the head while washing my face) but even when I was at my most careful they would still scar over or reduce in size but leave small red bumps. I had tried all sorts of spot creams and treatments and I know the more you stress the more spots will appear but it wasn't until I was clearing out my toiletries that I found Murad hiding away.

At the beginning of this year I was looking for a new skin care range for the salon where I work when I came across 'Murad'. I had never heard of them and organised to meet up with a rep who kindly gave me a few samples to try one of which a full size bottle of 'Energizing Pomegranate Cleanser'. This facial cleanser is a 2in1, it's dual action foam cleanses and tones while washing away dirt, oils and impurities mad tightens your pores without over-drying. 
As I was looking at a couple of brands for the salon I only used this face wash a couple of times and then we decided to look at other areas of the salon and we didn't renew our skin care range. 
I decided to give Murad another go and began using it again the week before the wedding. The results showed almost immediately. The next day my spots had calmed down and my skin tone was much more even. Don't get me wrong I still have the little spot scars but since using Murad I haven't had another spot and usually I have 2 at a time and then as they start to die down another 2 appear and the previous 2 scar it's just a constant fight against them which I am losing. Hopefully if I stick at using this cleanser it will help my skin clear up but it's not just what you use on the outside that affects your skin its what's going on inside as well thats why eating healthy and taking Vitamins is so important.

The 'Energizing  Pomegranate Cleanser' totally refreshes and as the label says without drying your skin. It is so easy to use and without any mess as it's a pump foam which your skin soaks it up fairly quickly and then just rinse using hot water. I have already recommended it to a few friends and I definitely will be purchasing this again once my freebie is finished.



Have you ever used Murad? Whats your favourite range?
What spot care treatments do you use?



Tuesday 1 October 2013

I Have Too Much Time On My Hands

My door still isn't fixed so I got woken up pretty early so me and my mum went out shoe shopping (she has a fancy dinner to attend with my dad for his work) so new shoes for the new dress.
This isn't the season for silver or even dark purple nice shoes that aren't too 'hooker' like :s
So as per I bought a few bits and bobs that I can tell you about another day if you wish.

I have too much time on my hands literally...hours on my hands. Nail art was never my strong point I always felt I didn't have the patience and I've always admired nail technicians or even girls just messing around at home that can produce amazing nail art, so intricate but make it look so easy. Recently I gave nail art a go with Shellac and to my surprise it wasn't as hard as I had imagined. Shellac is a great polish to work with when it comes to nail art as it doesn't dry until cured under the UV lamp. So you can fuss over it for as long as you need to and it will not go 'gloopy'.
If you are like me and you are pretty fussy when it comes to having your nails done then you will probably feel the need to do them yourself. I never know exactly what I want done with my nails, what colour, glitter or design to do until the very last second. I spend far too much time on my nails but hey I'm a girl its allowed.

I started off with nail wheels, all different types of animal print and stripes and flowers before finally moving onto myself and clients.
Don't get me wrong sometimes people will ask for designs that I'm still not confident with, I am in no way the best but I like to learn and try and so far the designs I have done have all been pretty popular.

Here is a few photo's of my work, I hope it gives you some good ideas and remember your imagination is your limit and don't give up keeping trying.

Nail Art Wheel
Valentine Nails (myself)
Polk Dot...Cake Pop, Azure Wish, Lilac Longing 
Lilac Longing With Rose Nail Art  (myself)
Wildfire with Black Pool Paw Print
Lilac Longing with Floral Nail Art
Purple Purple with Floral Nail Art
Cocoa with Rubble & Fedora Stripes
Cake Pop with Purple Purple, Hot Pop Pink & Tropix Diagonal Stripe
Halloween Nails  Black Pool with Cream Puff Spider Web & red gem
Holiday Nails Cake Pop with Hot Pop Pink index Rose Ring Finger Nail Art (myself)
Lilac Longing with Rose Nail Art  Purple Purple, Tropix & hot Pop Pink (myself)

All of my designs were drawn free hand by myself with stylus pens(dotting tools).
View my previous shellac posts here ...'Hands are Jewels not Tools' , 'Me, Myself & Shellac' and 'Rockstar Nails' .

Which one is your favourite?
Do you like to mess around with nail art what is your favourite design to do?