Hello beautiful shining stars!

Today is my birthday, and I'm indeed another year older, perhaps not-so-wiser and smiling like a fool!

Yipeee!

I'll just be relaxing today and having a good time.  I can't wait to go out for a meal this evening and have some fun!

Hope you all have a great weekend, and if you share my birthday - CELEBRATE! ^_^

xoxo,
Angelique

How to Pack Your Clutch for Any Occassion

I don't want to brag, but I'm pretty much a purse-packing pro. I've got it down to a science, and I could pack my bag for work in my sleep. But when it comes to going out at night, I never used to know what to bring. One time before a date I tried to fit a cordless curling iron into a tiny evening clutch (crazy, I know) ... the clasp broke off and everything scattered to the ground. It was a mess and I was left desperately wishing for a Mary Poppins-esque expanding bag.


My main problem: evening clutches are more glamorous and glittery than my day purses, but they're also lower on space. And while enormous, stash-your-entire-life-in-them bags are perfectly acceptable during the day, they're kinda awkward at night. So if you're a notorious heavy packer too and don't know what to bring in your clutch after 8 p.m., no worries. I've simplified things and created the ultimate guide to packing your evening purse.

Out Dancing

When you're in the mood to dance, you don't want to deal with a clunky purse, so choose a slim envelope bag with a chain so you have the option of holding it like a clutch or wearing it over your shoulder as you make a b-line for the dance floor.

As for your makeup, dancing is one of the few times when you can go heavy on the glitter. Bring some all-over shimmer and a glitzy lip gloss in bright red or pink. Dancing under the strobe lights can leave you slightly sweaty, so bring some oil blotting papers to keep you fresh-faced. And when your favorite guilty pleasure song comes on, you don't want to be stuck on the sidelines because your feet are killing you. Pack some extra heel inserts so you can dance well past last call.

The Essentials:

• Foot Petal Heel Inserts, £4.66
• ELF Oil Blotting Sheets, £1.50
• Stila All-Over Shimmer, £14
• Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector, £13.60

Dinner Date

It might be tempting to bring a ton of stuff on a first date, but you don't want to deal with toting around a ginormous bag, so stick to a compact black purse with gold or silver detailing. Other than breath mints, you only need a few key products for a dinner date.

Typically perfume isn't clutch-friendly, but roll-on fragrances are slim and perfect for stashing in your tiny purse. You want to focus more on the convo than reapplying makeup, so bring a lip stain that will stay put from drinks to dessert. Last but not least, don't forget the floss. You don't want to be stuck in the bathroom trying to get that glob of spinach out of your teeth with a business card. Ew.

The Essentials:

• Revlon Lip Stain and Balm, £1.99
• Pacifica Perfumes French Lilac Roll-On Fragrance , £12.95
• Oral-B Floss, £4.10

Drinks With Your Girlfriends

A neon pink wristlet will hold a few important beauty products, so it's the perfect accessory when you're heading to a wine bar for a fun but laid-back evening with a group of girlfriends.

If you're meeting up with friends right after work, your hair might be looking a little tired, so bring a mini hairbrush. A blush that comes in a handy stick form is fantastic because it's super portable. Avoid lipstick smudges on your wine glass, and bring a long-lasting lip color in a nude or soft pink.

The Essentials:

• Goody Mini Hairbrush, £3
• ELF All Over Colour Stick, £1.50
• Stila Long Wear Lip Color, £13

Formal Wedding

For a super fancy wedding, skip the straps and go for a glittery gold clutch. Weddings can be marathon events, so here's what you need to get you through the whole night.

Avoid an awkward wardrobe malfunction in your strapless cocktail dress and bring some fashion tape to keep everything in place. Mascara may not fit in your clutch, so go for a mini tube, and a two-in-one blush and lipstick duo is a genius space-saver. Weddings are a fabulous excuse to wear your hair in a fancy updo, but you'll want some extra bobby pins to keep things looking polished and put together.



The Essentials:

• Hollywood Fashion Tape, £5.99
• Benetint Pocket Pal, £15.50
• Goody Hair Pins, £2.25 for pack of 48
• Fresh Mini Mascara Duo, £15.93

Movies

Going to the movies entails sitting in a dark room for three hours, so no need to bring a massive primping kit. Other than money for tickets and popcorn, you'll just want to have a few low-fuss products.

Skip the red lipstick and instead bring along a clear lip balm, and if the movie starts to lag a little, kill some time by moisturizing your hands with a mini scented hand cream. Popcorn kernel stuck in your tooth driving you crazy? Check out the situation with a light-up compact mirror.

The Essentials:

• Jack Black Lip Balm, £7.25
• Lollia Mini Hand Cream, £7.50
• Light-Up Compact Mirror, £3

Concert

A crossbody bag is the perfect music festival purse, because you want to have easy access to your bag but also have your hands free. Choose a canteen-style round purse with a colorful design to stash your concert essentials.

After an hour of swaying to the music, you'll want to put on a pretty braided headband to keep your hair out of your face. And concerts can get a little grimy, so pack some scented towelettes in case somebody spills a drink on you. Combat a post-concert headache by packing pain relievers for the drive home.

The Essentials:

• Urban Outfitters Headband, £12
• Soap & Glory Cleansing Wipes, £4.50
• 4Head Stick for Headaches, £3.70

Sporting Event

If you're going to a game, you'll want to bring a purse that can withstand some wear and tear. Opt for materials like faux leather or plastic -- something that you don't mind placing on the sticky, semi-gross stadium floor.

Whether you're headed to a basketball or baseball game, don't worry much about your makeup routine. Pull your hair up in a high pony with a cute hair tie, dab on some tinted lip gloss, and you're all set. But don't forget the hand sanitizer -- sports games can get a little grimy.

The Essentials:

• Trevor Sorbie Black Hair Ties, £3.09
• Soap & Glory Antibacterial Hand Gel, £2.50
• Kiehl's Tinted Lip Balm, £9.50






So pack wisely and you'll be all set for whatever comes your way.
Have a great day!

xoxo,
Angelique

Jolie Box August 2012

Hello lovelies!

This month I decided to get myself one of the limited edition August Jolie Boxes.  They've had their boxes specially designed by Superbytimai in various gorgeous holiday-inspired colours. No doubt that the contents of each box was also inspired by going on holiday.

For those of you that have never heard of Jolie Box, it was originally 'Boudoir Prive'.  For a fee of £10 plus £2.95 postage and packaging, you are sent 4 to 5 hand-picked, exclusive beauty products.  This is a luxury beauty box but is the only beauty box that also includes a monthly little beauty magazine (JolieMag) that is filled with beauty 'must haves' and stories. 

My box:

Contents:

Dr Bronner's

Pure-Castile Soap 'pillows'

These magic all-in-one soaps loved by the A-list cleans

and revives from head-to-toe

♥

Phil Smith Be Gorgeous

Dry Clean Revitalising Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo blitzes oily roots

and leaves hair feeling fresh and clean

♥

So Susan Cosmetics

Lip Cushion

A sheer gloss to tint and moisturize chapped lips

♥

So Susan Cosmetics

Wide Awake Face Palette

A palette of skin-enhancing colour tools 

to give you a summer glow

♥

Jolie Box

Leather Hair Styling Lace

A leather lace to create endless updo's

♥

This is a great box filled with items that I'd definitely use.  The Phil Smith Dry Shampoo is a perfect size to fit straight into your handbag and I've used on numerous occasions just to freshen up my hair.  The Lip Cushion by So Susan Cosmetics is lovely, but I find it slightly difficult to get it out of the little pot, but it smells really nice and is hydrating.  I'm also a huge fan of the leather hair styling lace, it is gorgeous! 

Let me know if you'd like me to review any of these products.  Have a stess-free wednesday!

xoxo,
Angelique

OOTD: Passion

Hello beautiful shining stars!

Today is my debut on outfit of the day, and I've decided that if it goes well with this outfit, I'll show you some more!

Jacket: Zara (similar here); Silk Vest:  River Island (similar here);  Jeans:  Matalan (found here); Shoes: Zara (sold out, except for on Ebay);  Clutch:  Next (currently obsessed with this clutch)

I knew that the restaurant that we visited was going to be smart and I didn't want to look boring.  My main aim was to remain playful but have key pieces that played the colour down.  Monochrome was the answer, along with a playful pallette of red and purple.  I loved wearing this outfit and got loads of compliments. 

My nail polish was red with a playful glitter drip effect to break up the colour slightly.  I used Rimmel base and top coat, Rimmel Cherry Red Nail Varnish and Barry M's multi-coloured glitter polish.

What do you think of this outfit?  Nom or vom?

xoxo,
Angelique

My first wedding anniversary

Good afternoon you beautiful stars!

I'm so excited because I've had the most amazing weekend, filled with lots of fun. You see, on saturday night, my husband and myself went for an wonderful meal in Warwickshire to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.  It's been a year filled with ups and downs, but it has gone faster than a speeding bullet! 

I promised last friday to blog about my evening and what we ate, and I'm intending just to do that today.  I'd like to apologize for the delay in posting today, it has been hectic because we are DIY'ing and getting our new cupboards built.  It is just so exciting!

The front of the restaurant

The leather-bound menu's

Our little table in the corner

The gorgeous flowers my husband surprised me with at the restaurant

That's me!

Another picture of my Rose and the flowers in the window

Our pea soup mini-starter, we also had a starter of scallops and black pudding, but forgot to take pictures!

My husbands main meal - beef

My main meal - pork

My pudding - blackforest chocolate - so yummy!

My husband organised for the restaurant to write 'Happy Anniversary' on my plate in chocolate

My husband's pudding - The Jammy Dodger

And again...

I ate it all...

He ate it all....

This is us smiling away after our delightful meal! 

So what did we eat:

Starter:

'Scallops'
Pan roasted king scallops with black pudding, fennel and orange
puree and popcorn

Main Meal:

'Beef'
Fillet of beef with blue cheese truffles, pickled red onions,
dandelion and burdoch gel, crispy potatoes

'Jimmy Butler Pork'
Pork tenderloin with chorizo, confit lemon, olives, feta and borlotti beans 

Dessert:

'Black Forest'
Warm 70% dark chocolate, buttermilk choc ice and a cherry foam

'Jammie Dodger'
Raspberry and vanilla sponge with cornflake brittle and a tonka
bean ice cream

Check out Tailors Restaurant if you are ever in the area, they are great!

I had a wonderfully romantic evening and couldn't have asked for any more.  My husband made loads of effort and it was sooo appreciated. 

Tune in tomorrow for my first outfit of the day post!

xoxo,
Angelique

Cake Batter Martini's

Good morning beautiful stars!

It is nearly the bank holiday weekend...and also nearly time to celebrate my first wedding anniversary.

The actual anniversary is on Monday 27th August, but my husband has booked us a table at a really fancy little restaurant in Warwickshire!  I'm totally excited and can't wait to have a grown-up evening of decadence.  I'll be sure to post lots of pictures come monday.

Bank Holiday made me think of way to funk up the weekend to make it more fun but also different, and I found the most amazing little recipe online.  The actual recipe is from The Novice Chef blog, this blog is run by Jessica who loves cooking and comes up with some amazing ideas to try out.  She takes beautiful pictures of all the food she cooks, and also describes the food and gives you super easy recipes to follow.

So with no further ado, I'm giving you her recipe for Cake Batter Martini's:

Cake Batter Martini

Yield: 2 martinis (or 1 BIG one!)

Ingredients:

3 ounces Three Olives Cake Vodka
3 ounces white/clear creme de cacao
2 ounces amaretto
2 ounces heavy whipping cream
1 ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueur
sprinkles (I used nonpareils)

Directions:

Place sprinkles on a shallow plate that is a little larger than the mouth of your martini glass. Dampen a paper towel with whipping cream (or water) and wet the rims of the martini glasses. Dip glass into sprinkles to coat the edges.
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into martini glasses and drink!
Make ahead: For a big party, mix up a big bath of these martinis and store in a large pitcher in the fridge. Shake a glass at a time over ice whenever ready to serve!


I'm loving this recipe and can't wait to give it a go over this weekend.  Let me know what you think of it.

I hope you all enjoy the bank holiday  weekend in the UK, and for those who are just having a regular weekend with a monday start, just kick back, relax and take it easy!  Have fun whatever you do or if you are going away, you are sooo lucky!

Lots of fun-ness
Angelique

L'Occitane Hydration Cream

When talking about iconic beauty brands there is none other than this particular brand to make you think:  Luxurious, decadent and innovative.  This embodies L'Occitane en Provence, with their beautifully created skincare and handcremes which are all natural and authentic.

This brings me full circle to the fact that I'd NEVER tried any of their products until I was sent a sample via my May 2012 Joliebox.  Click here to find out more about Joliebox.  I was very chuffed to be sent the A L'Huile Essentielle Et Eau D'Angelique Bio or Hydration Creme with organic angelica water and essential oil.  The sample was a very reasonable 15ml and gave me enough to really sample and try this face creme to make an informed decision as to whether I'd purchase it again.

What is Angelica?

During the Middle Ages in France, angelica was used for its excellent medical properties and as a herb. It was recommended for the overworked or convalescing. Angelica essential oil has hydrating and toning properties, which helps restore one's beauty.

This is the Angelica plant

L'Occitane UK have got a wonderful selection of products that they sell, which includes shower gels, fragrances, foot and hand cremes, face creams, deodorants and hair products, to name but a few, for both men and women.  They currently are offering their customers a free full-sized shower gel (250ml) if you spend £35 when quoting 'MARKET' at checkout.

L'Occitane says of their Cream:

Angelica is an astonishing plant with a unique ability for self-hydration.  Fresh and silky smooth, the Hydration Cream integrates the patented Angelica complex to instantly and lastingly moisturize and revitalize the skin.  
Ideal for dry to normal skin.
Dermatologically tested. Non-comedogenic. 

The rich, creamy texture of the cream.

My View:

The Hydration Creme with organic angelica water and essential oil is wonderfully hydrating and easy to apply to the face and neck.  The cream is a bright white and smells very faintly of flowers (clearly angelica flower).

When taking a swatch of the cream from the packaging onto your finger, the cream feels very aqueous and light at first, but as soon as you start working it into the skin the cream is rich and creamy, easily melting into the skin.

It instantly plumps and smooths the skin.  The hydration is amazing, with the moisture remaining within the skin for hours after the first application that you've applied to the skin.  So I'd definitely buy this again!

The cream retails for £29 for 50ml, which may sound very pricey, but is it well worth it.  All the reviews on L'Occitane's website are positive give four and a half stars out of five.  If the price is a stretch and you'd like to try it first, I found the 15ml sample on EBAY for £4.50 plus £1.50 postage and packaging here.

Have you tried this cream?  Let me know!

xoxo,
Angelique