Weekly Round Up #1

1. & 2. Mockingjay Part 2 | 3. J-Law Hair Goals |  4. Pinterest Loving | 5. Being Positive | 6. A New Read | 7. Trying Protein Treats | 8. New Blog Set Up | 9. Finding Dory Trailer

1. & 2. Finally it's here.... and I don't know whether I'm happy or totally gutted about it! I've been a Hunger Games fan for years - I started reading the books in like 2009/2010 so it's been in my life for a while now and for the movie's to now be officially over it feel like the end of an era!
I went to see this on Thursday night and surprised my bestie for her birthday - she thought she was heading for a date night with her husband but me and our other friend were there waiting for her! I LOVED the movie - although I clearly knew what was going to happen I was still on the edge of my seat, so tense and so emotional! Incredible. (I also had a popcorn treat which was bloomin' delightful!)

3. So I'm heading to the hairdressers on Thursday.... and this is the photo I'm going to take! I asked on Twitter last week if I should head back to the lob or keep on growing my hair and like 78% or something said lob so people... I'm listening to you! I'm thinking super blonde, about an inch off and maybe a couple of layers to give it some texture.

4. Oh my golly gosh I am so addicted to Pinterest again! Sometimes I worry about going on there as I think once I'm on there I will fall into the hole of Pinerest and not escape for at least an hour - I love it! Follow me here - KirstieLouiseS.

5. I've been trying to feel alot more positive recently and ever since changing my diet  I've been feeling alot happier with everything and I'm getting super excited for 2016 and everything that could come my way!

6. After doing a spot of shopping recently I was about to walk past the magazine stand when I spotted Women's Health. Since my recent life overhaul I've been so interested in health and fitness and have been loving having something else to read through other than cosmo - how amazing does Natalie Dormer look!!

7. I've been trying lots of new snacks recently - my previous chocolate and biscuit addiction is long gone and I've been loving trying out alternatives. Trek's protein original oat flapjack is awesome - obviously I've only been having like 1 or 2 a week as they aren;t an everyday thing - I love Holland and Barrett and their range of different things to try.

8. Yes! I have a new blogging set-up! I mean the way I take my photos is still pretty much the same I just now have my on little set in my spare room and it's so handy I love it! I can store all my blogging bits in one place and finally feel a little more organised.

9. Last but not least.... it's here! The Finding Dory trailer is here! I mean anything Pixar is exciting in my eyes but I think we've all been waiting for this trailer since the movie was mentioned years ago! Bring it on.

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The Perfect Pamper Night In For Under £6!!!

I LOVE a good pamper night in. There's nothing better than a bit of 'me' time after a long hard day/week.

Treating yourself to some of those treatments and goodies can make you feel revived and put that smile back on your face!

BUT these things don't have to be expensive and I am forever buying cheap little pick me ups to help myself, hair and skin to feel it's best even if I am half asleep!

 So....... I thought I would share with you lovely ladies 5 great products to complete the perfect girly night in and guess what - the total only comes to £5.58!! That's surely only a couple of drinks in Starbucks or a Subway right - totally worth it?!

1. Grazia Magazine - £1

Guess what...this weeks Grazia mag is just £1! There's nothing better than chilling at home with your feet up, cup of tea (or wine) in hand, reading through the latest celeb gossip, fashion must-haves and beauty secrets! Plus it's got Jen An on the front aswell - always a winner!

2. Montagne Jeunesse Hot Chocolate Face Mask - £1

These masks are some of the best value for money beauty products out there! I buy them constantly and if you read A Yellow Brick Blog alot you've probably noticed! This hot chocolate mask is a fabulous self heating detoxing mask which smells amazing and always leaves my skin feeling smooth and refreshed! To read more about it check out my previous review - here. 

3. Milkybar - £1

A night in isn't complete without some chocolate to crush that sugar craving - every girls best friend in a bar.

4. Boots Sleep Well Bath Foam - 89p

Bath's are something that I have rarely, I'm more of a shower girl myself but once in a while I like to have a good old soak! This bubble bath is infused with lavender to help you relax and unwind, perfect for after a long week at work for me! This bottle is huge so it will last me ages and for just 89p it is a must buy!

5. Aussie Travel Size 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - £1.69

TOP TIP : IF you have short hair you can buy the sachet of this product for only £1.09 (another 60p saving, making it less than £5!), but my hair is too long for just one sachet now so I thought this mini bottle would work better! Hair masks are my favourite thing, I love giving my dry, drab hair a lift with one of these and Aussie smells the best! I like to leave these on for at least 10 minutes and then let me hair air dry for a soft, long locks!

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May Favourites

My monthly favourite's are here again! It's my second May favourites - can you believe it? It feels like yesterday I was writing all about my loves for May 2013 and here we are 1 year later and I'm sat here doing exactly the same thing!
So here they are - those things I've been obsessing over for the past month! (no make-up this month... which feels seriously weird!)

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Collection
If you have't heard of the new ultimate blends range from Garnier - then you've probably been chilling on the moon or something because I'm sure everyone more or less everyone have been trying them out!
I picked up the shampoo and conditioner for 2 reasons - 1. they were half price and 2. they smell amazing! 
I am all about smells and if I think something smells good - I will buy it. 
These products were working so well on my hair that I picked up the 1 minute treatment aswell! They leave my hair looking smoother and smelling amazing - plus they were a bargain! I've gone through a bottle of each now so it's time to invest in some more - I may try out some of the different collections too!

Monthly Mags - Cosmo, Company, Elle & Glamour
Yes... I may have gone a little overboard with mags this month - 4 is definitely a bit unnecessary .... but there were so many great freebies I couldn't say no! 
I love being able to sit down at home or at work and flick through a good mag and these this month have been amazing!
 Not only did I get some great free gifts including Benefit's porefessional, but there were lots of a great articles, lots of looks I want to steal and lots of clothes I need to buy!

No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser
After running out of my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (one of my holy grail products) this month and being a bit strapped for cash I decided to give this baby a go.
 I've had this sat around for a while - I bought it with a No7 voucher a couple of months ago because it bought it down to half the usual price (barry bargain) - and thought now was a good a time as ever to give it a whirl!
I wasn't expecting it to be as good as my beloved cleanse and polish but this stuff gave me a pleasant surprise! It took off my make-up just as well as my C&P, felt light and creamy and have a nice smell about it. The only thing that wasn't great was the muslin cloth along side it - it wasn't as soft and gentle as the nice Liz Earle ones but still worked a charm!
I have been using this every night now and still have so much of the 200ml product left - it is definitely going to last a good while!

Nivea Soft 75ml Tube
This product has been a god send to me. I use it daily and have rambled on about it for the past year! I normally buy a big tub of this stuff but that isn't always that handy ..... so hello to this cute little 75ml tube! This is perfect for my handbag and keeping next to my bedside table!
I use this every night before I go to sleep and it works so well for my skin! I've tried so many night creams recently and they all seem to bring me out in spots (which is not like my skin at all) I love the scent and can't imagine anything taking this stuff's place anytime soon! Superdrug have these at half price at the moment too so they are only £1.24!!

Iggy Azalea - The New Classic Album
Jesus, I had been waiting for this album for what seemed like forever!
 About a year ago I first heard Iggy's song 'Work' - and since then I have been praising and bowing down to this woman! This album has been on repeat this whole month and I love love love it! Favourite songs have to be Work, Black Widow, F*** Love & Fancy.
AND obviously I am obsessed with Problem by Ariana Grande & Iggy - two of my favourite artists ever - best song of the year!
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Cosmo Blog Awards 2014 : Best Newcomer?

I can't believe it's nearly been a year since I started up my little baby aka A Yellow Brick Blog.

 I remember the Cosmo blog awards being the talk of twitter when I was just starting up 12 months ago and I never thought the day would come that I, me, Kirstie Louise would be asking if you beautiful people to vote for little old me - crazy?!

Over the past year I have had the most incredible time blogging, posting, tweeting, instagramming and getting to know the whole blogger community - I cannot thank everyone enough for the support and love I have been given, it has been insane!

To see that my blog has reached nearly 1800 followers on Bloglovin in just INSANE! Seriously.... that is alot of people, alot of computer screens, a lot of tweets, a lot of internet, a lot of love and I couldn't be happier and prouder!

So...... if you are one of those lovely people who has taken a look, read a post, liked a post, shared a post or hit follow I would LOVE it if you would nominate me as Best Newcomer in the Cosmo Blog Awards! 

Just to have someone vote for me would blow my mind!

All you need to do is CLICK HERE- enter your e-mail address and www.ayellowbrickblog.com and hit submit - it is literally that easy!

Thank you all again for the amount of love and laughs you've given me since May 2013 - cannot wait to celebrate A Yellow Brick Blog's 1st Birthday in a couple of weeks with you all!

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Kirstie's Beauty Buys Of The Week #2

I first did a BBOTW post back in June and had a great response to it so after buying a few new bits over the past week or so I thought I would go ahead and do another one!

Everything in this post was actually bought from Boots (minus Glamour), I am obsessed with the all the deals they always have on, I am all about saving money and if there is a way for me to get some discount on something I am all for it!

Now, I used to have a serious serious addiction to magazines. I am not kidding I would buy at least 6 a week. It was bad. But a good few years ago now I realised that I didn't actually read them all cover to cover and actually I knew alot of the stuff in them already because of the internet (I spend quite alot of time on here ya know!)

That being said I'm not saying I never buy them! I love curling up with a magazine and looking at the beauty  the fashion, he bargains and the interviews!

So each month I normally pick just 1 or 2 of the monthly magazines! This month it is Glamour. I am such a fan of Glamour, I first started reading it years ago when I used to steal my Mum's (who is also a known magazine buyer/hoarder like myself) and seeing as it as just £1 I couldn't say no! 

This issue is really thick and I know it's the sort of thing that I'll be able to pick up throughout the whole month and still have something to read in it! Not to mention the gorgeous Nicole on the front and an awesome free sample of Rimmel's new foundation that I've been dying to try before I purchase!

Since I found out about this new product from Real Techniques I have been waiting and waiting for it to be released.

 So as soon I saw it had popped up in my local Boots store I didn't even pause to consider and I flung it straight into my basket! So far I have only tried out one of the eBay cheap beauty blenders which cost me about a £1 and even though it wasn't bad I can already see and feel this is going to be a million times better!

 It is so so soft and after trying it out with both some of my new CC cream and my True Match foundation I can see how much better the quality is! It gives such a lovely flawless finish and I may have to jack in my brushes for a bit while I'm totally in love with this! For £5.99 I am really happy with this purchase!

Autumn is officially here (well where I live anyways.. Brrr!) so it's that time of year here lips start to become extra dry and chapped! *Queue the thousands of lip balms and butters I will be hoarding over the next few months!*

 This is one of the lip butters from Nivea and this isn't my first. I first mentioned these in my July favourites post after buying the Vanilla and Macadamia version and falling head over heels for it. These lip butters are just as good if not better for your lips as vaseline and they all smell so incredible (which is what drew me to them in the first place!) You won't get bored of putting these on to help soothe your lips, in fact you may become addicted!

Like I just said, Autumn is here and along with the changing of bare legs to tights and t-shirts to jumpers comes the changing of nail and make-up shades.

 I'm not saying that I completely ditch my bright corals and pinks over the Autumn and winter period but it is the perfect time to get out those deep, warm, rich colours from your make-up collection and rock the sultry,vampy look! 

I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to really really dark colours as I thought they never suited me. But over the last year or so I've slowly been teaching myself to come out of my wimpy shell and try and rock as many different shades as possible!

This had lead me to this - Barry M's Lip Paint in shade 156.  This is a gorgeous deep purple shade and I thought it would be perfect for the up coming months! I think the swatch actually looks a little lighter on my arm than it will on my lips and I am actually a little annoyed at myself that I didn't include a lip swatch - sorry girls and guys! I cannot wait to try this out on a night out, I'm thinking of wearing it with a really simple eye, maybe just fake lashes and no shadow! Have any of you got this shade?

I mentioned in a previous post this week how much I am loving Seventeen's products at the moment. They are normally a brand I will overlook and not really bother looking at as I would rather stick to the stuff from brands like Rimmel and Barry M which I know I love. But recently I have been so pleasantly surprised with the stuff I have bought from them and have a long list of products from their range that I want/need to add to my collection!

This is their new CC Cream which retails for £6.99. I have been wanting to try out a CC Cream for a while now as I love the thought of all the redness and fatigue vanishing off my face!

 I have been looking at so many in all the drugstores and once I saw this one I knew it was the one. This is literally as good as my True Match foundation which I use everyday, I love full coverage and a matte finish and this does it all! I was worried a CC Cream may have left me a little shiny but this stuff is fantastic. I bought the shade medium, although with it coming to the cloudy/rainy part of the year now I'm thinking I probably should have bought the light, so I may have to invest in that one too! 

Lastly it is a repurchase. The Eylure Naturalites false eyelashes in 107 are my go-to lashes every single time. 

Now and again I will stray to the 101's but 107's are my ultimate favourites. If you ever see a photo of me and I am wearing fake lashes 99 times out of 100 it will be these! I get through so so many pairs and it seems silly to always be forking out for them but I love them so I just don't mind spending the money!

My natural eyelashes are so short and I am alwasy moaning about them so when I am doing a full-face of make-up with eyeshadows etc (normally for a night out or big event like Bestival) I always like to complete my look with a pair of these!

Now the reason these are in my beauty buys of the week this time is because they were, of course, on offer! All make-up & make-up accessories are BOGOHP at the moment AND these packs of 107's have a FREE extra pair in them! Meaning that instead of paying £21.40 for 4 pairs of these I only pay £8.02 - basically only £2 a pair! That will keep me going for a while!

What have you bought recently that you have been loving? Have you bought any of these?