5 Things I Love To Do When It's Raining

Well.... August hasn't really turned into the hot and sunny month we are (kind of) used to has it? 
As I sit here writing this I'm looking out the window to a seriously grey and soggy looking England - booooo!

When I have a day off work and it's raining I'm not going to lie.... I kind of love it! 
It's always a fab excuse to have some 'me' time and chill out by doing some of my favourite things - yes call me lazy if you want too but sometimes you just need to have a good relaxation session! 

1. Become best friends with my TV
TV show marathons, favourite movies or just catching up - there's nothing more relaxing for me than being in comfortable clothing (aka pjs and a huge sweater), with a blanket on my sofa with a nice cup of tea watching some good old TV!
My favourite shows at the moment have to be : Total Divas, Devious Maids, Little Women NY, Dance Moms, Catfish & UnReal! And my favourite movies to watch on a rainy day are : The Help, Love Rosie, Just Go With It, Harry Potter & Beauty & The Beast.

2. Read, read, read.

Whether it's book, magazines or blogs, something else I love to do is relax, listening to the rain hitting the windows and delve into something good to read!
I'm currently reading Holly Madison's biography (which is bloody brilliant!) and my favourite mags are Glamour, Cosmo & heat! 

3. Online (window) Shopping
Guilty!!! I'm a sucker for grabbing my phone/ipad/laptop having a browse online, making a shopping list/wishlist if it's before payday or having a spend up if it's after! 
My go-to website for clothing is ASOS. The ASOS sale literally rules my life - I think I look through it daily..... but it's just so so good!

CURRENT WISHLIST ...

4. Organise & Declutter My Life
When it's raining outside and the thought of venturing out is just a resounding NO then I find I'm so easily motivated to organise my life! Everything from clothing to my make-up storage, there's something so satisfying about clearing things out and giving things a make-over! I love a good wardrobe clearout and I'm currently adding lots and lots to my eBay! Goodbye clutter hello pennies!

5. Have A Girly Pamper
YES! You girls must all agree with me! If you aren't planning on heading out at all for the day then what's better than getting out your favourite treatments and treats to give yourself a full on overhaul. Facemasks, hair masks, shaving, fake tanning, pedicures, nail painting - the works! Being a girl is THE best!

What are your favourite things to do when the weather is horrendous?

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6 Products That Give Me An Instant Confidence Boost

As a normal 25 year old female I am overcome more or less daily by my insecurities, but I mean.... we could have a whole other post about that... today I just want chat about a few particular products that make me feel better about myself. Easy peasy instant confidence boosters... because who isn't interested in those?!

Yes, there are a few things out there that in my mind 'up' my glam game and give me that confidence that I'm otherwise lacking. 
From fake lashes to tanning lotions here are my favourite things to make me feel a bit better about myself :)

1. Fake Eyelashes
I can't actually remember the last time I went on a 'night out' without a pair of fake eyelashes on. I think I've been wearing them ever since I went to Ibiza in 2009.
For me, these are a MUST when heading out the door on a girls night out, I have THE shortest, stumpiest lashes and really small eyes so without them I don't ever feel like my make-up is finished or anywhere near as good as it could be.
Favourites :  Eylure Eylure Eylure- I love 101's and 107's ALOT and I do struggle to use other brands I'm not going to lie! I really want to try out Fleur De Force's new range aswell - maybe even the individual ones as I've heard they can stay on all weekend which would be amazing for Festivals and trips away!

2. Highlighters
The world (and my face) would be a sad sad place without a good highlighter! I think I have a slight obsession, I don't think I will ever own enough. Ever since buying the makebelieve skin lmizer as a teen I have be striving to find products that give me that dewy glow that all the celebs rock with ease!
Favourites : theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Seventeen Skin Wow!, Rimmel London Good To Glow, Benefit High Beam & Victoria's Secret Illuminating Powder.

3. Tan Tan Tan
Not only do these products stop me from looking like a pale whale they also help to tone the look of the skin - a good tan can make you look a whole lot skinnier you know, I just wish I had more time (and patience) to use it more!
Favourites : Anything St. Moriz.

4. Razors
What feels better than freshly smooth legs? Seriously though - smooth, soft legs are the best - a major confidence boost in just a few swipes!
Favourites : Venus Sensitive Embrace

5. Instagram
Yes I'm saying it and you may think it's obnoxious and vain but in all seriousness - a good filter and a bit of editing can make me feel better about myself and I know a lot of you girls feel the same.... so don't act like I'm being fake and self-centered haha - you all love a good selfie!
Follow me @ Kirstielouises

6. Blonde Toners
Last but not least.... this is a big one for me when it comes to confidence.
 I am blonde, but I'm not a natural blonde, so I am always paranoid about what shade my hair colour is looking. 
My hairdresser is amazing and everytime I had my hair coloured I fall in love but after about 6/8 weeks I can see my colour fading and becoming dull - and sometimes even.... yellowish #booo! BUT there are products that can fix this and I have become a slave to them!
Toning shampoos are totally and utterly fabulous and after getting over my initial fear of using them (I was paranoid I would have purple hair if I left it on for longer than about 45 seonds) I have realised how much they can help and if I feel like a pick me up this is one of the first products I reach for!
Favourites : Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo & Intensive Treatment Conditioner.

What are your favourite confidence boosters?

Get your own confidence boosters :

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ClearZal Footcare : At Home Pedicure Pampering

I feel like I've talked about feet alot over the last couple of months... I hope you don't mind! Summer is tootsie time and with the sun (hopefully) making an appearance for longer than a day in the next month most of us are going to be rocking sandals and flip flops like no other!

Pampering my feet is something I try and do a fair bit over the Summer, there's nothing worse than horrible feet and I always get paranoid people are staring at mine haha!

 ClearZal recently contacted me and asked if I'd like to try out some of their products to give myself a full DIY luxury pedicure at home - so of course I thought yes please!

I was treated too 4 of their full sized products and a few other goodies :

(Pictured above) ClearZal Foot Cleanser*, ClearZal Silk Busy Feet Energising Creme*, ClearzZal Silk Exfoliating Scrub*& ClearZal Silk Foot Food Nutritional Creme*.

I decided to set aside some time one evening and give myself a full on pamper! I started by soaking my feet in warm water and then using the foot cleanser to give my feet a bit of an extra clean than just regular shower gel.

The cleanser is one of those products I would probably walked past in a store normal - due to it's 'clinical' / 'medical' look.

 With tea tree oil this gel cleanser smells lovely and fresh and helps kill 99.9% of all bacteria and nasty stuff that may have found their way onto your feet throughout the day! Working on my feet 5 days a week and having them stuffed in shoes and socks all day in the heat this stuff is the perfect step to keep my feet healthy and all round at their best! 

After I had rinsed the cleanser off I then got out my 360 foot file and used that to buff away any dead/hard skin on my heels and balls of my feet.

With that done I moved onto the scrub. I love scrubs and I knew that this would help to soften and smooth out my feet even more.

 With natural pumice and aloe vera this stuff removes dead skin cells and allows for new cell growth. I used a small amount on each area I wanted to focus on and rubbed in a circular motion for a couple of minutes, leaving them feeling brand new!

Last but not least I lathered my feet, ankles and lower legs up with Foot Food - the thick nutritional creme. The perfect ending to the at home pedicure, I love popping this on and then putting on a light pair of cotton socks to help it fully soak into my feet overnight.

My feet literally felt brand new after this new ritual of mine and I'm going to keep it up by doing it every week!

In between these pamper sessions I have been using the Busy Feet creme too! This menthol creme is perfect for tired, achey or swollen feet as it helps to energise and refresh. The scent really reminds me of mouthwash - so although it's not my usual yummy sweet scented product it does give a feeling of cooling and rejuvenation.

If you're having any discomfort this is a great pick me up - I feel like this would be fantastic to take on holiday with you if you are going to be walking alot!

Overall I have been so impressed with this range - to be totally honest it isn't something I would normally look at twice in a store as it isn't the usual fun looking popular brand I go for BUT it really does work and I have really seen a really difference!

You can find out more and buy ClearZal products from their fab website - here - there's a few more products I think I might have to try out after looking on there like the tea tree foot soak and pain reliving roll on!

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You might also like :

360 Foot File Review

Getting Summer Event Ready With Mira

Summer.
The best time of year for fabulous, fun events and parties.
 Whether it be a glamorous day out to the races, your best friends wedding or a huge family BBQ. I LOVE rocking bright colours and feeling fab whilst sipping on a refreshing drinks and having fun!

Mira Showers (yup that's right a shower company) recently contacted me and asked if I fancied trying out one of their Showering Perfection Kits - I am obsessed with showers and after looking at their website I thought it would be right up my pampering street.... and I was right.

I'm very much a shower person - I have lived in my flat for nearly 2 years now and I could count the amount of baths I've had here on one hand... if any! I just love standing in the shower, washing away the day and all of my tensions and troubles!
Showers are an essential part of a pampering session for me and I think big events and pampering come hand in hand really - there's nothing better than feeling brand new and getting glammed up.

So alongside Mira's awesome 360 shower head* my kit included a gorgeous fluffy dressing gown* and a few beauty treats to help me feel refreshed and ready for a girly glam session!

Mira 360 Four Spray Showerhead*

First up...this is legitimately the coolest shower head I've ever seen, especially in my own home! They work with any shower on any system which in itself is just a winning factor and has 4 different spray modes.

Rain, Burst, Cloud & Storm - cute names right? All you have to do is flip the head round to try them all! There is literally something for everyone and for something you will use everyday I think the £64.04 price is totally worth it! 

I miss having a walk in shower like at my parents house and this makes having a shower in the bath a whole lot nicer.

Mira showers are super cool and definitely worth a browse - check out all their products here.

With that ready and raring for me I popped on my favourite shower music.... the Wicked soundtrack.... and hopped in to try out these highly exciting beauty treats.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque*, Molton Brown Pink Peppered Body Wash* & Pink Pepper Body Polisher*

Hair masks are something I do regularly, having bleached hair isn't the best is it?... but I keep my hair looking and feeling relativity healthy and normal by treating it weekly.

 I have been wanting to try Macadamia products for years now and for some reason had never got round to it, until now.

This mask is gorgeous, really rich and hydrating and it smells lovely! It left my feeling strong and repaired, one I shall be using before my next girls night out for sure.

The Molton Brown bits are a total luxury to me - I normally stick to Nivea, Simple or Sanex when it comes to showering so having these 2 to freshen me up was a breath of fresh air. I really liked the scent and after using the body polish I felt even more ready to slap on some fake tan and doll myself up.

Out of the shower and it was time to slip into that fluffy dressing gown that I mentioned earlier, pop a face mask on, paint my nails and grab a nice cup of tea.

I want to say a huge thank you to the lovely people at Mira - you've definitely got me event ready with all these lovely bits and bobs!

 Now.... where's my fancy hat and summer wedges?

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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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Lauren's Way Self Tan Mousse & Glam Tan Review

So, winter is upon us. Not only does this mean chapped lips, freezing cold fingers and toes and tights become a staple in the wardrobe but we all get a bit...well.... pale.
I, myself, look like a total ghost in the autumn & winter months so fake tanning is normally key to me looking half normal.
So when the fabulous ladies at Lauren's Way contacted me after I had been raving about their rollers on twitter (seriously they are amazing!) and asked me whether I'd want to try out some of their tanning products I jumped at the chance - seriously who wouldn't!

I had heard so many amazing things about this tan so I jumped straight in and whacked it on as soon as the postman dropped it through the letterbox.
Because I'm fairly fair skinned and not an expert tanner I went for the 'Medium' shade in the mousse - I think this was the safest option for me to start off with!

I do have a confession to make - I normally only tend to tan before a big night out - 1. because I am lazy and 2. because I'm always scared I'm going to totally muck it up.
 There is nothing worse than seeing someone with horrific streaks or who is clearly the same colour as a tangerine -I do NOT want this to be me!

I've been using this tan alot over the last few weeks as I have had lots of partys, night outs and general fun-type things to go to!
 But for these photos I thought I would just show you the difference from just ONE application!
I found this mousse so easy to use (thank you for the free mitt aswell LW!) Just 1 pump from the bottle goes a long long way and I think the smell is slightly better than the other tans I've used but of course there is still that slight "biscuit smell" that everyone has grown to know and love haha! (although I've never really got that... what biscuit to you people eat?!)

It doesn't take me long to cover my whole body with this stuff and streak free I must say! One thing I was super impressed with is the drying time. 
Normally I'm flapping around the bathroom trying to get my tan to dry and feel less sticky before I get dressed again but the LW tan dries so quickly - I was so shocked! Massive brownies points for that one girls and boys!

As you can see in the photos there is a huge difference for just one quick once over with the mousse AND this is a developing mousse so you leave it on for approx. 8 hours and then wash it off for the best results - so pop it on before bed and this tan develops while you sleep - easy peasy!

The mousse is priced at £17.95 and the Glam Tan spray (mentioned below) is £18.95 and that comes with a FREE tanning mitt worth £3.99! To me these are total bargain prices, cheaper than St. Tropez and Fake Bake and for, in my opinion, a better product!

With the LW mousse tan I was also sent one of the "Glam Tan" spray bottles! When I fake tan I normally use Fake Bake or St. Mortiz and always go for a mousse, I find it so much easier to use than anything else so this is something that initially scared me a little to try out but I am actually am so impressed with how easy it has been to use!
Where it is quite a bit darker than the 'medium' mousse it took me a lot of courage to try it out but with the mitt the spray technology makes it so easy to apply evenly! So, thank you LW for helping me get out of me mousse comfort zone!

Fake tan has so many benefits - it makes you look healthier, it makes you look skinnier, it makes you feel more confident,  it isn't harmful to your skin and body unlike sunbeds and sun-bathing, you are in control - want to go darker? Do it again tomorrow and the next day! If you need a pick me up with all this gloomy rain and cloud - hit the bottle and you won't regret it!

I can honestly say now - hand on heart - that the LW is the best at-home fake tan I have EVER used and will 100% be purchasing when these bottles have run out, because with the weather as it is and no holidays booked as of yet ... I'm going to need it!

(***Disclaimer : This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at Lauren's Way. . All thoughts, opinions and ideas are always my own and I would never include an item or product on A Yellow Brick Blog that I didn't truly believe in.)