OOTN : Suede & Leather

Well.... it has been a long, long while since I did any form of outfit post.... or any post in which you actually SEE me but  hello, here I am!

Its not often that I get dressed up and go 'out out' so I thought I'd grab a shot for the blog while I had bothered to get out of my pyjamas on a Saturday night!

Hair

Nope... I haven't found the aid to magically grow my lob out in a matter of minutes but ... I have got some fabulous new extensions!

The lovely people at Lush Hair Extensions recently sent me some gorgeous Ultimate Full Head Extensions which I have been loving! At only 16" they are just what I wanted for my currently growing lob to give it a little more length and volume - having longer hair always makes me feel a little more glamorous on a night out, it's nice to be able to do something different with it!

Body
This top ('body') is from boohoo and I LOVE it! At only £12 it's perfect for easy day-to-day wear with jeans and boots/trainers but can be glammed up with a skirt or shorts for a fun night out! I'm seriously obessed with Boohoo at the moment.... as you will notice!

Skirt
I LOVE a bit of leather.... and yes this isn't actually leather but I love leather-look fashion - I felt very rock-chickesque with this and my boots #rockandroll! (I seriously want the pink version of this aswell!!!)

Bag
A total bargain at £14 - with a longer strap included this is definitley going to be my go-to 'popping out' bag - it's a great size AND has two different zip compartments!

Boots
My babies! I was SO excited to finally be able to wear these beauty from InTheStyle - so cute and perfect for this season, I know I'm going to get SO much wear out of these!

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Tony & Guy Fluid Metal Styler Review

What did we do before the days of hair tools? I cannot imagine a life without straighteners or being able to wave my hair with the flick of a hand!

There are SO many choices out there on the market with new products being added each month - which makes it super hard ot pick the one that's right for you!
Today I'm going to be chatting all about Tony & Guy's new little beauty out there the Fluid Metal Styler*.

Tony & Guy Fluid Metal Styler*

Now you may have spotted this on my Instagram a couple of weeks ago, I just couldn't keep it's prettyiness hidden away could I? - I know lots of you commented and tweeted about it, so I've been dying to get this review up.

 Unlike your usual boring straighteners this limited edition professional styler is made to not only straighten the hair but curl and wave it aswell, all with one easy glide. (check out some fab styles here.)

I cannot get over how darn pretty these are. The iridescent titanium is so unique (and as pretty as a unicorn) and the plates are made for the ultimate heat transfer. 
Developed to smooth down the hair follicles and enhance shine these really do transform my frizzy mop into sleek and manageable locks.
 They come with a gorgeous heat resistant carry case and a separate quilted heat proof mat  - great for travelling or if you're on the go alot.

The one thing I really love about the Fluid Styler is that it has a heat dial. You can choose what heat you'd like from 80c to 200c. So if your hair is quite delicate or doesn't need alot of heat to stay put you don't have to blast it with unnecessary temperatures! 

The plates glide through my hair with easy and don't leave it feeling over processed or dry (one of my pet peeves!). 
I've been used to the same pair of straighteners for 10 years so it takes alot for me to venture out of my comfort zone but these managed to persuade me. 

I love how easy they are to use and I've found it fairly simple to master the different styles with them too. My favourite go-to look at the moment is straight with the ends curled under to create a cute long bob style, it's so easy and lasts all day.

The fluid styler is priced at £90, which for what you get, the quality and the look (yes... I would happily pay for the pretty plates alone!) I think is great value... BUT, it gets better - right now at Superdrug they are HALF PRICE and only £44.99 - fab for a cheeky beauty treat for yourself, a great gift to pop on your wishlist or the perfect present for a haircare fanatic!

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Style \\ London Retro Metropolitans

Boo! Guess who's back with some brand spanking new glasses to talk about!

I'v always been worried about how I look in glasses, I think everyone gets that feeling when they aren't a 24/7 glasses wearer, but I've become alot more confident with them over the last 6 months or so.

London Retro Metropolitan Frames*

These frames are from London Retro - a brand I have previous featured on A Yellow Brick Blog (here) and it's after wearing their brand that I've felt lot more comfortable with rocking glasses.

I've been dying for some squared rimmed glasses for a while now and these Metropolitan frames are literally perfect. 
I love the size, the style and how they look on. I have to be careful as I have such a big head haha, I never want things to ever look to small compared to my features (forehead)!

Glasses Direct are a fabulous online glasses store with the great 7 day home trial feature. Pick 4 pairs to try out for free and get 7 days to pick your favourite/s - genius!

These frames are priced at £95 and come in the featured black shade or a brown/black.

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Making Memories \\ #ALittleMemory

Hello my lovelies and welcome back (or hiiii for the first time) to A Yellow Brick Blog!

Today I'm going to talking about memories.

 Memories, memories, memories and my total love for them, especially when it comes to photos. 

My home is surrounded in photos of my friends, family and events from throughout my life and it really is true when people say a picture holds a thousand words.

I have been very lucky over the last few years to have made some of the most incredible memories - from travelling the states with my best friend and seeing things I never dreamed I would be able to, to moving out for the first time and having the holiday of a lifetime with my boyfriend and I am so, so grateful to have had these experiences. 

Solopress have recently partnered up with Little Havens Care for a really lovely campaign in which I am so happy and proud to be a part of.

 LHC is a children's hospice based in Essex who specialise in making special memories for children with life threatening conditions, something I think we would all love to get behind, help and support with.

Solopress were kind enough to create a gorgeous photobook full of photos of some of my favourite memories for me along with an amazing new diary and a selfie stick! (Yay I finally have one now!!)

I was overwhelmed when this little box of goodies arrived and looking through the book put a smile on my face from ear to ear, so many happy and fun times all in one pretty place.

The diary is such an amazing idea aswell - each page has a day of the year and there are 5 sections, so you can write in it for 5 years! I can't wait to start it now and see what I get upto and what memories I can make!

Now onto how YOU can help raise money for the amazing Little Havens Care...

All you have to do is upload a special photo of yours to Twitter using the hashtag #alittlememory  and nominate a friend to do the same!

Example : CLICK HERE TO SEE MINE :)

For every person that tweets a photo using the hashtag the awesome people at Solopress will donate £1 to the children at the hospice to help them create their very own special memories.

Get that chain flowing by tagging a friend and watch the money build and build! It is literally THAT simple!

Please, please, please get involved guys - it is so easy and you really will be helping the children of the hospice in making amazing memories with their loved ones.

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Bestival 2014

I can't believe it's been and gone already! Bestival has come to my home once again and rocked my life for a weekend.... I think I'm still recovering to be honest!

I love Festival's, the atmosphere, the fun the fashion - there is always something to watch and always something to look at! 

My highlights of the weekend had to be seeing Chic, Basement Jaxx! I also LOVED the Listerine Isle Of White (yes my friend actually believed they had made a spelling mistake) they were doing fab free funky make-up for anyone and everyone plus giving away free bottles of mouthwash - perfect for those hungover mornings and post-stinky food stalls!

Not forgetting of course my favourite place - the Sink The Pink tent... I have an obsession for drag!

This may be quite photo heavy for you guys but here's what I got upto at the weekend and a little look at me and my pals having a blast!

Guilty of a few festival selfies..... #sorrynotsorry (I want pink hair 24/7, keep your eyes peeled this week to see how I did it!)

Day 1 : Top & Shorts both from New Look, Necklace from eBay. 

Day 2 : Playsuit - ASOS

Relaxing at the main stage with the blondes - Saturday afternoon.

Watching Sophie Ellis-Bextor - I have to say her voice live is flawless, I was so so impressed! Obviously we all got up for Murder On The Dancefloor and I loved that she got into the fancy dress spirit!

Can't go to a festi without my trusty Hunter's .... I mean they cost enough so I try and wear them at every possible opportunity... aka IOW Festival, Bestival and when it snows haha!

The world's largest DISCO BALL!

Post toboggan ride at the port - one of the best parts of the Bestival!

Getting photo bombed! Crop top - New Look, Shorts - ASOS!

Thanks again Rob da Bank for an incredible weekend - the Bestival is so well organised with the best types of entertainment aswell as amazing artists!

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#ProjectBareAll

Recently the lovely Megan form Thumbelina Lillie asked/challenged/tagged me to join in with her amazing new blogging project - #ProjectBareAll.
 I'm very lucky to talk to so many lovely bloggers on a regular basis (total babes) I always feel so inspired by them and love the sense of community that us "beauty bloggers" have and this post is something that really struck a cord with me personally and something that I think everyone should join in with!

#ProjectBareAll is simple - it is all about having confidence without that safety blanket we call make-up. 
I, for one, am guilty of wearing make-up near enough all the time and I treasure those days where I feel I don't have to apply it!
Don't get me wrong I love love love make-up.... a little too much really but it has become the norm for me and I do not feel myself or confident enough to go about my daily life without it.

We all have our hang-ups mine range from my small eyes to my sparse eyebrows to my awkwardly shaped nose and don't even get me started on the dark bags under my eyes! But with make-up I feel like I can make myself feel slightly better about those little hiccups on my face. 
I've worn a full face of make-up probably since starting high school, which is actually 10 years ago now and for me now the thought of going out or to work with no make-up on is... well.... bloomin' scary!

I think the main thing for me is how different I think (do) I look without it, I've taken a few make-up free pictures in the past and have always had comments come my way from people I know fairly well saying things like "it looked nothing like you" or "you look so different without make-up" - this I obviously took as a bad thing and so it is rare that you will see a make-up free photo of me, well until now!

After reading Megan's fab and honest post I was inspired to join in her journey of becoming more confident without make-up. I'm not saying I'm going to rock up to work tomorrow footloose and make-up free but I need to learn to how to feel good in the skin I'm in and worry less about what others think of me and my face. (In reality, who actually cares?!)

So there it is, my #ProjectBareAll bare face (and arms apparently). The list of things I've picked up on looking at this photo is endless but this project is all about confidence and I need to find mine so this post is going up and I am going to make myself feel good about it!

 I urge you all to go and read Megan's post (and follow her amazing blog - it is one of my favs!) and join in yourself whether it be on your blog, Instagram, Twitter or even Facebook - just use the hashtag #projectbareall and rock that bare faced look!
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The 3 Minute, 3 Product Make-up Challenge With Fragrance Direct

Recently I was set a challenge by the lovely people over at Fragrance Direct.

A 3 minute make-up challenge. 

Now being a girl who has worn make-up for over 10 years now and who has her morning routine down, I thought this would be easy peasy lemon squeezy..... until they told me I could only use THREE PRODUCTS - now that is a challenge!

I spend a long time on the fragrance direct site, browsing through and having a good long think at how I could get a good full face of make-up with just 3 products that I could apply in just 3 short minutes.... that's only 180 seconds to go from drab to fab!

So the challenge was fully accepted and I choose the following 3 products....

Maxfactor Whipped Creme Foundation - Natural*

Maybelline Define-a-Lash Mascara - Brown*

Maxfactor Lipfinity - Hint Of Pink*

So products in hand I sat down with my iPhone stopwatch next to me and started the challenge. (Obviously I had cleansed and moisturised my skin before starting) 

Minute 1 : I started by dotting some of the foundation under my eyes and blending to try and conceal my dark circles. I then proceeded to apply the whipped creme foundation to the whole of my face and blend in until it was even!

Minute 2 : I had noticed that the lip product says to leave 60 seconds between each step (the colour , then the balm) so I popped this on now to left to dry! I then grab the Define-a-lash mascara, which I had choose in brown, and started on my eyebows! This mascara turned out to be fab for darkening my brows and filling them! After this I started on my lashes! I managed to do one eye and then minute 3 kicked in.......

Minute 3 : With one minute to go I finished off my eyelashes, I have really short lashes so I normlly spend alot of time trying to lengthen and curl! Once my lashes were done I grabbed the pink lipgloss again and dotted it on my cheeks for a splash of colour, I blended it in and surprising made a great blusher!
It was then time up - my face was done in just 3 minute with 3 products... what do you think?

This has definitely shown me that I don't always need as many products as I normally use (aka alot)! I love using products for multiple uses and I feel like the 3 products I choose actually worked really well together and I managed to complete an acceptable look with just the 3 of them!

A huge thank you to Fragrance Direct for challenging me - it was slightly harder than I imagined it but I'm happy with how the end result turned out and proud that I managed to do my make-up with just 3 products.... it's a first!!
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My Instagram Month : April

Shot Roulette ♥ Puppy Power ♥ Ice Cream On A Sunny Day ♥ Life On The Isle Of Wight ♥ Face Mask Reviewing ♥ Easter Happiness ♥ Night Out With My Favourite ♥ Healthy Afternoon Treats

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My 5 Make-up Musts For A Night Out

One of my favourite things is getting glammed up for a night out with my girls! This is a time I wear (alot) more make-up than usual - eyeshadow, lashes, the works! It's always fun getting dressed up and glammed isn't it?

After uploading a recent night-out selfie (so vain right?) and getting a few questions on what I had on my face I thought I would share with you my absolute must-haves which I always go to for a full face of glam make-up!

(Obviously this isn't all that I wear, but I'd feel lost if I didn't have these products!)

1. Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation

I mentioned this badboy in my favourite foundations post! This is my go-to foundation for nights out, amazing high coverage and lasts for hours and hours (even after a good few drinks and boogey on the dancefloor!) Perfect when used with a buffing brush like my one from Zoeva, this helps give a flawless finish!

2. Eylure 107 Fake Eyelashes

My eyelashes are tiny, short and stumpy so false lashes are always a must for me when getting dressed up! 

These ones from Eylure have been my favourite for years! They recently changed them and made them slightly bigger which scared me a bit but they are great for my small eye shape and haven't found any others yet that I love as much (and are as easy to put on)!  Please excuse the 'used' lashes .... I like to get multiple wears!

3. ELF HD Powder

Jeeez this packaging is messy - I promise I do look after my stuff! I have been using this powder for a few years now - I think this is my second pot. I'm not really a fan of loose powders but this one works so well that I put up with it! (If they could make this in a pressed powder I would be super duper happy!) This powder is bright white but is translucent once brushed onto the skin ], I use this all over my face with a large fluffy brush to set my foundation - it is fab and helps me avoid a shiny face in photos!

4. A Mac Lipstick

Make-up isn't complete without a fabulous lip colour and mac lipsticks are the best when it comes to this!

 With the amount of shades they have too, Mac is the perfect place to go if you are trying to match a lip colour to your outfit! The quality is fantastic and they are seriously long-lasting! My favourite shade is Girl About Town - I seem to always grab this colour for a night out!

5. Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette

Again... oppsie this is a bit messy isn't it! 

Since getting this for Christmas a couple of years ago I have used it near enough EVERY time I have gone out!

 I am obsessed with it and love all the different looks you can make from just one palette! The quality is great, the colour are gorgeous and as you can see this lasts years! A must have for any neutral-loving girl's make-up collection!

What products do you grab when you are going for a night out?!

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Kirstie's Travel Diaries #16 : San Fran Shopping & The Pretty Reckless Gig

Catch up with #15 here.

Day 16 (15/03/12)

Our first full day in San Francisco and unfortunately the weather was not in our favour (some of these photos were taken on other days, who wants to get their camera out in a down pour?!)
With an exciting evening ahead of us (keep reading) we thought a chilled day out exploring our surroundings and checking out the mounds of shops around us was a fab idea!


The night before we had mainly been looking for food outlets so fashion, beauty and other exciting things hadn't really caught our eye - so today when we actually saw what we were living by we couldn't believe it!
We headed out from our hotel and popped into the H&M which was just a few doors down - I swear H&M is always exactly the same no matter where you are in the world the stock is exactly the same!
Furthur down the hill we found an incredible Forever 21 store - it was literally 3 or 4 stories high - so beautiful!
Then over the road to Westfields! Yup it's not the England that has those, there is one in San Fran too and it is bloomin' well awesome!

This mall had everything and I mean everything! I could have spent days and millions in here - loves it!
As we were strolling round one of the department stores we got into a conversation with some of the workers who told us that BRITNEY had been in there just a few days before - I cannot believe we missed her by just a few hours!!

A place I fell totally in love in Westfield's was - Yoppi! A DIY frozen yogurt place - I am dead serious when I say I was full-on addicted to fro-yo! Some many flavours to choose from and incredible selection of toppings, yum!

The one thing I didn't like about shopping in the mall was the amount of people trying to sell you stuff - ahhh leave me alone! Although a woman sitting my friend down and starting to straighten her hair did make me laugh.... alot.

Daytime coming to an end we decided to head back to our hotel and get ready because - we were off to see The Pretty Reckless!

A couple of months previous when we were back in England, they had announced their tour and the fact they were playing in San Fran the day after we got there was just fate so my friend bought me tickets for my 22nd birthday (what a babe!) and we had been so excited for it ever since!

Now the day was here, so I headed to the off lincense - got some vodka and we headed back to our room to get ready!

 Back at the room we had the genius idea of ordering Dominos to our hotel via their website - and yes it worked and it was amazing! (we were turning into pro hotel regulars!)

Ready - we called a taxi and were on our way to the Bottom Of The Hill club! It wasn't that far away and we were a little nervous as we weren't sure what to expect - but I was so excited it wasn't long before I didn't care where we were and we were in the queue outside chatting away to everyone!

There were a few support acts (who of course we had never heard of) and then it was time for Taylor and her guys to hit the stage! The club was super small - so we had an amazing view - I loved how intimate it was in there!

The were amazing - and my love for them grew even more! I felt so lucky to have seen them live and so close aswell - best birthday present ever!

Now we were exhausted so it was time to call a taxi home (after going outside to spot Taylor strolling upstairs after a smoke of course!) - we had a seriously early morning so it we went back to our hotel, ate the leftover pizza and hit the hay!

NEXT TIME : Tour of San Fran, The Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz! 

Seventeen Instant Glow Pink Bronze Shimmer Brick Review

A shimmering glow is a look I go for on a daily basis. I love any product which can give me a gorgeous dewy look and I am constantly adding these products to my make-up collection!

Shimmer bricks are something I have used for years and I don't feel like my face is complete without it! With my current shimmer brick coming to an end I knew it was time to invest in a new one and this was the perfect bargain price for my current budget!

This is the Seventeen Instant Glow Pink Bronze Shimmer Brick.

With my holy grail fake bake shimmer brick (mentioned in many a post) being on it's last legs I knew that it was time to hit the shops and find a replacement. Although I needed  cheaper replacement - and this beaut from Seventeen fit the bill perfectly!

Seventeen are a brand that since I started my blog back up again last May I have mentioned countless times! They have really upted their game and alot of their products at the moment are up there in my favourites!

This shimmer brick comes in 2 fab shades - a pink shade and a bronzed shade! I've had trouble before with over bronzing myself (sometimes when intoxicated) with my shimmer brick so I thought Id try out the pink shade which hopefully would just give me a lovely pink shimmer!

These are such a great range of shades which when blended together make a gorgeous shimmering glow!

This is the last product I use on my face when doing my make-up - after my concealer, my foundation -  everything - I pop this onto a blush brush and just add it to the apples of my cheeks and a little down my nose!

I love the subtle shine it gives me for both day and night, my make-up doesn't feel complete without it!

Even though this is only £4.99, half the price of my Fake Bake brick that I have been using for years and years - it works just aswell, you can hardly tell the difference apart from the fact this is has a slightly pinker tone!

I love it and if it is anything like my other ones this thing is going to last for years!

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