#AxCircus

This last image should be a warning to never leave your phone in the hands of fellow bloggers...

Last week I was very kindly invited to what seemed to be the blogger event of the year! My twitter feed was going crazy with excitement as it seemed all my favourite bloggers were attending. My idea of a perfect night out! It was in honour of the first ever AX Paris advert - it's pretty snazzy so make sure you keep your eye out for. Held in an amazing venue called Circus, we were treated to an impressive fire eater as pictured above, a man spinning around on a giant hula hoop - made me feel a bit sick! - and some arcobats. I think I might have watched open mouthed! As always it was so much fun to have a natter with all my favourite people whilst drinking cocktails and munching on the yummy canapes.

I didn't get to have a nosy at the clothes as much as I would have liked - I was too busy nattering to everyone in sight - but I did notice they had some cracking dresses! With such pretty colours, there are a few that are on my wishlist.

Thanks so much for Etail and Ax Paris for putting on such an amazing event - you really pulled this one out the bag!

I left my camera at home so these were taken on my iPhone hence the not so great quality. #bloggerfail. I'd lose my head if it wasn't screwed on!

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We could have been anything that we wanted to be

Outfit:
White animal print t-shirt - Primark
White vest top - Primark
Brown super soft skinny jeans - Primark
Brown tassled loafers - Clothing at Tesco
Navy lightweight jacket - H&M
Brown satchel - Primark

Yet again another Primark sponsored outfit - I can't seem to stay away! These jeans were tucked away with the labels still on. I brought them around Christmas time - shameful eh? They were buried under my mountain of trousers in the drawer found when I was rummaging around for things to sell on a bootsale. It doesn't really help my case when I insist I have nothing to wear does it?! Does it bug anyone else that everything seems to be sheer lately? I'm getting a tad fed up of always having to layer a vest top under EVERYTHING. This is a t-shirt so why isn't it opaque! I really liked the subtle print, it made it a little bit different from a standard white t-shirt.

Today will be spent pottering around sorting things with my nan for bootsale tomorrow rounded off with a trip down the pub to see some friends after cooking a romantic meal for my boyfriend and I. Hopefully i'll be making my fortune at the bootsale tomorrow - keep your fingers crossed people want to buy my rubbish!

What do you have planned for the weekend?

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March empties

001: Original Batiste Dry Shampoo - Already reviewed.

002: Eau Thermale Avene Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
This was recommended to me by Sarah - she's a bit of a skincare guru - as she's a fellow contact lense wearing too. I fell in love with it and am already on my second bottle. It has a gel like consistency and feels lovely on my eyes. It glides on and doesn't seem to leave any grease behind. I'm looking to try other products of this brand if you have any suggestions!

003: Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Toner Enriched with Grape Extract
Not much to say about this apart from it doesn't break me out and i've been using it religiously for around 4-5 years. I don't think i'll ever stray! I don't see the point of splashing the cash on a toner.

004: Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Treatment via the Beauty Drawer at work
I picked this up from work as I needed a new hair mask. My hair was looking dire! I've got a Lee Stafford hairdryer and used his dry shampoo before so was expecting good things. I wasn't disappointed. This did the trick perfectly and lasted a good few months as I only a treatment every fortnight or so. I didn't think the price was too shabby as i'll buy it again once i've used my other hair masks i've collected. Thumbs up from me!

005: Caudalie Eye and Lip Cream
This small sample came with some Caudalie products I ordered. The sample was so small I don't really know if it made a difference. But it felt gentle on my skin. Gotta be a plus point right?! It's suppose to reduce dark circles which seem to haunt me. Maybe i'll order the full size to try it out. Anyone used it before?

006: Soap and Glory Flake Away
I'm a massive fan of Soap and Glory and always find them in my present haul come Christmas' and Birthdays. I could smell this for hours and it makes me skin feel silky smooth. I find it a great choice for fake tanning. It really feels like it works - sometimes a bit too much maybe!

007: No 7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream SPF 15 - Review here

008: Caudalie Eau Demaquillante Cleansing Water
I use this in the evenings to take off my make up. It seems to scrap off every last bit and makes me feel lovely and refreshed before going to bed. I will make sure this enters my basket again but as with the case with the hair mask, I seem to have required a few cleansing products I have to use up first.

009: Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads
I once again required these through work. I'd read about the brand and was eager to try them out for myself. I was a bit underwhelmed and don't think i'll be splashing my cash on them. I didn't really think they made a difference and I have other exfoliaters I prefer.

What did you use up this month?

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Things i'm loving this week - Kate Moss Lipsticks

L-R 101, 01, 19, 20

I have to admit one of the best things about working for a magazine are the beauty products. We have an insane amount of bits and pieces coming through the office and every now and again we get to raid it and take home some things that tickle our fancy. I'd heard so much about the Kate Moss lipsticks for Rimmel so made sure my grubby mitts made a beeline for them.

I'm a complete sucker for a red lip - I will look like a 50's siren one day- and this one fits the bill perfectly. It's lovely and bright so it really packs a punch. In theory the nude one should make me look like a 60's sex kitten but in reality I feel like a frumpy housewife. I'm not a 100% sure on it and think it has too much of a rose undertone. Maybe it'll be a grower. Number 20 hasn't been worn yet but it'll be ideal for the summer months - if they ever come... It'll be going in my suitcase when i'm off to Turkey in May and will set off a killer tan very nicely indeed. I'd recommend you prep your lips with plenty of lip balm to ensure they're silky smooth before you try the matte shade. It's not very forgiving in my opinion when your lips are looking a little chapped!

Have you ever tried this range of lipsticks before?

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Tell me the one about the friend you knew

Outfit:
Black blazer: New Look
Cream sheer sleeveless dip hem blouse: C/O New Look
Purple patterned tapered trousers: Asos
Ankle strap pointy court shoes: Primark
Nude studded clutch bag: Present from the lovely Sarah

These trousers are a god send. Why? Because they're like wearing PJs in public. They're such soft material and loose in all the right places. The best £30 I have spent in a long time. Anyone else find that Asos is like crack? I just can't seem to not click that button and place an order. Send help please? Or least donate some cash so it can continue please! Can you believe these shoes are from Primark? They really seem to be upping their game in the shoe department recently. My dad commented they look like bondage shoes but I think that's what drew me to them in the first place. Pretty fierce eh? I was very kindly given a voucher when I popped along down to the New Look press day so I treated myself to this blouse. It's such a great basic for work and going out. At under £13 you really can't go wrong!The collar will look great peaking out of a brightly coloured jumper.

I've spent today eating my weight in chocolate eggs - it'll be hard to get back on the weightwatchers wagon on Tuesday. I seem to have turned into a complete pig since Thursday. Those scales will not be my friend. I'm off out for a Thai tonight with my cousin, his girlfriend and my boyfriend for a bit of bonding. The night will probably consist of lots of drink, too much food and the disbelief of how crazy our family is but yet we wouldn't have it any other way.

Hope you have a fantastic Easter Sunday whatever you do!

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Survive Easter with Weightwatchers Hot Cross Buns - Recipe

Easter can strike the fear of God into any Weightwatcher. All that chocolate, cake and roast dinners is enough to make anyone go mental. Sometimes it can be hard to resist everything. However I found a cracking Hot Cross Bun recipe in this months magazine meaning you don't have to miss out. They taste just like the real thing!

You'll need:

450g of Bread Flour

1 tsp of salt

1 7g sachet of yeast

1 tsp Mixed spice

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

50g of currants

150ml of lukewarm skimmed milk (reserve 1tbsp for brushing)

25g of low fat melted spread

50g of caster sugar (reserve 2 tsp for the glaze)

1 egg

For the crosses:

2 tbsp of plain flour

1tsp of caster sugar

Makes 12

5 Propoints each

001: Place the shifted flour, salt, spices, yeast and currants in a bowl and mix well.

002: In a seperate bowl, combine the milk with 75lm of lukewarm water and add the egg, spread and sugar. Make sure you beat well. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees/ gass mark 6 or 180 degrees on a fan assisted oven.

003: Take the dough out and knead it on a chopping board. I did this for around 5-6 minutes but it's entirely up to you.

004: Make 12 even balls of dough and mark a cross with a knife.

005: Make the paste mixture for the crosses. Place in a piping bag and make an even cross. If I did these again i'd use a larger nozzle as the crosses were not thick enough for me! Brush them with milk before popping in the oven.

006: Cook in the oven for around 15-20 minutes until they have risen and are a golden brown colour. As soon as you take them out make the glaze with 4 tbsp of boiling hot water and the reserved sugar.

Serve them hot with some low fat spread. Don't forget to add the extra propoint. Let me know if you make them!

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Things i'm loving this week- Collar necklaces

Pink and yellow neon spike necklace: Primark
Black and white chain necklace: c/o New Look
Cerise pink bobble necklace: Primark
Rhinestone bib necklace: Primark
Studded mesh rhinestone gold necklace: c/o New Look - only in silver on the website

I thought i'd put together a new weekly feature including my favourite things of the moment. This week I can't seem to get enough of collar necklaces. They look brilliant under a shirt collar or a plain dress. The bigger the better in my opinion! I seem to be drawn to wearing all black at the minute so they really help to jazz an outfit up. This beauty from New Look will look amazing under a white shirt - it's the perfect colours for the summer. This necklace from eBay is a brilliant bargain and might be a necessity when I get my paypal account refilled! I think the simplicity makes it so lovely.

How do you feel about collar necklaces?

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How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Outfit:
Black long tweed coat: Next
Black t-shirt: Primark
Black super soft skinny jeans: Primark
Red woolly scarf: New Look
Red studded ankle boots: New Look
Red lipstick: Mistress c/o Clothing at Tesco

Snow?! In March?! What is the world coming too? I am not happy about this at all. Quite a simple outfit really to try and combat the cold weather. I thought i'd brighten up a all black outfit with red accents and I really like the way it's turned out. It's nothing groundbreaking but perfect for lounging about doing odd bits and bobs. These boots were an absolute bargain in the January sales at only £15 and have fast became my favourite boots. I really should invest in more ankle boots if this a sign of winter to come. Anything else think winter has lasted forever this year?

I'm off out to a jumble sale this afternoon to try and score some goodies. Despite being beaten up by the local grannies I actually perfer them to bootsales. Everything is so cheap and they are full of vintage bric and brac as it tends to be the older generantion donating. Fingers crossed all the dealers don't nab the best things! I also managed to lose 2lbs at Weightwatchers this week which has made me estatic! I've now lost 5lbs in three week taking my weight loss down to a stone. It has taken me well over a year but losing weight can get boring extremely quickly if you have a social life. In my eyes life's too short to be couning calories all day every day - sometimes that burger is just too good to turn down.

I'm also on Bloglovin just in case you wanted to follow after all this hoo-ha about Google Reader!

What have you got planned for the weekend?

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Bills - A restaurant review

A good few weeks ago now I took my mum along to Singin' In The Rain - amazing show! - and out for dinner as a very late Christmas present. After visiting Bills in Covent Graden with Hannah on my birthday night, I knew it would be right up my mums street. Full of traditional English food, it's the perfect place to fill up your rumbling tummies. The portions are a fair size which is always a plus - nothing like going out for a nice meal and having to visit Macdonalds on the way home because you're still hungry. Hope it's not only me that does that sometimes! With every set of table and chairs different and cute little tealights smothering the tables, it feels like you're in someone's house. It's lovely and cosy with friendly staff. Our waiter suggested the doughnuts in the top picture and let me tell you, they went down a treat! If something really does tickle your fancy, there's always the possibility of taking it home with you as everything you sample can be brought. Cool huh?

Have you ever been to Bills?

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You can't feel anything that your heart don't want to feel

Outfit:
Camo jacket - Topshop
Grey oversize t-shirt - Asos
Demin boyfriend fit jeans - New Look
White plimsols - Vans

This isn't the most flattering outfit I've ever worn but it's certainly one of the most comfortable ones. I brought these jeans after reading far too many American blogs. They seem to look so effortless wearing just jeans and a t-shirt with heels. I don't think i'm quite pulling it off but might try them out again with a snazzier t-shirt and a pair of heeled sandals. Just a shame we've not got the weather for it yet!

I wore this over the weekend for a lovely day of father daughter bonding while my mother abandoned us. My dad and I took a trip to the local greasy spoon for some much needed fuel before heading out for a little road trip to an antiques place. There was rows and rows of tiny little shacks and barns filled to the brim with nick naks. My idea of heaven! It was fun to find stuff i've already got at home to see how much it was worth. Nothings more satisfying than seeing something you paid pennies for at a bootsale selling for £25. I'm getting quite a good eye it seems. With it being so close to payday I didn't buy a single thing, but I now know what to keep my beady eye out for!

How did you spend your weekend?

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New Look High Summer '13

A few weeks ago I was very kindly invited along to the New Look summer press day to have a sneaky peak at some pretty clothes. Boy do I want summer to hurry now! I was very pleased to see midi dresses were plentiful. I especially loved the aztec patterned one pictured here. Body con seems to be popular which means maybe I should invest in a better pair of spanx eh? Lots of neon acceessories also made an appearance - I think I can make room for a snazzy bag in my collection. Nothing like bright colours to feel like summer has arrived! I'm going to keep my beady eye out for the beautiful orange necklace. It'll look perfect against a white tee and boyfriend jeans. Statement necklaces always seem to make an outfit in my opinion. More pictures can be seen on my facebook page. You'll be in for a treat!

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Feburary Empties

Another month gone and another month of empties to report! Better late than never. How quick is this year going? Far too quick for my liking!

001. Boots Extract Cocoa Butter
I recieved this in a set for Christmas off my sister-in-law. She came up trumps as coconut is my favourite scent when it comes to skincare products. This was just the right thickness of products - I don't like mine too runny. It smells gorgeous and left my skin feeling nice and soft. It's just a shame I only got three uses out of it - I like to lather product on!

002. Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash in Plum and Sakura Blossom Scent
Yet another Christmas present from two years ago. Sense a theme? My family know i'm a sucker for lotions and potions. This had an absolutely gorgeous smell and had a fierce lather once it got going. I did find you had to put quite a big blob to make it last your whole body but maybe there's just a lot of me! I have long legs!

003. Loreal Elvive Full Restore Repairing Shampoo
I must admit i'm rather shoddy with taking care of my hair. I tend to use whatever my mum has picked up in her weekly shop. But i'd noticed that my hair had became rather lank and lifeless so thought i'd better do something pronto. I found this did the trick quite nicely and i'm already on my second bottle. It gave it such a shine and is pretty cheap too. I probably won't buy it again as i've heard you should change your shampoo every so often? But i'd would reconmend it!

004. No7 Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion
This was another gift for Christmas and came in a brilliant hamper of no7 products. It lasted a whole month which was pretty special I thought. A little went quite a long way. I more or less used it every mourning. The only downside was it seemed to make my stretchmarks flare up again but this could just be down to the fact that I hadn't used coco butter for a few months. It has a great fresh smell and helps keep your dry patches on your elbows under control.

005. Nivea Daily Essentials Ricvh Regenerating Night Cream

006: Ghost - I have no idea what this name is as i've chucked it!
It may look like i've used a lot of perfume this month but these were halfway between getting empty. This is a pleasant scent and it's great as a daytime smell but it's not something I'd buy again as i's rather spend my money on Marc Jacobs Daisy.

007: DKNY Be Delicious
Another perfume bites the dust! I find this scent quite strong and lasts quite a long time without having to reapply. It's also a smell that catches peoples attention - quite a novelty to be told you smell a bit lush i'm sure you'll all agree! I'm already working my way through a second bottle and it's brilliant for an everyday scent as it's not too expensive.

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A night at the movies

If you're anything like me, come the second week of payday you're as poor as a pauper and have to stay in and stare at the four walls for the remaining of the month. So when Blinkbox got in touch with me and asked if I was interested in reviewing some films, I jumped at the chance. To watch movies online is a great way to save some money. Even better if you can invite a bunch of friends round and spilt the cost! Along with some cinema worthy snacks - pizza and chips and dip for me - it can make staying in on a friday night a lot more exciting.

After have a long look online - there were hundreds to choose from - we finally settled on The Watch. We'd missed it at the cinema and after all who doesn't love Ben Stiller? It couldn't have been simpler to use and before long we were snuggled under the covers with belly laughs. Perfect friday night in. Who says you need to spend a bucket load of cash to have a good time?

Have you tried Blinkbox yet?

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Easy Peasy Weightwatchers pizza recipe

My all time favourite food is pizza. I can happily eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sadly it's not very weightwatcher's friendly. This is a great alternative and you can have whatever topping you like. I much prefer to load up on vegetables - Butternut Squash is my new favourite ingredient.




What you'll need:
1 pack of Weightwatchers tortillas depending on how many people you're feeding.
Allsorted vegetables - I used butternut squash, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes.
30 grams of grated mozzarella
1 tablespoon of tomato puree

One pizza is 7 propoints.

 

001: Throw all the  chopped vegetables into a roasted tray. You can add some fry light if you want but in my experience the juice from the tomatoes is more than enough. Roast them for aroun 15-20 minutes.
























002: While the vegetables are roasting, measure out a tablespoon of tomato puree. Spead it around the tortilla to the edges.

 

003: Spread the vegetables in which ever order you prefer.

 

004: Sprinkle the cheese on and stick in the oven at 200 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on it as it may take shorter because the oven's already been on for the roasted vegetables!





























Ta-da! Serve with a side of salad to make for a more filling dinner. I just have it on it's own for lunch.  It's much more exciting than a boring sandwich. Let me know what combos you try!



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