Mid Week Rave

Mid Week Product Rave

It's been a while since I posted and mostly due to the crazy amount of things I've had to do! Christmas is such a busy period so you all must know what I mean. Hope you've all been good though and everyone is ready for Christmas! 
I've decided to do a quick mid-week rave about some new products I bought recently and seriously been loving! A lot of them I've incorporated into my everyday wear just because I love them and they're so perfect for right now.

The first is something I've been wanting to try for a while. I've seen so many YouTube videos about this new dry shampoo called CO Lab, so when I saw it instore I decided to purchase it. My sister recently got me into Batiste's dry shampoos but I wanted to experiment with other brands as well and this one has just been perfect. Just like I found with the new Batiste range, it doesn't leave white streaks in my dark hair and because I don't like to wash my hair every night as I feel it makes it worse, this really has been my saviour. What also makes it the best as well, is the scent and my favourite is definitely the Tokyo fragrance.



Another two products I've just loved is my Seventeen Cheek Stamp in and Sleek's Blusher in Rose Gold. I already have a cheek stamp and I used it until I hit the tin so I purchased another in the shade Bash-ful. Its a very subtle colour when blended out and helps give a little colour the cheeks.

The other blusher I purchased was Sleek's in the shade 'Rose Gold'. I've been wanting to get my hands on this product for a while now especially when I found out it was very similar to Nars blush in 'Orgasm', which I've wanted to buy since forever. The thing I love most about this is the highlighting effect it has from the shimmer. When applied lightly to the cheeks, it can add some colour and a brightening effect.

Lastly, a product I'm loving is an eyeliner, which has definitely made it to the top of my favourite eyeliners and I could talk you on and on why I love this eyeliner so much. But ultimately, it does what an eyeliner is meant to do! Its nice and easy to apply and literally stays put! I converted to using gel liners as I found that pencil and liquid liners always bleed, but even though this liner is a kohl liner, it doesn't bleed like others ones I've tried.  I definitely think I'll keep purchasing this as my everyday eyeliner! Another bonus (not bias) is that it's by my favourite cosmetic company, Maybelline.

What's been your mid-week favourites? Please do share posts and comment below your favourite products!

Love Anna x

Carluccio's, Bicester Village

Lunch at Carluccio's

It's been very hectic and busy at home recently and therefore as a end of week treat, we went to Carluccio's in Bicester Village for lunch. It was an excuse to dress up a little and Christmas in Bicester Village is always one of my favourite things (and not because of the crazy amount of people that visit!) but because of all the decorations and lights.

The interior deco in Carluccio's literally made me feel like I have been showered in Christmas spirit! Despite the fact that there is still a while till Christmas arrives, it was nice to be all dressed up and having warm meals in the warmth.

It has been a while since I went to Carluccio's as we usually lunch at Villandry, so I decided to take some photos of all the pretty and yummy foods and share them on my blog!

Nibbles: Bread Tin with Balsamic Vinegar and Oil

Starter: Fried Mushroom Risotto Balls with Tomato Balls

Starter: Fettucce Al Tartufo (Egg Pasta with Truffle and Butter Sauce)

My starter and main meal complemented each other so well. The risotto balls starter was very delicious and not too filling. Then despite the fact that my main was quite small in size, it had a heavy taste, which meant the portion was perfect!
Even though I have such a sweet tooth, I decided to be good and pass on dessert (something I'm regretting right now!).

I always love spending time with my family and eating so the afternoon was absolutely perfect! 

Have you been to Bicester Village? and Are you all looking forward to the Christmas period? Please do share any recommendations for good lunch places to visit! I would love to try out new and old places. 

Love Anna x

Impulse Shopping

Mini Shopping Haul

I was in Wilko recently and I surprised to see some of their good deals on beauty products. I always need new brushes and am a nail varnish hauler so I ended up purchasing some brushes and nail varnish for great prices.

Nails

Their Maybelline section had the Forever Strong Professional Nail Varnish for £3.50. Although there were limited colours, I picked up the shades '130 - Rose Poudre' and '265 - Orchidee Divine Wine'. I've recently been into nudes and this pink nude is just perfect and has knocked itself to the top of my favourites pile. The darker shade is also a gorgeous colour and I think it would compliment some dark lips in the autumn and winter weather. The Maybelline varnishes have a rounded brush that makes painting my nails so much faster and easier and with two coats, the colours are rich and long-lasting. They have now become my favourite nail polishes ever, as they just glide on easily and last for so long! The colours that available are amazing as well, so I'll definitely be investing in more.

Another nail varnish I picked up was from Superdrug and I purchased it because I've had my eye on nail strengtheners quite a lot. My nails have grown quite a lot but feel very weak so I've needed something that will keep them from snapping and splitting. Despite being tempted by the Essie range, I decided to try out Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails (£4.75). So I shall try it out loads and possibly review it later whether it is a good find or another clear nail varnish.

Brushes

In terms of brushes, I've needed a new blusher brush and a powder brush for loose powder. Wilko has a range of different brushes; a set of pink/blue brushes and premium brushes. After deliberating all the various ones, I bought the Premium Powder Brush for £4.00 and the Wilko Blusher Brush for £2.00. They both feel very soft and can match up to the Real Techniques' brushes I have. Therefore definitely considering purchasing more from their range. 

Have you made any cheeky mid-week purchases recently? Or found any good beauty or non-beauty related deals? I'd love to hear about them! 

Love Anna x

Browns, Oxford

Champagne Afternoon Tea for Three!

As a birthday treat for one of my best friends, I booked a table for us and another bestie to have some afternoon tea at Browns in Oxford. I have never had high tea before and so as a belated birthday present, we decided to indulge and go for some bubbly and yummy treats! 

Since I had already pre-booked the table and meal plan, when we arrived, we were immediately asked for our drink preferences and then served the food. It was such a cute experience, as all the foods were tiny and perfect for me, since I like a bite of everything! The champagne afternoon tea included a glass of champagne, 3 sandwiches, 3 sweet desserts, scones and a hot drink, which was all so filling. You can imagine all that squished only one small circular table was a little crazy as well!

All the foods were delicious and extremely filling! I enjoyed having a nice treat with my favourite girls and made us all so excited for Christmas! Since I hardly get to see my high school friends as often as I like, due to our busy lives, it was lovely catching up with some mini bites. 

I'm really into this whole afternoon tea lunches, so I'd love to hear all the places you have all been for some great afternoon teas! I definitely want to go to some more and I have my eye on The Raldolph Hotel, Oxford as my next visit! So please do link me to your blog posts or comment any recommendations down below. 

Also wishing my bestie a Happy Birthday <3 

Love Anna x

John Lewis Christmas Advert

John Lewis Christmas Advert

So the new John Lewis advert has just come out and first watching it, I literally shed a tear <3! My favourite John Lewis Christmas advert is the one in 2011, with the little boy who is dying to give his parents their Christmas present. Whilst that still remains my favourite, this year's is just too cute. It reinforces the need for some Christmas love and gets me so excited for the festive spirit!! Hopefully everyone who watches it remembers how important love is <3 

The festive period is fast approaching and soon we'll all be crazy shopping away and blogging like mad to share all our present and Christmas ideas! Even though I never respond too well to the cold, I can't wait for all the frosty cold, merry and joyful feel =D! I've even started mentally planning winter outfits and purchasing some perfect Christmas pieces. So I'll be definitely bringing the festive spirit to my blog and posting lots about winter and Christmas, such as what I get up to and what I've bought! So make sure to check it all out <3

I also can't wait to see all your posts with regards to Christmas and getting inspiration from your present ideas (always something I really get stuck on!) So please do link me to any posts that you have and I'll make sure to stop by your blog!

Wishing you all the love for this upcoming Christmas!!

Love Anna x

My Favourite Eyeliners

My Favourite Eyeliners

Recently I've been experimenting with different eyeliners and comparing them against my everyday ones to find my absolute favourite ones. I've really been loving brown eyeliners for everyday make up now and black eyeliner for events and more dressy-up days. So after playing around with various brands, here are my favourites...

1. Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Khol Liner in Sumatra (£16.00)

I actually purchased this product when I randomly found it in The Cosmetics Company in Bicester Village. I did a swatch on my hand and realised that it was actually really difficult to rub off! I had been looking for a dark brown khol liner for ages and when I discovered that the nib always stays sharp, I was straight in line for the tills. Although this liner is quite pricey at £16 (limited discounted price of £11 at Bicester Village) it is so worth the purchase and I use it practically everyday. It's easy to apply as its always sharp (no need for extra make up equipment!) and I love the colour! I also prefer having mechanical pen eye products compared to pencil ones because it can be such a hassle having to sharpen it so often, so this product ticks all the right boxes.

2. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Forest Brown (£5.99)

This liquid eyeliner is my lower-end product, for £5.99 this product is perfect for my lazy days. I use this when I'm going to be at home or if I need to pop out to the shops or run errands. Although the product seems to run out quickly, its again easy to apply and is simplistic for a natural look. I do not tend to go for liquid eyeliners because I find that they run a lot but this one dries quickly and is light in colour to just give a subtle line to rim the eyes. As a top tip for storing liquid liners, try to store them standing upside down so that the product can filtrate the brush nib! This means next time you use it, you won't have to shake it manically trying to get as much product down to the brush.

3. Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner (£18.50)

I had heard so many reviews for this eyeliner so I had my eye on it for quite some time. When I finally got my hands on it, I was dying to try it out. I already had some experience using a gel eyeliner pen so applying it was relatively easy and similar to the Maybelline version. It does have more of an elongated nib though which makes application more smooth-lined. Something I also noticed was that this product really stays! It always takes a little more eye make-up remover and time to remove at the end of the night. Therefore, bearing in mind the price, I tend to use this liner for nights when I really need my make-up to stay put and last all day.
It also worthy to note that with gel pen liners, you need to have the experience and practice before you can properly master drawing a straight and clean line.

4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Black (£8.99)

I have previously mentioned this product in a haul post and gel liners have always been my favourite. Therefore this eye liner is one of my go-to's when I am going for an everyday black liner look. The price make it really affordable and a comfortable replacement for the pot gel liners that require you to carry more around and constantly wash their brushes. I've always been a mega fan of Maybelline and this is another genius product, which I can praise them for.

I've swatched the different eyeliners below in order of them listed. I drew a small line to demonstrate the thinness the brush or nib can draw and a line beside it.



I'm constantly looking out for new eyeliners, especially ones that come in a pen form. But ultimately I always try to make sure I have a combination between cheap and expensive eyeliners so that I can use different ones for everyday or special days because that way I don't waste an expensive product on a normal lazy day.

What is your favourite eyeliner? I'd love to hear about your recommendations!

Love Anna x

Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco

Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Review

I've always wanted to try argan oil in my hair, especially since I have very dry ends that can feel very prickly.  So I picked up the OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco (100ml) from Superdrug for £6.99. It claims to 'penetrate the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while helping to strength and create soft, seductive and silky perfection'. 

I applied the argan oil to my towel-dried hair ever other day and I did this for about 2 weeks. During those 2 weeks, I felt and noticed a great difference. I love how my hair felt and smelt after I used this product and it was not too greasy that it made my hair look unkempt. It's not too oily that it just sits on your hair. Once applied it will slowly penetrate into your hair and it feels so natural after a while. After using it for several weeks, my hair just seemed to be so much healthier and it does not feel as bristly and bushy at the ends. 

I really recommend this product for people who need to rehydrate their hair and for people who just need to pamper their tresses. I think that for £6.99 it is a fast and inexpensive way to soften and treat hair. The product smells and feels amazing and the cute little bottle makes it easy for storing and travelling around with. I'll definitely repurchase this product if I don't find another hair oil that does a better job!

Rating: 4.5/5

Have you ever tried any hair oils? Which specific ones have worked for you? I would love to hear your personal reviews and opinions on different brands!

Love Anna x

Barcelona

City Break to Barcelona

Desperate to chase that last glimpse of sun before having to unpack my winter gear and have a relaxing extended weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to take a city break to somewhere nice and warm. It was all very last minute but we ended up jetting to Barcelona with a 2 night stay in a gorgeous hotel, Olivia Balmes Hotel.

In terms of planning the trip, I decided to use an app I used to plan Brussels: Tripomatic, which I can honestly say is my saviour! Its an amazing website/app that allows you to see all the top places to visit and places to eat. You can also purchase the offline maps so you can use it as a guide without wifi or internet (I honestly could rave about Tripomatic all day! because it is just so useful). After planning the trip I loaded it onto my iPad app and had it by in my handbag throughout the whole trip.

After an early morning drive and flight, we arrived in the El Prat, Barcelona airport and it didn't take us long to figure out the bus that would take us right to the centre of Barcelona, Placa de Catalunya. The weather was gorgeous already and I was so excited to get exploring. But first we had to find the hotel to leave our luggage and find our bearings. The roads were pretty easy to navigate and with the help of my Tripomatic app, we made it to our hotel and it was modern, clean and friendly. It also featured an infinity pool on the roof and I was just dying to jump in.

Day 1

I had to tear myself away though and resist the urge to cool down into the pool so that we could begin exploring all the attractions near us. We saw some of the famous buildings such as La Pedrera Building (which unfortunately was under construction), Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Placa de Catalunya. Whilst trying to stay hydrated in the sun, we had so many juices and even bubble tea because there were so many places with delicious drinks and we wanted to try them all!

Since it was still early, we continued to walk further down to La Rambla and it was fascinating that no matter which side street we looked down, there was something else to be discovered. This is how we stumbled across the La Boqueria Market that had so many different stalls selling chocolates, sweet treats, fruit drinks, ice lollies...and so many more types of food. I literally couldn't resist trying out some of the delicacies!

Our wandering led us to the port and we weren't far from the beach so we continued walking till we reached Barceloneta Beach. The beach was so picturesque and alive with people as the sun was setting and we chilled by watching the local artists carve structures in the sand. 

It was getting late and despite losing track of time, it was most definitely time for some dinner. So heading back in the direction of our hotel, we passed a strip of restaurants close to the beach and ended up at a restaurant called El Ray De Gamda to tuck in to some tapas and paella. Once we finished, my boyfriend and I were very much in need of some rest, so we strolled back our hotel and passed other attractions lit up so beautifully in the dark. (I just couldn't resist an ice cream for the walk home as well!)

Day 2

The following morning, we both had the best lie in to catch up on sleep and then headed to the roof top to lounge by the amazing infinity pool and catch some of the Barcelona sun! Our plan was then to catch the cable cars to Montjuic mountain to see some of the sights up there. Since my boyfriend had already looked around the neighbourhood and he had come across a perfect place to grab lunch. It was called el Fornet and it instantly became our favourite place for breakfast and lunch as they had the most delicious variety of sandwiches and pastries.

After trekking in the blazing sun to the cable cars, located near the beach, we began queuing for a ride to the Montjuic mountain. Our patience did not go unrewarded, as the view from the tower and journey across Barcelona was beautifully scenic and I took so many pictures of the beach alone! Once we arrived, the area was really deceiving as it looked as if we had just travelled to a quiet little village with little to see. However, we decided to follow the map and our intuition and continued walking up a zig zag upwards path. We eventually reached several different parks and the Montjuic Castle. 

The next stop to the Magic Mountain was my top place to visit. I really want to see the pretty fountain display lit up by all the colourful lights. We managed to stumble upon it as well whilst walking in the right direction. People were already crowding around the National Art Museum of Catlonia steps getting ready for the light display that was due to start at 7pm. But unfortunately we waited almost two hours and nothing happened so we decided to go find dinner instead. 

We consulted my Tripomatic app for a good restaurant and came across Cerveceria Catalana, a popular tapas restaurant. There were lots of people when we got there, which meant the waiting time was about an hour. However we were so hungry and tempted by the food that we decided it would be worth the wait. So we headed to a bar nearby to try out a sangria, which is VERY alcoholic and a risky decision with an empty stomach. The food at the restaurant was amazingly delicious and I definitely recommend it for anyone who visits Barcelona. We ordered so many different dishes, especially since we were starving by the time we sat down and loved every single one. I went to sleep feeling very full and satisfied that night.

Day 3

The following morning was check-out day and despite feeling sad about leaving, I had such a lovely time in Barcelona and still had a few more places to visit before flying back home. We had the early afternoon to visit Park Guell and even though we didn't get to go into the main area, we still got to catch a glimpse of Gaudi's famous lizard. The sun was shining and the view was amazing as well so I really couldn't complain. With the remaining time we managed to purchase some souvenirs and one last ice cream =P. I also saw this vending machine at the metro station that was massive!

Barcelona was the perfect destination for a city break! I had so much fun visiting the attractions and taking pictures for my blog. The people were friendly, the food was divine and the weather was exactly what I needed. I seriously recommend Barcelona to anybody who is planning a getaway and I hope that my pictures have all inspired you all to write Barcelona on your list of places to visit!

Have any of you been to Barcelona? Or planning to go anytime soon?

Love Anna x