MUA Giveaway

I recently checked out my 'product' box and found a few MUA bits that I hadn't yet used. Instead of using them once and them collecting dust in my make-up bag I thought I would run a little giveaway for my lovely readers!

It's pretty simple to enter, just follow the instructions on the form below. The giveaway is open to UK entrants only I'm afraid! I will draw the winner on February 6.

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

I'm still not sure about this mascara. Bloggers have continuously raved about it so I thought I would pick up one of those small samples in Boots in order to try it out.

The brush is really interesting and the end is great for getting into the corners, but the excess mascara isn't removed when you take it out of the tube so it can get a bit clumpy.

It does give the lashes some nice length and I can really see the difference but clumpy lashes really bug me. My Collection 2000 Skyscraper mascara does a much better job of fanning out the lashes, leaving them equal and not clumped.

I guess I'm 50/50 on this mascara. It is nice and good for dramatic eyes but I don't think I'll purchase the full size version.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

Boots: No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask - £12.50

I'm a huge fan of the No7 Beautiful Skin range and with the cold weather my skin has become really dry and dull. I've recently been wearing some cover up make up to disguise some breakouts and my skin is so dry that anything I put on it cracks and dries out, which is really annoying.

As well as using the Day Cream for dry skin I decided to pick up the Skin Hydration Mask for that extra bit of moisture.

The product looks a bit like a pink foam in the bottle but on application its much like a normal moisturiser. I apply it all over and leave it for about 3 minutes or so, for a more intense effect you can leave it for longer, then you simply just wipe away. My skin felt lovely and soft afterwards and I definitely felt a difference.

I am always wary about using masks and new products on my skin as it's always so sensitive but this mask is hypoallergenic so it was really sensitive. I would definitely recommend! At £12.50 though I would definitely advise you wait until the voucher offers are back on before purchasing!

A skint week in photos

Delicious dinner / Charlie / Pizza! / New flowers / Charlie watching the washing machine / More Charlie / Deluxebite box

Follow me on Instagram - @cherryp13

I hate the last few weeks of the month because I never have any money left! Getting paid monthly is great as you get a nice lump sum, but on the other hand, it gets spent way too quickly!

I need to calm down with the shopping every month, but saying that I'm supposed to be going to Bristol to meet some Uni friends and there's no doubt it will include a spot of shopping...oh dear.

So this week I've been trying to spend as little as possible. On Thursday we decided to invite my mum and dad and nan round for dinner. Vince cooked two really nice curries for us, they were delicious and it was nice for everyone to come round! My nan bought me some new flowers for my windowsill, so lets hope these ones don't die on me!

Yesterday we took Charlie to the vets for his first injection. The vet seemed a bit worried about how small he was, so we need to make sure we feed him up! I got him so new toys and he's loving playing in them so he definitely has lots of energy and the vet was happy with how healthy he was so maybe he's just a small cat or he'll have a growth spurt soon!

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

House of Fraser: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - £20

I wasn't going to buy this originally because I couldn't justify spending £20 on a brand I've never tried before and a product my sensitive skin is not used to, but then I saw it featured in a Youtube video by Lily Pebble's and she tweeted me to say how good it was as well so I was pretty much sold...

Luckily, I had a House of Fraser voucher so I decided to go for it and I'm so glad I did. My skin really benefits from a good face mask and with the cold weather I've noticed it being a bit dry so this mask worked absolute wonders.

It's really simple to use even for someone as lazy as me. About twice a week or as and when you feel you need it you simply apply like a normal moisturiser before bed and then leave it. You can tissue off any excess but I didn't feel I needed to. You simply leave it on overnight and voila, soft a smooth skin is revealed in the morning!

I was a bit wary that this mask might irritate my skin but I was quite lucky as it's lovely and soft and really left my skin feeling moisturised, I would certainly recommend splashing out on it.

Orla Kiely Fig Tree Scented Candle

Amara: Orla Kiely Fig Tree Scented Candle - £19.20 on sale from £24

I was so so pleased to be sent the Orla Kiely Fig Tree Scented Candle to review as I'm always looking for new scents to fill my house.

I've gone through a Yankee Candle already and am on to my second one so it's nice to try a different brand and Orla Kiely is a name I was instantly drawn to. I just love her signature stem print and to have this combined into a candle is just gorgeous. I've also seen stationary that comes in the same style and I had to try my very hardest not to buy it all up straight away!

I've always gone for quite sweet and fruity scents when it comes to candles and I've never tried Fig before. I found it really lovely and it was sweeter than I was expecting.

The wax is 100% vegetable wax and although I have no idea what that really means, it sounds good written down. There's also a pure cotton wick and it comes complete with a cute heat protective mat for it to sit on.

For £19.20 I personally think it's a tad expensive, but it is lovely and after actually trying out an Orla Kiely candle I think it's a product I would buy again.

Wednesday Wishlist #65

EverOurs: Occident Triangle Collar Pins - £2, Silver Collar Pins - £1, Gold Arrow Drop Earrings - £1, Cat Watch - £15

I've gone a bit collar pin crazy after purchasing my first ever pair. I have really fallen in love with EverOurs.co.uk and now I want absolutely everything on it.

In particular I want the adorable Cat Watch, but I don't actually need a watch right now. I don't really ever need anything in my wishlists but it's good to have nice things.

The collar pins and jewellery are all real bargains at about one or two pounds so once pay day arrives I will definitely be stocking up!

What's on your wishlist this week?

Ever Ours

EverOurs: Gold Stud Collar Pins - £1

I've seen many many other bloggers sporting cool collar pins so I thought I would get in on the action, albeit a tad late.

I was browsing the brilliant sale over at EverOurs.co.uk and paid £1 for some simple gold collar pins. Yes, one tiny little pound. What an absolute bargain!

I instantly fixed them to one of my collars and proceeded to put my shirt on, forgetting that my big old head wouldn't fit through if they were pinned on. So, there's a little tip from me, pin these on after you've put your shirt/top on.

I just loved them straight away, they're so simply and sweet and although the collar already has some lace detail on it, I think these draw much more attention. They're so pretty. I feel an obsession for collar pins coming on...

They make a great alternative to a necklace in my opinion. I have a necklace that I never take off and if I put another on it looks a bit weird so I can tuck that one in and use collar pins to add a little something else, brilliant.

A snowy week in photos

Random pics of Chsrlie chilling out / Orla Kiely candle / More Charlie / Snow! / Charlie helping me work from home / Lovely Yankee candle / Hot Chocolate / Uneccessary Boots spend / Orla Kiely candle

Follow me on Instagram - @cherryp13

The majority of the UK was under a blanket of snow on Friday morning, Weston super Mare included!

I had to work from home during the day so didn't really get a chance to go and play in it. It was really nice to see it falling through out the day though, although Charlie didn't seem keen. We are supposed to have more on the way on Monday, but I'm hoping we don't as I really have to try and get into work.

Charlie has really settled in well now, I think he feels right at home. He's eating normally and it looks like he feels much more confident. He's so playful but then he is also so cuddly and falls asleep on my for absolutely ages, it's lovely. He seems to like sitting on my shoulder and playing my hair.

This morning my sister and I had a nice hot chocolate at Costa. It's such a shame they don't carry on with their festive flavours, they would be really nice in this cold weather. I also spent too much in Boots and Matalan on a few pieces, which I will definitely be blogging about.

How have you spent your week?

Snow day

What a funny old day it's been today! I woke up around 6am and could see this white reflection peeking through the windows but I didn't dare look properly until I was supposed to get up at 7am.

Secretly I knew there was a lovely blanket of snow covering the ground, which only meant one thing. Snow day!

I've never worked from home before and I found it really difficult! There are so many distractions, such as food, the TV and it doesn't help that Charlie was jumping on my laptop every five minutes.

I didn't really get to enjoy the snow as I still had to work but it was nice seeing it falling throughout the day, let's hope it all disappears soon though as I definitely have to go into the office on Monday!

Have you all enjoyed today's snow day?

Wreck This Journal

The Book Depository: Wreck This Journal - £6.74

I have finally got my hands on one of these! I've wanted one for ages but every time I get paid I've forgotten to get one. I spied on in TK Maxx not long ago but stupidly didn't pick it up.

I thought that it would be a good idea to finally get one what with it being a New Year. There is so much to do in it that it's something you can leave on the coffee table and keep picking up time and time again when you fancy doodling or venting your frustrations.

I'm planning on filling it in over the next year and having a look through it in 2014 to see what was going through my head!

Let me know if you have a Wreck This Journal!

Wednesday Wishlist #64

Internacionale: Cream Spot Collar Blouse - £18.99, Patent Purse - £6.99, Pointed Toe Cap Ballet Pumps - £12.99
Topshop: Hannah Flatform Sandals - £32,  Stripe Crop Top - £32, Black Lace Trim Shorts - £30, Quilted Make up Bag - £12

One of my favourite wishlists in a long time! I was browsing the Internacionale website when I came across their monochrome trend pieces. Black is a shade that makes up the majority of my wardrobe so I love monochrome, however wearing so much white is quite risky for someone like me that always seems to spill food down myself!

I also noticed some really cute black and white bits on the Topshop website and there even seems to be some Spring pieces already leaking online, I mean, they are selling sandals...in January!

Topshop also need to lay off the makeup bags because I keep spotting them online and wanting them so very badly!

What's on your wishlist this week?