August Favourites

I can't believe August is over its gone so quick. My favourite nail polish has to be Kim-Pletely in Love by OPI I do feel like I have been unfaithful with this not being by Nails Inc. What can I say its an amazing colour which has excellent staying power.

This month I have also fallen in love with pinterest.com I never really understood it before but I have become quite an addict.  I have loved pinning products I want, films I want to see and looking at other peoples boards.  If anyone wants to take a look at my username is supersnoo.

My favourite TV show has been New Girl it is easily the best thing on TV hands down, I am already dreading the end of the series.  Also have serious hair envy wish my hair was as long and thick as Jess'

I haven't got a favourite video or post this month but do have a favourite blogger/youtuber viviannadoesmakeup.com I have been following her blog for awhile but this month I have really enjoyed reading her posts and watching her videos. I loved watching her Essie collection, haircare haul and favourite face masks.

I know this hasn't been the longest post but found August very stressful, not had a great time at work but I did manage to get a new job which I am very excited about starting in September.

Haul - Holiday Essentials

As I am off on holiday next month to Turkey I decided to nip to Boots and grab some essentials.  The obvious holiday essential is sun tan lotion and I picked up 4 bottles as don't want to skimp and end up getting burnt - also they are on buy one get one free.

I got one bottle of Garnier Ambre Solaire Clear Protection Spray SPF30 and SPF20 I used these last year and was really impressed.  I didn't get burnt, my skin wasn't really greasy and it didn't mark or stain my bikini. 

I also picked up Hawaiian Tropic Protective Sun Lotion SPF30 as it smells gorgeous I have never tried any sun protection from this brand but am looking forward to seeing how good it is compared to Ambre Solaire.  I also picked up the Hawaiian Tropic Sensitive Face Sun Lotion SPF30 which doesn't smell like the body version but I guess you wouldn't want something smelling that strong on your face.  I will do a review of these two products when I get back.

I also picked up Handy Wipes and Soap & Glory Hand Maid for putting in my beach bag.

Obviously I will be taking a lot more products but just wanted to share what I recently bought. 

The Big Read - Emma by Jane Austen #2

Just a quick post to let you know how I am getting on with Emma, I am up to chapter 21 and really enjoying it.  Its not a book where you have to stay up till the early hours reading as you literally cant put it down but then again how many books actually are.

I do find myself wishing I lived in a Jane Austen novel. I think I would quite enjoy being Emma Woodhouse doing as I pleased, yes her father would probably drive me nuts but then whose parents don't.  Jane Fairfax has just come to Hartfield and Mr Elton has got engaged and so far I think that the BBC adaptation with Jonny Lee Miller (yum) has stayed very close to the book.

On the subject of adaptations I do like that I have watched the show first, maybe I lack imagination but it just helps me picture the characters like Mr Knightley being the gorgeous Jonny Lee Miller (yes I may have a little crush on him) or in Pride and Prejudices case Mr Darcy will always be Colin Firth.  Yes I know how the book will end but I can still enjoy the story.  Also I think that if you read the book first you can often end up disappointed in the directors vision and casting in the adaptation. For instance when I think of Christian Grey I think of a young Christian Bale/Scott Disick (more the way he dresses) or at a push Ryan Gosling and I know I will be disappointed if anyone else is cast.  I guess one good thing about Jane Austen's novels is there have been so many adaptations you are bound to find one you like.

What do you prefer to watch the film/tv show first or read the book?

Nails - Nicole by OPI Kim-Pletely In Love

After loving my All Kendall-Ed Up decided to use my other Kardashian nail polish Kim-Pletely In Love

This is a lot sheerer then All Kendall-Ed Up and requires 3 coats, although it does dry very quickly.  I don't usually go for pale pinks although have several in my collection but after using this and Phillimore Gardens am definitely a convert.  I really love that this has a shimmer in it although this isn't picked up in my photo's (sorry)

Think is a gorgeous work shade as not outrageous but still a little bit different.

You can purchase from asos.com for £9.00

Haul - Essential Repurchases

I have been trying to be good this month but some products I just can't live without so had to do a bit of emergency online shopping.

The first thing really is a product I can't cope without which is my beloved Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalps shampoo. Now I know the name isn't the most glamorous but this is the only shampoo I can use as I have a very sensitive scalp. I discovered this shampoo on qvc and bought along with the toner.  I now buy a litre at a time because it is much better value for money, I got mine from feelunique.com as there is currently 24% off.

The next product is also for my hair the TRESemme Heat Defence spray. This was featured in my last empties post. I have tried other heat defence sprays but have yet to find anything as good as this.  You can get this from boots.com

Lastly I got two Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish this was another product that was in my last empties post and I have been delaying replacing until I used up another cleanser that I was using before I discovered this. I got two starter sets (as I couldn't face not having this) from johnlewis.com

What are your can't live without products

The Big Read - Emma by Jane Austen #1

I decided that the first book I would read as part of The Big Read would be Emma by Jane Austen. I am planning on these posts being quiet short just sharing my thoughts and am interested in seeing what other people think.

The reason for picking Emma was I wanted to read a classic. I have been spending too much time reading books such as Fifty Shades,  Haven Of Obedience and Ninety Days Genevieve lately and worried I am becoming addicted to a bit of filth! Knew that there would be no filth in a Jane Austen novel.  Also I am a bit obsessed with trying to match make so far no luck but there you go.

I have watched the 2009 BBC adaptation but never read the book before, I am looking forward to seeing how close the adaptation is too the book. I hate it when you are watching something and sitting there thinking (or in my case saying) that didn't happen in the book.  

I did want to write a summary of story but don't want to break any copyright laws so decided against it.

Have you read Emma - did you enjoy?

Nails - Nails Inc Princes Arcade

As it is my best friends birthday this weekend I wanted to glam up my nails for a night out, so decided to use Nails Inc Princes Arcade over All Kendall-Ed Up

I used two coats and am very impressed with the results as my nails still feel smooth.  I also love that this has different colour and size particles which really stand out in the sun or artificial lighting.

Interested to see what it would look like over Black Taxi has anyone tried this.

I got this from QVC as part of the Nails Inc 7 Piece Special Effects set but is curently on sale for £9.90 from feelunique.com

Nails - Nicole by OPI All Kendall-Ed Up

I got this in my recent asos haul and couldn't wait to try it out, especially now the sun is shining.

The varnish is part of the Kardashian Kolour Kollection. I have been wanting to try for ages as I do love the Kardashian's.

I used two coats along with my usual Nails Inc base and top coat, and the finish is gorgeous very opaque and glossy.

The colour is a lot brighter and vibrant then in the pictures.

This doesn't appear to be availiable on asos.com anymore but is available in the UK from lenawhite.co.uk for £9.00

The Big Read

I bought the BBC Book of Books years ago when the BBC originally did The Big Read and have been meaning to work my way through the list ever since.  I did also post starting this in my last 7 Things post.

Here is the list of books

1.The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling (you can read my review here)
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen (you can read my thoughts here)
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald (you can read my thoughts here)
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosa
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie 

Now I am not going to force myself to read all of the books but am going to make a start.

The first book I am going to read is Emma by Jane Austen.

How many have everyone read?

Nails Inc Ahead of the Trend Collection August Auto Delivery

Today I got my August Auto Delivery of the Nails Inc Ahead of the Trend Collection . The colours in this set were not announced so I couldn't wait to see what was included.

The colours from left to right are

Great Dover Street
Oxford Square
Borough Road
Devonshire Street
Upper Berkeley Street
Blackfriars Road
Savoy Hill

I think that this is one of the best sets there is not one colour I am not keen on. I especially love Devonshire Street, Upper Berkeley Street  and Borough Road but I love the other colours too.

Did anyone else get this?

Magazine Madness September 2012

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Firstly sorry for the lack of posts I have had a very stressful couple of weeks I actually picked up these magazines awhile back but only just got round to taking the pics.  I must say that there were hardly any free gifts this month but did get Elle and Tatler.

The free gift with Elle is a Jemma Kidd I-Glamour Define Eyeliner in 01 Black. I don't often wear eyeliner as to be honest don't have a very steady hand but interested to see how I get on with this.

With Tatler the free gift is the Lancome Hypnose Star mascara it is a very small sample (2ml) but definitely looking forward to trying it out.

Nails - Nails Inc Porchester Square

Thought after all the summer shades I have been wearing that it was time for a change, decided to go for Porchester Square as I know that this is a best selling shade.

It is a muted mushroom shade which I got with the Nails Inc 7 Piece Special Effects.  I think to be honest I prefer Basil Street and Lower Sloane Street but still a lovely natural shade which is perfect for work.

As always with Nails Inc I used Kensington Caviar Base Coat two coats of colour and then Albert Bridge Top Coat

You can buy direct from nailsinc.com or like I did from qvcuk.com

July Empties

I have been loving the empties posts from Sprinkle of Glitter and A Little Beauty Luxury so decided to share what I have used up too.

So from left to right

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish I am still loving this cleanser. I haven't repurchased yet as I am trying to use up my old cleanser,but as soon as that is gone, I will be stocking up. I must admit I am struggling without this.

Sanctuary Body Scrub I have quite a lot of these as they are often in the Sanctuary gift sets.  I really love the natural pumice as it's the correct roughness and it leaves your skin smelling gorgeous and so soft.  I have another couple of these so don't need to repurchase just yet.

Lush Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon I decided to use the other half straight away and think that the second bath was even better then the first. I made sure I crumbled the product up more before I got in and gave the bath a quick swirl around and there was no sandy undissolved product at the bottom. Next time I am in the city I will nip into lush and try out some more of their bath products - does anyone have any recommendations.

Tresemme Heat Spray I use this everyday after washing my hair as I wouldn't dream of not protecting my fine hair. I picked up a couple of the travel sizes when they were offer so have been using them up and will keep the empty bottles to fill up when I am going away.

Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask I love using these as my scalp really needs a lot of attention I have found that Philip Kingsley's products really help.  My scalp can get very red, itchy and flaking if I am not careful. I try and use this once a fortnight again I have another of these in my stash.