A Very Short Post On The Royal Wedding!

I didn't watch the wedding live, I went out (and sky+'d it) but having watched it now I just had to do a quick post as I thought Catherine Middleton looked so beautiful. The dress, her makeup and her hair were all spot on... she looked every inch the Royal Bride and I am rather chuffed for them both for them to have had such a perfect day, even the rain held off for them!

I adore this photograph of Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge (just can't get used to calling her this, rather than Kate Middleton lol)... she looks stunning, don't you think?!

A Rather Royal Affair...

Since I'm going to be DIYing today... AND with it being the Royal Wedding (so not much time to be spared), I just thought a little post featuring a few photo's of Kate (and other Royals) to whet your appetite for later today!

Love this photo, it's really natural!

20% Off at NEW LOOK with Fabulous Magazine - This Sunday, 1st May!

This offer looks perfect for me, I'm in need of some new clothes for my jollies so will definitely be taking this up - will you? This is every bit as good as a Groupon deal - the % may be less but it's still a great offer!

"Finally, the sun is shining and we can put away those woollies for another year. And that means only one thing: it’s time for a wardrobe overhaul! So luckily for us the fashionistas over at Fabulous Magazine and New Look have teamed up to give Fabulous readers an amazing 20% OFF at participating New Look stores!

Visit Newlook.com for a list of participating stores, then simply cut out the voucher from this week’s issue of Fabulous Magazine, free with the News of the World every Sunday, and take along the coupon when you go shopping to enjoy this brilliant offer!

Terms and Conditions:

1. This offer entitles you to a 20 per cent saving on purchases of full-price, promotional and concession items only (offer excludes permanently reduced items & Idol) when spent in a single transaction.
2. This offer is valid in any participating New Look store within the UK and ROI until Monday May 9, 2011.
3. This offer cannot be used to purchase New Look gift vouchers, gift cards or e-top up vouchers (where applicable) or used towards payment of any outstanding balance on a New Look Store Card.
4. No cash or any other alternative will be given and this discount can only be redeemed once.
5. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other magazine discount (including student discount, 10 per cent armed forces discount or New Look staff discount card), or any other promotion (including other New Look magazine promotions).
6. This offer may be amended or withdrawn at any time at the promoter’s discretion.
7. The return value of the item(s) purchased using this voucher shall be the applicable return value under New Look’s returns policy, less the discount obtained.
8. Photocopied, damaged, defaced or expired vouchers will not be accepted.
9. Your statutory rights as a consumer are not affected.
10. Promoter: New Look Retailers Limited, Mercury Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 5HJ. Registered number 1618428"

Wordless Wednesday - Cheryl Cole!

 Her new 'do for L'Oreal's latest hairspray campaign! Like it?

I quite like this picture of her too... she still looks amazing, even without her hair in place (think it's a Groupon deal?)- jealz!

Groupon Sunbed Deal... Hmmm?!

Eek, a Groupon beauty deal that I’m really, really not so sure about popped up today in Manchester. It’s for seven sunbed sessions for £19.75 - apparently the value is £49 but all my local tanning shops seem to be £3 for 9 minutes – which is what is being proposed here which would equate to £21 in total, so still more but not quite as much as the ‘normal’ price; although I’m sure these are much swankier beds, with sound systems in, no less – although I’d rather pay less and have to cope with no sound system for the whole 9 minutes lol!

Anyway, I know people are going to use sunbeds if they want (so I’m not going to start preaching that sunbeds are the root of all evil or anything), and I use them too – every now and then (about 4 times per year, 2 on either side of my annual holiday as that’s generally all I can be bothered with) but there’s a couple of things that just don’t sit well with me.

1. They seem to pre-determine that you want 9 minutes each time – why not give you a set amount of minutes that you can use in any way you like?

and

2. They say you have 28 days to use all these sessions... this seems like an awfully short time to cram in all that sunbed time, especially as I’m sure I read somewhere that you should (in theory and according to regulations) never exceed 20 sessions per year – yes this is probably unrealistic for those of you who enjoy a year round tan but for a company to pretty much force you to have all these sessions in that amount of time seems wrong to me. Again, why can’t they just let you use all the minutes within say 6 months, in your own way?

What do you think? Would you use a sunbed this much in 28 days? I’m not sure I could so it’s not a deal I’d be taking up – plus there are much better deals on the Groupon site that I’d be more interested in, that may be better for me in the long run anyway!

Swatches: No7 High Shine Lipgloss - Smile!

I got this lip gloss in a gift with purchase set quite a while ago but have only just got around to using it. I quite like it, it’s not a bright gloss – it’s actually rather sheer, but it’s great for daywear when you don’t want to rock a strong lip.

The gloss comes with a brush instead of the usual sponge-type applicator, which I quite like.

They say:

"A collagen boosting, moisturising gloss that glides on for voluptuous smoothing shine. With vitamins that protect and care."

I do find it to be quite smoothing (even on slightly dry lips), although not a miracle worker... it’s still a nice finish all the same. I have always liked glosses, I like the fullness they give to my lips – and this one is no different, but I am currently redeveloping my love for lipsticks lately, it has to be said.

Anyway, I’m still contemplating having some kind of permanent makeup on my lips to even them out (as I feel they’re slightly wonky) so it’s not going to make me call off the search (Wahanda and Groupon are my best friends, currently), even though I do get the illusion of them being fuller with this.

Brilliant Beauty Bargains!

My first deal from Wahanda is fantastic if you’re in London as a deal doesn’t get much better than FREE, yes free, nothing, nada.... etc! If you’ve eaten too many Easter eggs then you might just be able to ease your guilt by taking part in a Pilate’s session. The beauty of this deal is that it really does give you the opportunity to try before you buy. A massive £24 saving, obviously equal to 100% saved can’t be grumbled at... it leaves you with enough money to buy yourself a Chanel lipstick if your heart desires it (I know mine does – Tehran, you will be mine... I promise)!

Another fabulous deal is for a £30 voucher for just £10 (available from Groupon) that can be used towards purchasing a Nica bag. I love these bags; they’re good value and excellent quality. I have 3 of them and adore every single one of them, incidentally my mum and sister have one each too as I bought them their own after them commenting on how nice mine were!

Also, if you’re in Manchester and contemplating laser hair removal then you could do far worse than this deal for 6 sessions on either 2 smaller areas or one large area of the body for £99 instead of £1,020. If you’re like me and get fed up of shaving/waxing/epilating then this is what you need. I’m currently testing an at home laser machine (more on that soon) and am starting to see results now that I’ve done 4 sessions – although I think a salon machine would be more powerful. I’m not going to lie and say it’s pain free, it isn’t – well not in some more sensitive areas (bikini and underarms come to mind, the other places seem like a doddle to me, with my pain threshold) but it’s bearable pain – if that even exists haha! If you can cope with waxing/epilating then this will be almost a walk in the park!

I used to do ballroom and latin dancing when I was a child, I got up to my gold medal in both but them gave up as I became a teenager and preferred to go out with my friends rather than spend the evening doing the cha-cha. I miss dancing these days and always pine for it when the likes of Strictly Come Dancing, or the American version, Dancing WithThe Stars are on television. I have tried to convince Mr Beauty Scoop to come with me, but he was having none of it and all my friends seem to be busy with kids or would rather just go down to the pub in any spare time they have.

Anyway, this deal is great for those of you who can convince some body to come with you (or who have the guts to go it alone) and who live in London. It’s for 10 individual hour-long Samba lessons for £32 instead of £80...  I’m so jealous as Samba is probably one of my favourite dances too, it’s such fun and keeps you in shape without you even realising (because of it being such fun)!

My Oxford Haul (So Far)!!

Happy Easter, everybody; hope you're all having a fabulous day! I've had a little splurge this weekend - all in preparation for my holiday, of course... so I thought I'd do a little haul post as I like to see what people have bought, so thought you might like to see mine!

My photo's aren't great as I'm on my mobile phone camera whilst away in Oxford - sorry about that!

Yesterday, whilst in Oxford town centre I bought some clothes,but I haven't photographed these (at least not yet anyway) and also a MAC lippy (Costa Chic) as I have wanted it for a while now but just never seemed to get around to buying it. Luckily for me this also coincided with the Debenhams 10% off beauty deal so I only paid £12.15 for it - bargain!

Today we went to Bicester Village, and it would have been rude for me to have visited and not bought anything from The Cosmetics Company Store, so (even though I was being quite restrained) I bought:

MAC Sweet & Punchy eye shadow from the 'MAC To The Beach' collection as I missed this first time around.

MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in 'Illusionary Burning Ambition'

Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Opal (it reminds me ever so slightly of the Gosh Rainbow polish - it's lovely).

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation as I've wanted it for a while!

2 Ojon travel sized shampoos (the thickening variety) - there was a great looking set there for £34 but I would have found it difficult to justify buying that on top of everything else, haha.

I could have spent about £200 more in there though - easily but I have to be careful at the moment as our house is guzzling our money whilst we're doing the kitchen etc! I think I did quite well anyway to restrain myself so much, although Mr Beauty Scoop still thinks I am mental for buying yet more makeup!

I also bought a pair of Karen Millen sunglasses, they were a complete bargain at £24.95 and were the ones that looked best on me, even over the more expensive ones - which makes a change for me.

Lastly I bought some bits from Accessorize, a belt, a pair of sparkly flip-flops and a cute flower ring.

I almost bought a Michael Kors watch (actually, I almost bought 2) but I went away to think about which one I preferred as I was being sensible but then forgot to go back - silly me!


I'll be sure to swatch and review very soon!

Back Busting Beauty (Ouch)!

With all the walking around I’ve been doing this weekend (shopping is hard work, although fun) and sleeping in a different bed for the weekend my back has been suffering and as such I’ve not slept very well. This has had a knock on effect as I look tired, because I am tired – not only in my eyes but I feel like my skin suffers when I’ve not slept very well so I’m not loving this fact right now!

Anyway, I’m on the look out for some good back or full body massage deals on Groupon or Wahanda to alleviate my pain and hopefully return me to normal once home as no amount of good foundation or concealer can hide this for much longer!

Does anybody else have this problem when they’re tired? I’ve only recently started having this issue – ever since I was the wrong side of 25, actually. I’m getting old – help!

Hair Don'ts - Pic Heavy!

Yesterday I showed you some of the hairstyles I had instantly loved when I came across them in my hunt for hair-inspiration. Today I’ll be showing the styles that were less than favourable for me (and probably 96.5% of the rest of the population too) – luckily there’s not as many as my previous post, otherwise I’d be getting very worried about what was going so very wrong!

Pixie Geldof's orange hair and dark roots? No thank you... even without the roots this would be a complete no-no to me. Her blonde (ish) hair on the right isn't much better, so dry and out of condition - get a treatment on it lady!

 Katie Waissell's crappy mismatched extensions do her no favours at all, plus her hair is also in terrible condition - lay off the bleach!! Her next 'do isn't any better, dried out and messy looking - this attempted quiff is wrong on so many levels!

Similarly Katherine Heigl's attempted quiff also looks horrendous - I can't believe she chopped off her beautiful hair, but more importantly I can't believe she thought that this style was the one to go for when getting ready that day!

Dolly Dolly Dolly... you rock, but your hairstyle should not be adopted by anybody else (but you)... it could do with a bit of an update, non?

Taylor Momsen's hair is too long (or at least her cheap looking extensions are) - it looks unkempt, and thin!!

Nicole Ritchie's hair is just plain messy here; sometimes messy hair can look nice, I grant you that but this looks like it's barely been introduced to a brush!

I'm just not keen on Robyn's short, bowl style crop!

Too much, too much!

Just... no... words!!


Anyway, these lot should have gone on Groupon or Wahanda to see if they could find a deal to sort their hair out - I know I would if I had any of these hairdo's!!

A Short Beauty Deals Post!

I hope you're having a lovely bank holiday weekend, I'm only doing a very quick post as I just found a couple of fairly good deals on the Groupon website!

I really wanted to post as I found the Rare clothing voucher deal again (£9 for a £30 voucher to spend online), but not in the National deals as you may expect it to be... it's in with the Milton Keynes offers - which is weird, but I don't think it stops you purchasing if you want to as this voucher is to be used online! I'm aware this is fashion but it all kind of comes under the same umbrella of trying to look great, anyway I'm still trying to choose what I can buy with mine!!

London Grouponers (or people willing to travel to London for the deal) can partake in a '3 Hour Make-Up Course' for £35 instead of £95. I like the idea of doing a makeup course, I think it would help me to perfect my techniques and give some really good tips and tricks to try with make-up. I'd definitely be up for some of this action, if only I lived in London!

If you're in Liverpool then you might want to check this deal out as it looks rather good. A 'Full Body Swedish Masage, Facial & Sea Salt Scrub (including a 15 minute fish pedicure) for £24 instead of £85 - and you all know my thoughts on fish spa pedicures, don't you!!

Hope you like these deals - sorry for the short post, I'm currently boiling inside and neeeeed to get out in that sun!