Five Things & Five Blogs I Love Friday #34.

One. Film Cameras. 

By the end of this summer I want to have a whole bunch of films to process because I find film photography so magical and beautiful. You never know exactly which pictures you're going to get when you see them for the first time and I just think there's something so incredibly wonderful about that!

Two. Pandora!

This week I got my first Pandora bracelet and I'm so excited. I adore everything about charm bracelets and I'm really enjoying having one I can wear all the time without having to worry about the charms getting caught on anything. I'm really getting back into wearing jewellery and investing in classic pieces that I'll be able to have in my jewellery box for many years to come. I'm still totally in love with more affordable pieces too, I think jewellery really can completely transform an outfit. 

Three. My new YouTube channel! 

I'm so excited to have started a new YouTube channel, it's a little scary starting all over over again but I'm hopeful that this channel will grow into something I can be really proud of. I really do appreciate if you've popped over to subscribe, it honestly means the world! If there's anything you'd like to see then please do let me know! ♥ 

Four. The Essie Bikini So Teeny Mini Collection. 

Hello to the most perfect looking summer nail polish collection! I desperately need to stop biting my nails so I can actually open my new Pandora bracelet by myself so I need to bribe myself with pretty nail polish shades because I have no willpower! Bikini So Teeny is probably the cutest name for a nail polish ever!

Five. Instagram & PicFX. 

I'm a huge lover of Instagram and I love it even more now I've discovered the PicFX app which allows you to put super lovely bokeh light filters over your images to make them look a little bit more magical! My instagram name is sailorjennie ♥

1. Shu Likes Clothes. 2. Stephanie Dreams. 3. Beautiful Clutter. 

4. A Rosie Outlook. 5. Meadow Daisy.

What is your current favourite blog of the moment? 

I'd really love to discover some new ones!

xoxo

Bloglovin'. // Facebook. // HelloCotton. // Twitter. // WIWT. // YouTube.

YouTube Drama, A New Channel & A Few Current Favourites.

For a whole assortment of reasons I decided to start a brand new YouTube Channel that will hopefully feel a lot more personal and just generally better in every way than my old channel. I would really love if you would like to subscribe, it's a little scary starting entirely from scratch again but it's also very exciting as well! I only have one video up at the moment, but if you have anything you'd particularly like to see then please please do let me know! ♥ 

ASOS Ballet Wrap Dress. (£22)

Caudalie Beauty Elixir. (£9.90)

Benefit Hoola Bronzer. (£23.50)

Dior Rosy Glow - Healthy Glow Awakening Blush. (£28.10)

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer. (£12.80)

Top: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. (12.80) Bottom: No 7 Nourishing Lip Shine. (£10.50)

What is your number one favourite product right now? 

xoxo

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Mid Week Wish List #5.

1. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. 2. Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 & 03. 3. Pandora Stud Clip. 

4. Topshop Secret Admirer Lipstick. 5. Matalan Fox Bag. 6. Topshop Pillow Talk Lipstick.

Yesterday I got my very first Pandora bracelet and since then I have been searching for pretty charms to pop on my wish list. Filling up my bracelet with charms will be a slow process, I definitely want to mark special occasions and life events with a charm, even though it's super tempting to visit a Pandora store and just pick out lots of pretty ones. I love the Stud Clips because they're simple and chic but a little bit edgy at the same time so I think two of these will be the next addition to my bracelet even though they aren't the most exciting, they're very much a necessary addition.

I'm still lusting over Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume. I think it's so delicate and beautiful with the gorgeous violet notes. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I do because I was never the biggest fan of the original Daisy fragrance. 

Recently Topshop have brought back Pillow Talk lipstick which was part of a limited edition collection and it's such a gorgeous shade that I think I'm going to have to purchase another one. Secret Admirer lipstick also from Topshop has caught my eye as well, it looks like the perfect warm pinky nude shade!

I have the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in the shade Rose Shimmer but now I have my eye on the other two shades as well. I don't think they will look all that different to each other on the lips as they don't offer a lot of colour but that's okay with me because I'm just in love with the formulation. These really are the most perfect non-sticky glosses and I'd be perfectly happy to just have these three in my collection! 

Finally, how adorable is this fox bag from Matalan?! I think this would make the most fun little summer time bag and at only £8 it's a total bargain and he is super cute so I think I may need to make a sneaky order! 

Is there anything you're particularly lusting over at the moment? 

xoxo

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P.S. I started a brand new YouTube channel today for a whole bunch of reasons that will be explained in my first video that should hopefully be up tonight! I would really love if you would like to subscribe! I've got lots of fun videos planned! ♥

Life via Instagram #11.

Glowy summer time make up. // Ice Cream Sundae outfit. // Thank you! 

Super cute Benefit make up set. // In love with this Stila blush! 

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - lives up to the hype! // The No. 7 version is pants! // Best lip balm ever! 

Re organised my wardrobe & my make up collection. // The l'Occitane Angelica hydration mist is amazing! 

Pretty new bedding. // Morning sunshine. // Fairy lights. 

June Glossy Box inc. perfect summer products. // Bomb Cosmetics. 

Wearing Topshop All About Me lipstick. // Illamasqua Laid Cream blush is gorgeous. // Cute tee. 

Revision. // Wasting time on Twitter when I should have been revising! // Video & blog post ideas. 

Current favourite lunch: rice & veggies. // Ralphie being adorable! 

Love the picfx app. // New favourite dress from Joe Browns. // Ralphie. 

Filming a new video for my YouTube channel. // Editing with iMovie for the first time. // Blog sale tonight at 8pm!

xoxo

Bloglovin'. // Facebook. // HelloCotton. // Instagram. // Twitter. // WIWT.

Ralphie's Diary #6.

Ooh what's this?!

Nom nom nom!

"Mama spent all morning making a huge mess, she said she was tidying up but it sure didn't look like that for a long time. She made me sit in my house while she was busy though because I like to run right under people's feet to trip them over. It's one of my favourite things to do but no one seems to think it's as fun as I do. But it turned out okay because I got to run around lots all afternoon and I even got a carrot stick as a treat. Not a real carrot though because I don't like vegetables!"

Ralphie

xoxo

Make Up: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Watt's Up Highlighter & Cha Cha Tint.

As I was having one of my weekly okay, daily browses of the ASOS beauty section I stumbled across a little deal from Benefit that I thought was too good to pass up. I've had my eye on Hoola bronzer for a little while, I've always heard nothing but good things about it, but until recently I hadn't been into bronzers enough to seriously consider purchasing it. When I saw ASOS had a little set with a full sized Hoola, a mini Watt's Up highlighter & mini Cha Cha Tint, which are all products I had been wanting to try, for the same price of £23.50 as the Benefit boxed powders cost alone, it wasn't long before I was hitting that checkout button & this little box of goodies was on its way to my doorstep.

I had heard that Hoola is a fairly dark bronzer and while I'm very fair, I'd say I am somewhere in between an NC15 & NC20 at the moment thanks to a little bit of fake tan, I'm also very yellow toned so with a bit of blending I can usually make dark shades work for me. So I decided to take the plunge and purchase anyway & I'm very happy to say that I'm glad that I did because I really think Hoola is a lovely shade. I was super interested to see how it would compare to the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder, which I have in the darker shade number 52 and while I would say they're similar in terms of the intensity of the colour, Hoola is much cooler in tone with the Bourjois almost looking a bit orange in comparison. (Let me know if you would like a proper comparison blog post soon!) I'm excited to use Hoola a little more and I can see it becoming a firm favourite very quickly!

Benefit's tints have always been products that I really loved, Benetint especially, because I love that they're multi-purpose - they look equally as gorgeous on both the cheeks and the lips. When they released Cha Cha Tint, described as a coral mango hue, I instantly had an inkling I would love it. They are super pricey though at £24.50, which in my world is too much to spend without trying first, so I was delighted when I spied this little set. The little 2.5ml sample is deceptive as there really is a lot of product in there considering you only need a small amount each time and I'm already excited to wear this in the sunshine if it ever shows up here in England! I think all you warm countries must be stealing the sun! 

Another new product release from Benefit, the Watt's Up highlighter, with its adorable name and equally adorable packaging, it really grabbed my attention because I have recently discovered the wonder that is highlighting. For the longest time I didn't see the point in using a highlighter, I just thought it was another make up step that wouldn't really make much of a difference but boy, was I so wrong! Since trying the Jemma Kidd All Over Radiance Creme in Iced Gold & realising how healthy and glowy it made my skin look I was really interested to see how others would compare. I was so excited to see that even this tiny 2.5g sample came with such cute packaging, I love Benefit & their attention to detail; I know they have a higher price point but for a little treat every now and again I think it's a lovely brand. Watt's Up is described as soft focus highlighter that will leave you with a champagne glow that's gorgeous and upon first impressions I think that is entirely accurate. It seems to look a little warmer on my skin tone than the Jemma Kidd, I'm happy that they're different because I'm a little clueless about highlighters & it's nice to experiment with things to learn a little more, so I think that the Watt's Up will really compliment the Cha Cha Tint & work with Hoola bronzer to create the perfect summery sculpted & highlighted cheeks. Lovely!

These are all very much just my first impressions & really just a little heads up at what I think is a great little deal from Benefit, that I believe (although don't quote me on that!) is exclusive to ASOS at the moment. So if you were thinking of investing in Hoola bronzer & want to try out a couple of other Benefit products I would definitely purchase this set, after all, it's no more expensive that just buying Hoola by itself. I do love a good bargain!

Have you ever tried any of these products? 

What is your all time favourite bronzer & highlighter? I'd love to know!

xoxo

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Currently Coveting: Pandora Bracelets.

For the longest time I was not a fan of Pandora bracelets, instead I always favoured the more traditional charm bracelets. I absolutely adore my charm bracelet but I hardly ever wear it because the charms manage to get caught on absolutely everything and I would hate to damage it! The concept of a charm bracelet is one that I will always think is wonderful, I see them as something to add to over time, getting a new charm to remember or symbolise a huge moment or event in your life and I am longing to start a bracelet that I would be able to wear everyday if I wanted without having to worry about if it's going to get caught in my favourite dress.

Pandora.

I remember looking in to Pandora/Chamilia/Troll Beads bracelets years ago and felt a little underwhelmed with the charms they had; they seemed a little tacky & I don't know, just not me. As I was browsing the websites last weekend I found myself falling in love with a lot of the designs, so I think my tastes have changed in recent years. Either way, it's pretty safe to say that I'm lusting over these bracelets big time right now! I think I might treat myself the next time I'm near a Pandora store to a silver bracelet, it's a bit of an investment at £55 but from what I can tell I think they're worth it. But I'd love to know your opinions, if you have one & if so, do you wear it a lot and do you think they're worth the price? Sometimes I tend to get a bit carried away with jewellery pieces like these, I'd hate to invest lots of money on something if there was a better alternative!

Do you love the concept of charm bracelets like I do? 

What do you think about Pandora bracelets? 

Do you have one of your own? I'd love to know if you wear it a lot if so!

xoxo 

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P.S. I just thought I'd mention that this is not a sponsored post in any way, shape or form. Nor was I asked by anyone to write any of this. I've seen some blog posts & also some close friends receive Pandora bracelets as gifts recently and they seem to have really sparked my interest!

June 2012 GlossyBox: The Sexy Summer Edition.

This past month has gone by in a flash so I was pleasantly surprised when the delivery man knocked on the door with a GlossyBox♦ in his hands. This months theme is 'Sexy Summer' and I think this one of the best boxes in a long time; there isn't a product that will go unloved and I'm really excited to give things a try!

The first item is a special addition by the GlossyBox team & it is a Pro Beauty Brush made with natural hair. I like that is has the cute GlossyBox logo on it but the hairs aren't as soft as I was expecting so it does feel a little scratchy. It has quite a nice shape to it though which will be nice for bronzer or a light blush application. I'm going to give it a good wash and see if that helps to soften the bristles a little. This retails for £15.

The second item is a cute little tub of BM Beauty Summer Warmth Bronzer which I'm super excited to use. A couple of months back GlossyBox included a BM Beauty mineral eyeshadow sample and I adore that, it's so finely milled and super soft which makes it a dream to blend so I'm hoping this bronzer will be similar. From first impressions it looks lovely, I thought it was going to be super dark but once it's blended on to the skin it gives a gorgeous warm peachy-bronze glow. I've never used a bronze shade as a blush before but I think I'm going to adore this! This is a 1g sample which I can already tell will last me a super long time. The full size 4g tubs are £8 each, so they're very affordable which is amazing. BM Beauty is a cruelty free make up brand suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

My tweezers are on their last legs, they're getting so blunt at the tips and basically I was just putting off buying a new pair, so this next item has come at exactly the right time for me & it's a pair of HD Brows Precision Tweezers. Now I'm pretty clueless when it comes to brows, I'm usually pretty lazy & don't fill them in but I do like to neaten them up when I spy a few stray hairs. These have a really precise tip so I think these are going to be perfect for grabbing even the smallest of stray eyebrow hairs. I'm really looking forward to trying these out and I have high hopes for them considering they retail for £19.95 which seems quite expensive to me!

The next item in my box is the Green People Sun Lotion SPF 15 with Tan Accelerator. This is a natural sun lotion made without parabens and other nasties that is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. Now this is a product that I'm super interested in, I love looking into more natural alternatives so this sounds right up my street. I also like the ethos behind the company, they use fairly traded ingredients and they support various charities. It has a light almost non-detectable scent and seems to sink into the skin quickly without leaving a greasy or sticky residue so I'll definitely be giving this a try. It's a fairly small 20ml sample but there definitely seems to be enough product inside to give it a fair try. I'm interested to see if the Tan Accelerator will give me up to 25% more of a tan like it promises! The 20ml bottle retails for £5, the 100ml retails for £12.99 and the 200ml is £17.95.

The last product in my June GlossyBox is the Vichy Dermablend Ultra-Corrective Foundation Cream Stick starter kit. I've been interested in trying this product out for a long time, not as a foundation but as a concealer. My under eye circles are horrendous & I have a lot of redness left over from Acne Rosacea and I've seen the wonders that this product performs so many times but I've never taken the plunge and purchased. This little trial kit retails for £4.99 and there are 6 shades inside so I'm hoping there will be one that is fair enough for my skin tone. I'm excited to try this out and if I love it, I won't hesitate to purchase the full size which retails for £19.

I've seen a couple of variations already for the June box so I'd love to know which products you received if you're subscribed. This is one of my favourite GlossyBoxes of all time I think because I love the range of products included and there's not one thing I won't use!

Are you subscribed to GlossyBox? What do you think of this months box?

xoxo

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What I Wore: I Like Horses - Wear Your Wardrobe 04.

This is the fourth and final (see part one here, part two here & part three here!) outfit I have put together as part of the Wear Your Wardrobe challenge set by the team who run Most Wanted, the lifestyle magazine from Voucher Codes. It's safe to say I had the best time picking out staple items to refresh my existing wardrobe and it has definitely taught me a lot about shopping smarter!

Blouse: Matalan♦ Skirt: Vero Moda. Cardigan: H&M.

Bag: Matalan♦ Heart Ring: Scape Jewellery. Ruby Ring: Studio 59. Shoes: Primark.

For my last outfit I knew I wanted to find something cute that I could wear with this skirt from Vero Moda. This is one of my absolute favourite skirts, I think it's super flattering but the only way I ever wear it is with a white plain tank top and I knew there must be a much more fun way to wear such a classic piece. As I was browsing the aisles of Matalan I spotted this blouse with a super sweet horse print in the distance and I immediately knew I had to make it mine. I just couldn't resist the print, even if my boyfriend did insist on singing the I love horses jingle over and over all the way around the shop. I'm not convinced he is actually a 27 year old man, 7 years old at heart!

I adore the way this shirt fits, the double Peter Pan collar is super adorable and it has little cap sleeves making it perfect for the warm weather. I've popped on the same H&M cardigan from yesterdays post because I love the way the blue compliments the lilac and a pair of tights because even though it's June, it certainly doesn't feel like it! I like how versatile this shirt is, I'll be wearing it just as much in the autumn & winter time as I will be during the spring and summer! Lastly I added this Bright Tote Bag in a gorgeous turquoise colour also from Matalan which I really love. It's so roomy inside, I can pretty much fit in everything but the kitchen sink inside it which is perfect for me because I do like to carry around a ridiculous amount of bits and bobs! I think this will make a perfect summer bag, and for only £8 I thought it was a bit of a bargain!

How would you style this blouse? I would love to know! 

xoxo

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What I Wore: Ice Cream Sundae - Wear Your Wardrobe 03.

The weather in my little part of the UK at the moment makes this outfit completely inappropriate. Hello rain storms in June! Although I must admit that I do enjoy rainy days sometimes, I'm currently tucked up in bed with a cup of tea & an extra blanket listening to the rain drops on my window. It's times like these where I feel incredibly lucky and content with life. This is the third part of my Wear Your Wardrobe challenge weekend (see part one here & part two here!) which was given to me by the lifestyle magazine Most Wanted created by Voucher Codes. The aim of the challenge is to prove that you really don't need to go out and buy a million and one new clothing pieces each season; a few on trend items can completely transform your existing wardrobe!

Cardigan: H&M. Dress: Matalan♦ Belt: Matalan&diams

Sandals: Primark. Necklace: 16th birthday gift. 

I bought this cardigan from H&M probably around two years ago now specifically to wear with a black dress and that is the only way I had ever worn it until this weekend. Sometimes I'm very safe with fashion and it's easy for me to get stuck in a rut and forget that it's totally okay to mix and match pieces and colours. As soon as I saw this lilac Racer Back Sundress in Matalan I knew it would be the perfect piece to revitalise my neglected cardigan. I would one hundred percent recommend having a little look in Matalan at the moment, they have some amazingly beautiful pieces in for such affordable prices!

This sundress is one of those incredibly flattering and simple pieces that are just so versatile. It's fitted around the bust and waist and then flares out slightly over the hips giving a beautiful silhouette. It also has pockets, which is a detail that instantly makes it infinitely more wonderful than it already was! Its simplicity means it is so easily dressed up with heels and a pretty cover up or dressed down with sandals and a cardigan. I added a pastel pink belt at the waist for a little bit of added detail and because two pastel colours in one outfit clearly isn't enough for me!

Are you in love with pastel shades this season? How would you style this simple sundress?

xoxo

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P.S. The last installment of the Wear Your Wardrobe challenge will be up tomorrow. I've saved my absolute favourite outfit for last!