Benefit World Famous Neutrals

Benefit World Famous Neutrals

I've been a bit under the weather recently, so my mum, being the oh so generous mum that she is, bought me a little treat from my favourite make-up haunt, Benefit, to cheer me up...and did it ever!

Benefit launched their World Famous Neutrals kit a little while ago, and I have wanted to try it out ever since, but have never got round to buying it...I always feel a bit naughty when I buy Benefit goodies for myself, I usually save them for birthday and Christmas present wish lists, as the price points are slightly on the high side.

Anyway, back to the product.

The packaging is Benefit at its best - kitsch, cute, stylish and gorgeous, with a beautiful illustration of "Eyenessa" on the front. The sweet little box opens up to reveal a set of 4 pressed eye shadows and 2 cream eye shadows, all in stunning neutral shades, ranging from barely there nude to a deeper natural brown.

"Birthday Suit" is the first cream shadow. It's a slightly nutty brown with almost a hint of plum. It glides on easily and leaves a gorgeous crease free finish. I haven't tried out the longevity of the cream shadows yet, but I have in the past and they all last well, better if you apply a primer first.

"My Two Cents" is the second cream shadow and is a more bronzy shade. Again, it has a lovely creamy consistency and glides on well.

The 4 pressed shadows are "Call My Bluff," a barely there nude, which leaves just a glimmer of natural colour, "It's Complicated," a soft pinky bronze, "Gilt-y Pleasure," a natural, subtle gold and "Kiss Me, I'm Tipsy," a beautiful plummy brown.

The kit also includes a mirror for on the go touch ups and a fold out "Tips and Tricks" guide for ideas on how to create gorgeous day and night looks.

I really love this kit, it incorporates all the things I love about Benefit, with my favourite shades of eye shadows. The best thing, these colours suit pretty much every skin colour, so it's a great treat for you or will make a fab gift.

Have you tried out this sweet little kit? What are you thoughts on Benefit make up? Enjoy x

The Intern and my-wardrobe.com

Hilary Devey's new show The Intern

I was so excited to see that there is a new programme on Channel 4 starring my favourite Dragon's Den Dragon - Hilary Devey, called The Intern.

A great concept, Hilary sets up amazing internships in different industries, to give young people the chance of obtaining a coveted role in the industry that they are struggling to get in to.

As someone who interned for the best part of a year, from everywhere to fashion magazines, PR agencies, freelance stylists etc, I was really happy to hear of such a great opportunity for bright young people, who just need to be given a chance to succeed. I was even more excited when I saw that the most recent episode involved the interns being given a chance to work for one of the best online fashion websites around - mywardrobe.com.

my-wardrobe.com is actually a company I have always been interested in and inspired by. They have beautiful fashion, up and coming designers, a fresh and stylish website and an aspirational quality without being too intimidating. I was therefore really happy that the website founder, Sarah Curran was keen (if not a little sceptical at first) to give one of the bright young things a shot at proving themselves worthy of a role at the company. She said; "I expect a lot from my team and if I see potential I will give that person a role but if I don't, then I’ll be honest and I won't."

The three interns were put through their paces - one proved utterly useless (he managed to clock up a £1,400 bill at a business lunch!) by running photoshoots, entertaining top members of the fashion press, working with bitchy photographers and models etc - all things that do happen on a daily basis at a fashion company - trust me on this one.

From the start I had a soft spot for 18 year old Lisa Palmer from Essex. A very sweet girl with a lot of style and knowledge, it was clear she was lacking confidence (she admitted it was due to her body image), she reminded me a lot of myself when I first started out and I was really rooting for her to succeed. After dealing with difficult models, being left along to handle a member of the fashion press and direct an online photoshoot, she proved her worth and was rewarded with the role at my-wardrobe.com.

I really loved how my-wardrobe.com came across. They didn't sugar coat the industry but at the same time, they showed themselves to be real leaders in regards to the website, the designers they stock, their attitude and their willingness to give people a chance to succeed - many interns who start there go on to become full time members of staff.

David Worby CEO of my-wardrobe.com, said: "We have always supported internships at my-wardrobe and it’s an ideal opportunity to discover and nurture young talent."

Did you watch this episode of The Intern? Have you ever interned in the fashion industry? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Enjoy x

Lisa Palmer won the internship at my-wardrobe.com

Beyonce Covers Vogue!

Yes I am doing another post about Beyonce...whatever...I love her and this one she REALLY deserves.

Not only do I think Queen Bey is the hottest woman on the planet, but evidently, the hottest fashion magazine on the planet thinks so too.

The May issue of British Vogue was released on Thursday and who is the cover star? None other than the queen of all divas herself making her British Vogue cover debut, looking amazingly spring like in cool blue tones, a blue sequin pencil skirt and a cropped stripe blue top, and flashing her incredibly toned tummy. She is so damn hot!

The whole look has come right off the Jonathan Sanders SS13 runway and Mrs. Carter pulls it off amazingly. The magazine has a whole interview with Beyonce, where she opens up about her marriage, her baby and her work life, with a few stunning photos thrown in to boot!

I love her fresh faced look and natural looking hair. Is there no look this woman can pull off? All I can say is please G-d let my belly look like that one year on. If Bey can do it, I can do it...that is my new mantra.

What do you think of this cover? Will you be picking up a copy? Enjoy x

A Shopping Haul...Not For Me!

Elijah and I all ready for a shopping trip!

So yesterday, Darren and I took our little man out for the first time...to go shopping! We've been given so many amazing presents for Elijah from friends and family, including a whole load of gift vouchers for places such as John Lewis, Mamas and Papas, Baby Gap and M&S, so we decided it was time to treat Titch to some gorgeous new clothes...and toys...and other fun (yes, yes and essential) things.

I never thought I would have so much fun buying things for someone else, but I am now definitely a baby shopaholic! Baby boy clothes are so amazing...they are like mini man clothes, and those are the kind of things we went for. I don't like clothes that are too babyish...just because he's not big enough to fill a newborn babygrow yet does not mean that my little man shouldn't look super stylish. 

We started at Jojo Maman Bebe in Temple Fortune, which is actually a sale shop...swoon!! We picked him up a couple of cute baby grows and swimming shorts for the summer, plus a breton feeding dress for mama!

Here's what I wore for our trip...this was also my first proper outing after giving birth, and it was quite overwhelming. The C section has really taken it out of me, and I've had a stinking cold all week, so I wasn't feeling my best...that and trying to adjust to a post preggo figure...bring on Zumba in 6 weeks time!

The perfect accessory!

Posing with my boy

The ultimate must-have - a Yummy Mummy bag

I went for a black maxi dress and layered over a grey marl top and checked shirt, plus my essential "Claire Belle" name necklace and peace sign necklace, topped up with the ultimate changing bag - the Yummy Mummy bag by Pink Lining. I'm obsessed with it!

After Jojo, we headed to Brent Cross and all the shops we had vouchers for. I wanted to get him outfits he could wear now, as all we have at the moment is babygrows. We got some absolutely amazing things for him, including a pair of gorgeous denim dungarees and yellow cords from Baby Gap, a fabulous hoodie and trackie bottoms outfit from Mamas and Papas, jeans and jumpers from John Lewis and my favourite - as chosen by Darren, a chambray jumpsuit from Baby Gap! Swoon!

We also picked up some toys and other bits and bobs, but, let's be honest, it's all about the clothes.

I've popped a couple of pics of the haul below, and if you look closely, you'll see Titch in the background lording it over all of his new goodies.

So there you go...a haul post, just not for me! As soon as I am back in the shopping mode for myself, I will do a haul post of my own, but for now, I am loving buying clothes for my gorgeous little man. Enjoy x

Not bad for Eli's first haul

My favourite purchase of the day - a chambray jumpsuit from Baby Gap

My Pick of the River Island Mid Season Sale

Sharpen those elbows ladies, it's mid season sale time! If you haven't taken advantage of the mid season sales already, I've done a few "picks of the sale" posts from some of my favourite high street shops.

Even though the weather is so bloody cold out there, it's still a good idea to grab yourself some spring goodies, because, let's hope, the warm weather will be here soon, and you want to be prepared for when it does get here.

So my choice for today is my go-to for reasonably priced fast fashion - River Island. I find their sales very hit or miss, a lot of rubbish seems to be pulled out for their sales, but you can find a handful of really decent bargains. I am especially impressed by their selection of shoes in the sale this year - perfect for spring and beyond!

Here are my picks of the River Island mid season sale. Have you done any sale shopping yet? Let me know if you get any fabulous bargains! Enjoy x

was £35 now £15

was £32 now £10

was £75 now £40

was £40 now £17

was £40 now £17

was £38 now £15

Was £25 now £10

was £22 now £8

Was £50 now £25

Was £35 now £17

Was £20 now £10

was £40 now £15

Beyonce for H&M Confirmed!

It's exciting news if you are a fan of Beyonce...or H&M...or celebrity fashion campaigns.

It has now been confirmed the Beyonce will be the face of H&M's summer campaign! Yay!

After being accidentally leaked on Twitter by one of Bey's dancers back in January, the brand have now revealed one of the gorgeous shots of the diva, which will be being featured this summer.

My favourite ever singer will be modelling pieces inspired by her individual style, in particular, beachwear and swimwear pieces. The shoot took place in the Bahamas, and features Beyonce chilling out on sun loungers and posing by the sea. According to sources at the shoot, Beyonce gave her own "personal input on the pieces used in the campaign." Expect some fierce shots if this is the case!

"I've always liked H&M's focus on fun affordable fashion. I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the different emotions of women represented by the four elements -fire, water, earth and wind," said Knowles. "It was a beautiful shoot on a tropical island. It felt more like making a video than a commercial."

The print advert will run alongside a television commercial, which will feature a brand new Beyonce song - Standing on the Sun.

I personally cannot wait to see all of the final images and the advert with her new song. Yes I know I am a complete push over when it comes to Mrs. Carter...but Beyonce + H&M = sheer genius!

Are you looking forward to seeing the finished campaign? Enjoy x

Introducing....

Elijah Louie Richard Freed

Well hello there.

Apologies for my long absence. I've been a wee bit busy the last week or so...having a baby!

If you're a reader of the blog, you'll know that I was being induced on the 12th March...as I was almost 2 weeks late. I won't go into details, as it's not very nice, but I ended up having to have an emergency C section followed by 6 days in hospital due to my recovery and a couple of minor health scares with the bubs. But all is well now and we finally got home on Sunday night.

So...what did we have? Titch turned out to be a gorgeous baby boy!

He is so adorable, with a sweet little worried face and he is already full of personality. He loves playing with and sucking his hands and adores being cuddled. He was born at 06:39 am and weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces. We have called our little man Elijah Louie Richard.

I won't go on too much and be a gushing mama...although I really want to! I just wanted to fill you all in on what's been going on and to let you know I won't be blogging as frequently for the next week or two, just while I get my head around things, but normal blogging will resume soon...promise!

In the mean time, here are some pics of our little man. Enjoy x

rocking his cow suit....yes it is a little too big!!