Cath Kidston bag

I have a bit of a Cath Kidston obsession.  I'm unable to bring myself to pay for anything full price from there so I often find myself taking advantage of the summer sales when they come round.  The most recent purchase I made was this zip close box bag which is exactly the same design as a green dotty hand bag version I bought last summer just this is a lot bigger.

It's nice and light and I can fit more than I need to in it.  I think it's a great weekend bag although it's so big if I fill it with anything other than clothes it can get a bit heavy.  The fact it's quite big does make it very useful though when you have quite a few things to transport but still want to use a pretty bag.

I haven't had this long but it seems quite sturdy.  The smaller hand bag version has lasted me well and of course the print on this is so pretty.  Also it's been raining a heck of a lot here recently and the plastic coating on this means everything inside is kept nice and dry!  I do like a zip closing too which is another nice feature of this bag.  So all in all a good sale purchase!

Extra foamy coconut soap

As my skin can be very sensitive I'm always on the lookout for non irritating but still lovely things to use on it.  I tried out a couple of soaps by the brand Nurme and they were lovely to use.  They smell amazing and are really softening for the skin.  I liked them so much I bought the Juniper scented one for a friend for her birthday and both her and her boyfriend couldn't get over how amazing the soap smelled.
I also picked up a new one for myself, the 'very foamy unscented coconut soap'.  It's 100% natural and the only ingredients listed are coconut fat and water.

I was using the chocolate and goats milk one before and it was gorgeous but a bit messy in the bathroom, thanks to the chocolate!  I've only used this once so far but it seemed pretty good.  I had doubts as to how it could foam with only coconut fat and water in the ingredients but it did manage to foam up just enough!

I'm looking forward to using this!  I'm always happy to find nice products to use with no crap listed in the ingredients :)

10 ways to cheer yourself up on a gloomy day

It's overcast and rainy, or maybe you just had a rubbish day.  Sometimes I feel down and it's hard to drag myself out of it.  I tried to create a list of things I can do to cheer myself up when I'm feeling gloomy.  Maybe they can help you too or maybe you can give me some of your own ideas!  Anything that takes a lot of effort is much too easy to dismiss when you're feeling blue, so I'll try to make most of these quick and easy!

1.  Run a bath
An obvious one but a brilliant one.  If you have a bath make it extra special with added sea salts or bubbles.  Light candles for extra points!

2.  Make your favourite hot drink.
On a gloomy evening I would probably go for hot chocolate, or decaf tea.

3. Watch an episode of your favourite TV programme.
Trashy TV cheers me up the quickest!  Hello PLL or Made In Chelsea.

4.  Phone a relative or a good friend.
Someone that's good at making you laugh!

5.  Read a bit of a good book
Maybe even in the bath?  Escapism is always a good idea

6.  Write lists.
Do you have a pretty notebook?  Make plans in it.  To do lists.  Things that you want to accomplish this week, this month or this year.  Look to the future.

7.  Be creative.
I always have loads of little projects I want to do in my head.   Try to start one of them.  Lose yourself in something creative.

8.  Bake
Always comforting, and you get to eat something tasty at the end of it.

9.  Put on your pj's
It feels indulgent and comforting.

10.  Clean something
It seems strange but I often feel a bit better even if I just clean or tidy one thing.  Like cleaning the bathroom mirror or the kitchen surface.

I already feel a bit better just for writing this list.  I know these things seem obvious but even just having a list to look at can sometimes be good motivation for doing something!

Little things from my week, red hair and milk alternatives

Some little things from this week.  I discovered these new cold tea bags.  I wasn't sure I would like them but they are actually really refreshing.  You just pop them in a cup of cold water, wait a few minutes, and you have a healthy and refreshing ice tea drink.  I find the Apple and Elderflower one adds just a hint of sweetness to the water.

I received a lovely bunch of flowers for a performance I did last weekend.  They have lasted really well and made me want to have more fresh flowers in the flat.

I re-dyed my hair a couple of weeks ago with L'oreal Casting Colours hair dye and am still loving the red tones even though they have already faded quite a bit ( it was only semi-permanent dye).

I've been trying to go dairy free as much as possible so I bought this rice and coconut milk alternative.  I'd tried various alternative milks already and not got on with them at all.  I just can't stand the taste of them in tea or coffee.  I was hoping this rice version with coconut would be better but in tea or coffee, urgh.  No.  However I've been making chocolate banana smoothies for breakfast all week and using the rice and coconut milk in this tastes great!

  I hope you enjoyed this little peek in to my week!

A Spring/Summer perfume purchase that was a long time coming

I have been wanting the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume for about two years now.  I got the body cream as a gift a couple of Christmases ago and really loved the sweet yet fresh and light scent, but I could never bring myself to spend the money and purchase the eau de toilette.  At Christmas time this year I fell in love with Prada Candy so purchased that for myself as a Christmas gift.  Candy is the perfect winter scent, sweet, rich and warming but it also made me realise that the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh would be it's perfect Spring/ Summer counter part.

 When I was in the duty free at the airport I saw it was on sale for £40 for 75 ml so I decided to finally make the purchase.  I love the pretty bottle and finally being able to use what I decided was my favourite scent over two years ago!  I'll probably be wearing this every day until the winter months kick start my cravings for something warmer, but until then I'll be light, fruity and freshly scented.

The top notes are Rasberry, Grapefruit and Pear, with Violet, Wild Rose, and Apple Blossom as the heart notes.  The base notes are Musk, Cederwood and Plum.  How delicious and fruity does that sound?!

Bourjois Rouge Velvet Edition Matte Finish Lipstick in Framboise

This was the second lipstick I picked up as part of the 3 for 2 offer on at Boots.  I was more interested in the Colour Boost Lipstick I wrote about in the previous post but this one was a pleasant surprise.  I love the colour which is a pink that is bright enough to stand out but certainly not overly bright and it really does have staying power.

It has a soft applicator which is quite easy to use and feels quite creamy when you first apply it.  I would recommend wiping off the excess on the brush before applying as it can pick up a little too much.  Despite the creamy texture the finish is matte.  It is slightly drying after a while I feel like I need to apply some balm on top but I feel that I need to do that normally anyway.

Overall I really like this, maybe even better than the Colour Boost lipstick but as that one has SPF in it and this one doesn't this is my favourite night time lipstick at the moment.  It's staying power makes it a good choice for a night out as you don't have to constantly worry about it having worn off whilst you're enjoying your evening.  If I didn't feel like this was the perfect colour for me I would probably pick up other shades but right now I'm love with this one.

Bourjois Colour Boost in Red Sunrise Review

Hello!

How are you?  I recently went shopping in Boots and noticed they had a 3 for 2 offer, plus a pair of free sunglasses.  I've been wanting to try the Colour Boost Lipsticks for ages but with the offer on and needing something with an SPF in it I found the perfect excuse.

The finish is really glossy and bright.  I think the shade is a great bright pinky red that I looks great with sunglasses for summer.  It does last quite well although maybe not the 10 hours claimed on the packaging.  It was definitely needing to be re-applied any time I was eating or drinking.  I didn't mind though as I find these giant crayon type lipsticks quite easy and satisfying to apply.  It's glossy too so it's very comfortable to wear.

I would get this in other shades too if money was no object!  The biggest selling point for me though was the  SPF in it.  Reviews of the other products I got with the 3 for 2 offer to come soon.

till next time :)

Twirlybirdie