8 Things To Do When The Days Get Shorter

I'm one of those people that really struggles when the days get shorter, and it feels like you're living in an eternal night (mare).  I know there's lots of us out there who struggle so I decided to write up a list of the things I do to keep my spirits up and try to appreciate the cosier time year.

1, Candles - OK so this is an obvious one but my ballet coach once said to me that lighting candles in the evening helps her mood because the light they give off is natural light as opposed to the artificial light of a light bulb.  I have no idea if there is any science behind this but I do like the idea, and candle light is much more soothing than the glow of a bulb.  Bonus points if they're scented too.  I know candles aren't convenient though if you've got babies or pets so maybe try number 2...

2.  A salt lamp - I was on holiday in a seaside town and spotted some well priced himalayan salt lamps in the shops there.  It was something I had read about as being good for eczema sufferers (something to do with it giving off salt in to the air when warmed by the light of the bulb inside).  Well I will try anything once if there's a change it could help with my eczema but asides from that it gives off a really nice warm glow.  The light is very similar to the glow of a candle or a fire so if candles aren't your thing but you like the idea of the warm glow they give off I would really recommend you try a salt lamp.  I would have one in every room if I could during the dark wintery evenings.

3. A warm bath - There's no windows in our bathroom but this seems to matter less when it's dark outside anyway.  I love to run a bath with some salts or oils in it, light a candle and read a book.  It becomes a nightly ritual in the winter time and it really does help to relax you in the evening.

4.  Embrace winter fashion - It sucks that the weather is so dreary outside but autumn/winter fashion is appealing for so many reasons.  Treat yourself by buying the softest, warmest jumper/cardigan you can find so that you wont feel the cold when you leave the house.  Not to mention the gorgeous boots/coats/hats that you finally get to wear.  Getting experimental with your style could give you something to look forward to when you wake up in the morning.

5. Autumnal make-up - You can get away with darker shades of lipstick, eyeshadow or blush (not all at once though!) when the days are darker.  Whatever you like to experiment with, now is the time to do it.  I like picking out a darker shade of lipstick to wear out on an autumnal weekend.  Darker shades work so much better with autumn fashion than with summer clothes.

6.  Hot drinks - Whatever your favourite hot drink is now you get to drink it all. day. long.  I love drinking different kinds of teas and mix it up through out the day drinking tea after tea.  I pop out to the supermarket and grab myself a nice selection I can look forward to working my way through during the colder months.

7.  Baking - I haven't got my baking on yet but if there's a good time to get the oven on warming the house and filling it with yummy smells then this is it.  Eating hot food is much more appealing and enjoyable when it's cold outside and there really is nothing better than filling the house with the scent of a roast dinner or apple crumble baking in the oven on a chilly day.

8.  Go for a walk - A big part of enjoying the cold weather is staying indoors and getting cosy, but to keep up your mood I would definitely recommend getting out for a bit every day.  Particularly when the sun is still up.  Getting fresh air always makes me feel better so on a day off work I will still make sure I go somewhere for a little walk.  What better way to get out and about than to wrap us warm and walk to a cosy coffee shop for that nice warm drink?

The Ultimate Autumn Dress

It already feels like we are heading in to Winter but a couple of weeks ago I spotted my dream Autumn dress!  I had already been seduced by a black faux leather dress in Mango which I had tried on but not bought because of the price tag.  About a week later I spotted another faux leather dress in a shop called Reserved.  This one was cheaper but just as cute as the Mango one.  Instead of boring black it was a lovely wine/burgundy colour that seemed perfect for Autumn.
I also loved the shape of it, a nipped in waist and flared skirt is my favourite shape so it was a no-brainer really, I had to buy it!  I really like the little detail of the extra panel around the bottom of the skirt.  I've been wearing it with a long sleeved cream or short sleeved white jumper underneath, black or white wool tights, and my knee high black boots.  It's a really cosy look and the dress keeps me very warm in the cold temperatures we are having at the moment.
My wardrobe is getting a little full, but with all the new autumn styles coming in to the shops it's hard to resist sometimes!

My new favourite perfume: La Vie Est Belle

Hello!  It's been a while since a new fragrance snuck it's way in to my home.  I'm super picky about perfumes, I either love a scent or can't stand it and it's very rare that I find a scent I love.  I always test out perfumes on my skin and wear it out for a few hours before I decide if I like it or not.  Last year I became obsessed with Prada Candy; sweet, warm, caramel and perfect for the winter time.  I thought I would never find another perfume I liked as much as that one, I had to make myself switch up perfumes for spring/ summer otherwise I would have used it up too quickly!

Well I was really surprised to find a scent I loved not only just as much, but even more.  I know this perfume has been out for a while so I'm late to the party but the Lancome La Vie Est Belle is now my new winter scent.  I happened to test it as our local department store had a sale on a selection of perfumes and this was one of them.  I was trying to pick one out of three I liked, La Vie Est Belle, Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Forever, and Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium.  The reason I went with La Vie Est Belle was because of it's amazing lasting power and how good it smelt on my skin even after the top notes have worn off.  The Daisy Forever smelt lovely and a bit chocolatey which I liked but after the first 20 minutes or so I couldn't really smell the unique initial scent it starts as.  Black Opium also smelled amazing for the first 20 minutes or so and then after that it smelt the exact same as my YSL Cinema perfume does on me.  La Vie Est Belle however has an amazing sweet complex scent when you first spray it on but then dies down to a still less complex but deliciously sweet scent which lasts for hours on me.  The initial scent dies down to something like sweet pralines with hints of florals, truly good enough to eat.  Since I bought this I've had people ask what I'm wearing and comment on how good it smells.  I thought I would be alternating this with the Prada Candy but at the moment I just can't bring myself to switch it up because I'm so in love with the scent of La Vie Est Belle.  I can't believe I've found something I'd rather spritz on than my beloved Candy!
This scent is going to appeal to people who like sweet scents so if you're a more cool citrus-y type you'll probably want to give this a miss.  If you like smelling sweet all day long and you haven't tested this on yourself yet you might want to give it a try!

New Lipstick Purchases

Hello!

I have recently aquired not one but three new lipsticks!  One of these was given to me by my Mum and too were purchases, although I did buy them in the sale which always makes me feel better haha.  Both lipsticks were less than 5 euros so I think I got a pretty good deal there.  The two lipsticks I bought were the Manhattan All In One lipstick in Tender Tulip, shade number 420, and the Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in Wine, shade number 107.

I had been looking at the Manhattan lipsticks for a while, thinking that they seemed good quality for the price having swatched them on my hand.  I hadn't made a purchase however because I couldn't justify buying a new lipstick or pick a favourite shade so when I saw them on sale it seemed a good time to get one.  I went for Tender Tulip because it seemed like a nice everyday shade.  I wouldn't call it neutral, it's maybe a shade or two brighter than a natural lip colour but I wouldn't call it bold so I feel like I could wear it with any make-up look, dressed up or down.  It's like a neutral soft corally pink.  I think the formula is lovely, it's creamy which makes it really comfortable to wear on the lips.  The pigmentation is also high and I think this is a really great product for the price, even the non-sale price.

The lipstick that my Mum gave me was the Pure Colour lipstick by Estee Lauder in the shade Cream Tea.  This lipstick was a free gift with purchase and the shade is something I would never usually go for.    It's a nude that's quite brown with a hint of pink in it.  It's quite a dark nude for me but I thought I would give it a go and see if I can make the look work for me.  I find that duller or more brown toned nudes can make me look a bit drained so maybe it will work well with lots of blush!  The formula is nice and creamy though and the pigment is very good.

The Kate Matte Lipstick I had seen on a number of blogs and it really did look like the perfect autumn berry shade.  It was also on sale and I had been looking out for this with the view to maybe purchase so I snapped it up.  I only have one other really dark lipstick in my collection so felt that I could use another addition.  I haven't worn this as much as the Manhattan one as it isn't a colour I would wear every day but on the couple of occasions I have worn this I have been in love with the shade.  As I'm quite pale I feel like I have to up the anti on the rest of my make-up to get away with it so it's definitely something I would be more likely to wear on a night out than during the day.  I love having a more grown up glamorous shade of lipstick in my collection as I mostly own pinks. The formula is more matte than the Manhattan or Estee Lauder ones so not as comfortable to wear but still not terribly drying in that it would put me off wearing it.  Pigmentation is good, and the smell is a bit strange but I actually really like it!

I have a couple more new lipsticks to show you too in another post, my collection is getting a bit out of control!

Till next time :)