The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Dating!

This is a bit of a different post for us but we thought we'd share our experience with you. We decided that while we were both single we would try speed dating. We thought it would be something different to do for an evening and would be a fun night and something to laugh about in the future!

When we turned up at the bar it's safe to say we both wondered why we were doing it. Nerves kicked in and wine and vodka were needed before we went in. We both had thought it would be really awkward and had worked ourselves up that four minutes was a really long time. The nerves got worse as we were waiting to go up and when we headed we did it was strange at first as all the women seemed to group together and chat and the men did the same until it was time to sit down.

The session we went to the women had to sit and the men moved around so as all the women sat down the guys then made their way around the room. We were given a piece of paper and you get to chose whether to ditch, date or friend someone. You enter these choices the next day in your account online and then get given the email addresses of any matches that you get.

The Good

We were both pleasantly surprised how easily it was to talk to the majority of the guys. The four minutes go really quick and sometimes you found yourself just wanting a few more minutes with some guys. We definitely enjoyed a few drinks which helped conversation flow a little easier.

The next day was nerve racking wondering what matches you were going to get and what people had thought the same as you.

M has stayed in contact with one of the guys she was matched with and has since been on a date and is going for another. It wasn't anything I had expected and even before turning up for my date I didn't think it would be good as I had only previously spoke to this guy for 5 minutes. I soon relaxed and found myself easily chatting to him and turns out 4 and a half hours later I'm making my way home. I wondering if the dating nerves go or is that part of the fun of it. I'm looking forward to date no.2 now.

The Bad

The nerves in the beginning were hard and we found ourselves wanting more drinks but we knew we shouldn't drink too much. A drunk girl never comes across well! What we hadn't thought about until we were there was the fact that we were both likely to like the same guy. Sharing isn't caring in that case!! We both look for similar attributes in guys. It turned out ok in the end though.

Unfortunately for L, after being matched with one of the guys are talking to him quite a bit over a week or two it became clear that he wasn't who he said he was! It turned out he was a lot younger than he previously had said and was actually friends with her brother's friends! This would have been far too awkward to take any further and the fact he was so much younger was a turn off. Plus if he lied about a few little things what else is he likely to lie about?! So she sent him a message saying that she had met someone else...

The Ugly

There were definitely a couple of guys who didn't come across well!! First up we had a guy who proceeded to just stare at your boobs, that made for a very awkward and long four minutes! Unluckily for M she managed to get stuck with him sat there as there 4 minutes was before a break and he didn't move!! He also was telling us all different stories which we found out when socialising with some of the other girls afterwards.

We had a guy who proceeded to tell us it was his fourth time at speed dating and went on to tell us which dating sites were good and which ones weren't worth it. That was a little weird. Most other people said it was their first time at such an event which was a lot more comforting.

Lastly we had a guy who seemed to have prepared a speech! He'd ask a question that led to you having a short answer then he'd cut you off and give a little rehearsed talk, ask another question and then do the same again! We ended up wishing he'd just stop talking. He was very up himself and seemed to have the impression that he'd been and done everything and knew everything there was to know. After telling me about his love for poetry and his PhD in drug use in South America he was a little thrown when I told him I worked with drugs for a living....the conversation soon tailed off when he realised I knew more about it than he did. Awkward.

Another thing that was unfortunate was that there was an imbalance of men and women; a group of 5 men hadn't turned up. This meant that sometimes you were sat on your own which for L meant that every time the host got distracted and forgot that the time had gone over 4 minutes she was sat on her own....for up to ten minutes at a time! 

It was definitely a fun experience that we'd possibly do again in future.

What are your experiences of dating? Have you been to a speed dating event? Have you tried internet dating? Should we try that too??

L and M xxx

China Glaze Stocking Filler

Evening all!

Bit of a later post for you today. I had my work Christmas do last night which was a good laugh. I had to get to work early which meant a 5am alarm followed by work til 2 then the meal and out afterwards all whilst being sober as unfortunately I had to drive the hour home too!

So although I have no hangover I've been feeling pretty tired and run down today, I've had plenty of naps and cups of tea throughout the day though and hopefully an early night will sort me out!

Today's post is a beautiful stocking filler I managed to pick up from TK Maxx.

China Glaze is one of the brands that me and M both love; their polishes are really good, 3 free and come in sizeable bottles for their relatively cheap price. As they're American they're not available in any shops here, but you can buy them online in multiple places including Amazon and sometimes you can get lucky and find them in stores such as TK Maxx. I picked mine up from a London store, the one near Covent Garden on my trip there 2 weeks ago. 

Both colours are very Christmassy; a red/gold glitter and a rose gold glitter. If you ever needed any polishes for the festive Christmas period I'm pretty sure you'll be covered with this set! They sparkle in the light (shown in the picture with flash above) and still shimmer in natural light (below).

The first one I tried was the rose gold glitter called Champagne Kisses. Arguably this isn't a champagne colour, but the shade is an opulent and luxurious gold glitter so maybe that's the route they were going for!

I applied 2 coats for these pictures, without flash above and with flash below. You could easily apply this over another polish for a gold glitter accent nail, glitter tips or general glitter disco ball nail which is exactly the look I would go for!




This is a gorgeous colour and I would imagine I'd get wear out of it all year round as I'm a bit of a sucker for gold polishes. I tend to wear lots of gold jewellery so normally end up with gold nails every weekend for nights out. That and I like applying it over nude polishes to jazz them up a bit!


The second polish in the set is called Pure Joy. I believe this is exactly the polish I would create if tasked with designing one for Christmas called 'pure joy'. I mean what else would you pick, red and gold are just the perfect combination and basically define Christmas from the rest of the year!




I applied this over Champagne Kisses for these photos but still applied 2 coats. I was off out somewhere so wanted my nails to be Christmassy, I applied it in the Chanel style where you can still see a ring of the underneath colour at the base of the nail.



Without flash you can see how well it covers after 2 coats and it just glimmers away on the nails without being too garish, which in all honesty I thought it might have been!





With flash you can see the true red colour as this is what it looks like in person. How pretty!


This was a random purchase from TK Maxx, I do love going in there for a rummage. I often come out empty handed but there's been plenty of time I've also come home with bag loads!

This cost a bargainous £10 and it would be great as a present for a friend, family member, colleague, Secret Santa or for yourself as I did with mine!

How is your present shopping going this year? I wish TK Maxx would sell more products online although I do love finding a hidden gem.

Are you a China Glaze fan? What do you think of these polishes?

L xxx

London at Christmas: Part 2

This is my second post of my trip to London, if you missed the first you can read it here. It's all about the shop window displays at Liberty and Selfridges.

This post continues on from there when we went to Harrods and Covent Garden.

Harrods is the next store that really needs no introduction. The sign is another that is iconic enough!

Harrods store looks absolutely stunning lit up, we were lucky enough to get there just as it was starting to get dark at 4ish and it looks so pretty.
The windows and doors were framed with hedges that were filled with fairy lights. It was so simple but effective.

As for the actual window displays the theme was based on the Orient Express and each window was a different carriage:

Each window was dressed so beautifully and extravagantly I felt like I'd gone back in time. Not only were the models dressed fabulously the scenes were exquisite and the attention to detail was out of this world.

This one was my favourite, mainly because of the unbelievable dress and stunning Louboutins

Another of my favourite things was every carriage had a 'window' which was a tv screen with a rolling view of snowy landscapes and even some famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower which i managed to snap quickly!

The windows were amazing and obviously getting inside the store was even better. I didn't enjoy wandering around Harrods as much because I had a lot of shopping by this point and there were so many other people around.
The food section was unlike anything I've ever seen before and I would absolutely die to go there and sample some of the freshly made food as it was stunning and smelt like I was abroad depending on which stand I was near.

Wandering around London was great in itself and each street was lined with rows and rows of Christmas lights and baubles:

The above photo is one of my favourites as the snowflakes are beautiful!

Our last stop was Covent Garden which wasn't planned but as we had a bit of spare time we couldn't resist a wander around here too.

The massive baubles and disco balls were so beautiful and made the whole place light up!

Outside near the Royal Opera house was a massive hedge reindeer covered in lights and even had a red nose; touches like this are so special and make the whole Christmas experience that much better.





This tree was the opposite side to the reindeer and was absolutely huge!

London was so much fun to walk around and the Christmas decorations in streets, windows and stores were absolutely gorgeous!

Have you or will you be making a trip into London to the shops?

I think it will have to become a tradition for me and my mum!

L xxx

Clarins Hydra Quench Cream and Mask

Good morning!

I've another skincare post for you today. I've been really taking care of my skin the past few months and especially over winter my skin needs an extra hydration boost.

I was lucky to be given both of these by a friend who could no longer use them. I'm not sure why but i was grateful for the chance to use them as they were still pretty full when she gave them to me and I've been loving them!



Clarins are obviously a well known brand and their Hydra Quench range is very popular. I've previously tried samples of their Hydra Quench Bi Phase Serum and loved it, so I was looking forward to testing these out.



The Hydra Quench Cream was the first product I tried. The moisturiser was designed for normal to dry skin and is to applied to your face and neck in the morning and evening. As with all other Clarins products it has been allergy tested and is non-comedogenic.

This product is a thick white cream that sinks into skin really nicely on application. I've found that it moisturises my skin really well without overloading it during the day or night. Due to my oily t-zone I do have issues with 'dry skin' products sometimes causing my oil levels to overload and therefore create more spots and problems.



I've had no problems at all with the moisturiser with twice daily use and my skin is loving it, I would definitely repurchase this in future. For £34 for 50ml I think this is an expensive product but again, you get what you pay for and this is a great moisturiser.


The Cream Mask is very much the same. I applied this once or twice a week when my skin was feeling dehydrated and left it on for as long as I could, normally around 10/20 minutes or so. It's hard to time it so I normally do a job or paint my nails whilst its on!



After application I then removed it by washing it off with a muslin cloth. It says to remove it with a cotton pad but I'd prefer not to leave any excess on in case my skin is overloaded and there's not a lot of difference between the two methods!

This was great at hydrating my skin and I've had no problems with blemishes caused by it. This retails at £33 for 75ml. I'm not sure I'd repurchase this as readily as the moisturiser as I feel that the cream does the job on its own now I've upgraded to a more hydrating moisturiser on a daily basis.




The whole Hydra Quench range can be viewed on their website here; I've got my eye on the lotion which might be better for oily skin during the day and then the cream for my nightly application.

I've also got my eye on the full size of the serum which I really enjoyed using.

Are you a Clarins fan? Have you tried anything from the Hydra Quench range?


L xxx

Latest Buys

When I've been doing some Christmas shopping the past few weeks I've not been able to resist picking up myself a few bits. After reading EssJays blog Mission Me which is one of my favourites I instantly fell in love with a coat she recently published about.

I was surprised to find out it was from Primark, and then made it my mission to find it in my size. I even braved Oxford Street Primark on a Saturday in Decemeber!! (never again). When I got back to Cardiff I found it in my size! I was really surprised in the difference in size between the coats. I thought I'd have got away with going one size bigger but I definitely couldn't.

It's an amazing gorgeous black double breasted coat. I love how soft the material is for this type of material and hasn't been at all itchy which I find some cheaper coats. The waist belt really pulls you in and the bottom half is a really full skater skirt style. I love this shape and find it looks most flattering on me! I was so drawn to it. Simple but classic and the sleeve detail just meant I couldn't leave it. I really love the stud detail and how they make a simple coat interesting. It does cost £32 which at first I thought was expensive but for a coat it's really not that bad!

Whilst in Primark I found myself browsing as I had a date to go on yesterday and even though I have loads of clothes I fancied something new. I was surprised when rooting through a sale rack to find these two amazing dresses and both of them were only £5!

I love the teal colour on this dress and the combination of the black lace with it. It fits great and has a soft flowing skirt. It has a ribbon to draw more attention into at the waist. It's really comfy and not to clingy!

I was instantly draw to the pattern on this dress. It's almost like a cross stitch pattern of the flowers. It drapes well when on and has an elasticated waist! I think this will be perfect for holidays and Glastonbury next year!

Lastly while picking up my nieces Christmas presents in H and M I ended up picking myself up some bits. If you've got any children's clothes to get I really suggest looking in there as there sale has some bargains in.

When in the kids section I saw these amazing tops and they looked pretty big. For only £2 each I had to grab them. The pink top is age 12-14 and the green one is 14+. The age 12-14 actually fits better. I definitely need to look in kids sections more for cheaper clothes. The tops are perfect for everyday with jeans or leggings as they cover the bum but are loose and comfy!

I couldn't resist picking up the Nars creamy concealer when I was in London. I'm sure I'll be sharing my thoughts on it soon with you!!

Have you managed to resist picking up treats when you've been shopping?

Love M

xxx

Empties 4

I've been meaning to write this post for ages. I've been collecting them up for a while now. My last empties post was back in August. As I move on Saturday it seemed silly to take empty products with me. Moving has also prompted to me really use up as many products with small amounts in before the move.

Sebastian Penetraitt Shampoo and Conditioner

This is my all time favourite shampoo and conditioner. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone with dry, damaged or dyed hair. It really bought my hair back to health and helped it grow. I will definitely be repurchasing this. Some people can find it to heavy but for my hair even though it's fine it was perfect.

Collection Fix Me Up

Not a fan, works out more than UD setting spray on price per ml and definitely isn't better.

Batiste Tropical

This will always be a product I turn to time and time again. Not found a dry shampoo better. The tropical is my favourite scent.

Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask

This was a magazine freebie. To be honest I didn't find it helped a great deal. For me there is only one hair mask I really like and that's the Macadamia one. I try to use others but I've not found one that compares yet.

Philip B Katira Hair Masque

This has a weird consistency. I feel like my hair felt better after using it but feel like it felt better as it was coated and not actually helping the hair.

Ralph by Ralph Lauren

I love the sweetness of this perfume and find I'm really drawn to it especially in the summer months. An easy to wear scent that's not to over powering

Zara Women Black

I wanted the Zara Oriental but picked this up by mistake. A similar scent and has notes that remind me of my Viktor and Rolf flowerbomb perfume which is my all time favourite. Reasonably priced and will be repurchasing other Zara Perfumes.

Sassy Swirls Vanilla Berry

This is just a little Avon perfume I keep in my bag. Simple sweet scent. Love the size of these to just keep in my handbag and the plastic packaging makes them perfect for this.

Laugh Often By Rees Witherspoon

I love the name for starters. The smell is one I really like and for a cheap perfume has impressive staying power. The downside is the smell can be a bit overpowering at first. It's one of those that if you spray more than two spritz you'll have a headache. Saying that now it's empty I miss it so definitely one I'll purchase again.

Benefit They're Real

I know everyone loves this mascara but for me I do think there is better. Personally I hate how hard it is to get off and I prefer a bristle brush. Having said that it definitely grew on me with use. Not one I'd personally repurchase. I prefer BadGal

Bourjois Volumizer

This was another product at first I didn't like. I loved step one to separate my lashes but hated step two. This was a formula that got better when left for a month. Then when I used it I got great volume. So far I've loved all the Bourjois mascaras I've tried.

Origins Cheeks and Balance

This is a favourite with both L and I. I love the fresh minty scent and the fact a small amount goes such a long way. It really foams up to make my skin feel really clean. The downside is it can feel too clean and a little tight but this hasn't put me off buying the full size.

Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash

I really like this as a morning cleanser. I don't like to use cloth cleansers in the morning (I think it's a lazy thing), I really like the lightness of this on skin and the scent is fresh. Was a random buy one splurge day in boots but I really like it.

Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean

This product is the reason I won't be repurchasing the Neutrogena one above. I love the creamy texture of this, the smell and how soft my skin feels. A perfect morning cleanser for me.

No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleasner

For me I wasn't a fan. I didn't like the scent and I felt my skin didn't feel as clean as it did after using others. It did help my skin not break out though and is reasonably priced.

Bioderma Sebium

I'm a bioderma convert. I thought how can anybody need this water product. Then I tried the minis and I'm now almost through my full size bottle. Love the stuff perfect for lazy days or after I've been wearing lots of make up. I only like the Sebium one though not the original.

Vichy Micellaire Solution

Nothing wrong with this product just personally prefer bioderma. Worked well, felt light on the skin and was fragrance free.

(apologies for the awful photo!)

Bioderma Samples

I've been so impressed with all the bioderma samples I've tried and even though some haven't been suited to my skin type I've not broken out. Especially love the Sebium Hydra Creme Hydratante this is a cream for weakened oily skin. Love it. Felt light and left my skin moisturised without being oily.

Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve

This reminds me in texture of the amazing Dr Lipp Nipple Balm. A great thick lip balm that leaves lips feeling super soft. I'm not a fan of the rose but as it's such a good lip balm I forgive it. One I feel actually does something unlike to vaseline which only feels nice on my lips when it's on them.

Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion

I have a full size of this somewhere but have never got around to using it. After testing out the sample I've been trying hard to use up my current day cream. The perfect base for under foundation. Leaves skin soft, super light weight and it's oil free.

Origins GinZing Eye Cream

This was one of those products I didn't want to use up. Really love this for brightening in the morning. Currently preferring and Avon one but I think it will be on I go back to.

Avon Solution Complete Balance Day Cream

Anyone with oily skin this is a great moisturiser. It slightly mattifies the skin without it being too much so that make up applies smoothly. It provides a perfect amount of moisture and doesn't leave me oily at the end of the day. Also a great price.

Origins A Perfect World for Eyes

I love the scent of this. I also love the thickness of the product and really felt like it was beneficial. Due to how heavy the product was it was only one I used at night but I look for different things for my eyes in the day and night so rarely find an all round eye cream.

Soap and Glory Wish upon a Jar

I love this product. Super thick, super boosting and leaves skin feeling incredibly soft. I love to use this a week before a big night out or an occasion so my skin is super plump.

Wow that was a long empties, do you have loads of products with just a little left in? I've still got more to hopefully use pre move.

Love M

xxx

Life Lately

It's been a while since I've done a life post and after my weekend away I decided I wanted to do one. I feel like so much has changed these past few months and it really has been for the best.

Following the break up with my ex in the summer it's all been about spending time with friends and family as much as possible. I've not had a weekend on mine before this weekend since June. My weekends have been spent catching up with friends, going out, going away or seeing the family and it's great. 

With regards to relationships I've now been single for over 5 months, a new record for me. I was always the girl who was happiest in a relationship and never thought I'd been this comfortable single. I spent this weekend in London. I caught up with a friend on Saturday for a bit of shopping but had Sunday on mine. Whilst wondering around I realised I had finally reached the point where I was happy on my own.

Last week I saw my ex for the first time in months. I expected it to be weird but it was surprisingly not. It was easy to just chat to him as a friend without feeling anything, making me realise even more I held onto something I shouldn't have for too long. Walking away is sometimes the hardest decision and I realised I spent a long time fighting for something I thought would make me happy but it was actually making me unhappy!

Anyway that's not very positive. Lately I feel so much happier and settled and have some amazing things lined up. Hopefully next year I'll be buying my first house. I had found one but it unfortunately fell through. Who knew buying a house is so stressful. It definitely took a lot out of me.

I'm now really looking forward to the next year and doing things I wouldn't have done had I stayed with my ex including Glastonbury and tough mudder! 

Bring on 2014!!

Bit of a random post but felt like writing it. Back to beauty tomorrow :)

Love

M

xxx