Tuesday 22 May 2012

Instagram #2

1. Bracelet from my best friend from Greece. 2. Favourite fake tan ever (Palmers Cocao Natural Bronze).
3. My doggy fast asleep. 4. Deathly Hallows necklace. 5. Redken cleansing cream shampoo from feel unique.
6. Night out outfit. 7. Tequila-a-a-aaa. 8. Happy 1st anniversairy Wills and Kate!
9. Fave yoghurt like ever. 10. Loreal Caresse in Cheeky Magenta.
11. IT HAILED?!SNOWED?! 12. Found my glasses. 13. Bought Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows <3.
14. Fridge full of yoghurts. 15. Fruit salad, yum!
16. Had my hair in a bun for a night out (shocking). 17. Ice cream sundae cupcake. 18. Crazy nails.
19. Ben & Jerrys Berry White - potential new fave. 20. Crop top for summer weather, yay!


Thursday 17 May 2012

Quest for long, thick, princess hair.



So it's best to start with a bit of background I think (Sorry this post is going to be extremely long, like I wish my hair to be, oh the joys). When I was about 15 I had luscious long thick hair and when I say long, I mean it was literally down to my waist. Although it was coloured, I only used to have half a head of foils and so the hair wasn't too damaged from bleach however I know I used to straighten my hair everyday though I did use a heat protecting products due to straighteners at the time being awful for your hair, they weren't even ceramic coated I don't think ! Anyway I then went through a mad phase and decided to cut my hair off into a Sarah Harding/Victoria Beckham style pob, oh how much I regret this now !!

After the haircut which I did love at the time I decided I was bored of it and wished to grow it out, surprise surprise. But after 8months - 1 year of trying I realised this quest wasn't quite as easy as it first seemed. So when I was 17 I decided to give up the bleach and reach for the brown hair dye (well my hairdresser did) to give my hair a rest and allow it to grow before returning to my blonde locks.

Now this really did help my hair out as before it was being bleached every 2 months and I managed to stay brown for just under 2 years before longing for my blonde hair back as being a natural blonde meant that my roots needed to be done regularly as a brunette as otherwise it just looked as if I was balding, never a good look I'll tell you that for free.

So just over a year ago now was when I reached for the bleach again and although my hair whilst brown had grown a reasonable amount the bleach has once again damaged my ends, however I am now at the colour I wish to be and therefore when I do go the hairdressers all I need touching up is my roots which means my quest for long, thick, princess hair is good to go!
So as the opportunity has finally (about time) arisen it was the perfect time to get all the gross, thin, dead ends off as the damage had made my hair become finer and start from fresh.

So two weeks ago I had about 1-2 inches off my hair and my roots touched up and my hair now looks healthy but in my personal opinion not as thick and long as I would like it to be, hence this quest. I only wish my hair to be about 3 inches longer which isn't a major amount but at the rate my hair seems to grow this could take a very long time, so after much research I have invested in some products and knowledge which should help my hair stay healthier and fasten up this process ever so slightly, helping my dream hair become a reality, yay.

So I took a trip to boots to first of all get some vitamin supplements which will help my hair to stay healthy, strong and help the hair itself thicken up.

Folic Acid - yes I know this may originally seem a peculiar choice as it is a vitamin aimed at pregnant women to help their baby develop healthy and correctly, but it also helps growth systems within the body including enabling hair to stay strong and at it's optimum condition meaning that this should allow hair to grow at it's greatest potential.

Vitamin B Complex - this is a vitamin which helps your bodies energy levels. Not just within yourself but also the vitamin Biotin helps the energy levels of healing such as bruises, nail growth and hair growth.

Seven Seas Radiant You Health Oils - these help to maintain strong nails, hair and skin which is important for the growth of your hair as it allows you to visit the hairdressers less often, as the ends shouldn't need taking off quite so often.

Alongside these vitamins which I take once a day with water it is important to drink your daily recommended fluid amount. This is something I discovered whilst researching the products, some of the vitamins can disrupt the skin and therefore ensuring you drink your 2 litres a day is essential. Not only will this ensure your skin doesn't get disrupted but also it will help run your body naturally.
I have a 1.5 litre bottle which I keep in the fridge as it ensures that I am drinking the correct amount (along with 3 cups of tea a day making up for the other 0.5 litres of my RDA).

Now alongside the vitamins I have also invested in some other products, alongside my usual shampoo of choice (at the moment anyway) of Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends shampoo and conditioner I have purchased RedKen Hair Cleansing Cream shampoo which I used once a week . This shampoo restores the natural PH balance of your hair and gets rid of any build up from products used within the hair, such as hairspray, heat protectors, excessive conditioners and products such as wave sprays etc.
Now I wash my hair every other day to ensure that my natural hair oils also do not get washed away everyday, and these are important for the healthiness of your hair.

Alongside the RedKen I also used my hair mask of choice, Umberto Giannini's Spa Rituals Moisture Replenishing hair mask once a week to restore, as in the name, any lost moisture to my hair, ensuring the ends aren't dry and brittle.

I have also refrained from using heat on my hair. This was actually not as hard as I thought it may possibly be and I prefer to let my hair dry naturally anyway and I used to use straighteners on my 'bangs' and also to neaten up any flyaways, however I have learnt to embrace my natural messy waves and now tend to only use straighteners on a Friday when I hit the town, and I am sure to use my Umberto Giannini Sleek & Chic hair protecting mist.

Also just a quick one, SHOWER COMBS ARE A MUST! If you use a brush after washing your hair you tend to pull hairs out that are perfectly healthy due to the wet hair needing more love so to say, so investing in one of these should ensure thickness of your hair. Mine was £1.79 from Superdrug.

So I have been using these vitamins, products etc for just 2 weeks at the moment but I will keep you updated with this routine and express my feelings of whether the products I have used have helped my hair at all in any way and also give a hair length update!

Have you ever used any of these products or others to help your hair stay healthy? Or will you be trying any of these products?

Tuesday 15 May 2012

L'oreal Caresse in 07 Cheeky Magenta - Review

So after hearing at least 10 reviews on this product and numerous more on this particular colour I thought it looked like the perfect lip product for me.

It's not quite a lipstick with full impact colour, but a balm type lip product which still packs a punch in the colour department.
Cheeky Magenta (07) was the colour that drew my eye after seeing swatches from other blogs and it looked like the perfect bluey pink which I feel suits my skin tone best and I've been lacking on wearing pink recently so thought it would be the best spring/summer colour - if the weather EVER brightens up.






So is all the hype true?
YES!!!

This product is literally amazing, and I can't wait to get more when I get paid at the end of the month.
The consistency of the product is smooth, creamy and nourishing to the lips.
I find it does work as a lip balm but not as well as a product simply for this purpose.

Packaging wise I feel the lipstick looks expensive with packaging that is sturdy and won't pop open in your bag.
The fact the top and bottom also represent the colour inside makes it great to find when in a rush instead of opening all your lipsticks up (which I find myself doing too often, especially with Barry M's).

Swatch of Cheeky Magenta 07 - L'oreal Caresse


The staying power is not as good as your usual lipstick, however this is due to the sheer colour and nourishing purposes, it stays on for around 2 hours before needing a top-up, however if you were eating/drinking you'd probably need to reapply straight afterwards.
In cooler lights the blue tones of the pink really come out to play.

In warmer light it comes across as a bright pink.



Overall I feel this is going to be a firm favourite in my collection and as I said I can't wait to try out more in the range and for £7.99 I think this product is totally worth it, as I know I'll get through it during the warmer days !!


What are your thoughts on the L'oreal Caresse range? What colours are your favourite?

Monday 14 May 2012

Favourite Songs of the Week #1

So to start back up the blogging again I have composed a playlist of my current (weekly) favourite songs.
These are the songs I can't stop playing when driving to work and can't get out of my head when the silence occurs within the world.




What are you current favourite songs?

JEEZ LOUISE WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!

You may be wondering where I have been for all this time and I asking myself that very same question!
Considering that I have been finished from uni/exams/coursework etc I should have totally been updating this blog of mine daily, however I have been letting myself down and getting caught up with other things.

So this is a little promise not only to myself, but also to anyone out there who cares,
I AM BACK.

I have made a little list and I will be blogging about;

  • Changes in my skin care (which have cleared up my skin massively)
  • My quest for long thick hair
  • My new job !
  • Updates about life itself.
  • Make up reviews
  • Outfits I loveeeeeee

Speak to you shortly ;)
BYEEEEEEEEE!!!

Monday 16 April 2012

Instagram week one:



1. Leopard print maxi dress. 2. Plastic tumblers. 3. Interview outfit. 4. RIP Blackberry. 5. My car - Julia Roberts. 6. My gorgeous little cousin Findly. 7. Chocolates during towie. 8. Rocking the Disney 2004 top. 9. What a load of bollocks. 10. Friday night outfit. 11. Birthday cake (always tastes better than normal cake). 12. Skittles during revision. 13. My gorgeous doggy, Elle.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Leopard Print Maxi/Midi OOTD















Outfit;
  • Leopard print midi (but maxi-ish on me due to being 5ft1), Topshop
  • Totes amaze bracelet, Miss Selfridge
  • Wishbone charm bracelet, bpeacockdesign (aka my shop) [link]
  • Black gem ring, eBay
  • Tan drawstring bag, New Look
  • Black belt, New Look

Make up;
  • Gold eyeshadow, Ruby & Mille
  • Scandaleyes mascara, Rimmel
  • Blush in Babypink, W7
  • Age renewal foundation in Classic Beige, Rimmel
  • Maybelline material girl lipstick, number pictured.
  • Wet N Wild lipgloss in Sun Glaze.

Saturday 7 April 2012

Album of the Week: Ministry of Sound One R n B

Okay, so incase you haven't noticed a trend here I Love (with a capital L) most CDs that are ministry of sound related.



This new edition which came out last month contains three CD's with number one's within the r'n'b world. The three CD's contain songs from the 2000s, 1990s and the 1980s (I hope I am correct in saying this although it could be 2010s, 2000s and 1990s - who knows).

CD one:
Favourite song - Literally too many to choose from maybe Earthquake - Labrinth and Tinie Tempah.
Least favourite song- I need a dollar - Aloe Blacc, but not because I don't like the song I just don't like this particular remix.

CD two:
Favourite song - Moving too fast - Artful dodger, completely love this song and had forgotten all about it
Least favourite song - She wolf - Shakira, don't think it belongs in the r'n'b song style myself?

CD three:
Favourite song - Don't let go - En vogue, how can anyone not completely love this song?
Least favourite song - Ginuwine - Pony.

Literally can't stop blasting this when having a drive in my car !
What are your favourite songs?

Friday 6 April 2012

BPEACOCKDESIGN - Re-opened

So last year I started a little handmade jewellery store on Etsy, and I had so much fun doing it but with uni work amongst other things I just didn't have the time.
BUT NOW.. I am back home and am able to start it all up again with new ideas!!

Here are the 3 items available so far, there is more to come don't you worry :)
Here's the link to my shop: bpeacockdesign

Elasticated Blue/Green/Black Wishbone Charm Beaded Bracelet
Elasticated Red/Pink/Purple Wishbone Charm Beaded Bracelet
Colourful Resin Mottled Skull 15" Drop Black String Necklace

Monday 2 April 2012

Swedish Girl Hair



Sorry for not posting as of recent but I have been ultra busy finishing all my essays for my second year of uni and now they are all done yay !!
Can't believe I am nearly a third year student, it's so scary.
And with only 2 exams to go at the end of this month I have plenty of time to catch up on blogging, yay for you !!

So I was inspired by Nicole Richie, my favourite fashionista and her GORGEOUS hair,

Now unfortunately I am not blessed with thick long hair, so I had to adjust this style so it would actually suit me.
I tried to make the back pretty but it simply didn't work, boo hoo !

So anyway, what I did to achieve my look was split my hair first of all into two sections, dividing it symmetrically down the back of my head from my parting.

Next I took a thin comb and split my hair from the top of my ear upwards at a slight angle to get the hair that would come before the wrap around plaits, and I did this on both sides of my head. Then I tied this up so it would not get in the way.

The final two sections left at the bottom I put into plaits which made me look very much like Lolita haha, and tied these with little rubber bands which are £1 for a pack of about 100 from Primark.

After doing this I let my two front sections down and brought the plaits up to make a sort of headband and secured with bobby pins, when securing I tried to hide the rubber bands (unfortunately mine were white and very noticeable) underneath the opposite plait.
And ta-daaaaa !



P.S. Starting up my jewellery line again VERY VERY soon, just waiting for all my crafts to come so I can begin hand-making some beauties again, so keep your eyes peeled :)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Saturday 24 March 2012

Tortoises



This is Bob and Fifi, they are tortoises.
Unfortunately they are not mine, we are just looking after them for my Aunty as she has gone on holiday for a couple of weeks, though it was a lovely surprise to come home, not only have I been greeted by these two gorgeous creatures but also two massive tanks of fish (again my Aunty's)!


LOVELY! enjoy xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Friday 23 March 2012

Maxi Skirt = Summer Days





Bought this gorgeous maxi skirt the other day and yesterday was the perfect day to wear it with the sun shining!!
  • Maxi skirt, New Look
  • Cranberry vest top, H&M
  • Black belt, New Look
  • Jelly flip flops with diamond, Ella
  • Gold chain necklace, Dorothy Perkins
  • Wooden cross earrings, Topshop
  • Hot looks nail varnish in Hip Hop, Collection 2000

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Album of the Week: Gotye - Making Mirrors

So I downloaded this the other week and haven't really had chance to listen to it properly, and I still haven't really apart from around 4 listens of the whole album, however I have thoroughly enjoyed doing so!

It's such a good album for when you really need calm, relaxed music. I have mostly listened to it in the morning when I don't want anything too crazy going on whilst I'm getting ready to go to uni.

The album is very similar in sound to the debut single 'Somebody That I Used To Know', soothing songs with a bit of a kick to them, or so to say haha !

I recommend this album to anyone who likes easy listening music that can quite easily be sung along to, definately a good summer album as well !!

Favourite song - Smoke and Mirrors
Least favourite song - Making Mirrors (Though I guess it is kind of the introduction)
Rating - 4/5 !

Friday 16 March 2012

All Things Topshop


Okay so not EVERYTHING i'm wearing is Topshop, and thank god, I wouldn't want to be the ultimate 'Topshop princess' but let's be honest Topshop has some great stock in at the moment and I couldn't resist buying a few key pieces that will all go together nicely.







  • Vest top, Topshop
  • Jeans, Topshop
  • Shoes, H&M
  • Necklace, Dorothy Perkins
  • Cross earrings, Topshop
  • Beaded bracelet, from Daddy from China
  • Jesus bracelet, Ibiza
  • Purple peace bracelet, HedKandi
  • Beaded peace bracelet, Topshop
  • Blue ring, Dorothy Perkins
  • Red and beige plastic rings, Primark
  • Gold band, sentimental piece given to me by my Mummy, it never ever ever comes off my finger !
Have you found any gems in Topshop recently?