Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
As I said in my last post, I've recently fallen in love with Nars during my multiple Space NK trips. One of the things I had been eyeing up was the Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette, swatching it and swooning over it time and time again, but never actually buying it. The perfect excuse/opportunity came up a week or so ago when I received an N.dulge N.centive via email, and on top of that I was feeling a little ill so L wanted to treat me, and I finally got my hands on it.

The box it comes in matches the actual packaging, and although I'm slightly unsure of the image, it's nowhere near as creepy as the Tearjerker eye set.

The packaging is beautiful though, and feels wonderfully luxurious - weighty, but not too heavy. When you open it up, it's even more of a beauty.

As you can see it comes with 7 products: A highlight, contour, bronzer and four blushes. 

For some reason they don't name the highlighter on the back of the product, but the contour is Paloma and the bronzer Laguna. The blushes from left to right are Robotic, Blasphemy, Luster and Dolce Vita. 

I've used all but two blushes so far, and can confidently say it is an amazing palette. 

I'm particularly taken with the Dolce Vita blush, which gives a gorgeous deep flush to the cheeks, perfect for this time of year. 

I have to say I am marginally disappointed with the highlight, having expected it to have some kind of sheen or shimmer. Instead it is more of a matte powder, which offers little highlighting properties, for me anyway. I've been using it to powder under my eyes so at least I've found another function for it I guess. 

I tried to do swatches for you but they seemed to payoff lightly on my fingers and the lighting was poor to say the least, but here's my best efforts. Ever so inconveniently it's in reverse order, starting from Dolce Vita on the left and going backwards through the blushes and then through to the bronzer, contour and finally the highlight. 

I'd highly recommend getting your hands on this palette if you're as much into face products as I am at the moment. It's brilliant value but it's also limited edition, so get it whilst you still can!

I'm a tesco girl, have been since I started uni, and it's rewarded me over the years. Whenever I get my clubcard points through I use the boost system and convert them into restaurant vouchers, and this time I managed to redeem £30 worth for Zizzi. Not bad I say!

So, me and L headed out for a dinner date, chuffed in the knowledge that the bill would be pretty much on Tesco.






We asked for our favourite table, the one by the window (because we're both nosey), and perused the menus.

It had been ages since we'd been to Zizzi and I was thoroughly craving their delicious offerings.



For drinks, L ordered the Passion Fruit Punch, and I the Sicilian still lemonade, as always.











After much deliberation from L, and little from me (I may or may not have already looked at the menu beforehand and chosen what I wanted...keeno), we placed our orders.

We opted for a starter and a main instead of a main and pudding, and were not disappointed with our choice.

I felt like something different, something other than my old faithful bruscetta, and opted for the fonduta formaggi, which consists of 'a melting pot of gorgonzola, gruyere and pecorino cheese with 'little soul' bread for dipping'.









I was equal parts delighted and horrified at how much bread came with it. Delighted because I am a unashamed bread fiend, but horrified for my waistline.

It was delicious and I completely devoured the bread, leaving a little cheese and instead using the last 'little soul' to mop up a dreamy mix of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic. Though I have to admit I kept offering up bits of bread to L to try and quell my bread-overdose guilt.

L went much healthier and decided on the calamari.


Which he said was good, but didn't have a notch on Piccolino's. 

After we'd greedily polished off our starters, our mains arrived.

I chose the superfood salad, swapping the goats cheese for mozzarella, and adding a side of tuscan potatoes.






It tasted just as good as it looks. Though note the additions of MORE little soul bread - I simply felt obliged to leave these as I kind of felt that 6 rolls of bread was ever so slightly excessive, even by my standards.

Hilariously, due to his last minute decision-making on his main and being flustered by the waitress suddenly springing upon him, L mis-read the main dish he ordered.



Expecting a dish of baked pasta to arrive, he was very shocked to see the most ginormous calzone plumped in front of him. Especially as he'd never had calzone before and was bemused to what exactly it was that had been given to him for a minute or two.

Nevertheless, he thoroughly enjoyed the beast of a dish, and astonishingly managed to polish off the lot! I was impressed, and I think he was too - noting that it should have been an eating challenge it was that monstrously big!

We left feeling incredibly full and satisfied, got back home and immediately threw ourselves into bed, falling asleep in no time, knocked out in food comas.

Thanks Zizzi, and thanks Tesco!

I recently received my first 'supervisor pay', and so I thought I would treat myself for my hard work so far. Conveniently, it's also my Graduation for my Sociology degree this Friday and so that also worked as a brilliant excuse for a present to myself.

At the weekend before last I was shopping with my Grandma in House of Fraser in Manchester and knew that I was on the hunt for the perfect coat. I didn't intend to buy anything but I just wanted to see if my dream one actually existed. I own a super cheap camel coat from the high street, which is nice, but I've only had it a couple of months and it's bobbling already and showing it's value (or lack of), and so I thought that the next coat I buy will be a great quality, timeless piece that will last for years.

Anyway, we stumbled across the Jaeger section and I instantly saw and fell in love with this dreamy wrap-over number, in a rich shade of not quite camel, not quite brown - 'conker', as they had named it. I tried it on and sighed in love. It was perfect, but I put it back and moved on.

Days passed and I couldn't get it out of my mind, persistently swooning over it on the website. I knew it was fate when the following Wednesday I passed the window of the Chester store Jaeger, just a few doors down from where I work, and there the coat was, pride of place. To sweeten the deal even more there was an incredible offer on in store at the time, and so I headed in. I tried it on one last time and with the push of all the sales assistants remarking how gorgeous it looked on, I said 'I'll take it'.


 The sales assistant wrapped it up nicely in the huge bag and off I trotted, feeling happy as larry.




The pictures don't do how beautiful it is in real life. The wool feels heavenly to the touch, and the lining is the silkiest thing against your skin. It also has deep pockets that are perfect for keeping your hands warm and carrying your phone etc. in - something my cheap coat lacks. I'm so in love with the wrap style with the tie-up belt and just think it looks so effortlessly chic. I also really like how it's a deeper colour than most camel-toned coats in the stores right now, which makes it a little more unique. 

I've worn it out once to dinner and once into town now and have received multiple compliments on it already. I'm so pleased with it and really believe it's a great investment for this time of year, and will last me for years to come keeping me warm but also stylish. 

I would add some swishy, posey pictures of me looking into the distance wearing it, but I haven't quite reached that stage of blogging yet...

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