Products to rave about...

A few things recently have really caught my attention for being fabulous and I think they deserve some recognition.
First up is Rimmel London’s “60 seconds” nail varnish with “express brush” for one second application... since the beginning of time, or at least the invention of nail varnish, cosmetics companies have promised fast drying and easy to apply polish for your nails but , in my experience, few rarely deliver on these promises. However, all is not lost as Rimmel London’s “60 seconds” nail varnish with “express brush” does exactly what it says on the tin. The shape of the brush means that the varnish gets spread evenly over the entirety of your nail without creating little messy reservoirs of paint at the sides of your nail where its meets the skin. It dries quickly too so you aren’t confined to your seat for about 5 minutes after you’ve painted your nails for fear of transferring it to the walls, the carpet or your outfit for the night. You really can put this nail varnish on in a rush (even the tricky other hand!). I’m currently loving it in “805 Grey Matter”- it looks unfussy, clean and elegant.
Aha I’ve just realised my next rave is about another Rimmel London product, they should be paying me right?!
“Colour show off lipstick”... I must admit I was a slave to advertising with this product. I saw the advert on the TV and instantly thought “I WANT that lipstick”; thank god I’m not like that for every advert on TV! I bought it in “230 Red Fever” (wearing it in the photo) which is a proper vampy shade- I love it so much but I’ve only really started to wear it regularly since I had my teeth whitened as the colour is so intense it seemed to make them look really yellow? Not so cool. But yeah this lipstick has the perfect balance between matte and gloss and if you apply it once, wear it a bit and then reapply it a little later it has staying power that will last the whole night...and the morning too if you forget to take it off.
It is definitely worth checking out the Rimmel London site, it has some cool tips and competitions:
http://www.rimmellondon.com/UK/home.aspx

Finally, the last products I discovered after going to a demo at The House of Fraser. Aveda “Pure Abundance” volumizing shampoo and volumizing clay conditioner are what I would call “miracle products” (I do not use that term lightly people!). I haven’t had my hair cut for going on a year now but it’s only recently that the ends have started to look noticeably ratty. At this demo I was given generous samples of these products to try out and no word of a lie they made my hair look and feel as though it had just been cut (and it has actually persuaded me to go and get a real hair cut). My hair had natural volume, looked shiny and the ends looked just like the rest of my hair- healthy. These products are expensive for what most people would spend on shampoo and conditioner but they really work. I was lucky enough to be given two £10 off vouchers for Aveda products and I know exactly what I’m gonna use them for...

Camera is broken (for absolutely no reason) which makes me so sad, but there is a chance that I’ll get a better camera out of it if they can’t fix the problem...please don’t be able to fix it!

Peace and Love,
Gracie

Making a home from home...

So I’m off to Brighton Uni in the next couple of weeks and I’m buzzing with excitement! I keep getting emails from the uni telling me what I need to get done before I get there, what to do on my first day, what to bring and, of course, details of fresher’s week (partypartyparty)- it seems like a bit of an information overload and I’ve made millions of list to try and get my head round it all. It’s a good amount of being thrown in at the deep end.
Yesterday I did a bit of shopping for bedding and towels and that; I took full advantage of the Primark that’s just opened in Guildford and got everything super cheap. Even though it was packed as it had pretty much just opened its doors, it was really spacious and well set out unlike most Primarks where you feel like you might not make it out alive. One thing I’m really conscious about at uni is making my little room feel like my own as they’re obviously really bland when you get them. I’m someone who likes their environment to be visually inspiring and appealing so I went for bright colours and striking patterns. I got pink towels- I’m not really a pink-loving person but I thought it would brighten up a plain white bathroom and my duvet cover is rather garish to say the least but it was in the sale so I’m not complaining. I think living in Brighton is gonna be pretty full on so why not have a room that matches that?
I wanted to get some clothes and random bits and bobs for me, but we ran out of time (I did manage to get a couple of things, the dress in the photo is one of them) I’m going shopping with my boyfriend in the week so I’ll splash the cash then.

And if anyone reading this is from Brighton, or goes there a lot, let me know of the in and outs of Brighton life and any good places you’ve found to hangout. Ta!

Loves,
Gracie

A girl’s best friend...

I’m talking make up. That title perhaps makes me sound a little image obsessed, but there’s something about putting on your face that makes the world easier to tackle; maybe it’s symbolic of control- ooh deep!
Anyway of course it’s not just ladies that like a bit of slap... it’s becoming more socially acceptable for blokes of all walks of life to wear makeup, and why not? I’ve always thought it was unfair that girls get to cover up spots and blemishes and make themselves feel better about their appearance and guys just have deal with it, especially in the teenage years. Male trends such as “guyliner” and the recent “androgynous” look have paved the way for man-makeup but like most fashions its roots go back into the past, most noticeably the eras of The Bright Young Things and The New Romantics. So I guess it would be more appropriate to title this entry as “Everyone’s best friend...”
I wanted to show you a couple of makeup items that look promising for next season and which I hope to spend my cash on...
Maxfactor smoky eye effect eye shadow £7.99 @ Boots... I’ve actually already tried to get this but they’d run out in the colour I wanted (Onyx Smoke) which suggests it’s a hot product. I will get it though!

The Swiss collection by Opi looks so unbelievably good. I love nail varnish to provide a coverage and finish that looks like you were born with that nail colour, and Opi ticks that box. But at £9.95 a pop from Asos I’m gonna have to pick my colours carefully... I’m loving “Just a little Rosti at this” and “Cuckoo for this Colour”
I like my skin to look matte and I feel after extensive testing from expensive brands to cheap ones that Maxfactor Colour Adapt gives the best effect (I use it in Creamy Ivory) it seems to lat forever too so great value for money. I often use L’oreal Paris’ Matte Morphose as a base coat as it just even my skin tone perfectly (in Rosy Ivory).

When it comes to powder I use so much I just buy the cheapest I can find. At the moment I’m using Collection 2000 in Ivory and it gives really good coverage and it last too.
I used to have the most amazing blusher that came in some make up set I got as a present. It was really rosy and shimmery and when it ran out I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find anything as good but Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher in Rose is perfect- very English rosey!

Finally, I’m desperate for a cherry lip stain that doesn’t cost £20! My friend used to have one when we were little and I just wish I had it now! Does anyone know of such a product?!

Off to Camden later for a friends gig and to see my brother- very excited- then off to the boat again tomorrow.

Peace and Love,
Gracie

A hidden gem...

One rainy (and rather miserable) day a couple of weeks ago whilst I was holidaying on the Isle of Wight, my mum and I attempted to go to a vintage shop that we’d passed on the bus. Unfortunately it only opened on Fridays and Saturdays- so typical. I wouldn’t have minded so much however when you peered through the shop window a beautiful sight met your eye: A mass of vintage clothing spanning the decades of the 30s through to the 80s, from day wear to evening gowns.

The other great thing that made me so excited but also very gutted that the shop wasn’t open was the range of sizes. More often than not vintage shops and vintage sections only have very large sizes or very small sizes. It’s as if the sizes in between disappeared with the era. To make matters worse I was leaving a couple of days later so I wouldn’t be able to go back and get inside for a good rummage! My mum did promise that she would go back on Friday and I got a text the other day saying she’d stayed in there for an hour and bought two 50’s skirts and a mini dress- I cannot wait to see them! I just hope they fit. The shop was called Oh so vintage and they have a website (www.oh-so-vintage.co.uk) but I don’t think it does the shop itself justice so if you’re ever around Newport on the IOW check it out...but only on a Friday or Saturday!

I go back on the boat around the second half of next week and I really hope my parents have managed to sail to Totnes in Devon. Totnes has the most amazing vintage shops and a lovely way of life so I hope to report back with news of sunshine and wonderful buys!
I think summer might have come back too.
Pictured one of my best vintage buys: a “Crosby, Stills and Nash” baseball tee which I bought from Oxfam (vintage section) for about a fiver- I love it.

Loves,
Gracie.

Autumn 2010...

I’m not one you’ll often catch wishing away the summer but, please, bring on autumn! Us fashion followers are in for a real treat next season as a deluge of gorgeous trends floods our way. From capes to leather skirts to sheepskin and evening trousers I can honestly say I am very excited for the autumn months. Another plus side for me is that I have many of the key pieces in my wardrobe! Which does mean that I won’t really need to go shopping but it proves the longevity of these items.
On the catwalk: I’m especially loving Burberry Prorsum for the aviator jackets (as well as pretty much everything else!) and D&G for the knitwear and colours. Back in my budget range (and probably yours too) Asos is on top form as per usual, as is Miss Selfridge and Topshop...

I want this so bad it hurts... Topshop £70

And this... Miss Selfridge £45

And this for keeping you warm in the autumn months- there's something so incredibly sexy about a nude slip, perhaps Atonement is to blame? Topshop £18

The overall effect of these trends as singular pieces or combined, is that everyone looks so smart and powerful in a comfy and cosy sort of way- perfect for those chilly winds and wet pavements.
A great thing about next seasons must-haves is that they a fairly universal. Everyone, regardless of size, colouration or personal style can pull them off. One piece that needs to be approached with a little caution is the leather skirt; take the time to find a perfect one for you or you may end of looking like a...ahem hooker or just quite simply bad.

And the make up? A new word needs to be invented for the autumn make up- I love it! It’s so sassy with the red or dark lips and smoky eyeliner. Lush.
One trend I personally think I’ll side step: A line skirts- I just don’t think they love me.

Peace and Serenity,

Gracie

Bon voyage...

Last night my friend had a party to say a goodbye to everyone as she’s leaving to spend a year in Peru working in an orphanage. It was an amazing, boozy and very colourful night but the reason for holding the party was in the back of my mind- I cannot believe I’m not gonna see her for a whole year! Anyways it was around the world/gap yahh fancy dress theme so everyone was dressed up and they all looked so good. I went as a Russian mail order bride (not sure of the thinking behind that?). I wore a black wig and no one recognised me- people didn’t come up and say “hi” at first as they had no idea who I was. People said it really suited me to the point where it was frightening...



All in all it was a brilliant night and I hope it was the send off Claire wanted. I’ll miss her to pieces but I know she’ll do good over there and I’ll be here for when she gets back. The other weird thing is what will have changed by the time she gets back- a lot can happen in a year!

Peace and love,
Gracie

Holiday part 2- a festival of garlic...

Yeah so we were looking for things to do each day and on Sunday we decided to go to The Garlic Festival. We really weren’t expecting much. Anyway after the most traumatic bus journey of my life (it is not acceptable to change your toddlers nappy on a crowded bus) we arrived at a massive festival at which was the majority of the Isle of Wight’s residents- it was packed. Garlic featured very little considering the festival’s name. We headed straight to the beer tent to regather ourselves after the bus journey then we had a go at archery and loved it so much we’re planning on setting up our own archery in the garden (don’t worry we have a long garden).
The following day we went to The Needles to do some good old fashion sightseeing. The weather was beautiful and I just loved chilling out and snapping some pictures...

Me doing so archery.
The garlic beer I bought- I left it on the boat :(

Needly Deedly...

"To the wind that blows, the ship that goes and the girl who loved a sailor"

Gracie