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Essie Nail Polishes for Autumn/Winter

Monday 28 September 2015


Hello everyone, I'm Chloe from www.chloelouisa.co.uk. Today Courtney has given me the opportunity to guest blog on her blog which I am very grateful for, so thank you! Today' post is going to be on some of my favourite Essie nail polishes that are perfect for Autumn and Winter.

If you read my blog then you will know that I am obsessed with Essie nail polishes and 90% of the time the nail polish colour I am wearing will be from them. Their formulas are long lasting and the range of colours is amazing, so you will definitely find a colour that you love.

Colours
Bahama Mama is one of my favourite and was probably one of my most worn shades last winter. It is a gorgeous dark plum shade that looks great on its own and with a glitter over the top for an accent nail. For more of a grey toned blue colour, I love reaching for is Bobbing for Baubles as it is such a unique colour. It looks really grey in the bottle but as soon as it is applied to the nails you can definitely notice the blue tone to it. Again this looks great alone or paired with a glitter polish. The final colour that I reach for a lot in the winter is Stylenomics. This is a super dark green that in some lights even looks black, but in others it is very green.




Glitters
I love glitter nail polishes (apart from the removal of them, that is no fun) and I feel like if there is one time of year that you can get away with glitters it is in the winter months, especially in the run up to Christmas. Essie do some of my favourite glitters, my favourites being Rock at the Top and Summit of Style. These glitters are not like any other glitters I own as they do not contain pieces of glitter that are all the same size, but instead there is a range of smaller and bigger pieces of glitter which look amazing on the nail, especially as an accent nail. Summit of Style is a little rose gold, where as Rock at the Top is more of a yellow gold. The other two glitters that I love are Jazzy Jubilant and Set in Stones. Jazzy Jubilant is a glitter that I love pairing with Bahama Mama as the different coloured glitter compliments the shade perfectly. Set in Stones is similar to Rock at the Top and Summit of Style in terms of how there are different sized particles of glitter but it is just a silver glitter instead.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and thank you again to Courtney for letting me guest post on her blog.

What are your favourite Autumn and Winter nail polish colours.
Chloe
xoxo



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Nails #4

Sunday 27 September 2015

Typically, the day before i go into hospital, which is also a Sunday i managed to snap my nail. I was so annoyed as i really liked my other nails! I rang round all the nail salons and nowhere was open so thought i'd venture out a little bit further to the next town and thankfully they were open on a Sunday. Hallelujah!

She gave the nail i snapped a repair which only got £3 which was great! I had to choose a new colour as well as it wasn't my usual nail salon, i knew they wouldn't of had the same colour as before. Even though it's the middle of September and it's still too early for Autumnal shades, i went for an Autumnal shade. This is a deep red colour and i absolutely love it! It's such a beautiful colour! I asked the woman what i should get on my accent nail and she suggested a flower. I was a bit apprehensive as i wasn't sure if i'd like it, but i let her do it anyway and i'm so happy with it. I think nails are sexy but also quite classy too.

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OOTD: That 70's Show

Friday 25 September 2015


ASOS Burnt Orange High Neck Top (similar here)
H&M Black Skater Skirt (similar here
New Look Gold Circle Necklace (similar here)
Primark Gold Buckle Black Flats (similar here)
Primark Gold Statement Ring (similar here)
ASOS Gold Silver Stone Ring (similar here)
Makeup Revolution Lipstick in Vamp

This is one of my favourite outfits. I think this is a perfect outfit to be on trend this Autumn as 70's and boho styles are really in! You won't believe me, because i couldn't believe it either but i got this top in the ASOS sale at the end of Summer for £3! Yep, that's right, £3! How amazing is that! I was over the moon as i was looking for a top this shade that wasn't going to be too expensive for Autumn and when i found this little gem it went straight in my basket. This top actually has an open back from about the middle of the top down. I'm not showing you it in these photos because the top is tucked in so you won't actually see how it's meant to sit. I thought tucked into a skater skirt gave a really nice look where i feel cute, yet sophisticated. I love the high neck on this top as it's just an extra detail to an outfit which can really make a difference. To compliment the high neck i thought this gold retro style necklace would look good as it's got a circular bit instead of a chain.
I parted my hair done the middle and tied my hair in a loose ponytail so that bits of hair would fall out around my face and i really like the look it's given, my mum said it looked very hippie. I'm wearing a dark lip from Makeup Revolution, it's their black looking lipstick that comes out a dark purple, the link is above.


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OOTD: Figleaves Black & White Pjs

Wednesday 23 September 2015


I was recently contacted by someone at Figleaves asking if i would be interested in reviewing something from there A/W look book or new in nightwear range. I decided to pick something from there nightwear range as i thought it would be more appropriate to do an outfit post in than if i'd gone for the look book where it was lingerie. They had so many lovely pieces in both of the ranges, but in the photos above is what i was sold on. 

This pyjama set is amazing. It's so soft and is really comfortable. I actually asked for a size bigger as i wanted it to be oversized but i probably could of got my normal size to be honest. The pjs are black and there is white piping as you can see. The trousers are quite long on me even though i've pulled them up and i'm 5ft6 so bare that in mind if you're thinking of buying them. I'm not going to lie to you, these pyjamas aren't exactly cheap. It's £60 for the set, which is quite pricey.  You can definitely feel the difference between a pair of Primark pjs and these, the quality is a lot better and the material is a lot softer too. With these pjs i'm wearing a pair of these ballerina slipper things. They're grey & white checked with a little bow. They're so cute! I'm not wearing much makeup in these photos at all, just a bit of concealer, some mascara and a nude lip. This is also my hair taken out of a big top knot that it had been in for a couple of days. I did this because i thought it was silly to do an outfit post in pyjamas while wearing a full face of makeup, because obviously i wouldn't have that on when i went to bed. I thought keeping it natural was the way to go. 

Would you pay £60 for a pair of pyjamas?


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How To Shoot A Look In Under 30 Minutes

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Hello! My name is Kathryn and I blog over on Liquid Grain (www.liquidgrain.co.uk).  Thank you to the lovely Courtney for featuring this post on her blog! 
Today I’m going to give you a quick guide on how to shoot a look or your outfit of the day (OOTD) in under 30 minutes!
Over the past couple of years blogging has got a lot more “professional”, including the photographs used to showcase outfits.  Seriously, some of these shoots could be taken out of a magazine! 
I’ve been blogging for almost three years now and my outfit posts have really improved, so I thought I would share with you some of my Top Tips for wrapping up your shoot in less than half an hour.  Because not everyone is lucky enough to have help from a friend to take their photos I’ve also included tips when you are by yourself. 

Basic Tips
Get To Know Your Camera
This is a boring, pre-shoot aspect of taking your photos.  Try to learn as much about your camera as possible and switch off AUTO mode.  It will be a pain in the short term but worth it in the long term. 
Pick Your Location Wisely
Picking your location wisely will save you time on the day.  Pick a location where there will be no bright light on your face and post in front of a background which isn’t too busy.  
Have A Plan 
If you want to wrap your shoot up quickly have a plan for your shoot.  Before I shoot a look I know that the main photos I want for my final blog post is ¾ length (above but including the knee).  However I want full length photos, a close up of my face and sometimes a feature shot (jewellery, nails, shoes, etc.) 
Be Confident In Public
Don’t be shy shooting in public, no one will really notice as much as you think they will!  
Shoot in RAW format
If your camera has a RAW option, use it!  It makes it so much easier to edit. 
Use Natural Light 
Shooting in natural light is way more flattering.  Shooting more flattering photos will
speed up your photo shoot! 
Take Lots of Photos
Make sure you take loads of photos, so you have a good amount to pick from.  Trust me, this is a necessity for me as about a third of

When Someone Is Taking Your Photo
Let Them Know What To Shoot
Make sure you communicate with your photographer to let them know the kind of shots you are looking for.  Maybe show them some other blogs for some inspiration!
Don’t Stand Still
If you stand too still while you shoot you can look static and you will lack variety in your finished blog posts.  Mix up your poses every 10 seconds or so. 


When You Are Using A Tripod
Invest In A Sturdy Tripod
The last thing you want to put an expensive camera on is a cheap shaky tripod.  Look after your investment and spend a little on a good tripod! 
Practice Your Poses 
If you are working by yourself it is even more important to practice your poses at home.  Stand in front of a mirror and work it!  Figure out what works for you so you don’t waste time taking unflattering pictures.
Invest In A Remote 
If your camera will allow you to use a remote to take photos DEFINITELY buy one!  A remote is miles better than trying to use self-timer which can be awkward and time consuming- plus remotes are super cheap.  
Set Up A Screen And Check Yourself Out! 
Some cameras (usually Canons) will allow you to set up your phone or ipad as a screen to show you what the camera sees through the viewfinder.  This is really handy when you are shooting by yourself. 

I hope this guide has been useful for you and can cut down the time you spend shooting looks but still get awesome outfit photographs!  If you want to come and say hello to me on Liquid Grain, I would love to see you there! 


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Nails #3

Sunday 20 September 2015

I don't know when this post is going to go live as i'm going to be in hospital from the 14th September to the 2nd October so i may have already changed my nails, but here is a post about them anyways :)

I went for a kind of dusky pink colour for my nails as i thought i would be a nice transitional colour. I was thinking about going to a dark berry colour, but considering the weather can't make it's mind up, i didn't want to get Autumn/Winter nails if the sun is shining so i thought this was nice. The colour is really understated but i really like it. Of course i had to get something on the accent nail as i, like most girls love to have something different on that nail. I wanted to have a simple design and i really like the design the lady did for me. It's just lines crossing and i think it looks really sophisticated. I also asked for her to make my nails a bit more pointy, and she sure did, they were pretty sharp, these photos don't do it justice. I got my nails quite short and i actually wish i'd got them longer with the point as i think at the length they are makes my fingers look quite stubby as opposed to the elongated look i was going for.

What design would you get on the accent nail?

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5 Apps For Blogging

Friday 18 September 2015

Hey folks, my name is Liam, I'm a Digital and Technology Blogger. I've written the following blog to help out whilst Courtney is away.If you love apps and technology as much as I do, please join me over at Dragonfruit Digital, or you can follow me on Twitter @DragonfruitDigi.


Are you a blogger going to an event? Your smartphone may just be one of the most important tools to keep on you. With some laptops being too big and heavy to take out, and some tablets being difficult to take notes on without the aid of an additional keyboard, using your mobile may just be the easiest option. This is especially true when it comes to engaging with the online community around you, grabbing photos for later, or even making quick notes or edits for blogs your posting during the event. So because the smartphone is so important, here are 5 apps that you should have when you’re blogging at events. 

Wordpress / Blogger
This is one you may already have installed, if you like to look after your blog away from the computer. Whether you have a blog on Blogger or Wordpress, either of these two apps will do wonders for you. Even if you have a self-hosted blog that’s just powered by Wordpress, you can still log in to your blog through the app, allowing you to edit and create new posts on the go.
Whilst it’s still better to write your blogs on a computer, the apps is great for going over and fixing any small details, be it a typo that slipped you by, or perhaps adding in a relevant link where you may have missed one. The Blogger and Wordpress apps are perfect for the blogger who needs inside access to their blog whilst moving!

Evernote
Evernote is a digital notebook app which is absolutely fantastic, and one that I’ve used for over five years. After downloading the app, you download desktop/tablet versions to all your devices, and by signing in, you can have instant access to all your notes anywhere you go. What puts it above just using Word with OneDrive or Google Drive, is the option of including photos and even audio recordings with your notes. Evernote is the perfect tool for taking notes at events and conferences to use later on.

Scannable
Scannable is an app by Evernote which allows you to scan documents and keep a digital version for a later date. Be it an itinerary, a poster, a business card, or anything else with information on you might want to keep, as long as you can point your phones camera at it, you can keep an digital version of it safe and easy to access. 

Adobe Photoshop Express
Do you need to edit your photos, but have no access to your laptop? Adobe offer a free version of Photoshop which should allow you to make the edits you want quickly and easily. Whilst there’s not much room for in-depth photo editing, it gives you access to most of the basic stuff you’ll need, and for a free app, you can’t ask for much more than that.

Layout
Layout is an app by Instagram, which allows you to create amazing and interesting collages. Want to give your friends and followers a taste of what the event is like? Create a collage with your favourite photos from the day. Not only does this work great for Social Media, but the collages would also look great as part of a blog!


Whilst there are many more apps out there that can be a great aid when it comes to blogging on the go, I find these five to be real time savers, as well as great for creating interesting content to share. Do you have a favourite app that you always use at events? Post it in the comments below, as I always love to find new apps to play with.

Did you enjoy my post? If you did, be sure to check out my blog at Dragonfruit Digital, follow the blog on Bloglovin, or you can follow me personally on Twitter at @DragonfruitDigi.



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What's In My Hospital Bag

Tuesday 15 September 2015

By the time you're reading this i will already be in hospital so enjoy!
This is just another take on the "What's In My Bag' posts. I don't know if any of you will find this interesting or not, but i thought it'd be a nice post. 
I'm going into hospital for a 3 week rehabilitation stay due to my Ehlers Danlos. (you can find out more about Ehlers Danlos HERE). I'm nervous, but i'm also really looking forward to it because i'm really hoping it helps, because this whole being in pain malarky is not doing me any good! This isn't going to show all my clothes, wash bag etc, but this is the stuff that'll be next to bed and i'll be going in and out of a lot. So here's my What's In My Hospital Bag post :)

(Backpack: Primark)
This is going to be my bag for when i'm in hospital for all the bits & pieces that i want to keep near to me. This backpack is from Primark and i think it was £10. I actually really like this bag and it's a great size too! This bag is all black with gold hardware. There is a drawstring to pull the bag closed tightly and then the flap comes over and attaches to the rest of the bag by a popper. The two pockets you can see also have the same thing. I love the detailing on this bag. I don't really know how to describe it but it's kind of just like swirls. I think considering this bag was only a tenner, it is fantastic!

(Glasses: FCUK. The Game by Tom Wood Book: Sainsburys)
So as i'll be in hospital, there will be times when i won't be doing anything so i needed a good book to get stuck into. My mum gave me this book to read as she thought i would like it and after reading the back of it, i think i will. This book is about a hitman who ends up getting caught up with the CIA and then poses as a victim to identify the mans next mark which is a mission that takes him to Rome. In the end he has to make a choice, to do what's right, or to sacrifice the only thing he cares about, his life. That's more or less what the back says, so i hope you get kind of the jist of it. My mum bought it from Sainsburys so maybe try your local one if you're interested in buying it. I'm also taking my glasses to hospital, because i need them for reading.

(iPhone: AppleHeadphones: Apple. Charger: Tesco)
This ones a no brainer really, but of course i'm going to be taking my phone into hospital. I don't go anywhere without my phone, and i feel lost whenever i can't find it. With my phone, i'll obviously need my charger, especially with how rubbish iPhone batteries are! I'm going to take some headphones with me as well because usually just as i've got into bed i'll watch some YouTube videos so that i can sleep, and i don't want to disturb anyone so thought i should probably bring some along. My favourite YouTuber to watch at the moment is Gabby, also known as VelvetGh0st so i definitely recommend you go give her a watch!

(Simple Facial Wipes: BootsSimple Moisturiser: Boots. Tissues: Savers.)
I'm not going to be taking many skincare products into hospital. I'm only really just starting to get the hang of how to use the skincare items, what does what, etc. I thought it'd be good to take in some moisturiser though because i find that the air conditioning in hospitals really can dry your skin out. I'm going to be using the Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser which i hope lives up to it's name and will keep my face hydrated. I'm using this one because it's a smaller bottle than my Aveeno moisturiser which i use, and this one is also really good for sensitive skin which i have. As i won't be taking any skincare stuff i thought it best just to have some facial wipes just to refresh my face a bit, so the Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes are going to have to do. I used to use just baby wipes but i prefer these. I'm also going to be taking a pack of tissues with me because you never know when you're going to need a tissue. I had to buy these tissues because....MINIONS!

(Adult Colouring Book: WH Smith. Colouring Pencils: WH Smith.)
So these adult colouring books are all the rage at the moment so i thought i'd jump on the band wagon and get myself one. This one was £4.99 which i think is quite expensive so i hope i actually get a lot of use out of it. There are 64 designs in this book so i'm sure i'll find some nice ones to colour in and help me relax. For the bigger design i'll be using these colouring pencils. There are an 12 different coloured pencils which i think are more than enough. I'm looking forward to trying it out!


(Wreck This Journal: Waterstones. Rimmel X Kate Moss Nude Lipstick: Boots.)
My best friend recommended this book to me and i've actually wanted to try it out for ages. If you don't know what this is, it's a journal you basically wreck. You can go through it as quickly or as slowly as you want, but the whole point of it, is to completely wreck it. I can imagine it's actually going to be very therapeutic. I've had a flick through and it looks like it's going to be fun. Totally unrelated but also in this picture is this nude lipstick from Rimmel, i don't think i'm going to be taking any makeup into hospital, but i think a nude lip will be nice. I may change my mind and ask my mum to bring in some of my makeup but i think a nude lip will suffice to begin with. 

(Notepad: WH Smith. Pencil case: Tesco? Stabilo Fineliners: WH Smith.)
The reason there is a question mark next to where i bought this pencil case is because i can't remember exactly where it's from. I think it was from Tesco but i've had it for years so it could be wrong. This pencil case will be holding all my stationary stuff. Inside there is a rubber, sharpener, pen, pencil and these Stabilo Fineliners. I found these fineliners in my one of the drawers in my desk and was over the moon. To get a set they are nearly £20 in WH Smith! This is one of the big packs but i'm only showing you a few. Some of the pens in the pack were missing but that's fine. I'm taking a notepad because whenever i go away from home i always take one. This is incase i think of any blog ideas or have any thoughts i want to jot down or something like that. My best friend also recommended to me that everyday i should do a Peak and a Pit at the end of each day. So one negative thing and one good thing about the day which i'm hoping will be really helpful!

(Hoodie: Primark.)
Even though i probably didn't need a new one, i went and bought a hoodie. I reckon it'll get quite cold in the hospital so i'll be snuggling up in this. I got it in a size 20 as i wanted it to be really oversized and baggy so that i could get really cosy in it. It'll be perfect to wear if i'm feeling uncomfortable, cold, tired, etc. There are so many reasons why i bought it. I think it was about £7, but either way it's going to be under £10 as Primark are so reasonably priced.

(Dove Deodorant: Boots. Batiste Dry Shampoo. Boots. So...? Kiss me: Boots.)
These are just a few necessities that i'll be taking, for starters deodorant is a must. I use the Dove Invisible Dry Deodorant which is a roll on and it really does the job. It doesn't leave any marks on any clothes and i've used it for a couple of years now. For hair emergencies i will need dry shampoo. This is incase my hair decides to be greasy even though it was washed the day before. I'm taking this one because it's a lot more smaller than the normal size bottles. I wish they had a small bottle of the medium to dark brown hair shade because that would be a lot better. I love the So...? body sprays, this is one of my favourites and it's just a nice sweet scent but it's not overpowering. I'll be using a quick spritz of this before i start my day

After writing this post and looking at all the photos i have realised that i forgot to put my hairbrush in the bag. Such a rookie error. But this is just to let you all know that obviously i will be taking a hairbrush, probably my Lee Stafford one that i got from last years Bloggers Festival. Any other wash bits, such as toothbrush, shampoo etc will be in my other bag that has all my clothes.

Anyways, i hope you liked this post. Let me know if there is anything that you would take into hospital with you if you were going in that i haven't included!


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Jewellery Box Necklaces

Friday 11 September 2015

I was lucky enough to be contacted by the lovely people at Jewellery Box asking if i wanted to review a couple of products. I jumped at the chance because they have some beautiful pieces on their website. I picked out these two necklaces which are going to be a great addition to my jewellery collection. Out of all the different types of jewellery i could of chosen, i decided on these necklaces as i think i'd get more wear out of necklaces as opposed to any other item of jewellery.

This silver necklace is right up my street. It's very simple and delicate and i love pieces of jewellery like that. I also love that this necklace is very minimal, just a silver chain with a mirrored pendant. The chain is sturdy and the pendant is flat as opposed to rounded which i really like and to be honest i just think this necklace is really classy. This necklace is at a bargain price of £5 so if you're a fan, you have no reason not to get it!

This necklace is pretty self explanatory as to why i decided on it, my name begins with a C and i'm a sucker for things like this. Anything that has my initial or my name on, or even my birth month i just love! This gold 'C' necklace is in a really nice shape and it has a CZ crystal on it, which makes it so pretty! The chain on this necklace is a lot thinner than the one above but i think it makes it look more expensive so i guess i'll just have to be careful when i'm wearing it.

I absolutely adore both these necklaces and will get a lot of wear out of both of them! They are both really reasonably priced so if you're interested in buying either one of them, you can find the direct link to them at the top of each little review (in pink). There are some amazing pieces over on Jewellery Box so head over there to have a browse through. There is so much i want now, so i'll definitely be asking friends & family for something from there for Christmas. Thank you to Jewellery Box for allowing me to collaborate with you on this post.

Which necklace is your favourite?

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