Getting back on the Blogging scene

Hi Guys!

Where to begin...it has been 10 months since I last posted anything on my blog! Mainly because I feel like my life has been so busy in the past year, I've had a change in my job role at work and more importantly my boyfriend and I have bought our first home together!!! (Still so exciting) And somewhere along the way I just couldn't find time to commit to my blog,

However I feel that I am much more settled now in my new home (will have to do some home wear posts soon eeek) So I want to really get back on the blogging scene - for me blogging is just a hobby and something to do in my spare time but I have a passion for it, my friends and family were saying they missed my blog posts (and if only for their enjoyment) I am going to try to get back into it!

Being realistic I am probably only going to manage 1 or 2 posts a week as working Full Time means that I'll only tend to my blog at the weekends (and some weeknight evenings) but as long as I have people telling me they enjoyed reading my blog then I will carry on! Another reason I miss blogging was the feeling of achievement when I posted something I took care and spent time over - I want to get back that feeling of confidence and pride with all my blog posts and even though it doesn't have many readers and followers I still write it all myself and take all the photos myself and I want to share it with as many people as possible.

Also I love the blogging community and I feel that with apps like Instagram and Snapchat you can share and express so much and it really feels like a little family - So with that in mind please follow my Instagram @emilyldn & Snapchat: emilyldn

I'd love to read some comments from blog writers who also just blog as a hobby and work full time in a completely different field - how do you juggle both? And do you have any tips?

I'm lookin forward to being back :) and sharing my posts with you.... But please remember this :

'Success is not the key to Happiness. 

Happiness is the key to Success. 

If you love what you're doing, you will be Successful' 

Much Love,
Emily x

Naked 3 Palette

I was lucky enough to be  bought my first ever Urban Decay palette for Christmas : Naked 3! Its safe to say I have fallen in love with it - the range of shades are rose-hued neutrals and each colour is stunning!

The first thing that I noticed was the beautiful sleek packaging (as I have not owned a naked palette I was very impressed). It comes packaged inside a beautiful box and then inside was the palette itself, a bronze coloured sturdy metal tin, it certainly felt robust and I can imagine it being great to take when travelling or on holidays. 

The tin itself contains 12 eye shadow colours and a large mirror in the lid - so handy! And also a brush to use to apply the shades..which I love (I am always misplacing my smaller eye shadow brushes so the fact this one sits inside is a bonus! 

The wow factor really is the beautiful range of colours inside, with a range of different finishes this palette is certainly versatile, from mattes, pearls and shimmery metallics - there really is something to suit anyone! The colours themselves are amazing, starting at a pale pink and ending in a dark matte black with red micro glitter  - I was very impressed with the shades as they are each different yet you could easily blend them together to create some beautiful smokey eye looks.

I have used this palette around 5 times now and I love how easy they apply, with little fallout, the colours blend together brilliantly and they are all very pigmented. I am now interested to try out some other Naked Palettes!

Love..

Emily ♥

The prettiest lipstick there is...

After a busy December I am happy to say I am back with a new blog post, hope you had a fab Christmas and New Year! In 2015 I hope to post more regularly (but with a full time job this can sometimes be a little tricky) Please stick with me though as I love reading and writing blogs..and hope you enjoy reading my posts..

So for a while I have been swooning over the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks, the packaging is simply stunning and I was lucky enough to have been bought one for Christmas by my boyfriend!
I was not disappointed when I unwrapped the gift to find the shiny gold case with the signature YSL logo engraved around the centre. I had the shade 29, Rose Opera which is a beautiful dusty pink colour.

(excuse the difference in lighting, the photo of me wearing the lipstick was taken in a different room and different day - it still reflects the colour well though)

As you can see - the packaging is stunning, it feels high end and I have to say it is the most beautifully designed lipstick I own - but at £25.00 per lipstick they are on the pricey side, that being said just look at it!?

The lipstick itself applied very smoothly and felt very moisturising, it is not a matte finish (which I am normally drawn to) but I loved the buttery feel, very conditioning on the lips. One downside is that it doesn't have the staying power of other brands like MAC, but it wouldn't stop me buying another.

I can see this shade suiting a range of skin tones too - it is very wearable, nice and pretty and would be a lovely colour for spring! 

All in all very happy to receive this present the only negative is that now I want to purchase more shades, hopefully if I have a spare £25 each month I can treat myself.

Love..

Emily ♥

NYX: Blogger of the Month Part 2

So as you may have read I was selected by NYX as their blogger of the month for December, they sent me 4 products and this my review of the two other fab products I was sent:


-Precious Pearls nail varnish in 'Black'
-Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 'Tea Rose'

I loved both products design and packaging, very simple yet sturdy, and it would look great in any make up collection! (Not the festive Baubles in the background - feeling very Christmassy now)

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 'Tea Rose'

Normally I do not reach for lip glosses very much, I generally prefer a matte look lip but on this occassion I had the oportunity to pick any shade form the lip gloss range, I selected Tea Rose, a  dusty pink shade.
Firstly I love the packaging and the cute bow print on the lid, I really am a sucker for pretty packaging, and this one ticks the box! It feels expensive and very durable to hold and use.
The product itself is described as 'combining high impact colors with lacquer to create unparalleled shine, it contains mineral and lanolin oils to hydrate and condition lips to protect the pout and is available in a dazzling array of shades'
I really loved the texture of the lip gloss, it applies evenly and smoothly and is not sticky or heavy on the lips, the shade is very wearable and can easily be worn alone or on top of a lipstick to add some shine. The colour is quite pigmented for a lipgloss. This mega Shine Lip Gloss really does deliver on shine, moisture and softness and gives lips a colour boost! I will definatly be purchasing more... and if you like lipglosses I urge you to check out the range!


Precious Pearls nail varnish in 'Black'

I had seen a lot of these 3D nail varnishes around - but as I have been wearing acrylic nails for quite a while now they had not appealed to me, after being sent this NYX 'Precious Pearls' I was intrigued to try it and see how it really looked.
I chose the black shade as I think it looks most sleek and would look nice for a night out. The kit comes with 2 bottles,  a black NYX nail varnish and a bottle of tiny 'pearls' (The pearl bottle also comes with a stopper to prevent you opening it up and loosing the balls all over the floor) - Another bonus the nail kit comes with a small funnel so you are able to put the 'excess' back in to the bottle.

The kit itself was easy to use, simply paint the all nails with the black polish and leave to dry, then re paint the nail you want to add the pearls to (normally the ring finger) , then sprinkle over the pearls and leave to set.

This nail look is definatly best worn for an evening or night out, as day to day wear the pearls wouldn't probably last very long.

Love..

Emily ♥

NYX: Blogger of the Month Part 1

After being selected as "NYX Blogger of the Month" for December – I was so thrilled and excited as I am a big fan of the brand! Also it is so nice to be recognised for my blog, I have not been doing it for very long and I am already so pleased with the look/style of it (it is like my baby) also being selected as NYX Blogger of the month is a huge compliment as I am a BIG fan of the brand...so first and foremost thank you to NYX!

 

As a brand I think NYX have got it just right and combine high quality with affordable 'drug store' prices, I also love the simple black and white packaging which you'll find on a lot of their products.
So once I had picked the colours and shades I wanted, I was eager to receive my products.
NYX sent me 4 products in total, 2 I will review below and 2 will be reviewed in another post at a later date.

The first two products I am going to review are:

• Smokey Eyeshadow palette
• Glam Liner Aqua Luxe in  shade ‘Glam Nude’

 

Smokey Eyeshadow palette

The Smokey eye-shadow palette consists of 6 stunning shades which are all fairly dark and very pigmented, they range from light frosted shades to shades which shimmer to more matte colours.

The Palette itself is described by NYX as being 'easy to apply and blend these 6 pigment packed powders will allow you to create an array of sexy, smoldering looks' - And I have to agree with them, as you can see from my photographs you will be able to create a range of looks with these colours, by either blending a few of them together or simply using the colours alone, it is a very universal palette to have in your collection - Definatly a must have palette, and at £8.00 it is very affordable.
Link here


Glam Liner Aqua Luxe in shade ‘Glam Nude’

This Glam Liner really appealed to me, and choosing a colour was a tricky decision, as there were 9 candy coloured shades to choose from. I opted for the 'glam nude' shade (a light gold champagne colour) as I thought it would be great for Christmas to add some sparkle to my eyes.  I love the thin black packaging it does feel expensive to hold, also the wand feels sturdy and nice to hold perfect for application.
I  have had 'glitter eye liners' in the past and never been impressed, they are always watery and not long lasting, but this is very pigmented and I swatched a little on my hand and within seconds it has dried and did not smudge when I touched it the gold shimmer of glitter is very eye catching, I am very impressed with the formula too as it glides on smoothly and did not flake at all!
This colour is rich bold and has the right amount of glitter to make this perfect for Christmas parties, and at £5.50 It is a fab price and I'm sure I will be purchasing more shades.
 Link here

Love..

Emily  ♥