Edinburgh and Haul.

Hiya guys! (Long post ahead)

So I've just got back from a weekend away in Edinburgh with my gorgeous boyfriend. It was a joint Christmas and Birthday present from him and we had an amazing time. We did quite a bit shopping and we also acted the tourist even though we've both been to Edinburgh many many times before. We went to the Zoo and we saw the Panda's. Absolutely adorable, but my boyfriend got very upset cos he doesn't really like zoos, we saw a couple of animals that looked totally demented and were just doing the same lap of their enclosure over and over again. We also went to the Dungeons. Now this is something I've wanted to do for YEARS, but never had the opportunity to, and after much nagging and fighting and crying on my behalf, Jack finally agreed to going to the Dungeons. And despite his initial "I don't want to go" stance, he absolutely loved it and had a brilliant time watching me get scared out of my wits. We had a brilliant time in there, I got picked out in one of the rooms by a girl who was the double of my boyfriend's ex, who proceeded to tell me I was her "favourite", which Jack and I found highly ironic since his ex hates my guts. Oh, and I even went on one of those tower drop rides. I was utterly terrified, having got it into my head it would just be a rollercoaster, oh how wrong could I be. It was a tower, I would say about the size of a house and I almost died looking at it, trying to get out the exit but boyfriend dear made me go on, and I'd just like to say how glad I am that I did, while I was absolutely terrified, the feeling of accomplishment afterwards was brilliant!

We spent a lot of time on Princes Street shopping, my boyfriend didn't buy anything but I think I spent enough for the both of us. I have left my camera in my dad's car so I won't be able to put photo's on today, but the photo's will come soon.

So before we went, I was packing and realised my foundation had ran out. I have used the same foundation since year ten, I absolutely couldn't fault it. It's the Max Factor Facefinity compact (I've just discovered that this is listed under powder in Boots website, as I couldn't remember the name of it, I've been using a powder as foundation for four years!) When I got into Boots, I came to the conclusion that I needed to try a liquid foundation, my boyfriend's parents bought me a makeup brush set for Christmas (a review of those are on my to do list) and I have found a use for every brush bar my foundation one. So I decided I needed a little look around at foundations and got my eye on the Max Factor Second Skin foundation. I'm very fair skinned however I had been using one of the darker shades in the Facefinity because I found it wasn't giving much colour/coverage (and now I know why). I bought it in 'Creamy Ivory' and thought "Well I better buy my usual one too in case this doesn't work out", as I've never had luck with liquid foundation. I've found out I needn't have bought the Facefinity too, this foundation is actually perfect. I got my boyfriend to make sure it was okay cos he's always honest with me in regard to how I look and he said it made my skin look nice and clear. Boots, and Superdrug, currently have a three for two offer on Max Factor so I thought 'Well I might as well get my free item' and picked out a little white eyeshadow. I've needed a white eyeshadow for a while, and this has become my favourite. I also needed travel toiletries because I decided trying to ram my massive shampoo and conditioner into my case when I'd already had to sit on it to force my boots in wasn't a good use of time. So I got a mini shampoo and some Charles Worthington conditioner and heat defence spray. Best two hair products I've bought since my Umberto Giannini volume boosting spray (again, review on my to do list). So with all my toiletries and makeup sorted, I was ready for the trip.

So my finds while in Edinburgh are:

Red and white striped top from Zara.

£3.99, reduced in the sale.

I can't remember how much this was meant to be but I got my eye on it and decided I needed it. I don't really wear many long sleeved tops but this is really nice, I've worn it with a skirt and heels and today I'm wearing it with my new joggers as I'm in bed suffering from the cold.

Cream cardigan with tan elbow patches from H&M

£12.99

Absolutely love this, it was something that caught my eye and after mooching around several shops I went back and bought it. I'm gonna wear it with jeans or a skirt and a vest top, or in the summer over a dress. It's dead comfortable and really cute.

Red spotty hairband, River Island

£6,00

I've been after something like this for a while. I got my eye on it on their website and decided it would look good with a particular outfit that I wear. The outfit itself is very plain, literally a white lace top with a black collar and black skinny jeans, with usually my black cardigan and flats, so I decided to invest in this nice bright hairband to brighten the outfit up. Upon seeing it, my dad ripped it out of me and my mam said I looked like a 'char lady'. My parents are soooo complimentary ;P

Grey cardigan, River Island

£20, reduced from £30

I got my eye on this cardigan the first night we were in Edinburgh. With the career I have in mind, I'm always looking for appropriate things to wear and get in my wardrobe ready for when I start teaching. I thought it was dead nice and chunky and it's the warmest thing ever, I wore it to university today and it helped keep me warm when I felt all shivery and ill.

Blue pencil skirt, River Island

£10 instead of £25

This skirt is my bargain of the year so far, I absolutely adore it. I thought it would go well in my teaching section of my wardrobe and I probably won't wear it till then, but I absolutely adored the colour and style, and at £10 I could hardly say no!

Cross earrings, Topshop

£4.00

I am slightly disappointed with this earrings. Looking at them in the shop, I thought they were just gold but when I got them home they had a pinkish tinge to the bottom of them. I've realised that's the style of them so I've just got on with it and wore them today. While the girls all said they were nice and I was just being daft, I can't shake not liking the pink bit. Hopefully they'll grow on me.

Purse, Topshop

£5.00, reduced from £10

My trusty purse from River Island is starting to give up the chase. I've had it less than a year and it has lasted longer than most of my purses. One of my best friends bought me a purse for my birthday and while I love it, I struggle to fit it into some of my smaller bags, so I decided to try and find a nice little purse and Topshop didn't let me down. I spotted this on my way to the till and decided I'd get it cos I loved the colours and the bow on the front. My boyfriend initially twisted his face ('Cath man what're you spending a tenner on a purse for when Beth just bought you one for your birthday' etc), but when I got to the till it was only £5.00! Result!

We got back from Edinburgh last night and today after my lecture this morning, my friends and I met for coffee (as usual) and then I went shopping with the lovely Laura for a bit, managing to pick up a few bits.

Grey joggers, New Look

£16.99

I've had the same joggers for four years now and was in dire need of a new pair. My old ones were mens from Primark and after the first wash they went all horrible and out of shape, but since I don't really wear joggers this wasn't an issue. However, I'm now getting more days in the house cos of my university timetable (I finish university for the week at 1pm on a Tuesday) and I don't really want to be wearing my nice stuff around the house, and when we were mooching around New Look, I spotted these joggers. They are so so comfortable and really warm, couldn't want anything more from them.

Bubble bar, Lush

£2.45

My boyfriend knows of my love for Lush products and for my birthday, he got me two baths bombs, Tisty Tosty and Sex Bomb (Both of these he bought cos of personal jokes, however he realised Tisty Tosty wasn't what he thought it was called, [Titsy Totsy].) Both were absolutely gorgeous and lovely and I did mean to review them but I forgot and used them. So I decided that since I'd used my last one up I'd get another one and when I use that I'll get another, etc. So I went into Lush and Laura pointed it out to me straight away. I can't remember what it's called but it's shaped like a mushroom and smells like vanilla. Can't wait to give it a try over the next week or so.

MUA Products, Superdrug

£1 each

I absolutely LOVE MUA products (or as my best friend called it today, Mooa) and having used their products for a while now, I decided it was time to get some more. I got a new blusher, since my old one is running out, in shade 4. It's quite peachy looking and just about the same shade as my old one. It looks really nice and I can't wait to move on to it when my old one runs out. I also got three lipsticks, in shades 14, 16 and 3. Shade 3 is a hot pink, shade 14 is nude and shade 16 is a sort of peachy colour (Slightly worried as when I got it home both my lipstick and my blusher are the same shade as my makeup bag. Which is an orange/peach colour). All three lipsticks look great and I'll be doing a review on my MUA items when I feel better, as I'm currently in bed drugged up on Beechams and paracetamol.

DVD, CEX

£8.00

If you know me, you'll know the one thing I love more than my boyfriend and Literature is theatre. I am literally the biggest theatre geek going, I've lost count of how many shows I've seen both in my hometown and in the West End. I LOVE THEATRE. And for my 16th, my brother bought me the 10th Anniversary Les Mis concert. Then for my 19th, he bought me the 25th Anniversary Les Mis concert. And today when Laura and I popped into CEX, I spotted 'The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Live At The Royal Albert Hall' for £8.00. Bargain, snapped it up straight away. However since I got home and put it in, I feel dead disappointed by it. I absolutely loved the film version released in 2004 with Emmy Rossum and Gerald Butler, but the lyrics aren't the same so far, the main songs are, but a couple have completely thrown me. However, it is all being made better by the stunning Ramin Karminloo, who plays Phantom. Underneath his makeup is a truly beautiful man with an amazing voice, so I suggest you go listen to him.

And that's it. That is my list of haul items complete! Sorry for such a long post, all the things I bought were so good and nice that I had to share it with all of you.

Xo

Another haul!

So I got paid earlier this week, and yet again I decided to splurge out on a few little pieces for my room.

My friend and I went into town today in order to catch up, cos the majority of the time now I'm with my boyfriend or at work, and it's getting increasingly hard to see my friends. So the bestie and I went into town, had a quick mooch around, I managed to pick up some paper for university cos my notepads ran out at the end of last term, and we popped into CEX, where I managed to spend £13.50 on three DVDs. I picked up Black Swan for £6 (I saw a copy that was £8, but luckily spotted the cheaper one behind it and got that instead), Little Nicky for £2.50 (This was mine and my little brother's favourite film when we were younger, and neither of us have seen it in YEARS, so I decided to be a fantastic sister and buy it for us), and I also got Life as We Know It for £5 (I'm dead excited to see it, I've wanted to watch it for ages but literally haven't been out to buy it!)

After we finished mooching about town, we decided to go to the shopping complex next to my friend's house. Naturally, the two of us decided to go for a KFC, cos we are actual fatties and needed an energy boost, so while we were stuffing our little faces, we had a right catch up. While in the shopping complex, my friend pointed out the little shops near the entrance and mentioned they did cheap chocolate. Now, naturally, being the girl that I am, I was straight in there. I spent less than a fiver and got a box of Milk Tray, a Terry's Chocolate Orange and a little bag of the Cadbury's Koko truffles, cos they're my favourites! We had a little wander around the shops for a while, before popping into the works. This was probably the best thing we did all day! I managed to pick up a book on Hauntings, because I absolutely love that sort of thing, anything ghosty/creepy/containing supernatural elements, and it was only £1.99, so I decided I needed it in my life. I also picked up some Tarot Cards and a book that pretty much says 'Tarot Cards for Dummies' so I will be giving those a whirl later on, that was £4.99. So for what was meant to be a nice girly catch up I did pretty well out of it.

While we were wandering, I mentioned my blog and how I needed a creative outlet sometimes, and that I also do write little stories to get rid of some of the creative energy. Laura reminded me of the play I originally wrote for my A Level drama piece that unfortunately didn't get used. I say unfortunately, but I honestly don't think I would have received such a high grade if we'd stuck with that particular piece. It was based on events that had taken place when I was at secondary school, and shock/horror, it was based on the occult and supernatural. And she got me thinking about maybe taking the play I wrote based upon it and transferring it into a novel format. So watch this space, my blog might not just be used for reviews/hauls/etc, but may become a place to try and show my stories. Let's see how it goes.

Xo