November Week 3 - Mostly Shopping & Crafting

Lots to do at work this week as I decided it was time to give the office a good tidy up and have a bit of a clear up of all the clutter that is just laying about. I work with an all male team and as lovely as they are its sometimes like working with load of teenage boys - they make so much mess! I have sent out an email asking them to go through all the stuff that they have laying about so that it can either be binned or put/filed away. As I plan to give the office a really good clean before Christmas they had better get their acts together and sort their things out - if they don't it will all go into boxes and be stuck in the archive cupboard until they realize its missing. Its time for me to stop being so nice to them, they all need to learn its their responsibility to help keep the office clean and tidy too.

I got some new makeup this week from my favourite American beauty brand Tarte. Now you cant actually buy their products in any stores over here but you can get some of them online from QVC UK. I have been wanting to try the Rainforest of the Sea foundation for ages so when it popped up as a set with a dual ended blending brush and as an easy pay buy there was no way I was not making the purchase. Its now arrived and I am really looking forward to trying it out, as with all Tarte products the packaging is gorgeous and the brush is super soft. The foundation is a lightweight water based formula so its really hydrating on the skin but it manages to give you gorgeous full coverage without that heavy cakey look. Tarte products are suitable for everyone too as they are all dermatologically tested as well as being cruelty free and vegan friendly. If you are in the market for some new make up I really do recommend Tarte.

Saturday saw Tom back at work on overtime so I headed to Stratford Westfield to do a little more Christmas shopping. As my main destination was Primark I made sure I got there early enough to beat the crowds, sure enough the store was nice and quiet when I arrived so I was able to whizz around and get all the things I wanted. On the way home I couldn't resist going into the Disney store, its now less than one year till we go to Florida so I need to keep getting my fixes of all things Mickey and Minnie (I was very good and didn't buy anything!!). Talking of all things Disney have you see the fab new collection from Cath Kidston? There are some seriously lovey things available this time round and I am hoping that I might a few of them will find under the Christmas tree this year. The rest of the day was just spent pottering about at home, I made a lasagne for our dinner and then when Tom got home we just spent the evening chatting and watching tv.

Tom worked again on Sunday so I just spent the day at home. I had a little time in my craft room and I managed one layout which is pictured below, the image of Tom was taken in the Disney California Adventure Park. I have used a mix of papers but they are mostly from one of my Lottie Loves Paper kits. This page was a little of a push for me as its not a combination of colours I would normally use but I think it looks ok. Just need to add some journaling and a title (maybe) and then it will be ready to go in the album.

I also played with a couple of MDF stars that I got at Ally Pally and turned them into Christmas hanging decorations. I used some old papers from my stash which I coated with glitter mod podge before adding the tree and reindeer that I highlighted with some ice effects paste. I am quite happy with how they have tuned out, just need to find somewhere for them to go.

So here we are, its now Sunday evening and I am waiting for Tom to come home from work so we can have some dinner and sit and watch the Strictly Results show and Blue Planet 2. I hope that you have all had a great weekend too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane xx

My Review of the Decleor Hydrating Perfecting Collection

Morning all and Happy Saturday!

Today I thought I would share a post on some new Decelor products that I just treated myself too. As many of my regular readers will know I am something of a beauty and skincare junkie. I do love a new lippie or a lotion/potion, I could honestly spend hours in the beauty halls of a department store. To be honest I am a sales persons dream as it doesn't take much to part me from my cash where a beauty product is concerned! I started taking good care of my skin in my teens, and I remember that my Mum always had a product of some sort on her dressing table. Some of the very first products I used were Anne French cleansing milk and Delph lemon cleanser and toner, as far as I am aware neither of these brands are available anymore. I was very lucky not to suffer with acne or any other teen related skin problems and I really think this is down to the regimes that I followed and the fact that I never smoked when all my friends were. I can honestly say that even now I only get the odd breakout if I am ill, if I have not been sleeping too well or if my diet has been a bit rubbish. No matter how late it is or how sick I may feel I ALWAYS clean my face and remove any make-up before bed. Honestly ladies (and gents) beauty sleep is not a myth - clean and hydrate your skin before bed so it can breath and repair itself.

Over the years I have tried products from so many brands, some high end and some that you will find in your local supermarket. I first tried Decleor a couple of years ago when a friend gave me a set of mini products as a gift and straightaway I was hooked. The products are a mix of natures purest and most potent active ingredient's blended with essential oils to provide the highest quality aromatherapy skin and body care. They are not the cheapest of products but luckily they are available on QVC UK and are quite often on easy pay which means not only do you not have to pay in full up front but you also have the option to return the products if they don't suit you. Anyway last weekend Decelor was the QVC TSV and as I was looking to change up my skin and body care routines I though I would buy the 5 Piece Hydrating Perfecting Collection. The set consists of a Aroma Solution Prolagene Energizing Gel, Aroma Cleanse Toning Bath & Shower Gel, Hydra Floral Light Cream, Hydra Floral White Petal Skin Perfecting Concentrate and a Aromessence Neroli Balm.

Full Kit

Aroma Solution Prolagene Energising Gel (400ml Supersize)

This multi-purpose gel has been designed for use on both your face and body, to help revitalise and tone the look of your skin. Enriched with osmanthus absolute. I love this gel, it's so light and cooling and it doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky or tacky. This is definitely a great product for the Summer months although I can also see if being really useful in the Winter when the heating tends to make your skin quite dry and parched.

Aroma Cleanse Alguaromes Toning Shower & Bath Gel (400ml Supersize)

This invigorating wash helps to cleanse away impurities and leave your skin feeling fresh and energised. Contains essential oils of lemon and lavender, plus seaweed extract. The smell of this product is gorgeous and was so nice to use, left my skin feeling so clean and fresh. In the shower its a lovely and refreshing but in a hot bath the lavender really comes through to relax you.

Hydra Floral Light Cream (50ml Full Size)

A luxurious yet lightweight formula that encourages 24-hour hydration and protection, and works to leave your skin looking radiant. Infused with wild pansy and sapphire extract. As yet I can comment on this product as I haven't tried it yet, but it looks a nice texture and like all the other Decleor products it smells amazing.

Hydra Floral White Petal Skin Perfecting Concentrate (30ml Full Size)

A lightweight serum-gel which has been formulated to refine the look of your skin, and promote a brighter, more luminous complexion. Packed with sweet orange essential oil, pea extract, hyaluronic acid, chamomile and rosewater. I have only used this a couple of times but I already love, love, love it. Lightweight and non-greasy it makes my skin feel so soft and hydrated. This is going straight onto my re-buy list.

Aromessence Neroli Balm (15ml Full Size)

With a rich balmy texture, this treatment helps to hydrate and revive tired-looking skin. Formulated with essential oils of basil, camomile, neroli and tonka bean, plant oils, and waxes of avocado and hazelnuts. This is a product I have used before and is high up there on my list of holy grail products. I love to use this during the Winter months when the cold weather and central heating can play havoc with my skin. Its great to use all over as a night time treatment or just here and there on problem areas.

I would love to know how you care for your skin? Do you have any tried and tested products you love to use?

Thanks for stopping by, love and hugs...Jane xx

PS. Sorry for the poor quality of some of the pics, I am still getting to trips with the new camera!

** Disclaimer: The reviews I have given in this post are all my own and are 100% honest. I bought this kit with my own money and I haven't been paid to promote either QVC or Decleor.

A Beauty Bonanza

Evening everyone, hope you are all well tonight. It's Friday!! Yipee....

One of my other passions in life alongside crafting, shoes and bags is beauty and make up products. I am a real sucker for all sorts of lotions, potions, creams, lip glosses, palettes etc. My make up box is over flowing right now and although I don't really wear that much make up I do like to have a nice selection to choose from.

My current foundation is Hello Flawless from Benefit in the shade Champagne. Its gives a lovely even coverage without being too cakey or heavy and if I want to top it up during the day I use the Hello Flawless custom powder cover up in Beige (all the worlds my stage). I do like to have a couple of foundations on the go so I can swap colours and finishes so last weekend I took advantage of the QVC TSV and bought a set of products from Bare Minerals, a brand I have been wanting to try for ages. The kit arrived in double quick time and I started using it straight away - so far so good! The kit comprised of foundation primer, the original foundation in medium beige, concealer in summer bisque, original mineral veil, lip gloss in Moxie, a small sample sized bottle of night serum and a double ended foundation and concealer brush. Getting used to using a powder foundation will take a little getting used to but I really love the way it goes on so easily and the finish it gives.



Second purchase of the week was from Estee Lauder, which is my current skin care brand (and some make up thanks to the Christmas kit I got last year). My make up remover was running out so as John Lewis were offering a gift with purchase I bought a new bottle of Take it Away which removes all of your make up in one go, it leaves your skin feeling really clean, fresh and soft. To qualify for the gift I also treated myself to a double wear eye pencil in graphite grey. The gift set comprised of a pretty navy, pink and white make up bag, advanced repair night serum for face and eyes, daywear cream, perfectly clean foam cleanser, sumptuous lash mascara, long lasting creme lipstick in tea rose and pure colour gloss in mod poppy. I haven't had a chance to try and of these products yet but no doubt they wont disappoint.



Finally, and as I was at Westfield and it would have been rude not to pop in I bought myself a few bits in Victoria's Secret. I got a kabuki brush to use with my Benefit Hoola bronzer as well as the Bare Minerals foundation, a tin of Boost and Hold hairspray which smells divine and a little bottle of Pink Sun Kissed body spray. I love all the beauty and bath products in VS so was actually quite restrained in only buying three!!



Hope you all have something nice planned for the weekend, hubby and I are off to Wembley for the FA Cup semi final tomorrow - come on you Lions!! On Sunday I am off to Ally Pally for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show so hopefully I will be back with another post Sunday evening to share with you my craft purchases.

Thanks for stopping by, if you like my blog please leave me a comment and a link to your blog and I will pop by and do the same for you.

Love and hugs, Jane x x