Boxing Day festivities

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas day whatever you got up to! I was so happy to spend time with my family. I haven't been home since the summer nearly six months ago so it's really been so nice for me to be back here and escape London life for a week.


Christmas Day was spent having a lie-in, eating lots of breakfast, and watching lots of films. We had a white Christmas here in the Midlands. Although it didn't snow, it's been below freezing since it snowed a couple of days ago so the snow has remained on the ground and rooftops, as has the rather pathetic excuse for a snowman my boyfriend and I made. My Mum was working so Christmas didn't start officially until she came home. We waited until she'd finished to open our presents, admittedly, the child in me found this a little difficult! The build-up to Christmas always seems a bigger deal than the day itself, and today it was hard to believe that Christmas is over for another year. I enjoyed today just as much, my brother and sister-in-law came over with their puppy Buster so with two dogs under the roof it felt like a full house hold. I brought my camera down with me but forgot my computer lead so I will have to wait until I get back to show you the photos, both of the dogs, and of my lovely pressies.

I really hope everyone has had as lovely time as I have. I'm now really looking forward to NYE and having a get together in London before the reality of returning to work kicks in!

Merry Christmas and a Giveaway!

It really doesn't seem that long ago since I did my 100 followers giveaway. I decided to do another since reaching 250 followers seems like a big milestone to me. Since I have been all over the Sleek Sparkle palette since it's release, and since it's Christmas time, I think a Sparkle palette is the perfect giveaway gift (sorry if you have it already!) so here's an opportunity to get hold of one.

I wrote a previous post about this palette and another post with a FOTD using the palette which you can check out if you want to see how pigmented and wonderful the colours are.

The giveaway is international so wherever you are in the world I will post it to you! The only requirement I ask is that you are over 18 years old, or if younger, you have parental permission to enter the giveaway. You must be willing to provide an address I can post the palette to via email.

Since this is a followers giveaway, you obviously have to be following my blog. To enter, please leave a comment below, and keeping it Christmassy, I want to know:

What is the thing you love most about Christmas time?

The winner will be picked randomly. For an additional entry to the contest and therefore a greater chance of winning, you may post a link to my giveaway on your own blog.

The giveaway will be open for one week, so you have until 31st December 2010, 17:00 GMT to leave your comment. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Beauty Product of the Month:December - Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

This has been my staple shower gel every winter time for about the last 3 years. It's a candy scented, glittery gel that lathers up really well in the shower. Don't be put off by the glittery bits though because they don't show on your skin! I think it might be a love it or hate it kind of product, because it is pretty strong and bordering on sickly sweet. I love Lush shower gels though because the scent really lingers on your skin unlike conventional shower gels where the scent tends to get washed away.
This is one of Lush's limited edition products that only gets released in the run up to Christmas. You can no longer buy it on their website, but if you're quick it should still be available in the Lush stores.

Happy New Year's ladies, hope everyone has an amazing evening. I'm off to Bristol for a change of scenery. I've always wanted to spend NYE in central London watching the fireworks at south bank but decided it's probably a bit too cold and overrated, and going out in London afterwards would be mega expensive, so I'm going to spend it somewhere not ridiculously overpriced!
See you in 2010.
xXx

Makeup Product of the month: December - Barry M Nail Paint, Racing Green

It’s not ideal, but since I forgot to bring my camera cable, I have had to make do with a stock photograph, apologies for that. I’ve chosen Barry M’s Racing Green Nail Paint (number 299) as this month’s make-up product of the month. I did blog about this product a while back, I bought it a while back, originally just to match my army girl outfit for my friend’s hen do. I didn’t own any green nail varnish, and had no reason to, green nails were, in my opinion, kind of ugly. Anyway, in search of a wearable green shade to complete my outfit, I reached for Barry M, knowing they offer the best range of different shades, almost every colour you could think of. There were some pretty vibrant, loud shades of green to choose from, but I went for Racing Green as it appeared the most wearable. I’d describe it as a classic, royal green. I’ve been sporting it a lot lately because it’s also a very festive colour, perfect for this time of year, as deep, dark colours always work in the winter. It's dark enough so that the colour isn't so in-your-face green.

This is one of the original, older nail paints, but the formulation is just as brilliant as the new ones. With a top coat this will easily last for 3 days chip free.

I'd just like to wish all my followers a very Happy Christmas, hope everyone's enjoying the holidays!

xXx

Christmas Wishlist....

So with Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to compile a little polyvore with my Christmas wishlist. Some of these things I may be lucky to get, but for now I think the Balenciaga bag is just a little out of my reach! How gorgeous is this raisin coloured bag though? Mmmm...one day!

Xmas wishlist by onyx86 featuring Hollister Co. jeans

Items in this set:
Perfume Bottle Vest, £16
Laguna Skinny Stretch, £50
Chanel - No.19 Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz, £78
Winter Wolves Snow Cold Graphic and Winter Wolves Snow Cold Image
Product Handbags - Top Handles - Giant Silver Pompon - Balenciaga

Lush Humperdink

Yesterday I went to Leicester for the day. It was a bit of a mission from London, I had to get up super early. I had to go though because I had a dress fitting for my best friend's wedding. Its' the first time I've ever been a bridesmaid so I'm quite excited. I met with my parents for lunch afterwards because it seemed silly to travel all that way, be really close to where they live and not see them. I wandered around the shops afterwards and because it's now properly cold in England, all I could think of was getting back in to my warm flat and taking a bath.

I love the range of Christmas goodies they have in Lush, and this year they've really gone all out with the selection of bath and shower goodies. I'm a little bit addicted to the Snow Fairy shower gel and have used it the last two winters (if there's still some left by spring I put it away!), but never tried any of the bubble bars or bath ballistics. The bubble bars are my personal favourite, a bath is just not the same without bubbles! I found this little one called Humperdink which is supposed to be a Christmas elf. I think they put the eyes on too low, but if you use your imagination you can kind of see it. This is also supposed to be special to Leicester but I checked on the Lush website and they have this exact bubble bar available on there but under the name Wee Harry. Anyway, this has a gorgeous cinamon and spice scent, very nice for the winter time, and very relaxing too. I only used a third of this bar and that was plenty. I think I will have to check back at Lush and try out some more of their Christmas goodies, especially a bit nearer the time to get me in the Christmas spirit.

I hope everyone's had a great weekend so far. I'm off to see Paranormal Activity later. :s I probably won't sleep tonight.