Neal's Yard Lengthening Black Mascara

Hello and Happy New Year! I can't believe I haven't blogged yet this year (what a strange thing to say) so today I decided to delve into the world of beauty. I rarely write beauty related posts, but I enjoy sharing them when I do, and today I wanted to talk about Neal's Yard's Lengthening Black Mascara, which I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas:

Thanks to its iconic blue packaging, you immediately know this is a Neal's Yard product - a neat branding trick, originally a result of practicality; blue glass stops light from damaging the products inside, a fact I learnt at a recent Leeds Neal's Yard blogging event. Ever since this event, I was intrigued by Neal's Yard's relatively new make up range and bookmarked this mascara to go on my wishlist. My eyes had been feeling particularly sensitive and I wanted to try a more natural mascara and see if this made a difference. Since I replaced my drugstore mascara with this, I have noticed a positive difference regarding the sensitivity of my eyes; just one of the reasons I love this product.

I love the sleek and chic packaging of this mascara, and the slim design is far more convenient to carry around as opposed to some chunkier, louder drugstore versions (I'm looking at you, Maybelline). However, my one criticism is that the case tends to show up my finger prints rather easily, which isn't ideal when photographing! 

The brush is slim and fine, which means that the mascara goes on easily without any clumping or mess. I think the end result is natural yet impressive as my lashes certainly look far longer, yet don't scream "I'm off clubbing!" As I've mentioned, the natural products within the mascara means that my eyelashes are protected, conditioned and nourished and it really feels kind on your face.

I wanted to share with you a proper example of this mascara at work. The photos aren't as perfect as I would have liked, but I don't see the point in beauty reviews without a proper demonstration of the product in action:

I hope you aren't too terrified by my eyes staring at you and can see the difference! I've only used the mascara, no eyeliner or shadow, so you can really see the product realistically. The Lengthening Black Mascara is £16, which seems to be pretty average for a higher-end product, and it certainly does the job well. If you are looking for a natural, nourishing mascara, I'd really recommend you give this mascara a try. 

Have you tried any Neal's Yard make-up products? What would you recommend from their range?

<3

xx

NYE with Whittard: G and Tea

Hello! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive some teas from Whittard, after they saw my Chilly Wishlist post. As soon as they arrived, I knew that I wanted to do something a little bit special with them for the Christmas season. As you may have guessed by the title, this involved adding some booze!

If you still aren't quite sure what you're drinking this New Year's Eve, how about my G and Tea cocktail?

You will need:

Apple and Elderflower Caffeine Free Fruit Infusion*

Gin (I used Heston's Earl Grey and Lemon Gin)

Elderflower Cordial (such as Bottlegreen)

Teapot for loose tea

Spirit Measure 

Slice of lemon

Cute teacups are optional (but adorable!)

1. First, brew your tea. It doesn't matter if you don't have a fancy loose tea teapot like I do, just use a normal pot and a tea strainer. Use a generous scoop per cup and leave to brew for as long as possible until cool. If needed, place the teapot in the fridge or freezer to ensure that the liquid is nice and cold. 

2. Add two shots of gin to a teacup, using your spirit measure (or, hey, just do it by eye, I'm not judging you!) Heston's Earl Grey and Lemon Gin from Waitrose is by far the smoothest and tastiest gin I have ever tried and really adds to the tea theme.

3. Add a splash of Elderflower Cordial, such as Bottlegreen, to add some more gorgeously sweet elderflower flavour.

4. Top up with your cooled Whittard Apple and Elderflower tea. I love this tea - it's smells delicious and tastes just as good. The combination is perfectly balanced and leaves you feeling refreshed and invigorated, thanks to the crisp apple and tangy elderflower. 

5. Add a slice of lemon and enjoy! To add some glamour to your New Year's Eve cocktail, why not add some Champagne for a little extra fizz? Or how about some apple or elderflower flavoured liquor for an extra kick?

What will you be drinking this New Year's Eve? Let me know if you give this cocktail a try, and if you personalise it in any way! Remeber to follow me via Bloglovin so you can keep an eye out for two more tea-themed cocktails coming your way soon.

<3

xx

DIY Christmas Wreath

It's getting rather Christmassy in our household, so today I wanted to share with you one of my yearly traditions - decorating our Christmas wreath:

You will need:

Christmas wreath base

Fir tree branches

Dried orange slices

Red berries

Ribbon
Large ribbon for bow

Scissors

I made the base of the wreath many years ago at a workshop in Wicken Fen, a local National Trust site. Using local willow and reeds, the wreath is both natural and sustainable and provides the base for my decorations. However, if you don't already have something similar, Martha Stewart explains how to make a Christmas wreath using wire as a base instead.

Once your base is ready, we can start the fun part - decorating. This year I decided to use a selection of fir branches from our Christmas tree, rosehip and other red berries, and dried fruit. To dry the fruit, I sliced some oranges and placed them on a wire rack. I then slowly dried them out in a preheated oven at just 80C for about two hours. I kept some of our fir branches left over from trimming our Christmas tree and collected my red berries whilst walking the dog.

First, I began to bulk up the wreath with my fir branches. I threaded the branches under my plaited reeds, which ensured they were kept secure. You could also use wire to keep the branches in place.

Then I began to add some colour with the berries and orange slices. I started with the orange slices by punching holes in each slice and threading it with gold ribbon, which I then tied onto the wreath. To finish off the ribbon, I curled the ends with the blade of the scissors.

I then added my red berries to the wreath by threading the twigs underneath the reeds and into the willow. I arranged them into bunches sporadically around the wreath to add some Christmassy red colour. Finally, I tied a bow on the top of the wreath, added some ribbon to use to hang on the front door and it was finished!

What do you think of my DIY Christmas wreath? Do you make your own or just buy one? I'd love to see your versions!

<3

xx