I Wish Everyday was a Saturday

Weekends in London are a rarity for me as I usually escape to Rutland to be surrounded by sheep and cats. However, this weekend I have been lured to stay with the promise of gin and fun times in Clapham *whoop*

So what better way to spend a Saturday then a little bit of pampering and retail therapy (even though I am embarrassingly poor). 

My first stop with Chloe's Nail Spa, which through rigorous testing I believe is the best salon in town. Everyone in there are so lovely and the decor is very clean and chic. I had a pedicure, which lasted about an hour in a heavenly massage chair where I was fed constant green tea :) even more exciting is that a fabulous looking Milly Mackintosh was just chilling next to me!

Feet! 

Next up was the beauty and cosmetic hall in Peter Jones (I can't keep away for long). Got my favourite shampoo and conditioner brand Klorane, I originally discovered it when I was living in France and it very excited me when I found it in England. It has lots of lovely natural ingredients but still tailors for different hair types (I get the blonde version). 

Adding to my list is new favourite moisturiser from Eau Thermale Avène called Hydrance Optimale Légère. It's the perfect combination of light but moisturising and it doesn't set off my crazy sensitive skin. You might of guessed by now that I have a thing for French Pharmacy cosmetics!  

Lastly, I managed to get some free samples- anything that is free becoming 10 times more exciting! First up was some of the Diorskin Star, I have it in shade 020 -Light Beige but when I'm exercising my tanning habit I need a slightly darker colour.
Finally, Origins were giving out free samples of their new face mask from the Quarter Life Crisis range which is must say I am definitely going through! The mask is fantastic, my pores have shrunk and it gave me a really healthy glow. P.s they also do a great Serum. 

Smile 

Enjoy 

Charl 

x

Just Nipping off to St Moritz for the Weekend

I love being tanned, I wish I could be one of those wonderful people that can rock the pale-and-interesting look but if I accidentally skip the bronzer I look a bit dead.

So to maintain the illusion that I am some tanned goddess rather than a small pink blob I have to equip myself with the latest and greatest tanning products, and trust me I have loads! 

So I thought I could share my knowledge on which ones make you look all bronzed and gorgeous and not like an escaped oompa loompa (oh the days of Johnsons Holiday Skin - cue 100 orange zebra look-a-likes).

Face 

As I have a fragrance allergy I have be to super careful on what I put on my face, otherwise I won't be able to leave the house for a few days. 

However, the lovely people at Clarins came up with their magical tanning drops aka Self Tanning Radiance-Plus Gloden Glow Booster (a right mouthful!). This wondrous stuff turns your standard moisturiser into a made to measure facial tanner (1/2 drops = slightly tanned, 3/4 drops= a week on the med), I find it works great with my Origins Night-A-Mins night cream. P.s Clarins now does one for the body tooooo- Clarins Body Drops

No makeup bag would be complete without a good old bronzer and hands down my favourite is Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer. Yes, the price is a little scary but I have had mine for almost two years and it is so super worth it. Great for perking up your complexion as well a bit of nifty contouring a la Kimmy K. 

All my lovely products minus my Guerlain bronzer as it is too shabby!
L-R Clarins tanning drops, L'Oreal sublime bronzer, St Moritz and Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins

Body

I know there has been a massive hype about the new St Tropez shower bronzer but being very jobless at the moment means it is slightly out of budget. I normally just stick with its cheaper cousin St Moritz. Once only sold in bargain buckets and Savers, it has sky rocketed in popularity and is now available in most normal looking shops. The mousse is really easy to put on but I beg you, please use a mitt or you will look like you've been playing with marmite.

Another really great tanner is the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Tinted Gel which comes in both light and medium. This was an impulse buy when I looked a bit pale at work #naughty. The lasting power is epic, I put a layer on over the weekend and I am still looking golden and it's Thursday.

If for any special occasions that you want a spray tan then the best one I can recommend is Sienna-X. One of my girlfriends swears
 by it and she is forever brown, aren't you faz?! Only some salons will stock Sienna-X but if you live around SW London then there is a fabulous salon on the Northcote Road called All About the Girl which is actually owned by Gordon Ramsey's wife Tanya *fun fact*. Not only does it do tanning but a whole host of other treatments and the salon itself is beautiful, so go check it out. 

Enjoy
Charl
x

Moroccan Inspirations

As any of you that has met me or seen my Instagram page will know that I really do love to cook! I will normally offer to cook for a dinner party or come over and cook at friends houses, (so if you see me, maybe take advantage of this strange habit of mine!)

So recently, I have be trying to be really healthy so I'm experimenting with lots of different and rather exciting recipes, most of them originating from "Saturday Kitchen Live" I am a little obsessed with James Martin!

My new favourite week night dinner has a Moroccan theme and it is incredibly easy to make. This recipe will serve around 3 people

Lamb and Egg Tagine

Ingredients 

1 pack of Lamb mince 400g ish

Handful of flat leaf parsley 

Ground cumin (lots)

Paprika (lots)

Salt and pepper 

1 Onion

3 Cloves of garlic

2 Tins of tomatoes 

Tomato puree

5 Free ranged eggs 

Handful of coriander 

Flat bread and tzatziki to serve 

Method

• In large bowl put the lamb mince, half a bag of flat leaf parsley, a tablespoon of ground cumin and paprika and some salt and pepper
• Mix around and make them into meatballs
• Get a deep sides pan or tagine and heat up some olive oil - then add your meatballs and sear on all sides till brown and set aside 
• In the remaining oil and juices, put the chopped garlic, onion and more paprika and cumin and fry till soft. 
• Then add the tinned tomatoes (I use about a tin and half) and simmer for 15 minutes to make the sauce 
• When the sauce is done put the meatballs back in and simmer for another 3-4 minutes. 
• Lastly, crack all 5 eggs on top of the sauce making sure that they don't break. Put a lib on top of the pan to let the eggs cook for a couple of minutes
• Finally, sprinkle lots of chopped coriander on top and serve immediately with flat break and tzatziki 

Lamb and Egg Tagine Youtube Link

My very yummy but rather messy tagine

Enjoy

Charl 

x

Honey...I'm Home!

Why hello there! I am very sorry, it seems like I have fallen off the face of the earth for the last year and bit! Not too worry I'm back to fill your brains with lots of lovely little nuggets.

Right...where to start. Well during my departure I've been pretty busy. I worked in the very aggressive lettings market in Clapham at Marsh & Parsons, (wonderful company I may add). Since leaving in May, I have tried to crack the very exciting but rather impenetrable world of advertising but I'm not having much luck so far. Sooooo....if anyone has any lovely contacts that they would like to chuck over I would be incredibly grateful! 

Within all of this, I've experience Glastonbury and Ibiza for the first time #superfunbutterrifying, but I'll update you all about my maiden voyages! 

Enjoy

Charl

X

Products I'm Loving

Being the makeup/cosmetic magnet as most of you may know already, I am always getting excited about trying new products. Only last night I was a fascinated by my friends toner! (mental note made - buy the Dr Feelgood Range)!

Anyhoo...So there are a couple of products that I have been loving recently. 

First up is the Korres Lip Butter  in the colour Pomegranate. I've loved the Korres range for a while ever since I tried the White Tea Facial Fluid and the Wild Rose Facial Moisturiser. As I'v got a fragrance allergy the Korres range is particularly good because it's all natural. This lip balm goes on really smoothly and keeps my lips moisturised for hours, a massive bonus is that the colour is really pigmented. 

Next is the Benefit That Gal Primer. I never really wear that much face makeup as luckily I have pretty good skin - saying this I will blatantly get a tonne of spots tomorrow! But as I'v moved to London, my skin needs a little boost. The pinky tones cancels out dullness and gives a subtle glow, which looks really pretty. 

No makeup bag in my eyes is complete without a good bronzer and the one I'm using at the moment is the Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzer. This multi-tonal bronzer gives the perfect getaway glow without looking too orange/red or muddy. It's perfect for generally bronzing and contouring. 

Finally, after spending lots of my hard earner money on things to put on my face, I need something to take it all off! So I will now introduce my new favourite makeup remover...L'Oreal Micellar Solution. The beauty world has recently gone crazy over Micellar Solution and I think this one works perfectly for my skin and it's really affordable. It removes all my war paint and tones at the same time *bonus* - I want my evening routine to be a quick as possible (I'm really lazy!). 

So there you have it! 

Enjoy 

Charl 

X 

Un, Deux, Trois, Cat..Sank!

As I keep talking about my love for cats, I thought I might as well introduce you to my little clan! Their names are Archie, Tiger, Tilly and Freddie- the only awkward fact is that I have actually named my cats after what I want to name my future children, (apart from Tiger that it!). Can you imagine the confusion in the house?!

Well here they are...

This is Tiger, him and Tilly are twins, they're half Siamese and half tortoise shell and they are very beautiful! (Couldn't find Tilly for this post, she was hunting!). 

Next is Freddie. he still my little kitten and he's a pure bred Turkish Angora. He's only 6 months old. 

Such a camera hogger! 

Last but not least this is my original baby, Archie. This picture doesn't demonstrate how large he actually is- he's the size of a smallish dog! He's half Turkish Angora, half moggie. 

P.S. My shirt is from Topshop, you can still get the blue version - Topshop Heart Print Shirt

Enjoy

Charl

X

I Love a Good Blow...Dry!

After my third out of four interviews - I know busy week! I walked out the offices on Great Portland Street and I happened to walk past Percy and Reed West Salon and they had a offer on Blow Dries, and I thought it was time to treat myself. I popped in and within 5 minutes I was having my hair washed whilst drinking tea (epic multi-taking!). The lovely Amy was my stylist and I asked for volume and a nice wave and thats what I got, and at £19 thats cheaper then most places I have scouting out. 

There are only two Percy and Reed Salons, one in Great Portland Street, (West Salon) and the other is in Spitalfields, (East Salon). 
So if your looking for a lovely personal salon with exceptional service and your around one of those areas, or not! Then please give them a visit, they're great! 

Thanks Amy and Percy and Reed 

Here's my lovely blow-dried hair. 

And just to top of my lovely day the sunset in London was beautiful.

Enjoy 

Charl 

X

Suits You

Right, welcome to my self help guide on..wait for it...SUIT SHOPPING! I know, so terribly exciting- I can hardly hold the excitement in. Once graduating Uni there will be a time when someone actually offers you an interview and you need suitable attire, excuse the pun! This exact thing happen to me last week, so on Monday I embarked to Oxford Street to attempt to buy one.

Before I continue, does anyone actually know how hard it is to find a smart, stylish, affordable suit. If I wanted frump I would have popped to M&S! 

My first stop was Zara, though a safe bet for nice office wear, the prices were much higher then you would expect. From their Basic Range a blazer would have put me back around £45 and their really really basic one which, on the plus side, was a purse friendly £25 was so unflattering and unfitted. 

Next stop was H&M, on the whole a much better outlook but I still couldn't find something I liked. H&M's range is much larger then expected, with a good choice of blazers and trousers in all the usual colours. The only thing letting the suit wear down was the quality of the fabric. A little too shiny, stretchy and sorry to say a little cheap feeling. And yes I know, I shouldn't be fussy with a budget like mine, but still I was determined to find what I had envisaged  . 

My final stop was Topshop, the Flagship store, I know what you're thinking! Since this Topshop makes a labyrinth look like a walk in the park, I highjacked one of the trillion staff floating around and told her want I wanted, and off she went. Only to return 10 minutes later from the stock room with around 10 suit pieces. Of these I finally found myself a nice jacket and cigarette trousers *yay*! 

Here's me in my lovely new suit. 

Enjoy 

Charl 

X 

A Spot of Bother

Its official...my skin hates London! With all the coffin like tube journeys, (the Northern Line must be avoided at all costs!). The absurd amount of congestion and the inevitable invitation to after work drinks, (which ends up me returning home at 2 am) the skin has taken a slight battering.

Though not awful, it does looks a little dull and a bit spotty. So, it is time to bring out the Aspirin Mask! Probably best homemade facial mask for problem skin that I have come across, which only costs around £1 to make *bargain*. 

Method

1. Get 4-5 Aspirin tablets and crush with the back of a spoon till powdered.

2. Add a couple of drops of water to the powdered Aspirin to create a thick paste.

3. Apply liberally to skin and amuse yourself for 10-15 minutes. 

4. Wash off and voila better looking skin *winning*! 

5. Repeat next day if necessary. 

Why its Great

1. It's really cheap

2. The anti-immflamatory nature of the Aspirin takes the redness down.

3. Aspirin contains Salicylic Acid which is used in loads of skin cosmetics to treat skin imperfections such as spots and other blemishes. 

4. Bonus tip-> It makes your skin really soft. 

Welcome to my sexy Sunday face!

Enjoy

Charl

X

Putting Your Best Face Forward

As I am like a fly to a flame when it comes to new makeup on the market, I felt obliged to purchase the Bourjois Radience Healthy Mix Foundation and I wasn't left disappointed. As I have dry and very slightly combination skin I wanted something that gave me a glow and wasn't too heavy or visible on my face. To accompany my lovely new foundation I needed a new brush. I have had my eye on the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for a while now and when payday came *yay* an investment was made. It makes my foundation go on flawlessly and makes my skin look airbrushed (just what I need).

Heres the face. 

P.S. The cheekbones are provided by Fimstar Bronze & Glow- Charlotte Tilbury.

Enjoy
Charl
X

New Cath Kidston Makeup Bag

Bonjour! My very long suffering makeup bag died recently *sob* and so I was in search of a new one.  This happened as I was waltzing passed the Cath Kidston shop in Portobello road and I couldn't resist a sneak peak! I was like a child in a sweet shop, so some serious concentration was needed to just look for makeup bags.
As my obsession for bulk buying makeup has come a little out of control I needed a much larger bag. I went for something to keep all my facial enhancements nice and organised as I am usually very unorganised!

Cath Kidston 2-Fold Makeup Bag

Isn't it so pretty? I will talk about the contents in an upcoming post. 

Enjoy 

Charl 

X

Bad Blogger!

Hello! I am currently updating my blog because I have been very bad and not blogged in like a year! *slap of the wrist*. In the meantime I have been in France for a year, in the most fantabulous place called Morzine, ( please everyone go). I learnt to ski (yay!) and got promoted to a manager. I'm now back in currently sunny London on the elusive job hunt where I am actually telling employers that I WILL WORK for free! Crazy right?! SO all wish me luck and I promise to blog regularly.

Love Charl 

X

Long Time, No Blog

Hi everyone, sorry that I haven't blogged recently. Since my last blog, I have graduated....Yay! a 2.1 may I add, something which I never thought I could have achieved.

The main reason why I have resurfaced is to document my post uni gap year, (gap yaaahh daaaarlin'!)....and I'm doing a ski season. The main issue that I have faced myself with is that I have never skied/ seen snow out of England! So if I don't like it I'm screwed!

So you lovely people will get regular updates of my progress from novice to pro skier (I wish).

Love Charl

X

Living the Dream

Going out 5 nights in one week after exhausting yourself during dissertation, exams and revision is not ideal! Why do we do it? All out bodies want to do is sleep, rest and chill, but all we want to do is get obliterated on VERY cheap alcohol.

To finish off this crazy week, I went The Leeds Summer Ball, which was lovely, however it would have been even nicer if the heavens hadn't opened, making us all look like drowned rats. (Pretty drowned rats, I may add). 

So today I am nursing the mother of all 5 hangover, now thinking this is probably my first 5 day hangover. So in my deluded state I made lasagne for 7, don't ask! And resided back to bed at the ripe time of 1.15 pm....and here I still sit writing to all you lovely people, I feel a little needy today and want some sympathy!

Here is me before the alcohol looking quite respectable. 

And here is me afterwards....not looking as respectable! 

White Strapless Dress

Bright Pink MAC Lipstick in Impassioned

Enjoy

Charl X

An End to an End

The last 3 years of my life has finally come to an end....very sad times. I have now suddenly gone from a student to an unemployed alcoholic....good start to life!

Since last Friday I have drunk everyday, (my liver now hates me). All the time in the world to do everything so I have been filling my time with rather random activities, sunbathing, drinking (of course), went to the Ikley lido and Harrogate.

Here are some piccies

Love Charl

Xxx

Spring is springing

Hello all! Sorry for disappearing recently, Iv become a social recluse while I attempt to write the largest piece work of my life! It's slowly killing me!

March has hit with it all the lovely things that it brings, flowers, lambs and of course my birthday!

Well this morning in my slightly drunken state I took a lovely picture of spring in Leeds.

Enjoy

Charl X

Valentine's Day

Well as it being the week of Valentine's day and all I thought i'd let you know what I got up to!

FACT: A very large proportion of men don's give a shite about Valentine's day! My boyfriend included! 

So it is up to us girls to let them know how much we love this day! One day in the year where romance is celebrated, all the loved up girls get roses, chocolates and nice underwear, (if we're lucky!). While a majority of the single girls go on a manhunt, or spend it with friends celebrating their singleness! 

I had to seriously pester my boyfriend to buy me flowers, after much persuasion he bought me a single rose, which is must add was beautiful :) ....well done boyfriend! We have to train them like puppy's to remember to get us something small or at least remember that it is Valentine's day in the first place! My parents have been married 23 years and my Dad STILL forgets Valentine's day! 

Come on men! Its not like the date changes every year! Not like easter, come to think about it...when is easter? Now that is an confusing holiday, it bloody changes every year, we can never keep track of it! Here's a fun fact...the date of easter changes because it has to fit in with the timing of the full moons! Now how many of you knew that?! 

Right, I digress, as I love to bake, as many of you will soon know, what better way to celebrate Valentine's day then with a disgustingly large amount of heart shaped biscuits, nothing says "I love you" like unnecessary calories! 

Here's a piccy, recipe is very easy and if you add a little more vanilla they come out lovely, I'll add the link below. 

I did these for all my housemates, because any distraction from working is a good distraction. 

I was also very naughty and went shopping with all this imaginary money I have! 

Topshop has the most gorgeous colour palette at the moment; ice cream colours, peachy pinks, baby yellows and pale mints will brighten even the most drab wardrobe! So stock up girls. 

Not a great photo I do admit, but you can see the dress. 

For all the single ladies out there, Valentine's doesn't have to depressing. While I was out stuffing my face with South American food, my housemate had their very own PINK MEAL. 

Yes I said it, completely pink meal! Aided heavily by the addition of red food colouring to almost every component! 

This culinary masterpiece was the brainchild of none other then Miss Dorothy Spencer! 

She made heart shaped tartlets with red pesto and goat's cheese, PINK mash potato with sausages and PINK gravy, ending with PINK meringues, raspberries and PINK whipped cream....hope you can't over dose on food colouring! 

Don't they look great?! 

Biscuit Recipe

Pretty Pink Dress

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's day

Charl X 

Home Sweet Home

Home sweet home...home is where the heart is. What a lovely saying, for a 21 year old student, home is also the place where I don't have to cook my own meals, the fridge is full of food that I am actually allowed to eat and Im not scared to put the heating on!

All our lives we try as hard as we can to flee home, be independent  and live our own life away from our parents. 

However, once we are actually living these fantastically independent lives, home doesn't seem so bad. The creature comforts that we al secretly crave so much, complain a little and our mums will feel bad and come feed us and give us and give us a little sympathy! 

Well I went home recently and this is exactly what happened! Got fed with an inch of my life, was allowed to watch absurdly large amount of TV and pretty much just slob out for 4 days! Heaven if you ask me! 

As I live practically in a field and as it had been snowing, I thought id share with you guys what I woke up to every morning, it was an utterly beautiful sight. 

This was taken at 6 in the morning, pretty right?

 Snowy sunset

Baaaarrrrrr!

All these photos were taking by my Dad, he is a fabulous photographer! 

Enjoy 

Charl X 

Apricots, Do you dare?

I was reminded earlier by my dear friend Jossie, (above middle), of our loving relationship with apricots. O what lovely, shrivelled fruits they are, filled with all the good stuff that we are all told to eat more of. But warning you now, please eat them with caution. Not the actual process of eating but the amount!

We were all on a health kick, you know, drinking so much water that you need to pee every 10 minutes and only living on salad. 

Well kind, thoughtful Jossie thought that eating as many apricots as physically possible would be a great idea and that myself and Amelia (top left) should join in. So there we were eating an absurdly large amount of them, our boarding house must have thought we had gone mad! 

Roll on 2 hours later and the pain kicked in. Not the usual pain that a paracetamol will swiftly take away,  but the agonising pain that made us physically drop down and roll around on the floor! Thinking back to it now, it must have looked hilarious. 

So for 4 years I was tormented by these little withered things, couldn't bear to look at them, would almost go as far as saying I have been scarred for life! Cheers Joss! 

Well if any of you are brave enough to try these assumingly innocent fruits you may want to try this recipe for Apricot Cheesecake. 

Looks positively terrifying to me! 

Apricot Cheesecake Recipe

Charl X

I Want to be a Pretty Visitor

Since June 2011, my friends Beanie and Amelia has created their own online shop, which sells clothes to appeal to the likes of me and any other 20 something year old who wants to look good on a budget, (anyone else excited?!). 

The clothes range from gorgeous dresses, to cosy jumpers and everything in between. Their first collection, AW11, was received very well considering how small the business is. They stock clothes boutique lines such as Sugarhill, Rock N' Needle and Pretty Vacant.

So I thought I would proclaim to all you lovely people how amazing I think it is. Their SS12 collection should be coming around soon, so watch this space!

Grey Francine Lace Dress

Leather Top Dress

VIP Dress

Wave Dress

One Shoulder Dress

Evelyn Dress

Gem Birdie Jumper

Wolf Jumper

Aztec Top

Aztec Leggings

Skull Top

Please give me your thoughts

Charl X