A Creative Weekend ♥

Oh Hey! How be you? Everyone have a good bank holiday weekend? Apologies for the departure again, I've got a lot cracking on at the moment, such as I'm about to go on holiday, moving house, weight watchers and just got a new bunny! So sorry for that. I have got plenty of things to review and chinwag about before holiday! So, lets crack on.

This weekend was the last date to enter a competition I heard about, which was a Make Up one! I didn't really think I'd got a chance which is why I've left it so late, but I suppose you have to be in it to win it. I've got nothing to lose. So I thought I'd take a shot at it. I had to do a make up look under 'Beauty' and one under 'Fantasy'. Whenever I do anything like this, I borrow Ed's sisters face because she is perfect for it!

This was just a small section of the havoc created at the in laws to get the make up right!

So the first look I named 'Au Naturale'. I wanted to go for a simple look that accentuated Maria's natural beauty, and add a beauty spot for a bit of depth to the look. I just popped her hair in a bun to get that polished natural look, and this way, all the hair was out of her face. This is the natural look.

The next look was a 'Fantasy' one. I wanted to do something along the lines of Cleopatra meets alien - as weird as it is, I had the image in my head using turquoise and gold colours, and really hoped it came out right. I feel like it did turn out ok and I was pleased with the result, not for the competition but just for Maria and I as we got some nice pictures out of it anyway. It took a couple of hours but it was really enjoyable.

This look is named 'Unable To Identify', a take on UFO!

 So there we have it. If I could do that as a job everyday I'd be in my element! It isn't very often I get to do other people's make up, so it was good practice anyway!

Ciao for now XxX

BeDazzled: A Deep Peacock Smokey Eye Tutorial ♥

Oh Hai! Today I'm finally going to do my first make up tutorial kind of post. I have wanted to do one for ages but I never seem to have the time! However, Ed and I went out for a meal on a whim last night, so I only had about 15-20 minutes to get ready, which shows how quickly this look can be done. At the time, because I am a donut, I didn't realise I was going to turn it into a tutorial so I haven't taken step by step photos fail, but, there are only three main colours too it and it isn't too difficult so I Shall explain step by step.

Here is a piccy wiccy of the finished look.

It was inspired by a teal and purple top I wore that night, so I continued the look right up to my eyeballs, 'cuz that's how I roll. So to begin, aside from your usual foundation routine and blush/bronzer/setting routine, I'm only really 'tutorialing' (what a great word I have just made up, somebody call Oxford) the eye look here. Firstly you will need the MUA Palette in Undressed, using the shade 12 (see red arrow). This is a gorgeous grey shimmery colour, with a very slight blue undertone, a great starter for our smokey look!

You will also need the Poptastic Palette by MUA, using shade 1 and shade 7, which will give our Deep Peacock look it's pop of colour.

Other friends we will need in this tutorial are:

Any Eye Primer (I use a plain cheap lipbalm, it's amazeballs!), Nyx chubby eyestick in Cottage Cheese, MAC fluidline in Blacktrack, a couple of shadow/blending brushes (these are rubbishy old ones, but still do the trick), black kohl eyeliner - mine is by Peggy Sage but MUA do a great black for £1.00 which is in waiting for when I have finished this one, No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara, Maybelline Falsies Mascara, Fine Liner Brush, Urban Decay flat shader brush from Naked 1 palette. 

Obviously all the products here are optional, and can be adapted to something you have got at home!

Let's get to it!

Step 1: Prime the lids with your choice of primer, this will make the colour last and pop.

Step 2: Take a shadow brush, and shade 12 from the Undressed palette, and pack it all over the lids. (Don't worry about being too neat here).

Step 3: Take a clean blending shadow brush, and blend out the edges, so there are no harsh lines. Blend it up to just past the crease of your eye, but don't wing this grey shade out to the side very much.

Step 4: Take the turquoise shade 7 from the Poptastic palette, but don't load the brush heavily as this will put too much onto the eye. The key to this look is graduate and blend blend BLEND! Put this colour on the outer corner and above the crease. Keep dipping the brush in the palette and blending it out until there is a bold colour, but a soft gradient outwards. You can also wing this out towards the last point of your brow.

Step 5: Take the purple shade 1 from the Poptastic Palette, and take that over the grey beginning at the inner corner, towards the middle of the eyelid - but leaving a little of the grey colour still showing in the middle. Take a clean blending brush, and continuously blend until you are happy that it's smokiiinnnn'! With the flat shader brush, bring a little of the grey under the eye, the purple on the lower inner corner and the green on the outer, and blend out. This really makes a difference to a smokey eye.

Step 6: For added definition add a light shimmer highlight colour to beneath the brow bone, this also gives the edges of the gradient something to blend into to complete the look. I used a random off white shimmer colour from a palette I had in Cyprus, but any will do! Also, take the Nyx Jumbo stick in Cottage cheese, and pop some in the Inner Corners. Light will hit this and give the illusion of widened eyes.

Step 7: Take some gel liner, or whatever you are comfortable with using, and line close to the lashes with a fine brush. I haven't winged mine out, as it may be too much, but if you want to go on all out there, feel free! Bring what's left on the brush close to the lower lashes for subtle definition. Take a kohl pencil, and line the waterline.

Step 8: Use your favourite mascara to create volume and flare to the lashes. I use the No7 Definition mascara to give me the look of more lashes with no clumps, and then Maybelline Falsies Flared to add length and volume. You can also add false lashes here, I just didn't have time!

Step 9: Finish the rest of your usual make up, adding a subtle lipgloss or nude lipstick. I used MUA love hearts lip balm in 'Sugar Lip's', as with such a heavy eye you don't want a garish colour to clash with it. The lip balm just give's a nice gloss, and a nice finish to the look.

And you are done! A lot of reading I know, but at least it's always here if you fancy having a go. Let me know what you think of the look! What are your favourite eye looks at the moment? Do you love the MUA palettes? I do!

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished look!

 I'm not as moody as I look here, honest! Haha!

Ciao For now! xXx

Previous Week Update ♥

Hello Everyone! Hope you are all well, it's been a while. I have been doing all sorts over the last week with the Jubilee and going down to London etc, which is why I haven't been continuously blogging. However I am back, and although this post isn't beauty related, I'm just going to put it up anyway, and that should be it for non beauty posts this week!

I went down to see my Grandad in London this week, who is a Chelsea Pensioner. Once a year Founders Day happens at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and it's a big old bash with a parade. Read more about it HERE. It is a special event where a member of the Royal family comes to the Hospital and reviews each in-pensioner. I felt really grateful to be able to attend such an event, and here are a few pictures of my time there.

My Grandad and I...I don't think he was expecting a picture somehow!

This was on the actual Founders Day, with some of my family.

Me and my Dad thinking he's a dude with his shades on!

Nails for the day (slightly beauty related =D )

Beginning of the Parade with Chelsea Pensioners, Sergeant Majors and Generals. 

Royal Family - Sophie Countess of Wessex.

My Dad and Grandad.

Me and my Grandad.

Quick snap of the London Eye while I was in a taxi!

So it was a nice few days and something different to do. It was a great experience and hope to go back with Ed next year. He couldn't come this year, so as a nice surprise he booked a night away at Coombe Abbey Hotel, which is one of my favourite places to go ever! He really is so sweet! The food is to die for and the rooms are amazing! What a treat! It was a lovely end to the week, and then we went shopping in Birmingham and took Peanut to the vets for a check up. So it was a busy busy week, but a good one. 

So that was a different blog, slightly picture heavy but never mind, I actually prefer blogs that are because I love looking at images!

Ciao for now XxX

Beauty UK Birmingham NEC 2012 ♥

Howdy! Hope you are all well! As you may or may not know, I took a little venture to the NEC in Birmingham this weekend to the Beauty UK show. I had been once before a few years ago, but never really knew much of what I was on about then. Now I am so into make up and beauty, that I was unbelievably excited to go, and see what they had to offer.

Beauty UK is a trade only show, but if you register and put down what you do, it enables you free ticket entry into the show OR you can go on the day and pay ten pounds. I don't think they are too fussed about whether you have a company or not - at the end of the day they want to sell their products. It is more targeted at salons, and spas, but there are a few goodies for the general public like me! This year we found it was very much nail art based, as opposed to make up, which is OK because I am getting more and more into nail colours and I wanted to get me some O.P.I! And so I did.

These are the nail varnishes I picked up which are:

* Liquid Crystal - China Glaze *I'm not Lion - China Glaze * Servin' Up Sparkle - OPI * Significant Other Colour - OPI * Sure Shot - Essie

I LOVE all of these colours, and after I saw Louise's video on Sprinkle of Glitter with the Essie polish on it, I instantly loved it and so it was sold to moi! I think my fave out of all of them has to be Significant Other Colour which is the lilac duotone from OPI, it is stunning!

Significant Other Colour on the nails, with Servin' Up Sparkle on the accent nail. Sorry about the little claw thing going on here, dunno what that is all about! But hey ho, you get the idea!

I was also pretty excited for NYX too, as you can't get many of their products easily here in the UK so I made sure I got some! You can order online HERE but I hate paying for shipping because it just annoys me!

Firstly there are two Striper Polishes which aren't NYX but I just happened to photograph it all together. They are from a brand called Stripe Rite and they are the really thin brushes for nail art detail, and I got those in a Purple glitter and a gold, those were 99p!

For the NYX products then, I got 4 of the jumbo eye pencils in 'Cottage Cheese' (what a name, urgh!), 'Purple', 'Pacific' and 'Peacock'. I've never used any NYX products before so I will be sure to review them on a Thursday Thoughties post soon! Then there is the Matte Lipstick in 'Shocking Pink', a roll on shimmer in 'Purple', a lipgloss in 'Dolly Pink', Glitter powder in 'Luxurious Lavender', Cream blush in 'Hot Pink' and a Concealer in a jar in 'Light'. Phewwww take a breath! 

Check out the coolio China Glaze bag too! Although it is a more nail orientated show, I really do recommend trying to get tickets because it is free, and is a nice day out - maybe not for your purse though, certainly not for mine!

Lastly, just a few pieces from Peggy Sage. I had not heard of this brand before, but a lot of people were at it so I thought I might as well try a few bits. I got a new lip brush and a new liner brush as I was in need of those, a black eyeliner and a bright pink lip liner to go with the NYX lippy that I purchased. Then my friend Sarah who I was with spotted these gorgeous nail stickers with the Eiffel tower on! I'm mad about anything Eiffel tower, so these are perfect! She's a good'un! 

Finally, this is the make up I wore for the day! I'm not going to go into too much detail because I think I have bored you for long enough! But if you would like a post on what I used and how to do it, just let me know!

I also documented the day by video, so click play if you want to see more. It is super shaky so sorry about that, but maybe better than nout!

Did any of you go to Beauty UK? Or would you fancy going next year? Tell me your thoughts!

Ciao for now XxX

Trip to Cyprus ♥

Greetings! I Hope you are doing diddly dandy! What a week. I am going to have to split it into two posts so as not to bore you! I will warn you that these are going to be picture heavy, but I like to look at pictures so you might do too. Firstly I am going to waffle on to you about our holiday to Cyprus. Not to make you well-jel or anything...but just to share our experience! 

This is a little picture of the make up and nails I did for the journey! I went for a coral look, especially as coral nails look fab when you have a bit of a tan! So this is Models own nail polish in Tropical Sun...I think it  is called, available at boots. Eyebrows are MUA matte brown in shade 19, available in Superdrug, and my lips are a number 17 lipstick, in lasting fix Hot Chilli. It really does last quite well, and they aren't too expensive! One of my favourite corals.

Waiting to board the plane, I grabbed these amazing sunnies from Claires at the airport, they are a great match for my hair! Also, Monarch give you these fit to fly tags for your hand luggage! Me likey. I also forgot to mention I got full body searched through security, as I always do, because I have ears full of metal with 9 piercings, 2 in my belly and then I had a big chain necklace on and set the bleepers off =/  I am an idiot. I just walk through with my arms out ready now!

On our plane, a woman decided to neck back neat vodka from a bottle she bought at the Duty Free. As you can imagine, always fun when you are confined at 30,000 feet. She kicked off and luckily we were at the back of the plane, but she ended up punching a passenger and pulling an air hostess' hair! We had to wait for the police to arrive when we landed before we got off the plane. This was about 11pm. Then, we had a transfer from the airport to our hotel in a little minibus, which to our suprise, also was to carry the drunk woman to her hotel. Unfortunately, Mr Cypriot minibus driver didn't believe us, and so didn't leave the airport until an hour later without her.

At 12.30am, we arrived at our apartments. We checked in, got our keys and headed up. It looked a nice enough place, until we went in. Long story short, electrical wires over the floor, bathroom full of dust and grime, unsafe cooking equipment, and last but not least a smoke alarm which intermittently bleeped every 10 seconds. You pay all that money and get all these extras for free! Hmm...not extras we would prefer to be honest. So after trying to fight the annoyance of the smoke alarm, we gave up, packed up and headed to reception to ask for a room move. They moved us to the one underneath, which was exactly the same but you could hear even more bleeps down the corridor! We just couldn't stand it, so at now 1am, we ventured to the hotel next door which was a large complex, as our reception had locked up and gone home! So no security either!

The manager at the new hotel gave us a lovely room with a view, so we went and took our cases, unfortunately had to pay for a whole other week, but at least we were happy. We checked out of the rubbish one the next day! This is what we could see from our window now. =)

Just a little poster that amused me...

The first day was sunny and overcast so I didn't think I needed any sun cream...I was incorrect.

It was pretty rainy for a couple of days then it brightened up towards the end of the week, so it was cocktails all round!

As it was easter when we went, they had these huge plastic bunnies and eggs all around the roads! Very different to the UK!

A Praying Mantis. I don't think I had seen one before, but someone had trodden on his leg =( poor thing, so I was trying to help him into some safer bushes. Good deed for the day!

Ed and his mammoth Pitta Kebab!

One of the nights out to eat. Liner is the usual Fluidline in blacktrack from MAC, and the lipstick is the MAC Chenman range in Force of Love, with matching Lipglass.

Finally, I gathered up the guts to Parasail while I was there! It was a great experience, really relaxing actually! Just gliding smoothly over the sea as you do! I was a bit hesitant and nervous at first, but my inner adrenaline junkie always gets the better of me, and I am really glad it does. Experiences like this make me feel glad I am alive!

Which gracefully brings me on to my next blog which shall be up very soon, about my Skydive!!!

Thanks for reading guys, sorry for the waffle!

Ciao for now XxXx

Skydive and general updates! ♥

Hey Everyone! Long time no type. I haven't blogged for a little while, as there hasn't been much to really blog about I suppose. But now I have a few things to tell you about, which may be boring but oh well, I'm putting it out there!

FIRST and certainly foremost, I am STILL SKYDIVING! Wehey!!! I am so excited. A few posts back there was a long, dreary, moany one where I had put that I couldn't be accepted to do it due to my weight. I was hugely disappointed and massively upset that being so careless about what's passing my gob, that it had stopped me doing the thing that is at the top of my bucket list. HOWEVER, firstly they were 'uhming' and 'aahing' whether to accept me, and then they said on the day, if I can prove I can lift up my legs when landing, then I'm all set and ready to go. I really was going to save myself the embarrassment and not bother anyway, but since the 27th of Feb, I have been watching what I am eating. 

With the help of My Fitness Pal Iphone App, a little bit of Mrs Willpower, and a bit less of Mr Cake, I'm getting there. I am sticking to 1200 calories a day, and I began at the horrendous weight of 15st 1.6lbs. Now, after just two weeks, I weigh in at 14st 5.6lbs, so a total loss of around 10lbs! I can't believe it really, I had to double check my scales by checking on the Wii and that also agreed. So it really does work, however I don't know how long for. I am finding it pretty easy, and I would really love to get down to a flat 14 stone for the dive, which on the whole, doesn't seem too much of a hard goal really.

SO on to the IMPORTANT STUFF!

I have a charity web page set up that any donations can be made over the web, and can be forwarded straight to the charity. It is for the British Heart Foundation, in memory of my cousin Paul who sadly passed away in his twenties. To give to this great cause, and to make jumping out of a plane at 13000 feet worth while, please CLICK BELOW!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Tillyskydive 

Thank you so much, it is appreciated more than you know!

Just to keep you updated with the blue crew, here are some recent random piccies!

This is me, my sister-in-law to be on her 17th Birthday, and her cousin Lucy <3

Here is Maria and I, with (GUILT FREE) Chocolate Shape puddings! We are a bit special.

Some make up looks I have been sporting lately! Grey/Navy Smokey Eye!

Natural look with black gel liner. (Maybe not so natural with turquoise hair...)

Light pink/Nude eyeshadow from the Naked pallette.

There's a Chinchilla!

Once again thanks so much for reading my rabble and it really would be great if you could donate, any amount helps and is going to a really great cause!

Thank You XxXxXx Ciao for now! XxXxXx

Weekend Antics ♥

Again, it's been a while, and I am still yet to do some beauty blogging! Forgive me, it hasn't been the top of my priority list, but I sure am going to try! 

So, onto the subject...As I mentioned previously if you have read my blog before this, you would know that I went to Cambridge over the weekend to see Marina and the Diamonds. I went with my other half Ed, his sister Maria and her boyfriend Jonny. It is the second time we have seen her and I think she was even better than the first time. It was a really good gig, and with good company we had a great laugh. 

Here is Marina herself! Sorry it is bad quality, it was hard to focus on her as she moves around a lot.

We checked into the hotel just before we went over to the gig, but as we were filling in the registration card, we realised Ed had forgotten our case! No clothes, make up, brush, toothbrush or anything! It wasn't great but we managed to get a toothbrush from the hotel but with everything else missing, I wasn't a pretty sight in the morning! Here was just a little instagram of my croissant in the morning, and I liked the napkins!

Add me on instagram: @untilimdazzled  see you there =)

This is Jonny and Ed. They are like tweedledum and tweedledee when they are together. Bless 'em.

So then we came back on the Saturday, and I decided to get my hair cut! I haven't had it cut in over a year. The hairdresser was telling me off for the state of it after all the bleaching and dying, and it was in such bad condition he ran his hand through it and it all broke off! I had a good two inches off, which I think has helped the condition massively. So here are some proper pictures. I decided to have a more 'glam' blow dry, I quite like it all bouncy, but it takes ages to do so I doubt I can recreate it anytime soon. Hopefully I am still pulling the blue off without looking like a real weirdo! But it's my favourite colour so I love it really! 

So that is that I guess. Nothing else interesting. There is a video to put up on this blog, I've just got to piece it together, so check back soon!

Ciao for now XxxX