Make up, nails n stuff! ♥

Hey everyone! So I thought I would just do a little update again with what has been crackalacking! Ed & I are off to the lake district tonight which is a lovely picturesque part of the UK, and covered in lakes! (If you hadn't already guessed...) So we have been before to this particular hotel, but it was only on business last time. We liked it so much we thought it would be nice to spend the weekend there for Eds birthday tomorrow, so we can have a little relax and an explore. Then we go to Cyprus 2 weeks today! Woohoo I'm excited, so much going on! 

So firstly, I have FINALLY bought a 120 palette. Something I am sure you have all seen before, but it has taken me years to get on the bandwagon! I don't know why really just haven't bothered, but I am glad I did now! It did take the mickey to come as it is from China, almost 3 weeks! But it was worth the wait. If you just type into Ebay '120 palette' they all come up. Usually they set you back about £10 - £15, but I quickly jumped in on a bid only one and got it for £7 with postage, so keep your eye open for a bargain! 

Sorry about the shocking picture, it was just a quick one to send to my Mom! The colours are wickedly pigmented, and I think it is going to last me rather a long time!

We went for a curry with Eds Mom and Dad for Eds birthday as we won't be here, so I thought I would try the palette out. Here I am wearing a very light lemony nude shade, applied firstly all over the lid. (After applying primer), then if you can see the blue patches on my top, I matched that to the nearest blue on the palette, and put that on the outer corners and crease. To define it a little more, I went in with a darker turquoise shade (a little like my hair colour), and further defined the crease, and super blended it all. I quite like these colours together, nice and springy! Earrings £2, Necklace £4, Shrug top £8 all from Primark. On the lips, George ASDA nude lip liner £4, and MAC Hue over the top £13.50.

Again sorry for the poor quality of the picture, but we were zooming really quick out to the cinema to see the Hunger Games!! I thought I would do a really quick 5 minute Katniss Everdeen inspired look - not exact, but how I liked it! I did a messy side plait as she has it, thick black winged liner (Blacktrack fluidline from MAC £16.00), mascara (MUA curved mascara £3.00) and Hue from MAC on the lips (£13.50). I thought the film was absolutely amazing and the second one can't come quickly enough!

So for tonights Lake District adventure, I have done my nails ready for the weekend. I decided to do a graduated glitter nail, because they always look pretty cool, especially when I have my fakies on. Fake nails are 200 pack from Boots (£8.00), my holy grail fake nails! Polishes are both from Primark and come in sets of four (not these colours together though), and the sets are £2.00 each. They are great quality varnishes and the blue is a one coat wonder! To graduate glitter, start about a quarter way up from the cuticle to the tip, then let it dry. When dry start a little bit further up, let dry etc etc you get the drift! If its a holographic glitter like this, try and get most of the larger glitter pieces towards the nail tips, it may be fiddly but gets a much better graduated look! Finish up with some Sally Hansen Diamond Shine nail hardener (£10.00) - not really a top coat but works wonders for me! 

So there you have it! Do you have any good nail designs to try? I would love to see!

Thanks for reading and I'll post some piccies when we return! 

Ciao for Now xXx

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

Vivo at Tesco ♥

Calling all fellow bargain beauty hunters! A little treat for you! I had been hearing along the ever-growing grapevine about the new Vivo make up range in Tesco, and thought I would give it a go myself. I have 2 Tesco stores near me, and this was only available in the one so I think it is available in selected larger Tesco stores. SO here it is. I got 5 different things across the range to try out just to see if I like it first. I cannot remember the exact prices, but everything is under a tenner, which I think is great value. At the back of the picture is the baked bronzer which I think is around £4, the baked blusher is around £3, the eyeshadow palette is around £6 and the smaller concealer, and eyebrow palettes are around £3. Don't quite me on those but they are AROUND those prices, not much more!

Sorry again for the dodgy pictures, I am too lazy to use my SLR and upload them, it is far quicker on my Iphone. I shall use my SLR very soon for better quality! First up is the marbled eyeshadow and blush palette. I love love LOVE it. They are like little baked galaxies in a box and they are sooo pretty! Shimmery, pigmented and a range of wearable colours. There are a few other palettes, but I thought this would be the most wearable. The palettes don't seem to be named, but I think the packaging is very sleek and sophisticated, and look more expensive than they actually are. 

The colours don't show up very amazingly here but I'll just explain briefly. The blusher is to the left, and is a high pigment baby pink shimmer blush, use sparingly! A light dust on the cheekbone will be plenty, and its shimmery enough to act as a highlight too. The first shadow comes out like a very light sea green, and reminds me of mermaids! How simple am I sounding...Anyway...the second is a taupe to light brown colour and would be more suited to the eyelid than a highlight as it comes out quite dark. The third shade is a light khaki green which is also best for the lid, along with the final shade which is a taupe to mushroom colour - suitable for the inner corners. The palette actually does show on the back where to apply each colour, handy for beginners or young make up artists in the making! 

This is the baked shimmer blusher, in shade 4 'Rouge Shimmer'. It is a warm pink colour which is great, again dusted over the cheekbones. It isn't quite as bright as the blusher that comes with the eyeshadow palette, but it is a lovely more muted version. It doesn't have glittery flecks in or anything, its more of a sheer shimmer. I have used it for the last two days since I had it, and it gets the thumbs up from me!

This is the eye brow palette, with 3 colours to suit every little brow hair out there! These also double up as eyeshadows, come with a brow setting gel, an applicator AND a mirror! What more could you ask for in the bargain world? I actually really like this little compact, great for on the go and you don't have to find everything separate at the bottom of your handbag. For the price, it's a great buy, and one I recommend! There is a light colour for more blonde brows, a light brown that on the skin comes out quite a reddish tone, so more for red hair, and the darker brown for brunettes like moi! Although I have turquoise and black hair...they don't do a kit for that funnily enough.

This is the baked bronzer, which is really lovely! You only need a little bit again, and I would say this is more of a highlight bronze for the cheekbones, rather than a temple/contour/jawline bronzer. It is very bright and shimmery indeed, but nothing that a good blend wouldn't sort. This is shade 2, which is very gold toned. A great bargain, which I think will look great over a tan!

This is the concealer palette, my last product from Vivo. Again, a great little portable compact with 2 concealers and a setting powder, an illuminator pen, an applicator and mirror! Another bargain! This however, I don't think is something I would re-purchase at the moment. I haven't really given it that much of a good go, but that is because I cannot find anything to beat the Collection 2000 lasting perfection! Well, they are called Collection now aren't they? But anyhow, the creamy consistency of the concealers allow them to be used as eyeshadow primers too, but I have yet to try it. I personally think these concealers just sit on top of my skin rather than sinking in, but you can't have it all can you? 

Overall a great new brand, I shall definitely be purchasing some more of their cosmetics in the near future! Hope this helps and if anyone has any questions on these items, be sure to leave a comment and I shall get back to you!

Ciao for now XxX

Recent Make up ♥

Hello lovlies. Today is a little bit of a haul post I guess. I have gone a bit mad over the last week or so on getting some cheapalicious bargains, and then having a naughty treat or two! As you know, I am not one for splurging a lot of money on one product because I was a born bargain hunter, but I have finally purchased a couple of higher end products because well...I have given in.

Ed and I went into Birmingham on Sunday, for a bit of retail therapy. Well, me dragging him round really. It was nice though because we haven't done anything like that in a long time. When you have a business like he does, it really does become your life and quality time away from it doesn't come up very often. I am very proud of him and everything he does, but sometimes you just need an hour or two together in a different scenery. So anyway, we headed to the Bullring, and I dragged him to Selfridges, somewhere I very rarely go considering it is on our doorstep.

Sorry about the picture quality it was taken at night, but at least you can make out what there is. So I have my first EVER MAC products! I am so excited! Ed was very kind enough to treat me to them, because I think he knows how much it means to me (cheesy as it sounds). I am so grateful to have them, and hopefully it is the start of my collection. So I thought I would buy a couple of staple items, the queue for a foundation test was 20 minutes long so you can see why I haven't began with that. I got the lipstick in 'Hue', that many 'Youtubers' and beauty bloggers say is a great all round nude lipstick to have. I have to agree, it is a lovely creamy formula and a nice neutral colour that will go with any make up look. Then I got the Fluidline gel liner in Blacktrack, which is another staple for me as I wear gel liner most days. I did want the 263 brush to go with it but they were sold out. The next items were part of their new collection which is Chenman Love and Water, which is an oriental inspired collection. The lipstick and Lipglass shades are called Force of Love, and they are a bright coral-pink. I absolutely love the colour and couldn't just walk past it! As for foundation, I went over to NARS and managed to get a consultation immediately. The lady on the counter was so helpful and friendly, whereas the MAC staff seemed pretty narky and stressed out, but they are really busy I guess.

This is the Sheer Glow foundation and it looks awfully yellow in this picture! I actually don't have the skin of a simpson, but I do have dodgy lighting! So this is in the shade Deauville light 4, and is the perfect match. I am saving it for the weekends though, don't want to waste it for work!

We then went to Superdrug, where I was really after the MUA love hearts collection but they didn't have it?! It's one of the largest Superdrug stores I have been in, and they hadn't got the Love hearts stuff in. I was a bit gutted, but maybe they are having it in later...So anyway, I got some dry shampoo because I had ran out, and I have used this brunette coloured one now, but it did still make my hair grey! I'm not fussed about it because I give it a good rub in, but I know a lot of people hate that so it might not be for you. I thought I would try out one of their new brushes too, this was £5.99 and is the 'slanted eye liner brush'. As I was let down with the MAC 263, I thought for the price I'll give it a bash. Then I got the Poptastic Palette from MUA as it had been reduced to £3.00 and I could do with some brighter shadows! Then I got two of the bronzers which were a pound each, and one is shimmery and the other matte. The Matte shade is very similar to the Laguna bronzer the NARS make up artist put on my face, but about £25.00 cheaper...Bargain!

So enough rambling, I thought I would just share a vile picture of myself with you just to demonstrate what the new Number 17 miracle matte foundation did to my face throughout the day! Blotchy Blotchville. I can't even see that I have any foundation on and this is about 8 hours after I first applied it, which I know is pretty hardcore but I would like to think it would look as if I had even the tiniest of layers on. I am not a big fan of the freckles I was unfortunately blessed with so I like to at least cover those. This foundation isn't really great for me. I do have combination skin, so I thought it would be OK as my T-zone gets incredibly oily through the day, but it kind of just clung to the little hairs on my face rather than sinking in to my skin - Cakey! I personally would not re-purchase this, but I have seen some people that very much like it, so if you have super oily skin, it may be one for you. 

Ciao for now! XxX

Deflated ♥

I guess this is going to kind of be a moan and groan post I'm afraid. Sometimes I just find it therapeutic to write my thoughts down than talk about it. Getting it out, and feeling like I'm not troubling anybody feels a bit better than having to bore someone to tears with my jibber jabber. There isn't a need to continue reading if you don't want, I utterly understand, but sometimes in life, a girls just gotta get it out.

I'm feeling pretty down at the moment as it is, missing my friends and my weight is really getting to me. It's easy for people to say 'just walk then' or 'quit the cake', but when food rules you rather than you ruling it, it just isn't that simple. I know it's my own fault, and I don't really have a right to moan about it. I did this to myself and now I have to reap the consequences. It his me smack in the face today, like a huge wet fish.

I have actually been eating far better with healthier food, and doing little bits of exercise which probably aren't doing too much. I feel so tired though and I've been strictly doing it since Monday so not even a week and I'm feeling knackered. So this is how it hit me. If you have been reading my previous blogs, I have mentioned that I am skydiving in April. Not anymore. I gave my height and weight in, and there you have it, it's all over. When something that you have wanted to achieve your entire life, is being restricted by your weight, reality hits you very quickly. I can hardly stomach the embarrassment. 

I feel more determined than ever, I am using the Iphone app 'My Fitness Pal'. It is great because I can record everything I eat on that, and it calculates the calories used. If you exercise you 'gain' calories so you still have them to use up. I have been using it each day, and it really helps to reflect on what you are consuming. When I am in this mind frame, I am horrified at what I have previously been consuming. Ed & I ate out every night for about 9 days running last week. I have put on weight already from the severity of that. It's more than some people eat out in a year. It is purely shameful. 

I now have a huge build up of anger, and I feel like that is backing me to say no. It is very hard, but maybe if I document my feelings like this it might help. I really started feeling like this watching a Youtube video, which I found truly inspirational. 'MissChievous' is the channel name, and it seems she felt just like I do. Everything she says is exactly how I feel, and she has shed so much weight. If i was to carry on, I would just keep creeping up and up and up. It has to end. Now. I can't take the jokes about it or comments anymore, and I want to skydive more than anything, and one day, I WILL.

3 Random Products Review ♥

Hi guys, so as I have been saying, I am finally going to get onto a beauty review. I am just going to do it on three random products I bought recently. As you may have gathered by now, I am always best described as a bargain hunter, so if you are looking for products on a budget, hopefully I can help! It is very rare I spend a lot on one product at a time, because in life there are other things we unfortunately have to pay for. However, who says you can't treat yourself, and feel like you have a little bit of glam on your side? 

I did begin with taking my own pictures, but they were very rushed this morning so I have decided to just grab them offline, so you can actually see what I am waffling on about! All images from Google Images.

Firstly, this is the 'Intimately Beckham' perfume by Victoria Beckham, and is the ladies fragrance. I know it has been out for ages now, but it is fairly priced so maybe if you see it you may want to know what it is like before you get it. I got mine for around £15.00, and I purchased it because I had ran out of the perfumes I had for Christmas so this was just to tide me over, until I can stomach buying a higher end perfume, or until my birthday. Better to have some sort of pleasant smell on you than none at all! In the UK this is available in most Superdrug, Boots or other fragrance stores/counters, but it is also readily available in supermarkets such as ASDA, I'm not too sure about overseas. 

The bottle is fairly bulky with it being square, but I quite like that. I take a normal sized handbag with me if I go out and it fits in my bag fine. If not, you can always transfer it to an atomizer. Onto the scent. It is quite a 'heavy' perfume, not all light and 'floraly'. It is not something I would usually go for, however it stays put for a few hours so I like to wear it mostly if I go out, so it can be topped up throughout the night, and will hold it's scent. The perfume shop describe it as a bouquet of white flowers, with bergamot and rose petals. Being a person with a normal sense of smell, I couldn't even tell you what bergamot is...So, all in all, if you like a heavy scent, and don't want to pay too much, this is for you! I don't think I personally would re-purchase, as I like very sweet or lighter smells, BUT the Beckham signature is amazing! I was originally looking for that but Superdrug didn't have it. It is honestly really lovely, but a little more pricey than this one.

Next up, very random I know but you will see why! These are ASDA's own lipbalms. You get a pack of two  for only £1, and I couldn't actually tell you how hydrating they are for your lips...because I use them on my eyes. Weird you say? Maybe, but they sure do hold your eyeshadow! Yep, they make a great primer. My advice would be to rub your finger over the top and then onto your eyelid, as putting the stick straight onto it may cause too much product to transfer, thus creating creases. Also, you will end up with foundation all over the stick, and it will turn a nice shade of orange. Nice. So anyway, I don't know how I really discovered this but they are great for bringing out the pigment in your eyeshadows, and holding your colours until you take them off! If you have been looking for a primer, or feel they are too expensive, give this a go and I'm sure you won't be too disappointed! Nothing to lose but a quid.

And finally, the Dream nude airfoam from Maybelline. I briefly mentioned this when I bought it in a previous blog. I think when I got it it was around £7.00, and I have it in the shade 020 Cameo. I was extremely sceptical when I first got this, but now I love it and would definitely re-purchase it. Make sure you shake it up before every use, or you will get white patches in the foundation. Spray a large walnut sized blob onto the back of your hand and work quickly. Use a foundation brush or buffing brush to apply. I personally recommend the Real Techniques buffing brush for this, it takes a very short time to apply, and covers beautifully. You have to work quickly though, because as soon as you put the brush in the blob, you have began to burst bubbles and the blob 'deflates' and starts to dry on your hand. You may need another spray. It is a light coverage on the skin, and does leave a very dewy feel until it dries, then it becomes on the way to being matte. It certainly evens out my skin tone and leaves my skin looking flawless, for what feels to be a very watery consistency. 

Tips: When you first open it, be careful where you first spray it as it might go everywhere, and don't forget to give it a good shake, and work quickly as it dries super quick. Otherwise, great foundation for those who like a light coverage!

So I hope these little reviews help, should be doing some more structured ones soon.

Thanks for reading and have a good day!

Ciao for now XxX

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