Tuesday 26 June 2012

The Lust List



A girl can never have too many bags... and I've found the perfect addition to my ever-growing collection!

The drawstring and duffle bag shape are spot on trend for day wear at the moment, and the neutral shade makes this bag so easy to match with numerous outfits. It's a beautifully soft leather and a great size for make-up, books, etc. Whats more, I'm a sucker for anything gold or studded, so the detailing on the strap of this bag is an added bonus in my eyes.

Merino Stud Duffle Bag, £85, Topshop

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Beauty Paradise

While in America these last few weeks, I discovered and fell in love with a shop called Sephora. As a way of introduction to all you Brits who have not yet found the joy of Sephora, it is in essence a beauty haven. It has a vast range of make-up, fragrances, skin care, body care and hair products all under one roof.

For a girly girl like me, these stores are a little bit of heaven. There is a large selection of brands, and as many items were a little cheaper than the UK I was able to treat myself to a few new products I otherwise couldn't have afforded, including my first ever primer (Laura Mercier). I'm already addicted to this product. Though I've always been a little sceptical about the claims of beauty brands, I swear this primer really does create a smooth, silky surface that makes make-up application so much easier, and increases the staying power of all my make-up products.

Other brands instore that filled me with excitement included Bobbi Brown and Nars - next on the purchase list is definitely a Nars Illuminator.

What's even more impressive is that all the staff are so highly trained. I was looking for a new moisturiser, and had a long list of (somewhat contradictory) features I wanted the product to provide. Staff were able to highlight five different products that fitted my needs. The stores are also beautifully laid out, creating a great shopping environment. My only complaint - there are no stores in the UK as of yet!


I also paid a visit to Mac while away - again the prices were a little cheaper than the UK. Investments included a beautiful new blush (Pinch o' Peach) and a nude lipstick (I'd been searching for the perfect shade for a good few months). All in all, one very successful shopping trip.

30 Things to do before I'm 30 - American cities and Wine tours


One item on my '30 Things to do before I'm 30' list was to visit certain cities in America - I've always been curious about the extravagant, over-the-top feel of Vegas, dreamed of riding a tram car in San Francisco and loved the glamour of LA. Luckily, a friend was more than happy to keep me company on a trip this month to all these fantastic cities; we also managed to add in a few days in New York to finish off the holiday in style.

Another item on the list also got ticked off while I was away - a wine tour. I knew nothing about wine, other than the fact that I liked it; but have always been curious about how wine is fermented and how grapes can make so many different variations of one drink. While in San Francisco, we signed up for a tour of California's best wine valleys: Napa and Sanoma. We visited three beautiful wineries, sat in the sunshine sipping wine, learning all about the process and the history of the valleys. It was such a sight to see vineyards stretching as far as the eye could see and the experience even changed my opinion of dessert wine - I can now appreciate that a good moscato can really make a dessert pop.

So, two down, only 28 to go...