Saturday 30 November 2013

Easy Christmas Nail Ideas #2

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have number 2 in my Christmas Nail Idea's series, I had the idea for a Christmas Nail Idea's series because I always seem to paint my nails with the same sparkly polish every year and it made me wonder if anyone else got stuck in a nail polish rut. All the ideas in this series will be simple and easy to  follow and re create should you wish. If you haven't seen part 1 in my series you can find it HERE.

In each post I show the things needed to create the look, the finished look and then a mini review on the products used and where to buy them. So here's number 2 an easy red sparkly nail.

Christmas Nail Ideas Number 2 


L-R Orly Bonder Base Coat ~ Essie Leading Lady ~ Orly Glosser Top Coat 

The Finished Look ~




How To Get The Look ~ 

First of all I applied a coat of my Orly Bonder base coat, then I applied 2 coats of the Essie Leading Lady nail polish, allowing each coat to dry in between. I finished the look off by applying a coat of my Orly Glosser top coat.

A Quick Review Of Products & Where To Buy ~ 

Orly Bonder Base Coat & Orly Glosser Top Coat ~ I reviewed both these products in my Christmas Nail Ideas number 1 post and don't want to repeat myself to the people following this series, so if you haven't yet read number 1 you can find it HERE where you will also find a review of the base and top coat. 

Essie Leading Lady ~ I got this polish as part of a set of 3 last year, Leading Lady was part of Essie's Christmas 2012 collection, it is a beautiful polish and looks amazing, I am often asked if I am wearing gel nails when I wear this polish, it is so sparkly and with my Glosser top coat it looks amazing. I highly recommend it, especially at this time of year. It is easy to apply and with 2 coats it looks fabulous. 

I hope you enjoyed part 2 of my Christmas Nail Ideas series, it was a super simple look and a look which is easy to re create too, without the need for a lot of products. I will be uploading some simple Christmas nail art tutorials on my You Tube Channel soon too so if that's something you're interested in, keep an eye out for those. 

If you do re create this look or any of the looks in my Christmas Nail Idea's series please either tweet me a picture or tag me in your picture on Instagram, my links to twitter are HERE and my Instagram link is HERE, if you don't have twitter or instagram please feel free to email me your picture at mammaful@gmail.com. 

I'll see you soon with number 3 :) 

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x 


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Thursday 28 November 2013

Easy Christmas Nail Ideas #1

Hello Lovelies,

I have decided to run a little series here on my blog, and that series is easy Christmas nail ideas, every year I get stuck in a rut and always paint my nails with the same sparkly polish and it got me thinking "I wonder if anyone else does that" so I am going to have a series of different ideas for you of how to have Christmassy nails without going to a lot of effort. I am also going to have some nail tutorials over on my You Tube Channel of Christmas nail art so keep an eye out for that if it's something you're interested in.

Todays post is number 1 and is a french manicure with a difference. I will first of all show you the products I have used, then the finished look and then I'll tell you a little bit about each product and where you can buy them should you wish.

I do always file my nails and use my Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover before I paint my nails but I haven't included photographs of those products.

Christmas Nail Ideas Number 1 

    L-R Orly Bonder Base Coat, Rimmel Pro French Rose, Essie Beyond Cozy, Orly Glosser Top Coat

The Finished Look ~






How to get the look ~ 

First of all I applied 1 coat of my Orly base coat, then I applied 2 coats of the Rimmel French Rose polish allowing each coat to dry fully in-between, I then took the Essie Beyond Cozy polish and applied 2 coats to the tips of my nail, because the brush on the Essie polishes are wide this is super easy to do. To finish the look off I used my Orly Glosser top coat to give a lovely high shine finish. 

A Quick Review Of The Products & Where To Buy Them ~

Orly Bonder Base Coat ~  I have used this base coat for a years and love it, it is a rubberised base coat so it has an almost sticky feel to it and doesn't completely dry. I love Orly, their polishes are fantastic too, they come in 18ml bottles and the best thing is, all Orly polishes and nail care products are DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

Rimmel Pro French Rose (445) ~ I have been using this Rimmel polish for my DIY french manicures for many years, I think it gives the perfect base for a french manicure, not too pink or too peach and not too opaque either. I always use 2 coats of this for a french manicure, I feel 1 is a little streaky and doesn't look as nice.

Essie Beyond Cozy ~ I got this polish in a set of 3 last Christmas from Boots, it was part of Essie's 2012 Christmas collection and it is beautiful, it's not too gold and is a kind of silvery/gold if that makes sense? It's a lovely polish and I would definitely recommend it. You could use any gold or silver sparkly polish.

Orly Glosser Top Coat ~ Again I have used this top coats for years, I have used the Polished top coat too and like both but the Glosser just tips it for me, it leaves my nails with a high gloss finish and I am often asked what top coat I use when I post pictures of my nails on Instagram. I usually get at least 7 days wear time out of a nail polish and I do put it down to using this top coat.

I hope you enjoyed the first in my Christmas Nail Ideas posts, if you re create the look please tweet me a picture, my twitter link is HERE or tag me in an Instagram picture, I'd love to see :)

Thanks for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x






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Wednesday 27 November 2013

Superga Cotu Classic - A Review

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have a review of some lovely pumps from All Sole, the pumps are the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic in White.

The pumps are a size 3.5 and I am a size 6 so Lissy was my reviewing assistant for this post and Cole modelled the pumps for my photographs, so this post is somewhat a family affair.

*

The pumps came in their own branded box which was easy to get into and the pumps were wrapped in tissue paper inside the box. 


As you can see from the photographs the pumps are lace up and have a label on the side with their logo on, they also have a rubber sole. I think they look lovely on and could be worn with lots of different things, for example skirts, shorts, jeans, leggings or joggers, they are really versatile and go with a lot of different outfit choices. 

This is what All Sole say about the Superga Pumps 

These classic trainers by Superga showcase timeless design. Made from canvas and cotton with a rubber sole, these trainers are both comfortable and practical. A durable and versatile shoe that can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion, the 2750 is a wardrobe staple.
  • Premium Canvas Uppers
  • Vulcanised Rubber Sole
  • Superga Tab on Side and Heel
  • Superga Embossed Metal Eyelets
  • Lace Up Design

I totally agree with their description, the design won't date, they are very practical and are a definite staple in a wardrobe, I have a couple of pairs of Converse pumps and to be honest had never heard of this brand but they are lovely and I have checked out the Superga Pumps on the All Sole website since and they have some lovely colours and some nice studded ones too. Like I said at the start of the post,  Lissy reviewed the pumps for this post,  she said they felt comfortable, were true to size, and she was able to wear them for long periods of time without any discomfort, they are lightweight too which is great and they also looked really nice.

Given the time of year I think these would make a lovely Christmas gift, they are versatile in the way they can go with so many outfit choices but I also think they can be worn by women of many age groups too, Lissy is 16 but I would wear these too and I'm 40 so they are a great idea if you're stuck for an idea for a Christmas present. 

The Superga Pumps are available HERE on the All Sole website and they are currently down from £45 to £30 so even more of a reason to buy them :) and delivery is free. 

Have you tried the Superga Pumps? Which ones are your favourites? 

Thank you for reading, much love as always,

Zoe x



*PR Sample -  All opinions and words are mine and Lissy's. 


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Friday 22 November 2013

A Funky Christmas Gift Idea

Hello Lovelies,

Today I want to tell you about a really cool and pretty funky (well I think so anyway) idea for a Christmas gift. It's a memo board with a difference and it comes from the website IWOOT or I Want One Of Those as you may know it, they have some amazing gift ideas for Christmas and at really reasonable prices too, I definitely recommend checking their site out, it is easy to use and they have different categories such as gifts for her, gifts for him, stocking fillers, and they have a brilliant 3 for £20 deal on absolutely loads of items too so it really is easy to find some great gifts for your loved ones, but before you go and start hunting I have something to show you which you might want to add to your gift buying list or even your wish list.



The Big Head Re Usable Memo Pad is a memo pad but with a difference, I love it, I think it's a really cool idea for a gift for Christmas and one which would suit so many different people, this is something that would come in really handy for me, I forget everything and have about a million notes and reminders in my phone and I have often thought of getting a white board for the kitchen but don't like the look of them but this is so cute and different I don't mind using it. 


The memo pad comes in two colours, red and black, it stands up on any flat surface and the pen clips into either hand, the pen has it's own sponge type material on the lid so you can erase things easily without having to reach for some tissue or a cloth. 


The pen writes with black ink and the ink rubs out really easily when you want to change the memo or if you make a mistake. 


I really like this idea and think it would make an ideal gift for a lot of different people, it's great for people like me who are forgetful, for teenagers in their rooms, on a desk either at home or the office, or you could leave it in the kitchen and write your shopping list on it, I think it's a great all round gift idea and reasonably priced too. 

If you would like to buy one of these for a gift they are available HERE for £13.99 and as I said earlier they come in a choice of red or black. To check out all the other fabulous gift ideas IWOOT has click HERE to be taken straight to their site. 

Have you started or finished your Christmas shopping? I'm behind, but why change the habit of a lifetime? 

Thank you for reading, much love as always

Zoe x







*pr sample - All words and opinions are my own.





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Tuesday 12 November 2013

Thundershirt - A Review

 Hello Lovelies,

Today I have something a little different for you all, but something that you may find useful especially if you or someone you know has a dog. Last week I was contacted by a lovely lady called Charlotte on behalf of Pets At Home asking if I would like to review a product called Thundershirt* an anti anxiety dog coat.

As you know I have a dog, a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel called Oscar, I was intrigued by the product after reading up about it via the link Charlotte sent me and I said yes please, I'd love to, well Oscar would love to review the Thundershirt.

The Thundershirt box front and back and the Thundershirt as it was packaged in the box.

As soon as the Thundershirt arrived I put it on Oscar, he wasn't bothered by it at all and it was very easy to put on him, there were clear instructions both on the box and in a leaflet included in the box. 

The Thundershirt is sold as "The best solution for dog anxiety" and can be used for - 

Any Noise Anxiety
Barking Problems
Separation Anxiety
Car/Travel Anxiety
Crate Anxiety
Leash Pulling
General Fearfulness
Bonfire Night

Oscar is going to be 14 in March so he is an old man bless him, he has been suffering from doggy dementia for the last couple of years and he gets very confused and often cries a lot and wanders around the house crying for no reason other than he gets very confused and sometimes we don't think he realises we are there, he is almost blind and deaf but does still react to noise as apparently dogs can "hear" via vibrations and as we have wooden floor he often gets upset at loud noises. So I was looking forward to putting the Thundershirt to the test.

When I opened the box I was surprised at how soft the material was, it felt lovely, a nice soft jersey type material, it is a charcoal grey colour and looks lovely against Oscar's coat which is also grey/black. I ordered a medium for Oscar which is the perfect size for him, he is big for a Cocker Spaniel but it fits perfectly, there was an easy to follow size guide on the Pets At Home Website, there were 5 sizes to choose from on the website, when the box came it showed 7 sizes from a XXS to a XXL where as on the Pets At Home site it showed sizes from XS to XL which is still a great range and would suit almost all breeds of dog I imagine.  The coat works by applying a constant, gentle pressure on the dogs torso, the pressure is said to have a calming effect on most dogs, similar to mothers swaddling their infants.

Oscar normally hates wearing coats or clothing of any kind, he really hates them! We bought him a Christmas jumper last year and he hated it so much that we had to take it off him, so I was so surprised when he just sat there and let me put the Thundershirt on him, he kept it on all day and throughout the evening and we removed it before we went to bed, he has worn it 3 times since without any problems at all. I have taken various photographs of him wearing the Thundershirt since I got it which I will share with you later in the post, I think they will make you smile, they made me smile a lot when I uploaded them. And the best thing is he has been quieter, don't get me wrong he hasn't totally stopped crying but he has been a lot better, but to be fair the coat doesn't claim to cure Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or doggy dementia as I call it, he is much calmer though when he wears it and we have tested him with and without it and there is a definite difference, he was quiet at the weekend when people were having bonfires and fireworks too. Here's some photographs of Oscar modelling his Thundershirt.


Strike a pose Oscar! 

From the side 

Clearly comfortable enough to snooze in!

Possibly the most relaxed dog in the world. 

An now for my favourite, it isn't the best quality as I snapped it on my iPhone and it was dark but I had to share it with you, 

Flat on his back without a care in the world!

So as you can see, Oscar didn't have any trouble wearing the Thundershirt at all, he slept in it, ate in it, went to the loo in it (sorry Oscar for embarrassing you online) he basically carried on as normal and was a very happy dog, which for Oscar is nothing short of a miracle as I said earlier he hates any sort of doggy fashion, but I think he rocked his Thundershirt though, don't you? 

If you have a nervous pooch or your doggy hates bonfire night or new years eve because of the fireworks this is definitely for you, well for your dog, I honestly wasn't holding out much hope and didn't think for 1 minute that Oscar would be quieter when he wore the coat but we were so shocked, I would definitely recommend the Thundershirt to anyone with a nervous dog or dog who gets anxious in certain situations. The Thundershirt is machine washable, and can be used whenever you feel your dog needs it. If you have any queries, as well as the Pets At Home Website, there is also a Thundershirt website with lots of information including an FAQ section, testimonials and video's amongst other things. 

The Thundershirt retails at £35.00 from Pets At Home including free delivery, there is also a 10% off deal on at the moment. It is also available on Amazon for £29.95 including free delivery. 

Have you tried the Thundershirt? What did you think of it?

If you didn't already know I am holding a giveaway to win a Herschel iPad sleeve here on my blog, there is only a few days left to enter so hurry scurry, if you'd like the chance to win click HERE

Thank you for reading, much love as always

Zoe and Oscar xxxx




* This post contains a pr sample, all words and opinions are my own 















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Saturday 9 November 2013

NOTD A French Manicure

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have a Nail Of The Day post for you or a NOTD as they are known in the blogging world. My NOTD is a french manicure. I love french manicures, I think they look really classy and elegant and they go with everything, so there's no need for me to worry about my nails not looking right with my outfit.

All the polishes I used for my french manicure are from the brand Jacava. I hadn't heard of this brand up until a few weeks ago when they kindly sent me a lovely dark red polish and top coat, I loved the polish and have a full review of it including photographs, where to buy, and all the information you need about the brand and their amazing 8 free policy HERE. I was thrilled when Jacava contacted me again and asked me to choose some more of their amazing polishes and I knew straight away I wanted to try their french manicure set, as I said I love the look of a french manicure and it is one of my most worn nail looks.

            Jacava UV Top Coat*                     Jacava Pink Whisper*                  Jacava Mont Blanc*


First of all I applied Pink Whisper all over the nail, I applied 2 coats of this and then applied 2 coats of Mont Blanc to the tips of my nails and finished the look off with a coat of the UV Top Coat.




I love the finished look. Pink whisper is a lovely colour and ideal for a french manicure but I do think it would look really nice as a pale pink polish on it's own too. I loved the finished look of my french manicure, the polishes apply well, like I said in my previous post about the brand I really like the way the brush goes to the bottom of the bottle, it will be brilliant when the polish is running low as I hate having to tip the polish up and try to get some polish out of the bottom. 

My french manicure lasted 7 days without chipping, the only reason I removed it after the 7 days was because I wanted to use another new polish I had there was nothing wrong with the look of my nails. 

Jacava polishes are available via their website or from Amazon or Feel Unique I found them to be cheapest on Amazon where I found them for around £11 including delivery. If you would like to try the french manicure kit is available here for £43.00. 

Do you like french manicures? Have you checked out the Jacava site, what's your favourite colour? 

I am holding a giveaway on my blog, if you'd like to enter click here.

Thank you for reading, much love as always, 

Zoe x




*This post contains pr samples, all opinions and words are my own. 




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