Fashion: Retirement party outfit

Last Friday, it was my mum's retirement party. After a career of 42 years, she's finally saying goodbye to working life at 64...good opportunity for an outfit post. ;-)

Health: Tempur

This is a less bling bling kind of post but I just wanted to share it with you anyway.
As some of you know, I've been battling back problems for a while now and because of that, going to bed (one of my favourite moments of the day) had turned into a horror fest. I often woke up at night because of intense pain, couldn't fall asleep easily and when I woke up and got up, I felt like a little old laydee.
So, I decided to go and look for a new mattress. After trying out some that are specifically good for back problems, I decided to go for the Tempur combi-mattress. For me the best (and also the most expensive one, sadly)

Shopping: Vero Moda

Went for a spot of lunch shopping yesterday and had a look around Vero Moda. It was a long time since I've last been there. They had quite a lot of lovely goodies in!
I left with two nice items: a skirt and a scarf.

Nails: Khaki Perry

This week, I tried one of the new Catrice nail polishes I bought some weeks ago. Khaki Perry - bit of an unfortunate name but anyway - is a very lovely colour...bit silver, bit greenish and it looks great on the nails. Not too much in your face. 2 layers give enough coverage. 

Cooking: Bruschetta

This is a dish I absolutely adore. It's simple, healthy and just so tasty!

Take a bruschetta and sprinkle it with olive oil.
I use a special baking plate with holes in it.

Shopping: New boots and shoes

Recently ordered new shoes and boots at 3suisses.be and now they have arrived. Had my eyes on them for a while but now they were on offer with quite a reduction.
I'm actually particularly pleased with the shoes...they are amazing!

Shopping: New stash

Bought some new stuff recently, and my order from asos also arrived...

Trend: Don't Mind the Tash!

For some time, T-shirts, jewellery,etc. with moustaches on it have been very trendy....Made a small collection of items that I've spotted....

Life is a Joke t-shirt (elevenparis.com)

Cooking: chocolate red wine cake

Baked a seriously delicious cake today.
You really should try it as well!

ingredients (for 6 pieces):
- 160 gr butter
- 150 gr sugar
- 3 eggs
- 165 gr flour
- 1/2 sachet of baking flour
- 50 gr grated chocolate
- 65 ml red wine
- 2 teaspoons of cacao

Fashion: Outfit of the day

Decided to occasionally start posting what I'm wearing. 

Boyfriend is not at home, so had to take pictures myself, apologies, next time I'll use my reflex camera and better angles. ;-)

Cooking: my favourite dish

This is absolutely my favourite dish, and easy to make. The recipe is as follows (for 1 person)

- 6 giant prawns
- 1 tomato
- bit of courgette
- handful of mushrooms
- wholewheat pasta
- sesame oil
- dried chilli pepper
- mixed pepper/salt/mustard/lemon

Beauty - product review: Aussie shampoo

When I was in London in August, I - as usual - raided Boots & Superdrug, and bought this new brand Aussie. There was a special offer and obviously, I had to try it.
Aussie shampoos and conditioners all smell divine, they have natural ingredients like berries, etc. and also target problems like frizzy hair,...

Beauty : Prada Candy advert

I just had to post this advert because I think it's one of the funniest perfume adverts I've seen in a long time....on the music of Running Wild (Some Like it Hot)

Enjoy! :-)

Beauty : my nail polishes

Today I'll show you what nail polish I have in stock. I always tend to get carried away when new colours become available, must learn to restrain myself. :-)

Beauty - product review : 2 phase eye make up remover lotion

I like luxury products (who doesn't?!) but I also like a good budget product. Hema has a wide range of good affordable beauty products and lately I've really taken a shine to this make up remover. It's a 2 phase one, so you have to shake it well before you use it. It's an oily texture and even the most resistant waterproof mascara melts away easily. It's very nourishing for your skin (I use it for my whole face and then use a kleenex to get rid of the excess).

more info: www.hema.be

Fashion - Shopping Wishlist

I'm completely in love with Mango's new collection. Always have been a big fan of b/w combination and these look just divine. I know where I'm heading next!

A glimpse into my handbag

I've seen it on other blogs I follow and think it's fun to share the essentials from my handbag. 

Beauty - product review : Roc Rides Correxion

I bought this serum a while ago with rather high expectations. Roc to me means quality. However, it pains me to say that I'm really not pleased with this product at all.

The serum is made for a 30 something skin (check) and to be applied under day cream. However, the texture is that unpleasant that it's impossible to wear it during the day because your face gets a yellow hue. Even after applying foundation, the yellowness still shows and the lines in your face, even lines you don't see otherwise, are even more apparent.

So, now I'm using it under my night cream but I can't say that it's comfortable and soothing.

My mother has the serum in the same line of products but for the more mature skin and she has the same problem with it. The yellow thick structure of the serum is why this product fails completely. Shame.

Beauty: perfume SOS

I used to never have perfume on me. I didn't want to run around carrying heavy perfume bottles until....

I found this travel bottle for perfume...to be filled with your own favourite perfume. I filled mine with Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb extreme, a perfume I never go without, and it's even safe to take on planes! Who could resist?

I bought it at Galeria Inno for 13,50 EUR.

Beauty: I heart Catrice

Most of the eye shadow & nail polish I've been buying is by Catrice. It's a relatively cheap brand with a lot of colours and good quality products.
This week I've bought two new eye shadows from the new autumn collection.

So far I've got (from top to bottom): 

- I think I've green you before : a soft green colour with a bit of a sparkle to it. 

- Gilbert Grapefruit : it looks rather pink but once applied it's a beautiful glittery shade.

- Luke Skystalker: silver, glitter. have yet to try it.

- Ice Wide Open: an ice-cold blue-ish colour, also still have to try it.

The eyeshadow come in easy stackable boxes.

Next to that, I also bought a very handy eyeliner brush with two sides: one for a very fine line and one for something a bit broader.

more info: www.catrice.eu

Cooking: Salmon

I love fish and more in particular salmon. I tried a tasty recipe to prepare a salmon filet.

take an oven dish, put the salmon in it & season with pepper & salt. Cut cherry tomatoes in halves and place them on top of the salmon. Sprinkle everything with virgin olive oil and put in the oven for 20 min. (180°C). Take out of oven and decorate with some fresh basil.

Beauty: Instant va va voom with Charles Worthington

Since a couple of weeks I'm using the full volume mussed up texturising spray by Charles Worthington.

It's a very effective product that gives great result if you have longer locks and you want that natural schwung in your hair. 

The way I use it: after I've washed my hair I apply a styling spray, start to blowdry my hair and when it's still moist, I use the mussed up spray before I finish drying. The result is incredibly full hair that feels light and is easy to style.

But it's equally handy to use on dry hair. It then creates a very sexy look.

this is what the website says:

Appealing to the beach babe and city girl alike, if you want a handy product that’s perfect for texturising hair, this versatile texturising spray uses added collagen to bring extra life and texture to limp locks.

Perfect for casual kitsch and rock chick looks, Mussed Up lets you craft big hair, larger than life curls or chunky layered styles in a matter of minutes. And thanks to the vitamin-enriched formula, you can help to protect and nourish your locks while you do so.

Either apply and leave to dry naturally for a mussed-up, tousled look, or blow dry for fuller hair that’s bouncy, full of body and bursting with life.

 RRP: £5.19*

To enhance your style use with our Full Volume Shampoo and Conditioner.

more info: www.charlesworthington.com 

Shopping wish list: Veronique Branquinho for Marie Jo

This is high up my wish list at the moment. I might go and have a look for this in the upcoming week. Amazing lingerie designed by VB for Marie Jo. (which is my favourite lingerie label anyway)

Beauty Shopping: some new additions

New pay check, so time to do some beauty shopping!

Bought this today:

- John Frieda Frizz Ease : for those moist autumn days ahead. for both straight and curly hair.

- 2 new Catrice nail polish colours: Khaki Perry & I’m a Star

- replacement Catrice eye shadow primer

- Catrice eyebrow pencil

- new curler for big lush curls. I have a steam hair straightener but I love those wavy curls. my hair is naturally quite wavy so this will be a great help. Old curler died on me years ago.

when I’ve used the new polishes, I’ll post pics!

Beauty: my make up

This is the part of my bathroom cabinet dedicated to my make up…or better everyday make up. Still have a bag of other make up (eye shadow & lipsticks) for evenings out & special occasions.

key products are:

- Kryolan transparant powder

- Etos blush

- Mac Mineral powder

- Max Factor lip pencil 

- Hema kohl pencil & eyebrow pencil

- Mac lady gaga lipstick

- Catrice eyeshadow base

- Yves Rocher volume mascara

- brushes

- Make Up Studio cream eyeliner

-  Arcancil, Urban Decay & Clarins eyeshadow

- eyelash curler

Shopping: new stash

Bought some new stuff at laredoute.be:

A charcoal-coloured sweater-dress

a lovely multicolored jumper with elbow patches

and some dark red thights (will be great with the grey dress)

Beauty: Balmain - Ambre Gris

I recently tried a sample of this perfume which is composed of myrrh, cinnamon, pink pepper, immortal flower, benzoin, tuberose and ambergris.

It’s a lovely smell, quite sophisticated and definitely not overwhelming. this would work wonderfully with a classy outfit for a romantic night out.