Book worm...

Sorry this isn't a normal 'beauty' blog post.  I thought I'd try a little something different.  I've turned into a complete worm and I'm glued to books.  And I did a bit of a haul (makes a change for me not to be buying makeup...shock horror!)

My latest Waterstones purchases...

I'm currently finishing off Claudia Carroll's ~Personally I Blame My Fairy Godmother.  For ages I'd been obsessed with the Vampire genre books and girly books were far far away from my list of most wanted books.  I love books like the Twilight Saga, True Blood/Sookie Stakehouse series, Vampire Diaries, The Black Dagger Brotherhood ...I'm in love with the dark side of the vampire world.  Weird though I do the love odd Nicholas Sparks book.  Dear John and The Last song are must reads!!

On my way home tonight I popped into Waterstones and stocked up on some new material.  I purchased two more of Claudia Carroll's books I never fancied him anyway and If this is paradise I want my money back.  When I picked up PIBMFG and started reading it was far too girly for me.  I almost put it down and stopped reading it.  But I have to say I'm glad persevered as it was actually a catchy cute easy read.  So I picked up two more of her books in the hope they'll just be as good. (Fingers crossed!!)

I also picked up The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.  This book I've heard is deep and intense.  I've seen the film which starred Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes and I enjoyed that.  This isn't something I'd normally read, but the film was excellent so fingers crosses (again) that this is just as good or even better than the film. 

I  picked up another two Nicholas Sparks books just because they were there basically.  Dear John and Last Song were great reads that almost had me crying at times.  So picking up Message in a bottle and A walk to remember seemed like a no brainer to me.

Have you picked up any books recently.  What's your favourite reads :-)

Angela xox

Maybe it's Maybelline...

(major picture alert....!!!)

I'm such a sucker for new makeup items, especially mascara.  When I noticed Maybelline had launched a brand new mascara, I was biting at the bit to try it out.  Maybelline has a good-ish reputation for mascara so I had high hopes when I popped this little cutie in my Boots shopping basket.

Presenting Maybellines Volum' Express One by One Mascara...

I love the way Maybelline has the wand and the tube separated in the packaging.  I think it's a great way to show what the brush really looks like.

I love the colour of the packaging, it's very eye catching. You couldn't lose this in your makeup bag!! The tube shape hasn't changed much from your Colossal and your Falsies packaging, which is maybe a little boring...but if it works why change it???

I do look at this wand and instantly think of a hedgehog...it's just so spikey lol!  On  a serious note I don't think I've ever seen so many spikes on a mascara wand before.  This  lash catcher wand picks up every lash and coats them all in one single application (obviously with a little bit of a wiggle here and there).  There is no clumping of product on the wand either......yay I hate that!!!!

The bare lashes: Nothing applied at all on the top and bottom lashes.  Sorry for the lack of makeup but wanted to be more focused on the lashes.

Coat Number One:  An impressive start which I'm more than happy with.  I'd quite happily where one coat for day time work wear.

Coat Number Two: More volume and definition.  The lashes are slightly clumped towards the outside lashes, but personally I think it's where I haven't worked the wand as much.  Doh!

Coat Number Three:  Three coats definitely makes your lashes look like your wearing falsies.  There's a definite wow factor in the performance for me.  I'd quite happily go out on the town with this look on my lashes.

Final thoughts: Overall I think this a pretty good.  Your lashes don't feel dry and spikey and they are soft to the touch.  I don't see and spider legs in sight!!  The mascara has an average drying speed (doesn't dry fast and it's not super wet).  A plus point to this mascara is it doesn't budge throughout the day in my experiences so far...yay!  This isn't water proof or water resistant, but I heard a waterproof version is in the pipeline :-)  Two to three coats of the beauty creates perfect lashes to me and what more can you ask for???  I think this is another thumbs up for Maybelline and a 10 out of 10 from me!!!

Have you tried this mascara??

Angela xox

Monthly Favourites: February

Slightly late, but who the hell cares...... :-) Here’s mine.

L'Occitane Hand Cream in Cherry Blossom
I love this and what it does to my hands.  It smells wonderful and it works wonders.  I got this in a magazine offer last year (which I blogged about here).  This is a must have handbag item for me.  I'm always applying this throughtout the day.

Santa Rose, Ashes to Ashes and Bisque

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Bisque
I don't know where my life would be without this.  I'd never used a corrector before, this time last year I'd never really even heard of it.  I first purchased this with my Bobbi Brown weddings hauls last August and I have to say I'm so glad we were introduced to one another.  Bisque is the perfect under eye combater and we're united for life!!!!


NARS Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes
I've pratically been wearing this colour all month, just all over the lid nothing fancy.  It's a great colour thats creates kind of a smokey-ish look.  It's a odd colour; kind of a taupey, grey, mauve.  If you've seen MAC's Shale, this is the closests you get.  But NARS is more expensive, but suits me better than Shale.  Shale makes me look tired.

Rimmel Blusher in Santa Rose

I bought this last summer in the heat of the moment  as I'd left the house without blusher.  I literally went in my local pharmacy near my work and picked out the cheapest and prettiest blusher.  I'm sure glad that this was the prettiest and cheapest....because it is really nice.  A beautiful peachy pink colour which gives you a pretty glow.  Suits my pale skin perfectly.  When I hit pan I'll definiately be getting another one of these!!

Top: Santa Rose Rimmel Blush

Below: NARS Ashes to Ashes Eyeshadow

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara
I purchased this last month and this is a great mascara, Two coats of this really does do what this says on the tube. Volumising, bold, lifting and sumptuous results everytime. It's a little pricey butyou've got a try it in my books. Plus it starts on all day!!!


Miss Sporty Be Connected Lipgloss in Red Digit
I really have been loving the whole red lipped fashion thats been going round currently.  I do like red lipsticks, but I'm chicken when it comes to wearing them outside the front door.  Also I get a little concious that I have full-ish lips, especially the bottom lip.  So instead of a lipstick I picked up this high pigmanted gloss from Miss Sporty. Depending on how much you apply this can be as red as you want.  And for £2.99 how'd be mad enough to over look this?? 

Red is definiately in!!!!

And I have two things that are not beauty related in the cosmetic sense, but more the wax and floral sense....

Yankee Candle in Cherry Blossom
I've been really getting into my candles lately and I'm loving the Yankee range.  This candles scent is to die for, I absolutely love this. I’m crazy for scented candles, I find them very relaxing and calming. And a bit romantic ;-) I literally have a candle in every room of the house. I got this one way before Christmas and still tonnes of burning left to go. 

Daffodils
I love this time of year and the first signs of spring.  And daffodils are the biggest sign that spring is coming and I love these happy flowers.... ahhh :-) *happy sigh*

So those are my favourites for February. What are your favourites??

Happy blogging everyone and a BIG HI to my new followers!!!

Angela xox