Nails: Spring Pastels

As of this weekend, spring has officially sprung (although it would appear nobody told the weather man) so I've been searching through my nail polish collection for some pretty pastels and these are the best of the bunch.

Huckleberry is a firm favourite as is Strawberry Milkshake but I'm still in the market for a pastel yellow and a powder blue to make my collection complete so watch this space for a nail polish haul.

What's you're favourite spring polish?

ox Lucy

Bunny Cake | Yankee Candle

Bunny Cake is back! Since I've been buying Yankee Candles they've released their 'Limited Edition' Bunny Cake candle every year as part of their Easter range. I'm not convinced it is actually limited edition, I think the words 'only available in spring' would be more apt. But hey, who am I to criticise?! 

The sweet scent has a strong vanilla smell but not the sickly kind reminiscent of car air fresheners no no, it's the kind of smell that fills your kitchen when a vanilla sponge cake is in the oven. It has a burn time of over 100 hours and the scent now I'm half way through the jar is just as strong as when I first burnt it.

My main gripe with the large jars is that they're only one wick so some of the wax gets wasted, staying at the side of the jars. I find it happens more in the last half of the jar but I've seen a technique on pinterest that allows you to remove the leftover wax and use it as you would a wax tart so it might be worth a try.

Bunny Cake large jar is available for £19.99 from yankeecandle.co.uk

What's been your fragrance of choice lately?
ox Lucy

25 Facts About Me

So yesterday I turned the grand old age of 25. To ..erm celebrate(?) I though I'd share 25 facts about yours truly.

1. My eyes are different colours
2. Cheese and jam sandwiches are my favourite
3. I can't drive yet but hope to by the end of 2015
4. Everything that happens in my life I relate to a scenario in FRIENDS
5. FRIENDS always has and always will be my favourite TV show
6. I own over 50 bottles of nail polish and my collection is over growing
7. But I don't own a single OPI polish.. recommendations are welcome
8. I've been an Aunty since the age of 11 and have three nephews and five nieces
9. When I'm bored I buy phone cases from Hong Kong on Ebay
10. I'd trade lives with Ashley Benson in a heartbeat

11. I love football and am a massive Everton fan
12. My dream invention is a tap that supplies tea at perfect drinking temperature
13. Kinder Eggs make me happy
14. I listen to my Disney playlist on Spotify everyday
15. I refuse to order chicken at Nando's
16. My dream job is to be a wedding planner
17. Or a florist
18. But I have a Law degree
19. I refer to March as 'my birthday month'
20. As a teenager I was obsessed with Gareth Gates

21. In the future I'm going to buy a dalmatian and call him Jake
22. My best friend is going to buy a pug and our dogs will get married
23. I dip my toast in my tea and it's bloody delicious
24. My bookshelves are filled with half read books
25. I am petrified of behind in my mid-20s. Adulthood scares me.

ox Lucy

Birthday Wishlist

Next Sunday I turn the grand old age of twenty five. Quite honestly I don't know how this happened. One day I was seventeen just kicking about with my friends going about my own business and in what seems like no time at all I'm suddenly about to hit my mid-20s. I think my miss-match wish list speaks volumes of my 'I don't want to grow up yet' attitude.

 FRIENDS statement pencils // FujiFilm Instax Mini // Pink Grapefruit Candle // Travel Wallet // 101 Dalmatians Movie Poster

Barry M Contour Kit // Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat // OPI Dating a Royal // Hoppity Poppity Bath Bomb // Benefit Gimme Brow // Tangle Teezer

I don't actually expect to receive any of these things as gifts, I much prefer surprises so rarely tell people what I want. If I was buying my own gifts these are what I'd be purchasing and maybe a small record player a a new pair of white jeans too.

What are you lusting after at the minute? 

ox Lucy

Nail Art | Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day is here! I had hoped there would be some sort of fancy dress day at work but much to my disappointment there was no such event so I donned got out my polish and dotting tools and decided nail art would have to do. The red noses were a little strange this year weren't they. Not being able to see which one you're buying might be exciting to some but the vampire was one I least wanted and typically the one I got! 

I guess as it's for charity I shouldn't complain but I'd have liked the old man or the scuba diver. I also donated to Dermot O'leary's 24 hour dance-a-thon and bought a cake or two from the annual Comic Relief bake sale, you can have a peek at the cake on my instagram here.

Did you do anything for Comic Relief this year? Which nose did you get?

ox Lucy

Ed's Diner | Restaurant Review

Ever since I can remember I've wanted to visit a real all American diner. It started with that scene in Grease where Danny Zuko's attempt at going undercover behind restaurant menus on his date night with Sandy was rumbled by the rest of the gang. I don't know whether it was the massive shakes, burgers, the decor or the jukebox but I knew that was my kind of place.

Where I live couldn't be further from 1950's America but when I was in London last month I took a trip to the Ed's diner near Euston Station for some pre-travel fuel and this is what I ate.

My go-to meal at Ed's is a slick dog with a side of sweet potato fries and a shake but I thought I'd switch things up this time and trade my hot dog for a Chicken BLT burger. A whole grilled chicken breast in a sesame seed bun with BLT & a slice of American cheese. One lettuce leaf and one slice of tomato was a little underwhelming but the grilled chicken was moist and the bacon.. well you can't exactly go wrong with bacon can you. 

On to the sweet potato fries. Oh my what can I say about Ed's Diner sweet potato fries?! The are delicious! Unlike some I've tried the outside is crispy, the inside is soft and fluffy and not at all soggy. If I could eat them everyday I would.

Ed's are famous for their shakes and my recommendation to anybody who'll listen is peanut butter. It's my idea of heaven in a chilled glass. Served in an Ed's tumbler it fills two glasses at least so for £4.35 you get more than your money' worth. be warned though, it fills you up so if you've not got a large appetite you might want to share.

I must admit, I was left a little disappointed by the chicken BLT burger and wished I'd ordered the slick dog (hotdog with BBQ sauce, cheese sauce and bacon). For the amount of lettuce and tomato you get you might as well order the Chicken Classic and add bacon on for an extra pound.

That being said if you're in the vicinity of an Ed's Diner I recommend you pay them a visit, even if just for a shake.

I'd love to know what your favourite American Diner is.

ox Lucy

How to clean your make up brushes

Sunday is chore day for me and like most people, cleaning my make up brushes was one of those chores I just kept on putting off despite knowing how unhygienic it is not to clean them. That was until I discovered a little beauty saviour from Primark. 

Sold as a 'facial cleansing pad', I knew this beauty gadget would be perfect for cleaning make up brushes as soon as I set my eyes on it and for a mere £1.50 I snapped it up immediately. I experimented with it that very night and to my utter happiness I was right.

The suction pad on the back sticks to the sink so all you need to do is dampen your brush and add a tiny amount of your preferred brush cleaner to either the brush or the cleansing pad. Then, in a circle motion gently rub the brush against the silicone bristles. You don't need to apply much pressure and almost immediately you can see the make up being washed from the brush. 

This new found method of giving my brushes a much needed clean is much quicker and easier than other methods I've tried and believe me, I've tried a lot! I firstly use liquid soap to rid my brushes of any product and once clean repeat it with an antibacterial liquid so kill the germs. To wash my full set of twenty brushes it takes no more than half an hour, I'd recommend doing it whilst running the bath.

Have you any other advice for washing make up brushes?

ox Lucy

Recipe | Nutella hot chocolate

When I posted this photo on my instagram this week it received a fair few likes so here's how I made it and how you can too.

It might be March but the weatherman must be stuck way back in January where I live. So far this week we've had rain, hail and snow leaving me feeling pretty chilly at the end of the day. One of my favourite ways to cheer myself up after a cold walk home from the station is with a large mug of Nutella hot chocolate. 

I'm putting a disclaimer out there right now and saying the word 'recipe' is a slight exaggeration, suggesting there's something complicated about this when it's far from it. The only two ingredients you need are a glass of milk and your trusty jar of Nutella. Warm the milk in a saucepan on a medium to high heat but be careful not to let it boil. Give it a whisk every now and then to distribute the heat and once it begins to bubble turn the heat down to a simmer. 

Now comes the fun part. Add a tablespoon or two.. or even three of Nutella and whisk into the milk until completely dissolved give it a little taste test to see if it's as chocolatey as you like it before pouring it into your mug and supping away on one of the best hot chocolates to pass your lips. Of course this is the basic recipe and I'd highly recommend experimenting with additions such as cinnamon, peppermint and obviously throwing a handful of marshmallows on top.

Have a great weekend!
ox Lucy 

The Netflix Tag

1. What are you favourite series to watch on Netflix?

Pretty Little Liars and Orange is the new Black. I'm probably going to re-watch both seasons of OITNB before the third is released.. just me?

2. What are you currently watching on Netflix?

As well as old episode of PLL, I've been obsessing over Ru Paul's Drag Race and once I've watched each season of that I'll be starting Community after hearing so many people raving about it!

3. If you could have any series, old or new put on Netflix, what would it be? 

Real Housewives of.. well anywhere really. I've only seen odd episodes here and there of Beverly Hills and OC and they seem perfect for a Sunday evening Netflixing session

4. What is your one peeve about Netflix?

I'd much prefer it if I got emails notifying me of new films and tv shows that have been uploaded or to tell me the ones that'll be removed each week. Instead I'm googling every few days to find out what's new.

5. What are your essentials for a perfect night in with Netflix?

A large cup of tea, comfort food and my most snuggly onesie. That pretty much sums up my perfect evening.

6. Recommend one series or film for someone else.

Pretty Little Liars! If you're not already on board the PLL train you need to cancel your social life and prepared to be hooked. UK Netflix have started uploading new episodes each week right after they're aired in the US so keeping up to date just got a whole lot easier.

Spring Interior Wishlist

 Artificial Daisies // Yankee Candle: Aloe Water // Candy Rose Mug // Rabbit Paperweight // Tweet Bird Cushion

At the start of every season I give my room a little refresh to keep my interiors in keeping with the time of year. As my room is quite neutral a few new items of decor are all it takes for a transformation and, with spring on the horizon, I've been eyeing up some new bits and bobs. 

When I pack away my brushed cotton snowflake bedding and winter scented candles I'll be replacing them with fresh floral prints and fresh scents. In an ideal world I'd buy fresh flowers each week but when I'm not at home enough to appreciate them during the week it seems like a bit of a waste so I'll keep faking it for the time being. Yankee Candle's new range Pure Essence includes the candle Aloe Water, promised to be clean and refreshing, perfect for a spring clean feeling each day.

Are you going to spruce up your space for spring?

ox Lucy