Best of 2011

I meant to post this at the end of December but.. ugh! I wanted to film the video to go up alongside it and only got around to that today. This had the potential to be an epic blog post but if these are the products I've loved for the a whole year you've probably heard enough about them already. These aren't necessarily my current favourites but the ones I favoured throughout 2011. There are some things I've switched out recently but the criteria was they must have been used for 4+ months of the year and I must still consider them good enough to recommend to you all. So.. here they are.. finally!

In no particular order...

GARNIER BB CREAM (LIGHT)

SIGMA BRUSHES (VARIOUS)

CLEAN & CLEAR DUAL ACTION MOISTURISER

TEA TREE CLEANSER & TONER

SOAP & GLORY WISH UPON A JAR

SOAP & GLORY RIGHTEOUS BUTTER

GARNIER INTENSIVE 7 DAY BODY LOTION SHEA BUTTER

BATISTE TROPICAL DRY SHAMPOO

MAYBELLINE ONE BY ONE

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE

LEE STAFFORD HAIR GROWTH TREATMENT

RIMMEL EXAGGERATE LIQUID LINER

MINERS MATTE FACTOR IN PEACH

MAC LIPSTICK IN VIVA GLAM V

BENEFIT DALLAS POWDER

MAC PEACHES BLUSH

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE & POLISH

REVLON COLORSTAY

MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY 24 CONCEALER

RIMMEL STAY MATTE POWDER

BOURJOIS DELICE DE POUDRE (CHOCOLATE BRONZER)

PACO RABANNE LADY MILLION

What were your stand out products of 2011?

Miss BB

I Resolve...

This year I have 3 main resolutions (that would concern you on this blog that is) they are as follows...

1. Look after my hair
2. Look after my skin
3. From the 1st January until the 1st March - NO SPENDING! 

So technically the third isn't a resolution for the whole year but I will still be pretty impressed if i manage to keep it all the same. The reason for the spending ban is our trip to Vegas on March 18th. I'm allowing myself a couple of weeks off just before in case there are any last minute "essentials" I need to pick up. We need to save as much as we can for spending money while we're over there and once we're back we intend to save towards a new car so hopefully I will learn over the next 2 months how little I actually NEED to spend and can continue to cut back once the self-imposed ban is lifted. I don't know about you but like most shopaholics (yes it's a real thing!) I get a buzz from the initial spend, I shop to make myself feel better and of course I shop because I have a seemingly unending list of must-have items I do not yet posses. I am going to try my absolute darnedest not to shop for that short(ish) time and if I can do it ANYONE can.. who's with me?

The relationship I have with my hair has always been the same. I expect too much out of it when I put very little in. I TORTURE my hair and expect it to shine and grow faithfully and when it doesn't I lose interest. I chop it off (MYSELF!!!) because it needs a cut and then I'm bored with the colour and so bleach the health right back out of it.. It's put up with an awful lot from me over the years and it's about time I gave it some proper attention. I am 25 now (soon to be 26), the time for pink streaks and home highlights is over! I hate to have it cut but I know it must be done. The split ends are spreading and it's breaking off halfway up my lengths.. I've spent mountains of cash on treatments, conditioners and oils only to realise until it's been seen by a licenced professional nothing will help. My hair is effectively a money pit right now so.. I declare 2012 "Project Hair". On January 1st I will take a picture of my hair as it both dried naturally, straightened and the state of my ends. I will shortly after be visiting the salon for the first time in over 2 years for a cut and making repeat appointments for regular trims until such a time that the condition will actually allow it to grow. I have already started some necessary damage control and added a heat protectant to my regime (never before used *slaps wrists*), will limit heat styling to once a week and just generally be as kind as I possibly can be to my poor, neglected mop. I know lots of people initially found my videos and blog through my hair adventures and I hope to be able to help those of you who did by taking you on this next journey with me. I will be regularly updating on condition, what I'm using and of course GROWTH and sincerely hope this time next year to have the beautiful hair I've always dreamt of.

Skin. I thought I'd found my skincare mojo earlier this year. I have my HG Clean & Clear Moisturiser and I found Superdrugs Tea Tree Toner and Cleanser to be a great addition to my routine.. Then I discovered Liz Earle. All I will say is it is everything they've said it is and more. If it's not working for you chances are you're not doing it right or you're not doing it regularly. The first few times I tried it I wasn't impressed but once it became a nightly cleanse.. wow! I'll admit I'm not great at keeping up a routine but now I know what it can do for my skin I really do try to get it in once a day. I just invested in a huge 150ml pump so that will definitely be a 2012 staple. As /i mentioned previously I have recently acquired a Clarisonic (very exciting!) also so between the two I am confident I will see a huge improvement in my skin. Unforunately as I've grown older my skin has changed and my trusty clean & clear doesn't seem to be doing the same magic it once did. It's still a great treatment for blemishes but I require something a little heavier to see me through now so I'm on the look out for my next great moisturiser.. i may go back to Clinique. Lastly one addition I will definitely be purchasing in the new year is a good eye cream. I'm considering the Loreal Youth Code range at the moment.. but then should I go the whole hog and get the matching night cream too? I'm quite sure that's a post in itself. 

It must be my age and where I'm at in my life (nearly married with 2 kids) I feel settled an I feel my appearance should reflect that. I don't want to look like a teenager with ratty hair and spotty skin.. I can afford to forgo my weekly makeup fix (or at least downsize it) to make way for some much needed base-level pampering, can't I? I mean after all anything I put on my skin or my hair will look so much better when they are in great condition. Being a blogger is great for so many reasons but one that's fitting now is motivation. If I don't do these things someone (or someoneS) will question me.. almost give me a hard time about it and while that may not always be desirable it's sometimes good to have that angel on your shoulder guiding you towards to right path. In this case it's a tweet in my pocket but it's the same principle. 

So they are my resolutions. I've been realistic, I'm not setting unachievable goals but they are challenging for me and I will have to work to keep them. Each has it's own reward which I'd very much like to reap so I'm asking you to please remind me of them when you see me slipping.

What will you change for the better in 2012?

Miss BB

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2011! 

Here's hoping you all have a fabulous day and Santa brings you everything you asked for!

Miss BB & The Gang

Mad Friday - OOTN

*What I'm Wearing*

Dress - Babyphat

Shoes - Primark

Fur Coat - Vintage

Earrings - Topshop

Possibly the worst night to go out EVER.. we met some characters I can tell you!

I'll blog about the evening itself later (expect lots more photos) but it's Christmas Eve and I have things to do! I will to leave you with this last image though.. My friend Kat (StyleSoCoy) was out with us and the obligatory photo shoot ensued.. I played around in editing and this is my favourite!

Why can't I look like that?

Merry Christmas Eve

Miss BB

http://www.stylesocoy.com/

1 Week To Go!

Here's a festive video catch up for you all...

VLOGMAS!

And not forgetting the Holiday Tag!

To follow my daily vlogmas videos go check out my vlog channel

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Miss BB

NOTD - Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle

First off.. loving this! I know not everyone was overly enamoured of their December Glossybox but no matter what i got I think this would have won me over. I love me some glitter at Christmas time and having purchased from this brand before I was aware it's NOT CHEAP! I love the special glitter shades from Deborah Lippmann but I've only tried one polish from the brand previously and it chipped so quickly it really put me off trying any others. I have to say though..  after trying this one I'm already chomping at the bit to add to my collection. I've had it on my nails for a couple of days and it's showing very little sign of wear. I already knew that it would look fabulous but if it chips an hour after I've applied it I'm not interested. Glossybox absolutely got it right for me this month. They've made a customer of me where I'd written DL off as a bad job. This is going to be an expensive habit!

The polish is luxuriously dark and festive cranberry shade with an overload of raspberry glitter. I can't think of anything more fitting for the Holidays.

A full sized polish is 15ml and a mini is approx 9ml (I had to do some fl oz - ml calculations as I couldn't find a volume online on any UK site) I think that's a really nice size. For something like this that you wouldn't wear every day the mini size is ideal! FYI The polish on the right is 'Waking Up In Vegas' and the yellow colour shakes out.. it settles like that when it's left to sit.

Have you tried anything from Deborah Lippmann?

Miss BB

Come Shop With Me..

I'm sure most of you will agree that jeans are absolutely the hardest thing to shop for.

I tried on a few pairs and have had to accept that super skinnies really don't flatter my shape. Unfortunately there's not a lot else out there on the high street as they're so popular. Luckily I did find a nice pair of boot cuts (top right) that *just* fit me in Dorothy Perkins... I wanted them a little tight as my tummy is still swollen and I don't want them to be huge on me in a month. 

I was shopping for anything everything but I knew I wanted a good pair of jeans, some basic tops and a wear-with-all cardigan. I got a coupe of scoop necked tops (wearing in the pictures) but the knitwear eluded me. Either it was too scratchy, didn't look like it would hold up in the wash or was just plain awful. I'm probably the most picky about cardigans. When I find one I like I need to buy it because it could be years before I find another. I've seen a couple I like online but I'm never sure of the material.. may just have to chance it.

So.. when I couldn't find more than a couple of things I liked Lee took me to look at watches. He said he'd initially wanted to get me a Michael Kors watch as he knew how much I'd wanted one but they just seem so expensive.. I'm not sure. These are the two we were considering...

The one on the left I think is my favourite as it's a bit more classic and I can wear it everyday, the one on the right was in the sale which is a nice bonus but it's a bit flashy. The strap is clear perspex so it doesn't feel as robust and it's still not cheap for something that doesn't feel very substantial. I would like a watch that's swim proof so I never have to take it off.. reason being I NEVER remember to put a watch on! I'm looking at alternatives but what do you guys think? Any suggestions of must-haves you think I should check out are also welcome! 

What's on YOUR list?

Miss BB

Dear Santa...

Tis the season to be jolly... and lustful! 

Christmas is a great excuse to that yourself to some of the items you have lusted after all year long. For those items a little out of my price range right now.. consider this an open letter to Santa.

Moroccan Oil £30.45 here

NARS Love Thrill Gift Set £45 here

Yankee Candle in Sparkling Snow £9.99 here

Topshop Alphabet Letter Purse £6 here

Givenchy Play Intense £45.90 here

RI Rose Gold Toned Diamante Watch £22 here

KG Adelia Platform Shoe Boot £60 here

H&M Faux Fur Jacket £19.99 *sale* here

Viva Glam II Lip Glass £12.50 here

Viva Glam Gaga II Lipstick £13.50 here

Diamond & Morganite ring £103.77 here

Snowflake CZ Studs £19.99 here

Merry Christmas

Miss BB

MAC Glitter & Ice Must-Haves

This year hasn't been fantastic for MAC Collections in my opinion so I wasn't excited about the Holiday sets.. in fact I wasn't even aware of them until yesterday when they were already available online. I believe they launched in stores today. What appealed to me with this collection was the packaging first and foremost. Its got the classic clean MAC lines we all know and love but it's WHITE! It's like they've joined forces with apple and then sprinkled it in glitter... beautiful! I'm a sucker for anything festive and with names like Snowglobe I was sold almost immediately. I knew I had to have something in white packaging and I thought it would be tricky to choose but it really wasn't. There were other bits and pieces I wouldn't mind either but these are my top picks...

Mineralize Eye Shadow in Snow Season £16.50

Paint Pot in Morning Frost £14.00

Lipstick in Such Flare £14.00 

Make It Perfect Brush Kit £39.50

Nail Laquer in Unconditionally Fabulous £10.00

Beauty Powder in Snowglobe £20.50

 OK so that's a pricey shopping trip... I think my must haves will be the nail polish, the beauty powder, the lipstick and the paint pot which comes to...£58.50?... eek! Now I remember why I stay away from the MAC counter. Beautiful though!

Will you be picking anything up from the Glitter & Ice collection?