"You Must Never Underestimate the Power of the Eyebrow" - Jack Black

I recently got invited along to an HD Brow event and discovered the power of the brow!

I must confess that I felt a little uneasy about going along. I've never done much to my eyebrows and usually just pluck away unruly hairs, so a complete HD Brow experience seemed a little daunting. I was nervous about the dreaded 'scouse brow' and what I would end up looking like! I was perfectly unbothered by my natural brows! I planned just to go along watch and ask some questions, but I was persuaded to under-go the treatment...

The stylists who greeted were so lovely and helpful I was put completely at ease and after spending far too long sneakily staring at everyone else's eyebrows (they all looked wonderful!) I was convinced that I should give it a go! The lovely lady I had transforming me talked me through every step and told me what I would need to do for after-care - which really isn't much.

When I stepped into the treatment room it was all beautifully branded in chic black and white, with gorgeous cabinets to keep all their tools. Where we were was actually being introduced as a training academy and it was a lovely big room that was the perfect spot to learn about how to transform unruly eyebrows.

But onto the treatment...

HD Brows do tailored procedures to suit your face, with each treatment being unique to the individual and exclusively for you. Instead of looking fake and, let's face it, a little bit ridiculous HD Brows are all about enhancing your natural beauty, giving you well-groomed eyebrows in high-definition.

The treatment involves tinting, waxing, threading and little bit of plucking - when I was sitting there it almost felt like there couldn't possibly be anything left! But don't panic! It wasn't sore either and if anything marginally uncomfortable. While I sat anxiously twiddling my thumbs my brows were transformed into the perfect arches, leaving them defined cleaner and neater.

                                  Before                                                                      After

And I was so pleased with the outcome! My eyebrows have never looked better, it was like my eyebrows naturally, just a bit more defined and groomed. They looked completely different - but in a strange way just the same. I'm an HD convert now. I was so pleased with the results and they definitely gave me a little confidence boost and spring in my step. There had really been no need to be nervous at all.

     Excuse the shameless selfies - I was just so pleased with them!

We'd also all been gathered to check out the new MakeUp by HD Brows range that was launched in Spring/Summer '14. It is a 76 strong capsule collection filled with all the essentials for brows, (of course) eyes, skin and lips.

I was lucky enough to get a lipgloss and Kajal liner.

The Lipgloss in Bare has a great wet-shine finish, giving your lips a lovely plump (but natural!) appearance. I don't often wear lipgloss - preferring to stick to lipstick, but I found myself reaching for this one more often! It's creamy texture sits comfortably on your lips and isn't overly sticky. It also boasts of containing an antioxidant Vitamin E to keep your lips moisturised.

The Kajal liner was a new one to me, but I've really enjoyed using it as an alternative to pencil or liquid eye-liner. It's perfect for creating sultry, smoky eyes and can add an intensity to your eye make-up. It's also really soft and smooth to use - applying it on your waterlines or covering the lids depending on what look your going for.

I really loved my HD Brow experience and would recommend it to anyone! You can find your nearest salon HERE - go for it!

Thanks so much for having me!

Escapades in Edinburgh {Two}

After a spot of culture at the castle (which you can check out HERE) it was definitely time for some cocktails - much to my delight!

And then it was time to pop back to the hotel to get ourselves all dolled up for the evening ahead.

The order of the day was monochrome with splashes of coral - my new favourite colour obsession I think!

I decided to go for an all-black outfit and pretend to be classy. It may look like a LBD, but I've actually disguised a top and skirt as one. I bought this skirt for work originally, it's an H&M basic that is a little longer than their usual stretch skirt so is great to throw on with a blouse for the office. However, I love pieces that serve more than one purpose and it's actually great for a wee treat night out also, with the longer length adding a sophisticated edge. Pop on a black cami-vest top and you've fashioned yourself a make-shift bodycon Little Black Dress.

It still needed something over the top for a Saturday night dinner date, so I packed this gorgeous little jacket in my suitcase. I got it a while ago and it's become a bit of a favourite. I love the speckled effect, outlined by the black trim and the biker cut adds a bit of an edge to it. But because of the soft fabric it also drapes in a lovely way.

All that I needed now was some pops of colour.

Isn't this clutch the best! I found it in Miss Selfridge and so far have only styled it casually (HERE) but it was the perfect 'Arm Candy' for a Saturday night as well. I'm more than a little bit in love with the colour as well, the soft coral blush is so pretty. Slip into some colour-matching court shoes and you're good to go.

First stop some fizz...

We then trotted off to Valvona and Crolla and I was pretty pleased to be back!

It's a place where I devoured many a bowl of pasta when I was younger with my Dad spending hours browsing the over-flowing shelves of the deli before picking out some sensational delights. We also visited the new restaurant that they opened and I remember Roman Holiday silently running in the background in black and white as we laughed over plate upon plate of gorgeous Italian food.

We went back to the restaurant on this trip and I was more than delighted to find that not much a really changed. It still had a hearty, family-run Italian feel - with the chefs and waiters calling out to each other in rushed and passionate Italian - adding to the bubbling atmosphere of the place.


The food is nothing fancy, but simple and absolutely delicious Italian food. It tastes stunning in its simplicity.

To start we had the 'Platter of cured meats, girdled Italan vegetables, mozzarella de bufala, marinated Italian tomatoes, garlic and extra virgin olive oil'. The lovely waitress was kind enough to tell us that we'd only need one plate between us - so of course we heard this as lets order something else as well! So the calamari was added to our order, and I'm glad it was as it was truly delicious.

I then opted for the Penne Alla Norma - pasta with tomato and aubergine sumo, finished with mozzarella di bufala. How can something so simple taste so amazing! It was a bit bowl of deliciousness straight from an authentic Italian kitchen - mama mia!

A little treat that Valvona does is to recommend a glass of wine to go with each dish on the menu and I was so enamoured with the little glass of sweet wine that arrived with my Panna Cotta Del Giorno that I completely forgot to take photos to share it with you! But trust me it was truly, truly scrumptious!

All that was left was to chitter-chatter the night away over mojitos and set the worlds to right - Edinburgh, thanks for having us!

Insta-Week

Lots of pretty clothes to dream about and tea!

I'd been hearing so much about Your Tea and their Tiny Tea teatox recently, so I decided to try it out for myself! I ordered the 28 day supply and it soon arrived in this gorgeously decorated box, filled with little pink parcels of goodness. I'm quite far through it now and will definitely be writing a wee Review to share my thoughts on it - eyes peeled!

A while ago it was World Book Day, I've been an avid reader from a young age and decided to share a little quote from one of my favourite childhood books, Chinese Cinderella; The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah. The author describes her experiences growing up in China during the Second World War. After her mother dies giving birth to her she is considered bad luck by her family and it's a tale filled with sadness, fascination and hope. "I read because I have to. It drives everything else from my mind. It lets me escape to find other worlds." I think we should all escape into a book every now and again.

Back to the Teatox - getting it involved in my weekend morning routine; bed, Elle and a cup of tea!


I got involved in the great #ColourMeMarch craze that everyone involved in a prestigious event - The Cheltenham Races Ladies Day. It was all about bringing some colour to the day and brightening up your outfit. I opted for yellow, coral and pastels to complete the perfect outfit. It got me really excited for summer and definitely convinced me that I should eject some more colour into my wardrobe. Check out the post HERE.

Escaping for a weekend away is just lovely and I went through to Edinburgh for a bit of a change of scene. We stumbled across this beautiful market. Hidden away in an old church the stained glass windows illuminated the stalls that glowed with fairy lights and little trinkets. Check out the rest of the day HERE.

A weekend away calls for gorgeous clutches and matching heels on a Saturday night! All I need now is the fizz!


Sorry the tea features again.... But isn't the mug a little gem! I found it hidden in the Primark homeware section.

Oooooh what I would do for some Self Portrait in my life! They have some truly stunning dresses, all lace and cut-out in beautiful shapes and cuts. The London label was founded by Han Chong who attended Central Saint Martins and he's created gorgeously feminine clothes that also have a sharp edge - with intricate designs and details they really are dresses to lust over.

I was so excited for a little visitor this weekend. My fabulous big sister was coming up from London for a couple of days and I couldn't resist a wee insta to mark the occasion. Here we are embarrassing everyone with our dancing at a Swiss music festival. Safe to say this weekend was just as silly.


Onto a little #tbt. I've been using old blog photos as throwbacks every now and again, as I love scrolling through and have a read back through old posts to get me inspired again. This one HERE featured bright pink coats and pretty hats.

I tried out L'Oreal's new Infallible 24-H Matte foundation and found myself caught up in the hype along with everyone else. It's pretty great. It's a lovely lightweight, natural cream and gives a great even skin tone and coverage. I usually stay clear of foundations as I hate the caked on feel and look some can give you, but I've found I'm an absolute convert with this one! Read the full review HERE.

Edinburgh is the perfect weekend escape and we recently took a trip through - exploring markets, wandering around the castle and posing on cannons; it's all HERE.

Escapades in Edinburgh {One}

Myself and the other half took a trip to Edinburgh for a wee weekend away!

It's so nice to get away - even if it's really not that far! - and pretend like you're on holiday for a weekend. So we packed up our overnight essentials and headed through to Edinburgh. It really is a gorgeous city and perfect for days wondering around and discovering cute hidden corners and little nooks and crannies.

But fist what did I wear...

(Cardigan - H&M, Top - H&M, Skirt - American Apparel, Boots - Forever 21)

We spent Saturday wandering around, taking in the atmosphere and the sights, so I wanted to be cosy. It was freeeeezing in Edinburgh, so, of course, I bundled on a much loved polo neck and even some fleecy tights - oh my goodness they are a godsend!

I've had this skirt for years and at first my sister dubbed it my 'nun-skirt', but I love it. I've found myself stuck in a bit of a jeans-rut recently and have been feeling that when the weekend rolls on I always reach for a trusty pair of jeans. But, as it was a wee treat weekend away I felt a little dressier in a skirt and have vowed I'll steer away from the jeans more often! Ignore the rules 'never wear navy and black' I think it looks dandy and tuck your polo into the elasticated waist, that along with the pockets adds some shape.

I'm a fan of an over-sized cardigan and this is a monochrome gem, a big wrap around warmth of amazingness (even if that doesn't make sense, it's what I like to think!) I added on the rest of the usuals - rose-gold watch and buckled boots that you all must have seen a gazillion times before - oooops.

So off we popped!

We dropped our bags off at the hotel - which was a brilliant find on LateRooms. We didn't have to trundle along for long till we found Motel One hidden just of Princes Street. The location couldn't have been better and the room was lovely too, just the perfect size for an overnight stay and simply but nicely decorated - my blue suitcase even matched their colour scheme, nicely done!

Once we were all set we just went on a little wander admiring the beautiful city as we went.

We ended up on the Royal Mile and lazily made our way through the crowds watching a handful of street performers and picking out postcards We soon stumbled on a gorgeous little market hidden away in an old church. It was like it's own little storybook place, with lanterns and fairy lights glittering down on us as we admired sellers wares, illuminated by the sun shining through the stained glass windows onto the old stone walls. A delightful little fairy world, hidden of the bustling street - only made a little odd by someone disguised as Jack Sparrow selling leather satchels....

Then The Inn on the Mile was spotted and it was time for a rest-bite and a nice big large glass of wine to 'cheers' our mini-holiday.

After we were fully refreshed we daundered back up the Mile...

Until we came to the crowning glory of Edinburgh - the castle! The historic building dominates the skyline of the city and sits proudly on top of Castle Rock, an extinct volcano. It was once home to the historic royals and secrets and stories are whispered through the stone, hinting of promises of fascinating tales from time gone by.

I prefer to wander around and just take it all in, imagining the scandal that went on all over the castle, but Mr Audio Guide liked to listen to every number, so as the voice babbled on in my ear I took in the beautiful views.

And of course pose with some cannons...

It's a lovely romantic place to stroll around immersing yourself in the historic wonderfulness all around you. There was even a wedding taking place when we visited and everyone smiled as the beautiful bride posed up a storm - what an amazing setting!

I loved the exhibition of The Scottish Crown Jewels, following their fascinating story until they were displayed in all their grandeur. I also loved the great hall, filled with armour and I would love to be a fly on the wall at one of the grand, and surely raucous dinners!

Keep your eyes peeled for Part Two - when we dined like Kings (well maybe Italian Kings) ourselves!