A relaxing weekend in the countryside: Bibury %

During the UK May Bank weekend I decided to escape the city for two nights to the countryside. Me and three friends booked a wee cottage in the charming town of Bibury for a bit of R&R! Bibury is a picturesque village in the Cotswolds, which is only about 1,5 hours out of London.

 This was our little home for the long weekend, how cute right!

Exploring Bibury...

I think it looks a bit like 'the Shire' from Lord of the Rings haha!

We even were able to enjoy breakfast in the little garden one morning!! 

Our cottage was right behind the luxury Bibury Court Hotel...

This hotel is truly amazing!! It would be the perfect place for a romantic weekend escape ♥ 

They serve a yummy high tea by the fireplace in the 'Study' room which we unfortunately didn't get a chance to enjoy but I am sure I will be back here some day! Add Bibury Court Hotel to the to-do list; check ;)

We just had the best weekend including...road trips in a convertible...Perfecting my swing at the golf course....Delicious Sunday Roast at the Village Pub in Barnsley...

Walks in the pretty country side..

Plus nights by the fireplace reading books and playing Risk and Pictionery! 

I came back to London after this weekend feeling all re-charged and refreshed :)

Conclusion? The Cotswolds are good for the mind, body and soul. 

There seem to be many more amazing things to do in the Cotswolds so I will come here for sure :) 

Have you ever been to the Cotswolds and if so is there thing you'd recommend in this area? xoxo

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri Collection

Yes it’s that time of the year again where in the lead up to summer, Estée Lauder launches their annual Bronze Goddess collection! I absolutely love their Bronze Goddess products so was very excited to get to preview the 2012 collection last month in London. You can read my review of the 2011 Bronze Goddess ‘Soleil’ Collection here (link) This years collection was inspired by the seductive beauty of the Isle of Capri.
The Capri makeup look is sexy yet sophisticated including warm, glimmering gold and metallic hues and sun-kissed tones, complemented by rich brown and bright white. I think the collection definitely captures the feeling of summer, can please take me on a holiday there now?? ;)

Every year the collections includes their popular ‘Bronze Goddess’ fragrance plus a brand new limited edition. The Bronze Goddess Capri fragrance has a gorgeous warm summery but fresh scent which reminds me of being on holidays by the ocean.

The fragrance includes top notes of Lemon Leaves, Mandarin and Cassis, heart notes of Peony and Jasmine Samabac and base notes of creamy vanilla, amber wood, patchouli and musk.

 I adore the smell and also love the styling of the bottle. On recent sunny days I have sprayed myself with the stuff to get me in summer spirit and I am definitely packing this for my sunshine holidays this year.

NEW Bronze Goddess Capri Eau Fraiche/Skinscent, 100ml £40.00

Also in the Bronze Goddess Capri collection in the Pure Colour Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering sands which is a gorgeous bronze shimmer powder for a beautiful warm sun-kissed glow. With clever prisma shine technology, featuring a tri-brid formula of liquid, powder and gel, the luminescent formula delivers a naturally radiant finish.

You can apply the product dry (as bronzer or highlight) or wet for a more vibrant look for example as an eye shadow or blended out on your collarbones for a sexy golden glow on your chest area.

Swatched: Top; dry and bottom; wet

The limited edition nail lacquer from the Capri collection is ‘Molton Lava’

Its a deep purple taupe with pinkish gold shimmer that runs throughout vanish! See some great swatches here (link). Think this will look especially smashing on my toes over summer time :)

The full Bronze Goddess Capri Makeup Collection includes: 

For Face:
NEW Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands, £28.00

Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer, 30ml £21.50
Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, £27.00
Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer, £27.00
Bronze Goddess Soft Duo Bronzer, £27.00

For Lips:
NEW Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage, £16.00
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Tiger Eye, £18.50
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Urban Auburn, £18.50

For Eyes:
NEW Pure Color Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands, £35.00
NEW Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava, £18.00
Sumptuous Waterproof Bold Volume™ Lifting Mascara in Black, £19.50

For Nails:

NEW Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Molten Lava, £14.00

Another standout item from this collection for me would be the limited edition Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands. I love last years eyeshadow palette from the Bronze Goddess Soleil collection (read my review here) and I use it all the time! I like using a bronze/golden shade all over the lid and then popping a bright blue on my lower lash line.

I also really like this 'pop of aqua' look I created last summer; you can read the full post here (link)

The Bronze Goddess 2012 Capri Collection is available at Estée Lauder counters nationwide and at www.esteelauder.co.uk now. So what do you think of Estee Lauders' Bronze Goddess Capri collection this year; are you eyeing up any pieces in particular? xoxo

The Hunger Games

When the Hunger Games movie came out in the UK I was one of many (girls) very keen to see it. Not to the die-hard extend of lining up for hours to get a ticket or anything because I hadn’t read the books but had seen the previews and reviews which all looked great. So as soon as it was out at the end of March me and my flatmate went to our local favourite cinema, the Electric in Notting Hill, to soak up some adventure, romance and si-fi action! We both really enjoyed the film and our next plan of action was to buy the books and read them all straight away!!

It is now about a month later and I have just finished reading ‘the Mockingjay’ which is the last book of the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. From the moment I picked up the first book I have been completely hooked and would spend any free moment of my days reading to find out what would happen to Katniss!!

Without giving too much away, the book is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the countries of North America once existed. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, holds domination over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the 12 districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle until only one person is left.

The Hunger Games is the first novel in The Hunger Games series, followed by Catching Fire (my favourite) and Mockingjay. It is rated young-adult but I don’t think it’s that teenyboppy and think most people will enjoy these books! So if you want gripping, easy to read books to lose yourself in for the next few weeks then I definitely recommend picking up the Hunger Games series!

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!”

Here are the three main movie stars from the Hunger Games movie at the LA premiere.

Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale)
I think Jennifer is absolutely stunning and well-cast as Katniss!

How stunning is her bronzed/golden make-up here?

So have you read the Hunger Games series or are you planning too? 

I was super obsessed with the books so this makes me very curious to see if I will still like the next two movies now that I have read the books. It’s always such a shame when you love a book so much and then movie doesn’t quite match up! But in saying that….

Happy Hump Day xoxo

Seriously lusting after LK Bennett Crocus Bag

I’ve completely falling in love with these gorgeous L.K. Bennett Crocus Bags! They're available in a range of stunning shades from black pink, citrus yellow and nude.

 But I think especially the aqua blue one has my name written all over it!!

Unfortunately at £245 each they're a bit out of my budget at the moment.

Maybe I should start saving? Or anyone feeling generous; gifts are always welcome ;) xoxo