Primark Haul - March 2013

Wolf print loose t-shirt (£1.00)

This wolf print tee just made me laugh when i saw it in Primark, i think it is meant to be a pyjama tee but i would totally wear it as casual wear on a summers day. I love the print and the slouchy shape means that it would be good to lounge around in the house in too.

Cream chiffon blouse (£8.00)

Coral pink shirt (£9.00)

I bought the cream blouse because you can never have too many of these and let's face it, they pretty much match anything in your wardrobe. The coral pink shirt was bought with spring in mind but the peter pan collar means that i can layer it up for winter too. 

Black and white striped oversize blouse (£12.00)

Oriental bird print scarf (£4.00)

The oversize shirt i bought on a whim. I like the long length of the blouse and the black and white print makes it on trend. I fell in love with this oriental bird print scarf, i like the fact that it is low key in grey and the birds add a dash of colour. 

New Look Haul - March 2013

Multicoloured ballet pumps (£9.99)

I really have not been feeling New Look's recent collections. Ever since they have started to collaborate with other brands, i have felt that their clothing has declined in quality and in fit. As i am still dubious about hot weather ever arriving in the UK, i bought these lovely ballet pumps as a safe bet. The print on them reflects the rather Indian vibe which i have seen in other stores and the colours will brighten up my plainer outfits. 

Diamond bracelets, pack of two (£6.99)

Light coral bracelet in rose gold (£5.99)

I am a huge fan of bracelets and i thought both of these were really pretty. I like the diamond detailing on both of them but as they are not too dressy, i can wear them casually too. 

Forever 21 Haul - March 2013

Coral Star Print scarf (£7.40)

Forever 21 was one of those stores which, when it first came to London, i was obsessed with. It seemed to be on trend and best of all so cheap. I have found recently though that their prices have been creeping up to the save level as some other high street brands but they do have some great accessories. I have been loving scarves lately and especially with this crazy weather we have been having, it is great to glam up an outfit and keep me warm. I bought this lovely super soft coral coloured scarf, something i think will take me through to spring for definite!

Aqua statement necklace (£10.65)

Statement necklaces are another trend that i have been loving this year and the fact that they are everywhere means you can shop around. Some shops are charging ridiculous amounts for these necklaces so it is important to shop around for them. Make sure that the colours can be suited to as many outfits as possible to justify buying them. 

Diamond earring studs (£1.99)

I do like wearing studs and especially in this weather where you have to wear a million layers to step foot out of your front door, these help add a bit of glam in any outfit. 

Boots Haul - March 2013

Rimmel Apocalips in Apocoliptic (£5.99) available here , Rimmel Match Perfection face powder in Translucent (£6.99) available here , Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeshadow stick in Black (£4.49) available here

Rimmel really have been picking up their pace recently and they have bought out some fantastic pieces as part of their make up collection. Bloggers have been going crazy about the Rimmel Apocalips lip gloss sticks so i bought this lovely bright pink shade. I think it will be great for the summer months and the plus point is that it is a gloss so easy and wearable when it ever gets hotter. I am a chronic sufferer of oily skin so i picked up the Rimmel Match Perfection loose face powder to help to create a matt finish to my foundation. When testing out the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow sticks, i realised how super soft they are so i grabbed one to help create a perfect smoky eye in the evenings. 

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil (£9.99) Available here , Tangle Teezer in Pink (£10.99) Available here

This crazy weather has not been great for my hair and the ends of my hair have just got drier due to the effects of the heating. I know that the Morrocan Oil brand has been popular but it has received mixed reviews. So when i got a sample of the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil, i was pleasantly surprised by the results. It smelt fantastic and helped with the texture of my hair so i bought the full version. The Tangle Teezer has been a complete gem for me as i have fine hair so i bought another one to keep at my desk at work. 

Real Techniques Eye Shading Brush (£7.99), Real Techniques Face Brush (£9.99), Real Techniques Powder Brush (£12.99) Available here

I have been using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush since a long time and it has made applying foundation so much easier. I am pretty rubbish trying do it using my fingers. As these were 3 for 2, i have invested in some more Real Techniques brushes to try out. I will review them soon!

Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful

Starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and others
Star rating ***

Ever since i had seen the trailers for this film, i wanted to see it. The CGI seemed impressive and i have always been a bit of a sucker for a fantasy film. There has always been something about Wizard of Oz that has got me, may be its the idea of one girl finding her way on a long adventure that always appeals to me. James Franco has been getting in the film business and his witty charm seemed to be perfect for his role. Michelle Williams was equally excited about this film and said she was glad to be playing a role that her daughter could watch and enjoy. This film certainly had all the leading ladies to make it a great success.

Oscar Diggs, Oz to his friends (James Franco), is your average fair magician who has the way with the ladies and knows how to tell a lie or two to get his own way. After one particular unfortunate episode, he ends in a hot air balloon which together with a tornado, lands in Oz. This is where Theodora (Mila Kunis) discovers him and assumes that he is the wizard which will help the kingdom be freed from the Wicked Witch's rule. From then on, the adventure continues where Oz learns that not everything is what it seems in the kingdom.

There is no doubt that the CGI used in this film are awe inspiring, from the tornado scene to the adventure through the land of Oz, you really do feel as though you in the film with the characters. One of the best examples of this has got to be the monkey voiced by Zach Braff who is brilliant as the sarcastic yet adorably devoted sidekick for Oz. Franco plays the role of the lothario with finesse and even his devious ways enrapture the audience into sympathising with him. Weisz is at her brilliant best and her costumes are beautiful. Kunis could have had a bigger role in the story and her character is just not developed well enough in the film. 

The storyline had many flaws. Firstly, Franco's characters sudden transformation in to the 'good guy' was too sudden and he did not seem to get his redemption in the film at all. Michelle Williams at some points in the film, just comes across as a bit too sappy. It would have been good to see a more grown up take on the story and that is where the film fell down. Aside for some comic moments, there is not much there in the way of substance. A pass time film is a more appropriate label for this take on a classic tale. 

L'Oreal GlamShine Stain Splash

When i heard from Fleur DeForce blog that the YSL Glossy Stains dupe had hit the stores, i hot-footed it down to my local Superdrug. I needed to get my hands on them before they totally sold out of all the shades and the best part of the whole thing was that they were on offer for buy two for three. I bought the shades Lolita, Juliet and Marilyn. I decided to go for the brighter colours as summer is getting closer and they would look perfect in the sun.

From left to right: Marilyn, Lolita and Juliet

Marilyn is a magenta colour and no way as bright as it looks in the gloss stick. Once layered it can look bright but i like the light pink sheen i can get out of it. Lolita is a taupe colour and it is the most natural from all the other shades and will probably get the most wear from all of them. Juliet is the colour of the season, a lovely deep red that is perfect for the evenings. I was expecting a lip gloss like texture but once it goes on, it becomes matt and i quite like that. You can wear them even when you are eating so they do last long. The one thing i will say that they do go on quite subtle so will need layering up once on. They also have a weird cherry scent too which some may not like but i don't mind it. I will enjoy wearing these for the months to come.

  Where can i buy them? £7.99 each in Superdrug http://www.superdrug.com/search?q=L%27Or%E9al+Glam+Shine+Stain+Splash+&searchsubmit=Search 

Movie Review: Safe Haven

Star rating: *

Starring Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel

I really wanted to see this film. Having read the book by Nicholas Sparks, i was looking forward to seeing how the book was adapted into this screenplay. I knew the storyline from before so i expected to see a film which would be a mush fest with lots of cutesy moments with a strong background story behind the screenplay. The trailer made it seem as though it would be a must see with some typical Sparks' style dialogue, designed to make the audience swoon.

Katie (Julianne Hough) is a free spirited young woman who moves into a small town in North Carolina, looking for a fresh start. After getting a job in a local fish shack, she catches the eye of widower and father to two kids, Alex (Josh Duhamel) who runs the local convenience store. She also manages to make friends with Jo (Cobie Smulders) who helps guide and make her trust Alex. However, all is not as it seems. She is escaping her troubles from Boston, in the shape of the cop (David Lyons) who is catching up with her fast.

So this is not exactly the best film ever made but it does what it says on the tin. The film is impossibly slushy and has lots of mushy moments which are meant to warm the heart. However, the cynic in me finds this film incredibly unbelievable. The book has not been translated into a film well and the back story is not well explained at all. Hough is not great as Katie and she does not seem to convey emotions well at all. She is well matched by Duhamel in this respect, there is not much chemistry between the two of them so it is hard to feel any sympathy for them. I expected a lot more for this film and i was deeply disappointed. There is not much to it at all. 

Movie Review: Wreck It Ralph

Star rating: ****

When i saw the trailer for this film, i knew i just had to see it. The trailer itself was a must see with the character of Wreck It Ralph at a therapy session for bad guys surrounded by others like him from other videogames like the ghost from Pacman. Before Playstation came along, arcades had the forte and this film had a gist of nostalgia around it with the historic games being restored to their former glory. It seemed like the animated film to watch for this year.

Ralph (voiced by John C Reilly) is the bad guy from the game 'Wreck It Ralph' whose job to destroy an apartment building, which is then fixed by the hero, Fix It Felix. After being in the game since three years, Ralph is frustrated that he is not treated fairly by his fellow game colleagues and wants to be seen as a hero like Felix is. He decides that he needs to get a medal like Felix to be taken seriously and heads out to the other video games to see where he can earn one.

It has been a long while where i have enjoyed myself at a film until this one. It has been put together by the creators of 'Up' and that is clear to see, there is a definite consideration that not only children will be watching this film. With characters from Street Fighter and Super Mario Bros. featured in the background, the storyline has the audience hooked from the word go. Ralph is an anti-hero but it has a deeper meaning for the kids that no matter how someone seems from the outside, they can be different from the inside. The thought and detail put into creating this games land has to be mentioned and it is kept as true to the retro video games adults will remember from being kids. This is a must see for all!

Paris Fashion Week 2013: Chanel & Elie Saab

Chanel

I have been in love with Chanel since forever. From their fashion shows to their ready to wear collections, Karl Lagerfield ensures that each and every piece is made with class and finesse. It is like the label i would like to be dressed in 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, i would wear it all the time. As i can't do that right now, this girl can dream. Their Autumn/Winter collection was no different and was stage on the theme of international fashion. It is interesting to see that many of their pieces for the colder months, are a smooth translation from the summer trends. For example, look at the outfit above. The fun flowery print would not look out of place in the summer and then you can dress it up in the winter with a plain cardi and knee high boots.

Tweed is Chanel's trademark and this outfit is just a signature of the brand. I love the fact that it has been updated for this season with the big collared jacket and knee high boots. 

Elie Saab

Elie Saab really knows how to make a woman feel feminine and beautiful and this collection is no different. His maxi dresses are to die for and so elegant. This dress in particular stood out for me, the colour is a big part of this year's summer trends and it translating into the winter. This dress is part of this trend for winter, the dress is flattering with the flared out skirt and the cinched in waist. 

Maxi dresses have always had my heart. I love how beautiful they are and how gorgeous they can make a woman look. Navy blue is such a stunning colour if it is worn right and the lace detailing is so intricate and pretty on this dress. 

Paris Fashion Week 2013: Lanvin

Florals are big for this summer season and it is good to see that this trend will continue through to the colder months. I love the fact that they are bigger flowers instead of the smaller pattern as they are lot more dramatic and create a statement. The colour combination of lilac and black is so cute and it is nice to see that it will translate into later on in the year.

Statement necklaces are all the rage this year and Lanvin has stuck to this trend. I love this 'Love' necklace and the way it has been teamed up with a plain dress.

Butterfly prints have always had my heart. I love the delicate nature of them and how pretty they are worn on clothes or as an accessory. I do like how ladylike the print looks on this strapless dress and and long sleeve gloves are so elegant. 

Prom dresses always look so cute and i think it is because that i have never been to a prom as they are not big in the UK. I like the hide and reveal nude organza sleeves on the top half of the dress and the flare out skirt is incredibly elegant.