Tis the season to over indulge, and if you're out tonight, you'll be looking for a hangover cure tomorrow morning.

I have just the thing. 

Introducing the 'Bloody Mare' In partnership with Celebrity Cruises and Waitrose, I was given a hamper full of exciting ingredients and the challenge of making a take on the Bloody Mary with Barcelona favourite, Gin Mare. 

Even if you have the 'worst hangover ever' you'll be able to put this together. 

You will need

60ml Gin Mare

120ml Tomato Juice

10ml Worcestershire Sauce

10ml Lime Juice

5ml Soy Sauce

20ml Fino Sherry

6 dashes Cholula Hot Sauce

6 dashes Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce

Salt & Pepper

1 teaspoon Horseradish

I'm back after a week off from Blogging. I tend to do this fairly often at the moment for various reasons, and I feel it really helps get me back into the swing of all things blogging!

Now, on with the post.

As you may remember from this post, I was invited by John Lewis to take part in their “Give with Love Campaign”; a twist on the seasonal classic, “Secret Santa”. I was given the task of choosing a gift from John Lewis for another blogger. That turned out to be the lovely Lyzi from Being Little.

I spent the best part of a day on the John Lewis website, and checking out Lyzi's blog, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter feed to see if there was anything she was wishing for, and finally chose a gorgeous watch by Olivia Burton. You can watch Lyzi's reaction to her present here.

Now, on to my presents!

I received these a few weeks ago, but only decided to open them last weekend as I wanted to do it as close to Christmas as possible! I'm not sure who sent me them as there was no note in the boxes, but they did well!

So, big thanks to the lovely person who picked these out for me - I love them!

You can purchase them here;

Charlotte Tilbury Make Up Bag (sold out I'm afraid!)
Neom 'Complete Bliss' candle
Steven Klein x NARS eyeshadow in 'Stud' (sold out I'm afraid!)

My skin has been playing up over the last few weeks becoming very dry, irritated and stressed out, so I decided it was time for a little change to my skincare routine. 

Enter Sunday Riley's Blue Moon tranquility cleansing balm. After trialing the Good Genes product, and reading so many rave reviews about Luna Oil, I thought I'd give this one a whirl. 

This cleansing balm is a must for all the dry skinned people out there - If your skin is sensitive, stressed or affected from the change in weather, central heating and/or air conditioning then this balm will soothe and make angry skin look and feel calm. 

The balm itself is hard, and a little tricky to get out the pot if I'm honest but it warms onto the skin turning into a soft fluid. It lifts all your makeup including the hard-to-budge products, and is totally eye-friendly unlike other cleansing balms which I've found to irritate.

The key ingredient is Blue Tansy Oil, a smurf-like blue colour - don't be alarmed when you open the pot for the first time, it will not turn you blue! You also have Chamomile, Cocoa and Moringa butter in there to help calm, nourish and hydrate your skin. 

To remove, you simply grab a warm damp face cloth and wash it off. What's more, it doesn't leave your skin feeling oily or greasy after.

Now, as it's the festive season this will get your skin feeling a little Christmassy as well. Why? because it smells just like chocolate orange! Clementine Petitgrain, Vanilla and Tangerine have been added to the mix and OMG, it took me a lot of strength not to want to eat it just to see if it actually tastes like chocolate.

I love a multitasking product as I feel like I'm getting more for my hard-earned money, and this product doesn't disappoint - as an added bonus, it can be layered on a little thicker and left for around 20 minutes as an amazing, super hydrating mask. 

If you're familiar with Sunday Riley, you'll know that the brand aint exactly cheap. This balm retails at £46 which, may have a lot of people switching off straight away. BUT, the pot is pretty big, and a little goes a long way. Maybe it's one for the Christmas list? For me, this product will be part of my daily routine from now on - I can't recommend it enough. 

It's the party season, and we all want to look our best - from our hair to our makeup, we want to get it right without having to spend a pretty penny on it all.

For me, getting my nails done is one of the little luxuries I sometimes treat myself to. But, it can get expensive. There's a few at home gel nail kits out in the shops now, and a little dubious about them, I decided to try one out.

The Red Carpet Ready Instant Gel Manicure kit has everything you need to get started. The kit contains a Pro LED light, buffing block, erase remover, Orangewood Sticks, removal wraps and a bottle of one step gel polish. Its easy to set up and use and is even small enough to store away.

Watch, Bag, Earrings, Sunglasses, Wedges, Diary, Cashmere Scarf, Robot cufflinks, Tshirt, Trainers, Necklace, Holdall, Makeup kit

If you want to get someone something a little bit special, then look no further than my Luxe Christmas gift guide.

When it comes to spending that extra bit of money on your favourite person, I like to try and see some sort of practicality in the purchase - think cost per wear if you will! I've done a bit of research, and selected some lovely bits that are not just for show, but something he/she could wear or use all year round.

Lunch pot, Measuring cups, Parrot corkscrew, Eat! Cookbook, Teabot, Chocolate, 

Christmas Greetings Hamper, Book, Rocket S&P Mill, Oven gloves, NOPI Hamper, 

Enamel stockpot

Another day, another post in my Christmas Gift Guide series. This one is for the people who love to spend time in the kitchen, or love a good bit of food. I've compiled a few bits that vary in price, are a little bit different than buying someone a tin of Quality Street (FYI, there is nowt wrong with Quality Street).

As per, they're all available online - click on the links above and they will take you direct to the sites.

Lunchbox, Wooden Bus, Hairband, Lego set, Dinosoar nanoblocks, Purse, Pac Man Light, Toothbrush holder, personalised pencils, necklace, coding book, ice lolly lightsabers, PJ's, 
Baking set with apron

Prepare yourself for a whole lot of Christmas talk on WLDN over the next couple of weeks. As I said in Sundays post, I thought I'd start a little early this year as I have a few Christmas gift guide posts lined up for you lovely lot, and I want you to be able to get shopping before things fly out the shops!

I'm hoping the posts over the next couple of weeks, will inspire some of your Christmas gifting so, Happy Shopping! 

This post is for the ladies - Girlfriends, wives, friends, BFF'S, Mums, nans, aunts - you name it, I've tried to include something for everyone. Heck, some of the items above I want! 

I've even got my geek on - click on any image above, and it should take you to the store where you can purchase it. 

All available online, so get clicking - and send this post to the men in your life. Hopefully it will help them when they're purchasing your present. 

Happy shopping (and hinting!)

Stripe, Monochrome, pom pom heels, collar, gilet, bag, pink, grey

'Mean Girls' pencils, Colour-in London Map, Personalised Nutella, 2016 Diary, Unicorn pouch, Nut cracker, Mug, Inflatable crown, Trinket dish

I'm starting my Christmas gift guide series a little earlier than normal this year, as I'm breaking it down and adding in some new categories for you all. This one is perfect for if you're on a tight budget, or if you're taking part in a secret Santa in the office or amongst friends. 

From a totally awesome (and somewhat hilarious) pouch to store bits and bobs in, to a nut cracker disguised as a robot, everything above is £20 and under, and available online. I've got my eye on the very large personalised jar of Nutella - this may be one gift 'idea' I nab for myself. 

Printed Shirt, Jumpsuit, Dress, Ankle Boots, Stripe top, Cold-shoulder dress, Skirt, Tshirt, Shirt, Earrings, Coat

It doesn't seem that long ago that I did a beauty wish list, but it's that time of year, where the big beauty brands are bringing out their 'Holiday' collections, and I for one am not complaining! Think of these new beauty collections as the perfect items to see you through the new season, as well as a little glamour for the Festive period. Although, I already have something in the pipeline for a Festive beauty look so, watch this space.

Ever since NARS announced they would be teaming up with Steven Klein for their Holiday collection, I've been curious to see what it would be like. The NARS Fantascene collection launched in the UK last week, and there are several pieces that are now high up on my wish list - the Fantascene single eyeshadows in 'Never too late' and Stud are perfect shades for the new season. As for the a Woman's face neutral Lip set - for under £30 for a lipstick, lip pencil and lip liner, you have got yourself a bargain right there. I can see a trip to my nearest NARS beauty counter happening very soon. 

Chanel's Christmas collection is based around their best-selling, Le Vernis Rouge Noir which is 20-years old! I have this shade, and for some bizarre reason I only get it when I visit Paris. It's become sort of a tradition for me to pop in to one of their stores and pick it up - I even got a bottle for my mum last Christmas. The CHANEL Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir is a gorgeous bottle of sparkles - I mean it was love at first sight for my rose-gold obsession. I can imagine this looks a beaut over the Rouge Noir shade. Although, trying to get myself a bottle of this is proving a little tricky - always the way with new Chanel nail colours. 

There's quite a few eye products in this post! However, this Bobbi Brown Sterling Nights eye palette is all sorts of beautiful. I've already had a little play with this on my last trip to one of their makeup counters, and I had to restrain myself not to purchase it (to be fair, I'd bought another eye palette that morning). Mix-and-match shades to create a nude, smokey eye or something a little bolder. I can't stop thinking about it so, it's definitely going in my basket when the new Brighton store opens! 

One of the Holiday collections I look out for each years is by Mac. After my love for last years collection by the brand, this one is a whole lot of different. Magic of the Night includes eye, lip, and face compacts, mini brush sets, colourful pigments, and more - all packaged in jewel tone packaging *swoons*. Mac also have another collection called Enchanted Eve - full of gorgeous sets including the Enchanted Eve Lip and Eye Bag in Copper and Eye Bag in Plum. I know where I'll be making a pit stop next time I'm in town. 

This Charlotte Tilbury make up bag is perfect for chucking all my beauty products in. Plus, the zip pull is a mini lipstick - cute! We all know I'm a big fan of Charlotte Tilbury, and I don't see that going away anytime soon. Her Christmas gifting collection is full of little trinkets and treasures - perfect for stocking fillers. More on that in a few weeks...

I think you've all sussed by now, that my love for Charlotte Tilbury makeup is strong - I blame total babe Anna for my obsession, but what's not to love?

I've not worn foundation in years and, when I say years, I'm talking at least most of my twenties. I'm more of a tinted moisturiser gal as I, nor my skin can't stand that heavy feeling you get when you're wearing a lot of makeup. CT's most raved about product to date, the Magic Foundation was something I was very excited about - and the hype seemed to be real, so with Winter coming and my Summer glow a thing of the past it was time to see what all the fuss was about, so off I trudged to Selfridges.  

The details

It's been described as a 'flawless, poreless, long-lasting' formula, with a whopping 15 shades in total. It's £29.50 for 30ml and comes in the most gorgeous glass bottle with a rose gold lid. I mean, the packaging for me was a winner but then again I'm a massive magpie when it comes to all things rose gold. There's a pump application that deposits a good enough amount and although the formula is quite thick, it blends like a dream with the coverage being medium to full. 

As I said, it blends well - I slap on my Flash balm by Elemis before, and use my Bobbi Brown Full Coverage face brush to apply and blend it all in. It lasts most of the day for me, with the odd touch up if I'm staying out past my (usual) bed time. 

The one thing that majorly sold it to me? The finish - It looks natural, feels light on my skin and isn't too matte or shiny. 

Now, this is where I would've ended the post...if it hadn't been for another CT purchase that happened to slip into my basket whilst at the counter. Those Beauty counter gals and guys know how to sell their stuff.

On the same day that the Magic Foundation launched, the Mini Miracle Eye Wand also did. This product was five years in the making, and I'd been thinking about going on the hunt to replace my beauty staple, Touche Eclat for a while now.

This little pen is described as creating the appearance of 8 hours sleep in two clicks by expertly covering dark circles and lines, smoothing out bags or hollows, brightening the eye contour and hydrating the skin’s surface for a dewy, luminous finish.

I wouldn't say it gives me that exact appearance but, it certainly conceals the grey bags under my eyes more successfully than the other eye pen in my makeup bag. Plus, it has an eye cream at the other end of the pen which leaves the under-eye area smooth and soft. What's not to like?

A foundation to suit dry AND greasy skin? An under eye pen that is a potential winner over my must-loved Touche Eclat? CT, you are my new makeup BFF.

Image via here

Who doesn't love presents, right?

I'll be paired with another fellow blogger, and given the task of choosing them a gift from John Lewis. I may have never met the blogger I'm paired with but, and I'm totally blowing my own trumpet here, I like to think I'm a good present picker.

I've only ever done Secret Santa at an old job before, and that was yonks ago. I can be fairly difficult to buy for - my loved ones will vouch for that! However, I reckon it will be pretty easy for whoever is paired with me - John Lewis have some amazing gifts. From their totally awesome beauty section, to their gorgeous stationary, beautiful homeware and hundreds of clothing brands - they have it all. 

I'll let you know how I get on!

L-R: Red, Grey & White, Mustard, Colour block, Stripe, Chevron

Another Wednesday, another edit. Since the clocks went back, it's been bloody nippy down here by the sea. My knitwear collection has been pulled out of storage, and although I'm attempting to try this capsule wardrobe thang, I can't resist a couple of cheeky new jumpers for the season.

The high street have got some great jumpers - above are the ones I'm currently lusting over. However there are so many more out there, and with pay day this weekend I know what I'll be shopping for.

We've got a good few months of this weather...that's my excuse anyway.

The menu at Egg Break is full of delicious egg-based dishes. Split into different catergories, the basics: eggs on toast, eggs benedict, etc are alongside a variety of other dishes, including buns and salads. 

I had the Broken eggs, chorizo, roast tomato, scamorza, and spring onion" (avocados on the side) and it was bloody delicious and, great value for money too. 

L-R: Shirt: Cos, Trousers: Zara, Jeans: Topshop, Dress: Whistles, Coat: Zara, 

Ankle Boots: Kurt Geiger London, Trainers: Nike, Lace-up Boots: Carvela Kurt Geiger, 

Bucket bag: H&M, Flats: ASOS, Grey top: Cos, Animal Print Shirt: Cheap Monday, 

Jumper Dress: ASOS, Backpack: Topshop

There's been a lot of talk on the internet about Capsule wardrobes recently, and I've been paying close attention. Caroline from Un-fancy has inspired a lot of ladies to try this method out - basically, you only have a choice of 37 items per season... and that includes shoes and coats as well. Accessories are exempt if that helps you're sense of panic reduce a little - I know it did for me.

My style doesn't change too much throughout the year - I don't really buy in to trends too much and, I tend to wear the same pieces in my wardrobe but, style them differently. So I already feel as though I'm sort of doing the whole capsule wardrobe thang.

So far, I’ve probably bought less items for this season than the last couple of Winter's...yes, I know we're only in October but usually my jumper drawers are overloaded by now. I tend to purchase a lot more than I would in the warmer months. I'm a huge Winter coat fiend - I can't just have one so, I've limited myself to two coats for this. Believe me, that's pretty good for me especially as i've been swooning over about six coats in Zara's AW15 collection in the last few weeks. That brand can do no wrong.

For me, footwear is important in Winter - I like to have a collection of boots and a couple of pairs of flats/heels as well. I'm not talking about a shoe collection that's on par with the Kardashian women, but enough to feel like I can change it up when I want to. Kurt Geiger's boot collection for AW15 is totally awesome, so a couple of pairs from there will see me through a few winters I reckon.

In terms of basics and a few stylish items, I tend to head to my beloved Cos and Whistles. They're a little on the pricey side but, the quality is so good and when you're limiting yourself to wardrobe items, I think quality is hands down the winning factor when choosing your pieces.

In summary, it’s not too crazy a overhaul. I’ve still gone through the usual process I do each season of getting every item out of the wardrobe, trying it on, and either putting it back in the wardrobe, in the bin, giving it to a local charity shop, or saving it for selling. I'm not going to commit to trialling this concept out fully BUT, after spending some time reading up about it, I’ve decided to go down the not-so-capsule route (i.e: I am going to try it out but not stick to the rules too much). For me, this is an opportunity to adapt the capsule wardrobe approach gradually, and save some pennies whilst I'm at it.

Let's see how I get on....

Rewind about 5 years, and I had really bad adult-acne around my mouth and chin. It was horrid, painful and uncomfortable making me very self-conscious. 

Then, a couple of years later, I had a bad reaction to something that made the skin round my eyes and cheeks breakout(we still don't know what it was). I had two solid months of sore, red, irritable dry skin which made me so self-conscious, I wouldn't leave the house. After several trips to the doctors, various creams and antibiotics it cleared and, so did my adult-acne. I found my skin to be the best it's been in years. Don't get me wrong, I still get the odd spot but that's down to stress and hormones, or me being lazy and not taking my makeup off. 

Since then, I've been very careful what I put on my face. Up until recently, I only used Bioderma to cleanse, and E45 to moisturise. But, that's changed and I've removed the E25 and added a few new products to my routine - my skin feels so much more glowy and all that jazz.

Morning routine

Quick and simple as I tend to be in a rush to get to work - I give my face a quick wipe with my Bioderma Sensibo H2O and then wash my face with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser before moisturising with my Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion. Done.

For the evening

I change it up a little. After I've taken my mascara off with Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, and taken the day off with my trusty Bioderma, I use Eve Lom Cleanser (I'm still not used to the smell) and then moisturise with my Cetaphil Moisturiser.

The extra bits and bobs

Sometimes, I use a couple of other skincare products. When I've spent a few days up in London, I slap on the Clear Improvement Active Charcol Mask by Origins to freshen my face and get rid of all the city dirt and grime.

Once a week, I'll use my Ultrafine Scrub by La Roche Posay this product is the best face scrub for sensitive skin. There's also no need to hop on a Eurostar to Paris either, as this and lots of other products from the brand are now available in Boots. Bonus!

If I have a spot, I'll also apply my magic cream - a.k.a Effaclar A.I by La Roche Posay. I've mentioned this before but, I can't preach enough about this product! Unfortunately, you can't get this over here - I've had no joy finding it over here, except when I head over to Paris, where I stock up on it!

And, that's it! I'm currently trialing one of the Sunday Riley serums after receiving a sample which, is massively living up to the hype that they've created. I may have to cave and hand over the cash for the one I'm sampling when it runs out, meaning I may have a new addition to my routine soon.

Watch this space...

C'est fini! Fashion month has now wrapped up and what better way for it to end in Paris. As we all know, this place is dear to my heart and the fashion is the best of the best.

For me, this was my favourite fashion week out of all of them - from the gorgeous, girly prints at Carven, to the 90's influenced looks at Chloe and not forgetting the chic collection from Mugler - sexy-chic at it's finest.

Paris, you have my heart anyways but, this fashion *swoons*

Take a look at my favourites below

Chloe

Carven

Mugler

The Kurt Geiger AW15 accessory collection is available online and in stores now. Bags range from £20.00 to £395.00

Selection from: H&M, GAP, Boohoo, Whistles, Cope Active and Nike

Ok, hands held high here - I've not done any exercise all Summer, and now we're heading into the season where carbs and comfort food are a major factor in getting through the cold, dark months I have decided to join the gym.

I can hear my family laughing as they read this.

After a couple of stressful months, and the fact I'm now on full wedding dress shopping countdown, I've decided to try out Pilates and go running at least twice a week. Obviously, I'm going to need some suitable clothing for these activities (plus, it's another good enough excuse to shop) so I've turned to the high street to see what they have on offer. 

In the past (and I mean way back) I've purchased some cheap bits from Sports Direct. I was really surprised that a few of my favourite brands now do active wear, and I found a great online brand who do some really different pieces - the emoji leggings are so ridiculous I love them. 

I've decided if I'm to take this whole exercise thing seriously, then I'm going to get some nice bits from one of my favourite brands - I've got it in my head that if I spend a decent amount on some pieces, it will give me more motivation to actually go out and exercise in them.

We'll see how that goes.