Mother's Day Gift Guide

After the popularity of my Christmas Gift Guide post, I thought I'd turn it into a regular thing! I was going to do one for Valentine's Day, but I am a bitter and twisted singleton and didn't want to share any of my expert tips on how to impress a woman... Also I've been really busy and totally forgot about blogging. Oops!

So if, like me, you didn't realise Mother's Day was so nearby, I've put together a wee gift guide which hopefully offers something a little different to the usual 'why not treat your mum to this Cath Kidston apron!' lists we so often see. I even read on Everyday Sexism that John Lewis had included a VACUUM CLEANER in their gift guide.. (Although after years of terrible student house vacuum cleaners I do actually get excited at the thought of a Dyson.. but that's another story).

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I absolutely ADORE Rifle Paper Co., I've been obsessing over their stationery since I saw this calender on Milkteef. In fact, when I was last in Liberty and saw that they stocked a few of their cards and notebooks I.. well I didn't react on the outside because I was alone, but inside I was buzzing. These sets of cards are so unique, really useful but not the sort of thing you like to buy for yourself, making them a solid gift! You can thank me later...

Matchcarden City

These little cress gardens are really inexpensive but so cute! It's always nice to see something you've planted start to grow (even if it's just cress!) and I think this would be pretty cool to have on your desk at work. 

Diptyque Rosa Mundi Limited Edition Candle

As I mentioned in December, I love Diptyque. I still don't actually own any myself seeing as they cost more than a return ticket to London, but I can dream. This candle was released as a Limited Edition to celebrate Valentine's Day, but (at the time of writing) it's still in stock. It smells JUST like Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, my current perfume of choice, so I was instantly drawn to it! This intensely floral and inoffensive scent is a fail-safe gift if your mum is into candles (which, regrettably, mine is not..).

'The Flavour Thesaurus' by Niki Segnit

I never used to be that into cooking because I assumed I couldn't do it, but when I realised that mindset gets you nowhere I started trying loads of new things in the kitchen, and now I'm hooked! I'm still not very inventive and don't dare step outside the box in case I poison myself, but that really needs to change if I'm ever going to improve. Enter 'The Flavour Thesaurus'. From classic combinations (most of which I still don't know), to weird Masterchef-esque pairings, this book has it covered. I think this would be an asset to any household, and a great present for a mum who loves to cook!

Jimbobart 'Mr Fox' Coffee Cup Set

I stumbled across this artist when I was trying to avoid a really pushy sales assistant in Liberty (I do actually go to other places when I'm in London, I promise). I completely fell for his work, it was all so original! He's got his own shop in East London which I am DYING to visit; I've seen a greyhound tray on his Twitter which I can't find anywhere online, so hopefully I'll have more luck there! These stacking cups come in a variety of designs, plus a lot of them are currently on sale!

& Other Stories Mini Leather Shoulder Bag

& Other Stories is fairly new to the UK but it is already one of my absolute favourite places to shop in London. Owned by H&M, it's almost like a 'luxury' version of the Swedish fashion house, but also stocks other brands like Nike and New Balance. All of their stuff is worth looking at, but I think this adorable little bag would make a great gift!

BurrowingHome Wild Rose and Arrows Print

I was originally drawn to this illustrator because of her almost-but-not-quite-kitsch drawings of woodland animals (yes, I am very predictable..) but I think this beautifully detailed print would look lovely in a simple black frame with a black mount. Art always makes for such a thoughtful gift, and you can't go wrong with black and white!

Anthropologie Journal

Again, a notebook is one of those things you always need but don't always fancy buying for yourself! A vibrant and good quality one like this is never out of place in any busy person's life, and I love the electric blue cover contrasted with the pink lining.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow | Opaque Rouge Lipstick in Edition

Famed beauty brand Hourglass recently launched a range of blushers in their legendary 'Ambient Lighting' formula. I've read a lot about these and so badly want this one for myself, it's a really natural pink shade that suits most skin tones and the luxurious packaging takes it to the NEXT LEVEL. Also, I have this lipstick in Riviera and it is, hands down, the best quality item of makeup I own. This colour combination would look gorgeous together- a great gift for a mum who loves beauty products!

Raspberry, pistachio and rose cake recipe

Of course, arguably the best gift you can give to your mum on Mother's Day is FOOD. Or rather, something you've made yourself. I recently stumbled upon Donal Skehan's website (apparently he's a big deal in Ireland) and his combination of incredible graphics, beautiful pictures and mouthwatering (not to mention easy!) recipes is just so, so satisfying. Also, if he wasn't so clean shaven I'd definitely be in love with him. Check out his website if you're looking to treat your mum to a home cooked meal!

The Origins Comparison: Vol. 2

Origins - Ginzing brightening cream eyeshadow £17

Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr eyeshadow £4.99

Losing sleep on which cream eyeshadow purchase to make next? Haunted by nightmarish visions of the makeup aisle? Facing the agonising choice of budget vs premium? Read on!

I much prefer cream eyeshadows to powder ones as they're so easy to use, and I lack a considerable amount of skill when it comes to contouring/blending/holding a makeup brush in general. Maybelline's Color Tattoo range is certainly very popular among beauty bloggers, but is it worth crossing over onto the premium side if you fancy pushing the boat out?

Firstly, let's talk colour. Origins' Sugar Peach is a lovely shimmery neutral base, and works really well as a primer for other shadows. Maybelline's Metallic Pomegranate isn't something I'd usually go for as it looks more like a blusher in its packaging. However, on the skin it is a lot subtler; I like to use it to create a smokey eye that isn't too brash against my fair complexion. This shade works really nicely with Pink Gold, which also looks great on its own. Finally, my two favourites are On and on Bronze- a really versatile shade that is super flattering for blue eyes- and Permanent Taupe- the only matte shade I own from the collection, and my most used eye product. This one is great for lining eyes without looking too 'done'. 

L-R: Origins Ginzing eye shadow in 03 Sugar Peach - Maybelline Color Tattoo in 70 Metallic Pomegranate - Maybelline Color Tattoo in 65 Pink Gold - Maybelline Color Tattoo in 40 Permanent Taupe - Maybelline Color Tattoo in 35 On and on Bronze

Both of these brands have produced some really lovely products here; they're pigmented, easy to use and glide on effortlessly. However, I do find that Origins' eyeshadow doesn't last as long as the Color Tattoo, which is really surprising considering it's over 3 times (!) more expensive. I find it very hard to find fault in Maybelline's famous Color Tattoo range, they last all day and are so well priced for such good quality products (plus, they are usually part of a deal at Boots!).

I'd save your money on this one, as Maybelline is the clear winner here. Sometimes you don't need to sacrifice quality for quantity.

The Origins Comparison: Vol. 1

Origins - Modern Friction £33

Super Facialist by Una Brennan - Rose Brighten & Refine Facial Scrub £8.99

In this new 'miniseries', I'm going to be comparing some of my favourite high-end beauty brands with more affordable products. Now that I've left Boots, and thus waved goodbye to not only a steady income but also my beloved staff discount, it's time to nip my spending in the bud.

I'm starting with Origins. As my favourite skincare brand, I seem to have collected a large amount of their admittedly lovely products. Us girls on Fragrance would constantly be trying their products (illicitly, of course), and I loved adding new products to my collection. But are they really worth the price tag?

In the case of Modern Friction, the scrub touted as 'nature's gentle dermabrasion' and suitable for all skin types, I'm going to have to say yes. (I know, I probably shouldn't have started with this one...).

This is hands down the best facial scrub I have ever used. It buffs away dead skin with absolutely no irritation, my skin feels unbelievably smooth and plump after using it and one tube has lasted me just over a year. You can even apply it to dry skin for extra smoothness, then add warm water to see it turn into a creamy consistency that is easily washed away.

Unfortunately my tube ran out the same week I left Boots and I couldn't justify spending £30 on another. I did some research and Una Brennan is another brand which uses natural ingredients and aims to reconcile science and nature. 

This Rose Scrub is very nice; it smells lovely, my skin feels soft after use and it isn't scratchy at all. But it's not Modern Friction. It doesn't come close. I was shown another scrub by Una Brennan, Tea Flower, which did feel a lot grainier and more similar in consistency, but I daren't spend any more money when I know my beloved Origins is there, waiting in the sidelines.

Modern Friction might break the bank, but if you see it as £2.75 a month for a year it's not so bad.... is it?

The Trouble With Balenciaga

Balenciaga - Florabotanica - Eau de Parfum

This fragrance has been bothering me since the moment it entered my life.

To start with, I can't make up my mind as to whether I actually like it or not. I initially loved it, but as time went on I started to have my doubts. Despite featuring two of my favourite scents- rose and amber- I actually find its intensely floral top notes quite overpowering. In fact, it positively reeks of a florist, and I can't decide if that's a good or a bad thing. 

It also apparently has notes of cannabis which I can't pick up at all, and it's most likely just a gimmick to justify it being marketed as 'dangerous'...

Admittedly its staying power is pretty good, and I've found it lasts for a fair few hours before I need to reapply. But there's something else that bothers me about this perfume, and (aside from hiring the perennially irrelevant Kirsten Stewart to front their ad campaign) that something is this godawful packaging.

LOOK AT IT.

It is horrible. When I choose a perfume, it has to satisfy two prerequisites: it needs to smell good, and it needs to look elegant. The first is obvious, the second is perhaps a little illogical. But if I'm considering spending so much money on something, I prefer to be able to put it on display in my bedroom rather than shove it in a drawer.

OK, so Balenciaga hasn't got it completely wrong here; the monochrome stripes are okay, and I do like its 60s vibe and clean lines. I just don't understand how they had this amazing pattern (a vintage Pierre Frey wallpaper) to work with, and after what was inevitably months of planning they ended up putting two primary colours on the sides of the bottle...

I've long lamented the absence of this pattern from the bottle, and long questioned its relegation to the outer packaging. Would I ever get over what I saw as a heinous crime against art direction? Would my thoughts be forever plagued with what could have been? How could I sleep at night, knowing the true potential of this pattern would never be realised?

Interestingly, Balenciaga's Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquiere stepped down last year. When the fashion house announced a new fragrance, Rosabotanica, some wondered whether Ghesquiere's close friendship with Kirsten Stewart would affect her role as spokesmodel for the fragrance (it didn't, unfortunately..).

So what did this shakeup mean as far as packaging was concerned?

VOILA!

While the colours aren't really my cup of tea and although I much prefer the original pattern, I'm so happy they've gone down this route and abandoned those red and blue panels. Taking the plunge and incorporating the pattern into the package design was definitely the right move; there is now more coherence between the box and the bottle, not only giving the perfume more personality but also strengthening the brand identity in general.

What's more, with less carnation, more rose and new notes of fig, hyacinth and pepper, it definitely sounds more to my taste. I'm really excited to try it when it's released in the UK!

SPOTLIGHT: Presents, not gifts

Fed up of seeing 'Gift Ideas' covered in snowflakes and reindeer? Pre-packaged gift sets feel a little too impersonal? I've trawled the internet and come up with a few ideas for those having trouble wading through the meaningless, festive offal we're all far too familiar with...

Custom Pet Portrait by Lilly Piri  £113

I'm a sucker for illustration and for animals, so these amazing 'Pet Portraits' are right up my street. I would really like to get one done for my mum and dad one day, the attention to detail is astounding and I absolutely love Lilly's style. Trop mignon!

Dogeared Karma Necklace £63

While I am actually really interested the concept of karma, I'm not so convinced by the idea behind this necklace. I'm sure its aim to serve as 'a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving' would be lost on quite a few people! Still, tiny gold jewelry is very à la mode at the moment and I love how delicate and wearable this necklace is! And who knows, maybe wearing it would encourage a few good deeds...

Diptyque x Liberty £45

Two iconic luxury brands have collaborated to produce this limited edition candle, claiming to be "inspired by the many aromas and fragrances found in curiosity cabinets and eclectic boutiques like Liberty and Diptyque". Laavely! I'd never heard of Diptyque until moving to Paris a few years ago, where my best friend converted me and turned me into a scented-candle superfan. With a trademark eye-watering price-tag but the promise of a luxurious and long-lasting fragrance, this is a great gift for loyal Diptyque fans and newcomers alike.

The Self-Sufficiency Bible by Simon Dawson £9.09

I recently developed a very strong desire to get a vegetable patch up and running but chose the worst season to start, so I've done a lot of research into what I need to do when the time is right. This book is apparently great for those who are genuinely self-sufficient, but is also a great read for those who can but dream. I know deep down that my mid-life crisis will involve me moving to the country to live off the land (apparently my hands are perfect for potato farming) and this book is perfect for any like-minded, wannabe country folk.

New Balance 410 £50

I recently bought these trainers and I am IN LOVE. They're so comfortable and go with everything, plus they're in a colour combination that is remarkably hard to find! Who'd have thought black and white trainers would prove to be so elusive... See here and here for inspiration on how to wear them.

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I went months without a phone case because I couldn't find one I liked enough, and I eventually gave in to a really cheap, see-through pink cover because I started having nightmares I'd dropped and smashed my phone... In an ideal world I'd hoard hundreds of the beautiful cases available at Society 6; each one is based on original art submitted by the artists themselves, and they now ship to the UK!

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor Made Bronzing Powder Compact in 00 Nude £46.50

I lived with two other girls last year, and we often ended up sharing makeup. One of them had a Guerlain bronzer which was absolutely beautiful and incredibly flattering, especially compared to my very orange MAC compact (a poor decision that has haunted me for a long time). I'm not sure which colour it was that she had (I have a feeling it was 03 on the link above), but this looks perfect for fairer skintones.

The Hobbit Moleskine Ruled Large Notebook £18.50

I like Moleskines, I like The Hobbit (I'm yet to see the film, which is unforgivable I know..), so it's not surprising that I like this notebook. Stationery may seem like a cop-out but Moleskines really are special, plus this one makes even the Star Wars range pale in comparison. To top it off, I'm a firm believer in it being impossible to own too many notebooks- I've always got one on me to document emergency flutters of inspiration. 

Pen Orgy Pencil Case £6.95

Yep, MORE STATIONERY! You'll need somewhere to put those pens for your new Hobbit notebook, right? This made me giggle when it popped up on my Facebook feed (the Oh Deer page is actually incredibly engaging.. other retailers, take note!) so I had to include it here.

Fox Call Print £12

No Guts No Glory has a limited but really lovely range of prints, and I especially like this fox print by Autumn Jitters. I am a massive illustration fan and I would love to be able to draw. If (like me) you can't draw but want to give someone an arty and unique present, prints by independent artists go down really well. I'm actually going to start doing a few posts on my favourite illustrators, so keep an eye out!

Sloth Society Baseball Tee £15.83

I tweeted about this a few days ago when I saw it on Skunkboy Blog, I think it's awesome and I NEED IT. Most of my friends would agree that, if I was an animal, I'd probably be a sloth, and I'm 100% okay with that. I'd actually genuinely enjoy life as a sloth, they have such a sweet deal (aside from needing to be taught how to poop). Anyway, this t-shirt is ideal for those of us who don't really need to do much to release their inner sloth. Like me. Hint hint.

Monica Vinader Siren Stacking Ring £75 / Siren Band £75

Apparently Monica Vinader is a really well known jeweller, but I only heard about her when I went on holiday with two huge fans of hers and heard all about these gorgeous stacking rings. I love how raw and irregular the bands are, and how pretty they look when stacked up. These two rings in particular really complement each other and, again, I love how delicate they are. I'm definitely treating myself to one when I get my first real paycheck!

Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classics: 'Wuthering Heights' £9.99

It's a bit of a cliché, but 'Wuthering Heights' is probably my favourite book of all time. I love poring over the special editions of classic books in Waterstones, so I got quite excited when I stumbled across this version by luxury stationer Mr. Boddington. Anthropologie sums it up well: "this book is a must-have for design buffs, book collectors and literature lovers". I don't actually have my own copy (I stole my sister's one a while ago), so I might have to invest!

Why talk about makeup?

Growing up, I was a huge tomboy; I loved baggy trousers and skater shoes, I cut the bows off my first bra, and I refused to wear makeup. I would never have predicted that, at the age of 22, I'd have such a keen interest in the beauty industry.

Most of the blogs I follow are beauty-based, and the people that run them are so passionate about the products they're writing about that I guess it's rubbed off on me a little. I'd quite like to start reviewing some of the makeup and beauty products I use, and, knowing that this can be quite a controversial topic, I've thought a lot about the aim of this sort of post.

When I started wearing makeup at about 15, I was really, really self-conscious about my pale skin. I desperately tried to cover up my freckles- which I absolutely hated- with this awful, cakey L'Oreal powder foundation which wasn't suitable for my dry skin at all. I had no-one to teach me about makeup, but (more significantly) I had no-one to tell me that I really didn't need to hide under a layer of cosmetics. It took a few years, but my relationship with makeup is now a healthy one. I don't wear a lot, and what I do wear is there to accentuate my natural features; the only things I try to hide are the bags under my eyes after I've had a late night...

An ex-boyfriend of mine bemoaned the wearing of makeup, saying it was pointless because most guys preferred a natural look. Quite frankly, what you look like is no-one's business but your own, and no man or woman should feel pressured to look a certain way to feel attractive. You could argue that the cosmetics industry does put this pressure on girls, which I am certainly not denying, and I truly hate the idea of someone feeling ugly just because they're barefaced. No-one should EVER feel victimised, or that they're doing something wrong, simply for choosing to or choosing not to wear make-up!

This weekend, a colleague who works on No.7 told me a story which demonstrates the effect makeup can have on someone. She was serving a woman in her 70's who had recently had laser eye surgery, and who hadn't seen herself since she lost her sight aged 8. When she looked in the mirror she saw a face she didn't recognise, and didn't feel confident in her own skin whatsoever. She'd never been taught how to do her makeup, so my friend showed her a few ways to use some of the products which had been developed for ageing skin. After her makeover she left feeling so, so much better about herself, and it just goes to show that even the simplest of beauty tips can really empower someone.

With all this in mind, all I'd like to do is offer an honest opinion on products to help other people decide whether they'd like to try them too, whilst always maintaining that having a healthy and positive body-image is of paramount importance when navigating the beauty industry.

HOW TO: go from blonde to dip-dyed

This option works if you'd like to give the impression of having grown-out blonde hair without that in-between, yes-I-know-my-roots-look-horrific stage.  As far as I can remember, my hairdresser dyed my roots and, where the blonde started, she alternated between using bleach and dye to avoid a 'line', using the same 'weaving' technique you use when highlighting.

I would say this is the most time consuming option I've tried, and the effect was very minimal, although it did look natural and I was definitely happy with it.








When I changed hairdressers, she matched my natural colour and simply combed the dye through the hair. I loved this effect, as again she avoided a 'line' but pulled the dye down further so it was more obviously ombred.


While this method made the dip-dye more obvious than the first, it still looked natural. I'm not 100% sure why the first hairdresser used bleach as when comparing the two it seems superfluous, but obviously I'm not an expert!


(NB: while it was certainly a warm brown, it wasn't quite this red! I blame 'Warm Vintage' on my friend's Samsung...)

I decided I wanted to go a lot darker, with only a tiny bit of blonde on the ends, so my hairdresser (the same one who did Option 2) decided that the only way to avoid the dreaded 'line' was to tint the entire head of hair the same colour, quickly dry it off with a hairdryer, and then lift the ends with bleach for only about 10 minutes as they already had bleach on them from before.

It was a bit of an experiment and she admitted she hadn't done it before, but we were both really pleased with the effect! It's a really noticeable change and I've had a lot of compliments on it.









The 'upside down dip-dye' is also really easy to do at home.


My friend Issy has a lot of highlights in her naturally dark blonde hair but found her roots were starting to come through. Firstly, she bought a hair dye that was as close to her natural colour as possible and dyed her roots plus an extra 2 inches, leaving it to develop for 20 minutes. She then combed the dye down her hair a little more and left it to develop for a further 10-15 minutes so that the colour looked as natural and seamless as possible. She then rinsed it out and voilà!

Hopefully I've shown that it's not just brunettes and redheads that can try out the ombre trend; blondes actually have a lot of options when it comes to getting a dip-dye!