Down With The Kids

I've read in a couple of places online recently that a good way to get cheap clothes is to just buy in the kids section! I don't know what size shops think children are these days but most decent clothing stores sell children's stuff up to 'age 16' which is plenty big enough for most size 12s I would say. Even better New Look's kids shoes go up to a whopping size 6! Here's a few gems that I've found recently...

Clockwise from top left: Jumper New Look, Boat Shoes River Island, Pastel Shoes Next, Jumpers Next.

All of the jumpers are so cute but I love the cable knits from next, anything with elbow patches works for me! The pastel loafers are amazing and the pumps are only £13! The boat shoes from River Island are a great find - they're actually from the boys section, and at £15 an absolute bargain. I bought a pair of high-tops from the boys section of River Island about 6 months ago (only £20) and I wore them so much that they've got holes in the bottom. Usually this would be a sign of bad quality but I hardly took them off for a solid 5 or 6 months so I don't think its bad! Unfortunately they don't stock them anymore, so next time I see some I like I might have to get 2 pairs.

Have you got any 'finds' from the kid's section anywhere? I've heard there's some great stuff in H&M but the online shop is pretty useless! I'll check next time I'm in town...

Ladies That Lunch

I had a lovely day out with my 'home girls' yesterday. We took full advantage of the Orange Wednesday offerings starting with a trip to see Magic Mike. You can't really go wrong with a film about male strippers, especially when it stars Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer! It was a good laugh and there was some pretty impressive dancing as well as drugs, drinking and a bit of love. The perfect chick flick with plenty of eye candy and a happy ending, definitely recommended for a rainy afternoon! With student tickets and 2-4-1 from Orange Wednesdays it was only £2.30 each!

We then went on to Pizza Express for lunch, we all had dough balls (NOM) followed by pizzas from the 'Legarra' range. These are the low-cal pizzas that Pizza Express do, they have a special base and a hole in the middle with salad in it. Mine was topped with Goats cheese, spinach, red onions and caramelised onions - it was delicious! Uploading the photo has made me want another one! With the same Orange Wednesday code you get 2-4-1 on dough balls and any main courses so we got all of that for less than £7 each!

Pretty much the perfect day in my book and the sun even came out for an afternoon sit outside Costas, I tried their new Pink Grapefruit Iced Lemonade which was really nice and refreshing.

Any films you recommend? This might become a weekly occasion if we get the chance!

In other news I had a meeting at (a different) Costas today and starting my new job there next week, nice to have a bit of a change as I've had the same summer job for 4 years. A bit scared but excited too!!

My Make Up Bag - Part 3 FACE

This is the final part of my 'Eyes, lips, face' feature and it's just a run through of what make up I use on a day-to-day basis. I've included my 'daytime' and 'out' foundations and bronzers as they're slightly different and as I'm quite pale I have to be careful of being to orange in the day!

Clockwise from top left: ELF Primer, Max Factor Xperience weightless foundation in 45 Raw Silk, Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in Soft Beige, Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter, ELF Studio Bronzer - Warm, Bourjois Blush in 95 Rose De Jaspe, ELF Studio Bronzer - Cool.

I'm pretty set in my routine now with these products, it's taken a few years but I'm pretty happy with what I have now. The ELF primer is only £6 and leaves my skin nice and even and its 'mineral infused' so its pretty good for my skin too. The MaxFactor 'weightless foundation' is great! Can't say enough about it! Its medium-full coverage but really does feel weightless and a little goes a long way so one bottle lasts a long time, I wear it every day. The 'lasting performance' foundation gives full coverage and is quite heavy, but I feel like you need that in a 'night out' foundation! It blends well when I've got my tan on too. The ELF concealer is especially for eyes but I use it on blemishes too, I'm pretty lucky as I've got good skin and this blends really well so its perfect for the odd spot. The two ELF bronzers are really good too, I especially like the 'cool' one as it gives me a glow without looking too orange, they're really good value too, only £3.75. I love the little bourjois pot as well, the brush it comes with is really handy and it gives a nice subtle colour for day time but is easily increased with more liberal application - super hand too.

These are my favourites, have you tried any? What do you use?

My Make Up Bag - Part 2 LIPS

Ok so following through on my 'Eyes Lips Face' idea with the Lip section. Now I have to say lip colour is something I am very lazy about and to be honest, on a day to day basis, Carmex usually does the trick! I do, however, have a few stains and sticks that I wap on for a night out.

1. Maybelline Colour Sensation Lipstick in (250) Mystic Mauve, available at boots here.

2. E.L.F. Studio Matte Lip Colour in Tea Rose available online here.

3. Benefit Benetint available at boots here.

These three all have their pros and cons and I'm still on the look out for the perfect lip colour. I really like the effect of the Benetinit, it gives a really natural redder-than-usual effect and doesn't look like you're wearing anything, my problem with this product is that it always dries my lips out quite badly, even when i use Carmex on top - I got mine, a mini sample, free with a magazine last year and I won't be purchasing a new one once I'm done! Really don't think it's worth the £24.50.

The other two are really good consistencies and feel great on my lips and the ELF one tastes amazing! I'm just not crazy about either colour, the maybelline is too dark and purpley which I put down to trying way to many lippies the day i bought it! The ELF one is just a bit too dark too, I think I need the shade down for the nude look I want. Might have to purchase it as they've just announced a 50% sale on EVERYTHING so check out the site now!

So this is my pathetic collection! Any additions to recommend?

My Make Up Bag - Part 1 EYES

So over the next few days I'm going to give you a run down of what make up I use on a day-to-day basis. All my make up is pretty cheap, no frills, 'drug-store' stuff and though one of my aims in life is to earn enough money that I can browse the make up stands in House of Fraser with actual intention to buy, this stuff is doing pretty well for me at the moment! I've decided to split this make up post into 3 sections, Eyes, Lips and Face. Just like one of my recent 'finds' in the online shop department - E.L.F. (well worth a look and they have great deals on their Facebook page all the time).

So. Eyes. And, almost more importantly eyebrows. Here's a look at the products I use most.

Clockwise from top left: No. 7 Amazing Eyes Pencil, Rimmel Scandal'Eyes Mascara, Bourjois Smokey Eye Palette,  Collection 2000 Liquid Eye Liner, Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara, Benefit Smokin' Eyes Palette.

In the last 6 or 9 months I've got very into 'doing' my eyebrows. After mixing and matching with lots of different products I've finally settled on a routine. First off I use the styling wax in the Benefit kit, it's a really good colour and keeps the hairs in place really well, then I go over it with the No. 7 pencil. I actually got this from one of Mum's free No. 7 kits but it blends really well so I'm keeping it! Sometimes I fill them in with whatever brown eye-shadow is lying closest if they look a bit thin and use the pink highlighter powder in the Benefit kit to hide any stray hairs. 

The rest is pretty self explanatory, I use the Rimmel mascara on my top lashes, its fantastically thick without being clumpy and has lasted a long time. I use the Max Factor one on my bottom lashes, it lengthens well while keeping my lashes separate and natural looking. The boujois palette is perfect for a nice brown smokey eye (I prefer brown over black for blue eyes espesh in the summer but I have the black palette too!) and if I feel like mixing it up at all I use the 6 in 1 ELF palette which has pretty much every colour under the sun. Liquid liner on the top and pencil on the bottom (from the benefit kit) and there you have it, MY EYES.

Do you use any of these products or have you got your own faves? Let me know and keep an eye out for my Lips and Face posts over the next few days!

Wimbledon Fashion

As Andy and Roger are off for a rain break I thought I'd do a quick post on what some of the audience have been wearing. If you've been watching you have probably seen the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister, Pippa Middleton looking Fabulous in the Royal box. Here's a quick snap, looks like Pippa must have read my post on peplums the other day ;-)

As usual the sisters look gorgeous in outfits perfectly fitting for the occaision. Pippa is wearing a lovely blue bird printed peplum dress from Project D and Kate a beautifully fitted dress and jacket by Joseph Vanessa. Styled with simple accesories, big sunnies and soft wavy hair the girls hit the nail on the head once again!

Also in the crowd are the Beckhams, David looking dashing as always and Victoria looking stunning (if a little glum) in a dress from her own collection.

Hope you are all enjoying the tennis as much as we are! Caroline's in Glasgow drinking Pimm's like it's going out of fashion and I'm just sat in with my Dad, how are you watching?

Wednesday Wants

I stole the idea for this posts from Lizzie over at Blue October, basically its just a list of a few things that I would buy right now if only I wasn't a poor student...

Top row (left to right): Topshop £36, Lavish Alice £34, Topshop £36.

Bottom row (left to right): LOVE £32, River Island £35.

The top and jeggings were in my A Little Bit Longer piece the other day and I just love them! I think the court shoes are perfect if you want to try the Kate Middleton look this summer (more tips here). The jumper is a fabulous combination of dip die and embellished shoulders and the Love dress will just be perfect for summer!

Is there anything you're lusting after at the moment? Which piece is your favourite?

Giving me the Cold Shoulder...

The cut out shoulder tee is something that I personally first saw on Lily Melrose a couple of weeks ago. At first I wasn't too sure but since it's grown and diversified I'm starting to love it! Its easy to wear and can work in any situation, from a cover up on the beach to tucked into a high wasted skirt or short for a night out. The celebs are lapping it up too, here's a couple of snaps to prove it!

Rosie and Olivia have jumped on the bandwagon so if you want to as well here's a selection of what the internet and the high street have to offer, let us know your favourites! 

Top row (left to right): New Look £6.99, Zara £19.99, New Look £6.99.

Bottom row (left to right): New Look £9.99, Topshop £16, ASOS £31.

Peplum Problems

So this seasons must have shape is the peplum - it's EVERYWHERE. Whether you want a top, a skirt, a playsuit or a dress there are lots of fabulous designs out there to choose from! Here's some that caught my eye while I was browsing online earlier, which is your favourite?

Left to right: Top £26 Miss Selfrigde, Dress £26 LOVE, Dress £40 Rare, Dress £35 Miss Selfridge

Missguided have a fabulous collection of peplum skirts in loads of lovely pastel colours so obviously we love them all! AND they're a bargin at £14.99, the only problem is trying to pick a colour...

A Little Bit Longer

I thought I'd do a wee post on an easy alternative to the maxi and crop top combo that I wrote about the other day. Long tops and leggings/jeggings are the way forward if you ask me! I've been embracing them fully recently because its sooooo simple and you don't even have to shave your legs!  You can throw them on in a second then wap on your fave killer heels and a long necklace for an instantly flattering look. 

Here's a few of my favourites so have a look and let me know what you think. I actually bought the cream top from River Island last week and have worn it on two nights out already!

Tops (left to right): River Island £35, Topshop £36, River Island £28 and Lavish Alice £16

Bottoms (left to right): Topshop £28, Topshop £22, Topshop £22 and River Island £35

Summer - To The Max

If you're looking for an outfit to wear to any summer occasion, from a garden party to a night out, bralets and maxi skirts are the perfect combo! Here's a few of my favourites from the high street, let me know which outfit you like best!

Bralets (left to right): LOVE £12, Topshop £14, River Island £15 and River Island £22

Maxis (left to right): LOVE £38, LOVE £42, River Island £40 and Topshop £40

IASWAI - The Jewellery

Last week I did a review of the small but perfectly formed range of stylish tee's but Made In Chelsea's Caggie Dunlop. Well on Monday she launched a complementary jewellery range. Again it's small, only 5 pieces, but I have to say I'm kinda in love with it all! The collection was put together in a collaboration with Zara Taylor who has her own website featuring a more vintage-looking range compared to what has been put together for IASWAI. Here's a couple of my favourites...

I love the idea of an 'ear cuff' I just wish they had pictures of what they look like on someone! Anything with feathers is a firm favourite of mine this season, they can give any outfit a summery lift. The long necklace is gorgeous too and crosses are huge this season too! These pieces retail at £21.99 and £26.99 respectively and there are some cool rings on the website too.

So go ahead and have a look, none of it will be shipped until mid-June according to the website so you have lots of time to think about it!

Easy Tweezy

First off sorry for the lack of posts of late! I'm at home in Carlisle and Caroline is busy with the job hunt!

I thought I'd do a quick review on my trusty Tweezerman tweezers. I have the mini slated ones, mainly because when I decided I wanted some they were nice and cheap on amazon, you can also get them on ebay. They are absolutely fabulous, for want of a better phrase! I am not at all talented in eyebrow tweezing or most other accurate make-upy things for that matter and usually have to get Caroline to do my eyebrows for me, but these tweezers make it much easier, the slanted ends make them very accurate and they always seem to grab the hair I'm aiming for. The only problem I have now is that if I ever have to use my old pair it's even harder than it used to be! 

These are my pink ones but they come in lots of colours and I'm sure they all work just as well! I wasn't sure originally if they would be worth the money, but I can now say that they definitely are!

It All Starts With An Idea...

ISWAI (It All Starts With An Idea) is the new clothing and accessory range from Made In Chelsea's Caggie Dunlop. But after reading her website it became clear that this is more than just an online shop. The items on sale through ISWAI can be designed by anyone, all you have to do is send your designs to ideas@iswai.co.uk. Check out my favourite pieces from the admittedly small clothing collection below and keep your eyes peeled over the next few days for a piece on the jewellery which is launching tomorrow.

These simple yet stylish tops retail for £42 but I think that if you're looking for something to splash out on you will definitely get the wear out of them. They're easily styled, like Caggie, with denim shorts or a simple pair of jeans for a relaxed but different daytime look that I can't see losing popularity any time soon. Hopefully the collection will keep growing as I believe it has serious potential!

Have a look on the website and we'll update you on her jewellery collection soon.

The Princess Diaries

So the Jubilee celebrations are in full swing and as Queeny and her pals float down the Thames in the rain we at Pastel Problems want to give you the low down on the outfits worn by the two most watched women of the day; HRH Elizabeth II and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Kate Middleton has been under the microscope ever since she came on the scene and as yet has arrived at every event looking fashionable, youthful, classy and appropriate all in one. Today's attire was no exception, she chose a vivid red Alexander McQueen pleated dress designed by Sarah Burton who also designed her beautiful wedding dress last year.

It was a bold choice considering that a variation on the same dress was worn but none other than Tulisa and Kim Kardashian over a year ago but we think that Kate has done plenty with it to make it her own and banish the memory of the others from our heads.

Kate accessorised the dress with a gorgeous head piece designed by Sylvia Fletcher, simple red bag and leg-lengthening nude courts. The dress was altered for her with beautifully tailored long sleeves and a knee-skimming  hem line making it perfect for this huge occasion.

Princes William and Harry are looking pretty dapper too, but don't they always?!

A Day Fit for a Queen

So the Jubilee celebrations are in full swing and as Queeny and her pals float down the Thames in the rain we at Pastel Problems want to give you the low down on the outfits worn by the two most watched women of the day; HRH Elizabeth II and The Duchess of Cornwall.

We're pretty big fans of the Queen in general and her style in particular, throughout her life she has looked fabulous, dignified and never puts as much as a toe out of line. Today is no different. Pictures below show the Queen in a gorgeous outfit designed by Angela Kelly who also designed her lovely yellow number for last years Royal Wedding. The ivory dress, coat and hat sparkle with Swarovski crystals and small ivory, silver and gold spots designed to reflect light during the day. 

We think she looks perfect and expected nothing less, simple black shoes and handbag compliment the outfit well and keep the classic feel. In our eyes she can do little wrong, what do you think?

Hands on stuff!

Here at Pastel Problems (yes it is now a place) we can't think of a better way to pass the time than painting our nails and making them look pretty, so I wanted to take a moment to pay tribute it the folk at Rimmel and their fabulous nail polishes. 

They've got a few different types;

60 Seconds

Lasting Finish

Lycra Professional Finish

The 60 Seconds is fabulous because it really does dry in 60 seconds and its so easy to wap on before a night out and the brush make it very easy to apply.

I don't see a huge difference between the other 2 types apart from the lasting finish doesn't have the good brush, but for £2.99 you can't complain! The Lycra pro is great but I reckon the 60 seconds is the best value of the three.

The colours on my nails above from left to right are:

045 Misty Jade, 805 Grey Matter, 053 Fruit Punch, 312 Ultra Violet and 420 Aqua Cool

There's a massive range of colours and you can get them in Superdrug here from £2.99 and they seem to be permanently on offer 3 for 2 so go and snap some up!

What we did today...

Today we headed into town to try and get Caroline a job so here's a few snaps of my outfit...

I got the top from Topshop earlier this week and I love it! The purple jeans I got before Easter but since the sunny weather's come along I've been in them constantly, I was lusting after that colour for ages so as soon as I saw them I had to have them! The zippy is just H&M and I pretty much live in it, so handy!

We snuck into our neighbours garden for a quick photoshoot on their swing and I love the results! May have to have words with them so that we can do it more often!

My necklace is from Topshop a while ago and I wear it all the time, such a handy wee thing because it compliments pretty much everything! The orange ring is from H&M a while ago too but they have great rings in there all the time so go and have a look. My scrabble ring is my new favourite thing, Caroline and I both got one on Sunday at a stall on Ashton Lane but there are loads on ebay here.

We stopped off in a pub for a late lunch and couldn't resist a quick pic of how nice our jeans are together (ignoring the funny looks we were getting).

My jeans and shoes are from New Look and Caroline's is all Topshop.

L'Oreal Gel Liner - Review

So, upon seeing that my liquid eyeliner was on it's last legs, i hot footed it to the nearest Superdrug to replace the vital occupant of my make up bag. Getting wooed by the 3 for 2 offer as per usual, i decided to branch out and go for L'Oreal's latest offering, the gel eyeliner.

Having lusted after Mac's 'Fluidline' for a while, wondering at this new gel innovation, the £14 price tag just didn't seem worth it. Selling at £8.99, L'Oreal's version of the gel liner is much more affordable and comes with a perfectly shaped brush, a total steal compared to the Mac version.

I didn't think that a gel liner would be notably different from a regular liquid eyeliner, but i was proved totally wrong. The gel proved easier to apply, more precise and far more durable than liquid eyeliner. Another bonus was that is dries immediately and doesn't leave the usual 'eyeliner in eyelid crease' mess that liquid eyeliner is prone to. Overall, i would highly recommend this mess free, precise and utterly satisfying to apply, gel liner.

This is the Voooooiiiiiiiicce!

The Final of the Voice is upon us so ahead of tomorrow night’s four-way face-off here’s a quick run through of our thoughts on the finalists, the judges and what we’re looking forward to the most!

On TEAM TOM (dramatic x factor man voice) it’s Leanne. I for one was shocked to see Leanne go through last week over Ruth who was being built up big style, but, after watching a few performances from them both I’m actually glad! Ruth was getting very shouty and her reaction to being voted off went a long way to prove that she’s not mature enough just yet, can you say moody cow?! As much as I am pleased for Leanne I can’t see her winning it at all – she’s a very typical ‘BIG VOICE’ woman and for me, it’s time for something different.

Favourite performance – The Edge of Glory from the battle rounds, we’d like to see her take on another current tune this week and take a step back from the big ballads.

For TEAM DANNY it’s Bo. I have to say I’m really not a fan, she’s got that voice thingy where she squeaks at the end of lines/words just like Diana Vickers and it really gets on my wick! Her hair get a few points in my book though – love the random plaits and feathers everywhere! I’m feeling a little bit let down by Danny and his team in general, I’m a huge Script fan and had very high hopes but I think he’s just picked people that are similar to him and his song choices are very safe. Basically he needs to step it up a bit if he wants Bo to win!

Favourite performance – Tough decision seen as we hate them all but we’ll give it to Love the Way You Lie because we quite like the original and other people seem to think it was good.

TEAM JESSIE is being represented by Vince and WE LOVE HIM (especially Caroline). He’s very individual and we love how he can change ANY song into Reggae/RnB – such a clever cookie. We’re also massive fans of his outfits! Anything that involves a bit of Tie-Die is a winner in our eyes and his hats, leggings, shoes and hair just add to the ‘it-shouldn’t-work-but-it-does’ look. He was our clear favourite in the team from the off and Jessie’s doing great work keeping his style and keeping his performances fresh. He gets a massive thumbs up from us!

Favourite performance – My Love is Your Love, anyone that can take a Whitney classic and turn it Reggae successfully is bound to be a star!

On TEAM WILL it’s the beautiful Tyler James, I’m not going to lie we fairly love him too! He can do very little wrong in our eyes and even though his Bohemian Rhapsody was a little strained in parts we’re very pleased that he made it through, and it bodes well for the final that he was more popular than Jaz!  We’re also massive fans of Will.I.Am, waaaaay more so than we expected! Yes, he struggles to form a sentence at times and yes, we’re a bit over the Black Eyed Peas in general but he is an absolute hoot! I absolutely can’t wait for their duet tomorrow night and wish Tyler all the best!

Favourite performance – Higher Love, this lovely fella can sing what he likes and we’ll listen but his cover of Higher Love absolutely blew our socks off!

So that's our thoughts but who's your favourite??

Work for your burger

T.G.I. Friday's is our happy place so when we saw this offer we thought, 'wooo, come at me free burgers'. If you win the game you get a burger and fries totally free, justifying having that extra strawberry daiquiri or four. Although the game's really hard for the likes of me with my terrible laptop cursor, persevere to claim your fab deal. See you all at T.G.I's.
http://games.tgifridays.co.uk/juicysplatdown/

Welcome back Cheryl

YES. Cheryl’s back with more ghetto moves, eye-wateringly voluminous hair, and clothes that make us drool. After her performance on the Voice UK we’ve been watching her New music Video for ‘Call my Name’, on repeat in an attempt to learn her moves, and tirelessly trawling the shops in order to recreate her totally badass look. These are our Cheryl Cole inspired picks of the high street, creating an affordable and more wearable version of the songstress’s style.

Bralet – River Island, £22

Waistcoat – Topshop, £38

Bracelet – Accessorize, £12

Cuff – Miss Selfridge, £12.50

Trousers – Asos, £30

Shoes – Inlovewithfashion.com, £24

LOVEly dresses

We are absolutely loving the work of fashion website http://inlovewithfashion.com/ and have been for a couple of years. Their dresses are gorgeous, prints to die for and they've even branched out into shoes in the past few days which we're very excited about! From the simple 'little black dress' to the on trend tribal prints they've got every base covered and are our go-to website for pretty much any dressy occasion. They've been seen on a huge range of celebrities including The Saturdays, the TOWIE girls and Fearne Cotton: you can see pictures on their Facebook page. I've put together a selection of our current favourites but go and have a browse because there's something there for everyone!

These dresses range from £26-£48 and they are definitely worth it! To prove we mean what we say here's a few snaps of us in LOVE.

Are you looking at my tips?

With sun kissed ends achieving whirl wind success following the endorsement of celebrities such as Lauren Conrad and Sarah Jessica Parker, we all found ourselves embracing those dark roots and dip dying like there was no tomorrow. While tousled, beachy two tone hair may have gotten us through the bleak winter months, it’s time to put away those bleaching kits and prance into summer with vibrant, coloured ends. Pastel ends are going to be enormous with celebrities such as Kate Bosworth already rocking the look.

 As we see with Made in Chelsea’s Gabriella Ellis, less is more with this trend. Blend your pastels and choose complimentary colours as nobody thinks horizontally stripped hair is cool, nobody.

 

If, like Ellie and I, you think your mother would have a coronary if you dyed your hair pink, there a cheeky ways to get the look without fully committing. One method is called ‘chalking’, where you merely acquire artist chalks and go to town on the ends of your hair. You can wet the hair for a darker effect but not if you have blonde hair as you may encounter staining. Although this is a good way to get cheap and quick coloured ends, it can be a bit messy and your flat may achieve a thin layer of coloured dust for quite a while. The best way to get mess and fuss free coloured ends, is by using pots of rub in colour which you can get online at http://www.kevinmurphystore.com/categories/style/COLOR-BUG.htm. I discovered this on a night out, when a girl in the club toilets let me and my friend try hers. The fact that we could apply it whilst a little bit tiddly, without ending up looking like a circus freaks, demonstrates just how fuss free they are. So embrace the trend and get your tips out for the lads! :P