What's in my travel handbag?

This evening I am off to London for the weekend with a group of my girl friends. I haven't been to London for a touristic weekend since 2012, just before the summer Olympics took place. To be honest, I don't know why I don't travel there more often than I do. I mean, I only live a two hour train ride from Paddington station, and since University I have gained plenty of friends who actually live in the city. Maybe it's to do with money, or maybe it's to do with time, but all that matters now is that I am finally returning to the city which I love dearly.

Because I am off on this trip, and because I am an organised freak who packed her suitcase days ago, I have decided to give you a quick glimpse into my handbag that I will be travelling with in these last few hours before I set off. Choosing items to go into your travel handbag can take a lot of thinking. You want to take as much as you can, but you've also got to think about size and weight. Do I really want to carry around my iPad in my bag and allow it to take up the majority of my handbag space whilst allowing it to weigh down my shoulder with pain as we walk around London cluelessly looking for our hotel? Well no of course I don't, but I know I'll get so bored on that train without being able to watch a beloved tv series. So do I take it or not? Well, here is my list....

My handbag - I have decided to take my trusty grey bag from Primark. It has a long strap for the shoulders and a short strap for times when I just feel like holding it close. There are also three compartments (two big and one small) which is great for travelling so that I can put certain bits together in each section.

My purse - I think this is most probably an essential for every person who even steps out of their house. Inside my purse I have made sure to include my ID for any partying that may occur, my bank card for obvious reasons, an Oyster card that I purchased on my last trip, and loads of loose change for the public toilets.... there's nothing worse than going to London and arriving with a bladder full and no coins.

My mobile - Again, this is an essential that hardly anyone these days leaves the house without. Battery is fully charged too which means my charger can go away into the suitcase.

Headphones - Listening to music and watching videos is a great way to pass the time.

Chewing gum - It is very likely that I'll end up snacking on some food that will create my breath to offend a lot of people. So mint chewing gum will be my saviour!

Lip balm - Every day of every month I suffer from dry and flaky lips, so lip balm is an essential in my life.

Mini deodorant - It's always nice to have a quick spritz of spray every now and then when travelling. It's a good way of making me feel more refreshed.



Bronzer - I always take either a blusher or a bronzer in my bag just incase my face needs a touch up or I need to look a bit more awake.

Stay matte powder - My skin is an oily mess so it is bound to need a bit of dabbing and going over with this powder to help keep the oil at bay.

Makeup brush - This powder brush is obviously in my bag so that I can use my bronze and matte powder.

Sunglasses - I'm taking these just incase the weather decides to be much brighter over the weekend. Even though there's a high chance I won't be wearing them on my travels today, I can always hope.

My pad and pen - I take this with me everywhere as you never know when you might need to jot down a note of some sort. Plus, I just love making random lists every now and then.

And that's it. In the end I decided against taking my iPad, and I'm even shocked at how long it took me to make that decision. My iPad is my life, I just can't live without it. But I'm sure I'll get distracted enough to not even notice it is not with me.

Now, time to catch my train :)

x x

Jogging for beginners

Last year, after going about trying to lose weight the lazy way (using toning lotions, and a few minutes of hula hooping) I had to come to terms with the fact that the only way I would ever lose the stubborn fat on my hips and thighs would be to diet and exercise. I know that this epiphany is pretty obvious, but I am a lover of food and I absolutely hate exercising (I was always the kid who was last in races and chosen last for teams). And because of this, I couldn't help but keep optimistic over the fact that there could be another way of losing weight without going down any drastic routes. But obviously I found there was not, and unfortunately for me I only came to this conclusion the day before I was due to go on holiday.

It wasn't until about a month ago I actually decided to give in and start a bit of exercising to try give these muffin tops a shove. The problem is that I am truly rubbish at exercising. I have no fitness whatsoever and that is no exaggeration. But because of this, the idea of heading to a gym full of pumped up fitties was my idea of hell. So the only thing that came to mind was to start jogging at nighttime. Luckily, I live on the outskirts of a small market town in South Wales, so I knew if I were to go for a jog in the darkness then it would be unlikely to bump into anyone whilst I was red faced and heavily breathing through exhaustion.

Now, I will admit that my first jog did not go exactly to plan. At 8pm I walked up my street to get away from any prying eyes, and then soon set into jogging mode . . . for all of thirty seconds. That's right, that is how unfit I am. I couldn't even run longer than half a minute until I was gasping for air. At this point I was just about to give up, but thought how about trying to power walk instead. So, that first jog ended up being a two mile power walk. I know that sounds pathetic to many of you who are fit but I do not care. This was the only way I was going to improve.

For that first week I continued to power walk two miles a day. Sometimes I'd even try and find alternative routes to make the walk even longer. I thought, if I wasn't jogging I might as well focus on  the length of the walk. Because of these walks the first week my fitness was very slowly increasing. This meant that on week two I would find myself doing a minute burst of jogging every now and then. This increased even more week three, and on week four I can just manage to jog a whole mile. To me this is a big improvement from the girl who was struggling for air on that first day.

Now, I know that I am no jogging expert after a month, but I kinda thought it would be a good idea to give a few tips to others who are in the position I was a month ago. As I say, there is nothing better than getting tips from someone who actually has the experience.

- First off, buy yourself a new kit. This is what I did and it weirdly motivated myself to get out there and jog. Make sure you do buy proper trainers as I must admit they do make a huge difference to comfort. My ones are Nike Roshe Runs and they are brilliant.
- Make sure to warm up for about 5 minutes before. Google some ways on how to warm up before you set off.
- The first jog is all about finding out your limits. If you are like how I started then there is no shame with starting off power walking. But if you can cope, then do start with jogging.
- If you find yourself struggling during a session, then please stop and collect yourself. One time, I pushed myself too far and ended up going a bit dizzy. So know your limits!
-  If you do power walk, try and push yourself to walk for a long duration, and maybe include some hills to climb every now and then. Remember this is exercise, so you should never be finding it easy. Your heart rate should increased, and if it's not, you need to push yourself to the next level.
- If you are embarrassed about jogging like I am, then try and find a route that is safe during the night time. I live near a river, but I definitely wouldn't go there to jog at night time. Try stick to neighbourhoods.
- Going out later will also provide you with cooler weather, so you are less likely to get too hot. But if it is too cold, try and take a hat to cover your ears and a scarf to cover your mouth (it can be harder to breath during colder weather).
- When you find yourself coping well with the power walk, try and sneak in a bit of jogging. Even if it's just for twenty seconds. Take breaks with power walking, and then try jogging again. Little spurts of jogging every now and then are a great way of increasing your fitness.
- Try and exercise as much as you can. I go out five times a week and no more than that as your body does need to rest. But remember, even going out once a week is better than nothing.
- Use an app on your phone to track how long, and how fast you exercised. This is a great way to spur you on to go out and exercise again. I use the Nike+ Running app.
- Maybe sign up for a 5k run. This will give you a goal, and it will also motivate you to carry on exercising. This is exactly what I did, and even though it was daunting at first it has actually motivated me to get fit in time for my first 5k of July this year.
- I know it's obvious, but always take a bottle of water out with you.
- Finish off with a cooling down. Normally, I just walk back home for the last two minutes of the jog and then stretch my leg muscles under my porch.

I hope this has helped you at least a little bit. Let me tell you now, if I managed to get this far then so can you! And if you are looking for a way to lose weight, then yes this is definitely one way to go. I admit I haven't lost an enormous amount of weight, but I can definitely see improvements over the month. Hopefully, in the near future I will be able to post some pictures of my weight loss to help motivate some of you even more.

Here's to getting that bikini body in time for this year's holiday.

x x

Obsession of the month

How cute are these sweets? Or should I rephrase that to, how cute is the packaging for these sweets?  Yes that's right, I am one of those people who buys a lot of their food and products based on their packaging. I remember when I was younger and looking through the Boots catalogue at Christmas time choosing perfumes I wanted based purely on what they looked like. Very stupid really, because I still have a stack of perfumes that, even though they look good, they actually smell vile. So if anyone wants Thierry Mugler's 'Angel' perfume, then I'll happily send mine your way.

Anyway, back to the sweets. I saw these 'Hope and Greenwood' pastel coloured sweets on the confectionary aisle in my local Waitrose. They are brand new to the store, so at the moment they have a lovely introductory offer of £1.50 per bag. But the normal price is around £2.00.

I found it hard to choose which sweets I wanted as there was so many to choose from; from flavoured marshmallows, flavoured candy floss, boiled sweets, flavoured fudge, and many more. In the end I decided to simply go for two bags of the boiled sweets in the flavours of 'Lemon meringue pie' and 'Candyfloss'.

The boiled sweets themselves mirror their pastel packaging, and the flavours are delicious whilst not being too overpowering. They are a subtle flavour, so there is no hint of a tangy or sour sweet in sight. And it is fair to say that they do actually taste like their labelled names. When it comes to the style of the sweet, they are just simply a boiled sweet. Yet with the lemon meringue pie sweet, you seem to get the extra of a chewy middle as if it's trying to mirror the texture of the meringue.

I am loving this selection of sweets, and I will definitely be buying more. But maybe next time I'll add a few bags of fudge and candy floss as well ;)

These will be great to open during a picnic, a movie night, a road trip, or can even be given as an alternative present for Easter. Hope you enjoy them just as much as I do.

www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk

x x

Review : Topshop Nail Polishes

As I said in my previous haul here, I am really into my blue coloured nail varnishes. So when I went into Topshop and found these two beautiful tones I just had to get them. I have always been a fan of Topshop's makeup range ever since they released it a couple of years ago. Every product that I have used of theirs is of great quality for a clothes store range, and their nail varnishes spread across a wide range of colours so I can nearly always find one that satisfies my mood.

First up is the matte double denim colour, and the best way to describe this polish is as a navy tone. I know this is more of a winter colour, but I have been after a navy coloured polish for years now. No joke! I have searched high and low in many stores and in many brands for a good navy colour but have never been able to find one that fulfils me. But now I have found this one it seems that my search is finally over. I have got to admit, at first I was disappointed that there wasn't a glossy version, but now that I have given the matte version a go, I actually think I prefer the idea of the matte effect. Overall it has an elegant and sophisticated look which I think will look good for all occasions. And if you are like me, over using your black nail varnish, I believe this will be a great alternative.

This is the Topshop's Disclosed colour which is found in its normal glossy range. I absolutely love this colour. I can mostly describe it as a blue duck egg tone which is great for spring and Easter time. So glad that I have discovered it just in time! It applies easy to nails, and even on its first layer it isn't as thin as I expected it to be. But I would still say it has to have at least two layers for the best coverage. It is a really cute and creamy colour which is most probably one of a few pigments that would suit all different types of skin tones. And I have to tell you this, on my first outing wearing this polish, I had three compliments on the colour from three different shop cashiers. Definitely going to be wearing this pot of brilliance more!

x x

Haul : Beauty products

I went shopping recently and went on a bit of a beauty binge. Let's face it, we have all been there. Aiming to go into a shop to buy one thing, and then come out with a bag full. And it definitely did not help my situation when I realised that Boots had their amazing 3 for 2 deal on.

Maybelline Fit me foundation stick - I should not have bought this! I know that sounds odd, but when I was in the store trying it out on my hand I thought it was a concealer. I have been after a concealer stick for ages and when I tried this out I really liked how it wasn't oily, and felt quite smooth and chalky. But now that I've read the packaging properly I can clearly see that it is a foundation. Silly me!

Collection lasting perfection concealer - I have heard nothing but good reviews on this concealer over the year, so this is why I decided to finally give in and buy one for myself. Fingers crossed it lives up to expectations.

Real techniques expert face brush - I am really into applying my foundation and concealer with a brush recently. I always used to use my fingers just because I always thought it was the easiest way...boy was I wrong. But since, I have applied my foundation with a QVS flat brush, and I have now bought this Real Techniques brush for my concealer. If I like the results, no doubt I'll buy another one for my foundation.

Champneys 6 way nail file - Annoyingly, my nails always seem to grow with a few vertical ridges on them, which means I am constantly maintaining them with a nail buffer to smooth them down. My last nail buffer was a cheapy from Superdrug so it did it's job but didn't last long. This is why I decided it was best to buy this more sturdy one in hope that it will last longer.



Simple pore minimising toning cleanser - You may know already that I suffer from huge and oily pores, which is why I had to buy this to see if it helps minimises them at all.

Garnier BB cream skin perfected - This is my first BB cream that I have bought, and I am surprised I haven't bought one sooner. I like the idea that it replaces your primer, moisturiser and foundation, so it will be perfect to apply on a day when I'm feeling a bit lazy, or just popping into town for a quick visit.

Dove deodorant in 'Pomegranate' and 'Cucumber' - I bought these because they were on sale. I normally go for a Nivea spray but I am so glad I decided to pick these up. They smell so good and they don't even cause those annoying white and flaky marks.

BarryM black nail varnish - I always seem to lose my black nail varnishes and it happened again very recently, so this was the main reason why I entered Boots the other day. I could have picked up any brand of black nail varnish but decided to go for BarryM as they are cheap and cheerful. Plus, I know I will most probably lose it again over a friends house, so I won't be wasting too much money.

Topshop nail varnish in 'Disclosed' and a matte 'Double Denim' - I am really into my blue nail varnishes recently, so when I saw these in Topshop I just had to buy them straight away.

x x

To do : Make cushions cheaply and quickly

Ever wanted something bright and cheerful to add to your bedroom for a small amount of money? Well I believe cushions are always a great answer. I am a sucker for a pretty cushion, which is why my bed is currently covered in loads of mismatched cushions. But the problem is with them, is the fact that they can cost anything from £10-£100 for just one cushion. Because of this I decided why not make my own for a smaller cost.

To make my cushions I first had to choose my own decorative material, and what better place to search than eBay. After many minutes of searching, I came across a bundle of fat quarters (materials measuring a quarter of a meter) in a bright and floral pattern. This bundle included four square fat quarters in blue, green, red, and white for just £7.

When the materials had finally arrived at my door, I then set out to make two square cushions using two colours of fabric for each cushion. To do this, I first drew out my square template onto a bit of newspaper. I then cut this out and pinned it onto each bit of individual fabric where I then cut around the stencil to create my four pieces of square fabric.

Next, I chose which colours would look best together. In my case I used the red and white fabric for one cushion, and the blue and green fabric for the second cushion. This is now where I had to pin the pieces of fabric together around the edges, but making sure that the patterns are inside out, or in other words having the patterns facing each other. This made sure that the sewing lines I was about to sew will be on the inside of the cushion.

Now it is time to get the sewing machine out and just simply sew a straight line down each of the cushions edges. But when it came to the last edge, I left about a quarter of the side left un-sewn. By doing this allowed myself to pull the material through the hole so that the material is no longer inside out and instead looking more like a cushion cover as the seams are now no longer seen as they are inside the cushion.

Before I sewed the last quarter of the cushion edge, I had to fill the cushion with stuffing. You can either buy this from a craft shop and online, or like me just use the stuffing from an old cushion that is no longer used. Now, after the cushions is fully stuffed, it is time to sew up the hole. For this part I simply just bent over the edges so that the frayed ends are inside the cushion, and then just hand sewn across the hole. I did this part really quick so it does not look the best, but if you are looking to make a better looking stitch then I recommend you google how to sew an invisible stitch.

And there you have it, you now have two new cushions in less than an hour. I know this is not the proper way to make a good quality cushion, but for someone with little money and little time on their hands, this is the best way to achieve a good looking cushion. Plus, doing it this way will make it easier for those who do not have any sewing experience.

If you feel like you may want to wash or swap the cushion covers over time, then it may be best to add a fastening in somewhere, such as a zip or buttons. But I obviously did not show you this as adding fastenings do add on time.

If you do have any material left over then why don't you try and think up of something else to make. In my case I had plenty left to make some pretty bunting which I proudly hung up in my boring University room. But you could also use it to make a patchwork, a purse, baby clothing, hand puppets, or a bookmark.

x x

Review : Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

To be honest, I never really know how to review cleansers. To me, they all seem to do the job they are sold to do. Which means this review will most probably be more about the actual product rather than how well it works.

Basically, this is a new cleanser sold by Garnier. I know Garnier have already sold plenty of makeup removers, but what is so special about this one is that it is a 'micellar water'. I think I am the only girl who is not that familiar with this term, but apparently it is a way of breaking down makeup to remove it rather than just stripping the makeup off. This means it is much more kinder to the skin. Perfect for my sensitive skin.

What I like about this cleanser, is the fact that it can be used on not just your skin, but it can also remove makeup from your lips and eyes as well. I was a bit skeptical about this at first, but it does indeed fully remove all traces of makeup. Even removing those hard to remove clumps of mascara from your eyelashes.

The texture of the liquid is very thin, actually water-like hence the name. And I do prefer this thinness compared to some of the thick or oily products I have previously used. This not only means that it easy to apply and spread across the skin, but it is also mess free and there is no need to rinse after use. It is literally just a quick and good quality way to remove all of your makeup - just like using a facial wet wipe.

And to top it off, you can roughly get 200 washes out of this bottle for just £4.99. Brilliant! This will definitely be added to my skin care routine.

x x

It's music time!

I am absolutely loving this weather at the moment. It's not too hot, not too cold, but the sun is shining bright and it is dryer than it has been for months. Us british citizens totally deserve this weather after the floods and storms the majority of us just had to live with.

Because of the weather, I am in one of those moods where I am constantly blasting out my music at every chance I get (don't worry though, I am not one of those annoying people with my music blaring through my mobile speakers on a public bus or train). But there is something about having music on loud whilst the sun is out that makes me feel all happy inside.

I know a lot of you will not be interested, But I have decided to share with you my top eleven favourite songs that I play to get me into that summer time mood.

1. Train - Hey, soul sister
This is such a feel good song that always cheers me up.

2. Estelle - Free 
I have only just started listening to this song due to the Cadbury advert, but I can already tell it's one I will love continuously.

3. Aluna George - Attracting flies 
This is my driving tune. Every time it comes up on my car playlist I straight away feel the need to wind down my windows and turn up the volume full pelt (in a non chavy way).

4. Ellie Goulding - Only you 
You either love or hate Ellie, and I am obviously one who loves her. I found it hard choosing which song to put on this list, and it turns out I have actually chosen one which has not been released as a single yet. But some other feel good songs you should check out include: Burn; Anything could happen; Lights; Goodness Gracious; and I need your love.

5. Mumford and Sons - Little lion man 
This specific song always gets me in the mood for a festival. Ciders, sun, the atmosphere, and singing at the top of your lungs with your mates by your side...nothing gets better than that.

6. Avicii - I could be the one
Avicii is well known for his dance songs, and I do love a good dance song. If I could, I would have made this list up of just dance songs, but obviously I wanted to kind of make this a list that spread across more than one genre. So, out of all the dance songs I like, I suppose this is most probably my favourite.

7. Iggy Azalea - Bounce
This is a very repetitive tune, but one that never seems to get on my nerves. I can tell it won't be everyone's taste but I just had to add it to this list.

8. The 1975 - Chocolate
The 1975 got huge last year, and I am indeed one of their fans. Again I struggled to choose which song of theirs to add to this list as I find their sound has that feel about them that makes them appropriate for summer weather.

9. MGMT - Kids
I seem to remember this being a huge tune in 2008, but it is one that has never let me down. I even enjoy the alternative version by Chiddy Bang, Opposite of adults.

10. Snoop Lion ft. Rita Ora - Torn apart
I love this song! And I will never understand why it never caught on with everyone else. But take a quick listen because you will soon feel like you are on a beach wanting to dance away with the locals.

and I had to add a cringey one to the list:

11.  Carly Rae Jepson - Call me maybe 
Just because I can't help but sing a long and feel happy when this comes on.

x x

Review : Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener

I do not know what had overcome my nails a few weeks ago, but everything that could have gone wrong with them actually happened. They were brittle, peeling, flaking, breaking, and the skin around them just looked disgusting due to damaged nail folds. It was fair to say that they were at an all time low.

What was worse was that I didn't know why all of this was happening. Was it to do with my diet? My constant need to apply nail varnish? The weather? Or it could have been to do with an underlying illness? Because I didn't know what was wrong with them, and because I was too lazy to change my diet and way of life, I instead went out and bought a tiny bottle of 'Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener' from my local chemist.

This tiny bottle cost me around £7 and I have to say, it saved my nails! I applied the chemical onto my nail tips twice a week as recommended, and unlike other nail hardeners I have used (such as 'Sally Hansen Miracle Cure') you don't just get a coating of clear nail varnish over the nails. Instead, the chemicals in 'Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener' actually get absorbed into the nail bed so that you are left with no coating. And now after about two-three weeks my nails are back to their normal selves.

Now I just have to sort out my nail folds.

Positives:
- It works!
- The bottle lasts for a good few months despite how small the bottle is.
- Actually absorbs into the nail, instead of providing a clear covering.
- Affordable at £7.
- I think it has been around for 50 years, so it is obviously doing its job for others too.
-  It still works if you apply it to your nails before applying nail varnish.

Negatives:
- There is a fishy sort of smell to the bottle, but it is not overpowering. And it seems to disappear when applied to the nails.
- You need to be careful not to get on skin, or otherwise it may cause skin hardening.
- It took my nails around three weeks to get back to perfect condition, so you need to be patient.

x x

Under Cover notebook

Does anyone else have a notebook that they carry around everywhere with them, or is it just me? Well, recently I had come to the end of my beloved pad, which meant I had to venture into town and find a new one to fill up with random, yet important details.

Fortunately, I came across this leather buckled notebook in an amazing contemporary lifestyle shop in Abergavenny called 'FORTYSIX'. The notepad itself was placed shyly upon a shelf, and the only reason it managed to catch my eye was down to its eye catching colours. As soon as I picked it up I fell in love and knew within a split second that I had to buy it.

The lined paper notepad has been handmade with recycled leather by a delightful company called 'Under Cover'. I bought this A5 one for £24, and for the money it is good quality. A plus with this notepad is the fact that the paper pad inside has been glued securely in. This means that when you come to the end of the pages, it can be ripped out and a new pad of paper can be simply glued back into the leather cover.

If you don't fancy the blue and green then there are plenty of other colour schemes and styles that I believe would be perfect for travelling, or just as a day-to-day pad. One colour that also took my fancy was the neon pink and orange scheme.

Check out their website: www.undercoveruk.com

x x

Review : Soap & Glory: The Fab Pore Facial Peel

I have always suffered from oily skin, especially along my nose. Whilst I was in my teen years I never really understood why, but since growing up I have since realised that my nose pores are pretty big. So big in fact that I always become self conscious when I haven't got makeup on to conceal them. But what makes this a harsh circle is that makeup actually clogs up my pores and gets them into worse condition. I just can't win!

Since discovering my enlarged pores, I have always been willing to try out new products that can either minimise my pores, or just help matte out my oily skin. This one product by the well known brand 'Soap & Glory' sells this product by labelling it as a exfoliation mask that can help reduce pores and oily skin. All you have to do is leave it on your skin for 5-15 minutes and try to apply it around two or three times a week.

When you first open up the pot you are welcomed by the scent of mint. Quite surprising for 'Soap & Glory' but it is still quite pleasant. The texture of the cream is very thick and rich, but creamy enough to provide enough cover. And when you do apply this mask to your t-zones you have to massage the cream in well enough so that the green beads dissolve underneath your fingertips. Overall it is a good quality product for £10.

The results I got from this mask were great in the short term. Straight after a 15 minute session I would find my skin feeling exceptionally smooth, and the clay had done its job of getting rid of any oil. My skin would feel unclogged and much more hydrated, but unfortunately it didn't seem to do anything to the size of my pores. In fact all of these pros that I have mentioned seem to disappear a day later which is most probably why they recommend you apply three times a week. But despite the fact this mask has no long term effects, I am pleasantly surprised and keep it as part of my routine when I get time.

Before I finish this post, I do have to mention the name on this pot, 'Facial Peel'. If you have read this, but you have been put off by it because you think you have to peel the mask off, then you do not need to worry because it is in fact not a mask to peel. Instead it is just referring to peeling off dead skin cells. In order to take the mask off you simply just have to rinse with water.
Also, I have to mention that since I have bought this pot, Soap & Glory have decided to change its packaging for this product. Instead of the pink, they have instead changed the pot to a green and white colour scheme. They have even changed the name to 'Fab Pore 2-in-1 Facial Pore Purifying Mask & Peel'.

x x

Wish List : Makeup bags

I absolutely love buying new makeup and wash bags. Any chance I get and I'll be straight down the shops in search of one. It's kind of silly really because no one rarely sees your makeup or wash bag apart from yourself and maybe a few friends and family members. So I suppose I am wasting money on myself and should just rely on one trusted bag, but I just can't help myself. 


The main time that I feel you always need to buy a new bag is when you go holiday. Because of this I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you a few that I have been pining over recently.


Notting Hill Rose Cosmetic Bag, CathKidston.com, £12 - 
I am a huge fan of Cath Kidston patterns, and I admit that I do already have a makeup bag of hers. But I was so impressed with the quality of my last one that I am more than happy to buy another. The fact that the bag is made out of oil cloth means it is brilliant with dealing with those foundation stains we all get on the outside of the bag. 

Hearts makeup bag, Alphabetbags.com, £18 -

This simple design is pretty cute and appealing. I actually think that this bag will be the first one I will purchase from this bunch. The quality of it looks ideal when looking at the pictures, and the fact that the cloth is laminated makes it perfect for cleaning the white colour.

Deckchair dogs washbag, Catseyelondon.com, £15 -

This was just too adorable not to post. I am normally so against animal posed pictures on bags because they always look quite cheap and tacky, but this one caught my heart. How adorable. And the fact that they are on deckchairs goes perfectly well with the holiday theme. 

Ted Baker edna washbag, Johnlewis.com, £69 - 

I know this bag is very plain, but I can't help but lust after it. I have been after a leather bag for a while now so that it could always be that one bag I could rely on due to its sturdy material. Yet looking at the cost, I can't help but feel like this bag will never be added to my collection. I am actually so gutted by this. 

Palm tree print makeup bag, Topshop.com, £10 - 

The use of Palm trees on this bag obviously makes it ideal for a holiday. I can see myself already picking out my basic makeup products from this bag. 

Ted Baker sugarsweet makeup bag, Asos.com, £22 -

These type of bags that Ted Baker releases always seem to be quite structured and have a plasticky feel to them. Because of this I am not normally a fan, but the pattern on this one is so pretty with its chalky and pastel floral design that I can't help but want. 

Lovely Jubbly Designs floral rose chintz makeup bag, Notonthehighstreet.com, £14 -

I actually made a cushion out of this green floral fabric, and I am still in love with it to this day. So when I saw the material had been used to make a wash bag I just had to add it to this list. 

Lips washbag, Catseyelondon.com, £15 -

The design of having lips on a makeup bag is quite an old idea, whether it be and picture of actual lips or the lipstick print of lips. But I have realised that I have never actually bought one with this type of design, so when I came across this one I thought it could be the perfect addition to my collection.

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