#1 Summer Holiday 2015 Essentials

With under 3 weeks left until my summer holiday I've accumulated over time some bits and pieces that I'll take with me and thought that I'd share what I've picked up over time *bearing in mind that I am a shopaholic I'll do a second post next week!* :)

*Clothes*

 

White Dress - Forever21

Yellow Floral Skirt- New Look

Turtle Neck Bodycon Striped Dress- New Look

Pointed Black Suede Shoes- New Look

Sandals- Lidl

 

 

 

 

*Accessorises*

 

Sunglasses - Topshop

Metallic Temporary Tattoos- Oliver Bonas

 Hat- Oliver Bonas



Green Sunglasses- Primark

A Wedding

 

 

 

I've hardly been to any weddings in my life and the one's that I have been to I've been too young to remember.  My cousin Andrew lives in Dubai and he's already officially been married in Dubai to his wife Laila but when returning to Scotland they were keen to have a Christian wedding as well. I turned out to be photographer on the day as the wedding service had been a last minute arrangement.  It was a lovely day and I look forward to printing the pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Tea and Cake in a Vintage Cafe

 

So I will admit that my blog has recently taken a back seat whilst most of my time has been spent divided between working and studying for my end of year university exams.  However, I fully intend to get back into blogging once the exams have passed.

 

 

Today, I visited possibly one of the cutest cafe's I have ever been to, it was like stepping back in what I'd imagine 1940's Britain would have been like.  Floral table cloths, china cup and saucers and possibly the thing I was most excited about getting the milk for my tea served in a milk bottle ( its the little touches in life)

 

 



I had a tea and toasted cheese and onion sandwich which came with the most delicious salad ever!  But the star of the show had to definitely be the rocky road that I demolished.  It was soft , buttery chocolaty crumbly......words fail me.  Basically it was like heaven on a rose gold embellished plate.

 

 

The whole vibe of the café was amazing and the candles and cushions really helped to give it a homely ambience.  The perfect fuel to return back to studying!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Stationary Heaven

 

My Love for Stationary is pretty crazy.... but I always feel that I'm way more productive if I have pretty things to write with/in.

 

The folder and padfolio are both from Paperchase

 

The pens are also from Paperchase and are from the London Underground Range which I think is amazing

 

The two butterfly notebooks are from ASDA and the small ideas cat notebook is from Accessorize.

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Oliver Bonas and Maybelline Weekend Shopping Purchases

During the weekend I made a little visit to Oliver Bonas aka Queen shop of pretty trinkets. I usually never buy anything when I'm there, just enjoy looking at all the pretty rose gold ornaments and dainty little tea dresses. This weekend though, was different. 

I bought a tan coloured bowler hat which I must admit I equally loved at first sight but was doubtful as to whether I could pull it off or not...regardless I bought it when I found out that it was in the sale down to £10.....kinda a no brainer but I discovered when I got to the till that it was further reduced down to £7! amazing!

I also picked up a packet of temporary tattoos, gold, silver and rose gold.  They would be perfect for any festivals but I've decided to save them for the summer as they will look lovely with a tan abroad.

In terms of makeup, I splurged a little in the Maybelline counter picking up a velvet lip pencil in coral, a coloursensational pink lip gloss and a colour tattoo eyeshadow in pink and gold.  The colour pay off in all these products is amazing as is the quality.


Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

A Day at Edinburgh Zoo

The last time I'd been to the zoo I must have been about 7/8 and the only vague memory I have off it was seeing my toddler brother throw his hat down and it landing on a zebra!  On Friday 17th April my family and I went on a daytrip to the zoo.  We saw the penguins, monkeys, rhinos, hippos, meerkats and flamingos but unfortunately the lion was no where to see and the tiger was too busy sunbathing on a ledge to be interested in gracing us with his presence.  Despite not seeing the bigger animals it was still a great day :)

 Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Easter with Ember

 

 

 

 

This was the first Easter I've had with my dog Ember who is an ex guide dog (black Labrador). Ember's personality is great she's a calm dog but that not to say that she doesn't have her crazy half hours each day!   She's such a photogenic dog as well and is loving nothing more than lying out in the garden these days soaking up the sun.....its certainly a dog's life!

 



 

 

 

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Why its good to have Spots and be Skint

In reality, spots are unfortunately a part of life and are no doubt going to kick around for a while during our teens and into the early 20's.... joy!

No doubt your reading this post wondering why on earth there's possibly any benefits to having bad skin and an empty bank account.....well in actual fact there are benefits. 

If you have a lot of cash to play around with its really tempting to go to Boots and fill your basket with as many anti-spot treatments and  facial scrubs and creams that claim to get rid of spots.

Been there, done that and wore the T-Shirt or in this case the spot cream.  What I have realised is that the less I do to my skin the better it is.  Don't buy all the highly branded skincare products your saving yourself both a packet on money and saving your skin from different chemicals and ingredients that often leave skin feeling sore and dry.

 I've stripped back my 'skincare routine' to the bare minimal that just includes a facial wash, moisturiser occasionally a simple oil for my skin and twice a week a face mask.

When I feel that my face is becoming a breeding ground for those pesky post chocolate spots, I lift for a face mask ( the sachet one's from Superdrug) that help to get rid of the grime and open up my pores.  Sudocream also works wonders on spots to help dry them out, putting a small dot onto the spot with a clean finger before bed and in the morning the infected area will have dried out.

Eat healthy fruit and vegetables are beneficial to the skin as well as drinking lots of water is to flush out the toxins.  Sugar, in my opinion, does certainly act as a factor in encouraging spots to take up residence on your face. 

Acne obviously is another story, something that I personally have luckily never experienced.  But the less you put on your skin the better.  I wish I had realised this earlier!

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Dealing with Rejections of all sorts

It's a fact of life that at one point or another we are all going to deal with rejection.  I think the most common form of rejection is when someone doesn't like you in the way that you may like them...this is a very hard thing to come to terms with and its easy to look at yourself and try to change who you are for the sake of attempting to get them to like you back.  However, by doing this your not being true to yourself *that does sound cheesy* but its the truth, you are yourself for a reason and once you begin to stay true to yourself people, not necessarily the people you want to like you, but others will like you.

I have personal experience with being rejected for a particular job *Waitrose I'm looking at you!* being 'unsuccessful' in a job interview is made easier when you know where you messed up but its made worse when you receive no feedback on where you went wrong especially when you felt confident.....sigh!!!

I'm pretty sure that there are many more types of rejection but moral of the story rejection is hard and painful but learn from it and don't change yourself for anyone or anything.

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Mini Topshop Haul

 

I recently took a trip into town with my parents and happened to walk into Top shop with my dad (such the enabler) I really like the socks Top shop do as they are always so cute and pretty.  So it was kinda a no brainer that when I spotted mint coloured socks with rabbits, lilac socks with cows and pretty filly socks I just had to make the most of the 3 for £8 and pick them up. I also bought a ring which is like two rings joint as one. that was £5 and I think it'll be nice to wear with a nice nail polish.

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Barry M New Speedy Quick Dry Nail Polishes

 

I love painting my nails, however, I'm pretty useless when it comes to having to wait to let my nails dry which is why I'm in love with the new collection Barry M have released for Spring. 

All the colours in the range are beautiful pastels and have names to do with racing since its all about the speedy drying * clever Barry M!*

I bought Eat my Dust 450 which is a pretty duck egg blue

Full Throttle 508 a light peachy colour

Road Rage 506 which is a mint candy apple colour.

All the nail polishes dry quickly, well it is the selling point duh, and I find 3 coats and you have glossy pretty nails all set for Spring

Let me know in the comments if you have tried any from the new collection

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Top 3 Foundations for Lighter Skin Tones

I used to be pretty scared of trying out foundations, namely for the fact that they always looked cakey on my skin and never matched my skin
tone.  So I'd pretty much be left with orange streaky marks on my chin and have a pale neck #smexy

 

However, a few years ago I discovered a foundation that changed the game for me.  L'Oreal True Match Foundation.  Beauty bloggers of all sorts seem to be re-discovering it this year and for good reason.  The range is pretty big in terms of skin tones and they can advise you in store which colour would match your skin.  I'd say that this foundation has pink undertones to it and gives a medium/full coverage, which of course can be built up.  Its super blendable and has an SPF of 17 in it. Its more or less my holy grail of foundations

Rimmel Nude Foundation 25 hr.  I must admit that I tried this when it first came out and I think I have since re-purchased it.  Again, its perfect for lighter skin tones isn't at all orange and gives a medium coverage which is buildable.  It gives a dewy finish to the skin. 

My most recently tried foundation is the Bourjois 123 Foundation.  I have it in the shade No 51 Vanille Clair. It has yellow, mauve and green pigments in it to combat dark circles, anti-dull complexion and anti- redness. It has a matte finish to it.

Hope you find this blog post inspiring if like me you have pale skin and find it a nuisance to get a foundation that complements your skin tone.  Leave me a comment below if there's any other foundations I should try!

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

The Spring Makeup Look

The evenings are slowly beginning to stay light for that little tad longer which means that I'm now peaking out from under my 'comfort cave' *i.e. the den of blankets* that I've been hiding in for the winter. 

Spring really excites me its all about the sunshine, lighter layers and bringing out the pastel nail polishes to add that pop of colour to a monochrome outfit.

I've mixed up my makeup lately to create a fresh, dewy look that's simple to wear and quick and easy for those mornings we are running about crazy.  Team this makeup look with a floral crown and your all set for Spring!

*Makeup I've Used*

 

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

 Collection Blush in Shocking

Barry M Flawless Contour Set

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On- in- On Bronze

Collection Eyeliner

No 7 Mascara

Kate Moss Lipstick in 101

Bourjois Lip Gloss

 

 

I was ready to write down a 'method' but surely its self explanatory so I'll just insert some pictures instead!

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx 



 

The British Tag!

So I may live in Scotland and some may say I'm Scottish but I also consider myself just as much British as Scottish! Ya know we the two are joined we are called the 'United Kingdom' for a reason!

1) How many Cups of Tea do you have a day and how many sugars?

I don't quite know why but I never have tea in the morning, its more of an afternoon trait with me unless I'm in town in the morning.  On average I'll have 3 cups of tea a day, one in the afternoon with milk and one in the evening, again with milk.  At night before bed I'll usually have a camomile tea.  Never have any sugar in my tea!

2) Favourite part of your Roast?

Most definitely the roast potatoes and the Yorkshire pudding mhhh mhh

3) Favourite Dunking biscuit?

Custard Cream!

4) Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

Afternoon tea is the best.  Dainty sandwiches with scones, cakes, macaroons cups of tea and great company is the best afternoon treat ever!

5) Favourite Word?

Governor!

6) Favourite Sweets?

Lemon Sherbets and Rubarb and Custards #Old School


7) What would your pub be called?

Gingerbread and Foxes

8) No 1 British Person?

Kate Middleton!

9) Favourite Shop/ Restaurant ?

Chippy's i.e Fish and Chip shops and New Look

10) What British song pops into your head?

Jump from Girls Aloud *random I know*

11) Marmite?

Definetly not!


Hope you liked this different post from me, leave any comments below!

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Essay Writing Tips from the Queen of Procrastination

I have a cheek to write a blog post on essay writing tips when I myself should be writing an essay ATM *on the failure of appeasement in preventing WW2 for those of you who would like to know*.

Going into my 3rd year of university soon *whatttt?!?* I've written a fair few essays in my time and in all honesty I think half the battle to writing a good essay is all about the techniques you use.  Get the technique right and your half way there to acing a 1st or strong 2:1 in your essay.

 

1) If there's been one thing that I can take away so far from my years of essay writing its this, RTFQ!! Sound like some intelligent coding that's so complexed its going to change your world?....well in a way yes! Read The 'Flipping' Question! Seriously never underestimate the importance of the actual essay question, its what the examiners want to be answered so don't decide to craft the question to suit yourself !

2) Make Time to write a plan.  A stage that many a time I've been tempted to skip but deep down a plan is the pizza base, if you like, to your essay.  Make a strong plan organised of  when and where certain factors are going to come into play and it will make writing the actual essay 10X easier.  A strong pizza base holds the ingredients on top of it together. I do realise I've been comparing a plan to pizza......mmmhh

3) Follow the plan, follow the plan and stay on track

4) Read widely, don't just read what your university has advised you to read surf the web and find other articles that could make your argument stronger.  Many books are free to read online!

5) As you the find quotes that your going to use in your essay, make sure to keep a note of the page numbers, seriously there's nothing worse than when it comes to referencing and you suddenly realise that you've not jotted down the page numbers for quotes and are desperately trying to skim the pages of books *that could be used as a weapon there so heavy* in desperate search of the quotes!

6) Finite- Get someone else to read over your essay, see if  they understand what you've written and if they can spot any grammatical or spelling mistakes.  My Dad has read pretty much every one of my uni essays, the gem that he is! Make them a hot chocolate as a way of saying 'thank you' it really does help!

Hope these tips have been helpful for anyone reading, and please leave a comment below I love reading comments!

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

Banana Bread- The Healthier Alternative Cake

Today I really wanted something tasty that could go with my cup of tea after a day of walking around town in the pouring rain.  But as usual, nothing in the house could satisfy my cravings so I decided to surf the web * could have literally surfed outside in the rain, however* and stumbled upon an American recipe for Banana Bread.  I love how the American's measure everything by cups, I genuinely think its the easiest way to measure things!

 

Of course I can't take the credit for this recipe so check out the link on how to make the banana bread.  I can confirm its a delicious banana loaf! And it has banana's in it so that counts as one of your 5 a day! :) Have I said the word banana enough yet?!

 

Leave me a comment below! :)

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

 

http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/best-banana-bread/

How to Create a Scrapbooking Pack

Since starting my Project Life Scrapbook I've gradually built up a box of materials that I use to embellish my photos. Building a box of materials is really easy and fun.  Possibly the best thing about it is that is cheaper than you would think, its all about gathering things from different places/experiences you've had.  For example keeping a concert ticket! It really makes your scrapbook stand out and is a great place to keep memories which would otherwise just lie under your bed. 

I like to buy postcards from Paper chase ( which are only 30p!) Another good idea to is cut out slogans and pictures from magazines, a perfect way to recycle!

Before you know it you build up a box of scrapbooking goodies

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream

The winter has left my hands dry and cracked and the one thing I've been constantly lifting for is this hand cream from the Body Shop.  The hand cream is a thick consistency but in no way greasy.  It leaves my hands feeling silky smooth and smelling of rose petals.  Being in a tube, this hand cream is perfect for your handbag and travelling and so get's the thumbs up from me.  The link to this hand cream is down below :)

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/hand-care/hand-cream/wild-rose-hand-cream-spf-15.aspx

Top 5 Perfect Pastels Nail Polishes for Spring 2015

My Nails really suffered after the Christmas period with all the glittery nail polishes that looked amazing and even smelt great * thanks Ciate!*.  However, Spring's always been about the pastel nail polishes with me and I've dug out my top 5 from my collection that will have your nails looking gorgeous for Spring 2015.

 

*Essie Nail polish Muchi Muchi *

 

This nail polish is the latest to my collection and I think it looks like a kinda milkshake/bubble gum pink.  As with most Essie nail polishes, this one is no exception to the old 'won't chip for 9 days' which is great.  I apply 2 coats when I'm using this but be careful as it takes a while to dry but once its on it looks lovely

 

*Topshop Blue Air Kissies*

 

I think this is the perfect baby blue colour there is in the nail polish selection out there.  Its not too out there as I know it can take some courage to rock wearing a blue nail polish but this one is perfect.  It reminds me of the sky above the clouds when I'm flying in the summer abroad.

 

*Kiko Mint Green 389*

 

Mint Green is such a pretty colour of nail polish to wear during the Spring.  What I love about Kiko is how affordable the makeup is and they even have little pieces of tape so you can swatch a nail polish before buying it. This is a lovely fresh mint green and doesn't take many coats

 

*Barry M Bikini*

 

Barry M have launched new nail polishes ( when are they not?) but I've had this in my collection for a while.  Unfortunately it was part of a limited edition range but I'm sure they have a colour similar to it. Its a lovely blue/purple toned nail polish and looks really glossy on the nails.

 

*H&M Nail polish in Lemon Sorbet*

 

The cutest smallest nail polish you've ever seen available at the till in H&M.  Like it says on the label its a lovely lemon shade of yellow, which again is easy to wear.  This nail polish is great for travelling or painting your nails on the go.
 

 

 

Please Leave any comments below on any nail polishes you have tried for Spring 2015

 

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty xx

 

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My Drugstore Makeup Collection

*My Drugstore Makeup Collection*

* Makeup Brushes*

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Real Techniques Eyes shadow Brush Kit
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Brush
Seventeen Blush Brush
Superdrug Palette Brush

 

 

 



* Foundations*

Rimmel Lasting Perfection 25 hr Nude
Vichy Norma Teint Shade 18

 Bourjois 123 Perfect
Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation

 
 

     

*Blushers, Concealers and Bronzers*

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Shade 1 and 2
L'Oreal le Blush in Rosewood
Collection Blush
Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Blusher
Accessorize Baked Blush
Soap and Glory Solar Powder *Not photographed as in a palette*


*Mascara's*

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara
Rimmel Scandal Eyes Show off
No7 Lash Impact
Maybelline Great Lash
 * Eyeliners and Eye shadow Pots*

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On- in-On Bronze
Natural Collection Barley
Natural Collection Eye Lines in Grey
Collection Waterproof Fast Stroke Black Eyeliner
L'Oreal Superliner
No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Black eyeliner
Kiko Milano Smart Eye Pencil  813
No7 Stay Perfect Shade and Define
Rimmel Brow This Way Gel
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye liner Pencil 071 Pure white

 
 
*Lipsticks*
Kate Moss 107
Kate Moss 30
Rimmel Apocalips 402 in Across the Universe
Rimmel London Keep Calm and Party On

  *Lip glosses*

Soap and Glory a Great Kisser
Barry M Lip gloss
Soap and Glory Sexymotherpucker
Revlon Lip butter 080 Strawberry Shortcake
Bourjois Colour Boost in Peach on the Beach
Bourjois Effect 3D 51
 
 *Eye shadow Palettes*

MUA Undressed Palette
MUA Heaven and Earth Palette
Barry M Super Chic Shadow and Primer Palette
Barry M Natural Glow Palette
H&M Nudes Eye shadow Palette

 
 

 Hope you enjoyed looking at my drugstore Makeup collection!

 

Leave a comment below!

 

Gingerbread Snaps Beauty

xx