Belated New Year Goals....

Hey guys and a happy 2015 from Hellofreckleface! :)

I haven't blogged so far this year (it feels weird saying that!) I've been pretty busy with work recently and have been feeling a bit sluggish and unproductive. So I thought I would share my belated new year goals and how I've worked towards them so far to help kickstart my motivation.

1) Run a half marathon this year:

    After running the Great South Run last year which is a 10 mile run, my next challenge is to complete a half marathon. This is something which I never thought possible but I'm more determined than ever. So far this year I've been aiming to run at least twice a week, I now need to increase this to at least 3 times a week to improve my fitness and improve my chances at surviving a half marathon.

2) Eat a gluten-free diet:

    After trialling a gluten-free diet last year and noticing the improvement the diet had on my eczema and my health, I am determined to make more of an effort to try to stick to a gluten-free diet this year. I'll miss my bread and cakes however I'm looking for some satisfying gluten free alternatives. I've started this resolution this week by buying a healthy, gluten free food shop. If you guys have any good gluten free recipes then please feel free to share :)

3) Sort out my spare room and my garden:

    Since moving into my new house, I've been trying to make the place as homely as possible, I've not managed to get around to sorting out my spare room. This Spring, I would like to make my spare room cosy and comfortable for any friends/family staying over and to also make my garden covered in flowers and pretty. Thankfully I absolutely love homeware shopping, nowadays I even prefer it to clothes shopping (I'm growing old gracefully), so this will be a fun new years resolution.

4) Be as happy as I possibly can:

    After a pretty turbulent 2014, I am determined to make the most of everything I have this year and to try to see the positives in every situation. I'm incredibly grateful for what I have and I've decided to make the most of every opportunity presented to me.

5) Travel more:

    Last year, I didn't go abroad at all and I'm definitely starting to get itchy feet. So this year, I'm definitely going to travel more. I have a mini break with the girls in Paris planned for May and I'm also hoping to go island hopping in Croatia with another friend this year. I'd also like to explore more of the UK and my local area this year, especially by having picnics in the countryside when the weather is warmer. (A perfect excuse to buy a super cute picnic basket!)

What are your new years resolutions and have you been sticking to them so far?

Adele x

P.S: Here are some pics of what I've been up to lately......

Dancing with my pals on my birthday... :)

Cooking and eating my first attempt at homemade gluten-free pizza!

Using all my Christmas and Birthday Lush products!

Cuddling my beautiful bunnies!

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Exclusive Reds

Happy December guys,

I'm feeling rather festive at the moment and now we are into December I feel it's finally acceptable! I put my tree up today and have been dancing around to the She & Him Christmas album and of course a bit of Micheal Buble. 

I love this time of year as it's a great opportunity to try new beauty looks for the Christmas party season. I wanted to find a new red lipstick that would see me through the festive season, so yesterday I went on a mission to Boots. 

I chose a lipstick from the L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Exclusive Reds collection. It's a new collection of shades with 'a rouge for every woman.' I chose the shade Blake modelled by Blake Lively. Being honest, a part of me chose this shade because I absolutely love Blake and think she is a beauty, however it is also more of a blue-toned red which suits my pale complexion. It is a beautifully classic Crimson shade and would look fab with a slick of black liquid eyeliner for a vintage look. I always find a classic red lip can make an outfit look more dressy and always makes me feel more confident.

Each lipstick is currently £6.99 in Boots and there is one for each skin tone. I haven't tried the others yet but I'm considering trying Julianne's as a fellow red head. 

The lipstick itself has a pointed end which allows for more precise and neater application. It's very long lasting and requires little reapplication.  It has a matte finish and is infused with jojoba oils to help keep the lips well moisturised. 

I would recommend trying the collection and finding the ideal shade for you as I feel there is one for everyone and at the price of £6.99 you can't really fault it. I'll be wearing mine throughout the festive season and I'm hoping Santa may put the rest of the collection under my tree this year.

Have any of you guys tried any of the lipsticks from this collection and if so, what are your thoughts? 

Adele x

Avon Beauty Haul

Hey lovelies.....

Happy November to you all! Hope you've been enjoying Bonfire night festivities, I missed out on Bonfire night as I had to work but I've been embracing the colder weather. I've been out on lovely Autumn dog walks crunching in the red and orange leaves, I've had my first festive drink of the year (Starbuck's honey and almond hot chocolate is the bomb!) and I've been loving wrapping up warm with a glass of wine in hand ready for evenings of catching up on Netflix boxsets. 

I've also been embracing Autumn/Winter beauty and have treated myself to a mini haul from Avon. I've tried Avon products in the past as a teenager but I hadn't bought anything from Avon in years. However, recently one of my best friends has started selling Avon products, hosting Avon & Wine parties and has been encouraging me to part with my hard earned pennies on beautiful makeup! 

My Avon Beauty Haul this month....

 First of all I purchased the Avon Luck perfume which I purchased as part of a gift set, however you can now purchase it for just £9.00. It has a lovely citrus and fruity scent blended with sandalwood. It is very feminine but not too sweet smelling and I absolutely love the packaging, it looks beautiful on my dressing table.

Avon Ultra Colour Bold Lipstick in Power Plum


I purchased this little beauty last night at my friend's Avon & Wine party, I fell in love with the beautiful plum shade and it is the perfect shade for Autumn/Winter. The lipstick is long lasting and as Avon describes it "Super pigmented". It has a very moisturising formula and doesn't dry out your lips in this chilly weather.

This is me testing out the Ultra Colour Bold in Power Plum...

Ultra Colour Bold Lipstick in Bold Bordeaux

I also purchased another lipstick from the Ultra Colour Bold Lipstick range in Bold Bordeaux. It again has a beautiful moisturising formula and has staying power but the shade is much darker, it is a deep cherry shade and looks gorgeous. This is the perfect shade for the festive season and I'm sure I'll definitely be getting my moneys worth.

I also bought an Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Blonde. First of all, it's great because it doesn't need to be sharpened which is definitely a benefit for me as I constantly lose pencil sharpeners. The shade is perfect, it's really easy to apply to fill in the brows and I blend it afterwards with a brush for a natural look. I'd definitely recommend this product, it's a bargain.

So there you have it, that's my mini beauty haul for November, I've already ordered some more products from Avon which I should hopefully receive next month, so expect another haul post.

Have you guys ever bought any great products from Avon that you can recommend to me?

Adele x

Garnier Micellar cleansing water: review

This is my first product review and I've decided to write about the budget-friendly Garnier Micellar Cleansing water. As a pasty, ginger nut with the most sensitive of skin types, the fact that this product is described as suitable for all skin types appealed to me.  I often have issues with cleansing products and found that they irritate my skin leaving me with red, inflamed skin. I am also often guilty of getting home from a night out and forgetting to take off my makeup, then waking up with huge, panda eyes so I need a product that can remove makeup easily and quickly.
   

I have been using this product for a couple of days now and have to say I'm impressed. The water is very easy to use with cotton wool pads, feels lovely and gentle on the skin and removes makeup easily (even mascara!) Bye, bye panda eyes! My skin has been left feeling very soft and moisturised which is great as some cleansers leave my skin feeling dry. I recommend this product to anyone and with a bargain price of £2.99 for a 400ml bottle at Boots, you can't really go wrong! Use morning and night followed by moisturiser for lovely, fresh skin.  

Thanks for reading :)

Adele

Style Inspiration: Mad Men

Since 2007, Mad Men has graced our TV screens and not only provided us with absorbing drama but it has also provided a weekly source of style inspiration. If you're anything like me, I regularly lust after the outfits, hair styles and beauty of the three main female characters: Joan, Betty and Peggy. If you have never watched an episode of Mad Men then stop what you are doing and buy the box-set now, you won't regret it, trust me! As a fellow redhead, Christina Hendricks' character Joan is a particular source of inspiration, but all of the main characters have very different but equally beautiful styles. I absolutely adore 50s & 60s hair and beauty in all it's forms from Betty's signature waves to Joan's beehive up dos and the iconic make-up trends featured in the programme.

Image: Deirdre Boyer

I also adore the wardrobes of the three main characters who each have their own different body shape. My favourite in particular is Joan Holloway with her gorgeous red locks and hourglass figure. Her style is effortlessly tailored and always fitted perfectly to her shape; you will usually see her wearing fitted blouses and tailored jackets or stylish wrap dresses and fitted knitwear. Each episode, I find myself just as absorbed by the beautiful outfits as I am with the drama of the series. If I could afford to purchase the entire wardrobes of the three main characters I definitely would, but unfortunately I am not rich enough so I will have to stick to channelling 50s & 60s vibes through hair and make-up instead.

 A few simple ways to channel a Mad Men inspired look

1) Strong eye make-up: Lots of lashes and lining of the eye lid. Use an eye-liner cream and brush and start at the inner corner sweeping across the eye lid getting thicker as you approach the outer corner of the eye. Make sure you ensure there is no skin showing in between the lashes and the eye liner applied, then use a decent volumising mascara and apply 2-3 coats to the top lashes to ensure ultimate volume, in order to achieve that beautiful bambi-eyed look.

2) Big, beehive hair: Adding height to your up dos adds a 60s vibe to your look. Use a volumising powder to achieve the thickness required and then lots of hairspray to hold the style in place, you definitely wouldn't see Joan with a single strand of hair out of place!

3) A bright matte lip: Ruby red lips were a statement look in this era and should be kept matte with no gloss. Other colours will work with the look too such as Joan's pale pink shade, just make sure they are matte and keep eye make-up neutral whilst rocking a bold lip.

4) Accessorise: Whether it's adding a strand of pearls to your outfit à la Betty or adding a brooch or scarf in the style of Joan, adding simple accessories can instantly update your look.

The new season of Mad Men starts in the UK on Sat 19th April at 9pm on Sky Atlantic/Sky Atlantic HD and I intend to become completely absorbed in the stylish world of Madison Avenue in the 60s and see what visual delights Season 7 has to offer. I am definitely living in the wrong era that's for sure! Enjoy Season 7. Thanks for reading....

 Adele x



Photo credits: Deirdre Boyer at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/deirdreboyer/4896060141/