Nails & Art?

Why must our nails have to conform to a simple french manicure, or a plain shade?

These nail polishes are from Nails Inc I was kindly given a nails inc gift voucher for my birthday and got 3 of these colours from there pick 'n' mix offer.

#001                            I purchased these sweet moustache nail stickers from eBay, in aid of Movember. 

These reminded me of the fake tattoo's we all had when we were younger. I used Nails inc Warwick avenue as my base colour and then you literally dip them in water and place the onto your nails and seal with a top coat. They can jazz up any nail colour whether  it be a simple frenchie or something a bit more creative.

#002                           I have a arts and craft butterfly paper stamp, I cut out two butterflies from some patterned paper and glued them on with a clear nail polish top coat. They are slightly raised so it gives the 3D wing effect. Once again I started off with a block colour coat in Victoria and I've added a bit of christmas sparkle with the Nails inc special effect polish. 

You don't have to be the next Picasso to be have some fun with your nails, I would love to see some of your nail art designs, so please share!

Note: Nails inc is just a nail polish formula I love, this post is not sponsored I just love the brand!

REDKEN Shamp & Co Review:

Shampoo- £10.07

Conditioner- £11.39

Purchased via Trade Secret

This is a follow up from my Sunday treat post, I said after using these products for a while I would give my first proper product review. I know these are expensive products for a students financial situation but I really think spending money on luxury products is good for you once in a while!

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Small history on my hair: I only have to wash my hair about two times a week, as it doesn't get greasy until I use a lot of product. This I found has really helped contribute to the condition and FINALLY growth of my hair. As washing your hair every day really isn't good for it, as your hair produces natural oils that help with the condition.

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I am a great lover of luxury shampoo's and from my days of being a salon saturday girl, I have adored the REDKEN products. I purchased the Smooth Down shampoo, with the Smooth Lock conditioner, as after explaining the long winded story of my hair history, this is what the sales assistant recommended.
In all honesty (no offence to the sales man) I wish I did my research alone, and chose perhaps a different formula from this particular brand.
I have found this shampoo makes my hair greasy just after two days. After a bit of experimenting I have found that if I let my hair dry naturally after using these products it already feels a little unclean and dirty, but if I blow dry my hair and style it from wet, my hair feels like i've been to a salon.
Unfortunately i'm a night shower-er so it's not always practical to get the hair dryer out at 11pm whilst everyone else is sleeping!
Overall I think this a "Special Occasion" shampoo, something to use if I know i'm going out and want salon bouncy hair, but not a staple product. I am really disappointed because I finally thought I may of found my forever buy Shamp & Co combination. Sadly my quest continues...

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Do you have an always buy Shamp & Co combination? I would really love some recommendations!

What ive been buying

What ive been buying by katherineeballs featuring a dot dress

Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas Gift Ideas by katherineeballs featuring cotton socks

As christmas is fast approaching I thought it would be helpful for some small gift ideas for secret santa's or special friends.

The Winter Coat

The Winter Coat by katherineeballs featuring a cotton jacket

4.1.2.1.3.

Celebrity Inspiration 

Gwyneth Paltrow image was found here, Rosie image found here & Kim image found here.

The final choice...

Zara - £89.99

Yes, it's that time of year again where you search endlessly for the perfect winter coat. Every year I tell myself I want something warm, maybe with a hood and something that is going to keep me dry from the UK's predictable 'wet winter' but what do I end up buying? Something moderately fashionable that's thin and will do nothing on my list.

I told myself that this year I would at least get something that scored 2/3. I searched my usual stores such as ASOS, TOPSHOP, RIVERISLAND & URBAN OUTFITTERS ( I have done a polyvore image collection Top picture of some of the coats I liked) and ordered a few coats from each but ended up sending them all back, to my surprise it was my own place of work ZARA that I ended up finding my chosen one.

Unfortunately I am a creature of habit and have succumb to my yearly ritual of buying something moderately fashionable but it is warm and to be frank simply fabulous! And hey theres always next year for a sensible me!

I have not had a day yet without a compliment.

This got me thinking, where do you buy your winter coats from? And have you been able to find the almost impossible balance of fashionable and practical?

Uni Day #3

Top- Zara TRF

Jeans- Topshop

Boots - Topshop

So today was such a waste of time! I drove 45minutes to my University (because of friday traffic) sat in the car for half an hour because I didn't want to be standing in the cold! To be there for 10 minutes! yes thats right if you do the math I wasted 1 hour and 15mins for 10 minutes! On the plus side my tutor liked my fashion moment idea so I guess it was worth it in the end.
Today I was feeling a very OLD NAVY style of clothing (even though nothing I wore was from old navy) but you get what i'm meaning.
I adore these TOPSHOP leigh jeans but they ride ever so high in the Twit-Twos lady area so I feel i'm forever pulling them down! Talk to me...Is this just me? or do others have this problem?
This belt is like 6 years old, but the big G makes me feel like a superhero/gangster!
As you can tell by my irrational writing i'm rather perky today, its because the sun is shinning in the UK and its FRIDAY!

Enjoy your Friday lovely people!

Halloween

 Dress - Fred Perry

Scarf - H&M

Belt - Ted Baker

Lipstick - Mac

So i'm aware this isn't the fur scarf post I said I was going to chat about in yesterdays post, but with it being halloween and me having a lot of time on my hands this morning. I started doing my dark make-up and had far to much fun! So I decided to do a halloween post today and I'll do my scarf post tomorrow.

This dress is one i've had for years, when I first brought it I wore it non stop, but as i've brought more and more dresses it's sort of been pushed to the back of the wardrobe. I decided it deserved an outing today as it reminded me of the Adams Family little girl (I've forgotten her name).

I will be wearing my fabulous ZARA coat with this outfit, but I thought you guys might be bored of seeing it for 3 days in a row! 

I will also pair this with my Topshop Boots and Zara shopper bag.

Have a lovely halloween whatever your doing! Oh how I miss being little and dressing up, demanding sweets from my poor neighbours!

Uni Day #2

Coat - Zara

Blouse - H&M

Fur Scarf - H&M

Trousers - Asos 

Today is the typical british devious weather! It may of looked sunny outside, but it was bitter cold.
I had my first exam of the year today, so I wanted to be comfortable and cosy rather than anything to fashionesta! I didn't realise how fashion universities are quite like catwalk shows! My first thought of Uni was hoodies and leggings- comfy clothes. But since starting I haven't even batted an eye lid at comfy clothes You really have to make some kind of effort or your stand out like a sore thumb!
I love this coat I did a winter coat post here, It's super warm and cosy! I've kept my make-up simple today as I know when i'm nervous I rub my eyes, i'd come out looking like a panda!
I absolutely love this fur scarf! which I purchased with Georgia (GLAM), I wont say to much as i'm going to a more in-depth post tomorrow on it!
Hope you enjoyed your day!

Sunday Treats #2

Last week my Sunday treat was food-based, this week I've treated myself to hair products.
I'm a firm believer that if your hair and make-up is nice on the outside, you're feel just as good on the inside. I have loved REDKEN products for many years, from when I worked in a salon as a Saturday girl. I used to love how the shampoos would smell and there glossy after affect.
I chose the smooth formula as my hair is quite damaged from colour dyes and heat styling and the conditioner contains heat protection from styling.
The products weren't cheap but I think as REDKEN is a very respectable brand it's worth the extra cash.
Once I have been using this shampoo  & conditioner combo for a respectable time I will do a full and honest review.
I hope you have treated your self this weekend!

Mid Week Meal

Chicken wrapped in parma ham, with philadelphia cheese

A really quick and really tasty mid-week meal. Yes Even if you're a student you need to eat well and semi-healthily.

This is a cheap dinner that  you're enjoy a whole lot more than beans on toast trust me!

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What your need:

For the chicken:

• Depending on how many your cooking for or how hungry you are, i'd say 1 chicken breast per person. Most supermarkets sell chicken breast in packs of two so you could make two and freeze one for later.
• A pack of parma ham (tesco currently have an offer on a six pack for £2)

• Philadelphia cheese

For the potatoes:

• New potatoes

• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic

• Italian herbs

• Vegetable oil 

• Salt & pepper

Add a bit of veg (i've added carrots and broccoli) 

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Get cooking...

Pre-heat oven at 180.C

1. Wash your potatoes in cold water and put them into a pan. Boil on a low heat to start cooking.
2. Whilst the potatoes are slowly boring, cut up carrots and broccoli and place to the side for later.
3. Once the potatoes have been on the hob for about 10 mins drain the water and place on a baking tray. Cover potatoes in Vegetable oil, salt and pepper. Crush the garlic and roughly spread over the potatoes. Finally add a sprinkle of italian herbs and place in the oven.

4.     Put scores into the chicken breasts and put a table spoon full of Philadelphia on each chicken          breast and spread over with knife. Then wrap each chicken piece with a ration & and half of parma    ham. Then place in the oven with the potatoes and set the timer for 25-30mins.

5.     Whilst the Chicken etc is cooking, place the chopped vegetables in the microwave for 5mins. Once your chicken and potatoes are almost cooked put the vegetables in for a further 3minutes.

6.         Your Chicken should be a nice golden colour with a slightly crispy palma ham.