Neglected

I haven't been a very good blogger lately. Mainly due to assessments and deadlines and planning for the "future" but I'll update you all on it soon. For now, I'm taking a well deserved break, a perfect cup of coffee, and listening to some Christmas tunes.

I know many of you have lots of deadlines at the moment, but soon it will be Christmas! And don't forget to take a break :)

Yay!


Congratulations to Mariah C, you're the winnner of GFM's first ever giveaway!

Your prize will be sent out asap!

xxx

I've been buying books...

1 click ordering on Amazon has been nothing but a nuisance as far as my bank account is concerned, but when I'm browsing and looking through recommendations sometimes I just can't resist!

Here's what will be heading through my letter box soon...

Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser


My knowledge of history is horrifically sparse, so I thought I'd rectify the situation by doing a little reading. I've heard really great things about Fraser's works and that they read really nicely as well as being incredibly informative. I'm really looking forward to delving into this one.


Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman


Let's face facts, I couldn't not buy this. A collection of essays about owning, collecting and a life long obsession with books? Yes please.


The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde


This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for so long, but just hadn't got around to yet. So I figured buying it is one step closer to actually reading it, right?


And finally,
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol


After reading and adoring Crime and Punishment, I have wanted to explore some other Russian authors. I'm a cheapskate so I went for the Wordsworth edition, which I understand might not be the best translation. But C&P was also a wordsworth edition and I found it fine to read, although I did pick up on a teeny error. Still loved it all the same...


So what are you reading, loving, recommending at the moment?


Peace H xx

Boots Haul

I recently stopped by Boots to pick up some Winter essentials, repurchase some faves and indulge in a few treats!

I repurchased Soap & Glory Hand Food hand cream in the larger size


This has quickly become my most favourite Winter essential. Keeps my hands super soft and smelling gorgeous, without being overly greasy. Perfect!


I also got myself a full size Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector B.B Cream in light


I was dubious about this at first, as I am with any product that has this much hype. But after using my free samples I fell in love. Some people have been using this as a primer, but for me it's been a simple foundation. It gives me good coverage, not too heavy, and with a little powder on top for added staying powder it's magic!


Some new purchases for me are Revlon's PhotoReady concealer in 002 light and Revlon's eyeliner pencil in 06 Aubergine


I'm pretty pleased with this concealer. I just needed something for underneath my eyes as no matter what I do or how much sleep I get, I always have dark circles. But this lightened them right up, not too heavy, and pretty much stayed put all day.

I decided to branch out in my eyeliner colours. I'd always been a black eyeliner kinda girl, maybe the odd brown if I was feeling daring. But after receiving the olive glittery smudge stick in last months Glossy box I loved how it looked and so bought this dark purpley little number, with a little shimmer in it. I love the colour, it just doesn't stay put as well at the smudge stick does. Any suggestions on good eyeliners that don't end up half way down my face after a few hours?



My winter essentials this year are these bad boys...

Carex antibacterial hand gel - Spash gel, moisture plus and grapefruit and lime.

Last Christmas was awful because I was terribly ill for the whole holiday! Christmas is no fun when you're confined to your bed, and can't even manage a little turkey! So this year I am determined not to get ill and so stocked up on these guys.



And how could I go to Boots and not get some nail varnish?!

Revlon Top Speed in 606 Stormy
Rimmel Lycra Pro in 378 Posh Trash
Rimmel Lycra Pro French Manicure in 445 French Rose


I love all of these, especially Posh Trash. French Rose is nice too, it gives that French Manicure look without looking too unnaturally pink.



To go with the French Rose nail varnish I also got Rimmel's Nail White Pencil


The reviews on this have been pretty mixed, but I really like it. They whiten the tips of my nails just a little which is what I wanted. I didn't want anything too unnaturally white. It's perfect!



So what are your winter essentials?

Peace H xxx

Feel Unique - November Box

Dear lord not another reivew of Feel Unique's November box I hear you cry. Alas, yes. I was going to hold off on reviewing this box, even though it's my first from Feel Unique, due to the sheer volume of posts that have been going up reviewing it. But I couldn't resist because I was super duper happy with this box!



Apologies in advance for the not brilliant pictures. As much as I love Winter, usually a distinct lack of daylight comes with it and my photos always seem to look so much nicer in daylight. Here goes anyway.



Firstly, this box is the cheapest around (£9.95 per month inc delivery) which is always good, and it has noticeably larger sample sizes which is fantastic. No more teeny tiny tubes!


What first caught my eye was the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Life and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm & Dual Action Professional Cleansing Cloth

I've never heard of this brand before but I love that we got a muslin cloth with it - a really nice touch. I'm not keen on the frangrance at all, but it doesn't hang around long, and it cleaned my make up off really nicely and my face felt nice and soft afterwards.


Next we have Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 60 Sec Treatment and Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe

I've heard a lot of good things about the Goldwell brand, but as yet haven't tried any, so I'm really looking forward to giving this a go!
The tanning lotion is something I really wouldn't go for as well. Supposedly the brand is very good, and this is supposed to smell lovely but I haven't opened it. Instead of it going to waste I thought I might throw it into my giveaway providing that the winner would like it!


Next we have Bella Pierre Shimmer Powder and Prada Candy Fragrance Sample

The shimmer powder seems really nice. I got a lovely pale beige colour which I'm really pleased with, as it's definitely the one I would choose out of the colours that were given to other people.
The perfume sample I really liked. At first I wasn't so sure, but I wore it anyway, and it really grew on me throughout the day and now I really love it! It may even feature in my letter to Santa this year...


Finally we have Schwarzkopf Professional OSIS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder


This is such a weird product! In a good way though. It's a powder, that turns into a waxy cream in your hand. I didn't think I'd like it as products like this usually totally weigh my fine hair down, but this seems quite nice. It gave my hair a good bit of volume at the roots without making them feel greasy. Again, a really good sample size you can get a good few uses out of.


I'm really pleased with this box. I like how there was a nice mix of well known and new brands and of course excellent sample sizes. I shall definitely remain subscribed to Feel Unique for a while yet!

Peace H xxx

Workspace Analysis

Seeing as I've been spending so much time at it, I thought I'd do a post about my desk. Yes, my desk. I think someone's workspace says a lot about that person, and I've seen a couple of these posts and thought I'd give it a go also...

So here it is!


This is where I've been spending a lot of my time lately!

I've got my laptop, of course, ingeniously stood upon some books as it has a tendency to overheat (you can see Lord of the Rings poking out there).

Textbooks and notes are always strewn across my desk, along with the beloved filofax, and a bottle of water - gotta stay hydrated.

I keep all my pens in a mug I got at the Christmas market last year (is there anything better than wandering around Edinburgh in winter drinking mulled wine from a mug? I think not). Like any good student I'm always well-stocked when it comes to post-it notes and highlighters.

I've also got a few candles, because who doesn't like candles?

Next to the candles are some stones... these were the stones that I picked up off the beach on my last day in Cyprus, and they remind me of being on holiday.

And finally the obligatory stapler, and that's your lot.

And here's the view I spend most of my day staring at, instead of actually doing work!



That's all for now!

Peace H xxx


P.S Have you signed up for my giveaway yet? :)

Girl From Mars Giveaway!

Yes, you heard me right, this is my first ever giveaway. Since it's November it's officially ok to be excited about Christmas, and it being the season of giving and all, I thought it was the perfect time to give you all a well-deserved treat!

And here it is!



A Yankee Sampler Candle (Sparkling Snow scent) - it may not be snowing outside yet, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the lovely fresh scent of freshly fallen snow. And a vintage-looking adjustable red cocktail ring - just in time for the party season!

Along with these there will also be a lovely surprise gift included!

Unfortunately, this giveaway is restricted to UK applicants only this time round.


So for your chance to win here's what you can do!


1.Firstly, to enter you have to be a follower of this blog.

2. Email me at thisisgfm@gmail.com to be entered in the prize draw! (remember to include an email address or some other contact information)

3. For an extra entry, tweet about this giveaway (remember to include @belettepeu so I know who's tweeted!)

4. For ANOTHER extra entry (I'm so good to you) do a blog post about this giveaway and email the link to the above address (you don't have to do two seperate emails, I'll make sure you get your extra entries)



The deadline for all entries is midnight on Friday 11th November, and the winner will be revealed the following day!


Good Luck! H xxx

It's the Little Touches

Recently I've been wanting to redecorate my room and spruce it up a little. However, being a student on a student budget, that's not likely to happen anytime soon. So I've been coming up with a few ways to brighten it up a little...

On top of that, I've been looking for ways to store my jewelry. And I came across this idea on the internet to hang it up on the walls using pins!

So I attacked this little space on my wall...



and hung my earrings up on the pins...

Tip: Push the pins in at a slightly downwards angle so the earrings stay on better


and a few necklaces...


And here's the finished product!


I think it really looks pretty - and no more untangling necklaces! Of course you don't have to put the pins straight into the wall, a cork board would work just as well and look equally as nice.


I also dug out the old fairy lights and hung them up above my bed...


They're so much nicer to read with at night compared with a boring old lamp!


Hopefully I'll come up with a few more ways to spruce up the place spending little or no money.
Also, stay tuned for an exciting post coming tomorrow! :)

Peace H xxx