WoodWick Trilogy Candle

[via with permission]

I first saw these mentioned in one of Fleur De Force's monthly favourites videos and loved the sound of them so one was immediately added to my birthday list!  

Woodwick, as the name suggests, are different from other candles in that they have a wooden wick rather than the normal stringy ones.  Also when lit the wick gives off a pleasant crackling noise which  I love!  It's so soothing and sounds just like you've got a lovely wood fire burning away in the fireplace.  I've also noticed that when you blow it out it doesn't have that acrid burning smell that you often get - Yankee, I'm looking at you!

The candle I got is a 10oz Trilogy in Winter Forest which combines Enchanted Evergreen, Velvet Woods and Frasier Fir fragrances.  I wanted some sort of Christmassy scent but as I really dislike cinnamon I went for this one which smells just like a real tree which is what we always get!  The morning after burning it I can come into the living room and still smell it subtly lingering in the air, lovely!

Unfortunately I was so excited to burn it when I first got it I didn't take a photo - hence the stock photo - but below are some photos of it in action.  I think another great feature of the candle which isn't shown in the top photo, is that it comes with a smart wooden lid which then doubles as a mat to protect the surface you're burning it on - such a good idea!

In order to get an even burn you need to have it lit for at least 3 hours to let the wax pool reach the side of the jar to stop it from burrowing down unevenly.  Also you must break off the burnt section of the wick before relighting.

The candles are available here: the 10oz ones are £15.99, and you can also get a bigger 22oz one for £22.99.  They also do lots of other home fragrance products including candles called Ribbonwick which I am very intrigued by!

I would definitely buy another one of of these, I just wish I had somewhere local which stocked them so I could smell before buying as they aren't cheap and it would suck to buy one only to find out you don't like it!

<3 

Some Christmas Pressies!!

I do love seeing what people have got for Christmas, it's so exciting!  I've decided to do a sort of abridged version just including my bigger presents rather than going through every sweetie and pair of socks haha!

I wasn't expecting much this year as I'm over 21 now and apparently that's the age when everyone decides you're too old for presents!  However I ended up with a good wee haul anyway, I am very lucky!

So first, one of my main presents from my mum and dad was the Sigma Mrs Bunny Travel Kit, which also comes in black.  I got this on Black Friday when they did free international shipping, and I also treated myself to the Kabuki Kit!  It was then passed onto the parents and put away until Christmas.  I really like it, it comes with synthetic versions of the E40, E30, E55, E65, F30, F40 and F60!

Next is a coat I wanted from work, I brought it home a week before Christmas like, can you buy me this for a present?  They didn't even wrap it :( I've not had it on yet but I love it, and it was a bargain too!

I got loads of books this year!  My Auntie Tricia got me the Enid Blyton Adventure set, and my parents got me the new Jodi Picoult book, Lone Wolf.  I'm looking forward to reading these, Enid Blyton takes me back to my childhood!

My Auntie Tricia also got me Lgns London Roses & Diamonds perfume which I had asked for.  This is a BUAV Approved company so finally I can have some fancy cruelty free perfume!  It is also pretty cheap too, I think it's about £20 for 30ml.  It smells so nice but you don't need to take my word for it because they send out free paper samples - which I had already got.  There is also another perfume called Serenity which I haven't tried, and they are currently doing a deal where you get a free mascara when you buy that perfume.

I got this bag from my Auntie Heather and family.  It's so big and squishy, I love it!!  I'm getting a bit fed up of my tiny little bag so I am going to transfer everything over into this one.  It means I can get a nice big purse to go with it too!  I'm not 100% sure which it's made of which worried me at first but I think it is faux leather - hopefully!

...And my Auntie Tricia gave me this wee charm too (she spoils us!!!) so I attached it onto my new bag!

From my mum's friend and her daughter I got a Soap & Glory set which I was really excited about.  I've never actually tried any of their stuff so I can't wait to try it out and see if they live up to the hype!

And finally from my neighbour, a L'Occitane hand cream set.  The packaging on this is just stunning, I'm definitely keeping the box!  Sadly L'Occitane started selling in China last year so I wouldn't be able to repurchase but I'm sure this will keep me going for a while!

Have you got a favourite present from this Christmas?

<3

EOTN: Nars Paramaribo Duo

As promised here is how I've been doing my eye makeup for most of the Christmas nights out I went on earlier in the month.  It is nice and quick as it only uses a couple of products so it was handy for my college night out where I stayed at my friend's; I could just throw the few extra items into my everyday makeup bag.

So all I used for this was my Urban Decay Primer Potion, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (both of these are optional, but my eyes crease like crazy), Nars Paramaribo duo, Nars Albatross (as a highlight, any will do but I like the gold tones in that one), a gel liner and mascara.  On my brows I used Une Brow Pencil in B04.

Sorry for the cropped photo, it was a full face but my eye bags are just so bad, ahhh!  I will be so sad when my Mac concealer runs out cos it works really well but obviously I can't repurchase... No idea what I'll use!  If anyone has any industrial strength dark circle concealer recommendations which are cruelty free and I can get in UK, please let me know!!!

Also my secret santa at work (no idea who it is, still on the hunt!) amazingly gave me loads of BUAV Approved makeup!  So I can't wait to try it out and let you know my thoughts on it.  I've never heard of it before but it's called Clubworks and it must be pretty cheap as the limit was £10 and I got those 3 sets!

<3

EOTD: Christmas Day

I got a bit carried away doing my makeup for Christmas Day seeing as the only time I left the house was to pick up my grandparents, and it was only them coming round!  I wasn't even going to blog this makeup but then my mum complimented it so I thought, oh why not!  However because I waited until later on, (and because I didn't use a primer as I didn't really need it to last...) it has gone all creasy, soz :(  I might redo it later on and change the photos to better ones!

On my eyes I used NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and then what I like to call my 'earthy palette', which you can see in full here.  I used the Too Faced duo in Lucky Charm (the green one...), and then the lightest Avon shadow, which is the tiny one above the duo as a highlight.  Then I just lined my eyes with black gel liner and added mascara to top and bottom lashes.  On my brows I have Une Brow Pencil in B04.

On my cheeks I have MUA blush in Shade 6, and on my lips is my new Illamasqua Lipgloss in Boost which I love.  I will definitely do a separate post on that alone at some point - it's so pretty!  I only put this on towards the end of the day out of sheer curiosity!

Base

Eyeshadows

Blusher

<3

2012 New Year's Resolutions

Wow, I can't believe this year is nearly over!  At the end of 2011 I decided to set myself some resolutions for the first time in a long time.  In this post I am going to have a look over them and see how I got on, whether I actually managed any!

• Get back into reading, been slacking so bad recently!  My new Kindle will help though I think :D

I was aiming to read 40 books this year and I'm very close to my goal, not 100% sure if I'll manage it but I am pretty pleased with this nonetheless!  It was harder than I thought, even though I love reading I am quite slow haha.

• Get to bed before midnight on uni nights.

Hmm...  This didn't really happen, I've been much better though I think! I am usually settled down by 1am which isn't too bad I don't think :)

• Try to be more motivated for uni and read my notes etc. at the time…

We can pretty much veto this one to be honest hahah!  Although I did pass the two exams I sat in August so that was good going!

• Be able to give blood, uch, I will at least try!

I am still underweight, I don't think I will ever be able to because I don't want to put on weight unless it's in muscle!  I am quite short and small built so I'm physically not meant to weigh much without being/feeling unhealthy!

• Get back to callanetics and pole dancing and go to at least one kettle bells class!

Yes, yes, yes!  I joined my local leisure centre so I have unlimited access to classes, I've tried lots of new things as well and feeling great!  I love exercise!

• Be better at saving again even if only putting a little bit away every month.

When I cut my hours I could only afford to put £25 away, if that - better than nothing though!  I've increased them again now though and I put the majority of my birthday money away too so it's looking good.  Hopefully I can use it for a holiday or something next year.

• Continue to cut down meat consumption.

Only eating fish now!

• Ironically - spend less time on social networking sites….

Nooo... Although probably using Facebook and Tumblr a lot less.  I'm still as addicted to Twitter as ever though haha!

I also did update of these back in March which you can find here if you're interested!

<3

Louise Loves #9

I finally finished college for Christmas, yayy!  We had our night out the week before and it was actually amazing; we went for dinner, had giant cocktails, did karaoke, had too many Jägerbombs then had to attempt some compact spooning with 4 of us on the one couch! We had a class at 9am the next day but didn't make it in...  I didn't want to risk driving at that time anyway, the police are really cracking down on people driving 'the morning after' this year - terrifying!

Sadly now I need to concentrate on studying for my Linear Algebra exam on 14th January, the thought it just so depressing I can't even tell you!

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

I have been using this every time I wear eyeshadow, which has been a lot more often than usual due to all the Christmas dinners and nights out!  It just creates such a smooth, even base for you to apply eyeshadows on top of.  It also really intensifies the colours in the shadows as well.  You can get these from a few UK stockists such as Amazon, Cocktail Cosmetics and Love Makeup which is where I got mine from, they also have their own UK website which I have linked below.

[£4.50 from NYX uk]

My Christmas Decorations!

I love my little light, I got it last year from Dobbies, it gives the room a lovely warm glow.  On my wardrobe I've got all my cards, advent calendar and a candy cane.  I've also got a tiny real Christmas tree with lights to go in but we haven't go a proper base for it yet :(

Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Paramaribo

I actually bought this in a blog sale for about £10?  I can't remember how much exactly, but much cheaper than the full price anyway!  This is in my favourites because it has become my go-to eyeshadow duo for going out, it's so quick and easy to apply.  Also because of the colours it is very versatile.  The only thing I'd say is that for some reason the gold/olivey one has a weird texture and sort of seals itself as if I've got it wet - which I haven't!  I'm not sure if this is a one off or if they all are a bit funny, I'm glad I didn't pay full price for it!

[£24 from NARS]

Eyeliner Brush

I've been using this for ages but again, I've been wearing eyeliner a lot more over the festive period.  This is actually a paint brush (hahah) but it applies gel eyeliner like an absolute dream, I love it!  I got this from The Art Store in Glasgow and it's an oil painting brush, number 0.  It probably didn't cost more than a few pounds as well.

<3