Saturday 30 June 2012

Nailed It! Cath Kidston

I was playing around with some false nails, trying out ideas and designs and decided to give a Cath Kidston look a go. 
I like the brand because it reminds me of my flatmate from uni, she adored the stuff!

So, I basically made it up, I didn't bother looking for a tutorial so if anyone has already done this, I didnt mean to steal any technique!

Polishes I used:
Barry M -Blueberry I/C 044
-Mint Green 106
-Spring Green 118
George (Asda) -Natural White 14
-Cupcake 79

Anyone seeing a theme here?! 
I love Barry M and George nail polishes.

I used the blue base and waited for it to dry completely. 
I then randonly splodged (technical term!) the pink then white on top and swirled it together with a cocktail stick.

Again using a cocktail stick I drew lines of the spring and mint green to make up the leaves.

Finish off with a topcoat.

This look is super easy to create and my own boyfriend thought they were false. Have faith in me boy!

I also made a multicoloured version on false nails.

Love Nina

Tuesday 26 June 2012

D.I.Y Studded Backpack

I love my trusty cream backpack from Primark! 
It cost £8 and I've used it most days since I bought it. 
I mostly take it to work if I'm staying at my boyfriends afterwards so its always crammed full of stuff. 
 This is probably why it started to rip recently =[ 
I had to find a way to fix it but I didn't just want to fix it, I wanted to jazz it up!

I decided to use some gold spikes I got off ebay a while ago. 
I also used a Cropadile (I think that's what its called) 
This can punch holes in anything and can be used to put eyelets in. 
I got it while at uni for making corsets.

I started my pinning the tear into place. 
I basically just tucked under the rough edge of the fabric so it looked neater.

I marked in pencil where I wanted all my studs and then chopped all the holes out. 
 The spikes then just screwed into place.

I loved this bag to begin with but now I just adore it! 
I have to be careful though cos the spikes are sharp and pointy and I keep batting people by accident.

Does anyone else love customising things?
Love Nina

Monday 25 June 2012

Nailed It! Orange Blossoms

Firstly a little rap on the knuckles to myself for not posting more frequently, I have many reasons but its all an excuse so I'll not even bother!

The weather has been shocking in the UK at the moment, a months rain in a day, flooding, so it's back to jeans and boots for this desperate-for-some-sun girl! This photo is at the front of my sisters house!
So I thought I'd add some colour to the dreary days with some loverly nails!

I absolutely adore anything orange at the moment, I did have my hair orange for a month or so but thats gone now. 
I get bored far too fast! 
So when I saw the shade "Sunset Orange" at Asda, I just had to. 
I applied two coats of this which is good going for Asda, some of the polishes can be quite thin.

I also used an Accessorize nail polish in Pink Spice on my ring finger.

The next product I used is also from Asda, I got it for Christmas a couple years ago but only recently started using it. 
It's a set of various stickers in shapes like flowers, birds and gems. 
They are so simple to use and can turn a simple coloured nail into something special. 
I always get asked about them when I use these.

Im not sure how much they were as they were a present but I spied them recently so they are still sold. 
I think they are aimed at younger kids but I love them!

Keep your eyes peeled when Asda shopping and grab some sparkle!

Does anyone else over-do colour to compensate for the miserable rain?!
Love Nina!

Sunday 3 June 2012

Benefit Freebies:

Ages ago I signed up to a website in an attempt to find cheap train tickets and it turned out to be so much more!
Its called Martins Money Saving Tips, the guy has a little segment on Lorraine and I hate his crazy camera editing but love his information.
He always lets you know about what freebies you can get in magazines and other such beauty news too.
I saw in the email that Glamour would be giving away Benefit samples.
The day it came out I planned to buy all three but so far I haven't been able to all three!
There are samples of The Porefessional, Bad Gal mascara and That Gal. 
That Gal has been been an elusive little gal so far!
All over Wigan, all over St Helens and no luck!

I'm going to keep trying and hopefully Ill find it somewhere, somehow.

I'm unsure about both samples so far, Ive only tried them once.

Im not too much of a fan of the texture of primers so The Porefessional freaks me out a bit! Its like when I touch velvet, it makes me shudder a bit!

The mascara is ok, it gives a fuller lash look but doesn't make 'em look longer. 
Not sure if its meant to but Id be happier if it did! 
I think I've been spoilt with my Clarins mascara freebie and so Bad Gal just doesn't match it.

I'm more excited to try That Gal as I've eyed it up quite a few times in store.
I hope ill be able to find it and if i do I'm buying at least two!
 Ill post again if I manage to find it as I wont be able to contain myself! 
I feel like its turning into an epic adventure!

Love Nina.

Saturday 2 June 2012

Five Empties #1

I thought this would be a good post for me to do as I'm so so rubbish at actually finishing products.
I need the motivation to do so!
Plus my mum hates all the bits I leave!
I've had these items for varying lengths of time, some have lasted me yonks, some ran out so fast cos they were awesome!

I'm aware these items look full in the photos.
My mum has this amazing habit of poofing out bottles that I think I'm running out of and then she makes them last me another month.
Its incredible.

1/ Soap and Glory, Scrub Your Nose In It:
Ive had this item about 18 months and it just wont run out! 
Not that I'm complaining.
This is the perfect twice weekly scrub and leaves my skin feeling very fresh.
The minty smell is also nice.
I love it.

2/ Clarins, Gentle Foaming Cleanser:
I have mixed feelings about this cleanser.
It was the first kind of "high end", expensive product I ever owned so at first I thought it was amazing.
Its lasted me about a year and I think that's cos I go through phases of using it all the time and then not at all.
Some times my skin is lovely, others its a greasy mess. I just don't know what to make of it!

3/ n-spa, Shower Sorbet:
This smells amazing!
It is the velvet plum and panna cotta.
It leaves the skin very silky.
I think this is the first shower gel solely used my me (not my mum as well) and Ive finished the bottle. 
I'm so proud!

4/ Clarins, Wonder Perfect Mascara:
I don't have the best lashes so if a mascara can make 'em look long and full, its an achievement. I got this as a sample about 6 weeks ago and Ive used it and loved it every day. 
Two coats and my lashes are awesome. 
I'm afraid to look how much it is to buy because I really want it!

5/ John Frieda, Full Repair:
Best shampoo/ conditioner Ive ever used. 
Again, Ive used full bottles without getting bored and leaving it for mum to deal with.
My hair is in desperate need of a cut and Full Repair makes it look like Ive just walked out the salon. 
I just re-purchased this  in boots as it was 3 for 2 on all John Frieda products.


So that's it! 
It'll probably take another year for me to collect enough empties for another post. 
I'm so proud I actually had empties to post about!

Love Nina.

Friday 1 June 2012

Eventful Days:

The sun has got his hat on. Hip hip hip hooray! 
Ok so that was last week and the weather has gone slightly downhill this week but I can reminisce! 
I feel like last week was so busy, between working and enjoying the sun I was shattered! 

So here's a glimpse of whats been going on in sunny Wigan.

Orrell water park
Dexter having an icecream
Babies first swing
Southport
Donkeys
Daisy chains
Veggie BBQ
Poppy having a beer

My favourite was the donkey I got to stroke. 

His name was Merlin!I'd love to have a rescue donkey when I'm older. 
I've eaten a lot of icecream this week but Philip Schofield said on the other days This Morning that whatever you eat outside, doesn't count. 
This is my new favourite rule!

Hope everyone has been enjoying the sun.

Love Nina