Christmas Wishlist

       

                 


I've actually been on it this year and have all my Christmas shopping done, bar a couple of little stocking fillers I'm planning on getting during some late-night shopping next week.  Last year I was that girl who was running round just before Christmas and panic wrapping on Christmas Eve!  Not something I was looking to repeat.

All the Black Friday madness yesterday got me thinking about my own wishlist for what I'm hoping to find under the not-yet-erected Christmas Tree (that's a job for tomorrow!) on Christmas Day.  I'm not going to lie, I have already dropped big hints about these but figured I could still put them all together in a pretty collage and it might inspire you if you're stuck for ideas to buy for someone or it might even inspire present ideas for yourself.

Elie Saab Intense Parfum -  My taste in perfume has changed a lot over the past year or so...  I've always favoured sweet, fruity scents (Marc Jacobs Daisy, Dot, YSL Elle, etc.) but over the past few months I've definitely moved towards more musky 'grown up' smells.  This Elie Saab perfume falls firmly in to the 'grown up' category and I love it.  This could easily be my new signature scent!  There's a great gift set in places like Debenhams and House of Fraser that comes with a travel-size spray of the perfume too, for the same price as just the perfume - perfect for continuing to smell lovely when you're out and about!

Nars Virtual Dominance Blush Palette  - Deep Throat and Laguna were both on my beauty wishlist so, to see that Nars have brought these two out, almost full size, in one palette plus they've included another two blushes and a highlighter??  It was a no-brainer for going on this list.   It's Limited Edition though and I'm expecting it will sell out, so I'm not sure if I'm going to be lucky enough to nab one.  Fingers crossed!!

Chanel Sleep Eye Mask -  Okay, so this definitely won't end up under my tree.  Firstly, it's Chanel and is uber expensive and secondly, I think this particular one is from about 3 years ago and can't be bought any more.  However, I did find this one on Etsy that's similar, available and will do lots less damage to a bank account - perfect!  I've got one eye on planning for my February holiday to Mexico and would love this for the plane.

Teddy Dressing Gown -  I don't think I need to write anything about why I would like this.  Just two words; ridiculously cute.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray - I've not been sleeping too well recently, so anything that helps with that is welcomed with open arms.  Plus, again, I'm thinking about that plane journey - a little spritz of this should help me catch my much-needed 40 winks!  The full size of this product is quite expensive for something that I don't know will work for me, so these little sample sizes will be perfect to give it a go. 

Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask  - This pesky lack-of-sleep is causing some unwelcome eye bags.  A little bit of relaxation and these little guys under my eyes and I'm hoping we can eliminate them!  I think these might be a bit too urgently needed to wait until Christmas, so I might just be popping these in my Boots basket a little bit sooner. 

Anya Hindmarch Inflight Case  - I saw this on missglamorazzi's You Tube channel and fell in love with it.  Firstly, it's Anya Hindmarch so there's an element of cuteness to it (one side's labelled 'Touch Down' and one side's labelled 'Take Off' = cute!) but secondly, it's very practical.  At the moment I put all my liquids in a plastic food back (readily available from a supermarket near you) and by the time I've pulled it in and out of my holdall a few times it's tatty, falling to pieces and just looks scruffy.  This will continue to look chic, no matter how many times it's in and out of my bag.  I'm just hoping the nice airport officials agree it's 'airport approved' but might just take a reserve plastic bag with me the first time, just incase! 

OPI The Bearest Of Them All - Every Christmas has to include at least one nail polish and what could be better than this OPI that comes with a free tree decoration, in the shape of a polar bear?!  The polish itself is a little different with red and white glitter, interspersed with little red hearts.  Not a polish for every day sophisticated wear but great for a little bit of fun during the festivities.

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire - I know, another perfume!  This comes back to my 'grown up scents' point, so I'm trying to collect a few of those sorts of smells.  I got a little sample of this perfume and wore if for work one day.  It gave me a very strange feeling, like I was constantly wrapped up in a blanket and everything was safe and warm...  I know that sounds weird, I'm hoping it's because the scent just reminds me of something comforting from the past but it was very, very calming.  Added to that, it smells proper lovely too! 

So there we go, a little collection of things that I hope might end up under my tree.  Honestly, I wouldn't care if nothing was under the tree, as long as we were all together and there were some roast potatoes on the table...  Although, with DH and me cooking the Christmas dinner this year, there is a chance the potatoes might be more 'cremated' than roasted, but who cares?  It's Christmas! 

I'd love to see your wishlists so if there's one on your blog, leave the link below. 

Thanks for reading. 

Aimee x

Vienna

For anyone who's read any of my previous posts (and I doubt there will be many, given my complete lack of postage for the past few months!) you may be aware that me and DH allow one of our holidays, every year, to be dictated by the Eurovision Song Contest.  I won't bore you with the details again but if you're interested in the rules around this particular little tradition, you can see my admission of über-sadness here.

So, as per the rules, this year we found ourselves heading to Austria.  Vienna, to be precise.

Now, Vienna isn't somewhere that had ever really cropped up on my radar.  Other than The Sound of Music, Austria in general had passed me by a little bit and it was never somewhere I would have considered going but I am sooooo pleased I did. 

I fell head over heels for this city.  

Everything about it was so clean and tidy, the people were so welcoming and the streets felt safe.  As usual, we rented an apartment through Air BnB that was in the centre of the city, so we didn't have too far to walk to the main sites.

We landed late in the day so, with no time for sightseeing, we made our way for our first wiener schnitzel (when in Vienna...!).   Just up the road from where we were staying was a lovely little restaurant called 'Phoenixhof'...  It looked a little less than inviting from the outside but the staff were very friendly, there was a nice atmosphere and they certainly served traditional Austrian cuisine!  I upgraded my schnitzel to a 'Phoenix Schnitzel' which was pork, ham and cheese (traditional wiener schnitzels are made with veal) which, in retrospect, was a bit of a mistake as it was a bit too 'chicken kiev' but it was nice all the same. No pics I'm afraid because I'm a terrible food blogger!

The next morning we had our 'orientation' tour (DH insists on booking one wherever we go) and quickly visited some of the sites.  This was my first proper view of the beautiful white buildings and stunning architecture in the city.

And then, in between these (comparatively) modern buildings, there's the remains of the Roman Empire...

Just outside the Spanish Riding School, in one of the busiest parts of the city, were these excavated remains of the Roman City walls.  It caused serious Rome flashbacks seeing something so ancient sitting in the middle of modern civilisation!

We spent the rest of our first day wandering around the city, doing a little shopping and taking in some more sights.  We visited St Stephen's cathedral, which is currently in the process of being deep cleaned so the black walls are slowly turning back to their original white!  It's a stunning building and well worth a visit inside too.

That evening we had a Michelin Star meal at Palais Coburg.  No photos, unfortunately, but I can assure you it was gorgeous food.  I somehow managed to end up with a glass of champagne that cost £25 but it just added to the experience!  We had an awkward moment where the maitre'd introduced us to Chef Silvio Nichol and he genuinely looked like he had no idea why but it was nice to be able to say a proper thank you for the amazing food and to see he was in the kitchen himself.

The next morning started with more food (as if the 9 courses the night before hadn't been enough!) and we went for brunch at the Donauturm.

826 feet high, with a revolving restaurant pretty much at the top.  My equilibrium is usually non-existent during things like this but I managed not to feel too dizzy.  It was quite an experience and gave some great views out over the city.

There were a few people (much braver than me!) bungee jumping off the platform while we were eating, so there were a few 'hold my breath' moments on their behalf!

We spent an hour or so wandering around the park underneath the Donauturm before jumping on the metro back to the city centre.  We spent a couple of hours sitting in a bar watching the F1 (we have to do this, even on holiday!) before we continued our wander round the city.  The main thing I found in Vienna is that it's very easy to fill a lot of time just doing nothing.  We just mooched around the various districts, stopping for a coffee every now-and-then and totally and utterly relaxed.  It was exactly what we needed.

On our third full day, we made up a little bit for all the food we'd eaten over the past few days with an early morning hike to Schonbrunn Palace.  Okay, so 'hike' might not be quite the right word but we did walk 4 miles across Vienna to get there from our apartment.  Obviously, the Metro and other transport would have been a suitable alternative but for some unknown reason, these were vetoed.

It would have been perfect, if it wasn't for the fact that I had packed for cool weather (it was forecast to be relatively cold and we hadn't been having the best weather in the UK before we left).  It looked cool when we set off in the morning, so I dressed (so I thought!) accordingly for the weather.  Fast forward an hour or so and it was 22 degrees, scorching sunshine and I was wearing jeans and ankle boots.  I was sooooo warm!

Irrespective of the ridiculous choice of outfit, I loved seeing the different parts of the city.  We crossed the railway line and walked through a less 'well-kept' area before we turned a corner and saw Schonbrunn.  The walk and the heat became worth it...

If you happen to find yourself in Vienna then you have to visit this place.  Even if you do nothing else. The gardens are stunning, it's like a fairytale.

This first picture isn't even the real palace...  It's just the Prince's Palace & Gardens.  Like a baby version of the real thing! 

We spent hours just wandering around, getting lost and climbing up to the Gloriette to get an amazing view of the palace grounds and the city.  We ate lunch at the top of this hill, basking in the sunshine to prepare ourselves for the long walk back down.  

Yes, this Gloriette is at the top of a big hill (which I forgot to photograph!) and yes, it does seem even bigger when you're dressed for Arctic conditions and it's as hot as the Sahara (I'm exaggerating again but what I'm trying to say is; I was very, very hot!).

There was an actual maze and two labyrinths to get properly lost in too.  We also did the tour of the palace (no photos allowed) and learned a little bit about the history of the city.

On our final day, we spent hours in the Imperial Treasury.  We genuinely thought this would fill an hour or so but we were there for 4 and a half hours!

There were gems and clothes and pieces of imperial furniture dating back to the Roman Empire and so much to learn.  Aside from the complete prettiness of everything, it was also very educational.  We finished our learning just in time to head back to the airport and catch our plane home.

Just in case you were wondering (although I'm sure you weren't!), we did visit the Spanish Riding School.  We went for the morning exercise and I was desperately looking forward to it but I was so disppointed! The 'exercise' session was just that...  The horses trotted and cantered round the ring for 2 hours and once or twice they did the odd jump or dance but it was very boring.  I think the actual show would be amazing to see but I wouldn't recommend the exercise.  The horses were, undoubtedly, very beautiful and great to watch for a few minutes but definitely not worth the price (around £15).

Such a long post but there we have it, my few days in Vienna.  I truly did fall in love with this city and would recommend it to anybody looking for culture, relaxation and great food.  If you do go, please take me back with you! ;)

Aimee x

Behind The Times Review - Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation

I know I'm about a million years behind every one else with this review but I'm so in love with this foundation that I wanted to add my tuppence worth! 

Important thing to note, first of all: my skin and me do not get on. Full stop.  We never have and we probably never will, completely.  I suffered from acne when I was younger and my skin is still prone to blemishes now, especially at certain times of the month (TMI, I know!).  It's also extremely oily some days, really dry on others and sometimes, just to be a complete bitch, it's everything all at once. 

This foundation works for me and my skin no matter what kind of day we're having.

                              

Where I live, we have three different Estée Lauder counters (Boots, Debenhams and House of Fraser) and I took the opportunity, out of curiosity, to get colour matched at each of them.  I'm pleased I did because I got two different results...

                 

I was matched to Ecru (1N2) by HoF and Debenhams and matched to Desert Beige (2N1) by Boots.  This was the same day, on my make-up free face.  

Estée Lauder are excellent in offering testers before you buy their products which, for someone with skin as temperamental as mine is essential so all 3 stores sent me away with a little sample to try (these 'little' samples lasted about 8 days each!).  

I tried both colours and despite having 2 matches to Ecru, felt the Desert Beige suited my skin more, so this is the one I bought initially.  However, this was in June and by September when the tiny semblance of tan I'd had disappeared, I suddenly looked orange!  I got colour matched again to Ecru and have been using that one for my tan-free months. 

The moral of this particular part of the story is: take advantage of the samples and get matched a couple of times if you can.  Harsh store lighting can really change the tone your skin looks so the only way to be certain it's right for you is to test drive it for a couple of days, in natural light, doing what you do. 

Anyway, enough rambling about colour matches... The rest of my thoughts on this foundation:

The Wear - when it says 'Double Wear' it isn't lying.  I put this on at 7am and it is still perfectly on my face when I come to remove it at 10pm.  I use a primer and translucent powder to set it but even so, this stuff lasts! 

The Rub Off -  I wear white shirts for work.  Previous foundations have turned my crisp white shirts slightly tangerine looking by the end of the day.  With this there is nothing.  Seriously, when I remove my shirt at the end of the day it is as white around the collar as it always has been (the front of my shirt where I've spilled my lunch down myself isn't but I don't think a foundation exists that can help my lack of coordination in putting food in my mouth!!).  

Application - As other reviews say, this does dry quite quickly so you don't have much time to blend and you can't fix any problems you might notice during your final checks.  However, it blends really easily, as long as you're quick.  I use my Real Techniques stippling brush to buff it in to my skin and find this works really well to give a smooth, airbrushed finish. 

Pump-less - I poured approximately 1/3 of my first bottle all over myself during my first few applications.  Refusing to believe I was the only person in the world this could happen to, I Googled and 'big yays!', I'm not the only person this has happened to and there is a saviour in the shape of a pump!  Apparently, there is a Mac pump that fits or you can just do what I did and buy one from this lovely eBay store for half the price.   For me, the pump is a must and I would have rejected this foundation long ago if I had no option but to pour! 

                               

Reaction - My skin does not breakout at all, which is a miracle.  It feels lightweight when it's on and my skin doesn't feel suffocated.  I've skipped primer a few times (on morning's when I've snoozed the alarm one too many times!) and noticed a slight oxidisation by the end of the work day and a slight 'orange' glow.  This isn't a huge issue but with a little bit of primer before application there's not a trace of orange and the colour stays all day. 

Quantity - You get 30ml for £29.50 which, for me, is reasonable for a foundation plus, it lasts ages.  For an amazing skin day it's only half a pump, for an okay skin day it's one pump and even for an 'I-wish-I-could-put-a-paper-bag-over-my-head-day' it's only one and a half pumps, so it's not something that often needs to go on the shopping list.   

Verdict - 4/5 - Fab product, fab application but would be even better if it came with it's own pump! 

I hope you enjoyed this little review and that, if you've got temperamental skin like me, this might help you find something that works for you.  

The beauty junkie in me is always looking for something else to try so if you've got any suggestions of foundations that work for you, leave them in the comments below.

Thanks for reading. 

Aimee x

Bad Blogger Catch Up

So, it's become clear over the past many few months that I'm not great at this 'regular posting' thing.  Life just gets in the way a little bit but I really want to get this little blog going!

I've got a few things swimming around in my head that I'd like to put posts together for but in the meantime, a little catch up of what 'life' has involved over the past little while...

1.  My car exploded.  Yep, my little 10-year-old, faithful, reliable car exploded on the motorway.  Okay, so it wasn't a proper explosion... he actually just overheated and dropped his coolant all over the motorway but being flashed by a lorry driver 'cause your car looks like it's on fire, while you're overtaking in the middle lane, at 11:45pm, in the dark, isn't the greatest experience.  Anyway, the poor little Streetka has gone to the great car dealership in the sky and I had to find an alternative.  Enter 'Meep' the Fiat 500... I LOVE this car.  Mainly 'cause it looks ridiculously cute (the headlights actually look like they have eyelashes!), it's fun and easy to drive and has modern things like a temperature sensor and heated rear windscreen (old SK didn't have such luxuries!).  I don't care that it only has a 1000cc engine and goes from 0-60 in 2 minutes, it's perfect for tootling around the 'city'. 

2.  We redecorated our spare room and have turned it in to a second lounge, complete with desperately uncomfortable sofa bed for when people do want to stop over.  The double bed we used to have in there took up the whole room and we rarely had people stopping so we've taken the plunge.  Somehow, everyone now wants to stop to test out the sofa bed - how does that work?!  Anyway, I'm particularly proud of the little photo wall we've put together with black and white prints of all the countries we've been to.  

3.  Definitely the worst weekend I've had in a long, long time.  Harry the Cat started breathing really heavily gasping for air, so we rushed her to the vets.  They kept her in during the day and when we went back to collect her that evening we were given the horrible news that she had heart failure and was very, very poorly (she's 14, so no spring chicken).  They had removed a lot of fluid from her lungs (this had effectively been drowning her, which had caused the breathing problems).  The prognosis wasn't good.  We were given some tablets and took her home that night but the vet said she wouldn't get better and we should prepare for the worst when we took her back a couple of days later.  I cried so much that whole weekend, especially when she seemed to pick up and get back to her old self.  I felt like we would be taking her back to the vets and sealing her fate.  Happily, it didn't end up like that.  It turned out the tablets were really helping and she had shown a huge improvement.  We took her back a couple of times over the next few weeks and things continued to get better - she's now on two-monthly visits and she's doing really, really well.  The vet said that cats with this condition usually survive for a 'few' months, whereas dogs can last for years...  Harry was diagnosed in August and she's still doing well now, so fingers crossed she might be a bit dog about this whole thing and be with us for a lot longer.  

4.  From something very sad to something very happy-making - we went to Vienna!!  This was our customary Eurovision-winner trip, since Austria took first place.  I fell in love with the city.  The buildings, the parks, the people.... I felt so at home and could happily have stayed longer.  There will definitely be a blog post about this trip. 

5.  Another little trip, this time a little closer to home (albeit, it's the other end of the country)... We spent our 4th wedding anniversary at the stunning Waterside Inn in Bray.  We stayed in one of the gorgeous rooms overlooking the Thames, ate the tasting menu in the beautifully-French 3-Michelin-star restaurant and then enjoyed breakfast served in our room the next morning.  We snook in a little visit to The Hinds Head for lunch the next day too, so safe to say we didn't need feeding for the next few days!  

6.  I Dymo-stickered my nail polish collection.  How I can say I don't have time to blog and then sit and spend hours doing this, I don't know.  I painted each colour on a colour wheel and then labelled the corresponding bottles... Then the labels peeled off.  Every single one of them.  So, what we have learned is: this is a really bad idea.  Don't do it. 

I think that's enough of an update now.  If you made it this far, thanks for reading and check back again sometime soon.  There will be more posts, I promise!    

Aimee x