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

What's In My Bag? (And a little introduction...)

I've become addicted to 'What's In my Bag?' posts and videos recently.  I think it's just human nature to be a bit nosy from time to time and I'm a firm believer that the contents of your handbag can give a good hint as to your personality, so I think these kinds of posts are great fun. 

If you read my last post you might have noticed a reference to a 'new bag'... I was a little bit naughty last week and treated myself to something so, since I had to swap everything over into the newbie, I figured it would be the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon and do my own 'WIMB?' post. 

First though, let me introduce you to 'Rocco', the newest member of my handbag family...

The Alexander Wang Rocco tote in nubuck leather.  The website said the colour was 'camel' but there was a tag on that said 'ginger' so I'm not exactly sure what the colour is but it looks more 'camel' to me, so that's what I'm going with! 

The Rocco has been on my radar for a little while now and when I saw this baby on the Outnet for 40% off I just couldn't resist.  I have to admit, I didn't realise it was nubuck when I ordered it or I might have managed to resist...  Nubuck or suede or anything in that family scares me a little, as I just think it's such a high maintenance material.  However, once I pulled him out of his box I fell completely and utterly in love! The leather is so soft and smooth... High maintenance or not, there was no way I could send him back.  So, I figure I will just be sensible... I've ordered some Collonil nubuck and suede protector spray, committed to avoiding rain wherever possible but carrying a plastic bag with me at all times, just I case we do get caught in a shower and he needs a little makeshift raincoat and I'll avoid wearing him with really dark colours that are guaranteed to transfer.  I don't baby any of my bags but I will be a little more careful with this one. 

I've only taken him out once so far... I was desperate to use him but want to wait until he's protected before I put him into use for real.  Yes, it is a very, very heavy bag, due to the solid studs on the bottom but the weight distributes quite evenly through the handles so it's very comfortable to carry and as you're about to see, I don't carry a huge amount in my bag, so I don't think the weight will be an issue for me. 

Just a couple more handbag porn photos before we move on to the contents...

He's just so soft and smooshy and lovely! 

I'm actually turning in to 'crazy handbag lady' in this post... Sorry!

The contents...

I change my bag at least twice a week (more if I'm not at work and have actual outfits to coordinate with!) so I have the opportunity to get rid of receipts and stuff on a regular basis.  I dread to think how much rubbish would end up in here if I didn't switch them frequently!

There's a couple of things not pictured here; my iPhone which comes with me everywhere, my iPad which I usually take to work with me and some chewing gum that I have obviously abandoned somewhere currently unknown. 

From the left:

Mercedes Benz USB Stick and Desk Keys - This little stick has most of my work files on.  I actually bought this USB for hubs when he bought his new Merc, thinking he could out some music on or something... It sat on his bedside table for 6 months, so I have reclaimed it!  

Bath and Bodyworks Hand Sanitizer Gel - I actually paid £1.99 on eBay to get this which seems a tad excessive for some sanitizer gel, but I'd read so many good things about it.  I went for the scent 'warm vanilla rose' and it is absolutely gorgeous.  The smell lingers for ages after use and it's actually nice to use.  I find other sanitizers to leave a strong disinfectant sort of smell so this is a pleasant change.  I'm tempted to buy another in a more fruity scent, just because! 

thisworks Turbo Balm - My lips have been feeling really dry recently which is unusual for me, so I've been trying this out.  I'm still undecided as to whether or not I think it's helping.  It doesn't feel as moisturising as I thought it would and for £12 for a tiny tub it feels a little too similar to plain old Vaseline for my liking.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed it improves.

Tangle Teezer Compact - I have a full size Tangle Teezer that has changed my life completely (well, it's made hair brushing after washing a hell of a lot easier!) and this little portable one is perfect for the windy, rainy UK weather that we're all so used to!  I love that it has a little cover over the bristles to stop everything in your bag getting scratched up, it's a nice touch. 

Cross Pen (currently on mega sale!) - Hubs bought me this lovely Cross pen set when I got my promotion at work last year.  There's also a fountain pen that, unfortunately, I don't use but this ballpoint goes everywhere with me and I use it every day at work.  I go through replacement cartridges like there's no tomorrow! 

EOS Lip Balm - A product from my previous Wishlist that my lovely mum got for me.  I love how moisturising this is and how easy it is to apply.  I keep this floating around in my bag so it's easy to grab when my lips need a little moisture boost.  

Bath House Vanilla Noir and Amber Perfume - I've recently discovered Bath House.  They have a shop in Ambleside and I am addicted to their bath salts and body washes.  The smells are so strong (in a good way) and every product I've tried has left my skin feeling silky smooth.  There was a 3 for 2 offer on last time I was in the shop so I picked up this perfume to try and it's definitely become a favourite.  The smell is very light and easy to wear and the bottle is easy to throw in my bag and freshen up throughout the day. 

House Keys - This would usually have my car key on too but given that my poor little car overheated on the way home last Friday night it is currently in car hospital, so I am carless and keyless until he is fixed.  It's looking like it might be terminal but fingers crossed he can be sorted! 

The Brightside Make Up Bag - I love the whole Brightside range and the saying on this little bag makes me smile every time I look at it.  I'm not going to bore you with a picture of what's inside - we're talking hayfever tablets, spare hair bobbles, some sticking plasters, Estée Lauder powder compact and about 4 lip glosses/balms.  Boring. 

Glasses - I always carry my Ray-Bans with me.  I have the gold framed aviators with brown lenses.  I love the packaging on these glasses as they're so sleek and easy to carry, compared to other brands such as Gucci or Chanel who seem to want to take up as much room as possible with their cases!  I also have to carry my proper eye glasses with me as I'm blind as a bat and need them to drive if I've had to take my contacts out through the day.  These ones are Gok Wan for Specsavers, with big geeky frames.  They're good fun to wear. 

Kleenex - Useful all year round but particularly in hayfever season.

Benecos Happy Hands Hand Cream - This was a stocking filler from my mum at Christmas.  She's since given me the tube she got for herself as she didn't like it.  I'm not a huge fan myself...  It's a very oily moisturiser and takes a long time to soak in but then there's no results.  My hands feel dry again and I feel like I have to reapply.  I'm using it up so it doesn't go to waste but I definitely wouldn't choose this again.

Glass Nail File - I bought this off eBay for about £1.99 as I was sick of my nail file damaging everything in my bag, so one in a cover seemed like a good solution.  This was not a great purchase as the lid keeps falling off although, I can't really expect anything else for £1.99!  I am toying with the idea of getting the Leighton Denny crystal nail file but filing with glass/crystal makes me feel a bit sick (think nails down a black board!) so I only need it for proper emergencies and don't want to spend any money on it really. 

Edward Monkton Hippopotamus Tin - This was actually a tin full of mints but I threw those away and use it to carry emergency hair grips with me.  Perfect for those mid-day touch-ups when my hair is set on escaping from it's style!  I love Edward Monkton and the random words on all their products.  This tin is the Hippopotamus of Extraordinary Grace and the little quote says 'let her dainty steps remind us that we can all have whatever we set our yearning hearts upon', which I think is quite cute! 

Miu Miu purse - I have had this purse for about 7 years now.  I've used it every single day and it's still in great condition.  I use this for coinage, notes and membership/points cards. 

Louis Vuitton Cles Poche - This gorgeous little thing holds my most used debit and credit cards, along with my driving license and Boots Advantage card (I use this regularly, compared to other loyalty cards!).  This makes swapping from big to small bags a bit easier, as I don't have to switch cards out of my main purse every time.

So, there we have it!  The contents of my bag.  

I really enjoyed writing this post and (if you've managed to get this far) I hope you've enjoyed reading it too!  As I said, I'm addicted to 'WIMB?' posts so, if you've done one on your blog please link it below as I'd love to have a read! 

Aimee x

Summertime Wishlist

Since my previous wishlist proved successful (most of the items are now in my possession so it definitely focused the mind!) and as yesterday was officially the start of a new season, I figure now is as good a time as any to do another! 

So, working sort-of-clockwise:

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder in Candlelight - Even though I've not been blogging myself recently I have been reading tonnes of beauty and fashion blogs and this little highlighter keeps popping up everywhere!  I don't have any semblance of naturally defined cheekbones so I'm looking forward to trying this out. 

Chan Luu Silk and Cashmere Scarf - It's officially summer and I'm lusting over a scarf but, in my defence, these are pretty special scarves!  I first saw these scarves in a video on Wendy's Lookbook and have read nothing but good things since.  Soft, silky, huge and warm - I will be snuggling up in one of these this autumn/winter! [Currently on sale at The Outnet!]

Utility Jacket - Again, this is probably planning ahead a little too much but I'm thinking a utility jacket for those end of summer/autumn days will be perfect.  I think it'll look cute over dresses and tights or with jeans. 

T-Shirt Maxi Dress - I actually already have a navy version from Dorothy Perkins and I've been pretty much living in it every weekend since I bought it, so I want to add another in a neutral colour - I'm thinking khaki, to match my new bag (there'll be a post on this soon!). 

Dainty Gold Bar Necklace -  There's not much I need to say to justify this gorgeous necklace - the perfect lightweight accessory to add a little bit of glam to those plain maxi dresses I want to keep wearing! 

Dior Addict Lip Glow - I often find myself wishing for a lip balm or lipstick that just enhances my natural colour and, apparently, this magic little stick will do just that! However, at £23.50 for, what is effectively, 'just a lip balm' it's a little pricey, so I'm planning to pick one up at duty free before our holiday in September.  The 20% discount will make it a little more justifiable! 

Asda G21 Lace Kimono - I love George at Asda for clothes.  I've found the quality to be great and they often have on trend pieces at a great price.  I spied this kimono while I was out picking up some cough medicine for my boss (the glam life of a PA!) and would have snapped it up there and then but they didn't have my size.  Thank goodness for web shopping! 

Black Gladiator Sandals - Doesn't have to be these particular ones but I need a comfy pair of black sandals for 'mooch' days.  Ones that don't make my legs look stubby emphasise the real-life stubbiness of my legs, if such a wonder-product exists! 

Estée Lauder Doublewear Foundation - I've had a couple of samples to work through over the past week and have been completely impressed with everything about this product.  I will be purchasing this as soon as my current foundation runs out. 

Mulberry Glossy Goat Keyring - At £70 this is an indulgent purchase I don't know if I can justify, given that it will be bashed around in my bag for most of my life but my trusty keyring, purchased in Paris, smashed to pieces when I dropped my keys the other day, so some sort of new keyring is needed.  I've found this similar looking one from Aspinal of London at a much more bashed-about-in-bag-worthy price of £20, so I think this will be the option for me! 

So, there we have it... A few purchases I'd like to get my hands on over the next few months. 

Is there anything I've missed that is a must-have?? 

Aimee xx

China Glaze 'For Audrey'

My favourite film ever is Breakfast at Tiffany's, my favourite actress ever is Audrey Hepburn (I knew all the words to My Fair Lady at a very young age!) and I spend hours of my life painting my nails.  So, when I saw on Instagram that there was a product that paid homage to these three things, it only took me 30 seconds to log on to eBay and hit the 'Checkout' button. 

I am, of course, talking about the China Glaze 'For Audrey' nail polish - said to be the perfect 'Tiffany' blue.  

Now, when it comes to nail polish I am (usually) completely faithful to OPI as I love their formula, colour range and Pro-Wide brush but since they don't make a colour that combines three of my favourite things, I decided to 'cheat'. 

And I'm so pleased I did!! 

First off, the formula was amazing.  The picture above is after 2 coats but it was completely opaque, with no streaks, after the first coat and I could have easily slopped some Seche Vite on top and happily left it like that.  I put the second coat on because my nails are a little ridgy at the moment and an extra coat helped to smooth them out.  

Secondly - the colour. I ran up the stairs in excitement before my top coat was even dry and grabbed a Tiffany box!  

Okay, so in some lights it looks better than others but I don't think anyone could deny that this is as near a perfect match as anyone could get?!  The same bluey-green hues, the same somehow-bright-but-somehow-pastel sort of shade.  I am in love!!  Next time I use this colour I will definitely be a couple of white bows painted on to my fingernails... just to keep with the theme! 

Finally, the wear time...  I always struggle with nail polish lasting.  I don't know whether I have oily nails that stop the lacquer sticking properly, or whether it's having a job where most of my time is spent typing but I am lucky if I get 2-3 days good wear before the nail polish remover has to make an appearance.  I got 4 days out of 'For Audrey' which, for me, is excellent.

To round up - this polish is brilliant.  I received so many compliments while it was on my nails and people recognised the colour immediately.  I've been so impressed by the quality and formula of this China Glaze polish that I have officially become a convert.  I guess I'm 'breaking up' with OPI for a little while to see what else CG have to offer...  Any suggestions for 'must try' colours would be much appreciated! 

On a side note - am I the only person that cries for about an hour when they go looking for Cat in the rain at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's??  I think I actually cry less at Titanic! 

Thanks for reading. 

Aimee xx

Life Lately

It's been almost 6 months since I posted anything... I can't quite get my head around the fact that we are halfway through the year already!  I'm already starting to plan Christmas - too soon, I know! 

Reading one of my last posts, it seems I jinxed myself by committing to posting twice a week... 'regularly'.  Truth be told, I don't think I have enough going on in my life 'regularly' to fill up a whole two posts a week!  My weeks are filled with full time work where, generally, the most exciting thing that happens is negotiating a saving on our copier contract (whoop!) and my uniform is navy pants and a white blouse, so frequent OOTD posts would get pretty boring pretty quickly!  I have a husband who, although generally fabulous, is reluctant to stand around taking photos of me when I am in my non-work clothes and a mirror that shows the mess that is our bedroom when I try and take a selfie! 

To cut a long story short - I made myself feel like I *had* to write posts, which took the fun out of it very quickly... Especially when there was no one reading them! (Blogger now tells me my page has had 892 views since it set up, so 'hi!' to anyone who stopped by.  I love reading other people's blogs and there's lots of stuff I do have to blog about, so I'm just going to jot things down on here as-and-when the inspiration strikes rather than try and have a schedule!  

There's been a lot of stuff going on since my last post though... A manager in a department at work got rushed in to hospital and a week later the only other person in that department also got ill leaving *no one* to cover.  So, I somehow ended up stepping in and managing the department for two months, even though I had no idea what I was doing... And, to my complete joy, the department made a good profit each month! Yay!  I totally enjoyed it and loved the sense of achievement (and the thanks from my boss!) that I got at the end of it. 

What else has happened?... Oh, we were supposed to go to Mexico on 5th April, with my in-laws but we found out 2 weeks before we were due to fly that my father-in-law needed urgent surgery, so the holiday was postponed until February next year instead, when he'll be fit and well to come with us.  I'm on countdown already. 

I also had a birthday.  26!  I actually feel a bit old now but I'm enjoying it!  I'm looking forward to turning 30 in four years time and doing something completely fabulous to mark the occasion!  We spent this birthday day in Edinburgh, had lunch at Kitchin and finally bought my Neverfull!  I don't know why I waited so long.... I am completely in love! 

Anyway, this post is turning in to a long one so here's some iPhone snapshots to catch up on the past few months...

1.  Enjoying some sunshine in the Lake District, even though it was still freezing! // 2.  Beautiful birthday presents from my lovely mum - who reads my blog and had ticked off most of the items on my Wishlist (thanks mum! x) // 3. My gorgeous Neverfull in Damier Ebene and the bandeau gifted by Hubs // 4.  Following a YouTube tutorial to shell and prep a cooked lobster - and being totally successful! // 5.  Harry the Cat being adorable, as always // 6. Finally watching 'Frozen' and spending days warbling 'let it goooooo...' afterwards // 7.  A 15-year old Tag Heuer watch that I refuse to take off my wrist // 8.  Embracing my geeky side with some Gok Wan glasses // 9.  The yummiest sliders from Eaten by Monsters //. 10.  Working through my Kitchin cookbook and loving every meal so far // 11.  Breaking in my Converse (in pjs - obvs!)

1.  Giggles at a wedding in April // 2.  Harry the Cat hiding in my wardrobe, looking slightly demonic! // 3.  Because it's perfectly normal to take a selfie with the cat! // 4.  A little mini Danish-inspired smorgasbord to watch Eurovision with // 5. Some simple nail art with OPI // 6.  All dressed up for an amazing black tie do // 7.  Not Dior but I love them! // 8.  A traffic jam selfie, featuring my Mexico-themed scarf

So there we are... A ridiculously long post and a proper catch up.  If there's anyone who's managed to read this far through my ramblings - well done and thank you! :) I'm sure the next post will be shorter... I actually have a couple of things I want to post about, so it shouldn't be a 6 month wait until the next one! 

Aimee xx