UPDATED ESSIE COLLECTION

Having been around a year since my last Essie collection and with 3 for 2's, kind gifts and far too many treat yourself moments over the past year, my Essie collection has grown quite a bit. I though I would revisit my collection for a little update!

My most recent Essie polishes were actually a gift from Alex - I adore this dreamy Bridal collection set that he picked up for me. My next planned purchase is Essie Starry Starry Night, as soon as it's available again I'm snapping it up, it's been on my wishlist for the longest time - I'm so happy that Essie are bringing it back again!

After looking at my collection as a whole I seem to be missing a few lighter, summery shades, maybe next time boots have a 3 for 2 offer... I'd love to know your favourite picks!

The Berries

First up is my absolute favourite shade to wear, berry. There's something about autumnal hues, rich berries, plums and mulberry tones that I just love, they're flattering on the nails and work so well as the base for a glittery mani!

Essie Sole Mate is one of my top picks, a glossy, vampy shade, Essie Bahama Mama, a rich plum is another of my most worn polishes, then there's one of my latest additions Essie Fashion Flares, a magenta bar glitter that looks pretty simply brushed over the nails, Essie it's Genius - a violet quartz shimmer and Essie Angora Cardi a creamy, dusty mauve.

The Blues/Greens

I'm fairly surprised how many blues I have in my collection! I own - Essie's Midnight Cami a deep blue with twilight shimmer, Essie Aruba Blue, a flattering sapphire foil, Essie A Stroke Of Brilliance, a frosty periwinkle blue glitter, Essie Maximilian Strasse Her - a firm favourite of mine and the cult favourite Essie Mint Candy Apple.

The Pinks/Corals

Next up are three pinks, Essie Peach Daiquiri a dreamy vibrant coral, Essie Cute as a Button which is similar to Peach Daiquiri but a little more pink and Essie A Cut Above, a chunky, soft pink glitter.

The Nudes

Most of the nude shades that I own come from this dreamy bridal set, Essie's Vanity Fairest being the only exception, I've owned and loved this shimmery nude pink for a long time now!

From the set there's Essie Allure aka Kate Middletons Wedding day mani pick, Essie's Ballet Slippers (another cult shade) and Essie Sugar Daddy, one that I've coveted for a while now after spotting it a lot on Pinterest!

The Reds

Mainly pulled out at Christmas, Essie Leading Lady is a gorgeous, sparkly deep red that has flecks of raspberry glitter running through it, perfect for the festive season. Next up is Essie Bordeaux, a deep burgundy and my ultimate favourite shade. Lastly Essie Aperitif is a cherry red that makes the perfect red mani.

The Metallic Glitters

Some of the most aesthetically pleasing of the bunch, my copper/silver/gold glitter collection has grown rapidly over the past year, I just can't get enough of these shimmery shades!

First off there's Essie Sparkle On Top (the last polish of the Bridal set), Essie Frillin' Me Softly, an icy silver bar glitter with flecks of frosty blue, Essie Rock at the Top - my top pick for gilded tips, the divine Essie Summit of Style, a chunky copper glitter and Essie Tassel Shaker, a gorgeous Copper and Bronze glitter.

The only treatment that I own from Essie is the Essie Nail Treatment Apricot Cuticle oil, it hydrates and nourishes the nails and cuticles with a blend of moisturising oils, just one quick swipe leaves my nails feeling supple and strong.

Phew, that's a lot of polishes! What are your favourite Essie Picks?

A NEW YEAR ASOS WISHLIST

My ASOS saved items have racked up again and so I thought I would share some of my most coveted items. I've found a couple of gorgeous wedding guest dresses, this lipstick bag seems like the perfect affordable dupe for the Lulu Guinness version and these super soft Robot Pyjamas are on the top of my wishlist for cosy winter days! These are my current picks for winter and the new year:

A RESTORATIVE LUSH HAUL

This January, instead of harsh detoxes, huge dietary changes and overworking myself with exercise routines that I probably won't stick to, I've decided to take things a little slowly. January is still a cold, bitter Winter month and comforting healthy meals, hot baths and soothing yoga routines are still very much required. As part of my restful, recharging January plan I've picked up a few Lush treats to get myself back on track and to get off to a good start to the year.

The Sacred Truth Face Mask

My skin has been in desperate need of a pamper after Christmas and so the first thing I picked up was The Sacred Truth Face Mask to help to perk up my complexion. This heavenly fresh mask contains nutritional wheatgrass, moisturising honey and exfoliating papaya enzymes to leave skin soft and glowy. 

This luxe skincare treat is packed full of fresh ingredients and so lasts in the fridge for around three weeks, the recommended twice weekly treatments ensures that the mask is used up in this time. I've used it once already and the results are pretty impressive, I'm positive that it will help get my skin back on track this month!

Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar

I just couldn't leave lush without a Unicorn Horn, this multicoloured iridescent bubble bar is such a magical treat. It creates a dreamy watermelon pink bath with clouds of sparkly bubbles whilst the combination of relaxing lavender paired with mood-boosting neroli soothes and lifts spirits - perfect for these gloomy January days!

The Rough with the Smooth

I picked up this scrubby little block after reading so many rave reviews online. Packed with exfoliating sugar and moisturising murumuru butter, it's the ideal quick fix for dry winter skin. This heavenly scented scrub has been a saviour for my parched skin so far, leaving it soft, pampered and smooth.

Beautiful Shower Gel

With a heavenly mix of peach and apricots, this in shower treat is like sunshine in a bottle. This is a fairly thick shower gel that creates a luxe, rich creamy lather to leave skin silky soft. The golden flecks of glitter and sunny disposition of this cute little product makes for the perfect morning pick me up.

Have you picked up anything new from Lush recently?

WINTER BLUSHERS

As we move further into winter and with slivered frosts, biting gales and colder days right around the corner I've pulled out a few frosty pastels, rich wines and shimmery red blushers to pair with the wintry days ahead.

MAC's Gleeful was a welcome addition to my make up bag throughout December, so much so that I've carried it through with me to the new year. This mineralised, soft wine blusher blends seamlessly over the skin, the luminous pigments enhance the cheekbones whilst it gives a rosy flush to the cheeks. Paired with pink glossy lips and tons of mascara it gives a fresh wintry look.

A matte, dusty red rose blush like Nars Dolce Vita is perfect for the transition into winter, best applied with a light hand, this pigmented, blendable blusher packs a punch. It's universally flattering  tones and matte formula sculpts the cheeks and looks divine paired with a shimmery champagne highlighter. 

I picked up this dreamy H&M Pure Radiance Powdered Blusher in Golden Peach last weekend as a wintry alternative to my all time favourite blusher Sleek Rose Gold. They both have the same infused shimmery, complexion enhancing effect which instantly perks up the skin with radiance and light, ideal for the gloomy wintry days. It's also slightly scented with a subtle, divine vanilla fragrance, similar to MAC lipsticks which is a huge plus!

Lastly, MAC Well Dressed has been my daily to go blusher, combined with MAC Soft & Gentle it creates a dreamy cheek combination that I'm currently obsessed with. This powdery pale pink blush works so well with a frosty pink eyeshadow like MAC's Naked Lunch, the icy cool tones match the colder days perfectly!

What are your favourite blush picks for winter?

JANUARY TO DO LIST

1. Nail the perfect smoothie recipe with chia seeds, frozen fruit, agave nectar and a handful of spinach thrown in for good measure!

2. Pick up this Honeycomb Wine Rack, whilst it's less than half price in the sale to coincide with my new year goal of getting organised and sprucing up my kitchen. Maybe this dreamy muffin tray too!

3. Spend a gloomy, wintry day reading Harry Potter with candles burning and a mug of hot chocolate in hand. With winter blues slowly creeping in it's important for me to savour a few good moments to myself. This cat mug is the perfect size for a creamy hazelnut hot chocolate!

4. Snap up these adorable Robot Pyjamas from Asos, I already have this Space set and they are the cosiest, softest pair that I own!

5. Feed the birds. With winter finally setting in the birds will be getting hungry, last year several robins and even a cheeky magpie visited me daily for food!

6. Bake a warming, cinnamon apple crumble with dairy free salted caramel ice cream. Cooking apples are in season at the moment, they're perfect for winter as they're full of antioxidants and vitamin C. Add a dash of ginger or cinnamon and a dollop of ice cream to make it a cosy wintry treat.

7. Find a nice, comfortable, well fitting pair of trainers. This is already proving unbelievably hard for my size 2 feet! I love this New Balance pair, but they're not available in my size. I'm so tempted to ditch the idea of normal trainers and splurge on a pair of Disney Vans!

8. Invest in a new highlighter, with winter bringing me dull, lacklustre skin I'm in desperate need of a glow. I've got my eye on either Becca Champagne Pop or the Kevin Auction The Celestial Powder in Candlelight.

9. Pick up some fresh pink tulips to brighten up the home - things are looking a little bare without the Christmas decor!

10. Aim for 20 minutes of exercise a day - Yoga, Cycling or Blogilaties!

What's on your January to do list?

GETTING ORGANISED IN JANUARY

January for me is a time to get organised, with a hint of motivation in the air, it's the perfect month for fresh starts, clear outs and straightening things out for the year ahead. With plans this month to adopt a more minimalistic approach and to declutter my surroundings ready for the new year, I've pulled together a list of my plans to help me along the way. I'm also tempted to pick up The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo this month to give me that final push to part with most of my unworn pieces from my wardrobe!

1. Invest in a planner/diary/wall calendar:

During the last part of 2015 I printed out a calendar to note down my blogging schedule, life updates, errands and things to do/buy. Having the month completely mapped out really helped to up my productivity and kept me so motivated. I found that planning in advance helped me to prioritise and get organised, plus, using metallic pens to write down events was so satisfying to do each month (the little things!).

Along with a monthly calendar printout, I find that keeping a daily diary really helps to keep everything organised and close to hand. This makes it the perfect place to scribble down ideas, current favourites, things that your grateful for, songs to listen to, TV shows to check out, make up to swatch, appointments and to keep track of your health and fitness. 

2. Have a digital detox:

After backing up and transferring any keepsakes to an external hard drive It's so rewarding to have a huge clear out your laptop. My photo's have racked up to the thousands and my desktop is feeling a little cluttered so it's high on my priorities to do this January.

Organising documents into neat folders and deleting any unwanted apps, items and photos can really help to clear your mind and get you set up ready for the new year. I'm planning on compiling a folder of my favourite photos to print out as soon as possible, Kate Spade and Paperchase have some beautiful photo albums at the moment!

3. Get into a routine:

I work best to a schedule and whilst some days I throw everything out the window to go exploring or to lay on the sofa all day and have a Harry Potter marathon, most days I stick to it quite well.

My schedule includes everything from work to Netflix, I make sure to schedule in exercise, rest, work, hobbies and TV to keep me motivated, normally working to a reward. I also try to schedule an hour of 'me time' a week - whether it's time colouring in my Harry Potter colouring book, melting into a Lush bath for an hour or having a long skincare pamper. A routine for me is key to staying productive.

4. Plan Meals

A sure-fire way to save time and organise your evenings is to make a big list of all your favourite foods and signature dishes and then plan your meals for the week. I do this on a Sunday evening, making a note with daily meals and inspiration for the week ahead before taking to Ocado (who price match most products to Tesco and so are surprisingly affordable!) to buy the ingredients. Shopping online not only saves me time but it helps me to stick to a shopping budget, there's less time for procrastination (no distracting, tempting cookie aisles), no stresses of supermarket shopping and it lets me spend valuable time on other things.

5. Make lists/Invest in some new stationery:

Not only does an array of dreamy stationary and pens (I love everything here!) motivate me to keep lists and stay organised, list making helps me to prioritise and let's me note down any exciting plans, goals and ideas. 'To do' lists are ideal to keep on track and organised, I love keeping wish lists, to buy lists, meal inspiration lists, ideas lists, errands lists and shopping lists!

How do you keep organised?

NEW YEAR GOALS 2016

Happy New Year! I hope you had a nice NYE! I spent mine at home, watching the fireworks on TV, toasting the New Year with a glass of sparkling elderflower and snacking on cinnamon sugared Churros drizzled with Nutella (amazing!). After noting down last years resolutions and successfully being able to revisit and meet quite a few, I thought that I would make a list for this year too!

1. Declutter.
In 2016 I'm planning on adopting a more organised, minimalistic attitude starting with a huge overhaul of my bedroom. I'm also looking for a better way to organise my make up in 2016, as much as I love my Alex drawers, I don't feel that I utilise them or get the best use of my make up that's stored in it. I also desperately need to clear out my nail polishes!
This year I also hope to change the way that I shop by buying less, better quality things. I'm planning on investing in pieces that I love, rather than buying several of the same thing. Starting with my kitchen I picked up this beautiful pink Anthropologie mug, this gorgeous set of pink alabaster coasters and this dreamy gold cutlery set.

2. Do More.
With anxiety being quite a big issue for me in 2015, I kept to myself, staying indoors most days instead of venturing out. Towards the end of this year, I decided to plan a few exciting events for 2016 so that I can look forward to exploring new places and meeting new people. A few things on the agenda are:
Visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour again (when the Christmas decor is up!).
Discover new farmers markets to find fresh organic seasonal food.
Visit a european Christmas Market.
Join an exercise class, with Alex if only for the lol's at how unfit we are!
Take a day trip to Cambridgeshire.

I also hope to make a little more time 'offline' to do things I love like knitting, calligraphy, cross stitching, colouring in the Harry Potter Colouring book, reading, animal crossing, DIY and yoga.

3. Health.
Starting off the year with a round of Yoga With Adriene's Yoga Camp I hope to propel myself back into exercising after the Christmas slump. I'm also hoping to dust of my NutriBullet and discover some new delicious, healthy smoothie recipes to make daily. My new Spiralizer makes preparing lunch a dream, courgetti with pesto and toasted cashew nuts or halloumi is my new favourite thing to eat!

A few additional goals include:
Staying positive.
Organise, clear out and print out my favourite photos.
Reorganise and update my kitchen.
Read more, aim for a book a month (at least).
Invest in a few, healthy cookbooks to work my way through and to create new signature dishes.
Make wedding planning a priority, save, plan and start to buy things ready for the day!
Grow more, start a windowsill herb garden.

What are your New Years resolutions/goals?