What I Got For Christmas 2016

This is one of those posts that have the marmite effect: you either love them or hate them. Personally, I hope it doesn’t mean I’m pretentious if I take photos of my Christmas presents- as that wasn’t ever my intention- but I love knowing what people got for Christmas. Christmas is all about sharing and caring, so I thought I’d update you lovely lot with what I was very, very fortunate to get this year.

Burberry Classic Cashmere Scarf in Camel Check

Burberry Scarf

Let’s start off with the biggie, and to say there was a massive squeal of excitement when I opened this badboy would be an understatement. Introducing my new most prized possession: my heart wrenchingly beautiful Burberry Classic Cashmere Scarf. I remember last year going into the Burberry Beauty Box in Covent Garden with my mum lusting over the scarves in the window and wanting my own monogrammed version but the hefty price tag held me back. As much as I know I would have adored it, there was no way I could fool myself into thinking that a £200 scarf was a good idea. My little rascal of a mother on the other hand, only managed to go and get one organised for me! My sisters best friend Lydia works for Burberry head office and she was lucky enough to pick up this beauty for me in one of their sample sales. Whilst I told mum off for spending too much money (even in a sample sale it was a lot for a scarf!), my heart is completely smitten and I can’t get enough of it. The cashmere touch is, of course, cloud-like soft and the camel colouring make it so easy to team with most items in my wardrobe. Be ready to be seeing this on the blog a helllaaaa lot this year. Thank you Burberry for creating the best Christmas present EVA.

Spectrum Brushes: B04 Eye Spy | B06 Blending Friend | A10 Feeling Fancy

Spectrum Brushes

Being of a bit of a make up brush badger I’ve heard good and bad things about Spectrum brushes so I thought it was about time to find out myself on whether these were any good. So many friends of mine use different brushes for their highlighter so I thought I’d pick up a fan brush to try and get my fat little cheekbones on fleek... (Notice the word try) Plus a gal can never have too many brushes for their crease to get those smoky eyes looking as blended as possible. Update on these coloured beauties will no doubt be featured soon.

The Lush obsession continues...

I'm still not over the Lush hype... Hell, I don’t think I ever will be. You’ve probably heard me talk about all of these products hundreds of times over so I won’t go into the detail of each item, but these are my go-to products that I grab everyday and my skin has never felt better since using them. I don’t know why I always prefer Lush skincare- there are probably better products on the market for your skin- but they just work for me. I trust the ingredients that go into them, they are affordable, I know that they won’t make my skin react and honestly, I like everything that the brand stands for. My newest addition is their incredible moisturiser, Magical Moringa. After visiting their Lush Spa in the Bath store I knew that this would quickly become my new favourite and I haven’t been disappointed- it leaves my skin silky smooth and it is also an incredible skin primer pre-makeup application.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Perfume | Ren Skincare Body Lotion & Body Wash

REN Skincare & Tom Ford Perfume

So, the story behind the Tobacco Vanille perfume is that my best friend Molly always wore it when we were together at uni. Where previously I was always about fresh, citrusy scents she has completely converted me to the musky, spicy scent side and I think of her every time I wear this incredible perfume from Tom Ford. The ingredients to make the scent are quite simple but they harmonise so well- the tobacco and spices have an almost masculine harsh edge however the hit of vanilla give it a sweet syrupy finish which I can’t get enough of. Yes this perfume is expensive but its longevity is the best I’ve ever used- only a spritz or two will see you through the entire day compared to some perfumes that you have to spray half the bottle to still get a whiff of it at 5pm. Undoubtedly this is an autumnal winter scent and it has a date night aroma written all over it.

Next up is a brand that I hadn’t used before but I’ve always wanted to try: REN Skincare. I’ve only heard good things about their products so I became a little giddy when my godmother handed me a Space NK bag on Boxing Day. Admittedly this wouldn’t be something that you’d pick up if you’re not a fan of Turkish Delight style scents- it definitely has that rose hit when you smell it- but so far I’ve really enjoyed using both the wash and body lotion. The body lotion has quite a thick consistency so a little goes a long way and the body wash is always a little treat in the shower. Their products are a little expensive, but I’ll definitely be giving some of their others items a go if these are anything to go by.

Mark Hill Pick n Mix Wand: Handle | Small Barrell | Ellipse Barell | John Frieda Volumising Mousse

Mark Hill Curling Wand & Volumising Mousse

My Barnet and me have an on/off relationship. My hair is the typically super fine straight hair that I can get away with not doing a lot to- dependent on which way you look at it this could be a good or bad thing. Sure, its great if I can’t be arsed and I can wear it straight (like is the case most days), but it’s a such pain when it comes to curling my hair- and typically I like hair with a bit of a wave or something to it. I seem to take ages curling it all and unless I smother it with hairspray it drops within twenty minutes. So I introduce to you all the Mark Hill Pick n Mix Curling Wand- I’ve heard good things about it and honestly its major selling point is its affordability. I didn’t want to spend a lot on a curling wand in case I didn’t like the barrell size it so I thought I’d give this a go with the Ellipsis Waver and Small barrels to try different looks, with the price coming in around £40. The whole curling/waving process is super simple and I hope it helps to diminish the amount of time I'm sat cross legged in front of the mirror trying to ensure each strand is perfectly curled. I’m keen to give it a go and to see whether my hatred of curling my hair ever ceases and I picked up the John Frieda volumising mousse for fine hair for good measure. I will have thick looking bouncy hair in 2017!

Nike Air Huarache's | Missguided Cami T-Shirt Dress

New Sneaks & Another Satin Cami

My boyfriend and me seem to always pick each other a new pair of sneaks for our birthdays and Christmases and he didn’t disappoint our little ritual by getting me the all black Nike Huarache’s. My black Nike Rosche One’s have been dying a slow death by the amount I’ve worn them, so when I spotted the coolest chick wearing a pair of these in the airport in Gatwick last year it was love at first sight. They are ridiculously comfortable, I love that they are all black with just the flash of white from the logo and they’ve been cemented to my feet since opening them. RIP Rosche’s, you were a worthy addition and now you can rest in peace. Next up: the slip, because who doesn’t love going out in nighty like dress? Yes, this trend should probably be left in the Autumn/Winter’16 season but whatever; I’m not over it yet so I picked up this Khaki and striped tee combo from Missguided.

Benefit Gimme Brow in 03 Medium | Sparkly Socks all ASOS | (similar) Candle & Mug Anthropologie | India Knight The Goodness of Dogs

Bits n Bobs

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without all the little knicky knacks we seem to pick up and my new sock wardrobe is enough to make anyone jealous: feast your eyes on those sparkly babies! Naomi was my secret santa this year and she picked me up this gorgeous candle from Anthropologie and one of their golden foiled mugs in case I forgot what letter my name begins with. Benefit’s Gimme Brow is one of the best contributions to my makeup bag this year so I got a new one in 003 Medium Brown- it also includes a great little guide on how to best fill them in too which means bad brow days are a thing of the past. And finally, everybody knows my love of dogs so my godmother got me this cute little book all about them and how wonderfully perfect they are in everyway. Plus, the illustrations throughout are super cute. #PUPLOVE.

Red Carpet Gel Polish Pro Kit | Charbonnel et Walker Sea Salt Caramel Truffles | Bettys Bakery Chocolate Mice

Red Carpet Gel Polish Kit & Chocolate (cause Christmas, duhh!)

And last but by no means least, I’ve finaaaaally got my own gel nails kit. The big sis delivered in getting me the Red Carpet Gel Polish Kit so it means I can save money by not going to the salon and do them myself instead. I’ve been really impressed with how easy the process is and how long they last: I did my nails on Boxing Day and they are still nearly immaculate- cya chipped nails. The set includes all you need to create gel nails at home (base layer, gel structure, top coat, cuticle care) plus the UV lamp and gel colour in a classic red shade which I think is present in everyone’s nail collection. Red Carpet also offer all these products separately so if you run out its super easy to get the refills so you always have what you need. If you’re thinking that you just need gel polishes to use this (which technically you do) I picked up the Sensationail Polish to Gel treatment so that I can use all my own normal polishes as well as picking up new gel additions. It's now half price in Boots here.

So, that’s it from me today folks. I hope you’ve enjoyed at having a little nose of what I got for Christmas this year- I was quite overwhelmed with all of my friends’ and family’s generosity and had the most wonderful time relaxing, revelling in eating stupid amounts of food and watching the best TV what felt like we’ve had in years. I hope you also had a wonderful Christmas and the January blues aren’t bringing you down: its only a few more weeks until it starts getting lighter and warmer: hurraaaah! Let’s get January out the way and start thinking about new season S/S’17, yeh? Happy Sunday you lovely lot and I'll see you next week for some usual outfit posts and ramblings.

What did you get for Christmas this year?

A x

2016: The Year of 'Realising Stuff'

The now infamous words of Kylie Jenner describing how she thought that 2016 would be the year of 'realising stuff' and we all ripped into her for it... The ironic thing is, I think she was sort of right.

Everyone makes that cliché saying ‘a lot can happen in a year’ and to be fair, had I have been told this time last year that after coming back from London after a bit of a mental break down I’d be feeling proud of my years progress I’d be pretty bloody chuffed. I’ve been quiet the past two months, content has been minimal (*ahem* non-exsistent *ahem*) but it’s because I’ve had a lot going on, and honestly, I feel like I’ve done a bit of soul searching. This sounds dramatic (in all honesty, it's not) but bare with me.

I’ve always known that I’m my harshest critic, but getting to a point where I just felt so disappointed in myself that I didn’t have the best job that I could get and that all my friends seem to be leading creative, exciting, care-free lives, I hit a wall. Was I ever going to be as good as them? Will I ever get that perfect job, doing something I love every single day with a massive smile on my face? Will I ever live up to the ridiculously high expectations I put on myself? And will I EVER get my ass into a size 8 jean?!

The answer is simple: probably fucking not Alex. Expectations and aspirations are undoubtedly important, they give you drive, passion and a determination to succeed but when it comes to comparing your everyday life against these high-flying ideas there’s no surprise I felt deflated, unappreciative of what I had and so flat. (A shit word but that’s exactly what it was like.)

It was only recently when I had an interview for a job that I had been researching into for so long that it dawned on me- what’s the rush? I know what I’m like and I know that my hunger to create a career is a big part me, but lets be serious, at the rate of the current climate I will probably working until I’m 90. So, if I’m not marketing director of a leading multi-million-fashion company by the age of 25 (okay, some aspirations may be a little far fetched) it is OKAY. I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I earn an reasonable amount- it isn’t where my passion lies but if I can get my head down for six months and bugger off to a hot destination for a few months knowing that there will always be another job to apply for when I get back, isn’t that a better and far more exciting alternative?

I had somehow trained my brain into thinking that living the life in London was my only path ahead, but really everyone knows (watch out, cheese alert) that life is full of unexpected turns and it rarely turns out the way we plan to. I’m a firm believer in fate so maybe not getting this job was for a reason, and it definitely made me realise I don’t have it bad at all. While living at home with my mental family has its downsides at times, coming home to a hot meal and a cuddle from Babs is enough to make any crap day at work end a bit better. I’m somehow more in love with my boyfriend than ever before, four years down the line. My friends are even more ridiculous, hilarious, weird and bizarre but I wouldn’t have them any other way. Hey, I’m even enjoying the gym at the moment, like da fuq..!?

Every year I always set myself some little new years resolutions to live by- they’ve been given a lot of stick at the moment, (#HaterzGoneHate) but I’m going to keep this little tradition and share them with you regardless. Maybe not so religiously as usual but let’s see how it goes.

1- Stop comparing: it’s a game you always lose

This is a completely natural but a notoriously irritating trait we all seem to have. ‘How does she look SO much better in that dress than me?’ ‘Urgh why can he do so many press ups and I can only manage one without collapsing!?’ ‘How is her photography on her blog so amazing!!!?’ It gets so old so quickly and you manage to feel even more shit about yourself than you did to start with. Every person is different so I need to get out of the headset of trying to be ‘successful’ like everyone else. Nobody's success is defined as exactly the same and the beauty is that it isn't supposed to, so I need to remember that I can also kick ass in my own way as well. It’s a working progress this one, but a resolution I hope to be just slightly better at this time next year.

2- Grow some guns

Maybe this is one of those far fetched aspirations…?! But hey, a gal has gotta dream. Bulging biceps aside, last year I set a challenge of trying to get into the gym and get exercising, and this was something I managed achieve. BodyRevolution has completely changed the way I look at exercise so if I can keep going at least three times a week this year, I’ll be a happy (ripped) bunny.

3- Bugger off for a few months

As mentioned, by not getting the job I wanted it’s somehow fuelled me to want to get my uncultured ass to foreign destinations to explore, discover and just relax. I want to see parts of the world that I’ve only heard about for myself and this is the one resolution I’m determined to complete. And I am bloody excited about the things that it will bring.

4- Exercise positive thinking

The same as last years but it is important. The world is better when you look on the bright and positive side of things- and in the words of Roald Dahl “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

That’s all from me today, if you’ve managed to read to the end of this post thank you and I hope you enjoyed it. It’s nice to get some things off your chest and I hope that it brings reassurance to anyone who was having a bit of bleak end of last year to make 2017 a better more positive year where you focus on your mental and physical happiness and not on what you think you should be doing instead. This is also proof that Fashion Captive as back and a promise from me to get posting more than 2016- happy new year you lovely lot, and lets make 2017 the best yet.

Have you guys made any resolutions this year?

A x

What I Got For Christmas 2016