Five Things Friday: Luxury Christmas Wishlist

I've found myself trawling the pages of The Urban Retreat Boutique - a site dedicated to all things luxurious in the world of beauty, and I thought why not put together my ultimate luxury Christmas wish list as part of this weeks Five Things Friday, so here are five things I'd love to find nestled underneath my Christmas tree...

1) Laura Mercier steal my heart when it comes to makeup, I live by their tinted moisturiser but have never tried anything from their bath and body range. This Creme Brûlée Quartet looks and smells heavenly, with a candle to boot as you sit back and relax in the tub.

2) Morrocan Oil is something I've tried, tested and loved. I really need a new bottle to bring life back to my hair. STAT. 

3) I'm forever lusting over NARS palettes and the Guy Bourdin Crime of Passion is no exception - I think it makes the perfect night out travel kit - what do you think?

4) How gorgeous are these Diptyque Christmas Candles! I would still want this for the packaging alone, but this smells incredible. Chai Orange with hints of Indian spices - this is a real festive warmer.

5) During the winter my skin is lacking in hydration and in general needs a good spruce up, step in Omorovicza. This set looks fantastic for some luxurious pamper time with festive Myrrh and Frankincense oils. 

What's on your luxury Christmas wish list?

*collaboration with Urban Retreat


Bloglovin'//Twitter//Youtube//Facebook

Read More

The Sunday Post: Hogwarts At Christmas

Being a huge HP fan, I was super excited (like pinch me am I dreaming? excited) that Team Gleam were holding our Christmas party at Hogwarts. The Warner Brothers Studios aren't even that far from where I live, but I'd never been so on Thursday afternoon we headed on over with a bunch of Youtubers, bloggers, and dear friends for a very magical evening...get it?

The sets were amazing, with every little detail thought out. The guides really loved their job and parted with lot's of juicy HP gossip, much to my delight.

I don't think I've laughed so much in a very long time, Tyler pulled the sassiest faces whilst learning how to fly. I feel truly lucky to be a part of Gleam, and this has to be hands down the best Christmas party I will ever attend.

The highlight of the evening had to be feasting on a scrumptious Christmas dinner in the Great Hall itself. The windows were speckled with snow, chandeliers and goblets filled with taste bud tingling cocktails all to set the mood perfectly. I devoured the desert platter, oh my was it good. 

We couldn't resist getting a group snapshot of the evening, with smiles firmly planted on each and every one of our faces. Truly was a night to remember, from the tour, to delicious food, to dancing to Bump n' Grind in the Great Hall. Amazing.

Bloglovin'//Twitter//Youtube//Facebook

Read More

christmas presents

001.MAC Gift Sets - 002. Bath & Body Works Candles - 003. Topshop Socks - 004. Soap & Glory Goodies - 005. Sanctuary Spa Gift Set - 006. Queen of the House Notebook - 007. Angel Biscuits - 008. Scult your own perfect boyfriend - 009. Topshop purse - 010. Soap & Glory Make-up - 011.Pink Smarties - 012. Soap & Glory Moisturisers - 013. Heatable Slippers - 014. Lush Christmas Gift Box

I know these posts can be accused of being boastful but I love to read them myself being a bit of a nosy parker and I have been requested a few times to put one up myself so here we go...

I had quite a modest Christmas this year as me and my boyfriend both set ourselves a smaller budget opting to go to the theatre together in January instead of spending too much of gifts. However, saying that I have been really lucky to be treated to various niche and novelty gift sets and the cutest snuggle boots that I can heat in the microwave to keep my toes toasty, eep! I've was spoiled with Soap and Glory goodness this year and can't wait to lather up with their assortment of bathtime products that all smell so heavenly. I have a few gift vouchers that I'm saving up for a post first draft of dissertation shopping spree...
So excited to own some of MAC's lip glass glosses, I'm not a huge lipgloss fan but I've really loved the sultry nude shades that Jon's mum picked out for me - bring on Kim Kardashian lips.

Festive socks for the win. What was your favourite present you received?

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

and the bells were ringing out

Sarah Wine Peter Pan Collar Dress - Oh My Love*
Clutch - Next*

I think is possibly the most fitting dress for the festive season, a gorgeous deep burgundy velvet with lace collar and sleeve embellishments. On the two occasions I've worn this since receiving it I have always received comments such as "you look like you're an elf!" and I suppose it does have that feel to it around this time of year. It's extremely flattering and I feel mega Christmassy and feminine floating around in it! Oh My Love has SO many gorgeous pieces just like this dress and I've added one or two items to my Christmas wishlist...

You might have noticed I've been a little bit absent on here recently but that's due to the final rush to get deadlines met during the last couple weeks of university which I can happily tell you is done and dusted for this year! Cannot believe I've complete my last ever autumn term at University and am back home wrapping presents and thinking of the perfect party dress for New Year, where has this year gone?!

I'm back home for a month now and although I have my dissertation to be getting on with I will be blogging again a lot more. I'm really in the spirit this year and even dabbled a little in gingerbread baking the other day using festive dough cutters and everything - get me! 

What have you been doing to get into the spirit?

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

Feeling Festive: Gifts for Girls Under £10

001. Festive Socks - £3.50 each or 3 for £8 - 002. Colour Me Good, Ryan Gosling £7.50 - 003. Models Own Wonderland Polishes £5 each - 004. Lip Balm Duo Set - £5 - 005. Christmas Tin Candles £6.59 each - 006. Mushroom Mug -  £10 

Struggling to think of gifts that are still just as cute and fun on a smaller budget? Look no further  Here's just a quick assortment of ideas for less expensive gifts and/or stocking filler for those special girls in our lives, all for under ten quid. Yes, that's right £10. I know I would love to unwrap any one of these on Christmas day and think they'd make great gifts as part of a Secret Santa or stocking filler for friends, girlfriends, and female relatives...

I've already picked up a number of the Christmas tin candles, I couldn't help myself! What do you think? Have you found any cute gift guides for those on a budget?

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

Take Out Candy

Take Out Candy - Cyber Candy £3.40*

Do you have a bit of a sweet tooth? Are you a fan of fizzy sour snakes and chewy gummy bears? This Take Out Candy Box from Cyber Candy has it all. A cluster of all your favourite pick 'n' mix sweets in a ridiculously cute Chinese style Take Out Box. These boxes always remind me of the Big Bang Series as they always seem to be having a Chinese Takeaway, and where I live our regular Saturday take out doesn't come packaged half as pleasing as this. 

For £3.40 I don't see where you could go wrong, you are also given an authentic pair of chopsticks to try and pick out your selected tasty treat like a pro! I'm awful at it so find myself just digging in and devouring as much as I can before my brother pinches the lot! I think these little take out candy boxes would make a really sweet, see what I did there ;), present for younger siblings, cousins, or just a greedy uncle this Christmastime. Great for those on a budget and looking for novel gifts to add together for a more personalised present. Coming from a family where I have at least seven younger cousins under the age of ten, I know that they would love these instead of the bog standard Chocolate Selection Box jobby from tesco. Warning! It will probably cause hyperactivity, sorry auntie! But then again it is Christmas...

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

I'm living on such sweet nothing

Dress - Pop Couture*
Millicent Stud Boots - topshop
bracelets - topshop
earrings - pop couture*
nails - models own Southern Lights & Blizzard

If you saw my post on the Pop Couture Event that I attended last week you will already know that they were generous enough to let us choose an item of our own to review. I chose this plush velvet, burgundy dress, and I absolutely love it, don't you?

Yes, so posing in it whilst we're experiencing minus degree weather, and in front of a very amused crowd just off Oxford Street, was more than just a little bit chilly especially with the waistline cut outs, but I had to show off the beautiful detailing. What I didn't manage to catch on camera is the black lace back with golden flecks which, together with the gold studded collar chain, help to complete this dress as a go to night out number. For £22 I think its a complete and utter bargain and I can't thank Pop Couture enough

I was hurrying around the glittering streets of London again last for Louise Thompson (from Made in Chelsea, for any reality tv junkies like myself) for Goddiva Fashion Launch but more on that in an upcoming post! It's beyond amazing witnessing my city in all its festive glory. Oxford Street was, as always at this time of year, brimming with tourists, shoppers, and locals all taking in the Christmassy atmosphere and I well and truly caught the festive bug - squeee! I even popped up my Christmas tree this evening, earliest its ever been up and all I have to say is bah humbug to it being bad luck, I like being keen, okay.

Are you getting into the Christmas Spirit this year? *plays Mariah Carey's 'All I want for Christmas' on repeat..*

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

feeling festive: xmas bucket list

I saw Becky come up with a Christmas Bucket List and I really wanted to make my own. I'm always one of the first to get really excited about Christmas - it's my favourite time of year and I just can't wait to get all my decorations and tree up and start wrapping gifts to pop under the tree! I always make such elaborate plans to do SO many things around the festive season but never wind up doing any of it so I've made a short and sweet festive bucket list which I want to complete this Christmastime. 

I come from a REALLY big family and so Christmas is always packed and noisy and full of children running around, you know just a general buzz, but I love it that way and that's why I'm really sad that this year most of my family are away in America for my Uncle and Auntie's wedding, which I can't afford to go to *sniff, sniff* - needless to say, Christmas this year is going to be veryyy different and it just won't be the same surrounded by the motley crew that is my family. I'm going from spending Christmas with a hyperactive bunch of over twenty to a small and quiet day of six. I'm determined this Christmas will be just as good as any other and although Christmas is a very family orientated time for me I've decided to give a little back to other individuals that I don't know and that are more in need this year by helping to make decorations and home made Christmas gift packs.

What's on your Christmas bucket list? How do you normally spend the festive season?

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More

We're not in Kansas anymore

Jacket - Miss Selfridges
Bobble Hat - topshop Mittens - primark
Dress - topshop Millicent Studded Boots - topshopj ewellery - delilah dust*
nails - ted baker*

Not the most glamorous and beautiful backdrop for a photo shoot but I quite like it against my how dolled up I am. Jemma took these snaps of me before we headed to the Motel Rocks Xmas Party in East London for a night of cocktails, pampering, and photo booth fun (wait, for my next post to see more!). I had a wonderful time and met so many lovely bloggers as well as singing a long to a collection of tunes - Lauren I'm looking at you!

The aztec print of this dress is what sealed the deal when handing over my card, it has a real wintery feel to it and I thought it was perfect for a Christmas party as well as a daytime dress. I am the biggest pansy when it comes to braving the cold so you might be able to tell in the shots of me without my trusty leather I am f-r-eeee-zingggg! I was forcing my poser face and literally hopped, skipped, and jumped back over to my mittens and hat as soon as I could.

After having such a good night it's always hard to come back down to reality and go back to typing up mundane essay's and religiously annotating text books but university calls so I best leave it here - who else is wishing it was the Christmas holidays already?

If you like the jewellery items be sure to check out Delilah Dust - there are plenty of gorgeous handmade items and you can use my discount code 'little red' for any purchase you make :)

Bloglovin'//Twitter//HelloCotton//Facebook

                                                               instagram: ohlittlered

Read More