Cosmic Bronze Eyeshadow Quad by Fleur de Force

When it was announced Fleur was releasing a makeup range I was really excited - she was the first beauty blogger I started following and I always turn to her when I'm looking for a review of a product as I find she's almost always right and has brilliant taste in makeup. I knew her makeup line would be special, because I couldn't imagine her releasing something she wasn't 100% happy with. It's taken me a little while to get my hands on her products, but better late than never!

Top 5 Healthy Christmas Recipes

As a massive foodie I love Christmas! I'm a huge believer in balance but even over the Christmas period I like to remain a bit healthier - because I absolutely love this lifestyle, love the food I eat, it makes me feel so much better than eating refined, sugary foods and the flavours of healthy plant-based foods tend to be so much more delicious and wonderful. It can be tricky to stick to a healthy diet over the festive period - with selection boxes everywhere you go, candied everything, mouth-watering desserts and an array of canapés but these top 5 healthy Christmas recipes are bound to keep your sweet-cravings at bay, your tummy satisfied and your tastebuds tantalised.
 *Remember though, there's no harm in the odd Cadburys celebration chocolate or M&S Mince Pie!*

--- I also thought this would be a great time to tell you that I've started a health blog! Dedicated to delicious plant-based recipes, tips & tricks to stay feeling happy and healthy, exercise advice and lots of other things like that! Head on over to Www.NourishingAmelia.com to check it out!----


1. Mince Pies by Madeleine Shaw
I love a good mince pie, and this is my first Christmas being dairy and gluten free so I was a little worried about how I'd cope without my warm mince pie! I found this recipe from Madeleine on a blog and it's perfect. Sweet, delicate, wonderful perfect and you won't feel sluggish or guilty after eating this Christmas treat. Note - if you don't have time to make your own filling Meridian do a brilliant pre-made vegan and refined sugar free mince pie filling.

Figgy Pudding Candle

I do love a good candle all year round, but there's something especially lovely about them at Christmas. The scents can make you finally instantly festive and the glow of the candle wick burning is comforting & soothing. Every year there's such an array of different candles with so many scents to choose from, I personally love the spicy Christmas scents, or the sweet cinnamony ones as they make me feel the most festive.
The only thing is candles can be very expensive and if you go for a cheaper option they're often not as good quality, the smell is weak or it doesn't last long. Every year I try to hunt down a bargain option with not much luck, but this year I've found one and it's totally dreamy.

The Figgy Pudding Candle by Sainsburys (£4) is one of the nicest smelling Christmas candles I've ever got a whiff of - it's sweet but not sickly with notes of vanilla, fig and cinnamon.
The candle burns really nicely and the aroma is so wonderfully festive and warming. I love that the scent isn't overpowering though as I find some candles are far too intense and end up giving me a headache!
Figgy pudding is encased in a sweet little white pot that has 'Warmest Christmas Wishes' written on the front and a little red & white stripped bow tied around it. It'd make a lovely Christmas gift!

For the bargain price of £4 for a multi-wick that smells this delicious you just have to go and pick one up before they sell out! 

What's your favourite Christmas candle?

x

Pick Of The Christmas Novelty Jumpers

Christmas is the time of year we get to be tacky and no-one cares. Out come the ridiculous amount of sparkles, the OTT makeup and the novelty Christmas jumpers.
We wouldn't dare wear anything like this at every other time of the year but somehow Christmas makes us all want to put on crazy coloured knitwear with imposing patterns.

I've gone through several different clothing sites eyeing up all the brilliantly striking jumpers and thought I'd share with you my top picks! Bring on the knits!

First up we have the Reindeer Christmas Jumper from Boohoo (£15) - how cute is the little reindeer on the front! I also think the price is great - I personally wouldn't want to spend much on a jumper I'm only going to wear at Christmas.
Next is the Snowman jumper from House Of Fraser (£29.50). This one is a bit more understated but super cute with snowmen all over it!
Then there's the #Crackers jumper from Marks & Spencer (£29.50) which I honestly just want because it's got a roll neck and I love all things with a high neck at the moment! Love the festive red colour too, and the funny hash-tag.
Last but not least is the ASOS Christmas jumper with Embellished Snowflakes (£26.50). This is the prettiest of the 4, and the one you could get away with wearing throughout winter. I think the white knit with the gold snowflakes make it look really festive.

Have you got a Christmas jumper yet?

Which is your favourite

from my picks?

x

L'Oreal Pais Super Liner Perfect Slim

I love a liquid liner all year around, but there's something about the festive season that makes me reach for the liner pen even more - nothing quite beats the cat-eye flick and a red lip!

I'm quite a fuss-pot when it comes to eyeliners, they have to be the right intense black colour, the perfect size and they must be long lasting. I've always gone with the Soap & Glory option which is brilliant, but after hearing rave reviews about the L'Oreal Paris Super Liner I thought I'd give it a go to see how it compared.

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

Winter is the season I really amp it up with my skincare. I like to give my skin that extra boost and little bit of help to fight off the cold weather and give it a little extra lovin'.
I was doing some researching into new products to try and saw a lot of people saying how important an oil is and how much it can make a difference to the appearance of your skin, me being the skincare fiend I am decided to purchase an oil to add into my routine.
Pai is a brand I'd wanted to try for a while, having heard lots of brilliant reviews about their products and knowing they're all organic and vegan made me instantly interested in seeing what they had to offer. I took a look at their website and saw they had a Rosehip oil, and I instantly made a purchase.

Life: Staying Positive

I've had more downs than ups during the last couple of months, and staying positive has been quite a challenge. I've been suffering with a hip injury since the beginning of September, which has steadily worsened, resulting in being signed off work and missing out on fun days with friends. I've been having various tests and scans and seen quite a few doctors now, but nothing's given me any answers.
Understandably this has left me feeling down and negative, just as a was getting somewhere with my life I've been knocked back. I'd started driving lessons, was starting to feel fit and healthy after a tough time getting over coeliac symptoms, and was enjoying learning more and more about yoga and fitness but that's all been put on hold.

 I have a history of depression & anxiety, it wasn't until I discovered yoga and the power of a healthy diet that I started to feel more in control, more confident and happier within myself. Yoga and exercise is the way I deal with this part of me, it helps me stay balanced, so not being able to be active has put me to the test. I started off feeling lost, very alone, scared and extremely down but I'm starting to practise other methods which are helping me stay grounded, keep in control of how I'm feeling and stop me going out of my mind!

Beauty Handbag Saviours

Us girls all have those few products we can't leave the house without, right? Mine change quite frequently but I always carry a few handbag saviours around with me, as well as at least 6 lipsticks (oops!).

Pyjamas & Tea

A hot cup of tea and cosy pyjamas is a match made in heaven. I'm a self confessed tea-oholic and drink at least 3 cups a day all year round, but the colder months make that mug of comfort all the more enjoyable, especially when I get to sip on it whilst wearing the softest pyjamas ever.

I love all tea but I drink green and white teas the most, sometimes they're plain and sometimes I mix it up a bit and go for flavoured tea, daring I know. I've got three firm favourites at the moment and they're so delicious and wonderful I thought it'd be a crime not to share them with you. It'd also be a crime not to share with you one of the best pairs of pyjamas I've ever owned (honestly, think about the softest thing you've ever felt and they're better than that).

Christmas Gift Guide - For Her

I love buying Christmas presents for other people, and actually get far more joy going out and choosing gifts for people I care about and seeing them happy when they open them than receiving presents myself. Although it's something I always look forward to it can be easy to get stuck in a rut and not know what to get someone, so I thought I'd give you a little helping hand!
I've complied a list of gift ideas, ranging from major bargains and stocking fillers to more luxury and pricey gifts for a lucky recipient. Whether you find something in this post ideal for a loved one or not I hope it gives you so inspiration, maybe you see something you can add to your own Christmas wish
 list!

Christmas Gift Guide - For Him

Men are definitely harder to buy for than women, fact. Every year I struggle with it, and I know my friends and family do as well. Hopefully this gift guide gives you some inspiration on what to buy your Dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, guy friend, Uncle, Granddad, etc.

Under £10

1. Green & Blacks Dark Miniature Collection (£5.50). Great for chocolate lovers, this collection of mini chocolates contains 6 different flavours from Green & Blacks.
2. World's Hottest Chilli Powders Set (£6). Perfect for a spice fan, this box contains some of the hottest chilli powders tested. It also comes with fun fact cards.
3. New Look Dark Grey Knitted Scarf (£8.99). Nice knitwear is always a safe bet, this scarf looks so cosy and stylish.
4. Grow Your Own Beer Kit (£9.95). A fun gift for a beer lover...see if they can keep it alive!
5. Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Fudge Tin (£9). Delicious fudge flavoured with Tennessee's finest honey-flavoured whiskey, all incased in a nice tin.

November Favourites 2015

We all say it every month, but November really seems to have flown by so fast I don't quite know what's happened. We're now into December, which is a little crazy, the last month of the 2015 and lots of exciting things to look forward to (eeeeekkk Christmas!).
November's been quite a strange month for me, I've been backwards and forwards to doctors and hospitals with a hip injury and have been off work so I haven't had all that much time for shopping and discovering new products. That being said there have been a few things that have stood out as favourites this month.

All year around I'm normally a reds nail varnish girl; bright red in warmer months and berry toned reds in colder months, however I've been used a gorgeous grey colour on my nails during most of November and totally loving it. Essie's Chinchilly nail polish (£7.99) is a gorgeous grey with hints of purple in it, with the perfect balance between being cool and warm. The neutral tone manages to look classy yet edgy at the same time, meaning it goes well with any outfit or suits any occasion.