Christmas: A Summary

There's even less time to be on the internet than usual when the family are about...but I don't mind since it's Christmas!

 I felt like my Christmas started two weeks ago when I went to visit one of my best friends in Wurzberg, Germany. She's over there doing a PhD and now has a German boyfriend and looks like she might be there for good!

I really love the Frankfurt Christmas Markets in both Birmingham and Leeds, so I thought December was the perfect time of year to go and visit: I could see the real Christmas Markets! Safe to say, we drank a ridiculous amount of gluhwein (mulled wine), and feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine with extra rum and sugar, mmm), and ate currywurst (sausages in curry sauce), strudel, almonds, gingerbread and pretzels until we felt sick.

 Once we were back home in the UK, we were frantically finishing off our Christmas shopping in preparation for the big day. We stayed at my Mum's for the day itself- it was just my immediate family and Ted, but it was really nice, and that meant more of Mum's amazing dinner to go around. The dinner is the best part of Christmas for me and it has to be authentic... I just don't understand people who buy frozen roast potatoes and packet stuffing!

 We've accepted that we're too old to expect presents anymore, but Ted got me a lovely selection and I was really pleased with what my parents still bought me! You may notice a "hippo" theme running throughout! It's good to be back home now enjoying our presents and eating all the chocolate!

 Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

 Jess

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Late on The Whitepepper Bandwagon

I always promise myself that I won't jump on bandwagons, and I almost always cave in a few weeks/ months later. Of course, this means that instead of being "on trend", I'm just plain old late- but at least the things I buy are more likely to be in the sale?!

This happened with this "The Whitepepper" dress... having seen llymlrs and others sporting the classic gingham smock dress (monochrome + classic style means it can be worn all year round, with anything), I was seriously lusting after it.

BUT there was this niggly feeling at the back of my mind: I just couldn't help but feel that it looked like a school dress! So, without further ado I checked The Whitepepper website, and ASOS, for alternatives... and lo' and behold came across this beauty.

 

Technology issues are still the bane of my life, so below is a screenshot of a phone photo (long story) when I was working away in London last week. The dress is still monochrome "enough" to go with a lot of colours, and this mustard cardigan is one of my favourites.

I have a confession though- I'm not totally sold on the "smock" style, as it just completely drowns me and leaves me feeling boob-less, so I decided to belt this one in. It's not a problem until summer, but I also felt less like it would blow up and reveal my knickers!

TTFN!

I've been shopping #1

Considering the rate at which I buy clothes, I should really be sharing them on here more! Since my work laptop is pretty much the only computer/ tablet that works at the moment (and it has no usb port, blocks social media, and won't let me use the "clip to polyvore" button), I couldn't take photos and instead have had to just show the items that I can find on polyvore for now... which hopefully means proper outfit posts of the rest are coming soon, when technology likes me again.

I've been shopping #1 by moneylessjess featuring a bobble beanie hat

After searching for ages for a Christmas jumper that wasn't too cheesy, this one caught my eye. I don't feel like Christmas jumpers are very girly, and this one isn't the warmest, but I wanted it all the same.

These Office trainers are adorable, though I'm not really sure how to style them! And the boots from Dorothy Perkins are actually PERFECT, a chunky tread and a bit of a heel but at the same time still a fairly girly feel, plus they are so comfy and snug!

I bought the jacket and hat with a £20 New Look voucher I won on Cherry's blog... unfortunately, temptation got the better of me though and I also bought a few other things, including onesies because they actually do ONESIES WITH FEET (my tootsies get too cold for the normal kind).

The jeans are just my staple in another colour (topshop jamies), but whilst I usually buy 30x30, these ones make me look like there's a flood coming... they're so short but it's too late to change now, so I'll just have to wear them with high enough boots!

I'm really pleased with this dress too, I think it's the perfect Christmas party staple and I've already worn it several times!

 What have you been buying lately? 

The Not-So-Favourites

After a recent (okay, not so recent, technology woes!) blog post about my favourites lately, I was recycling some empties and started thinking about whether or not I should be blogging about them. Some of them were regular, boring items that I'm sure there will be time in the future to bore you about, but for some of the others, I just thought "this was a bit crap". I guess because so many bloggers receive press samples and the like, reviews etc that I read are around 95% positive, but actually there are plenty of duff products out there, and I really wish bloggers weren't "afraid" to post negative reviews.

 But then, maybe the bloggers are too well read to buy products that they have read even slightly negative reviews about? Anyway, here a few items that I've been disappointed with:


- Imperial Leather Foamburst Shower Gel in Sweet Vanilla and Cherry

Without naming names, I read a review about this shower gel on a pretty well respected beauty blog, with the blogger saying just how amazing it smelt and how good it was on sensitive skin. I love the concept of a foam shower gel, but in reality? Not so much. I do a lot of travelling, and rather than waste my pennies on travel sized toiletries, I usually just decant my current shower gel into a travel bottle. With a foam, though, you can't do that- plus this stuff comes out so fast. Also... I most definitely don't have sensitive skin, and I am generally "average" at shaving my underarms. But it stung like crazy!!! And, the smell is just too sickly for me, and doesn't linger.


- The Body Shop Rainforest Balance Shampoo and Conditioner

Still on my quest to find THE shampoo for my oily hair, I tried this stuff. I did persuade myself to finish the bottles, but it was quite an ordeal- the conditioner is okay but the shampoo is such a strange texture, a bit dry and grainy, and as a result is really hard to lather. Any difference to my hair was definitely for the worse- no change in oiliness, and a lot more straw-like. Both bottles are very thin and yet the contents are really thick, so it's pretty difficult to get anything out once you've hit about halfway.

- No7 Stay Perfect Compact Foundation

My "normal" foundation is No7 "Beautifully Matte", but I thought I would venture out slightly via a different product from the same brand. Having loved mousse foundations, this compact intrigued me, as the foundation itself is like a solid cream. But, the colour seems darker than the same colour in other No7 products, and for oily skin it's an absolute nightmare... it's a long way off mattifying that's for sure. My other issue is that you don't get very much product for the price... and also, whilst the compact and mirror idea is nice, and the sponge makes it quick and easy to apply and blend, there's something yuck and unappealing about applying foundation with a sponge you carry about with you, even if you wash it. Oh, and it smells medicinal.

My next post will be a little more positive, honest!

What products have you been disappointed with lately?