So, how was it for you?

Hey, how was your Christmas? I had a great time, got lots of nice pressies from my family and loved ones, been spending some much needed time relaxing, eating and sleeping (bliss) hence the delay in posting to my blog!

I was really organised this year, two days before the big day I was up and out at 5.45am to do the Xmas food shop. Yes I know you all think I'm crazy but there is a method to my madness, you see I usually shop online but given the weather I had to go to the mad house, I mean the supermarket so thought it best to go when it's quite and they are more likely to have everything I want in stock = 6am.

I've ascertained that the sane people go out at this time because they are the organised ones, who make a list, know what they want and can get in and out the shop in an hour flat, its much more productive and you don't encounter the insane ones (top tip!). The insane ones creep out of bed much later, they don't make a list, don't know what they want so walk at 2 mph to scan everything on the isle with the trolley that is demon possessed so it hits into everything and everyone (including me) along with 3 or 4 screaming kids and a partner in tow (who is usually just as badly behaved as the children). Why on earth it takes both of em and the kids to go to the shops I don't know, can't one of em stay at home and not unleash the whole entourage to persecute the sane folk such as I? That's why I shop online, yeah it's anti-social, but at least I get to keep my sanity!! Anyways I got it all done and dusted early so I spent Xmas eve just pottering around, sampling my cooked delights and of course having a festive drink from the mini-bar that I had created in my kitchen.... well it's not an actual mini-bar, just so many bottles of drink stocked up that it looked like a shelf in the off-license lol

I did however join the mad folk on boxing day to see if I could get a bargain in the sales and indeed I did! I indulged meself on shoes, clothes but the best was all the make-up in Boots that was now half price!!!! I picked up loads of Ruby & Millie Goodies  (more blogs on those to come soon) as well as some Strictly Come Dancing Look Books which I was itching to try out but held off until I got some Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This product has been raved about in every beauty magazine and blog going and whilst I'm not one to believe in the hype I thought I'd give it a try just to see. It's £12 a pop which is pricey for me but it's not everything you can get on the cheap and now I've tried it I'm so glad I invested in a pot



Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

 I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the shade of the primer as it looked a kind of chalky pink but it blended right in once on the lids and now I had the base in place, I thought I'd try out one of the Strictly Look Books I picked up at the bargain price of a fiver!

Strictly Stunning Look Book

These Look Books are great, they teach how to achieve a 'look' in line with a theme, I picked the 'stunning' theme which is inspired by the Samba and Salsa, the colours are aqua greens and blues, simply gorgeous. I couldn't wait to try it out

A step-by-step guide instructing how to apply the various shades

Strictly Stunning Pallet with three eye shadows in green, light blue and dark blue
with blusher & brush , three lip glosses, eye& lip applicators

I didn't use the applicators included, I used my own Jemma Kidd brushes as they feel so smooth on the skin. They soaked up the shadows perfectly and on top of my primer the shadows smoothed over my lids like silk.  The consistency of the powder was very good , it didn't just fall off the brush all over the place (or on my face) nor get lost in the brush or creases of my eye. I applied the shadows in the order described in the step guide however without a highlight for under the brow, it felt and looked a bit naked so I added a little white highlight powder just to finish the look

The final look

I was really pleased and pleasantly surprised with the final look, Lisa Armstrong, the make-up artist for Strictly Come Dancing, really did put together a gorgeous pallet with blue and green shadows and I'm looking forward to doing this again for a night out on the tiles. The instructions are basic and simple as well, so if you're not so good at doing eye make-up, this really is a good helping hand to achieve beautiful eyes. Plus as it all comes in a little book with a mirror and brushes , it's perfect to put in your handbag for a quick transformation if you're going out straight from work. My tip for you is to grab one of these if you still can, they are great.

Time to take it all off (make-up that is!), night all!