Watercolours

This year one of my new year's resolutions was to be much more creative. I started out a little shakily, digging out ancient art supplies that hadn't been touched in almost ten years (tsk tsk tsk), and drawing a few terrible pencil sketches until I found my stride again.

I've basically claimed the kitchen table as my new art space - there's loads of space for me to spread out everywhere, I've got a lovely view into the back garden & Riley perches on one of the kitchen chairs, keeping me company as I paint (aw!). I've also nicked Craig's ipad so I can watch movies as I draw - it's brilliant!

I've always really loved birds (even more so now that I have a garden that attracts them!), so without much thought they were the first things I painted. This is a step by step simple watercolour of a chaffinch - it's a bit blocky, but it was really satisfying to do!

I love using watercolours - they are so easy to use, and it's really nice seeing the layers of colour come together. 

I also painted a person for the first time - myself! It's based on the pencil sketch I made at the start of the year (which is in turn based on photo booth photos from #tachebooth). I have never painted a person before so I am fairly pleased with it... but it was hard!

My next goal is to try and paint a few of my favourite bloggers for an illustrated series I hope to have on the blog soon. I just hope you'll be able to recognise who they are meant to be, ha! Still, practice makes perfect...

Galaxy wishlist

I am trying to be very good with money (it's January, I'm poor, I don't need new things, etc etc) so I am going to put all of my shopping energy into wishlists - window shopping, internet style. I've had a couple of these items pinned for what feels like forever, so I thought I'd share them with you lovely lot.

Top row

Ursa Major wooden brooch | Galaxy leggings | Saturn brooches

Bottom row 

Constellation embroidery kit | Starlight comb | Galaxy nail decals

It's space themed. I like space. And I REALLY like that wooden brooch... Oh, one little thing wouldn't hurt, would it?

Benefit Fine One One

Oooh I do like being a blogger. Last night I was invited along to the launch of Benefit's newest product, Fine One One - a brightening cheek & lip colour. Excitingly this event was held in Edinburgh (hooray for Edinburgh events!), which was pretty exciting, as usually it's the London bloggers that get all of the fun!

Fine One One - £23.50*

So myself and a group of glamorous (but slightly soggy) Scottish bloggers braved the snow & headed along to the ace Hard Rock Cafe for cocktails, mini burgers, beauty demonstrations & chats with the lovely ladies of Benefit.

First we were given a demonstration of Benefit's brow shaping & tinting technique (something I'm a massive fan of!) & then we were shown Fine One One in action. It's made up of three colours - a soft coral, a sheer watermelon & a pink champagne highlighter, which combine as you sweep it across the cheek into a really nice soft corally blush.

Claire (the very lovely events co-ordinator) showed us how you can either use it for a natural glow or build it into a pop of colour - so there's a style to suit everyone! You can also use it to highlight different bits of the face & as a lip product too, so it's super versatile.

I couldn't resist trying it as soon as I got home, so here's what it looks like on me! I think I'm in love. I had been a bit worried about applying it (obviously it looked very easy in the demonstration, but they're all professional make up artists!), but I really shouldn't have - the colour goes on so subtly that you can build it up without worrying about having a big streaky face!

Fine One One will be available to buy from January 26th. Get thee to a Benefit counter, stat!

GHD Style & Protect gift set

I'm a big fan of ghd & have been for many, many years, since their straighteners appeared in my life & changed my frizzy hair days for good (anyone who remembers the HELL of steam powered straighteners will understand the wonder of using ceramic ones for the first time!).

So when I was offered the Style & Protect gift set to try out I was pretty keen to see how it matched up to my (massively high) expectations of the brand.

ghd Style & Protect gift set - £39*

In the gift set you receive a large paddle brush, their Straight & Smooth spray, Final Shine spray & two sectioning clips (all can be purchased individually from the ghd products page).

I thought I'd show you my normal blowdrying routine, using these products. I received the set just before Christmas so I've had a couple of weeks to try them out, and see how they face the horrible winter weather (a pretty tough challenge!).

I started out by spraying the straight & smooth spray (which contains heat protection - which you must, must use!), on towel-dried hair, brushed it through & blasted it with a hair dryer.

My hair is naturally very thick, quite frizzy and turns into a mane at the slightest bit of heat or water. So whenever I blow dry it (no matter how careful I am), this happens. I reckon I'd give Hermione a run for her money. Massive massive hair that needs to be tamed.

I then put it into sections using the clips (usually I just use a bobble - I always thought clips would slide out, but these ones have serious grip!) and went over each section with my ghds. I know that normal people can get smooth hair with just a brush and a hairdryer, but I am a bit lazy and just go to straighteners. Sorry hair.

After I worked through each section I sprayed my hair with the final shine spray (and a bit of hairspray) to keep it all neat and tidy. The spray was nice and light on my hair, but I had to resist the urge to use it enthusiastically - it can go from silky to looking-a-bit-oily in mere seconds! It does tell you to only use a wee bit though, so that's more my fault for being a shine addict.

And here's the final look! Definitely an improvement on my alter-ego, Captain Frizz. 

Overall I really liked the set - I have never owned a fancy hair brush before & whilst I am rubbish at blow-drying (which I think uses the brush to best effect), it definitely felt like it tugged my hair less than my normal one. I'm a HUGE fan of shine products in general & I thought the ghd ones had a really lovely fresh scent, which made me feel like I'd just stepped out of the hairdressers! 

It is a bit pricey at £39 (although shh, I found it on amazon for a little cheaper), but I think it would be a really lovely gift - it feels really indulgent and expensive (in a nice way!) and the products do what they promise without weighing down your hair. 

Cosy boots wishlist

I feel like I've been tricked by winter. It's the same every January - as soon as Christmas and New Year are over, I assume that spring is just around the corner & then am surprised (and depressed) by the long, long, LONG cold dark weeks that follow.

I'm typing this with a hot water bottle on my knees, so getting cosy is definitely on my mind! Even though I'm counting down the days until Spring starts (or the temperature at least rises above freezing, I'm not picky), I couldn't resist putting together a wishlist of the cosiest looking boots I could see.

Shoes - Spartoo

1. Buffalo - Mac Queen I am in love with these boots! They are cosy, they have buckles & they are studded. Love love love.

2. Blink - Foutra Sorry for only ever blogging about shoes with buckles, but I like them! I love how fuzzy these boots are - totally unappropriate for wintery countryside walks (or anything with danger of muddly puddles), but perfect for city days.

3. Blink - Blouk Ignoring the ridiculous name of these boots (sorry, but Blink Blouk? Hm!) I really like them. I think they would be really lovely with thick grey tights and a floral dress OR with jeans tucked in. And they have buckles. Obviously.

4. UGG - Brooks I have never been an UGG fan. I can't understand why people spend £££ on what just looks like big expensive slippers. But they seem to be branching out from just the classic style & are making boots that look a bit more sturdy. For over £250 you would hope they would last you FOREVER though!