The 'If Money Was No Object' Birthday Wish List

Barbour Liberty Print Jacket - £229
Mulberry Continental Wallet - £295
Nars 'The Happening' Palette -£45
Ugg Bailey Button Boots - £195
Mulberry Bayswater Handbag - £895

Today I realised that it's exactly 4 weeks until my 22nd birthday. My birthday is that one day of the year where I feel and act like the Queen of the world, where I want to put so many plans into motion, drink champagne and go for afternoon tea at Laduree in London. Or even Paris, y'know I'm not fussed. 

This is my 'if money was no object' birthday wish list. One day I hope to call all of these items my own...a girl can dream eh!

Also, please be a doll and vote Confetti Letters in the Boux Avenue competition? I will be sharing treats with my readers if I win :D Click here, click the Confetti Letters button, and then click vote. Simples <3

Cast Your vote for ConfettiLetters!

Ahh I'm so excited because I've only gone and made the shortlist for Boux Avenue's Valentine's Competition...so now I need your help!

If I win, I get to share an exclusive discount code with all of my fabulous readers, and will be holding a pretty little giveaway to say thank-you very much...

So, what are you waiting for?

Click HERE and vote for ConfettiLetters!

Milk_Shake Conditioning Whipped Cream

One of the great things in life that sustains my ability to breath is my consumption of milkshake, namely chocolate flavour Yazoo, or even just Tesco's own chocolate milk. I honestly can't get enough of the stuff. I have read that they say that drinking a milk based protein shake after you finish at the gym is supposed to be better than rehydrating with water - so I seem to have taken this notion one step further and applied to the idea that 'Louise, unless you consume this yummy Yazoo your blood will cease to flow in your veins...'. I'm strange, I know. But imagine my delight when a recent Glossybox contained a hair product by a new brand to me, Milk_Shake Haircare. I squealed with excitement - can I now apply my favourite lifeblood to my hair, and it will smell and feel delightful and I won't get funny looks...ok! 

I'm slowly getting more and more into haircare, and by that I mean using fancier shampoos and treatments, and not just reaching for what's on offer in Boots. I've tried Mythic Oil, leave in conditioner, glossing spray, finishing spray, every thing under the sun, but never a foam/mousse based product because I've never found one that looked right, or smelled right, or did as it said on the cannister. (I just took a minute to laugh at 'mousse based'. No moose were harmed in the writing of this review! Poor moose!)

Milk_Shake have the answer to all of my mousse problems. Their Conditioning Whipped Cream is a treasure. I'm secretly loving the fact that I'm applying a non-artificial vanilla scented, milkshake based, whipped cream mousse to my hair and not feeling gross. Yum. 

The brand is sets out to 'enhance and maintain the natural beauty of your hair' and 'offers the benefits of milk and fruit for wellbeing and beauty' through a range of fabulous products to suit any hair type or problem. Next on my wish list is their shampoo and conditioner, and a treatment mask!

The actual product itself is designed as a leave in conditioner for all hair types. It nourishes your hair and leaves it feeling super soft and glossy. The mousse doesn't even feel too heavy, and it melts into the hair beautifully, leaving no residue or a film behind. 

To apply Milk_Shake's mousse I usually shake the canister first, then apply a golf ball sized amount to my hand (one of the great things is watching the mousse expand in your hand!) and then work it into my scalp and ends of my hair. Do this every time you've washed your hair and then leave it to soak in, no rinsing required, and let it work it's magic. I absolutely love it!

It's practically good enough to drink...but don't do that, find a real milkshake instead! 

You can buy Milk_Shake from Feel Unique, Beauty Bay and Look Fantastic. Prices vary, but the Conditioning Whipped Cream ranges from £11-£14 for 200ml depending on where you shop. 

What do you use to take care of your hair?

Are you a milkshake fiend like I am?

Confetti Letters' Sunday Sensations

This week I wrote a guest post for Clare's Sunday Sensations, sharing some of the things that I have loved from the past seven days. It was hard to choose and narrow down my options but I hope you'll agree with me that they're all fab.

Taken from here.

Favourite Beauty Product:
This week it most definitely has to be my new Bourjois Rouge Edition lipstick in 03 Peche Cosy. I wrote a post about my love for this fabulous colour, and while it's not quite a wintery shade it'll see me nicely through to spring and Summer. Bourjois have only recently brought out their Rouge Edition range, there are 17 colours so there's bound to be one you love. Boots are also doing a 'buy one get one half price' offer on them at the moment, so get down to Boots quickly!

Favourite Event:
I haven't really been to any events lately, if at all. As I'm in my final few months of university there's not a lot of excitement happening in my non-academic life save for the precious times when I am able to score my favourite seat in the library - sad eh!? Can I cop out and say that the #bbloggers chats have been my favourite events this week? I love chatting on Twitter to anyone and everyone, and love getting to know some of the lovely people behind my favourite blogs and I definitely love the way that everyone shares their knowledge with each other so we can all benefit from extra beauty tips. I adore the #bbloggers community <3 Ps. If you want to follow me on Twitter, find me @louisekwilliams :)

Favourite Post I've Written:
Ooo do I really have to choose? I'm going to pick one beauty and one more lifestyle orientated post. My favourite beauty post was my review of Illamasqua's I'mperfection speckled nail polish in 'Scarce'. If it's possible to fall in love with your nails then I might have just done that this week.
My favourite lifestyle post has been my Woodland Bunnies ice lolly maker that I bought from dotcomgiftshop. They're an adorable way to indulge my love for cute rabbits, and love of ice cream/ice lollies at the same time. I've been experimenting with homemade ice lolly recipes since I bought it and have found some firm favourites!

Jade's Blog Header

Favourite Blogger:
My favourite blogger this week has been Jade from Beads of Jade. She's recently decided to come back to blogging and I truly believe she deserves more readers. She has a lovely mix of posts on her blog, from beauty reviews, to wish lists and more. I have loved her insight into her MAC pro palette this week, as well as her review of Katy Perry for Eyelure eyelashes, Jade they look amazing on you and I have definitely found some more MAC shadows I would like to add to the spaces remaining in my palette. Go and follow her blog and her twitter (@beadsofjade) :)

Favourite Video:
My favourite video is a song that made me laugh this week. My boyfriend insists that it's a 'tune' and won't stop quoting lyrics to me down the phone! If you ever shop at a thrift/charity shop, you'll find yourself singing along :)

So those were Confetti Letters' Sunday Sensations!
What's been your favourite moments of the past seven days?

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Boux...

Image courtesy of Boux Avenue

Whether you're loved up, or loving being a single gal, every lady has some kind of opinion about St Valentine's Day. I'm talking that one day a year when we're all supposed to show our boyfriends and girlfriends how much we love them, when it's appropriate to be overtly mushy and slushy for twenty-four solid hours and where a big delivery of two dozen red roses, chocolates and a giant teddy bear to the office mid-afternoon will prompt affectionate oooh's and aaah's from colleagues who pretend to hide their jealousy. Valentine's Day for me is just another excuse to receive, or even give, presents. As a self confessed material girl I love stuff, and I'm not ashamed to deny it. In fact this year, due to the fact that my significant other will be seven hours away from me, I will be mostly practicing the art of 'self-gifting' and indulging in a little me time (hell, I might not even shave my legs...I joke!) involving a hot shower, my favourite book and a bag of Cadbury mini-eggs.

Image courtesy of Boux Avenue

The thing I fear most about Valentine's day is not feeling, well, all that red and rosy. I don't believe that a single date in the calendar should be set aside as a day when everyone should give their significant other some affection, be overly nice, or even agree to spend time with them. If that doesn't come to you naturally on a daily basis then I'm sorry to be frank girls and boys, but grab a box of Kleenex and get out of your relationship. That aside, how can I say no to indulging my inner siren and putting together a selection of gift guides? If Cupid's listening he's going to point you to the other love of my life (after J of course...!), Boux Avenue. I discovered Boux in 2011 and since then have not bought lingerie from any other brand. It has everything I want and then some: a more than fabulous shopping experience, gorgeous underwear pieces, beautiful toiletries and amazing, classy, nightwear to suit any occasion (*wink wink*). There really is no-where else a gift giver needs to shop!

I've created two Valentine's Day wish list gift guides to help you find a little inspiration for the big V-Day. Whether you find yourself singing 'all the singles ladies' or nesting with your special someone there's bound to be something that you'll want to wear under the sheets. (J, if you're reading take note...)

Images courtesy of Boux Avenue and BeautySets

Wish List Part Un 

This beautiful set of gifts will appeal to any lady with a softer side to romance. She loves walking by the river in the summer eating an ice cream, or running through piles of fallen leaves in the autumn. She's beautiful and carefree, she always takes the time out to make time for herself in her busy schedule and dreams of visiting Paris to put a padlock on lovers' bridge. She's the feminine girlie girl, the one who smells of flowers or sweet treats like spun sugar and vanilla. Her favourite colours are soft pinks and white, and she'll probably be the girl ringing you up to ask you out for afternoon tea to chitter chatter over cake and good friendship. 

Images courtesy of Boux Avenue and BeautySets

Wish List Part Deux

This feisty set of gifts appeals to the smouldering temptress who is quietly confident, sassy but classy and cute yet coy. She's the girl that has no problem saying yes to the nights she won't forget and the moments in life that take her breath away. She's the after dinner, after dark, seducer who knows exactly what she wants, yet doesn't take anyone for granted. She's the enchanting kitten that whispers sweet nothings in your ear, invites you to undress her with your eyes but doesn't give too much away. She's the oh-so-irrisitable girl that will text you in code, and leave you wanting more...

Do you see anything you fancy?

Don't forget ladies, even if your Valentine is a figment in your imagination, or, like mine, living at the opposite end of the country, who said you have to have someone else present in your bed in order to wear gorgeous lingerie?

Are you more of a soft romantic, or a tempting seductress? Or even better, a bit of both? I know who I am... ;-)

Lots of love <3

This post is my entry to Boux Avenue's Valentine's Competition

Glossybox UK February 2013 Edition

My February Glossybox has just walked through my door, at five to eight on a Saturday morning I might add! This isn't today's planned post but the packaging for this month's box is just too adorable to not show you straightaway!

This box, as anyone might have guessed, is themed around Valentine's Day this month with products that are going to leave you pampered and prepared for that night out (or night in) with a special someone. If you're like me, and your valentine lives at the other end of the country, or even if you don't have a significant other this year, do not despair. Put your gladrags on anyway, apply your Glossybox products, make friends with the two other men in my life (Ben and Jerry) and watch a soppy movie.

The packaging really got me this month. It's perfectly pink, has bows and hearts and tissue paper and stickers and roses - bliss. I already have a thousand and one uses in my mind for this little box when I take the products out and give them a new home.

I like the edition of the magazine style leaflet that Glossybox is including in the boxes these days, it adds a little something extra to take your time into reading. This month the magazine details the proper application of lipstick for beautiful bold lips, as well as showing all of the products that you'll be receiving in your box. As usual I didn't look at that part til last, after I'd seen my contents!

So what did I get?

I'm not feeling particularly overwhelmed by the contents of this box, but it's not as bad as I thought when I looked at it on face value.

I received:

• Dr Renaud Raspberry Soft Cream - 30ml (Full size 50ml for £25)
• Helen E Cosmetics Moisturising Lipstick in the shade 'Cafe Au Lait' - 3.5g (Full size, retails at £8)
• Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Blush Powder in the shade 'Terra Cotta' - 0.8g (Full size 9g for £34.95)
• Modelco Eyeshadow Palette in the shade Bronzed Goddess - 2 x 3.5g (Full Size, retails at £18)
• Anatomicals You Need A Blooming Shower - 150ml (Full size 300ml for £5)
• Glossybox heart shaped lollipop

I like the inclusion of a raspberry flavoured product because I love raspberry and fruity smells. I used the Dr Renaud moisturiser straightaway and it smells delicious and moisturised my arm nicely. 

The Anatomicals cleanser is a step up, in my opinion, from the Anatomicals body scrub that was included in the Glossybox either last month or the month before. This one smells of luxurious roses and if I don't receive a good bunch on V-Day I'll be bathing in this for sure!

Modelco is not a brand I'd heard of before but I was surprised to find that the eyeshadow duo retails at £18! That's £9 a shadow! Madness. Anyhow, I'm glad I got bronze and gold shades as I have blue eyes and those are the colours that make them stand out more. Loving this a lot.

While I love the inclusion of 3 makeup products in this month's box I am significantly underwhelmed by the Micabella blusher and the Helen E lipstick. For a start I hate mineral products, I have never used them and don't plan on starting now. Sorry Micabella. As for the lipstick, well it's straight up a milky brown colour and due to being as pale as an ice maiden I'm not entirely sure I want to rock the bronzed lip. I'm in two minds about whether or not to try it out, or leave it in the packaging and donate it to a worthy lady...

So that was my box. What do you think? Did you get different contents?

How are you planning on pampering yourself for Valentine's Day?