My December 'Festive Treasures' Glossybox

Hello Lovelies,

I received my December Glossybox earlier this week and wanted to share with you what I got this month. The Theme for this month’s Glossybox is 'Festive Treasures' and the Glossybox Team have chosen products for this box to help us get ready for the festive season and keep us looking glam all month.

The actual box this month is different to the usual pink ones and is a lovely red Christmas design  and the tissue inside is red with candy canes on. I think it is really nice when Glossybox have boxes that are different designs to the usual ones and I love this one!

Here is what I got this month…..

Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Nude Lip Gloss - 4ml

This is a lovely nude lip gloss that is quite sheer and would suit a lot of complextions. It says it is non sticky and it isn't as sticky as some lip glosses can be, but I think it feels a little sticky, but it also feels really moisturising. This doesn't really have a scent and I think I would probably like it a bit more if it did. 

Wilkinson Sword Intuition Naturals Razor - Sensitive Care

This razor has a soap bar around the blade that lathers and moisturisers as you use it, so you don't need to use shaving gel or anything like that with it. I have used these sorts of razors before but can't remember whether I liked them or not and I am looking forward to giving this a try. 

Maybelline New York Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Medium Brown - 7.6ml

This brow mascara allows you to sculpt your brows to give your a fuller look. If I define my eyebrows I tend to use powder and wax and haven't used a brow mascara before and I am intrigued to try this. 

Seche Nail Lacquer in Scorchin' Hot - 14ml

This is a gorgeous bright red colour and perfect for Christmas time. I already have a Seche Nail Polish that I received in a Glossybox last year and I really like it, so I was really pleased to see this inside.

Bee Nature Natural Soap with Honey 

When I opened my Glossybox the smell of this was the first thing I noticed and it smells really nice. I do not usually use soap because I can find it drying and prefer to use body wash or shower gel, but this one has 'a base of honey and poppy seeds' and it helps exfoliate and moisturise your skin, so I will give this a try. 

Overall I am happy with this month's Glossybox and really like it when you receive full size products and three of this month's products are full size ones. I saw that some people got Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eye Shadows and I have been wanting to try those so I would have liked to have one of those inside, but I am looking forward to trying the Brow Mascara. 

What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa - My Gift

Hello Lovelies,

You may have seen that I recently took part in the John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa. I was so excited to be invited to take part and I had to choose a gift for Charlotte from Confessions of a Small Town Girl. I chose her a Ted Baker Tyro Crystal Bow Bobble Patent Purse in Black. The gift she chose for me arrived at the weekend and I was really excited to see what she had chosen for me. 

Charlotte chose for me a Ciaté Mini Nail Lacquer Advent Calendar and a Ciaté Red Velvet Manicure Set. I was really pleased when I saw that she had chosen these for me. I paint my nails at least twice a week at the moment because I find that if they aren't painted they tend to break more, so these really are excellent gifts for me.

I think Beauty Advent Calendars are a lovely idea and I have already treated myself to the Boots one, so now I have two to look forward to opening and I can’t wait until 1st December! I haven’t looked at the back of the Advent Calendar and I'm not going to so when I open it, the colour/type of nail polish will be a surprise.

I haven’t tried a velvet manicure set before but I love red nail polish, especially at this time of year and this looks gorgeous. This was a perfect choice as a gift for me and I can’t wait to try it! 

Thank you Charlotte for choosing me these gifts and to John Lewis for sending me them!

Did you take part in John Lewis’ Blogger Secret Santa?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

Primark Christmassy/Winter Throw

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I wanted to show you something I bought on a recent shopping trip to Primark and that is this gorgeous Christmassy/Winter Throw. 

There is nothing I like more at this time of year than snuggle up in front of the telly after a day at work when it is cold, dark and wintry outside and this throw is perfect for this. I know this Throw is quite Christmassy and it is only November but I already have this on the corner of my sofa and will probably keep it there until the weather starts to get warmer.

It is quite big (125cm x 150cm) and is made of a fleecy material that is really soft. This was only £5 which I think is really good value and would be a lovely treat for yourself or make a lovely Christmas present. 

Have you got a Christmassy/winter throw that you really like?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x 

The 2013 Christmas Tag

Hello Lovelies,

I have been feeling really Christmassy for the last few weeks and when I saw Georgina's Christmas Tag on her Blog Makeup-Pixi3 I thought it would be fun to do it myself. I am especially excited about Christmas this year because it is the first year in my new House and so the first time I will get to decorate it :) Also my Niece will be 14 months old at Christmas and I am really looking forward to spending time over the Christmas period with her because this year she will be more aware of what is going on than last year. 

1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Both my Parents have always had real trees and I do prefer a real tree. I love going to choose one and I also love the smell and look of a real one, but this year I am going to have a synthetic one. I got a synthetic one for a real bargain in the January sales this year, it is a green 6ft pre lit tree and it was reduced from £80 to £20!

2. You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

I don’t drink tea or coffee, so for me it would have to be a hot chocolate. I love going Christmas shopping when it is cold outside and warming up with a hot chocolate. Last year I tried a white chocolate hot chocolate in a Thortons Café and it was amazing!

3. What is your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

I love trees with gold decorations mixed with another colour and this year the colour scheme for my tree is going to be gold, bright pink and bright purple :)

4. Giving or receiving?

Of course I like receiving presents, who doesn't, but I love choosing presents for people and there are some I have bought already that I know people are going to love, I just wish I didn't have to wait until Christmas to give them to them!

5. To mince pie or not to?

I'm not a huge fan of mince pies, so for me it’s ‘not to’.

6. What's your traditional Christmas lunch?

We never have turkey and tend to have lamb or beef with all the trimmings of a traditional Christmas lunch. 

7. Christmas Day fashion

I like to wear a Christmas jumper on Christmas Day and this year I have bought a wine/burgundy one that has cream reindeer on it that have a little bit of gold running through them. Have you bought a Christmas jumper this year?

8. What's your favourite Christmas song?

I don’t know how I could choose just one, I love all the Christmas songs that you hear on the radio and in shops all the time around Christmas like Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You, Wham! – Last Christmas, Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody, Elton John – Step Into Christmas, Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?. Hearing these sorts of songs always makes me feel really Christmassy!

9. What's your favourite Christmas film?

This is really hard as I like lots of Christmas films, but I guess if I had to narrow it down I would chose Elf and Love Actually. 

10. Open presents before or after lunch?

My Christmas Days are different each year, because sometimes I spend them at my Dad’s and sometimes at my Mum’s, but at both we would probably open presents before lunch. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you are reading you're tagged too! I'm looking forward to reading your answers. Tweet me the link to your post and leave it in the comments below and don’t forget to mention Makeup-Pixi3 too!

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

NOTD - Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Duchess

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have a NOTD Post for you and my NOTD is Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Duchess. I love anything sparkly and when I saw Barry M’s new Royal Glitter Collection I couldn't resist getting a couple. I got Duchess which is a lovely nude/silver/gold colour with lots of sparkle and Countess which is a dark purple colour with lots of sparkle.

This is a lovely thick nail polish with a nice thick brush that applies really easily and you could probably get away with just one coat, although I applied two coats. Once applied it is like Barry M's other Textured Nail Paint and not very smooth, but when you apply a top coat it makes it more sparkly and glossy.

I absolutely love this and the Countess one too (I will do a NOTD with this one soon) and think they will both be nice for this time of year and particularly around Christmas. In the photo I have applied a base coat of Rimmel’s Nail Rescue, then two coats of the Barry M Nail Paint followed by a coat of Rimmel Finishing Touch 3D Plumping Top Coat.

Have you tried any of these?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa

Hello Lovelies,

I know it is only November, but I love this time of year and the countdown to Christmas. This year is my first Christmas in my new house and I have been excitedly buying Christmas decorations as I see ones I like for a few weeks now and I can’t wait to decorate my house for Christmas for the first time.

This week I have been feeling quite excited about the lead up to Christmas, including putting up my Christmas decorations, opening my Beauty Advent Calendar and finding out what treats are inside and being part of the Christmas Beauty Box Swap I am organising. So when I was lucky enough to receive an email this afternoon inviting me to be part of John Lewis's Blogger Secret Santa I was really excited. I had seen a few posts about this Secret Santa earlier in the week and thought it looked like so much fun.

I have already done some of my Christmas shopping and love buying presents for other people, especially when I see things that I know (or hope) they will love and I am hoping that the gift I pick for the blogger I have to choose for really likes it.  

On 11^th November I will be sent details of another blogger who is taking part in this Secret Santa and I will then have two days to read their blog and find out about them and the sort of things they like. I will then be able to choose a gift for them from a list that John Lewis will send me.

On 25^th November I will receive the gift that someone has chosen for me and the blogger who I have chosen a gift for will receive theirs. Once we have received our gifts, I will be able to share with you who I chose a gift for and what was chosen for me. I really like that John Lewis have decided to send the gifts in November so we have something to look forward to before Christmas.

I think this is a really lovely idea and I am so excited about being a part of this Secret Santa. I think it will be a great way to get to know other bloggers and will also help me with some gift inspiration for the Christmas shopping I still have to do.

Are you taking part in John Lewis's Blogger Secret Santa this year?

Nyss x 

Christmas Beauty Box Swap

Hello Lovelies, 

If you would like to be part of this Christmas Beauty Box Swap make sure you read this :) 

I have been thinking it would be really nice to be part of a Christmas Beauty Box Swap but haven't seen anyone organising one so I thought I would organise one.

I have taken part in a Beauty Box Swap before and I really enjoyed it. I loved reading the blog of the person I was paired with to see what they liked and then choosing the products to send them and I was really excited to see what was chosen for me. I posted about my previous Beauty Box Swap here. It is also a great way to get to know other bloggers better. 

For those of you that don't know what a Beauty Box Swap is I have put the basic steps involved below :)

• You decide you want to to be part of it and let the person organising it know.

• The person organising it will pair you with another blogger and it is then up to you to email/message that person to get to know them a bit and to get to know what they like.

• You then get to choose some lovely things to send to the blogger you have been paid with up to the price limit agreed. 

• Once you have everything you want to send, you package it up (you don't have to send it in a box, I just think its a nice touch, I used a Glossybox when I took part in one before).

• The you post it to the blogger you have been paired with. 

• The person organising the Beauty Box Swap will usually tell you a date when you should aim to have sent your box by and the price limit, although if you want to agree to change this with the blogger you are paired with of course you can :) 

I thought with Christmas coming up it would be really lovely to be involved in a Christmas Beauty Box Swap and we could wrap our boxes in Christmas paper to make them really christmassy :)

I know Christmas is expensive for everyone so I thought we could set a limit of £15 for the contents of the box (not including postage) and aim to post our boxes by 13th December so everyone gets theirs before Christmas. You can wait to open it until Christmas if you want but if you are like me I know you will want to open it as soon as it arrives so that's up to you :) When you blog about the Beauty Box Swap and what you receive in your boxes send me your links and I will do a post with everyone's links on, so we can all see what everyone got. 

If you would like to be part of this Christmas Beauty Box Swap, please comment below with your email address, blog address and confirming you are in the UK by 13th November. Also let me know whether you are happy with the £15 price limit. 

I will then put the names of everyone who wants to take part in a bag (or something similar) and randomly pair you with someone else and let you know who you are paired with and then its down to you :) 

If you are under 18 make sure you check with your parent/guardian because you will need to swap addresses with another blogger. 

Due to postage costs of posting from the UK to another country this Beauty Box Swap will be for those in the UK only. 

This is the first Beauty Box Swap I have organised so if I have forgotten to mention anything that you think I need to include, let me know. 

If you know anyone that you think would like to take part let them knew or share this link with you blog/twitter followers :)

Nyss x