Giveaway | 2 Vitality Boutique Event Tickets!

Just a mega quick post today!

I won a competition over on Twitter and received a form that can be exchanged for 2 tickets at the box office at the Vitality Boutique event in Bluwater, Kent this weekend.

The tickets were valid for any day from Thursday to Sunday, so are obviously still valid for tomorrow.

Unfortunately I can't make it, so I am giving them away to whoever comments on this post first with their email address so I can send them the form!

Please only comment if you are genuinely intending on going; I would really love it if the winner could fill me in on what they had at the event, pictures etc as I am really disappointed I can't go!

Tickets retail at £8 each, so I don't want them to go to waste!

Thanks!

Jo xo

BooHoo £50 Outfit Challenge

I saw this challenge over on Fantasy Fashionista's blog, and seeing as I enjoyed doing my last outfit challenge (link here) so much I thought I would have a go at another!

 

Now this challenge hosted by www.fashionvouchers.com involves creating a whole outfit for under £50 using BooHoo.com.

 

I found this one seriously tough...I mean I couldn't even afford a handbag for goodness sake!!

 

Anyways, onto my entry...

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

TOTAL: £49

 

This dress is just beautiful. Simple, feminine and classy, it can very easily be dressed up for a night out or dressed down for a day at the office. At just £15 you really can't go wrong.

 

The necklace adds a bit of interest to the rounded neck, and along with the sky high heels helps to toughen up the look, giving it that bit of an edge.

 

(The heels also have Louboutin-style red soles...what's not to love!)

 

 

So there we have it! My bargain £49 outfit.

 

Why not have a go yourself? It's a lot harder than it looks!

 

Entries must be in by the 30th September, and the winners receive a £50 BooHoo voucher each! Click here for full details of the competition.

 

Good luck!!

 

 

Thanks for reading,

Jo xo

 

 

 

 

Go Ape!

So at the start of this week one of my best friends moved to Italy for a year abroad as part of her uni course (you can read her blog on her journey here).

Unfortunately this means very little contact with her as she currently has no internet and texts/calls cost a bomb, so we will be relying on good old fashioned letters to keep in touch!

 

Anyhow, a couple of weeks ago as a little present for her before she left, a few friends and I organised a day out at Go Ape.

 

Three words: It. Was. Hilarious.

Go Ape describes itself as a way to 'get in touch with your inner Tarzan'. Pretty accurate description I'd say!

It is basically an adventure park with zip wires, Tarzan swings (the scariest thing ever!), and numerous other tree top crossings such as tunnels, ropes and bridges.



http://goape.rusic.com/go-ape-share-your-adventure/ideas/1059

We went to the one at Grizedale in the Lake District (there are 28 different sites dotted around the UK), which is a massive 18 metres up...

...now that may not sound that high, but come back when you've stood on that tiny platform and attached yourself to a mahoosive tree with a measley little rope and tell me that is not high!

It is such an adrenaline rush. The longest zip wire was a massive 200 metres long!

http://goape.rusic.com/go-ape-share-your-adventure/ideas/3047
 

The zip wires were definitely the highlight of the course...I would definitely recommend going first at this point. Standing at the bottom watching my seriously uncoordinated friends land with pure elegance and grace like a sack of spuds (i.e. horizontally and face first in a pile of wet mud) without a doubt made my whole day...I literally cried with laughter.


(I didn't dare risk take my camera or phone all the way up there with me so unfortunately I have no pictures of the day; all the pictures in this post are from the Go Ape website)

http://goape.rusic.com/go-ape-share-your-adventure/ideas/3018

Now prices may seem a little steep at first glance:

10-17 year olds - £20
18 years +   - £30

But the course takes roughly 2-3 hours to complete altogether, so it doesn't actually work out too badly price wise!

Plus if you're a student, just use the code STU654 at the checkout for 20% off!
Just don't forget to take your student card on the day!

You can book your Go Ape session here.

I would seriously recommend this to anyone who is a bit more on the adventurous side and loves that  bit of an adrenaline rush, it really is a fab day out.


Thanks for reading,
Jo xo

 



Cath Kidston Freebies in this Weekends Telegraph!

So this is just a really quick post to fill you in on the fab freebies in this weekends Daily and Sunday Telegraphs!

On both this Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of September, the Telegraph will be giving away a free 44 page Cath Kidston make and sew booklet, with 30 different projects!

The Telegraph

On the Saturday they will be giving away free home and gift booklets, whilst the Sunday freebie will be a clothing and accessories one!

Will you be picking these up?

Thanks for reading,

Jo x



Autumn/Winter Passion for Fashion Entry

A few days ago over on Hanne's blog I saw her post on money supermarket's Passion for Fashion challenge, for which they are asking bloggers to create five different outfits for different occasions, with each outfit adding up to under £200. So I thought I would give it a go!

I absolutely loved swooning over all of the autumn/winter goodies available, so here are the outfits I came up with...

Party

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

TOTAL: £110.50

The metallic style of this outfit is perfect for the inevitable Christmas and New Year celebrations. The dress is a great buy at just £25 at the time of year when money is tight, and the grecian style is a piece that will always look classy and flatters most body shapes.

Metallic shades come back year after year, and the nude accessories can be worn across all the seasons; such a glamourous outfit.

Casual

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

TOTAL: £188.50

As with metallics, check shirts are fabulous wardrobe staples that keep cropping up in the winter months. The sleeveless look of this shirt gives it that bit of an edge, and the shorts are a fabulous transitional piece that can be worn with tights to keep warm in winter, or without in the warmer summer months. The studs bring it them up to date and bang on trend.

And who doesn't need a pair of Converse? Practical and stylish, they will help get you through the horrible winter weather without sacrificing on the fashion stakes. And they are shoes that will last.

Outdoor

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

TOTAL: £186

Practicality is always the key with outdoor wear, but that definitely doesn't mean you have to look like you got dressed in the dark.

Jeans have always been a great wardrobe staple and the slouch jumper will give that effortlessly stylish look whilst keeping you warm under the lovely yet practical gilet. The rucksack gives a cute twist to the outfit, adding a bit of interest whilst being able to hold all that useless junk us ladies refuse to leave behind. Considering the chelsea boots are leather, they are such a good purchase at just £40 and will get you through that horrible snowy period in style.

This laid-back look is perfect for the more outdoor type of girl.

First Date

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

TOTAL: £130.99

Now I'm not sure about everyone else, but I love burgundy for the colder months. It's such a lovely, rich colour that makes any outfit look that bit more expensive, whilst suiting every age group.

This skirt is another great transitional piece; although it is floral and floaty, the muted colours mean it can easily be worn throughout autumn if styled appropriately. And it's fabulously flirty for that all important first impression for your date!

The watch and rings add a bit of glamour to finish off the look beautifully, and the clutch bag is a pure steal at a mere £8.

Officewear

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

TOTAL: £194

This outfit has another great floral item but again with those colours that work from summer to autumn. The dress adds a bit of fun and something different to the usual dull office attire, whilst the blazer keeps it smart and appropriate without breaking the bank. The wedges look professional but the height also keeps it sensible for a long day at work.

It is an outfit that can easily be carried on into the evening for a few after-work drinks.

So what do you think of my outfit choices?

If you have already done this yourself, link me your entries - I'd love to see them!

If you haven't yet taken part but fancy having a go, just follow this link for more information.

The overall amazingly lucky winner receives £1000 and an iPad!

Thanks for reading,

Jo x

Splurge vs. Save | Cath Kidston Purses

So I thought for my first fashion based post I would do a splurge vs. save kind of post.

Now Cath Kidston is one brand I absolutely love. Their phone cases and purses in particular have been on my lust list for a long time, but the prices are a little steep for my liking.

Cue Everything5pounds!



Cath Kidston Trailing Floral Zip Wallet, £26

Everything5pounds Vintage Pastel Colours Roses Pattern Wallet, £5



Cath Kidston Notting Hill Rose Zip Wallet, £26

Everything5pounds Vintage British Pattern Wallet, £5

Impressed?

Me too! There's such a good selection to choose from, I can't decide which is my favourite!

The purses are available through the links below each image



 Will you be giving the cheaper versions a go?


Thanks for reading,
Jo x

Calvin Klein | Golden Honey

My first Nails of the Day post! Woo! *Has a little celebratory boogie*

So the nail varnishes I used to create this look are Calvin Klein in 208 Golden Honey, which I got in a TK Maxx gift set last Christmas (under 100 days until Christmas...just sayin'), and Saffron's colour 02 glitter polish.

I bought the glitter polish from this eBay seller a couple weeks ago having run out of my last glitter polish. I had never heard of Saffron before but I must say I am seriously impressed by the nail varnish, the seller, and best of all the teeny tiny £1.70 price tag. The glitter builds up really well and is a great consistency (although still as damned impossible to get off as any other glitter polish).

Golden Honey is officially my favourite nude polish. Ever. The colour is just perfect.

Enough said.

I couldn't find Golden Honey on the Calvin Klein site, but it can be bought from eBay here.

What do you think of this look?

Are you a fan of feature nails?

Thanks for reading,

Jo x

N-Spa Lemon Souffle Shower and Bath Gel

So it turns out that N-Spa products definitely do not scrimp on the scent side of things.

Their lemon souffle bath and shower gel is definitely not for the faint-hearted. When I started writing this post I just could not put my finger on what the smell reminded me of. Halfway down I realised it was lemon curd...this stuff smells exactly like lemon curd!

Is it a sickly smell? Yes.

Is it a good sickly smell? Hell yes.

Although it may smell overpowering in the bottle, once you are dried off it turns into a much more bearable, soft lemon scent that is much more forgiving on the nose.

And I don't know if it's just me, but I find that lemon products just make your skin feel so clean. This is one of those shower gels that gives you that really fresh feeling, if that makes sense?

Packaging wise I love the bottle: plain, simple, and clean.

Well, at least I did.

I didn't think I had bought this that long ago but the packaging has since changed. It's based on the same idea of simplicity, just with a bit more colour. It's still nice, neat packaging that is easy on the eye.

Now admittedly it doesn't create the best lather in the world, but it is sufficient. And I will forgive it for this because of the rest of its general all-rounded awesomeness.

N-Spa products can be purchased at ASDA stores across the country or online.

The lemon souffle shower and bath gel is not currently listed on the website, but can be bought in store for just £3 for a huge 500ml bottle.

Other scents available from the N-Spa range include Pink Grapefruit, Raspberry,  Shea butter and Mint.

There is also currently an offer on of two of these products for £4, which includes their body butters, body mists and shower scrubs, so if you want to try some of these products out now is the time!

Next on my list are the body butters!

Have you tried out anything from the N-Spa range?

Will you be taking advantage of the 2 for £4 offer?

Thanks for reading,

Jo x



Beauty Blog Tag!

Now I wasn't actually planning on doing any of these tags on my blog, but I thought for my first proper post as a little 'get to know you' kinda thing, I would do one.

Unfortunately I can't actually remember where I saw this tag...so I'm really sorry to whoever you are!

Anyway here it is...

1) Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

If I leave it to dry, it's curly. If i dry it, it's kind of straight. Either way, if I then brush it through once it's dry it turns into a frizzy mess that I can't do anything with, so in short it's a nightmare.

2) What is your natural hair colour?

Very dark brown, although a lot of people think it's black

3) Do you dye it yourself or go to the salon?

I have never dyed my hair, ever. I love ombre hair but can never think of a colour that would match my natural colour, so I wimp out!

4) How often do you wash your hair?

Every other night

5) Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

I am a fan of the lazy messy bun, but when i can be bothered I will straighten it, or use my Sleep In Rollers.

6) Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to the salon?

I do my own. Being a student I can't really afford to get them done at the salon, but I also enjoy doing them myself

These are my Union Jack nails from when the Olympics were on.

The fact that they got Retweeted by Revlon made my day!

7) How often do you change your nail polish?

Once it starts to badly chip, which is often every 3 days or so

8) Do you polish your toes in Winter too, or just in the summer?

I do them in both Summer and Winter

9) How long does it take you to put your make up on?

On an average day, around 10-20 minutes. If I'm doing something different for example with my eyeshadow it takes me a little longer

10) What do you do first, face or eyes?

Face... I didn't know anybody did eyes first!

11) Do you collect make up or just buy it when you need it?

I'm a bit of a collector unfortunately, although not as bad as I used to be!

12) How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Not very often; I will wear them on the odd night out if I can be bothered to apply them, but I'm not very good at it so I often skip the falsies!

13) Do you do a full face of make up every day?

I usually do, unless I'm feeling particularly lazy or I haven't got much to do that day

14) Do you wear make up when you are home alone (or with family)?

No

15) Will you leave the house without make up?

I will if I'm just nipping to the shop or the post office, but if I'm going any further afield I feel uncomfortable without make up on

16) How many 'high end' products do you have?

Not many at all, I love my bargains so any expensive items I own are gifts!

17) How often do you wash your make up brushes?

I am awful at washing my brushes...so bad in fact that I must have only ever washed them twice. I know I know, I hear your gasps! My excuse is that I'm waiting for a new set to arrive in the post, so why would I waste time washing my old ones, right...?!

18) Do you decide your OOTD every night, or decide while you are getting ready in the morning?

If I am up early for anything like uni or shopping I decide the night before, otherwise I spend about half an hour gazing into my wardrobe and end up being late. If I know I will have time to decide in the morning, I leave it until then.

I am the most indecisive person you will ever come across. Ever.

19) How often do you change your handbag?

Not very often, as it usually means buying a new one!

20) What time do you get up and go to sleep?

When I'm in uni or placement I get up at around half 6 and go to bed around 10, half 10. On days off I will go to bed when I am tired and get up between 9 and half past.

21) How often and when do you work out?

I play badminton 2 to 3 times a week. I did try to take up running a while ago but I absolutely hated it, I couldn't find any enjoyment in it at all but I am planning to try again with it some time soon. I'll let you know how that goes...

22) Left-handed or right-handed?

Rightie!

23) How tall are you?

I'm guessing around 5'6''

24) Do you speak a foreign language?

I did German at GCSE, but I can't remember much of it.

25) How many pets do you have?

Three. Louis the dog, Dennis the cat, and Siobhan the fish!

My baby Louis :)

26) How often are you on Blogger?

Now I can't really answer this one, seeing as I've only just got it. I will try my best to go on it every day but I can image that being a fairly difficult task if I'm honest!

27) Do you read the comments posted on blogs?

If I am interested in the blog post I read the whole post including the comments

28) Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Yes, I list them on my iPod! I have a memory like a fish

29) How did you come up with your blog name?

In all honesty I have absolutely no idea. I typed in about six thousand (okay, maybe not so many) blog names I wanted to use, all of which had been taken. The names got more and more random until i finally found something I could use which was Painted Glitter...and the rest is history.

30) So what kind of camera do you use for photographs?

A blue Panasonic Lumix FS40

31) How often do you clean your house?

I live with my parents so I don't clean the house, but I clean my room once every week or so.

32) What is your favourite colour?

Now I don't actually have a solid answer for this. It depends what mood I'm in. I do love pink though, and at the moment I am loving all the pastel colours

33) What is your favourite beauty/fashion magazine?

Since starting reading blogs I haven't really bought any magazines, although my old favourites are Look and More. They remind me of college!

34) Do you swear?

Not much at all, usually only when I'm angry!

35) What are you doing for the rest of your day?

I was going to try to write a few blog posts but seeing as I'm starting back at Uni this week, I get I'd better check tomorrows' timetable too..

Okay so this is the part where I'm supposed to tag people but.....

I TAG EVERYONE :)

Particularly if you're a new blogger, I'd love to see your tags so please pop them in a comment below!

See you next time,

Jo x  

...So Who Am I?!

Hi there!

Well, this is a bit scary! Here I am writing my first blog post...I guess I'd better use it as a brief introduction as to who I actually am!

My name's Joanne. I'm a twenteen year old girl (I have only just turned twenty and am still struggling to come to terms with this...so we'll stick with twenteen for now) just about to start my third year at university. I live in the England with my parents and my beloved pets, Louis and Dennis, and I play a lot of badminton in my spare time.

Now I'm going to be completely honest with you here...I do not have a clue what I am doing. Blogger is like a foreign language to me and I am rubbish with technology so my blog may take a while to fully develop.

Any tips anyone could give me about starting up would be greatly appreciated!

I have recently been an avid reader of fashion and beauty blogs, and have toyed with the idea of making my own for while now. Therefore the plan was for my blog to be a mainly fashion and beauty based blog, with additional lifestyle posts and maybe some DIY posts, however this plan may change over time and with trial and error I'm sure I will eventually find my blogging niche.

Again, with just starting my final year at university I'm not sure how often I will be able to fit blogging into my schedule (probably wasn't the best of times to make a blog but hey ho...) so this will be another trial and error kinda thing.

So, that's enough waffling, if I've not put you off already I guess I'll see you in my next post!

I shall leave you with a picture of Dennis in the mean time :) (I apologise about the awful quality, it's an old 'un!)