#dearsally : Long Tall Sally Holiday Wishlist

C: for those of you lovelies who have met Annie and I, you will be well aware that I am almost 6ft. This can cause a lot of problems when trying to buy both clothing essentials and fashionable pieces – seriously, trousers and pyjama bottoms are always ankle (knee) swingers on me! I have always shopped at Long Tall Sally for my jeans, pj’s and long tops, so when they asked me to do a Christmas wishlist for them I jumped at the chance! The quality of their clothes is fantastic and their customer service is always fab! So anyway, lets get to the looks I have designed!

Christmas Shopping

I went for a casual, comfy look as when you are rushing around Christmas shopping you need easily removable layers for when going in and out of shops! Shopping can also be stressful, so comfort is key! I would team these with the Chuck Naylor Converse Long Tall Sally also sell here.

1. Rip and Repair Boyfriend Jean £60

2. Jersey Marl Batwing Top £22

3. Throw on Knit Cardigan £45

Christmas Party

Trying to get dresses that are long enough to be socially acceptable for a party is a nightmare for me, so I assumed I would pick a dress for this outfit… then I saw this jump suit and absolutely fell in love! I love jumpsuits but from any other shop they result in the dreaded camel toe – not an acceptable look for any occasion. These boots are AMAZING too, and I would accessorise simply with this beaded bag from New Look.

Ponte Belted Jumpsuit £75

Double Zip Suede Ankle Boots £110

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day you want to look festive, yet comfortable and stylish, which is why I went for skinny jeans, a Christmas jumper and these Chelsea boots. It’s illegal to not wear a Christmas jumper in my house on Christmas day, but the rest of the outfit makes it modern and warm.

Robin Sweater £55

Coated Slim Leg Jean in “Wine” £50

Chelsea Leather Ankle Boots £95

Gift Ideas

And lastly, some gift ideas that a perfect for both beautifully tall ladies and anyone else! Long Tall Sallys pyjamas are my absolute favourite, and I never wear anything else, so I obviously chose those and some lovely clashing tartan slippers. I love tartan so much, that I also picked out a beautiful scarf that is super on trend right now so would be loved by everyone! And lastly… the kimono. I don’t think I have seen anything this amazing, ever. I love it so much, I might have to order it rather than wait to see if I get it for Christmas!

 

Vintage Rose PJ Bottom £25

Tartan Check Scarf £18

Velvet Devore Longline Kimono £85

Checky Slipper Boot £25

Do any of you guys shop at Long Tall Sally? Let us know what you think to the outfits I have designed and the gift ideas! Hopefully it’s created some inspiration for all of you tall lovelies and your Santa lists!#twolittleowls

November Pink Parcel

A: So you usually get Chloe’s reviews of her monthly Pink Parcel’s, but this time it’s my turn! For those of you that don’t know (where have you been?!), Pink Parcel is a lovely little subscription box which sends you all of the things you need for your monthly lady time. They have recently introduced pads too, which is the reason that I have now subscribed as tampons aren’t my favourite. It makes life so much easier, you don’t have to worry about if you’ve got enough supplies for the month, and they deliver it just in time for your cycle. Plus, the boxes are super discreet so not even the postman will know what it is.

Your first box costs just £5.95, and after that the monthly cost is £9.95. So what do you get for money?

So because I opted for pads (you can choose your specific brand/style too), I got a selection of pads ‘for now’, to pop in my handbag, then another box titled ‘for later’ which contains the rest of the pads I will need for the month and an extra box titles ‘for bedtime’. I wasn’t expecting the bedtime box, but it has pads in it which are of a more absorbent style which are perfect for night time. Lastly, the fun box – ‘for you’.

In this box are all the goodies to help make you feel a little better when you most need it. This month, I received two sets of lashes (perfect for the upcoming Christmas parties!), a Doisy & Dam Orange and Goji chocolate bar (super yummy!), Roc Multi Correction serum, Gluco Tabs in Juicy Raspberry flavour (I’m giving these to Chloe because she is hypoglycaemic and these are perfect for her low sugar emergencies!), Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream and lastly a Tea Pigs Green Tea to help settle those tummy pains.

I think the selection of products in these boxes is amazing – and I am super excited to use the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream because it is such a highly reviewed product that I haven’t had chance to use yet – expect a twolittleowls review of this v. soon!

I am so happy with this subscription box, I’ve recently cancelled all of my other boxes because they just weren’t doing it for me. I think I will stick with this one for a while though 🙂

And just in case you didn’t know already, we are actually hosting a giveaway on behalf of Teen Parcel and Pink Parcel where you can win a subscription worth £55 – just click here for all the info (you deffo should because the prize really is amazing!). For more info on Pink Parcel, just click here!

What do you think to Pink Parcel? #twolittleowlsblog

OOTD: florals, knitwear and doc martens

Dress: Sainsbury’s (!!)

Cardigan: New Look

Boots: Dr. Marten

Necklace: Primark

C:I love this outfit! Its comfy, warm, practical and pretty. Perfecto. I couldn’t believe I found this dress in Sainsers! £15 in the sale as well, so soon go it home and teamed it with the DM’s and some knitwear – definitely my signature style! I don’t like to look too girly, so I always team up dresses etc with some sort of manly boots (girly shoes just don’t suit my feet, honest).

A: This outfit sums Chloe up. The girly 40’s style dress is really lovely, I want it so will definitely have to borrow it soon, and it’s super wearable too – dress it up with heels for a smart work dress, or team it with a cosy cardigan like Chloe has done, and you’ve got a perfect everyday look. I love them way she has teamed it with her Doc Martens too. She hasn’t stopped wearing them since she bought them (true story), and is a pro at mismatching looks and making them work. The floral print with the heavy boots and detailed gold necklace works perfectly!

What do you guys think? Let us know! #twolittleowls

A Giveaway and Review: Teen Parcel!

A & C: Pink Parcel contacted us recently about their brand new product; Teen Parcel – and we were so super excited to hear from them because we are massive fans of their products. Chloe reviewed their Pink Parcel for August, September and October and thought that they were one of the best subscription boxes going (and there are A LOT of subscription boxes out there!). A parcel which delivers all of the essential monthly lady things you need plus chocolate and fun things to make you feel better? What more could you want!

And now they have introduced Teen Parcel, and asked us to review it, help them launch it and host an amazing giveaway – we jumped at the chance because we genuinely believe in the brand and the product.

“That first period is a big deal. It can be scary, but also an exciting time. We want to replace the scary with something a little more positive, which is why we’ve launched a special teen version of our Pink Parcel. Just like the Pink Parcel, it comes with all the feminine hygiene products you’ll need to see you through the month. All the well-known brands are available, plus the very colourful U by Kotex tampon range, which are only available in the UK here at Pink Parcel. Each Teen Parcel also comes packed full of goodies. There’s a drink, something sweet, plus other treats, which will include beauty products, jewellery and other fantastic things guaranteed to make your time of the month that little bit lovelier. The first parcel costs just £5.95 and then it’s £9.99 after that. As well as setting up a subscription for yourself, you can also gift someone the joy of a Teen Parcel.”

The Review

So what did we receive in our Teen Parcels?

First up, the packaging it comes in is beautiful! We love the spotty print, and this box comes in a white plastic envelope, which is perfect because no one will be able to tell what the postman has brought you, so there’s no need for any embarrassment! It also fits through most letterboxes, so no need to worry about being in for it’s delivery.

There are 3 boxes inside, a little bag to put your products in for your handbag, and a few extra pads. In the “for later” and “for bedtime” boxes are 24 pads (including the extras with the little bag), which is plenty of products for most peoples time of the month – plus if you let pink/teen parcel know you require more they can sort that out for you. Obviously, you can also pick your brand or you can ask for a selection so you can work out which is right for you!

Look how cute this little bag is! Perfect for putting in your handbag!

And last, but certainly not least is our favourite part – the “for you” box! Each month this contains a selection of treats to make that time of the month a little easier and more exciting! We received Clean & Clears spot control cleanser, moisturiser and fast acting spot treatment, which is perfect for most teens who have problem skin! We also received a Binky nail polish in Blue Stargazer, which is an amazing sparkly colour – perfect for Christmas – as well as a 10% discount code. We then received a pink bracelet with a bow charm on, which is a lovely treat for a subscription box! As well as a teapigs green tea to calm down poorly tums and some Haribo! Because everyone needs treats! Amazing for a £9.95 subscription box!

 The Giveaway

We have a 6 month subscription to giveaway – valued at an amazing £55, and it’s super easy to get your hands on, you just need to click on ‘rafflecopter’ the link below and follow the steps…

RAFFLECOPTER

And don’t forget to tweet us both with a message to let us know you’ve entered @teenparcel @twolittleowls1 we would love to hear from you! You have until 7th December 2014 to enter.

If you would like to know more about Pink Parcel or Teen Parcel, just click here.

Thank you for reading our blog, if you would like to keep up to date with our posts you can subscribe via email (just click on the button on the left hand side!), and good luck in the giveaway!

Love Annie & Chloe #twolittleowlsblog

*please note that the giveaway is only open to UK residents

November’s Empties

C: It’s the end of November which means two things, I have cracked out the Advent Calendar aaand its time for another empties post! I haven’t used up as much this month, but I have a few of my favourites to share with you all so its all good.

1. No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion. The No7 range is seriously underrated, I love it! This cleansing lotion is perfect for removing make up, moisturising and cleaning skin as well as calming down irritated, sensitive skin. It’s amazing. You can even use it on your delicate eye area to remove eye make up.

Repurchase? Definitely.

2. Beauty Protector Leave in Conditioner. I received a sample of this in my Birchbox and loved it so much I ordered the full size product. I won’t go on about it as I review this product here, but lets just say I am very sad it is all finished.

Repurchase? 100%

3. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash. The very last of the Christmas S&G stash, sad times. Thank god its Christmas countdown time! I love this,  but I haven’t decided if I love it more than the other S&G shower gels as I love them all. The scent is so sweet but fresh and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Plus it looks nice in my shower which is always a bonus.

Repurchase? It’s on the Christmas list mayte!

Another positive empties post today, I have loved all 3 of these beauties! Have any of you lovely readers tried these? #twolittleowls

Annie’s Updated Evening Routine

A: We have both posted about and morning and evening routines before, but that was a while ago now and mine have changed massively so I thought I would let you know what my new routine is.

I have always struggled with blemishes and spots; and yes this is super annoying, but I do not suffer with dry, oily, greasy, patchy skin or dark circles so I am quite lucky in that respect. I have tried SO many products which are supposed to help with spots and blemishes but to be honest, it is a minefield. There are so many products out there that you begin to drown in them, and I had resigned myself to a life of bad skin. I’ve tried The Body Shop, Clinique, Liz Earle, Freederm, Clearsil, Boots own and any other brand I could find. Toners, cleansers, clearing solutions, pore refiners, clarifying lotions, foams, exfoliants, serums, gels… the list is endless. They all appear to start off really well but the end result is always the same. A vicious circle of bad skin, fixing the bad skin and waiting for spots to stop appearing, clear skin for one day and bad skin again. This circle has been going on for a over year now without a break and the stress of it doesn’t help either – I’m sure there’s so many out there that can sympathise and relate to my situation because it totally wears you down.

BUT… I don’t want to speak to soon and I REALLY hope I’m not jinxing it by saying this so putting it in brackets will make it not count – (I think I may have found a routine that works!!!).

The Products

Ultrabland by Lush – £7.25 for 45g

“Based on an ancient Greek formula for cold cream, Ultrabland is beautifully simple and very effective. Made with almond oil, rose water, beeswax and honey, this cleanser removes all traces of dirt and makeup, without stripping away your skin’s natural defences. Smooth over the face, any dirt will cling to the cream and you can remove it with a warm damp cloth or cotton wool. “

A cult classic. For the last 6 weeks I’ve been using Lush’s Ultrabland. I started off by buying a small pot of 45g for £7.25 (see the full post here) but I actually didn’t like it at first. It left my skin feeling greasy the morning after I had used it, something which has never been a problem for me. But then Chloe told me off because apparently I need to remove it and then use a toner #badbeautyblogger. This was all I needed to make Ultrabland ‘work’ for me. Because of it’s natural ingredients, it causes zero irritation to my skin and leaves it feeling clean, soft and totally fresh. I honestly love this product so much because it is so amazingly simple!

Rosewater & Chamomile Gentle Skin Toner by Natio – £6.80 from Birchbox

“Sometimes, considering our penchant for cosmetic experimentation, face wash alone just doesn’t cut it. This is where toner comes in. Natio – a plant-based, gender-neutral skincare range from Down Under – offers a Rosewater & Chamomile variety that gently removes excess oil and makeup while soothing and nourishing the skin.”

I actually panic bought this toner from Birchbox (needed to use my points and didn’t know what to buy but thought I could do with a toner/love rosewater!). This does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s so gently and calming to use, and the rosewater and chamomile smells so good. I can’t recommend this enough if you’re looking for something to soothe you skin and make you feel lovely.

Lacura Intensive Serum Aqua – £3.49 from Aldi

“Skin appears more radiant and youthful.”

So yeah, my moisturiser is from Aldi… Chloe and I actually do most of our shopping at Aldi, and she mentioned she had bought this and said how good it was. So I thought I’d give it a go, but wasn’t expecting anything amazing. This is actually one of the best moisturisers I’ve come across. It’s light, clean and sinks into your skin almost immediately. For £3.49 you really can’t go wrong with it – although it does fly off the shelves now every one has realised how good it is, so if you manage to spot some you should definitely give it a go. And the fact that the blurb is so short on this really sums up the product – it is what it is (I actually did a whole post dedicated to this beauty, just click here to see it).

The Routine

Firstly, I use the Ultrabland all over my face and let it sink into my eye make-up (I wear A LOT of mascara), then gently remove with damp cotton pads. Once it’s all removed, I simply soak a cotton pad in the toner and then apply to my face in circular motions. I normally do this step twice (unless I’m feeling a little lazy). After this I moisturise. There is nothing else to it and this routine is so super simple that it’s not turned into a chore – we all know that dread of being ready for bed but knowing you have to take your make up off properly. It leaves my skin feeling and looking clean, soft and bright. If you have similar skin problems to me, I really do urge you to give this a go – even (especially!) if you’re feeling at a loss of how to solve them, like I was.

What are you skincare holy grails? #twolittleowlsblog

OOTD: matching your dress to your hair

Dress: H&M
Boots: TK Maxx
Jewellery: Vintage and stolen from Chloe

A: I LOVE this dress. I bought it one day when I was hunting for something to wear for an evening out with friends, and actually spotted it first in the shirt version. I loved the pattern but the shape just wasn’t right on me, so when I found the same fabric in a swing dress I took it straight to the till. Swing dresses are so fun to wear, they are comfy (and super handy when you’re going out for a massive meal, somewhere to disguise the food baby), and look good on most shapes. I particularly like wearing them because although I’ve got a few lumpy bits, I don’t have a curvy figure and am I little conscious of my lack of chest. This is flattering though, in the best kind of way. And don’t worry, I do realise that it is the same colour as my hair, for some reason I am always drawn to ginger clothes. No idea why cause they don’t always look good (there is such a thing as too much ginger ya know!). This kind of works though (I think??) because of the gorgeous 60’s tile print – which goes perfectly with the swing shape. I love anything vintage, and I think this really carries the retro vibe. The pleating on the back is such a lovely detail too! And it is super wearable, dress it up with heels and a jacket for a night out, or with flats and a cosy cardi for daytime.

C: To me this dress completely sums up Annies style; comfortable, vintage and different. It perfectly suits Annies figure (this shape looks amazing on most, apart from those with all the lady lumps like me, it would look like I was wearing a bin bag) and is perfect for this time of year. You could layer this up with a knitted cardi for day time, or a leather jacket for going out. Plus… it’s ginger. Annies ginger. Perfect combo.

What do you think to Annie’s OOTD? #twolittleowlsblog

Review: Mac Lipstick in Herione

C: I went to stay at my friends and she had a new Mac lipstick… so obviously I had to try it, take photos of it and try to steal it. Alas, stealing it didn’t work but I loved it so much it has gone on the Christmas list! So here goes, some horrendous, slightly drunk photos of Heroine. Enjoy.

Oooh just look at that amazing colour! I don’t often wear such bright colours but this is just amazing. I’m glad Kitty is brave enough to have bought it so I got the chance to try it and full in love.

See look, even after several glasses of wine I remembered to take a swatch for you lovely readers. If you are brave enough, I reckon this would suit most skin tones.

And lastly, a lovely close up of my face to show you all! The colour pay off was amazing, this was just one sweep of lipstick and even though it is such a bright colour I didn’t need a lip liner to stop it spreading. It lasted for a good 3 hours before I needed to reapply it, I think it would have lasted longer but I was drinking wine and eating Chinese so it definitely passed the test for me!

Have any of you guys tried this bad boy? I hope I get it for Christmas now, I love it so much! #twolittleowls

Foodie Friday: Hello Fresh’s Undercover Ratatouille with Lemon Roasted Sea Bream

C: Hi guys! Happy Foodie Friday! Today I am going to share with you another Hello Fresh recipe which I really enjoyed making (and eating). If you have not heard of Hello Fresh then make sure you check out our previous posts here and here, where we explain what they do and introduce you all to some of the other recipes we received!

So here is a picture of the recipe card/what the Sea Bream is meant to look like when finished and underneath is my attempt!

I don’t think I did too badly really! All the ingredients were super fresh and lovely, and the cards make it simple to re-create a professional looking meal. I had to add in roasted new potatoes, as the boyfriend doesn’t seem to think a meal without carbs is an acceptable one. To be honest, I did think they were needed/maybe we both eat too much!

Overall the food was lovely and easy to do – it only took 30 minutes to create a healthy and different meal to what we would normally eat. Perfect for week days when you don’t have a lot of time to cook after finishing work.

Click here to head to the Hello Fresh website.

What do you guys think of Hello Fresh? Have you tried them before? #twolittleowls

Review: Lacura Face Care Aqua-complete Multi Intensive Serum

A: Another Aldi special from me I’m afraid! I recently reviewed their Hair Culture Shampoo and Conditioner (click here to see!) and now that I’ve been using this products for a few months now, I thought it was time to give it a review.

Chloe actually told me about this product ages ago because I was looking for a super hydrating moisturiser. I’d never actually used a serum before, but I popped to Aldi to pick one of these up and it cost me just £3.49! I started using it as soon as I got home, and have never looked back. Now I don’t have particularly dry skin but it is pretty sensitive, so I was a little cautious of using a new product at first, but this really does feel lovely to use. It’s super silky and smooth, and sinks into your skin almost immediately – I hate it when a product sits on top of your skin! It doesn’t have a scent, which is a quality I like in a facial moisturiser because it feels really clean when you apply it, and not weighted down with additives. It leaves your skin feeling totally prepped and ready to apply make-up too. I now use this as part of my morning and evening routine everyday, if you use a product you get on with, just stick to it, but if you’re still looking for you holy grail moisturiser, you might as well give this a go! The packaging is a little deceiving though, and actually only contains 50ml – but for £3.49 it’s still a bargain and its lasted me a good couple of months as you only need use a pea-sized amount. The pump action is pretty impressive too, I’ve just finished my first bottle and managed to easily use most of the product without having to take off the lid to get the remnants out.

Aldi offer three products in their facial moisturiser range;

The Aqua Complete: for normal skin aged between 20 – 35 years, making skin appear more radiant and youthful.

The Renew Q10: Anti-wrinkle formula for ages 30 – 45, helping to smooth skin and reduce the appearance of lines.

The Restorative: for mature skin aged 45+, helping to smooth skin and restore suppleness.

I have actually only used the Aqua Complete but if we are still writing this blog when I hit 30+ and 45+, I promise I will review the other two products for you!

Have you tried any skincare from Aldi? Click here to see their website and full skincare range.

 #twolittleowlsblog