Seasons Greetings!

Hello lovely followers! I thought a post was necessary to explain my absence over the last few weeks..

My life has been somewhat upside down and I've been feeling inside out, but I've managed to put most things back together after feeling like everything was falling apart and I can confidently say that Bee's Knees will be back in the New Year and I will be posting weekly as usual again.

Thank you for your patience and for bearing with me, its been a tough few weeks but hopefully 2012 will bring a fresh start and much happiness!

Hope you all have a magical Christmas and see you in 2012!

xx

Adorn

So... not sure if you know (!) but I'm a bit of a shoe gal. I LOVE SHOES! So of course I love Kurt Geiger shoes! I had an old gift card lying around and had already seen some beautiful courts that would be perfect for work, in the sale, and tried them on so I knew they were comfy! I ordered them on Monday and they arrived on Thursday... say hello to 'Adorn'!

 Excitement building opening the box...

 Cute Miss KG shoe box I shall be keeping for storing assorted crap in my room...

 Here they are! BEAUTIFUL! They look mega high but as the platform's so big they actually don't feel too high when on. And as I've found with KG and Carvela shoes, they're super comfy and I don't have any problems keeping them on my feet (whereas New Look courts with no strap sometimes fall off.. doh!) It's for this reason I resolved to invest in decent shoes rather than buying dozens of £20 pairs.. we'll see how long that lasts!

They were £45 in the sale, which is more than I usually like to pay for shoes but they're SO pretty and I know from experience that they will last well and won't hurt my feet as much as my cheaper courts.. Plus they're reduced from £70! Linky! I'm smitten!

xx

No 7 4 in 1 Wipes

I managed to nab 2 No 7 vouchers when they were giving them away a few weeks ago. I bought the Eye Make Up Remover first (which I reviewed last week) and then decided to invest in some 4 in 1 Wipes. I'm so glad I did! The wipes retail for £7 but with £5 off they came in at a very reasonable £2 - more similar in price to the brands I normally use (Simple, Boots own brand, etc.) Linky!

First things first - the packaging of these wipes is gorgeous, its so much nicer than other brands I've used! I love the coloured packet. The wipes themselves are obviously much like other face wipes, but they seem to be made from a slightly nicer, more cloth-like material. There is less product on the wipe than the Boots own brand ones I always use, but still sufficient to cover the whole surface of your face without leaving any make up traces. The wipes leave my skin feeling much softer and cleansed - I was seriously impressed! I think I'll be stocking up on these the next time the No 7 vouchers come around, although I don't use wipes every day so they're not a real 'investment' product for me.

xx

I know it was odd to me

I've bought a few odd bits from random places lately so I thought I'd do a post on them all together!

This gorgeous teal cable knit jumper was on offer at Bershka for only £19.99 (down from £29.99 I think) so I just had to have it! I love the colour as I think it compliments my pale complexion. I think I have to stop buying jumpers now though... sigh! Linky!

 I bought this black lace pencil skirt from Miss Selfridge in the sale for only £15! I can't find a link for the black one but here's a link to the same skirt in burgundy. I've already worn this out with a cropped band tee, denim shirt, leather jacket and pumps. I think its quite versatile but totally perfect for the 'goth' A/W11 trend!

 Also from Miss Selfridge is this sheer cream longline blouse. I bought this to wear for work - its got cute lace detail on the shoulders and back but is still quite chic and subtle. Perfect for my work wardrobe! I got it for £17 in the sale but I can't find a link I'm afraid!

Can you believe this sheer poppy print blouse is from SAINSBURYS?! It's in the Gok for TU range, and I think its originally £25 but I got it when there was 25% off all clothing at Sainsburys so for less than £20! I think it looks much more expensive than that, and I've had compliments on it everytime I've worn it to work. You even get a free little vest with it! Perfect. No link again I'm afraid!

xx

Indecisive

Good morning guys! This is a bit of a random post, but bear with me! I've seen two GORGEOUS coats I love from ASOS, and they're 30% off at the moment! Help me decide?

 I love this colour - I've always wanted a warm green coat! I love coloured coats in general! £63 Linky!

This is just so pretty and prim! £59.50 Linky!

What do you think? I'm SO tempted!!!

As a side note - I'm aware I haven't done the draw yet for my giveaway but work has been mental this week! Will do it asap!

xx

No 7 Eye Make Up Remover

Boots were giving away £5 No 7 vouchers with purchases over £5 a few weeks ago, so I decided to finally purchase the No 7 Eye Make Up Remover that plenty of my friends have been banging on about for years!! I was VERY impressed. It retails for £7.75 from Boots - Linky! - but obviously I got mine for £2.25 with the £5 off.

Its made from a liquid which is very different to the creamy Boots own brand stuff I've been using for most of my adult life! I really like the packaging though - very classy and chic, looks fab on my dressing table! I think the remover is made from an oily substance which is brilliant at removing mascara and I do think this did the job better than my usual Boots stuff! It also feels kinder on my eyes - I don't have to scrub so much at my eyes to get my make up off!

Overall top marks to No 7! I'm not sure I'd pay the full £7 for it though, maybe wait until some more vouchers come around!

xx

Dig that crazy chick who wears short shorts

So naturally its winter and the shorts come out (!) I love love love teaming some little shorts with tights, socks and a big jumper - its one of my classic A/W looks! Here are some I picked up recently:

 These black cord shorts are from H&M, and at £19.99 they weren't cheap (but not extortionate either). Size-wise they were a little small so I had to go for a size 12 - not too pleased about that but they do fit perfectly and look fab with black 40 denier tights and over the knee socks!

I've been looking for some nice high waisted, well-fitting shorts for aaaaaages (maybe more than a year? How sad!) Enter these cute little denim shorts from New Look, again £19.99. I've never had a better fitting pair of shorts in my LIFE! They're made from a very stretchy denim which I think is why they fit so well - they don't even gape at the back (which is a first for me!) Linky!

Do you like wearing shorts in the winter? Where's your favourite place to shop for them?

xx

All I Want for Christmas is... OPI!

Despite being one of the biggest nail varnish fans going, I don't actually own any OPI polishes! Its more to do with not being able to afford them than anything else, but I have always dreamed of owning OPI!

Now the festive season is fast approaching, my mum suggested that she buy me my first bottle as a Christmas present! I could hardly say no! But ever bargain-hungry, I decided to purchase from eBay to save my poor mama some pennies! I plumped for 'Warm and Fozzie' from the new Muppets range, as I thought it was totally unlike anything else I own and so very shimmery and typically OPI! I bought mine for ~£6.50 from THIS eBay seller. Unfortunately I've now got to hand it over to my mum until Christmas morning, but I couldn't resist taking a sneaky peak and sharing it with you! SO excited!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY WHICH ENDS TONIGHT!!!!

xx

I Want Never Gets... on hiatus!

Happy Wednesday everyone! I thought I would do a short post to explain the absence of IWNG posts... I've decided to put the series on hiatus. To be perfectly honest, juggling a demanding full time job with blogging is quite the challenge and I'm finding I have less and less time to dedicate to my posts! As a result I decided to blog for 3 days instead of 4 per week - I generally find people prefer my usual weekend posts over my wishlist posts but if you feel differently please comment and let me know. So its goodbye to my mid-week posts, apologies to all you lovely readers!

Elspeth xxx

MUA Lipsticks #2

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a firm fan of MUA lipsticks. I did a very complimentary review on them HERE and also gave away 3 of my favourite shades as part of my very first blog giveaway! I found myself in Superdrug recently and treated myself to 3 new shades - Superdrug have a 3 for 2 offer on make up items so I ended up paying only £2 TOTAL for all three! Amazing!

 I tried to go for wintery colours to fit in with the season, so chose a gorgeous nude pink (shade 11) , a lush shimmery berry red (shade 10), and a velvety burgundy (shade 1).

 

Here are the lipsticks swatched on my arm - Top > bottom = shade 1, shade 10, shade 11. As always, I was impressed with the quality of these lipsticks. You can see for yourself just how rich the colours are! I adore shade 1, its such a deep, dark and sultry dark red its perfect for winter with my porcelain skin! The nude shade 11 is ideal for work and is subtle but gives my face a bit of colour. I have to say, although I adore the colour of shade 10 it does look less impressive on the lips and is more of a glitter/shimmer shade - it didn't last as long on the lips as the other two.

But overall top marks for MUA, again! And at £1 each, 3 for the price of 2 at Superdrug, you can't really say no, can you?!

xx

Sock it to me!

As the nights are drawing in (i.e. its dark at 4pm - hmph!) and the winter season is here to stay, I thought I would do a post on my all time FAVOURITE accessory of A/W - the sock. Now, most people don't give much thought to their socks; these people are silly. Socks are where it's AT! Now let me show you my latest foot-oriented purchases..

This pack of grey and black knee-high socks was a bargain from H&M at only £6.99. They're lovely and soft and will keep my toes nice and toasty! I like wearing knee high socks with knee high boots - just slightly longer than the height of the boot so you can see them - with tights & shorts or a skirt. It's a simple way to stay warm but still manage to have your legs out!

 I couldn't believe it when I saw these over the knee socks from New Look for only £2.50! So cheap! They do them in all sorts of colours too. Linky! I wear over the knee socks with 10 denier grey or black tights and a short skirt or shorts, usually with brogues or something similar.

I bought these cute little ankle socks from Dorothy Perkins - 3 for £6! I really like the colours I chose but there are plenty of others available too. I think ankle socks look cute rolled down with brogues or ankle boots and opaque tights and a tea dress. Linky!

So there you have it - I'm a total sock addict! Hope this post has made you think more carefully about what you put your tootsies in on a cold winter morning!

xx

50 is half of 100!!!

Hello wonderful readers! I just wanted to dedicate today's post to every single one of you FIFTY followers! How incredible is that?!

I can't explain how much it means to me that you all think little Bee's Knees worthy of the occasional read! You're all fabulous! THANK YOU!

xx

How to get the perfect bikini line

I think a girl's lady garden/downstairs disco/[insert innuendo here] is possibly the area of her body that she frets about the most! Well fear not, I am about to guide you through my tried and tested lady garden maintenance routine! You can adapt this according to whether you're a trim-and-neaten-the-edges girl, a landing-strip-is-all-I-need girl, or a grin-and-bare-it-all girl!

 First, use talcum powder on the area you're planning on shaving. This helps the shaver glide easily over your skin and reduces the likelihood of any nicks and cuts. I use Simple or Superdrug own brand as I know these brands don't test on animals. Be sure to avoid getting powder anywhere that isn't external (subtle, I know). The Simple stuff I use is £1.99 from Superdrug. Linky!

The second step is to use small scissors to trim down the hair in the area you want to shave. I then use small wax strips that I purchase from Wilkinsons (no link I'm afraid, you'll have to purchase in store) that are about £2 for 36 strips. They're amazing. I use the strips on the 'bikini line' to reduce regrowth.

Then use the Shavy Femini to trim down the rest of the hair further, so it's more like stubble. I bought my Shavy Femini along with my Seiko Cleancut about 4 years ago from THIS place and I've never looked back since. Once you've done that, use the Cleancut to get rid of the stubble and create a hair-free, smooth area. I've found the Cleancut is the best method of hair removal for my lady garden, it doesn't create shaving rash and gets as close as possible to the root of the hair without waxing, and is better for those very intimate areas you don't want to / can't wax.

Last but certainly not least, apply Aloe Vera Gel liberally to the entire area and wander around with no pants on for a while to allow it to sink in. This will prevent the development of any shaving rash, and sooth the waxed area. If you find there's residual wax, use a cotton wool ball doused in baby oil to get rid of the excess wax before applying the gel. I buy my Aloe Vera Gel from HERE.

Photo courtesy of  http://store.makoollovesyou.com/shop/products/42-june-knickers
And VOILA! A perfectly groomed lady garden with minimal pain and no cuts, rashes, or discomfort!
xx

Reminder: Giveaway and Sale!

Just a little reminder that I am having a BLOG GIVEAWAY!!

You currently have a one in five chance of winning these five beauties!

These 5 fabulous No7 metallic eyeliners could be yours!!!

If nail polish is more your thing, I'm also having a teeny little BLOG SALE of the above polishes!

xx

Fabulous Nails #9

I've been so excited about sharing this instalment of Fabulous Nails with you! I was rooting around in my nail polish box (that I keep in the fridge, btw, it's the best way!) and found about a million polishes from years gone by or ones I'd never actually worn since purchase, and I was determined to wear them all! Starting with this stunning offering from Collection 2000 Hotlooks in shade 26 'Scandal'.

 This is such an incredible shade - it looks more OPI than Collection 2000 on the nail, it has so many different layers to the colour and is just a stunning shade! This is with 2 coats, and it's worn quite well. Only 2 chips in 2 days so far (writing this on Tuesday evening) but as with last week, my nails are in terrible condition so it may be that rather than the polish itself.

Unfortunately as this polish is from a good few years ago (but still in great condition due to keeping it in the fridge - I'm telling you, its the way forward!) its no longer in shops, but you can buy all sorts of other wonderful shades from the Hotlooks range which I'm sure will be just as impressive. And at only £1.89 a bottle I'm struggling to think of reasons not to invest in a couple more colours! Linky!

xx

I Want Never Gets... Blouses & Jumpers

With the nights drawing in and the days getting ever shorter, its increasingly important to wrap up in this season's stylish jumpers and blouses.. here are a few I'm currently lusting after from ASOS:

I have fallen big style for this kitsch peterpan collar red jumper, only £35! Linky!

 Simple and versatile, this collared jumper would be ideal for work or play, and at £35 it's a bit of a bargain. Linky!

Stars are everywhere this season, and this monochrome blouse is a chic way to embrace the trend without going too far. £35 Linky!

Here's another sneaky peterpan collar, I'm so obsessed! I am smitten with this blouse and it's adorable parachute print, it'd be a subtle way to introduce a bit of personality into your winter work wardrobe. £35 Linky!

Again with the monochrome, this blouse is simple and chic and would easily look fabulous teamed with most things. Only £30 Linky!

Do you look forward to cold weather so you can pull on a jumper like me? Where's your favourite place to shop for snuggly knitwear?

xx

Kiko Milan Cosmetics - eyeshadows

Even though I bought these eyeshadows way back in JULY when I was in Venice, for whatever reason I haven't gotten around to reviewing them til now! I'm sorry!

 I bought three shadows, for 3 Euros each:

 A gorgeous dark brown, shade 123.

 A copper-y golden brown, shade 124.

 And a lovely pearly white, shade 168.

Here are the shadows swatched on my forearm, in the opposite order (top>bottom 168, 124, 123). The darkest brown (123) is very deep and nutty, whereas the lighter shade (124) has golden undertones and appears much more metallic on the skin. the while is quite shimmery but still gives good pigmentation, you just need to build the colour on the skin. It's great for using in a smoky eye look for when you don't want to be too dramatic.

The quality of the eyeshadows is absolutely brilliant, they're ridiculously pigmented so you barely need any product on your brush at all. They're smooth and relatively creamy to apply and don't crease much. The packaging is very stylish for such a cheap, drugstore-style brand (reminiscent of MUA eyeshadows perhaps?!) and you do get quite a lot of eyeshadow in one little pot! Overall I'm very very impressed with the value for money here, and will be heading out to the new Kiko Milan store in the Westfield centre to check out what other bargains are on offer here in the UK! Linky!

xx

Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock?

I popped to Peacocks a few weeks ago when my bestie was staying with me, and she kindly let me use her NUS card to get discount on the following little gems:

This rust-coloured bobbly cable knit jumper is adorable! I love the colour, the fit, the bobble detailing - its perfect! And at only £20 I couldn't resist buying it! Of course the sale is on now so it's much cheaper, no reason not to snap it up! Linky!

 I'd been after some new brogues for a while, as the ones I bought from Primark turned out to be a little too small. It was love at first sight when I saw these beauties! They're such a gorgeous colour and the fake suede fabric is really good quality, they look much more expensive than the £16 I paid for them! Again, they're in the sale now.. sigh. Linky!

Finally these gorgeous black wedge shoe boots are my fave - they're just so simple and versatile but the massive chunky heel adds a bit of edge to any outfit! They were £30 when I bought them, but now appear to have disappeared from the Peacocks website so maybe they sold out... *shrugs* All I know is they look cracking with skinnies or opaque tights and a tea dress thrown on for a last minute pub visit! 

xx

Fabulous Nails #8

As promised, I'm trying to wear more adventurous colours at work and this week I tried out a new polish I hadn't worn since purchase! It's elf's Mod Mauve #D17!

 I absolutely adore the colour of this on the nails! Its so different to anything else I own but chic enough for work! Its a bit thin, like other elf polishes I've tried, and needed 3 coats to get this look. I was slightly disappointed that by the third day it had chipped pretty badly, but that might be more down to the poor condition of my nails than the polish itself.

 

I got plenty of compliments whilst wearing it and I really do adore the colour! At only £1.50 a pop you can't really go wrong, even if it isn't the best quality I've ever seen! Linky!

Don't forget to check out my BLOG SALE and enter my GIVEAWAY!

xx