Katie Snooks

YouTube became a big part of my life in 2015 and after looking back over the content I've created, I wanted to showcase some of my favourites!

I've chosen 5 of my favourite videos that I've created from the past year so if you're in need of a bit of viewing material, this is perfect!

1) The Proposal

Published: Sept 2015

Why: This obviously had to be number 1, didn't it? This was the ultimate romantic weekend getaway. Andrew and I visited Jollydays Glamping site in York for some 'us time' and he ended up proposing! I love everything about this video; the peacefulness, the way we captured the beautiful scenery, the fire, sparklers, toasting marshmallows, some outfit inspiration, great food and true love!

2) Couple's Lookbook

Published: Jan 2015

Why: Andrew and I film a couple's lookbook every year at Center Parks (Although we've just got back from our 3rd trip and decided to just enjoy the weekend and relax rather than work, please forgive us!) and this one really upped our game a level. We didn't intend to have a storyline to the video but it definitely evolved during filming. It reminds me of romantic, twilight, forest love story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

3) Summer Lookbook

Published: June 2015

Why: Another lookbook - I know! They're definitely one of my favourite videos to film as it allows me to be creative with filming, fashion, locations and editing. We filmed this one on holiday in Cognac around the gite we were staying in. The music from this lookbook really cheers me up and I love the outfits I wore. Makes me really excited for summer of 2k16!

4) My Tattoos & Piercings:

Published: May 2015

Why: I'd not really spoken about my 'body art' before on my channel and this was just a really nice one to sit down and chat about. My tattoos are very special to me and so it was nice to share the meanings behind them with you guys. I think this video was also my top performing ones of the year which makes me really happy.

5) MAC Lipstick Collection

Published: September 2015

Why: Finally, I chose this video as it was part of a new series that I started on my channel which I'm quite proud of (and hadn't seen anything like it before). I wanted to share with you my MAC Lippie collection but didn't want to just sit down and chat about them, so I decided to get creative and showcase them in a lookbook fashion instead. This took me AGES to edit but it's received some great feedback so I'm really happy with it!

There we have my favourite videos from my channel last year. I also filmed a lot of videos for other YouTubers last year including Zoella, Sprinkle of Glitter and Saccone Jolys so I might also do a round up of my favourites of those that I filmed as well - let me know if you'd like to see that!

I'm really excited to work more on creating great content for you all on YouTube this year. If there's anything you'd like me to film just let me know and thank you for the support - it really means so much!

If you like these be sure to subscribe to my channel, I'd be over the moon if you did!

Which of these is your favourite?

xxxx

Planning a wedding must be one of the most exciting tasks I've ever been involved in and I jumped straight into it after Andrew and I got engaged in September.

I wanted to kick off my wedding content with a little chatty video on my channel about how it's going for us so far (it'll be live on my channel soon - subscribe to be kept up to date) but until then I wanted to talk about where to start for all of those who have just got engaged!

1) GUEST LIST

The first thing we did was start a spreadsheet of our guest list. Before we got into looking at venues or anything we wanted to start imagining who would share our special day with us and start counting the numbers. This helped us to narrow down a venue as we knew roughly how many people it would need to hold.

2) CEREMONY

We also had a lot of chats about the type of ceremony we wanted (in fact we did this before we were even engaged so we knew we were both on the same page). Andrew's only specification was that he wanted a church wedding (which would mean a lot to him and his family) and I was very happy to oblige. Knowing that we wanted our ceremony in a church also helped us narrow down venues as we knew we wanted them to be within walking distance to save time and travel costs.

3) BUDGET

I think a budget list was also one of the first things I created in my wedding spreadsheet. I'll be completely honest and admit I haven't really been very organised or serious about this and I haven't budgeted for half of the things we need (and my estimations of prices are probably way off), but it's very important to know how much you can afford, so you can start putting plans into place to save etc. One thing I will say is weddings are SO expensive, much more than I thought they'd be. Our venue alone is much more than I had originally allowed but it's perfect so we'll have to find ways to save money elsewhere!

4) PINTEREST

This is really sad, but I actually had a 'Wedding Mood Board' on my Pinterest account before I even met Andrew - in my defense it was a private board though! I think every girl has a dream and a vision of what their dream day would look like so every time I saw an image I loved on Pinterest I'd pin it just in case! Once we got engaged I made the board public and also created a few extra boards for each category - one for dresses/themes/food and favours/flowers/photography styles etc! These have become so helpful when trying to plan and find inspiration so I really recommend making your own boards to help you nail down the type of style & theme of your wedding.

You can see my Wedding Pinterest Boards here!

I think that's it for now - there is so, so much I want to talk about but I will save those for future blog and video content. I think next on the blog I might show you some venue inspiration I adored whilst on the hunt for our location!

Let me know if you'd like more wedding content on the blog!

xxx

I'm gonna be honest - searching for my wedding venue was one of the most stressful things I've ever done! There were so many factors to think about whilst scrowling the net for the perfect space - the price, how many people it could hold, the location, if it was near a church, what caterers they allowed, what accommodation was near by and most importantly whether the feel of the venue fits your ideal!

Now I was lucky enough to find my ultimate dream wedding venue really quickly but that doesn't mean it wasn't a hard decision or that it wasn't stressful... (I talk about this in depth in my wedding planning video that's going live on my YouTube channel this weekend)!

I'm not yet going to announce the venue we've booked so instead I thought I'd show you my other 'dream' venues which were really high contenders in my venue search!

1) Wiltons Music Hall

(link)

Wilton's is one of the oldest surviving music halls in the world (don't you just love it already?) and I've been to see a couple of theatre performances here too so when I found out they also hold weddings it became my top contender! I love how it can be decorated with fairy lights, also has a cocktail bar and study room and it's also really near my home in East London.

However, as it's a theatre and has events on most days, they only release a select number of dates for weddings and private parties in any year which makes booking a nightmare (they only released 23 dates in the whole year of 2016). If you manage it then I'd love to see some pictures as it's so dreamy!

2) Asylum Peckham

(link)

I have loved this venue for SO many years (way before I even met Andrew). It's an old converted chapel space which can be hired out for photoshoots, exhibitions and weddings etc. It's perfectly shabby chic which old walls, stained glass windows and looks so beautiful filled with candles.

However, as of this year they now only accomodate for wedding ceremonies (as opposed to the meal and party also) which means it was a no go for us as we wanted to get married in an actual church. Still, it's beautiful and I'd love to use this space somehow one day!

3) MC Motors

(link)

You may recognise this space as it's a warehouse in London often used for tv/photoshoots! I love the textured, decrepit walls, the props available, the skylighted roof and the fact that it has so, so much character. The company that own this event space (Castle Gibson) also own The Depository (also can be used for weddings but a little smaller) is also known as the Dragon's Den studio!

I really adore the above venues so if I've helped anyone find their dream venue too then do let me know!

I also have my Wedding Planning Update video going live on my YouTube channel this weekend where I explain exactly where we've got to on planning so far so if you're curious to hear more then subscribe to be kept up to date!

xxx

I'm ALL about the brows at the moment so I wanted to do a mini review of all the products currently available from Benefit to help nail that perfectly groomed look!

High Brow & High Brow Glow

These beauties are must haves in my makeup bag. They are chunky pencils which can be used to highlight underneath the brow bone to really enhance your brow shape and add dimension. High Brow Glow is my favourite as it's a beautiful gold shimmer shade, where as the original High Brow is just a very pale pink hue which is more natural and brightening. These can also both be used to highlight the inner corner of your eye too!

Speed Brow

This is a quick setting brow gel with a really natural, sheer tint which can be used to sweep through your brows to set in place all day. Perfect to use if you like a natural looking brow, or fab for using to set in place after filling in with powder or pencil.

Gimmie Brow

This is a wonder product which I adore - it makes fuller looking brows really easy and effortless. It's a brush on coloured gel with 'fibres' which adhere to hair to give the impression of fuller brows. This comes in two shades; I use the darker one which works perfectly with my brows - super easy to use!

Instant Brow Pencil

I really love this brow pencil as it's soft, creamy and glides onto the brows for a natural, fuller look. It's pencil is a combination of wax and powder which means it looks very natural and it also contains a spoolie on the other end which makes taming brows a lot easier!

Brow Zing

I don't actually use this one as the colours are a little too warm for my brows, but one of my besties swears by this little box. It contains a powder shadow, a tinted wax and mini tweezers and brushes to help achieve perfect brows.

All of these are available from Benefit counters/stores and online!

Do you use any of these Benefit Brow Products?

xxx

January for many is a time to reinvigorate themselves from the inside, out! This is the first year I've truly jumped on the 'detoxing in January' bandwagon (hey, I do have a wedding I need to start preparing for) and so I've been taking time to truly pamper myself & be the best person I can be.

It was perfect then, when Champneys got in touch and asked if I wanted to take part in their Detox in a Box Challenge; as well as trialling the products for a full week, I also had to eat clean and incorporate seaweed into my diet as it's a superfood and also one of the main ingredients in the product range!

The whole range has the most beautiful, refreshing scent which really reminds me of a spa; it feels like a little touch of luxury when I use them the morning. I've been starting my day in the shower with the Champneys Detox Firming Shower Scrub, which really helps to wake up my body (and mind) - it's a detoxifying scrub which helps to remove surface impurities leaving my skin feeling really clean and soft.

Once out of the shower I follow this with the Firming Body Butter. I'm normally quite lazy and always skip this step after washing but I've really been making an effort and it's paying off. My skin feels nourished and smoother thanks to the sea minerals enriched in the butter. This cream has such a gorgeous, thick consistency, which also does wonders for my dry skin (eczema patches) that I suffer with at this time of year.

I really, really love the Hip & Thigh Firming Mask as it really feels like I'm undergoing a spa detox at home. Simply smooth this over your hips and thighs, leave on for 10-20 minutes and then wash off in the shower (also using the massager in the kit if you want)! This was designed to improve the look of cellulite around these problem areas to leave your skin feeling firmer and more toned so I'm going to keep up with this step with my fingers crossed!

I've also been trying to eat as clean as possible. I normally skip breakfast (I know, I'm terrible), but I've been making a conscious effort to make myself a healthy smoothie with lots of fruit (and a teaspoon of dried seaweed for a little superfood kick). I've also replaced fizzy drinks with green tea and I've been enjoying lots of sushi for lunch, which I love so much, it hardly feels like I'm eating well!

The Champneys Detox-in-a-Box is currently available for £19.50 (normal price is £30) at Champneys Spas!

Have you ever used Champneys products?

xxxx

Thanks to Champneys for sponsoring this post, as usual all thoughts and opinions are my own!

If you have read my blog for a while you'll know that my all time favourite lipstick is called Barely There by Sleek MakeUP! It's honestly been my number #1 lipstick for the past 4 years - I wear it everyday and have got through 4 tubes or so of it (always with 2 back ups just in case)!

Sleek's lipsticks are just fantastic so when I heard they were launching a new lipstick range I was very excited to get my hands on them!

L-R: Reserved (sweet Candy Pink), Private Booth (classic nude), Guest List (bright coral), Backstage (warm coral pink), Flaunt It (bold orange), Night Spot (Hollywood Red)

The VIP Lipstick range consists of 6 lippies which are all highly pigmented, creamy, moisturising and so easy to wear. The shade range is near perfect in my opinion consisting of a nude, pinks and a selection of reds (I'd like to see some more nudes, peaches and darker shades in the future).

My favourite is obviously Private Booth which is almost identical to Barely There (perhaps a bit more brown toned). It's the perfect nude which I think will be a best seller. I also adore Flaunt It (reminds me of my favourite red lipstick, Mac's Morange).

These will retail for £5.49 which is a fantastic price point as they are of such a high quality. I'm really excited to see if Sleek expand this range but at the same time I'm praying they don't discontinue my fav! I highly recommend these - if you try them let me know what you think!

Which of these is your favourite?

xxxx

I recently placed an order at Boohoo.com and it was one of those online shops where I genuinely love EVERYTHING I bought (quite rare with online shopping)!

I decided to film a haul and try on all the clothes so you can see how they fit in case you were feeling spendy too. I've been getting excited for the summer so I also purchased a couple of swimming costumes - let me know what you think!

You can find links to all of the products in the description box on the video. I really hope you enjoy this haul, let me know which your favourite piece was!

What's your favourite online clothing store?

xxxx

*Bought everything with my own money!

Smashbox have just launched their Lashes Without Limits collection, consisting of 4 fantastic mascaras (1 Lash Primer & 2 Mascaras). I'm very excited to review all 4 of them for you today with before and after pictures so you can see just how good they are!

They created this range of products on set in their legendary Smashbox Studios in LA specifically for versatility on shoots - if they wanted to change a 'lash look' on a beauty shoot, it would normally mean having to remove the whole eye look and starting again to avoid clumps and smudges etc. This range is ALL about layering; you can build up each of these mascaras for amazing volume and length without any clumping, flakes or smudges thanks to their amazing formulas and brushes. Let's get straight into the reviews!

X Rated Mascara

This mascara is all about big, buildable volume! I love its brush which is made with three rows of bristles which really help to isolate and coat each individual lash for lots of definition without clumping. The formula also contains 'Tripod fibres' which twist and wrap around each lash to double the volume.

After one coat my lashes are lengthened and striking. They are even more stunning after extra coats!

I also want to shout about how much I ADORE the packaging of this mascara - it's so unique, I haven't seen anything quite like it!

Indecent Exposure Mascara

This brush has been created to add separation to the lashes (with it's micro spiral tip making it super easy to reach into those pesky inner corners so you can coat every lash) which ends in definition and length. It also includes fibres, which cling to the lashes and stretch as you apply the formula, but without any smudging, flaking or clumps. The packaging is also fantastic - super sleek with a textured lid, which means you get a firm grip whilst applying.

Full Exposure Mascara

I normally avoid mascaras with really fat brushes as to me they just scream clumping, spider lashes and smudges but this is quite the opposite and just works to make my lashes look super long and glossy with a really black finish. The brush is surprisingly easy to control and the fact it has a tapered end means reaching small lashes is really easy!

Photo Finish Lash Primer

I love a good multitasking product, so this has become a new staple in my makeup routine to really emphasize my lashes! Apply this primer to your lashes before your mascara for bigger, more lengthened and volumised, striking lashes. The formula helps to make any mascara last longer and also conditions the lashes to help prevent flaking and smudging.

In the pictures below I've used it before applying the Full Exposure Mascara and I think you'll agree they look even more incredible with this added step. I also love how you can also use this mascara throughout the day to touch up and amp up your look!

All of these mascaras are available from 18th February online at smashbox.co.uk and on Smashbox counters!

I really hope you've found this blogpost helpful and that it's helped you to find your next ideal mascara! It's so important to get the lashes right (in my opinion) as your eyes are always the first features others see and so you want to make an impression!

I've also filmed a Mascara look book featuring these products over on my YouTube channel so if you would like to see more before and afters then click this link!

Smashbox say:

NEW! LASHES WITHOUT LIMITS

X-Rated Mascara

Buildable Volume

Indecent Exposure Mascara

Length & Definition

Full Exposure Mascara

Glossy, Volume, & Lift

Photo Finish Lash Primer

Prime & Volumise

#LASHESWITHOUTLIMITS

Which of these mascaras would you most like to try?

xxx

Please note: Compensation was provided by Smashbox via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of me and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smashbox!

I had a little epiphany yesterday.

I've been feeling quite uninspired about my blog for a while. I couldn't quite work out why, it's not that I didn't have things to write about or new products to review, or even that I wasn't in the mood to write; But just opening blank, drafted posts left me feeling indifferent. To be honest, I wasn't doing much in the way of trying to re-spark my love for it either, just hoping it was a phase and that'd it'd reappear over time.

But then yesterday I was talking to a good friend (and work colleague) about potentially setting myself some 'goals' for my work and it hit me.

I am not your idyllic inspiration. Yes, I have a blog and a YouTube channel and do this full time, but I am not white backgrounds, I am not minimalism (despite how hard I try to be), I am not designer and luxury and I am not your glossy perfection.

I am Katie Snooks. I have an unhealthy obsession with maps, I find half of my furniture left out on the street, I train in aerial circus and love talking about my sex life to shock my friends. I am under 5 foot tall, I love books, I have phobias, I am a hoarder, I wear the same outfits repeatedly. The most expensive item in my wardrobe is a £75 jacket and I have never spent more than £50 on a bag or a pair of shoes.

I feel like I had lost myself a little in this brand new world of perfect, glossy blogs/bloggers and was left feeling incomplete, but that is just not me!

I'm now taking a vow to be myself. I feel like everyone who knows me in real life knows I'm quirky, odd, hilariously awkward, have peculiar interests and so many life experiences and I don't think this translates at all to my online presence. I want to show you guys the real me, so I'm going to be honest and I'm going to enjoy blogging again by writing about things that I'm passionate about.

Dear readers,

From now on I promise to be myself.

Katie xxxx

If you follow me on Instagram & Twitter (@katesnooks) then you might know that for the past year I've been attending training in aerial circus arts and so I wanted to talk about it in a little more detail today!

I have NEVER been one to enjoy fitness or sports of any kind (apart from swimming) but I've always been eager to tone up and get into shape. When a friend of mine mentioned she took aerial rope classes I immediately knew that this particular form of fitness was the one for me. I've always been fascinated by circus arts, especially silks and so immediately started attending silk hammock classes run in Battersea (here) (examples in the first 2 images below).

I should mention here that when I started attending the silk sling classes I had no upper body strength and hadn't worked out since school so I found it very hard at first. But being petite and flexible I found it easy to navigate my way around the silks and enjoyed it thoroughly.

I learned the rough basics over a course of 6 weeks and my love for circus arts grew, I knew I wanted to enroll on a proper course!

That led me to signing up to an Aerial Circus Arts Level 1 course at the National Centre for Circus Arts. I HIGHLY recommend this course if you're new to aerial. The basic premise is you do 4 weeks of aerial rope, 4 weeks of static trapeze and 4 weeks of flying trapeze. You'll learn all the basics (and also see which is your favourite) and if you pass each class you can then progress to level 2 which focuses entirely on the class of your choice.

As I said above, I adore silk hammock and wanted to progress down the silk route however at the National Centre you can only focus on silks after completing 2 levels of rope. Long story short, I hate rope. It's SO painful (especially on your feet) and takes an insane amount of upper body strength to climb.

I decided to specialise in static trapeze as I felt really confident on the bar at a height, loved all the pretty moves I was learning and was getting stronger and stronger each class holding my body weight with my arms and even knees (you can see my 2nd static trapeze lesson in this vlog). (Flying trapeze was also incredible but really petrifying the first few times. I'd love to do a full term specialising in this too) You can see me doing flying trapeze in this vlog here!

Term 2 of static trapeze has been HARD. We're learning much more advance skills (we're focusing on balancing - super painful) but I'm still really enjoying it and love feeling my body become stronger (despite all the bruises and aches I'm left with after each class).

I'm about to enroll for my 2nd full term on level 2 static trapeze and I'd love to do more content around circus arts so if you have any questions then do let me know!

Have you ever done aerial fitness before? Would you like to see more about this?

xxx

I want to show you guys my new favourite homeware addition, the vintage book planter! Isn't she beautiful!

I've started thinking about how I can incorporate more greenery into my home to liven it up a little. It's been difficult as our main living space (living room, kitchen and bathroom) are all in the basement of our flat and so it's quite dark (especially in the winter) and not great for plants, so when I found this little ornament I was over the moon.

It's a vintage book with a gorgeous succulent plant arranged beautifully inside. Not only is it perfect for me as I adore books, but the succulent is actually artificial and so will last a lifetime.

I've been after something like this for a really long time and so it was a coincidence when I found out one of my best friend's mums actually owns a business where she creates beautiful succulent arrangements. Her company is called Beaux Faux (you see the her website here) and she also sells them on Not On The Highstreet (link).

What's nicer is that if there's a specific category of book you would like she can hunt one down to match your requirements and you can also choose if you'd like just plain words or an image on the displayed page. She chose out a map for me (my favs) and I just adore it. I've even been thinking these might make gorgeous mini centrepieces at my wedding!

Prices start from £29.50 which I think is fab, I'm actually going to get one for my Mum this Mother's Day (last orders for that is tomorrow).

Would you like these in your home?

xxxx

I quickly wanted to show you guys this palette as I've completely fallen in love with it!

I started seeing this on quite a few blogs and decided it had to be mine - I just absolutely can't resist matte neutral eyeshadows! Tarte were one of my favourite makeup brands from the past year as every single product of theirs that I tried, I absolutely adored and this was no exception.

I've been using the Tartelette palette daily to create a look which makes my eyes appear much bigger than they actually are.

I simply apply Super Mom or Free Sprit all over my eye lid as a base, and then use either Power Player, Wanderer or Dreamer to build up a shadow in the crease of my eye. I finish with a dark shade (usually Fashionista or Multi-tasker) in the outer corner of the crease and once liquid liner and mascara is applied the look is complete.

I really recommend this palette. The colours are so beautiful and the shadows are super matte and pigmented. I also love how each row contains colours that compliment each other perfectly and can be used together to build up a stunning eye.

Currently available from QVC here!

Have you tried any of Tarte's palettes?

xxx

Haven't done one of these in a while so thought it'd be nice to catch up!

Highlights and things I've been up to:

- Andrew and I have been so three gigs already this month - two with one of our favourite artists Josef Salvat in London & Brighton and we also saw another Australian musician Matt Corby at the Roundhouse last night. It's also meant that I've rediscovered my love for gig photography!

- It was lovely to spend the weekend in Brighton for one of the gigs. We spent the day exploring (found some great cafes) and also watched the sunset on the pier with a glass of wine which was just perfect.

- I've just come to the end of term 2 at my static trapeze lessons and did my first performance which went well (apart from my boob falling out half way through). I filmed it so happy to show you guys at some point which leads me on to my next point...

- I'm thinking of creating a 2nd YouTube channel for my vlogs. I think this'll be a nice way to share my daily life with you guys without clogging up my main channel videos - what do you think? I feel like I'll vlog more often if I had a 2nd channel but I'd only do it if you guys thought it a good idea so do let me know!

- Wedding planning will be all go on Friday - A's booked the day off work so we can get our heads stuck down with caterers, menus, photographers, invites, stationary etc! I'm excited to get lots booked in!

- I've read some fantastic books recently (a couple in particular have really stuck with me, I can't stop thinking about them)! I'm currently writing up a blog post on them so let me know if you want to see that!

- I also visited my all time favourite hairdresser Samantha Cusick for a hair-refresh! She banished my roots and lightened my hair throughout with another pearly toner - so happy with it. I can't explain how great fresh hair feels!

Do let me know what you think about the 2nd vlog channel!

Lots of love!

K xxx

It wasn't until after I'd finished taking these pictures when I realised I probably should have dressed a little more apt for summer - I feel like my outfit doesn't suit the back drop at all but I wanted to take advantage of the warm weather and pretty village scenery!

Dress - http://fave.co/1RuYRhi

Bag - http://fave.co/1TLKN3d

Boots - http://fave.co/1Pmvbvp

If you have read my wedding posts or watched my wedding planning video, you'll know that Andrew and I are currently in the process of attending church in order to be legally connected to the one we've chosen to be wed in! Luckily for us it's in the cutest little village with lots of picturesque spots so expect to see lots more outfit pictures in the future!

I've been living in my new smock dress from Boohoo. I also have it in navy which I think I prefer as it's nice to wear a little colour! I love the floaty sleeve detailing and think it'll look super cute with wellies at festivals during the summer - I actually can't wait for weather warm enough to ditch the tights!

I've been obsessed with my new bag from Forever 21. It was £20 and very vaguely reminds me of the Chloe Faye (a bag I'll admire from a distance but never be brave enough to splash the cash on)! I'm also wearing some new boots from New Look!

I'm very eager to do more outfit posts so stay tuned for more!

K xxxx

Whether you feel completely confident in your bare skin, or like to use makeup to help you enhance your features, I'm sure you'll agree after watching this video just how incredible the power of makeup is!

I had wanted to film this makeup tag for a really long time because I absolutely love the concept and I think you will too! In The Power of Makeup I apply makeup to only one half of my face and leave the other side bare so you can really see the power makeup has.

I filmed this for a multitude of reasons - to show just how incredible a few products are (the foundation I'm using at the moment is insanely good), but primarily because I wanted to get the message across that it is okay to wear makeup.

I feel like a lot of girls are currently being shamed for wearing makeup and this makes me really sad! I personally feel more 'myself' in makeup than I do bare skinned. When I wear makeup I feel confident, beautiful and especially as someone who has suffered with acne, I know how important having a good self esteem is!

At the same time, I whole heartedly agree with the fact that you should embrace and love your imperfections; they are after all what makes you, you. Girls who are confident in their bare skin are the happiest and so slowly I'm still learning to love myself fully, spots and all.

I really hope you enjoy this video. If you've filmed this tag then let me know, I'd love to see yours!

Katie
xxxx

One of the first luxury lipsticks I ever bought was the YSL Rouge Volupte in #13 Peach Passion, and ever since I've been a big fan of the brand and their stunning product range.

In February YSL launched their brand new Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick range and I'm very excited to share swatches and my review with you today!

L-R - #41 Corail a Porter, #43 Rose Rive Gauche, #45 Rouge Tuxedo, #47 Beige Blouse & #51 Rose Saharienne

I'll start off by saying I'm not (usually) a fan of sheer/shiny lipsticks. I much prefer a matte finish packed with pigment & colour, so I was intrigued as to how much I'd like them but they pleasantly surprised me. Despite being super moisturising, they have a good amount of pigment which is fantastic (I would really hate to have spent £26 on a lipstick for it to not even show on my lips).

To me they have a watermelon scent (which I think is supposed to be mango) and they seriously leave my lips feeling so soft and moisturised with a gorgeous juicy colour. My go-to is Beige Blouse which is a 'my lips but better' shade but I also adore #43.

As usual with YSL products the packaging is just sublime and they have taken pride of place on my vanity desk. How any girl could resist these beauties is a mystery! I have completely fallen head over heels for these so much so that I haven't worn anything other on my lips since getting them.

They retail at £26 each and are available from YSL counters nationwide!

Which is your favourite shade?

xxxx

Last night I attended the Jungle Book European Premiere in London and wanted to share some pictures taken at the event! It was held at the IMAX in Waterloo and the film was fantastic! Andrew loved the original film so I took him along with me and I really enjoyed it - the wolf cubs and Baloo especially!

These pictures were taken by press on the 'green' carpet and I really actually quite like them (this is a big deal as normally I'm so nervous I forget how to pose and look normal!).

I didn't have much time to get ready at all - 30 mins tops so I freshened by makeup with my Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, my Kiko Eye Liner and my new favourite lipstick which is Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquified Lipstick in Chocolate Milkshake.

For the outfit I teamed my favourite American Apparel leggings with my H&M boots (for comfort). I wore a studded top from New Look, with my fur coat from Next and a hat from Primark! Also still so in love with my Topshop bag.

I feel like bloggers are very into luxury and 'premium' at the moment and so I really want to start emphasising in my content that you don't have to spend loads of money to look and feel great. Everything I wore here was affordable (nothing over £50) and from the highstreet and I still felt super sassy and glam! I know that the luxury blogger lifestyle is really 'in' and aspirational at the moment but I want to bring it back down a little and show that there's more to life than designer handbags and shoes and so don't feel discouraged if you can't afford that lifestyle.

Does anyone else agree with this?

The film comes out in cinemas tomorrow (April 15th) - Andrew and I really recommend!

What are your thoughts on my ramblings? Will you see the Jungle Book film?

Credit to the photographers: Dave J Hogan, Karwai Tang, David M Benett, Jeff Spicer

xxx

Spring is finally here! The weather in London has been stunning over the past couple of days and I've really been enjoying playing with more textures and lighter colour palettes in my style.

Andrew and I took a trip to Columbia Road a couple of weeks ago to film a Spring Style Lookbook for my YouTube channel and he snapped these whilst we were there also, so I wanted to share!

Beige mac - Asos: http://fave.co/1q6i8cK
Cream Lace top - Primark
Blue jeans - New Look: http://fave.co/1V9evzx [similar]
Pink heels - New Look: http://fave.co/1V9en3c [similar]

I have been looking for the perfect beige mac for a while now - one that looks effortlessly cool, sophisticated and that can be worn over anything. I found it on ASOS and it went straight into my basket (ha). As I'm tiny (under 5 foot) I chose to get it in petite but they also do regular size too for those that are blessed with more height!

I teamed it with a new crochet/lace cream top that I picked up from Primark recently, along with blue ripped petite jeans and some nude peeptoe heels, both from New Look.

If you'd like to see my Spring Lookbook you can watch it here - link. Let me know what you think!

K xx

Another outfit post today, this one shot in Brighton when Andrew and I visited last month for a gig. We had the loveliest day watching the sun set on the pier with a glass of rose and we took advantage of the beautiful sky and scenery to shoot a 1 minute outfit of the day video.

Details:
Coat - New Look: http://fave.co/1VEPiNS (same coat, different colour)
Boots - Boohoo: http://fave.co/1VEPLzz
Leggings - American Apparel: http://fave.co/1VEPV9X
Top - H&M: http://fave.co/1STSte5 (similar)
Cardigan - New Look: http://fave.co/1VEPyfF
(same cardigan, different colour)

My outfit is nothing too special to be honest - just something comfortable for a day of walking around and exploring. I'm obsessed with this navy coat with the fur hood - it keeps me warm (perfect for the UK weather), goes with pretty much everything and was a steal in the New Look Sale (was £40, down to £20 if I remember correctly).

I really hope you enjoy the little lookbook - definitely want to film more of these going forward as I really enjoy them. Also as always big thanks to Andrew for filming for me.

What's your go-to comfy outfit?

xxxx

Imagine this - being treated to a good pamper (for free) whilst nibbling on chocolate... what could possibly be more perfect?! Well for the launch of their newest chocolate innovation, Cadbury have today opened their Cadbury Dairy Milk Medley Lounge!

Open to the public for one day only, it's must visit in London for the ultimate pampering experience, complete with chocolate a plenty!

I visited the Cadbury Dairy Milk Medley Lounge yesterday morning and was in utter heaven! They're offering beauty treatments inspired by the new textures and flavours of the Dairy Milk Medley Bars and you can choose from a deeply relaxing head massage, a luxury manicure (complete with textured ring fingers to complement the chocolate bar) or a hand & arm massage. Appointments are free and there are limited walk in slots available between 9am-8.30pm. The address is 15 Bateman Street, London!

The New Cadbury Dairy Milk Medley's are in one word, delicious! The difference to their normal bars is that the quality ingredients sit on top of the top of the melt in your mouth chocolate. It comes in two varieties - my favourite is the dark chocolate chips, crunchy biscuit and soft fudge, but there is also the option of dark choc chips, caramelized hazlenuts and raspberry pieces!

Available in stores now for £1.49 - I can feel a seriously big addiction coming on!

What's your favourite Cadbury Dairy Milk bar?

xxx

My 5 Favourite YouTube Videos of 2015!

Wedding Planning: Where to start!

WEDDING: My Favourite London Venues!

REVIEW: Benefit Brow Product Reviews!

REVIEW: Champney's Detox in a Box

REVIEW + SWATCHES: Sleek Makeup VIP Lipsticks!

FASHION: Boohoo Haul!

REVIEW: Smashbox Lights Without Lashes Mascara Collection!

HONESTY

AERIAL CIRCUS ARTS: My Story!

Beaux Faux: Vintage Book Planters!

REVIEW: Tarte Tartelette Palette!

LIFE LATELY #4!

FASHION: Black in Spring

THE POWER OF MAKEUP

REVIEW & SWATCHES: YSL Rouge Volupte Shine!

FASHION: My Thoughts on Luxury

FASHION: The Mac

FASHION: Brighton Lookbook

LIFESTYLE: Cadbury Dairy Milk Medleys Beauty Lounge!