Monthly Archives: March 2016

Review – New In at Dorothy Perkins – Button Detail Striped Dress

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So I decided to pop into one of my local Dorothy Perkins stores over the weekend to have a look at the ‘New In’ stock and to try on some items I had been browsing online. While in the shop one dress in particular really caught my eye. This beautiful striped number has buttons on the neck and chest, and is a lovely thick material. The dress has a collar which gives it a touch of sophistication and the buttons are proper working buttons too.

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This dress was both stylish and comfortable, and could be worn with leggings and boots, or with a nice pair of shoes and bare legs with a jacket. In the pictures below including myself (yes I realise I bought another dress with stripes on because I absolutely love stripes). You’ll see that the dress is a great length. If you’re taller than 5 ft 4″ though the dress will end further up your legs than it does on mine. (For me it was knee length). This is a perfect piece for a Spring transition when you’re not sure how warm or cold it’s going to be. Pair with a black jacket and boots for a perfect ensemble.

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As you can see the dress is not only flattering but the nice detail with the collar and buttons make it a staple item for most women’s wardrobes. I’m fairly certain you could make this piece your own by adding a belt on the waist and perhaps pairing it with some large earrings. You wouldn’t be able to wear many types of necklace with this dress, so you need to think of other ways you can enhance the dress with jewellery. Large bangles on your arms will distract from all of the stripes.

NewInDP I tried to find this piece online so I could put a link up for you all, but it’s not on the website yet! So you’ll have to search for it in a week or so once the site is updated. They had so many nice pieces it was hard for me not to buy the whole store!

My final over all review of this piece is;
5/5 for comfort
5/5 for durability and quality
4/5 for style and appearance
4/5 for value

The Order 1886 Review

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I’ve always been interested in playing games that have great depth and story behind them. The Order 1886 not only has these qualities, but it also combines historical and geographical facts with fictional mythology. This means players get a unique game that has a blended alternative history, to make a thoroughly enjoyable piece of gaming.

For those who are unaware of the games origins I will give a brief synopsis for you. Set in the year 1886 in Victorian London. England, The Order directly refers to the Knights of the order, which is the main character you play. Back in the Victorian era when technology was making leaps, the knights protect London from the half-breed creatures causing havoc in the London Underground. The main character gets to use new age gadgets and weaponry, some of which is fact and some of which has been introduced just to make the game more exciting. So much so, that you cannot help but wonder if these weapons could have been possible, but sadly they didn’t exist outside of this game. The unique style of The Order 1886 represents the look and texture of old reels of film, which adds to the overall effect of the piece, almost like memories…

So what is so good about The Order? In my opinion the voice actors are superb, at times you really are immersed in their era and are experiencing everything they are, the emotion really made the cinematic sections of the game more realistic for me. Also it’s both graphically and atmospherically beautiful throughout.

Over all the game-play itself is quite short, compared to other games which have side missions and extra things to unlock adjacent to the original story-line to complete. I finished the entire game in approximately twelve hours. That included taking my time and replaying sections in order to find all of the collectibles to achieve every PS4 trophy available.

The game is an eighteen rating due to the story-line containing dangerous creatures, as well as the use of weapons and violence throughout. As an adult who enjoys the fiction that games such as this bring, it’s like being emerged into a book where you aren’t sure what you are imagining is reality or not. There are twists in this game that you don’t always see coming, which makes it more fun to play. There is nothing worse than too much predictability.

So my overall review is that its a fantastic game if you’re a liker of science fiction meets historical fact. Although its a fairly short game, the content within it will make you want to play all the levels. And because its quite a challenging game, I’m sure that you have some enjoyable hours completing it.

Rayman Legends Review

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When I purchased this game last summer it was for two reasons. The first was because I wanted to play a relatively easy and laid back game, the second was that it would be a change from my usual games. I usually am found playing my favourites which include Destiny and the Assassins Creed franchise.
After the first 10 levels or so of Rayman Legends I found that I was in for a shock. For a minimum of 7 years age to play the game I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. But it’s actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be and at times can be very challenging. Here are a few examples of what happens during these Rayman escapades. You can be running across the screen being chased by a wall of fire. You need to save the Teensies who are dangling in cages sometimes over lava filled holes or piranha infested waters. I’ve even had to out run dragons who are spitting fireballs at you! And that isn’t the half of it. With daily challenges, time limited levels and creatures to collect, this game has literally kept me going for hours and hours. And I am about 97% through it now!

For those who like a challenge in order to complete to 100% then this is the game for you. Don’t be put off because Rayman is a cartoon, the game play is suitably challenging enough for even a regular gaming adult such as myself.

Any cons of this game I hear you ask? Well in order to complete the game in its entirety you need to put in a lot of hours and effort. For example there are 700 Teensies to collect in the game, and that doesn’t mean you will complete just by getting those. There are Lums, Creatures and Worlds to unlock and conquer. Rayman needs thorough completion of the levels, in order to unlock everything. There is a lot to achieve, whether you play alone or as a family. It’s multiplayer aspect lets you link up to four PlayStation4 controllers to the game, and you each do the same level at the same time. The multiplayer side can be really laughable at times, when characters get taken out for whatever reason they end up in bubbles. So if you fall off a cliff you have to be popped back into the level by any remaining alive characters to continue the participation.

The great thing about all the levels is that even if you don’t finish one of the levels to the 100% required, you can go back and revisit it another time, and even redo the paintings (the levels) as many times as you wish just for fun!

So overall I give the game and it’s game play 5 stars! You don’t have to be a child to enjoy it. It has many hours of play-ability. Rayman is pretty cool the way he glides around using his hair… Here are some screenshots of me playing so you can see what I’m rambling on about! But seriously, I think this game came out on Playstation4 in 2014, and I’ve been playing a little of it most days for 9 months, and I’m only just finishing the final sections now. It would be something to keep the children occupied over the holidays for sure if nothing else. And you never know you might enjoy it too!

Here are some screenshots from me playing the game. Some of you might recall the earlier Rayman games for PC and the like, it is very similar in controls. You can even get little Rayman on the app store now! Regardless of how you play the game, it’s always good fun where Rayman is concerned.

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Review of Horizontal Stripe Blanket Cape from Dorothy Perkins

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When I first saw this style of clothing come into fashion it reminded me of the poncho I had when I was a child… A warm and stylish (at the time) piece of clothing that I would often pull over the top of any manner of outfit. But times have changed. Blanket Capes are now all the rage! And I just had to get one.

So why this one? Well I love Stripes! (See my SS16 post for more stripy buys!)
The style and colour of this particular one from Dorothy Perkins really caught my eye. And once I had my whole DP outfit on I was more than impressed.
Below is a selfie of me wearing my cape with my lace tee and my soft eden jeans from DP’s too.

The quality of this cape is great, due to the nature of the material it will snag though if you aren’t careful with it. And it needs to be washed on a woolen cycle. But other than that I have no other cons about it.

I’m relatively petite and I was worried about the cape drowning me, but because of the half length sleeves this piece flatters the figure rather than hides it.
Over all I think the blanket cape makes a statement and keeps you warm on these relatively still cold Spring days. It’s a staple piece for everybody’s wardrobe, and I think it would be great for the cooler Summer evenings as well. And if stripes stay in fashion you’re looking at a piece that will become a regular wear for 2016.

My Overall Review for this item of clothing is;
5/5 for comfort
4/5 for durability and quality
5/5 for style and appearance
4/5 for value

Dorothy Perkins have lots of these types of clothing now in stock, and if you go to your favourite high street website, type in either ‘cape’ or ‘blanket’ to see what is available.
For anyone who wants to see this item on the Dorothy Perkins page then the link is below.
http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/horizontal-stripe-blanket-cape-5183147
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Imperial Candles Reveal and Review

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imperialcandlereviewI have always been amazed at how they manage to wrap jewellery up inside foil and then submerge them in candles such as this one. At the end of last year I decided I just had to try this for myself.
So I burned the beautifully scented candle, and I waited, and waited. It did take a fair few hours before I could see the foil in mine beginning to appear. And even then a few more hours before I was able to pull it lose and see what I had gotten inside.
I was so surprised by how nice the ring was. A lovely green stone and a pretty pattern surrounding it. When I ordered my candle I chose a ring rather than a necklace or earrings, which is great that you get that option. By having so much choice it makes the purchase all the more special.
A present within a present is not a new thing, but the excitement of not knowing what you’re going to get is the best part. Yes I chose to have a ring and the size I wanted for my delicate small fingers, but I didn’t know what style or cut or even what colour it could be. Luckily I absolutely love it!
I would recommend Imperial Candles for one of those unique presents. If you’re looking for something a bit different, and so long as you know what the person likes and dislikes. You choose your candle scent, what piece of jewellery you would like to be inside, and then you patiently wait while they receive and burn said candle, only to find a wonderful extra present part way down.
I purchased one for my mother at the same time I ordered mine, she had a beautiful necklace inside hers, and was over the moon with it.
So if anyone out there sees this and thinks, is all that choosing really worth it? The answer is yes. Because even after you’ve done your reveal, you still have around half of the candle to enjoy. And with loads of scents to choose from as well, Imperial Candles really do give you great ideas.
You can find Imperial Candles at their website and they also have a Facebook page. http://www.imperialcandles.co.uk/

Prom and Summer Ball Dresses 2016

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Summer Ball and Prom Dresses for the 2016 Season.

As the Summer Ball and Prom season is just around the corner, I thought I would share my thoughts on the most beautiful pieces that I have come across while browsing online. Of course not everybody buys their Prom dress online, some go to little boutiques and vintage shops, and others even make their own! But in case you were looking for any inspiration, here is my list of top Prom picks for £65 or under. And the great thing is that you can on hold on to these kinds of dresses to wear for future weddings and christening invites and such like.
I have tried to choose a variety of pieces for all shapes and sizes. There are the strapless, the skaters and the maxi dresses, as well as the traditional prom style like image number 5. I hope you enjoy looking at my ideas and it might give you an idea of what sort of dress you would like for your prom.

PromDressesPic1 PromDressesPic21. V by Very Metallic Stripe Prom Dress £35.50

2. AX Paris Crochet Top Floral Midi Dress £35.00

3. BooHoo Persie Pleat Detail Dress Top of Form £25.00

4. New Look Girl in Mind Cream Floral Print Lace Skater Dress £27.99

5. Jane Norman Navy Short Mesh Prom Dress £65.00

6. Dorothy Perkins Showcase Purple Bandeau Dress Was £55.00 Now £25.00

7. Pretty Little Thing Dariella Floral Print Maxi Playsuit £30.00

8. Missguided Bardot Maxi Dress in White £35.00

Review of my Purchase from Awesome Wooden Gifts

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Reviewing An Awesome Wooden Gifts Purchase

I love art and craft and participate in it on a regular basis. I also have a total appreciation for those who are very talented in areas that I am not. So when I decided how I wanted my blog posts to look, I wanted to purchase some tiny mushrooms. And thanks to other craft pages on Facebook helping me out, I managed to find this page Awesome Wooden Gifts where Tabitha created exactly what I wanted for my blog.

She was very accommodating to me, and within a few days I had my very own wooden mushroom set. So if anybody else is looking for unique painted gifts made from wood, you can check out her page.

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Here are my little mushrooms, they are really cute, and are going to add pops of colour to my blog posts when I review my items. Look out for them appearing in my photographs when my new posts go up!

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Thanks so much for reading this post today, check out the page on Facebook if you are looking for some awesome wooden gifts.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Fashion Trends We Will See This Season SS16

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Spring is upon us! Bring on the warmer weather and the longer days! There is nothing that I love more than to roll up the jumpers that have gotten me through the winter (I really feel the cold) and pull out my summer dresses. The great thing about SS16 so far, is that for those of us who hold on to fashion items (yes hoard! Okay I hoard clothes!) It’s where we bring out the ‘vintage’ pieces and are suddenly on trend again. Yay for us!

So what is popular right now that you can go down the high street or jump on the internet and find? – especially if you aren’t a hoarder like me! Well I believe there is something for everyone this season. Sometimes you cannot say that about fashion, but this Spring and Summer, regardless of how skinny or how curvy you may be, I think the majority of people can pull off the majority of the looks I’m about to go into more detail about.

Where to begin… For the fashion conscious among us it’s the time where we really start to take notice of what is being paraded up and down the fashion weeks. I was very happy to discover that both Lace and Stripes are in! I do have a soft spot for both of these styles. Another selection of pieces I kept coming across was big on bold colour and prints. Block prints and brighter colours were favoured. Something else that is making a comeback this year is the Tartan and Gingham style print, often used in dresses and skirts, this look is so versatile. I’m sure anyone who has lived through the 1990’s will remember what the fashion was like, dresses and jackets with puffy sleeves and of course the metallic and sequins phase! Well these things are also making a comeback it seems! So not only that, but the late 90’s early 2000’s saw lots of slip dresses become fashionable, along with statement jewellery pieces.

But the most popular look with the models this season seems to be the trend of the ‘cold shoulder’. Whether regarding a top or a dress, there are many ways to adopt this style. It was seen throughout the early fashion weeks and is a look that women of all ages can pull off. Women with sophistication have been using its stylish yet sexy appeal to bare skin for decades.

So what have I been buying I hear you ask? Well here are some snapshots of my most recent purchases, some of which are from the end of last year when these trends were just coming into season. If you can still get these items or something similar, I will be supplying links for you at the end of the post (look out for the numbers as a reference to which item).

Starting with Lace, which is a firm favourite of mine. It can make dresses look sophisticated and make tops classier. I bought this beautiful dress from BooHoo (1). The attention to detail is absolutely stunning, as you can see in my images of both the full dress and the close up of the lace detail. And it looks far better on your body with the shade of your skin underneath than it would ever look on a hanger. Not only that but it was so comfortable to wear you could forget you even had it on. If you want something that shows some elegance without having to bare too much skin then this is the kind of dress for you. BooHoo has some wonderful Lace focused pieces. I chose this one simply because of my size and my height. I was very happy with the quality of the material and it also washed well after I wore it.

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On to Stripes now, and I suppose some of these can also be classed under the block colour trend as well. I have so many striped items in my wardrobes, tops and dresses mostly, but I just love how stripes can make you look. Not only that but you can wear stripes in many ways, with heels and a necklace for a night out, or just throw on a stripy jumper to go down to the supermarket in. For whatever reason you buy something with stripes, just make sure it will flatter your figure. Some people look better with larger stripes and others benefit from thinner and more subtle striped pieces. The photograph I am sharing with you contains some of my pieces from Dorothy Perkins purchased over the past 3 months. Although they are all jumper dresses, the versatility of these and the comfort you get from wearing them, makes it all worthwhile. We all want to look nice and sometimes you need an item that is both easy to wear but can also look good. Dress it up with a nice jacket and heels, or they go perfectly well with leggings or jeans on a dress down day. All of these dresses of mine in the photograph (2) wear and wash well.
I have many stripy dresses in my wardrobe too, and they vary in material. I do prefer a thicker dress, one that I can wear all year around, but that’s mainly because I despise tights!

If you’re thinking about giving stripes a go then there are several places doing some beautiful striped items right now. Those I’ve researched include Pretty Little Thing, Dorothy Perkins, BooHoo, Next and New Look. Check them out and find something you love.

The final look that I am going to talk about I am not actually that familiar with, and that is the Tartan and Gingham style of clothing. I have a check dress (3) which is pretty cool because it has two pockets on the front which is detail that really adds to the piece. Unless prints like this make your eyes go funny, it really makes a statement to wear. In my opinion you need to pair an item such as this with plain accessories so it doesn’t take away from the detail of the article. You want people to see the dress or skirt as a statement piece, that’s why your eyes are drawn to its pattern. You can wear this thin strap style with a t-shirt underneath, or on a warm day just as it is. So at least if this trend stays in through to the Autumn, I can wear this dress knowing I’m still in fashion.

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Thank you for reading my article today. If you are interested in purchasing or looking further at any of the clothes featured in my blog post, then please see the references below for the links.
1. http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/going-out-dresses/zoe-flock-long-sleeve-bodycon-dress/invt/azz61708
2. http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/stripe-cold-shoulder-tunic-5319725
3. http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/gingham-check-pinny-dress-5264298

Review of Wake Me Up Foundation products from Rimmel London

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At the end of 2015 I took the plunge and changed my foundation for the first time in two years! I was pleasantly surprised with how light this foundation was on my skin. Rimmel London is a great brand and I have used their Nail Varnishes and Matte Powders for over ten years. The appeal to change to this type of foundation was because of the natural ingredients used within it. The Vitamin C along with the soft texture of the foundation won me over. And I was right to try it.
I have never known a foundation to be so smooth and to stay so flawless on my skin. With all over coverage it blended into my skin tone giving me a natural looking finish. I wore it all day (around 12 hours) and I still looked great after all that time, which included eating, drinking and socialising. The foundation itself during that time felt light and left my skin feeling moisturised. It easily covered the dark circles under my eyes and blended any areas of redness away. I do often have sensitive and dry skin, and I found that the moisturising aspect of this foundation meant that I didn’t need to use much primer before applying it. Over all I would give these foundation products a 5/5.

5/5 for its durability.
5/5 for application ease.
5/5 for the quality of the products.
5/5 for value for money.
5/5 for its appearance and final look.

7 Ways to be more Positive and spread Positivity

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There is a strong belief that being positive can affect your life for the better. I am a strong believer in the way that positive thoughts and actions can make those difficult days more bearable. We all go through things at times in our lives that can benefit from being more positive. So I wanted to share with you today, my 7 favourite ways to be positive and how to spread positivity.

1. Smile
Smiling, pretty simple really. It’s incredible how a smile can make, not only your own day better, but by smiling at a colleague, a loved one or even a stranger without provocation can cause a chain reaction. We all know that smiling is the reason for having positive emotional content, whether it’s seeing a friend in the street or watching a cute kitten on a video. By smiling at will we are stimulating our brain to think that it is experiencing something positive and therefore it makes us feel good. Here is something interesting, the next time you’re out walking to somewhere pick a random person to smile at, make sure you catch their eye, and see if they smile back, I almost guarantee they will, and it could make their day better too.

2. Share
I am a huge believer in ‘if it makes you happy it probably would make other people happy too’. For some of us that is sharing social media of kittens and puppies doing ridiculously cute acts, and for others it’s a really good joke! Either way, by sharing that small moment of happiness with others, you are putting it out there to benefit people other than yourself.

3. Talk
Well this one might seem an odd one, but talking really can help extinguish negative or sad thoughts. Whenever I feel low I tend to pick a family member on my phone and either hit dial or send them a text. It can be amazing to discuss things, especially if they are worries, because a problem shared really is a problem halved. More so if you are speaking with someone of any wisdom on their shoulders. Even if you don’t have a family member you can speak with, a friend or even a stranger can make all the difference. Seeing an issue from another person’s point of view can make them think differently about what is going on, and could help them through the tough time.

4. Hobbies
There’s nothing I like more than getting stuck into one of my hobbies. I do have a lot of them and it’s often difficult some days to decide what to do. If I am feeling particularly patient then arts and crafts will be on the agenda, however if I am agitated I might opt for a video game to take out frustrations… The point I am trying to make is that no matter who you are and what your means are, there will always be a hobby out there for you. Some hobbies are solitary and others require friends, but the best thing they can do is be a great way to take your mind off things, and even make new acquaintances.

5. Be Kind to Yourself
Sometimes this isn’t so obvious, especially if we are feeling down because we may reach for the television remote and the largest bar of chocolate we can find. But actually being kind to your body and mind can help your mood in a drastic way. Even a fifteen minute walk will give your brain an oxygen boost and the exercise releases endorphins. These create positive feelings and also reduce our perception of any pain we may be experiencing. Eating well can always help you feel more positive, getting plenty of natural vitamins and minerals, as well as enough water a day can really make a difference. Cooking can be really fun to try as well.

6. Sleep
For me, this is an obvious one. I love to just lounge about on a day off (until you remember all the things you need to do that day). But speaking honestly now, sleep is so important, you will definitely feel the benefits if you don’t already get enough hours a night. Adults need anywhere between 6 and 9 hours of sleep a night to function well. This doesn’t mean the nights of broken and interrupted sleep patterns though. This is often why so many people struggle with negative feelings that creep in during the later hours of the day when we are at our most tired. Take the time to rest; you will thank yourself for it, even if you can only afford one lie in each week, and your body will thank you too.

7. Being Grateful
One thing that I have always been a big believer in is that somewhere in the world someone is suffering more than you. Be thankful for all that you have and all that you are. We often neglect the simple things and take them for granted. But the great majority of us live fantastic lives, we have loved ones, we have social lives, we have food in our tummies and belongings we treasure. When something is really bothering me I try to take a timeout, to breathe slowly and to recall mentally all the things I’m most happy about and grateful for in my life. Sometimes the thing that upset you moments earlier seems small in comparison, and you can hold your head high knowing that you’ve overcome that moment of negativity. The positives almost always outweigh the negative thoughts, so don’t let them win. You’re worth more than that, you deserve to be happy.