exciting news.

Hello strangers! So I haven’t blogged for bloody ages... Sorryyyyyyy. It’s been a manic few months, which kicked off with some really exciting news… Gareth asked me to marry him!

I wanted to write about our story, not only to share it with you… But also, so that it’s written down somewhere and that I might come across it again in fifty years time or so. I’m sure it will make me feel just as excited and soppy then, as I do now. It’s quite long (sorry), so bear with me.

Those of you who know me, will know that I’ve been with Gareth for over four years now. In fact, our first date was exactly four years ago when we got engaged on Wednesday 13^thAugust 2014.

We met through my old flatmate Amy… Who met Gareth and his friends on a very random drunken night out in Hitchin. It’s not the most romantic of stories, but I love it anyway.
She and her friend Laura were in a bar taking selfies, as we all do J and one of Gareth’s friends asked if they wanted him to take the photo. The two groups got chatting, resulting in the lads coming back to our flat for the evening… I was in bed asleep, wondering what the hell was going on and who all these lads were that I could hear in our flat haha?!
The next day, Amy told me a tale about a really great bunch of guys who she and Laura had met. Apparently they were all into films and had some great conversations about their favourites.

So a few weeks later, in May 2010, Amy invited the lads to meet me, her and Laura on another night out in Hitchin. It was then that I first laid eyes on my husband to be.
I spent most of the evening chatting to his friends, but he came across as the mysterious and quiet guy who loved watching Glee! I remember making a joke about his sexuality and poking fun at him for being into it.

After that, we did a LOT of chatting via Facebook… I used to stay up until stupid hours of the morning talking to him. We had no internet either, so I used to tether my phone to my laptop and use the data from that… Sorry for the massive bills Dad, but it was so worth it!
I actually asked him on a date and right from the moment we met that night, just the two of us, in Pizza Express in Hitchin… I knew he was the one. Everything was so easy, there was no game playing… We were totally honest with each other and totally smitten.

Fast forward to four years later… We’ve shared some very happy memories, bought a house together and I got a random text from him saying ‘Do you want to go out on the 13^thAugust?’.
It took me a moment to remember why the 13^th was special to us, but of course I wanted to go on an anniversary date night.
We usually choose our date night restaurants together, but this time Gareth said he would choose somewhere special and book it… So I had a little alarm bell ringing already.

The day we got engaged I had butterflies all day. I planned my outfit and made sure I had a nice pretty manicure, just in case! My boss even pulled my leg about it and I tried to play it cool, saying he probably wouldn’t ask the all important question.

So anyway, after work I got ready to go out… And got into the car to our mystery destination.

He had given me a little clue, saying he had to wear a shirt and jacket, so I had a sneaky suspicion we were off to Luton Hoo… And I was correct.

We had a beautiful four course meal there in the Wernher Restaurant, with a little glass of champagne to calm my nerves. It got to the end of the meal, he paid the bill and I thought to myself that maybe I was wrong, he would have done it by now. We decided to leave and I popped to the loo before we got in the car, so did he.

I ended up waiting for Gareth in the very fancy foyer at the bottom of a very grand stair case. He came in and took me by both hands… The next bit was a bit of a blur, I remember some very shaky hands from him and a very fast beating heart from me… And the words ‘I can’t imagine my life without you’ before he got down on one knee, whilst taking a very shiny ring out of his top jacket pocket and saying the words ‘Would you do me the honour of being my wife?’

I definitely said yes, followed by what I think was ‘of course I will’, whilst trying not to burst into floods of tears.

My ring is absolutely stunning and whilst it was a little too big, I was so relieved he could fit it onto my finger. I can honestly say that this was one of the happiest days of my life… I still get a little emosh thinking about it and writing this post.

So here we are six months later… We’re getting married on Friday 1^st May 2015! Most of it is planned, there are just little details to iron out. But I will obviously keep you up to date with a post all about our special day when it comes around. I can’t wait to stand up in front of all of the people who we care about and say those magic words :)

Thanks for reading.

my capsule wardrobe.

I've been thinking about writing this post for a little while now, after seeing a couple of capsule wardrobe videos on YouTube. They didn't quite hit the mark for me, so I decided to create my own version.

I wouldn't say it was a wardrobe for any season in particular, these are just basics that I like to have all year round. I've tried to limit myself to 12 items, but this does includes shoes as well... And I've decided not to include accessories, as it would have just become a massive long post. So here we go...

1. Blue Jeans

I literally could not be without my blue skinny jeans at the moment, I pretty much live in them.

There are two pairs that I wear day in day out and they're both Jamie jeans from Topshop. The fit of jeans is so important... I used to be a Baxter girl, but I went to a Topshop Personal Stylist appointment once and tried these on, I've never looked back :) I don't know about you, but I hate trying on jeans, so I was mega chuffed.

The ripped jeans were a purchase from Depop, once I'd fallen in love with my original Jamie's... I knew I wanted another pair. I think I paid £15 for these instead of the full £40. I ripped them myself using scissors and a cheese grater. DIY is always better as you can tailor the look and they're also one of a kind.

Jeans can be dressed up or dressed down, depending on the look you are going for. You could pair them with a simple white t-shirt and flats for a daytime look then add a blazer and swap the flats for heels for an evening look.

2. Coated Skinnies

These are my version of black trousers because I loathe trying on black trousers even more than I loathe trying on jeans. Again, they never fit properly and I am a person with very little patience haha. I found them on a chance outing to River Island in Newcastle instead of training, the day before I did the Great North Run. They don't sell them any more, but these ones from Topshop look fairly similar.

I kid you not, I have worn these to death. Granted, I don't wear them so much in the warmer weather... It may be TMI but the slightest hint of sunshine and they begin to stick to my backside... And seen as it's been so sunny over the last couple of months they haven't really been out. But I'm starting to think about transitional dressing before AW sets in, so these will definitely be coming out again.

I normally wear a long top with these to cover the dreaded VPL, but I thought I would photograph them in full especially for you guys!

Again, paired with flats they look nice and casual but add a pair of heels and some statement accessories and they become the perfect 'night out' trousers.

3. Denim Shorts

I got these recently from New Look to replace an old pair I have that I've just fallen out of love with. The acid style wash on them looks awesome and is just so me. I was a bit of a 90's grunge sort of teenager, so maybe they remind me a little of my youth?!

I know I'm going to get so much wear out of these, as they're a staple piece for me throughout the year.

Denim shorts are great in the summer, paired with some sandals or white trainers... But I also wear them a lot in the winter, always with black tights and black shoes. You have to elongate those legs you know, especially when you have little ones like me!

4. Little Black Dress

I absolutely adore this black dress. Gareth bought it for my birthday for me one year.

Whilst it was a bit pricey, as it's from All Saints... I think it was worth every penny. I literally feel like a million dollars when I wear it, it just hugs my curves in all the right places.

As it's quite stretchy, I know it will always fit me... Even when I overindulge a little too much #oops

I've worn it both dressed up and dressed down... For a wedding with my Louboutins and classic Chanel handbag and for dinner out in Paris with a leather jacket, a satchel and flat boots for the long and lovely walk home.

It's pretty versatile and I think it's worth investing the time and money to find a black dress that you will have for a long time. I think Zara do some similar and classic styles if you're not having much luck.

5. Black Blazer

In my opinion, a fitted black blazer is a real essential. If there's one jacket you buy... Make it this one. It can dress up the most casual of outfits in an instant and works both day and night.

I'm slightly ashamed to say I've bought two of these... It's a H&M bargain! I wore the first one out and just couldn't live without it and I haven't found anything that fits as well at a similar price point.

I couldn't find an exact match, but this one is pretty similar.

 I especially like the pockets on blazers... Sometimes when I'm having a sore back day and don't feel like traipsing around with a massive piece of handbag arm candy, the pockets are a godsend. I normally wear mine during the day, as my leather jacket is the one I take on nights out... Keep reading!

6. Leather Jacket

My leather jacket is again another well worn piece. This one is a slightly cropped, faux leather one from Topshop. I found one online and it's very similar, if not even the same one.
I'm lusting over a real leather one though... Maybe from All Saints or Zara. I'd definitely get my cost per wear down over time  *major justification for spending a fortune*

Anyway, I've paired my jacket here with a simple white t-shirt, denim shorts and sandals. This is a favourite look of mine as it's very laid back and feels very Blondie / rock chick esque. It's a great summers evening outfit as the jacket keeps me warm but the outfit is still summery.
At the other end of the spectrum, I'm often seen wearing this jacket with a very girly A-line skirt, crop top and heels... So it's for sure a versatile item.

7. White T-Shirt

This has fast become my holy grail white t-shirt. I've even bought a second white one and a grey one... I'm just awaiting that lovely package to be delivered! It's from Topshop, but unfortunately the white ones have literally just gone out of stock. You can still get the grey and black ones though.
The fit on it is great and the material is so soft, I've found it's got a couple of holes in it already through from just washing, which is a little disappointing. But I'm happy to live with that as the t-shirt is so great.

I can't say much more about it other than it is most definitely a basic staple and you shouldn't be without one!

8. White Shirt

Again, another basic staple which no wardrobe should be without. This one is quite fitted, it's from Ralph Lauren but I bought it at their outlet in Bicester Village so it was very affordable.
I often wear it with jeans and slippers, my ultimate smart casual outfit. Paired with a chunky boyfriend watch and a nice handbag, it's a very classic outfit... I feel very grown up in it!

In the photos above I put on a pair of nude wedges instead of my usual flat slippers and instantly looked more dressy, so it would be a great outfit for dinner out. I'd like to get some pointed black court shoes in my wardrobe, I think they would look very chic with this.

I'm planning another trip to Bicester soon as I'm on the hunt for a more oversized and baggy white shirt that I can wear in more casual looks. Maybe with sandals and turned up jeans... Stay posted for that outfit soon on my #meganecopeootd series on Instagram.

9. Black Cami

This black cami is from River Island and I only purchased it fairly recently, but I've worn it quite a lot. I've just had a weeks holiday in Suffolk with the family and the weather was beautiful... So it was perfect to just throw on with a pair of shorts and a kimono.
I like the detailing around the bust and also the deep V at the back.

The one thing I would say is that due to my slightly larger boobs, I have to wear a strapless bra with this. I hate seeing really thick bra straps under the delicate spaghetti straps of the top, I just don't think it's a good look... But strapless bras for me are a nightmare.
They always slip down and feel uncomfortable. The one I've got on here is a Wonderbra and was quite pricey, but it's not the most comfortable and tends to pinch around my back.
So if anybody has any tips on comfortable strapless bras... Please let me know :)

10. Sandals

I love these sandals :) They were this seasons from ASOS. They're in the sale at the moment and there are a few sizes left, have a nosey here... At a mere £16, I think they're a bit of a bargain as the gold detailing make them look much more pricey.
The straps are elasticated, so they're so comfy and I've done my fair share of walking in them so they're well tested out.

They look great with dresses, shorts and jeans... But I'm not sold on pairing them with my ripped jeans. It just looks like there is a bit too much going on. Maybe too many stripes?!

11. Flats

I love a good pair of slippers, they are so easy to wear and effortlessly smart. Again, I liked these ones from Zara because of the gold detailing on them. Also the fact that Zara slippers have a good sole and are fairly sturdy and hardwearing.

I bought these on Depop and they were a bargain at £10. I couldn't find an exact match, but there's a simlar pair here.

I wear them mostly with jeans and a t-shirt as a smart casual look, but they go equally as well with shorts or a dress if you want a smart but comfy shoe.

12. Heels

These are from a few seasons ago at New Look and are actually my second pair. I wore the first pair to death as they are literally so comfy. I was browsing Depop a couple of months ago and found them again, so had to buy them :)

I've had so many compliments from people and they always ask where I got them. Unfortunately I can't find anything similar, but New Look have some very afordable nude wedges, so go check them out.

I wear these with jeans, shorts and dresses. They are a great night out shoe as they make my legs look amazing. As they are nude, they elongate my legs so much, especially if I am wearing shorts or a dress.
The wedge and platform mean they aren't ridiculously high, even though they look it, and are still comfy.
If you can find a pair of neutral wedges, I'd highly recommend investing in them.

So there you have it, my capsule wardrobe in a mere twelve pieces. It's very monochrome because I just love me some black and white... But I like to inject colour with my nails, sunglasses, jewellery and bags.
Is there anything you think I'm missing here and need to invest it? Any excuse for some extra shopping!

Hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks for reading.

my top three youtube channels to watch.

I've been a fully fledged YouTube addict for the last few months or so and in this time have subscribed to a fair few channels.

Some of these have become well loved and I am so happy on days when they upload new videos... I'm often found watching them whilst I do long photo / video edits at work and am in need of a little entertainment.
I've learnt so much from these ladies over the past few months, they have guided me into the ways of all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle and their beautifully shot and edited videos have brightened up some very boring days. I now know how to contour and highlight (an essential for girls with chubby cheeks!), how to make tissue paper garlands for a party and I feel like I'm starting to develop my own personal style.

So if you're just starting out as a YouTube subscriber, check out some as these amazing ladies for inspiration and giggles.

1. ViviannaDoesMakeup

I had to put Anna as my number one didn't I. For a start, she is literally the epitome of down to earth and so unaware of the fact that she stunningly beautiful... With her dark hair shiny hair and glowing skin.
Her make up look videos are always classic and wearable and her weekly vlogs are just hilarious. I love catching up on what she's been up to, living in London with her boyfriend Mark.
The fact that they are massive foodies is awesome as well, I'm constantly noting down places I want to eat in London that feature in her videos.
I also adore her sense of style, she is so understated and classy but in a very laid back way... Check out her Summer lookbook here, she makes seasonal capsule wardrobes to die for. 

2. essiebutton

Literally, the best vlogger on the planet.

Estee and her little family are adorable... Her boyfriend Aslan and their dog Reggie Button feature regularly in her vlogs.
Her house, again in London, is the epitome of laid back chic. The white wooden floors, the glossy kitchen and the stylish classic pieces of furniture make me so envious. Their place is literally like somewhere out of a Living Magazine, it's stunning yet lived in and full of character.

I know that it's predominantly Estee's channel, but I also like to watch the DIY videos from Aslan. This one where he made a desk from scratch was awesome... I showed it to Gareth straight away and was like looooook, Aslan made Estee a desk... He must love her! Haha

This girl sells the London city girl lifestyle in a big way... Mornings shopping at Bourough market and impromptu date nights eating ramen. I so want to live in London because of this girl! She's another foodie, there's a pattern developing here, and again I end up noting down countless restaurants I want to pay a visit to after watching Estee's videos.

3. Tanya Burr

Now, I couldn't write a post about YouTube and not include Tanya. She is literally the Queen of YouTubers.
I started off watching her make up videos and soon got addicted, her Lily Collins look is one of my absolute favourites. The way she does make up is literally flawless and most of her looks are so wearable too. She recently launched her own make up line and I've bought a few pieces from it... Picnic in the Park is one of my favourite summer lip glosses and they're so reasonably priced, I'd highly recommend them.

I also love Tanya's haul videos, that girl loves Topshop just as much as I do. Whilst her style isn't my favourite, we have quite similar body shapes so I get a lot of tips from her. Tanya's red carpet looks however are always pretty awesome, they're quirky yet classic at the same time. Gives me ideas for event dressing and wishing that I had places to go where I can dress totally over the top.
Anyway, I've got so many tips from watching her... The only downside being that I now spend a small fortune on make up and it takes me hours to get ready... Sorry Gareth!

I must sneakily mention Pixiwoo in here. I found them through Tanya Burr... Tanya is engaged to Jim Chapman who is the brother of Sam Chapman, one half of Pixiwoo. They're solely a make up based channel and do the most awesome celebrity look videos, I love the more wacky ones from Sam too. She has a bit of an inner goth, just like me :) So if you're wanting to watch all things make up, go look them up.


So there you have it, my top three YouTube channels to watch. There's a nice mix here with these three, you'll get hauls, vlogs, how to's, make up looks, DIY and generally all things beauty and hair.
Don't get me wrong, I do love watching all of the most popular channels... Like Zoe from Zoella and Louise from Sprinkleofglitter... But I just feel that these top three are my absolute faves, so go check them out :)

Thanks for reading

my five product face.

I thought I would do a short and sharp blog post this Sunday... It's my five product face!

It wasn't hard for me to decide on these five products.
This is basically the make up I wear every day for work plus a couple of extras - I don't wear foundation every day... My skin isn't the greatest, so I like to let it breathe the majority of the time. I also don't wear a lip colour this bright all of the time... But I was getting ready for a little dinner out with the girls, so thought I should go for something bold and cheery.

Anyway, here we go... These are the five products I chose

1. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Light Porcelain

Product number one is one of my favourite foundations. This was a YouTube discovery after watching Tanya Burr use it in a couple of her videos.
I like the level of coverage it gives, I would say it's medium to heavy... And whilst it covers all of my redness and imperfections perfectly, it still leaves my skin with a nice glow and looking like skin, if you know what I mean :)
I can't remember exactly how much this was, but I think it's around the £8 mark which I think is a steal for a great foundation.
The one thing I will say if that exfoliating before using this is a must, otherwise it tends to cling to all of my drier patches... Oh the joys of having combination skin.

2. Gosh Eyebrow Pencil in Brown

I picked this up in Superdrug ages ago and I've run out of my beloved Sleek Eyebrow Stylist :( So I'm using this up before I buy another one of those.

I'd been using a Rimmel eyebrow pencil for forever, I even have three of them left in my makeup kit from a bulk buying session. But I quickly realised how red it was on me, especially when being photographed. I wanted to find an easy eyebrow fix with more ashy / grey undertones, to match better with my hair... And this was one of the products I picked up when trying out things to replace the Rimmel pencil.

I definitely don't love this, it's a little soft and warm for me. But I do love having a spoolie on the end and I'll never go back to doing my brows without one!

3. Maybelline Falsies Mascara Black Drama

This was another Tanya Burr endorsed purchase... Oops. I'm definitely still in love with my Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara, but I alternate between the two of these.

I hated it to start off with, but now that I've had it a couple of months and it's dried out, I find it so much easier to work with. I also didn't think I'd like the plastic / rubber brush, I've much preferred more natural and bristly brushes in the past, but the separation this brush provides is beautiful. It's great for doing my bottom lashes as well and really getting that doll eyed look which is stunning. It's also very black and stays put all day for me.

4. So Susan Universal Blush

I got this in a Glossybox and it's worth £18?! It was definitely a good box that month as I've grown to love this so much.

It says on the product description 'works with your skin's natural chemistry to create a universal healthy flush that is flattering on all skintones'. Now I don't know if this is true, but what I do know is that I feel this blush suits me really well. It looks to have a little bit of a purple / mauve undertone in the pan, but on my skin it is a beautiful pop of pink colour and is very long lasting.

5. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Pink Pong

This is my most recent beauty purchase... From a mini splurge in Boots one Saturday. I'd heard a lot about the Rouge Edition Velvet's from beauty bloggers online and seen a few YouTubers wearing Pink Pong, so I went to investigate.
First off, the colour is beautiful, I love it with my pale skin as it is a blue undertoned pink. It really seems to make my blue eyes pop as well.

Secondly, the formula is perfect... It's non-drying even though it's matt and it lasts and lasts. I wore it out to dinner one night and it had fantastic staying power, even after I'd eaten a huge burger and chips!
This is a definite winner for me, next time I'm in Boots I'll be checking out the other shades for sure. 

So here is my five product face...

It's not the most glamourous of make up looks, I definitely missed my concealer and highlighter... But I think given that I was so limited to five products when I probably use around fifty for a night out, I think I did pretty well :)

I'd be more than happy wearing this for shopping at the weekends or for a date night.
I hope you liked this post and it gave you some ideas for an every day and low key make up look.

Thanks for reading

glossybox continued.

Here is the second post in my Glossybox series. I’ll be talking about April and May in this one. I’m definitely still loving them and one of the boxes was even free! I’ll explain later, but for now… Have a little read about the products I received.

April

He-shi Face & Body Tanning Gel, Monuspa Waming Ginger Massage & Body Oil, MeMeMe Beat the Blues Peal Pink Iridescent Complexion Illuminator & Highlighter, Emite Make Up L312 Brush, Tresemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo

Now the fake tan instantly made me laugh – I don’t wear fake tan full stop, never mind in a medium shade?! I definitely said on the initial preferences questionnaire that I was fair / pale skinned. So this is free to a good home… If anyone wants it, just send me a tweet or similar. Apparently it’s quite a good brand, I’ve seen the girls from Pixiwoo using it.

The Tresemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo I have used up already. I’m an avid user of dry shampoo… Having naturally curly hair, my hair can sometimes look dull and slightly greasy the day after a wash and blow dry, so I love using dry shampoo for an ‘instant refresh’ and a bit of added volume. This was wasn’t my favourite, I usually use Batiste, but there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it as such.

Again, I’ve used up all of the Monuspa Waming Ginger Massage & Body Oil already. I’m a lover of baths when I’m stressed or when my back pain gets unbearable. I loved the strong ginger smell, it lingered in the bathroom for quite a while afterwards… Lingered in a good way if that’s possible? Anyway, it was gorgeous in the bath but also when used on my skin in the shower. It left me feeling refreshed and soft skinned. I went to look at purchasing some, but £26 for 100ml – wow!

The MeMeMe Beat the Blues Peal Pink Iridescent Complexion Illuminator & Highlighter, what a long name… This has become another firm favourite of mine. I was using the Benefit High Beam as a highlighter, but this one beats it hands down. It’s a much lighter texture and I prefer the pink tinted colour of it. I’ve been using this nearly every day on the top of my non-existent cheekbones to add a bit of shape.

Now I haven’t been a wearer of lipstick really until fairly recently… But I’ve fallen in love with my Mac Lady Danger :) I was applying it straight onto my lips, but I tried it with the Emite lip brush and really loved it. It was a lot more precise and when combining Lady Danger with some of the Maybelline Naked Brown lipstick from my first Glossybox, just at the corners, I got a really full lip effect. It did take a little time to do, so it’s not for those days when I’m rushing out of the door… But I’ll be giving it a go again at some point.

May

John Freida Frizz-Ease Original 6 Effects Serum, Collection Bronze Glow Mosaic, Scholl Velvet Smooth Overnight Mask, Maybelline Colourshow Crystallize Nail Polish in Nearly Black, B. Sheer Conditioning Lipstick in Flamingo.

This box was free as I’d collected enough ‘Glossydots’ from completing some surveys on the products I’d received previously and for referring a friend, woohoo.

The Collection Bronze Glow Mosaic I was really excited about, having seen it used in a few YouTube tutorials. However, I’m slightly disappointed with this product. I can’t really see what difference it makes, I think it’s far too sheer… Even on a pale person!  This was the only product I wasn’t happy with, all of the others were awesome.

I’ve been using the John Freida Serum after every hair wash and I’m definitely noticing a difference in the texture of my hair. I wouldn’t say that it’s less frizzy, but it’s definitely softer than it was. I can see this lasting a long time, as I only use one pump at a time which is such a minimal amount… So we’ll see what happens to the frizz over time. If I blow dry my hair, it stays frizz free… But if I let it air dry and go curly as it naturally does, it’s so frizzy it’s ridiculous. So much for looking like that woman on the TV advert with perfectly glossy curls, sigh.

The B. Lipstick in Flamingo is a fantastic colour, sort of a coral-ly pink. The only negative points are the packaging, which is fairly cheap and flimsy, and also that the product has shimmer in it. I’m not one for shimmer on the lips, just a personal preference. These retail for £3.49 at Superdrug, great price point, but they only come in a limited range of shades which is a shame. But that said, the colour is fantastic and it’s definitely moisturising and fairly long lasting. They wear off nicely instead of leaving that lipstick outline I normally get.

I’ve tried the Scholl Velvet Smooth Overnight Mask twice overnight. I found it quite sticky and it wasn’t a comfortable nights sleep with it. Maybe I’ll try it with socks on next time. My feet definitely felt softer though which was nice. I’ll be persevering with this one, maybe doing it once a week. My feet are one of my least favourite parts, so getting them summer ready is important.

I also got a couple of extras, a sample of Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion and Ghost Fragrance in Eclipse… Loved the lotion, but the fragrance wasn’t for me. Still a plus to get some freebies.

Do any of you get Glossyboxes? What do you think of them? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

glossybox.

So as you might have noticed, I’ve had a subscription to Glossybox since February now… I’ve posted a few things about it here on the blog and also photos of the contents of my boxes on Instagram. A few people have been asking me to blog about it properly and I’ve had four boxes so far, so I think that’s enough for me to comment on them fairly. I’m going to blog about two boxes at a time… It was getting a bit lengthy doing them all at once. So this one is February and March, I will do a post about April and May soon.

I decided to give it a try after hearing great feedback from several blogs I read and YouTube channels I watch. I’ve never been massively into makeup until recently, now I’m a fully confessed addict :) So my makeup collection was quite limited. I’d stuck rigidly to the same products and never really experimented with my skincare or makeup before. This for me seemed like the perfect opportunity to try some new brands and products out, whilst building my make up collection, without spending and absolute fortune.

I must say now, I absolutely love them :) But I’ll just give you a rundown on the products I’ve received for February and March.

February

Nougat London Sparkling Body Shimmer, Eldora Eyelashes in H122, Ciate London Paint Pot in Red Hot Chilli, Maybelline Colour Sensation Stripped Nudes Lipstick in Naked Brown and Toni & Guy Stick it Up Gum.

My first Glossybox arrived in the post and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Firstly, it was limited edition packaging… a black box with lipstick kisses all over it. I’m now using it to store all of my lip products in. So it was an A plus for me before I’d even opened the box.

Once inside, I found five products, one miniature and four full size. For £10, this is great value!
I decided pretty quickly that I wouldn’t use the Toni & Guy gum, just because I have quite fine hair which can look greasy pretty quickly – so I donated this to Gareth and he’s been using it.
I also knew that I wouldn’t use the body shimmer. I never have bare legs, always opting for nude tights, so I can’t see myself using this. I’m more than happy to post this out to anyone who wants it – so drop me a tweet or similar if you do.

The other three products were great and still worth the money for me. I’ve used the Eldora eyelashes a few times. They’re ace because they’ve got quite a thin lash band – I would’ve been willing to pay £10 for these alone.

The Maybelline lipstick is in a shade I would never have purchased, but it actually looks beautiful on. Very gothic, so I’ll probably be saving it for when I’m enjoying a brave day in the Autumn / Winter season, but I can’t wait. It also feels very moisturising, which is great for me as I tend to have slightly dry lips.

The third product, my Ciate mail varnish was actually broken. The neck of the bottle had cracked and the glass come apart, meaning I couldn’t screw the top on and off properly, so I sent Glossybox a quick email telling them this. A few emails and photographs of the damaged product later… They sent me out a replacement parcel. There wasn’t any Ciate nail varnish still in stock, so instead I got a B. Sheer Conditioning Lipstick in Caramel and a Murad Clarifying Mask for Acne – all with a sweet little sorry note. Thanks guys, fab service and you more than redeemed yourselves!

So a couple of products I won’t use and one broken one…  But an apology package later and all was well :)

March

Dove Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot, Helenere Age Sensitive Zone Repair Serum, Mitchell & Peach English Growers Body Cream, Sleek Makeup Pout Polish in 93 Bare Minimum and Bellapiere Cosmetics Powder in SP009 Bronze

I’ve used all of the products in this box – there wasn’t anything which I instantly thought I wouldn’t use… So that was a great start for this box.

Starting with the Dove Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot, I loved this :) I saw a few people complaining at Glossybox on Twitter that there were too many low end products in this box, namely this one, but personally I think this complete box was great value for money and I really enjoyed this particular product. It left my hair feeling soft and nourished, but not too heavy. Considering it’s currently £1.69 in Sainsburys and that I got two applications from the tube, I think it’s value for money.

The Helenere serum was a little bit of luxury for me. I looked it up online and the size that I got would have cost around £40! I’ve used serums before and found them to sit on top of my skin horribly, coming off the next time I washed my face. However, this one seems to sink in a lot better and be absorbed. Maybe knowing this would have silenced the people whinging about the low end products in the box if they’d have known.

The Mitchell & Peach moisturiser isn’t my favourite. It smells quite strongly of lavender, which kind of reminds me of old ladies, but smell aside it’s a pretty good product. I’ve put it in my gym bag as an emergency moisturiser… Wearing trousers all day at work, I often get quite dry and flaky legs. Rocking three quarters for the gym with my wintery legs isn’t a good look, so when I’m going there straight from work I just pop some of this on my lower legs when I’m getting changed... Works a treat.

The Sleek Makeup Pout Polish is one of my new favourites. It’s very sheer and the colour is as it sounds, a bare minimum. It’s become a regular in my work bag, as it’s perfect for a ‘no makeup makeup look’.  The only thing I dislike is that it comes in a pot, I hate getting makeup on my hands and not being able to wash or wipe them straight away… My OCD / inner Virgo coming out haha.

The Bellapiere powder in Bronze is an interesting product. It states it is multi-use and can be used for eye shadow, cream eye shadow, blush, eye liner, lip colour, nail polish, tinted mascara and bronzer. Personally, I’ve only used it for eye shadow so far and found that it works beautifully when pressed onto the eyelid with a flat brush, before smoking it out with a Mac 216. The only issue I found was that it did crease after my manic 8 hour day at work… But I think with a decent base or primer it would be great.

So there we are, two months worth of Glossyboxes makes a very happy Megan! If you’re thinking of subscribing, let me know as I can get GlossyDots for referring you :)

Go have a look and see what you think.

Thanks for reading.

100 happy days.

So if you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I've been doing the #100happydays challenge :)
I saw it through a friend on Facebook and thought it sounded like a fun little photography project, which it definitely is!
Basically, it does what it says on the tin... You take a photograph of something that makes you happy, every day for 100 days. Then upload it to your chosen social media platform using the official hashtag, as well as any others you want.

I've taken so many more photos with my little iPhone than I normally would day to day and whilst it's no DSLR camera, I've taken some fun little snaps. Gareth features quite a few times, as does the odd bit of sumptuous food... It wouldn't be my Instagram feed without a few photos of food now would it. There's also a few graphic design projects, places I've been to and the odd gym related photo.
Here are a little selection of examples.

I've really enjoyed it, and whilst I haven't yet finished... I thought I'd give your the opportunity to go look it up and see what I'm up to.
You can find me at megan_e_cope or using the hashtag #meganecope100hd

It's definitely made me notice what makes me happy more and be in a better mood for it. I've tried not to be too materialistic, but there are some days where an awesome item has made me smile.
I must admit that somedays I've struggled to find things to photograph... You know the days when all you do is go to work then come home and veg out. But I guess those days are the ones when you really do need a little something to perk you up and make you smile.
I'm thinking of carrying it on past the 100 days... What do you think?

Anyway, what are you waiting for... Sign up here and join in!

Thanks for reading.