What I Got For Christmas 2016 : Disney Edit

To say that I feel blessed is an understatement, I have had the most incredible Christmas this year & feel very lucky to be surrounded by some amazing people.. 

I am a HUGE Disney fan, to the extent that I can recite some of the films word for word and so I could not believe the amount of Disney presents I received this year- a few of them made me cry! Thank you so much to all of the lovely people that gave me gifts this year & in particular the biggest THANK YOU to my boyfriend Dan, who constantly makes me feel like a real life Disney Princess.

The first of many special gifts is this beautiful personalised Minnie stocking that Dan gave me, I can never find anything with my name on let alone anything Disney related! I will love and cherish this stocking forever & you can expect to see this one creep into festive blogposts and home tours in 2017. 

Next up and one of the presents that made me cry was this incredible Beauty & The Beast snow globe, also from Dan (aka best boyfriend in the whole world.) Beauty & The Beast is my favourite Disney film and has been since I was teeny and so this holds real sentimental value to me, I am in love with the design & it also plays 'something there' which is one of my favourite songs from the film! I was overwhelmed when I opened this and feel so lucky to share my life with someone as thoughtful as Dan, this is something I will treasure forever and it's staying out on show all year around. 

Another super special one is this UP christmas ornament & there's a little story behind why it means so much to me. Every year Disney bring out a gorgeous selection of ornaments and I first saw this one on hellojordan's instagram and fell in love with it, UP is also one of my favourite films and the story behind it is super sweet, I love the concept of taking the people that you love's dreams and fulfilling them.. But it was sold out everywhere & I finally gave up after visiting the Disney site for days on end and visiting the Disney Store in London where it was no where to be seen. 

Dan somehow managed to get ahold of it and it means so much to me that he tried so hard to get it for me, this is staying out on our shelves all year around and will have pride of place on our Christmas tree next year. 

Next are these absolutely beautiful Beauty & The Beast ornaments, also from my amazing boyfriend. These made me bawl my eyes out, just when I thought he couldn't get more thoughtful he surprised me with these! I absolutely love each and every one of them, the detailing is incredible and as we have a Cogsworth Clock already these complete our collection AHHH. 

I love to collect things and this year we decided to start collecting the shiny cover Disney Blue-rays, Dan and his family very kindly gave me some as gifts which I'm super grateful for, these look amazing on a shelf and it means I can re-watch Disney films all the time (win win!) Let me know if any of you would like to see a post on our collection so far.

I HAVE A LOTSO BEAR, HE SMELLS LIKE STRAWBERRIES & HAS MY NAME ON AHHHDSBJFBS. I was ridiculously excited when I opened this, Toy Story is a classic Disney film that I absolutely love and despite Lotso being a baddie, he smells like strawberries and is super cuddly. Dan and I saw him in the Disney store back in September and I mentioned how cute he was but he wouldn't have managed to squeeze into our hand luggage and so I was very happy and surprised to find him within my presents.

In my stocking from Dan's parents I was also lucky enough to get some Disney bits, including the beautiful retro Disney glasses shown within the picture- I love them SO much! and lots more.

I cannot express how thankful I am to everyone, especially Dan for my lovely gifts- I'm a very lucky girl!

did you get anything Disney related for Christmas?

Love,

Dayna

x

Festive Home Additions

 As it’s Dan and I’s first year living together, we have picked up a few festive homeware pieces that we absolutely love to transform our space for Christmas 

G I N G E R B R E A D H O U S E-

T K M A X X 

R O S E G O L D G L I T T E R S T A G-

P R I M A R K 

C H R I S T M A S C O O K I E Y A N K E E-

A S D A

B A U B L E W R E A T H-

P R I M A R K 

C O P P E R S T A R L I G H T S-

A S D A

C U S H I O N & B E D D I N G-

A S D A

have you picked up any festive homeware  this year?

Love,

Dayna

x

The November MAC Quad

I love to wear eyeshadows in the Autumn/ Winter months; gimme all the shades of burnt orange,golden bronze & berry red. 

Here’s an insight into my MAC Quad this month..

A M B E R L I G H T S

If you have blue eyes then you NEEEEEEED this eyeshadow, not kidding. I picked this one up for my birthday and it's the most beautiful golden eyeshadow (sorry UD half baked.) Whenever I wear this I get so many comments on how blue my eyes look and I think it's due to the slight copper undertone that Amber Lights possesses. The texture is creamy yet almost foiled, meaning a tiny bit of this eyeshadow goes a really long way- when blended Amber Lights transforms into a deeper version of itself. A staple for this time of year. 

S U M P T U O U S O L I V E 

I had always lusted after this eyeshadow but wimped out each time I went into MAC, could I pull off a green eyeshadow without looking like a 90's reject?! yes yes yes. This is such a beautiful green shade, it has a golden shimmer running throughout it which is why I think it's such an easy yet bold(er) colour to wear- it's perfect for a/w! If you have brown eyes this eyeshadow would look incredible on you, or if you have red hair. 

S A T I N T A U P E 

This is one of MAC's most popular eyeshadows and one that everyone seemed to recommend to me when I was trying to complete this quad, Satin Taupe is a silver toned brown with an almost purple shade running throughout. And I do love this shade but it's one I seem to forget about, I don't know if this is because i will usually reach for my Naked palette if I want a brown smokey eye & I tend to prefer warmer toned shadows. If you are a cool toned kinda gal then i'd say give this eyeshadow a swatch and see how you feel about it, this would look stunning on green or brown eyes. 

C R A N B E R R Y 

I also picked up cranberry on my birthday after 20 minutes of deliberation at the MAC eyeshadow bay and I am so pleased that Hannah from GlitterMelody urged me to purchase this because it is the most beautiful eyeshadow I own. I did wonder if i'd look like i had just been in a fight and ended it with a black eye when I wore this eyeshadow but if you blend it out properly, it gives a beautiful berry smokey eye. Again, perfect for blue eyes as the berry undertones help to make the blue stand out even more and give you gorgeous, glowing eyes.

what are your favourite eyeshadows for the winter?

Love,

Dayna

x

My Favourite Palette Of All Time

An eyeshadow palette made of cocoa powder, what more does a girl want?

I’d been wanting the Too Faced Chocolate bar palette for way over a year now but always somehow talked myself out of buying it- after all, did I really need another eyeshadow palette?! You can imagine my reaction when Dan ordered this for me (tons of boyfriend points) and I love it SO much, it’s soon became my favourite eyeshadow palette of all time. 

For starters, the packaging of this palette is adorable and it smells INCREDIBLE- like actual chocolatey goodness. I love the variation of shades within the palette and I know I will particularly use the bronze and gold shades tons throughout Autumn and Winter, that being said there are shades that are wearable all year around and so the perfect palette if you are looking to invest in just one or are travelling and so need something compact that can be used in multiple ways. 

The pigmentation of these shadows is amazing, they’re all so creamy and pigmented and so make blending dream - unlike my Urban Decay eyeshadows, I don’t tend to get any fall out and so can complete my base without having to worry about leaving glittery traces all over my face. With 9 glittery shadows and 6 matte ones this is such a versatile palette, the shade ‘Champagne Truffle’ situated in the bottom right is also a beautiful highlighter. I am particularly in love with the shades Marzipan, Hazelnut, Creme Brûlée & Amaretto- this palette will definitely be coming on holiday with me next month...

what is your favourite eyeshadow palette?

Love, 

Dayna 

x

Tanya Burr Advent Calendar

I love beauty calendars, there’s something so thrilling about being able to receive a new product each day as opposed to chocolate (Don’t worry, chocolate will be eaten in the ton as well) 

It’s equally as good when it’s a brand you actually love… 

(This post contains spoilers) 

here’s what lurks in the sparkly doors of the Tanya Burr advent calendar.

NAIL POLISHES : 

GLITTERS & GOLD (GOLD)

SLEIGH BELLS (RED)

GLITTER RAIN (SILVER) 

LIPGLOSSES: 

CANDY CANE (PINK)

BERRY PAVLOVA ( DEEP RED) 

MATTE LIP : 

CHRISTMAS STOCKING (CHERRY RED) 

GLITTER LINERS: 

TREASURED (GOLD)

ICE CRYSTALS (SILVER) 

EYE SHIMMER POTS: 

SNOW DAY (WHITE)

CHAMPAGNE SPARKLE (GOLD) 

EXTRAS:

POCKET MIRROR 

NAIL FILE 

I’m excited to try these pieces out! I love how fitting the shades are for this time of year with dashes of gold and red-

do you have a beauty calendar for December?

Love,

Dayna

x

Halloween Lush Haul

 I LOVE Lush this time of year, nothing beats soaking in a nice hot bath at the end of a dreary day surrounded by all things glittery, nice smelling and visually pleasing. 

Here are a few things I've picked up from the festive Lush releases (so far.. expect a part 2 as we head into November

and my inner elf is unleashed) 

S P A R K L Y  P U M P K I N

N E V E R M I N D T H E B A L L I S T I C S

T H E E X P E R I M E N T E R

P UM P K I N

S N O W F A I R Y

what are your favorite Lush seasonal goodies? 

Love,

Dayna

x

The Rose Gold Princess Ring Of Dreams

Today’s post is a short one but I couldn't resist posting about this beauty.. 

 I’m feeling like the luckiest girl in the world, my wonderful boyfriend has brought me the ring of my dreams- the pandora princess ring in rose gold..

Although it is currently sold out, you can find the ring here. 

Love,

Dayna

x

Autumn Favourites

Autumn is definitely my favourite season, the sudden change in temperature, the beautiful hues of orange and being able to cuddle up on cold autumnal nights in fluffy socks and pyjamas. Here are a few more of my Autumnal favourites…

S H E A B U T T E R

This has became a staple in my body care routine, I love how hydrating yet absorbing it is and so the perfect companion for the cold weather. 

S N O W F A I R Y

ahhhh my absolute favourite shower gel! last year I mistakenly only picked up the small version of this and so this year Dan and I have gone all out and purchased the 1KG (he’s the bestest boyfriend) This reminds me of A/W and smells like candy floss which is a huge bonus! 

H A L L O W E E N C A N D L E

Autumn is the time to start burning candles, they add comfort and warmth to any room and when I’ve been home i’ve been loving burning this halloween scented candle from Wickford & Co- it’s a lovey sweet scented twist on a pumpkin scent and leaves the room smelling delicious.

N A K E D T H R E E

I love to wear golds and warm tones throughout the Autumn and the naked 3 has been my go- to in order to achieve that look. It consists of beautiful rose golds/ pink toned browns and I always get compliments on my eye makeup when I use this one, a firm autumnal favourite of mine. 

M A C B R A V E

I’ve spoken about this lipstick before so won’t go into too much depth but it’s a beautiful warm toned pink, suitable for everyday wear. I like the lasting power of mac lipsticks and tend to reach for them more in the colder months when I need something more heavy duty. 

C H A R L O T T E T I L B U R Y

I dedicated a whole post to my new favourite lipstick here a few weeks back and so won’t repeat myself, however this lipstick is BEAUTIFUL and deserves a firm place in my Autumn picks. 

N A K E D S KI N 

I love that this concealer just does as it claims to, it offers a high coverage/non creasing formula and withstands the cold/rain that seems to be far too often throughout Autumn, if you’re looking for a new concealer I’d definitely recommend this one.

what are your Autumn favourites? 

Love,

Dayna

x

What's In My Bag | London

The last thing I wanted whilst away in London was to be hauling around my usual Mary Poppins/ borderline suitcase sized bag, then I stumbled across this little beauty in Primark. 

E S S E N T I A L S: 

P U R S E

H A N D S A N I T I Z E R

 (because the tube is a breeding ground for all things snotty and gross)

O Y S T E R C A R D

L I P S T I C K

 (not exactly an essential but I knew we’d be taking lots of photos, the lipstick I choose was ‘brave’ from MAC as its compact and foolproof in terms of application)

what are your London bag essentials?

Love,

Dayna

x

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A Weekend In London # 2

Rocky Road Recipe

I love baking.

& what better way to spend an afternoon then making one of my favourites, Rocky Road. 

-you will need- 

150g butter

350g dark chocolate

4 tbsp golden syrup

250g  cookies (I used Cadbury's) 

150g mini marshmallows (found in the baking aisle)

icing sugar to dust on top (optional) 

-method-

Melt the butter, chocolate and syrup together in a saucepan on a low heat. Bash the cookies (in a plastic bag or inside a tea towel) with a rolling pin and aim to be left with big cookie chunks and crumbs too. Pour the crushed cookies into the choc/butter/syrup mixture. Pour in marshmallows and stir well. Pop the mixture into a tin and let it set in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight. Once your Rocky Road is set, dust it with icing sugar and cut it into bars & voila! the most delicious creation, and it's super easy to make. 

what are your favourite things to bake?

Love,

Dayna

x