Cara Delevingne Makeup Look

I am a massive Cara Delevingne fan. Not only do I have serious eyebrow envy, but I love everything about her. Being my first beauty blog post, I didn't want it to be just a makeup look but I wanted to more or less transform myself into a well known celebrity. I thought I would go for somebody with similar colour eyes to me as I'm too much of a scaredy cat to risk the eye contacts at the moment! I have re-created one of Cara's more simple looks as I wanted to concentrate less on eyes and more on contouring and eyebrows. I am so in love with the makeup, that I will definitely be wearing it again. As for the brows, I'm not quite brave enough yet to rock those in public!

1) Contouring

I used my M.A.C Studio Sculpt Concealer that is a couple of shades lighter than my natural skin tone to highlight certain areas like my nose bridge, the centre of my forehead, my under-eye area, my cupid's bow and my chin.

Using M.A.C Pro Longwear Foundation in a couple of shades darker than my skin tone I applied that to my cheekbones, the temples of my forehead and besides my nose bridge for the illusion of a slimmer nose.

I gently buffed in my skin-matching foundation, Bourjous Healthy Mix, using circular motions and erased any under-eye darkness with my usual concealer, the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. I then set it all into place with the Ben Nye Banana Powder.

2) Eyebrows

You can use eye shadow or pencil for the next step. I used my favourite eyebrow pencil, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz to outline the shape of Cara's brows and fill them in. Oh, and don't forget to soften them with an eyebrow spoolie, it's the key to natural looking brows!

3) Eyes

Any matte brown will do for the eyes. I used Buck from the Urban Decay Naked Pallette 1 and I think it is the perfect shade for a Cara smokey eye. I put this all over my lid and under my lower lash line. 

 I then put Darkhorse, a darker brown, in the crease and under the lower lash line again for some added depth and for a more intense look. Make sure to blend everything out!

Next, I ran my Nyx Jumbo eye-pencil in the colour Yoghurt along my waterline for the appearance of bigger, rounder eyes. Putting gold on the waterline opens your eyes in a more subtle way and keeps them looking sultry.

 I obviously added a generous amount of mascara to finish off the eyes! This is Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Mascara.

4) Cheeks, lips and nostrils!

Other than the eyebrows of course, I think Cara's cheekbones are one of her most prominent features. They're super defined so don't be afraid to apply a generous amount of bronzer! I also brushed my favourite bronzer, Nars Laguna, on my jawline, besides my nose bridge and on my forehead temples.

Using the same pencil I used to draw my eyebrows on, I made my nostrils bigger and wider for a more similar nose to Cara's. 

Cara isn't typically known for wearing blusher, but I did notice a slight hint of coral on the apples of her cheeks in this particular look I am following. I used the Milani Baked Blush in 'Coralista'.

Taking a lip liner that was nearest to my lip colour, I changed the shape of my lips to look more like Cara's. Cara's lips are quite wide and the corners are very pointy. They almost face downards when she is not smiling. 

I then popped on a Cremesheen lipstick from M.A.C called Night to Remember and kept experimenting with different lipsticks over the top until I achieved the desired orangey red colour. I even used brown eye shadow to tone down the brightness and keep the lips looking  more grungy. I neatened the lips with some concealer too so that the lines were clean and precise.

Just a reminder of what I looked like before:

And here is the finished look! 

I even dyed my hair especially!

My Cara funny face!

Maybe you could re-create this makeup look for an upcoming occasion, or if you're like me, just for fun! 

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." - Gwyneth Paltrow

Lots of love,

Lily

Spring Fashion Lookbook

Spring has finally arrived and the sun is shining and the birds are singing. Living in England though, there's always a slight chill in the air and it can be hard to dress in the difficult transition from winter to spring as you want to dress appropriately for the temperature, but add your own fashionable mark that fits the upcoming trends. Below are three outfits that I threw together which are both practical yet stylish for the season. 

Outfit 1 - 60s Flower Power

This cute floral print over-sized tee is perfect for picnics or walks where you want to feel comfortable as well as look the part. I have belted the t-shirt so it is more flattering, and added a pair of tights so it can be worn as a dress and so I don't get too cold! The bold pattern and block colours are a taste of the 60s, and fashion from that era is definitely going to be big this year. I am wearing a pair of big flower earrings and have backcombed my hair and tied it into a low ponytail for an even more 6os inspired look. For shoes, I have gone for my absolute staple. These black boots go with anything and everything as they are so versitile!

T-shirt - Primark

Belt - Primark

Shoes - Topshop

Earrings - New Look

Outfit 2 - Cool 'n' Casual

This outfit is probably the most simple of them all, but it's my favourite! I find skater skirts super flattering and I don't think they will ever go out of fashion for the spring/summer time. This particular skater skirt is especially suitable for spring because of the pretty daisies. I have thrown on a light, popcorn textured crop jumper for warmth and I think it adds a cool edge to the look. Again, I am wearing black tights so it is appropriate for the weather, and my favourite black boots. The gold studs embellished on the sides can instantly add a hint of pazazz to your look too. For accessories, I am wearing a gold floral necklace to jazz up the simple jumper and a cool ring/bracelet combination. I haven't even bothered styling my hair, but I think you can get away with that as it's such an effortless look.

Jumper - New Look

Skirt - H&M

Boots - Topshop

Ring/bracelet - New Look

Necklace - Claire's Accessories

Outfit 3 - Country Chic

Tazzy is wearing REAL fur for spring!

I was inspired by the fashion in my favourite programme 'Nashville' for this country looking outfit. The floral ankle-length skirt and lacey top both have a unique, folky look and the brown, leather belt is a pretty addition to the busy skirt. I have kept my hair relatively simple by pulling it to one side to leave all focus on the outfit. Believe it or not, I haven't opted for my black boots for this look! Instead, I am wearing pink pumps with sparkly bows but I have worn this outfit previously with sandals and I think they go perfectly. I wasn't prepared to dig those out from my holiday pile though!

Skirt - New Look

Top - New Look

Shoes - Deichmann

I hope I have given you a few ideas of what to wear this spring! What is your staple fashion item for this time of year?

"The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before." - Albert Einstein

Lots of love,

Lily

THE DISNEY TAG!

One thing you may already know about me is that I have a huge love for all things Disney! I believe you are truly never too old for a bit of magic and cheesiness in your life. Anyway, I thought I would write a fun, light-hearted post today where I answer 25 questions all about Disney. I'm not following a specific tag by the way, I am taking questions from lots of Disney tags and adding a few of my own questions along the way. I apologise to my friend Sophie or any other Disney haters in advance!

1. Favourite Disney movie?

I have many! The Lion King is my ultimate favourite, along with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. I also love Tangled and Frozen!

2. Disney World or Disney Land?

Disney World obviously!

3. Favourite Disney Character?

Simba and Thumper

4. Favourite Disney Princess?

Ariel, Belle and Jasmine

5. What type of Disney item do you collect the most?

Snowglobes and ornaments. I love to collect things, but I'm not a hoarder or anything! Quite the opposite actually, I'm a neat freak so I would never go overboard as tempting as it can be sometimes! 

6. Your favourite Disney song?

Part of Your World, A Whole New World, Tale as Old as Time, Colours of the Wind and a more recent favourite - LET IT GOOOOOO

7. Favourite Disney Soundtrack?

It's got to be the Frozen soundtrack!

8.  Favourite attraction/ride at the parks?

My favourite attractions are the parades and shows without a doubt. As for rides, I love Aerosmith's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster!

9. What is your dream job at Disney?

To be a princess of course!

10. Have you ever been to Disney World or Disney Land? If so, how many times?

I've been to Florida, Disney World four times - when I was 2, 4, 10 and 13 years old. I also went in my Mum's tummy as well if that counts?

11. What's your most treasured Disney item?

My Disney Charm Bracelet - it's so beautiful and valuable, I may have to dedicate a blog post to it!

12. Your favourite snack to get at the parks?

The Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwiches - they are delicious and always go down a treat in the blazing sun!

13. Your favourite parade/shows at the parks?

I love all of the parades but my favourite show is probably the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios

14. Flounder, Sebastian or Scuttle?

It's between Sebastian and Flounder... Flounder. Sorry Scuttle!

15. Iago, Genie, Carpet, Abu or Rajah? 

Abu!

16. Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere or Cogsworth?

Chip is cute, but Mrs. Potts sings Tale as Old as Time so she's my favourite!

17. If you could live in any Disney World, which would you choose?

The Kingdom of Corona in Tangled. I love the gondolas and pretty lanterns and most importantly, the sunshine!

18. Favourite Disney prince?

Definitely Aladdin! I also have a bit of a crush on Flynn Ryder too

19. Favourite Disney couple?

Aladdin and Jasmine 

20. Which "forgotten princess" would you like to add to the official lineup? 

Giselle from Enchanted! Why isn't she an official Princess? Sort it out Disney!

21. Saddest Disney moment?

When Mufasa gets killed - gets me every time!

22. Your favourite iconic Disney moment?

When Rafiki holds up Simba!

23. Most underrated Disney Princess?

Pocahontas and Mulan!

24. Favourite Disney quote/saying?

"Hakuna Matata"

25. Post a Disney related picture

Here are a few of my favourite memories captured at Disney:

I tag ALL of you to do this tag next! 

"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever." - Walt Disney

Lots of love,

Lily

My Trip to the Seaside

It looks like the rainy days are over for a while here in England so we decided to make the most of the sunny weather with a seaside walk. The sunshine always puts everybody in a happier mood, and with the near arrival of spring everything is looking brighter. I love to capture the beautiful things in life and so I thought I would share a few of the photos I took with my camera whilst taking a stroll by the sea.   

I spotted this ADORABLE pug and had to fight the urge to squeeze through the gate and steal him or her!

Top - Primark 

Caught sipping!

What do you like to do when the sun is shining?

"Spring is our reminder that no matter how dark and cold life can get, sun will once again shine and the flowers will blossom." - Mimi Ikonn

Lots of love,

Lily 

Triple Chocolate Cookies Recipe

In my spare time, one of my favourite things to do is bake and whilst snooping at Tanya Burr's blog one day I came across this chocolate cookie recipe. The cookies looked so yummy that I just had to make my own with a few minor changes here and there as I never truly stick to a recipe! Mine also came out a richer looking colour as I think I added a rather generous amount of cocoa powder! These cookies are hands down the gooiest, most chocolaty and most delicious cookies EVER. The moist texture reminds me a bit of brownies, so if you're a lover of all sweet things, be that brownies or cookies, you've definitely come to the right place.

To make 10 large cookies you will need:

200g butter

300g caster sugar

1 large egg

75g cocoa powder

A dash of milk

A bar of milk, white and dark chocolate

Start by setting your oven to gas mark 6 or 200 degrees celcius. Then mix together your butter and sugar using an electrical whisk until a buttercream like consistency. If your mixture is looking a bit like scrambled eggs, keep going and most importantly, don't lose faith!

Next, crack your egg into the bowl and keep whisking for an even smoother consistency.

Add all of your dry ingredients and whisk away! If your mixture is looking extremely dry, add some milk to loosen it up - mine was definitely in need of some! Once all of my milk and dry ingredients had been mixed thoroughly, I found that mine looked a bit like chocolate mousse.

Now for the best part! Break all of your chocolate up into squares and stir it in your mixture.

Line two baking trays with baking parchment or foil. I used baking parchment and greased them with butter just to be on the safe side. It's then time to get messy! Dive in and separate your mixture into 10 hand-sized balls - bearing in mind that my hands aren't exactly the largest! I think it is best to start smaller as you can always add to them if you have any left-over mixture.

All that is left now is to pop them in the oven! The balls will spread into a normal cookie shape whilst baking so don't position them too close together. My cookies took about 13 minutes to cook, but depending on the size of your cookies the time can vary. You'll also find that the cookies don't look cooked when you first take them out of the oven, but if you leave them to cool for 10 minutes or so they will set and harden up. 

And voilà, you are done! I always like to try cookies new from the oven once hardened as I find they are so lovely when eaten warm. These cookies are also amazing eaten cool and they stay fresh for a long time if kept in an air tight container. Ours were all gone in our household after two days though!

If you decide to make these cookies, let me know how they turn out!

"Where there's a whisk, there's a way." - Unknown

Lots of love,

Lily