2018 || WHAT'S HOT THIS SPRING/SUMMER - WHAT TO WEAR & NEW TRENDS

In my previous post, I had mentioned that I was recently gifted with a few goodies from Tobi. This outfit includes 2 out of 3 items I was sent and I cannot stress enough to you that the quality of these clothes is absolutely phenomenal. I wasn’t expecting them to be as true to size either as usually I find that some 10’s are either too tight in certain places and too loose in others. 

It’s so hard to find a denim skirt that will fit all body shapes. I struggle with finding one that fits nicely around my waist but isn’t too big on my hips as I do prefer a tight fit. This cute That Thing You Do denim skirt is very stretchy and has enough room for me to feel comfortable even after having a big meal (I'll have 2 pizzas and 4 doughnuts pls). I know for a fact that I’ll get a lot of wear out of it this spring & summer, and I seriously think that I need it in other colours too… This skirt can be dressed up with a button shirt and a pair of strappy heels or dressed down with an oversized t-shirt and a pair of trainers.

This Same Old Love off-the-shoulders lace crop top is very in season right now. You’ve probably been seeing them everywhere since last year but this time you definitely need one in your wardrobe. As you can see, this is a different style of a Bardot top as it has 3/4 sleeves which are very flattering for top-heavy gals like me. I don’t really like to have my arms out much but because this top covers up the bits I dislike, it makes it easier for me to feel more confident while wearing off-the-shoulder tops.

This top can be worn with a pair of high waisted jeans for a dressed down look or a midi skirt and kitten heels for a special occasion. I would also pair it up with a cute round shoulder bag and maybe even a flowery headband if I was going to a festival or on a holiday.

You can shop these items here: Top & Skirt. I'm wearing size 10/M and still have a little more room for food ;)

*I was sent some clothes by Tobi in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored post but does include some affiliate links. All opinions are honest and my own. The photographs were kindly taken by my talented sister.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || February Favourites

Good Morning Everybody!

I hope your week hasn't been too bad and that you're enjoying the second week of March! It's Easter soon! I can't wait to receive lots of chocolate eggs! Hehehe ;)

Today I will share with you my February favourites - there isn't a lot of them and they're all from one shop, but they are oh so exciting!

So as you can see I have loved Stila's Lipgloss and One Step Illuminating Bronzer, as well as Oscar De La Renta's sunglasses - the cases I was given were the only ones they had left at TKMaxx, but I'm not complaining as they are genuine Valentino cases and they are super soft!

The sunnies were only a whooping £14.99 each!! What a bargain!! They were both reduced from £100+, whereas the make-up items were below £5 each. I think I've fallen in love with the shop!

I would definitely recommend any of Stila's makeup products as I've never been disappointed with any of the ones that I own - and trust me when I say that I do have a big collection! 

What have you been loving this February? Have you shopped at TKMaxx before?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2015 || March Favourites

Hey beauties!

How are you all? I'm still recovering from my recent surgery so I've had a lot of time to take photographs of some products I've been loving this month, so keep on reading and stay tuned for more posts!

So, as you can see all of the products I've been obsessing are skin care related and are all very affordable so any of you can go and buy them. I'm not entirely sure about the availability in other countries, but nearly every shop in the UK stocks these products. Okay so let's get to it!

Sure Maximum Protection Compressed Deodorant has been introduced earlier on last year I think, and this is the only one from the entire range that I've actually liked for its long lasting effects and the scent. It is aloe vera scented and infused so not only does it smell good - it does good to your skin too. It leaves my underarms feeling smooth and hydrated while it works wonders on keeping the odour away.

Garnier Fresh Eye Make-up Remover has been my holy grail this month as I suffer from dry and sensitive skin and I never take my make-up off before going in the shower which I need to start doing!! This product has made my life a lot easier as it removes waterproof make-up and the mascara that I'm using at the moment is so hard to take off, and also the eyelash glue I'm using is permanently on my eyelids!! I highly recommend this product to people with sensitive skin and those who wear fake eyelashes on a daily basis because it does get rid of the glue and keeps your eyes tear-free!

Dove Go Fresh roll-on Deodorant smells a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! It leaves a cooling feel when you apply it, it's great for when you've just had a shower after a nice work out. It keeps you feeling fresh and ready to start your day and the scent is delicious!

Sure Invisible roll-on Deodorant is one that I use in the evenings or for when I go out as it doesn't leave any marks after using it and dries really quickly, so if you want to wear that LBD, you do so girl! It offers maximum protection for 24 hours (obviously nobody will need it for that long) but it's great for nights out especially as clubs do tend to get you hot and sweaty!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - now this is something every blogger has been raging about for the past few months. This is the first time I've repurchased a cleansing water and what can I say other than that I'm very impressed with this product and with what it does to my skin. It smells great, leaves my skin feeling clean and healthy and it's also hydrating so it's perfect for this kind of weather we've been having. If you use it before applying your make-up make sure you use a moisturiser with a subtle glow or a primer such as Prep&Prime from MAC as it gives a great glow to your face and you're instantly Spring photo ready!

Clean&Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is very good for oily skin types and those who get a lot of break outs. It cleanses your face completely out of all oils, dirt and blackheads as well as it prevents new ones from growing. You can feel the difference after the first use and this is definitely my favourite product out of the ones I've mentioned above as not only it gives me a cleansed feel/look but also moisturises my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and soft. It's great for using before bedtime.

What have you been loving this month? Have you tried any of the products above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Review || Pet Shop Bowl

Hello my lovelies!

How many of you has got a pet that they love to bits and would do anything to make them happy? Because my doggy is the best dog ever and I love her lots! She's a 3 year old German Shepard who's full of energy and loves to eat good food. Her name is Bella and she recently received a very generous parcel from www.petshop.co.uk.

As you can see, she was more than just eager to open up the goodies we received in the parcel. She was given a massive packet of dog biscuits, three portions of wet food and some dentastix for large breeds.

Can I please try some Maya, pleeeaaase?!

She was born to pose for pictures, what a cute little pumpkin.

She started drooling when she smelt the biscuits once I've opened the packet. She's such a good dog that I had to give her a treat as soon as the parcel arrived.

We received dog treat biscuits by Ovalis, Dentastix, lamb with rice and two portions of Turkey with rice. All of these products are full of protein and nutrients vital for your dogs' health. PetShop.co.uk also provide many more products suitable for all types of pets.

*This post contains gifted items by PetShop.co.uk. I am very grateful and delighted to have collaborated with this company and highly recommend it to all my pet loving readers.

Have you shopped at PetShopBowl before? If so then what products have you tried? If you have any questions about the products I received for my doggy then do not hesitate to write them down in comments below!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

DIY || Chevron Friendship Bracelet

Hi there beauties!

In today's post I will teach you how to make your own friendship bracelets. It will be described and shown on pictures. What I really like, is that you can choose your own colours and patterns which are quite easy to do! Summer is already here and I just feel like it's a must for me to share with you guys how to make your own friendship bracelets! (Sorry about the pictures not being so great, my camera was very out of focus!)

So here are two pictures of one of the bracelets that I have made.

 First of all, you need to measure out around 68inch of embroidery thread of at least three different colours. Then fold the pieces of string in the middle, just like it's shown in the picture above.

 Make a small loop, but big enough to tie when you're done with your bracelet.

 Separate the colours out so they are opposite each other. I have put the pink strings in the middle, the burgundy after and the black on top. The order will change every time you make a row of the pattern.

 Take the string on the right side and create a reverse 'L' shape over the string on the left.

                 

Then take the end of the 'L' shaped string and take it under the string and pull it through so it comes out on top.

 Then tighten the string on the top of the loop like this:

Now it is nice and neat.

Now carry on with the rest of the strings on that side.

 And then change the direction and do a normal 'L' shape an do the same.

This is what one of the sides should look like when done.

 And here is a snap of what a whole row looks like.

 Here you can see how the pattern is going to look so just carry on until you've reached the perfect length to go around your wrist/ankle.

 And this is how the bracelets should look like when finished :) I hope this wasn't too complicated, you can always watch a YT video on how to make a Chevron bracelet!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Review || TGI Fridays Restaurant

Hi guys,

Just a quick post today as I have been very busy revising for my exams. I don't want to disappoint any of you so I thought I'd do a quick restaurant review. Back in April, I went to quite a few birthday meals as my close friends were turning 18, and one of the restaurants I went to was TGI Fridays.

I really liked the décor as it was very 90's Las Vegas kind of style, which made me feel a bit like a rock star ;) The staff were very friendly and offered us a selection of menus and deals to choose from.

I chose grilled chicken skewers for the starter, I forgot to take a picture of it :( but, I chose the Club Chicken Sandwich for the main which was delicious as you can see above. I think I added a bit too much salt and pepper to my chips, but hey ho! The meal was very filling and tasty. I will definitely return there again, maybe even sooner than I think. :)

Here's a picture of the gorgeous birthday girl. She looked stunning in her white sheer top and high waisted leggings. She wore smaller heels than me, yet she was still about a foot taller! Oh the joys of being a hobbit!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Recent Purchases

Hello everyone!

It was finally pay day! I went out shopping to town with my little sister and got a few items for my holiday :)

This gorgeous statement necklace was a must-have.

A girl can never have enough jewellery!

I have way too many cheap pairs of Primark's sunglasses, but I just can't help myself! So many designs for so little money!

Cute little trainer socks. 3 pairs for £1.50

As I'm not allowed any piercings at work, I decided to buy fake nose rings. They look exactly like the real thing :)

Every glamorous girl needs a Samantha Jones hat in their life!

This A-line leather look skirt was reduced from £10 to £3!!

Flip flops for £1? Yes please! Also Primark's version of Toms for only £3? Well, why not?! :D

This bikini is from the same range as the blue and purple tie die one I bought last month. It's only £4 and look how glamorous it is!!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Review || MUA Matt Lipsticks in Fawn Fancy and Lilac Belle

Hiya my lovelies!

So, MUA's new collection has recently come out and I just had to go and buy the new matte lipstick! I bought Lilac Belle which is a pastel purple shade, and also Fawn Fancy which is a brown nude. I really love both of these colours!

MUA's packaging never fails to impress me. I own around 7 MUA lipsticks and the fact that they are only £1 each amazes me, but the packaging looks so professional it feel like a dream! You also get a mini lipgloss with each lipstick which in the actual bottom of the packaging. You just have to undo the coloured bit and voilla! An extra product in one!!

This lipstick looks more orange than brown in this picture, but I assure you that it comes out a lovely warm brown colour on the lips!

Sorry that the picture is quite blury, it was the best one out of the few I took! Here I swatched Fawn Fancy onto my hand. It looks quite shiny but believe me, it really isn't! It looks satin/matte on the lip.

I've not tried this lipstick on yet but I am very excited to match it up with a t-shirt or maybe some funky lilac socks? ;)

Here is a picture of Lilac Belle swatched on my hand. As you can see it's quite pigmented, but you do need to apply a few layers to get an intensive colour.

Thank you for reading guys! Hope to hear from you all again! :*

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Review || Benefit Hello Flawless powder

Hey guys,

As most of you already know, I'm a big fan of Benefit cosmetics, ant it hurts me to say that I was very, very disappointed with this product. I bought Hello Flawless powder in the shade ivory "I love me" back in January and I was very excited to try this product.
The staff who helped me with my order was very lovely, they even offered for me to apply this products before the purchase to see if I like it. Overall experience with visiting the Benefit counter at Boots was amazing, as always. However, this post is about the product, not the shopping experience.

As you can all see, the packaging is really unique, and rather modern. It's cute and girly, and the metallic effect makes it look like a mirror. It isn't too big so you can just chuck it in your handbag and carry it around to reapply during the day. I would say that the packaging is a very solid 9/10. Who doesn't love Benefits packaging? All products deserve a round of applause for looking extra high end and girly.

I know I should have taken pictures before I started using this product, but I din't know I was going to use it up so fast! This is what the powder looks like on the inside. It has a compact mirror already built in, which makes it even better as you don't have to carry a spare mirror with you whenever you go out. 

This is the second section in this product, which holds a sponge applicator and a face brush. This is truly the ultimate powder which every girl dreams of having! A 3 in 1 to be exact!

This is the back of the product, showing information about the shade and mass.

And last but not least, a photograph of the product swatched on my hand. I didn't rub it in properly so you could see the texture of the powder. It is velvet-smooth and very light in touch.

Now, here we get to the important part of the review. As you can see in the pictures above, I have used nearly all of the product up and there isn't much I can do with the rest of it as it's placed around the edges. The shocking part is that I only had this product for around a month or two. Usually a powder lasts me for at least 3 months, but I used this one up much faster than any other. The most disappointing thing about this product was that it wore out far too quickly and I had to reapply it at least 3 times a day to keep my face shine-free. I will definitely never buy this product again, unless Benefit improved it's use. The product itself does not deserve higher than 4/10 :(

I hope this post helps anyone who's unsure about buying this product! If you have any questions then don't be shy and drop a comment below :) See you soon lovelies!!

Lots of love,

Maya xo