Collections | Necklaces

Happy Friday!!!
It's been a while since I did my first Collection post. Today I will be showing you a small section of my necklaces and where I store them.

Enjoy!

I own a very large closet, with a lot of pre-made holes (for more shelves that is). I couldn't find a nice place to put my necklaces, and didn't want to lay them down and get them all tangled. I used hooks and secured them in the holes. On the right ride, there are 9 or 10 hooks secured underneath each other. The necklaces I put here are the ones I use the most. The two hooks on the left side are for the ones I never wear. These are the more bolt ones, with bright colours. These are also the ones that are very heavy to wear around my neck for a day...

I have been really into shorter necklaces lately. Since I started working at a clothing store, I had to wear appropriate clothing. I started wearing tops with a collar, but thought it was boring without something 'extra'. The top necklace was the first shorter necklace I ever bought, and I still wear it on a regular basis. Not only when I wear tops with collars, it looks great on a normal top too (both high and low cut)!

The second one is a bit different. Long story short: I saw it a couple of months ago in Primark, but was in a hurry so I couldn't buy it. In the beginning of December I came back, with more time and the hope it would still be there. It was, so there was not a change I was going to let it slip! It also was the last necklace, so I felt very lucky :)

The third and last short necklace is from Selfridges. I think it's from an H&M stand, but I am not really sure! It looks very shiny, and heavy. The shiny is true, it can make an all black outfit a lot brighter by putting this on. And it's not heavy at all! What I also really like about this one is that it has different parts, so it is stronger than it would be if it was one whole piece. The multiple parts also form around your body, giving it an even nicer look and feel.

On to the longer necklaces. I have a few more that I wear, but they have very slim laces, that I wasn't able to photograph in a decent way... These two are the ones I wear most, especially the bottom one. The top one is (again) one that I have been looking for for over a year, and finally found. It is breaking down a little, so I don't want to wear it too much. I hope it will last a lot longer than my last one (yes, this is the second one. The lock on the first one snapped as I left the train, and it disappeared on the train station).

The wing necklace is very important to me. I won't go into much detail, but it reminds me of my grandpa and of the family weekend I had a few years back with my parents and brother in Paris. Which is where I bought it. I still really love it. It is missing one stone in de middle, but I am not planning on replacing it.

Do you wear a lot of necklaces or other accessories? 

Love, Danielle

London Haul 2 | Boots, Forever 21, Selfridges, H&M

                                

When I went to London in June, I spent as much money as I could in the four days that I stayed there. Last time, I did have a budget. I wasn't able to go in to a Boots store last time, strangely one of the things I wanted if I ever went there again. I did have a bit of a splurge there, but in my defence, they were all on my list! I went in prepared: THE frist night we wen tot à little Boots store near St. Pauls Church, and I got their Christmas special. It took me a couple of nights to make a list of what I wanted. On the last day, we went to Picadilly Circus, what we thought was a big
 Also, I went to my favourite clothing store in the world: Forever21. Last stop (where I actually bought something) was Selfridges.

Soap and Glory had a 2+1 promotion! There was another 2+1 promotion on all Christmas-selected products. I have heard a lot of positive things about Soap and Glory, so I wanted to make sure I bought some and see for myself! They don't sell it in the Boots stores here, and it was actually pretty hard to decide what products I wanted to try. I love body scrubs, so the Sugar Crush was the first pick. I like the smell a lot, which is why I chose the normal sized pot. And who doesn't love hand cream?

Another beauty product that is not available in The Netherlands yet, lip crayons! (Yes, they are available now. When I went to London the only ones were from Clinique, and I was not willing to pay over 30 euro for it) The Ted Baker crayons were boxed in the sweetest tin!!
The lip crayons from Ted Baker are a little bit glossier then the crayons from Seventeen, but the Seventeen crayons seem to have a higher pigmentation... Hmm.. (I will be doing a blog post on both soon!)

Next thing I picket up are clear elastics. Like all of the above products, no where to be found here... There is not a lot to say about this. Only that they are very easy to use, and I am able to wrap them around my hair 3 times. They are very strong and I love wearing them!

Tangle Teezer!!! I love it. I was never able to comb my hair after a shower (with 10 minutes left to get ready before I had to leave). This is another product I have seen a lot of people raving about, and I just needed to try it myself :)

On the first day, we went to Forever 21. 'In case you need some time to think about it' my mom said. She knows me better than I know myself, and she was right. MOVING ON! haha.

I should iron my clothes before snapping pictures...

I didn't go all out this time, but I did pick up the most comfy things! Sitting at home means I was staying in my PJ's a lot, and it got a bit boring. I don't own a one piece, so I mostly chill in my Pooh bottoms and H&M sweatshirt. The shirt is slightly oversized, and a bit shorter than normal on the bottom :) The legging in the warmestest thing I have ever worn, and I finally own a patterned legging. (White girl much?)

I bought this H&M necklace at Selfridges ;)  It's a short necklace, great to wear with a collared shirt! It's not really heavy and I like that it has different parts. The parts are being held together with small silver rings, making it more comfortable to wear (and less easy to snap into pieces).

Hope you liked it! I am really sorry for not posting it on Friday, my cousin was staying here for the weekend and I was helping my mum with getting the floor done in the garage.

Love, Danielle

Montly Favourites | November

November has gone by way too fast for my liking! In the months leading up to December (Christmas, snow and family time) I never feel useful :D I spend most of my time inside (as outside is WAY to windy for me) and read. 

In preparation of my November favourites, I had a hard time deciding if I wanted it to be a 'fashion' one or an 'all in one' favourites. I decided on the last one to give you the most complete look on what I have been loving last month. 

So without further ado, here are my November favourites!

Eyelash-curler by Primark
Ever since I have started using eyelash-curlers, I have been using one from Hema. I wasn't really loving it, and it would be ready for replacement after a month... As I was strolling through Primark a while ago, I decided to just give it a go. For only € 1,50 it was worth a try.. (the one I was using was €4,95)
I have been using this curler for two months now, and I absolutely love it! You do not need a lot of strength to get a good result, whereas my old one needed a few firm pushes to get the slightest result. I close the curler for 20 seconds, apply mascara right after and it will stay put all day :)

Black nailpolish by Maybelline

To me, wearing black nailpolish is not only for darker weather. I find myself wearing it throughout the year to finish an outfit or if I don't like my (too short) nails. 

In the winter months, I try to stay away from it as much as possible. I think black can give you a bit of a down feeling when the weather is not really 'fun' either. But... I have to admit that I still enjoy wearing this particular black. It's a shiny black, and the shimmer it has when applied, gives it a bit more sparkle than other black nailpolishes. 

I combine wearing this polish with a darker blue or a bright colour on one of my fingers. 

Blue cardigan by Primark

Trying to find a brighter colour when shopping for winter seemed like a good idea. That was until I actually went out and started looking for it. I bought this cardigan before the winter started, but looking for a bright colour was getting tough. Working in a clothing store, the comment I get most these days is 'Do you have any colour? All I see is dark red, black and brown' Which is true. I have been wearing this on days where it's really dark outside, just to brighten up my own day a bit by seeing colour.

Knit headband by Pieces (ONLY)
I am not the biggest fan of the cold temperatures (even though I love fall)... I do love accessories though! A few years ago these headbands were a trend, and I ordered a few of them on-line. Not having to go anywhere by bike, I didn't really use them and just wore them around the house :)
Having a job 20 minutes away by bike changed that. Whenever I have to go to work now, I pop one on my head and it keeps me nice and warm!

Chestnut Ugg boots by UGGs Australia

Living in The Netherlands, winters can be quite cold. When my feet experience cold temperatures, my toes will swell and feel like they are on fire. It's called 'wintertoes'. Unfortunately, this runs in my family and it was given to me as well. You can prevent this by wearing shoes with a rubber sole. I am aware that they are not be most beautiful shoes out there, but they are super warm and comfortable. Which is the only reason I bought them. (I want you to know that I had bought them before all the horror videos were showed about the way the sheep are treated!) As you can see on the picture, they are not brand new anymore. This will be the second or third winter I am wearing them :)  

What is your favourite thing from last month?

Love, Danielle

Collections | Nailpolish

Happy Friday!!! 

This week I want to kick of a beauty series, 'Collections'. In this series I will show you some of my collections (why the name you wonder ;) ) that involve beauty products or fashion accessories. Starting with the first collection today. Hope you all enjoy the series, and if you have any requests for a 'collection' post, let me know! 

When I was shooting for today, I thought it would be fun to count my nail polishes... It turned out to be a bigger task than I had hoped: I have over 40 different bottles!! Shooting all of them was asking time that I didn't have, so below are the ones that I use on a regular basis :)

All swatches show the coverage of one layer.

Without further ado, here is #1: Nailpolish

(l.t.r.) Hema #36 | W.I.C by Herôme Honolulu | Hema #10 | Maybelline #651 Cool Blue | Essie #93 Mezmerised

 I like blue nail polishes, because they go with a lot of different outfits. I personally like to wear the darker shades in Fall and Winter, and the lighter colours in summer.

(l.t.r.) W.I.C. Dakar | Hema #828 | W.I.C. Rabat | Sephora 'Let's Dance' 

Purple is my favourite colour, so every change I get I paint my nails with one of these. My all time favourite is the Sephora polish, because it was my first purchase when I was in Paris, France and painted my nails with it right after I bought it :)

Hema #12 | Rimmel 'Bare Necessities' | Hema #13 | W.I.C. Venice

I am a big fan of Nude polish. When my nails are short, have broken or are cracking, I put these on. If my nails are short, painting them a bright colour only attracts attention, which is something I want to avoid when it happens!
As you can see, the Rimmel Nude has the best cover after applying one layer.

W.I.C. Nairobi | Essence Grey

When I am wearing a grey polish, I mostly wear the W.I.C. nailpolish. My mom and I are calling it 'Elephant', because when you apply two layers, it has the same colour (which makes sense as it's called Nairobi, Kenya. With a lot of elephants...) The other grey is a darker grey, it's a more formal colour to me.

What are your favourite colours?

Love, Danielle

Monthly Favourites | October

Another month has passed (two if you count September without a favourites) which means it's time for a monthly favourites :)  I have been trying a lot of new products in October, so let's get started!

Normally this product is priced around €9,-, but I picked it up at Action for €0,90

Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts Scrub. I am a big fan of Clearasil to clean my face and (hopefully) clear it from pimples. I had run out of my usual (Wash & Mask for Spots and Scars) and came across this scrub. I personally love scrubs for my body, but am more cautious when it comes to my face because my face is more sensitive. I have been using this one for a few months now, and I absolutely LOVE it. I use this in combination with my other Clearasil Wash, and it makes my skin feel really soft and it reduces pimples very effectively. 

The only thing I am still not used to, is the smell. It doesn't stink, but it has a different scent than I expected. It smells like avocado, so if you like that it's a catch! 

Nivea Body Lotion Douche. This is one of the new products from Nivea, it's a body lotion to be used in the shower. It saves time, because you can get dressed right after showering. 

I really liked using this as it got colder outside, and my skin needed to be taken care of. I apply is after my shower gel, and leave it on my skin for one of two minutes (the time it takes to put conditioner in my hair). Wash off and my skin feels softer already! The soft feeling stays for two days, and I can feel a difference in my skin after using it for a while. My skin feels like it's better hydrated and sheds a lot less.

I got this as a gift from when I passed school (in June.....) but haven't tried it out because there was bad press going around. The news and internet claimed that people fell over in the bathroom after using this product and that the packaging didn't alert people. I got around to trying it (and found the alert on the packaging) and made sure my bathroom floor was dry and clear before stepping out. I haven't had problems with that at all!!

Garnier BB Cream. I have been wanting to try a BB cream ever since it became a 'thing'. School and work always having my time, I never really found time to try it, sadly :( So I was very excited that SALE season came along, and no school to take all my time, I ran to the store and bought it. I first went online and read over 20 reviews about BB cream and which one would be best.
I found this one and I am very happy with it :) My pimples are less red, almost gone, my under eye circles seem lighter and the overall coverage is great. When you apply it, you can see that you applied it, but 10 minutes later your skin and the cream have blended and it looks very natural.

Fleece socks. I am very cold, very easily. Whilst strolling through Primark a few weeks ago, I came across these socks. They have fleece on the inside (and happy design on the outside) and keep me extremely warm :)

Notebook. I am a person to make lists of everything. Everything? Everything! I write down what I want to do, what I think about some things, what I want to buy and so on.
I am currently working on a project with my cousin, and all that I have to do is in my notebook. Who I have to call, who I have to email.... And as I am in the middle of planning my year to Australia, my packing list and my list of gadgets are to be found in my notebook. What I still need to purchase, what I already did. My brainstorming for my blog, not to forget, is in the back of my notebook. Apart from everything else, so I am able to write down some ideas faster.
I love this one because it has an elastic band to keep it closed when it's in your bag. (Yes, I take my notebook with me. You never know when you can get inspired!! Or need to write something down)

What are your favourite things this month? 

Love, Danielle

Happy Halloween !!!

Hope everyone celebrating has a great time!

What are you doing this year? Costumes or carving a pumpkin?

Love, Danielle

Winter essentials

The dark days have started, and the need to feel comfortable in your room (or house) is getting stronger. I've put together a small list of things that I do every year to make my bedroom more 'winter appropriate'.

Lights. Last year, I bought Christmas lights and hung them on my wall. They go all the way across the top of my wall. I love how the lights are not very bright, so it creates a nice atmosphere.

Blankets. The darker months are also the colder ones (duh!). I get cold very easily, so as soon as it's getting dark outside, I am on the couch with a blanket. A definite must for winter! I have to blankets, matching the cushions.

Fuzzy socks. Another must if you are cold very easily or if your blood circulation is slower! Feet lose most of your body's warmth, which means that cold feet ends up with being cold... Nobody wants to be cold, so keep your feet warm and cozy :)

Hand cream. My hands need a bit of extra care throughout the year, but during winter they need a lot. I have dry hands (stay hydrated everyone!) and use cream on a daily basis. I normally use Dove essential nourishment, but during winter seasons I use Neutrogena. Neurtrogena is a more intense hydrating cream, and perfect for winter!

What are your winter essentials??

Love, Danielle

DIY: Natural Waves

Hi everyone!

This blog has been a place for me to try many new things (try product photography and creative writing). Today, I am continuing to put up 'new': myself. In all my other posts, whether it is a lookbook or review, I have never showed my face. 

A few days ago someone saw my blog and told me it would be fun to do a DIY, and as I am always working on my hair... Here it is!

Below the pictures is a small description of the steps.

12. The tools you'll need is a curling iron, a comb, one hairband and normal holding hairspray. I didn't use a heat protector on my hair because my iron is ceramic, so my hair doesn't burns.

1. Start by parting your hair in the center. 

2. I personally prefer to braid one side of my hair. This will keep that side from mixing in with the side your curling.

3. Comb the side that you are going to curl with the comb.

4. Start taking small sections of hair, starting by your face, and curl it around the curling iron away from your face. As you can see, I am using the iron 'upside down' to create a natural wave.

5. Take a new section and curl it the same way as your first: away from the face. You can hold your finger at the end of your hair to feel if your hair as warmed up. If so, you can let you of your hair and let the curl off the iron. If not, wait for a few more seconds. (30-40 seconds works for me, a section or 2 cm, I have think hair)

6. Once you've curled one side, do not brush the curls out. Start on the other side using steps one to 5. 

7,8. Both sides when done curling. I curled the hair more on the back in bigger sections, to make the waves bigger. I find this gives a nicer, more casual effect.

9. Spray some hairspray on the top and bottom of you hair. Spray from a little distance to avoid a 'glued together' look.

10. When spraying the bottom, scrunch your tips upwards.

11. The result :)

I do not comb my hair once I've curled it. My hair is heavy, so combing it will only comb out the curls. You can of course comb them! Combing it creates one big wave in the middle of your hair. try both and see which one you like best!

Please let me know in the comments what you think, and if you would like to see more of these posts on here :) I would love to see pictures or responses of your hair after trying this!

Review | Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

This month there will not be a monthly favourites because I have only been really using one product over the last month. The reason for only having one product is that I have not been going out a lot. The inter-webs kept me occupied for the majority of this month!! Whenever I did go out (I do not live in a cave, I promise (: ), I just used my basic make-up products.

The reason I wanted to write a review about this cream is because there are a lot of reviews about it. Weird? No. There are so many, but I sadly couldn't find one that told me everything. So I want to write a review that answers all of your questions before buying the product! 

So let's get started!!!

Why did I buy Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream?
I have a love-hate relationship with my lips, and all lip products I have used in the past. My lips tend to get very dry, sensitive en eventually end up chapping. Not only would it look unhealthy, it would hurt!
As I said, I have been trying a lot of different lip balms or creams that claim to 'hydrate on a new level'. Sadly, none of those products worked for me.

A while ago, a few of my favourite beauty bloggers were raving about Elizabeth Arden. They all said it was amazing and worked wonders on their skin or lips. It is a more pricey product, so I wanted to be sure it would help my lips before purchasing! I read a lot of reviews, video's and tutorials. All of them said the same thing: It was amazing! 

I had seen enough and got curious to find everything out by myself! When I went to buy it, the sales manager told me it could be used for almost anything. It can be used on dry hands, little blemishes, dry skin in general, on the lips and even as a make-up highlighter!

Expectations
I hoped it would make my lips more hydrated without having to put it on every second of the day. I hoped I could apply it when it was needed, not because my lips were 'addicted' to it. (My old lip balm held paraffin, a substance your lips can get addicted to.)
I knew it was on the more expensive side of make-up products, so I wanted the product to last me for a longer period.

Packaging

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream is the legendary, award-winning skin protectant that does more than soothe sun-burned skin, rehydrate chapped lips, and heal rough elbows and calluses. It’s also the secret that makeup artists all over the world use for keeping legs, lips and eyelids shiny; eyebrows in place; and cuticles perfectly manicured. - http://www.elizabetharden.com/

Results
I started using it right away, and after a day of applying it, my lips already felt better! My lips were less sensitive, less chapped and they had gotten their colour back. After using the cream for a few days, my lips were healthier, I only had to apply it when going outside or when I felt my lips were getting dry. I have been using the 8 Hour Cream since the beginning of September, and the only times I apply it now is when I am going outside or when I go to bed.
You do not need a lot of product when you apply it, a dot the size of a pea is enough for my lips, so it will last longer than most lip balms.

Conclusion
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream is a multi-functional beauty product that can be used for it's hydrating features as well as it's shiny features. The cream hold no parabens or paraffin, and can be applied whenever needed. The cream has lived up to it's expectations, and has worked wonders for my lips.
The price is higher than most lip products, but the results that it brings can not be compared. The price is absolutely worth the product!

For a full look on the 8 Hour Cream collection, check out the official website here.


I hope you gained a little bit more knowledge and all your questions were answered!

Do you own a product by Elizabeth Arden or do you know a good lip balm? Let me know in the comments below :)

Love, Danielle