Some of you were asking on Twitter what I got while out on Tuesday doing birthday shopping, I’m always a bit reluctant to do the whole “haul” thing as I don’t want anyone to think I’m boasting, but I know myself how much I love seeing what other people buy.
Please bear in mind though that birthday money was used to purchase everything, I only have a Saturday job and would never normally spend this much on cosmetics etc. It’s so much easier to spend other peoples money

So with all my excuses for my extravagance out of the way… voila!

Clothing, two empire style tops (perfect for hiding tummy and accentuating the boobies), the bow one (<3 bows) is from H & M and the coral one is from Dunnes, I have the coral top also in blue and grey, I’m that type of person, like it? Buy it in all available colours. Just call me Elton…

A pearl and gold effect bow necklace from Miss Selfridge & cute silver bow diamante earrings from Peacocks

A Hello Kitty make-up bag from Claire’s, this is my third? If I see one I just have to buy it, its an illness

The Laura Ashley storage drawer set from WH Smith, this is to hide all my pigments, palettes and Cream Colour Bases in, thanks to Bubblegarm who alerted me to the fact it was reduced

MAC brushes, namely the 136, 187 & 227 and also a refill of Wedge eyeshadow and I picked up Brulé which I have yet to try out. Matt nearly had a coronary when he heard the brush prices, however good brushes really are an investment if you look after them, especially in my line of work

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink, yet to try but always hearing its better than one of my favourites, Fluidline, so going to test that theory out

Chanel Bronze Universel, again bought due to the hype surrounding the product at the moment and the fact that I am STILL searching for my holy grail in regards to bronzer

A refill of my fave solid cleanser Lush Baby Face and a small bottle of the Tea Tree Toner Water which my friend Kelly recommended

Lashes, lashes and lashes…. check out the Miss Eyelure range, I’ve been using these in college and they are foolproof if you’re not so good with the falsies, pre-glued and take 2 secs to apply, super sticky and stay put all night. The little corner ones are amazing and sooo flirty.

Two Faced Shadow Insurance, just to try something different, I’m an UDPP gal when it comes to eyeshadow bases, but I’m always willing to be proved wrong

And finally some Maybelline Volum’ Express Mascara that was recommended by Anne Marie (I think) and a Rimmel brow pencil, cheap and cheerful!

Let me know if you have any experience with the products I picked up, suggestions on use etc

xoxox

I’m not sure whether it was done on purpose by MAC or if it was simply a little faux pas, but a few of us UK Twitterers found a little back door into the Hello Kitty collection at MAC last Wednesday.
Meaning we were able to order a full week in advance! Yay!! (this from someone who was for ordering nowt)

I had a disastrous miss with the MAC man on Friday afternoon though, waited in all day and he decided to call in the only ten minutes I left the house to collect my eldest from school! Aaaargh, was sooo frustrated. Thankfully my other half knows me and my obsession only too well and rescued Kitty from the depot on his way home

Initial thoughts , LOVE the packaging! None of your cheap sticker Dame Edna type packaging, this is the real deal, gorgeous glitter sparkle throughout the black plastic.

The pink itself is vibrant with gold glitter throughout, its finely milled though and could easily be worn day or nite. Pay off is very good so if you’re a bit of a milk bottle like myself, a light hand is recommended if you’re after a “subtle effect”

You’ve probably seen Tippy on the cheeks hundreds of times by now, so feeling a little bit naughty I’ve tried her out as blush, eyeshadow & liner….. have fun with your make-up

xox

A sheepish update…… I may have just by chance have found myself on the MAC website, and totally by accident found a shortcut via the sitemap to the Hello Kitty Collection, and then I don’t know quite what happened… its all a bit hazy…. hmmm, but it seems that I purchased Tippy blush… at least thats what the email receipt says…. damn website must have inputted all my debit card and address details…. I should probably complain….

It has for me anyway… Hello Kitty @ MAC launches next week and to be completely honest I’ve reached the stage where I don’t think I’ll be purchasing ANYTHING.

Why oh why do MAC leave so long between the US release dates and the UK. Is everyone that works in MAC still under the illusion we all communicate via morse code and carrier pigeon?

Fair enough, maybe a few years back when the YouTube community and beauty blogs weren’t as prevalent, sure then I can understand that MAC built a hype with a collection using the fact that us UK peeps couldn’t see many swatches, videos etc, the anticipation built and when we did eventually get it we spent shedloads.

However its 2009 MAC, we all talk to each other via blogs and YouTube is saturated with swatch and haul videos. Therefore we are party to good and bad reviews before the collection has even hit our streets. Things we thought were gorgeous and must haves simply become a bit samey and we start to see dupes for the colours in palettes & things we already own.

Like the Barry M 129 below which is a brilliant dupe for the Creme Team collection’s Lavender Whip, but less than a third of the price…..this has been all over YouTube, its not 100% the same, but its certainly a brilliant dupe and from the American’s that have both (yes, they have had TIME to get both by now), I hear its actually much more wearable because of the underlying pinky tone?
So who in their right mind can honestly say that Lavender Whip is still on their “to buy” list?!

Lavender Whip

Barry M 129

By the time we get to see the collection our list of £200 of products has been edited down to a much more restrained £50 if that.

So thanks MAC, you’re saving me money, pity for yourselves no-one seems able to spot the obvious error in your UK marketing strategy. I can’t help but picture MAC HQ as this old fashioned building with no windows, internet, light or telephones…..

xox

I haven’t had time to think never mind blog in the last few days, its just been go go go at this end.
My youngest son has been “especially” demanding lately but we seem to be coming out the other side of that little phase (thank god).

I managed to get out for a few hours on Friday night with friends and it was lovely to get glammed up, cute print dress from Topshop paired with red 40′s style Carvela heels (a dirt cheap Ebay purchase) that I adore and have got soooo much use out of.

Saturday I was meant to be at IMATs, but to be completely honest, I just couldn’t justify the cash that would have been required for flights, hotel, food and inevitably tons of make-up purchases. So I worked Saturday instead and earnt some more readies for the Hello Kitty @ MAC fund

Sunday I popped up to Forestside (a mall outside Belfast) and browsed for some bargain accessories. I completely refuse to spend money on expensive clothes at the moment, I just don’t see the point now that I am determined to shed the pounds. Therefore I have been focusing on the belts, scarves, bags, shoes and basically anything that adds to outfits I already have.
Below is a little peek at some of the deals I picked up including bargain boots from Clarks, the long ones were reduced from £79.99 and the short ones from £69.99!!! I love Clarks shoes, I have rubbish feet and their boots are unbelievably comfortable xo

Chainlink Hairband Blk & Gold New Look £4

Cream Leather & Chain Effect Hairband New Look £4

Chunky Waist Cincher Dorothy Perkins £5

Black Leather 3/4 Length Boots Clarks £23

Grey Leather Ankle Boots Clarks £23

With more pictures being released over at Specktra of the imminent Hello Kitty collection @ MAC, excitement is reaching fever pitch.

I adore the packaging, so kitsch, so spot on. I know plenty of people don’t agree and would have loved the predominant colour to be pink, but I think they had already worked that hue well with Heatherette.

I personally really like the black, Kitty gets sexed up!

OMG….. check out Kitty embossed into the lipsticks… *Scream*

MAC’s Monogram Collection was released in the US stores today. Tempted by anything?

The lip products in this particular collection are very bold & brave (some might say garish). Definitely not a collection aimed at the shrinking violets among us. Although Cheryl Cole should be pleased, she seems to have somewhat of a fetish for neon pinks at the moment!

The beauty powders look nice but the pressed powders don’t interest me at all as they all have frost finishes, severely unflattering for my cavernous pores.

And while I like the idea of the packaging, especially the monogrammed compacts, I think it has been badly executed and won’t appeal to everyone. There is way too much gold for me, all looks a bit ghetto girl crossed with my mums Oriflame & Yardley….. so I think I’ll be skipping on this and buying some extra Hello Kitty instead xox

Not long to wait now….

MAC Cosmetics has teamed up with Sanrio Global Consumer Products to create a Hello Kitty color cosmetics collection. The line will arrive in the UK late February/ March.

“MAC has been mining pop culture since the brand was founded,” said John Demsey, group president of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. “This is a sexy and innocent fashion line, and a true MAC moment. In these times, everyone can use a little fun — and a little Kitty.”

“The partnership was a no-brainer,” said James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC Worldwide. “We cater to people who love to play with makeup.”

While the 34-year-old Hello Kitty character is usually assumed to be a cat, she is actually a girl, according to Sanrio. And a girl without a mouth, so she “speaks from the heart,” the company said. “She may not have a mouth, but she’s going to sell a lot of lipstick,” cracked Demsey.

“To me, MAC Hello Kitty embodies the ultimate beauty icon,” said Jennifer Balbier, senior vice president of product development for MAC Worldwide. “She’s sweet and sexy, slightly edgy, and appeals to a wide range of customers. We wanted to reflect that through a sweet side, but also something slightly mischievous when it came to the colors. I started out by creating a palette of pinks, since they fit and always trend well in the spring. And this look is so much about the eyes that we did two eye shadow quads.” The Lucky Tom quad has violet blue, brown, gold and pink-coral shades, while the Too Dolly palette has mint, blue-silver, pale pink and magenta shades.

“We incorporated glitter eyeliners because she loves anything that twinkles, and we took the coral and hot pink theme and did pretty, poppy colored blush,” added Balbier.

While this collection is intended to have a sophisticated presentation, MAC hopes to appeal to younger fans with two shades of lip conditioners. There will be 2 different ranges within the collection as “We wanted to have affordable luxury and a high-low aspect, so it made sense to do the Hello Kitty Colour Collection and Hello Kitty Kouture,” said Demsey.

Apparently this will be an ongoing partnership with more Hello Kitty being added quarterly.

So, will you be buying??

I was on the fence with this one, there is a part of me that thinks, you’re approaching 30, married with kids and frankly not the poster child of Hello Kitty, but then I saw the media pictures and caved. I will definitely be purchasing a compact (at the very least), the packaging looks wicked!
Thank god for a birthday in March xox