Secret Santa Gift Ideas

If you work in an office, chances are you'll be getting involved in the tradition of secret Santa this Christmas. Secret Santa can be a bit of a minefield, especially if you end up getting someone who you don't know too well. These secret Santa gift ideas, all £10 or under.

Packing for holiday

For me personally, holiday mode starts with shopping and packing. My regular readers will know that I started my holiday shopping months ago, but it's the shopping for miniatures that really gets me excited. I don't know what it is about mini bottles of beauty products that makes me so excited, they just do!

My fabulous friend bought me the pink travel wallet as a birthday present a few years back and I just can't go on holiday without it. It's just perfect for holding onto passport, boarding pass and currency. If you don't have one already, get one!

My luggage is ALWAYS overweight so this time I am trying to lighten the load by rationing, and thinking realistically about what I am going to wear/use whilst I'm away. I think I've done quite well on the make up front and only packed the bare essentials.

Two more sleeps and then it's Ibiza here we come. Can't wait!!!

Beautiful Blackheath

Last weekend was the hottest of the year so far so I took the opportunity to visit one of my favourite towns, Blackheath. After a lovely lunch at Zero Degrees, my friend and I went for a little wander around the shops and through the park, and I couldn't resist a few snaps...

Whilst rummaging through a charity shop I came across this little beauty. The zip was broken so they let me have it for £3. I took it to the dry cleaners the next day and they fixed the zip for £11. I am so chuffed, this is literally my new baby. Just look at her, she is gorgeous!

I ♥ MAC

MAC is one of my all time favourite make up brands. Not everyone loves it but for me they are a God send. Trying to find foundation and powder to match dark skin tones is often a challenge in the UK but Mac have such a large range of colours that I always find something that suits me. I only popped in to pick up a new foundation as I was running low, but the skin care range caught my eye. As well as the foundation I also bought Mac Oil Control Lotion and Mac Fix+.

MAC Oil Control lotion
This comes in 50ml for £21.50 or 30ml for £12.50. I have been using it daily for a couple of weeks now and will definitely be repurchasing. I find that it's light enough to use in hot weather but rich enough for me to use when it gets colder. I let it sink in for a couple of minutes before putting on foundation and it helps to create a nice matte effect.

MAC Fix+
Where have you been all my life! This is my new favourite beauty product. MAC Fix+ is an aqua spritz that sets your make up making it last longer. The 100ml is £13.50 and the handbag size 30ml is £7.50. I use it in the morning after I have completed my base (foundation, powder, contouring, highlighter and blusher) and then do my eyes afterwards. The best bit about it is you don't need to re-touch your make up during the day! Instead, just spritz some more over your face to give you the 'just done' look. Little tip, hold the spritz at a distance from your face before you spray. Sounds obvious and probably is to most but I have almost zero sense of logic (I frighten myself at times) and the first time I used I held it too close and didn't close my eyes - error.

Holiday Shopping

I am off to Ibiza in September and I absolutely cannot wait! This will be my first holiday in over 12 months and to say I am in need of break is an understatement to say the least. I am terrible at shopping for holidays. I tend to leave it all to the last minute and get more excited about buying miniature beauty products than beach wear. This time round I'm determined not to spend the weekend before my holiday running round Topshop looking like a deranged sweating animal, desperately hunting down swimwear that won't leave me looking like Peppa Pig. Oh no, this year I am going to be organised, and I have already started - yay me! After a few hours traipsing round my local shopping centre, I impressed myself by picking up a few bargains.

This dress/tunic from Primark left me baffled and bemused when I saw it on the hanger. There was a rail full of them on sale for £5 and I'm not surprised they weren't shifting. At first glance I just couldn't work it out. The hanger was placed in the middle of the loop, leaving it looking like a very asymmetric and impossible to wear dress. It didn't help that the hanger string (you know - that little loop of black thread on the inside of tops/dresses so you can hang them up properly - hanger string - that's what I'm calling it) was on the opposite side of the non-existent shoulder. Fail. After taking it off the hanger and rotating it several different ways, I realised it was actually a one shoulder top. I was wearing black leggings at the time which went quite well together. Just need to add some wedges for a sexy clubbing outfit - good to go.

I am in love with this beach wrap. Just £12 from Matalan! I can so see myself wearing this with a floppy beach hat and monster sized shades, strutting about like the diva my vodka self thinks I am. It nips in at the waist with a drawstring to hide any post burger bulge of which I'm sure there will be many.

Here is the material in close up