Mac's new Love Me Lipstick

The wonderful people at Mac have brought out a new lipstick. I have to say, I am a bit of a makeup fanatic! I love trying new products. This latest lipstick is called the Love Me Lipstick and I stopped at a makeup counter yesterday in House of Fraser to try it.

It is great! The lipstick has been designed to feel really soft on your lips. It is a weightless argan oil-infused lipstick, which is why it feels so gentle. That said, I found that it also really delivered on colour. I tried a bright red shade because I love statement lips at the moment. It looked fabulous and lasted for hours. Definitely one I want to recommend :)

You can buy it here: https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13854/68146/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/love-me-lipstick#!/shade/My_Little_Secret

Ideas for spring break by Patricia Bech

If you are thinking about planning a spring holiday, there are plenty of places to consider. It is important to think about whether you want to enjoy some Easter skiing at a ski resort, plan to head off to find some sun or simply want a change of scenery and to embark on a city break. I have lots of ideas of places to visit over at my Patricia Bech Travel Notes.

I always like to have some type of getaway planned for early in the year. After a long winter in the UK this year and putting up with the stormy conditions, it is nice to have something to look forward to.

Paris is among the recommendations by Patricia Bech for a Spring break

If you are looking for a few quick ideas to explore, here is a summary of some of my favourite places to visit early on in the year:

• Skiing in Europe: With France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy all on the doorstep, there are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy some snow before it is too late. 
• Sunshine in Morocco: Marrakesh is particularly appealing in spring because you will find a warmer temperature and also a healthy dose of culture. 
• Romance in Paris: Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. It is a lovely place to visit in spring and also not too far away. 
• Fun in the Caribbean: The weather is still nice and warm in the Caribbean come spring and it is just ahead of the stormy season, so make the most of the climate before it turns. 
• Lovely London: If you don't want to leave the UK but still want a mini break, then London is lovely for a city escape. There is so much to do in the city. 

You can get some more inspiration at the Patricia Bech Travel Notes or by following me on Twitter.

Rain, rain go away!

Today it is another raining day in the UK. I am sat inside longing to be able to do some nice outdoor activities. Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis were just awful and now it seems we have more wet and windy weather to cope with. Here are some ideas for things to do when it rains:

• Baking: I love baking a cake but I never have time to do it. So when it is wet and windy outside, it is the perfect opportunity to head to the shops and get some ingredients to cook a nice cake. Chocolate cake, fairy cupcakes or flapjack are some of my favourite things to bake. 
• Watch a movie: The miserable weather is perfect for staying cosy on the sofa and watching a movie. I love rom coms and they will definitely warm your heart at this time of year.
• Read a book: Again, this is something I never get much time to do. Starting a good book can be as good as watching a fun film. 
• A spring clean: Getting your apartment or house in order is a good thing to do when you cannot go outside much. I also find cleaning and organising quite rewarding. 
• Blogging: Obviously if you're a blogger then this is a great time to write something or catch up on articles! 

Valentine's Day is coming!

I have been pretty rubbish with my blog recently. My friends did warn me that blogging is very full on and you have to basically dedicate your whole life to it! I didn't realise how much of a task it is to keep one up to date all the time, so fair play to those who do it!

Anyway I can't believe that I am writing now when January is almost over. I hate the first month of the year. It is so gloomy and miserable. But now it is nearly over we have Valentine's Day to look forward to!

Here are a few of my ideas for a top date night:

•  A romantic dinner for two: It is always nice to get out of the house and go somewhere special for dinner. Some people don't like being surrounded by other couples, but I don't mind one bit! Whether it is a local pub or a high-end restaurant, I think it is nice to mark the occasion with a dinner cooked by a proper chef. 
•  A weekend away: This is more for people who want to splash the cash I guess and a change of scenery at this time of year will help with winter blues. You don't have to travel far though and even a one night break in the UK is enough to revitalise you at this time of year. 
•  The cinema: For movie fans, a night at the cinema is a treat. I actually like setting up my home as a cinema on a Friday night. Popcorn paired with a classic movie is something to look forward to. That said, nothing beats the real thing and the big screen is always a winner!
• The theatre: For those who don't like the cinema, take a look at the local theatre. This is such a traditional way to spend an evening and very romantic. It is a little bit different. 
•  A wine tasting: No Valentine's Day would be complete without a winetasting. Whether you go to a smart organised one in a venue, or try it at home, sampling different wines and Proseccos is a fun way to spend the evening. Laithwaites has a sale on a mix of bottles at the moment, which will start you off nicely! 

Christmas Songs and Shopping!

So, I have been caught up with studying a lot recently and haven't had much time to write my blog. But today I am taking a break from it all and enjoying the Christmas spirit. So I am writing in RED :) 

I currently have Christmas songs blasting in my room. The classics really are the best. I love all of the old school hits and they just get you in the mood for the festive season.

I have been busy doing Christmas shopping too and looking online for gifts to buy. I LOVE Not on the High Street - it is such a good website. You can get loads of stuff that you wouldn't normally come across. This is actually one of my top shopping websites for Christmas and a tip for people stuck on present ideas. You can sort through the stock really easily and they have great ideas for 'her' and 'him'.

There is also a whole section dedicated to Secret Santa. This is super handy because I always get stuck on this. Whether you're doing it with class mates, in an office or a sports club, there is a great selection on Not on the High Street. You can check it out here!

Father Christmas or Santa Claus?

 I have been thinking recently about how early Christmas starts. Now don't get me wrong - I love it! I am a festive queen!!

One of the things I have noticed recently is that in England people now use the term Santa as the way of talking about the big man! It used to be Father Christmas and I am wondering if this is a trend that has come from America?

Comment below if you have any ideas! I don't want 'Father Christmas' to go out of a fashion, so I am sticking with that this year!! :)

Christmas Ads!

Yes! The Christmas Ads have started! I was watching Celebrity X Factor last night and saw a couple of the big ones for this year. The Walkers advert has one of my favourite songs of all time in it and features the one and only Mariah Carey! It is brilliant and apparently she made £9million from doing it!

I am also loving the Aldi advert, which has the song Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams. Apparently it is a bit of a mystery whether he actually sings this version as Aldi have not confirmed it yet, but it sounds identical so it must be him!

I can't wait to see the John Lewis ad. This is the one I always look forward to and they normally do a brilliant job. Hopefully it will be out soon and I will be able to blog about it!

It's nearly time for mince pies!

OK so I know it is only November, but I get so excited about Christmas. It seems to start much earlier these days and I am seeing lots of talk online about Christmas Trees going up and the shops already have loads of Christmas stock in.

Mince Pies are some of my fav things to eat in the whole wide world! You can make mince pies at home but let's face it, this is very time consuming. There are some yummy ones that you can buy, but also some dreadful ones! My advice is to go for good quality pastry.

The mince pies from Waitrose looks so yummy

I recently saw these All Butter Puff Pastry Mince Pies from Waitrose and I can't wait to try them. M&S also do amazing Mince Pies and I always stock up on them for December. They are such a nice treat for friends and family when they come to visit.

Also they are great to enjoy with drinks, whether it is red wine or coke and rum - whatever takes your fancy! I often take them over to people's houses during December as everyone loves a mince pie. Even if it is as a mid-morning treat with a cup of tea.

I don't know how I am going to resist all the amazing Christmas food this year. I love it all! Chocolate, Christmas Dinner, Mince Pies (obviously)… you name it!!

Christmas Jumper Season is nearly here!

I love everything about Christmas. Especially Christmas Jumpers! I have already seen a few in the shops and they are already out on the rails. I can't believe it is nearly time to get into the spirit! I have also been looking online. I found this gorgeous one on the Topshop website and it has been reduced to only £15.

I am going to post some more of my fav ones as we get closer to December but I couldn't resist sharing this one now. It is quite classy though, which may not suit everyone's festive needs! As I know some people like to go full on Christmas with their jumper! Any why not?!

Bonfire Night: Stay Safe on the big night!

I love Bonfire Night so much! It is such a great time of year and I am glad that we have something to look forward to after Halloween. I know quite a few displays took place at the weekend. Tomorrow is the official day for celebrating though! 

If you are planning a Bonfire Night extravaganza at home or going to a friend’s house for fireworks, then it is important to stay SAFE! I have read about some horror stories when it comes to fireworks going wrong and it is definitely something that we should all respect. 

Here are a few tips for staying safe on Bonfire Night: 

1. Only use fireworks that have been officially marked (there is a CE mark to look out for)
2. Always treat the fireworks carefully: follow the instructions, keep a safe distance and never point them near your face of anyone else’s face
3. If you smoke or have friends that smoke then it is best to tell them to stop for the display as naked flames can be dangerous
4. If you are having a bonfire then don’t be tempted to use petrol as it can get out of hand very quickly!
5. Always make sure your fire is out and the fireworks are dormant before finishing up and leaving a site

Stay safe but ENJOY it everyone!

Beauty Bloggers that I love

Some of my favourite websites to read are beauty blogs. There are so many good ones to chose from and I love watching makeup tutorials. I think they are so helpful and I love trying new looks.

I also like to find out about new products that I can try and home, especially skincare brands. Here are some of my favourite Beauty Bloggers to follow:

Fleur de Force (Fleurdeforce.com)
Ruth Crilly (amodelrecommends.com)
British Beauty Blogger (britishbeautyblogger.com)
Really Ree (reallyree.com)
Lily Pebbles (https://www.lilypebbles.co.uk/category/beauty)

My favourite things about November

I love the start of a new month as there is always something exciting around the corner. For me, November is super exciting because it is the last month before December. And December is probably my absolute favourite month of the year! Mainly because it is Christmas. I guess most people love Christmas right? I have never met anyone that doesn't. Anyway, before I start talking about Christmas all the time, I wanted to do a post about a few of my favourite things in November.

Bonfire Night

Halloween is so much fun and when it passes I sometimes get that feeling of emptiness. But not for long because Bonfire Night is just around the corner. I love fireworks and going to a display. It is such a fun occassion. 

The start of Christmas Markets

Ok so I promised I wouldnt talk too much about Christmas but you can never be too prepared! Lots of Christmas Markets get going at the end of this month, which means you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping. I love Winter Wonderland and Hyde Park. 

Black Friday

While on the topic of shopping, we have Black Friday to look forward to this month! I love getting bargains in the sales so this a real highlight for me. 

The climax of Autumn

I always think that nature saves the best until last at this time of year. November is when the trees look their absolute best and the colours are fantastic. It is the last month of Autumn before everything starts to look bare for winter. 

A Prosecco Christmas Decoration... yes please!!

So who doesn't like some fizz during the festive season?!! I am a huge Prosecco fan. Well on special occassions that is! And when better than Christmas to pop a cork.

I found this amazing Christmas tree decorations on the Topshop website! I am going to get about 10 so that you can clearly seem them on my Christmas tree. They are brilliant!

Top 5 Christmas Movies I Love

Christmas is nearly here!

There is nothing better than sitting down and watching a Christmas movie. Even if you live in a county with no snow, a Christmas movie will definitely get you in the mood for the festive season.

I love Home Alone (obviously, I mean who doesn't?!) but there are some other great ones too. Here are some of my fav festive films...

• Home Alone (number 1 of course!!)
• Love Actually 
• Elf (so funny!)
• A Christmas in New York
• Bridget Jones's Diary

So get your Christmas PJs on an snuggle up under the duvet to enjoy the best Christmas films ever! 

Interiew: Patricia Bech, Travel Blogger

Blogger in the Spotlight: Patricia Bech

As part of my blog I want to feature some other writers and bloggers that I love by doing Blogger in the Spotlight style of articles and some features that also recommend Top 5 bloggers in certain areas like beauty for example. Patricia Bech is one of many people who inspired me to start writing and I love her travel website. She writes only about travel, whereas I like to write about pretty much anything! That said, I wanted to pick her brains for some blogger tips and do a little interview for Lifestyle Loves.

Patricia Bech writes about travel

Patricia, why did you start blogging?

I love writing and I love travel. Starting a travel blog was a way for me to mix both of these interests. I love to explore new places and write about my experiences. A blog is a great way to keep a diary but also to write about lots of different hidden spots around the world. I also thought it would be nice to share tips with readers. I love browsing the internet for ideas and reading about the experiences that other people have can be so helpful for when you plan a trip yourself.

Do you only write for your Patricia Bech Travel Notes?

No, I don’t only write for my own website and I am always looking for opportunities to write for different publications. The Patricia Bech Travel Notes are published on my main blog website but I also write for other blogs as well. This is a really good way of getting more experience as a writer and it is something that I have wanted to do to build my CV. I have written for A Luxury Travel Blog. A Luxury Travel Blog has a huge social media following so I was really excited about having the opportunity to write for this publication. I have also been lucky enough to write an article for TravelExpert.org.uk and these types of opportunities are great.

Patricia Bech also writes for A Luxury Travel Blog and other publications

Where is your favourite place to visit?

This is a very hard question. Too hard in fact! There are so many places that I like to visit all over the world. I also like to experience different cultures and weather conditions and I don’t really have any situation or location that I prefer. That said, I do love beaches and some of the coastlines in Europe are beautiful, especially Italy. But, like I said, I love lots of different environments and snowy countries are just as appealing as those with tropical climates. Big cities like London and New York are also a big draw for me, but I have been to some really remote villages too that are so pretty.

Is there anywhere in particular that you would like to visit?

I love social media because you often see pictures from places that you haven’t visited and it is such a great way to get inspiration. Twitter is my favourite and when I scroll through my own Twitter feed, I often see photographs of Bora Bora. They are also on my Instagram feed alot too! It makes me turn green with envy! It looks so amazing. There is beautiful sea and also some beautiful mountains. This place is definitely on my bucket list and I would really love to visit. However, I think I would need to make it part of a bigger trip and go to some other countries on the way. This would be great for the Patricia Bech Travel Notes as it could work as a little tour. I think it would be fun to do a diary of a larger trip and take in some other countries on the way.

Patricia Bech loves visiting new places and is especially fond of the beach

What is your advice to new bloggers?

Blogging is so much fun and I think that is the most important thing to keep in mind. If you want to start blogging then it should be because you really enjoy writing. For me, it is very much a passion and so I love every minute of it. Blogging is really popular nowadays, so if you want to stand out from the crowd then you need to concentrate on creating very unique content and perhaps doing something different. Sometimes I think that people can underestimate how much of a commitment blogging is and if you want to establish yourself as an influencer then you need to be very dedicated.
However, if you are doing it as a hobby then I would suggest that you just approach it to enjoy it. Afterall it is a great way to express yourself and you can be very creative. You can take your blog wherever you want to take it and you shouldn’t limit yourself. I love blogging and although it is a very busy community, I have found the other bloggers to be very friendly and helpful. You can make some great contacts and also communicate with an audience from all over the world. It can be a hobby that takes your life and travels in a whole new direction!


Thanks Patricia for some great advice and an insight into the world of travel blogging. You can follow the Patricia Bech Travel Notes on her website and she is also on social media too, so make sure to check her out!

Mac's Taste Of Stardom Lipstick Kit

Lipstick Love

Mac are the best

I love a good lipstick and I also love Mac products, so I had to share this great product that I have come across from one of my favourite beauty brands. 

As soon as I discovered Mac as a brand I fell in love with it. I use the whole range, including mascara, bronzer, eyeliner... you name it and I use it! 

I am definitely one of those girls who can't leave the house without makeup on. One of the products that I always carry with me without failure is lipstick. Even if you forget everything else, lipstick is the one thing I always take with me. 

And Mac is my go-to product of choice. Obviously because I just love this brand so much. If you have never tried it before then the Taste of Stardom Lipstick kit is just amazing. It gives you the chance to try lots of different shades and colours. There are none less than 12 shades that you can try and many of them are the best-selling ones. 

This is not a cheap product by any means but I really do think that you get a lot for your money. So it is worth getting it!

Happy Halloween

Seeing as it is Halloween today, I simply have to write a post about it. I love Halloween because it is such a fun occassion. I remember as a little child really looking forward to Trick or Treat. It is great fun with your friends.

One of the things I love best is dressing up for Halloween. I have tried everything spooky over the years including the must do skeleton outfit. I have also been to some fun parties where you dress up as anything and not just something scary. One of my favourite outfits was Barbie! It is kind of easy to do as you can wear a blonde wig and go all out with everything pink!

This year I have decorated the house with friends. I found these cute little pumpkin lights from John Lewis. They are great and they weren't even that expensive.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog! I love writing and so I thought I would start a blog as a hobby. I am a student and this really is just a bit of fun. Who knows where it will take me! The name of my blog is Lifestyle Loves and hopefully this gives you a clue as to what I will be writing about.

Basically, I am going to write about everything that I love in life. This means I am not limited at all and I will cover everything from fashion to travel, animals and much much more!

Stay tuned to my blog over the coming weeks for some of my favourite things, as well as ideas, experience and products that I want to talk about.

I have been planning my blog for a while so I have a few articles on standby that are ready to go and I want to try and keep it up-to-date as much as possible.

:) Jen xx