HOBBS A/W14 Collection Preview

Whilst I am still awaiting my college grade results, I decided to go on a little trip to London where I was lucky enough to be invited to view the Hobbs AW14 Collection and it certainly lived up to it's name. We were let loose in the press room where delightful cakes and Prosecco awaited our arrival.

Ruby from Modus and Hobbs chief designer Jason talked us through the 3 collections and their inspiration. First was the Invitation collection which was probably my favourite, full of detailed and elegant evening wear. There was a lot on emphasis on how these fine evening pieces could be transformed into daywear by adding a textured knit to the equation. Latest Exclusive: Hobbs have now teamed up with the Royal Palaces to allow them access to their archives, which is the root of their inspiration for A/W Invitation collection however its all very hush hush, but once more is revealed, you will be the first to know!

MY FAVOURITES OF THE INVITATION COLLECTION

The Hobbs London Collection; tailored and polished to perfection, this collection was  full of camel, navy and granite coloured tweed jackets, thick pencil dresses and skirts. Perfect for a winter work wardrobe, although styled with a casual tee or some converse and these pieces can easily be put to everyday casual use as-well.

MY FAVOURITES FROM THE LONDON COLLECTION

NW3 is much more playful and casual than the other two collections, mainly for its use of colour. To be honest I was very intrigued by this collection as previously my only thoughts of Hobbs were "classic everyday workwear and elegant evening outfits made for a more mature generation" however NW3 completely smashed through this pre-misconception and showed me that Hobbs also caters for the more "relaxed at home" type of person and for a younger audience as-well.  NW3 was filled with similar styles and trends that you would see in favourite high street stores such as Topshop, Zara, River Island and New Look however you can tell that the clothes at Hobbs are made to a much higher standard.

MY FAVOURITES OF THE NW3 COLLECTION

One of my favourite parts of press gatherings is meeting new people/bloggers!

Here are some of the lovelies I met that day:

Bessie from FashionNoodle

Justine from FashionMixBag

Banke from A Style Diary

Jasmin from What Defines Us

Cristina from ChrissaBella

Tricia from Thread and Mirror

Tolu from FashinateMe

Thank you so much to Hobbs for inviting me to the event! and also a big thanks to all the team at Hobbs HQ for putting on an hosting such an amazing preview! Go check out the Hobbs Site HERE as they have a big sale on right now, and some of their A/W pieces have already started to be released. Go! Go! Go!

(P.S. I uploaded some more pictures from the event up on my Facebook Page for you guys to marvel over as-well so go have a look HERE if you're interested)

Trip to NYC: Day 3 - Empire State Building

On our third day in the Big Apple, Alice and I took advantage of the beautiful scenery next to our hostel and paraded around central park for a couple of hours. Our group then set off to the second art gallery of the tip, all the way on West 20th Street which was over 40 blocks away! One of the pieces at the David Zchwirner gallery was to experience a white "dome" space where you couldn't see the ceiling or the edges of the room and you could only hear the echoes of your footsteps (seriously messing with one's mind)

My college art project was focusing on body image and size, so we thought a trip to Mcdonalds maybe could be passed off as "educational"? I made full use of this opportunity and ordered a large (extra-large in UK) meal, which unfortunately defeated my mighty stomach. Whilst at Mcdoanlds we also took lots of selfies and were spotted by a group of Americans who later stopped us outside and asked for a group selfie which was massive surprise to us!

As I had been to NYC before with my mother I knew the best time to visit the Empire State Building was at sunset so I made sure myself and the girls got tickets and got up to the top before the queues started! The view was spectacular and because we went about 5ish we managed to catch New York in the day, at sunset and at night. I know the girls enjoyed their first experience on the empire state (from what they've told me!) even if was absolutely freezing! So I really recommend going just before sunset if you want the best views and photo's.

(the view from the empire state building)

Since it was only a couple of blocks away we walked to Times Square, however it was the coldest weather I had ever experienced, so to try and keep warm we three created a tightly linked formation to walk in (not the most conventional of idea's) and waddled all the way. We managed to find a TGI Friday's and have a spot of dinner, Zoe and Abi going for burgers and myself opting for a children's spaghetti, needless to say it aaas more of a large portion than a children's!

After dinner we were hoping to do some shopping but we were so exhausted from walking and the cold that we decided to get a taxi back to the hostel (so boring I know!)

#Bbloggerssecretsanta

So recently I took part in a #bbloggerssecretsanta and sent mine off just before christmas to Sarah from Blinkered Barbie. Unfortunately the Post Office must of been very busy as my package didn't arrive until New Years! Even though it arrived late I was still very excited to open my present!

The lovely Nic sent me a little card as-well which I still have sitting on my shelf as we head towards the end of January. I finally unwrapped my mystery box to find an Accessorize Fragrance Set, I had never heard of this set so I was very excited to try it out! Especially as It came from one of my favourite brands.

Inside the box I found two fragrances and a fuchsia coloured pouch to keep them safe. The scents were called "Joy" and "Spirit", you can either wear these fragrances separately or combine them to create a new smell called "Boho". I found that "Joy" was very fruity and fun whereas "Spirit" was a bit more musky and floral, but both were absolutely gorgeous especially when worn as "Boho". Most friends know that I despise long and complicated names for perfume, but I feel these were named perfectly!

A massive thank you goes out to Nic for my gorgeous present. I love it! You can see my #Bbloggerssecretsanta receiver's post here.

Did you take part in a Secret Santa this year? and what gift did you receive?

Leave me a comment down or below or find me on Twitter!

A Trip to the Zoo

Hi guys! This last Monday my boyfriend and I decided to take a trip to down memory lane and head over to Colchester Zoo for the day. We got to the zoo super early to make sure we didnt miss any of the animals and to beat the queue's , however when we got there it was pratically deserted (thankyou winter weather!)

This is us (forgive my lack of makup and dazed look, it was too early in the morning for me!) in the underwater Sea Lion enclosure. Luck was on our side and we had glorius sun all day (even if it was windy aswell). We stayed until about 2.30pm So spent most of the day strolling round the park.

Colchester Zoo recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is well known for being one of the biggest and best zoo's in the UK. Both me and my boyfriend Ben agreed that a day around the zoo beats lagging around town anyday!

For 4 hours we felt like small children again, bouncing round the park and enjoying the mini-train ride. There was so many different species of animal to see, my favorite (despite myself being a cat lady in training) being the Red Panda, and Ben's being the Monkey's and Fish, specifically the beautiful Orangutang. Unfortunately we kept missing the talk's and feed's by minutes but normally they are a mjust for me as they are so fun to take part in!

I couldn't leave out a picture of the cute small Squirrel Monkey's we found! Myself and Ben fell in love with these gorgeous creatures due to their playfulness and their ability to entertain for hours on end!

So that pretty much sums up our day at Colchester Zoo, Just to let people know, I prepared a picnic for the zoo as I think it was a bit more appropriate, and as I'm a student, money doesnt come easy!

I hope you guy's enjoyed this type of post, as it was fun for me to write!

Click on "Colchester Zoo" to head over to their to their site.

When was the last time you visited the Zoo?

Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!

Prairie Charms #PrairieXmas

Recently I was contacted by a lovely company called "Prarie Charms" about an opputunity to review their products for #prairiexmas, of course I said YES straight away! A couple of day's later I received the most gorgeous fuchsia parcel in the mail. I had a little fangirl moment (I love letters and parcels to an obsessive point) and opened the parcel to find my delicately wrapped gifts. I received some beautiful products and couldn't wait to try them on.

My favourite piece was the Kaiya Multi Wrap as it had so many uses and looked absolutely stunning! Normally I don't really have much interest in jewellery, but I loved the idea of using the Wrap for multiple uses and I think this might encourage me to start accessorising my outfits!

It can be used as a hairband - a particularly good item for people who have annoyingly long hair like myself.

 As a necklace to add a small simple statement to an outfit.

But by far my favourite is the wrap bracelet as I can pop it on as I'm running out the door and it will instantly jazz up my outfit!

Next is the Vanessa Retro Hairband. I've always liked the look of these hairband's, but been scared to try them as I was sure they would show off my rather large forehead (not good!). However I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by this beautiful vintage floral piece. 

The wire inside the material also meant I could style it into a cute bow shape!

Normally I love bows, unfortunately the Limited Edition Tartan Bow I was sent didn't quite make the grade. The material wasn't the correct length which made the bow's shape look a bit distorted. However I love the colours and the idea of the (much sturdier) crocodile clip keeping this beauty in your hair.

And last but not least are the Vivenne Knot Ties. These are lifesavers! Brilliant for quickly tying up your hair without leaving kinks in your barnet and they even look pretty cool on your wrist too.

Everyone who participated in the blogger event also received a discount code, and I've already decided what I'm going to spend my pocket money on! 

The Harper Glitter Bow in Poppy Red looks so pretty and I can't resist!

A massive thank you goes out to Prairie Charms and owner Stephanie for providing all these beautiful items for me to review and keep. Another amazing fact is that 10% of profits made from this project have been donated to the charity GOSH, which makes me feel much happier about spending my pocket money. I also want to mention how lovely and helpful customer service has been, helping me along the way via Twitter and email.

Why don't you give them a visit at Prairie Charms?

Or their Twitter Page?

Did you take part in #PrairieXmas?

Comment your link and tell me what you think!

Talk to you later,

AnnieMAC

xxx

Rimmel Apocalips Big Bang: Review

At the moment I have a small obsession with red lipsticks (small is an big understatement) and I have been eyeing up this beauty for months now; Rimmel Apocalips in Big Bang. So when my boyfriend said he would take me on a shopping spree for my Christmas present (all expenses paid for) I sprinted to Superdrug to get this lip laquer first!

Catergory-wise I would place it in between Lipsticks and Lipgloss; the way you apply this product is identical to lipgloss, however it is much higher in consistency and gives a bold red colour as soon as you apply it. The product is also long-lasting as it acts as lip stain, making sure your gloss stays perfect all day.

My one complaint about this product is that its hard to get rid of mistakes. If you glide it over a bit too fast or accidentally go past your lip line, the lipgloss stains that part of your face. Which means a lot of scrubbing to get it off.

Overall I love this product and its the perfect red for winter and early spring!

Here's how the product looks after applied:

Hope your all looking forward to NYE tonight and I wish you a Happy New Year!

Talk to you later,

AnnieMAC

xxx

New Years Resolutions

As a child my new years resolution was always to "Eat Pie". Sad to say I'm 18 now and have still not gone within an inch of any kind of pie, so I decided to start anew and think up some new years resolutions for 2014!

DO MORE BLOGGING

I've hardly been looking to my blog for a while recently (due to some big life changes- which I will talk about later) and it's gotten me really depressed that something I'm really passionate about, has taken a back seat in my priorities list. So starting the 1st of January 2014 I will be blogging everyday. Yes, everyday. I want to put all I have into this blog to make it the best It can be. 12 blog posts are waiting in the wings already so I hope you enjoy reading them when they are published!

GET A JOB

One of the reasons I've been away for so long Is that I found a part-time job at Wilkinsons Retail. However it was only a temporary contract over the Christmas period, so I am now jobless (and without money to buy my weekly beauty treats). So, being a motivated girl I am already handing out CV's to everywhere and anywhere, and hopefully this persistence will pay off.

30 MINUTES OF EXERCISE DAILY

I have finally found the motivation to do some exercise and get fit again after a 3 year break from dance lessons. Now I'm not one of those induviduals who find it easy to go to the gym weekly or get up at 5am each morning to run, so instead I have decided to give "Zumba" a try! I will be posting weekly results on this blog to document my journey, motivate myself and maybe along the way encourage others to get up and shake their bum to get fit!

These are a only a few of my resolutions for the upcoming year, but I'm sure even more will crop up during the year.

What are your resolutions for the new year?
Leave a comment below or find me on Twitter

Talk to you later,
AnnieMAC 
xxx

The #RushBloggerMeet

Last week I was pleasantly surprised by an invite that popped up in my email for a bloggers meetup, being a big newbie in the world of both blogging and beauty I was instantly buzzing with excitement (more like screaming the house down) and rsvp'd straight away!

I headed down to London all dolled up, donning a bright red primark dress and some cute black heels ready for the evening event. Safe to say I wasn't expecting to get there 2 and a half hours early, for the heavens to open (turning my sophisticated evening look into more of a drowned rat) or my heels to cause me a pain similar to someone chopping off my toes, but the main thing was I made it. This was my first time traveling to London alone, so I was very nervous (probably looked like I has having a seizure to onlookers). So after helping myself to a cream cooler and Costa's free wifi, I still had an hour to kill, luckily the National Art Gallery was just down the road and my inner art student couldn't resist a visit!

Finally the time came for the meet-up to start, I was still a little early so I took full advantage of the free manicures before any queues started (My nails were painted with O.P.I's Big Apple Red) and had a little explore before the venue got packed with bloggers. The event was being held at the House of Rush in Piccadilly and was organised by top beauty bloggers, Becky (Lipgloss and Lashes) and Laura (Lauzzenger). I travelled upstairs to find dazzling chandeliers, trays of mouth watering nibbles, free bubbly and a range of treatments and products for us bloggers to try.

This was also where I met my first blogger friends Natalie (TheFashFeed) and Angelica (LoveFromAngelic), we quickly got chatting and realised that we all had a lot in common! We all headed upstairs to experience a mini "Oxygenator Facial", the machine pumps out  pure oxygen, which is  sprayed or 'air-brushed' over your skin giving you instant hydration, whilst also smoothing out any fine lines or wrinkles. I really enjoyed how this made my face appear hydrated, and fresh, whilst keeping my makeup in tact! This facial made me feel much more awake for the rest of the night.

I also managed to observe the Live Botox session where Dr. Gillian Carver applied a "Top-up" to the clients previous Botox instalment. I was taken aback by how quick and small the procedure was, as-well as how natural the finished product looked. For anyone interested in future Botox treatment I recommend looking into Epsom Skin Clinics.

I met so many lovely bloggers during the course of the night, here are their links and i thoughrly recommend you check them out: 

Olivia (BeautyfromtheFjord)

Angelica (LovefromAngelic)

Monica (MakeupandLondon)

Rachel (BeautyQueenUK)

Dani (SoManyLovelyThings)

Sophia (BeautyinmyMind)

Zoe (FaceValueBlog)

Tijan (TijanSerena)

Anna (AnnaNuttal)

Amanda (HoneyPopKisses)

Carima (Scrapbookofallsorts)

Selina (MissFashion1994)

Natalie (TheFashFeed)

Sheen (GoldenandSheen)

I also got a cute little goodiebag which contained:

A Catherine Colebrook Tote Bag

A Smooch Blusher
2 W7 Lipsticks
Some Magic Soap
A South Beach Discount Code
A Sample of Structure Paste

A massive thankyou to both Laura and Becky for organising this wonderful event and to Rush Hair and beauty for hosting.

P.S. If you guys want to have any treatments done at The House of Rush you can quoteBLOG20 for 20% off any Beauty Treatments and MICRO50 for 50% off Microderm Treatments.

But this expires on the 31st of October!

AnnieMAC

Twitter|Youtube|Bloglovin'

GlossyBox Review || July 2013

I bought my first ever GlossyBOX in july and I must say I was mightly impressed! The products came in a little turquoise box with little coral images on it (very suitable for the month). 

I wanted to start off with my favorite product from the July box, the "Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Hair Mist". Normally on a day-to-day basis I dont like doing anything fancy with my hair, it takes way too much time and effort for the 5 minutes I get in the morning before college (I confess I am that person who will skip doing their hair occasionally in the mornings), but spritzing a couple of pumps of this each morning gave my natural waves a boost and transformed them into cute curls instead of frizz. I've been dying to get some sea salt spray for months and now I can't live without it!

For those of you living in or visiting hot countries this summer staying cool is essential and so is this facial spritz by antamologie. One thing I want to highlight is that it has a very unique smell as the product also contains lavender! I honestly don't know how to explain it except by using the word "fresh". I would of preferred this as body spritz instead of facial spritz.

One product I didn't enjoy was the "Sleek Pout Paint", it was a very big disappointment. Supposedly "Lip Paint" is meant to provide you with long lasting and full colour however when I tried it it actually felt like I was applying acrylic paint to my lips (not a nice experience). Apperence-wise it looked like a young child had drawn all over my lips in windows paint, definitely would not recommend this.

I didn't have much use for this "Coola Mineral Suncream" as I live in the UK (it rains A LOT). However my new NARS foundation (as you may have seen on my youtube channel) doesn't contain SPF, which being a "pale freckled red head" was my worst nightmare! People with fair skin have to take extra precautions to protect their skin as we get sunburnt easily which causes skin damage, wrinkles and could leave us with a high risk of skin cancer (so for extra protection I used it under my everyday make-up). It's scent is almost a combination of plastic and suncream, but it left my skin soft and protected, which made me feel good inside and out.

Last but not least is the "Essie Sleek Stick" which I had high hopes for after reading rave reviews about "Essie's" nail products. They come in a range of different patterns which all look lovely however most of the nail stickers said to have been "designed to fit perfectly for my nail" really didn't and only covered up about half of my nail. Also I found that I the nail stickers were very delicate and would bend on themselves if brushed against something slightly making them very impractical. In the end they were half-peeling off my nails by a few hours so I decided to take them off. I liked the look of this product however these beauties were not long-lasting!

All together I was very happy with my first beauty box, and I am looking forward to trying out and reviewing even more unique products in the future.

What beauty boxes have you tried and tested? and which one is your favourite?

Tweet me at @AnnieeeMAC

♥