Creating a A/W 2012 Gothic Look with Big Green Smile

Fancy creating a A/W 2012 Gothic look but don't know where to start? Look no further than Big Green Smile for everything you need to make it happen.

Check out these eye shadows...

Dr Hauschka Solo Eyeshadow £12.95

Green People Eco Eye Trio in Smokey Grey £18.40

Dr Hauschka Eye Shadow Palette £31.95

Lavera Beautiful Mineral Eye Shadow in  Magic Grey £9.00

Wondering which eyeliners to opt for? Try this...

Neal's Yard Remedies Eye Liner in Midnight £9.50

To keep Eyeborws looking perfect and sleek try....

Lavera Style and  Care Gel £9.90

And for perfect lashes, you shouldn't be without...

Lavera Intense Volumising Mascara £11.50

All these products along with many others, are available from Big Green Smile just click on the links below each pic to take you straight to them ....happy shopping!

Tesco Bakery - Cookies

BzzAgents are everyday people like you and me who love trying new products and telling the world how good or bad they are! I've been lucky enough to receive some fantastic testing products in return for my honest opinions and this time, it's cookies! Not just any old cookies, these are Tesco Bakery cookies with their new, improved flavour.

With my 'free pack' voucher, I promptly headed to my local Tesco (frog-marched by my other half) in order to swap it for some tasty Tesco Bakery cookies. We used to have a large Tesco in the area but it's been knocked down and replaced with a much smaller one ...maybe this is why there were only 2 of the 6 available flavours! Never mind, I still wouldn't pass up on the chance to try these.

The flavours available are...
Triple chocolate – loaded with Belgian milk, dark and white chocolate pieces
Milk chocolate – lots of Belgian milk choc pieces
Belgian chocolate – lots of Belgian dark choc pieces
Cranberry and white chocolate – crammed with fruit and creamy chocolate
Oat and Raisin – lightly spiced and full of juicy raisins
Fruit, choc and nut – a yummy combination of juicy raisins, milk choc and hazelnuts

Tesco Bakery Cookies - Milk Chocolate

As you can probably guess by the pic, I opted for the Milk Chocolate cookies ...it was either these or Cranberry and White Chocolate.
I got these with a free voucher provided by BzzAgent but each pack of 4 cookies costs £1.50 from Tesco.

Large cookies with plenty of chocolate

Each cookie is very generously sized and has a large helping of your chosen flavour ...in this case, pure, unadulterated chocolate! Yummy!!

I'm a regular buyer of cookies but this is the first time i've ever tried them from the new improved Tesco Bakery and I have to say, I was really impressed!

Nice thickness

The cookies are relatively soft which gives them a nice texture and they won't snap your teeth unlike some other cookies. There are fairly large chocolate chunks both on and inside the cookie making each mouthful as tasty as the last. My kids were particularly impressed with how much taste they had and my other half, who is very fussy about the chocolate he eats, said the chocolate tasted fantastic and he loved the consistency!
Being a family of 4, the bag size was spot on and due to the sheer size of each cookie, 1 each was plenty!

On my next visit to Tesco, I plan to buy the White Chocolate and Cranberry cookies so keep an eye open for my review on those.

Overall these were loved by my whole household ...which is a rarity to say the least, so they've now been added to my weekly shop. Try them for yourself and let me know what you think, i'm sure you'll be as impressed as I am!

Find out more about Tesco Bakery here 

Why? Why? Why?

I was recently tagged by the lovely Ali from Dragons and Fairy Dust in a Meme which asks the question we all hear and ask on a daily basis ....WHY?

If your a parent, this is something you'll hear constantly during your child's life ...why is the sky blue? why do I have to go to school? why can't I have more sweets? why do I have to come in early? to name but a few and yes, I too have many unanswered whys! This Meme gives me the chance to put my questions forward and hopefully someone out there may just have the answers ...feel free to leave a comment if you do!

1. Why is it that when i'm ready for a lie-in on a Sunday morning, my neighbours decide it's time to do the garden or DIY ...is it deliberate?
2. Why when I decide to have a quiet night with my man do we always get company?
3. Why does my computer wait until i'm mid-way through a blog post or survey then decide to loose connection or restart ...does it have a built in sensor?
4. Why does someone always either phone or knock ...just as i'm about to sit down and relax with a hot cuppa? They never fail!
5. Why does it rain every time my car is washed?
6. Why when I peg my washing out, do birds see fit to 'christen' it with their droppings?
7. Why do socks never come out the wash in pairs? This is my pile so far ...

Odd socks

8. Why is it that every time i'm in a hurry to be somewhere, I can never find anything ..whether it be car keys, my lippy, a shoe or even the kids!!! It's like a game of hide and seek!
9. Why when I go clothes shopping can I never find my size in the things I like yet if I look again when i'm skint, they're guaranteed to have it in stock?
10. Why can't I apply nail varnish without it looking like a toddler has done it?

Well, these are my unanswered questions ....any answers would be greatly appreciated!

I am now passing this Meme onto a few other bloggers so they too can share their 'why' questions. To be part of this you will need to complete the following steps ...

1. Post your whys - as many or as few as you like
2. Link your post to Mummy Central
3. Tag 5 bloggers to keep this going
4. Feel free to leave your questions below if you aren't a blogger but demand some answers!

I'm now tagging the following bloggers ...
Jane at 7hippopotamus
Sarah at Boo, Roo and Tigger Too
Catherine at Katy Little Lady
Sarah at Sarah's
Lauren at A Lauren to Herself

EOS Lip Balms from BigGreenSmile.com

I recently received a very lovely email asking if I would be interested in reviewing an EOS Lip Balm from BigGreenSmile.com. I obviously jumped at the chance, especially when I saw the available flavours!

These lip balms are really rather special and the design is far from your standard tube. I couldn't decide which I wanted to review so asked to be surprised ...and I certainly was!

EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruits

As you can see in the above pic, I received the Summer Fruits balm. It arrived in egg shaped packaging ...most intriguing considering most lip balms come in a standard sized tube or a small round tub!

Not the colour I expected!

The instant I removed the lid (which is a simple twist cap), I was overwhelmed by the gorgeous summery, fruity fragrance which eminated from the balm, although the peachy colour I expected was a little more yellowish. I could certainly pick out the peachy smell so proceeded to apply to my lips to see if it had any hint of flavour ...and indeed it did! Apart from the gorgeous smell/flavour etc, this balm was an absolute delight to wear. The size of the tube guarantees full coverage in only 2 sweeps and it glides on really smoothly giving lips an instant moisturised feel. I've been using this for around 3-4 weeks at least twice daily and still have loads left! The slight dry bits I usually get on my lips have become a thing of the past since starting to use this and the delightful smell always makes me smile ...mainly because each time I rub my lips together, I get a hint of the taste. Please don't forget though that this is NOT an edible product!
The balms are available in Lemon Drop, Summer Fruits, Sweet Mint, Honeysuckle Honeydew and Tangerine ...i'd imagine them all being extremely fruity and very alluring!
They cost £4.95 each which I personally think is great value for money considering how long each tub lasts.
EOS Lip Balms are 95% organic and 100% natural ...even free of paraben and petrolatum. They're packed with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil which are all renowned for their soothing and moisturising properties and none of these products are tested on animals so it's all good!

I've tried all kinds of lip balms/salves etc and do have a couple that I tend to stick with, however I was so impressed with the EOS Lip Balm that it already has a permenant place in my handbag and i'm planning on purchasing a couple of other variations too. This is a definite must-have for anyone who suffers from dry lips as it provides instant relief and long lasting moisturisation .....10 out of 10 from me!

Elle Patterned Cotton Socks from Sock Shop

Socks come in all manner of sizes and designs and our fascination in them is steadily growing. They've certainly come a long way since the standard knee high school socks ....there's now loads to choose from and something to suit every taste and age.
Sock Shop recently asked on twitter if anyone would like to become a 'twitic' and review socks for them and yes, you guessed it ...I jumped at the chance! I have a slight obsession with socks and have everything from plain ones and slogan socks to cutie and disney socks - sometimes I just can't resist!

Anyway, after applying, I was one of the chosen few and received some fab Elle socks soon after ....

Elle patterned socks in Vintage Pink

3 pair pack

As you can see, this is a pack of 3 pairs of Elle socks in Vintage Pink, 1 striped and 2 with pretty vintage flowers on. They're also available in Black/Vintage Pink ....

Black/Vintage Pink

I kinda like the girlieness of the pink ones although the black ones look pretty too! The socks are made from 76% cotton, 22% Polyamide and 2% Elastine and have a pretty decorative frilled cuff at the top ...

Frilled Cuff

Not only are these socks pretty to look at, but they're so comfy too! They hugged my legs nicely but not too tightly and during the day, I didn't have my usual problem of keep needing to pull them up. The socks are soft and the fact that they have no seams over the toes is a huge bonus, especially when wearing shoes as this normally irritates the life out of me with other socks.

Seamless Toes

They come in Ladies size 4-8 which is ideal! I wear size 4 shoes and often find that socks made to fit size 4-7 or 4-8 quite often feel baggy round the toes and heel. These however were a pretty good fit ...

Perfect fit (even for my size 4 feet)

Sweet and pretty (ignore the legs though!)

I comfortably wore these all day and had no trouble at all. Even after washing they kept their shape and colour and looked as good as new.

I would certainly recommend these, not only because they look gorgeous, but they feel fantastic too and i'd imagine to get a fair bit of wear from them before they'll need replaced.
This Ladies 3 pack of Elle patterned cotton socks with frilly cuffs is available from Sock Shop at a cost of £7.00 - a bargain considering the fantastic quality of them!
If these aren't to your taste, there's plenty more to choose from so make sure you have a good look around the Sock Shop website!

Kitoko Oil from Lush Duck

I recently noticed Lush Duck on twitter asking for people willing to review their Kitoko Oil. Obviously I was rapid fast in my response and within a couple of days I received a 10ml bottle to try. 

10ml bottle of Kitoko Oil

Kitoko oil is a blend of Karite and Argan Oils, and is richer in vitamins A and E than other oils creating the perfect balance for healthy hair and scalp. 

Product Features

• Provides intense nourishment, whilst smoothing & strengthening the hair
• Improves the hair’s elasticity
• Lightweight formula, perfect for all hair types
• Restores shine and moisture balance
• Excellent for replenishing brittle hair & split ends

As my hair is quite damaged from styling (I use both a hair dryer and straighteners) I was very keen to give this a go!

The oil can be used either on wet or dry hair so the choice is yours. I first used it on my hair after washing when it was still wet and was pleased at how easy it is to use. Towel dry hair first, then simply rub a few drops between your palms and finger through your hair. I massaged my scalp too as I find it gets quite dry. This is not to be washed out, so once it's on, your ready to style.

Anti-drip top

The bottle comes with a clever anti-drip top so as well as helping prevent spillage, it also ensures that you get just the right amount in your hands. Now, I don't know about you but my hair is really fine and flyaway so I was slightly concerned that the oil might weight it down too much or worse, make it look greasy! Fortunately this did neither and I was left with light-weighted hair which looked smoother and shinier ...it was also very easy to style. I checked my head thoroughly and there was no greasiness at all ....much to my amazement! My scalp didn't have it's usual tight feeling and the amount of dry skin was also minimized ....perfect! 

I did try using this on dry hair too and the results were pretty much the same.

Apart from seeing great results from this, it also smells gorgeous! I usually spray my perfume in my hair once i've blowdried it, but with this, I didn't need to.

Kitoko Oil is available from Lush Duck:

10ml bottle (as shown above) £6.50

95ml bottle (not shown) £24.50

This may seem a little steep for such a small bottle of oil, but trust me when I say that a little goes a really long way and it's something you won't need to buy very often!

Kitoko Advanced Hair Therapy products are not 100% free from man-made chemicals, however they are completely free from sulphates, parabens, waxes or mineral oils, making them as kind and gentle as possible to both your hair and skin.

Fathers Day Gifts from Prezzybox

Stuck for gift ideas for Father's Day? Well look no further as Prezzbox have come to the rescue with some fantastic ideas on what you can treat your dad to!

I was lucky enough to be sent 2 of these items in return for an honest review.

The first item I received is the First Class Dad Porcelain Mug ...

First Class Dad Porcelain Mug

This gorgeous mug is 120mm high, 87mm wide and has a depth of 98mm - not huge, but large enough to provide your Dad with a tasty healthy brew! It's made from porcelain and is of extremely good quality with a stunning picture of a 1st class stamp on the front. The perfect way to tell your Dad how much he means to you.

Base of mug

Amazingly, the mug is also dishwasher and microwave safe.

I have to say that I also rather liked the packaging that it arrived in....

Packaging

..the air mail gift box is a really nice touch and makes it look that bit more special.
If you fancy treating your Dad to this First Class Dad Mug, it is available from Prezzybox and costs just £8.95 - a small price to pay in my opinion!

The second item I was sent to review is the Dear Dad - From You to Me Book....

Dear Dad - From You to Me

Opening Page

This book is a truly fantastic idea for kids to get answers to some of the questions they've been curious about but maybe too scared to ask, it's also a lovely keepsake!

Question on 1 page with plenty room to answer

On each double page is 1 question to be answered by Dad and he has almost 2 full blank pages in which to reply - you might just end up with his life story! There are around 60 questions in total so don't expect it back in a hurry!
The questions vary from 'What were your favourite childhood toys or games?' and 'Tell me about the things that make you laugh' to 'What did you think when you first saw me after I was born?' and as I mentioned earlier, there's plenty room for him to answer and even include photographs where relevant.
The journal is hard-backed and the pages are made from FSC certified paper and have a really nice, quality feel to them. You also get a pretty ribbon book-mark attached to the inside - very handy indeed!
The Dear Dad - From You to Me book costs £11.95 which is a small price to pay for such a lovely keepsake.

If neither of these takes your fancy, then pop over to Prezzybox and check out their other fantastic ideas for Father's Day Gifts - you're sure to find something as there's a huge range of gadgets and treats!

New 'LACE' from Batiste

               

LACE - The newest most elegant fashion statement from Batiste


Low down: Batiste introduce the latest must-have in their collection; Dry Shampoo in LACE*. With vintage style embroidery and lace seen everywhere from designer to Duchess this season, trust Batiste to be bang on trend with their impeccably dressed new variant with a new more sophisticated fragrance. The new scent offers base notes of white musk, cedarwood and sandalwood which are complimented by top notes of citrus fruits, nutmeg and pink pepper. The heart of the fragrance contains stylish floral tones of rose, orchid and iris with jasmine and ylang-ylang.

USP: The original beauty secret weapon for refreshing and reviving your hair between washes, Batiste, the UKs favourite Dry Shampoo has been flying off the shelves for more than 30 years and yet has never been more in fashion.

How to use: Shake the can vigorously, then, keeping the nozzle about 30cm from your hair, spray into roots, lifting sections for maximum coverage. Massage through with fingertips and then brush and style.

See the full Batiste line up at www.batistehair.co.uk

RRP Price; £2.99, 200ml

Skin Heroes - Montagne Jeunesse

Skin Heroes are a new brand of face masks from Montagne Jeunesse, specifically designed for targetting problem skin. You may remember my first review for the Dry Skin Mask, if not, you can find it here.

The second mask i'm going to review is the Break-Out Mask which is for skin prone to eruptions.

Break-Out Mask

The key ingredients are Tea Tree and Canadian Willowherb and this mask is designed for oily and combination skin.

Once again, I found it easier to seperate the 2 sachets before beginning. The mask itself had a smell which I personally found a little unpleasant - the Tea Tree being the most prominent. Being a mud mask, it was very easy to apply and felt nice and creamy on my skin. This one felt alot cooler than the last which I found quite refreshing. As the mask began to harden,  I could feel a slight tingling sensation on my skin, nothing unpleasant, it just made me feel like it was doing its job.

After 15-20 minutes, I was ready to rinse it off and see if it had made a difference. The Break-Out mask was a little more difficult to rinse, but my skin felt soft, refreshed and visibly clearer afterwards. The moisturiser was most welcoming with it's creamy texture and gentle feel, although I still struggled with the smell a little!

All in all this left my skin looking and feeling great and I would certainly recommend it for fast results.

All Skin Heroes masks are available from Mantagne Jeunesse and also Asda at a cost of £1.49 each - don't forget though, you not only get a one-use face mask, you also get a sachet of moisturiser too!

Activia Pouring Yoghurt BzzAgent Review

As a few of you will already know, I am a BzzAgent and as such, get to try a variety of new products in return for honest reviews and opinions. I was recently lucky enough to be invited to take part in one of the latest BzzCampaigns for Activia Pouring Yoghurt.

Activia Pouring yoghurt is availlable in 3 delicious flavours, Natural, Vanilla and Strawberry. My plan was to play safe and opt for the strawberry but this proved alot harder than anticipated! It would seem that it's the most popular of the three as no matter where I tried to buy it, this was the only flavour that was unavailable anywhere ....i've also chatted with a few other BzzAgents who struggled to find this one! Eventually I settled for the Vanilla flavour.

Admittedly, pouring yoghurt doesn't really appeal to me - maybe i'm just a little too set in my ways, but I believe a yoghurt should be eaten with a spoon! Despite this, I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and i'm pretty glad I did!

You're probably thinking that this isn't a new product from Activia, and you're kind of right although the last time this was tried through BzzCampaigns, many complained that it was a little on the runny side ....maybe even too much so. Thankfully, Activia have acted on this feedback and have introduced this 'thicker' pouring yoghurt.

Now then, think what you will but in our household, we decided to try pouring yoghurt over Rice Krispies instead of the usual milk - which incidently I can't stand!
Yummy!! They were absolutely delicious .....they tasted very similar to crunch corner yoghurts so this made breakfast like a sweet treat for my kids and rather than the usual "Eeugh, do we have to have that?" I was greeted with "Can we have some Activia on krispies pleeeease?" which is a major plus in my book!!

We also tried it with a few other cereals but this was our favourite, closely followed by Weetabix with a few slices of banana added.

I will definitely be purchasing this again and would recommend it for a little bit of something different. There's no limit as to it's uses either, just check out some of the suggested recipes here.
I'm now continuing my quest to find Strawberry Activia pouring yoghurt so wish me luck and feel free to come back and share your own experiences.

With Great Power comes Great Skin

Are you having a skin problem? Do you need help? The Montagne Jeunesse Skin Heroes have landed and are ready to fight for your right to clear, healthy skin the natural way. Montagne Jeunesse face masques are your weekly essential for healthy, gorgeous skin. The new Skin Heroes range is packed with natural, beneficial ingredients to help solve & combat everyday concerns and work wonders for your complexion.
Dream teams for your skin, these Skin Heroes are the ultimate superhero double acts, complete with a
problem-solving masque plus a second stage moisturising treatment:

Problem: greasy, shine-prone skin. Skin Hero: MONTAGNE JEUNESSE SHINE CONTROL
This special mud masque has the power to deeply clean, protect, control shine and restore balance to the skin – infused with acai berries and argan oil to balance moisture and skin sebum. Follow with the sebum balancing moisturiser with light reflecting particles, rich in anti-oxidants and infused with crushed acai berries, argan oil and natural active KiOsmetine.

Problem: dry, dehydrated skin. Skin Hero: MONTAGNE JEUNESSE DRY SKIN MASQUE
This creamy soufflé masque is rich in anti-oxidants and uses its super powers to protect and replenish dry skin - packed with raspberries, blueberries and red grapes. Follow with the serum to rehydrate the skin, infused with crushed blueberries, pulped raspberries and antioxidants including natural active KiOsmetine, clinically proven to smooth the skin.

Problem: Problem skin prone to eruptions. Skin Hero: MONTAGNE JEUNESSE BREAK OUT MASQUE
This mud masque infusion has the power to help flush out blocked pores as well as calm, heal and refresh the skin - infused with anti-bacterial tea tree, calming witch hazel, and soothing Canadian willow herb. Follow with the super moisturiser, with tea tree and Canadian willow herb to help continue to tackle those problem areas.

Problem: Bothersome & Blemished T-Zone. Skin Hero: MONTAGNE JEUNESSE T-ZONE PEEL OFF
This peel off masque has the strength to lift away dirt, clear impurities and target problem areas - infused with calming tea tree and soothing Canadian willow herb. Follow with the calming moisturiser with tea tree and Canadian willow herb that helps to heal.

And finally, with nose pore power, the final member of the Skin Heroes team:
Problem: blocked, clogged up pores on and around the nose. Skin Hero: MONTAGNE JEUNESSE DE-CLOG PORES
These ultra-deep cleansing nose pore strips use their super strength to draw out deep-rooted impurities for cleaner, less visible pores – infused with orange flower water with antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, witch hazel, and natural clay help to cleanse, absorb excess oil and open pores.
Montagne Jeunesse – combats problem skin naturally
Montagne Jeunesse Skin Heroes (£1.49 RRP) are available from www.montagnejeunesse.com

Skin Heroes from Montagne Jeunesse

I recently noticed Montagne Jeunesse asking for reviewers to try their new Skin Heroes range over on twitter so of course, I didn't hesitate in offering my services.

Within a week I was sent the 5 products in the range to review..

The new Skin Heroes Range

Montagne Jeunesse pride themselves on the fact that all their skin care products are made using natural ingredients meaning that not only were no animals harmed during the making of them, but they're suitable for vegetarians too!

As I mentioned earlier, there are 5 products available, each one suitable for tackling common skin care problems. I decided to review each one individually, the first being the 'Dry Skin Mask'.

Skin Heroes - Dry Skin Mask

 I often suffer from terribly dry skin on my face and smother myself in moisturiser daily in order to provide some comfort. I've never used a mask specifically targeted to my skin type so was curious if this could succeed where many other products fail.

The mask comes in a single sachet which is cleverly divided into 2 sections:
Step 1: This is the actual face mask to be applied to cleansed skin and left for 15-20 mins before rinsing
Step 2: This is a moisturiser for use after the face mask to help calm and soothe the skin

This particular mask is made using Raspberry, Blueberry and Red Grape which are high in antioxidents and admittedly, smell divine!
I found it slightly easier seperating the step1 and 2 before I began - there's a crimped line across the sachet enabling you to cut along without damaging or mixing anything.
When squeezed into the hand, the mask is a nice texture ...a bit like whipped cream only with slightly more consistency and it's really easy to apply. Simply smooth over your face and neck then leave for 15-20 mins before rinsing off.
There is definitely enough in the sachet to give a good, all over coverage (I spread it over my face and down my neck) and after a few minutes, you can feel it begin to harden.
After waiting for 20 minutes, it was time to rinse off the mask! It took a little while to remove it all but once done, my skin felt quite refreshed and hydrated. I applied the moisturiser and couldn't believe the difference! Not only was my skin much smoother than usual, but it had no tightness, smelled gorgeous and I couldn't find any dry patches at all .....WOW!!

All in all I was really impressed with this mask and will definitely continue to use them.

Montagne Jeunesse new Skin Heroes range are available at a cost of £1.49 per sachet and can now be bought in Asda. You can check out more information about the whole range here and in particular, the Dry Skin Mask.

Winner of the Chic Lace Wonderbra is....

My competition to celebrate National Cleavage Day has now come to an end, and a whopping 151 of you entered for your chance to win a gorgeous Chic Lace Wonderbra in white ......i'd like to say a huge thankyou to you all.
Unfortuantely there can only be one winner, and that lucky person is......

                                                                   TRACY K NIXON


Congratulations Tracy and I hope you enjoy your prize!!

Please could you email me at sassysworld@hotmail.co.uk with your address and size details so that I can pass them on to the PR company. The bra is available in the following sizes: 32-36 A, 32-38 B C D, 30-38 DD E F G.