x...Two Useless Sisters...x

Hey beauties,

So... We suck. Seriously. We have been awful at posting these last weeks - to be honest, we aren't too sure where the time has gone but it has, in fact, gone.

So we are going to make a concerted effort to better ourselves in all things blog related and as such, you can expect a flurry of posts. But this flurry may not be immediate. Or even tomorrow. But we hope you'll bear with us as we haven't forgotten you, promise.

We hope to be in touch over the weekend with some product reviews and maybe an OOTD and some general beauticationness. (I bet you had to read that twice to see what it said...).

We better stop now - we rarely post together and it seems that we are about to argue about whether or not there should be a full-stop at the end of the sentence above. And Mommy Booth, the guru on all things grammatical (and on life in general!) has now also gotten involved. In fact she wants to know why I am 'dot-dot-dotting' at all.

Right, now is the time to stop, you may begin to think we have lost our touch (if we had one) if we continue.

Love you all,

From the Heart,

C & C xxx

My Winter Wishlist

x Prints and Patterns for Pins x

Good evening beauties,

How are you all today? Looking forward to the weekend? I know I am - I am not sure where exactly this week has gone, or what I have actually achieved but despite this, I feel like Friday will now be well deserved and the weekend even more so!

Sooo, as its been so quiet here at 'From the Heart', we thought we both drop you a post and also apologise for our quietness! It seems to have been a pretty manic couple of weeks, for reasons that we can't quite pin point and it hasn't been especially helpful that I have had to spend the most part of the last two weekends in bed - I am not 100% convinced that working life is agreeing me with!? I have never before been so horribly ill so frequently!

So, I thought I'd share my latest love - printed pants (and by pants, I mean trousers, to be clear!). Having developed a certain weakness for coloured jeans a few months back (I now own green, maroon, sky blue, baby pink and turquoise skinnies - a couple of pairs more than I really have time to wear to be fair), I have now skipped along to the whole patterned leg look and I must admit, I'm loving it.

At 5"3 (and three quarters!) I am admittedly not the tallest, I always thought that this sort of look would be a no no for me, simply because there just did not seem to be enough leg to show off the print! But I have since decided, to hell with it, if a girl wants to plaster her pins in patterns, so she should be allowed to do! Plus, the store's inclusion of 7'8th length trousers has helped a little to because, by having a little show of ankle on display, even in flats your legs give the illusion of being just a little longer than perhaps they are. Well that's the story I am rolling with anyhow.

So the red 'tartanesque' jeans are from Topshop (Leigh - current season) and are so comfortable - stretchy enough to not feel suffocated or as though you are inducing a hernia but tight enough to keep their shape and make your bum look hot (or so my sister says...)!

The pink and black heart print pants are also from Topshop (I am sure you may recognise them - I know I saw them in store for a while before plucking up the courage to try them on) and I have so much love for them. The fit works so well with the print and they are, in my opinion anyway, loud enough to make a little statement but tame enough that for the most part, people haven't seemed to respond with an overt 'WTF are you wearing' face.

(My printed babies in action)

As for the black baroque print pants - well these babies are from Zara and I actually picked them up at Heathrow on my way to Chicago last month. Now I'd actually seen a girl wearing these (well I am 95% certain it was them!) on the tube earlier that week and had been so close to asking her where her pants were from because they were, frankly, amazing, but then she got off at Temple. Sad times. Anyhow, unbeknown to me, they were in fact from Zara and I stumbled upon them at Heathrow and had to snap them right up! What I love about them is, although they are technically 'premium denim' they work for work because they don't look at all like denim (admittedly you probably need a longer shirt/blouse to cover the tell tale jean pockets on the bum though, just to be safe) but because they are, they are so comfortable. They also keep their shape surprisingly well and I find them an awesome staple for the Thursday night transition from work to cocktail hour. Sadly, I don't have any pics of them on - mainly because in pictures its rather a challenge to get the print to show up. Anyhow, hopefully you'll get the idea :)

Anyway beauties, that's all from me for now - its now cupcake time with the mom and sister before a gossip girl sesh and bed. And then my friends, it will officially be Friday!

All of the love,

Christie
XOXO

PS - my sister says she is all for individuality but that she doesn't appreciate the "x's in my titles. I told her to bug off. x

Caitie's October Favourites!

Hello Beauties!

First off, let me apologise for my absence. I have had a tough few weeks, and have really struggled to find the time and energy to dedicate to a post. I know that sounds awful, and I truly don't mean it to. I have just always been the type of person who hates to do a job halfway... And, so, when it comes to blogging, I hate the idea of publishing a half-hearted post.

Secondly, let me ask you all how you are?! What have you been doing? Today is my first day off in six days (welcome to the working world, Caitlin) and I must admit, I have been EXHAUSTED! I have a post in the pipeline about what's been going on with me, and life in general, so, if you're interested, look out for that!

Today I thought I'd talk to you all about my October favourites. I haven't done a favourites post before, so I'm pretty excited about it!

*Skin Care

Soap & Glory 'The Righteous Butter'
My sister and I are both huge fans of the Soap & Glory products, and this gorgeous body butter is definitely an October (and general all-time) favourite! My sister has just instructed me to disclose that she in fact (apparently, although I find this questionable) introduced me to the ENTIRE Soap & Glory range (she's not one for boasting). Oh, Christie, I love your modesty. I love the way this product smells and feels when I apply it to my bodddyyy (saucy!) I hadn't used this butter for a while, but when I went into Boots and saw 3for2 offers on all skincare I decided to pick up three mini body butters. Each one was £2.50, so I spent £5.00 all together, and felt like I had gotten a bit of a bargain! I am definitely going to ask for the full-sized one for Christmas! (N.B. If you like your body cremes to match your perfumes, this is a good one to go for, because it's affordable and smells just like Miss Dior! So, really, if you like your body creme to match your perfume and happen to also have Miss Dior, this is definitely a good one to go for!)

Avene 'Skin Recovery Creme'
If you've followed us for a while, you will have probably seen that I have mentioned this BEAUTIFUL creme before (in a post about my daily skincare routine). I really can't rave about this creme enough and, to be MODEST, have converted both my sister (who is apparently the fountain of all-knowledge) and mother to be Avene fanatics as well. You can pick this bad boy up in Boots for £12.50. Although it seems quite pricy (okay, it doesn't just seem pricy, it is!) it does last well, and, to be honest, is just TOTALLY worth the money.

*Makeup

Laura Mercier 'Mineral Powder'
I've used Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder for around a year now, since I first saw Barbara (also known as thepersianbabe on Youtube) talk / rave about it. This product is rather pricy at the £32.00 marker, but, again, is definitely worth it. I don't tend to refer to everyday products as investments, because they do get used up quickly, so, although this is money you won't really see again, it is worth it for the way your skin looks and feels when you use it. I apply this powder everyday, over my liquid foundation. Although it can be used as a mineral foundation on its own, I prefer to use it as an add-on to my routine, as it gives me just the right amount of extra coverage and glowiness. I think that's what makes this product so special really; the 'glow factor'. It gives your skin a lovely dewy and satiny finish, whilst making it feel as soft as a babies bottom. In three words, I LOVE IT, and in four, can't recommend it enough!

Benefit 'Erase Paste'
I know, I know, I'm not the first person to rave about this product. I've read many a glowing review about this Benefit concealer. When I saw Zoe from Zoella review this product, I knew I had to have it! This bad boy set me back £18.50, which is rather pricy, but definitely, definitely worth all of the pennies! The sales associate in Benefit advised me that this concealer is primarily an under-eye concealer, but, I must admit, that I have used it on any and all of my dark spots and imperfections and am IN LOVE with it. Why is it so amazing you may ask?! I have one word for you: texture. This product is a thick yet creamy consistency, and blends right into your skin. It doesn't 'highlight' blemishes as I have found other concealers do, but simply gently masks them. I absolutely LOVE this product. It has pride of place on my dresser, and also comes out with me wherever I go.

Mac 'Stay Pretty' Pro Longwear Blush
I am a self-confessed Mac blush ADDICT. I love every part of the experience of going into Mac and choosing a blusher, knowing I don't really need it but want want want it. I picked this Pro Longwear blush up in House of Fraser as a treat for myself (yes, that was my justification!) and have reached for it almost everyday since. Stay Pretty is one of the blushes in Mac's Office Hours collection and costs £19.00. Although this is again rather pricy, Mac blushes last FOREVER (I have yet to hit pan on any of the ones I own) and so, in that respect are little investments for your makeup collection. I love this blush because it is simply the girliest pink in the world. It gives your cheeks a gentle flush, which I think is perfect for the wintery months that are now upon us. Since purchasing this little beauty I've seen a number of mixed reviews about the Office Hours collection. Most concerns about the blushes revolve around their longevity, but, I must say, I have not noticed any problem with this at all. I apply it in the morning and it lasts ALL DAY, literally.

*Miscellaneous

Yankee Candle in 'Fresh Cut Roses'
So, this was one of those treats I picked up for myself and have been in love with ever since. There is something so magical about coming home and putting on your fairy lights and lighting your favourite candle. I have wanted a Yankee candle for absolutely AGES, but have never picked one up because of the price marker (around £15-£19 yikesss!) But, October saw me finally bite the bullet and treat myself to this gorgeous girly candle. After burning it throughout October I can finally justify the price of the Yankee products. Unlike many alleged 'scented' candles which actually don't smell AT ALL when they burn, this candle fills whatever room it is in (whether burning or not) with it's gorgeous scent. Roses have always been my favourite flower (alongside peonies and giant daisies) and so I love that my room smells just like them! I'm definitely planning to pick up a more festive scent when I get paid!

So beauties, that's it for my October favourites. I hope my thoughts about these products have been of some use to at least some of you. What were your October favourites?

Lots and lots of love,

Caitie <3

Ps. I'm sorry if the picture is a little bit blurry! I really wanted to get this post up for you guys, so I took it quickly on my iPhone!

x Toms x Movember Launch Party x

Hey beauties, 

How are you all this wintery Thursday? I must admit, I am super red nosed and snivelly and fully intend on an early night tonight. That is my hope. Prior to being struck down by this nasty flu, care of the germy commuters I am sadly surrounded by daily though, the gorgeous Amelia Simmons extended a very generous invitation to the Toms x Movember Launch event at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden. She didn’t have to ask me twice – it took me all of about 7.5 seconds to decide that yes, I would certainly be kind enough to oblige and be her ‘plus one’ for the evening.

Toms are a brand for which I have a whole bunch of respect; the whole concept of ‘One for One’ makes me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside and, more importantly, reaffirms my own belief that despite the prevalence of capitalism and what this has mistakenly come to mean, companies that want to can, and do, still make a difference.

Likewise, those guys at Movember score some serious cool points on the whole making a difference barometer – as Amelia notes in her fab post on Lady M Presents (check it out it’s an amazeballs online fashion and lifestyle magazine), Movember, the month in which guys grow some sometimes seriously impressive facial hair to raise awareness, for testicular and prostate cancer (among other male health concerns), has raised £184 million and in 2011 alone, £79.3 million was raised, by way of some 2 milion entrants! Woowzers – that’s an awful lot of hairy-faced men raising money for a cause that matters. Personally, I would be far more inclined to grow an impressive moustachio than run a marathon but given my gender, I may be forced to stick to the latter (note to self: run a marathon at least once in my life).

Anyway, what a smashing evening it was – champagne cocktails, a ‘20’s theme (I have to insert the old ‘I didn’t get the memo’ excuse here because as you will see, I was not wearing a flapper frock or headband, despite this being one of my favourite eras!) and the best music I have heard in a long time, care of the fantastically talented  (and admittedly superbly good - looking) Franky and the Jacks; we couldn’t help but get a little too involved, dancing a little too much and twirling far more than one really should (unless you wish to feel dizzy of course…), all before heading home at  9pm! While the night was still young, we both had fairly notable treks home and work the next day, so we decided to keep it sensible; it was a Tuesday after all. 

Despite departing early, we did not leave empty handed and were gifted with not 1 but 2 fab grey Tom’s tees (one of which we got to design ourselves care of the ingenious print screens they had installed especially for the event) and a gift bag, the contents of which are shown below! I must admit, I love a good gift bag and, while you might wonder what on earth a girl would do with a man’s razor and an entire bottle of HP sauce; fear not, I will be making use of both of these.

So below are some happy snaps from the evening, which I hope you will enjoy - oh and the gorgeously tall and oh so stylish girl in the pics with me is Sammy Aki - also known as the Groom Style Consultant. Enjoy the snaps and let me know what you think and remember...

'Start Something that Matters'. 

All my love, 

Christie 

XOXO