12 Days Of Blogmas - Top 10 Posts of 2013

Here are my top 10 posts of 2013 by page views. I'm hoping that by looking at this I can help improve my blog in 2014 and give you more of the content you want. If you haven't seen these before you can revisit them in the links below.

1. Tallinn, Estonia
2. Lookbook: Peterhoff Palace
3. Lookbook: LEO
4. Lookbook: Oslo
5. Oslo, Norway
6. London - July 2013
7. Ticking off Trends
8. Review: Maybeline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation
9. Michael Kors Watch
10. Tutorial: Basket Weave Nail - Inspired by Rodarte SS13

12 Days of Blogmas - 2013 Reflections

Looking back 2013 has been a pretty rubbish year for me all in all with certain parts of it completely broke me down and turned me into a shell of my former self for months on end. As a general rule I try to be a positive person taking inspiration from anywhere I can find so it has been really hard to get my mind back into a positive setting but I am sure 2014 will be much better for me with the things I am hoping to achieve.

Travelling was possibly the main highlight of my year and is always the time I feel most at home within myself I find it frees my mind and lets me see clearly and I have been fortunate enough to go to so many different places this year; though New York was definitely my favourite. I love big cities like London but New York was just a whole new level and I cannot wait to go back maybe I’ll get to in 2014. I have such a long list of places I want to visit and I'm going to narrow the list down and get a few more done hopefully next year and one of my resolutions should help with that.

My style has evolved again in 2013 and I’m so much more comfortable in my own skin now than I was when I started my blog. I have become more aware of what styles and colours suit me and how different clothes make me feel. I have always believed clothing should make your feel something; powerful, confident, sensual, playful, to me an outfit that makes you feel something is a perfect outfit. I managed to pick myself up some really nice designer pieces, classic and statement, this year too that I can see myself wearing for years to come, a few are pictured above. In 2014 I would love to pick up some more pieces that will stand the test of time and as I only tend to buy items that I absolutely love it shouldn't be a waste of my hard earned pennies either.

What are your 2013 reflections?

12 Days of Blogmas - Travel 2013

Travel is the one thing that truly makes me feel alive. Any by that I mean I feel free, like I can do anything, talk to anyone, like I want to dance in the streets because I am so happy and blessed to be visiting somewhere new and different. I have always said if I won the lottery jackpot I would take off and travel for a while. So this post is to recap my travels for 2013 from home and away.

Oslo

Copenhagen

Tallinn

St Petersburg – Peterhoff Palace

St Petersburg – Neva Cruise

St Petersburg – Spilled Blood Church

Helsinki

York

New York – Top of the Rock

New York – Lower Manhattan

New York – Brooklyn

New York - Nights

New York – Central Park & Grand Central

12 Days of Blogmas - My Top Hair and Beauty Products of 2013

I’m not normally one to stray from what I love when it comes to beauty products as I can find myself disappointed but this year I found a few new products that I did like and some I now can’t live without.

Kérastase Elixir Ultime – Brilliant for beautifying my hair it is such a versatile product and gives my hair so much shine and condition. I don’t find it makes my hair greasy as well even when I load it on over itself, although it has a hefty price tag for the small amount I need to use I find it is value for money and they have a variety for every type of hair that is the same strength but different texture. I went for the coloured hair version which smells very similar to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle so I feel like I get a double whammy of product and perfume.

Maybelline Dream lumi-Touch Highlighting Concealer – I have always, always, always loved YSL’s Touche Eclait unfortunately I have had to scrimp on my make up this year as I don’t see the point in spending a lot on my works make up and that’s when I discovered this beauty. I love the feel of the product and the coverage is brilliant. It also helps that I can wait and pick it up for a steal when boots do a 3 for 2 offer.

Nivea Rescue and Care Hand Cream – As my hands are always in water and even more so in December as the mad pre-Christmas rush starts and my knuckles get so dry and cracked that it becomes painful. This product has been my little lifesaver this year as it has a really nice thick formula that just sits on my skin and heals my hands in a few applications. I honestly don’t know where I would be without this product this month.

Benefit Browzings – I’ve never done anything with my eyebrows beyond occasionally having them shaped, so when I went to try some new products out and the lady at the counter said I should try it I was a little dubious. Now however I feel strange if I go out without a bit of brow powder on. I use the light colour as I find I can build it up if I want it darker. It really does help finish off my make-up look to have my eyebrows done.

Yves Saint Laurent Volumpte Sheer Candy – This product is a recent addition to me as I like wearing lipsticks but I find so many dry my lips out. I asked at the YSL counter because a friend had given me one of her lipsticks to try and I loved the colour so I asked if they had anything that wouldn’t dry my lips out. So far I am really enjoying the feel of this lipstick I only choice a natural gloss as I wanted to make sure I liked the feel of it before I committed to colours but now I am looking forward to trying out some of the colours too.

12 Days of Blogmas - My Christmas Goodies

So I have been a fairly lucky girl this Christmas and got some really nice things for Christmas. My parents got me some Carvela boots I picked out, iGloves (essential for keeping my hands warm and texting) and a scrapbook from Paperchase so I can finally document my travels. I got a Nails Inc bling kit from my sister as she knows how much I love doing my nails and Kate Spades '20 years of inspiration' book which is full of images which have inspired the brand since its beginning and makes a perfect coffee table book. Plus a few DVDs and bits from friends.

My Christmas Day was spent down at my auntie and uncles this year, as we tend to alternate years for who cooks, eating lots of food, chatter and laughter and then Christmas tele to finish the day. It was perfectly relaxing. How did you spend yours?

The 12 Days of Blogmas

Happy Boxing Day everyone! I hope you had a great day yesterday no matter what you were doing. Personally this year I’ve been a bit of a Grinch so I am happy to see Christmas go and look forward to bigger better things and the next 12 days will be no exception. For the next 12 days I’m going to try something new for my blog that if I like it I will repeat year after year and that will be the ‘12 days of Blogmas’. I’m going to use it as a recap for the last year, popular blog posts, my travels, shopping and talk about my hopes for the future. I think looking back helps you leave it where it is and then work out how you can move on positively and it is a good way of forcing myself back into this blogging business. So I hope you enjoy it and come back to read more. Let me know what you think.

Chatsworth Festive Cheer

Lookbook: Checkmate

River Island hat, Topshop necklace, H&M Jumper, Topshop 'Leigh' Jeans, Primark boots, ASOS Checked Coat, Michael Kors MK5878 Watch

I really do love autumn and winter; it allows me to opportunity to layer my clothing which I find so much easier than trying to find summer clothes. This year I have gone a little coat crazy on ASOS since my favourite winter coat has been lovingly over-worn and finally gave in and fell apart.

This is possibly a blessing in disguise as I had been wearing that coat for years now and it was starting to look a bit dated in style. I got this checked coat in October and I love it as it looks great worn with neutrals or with bright colours.

London Lights

Lookbook: Hourglass

Asos Cold-shoulder Dress, Asos high shine legging, Primark Slippers, Michael Kors Watch, Topshop necklace

So this look is actually one of the looks I wear to work. My uniform is strict black and white with being a hairstylist but I can wear whatever I like so long as it is smart and fashionable for work which I think is always a great perk to have. I’ve never tried shiny leggings before so I was quite nervous about trying them but I actually enjoyed wearing them. I now just need to find other things to wear them with so I’ll be taking hints and inspiration from other bloggers and if you have a link for suggestions for me I’d really appreciate them.