What I Got for My 28th Birthday

Every year we all love to be nosey and see what we all got for our Birthdays and Christmas, so here we are again. This year I was pretty lucky and mostly got to choose my gifts so as you can tell it is mainly Too Faced products and centres around all Gluten Free make-up. 

Some items I was unaware of getting were these adorable cups, who doesn't love Eeyore! I did also get some sweet treats which were promptly eaten before I had a chance to do photos, oops, sorry not sorry 😝. 

Bourjois Voxbox in Association with Influenster*

This is now my second Voxbox, when I was told I would be in for the chance of receiving one I thought it was only going to be lipsticks. How surprised was I to receive a full box of make-up, with foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, mascara, blusher and lipstick.

I am not really one for drugstore make-up especially foundation, however I am always willing to give products a chance. That said Bourjois was one of the brands I used to use when I was just discovering make-up and was on a budget.

Healthy Mix Foundation, R.R.P £9.99. For a drugstore foundation I was quite surprised at the coverage, whilst it wasn't full it was medium and build-able. It did give a dewy finish which was quite nice and different from my normal matte look, it worked very well with my go to Too Faced setting powder. As for the 16Hr staying power, I would say that a standard work day without strenuous activity would probably be more realistic. I wouldn't change from my high end foundation to this though.

Healthy Mix Concealer, R.R.P £8.99. I have found that I have been needing to use concealer more often recently for dark circles, and this concealer is actually excellent coverage. You can build it well too and it stays in place under foundation, which is a definite must for any concealer.

Rouge Velvet The Lipstick, R.R.P £8.99. Whilst I am not a fan of drugstore lipsticks, these shades are gorgeous. The Rouge Velvet range did seem to be one of the better cheap lipsticks I have tried, they did stay in place for a good few hours without bleeding and did stain the lips which is good for when the colour fades a little. That said I still wouldn't go away from my staple favourite Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick.

Little Round Pot Blusher, R.R.P £6.49. I have to say I hate the way this smells, it is so manufactured. The colour is not me either and overly shimmered, that said for a drugstore blusher it is nicely pigmented and has average staying power.

Smockystories, R.R.P £7.99. Ever since converting over to high end eyeshadows I can seriously tell the difference, I really had to work to create a smokey eye look with this palette. The shadows were very patchy and stuck, they didn't blend together very well and in the end the look was just well over done because of the amount of product I had to use to try to erase the patchiness.

Volume Glamour Push Up Mascara Ultra Black, R.R.P £8.99. I am one of the lucky ones and have pretty good lashes, that said this mascara doesn't create volume. It is pretty good and not giving you any clumpy lashes. The pigment of the black isn't great either. Overall I would just use this to create a base for a better mascara.

Overall the only item out of this whole box that I would actually re-purchase would be the concealer.

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

A Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

When I started Christmas shopping I didn't quite know what to get the Men in my life, as I am sure most of us Women do. If they aren't your better half then generally you don't really know what on earth to get them! So when I did start shopping for all my gifts I ended up mostly shopping at Lisa Angel!!! I just love it in there and they do free delivery with no minimum order, what's better than that. 

First up is the standard Eau de Parfum gift.. I recently did a review on Monsoon's Rose Gold and Accessorizes' Lovelily Fragrance, so these are fairly staple gifts for the lucky ladies in your life. 

Any Make-up junkie or girly girl will appreciate a decent palette. It can be a good all round everyday palette with a mix of eyeshadows, blusher, bronzer and highlighter or just a standard eyeshadow palette. Just go all out and get a decent brand such as Tarte or Too Faced. You could even pair it with the same brands lippy, just for them to complete the look.

Everyone loves cute things, and these ring dishes from Lisa Angel are the prettiest! They range from £4 - £8 which in mind mind is pretty damn good.

Lisa Angel also offer a variety of jewelry gifts for everyone, this leather bangle is a solid choice for most men. It can go with anything and can be easily hidden if they so choose to. If you really wanted to go above and beyond you can get it personalised too.

I struggled to decide what to get teenage lads, so opted for some pretty sturdy earphones. They are water-resistant, perfect for sports and stylish too. I have never had a complaint for these gifts, so hopefully I am doing something right....

Gardeners will love this shabby chic picture frame bird feeder, it is such a unique gift and will certainly get tongues wagging. Yet another from Lisa Angel, I'm telling you it's an amazing site!

One for the unusual and you'll have to decide if they are the right kind of person for the game, is Cards Against Humanity. I absolutely love this game and find it hilarious if you can be as brutal as possible. You just have to be with the right people, but then you shouldn't be playing with anyone that is easily offended!

Hopefully you all have a wonderful Christmas and don't leave you shopping till the 24th!!!

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Happy 28th Birthday to ME with 28 Questions in Collaboration with Christie's Lifestyle

Today I turn 28 to state the obvious, and I am doing something a little different for this years post. I have collaborated with my longest, best friend and fellow blogger Christie from Christie's Lifestyle. 

Instead of just answering some basic questions about myself, Christie has chosen them all and has also replied to all of my answers to decide whether she thinks I have answered truthfully or not. We hope you enjoy learning a little bit about Romanovs Views and our longterm friendship. 

1. Name an inside joke that we share with each other.

Romanovs Views: Flip Flops are a very nutritional breakfast 😝

Christie: It’s true, they are!! Haha love this.

2. What would you rather have in life – love or money?

Romanovs Views: Love, I have my own money at the end of the day.

Christie: I thought you would say this, and I hope love is something that comes your way!

3. Name one bad habit that you have.

Romanovs Views: Just one? Uhm, speaking before I think… I would like to say that I have gotten better with age and time though?

Christie: Yes you’ve definitely got better at this over the years. Although it has made many entertaining cinema trips with you speaking to people who are on their phones or chatting haha. I think your patience is much better these days haha!

4. If you could have dinner with any famous person – who would it be?

Romanovs Views: Stuart the Minion, because he is the bestest ever!!!!

Christie: I thought you were going to say me, but I shall accept this answer 😝

5. What was the last thing that made you cry?

Romanovs Views: All this weight loss. I was trying on my mums bridesmaid dress and even though I had it fitted a week earlier it was loose. I knew that it was going to be even worse the week later when I actually had to wear it, and it wasn’t the fact that it didn’t fit right that made me cry. It was the feeling of being completely alone and lost. I had been dealing with a lot of pain and weight loss alone for a long time and just been putting on a brave face not letting anyone know what I was going through. So when my Nan called me and I was standing in that dress it just broke me.. I spent the day crying.

Christie: That’s really not nice to hear and I want nothing more than for you to find out what’s going on and get better!

6. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life – what would it be?

Romanovs Views: I am not sure, honestly. I guess, if it was only one thing then it would have to be my Nan’s Sheppard’s Pie.

Christie: I feel like I need to try this out to verify the answer haha...

7. What is your favourite song?

Romanovs Views: This changes so often for me, I am always listening to the latest Country Music. Right now it has to be Lay Low by Josh Turner.

Christie: I’ll be honest I have never heard this song but will check it out!

8. Think of your first high school crush… would you want to go there now?

Romanovs Views:  God no!!! If you remember rightly I already did ha ha. So NO!!!!

Christie: Hahaha…. Yeah lets not mention names but LOL!! I remember now hahah!!

9. What is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?

Romanovs Views:  Hmm…. I think it is my Mac Book pro… Or Harley if you tally up all the vet bills from all the accidents she keeps having! No sorry, technically my Car.

Christie: Haha bless Harley, worth the money I am sure! Are you sure its not Too Faced products? 😜

10. What is one thing you’d love to achieve in the next 5 years?

Romanovs Views: My Chartership, if I can ever get my butt into gear!!!

Christie: You can do it girl! I have faith in you 😝 !!!

11. Have you ever won anything? Big or small?

Romanovs Views: Yes. A voucher for some glasses at Dipple & Conway, a bunch of Know Cosmetics and My Tiny Box from My Little Box.

Christie: Oh yes, and thank you for winning some Know Cosmetics for me as well, loved those!

12. You go for a night out clubbing – what are you drinking?

Romanovs Views: Usually water or coke.

Christie: This is true! You don’t need alcohol to shear the sheep or go fishing on the dancefloor!

13. What is your signature dance move?

Romanovs Views: Was the slut drop ha ha… but now is our random backwards arm shimmy thing.

Christie: Haha yes, and as said in the first question we do like a good old fishing sesh!

14. Do you believe in ghosts?

Romanovs Views: Obviously, I have seen one or two. Does Shannon peeking through the window at us watching Fourth Kind count? Actually there was that weird shape in the road on the drive home from one of the Paranormal films!

Christie: OMG that was the scariest moment of my life!!! Thought she was an owl!!! Hilarious!!!

15. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Romanovs Views: Despicable Me 3!!!

Christie: This doesn’t surprise me in the slightest 😋 !

16. Describe your ideal date.

Romanovs Views: A dog walk.. I’m fairly simple really. Plus I don’t really want to go through all the hassle of a restaurant and food straight away!!!

Christie: Yes this sounds very ‘you’! Would be ideal!

17. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Romanovs Views: Nope. Unless it is for your pet or child.

Christie: I agree on the pet front! Although I didn’t like biscuit when we got him, I do love him now lol.

18. Do you miss any particular foods/drinks since becoming a coeliac?

Romanovs Views: KFC!!!!!! Chinese!!! Owh and Pringles…

Christie: Yeah I think I would miss those foods too…!!! MATE have you had Chipz from tesco? Gluten free pringles! Think they taste alright if you ask me! Just a shame they only do 2 flavours.

19. What season do you like the most?

Romanovs Views: Summer obviously.. I am a heat addict.

Christie: Yep this is true, and you tan nicely as well rather than burn/peel like me.

20. Jeans or Joggies?

Romanovs Views: Jeans, I am not really one for Joggers am I.

Christie: No, to be honest I cannot picture you in a pair of Joggy Bizzles. Pyjamas maybe but not trackies haha…

21. Top 3 things about having a dog.

Romanovs Views: No matter how bad your day is, when you come home, they are always so happy to see you. Even if you have just been gone for a few minutes; the complete loyalty and trust, there is nothing else like it. Lastly the laughter, you always end up laughing at the things they do even when they are being naughty. You try to be mad but they have this way of just making you smile.

Christie: Aww that’s really lovely! And you make a great dog owner too so its good to hear you get some much back from it.

22. What is your most important memory?

Romanovs Views: I am not entirely too sure, I have blocked out a lot of my childhood. I always remember one funny memory when I used to stay round my grandparents. I had a Furby at the time and it was time for bed, it would not be quiet. So my Grandad shouted at it “Shut Up”, and from then on whenever it heard my Granddad speak it would say “Shut Up”. It was so funny and made him get so annoyed.  

Christie: Haha this is brilliant!! Love this story!!

23. What is something you dislike in a person that drives you mad?

Romanovs Views: Hypocrites. To say you dislike something or that you won’t ever do something because it is against your beliefs or whatever and then to do it a few days later… AGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Christie: That is rather annoying I agree!!!!!

24. How many sugars do you like in your tea?

Romanovs Views: What now or when I was younger? Now I have between 2-3.

Christie: I will never forget the day we went to the café in Costessey and you asked for 9 sugars. I don’t think the woman believed you behind the till!! Glad to hear you have cut down quite a bit there haha…

25. What is your favourite type of flower?

Romanovs Views: Lillies.

Christie: I think I knew this…! Good choice!

26. If you had to change careers, what job would you choose?

Romanovs Views: I have no idea. I love my job, maybe a teacher.

Christie: I think you’d make a good teacher.. I’d be scared of you and would do the work lol!

27. Do you prefer fruit or vegetables?

Romanovs Views: I have never thought about this before? What do you prefer, Leeks??? I guess fruit because you don’t feel obliged to eat them.

Christie: I like them both, my body prefers fruit.. veg just does not agree if you catch my drift lmao… And yes I love a leek! Especially on the ceiling hahahha….

28. In all of your experience as a coeliac, where has been the best restaurant to cater for your needs?

Romanovs Views: Hmm, this is a tough one.. the restaurant of Kim’s house ha ha. No I would probably have to say either Applebee’s in USA. I can’t really remember any in the UK that wow’d me, other than the Gluten Free Café.
Christie: I agree, I think America is a lot better catered for coeliacs than we are here!

I had a good giggle doing this collaboration with you Kim, and look forward to 29 questions next year 😉.

Hopefully we can do one for your 28th in June...

If you would like to wish me an extra special Birthday, please head over to the UK Blog Awards and give us a Vote. 

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

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My Little Box November 2017 Sunday Edition

I have always been a lover of My Little Box and have stayed with them even when they have let us down with less than good service. I was pretty happy as usual when this months box came through the post, only to open it up and find a note to say that this will be the last box in the UK!

I am sure I am not alone when I say I am not happy! Especially when their reason is to focus on their Gambettes Box, I am sorry but a box of tights is not a replacement for this subscription! I will now be on the hunt for a suitable replacement.

Nominated for the UK Blog Awards 2018!!!!!!!

I cannot believe I have been nominated for the UK Blog Awards 2018, it was such an unexpected surprise and I am truly honored.