Uncommon Goods Review

Uncommon goods is a Brooklyn based American online retailer and catalogue that provides designs by independent retailers. There are so many interesting, useful and unique products to choose from that I found myself browsing the site for ages.

Even though Uncommon Goods is an American website, they provide prices in pound sterling, whilst shipping to the UK with low international rates, no additional charges at delivery and duties and taxes calculated at the checkout.

The pineapple tumbler is a two-piece product, made of aluminium and has a brass finish that is perfect for serving fancy cocktails or frozen desserts and there is a removable lid which can also serve as a base. 

I chose the Pineapple Tumbler as I have seen so many of these around lately and think they are a really sophisticated symbol of hospitality that provide a warm welcome to any guests you may have. They look great on your dinner table as a decoration or actually used as a tumbler for a drink. It is beautiful and well crafted and would make a perfect gift - even the box it arrived in was cute!

I didn't have to wait long for the item to arrive and the overall website experience was easy and straightforward. 

https://www.facebook.com/uncommongoods/

https://twitter.com/uncommongoods

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/uncommongoods/

https://www.instagram.com/uncommongoods/

I definitely recommend taking a look at Uncommon Goods as there is so much to browse and choose from.

Spring / Summer Wishlist

I am so glad that Spring is on its way, my skin needs warmth and sunshine and when this time of the year comes around I usually have a long wishlist of clothing and beauty items to take me through these seasons. I have out together some of the items on my wishlist together, shown above and I hope to get my hands on some of these to use during Spring and Summer. 

Primark Precious Metals Metallic Lip Crayons

I have not used any Primark make up before and to be honest it is because I really did not have any high hopes towards it. However, when I saw these Metallic Lip Crayons I did not hesitate to pay closer attention to them. There were three to choose from and when I swatched them all I was so impressed with how easily they glided onto the skin and how pigmented and metallic they actually were. For only £2 I quickly decided that I was going to purchase a couple and I chose a gorgeous rose gold, pinky shade and the gold shade. They also had a deepish brown shade that looked a bit too dark for me but was equally as gorgeous.

They were easy to apply and needed about two coats to get a good colour pay off. They lasted for a couple of hours as I was eating and drinking and did not dry out my lips at all. They actually felt like a gloss when on my lips as they were so moisturising and hydrating. 

Overall I am really impressed with these and it has made me want to try more Primark make up! 

Gifts for her

1) Soap and Glory Hand Food Trio - A cute package of mini hand creams in three different scents.

2) Pandora Sparkling Open Work Heart Charm - This one is perfect for Valentine's Day, but any Pandora item is a winner for this occasion.  

3) Morris & Co Strawberry Thief Bodycare Set - Another cute trio perfect for bath time. 

4) Too Faced Love flush blusher - Perfect and cute packaging with a number of shades to choose from. 

5) Pandora Linked Love Ring - Again, another fitting purchase for Valentine's Day. 

6) I Heart Makeup Blushing Hearts Blush - This has such cute packaging, is pretty cheap for what it is, and is still an amazing product. 

7) Nars Satin Lip Pencil - Easy and precise application and an amazing range of colours.

8) Michael Kors Sunglasses - An expensive gift, but gorgeous none the less, and with Spring and Summer on the way, a lovely pair of sunglasses will definitely be a winner. 

9) Diptyque Eau de Toilette - A perfume is a gift that in my opinion, you can not go wrong with, particularly for a perfume obsessed girl like myself. 

10) House of Hackney Pineapple Candle Holder - An expensive example, but cute home decor is also a good idea, and anything candle related is a winner I believe. 

11) Skinnydip Hip Flask - Useful and very cute. 

12) Chokers may have been all the go last year, but I still enjoy wearing them and this one is a gorgeous statement piece. 

13) Tom Ford Perfume - Pricey, but gorgeous and even in a gorgeous bottle. 

14) Rip Curl Chile Hat - There are loads of these hats about at the moment, and are a real statement piece, that is a great addition to any wardrobe. 

15) Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick - There are so many different shades to choose from and this range leaves your lips smooth and protected. 

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone! 

Coconut Lane Accessories

Coconut Lane (www.coconut-lane.com) sell super cute home and fashion accessories at affordable prices that I just had to share their website with you! I also have a 20% off discount code for you to use at the checkout, just type in 'lelizaxo20' !

They have a range of cute Iphone 5,6 and 6+ phone cases with the marble one being my particular favourite. Coconut Lane also sell A4 wall art, also available in a variety of coloured frames to choose from, as well as A6 cards with sassy phrases on them. I'm excited to create a spare in my room to stand this frame up! 

Find Coconut Lane on Instagram @coconutlaneuk and visit their website www.coconut-lane.com Remember to enter 'lelizaxo20' at the checkout for 20% off your orders! 

Laura Elizabeth xo

GIVEAWAY - Phone Case from Zing Cases

Hello, 

There is a giveaway taking place on my Instagram account www.instagram.com/lelizaxo where you can win a phone case from http://zingcases.com/.

The phone case will be the one pictured in the above picture and will be available to win in iPhone models, Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 and Xperia Z2, Z3 and Z3 Compact! If you would like a chance to win, head over to my Instagram account and comment on this post, tagging a friend who you think would be interested. You also have to be following my account and Zing Cases Instagram account found here. 

Winner will be announced Sunday 26th July, good luck!

Laura Elizabeth xo

June Favourites

Pink Shell Cross Body Bag | Skinny Dip London - I have been loving using this bag the past month, it's small but large enough to hold any essential items, and basically it makes me feel like a mermaid. It's metallic and looks really pretty when the sun shines on it, it also has a long, chunky gold chain. 

Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser | Liz Earle - My new favourite method of removing my make up! It's simple, quick and easy to use, and removes even the most difficult and stubborn mascara with just a few wipes of the muslin cloth. It leaves my skin feeling smooth afterwards and I just find it really satisfying when rubbing the cleanser onto my face with my fingers, starting to remove the make up, before wiping the rest away with the cloth. 

Aquarium Nail Mediterranean in Number 4 | Barry M - I bought this nail polish last year, but early on in June I picked it out of my ever growing collection of polishes and applied it to my toe nails and now my love for it has been renowned. The metallic shiny pink makes me feel like a mermaid, just like the shell bag, and looks really pretty with a pair of cute sandals on a sunny day. 

Colour Boost Lip Crayon | Bourjois Paris - Another product I picked up last summer after I watched Tanya Burr use it in one of her make up tutorial videos! It's another lip crayon product, and although there are many out there, and you may already own too many, this product is a lip crayon that should definitely be added to your collection. The formula is lovely, non sticky and not drying at all. It has a glossy shine to it and the colour pay off is really good. It's a lovely coral/peach colour and so it is perfect for a summer make up look. 

Gold Stack Rings | Primark - Gold stack rings are a great accessory and I picked these up in Primark for under £5. They fit nicely, and vary in band sizes but all are fairly chunky. They are simple, but eye catching and suitable for everyday or evening outfits. 

Make Up Setting Spray | Collection - Defnitely useful in the summer heat if you want your make up to last for a long period of time without moving or melting! With just one spray this product sets your make up, and leaves it in place for hours. This is another product I have purchased before, however I have started to use it more in the hotter weather and found that for £5.99 it is definitely a great product worth buying this summer. 

Silver Coin Necklace | LVBT.co.uk - I very kindly got sent this product a while back and have been really enjoying wearing it with everyday outfits and in the evening. I find that it works really well both ways, and is perfect for completing a great festival look. They look sophisticated and make any outfit look effortlessly well put together. 

Summer Beauty and Fashion Essentials - Collaboration with Katie

I have done a collaboration with the lovely Katie over at http://katielou99.blogspot.co.uk/ on what our summer essentials are. 

I love Summer, and especially love the bright colours and patterns that come out during the summer months as it really puts a smile on my face and makes me feel happy. Usually because during the rest of the year I mainly wear monochrome or darker colours so it is nice to want to wear brighter colours, whether that be shown through my fashion items or my beauty picks. I thought I would give you the run down on my favourite items that are essential for summer. 

Sandals -  My first summer essential item is a pair of comfy sandals!  I bought these last summer from Primark and wore them a lot and decided to include them in this collaboration as they are just so comfy! I wore these to the beach, on shopping days out and even took them on holiday with me earlier in the year where I wore them on a few touristy days out. They are still in good condition so I look forward to wearing them again during the summer months. 

Statement Necklace | Silver Coin Necklace - A silver or gold statement necklace is perfect for summer and I especially love these coin necklaces. I think they look great at festivals and really bring an outfit alive. They are elegant and sophisticated looking making an outfit look effortlessly well put together. 

Glowy Skin - A good bronzer, blusher or highlighter that gives a lovely, healthy glow looks great in Summer. They are perfect for putting on over a light base product or on their own - I definitely prefer wearing less make up during the summer days if I can help it. I particularly love the Make Up Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in Golden Sugar. 

Moisturiser with SPF - A good moisturiser is important for healthy skin, and in the summer I like using one with an SPF to protect my skin from the sun when I choose to wear minimal make up or no make up at all. In the summer I also like to use a lighter foundation, and many I own do not have an SPF, and so I always make sure I use a moisturiser with SPF to make up for it. I particularly like the Garnier Moisture Match Protect and Glow (Superdrug/Boots) as it is a light lotion that smells lemony and fresh and contains light reflecting pearls to give a healthy looking glow to the skin. This one contains SPF 20. 

Bright Lipstick - A bright lipstick is great in the summer if you like to wear minimal make up on your skin. I like to wear peachy, coral or pink colours on my lips with only a basic eye make up look, and a light coverage on the skin. Barry M do a great range of bright, summer colour lipsticks. 

Pretty Nail Polish - I like to wear bright colours on my nails in the summer as well as I love a good pair of sandals and so it is important that my toes look pretty! I particularly love similar colours on my nails as the lipstick shades I wear. Peachy, corals and pinks look really lovely in the summer months. I also really like the pretty, shiny colours in the Aquarium collection from Barry M. 

BB Cream - As I like to wear less make up in the summer, I find a BB cream is a great alternative to a foundation. A really good one can provide enough coverage to cover up imperfections but also give the no make up make up look. I enjoy using ones without SPF and prefer to use a moisturiser with an SPF to protect my skin. The All-In-One BB Cream from The Body Shop is my perfect bb cream, it transforms on the skin to suit your skin tone, whilst providing hydration and light to medium coverage. 

Sunglasses - A good pair of sunglasses which actually do the job is essential for Summer. Even though I wear mine all year round, as it is brighter in the summer it is important to protect your eyes. These are from Primark and only cost me £2 so I was curious as to how well they would work, but they are great and really do keep my eyes protected. Also, they are super cute. 

These are my beauty and fashion summer essentials. Go and check out Katie's post here to find out what her essentials are. I'd love to know what yours are! 

Laura Elizabeth xo 

Current Favourite Lip Colour

I have always liked this colour lip, but recently I have been obsessed with wearing it, and I   now own so many different products of a similar shade to fuel said obsession. It is not really a bright, vibrant colour for summer, but it is still one I find myself wearing year round and this is the main reason for justifying myself when I end up buying another product of the same shade!

Lime Crime Velvetine - Cashmere

Mac Lip Liner - Whirl

Sleek Matte Me - Birthday Suit

Maybelline Coloursensational Lipstick - Rosewood Pearl 

What are your current favourite lip products?

Laura Elizabeth xo

Touchstone Accessories

I was fortunate enough to receive some necklaces from Touchstone Accessories recently and they are beautiful! You can check out their jewellery and accessories concessions in 'Select' Fashion stores and 'Store Twenty One'. 

They are also on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/touchstoneaccessories?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/touchstoneacess

Instagram: https://instagram.com/touchstoneaccessories/

Website: http://www.touchstoneaccessories.com/index.html

5 Piece Cutout Necklace - £5

Flower Necklace -£5

Petal Cluster Collar - £5

Silver Heart Collar - £4

All necklaces are super cute and versatile, and easy to style. At only £4/5 each you can't go wrong! Don't forget to get social with them online, and look out for their items in stores!

-Laura Elizabeth xo

Short Missguided Wishlist

Floral Halterneck Tassle Tie Playsuit Beige

£25

Striped T-Shirt Dress Monochrome 

£20

Lace Panel Blouse White

£30

Santorina Monochrome Pussybow Blouse 

£18

Pay day has come along again and these are the items I have been eyeing up on Missguided as of late! 

-Laura Elizabeth xo

The products I use on my skin

Nivea Lip Butter in Blueberry Blush

Boots Essentials Moisturising Cream

Simple Kind To Eye Balm

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +

La Roche-Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel

All of these products I incorporate into my skin care routine, they remove make-up, cleanse and soothe my skin. I'm always looking to change up my skin care products and see if any can match or top the products I use daily, however these are the products I am currently obsessed with!

Comment your with your favourite skin care products!

-Laura Elizabeth xo 

Make Up Academy Luxe - Powerbrow Shape and Highlight

I totally bought this product on a whim, with no previous research and after not reading any review or blog post prior to purchasing it. I didn't want to get my hopes up, 1) because its an eyebrow product and good ones are hard to find, 2) this make up range is fairly cheap and so it might not be as good as more expensive brands (although I know this isn't necessarily always the case) and 3) I have products from MUA which are perfectly good, but like I said, it's an eyebrow product! These products have to be good, and I've tried many that just haven't been all that great. 

However, I was really pleasantly surprised! Before using this product, my go to eyebrow product was, believe it or not, a powder palette from H&M which I used with the small angled brush that came with it, and this was my holy grail product for getting my eyebrows just right. Despite this, I fell in love with this product immediately and have been using it every day since. I find it works best for me when I use it light handedly - using a small amount of the product and building it up. I got mine in mid brown, and I believe there are only two other shades, 'fair' and 'dark brown' however I'm not 100% sure on that fact, there could be more, however these were the ones in stock when I was in Superdrug. 

The product has a small nib which twists upwards at the bottom to make more product available, and the other end has a highlighter which although is quite a pearly almost pink colour, which I wasn't too keen on at first, it compliments the brown colour beautifully. The only downfall I would say it has is the product can be easily smudged, so I would recommend using an eyebrow mascara or setter on top to keep the product in place. 

Ikea Furniture and Storage Dupes

My ultimate dream bedroom would be made up of the beautiful white furniture that Ikea stock, many a times I have spent ogling the furniture on the website and just wishing I had the money to completely re-do my room and fill it with the beautiful items from Ikea! 

However having done some research I discovered that there are a few other places in the UK that stock very similar furniture and storage systems, just like Ikea stock, including places such as Argos, Wilkinsons and Homebase! Here are the items I discovered!

Argos

  

4 cube unit: £19.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1165140.htm

6 cube unit: £34.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1166943.htm

8 cube unit: £49.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1093432.htm

   4 drawer unit: £39.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3513312.htm

3 drawer desk: £57.99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7092657.htm

Wilkinsons

2 shelf unit: £18 http://www.wilko.com/bookcases+display-units/polar-white-2-shelf-storage/invt/m100135

3 cube unit: £20 http://www.wilko.com/bookcases+display-units/polar-white-3-cube-storage/invt/m100136

4 shelf unit: £24 http://www.wilko.com/bookcases+display-units/polar-white-4-shelf-storage/invt/m100138

8 cube unit: £25 http://www.wilko.com/bookcases+display-units/polar-white-8-cube-storage/invt/m100137

   16 cube unit: £35 http://www.wilko.com/bookcases+display-units/polar-white-16-cube-storage/invt/m100139

Homebase 

Double cube wall shelves: £17.99 http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/duraline-double-cube---white-pvc-021403

4 drawer unit: £15 http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/bathroom/bathroom-cabinets-and-storage/white-tandg-4-drawer-unit---white-199832

4 cube unit: £29.99 http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/furniture/phoenix-2-x-2-cube-storage-unit---white-151060

These are just a few of the items I found on different websites, they do many other products that are famously known to be sold at Ikea. 

Hope you have a brilliant week!

-Laura Elizabeth xo

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Awards

I've very kindly been nominated by Dorotea Lukić http://mychickchats.blogspot.co.uk/ for this bloggers awards, so I would like to firstly say thank you, and secondly, go and check our her blog :) 

The rules are:
1) Thank and link the blogger who nominated you
2) Answer the ten questions your nominator has provided
3) Nominate other bloggers
4) Create 10 questions for your nominees and notify them on their nomination

My questions:

1. Favorite thing to do when you're bored? Go through the apps on my phone

2. Best blogging tip? Be consistent

3. Favourite piece of jewellery? My ring given to me by my grandparents

4. What do you do on those rainy days? Film, music, food, bed

5. Any siblings? A younger sister

6. Favourite hairstyle? Loose curls

7. Favourite blogger/youtuber? I love Barbara https://plus.google.com/103368226925607869875/posts / https://instagram.com/barbarapbabe/

8. Favourite TV show? Way too many, but I'm so dedicated to The Vampire Diaries

9. What are the 5 things you want to do before you die? Travel, have a family, attend concerts of the musicians/bands on my long, evergrowing list, learn to play a musical instrument, be happy in my job. 

10. Hardest thing to do when you are a blogger? Balance University, work and blogging

I nominate:
1)http://highendhanny.blogspot.co.uk/ 
2)http://cuteasabutton-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
3)http://www.nicolaheartsx.blogspot.co.uk/
4)http://www.stylesunrise.co.uk/
5)http://www.fashionneed09.blogspot.it/
6)https://zeenatjaved.wordpress.com/
7)http://www.misslaurenmorgan.blogspot.co.uk/
8)http://lauraslittleloves.com/
9)http://www.thefashionroad.com/
10) http://keepdreaming-13.blogspot.ie/

My questions: 
1) What is your dream job?
2) Who inspires you?
3) Any rules you live by in life?
4) What make-up product can you not live without?
5) What do you enjoy the most about blogging?
6) What is your favourite lipstick product?
7) Favourite actor?
8) If you had a soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
9) What city would you like to visit the most?
10) What do you like about yourself?

Laura Elizabeth xo

My Instagram Account

Hello

I'm aiming to reach 1000 followers on Instagram, and still have a few hundred to go before I get there! I use it daily, posting around 4-8 photos a day on average, of anything fashion, beauty, interior, lifestyle, make-up related. If you have Instagram and post similar photos, or are interested in any of these themes please give me a follow and I will follow back! (Might have to comment to remind me!). 

My Account: @lelizaxo http://instagram.com/lelizaxo/ 

The photos I post are a mix of my own photography, either by iPhone or my Canon Powershot, regrams, or photos from Tumblr and Pinterest that I love, that I can find inspiration and creative ideas from.

Here are a few of my own images posted on my Instagram account; 

Comment with your Instagram account names and I will check out your photos!

Laura Elizabeth xo