Pretty colours...

I am a little bit obsessed with home furnishings. My Pinterest has designated boards for every room of the house, as well as a board for home decor ideas and colour schemes. I can stare at my pins for hours, dreaming of recreating them!

Here are my favourite colour schemes at the moment. You'll notice a theme...

    

     

     

One day I will paint my white walls and live in rainbow-coloured bliss!! 

Check out my Pinterest boards here: http://www.pinterest.com/Blogcherrybelle/

A x 

Barbie pink nails

A couple of weeks ago I had a mani-pedi and went for something a little brighter than normal. The nail varnish I chose was Essie’s Boom Boom Room, and it’s now my new favourite. Barbie pink, and extremely opaque, I feel like it was made for me!

I normally find that the consistency is a bit too watery with lighter colours, but Boom Boom Room glided on well and only needed 2 coats.

In the salon I remember remarking that I had a similar colour at home. This morning I wanted to touch up my toes so went through my collection and realised I have the exact same colour! It came out in the UK last year, and was one of the colours I brought over with me. So now I can look like Barbie whenever I want!!

A x

Starting the South Beach Diet

I arrive back in England for a short holiday 6 weeks today so I'm going on a bit of a health kick. I have tried SO many diets over the years, none of which I've really stuck at because they've been too extreme. My friend and I were talking about eating a bit better last week and she recommended a diet called the South Beach Diet. I was unsure at first, because of my experience with fad diets, but after a bit of research it actually looks quite achievable, and more importantly sensible. 

The basic premise is low GI/low carbs. For the first 2 weeks you 'detox' by going carb free, and then reintroduce healthy carbs from week 3. Sweet potato instead of normal, whole grain pasta instead of white etc. I like the way the diet promotes normal, healthy meals, so I'm going to give it a go. 

Like an eager beaver I got up super early this morning (...OK 8am!), and went food shopping for the week. When my groceries were delivered at midday I started cooking. 

I have an event every night this week so only need to worry about breakfast and lunch as I'll grab something on the go for dinner. To make things simple I prepped all of my meals today so that I only have to pack my lunch bag every morning, rather than making a full meal. Having my meals ready should mean I don't need to worry about going off track come 1pm! 

Just because I'm trying to eat healthy doesn't mean I want to eat like a rabbit so I've been researching recipes online. I found a great one from Jamie Oliver which fits perfectly with phase 1 of the SBD, so I've given it a go. If you want to see the recipe, click on the link below.  

Jaime Oliver's broccoli salad with tomato and bacon

(I used turkey bacon rather than normal) 

I always think pre-assembled homemade salads look so sorry for themselves, so rather than combining all of the ingredients I've stored 5 pouches of broccoli, tomato and bacon and made a jar of dressing. That way I can assemble my salad at work and it will taste fresh and delicious every day.

 

For breakfast I've made an egg bake, containing mushrooms, spring onion and tomatoes (portioned up and stored in ziplock bags). For snacks I've got part-skimmed string cheese and hummus with cucumber. 

As I said I'm out every night so I'm going to have to take each dinner as it comes. My plan is to stick to grilled meats and vegetables. Luckily my friend is doing something similar so we can help each other through!

Wish me luck!

A x

10 Beauty award winners that actually are amazing!

I don't know about you but I love reading all the beauty award winners in magazines. However, sometimes I find that the winning products are a surprise and, upon using them, a letdown.

As part of my job I've attended many beauty awards over the last few years, including a handful in the last couple of months ('tis the season). A lot of the time we will be given the winners to try, so I thought I'd share my 10 favourites from this year's haul.



1. Burt's Bees' Brightening Even-Tone Moisurising Cream
Winner: Self Healthy Beauty Awards, for Best Tone Corrector

The smell alone won me over to this product. It smells like oranges. Every morning I sit sniffing it...and then I'm late for work! Weird? Probably!

This moisturiser claims to visibly even skin tone and create a brighter, more luminous complexion. The texture is thick and fairly sticky, but it definitely does what it claims to do. My skin certainly looks brighter, and more radiant. As a result I've been wearing much less foundation than normal. In fact sometimes I skip it completely, which is unheard of!




 2. Make It Stay Zero Fuss Hair Primer
Winner: Star Beauty Awards, for Best Primer

I never knew I needed a hair primer, but after using this product I will never go back! It claims to extend your style twice as long, and let me tell you, it absolutely does!

I have very fine, long, straight hair, but lots of it. My oily roots cannot be left loose for longer than a day, and dry shampoo is the only way I can avoid not washing it daily. This product has changed that. Not only can I now extend my hair to 3 days between washing if I need to (tied up). I can also occasionally wear it down on the second day, and my blow-dry holds its shape a lot longer. 

This product has also helped tame my frizz on days when I just want to wash and go. Until I used Make It Stay I would never have left the house without fully drying and styling my hair, but now I feel comfortable pulling it back in a plait or ponytail and letting it dry naturally. 


 3. Laura Geller GlamLASH Dramatic Volumising Mascara
Winner: Star Beauty Awards, for Best Mascara

I have not switched up my mascara for years. I've dabbled with products that other Bloggers have raved about, but have never found anything I like as much as MAC's Opulash. Until now. 

GlamLASH is a thickening and lengthening mascara, designed to give your lashes 'the glamour of Old Hollywood'. The formula is great; really thick and a very dark, opaque black. The brush has plastic bristles, in order to establish full contact with lashes. I'm not crazy about the brush, but that's just because my personal preference is for a thicker wand. However I'm very happy with the effect. My lashes are already long, but this product makes them extremely fluttery and thick without being clumpy. 



4. Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream
Winner: Star Beauty Awards, for Best BB Cream for Body

Jergens BB Body is the only reason I've got my legs out this summer! The slightly tinted moisturiser is so creamy it's a dream to apply. The coverage isn't heavy but it's enough to give skin a softened look, blurring any imperfections. Bye bye turkey legs! I was worried that there would be some colour transfer because the product is tinted, but I've worn it with both light and dark outfits, and haven't noticed any ungainly marks on my clothes. 

Overall I'm very happy with this, and will definitely be purchasing another one when I run out. Which will be soon...

5. Sally Hershberger Major Body 3-in-1 Volumising Spray

Winner: Star Beauty Awards, for Best Volumiser

Oh black can of magic, how I love you. This product is INSANE! It claims to build volume, act as a dry shampoo and a finishing spray. Sounds too good to be true right? That's what I thought too. I've tried a lot of these 'miracle sprays' that do everything but dry the hair for you. In my experience, a lot of them offer 5 minutes of glory and then fall flat. 

Enter Sally Hershberger...

This product holds my hair all day, and then some! I spray a little on my roots, sectioning my hair as I go, then spray from the ends of my hair, angled at my scalp so I get even bounce. I love the effect, and find as things start to fall a little throughout the day, one quick ruffle of my roots pumps my style right back up. 

The product is VERY drying and a little sticky, so you really don't need much. If you prefer the feel of product-free hair this isn't for you. But if you can handle hair that feels a little loaded then give this a go. 


6. Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint

Winner: Redbook Most Valuable Products

I adore this product, and not just because it's from a London brand ;0)


I love a lot of Rimmel's make-up but this is at the top of my list. The colours are perfect and the texture is a really nice cream. In terms of finish, the only way I can describe it is a watercolour effect. My cheeks look sheer, healthy and pretty without looking like I'm wearing blusher. It's genius! 

The Pop of Pink colour has been my go-to blush this summer, and I've even foregone bronzer a few times because I've been happy to just have healthy looking cheeks.  

Recently I've been keeping things simple with CC cream, a pale eye shadow, and dark lashes, then sweeping Stay Blushed onto my cheeks and lips. I'm eager to try some of the richer colours in the Autumn. 



7. Caress Emerald Rush Shower Gel
Winner: Self Healthy Beauty Awards, for Best Body Wash

I never go for a 'gel' shower gel. I always opt for a creamy body wash because I have very dry skin and find them to be more moisturising. As a result this product sat on my shelf for a while and was reluctantly used when I'd run out of everything else! 

I was shocked to find that I actually really like it. It smells divine, lathers well and doesn't leave my skin feeling scaly. I'm not totally converted to non-creamy shower gels, but I'll definitely buy this one again. 



8. Almay Smart Shade CC Cream
Finalist: CEW Beauty Awards, in 'Face Product Mass' category

This one didn't win an award but I'm sneaking it in here because it was a finalist for the prestigious CEW awards, and after receiving it in a goody-bag I tried it and fell in love. 

I have quite combination skin so normally avoid BBs/CCs/tinted moisturisers because they aren't matte enough and I develop the dreaded shine as the day goes on. However, after a weekend at the beach my skin felt a little dry and burnt, so I thought I'd give this a go. 

I really like the texture of this CC cream, because unlike others I've tried it's quite matte. The coverage is pretty good and the colour adapts to my skin tone quite well. I don't use it all the time, but it's great for weekends and 'no make-up days'. I'm wearing it right now in fact! 

9. Jouer Moisturising Lip Gloss in Hibiscus 
Winner: Star Beauty Awards, for Best Lip Gloss

I've always heard such good things about Jouer but it isn't a readily available brand in the UK so I've never tried any of their products. I was delighted when I opened my Star Awards bag and found this inside. 

The colour of this lip gloss suites everyone. Star's Beauty Editor actually sited that as one of the reasons it had won the award. As a result I've been wearing it over a range of lipsticks, from pale pink to berry red. It's adds shine, moisture and polish every time. It's become a handbag staple.  

10. Yes to Carrots Gentle Cleansing Wipes
Winner: Self Healthy Beauty Awards, for Best Cleansing Wipes


I'm normally the first to shy away from face wipes in favour of a cleansing oil or lotion, but I have to admit it's nice to have some wipes on standby for lazy days. 

These wipes are packed full of lovely ingredients, are 96% natural and contain vitamin E so they don't dry the skin out. Overall these are the nicest wipes I've tried. They remove make-up well and I don't need to rub my eyes excessively to remove mascara etc. I do still need 2 wipes to get my face completely clean, but I prefer using separate wipes one my face and eyes anyway, so that doesn't bother me. 

I won't use these every day but I no longer feel guilty when I reach for my face wipes rather than my cleansing oil! 




There are many more award winning products that I've been loving but these are my favourites for now. If you use any award winners let me know which ones, and I'll check them out. 


A x 

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Broadway show review

I was taken to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway this week. I had never heard of the show because I don't think it's in London yet, but my team were keen to see it so a magazine arranged for us to go. It was my first Broadway show so I was very excited! I love musical theatre and went to a lot of performances in the West End. 

Oh my gosh, it was absolutely phenomenal! You know when something is SO good it leaves you feeling very emotional? That's how I felt when I came out. I could have cried, it was so good. 

If you watched How I Met Your Mother you will know the show's main character as Barney! Neil Patrick Harris plays Hedwig; a transgender German rock star from East Berlin. The show details Hedwig's journey from childhood to where she stands at her NYC concert, taking you through a whirlwind of emotions via a fantastic score. It's funny, touching, tragic and inspiring all at the same time. 

I've never really been into How I Met Your Mother and didn't know much about Neil Patrick Harris, but he was absolutely brilliant as Hedwig. So believable, incredibly entertaining and absolutely captivating. He transitioned from jokes to heart-wrenching monologues perfectly. 

The way the show was written was completely unique. I've never seen anything like it before. And it blows other rock musicals out of the water in my opinion. The songs were stunning and the book was very clever. 

I could rave about the show for hours, but I think my friend put it best when she said it was 'a special piece of art with incredible courage.'

If you get the chance I highly recommend seeing it.

A x

*Obviously photography is prohibited in the theatre, so the cast pictures are from the show's website. 

Mini Zara Sale Haul!

I am a massive fan of Zara. Basics, knits, home, jewellery... I can't get enough! Unfortunately Zara in the US is a little bit more expensive than Europe (not that it stops me), so I get very excited about their sales. 

I had one of those rare shopping experiences last week where everything I liked miraculously looked good and fit well, so I thought I'd share what a bought. There's only 5 things but I love each and every one, and know I will wear them for a long time. 

90s leather sandals
Oh. My. God. How much do these remind you of the 90s? I saw them and was instantly swept back to a time when I'd dress up in my mums clothes and strut around in her fabulous heels! Fortunately they've had a little update and I think they are perfect. For me they are the ultimate beach/shopping/work/casual night out shoe. Leather means comfort, gold oozes glamour and wedge equals height. Shamaze. That is all!

Price: $39.99 reduced from $99.90

Wine coloured satchel
I love this bag. Love it! The colour is amazing for all seasons (Hello Autumn!), and complements a lot of different outfits and styles. It's also a great size for days when you just want to downsize and carry the basics. My go-to bags at the moment are my Michael Kors Jetset Tote for day and Kate Spade Gold Coast Ginnie for night, so this is a great in-between bag when those just won't work. There's also a long strap for easy carrying!

$29.99 reduced from $39.99

Neon yellow cardigan
Oh how I love neon. If you've seen the post on my new Nike trainers you will know all about that. So how could I resist this gorgeous cardigan when I saw it? The fabric is soft but quite heavy so it's another great item to transcend seasons. I am a fan of brights in the colder months as they cheer me up, so I'm looking forward to throwing this over a breton top in summer and a black dress in winter.

$15.99 reduced from $49.90 (I think)

 


Yellow drop earrings
The love of neon continues. Actually these are not quite neon, but they are close enough. I am OBSESSED with these earrings. I've been wearing them dressed up with an LBD and heels, but just as much casually, with leggings, converse and a white top. I love the fact that they are quite slim drops as I find a lot of drop earrings have a wider shape which isn't as easy to pull off with a casual outfit. They feel like they're good quality, and the colours really pop.

Price: $12.99 reduced from $24.99 (I think)

Monochrome comfy knit
This one was a bit of an investment for the future because it's a bit too thick to wear in the New York heat right now. But I am very much looking forward to snuggling up in it with a  cup of tea and a good book in a few months. I am always drawn to black and white because I think it's really classic, so I'm sure I will get a lot of use out of this. 

$15.99 reduced from $49.90 (I think)

I was going to link all of the items in case you were interested, but can't find them on the US website unfortunately. There are still loads of great items available though so if you're looking for a bargain, definitely take a look:

Zara Sale

Happy shopping! 

A x

Harnessing my love of Neon!

I have a newfound addiction to neon. Neon yellow in particular. Today I got to harness that addiction and make some funky new running shoes at the Nike store in Midtown NY. 

My team and I were taken by a magazine so got to spend the evening in the private room at the top of the store, eating cheese and sipping wine as we wandered amongst the shoes and customised the colours.

There were lots of different options available, but I was looking for something lightweight and supportive so chose the Air Zoom Pegasus 31 ID. It's a light, shoe described as a 'highly responsive, high mileage machine'. I tried a pair on and they felt amazing. Soft, cushioned and bouncy. I fell in love instantly! 

Next came the customisation. The advisor helping me pulled a white version of the shoe up on the big screen and took me through each element, changing the colours as we went. I felt so sorry for her because it took me ages to make up my mind. I knew I wanted dark grey, pink and neon yellow, but couldn't decide where I wanted to put them. Eventually I settled on a dark grey shoe with neon yellow underlay, pink lining, neon yellow swoosh, and neon yellow and pink soles. Since I placed the order I've decided to change the laces to pink, as the light grey just doesn't seem to go! 

I'm really pleased with the finished look and can't wait for them to arrive. Four weeks feels like a LONG time to wait!!

Let me know what you think, and share your designs in the comments. I love looking at all of the different options. 

My move from London to New York...

I’ve been MIA for months now, and that’s because I moved country! In March I took the plunge and left London for the bright lights of New York City!

I’ve wanted to live here for years. I don’t remember exactly when I became obsessed with the idea of relocating, but there is a ’25 things about me’ tag on Facebook from 2009 where I listed number 7 as a desire to move here, and I know by that point the idea was firmly embedded in my mind. Needless to say it’s been a LONG time. 

Although I don't remember my decision to move here, I do remember when I first fell in love with New York. I was 17, it was the spring before I started university and I was leant the Sex and the City box sets by my neighbour. I remember it so clearly. It was a Saturday evening, I’d been out with friends and wanted something to fall asleep to when I got home. I put the VHS on (old school!), got comfy in bed and began watching. Instantly I was hooked. The characters, the humour, the CLOTHES! I've watched all six seasons so many times I've lost count! 

So here I am, living my own Carrie Bradshaw dream. 

The reason I am here is because my company transferred me. Luckily my client is a global brand so I was able to move onto the US counterpart of the account I worked on in London. By the way, I work for a media agency, in case you didn't know. I had the interview before Christmas and was offered the job the day before Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas indeed!! 

I moved on March 12th and spent a couple of weeks crashing with two girls that have become good friends. I then found a beautiful apartment in Astoria, with a wonderful roommate, and started work a couple of weeks later. 

It's been a bit of a whirlwind since I arrived. I've experienced a lot, and had a blast. I thought I'd share some  of my favourite moments with you as a good way to re-kickstart my posts. 

I've seen Central Park in Winter and Summer...

Eaten some AMAZING food...

Done a lot of shopping...

Seen some fantastic sights...

Taken way too many selfies...

I've also had some of my friends from home visit, celebrated my birthday New York style, spent a weekend at the beach, partied on roof terraces and waterfronts, joined 4,000 people for a pop-up dinner in Prospect Park, been to some very fun concerts, seen Cinderella the ballet, and taken a horse and carriage ride around Central Park. But the main thing is that I've made some truly amazing friends. 

#Blessed! :)