Make Up Storage Bargain.....

Hello Lovelies!

Now that I am back from sunning myself in Florida, I thought i'd update you! If you follow us on Twitter, you will probably be aware that I was popping over to the sunshine state for a holiday with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, Orla couldn't come along (although she gets major points for effort for trying to fit in to my suitcase)!

We have recorded a video of my USA Haul which will be going live very soon, and I will update you with a more detailed blog post with pictures and reviews, so keep your eyes peeled! As i'm sure you can imagine, I did go out to the US armed with a list as long as me of beauty things I wanted to pick up! This included the last few Real Techniques brushes that I was missing from my collection. With all of these new things, I realised that I am fast running out of space in my current make up case and that it's time for a make up storage overhaul!

As you probably know, I adore Shabby Chic styles and anything with a Parisian/Romantic theme. I'd been looking for some pots to keep my brushes in but didn't want to break the bank on them. I also think the clear tubs that a lot of beauty bloggers use are really cute but I want something with a little more detail.

Yesterday during my lunch break, I popped over to TK Maxx to see if they had anything exciting in their home section and lo and behold.......these beauties were on the shelf! Not only were they exactly what i'd been looking for, the whole set including three pots and the tray cost me £2.99! My brushes look quite at home too! 

I'm really excited to get my dressing table completely organised and looking pretty, but i'm not in any rush to finish it just now. I'm definitely looking for inspiration! So post your links below if you have any fabulous storage ideas or dressers that you're proud of! We'd love to have a nosy!

Thanks for checking this out, we'd love to hear from you in the comments or via one of the below options! 

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A Little Late......Christmas Gifts!

Happy Wednesday!

I have wanted to do this post since Christmas Day but time has absolutely flown by since then! I can't believe it's the 8th of January already! 2014 feels like it's taken off and isn't set to slow down. One major thing i'm looking forward to is getting the lovely other half of Twice Upon a Blonde back. She's still working her little socks off in Guildford on the costumes in Cinderella! So we've been separated for most of the festive season! Orla will be heading home a few days before I jet off to (hopefully) sunny skies! So our next encounter is set to be brief, but SO overdue! Cannot wait!

Anyway, enough of the life story and more about CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! This year I was well and truly spoilt by everyone, and these are just a selection of my presents. I chose the most relevant to our beauty blog, meaning i'm leaving out anything non beauty related that I was lucky enough to receive!

Finding Mr Bright - Benefit 

This is a gorgeous gift set of miniature sized items I actually already use. The minis are perfect to pop in your handbag if you're like me and cherish those extra 10 minutes in bed in the morning and tend to do your make up on the go! This set includes an erase paste under eye concealer, Girl Meets Pearl night time primer, High Beam highlighter and Posie Tint lip and cheek stain. This includes some of my favourite products, so definitely a huge Christmas present win!

I also had these two Benefit lip glosses as a stocking filler. These are two really pretty colours that are really easy to wear! They last for a good amount of time before needing to reapply and are a really nice consistency. They are not at all sticky and I'll definitely be checking out the other colours in the range! 

 Owl Design Sleep Mask

 Another stocking filler was this super cute eye mask with lavender seeds inside. It's a really relaxing and soothing scent and I can't wait to take this on the plane with me to Florida so that I can try and get 40 winks on the way home! The design is very sweet and the underside has a fleece feel that rests against the eyelids, which feel really comfy when this is on. 

Real Techniques - Travel Brush Set

I have been SO excited to try these and can confirm that I've not been disappointed! This set includes a domed foundation brush, multi task brush and the domed eye shadow brush. I am so excited to have these in my collection, especially now right before my holiday! Trying to put together a condensed make up kit is not the easiest thing to do! This has sorted out my brush choices! 

Body Shop Lip and Concealer Brush (not pictured)

This was one of my gifts from Orla......now I can stop borrowing hers! I love this brush! It makes lipstick application so much easier and makes the lines much cleaner. I have quite full lips but sometimes find it difficult to apply make up without it looking like a toddler has gone at me with my lip stick! This brush allows me to create a really defined cupid bow and generally finish off my lips perfectly!

Lovely Vintage Gift Set

This is a stunning gift set consisting of body lotion, body wash and bath salts. I adore the packaging, it looks like it's taken inspiration from Soap and Glory but with a little more attention to detail. These products smell great and you get a really good amount of product in each, especially considering it's part of a gift set.  

Aussie Hair Care Gift Set

Another stocking filler that couldn't have come at a better time! I totally ran out of my Aussie shampoo and conditioner before Christmas, so was over the moon to open this! I love this brand, it the three minute miracle conditioner does wonders for my split ends and I really do notice a huge difference when I use these. They also came in the cute bag you can see in the background!

Body Shop White Musk body lotion and wash 

This little set was another stocking filler with one of Body Shops signature scents. This set comes with a body sponge and a good sized bottle of each of these products. I was also given a travel nail kit. This is something that I have wanted for a really long time! It comes in this perfect little carry case and has already had lots of use!  

So that's everything beauty related that I was given this year! I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know if you want to see reviews of anything! 

Thanks for checking this out! 

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Christmas Is All Around!

So the time of presents, food gluttony and Christmas parties are upon us! Its November (or Movember for some!) and already Christmas decorations are up in Shopping Centers and in Towns all around the UK! It always surprises both of us how quickly it comes around, however were not complaining! 

Christine and I have always been huge Christmas lovers! So much so, that Christine got called "Christmas" at work for a good while, which always put a smile on all our faces!

Both of us have a real thing for Christmas decorating and baking! Every year we like to either change up the themed colour on our trees/table decorations, or try and create and make a new Christmas bake to share with everyone! Whether it be biscuits, a highly decorated cake, or a cluster of christmassy cup cakes!

So we have already been buying a couple of Christmas Bits, I bought a new PJ top, £6 in 'Primark!'

 Its a combination between Disney and Christmas which puts a big smile on our faces!

Primark's a great place to get lots of Christmas bits and bobs this year. From candles, gifts, bedding, decorations and wrapping, its a one stop shop for a big Christmas splurge!

This being our first Christmas with our Blog and YouTube channel!  I'm sure we'll be doing festive updates with all the seasonal activities we'll be getting up to. Whether its Christmas hauls, baking, or general festiveness! 

Watch this Space! 

Thanks for checking this out! 

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Twiceuponblonde

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Twice Upon A Dress......

People often joke that we are the ultimate double act and are often mistaken for being related…..in some cases even asked if we are twins!

While that would be fun, we can confirm that we are definitely not twins……although, we do sometimes have moments of ‘Twin Telepathy’. An example of this comes in the form of Orla’s 21^st birthday party.

We were organising what we hoped would be the vintage themed event of the year. We traipsed around venue after venue looking for exactly the right place. After a good month of looking, I had a VERY excited phone call from Orla explaining that she’d found it! We raced over, took a look around and arranged to book the venue, not wanting to waste another minute. 

Once the venue was sorted we moved straight on to planning décor. Orla had some amazing ideas and we spent a long time figuring out how to make things fit and work in the room. With all of these types of things to consider, it wasn’t really until the day of the party that either of us discussed what we had planned to wear.

The day of the party arrived and we had planned to see a preview screening of Monsters University in the morning in Central London. We had my nephews in tow and the afternoon turned in to a bit of a rush. We still needed to get over to Guildford to pick up the cake and decorate the room! 

We nipped to my house, dropped my nephews off and I started packing a bag ready to leave. Hanging in my room, as it had been for the past week, the dress I had bought from eBay a month earlier, ready to be taken to the car. Orla came upstairs to see how close to being ready I was and instantly spotted my dress…. ‘Is that what you’re wearing tonight?’ I sort of assumed she hated it by the look on her face, which would be a shocker in itself because I think I have a relatively good eye when it comes to what Orla will see as a fashion disaster! When I told her that I had planned to wear it, the colour pretty much drained from her face…..Orla had bought an identical dress a few weeks before on eBay! The only major differences were that hers was slightly shorter with sleeves! 

Exibit A - Orla 

Exhibit B - Christine

We had to get going or we would be too late picking up the cake, we quickly pulled together a different outfit and accessories for me to wear and away we went. We took the original too, just in case.

Considering that this style wasn't particularly on trend in July, it does seem rather funny that we both chose identical dresses! It all worked out in the end! Orla wore my dress because it was slightly longer, and she obvs looked like the Belle of the ball in it! I wore my fave red floaty number and a great night was had by all!  

It’s almost like our twin powers were working overtime - they somehow knew that Orla wouldn’t be 100% happy with her dress on the night…..Sometimes the twin telepathy is handy!

Orla looking AMAZE!

Thanks for reading! If you feel like it, comment and follow the blog! You can also connect with us on Twitter - @TwiceUponBlonde, Instagram - TwiceuponBlonde & YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKztQ7sRCbFQZeGXdQOMEOw

xx