Desert twilight

I'm working on location this week in the ever stylish Barcelona and unfortunately forgot to bring my cable to download pictures into my iPad. So not much on the front of mobile blogging I'm afraid.
I do really like to show you the new Bobbi Brown summer collection hitting the shops this week. With a name of desert twilight it can't be anything but amazing. The name and colours have me thinking of a road trip holiday, deserted roads and long hot nights with amazing sunsets. Warm golden tones with hints of turquoise, Bobbi was inspired by the desert light.
I especially love the blue cream eyeshadow and the little makeup brush travel pouch.
Might have a look out for the collection on the airport as I can't wait to try it out. The bright blue cream eyeshadow will look great with a little summer tan :)

Craft studio by Martha Stewart

Nothing says thank you better then a homemade card. But sometimes you just don't have the time to get your paper and scissors out to create a master piece. Welcome the new Martha Stewart app: Craft studio to your iPad and personalised cards are with in a finger touch reach.
This free program has a few pre programmed themes: birthday, everyday, doily lace and nature but you can purchase more themes if you can't find what you are looking for. Every theme has different papers, stamps, stickers and punches. You can even glue digital glitter to your cards!
Upload one of your pictures to make it even more special.
When you finished you can email your card to the birthday girl with one easy click, it so easy!
Have a look at what I came up with in just ten minutes play around

You can find Martha Stewart Craft Studio in the app store.

We are going on a summer holiday

The rain is coming down in bucket loads and its hard to grasp it is actually June and the summer holidays are upon us!!

You might already have made plans for your summer break, googling lush destinations with year round sunshine and sandy beaches but not so long ago holiday advertising was a bit different.
I think the ads used to be way more stunning. Especially in the 1920's and 30's when art deco holiday and railway posters could be seen everywhere. Beautiful painted pictures of  dream holiday destination with elegant woman, handsome man and clear blue sky's. 

A little history lesson on these railway posters courtesy of Wiki:  In the early days of steam railways in Britain various rail companies advertised their route and services on simple printed sheets. By the 1850s, with increased competition and improvements in printing technology, pictorial designs were being incorporated in their advertising posters. The use of graphic artists began to influence the design of the poster. The development of this commercial art form throughout the first half of the 20th century reflected the chances in British society, along with the changing styles of art, architecture and fashion as well as changing patterns of holiday making.

Vintage holiday posters make a great decoration option for boring walls in your house. I recently did up my bathroom and found a poster that went great with my colour scheme, and I just love the 30's feel of it. I got mine from afficheprints who sell on Ebay and have a great selection of different sized posters, you can find them here.


Have a look at some of my favourite vintage holiday posters as found on Google

Sweet Paul summer issue

   

Yeah! The summer issue of Sweet Paul magazine is out!

Once again the magazine is chock full of interior and craft ideas and mouth watering recipes.

You can read the e-mag for free here.

Yes you read it right this wonderful magazine is free, double yeah :)

For more info on Sweet Paul have a look at this previous post.

Some of my favourite pages from the new issue.

Beauty on a budget

Everybody is after great skin but did you know it doesn't always have to cost you a fortune to look radiant? My mum attended me on an article in the Dutch Elsevier magazine about a new wonder cream. Its tested by the German consumer research and testing group as the most effective anti ageing cream, and awarded best buy by British magazines. For the best of the best for your face you have to go to.......Aldi!

The Lacura creams have been flying of the shelves for a while now, you can even buy it of ebay for ten times the price (!) So as any good beauty junkie would do I went to my local Aldi and bought two creams. At £1.99 for a 50ml pot it all sounded to good to be true but I must say after having used it for 2 weeks now I kinda like it. I bought the Aqua-Complete Moisturiser and the Q-10 day cream. The Aqua cream is suitable for all skin types and has a very fresh light weight feel to it. Not to strong in perfume this moisturiser has provitamin B5 and vitamin E to give you long lasting hydration by restructuring the upper layers of your skin. The Q10 cream moisturises your skin with a complex of black oats, provitamin B5, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid and protects your skin from ageing. It contains a bioflavonoid formula which is a natural component of elder blossom, and with the combination of Vitamins E and C this helps to protect your skin from harmful effects of the environment.

Both creams contain a SPF6 which I think isn't strong enough for a day cream so I would suggest to put your sun block over the top.
The star product of the Lacura range is the Multi Intensive serum, 50ml for £3.49
This serum is one of the cheapest around but beat 2,000 rival products in a series of blind test. I haven't got my hands on a jar yet but they say the serum is a light cream gel that contains Vitamins E and C, Shea Butter and Macadamia Nut Oil. Its moisture complex has a 24 hour effect on improving your skins elasticity. I had a little google and the reviews of the product are great. My mums beauty therapist even said her skin never looked better so I would say find your closest Aldi and spend your change on the ultimate beauty buy!
The creams may be called different abroad, have a look at your Aldi website.

Jubilee!!

We are in the midst of the 4 day long Jubilee weekend. The Queen celebrates her 60 year Jubilee with a bundle of parties. Yesterday we saw the big flotilla with a thousand boats on the Thames, tonight is the big jubilee concert. Did you guys hear the official song by Gary Barlow? Its amazing well worth a download. All over the country street parties are held this long weekend,  I already had my practise. A lot of photo shoots were royal themed these last months. My favourite Ive done is this 50s inspired street party in Harrods magazine shot by photographer Ian Boddy.

 A little behind the scenes peak, a love the London traffic Jam! :)