5 Things You Need to Turn Your Home into The Perfect Habitat

I find that homeware hunting is the shopping equivalent of marmite. Some people love it, but the rest hate it. There’s no in between. So in a bid to help all you haters out there I’ve come up with a list of my favourite 5 things you need to transform your home for this season, and conveniently, they’re all from one place. Habitat.

http://www.habitat.co.uk/splatter-multi-coloured-splatter-printed-cotton-cushion-50-x-50cm-372755

The first thing is this amazing splatter printed cushion. This pattern is going to be everywhere this season and this cushion is just one of many ways that you can incorporate it into your home. The subtle background with the bold painted design will make sure it makes a statement no matter where you choose to place it.

http://www.habitat.co.uk/trunk-grey-metal-storage-trunk-149060

The next item is one that I have and absolutely love as it is a great storage and decorative item. Perfect for storing things you don’t want lying around and perfect for adding a rustic yet chic feel to your home. This one is my personal must-have piece from this list.

http://www.habitat.co.uk/pelly-pelican-patterned-mug-359592

For me, having cute mugs is just as essential as having a sofa to sit on and this one had me wanting it from first glance. The bright colours and bold design make it a mug that’s sure to be first to go when you have company over and its definitely the one that everyone will be going out to buy.

http://www.habitat.co.uk/rora-pink-acrylic-tray-35-x-45cm-362534

A simple and handy yet still stylish item is next in the form of this pink acrylic tray. Now, on the site this is listed under Kitchenware but I would personally use this for either storing bits of daily makeup or things that always end up loose on my desk. Its up to you what you do with it but I have no doubt it’ll look good no matter what.

http://www.habitat.co.uk/bobby-multi-coloured-metal-desk-lamp-339246

The final item is also one I love as its perfect for adding colour to a room or just for tying colours together. I’m not one that likes having a lamp on my desk I usually prefer to use natural light but having one like this would certainly do a good job of swaying me.

Leave your homeware suggestions in the comments and I’ll check them out and will probably end up purchasing them all! Let me know if you also love any of these pieces and whether you go out and by them.

Katie x

First Lips...Now Nails

When it comes to painting my nails I’m both a lover and a hater of the concept. The idea and outcome of having beautifully painted nails is something I would have 24/7 if I could but the actually reality of having to wait for the polish to dry and then having to take it off when it chips just completely puts me off half of the time. Summer is probably the only time of year when I really try and make a conscious effort to do my nails and so here are my top 4 polishes for summer (three of which are quick dry because who has time to wait!?)

Rimmel 60 Second – Oragasm

Before you ask, its not called what you thought it was but I must admit I had to do a double take at first! Anyway, this is quite a new purchase of mine but I’m already well and truly in love with it. A bright summery orange that dries in sixty seconds… who could possibly want anymore? With a tan this colour pops so much and then pairing that with some white clothing is like a dream come true to anyone who loves bright nails as much as I do. Being a drugstore product the cost is nothing to worry about either at around £3.50 for this range so its just all round great purchase.

Rimmel 60 Second – Instyle Coral

Again, another one of my trusty Rimmel nail varnishes but I just can’t stress enough how good they are. Drying in an instant and lasting forever, if I’m honest I don’t know why you wouldn’t want one. This shade is 100% my go-to if I’m struggling with what to match with an outfit or if I’m just grabbing a polish and painting on the go. If I’m honest it’s nothing special in terms of any unique colour or formula but it’s the boring yet perfect everyday coral that can roll you into any situation; morning, afternoon, or evening.

Barry M Coconut Infusion – Laguna

As with Oragasm, this is another of my recent purchases but it has already made its way into my top 4 for summer polishes. The idea with the Coconut Infusion range is that they hydrate and nourish nails as well as providing the usual Barry M standard of colour pay off and I must agree that once again they have succeeded. At £4.99 they are slightly more expensive than some of the original and older ranges for Barry M but for the same quality as all of the other polishes plus the extra benefits of the hydration and nourishment its definitely worth the bit of extra money. The colour is great if you’re after a slightly more muted summer shade with subtle purple undertones running through the blue to create a tropical nail heaven.

Rimmel 60 Second – Too Cool To Tango

Just as good in formulation and staying power as the rest of the 60 second range, this polish is one of my all time faves. A true turquoise with a slight hint of royal blue just to make the shade slightly darker, this is a great polish that will go with any and every outfit, day and night. Two strokes and two coats on each nail and you’re ready to go and if you’re lazy like me it’s even better because I find I don’t even need a base or top coat which is a win win in every sense.  

Now you’ve finished reading this, go and grab your favourite summer nail polish and get painting and then leave your suggestions in the comments.

Bright Skies, Bright Lips, Brighter Life

For me summer means one thing and one thing only. Well maybe a bit more than one but the most important is bright lips. I can ditch my dark reds and berries and finally crack out the pinks and oranges. Don't get me wrong, I love my dark shades as much as the next person but bright lips just have something about them that I can't get enough of. To be honest the majority of my lipstick collection is bright shades but after some hard thinking I've managed to narrow it down to my top 5.

Chanel Rouge Coco – 426 Roussy

My two Chanel lipsticks are without a doubt some of my most treasured possessions in my collection but this one in particular always jumps out at me this time of year. More on the pink side rather than being a bright orange or coral this sheer formula still seems to have as good a pigmentation as some of my best mattes. It’s light on the lips whilst still having the colour pay off of a much heavier formula with the pink being the perfect shade for everyday summer wear. This one’s great if you’re not used to wearing bright lipsticks or even if you feel more comfortable with a more muted look but still want something to complement your skin and the summer season. Or of course its just as good for someone who loves a good ol’ bright lip and fancies a pink for a change.

Mac Mineralize Rich – Style Surge

In my case, this one’s a gift that keeps on giving. I say that because this I was given this lippy as a birthday present last year and I’m still not sick of it. Bit more on the coral side compared to Roussy but just as creamy and just as pretty. The finish is very much like the Cremesheen finishes however I would say that this is slightly more pigmented – which for me is a bonus! Just like with all of the Mineralize Rich range, Style Surge is no different in how well it keeps the lips moisturised so there’s no need to worry about chapped lips underneath all that colour.

Rimmel Kate Moss – 05

Another pink but this time it’s a bit brighter and a bit more out there. More on the side of a matte finish compared to a sheer look, this one’s perfect for a day that is technically summer but one that definitely doesn’t look or feel like it. Slightly darker than your average summer pink I find this one can look a little bit odd in the blazing sunshine, but in the rain (summer in the UK), this one does the trick nicely. Still creamy and nourishing, Rimmel never fails to produce a lippy with everlasting colour and this one still fits with that trend. Perfect for those of you who don’t want to stray too far away from your dark reds and are longing for it to be colder again, or like I say, great if you live in the UK with our so called “summer weather.”

Bourjois Rouge Edition – 09

Warning… not an orange for the faint hearted. One of the first orange lipsticks I ever bought, and still one of my favourites to this day; to me this just screams summer. So bright, so creamy, so long-lasting. If you’re a new comer to the bright lips, I would probably advise steering clear of this one – unless of course you want to jump straight in at the deep end. The finish on this has a slight sheen to it which just makes it even better as it catches the light and draws attention even more – again, not for the faint hearted if you don’t want to be noticed!

 Mac Patent-Polish Lip Pencil – Teen Dream

Another orange that I just can’t get enough of. This one is quite a new purchase of mine but I am already a huge fan. Described as a ‘Bright Coral Orange’ online this doesn’t fail to disappoint as it is exactly what it says. Once applied it doesn’t budge and the pigmentation lasts all day through drinking, sweating, and of course ice cream eating. Again, maybe not one you’d want to try if you’ve never worn an orange before; you might want to go for a cheaper drugstore option first and then reach out to this beauty but I must say since I’ve bought it I’ve never looked back once.

Now I’ve shared my top 5, go out and have little splurge on yourself (we all deserve it at times!), and get back to me with your top summer lips.