Giveaway - £50 Gift Card for SimplyBeach.com

My first ever giveaway on Makeup Savvy Extra! 

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning the gift card is enter using the form below and either follow via Bloglovin' or GFC in the right hand sidebar (if you already do so then great!).

The giftcard would of course be fab for anyone going on holiday over summer as Simply Beach has some great swimwear. But if not then spending the giftcard on a high-end designer bra would be a lovely treat. But personally I would be spending it on a nice bikini and a Sea Folly beach bag, which would be great for my holiday later in the year but also I just use big beach bags anytime in summer!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. No need to leave a comment just follow and then enter with the form above.

Good Luck!

Fee xo.   

Book Review - Room by Emma Donoghue

I am just going to come out and say that this book is the best book I have read so far in 2012. If you do enjoy reading and want something a little different then this book is a must, it really is. 

Book Description 

 Jack is five.

He lives in a single, locked room with his Ma. 

Amazon - £5.19 (here) 

Thoughts on Room

As you can see the book synopsis is very short. I could have found a lengthier version but decided to use the synopsis from the back of the book as I feel this book it's about the reader realising certain things and a full summary of the book would maybe ruin that.

Room is like nothing I have ever read before and it was such an emotional read even though fictional. As you can maybe see by the description of the book it isn't all sunshine and roses but it is wrote in such a way with such imagination from the little boy that the sinister plot (nothing graphic) isn't the main aspect of the book but the relationship of Jack and his 'Ma' and they bond together is what gives this book it's strength and theme.

Writing Style

Five year old Jack is the protagonist and narrator throughout the book which makes for a totally different but amazing read. A lot of the aspects of the book are all the more harrowing due to the way he describes them and having to read between the lines. I really did like this about the book as made for an emotional read and if it had of told though the eyes of 'Ma' I feel the book would have been more somber and graphic. The author really does maintain the voice of Jack so well throughout the book which I was amazed by as this isn't a simple book like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (also wrote though the eyes of a child) it's on a much more superior level I am glad to say. Just amazingly wrote.

To see the style of writing you can read a excerpt from Room - here.

Jack & Ma

Jack and Ma ultimately only have each other and through Jack's narration we really see this in many ways (this is normally when the tears started to flow from me). The bond and love being like most mother/child relationships but even more so due to their circumstances. However my only niggle was that their relationship wasn't as close towards the end of the book due to the turn of events (can you tell I am trying to not give anything away?!) and maybe that is how it would be in real life, but I didn't like it and so wanted that strong bond to still be there. So I found myself not enjoying the last third of the book as much.

I found book to be totally unique, heartbreaking and utterly affecting - so much so that I know the characters will stay with me for quite some time. A true sign of an amazing book. 

Fee xo.

Mulberry's Where The Wild Things Are Inspired Fall Campaign

I adore all the summer collections that come out each year but sadly our British weather doesn't agree most of the time and pretty dresses can only be worn on our few days of summer! Which is why I love when August comes around and we get to see all the autumn collections popping up as the weather will always call for warmer clothes.

I am not even going to pretend that I can afford Mulberry or would even buy Mulberry bags etc if I had the money (I would much prefer to spend £700 on a holiday than a bag). But I will admit that I am in love with all the bags in this campaign - the new Mulberry Del Rey (3rd image) and oh, that beautiful orange Maisie Clipper bag (1st image) and oh my that chain handle Lily bag (4th image) is so pretty and autumn perfect!

But most of all I am loving all the big friendly monsters and the whole feel of the campaign. Very fantastical and fun. It makes me want to cuddle up to one of those monsters - the white one being my favourite!

Also I am sooo in love with the first outfit! I need to find myself some burnt orange shoe boots like that and a pretty orange dress for Autumn. 

Fee xo. 

Book Review - Fifty Shades of Grey

I thought I would start off my 1st book review with the book of the moment that is firmly at the top of most bestsellers list. Dubbed as "mommy porn", "twilight fan fiction" I was eager to see if I would love it or hate it as the reviews on Amazon.co.uk are varied to say the least.

  Book Description

Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you for ever.

When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.

Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more.

But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view.

Amazon  - £4.79 (here)

Thoughts on 50 Shades of Grey
Now I think I may have been guilty of expecting too much from this book because it is has been so popular and mentioned so often in the media so I was expecting something pretty damn good. However what surprised me was the bad writing style and repetition you just cannot fail to notice.. the lip biting, Ana's inner goddess and subconscious...trust me there is more. Clearly the book is popular due to theme and not for the actual writing. But if you can put that to one side then it definitely has something and is quite an easy read!

The 'Juicy' Scenes

 The BDSM aspect is definitely were the mix of reviews comes in as you will either love it and embrace it or you will hate it and skip most of the sex scenes. I have to admit I did quite enjoy the filth even if some part were a little unbelievable, but didn't so much like the idea that Christian's dark side was due to his childhood, it was just all too predictable for my liking. The worst part of the book for me had to be the un-sexy period sex scene (yes, there is one!) I think that just shows the authors attempt to make the story more raw and push the boundaries, yet it fails miserably and I am sure leaves most readers quite disgusted. Note E.L.James - no woman finds bleeding onto their partner sexy or a sign of trust/power.

Ana & Christian's Relationship
This for me was definitely the strength of the book. Their relationship was intense with lots of different emotions throughout, especially from Ana's side trying to deal with Christian's way of life and what he was asking of her. This side to the book is what is making me want to read the second book in fact as I want to know how their relationship evolves.

Why are thousands if not millions of woman raving about this book? Basically it's an intense, steamy but easy read that isn't the type of thing most people go for!

So if you are looking for a read that isn't the norm but will have you gripped and slightly obsessed then 50 Shades of Grey should be your next read! 


Fee xo.

Healthy Yummy Chicken Curry!

This dish without a doubt is my favourite to cook and eat. I have in fact been making it for the last 10 years as I learnt how to cook it in Food Technology at school by a teacher that I loved so much and who sadly died last year... quite young as well. But I am pleased that she passed on this amazing recipe to me that I still cook and will continue to cook all my life! 

 I am guessing this doesn't tastes like an authentic traditional curry but for me this just tastes perfect, is the right amount of hot/spicy and is also made from scratch which makes it very healthy. I'm thinking the most calories in this comes from the chicken and of course the rice that you serve it with.

Ingredients 

(serves 2 people)

2 chicken fillets, diced 

1 onion, chopped

2 bell peppers of your choice (my favourite combination is red and green)

25g flour/enough to coat the chicken

1 chicken stock cube made up with 450ml boiling water

half a teaspoon mild chili powder

2 heaped tablespoons mild curry powder 

Serve with

1 bag of Basmati rice or enough rice for two people
2 Garlic & Coriander Naan Bread

1 lemon (optional)

1. As there is quite a bit of measuring and chopping to do in this recipe I first like to prepare all my ingredients (as shown in pictures 2 & 3) even making up the chicken stock and setting it aside for later.
2. Start by heating a large pan with olive oil and cooking the chicken until it is nearly cooked all the way through. 
3. Next add the peppers and cook on med-high until the chicken is fully cooked (3-5 minutes)
4. Next add in the onions and continue to cook until the onions have soften.
5. The next part is to add the dry ingredients so you want to get your pan as hot as possible and stir in, coating all chicken well, the flour and the spices.
6. Once the dry ingredients are mixed in well you want to dry fry (with your pan still on high) for 1 minutes to enhance the aromas. 
7. Next you want to turn your pan down slightly and pour in the chicken stock and combine the spices and chicken with the stock and boil for 2 minutes. Then turn it down to a low simmer. You want to cook the curry for 10-15 minutes max.
8. Whilst the stock is bubbling you want to boil enough water and put your rice on which should take 10-13. Of course if it takes longer you need to put it on earlier. 
9. Occasionally you want to stir the curry as it reduces down. If you think the mixture is becoming too thick then you can add in a little boiling water. 
10. Once the rice is cooked you want to take the curry off the heat for a minute to thicken while you drain the rice. 
11. Once you have plated up the curry and rice you can then cut a lemon in half and squeeze over the dish as it really gives the flavour of the curry a kick.


Note - With frying the spices/flour you will get quite a lot stuck to the bottom of the pan however this is normal.


My next food post I think is going to be some baking... maybe Banana bread as that is one of the few things that I can actually bake well! 

You can view my previous 
Cajun Chicken Wraps recipe - here. 


Fee xo.

 

Macarons...

The first bite you ever take of a Macaron is one that you will remember for a long time. It is truly a unique and memorable experience as there just isn't a confectionery like it or as beautiful.

With a well made macaron you should first feel the soft crunch of the shell and you should be submerged into heaven as you reach the light but moist and oh so amazing center of sugary goodness. Whatever flavour you try it will be the perfect combination of the flavour, the sweetness and also the textures of the macaron all working together.

As you can see I had five perfectly formed macarons in my possession that lasted all of two days that were bought from Selfridges Food Hall in The Trafford Centre, Manchester (you can even buy just one which I would highly recommend if you want to try them for the first time). My little box of five assorted macaroons (you get to pick which flavors you want) cost around £6.00 I think which for how amazing they are isn't that pricey but they are definitely a treat and not something you would be buying weekly!

The English Rose Bakery from what I can gather is Manchester based and they did use to sell macarons online (Meowcake actually wrote about buying some from them here) but I am sure that I read on Twitter that the owner has just had a baby so has taken some time off from online sales so for now ordering online isn't available. But if you are in London I am sure there are many lovely patisseries that sell beautiful macarons in every flavor under the sun. My selection above consisted of - Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberries & Cream, Pistachio and I actually forgot what the othe white macaroon was... I am tempted to say white chocolate! My favourites even though they were all my favourites were the Vanilla and also the Strawberries & Cream... literally just perfection. I didn't want it to end.

As I have such a love for macarons I did purchase a book on how to bake them from Amazon many moons ago. I Love Macarons by Hisako Oqita is a wonderful book (Amazon - £5.19 here) with lots of images and even a troubleshoot section for problems that you may incur when trying to bake macarons as it really is an art. But sadly that is the thing... it is an art and much harder than any other baking and I am a girl that finds a basic cake hard to master! So I really don't know what I was thinking when I purchased this book - I am a serial cookery book reader though so all the pretty images keep me happy when I look through it in bed!

5 Facts on Macarons

 Macarons were brought to France from Italy in 1533!

There are only 3 main ingredients in making macarons - ground almonds, powdered sugar and egg whites.

Laduree (famous for their amazing macarons) leave their macarons to rest for 2 days to achieve the perfect texture.

Laduree, Paris (just the one shop) sell 15 thousand macarons a day!

America celebrates macarons by having an annual Macaron Day - 20th March and participating shops offer one free macaron per customer!

I hope I didn't bore you too much with my love of Macarons but it really is warranted! 

Fee xo. 

Ted Baker Ikon Floral Bag

I thought today I would talk about my beautiful Ted Baker Ikon bag that I received from my lovely sister for my birthday!
 

Now I do like my bags and own quite a few (not too many mind - around 9) but I like them roomy so I can throw all my junk in them but I am not really a fan of different compartments and pockets. So something like this is perfect for me! However the one draw back is that it hasn't got a zip at the top, it's just open, so not that safe really... though I do still use this as a bag and put my keys, phone, purse in to it and just make sure to keep my arm closed over the top of the bag. However this is literally a perfect bag if you are a student with textbooks and files (it will easily fit A4 folders in it) or if you just want a really good quality weekend/shopping bag.

As for the price it is an affordable £35 especially for Ted Baker - some of their makeup bag are around the £30 mark. Plus there are so many different design that come out seasonally, so you may find that after a year or so it will be impossible to find that same design again. Or you can go for a solid colour Ikon bag with a nice bow. Really there are a lot of sizes and designs for this range. John Lewis do stock a good range here with special limited edition ones at the moment (I LOVE the Fan of Japan one here) or ASOS are very good for them as well.

So it you are after a posher tote bag that isn't just made of canvas then this is the range to look at! 

I really do love mine! 
Fee xo.

Summer Reading List

Summer is upon us! Which means for most, leisurely weekends relaxing and reading in the sun, afternoon naps (with a bit of reading) or if you are lucky enough going somewhere warmer than the UK and reading by the pool or on the beach! 

So as I have quite a few new books that are in the charts at the moment and some other reads, I thought I would start my own little book club of sorts (can't really call it a book club can I? I am the only member! But if you want to read along with me I would love that... I will give more info in my first book review). With the idea of reading a book every week and writing a review on it.. though it may take longer with some books depending on how busy I am and how much I love/don't love it!   

As you can maybe see by the spine I have started reading 50 Shades of Grey (Amazon - £3.20). Mainly because it is the 'book of the moment' and I wanted to see if I loved or hated it as all the reviews have been so varied. First reactions are it is very repetitive and you can tell it is E.L.James' first novel but I am getting through it quite quickly...  so I shall reserve judgement for now.

If you are a book worm I would love to know what you are reading at the moment or what the last book you read was!

Fee xo.  

 

Shoe Shopping at Graceland

I stumbled across Deichmann shoes online last month from an advert for Graceland shoes on Bloglovin'. I don't normally click on ads but the shoes started from only £15.00 with free delivery so I decided to have a look and I am glad I did as they have such a good range for the price! 

I ordered some Graceland Platform Court shoes which were amazingly reduced to £9.99 - here (they still are in fact!) in a size eu 40 (size 6.5) but sadly they were a tiny bit too tight... such a shame as the other shoes I ordered in the same size fit me perfectly (why do shoe and clothing brands do this?). So sadly I did have to send them back as they only went up to a size 40. But for the price I really was amazed, the upper material was thick but so soft and just lovely and they were just the right height to make them good for every day wear. But sadly it wasn't meant to be!

The other pair I ordered were the Graceland Lace-up Platform shoes £19.99 - here which I love! I am not too sure if they are that amazing for summer, though we hardly have one do we really, so I am sure I will be wearing them quite a bit over summer and know they will be perfect for autumn and winter. What I love about the shoe boots is the detail, the shape (especially having that slight platform at the front) and the lovely worn look to them, they remind me of an old worn leather book cover. Also these are so comfy with the size of the heel and then the front platform to make the heel even easier to walk on, but they still look a good height!

 

As I did have to sadly send the first pair of shoes back because they didn't fit I am now thinking I deserve another pair from the site... the ones above to be more precise! Aren't they pretty? I am in love with the colour, style and of course the glitter! They are the Graceland Tab Loafer shoes and only £12.99 - here. I am thinking they will look great with skinny jeans or shorts when the weather is nicer. 

Also I think it is worth noting that they accept Paypal which is how I paid as it's just a quicker process. Plus along with free delivery they do free returns with Collect + or via the post office. Also I received the refund for the shoes within around 7 days of sending the shoes back which I was pleased with. 

All in all I think I have found a good little shoe website and would much prefer to order from them than go to Primark for cheap shoes as the quality of Primark shoes really has gone down and they never last very long. 

Fee xo. 

Cajun Chicken Wraps...

 

So this is my first attempt at food blogging - go easy on me... I am not one for measuring anything or do anything overly complicated, which I am sure you will come to realise if I do more food posts! If I am honest it's just an excuse to take photographs of food - something I get a lot of satisfaction out of weirdly. 

  As you can see by the photos this recipes doesn't contain many ingredients and is really easy to prepare, making it perfect for lunch time or al fresco dining with a side salad or wedges. Also I roughly worked out that each wrap contains 350 calories... though 200 of them are for the wrap alone, so this is quite a healthy/low in fat but tasty recipe (it has a little kick mind with the cajun).

What you will need (makes 4 wraps*) -
 1 or 2 peppers of your choice
 1 onion
 2 chicken fillets chopped (around 400g)
 Cajun spice
 4 deli wraps
 lettuce
 mayo or dressing of your choice. 

*I normally make two wraps each for dinner or 1 wrap each with a side salad is enough for lunch.

1. First start but cutting up the raw chicken into strips/bite size pieces and cover it all in the cajun spice on a plate. It really doesn't matter how much you use as long as it is all roughly covered in the spice and mixed well. 

 2. You can then place the chicken in to a large pan/wok with a tablespoon or so of olive oil and cook on a medium-high heat. 

 3. Whilst the chicken is cooking (make sure to stir occasionally so that it doesn't stick) you can chop up the onion and peppers in to strips (I used half of both a red & green pepper but you can just use one whole pepper - de-seeded of course). 

 4. By the time you are done the chicken should be cooked or nearly on it's way to being, so you can add in both the onion and peppers. 

 5. Whilst the vegetables are softening you can heat up your wraps and prepare them - I am lazy so I just heat them up a bit in the microwave for 30 seconds or so. Then down one side of each wrap I place iceberg lettuce and some mayo, though to add a bit more taste you could use mixed salad leaves and a dressing such a sweet chilli. 

 6. Once the peppers look cooked and everything looks done you can then place a bit down the centre of each wrap, next to the salad.

 7. To wrap each wrap you need to particly roll from one side and then slightly fold over each end and then carry on rolling. Then it can be cut in half at a slight angle. 


This really is so tasty but quick so I am always cooking it for myself for dinner. If you did want to make it even healthier you could opt for wholemeal wraps, leave out the dressing and use turkey instead of chicken for a protein kick! Then it would be a very healthy recipe.

If you make this please, please let me know and tell me how you liked it! 

Fee xo.  

Muji Acrylic Storage

Finally I have got myself some Muji storage and oh, how it has transformed my life... ok, maybe that is a little dramatic. Though my dressing table is much more organised now and I can finally see all the product I use on a daily basis. 

So first what did I buy and how much did it cost! I didn't ideally get that I wanted as I bought the storage from the Muji concession of Selfridges in Manchester Trafford Centre and they didn't have the full range in stock. So I would suggest if you are looking into getting some acrylic storage I would either order online (which has the full range) or phone the store you will be visiting to check if they have the products you want. 

What I purchased - 2 x Acrylic box 1 drawer wide (£7.95 each - here), 1 x Acrylic box 1 drawer with flip-top lid wide (£8.50 - here), 1 x Acrylic desk pot 3 partitions large (£5.50 - here) - Total £29.90 

I decided to go for wide flip top lid drawer as I knew I wanted to put large products at the top so for ease of access it had to have a flip lid and then I went for two wide drawers as I knew I didn't want the tower to be too high as it is in front of a mirror. Though if I had of ordered online I would of been able to buy the 2 drawers wide storage (£10.95 - here) which would have saved me £4.95. Thinking about it now I definitely should of ordered online, but ah well.

My new setup consists of :-

Top - bronzers, blushers and highlighters

Middle -foundations, primers and concealers

Bottom - eyeshadows, eye primers and gel eyeliners

I am really pleased with my set-up now as I can see everything I use, however I have so much more that I want to have out on display. I still need to store palettes, lipgloss, lipsticks, powders, more eyeshadows etc so I plan to purchase another flip top drawer and the 2 drawers in wide which I mentioned above, so it should be slightly cheaper. Then I am going to place it next to what I already have. 

As for the Acrylic desk pot with 3 partitions which was only £5.50 I am so pleased about it! It just holds so much - all my brushes, mascaras and eyeliners. But if I had of purchased the storage online I would of gone for the Acrylic partition x4 +2 (£7.95 here) which for a few pounds extra gives you a bit more extra space for hair clips, tweezers, pencil sharpener etc at the front and also another compartment. 

Overall I am so pleased with what I got for under £30 as it has just transformed my dressing table and it will definitely last me quite some years I imagine. So 100% money well spent! 

If you have any questions about the storage

 feel free to ask.

Fee xo.

 

An Introduction...

Firstly, welcome to my new blog! 

I am guessing you are wondering why I have started Makeup Savvy Extra and how it is going to differ from my main blog! You see for some reason I can't bring myself to write about everything on Makeup Savvy because it's called Makeup Savvy and it's supposed to be about makeup... so when I want to share a recipe or talk about a new art print I have bought I feel as though it would be wrong. A bit silly I know, especially as I know none of you would mind - but my head would mind, I just know it! 

So that is why I have created this extra blog, to write about - interiors, fashion, jewellery, books, food, art... basically everything and anything! Also I am really excited to try a new layout with bigger images - something I may change on Makeup Savvy if I like having large sized images! 

I really hope you will all enjoy this blog and I hope I can give a good mix of things.. a long with lots of pretty pictures, of course!

P.S. If you want to follow me via GFC then you can find it at the bottom of the page.

Fee xo. 

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