Wishing you all a..

i hope you've all had the best christmas and started 2013 off with a bang. i've had a pretty great couple of weeks. the best bit was just after i took this photo on new year's eve in edinburgh, my lovely boyfriend proposed to me, and i said yes. exciting times! 

i'm also starting my new job down in london as head of digital marketing at my flash trash next week so it's big changes all round. my flash trash is such a great site, so much gorgeous jewellery, so check it out if you haven't done so before. 

back soon with some more pictures from the last few weeks and if you want to see my ring which is perfect and designed by my boy and my best mate who also made it (oh my god i love it) it's right here.

One Photograph:

i'm in love with this photo by michael magin. 

Meghan Howland

these paintings by meghan howland are so beautiful they made me stop in my tracks.

all images by meghan howland

via booooooom

Gift Guide: Beauty

i love make up, and i love receiving make up as a gift, my mum always puts a bit in my stocking, (yes, i'm 26 and my mum still makes me a stocking, in fact it's one of my favourite things about christmas, she seriously makes the best stockings ever). here are some bits and pieces any make-up lover would be happy to find on christmas morning:

1. occ lip tar, this comes in so many great colours, i love this super bright pink, queen $16 2. illamasqua eyeshadow palette in empower £34 3. essie's winter collection nail polish in beyond cozy 4. i own a set of sigma brushes and they've served me well, this face kit would be a great present for a make up enthusiast 

5. stila set and illuminate baked powder trio £24 6. yves saint laurent rouge pur couture lipstick in le fuchsia £19.97 7. NARS the multiple in orgasm £29 8. i have this yves saint laurent rouge pur couture glossy lip stain in a bright pink, but i'd like to try a darker colour- this stuff is so good, it stains your lips but it's glossy at the same time, and it stays on really well. £22.50 9. clinique chubby stick £13.60 10. topshop lip crayon in secret party £7 - topshop make up is surprisingly good 

11. it will be of no surprise to anyone that i love this catseye tabby cat make up bag £10 12. clarins daily energizer wake-up booster £13.17 - i love this stuff, i've used products that claim they're going to wake me up before and this is the only one that's really worked. it smells so good and feels so refreshing! 13. clarins beauty flash balm £23.80 - this is another clarins miracle product, worn under make up this brightens up your complexion beautifully. 14. topshop nail polish in panther £6.50 15. topshop nail art pen in barbarella £6.50 

16. i love sparkly nude toned eyeshadow, in fact if i wear eyeshadow, it's unlikely to be anything else. bobbi brown sparkle eyeshadow £20 17. i'm always on a quest for the perfect mascara, aren't we all? maybe lancome doll eyes £21 will be the one. what's your favourite mascara? have you found the holy grail? 18. tom ford lip colour in crimson noir £36 - crazy price but i hear it's good. 19. becca shimmering skin perfector £33 20. chanel le vernis nail colour in pulsion, black satin and coco blue £18 each

I'd Wear This

peter jensen crew neck / auxo rings / topshop quilted bag / topshop patent toe shoes / asos trousers

Be Mine

i love these faceted signet rings by kerrie yeung.

Gift Guide: For him

time for another gift guide, this one is for the men in your life, tricky as they can be! whether it's your boyfriend/brother/dad/friend you're buying for, hopefully you'll find some inspiration here. i have two brothers, a dad and a boyfriend to find presents for, and i have to wrack my brains every year. socks, jumpers and smelly stuff anyone? life would be a lot easier if men liked make up and painting their nails.. or actually.. maybe not. 

one: ami flower beard print tshirt £65 at matches two: apc ribbed beanie hat £85 at matches three: brushed silver grandad watch £25 at asos four: lanvin interlocking cube cufflinks £215 at matches five: acne heart print tshirt £70 at matches six: paul smith stripe socks £18 at matches seven: nixon chronicle leather watch £250 at asos eight: apc 1987 olympics logo sweat top £115 at matches nine: lsa boris decanter £56 at red candy ten: acne scarf £110 at matches    

eleven: lanvin tartan wool high-top trainers £475 at matches  twelve: yves saint laurent leather wallet £155 at matches thirteen: peter serafinowicz a billion jokes £8.44 on amazon (i hear it's very funny!)  fourteen: acne flannel shirt £180 at matches fifteen: apc breton stripe jumper £185 at matches sixteen: handmade necktie $60 by fibrecraft on etsy seventeen: peace hand necklace $150 from verameat eighteen: ron swanson key chain $8 by peachy apricot on etsy nineteen: handmade neon pink concrete planter by daschund in the desert $19 on etsy twenty: robot salt n pepper shakers £10 at urban outfitters

twenty-one: concrete roller ball pen $77 by 22 design studio twenty-two: comme des garçons play tshirt  £63 at dover street market twenty-three: berlin black and white litho print $24 at line posters twenty-four: deus ex machina book $79 at saturdays surf nyc twenty-five: mackintosh dunoon hooded coat £688 at matches twenty-six: raymond biesinger bicycle pillowcase $30 from stay at home club twenty-seven: bleu de chanel eau de toilette £45 at boots (i bought this for my boyfriend last christmas and ohh it smells so good!) twenty-eight: scruffing lotion £15 by clinique

if you hadn't noticed, there are a few items from matches.com in this gift guide, and that's because this post is sponsored by matches, but don't worry- the love i feel for each piece i've chosen is very real!