Cutie Pies

These are some of Stella McCartney's kids collection for Gap. So cute. I'd love the little knitted dress for Lu. Unfortunately it sold like hot cakes and apparently there are bidding wars on ebay!

The Great Foundation Challenge

Seeing as it's the most important element of your makeup wardrobe to get right, I am currently road testing lot's of new foundations so I can pass on my verdicts to you.

However as I am applying them to my own and others faces each day, I have to admit I keep coming back to a few that I hold in high esteem!

The Face and Body foundation by MAC is one of my all time, hall of fame, can do no wrong products!

It is a professional product so is only sold in their pro stores as opposed to smaller counters or airports, but do try to get your hand on it at some stage on your makeup odyssey!

The beauty of it is that once it is applied, it looks like great skin; not makeup. It is sheer and lightweight but has a build-able coverage; you can apply layers of it and it will never cake or gather in clumps. It is suitable for all skin types and is best applied with your fingers as it is so light that a brush or sponge will just soak it up. The colour range is great (ask for samples before you buy though, to be sure you have the right shade). It is fantastic value for money at only €36 for 120ml; 4 times more than you get in other foundations!

I am quite evangelical about this product, I have loved it long time!

Classic Pumps

I think these Bensimon pumps are so chic and would be so good with rolled up skinny or boyfriend jeans. Don't get me wrong, I am a devoted Converse fan, but these look cuter and more chilled.

Channeling Anne

I did it! I went for the chop as per my previous post about my hair crush on Anne Hathaway and I'm so happy to say that I love it! Have to admit to being a bit petrified as my hair has been long and layered for more years than I care to remember and now it is sitting on my shoulders, all one length and brand spanking new.

There's a lot to be said for a new 'do... I feel great, yahoo!

Next thing on the list for my mini-makeover- new specs. You know already that I'll keep you posted!

Line Up

I have had a few emails asking for tips on how to use liquid liner to achieve the classic eye line that flicks out at the end, giving a feline, sexy look to the eyes. So here goes...

• Firstly, you must know that this takes practice. But each time you do it, you will be better at it. I promise!
• Secondly, get your product and brush sorted. I actually like to use a gel liner like Blacktrack by MAC or the gel liners by Bobbi Brown are great too. Gels are a little easier to move across the skin as sometimes liquid liners can bump and clump. I do think that the liquid liner from Rimmel is very good though and the brush that comes with it is easy to use. For the gels, you will need a thin, pointy brush with short bristles; too long and the line will become too fat. The 210 precise lining brush by MAC is perfect.
• The goal is to draw a skinny line from the first lashes at the tear duct that becomes fatter as you cross the pupil and go out towards the outer corner of the eye, flicking out and up at the end.
• Start by loading up your brush with the colour and taking a bit off on the back of your hand, this ensures that you are not putting too much on. It is easier to build up your liner than to fix it if it goes wrong.
• Now, dot the brush all the way along the lashline; imagine that you are putting a dot at the root of each hair.
• Next, join the dots, making a complete line. Keep it as skinny as you can for now.
• Once you have a full line, you can build it slightly higher using the lashline as a guide. Remember that is should be graduated , thin at the inside, thicker at the end.
• Keep your strokes small until you get used to it, eventually you will be able to do it in a couple of moves.
• To get the correct angle for the flick you have to look at the lower lashline as your guide; look at how it rises from the widest point of your eye under the pupil to the end of it. Imagine that the lower lash line continued upwards towards the end of your eyebrow. That is the line you must cover with liner. You can mark it out with dots first as a guide if you wish.
• Finally, connect the top line of the liner on the top lid to the end of the flick, filling in the little hollow area that you will have created at the edge of the eye.

This look is all about the liner, so keep it simple; use no shadow or just a neutral flesh tone to keep it modern. A good nude lip colour like Blankety by MAC or a great red and a soft blush will finish this look off nicely.

Turn Up

This summer, I will be digging out my old boot cut jeans from the bottom of the wardrobe where they have been skulking, unloved for a few seasons; I will then hack away the ends of them and roll 'em up...their moment in the sun has arrived!

Turn ups on chino type pants are pretty chic too when paired with metallic heels and accessories. I like, I like...

(images from jcrew )

I Dream of Decor

I love the idea of reading chairs and the blue and sandy colour palette is fab...

I like this idea of a mix of old and current family pics on a window sill...

Lovely distressed leather armchairs...

Mis-matched chairs are cool for a kitchen table, I also love the light shade and the pictures on the wall...

Another reading chair! The pop of turquoise in the painting and followed through into the bookcase is lover-ly...

(images via decorolgy and a cup of jo )