Podcast Playlist

I have recently become a big fan of listening to podcasts. I can't stand being in silence for long whether I'm playing music or I have the TV on in the background for company, I like there to be some noise around me. I often get tired of listening music then I would turn to the comforting sound of a podcast.  I have a few favourites and I look forward to new editions each week. Here are my current playlist favourites.

Get It On with Dawn O'Porter

This is the podcast that sparked my joy for listening again. Although on a break while Dawn promotes her new book and has her second baby, the back catalogue should be downloaded now! Dawn talks to her guests about fashion, how they have come to settle on their current style, their fashion mistakes and favourite outfits. The podcasts are very interesting, funny and very entertaining and I have enjoyed every single one but a couple of my favourite guests have been Jo Whiley,  Dermot O'Leary, Gizzi Erskine, Dawn French and the episode where Dawn interviews her sister Jane Porter. I can't wait for the Dawn to return with new guests and stories. 

Ladies Who Lunch with Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes

I look forward to Ladies Who Lunch every week. Hosted by YouTubers Ingrid and Cat best friends IRL. Topics include relationships, sex, social issues and mental health. I really feel included in the discussion despite only taking part by listening. I love hearing two friends talking about a subject as if at a dinner party and offering advice based on their experience or as if talking to a friend in need. The hosts have a great sense of humour and that is sprinkled throughout the episode despite some of the serious topics being discussed, both Ingird and Cat are extremely open and offer their own experiences and dilemmas making the topics extremely relatable. Every podcast features a listeners letter at the end where the ladies help a listener in need of advice or guidance. 

Ctrl Alt Delete with Emma Gannon

Oh I do love Emma! One of my more recent finds Ctrl Alt Delete is hosted by writer, blogger, creator, Emma Gannon. The podcast is named alongside Emma's book where she talks about growing up online and the core of the podcast is discussing how the internet and social media has changed and influenced our lives with her guests. Topics include feminism, blogging, writing and being your own boss. Emma interviews a spectrum of guests from YouTubers to writers. I have worked my way through the back catalogue and I think I've listed to all of the episodes now. I really enjoyed Zoella, Estée Lalonde, Grace Victory, Lucy Lendrem, Scarlett Curtis and Bryony Gordon. I love Emma's relaxed, informed way of interviewing, I can tell she is genuinely interested in the guest and their work.

The Debrief

I found this podcast after listening to Stevie Martin interviewed on Ctrl Alt Delte with Emma Gannon. I warmed to her sense of humour and found her very relatable. Stevie writes for the website thedebrief.com and hosts this podcast with friend and writer Tessa Coates. The girls talk about the realities and daily difficulties of adulting. The description of the podcast says they are here to help you navigate your 20's, well I wouldn't be included in their listenership however I find the girls funny and friendly and they have some great stories to tell. I have also learnt some great tips from finances to domestic hacks! 

The High Low

I LOVE The High Low podcast! Hosted by journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes former hosts of the popular Pandolly Podcast and although I hadn't heard their previous podcast I subscribed to their new venture after the first 10 minutes of episode one! The girls are hilarious and I feel like The High Low is the older sister of The Debrief. 

A weekly podcast Dolly and Pandora cover the latest news topics from politics, feminism, and career advice to Made In Chelsea and the latest Instagram craze. The girls cover the high brow to the low brow advocating there is nothing wrong with being knowledgeable across all subjects! I always listen to the latest episode immediately as the topics are so current, the girls also discuss the latest most popular tv, films and books. Pandora and Dolly have fantastic chemistry and are so entertaining often offering advice and anecdotes from their own lives and careers.  

The Emma Guns Show

Emma's podcast is also a new find despite having a prolific back catalogue. Beauty journalist Emma Gunavardharna interviews fellow beauty journalists, editors, enthusiasts and bloggers. I have found the episodes informative and interesting. My favourite editions so far being interviews with Caroline Hirons and Fleur De Force. These are nice long podcasts and I have Sali Hughes and Nadine Baggot queued up for a listen. 

Hey, it's OK

Hey, it's OK is hosted by Glamour magazine Editor Jo Elvin and my latest binge listen! Discovered over the Easter weekend I listed to as many episodes as I could fit in! Each week Jo has a celebrity guest and a different member of the Glamour team discussing topics and questions bouncing around the magazines office. Often lighthearted and fun the episodes feel like they could be discussions in any workplace across the country often igniting fiery but entertaining debate. Jo is a great host, her style is very honest and relaxed and I really enjoy it. 

At Home With...

At Home With is presented by creators The Anna Edit and Lily Pebbles and is brand spanking new launching only last week with their first guest being Jo Elvin! This podcast sounds promising and I'm looking forward to the next episode. The concept is that Lily and Anna visit the home of their guest to see how their living space is influenced by their lives, travels and meetings along the way. Anna and Lily are naturals and they will be really successful podcasters! 

Honourable mentions include The Guilty Feminist, Crash On My Couch and I've heard that Estée Lalonde is creating a podcast and I'll be first in line to subscribe!

L'Oreal Miss Baby Roll Mascara

Mascara is probably my most favourite beauty product and the one product I know instantly if it's a keeper or one to be banished to the bottom of my makeup bag. I spotted this new launch at the L'Oreal counter recently and I have to say I absolutely love this version of their Mega Volume mascara. The range includes Miss Manga, Miss Hippie and the new sister Miss Baby Roll. 

I had the same instant love with Miss Hippie when it was released this time last year, it gave me a spidery clumpy 60's look that I adored from first use.

Miss Baby Roll has a similar effect creating masses of volume and thick black lashes, my favourite! To get the look I like I usually go for two or three coats.

Miss Baby Roll is available in 5 versions, Black, Black Waterproof, Indigo, Lilac and Teal all in keeping with the fun summery look of the tube. The mascara claims to give great curl to lashes, I can't say that my lashes are amazingly curled but I have particularly straight lashes and curl is not a quality I usually look for in a mascara. In this instance I am more impressed with the volume this mascara gives me. I'd certainly repurchase this delight when I my current tube needs replacing. 

OPI No Tan Lines

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My newest spring nail colour is this beautiful polish from OPI's new Fiji collection. No Tan Lines is from their spring 2017 launch which consists of 12 tropical island themed colours evoking all the holiday feels! The range stretches right across the colour palette including ocean blues, floral pinks, a sunny yellow and a sandy neutral. Although I was drawn to at least half of the collection I focused on this stunning orange colour.

No Tan Lines is a bright orange, a shade that is certainly lacking in my own collection. This colour is a true orange, not leaning too coral or red this colour is bright and sunny on the nail. I can't compare it to anything else I own and I feel like this colour is quite unusual and one I can't immediately dupe. 

No Tan Lines is refreshingly bright but not neon. I love to contrast the nail with a bright pink lip, MAC Gulabi for example is my current go to. I have quite a lot of navy in my wardrobe and this colour combination compliments with navy beautifully. 

Two coats and you're good to go and wear was excellent lasting a good five or six days on me. I know I'll be wearing this colour a lot over the summer.

Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Foundation

Well and truly at the top of my favourite beauty items list, Chanel's Vitalumière Aqua foundation is my all time number one foundation and a re-purchase this week of this little gem has inspired this post. There are some beauty products that we all like to try the newest one to hit the counters or the latest technology, for me that would be mascara but when it comes to foundation I stick to the one I love! That's not to say I haven't tried my fair share of new foundations but without success and with foundations being one of the more costly items on the shopping list, I've wasted a lot of money. First purchased about 5 years ago I think I have only strayed once for another Chanel foundation the Ultrawear Flawless foundation, I didn't love it enough to buy it again, my skin felt greasy and I could only wear it with a primer otherwise it slid off my face during the day. Although I grew to like the overall finish, I couldn't wait to finish the bottle and return to my true love. 

Vitalumière Aqua is a light coverage foundation but paired with a powder gives me plenty of coverage for the day with just a powder top up sometime during the day. I like that I can see my complexion through the foundation especially during the summer when I get a few freckles. Never greasy on my combination skin it is a water based formula and must be shaken well before use. I use a Real Techniques buffing brush to apply however I do find the product goes further when applied with your fingers. Chanel describe this foundation as a second skin and I would have to agree, I feel so comfortable and confident in wearing the foundation. I don't worry that I might have a problem at any stage of the day. The coverage blurs any imperfections well. I use number 20 beige most of the time and I would change to 30 beige in the summer. 

I might be persuaded to try something new but for now Vitalumière Aqua is the one.

Essie On The Roadie

What better way to kick off my first proper post with a new spring nail varnish! On The Roadie from Essie's Spring 2017 collection is a beautiful bright green. Green is one of my favourite groups of nail colours, everything from mint to a deep dark emerald. On The Roadie falls in the middle of the spectrum with a vivid spring hue. This particular polish spoke to me the most from the collection which includes five other colours. 

⧫ Excuse Me Sur, a light coral pink. 

⧫ All The Wave, a stunning cobalt blue.

⧫ Backseat Besties, a summery pink.

⧫ Designated DJ, a strong plum.

⧫ B'aha Moment, a deep pink.

The collection is set to inspire your summer vacation and spur on spontaneous road trips to the coast, maybe given the names of the individual polishes they are more California coast appropriate however   this collection can certainly be equally enjoyed along the stunning British coastlines if you so wish.

The application on this polish is flawless. One of the best. Two coats is ideal, if severely rushed one would work. The rounded brush allows a smooth edge to the colour and easy painting. The Essie Spring 2017 collection is available now, I purchased mine from Boots.

Hi!

Hi guys! I hope you are all well! Long time no see! 

I thought I'd restart my blog with a little bit of chatter and a catch up!

Since I was last blogging under Snowdrop85 I have moved out of home, I'm now in my 30's, I have started my own business, I have two little cats and I have found the love of my life!

I missed blogging and have thought many times about restarting and I'm still very much follower of the community. When I moved out of home, life took over in a big way and I didn't have time for blogging or YouTubing any more but I certainly missed this wonderful hobby. 

Some of my interests have changed but I am still obsessed with makeup and skincare still seeking out new launches and new colours. 

I know the blogging world has changed since I was last involved and I'm looking forward to learning again! I'm on all the all the usual social media channels links are in the side bar!

See you again soon!

xx