Foodie #1 The Mad Moose Norwich

 

 This is a bit of a different post for me and my little blog and I'm drooling as I'm writing it. I love food but usually it's half gone before the thought to take a picture even crosses my mind. Doesn't look as appetising at that point, for sure!

I visited the Mad Moose in Norwich a few weeks back for a friend's birthday and I was shocked at how lovely it was!! Why had I never been there before?! It has that local pub, friendly vibe whilst still being very modern and tasteful. The service was amazing. I love good customer service, I think it can completely change a visit somewhere. When the lady serving us saw I put my coat on (I was getting a little chilly), she went round and closed all the windows and doors around me whilst saying that I should have just said if I was cold. Something like that just puts me completely at ease and makes me feel at home. As well as that, she made conversation whilst taking our orders and was just overall really pleasant, making my visit even better.

The food came quickly and was absolutely delicious. The menu isn't overly extensive but has enough of choice. It's not your usual pub grub as you can see from the pictures above, they've taken it to more of a proper restaurant level. My main, ham, egg and chips, was the cheapest on the menu but there was no sign of scrimping because of this. Very decent portions, even for me, and I can eat for England!

The dessert was the star of the show in my opinion. I have a sweet tooth all the way and look at that brownie. It was spongey and chocolately and gooey and all of the adjectives *drool* I can't even explain to you. If this shows how much I liked it, I went back for lunch but ended up just having a brownie. Crazy I know!

Overall a great visit and I will definitely be going again and recommending it to everyone!

I know this post won't be relevant for everyone if you aren't in Norwich but if you are visiting or even want to look at some damn delicious food, here you go!

Have you been anywhere delicious recently? I'm such a foodie!

 

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The Repurchase| Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

 

Aaaah Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Blogger cult product, like Marmite, people either love you or hate you.

If you saw my first encounter of CLPC- read it here now- you will know that I wasn't particularly impressed. When mine ran out, I honestly didn't intend on repurchasing it. I was browsing Superdrug swatching away, when I realised there really aren't many drugstore concealers that offer as much coverage as CLPC. A lot looked quite pigmented until you started to blend them in, where they blended away to nothing! The 17 Hide Away concealer- which I reviewed here- is a perfect example! It disappeared to tint of colour with no coverage at all. And these products are meant to be hiding our spots?!

As you can see, I did cave and repurchase the loved blogger product. To be perfectly honest, I still don't love it. I think it's really good for the price coverage wise. The shade selection has been extended meaning I can now get a better match for my skin tone. This is great as that is a downfall of a lot of drugstore items (I've gone from medium 3 to dark 4). The packaging has got even cheaper however. Whereas with my last one, with extended use, the writing rubbed off, even the warmth of my fingers can cause the ink to transfer to them. Not ideal when you then use the same finger to blend the concealer in!

To wrap it up, I really really like CLPC but I know you can get better if you're willing to spend more. It's perfect if you don't though and for the price I can accept its flaws!

What do you think of this product? I'd love to know your opinion!

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FOTD featuring Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony

I do not know what possessed me to take a picture on my less than becoming moss green carpet?! I was obviously having a moment of madness! As said in this post, FOTDs have never been my forte. I just don't know how to take a good picture of myself. I also like to tilt my head to an almost 90 degree angle, what's up with that?!

My craziness aside, I really like this look. I think it really reflects my style. Very simple and quick and easy to do. I filled in my brows on this day with the MUA Undress Me Too palette (a mixture of the brown and he black) which I never normally do. Everyone goes on about brows all the time but I just don't know if I like it on myself. What do you think? It does shape them and pull together a look but I feel too done, somehow. Maybe it's the colour; slightly;too dark?

My lip colour of choice has been my go-to recently. It's the Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony and definitely the star of this FOTD. I'm still loving the chubby stick/ pencil lip colour thaaang. They're just so easy to glide on for an effortless lip colour. If you haven't realised, I like my make up as low maintenance as possible!

The rest of the products are nothing that you haven't seen on AG before.

Base
17 Photo Ready Primer in the T-zone to reduce shine. Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation with a little bit of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for concealing. Finally a light dusting of Rimmel Match Perfection powder (this is the powder I mentioned in this post!)

Eyes
Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze swiped across the lids. A thin line of Soap and Glory SuperCat Liner to define the eyes and thicken the lash line. A swiping of Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour Max Holidays Mascara (what a random mix of words!)
MUA Undress Me Too palette for brows

Lips 
Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony
(the link is to Boots Chubby Stick stocking as I can't find a direct link- sorry!)

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The Every Day Eye Look

From the top, round to the right

 I've been trying to use my eye shadows more recently. I'm always drawn to them in stores; the different finishes and colours, soooo pretty. However I only ever really crack them out on special occasions. Enter the Rimmel Quad in Smokey Brun.

I picked this little gem up a while ago and thought it had the perfect colours in it for an everyday look. A starter kit for an eye shadow beginner like myself. No picking out colours that compliment each other as the work is done for you!

Encased in sleek but basic black packaging, this quad contains four shimmer eye shadows including a dark brown, a bronze, a cream and a light creamy brown (I wanted to describe this as the colour of almond milk but I don't know if anyone would know what I was on about! Anyone understand?). Plus the pigmentation, which can sometimes be the downfall of lighter coloured drug store eye shadows, is excellent for the price (£6.99).

How I've been using these colours is the bronze all over the lid and then the darker brown for some definition in the crease and outer corner. The other two colours could be used as an inner eye highlight (or as a base) but I feel like that looks weird on me. I believe thats because the lighter shades don't suit my skin tone as much. Check me talking about inner eye highlight though?! I'm trying to run before I can walk in the eye shadow department!!

Does anyone else struggle with eye shadow like myself? What are your favourites brands/shades?

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Superdrug Haul!

I said I had a few hauls coming up in my recent post (currently two but there may be more...) and this is the first set of things I bought. I'm trying to split them up a bit as variety is the spice of life, or so they say.

Superdrug is my go to place. I could honestly spend hours in there. I secretly want them to hire me but my saying loudly about how much they should hire is obviously not being received *cough cough Superdrug Norwich*. Anyway as well as helping an old lady with her make up puchases, I managed to pick up:

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint- Greenberry

I was actually looking for the pastel green nail polish but it wasn't in stock at the time (I found it later however) but this caught my eye. It's a neon aqua which I think would set off a tan amazingly

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- Dark 4

This was a repurchase but I wasn't initially enamoured with it. It was only when I started comparing it to other drugstore offerings that I realised this high coverage beauty was pretty good. It still creases like a bitch and I know in my heart of hearts there must be something better (but probably more expensive- sigh) out there but for now, I really really like you, CLPC.

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye Concealer

The concealer junkie that I am had to pick this up. The sponge applicator just intrigued me. I've been really liking it so far, either for prepping my eyes (cancelling out the purple tones) before going in with the above concealer or just alone when my bags aren't that bad for a more natural look.

Maybelline Fit Me powder

I used a powder from my stash recently for a bit of shine control and really liked it. It added a bit more coverage but was a bit light for my current (slightly tanned) face. Not wanting to pick up the same powder (I do like to experiment!), I got this one. It's not adding as much coverage as I expected but maybe it just needs more building. I'll report back soon!

Have you been shopping recently or have/want anything that I've bought? In my defence, it's the end of exams so that obviously means I should have to buy the whole of Superdrug...

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Sick Day/ Hayfever/ Summer Makeup

I've had this post planned for ages but (obviously) when I wrote it, I was ill. Then exams came around and it got a bit stuck in the pipeline. The reason I'm posting it now is, I feel it's still relevant and omg, hayfever this year. I don't know about anyone else but I've been hit hard. Sneezing attacks, itchy eyes, nose and throat, the works! Tell me this isn't just me?!

Anyway, I like to wear similar makeup when I'm ill and in the summer time. This may sound a bit strange but I'm talking minimal, light, quick and easy application. In the summer, I like to let my skin breathe and not be weighed down by heave makeup in the heat (although I sometimes go to the effort of a BB cream) and when I'm ill, I don't have the time, patience or effort for a full face of make up. Am I making any sense? Probably not.

The above picture is more an indication of the products I like to wear.

Mascara- any old one that comes to hand but when thinking hayfever wise best to play it on the safe side with a waterproof version. One of my favourites is Maybelline The Falsies (Waterproof).

Concealer- I wasn't bothering with a base when I was ill. Instead I was reaching for an illuminating concealer, in this case the Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer, to wake up my face and hide my unsightly under eye bags. This is quite a sheer concealer meaning that it was easily blended into my naked skin.

Balmy lips- Some times it was just Cocoa Butter Vaseline, other times I wanted a swipe of colour. When the urge was upon me, I looked to MUA's Power Pout in Broken Hearted. A sheer, balmy pink that brightened up my face without being high maintenance. Perfect.

Olbas Oil/ hayfever medication- Obviously didn't wear these products but nice to have in the house, just in case. Olbas Oil is a life saver for a blocked nose (take a sniff) and aches and pains (massage in).

Usually I'd go with nothing if I was feeling really ill but on the days I had to look semi decent, this is what I was reaching for. What do you wear when you are sick? Have you been suffering from hayfever?

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Life Update and What to Expect on AG!

Exams are over and my second year of university is officially finished. As well as being relieved, I'm sad. My time at university is just running away from me. I feel like my third year will just be over in a flash. Reminder to make the most of time!

I'm currently doing a week of full time work at the place I volunteer which (although I've only done one day of so far) I am really enjoying it. It involves a lot of administration work with a legal side to it which is what I currently intend to do after university. A lot of people go down the solicitor/ barrister route after a law degree but I just don't feel like it's is for me. Not now anyway, I'll keep my options open; hopefully with some more work experience later in the summer.

As well some more work experience, I really want to grow my blog this summer and, as you can see the from the plan above, will be squeezing it in at every available moment. The dream is to blog daily but I know myself better than this and it is just that, a dream. I want to enjoy my summer without draining the fun out of  blogging with stress so I will resume posting three times a week. Organisation is our friend people!

My best friend at university is moving abroad for a year (booooo!) so this will be last summer with her (until she gets back!) so we intend to fit lots of fun things into the next two weeks so you can expect lots of lifestyle posts on what we get up to. No doubt, cake in millions of coffee shops 'cause who doesn't love cake?

I've also been shopping so some hauls and reviews are coming your way (I'm so excited, I may have had a cheeky play with the products before picturing! Shock horror). Is there anything else you'd like to see on my blog?

Hope you are all well and (if you have exams or work) stress hasn't been getting you too down. How are you going to spend your summer? What have you been up to recently?

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