Bare Minerals | Life | Beautie

I was on the hunt for the perfect foundation, a long lasting natural looking foundation that worked well with my combination skin type. I have huge outbreaks every now and then like most of us girlies so I wanted a foundation that would be kind to my skin, cover my blemishes but still let them breath and heal. Iv spent months getting makeover and sampling foundations but nothing really stood out for me. 

Estee Lauder, Lancome, Elizabeth Arden, Clinque all YvesSaintLaurent all let me down. The biggest disappointment was MAC. I adventured into Brighton and headed to the new Mac store, I had high hopes on finding the perfect foundation as people do rave on about it. The girl who served me didn't really no what she was talking about, or more she didn't seem to care. I felt uncomfortable in the harshly lit space and my anxiety punched me in the stomach. I bravely sat down on the stool hoping Mac foundation wouldn't disappoint.... Ok so my skin did look great after my makeover but this might of been because she applied the Mac foundation on top of my existing foundation!! She didn't remove my any of my make up before starting... This put me of strait away.  The foundation was so so thick, not natural and glowing like I had asked for. I made my way out of the Mac store down heartened and orange!

I explored all my options and I was giving up hope, all I wanted was a foundation that I loved! Is this to much to ask for?

Thankfully Iv final found my mach! After trying a number of foundations and going through handfuls of tester pots I was recommend bear Minerals by a friend! Yay! I wondered into there Brighton store and was greeted by the most lovely bunch of girls. I liked the brand, natural and simple but still elegant and cosmetic. 

We discussed my skin type and what I wanted out of an foundation, she gave me a hand full of options. I was then asked if i would like to try the foundation on. I jumped at the chance and took a seat on the leather stool. She removed all my makeup, pined my fringe back and got to work on my face. She moisturize, primed my skin and explained every little detail to me. When it came to applying my foundation she did half and I did the other. The foundation was so soft and the brushes are a delight to use! 

I was sold and purchased a box filled with goodies. 

I got a gift set for £69.99, a lot of money I no but its worth around £150 when you add up each individual products cost. Amazing value and im now set up with all I need.

Bedroom Tour | Inspiration | Design | Life

Iv created a little bedroom tour video! I have always really enjoy watching room tours on YouTube so I thought I would join in the fun and create my own! Iv filmed little snippets of my Bedroom in my own creative way, so check it out for interior inspiration and let me no if you enjoyed it.... A x 

Link to Bedroom Tour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6wAnZ1qmEs

Mallorca | Video Diary | Life

Link to Video Diary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3E--DHKgjc

Hey everyone !  Iv been having some fun video editing and making a holiday lookbook! Iv always loved watching other peoples so I thought I would join in the fun, be brave and make my own.  Please note that this video is only for fun and giggles! I like to document all the good times, normally with still photos and to go along side a diary... While on my holiday in Mallorca I decided to experiment and push myself out of my comfort zone and in front of the camera. EEK!

I had so much fun making this video and I really hope you all enjoy it.

Thanks for reading! 

Alee x x 

Pressed Flower Pendant Necklace - Craft - Life

The flower pendants that I've been making recently are so popular! They are very charming and quite easy to make. So I've put together a little step by step guide to help you create your own if you wish. My step by step is only a guide so if you want to use different sized pendants, shapes or flowers feel free! Any questions please don't hesitate to ask. 

..You will need..

- A Flower Press or large book to press your flowers in -
- Little Flowers for Pressing - Round Cabochon Base Pendent (size 25mm) -

- Round Flat Back Clear Crystal Glass Cabochon (again 25mm) -

- Glass Pendent Adhesives or better known as Glamour Dots (25mm) -

- Rolo Chain Necklace 60cm long -

- White or Cream Card Cut into a 25mm Round Back drop -

- Tweezers -

I will leave a list of links at the bottom of the page with the best places to purchase some of the main items.

First you need to find some flowers to press.. 
Take your pendant out with you so you can get a feel for how big the flower will be in the pendant. Don't forget that the flower will get bigger then it is when its nice and flat! I'm using Forget-me-nots in this guide but you can use any... Also I always pick a few just in case something goes wrong or they break when I'm taking them out of the flower press. I tend to leave my flowers in the press for 2 weeks or more in a warm place if possible. 

When your flowers are well and truly flat and dry you can get started on making the necklace. 


Make sure you have everything within close reach. This is really important when you're working with something this sticky and also delicate.

Start by gently taking your chosen flower out of the press, I find gently curling the paper makes the flower easier to come out. 

I always test the layout of my flower using the round piece of card and a glass Cabochon. Just to make sure it fits and looks good! The stem of the flower is ok to be hanging out the bottom, you can trim this off later.

After checking the flower fits, carefully peel off one of the sticky Glam Dots and stick it to the flat side of the glass Cabochon. It has a non stick back so you can rub it on to make sure its securely on the glass. After its stuck on peel off the protective non stick top.

Carefully pick up your chosen flower and gently place it good side down onto the sticky Glam dot (use tweezers if you wish). Don't worry if the stem of the flower is hanging out.

Next pick up your round piece of card. Line it up and stick it on over the flower.. Give it a good rub! Check the front to see if there are any air bubbles. I tend to use the side of a table to ease them out. 

Now that the flower is stuck in you can simply break off the stem or cut it if needed. Usually it just snaps of easily. 

Now that your flower and back drop is done you're ready to stick your glass Cabochon into the pendant! 

Simply peel off another Glam Dot and stick it to the back of the glass Cabochon onto the back of the round card. Then line up the glass Cabochon with the pendent and press it in firmly! Once in its never coming out so make sure it's in the perfect position before pressing it down. 

Finally just thread your necklace chain through the pendant and you're done!! 
I adore making these necklaces and really hope you do too. Good luck :)

If you wish to purchase one of my hand made necklaces please comment below or on my Facebook page  Pebbles and Blossom | Facebook

 x Thanks for reading and I hope you found this useful x

Alee Cat

 The Dyslectic Blogger - Alessandra - Thoughts, Designs and Style

-Links for craft items needed-

Silver Cabochon Base pendant: 25mm Silver Plated Round Cameo Cabochon Base Setting Pendants-20pcs: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home  

Round Flat Back Glass Cabochon: 25mm Round Flat Back Clear Crystal Glass Cabochon High Quality 100pcs/lot: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Glamour Dots: 50 Pack Glass Pendant Adhesive. Easy to Use Strip. Alternative to Glaze for Pendant Trays. Dry Adhesive. Glamour Stickies.

Rolo Chain Necklace: Rolo Chain Necklaces - 50- 24 inch(60cm) 3mm Thick Rolo necklaces 

If you only want to purchase one of each item its probably best to go to your local craft shop but I find purchasing things in small bulk of 10s and 20s much cheaper :)

Barcelona - Life - Places

Barcelona was SO beautiful! With its endlessly long streets filed with lush green trees and grand buildings, you could lose yourself forever. We set of early morning and arrived midday, so a nice easy quick flight and transfer from London. The transfer from the airport was so easy, we hopped on a bus that took us strait the heart of the city. We stayed in a little place in the heart of town nestled between the local spanish shops, bars and the main sandy beach. It was not the place we had booked and far from glamorous but it was a good base for us to go out and explore the city. 

We did a hop on hop off open top bus tour in the rain and visited the Sagrada Familia and the Park Guell, both well worth doing but you seem to have to pre book everything so we found our selves thinking what to do until our slot came up!! We ate out every day and I didn't think the city's food was to expensive, I managed to come back with left over euros!! All the food was amazing and we spent hours each day looking for the perfect place to eat. To much choice!! 

I think our 3 nights was fab amount of time, we did every thing we wanted plus more. The city was easy to navigate around and us bunch of 4 girls didn't get lost once hehe!! They call Barcelona the walking city, this was SO true!! On our last day we rented bikes and cycled the beach and into the local parks! This was so so fun and I would recommend doing this if you go! You see so much of the city!! It was silly cheep at 1 euro 50 an hour (BARGIN) and the city has lots of bike paths to stick to. 

We also had time to have a beach day, swim in the sea, have shopping trips and we visited the amazing food market! That was the highlight for me.. I went back 3 times! The smells, the colours, the sounds and the hustle and bustle of the market felt amazing to be apart of! Anyone and everyone was trying all the foods and snaking away on fresh fish, fruits, sweets and sausages! It was just so amazing and beautiful, a fab place to go for a late breakfast! It was a tad hard to find as its quite hidden away but well worth searching for! Do it if you visit the city!

I took a few photos of the city on my phone that you can see below, sadly my lovely new camera had not arrived in time for my trip so my iphone had to do! It stopped me looking through a lens the hole holiday though so im grateful for that. 

Overall Barcelona was a stunning city and such a gem! With its pastry shops on every corner, live music, its amazing architecture and fresh food makes this city well worth visiting!

x Takeoff and sunny walks x

x Bus trip and lunch pit stop x

x Stormy beach and Sagrada Familia x 

x Park Guell and market x 

x Sagrada Familia x 

x Sagrada Familia and market x  

x Amazing architecture and amazing friends x 

 x Sunny beach day and shopping x 

 x Bike ride day and Gauldi's architecture x  

x Very yummy tuna stake and tapas x 

x would like to say a big massive huge thanks to my lovely girls for an amazing trip away x

x Thanks for reading chums x

 The Dyslectic Blogger - Alessandra - Thoughts, Designs and Style

A Quick Blog - Life - Desing

Just a quick blog as im in the middle of cooking..I came across this amazing Spanish studio by 2260mm Architects! It has SO much caricature! Its a early twentieth century house in Barcelona that features the old and the new. It's so important to keep part of the houses old self within its new remodelling! For example, some existing floor tiles have been kept in place to highlight new seating and walk ways. Transitional spaces have also been highlighted in this way, witch is a gorgeous way to keep some tradition into a modern renovation. This is why I enjoy to shabby sheek most of my furniture . . It allows the new user to see what the object was like in its former life before being renovation.

Some times pieces do not need "shabbying" as they talk for them selves. Like in this Spanish studio; beams are natural but they look amazing and fresh, they bring a new hight to the space! The roof seems light over head rather than heavy and waited! The balance of dark against natural with its use of colours and materials is also done very well in this renovation by 2260mm architects! I must stop typing now other wise our dinner for tonight will be burt!

Creativity Is Not Just Art & Crafts - Life

Don't forget that creativity is not just art or crafts! Its the way you style your hair, to the way in witch you cook your dinner and plate it up. Its how you dress, how you drive, how you work and how you think. Take time to be free and think creative! Thinking out of the box is the best way to think heart emoticonjh