Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar 2015

If you follow me on Instagram then you might have seen my daily posts from my L'Occitane and Marks and Spencer Advent Calendars.  If you didn't then you are in for a treat because I am going to share all of the contents of the 

Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar with you now and then L'Occitane in its own post too.

There had been quite a lot of excitement surrounding the Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar and I was one of the lucky one to get it for £25 as I had re-ordered some Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner. I was surprised at how heavy the advent calendar was but it is made so well, that my intention is to keep the box and make my own advent calendar for someone in 2016.  

Inside the box are 24 individual numbered boxes and then inside each box was a product that can be found on sale in Marks and Spencer, naturally it is all beauty and there is a wide variety of items to be found.

So as you can see there are some really good products here and this is what I found and when:

Day One - Philip Kingsley Geranium and Neroli Elasticizer 

Day Two - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

Day Three - Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Body Lotion

Day Four - Pur Minerals Volume Vixen Mascara

Day Five - Leighton Denny Renovate nail repair cream

Day Six - Rosie for Autograph Nuit Perfume

Day Seven - Rituals Organic Rice Milk and Cherry Blossom Shower Gel

Day Eight - Pure Super Grape Day Cream

Day Nine - Filorga Time Filler Absolute Wrinkle correction cream

Day Ten - Neal's Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream

Day Eleven - Josh Wood Full Bodied Shampoo

Day Twelve - Diego Dalla Palma Lipstick in shade 46 Antique Rose

Day Thirteen - Mio Skincare Liquid Yoga Restorative Bath Soak

Day Fourteen - Percy and Reed Volumising No Oil, Oil

Day Fifteen - Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand and Nail Cream

Day Sixteen - Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel

Day Seventeen - Swell Hair Ultimate Volume Mask

Day Eighteen - Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Bar of Soap

Day Nineteen - Autograph Lip Crayon in Nude

Day Twenty - L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel

Day Twenty One - Pixi Glow Tonic

Day Twenty Two - Ren skincae Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

Day Twenty Three - Stila Lip Glaze in shade Sugar Plum

Day Twenty Four - Morgan Taylor Nail Polish in shade Pretty Woman

For a very first advent calendar, I actually think Marks and Spencer have smashed it.  Not only was it such great value for money, but there are so many amazing brands and products inside making it well worth the £25 it cost and one to hope for in 2016.

What do you think to this Advent Calendar?

Sleek Makeup 24k Gold collection review

Sleek’s new launches arrived in time for CHRISTMAS and for party season. The collection is called 24K gold and it is all about metallic finishes, glitter and shine. The collection itself features just two palettes and some lipglosses and all of them are just stunning. 

I am a huge fan of Sleek products, not only is it an affordable and amazing value for money brand, these palettes, with their new design fits the brand name Sleek really well, because they are just that - Sleek. 

The Gold Standard i-Lust Palette features a collection of six shades, four silky shimmer powders and two rich cream formulas. If like me you find yourself in the comfort of nudes and neutrals but want a little something more, then this palette will have something for you.  With shades that have been inspired by a famous fashion designer such as Coco, Vera and Louis to name but a few, you have everything you need from the soft champagne to the richness of copper and bronze! As you can see the formulas are both rich and pigmented and all for just £7.49.

The Midas Touch highlight palette is the one which really caught my interest. With a palette comprising of three baked powders and one luxurious cream formula, they are all pigmented and cool toned and one shade is most definitely attention catching, but it isn't as scary as it looks and is one which needs to be used with a slight touch or you might just turn into Elsa from Frozen. That shade is Rhinestone which is used to lift the brow and can be used on the cheekbone.  Tanzanite which is the light shade is said to help highlight the eyes. Solitare which is the pink toned shade is used to add shimmer to the cheekbones and finally Cubic Zirconia is used to enhance the lips by highlighting the cupids bow.  The palette costs just £10.

The final items within the collection are these three lip glosses which are called Money Talks – gold; Uptown Girl – Pink and finally Private Jet which is a nice shade of red. When used they are all are quite sheer but have a really nice shine to finish off the look and are not overly sticky, a pet hate of mine with lipgloss. As you might also expect, there are flecks of glitter within each one of them, so these glosses are perfect to be worn on their own or over your favourite lipstick are they are so reasonably priced at just £5 each.

I think this is a great little collection for the party season and there is definitely something for everyone, whether that is your nudes, your glosses or something funky with a highlighter. The 24K Gold collection can be found on Sleek counters at Boots and Superdrug, plus online via their websites.

What do you think to the new products from Sleek?

Products to help you De-Stress

The festive Season is one of the most stressful times of the year and stress can lead to all kinds of other issues such as insomnia, a lot of shouting and swearing not to mention being overwhelmed. Presents to buy, cakes to make, cards to write, cellotape to find, the last date of posting to remember, the Turkey needs ordering and that is before table plans are even argued over. Then the Boxing Day sales, do I need it do I not need it. Then New Year will be upon us all and the big dilemma of going out or staying in, setting New Years Resolutions and the stress of sticking to them. So before you spontaneously combust, stop, take a breath and relax for just a few minutes.  

If you still frantic and frazzled, short on sleep and temper then I might just have something to make you feel more human and less like ripping someones head off.

Scentered Balms - I came across this brand through You Beauty Discovery Beauty Box which I get monthly and I am always wary of products that claim to be 100% natural but can also help me feel less stressed and also help me sleep, but these balms are brilliant and portable, so you can chuck one in your handbag and use as you need too.

These rich, nourishing balms have been carefully formulated with a blend of moringa and shea butters to ensure a non-greasy finish on the skin and long lasting fragrance delivery.

Sleep Well Therapy Balm is scented with Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang Ylang all of which work together to help to clear the head, quieten the mind and relax the body.

Stress Less Therapy Balm is scented with Chamomile, Neroli and Mandarin which make for one amazing uplifting and feel good scent which eases everyday tensions, soothes the mind and lifts the spirits.

To use these balms you simply stop what you are doing, take a deep breath, apply the balm to your pulse points, inhale deeply and then continue with your day or night.  More information on Scentered Balms can be found here.

This Works Deep Sleep Range - I have been a huge fan of this range for a good few years now and swear by it if I need sleep so badly that suitcases form under my eyes.

Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is infused with essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile to soothe the body and mind. Designed to be spritzed on to your pillow. I tend to spray my pillow before I begin my 'getting ready for bed' routine which gives the fragrance a chance to dissipate and work its way onto the bed linen, ready to send me off, which it does, to the land of nod.

Deep Sleep Stress Less is infused with refreshing Eucalyptus cleanses, invigorates and helps to counter physical and mental fatigue. Frankincense essential oil acts as an antiseptic to help fight infections and to help you relax physically and mentally whilst rejuvenating the skin. Lavender Oil is the most effective oil in helping hypertension, nervous tension and insomnia. Designed in a rollerball style to make applying to your pulse points a much easier task.

Alongside having a nice long hot bath with bubbles, a cup of tea and a good book, I have found all of these work for me when I am in need of some down time.

What do you use to de-stress?

You Are NOT Alone

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So this is my last post for the next couple of days as it is Christmas Eve. A time for joy, family and happiness.

Sadly, not everyone experiences this at Christmas and for some, this time can be a dark and lonely time or a time when emotions such as depression can be heightened.

You may be one of those people. You may have come across this blog post by chance, or someone may have forwarded it to you to read.

Consider it fate.

I don't want you to feel alone this Christmas.

I don't want you to feel depressed or lonely.

If you feel that you have hit rock bottom and you feel empty inside, If you can see the lights twinkling in other peoples windows, hear the laughter of your neighbours and yet you experience no joy, as if the world is a dark place in which you see no place for yourself any more.

Or if you feel that you are ready to make a change.

I want you to pick up the phone......................

MIND
Website www.mind.org.uk
Tel No 0300 123 3393

Samaritans
Website www.samaritans.org
Tel No 116 123

Alcoholics Anonymous
Website www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Tel No 0800 9177650

Stonewall
Website www.stonewall.org.uk
Info line 08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
Tel No 0207 837 7324

SANELine
Website www.sane.org.uk
Tel No 0300 304 7000

Papyrus, Prevention of young suicide
Website www.papyrus-uk.org

National self-help body for the Transgender community
Beaumont Society
Website http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
Information Line 01582 412220

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Depression Alliance
Website www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge
Website www.refuge.org.uk
Tel No 0808 2000 247

Beat
Beating eating disorders.
Website https://www.b-eat.co.uk
Help line 0345 634 1414
Youth Line 0345 634 7650

Shelter
Website www.shelter.org.uk
Tel No 0808 800 4444

NHS Direct
Tel No 1111

No Panic
Website http://www.nopanic.org.uk
Tel No 0844 967 4848
Youth helpline 01753 840393

If you need someone, please call one of these numbers. You are NOT alone over Christmas, there are people out there that care, I care. 

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I would also love to thank Kellie over at Big Fashionista for allowing me to use this post, it is so important.

Christmas Gift Guide for Lush Lovers

I am one of the biggest Lush fans you will come across and for me, one thing they do well are celebrations - Christmas, Easter, Valentines and Halloween all have an air of excitement as to what new products will there be, the chance to be reunited with the limited edition favourites such as SnowFairy and the Advent Calendar but who needs a reason to love Lush anyway?

Christmas is one of my favourite Lush times of the year, with gift boxes aplenty and the chance to stock up on Snow Fairy. This Christmas there are once again there are some amazing gift boxes to choose from and here are my Lush Christmas picks. 

First up we have the amazing giftbox that is Winter Wonderland perfect for anyone, who like me, loves to pamper themselves in the bath and escape from the world. Packed full 20 of the most popular Lush products, inside you will find:

Snow Angel Bath Melt, You Nog Bath Bomb, Ceridwen's Cauldron Bath Melt, Candy Mountain Bubble Bar, Peeping Santa Bubble Bar, Yoga Bath Bomb, The Magic of Christmas Wand, Holly GoLightly Bubble Bar, Frozen Bath Bomb, Star Dust Bath Bomb, Twilight Bath Bomb, Father Christmas Bath Bomb, Luxury Pud Bath Bomb, Cinders Bath Bomb, Bar Hambug Bubble Bar, Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb, So White Bath Bomb, Butter Bear Bath Bomb, Golden Wonder Bath Bomb and The Comforter Bubble Bar.

Next comes Reindeer Rock Soap which is just incredible.  It caught my attention because it uses Lingonberries which I had never come across before and these juicy berries are native to Scandinavian countries such as Finland and said to have anti-inflammatory properties and are rich in vitamins C and E. Scent wise, it is very very similar to The Comforter, so if that is a Lush product you like, then chances are, you will love this.

Fairy Dust Dusting Powder is one of the products I was really excited to try and it smells just divine.  I use it after showering in an evening and it makes your skin sparkle, shimmer and yes it smells exactly like Snow Fairy and also leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth and it is just a delight to have scenting your skin.

There are so many new amazing products from Lush that I am still discovering, many of which will appear in due course on Beautyqueenuk in coming weeks. 

Have you indulged yourself with Lush this Christmas?

W7 THE GLAM BOX GIFT SET + Giveaway

W7 is a brand that I absolutely love. It is such good value for money and I am yet to use a product that I have not been happy with. The Glam Box gift set is more than value for money, it is an absolute steal and I am lucky that near my local shopping centre there is is a pop up store that sells W7 make up.

The Glam Box gift set complains three items - In the Buff Palette, Midnight Palette and the Cheeky Trio, all palettes and all presented in really handy tins.

W7 The Cheeky Trio contains a bronzer, blusher and highlighter. The Bronzer - Dream Machine , The Blusher which is called 5th Avenue is quite ink and pigmented so a little goes a long way with this. Finally there is a highlighter which is called Hot Stuff is a light textured highlighter which I find works really well as a highlighter and also an eyeshadow base too.  Within the palette the powders are presented with this rippled effect which I absolutely love and didn't want to ruin by swishing my brush over.

W7 In the Buff Palette is every neutral eyeshadow fans palette of dreams. Contains 12 eyeshadows: Buff, Camel, Sand, Dust, Chocolate, Topaz, Earth, Storm, Silk, Wave, Thunder, Onyx and the colours are a mixture of matte and shimmer shades. The palette also comes complete with a double ended brush. 

W7 Midnight Palette which contains 6 stunning mauve inspired shades to create the gorgeous Smokey eye for any evening out. The colours that you will find within this palette are Birthday Girl, Pukka, Princess, Magic Hait, Hot Pickle and Boom.

I absolutely love all of these palettes and because I am so impressed, I actually managed to grab the last one from the little cart I visit to giveaway and all yoou need to do to win your own Glam Box Gift Set is complete the rafflecopter below.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is use the widget below. There are some mandatory entries, so please ensure you complete those otherwise your entry will be null and void and please also ensure that if you are under 18, you have parental permission to enter because I will need your address. It is a WORLDWIDE Giveaway, so Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Peladophobia and the fear!

Other than losing all of my teeth, there is one other fear that I have - losing my hair. For many of us, our hair is something that defines us, for some of us it is a way to stand out from the crowd and for most it is their pride and glory, regardless of colour, length or style.

There are of course many reasons why our hair might fall out more than normal - stress, post-pregnancy, menopause, over-styling, poor nutrition, hereditary genes and age can all impact on the health of your hair and its growth. But all is not lost, there are ways in which we can try to help prevent hair loss.

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1. Having your Scalp Massaged - Have you ever noticed that when you visit a hair salon, you are often asked, when conditioner or a conditioning treatment is applied, whether or not you would like a head massage? Well not only is a head massage good for relaxing, but by activating and stimulating blood circulation it channels more nutrients to the roots of your hair to give the best starting conditions for every individual hair.

2. Hair transplants - Many celebrities have had hair transplants - think Wayne Rooney and Sir Elton John. At Harley Street they use the FUE Hair Transplant method which is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure so you will remain fully conscious the whole time. Recovery time is short and the risk of complications is low.

3. Looking after your locks - One walk along the hair care section in Boots will leave you with more products than you can think of when it comes ensuring you can find everything you need. I use Coconut Oil on my hair and scalp which is said to help strengthen hair growth right from the roots to the tip as well as helping with moisturisation, which for me is something I need as I often have a dry scalp.

4. You are what you eat - You hair consists of keratin, a protein which is made up of amino acids. In order to encourage new hair to grow, your body needs to produce these amino acids: high-protein diets are therefore great for your hair, so make sure that you are including to your diet ingredients like eggs, meats and even dairy products like yogurt. Besides proteins, it is very important to remember that beauty is a reflection of what you eat, so be sure to stick to an overall healthy diet.

5. Managing your stress - Stress is a known factor when it comes to hair loss. Whether it is physical or emotional stress, it has an impact on our hair. The most obvious answer would be to try and avoid stressful situations, something that isn't always possible. So instead, try and find little ways to relax which helps to calm you down, for me, if it is work related, I often go for a walk to the local park and feed the squirrels, if it is anything home related, then out come the cleaning products or I run a bath, fill it with bubbles and escape from life for an hour or two.

Now I am only touching the tip of the iceberg with suggestions when it comes to preventing hair loss - healthy diets, shampoos, regular hair washing, wide toothed hair combs and even meditation are all said to help.

What would you do?

*collaboration

Christmas Gift Guide for Bath Lovers

This has been one of my favourite gift guides to put together because it is honestly one of my favourite things to do. I love a bit of me time which usually means having a nice hot bath, grabbing my book, a nice cool drink and then shutting the world out for as long as the bath water stays at what I consider to be a nice temperature. So, I thought I would put together a Gift Guide for Bath Lovers (erm basically me) using some of my favourite products. 

Good Things Manuka Honey Nourishing Bath Soak - This is my second bottle. The first was kindly sent to me a few months ago and I loved it so much it was all gone before I could add it to my blog list, so having purchased another bottle, it is so good it deserves to be in my guide. It smells just so amazing with a combination of sweet almond oil, Shea Butter and Manuka Honey and once in the bath, the scent intensifies and it is just incredibly moisturising on the skin.

Mio Liquid Yoga - This has very quickly become my 'go to' de-stress bath soak and I did a full review of it here. Liquid Yoga comes packed with amazing ingredients such as Magnesium-rich Epsom salts and Arnica, and the inclusion of the amazing V-Tonic™ blend which is a blend of essential oils such as spearmint, cypress, lavender, mandarin and chamomile essential oils all of which help to ease your stress and anxiety. I find it is perfect for that much needed wind down.

The Comforter Bubble Bar from Lush - This Bubble Bar is my all time favourite from Lush and I am seriously happy there is now a shower gel. It uses Cassis absolute gives a distinctive blackcurrant fragrance, while bergamot adds an uplifting note and the use of Cypress Oil helps to calm during times of stress. Crumbled under the warm running water into your bath, the scent comes alive along with an abundance of bubbles.

Staying with the honey theme for Humble natural beauty Bath Honey infused with Rose & Frankincense. As soon as the water runs hot, liberally pour into the water and as the steam captures the scent it comes to life creating a wonderful floral and musky aroma. I absolutely love that local honey is used within all of the products and on the skin, it is great for moisturisation and does leave your skin feeling just incredible.

Elemental Herbology Bath and Shower Oil Collection - Compromising 100% natural oils and based on the Five Elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – this gift lets you create your own aroma-therapeutic infusion for an indulgent bathing experience. Tailor your bathing experience with five different oils to balance and soothe your skin and mind. Each and every single one of these oils is just divine and even mixing them to create that perfect bath to allow you to lie back and relax is an amazing experience.

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Bath and Shower Oil - I am a huge fan of Aromatherapy Associates and I absolutely love Breathe Support when I have a bad cold. When I have a bath I like to relax and forget about my day/week and to do that the Relax Bath and shower oil is just amazing. Using Vetiver, Chamomile and Sandalwood as ingredients, it literally helps you forget everything and it helps falling to sleep a much easier task.

Soap and Glory The Daily Soothe Bath Float - This product is packed with rejuvenating Phytofleur cactus, calming Passionflower fruit extract and moisturising Herbasol Mallow which work to invigorate, calm and soothe to promote a good night’s sleep. As soon as you swirl a handful of this into the water, bubbles immediately form, so if you like a product with a lot of bubbles, then this will tick all the boxes.

Bath salts are a product that I have really championed on my blog, I think they are totally underrated. Ynys Mon Slumber bath salts (full review here) are described as being "A dreamy blend of oils renown for their relaxing and soothing qualities. Enjoy this blissful aromatherapy anytime you wish to unwind, settle and ease into a state of peaceful relaxation. Perfect for those who want to de-stress after a challenging day or need help to achieve a restful nights sleep". As soon as you twist off the lid, the first thing that hits you is the lovely scent of Lavender, which is one of those ingredients I absolutely adore for its relaxation properties and if you are good at detecting scents, Jasmine and Rose are also evident.

Staying with Bath Salts with the Joyful Bath Company, a brand I happened to stumble across in TKMaxx and I have two different varieties - Green Tea Glee and Aloe Infused. 

• Green Tea Glee Recharging Bath Salts uses Green tea to provide natural anti-oxidants and then peppermint helps the mind focus and clear the mind. There is also a medley of Mediterranean and Dead Sea salts which contains Magnesium which is important for both combating stress and fluid retention, slowing skin aging and calming the nervous system.
• Aloe Infused Bath Salts are mixed with Lavender, one scent that I use when I need to wind down and relax. Again within these salts there is a Mediterranean and Dead Sea salts which are important for both combating stress and fluid retention, slowing skin aging and calming the nervous system. Aloe which is used for skin rejuvenation, healing, improving blood circulation and has anti-inflammatory properties.

All of these products could be used to make one amazing package for a friend or loved one and equally they are such a lovely gift to receive independently of one another. If you find having a bath a calming and restful experience, then I hope I have given you some new products to think about trying.

Christmas Gift Guide - Perfumes

So we have had Mad Friday and Shopping Saturday, so hopefully by now you have got all of your Christmas presents all sorted right? No, me either.  One gift you can never go wrong with at Christmas time or at any other time, is perfume.  I love perfume and love the discovery of new fragrances and the chance to try ones which have gained cult status that I haven't yet comes across.

I am quite fussy about what perfume I will and won't wear.  Any perfume I try, has to be one I like from the first spritz, it is seldom rare that something will grow on me enough to like it and purchase it.  So here I have 6 perfumes that I absolutely love and am wearing right now, that would make an amazing gift.

YSL Black Opium - From the moment I tried this I wanted it within my collection. Not only does it have a lovely black and pink sparkly bottle, the scent which describes itself as "The hedonistic black coffee note of the original Black Opium scent is transformed into an ultra-luminous green coffee accord with a heart of Jasmine Tea on a sensual base of sensual Patchouli, white woods and musk" and it is just stunning. I find this is one of the longest lasting scents on my skin.  This perfume came into my life via a Klout Perk and is one that is readily available in places such as Boots.

L'Occitane Pamplemousse Rhubarb - This is a scent that captured my attention at a blogger event. It is quite unusual for a scent because it uses the zesty scent of Grapefruit combined with the the green, crisp scent of rhubarb which makes for a really lovely fresh scent which is unisex and smells great on both men and women. Anyone who reads my blog will know that I am a huge fan of L'occitane and if this sounds like a fragrance for you, then you can find it here along with an entire set which comprises of a shower gel, body lotion and soap.

Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules- Now if you want a scent that makes you go wow, want to ask someone in the street what on earth it is they are wearing (in a good way) or want people to ask you, then Molecule 01 is the scent for you. It isn't pretty to look at, it won't be the obvious choice of gift, but what it loses in looks and cuteness it makes up for in scent. The scent has a subtle, velvety, woody note which will meld with your natural pheromones, vanish, then re-surface after some time, making it totally individual and personalised to the wearer. You will rarely smell this fragrance on yourself, Molecule 01 perfume is more about the effect it has on others.

Lolita Lempecka Sweet - I was lucky enough to win this from a Twitter competition run by Escentual and the bottle which is shaped like a bright red apple, is distinctive and it captures your attention.  The scent is really addictive, it is sweet and fresh at the same time and is described as opening "with the tender and juicy flesh of a cherry, coated in the crisp sugar icing of a candy apple. In the heart, pure, bitter cocoa absolute flirts with angelica, before a seductive base of scandalous musk and warm, sensuous cashmeran envelops all".  

Jo Loves Pomelo - I have reviewed this scent right here and it is just an amazing scent.  Jo described it as being ‘Inspired by memories of summer holidays, fresh linen sheets and sparkling iced water, I surround myself with Pomelo wherever I go. To my joy, it’s the fragrance that makes people stop me in the street to ask what I’m wearing.’ The Pomelo is a large citrus fruit that looks and tastes similar to a grapefruit and when combined with Vetiver, which is quite earthy it creates an amazing scent. Put them together and you have this absolutely stunning fragrance which is citrussy sharp as well as being fresh and clean from the moment it leaves the bottle to a good 6-7 hours later when on the skin. 

Michael Kors White - I knew that I would never hate this scent purely because it has Jasmine as one of its heart notes and the full review can be found right here. I love the big chunky whiteness of the bottle and the scent itself is one of those where one spritz is enough to last the entire day. It is fresh when first spritzed with the Freesia being quite dominant but as it settles and you can detected Gardenia, which is a really lovely scent, this perfume becomes for me all about the tuberose (which is a flower) which is a lovely floral, sweet buttery scent.

As someone who loves perfume, I am more than looking forward to all of the new releases in 2016.

If you had to choose a perfume to receive for Christmas, what would it be?

Top 3 Tips When Buying Through Catalogues That You Need To Know!

Are you thinking about opening a new credit account with a UK catalogue? Before you go any further, there are a few things you need to know. Here are the top 3 tips when buying through catalogues and what you can do to save money on your purchases. 

 1. Find the best interest rates When you open a new credit account with a UK catalogue company, you can spread the cost of your order and pay for your purchase in affordable instalments; however, you will be charged interest on the balance. The amount of interest you pay will vary depending on the retailer so it's a good idea to shop around and find the best deals. A comparison website will enable you to compare different interest rates in one place, saving you time. Some retailers won't charge you any interest if you settle your balance within a certain time frame (for example, if you pay for your order within 28 days). Always read the terms and conditions and find out the interest rate - as well as any penalties for late payment - before you place your order.

 2. Find the best catalogue for you There is a wide range of catalogues to choose from, some of which specialise in particular products like clothing or electronics. Choose a catalogue that best suits you by looking at their products online or finding out more about the retailer. Companies like Jacamo specialise in clothing that you won't always find on the UK high street - including clothes in sizes up to 5x large. 

 3. Decide how you want to repay There are a number of different ways you can make repayments when you place an order with a catalogue company, including pay monthly, pay weekly, and buy now, pay later. Catalogues like Very and Simply Be provide a wide range of repayment options, including pay monthly - where you pay for your order over a period of time by making payments every month. Dial a TV is an example of a pay weekly catalogue, which might suit you better if you get your wages paid on a weekly basis.

Those are some tips.  Do you have any tips to share? Do you use a catalogue to purchase anything?

**Collaboration

My Watch Wishlist

Whenever I am asked to write a Christmas Wishlist so that friends and family can choose from it, I am stumped. I never know what I want or would like and I struggle to come up with anything, only this year there is one item I do quite fancy and it is one piece of jewellery that I have had many times and always end up forgetting to wear (oops), but I am drawn in, like a magpie, to shiny things.

So having had a look around and there are so many ladies watches to choose from and so many decisions to make - design of the face, strap or bracelet, the type of metal, the colour and so on, all before you even get to branding and make. 

From the thousands that I could choose from, ive managed to find 6 that I absolutely love and would be chuffed if Santa sent any one of them my way.

Olivia Burton Watches are pretty much stunning, there are so many to choose from in all different patterns and this one with the Molded Bee on it is literally stunning with the contrasting black strap and rose gold face, it is a steal at £130 and you can see it here.

I bought the Mister an Armani Watch a few years ago and until today have never thought to look at the female versions.  What I love about this watch is the face, again quite feminine and a bit blingy, I think it would look stunning and again a steal at £138 here.

If there is one watch to capture my attention then Skagen have done it.  Just how beautiful is this watch with its dark blue face and mesh strap?  I love that it gives off the minimilistic look as well as being quite classy and for just £135 here it is a bargain.

Thomas Sabo is a brand I really like, I am a huge fan of their bracelets and charms but have never ventured into the rest of their jewellery range.  This Glam and and Soul chronograph watch is quite contemporary looking but still manages to look like a ladies watch and though it is quit pricey at £275 here, I do like it a lot.

If you want something that is totally different to anything else, then Storm Ola from House of Fraser is that something different. With its very slim bracelet, no numbering and large face, for someone like me with very slim wrists, I think would be a perfect match and I just love it.  Storm Ola is priced at £119.99 here.

The final watch I love is by Kenneth Cole and it is the face which caught my attention. I absolutely adore the gorgeous display of exposed mechanics on this watch and again it features a stainless steel strap which is quite contemporary but I love again the contrast between the steel and the rose gold watch hands and numbering on the face. Priced at just £165 you can find it here.

As you can see, I am not a fan of gold, I dont feel it suits me and always tend to opt for Stainless Steel or Platinum when it comes to jewellery anyway as my body hates anything with nickel in it.

Have you got a watch on your wishlist?