Hygge Haul ft. Zaful

Cosy and comfy clothes are basically all I buy as I work from home and I want to be dressed but I also want to wear comfy clothes too so loungewear, leggings and jumpers are perfect. I need more ASAP as it is getting super chilly in Manchester recently and I've been wearing these items non-stop since I received them a couple of weeks ago from the lovely people at Zaful.

*Zaful High Neck Sweater ($19.49, SALE)

I pretty much live in leggings and dresses or longline jumpers as they are so comfy especially at this time of the year when it's cold and grey outside and you just want to be warm and cosy. I'm petite so I can get away with wearing longline jumpers and sweaters as dresses with leggings and this one is perfect. I love the colour (I love anything grey, as you'll see from this mini haul...everything is grey) and I love the super thick and cosy material. I love the high neck, it's high but not so high that I feel like a snowman with no neck at all. I have been wearing it constantly and I'm really happy with it; I have a size M which is perfect for me and I'm a UK size 10.

*Zaful Knit Hat ($6.01)

I have been looking for a cute beanie with a pom pom for so long and I may have found the perfect one. I hate massive pom poms but this one is great and obviously I love the colour. The material is stretchy, thick and cosy so it will keep you warm which is definitely needed now (hopefully it won't snow!). I love the simple design, the fit and the size - you can go wrong and the price is great! If you don't like the grey *then what's wrong with you*, they do have other colour options to choose from instead.

 *Zaful Hooded Fleece Coat ($21.99, SALE)

I have a thing for short dressing gowns, they are so much comfier and cosier than the full length ones which I just feel restricted in. I have a similar one to this from Marks and Spencers but it is lighter grey and it definitely isn't as soft or as warm as this one. It's honestly the softest and cosiest short dressing gown (or house coat if you call them that) I've ever owned. I can be wearing it for only a couple of minutes and I'll be so toasty warm, it's amazing! I love that it has a hood and pockets too; I'm so tempted to wear it in the car as it's freezing to drive and the heating doesn't come on for a while. Definitely recommend!

Overall, I couldn't be happier with all three cosy, hygge inspired items from Zaful. I know online stores, particularly ones that are abroad can be a little underwhelming when it comes to quality but the quality of all the items I've had over the past few months from Zaful have been genuinely fantastic! I am currently wearing the fleece coat and I couldn't be warmer or cosier! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

What do you think of my mini Zaful haul? Have you bought anything from Zaful? 

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Direct Cosmetics Haul

I have been lucky enough to work with Direct Cosmetics already so I was super excited when an email came into my inbox from them; I was very kindly sent a few of their products that I chose and I am really impressed with all of them! Here's my mini Direct Cosmetics haul:

*Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara in Black

I've tried quite a few Maybelline mascaras but I've never tried a dual/two part mascara like this before. Excuse the photograph above, while I love it as it's really clear thanks to my new and amazing Canon 750D camera but I forgot to do my brows! Don't you think that brows to weird without pencil, gel or pomade? The mascara applies like a dream, it leaves my lashes black, defined and volumised to an extent; it's one of the best mascaras I've tried recently. I usually don't apply mascara to my lower lashes but as it has a wand for the lower lashes, I had to give it a give and I love it!

*Loreal Gel Intenza Eyeliner in 02 Golden Black 

I haven't tried any Loreal eyeliners which is my I wanted to try this product; it is a unique shade as it's a black that contains micro golden shimmer! I didn't think the shimmer would show up when applied but it does in good lightning and looks so pretty - it would be perfect for the festive season. The only other gel liner I've tried is the Clinique brush on gel liner and in comparison this one isn't as pigmented but it is smoother, less dry and its a little easier to apply even with the odd lip brush that comes with it.

*Cargo Cosmetics Vintage Escape Eye Palette

I love a good eyeshadow palette, I have so many but I can never turn one down #BloggerProblems. The shades in this palette are so autumnal, it's gorgeous! I'm not a massive fan of the packaging design, it's a brown faux leather but the shade inside are perfect, buttery smooth, pigmented and easy to blend. Here's a break down of all the shades:

- Harvest Moon: Creamy off white
- Cuddle: Shimmery pink beige
- Frolic: Deep, rich metallic brown
- Cinnamon: Metallic warm bronze
- Twigs: Metallic navy
- Black Crow: Matte black
- Crisp: Shimmery golden beige
- Hot Cocoa: Matte warm brown
- Autumn: Matte orange tan
- Withered Leaves: Metallic olive green
- Rustic: Warm shimmery brown with warm orange undertones
- Chestnut: Matte cool toned dark brown

I've been using the palette constantly, I love all of the shades although I do wear the matte shades the most on a day to day basis; it's difficult to choose just a few shades but I have been using Harvest Moon, Cuddle, Hot Cocoa and Crisp the most recently but they are all so gorgeous and sumptuous! The palette comes with a double ended brush with an angled liner brush on one end which is actually perfect for my brow pomade and a soft, fluffy blending brush on the other.

*Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Replenishing Hand Cream 

I have the body polish, body lotion and shower gel from this range and I'm so glad to have the matching hand cream too as the scent is just heavenly - it is a musky, floral and comforting scent. The hand cream is perfect as I have very dry hands due to eczema and it doesn't irritate my skin and it keeps my hands smooth and moisturised for a while! I'd definitely recommend it and it's a great price on Direct Cosmetics.

*Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen in Smoke

I have wanted to try a nail polish pen for ages but I thought that they'd be really messy and gimmicky but I'm actually kind of impressed with this one. The shade is '22 Smoke' which is a gorgeous mauve grey shade so it's a perfect Heather shade. It's surprisingly quick and easy to apply, it is smooth and quick to dry although it can be a bit patchy so at least two coats are needed. I definitely need to try more nail polish pens!

Have you tried any of these products or brands? Have you bought anything from Direct Cosmetics? 

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World Book Day: Massive Book Haul

Today is world book day, yay! So today's post is my latest book haul and I did go a little overboard but they were all really cheap from The Works which is my new favourite shop so I don't feel too guilty. I could spend all day on their website and spend a lot of money so I need to learn to restrain myself.

Also I asked on twitter a couple of times, if anyone would be interested in book reviews and out of a selection of new topics, what would anyone be most interested in and the winner was book reviews both times! So stay tuned for book related content at least once or twice a month on my blog from now on.

- The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North: I have been obsessed with book youtubers recently and this book has been mentioned a lot so when it was only £4 for the hardcover edition on The Works website last week, I had to buy it!

- The Cleft by Doris Lessing: This book sounds really odd and unusual but it is a hardcover and it was only £2 which for a Nobel prize winning hardcover book is amazing!

- The Martian by Andy Weir: I bought this as it was a recommendation from Regan from Peruse Project (she's my new favourite youtuber) and she said it was really funny. It has been made into a film last year which actually didn't really interest me but I've heard nothing but great things about the book.

- The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson: This book has been on my radar for a couple of years and I think I did read a free sample chapter of it on my Kindle app ages ago but I wanted to get a physical copy as it was only £2 (and it was part of a 6 books for £10 offer - so I had to buy six books, obviously...and then some).

- The Haunted Season by G. M. Malliet: Mystery and crime books seem to be my go to recently (I've been reading The Cuckoos Calling and loving it) so I also bought this one which seems like a much lighter read and the cover is so cute.

- The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes: To be honest I was attracted to this book purely because of the cover, while scrolling online; however the story sounds interesting and a bit creepy and it is a really short book.

- A Cold Day For Murder by Dana Stabenow: This book was reduced from £7.99 to only £1 on The Works and then only 75P after I found a discount code online *gotta love discount codes* so I couldn't not get it. The story does intrigue me though as it is set in Alaska and I haven't read anything set in Alaska before.

- Dead Of Winter by Lee Weeks: Yet another £2 book that was part of the 6 for £10 offer which is still going online! And also another crime related book - I know, I have a problem. If you have read any of these, let me know what you thought in the comments below.

- Stranded by Val Mcdermid: I haven't read any short stories since secondary school so I'm excited to read this collection of short stories which involve crime, murder and revenge are are described as chilling. Excited.

- Savage Magic by Lloyd Shepherd: When it comes to books, tv or film, anything with magic or mystery in it and I am instantly wanting to know more (although not cheesy magic or sci-fi). The book is set in the 1800s which is another big plus for me!

- Tymes End by B.R. Collins: This is the only book in the haul that isn't from The Works, this one is from Amazon as I have a trial of Amazon prime which is doing what it was designed for - making me spend more money. The book sound a tiny bit similar to the plot of the new film Crimson Peak which I've wanted to watch since it was released last year so this will be the next book I read.

Do you own any of these books? What books do you have on your wish list? Any recommendations of crime, mystery or magic books? 

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Mini Body Shop Haul!

I made a small order on The Body Shop website, as they are always having sales on...on with the haul!

Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

I have been wanting to try this face mask for a while as oats are really soothing for sensitive skin - as I have a tiny bit of eczema (which has nearly gone because of a really amazing non steroid prescription cream). I purchased this product a few days ago from www.thebodyshop.co.uk for just over £5! Body Shop are currently having a code offer which is why I purchased this mask for a really good price. 

Moringa Beautifying Oil

This oil is new from the body shop, it was only released a couple of weeks ago, and this oil comes in various scents. The Moringa scent is my favourite from the Body Shop but in this oil form the Morniga scent is not very strong at all, which is a bit disappointing. I like this use this product in my hair and on my skin after a shower. Like the face mask I bought this for just over £5 and it is currently priced at: £6.75 (£9 full price). 

Passion Fruit Body Butter

This is a gorgeous body butter, it is not as nice as the Morniga body butter, but it is a really nice body moisturiser. The scent is divine and the body butter applies so smoothly, quickly and easily - it absorbs really quite quickly too so my skin does not feel greasy. I purchased this for £5 in a body shop sale a couple of months ago. 

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