EXPERIENCE // FLYING WITH THE BLADES

Never in my life did I think I would see Guernsey from upside down .....2,000ft in the air. And let me tell you nothing compares to the adrenaline rush from being that high with one of the most experienced aerobatic display teams. 

Call me courageous or simply foolish but I eagerly jumped at the chance to fly with The Blades. 

It all started with a pre-flight briefing at the ASG Hangar with pilot Andy Evans, who has clocked more than 5,500 flying hours over seven years. 

He assured us that we would be in good hands and could go as wild or gentle as we liked once we had hit the skies. 

After the briefing I climbed into a black one-piece jumpsuit with matching shades - not quite the Top Gun look I was after but at that point I did feel the need... the need for speed. 

Having watched the Battle of Britain air display every year my stomach churned as I marched closer to the four orange aircrafts lined up on the hangar. 

I was tagged with the leader of The Blades, Mark 'Cutty' Cutmore, who helped me put on a life jacket and parachute just in case of an emergency evacuation - a great way to ease my nerves. 

As I hopped into the front seat of the seven-metre plane, Mark strapped me in, tight enough so I felt like I was part of the equipment. 

I was also given a sick bag for any weak moments I might have. 

The engine fired up and off we went along the runway and headed for the heavens. 

Seeing the island so clearly from inside the cockpit was literally one of the best views I have ever seen. 

My nerves had been drawn out of me by gravity and I was raring to go. 

Mark was in constant contact with me via the radio headsets and within what felt like only a minute in the air, he asked if I was ready for the big loop. 

My respond: hell yeah. 

Up and over we went and while some may compare it to being in a washing machine it was one of the most bizarre and yet best experiences of my life and one I would do over and over again. 

Hearing my enthusiasm, Mark then went on to perform more manoeuvres, including wing overs, aileron rolls, a lomcevak - also known as a headache/hangover more - and my personal favourite, a stall turn. 

The inverted roll also meant I got to see all 25 square miles of the island upside down and it is something I will never forget. 

We joined up with the other three aircrafts over the south coast and headed home. 

I had done it. 

And thankfully I didn't need the paper bag. 

As published in the Guernsey Press

Have any of you guys done this before? If so, I want to hear about it. 

Lots of love N x

REVIEW // PHIL SMITH DRYER AND PRODUCTS

Hey guys, so I recently signed up to a yearly subscription of Cosmopolitan magazine for a bargain price of £15 - each monthly magazine cost £3.20. 

I have been a reader of the UK women's magazine for years now and every time I read it I would always ignore the subscription offers and carry on paying for it every month. 

However, this all changed when I saw a hairdryer was up for grabs, as mine old one kept over heating and would switch off. 

It was so easy to sign up on Quality Magazine and within no time the postman soon delivered my magazine. 

If anyone is wondering whether they should subscribe then I would definitely recommend it. Not only do you get great value for money but it's great getting your face magazine right to your door step. 

I know Cosmopolitan do great subscription deals monthly so it's always worth looking out for something you fancy. 

The hairdryer came with a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser. 

I also received a 250ml ultimate glossing shampoo and conditioner and 125ml heat defence spray. 

Now I have fairly fine hair and I normally stick to volumising products, so I was a bit unsure of using the shampoo and conditioner. 

I must admit it did leave my hair really shiny and healthy looking but on the downside as I guessed it did nothing to boost my roots and I ended up having to back comb my hair...big time. 

The heat defence spray had a lovely smell to it and I always like to try and protect my hair so I loved using that product. 

Overall for the hairdryer, I don't have a bad word to say about it. Like most, it has three heat settings and three power settings as well as a cooler button. 

FAB freebies for subscribing to Cosmopolitan :)

Lots of love N x

REVIEW // MAC LIPSTICKS

Hey guys, so in the past year or so I have started to build my collection of Mac make up and with that comes Mac lipsticks. Personally I love the chic, simple design of the cases and for some reason I get a kick out of seeing them all lined up in my make up drawer. If you live in the Channel Islands, like I do where there are no Mac branches, then you can buy Mac lipsticks from House of Fraser or Debenhams. 

I think the quality of the lipsticks are fantastic, they last a long time and it's great that they come in so many different finishes. I like to experiment with different colours on nights out but normally stick to neutrals and pinks for work.  

Girls About Town 

This is one of Mac's permanent collection of Amplified and is one of the most raved about colours I see on blogs. Amplified is described by the beauty brand as ultra-creamy, quietly shiny and colour packed - and that it is!

It is incredibly moisturising and glides on the lips so smoothly. The darkened intense fuchsia with blue undertones means its great for making your teeth look pearly white too. 

I think this is definitely my go-to lipstick when I want to add a pop up colour to an outfit and to keep it bold I would advise to reapply. 

Ravishing

Mac calls this a clean light peach coral and I would agree. The lipstick is a cream sheen, so like Girl About Town it is very creamy, slightly shiny, glides smoothly on the lips and packs some colour. I noticed this lipstick lasted around 2-3 hours before I needed to reapply. 

I think this colour works really well when you have a tan and is great for making you feel summery. It made my face look fresh and gave it a pop of colour when I wore it with minimal eye make-up. 

I have worn this to work but I tend to wear it for a night out, especially when I am wearing peachy/coral clothes. 

I bought this lipstick before my holiday in Gatwick airport. The assistant pointed it out as a great colour for holidays and because I didn't have anything in my lipstick collection which is similar, I thought why not. 

Pink Nouveau 

This is one of my newest lipsticks and I love it! It is the perfect blue toned bright pink  and has even been described as a Barbie pink. 

The lipstick is a satin finish, so it is semi-matte but can be a little drying on the lips. To reduce this I would advise exfoliating the lips first with a little a bit of moisturiser and lightly scrubbing with a spare toothbrush. It does however have an intense colour and I find the more you apply the stronger the colour becomes. 

I think it can work very well on most skin tones but if you are not comfortable wearing this alone try adding a lipgloss so that it does not stand out too much. 

Impassioned

Impassioned comes in an amplified finish, which are known for their long wear, high pigmentation and for being extremely moisturising. I would say this colour comes close to Girl About Town when it comes to bold. 

I would describe the colour as a bright slight neon pink with a tint of colour.  It is so pigmented so you literally need just one swipe to get the true colour. I found it also last an incredibly long time and because it is so bright it does leave a stain. 

You definitely want to keep the rest of your make-up low key when wearing this because of its strong colour, but it adds brightness to any look. Another key lipstick for the summer!

Creme Cup

This was the first Mac lipstick I bought and as you can tell it is the most used. It is a pale nude pink colour that can be used everyday everywhere - I always wear it for work. It works very well with a bold smokey eye and I think makes lips look luscious. 

The creme sheen finish is probably my favourite because they are well pigmented and have a discreet glossy finish but without being too much. 

I found it to be very creamy and lasted for at least three hours before I needed to reapply. I think if anybody is looking to purchase their first Mac lipstick then I would definitely recommend Creme Cup. I would say it suits most skin tones - you literally cannot go wrong with this. 

I will definitely be re-purchasing this soon. 

Viva Glam V

This is one of those lipsticks when you want something easy and effortless on the lips - it is the perfect nude/pink colour and has a beautiful finish. 

As a lustre it has a slight sheer with a wet look and makes the lips so soft and smooth. It is ultra moisturising and just glides on. It  also has a very shiny finish and looks shimmery like a pearl. 

I wear this lipstick a lot for work and think it would suit all skin tones. I also found out that since Viva Glam V came out in 2004, the proceeds from its sale and those of other Mac Viva Glam lipsticks have gone to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. 

A great lippy for first time buyers too - I would definitely recommend. 

For more information visit Mac website here. 

What do you think of these colours and which one is your favourite?

Can you recommend a colour for me to buy next?

Lots of love N x

New Purchase // Michael Kors Jet Set Top-Zip Saffiano Tote

As soon as I saw this bag on a recent holiday in Fuerteventura, I knew I had to buy it! I love the colour the size and the amount of pockets inside - you can never have too many compartments to put things in. 

This is my first purchase from Michael Kors and as attempting as it was to get the matching purse I didn't think my bank account would appreciate it. 

I think it is a great bag for the summer and would be perfect for a shopping trip, a meal, meeting up with friends or work. 

I bought it from The Mint Company for 219 euros - roughly £186. Inside it also had a small card to tell me about the leather and how to look after it, which I found very useful. 

The bag is in the colour Tangerine and is one of the smaller versions in the Jet Set group.

It is made of saffiano leather and also has an MK logo circle charm. It is roughly 9"H x 14"W x 0.5"D. It has a top zip and also if the straps are too long or short you can adjust them. It also has a sturdy bottom and as you can see from the picture below it has a beautiful lining with the initials MK.  The tote bag comes in a range of colours but I think this orange will brighten up any outfit. 

Inside as you can see it has three open pockets, one zip pocket, a pocket for your mobile phone and a clasp which I use for my keys. I have been able to fit my laptop, notepads and make-up essentials in it - it really is the perfect size. 

For more information and to see the Michael Kors collection click here. 

Have you bought a new bag recently or have you purchased a Michael Kors bag?

What do you think of this one?

Lots of Love N x

Review// Glossybox June

Hi everyone, so I recently received the June Glossybox, which this month featured around summer looks. Although it hasn't really been much of a summer yet this month's products have really got me excited for when the sun eventually stays out for good. 



A nice little surprise this month was receiving six products instead of five - an extra bonus :) However, the only downfall was that I got hair products for curly hair, despite putting on my profile I have straight hair. I am interested to see what effects it will have on my hair though.

Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse OR

I love the smell, feel and look of this product. It has shimmering gold particles in it and when rubbed into the skin it gives a really nice summer finish. 

It is a multi-purpose dry oil so you can use it all over your body, hair and even face. I will probably rub it on my arms and decollette for a night out but I cannot wait to use it all over my body on holiday. Compared to the brand's normal oil, this option is great for the summer months. 

Full product size 100ml is £34.00 and available here. 

Figs and Rouge Coco Rose - Full size

This calls itself a lip balm, but according to Glossybox it can also be used on cuticles, the skin and even on eyelids to add some sheen. The packaging allows you to apply without using your fingertips, so great if you are at a festival this summer and have dirty hands. 

I love the smell and texture of the product and have now put it on my desk at work. I think the packaging is extra cute too.

Full size 12.5ml is £5.00 and available here. 

Monu Professional Skincare - Hydrating Moisturiser

It seems this moisturiser has it all - with UVA and UVB protection against the sun's damage, vitamin e and supposedly soft focus technology that helps to blur the imperfections and correct skin tone. 

I have yet to try this product but having used previous Monu products in the past I am sure it will not disappoint. 

It also has no strong smell which I always prefer in a moisturiser. 

Full size 50ml priced at £29.95 and available here. 

Q - Body Spray - Full size

I think the size of this body spray is great to be able to just pop in your bag and grab it whenever you need to freshen up. Personally I always carry around a miniature perfume with me but I think I will swap this for the Q body spray and give it a go. 

The smell is lovely and feminine and not too strong. On the bottle it says it has floral top notes and warm, sensual base notes that lasts all day. 

This is the first time I have received a body spray in a Glossybox so I am very excited to try it out. 

Full size 100ml is £2.29 and available here. 

Paul Mitchell Curls

I was given a Full Circle Leave-in Treatment and Ultimate Wave. I love the Paul Mitchell brand so look forward to trying this out. 

As I said earlier I do not have curly hair, in fact I have really straight hair that constantly needs volumising, but I'm wondering if this might do the trick. 

The products say they are a dynamic duo that will give you a tousled carefree summer look in no time. 

Full size treatment 200ml is £14.95 and the full size wave 150ml is £11.95. 

To find your nearest retailer click here. 

I have been signed up to Glossybox for more than a year now and I can honestly say it is brilliant. I always get excited when my dad brings it home from the post office and even though I am not the biggest fan of all the products it has opened me up to a lot more brands that I would not have tried previously. 

For more information and to subscribe visit www.glossybox.co.uk

Did you get this month's Glossybox? What did you think of it and what products did you get?

Lots of Love, N x