New York: Ground Zero

While in New York we also visited Ground Zero the site where the twin towers used to stand.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this and hadn't seen any photos of what the memorial looked like. When we got there I was stuck for words, they have made the site where the buildings used to be into one giant water feature with all the victims names carved around the edge.

The day we visited was sunny there wasn't a cloud in the sky, I was struck by how haunting the area felt. Something so serene in the hustle and bustle of the financial district.
It moved me to the point of near tears a feeling I will never forget! I certainly didn't expect to be as affected by the site as I was.

We took a few photos but overall just stared at the memorial, time felt like it had stopped in this one section of the district.

The memorial is such a strong symbol taking something that was such a tragic and horrific event and turning the area into something that is hauntingly beautiful. While at the same time making sure that what happened is not forgotten and that it is a tribute to all those innocent people who were taken far too soon.

It humbled me in a way I didn't expect and made me thankful for all the small things I take for granted.
I was about 8 when 9/11 happened and being so young did not grasp the enormity or reality of what had happened and this out everything into perspective for me.

Have any of you visited the memorial? How did it make you feel?

New York: The Natural History Museum

Another place we visited while in New York was the Natural History Museum. It automatically makes you think of the film Night at the Museum!

We walked to it through central park and the entrance is massive with dinosur skeletons on display. It all looked so grand and elegant and seemed to dwarf some of the museum's in England.

We tried to look at everything go through all the floors, see all the displays. The main attractions for me were the rooms dedicated to Space and of course the dinosaurs. The space rooms I found to be the most interactive with displays you can move and touch. You could also see what your weight would be on for example the moon or a red giant star.

Most of the other displays we saw were dedicated to different types of animals, the detail was absolutely stunning! They all looked so realistic, the craft, time and effort that has gone into every inch of each display is amazing and something you do not see often!

The floor dedicated to the dinosaurs was surreal something you don't see often and you don't realise the scale of these skeletons and how magnificent they look. An ode to a different time!

Below are some of the photos I took it was hard to narrow it down to just a few!

Sephora Makeup Haul

I recently went to New York City for a girls holiday. This meant seeing sights, going out for food and of course shopping!

We were all very excited about Sephora as we don't have any stores currently in the UK. 

I saved up my pennies knowing this would be the one shop I would go a tad crazy in! So i thought I would share with you all my haul:

The 'Tartlette in Bloom Palette' from Tarte Cosmetics.

This palette is so stunning! I avoided it to begin with as I own far too much eyeshadow, but it was calling to me and eventually I could not resist.

The shadows are mostly matte with a few shimmers, they are all so creamy, pigmented and easy to use.

My current favourites are:

Rebel (Matte) - A dusty rose shade

Leader (Matte) - A aubergine shade (great alternative crease colour.)

Firecracker (shimmer) - This is an coral/pink shimmer shade ever so pretty!

The 'Shade and Light Palette' from Kat Von D Beauty. I knew I wanted this before we had even arrived. Contouring is something I want to get into and this palette has had great reviews!

The top row are your highlighting shades and the bottom row consists of the sculpting shades.

I have really pale skin and these powders go really well with my skin tone! When can we have Kat Von D cosmetics in the UK!? 

Also from Kat Von D beauty I got this mini ink liner trio it comes with three different colours:

- Trooper (Black)

- Baudelaire (a Navy Blue)

- Hemingway (Brown)

I swatched the black liner on my hand in store and it stayed on there for at least 3 days! I was a sucker for the navy blue shade so this mini kit was ideal!

The final purchase from Kat Von D beauty was the 'Everlasting Liquid Lipstick' in the shade 'Lolita II' this shade is such a pretty coral/nude and it really does last!

Next up from NARS was a blush in the shade 'orgasm' I've heard so much hype around this blush and that it suits almost everybody so into my basket it went.

All the products below were purchased on advice from the person that served me in Sephora. I was looking for a foundation with a fuller coverage that would be fine on my dry skin. From this conversation I ended up with two primers, a foundation and  a powder.

The two primers I got were both from Smashbox one was the 'Primer Water' and the other the 'Primer Oil'. The oil I would use underneath the foundation as it would help with my dry skin and not cause breakouts and the primer water would be used as a setting spray of sorts.

Next the Foundation which I got from Make Up Forever HD. I have only tried this on in store so far, I can't bring myself to use it just yet as it's so new! I will give you all an update of whether it is worth a purchase.

Finally the only product I got from the Sephora range was this powder in clair/light which I am supposed to use on top of the foundation to complete the look.

So there you have my Sephora haul, as you can see I went a tad crazy but it was all so pretty!

Have you been to Sephora before? What were your favourite products?

What would you buy if we had Sephora in the UK?

Thanks for Reading!!

New York: The Empire State Building

 The Empire State Building was at the top of my list of things to see when I visited New York. If not for the countless movies it has been in, for that scene in Gossip Girl where Chuck waits for Blair at the top to declare his love (I'm a big Gossip Girl fan.)

On the first day we were in New York we decided to go to the top of the Empire State at night. It's open till 2am and costs $32.

It wasn't a far walk from our hotel and it was very easy to find from Times Square. I had been feeling unwell from the moment we arrived and I felt I could have gone back to the hotel room for the evening.

As it was the one thing I was determined to see I persevered and forced myself to the top. I am glad that I did as if I had let it get the better of me I would have missed out on some beautiful views.

I would recommend going up the building at night as you get a fantastic view of the city all lit up- it is absolutely stunning! 

There is an outside viewing platform and an inside one, the best photos come from the outside platform- be warned though it is very windy up there!

We tried and tried to get pictures on the outside platform but it was so windy it was practically impossible. This might have been because it was February and particularly colder than later in the year maybe.

This was my favourite sight of the holiday I could have stayed up there looking at the views all evening! 

It started the holiday of with a bit of magic and glamour and I could not think of a better beginning to our New York adventure.

I don't think I really need to say it but if you're heading to New York soon this is a must see.

Thanks for Reading!!

Random Fiction

He was like fire

Entrancing to the eye

Painful to the touch

It began on a normal Saturday morning, there was nothing infinitely special about it other than it was the beginning of March and a light film of snow covered the ground.
It was colder than usual for the time of year because of this she had headed to the nearest coffee shop to get her morning coffee.
That's where she had first seen him, they'd caught each others gaze, it was like current passing between them charged and compelling hard to resist.

They saw each other there every Saturday morning it began as gazes across the shop, drawn out glances meant with intention but coming to nothing, until the day he sat down next to her. Then everything changed.

The romance was whirlwind Dates, lazy mornings together, hand holding, shopping, holidays all spent together.

They were infatuated! It was the fairytale romance you see in the movies! The thing is no one ever talks about what happens after the movie ends.

The problem with the brightest of fires is that they burn out the fastest.

That's when the fairytale ends and the real story begins.

Flamingo Candles: The Melt Crowd Valentines Themed February Box

For February The Melt Crowd Box is Valentines themed! For those of you who don't know the Melt crowd is a monthly subscription box from Flamingo Candles.

You spend ten pounds and receive 8 different scent melts each month.

As this was my 6th month of being subscribed and because of this I received an extra scent Melt in my box.

Flamingo Candles treat their customers well!