Project 10 Pan - Round 2 - I'm Finished :)

Yes, it's official, I finished Project 10 Pan Round 2 on Christmas Day :) In an effort to cover my Rudolph esq nose on Christmas Day I ended up using a much heavier foundation than I'd planned and I ended up finishing my Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Foundation 30ml in Light.

I have to say initially I really liked this foundation. It gave quite a full coverage but it was great for bad skin days (you can read my review here). This foundation did tend to thicken over time though, so towards the end it did have a tendency to look quite thick and cakey if you didn't blend it properly.

That said I did quite like this, the colour worked really well on my skin, and it did give a smooth velvety finish, and it lasted for ages on my combination skin. To be perfectly honest I think this may have been discontinued which is a shame, if for I saw one for a bargain price though I would definitely consider picking one up, despite the zillions of foundations that I already own :).

So I've finished Project 10 Pan, again! I've finished quite a few base products this time round, and only a couple of eye, cheek, and lip products, which I am pretty happy with. Here's a full list of all the products that I've finished - if you click the products you'll be able to read the post about what I thought about each item.

10. Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Foundation - 30ml - Light

9. MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural - Light - 10g

8.Revlon Colour Burst Lipstick - 070 Soft Nude

7. ELF Studio Blush - Peachykeen - 2.75g

6. 2True Instant Waterproof Mascara - 1 Black - 7ml

5. MUA Make Up Academy Pressed Powder - Shade 1 - 5.7g

4. First Light Cosmetics Mineral Foundation - Breeze In The Beeches -10g

3. Boots No7 Skin Defence Loose Powder in 01 Translucent - 40g

2. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation SPF 15 - 100 Ivory - 30ml

1. MUA Professional Extreme Volume Mascara - Extreme Black - 7ml

I've found finishing the products easier this time around, but I have to be honest and say that I found it harder temptation wise this time. So many interesting products have came out between May when I started and now, I managed to stay strong though and I only received a couple of things as gifts this time round.

Although I learnt a lot of lessons from doing Project 10 Pan Round 1, pretty quickly I fell back into my old ways and bought make up like it was going out of fashion. This time round though I'm determined to do better and be more discerning in my make up purchasing. Since May time I've had a good chance to assess my rather substantial make up stash, and I've got rid of a lot of the things that I'm not likely to use, and I've started to be a little bit more experimental about the things that I do wear. From now on I'm definitely going to try and be more careful about the products that I do buy, and try only to buy products that are different to what I already own and that I actually will use, for example I must stop buying more and more  lipsticks and blushes in the same colour even if they do suit me. I'm also really going to try and shop my stash more, and use more of the products that I actually own rather than using the same things all the time, some of which I hope will provide me with some inspiration for blog post in 2013. I've done a little video about my experience which you see here.

So I've done it, it's finitio, over, I hope this time that I really can learn some lessons from my Project 10 Pan experience. Have you ever attempted Project 10 Pan before? Do you think you would get something out of the experience? Let me know in the comments x and thanks for all of your support xx

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Foodie Friday - Using Up Some Of Those Leftovers - Broccoli And Stilton Soup

I don't about you but we still have a fridge, cupboards and a freezer stopped full of food. We've barely made a dent in the Christmas food shop because for the past few days we've just picked on cheese, left overs, mince pies and chocolate. Enough is enough though and today I decided to use some of the leftovers (we still have 1/4 of a Stilton left and a mountain of veg)  to make a yummy and warming soup ideal for when, like me and more so Mummy Lou, your feeling under the weather. If you'd asked me 5 years ago if I'd ever have made this soup, your answer would have been a resounding no! I hated blue cheese with an absolute passion, the thought of it made me feel physically ill, and because it contains penicillin it always brought me out in a rash. Then on holiday in Majorca, I put some salad dressing on my plate thinking it was mayonnaise, it wasn't it was blue cheese dressing, I had no choice but to eat it as I'd covered my salad in it. Surprisingly though I really, really enjoyed it, the tangy, strong flavour just worked, and the rest is history, Stilton, Roquefort - bring it on! If your not a blue cheese fan don't despair this soup still works well with a strong flavoured cheese, such as a mature cheddar.

Broccoli and Stilton Soup

1 Large Onion - Roughly Chopped (I Used 3 Small Ones)

1 Large Potato - Peeled and Cubed
A Drizzle Of Olive Oil

1 Head Of Broccoli (Around 300g) - Roughly Chopped

1 Litre Vegetable Stock

100g Stilton, Or Any Other Blue Cheese Or Strong Cheddar Crumbled

A Dash Of Single Cream (Optional)
Salt and Pepper (Optional)

1. Add a drizzle of oil to a large pan (I'm using my trusty pressure cooker pan here), then add your chopped onion and cook for around 10 minutes till softened.

2. Meanwhile dice your potato again mine we quite small so I used 3 little ones. Add the potato to the onions, and cook for around 5 minutes.

3. Whilst your waiting for that, roughly chop the entire head of broccoli including the stem. If the stem is a bit tough or woody cut off the outside and slice into small pieces.

5. Add the chopped broccoli to the rest of the veg, mix in and cook for a few minutes.

6. Once that's in the pan make up the vegetable stock as per your packet instructions - I used Knorr Vegetable Stock Pots - each one makes 500ml of stock so I used two in a litre of boiling water.

7. Add your stock to your vegetables, you really want them to be covered, so I added a little bit of extra water - leave the pan at a simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes till the vegetables are softened.

8. Whilst the vegetables are cooking, crumble up your cheese, if your using a Stilton like mine don't be frightened to use some of the rind, it will melt down and it will add great flavour.

9. Once your veg is softened add the majority of your cheese, and mix in, and cook for a few minutes till it's started to melt.

10. Now the fun part - blending you can use a stick blender which is the quickest and safest option, but since mine broke I'm using a normal blender, please be careful if your using this method the soup will be hot. Blend to a smooth consistency :)

11. At this point I usually add a swirl of single cream - this is completely optional as this soup is rich enough but I normally have some in the fridge at this time of year so in it goes. Give it a good mix in x

12. Check the seasoning - I didn't need anything else in mine the cheese and the stock were more than enough flavour wise and serve. You can sprinkle your soup with a little bit of leftover Stilton if you like which will melt into the soup and make it extra yummy!

This soup will easily feed four with some leftovers. It looks really and tastes really professional, and it's a great way for using up leftover broccoli, or even cauliflower which also tastes great in this recipe. Soup is a great way of using up bits and bobs, and as it isn't an exact science then you don't need to worry about the amounts and weights and measures, you add what you have to feed the amount of people you have, for example my head of broccoli weighed 350g, it doesn't matter just add a bit more stock. I love this recipe it's a real winter warmer and it is so easy to make :) What do you think of this recipe? and what do you make with your left overs? let me know in the comments xx

A Little Christmas Outfit Of The Day And Some Festive Rambles

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas Day. I know I did, for me this year it was all about the family. Despite me and Mummy Lou being full of cold, my godparents came for Christmas dinner and we had a lovely day enjoying each others company, and just being. My godmother enjoyed her Christmas lunch and managed to eat the majority of it with only a tiny bit of trouble, she got tired towards the end of the day though but having her and my godfather there really made my Christmas special. She starts her radiotherapy tomorrow so obviously we all have our fingers tightly crossed for a good outcome xx

I'm not going to do a Christmas pressie post this year but I have to say I was well and truly spoilt as per usual. I got lots of fabulous make up products , including some fabulous palettes which I'm in love with (The Bare Escentuals Star Treatment Palette is amazing!!!!) , lots of drugstore things that I wanted (MUA Artists Palette, The VIVO Unprotected Palette), loads of smellies (French Connection, I Love Juiced, Hello Kitty, Fearne Cotton), lots of nail polishes (Nails Inc, MUA, Nubar, and Leighton Denny), some Skincare (EMMA HARDIE!!!) and some perfumes - I'm pleased to say I got quite a few things from my wishlist and I've marked them with GOT on my list so you can see what I got. I'll be featuring a lot of the things that I received on the blog over the next few months anyways whether in review posts, nails of the days or in my new palette series which is going to start next month x

I've done a little bit of online sales shopping (Boots, Beauty Bay and Next ) but I have to admit that I been pretty non plussed with a lot of this years sales - knocking £1.50 off something doesn't make it a bargain, and to be honest I'd rather spend my boxing day curled up in bed rather than braving the shops. I've got some Christmas money and vouchers still to spend but I think I'll hold off till the new stock comes in.

I took a few pics on Christmas Day mainly of my outfit so I hope you enjoy, no close ups I'm afraid my Rudolph impersonation is in full swing and I had to use an awful lot of foundation to cover up my red and flaky mouth and nose (more on that foundation use to come ;). We always make a point of dressing up on Christmas Day and this was what a wore, no footwear I wore slippers :) and no nails of the day, I was doing a lot of cooking and dish washing so I didn't bother x

What I Wore

Black Pleated Dress - David Emmanuel For Bon Marche

Gold Lurex Cardigan - La Redoute

Pretty Polly Curves Diamond Fashion Tights*

Gold Tone Spike Earrings - Claires 

Gold Tone Spike Necklace - ebay

Hope you had a fab Christmas and a quiet / hectic Boxing Day and I'll see you soon with another post xx

(*Provided for review purposes - read my review here  )

So Here It Is Merry Christmas

I'd just to like to wish all my followers both old and new a very Merry Christmas x If you don't celebrate Christmas then I hope you have a very enjoyable and peaceful break anyways x I've taken a couple of pics of my day - We've never stopped all day cleaning and cooking so now we're now having some mulled wine, and some canapes and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol :) These pics probably sum up Christmas Eve for me - the tree, and house all decorated and tidy, Christmas baking and a mountain of homemade gluten free mince pies, and of course new Christmas Pyjamas.

So I hope you have an amazing day tomorrow and that you get everything that you've wanted. Sometimes Christmas though isn't the happiest time for whatever reason, just because it's a special day it doesn't always mean that our problems go away so if your feeling alone or helpless this Christmas please look at this post from the lovely Kellie aka Big Fashionista which will hopefully point you in the right direction, and show you that somebody really does care xx

Merry Christmas To You All xx

It's Giveaway Time xx - CLOSED

I've been teasing you with this for a little while now, and thanks to my horrendous fluey cold it is a little later than I planned, but it's now time for the LouLouLand Christmas giveaway :)

I've purchased all the giveaway items myself so  there will only be one prize pack on my blog and one on my You Tube channel.

The prize on my blog giveaway will be a box full of little things I've picked up over the last few months, containing everything from jewellery, to make up, to nail items. Your prize package will include:

MUA Professional Eyeshadow Palette - Undressed
MUA Nail Constellations - Scorpio
MUA Fairy Dust Nails - Rose Dust
The Vintage Cosmetic Company Eyelash Curlers
Girls With Attitude Dazzling Crystals For Nails, Body, and Face
Eyeko Fat Eye Stick - Black
Boots 17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish - Pink Grapefruit
All About Face Lipgloss - Nearly Nude
All About Face Eyeshadow Pencil - Silver
All About Face Eyeshadow - Espresso
Glass Nail File
Chocolate Cookie Shaped Compact Mirror
Cute Gold Tone Mesh Bow Ring
Primark Opia Gold Tone Star Charm Necklace

 All you need to do to enter is be a follower of my blog, let me know how, and for an extra entry, follow me on twtter, and for another extra entry subscribe to my You Tube channel. This giveaway is open world wide, and if your under the age of 18 please make sure you have your parents permission to enter. This giveaway will close on 1st January 2013 x


a Rafflecopter giveaway



I also mentioned that I had a giveaway on my You Tube channel, so don't forget to check it out, for the chance to win some Hello Kitty make up, and some other bits x I've embedded the video here but you need to comment on the actual video on my channel to enter not on this post x



If you have any questions please leave me a comment on this post x and please only enter if you actually want to win the prize and you'll claim it if you win xx Good Luck xxx

A Festive Nails Of The Day Featuring Deborah Lippmann

Thanks to a few cases of extreme snappage and some horrid hang nails I haven't posted a nails of the day post for a little while now, so I thought I'd make it up to you and stick a one in before Christmas.

The colour I've worn for the majority of this week came in last years Christmas Glossybox - Deborah Lippmann - Razzle Dazzle.

To date this is the only Deborah Lippmann polish that I own, the price tag kind of puts me off a bit but boy is this pretty, a sort of almost cranberry coloured glitter suspended in a plum coloured jelly. It took of coats to achieve full coverage, and the finish is a bit rough so it does need a top coat, which I'm sure would prevent the super quick chippage that I experienced. I can excuse that though as it such a pretty festive shade x What do you think of Razzle Dazzle ?

Foodie Friday Christmas Special - Some Sweet Treat For The Festive Period

Hi Guys -we're on the final strait now aren't we and the big day is in sight. The fridge and the cupboards are filling up rapidly, the Asda man is due tomorrow, and today we filled a trolley in M&S. Yes there's more to the festive season than food but it plays a huge part, with family and friends bonding over steaming plates and food, and tempting nibbles everywhere. Today for my Foodie Friday post I'm going to share with you two of my favourite festive sweetie treats, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies, and Nigella Lawson's amazing Sweet and Salty Crunchy Nut Bars. Both of these treats are great for nibbling on and there great for offering to guests with a nice cuppa, or some hot chocolate.

This first recipe is a one that I adapted from one of my favourite home made cookie recipes Melting Moments, the basic dough is the same with the addition of white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries, and the omission of the porridge oats - this is sooooo easy to make definitely one to try with the little people.

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

4oz Softened Butter or Margarine 

3oz Caster Sugar 

1/2 Egg

1 tsp Vanilla Extract 

5oz Self Raising Flour (I'm using Doves Farm Gluten Free)

1oz Dried Cranberries

1oz White Chocolate Chips or White Chocolate Chopped Into Small Chunks

1. Pre heat your oven to about 180ºC and grease a few baking trays 

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy

3. Chop up your cranberries and chocolate if using - Add to the butter and sugar and mix in x

4. Beat the egg and the vanilla together and beat into the butter and sugar 

5. Add the flour and mix everything together till it's all combined, you may need a bit of extra egg, or milk if it's to dry or a bit of extra flour if it's too wet. You should have a soft dough but you should be able to mould it quite easily.

6. With slightly damp hands roll the mixture into small balls about the size of a walnut, pop them on a baking tray leaving a little bit of space between because they will spread. Then press them down a little bit with a fork - this leaves a nice design on the top :)

7. Pop them into the oven for 10-15 minutes till they go a light golden colour. They will still be quite soft so leave them on the baking tray and they will harden slightly as they cool.

8. Voila - slightly soft cookies, that taste yummy. These will keep for a day or so in an air tight tin but I guarantee they won't last that long.

OK they don't look posh or shop bought but they are homemade and taste gorgeous and that's what matters. I've doubled the recipe here which is fine to do. If you leave the cranberries and chocolate out these make a gorgeous vanilla cookie in their own right, you can also roll them in porridge oats, or coconut to make the traditional Melting Moment cookie

The next recipe I'm going to show you is from one of the Queens of cookery, Nigella Lawson. This recipe features in her fabulous book Kitchen. We have a huge tradition of sweet making at Christmas in my house, when I was small my mum used to make all sorts, home made coconut ice, peppermint creams, rum truffles and fudge were commonplace in my house at Christmas. We don't make anywhere near what we used but ever since the book first came out we've been making this extremely rich and moreish sweet treat at Christmas time. I won't be making these till Sunday (in order to have some left over Christmas) so my pics are actually from last year - when I failed to get the post up due to my dead hard drive x

Nigella Lawson's Sweet and Salty Crunch Nut Bars

300g Chocolate ( A Mix of Dark and Milk Or Whatever Your Prefer)

125g Unsalted Butter

3 x 15ml Tablespoons Golden Syrup

250g Salted Peanuts

4 x 40g Crunchie Bars

1. Fully line a swiss roll tin, cake tin or shallow roasting tin with greaseproof or foil. Alternatively use a disposable foil tray or like me a silcone baking pan

2.Break up the chocolate (I'm using 100g dark and 200g milk but any combination will work), and add to a saucepan. Also add the butter and the syrup and heat gently.

3.Meanwhile smash up your crunchie bars, I find it easier to do it whilst their still in the wrappers just whack them off the wall - great for getting rid of Christmas stress! - you want a mixture of small chunks and crumbs pieces so don't whack to hard.

4. Pop the smashed up crunchies into a mixing bowl and add the salted peanuts - give it a quick stir

5. Keep an eye on your chocolate mix and give it the occasional stir, you want in to be melted, and all combined.

6. When it's all melted mix it into the crunchie and nut mix, till it's all combined.

7. Pour it into your baking tray and smooth down the top

8. Leave it for an hour so in a cool place till it set,

9. Tip it out and cut it in to small squares! 

10. Voila eat and enjoy (keep this in a cool place as it does tend to melt and go a bit sticky)

All hail St. Nigella for introducing the world to this amazing piece of sweet, chocolatey, crunchie loveliness. This is amazing in my opinion and it's so easy to make. It goes very well alongside a nice cup of tea or coffee too. 

Both of these treat and my previous Christmas recipe (Nigella's Peanut Butter Cups) would be great for emergency gifts, or for a treat for yourself or even for Santa x Do you make any special recipes for Christmas? let me know in the comments xx