My Christmas Haul and Beauty pressies

Happy Holidays everyone!  I had a chance to spend Christmas day doing some much needed retail therapy.  In between eating ridiculous amounts of food, I was doing nothing else but online shopping. I was very happy about this and grabbed a few highly sought after items for 50% off of rrp.  I could have bought so much this year, but I'm restraining myself from impulse buys (it's so very hard lol).

My first purchase was the Comet Boots by Acne on the Harrod's Boxing Day Sale which started a day early. I am praying that these fit me.  These are the type of boots that you have for life and at 50% off RRP, I just had to have them. 

 

The next impulse buy was the Guerlain Terra Nerolia highlight palette that I have given up ever owning. It appeared for 50% off on Debenhams, and I just knew I had to grab it. Look at that beautiful craftsmanship and I just know this is the kind of shimmer that my winter face just needs!

I also wanted to share some of the beauty products that my co-workers have bought me as well. They know me so well :)

I received:
The Penahligon's  Ladies Fragrance Collection Set
Clarins Eau des Jardins Smoothing Body Cream
MAC polish in Muscle Tone
Escada Cherry In The Air perfume
Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne Sample

I will most definitely do a blog review on the Penhaligon's fragrance sample next. I couldn't believe they got me this beautiful set.  What more could a perfume addict want?

The MAC polish is a lovely nude colour that I am actually going to wear today.  Cherry in the Air is a very light and sweet fragrance. I will probably use it as a room freshener more so than a fragrance.  The Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin is exactly the type of zesty unique scent that I need during these cold winter days.  The Clarins body cream is a very light gel like cream and I'm looking forward to taking this with me on my cruise to use :)

So these are the little pressies that I treated myself and was treated to this Christmas.  I was involved in several swaps online this year. It was a lot of fun and a great way to try new products.  I also spent most of my Christmas money at Lush and did a major hoard (which I didn't put on this post as I'm going to re-gift most of it anyways). I realize I need to calm down and step back in the new year and sort out my Lush stash! haha.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and please share with me your favourite purchases and gifts of Christmas 2013.

Amsterdam Trip & Beauty Shopping

About a month ago, I went to Amsterdam on a work trip and was able to spend sometime in the city by myself.  It was odd being in a city alone, despite having co-workers around. On one hand, I felt I should mingle, but on the other hand, I wanted to explore a city on my own.  I have never done that before, so this was a perfect chance for me to do so.

Being selfish about wanting to go to the shops I wanted to go to and see the museums that I wanted to go to, I ventured out by myself on a cold winters day.  Amsterdam was very easy to walk around. 

L-R: Canals, Rembrandt museum, view from my hotel windows, an amazing pastry I bought at a local stop one late night yum

, and artifacts that Rembrandt collected himself

My favourite part of Amsterdam happened to be the Rembrandt Museum.  The best part was the etching workshop that I did at the Rembrandt museum.  There was something very interesting and unique about doing etchings in the same place where he did his etchings. What a genius! Oh and the canals.  I know...so tourist-y, but that's what I was that day. I walked around eating from local shops.  I didn't get photos of the vintage shops that I went into, but there were so many.  Unfortunately, I thought the prices were too high for what they were so I ended up buying only some Dutch chocolates and a Koh Crystal Nail File.

I've heard so much about Koh nail polish and a few years ago I was obsessed about getting some (this was of course when I still lived in America).  When I went into Douglas, the Koh display was so dusty and not cleaned and it looked as cheap as some of the drugstore displays.  I didn't get any polishes.  They were beautiful, but it just wasn't worth the hefty price tag.

Crystal Nail File from Koh

Still very expensive at 27 euros, but I realised that it is something that I will use constantly that isn't a tacky souvenirs that every tourist gets.  The quality the crystal file is amazing.  It is heavy, and beautifully made; however, it makes an awful noise on my nails that reminds me of when someone runs their nails on a chalkboard.  The key is to file slowly and take your time.  For that reason, I give this a 7 out of 10.  I didn't realise that a crystal nail file would make that noise on my nails. If I would have known, I wouldn't have purchased this, but at least it's a beautiful item for me to have and use and will always remind me of my trip to Amsterdam.