Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Presents
25th Birthday Haul
1On Valentine’s Day I turned 25, and though I felt unwell (for the third birthday in a row!), I had a great day. Charles treated me to a lovely breakfast in bed of Belgian chocolate waffles, hot tea, and fresh orange juice. We then went for a long walk around Bradgate Park with my family, and had lunch at a tea room, and in the evening we had a pizza party with amazing chocolate birthday cake!
I was lucky enough to receive lots of cards, a few Highcross and Amazon vouchers from friends and family, and some gorgeous gifts, so I thought I’d do a little haul post to show you some of what I got.
My mum gifted me this watch, and it’s absolutely stunning. I love the marcasite detail and I’ve been wearing it every day since I got it.
My two main presents from Charles were these Kate Bush themed necklaces. The first one is from her official website, and features lyrics from one of my favourite songs, Cloudbusting. I actually saw this when I went to see Kate in London last year, but couldn’t afford it at the time. I really wasn’t expecting to get it for my birthday, so was so happy when I opened it! The second necklace is made of silver and was personalised just for me. I love it.
Charles also got me this awesome Game of Thrones t shirt. I can’t wait to style it for an outfit post in the coming weeks!
My dad gave me a few bits for the house, my favourite of which is the Moroccan lamp. It’s made of metal and is lined with purple fabric, and gives off a lovely ambient glow. It now takes pride of place on my living room fireplace.
Much to my delight I get quite a few books every year, and this year was no different. Charles gave me ‘A First Book of Nature’, and ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth’ by my space hero, Chris Hadfield. The rat training book was from an old school friend, and my sister gave me ‘Wreck This Journal’ and ‘The Pocket Scavenger’, both by Keri Smith. I can’t wait to start filling them in!
All of the above were parts of gifts from my old school friends, who I celebrated with last night at my favourite restaurant. There was a definite rat theme to their gifts this year!
And of course, no birthday haul would be complete without an abundance of chocolate!
Last but not least, my talented mum made me this super cute heart wreath. She crocheted the flowers herself, and decorated them with buttons. This now adorns my bedroom door and it looks right at home.
Naomi x
Valentine’s Gift Ideas: Love Hearts Tea Lights
0
6 years
Valentine’s Day is also my birthday, so happens to be one of my favourite days of the year. As soon as January comes around I start looking forward to that special day in the middle of February, as not only do I get to enjoy it, but it adds a bit of brightness to the gloomy winter for people everywhere! I’m also a firm believer that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be miserable for those who aren’t in a relationship, as it gives you the perfect excuse to treat yourself, or spend time with family or friends.
So, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, over the next week or so I’ll be bringing you my pick of the best, affordable Valentine’s gifts – perfect for your loved one or even for yourself! Today’s pick is this adorable little set of Love Hearts Tea Lights, available from It’s A Wot.
Since I moved out of my mum’s house and in with my fiancé, I’ve become more and more interested in interior design, and making my home look pretty, and these tea lights help me do just that. They come beautifully wrapped in a Love Hearts wrapper, so they look like a super-sized tube of sweets, and inside you get six tea lights, each of which comes in a sturdy plastic holder.
The tea lights come in three colours – pink, purple and blue – with two of each in the pack, and they all have an iconic Love Hearts message printed on top. The pink ones say “Kiss Me”, the purple ones say “Love Me”, and the blue ones say “Hug Me”.
Despite their small size, the tea lights burn really well. I had them on for several hours the other evening and the flame hardly made a dent in the wax, and they don’t produce much smoke, just a steady flame. My only issue with the candles is that they aren’t scented, but it’s not a deal breaker and I still think they’re lovely.
At just £1.84 for a set of six, these tea lights would make an ideal Valentine ’s Day ‘stocking filler’ for someone who loves cute and quirky little house gifts. They’d also be great for adding a touch of romance to your Valentine’s evening, or even just to help you unwind and relax after a busy day. Want some? Get them here.
Naomi x
*These Love Hearts Tea Lights were sent to me by It’s A Wot for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Birthday Haul
7
7 years
by Naomi in Hauls
Last Friday was my birthday, and I was lucky enough to receive lots of lovely gifts from my friends and family – some that I’d asked for, and some that were a complete surprise! So, as promised in my birthday outfit post, here is a little haul post for those who are interested.
Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty / The Usborne Book of Drawing, Doodling and Colouring / I Am Pusheen the Cat / Batman: The Killing Joke / Cornucopia at Home: The Cookbook
Look Beauty Glitz & Glam Nail Set / Sleek Blush By 3 in ‘Pink Lemonade’ / John Galliano EDP
Dreamcatcher Scarf / Batman Socks (they have capes!!)
Ratty Photo Album / Treats for my girls / Rat Calendar / Custom Made Rat Necklaces by Solstice Mini’s (I’ll be reviewing these separately soon!)
The Great British Bake Off Muffin Tin and Sandwich Tins
Graduation Photo Frame / Pink Notebook / Batman USB Stick / Uniball Gelstick Pens
Lumpy Space Princess Plush
Lots of Chocolate! (I actually got 4 boxes of Milk Tray but one of them was polished off before I took these photos…)
My mum got especially crafty for my birthday this year. She actually crocheted the blanket you can see in the photos above, as an extra special gift, and she even made my birthday card by hand. With a heart and rose theme as it was Valentine’s Day! Look how beautiful it is…
Oh and I’m also waiting on an amazing necklace from my dad that I plan on styling in an outfit post asap, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks everyone for my gorgeous presents 
Naomi x
What I Got For Christmas
3
7 years
by Naomi in Hauls
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. My Christmas was spent at home with family, as is traditional, and was filled with lots of food and games!
I was very lucky this year and received a lot of lovely gifts, some that I’d asked for and some that were a complete surprise. I love being nosy and seeing what other people got for Christmas, so I thought I’d do a similar post and share my haul with you too!
Dove Gift Set / Snow Fairy Shower Gel / OPI Nail Lacquer x 2 / The Body Shop Body Butter / 17 Nail Polish / Ghost Captivating Perfume / Scholl i-Pop Massager
Snood / Butterfly Hair Clip / Socks / Kitty Slippers / Owl Mittens
Monsters University Shower Set / Monsters University Glow in the Dark PJs
Agate Necklace / Amethyst Silver Ring / Copper Spiral Amethyst Pendant
Black Stud Bag
Ratty Compact Mirror
Kurt Geiger Sally Ankle Boots / Kurt Geiger Brace Wedges
Sugar Skull Money Box / Owl and Star Photo Frame / Salads Recipe Book / Dinosaur Cushion / Rocket Tea Infuser
The Dark Knight Manual / Batman Arkham Asylum Anniversary Edition Graphic Novel
Breaking Bad DVD Box Set / Skullcandy 50/50 Earphones
Rats 2014 Calendar / 2014 Button Diary
Lots of chocolate!
What did you get for Christmas this year?
Naomi x
‘Spend or Save’ Fashion and Beauty Christmas Gift Guide
2Whether you’re on a tight budget, or you’re able to flash the cash this Christmas, today’s festive post features a selection of ‘Spend or Save’ fashion and beauty gift ideas for women. The ‘Spend’ section includes a variety of luxury options for those who want to spend that little bit more on a loved one, and the ‘Save’ section includes some great alternatives that are just as good, but don’t cost the Earth.
Spend:
Alexander Wang Kirsten Bag $295 from ialexanderwang.com / Jurlique Rose Shower Gel (300ml) £14.40 from LookFantastic / Urban Decay Naked2 Palette £33.30 (was £37.00) from Debenhams / Ciaté Tree Trinkets £21.00 (was £30.00) for 6 from Ciate / No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum (30ml) £23.95 from Boots / Dr Martens Cherry Red 1460 Boots £100 from Dr Martens
Save:
Multi Belt Two Way Bag £38 from Rings & Tings / Bayliss & Harding Wild Rose and Raspberry Leaf Shower Creme £1.99 from Superdrug / MUA Undress Me Too Palette £4 from MUA / Lacura Multi Intensive Serum Aqua £3.49 from Aldi / Limited Collection Mini Nail Polish & Lip Gloss Bauble £5.00 each from M&S / Burgundy Boots £24.99 from H&M
I’ve been lusting after Alexander Wang’s Kirsten Bag for ages, but it’s really quite expensive and difficult to track down, so when I spotted the copy on Rings & Tings I just had to share it with you all! I don’t yet have either bag myself, but from photographs the copy looks pretty impressive.
I currently have both the Jurlique and the Bayliss & Harding rose shower gels in my bathroom, and they are equally lovely. The Jurlique one foams better, but each has a distinct sweet rose scent and luxurious packaging, making them both gift-worthy.
The Urban Decay Naked2 palette is perhaps one of the most highly sought after beauty products in the blogosphere, so would make an excellent gift for any beauty blogger. If it’s a bit out of your budget though, MUA’s Undress Me Too palette is the perfect dupe. I have it myself and the eyeshadows are all excellent quality, and at £4.00 you really can’t complain!
I’m new to serums, but have recently started to use the Lacura Multi Intensive Serum from Aldi. It’s aimed at women aged 25-35, so I’m almost in that age bracket, and it makes your skin feel so soft and plump. It’s lovely, and an absolute steal, but if you want to gift a more classic brand then No.7 is the way to go.
When I first put this guide together, Ciaté’s Tree Trinkets were £30 for the set, but they have now been reduced to £21 which is actually a pretty good deal, especially if you want to split the set up as smaller gifts. If you want more for your money however, M&S’s beauty bauble contains a nail polish and two miniature lip glosses for £5. I also spotted a Primark equivalent earlier this week, costing £2 for a bauble containing 3 little lip glosses, which is even better value for money!
I absolutely adore Dr Martens and am building up quite a collection. They last forever and, once they’ve been broken in, are incredibly comfortable. But if you’re looking for a cheaper version for your fashion-loving friend this Christmas, H&M’s burgundy boots look fab.
Check back soon for another ‘Spend or Save’ gift guide!
Naomi x
Beauty Stocking Fillers for £5 and Under
4
7 years
This year seems to have gone incredibly fast, and Christmas is almost upon us. I’m sure by now we are all well into our Christmas shopping (I’ve been extremely organised this year and only have a couple of bits left to get!), but I thought I’d put together a few festive themed posts over the next week or two to help with that last-minute rush. I have spent a while lately trawling the shops and internet for stocking filler ideas, so today’s post features my pick of the best beauty stocking fillers for £5 and under.
Clockwise from Top Left:
Orly Nail Polish £3.99 from Fragrance Direct / Lacura Aqua Moisture Cream £1.99 from ALDI / SuperDrama Mascara £5.00 (was £10.00) from Avon / Halo Futuristic Nail Glitter £4.50 from ASOS / Denman Small Styling Brush £4.99 from Fragrance Direct / Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream £4.00 from The Body Shop / Momiji Mini Gift Set £5.00 from M&S / 3 in 1 Nail Art Pearl Gem Pen £4.50 from Claire’s / MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer £3.00 from MUA / MUA Luxe Glitter Palette £4.00 from MUA / Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Face Mask £0.99 from New Look / Snow Fairy Shower Gel £3.50 for 100g from LUSH / Metal Eyelash Curler £3.25 from John Lewis
I hope you all find this edit helpful! If you have any £5 or under stocking filler ideas to add, please comment below as I’d love to see what you’ve come across.
Check back soon for my next Christmas post, featuring Spend and Save Christmas Gift ideas.
Happy Shopping!
Naomi x
Valentine’s Birthday
9Yesterday was not only Valentine’s Day but my 23rd birthday, and I was lucky enough to have the day off work to celebrate! As is tradition, I woke up early to open my cards and presents, and in the afternoon I went for a lovely lunch with my family and partner, Charles. After lunch, Charles and I walked into town for a wander round and to see the Richard III exhibition at the local museum, before heading home for birthday cake and a game of Balderdash. It was a relaxed day, but I enjoyed it as I got to spend time with the people I love, and I was given some amazing gifts which I am extremely grateful for! Here are a few photos from the day…
I was lucky enough to receive everything on my Birthday Wish List this year, and more! Everything I was given is very ‘me’, and I have quite a few fashion and beauty items to review for you, including Layla, Miss Sporty and Barry M nail varnishes, Sleek Lipstick and Real Techniques make up brushes. There was also a strong owl theme in my cards and gifts this year… My mum even bought me a packet of owl print toilet roll as a joke! Haha.
Charles surprised me with this absolutely beautiful silver necklace which says ‘Everlong’. Everlong by the Foo Fighters has been my favourite song for years, and when Charles and I got together it became ‘our’ song, so when I saw this I very nearly cried. I love it so much and I’m going to treasure it forever!
I’m a massive fan of Batman, and Charles’ mum and sister baked me this amazing Batman cake. The bat is made from dark chocolate, the icing is vanilla and chocolate buttercream, and the sponge inside is coloured green and purple like the Joker. How cool is that?
We are currently decorating our hallway and the walls were completely bare yesterday, so I decided to write a little note on the plaster for future generations to find one day when I’m old and grey.
Seeing as I had a casual day, I decided to wear a casual outfit for my birthday. I settled for a pink dress top with romantic lace sleeves and purple skinny jeans, both from H&M, and my trusty purple Dr Martens. Oh, and my Everlong necklace of course!
And true to kitty form, my cat Moth loved playing with all the wrapping paper and gift bags!
What did you do for Valentine’s Day this year? Did you get anything nice from your loved one?
Naomi x
Birthday Wish List
4
8 years
Evening all!
Firstly, I would like to apologise for my elusiveness lately. January has been an incredibly busy month for me but it seems to have dragged on forever – I’m sure many of you can relate to that feeling! On top of starting back at work after Christmas, I had an important assignment to do for my Master’s Degree this month, so I spent most of my evenings researching, writing and editing, hence my lack of blog posts. Luckily, I handed the assignment in yesterday so I’ll have a bit more time on my hands now (although I do have a dissertation proposal to complete…), so expect to see a lot more from me during February!
Hopefully February will be a bit more fun than January has been. On Sunday my fiancé and I are going to London, just for one night, but we have a lot planned. I will be taking my camera on the trip so expect a rather photo heavy post when I get back! Also, Bewitchery turns one year old on the 7th of February, which is very exciting indeed. The main event in February for me though is my birthday! On the 14th of February I turn 23, and (fingers crossed) I won’t be working that day, so I am going to spend the next couple of weeks planning fun things to do! Birthdays for me are mostly about surprises, cake and having a nice time with my loved ones, but I do have a few things on my Birthday Wish List this year, so I thought I would share them with you here…
Dr Martens Grace Denise 8 Big Eye Boots
If you’ve read this post, you’ll know that I’m a Dr Martens fangirl, and I have been lusting after this pair for months now. I recently noticed that they were in the Schuh sale, so I dropped a massive hint with my dad and I think these babies will be mine in two weeks time!
Layla Hologram Effect Nail Polish
I know I’m extremely late to the hologram polish party, but I really love the look of Layla’s hologram range, especially this Ultra Violet shade.
Real Techniques Core Collection
I’ve been after a decent set of make up brushes for a long, long time (my current set are falling apart), and lots of you lovely beauty bloggers have recommended Real Techniques’ Core Collection. I’ve done some research, and they really do look like a quality set of brushes, so these are now on my list. They pass the cruelty free test too!
Real Techniques Starter Set
Because my eyes deserve fabulous brushes too… And they’re purple!
Kate Bush T-Shirt
Kate Brush is my hero, and has been since I was tiny, so this t-shirt is perfect for me. The design is just so pretty!
Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Smother
This is one of Sleek’s newest shades in their True Colour Lipstick range. It’s an extremely pretty pinky purple colour (it’s actually a bit darker in reality than it looks in the picture), and every time I go to Superdrug I can’t resist swatching it on my hand.
Naomi x
Fashion and Beauty Christmas Haul
6Well! After weeks of preparation – shopping, cooking and decorating – Christmas Day has been and gone, and we’re all probably a few pounds heavier than we were this time last week! I hope you all had a wonderful time, celebrating in your chosen way with the people you love, and I hope Santa brought you everything you wished for. I personally had a great time! The highlight of Christmas for me is playing games and doing quizzes with my family, and they were definitely done in abundance.
Christmas isn’t just about the presents, but I got some really lovely fashion and beauty related things this year, so I thought I would share them with you today. I also got a lot of chocolate, baking equipment, geeky stuff (including a bat detector which I’ve been wanting for AGES) and books – my friends and relatives know me well!
So, here are some of my Christmas gifts. Apologies for the strange colouring in a few of the photographs… They were taken in bad lighting!
My dad bought me this absolutely beautiful sterling silver Bat Skull necklace. He mentioned that he got it from Etsy and it was handmade in New York by an obviously very talented maker. I instantly fell in love with it when I opened the box, and in my surprise I ended up dropping the box in my mug of tea, woops! I adore bats so I am going to treasure this piece.
I also love hares, so my dad gave me this large pewter moon hare pendant as well. Isn’t it stunning? I need to find a chain for this pronto so I can start wearing it.
The dinosaur at the top was from my sister, Rex from Toy Story was from my fiancé, and the owl was from my fiancé’s sister. Owls, dinosaurs and necklaces are a few of my favourite things, so I was very pleased to receive all three of these beauties.
I received three different perfumes this year, all of which are replacements for perfumes I already have. Cacharel’s Amor Amor (one of my all time favourites), Vera Wang Princess Night, and an Accessorize Gift Set.
I didn’t get much make up this year, but my cousin gave me 17’s Smoky Eye Palette and a few little 17 lip glosses. The red gloss is gorgeous! The guy at the bottom is a rather cute owl lip balm.
How amazing are these?! My fiancé’s sister gave me these Batman nail transfers. I was so excited when I opened them and I cannot wait to give them a go. Definitely expect a review of these soon.
This cat bag from my mum was one of my favourite gifts this year. It’s big and furry and very soft – it needs to stop raining now so I can use it!
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a scarf, gloves or socks, and this year I got all three. The scarf is purple with green skulls and is nice and light – ideal for spring. The socks have squirrels on them, one of my favourite animals, and the rainbow mitten gloves are SO SNUGGLY – win!
Not the best photo in the world but my mum got me a BATMAN ONESIE! Amazing, right?
A massive thank you to everyone who spoilt me this year, I am extremely grateful. Did you get anything fashion and beauty related for Christmas this year? I’d love to see your hauls too!
Naomi x
Blogger Challenge – Fantastic Fashion Gifts for £35 or less
3
8 years
I was recently asked to enter GiftsVouchers.co.uk‘s Blogger Challenge, and as a fan of fun little competitions like this I couldn’t turn down the offer! The aim of the challenge is to scour the internet and find five or more fashionable gift ideas, all of which must cost less than £35 each. After all, as Bewitchery always says, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get something good!
The way I have decided to approach this challenge is to put together a selection of Christmas gift ideas for Women, but also some for Men, as we all know that men can be spectacularly difficult to buy for! So let’s get things started… (All pictures are clickable if you want a closer look).
Gifts for Her
Shop these gifts…
Alice Tea Party Charm Bracelet – Collectif – £10.00
This Alice Tea Party Charm Bracelet is so unusual and quirky, but also really pretty and feminine. It would make an ideal gift for any individual girly girls out there! I, for one, have a friend who would absolutely love this.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte E-Reader Cover – TruffleShuffle – £14.99
Though I am still an ardent advocate of books over e-readers, I couldn’t help but fall for this Gothic vintage-style e-reader cover from TruffleShuffle, as Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite novels. I think it would make a great gift for those who love to accessorise their technology. TruffleShuffle also stock a wide range of other book related e-reader covers so there’s something there for everyone.
Ciate 24 Piece Mini Mani Month – QVC – £31.20
Ciate’s Mini Mani Month is a luxe, grown up version of an advent calendar, which contains 20 mini Ciate Paint Pots and 4 mini pots of Caviar Beads. At £31.20 it is an absolute bargain (I’ve seen it being sold for a lot more in shops such as Selfridges) as you get a lot for your money! I think this would make a great early Christmas present for any nail varnish-loving sister, mother, auntie or cousin. Or, if you know someone with a November birthday, you could get them this and extend their birthday joy throughout December! Of course, it would also make a lovely little treat for yourself (I have ordered one just for me, hehe).
River Island Bird Cage PJ Bottoms and Top – ASOS – £15 each or £30 the pair
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a snuggly pair of new PJs, and this set from ASOS is just the cutest! The bird cage print, monochrome colours, silky fabric and traditional cut are all so classy and make these PJs suitable for anybody. The top and bottoms are available separately for £15 each, making the whole set an affordable £30.
Elaine Cat Slippers – Topshop – £14.00
Set the cat among the pigeons with these sweet little slippers from Topshop – the perfect partner for the Bird Cage PJs! The slippers are lined with faux fur so are really soft and warm. If you’re stuck for gift ideas, you can never go wrong with a pair of slippers, especially if they’re as cute as these.
Songbird Mini Bag – Totally Funky – £24.99
Roses, fluffy kittens, stunning birds, musical scores and vintage-style prints… What’s not to love about this bag?
Gifts for Him
Shop these gifts…
Vintage Typewriter Padded Laptop/iPad Sleeve from Ted Baker – TruffleShuffle – £30.00
As you may have picked up through my women’s gift ideas, there seems to be a real trend for vintage right now, and this Typewriter Laptop Sleeve gives vintage a more masculine feel. Having said that, I’m not one for gendering products and I’d quite like this myself. This sleeve is by Ted Baker but is available from TruffleShuffle, one of my favourite online retro stores.
Zombie Slippers – Firebox – £19.99
How amazing are these slippers? These would make such a fun, comfortable gift for any undead-loving bloke. They are exclusive to Firebox and are available to pre-order now.
Navy All Over Stag Jumper – Topman – £32.00
This gorgeous jumper combines this year’s fashion for motif knitwear with the traditional and obligatory Christmas jumper, but a lot less tacky as the colours are highly wearable too. The jumper comes in sizes XXS to XL, so it is suited to fit all shapes and sizes!
Batman Logo Cufflinks (Design One and Design Two) – MenKind – £12.99 each
Everybody loves a bit of Batman (especially me), and these Batman Cufflinks would add a bit of awesome to any smart outfit. Whether you want bright and cartoony or sleek and stylish, there’s a pair for everyone. They almost make me wish I wore suits so I could have some too!
Organic Homme Shave Kit – Green People – £35.00
Where possible I like to buy natural skin care products, even for other people, and I absolutely adore this chic-looking shave kit. Everything in the kit is vegetarian and vegan friendly, organic, fairly-traded and made from natural ingredients, so it is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. Give a guilt-free gift this Christmas!
Gifts Vouchers’ blogger challenge officially closes today, but it has been extended until Sunday if you would like to enter! There will be two winners – one chosen at random and one chosen by fellow blogger milkteef, and each winner will receive a £35 voucher of their choice from either ASOS, Topshop, Amazon, BooHoo.com, or a 3 month JolieBox subscription. You can visit here to find out how to enter!
Good luck everyone!
Naomi x
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