Blaze.. Camera Bag & Brush

Any time I get my camera out to take any photos in the house there is a stampede. Blaze, my cat, comes running to me as fast as possible. She seems to think the camera bag belongs to her and the brush is for brushing her nose! Crazy kitty.. 

Spikey Shoes

Shoes with spikes seem to be quite popular now. Last year I had to throw out my demonia torment 802 spikey boots as I had them for a few years and they were well worn out but I was devasted as they were my favourite shoes!! Cannot find them anywhere now in the matt just the shiny patent :(

Though I did just treat myself to these :

$22.99 from a seller in hong kong on ebay - so around £14.50? free postage so bargain!! Have to wait a little while for them to arrive but worth the wait.

Whats your opinion on shoes/boots with spikes?

The Natural Beauty Box October 2012

I subscribed to the natural beauty box for the october box and was delighted with what I received. They are based in canada and have different prices for shipping to different countries. I am from Scotland, United Kingdom and my box cost me £19.50. The contents valued $84.30 which according to google is over £50! BARGAIN! 

For people that don't know about the box this is taken from their website to give you a bit more information:

The Natural Beauty Box, brought to you by The Natural Beauty Store, is a beautiful, affordable, and one of the only 95-100% natural month to month subscription beauty boxes in the world. Filled with 10-15 DELUXE SAMPLES (no foil samples) and delivered straight to your door every month, The Natural Beauty Box makes a great gift, and gives you a chance to try top quality products for just $20 per month. Love the box? Get super saving when purchasing ahead, as well as discounts when purchasing full-sizes of the products from our parent company, The Natural Beauty Store. At The Natural Beauty Box, we aim to fill our boxes with only the best quality and most natural products, so you can truly experience the beauty of natural. Every month is different, but we guarantee a minimum of 10 deluxe 95-100% Natural  samples in EVERY SINGLE box.

The Natural Beauty Box is always packaged with style, so it makes a great gift for anyone! The Natural Beauty Box gives you the chance to try 10-15 different products from natural brands without having to buy full sized right away, so it saves you a ton! All samples in The Natural Beauty Box are deluxe, meaning they're very usable (at least .1 oz with the exception of vials for perfumes) and aren't in those one time use  foil sample packs. Every box comes with a guide on what the products are, useful beauty tips and tons of coupons for every product in the box. If you love the sample, you can just pop onto The Natural Beauty Store and get the full size with a discount, as well as check out other natural products we carry.

I did previously get other beauty boxes from the UK but not all natural like this and I found I had allergy reactions with a lot of the stuff. Only tried 4 of these products so far and been fine with all 4! 

Unfortunately my box did get hit with a customs charge which was £18.10 as the box value was marked as $80 but the company handled it very well and offered me december box with no extra cost. They confirmed that future boxes will be sent so uk buyers wont get custom charges. I already subscribed to novembers box which I am glad I did as it sold out and I loved this months box - some of the products even smelt edible. 

My natural beatuty box opened up with contents and sleeping beauty in the background *snore* 11 contents in total.  The envelope that had my name on it had inside my invoice and an information sheet about reward points, product details, coupons and other information.

The Balance product is the Balance Seawater Facial Mist by Authentic Skin Remedies -  8ml sample worth $6 . This has a nice smell to it and left my face feeling really soft. Can be used as a toner or a mineral mist but I used it as a mineral mist. Will last a while as you don't need to use a lot at a time. The other product is the Gentle Creamy Facial Cleanser With Lavender by Virga Botanicals which is 1oz / 28ml sample worth $4. Not a strong scent with this quite mild but just right for me. I tried this and it was a good cleanser didnt need to use much of this either so will last a long time. These two made my face feel incredibly soft and fresh so I am really pleased.

r

The round pot with green text is Grazzia Bio-Regen Face Cream by Biograzia. It is a 5ml sample worth $5.50. It smells like my Lush Helping Hands Hand Cream which I bought because I have eczema on the hands and it can get really raw and irritating and was quite hard to do things as my fingers were sore - even hurt to hold things so needed something to calm the redness down and ease it a bit so it wasnt so bad. I found it worked better for me than the moisturisers the doctors gave me. I looked in the natural beauty store and this face cream also has african oils in it and my hand cream has african marigold oil so my be why its a similar smell. Not used this product yet but the benefits are 100% natural product, Anti-aging, Nourishing, Restoring, Detoxifying and Aromatherapeutic so sounds really good! Next is the Ariona Healing Balm - 0.5oz worth $5. This smells really fresh and is a decent size as you wont need to use much of it at a time and should last a long time. Havent tried this yet but will do soon. Last in the photo above is the Pumpkin Scrub Soap by Happy Pumpkin worth $3.80 for a 1.5oz sample. Just in time for halloween! Can be used in the shower to exfoliate whilst cleansing skin. Smells really nice & has extracts of pumpkin, coffee, buriti oil and other ingredients including cocoa butter, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, aloe butter, vitamin e and unrefined shea buttter so sounds like it would be really good for the skin - havent tried it yet but look forward to doing so.

If i wasnt sitting down when I read the details of the petal organics firming body cream then I would have fell down. This 1oz sample is worth $30.00 .. Full size 8oz is $160!! Oh wow, Havent tried it yet but it must be good to be that price. Taken from the natural beauty store : Scientifically advanced natural ingredients incorporated in the formulation promote collagen synthesis and improve skin elasticity and moisture retention levels. I havent tried this yet but for the value price I am hoping for it to be really good.  The next product is ATL International - Raw Carrier Oil & it say St. Johns Wort Oil on the sample. The sample is 1oz worth $10.  This can be used on skin, hair or even in the bath. I havent used it yet but it will be added into my next bath.

These two products smell so yummy. In the tub is Super Rich Island Butter by Burst Organic Beauty Bar in the scent Blueberry + Vanilla which is a 1oz sample worth $6.50. This will last a long time as you dont need to use much of it at at time. I used it on my hands and It barely even looks like I used any at all. The only downside is it smells so much like starburst that I ended up going to the ice cream van and getting two packs of starburst which I wouldnt have done if these didnt make me fancy some haha! But they really do smell lovely. I thought the blueberry and vanilla butter smelt like the blackcurrant starburst. The other burst product I received was a Lemon Lime + Peppermint Love Bubbles Body Wash which smells like the lemon and lime starburst. I havent used this yet but smells yummy and will be trying it out soon though.

So this is different! Beer Bath Salts, Champagne Bath Salts and Cabernet Sauvignon(Wine?) Bath Salts - 3 x 0.5oz worth $6. Still not sure about the choice of scents for these. They smell alright and will last a while as I wouldn't use much at a time as the scent is strong but wouldn't really be my choice of scent. Will get used though!

This is a Cinnamon Honey Lip Balm by Accidental Herbal worth $3.80. I thought the scent was quite strong at first as I've never really been a fan of cinnamon but getting used to the scent now after a few sniffs haha! Mum smelt it and smelt the honey but I got a strong smell of cinnamon. I've not long tried it and it did make my lips feel nice and soft so I will most likely keep using it

So that was all the goodies I got in this bag and I have to say I am very impressed. No more other beauty boxes for me just sticking with this one now so please please continue your boxes for a long time! I'm getting november and december box and any other box after that.

If you are interested in subscribing to the natural beauty box to receive a lovely box filled with goodies then click here to be redirected to the natural beauty box website.

New to swap

So I spent quite a while today taking photos of some games I have that I'm going to swap for other games online. I listed a few of them on Bigwardrobe and Swapz.

You can find all my items for swapz listed under the username "apricotie"on both sites.

 

Bird Photos

So I got a new camera and decided to take some photos. Got some photos of birds so thought I would share them with everyone!

All of these were taken from my living room window.

fujifilm finepix hs30exr zoom test

 The view from mine really is just a lot of buildings , trees and a train line but as you can see, I can see a lot from my window!

I circled two buildings right at the far back as I used them as my targets for my zoom test for the Fujifilm Finepix HS30EXR, as they were noticeable in the first photo and really far out. I took these when I just got my camera at the end of august so I was learning how it worked.

 

Zoomed in - 30x Zoom

Overall I am really impressed with the zoom on the camera. I like to take photos of nature outdoors & my cats funny antics and this camera is ideal for that! 

 

Sending And Receiving Parcels ; My opinion

Everyone has an opinion about things so thought I would share mine as a blog post.

Well overall my opinion is I hate receiving parcels wrapped up in grocery bags, bin bags or something similar with a bit of paper taped on for the address.

So many times ive received stuff wrapped in paper, bin bags or grocery bags - some poorly taped together and a lot without bubble wrap to protect the items being sent to me. I don't mind if an items wrapped in a few layers of wrapping paper as long as the item has been bubble wrapped to prevent damages.

Ive just spent £15 on 500 mailing bags, 3 different sizes, because I couldnt send people items wrapped in a carrier bag. Recyclings good but I just feel if you're going to send a parcel it should be sent properly. I also buy bubble wrap, address labels & even have the slips that stick to a parcel that you can slide the address into. I know I wouldn't like to receive damaged goods because they have been poorly wrapped so I wouldnt send them that way either.

I received a pair of scales not long ago from a seller on ebay - he listed them as new - but when i got them they arrived in their box which wasnt a full box as it just covered the sides and bottom but not the top - but the seller didnt even put any wrapping paper round it or put it another box or mailing bag - the scales were completely on show and could have easily fell out! I received them with tons of little dents in them because there wasnt anything covering the top of the scales. Seller put one strip of tape across the front - that was actually stuck to the scales,  not the box - with my address on it. When i took the scales out of the box they were that old they had rust that covered the bottom of the scales and all the way round the side. So the seller listed them as new - undamaged when really they were old and rusty - wasnt too impresed! He was very rude too, sent me a message saying "thats y they were so cheap - if you want to return em you can!!!!" I mean how unprofessional. He said he would refund me the extra it would cost me to send them back ontop of what I originally paid - but didnt. Ended up giving him negative feedback for being extremely rude, sending me trash, not packaging the item at all so it got damaged when sending it to me and not refunding me he extra like he said he would so pretty much lying.

Veggie/Vegan Post

http://www.viva.org.uk/

For anyone that doesnt know about viva: (copied from their site)

Viva! was founded in 1994 by Juliet Gellatley, who is the organisation’s director. She also founded Viva!’s sister group, a registered charity called the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation, in 2002 – see www.vegetarian.org.uk)

“The most powerful action you can take to end animal suffering, improve your health, protect the environment and bring fairness to the world’s poor is to stop eating meat, dairy and fish. Support us and help Viva! campaign for a better world.”  Juliet Gellatley, Founder & Director of Viva!

Every year, one billion animals face the barbarity of slaughter in Britain, and a further 4.5 billion fish and 2.6 billion shellfish are killed for the UK. Most animals spend their short lives in misery, imprisoned in the squalor of factory farms. Many are fully conscious when they are killed by having their throats cut.

“The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage – deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution and climate change” (WorldWatch Institute, Washington). At sea, fishing has brought all the world's oceans to the point of collapse. Yet still politicians fail to act.

 

 

 

Millions of children in the developing world die from hunger - alongside fields of high-quality food, destined for the West’s farmed animals. The startling truth is that meat causes starvation.

The science is now overwhelming - vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters and are likely to live longer. Yet the food industry continues aggressively to promote animal products to our children, helping to destroy their health and threatening their future.

With the simple decision to stop eating animals, you cease to play a part in this destruction.  By supporting Viva! you are part of the fight back against cynicism, self interest and cruelty.

It is a fight for life!

 

 --------------------------------

I signed up to the activist one - its for under 18's and im not under 18 but I really like the stuff you get. 

Activist

£5 (per year)(under 18s)

You’ll get:

• 24 colour stickers
• posters
• Activist card
• Viva!life magazine

The stickers will get used! I love the magazine - although its got lots of sad stuff it about what people are doing to animals around the world like slaugher etc it just shows you how cruel the world actually is. But it also adds in good things like interviews with veggie/vegan band members, people raising money to help animals, has advertisements for vegetarian/vegan places like bed and breakfasts etc, different animal charitys and what they do, veggie / vegan food advertisements etc

really good for £5 a year

They recently sent me postcards to forward on which i will be sending soon:

 

Which came with this leaflet 

 :

Just thought I'd share it with you

For anyone interested in subscribing to get leaflets, magazines etc with Viva! go here : 

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Light A Candle - Every Day

I dont know about anyone else but I've stocked up on lots of tealight candles different scents and some other candles too. I always light atleast one candle every day sometimes a couple. 

My cats even have a habit of sitting watching candles.

This candle actually smelled really nice! Not an over powering smell but just right to make my room smell nice.

 

I got these citronella candles on ebay £1 per lot - bought 3 to get one pack free with combined postage - got them a while back but got lots of tealights to go through! 

Competitions!

Who doesnt love competitions?

Ive entered quite a few past few months (entering more now) but won 2 nail varnishes and a bag. All through facebook - also got a few samples of stuff free via facebook aswell 

Fingers crossed for more goodies !!

Nail Varnish Won!

So I won a nail varnish with nailgirls and asked for this purple - So pleased! Cant wait to try it out  properly - have used it once already but took it off and forgot to take a photo! Ran out of nail varnish remover so will have to get some before I can do it again.

Irredescent Violet

 

you can purchase this for £10.50 on their website

Buy it here 

CHARITY BAG =D

So i decided to fill a small bag today with stuff to take to charity - nothing big and fancy but hopefully they'll be able to get something for it that will help someone ^_^

CATS LEG NOT INCLUDED! BLAZE WAS DOING HER NOSEY

ALTOGETHER THERE IS :

NEW:

4 PHONE CASES

HELLO KITTY POUCH

2 SCREEN PROTECTORS

USB CABLES

VOLTAGE TESTER CLIP 

4 TINY COMBS

HANDMADE RING

WATCH NECKLACE WITH BOX (BATTERY DIED THOUGH)

3 POST CARDS

LEATHER STRAP THINGY (NOT SURE WHAT IT IS)

TRAVEL ADAPTOR

MASK AND CLEAVER SET

CRYSTAL SOIL

TWO NECKLACES 

SHUTTER GLASSES 
2 FINGER /  TOE SEPERATORS

USED: 

JOLIEBOX BAG - GOT WITH A JOLIEBOX BEAUTY BOX BUT IVE GOT TOO MANY 

BAYLISS AND HARDING TOILETRY BAG

LIP LINER PENCIL

PHOTO ALBUM

HEAD FUNK EXTREME GEL SPRAY

REINDEER ANTLERS 

 TEDDY KEYRING

A lot of it isnt really worth much - but every little helps and will still help someone