I'm Blogging Everyday in June!?

Whilst on one of my many Pinterest sessions I came across this 30 day blogging challenge compiled by Dena at Live, Love, Simple, now I know its not an up to date challenge but I thought it would be a good way for you to get to know me better and hopefully get into posting more regularly. 

Although I've been blogging for 5 months now I do feel that maybe you guys and gals don't really know much about me and I think its important to know the person behind the blog. Primarily this has been a beauty blog with a few different posts thrown in and as much as I love beauty I do feel like its time to branch out and just write about all the things I love including recipes and lifestyle posts but fear not I'm not scrapping beauty altogether just adding extra stuff in too. 

The challenge will start on 1st June so look out for my first post this Sunday. Wish me luck!

Have you ever complete a blogging challenge? 

Along Came Kelly has had a Makeover!

Those eagle eyed readers will have noticed that today Along Came Kelly had a bit of a make over! Doesn't she look pretty! I'm really glad I bit the bullet and gave my blog a little bit of love. I'm sure its all in my head but now I have a pretty little blog I really want to take things seriously, its like starting a fresh with a beautiful canvas to work with. 

The lovely Steph from Bonjour Belle Designs did a great job and I'm impressed with how right she got it with such little information from me (my sister got all the creativity!). 

I hope you like the transformation, can you tell purple is my favourite colour ;) Keep your eyes peeled for a bit of news which means you'll hearing a lot more from me! 

Cheeky Shopping Trip

I just cant help myself. Whenever I'm bored it results in a trip to the local shopping centre and my card gets a bit of a bashing. Luckily this time I had a few Boots points to play with so my bank card was a little happier then normal. 

I'm a bit obsessed with finding the perfect foundation so I'm always picking things up left right and centre and this trip was no different. First in my basket was the Estee Lauder Double Wear, its much talked about due to its heavy coverage and long lasting abilities so I knew it was one I needed to try. Sticking on the base products I also picked up the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick, this one was on a bit of a whim although I'd seen a lot of people mentioning it I haven't really read too much about what its like - expect a review in the future! 

After my recent Mascara Cull I needed to pick up a couple of new mascaras to top the stash back up, after wondering around the aisle for what seemed like forever I decided on Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara which promises to lengthen and extend lashed by up to 99%, now I'm not sure about that outrageous claim but only time will tell! If you read my blog regularly you'll know I love Maybelline Great Lash as a bottom lash mascara but decided to see how it compared against Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara and so far I only have good things to say about it!

In need of a new night cream I decided to stick with Boot Botantics and opted for the Ultra Calm Night Cream offering. I haven't yet tried this but it will soon be in rotation. The last thing I picked up in Boots was a Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose. I've heard these are very similar to the Clarins Instant Light Perfectors and as I have been lusting after them for some time I decided to pick up the cheaper option before splashing out. 

As always I went for a wonder around Lush, I love the smell more than anything else and although I told myself I didn't need to pick anything up I left with a couple of things, a Shampoo Bar Tin and 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion. I've got a shampoo bar from Lush but hadn't got round to using it as I wasn't sure what to do with it in between washes so when I saw this it when straight in the basket I shouldn't have picked up as I walked in! Recently Vicky from Describe the Sky had talked about her Lazy Day Skincare Routine and the 9-5 Cleansing Lotion was included, she said it was calming and quick and easy to use so I just knew it would be perfect for the evenings when I want to head to bed pronto! 

Although I love writing these posts almost as much as I love shopping I'll be cutting down now in favour of saving sigh its not my most exciting idea but it is the most practical one :( 

Have you been shopping recently? Leave your links below as I love haul posts! 

K x  

A Trip of a Life Time!

If you read my last post here you'll know that last Friday I went to South Africa on safari! Going on safari is one of those things that I think everyone wants to do at some stage - who doesn't want to ride around in a Jeep looking at the gorgeous animals in their environment. I have to say that it was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, the whole trip was so busy start to finish but I wouldn't change it for the world.

We arrived on Saturday lunch time after a horrid 2 1/2 hour transfer but we headed straight out on our first drive after a quick bite to eat. Seeing the animals just roaming around was really breathtaking, we saw everything from Giraffe, Zebra and even Rhino! Our ranger was fab, he was really knowledgeable and put up with all of our questions, it also helped that he was very easy on the eye ;) 

Over the 4 days we went out on 6 drives in total, 3 morning drives and 3 afternoon/evening drives. The wake up call was 5.30am with the drive starting at 6am, it was really tough getting up especially as it was so very cold first thing but seeing the animals and scenery really made it worth it. 

We stayed at the Ivory Tree Game Lodge located in Pilanesburg National Park which is nestled right on the park parameter. The lodge was very luxurious and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating. After every evening drive we'd come back to the room and they would have turned the heating up, turned down the beds and left a very yummy chocolate on the pillow. 

As you can tell from the picture above we kept at quite a distance to the two lions that we spotted as they were in the mating stage, this meant that every 20 minutes for 3 days they would mate - poor lioness! At times I was so busy looking through my binoculars at the animals that I didn't have a chance to get snap happy as much as I would have liked but I am glad with the pictures that I did get. 

I even managed to cross off a couple of my 101 Things, I had a full body massage which I have to say was amazing! It was 90 minutes long and included a scalp massage and a facial as well as the normal body massage! It was definitely needed after all those early mornings and late nights. As we were in the middle of nowhere there was no reception which meant no access to social media, whilst there was WiFi available I did think that it would be a good opportunity to shut off from the world completely. It was nice not have my phone glued to my hand but I do feel I've missed out on so much whilst I've been away! 

Landing back at Heathrow this morning at 5.10am was a definite blow to the system, and thinking about going back to work tomorrow is giving me the holiday blues already! We all had a fab trip and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is umm'ing and arr'ing! 

What's been your most favourite holiday? Would you like to go on safari? Or have you been? 

K x

Exciting Times!

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram I'm sure you are well aware that I've been counting down to two very exciting events! My birthday and my trip to South Africa.

It was my birthday on Sunday and I had a fab weekend spent with all my favourite people. Friday night the girls came rounds for a catch up and wine - I may have had a glass too many, my head was a little fuzzy the next day! On Saturday I went shopping with my mum and she treated me to my very first YSL lipstick - post coming soon. Thanks Mum! On Sunday (my actual birthday) I spent the day shopping and eating cake, what more could a girl want. 

Next up on the countdown was a trip to South Africa, which is happening today! Its come around so quick and cant really believe its happening, we're flying tonight at 9.30pm so I've got the day today to chill out, drink tea and watch Jeremy Kyle (anybody else's guilty pleasure?). My work are very good at awarding hard working individuals, we have quarterly awards and at the end of year its the much awaited annual award which is a biggy! I managed to bag myself a quarterly award during last year so had a lovely trip to London with all the other award winners never in a million years did I think I'd bag an annual award too! But I did and the prize was an all expenses paid trip to Safari in South Africa! Its something I doubt I'd ever do myself so to win a trip of a lifetime is amazing. There is a big group of 24 of us going from work, luckily a few of my work friends won awards too so we can all enjoy the experience together! Here's me and my friend Sarah in our glory! 

So what I'm trying to say, after all that rambling, that is why things have been a bit quiet here at Along Came Kelly, I've been busy enjoying my birthday and panicking over packing! I was hoping to be organised and have posts to put up whilst I'm away but being the least organised person ever it just hasnt happened *sadface* Hopefully you'll stick with me though and I'll be back next week, full steam ahead!

K x

Review | Collection Cream Puffs

(L-R Cotton Candy, Fairy Cake, Powder Puff)

(L-R Cotton Candy, Fairy Cake, Powder Puff)

 (Top-Bottom Powder Puff, Fairy Cake, Cotton Candy) 

A good lip product really finishes off a look, and its very rare you'll catch me without a swipe of something on my lips. I love the matt look, and whilst normally I'm put off by how drying they can be on my lips but with the promise of these being moisturising I just had to pop a few of the Collection Cream Puffs in my basket. 

The texture of these lip creams are like nothing I have tried before, they are velvety to the touch, they feel almost like a light chocolate mousse. They glide on really well, although I do like to apply them with the wand and then lightly dab with my finger as they do tend to be a little streaky. My favourite colour of the three (out of the four from the collection) is Cotton Candy which is blue toned pink that is the perfect everyday muted pink. I often wear this to work as its not too in your face. The lasting power on these are not the best, they last a couple of hours before fading out evenly but in that time they don't cling to dry patches. 

The scent is a really sweet vanilla, making them a pleasure to wear! At only £2.99 each they are the perfect product to pick up just to try - I know you'll be impressed! 

Have you tried any of these lip creams? What's your favourite lip product? 

K x

Review | Lush Sparkle Toothy Tabs

The idea of using anything other than trusty toothpaste scared me a little, could a little tablet clean my teeth and give me fresh breath? Well I was intrigued that's for sure. Lush seem to have lots of weird and wonderful things in their aroma filled paradise and I have to say this is one of the weirdest products I've come across. These small solid tabs are an alternative to regular toothpaste, they claim to clean and brighten teeth and also freshen breathe just as normal toothpaste would. 

Made with bicarbonate of soda, kaolin powder, citrus oil and pepper these little tabs are small but pretty powerful. At first I was very sceptical and even during the first use but actually it did a pretty good job! You take a tab and crush it with your front teeth and take your toothbrush and clean them as normal. Personally I hated the taste of these tabs, the citrus oils are taken over by the heavy taste of pepper. There's no minty taste in sight which did worry me but it passed the boyfriend breath test, so it must work its wonders in another way. However taste aside, these leave my teeth feeling and looking really clean. You know that feeling when you've come out of the dentist and cant stop running your tongue over your teeth? Well that's exactly what happens every time I use these tabs!

Not only are they good for my teeth they are also good for the environment as the packaging is recycled paper rather than than an aluminium or plastic toothpaste tubes. I cant say that I will indefinitely use these in place of my normal toothpaste but they will definitely be used a couple of times a week and when I'm away as they are so small and travel friendly with no chance of your clothes becoming a minty mess when a tube bursts! You can get these from your nearest Lush shop or online here for only £2.50 for 40 tabs. 

Have you tried these? How do you feel about swapping toothpaste of a more economic product? 

K x

Mascara Cull

With so many mascaras on the market these days I cant help but want to try every new one that pops up so I often have 5/6 mascaras on the go and a couple more unopened waiting in the wings. Some promise more volume, or longer lashes but its hard to come across one that will make me want to repurchase. I'm very much a drugstore kinda gal when it comes to mascara as lets face it they don't last too long and I don't want to be spending £20 upwards when I can get something as equally as good in Boots. Now that's not to say I haven't  on occasions picked up a MAC or Benefit mascara when I've been at the till! 

I figured it was about time I had a bit of a clear out of mascara's - some of them had been sitting there for sometime looking sorry for themselves. 

For me its all about length, I love the look of long lashes and if the mascara helps with volume then its a bonus. My favourite mascara that I have come across is most definitely one I am going to have to repurchase no matter what, its the L'Oreal Telescopic Extra Black. This little beauty gave me the longest lashes without sticking together to give that awful spider leg look, I am very sad to see this one leave from my stash but very happy when tomorrow I get a shiny new one! I have to admit I do fall for a lot of beauty hype and more often than not will purchase something on a whim, this is exactly what happened with the Avon Mega Effects Mascara. I was so intrigued by the applicator that I just had to hunt it down. Unfortunately it was such a disappointment, it was really hard to apply and didn't do anything for my lashes apart from darken them, no lift, no curl, no volume, not my cup of tea. 

Just before Christmas Soap and Glory did their massive gift set which of course I couldnt help but pick up and included in there was the Thick and Fast Mascara. So many people raved about it and I could see why, my lashes looked so voluminous but didn't give me my much loved length I desire. Does anybody else get upset/frustrated/annoyed/confused when a brand discontinues one your favourites? Well thats how I'm feeling about Rimmel Sexy Curves, I love this mascara as its a really all rounder. My lashes look fuller, longer and gives a really good curl, its my perfect every day mascara but Rimmel went and discontinued it *sadface*. But its does mean that for a short while Fragrance Direct have it at the bargain price of £3.99. Excuse me while I go and stock up. 

The last one that is going off to mascara heaven is L'Oreal Miss Manga, another one of those pesky hyped up products that just didn't do it for me. I couldn't get along with the wand, the bristly brush didn't catch all the little lashes and I just ended up with clumpy messy lashes although I have to say I did like the stylish black and pink packaging! 

I cant wait to get my new mascara's on the go, its such a satisfying feeling putting on a fresh mascara although I do find it a little daunting as I never know if it will live up to my precious Telescopic! 

What are your favourite mascara's? Do you hoard them just like me?

K x