Thinking ahead of myself...

Modern Egyptian Living by invisiblesquirrel featuring tote hand bags

I mentioned in my previous post that I am in the process of buying a house and thought I would share our story.
This summer Ando and I decided it was time to move out of our parents houses, we had saved up a large deposit and so we started looking. We didn't want to go too far from where we currently live and after looking at various houses around we decided on the area we wanted to be. We then had viewings in all the houses on that estate. The reason we chose the area was because it is near enough for me to walk to my parents house as I don't drive and close to the bus route for work, it also had a really nice quiet feel. All the houses are ex-council so they are spacious and very well built.

The 2nd house we saw there we fell in love with and were planning to put the offer in there and then but they took it off the market after a week and we were a little bit gutted. But we kept looking, there was one house that we kept dismissing when we saw it on the internet as it looked a bit run down and in need of some serious modernisation. Eventually as we had run of of houses to view we went for a look and to our surprise we both fell in love with it.

It is a semi-detached on a sunny South facing corner plot, has a drive and garage and a little garden. It is 3 good sized bedrooms, a 22 foot through lounge and generous kitchen plus side porch and workhouse. There is tonnes of space for us, in fact I believe it is bigger than my parents house! I havn't told you the best part though, it looks out onto a huge park, there is nobody in front of you at all, it feels so light and open.

The downside to the house is that it is a little bit run down as it has been uninhabited for a year and it did belong to an old man so the decor is a little dated but nowhere near as bad as I expected. The main work to be done is outside but when we made our offer we generously allowed for this work. Luckily after a bit of negotiating we got a great deal, knocking nearly 12 grand off the already reduced asking price.

So last week, once the offer was agreed I set about arranging the conveyancing solicitors and looking at mortgage options. Now we just need to take the plunge and put our application in which we need to do as soon as possible to make sure we get this house.

I'm already excited about moving in and knowing that we don't have a huge budget for decoration I have been thinking of ways to work around the current decor including furniture that our parents are passing on to us. My favourite piece being a gorgeous oak coffee table inlaid with an egyptian motif (promise I will get a picture!). The living room carpet which is already there is a plainish dark jade colour so this is what gave me the inspiration for the modern egyptian theme. I already have some other pieces such as lamps etc but this mode board was just to give me an idea.

The colour palette I chose is dark teal, rich cream, dark oak wood plus gold accents. The room is big and light so I can use darker colours without making it look dingy.

What do you think to my first piece of interior inspiration?

Alyssa xx

Avon Review

I remember when I was little my mum was an Avon lady for a short time. I loved the fact she gave me all her little sample lipsticks and perfumes. (I once drunk a perfume sample, but like I say I was little!) When I was older Avon seemed to fall out of popularity and had the reputation as a brand for old ladies. I tried a couple of things in my early teens but I reacted quite badly so decided that they weren't for me. Anyway, I have noticed recently that more and more young people are going back to Avon. I recently got a book through the door and my mum and I spent at least an hour pouring over the pages mesmerised by the great deals and the innovative products. I was wary of trying them as my sensitive skin had reacted in the past but I thought I ought to give it a go and here are a couple of reviews of things:

1. Avon Supershock Mascara in Black Waterproof

When I first tried this I was amazed at this product, It had been recommended to me. It was a very rich black and the brush coated your lashes evenly. It also didn't seem to smudge off. However, after a week or so, it seemed to get a bit gloopy and now ended up in a load of lumps which is disappointing.

2. Avon Supershock Mascara in Intense Violet

This is the range if colours of the Supershock mascara. I got the intense violet as I love purple but was gutted when I opened it to discover it wasn't lilac at all but grey! I actually use this mascara on a daily basis now as its great for work as it just separates the lashes and isn't too dark like the black. BUT it shouldn't be advertised as Violet. If you have tried any other colours please let me know!

3. Avon Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump Lipstick

 This product is Ok, I think I just picked the wrong colour for me. I picked shimmering apricot and it wasn't what I was after really. It smooth to apply, makes your lips feel soft but the tingling sensation is horrendous! I think it is the lip plumping ingredient getting to work but it feels too weird for me.

4. Avon Colour Trend Lip Colour Duo

I picked this as I thought it was quite fun, Colour Trend I think is more teenager type products but it was cheap. It has a small lipstick at one end, then a wand with gloss at the other end which I thought was the perfect design so you can have mat or shiny lips. The product itself is fine but the taste was so chemically and bad that I had to get rid of it.

5. Avon Planet Spa Face Masks

I actually really love this product. You can purchase the full size bottles of the facemasks but I decided to go for this set which has4 single-use sachets of 3 different Planet Spa face masks: Japanese Sake and Rice Smoothing Face Mask, Dead Sea Minerals Facial Mud Mask and Mediterranean Olive Oil Hydrating Face Mask. I can't quite decide which is my favourite one but I love the smell of the Japanese Saki and rice one! The sachets are very generous and the mask glides on really smoothly. It dries a little whist its on so you feel it is working and when you rinse it off you feel so clean. I recommend these to anyone

I have a few other products to share with you but I will save that for next time! Not sure how often I will be on here as I am in the process of buying a house but I will try my best to keep you updated!

Alyssa xx

Quick OOTD...its been too long

Not done an outfit post in aaagggeeess...so here is tonight's date night outfit. We arn't going anywhere special so its just a comfy casual outfit. I just got this skirt today in a swap from Big Wardrobe, The top was also a swap from about a year ago but I still love it! My total outfit cost £0!!!

Lace Vest Miss Selfridge via BW

Tie Dye Maxi Skirt Unbranded via BW

I'm not wearing any shoes or a jacket yet so obviously my outfit will have cost something!

Back again soon for another OOTD

Alyssa xx

Most-Precious Bespoke Designer Jewellery

Hi everyone, sorry its been a while.

Just a quick update to let you know what I've been up to. My latest project has been branding and web design for a young woman who I have known a while and has been on lots of our specialist jewellery making courses. She has finally decided to take the plunge and set up her business and has named it most-precious.
She specialises in bespoke jewellery made from hand and foot prints, drawings and personalised designs and she is also a Wedding Day Silver designer turning flowers from wedding bouquets into silver keepsake jewellery.
The website is not yet complete but I will let you know as soon as it is, but for now here is the logo I designed for her and some of her work.

For the dad who just loves his 'mini'!

Ben's robot doodle turned into cufflinks

A gerbera flower from a wedding bouquet

A handprint mobile phone charm

Tiny silver stud earrings with cubic zirconia