Superdrug have certainly got us working this year, the latest challenge was to create two unique Summer Looks using the amazing Bourjois and Rimmel and post.

Bourjois range was perfect, to create that perfect evening summer’s look.

FACE

With a bare face, I moisturised my face, with a face lotion perfect for combination skin.  When the moisturiser was well soaked up, I applied the healthy mix foundation which promises to last up to 16 hours, giving you perfectly glowing complexion and toned skin which includes fruit therapy which is radiance boosting.  As its the summer, I really wanted to keep the foundation light, so I applied with my finger tips.  I found it absorbed into my skin really quickly, although light for my skin tone, it gave me a really good base.

CHEEKS

Bourjois makeup is like candy, it smells absolutely delicious….The Bronzing Powder is just one of them items that looks like a mini chocolate slab. Its really compact, and is really handy to throw into your bag (and it wont make a mess).  It gives an immediate boost to your complexion,  I just applied it with a brush over my face for an even finish, giving that skin that sun kissed look!  It was perfect complement to the foundation, as I was able to match the tone to my skin more effectively.

I’ve never used Bourjois blusher before, but the packaging is really neat, comes with its only mini brush and mirror set.  I just added this colour to the top of my cheek bones to give me some colour and to really enhance those eyes more! The colour was rose, and it really complemented the sun kissed look. I love it so much, I kept this cheek look for daytime as well.

EYES

Eyeshadow was the ultra stretchable colour in Violet profound – this was used all over my eyelid, and doubled up to make it more dramatic on the outer corner of my eyes.  The brush could have been la bit larger, but the colour was intense and stayed on throughout the evening!

Liner Feautre Noir Felt-tip eyeliner was a real winner, allowing you to draw a line as thick or as thin as you want. I think eyeliner really is the finishing touch to dramatic eyes.

Mascara – Elastic in black, supposed to give 130% more visible length, I wasn’t sure whether it was the liner…but my eyelashes certainly seemed longer, and my daughter asking if I had put spiders on them.!

LIPS

Lipstick- Framboise Exquise was not a colour I usually go for, the texture felt too creamy, I tend to only use matt, however once I introduced 3D effect  lipgloss..they soon plumped up, and in the end it really drew more attention to the eyes.

NAILS

I opted for the thick chocolate/burgundy (So Laque) ultra shine.   I applied a usual undercoat, and then two layers of the So Laque, finished off with an overcoat.  I loved this vamp look, but was disappointed by the end of the night I had chipped nails, not very good.

FEEDBACK

People loved my look, they said the balance of the softer lips, and the dramatic eyes really complemented each other. Everyone thought I looked really healthy, with a nice glow…overall I give Bourjois 9/10 for staying power, packaging, and smell.

Something that really cheered my up was my delightful goodie bag packed full of Christmas pressie ideas….believe me Superdrug has certainly got Christmas wrapped up this year…there’s something special for everyone!

Shopping at Superdrugs couldn’t be easier, they have an easy to navigate site, and you can search for items by price, and you can bag some really fab stocking fillers, and what’s more, they are offering free delivery when you spend £35 or more!

So lets begin, this is my Christmas shopping list!

Children’s Fluffy Heat Jewellery Box will be for my gorgeous daughter Uma, firstly its pink..(believe me that helps) and its fluffy…(trust me its a girlie thing) and lastly it’s sturdy and robust to hold little girlie bits and bobs, including my jewellery. (At least I’ll know where to look, when my items go missing!

Ah, who wouldn’t love this cutie, florals Bear & Bath Gift Set, would be perfect little pressie for Jenny, I know she will be able to soothe the stress of the day (she is a teacher), with this gorgeous, mini bath tub filled with refreshing spa products and sensuous aromatherapy scents, which includes two rose fizz bombs, body lotions and bath gel, and its very own little teddy to keep her company!

I was fortunate to test Superdrugs naturally sourced products, and must admit that I really liked the quality of them, therefore I am extremely tempted to keep these for myself…but I’m going to be good, this will make do for my sis! The Superdrug Vitamen E Body Duo is the perfect combination for glorious sexy silk skin. Pam would love these products as they contain powerful antioxidants which not only revitalises and protects the skin, it also helps combat the damaging effects of free radicals and shield it against the environment.

The exfoliating scrub is easy to use, and helps stimulate the skin and improve circulation, the real big treat to the body are to smooth on the luxurious All Over Body Cream….not will she only have a velvety soft body…but her bathroom shelves are going to look oh so trendy!

Who wouldn’t be able to resist a kiss under the mistletoe with the sexy Flutter pretty lips, trio of gorgeous lip glosses. These are soo going to come in handy for Mani my sexy niece. Fresh in Uni…what boy will be able to resist her charms, with these sexy lip glosses shimmering in the dark! Boys you have been warned!

Colourworks Club Shimmer Compat is one I’ll be keeping for myself! This gorgeous shimmering bronzing set, comes with its very own brush, its is perfect make-up from work to a night on the dance floor, with a subtle glitter effect, it will make me shine for the right reasons!

Are you like me always forgetting where you put your keys? I’m always leaving mine behind somewhere….well not any more, because this little stocking filler, which I’m just going to have to keep for myself, its the fabulous Colourworks Giant Gem Keyring, its big enough to find in my handbag, and light enough to leave on my keys!

It’s just so trendy to carry your little pooch with you where ever you go! This gift is soo chavtastic, and is the perfect little pressie combo for Alisha, she’s going to look like a super cool chick…perfect when she’s only 3!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all? Well its you Nari…I’ve seen you sneakily topping up your lippy…well hide no more, with this little gem…litterally, beautiful Gem Heart Compact Mirror you’ll be getting it out of the handbag at any occasion! Happy Christmas Nari!

Sweet snuggles sweetheart mini soaps look so yummy and good enough to eat! Beautifully scented, these are perfect for adding to your sock draw or even on show….just be careful the kids don’t eat them thinking they are sweet! As your such a sweetie yourself Bal, this pressie is for you!

Someone who really deserves some pampering is my sister-in-law Rani…she’s always got her little pinkies painted, this fab trio of Flutter Pretty Nails is going to keep her well occupied of this coming festive period….she’ll have no excuse to keep swapping her looks, as these three nail varnishes are bang on season….just bring her the Santa babe!

With love from Superdrug!

WEDDING DAY

It’s here, the wait is over!

We wake up early, and get ready for the day. Luckily for me, I have a great friend Andrea, who has flown from Ireland, and she is doing my hair this

Beautiful

morning. I’ve always wanted to have my hair up, as Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City, an updo, and she Andrea does a great job!

I turn up at the house, and Pavan takes my breath away, she looks absolutely amazing, so beautiful, a true traditional bride.

She seems really excited, and not nervous at all, she really makes me feel proud. A little surprise awaits her, as her carriage pulls up, its a beautiful Rolls Royce Phantom, it is supposed to be the last word in engineering excellence, a road-going private jet, a luxury yacht with a point, a car that separates and distances you from both the tedium and the discomfort of travel, and it doesn’t disappoint. I escorted Pavan in the car, and I actually felt like Queen.

Diva

We head to the temple, which is 1/2 an hour away.

The marriage ceremony begins with the arrival of the Barat or the bridegroom at the Gurdwara. We all wait anticipation, and they arrive, with people dancing, and various trumpets playing.

Our family wait at the entrance of the Gurdwara and the bridegroom stops a few steps away. The following shabad is then recited from Raag Suhi Mahella 1 (composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji) – Hum ghar saajan aye. (“Friends have come to our home; The True One has brought about this meeting. Through love have we met by God’s Grace, and we are filled with joy to meet these good souls. Thus have we attained that for which we yearned. Our wish is to meet in this way every day. My home is blessed. Music is sounding within me for Friends have come to our home.”)

After the shabad has been recited, ardas is offered. Then the milni (informal family meeting) takes place and the barat is taken into the Gurdwara. The party proceeds into the Darbar Sahib where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is enthroned on a decorated palanquin. The bridegroom, now joined by the bride, firstly bow to the Guru and then sit in front of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji for the ceremony to be conducted by the Raagis and the Granthi.

The actual ceremony begins with the offering of a special ardas by only the bride and groom and their respective parents whilst the rest are seated. Upon the completion of the ardas, the couple and their parents bow to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and sit down and prepare for the bliss ceremony to unfold.

The Anand Karaj is conducted in the presence of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and it is a sacred ceremony that binds a man and woman in a spiritual union; the spouse is a companion and life partner with whom to tread the divine path of Sikhi.

The wedding Ceremony (four rounds/vows)

First Vow

In the first, the Lord wishes you to be firm in the performance of your wordly duties.

Says Nanak, with the first round, the marriage has been initiated.

Second Vow

In the second round your God has designed to unite you with your partner

Says Nanak, with the second round there is unsung rejoicing within.

Third Vow

With the third round mind yearns for detachment.

Says Nanak, wit the third round (the seed of detachment sprouts in the mind)

Fourth Vow

In the fourth round the mind is enlightened and realisation of the Lord is achieved.

Says Nanak, with the fourth round I have attained the Eternal Lord.

Raag Ramkali, Anand Bhiya meri maye Satuguru mai paiya.

gorgeous

After the wedding ceremony, everyone congregates to the reception, which is beautifully decorated, all arranged by Pavan herself. They have a his and hers throne instead of a top table. The reception commences with the first dance and cake cutting, before everyone joins in the wedding celebrations.

My gorgeous 4 year old, Uma started reception today, she looked really smart in her uniform, after a very hectic weekend I was very worried about how she would be, but she woke up feeling great.

Before the “Big Day”, we made sure that we had all the uniform and equipment she needed, and made sure we labeled everything as things get mixed up and lost, especially in cloakrooms and after P.E. lessons.

We talked about how exciting going to school is, and that it is was going to be one big adventure.

I was being really positive and bright when I dropped her off, whilst inside me I was very anxious, and upset, as my four year old looks so grown up.

As it happens she has a marvellous day and said ‘ mummy do you know everyone had the same clothes on as me!’

Day 2 at the big wedding house

Choora or the bangle ceremony is another important Sikh pre-wedding ritual. The occasion is organized at the bride’s home, wherein the maternal uncle and aunt of the bride adorn her wrist with white and red bangles. Ornaments made of silver and gold, known as kalira, are tied to the bangles. The third pre-wedding custom followed by Sikhs is ‘maiya’, according to which, the bride and the groom are not allowed to leave their house for few days prior to the wedding. Gana is a pre-wedding ritual wherein an auspicious red thread is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride, at their respective homes. It is regarded as a sacred thread that protects the bride and the groom from ill omen.

Vatna is a ritual celebrated a few days before the wedding ceremony. According to the tradition followed by the Sikhs, vatna, a scented powder consisting of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil, is smeared to the bride and the groom.

During the celebration, relatives and friends play the dholki and sing ghori, which is a traditional folk song. This is one enviable feature of Punjabi weddings that has all the relatives and friends of the family rejoicing and joining into add the color of the occasion. All are invited in this evening of jubilation, irrespective of age and gender. Jago is traditionally performed by the maternal side of the groom’s or bride’s family. This is a chance for Pavan’s maternal relatives to take over the wedding functions.

Literally, jago means “wake up!”. When there’s a marriage in the house, girls dance through the streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and singing jago songs. Function will start with Dal and Amarjit’s carrying the jago while all the rest of maternal guest sing. She will be dressed in a really traditional colorful Punjabi Ghaghara (suit). Eventually, jago will be passed to other maternal relatives and possibly to paternal relatives. The theme of song in the ‘jago’ is social and typically a lot of teasing goes with the song. This is a time when using songs any one is a fair target for friendly insults and no one minds.

Then the party really gets started, with everyone on the dance floor showing us the latest moves to the latest bhangra songs!

Finally the long over due wait is here, and all the planning of the last 6 months will be put into action, as the BIG WEDDING is this weekend! My lovely niece Pavan is getting married to Jas this weekend, and its going to be a spectacular affair.

The party starts right now!

Indian Wedding is not only about serious rituals and customs rather it is also full of several fun filled rituals and frothy moments. Though people in India regard marriage more as a religious affair, the elements of fun and frolic are also added into it, to make this emotional affair, somewhat light and amusing. In fact, most of the pre-wedding rituals are designed in away that there is a scope of entertainment. Be it haldi, mehendi or sangeet, all the pre-wedding ceremonies are full of light and amusing moments; however among all the pre wedding celebrations sangeet and mehendi party is the most enjoyable one.

Weddings in India are considered to be a sacred and sanctified ritual. They are long ritualistic and elaborate affair with lots of pre-wedding, wedding, post wedding ritual. The occasion of Mehendi is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals. It is fun a filled ritual, which is celebrated mainly by the bride’s family. Different regions of the country celebrate the ritual in a different way according to their own marriage customs, rituals, and culture. The celebrations also depend on the wealth and status of the people. The bride’s family celebrates Mehendi party for gathering bride’s friends and relatives for blessing the bride as well as for amusement.

even managed this weeks task!

here come the girls!

The ceremony is mostly held at bride’s place or sometimes in a banquet hall on the eve of the marriage ceremony or few days before the marriage. On this occasion a professional henna designer or some relative applies mehendi to the bride’s hands and feet. There are few places in India where it is a ritual that the first motif of henna or mehendi is applied by the bride’s sister-in-law whereas there are some places where the first mehendi motif is said to be auspicious if applied by bride’s mother.

The Mehendi or henna motif is not only the adoration of the bride rather it epitomizes her transformation from a virgin girl to a temptress for her husband. As per Kama Sutra, henna is one of the sixty four arts of women. Popular motifs of the bridal mehendi are conchshell, flowers, Kalash, peacock, doli and baraat patterns. The intricate motifs of the bridal henna also hide the husband’s name. It is said that the husband’s name in the intricate henna motifs is made for the groom who has to find out his name in his bride’s mehendi as an evidence of his sharp eyes and active brain to impress his girl.

Mehendi function is usually organized with the sangeet function. So, it has a festive feel to it with the women dancing and singing traditional songs on the mehendi ritual. The bride is dressed in light color clothes with light jewelry. According to the custom the bride must not step out of the house after the mehendi ritual until the wedding day. It is believed that the darker and deeper the henna stains the more the husband and the in-laws will love her bride. The ritual of mehendi signifies the strength and power of love in a marriage so it is regarded good omen for the would-be bride. It is said that the long the bride retains the mehendi, the more auspicious would be her future.

Art

The sangeet ceremony is also known as ‘gaun’. This custom heightens the excitement of wedding festivities. In the earlier days the custom of gaun used to last for ten days but with the passage of time, as people didn’t have more time to spend due to demanding work schedules, the custom has usually reduced to a one night function. At the bride’s home women relatives and friends play the dholki and sing suhaag, which is a traditional folk song. Songs include ‘jokes’ about the in-laws, and would be husband how to have a successful marriage like and songs about the bride leaving her parents home. Similarly the women at the groom’s home sing songs called ghoriya. Traditionally only the women celebrated this ceremony but nowadays the concept has changed as both men and women participate to celebrate this occasion.

In most of the families, the sangeet party is celebrated on an elaborate scale and is a very grand affair. However, in some families, it is also celebrated along with the mehendi function. It is generally done to save time. The sangeet party may be celebrated both as a separate or a joint event in both the families. However people generally prefer to make it a joint affair nowadays to make it more interesting and amusing. As a joint affair before the marriage ceremony, it also becomes a platform developing familiarity of the bride and groom with each others family.

Though sangeet function is an important pre-wedding function of all north Indian weddings, it is most popular trend among Gujaratis and Punjabis. Among the Gujaratis Garba dance is a favored alternative. They are mostly held in a big hall, which are beautifully decorated where people come dressed in ethnic Gujarati wear. The sangeet party mainly involves traditional dance, which is known as Garba, and dandia raas, which is dancing with sticks. The Raas Garba usually ends with a light supper for all those attending. In Punjabis, the Giddha nad Bhangra are the popular dance forms for the Sangeet night ceremony.