A French gift from China!

This morning, after ten long day's away my fiancé FINALLY arrived home from a trip to China, much to my excitement and relief.  

As much as I love having a bit of time to catch up with my friends and do some vital primping and preening I miss him so much, so, waking up to the front door being opened I literally leapt out of bed! Unbeknown to him I had taken the day off as holiday for a surprise so that we could have a day together.  

No sooner had he returned, he produced a pile of Chinese gifts and some tasty treats and then a slightly less Chinese Diorshow Extase Mascara! I had never used this one before so I was excited to try it out. 

As you know I'm getting married next April in Indonesia and I'm already getting slightly worried about how I am going to look like a non sweaty bride in the heat and humidity! I have started trialling a few waterproof mascaras as I definitely think this will be the safest option what with definite tears and potential sweat (oh no!).

Anyway, I couldn't not blog about this Dior mascara and it's my first ever beauty review so thought I'd give it a go! I have always been such a huge fan of Dior mascaras and have always used Dior Show "New Look" as I love the small flexible brush it has and the way it separates and elongates my lashes. It's other benefit is that it lasts for so long, it's just run out after multiple daily use for about 7 months. 

Diorshow "Extase" has a much larger brush with an alternating tiered effect. I don't usually get on with larger brushes as I tend to have a sudden lack of control with them and end up poking myself in the eye so I was a little dubious with the size of this brush. However, as soon as I begun to apply the mascara to my eyelashes I saw an instant transformation. 

Before and After with Diorshow Extase mascara 

You definitely have to work with the brush to get the right angle for you, but it was very easy to use and there was a lot of mascara on the brush so I only needed one coat which is very rare for me! The brush combed through my lashes well and separated them without clumping them together and I do think that they seemed more curled than usual without having used any curlers. 

After a full days wear, a long tube ride and a gym session I have to say that I was really impressed with the Extase, it literally hadn't budged. Normally I do have (at the very least) a creeping black shadow of mascara (esp after a gym sesh), but nada, nothing at all. That's not to say that I'm now going to risk it and use it as my wedding mascara because I am bound to be doomed.

Top left, without mascara and the rest of the photos are with mascara. The final photo (bottom right) is with eyeliner, fully made up.

I do still love the Diorshow "New Look" slightly more- just because of the flexible and slightly more controllable small brush but for those who love bigger brushes this one's definitely for you.

It any one does know any industrial strength (preferably waterproof), volumising, elongating mascara that would work with blood, sweat and tears I would LOVE to hear about it! I am going to trial the Loreal "Lash Architect 4D Waterproof Mascara"  tomorrow as I picked it up the other day and have read good things on other blogs so I hope to blog about it's "hopeful" success later in the week! 

Emi x  

An Indian Summer's Sunday

On awaking to a bright blue sky and blazing sun we pulled out our packed away summer clothes and set off on a walk along the Thames path to Chiswick House. With my mum visiting and neither P nor I having visited here before we thought it would be the perfect day for it.

People were out in a vengeance, cycling, rowing, eating and drinking in the warm October sun. There's always such a buzzing atmosphere down on this part of the river with pub after pub filled with people inside and out.

The river was calm, the seagulls were soaring....

And even the ice cream vans were back out.

We walked and walked, until we finally cut up through the beautiful Church Street, steeped in architectural history to the hugely vulgar "hogarth roundabout". An incredibly ugly, expansive busy thoroughfare of cars coming in to and out of London from all directions. It was hard to imagine that the place we were about to visit was only a very short walk away.

On entering Chiswick house, the first thing you are hit by is sudden silence. The protective walls, century old trees and beautifully preened gardens suck up any sound from the chaos of cars, lorries and motorbikes and leave you in complete tranquility. It's hard to believe that you are still in London.

It's a very romantic setting with hand built historic bridges, grand vistas and hidden pathways, all set amongst architectural delights and a dazzling array of flowers, shrubs and specimen trees, creating a unique oasis in this corner of London. If I wasn't getting married in Indonesia, (and if budget was no option), I would certainly consider this as a venue.

I love having my  mum to stay, exploring and discovering new places is such fun- plus this was a pretty special weekend for us both as we had finally found THE dress.... I am still in a little denial that I have finally found something quite so perfect. I can't express how happy and I am (and relieved, as I was getting a bit worried that I was doomed to find anything that suited me), anyway, that's all for another post!

We wandered the grounds for a good hour, there really is so much to see (and photograph!!).

And when you thought that there couldn't possibly be any more, there was, a 19th century conservatory, apparently home to a world class collection of camellias.

Having covered a good stretch of West London riverside we headed back through the Chiswick streets to Turnham Green tube, picking up bits and pieces from the local markets for lunch. Back at home we set it all out on a big wooden chopping board and enjoyed the rest of the sunny afternoon outside on the deck.

Hopefully this wasn't the last sunny Sunday we'll see.

Emi x