The Advent Giveaway: Behind Door 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13...

...is an array of beauty products.

I am so frustrated with myself and my lack of Advent Giveaway blog posts last week.  Life has been crazy busy and I have been preoccuppied with a lot of things.  Therefore I am giving 7 products away to one winner to make up for the 7 days missed!  To enter you must a, be a follower of the blog and b, tweet "I've entered the #toelleandback Beauty Giveaway" followed by the link to the post.  International entrants welcome.

The giveaway includes a miniature bottle of Dove moisturising shower creme, Lipstick Queen lipstick in Saint Red, Bath and Body Works antibacterial gel in warm vanilla sugar, Maybelline 18 Hour Wear Super Stay lip colour in Raisin, Mac eyeshadow in Golden Rod, Mac liquidlast liner in a Dusky Pink and a RMK Gel Eyeliner in Shiny Purple!

I am also pleased to announce that the winner of the L'Oreal Collagen Filler is Lolaa!

The Advent Giveaway: Behind Door 6...

...is L'Oreal's Wrinkle Decrease Collagen Filler.

I am DAYS behind on the Advent Giveaway, so apologies, I have been so busy.  This is Mondays giveaway which will be open until tomorrow morning (Fri 10th Dec) and I plan to post todays, along with the last two days tonight.

To enter Day 6, just comment below along with ensuring that you are a follower of the blog.  I can also announce that my random winner of the Fake Bake lipgloss from Sundays giveaway is Ray of Who is She? blog.

Planned postage of prizes so far is tomorrow!  I will confirm to all that they have been sent via email.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

The Advent Giveaway: Behind Door 3

...is Garnier's UltraLiftPro-x Re-plumping and Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream.

This post is a little late going up today because I've been trying to shovel my way out of my road, which failed and doing more work for my job because guess where I still am.....?

As you can see the mound outside my door has grown further.

With an icy chill like the one thats been whistling it's way through much of England this week, it's really important to take care of your skin so moisturising is a must!  To enter simply comment below and remember you need to be a follower of the blog by Google Friend Connect  as well (International entrants welcome).

I am also pleased to announce that the winner of the Laura Mercier Chocolate Garnet Mineral Eye Powder of yesterdays Advent Giveaway was Anna of @mymindsownvoice.  Please email toelleandback@yahoo.co.uk with your address so that I can send your prize out when I can leave my road!  Watch out for Something for the Weekend... later, which will most likely document everything I would have done this weekend if I was able to get anywhere.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

The Advent Giveaway: Behind Door 2...

...is Laura Mercier, chocolate garnet mineral eye powder.

With the Big Freeze hitting England, I have been stranded at home for three days now due to our ridiculous public transport.  For me this means a roaring fire by my computer whilst I work from home and hot chocolate late afternoon...

...so the chocolate eyeshadow is quite symbolic of my being "snowed in".

The entering rules shall change from day to day, so make sure you keep an eye out.  To enter for todays Advent Giveaway you need to a, be a follower of the blog and b, tweet "I've entered the #toelleandback Advent Giveaway" along with the link and please leave a comment below with your twitter tag name so that I know who you are!  International entrants are accepted and the winner will be announced in Day 3's post.

I can also confirm that the winner of the Mac lipstick yesterday is Stephanie Cummins!  If you can email me your address to toelleandback@yahoo.co.uk I will attempt to get it sent out to you this weekend but until my front door stops looking like this....

....it may have to be next week.

*Hot Chocolate image from blisstree.com

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Way back when...

As I sit here with my Christmas pudding slice and my cup of tea on this chilly night, I am reminded of the saying on my Starbucks cup today..."Stories are gifts to share..."

I am so lucky to have so many wonderful memories, including much loved friends and family, many jovial laughs, heartwarming moments and overwhelming feelings of contentment.  I have decided to make Way back when... a regular piece that documents moments I keep close to my heart.

Today is Thanksgiving.  In 2005 I was studying at Bridgewater State College, MA and I shared Thanksgiving with my good friend Jen Corey, her family and friends. 

It was a bitter cold night and we had rehearsals for our Lab Theatre Project, the "Theatre on the Edge" Festival, that was to take place the following week.  As we wrapped at 10.30pm, myself, Jen, Jamie, Mike and Alison made our way to the cinema to see Rent the movie.  It had just been released at the cinema and my friends were dying to see it.  I wasn't bothered either way, as had never seen it on stage anyway.  We were the last into the showing and had to take seats at the very front.  It was a late showing, I was exhausted and ten minutes in I fell asleep, only to wake just in time to see the final scene.  We hugged and said our farewells to Jamie and Alison in the car park.  Mike dropped Jen and myself back to her house. 

I had visited Jen's once before but only sat in the car.  We bundled into her home with her massive bag of laundry.  Both her parents were still awake, their Christmas tree was up and their home smelt of freshly baked apple pie.  The cinnamon was intoxicating. They were beyond welcoming and I truly felt as if I was part of their family.   I even remember their distinct candied apple hand soap from Bath and Body Works, perfect for such a holiday. The following morning Jen and I headed out to Mary Lou's for coffee for everyone later and then prepared for the rest of the day.  A multitude of relatives arrived to a feast of turkey, mashed potato, meatballs, amongst other delicious foods. 

As the day drew to a close, numerous friends appeared for dessert.  Some bringing their own but either way Jen's mum had prepared enough for all.  Baklava, pumpkin pie, apple pie, brownies, cookies...the list goes on.  Us college lot headed down to the basment, ate, chatted and generally laughed until late.  Friends for dessert, since 2005, has been a Corey Annual Thanksgiving Event and every year, depsite the large ocean that seperates myself from all of them, I am still invited via Facebook.  Next year, I hope to attend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh the weather outside is frightful but my nails will be so delightful...

I'm starting to regret spending my "new winter coat" money on two L'Oreal advent calendars.  The weather hasn't quite turned yet but there is definitely an icier chill in the air, for my walk home from the station in the evening.  England, apparently, from Thursday onwards is set to look a little like this...



My sister and I Feb 2009

I may freeze to death with the "arctic winds" that are being threatened but whilst doing so I shall have the most perfect frost effect nails to match!

I used two coats of each of these two polishes...

To create this look...



To me, it screams frosted mint, which many a colleague has chuckled at me for.  The sparkle adds a snow globe quality to the metallic green, that is very much reminiscent of that Bath and Body Works snow globe, peppermint lipbalm I blogged about a few days back. 

I may not have a coat but style wise, I am more than ever prepared for the wintry week ahead.  Now if only they were scented too!

The "To Elle and Back Advent Calendar": Otherwise known as, my first giveaway!

Whoever still doubts Social Media, take note, although anybody that does, is most likely not reading my blog.

Yesterday I purchased two items from Selfridges that were recommended by the lovely, British Beauty Blogger.  One was a Christmas present, that shall remain a mystery until further notice, as the person in question is one of a few family and friends that will most likely read this and the second is the most magical treat I could ever ask for...

The L'Oreal advent calendar has been blogged about repetitively, due to it's unique concept, exclusivity and hefty price tag (£60), considering we're talking about a Christmas countdown.  I first read about this on the blog mentioned above and then numerous entries appeared all over the net, which meant I just had to have it.  I know it's extravagant and I know I don't need it.  So of course, I bought two!

Only joking, ones for my mum, I treated her too.  Synchronise "Ahhhh!" 

The calendar includes 24 days of beauty goodies ranging from creams to perfumes, from Kiehls to Stella McCartney.  Quite frankly, I can't possibly wait until the 1st of December, it needs to hurry up!

Since bragging about my calendar on twitter last night, the lovely Pink Julep expressed her sensible restraint from purchasing it, despite her overwhelming desire to do so.  I decided this could be the perfect opportunity to run a giveaway on the blog.  I've been itching to do one for a while (although I do only have 12 followers)!  Before anybody gets ahead of themselves, I am not parting with my beast of a calendar, nor am I purchasing another one for a reader.  I do however plan to implement the, To Elle And Back Advent Calendar.  This will run for 24 days, as of the 1st of December and will include beauty products, most of the luxe nature (yes I am talking CHANEL) and the odd extra fun Christmas inspired gift, if something of the non beauty nature catches my eye.  I'm not entirely sure of all the logistics yet but I am willing to ship anywhere in the World.

This brings me to my next point quite naturally.  I am literally moving on from one festivity to the next.  My last blog post (here) featured Halloween and now I feel it is of the utmost importance that I declare To Elle And Back a Christmas zone.  Not only will my advent calendar giveaway begin in a few weeks but I will be blogging about festive events, cosy treats, must have party pieces, tasteful (and tacky) Christmas lights in my local area and I might even dabble in a bit of wintry themed nail art.  You heard it here first peeps!  I am also, very much in the market for Christmas lipbalms.  I have still never quite gotten over the snow globe lipbalm I bought from the ONLY Bath and Body Works in the UK, about 10 years ago (which proceeded to close down very quickly) and so would be grateful for any input as to any you may be aware of. Oh and FYI can I just express how excited I am over the Metro believing we shall be the recipients of snow as of Sunday.  If my house doesn't look like this....

I shall be inconsolable.

Some Hocus Pocus!

There are certain seasonal events which make me wish I lived in the States.  They really seem to go to town with their decorations and festive attitude.  Halloween is a prime example. I love it.  Ever since my mum bought home some Halloween decorations from a trip to the US, back when I was about 12/13, Halloween has been a major deal in my house.  Every year I buy a few extra decorations, replenish the black and orange candles and cook an autumnal themed meal.  This year was no different...

I hollowed out three pumpkins and looked for inspiration from Martha Stewart.  My favourite is the one in the middle, which is Martha's "haunted graveyard" jack o'lantern.  Instead of cutting into the skin like the other two, I drew the outline of the picture and then scraped at the skin, so that when a candle is placed inside it looks like this...

I also further decorated the inside of our house, although I focus mainly on our dining room, which you'll understand why just shortly...

For the autumnal feast, I made spiced pumpkin soup with toasted garlic pumpkin seeds, using the insides of two of my pumpkins, a sausage casserole and then these ghoulish treats...

These were Devils Food Cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook iced with vanilla buttercream, which I dyed with green food colouring.  The haunting cupcake toppers were purchased from Waitrose.  We finished the night with a showing of none other than our favourite Halloween themed film Hocus Pocus, which is made all the more apt by the fact that we have our very own black cat.

I was absolutely devastated that I discovered these gorgeous looking scrubs and creams, from Haus of Gloi too late to order in time for Halloween but still intend to give them a whirl soon.  For a full review check out The Gloss Goss which is where I initially found out about them!