Summer is the ideal season to shop and with the many bargains on adflyer at the moment, you can’t afford to miss out on an extensive range of gorgeous, unique jewellery to suit absolutely any outfit you can think of! If you’re a little bit stuck for ideas and you need the perfect dangly earrings, gold necklace or charm bracelet for that sunny barbecue coming up at the weekend, you’re in luck!  We’re going to tell you all about this season’s jewellery trends so we expect to hear the earrings jangle as you prick back your ears to listen up.

First of all is the chunky necklace! The kinds you see on the catwalk are probably a little too cumbersome for everyday wear, but there are other styles and varieties to choose from that will still achieve a similar look. They’re not ideal items for very, very hot weather, though some chunky beads always look good with a maxi-dress or a cute little sundress! Match this with some chunky bangles in the same colour and you’re away!

Some hoop earrings might carry the spirit of chav, but there are plenty of stylish designs out there that are simply not meant to be WAG chav chic. Avoid the enormous, tacky gold hoops and opt for something a little more elegant. Silver hoops earrings can look perfect with the right outfit, so long as you can’t fit your hand through them!

Try out the bohemian look this summer; bangles and bracelets are a must, accompanied by a bright, vibrant outfit. Earthy coloured bracelets with pretty jewels and sequins make a versatile addition to your jewellery collection. If you’re not fond of the bulkier bracelets or noisy bangles, a pretty tennis bracelet might suit your tastes instead.

Let’s not forget all of the other jewellery you can take a look at, too, anything from diamond rings to stylish hair clips. The world is your oyster!

Of course, no one is suggesting you have to follow the rules when it comes to jewellery. Like all clothes and accessories, it’s all about experimenting and discovering what suits you. Tastes differ from person to person, so try out new styles and ideas and maybe you’ll see it on the catwalk next season!

We hope none of you have forgotten that Mother’s Day is fast approaching, the day to honour the woman that carried you around for 9 months and suffered several agonising hours of labour to bring you into existence. She also changed your nappies, wiped your snotty nose and made you a delightfully greasy sausage sandwich (while derisively sniggering at your pain) to ease your pounding hangover the morning after your 18th birthday, so we think you can spare a day to show a little bit of appreciation.

As with many of our national and sometimes international holidays, Mother’s Day tends to be attested to the ancient Greeks (although they never really needed an excuse to celebrate anything). Around the vernal equinox (or simply, the spring equinox) they held a festival to honour the mother of gods, Cybele, the deification of the Earth Mother. You might know her as Gaia. The Romans had a similar festival known as Matronalia which was dedicated to Juno, the patron goddess of Rome. Of course, a variety of Christian denominations consider the day an appreciation of the Virgin Mary and the ‘mother’ church. This holiday falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent.

In modern times the day is celebrated internationally throughout the year. Thanks to the Socialist Party of America, International Women’s Day was also created, which eventually coincided with what we know here in the U.K. as Mother’s Day. This day had a positive social and political impact by highlighting the struggles and hardships of women across the world and has since drawn attention to the violence, abuse and discrimination suffered by women who are victims of war. International Women’s Day is less a celebration of mothers as it is a celebration of women where, similarly to Valentine’s Day, men give their wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters etc, gifts. Valentine’s Day, but better! For us ladies, at least.

Anyway! You’re probably a lot more interested in hearing about our gift recommendations, aren’t you? Now we’ve forced a little history lesson on you, we can tell you all about the top Mother’s Day gifts that will put a smile on your dear ol’ Mum’s face for the rest of the week.

1. Do NOT forget to get a Mother’s Day card. We know this isn’t a gift, but we thought it was a good idea to remind you. Be it big or small or one of those fancy, ostentatious cards that plays music and lights up and does the washing and ironing, remember to get one, sign it and slide it into the envelope. This is the easy bit. Don’t mess it up.

2. All women are fond of perfume, but when making a decision about which one you should buy, consider the age group you’re buying for. Your girlfriend might  like the  Burberry range, but that’s not to say your mother or grandmother will. For fabulous females over 35, we recommend Prada. With a variety of scintillating scents that aren’t overpowering, Prada offer a wide range of perfect perfumes. Their Eau De Parfum is a particular favourite of ours, containing a delicate combination of patchouli, orange, mandarin and rose. Bvlgari is also a fond favourite and has an excellent collection of evening fragrances.

3. Flowers. This is not something you want to get wrong. Don’t present your mother with  funeral or sympathy flowers, otherwise you may well leave her with the wrong impression. If you can, find out what her favourites are, if you can’t, go for something bright and vivacious. Tulips and roses are always winners, but ensure they are as fresh as can be. Preferably, you want to buy a bunch of fresh flowers that are close to blooming. They will last longer and retain their vibrancy.

4. Hampers make for excellent gifts on any occasion, especially Mother’s Day and especially for those amongst you who find it difficult to decide on one perfect present. Hampers can contain anything from a bubbling bottle of Moet to crumbling cookies, from titillating teas to tasty treats. Buy one readymade, or make one up yourself containing anything you choose. The best bit is, the basket can be reused again and again afterwards, too.

5. You might not think there are any electronic gadgets your Mum will voluntarily use, but you might be surprised what you can convince her to try. If she’s a bit of a gym gal, consider buying her an mp3 or an mp4 player. All you have to do is show her how to plug the thing into the computer and she’s away! We also know she will fall in love with a digital photo frame. You might need to offer your technical assistance to upload photos, but seeing her favourite photos of friends and family scrolling by will certainly put a smile on her face. If she’s fond of travelling, she might also find a sat nav very, very useful. They’re also incredibly easy to learn how to use, so you won’t be getting myriad phone calls to ask you inane questions about something that is just so simple to you.

6. Finally, a great, big, hug. We don’t care if you consider yourself the epitome of masculinity, hugging your doting mother is not going to injure your manly ego. The ladies manage just fine (though arguably, we are better at everything, aren’t we?). We’re not asking you to declare your limitless familial affection, but you know what they say about hugs. They can make you live longer and anything that keeps Mum on Earth for a little longer is worth it, isn’t it?

Ladies, do you know the ideal make-up ‘look’ for you? The trends change almost as quickly as fashion, so you might have one or two fond favourites, but do you know your ‘oil slick’ from your ‘last call’ or are you lost in a powdery wilderness of ‘black glamour’ and ’saucy red’? Well, in this weeks entry, we’re going to take a look at some of the best make-up available (that isn’t going to make your poor purse hungry for cash) and delve into the stylish world of the make up artist. Get your lip pencil and your blending brush at the ready girls, because we’ve got a blank canvas to paint.

Now you might think you know the basics of make-up application, but you would be surprised how many of you out there are getting it wrong. Depending on how much make-up you like to wear, there are 10 items you will need in front of you before you begin. Primer, foundation, cover stick, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick/gloss, blusher, lip liner and a make-up sealer to keep it all in place.

1. One of the most important things to integrate into your morning routine is exfoliating and moisturising. The smoother and softer your skin before you begin, the better. After that’s out of the way, you can get started.
2. Primer, first and foremost. Primers help to keep your make-up looking fabulous all day and also help to combat oiliness. The Laura Mercier Primer provides an excellent, smooth base for your foundation and helps to prevent shine. There is also a ‘hydrating’ version for anyone who suffers from dry skin!
3. Unless you’re one of those lucky lasses with naturally flawless skin like Alexis Bledel (darn her!), foundation is the next step. Our choice? MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid. Not only does it come in a handy variety of shades, but it stays on all day, works excellently with almost all skin types and provides the best coverage for spots and blemishes while maintaining a natural glow. It is one of the slightly more expensive items, so if you are interested in a cheaper option that is still pretty darn good, check out Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse. Remember when choosing your colour to go a shade lighter than your natural tone to give your skin a bit of a glow! You can also apply a powder to any areas that look a little too shiny. Apply a good concealer like Rimmel’s Hide the Blemish to cover up any persistent little blemishes.
4. Next; blusher. Depending on how natural you want to go, you should choose a colour not too far from your natural flush. Yes, it’s MAC again. We recommend the Hocus Focus Colorful Face Kit palette, which has three different shades to choose from (it also comes in the prettiest little box). One of the best things about most MAC make-up is that you barely even need to use much, making it worth the cash you hand over.  If you’re more interested in a bronzer for a glowing summer look, try Bourjois Delice de Poudre powder.
5. Not everyone likes to wear eye make up and if you have eyes as naturally sultry and as beautiful as  Beyonce, then you probably don’t need to. Even if you like to glam it up like Gaga, you have to make sure your eyebrows are plucked first of all. We don’t recommend you go for the Katie Price look, but just keep them tidy and avoid the monobrow of doom. Only put on eyeliner if you’ve had plenty of practise. If you have a bit of a shaky hand, once again try MACs Penultimate Eyeliner,which makes you feel a bit like you’re doodling on your face, but does the trick and allows for both thick and dramatic or slender and delicate lines. If you would like the cheaper option, ASDA’s George eyeliner is a surprisingly good buy. It stays on all day and comes off really easily, too. Pencil eyeliners are also an excellent option, but try one that’s waterproof and won’t smudge, like Urban Decay’s 24/7. They also come in some pretty delightful colours.
6. As for mascara, Lancome’s Hypnose seems to be all the rage at the moment, but we especially love Max Factor’s False Lash Effect. Though it doesn’t provide a lot of volume, it both lengthens and gives great curl! It’s even better if you use curlers on your lashes first and give them a quick brush with an eyelash comb.
7. Not everyone is a fan of wearing eyeshadow. There are hundreds of shades to choose from, so it’s a good idea to pick up a set like Urban Decay’s Delux Palette.You can get powder eyeshadows, cream eyeshadows and gel eyeshadows, all which have their pros and cons. You should try to use a colour that both compliments your skin tone, and makes your eye colour stand out. If you’re not really sure what colour suits you best, natural, pale colours suit pretty much everyone! You can find plenty of online tutorials that tell you exactly the colours to use.
8. Finally we arrive at lips. You might be a gloss girl or a lippy lass, but first of all you want to make your lips look as full and as plump as they can be. Benefit’s Lip Plump Primer is the perfect base for your gloss or your lipstick and makes your lips look voluptuous. The colour you wear on top depends on the rest of your look. Dynamic and dramatic red or soft and sultry pink, your lipstick needs to be flawless. Guerlain’s Kiss Kiss not only offers perfection and fluidity; it stays on for hours and hours and hours.
9. Last, but not least, you need something that is going to keep it all in place. Ben Nye’s Final Seal is a fine mist you can spray over your face, making it effortless and fast, which is especially good when you’re late for work first thing in the morning.