October Favourites - The Birthday Edition

I'm cheating a little bit with this post. These are some of the birthday presents I received on November 1st, so I can't exactly claim to have been loving them throughout the month of October. On the other hand, they're all things I've been lusting after for a long time, so it's only right that they should be fast-tracked to favourite status. Besides, it's that time of year when we all start to think about gift ideas, so I thought these might be interesting from that point of view as well. Want to see? Of course you do!

1. Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom cologne

Oh my goodness, this is beautiful. I adore pretty much everything by Jo Malone; it's definitely my favourite brand as far as fragrance is concerned. Every time they bring out a new scent I get ridiculously excited about it, and the idea of this one intrigued me more than most. I first smelled it at the Jo Malone counter at Gatwick Airport in September, and it was nothing like I expected. I thought it would be quite strong and spicy, but in fact it's delicate, like the most delicate floral you can imagine, followed by creamy warmth, and just the faintest hint of spice at the end. There are many perfumes I love, but at the moment this is number one for me by a mile. Needless to say, the scented candle is now on my Christmas list!

2. Z for Accessorize necklace

I've spoken about my love for Accessorize's premium range before. In fact, I wrote a whole post on it here. This delicate jewellery looks much more expensive than it really is and is equally fabulous whether you wear just one piece or layer it all up together. This lovely necklace is the perfect addition to my collection and will go with anything and everything.

3. Madeleine Shaw - Get the Glow

Healthy meal ideas that actually look appetising. Need I say more? I've already made the spicy roast chicken recipe from Madeleine's blog and it was really delicious. The book is beautifully produced and packed full of sensible advice and mouth-watering photography. I can't wait to try some more of Madeleine's dishes, like this Thai beef salad. The dessert section looks pretty good too!

4. Game of Thrones box set

I've read - or should I say devoured? - all the books. I actually started watching the series a while ago too, but ended up having to miss some, so now it's all mine in DVD form, to enjoy whenever I like. I can't remember being this engrossed in a story since I was a kid. An episode finishes and it's actually a wrench to leave the Seven Kingdoms behind me and return to the real world. Pathetic, I know! Who else is a fan?

5. Urban Decay Naked Palette

The original and best. I can't quite believe I've never owned one of these before. My sister got one to do her wedding makeup, and we were both so impressed with the quality of these shadows that it quickly became clear I needed one as well! The shade range and pigmentation are just spectacular. I won't waffle on about it because everyone and their dog has one of these, but the point is it's not hard to see why it's so popular. All I need now is some Muji storage and I'll be a full-on blogger cliche! 

Anything you like the look of here? If you're a Naked Palette fan, which is your favourite?

Kate x