Hello Friday I'm so glad you're here! I've not felt more ready for the weekend than today, not only has it been my first full week back at work but the much talked about snow is finally here. Sheffield is said to be built on seven hills so if you live anywhere near one of the hills like my parents do then you'll find the snow tends to get comfy and settle in. As much as I love a bit of snow it doesn't half cause some problems - I was so worried the boy and I wouldn't make it home from work today but thankfully his little car trouped on, up all the hills to get us home safely. Wrapped up in nowhere near enough layers and with a candle burning in the background - Neom Refresh in can you were wondering I thought now would be a fitting time to share with you my thoughts on the Ciate Mini Mani Month especially as snow tends to remind me of Christmas.

I bought the Mini Mani Month back in October naively believing it would stop me from devouring a traditional chocolate advent calendar whilst allowing me to try Ciate's nail polishes, something I'd never done before. Well not devouring a chocolate advent lasted all of four days as I found myself running round Waitrose like a crazed woman trying to track one down. Chocolate aside I really enjoyed opening each window in the Mini Mani Month to find a new nail polish staring back at me each day, don't get me wrong some of the colours were a little out there (I'm looking at you Big Yellow Taxi) and as excited as I was about the Caviar blends they're yet to find their way onto my nails but overall it was definitely worth the £38 price tag particularly as I found some new favourite nail polishes.

The stand out polishes for me (pictured above L-R) are Cookies and Cream - a chic creamy nude shade which will look perfect come Spring. Power Dressing - a deep blue, almost black shade which will fits the Winter vampy profile perfectly. Vintage - an unusual shade of grey meets khaki, very similar to Essie's Power Clutch. Fade to Greige - the perfect mix of lavender and grey, great for when you want a little more something something than the traditional nude. Last but by no means least is Enchanted Rose - a bright red glitter shade perfect for Christmas on all nails or as an accent colour on ring fingers. Note worthy mentions go to Dangerous Affair - THE wine red colour to go with Enchanted Rose and Twilight a beautiful black with tiny particles of gold glitter. 

The Ciate Mini Mani Month is definitely the advent calendar that keeps giving, instead of the distant memory of snow man shaped chocolate I now have 24 new nail colours to play with, although I may just be giving Mojito a miss, no one wants Shrek coloured nails. I hope more brands take note for Christmas 2013 and give us beauty obsessed ladies more advent calendars with a twist. I'd love to see one from Nails Inc or even Origins as there's so many products I'd love to try from them.

What do you think of the Ciate Mini Mani Month advent calendar? Which brands would you like to see make an advent calendar for Christmas 2013?