Thursday 12 June 2014

My Top Brushes

Brushes, brushes, brushes. A godsend for flawless makeup application but they do come with their problems. If you go too cheap the quality can be poor leaving your face covered in brush hairs and an uneven finish. However for many people, students included, top of the range brushes are out of the budget which means that hunting down reasonably priced brushes of good quality is a mission for many!


As a budgeting student I feel I am in a great positions to share with you what I have discovered along the way in relation to makeup brushes! Here are my top 6 brushes and some tips for buying them! 

1. Real Techniques Stippling Brush - a great brush for foundation and blush. I like the light effect it can give with blushes.

2. Real Techniques Shading Brush - a great all over eye brush. I use this when I need to be quick. 

3. Real Techniques Powder Brush - great for powder and bronzer. I think I just love Real Technique brushes!!

4. Eco Tools Blush Brush - stole this from my mum because she never used it. It is incredibly soft and applies and blends blush really well.

5. Paris AX 34 - concealer brush - I found this in TKMAXX at about £3! I don't use it to conceal but to apply eyeshadow as it work well for lining the eye and in the crease! 

6. Elf Small Angled Brush - a cheap and simple brush to help aid poor application of liner!! 

Tips:
- Always shop around when buying brushes, especially if you know what you are looking for. For example many of my brushes I have found in TKMAXX at a much cheaper price than in Boots or online. The packaging may be outdated but that's not what matters really! Also check out blog sales as people will often sell unused brushes and as long as you deep clean th before using them they should be fine!

- Know what you are looking for. I have often bought a brush on a whim and then found that it wasn't useful in my routine and have therefore wasted my money.

- Always have a look at blogposts reviewing brushes as they will more than likely give you an honest opinion on how the brushes perform. It will save you a lot of time and money. 

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Reflections: 1st Year at Uni

It has definitely been a roller coaster this year! In the space of 10 months I have packed up my life, moved 100 miles away from my family, and settled in perfectly into a new city. It's had its ups and downs but there have been some amazing moments which won't be forgotten. As a memory for myself and a way to share my experience with those who are yet to journey into the world of Universities (or those who have left and want to live vicariously though me! ) I am going to journey back through the year with the help of photos and memories!



I moved in to my student house on the 20th September after managing to pack all my belongings into a rather small car along with 3 people! (It was a struggle!) I remember Freshers Week being a whirlwind of introductory lectures, student fairs and far to many nights out all whilst trying to get to know the people around you and put on a show so that they didn't think I was weird! (They know now after living with me for a year so it was a fruitful attempt!)

I have been studying Human Geography and have loved it. Some parts aren't what I expected them to be however the people I have met have made up for any of the small hiccups along the way. The work was manageable and being an organised person gave me a head start! I am so excited to see what will occur next year when I actually pick my modules myself!



Christmas came ever so quickly and coincided with my first every holiday abroad without my parents (or school)! I had an amazing week skiing with the Uni Snowsports Society and 3 amazing girls (2 of whom I'd never met before!). If you have the chance I would 100% recommend taking the plunge and booking a Uni ski holiday! It was a great experience and I hopefully will be able to make it again next year!!

The next milestone was a visit to Warwick with Cardiff Brass Band! ( I know, completely nerdy!) A small weekend break left us coming 5th nationally and two minibuses full of hungover students! It was an amazing time spent with some great people and I can't wait to go again next year!!



Since around February workloads increased but I managed to keep up with socialising! This year I was part of the Baking Society and the Harry Potter Society, along with Band, so I had many things to do during the week!

Now that it is all over I feel very excited about what is to come in the next couple of years and have started to think about life after Uni - I still have no idea what I actually want to do!!

If you read this far well done! I applaud you!!
Have any of you just finished your first year of uni? Or any other school year!?
I hope that once back in Cardiff I can do some more posts on the things I get up to!!

Saturday 7 June 2014

Summer NOTD for Short Nails!!

If you didn't  know already I have a slight obsession with nail polish. I worked out a couple of years ago that if my nails are painted I stop biting them but I then went nail polish crazy!! When packing up to go home I did a count and it was over 100!! (Nail polish collection anyone?)

This week I've had a bit more time to relax as exams are finally over and all I've had to do is pack all my stuff away and clean so I sat down with all my polish and went full speed ahead in nail designs for many future posts/instagrams!

My nails have been short recently as exams cause me to stress bite them (I know.. it's so bad) and I have rather short nail bases so I stumbled along to Pinterest to inspire me for nail designs specifically based upon shorter nails. I found a great array of designs which looked over complicated and time consuming however there were a few that stuck out. These pushed the main design to the back of the nail, near the cuticle, to draw the eye away from the length! Such an obvious idea that is so effective!!! Here is my take on it!!:


Nail Polish I used!

 Base:
Barry M Espresso

 Flowers:
Barry M Blueberry
Barry M Matt White
Ciate Play Date
Ciate Kiss Chase
NYC Lexington Yellow

The base was two coats of Barry M Espresso, which is a beautiful matte black colour! It is nearly opaque in 1 coat however I added a second just for safety! I chose matte because I though it would contrast nicely with the shiny finish the flowers would have!



The flowers were achieved with the help of a very mini dotting tool (you can buy these from ebay for a couple of quid and Iw url so recommend them! they are so handy!!). Using a small ended dotting tool I went along all of my nails colour by colour as I felt it would look more sleek if all the nails has the exact same flower placement. The placement was completely random but I think it works well! (A   little warning - some colours were hard to see on top of the black so I had to go through a few different ones before I settled on the four I chose.) The white was then used to create a centre for the flowers!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Would be great to know if you would like to see more!
What do you think of this look? Have you got shorter nails and struggle to paint designs on to them?

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Day Out #2... | Cocktails at 10 Feet Tall - Cardiff

With my first year of University coming to an end a lot of goodbyes for now have been occurring as all the friends I have made over the year depart back to their own little corners of the UK. On one of these occasions a few friends and I decided to start from the conventional 'going out' path and visit a local cocktail bar. It was nothing extravagant but I though I would share my experience with you all, just in case you ever find yourself in Cardiff!


10 Feet Tall is a small venue which claims to serve cocktails, tapas and music every night of the week. It's location is apart from the usual clubs and bars but it is still extremely central within the city centre. Inside it has two floors with an array of seating for those who are in for the long haul to those who are popping in for 1 (or 2..3..4) drinks!


Sounds pretty good so far ey?! The best thing though is the 2-4-1 or 2 for £10 daily offers on a select menu of cocktails! These range from the classics - Long Islands and Cosmo's - to the more individual - Zombie and Japanese Slipper (A sickly sweet watermelon concoction). Although the menu isn't limited to these. Away from the offers the bar staff can whip up cocktails such as the Singapore Sling (I would highly recommend this cherry flavoured Gin based drink), a Grape Smash and some signature cocktails.

We visited on a Thursday night so the bar wasn't packed but it was busy. The vibe was great, with a live DJ offering some classics (maybe due to the group of oldies dancing themselves into oblivion!), and loads of Uni students enjoying a night off during exam period. There is a club downstairs for those who fancy dancing the night away after a few drinks too!!

If you are ever around Cardiff and in need of a cocktail fix I would highly recommend giving 10 Feet Tall a try. It is reasonably prices but still offers a wide range of well made cocktails (and other alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages) in a venue with a greta atmosphere! 10/10!!


Tuesday 27 May 2014

Review: Superdrug Aloe Vera Mud Mask

I often browse Superdrug and Boots for products I haven't seen before and being a first timer for mask I though I would dip my feet in with something that wouldn't break the bank. Coming in at £2.59 this little tube of product certainly won't. It claims to be a de-stressing mask which will "help calm the skin and replenish moisture" as well as cleansing and purifying pores.

The first thing that caught my eye was the packaging. It was sleek and had a great vintage feel to it which made it seem like it wasn't an own brand product. The tube is small, more like the size of a hand cream, but I have used it for a couple of weeks, twice a week, and it has a couple more uses in it!


Applying it is easy, although I don't think I will ever get over the colours of some face masks. I felt like Shrek before the mask had dried and the colour had muted! Leaving it for 15 minutes made my skin slightly agitated so on reflection I think 10-12 would be more appropriate but once removed there was little redness which probably came from the removal rather than the product itself.

With warm water and a flannel the mask came off easily, minus the bits that I had magically got caught in my eyebrows (urghhh...!).

Having never tried other masks, apart from the 99p sachets when I was younger (throwback anyone?), I can't give a decent comparison however there are more in the range which I might delve into when I get the chance. The de-stressing claims are weak, although if you were to use this on a pamper evening the process is not exactly stressful, however I would say that my face seemed less dry after using it - something I have a problem with on occasion.

If you are in the market for a cheap but good quality mask I would really recommend this, however I would assume that there are many more that work better if you are willing to pay a bit more!


Tuesday 20 May 2014

Mid Month Montage: Revision

With the exam period of the year in full flow, mine included, I thought it would be apt to focus my Mid Month Montage on the topic. Being in my first year of Uni I have a fair few years of revision experience under my belt, with some good experiences and a handful of bad ones! 

The last few days have been amazing, and I would totally recommend getting outside and revising whenever you can. It makes you feel so much better! And take breaks... your body needs them, staying focussed on revision all day every day is not helpful at all - I always try to do different things than usual during my breaks: walks, cycles, finding new little cafes to garb a bite to eat!

(excuse the iPhone photos, I left my camera charger at home! Bad Blogger!!)

- Being in Cardiff I have the beautiful Bute Park to spend sunny days in. It's amazing how relaxing it is and how much more work I get done than when I'm in the Library! I have previous post with more pictures if you want to have a look!

- One tip I would give is that getting out of your house is great and don't be scared to go to the library!. I have been revising in the library and it's great. I do have an unfortunately small desk in my room which means I have even more incentive to be here! The librarians are great too :)

- I really recommend doing something new! I gave myself a break on Sunday and wondered over to the Riverside Market near the Stadium in Cardiff. I have never been before but have been aware of it for ages. It was great.. and there were many little stalls selling things from goats milk ice cream to Indian Takeaway! It was a great relaxing break and I left with a lovely chocolate croissant!

- This blog post seems to be very food themed but hey, everyone eats! ha. Cardiff Uni have been giving out free drinks/ice lollies as part of their #revisionaid scheme. On Friday we have a petting zoo appearing outside the library! I can not wait 

- Finally, as I said above try to venture out of the norm and even if you are alone go and try new cafe's or places to eat. I found myself in BB's Coffee and Muffins, not eating a muffin but trying their paninis. It was pretty good and even though I was alone I passed the time by people watching!

These aren't really tips, more a list of things I like to do when revision becomes a priority, but I hope they have been an inspiration!
To all of you that have exams coming up I wish you good luck! I can't wait for it to be over in 2 weeks time! 


Tuesday 13 May 2014

Mini May Haul...

(Right from Top: Natural Collection in Crimson & Pink Mallow, NYX in Bloody Mary)
(Middle from Top: Daniel Sandler Creme Blush in Soft Peach, Benefit Porefessional, Sleek Matte Blush in Suede)
(Left from Right: Illamasqua in Boost, Natural Collection in Caramel Shortcake)

I thought I would share a few of the products I have added to my collection recently. I am an avid stalker of #blogsale and get overly excited when I see a new UK based one appear with some interesting but cheap products that I otherwise can't afford. Last week I spotted one which got me rather interested. I managed to pick up a Sleek Blush in Suede, Daniel Sandler Creme Blush in Soft Peach and a NYX Matte Lipstick in Bloody Mary all for £9.50 inc postage. I also got the Illamasqua Lipgloss in Boost for free! I really would recommend having look at blog sales because it is amazing what you can pick up!

On my way to Cardiff I had a rather lengthy wait at Victoria Coahc Station so helped myself to a cheeky magazine. I am not one for having a favourite so I usually pick a magazine depending on what freebies I will be getting! (Bad I know!!) I managed to pick up a sample size Porefessional by Benefit. I have tried this out and it is great.. although I am unsure whether to get a full sized ones. Have any of you tried it? What do you think?

Finally I picked up a trio of Natural Collection products after hearing a few good things about them. I went slightly lip crazy and picked out 1 lipgloss in Caramel Shortcake. This is a me but better colour really and not anything amazing. It applies nicely but definitely doesn't hang around! I then chose two lipstick in Pink Mallow and Crimson. These are incredibly disappointing in regards of packaging. They have not been used much at all and have already started to wobble around in the packaging! I nearly lost Pink Mallow the other day as I pushed it up! The colours itself are really good for such a small price and last relatively long.

I hope you enjoyed my haul. What have you picked up recently?


Wednesday 7 May 2014

A little chatter...

I am currently sat on a megabus (gold... I'll have you know!!) on my way back to Cardiff after spending a whole month at home for Easter. If any of you have ever experienced the delights of travelling with many other strangers along a motorway for three hours I'm sure you know what I am going through. 

Since I do not have internet capabilities or any of my photos I decided a nice chatty post would fit quite nicely, maybe with some hints of what to expect over the summer.

I am mid revision for my first year exams (I know, "why are you revising", "you're a first year you shouldn't be in the library" etc etc. But I might as well try and do well!!) which is why I have missed a few weeks of posting (sorry). However, as a form of procrastination I have been thinking about what my plans are for my blog. I hope that once I have finished exams I can up my weekly post count to at least 2, if not a sneaky 3 when I feel like it! I also want to improve my photography skills so look out for photo filled posts of what I have been up to!

Other than that I have a limited supply of post ideas but any suggestions would be great! Being a student I really should be focussing on budget post etc so nothing too extravagant!!

I hope all of you have had a great Easter and if you have exams coming up that they go ok!

Thank you for the support .. I have really loved watching my blog grow and seeing people commenting on my posts. If any of you have your own blogs feel free to leave your links below... I would love to give them a read!

If you would like to follow me on bloglovin   The link is on the right hand side of my blog!!

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Quick Pack Makeup

Coming home from Uni by bus/train means packing as little as possible and although I wish books and paper didn't take priority they do which means other things have to take a back seat. I also left packing until the last minute which never helps. I assumed there would be other people in similar situation and those who are nosy who might like to see the random collection of products I managed to pick up and fit into my small wash bag.


So here is the oddly mismatched collection of makeup that I manage to bring home!

FACE
- Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream
- MaxFactor Whipped Creme Foundation (40 Light Ivory)
- Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (100 Ivory)
- Physicians Formula Powder Palette (Peach Nude)
- Nip & Fab CC Eye Fix (Light)
- MUA Blusher's in Marshmellow (pink) and Bon Bon (peach)

EYES
- MUA Ever After Matte Palette
- Stila Black Eyeshadow
- Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze
- Company Lashes
- Rimmel Scandleyes
- Maybelline The Rocket
- Boots Tired Eyes Eye Drops

LIPS
- Topshop Pillow Talk
- Topshop Whimsical

BRUSHES
- EcoTools Blush Brush
- Paris AX Professional 34 (From TKMAXX!)
- Real Techniques Shading, Stippling and Powder Brush

Why I packed 3 mascaras I will never know but I'm sure my sister will love to have one of them, I don't think I've even used the Company one!!


Tuesday 22 April 2014

Mid Month Montage: All things Easter

A slightly different format to this Mid Month Montage as I am going to be sharing a classic easter related recipe!
At uni I rarely buy chocolate so coming home to cupboards filled with easter treats was pretty great and with my sisters help I thought it would be a nice idea to make chocolate nests to give to my family. I am sure this is something that everyone has seen before, but incase you haven't, or have been wanting to do some 'no bake' baking, here is my version of easter chocolate nests! (based on a recipe found on BBC Food)

You will need:
- 225g chocolate (I used what was in the cupboard so it was a mix of dark and milk)
- 2tbsp golden syrup
- 50g butter
- 75g rice crispies (other cereals can be used: shredded wheat, cornflakes etc)
- mini eggs

The making part is simple. 

- Melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a bowl over simmering water
- Add in the rice crispies until they are suitably covered. I added more than the recipe said because there was still a lot of chocolate that was unmixed
- Spoon the mixture into cupcake cases. I pressed the mixture to the side to create a small dent in the middle so they look like nests
- Finally, add a little trio of mini eggs in the centre!!

I hope you enjoyed this post and had a great easter!




Tuesday 8 April 2014

#2 What have I been listening to?



Track List

Into The Wild - Lewis Watson
Save Me - Bo Bruce
Red Hands - Walk Off the Earth
Stars In My Eyes - The Original Rudeboys
The Answer - Josh Kumra
Don't Go - Josh Kumra
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
Make Me Robot - Tessa Violet
human - Christina Perri

A mixed bag of music this time being a collection of songs from the last few months. I have really been loving Walk Off the Earth, a band I found on YouTube, and missed seeing them in concert last week due to prior arrangements. Another YouTube related song is Make Me Robot - which I found during a ShayTards video.

What songs have you been liking at the moment?



Tuesday 1 April 2014

Makeup of the Day: Budget Spring

As the weather is getting warmer there is a higher need for a lighter and fresher look. Here is what I have been wearing recently


FACE:
I picked up this foundation a while back and didn't really use it throughout the winter however the slight shimmer in the mix and the added benefits of the SPF 15 I picked this up a couple of weeks back and have begun using it again. It's easy to use, with a pump dispenser however I do find that it clings to any dry patches.

On my cheeks I have been wearing MUA's £1 powered blush in Bon Bon. This, for the amount it cost, is amazing. High pigmentation, easy to blend and a gorgeous coral toned pink - although it is described as being apricot on the website. I would highly recommend spending a quid and checking these out, especially if you are on a tight budget.

Under my eyes to brighten them up I have been wearing the Nip+Fab CC Eye Fix. This is a twist and brush applicator (much like some lip glosses) and is great for those days when sleep has not happened. It also smells amazing! I picked this up in TK Maxx and I would really recommend having a browse as they always have great finds hidden away!

EYES:
I recently bought the MUA (a slight trend here - can you tell I'm a student?!) Matte Palette off of a blog sale, but I think in shops it is around £4 - which is still amazing for 10 matte shades. My two favourite are the ones on the left of the bottom row (Penny and Chino) - the lighter shade is perfect for everyday wear and can be added to with the darker shade for night time. These aren't exceptionally pigmented but for what they are worth the colours are great.

My mascara at the moment is the Super Lash by Seventeen. With spring looks I prefer to tone down my mascara with a black/brown instead of pure black as I feel it softens the eyes. I picked this up during the 3for2 offer at Boots and have so far enjoyed it, although I do find it is very clumpy.

LIPS:
On my lips I have been wearing another blog sale purchase, this time in the shape of a Topshop lipstick. This shade is Pillow Talk and is a very barbie but softer shade of pink. I love light and bright lipsticks in the spring/summer and this fits perfectly.

So there is my budget(ish) spring makeup look.
What have you been wearing recently? I would love any suggestions!

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Review: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water


I have been using this now for about 3 weeks and feel that it's been long enough for me to have formed a fair opinion on it.

I have never used cleansing water or anything similar before so I can't compare it to others, however in terms of makeup removal it does what it says on the tin. I use a cotton pad to remove my makeup and with one side for my face and the other for my eyes I find I really don't have to use much liquid at all - I'm sure the bottle will last for ages! Once used there is no residue left on my face - it feels like I could have washed it with water, just with better effects! I have also not noticed any breakouts or reactions (my eyes are problem area) which is a great bonus as I find some removers are too harsh for my skin!

However I do find that some mascaras can be a little more stubborn - and as a person who uses waterproof mascara I often find that after using the water there is still some makeup around my eyes but this could be because I am wary of putting to much pressure/movement around my eyes because they are very sensitive. Other than this the only downside is the smell. Having no fragrance added definitely leaves a weird smell when the water is drying. It goes away soon enough but it is rather obvious for a few minutes. However for the price - a mere £4.99!!!- I don't really feel like I can complain too much!

Now I guess it is on to France to try some Bioderma!

Have any of you tried this remover? What do you think?



Tuesday 18 March 2014

Mid-Month Montage: My Favourite Films

I find this is always an interesting question to ask when you are getting to know people as it can really define who a person is. There are those who adore the rom-coms, the sci-fi nerds, those who can never make their mind ups and those who can't watch a film if it doesn't include guns, war and blood! Me - I'm not sure where I stand - apart from my undeniable love for Harry Potter (I am not ashamed)- I don't really fit into any particular category, something which will become apparent in the following montage!



1. About Time - the classic cheesy pick. Can't have a film list without some romance!!
2. Leon - in the top 250 but most people have't heard it in my experience. It is so good!!
3. Dead Poet's Society - the first film I watched that I was too young to see. Recently rewatched it and  it still had an impact
4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - who doesn't love a bit of Bill Nighy!!
5. Monsters Inc. - so much better than Monster University (I recently watched it and had completely forgotten about the Yeti part! )
6. Schindler's List - so much impact, worth a watch


So, there are the films that i deem worthy enough to be included in my favourite film list! I would recommend all of these films and you're in luck because there is one for pretty much every mood!!

I would love to know what yours are? Especially if there are any embarrassing ones!!


Tuesday 11 March 2014

The best of the glitters...

I am a nail polish-aholic! I mean, who doesn't like them right?! However, my 'problem' has reached new levels with my collection tipping the 100 scale - to try and limit the damage to my bank account I have decided to start loving the colours that have got lost in my collection - the ones that have been there a while or are not as 'fashionable' - and share them on my blog!

Some of my least used polishes are my glitter ones... they are sometimes more trouble that they are worth and if I do use them it is more than likely it will only be for a statement nail. Surprisingly I seem to have a fair few and there are some that now I have tried them again I really love!

(Deborah Lippman - Glitter in the Air, Ciate - fit for a queen, Rimmel - Ruby Crush, Nubar - Sky Sparkle, MAVALA - Ruby Dust)

Well here are my top picks at the moment - a very random bunch of glitter based polishes ranging from holographic to light top coat esque colours. Many of these are quite recent purchases in the grand scheme of things however a couple have been around for a good year or so.



My favourite and most loved glitter polishes are these two. I love the pale blue that is used as the base colour for the Deborah Lippmann one - it just shouts spring and sun! The glitter is made up of baby blue and pink hexagonal pieces of varying sizes and although it needs a fair few coats to be completely opaque the effect is gorgeous. I bought this polish in TK MAXX - and I highly recommend looking in the beauty section for great, and hugely reduced, beauty gems - I got a few other pieces which I mention is this post.
The other colour was included in my Ciate Advent Calendar and is the most perfect opaque silver holographic like polish I have ever seen - I have been looking for a gold one that is similar since I first tried this polish! I mainly use this for statement nails, usually pairing it with a pink or blue.


I love glitter a Christmas (is it too early to start talking about it again!?) and I remember buying the Rimmel Precious Stone polish especially for that very occasion. It contains lots of very small red glitter pieces mixed with chunkier silver ones and applies nearly opaque in one coat. I have worn it over a deep red polish before and loved the effect!
The Mavala polish is lots of fine glitter particles of varying colours, I can see red's, purples and blues all mixed up in there! It is extremely fine and needs about two coats - however it is a real pain to get off, as most glitter polishes are.
The Nubar polish is more of a top coat and would be great over white, although with a lot of coats it could become opaque. For me this polish is great because of the beautiful turquoise colour. It just reminds me of the summer!

Well there we are - my favourite glitter polishes at the moment! There are a lot more where they came from so if you would like to know what else I have on my polish shelve feel free to ask!

What are some of your favourite polishes? Especially now its Spring!!

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Blogger Love Tag

I have wanted to share my favourite blogs for a while now but didn't know quite how to do it until I saw Jennie from Sailboat do the Blogger Love Tag by Fee from Makeup Savvy and knew that it would fit perfectly - with a couple of alterations!! I have been a blog reader for at least 3/4 years now - and now that I have started my own blog I understand the community that has evolved around these websites we put so much effort into and I believe that we should all contribute to sharing the love for any bloggers we enjoy reading! If you feel the same please follow me and complete this tag yourself to help share the love!
So here are my answers to this tag:


What was the first blog you ever came across?
I think the first blog I ever read was Fleur de Force's. I began my adventure into the blogging world through YouTube, having been a subscriber to many channels since I was about 15. I had no idea about the blogging community until I read Fleur's description box on one of her video's and decided to take a look. Thankfully I enjoyed it and here I am today - 4 years on!

Favourite blog reads
Lifestyle/Food: I adore reading A Beautiful Mess as I love being able to live vicariously through their DIY projects, pining for the day I can own my own place. Their food posts are also great and really inspire me to cook more.
Beauty: I have a few favourites in this category - mainly because I love to have different points of view. My longtime favourite reads have been Lily Pebbles, Vivianna Does Makeup and Essie Button, but more recently I have stumbled across UNSTITCHEDD. I would really recommend giving these girls a read - although I am sure you have heard of them before.
Fashion: I have always loved The Camera's Lying and feel that being closer in age gives me a closer connection to Amy's blog. Her Youtube Channel is also worth having a watch

Name a blog that enables your purchases
Urgh - I am so bad with spending, however there aren't any specific blogs which are my enablers, although if I se a product mentioned more than once on my Bloglovin feed then I am sure to add it to my wish list!!

Blogs everyone should be reading!
- Steve Booker - this might be considered an odd choice for a girl but his playlist post really inspire me and I love the care and attention he puts into his outfits
- A Thrifty Mrs - another non beauty relate blog, but the tips and tricks I have learnt through El's blog are a godsend. Who would have though vinegar had so many uses!!
- Student Life - Oh my this girl is funny! Being a student I can totally relate but for any girl this blog is a must!
- Sprinkle of Glitter - I know most people will have heard of Louise... but her blog is always the one I check for first on Bloglovin. It must be the mixture of cute baby and down to earth writing that gets me!

Your favourite way to read blogs
I have always used Bloglovin to read my blogs as it makes it so much easier to have all my favourite blogs in the same feed.  I also love the way you have group the blogs you follow

Bloggers that inspire you
I know they have already been mentioned but both Lily Pebbles and Essie Button are my inspiration - they are the reason I chose to begin blogging frequently again!

Favourite blog design/look
I love blogs which are simple, just pictures and writing etc. If a blog looks to busy it really puts me off. However I also love a blog which reflects the blogger. I love the colours that Lily from LLYMLRS uses - mustard is just a great colour

What is your favourite thing about blogging?
Being able to frequently express myself through writing - it is something I love to develop and blogging is a great way to achieve this as it allows me to write about what I am enjoying as well as connecting with a group of people.
I also love having that escape that reading blogs offers without the need to commit to a whole book. Even spending only half an hour a day scrolling through blogs will improve my day!

Name a blogger you would most life to see write a book in the future!
A hard one as there are so many talented writers out there. If I had to choose anyone I think it would have to be Essie (and Aslan) as I love their outlook on interiors and always want to buy the furniture they mention. they also seem to travel to great places!

I hope you enjoyed this post and have found a few more blogs to read!
I would love some more suggestions on any of your favourite blogs!!

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Mid-Month Montage: Internet Window Shopping

Another monthly montage, but this time dedicated to the hours I spend looking at things that I don't have the funds to buy. (student problems ey!). I love looking at what other people have on their wish lists - maybe because I can live precariously through them, or I'm just incredibly nosy, i don't know!

Although this list isn't exactly the most exciting collections of wants and wishes - it reflects the needs of a student - comfy clothes, wearable shoes and a dash of beauty and the unnecessary.


        (links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

1. I saw Lily from LilyPebbles wearing this on her Instagram and loved it - I am addicted to comfy sweaters and the tighter sleeves on this one add something a bit different

2. Ankle boots - how I love you! I have been looking for a nice, comfy pair of boots for a while and saw these is the Asos sale. Unfortunately I am only willing to part money for a black pair - however the style is great and if my bank allowed it I would for sure purchase these!

3. I saw these leggings whilst looking through Ebay (probably as a form of procrastinations) and loved the pattern. I have never tried any of BooHoo's clothes before but I have heard good things about them. 

4. Tangle Teasers - a cult product that I have yet to give in to. I prefer to stick to my Primark hairbrushes as they are a lot more affordable however this will probably make it onto my Christmas/Birthday list.

5. The community has been raving about the launch of Tanya Burr's product line and I just want to give it a go. The nail polishes don't look individual enough for me however I don't own many lip glosses. The colour in the photo is Picnic in the Park - a dark baby pink perfect for the day time in my opinion. 

I hope you enjoyed looking through the things I would love to be able to buy!
Is there anything that you are really lusting over at the moment?






Tuesday 11 February 2014

The stories we love best live in us forever...

This is quite simply a list of book I have bought to read. I have always loved reading and when given a book voucher recently I had no idea what to buy having taken a break from the literary world since studying English Literature took all the enjoyment out of it. The last book I read was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I loved it - so much so that I read it in about two days over Christmas and then had no option but to pass it over to my sister for her to again read it in as little time. At the time I also bought the new novel by Khalid Hosseini - And the Mountains Echoed but revision and the urge to read more of John Green's work led to it being put to one side.

The other day i ventured out into the rain and found the Waterstone's nearest to me to witness a buy one get one half price offer on many books. With this I picked up 4 more books (lucky I had a voucher or my bank balance would not be happy ey!!).

(Sorry for the fuzziness... I seem to have misplaced my camera - iPad pictures aren't the best!)

1. Stoner - John Williams
2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Leuithan
3. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
4. Paper Towns - John Green
5. And the Mountains Echoes - Khaled Hosseini

Yes, there is a running theme - but as I have learnt in the past - I generally fall into patterns of authors. I once read most of Alexander McCall Smith's book series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, one after the other. The odd book out was picked up out of pure interest, and then as the blurb allowed my pre-judgements to be proven wrong I felt it was only fair to give it a go - I have started to read Williams' book, it is definitely interesting but I will have to wait to finish it to give it a fair judgement!

Do any of you have a love for reading?
Would you be interested in any of these books being reviewed?

Tuesday 4 February 2014

"I Want To Ride My Bicycle"

Today, most probably as a form of procrastination, but also because going back to Uni has been a good reason to start a health kick, I went for a cycle ride. For me this is not that drastic, as a child we would go on family bike rides all the time, but since being at Uni my exercise has fallen and I really need to start doing something!

Next to my house is a beautiful park with a river running through it - a perfect place for a winter cycle ride. The paths run on both sides of the river and around the University playing fields, allowing for a good distance to be covered without having to travel too far away.

Here are some pictures of my cycling adventure  - I hope you enjoy them!






Have any of you started anything new fitness wise in the new year?

Tuesday 28 January 2014

#1 What have I been listening to?



Track List

Heal - Tom Odell
Find You There - We The Kings
High Hopes - Kodaline
Campfire - Satellite Stories
Hey Brother - Avicii
Adagio for Strings, Op. 11a - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Dear Simone - Jacob Banks
Life's for the Living - Passenger
Under Control - Calvin Harris, Alesso, Hurts
If I Die Young - The Band Perry

I enjoy listening to music and also love knowing what other people are listing to and what better way to achieve this than by creating monthly playlists of my top tunes! Recently my life has been about revision and  keeping myself motivated - I guess this has been reflected in my choice of music - why else would Avicii be in the same playlist as some classical music!?

I hope you enjoy!


Tuesday 21 January 2014

Mid-Month Montage: Inspiring Quotes

I love a good look through We Heart It and Pinterest any day of the week, but one thing I find that always makes me feel better are the quotes and sayings that have the ability to truly inspire. With exams nearly over, but motivation lacking I thought it would be the perfect time to have a scroll through the internet and find some quotes that need to be shared! 

(links: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.)

Even if these don't apply directly to your life, why not share them with friends that might appreciate the pick up?! I hope they have at least brightened one persons day :)

Do you have any favourite/inspiring quotes?






Tuesday 14 January 2014

Makeup of the Day: Simple/Lazy


On those days where getting up is a struggle this is my go to choice for makeup as it requires no mess, thinking or precision. 

FACE:
Max Factor's Whipped Creme Foundation is the first mousse style foundation I have tried and I bought it after being sent a sample. Although it is different to what I usually use the finished product leaves a low coverage (although I would assume that it is build-able) 'not there' appearance, whilst still hiding the more obvious blemishes. This can be applied perfectly well with just your fingers, making the process even more hassle free, but I prefer to use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. 

For simplicity I use the Max Factor's Miracle Touch Creamy Blush. Blending can be achieved easily with just fingers, which I feel gives it a more natural finish anyway. My favourite colour in the range is 09 Soft Murano which is a deep pink. This darker tone is perfect for Winter (Drier skin anyone?) especially because of the cream formula. 

EYES:
One of my favourite, easy to apply eye products are the Maybelline 24 Hour Tattoo Eyeshadows. Again, this is easy to apply with just your fingers, and even though it can be used as a base, the colour is bold enough that it looks amazing on its own. My favourite shade is On and On Bronze, however I recently purchased Pomegranate, which is a deep pink shade, and it is growing on me. 

My go to mascara at the moment is Maybelline The Rocket. I prefer rubber applicators, and this mascara gives a slight boost to the volume of my lashes, although it does lack in the length department (*heads out of the gutters please*). An overall decent mascara for the price you pay.

LIPS:
Lazy days means simple lip products. The Miss Sporty Dr Balm's are perfect for a lazy day. They give a wash of colour and keep your lips nice and moisturised, perfect for the colder months. I always keep one of these on me and one in my car just in case I need it! 

So there it is, my simple/lazy make up! 
Do any of you have go to products for those kind of days?