Here it is, a long-time coming beauty on a budget post. I'm sticking with my trusty L'Oreal products of course, and reviewing this lovely BB Power that is part of the Nude Maqigue range (which I am slowly filling my make-up bag with).
This was a risky buy, but so far so good. Mostly I wanted to write this post after this handy little product survived a gruelling 9 hour Sunday in the restaurant, by far the most difficult test for any make-up!
I usually struggle to find powder because I don't like anything too heavy, but the softer and lighter you go, the more fluffy it can make your skin look. This one has a 5 in 1 factor though, and I think it was the combination of all these that won me over when I saw it in Boots, and also perhaps the bargain price (introductory offer of £5.49!) and the fact that I needed to use up some of my advantage card points.
I went for the medium shade, but there was also the option of light. I would usually go for light, but when I did a little test I think the darker shade blended better.
I'm really pleased with this actually. It does all of the things it says it will, and keeps me shine-free which is a problem I had before. Not to mention it seemed less obvious on my skin than my previous powders. It's definitely worth the price, even when the offer ends and it goes back up to £6.99.
What does everyone think? Can anyone recommend a good powder? I don't like to spend a huge amount on make-up (she says, even though I use Benefit primer & make-up brushes), so things like this are a lovely find!
Chet Faker.
I'm a little bit in love. Such a unique and raw voice. His music is really simple but totally mesmerising. No idea how I found him but it's all I can listen to right now. Go listen, I urge you!
Ilam in Derbyshire is my new favourite place! I haven't been as impressed by such gorgeous landscape in ages. Just my sort of place too - the whole place was wild but every now and again there would be an Austen-esq house in the middle of the woods or an old Church on the top of a hill.
I was hoping my terrible attempt at photography would do the talking for this post, Lord knows I don't want to ruin the scenery with blabbering. I will say though, that sometimes it's really lovely to be reminded that the Midlands, for all it's faults and my moaning about it, is actually a very beautiful place to live and I think I'm rather lucky to have this 40 minutes down the road. It's easy to forget where you are when you live there.
Highlight of the day has to be stumbling across a rather battered looking photo frame hanging from a low branch. I have absolutely no clue how long it's been there and why, but I'm always one to embrace a bit of surrealism when it comes my way.
I highly recommend a trip, if you have the wellies and walking coats available. It rained for the entire time we were out. Although I do think we picked the perfect season to visit, the colours and weather made the whole thing even more vivid. It's also given me the bug to find some other areas to get exploring - I've even invested in some Dr Martens (second hand, too poor for new of course) so that next time my lovely biker boots won't get so destroyed.
Has anyone else visited anywhere interesting recently?
Au revoir...
Au revoir! Laurie
This lady is an icon, and an underrated one at that. I wake up most mornings feeling disappointed that firstly, I'm not Stevie Nicks and secondly, there will never again be anyone like Stevie Nicks.
Called the 'Queen of Rock and Roll' by Rolling Stone - I cannot help but adore this woman. She's beautiful, and quirky, and seems to bring everything she possibly can to the table. I know a lot of people won't know who she is - although I'm sure most people know Fleetwood Mac - but she's a very interesting woman who's paved the way for a lot of other female artists as well as overcome personal battles like drug addiction and divorce.
Her inspirations were Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, she's waited tables so that she could afford to write songs and wore platform boots so that she didn't feel small. She's just too cool. Her style is one I would kill for, although I don't know how she manages to pull it off. I only wish I could wear capes, lace and renaissance berets without looking like I'm too early for Halloween.
Anyway, there it is. Please go and listen to her music! Or buy a Fleetwood Mac album. Believe me, once you hear the intro to Edge of Seventeen you will never be the same again.
Just a quick update, my brother is home for half-term! It's only a few days, but I love having him around. We caught up over lunch at Wagamama's for a few hours this afternoon! Love this place, only topped by Tam PoPo in Manchester - which is where I discovered my love for Vietnamese food. Anything spicy and accompanied by noodles, good conversation and lots of laughter and I'm happy.
...that I often have to remind myself, I'm ONLY 22!
Every morning, at the very moment I open my eyes, I ask myself how I've let my life become so disorganised. And if it really is ok that I still live with my parents, have no money and generally don't leave my bedroom before midday. Generally speaking, these are the 6 things that pop into my head before I've had my cup of tea...
1/ Life is fleeting. Months keep passing me by, and I barely notice.
2/ There are lots of things I'm unsure of, and I don't know how to move on to the next stages of my life.
3/ A lot of my friends seem to have their lives organised - but mine only becomes more chaotic every day.
4/ I'm ambitious. But terrified of not achieving those things I want.
5/ I feel old before I'm meant to be - my idea of fun is tea and book based.
6/ CAREER! CAREER! CAREER!
Number six is the definite clincher.
These things became even more real to me when I cut down my hours at the restaurant - "But what are you going to do with all that time?", my manager said to me. It was a terrifying question. But I told myself, at no other time in my life will I get away with being so disorganised and unreliable, and I have so many years ahead of me to worry about all the other stuff that it would be silly to get bogged down in it now. These are my frivolous years of self discovery.
I recently decided I'm only going to focus on what I enjoy and experiment with all the different things I know I can be good at, and things I have yet to learn to be good at. I've been reading, blogging, watching films, rekindling old friendships (and new!), going to the theatre, hanging out with my younger sister and finding some 'me' time at last. Probably the most important thing is that I have finally committed myself fully to writing a novel, something that's been on the cards since I was a teenager. By my 23rd birthday (March 8th 2014), I want at least half of a book written, if not more! Failing that, I will put it on the back bench and (somehow) find myself a different career. Harsh, but necessary. I won't be admitting defeat, but I will be admitting that it's not right now.
So I'm going to be a bit poor from now on, and I'll probably end up living with my parents a little longer. But it's ok if I like putting my pyjamas on at 7pm, can only afford to buy all of my clothes off of EBay and my idea of a career is writing character outlines and plot summaries from my bed, because after all, I'm only 22.
So, here I am. A self-certified, happy-as-larry, twenty something mess. And I
love it.
The seasons are changing, and so once more is my wardrobe. I'm very good at changing my style with the weather. It's exciting really, the new colours and silhouettes and the different things that people start wearing. Anyway, this wish list pretty much sums up what I'm loving so far this Autumn. Midi lengths, cable knits, breton stripes and vintage florals with boyish chelsea boots to make it a bit more casual. I particularly like these items because they seem very versatile - I can imagine myself wearing these things layered up, or with skinny jeans that I already own.
My newest venture is to try and create a capsule wardrobe, so hopefully these key items will feature!
Also, must remember to buy lots of woollen tights and a boyfriend coat. It's definitely a 1940's meets 1920's feel for me this year.
What do you all think? Have you seen anything quirky in the shops this season?
Topshop has a few gems at the moment. Not usually a high street girl but they've won me over of course.
After having serious doubts about this new BBC Two Mini series, I've completely surprised myself. Peaky Blinders has had me absolutely gripped from the moment I started watching. In fact, I may even watch it again. I don't know if it's the stellar performance of every cast member, or the interesting setting and scenarios - but whatever it is, it's working. I'm won over whole heartedly.
It's focussed on the real-life Birmingham based Shelby family, also a notorious gang of the 1920's known as the 'Peaky blinders' - so called for the razor blades hidden beneath the peaks of their flat caps. Hooked yet?
When a truck load of guns and ammunition go missing, Detective Campbell (Sam Neil, whose Irish accent is phenomenal) is sent to Birmingham, a hotspot for Communists and IRA sympathisers, in an effort to retrieve the stolen weapons. This is bad news for the Shelby's - top dogs in their neighbourhood, with every copper on their payroll. They were once content to be illegal bookmakers, but since the war, they are suddenly finding their fingers in every pie.
There's Thomas Shelby (Murphy), the middle brother, with ambitions for his family, and dangerous schemes to keep them safe and to keep them together. Naturally things don't go his way, and this is only catalysed by his own haunting and emotionally crippling experiences in the trenches - experiences that he carries around constantly.
He is joined by a hardy band of characters; there is brawny Arthur Shelby , the eldest brother, feisty Aunt Polly, mysterious Irish barmaid Grace, wanted Communist Freddie Thorne and of course, our brutal Police Detective, Chester Campbell.
Ultimately this is a story about family, and hard men living in hard times in one of Britain's Industrial centres. 24 hours a day, hammers and smoke.
It makes for very interesting television - but hints at a dangerous era in British history; when political revolution really was on our doorstep, pre-marital pregnancy was social suicide and gang warfare was real, and necessary for survival. As entertaining as it is informative, it leaves a lingering feeling after every episode.
Don't get me wrong, there are moments where it's so ridiculous 'BBC-esq' that I want to punch the writers. Maybe a few too many mentions of 'when we were in France...' and some very stereotypical examples of sexism. But you get over it. Especially when you hear Cillian Murphy's Brummy accent and see his very convincing portrayal of family man and disturbed soldier. I've always been a fan of his, he has a way of interpreting every role he is in that I can't think he is anybody but the person he's meant to be. And yet, there's something so unique about him. Maybe it's those eyes, I'm a sucker for big eyes...
I truly recommend this. It has appeared on our screens quite suddenly and is ending already, so that I worry lots of people will have bypassed it completely! It's honest, and brutal, and very very vivid.
Oh and did I mention that the soundtrack is an amalgamation of pretty much every band Jack White has ever played guitar for? Yeah, this whole thing just got cooler.
So this is the view from my new room. I have ascended one more floor up into the attic room of the house, and get to look at this every morning (although this was taken in the evening, but you know what I mean). I could pretend that moving into the new room has taken up all of my time, hence the long wait for a new post on here, but that would be a lie. The answer is an easy one, I'm lazy. We all know it! I mean to do things, but it takes a long long time before they get done.
Anyway, less of the negative stuff. Here's a few more snaps of things now all my stuff is moved in...
It took me three coats of Jasmine White to cover the bright pink and blue my younger sister had done it, but finally, I got it all finished.
My bed has been squeezed into the corner under the window. With my wardrobe beside it in the only tall enough part of the room. There's a cube unit in an alcove about 2 metres deep and my bookshelf at the end of my bed.
I do so much here now, which is probably not too healthy. I've hung up fairy lights along the diagonal wall and pinned up some photos and quotes that make me think and give me a bit of well needed inspiration when I'm feeling empty. It's just perfect. I mean, I've banged my head a couple of times, but what's that compared with the ideal sleeping/working/living space?
It's absolutely great up here. I feel like I disappear into my own little place and don't have to worry at all about what's going on in the rest of the house. With the sloping ceilings and quirky shape, it's quiet and hidden and the perfect place for me to write!
I have to admit, it is a little bit cluttered - but that is probably owed to my inability to organise things rather than the size. I've managed to get everything put away though, and my bookshelf is alphabetised neatly (OCD?) and decorated with a few vintage books and my old typewriter (as shown in pictures).
I think I'll leave it at that now. Hopefully there'll be another post from me shortly, making up for lost time and all!
Overheard one of their songs in HMV (yes, I'm probably one of the few people who still shops there) and absolutely had to find out what it was. I googled it madly on my phone and then scrambled through the shelves to find the CD (yes, also probably one of the few people who still buys CD's).
Rough around the edges, but somehow still edgy. It's a belter. The LA duo's debut album, dripping in sex and anger with raw, heavy riffs. It's punk meets blues meets glam rock and metal. I couldn't think of a better album. This is REAL rock and roll.
Let's not forget the feminist overtones too, understated but laughably witty. I listen to this in the car now, very loud, singing my heart out and imagining myself sat in a smokey loft apartment with bottles of bud and friends clad in leather jackets and tight jeans. Thrilled to have found these - a breath of fresh air in a stifled music industry. I've been waiting for a band like this for a long time.
Listen and you'll understand....
You're
a pencil pusher with a pension, what can you teach me?
Original lyrics, with a hint of nostalgia; clever and classic. If I was in a band, I would want to be in one like this. Each song is different, but with the same earthy tone. From the clean, but knee knocking opening track 'End of the World' to the hauntingly bluesey and beautiful secret track, 'Spiritual', which features some organic vocals, witch-like humming and cars as background noise. This is the sort of album you'll listen to for a long time, and never get bored with. Full of songs you think you've heard before but are too original to be mistaken for anything other than what they are. These are two clever ladies, and too god damn cool for me.
Until next time, when I have hopefully mastered the art of the guitar and how to wear denim hotpants with leopard print leotards and tassels (next week's fashion diary??)...
I'm absolutely useless when it comes to selfie's, but here's my awkward attempt at one to try and illustrate the new hair. 60's Mary Quant eat your heart out! Absolutely adore it. My first experiments will be wearing berets and ruffling it up so I look like a complete bedhead (for which I'll be using Trevor Sorbie Salt Texture Spray)
Autumn is here. By far my favourite season, I can still wear open footed shoes, jackets become the order of the day and drinking hot chocolate in an oversized cardy before bed seems just about acceptable as the weather cools.
Here's a couple of things I picked up this week to welcome in the season.
The Jumper - cream, cropped, cosy. River Island, £25.
The Canvas Bag - easy peasey 'throw it all in' chic. Primark, £2.50 (did someone say bargain)
The Scarf - classic fluffy punk, juxtaposition? Primark, £3 (I think - could have been £4.)
The Mary Jane's - feminine but quirky. Office, £48.
Inspirations from LFW: Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Alice & Olivia.
All of these items will be taking the spotlight for me this season and were definitely inspired by London Fashion Week. Each one is an essential that seems to have it's own little twist. I've been wearing these with either a pair of high waisted 'mom' jeans from Topshop (£40, another staple in my wardrobe) or an acid wash denim midi skirt from River Island, also with a black velvet ribbon in my hair and biker jacket if needed.
I'm not usually one to jump on the 'LFW' bandwagon - I really appreciate the hard work, and the genius that goes into couture and the ready to wear cat walks, but for some reason as I get older I'm finding it all very interesting. The concepts are so bespoke, like Vivienne Westwood's climate change appeal this year. What does everybody think? Personally I'm addicted!
Let me know what you think. Anybody else seen anything wonderful on the catwalk?
'Heathers' is my latest film discovery. Veronica and JD go on a not so accidental killing spree to eliminate the characters that make high school a living hell and get away with it by posing the deaths as suicides. It's a pre Scissorhands Winona Ryder (still bloody beautiful..), a never before seen Christian Slater as psychopathic bad boy, and an outrageously elaborate, sexually charged but harrowingly dark 80's cult classic. What else are dreams made of? Just look at those outfits. They make drinking bleach and playing croquet look cool - which is of course, the whole dynamic of the plot. It's full of witty dialogue; the script is probably the most quotable I have ever come across. I want to use all of the quirky lines. In fact I wish I had thought of them first.
'If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being. You'd be a game show host."
CHAOS
KILLED THE DINOSAURS, DARLING.
In the same vain as The Breakfast Club, what seems like a teenagers dream movie soon turns into a showreel of life lessons. I don't know what it was about the 80's that inspired so many different film makers to put honest and often cruel words in the mouths of babes, but it has definitely made some shockingly brilliant films. You thought your teen years were terrible, just wait until you encounter Westerburg High. All of those cliches you remember from High School? They are absolutely epitomised in 'Heathers' - it's so realistic that I don't want to believe it (I don't remember there being any killers at my school, but watch it and you'll understand what I'm talking about).
I recommend this highly. Surreal. You'll finish this wishing you were as effing cool as Veronia and wanting to smoke and cigarette and wear baby blue tights.
JD's famous quote seems to sum up quite nicely this whole idea.
'I
amHeathcliff!
He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am
always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being'
I don't care what anyone ever says to me about cliched romance and Victorian female authors, Wuthering Heights is the one of the greatest loves of my life. Please read it, if not for my sake, then for yours. Your mind will be enriched by this book. You'll come out the other side full of mystery and imagery and made heavier by the weight of the beautiful prose. Forget whether or not it's a love story, it's full of gothic horror and characters that you love and hate simultaneously, and feel as though must've truly existed in some warped history somewhere. I'm not even going to begin to tell you the story line, it's pointless. And for goodness sake, do not watch any of the terrible adaptations. This book is like a dream, and you finish it wondering if anything that has happened could ever be in reality, or if it is just an image of something twisted and wonderful.
This might seem like a rather predictable choice of favourite literature for an English graduate, but there's a reason that particular books become classics. I can't explain it to you, you really do have to read it to understand I think - and that's why I would recommend it. Good books are the ones that grip you, and make you think about things beyond your own life, and can changed who you are and how you interpret the world. Bronte manages to do that in a very elegant and raw sort of way, exploring all the different parts of being a human. She's wonderful, and so is this novel.
Would be especially thrilled for some feedback on this one, anybody else love Wuthering Heights? Or, terrifyingly, do any of you think it's a load of nonsense?
This summer has definitely seen the resurfacing of pastel colours for nails, and I have absolutely jumped on the band wagon with it. Here's a little insight into my nail varnish collection and the key colours I can't be without!
1/ Maybelline Super Strong 'Mint for Life', £4.09 - this is one of the best nail polishes I have ever used. The brush is perfectly shaped and the colour is strong and bright, and mint is so on trend that this adds a little something to any outfit. The only thing is that it doesn't ACTUALLY last for 7 days. But I can live with that, 3 days of fabulous colour is enough for me.
2/ Sally Hansen 'No Chip' top coat, £4.75 - I think I've finally found my perfect top coat! I have to be so careful of my nails chipping at work that this is acrylic top coat is just what I need, smooth and silky and hard as nails. The one downside, sometimes it creates these bizarre but tiny little air bubbles on my nail - a small price to pay for such a good product, but nonetheless annoying.
3/ Barry M 'Blue Moon', £2.99 - Barry M has been my go to nail varnish since my teens, and this one doesn't disappoint either. I've always found the brush a rather annoying shape, but it's worth it because the colours are so brilliant. Add a top coat for super shine and you've got the perfect nails for day and night, plus it looks super chic.
4/ Topshop 'Spilled Milk', £5 - Topshop have impressed me with their beauty range, their nail polishes more so than anything else. This white is beautiful, elegant and coats the nail just as you would want. I had tried so many varieties of white before finding this one, but it's definitely pipped the competition. My favourite colour of this summer!
5/ Essie 'Lilacism', £7.99 - Essie is fast becoming my go to brand for nail polish. I've always had a lovely lilac in my nail polish collection, it's an essential in my opinion. Good for work, feminine, but not your average colour and it certainly can't be pulled off by everyone (but that's just my opinion). Like the Barry M, it's super chic, not to mention Essie nail varnishes always seem to last longer than any others. The only downfall of course is the price, so this was a mid-summer treat for me.
There it is then, a teeny tiny section of my nail polish collection. These have been my go to colours of the season, what were yours? Anybody found any of these brands tricky to use? I hope Pastels stay popular for a while, but I can already see the reds and dark blues sneaking in as Autumn hurries along.
Do excuse the photography, the house is rather a labyrinth of dark corridors and old school bannisters. I think the distressed photos sort of suit the outfit though! What do you think?
fashio
Pinafore: New Look £19.99
Boots: New look (915) £24.99
Blouse: Topshop £28.00
Necklace: H&M £7.99
Autumn is fast approaching, and I'm loving the punk revival that seems to be taking hold of this season. Not only does it remind me of all the music I loved as a teenager, but it means I can break out the tartan and match it with some of my favourite items! I got this blouse from Topshop about a week ago - I usually really don't like paying their extortianate prices but the shape of this is perfect. I initially wore it in London with high waisted jeans, but I think it works just as well here! The colours are also great, I tend to stick with the staple black, white and denim in my day to day outfits so being able to inject a bit of red is a Godsend.
I paired my cute pinafore that I've had for a while with a pair of biker boots and a punky blouse to make it a bit more edgy. I love that pinafore's are back in fashion now - I have about 3 in different colours and shapes and have to hold myself back from buying more on asos. This is such a comfy outfit, perfect for when I'm just popping out or meeting friends. The silhouette is also pretty lovely - chunky but the skater style of the pinafore makes it slimming. Also love the way it looks at the back! Excuse my hair, I tend to just tie it up when I can't be bothered with it - which is most days of the week actually. But I thought long loose hair would deflect from the neckline anyway. To finish, I added my habitual black bag and a little lion necklace that I picked up in H&M a few days ago. Et voila! Pinafore meets punk. I hope to make this a go to outfit of the autumn season! Finished with my black biker jacket when the weather starts to cool down.
What Autumn trends are inspiring you this year? Are you loving these cut out biker boots as much as me?
I am always on the look out for a good foundation or BB cream and for the past couple of months had been using the L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream. When I had to change my make-up after the eye incident though, I decided it was time for something new.
CC Creams are quite literally 'colour correctors'. Like a BB cream, they attempt to keep you looking natural, but unlike the BB cream, they add a little bit of brightness to your complexion instead of simply evening out your skin tone.
Glamour Magazine did a beauty edition in association with L'Oreal, just my luck! Their recommendation was the CC Cream over the BB. Why? Apparently it's got amazing skincare benefits and generally keeps you looking flawless and radiant.
L'Oreal has a few varieties, but I chose the 'Anti-Fatigue' one over 'Anti-Dullness' and 'Anti-Redness' - because if there's one thing that affects my skin, it's the tiredness that plagues me after a weekend of work.
Well so far, I have not been disappointed. I am so in love with this! It goes on easily, although very bright orange until you've rubbed it in which made me nervous. It looks lovely once thoroughly brushed on though, and gives me a really even skin tone. It doesn't stain my brush either which is miraculous.
Overall I would definitely suggest getting this if you like the natural look. It doesn't give me any extra colour, so if you're like me and are fairly pale, it might not be for you. I've embraced my ivory skin now though, so it doesn't bother me too much. Blushers and bronzers are to add colour in my opinion. It does, however, make me glow. That could be an exaggeration, but it definitely has that little something that makes me feel and look brighter in the mornings.
Let me know what you think! Has anyone else used any good CC creams?
