On Friday 18th of December it was myself and Scott's one year anniversary and to celebrate we took a trip to Birmingham to go to the Christmas market. It was a little touch and go for a few days on whether we would go due to the fact I pulled a muscle in my side and it meant sitting still for over an hour in the car would make me feel uncomfortable. However, in the end, I decided to go. I'd been excited for a while about the possibility of going and I didn't want us to spend the day inside being miserable.
We met at two o'clock, Scott arrived with a bunch of flowers, some chocolates and a card, making me the worse girlfriend ever for not doing the same (but it's so close to Christmas). We were soon on our way to Birmingham, wanting to get there a little later so that it was dark for the Christmas market and getting us in the spirit a little more. The Christmas market was the Frankfurt Christmas Market in the city centre and it's the best Christmas market I've ever been to. With plenty of stands and stores for you to purchase alcohol (we didn't, but the opportunity is there) and lots of options for food as well as gift shops it was quite a magical evening. I hadn't been in a very festive mood, but being there that evening definitely gave me the Christmas spirit. The food tasted amazing and everyone was incredibly friendly. Also, there were plenty of places that sold Nutcrackers and the temptation was strong.
The two of us decided to get a Starbucks hot chocolate when it started to drop really cold as we wandered the rest of the market. We soon ended up at the Bull Ring shopping centre, where I could've spent an absolute fortune. My first stop was the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Selfridges. I've always wanted to go to one but I had never had the opportunity and it's not as fun (or easy) shopping makeup online. With a list of things I could've bough as long as my arm we wandered the rest of the shop which blew my mind. I haven't been in a Selfridges since I was very little so it was very overwhelming. It was at the moment I saw Jimmy Choos that Scott had to drag me away from the store. As shopping centres go, it's definitely up there as being my favourite. There were brands that I had only ever scrolled their websites before that had shops there such as Whistles and Cos. The choices for food is endless. I know that the two of us could've gone absolutely crazy with what we bought but in the end I picked up a few goodies from Charlotte Tilbury and Scott picked up a Vans hat and couple of other bits.
If you're looking for a good shopping centre or thinking about going to a Christmas market I would definitely recommend Birmingham as a good location if you can get. It was a lovely evening spent together and we had a lot of giggles.
I first saw Don Brocosupporting You Me At Six nearly two years ago and I was really impressed with how they managed to move an entire crowd even if you didn't know their music you couldn't help but dance along to their pop/rock sound. So when I heard they were touring, after obsessing over their 'Automatic' album release there was no question on whether I was going to see them, because the answer was always going to be yes.
Myself and Scott managed to get tickets at Rock City in Nottingham the other night and it was such an incredible gig, and a different experience for myself at a concert. We unfortunately missed the first two supports due to finishing work late and Nethen traffic but we got there in time to see Coasts. Surprisingly I recognised a few of their songs and they were really entertaining and strong performers. They got the crowd moving and at the mention of Fifa got the lads singing along to them. I'll definitely be checking their debut album when it's released in January.
It was then time for Don Broco themselves and you could already tell that it was going to be an amazing gig with the crowd singing along at the top of their voices to music playing in the break. The guys began with 'I Got Sick' but it was 'You Wanna Know' that got the audience going mental, jumping about, it was sometimes hard to keep up with the rest of the crowd but it was in those moments where myself and Scott got from near the back to the front.
If there's one thing that Don Broco know how to do, it's definitely how to have fun. They interacted with the crowd announcing it was time for 'The Push-up Squad' (how it sounds) and a guy jumping from the stage into the crowd. It was definitely a lot rougher than I expected it to be, but I loved it all the while. The band, clearly, enjoyed the gig themselves. They threw themselves into each song and performed. Rob sounded incredible throughout and entertained the entire crowd through his movement around the stage. After you've seen them live you can't help but do the Rob Damiani dance, it's contagious.
My favourite songs throughout the gig were 'What You Do To Me', 'Yeah Man''Further' and 'Nerve'. They were simply incredible and the atmosphere in the room was magnetic there wasn't a single person who wasn't up jumping and joining in with the Mexican wave, or singing. There was crowd surfing, much to the security's enjoyment. Whilst standard of performance you cannot compare Don Broco with the Mumford and Sons gig we went to a few weeks ago, Don Broco was definitely the most fun. Definitely check them out if they're playing near you any time soon because there is no doubt you'll enjoy yourself. You might come home aching a little bit. but its definitely worth it. My recommendation if your girl or smaller build. go with someone who will look after you and push you forward but makes sure you avoid getting hurt. Luckily for me, that's what Scott did and we both had a great time without any injuries.
Last night myself and Scott travelled to Nottingham to see The Story So Far at Rescue Rooms. We met my brother there and his friend. It was my first time seeing the band and it was also my first time in Rescue Rooms too so I was a little anxious as what to expect, I'm not very good in situations that I've never been in before or in new places.
Anyway, we got there as the first support was finishing so I can't really pass any comment on them as we really didn't see enough. The second support was Turnstile, now these just weren't my cup of tea. Scott enjoyed them but for me I like to know what is being sung in a song otherwise I just don't get it, I did like the actual music though, and it may sound harsh, but I didn't really enjoy anything else about there set. However, that's just my opinion, like I said Scott enjoyed their set as did a lot of other people there judging from the mosh pit that occurred.
Next it was time for The Story So Far and at this point I had met my brother and we had a little catch up and I felt a lot more relaxed. They were really good and just smashed through their set. They didn't really chat to the audience they just powered through their songs so quickly which I quite liked as there wasn't anything awkward where you can't tell what they were saying, plus it went really quickly.
The band sounded really good and the singer was strong too, there wasn't a point where he sounded like he was struggling which is always good. Their stage presence was also strong, though they didn't talk to the crowd they still interacted with them. The audience was also really into it, a few mosh pits occurred which I stayed clear of as me in a mosh pit would only cause panic but it was fun to watch everyone else. There was also some crowd surfing.
My favourite songs of the evening were 'All Wrong' and 'Clairvoyant'. However, these were the two that I was looking forward to the most too. 'All Wrong' is a lot heavier than 'Clairvoyant' it's just one of those songs where you can really get into it and there's a lot of angst which I like. 'Clairvoyant' is more chilled and sweet, a few people had their lighters out but both songs were played and sung really well.
We both knew that it wasn't going to be in the same league as Mumford and Sons for a starter they're completely different bands in genre as well but The Story So Far were good in their own right, I would definitely go and see them again and it was a good night out. If you're into pop punk music I would suggest checking them out.
There's something about going to a concert that always makes me incredibly nervous and excited at the same time. The amount of people in the venue always terrifies me, feeling trapped and like I can't get out is one of my biggest fears. That being said, I love going to gigs and having not been to a concert in a year and half, Mumford and Sons concert on Saturday night was a great way to get back into them.
Myself and Scott went to Nottingham on their first night of their tour and there is only one way to describe the entire concert and that's amazing. The two of us went standing as that's both of ours favourite way to watch a gig, it's easier to get involved in the atmosphere and I think you enjoy it more. They are by far the best band I've ever seen live without using gimmicks or lots of pyrotechnics they were simply themselves playing music to thousands of fans. They were entertaining and had the room singing, dancing and jumping around in support.
The gig began with support act, Jack Garratt. Now, I had never heard of him or listened to his music before that evening, that being said, I was completely blown away. It's always going to be tough for anyone to warm up the crowd for Mumford and Sons but he completely held his own. His music is quite different to anything that I've ever heard, there's no doubt that he has an incredible voice that's so versatile too. But he's managed to create his own style of music keeping it pop and current, with emotional ballad types of songs but with a beat that makes it up-tempo and get's an entire room moving. It was amazing watching him live as you could see how unique and how passionate he is about his music. He definitely stands out from everything else that you hear and is also like a one man band with everything he achieves on stage. He was incredible and I cannot wait for him to release his album. Jack Garratt is definitely one to look out for.
After an interval it was time for Mumford and Sons and they were as strong at the end as they were at the start. With simple lighting and nothing too much that distracts you from their performance it was wonderful watching the men perform. For me, 'Believe' had the most impact, telling the audience to use the torch on their phones or lighters looking around the arena and seeing thousands of lights it was a magical feeling for just one person amongst the crowd so how it felt for them must have been surreal. Within the arena itself they had these almost bauble like fairy lights hanging from the ceiling that in certain songs were lowered and lit up different colours and it made the room feel a lot smaller and cosier. It wasn't just myself who liked this touch as the couple next to us mentioned them being 'cool' and you kept seeing different people looking up at them all evening in awe. I think this helped with magical feeling and giving everyone in that room a sense of unity.
They performed a mixture of their older music as well as songs off of their latest, 'Wilder Mind' album which I really enjoyed. I like to have a mix especially with these guys with their earlier songs being more folk. Those songs had the crowd really going and half way through I turned around to Scott and said, 'Its closest to line dancing I'm ever going to get'. It really did have that feel to it.
As you would expect, the band themselves sounded perfect. Their voices were so strong and powerful, there were no moments where you couldn't hear them because the crowd was louder. Their performances were amazing even though they don't have fancy dance moves they just performed the crap out of each song and it works for them because they are amazing musicians and singers and have incredible songs. The interaction from the band and the audience was amazing too. With Marcus Mumford passing someone his beer and heading into the crowd himself, we were pretty close to him though not as lucky as some, it just made the evening so special. They even bought out Jack Garratt within their set and performed 'Sweet Dreams' and together they sounded beautiful, capturing the eeriness perfectly.
Mumford and Sons are by far the best band I've ever seen live, even if you like their music but aren't a huge fan I would seriously recommend going and seeing them because I was expecting it to be good but their isn't enough words you can use to describe the atmosphere within that arena that night. I can't wait to go and see them again in the future and there is no doubt that I will see them over and over.
I usually stick to my normal foundation using Rimmel's Match Perfection - True Ivory everyday but I recently received the La Roche-Posay Hydreane Light BB Cream in a My Little Box and I fell in love with it. Once again, La Roche-Posay is a brand of been wanting to try for a little while now so I was more than happy to give this a try.
The colour match is perfect for my skin colouring, I am quite pale and so I have to be careful when foundations only come in light, medium and dark etc. However, this was lovely and blended really well. I applied this just using my fingers and found that it blended into my skin a lot better this way opposed to using a brush and blending it in. The BB cream felt really light on the skin and makes it look like you're not wearing makeup but also has a good coverage too. It also leaves your skin looking quite dewy and healthy. I would definitely recommend using a little bit of powder too.
If you're on the lookout for a new foundation and looking for something a little dewier and light, this is definitely one to test out. It's good coverage and looks really nice on the skin. It also has the benefits of a BB cream and I found that the cream is really moisturising on the skin, it doesn't cling to any dry patches, emphasising them in anyway. Furthermore, it has a SPF 15 too when many foundations do not include this.
What have you been loving foundation wise at the moment?
Its very rare that myself and Scott get to spend a full day together and so when we had a couple of days off together we decided to explore and make the most of it. We drove to a couple of garden centres but we ended up in Matlock. I've been before but I only went to my sister-in-law's studio and a seamstress to have a dress fitted so I hadn't actually explored the town. I also took the opportunity to take a few little outfit shots.
Outfit: Coat - George / Jumper - Topshop / Jeans - Topshop / Shoes - Primark / Bag - ASOS
The other day I attended my first football match with my dad, brother and Scott. In all honesty I was there last hope as the four tickets had already been bought in the hope someone else could go but in the end couldn't, so I was there replacement. I'm not really football fan, I must admit. I do moan a lot when it's on TV but I am proud to say I do know the offside rule.
Anyway, the four of us made the two hour trip from home to Manchester to watch Manchester United against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford and in all honesty I really enjoyed myself. There was a moment when I was panicky, suffering with social anxiety a stadium like Old Trafford doesn't really help. Me and my brother were sat waiting for Scott and my dad before the match and I felt a little claustrophobic and anxious but as soon as we were all together and the match started that all passed and I began to relax and enjoy myself. With a little bit of cheering thrown in there, the night was really nice and Man United won which was a bonus Here's a few pcitures that was taken whilst I was there.
I would say that if you struggle with anxiety but want to go to a concert or a football match or to a theatre, whatever it may be, go for it. There have been so many opportunities in the past that I gave up on because I was too nervous or worried I'd have a panic attack and the truth is 9/10 it isn't as bad as it may seem. Sure you may get a little anxious you may even have a full blown panic attack but you'd have tried, even if you only stay a minute it's a victory, in my opinion.
A few weeks ago now, myself and Scott decided to have a little adventure to Rufford Abbey to get to grips with my 'big camera' and get used to the settings. I bought my camera off of my sister-in-law who was a professional photographer about a year ago and whilst I loved it when I first got it, I had never gotten used to all the settings. Scott's a bit more tech-y than me and so we decided to go for a little adventure.
It was probably the last sunny day we've had, which is why we decided to make the most of it before all the winter coats and scarves came out to play. Both of us really love history, probably down to having an enthusiastic history teacher at school and so we thoroughly enjoyed our day. As well as us both liking to on walks around forests and seeing the wildlife (I love squirrels and woodland creatures).
Looking around Rufford Abbey itself was a little overwhelming, I always find places with a lot of history this way. I think it's amazing that buildings from hundreds of years ago still exist and I love learning about what happened at theses places. In the above picture you can see me reading about the reconstruction of the Abbey, and I was standing in front of what used to be a fireplace. It was a beautiful building with some gorgeous views. The gardens in particular were beautiful.
Before we had wandered around the Abbey itself we took a walk around the gardens surrounding it and took a few pictures of the wildlife. All the pictures featured were taken by Scott though I did point out a few shots to him such as the robin which you'll see below.
There was this creepy walkway that lead to the Ice House which you can see a little in the picture at the top, we both had pictures taken in front of it but it was quite dark so hard to capture a good shot. The black and green ducks were also gorgeous. Neither of us had ever seen a duck of this colouring before but they were so beautiful and had a lot of attention. It was a really lovely day and something we wish we could do more of. Maybe if we wrap up warm we can still visit every now and again.
If you life a bit of history and wildlife with some pretty views I would recommend visiting Rufford Abbey, there's a cafe and restaurant where you can get something to eat as well as a gift shop to pick up some souvenirs. it'd also be a really nice place if yo have kids to take them too.
I always look forward to being contacted about new music that someone wishes me to promote because it's a chance to discover new artists. Sometimes, it's a matter of appreciating someone's talent but not necessary loving that particular genre of music but yesterday I was contacted about Oktoba a Brighton based singer-songwriter, Chris Athorne, and it's fair to say that his music is very much up my street as a folk pop singer-songwriter. Oktoba debut album is being released on the 29th October so I'd thoug'ht I'd share my thoughts with you on the album 'Smoke Signals' before its released.
First off the entire album is written by Chris Athorne and he has managed to create catchy songs that make you feel good as well as more meaningful and beautiful songs such as 'On My Mind' recorded and produced by Tim Bidwell (Kate Walsh, Jack Watts) at The Clockwork Owl Studio in Brighton, a wonderful album has been created that leaves you wanting to hear more from the young talent. Reminding me of the likes of Ben Howard and Lilygreen and Maguire which are some of my favourite artists, after the first song I was already hooked.
'Smoke Signals' starts off with just music which I feel gives a whole overview of what to expect from the album, starting with a beautiful and delicate sound and then building into the song to something a little faster and upbeat sounding. To me it's a moving on song and leaving your troubles behind and getting on with life. The chorus, Chris shows off his vocal abilities drawing in some power. 'Something New' is so relatable and just a story of life and being able to get on with life despite how little you way have. It's a slow song but with optimism there, it's one of my favourite songs on the album because its just so optimistic and by the end it turns quite upbeat and is almost an anthem about stating over and trying something new.
'Aeroplane' begins with some whistling which is typical of folk music and sounds almost like a daydream. Using strength to his usual delicate tone, Chris Althorne has created a song that sounds very reminiscent and of children optimism which reminds me of home. It's short but sweet. 'On My Mind' is simply beautiful, this is the stand out for me. There's so much passion and emotion being pulled into the song and you can definitely feel that as you listen to the song which makes it all that more special. 'Oh, honey you're on my mind, everyday and night', clearly a man in love fighting to keep the person he loves with him. There is only one word to describe this song and it's gorgeous. I can imagine that this song sounds amazing live and a song that you can just get lost in.
'Run' gave me shivers, just describing life and how it 'ain't like when we were young', the difficulties of growing up. Each song has a lot of depth to it which I really like as well as wonderful song writing. There's lots of rise and fall in 'Run' which makes it incredibly interesting and power behind his voice at the end. 'I'll Be Fine' maybe with a influences from George Ezra in the music Chris' voice claims the song. 'I'm not lost in love, just going blind' definitely a lyric you can relate to if you've ever been in love and having that person beside you through thick and thin.
'Wind Fire Water Stone' adds a female vocalist to the mix which blends well with Chris', both having unique tones to their voices. It definitely sounds a little more country than anything else on the album again a love song and having that special someone in your life and how they support each other. 'Tongue Tied' about losing love and trying to make things work when their falling apart. It's simple and beautiful yet again. Not knowing what to say to each other to make things right. Another stand out track, in my opinion, with its simplicity and how much people will be able to relate to it. Again he draws into his power and passion making you realise how much it means to him.
'Sticks and Stones' is one of my favourite songs on his ten track album, it's a little slower but still incredibly catchy. It has an echo-y sound to it which I always love, it makes the song sound a little breathy and maybe in a little haunting. Reminding a little of Josh Record's album and we all know how much I loved that. I like the lyrics of 'its hard to know when you can't find love'. I think it's just a beautiful lyric and something that I could definitely relate to thinking about previous times in my life. 'You To Me' is similar also and definitely a love song for someone and no matter what happens in that relationship 'I belong to you' they're always their for each other. It's a very comforting song, in my opinion and I love the use of the harmonica as it adds to the folk sound.
If you're looking for something unique and powerful. An album that will make you think but will also be your favourite sit down and relax album, this is the album to go for. With pure talent and a unique sound there is no doubt in my mind we will hear more when Oktoba release 'Smoke Signals' on Thursday. You can pre-order the album here.
Check out Oktoba 'Tongue Tied' Live in Studio below:
I've been wanting to try some Korres products for a while now. I've heard a lot of beauty bloggers raving about the brand and so always wondered about it myself. In a recent My Little Box, I received a travel size sample of Korres Bergamot Pear Body Milk and I have to say that I love it and have since repurchased it in the full size (200ml) bottle.
I suffer a lot with sore and dry skin on my legs. I find that a lot of body moisturisers especially when they are fragrance only irritate the skin. However when I tried Korres Body Milk I found that it really helped soothe the skin especially after shaving my legs, they weren't quite so red as they usually are. After a couple of days use I really noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin. They looked smooth and soft and I wasn't in pain like I sometimes found I was before. It's also a really lovely product to use after you've just been in the bath, I find that it feels a little cooling on the skin too.
I find that the body milk is a lot more moisturising than a normal lotion but sinks in quicker than I find body butters do. It feels really light on the skin too. I'd really recommend trying out the body milks by Korres, in particular the Bergamot Pear fragrance, I find its quite lightly scented and it hasn't irritated my skin so far, especially if you do suffer with irritated skin.
Mi'das (Mike Davies) is back with his latest single 'Feels Like Only Yesterday' and I have to admit it's got a very cool and easy going vibe to it and I love it.
Sticking to his roots of soul meets pop with his soulful voice and guitar, Mi'das has created a song that sounds completely timeless. Influences from the 60s and 70s and mixing his influences of Stevie Wonder, it's no wonder that this song sounds like something from the past but something current too. The song has a classy feel to it, and makes you want to get up and dance a waltz (or is that just me). Plus, its a super catchy song, I was singing this after only listening to it a couple of times.
Showing that pop songs can have more meaning than just being a hit dance song with no real content, Mi'das creates a song full of meaning. 'Feels Like Only Yesterday' tells the story of worry free innocence of youth. Something that as you get older you look back upon a lot, I've noticed. This song easily appeals to everyone, in my opinion, it's got that old school vibe with a new pop sound also and the message is universal. Also Mi'das voice is gorgeous and smooth in it. Reminding me a little of Adam Levine's sound in Maroon 5's 'Songs about Jane' album.
If you're looking for a new artist to listen to, check out Mi'das new song, with a new album set to be released in 2016, I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from this artist.
I love a good beauty blogger release every now and again, and today comes one of my favourite products at the moment in the form of Tanya Burr'snail polish in the shade 'Duvet Day'.
I bought this from feelunique.com and so I didn't know for sure what the colour would look in person but I absolutely love it. It's pale grey but can look a little blue in some lights which I really love. It kind of reminds me of the Nails Inc The New White Collection in that it is more white based with a hint of colour thrown in. It's a very muted and clean shade on the nails and will definitely go with anything that you're wearing. I also think that Duvet Day is a very classy and chic colour for your nails too.
The formula of these nail polishes are beautiful too. It's quite thick which allows the colour to stand out and two coats and you're good to go. I would definitely recommend these nail polishes and considering picking up a few more shades. The packaging is super cute too, with a gold lid that comes off to reveal the turn applicator.
If you read my blog regularly then you will know that I am a huge Giovanna Fletcher fan especially when it comes to her novels. I read 'Dream a Little Dream' a little while ago now but recently re-read it. That's how much I liked this novel.
The novel follows the life of Sarah who works as a PA and spends an awkward amount of time with her ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend as their friends are mutual. When Sarah starts dreaming about an old acquaintance she never expects him to turn up in her real life.
Once again, Giovanna Fletcher manages to create characters that you would love to spend time with and you wish were real. In a lot of ways the group of friends remind me a lot of my own friends which I think is what made me love the book so much. There's a lot of a laughs and giggles in this novel, but if you're anything like me the book will have you balling too. It's a wonderful novel to read if you're looking for something a little light with great characters and beautiful story telling.
Next week Giovanna is also releasing her new e-book 'Dream a Little Christmas Dream' and I cannot wait to read a little more about the characters, you can pre-order it now.
It was in July when I first saw a promoted link on my facebook timeline for a brand called My Little Box. I've always been curious about these subscription services where you receive samples of beauty products for a small charge. There was some offer on where if you used a promotional code at the time you got your first box without the delivery charge, so I decided to give it ago and see what happened.
My Little Box, is a subscription service where a box of goodies gets delivered to your house each month whilst ever you are subscribed. You can cancel your subscription at anytime, which is something that I liked. When I've looked into them before I found that you had to be subscribed for at least six months and if you're not loving what's in each package I thought it was a waste of money. I obviously looked into what brands the company worked with and there were many brands that I wanted to try out such as Korres, La Roche Posay, Benefit, By Terry, Laura Mercier and lots of other brands too. So I took the plunge and at the moment I've received three boxes and haven't been disappointed with any of them.
Each box is gorgeous, they're decorated with drawings that relate to that months box and I love to see each box, and I've been keeping them because I think they're so cute. Each box is filled with 3 beauty products including one from their own line My Little Beauty, you also get two fashion/lifestyle pieces as well as their magazine and illustrated pieces by Kanako. I love the fact that each month takes on a different theme and from testing some of the products I've then gone on to repurchase them afterwards. It's £14.95 a month if you live in the UK and so far I've been loving them. Each month I find myself excited for the next box. I would definitely recommend trying this brand out as you can subscribe for a couple of months to see if you like it or not.
I can't wait for my October box and my September one has only just arrived, it's definitely safe to say I'm hooked.
I am a huge fan of Fleur De Force she was one of the first beauty guru's that I started following when I got into watching YouTube about four years ago and was always one of my favourites. When I watched her video announcing that she was releasing her own make up range, exclusively with feelunique.com, I was so excited and saved a little bit of money in order to make a couple of cheeky purchases.
I ordered a lipgloss and a eyeshadow quad so that I could give both products a test and see what they were like. First off I picked up Fleur de Force's lipgloss in 'Starry Starry Night'this was the product that I wanted the most. I love a good berry lip in autumn and winter and this doesn't disappoint. It's a very bold lip in a pink berry colour which is one of my favourite shades of lip colours to wear. The application is really good, there is a lot of pigmentation within the product and it's similar to the Bourjois Velvet Matte Lipstick with the idea of the product. It's almost a liquid lipstick. I love the fact that the lipgloss doesn't feel tacky or sticky in anyway and are actually quite moisturising on the lips. I was quite surprised by this little product, I'm not usually a huge lipgloss person but this has started to convert me. Plus the vanilla scent is absolutely gorgeous too.
I also purchased an eyeshadow quad in 'Lunar Rose'. Since the package arrived with my little treats in I haven't stopped using this small palette. I've got a lot of nude coloured palettes so wanted to try something different and this is a perfect addition to my collection. I've been loving using the top two colours. The pink shade as an all over the lid shade and the sparkly, purple/brown shade in the crease of the eye for an everyday look. Again the quality is superb especially considering the price of these products. I've been wearing them all day and they haven't budged and that's without a primer. Its definitely become my go to palette at the moment.
As well, as purchasing the lipgloss and quad, I also received the Fleur de Forcecompact mirror which is adorable. I love the watercolour background. I'm lusting after the makeup bag now and more of the lipgloss. It's definitely worth looking into the range and trying a few bits out, there's definitely a little something for everyone in the range. Well done Fleur and I can't wait to see more in the collection.
I can always remember when I first discovered Lauren Aquilina. I'm not going to take credit it was because iTunes were promoting her single at the time and I decided to check out the release curious by her breathtaking artwork. Since that moment, I've followed Lauren's career and always look forward to her next instalment.
Today comes the release of single, 'Low'. Depicting perfectly how it feels when you're down in the dumps and you don't know how to find your way back to that happy place you once was at. The lyrics are incredibly well written as I usually find with Lauren Aquilina. I find that you cannot listen to her music without feeling every single emotion she felt whilst creating such a wonderful piece of art. There's a subtly to her music but it also stands out on its own. With such simplicity to her music, she has a voice that screams star quality and for someone who is so young it blows me away everytime I hear her.
'Low'begins by very minimalistic when it comes to the music starting with what only sounds like a heartbeat and a scratching of an old record. The track stays like this until the second chorus when a deeper tone is introduced and builds into a something very magical sounding and into a crescendo. Similarly Lauren's voice follows this and towards the end of the track her voice shows off how talented she is. She's created a nice balance of alternative and pop sound to this single. Showing vulnerability and a lot of emotion, 'Low'is quite possibly my favourite track by the young singer.
You can listen to Lauren Aquilina's new track on Spotify now or download it from iTunes.
It's been a little while since I've posted and the only reason I can give you for that is that life simply got ahead of me and I hadn't had a spare minute to myself where I could sit down with my laptop and type. Not only that but I've been struggling for inspiration for a little while and I think I needed a little break just to get my head straightened out and find a little inspiration. It's funny that even though this blog is basically me rambling my thoughts on products be that music or beauty or what that you struggle for inspiration.
Anyway, I'm back. I'm happier than I've been for a while and with a week off from work I'm hopefully going to get a little bit of writing done for my blog to get me ahead of the game for a little so that if I do fall behind a little I can simple use one of those posts to keep us all entertained in the meantime. I'm not making any promises about schedules or that I'll keep my blog updated constantly, I mean Christmas is coming up and working in retail that's when things get crazy and you can be working pretty much everyday and your days off consist simply of you staying in bed all day and forgetting the world. But I'm going to try and that's the best that I can offer you at the moment. I promise however to have a new post up this week that's a little more fun than this one. Just to brighten this post up a little here is a picture of me and my cat pretty much everyday for the past two weeks when I've gotten in from work, that Scott kindly posted on Snapchat.
Blusher was never my strong point. I was always incredibly scared that I was going to be one of these people who would always apply way too much and look like a clown - sometimes I'm just a little too heavy handed and instead of being gentle when it comes to makeup. However, I've been obsessed with using the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 'Lovely Pink' recently.
I picked it up ages ago from Boots when they were first released as I thought it looked so pretty. It looks a little like marble and that's what drew me in. 'Lovely Pink' is a natural pink shade with a hint of peach/gold shimmer running through it. I think this is so pretty on the skin. It's quite subtle which I like but you can also build it up a little. It looks incredibly natural and I find that the blusher really helps to brighten up my face too due to the shimmer in it. It lasts all day too, I don't find that it wears off easily or slips around my face like cream blushers sometimes can.
I've been using this all the time recently and if it's not been this I've been using my Benefit blush. 'Lovely Pink' I feel will look great on any skin tone, It's a blush that I think is essential in any girls makeup bag. Whether you want to go for a heavy makeup look or just a subtle 'no makeup, makeup' look I think this blush is perfect for all occasions. I'm intrigued in the rest of the collection too.
Have you tried any of the blushers from the new Max Factor range? What were your thoughts?
Everyone has their own tips and tricks for achieving a summer glow. I was recently contacted by a company to share what I feel gives me that perfect summer glow and recently I've noticed that my skin has that glowing look more so than usual, so I'm here to share with you the products that I've been using to achieve the look.
In the morning I love to use the Sanctuary Spa Fresh Face Purifying Face Wash (pst it's on offer at the moment). I've not tried much from the brand before but I really love using this face wash. Its more of a gel texture and I've found that if I'm struggling with spots it really helps to clear my skin. It can be a little drying but I always apply my The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet on afterwards anyway. The face wash really helps to make your skin look clear and the moisturiser also has that gel like quality but says to give you 24 hours of hydration. I don't know if I quite agree with that but it does make my skin feel gorgeous. I also try and stay hydrated in the summer by drinking a lot of water this also helps to keep your skin clear and looking healthy. Also by eating healthy this can also impact on your skin looking good. Aloha is a great website to check out for healthy recipes.
Finally if I'm having a few problems with my skin, at night, I tend to use The Body Shop Seaweed Night Treatment. For me this is a complete miracle product, again it's gel like in texture. I use it when I've had a really bad breakout and I find it helps to dry the spots up and clear my skin, but it's also great if you have dry skin as it helps to moisturise as well. I use this as a serum over the top of a night cream for added moisturising. If you haven't tried this product I cannot recommend it enough, it's a skin balancing product so gives moisture where it's needed most.
And there are my tips for a summer glow. What products or items do you recommend for a summer glow?
