Mad March!

Pub Golf

Retro Sports

A little break from the usual favourite friday post to bring you exciting news! Throughout the month of March I'll be posting on a Saturday! I know, so exciting! Saturday's posts will be centred around fancy dress and for those of you who are at or planning to go to university these posts might be particularly helpful. There'll be a mixture of more time consuming options and quick but effective ones. I can't wait to do these because I'm a sucker for fancy dress. Hope you're as excited as I am and the first one will be on the 7th of the month.

Bang of the Brows

Brow time! I love my eye brows. I know it's a bit weird but I think that they're a good shape and the colour isn't too shabby either. That means that the brow products I use must keep to my high standard. Without further ado, let's dive in! First up is the light brown shade in my Virgin Vie palette. This is definitely the quickest way to put something onto the brow that still looks good. The colour is just how I like it, not so dark that they look like harsh lines on my face and not orange so they look unrealistic. I apply this with my Body Shop angled brush and it takes me literally five seconds and then I'm good to go. Next up is my Sleek Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Dark. This is a really creamy product so is really easy to apply and blend, but the problem is that it goes down quite quickly. I got it in the shade dark which works for me but for people with really dark hair I don't think that this would be dark enough. The nib is quite thick so it doesn't take too long too fill in and it comes with a spooley (no idea on the spelling) on the end which is great. Last but not least is the Soap and Glory Brow Archery in the shade Blonde Bombshell. I usually go for the darker colours but I fancied something to do a more natural brow which this product is perfect for. The nib is very thin, meaning it takes a little longer to do, and the colour is a very nice light but not too light blonde. I use this on days where I have a little more time. For this category I can't pick a winner because they are all good for different things and I love them all equally!

Virgin Vie, Sleek, Soap and Glory

Bills! (Take Three)

Valentines day was a very special day for me. Full of romance and wonder, or just full of food and a really rubbish film (if you ever get the chance to watch GBF do, for the funny factor...it's that bad). Me and my friend Fiona went to Bills on the special occasion and as always it didn't disappoint. I had a burger cooked medium and it was so good! The meat was moist, the bun was sweet and the chips were so good. The portion size was the perfect amount as I managed to finish it all, which I don't always do when I go out to eat (bad i know). I could go on all day about how much I love Bills but if I had to give one criticism I'd say that the drinks are quite overpriced. My lemonade, which was small, was over £3 which I think it's a tad ridiculous. Just something to think about. Sorry about the short food post but I was satisfied so much by my burger that a dessert was just off the cards. Maybe next time (definitely next time).

Empties #1

This is my first ever empties post and I have to say it's taken me longer than I thought it was going to to build up a little stash, but I've done it so let's get started. I've been using the Lee Stafford shampoo and conditioners for about three years and my favourites have been from the big fat hair range. They're around £8 each and do quite a good job of volumising the hair. I've been through a fair few bottles over the years but recently it's not been quite doing it for me. My hair just doesn't seem to be getting washed properly and it can feel very greasy. I think I may have to move on to bigger and better things. Next up is my beloved Seaweed Toner from The Body Shop. I don't think I could live without this. It's done wonders for my oily skin and it just seems to keep the grease at bay. I will forever repurchase this, probably for the rest of time. In 2009 I got this L'Oreal Golden Eyeshadow free in a set. I thought that it was going to be something that I was never going to use, but I think that the fact I've finished it proved me wrong. I used this as a highlight and it was really nice, shimmery not too glittery and a nice colour. I don't think they sell this anymore so I'll have to find another replacement, but I already have one in mind. My Vitamin E Night Cream from The Body Shop has done me well over this past year but our time has come to an end. I really liked the way that this moisturised my skin without making it oily and it was a good price considering it's lasted me just under 12 months. At the minute I'm trying another night cream but if that doesn't work out I'd definitely repurchase. This Coconut Body Butter from The Body Shop is just insane! Smells amazing, moisturises like no other and lasts not too badly either. Everyone knows how great these body butters are but the coconut one is thicker than some of the others which in my opinion makes it thicker as it gives your body a good moisturise. Love it!

Stay tuned next week to see what I've repurchased and what new stuff I'm trying out!

Favourite Friday: The Glam Guide

I promise I'm not going to mention it anymore but it was my birthday last week! As soon as Friday came I was like "Today is the day I'm finally going to buy the Glam Guide". Since I found out that the launch date was on my actual birthday I felt that it was a sign that I was meant to have it. So, I met up with one of my friends and we headed straight for Waterstones and right for The Glam Guide stand. As soon as I got it into my hands and was ready to head to the till my friend kindly said to me "If I were you I wouldn't buy it yet". Instant thought: Birthday present. And I was right! I literally can't put it down. Every night before I go to bed I'll have a flick through and I'll always have it near me just in case I want to have a read. I like the way that she's written a book but stuck to her makeup/lifestyle tips route and stuck to what she knows instead of making into a 'glorified autobiography'. My favourite parts are the makeup section, travel and the drawings, the drawings are insane! I'd recommend this book to anyone as I think that it's a book/keepsake that I will NEVER get bored of.

Lash out of the Lipsticks

Time for the lipsticks! I was never the biggest wearer of lipsticks but over the past 12 months I've built up a nice little collection so let's get going. First up is my Kiko Smart Lipstick in 902 Pastel Pink. I bought this whilst I was in Barcelona in the summer and I'm so glad I did. It's pretty much the same as my natural lip colour so when I put it on it's a my lips but better kind of thing. It was super cheap (just €3) and is balmy and lasts a decent amount of time on the lips. Next up is the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 28. This was the first lipstick that I ever bought because I thought it would look good on a night out. It's not a matte formula but I'd say it's 90% matte with a little bit of shimmer and not as drying. I don't wear this that often but when do I wonder why I don't because it gives a pop of colour that is really flattering. The second lipstick I ever purchased was the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Heather Shimmer. I bought this thinking it would be a good nude but it's quite a bit darker than my normal lips. It takes me quite a while to apply this as if I do a 'one sweep' motion it goes on a bit too dark and looks like a crayon, weird I know, so I have to use a lot of coats to dab it on. However, when it's on it looks really nice, a bit Velvet Teddy-ish, the only problem is that it doesn't last too long on the lips. Another nude in my stash is the Rimmel Lipstick in Pink Nude. I'd say that this was more coral than pink but it's a really good lipstick. The colour is flattering, similar to the Kiko one in terms of application and lasting power. The only thing that lets this down is the fact is has quite a pearly finish and sometimes looks a bit strange on the lips. Last but not least is Mac Shy Girl Lipstick. This is such a beautiful coral colour that sits nicely on the lips. This is my go to smokey eye lip as it looks gorgeous. The only problem with this is if it's not dabbed on it can look a little streaky. The winner of this is a tie, I just can't choose, between Kiko and Mac. I use them both so much as they are both beautiful colours with my favourite type of formulas.

28, Heather Shimmer, Nude Pink, Shy Girl, 902

La Tasca!

O. M. G. This has to be one of THE best meals out I have ever had (be prepared for more bold statements). As you will know if you read my blog last week it was my birthday and to celebrate I invited a group of my favourite people out to La Tasca for tapas. I've never been there before and I love that kind of food so it seemed like the obvious choice. I had some vouchers to use as well which we were extremely grateful in the end because it's not a cheap meal, but this is reflected in the quality. To make things easier, and to make sure that everyone got the kind of thing that they wanted, we split into groups of 2/3 and ordered 3 meals each, but different so that we ended up having six between two. My pairing chose two portions of Patatas Bravas, which are roast potatoes in a tomato sauce and it came with alioli on top which is a tasty garlic mayonnaise. These were insanely good! Tasty and soft but with a little crisp from the skin. We probably could have shared one of these as I didn't finish mine but they were so good. We ordered the standard calamari which were crispy from the batter but to my delight the squid was perfectly cooked, soft and tender rather than tough and chewy. Big fan. The chorizo was a big favourite of the table and there's no surprise why. It wasn't chewy in the slightest and was full of flavour. The oil it was cooked in was also super tasty. Albondigas was next which were meatballs in a tomato sauce. Loved these! The sauce had a slight heat to it and the meatballs were soft and melted in the mouth. My favourite of the whole lot were the chicken croquets which were a creamy chicken sauce in little breadcrumbed balls. Insane! I can't really explain how good these were but trust me, they were. We also had garlic bread which was also INSANE! I seriously want to go back here so much that writing this is making me sad because I know that whatever I eat for tea tonight won't be as good as the food there.

The Liebster Award

Thanks Megan for nominating me to answer these questions!

1. What is your favourite film?

Hard to choose but I can watch Pitch Perfect time after time and it never gets old.

2. Favourite make up brand?

It's too hard to choose there is no way! I'm back into my Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette though if I can give that as an answer!

3. Did you make any New Years Resolutions?

Bake and cook more. I'm not really any good at sticking to "proper resolutions" so I thought I'd go for one that I could at least attempt to do! 

4. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Nothing. It's the only thing. Nothing includes binge watching TV, eating food and napping.

5. Favourite time of year?

Christmas, but this year I'm going to Disney World which I'm beyond excited about so that might take the top spot this year!

6. If you could invite 3 famous people to your birthday party who would you invite?

Anyone. I'm one of those people that anyone remotely famous could turn up and I'd be all over it so I'm not that fussy. 

7. What is your ultimate 'boogie' song?

Shake it off by Taylor Swift always seems to get me in the mood.

8. Movies or TV shows?

Pretty Little Liars, Broadchurch, Last Tango in Halifax, Death in Paradise, Crisis, Silk (what I'm currently into TV wise) and anything by Disney.

9. Favourite scent?

Fried onions.

10. What electrical item do you use most?

My laptop. It gets to the point that when I go to the toilet to wash my face, I take it. If I go to the kitchen to make some food, I take it. I don't know if I'm addicted to my laptop or what I'm watching on it!

11. Where is your favourite place to be?

Two places: My lounge at home and my uni lounge when everyone's in there. Communal Tv scrutinising is just the best.

Amy, you can answer these questions now. I liked these questions so you can do the same with a sneaky bonus one!

1. What is your favourite film?

2. Favourite make up brand?

3. Did you make any New Years Resolutions? 

4. What do you like to do in your spare time?

5. Favourite time of year?

6. If you could invite 3 famous people to your birthday party who would you invite?

7. What is your ultimate 'boogie' song?

8. Movies or TV shows?

9. Favourite scent?

10. What electrical item do you use most?

11. Where is your favourite place to be?

12. Favourite Disney ride?

Favourite Friday: Birthday!

As you'll know if you read yesterday's post but it was my birthday! Over the recent years I've not been the biggest fan of my birthday but when it comes around it does seem to cheer me up. To celebrate I went out with my family for a meal last week, went out on Wednesday (what a night...) and tonight me and my friends are going to La Tasca for a very sophisticated meal, tune in on Tuesday to see how that went (#shamelessselfpromo). I don't know how I feel about turning twenty. The lack of the 'teen' on the end makes it seem like I should start to become responsible. Maybe it's now not acceptable to cuddle my furry creatures at night and sit with them while I watch TV...nah. The extra year makes no difference to life, I don't know why people make such a big deal about it, it could be worse, you could not have made it this far (always look on the bright side). So on this momentous occasion of 'turning into an adult' I shall mark it with Squirrel, Dragon, Dolphin and Baby Sven watching a film, bliss.

Punch up of the Palettes

Today is not just any face fight, it's a special birthday face fight! If you didn't guess my birthday is today and I thought that because palettes are my all time favourite thing this is what I'd put head to head to see who comes out on top. First palette on the list is my Virgin Vie Palette. It is nearly an all matte palette with just one shimmer shade. When I first received this palette I used it not stop, mainly the oranges and the browns. My favourite shade is the shimmer shade and reminds me a little of amber lights from Mac. The most used shade is the light brown as this is what I use to do my eyebrows, it's a good colour that'd not too light or too dark. Next up is the Sleek Brights Palette. I bought this purely for the fact that I thought this would make a great addition to my fancy dress wardrobe. The pigmentation is insane and there is a good mixture of colours so, especially for fancy dress, you can really do anything. The Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette is next and as you can tell from my multiple posts about it in recent weeks I am in love with this thing! The mix of mattes and shimmers, the shade range and the insane pigmentation. My favourite shade is Sonic, it's different and colourful but not OTT that you couldn't wear it everyday. The Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette is one of my most used. It's a really handy travel size and the mix of mattes and shimmers makes it perfect for everyday or a night out. My favourite shade is push up, it's a rosy copper which is stunning all over the lid and also works in the crease. Finally it's the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. My first 'proper palette purchase' and it was a goody. Good for a natural day look and even though I've had it over a year I'm dying to use it on a night out and see how it turns out. My favourite shade is liar because in some lights it turns from a shimmery brown to a stunning plum/ purple shade. My most used shade is strange, the perfect highlight colour. I can't pick a favourite but as I said before my most used is Too Faced, but not Vice 3 is making a catch up!

Natural Eyes, Naked 3

Virgin Vie, Sleek, Vice 3

La Cachette

It's my birthday week, wooo, and what better way to spend it than with good food! Me, my mum, dad and brother went to La Cachette, a restaurant in my 'home town' (I always think that saying is really cringe but that's where it is) and I couldn't wait. Let's get straight to it! For starter I had the scallops, which was on the pricey side at just under £10.00, and they were insane. The scallops themselves were perfectly cooked, soft and tender, which went perfectly with the slightly spicy chorizo. The little fondant potatoes were divine, I've never had potatoes like this before and it won't be the last time. There were two sauces, a puree and maybe a pesto (I don't exactly know what they are, well done Abz) both of which were delicious. The portion size was a little small for the price but was perfect in terms of setting you up for the main course. Everything went perfectly and I'd definitely have it again!

For may main course I had beef wellington, which is a personal favourite of mine, and it was spot on. The portion size was spot on and although it's not much to look at there's no extra veg needed, it's beautiful just the way it is (so deep). The steak was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth, while the pastry was crispy on the outside but softer where it touched the steak. The spinach was perfectly cooked and the mashed potato was just how I like it, buttery and smooth, with the truffle oil giving it a lovely flavour. The sauce tasted like a very posh gravy and although the flavour was quite strong I was a fan. I can't speak any more highly of this dish. Definitely one of, if not THE, best beef wellington I've ever had.

Treacle tart. What else is there to say? This will forever be one of my favourite desserts and I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed. The pastry was crumbly and buttery, the filling was sticky and full of lemon/treacle flavour and the ice cream was creamy and tasty. What more do you want from a dessert.

Overall huge birthday success and La Cachette will always be one of my first choices for a nice meal out.

Can't Live Without

I thought that to follow on from last Monday's post about my forgotten loves I'd share the things that I really could not live without. First up is the Radio Times. I you don't know what it is it's basically a glorified television magazine, but it's amazing! So many interviews and quizzes, and because I'm obsessed with all things telly it's right up my street. I realised that I can't live without it last week when I didn't buy it, I was getting withdrawal. Sad I know. Ever since I first bought the Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips just before Christmas my lips don't feel the same if I don't use it. I love the taste, the way it makes my lips feel soft and when I run out it will be a definite repurchase. I bought these Kitsch Hair Ties just after my summer holiday and I'm really annoyed that I didn't get them before! I never wear normal bobbles now, only ever these because they don't hurt and I don't end up with a giant knot if I've been wearing a scratty bun all day. Although on the pricy side (I think they were around £7 for 5) I haven't lost one yet! Last but not least is my beloved costa card, something I would probably die without. I go to some kind of coffee outlet nearly everyday at uni and at home we might go to the Costa in town 3-4 times a week. It's a sad life. I love everything about it and that's all there really is to say. LOVE COFFEE LOVE LIFE!

Favourite Friday: Shopping the Stash

Following on from Monday's post I thought I'd put some of the things mentioned onto my face. It was a really weird experience because it was like they were new but they're not (so comprehensive in my speech). First up was the Rimmel BB Cream in the shade Light. This is the wrong colour for me straight off. It looked okay upon first application but throughout the day it just got more and more orange and more and more greasy. The fact that it made my skin oily was the reason why I stopped using it in the first place but I thought the coverage was nice and when I first put it on it on my skin it was nice and light. Next up is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20. My mum gave me this because it was too light for my her. It's a good shade match for me and when I used to use it I really liked it because it was good at highlighting. However I remembered that as soon as I put it on why I stopped using it, the separation. Halfway through the day it made me look as if I had a serious skin disease, not a fan. Shadow time! I used the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze as a primer as I moved on to the shade Rose Gold and then my Mac Painterly paint pot. Still love this, great application, doesn't crease and love the colour and shimmer. Now, onto the MUA Heaven and Earth Palette. I was obsessed with this back in the day and when I put them on I understood why. I used the highlight shade on the inner lid, the gold on the rest, the second to darkest in the crease and the darkest shade in the outer corner and underneath. They are so well pigmented, great colour payoff and really easily blendable. The problem lies a the end of the day, because all of the colours seem to blend into one. I have no idea why this happens but there is no difference between shades like there was at the start of the day. Lips. In the first photo I'm wearing the Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint in Nothing but Nude. Love it. Love the shade, lasts all day, doesn't feel uncomfortable, just great. Finally its the Orange No7 Lip Crayon. I really like the shade but it's very heavy and sticky on the lips so I'm not that big of a fan, might have to say RIP to this one.

Fight of the Foundations

Face fights! Foundations! I have serious foundation problems, my skin can get quite oily and a lot of the ones I've tried turn me into one big greasy chip. Here is the base of my face-drobe and let's dive in. First up is the Rimmel Match Perfection in the shade 101 Classic Ivory. I went through a phase about a year ago where I only ever wore this foundation. But then my skin decided to get really oily and now this one doesn't last very long on my skin with separating which makes me really sad. However the colour is an amazing match, hence the name I suppose, and I still wear it when I know I'm having a short day. Next up is the Rimmel Matte BB Cream in Light. Me and this little fellow have a roller coaster like relationship. When I first got this last spring I thought it was the best thing ever, really light, perfect colour match and lasted all day. Then after a little bit of usage things started to go wrong. My face got really oily it looked orange on my skin and it didn't seem to offer any coverage. I haven't used this in a long time but when the warmer months roll around I'm going to give it another try but if it doesn't work I might have to bid farewell. My oldest foundation in this mix is the Rimmel Stay Matte in the shade 100 Ivory (kind of a Rimmel theme in this post). I am in love with this foundation! The texture is light, the colour is such a perfect match and it stays put on my face, for good. As far as I'm concerned there is nothing wrong with this foundation and the fact that it's SPF free means on a night out there is no fear of flashback face, winner! Finally is the Max Factor Face Finity Foundation in the shade Light Ivory. I bought this just before I went on my summer holiday because I wanted something really long lasting and I'd heard good things about this one. This is such an amazing foundation. I used to just wear it on a night out but I've bumped it up to everyday as well because it's that good of an all rounder. I'm really upset because I'm coming to the end of this one, which shows just how much I love it. It lasts all day and the coverage is the best I've ever used. I think that overall my favourite foundation has to be the Max Factor one for the fact that I wear it so much and I don't know what I'd do without it.

Harvester!

For a little pre exam week treat, once again me and 'the crew' took a food outing, oh how we love food. The plan was to go to The Slug and Lettuce but bad timing meant that it was having a refurb so off to the nearby Harvester it was, and was it a good choice! On a lunchtime they have a £9.99 menu where you get a main meal, refillable soft drink, salad and ice cream for just, you guessed it, £9.99. The menu wasn't too extensive but for a first time visit there were the essentials to choose from, burgers (chicken and beef), ribs and chicken. I went for the chicken burger as I fancied something 'hefty' and off to the salad bar we went. I'm more of a 'croutons and bacon bits' kind of girl so I didn't explore the lengths and depths of what they had to offer but by the looks of everyone else bowls there was a lot to choose from. When the burger came I was more than ready to dig in and I wasn't disappointed. It was nice and moist, tasty and just the right size. The chips were good too, to say I'm not the biggest fan. I ordered it to come with peppercorn sauce, as you choose which sauce you want with whatever meal, and that was so good I could just eat a pot of that on it's own. Overall the main was a huge success.

For dessert you can have a selected option of ice cream included in the deal price or for an extra £1 you can have any of the other sundaes on the menu. I went for the Rocky Horror, ice cream with warm brownie, right up my street. Covered in cream and chocolate bits I was all over this. The only problem was that because the ice cream was on top of the brownie it wasn't warm but it was still really tasty. I'd definitely recommend going and getting the meal as it's just too cheap to miss!

Forgotten Loves

There are plenty of things over the years where I obsessively wore something for months on end and then moved onto something else, especially when funds were limited. In this post I delved into my draws and found some things that were a daily staple back in the day. Let's start off with the Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint in Nothing but Nude. It's funny because I bought this thinking it was an orange and I've only just found out through doing this post that it's meant to be a nude, strange! I wore this religiously to school in my second year of sixth form because it was something that I could put on in the morning and wouldn't have to think about it smearing all round my mouth when I went onto my third chocolate shortbread of the day (it was so good). Next up is a No7 Lip Crayon, I don't know the name because all of the writing has rubbed off (probably from over use). It's balmy, moisturising and very glittery. I loved this colour and saved it for more of a special occasion item in Summer 2013. It's a dark orange colour and I really should wear it more often! Something that I went through a real obsessive phase with is the Barry M Dazzle Dusts. I have five and bought all but one within weeks of each other. Throughout my first year of sixth form I wore these religiously, a different colour everyday all over the lid. There are some really out there colours and I commend myself on my sense of adventure! I still use them now but they are strictly reserved for fancy dress. Last but not least is the MUA Heaven and Earth palette. I bought this in my first few weeks of university and wore it pretty much everyday of the first term (until I bought the Naked 3). The lightest brown is the most used because that's what I used for my eyebrows but some of my favourites were the lightest 'highlight' shade, the orange and the second to darkest. Looking at all of these makes me wonder why I stopped using them but I'm going to force myself to rekindle the love!