Summer Shopping Haul - July 2014

Lately I've been a little bit naughty when it comes to shopping, and have found myself spending more money than usual on clothes, make up and other things. As the weather has been so nice lately - with the few exceptional downpours in between - I've decided to crack out the summer wardrobe, all whilst adding a few more items here and there to the little collection I already have.

I often find shopping for clothes can be quite disappointing, however lately I seem to keep spotting things that I absolutely love. The amount of times I've wanted to buy the entire shop that I have been stood in has been innumerable!

My latest shopping love is boohoo.com. I'm probably late jumping on the bandwagon here, as per usual, but I've always been a little dubious about ordering clothes online. I remember that my mum always used to order things from catalogues when I was younger, but ended up sending most things back because they didn't fit, and that has always been my worry when shopping online. That and I was also worried that the quality might not be so good. I like to try clothes on and usually end up staring in the mirror for a good 30 minutes before I buy something, unless I fall well and truly in love with it and then it's a done deal straight away. I'm digressing now but anyway, I bit the bullet and decided to buy a dress a couple of months back from the boohoo website. I was really happy with it when it came through to me in the post, so a week ago I decided to order a few more of clothes from their website. I spent... more than I usually would and was delighted when I received my package in the mail c:

Along with the various purchases I made from boohoo, I also might have had a little trip into town yesterday and picked up more things. In my defence I am starting my holiday shopping very early to spread the costs over the next few months. Bullshit. Instead of making a huge blog post describing each and every item, I've decided to opt for a different method. Bear with me because this is the first time I have tried this, but I've put together a Youtube video in the form of a look-book, showing all of the different items, and how I've chosen to put them together :) I really enjoyed making this, and thankfully this weekend has blessed us with good weather, so it was nice and sunny when I was filming. All details about the items I've purchased will be in the video description.

Let me know what you think of this new format. As I've said in posts from a few months ago, I'm really keen to start doing more on Youtube, so if by chance you like what I've done then please let me know! c: Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Enjoy the sunshine guys.

~ C xxx

(My) Life, the Universe & Everything

My social life seems to have erupted out of nowhere over the past few weeks, hence my lack of blog activity recently. I have come to the conclusion that being more social makes me a much happier person. Going out with my friends for a few drinks and a bit of dancing has been so much fun, despite the fact I'm not the biggest fan of drinking, but I've proven to myself that you don't have to be drunk to have a fantastic time. I've also come to the conclusion that I have the best group of friends that I could possibly ask for. We've all known each other since high school - admittedly over the past few years we have drifted apart - but the past few weeks of meet ups have been the best. 

All of this has had me thinking about the near future quite a lot, and the plans and wishes that I hope to achieve over the next couple of years. I want to travel - so, so badly. I'm desperate to hop on a plane and go see the world while I'm still young and my life is void of any real responsibilities. America is first on my list - of course Disney World is at the very, very top of this list :P I want to look back on my twenties and feel happy that I went out of my way and did exciting things, saw as many places as I could and made as many memories as humanly possible. 

Although this year is a year of money saving for me, I'm excited about the coming months and what they have to offer for me. V Festival is coming up in August, where I'll get to see the Killers for the second time. September brings me a holiday - two long weeks in Menorca which I honestly can't wait for. I've already started with my holiday shopping, and I'll probably write up a nice long blog post about everything that I've bought :) In November I turn 23. Admittedly I have mixed feelings about this, simply because getting older scares me now xD I feel like I need to get off my butt and do something with my life, which is something I fully plan to do. 

This post has been rather self-indulgent, but I was stuck for something to write about this week. I'll have to get scribbling in my notepad to think of something worthier for next week :) 

Until then, au revoir!

~ C xxx

Review: No One Mourns the Wicked!

On Thursday night I went to see Wicked at Leeds Grand Theatre, after having tickets booked for over a year. I had been looking forward to the show for the past couple of weeks, and downloaded the Broadway soundtrack, listening to it on loop pretty much every day. For me, Idina Menzel is the queen of musical theatre, and I was worried that I would be disappointed with the cast currently touring the UK & Ireland.

I'm thrilled to say that I wasn't disappointed. The show was every bit as magical and wonderful as the Broadway cast made it. I found myself wanting to sing along to almost ever single song but I can't imagine that would have gone down too well with those around me who weren't my friends! Our Elphaba was Nikki Davis-Jones, who was absolutely amazing, with a killer voice to belt out every song that she was part of. I would say she was definitely on par with Idina Menzel, and I couldn't wait for the scenes involving her simply because she was so fantastic. Our Glinda was Emily Tierney, who was, again, amazing and perfectly peppy and sweet as Glinda and Galinda. It goes without saying that the rest of the cast were wonderful as well, and a well deserved standing ovation was given at the end of the performance. 

I spent a while staring at the merchandise table before going in and I do wish I had bought something to remember the show by, however I am almost certain that I'll be going back again at some point. I did get a house program though (pictured above). If I had enough money right now I would book another ticket before the current cast leaves Leeds on July 2nd :)

As you can imagine I have been listening to the soundtrack non-stop since Thursday, and singing along rather loudly - apologies to my neighbours! I'm pretty sure that my friend Emily has been doing the same too :) 

I would highly recommend that you book tickets to see this current tour of Wicked. Leeds is the first stop on the tour, and I believe Birmingham, Liverpool and Southampton are next on the list, amongst many others, but you can find out more information by checking out the Official Wicked UK Tour website.

Stay Wicked! c:

~ C xxx

Book Review: From One Fangirl to Another

[x]

 “In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can't Google.)”

It was really hard for me to pick out a quote to start this off with, mainly because there were so many lines from Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl that stuck with me. Like many people who read this book, I really identified with Cath, our main character. In today's Tumblr oriented world, I found it so easy to relate to her and the way that she obsesses so heavily over Simon and Baz, going so far as to construct her own version of their world herself online. I won't go into too much detail about the plot or give anything away because I don't want to spoil it for those of you who'd like to read it. I just want to say that I wholeheartedly recommend this book. 

After a long, long time of picking up books and setting them straight down again, Fangirl has been the first book that has hooked me from the start. I first saw it advertised in the train station on my way to and from work, and the title was the thing that struck me initially. Having been on Tumblr myself for about four years now, I'm well accustomed to the language of the website, and I was really intrigued to find out if this Fangirl was the same sort of fangirl that I had in mind. I decided to google the author, and found that she has written three other books; Eleanor and Park, Attachments and Landline. Curiosity finally got the better of me, so I went out and bought Fangirl :)

As I mentioned before, I felt such a connection with Cath. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I fell a tiny bit (okay, a lot) in love with Levi. The story reminded me of when I first started university, and how hard I first found the transition from living at home to living completely independently, and most of the time I did what Cath does - stayed cooped up in my room. 

I can do nothing but praise Rainbow Rowell for the characters she has created in this book. Each and every one of them occupied their own little space in my mind as I flicked through the pages, and all have such strong and distinctive voices. I felt such conflict while I was reading; half of me desperately wanted to finish the book, and the other half was desperate for it never to end! If you ask me, that's a sign of a brilliant book.

I've already moved on to another of Rainbow's books, Eleanor and Park, so I'll probably be fangirling about Rainbow herself in a post sometime soon. I'm thoroughly enjoying her writing at the moment and I suggest that you all get your hands on a copy of Fangirl and devour it like I did.

As always, any questions and comments are welcome! What are you reading at the moment? Have you read any of Rainbow Rowell's other books? Let me know your thoughts. 

~ C xxx

iyaadimps' Liquid Eye-liner Directory!

I have come to the conclusion that I'm starting to hoard eye-liner. I think I've lost count of how many I have in the various make up bags on my window sill. 

The thing is that I love trying new liquid liners to finally find the one I think is perfect for me. My go to everyday look on my eyes during the day is the well-known cat eye flick, and with the way I rush about before I go to work means that I need a liner that is quick and easy to use. 

I thought it might be useful, both for me and for anyone else who is reading this, to go through a selection of my liners that are still available in the shops and give a brief review and an also give an idea of what they look like. I mostly tend to use felt tip liners, simply because I personally find them so much easier to apply to my lids - I've also mastered the technique of applying them one handed!

I'll start with L'Oreal liners, one of which I bought today, and the other which is a trusty old favourite of mine.

L'Oreal Super Liner Gel Intenza - £9.99

This gel liner uses a brush for application, something which I'm not entirely used to, but I have to say that the brush itself is nice and thin, thus making it fairly easy to achieve a neat flick on the eyelid. My one concern for future use is the fact that I would have to clean the brush after every use to avoid clogging it up or causing the eye-liner left on it to stiffen. On a weekend I would have time to clean it, but when I'm rushing around before work, then I doubt that I would have time. Despite this, I do like this liner, especially considering it's different to those that I'm used to using.

L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim - £6.99

This felt tip liner is one of my personal favourites. The thin tip of the pen makes application incredibly easy, and I usually have no trouble achieving a nice, neat wing on the corner of my eye. It's a little cheaper than the Gel Intenza, probably because this one isn't a gel liner. My one criticism is that it does fade throughout the day and has a tendency to smudge sometimes which isn't ideal. Other than that, this eye liner will remain one of my favourites for a long time :)

Next up is Max Factor - this is another eye liner that I bought today (slightly naughty of me, but shhhh!).

Max Factor Glide & Define Liquid Eye-liner £6.99

I love this product already. It's one that I've been eyeing up every time I head to my local shopping centre and venture into Superdrug, but every time I've put off buying it because I tell myself that I don't need any more eye-liners. However, I am so very, very glad that I gave in to temptation and bought it today! The liner itself is a lot smaller than the others I have, which makes it a lot easier to apply - it's just less fiddly. It goes on so smoothly and the pigmentation is great. With some liners I find that I have to keep drawing over and over to achieve a darker line, but that isn't necessary with the Max Factor Liquid Liner. I think it might just be my new favourite! :)

Now on to Maybelline!

Maybelline Lasting Drama Black Shock Gel Liner £8.99

This is probably the most interesting liner I've bought over the past few months. It's gel but in a pen application - a screw bottom pushes the gel through the angled rubber nib and you apply from there. I liked the idea of this because I prefer pen-style application, and paired with the gel liner I imagined that it would stay on all day and I would come home at the end of the day smudge free. The gel liner does last all day, which is great, I just find the application a little tricky. Sometimes the liner clumps and makes a bit of a mess of my neat flick, and it does take me a while to rectify. It could just be that I haven't quite gotten the hang of how to get the best out of it. Other than the slightly fiddly application, I think this is a good liquid liner, and is definitely a reasonable price for a gel liner. 

Maybelline Master Precise £5.99

This felt tip liner is similar to the L'Oreal Perfect Slim, just a tad cheaper. I forgot how nice this liner is - the thin tip makes it much easier to use, so I'd say if you're trying out the cat eye flick for the first time then this is a good liner to start with. It's fairly cheap and easy to apply. I think my one criticism would be the pigmentation - I found myself having to draw over and over to get the look I wanted. It's not one of my favourites, but it does its job.

Collection is next :)

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner £2.99

Despite being the cheapest product on my list, I think the Collection Felt Tip Liners are amazing. Coming in four different colours - black, brown, teal and purple - for just a few pounds they're better than a lot of the more expensive choices in the shops. Though the black and brown do smudge a little throughout the day, I've found that when I wear the purple or teal they really do stay on - I wouldn't say for 24 hours because I never wear my make up for that long - but they stay on for as long as I need them to anyway. I love the choice of colours because you rarely get that with felt tip liners, and sometimes I like to shake things up with my make up routine. Much like the Maybelline Master Precise, I think these liners would be great for anyone who is new to using liquid liner. If you're in your early teens and are just starting to experiment with make up, the Collection liners are definitely the most affordable whilst also being great value for money. 

Bourjois est à côté! (Thanks Google Translate...)

Bourjois Erasable Liner £7.99

I really do love this liner because, without a doubt, it stays on all day. I also love the fact that it's erasable, so mistakes don't matter at all. You can literally rub your eye-liner out and start again, it's great! My only criticism is that it sometimes gets caught in my upper lashes (as you can maybe see on the picture to the left). If applied carefully enough, this can usually avoided, although when my hand is unsteady it does tend to clog my lashes up a little. I think this probably the longest lasting liner of all the ones on my list, and I certainly wouldn't complain about the price either.

Bourjois Liner Feutre £6.99

Boujois seem to have a good choice of colours within their liquid liner range and with purple being my favourite colour, I had to buy this in that colour :) As felt tip liners go, this one is nice - it draws on smoothly and has a nice pigmentation, and I think the price is more than reasonable. With three colour choices in this specific range - black, purple and brown - I don't have any real criticisms for this liner. I have always found it easy to apply, and it's currently sitting in my make up bag along with all of the other products I'm using all the time at the moment. Thumbs up from me!

Rimmel London, you're next!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Thick & Thin Liner £5.49

Unfortunately this is the only liner I'm not really a fan of. The nib of the felt tip is quite stiff and scratchy, and does feel quite uncomfortable against my eye lid. On top of that, I do have to press on quite hard in order to achieve a dark enough colour above my lash line. I think the angled nib serves as a disadvantage - at least it does for the way in which I apply my liner. Needless to say, I don't think I would buy this liner again, although I've seen that Rimmel have a few different tip styles out at the moment, so I wouldn't mind trying out those to find out if they work better.

And finally, Soap and Glory!

Soap and Glory Supercat £6.00

I adore Soap and Glory, and it's rare that I come across a product that I don't like. The same goes here because at the moment this is my day-to-day liner. At £6.00, I personally thought this was a bargain, and I was very excited to get home and try it out. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I'm really pleased with how it applies and how long it lasts throughout the day. Lately it has been quite warm over here in the U.K, so the Supercat liner really has been put to the test as I sweat my way through days in the office and train journeys home (how attractive?). I'm almost certain that I'll be running out and restocking my collection with this eye-liner the moment it runs out. Between the Supercat and Max Factor's Glide & Define Liquid Liner, I have a hard time choosing a favourite. I think I'll probably just stick to hoarding multiple brands. It seems to be serving me well for the time being.

And that's it! That's my current list of eye-liners that I'm hoarding (minus one or two that I should probably throw in the bin anyway...). Feel free to leave any comments if you found this useful, or suggestions if you have a particular favourite that I haven't mentioned. I always love getting make up and beauty recommendations. I feel like it's the best way to discover new products.

All the products I have mentioned can be found in Boots, Superdrug or any other well-known cosmetics retailer :)

Bye for now!

~ C xxx

Mother of Guinea Pigs

So, this week I finally managed to persuade my mum to let me buy two gorgeous baby Guinea Pigs! It sounds daft coming from a 22 year old woman that I needed my mother's permission, but after all I do live in her house and she rules the roost. It took me about two or so weeks to win her over, which I personally think is a record, but that was after extensive googling and youtubing of how to care for Guinea Pigs and how to recognise the different noises that they make. Obviously I wanted to make sure that I could give them the best home possible :)

At the moment there's currently a shortage of Guinea Pigs being bred in the UK, which came as a surprise to me because pet shops always seem to be overrun with the little cuties whenever I go in. But thankfully we managed to find a shop that was ready to pop six baby females on sale on Tuesday, so you can all guess where I headed straight away after work that day. It took me all of five minutes to decide exactly which two I wanted to take home when I saw them all scurrying around. Roxie (right in the above picture) was an instant choice because she stood out from the rest by being the only rosetted Guinea Pig of the bunch. Ruby (left in the above picture) was the quietest and calmest, and as soon as I picked her up I fell in love with her. 

The assistant who helped us to pick out our new family members was so, so helpful! I haven't owned a pet for quite some time, but he gave us plenty of advice and tips for keeping both little Guinea Pigs happy. I have to give kudos to Pets At Home, because I really did feel confident and happy when I left with my babies, as I've gotten into the habit of calling them! Hay/straw makes up around 80% of their diet, so we stocked up on plenty of the stuff to keep their cage nice and cosy. I made the choice long before I set foot in the shop that I wanted to keep them indoors, simply because we do get a few foxes around our area, and I've spotted two red kites who like to keep an eye on whatever is beneath them from up above. I didn't want to risk anything happening to them, so a nice, big, spacious cage in the warmth of the house suits them well. The only extra things we need to do because of this is let them run around for a few hours a day, preferably outside in a run where we can keep an eye on them, and also keep their claws clipped - living outside usually gives them the opportunity to wear their claws down naturally. 

Today was a particularly lovely day weather-wise, so we carried Roxie and Ruby out in to the garden for a little play on the grass in a makeshift run, and they loved it. Both have been a little timid to start off with, understandable as they're both only about 9 weeks old, but I can really see them becoming far more curious and daring. Roxie has the cheekiest personality ever, and she is damn greedy, already having learned that when we open the patio door it means that it's time for dandelion leaf snacks! Ruby is most definitely the calmest of the two, and absolutely loves having cuddles into mine or my mum's dressing gown. It was lovely to see both of them spending the best part of the afternoon chomping on the lawn and having a good run around, discovering new things that we haven't introduced them to yet.

My dad has expertly dubbed me as the 'Mother of Guinea Pigs', a title which I am more than happy to take considering its basis on my new favourite TV show, Game of Thrones. 

We've already noticed that Roxie has started to grow, not surprising since she spends literally all day eating, and when they're fully grown they should reach about double the size of what they are at the moment. By then I might have to look into getting a bigger cage! :)

~ C xxx

Not a Queen, a Khaleesi

Lately I have been well and truly consumed by Game of Thrones. 

I was late catching on to the HBO show and jumping on the badwagon, but over the past couple of weeks my evenings after work have been filled with episode after episode. As of Wednesday night I managed to catch all the way up to the most recent episode, and I have to say it's probably one of the best TV shows I've ever immersed myself in. I'm not going to give anything away just in case anyone who hasn't watched it yet is reading this, but for me personally it feels amazing to watch a show where the plot of each episode keeps you hooked, character development is so strong, and you literally have no idea who is going to survive the series. It's things like this that keep me so involved.

The fact that 6.6 million UK viewers tuned in for the premiere of series four is definitely proof enough of its success.

Like many other viewers, I am a particular fan of the Mother of Dragons herself, Daenerys Targaryen. She's one of the strongest female characters on a television show that I've ever watched, and I just adore the fact that she disregards everyone else's opinion but her own, plus the fact that she has her own dragons. If that isn't cool then I don't know what is.

I feel a little lost now that I have fully caught up with season four because I was so enjoying my evenings watching episodes back-to-back all night! But at least it gives me something to look forward to every Monday night :)

That's all for now c:

~ C xxx

Tips and Tricks for Fine Hair

Like many women across the world, my hair isn't nearly as thick and lustrous as anything from a TV advertisement. I have inherited the same fine hair as my mum, and spend hours on end each week styling and fixing up my hair to give it the volume that I feel like it needs. In the past this has proven to be quite a challenge, but having fine hair certainly isn't the end of the world - not by a long shot!

It's only over the past six months or so that I have really started to make a conscious effort with the way in which I style my hair, paying attention to the latest styling brands on the market whilst at the same time taking time out to watch hair tutorials and advice on youtube. Personally I think the accessibility of such things on youtube is fantastic because it proves that there's no need to be an expert in hair and beauty to achieve the results that you want - it can all be done from the comfort of your own home. I am lucky, and very thankful, to have healthy hair which I have always kept in good condition, so I have always been a little apprehensive about buying products to use in my hair. One downfall is that my hair becomes greasy very easily, and I have always thought that using a thousand and one products to keep it styled the way I want it would create a lot of build up.

However, I have come across a few tips, tricks and products that I think are working for me. Styling mousse is first on my list. My friend Mia recommended the VO5 Plump It Up Whipped Mousse, and on a recent trip to Boots on our lunch break I decided to try it out. The first time I used it I will admit that I did use too much, but after working out how much was a good amount to use on my hair I could see a noticeable change after simply drying it. I've also noticed that my hair is less prone to looking greasy, and is far easier to style in the morning before I go to work. 

Another VO5 product that I have been using is the Plump It Up Volumising Spritz, a spray that provides much lighter hold on my hair whilst still having a similar effect as the mousse. It is much easier to use, and smells gorgeous. I would probably say if you're not used to using mousse, or don't like the stickiness it can leave on your hands, then the spritz is more suited to you. Lately I have been leaning more towards it simply because it's easier and faster to use.

As for tips and tricks when it comes to styling, I find that the following seem to work in giving my hair that little, extra boost that it needs:

1. If you have a side/sweeping fringe, use a round brush to blow dry it in the opposite direction that you want it to fall to.
2. To create volume from the roots of your hair, try blow drying it upside down for a few minutes, making sure to use a round brush to dry from the roots upwards after you have given it a quick blast upside down.
3. Avoid straightening your hair too much - I tend to only use my straighteners on the ends of my hair because straightening from the root can make it look flat.
4. Always use hairspray - if your hair is fine, like mine, then it may struggle to hold most hairstyles so it's always best to have the hairspray handy.

Finally, I feel like the following products should get an honourable mention because I tend to use them every now and again and I think they're great:

1. L'Oreal Paris Studio Line TXT Volume Supersizing Spray
2. L'Oreal Paris Studio Line TXT Wave Creating Spray
3. L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Matt & Messy Shine-Free Salt Spray

Obviously I must really like L'Oreal products!

I hope some of this blog post was useful, and as I said it did take me quite a while to find out what worked best for me. I'm in no way an expert when it comes to hair and beauty, just a normal twenty-something girl who has an avid interest in both, and wants to share her thoughts and advice with the lovely people of the internet :)

Ciao for now!

~ C xxx   

Reader's Block

Lately I've been trying to get back into reading a lot more after suffering from a severe case of reader's block. Since finishing University last year I, shamefully, haven't read nearly half as much as I used to. The course I studied was incredibly literature heavy - obviously, considering that it was an English Literature course - and I feel like the amount of required reading knocked me for six. I became so accustomed to powering through almost a book a week, and after graduating I felt as though I deserved some sort of break. But that break should definitely be over now.

The last book I finished was John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, on holiday last July, and it really was an amazing book. I knew there was a lot of hype around it before I picked it up, and it definitely lived up to said hype for me. I can't wait until the film comes out this year! :) However, since then, I haven't managed to pick up a book that has really grasped my attention. Above you can see part of the reading list that I've created for myself, and I am determined to get through at least these two piles by the end of the year. Most of these books are ones that I've picked up in charity shops or the book stand that is often set up in my local shopping centre. If anyone has read any of these, I'd be interested to know what you thought of them.

I have always been told that a good reader makes a good writer, and I firmly believe that. The more you expand your literary horizons, the more you open up your mind to so many different, amazing and unique pieces of writing, and I always feel so much more inspired to put pen to paper, or tap my fingertips on the keyboard whenever I'm reading a good book. Reading really gets your creative juices flowing, and I'm planning on fitting in a little time each day to just relax and read for a shirt while, and now that the days are longer and summer is closer I'll be able to make the most of time outside instead of being cooped up indoors. 

I would be interested to know if anyone has any book recommendations. There is still a considerable list of books that I want to buy, but I'm determined to push myself through the unread ones in my bookcase first. 

I'm excited to re-immerse myself in as many different stories as I can and, who knows, maybe it will give me some inspiration to start writing something a lot bigger myself :)

~ C xxx

Size Matters

Shopping for clothes can be frustrating at the best of times - you find that you fit into a different size in every different shop, therefore meaning that you waltz into the changing rooms with at least two of every item. But to be honest, I think that's one of the lesser problems that comes with high street shopping.

On a recent trip into Leeds city centre, I was rather disappointed to find such a limited range of sizes out in the shops I was looking in. Being only five feet tall myself, I usually choose to browse the petite section, providing that there is one, because most clothes are more in proportion to my frame. Fitting in between sizes 10 and 12 (UK sizes), I was shocked to find it difficult to locate any of the garments on display actually in either of my sizes, and considering that the average dress size for a woman in the UK is a 16, I think it's acceptable to say that I was pretty disgusted. I was surrounded by sizes 2 to 6, with the odd size 8 floating around here and there, and at the moment it really hit me just how damaging this can be to the way a person feels about them self.

It was a considerable blow to my confidence to discover that a high end fashion store like this doesn't stock many items in my size or larger, and I have since discovered that the shop in question only stocks clothing up to a size 14 in its petite section. 

Pairing this with the media's, often damaging, portrayal of the female body image, and how a woman "should" look, it comes as no surprise that so many women feel the need to shed as much weight as they can to fit into fashionable clothing. Personally, I won't be making the decision to lose any weight in order to fit the image that many fashion retailers portray. 

I am all for bodies that come in all shapes and sizes, and weights and heights - because we're all different, and we should all be praised for looking the way we do instead of feeling like we have to fit a specific mould. Retailers should bear this in mind when marketing their stores, and think about what people really want to encounter when they're out shopping. I would much rather see an advert or billboard with a range of models who represent as many different body types as possible, showing consumers that, no, they don't have to look a certain way to dress fashionably.

It is encouraging to see some high street stores embracing the changing shapes of women in the UK. Debenhams unveiled their very own size 16 mannequins towards the end of last year to help female shoppers feel much more comfortable when browsing their store for clothes. I think it's high time that all stores across the UK adopted the same attitudes to body image, and create a positive environment for all shoppers across the country.

~ C xxx

#nomakeupselfie

It seems like my posts on here are starting to have a general theme of "selfies", but I really felt the need to write about this.

I'm sure that everyone has heard and seen about the new phenomenon that's hit social networking sites where women post up a photo of themselves tagged #nomakeupselfie. When first scrolling through my Facebook news feed and seeing all of these pictures, I did wonder why exactly they were being posted. It was then brought to my attention that what these women were trying to do was raise awareness for Cancer Research UK and encourage others to send in their donations.

At first I had to admit I was sceptical. Most pictures I had seen did not provide the link with which to donate, or the number to text to, and it just struck me as an opportunity for people to post an endless number of photos of themselves. But then I read this article from The Independent, and soon realised what a fantastic job this trend was doing for Cancer Research UK. Raising over £2,000,000 in the space of 24 hours is remarkable, and I can safely say that my reservations have been banished.

Of course I still think that people shouldn't need such encouragement to donate to charity, it should just be a natural thing we all do. Every little really does help, no matter how little you can afford to donate. But I can't deny that this social networking trend really has had the most wonderful impact, and it's lovely to see so many beautiful, make-up free faces all over Facebook and Twitter!

And yes, before you ask, I have posted up my own bare-faced selfie, and I was also kind enough to tag my younger brother in it. Not sure if he'll be letting me do his make-up yet, but we'll see :)

Enjoy my bare face! xD

~ C xxx

If you would like to donate to Cancer Research UK, you can text the word 'beat' to 70007, or alternatively you can click this link to make an online donation instead. Keep giving!

Generation Selfie

It doesn't surprise me that the word selfie is now in the Oxford English Dictionary. Over the past year or so the concept has rocketed into the spotlight, and I am not afraid to admit that I am partial to taking a fair few selfies every now and again. My instagram and facebook are littered with photos of myself, and I actually think that's a good thing. Selfies suggest, to me, that a person feels confident with the way that they look. They're sharing a picture of themselves with the rest of the world and I think it says a lot in todays society. We live in a world where people are constantly jibed for their outward appearance, a world where celebrities are stalked by photographers just so they can catch that crucial 'bad photograph' when they're having an off day, a world where a great many magazine covers and photographs are airbrushed within an inch of their lives, and we're supposed to believe that these people actually look like that. 

This is why I feel like the selfie is such a liberating thing. It might sound like an over-exaggeration, but these are images posted with little to no editing - an instagram filter at most - and show that whoever has posted it feels happy and content with their appearance. It empowers people to say "you know what? Yeah, I look good today, and here's a picture to show you", and I personally think that's amazing.

I wake up some mornings, get myself dressed, hair done and make-up on, and I look in the mirror and like what I see. So I take a photograph to remind myself that I looked good and felt confident about it. And I am by no means a confident person, but why waste an opportunity to feel good about myself? It's the little things in life like this that bring a smile to people's faces. I can only speak for myself though. 

Of course, I realise that there also are negative sides to the selfie - cruel and nasty comments. From what I see on the internet and its many social networking sites, comments such as these are only limited to a small minority. For example, I was scrolling through my instagram the other day, and one of my friends had posted a picture of her 'make-up of the day', which looked amazing. A girl, who I presume she didn't know, made a particularly negative comment on the photo, and it annoyed me that she thought it was okay to dive in and say something completely unnecessary. Needless to say, my friend handled it brilliantly, but it did make me stop and think about how that sort of behaviour could affect someone else, someone less confident. I think it takes a lot of courage to post up pictures of yourself and genuinely feel confident about them.

Leaving the internet trolls behind, I do still think that there is power in the selfie. Show the world how amazing you are. Get both behind and in front of that camera and flood all of your social network accounts with your own photoshoot! 

#EmpoweredByTheSelfie

~ C xxx  

Resolutions

I know we're already two weeks into the new year, but I can't stop thinking about all of the things I want to change about my life for the better. There are so many things I want to do in order to make this year good, and creating my own blogging/vlogging presence is definitely one of them. I have watched and loved videos on Youtube for years now, and this year I'm determined to become part of it myself. I've discovered that filming videos is quite hard, and getting the right footage to edit and upload is proving to be quite a challenge.
Resolution number two is self-explanatory - learn how to drive. I chose not to start lessons when I turned seventeen, but now I think it's high time I get behind the wheel and do exactly that. 
Reading and writing more is a huge resolution I want to make - I adore both and want to get my head stuck in more books, over a range of different genres, to broaden my horizons even further.
The next on my to-do list is a lot more adventurous for me, and also a little scary. I want to travel, move away from home and experience more of the world. I have always been a home bird - my university was only half an hour's drive away from home - because the thought of doing things alone scares me. But I need to push my own boundaries and step out of my comfort zone, otherwise I know for a fact that I'll miss out on some of the amazing things that life has to offer, and that's the last thing I want to do.
Get a tattoo. I already have plans to go and book my appointment this weekend. For the past year and a half I've been thinking about getting a little owl tattooed on my foot. It's quite an understatement to say that like owls a lot and I'm looking forward to drawing out my own design to have permanently etched on my skin :) 
I'll probably think of plenty more as the days and weeks pass by, and hopefully I'll share the results of any new endeavours I make!

~ C xxx

2013 Favourites!

2013 introduced me to many of my new favourite beauty products, shops, books and films. Seeing as it's now the new year, I wanted to share with everyone what I enjoyed through out the last year.

Beauty Products

L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim Black Liner - I love this eye liner. I've tried quite a few different felt tip liners this year, but none have been as precise or easy to use as this one. I think it's reasonably priced too - the only downside is that it doesn't come in other colours.

Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner - Considering the small price tag of this liner, it works surprisingly well, and does stay on, smudge free, until I come to take it off at the end of the day. At £2.49, I think it's well worth having in your make-up bag. Plus, it does come in three different colours - the purple one being my favourite! :)

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm in Peach Kiss - I have about a million lip balms because for some reason, whenever I go shopping, I stand there and think "Ooh! I need another lip balm. Yes, yes I do." The one thing I like in particular about these balms is that they all smell gorgeous. The peach is my favourite, simply because not only does it moisturise, but it also adds a lovely tint to your lips.

Real Techniques Brushes - I've never owned a set of good make-up brushes, but as soon as I started watching Pixiwoo's channel on youtube, I really wanted to give these ones a try. They are amazing. Seriously. I won't ever buy cheap brushes again. They're soft, easy to use, and I feel like I'm applying my make-up so much better since buying them. An absolute must-have in my opinion. 

Benefit "Hello Flawless" Foundation - Okay, so, admittedly I was given this for Christmas, so haven't been using it for a very long time, but I think it's probably the best foundation I've ever come across. It's so light and smells gorgeous, yet it feels as though I have hardly any make up on at all. It is a little pricier than the foundation I was using before, but for me I feel like it's worth the extra splurge to make my skin feel so healthy :)

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - I've tried and tested a few different concealers over the past year, but I always come back to this one. Personally, I feel like it has great coverage for underneath my eyes and over any blemishes, so I don't have to have multiple concealers cluttering up my make-up bag. It doesn't cost that much either, and I know I'll keep going back to it time and time again.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipsticks by Kate Moss - These are my absolute favourite lipsticks. I love the shades, and love the finish that they give on my lips. I've never been a huge fan of over-glossed lips, especially not on me, so the fact that these are matte just encourages me to wear lipstick a whole lot more. If I had to pick a favourite shade, I'd probably choose "Kiss of Life (111)". I wouldn't wear such a bold colour during the day, but for a night out I think it's perfect!

Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara - Another staple item that I will always go back to, I don't exactly know what it is about this mascara that I like, except that it just makes my lashes look exactly how I want them to. It doesn't clump, or make them look spidery, adding just the right amount of volume and length that I like. 

Soap and Glory "Foam Call" Bath and Shower Wash - I've always loved the Soap and Glory range, and have been using their body butters and shower gels for the past few years. This one is my absolute favourite though, simply because it literally foams up in your hands, even if you just use a tiny amount. A little definitely goes a long way, and for £6.50 per bottle, I can't help but always have one at the side of my bath. 

The Comforter (Lush Bubble Bar) - Quite frankly the best Lush product in my opinion. I love, love, looove The Comforter! For some reason, the fragrance reminds me of how my 'Baby All Gone' used to smell when I was little, (as weird as that sounds it is a compliment I promise!), but it's honestly my favourite bubble bath related thing in the world. If I can have a bath with a Comforter in, then I'm a very happy Courtney indeed :)

Shops

Superdrug - I have a new-found love for Superdrug, and whenever I hit the shops I can't help but have a little wander in. I try not to buy something every time I go in but that doesn't always happen.

Lush - When it gets close to winter you can guarantee that I start making my trips to Lush. I love their products. I know that a lot of people can't handle the strong smell inside their shops, but I'm one of the few that can't get enough of it. I love trying their new bath bombs and bubble bars, and seeing what new smells they've come up with.

Primark - I used to detest Primark because it felt like a jumble sale to me, but since a new store was opened up recently in Leeds Trinity shopping centre, my faith has been restored. For some reason, just having a nice layout to the shop and clothes neatly stacked and hung up just makes it far more appealing to me, and I look forward to shopping there. Plus, I did find some good bargains there for Christmas presents too!

Paperchase - Oh Paperchase, how I love thee! No, really, I do. I have to exercise so much self-restraint whenever I go into this shop. There are just sooooo many lovely things that I want to buy. I have a huge problem with buying notebooks. If I see a pretty one then I'll want it. Anything with owls on too, I'll want that.

TK Maxx - I blame my parents for my love of TK Maxx. I'm not really fussed for any of the clothes because I'm rarely in the mood to look through the rails, but the handbags and Home section just call out my name. I can't wait for the day when I have my own house/flat - I'll be furnishing the whole place with things bought from TK Maxx! 

Books

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - This book surprised me so much. I hadn't looked up anything about it before I read it, and took it away on holiday with me when I went to Kos. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that I shed a few tears by the pool when I finished it.

Angela Carter's Book of Fairy Tales - I love fairy tales and fantasy stories so much, and I have read some of Angela Carter's work before. The gruesome imagery she uses and old fashioned way in which she tells her tales is just fantastic and, though I adore Disney, it's such a far cry from the fairy tales that we're so used to seeing because of them.

Films/TV Shows

Les Miserables - This film sent me through a roller-coaster of emotions. I'd never seen the stage production before, or read the book, so seeing it on the big screen was amazing. My plan is to go see it in the West End next!

Pitch Perfect - Thanks to this film, I now wish that I could sing! I did hesitate with seeing it at first because I was under the impression that it was exactly like Glee, a show which I did like but don't watch any more because Sky stole it from E4. I did cave though, and watched it in the midst of writing my dissertation, and ended up loving every minute of it. 

Catching Fire - I love The Hunger Games' novels, and I have to say I've been so impressed by the movie adaptations. Usually I nitpick so much when I see films that have come from books that I've read, but I struggle to find anything to pick at with these adaptations. Needless to say I can't wait for Mockingjay parts 1&2.

Frozen - I love Disney, and they didn't disappoint with this year's release. I was already incredibly excited before I even saw the film - the previews looked great - and it's one of those classics that I could happily watch again and again. The songs were brilliant, especially Idina Menzel's 'Let It Go', and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD.

Supernatural - I know, I'm very late jumping on the Supernatural bandwagon, try about nine seasons too late, but I need to give it a mention. I fell in love with the show from the start, and I honestly don't know why I didn't watch it when it first came on TV originally. I'm almost all caught up now though, and I managed to get my Dad hooked on it too (he thinks he's Dean Winchester). I can't express my love enough for the actors and writers and basically everyone who works on it - it's amazing, and if you haven't watched it before, watch it now!

For now, I think that's enough for this post. I know it's late but I hope everyone had a cracking Christmas, a wonderful New Year, and here's to a great 2014! 

~ C xxx

I'm having an early life crisis.

Finishing university was bad enough, turning twenty-two felt like a tiny stab in the chest, but now I sit here at the start of 2014, at around 4am on a Tuesday morning, wondering just what the hell it is I want to do with my life. There are so many things that I love to do, and the worst way for me to decide on a career would be to just settle. I can't do that. My brain tells me 'no' every single time I think about it. I want to wake up in the mornings and look forward to going to work. I want to write, and doodle, and use my camera, and read, and talk incessantly about everything that I enjoy in life. 
The thing that scares me the most in the world is that I'm not good enough for the careers out there that I'd love to do. Yes, I have a degree under my belt now, but what does that honestly say about me? Does it tell an employer that I'm an enthusiastic person who is eager to jump into their working environment? Does it tell them that I push myself to achieve the best that I can, or that when I try my hardest I can come up with ideas that most people usually wouldn't? I'm not a particularly confident individual. In fact, I struggle to ask shop assistants for help sometimes because I'm worried that my question will be stupid. 
To cut what could be a long post short, I'm terrified about the future. I'm scared of not living my life to the fullest that I can. 
I hope I'm not the only twenty-two year old who feels like this.