Not even a little bit guilty about my guilty pleasure

Guilty pleasures. Everyone's got them don't they? Whether they are in the form of that album from 5 years ago which is just 'so uncool' now, or your teddy that sits on your bed all day and you cannot bear to be without.

Everyone has one or two, kept hidden deep at the bottom of drawers or under the bed, that only come out on very rare and special occasions.

Me, I have about a billion guilty pleasures. And, to be honest, I don't really feel like I should be guilty about them, because I love them and they make me happy. What does it matter what everyone else thinks?

But the one that I am going to talk about today, is a film trilogy that everybody (females in particular) from my generation should recognise and know of.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!


I can literally feel my friend rolling her eyes as she reads this - that's right Karina, I'm talking about you!

I just love High School Musical so much, it is most definitely the film of my childhood. Starring Zac Efron (and sighhhhhhh) and Vanessa Hudgens, it is a love story like no other.

The first movie, my older sister received as a Christmas or birthday present, and after watching it once with her, I was hooked. Since then, I have kind of adopted the DVD. The second movie, my sister and I got it as a joint present from our parents - probably to keep us quiet during the holidays! That disc has long since been lost, I really need to rebuy it! The third movie was actually the only one that I saw in the cinema, and was given to me (and only me!) for my birthday. Quite a while ago, obviously.

My favourite film has got to be the third one, for a variety of reasons (but mainly because Zac Efron is at his HSM peak!). My least favourite has got to be the second one. I don't really know why, I don't mind watching it, I just prefer the others. I think that it must have something to do with the fact that I dislike Troy being portrayed as the 'baddie'.

I am not the slightest bit ashamed to admit that I know all of the words to all of the songs, and can recite the entire third movie, dialogue and all. If you hear me in the shower, nine times out of ten, I will be singing some form of a HSM song. Just because.

I have a kind of promise to myself that every single holiday, I will have a High School Musical day at some point, where I snuggle up on the sofa or in my bed and enjoy all three films, surrounding myself in High School Musicalness. Bliss.

High School Musical has really helped me, and it the thing that will always cheer me up. My friends know that whenever I'm depressed, they should just stick it on and I'll be fine again after the first song's chorus. It has always been there, even through the most difficult times.

Have to say though, secondary school was nothing like I expected. That, my dears, is what we call false advertising.

When I went on holiday with my family to Egypt, the hotel that we stayed was very similar to the resort from the second movie. My sister and I took every opportunity to re-enact as many songs as possible - particularly, a moving rendition of 'Gotta Go My Own Way' on what I can swear is the same bridge as the one in the movie.

I need to stop talking, its just, when I get started talking about it, I can't stop - I love it too much!

I'd love to hear about your guilty (or not so guilty) pleasures, I have so many more, enough for at least one million more posts!

See you soon!

Making a dress!

This past week has been half term for me, so I have had the week off to whatever I please!

Which, honestly, has meant staying in bed all day obsessively watching Once Upon A Time.

But it has meant that I have rediscovered my sewing box which has been hidden under layers of school work and other pooey life related things.

I love to sew and create things, but so rarely get the time to. My dressmakers dummy just stands in the corner of my room being used more often as a belt and accessories holder than, you know, a dressmakers dummy.

However, sometimes I just like to take an old top, a few pins and a pair of scissors, do some random cutting and pinning and see what I can create. Basically, wingin' it all the way.

A while ago, I received a sewing gift set from an aunt. I wasn't really that interested in the included pattern, but it did come with a large square of black fabric with white flowers.

I had forgotten about it, because normally when I have a project that I want to do, I have to go out and buy the fabric specifically. However when I brought out my fabric scraps box to see what bits I can add to my creation, I rediscovered it.

I decided that I wanted to make a dress. I have always loved the 50s fashions, they were really on to something then with the little nipped in waits, full circle skirts and big flouncy petticoats.

Now don't worry, this isn't going to be a tutorial, because I'm no way near experienced enough for that, and I would imagine that it wouldn't go too well... Let me know if you want tutorials! I also didn't realise that I wanted to write a blog on this until I was finished, so lets just call this a showing of the finished product with added explanation.

I used the large square of fabric for the skirt, and by folding it into quarters I created four panels. I measured my waist, and divided it by four, for each of the panels. The bottom edge I then just made as large as the fabric would allow.

Then, using an old strappy top from Primark (you can get them for about £1 each) I started to create the 'bodice'. I cut off the straps and snipped right up the back. I then used some excess skirt material to create a nice little trim for the top. I had planned to also make chunky straps out of the material, but later decided not to, enjoying the strapless look.

I stitched together the four panel pieces with three seams, missing out the one at the back due to the zip that I was planning to add, and then stitched the 'bodice' to the skirt, still leaving the back open.

It wasn't until the next day that I was able to go out and buy a zip, and attempted (rather unsuccessfully) to put it in. I haven't had a lot of experience with zips, and my sewing machine doesn't have a zipper foot. I thought that I would be ok without it, but turns out that zipper foots were actually invented for a reason! Please don't judge me too harshly on the terrible state of my zip - I tried!

I added a waistband, because I really wanted to give the dress a lovely sillohete - it also helps to hide all the not-so-nice sewing underneath where the stretchy fabric didn't combine with the non stretchy very well...


After that all I did was add on a hem in an old sheet that my mum had given me to use for toils (practices before you make the real thing) to tie the whole dress together, and add a button and loop and top of the zip to hide all of the nasty ends. I was finished!

I then spent much longer than I care to admit whirling round pretending to be at a 1950s dance.

I'm actually really proud of how this turned out, and also that I actually got it finished. Normally, I'm the type of person who starts a project and never finishes it!

I also started it quite late at night when I was bored. I did all the patterns and cutting and pinning and didn't want to stop, so I fetched my sewing machine and sat, sewing at 11:00pm! Even when I went to bed, I couldn't sleep because I was too excited!

I love having that much inspiration, that it just fills you and make you want to explode and tell everyone about it, and just do it non stop. That's how I felt, how I feel when I sew, like I never want to stop because I love it so much. That's also how I feel when I write my blog. Like I want to explode with happiness!

That got quite deep at the end there! I only meant this to be a showing of the finished product with added explanation - not tutorial!!!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and let me know if you want me to more like this - maybe attempt a tutorial! I actually loved rediscovering my love for sewing, and I know that it will be even harder to let it go now!

See you soon!

Leggings Love

It will probably be no surprise to anyone that I live in pyjamas, with either my big fluffy slipper boots or stripy fluffy socks - or both!

I also live in my bed - genuinely every post I've ever written ever was written in my bed.

So pyjamas, or jammies, or jim jams, or sleepwear, or loungewear, or whatever you crazy kids are calling it these days, are very important to me.

I own more various combinations of pyjama tops and bottoms and comfy clothing than any other possession I own.

I have a pretty little bucket at the end of my bed containing them all, however it is usually overflowing because I have too many jammies! I literally need to be restrained when I see the onsies in Primark.

I know that a lot of people like leggings as something to lounge in if they just want to chill out in front of the TV, or if they're having a pamper evening, but I never really wear leggings. I chuck 'em on if I'm going to the gym - cause you know, that happens sooo much! *guilty face*

But the other day I decided to break the mould a bit and wear them with a big cosy jumper, and I really enjoyed it! I was so comfortable - and they are so stretchy! I could so be a gymnast with my leg up here!

And when I was getting ready for bed, I just forgot to take them off, and I fell asleep in them.

I found that they were so much warmer than normal pyjamas, and kept all the warmth in.

So I slept in them the next night, and the next and the next and the next, and suddenly I was kind of addicted to them.

I found it very difficult to take them off in the mornings and grabbed them as soon as I got in from school in the afternoons. I think that if I could've made them permanently moulded to my
skin, I would've.

But I'm aware that it isn't healthy to constantly wear leggings, for a clear mind or a physical activity.

It was time to switch back to normal jammies.

So now here I am sitting here in my baggy heart patterned pyjama bottoms, feeling all of the breezes up and down my legs, which is making me very uncomfortable.

However, I know that I just need to adjust back to my normal jim jams, and find a healthy balance between them and my new love of leggings.

See you soon!

Being Unfair to MUA?

Being the huge cheapskate that I am, I like to be careful with the makeup that I buy and make sure that I am getting the best possible deal for my money.

Because of this, I always like to do a bit of research on the website before going to have a little Superdrug splurge.

Now, a while ago, when I was first getting into makeup, I was too much of a cheapskate to even buy from the well known high street brands like Rimmel or Maybelline, so I went straight to the back of the shop where there was the MUA (MakeUp Academy) stand.

For quite a while I bought all my makeup from there, and I actually once had a huge haul just on MUA products - I think that I bought 19 items for only £31!

So obviously, it is the cheapo, not great makeup line, and as I began to learn this, I started to accept that it was time to make the transition from £2 to £10 foundations.

And I don't really remember how, but I began to get this idea in my head that MUA is just a really really bad brand, and I was quite embarrassed to be associated with using a lot of their products.

So I threw a lot of the things that I bought from there away, seeing them as rubbish and a waste of space.

(And MUA workers reading this, I'm sorry, but it does get better!)

I did keep a few things though, things that I love a lot. I have two blushes, one in Bon Bon, and one in Lolly (which is so gorgeous) and nine little eyeshadow singles, all of which a beautiful, but my favourite has to be Copper - its just so pretty!

But on the whole, I just kind of disregarded the whole brand as something silly and for amateurs only.

So, today when I was doing my Superdrug website surfing, I looked at the editors top 5s lists.

And I noticed that MUA featured quite a lot.

???

How did that happen?

But after deciding to swallow my pride, I went over and had a little look at the MUA section of the website again.

I don't know if any of you ever do this, but the thing that I find most useful when looking at new products, is reading all of the customer reviews.

So I read what feels like a billion customer reviews on loads of different MUA products, and realised that I might be being a bit unfair to them because the majority of the reviews were very positive.

I clicked on a few of the products that I had bought but thrown away, and found that the reviews there were also very positive.

So then I got quite annoyed, because I had gotten rid of these products and hadn't given them a fair chance, when in actuality they might not actually be that bad!

Now I'm not saying that I'm going to go all crazy over MUA again, because I have expanded my makeup purchasing brain and have loads of brands that I now love. I definitely want to go back and try some more MUA products, and give them another go, especially now that I'm more experienced in makeup and know a lot more about what I'm looking for in a good product.

And if it turns out that I was actually right the first time and MUA isn't great after all? So what? I don't think that I'm going to make that much of a loss when basically all of their products are £1.

So here it is, I am officially apologising to MUA, I'm sorry that I thought I was above you and your products, which many people believe are actually very good. I am going to wait and try some more before fully making up my mind.

Expect A LOT of MUA reviews coming soon!

See you soon!

Table Treasure Hauls

A few weeks ago , I wrote a post called Table Trespassers, which was about some people from younger years stealing mine and my friends table in the canteen at lunch time.

Loads of you seemed to really like this, and so after a suggestion from a friend, I decided to write a part two of this gripping saga.

See, besides this horrible group of trespassers, my group of friends aren't the only people who sit at and enjoy all of the delights of the corner table by the exit, against the window, next to the radiator.

There is a group of much older students (the oldest in the school in fact) who sit there before school and during their free periods.

Now obviously my friends and I have a lot more common sense than to go and be trespassers to this group of people, because they are older than us and have probably been sitting at the table a lot longer than us, and also... they're quite scary.

So we just leave them be, just like how they leave us be at break and lunch, and we get along just fine in this never talking table agreement that we have.

But, as I mentioned earlier, they are older students and therefore have free periods for independent study and revision sessions or whatever schools want you to think. Because of this, they always bring their bags, books and random possessions into the canteen.

And leave them there.

For us to find.

Which we enjoy.

Greatly.

The first few times it happened, we were a bit surprised, and kind of ignored it.

However now, it is like a little game. We look forward every day to the little hauls of random stuff that the older students leave us. We don't take any of it, or even interfere with it, we just like looking at it and musing over the stories that must have brought some of the objects to the table.

A little while ago there was a book filled with pictures of people with clothes drawn on, the kind that kids have when they are going to be fashion designers, and they all had speech bubbles, which were very funny.

There is also the times that there are French essays left, which we stay as far away from as possible!

Through this, I have learnt that sharing a table isn't really that bad, it can actually be quite fun at times!

However, I am going to reiterate, we don't take anything, we don't steal! Don't go getting the wrong idea!

Anyway, the problem that I wrote about previously with the trespassers is still continuing, but I think we might be winning.... fingers crossed!

See you soon!

Maybelline The Nudes - Eyeshadow Pallet

Today is my first proper makeup review thingy! Yay!

I am going to be talking about the Maybelline The Nudes eyeshadow pallet, which I received from Father Christmas and have been enjoying using ever since.

Being a teenager who (unfortunately) attends school, I can't really be as out there as I might like with eyeshadow, and so I am confined to nudes and neutrals most of the time.

However, when I fist saw this little palette in my local Superdrug, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I loved how there is a mixture of  really glittery shades, as well as mild shimmer shades, and so I was very pleased when it fell into my stocking.

I have found that the darker colours are quite pigmented, and you don't really need a lot to go a long way. I also found them really easy to blend, and they lasted a really long time. What more could you want???

The two shades that I found myself reaching for most often were a beautiful glittery golden for my base colour and then a shimmery brown for my crease - bootiful!

Then today, I found something out that I didn't know before. When I was taking pictures, I flipped the pallet over and found some amazing hints and tips for choosing the right colours that will go with each other. The colours on the pallet had been arranged specifically, to create certain looks.

I just don't think that I've ever really seen something like that on a pallet before, where all of the colours are so versatile, and I cannot wait to try out some of the combos - especially the quads!

So, overall, I really like this pallet, and would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a really versatile shimmery nudes pallet - I love it! The only thing I would say though is that the lighter colours, like the highlights, really aren't very pigmented at all, and often don't show up over the darker tones. However, I think it is good value for £9.99, and I really want to try The Blushed Nudes pallet - my birthday is coming up, hint hint!

I would love to hear your recommendations, especially for eyeshadows, cause I wuv them!

See you soon!

Sentimental Makeup

I have a bit of a thing for watching makeup collection videos on YouTube. I just love 'em.

Sadly however, as soon as I see one I need to rush out to Superdrug, which isn't such good news for my relatively empty purse.

And in so many of the videos of people where they have millions of lipsticks and billions of eyeshadows, they always have a few little things that they don't use but keep for sentimental reasons.

And it got me thinking about the sentimental makeup that I have.

I am a very sentimental person usually, I hate throwing anything away and everything has some kind of memory.

(I'm also a massive cheapskate, and I refuse to throw anything away until it is absolutely scraped clean and completely barren.)

So because of this, there are a few things in my collection that are never used, not very well treated and kind of funny smelling (cause they're so out of date) but I just can't let them go.

The first is this mascara. This was the first mascara I ever owned (in original packaging), and I would actually really recommend it as a starter mascara. I remember when I was little, I used to put on a layer of it every five minutes and bat my eyelids at myself in the mirror, thinking how amazingly beautiful it was. Now, goodness knows how many years after it was purchased, I still have it, completely dry and used up, with new species of life growing on it (I'm kidding - hopefully) and I still love it. I haven't rebought it, and I don't think I ever will, but it will always be a part of my makeup collection.

The second is this lip gloss. I think that this was given to me by father Christmas in a pack of 3, back in the day, and was literally the first piece of makeup I ever owned. The reason I only have this one left is because I didn't really understand the concept of nudes, and why anyone would ever want to put brown on their lips. So because of this the bright pink and red in the packet were much more exciting and appealing to little me, meaning that this is the only one I have left. I can't really describe in words how bad it smells, and it would probably give me some kind of disease if I tried to use it now, but I still find myself searching for it when the Christmas gift sets come out. Sadly however, I've yet to find it.

The third piece of makeup that I feel I keep purely for sentimental reasons is this eyeshadow pallet. If ever I have seen a pallet that has been through the wars, it would be this one. The clippy thing is broken, the case is cracked, all the colours have kind of mixed together... but I don't think you'll ever find a more loved pallet. As this was my first ever eyeshadow pallet, I didn't really have a clue what I was doing, but I still had great fun covering my eyelids and eyebrows with blue, purple and pink. I probably should've started off with a slightly more neutral pallet... However, I do actually still use this pallet now for things where I need brighter colours, like when I'm doing shows and performances, and it does actually have some really pretty colours in it, so a good 'un all round I suppose.


So there we have it, a few pieces of sentimental makeup that I don't think I'll ever be able to throw out. There are probably quite a few more, but I just picked the ones that I remember most strongly.

I'd love to know about any of the bizarre sentimental makeup you have!

See you soon!

A re-jog

You may have noticed that we've had a little re-jog of everything here. I hope you like the new layout and don't miss the old pinky-orange one too much. I think that it is good to have a change every now and then, but this isn't permanent, so I'd love to know what you think!

The commute to the suit

As being a guest writer on Gabriella’s blog today I was at a loss of what to write. The old age saying write what you know sprang to mind, which led me to think about my movements of the past week.

Having had 2 interviews for summer placements this week, this post is going to be focused on my experiences and reflections of them.

Whilst dressing up in a proper suit and sensible shoes is definitely not I would class as a normal look (currently being a typical uni student embracing life usually in some form of pyjama and/or dressing gown) I did oddly enjoy looking and feeling like a real adult. Being sort of accepted as a business person on the underground as I joined the morning commuters did make me feel as if I had joined an unofficial club.

However, the main thing from the last week I reflect on is how good or useful are interviews for hiring the right person? As they have been used for years across the majority of business and roles, they must have some merit. However, when sitting across from powerful, experienced and ultimately intimidating people I come to question how much of ‘me’ are they seeing? Are they seeing the student who puts the ‘pro’ in procrastination and spends a little too much time watching day time TV? Or do they see the polished professional (much like my shoes) that I am attempting to present to them?

In theory interviews are a way for the employer to find out more about you and vice versa, but how much are they creating a façade of what we want the other to think? Whilst I can promise all the answers I gave were fully honest, I can’t help thinking that perhaps whilst we try to show the best sides of ourselves, perhaps we should be more- well- ourselves. As my mum said to me as I was leaving to attend one of the interviews (in jest) “be yourself, but maybe a toned down version”. Whilst I smirked at the comment, a thought did occur, is that what I need to be? A toned down version of me? Is that what working life is- toned down personality replaced by professionalism and smart shoes? Or once I’ve got my foot in the door and my bum on an office chair, can I display my candy-crush-playing, come-dine-with-me-watching self? Ultimately, without wanting to make this post too deep or philosophical, I have the rest of my working life to try to figure out an answer to that question and I will endeavour to let you know.

Whilst I am yet to find out the outcome of my interviews, I can painfully relive every moment, thinking and rethinking of the insightful yet witty answers I should have given and how I tripped when entering the room *hangs head in embarrassment*. However, whilst these moments are agonising and becoming more and more dramatic, at least I can relive them from the comfort of my pyjamas, suit safely stored back in my wardrobe. And, until the real world comes knocking again, this is how I will remain for the foreseeable future watching old episodes of ‘how I met your mother’.

The number 7

Today's ranty Friday is less of a rant, more of an explanation of a change in my mind.

You see, I hate the number 7. I just hate it. 

This week, I was in my Christian group in school and we were discussing the number 7 and its relevance in the bible. 7 is the number of perfection, and completion and holiness in the bible, and is just a really really good number.

Which I sadly disagree with. 7 sucks.

I do actually have reasons, I'm not just being wildly prejudice.

1. It's a prime number. Come on people, it's just TRYING to be difficult.

2. It's a 1 in disguise. I'm serious, if you don't write it really fancily with a line through it, it is literally a slanted 1. Which annoys me. Seriously 7, be a bit more original.

3. What is the name? Seven? Seriously? Seven. Seven. Servern. Seven. Se. Ven. Seven. Sev. En. Seven. Shevhen. Seven. See what I mean?

So I hate all of this dislike stored up inside of me all centred against the number 7. But then, last night, I decided to ask Siri for some facts on the number 7.

And what it threw up, well, it's completely changed my opinion on the number 7!

1. There are seven continents in the world.

2. A set of seven similar things that are considered as one unit is known as a septet.

3. A research by the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine says that our skin is regenerated in 7 days. And every cell in our body is replaced every 7 years.

4. The stages of grief are considered to be seven in number. They are shock, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance.

5. In the US tradition, the seventh wedding anniversary is known as the Wool or Copper anniversary.

6. In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Brothers Grimm, the number of dwarfs is seven.

7. In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series, Ginny Weasley is the seventh child of the Weasley family. Harry potter was born in July, the seventh month of the year. 7 is the number on the back of his Quidditch robes. Wizarding students have to complete seven years of school at Hogwarts. The chest in which Professor Moody was hidden had seven locks. Moreover, there are seven books in the Harry Potter series.

8. The colors of the rainbow are seven in number.

9. There are seven days in a week. 

10. There are seven basic musical notes, namely, 'do', 're', 'me', 'fa', 'so', 'la' and 'te'.

There were loads more, and I had to be quite selective about the ones that I included, but I'd really recommend you go and look at the website that I got them all from! (Not sponsored)

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-the-number-seven.html

So after careful deliberation, I have decided that the pros of the number 7 vastly outweigh the cons, and therefore I am now going to start on the journey of beginning to accept 7's new status in my mind.

What is you favourite/least favourite number? Why?

See you soon!

Making friends with liquid eyeliner

I have been meaning to write this post for absolutely ages now, especially considering that the even that I am about to describe happened well over a year ago now.

But first, let me set the scene...

It was a mild drizzly Saturday somewhere in South-East England. A young teenager (that's me by the way) sat in her room, gazing out at the beyond, trying to decide how best to fill an hour. She looked over at her makeup bag, and saw something terrible. Something that sparks fear into the hearts of many. She saw her nemesis. She saw liquid eyeliner.

Now this young girl in question had tried to use liquid eyeliner several times before, always with disastrous consequences. It was to do with the fact that she didn't really under stand how to do it. She thought that you were meant to put it UNDER the lash line, and ended up turning her eyeball black the couple of times she tried to do it like this. Good job! 

Then after watching multiple YouTube videos, she realised just how she was doing it wrong. She gave her liquid eyeliner a long hard stare, picked it up, sat down in front of the mirror and said: When I stand up, you and I are going to be friends.

It took about an hour of scratching my lid and getting black on the weirdest place on my face... somehow. My fingers were also covered in black eyeliner by the end of the session.

But I will tell you something, it actually worked! I emerged with puffy red eyes and scratches everywhere (literally looked like I had been mauled by a bear or something), but I was officially friends with liquid eyeliner.


Of course though, there was also the period of trying to get the flicks the same length and shape and pointiness. And then, I had to go through the phase of doing under time pressure before school, which trust me, ALWAYS ends badly.

However, a year on, liquid eyeliner and I are still going strong, despite the few disagreements that every friendship is bound to have, and I'm getting more creative with it! I am also trying out different brands, but the main one that I use is Maybelline Master Ink.


I now need to see if I can make friends with gel eyeliner, and most definitely my eyebrows.

See you soon!

Homemade Pizza Time!!!

What is your definition of a wild Wednesday? Clearly for me it is going to the gym (and actually exercising) and then going home and making a pizza with my mum!

(When I say we made the pizza, that may be a teeny little lie, cause we used a pizza mix packet - but we definitely decorated them!)

We started by putting all of the powder and stuff into a bowl, and then adding the water and oil.

After giving it a good old mix with a spoon, it all clumped together (what a lovely image) and made a ball of dough.

It was then time to knead (which is very good for getting your aggression out) and rolling it out. It was actually really hard to roll it out, it kept springing back. And although I didn't include any pictures, I also tried to do that thing where you spin it on your finger like they do in the pizza parlours. Sadly however, this resulted in a lot of punctures in it... *guilty face*

Tomato sauce time!

Mum got a bit further ahead of me, and so she had finished. However what you don't see in this photo is how hard it was to transfer the pizza from the work surface to the pan.

Cheese cheese cheese! I love it more than life! Cathedral City Mature yet Mellow is the best thing everrrrrrrr!

I'm not a huge fan of vegetables and health and stuff, and normally just always get a margarita, so I decided to make a smiley face! Look how cute little Barry is!

So there is my wild Wednesday! I'd love to know what you did on your wild Wednesday, just tell me below!

See you soon!

Foundation of the month - January

Foundation: Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Brand: Bourjois Paris

My shade: 51, Light Vanilla

Price (From Superdrug): £10.99

Ranting: 8/10

As it is now the second month of the year (can you actually believe it?) it is time for me to review the foundation that I have been using for the majority of the first month of the year, which was Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum.

I know that this foundation is a favourite for many people and that it has had a lot of hype around it, and now I think I can see why. Overall, I think that it is a really good foundation that I have been enjoying using throughout January.

The coverage is pretty amazing actually, because my skin always looks amazing once it has been applied, all soft and glowy. However, that could just been the terrible light that I do my makeup in when it's winter. I have not had many reasons to use my concealer recently, apart from a bit under my eyes because this foundation seems to have it pretty much covered (makeup puns, I'm hilarious), and teamed with my Real Techniques Beauty Blender, it's a match made in heaven!

As for the lasting-ness of it, I am kind of in two minds. When I go to the loos at lunch to check up on my makeup, it always looks kind of terrible, all shiny and spotty. But after looking closer and mulling this over a bit, I have decided that this is actually my powders doing (also the lights in the loos are really bright and show up everything - no ones makeup looks nice!) When I have given myself an extra little sweep of powder at break or lunch, it definitely perks everything up and keeps it looking nice. I actually think that the staying power of the foundation isn't bad at all, especially considering the variety of weather and activities it is put through in the month of January.

One thing that I do really love about this foundation is that it smells really nice, which isn't something that is very common in foundations. Its quite subtle, but is just a little something that makes me smile when I'm still half dead in the morning.

I don't really know what makes a gel foundation different to a normal foundation, but I really like how light this is. Even when I touch my face, I don't think it is very obvious that I am wearing anything. Well, at least until my powder betrays me.

When I first got it, I was worried about how empty it felt, compared to other foundations, and I was worried that someone had drained it out and just sold me the bottle, but that doesn't seem to have happened as it is still going strong. I think it is because it is plastic rather than glass - something that I only just worked out! To be honest though, I didn't notice the difference, and for someone like me who drops everything, it's probably a lot more practical!

That is my verdict on the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, and I hope that this helped you in some way shape or form.

See you soon!

Why February is the best month

We have now entered February, HORAHHH.

February is one probably the least favourite month of many people, but it is one of my favourites and I love it for many many reasons.

Some of which I will now list.

Cause everyone loves a good list, don't they?

1. I was born in February.

For the most analytical amongst you, you will work out that this means my birthday is coming up (let's all be excited about that!) And obviously, because it is the month of my birth, it is amazing. Just cause I exist, the world is better! (I am joking by the way, I'm not quite that big headed!)

2. The nights are drawing out.

One of the most depressing things about winter is that it is always dark, but by the end of February it is nearly completely light when I'm walking home in the evenings.

3. There is quite often snow in February.

Any teenager reading this knows exactly what that means - time off school! There actually hasn't been any snow for 3 or 4 years now, but there was a time when we had it every year, always in February. Fingers crossed for this year!!!

4. Spring clothes enter the shops!

I love it when the months of layering and bulky clothes and being cold begin to end, and the skirts and shorts and little tops begin to come into Primark!!! Très excited!!!!!

5. It's the shortest month.

You know what that means? Before you know it, it's over! And suddenly you're two months into the year, and looking forward to 2017!

6. Valentine's Day

I'm actually not a huge fan of Valentines Day, but for those of you who have a someone special I'm sure you must be looking forward to celebrating your love. Eugh, yuck.

7. Half term.

For those school attending people amongst you, you and I will be counting down the minutes until half term, which is actually getting a little closer!!! Only 1 week, 4 days left - for me that is 45 hours of lessons!


So there we have it, a list of amazing things that make February the best month by far. And, I can honestly say that after reading this list out to a friend, they decided that February is the official best month!

Lets all celebrate and enjoy it!

See you soon!