Nothing better than a fresh new bed

We all know that there is nothing better than clean sheet night. Nothing better than the crisp cool sheet and the clean fresh duvet cover.

That's the reason hotels are so amazing - its clean sheet night every night!

But the other night, I had the ULTIMATE clean sheet night.

And I mean ULTIMATE.

The sheet that had been on my bed was quite old and had gone bobbly, and was quite scratchy, so my mum produced a brand new sheet (still in the plastic!!) and it was about a billion times better than any other sheet.

But then after searching around in the cupboard, we couldn't find any appropriate duvet covers. Now for quite a while, I have been wanting to redo my room, and so have been slowly building up my collection of new duvet covers to go with my new room. But I thought that it was time to live wildly and go a little bit mental, and I got out a new duvet cover.

You know what that means. I had a BRAND NEW sheet AND a BRAND NEW duvet cover.

I literally cannot describe what it was like, sliding into bed. It was like sleeping on a rainbow wrapped up in a marshmallow, while unicorns danced around you.

Amazing.

And waking up in the morning was about one trillion times harder than usual. Because you can never have a first night in a fresh new bed again.
Unless of course you buy a new sheet and duvet cover every night.
Which is actually something I'd do...


Sorry its been such a short 'un!
See you soon!

Bit late on the bandwagon...

I have recently finished reading The Hunger Games series, and now am completely in awe of it, loving it and raving about it to absolutely everyone.

There's only one problem. I am MAJORLY late on this bandwagon.

I remember when The Hunger Games was huge. I think it was around the time that Catching Fire came out in the cinemas, and everywhere you went, it was all everyone could talk about. That was about 2 years ago, I think.

I wasn't particularly bothered to be honest, but when at a friends party, and The Hunger Games was suggested to watch, I was interested to finally see what all the hype was about.

And I'll tell you one thing, the first time I watched it, I hated it. I found it completely and utterly disturbing. The idea that these children are being sent away to kill each other, all as apart of a game that people watch for enjoyment... I found it really sick. But I suppose that's kind of the point.

I didn't really have much to do with it until about a year later when our next door neighbours lent us the DVDs of the first two films for my family to watch. I was a bit reluctant to watch it again, but as my parents has never seen it, I decided to give it another go.

I think that I kind of forgot about why I disliked it so much the first time, and lost myself in the story, finding myself completely captivated. I asked for the books that Christmas (2014).

However, when I got the books, I found myself a little demotivated. I thought that reading them would be even worse than watching the films, because there would be so much more detail. So I put it off for another year or so.

I don't know what it was exactly that made me read them. I think they were showing Catching Fire on TV one night, and I watched the first half before going to bed (because I love all the costumes and fabulous makeup). I then decided to watch the first film, once more, as a kind of third time lucky thing. That was about a week and a half ago.

Straight after that, I started on the books, and became completely hooked and obsessed. I won't lie, I still find the concept and the story quite unsettling, but I think that is the very nature of it. It is meant to be something that is very morally wrong.

I burned through the books in just over a week (about 1000 pages in total, which I think is pretty impressive, considering school and life), and now I am thinking about starting them again.

I have also asked for all the films (well, the ones that are out) for my birthday (which is just under a month away! EEK!)

I have thought long and hard over trying to pick a favourite, and I think I have decided that the first book is it. The second one I think is a little pointless, and is all really a lead up to the last one. And the last one, is quite slow at the beginning and then really quite gory at the end. But then, I don't really like gore.

If you haven't heard of The Hunger Games (do you live under a rock?), it is about a 'game' whereby tributes to play in it are selected from each of the 12 districts that make up the country of Panem. The tributes have to fight to the death, until there is only one left standing, who becomes the victor. When her little sister is chosen, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to go in instead of her, along with a boy named Peeta (I'm sorry, that spelling drives me insane).


So, in conclusion, I'm sorry I have rambled on about the various times I have seen the various films, and I hope that if you haven't read it, you will at least consider it...? They really are amazing books, and the films are incredible as well. More than any other book film adaptation I have seen, it sticks to the book solidly and unwaveringly, which I really really liked.

Any recommendations for other books?

See you soon!

DVD and book haul

The other day, I was thinking about what makes me happy. And I was thinking that when I look around, I want everything I see to make me happy. This includes my bookshelf (I don't actually have a bookshelf, however I would like one), so when I look at this metaphorical book shelf, I want it to make me happy.

Now I'm not saying that all the books I have are about sunshine and rainbows, but more that the stories make me happy, or the memories that are attached to them are happy. Like, for example, when  I read it on the beach and I still have sand in the pages, or when I stayed up most of the night because I just couldn't bear to put it down.

I love to read, and I always have. It makes me so sad that now I'm a little older and much busier with school and homework that I can't read as much as I did in primary school, when I used to burn through six books a day.

I do have a kindle, but I really love the feeling of a real book. I love how it's heavy in your hand and has that new book smell, and I'm very weird.

I also love movies, and watching them is one of my favourite things to do, and I think that I'd probably keep some of those of my metaphorical bookshelf as well. So I ordered a couple of my favourite classics along with the books.

Oh isn't Amazon a wonderful thing?

Books first. Fair warning, most of these are quite lovey dovey because I'm into all that.

To be completely honest, I don't really know how I can talk about these, because I haven't read them myself yet, so I can't really be giving an honest review.

The first one I picked up was I'll Give You The Sun. Now if I'm being entirely truthful, which I always try to be on this blog, I chose this book mainly because of the title. It sounds like a really happy book, and the cover is yellow (my favourite colour)... I don't know, I just felt a sort of pull towards it! From the blurb, I have deduced (with my very powerful powers of deduction) that it is about twins who are driven apart, and then fall in love. (See, I'm really good at this).

























The second one that I ordered, called Extraordinary Means, was actually not one that had originally considered. However, with all of the other books that I was looking at, it kept coming up as a recommendation, or something I might like, and so I thought I should give in to amazon (because they've never been wrong in the past) and give it a go. I'm quite intrigued by this, because it doesn't seem a particularly happy story, but I'm really looking forward to reading it.
























The next one that I decided to buy was We Were Liars. To me, this seems like the type of book I most commonly read, one which is mainly about love and relationships, where you don't really have a clue what's going on until the end, and even then you're not totally certain. I live in a bubble of confusedness a lot of the time, so I feel like books where you're are meant to be confused are perfect for me!























I then decided to get Everything Everything. Just flicking through the pages, it looks like it is written with a mixture of actual writing and emails and letters and things like that, which I am really intrigued by, because I love books like that. My mum, she has a book called More Than Love Letters, which she and I have both read about a million times, and the entire story is told through letters. I am really looking forward to reading this one and giving you a bit more information!

























The last one that I bought, and possibly the one that I am most excited about is We All Looked Up. It's about the end of the world and how when it comes down to it, we have to forget everything that we label ourselves and everyone else with, and just live life. That is my assumption of course, because I haven't read it. But despite being a different type of book for me, I am really looking forward to reading it.



Now we can move onto the movies, which I should be better at giving reviews of, because I have seen them all. However, let us not get our hopes up too much.

The first one is 17 Again, starring Zac Efron. Need I say more? The actual story is a bit weird, because this guy falls off a bridge into some kind of portal, and turns 17 again (hence the title) and he has to go to school and become friends with his children and try and make things better with his wife... it's pretty complicated, but you'll understand if you watch it. I just love this movie, I think it's really cute and just a nice feel good rom com.

The next one is The Parent Trap, which is for me such a childhood throwback. Every time I went for a sleepover with my best friend in primary school, we would always end up watching this because I just love it so much. It is about these twins who've never met and don't even know that the other one exists, and then meet at summer camp where they decide to switch places so that they can have a chance of getting to know the parent they've never known. To be honest, I don't think I'm really going to watch it that much, but I'm going back to the whole metaphorical bookshelf thing, and I know that if I see this, it will make me happy.

The next film is The Devil Wears Prada, which I think is just such an amazing movie. Meryl Streep is absolutely INCREDIBLE in it, just like she is in everything. I feel like this is such a staple in so many homes, and if you haven't seen it, I would really recommend you do. Its about a woman who has absolutely no interest in fashion somehow getting a job at this huge fashion magazine. It may not sound like something you're interested in, but believe me, it is soooo good!

I then decided to purchase Confessions Of A Shopaholic, which is just a really enjoyable and nice (I need to get better adjectives) little movie about a woman who can't stop shopping and adores everything fashion related, and gets a job working for a money magazine, where she advises people on how to handle their debt, which she is up to her eyeballs in.

And last but not least, I got Titanic. Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio (and slowly melt) and Kate Winslet is something that I think everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. I was very proud because I didn't cry the first time I watched it, but then I realised that that might not be a good thing. Do I have a heart made of stone??? I don't think I really need to tell you the story, but I will anyway. Jack is a poor man who wins his ticket onto the ship, Titanic. Rose is a well respected woman engaged to a man she doesn't really love. They fall in love, but sadly the ship hits an iceberg and sinks, meaning that there love was ill-fated the whole time. No spoilers, obviously.


So there we have it, my book and DVD haul! If you actually made it this far, I congratulate you, because I rambled A LOT as I tend to do... *guilty face*

Any book or film recommendations for me?

See you soon!

Snow much fun! (geddit?)

On Sunday we had our first proper snowfall in about four years. Sadly, it wasn't much and it was destined to be for long, but I went out with two friends to make the most of it.

 

We had a sledge.

 

And I built a snowman. I called him Gladis. And yes, he does have a monobrow.

 

 

 

 

 

You have literally no idea how cold this picture was to take!

But you can't NOT have a feet picture in the snow!

One last question

1. Are you happy with your life now?
Yes. Sure, its not perfect, and a lot of the time it is very messy, but that is what life is. I try to be an optimist, and look for the best in situations, and I know that I have a very good life compared to the people living down my road even. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, and I'm surrounded by all the things that make me happy in the world. I don't see the point in being hung up over something you want or something you can't have, because its the little things that make life special, the things that you take for granted. My life is incredible, and I need to remember that more often.

A big thank you to everyone who has made it special.
That includes every single person reading this right now.

Thanks.

Boohoo skirt and crop top haul

So, as I promised in my recent post Trying to Become a Fashion Guru, a Boohoo haul has landed!

 

 

Recently I have noticed that midi skirts (between a mini and a maxi - ground breaking) have really come back, and we are seeing quite a lot of them at the moment. For all those tiny, long legged, has-a-salad-leaf-for-desert people out there, the bodycon pencil skirt style has been really big, but I have been really interested in a skater midi skirt for a while. The idea that you can have the flattering little nipped in waist, hide your legs and spin around pretending you're a princess just sounds like a dream come true for me.  I have been looking to but one for several months now to try out.

 

So I bought two!

 

 

The first one that I bought is a really long (mid calf length) camel coloured box-pleated skater midi. And no, I don't know what box-pleats are, nor do I intend to find out. I got it for £15, and I decided to go for the camel-beige colour over all the other options because I know that camel is a very easy colour to style, as well as being something a bit different for me. I have to say though, this is the purchase that I am most... nervous shall we say, about. I think that when I wear it in summer with a nice bright crop top (see below) it will be fine, but trying to layer it to wear in winter is giving it a bit of a... frumpy... kind of look. I don't know really, it was a bit of a gamble, and I'm looking forward to the warmer months when I can begin to try it out and experiment a bit more.

 

 

The second one that I bought, I absolutely LOVE. It hangs to just below the knee and is black and white with a checked pattern. I think that because it's a circle skirt and is gathered rather than pleated, it just hangs a lot nicer on me in particular. I bought this for £8 in the sale (cause who doesn't love a sale, eh?) and I am really looking forward to wearing it in the summer with a nice bright strappy top and a glass of lemonade! Throw on a pair of sunnies, and I'll really look the part.

The third skirt that I bought wasn't a midi, but a classic mini. I seemed to be in a bit of a checked pattern phase when I was doing my ordering because this is also a checked skirt, but this time a pale pink (I think it was listed as Willow...) and black. There is a thick diagonal strip on the skirt, with pleaty things, which kind of reminds me a bit of a kilt. Don't know why, just does. This skirt cost me £5 in the sale, and I am looking forward to wearing it to one of the many parties that I am so often invited to... *guilty face*

 

I then decided that I should but some tops to go with my new midis because I don't really know what I have in wardrobe that I can wear with them already.

 

So I bought this beautiful little floral crop top because I thought that the bright flowers will just really add some (much needed) colour to my camel midi. It also has a zip up the length of the back (which I didn't take a picture of) which gives is a feel of quality that I didn't really expect from the £3 (sale) top. I just really like it and I think that it will look really nice with jeans as well as a skirt.

 

Then to go with my geometric black and white midi (and also my pink and black mini), I bought this cute like black crop top (£5), which I really really like. It has a really suedey soft kind of feel towards it and it just really nice to wear. I also love the laser cut details about it that give it the scalloped hem. The only thing I would say is that is come down quite far under the arms, but with a black bra its hardly noticeable and nobody really cares in summer anyway!

 

So there we are, my first fashion haul! I know its not much, but I have already started planning my next one, which, spoiler alert, may or may not include a pinafore dress!

 

See you soon!

Links:

Camel midi: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/day-skirts/beau-box-pleat-midi-skirt/invt/azz00727

Geometric midi: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/new-to-clearance/jolene-check-full-circle-midi-skirt/invt/dzz95212

Willow mini: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/christmas-shop/willow-pleated-check-mini-skirt/invt/dzz92367

Floral crop top: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/sale/katie-floral-print-zip-back-cami-crop-top/invt/azz01204

Black crop top: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/sale/lorraine-lazer-cut-crop-top/invt/azz04773

Table Trespassers

I seem to have had a bit of a break from ranty Friday recently, but at least that means that I have several ideas stored up that are just waiting to be unleashed the moment I open the floodgates and let 'em out.

Now everyone knows that in school, there are a lot of rules. I don't know about other schools, but in mine there are very specific places that we can and can't go at lunch time, especially when exam season is upon us.

So because of this, the canteen is undoubtedly the busiest place in the school at break and lunch, as everyone fights for food and the need to socialize.

But do you know what I just find completely unacceptable?
When someone (or a group of someones) sits at OUR table.

Girls go around as a gaggle. Boys go around as a gaggle. No one really knows why, but everyone in secondary school are incapable of doing anything on their own.

And these gaggles, they have places. On the first day of the year, when you go into that canteen, you  have to make a choice. A choice that will effect the rest of the school year. Where you are going to sit in the canteen. (That's why the year 7's are always floating, cause they don't know this rule. I may have just given you the key to life.)

Now every single break and lunch since year 7, my friends and I have sit at the same table in the same corner of the canteen.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, this group of girls from the year below suddenly think that it is ok to sit at OUR table. Which it most definitely isn't!

And at first, we were fairly lenient - I mean, everyone makes mistakes, right? We gave them a look and made sure that we got there quicker the next day in order to snag the table and prove our point.

But they just didn't get it! They kept sitting there, and now...now it has become a full on war.

Everyday it is a fight to see who can get there first. Forget the food, when we run to the canteen, its for the table, not the chips. And then if you're the first one there, you spread out across the three tables so that everyone else can sit down.

You've got to be careful though with the spreading out thing. Once there was four of us sitting down, so two of us went to one end and two of us to the other end, very clearly making our point. But do you know what they did? They came and sat in the middle of us, completely defying everything we were trying to show!

But it is a completely non verbal battle. We haven't spoken a word to them, nor them to us. It is all done in looks and body language. There is the triumphant gleam in their eye when they beat us and the oh so smug smirk when we beat them.

And the REALLY annoying thing is that it is completely ridiculous! My friends and I have discussed it, and we are completely willing to SHARE the table half and half with them. But their deliberate DEFIANCE to comply has pushed us over the edge, and now it seems to be never ending.

And when I've told this story, so many people have asked why we don't just move tables. I'll give you two very good reasons why.

One, we are not giving in. We were there first, we have always been there, and they have only recently decided that they want the table, and that just isn't on.

Two, there are no other tables. Literally, every table in the canteen is full, or invisibly reserved. And if we go and sit at a seemingly empty table, when the 'owners' of that table show up, we are being just as bad as our table trespassers.

So, that is my current predicament. I'll let you know as the year goes on who's winning, but that the moment (not to speak too soon) I think it's us!

See you soon!

And if you are a table trespasser, I would suggest strongly that you stop it now.

Trying to become a fashion guru

Recently I have become a lot more interested in fashion.

I am the type of person who's wardrobe consists of the following:

• Far too many strappy tops
• Quite a lot of jumpers
• 2 or 3 pairs of jeans
• 1 or 2 skirts

And that's about it. My entire, year round wardrobe.

Everyday (well everyday that I wear my own clothes) its always the same. A pair of jeans, a little top and a jumper in the winter. A pair of jeans (or skirt), a little top and a cardi in the summer.

And don't even get me started on shoes. I have one pair of Converse-like shoes from Primark in winter and one pair of ballet pumps in summer.

I wish that I was the kind of person who went to their wardrobe everyday, not having a clue what they might find. I wish that I was the kind of person who would throw on the most outrageous combination of clothes, but it somehow works. I just wish that I had a better sense of style.

So, like so often when I have a new obsession or craze, I throw myself completely into it, starting with fashion magazines.

I decided that if I'm going to have a good sense of style, I first need to know what that actually is, so I have been buying lots of the different magazines out there (and there are LOADS) trying to learn as much as I can.

My favourite magazine that I have tried out so far is Look.

I have also been spending a lot more time on various websites such as H&M, New Look, Asos, ect ect - I have even got the apps!

But being the cheapskate that I am, my favourite online website that I have been spending the most time on has got to be Boohoo - I love it! It is literally the online Primark!

I have also downloaded an app called Chicismo, which is designed to give you outfit ideas based on one item of clothing.

And I'm really enjoying it! I've always been one of the nerds, and I enjoy learning, but learning about fashion is just so much fun! To quote The Devil Wears Prada: "It's better than art because you spend your life in it"

Who am I?

But it is a slow process. My pockets (as much as I wish they were) are not endless, and so I'm having to do things gradually. But now, when I go out shopping, I sometimes try on something a bit different. The other day I bought a white quilted cotton bomber jacket! And no, I don't know what that is!

I'm trying to gain more confidence to wear things that are a bit different, because I believe that fashion really is all about fearlessly expressing yourself, and wearing what you want to wear.

So, I hope you join me in my new education as I try to become a fashion guru! And watch out for some fabulous hauls of all my new amazing clothes (a Boohoo  one coming soon!)

See you soon!

Two 'would you ever' questions

1. Would you ever get back together with any of your ex's if they asked you?
Well considering that I've never had a boyfriend, and therefore by default, don't have any exes, I can't really imagine what I would do in that situation. I suppose it would depend on the breakup, and how things were left and how I felt.

2. Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love?
Definitely. Don't get me wrong, I love my hair, I love brushing it and flicking it all over the place, but how could you not save someone you love??? I'd like to think that I'd do it for someone I didn't even know.

Bourjois and Maybelline haul

I went to the post-Christmas but pre-New Years makeup sales in Superdrug. Well, when I say sales, I just mean that I had more money than usual, so everything seemed slightly cheaper. Plus, there were a few 3 for 2s and free product promotions, which I very much enjoyed indulging in!

First of all I went to Bourjois, where there was a 3 for 2 promotion on. I have actually never shopped at Bourjois before, but I have heard so many great reviews and have been meaning to for a long time.

The first thing I bought was the Helathy Mix Serum, Gel Foundation, in the colour Light Vanilla (51). I have heard so many great things about this foundation and it seems to be in everybody's makeup bags. So far, I have only used it once, but one of my favourite things about it is that it smells so nice, and different to the typical foundation.

The next thing I bought was another foundation, because you can never have too many! I got the Air Matte, Undetectable Matte Finish Foundation, in the shade Rose Ivory (01). I think this is fairly new, and I haven't heard to much about it, but so far (from the twice that I have worn it) I love it. It feels really light on the face, and also has a lovely smell. This one is just really fresh, and wakes you up a little bit in the morning.

I then decided that I should take a look at the classic bronzer staple, and see why everyone loves it so much. It is for that reason that I bought the Highlighter and Universal Tan (???) Kit in the shade 55, which also happens to be chocolate scented. I know that this bronzer is a high street favourite of so many people, so I wanted to kill two birds with one stone and get the highlighter at the same time. So far, I have found this shade a little too orangey for my skin tone, and I'm not that impressed by the highlighter. Sorry if I just broke your heart! However, I am going to continue to use it, and I hope I'll be able to fall in love with it and join the gang! Watch this space.

Then, as well as the 3 for 2 deal, there was also a free eye shadow palate up for grabs, which I instantly fell in love with. The Nude Smokey Eye shadow Trio has instantly become one of my new favourites, with beautiful blushed nudes that blend so well and last amazingly as well. They are nudes, so they don't do much except add a bit of shimmer, but I love the highlighter - it works wonders!





Now, onto the Maybelline part of my little spree, which was where there was also a 3 for 2 deal!

I started with buying The Eraser Eye, Instant Anti Age Concealer in the shade light. Now I know that being a teenager, I'm probably not the target market for anti ageing concealers, but as I was in need of a new one, I thought that I should have a go. I have also seen that this is at the top of Superdrug's most recommended concealers, and its also a very different application style to all of the other concealers that I have tried in the past, so I thought it would be fun to try something new!

I then bought the Master Ink, Matte Liquid Eyeliner. The only liquid eyeliner that I have and still use is my rubbish MUA £1 one, so I think that I was long overdue for a replacement. So far, I have actually been very impressed. I have found that it has lasted all day, and has been very easy to apply.

I then decided to treat myself to something for my lips. I don't tend to wear a lot of lippy, preferring to go for nudes that the bright colours. But I saw the Colour Drama, Intense Velvet Lip Pencil, in the colour Nude Perfection (630), and really liked the look of it. So far, I have found it to be beautiful and really long lasting. I would very much like to go and get some more in more colours (maybe push out my comfort zone and get a nice cherry red!).

Maybelline was also having a free product promotion, which I didn't want to waste, obviously. I got this Colour Show Nail Varnish Duo, which, if I'm perfectly honest, I'm not that interested in. I don't really do a lot with my nails, what with it being against the school rules, and me being terrible at it, and absolutely hating my hands and nails, I try to draw as little attention as possible to them. However, I know that I always have it there in my draw if ever I need it!


So, there we have it, a nice little Superdrug spend up!

See you soon!


Products mentioned:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum: http://www.superdrug.com/Bourjois/Bourjois-Healthy-Mix-Serum-Foundation-Vanille-Clair-51/p/300354#.VpGV5mArHmI

Bourjois Air Matte Foundation: Not on Superdrug website

Bourjois Bronze and Highlight Palate: http://www.superdrug.com/Bourjois/Bourjois-Delice-De-Poudre-Highlighter/p/225642#.VpGWvGArHmI

Bourjois Nude Smokey Eye Trio: Not on Superdrug website

Maybelline Eye Eraser Concealer: http://www.superdrug.com/Maybelline/Maybelline-Age-Rewind-Eraser-Eye-Concealer-Light/p/654050#.VpGXdmArHmI

Maybelline Matte Liquid Liner: http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eyes/Eyeliner/Maybelline-Master-Ink-Matte/p/528001#.VpGX62ArHmI

Maybelline Lip Pencil: http://www.superdrug.com/Maybelline/Maybelline-Color-Show-Lipstick-630-Nude-Perfection/p/253206#.VpGYJWArHmI

Maybelline Nail Duo: http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Nails/Nail-Gift-Sets/Maybelline-Xmas-Duo-Kit-Baby-It%E2%80%99s-Gold-Outside/p/593404#.VpGYb2ArHmI