Tag Challenge: Day 23: A YouTube Video

Day 23: A Funny Video and a Cute Video

The first video I wanted to share, was one I discovered purely due to my love for the Kingdom Hearts games (currently kicking ass in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep...completed Ventus' story, working through Terra's and then will eventually get to Aqua!! LOL). The song that they are playing is the main theme that plays through the Opening Menu, and is an absolutely gorgeous tune.

The video features Kyle Landry and Matt Roy playing the tune on Keyboards...you HAVE to watch it to the end..TRUST ME, it is really worth it...and will have you in stitches!!



The second video that I wanted to share was one that Leesha (XSparkage) put up on her Discodollies channel recently. The reason this struck a chord with me, was because I was recently telling the boyfriend about the time that I tried to teach my cat Patch to play fetch....yeeeeeah, that didn't go so well! Until I saw this video, I never would have believed that it was possible to get a cat to do it...proven wrong :)

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Tumbleweed

Hey guys,

You might have noticed that my blog has been a little quiet recently, and that is quite simply because on Monday my laptop went to the little Laptop Repair Shop in the Sky, and was going to cost way too much to repair (as in, more expensive than the price of a new laptop). So, for the time being, I am back on my old Dell desktop PC (complete with Windows XP...I have never felt so out-of-date!!) And hopefully, the blog will be back up and running more consistently from Monday (fingers crossed!)

Anyway, I thought I'd turn this blog into a big of an Update, because there's a few things that I've bought or wanted to tell you guys about, in order to catch up :)

Well, you might have noticed that I've added a Blog Sale page on the Top Bar. I've decided to have a clear out of things that I don't need/use, and have put them up on Ebay. The Blog Sale page has full details of anything currently on offer, and includes a link to the item. I'm planning on updating this page regularly, so check back often!


On Wednesday, I travelled to Newark with my mum, to visit an elderly Aunt, and whilst there, I picked up a few lovelies, which I thought I'd share.

Last week, I received a £10 voucher for Boots, so obviously, I headed into Boots to see what I could snag, and here what I picked up:

• Cotton Wool. I ran out of Cotton Wool about a fortnight ago, and have only just got round to actually buying some. This might not sound very rivoting (and let's face it, it isn't!!) However, in Boots I picked up a HUGE bag of the pleated kind (the kind I prefer to use) for £1.19. I was really impressed because it wasn't that much more expensive than what I normally buy from Superdrug, but literally twice the size!! I know where I'm buying my Cotton Wool from, in the future!
• Boots Mango and Orange Blossom Hand Wash. I'd decided that I wanted to try something a bit nicer for a hand wash, since I had this voucher, so I opted for this fruity one, and boy does it smell divine! The only problem is that it appears to have dried my hands a little....hmm, better break out the moisturiser :)
• Vaseline for Men Roll-on Deodorant. The boyfriend has had issues with deodarant, for around about as long as I've known him (and beyond). He constantly moans that they don't work, and he has to have anti-perspirant because he needs it for the gym, but that never works either!!. I've been trying to get him to use this Vaseline one for ages, because I use the Aloe Vera one and have always been impressed with how long it lasts, but whenever he goes out and buys a roll-on, he'll always come back with the cheapest brand that Wilko's sell, of which, he of course, moans about. So, when he asked me to get him some deodarant, I decided he was going to use this one whether he liked it or not!
• Boots Lavendar Shampoo and Conditioner. These were actually for my mum, and she swears by them! She first bought them when we were in Leeds at New Years, because she'd just wanted a cheap shampoo, and at 89p each, these really are a bargain. I have to admit, that sometimes when I go home, I'll use the shampoo and it really is nice. Definitely recommend this for anyone wanting to pick up a fairly cheap shampoo.
• Pantene Aqua Light Lightweight Nourishing Mist. You might remember that I bought the Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner a while ago, and I think they're amazing, especially for my fine hair. So, when I ran out of spray to help detangle my hair, I thought that I would give this a go. At £3.99, it's a tad *cough cough* more expensive than my normal Schwarzkopf alternative, but since I had a voucher, I wasn't too fussed. I haven't had chance to use it yet, but I'm fascinated by the actual product, with the clear liquid at the bottom, and the shimmery blue stuff that floats at the top until you shake it up. I dunno why it's like that, but it looks so purdy!!

 I also ventured into Barnados Charity Shop, which is usually a haven of good beauty products, and I managed to pick up a Botanics Clay Mask, for 49p, unopened. Bargain I tell you :)

BTW, the boyfriend loves the Vaseline Deodarant ;-)

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Tag Challenge: Day 22: A Website

Day 22: A Website for Kat...why is it so hard?

I have to admit, that I've been avoiding this Tag for the past few days, mainly because the majority of the websites that I frequent are the bog-standard every-visits-those websites, and I didn't want to say Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, because they're just boring aren't they? I mean, yeah, we all visit them practically every single day, but what is there left to be said about them, that hasn't been said a million times before?

So, I thought I'd talk about my own website (this might sound like self-promotion overload, but bear with me, because it really isn't!)

I registered my self-named domain over a year ago now (and boy, has that year sped by), but in those twelve months, I'd be amazed if the domain hasn't begun to feel a bit travel sick. My problem is that I want a self-promoting website that tells everyone who I am, what I do, and to encourage them to hire my services as a writer. That sounds really simple, doesn't it? And I can imagine a lot of you are thinking "you're a writer, it's what you do for a living", but it's actually not what I do for a living. I promote other people, other things, other services, I don't promote myself, and I have to say that promoting myself is not an easy task.

It's probably a self-confidence issue, hmm, no, it is definitely a self-confidence issue, but I just can not promote myself in a way that I feel happy with. I don't want to feel like I'm bragging about anything, but I don't want to play down on anything either. And then there's the question of what to include and what not to include. Do I write it from the first person, or the third person? Do I keep it 100% professional, or do I write it a little more casual and fun?

As a result, I have created more websites for that domain than I care to remember, never entirely happy with one, but I keep it until something better come along, and then I create another one that still just doesn't quite click with me.

A few months ago, I actually gave up trying, and the domain has been leading people to my Tumblr account instead, which is like a big compilation of several of my blogs. This, of course, doesn't feel right.

I just want to create a website that I've done for myself, and that I am 100% (okay 75% will probably do) happy with, and that just suits a need and a purpose, and that I don't feel the need to edit other than to keep it upto date.

Apparently, for me, that is too much to ask :)

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Sunday Tips: Brush the Grease away

Do you find that your hair seems to be getting greasy during the day, quicker than normal? Frustrating isn't it, when you can't even go out for After-Work drinks without worrying about your oily roots? Well, before you grab your Batiste or Tresemme Dry Shampoo products, you should consider what could be causing your hair to suddenly be growing greasy so rapidly!

Amazingly, the most common cause isn't necessarily your diet or stress-levels (although these are both important factors that you should always investigate!). It is in fact, the common household....

Hair Brush!!!

Think about all the products that you use on your hair:

• Hair Spray
• Styling Gel/Creams
• Straightening Products
• Hair Serum
• Hair Mousse

And think about everything that your hair comes into contact with during your daily routine:

• Cigarette Smoke
• Vehicle Exhaust fumes
• Perfumes
• Air Fresheners
• Etc, etc

It might be hard to believe, but all of these things that cling to your hair, are potentially being transferred to your hair brush, every single time that you brush your locks. Together, these will all transform into "nasties", bacteria and one great big oil-slick which will then be returned to your head the next time you apply it to your hair, making it...yep, you guessed it...greasy!

 What can you do to stop this?

The solution is actually incredibly easy to combat. Simply make sure that you regularly clean your hair brushes and combs, removing everything that could be on them. Using your normal shampoo should be perfect, as you use that to clean your hair anyway, so once or twice a week, make sure to give it a quick wash.

If, however, you still find that your hair still seems to be getting greasy quicker, it is always useful to consider altering your diet, or perhaps even taking a break, if you are feeling particularly stressed.

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Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser Review

When I started out this blog, one of my main focuses was controlling my oily skin, and I've been keen to try lots of different products, from a wide range of brands, that are aimed specifically at tackling this issue. From past experience, I've become quite fond of Simple's Oil Balancing Range, having tried their Facial Wipes and Exfoliating Facial Wash, so when I ran out of my trusted Neutrogena's Visibly Clear Oil Free Moisturiser, despire being really quite fond of it, I decided to give Simple's Oil Balancing Moisturiser a shot.

 

What Simple Say:

Active ingredients Zinc PCA and Natural Antibacterial. After cleansing, no matter what your skin type, it needs daily moisturising to keep it nourished.

Eliminate shine and maintain moisture levels with our Oil Balancing Moisturiser which keeps your skin looking fresh and healthy.

• Active benefits.
• Zinc PCA gently absorbs excess oil.
• Natural Antibacterial helps reduce blemishes.
• 100% Shine Free mattifies all day long.
• Dermatologically tested & approved.
• Experts in sensitive skin.

What I Say:
One thing that I always appreciated about Neutrogena's Moisturiser, was the fact that it has a thin nozzle for distributing the cream. The nozzle meant that I didn't squeeze too much product out (which I often accidentally do). Unfortunately, the Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser doesn't have such a small nozzle, and I find myself unwittingly putting too much product into my hand. As a result, I find that the moisturiser doesn't really balance the oil on my skin, but seems to make it worse, making my skin look shiny and feel disgusting.

As a result, I've taken to rubbing the cream in my hands before applying it to my face, which is a little bit annoying. But, it leaves me missing the nozzle of Neutrogena's.

Another issue that I've had with this moisturiser, is that it smells really bad. I didn't actually notice it, until I started using it after another product, that smells of oranges, which seemed to bring the foul scent out even more, but now I've noticed it, it really bugs me.

Price:
£3.99 isn't too expensive, and it does seem to last a long time.

Would I buy it again?
No, but only because I've found myself preferring Neutrogena's moisturiser, which is unusal since I normally choose Simple over any other brands!

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Veet® Hair Removal Cream Review

It's just typical isn't it, you go on holiday and as you walk out the front door, you are absolutely convinced that you have forgotten something. You've double/triple/quadruple checked that you have the essentials (railcard, money, keys, underwear), however, sod's law says that you will have forgotten something, but anything else you can buy when you get there if necessary. It is not a problem.

So what did I forget when I went away last week? My Razor. Resulting in a stop-off at Tesco in Porthmadog to buy some Nair. I like to buy Nair because it saves money on having a buy a razor and then buy shaving foam as well, plus I usually manage to buy it from ASDA for around 99p (and keeps my legs smooooth for around three or four uses!) So, imagine my annoyance when Tesco not only does not stock Nair, but the only similar product is Veet, with the cheapest option costing me around £3.50!! It is fair to say, that I was not an amused Kitty Kat!

Nevertheless, with walking on the agenda, which meant that I wanted to wear shorts, I didn't really have much option. I was forced to buy the overpriced Veet (well, until my mum found the same product in the Reduced Box for just £1.50...so, I really can't moan, can I!!!)

 Packaging

When I buy Nair, all I usually get is the tube, nothing else. But, for some reason, Veet seemed to think that I needed my tube to come in a box. Why? This seemed incredibly waste-full. And, I know that the tube came with a spatula, which Nair does not. However, other products in the same range, by Veet, had the spatula's attached to the tube using a plastic wrapper, so I'm really not sure why this one came in a box. It just felt really unnecessary.

Smell:

I have only ever had one real gripe with Nair's Hair Removal Cream, and that is the smell. The actual cream doesn't smell of much, but when it is applied to the legs, it always smells really, really bad. Not unsurprisingly, this smell, that kind of resembles burning, is still evident with the Veet alternative, however, it has been masked slightly, making the smell much more bearable, by the fact that it has Lotus Milk and Jasmine in it, which gives a nice aroma.

Ease of Use:

I have to admit, that although these Removal Creams are so much more convenient that using razors, I do tend to find them quite messy, and I almost always manage to get at least one splodge on the floor (luckily, our cottage had laminate flooring, so it was easy enough to clean up, however, carpets send me into a mad panic, as I always worry that they'll leave a mark!)

It was quite easy to apply, although I actually used my hand to do it, not quite liking using the spatula for this purpose, but I guess that is just a personal preference.

The packaging says to leave it for 3 to 5 mins, 6 mins at the most, but I am an incredible impatient person, and the first time I used this (just on my underarms), I think I tried to take it off far too early, as no hairs appear to have been removed. However, on my second attempt (underarms and legs this time), I was much more successful, and my legs felt wonderfully smooth.

This was actually the first time that I have ever used a hair removal cream on my underarms, so having to wait around before removing the cream was a bit annoying, especially when it is such a small area and with a razor is typically over with fairly quickly. For that reason, I don't think that I would bother using this method for underarms in the future. It's just to much messing around.

For legs on the other hand, I'm experienced using these creams, and I'm still confident that this is the absolute best method for me.

Price:

I think it's already clear that I am definitely not impressed with the price. £3.50 for the same size tube as Nair, that I can get for 99p, well, I'm willing to sacrifice the nice smell for the cheapness, I'm afraid. Maybe, I'm tight, or maybe I'd rather save that £2.50 and buy a nail varnish ;)

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Eye Roll-On Review and Comparison

Garnier Eye Roll-on and Body Shop Vitamin C Eye Reviver
I've been trying out both of these for the past two weeks, using the Garnier one first thing in the morning, and the Body Shop one before bed. My main hopes for both of them were:

• Tackling dark circles
• Tackling fine lines beneath eyes
• Reduce dry and sore eyes
• Refresh eyes, especially in the morning, reducing tiredness
• Brightening eyes up

General Results: Ultimately, I still have fine lines, but although they are still visible, my dark circles are a little less obvious.

Packaging:

Garnier: I love the curvy design, which is chunky and makes it easy to grip. The colour fits in with the Garnier skin care range.

Body Shop: The packaging was a little bland, and I wasn't really keen of the colour. I did however, like the fact that it was double-ended, which made it feel more value for money.
Image via WikipediaI definitely preferred Garnier's packaging, in both style and colour.


Application:

Garnier: The roller ball was a good size, and applied easily. It was really cooling, and made my eyes feel quite refreshed and alert. Perfect for first thing in the morning.

Body Shop: This one comes with two applicators. The roll-on, which is ultimately a smaller version of Garnier's, and this is it's downside. The smaller ball made it less refreshing, and most times, I wasn't convinced that any product was coming out. Well, except for one time when I managed to get product in my eye, and despite rinsing it with cool, clean water, it took a long time for the stinging to calm down. I also found that because the ball was so much smaller, it felt like it was pulling at my skin in a rough, and potentially damaging way, that left my skin feeling a little sore.

The under-eye wand was a little more successful, and did feel quite moisturising.


Pricing:

Officially, both Garnier and Body Shop's eye roll-ons are priced at roughly £10, and it is debatable which one is most cost-effective at this price, because whilst the Body Shop one has two products in one, they're both relatively small, whilst the Garnier roll-on is just a single product at twice the size of the Body Shop roll-on (if that makes sense!)

Despite that, shopping aroundrecently, I've actually found Superdrug and Wilkinson's have been selling the Garnier Eye roll-on for half price!

Price aside, Garnier was always going to win this with me. It was a huge amount more refreshing and didn't pull at my delicate under-eye skin the way the Body Shop one did. I'm not overly bothered that I still have dark circles, because dry and tired eyes were a bigger issue for me.

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Tag Challenge: Day 21: A Recipe

Day 21: A Beauty-Based Recipe


For a long time, I've been intending to post about home-made beauty products using things that most of us already have already the house...an easy and cheaper alternative to buying stuff, but I've just not got around to it (bad kitty, I know!!), so this is the absolute perfect excuse to do one!



Egg Face Mask and Moisturiser

This recipe was initially inspired by a video tutorial by Michelle Phan, but, as with a lot of recipes, hers didn't suit me or things that I had in my cupboards, so I tweaked it to suit my needs and such:


What you'll need:

Image via Wikipedia
• One Egg 
• Sugar (any kind, although I prefer Demerara)
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Two small bowls
• Spoon

Egg White makes up the Face mask
Egg Yolk makes up the Moisturiser

1.  Crack open the egg, and carefully seperate the egg whites from the yolk, placing both in two different bowls.
2. Take the egg whites, add a dollop of Aloe Vera Gel and a couple spoonfuls of Sugar. I use Demerara rather than typical sugar, as I found that the most commonly used sugars tended to dissolve in the mixture, defeating the purpose. Demerara has larger granules, that don't dissolve, making it perfect for getting into pores.
3. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon or whisk if you prefer
4. Once mixed together, apply to your face, focusing on the nose, forehead, cheeks and chin.
5. Leave for 15 mins
6. Wash off with tepid water, and pat dry with clean towel
7. Lightly whisk the egg yolk (you could also add a little milk to the yolk if you want to)
8. Apply the yolk to your face the same way that you would ordinarily apply a moisturiser
9. Wash off, and again pat dry.

Admittedly,the egg doesn't smell very nice, whilst on your face, however, your skin should be left feeling refreshed, soft and clean.



I highly recommend using this once a week.

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I'm Back!!

Afternoon my Lovelies,



Some of you might not have noticed, since the blog has been nicely updated pretty much all week, but I've actually just returned from a week's holiday (thank heaven for Blogger's Scheduling!), but I spent the past week in a part of Wales with no signal. I thought that it would be tough without my mobile phone or internet access (I didn't even bother taking my laptop at all! But, it was actually really refreshing.


This must be the longest I've gone without my laptop since I started the move into Freelance Writing (June 2009), so this holiday was a big deal for me.


My laptop and internet weren't the only things that I managed without either! I actually took my hair straighteners and make up with me, but I managed the whole week without using any heat on my hair, for which my hair is truly grateful, and I only wore make up once, which my skin is probably grateful for.


I did keep up my skin care routine, as I tested out my Body Shop products, which I'll be reviewing sometime in the next week. I've had some pretty mixed feelings towards each of the products, but I won't say anymore until then.

The day I left to go on holiday, I actually received a Rimmel Vinyl Lip Gloss that I've been sampling and will hopefully have a review of that heading this way very soon. And whilst I was away, I was forced to buy some Veet and a new Rimmel nail polish (both purchases, of course, have stories behind them), so you can expect more reviews on those.


So, the holiday is over, and I have plenty to keep me busy!

In other words, reviewing service will resume tomorrow :)

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Tag Challenge: Day 20: A Hobby of Yours

Day 20: My Hobby

After this blog, and my writing, you might have guessed, but playing Video Games is one of my favourite hobbies. Despite that I'm actually quite a fussy gamer. My boyfriend and my brother are both HUGE gamers, and love everything from racing, to first person shoot-em-ups etc and they have collections of games that are practically sky high. Me,on the other hand, well, I'm only really a fan of RPG's...I must save so much money being so picky hehe, but boy did it make it difficult to write a top ten favourite game list...but, here it is, in no particular order!

Persona 4

Kingdom Hearts 2

The World Ends With You

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core + Special Edition PSP (all mine :D)

Final Fantasy X-2

Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy XII

The Secret of Monkey Island

Star Ocean: First Departure

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales

 

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Guest Blog: Beauty - A Man's Point of View

My first guest blog post comes to you from the very talented Chris, a budding animator, who has battled with his own body image issues in the past, and wanted to share his thoughts on the way that the media portrays body image in an unhealthy way. Find out more about Chris, and check out his blog / portfolio, right here.

The need to look good is very much a mainstay of the modern world fuelled in part by the media’s obsession with perfect bodies. In a world of lipo-suction and gastric bands there are still people who decide to lose weight and get in shape by exercising. The gastric band is perhaps a more commendable method of losing weight compared with liposuction but these methods of losing weight should only be considered if an individual’s health is in danger. Liposuction just seems like such an easy way to lose weight; it doesn’t teach anyone about the value of healthy living. So what’s to stop them from putting the weight back on?

Weight training is a good way to burn fat and build-up muscle but like any form of exercise it can be taken too far. If you look at American TV shows such as One Tree Hill and 90210 you’ll find that most of the characters have the kind of physique that is more of a rarity in the “real world”. There are people out there who aspire to build these kinds of bodies who will go to any lengths to achieve the perfect look. But they fail to realise that the actors in these TV shows (and films) go through strict training regimes with a personal trainer and have carefully planned diets. Of course supplements might just play a part in there exercise routine.

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with wanting to look good but it should be more down to feeling good. In today’s body conscious world we are bombarded by messages of beauty from TV, adverts and magazines so it’s no wonder we are confused as to what is deemed to be the correct way to lose weight. So for the sake of sanity I think I’ll choose to do what I think is right and ignore the media.

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Yet Another Pretty Tag

Hey guys, here's another tag challenge for you, which I "acquired" so-to-speak from Dreams that Glitter. I liked this one, because it has a mish-mash of beauty and non-beauty related questions :)
Enjoy.

1. What is your favourite fashion magazine?
Oh lord. Please don't hate me, but I honestly can not stand Fashion magazines. They're just not me at all. And to be fair, they're not really aimed at people like me (fat girls that don't quite fit the idea they like to convey in most these magazines). I alsohave huge issues with how much photoshopping goes on in these magazines, it's not natural, and it's not healthy.

2. Who is your favourite singer/band?

Now this is an easy question! Linkin Park of course! Roll on November 10th at the O2 Arena..woohoo!

3. Who is your favourite youtube guru?

This a tough one. I don't think I can choose just one, but here are my Top Three:

• Lauren Luke
• XSparkage
• Michelle Phan

4. What is your favourite makeup product?

At the minute, my Anita Grant, Lippy Pucker. Nowthat the weather has started getting a little chilly, my lips have begun to suffer, and these are the perfect solution.

5. Where would you like to live?

Somewhere rural, in a nice little village, with mountains in the distance, and overlooking a river or lake.

Something like this, perhaps:

6. What is your favourite film?

Oh come on, I'm a Film Geek, I really can't pick just one! Although, I will say that I have a weird "craving to watch this film, right now:

 The character of Caroline, is an absolute legend, especially when she dresses up as a Christmas Tree! Haha, classic! I couldn't find a clip of that scene, but he'sone that is just as good!

7. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Eek... I have no idea...hmm, let me think:

• Brown pumps
• Gold pumps
• Red and white wedges
• Brown wedges
• Grey Boots
• Winter Walking Boots
• Summer Walking Boots
• Roman Sandals
• Brown trainers
• Pink trainers
• Gym trainers
• "Ball" Shoes
• Black Pumps
• Purple Pumps

I think that's it, which to be fair, isn't really that bad compared to a lot of girls :)

 8. What is your favourite colour?

 Lilac! Woohoo!

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40 Questions of Beauty

I spotted quite a few blogs that have done this, so I thought I'd give a go too :) So, here we go:

How many times do you wash your face daily?
Typically twice. First thing in the morning, and then at the end of the day. If it's been hot, or if I've been to the gym, I'll often wash it more than twice.

What skin type do you have?
Oily, although I seem to have it under control these days

What is your current facial wash?
Simple Oil Balancing Summat-or-other LMAO!

Do you exfoliate?
Sometimes

What brand do you use?
I have Lush exfoliating "stuff" that I just use, I can't remember the name haha!

What moisturiser do you use?
Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser

Do you have freckles?
No...although I'd wanted them when I was a kid....I was a strange kid

Do you use an eye cream?
No. Although I'm starting to think that I need it, I find it expensive.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I wouldn't say acne prone as such, but I'm sometimes prone to mild breakouts, although it'snever been that bad.

Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?
Pro-What-now?

What foundation do you use?
At the minute I'm not actually using one. Sincemy skin has cleared up, and the redness has gone down I don't feel that I need it...especially not during the summer anyway.

How about concealer?
Again, I'm not really using one of the minute

Do you know your undertone color?
I have noooo idea!

What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I love how false eye lashes look, but I don't like how they feel on my eye lashes...it just feels so unnatural.

Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Seriously? I honestly did not know that...huh...interesting...although, if they only last three months, why are they so bloomin' expensive! I'd also like to question why my mascara says to change after 12 months....

What brand of mascara do you use?
Rimmel all the way

Sephora or M.A.C?
Neither

Do you have a M.A.C Pro-card?
Nope

What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
Make up brushes, hands and sponges/wedges just don't apply as effectively as brushes.

Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Yup. Urban Decay's Primer Potion

For the face?
GOSH Velvet Touch, although since I'm not wearing foundation, I don't use it that often

What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
Urban Decay: Peace or Fishnet

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Both. I tend to use liquid on the top lip, and pencil on the bottom lid and waterline
 

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Hahahahaha.....all the time :-)

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
I have quite a few of Barry M's Dazzle Dusts,and whilst the colours are awesome, I find myself using them less and less just because you get so much fall-out from them...more than with a pressed shadow anyway.

Do you use mineral makeup?
I try to, because it's better for my oily skin, although at the min I only have mineral foundation.

What is your favorite lipstick?
I don't really wear lipstick that often, but I do quite like my Virgin Vie (now Vie, I believe) lippie

How about lipgloss?
I've been wearing the free ones that I got with my order from ELF

What is your favorite blush to use?
I HATE blusher...I already have naturally rosy cheeks anyway, but omg, so many women just look ridiculous (not all women of course!)

Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
Sometimes, but not very often. You hear stories about people selling fakes on eBay! Having said that I bought a legit Urban Decay palette dirt cheap a while back.

Do you like drugstore makeup?
90% of my makeup is "drugstore"

Do you go to CCO's? (Cosmetic Company Outlets)
Um...who, what, where, when?

Did you ever consider taking make up classes?
TBH, it's never crossed my mind,

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Eye make up definitely, and especially eyeliner

Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Too much blusher....urgh!

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick, eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
To be blunt, I find neutral shades really boring, and they just don't suit me. I love colour.

Which celebrity always has great make up?
I don't really notice make up on celebs

If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?
Eyeliner

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
I could, and I do....just not very often

Do you think you look good even without any make up on?
No. End of...haha

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Urban Decay
 

What do you think of Makeup?I think it's great, as long as you feel confident wearing it,and don't use it too much as a mask. Make up should be about highlighting your good points, and cleaning up the slightly not-so-good points, without masking who you are.

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The Hottie and the Nottie: September

My gosh, September already! It's weird thinking about September, because it's the month when the School Year begins, and even though I graduated five years ago, I still find it strange to not be starting a new Academic Year in September. But, it's not just education that tends to start for me in September, because September always seems to be a month of new beginnings in my life...not really sure what this month is going to bring me, but I'm excited to find out.

But, anyway, whilst I sit here patiently waiting (in Wales, where I'm on holiday of course!) I'll have a run down of what I'm loving and loathing this new month!

Loving

Boots. I know it seems way to early to be looking at boots, but it's definitely started getting chilly, and the shops have started bringing in their Autumn wardrobes, so it's a good time to mention these.
 The great thing about boots, is that it doesn't matter if you prefer boots with a big heel, a small heel or completely flat, you are guaranteed to find a boot that you love, just like these ones from New Look for £19.99 that I'm loving, and think are an absolute bargain.
 It's easy to spend a fortune on boots when it starts getting chilly, so I'm thrilled to have found these ones.
 Another great thing about boots is that you can buy a size larger and wear lovely cosy warm socks to keep your feet toasty warm.

Holidays. Personally, I think that September is a great time of year to go on holiday, because typically the weather is still pretty nice, and with the kids being back at School, it's quieter and holidays tend to be a little bit cheaper. And absolutely nothing could beat the Welsh countryside and it's cute Welsh towns and villages. I have had a (literal) lifetime love affair with Snowdonia and I'm so glad to be back.

Image via WikipediaGhost Hunters. I'm not fortunate enough to have Digital TV (I just have Freeview), so I'm forced to enjoy this online when it airs in America, but I absolutely love this show. I know a lot of people think that it's faked, but whether it is or not I still think the show is great, and it never fails to freak me out. I'm so glad that it's back after a summer break!


Loathing

My Weight. This is something that I don't really talk about in my blog, mainly because I worry that if I talk  about it I'll get a load of "how can you write a beauty blog when you're nothing but a fat cow", but it's not really about anyone else, it's about me. I know I'm fat, and I know it's my fault, I just wish that I could take control and handle it. I think I just need someone  to kick me up the arse and not give up on pushing me....I really wish I could afford a personal trainer :-)

The end of Big Brother. Over the past ten years, I'vehad a very love-hate relationship with Big Brother. It's had it's brilliant times,and it's had it's bad, and even though I think that the show is definitely past it's best, I am really going to miss it. This really is the end of an era, because for the past ten years, all through my GCSEs, A Levels, Degree etc Big Brother has been the centre of my summer. It sounds sad, but I dunno what I'm gonna do next summer haha...

"Geek Chic" Glasses. The irritating thing about this fashion for "geek" glasses, is that you just know that a large amount of the fashionable people that wear them (albeit not all of them), first of all generally don't even need glasses, and secondly, probably bullied or at least teased kids for wearing similar things, during their school days. It's funny how something can become cool once a "fashionable" person starts wearing it. In a way it shows how superficial a lot of people are.




 

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Sunday Tips: Keeping your Brushes Clean

Today's Sunday Tip is courtesy of You Tub Guru Michelle Phan, and I'm passing it on because it really works (for me, anyway).

In the past I've had trouble cleaning my brushes so that the inside bristles get as good a clean as the outside ones, this has been especially so with foundation brushes. I've also struggled to get the bristles feeling lovely and soft.

The answer? Olive Oil.

I know, it sounds bonkers, but Olive Oil is a great ingredient in so many natural beauty products because of it's moisturising properties. So, you know that not only is the Oil not going to be irritating your skin with additives and yucky stuff, it will also keep your brushes soft whilst really digging out the dirt and grease.
It's best to use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, as this oil has been extracted from the first press of the Olives, which makes it the highest quality Olive Oil that you can buy.

Soooo, what do you do with the oil? I've found that there are a couple of effective ways of washing your brushes with Olive Oil:


1. Splatter a dollop of oil onto a plate, and swish your dirty brush around in it. Once your brush is sufficiently coated, swirl it around in the palm of your hand and rub the bristles in your fingers. This ensures that you get into the middle of the bristles. Rinse the brushes in tepid water (make sure the water isn't hot, as this will just soften the glue that holds the bristles in.

2. Fill a small bowl with water, and add a dash of oilive oil. Swirl your brushes around in the water, and you'll quickly see the oil has coated the bristles. Rub your fingers in the bristles to get the inner ones, and rinse the brushes in tepid water.

If you want you can add Anti-Bacterial Handwash or Washing Up Liquid to disinfect and make the brushes smell nicer.

Once your brushes are clean, place them upside down in a pot (using Brush Guards if you own them, or if you don't own any you can easily improvise with rolled up cardboard). This stops the water from running down the brushes which would soften the glue and thus encourage the hairs to shed, which of course we really don't want.

Good luck with your brushes, and please share your stories with effective ways that you use to clean your make up, and art, brushes.

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