Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
This Friday (July 1st, 2011) is National Motivation Day, and I decided that I wanted to share a story with you guys about my own motivation, and lack of it. It's a story that a lot of people don't know, because it represents a very dark time in my life, and I tried to hide it from people for a very long time. But, it's so long ago now, that I no longer feel ashamed to share it. And I think that it's an important thing that needs to be told, to help anyone else who might be facing a similar thing.
It was April 2008, and I was really happy. I had an okay-ish job that was paying off my debts, I was about to head off to Canada (my first time on a plane eeee!), I had a great boyfriend and I'd just been told by my Employer that they intended to make my role permanent (I was actually only there as an Agency Worker, hadn't been expecting to last longer than a month, and I'd been there for about eight months at this point).
Move forward to the middle of May, and things were a completely different story. I'd just got back from Canada, when I had my "interview" to apply for my own job. I think I kinda went in there with a bit of "as if I'm not going to get this", kind of attitude because I knew that I could do the job, c'mon I'd been doing it for eight months, of course I could. But, two days later, I was told that I hadn't got it. Gossip around the Department put it down to "office politics" because it had gone to a girl from the factory floor, who "applied for everything going" whilst to hire me, they would have had to pay the Agency an "Introduction Fee". It was really nice that the guys who I worked with thought that it was wrong that I didn't get it, and were really supportive throughout, but that solidarity hadn't gotten me the job.
So, I worked two weeks notice, and inevitably, I left.
A Rapid Decline
Initially, I decided to quite happily take a break. I went to stay with my brothers for a week, and I spent a lot of time with my boyfriend. He was just finishing his first year as a mature student, studying for a Degree so for a while, I enjoyed the break, I eventually signed on (I say eventually, because I actually received a very large Tax Rebate after I left work, and I lived off that for quite some time!) and quite quickly fell into a decline.
Over that summer, the boyfriend found Factory Work in order to survive over the summer months until his next Student Loan Payment, and he worked a lot of night shifts. So, he was working at night and sleeping through the day, and I found myself sinking into what I can only describe as a depression. At one point, over that summer, I don't think I'd left his flat for over two weeks (this was before I started claiming Jobseekers Allowance).
I knew that something had happened inside me, when we were getting ready to go out one day, and we were just about to leave, and I couldn't do it. The fear washed over me, and I just could not walk out of that door.
I've always been a mild agoraphobic. I'm fine going out when I'm with someone, but on my own, I have to really wrestle with myself to do it. But, this time, it was different. I was with the boyfriend, I wasn't going alone, and yet, I could not even force myself to.
Slowly Climbing
I've always been interested in taking up Tai Chi, and over that summer I'd bought a book on getting started, to try and keep active, but learning from a book is never that easy. So, when I spotted an advert, in the local paper, for a Tai Chi class being held at my old College, we jumped at the chance. It was once a week, at night so it wouldn't be too bad.
Initially, it was hard getting myself to go, and even though my anxiety never went away, I forced myself to go, and I really go into Tai Chi and that kind of meditative state that you need to be in to appreciate it. The course ended in the November, but it was enough to give me a bit of confidence back.
In the May/June of 2009, the boyfriend and I decided to get the internet and having daily access allowed me to explore the world of online writing. It was kind of interesting to read about the opportunities, because even though my Nana had once declared to her friends that I was going to be a writer when I grew up, and that I'd studied Creative Writing for my Degree, writing was always something that I'd tried to keep in the shadows, not because I was embarrassed about it, but because I'd always worried that if I wrote for a living, I'd slowly grow to hate it.
For a few months, I took on a few small jobs, for very tiny money, but I felt that I needed the experience, and I started going to a local company who specialises in helping people to start their own business. To be frank, the girl was more intrigued by the fact I was the only writer she'd ever had to deal with, because ultimately she had very little advice for me. She did, however, put me in touch with the Prince's Trust, who put me on a week long course regarding starting a business.
All Change Here Please
It sounds corny, but that one week course, effectively, changed my life. I left on the Friday, and spent the weekend with some old friends, celebrating my birthday. The Sunday night, however, I was anxious about the fact that I was due to start "New Deal" because I'd been unemployed for 12 months (well, in the sense of that's how long I'd been claiming JSA!). I was in fact due to start the very next day.
But, having just finished a course relating to my business, I was on a high from that, and I knew that I really did not want to spend the next goodness knows how long being spoken down to by an individual aiming to get me a job, but would never really listen to what I want out of life.
So, I sat down and talked to the boyfriend about our options. We discussed finances obviously, and what we could afford, noting that by this point, the boyfriend had finished his Degree and was job hunting himself. We went through everything, and I decided that I was not going to go New Deal, I was going to hand my JSA book in.....
November 8th 2009. The day my life really did change, because that was the day I filled in the Self-Employment form for HMRC.
Motivation
So, after a year and a half of unemployment, depression and agoraphobia, what was it that finally gave me that motivational boost that pushed me into the best decision that I have ever made?
It was April 2008, and I was really happy. I had an okay-ish job that was paying off my debts, I was about to head off to Canada (my first time on a plane eeee!), I had a great boyfriend and I'd just been told by my Employer that they intended to make my role permanent (I was actually only there as an Agency Worker, hadn't been expecting to last longer than a month, and I'd been there for about eight months at this point).
Move forward to the middle of May, and things were a completely different story. I'd just got back from Canada, when I had my "interview" to apply for my own job. I think I kinda went in there with a bit of "as if I'm not going to get this", kind of attitude because I knew that I could do the job, c'mon I'd been doing it for eight months, of course I could. But, two days later, I was told that I hadn't got it. Gossip around the Department put it down to "office politics" because it had gone to a girl from the factory floor, who "applied for everything going" whilst to hire me, they would have had to pay the Agency an "Introduction Fee". It was really nice that the guys who I worked with thought that it was wrong that I didn't get it, and were really supportive throughout, but that solidarity hadn't gotten me the job.
So, I worked two weeks notice, and inevitably, I left.
A Rapid Decline
Initially, I decided to quite happily take a break. I went to stay with my brothers for a week, and I spent a lot of time with my boyfriend. He was just finishing his first year as a mature student, studying for a Degree so for a while, I enjoyed the break, I eventually signed on (I say eventually, because I actually received a very large Tax Rebate after I left work, and I lived off that for quite some time!) and quite quickly fell into a decline.
Over that summer, the boyfriend found Factory Work in order to survive over the summer months until his next Student Loan Payment, and he worked a lot of night shifts. So, he was working at night and sleeping through the day, and I found myself sinking into what I can only describe as a depression. At one point, over that summer, I don't think I'd left his flat for over two weeks (this was before I started claiming Jobseekers Allowance).
I knew that something had happened inside me, when we were getting ready to go out one day, and we were just about to leave, and I couldn't do it. The fear washed over me, and I just could not walk out of that door.
I've always been a mild agoraphobic. I'm fine going out when I'm with someone, but on my own, I have to really wrestle with myself to do it. But, this time, it was different. I was with the boyfriend, I wasn't going alone, and yet, I could not even force myself to.
Slowly Climbing
I've always been interested in taking up Tai Chi, and over that summer I'd bought a book on getting started, to try and keep active, but learning from a book is never that easy. So, when I spotted an advert, in the local paper, for a Tai Chi class being held at my old College, we jumped at the chance. It was once a week, at night so it wouldn't be too bad.
Initially, it was hard getting myself to go, and even though my anxiety never went away, I forced myself to go, and I really go into Tai Chi and that kind of meditative state that you need to be in to appreciate it. The course ended in the November, but it was enough to give me a bit of confidence back.
In the May/June of 2009, the boyfriend and I decided to get the internet and having daily access allowed me to explore the world of online writing. It was kind of interesting to read about the opportunities, because even though my Nana had once declared to her friends that I was going to be a writer when I grew up, and that I'd studied Creative Writing for my Degree, writing was always something that I'd tried to keep in the shadows, not because I was embarrassed about it, but because I'd always worried that if I wrote for a living, I'd slowly grow to hate it.
For a few months, I took on a few small jobs, for very tiny money, but I felt that I needed the experience, and I started going to a local company who specialises in helping people to start their own business. To be frank, the girl was more intrigued by the fact I was the only writer she'd ever had to deal with, because ultimately she had very little advice for me. She did, however, put me in touch with the Prince's Trust, who put me on a week long course regarding starting a business.
All Change Here Please
It sounds corny, but that one week course, effectively, changed my life. I left on the Friday, and spent the weekend with some old friends, celebrating my birthday. The Sunday night, however, I was anxious about the fact that I was due to start "New Deal" because I'd been unemployed for 12 months (well, in the sense of that's how long I'd been claiming JSA!). I was in fact due to start the very next day.
But, having just finished a course relating to my business, I was on a high from that, and I knew that I really did not want to spend the next goodness knows how long being spoken down to by an individual aiming to get me a job, but would never really listen to what I want out of life.
So, I sat down and talked to the boyfriend about our options. We discussed finances obviously, and what we could afford, noting that by this point, the boyfriend had finished his Degree and was job hunting himself. We went through everything, and I decided that I was not going to go New Deal, I was going to hand my JSA book in.....
November 8th 2009. The day my life really did change, because that was the day I filled in the Self-Employment form for HMRC.
Motivation
So, after a year and a half of unemployment, depression and agoraphobia, what was it that finally gave me that motivational boost that pushed me into the best decision that I have ever made?
- Fear. Anyone who has ever seen the third season of Friends, will remember Chandler telling Rachel that quitting her job is a good idea, because it will give her the "fear" needed to find something that she actually wants to be doing with her life, rather than waitressing. For me, the fear was that my only line of money was about to disappear, so making money out of my writing would be my only option, otherwise I wouldn't be able to survive.
- Determination. I guess the real determination was that I did not want to be told what to do by some woman, who couldn't even get dates right (seriously, I'd missed a meeting with her, because she'd got the dates wrong, and apparently this was my fault!)
- Passion. In this case, it was my passion for writing, and also a passion to do what I enjoy in life, even if money becomes tight, that really motivated me.
When you allow yourself to hit rock bottom, it's easy for people to judge you as "weak", which is the reason why I didn't tell many people that I was unemployed, for a very long time. But, I think that hitting that low place was a crucial part of my growing up, purely because I honestly believe that sometimes you have to touch down, in order to realise how amazing things are when they are just that: amazing!
Seeing the Positive
It's easy to look back, and feel embarrassed and ashamed of that period of my life, but there are a lot of things that I wouldn't be doing now, if I hadn't lost that job:
- I wouldn't be self-employed, doing the one job that truly makes me happy
- I don't think that I would have moved out of my home town. Don't get me wrong, I love my home town, but sometimes, you just need to escape and move on
- I definitely wouldn't be writing this blog, and that is most definitely the number one positive thing that has come out of that period. I love writing this blog more than anyone could ever know, and the fact that as of writing this, I have just gained my 91st follower, is just incredible. I'm sure most other bloggers will agree, but when I started writing this blog, I honestly thought that I would always be the only person that ever read it, but I'm so glad that I didn't give up.
Sorry, this was a really long post, but I hope that those of you that made it to the end of it (and who I have new found respect for) can understand why I needed to get it out. It's something that I have never shared, in full before, and alongside both National Motivation Day, and my Positive Pledge, it just felt like it was the right time to write it.
So, now you've listened to me going on and on, what motivates you in daily life, or in following your dreams?
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Following on from Sunday's #BBloggers conversations, on Twitter, regarding Negativity in Beauty Blogging and how to deal with it, it seems like the perfect time to be encouraging Positivity towards ourselves and each other. I think we all know that as girls we can sometimes be incredibly horrible to one another, whether it's down to jealousy, trying (in the wrong way) to be constructive, or just being plain mean!
So, with that in mind, I have to say that it's been a while since I've put up a Positive Beauty Pledge, but I'm taking a break from the usual "Guide to Staying Positive" posts, by giving you a pledge from the loveliness that is Rosie.
Enjoy.
Rosie's Pledge
I, Rosie, of The Budget Beauty Book (AKA budgetingbeautiful) promise not to judge others based on the way they look or dress. I believe that everyone should be able to look the way that they choose and far be it for me to tell them if that is right or wrong. I want my blog to be a positive place where people can feel that everyone is totally accepting of them and what makes them different to everyone else rather than what is all the same. At times it can even be hard for you to be accepting of yourself. Every person has good and bad days and I can be extremely critical of myself to the point that I cry and don't want to leave the house, it;s times like these that I must remember that I am a good, kind person, and that no one else is like me, therefore no one else can be compared to me. I am unique. Just as each and every other person is. I therefore pledge to remind myself everyday how amazing I am and not to allow myself to be brought down by that little voice in my head telling me I'm not good enough. I won't allow myself to get upset about my 'ugly' days or rise to those who tell me I'm not good enough/pretty enough/ thin enough, because even if they don't like me... I love me, and thats all that matters. I am a firm believer that inner beauty is what shines through and I want to help raise awareness of this. My blog aims to 'budget beautiful inside and out' and I really want to make sure that I always have a focus on how important it is to feel beautiful inside and really let that shine through to the outside as well. That for me is true beauty and that needs to be celebrated.
The Bad
What are you doing in this picture?
I think that was meant to be us looking sexy? I can't be sure mind you....
Why don't you like it?
I'm not sure if it's totally obvious by the black and white nature of the picture but I am wearing alot of make-up and very little clothes here. This picture represents a really hard time for me when I just wasn't able to be me as I felt that people wouldn't like what I had to offer to them. Instead I used make-up and clothing to make myself the person I thought I had to be. I would cake myself in foundation and bad eyeliner and wear tops as low as I can get. I think I craved some attention more than anything. I was just so desperate for people to notice me and like me, that I was willing to change myself to be whatever I thought they wanted.
Is there anything you like about the picture?
My eyebrows look pretty good.....
The Good
When was this picture taken?
It was taken on my leavers day in May of this year.
What are you doing in this picture?
We were running around trying to say good bye to everyone. (Despite knowing we would be seeing them all during exams anyway) A friend caught us quickly to take a picture.
Why do you prefer this picture to the first one?
This was a totally unplanned picture. Usually for photographs a need a good few minutes to prepare my pose check my hair etc as I can be so self conscious. But for this one my friends just said 'CHEEESE' and we smiled. I just look so happy to be there. I'm not worrying about how I hadn't looked at my hair in a mirror all day. Or how I had forgotten to put on a large percentage of my make up. I was just so happy in that one moment and that totally shines through
Has comparing how you feel about both of these pictures made you realise anything about how you view yourself?
Happiness and acceptance of yourself really is the key to looking beautiful. Having looked at the first picture a little longer, I do actually look quite nice, but I still see myself trying to be someone I'm not. I can never see myself as truely beautiful there as my beauty is superficial and being used as a shield to hide my ture beauty. In the second picture my inner beauty shines through because I am obviously so happy and I don't really care that I may not look 'perfect' because I am being me and thats all I can ever be.
Give us an example of someone that you consider to be "unconventionally" beautiful:
Katie Piper
Why do you consider her to be unconventional, and why do you think she is beautiful?
Following an attack in which sulphuric acid was thrown in her face Katie has been left with severe facial disfiguirement. In this day and age I would love to say discrimination against disability and disfiguirement don't occur but sadly it does. Katie recalled in some interviews that she has had instances of people calling her ugly and saying that she lost her looks after the attack but she shows that her past experiences won't hold her back and that she is beautiful even if her face may look slightly different. She was once quoted as saying 'appearence cannot be the measure of human worth' words that I will remember forever and think every person should live by. It is her bravery, confidence and inner beauty that makes her such an amazing and beautiful person.
Finally,
Thank you so much for letting me take part Kat! I think this an amazing idea and the whole experience has really made me think about my ideas about beauty and how I myself want to be viewed by others. I truely do think that this is something all of you reading should do! There is alot of negativity floating around nowadays and I really think its important for all of us to try to do our part. So thank you Kat for spreading a bit of love around us all :)
And thanks to you Rosie for taking part. You are now the very proud owner (I'm sure) of your very own Positive Beauty Pledge Badge. Congrats :)
If you are interested in taking part in the Positive Beauty Pledge, drop me an email for details :)
So, with that in mind, I have to say that it's been a while since I've put up a Positive Beauty Pledge, but I'm taking a break from the usual "Guide to Staying Positive" posts, by giving you a pledge from the loveliness that is Rosie.
Enjoy.
Rosie's Pledge
The Bad
What are you doing in this picture?
I think that was meant to be us looking sexy? I can't be sure mind you....
Why don't you like it?
I'm not sure if it's totally obvious by the black and white nature of the picture but I am wearing alot of make-up and very little clothes here. This picture represents a really hard time for me when I just wasn't able to be me as I felt that people wouldn't like what I had to offer to them. Instead I used make-up and clothing to make myself the person I thought I had to be. I would cake myself in foundation and bad eyeliner and wear tops as low as I can get. I think I craved some attention more than anything. I was just so desperate for people to notice me and like me, that I was willing to change myself to be whatever I thought they wanted.
Is there anything you like about the picture?
My eyebrows look pretty good.....
The Good
When was this picture taken?
It was taken on my leavers day in May of this year.
What are you doing in this picture?
We were running around trying to say good bye to everyone. (Despite knowing we would be seeing them all during exams anyway) A friend caught us quickly to take a picture.
Why do you prefer this picture to the first one?
This was a totally unplanned picture. Usually for photographs a need a good few minutes to prepare my pose check my hair etc as I can be so self conscious. But for this one my friends just said 'CHEEESE' and we smiled. I just look so happy to be there. I'm not worrying about how I hadn't looked at my hair in a mirror all day. Or how I had forgotten to put on a large percentage of my make up. I was just so happy in that one moment and that totally shines through
Has comparing how you feel about both of these pictures made you realise anything about how you view yourself?
Happiness and acceptance of yourself really is the key to looking beautiful. Having looked at the first picture a little longer, I do actually look quite nice, but I still see myself trying to be someone I'm not. I can never see myself as truely beautiful there as my beauty is superficial and being used as a shield to hide my ture beauty. In the second picture my inner beauty shines through because I am obviously so happy and I don't really care that I may not look 'perfect' because I am being me and thats all I can ever be.
Give us an example of someone that you consider to be "unconventionally" beautiful:
Katie Piper
Why do you consider her to be unconventional, and why do you think she is beautiful?
Following an attack in which sulphuric acid was thrown in her face Katie has been left with severe facial disfiguirement. In this day and age I would love to say discrimination against disability and disfiguirement don't occur but sadly it does. Katie recalled in some interviews that she has had instances of people calling her ugly and saying that she lost her looks after the attack but she shows that her past experiences won't hold her back and that she is beautiful even if her face may look slightly different. She was once quoted as saying 'appearence cannot be the measure of human worth' words that I will remember forever and think every person should live by. It is her bravery, confidence and inner beauty that makes her such an amazing and beautiful person.
Finally,
Thank you so much for letting me take part Kat! I think this an amazing idea and the whole experience has really made me think about my ideas about beauty and how I myself want to be viewed by others. I truely do think that this is something all of you reading should do! There is alot of negativity floating around nowadays and I really think its important for all of us to try to do our part. So thank you Kat for spreading a bit of love around us all :)
And thanks to you Rosie for taking part. You are now the very proud owner (I'm sure) of your very own Positive Beauty Pledge Badge. Congrats :)
If you are interested in taking part in the Positive Beauty Pledge, drop me an email for details :)
Monday, 27 June 2011
I don't like blogging about Press Releases very often, but I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to try one of Madara's products a few months back, which I absolutely loved, but was debating whether to purchase anything else, purely because they were, quite expectantly, rather on the pricey side. And, I try to stick to cheaper brands and products as much as I can, not only because I can't afford them, but because I've always tried to keep my blog in the "budget" price range.
However, when I came across the Press Release for their new Travel Kit, I actually got a little bit excited (I'm weird okay, and I got excited over weird things!)
Contents:
The Travel Kit contains five miniature versions of some of Madara's classic products:
1. Delicate Cleansing Milk. 25ml.
2. Deep Moisture Fluid. 5ml.
3. Regenerating Night Cream. 5ml.
Madara Says:
4. Deep Balance Toner. Two 5ml Sachets
However, when I came across the Press Release for their new Travel Kit, I actually got a little bit excited (I'm weird okay, and I got excited over weird things!)
 |
| Image courtesy of Madara |
Contents:
The Travel Kit contains five miniature versions of some of Madara's classic products:
1. Delicate Cleansing Milk. 25ml.
Typically this comes in a 100ml bottle that costs £14, and it is suitable for all skin types.
Madara Says:
Ecoface organic delicate cleansing milk removes makeup, and gently cleanses the skin without causing dryness and irritation. ecoface organic delicate cleansing milk is suitable to use around the eyes.
2. Deep Moisture Fluid. 5ml.
Costing £24, a full sized bottle of the Fluid contains 50ml and is suitable for normal to combination skin.
Madara Says:
MÁDARA ecoface organic deep moisture fluid is a natural and organic moisturiser to protect your skin from moisture loss as well as protecting your facial skin and neck from the harmful environmental factors - effects of sun, pollution and stress. MÁDARA ecoface organic deep moisture fluid will hydrate, firm, nourish and soften the skin, balancing oily and dry areas of your face and neck. After using this light fluid for a few days you will notice how soft your facial skin has become.
3. Regenerating Night Cream. 5ml.
Madara offer two types of Regnerating Night Cream, both 50ml in size, however the "all skin types" product will set you back £25, whilst the product designed for "dry to very dry" costs £24.
Madara Says:
ecoface organic regenerating night cream is a moisturiser to help protect against the skin ageing process at any age and helps to stimulate cell renewal. Smoothes fine lines, repairs damaged skin caused by stress, sun and environmental influences. MÁDARA ecoface organic regenerating night cream hydrates and nourishes the skin while you sleep.Note: The product included is suitable for "all skin types".
4. Deep Balance Toner. Two 5ml Sachets
The only seems to come in Sets, on the Madara website! Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that :)
5. Eye Repair Cream. 3ml.
Suitable for all skin types, the Eye Repair Cream sells for £23 for 15ml.
Madara Says:
Ecoeyes organic eye repair cream is a rich textured deeply hydrating cream that firms, lifts and repairs skin in the delicate eye area. ecoeyes organic eye repair cream deeply hydrates and boosts natural collagen production. ecoeyes organic eye repair cream helps to minimise fine lines and wrinkles.
Price: The Travel Set is selling for £6.95 from the Madara website and FeelUnique.
Initial Thoughts: I haven't tried this set, but, my initial reaction is that if you really want to try Madara out, but aren't sure if you want to spend that kind of money, or can't afford it, then this travel set seems to be the perfect alternative, not only as something to shove in your overnight bag, but to generally give the brand a try.
My biggest concern when I saw that the product was for "normal to combination" skin, was whether or not it would be suitable for oily skin. Admittedly, my skin is more combination at the minute, but I always feel happier buying oily to combination products whenever possible. So, I fired Sarah, from Madara's PR company a quick email to ask if they had any plans to launch an oily skin travel set to, and she very promptly (as in, within ten minutes, and I was very impressed) sent the following reply:
"The set is indeed for normal to combination skin and it can be used for oily skin as well, as the products are gentle and don’t stimulate sebum production. However, if you suffer from severe acne, then I wouldn’t recommend some of the products – I would then opt for the Deep Cleansing Foam (instead of Creamy Cleanser) and the Deep Moisture Gel (rather than Deep Moisture Fluid)."
Fortunately, I don't have acne prone skin, so I decided to give the travel set a whirl, and I'll (fingers crossed) have a proper review for this when I receive the products.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
It's kinda weird, over the past twelve months, I've gotten quite into doing weird things with my nails, you know, being creative with them. But, I never seem to remember to do any Nails of the Day, in fact, I think that over the course of this blog, I've only done two, and both of those were Konad-based.
Well, rest assured that todays is not Konad based. It's not complicated. It's not all fancy-pants. It's just simple, and probably won't be to a lot of people's tastes, but y'know, I kinda like it, in a really Retro 1980s kind of way. And most importantly, it is so easy peasy to achieve.
Sorry that the quality of this picture isn't too great, but I had to do it using my phone, and luckily for this NOTD you don't really need a Hi-Def quality image, because you can still pretty much see where this is doing.
The Inspiration:
I was really inspired by those jumpers that were very fashionable in the 1980s, and have made a bit of a comeback recently, that are made up of block colours, similar to this one which is available for £35 at BashfulBatWings.
What Do You Need?
You don't have to use the same colours as me, because I know that they definitely won't be too everyone's taste, but you can probably guess that you just need to find two colours that complement eachother :)
1. Anyway, I started out by applying a quick base coat. I used Rimmel's Stronger Double Duty Base Coat, which both strengthens and protects your nails. With my nails being relatively long now, I need to extra strength. But, I've found that using a good base coat keeps the polish one when you want it to, but protects your nails from staining, which is good if you wear bright or dark colours, such as oranges or navy blues.
This base coat really doesn't take very long to dry, although it does stay sticky for quite some time. I'm told that it's okay to apply whilst it's sticky, as this apparently helps the colour to stay on (a Nail Technician told me that, so don't argue with me hehe :))
2. Apply your base coat. I used Rimmel's 60 Seconds in Sky Blue, which is Number 825. I absolutely love this colour. It's kind of a green colour, but also kind of looks bluey. It reminds me of the "Sea Green" Crayola pencil crayon that I used to always choose over every other colour when doing colouring in Primary School, so maybe that's why I love it so much.
Advice I was given by Liloo: If you have trouble applying your polish, in that you always smudge it. Make sure that you apply the hand that you have most trouble with first. Leave it to dry. And only then, move onto the easier hand. Repeat again for extra coats.
For this colour, I think two, maybe three coats are necessary. You really can't get away with just one coat.
Advice I was given by a Nail Technician: Make sure you apply in very thin layers, to allow the coats to dry quicker and smoother. And don't rush to apply polish too quickly after each coat, as you run the risk of creating bubbles, or just making a mess.
3. Give the base coat plenty of time to dry, before taking your final polish. For this I used ELF's Light Red, which is another colour that I love. It's quite a bright red in colour, but applied over the Greeny Blue, it kind of darkens, which I personally felt worked really well for the look I was trying to achieve.
Basically all I did for the final step was sweep the polish across the tip of your nail. The cool think about this look, is that you don't need to do them in perfectly straight lines, in the way "Tips" are done. Instead they can be slanted, which makes for an even more Retro feel. In the past, I've been a bit more creative with this, doing slanted sweeps that take up more of my nail, but for this one, I decided to just do the tips, because sometimes trying to do more can end up looking messy.
Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this look, and maybe give it a try. Let me know if you do ;)
Well, rest assured that todays is not Konad based. It's not complicated. It's not all fancy-pants. It's just simple, and probably won't be to a lot of people's tastes, but y'know, I kinda like it, in a really Retro 1980s kind of way. And most importantly, it is so easy peasy to achieve.
Sorry that the quality of this picture isn't too great, but I had to do it using my phone, and luckily for this NOTD you don't really need a Hi-Def quality image, because you can still pretty much see where this is doing.
The Inspiration:
I was really inspired by those jumpers that were very fashionable in the 1980s, and have made a bit of a comeback recently, that are made up of block colours, similar to this one which is available for £35 at BashfulBatWings.
What Do You Need?
You don't have to use the same colours as me, because I know that they definitely won't be too everyone's taste, but you can probably guess that you just need to find two colours that complement eachother :)
1. Anyway, I started out by applying a quick base coat. I used Rimmel's Stronger Double Duty Base Coat, which both strengthens and protects your nails. With my nails being relatively long now, I need to extra strength. But, I've found that using a good base coat keeps the polish one when you want it to, but protects your nails from staining, which is good if you wear bright or dark colours, such as oranges or navy blues.
This base coat really doesn't take very long to dry, although it does stay sticky for quite some time. I'm told that it's okay to apply whilst it's sticky, as this apparently helps the colour to stay on (a Nail Technician told me that, so don't argue with me hehe :))
2. Apply your base coat. I used Rimmel's 60 Seconds in Sky Blue, which is Number 825. I absolutely love this colour. It's kind of a green colour, but also kind of looks bluey. It reminds me of the "Sea Green" Crayola pencil crayon that I used to always choose over every other colour when doing colouring in Primary School, so maybe that's why I love it so much.
Advice I was given by Liloo: If you have trouble applying your polish, in that you always smudge it. Make sure that you apply the hand that you have most trouble with first. Leave it to dry. And only then, move onto the easier hand. Repeat again for extra coats.
For this colour, I think two, maybe three coats are necessary. You really can't get away with just one coat.
Advice I was given by a Nail Technician: Make sure you apply in very thin layers, to allow the coats to dry quicker and smoother. And don't rush to apply polish too quickly after each coat, as you run the risk of creating bubbles, or just making a mess.
3. Give the base coat plenty of time to dry, before taking your final polish. For this I used ELF's Light Red, which is another colour that I love. It's quite a bright red in colour, but applied over the Greeny Blue, it kind of darkens, which I personally felt worked really well for the look I was trying to achieve.
Basically all I did for the final step was sweep the polish across the tip of your nail. The cool think about this look, is that you don't need to do them in perfectly straight lines, in the way "Tips" are done. Instead they can be slanted, which makes for an even more Retro feel. In the past, I've been a bit more creative with this, doing slanted sweeps that take up more of my nail, but for this one, I decided to just do the tips, because sometimes trying to do more can end up looking messy.
Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this look, and maybe give it a try. Let me know if you do ;)
Friday, 24 June 2011
When it comes to make up, I have two things that I always get a little bit excited about:
1. Urban Decay (my absolute luxury brand, that I really have to save up to buy)
2. Eyeliners (if I had to live the rest of my life with only one make up, I would always choose eyeliner. If I was only allowed one beauty product, well that might be a little bit more difficult, because then lip balm would also a strong contender!!)
So, if you throw both of these things together, and add a dash of the words "Blog" and "Sale". Well, you just know that I have found something to get really ecstatic about. Cheap Urban Decay eyeliner?? No. Cheap Urban Decay LIQUID eyeliner, oooooh yes please! I understand this makes me sound uber, uber sad but I've never owned a liquid eyeliner by Urban Decay before!!
Colour: There were actually three (I believe) eyeliners available in the blog sale, run by Cosmetic Candy, and I decided to just pick one colour, in the off chance that I didn't like it, therefore I didn't really want to waste my money. So, I decided to pick Radium, which as you can tell is a very vibrant blue colour.
I actually love this colour, as I'm all for making a statement with bold eyeliners (used wisely!!) and as a stand alone (as in without any eyeshadow), this liner is GORGEOUS, and oh yes, the shouting really was necessary!
Packaging: The bottle for this, especially the lid, is very Urban Decay: Sleek and Sexy. Just like the Primer Potion bottle!
But, I kind of wish it was that little bit more curvy. As far as eyeliner bottles go though, you definitely have to admit that this one is completely different to 99% of other eyeliners. It's quirky and I like it.
Brush: The brush is the one thing that I really hate about this product.
I just thought that the brush was far too big, which I guess is great for really dramatic looks, but I think it makes it a little harder to tone down the colour, for daytime looks. I also found that the brush got a bit messy, and seemed to clump up at times.
Fortunately, you only really need one sweep of the brush to create a "wow" look, which makes a change, as some brands you have to do several layers to get that effect, if you want it rather than a discrete line.
Would I buy more? I actually did go back and have a browse to see if the other colours were available, but by the time I'd gotten there they had gone. So, yes, given the opportunity I most certainly would buy more :)
Final Note: I know that recently some people have been questioning whether it is right or wrong to review products that you've bought in a blog sale, and I've said this before, and I just want to repeat my stance on this. You are reviewing the product. As long as it is honest and reflects your true feelings about the actual product, then what does it matter where you got it from? If, however, where you got it from, and how much you did or didn't pay for it, effects your review, then don't write it.
1. Urban Decay (my absolute luxury brand, that I really have to save up to buy)
2. Eyeliners (if I had to live the rest of my life with only one make up, I would always choose eyeliner. If I was only allowed one beauty product, well that might be a little bit more difficult, because then lip balm would also a strong contender!!)
So, if you throw both of these things together, and add a dash of the words "Blog" and "Sale". Well, you just know that I have found something to get really ecstatic about. Cheap Urban Decay eyeliner?? No. Cheap Urban Decay LIQUID eyeliner, oooooh yes please! I understand this makes me sound uber, uber sad but I've never owned a liquid eyeliner by Urban Decay before!!
Colour: There were actually three (I believe) eyeliners available in the blog sale, run by Cosmetic Candy, and I decided to just pick one colour, in the off chance that I didn't like it, therefore I didn't really want to waste my money. So, I decided to pick Radium, which as you can tell is a very vibrant blue colour.
I actually love this colour, as I'm all for making a statement with bold eyeliners (used wisely!!) and as a stand alone (as in without any eyeshadow), this liner is GORGEOUS, and oh yes, the shouting really was necessary!
Packaging: The bottle for this, especially the lid, is very Urban Decay: Sleek and Sexy. Just like the Primer Potion bottle!
But, I kind of wish it was that little bit more curvy. As far as eyeliner bottles go though, you definitely have to admit that this one is completely different to 99% of other eyeliners. It's quirky and I like it.
Brush: The brush is the one thing that I really hate about this product.
I just thought that the brush was far too big, which I guess is great for really dramatic looks, but I think it makes it a little harder to tone down the colour, for daytime looks. I also found that the brush got a bit messy, and seemed to clump up at times.
Fortunately, you only really need one sweep of the brush to create a "wow" look, which makes a change, as some brands you have to do several layers to get that effect, if you want it rather than a discrete line.
Would I buy more? I actually did go back and have a browse to see if the other colours were available, but by the time I'd gotten there they had gone. So, yes, given the opportunity I most certainly would buy more :)
Final Note: I know that recently some people have been questioning whether it is right or wrong to review products that you've bought in a blog sale, and I've said this before, and I just want to repeat my stance on this. You are reviewing the product. As long as it is honest and reflects your true feelings about the actual product, then what does it matter where you got it from? If, however, where you got it from, and how much you did or didn't pay for it, effects your review, then don't write it.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
You guessed it, it's Tuesday, and you know what Tuesday is? It's Positivity Day of course. Which it kind of is, in a way, because well, you've gotten over the Monday blues, so you just need to get through today and then you know that you're officially half way through the week. Oh, why did I not think of this before?
Hmm, yeah, so anyway, I just wanted to start today's post, with something really positive, which is to tell you guys that I am one of today's (21st June 2011) Editor's Pick of Day, which is actually really exciting :)
But anywho, welcome to Part Three of The Positivity Beauty Pledge's Guide to Staying Positive. Enjoy ;)
Breathing is something that we all need to do in order to survive, but how many of us really take the time to appreciate it? Take a couple of minutes to really concentrate on your breathing, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Close your eyes if it helps and really pay attention to the action of simply breathing.
Okay, so this probably sounds really crazy, but paying attention to our breathing is actually a pretty simple form of meditation, that eases the mind, calms the mood and just makes us feel a little bit better about ourselves.
Ask your mum, dad, best friend, sibling or partner to write a list of things about you:
Quite often, you'll be surprised just how positively those that love us see us. They don't see us the way that they think we do, and more often than not, they can see the good in us, that we sometimes phase over as unimportant or non-existent.
Getting them to do this, not only helps to realise that you are appreciated, even if you don't always think so, and it opens up your eyes to realise that you are a great person, and the only person that doesn't see it is you!
And for a change, I'm not talking about the negativity in your head!
We can all relate to this situation. You've just bought a new outfit, that you have really fallen in love with. But, most importantly, you feel really confident wearing it. You love it so much, that you can't wait to show it off. And the first thing out of your so-called friends mouth?
Sometimes it's hard to step away from frenemies, purely because we generally have a lot of history with them. They've been there to pick up the pieces when you've fallen apart, and that's what's important right? Not necessarily. Sure, friends should be there to hold you up, when you're down, but they should be supporting you when you're high as well. A friend should never be the person that makes you feel bad about yourself, because you deserve better than that.
Consider re-evaluating what you really have to gain out of your friendship, and whether it is really worth the hassle. The chances are that your paths will never cross again, because most of the time these are just friendships of convenience and familiarity. Really friendships will survive fall outs. And, as the old saying goes:
To be continued...
If you're interested in taking the Positive Beauty Pledge, or would like a write a guest post about Positivity, then throw me an email or message me on Twitter (@KittyFairy).
Hmm, yeah, so anyway, I just wanted to start today's post, with something really positive, which is to tell you guys that I am one of today's (21st June 2011) Editor's Pick of Day, which is actually really exciting :)
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Six. Learn to Breathe
Okay, so this probably sounds really crazy, but paying attention to our breathing is actually a pretty simple form of meditation, that eases the mind, calms the mood and just makes us feel a little bit better about ourselves.
Seven. Trust your Loved Ones
Ask your mum, dad, best friend, sibling or partner to write a list of things about you:
A. What your best qualities are
B. What you are good at
C. What they love most about you
Quite often, you'll be surprised just how positively those that love us see us. They don't see us the way that they think we do, and more often than not, they can see the good in us, that we sometimes phase over as unimportant or non-existent.
Getting them to do this, not only helps to realise that you are appreciated, even if you don't always think so, and it opens up your eyes to realise that you are a great person, and the only person that doesn't see it is you!
Eight. Dump the Negativity
And for a change, I'm not talking about the negativity in your head!
We can all relate to this situation. You've just bought a new outfit, that you have really fallen in love with. But, most importantly, you feel really confident wearing it. You love it so much, that you can't wait to show it off. And the first thing out of your so-called friends mouth?
"You're not going out in that are you?"It doesn't matter what we do, what we say, or who we are going out with, you can always guarantee that this "frenemy" will bring you down. They will tell you to stop dreaming, and they will ultimately make us feel rubbish about ourselves.
Sometimes it's hard to step away from frenemies, purely because we generally have a lot of history with them. They've been there to pick up the pieces when you've fallen apart, and that's what's important right? Not necessarily. Sure, friends should be there to hold you up, when you're down, but they should be supporting you when you're high as well. A friend should never be the person that makes you feel bad about yourself, because you deserve better than that.
Consider re-evaluating what you really have to gain out of your friendship, and whether it is really worth the hassle. The chances are that your paths will never cross again, because most of the time these are just friendships of convenience and familiarity. Really friendships will survive fall outs. And, as the old saying goes:
"If you love something, set it free. If it's yours, it'll come back to you. But if it doesn't it never was."
To be continued...
If you're interested in taking the Positive Beauty Pledge, or would like a write a guest post about Positivity, then throw me an email or message me on Twitter (@KittyFairy).
Monday, 20 June 2011
Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, so we all know what that means, right? What, no, not the fact that the nights are now slooooowly drawing back in again, but the fact that Summer is officially here. So, grab your sunglasses, and your favourite book because we are heading to the beach....what do you mean it's forecast rain....?
We all know that the number one most important beauty item, at this time of year is sun cream. It doesn't matter that your moisturiser and foundation claims to have SPF whatever in it, because you still need to be using the proper stuff. And me being the crazy paranoid nutter that I am, opted for the Factor 50 stuff, that:
Yes, I know that I'm only 27 years of age, but for once, I think it's good to be a little OTT. And, the sun cream that I am currently using is the L'Oreal Solar Expertise Ultra Sun cream Lotion (phew, that was a mouthful!).
What attracted me to this Sun cream Well the fact that it was SPF 50 was a huge bonus. My problem, in the past, when it has come to buying Sun creams, is that I have been slightly blinded by this little annoyance that Sun creams, in my opinion, are just too darn expensive.
It's something that we all need, to get through the summer safely, and not just us, but children as well, and companies want to charge us around £10 a pop. I just think that £10 is a lot of money, especially when it's a product that:
a. You only use for roughly two months out of the entire year, and
b. Has a typically limited use-by date. This one in particular is 12 months, so do you keep using it the year after you bought it or not? For £10 a bottle, probably.
So, I'm normally sold on Sun Creams by two for the price of one offers, and end up with a product that has an SPF of way too low.
Packaging: For me, the packaging is the big seller of this product.
You know the scenario, you're sitting on the beach, catching some rays, when you decide to top up your cream. But, sand isn't really the most stable of places to stick your bottle, and the other half has been sent on a mission for ice cream. No matter how hard you try, the bottle always falls over and yes, sand will get into the bottom. And even if the bottle doesn't fall over, you just know the sea breeze is going to get that sand in there.
But, oh wait, not with this sun cream, because oh no. It has a special opening that keeps sand out. Hurrah.
As you can see the part of the lid (the orange bit) is completely flat, and no matter whether the bottle is open or closed, it always stays like that. Which seems a bit odd, when you think about it, but to assure you that product DOES come out, here's the evidence:
Another good thing about this style of lid, is that as you can tell, it doesn't squirt too much onto your hand, so your hands aren't flooded with too much product that leaves you making a huge mess.
So how do you know when it's open or closed? That's down to the white part of the lid, which you twist around to open and close. This picture shows you how different the bottle looks in each position:
So trust me, you can tell when it's open. But also trust me, that it really doesn't matter if you do forget to "close" it, because no sand, no nothing is getting in there!
Application: As I already stated above, you don't get too much product out in one squeeze which I thought was great. For me, I find it easier to apply more than struggle to get rid of too much from my hands. The product squirts out a thick lotion that resembles most others, and smells quite nice. Isn't it funny how sun cream really is the smell of the summer:
Overall: There isn't really much more that you can so, other than the bottle is a great design, it smells nice, and absorbs into the skin quickly.
And would I buy it again? When this one runs out, probably, purely because I love the bottle's design ;) Yeah, I'm REALLY that sad!
Which Sun Creams will you be swearing by this summer?
We all know that the number one most important beauty item, at this time of year is sun cream. It doesn't matter that your moisturiser and foundation claims to have SPF whatever in it, because you still need to be using the proper stuff. And me being the crazy paranoid nutter that I am, opted for the Factor 50 stuff, that:
"prevents the appearance of wrinkles and brown spots"
Yes, I know that I'm only 27 years of age, but for once, I think it's good to be a little OTT. And, the sun cream that I am currently using is the L'Oreal Solar Expertise Ultra Sun cream Lotion (phew, that was a mouthful!).What attracted me to this Sun cream Well the fact that it was SPF 50 was a huge bonus. My problem, in the past, when it has come to buying Sun creams, is that I have been slightly blinded by this little annoyance that Sun creams, in my opinion, are just too darn expensive.
It's something that we all need, to get through the summer safely, and not just us, but children as well, and companies want to charge us around £10 a pop. I just think that £10 is a lot of money, especially when it's a product that:
a. You only use for roughly two months out of the entire year, and
b. Has a typically limited use-by date. This one in particular is 12 months, so do you keep using it the year after you bought it or not? For £10 a bottle, probably.
So, I'm normally sold on Sun Creams by two for the price of one offers, and end up with a product that has an SPF of way too low.
Packaging: For me, the packaging is the big seller of this product.
You know the scenario, you're sitting on the beach, catching some rays, when you decide to top up your cream. But, sand isn't really the most stable of places to stick your bottle, and the other half has been sent on a mission for ice cream. No matter how hard you try, the bottle always falls over and yes, sand will get into the bottom. And even if the bottle doesn't fall over, you just know the sea breeze is going to get that sand in there.
But, oh wait, not with this sun cream, because oh no. It has a special opening that keeps sand out. Hurrah.
As you can see the part of the lid (the orange bit) is completely flat, and no matter whether the bottle is open or closed, it always stays like that. Which seems a bit odd, when you think about it, but to assure you that product DOES come out, here's the evidence:
Another good thing about this style of lid, is that as you can tell, it doesn't squirt too much onto your hand, so your hands aren't flooded with too much product that leaves you making a huge mess.
So how do you know when it's open or closed? That's down to the white part of the lid, which you twist around to open and close. This picture shows you how different the bottle looks in each position:
So trust me, you can tell when it's open. But also trust me, that it really doesn't matter if you do forget to "close" it, because no sand, no nothing is getting in there!
Application: As I already stated above, you don't get too much product out in one squeeze which I thought was great. For me, I find it easier to apply more than struggle to get rid of too much from my hands. The product squirts out a thick lotion that resembles most others, and smells quite nice. Isn't it funny how sun cream really is the smell of the summer:
As you can see it's very creamy, but it practically starts to melt onto the skin, from the moment that it touches it, and it doesn't take to much for it to absorb:
And would I buy it again? When this one runs out, probably, purely because I love the bottle's design ;) Yeah, I'm REALLY that sad!
Which Sun Creams will you be swearing by this summer?
Saturday, 18 June 2011
About a week ago, someone on Twitter was asking about Konad, so I thought that now would be a really great time to do a little FAQ-style article on the heres, the hows and the what-nots of the business that is Konad. Now, I should point out, that I am not an expert, and a lot of the things I say are purely my own opinion, but these are just a few things that I've picked up on my year-long journey into the excesses of Konad geek fandom!!
Q. What is Konad?
A. Konad is a type of nail art, designed to assist those of us that are just a little bit rubbish at doing the normal forms of nail decoration. So forget about needing a precise hand, and the special brushes, tooth picks or whatever, because with Konad all you need are plates, polishes and stampers and you can do virtually anything. It's almost like magic!!
Q. So, where do I start?
A. When you're starting out, it's a good idea to get the basic tools. A lot of bloggers have different ideas of the essentials, but here are my recommendations:
Q. Do I have to use Konad polishes for a base coat?
A. Definitely not. Use whichever polish you want to wear, by absolutely any brand. Trust me, every colour looks great!
Q. Should I buy products direct from the Konad website?
A. Again, this is a personal choice, and entirely up to you. But, my only advice here, is just like when you purchase virtually anything, especially online, I strongly advise that you shop around. Konad products are not particularly cheap, especially when you end up wanting to buy so many products. From my own experience, Amazon sell products cheaper than the official website, so that is definitely worth a look.
Just shop around, and judge your decisions on what you find :)
Q. Which Image Plates should I chose?
A. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but this is another personal choice. If you like cute stuff, there are a few that feature kawaii images, whilst there are leopard print ones for the stripey and dotty fans out there.
My personal favourites, are:
M36, which features the butterflies that you can see in the brand logo (above) and you can see an example of this plate in action here. As you can see has lots of really cute floral images or:
M55 features lots of different fruits, which I think are absolutely adorable and yummy. For an example of the strawberries in action, check out my past post here.
One Final Note
Here are a few extra pointers that might help you on your journey to Konad Obsessive. They might look familiar, and that's just because they came from the Kat's Beauty Reviews Archive, and featured in a post that I wrote almost exactly a year ago, when I was first introduced to Konad:
These are the only questions that I could think of that people might want to know about Konad, so if there is anything else you want to know about purchasing or using Konad, then I'll do my best to help in any way :)
Q. What is Konad?
A. Konad is a type of nail art, designed to assist those of us that are just a little bit rubbish at doing the normal forms of nail decoration. So forget about needing a precise hand, and the special brushes, tooth picks or whatever, because with Konad all you need are plates, polishes and stampers and you can do virtually anything. It's almost like magic!!
Q. Should I buy a Box Set to get me started?
A. This is totally up to you, and most importantly, your budget. The Sets are very useful for getting you going, but they can prove to be quite expensive. So, if money is particularly tight, I wouldn't recommend buying one. The key to making sure that you have everything you need, is just knowing what you really need, and what you can live without...
On the other hand, if you are happy to spend money on a set, then go ahead, because they are worth every penny, and you don't have to spend ages choosing which polishes and plates to choose from.
Q. So, where do I start?
A. When you're starting out, it's a good idea to get the basic tools. A lot of bloggers have different ideas of the essentials, but here are my recommendations:
- Stamper - A double ended one is good, if you can afford it, as they fit different sized fingers, however, I manage perfectly find with a single ended one, so if you're tight on cash, there's no harm opting for the single one.
- Image Plates - You can't do anything without image plates!! These can be quite expensive, so take time to pick one or maybe two that have several designs that you think you'd use a lot. Trust me, there are plenty to choose from.
- Special Polish - There is a lot of debate about whether or not you need to use the Konad Special Polishes, and from my own personal experience, no cheaper High Street brand matches the Special Polishes, because they tend to smudge. However, following conversations with other Konad-lovers, it seems to be the common consensus that if you use slightly more expensive nail polishes, then they should be fine, but this is entirely up to you. If you are going to buy a special polish, and only want to buy one, I recommend either black or white, depending on the colour of base coat that you use most regularly.
Q. What items should I not waste my money on?
A. All of the Konad tools can be useful, but there are sometimes alternative options that could help you to save money. The easiest items that you could probably get away with not buying include:
- Image Plate Holder - This tool is designed to holder your Image Plate in place, so that it doesn't fly across the table. It is a handy piece to have, but instead you could opt to use blue tack to attach it to the table or DIY your own image plate holder using your imagination.
- Scraper - This is what you would need to scrape excess polish off the image plate, however, a lot of bloggers deem a business card, or even an old bank or store card to work just as well, so save your money.
Q. Do I have to use Konad polishes for a base coat?
A. Definitely not. Use whichever polish you want to wear, by absolutely any brand. Trust me, every colour looks great!
Q. Should I buy products direct from the Konad website?
A. Again, this is a personal choice, and entirely up to you. But, my only advice here, is just like when you purchase virtually anything, especially online, I strongly advise that you shop around. Konad products are not particularly cheap, especially when you end up wanting to buy so many products. From my own experience, Amazon sell products cheaper than the official website, so that is definitely worth a look.
Just shop around, and judge your decisions on what you find :)
Q. Which Image Plates should I chose?
A. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but this is another personal choice. If you like cute stuff, there are a few that feature kawaii images, whilst there are leopard print ones for the stripey and dotty fans out there.
My personal favourites, are:
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| Image Plate: M36 |
M36, which features the butterflies that you can see in the brand logo (above) and you can see an example of this plate in action here. As you can see has lots of really cute floral images or:
 |
| Image Plate: M55 |
One Final Note
Here are a few extra pointers that might help you on your journey to Konad Obsessive. They might look familiar, and that's just because they came from the Kat's Beauty Reviews Archive, and featured in a post that I wrote almost exactly a year ago, when I was first introduced to Konad:
A Few Helpful Pointers
- Scrape across the image plate, with the Scraper, in one firm movement, in order to ensure as much excess polish is removed as possible.
- Don't hold the stamp down for more than a second, otherwise the polish will be transferred back onto the image plate.
- The best way of applying the design is in a sideways rolling motion. This is where practice makes perfect, in getting them exactly where you want them,and so that they don't smudge.
- Allow the designs to dry, just as you would any other polish, before applying a Top Coat. Applying the Top Coat too soon, could cause smudging.
These are the only questions that I could think of that people might want to know about Konad, so if there is anything else you want to know about purchasing or using Konad, then I'll do my best to help in any way :)
Friday, 17 June 2011
Every single day, no matter what we're doing, our lives are bombarded with advertising. On the Train, watching television, surfing the net, reading a magazine. Everywhere is just advertising. Some adverts are really clever and thought-provoking, whilst others, are just so infuriatingly annoying, that I feel the need to rip my hair out.
I'm not talking about WeBuyAnyCar.com, or Mazuma, or any of those irritating adverts, either, because they're irritating on purpose, and get your attention by being plain annoying. but no, I'm talking about the ones that actually interest us, and pique our curiosity. The ones that are promoting products that we might actually be interested in buying. Yup, you guessed it, I am talking about...Beauty adverts
So, being the nice person that I am (shush you!), I decided that out of the kindness of my heart (I told you to shush!), that I would help beauty companies out, by telling them a few things NOT to do, when trying to promote their latest product through the mystical powers of advertising:
1. Don't treat us like idiots.
If you are going to use the "Interview" method of advertising, which features people talking to the camera, about how much they love your products, at least make it look believable. Despite what you might think, we can actually tell that they are so blatantly reading from a script.
Even if it is going to be scripted, at least try to make it look and sound more natural, and maybe even let the actors improvise a little!
Example of how NOT to do it: Barry M
The most annoying thing about this collection of adverts is the following quote from Barry M's YouTube page:
"The inspiration for the ads was formed from all the great feedback Barry M regularly receive from customers and are based around a group of girls (aged between 18-22) talking about what they love about Barry M. The stars of the adverts reflect a range of girls from the UK, from Sheffield to London, each with a different look and style."
Okay, that's great, so why didn't you let those customers, go on camera and give their honest and unscripted opinions? It would have looked so much more fluid and natural, and much better than an advert that feels like words have been put into the mouths of your customers.
2. Don't treat us like idiots.
If you are advertising a product that you want us to believe is the best thing since sliced bread, we want to honestly believe that you have faith in your product. If you don't have faith in your product, then why should we?
So, if you have faith in your products, why do you feel the need to enhance the model/actress using photo shop or lash inserts? You're not promoting the product, you're promoting your photo-shopping skills. Why? Because we know that it isn't your mascara that is making those eyelashes so big and curvy, nope, we know that it's eyelash inserts and a little bit of photo-shopping.
Example: Oooh, so many possibilities for this one. But, I picked out this one for L'Oreal, featuring PEnelope Cruz. And the fact that she is so obviously wearing false lashes speaks for itself really.
Hand on heart, I don't expect a mascara to work miracles. If I want huge lashes, I'll wear false ones, but you are not trying to sell me false lashes, you are selling me a mascara, and I want to see what it really does.
3. Don't treat us like idiots.
Just because you use an A-List celebrity, does not mean that we believe them when they tell us how much they love your products, because we won't necessarily believe them.
Example: L'Oreal. C'mon L'Oreal, are we really supposed to believe that Cheryl Cole suffers from limp, lifeless hair? She wakes up looking like that, and we all know it. Okay, so I'm not entirely being serious with that one but as someone who has limp and lifeless hair, I know for a fact that none of these products will ever give me the huge hair that Cheryl Cole wears, why? Because with my hair being so thin, it just drops out after ten/twenty minutes.
If that's how NOT to create a great advert, then how do you get it right? Well, I can't speak for everyone, but this is my personal checklist of what makes an advert, especially a beauty-related one, absolutely great:
Example: Boots. I'll let this one talk for itself ;)
So the underlying rules of creating adverts are: Don't treat us like idiots, and make us laugh ;) What other beauty adverts really bug you, and which ones do you really love?
I'm not talking about WeBuyAnyCar.com, or Mazuma, or any of those irritating adverts, either, because they're irritating on purpose, and get your attention by being plain annoying. but no, I'm talking about the ones that actually interest us, and pique our curiosity. The ones that are promoting products that we might actually be interested in buying. Yup, you guessed it, I am talking about...Beauty adverts
So, being the nice person that I am (shush you!), I decided that out of the kindness of my heart (I told you to shush!), that I would help beauty companies out, by telling them a few things NOT to do, when trying to promote their latest product through the mystical powers of advertising:
1. Don't treat us like idiots.
If you are going to use the "Interview" method of advertising, which features people talking to the camera, about how much they love your products, at least make it look believable. Despite what you might think, we can actually tell that they are so blatantly reading from a script.
Even if it is going to be scripted, at least try to make it look and sound more natural, and maybe even let the actors improvise a little!
Example of how NOT to do it: Barry M
The most annoying thing about this collection of adverts is the following quote from Barry M's YouTube page:
"The inspiration for the ads was formed from all the great feedback Barry M regularly receive from customers and are based around a group of girls (aged between 18-22) talking about what they love about Barry M. The stars of the adverts reflect a range of girls from the UK, from Sheffield to London, each with a different look and style."
Okay, that's great, so why didn't you let those customers, go on camera and give their honest and unscripted opinions? It would have looked so much more fluid and natural, and much better than an advert that feels like words have been put into the mouths of your customers.
2. Don't treat us like idiots.
If you are advertising a product that you want us to believe is the best thing since sliced bread, we want to honestly believe that you have faith in your product. If you don't have faith in your product, then why should we?
So, if you have faith in your products, why do you feel the need to enhance the model/actress using photo shop or lash inserts? You're not promoting the product, you're promoting your photo-shopping skills. Why? Because we know that it isn't your mascara that is making those eyelashes so big and curvy, nope, we know that it's eyelash inserts and a little bit of photo-shopping.
Example: Oooh, so many possibilities for this one. But, I picked out this one for L'Oreal, featuring PEnelope Cruz. And the fact that she is so obviously wearing false lashes speaks for itself really.
Hand on heart, I don't expect a mascara to work miracles. If I want huge lashes, I'll wear false ones, but you are not trying to sell me false lashes, you are selling me a mascara, and I want to see what it really does.
3. Don't treat us like idiots.
Just because you use an A-List celebrity, does not mean that we believe them when they tell us how much they love your products, because we won't necessarily believe them.
Example: L'Oreal. C'mon L'Oreal, are we really supposed to believe that Cheryl Cole suffers from limp, lifeless hair? She wakes up looking like that, and we all know it. Okay, so I'm not entirely being serious with that one but as someone who has limp and lifeless hair, I know for a fact that none of these products will ever give me the huge hair that Cheryl Cole wears, why? Because with my hair being so thin, it just drops out after ten/twenty minutes.
If that's how NOT to create a great advert, then how do you get it right? Well, I can't speak for everyone, but this is my personal checklist of what makes an advert, especially a beauty-related one, absolutely great:
- It should be realistic. If it uses a script, then it should come across as a scripted piece, not feigned as "that's what these people really said"
- It should be light-hearted and fully of warmth and heart
- I should be able to relate to the situation being played out
- It should feature characters, rather than celebrities playing themselves
- The "characters" should be interesting, and again easy to relate to
- Most importantly, it should be funny. Not necessarily laugh out loud hilarity, but even just a little chuckle would be good.
Example: Boots. I'll let this one talk for itself ;)
So the underlying rules of creating adverts are: Don't treat us like idiots, and make us laugh ;) What other beauty adverts really bug you, and which ones do you really love?
Thursday, 16 June 2011
I realised that I didn't do anything Positivity based on Tuesday, so I'm doing Part Two of my guide to staying positive today, instead. Which is probably a good time, for me, personally, to be writing a positive post:)
If you missed the first part, you can check it out here. But, for those who have read the first part here goes with Part Two:
But not too high of course! We don't want to look like pompous individuals, but if you're someone who walks with your head down, avoiding eye contact, looking at your feet, then you really need to stop it! And yup, I am most definitely guilty of doing that.
Always look straight ahead, and if you don't want to make eye contact, just find an inanimate object to focus your gaze on. I know that this is really hard to do, but with practice, you can do it :)
I speak from experience that walking with as straight a back as you can manage, and the head held high is an excellent confidence booster, and of course does wonders for your posture. Honestly, try it and see if you feel better in yourself.
I discussed this one with a little bit more depth a few weeks ago, but I do honestly think that this is an important one. Which is unfortunate, because it is also probably one of the most difficult for a lot of us. The problem is, that unless you are a natural smiler, forcing yourself to smile, especially in public, is really tough to master. Ultimately, because we feel fake and fraudsters.
But smiling makes you look confident, and happier not only on the outside, but the inside too, because smiling (apparently) releases the happy hormone, whether this is true or not, I don't know, but give it a go whenever you're feeling down. Force yourself to smile, and see how you feel ;)
You can check out my previous post, about smiling right here.
We're all born into very different worlds, surrounded by different elements, from our family, to our friends to the type of school we attended. All of these thing create the person that we become. Other people may appear to have better opportunities or tougher challenges, but ultimately these things are only relative to the experiences that each person has on a whole.
For example, that absolute stunner that you feel envious of, may have suffered domestic abuse. Whilst, that girl that you laughed at, for having the wrong haircut at School, may now be the Manager of her own Company.
What I'm trying to say is that just because some is considered to be stereotypically attractive, does not mean that they have had an easy life. Just as being considered "unattractive" does not mean that you are going to experience a rubbish life. Life is what YOU make it. Of course, some people appear to have it easier, but that doesn't mean that they really do.
If you find yourself comparing to other people, wishing you had what they have, sit down and think of something that you have, that they will probably never have. Perhaps it's a talent, or a terrific family. Cherish what you do have.
To be continued....
If you're interested in taking the Positive Beauty Pledge, or would like a write a guest post about Positivity, then throw me an email or message me on Twitter (@KittyFairy).
If you missed the first part, you can check it out here. But, for those who have read the first part here goes with Part Two:
Three. Hold your Head High and Stand up Straight
But not too high of course! We don't want to look like pompous individuals, but if you're someone who walks with your head down, avoiding eye contact, looking at your feet, then you really need to stop it! And yup, I am most definitely guilty of doing that.
Always look straight ahead, and if you don't want to make eye contact, just find an inanimate object to focus your gaze on. I know that this is really hard to do, but with practice, you can do it :)
I speak from experience that walking with as straight a back as you can manage, and the head held high is an excellent confidence booster, and of course does wonders for your posture. Honestly, try it and see if you feel better in yourself.
Four. Smile
I discussed this one with a little bit more depth a few weeks ago, but I do honestly think that this is an important one. Which is unfortunate, because it is also probably one of the most difficult for a lot of us. The problem is, that unless you are a natural smiler, forcing yourself to smile, especially in public, is really tough to master. Ultimately, because we feel fake and fraudsters.
But smiling makes you look confident, and happier not only on the outside, but the inside too, because smiling (apparently) releases the happy hormone, whether this is true or not, I don't know, but give it a go whenever you're feeling down. Force yourself to smile, and see how you feel ;)
You can check out my previous post, about smiling right here.
Five. Stop Comparing
We're all born into very different worlds, surrounded by different elements, from our family, to our friends to the type of school we attended. All of these thing create the person that we become. Other people may appear to have better opportunities or tougher challenges, but ultimately these things are only relative to the experiences that each person has on a whole.
For example, that absolute stunner that you feel envious of, may have suffered domestic abuse. Whilst, that girl that you laughed at, for having the wrong haircut at School, may now be the Manager of her own Company.
What I'm trying to say is that just because some is considered to be stereotypically attractive, does not mean that they have had an easy life. Just as being considered "unattractive" does not mean that you are going to experience a rubbish life. Life is what YOU make it. Of course, some people appear to have it easier, but that doesn't mean that they really do.
If you find yourself comparing to other people, wishing you had what they have, sit down and think of something that you have, that they will probably never have. Perhaps it's a talent, or a terrific family. Cherish what you do have.
To be continued....
If you're interested in taking the Positive Beauty Pledge, or would like a write a guest post about Positivity, then throw me an email or message me on Twitter (@KittyFairy).
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Ever since I can remember, my family have always been big users of Nivea products, whether it was the huge blue tub that lived in the Shower Room, or the tiny tin that lived in my mum's handbag (you know how mum's handbags are always full of everything!!). In fact, recently my Mum and I traded hand creams, because she wasn't keen on the one that she owned, but loved the one I was using, and it wasn't really too big of a surprise, that both of the hand creams were from the Nivea range!!
So, when I was asked to help promote the brand, in conjunction with their 100th Anniversary Celebrations, I couldn't have said "yes" quick enough. And anyone who knows me, knows that I don't promote brands unless I really believe in them.
To celebrate their 100 years (wow, really?? 100 years!!), Nivea have launched a "Feel Closer" campaign, that seeks to challenge the notion that "face to face is a thing of the past". With social media, such as Facebook and Twitter being so popular, it really is easy to understand why this campaign is such a big deal.
Big Brother Psychologist Geoffrey Beattie explains this better than I can :)
I have to admit that most of the people I talk to, is through the Internet, which is kind of sad, but that's part of my job, as a Freelance Writer, and being a shy-natured person, it works for me. But, there are some days when I think that living behind a computer screen, yeah, it might be comforting, but I feel like it just makes me even more nervous about meeting new people, or even going out on my own. I can't even remember the last time I went to the supermarket, by myself.
Anyway, getting away from me for a second, Nivea have launched a Facebook page titled "Million Moments of Closeness", that invites all of us to share our moments, by uploading photos.
What do you have to get out this? Lots of prizes, of course :)
Do you think that we are slowly becoming a nation of recluses? Do you deliberately go out of your way, to make sure that you see your "Facebook Friends" in real life, as much as you chat to them online? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this :)
**This is a sponsored post, but it's something I believe in, so I was happy to do it**
So, when I was asked to help promote the brand, in conjunction with their 100th Anniversary Celebrations, I couldn't have said "yes" quick enough. And anyone who knows me, knows that I don't promote brands unless I really believe in them.
To celebrate their 100 years (wow, really?? 100 years!!), Nivea have launched a "Feel Closer" campaign, that seeks to challenge the notion that "face to face is a thing of the past". With social media, such as Facebook and Twitter being so popular, it really is easy to understand why this campaign is such a big deal.
Big Brother Psychologist Geoffrey Beattie explains this better than I can :)
I have to admit that most of the people I talk to, is through the Internet, which is kind of sad, but that's part of my job, as a Freelance Writer, and being a shy-natured person, it works for me. But, there are some days when I think that living behind a computer screen, yeah, it might be comforting, but I feel like it just makes me even more nervous about meeting new people, or even going out on my own. I can't even remember the last time I went to the supermarket, by myself.
Anyway, getting away from me for a second, Nivea have launched a Facebook page titled "Million Moments of Closeness", that invites all of us to share our moments, by uploading photos.
What do you have to get out this? Lots of prizes, of course :)
Do you think that we are slowly becoming a nation of recluses? Do you deliberately go out of your way, to make sure that you see your "Facebook Friends" in real life, as much as you chat to them online? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this :)
**This is a sponsored post, but it's something I believe in, so I was happy to do it**
Monday, 13 June 2011
Here are the latest details, regarding the Northern Blogger Event, for anyone who is interested in coming:
If you are interested in coming, it would be great to have an idea of numbers, so you can either leave a comment. Or, I've set up a Facebook Event so that I can keep everyone informed of any arrangements and/or changes. It also gives people an opportunity to get chatting before we all meet, which I thought would be nice :) So, feel free to join up on there too.
Also, if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions regarding the meet up, then please feel free to let us know. Remember that this event is about you, as much as it is for us :)
Date:
August 13th, 2011
Location:
Leeds
Time:
TBC.
I'm going to be arriving in Leeds at 09:30am, as that's the best time for me getting cheap train tickets, but the aim is to meet up for lunch. If anyone else wants to meet up before lunch, then Katie and I are happy to do that.
Place:
TBC.
We are very much open to suggestions as to where to eat / go, at this stage.
Also, if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions regarding the meet up, then please feel free to let us know. Remember that this event is about you, as much as it is for us :)
Ten years ago, a film came out, that I honestly believed was predicting my own future. Okay, so I was only seventeen years old, at the time, but when you're seventeen, a long-term singleton, and of course, female, you do have a tendency to be a little bit melodramatic. Okay, incredibly melodramatic. That film, is (no surprises) Bridget Jones's Diary.
Skip forward to a few months back, and I came across a poll on a website, which annoyingly, I can't remember, that was asking if people still felt that Helen Fielding's novel, and film were still representative of modern female culture?
My answer was automatically "No", because although I am still at a younger age, than Bridget was, in the novel, I am in a long-term relationship, and so are the majority of the people I know. To demonstrate that fact, I decided to conduct some research, using my lovely friends on Facebook. And here are the results of my little experiment.
I discovered that out of everyone on my Facebook Friends List, 53 of them were aged between 25 and 40, and it was these 53 people that I used as part of my research.
Out of all of those people (male and female), just over three quarters are either married or in a long-term relationship and just under a quarter are currently single. And, of those that are currently in a long-term relationship, only one had been in it for less than a year! Also, those in a long-term relationship made up just over 50% of the overall count.
I should also point out, that not one of those that fit into this particular (and yes, quite wide) age range had ever been divorced. I know that there's still time for change in that one, but I just found that fact to be quite interesting.
Now, of course, I know that the area that most of my friends come from, is not metropolitan, which may effect this result, but only two of the ladies featured in my research are unemployed, and in both cases they are actually stay-at-home mums. So, it's fair to analyse that 99% of the women studied have jobs, with most in jobs that they enjoy.
So, perhaps if I'd done research, containing more people from larger cities, the result might have been a different story, but it's still interesting no less.
Do you think that the Bridget Jones Effect still exists? Or do you think women have moved on, and perhaps learnt to juggle career and relationships a bit better? Or perhaps, the fact that the largest portion are simply in a long-term relationship, without the commitment of marriage (although many do have children), is a factor? If there has been change, what do you think has caused, because I honestly have no idea :)
Skip forward to a few months back, and I came across a poll on a website, which annoyingly, I can't remember, that was asking if people still felt that Helen Fielding's novel, and film were still representative of modern female culture?
My answer was automatically "No", because although I am still at a younger age, than Bridget was, in the novel, I am in a long-term relationship, and so are the majority of the people I know. To demonstrate that fact, I decided to conduct some research, using my lovely friends on Facebook. And here are the results of my little experiment.
I discovered that out of everyone on my Facebook Friends List, 53 of them were aged between 25 and 40, and it was these 53 people that I used as part of my research.
I should also point out, that not one of those that fit into this particular (and yes, quite wide) age range had ever been divorced. I know that there's still time for change in that one, but I just found that fact to be quite interesting.
Now, of course, I know that the area that most of my friends come from, is not metropolitan, which may effect this result, but only two of the ladies featured in my research are unemployed, and in both cases they are actually stay-at-home mums. So, it's fair to analyse that 99% of the women studied have jobs, with most in jobs that they enjoy.
So, perhaps if I'd done research, containing more people from larger cities, the result might have been a different story, but it's still interesting no less.
Do you think that the Bridget Jones Effect still exists? Or do you think women have moved on, and perhaps learnt to juggle career and relationships a bit better? Or perhaps, the fact that the largest portion are simply in a long-term relationship, without the commitment of marriage (although many do have children), is a factor? If there has been change, what do you think has caused, because I honestly have no idea :)
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