#105

Hey guys, just a quick post on my lazy Saturday afternoon, nothing too fancy just making sure I keep blogging regularly so it becomes a good habit rather than something I feel I have to do even when I don't know what to write about :)

My Graze box arrived today, I'm really excited to try out the two on the left as they are new to me. (Is it sad to be excited by fruit and nuts?!) The two on the right are what I call old faithfuls, I've had them in about three boxes and I always click the "Send Soon" button when rating what I would like to recieve. Also I can guarantee about three of these boxes will be empty by the time I leave to go to Jack's this evening haha.

If you haven't yet tried a Graze box, use the code C3MVH3H to get your first box free and your second half price :)

I'm spending this afternoon catching up on WWE Raw and Smackdown, yep life-long wrestling fan here! Need to finish reading the two books I have on the go right now, can I add two of the best books I've read this year so far.
Fear and Loathing was made into a movie with Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro in '98, brilliant movie which keeps to the book as much as possible, something I always appreciate when books are adapted into movies. Also, the illustrations in the book are so surreal, drawn by Ralph Steadman who is from Wallasey which is just over the Mersey from Liverpool. His drawings can really mess with your mind in terms of what you think you see and what is actually there.
Everville is my favourite Clive Barker book, I've only read a handful of his books, but he's a fantastic writer whose work would be a great addition to your bookshelf!

How do you usually spend your Saturdays? :)

#74

As promised in my previous post, this is on the Neal's Yard set my auntie sent me for my belated 21st present.
She has worked for Neal's Yard Remedies for years, and while their products are not something I have always thought to get myself, perhaps because I'm a bit of a cheapskate :P But she has always sent my mum and I samples of new products and specially made lotions and creams to suit our skin perfectly.
This is a brand new set, available online here, she also put a nail protect and moisturise balm in as she knows how much I love to do my nails:

The website says:

NEW Power Berry Skincare Essentials

For Youthful Skin

Protect youthful skin from ageing environmental aggressors and free radicals, with our blend of antioxidant-rich superberries and plant extracts, scientifically formulated to help keep skin looking younger, longer.

Contents:
Power Berry Facial Wash 50ml

Power Berry Daily Moisture 30ml

Power Berry Facial Mask 20g

I only recieved it yesterday, and I tried the moisturiser before I went to bed, and it works a treat. I usually have a lot of trouble when it comes to picking the right moisturiser, because my skin tends to get quite oily, but I sometimes end up with dry patches on my cheeks. This moisturiser is really light on the skin, soaks in quickly and doesn't irritate at all. I woke up with softer skin which wasn't oily in the slightest.

I'll be trying out the face mask and face wash later tonight after my shower, but I'll definitely keep you updated as to whether they're worth picking up and if they really do keep my skin looking youthful!

What's your favourite Neal's yard product(s)?

#55

On Saturday, I had my usual nose round the shops before pottering off home, and as always, found myself in Superdrug.
I've been after more neutral nail varnishes ever since I bought Desert Haze from ELF, and managed to find (without hassle or fuss might I add) Barry M's Mushroom shade that everyone's been after... even if I am a few weeks late!
So to make up the 3for2 offer, I picked up that, a new black eyeliner, as the Collection 2000 one I got last week looked so washed out and pathetic on my lids I chucked it out, and a triple eyeshadow palette, for the smoky-eyes look I adore.

On my way to the till, I spotted the Aussie range was still on 2 for £6, so I chucked a 2in1 Volume Shampoo and Conditioner - haven't used it enough to tell if it's making my hair bigger, but it feels and smells gorgeous! And I got a Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner; this is amazing, a definite HG product. I'm in dire need of a haircut, but need a new hairdresser, but using this on my hair after washing is all I need right now; it somehow gets rid of split ends, or makes them less obvious... whatever it is, i'm in love! ^__^

This is a swatch of the Mushroom shade after basecoat, two coats, and a topcoat. (Please excuse my terrible looking fingers - poor things have been massacred in work and I've cuts everywhere!) I really like the dark, creamy colour it came out; was slightly worried it would come out looking like vomit! But I like it, even if Jack described it as "pushing my hands through a pile of mud."
Boys never truly understand.

Some other quick bits - My friend Andri went on a family holiday to Cyprus last month, and after seeing her and Heather last night for a last minute night of wine, Doritos and finding Friends and hiding in a blanket wearing a panda hat faaaar too funny, she gave us our gifts - Cyprus Delight. Which is assorted flavour, so I should hopefully like it more than traditional Turkish Delight (which we do not mention to her :O )

I'm sorry for this being such a huge written post, but I had quite a lot scrawled on a sticky note to get on here!
I picked up my usual cup of tea, Look and More magazine on my way home from town with Jack today, and when scanning through More, I found this little horror:

Apparantly men don't find Emily Blunt photogenic, which I think is ridiculous!
This must have been a poll done asking men who have not seen the Elle cover shoot and interview she did last month - are they blind? She's beautiful!

Anyway, rant over! I'm calm now, waiting for my noodles to be ready. But what have you been up to this week? Found any bargains in the shops?

#48

I think it's pretty obvious I tend to have girl crushes that have dark hair and gorgeous eyes, and the next two are no expection - I'm pleased to have an excuse for featuring photos of Natalie Portman on my blog without seeming too peculiar. (EDIT: I had to Google the word peculiar, and now I've seen it that many times it no longer looks like a word, damn mind/vocab)

Natalie Portman is set to star in a new film later this year, called Black Swan. Co-starring with Mila Kunis (love her/want to be her) and Winona Ryder (not such a fan of, but never mind!)

The plot summary on IMDB is: "Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her."

Here's a quote from Mila herself, the article can be found here:
Kunis plays Lilly, the unhinged and possibly sadistic yin to the yang of Nina, her uptight rival played by close friend Natalie Portman. “It’s like a real-life version of the third act of Swan Lake,” she says, treading carefully around plot secrets. “I just feel like such a douche because I can’t talk about it. It’s not even that big of a deal. It’s a fucking movie. It’s not like I’m saving the world.”

Annnd apparantly Natalie and Mila "get it on" - not my words, that's definitely something a boy would write.
Sorry for the photo overload, but seriously this looks really good - I'm definitely putting it on my to-do list.

Anyway, release date is December 1 so there's plenty of time to make plans around that date, it's not one to miss!

All photos via www.beyondhollywood.com/

#47

Decided that since I keep forgetting to take photos of my outfits, I'll let you in on what's inside my makeup bag (cue various ooh's and ahh's)
Nothing that interesting, but I've noticed quite a few people have posted theis, so thought I'd join in and let you know my bargains.

Again, apologies for the poor phone quality photo!

Top row, L-R - Bourjois 10-Hr Sleep Effect foundation, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer, ELF Complexion Perfection, ELF blending brush.

Bottom row, L-R - Sleek w/proof mascara, Collection 2000 w/proof Volume Sensation mascara, Collection 2000 w/proof Fast Stroke eyeliner, Rimmel 8hr Colour Moose in 005 Glitz, Natural Collection kohl pencil, eye brightening drops, Benefit Her Glossiness in Didn't Hear It From Me, ELF lipstick in Runway Pink, ELF Candy Shop lip gloss in Cherry Bomb.

My makeup bag has definitely seen better days, but it fits everything in perfectly and I'm yet to find a decent quality bag that's not too expensive, especially since it'll get covered with makeup inside!
I don't tend to go for big expensive names when it comes to makeup - Collection 2000 has always done me well, so I'm going with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", especially with the waterproof mascara - it's amazing, even when I was on holiday on the sweltering hot beach (in Cornwall, yes) it didn't move, yet it comes off easily before I go to bed.
I currently use a coat of that and then add a top coat of the waterproof Sleek mascara, as this lengthens my lashes really well.
When I ran out of my matte-effect foundation, I was eager to find a replacement, but I'd heard good reviews of the Bourjois one you see in the above photo. The price put me off slightly, but I figured it was an 'investment'. I wasn't disappointed; it works like a dream! It gives sheer, dewy coverage but it really lifts my skin - as if I'd had 10 hours sleep! Defnitely recommend it.
The ELF stuff you see above is really good - I know alot of people don't like the ELF range but the products I have used so far have done no wrong, special mention to the lip products - their colours are amazing.

Any questions on the above products please leave in a comment!
I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with some sort of interesting outfit posts, promise!