Book Club#1 True Whit: Designing a Life of Style, Beauty & Fun - Whitney Port.

- Here's a fact about me : I read. A lot.

- I  did my degree in English Literature and I'm a huge fan of the printed (or digital!) word. 

- I'm not even particularly fussed on the subject of the book, I'll read anything from a cookery book to sci-fi. I actually really enjoy reading both!

True Whit: Designing a Life of Style, Beauty & Fun - Whitney Port

- Anyone remember Laguna Beach? I'm not ashamed to admit that yes, I used to watch this on a semi-regular basis! Once you'd got hooked on that, you couldn't not watch The Hills. Which is where I first (metaphorically) fell in love with Whitney Port.  (Who we then followed to The City!!) Her character, how much of this is her real self I suppose I will never know, was so much more grounded than the rest of her co-stars. I liked her work ethic, I liked her style, I loved her hair and I coveted her job!

- It was for this reason alone that I decided on this book, that and I fancy light reading at the moment, leaning more to the non-fiction side of the scale. I wanted to see what she would say about herself, and with reviews like 'Need advice? Make Whitney your first Port of call' how could I not give it a go?

- Fair enough, she is talking about self help in your 20's, which may or may not be applicable to me anymore, I haven't decided yet! but I enjoyed listening to her (that's what it really felt like, like I was listening to her talking to me, over coffee and croissants).

- I was a little sceptical at the price, but I paid it, and truth be told, I'd pay it again. Possibly due to my infatuation with said woman!

- In a nutshell it is Whitney, talking to us about her life, and how she has managed to navigate certain problems, providing her advice on how we too, can overvcome those problems. With everything from decorating your first flat, to how not to look like you fell into a ribbish bag, she pretty much has it covered!

- Whitney is a glamorous girl, and I wish I had her life in the city. This book has (I wont say has inspired me) nudged me in the right direction to sorting my life out.

- Talking about Whitney's next chapter in her life, I feel as though it is a little relevant, I'm looking to start a new chapter in mine as well. I want to move cities, I feel as though I need a fresh start, I just need to sort everything out, but Whit's words of "just go for it" are resonating in my ears. I know that if I don't do it now, I probably never will, and then I'll regret it. Anyway, enough about me. This is about Whitney. 

- She's probably not a born writer, but that's OK by me, because she never claims to be.

The Bottom Line : If you feel as though you are in need of a friend, give this a read.

 

Songs on Sunday #16 Heathcliff, it's me!

 "The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!" 

-Kate Bush.

- I can't even begin to describe my love for Kate Bush.

 - I can't even begin to describe my love for Wuthering Heights! (I love Kate, for her link to WH!)

"I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped in the flags! In every cloud, in every tree, filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day, I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women, my own features, mock me with a resemblance."

- Any artists/novels you have unrequited love for?!

 

Food on Friday #5 Grasshopper Bark (sans Grasshopper's)

 

-Here's a little surprise for you!

- Chocolate.

- I can't eat it anymore, but it just looks so darn pretty! haha Chocolate and mint are some of my favourite flavours, and one night whilst perousing pinterest (!) I stumbled over this ingenious concoction. Borrowed from here.

- It didn't last long in our fridge.

 
- She's pretty simple really!

1. Do some crazy origami with some greaseproof paper inside your roasting tin!

2. Melt one bar of white chocolate over a bain marie, once melted, remove from the heat and stir in a few drops of peppermint flavouring and sufficient green colouring to turn the chocolate a nice shade of grasshopper green! - Pour into your prepared tin an allow to set.

3. Melt one bar of milk or dark chocolate in the same manner as the white, remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Whilst cooling, chop up a handful of after eight mints (or Tekkies alternative if yer cheap like me).

4. Pour the slightly cooled chocolate over the white, and sprinkle on your massacred mints. 

5. Allow to cool.

No here's the fun bit, unfold your creation!




Now chop it up. Keep it in the fridge; and chomp on it whilst reading the latest novel!
 

1 :4 :1 Inside My (everyday) Make-up Bag

 - We are all nosy sometimes!

Sometimes when I'm driving through town and the curtains are open I look inside.

Sometimes I'll be sat behind someone on the train, and I'll peer at what they are reading

Sometimes I'll gawp at someone else's shopping trolley.

- And I really do like to know what beauty products other people use!

Sure you can read reviews, but it's more fun to discover what people use on a daily basis!

- It might look like I own a lot of make-up. The truth is - I do! but the funny thing is - this is my "weeded out-back to as little as I possibly can-I use most of this every day make-up". 

- I think the problem is, I like to be prepared! Yea there are going on 12 odd lip products, but what if I want red lips? What if pink clashes with what I'm wearing? What if my lips are peeling and I need a lipbalm?!

- Overkill? Maybe! but I don't care! this is what I use! (most days! maybe I should call it my most day make-up products, not my everyday make-up products)

- Anyway. enjoy your snoop!

The Inventory:

Tools

I really find the right tools make make-up application so much easier. However unlike some other people I don't think they have to be expensive tools.

Eyelash Curlers - really, they are all the same. However I really like tha handle on these primark ones (yes. Primark!)

Brushes -I have a variety of brushes, most of them (the silver handled ones) were a gift, so I have no idea where they are from.

Eyeshadow Brush

Powder Brush

Contour Brush - I don't use this all the time, sometimes I'll just squish my powder brush!

Fan Brush

Liner Brush

Clinique (clear handled) Powder Brush - it is a lot stiffer, and brilliant for blending out concealer!

Blending Brush - From Home Bargains!

Pencil Brush - (White handled) UBU No36 (My FAVOURITE brush!)

Primers

One thing I learnt a long time ago, is you have to have a good base. 

Lacura Shimmering Day Cream - I can't sing this products praises enough, the subtle shimmer brightens, it has a faint pleasant fruity scent, it soaks in quickly, and it really wakes up the skin (when you haven't slept all night because your man karate kicked you in his sleep and then you were launched out of bed at 5am at the sound of an escaped horse pulling a metal chain around a carpark colliding with cars- true story. it happened!)

GOSH primer - leaves my skin feeling velvety soft and blurs all imperfections (although you have to be careful as too much can lead to a peeling skin look)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original - sure you can get this in different colours, but this works for most colours you will use on a daily basis. I was sceptical at first, but this really does work!

Foundations

I don't use foundation on an everyday basis (contradictory I know) but I do use a BB cream, I have a few different ones (read I have a LOT of different ones) 

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream - my skin is really quite dark at the moment and I find that this blends in well with my skin tone. Since I started using a BB cream my skin has stopped breaking out and really has improved (I'm a believer) I have sacrificed coverage though

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in 021 Nude - If I feel like I need a little more coverage I will use this. The only foundation that doesn't break me out and that I believe actively reduces breakouts and helps to clear them. 

Concealer

Sometimes I use a Clinique airbrush concealer as well. but my go to is;

Revlon Photo Ready Concealer in Light - not much to say about this concealer other than. It works. Which makes a change as I find that quite hard to find.

Bronzers

Ok I have too many Bronzers - but I don't wear them all at the same time! (OK I might do)

Bourjois Délice de Soleil - It smells like chocolate, and is great for contouring

17 Bronzed Cream Blush - this is a really pretty shimmery colour

VIVO Baked Bronze in Shade 3 - This is from Tesco. Supermarket make-up at it's best. Although this is meant to be a bronzer, I actually use this as a highlighter! I find it a really similar effect to MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish!

Eyes

I don't always use eyeshadow on a daily basis, but when I do, I prefer neutral looks sometimes playing with purple undertoned taupes.

Urban Decay Naked 2 - I love this, it travels well and has every neutral colour you could wish for! It is a tad expensive, but this is one of the things I really do use every day! I have a cool undertone in my skin, instead of a warm one and I find that the neutrals are on the cooler side and suit me well, but a lot of people have said they are too cool. . . 

GOSH eyeshadow in 10 Gold - . . .which is why I have this, for when I want a little bit of warmth in my eyeshadow I layer on the gold!

Barry M Waterproof Eyeliner in Purple - I have very green eyes, this makes them appear greener!

Soft Kohl Eyeliner in " a sort of khaki-ey green colour" - If you line your bottome waterline lightly with green, it makes them appear less red, perfect for when you have had little sleep!

Basic Black Kohl by the Body Shop &Rimmel Black Gel eyeliner - I think these two are just essentials!

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in  002 Hazel - I have pale blonde eyebrows, and I find it difficult to match the colour, my hair at the moment is a deep brown with reddish-plum undertones, and I think that this colour suits best - even though it sounds like it shouldn't!

Stila Fiber Optics Mascara - good staying power, makes my eyelashes look longer and fuller, and I have uber baby eyelashes so I need all the help I can get!!

Lip Products!

Yes, I have far too many lip products, but, I don't use them all at the same time!

Lip Stains

Benefit Benetint - I love the rose scent/ flavour, I love how long it stays, and I love it doesn't dry out my lips

ME ME ME Boho Balm - I love love love this stuff, it's the coral version so it doesn't go with everything, but I love both colours inside, a really bright coral and a taupe (which looks brown in the tin, but comes out a beautiful purpley taupe neutral colour on the lips) Favourite!

Lip Balms

Long Winter Farm Chai Lip Balm - My absolute favourite. I love this cosmetics company, and the woman who runs it is lovely. I'm just getting ready to order some more perfume oils from her.

Figs & Rouge 100% organic balm - I like this, but sometimes I get aggrivated that it's in a tin!! plus I left it in my car and it melted to the lid, so I had to leave it on top of the stove when the oven was on to melt it back into place!!

Carmex Moisture Plus in Coral - Carmex is trusty, and this coulour is so strong, it almost comes off as lipstick, but I like that, a lipstick with all the qualities of a lip balm!

Lip Glosses

Maybelline New York Super Stay 10 h Tint Gloss - (mouthful!) I like this a lot, it's the reddest I tend to go on an every day basis, but it really does stay on for hours and tastes nice (not that I lick it or anything!)

Bourjois Embellissęur de Sourire - This is brilliant, it has built in "tooth-brightening effect gel" and there are a couple of colours to choose from, but I really like this blue toned pink.

Barry M Limited Edition Lip Gloss - Until I bought these two, I really hated lip gloss, I referred to it as "goose-fat"! Although both of these have a very distinctive (not overpowering) artificial flavour, I like them for that. Neither of them are sticky and are both very neutral, although one of them is a light blue toned pink (comes out more like a sheer wash of colour) and the other is a coral pink (ditto).

Lipsticks

Rimmel London Kate Moss Collection Lasting Finish in 03 - The PERFECT nude. end. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in 010, Darling/Chérie and 001, Honey/Douce - Although technically a lipstick, I think this is where I would put these. Few items do I actually wait to be released in the UK but I was waiting for these for about a month, and they didn't dissapoint. A bit like Clinique Chubby Sticks, they are like a balm, but the colour really (really) lasts. They have a plesant mint flavour/scent and I have my eyes on two other colours (a hot pink, and a tangerine) I love these for everyday.  

And to remove it all? 

CVS brand aloe-vera make-up remover pad - I am an avid user of baby-wipes because they don't aggrivate my skin but neither have these, and they are a bit more handy than the baby-wipes, and only cost about £1.

- I obviously don't always use these things, and I could quite easily survive without any make-up at all. If I had to choose just five things from my make-up bag I'd take:

1. Lacura Shimmering Day Cream (Don't want peely skin!)

2. L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream (Enough coverage on a standard day, moisturises aswell!)

3. Revlon Photoready Concealer (Incase of breakouts!)

4. Stila Fiber Optics Mascara (So intense don't need eyeliner!)

5. Long Winter Farm Chai Lipbalm (Comes off as clear & glossy, goes with everything!) 

What would your 5 be? (hey, I said I was nosy!)

Monthly Favourites: August

 
 l.Natural Collection Body Sprays in Mango & Papaya; Passionfruit (currently on 3 for 2)
     - I have been searching for cheap body scents without propellant and I found these at Boots. Not something I would have picked up normally, but they smell clean, the scents are nice, and the wear well. Saves me having to use my expensive perfume every day!

2. Stila Fiber Optics Mascara in Black
     - My current favourite mascara, it lengthens and adds some serious volume. You do have to be wary of clumping, but nothing a spare spooly can't sort out. The concept is really similar to other fiber extension mascaras, but compared to maybelline, stila is on top.

3. Me Me Me Boho Balm
     - I love lip stains. I love the colour taupe. This claimed to have both, and where I wouldn't say it is a lip stain, more of a cream blush/lip colour, I love the taupe colour. It's such a unique colour with purple undertones that is amazingly flattering (the peach shade isn't bad either- it has both inside)

4.Lacura Shimmering Day Cream
     - I have repurchased this so many times. A gorgeous day cream, that I also like to use on my legs, it's cheap, I don't feel like I'm wasting anything, plus a little goes a long way. Gold shimmers light up and even out your complexion. I have also used this over make-up as a highlighter. Wouldn't be without this.

5. 17 Blemish Balm in Fair
     -BB creams have seriously saved my skin. I have completely stopped breaking out and have had clear skin for the past couple of months. I like this one despite the poor shade range. Anyone who is paler than me will have to find something else unless they want to look like an oompa loompa.

6. Essie Nail Varnish in Ballet Slippers
     - Everyone loves this colour. Apart from my mother! I love the colour, it doesn't take center stage, and I like that. Apart from the colour, the formulation of this polish is DIRE.

7. St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse in Medium
     - The only fake tan I've been using at the moment, my current new favourite. I have never had problems with it blotching or fading unevenly.

8. CVS Make-up Remover Pads
     - They do the job. What else?!

9. Clarins Lotion Tonique
     - I tend to prefer harsher toners, but I really like this one.

10. Lacura Pressed Powder in Transparent
     - Another Aldi star buy. I've repurchased this a few times over the years. I love the way it feels on the skin, definitely not cakey. The sleek silver coloured compact leads it to appear much more luxurious than the couple of pounds it was from Aldi!

11.Mitchum Advanced Control 48hr Deoderant
      -  I realise that deoderant is strange to talk about but . . .I've never had a cream deoderant before, but it is so effective I can't believe I haven't! On the odd couple of days I've reverted to my normal roll on I can REALLY tell the difference. This one has been living in my handbag and I've had it nearly five months and it's going strong!