January Favourites!

Hi hi, it's once again 'that time of the month' and I have a fairly hefty January favourites for you guys this month. Unbelievably, that's already 1/12th of the year gone, although I have to say that January did drag a little, what with having exams and no money for the last couple of weeks. Anyway, roll on February, and I'm extra excited as I leave for South Africa in just over a week! Now let's look at what I've been loving this month!

Mac Ruby Woo Lipstick 

 I spoke a little at the end of last year about the L'oreal Blake's Red lipstick, and how much I loved it. I also mentioned that I had been reliably informed that it was a great dupe for Mac's Ruby Woo, so when I received Debenham's vouchers for Christmas I felt it was only fair to give the Mac version a shot. Unsurprisingly, I adore it. Whilst you do need to drag it along your lips slightly as it's not the creamiest formula, I don't find it drying on the lips and the staying power is insane. Last weekend I put it on before a 5 hour work shift in a busy cafe, which involved splashing water, a little bit of the SUL syndrome, and a lot of talking and smiling at customers. A lot of the rest of make-up had made it's way steadily off my face, but my lipstick remained and I even got a couple of compliments on it from customers! It's not cheap, and I'm not sure if I love it enough more than the Blake's red to fully recommend going straight in for the expensive option, but if you love a classic red lipstick- this is your gal.

Naked 2 Palette 

I finally caved into the Naked obsession around the end of the year, and I received the Naked 2 as a Christmas present. I cannot actually put into words how much I adore this palette, I did a full review on it which I'll link here but I've really struggled to not use it every single day. Half-Baked and YDK are my stand-out shades but you could genuinely fall in love with every single colour in the palette and there isn't one shade in there that I would pin point for being unusable. I really do think I'll have to pick up the original Naked palette at some point this year when my funds are a bit more in order, but for now I'll be the girl in the corner staring lovingly at her own eye make-up. 

Benefit Healthy Mix 

After finishing my L'oreal Lumi Magique foundation at the start of the month I headed into Boots to pick up another one, before I remembered hearing an awful lot of hype about the Benefit Healthy Mix foundation, so I picked that one up instead and it was definitely a great choice. Whilst I don't think it's my favourite foundation ever, it is undeniably brilliant- the coverage is fab and the shade range is fairly comprehensive too. I can't really speak for the skin benefits that the foundation claims to have, but it certainly hasn't broken my skin out any more than it normally does and in general I haven't had any problems with it!

Mac Genuine Treasure

Another little Mac piece I picked up this month was their paint-pot in the shade Genuine Treasure. I bought this from a seller on Depop (I'll link my post explaining here) so I think it's actually been discontinued/was from a limited collection, and I don't think it's available any more. However, for explanation purposes, Genuine Treasure is a deep browney black shade with golden glitter through it, but when it's actually swatched the base colour (the brown) is actually fairly sheer, so whilst you can build it up to be a really comprehensive smoky, glittery eye- you can also have a sheer light brown which will glitter like mad when the light hits your eye! My only complaint about this product is that the glitter will seriously stick around, long after the brown has been removed, and you do have to use a cloth/make-up wipe to remove it. 

Younique 3D Fibre Mascara

This was another Christmas present from a friend of my Mum, and I really wasn't expecting much when I saw the packaging. I've seen a lot of gimmicky products that claim to have amazing effects from unknown brands that fall flat on their claims, but this is genuinely amazing. The idea is that you do your lashes as normal, then apply a coat of the mascara you get in the kit, before sweeping the 'fibres' up over your lashes. The fibres then stick to the tacky younique mascara and you get the impression of thicker, longer lashes. Once you set it all with another layer of their mascara you end up with natural looking super long lashes, and this is coming from a girl with short, super stumpy lashes. I cannot recommend this enough and whilst it's easy enough to over-do, this is easy enough for any mascara novice and avoids all the faffing with fake lashes or complicated mascaras. 

Anatomicals Zap! Zap! Spot Stick 

This was another bit from my last Glossybox and whilst I am always sceptical about any product claiming to be a magic spot remover but this stuff actually does tame spots, even if it doesn't clear them completely. My best guess is that it contains tea tree and witch hazel, and it certainly has a strong smell. It's double ended and supposedly you apply one during the day, and the creamy one at night and give yourself full time spot protection, although I don't know how essential it is that one is applied at each time. I tend to just dap this on any spots at night and let it do it's stuff, which I have found is excellent. It's crazy cheap too so worth checking out if you're looking for something to help your acne or breakouts. 

The Secret Speech 

This is pretty much the only book I finished this month, but it was a pretty fab one. I've spoken in the past about how much I enjoyed Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith, and this is the sequel to the thriller. The story continues a year or so following the end of the last book and follows former Soviet agent Leo Demitrov as he tries desperately to keep his family safe and atone for his past mistakes. I love any books based on either Russia/German post war espionage and these are some of the best. I can't wait to read the final book in the sequel, Agent 6, and see the film version of Child 44 when it's released later this year!

Arrested Development

This was my Christmas holiday obsession and whilst I'd been unable to really 'get into' Arrested Development when I started it a few months ago, I became obsessed with the ridiculousness that is the Netflix show. It is in no way emotionally, intellectually or mentally challenging and it's more than a little bit silly- but I loved it, and seeing how the Bluth family interacts with each other is nothing short of hilarious. Michael Cera is a stand-out in it, but every character is individual and you really do get to see the story from everyones point of view throughout the four seasons. I love this and while it's  a bit of an acquired taste, it's well worth checking out.

Parks and Recreation

After having consumed both the British and US version of the Office, the entirety of Game of Thrones, OITNB, Arrested Development, Supernatural, Teen Wolf, and so so many more TV shows, I needed something new, and something that I could really get into without it being too engaging that I couldn't be getting on with all that 'new year, new me' nonsense. Enter Parks and Rec, my new favourite show ever (ok, no, The Office US still wins but it's so close!) As someone who actually has a vested interest in going into politics, Lesley Knope is a character that I completely adore and watching her attempt to navigate her government career is both hilarious and heartwarming. (SPOILER) I won't lie, I totally cried when she got city councillor. All of the 'support' characters are so much more than that, and it's a close tie as to whether Andy and April or Lesley and Ben are my favourite couple. Regardless, I cannot recommend this show enough and you all HAVE to go watch it ASAP. Treat yo' self. 

Drink Me Chai Latte

My love for Chai Lattes is well documented in the pages of this blog and for good reason, I absolutely adore the drink. However prior to this month it's always Chai tea-bags that I've been drinking, unless I'm buying from the likes of Starbucks. However whilst perusing the shelves of the Tesco drinks isle in early January I discovered an instant chai mix that you use like instant hot chocolate. Long story short, it's amazing, I can't stop drinking it and I cannot recommend it highly enough, even if it's not exactly the healthiest drink the World has ever seen!

Phew! That was quite the marathon post, congratulations if you stuck in till the end and I hope I've inspired you into some new loves for the next month or so. As always, tell me what you've been loving this month below and I'll be back on Sunday!

January Music Favourites!

It's time for the first music favourites of 2015 and it's actually been a really good month for me, musically- with loads of old and new favourites featuring heavily! These don't need much of an introduction anymore, so let's have a little look at what I've been loving this month!

400 Lux // Lorde

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Ban All The Music // Nothing But Thieves

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Flawless (Remix) // Beyonce ft Nicki Minaj

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The Kids Aren't Alright // Fall Out Boy

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Something's Gotta Give // All Time Low

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Uptown Funk // Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars

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Lips are Movin' // Meghan Trainor

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Science/Visions // Chvrches

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Not On Drugs // Tove Lo 

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Afire Love // Ed Sheeran 

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Blank Space // Taylor Swift

There we are, let me know if there are any songs that you're loving this month and I'll see you all in a couple of days time for my January favourites!

UPDATED; Room Tour!

Happy Sunday folks, I have an updated room tour for you all today, I haven't done this in a year or so and whilst things haven't changed massively, I thought I'd show you around. I've linked any items I could find online but this will mostly be pictures so you can see how I decorate my relatively tiny bedroom!

Wall Sticker- here

Potter poster- here

I may well do a bookshelf tour one day soon so keep an eye out for that!

Pillow- similar here

Book- here
Mirror- here

Photo frame- here

Lights- here
Polagram post- here

Eeyore toy- here

Net photo frame (obscured by pictures!)- here

Paris picture (similar)- here

Ikea Alex drawers- here
Bedding- here

There we are, I hope you liked having a little look around my room. I'll be back on Tuesday with my January favourites, but until then- have a lovely week!

New Mac Lipsticks!

Morning folks, today is another little haul for you guys- as I picked up a couple of Mac Lipsticks last week and thought I'd show you what they look like! 

The shades I picked up were the classic (and newly in stock) Velvet Teddy, and 'Kinky' from Mac latest collection with the Broadway hit Kinky Boots. 

Both shades are matte and are majorly long lasting. I adore the formula of Mac lipsticks, and they're definitely my new obsession. I think they give off an air of class and high-end quality that some other, much more expensive brands can't achieve.

This picture really doesn't do Kinky justice as it really is a truly matte red, like the classic 50's pin up girl red lipstick that every girl dreams of. It's creamier than Ruby Woo but the colour is very similar, if less blue-toned than it's popular counterpart. Definitely a new staple in my collection!

Despite my obsession with lipstick, I'm not a huge fan of a nude lip. I have one nude combination that I adore (L'oreal's Eva's Nude and YSL gloss in Golden Prailine) but all in all, I tend to prefer bright lip colours. However when I saw that Velvet Teddy was back in stock, I knew that I had to pick it up. It's not my favourite lipstick ever, but it is a gorgeous nude and one that I actually like quite a lot! Well worth it's hype and I imagine it would be a perfect browney-nude for all you nude lip lovers out there!

Mac lipsticks aren't the cheapest, and at £15.50 a pop you have to be selective about your choices, but I am such a huge fan that my collection seems to be growing at alarming rates! I may do a 'my favourite mac lipsticks' post one day but until then, have a lovely week and I'll see you on Sunday!

Unboxing; My Little Box

Afternoon everyone, I hope you're having a lovely week! Today's post is an unboxing of this months My Little Box, and while it's only been a few months since I did a post on the December one (which I received super late as I only signed up for the service at the end of December,) the January one is great too- so let's have a look inside! 

This month's box is themed around a sort of New Year, New Me type idea, with the focus being on being active and energetic. As per usual, the design of the box is really cute and topical! 

I mentioned in my post about December's box that I was hoping to include the postcard type things you receive with the box in my scrapbook- and this month's did not disappoint! This will be going straight into the scrapbook, and I cannot wait to read the My Little World magazine, which is really well put together and much better than some stand alone magazines, despite its size!

The first thing in the box is a gym bag, which isn't the best made bag you'll ever see, but it is a lovely design, a great size and a really original idea for this month!

I asked my sister to hold it up to demonstrate the size of the bag, which would be perfect for going to a friends overnight or even a weekend away! I'm not sure it would withstand some major wear and tear, but the 'Good energy is contagious' quote on the end makes for a really lovely design.

The three beauty products that are included every month always excite the beauty addict within me, and this month did not disapoint. I'm a big nail polish fan, and NailsInc are a great brand- so the inclusion of their polish in the shade 'tate' a beautiful rusty red colour, made me extremely happy! I hadn't heard of Talika before, but a quick Google search has revealed some very positive reviews of their moisturiser. The final product is from MLB's own beauty brand, and is a face/body mist in a lovely fresh scent that I think smells like cleaning products, but in the best possible way? I realise that 'cleaning products' isn't a particularly appetising description, but this is lovely! They were all contained in a lovely dotty cotton bag too!

The final thing in the box was a 2015 Wall Calendar, which I ADORE. It's just big enough to use on your wall and be viewable, but not too big and bulky as to distract from the decor in your bedroom, kitchen or living room!

Each month comes with a little grid with enough space to note down any activities you have planned, as well as a themed sketch like drawing that links in with the themes of the month too- some are doodles and others are quotes. All together this a lovely little addition to the box!

There we have it, I have all the information about getting yourself a MLB in my last post, which I'll link here for those of you who are interested x. I love this and think that they really are miles better than Glossybox, and most other monthly subscription boxes on the market. I'll see you on Thursday!

Book Haul!

Afternoon folks, I have a nice little lazy Sunday post for you all today as we all know that there are no better ways to spend a Sunday than cozied up with a cup of tea and a great book. I received a £25 Amazon voucher for my Christmas and having seen that Amy Poehler's book 'Yes Please' was avaliable in Hardback for £11, I suddenly got very carried away and before I knew it- I was five books and £32 down (well, £7 really- which makes this a total bargain!) I thought I'd show you all what I picked up!

Yes Please by Amy Poehler 

'"Yes Please, is Amy Poehler's hilarious and candid book. A collection of anecdotes, essays, ideas, lists, and haikus from the mind of one of America's most beloved entertainers, Yes Please offers Amy's thoughts on everything from her 'too safe' childhood outside of Boston to her early days in New York City, her ideas about Hollywood and showbusiness, the demon that looks back at all of us in the mirror, and her joy at being told she has 'a face for wigs'. A delight on every page, Yes Please is chock-full of words, and wisdom, to live by."

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

"It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person - any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain - he died young, and so did Laurel's sister May - so maybe he'll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people - Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart ...it's like she can't stop. And she'd certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it's like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time - and how her family has shattered since May died. But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can't keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won't be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny"

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 

"Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love."

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

"We are the Liars. We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury. We are cracked and broken. A story of love and romance. A tale of tragedy. Which are lies? Which is truth?"

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider 

"Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life. No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures. But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?"

I'll be sure to review any of these that are absolutely brilliant for you all, I hope you have a lovely end to your weekend and I'll be back on Tuesday!

My Favourite Things

Morning everyone, a very happy Sunday to you all! I thought I'd do a little post on the things that I'm using to help me get through this chilly January slump.

Books

I actually probably read more on holiday in warm, sunny places that I do when I'm actually at home, since the draw of my laptop and the infinite amount of TV and films I have to watch is unreal. However I have actually made a little dent into my 'to read' pile over the last month or so, most recently finishing the second book in the Child 44 series by Tom Rob Smith, called The Secret Speech, which was amazing!

Chai Tea

My love for tea is well documented on the pages of this blog and no tea is better in the cold, sucky January mornings than a cup of Chai Tea. I love the Teapigs version, which is super expensive (I made the mistake of getting mine from my local independent bean shop and it cost me £4.50 for a 15 tea bag pack) but also super cute and I love actually seeing the spices inside the little silk bag!

New Make-up

I did a little haul last week on the new make-up I picked up and whilst it's a little bit of a materialistic thing to cheer me up, I do adore having new make-up to put on in the dark on a January school morning. I'll link the haul I did here!

Bed

I have a very close relationship with my bed. I spend a hideous amount of time sitting, under the covers, on my laptop on my bed- it's actually where I am now. For many people, January is a chance to detox, to get back into the gym and get themselves ready for the year. I don't really subscribe to such an idea, so I'm planning on spending the month in my little happy place.

Netflix 

This is possibly my favourite of all favourite things, I recently also found a way of accessing the US version of the popular site, which contains so much more than it's comparably rubbish UK version. I've spent the month watching Parks and Recreation and various other shows and movies that I previously didn't have access too. Love it.

There we go, all of my favourite things just now. I'll be back on Sunday but until then, have a lovely week!