New things 09/06/15

 I always go through fazes when it comes to blogging. I find it takes a lot of time and effort to create a post and get everything together properly. And I think that is the reason why it never sticks with me, and that I lose interest quickly. I then find once I've not been blogging for a while I get the urge to, and then it is often short-lived.

So I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not promising anything spectacular here, just a means for me to get a bit of creativity and writing out of my system. And if I keep at it, well then I keep at it! So please excuse the quality of the photos in this post. I had a short window of time on my lunch break to take them in and they were taken under tube fluorescent lighting. the colours aren't true to life. I will do better next time I promise!

This first post I just wanted to dedicate to a few new things that I have purchased recently. I've been on several shopping trips for various reasons, and indulged a little. I had been on a bit of a spending ban and trying to be more careful with my money and spending. The first trip was to Tunbridge Wells to see a friend who I really don’t get to see often enough. We had a long catch up over coffee and cake, and then unleashed ourselves on the shops. My main goal for the shopping trip was to get a few skincare items. I went to the Clinique counter in the boots store there, and 50 something pounds later I came away with two products. I wasn’t overly pleased with the fact that the counter assistant started filling out her sales sheet before I had finished paying for my items, and it wasn’t even like she was rushed off her feet and wouldn’t be able to complete it after I had left! I bought the pore refining solutions correcting serum and an exfoliator. 

So far, so good. I have noticed a difference in my pores and I am making sure that I use it regularly in conjunction with my skincare routine to continue to see the effects. The only slight qualm I have with it is that I am not quite happy with at what point in my skincare system I should be applying it. It doesn't feel great before moisturiser or after. Suggestions please anyone?

I went to Bluewater for the first time ever for my boyfriend’s daughter’s birthday. She wanted to go on a shopping trip somewhere, so we thought going somewhere different would be more fun and interesting for her. I had a couple of things on my list that I wanted to have a look at. One of those items was the bare minerals ready pressed foundation. 

I had been matched to it when I was in Tunbridge wells, but hadn't bought it. I was really impressed with how it lasted and wore throughout the day, so I bit the bullet and bought it. I like the idea of a pressed powder foundation as I need quick products to use first thing in the morning. I like the idea of mineral makeup for the good stuff it does to your skin, but I just don’t want anything to faffy (yes that is now a word!) for first thing in the morning. This is proving to be a good purchase so far. I am using my Elf powder brush to apply this. I also picked up a couple of other things in boots whilst I was perusing the aisles. I found this nail polish by butter London called petrol. 

I splurged! I have never had a polish from them before, and I also loved the look of it. For anyone that doesn't know I have been brought up surrounded by the motor industry and I work in it myself. So the inner petrol-head made me buy it! I also picked up this new Revlon Ultra HD lipstick in petunia. I saw an Instagram post of Fleur de Force’s before this was released and vowed and declared that I had to have the colour when it was released. I haven’t worn it yet, which just goes to show how much I really wanted it, but the makeup hoarder in me couldn't help it! 

I had a day off on my own (me and my boyfriend normally have the same day off together), which doesn't often happen, so I went into Crawley and did some early morning retail therapy and pampering. I went to the benefit counter in boots and there was not a single member of staff that wanted to come and help me at all, so I quickly left and went along to Debenhams and was instantly greeted and asked if I needed any help. I ended up having my eyebrows waxed and tinted as they had a promotion in May that all proceeds went towards women’s charities. Whilst I was there I also picked up hoola bronzer, as I had tried this when I was in Bluewater. I wanted this as it seemed like a good option for contouring, without spending shed loads of money on expensive kits and products that were just not the right colour for my skin tone. Update on this product soon as I haven’t tried it yet.

I went to a local town with my boyfriend’s little girl Jess when we had a day together recently whilst her Daddy was at work. She wanted to go somewhere that she hadn't been before, so I took her somewhere that I haven’t been to since I was in college and wasn't too far away. The superdrug there had a Revolution counter so I picked up this iconic pro 1 palette, which I believe is supposed to be a dupe for the Lorac one. 

I liked the shades in this one, and wanted to try some more of their products, so that coupled with the makeup hoarder problem made me buy it! I also picked up this sculpting set of real techniques brushes. I am all about the contouring at the moment, so these seemed like a brilliant set to buy. I haven’t got any of their brushes and wanted to try some.

So enough rambling on now! Have you bought anything recently that you are enjoying, or splurged on something you've had your eye on for a while? 

xx Sophie xx

Candles

This is my first post on my iPad, so please bare with me. Sorry that the photos aren't great!

I have always loved candles, and for the past year my love has grown. I love standing in various shops, smelling all the different varieties. I could literally spend hours doing it!

I have trusty oil burner, which I use the Yankee Candle tarts in.

 

I have Christmas Cookie in there at the moment, and its divine. I have been using slightly deeper tealights in there, with a vanilla scent, which intensifies the aroma in my room. 

They are brill!

I caved the other day in the garden centre, and bought my first every Yankee Candle jar. I was lured in with the 50% off as it was a seasonal scent.

This scent is just SO me (if that makes any sense at all!!) and it has been left with its lid off to hopefully soread some of the scent, without having to burn it yet. I am struggling to pluck up the courage to do so!

I also like to dot some tealights around my room. It creates nice soft lighting, as well as giving the room a nice warm and cosy feeling.

Not a very interesting post, but at least it's something! 

xx Sophie xx

The Uni Debate

I grew up in a family where no one went to University. My Dad did an apprenticeship in motor vehicle mechanics and my Mum had no further education after she left secondary school. My brother followed in my Dad's footsteps, and is a motor vehicle technician by trade, but now works as a vending machine technician. All my cousins are a lot older than me, and they too didn't go much further in education after secondary school. 

So I could say that there was quite a bit of expectation that I would go to University. I was a bright student in primary school, and it all looked very promising. But then I hit secondary school. I was in the band of A*-C students. This meant that I was ok to them. I would get them the grades they needed to keep their league tables in check. The students that got most of the support were the ones bordering on the C grades, and then the rest of the sudents that got support were the super duper bright ones that got like an A* in every subject.

I went to college not really having a 'life plan' as such. I went because that was the done thing, and I didn't have anything else to do! I couldn't get a job because I had no A-Levels. So that was the path I went down. I studied English Literature, English Language, Sociology and Psychology. I dropped psychology after my first year, and carried on with the rest to make up my A-Levels. It just wasn't for me, I have never really been a big fan of science!

To tell you the truth, my time at college dragged like crazy. My last year being the worst. It is crazy to think I only spent two years there. It definitely feels like way more! I think to me, college just highlighted how immature everyone else still was. I had done most of my growing up. I've always head an 'old head' on me as my Uncle John likes to say! But I think some of my boredom was brought about because I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left. I was there for the sake of it, not because it was helping me to gain qualifications in a subject I needed for my desired proffession.

My final results weren't brilliant, but that also has something to do with the rough patch I was going through with my boyfriend at the time. But I really lacked the motivation. And because I was so undecided, I couldn't justify going to Uni. I wouldn't even know where to start with what I wanted to study. I knew that I would just study something for the sake of studying it, and because I had kind of enjoyed it at school and college. But that wasn't enough of a reason for me. Uni wasn't for me. And who knows, I could go later on in life, but right now it isn't the best for me.

Instead, I managed to extend my part-time hours in the bakery I was working in, to full-time and I moved stores in order to do it. But it wasn't exactly my dream job, and it wasn't what I wanted to be doing a year down the line. So I started job hunting. I had several rejections. A handful of interviews that all ended up being nos. And I didn't hear back from the majority of jobs I applied for.

But one day, my Mum showed me an advert in the local paper. And that advert changed my life (cliche or what??!!). There were two jobs this company were advertising that I was interested in. A Car Sales trainee postion, and a Car Sales Administrator position. The place suited me down to the ground. Its a small garage with a small showroom, which only sells used cars. But it had the family-run business feel that appealed to me the most. I come from that field, I know that field. I had two interviews, and I got the jobs. Both of them. No one else was hired. Almost like a dream come true, but I think that would be going a little bit too far!

So if I had gone to Uni, I would have missed this job oppurtunity completely. Which is totally wierd to think about. I couldn't imagine working anywhere else at the moment. And I am really enjoying all aspects of my training that I am facing. I know not everyone is as lucky, but I honestly think there is something out there for everyone. So don't feel the pressure to go to University if it's not what you want to do. Life has the habit of falling into place eventually.

xx Sophie xx

May Favourites

I am so sorry that I have been such a bad blogger. To be honest, I don't really even have a good excuse. Just been feeling a bit down and stressed out, and blogging hasn't exactly been my priority. Anyway. On a brighter note, I recorded and uploaded my May favourites to youtube the other day.

It wasn't a very long video, with not that many favourites, but I just needed something to film and it seemed like the best option!

As I mentioned in the video, I am planning to go to London in the last week of June, so hopefully that will mean there are more products to be in my next few favourites videos. Also, I have been doing a big clear out of my makeup collection. So hopefully I will be able to show you a new collection and storage video soon. If there are any things you think I should look out for whilst I am shopping in London, then please leave them in the comments. If you know of any really great places that I have to go to, that would be greatly appreciated!

I am about to sit some of my final A-Level exams, so I have a lot on my metaphorical plate at the moment, but as soon as they are over expect to see a lot of me! I do however need some ideas of what you want to see on my blog. You can tweet me, comment or even email me with any ideas or suggestions.

Hope you are all doing ok.

xx Sophie xx

Brain Farts

The title of this post relates to this video. I urge you to watch this before you carry on reading the post!

So basically, I am having a bit of 'writers block' shall we say??!! I have literally no idea what to blog about. So instead of leaving my blog empty for days, I thought I would share this funny video with you, whilst I think of some blog post ideas!

Also, if you have any ideas for me, or if there is anything in particular you would like me to blog about, then please let me know! Leave a comment, email me, tweet me. Anything! I am open to requests and suggestions.

I am about to go on study leave, and sit my final A Levels, so I am a tad preoccupied by my studies. So if I am even more absent than I am at the moment, that is why! I also bought myself an iPad mini the other day, it was something I had been thinking of buying for a while. I finally took the plunge, and I LOVE IT! If you would like a separate post on that, let me know.

I am still vlogging every day, so be sure to check my youtube channel out here. My vlogs are quite boring, but I am sure once my exams are over and done with they will get a little more fun and interesting! Check out my latest video I did here. It's the Book Collectors Tag if you're interested.

xx Sophie xx

BOOKS!

Now I have mentioned before how much I LOVE books. In my 25 facts about me post I told you that I have about 233 physical books on my 4 bookshelves. Yep, you heard right. I have FOUR bookshelves! So I thought I might do a little post, delving a little more into my love of books and reading.

So lets start with a photo of, what I like to call, my TBR shelf. These are all the books I have to read still, and that is only the physical copies. I have loads on my Kindle that I still haven't read!

Now there are 45 in that picture, but I have started Divergent by Veronica Roth since I took this picture. So technically, I only have 44 unread books! That still seems so like many to me. I think I have problem...

I've been in a bit of a reading slump for the last few months, and with a lot going on with life and college etc. reading wasn't exactly my first priority. However, in the past week i have read 2 books, which is good for me as I have a lot going on at the moment. I read 'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green, and 'Breath' by Sarah Crossan. I have just started Divergent. (I really dislike the English cover, a LOT)

And so far so good. I am really enjoying it. I do hope that the pace picks up a little more though. Finding it hard to sit down and just read it. I can only seem to manage lots of short bursts at the moment. I don't know why.

I couldn't do a book post, and not mention my Kindle. (That is my fave screen saver by the way!! Yes I did sit and lock and unlock it until that one came up!!)

I was dead set against the Kindle when it first came out. I hated the concept, and thought how would I ever get on with not having a physical book in my hands with physical pages to turn. And then I changed my mind and had to buy one! And now I couldn't imagine not having it in my life. (I think I should name my Kindle, I like naming things! Any suggestions?) It really is amazing how kind of out of date it is now, and I haven't even had it for a year yet. In hindsight, I probably should have waited a little longer before I bought it. I paid £89 for this beauty. And the one that has replaced it is only £69. But hey ho! 

The one thing I would say though, is be wary with the prices of kindle books. I thought they were gonna be a lot cheaper, and should have done my research before buying. But there isn't a huge difference. The main thing for me is the fact that it is small, compact, and a lot easier to carry around than a book. Plus you can carry round several on the Kindle in one go! It is perfect for travelling, when you don't want to have to pack multiple books. It is also good if you are like me, and want a break from your current book. With the Kindle it makes starting a new book possible.

So here is my little ramble about books and my Kindle. If you want me to do any posts related to this one, then feel free to comment and request.

Hope you enjoyed,
xx Sophie xx

How much does my face cost?

My friend Letti did this post (check it out here), and when asking her for some blog ideas today she said I should do it too! Basically, you list all the make up you use on your face every day, in order to make yourself look presentable, and add up the prices, seeing how much your face costs. Not gonna lie, this might make me feel kinda sick!!!

Here are my face products, the base.

I don't wear foundation everyday, I just make do with concealer and powder to cover up most of my imperfections. I find this works well for me, but I will wear a foundation if it is a special occasion or if I feel like I need just a little more coverage some days.

• Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer - I apply this under my eyes to cover up my disgusting dark circles, and on the odd spot too if I feel it really needs it. Really like this concealer as it gives really good coverage. £4.19
• Rimmel Stay Matte powder - I have a more combination to oily skin, so it is important for me to wear a mattifying powder to keep me as shine free as possible. Not that keen on this one, think it is overpriced and that you get the same results from the Natural Collection powder. Plus that one is cheaper! £3.99
• Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzing Powder in Light Matte - this bronzer is a really good colour for me. I just lightly dust it on using the '3' and 'e' method. It just helps to give more shape to my face. £5.59
  
  This is the brush I like to use with the bronzer. It's just nice and big and fluffy, and never applies too much product.
• Collection 2000 Blush in Trouble - This blush is just really nice and shimmery and gives me enough colour to make me look human! I think this step really makes me start to look awake, and dare I say it, glowy! £2.99
• MAC Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown - I use this on my eyebrows and it's brilliant. It's the perfect colour to define them, but doesn't make them look too dark. This is also very long lasting, and lasts all day for me on my brows. £12.00

 These are the products I use on my eyes.

As you can see, I don't wear eyeshadow. I do like to on the odd occasion, and if I am going out for the evening. But mostly it's just mascara and eyeliner for me.

• Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara - This is the one with the fibers in it. I really like the volume and length it gives to my lashes. However, where my lashes hit my brow bone throughout the day, I do tend to get some transfer onto my skin. The panda look is never good for anyone! £7.99

  

  (Here is the wand)

• Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil (what a mouthful!) - I have this in the shade 'Stormy Grey' and it just looks so much better on me than a black eye liner does. It is a lot softer, but just gives my eyes that extra bit of definition that they need. Here is a swatchy swatch for you! £2.99

Next is my lips. Most days I am pretty uneventful when it comes to lips. But I do enjoy wearing statement lips every now and then. I like to rock the red lip! But fuchsia is a firm favourite too.

• Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm - I put this on after I moisturise my face, so that by the time I have finished putting my make up on it has all sunk in nicely and my lips are nice and soft. This is my favourite lip balm, nothing else seems to come close enough! £1.65
• Barry M Limited Edition Lip Gloss - I picked this up in the clearance section, and have worn it nearly every day since. It's just a nice gloss that adds a little sparkle and shine to my lips without being over the top. Plus it was a bargain! 50p

So that is all the makeup I use on my face most days. Here is a picture of me. I don't think I am wearing the eye liner, and the lip gloss had worn off by this point. But apart from that I have all the other products on my face!

Excuse the messy, and slightly ginger looking hair!

So you're probably wondering how much my face costs now. Drum roll please........

£41.89

To tell you the truth, I thought it would be more than that. Not too bad after all! I think this is due to not wearing eyeshadow on a daily basis, or foundation.

Why don't you try this out and see what your face costs?

Hope you enjoyed,

xx Sophie xx