What a Year: 2012

So 2012 is officially over and we are sitting 2013 with all of its wonderful possibilities.  I don't know much about what the year will bring but I am willing to bet there will be some ups, downs and things that take me totally by surprise 

2012 was the year that I:

• Celebrated the New Year in Cambodia
• Made some amazing friends
• Turned 22
• Started learning to drive
• Had my leg in plaster
• Got addicted to youtube and beauty blogs
• Became more interested in beauty 
• Graduated from University
• Reconnected with people from my childhood
• Loved that England had the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics
• Started a postgraduate degree

and last but by no means least I also: 

• Started this here blog

I am excited to see what 2013 will bring.  I am hoping that love, health and happiness comes to us all.

What did you achieve in 2012?

Apologies

I have to apologize for the radio silence on this blog for the fast few weeks.  Life got very busy and I felt as if I was being stretched in too many different directions.  I love writing this blog but it found itself near the bottom of my very long list of priorities.  I have organized myself a little better now and a few of the things that were giving me a lot of stress have been dealt with.  I am hoping that 2013 will see me being a little bit more on the ball when it comes to writing post and balancing my work/ play balance.

In the next few days I have quite a few posts for you.  There is going to be:

• December Beauty Chart
• New Years Beauty Resolutions
• What a Year: 2012 
• 2012 Favourites

plus a few beauty reviews.

I hope you are all having a wonderful New Years Eve and I will see you all in 2013.

Project Pan #5 - The Body Shop's Love Etc Perfume

So here we have another item that will be making its way onto my Project Pan list.  It is the Love Etc eau de parfum from The Body Shop.  This is available in various sizes but this was a 30ml which can be found here for £14.00.  

This reasonably price perfume is one of my all time favourites and I have got through a few bottles of it since first discovering how lovely it is.  I am absolutely rubbish at describing fragrances other than 'really nice' but fragrantica describes it as being made up of the following notes.

Top Notes: neroli, pear and bergamot

Heart Notes: jasmine, helitrope and lily of the valley

Base Notes: vanilla, sandalwood and creamy musk

The majority of perfumes in my collection feature vanilla and/or sandalwood as base notes so it was practically predestined that I would love this scent.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, however I have a bit of a stash of this scent in various sized bottles so I will work through those before I pick up another one.  

Have you ever tried this perfume?

I Heart Fall TAG

This Tuesday Tag is a bit of a miss match of a few 'I Heart Fall' tags I have seen floating around the blogosphere.

Favourite Fall candle: Sweetpea Candle from Wax Lyrical

Favourite Fall lip product: Revlon Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Crush

Favourite Fall nail polish: I have been loving Warm and Fozzie by OPI

Favourite Fall perfume: Vanilla Perfume from The Body Shop

Favourite Fall memory: Stationary shopping in the late great Woolworths in time for school starting.  I used to put so much thought into what colour scheme I would have for that years rulers, pencils etc

Favourite Halloween costume: I once dressed up as one of those old fashioned china dolls.  Think lots of lashes, pale skin and very rosy cheeks.  I loved it because although one the surface it was quite girly it was also really creepy.  Though the lashes did start driving me crazy after a couple of hours.

Favourite Fall fashion accessory: Scarves, Scarves, Scarves.  I love scarves and have them in countless colours.  I love how they can add a pop of colour to an outfit and they always make me feel chic and pulled together.

Favourite thing about Fall: The leaves changing colour and the fact that hearing leaves crunch under foot never loses its charm regardless of how old you get.

Favourite Fall drink: Not strictly a drink but I really love having cup-a-soups now that it is starting to get colder.  I don't like hot drinks so this is the only way I can get that warm tummy feeling.

Favourite Fall tradition: I'm not sure I have any true fall traditions.  we do start living under blankets on the sofa as soon as the days get shorter if that counts.

Beauty Chart - October 2012

My October Favourites are:

At number 10 it is Dr Bronner Soap.   I have the almond scent and it makes me crave marzipan because it smells so good.  This stuff is lovely for washing brushes, it gets them squeaky clean but doesn't dry them out.  It can be used for loads of different thing as well.  Another plus is the fact that it is crazy concentrated, so a little goes a looooooong way.  I cannot see myself having to buy another bottle for years.

At number 9 it is the new Walkers Deep Ridge Crisps.  I have really been liking these, especially the mature cheddar and onion ones.  They have been my snack of choice this month. Num Num.

At number 8 is the Real Techniques Crease Brush from the Starter Set.  I have been loving getting back into smokey eyes now that it is more autumnal and this has been making them easy-peasy to do.

At number 7 is the Macadamia Leave-in Cream.  This has been stopping my hair from frizzing out in the horrible rainy weather. It has also been helping to repair the dryness that came from repeatedly dying my hair over summer.

At number 6 is China Glaze's Fast Track from the Hunger Games collection.  I was never a big fan of this colour but it is now one of my favourites.  A sneaky stunner (You can see it in all its glory here in a recent NOTD).

At number 5 is Red by Taylor Swift.  This is her newest album and I have been loving it so far.  My favourite songs are We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Begin Again, 22 and I Knew You Were Trouble.

At number 4 is my recently purchased Tweezerman tweezers. These are amazing, I never knew that tweezers could be this good.  Plus as shallow as it is I love all the different patterns you can chose from.

At number 3 is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold.  This is a wonderfully easy product to use to look like you have spent much longer getting ready than you have. It is a beautiful pale pink shimmer (swatches soon I promise)  Makeup for cheats :)

At number 2 is the Perversion Urban Decay 24/7 Liner.  Incredible liner - super black and it stays put all day.  It is on its way to be coming a Holy Grail item.

and at number 1 is... Korres Lip Butter in Plum.  Smells amazing, tastes amazing (not that I eat it), moisturizes my lips like mad and gives them a gorgeous deep wine colour.  I cannot say enough nice things about this product (all the other lip butters are equally amazing).  Korres and I are having a bit of a moment, they are definitely my favourite brand this month.

The Body Shop Cucumber Water - A Review

I bought this a few months ago when The Body Shop was having one of their many deals so I think I only paid a couple of pounds for it.  You can see it here, where it is currently on sale for £2 (plus if you have a body shop card you can get an extra 10% off).  

I'll be honest, this was a total impulse buy because I knew I needed toner.  I have never found a toner that I completely love so I don't tend to stick to one brand.  This lives on my bedside table and I have enjoyed using this before I go to sleep.  It smells divine, like cucumbers shockingly, and generally feel refreshing to use.  It isn't a luxury product and doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is but it does what it says on the tin.  It probably isn't the best toner for me as I sometimes suffer from dry skin and I do feel that this makes my skin feel a little tight straight after I use it.  I try to put moisturizer on before bed anyway so this isn't really a problem for me, if anything it helps me remember to put it on.

So would I buy it again? Yeah I think I would, I'm half way through my current bottle and if a different toner doesn't catch my eye in the meantime I would get another bottle.

Beauty Chart - Introduction

Each month I will be letting you know the things that I have been loving.  This isn't going to be limited to beauty, fashion, websites and random items which have been making me happy will also be featured here.  My love of music (and Top of the Pops - sob) means that I will be displaying these as a Top 10, with Number 1 being my must-have of the month.

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner Set - A Review

I have been meaning to try the much hyped Urban Decay 24/7 liner so ages so when I saw them for a rather bargainous price on Fragrance Direct I snapped them up straight away.  You can still get this set from them here for just £11.99.  I have worn each shade at least once since I got them and they are all incredible in terms of pigmentation and the way they last.  You have about 30 seconds in which to smudge them if you want to but after that they will not budge.  Its incredible.

The above swatches show from L-R: Perversion, Ransom, Woodstock, Radium and Junkie

Perversion is the most amazing black eyeliner ever - FACT (according to me).  It is one of the strongest blacks I have ever seen and most importantly it doesn't smudge.  It lasted over 12 hours on me without fading or giving me panda eyes.  It may have lasted even longer if I hadn't taken it off before bed.

Ransom is a really nice deep purple.  I have worn this quite a lot when I don't have a lot of time to do my makeup but want to look as if I have made an effort.  I like to wear this for doing evening eyes without the classic black.

Woodstock isn't a colour I would have bought individually but I have worn it, I think it might end up being one that only really comes out for fancy dress but that is mainly due to the fact that I don't think pink on the eyes suits me.

Radium is another one which isn't really 'me' but it is a stunning colour.  This will probably get some wear but not a huge amount.  I think I need to be a bit more adventurous and wear brighter colours such as this.  Especially with eyeliner as it is a relatively 'safe' way to wear brights.

Junkie may be my favourite colour.  It is the most divine emerald green with really subtle shimmer.  It is amazing in real life, really complex, pictures do not do it justice.  This is another one which is lovely to wear to define the eyes without wearing the classic blacks/ browns etc.

Overall this set has been a bit of a bargain.  Even if I never use Woodstock and Radium the other liners only work out at about £4 each.  Considering the fact that full sized 24/7 liners (0.04 oz) retail at £13 each to get a set of 5 travel sized liners (0.03 oz each) for £11.99 is wonderful value.

Favourite Fall (Autumn) Nails - Dupes and Alternatives

I love nail varnish, it is somewhat of an addiction for me.  Every season I like to pull out a few which I think I will be wearing more than any others.  It makes it that little bit easier to decide on a nail colour in a rush.  I thought I would show you six colours that I think will be living on my nails for the next few months.  Due to the fact that I have a ridiculous amount of nail polishes I have been able to find cheaper dupes and good alternatives to my more expensive polishes. All are shown with one coat and no top coat. 

Here we have my more expensive picks for Autumn.  L-R: China Glaze - Recycle, OPI - Gouda Gouda Two Shoes , OPI - Big Apple Red , Nails Inc - Piccadilly Circus, Nails Inc - New Burlington Place, China Glaze - Agro.  These all have an rrp of over £10 but can probably be found for less if you shop around.

These are their lower priced counterparts.  L-R: Barry M - Grey, Revlon - Endless Possibilities, Revlon - All Fired Up, Barry M - Raspberry, Models Own - Pinky Brown Beetle Juice, Models Own - Golden Green Beetle Juice.  These are all under £10, with most being around the £5 mark.

Now on to the swatches and comparisons. (Warning: Picture Heavy)

First up we have the greys.  I love grey nail polish, to me it feel like the kind of rebellion that is acceptable for work.  I love pairing grey nail polish will really girly dresses.  For the swatches you can see Barry M (grey) on the left and China Glaze (recycle) on the right.  They are different but unless you a nail polish obsessive like myself you probably don't need both.  They both had lovely formulas so on this instance I would say save your pennies and go for Barry M.

Next up is neutrals.  These are the classic nudes that every girl needs in her collection, after all the brights of summer I always crave these colours as soon as the leaves start to change.  For the swatches you can see Revlon (endless possibilities) on the left and OPI (gouda gouda two shoes) on the right.  These colours are very different in my opinion. The OPI can seem a little 'old ladyish'  but it does have a lovely subtle gold shimmer.  The Revlon is a beautiful girly pink.  So I would just go for whichever appeals more to you.

I love red nails, I know they can polarise opinion but I just think they look really sexy when done right.  for ages I have been on the hunt for the perfect red which is still not over.  I like both of these but they are both slightly too bright for me to promote them to holy grail status.  On the swatch you can see Revlon (all fired up) on the left and OPI (big apple red) on the right.  I cannot see a difference between these colours  I would go as far as to say they are dupes.  However I much prefer the Revlon formula so I would definitely go for that one.

Berry tones are a wonderful way to give your look an Autumnal feel.  The swatch colour is more accurate than the bottle colour here.  The swatch shows Nails Inc (piccadilly circus) on the left and Barry M (raspberry) on the right.  Again these both had flawless formulas and are near enough the same colour.  Another money saver from Barry M.

I love the beautiful shimmering colours.  The swatch is Models Own (pinky brown) on the left and Nails Inc (new burlington place) on the right.  The swatch doesn't do these justice, they are are both beautiful complex colours.  The Models Own is darker and more purple whereas the Nails Inc is more pink and orange.  The Nails Inc applied slightly better and is my favourite of the two, however it depends on what you prefer colour wise.   

 Lastly is the moss greens.  Another classic Autumn colour.  The swatch shows Models Own (golden green) on the left and China Glaze (agro) on the right.  I much preferred the formula of the China Glaze and like that it is darker in colour.  However the Models Own has a lovely golden shine.  They are sufficiently different to own both but if you were to pick one I would recommend the China Glaze.

NOTD - Colville Mews and Luxe and Lush

Today's NOTD is a rather girly one.  I wore this combo to a recent wedding as it was subtle but a little bit special.   I think you could probably get away with wearing this to work if they weren't too fussy about nail colours and finishes.  To do it I used Nails Inc's Colville Mews, China Glaze's Luxe and Lush and No7's Stay Perfect.

Firstly I put on a coat of Nails Inc's Colville Mews, which is a wonderful putty coloured creme.  This is one of my favourite neutrals.  It is has tinges of pink and grey in it but is nice and opaque.  Below you can see what it looks like on.  That is just one coat - in my humble opinion that is pretty amazing for a pale neutral colour.  The formula on this was great, not too runny but not too thick.

Although I liked it as it was I wanted something a little bit less 'daytime' as I was going to both the church wedding and the evening reception.  So I decided to jazz it up a little.

To do that I added China Glaze's Luxe and Lush.  This is probably my ultimate favourite sparkly topcoat.  It is a wonderful flakie which, when it catches the light, changes colour between green, gold, pink and blue.  You can see the way it looks over several different polish shades here.  It really is beautiful and photos cannot do it justice.  This polish is thicker than most due to the nature of the flakes.  One coat is enough to get a thin even coverage of shards, as seen below.  They also lie nice and flat, there is nothing worse than uneven nails.  Due to the fact that it is thicker it takes longer to dry than normal China Glaze polishes, but not a ridiculously long time.

Here you can see the final result.  I finished it off with the No7 stay Perfect top coat and it lasted an impressive 5 days.  Even then I took it off because I was getting a little bored and it was starting to show a bit of wear and tear around the tips.  

Magazine Freebies - October 2012

This month we are very lucky in the 'freebie' department.  I do love a good freebie, and not one of those cheat ones where you have to go to a counter or send away.  A good old fashioned on-the-front-of-the-magazine freebie.  Today I picked up two magazines, In Style and Marie Claire (which I don't usually buy), purely because of the free gifts.  Naughty I know, but it gives me something to read on the train and I get a little beauty treat as well.  Win win.

First up we have In Style and their Benefit goodies.  I was extra chuffed with this one because it was on offer in Tesco, £2.50  instead of £3.80, bargain. I picked up Bene tint as it was the only thing left but I am quite glad as I know I like the product and this is a nice travel size or good for having in my handbag.  The other things available (if you can find them) are Sun Beam and Cha Cha tint.  I am tempted to keep my eyes open, especially for Cha Cha tint as I would really like to try that one.

 

I have never bought In Style before but I have to say I rather enjoyed it.  My favourite bits were the interview with Chloe Moretz (is it strange to be in awe of a 15 year old?), their profile on the new gothic beauty trend and their A-Z of beauty.  The A-Z of beauty included many of my personal favourites and has made me think about doing my own version as a blog series.

The other magazine that I bought was Marie Claire.  The free gift with this one was a 30ml tube of L'occitane's hand cream.  It was available in various scents; shea butter, date bouquet, rose petals and mango flower.  I decided on mango flower as I thought it sounded a bit different (plus I am a sucker for all things mango).  I'll tell you right now it smells amazing.  Personally I think it smells like mango not mango flower but it is lovely either way.  I think this would be a perfect handbag hand cream except for the fact that it is rather luxurious (and expensive, were you to replace it) so I think I would save it for special occasions.  I am tempted to pick up the shea butter version as well but I'm not sure I can justify it.

The magazine itself is fatter than In Style but this could be down to extra adverts.  Either way I liked that it felt more substantial in my hands.  My favourite parts of this magazine were the interviews with women in love with the styles of different eras, an article about the quest for finding the perfect perfume and a page of 'Good Princess' vs 'Evil Queen' makeup looks.

No7's Foundation Match Service Update 2

I have recently being experimenting with new foundations.  I decided to use No7's Foundation Match Service Update which you can see my first impression of here.

I updated you on how I felt about the Beautifully Matte foundation here.  Needless to say I wasn't blown away and felt as if the colour matching claims of No7's Foundation Match Service had been exaggerated.

I wanted to see if this would be the case in both of the samples I received.  I have been trialing the Stay Perfect for a while now and can honestly say I love it.  It is a wonderful match for my skintone.  It stays really well on my skin and I love the slightly dewy healthy finish it has.  It honestly looks like my skin - but better.

I am still working my way through the extremley generous sample size I was given but will probably be purchasing a full size when it runs out (and I am no longer on a project pan).  It is the fist liquid foundation that I feel comfortable wearing.

Due to my success with this foundation I am going to try wearing the Beautifully Matte again to see if my mind will have changed since I first tried it a few weeks ago.

Why do you wear makeup? TAG

This month's Tuesday Tag was created by the wonderful Sprinkleofglitter and Beautycrush, you can watch their responses here.  It is basically about finding out your makeup history and is called 'Why do you wear makeup?'.

When did you begin wearing makeup?

I didn't have much of an interest in makeup as a young child.  My mum almost never wears makeup and I am the eldest girl so I never really saw people putting makeup on.  One thing I really got into was body products and nail varnishes.  The thing that got me into these was The Body Shop.  When I was about nine years old I was taken my great aunt to The Body Shop and was in awe of what was there and in fact spent all of my holiday money in there (which I slightly regretted when we then went into The Disney Store).  The range I was particularly in love with was the Oceanus scent, to this day the smell of it brings back memories of that trip.

I started experimenting with makeup when I was about 13 or 14, sadly this was mainly involving blue eyeshadow.  In my defense I didn't know any better.  At college I would wear mascara and tinted lip balm on a daily basis with eyeliner making a guest appearance every now and again.  When I started working on my gap year I started wearing makeup on work days in order to feel more 'put together'.  Then university rolled around and my attitude to makeup changed again.  I could never be bothered in the morning as a few extra minutes of sleep seemed more important than putting on makeup for lectures.  However I also started going out properly in the evenings.  This is why I started playing around with foundation and other makeup items which I had never really bothered with before.  Now I love having makeup as something fun to wear for a night out and if I have the time or the inclination I sometimes I put it on in the morning before I head off to uni.


How do you feel without makeup?

It depends if I was popping to the supermarket I wouldn't bother to put makeup on.  For university I almost never wear makeup, but if I do it is just a quick bit of mascara and lip stain.  If I am going to the pub or going out for lunch or dinner I will wear the same and maybe a bit of powder foundation.  For a night out I will normally go all out on the makeup front.

During the day if I wasn't wearing makeup I think that I would honestly feel fine as I don't wear it often anyway.  If I wasn't to put makeup on before going out in the evening I would feel fine but maybe not quite as confident as I would like.  I have gone out clubbing before whilst being barefaced and I'll admit it did feel a little strange.  I did feel as if people were looking at me strangely but that was probably paranoia.  After a while I started to forget about it and I had a lovely night anyway.  I think overall it just depends on the situation and who I am with.  I dislike being with a group of beautifully made up girls when I have no makeup on, somehow it makes me feel as if I am lazy for not making that effort.


What do you like about makeup?

I like the way makeup can help me feel like a different person.  I used to have my 'work' makeup and it turned me into 'work Rosie'.  She wasn't afraid of stroppy customers and was always infinitely patient.  It can improve my confidence for when I happen to bump into that guy that I have a crush on or even more importantly the dreaded ex-sighting.

Another thing I adore about makeup is that you can use it to express the way you are feeling.  Smokey eyes are for when I am feeling flirty.  Red lips is sexy and vintage.  Thick eyeliner is for when I am angry about something and want to channel my grungy teenage years.  I used to change my hair colour to suit my mood but makeup has taken over that duty.  It is my way of communicating with the world how I am feeling that day without saying a single thing.


What are three of your Holy Grail items?

First would have to be Benefit's Hello Flawless powder foundation
Second is The Body Shop's Lip Stain
Thirdly is a bit of a cheat because it is my Urban Decay Naked Palette.

Life is beautiful...an update

You may have noticed that I have been a bit absent over the last few days.  Well a combination of a family wedding and a terrible cold have rather wiped me out.  I am on the mend now but have come to a decision regarding my 'life is beautiful' posts.

Doing them every single day has started to feel to restrictive, especially as I am now back at university and often don't get home until quite late.  Instead every weekend I will post about the things that have made my week beautiful.  I am hoping this will reignite my passion for this project.

Life is beautiful because...of hair changes

I am heading of this weekend to my cousin's wedding.  As such I will be expected to behave and look a certain way around my family (read aunts, uncles and most importantly grandparents).  Therefor I said goodbye to my much loved ombred hair and dyed it back to its original brown.  I didn't want to but I did it, I was convinced I would find it boring and that it wouldn't feel like 'me'.

Thankfully I was wrong.  I love it, not more or less than the ombre; exactly the same.  It makes my hair look a lot longer and makes me feel a little bit darker.  I think I will definitely be getting into more autumnal makeup now.  Tomorrow will definitely feature black eyeliner and berry stained lips.  It always amazes me how something as simple as changing the colour of your hiar can make you feel so different.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of puddles

Today it rained, not just a little bit, a lot.  Luckily I had my beautiful Ella Doran umbrella (which you can see in this haul post) which kept me nice and dry.  Except for my feet.  My feet were soaked through because despite my age and the fact that I should know better I cannot stop myself from jumping in puddles.

The horrible squelchy feeling that I had to suffer all the way home wasn't enough to put me off.  I wonder if jumping in puddles will ever lose its wonderful rebelliousness.  Though if i'm honest, I highly doubt it.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of unexpected kindnesses

Today I was picked up from the train station by my rather lovely sister which meant I didn't have to walk home in the rain.  Although she was already doing me a massive favour she had also stopped by the shops to get me something to eat as she, correctly, guessed that I wouldn't have had time to eat at university.  What an angel.

These unexpected moments of kindness really do remind me of the fact that the world is full of wonderful people.  I think I need to take a leaf out of her book and try to catch someone by surprise with my own little acts of kindness.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of random knowledge

I may have mentioned before that me and my friends are regulars at out local pub's Monday night quiz.  I have now been going almost every week for three months.  Our team have never won in this time (although we came second by half a point once - very frustrating).  We didn't win tonight either, however each member of our team managed to answer their own 'oooh I know this question'.  We all have them but I rarely remember the correct answer in time.  Tonight the question which would have haunted me was: 'Who was the merchant in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice?'*.  I know it seems silly but all of us were really pleased with ourselves despite only coming fourth.  Sometimes it is the random information you collect over a lifetime that gives you the most joy.


*It was Antonio if you were wondering

What has been making you happy today?'

Life is beautiful because...of unexpected fun

Last night a friend invited me and the rest of our group to a charity barn dance that her family were partially involved in organizing.  She begged us to come so that she could be saved from a night of having her parents' friends asking her questions about her love life.  As tempted as we were to make her suffer through that we all agreed to go.

So we donned our best cowgirl gear and prepared for a not so wild Saturday night out.  My friend  apologized profusely the entire journey there for the boring night that she had inflicted upon us.   However when we got there we were all pleasantly surprised by what a nice time we had.  There was dancing, a raffle, burgers and cow print balloons.

On the way how we all marveled at how much fun we had had.  I'm sure it is all a matter of expectations but I sometimes find that the best nights out aren't the ones you expect.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of rekindled friendships

Today I met up with someone who I have barely spoken to in a few months.  At one time we were best friends but time and certain disagreements meant that we drifted apart.  Before we both finished university we had been making the effort to get back in touch yet when we were both in the same area we didn't speak or see each other.

Then on Monday she text me out of the blue asking if I wanted to catch up.  It turns out she thought I was avoiding her and I had thought she was avoiding me.  Once that little misunderstanding had been cleared up everything got a bit easier.  We ended up chatting about everything and nothing for over five hours and it reminded me of how we were when we were teenagers.  I am so glad that she text me that day and that I have the opportunity to have her in my life again.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of comfy sofas

Today me and a friend went to Costa for a drink and a catch up.  Now I am often mocked for the fact that I don't drink caffeine* so whenever I am catching with a friend Costa is my coffee shop of choice due to their amazing iced drinks.  I have been known to order these on snow days (much to the amusement of the boy behind the counter).  Today I went for the vanilla cooler which is basically an iced version or a milkshake.  Delicious though I did get the dreaded brain freeze a few times.  Inside the shop they have the kind of leather sofas that almost swallow you up.  We sat all snuggled into the sofa drinking our drinks and having a good natter until we realized that everyone else had left and that the staff were probably hoping to close up soon.  I often find that a comfy sofa helps me to relax, that combined with a friendly face helped me let go of some of the stress I have been feeling and make a few big decisions that needed deciding.

*This isn't a health thing.  I just don't like tea or coffee and therefore caffeine in energy drinks or fizzy drinks effects me in a big way.  It is for the sanity of everyone around me that I try to steer clear.

Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist - Poundland Review

I am a bit of a poundland fiend.  It combines some of my favourite things; bargains and experimenting. Sometimes the things I buy turn out to be worth the pound I paid (or in some cases not even that)  but every now and again I find something which is, in my opinion, worth so much more.  One such item is the Beauty Formulas body and face cooling mist.  It is essentially water in a can.  It doesn't sound very exciting but it is something which I repurchase over and over again.

Here you can see two different types of packaging but they are exactly the same; same ingredients, same amount, just totally the same.  The one on the left is, I believe the newer packaging, the one on the right I have had for a ages now and it is almost all gone.  During summer I was going through about one of these a month but that has gone down since the weather became a bit cooler.  I used to keep one in my bag when I went to the beach so that I could cool down as well as one by my bed.  Now however I only have one on my beside table and the one on the left a backup.  I use it when I am feeling hot, when I want a pick me up first thing in the morning, when my hair has started to frizz and on top of my makeup when it is looking a little cakey.  It is, in my humble opinion, better than a pump spray because you get such a fine mist.  

I think I can honestly say that I will always have at least one of these on the go for the foreseeable future.  A definite thumbs up from me.

Have you tried this product?

Life is beautiful because...of laughter

Today I was told by one of my lecturers that when we laugh we release serotonin.  This serotonin then helps us learn better.  The moral of their story was therefore that we should laugh at the beginning of lectures.  She followed this up by showing us a selection of youtube videos which and no link to what we were studying but did make us laugh.  i'm not sure if it made me learn better but it certainly made the lecture more enjoyable and I am looking forward to seeing what the next installment will be.

I was also raising mys serotonin levels when I saw friends this evening.  I often find that the best night are the ones where there is a laid back atmosphere, a bottle of wine and some of my very best friends.  At times I thought I would stop breathing I was laughing so much and to think it all started with a little text.  'Who fancies grabbing a drink tonight?'

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of sneaky dancing

Now that I am back at university I have a horrifyingly long commute of 3 hours each way.  Of this 1 hour is spent walking, 10 minutes is spent on a train, 40 minutes are spent waiting for trains/buses and 1 hour and 10 minutes are spent on a bus.

Overall its a little be horrendous and involves me getting up at 5.50 just to make it to my 9am lectures.  however there are some positives.

1. It is a huge motivation to start learning to drive again (I had a little ankle mishap and even though it is now, 4 months later, healed I am a little bit anxious)
2. It is one of those love to hate things, like a Disney villain.
3. It gives me time to read my notes or do seminar prep
4. I get to listen to music and have secret bus discos

Number for is obviously the best part of my daily 6 hours of travel.  Today on the way home I was sat at the back of the bus (like a rebel) and having a wonderful little dance to some of my favourite songs. All the other passengers were looking forward and as such had no idea of the fun I was having, which meant it only delighted me more.  It made me feel as though I was getting away with something that I shouldn't be doing.   Another bonus was that it meant I could, quite literally, shake off the energy that I had accumulated through a day of sitting quietly listening to lectures.

Do you have anything you like to get away with?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of first days

There is something simultaneously both exciting and terrifying about first days.  Today was my first day at my new university and I spent most of the 2 hour bus journey there worrying about things.  Did I have everything I needed?  Did I look ok?  Did I remember to lock the front door?  Will the other students be friendly?

As horrible as it is to spend time worrying it just made me that much happier when I realized that everything was ok and that I had the answers to those questions that were bothering me.

Did I have everything I needed?
Yes and more.  (sunglasses and umbrella anyone?)

 Did I look ok?
I looked fine, not amazing, but that isn't really what university is about anyway.

Did I remember to lock the front door?
Yes, thankfully.  I never usually worry about this but yet today of all days it popped into my head - typical.

 Will the other students be friendly?
Of course they were.  I went and had lunch with four other students and they were all really lovely.  One girl in particular I really clicked with and we spent a lot of time giggling in between lectures.

In a nut shell that is why I love first days so much.  That moment when the worry gives way and you realize you are at the beginning of a really exciting time in your life.  There isn't much else that gives you that feeling.

Life is beautiful because...of coziness

I woke up this morning feeling rather under the weather so in a very Jane Austen way 'took to the bed'.  So far the list of things that have been keeping me cozy today includes:

• A Slanket 
• My duvet
• My quilt
• My Ermintrude hot water bottle
• An oversized jumper
• A university hoodie

I am going to a friends house this evening for her birthday and we have been told to bring warm clothes.  If i'm honest I am tempted to take:

• A Slanket 
• My duvet
• My quilt
• My Ermintrude hot water bottle
• An oversized jumper
• A university hoodie

I just love that feeling of being cocooned and cozy in bed.  It almost makes being ill worth it.  Almost, but not quite.

Latest in Beauty - Box 1 Review

I told you all on in this post on Wednesday that I had been naughty and ordered some samples from Latest in Beauty.  Well this morning I heard a slight thud as it was dropped through the letterbox and I practically ran to open it.  I really do love getting things in the post, especially when it is lovely beauty things.

So what did I get inside it?

I got two 1ml samples of Creme Divine a product from L'Occitane.  This seems to have really good review and has a couple of awards under its belt as well.  I'm really glad I chose this as one of my samples.  The full sized 50ml pot retails at a whopping £67 making these two sachets worth £1.34 each.

Next up is a product from a company called Elemental Herbology.  I received three 2ml samples of one of their products, Cell Food.  I chose this sample because I was interested to try a facial serum plus it is always nice to try out new brands.  The full sized bottle is sold for , again quite a lot, £42 for 30ml.  making the sachets I have worth £2.80 each.

The final thing was a surprise to me as I opted to receive a 'mystery sample'.  I am so glad I did as it is something I have been wanting to try for a while now - the Advanced Night Repair from Estee Lauder. I received a very generous five 1.5ml samples.  The 30ml bottle of this sells for £44.00 making my sachets worth £2.20 each.  

I am so glad that I ordered this box, these are all things I am excited to try and none of them are things I would want to purchase at full price without trying them first.  It is nice to have a little bit of budget luxury in my life.  I paid £1.50 for the box and the contents are worth £22.08.  I will definitely be getting another one of these when new samples come out.

I will post reviews of these products when I have tried them out.

Sun In - A review

A couple of months ago I decided to ombre my hair at home.  It turned out pretty well, not perfect but I was more than happy with the results considering I had paid a fraction of the price of going to the hairdressers.  I did have a few struggles with getting it back into good condition though.  

A couple of weeks ago I though it might be nice to make my hair a little bit lighter all over (the one weekend of sun we had tricked me into wanting summer hair).  So off I popped to Superdrug.  I had been tempted by the John Frieda Go Blonder spray but then I decided that it must be similar to the rather unglamourous Sun In.  As Sun In was also on offer I was helpless to resist, I was really excited to try it, I even mentioned it in this post.

Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I'm doing it wrong or maybe it just doesn't work because for me this did nothing. Nada. Nilch.  I even used it 3 times to try and get even the slightest effect.  So now all I am left with is half a bottle of Sun In (which doesn't even look pretty on my shelf), hair exactly the same colour and a purse that is 4 pounds lighter.

So would I buy this again?  That would be a resounding no.  I know it wasn't particularly expensive and I wasn't expecting it to be amazing but I did expect it to do something.  

What do you think of Sun In?

Life is beautiful because...of old friends

Today I had a lovely surprise phone call from an old friend who I haven't spoken to in quite a while.  Its terrible but sometimes life just gets in the way and things you mean to do get pushed to the back of a seemingly endless to do list.

We spoke for almost an hour and it was genuinely wonderful although it did remind me how much I miss her.  To be friends with someone for over 12 years is somewhat impressive but the fact that we still get along as well as we did when we met is something I am truly proud of.

Life is beautiful because...of the X Factor

I am having a lovely relaxing weekend.  I decided to take it easy and prepare myself for my first day oat a new university on Monday.  I have a million and one things to do and only a finite amount of time in which to get it done.

Here is a sample of my 'to do list' -

• deep conditioning hair treatment
• paint nails (and toes)
• face mask
• exfoliate and tan my, still horrifically pale, legs
• make and use a sugar lip scrub
• buy food for my pack lunches
• get all the stationary I will need.
• pack my bag
• print out bus timetables
• do laundry 
• pick a first day outfit
• have a nervous freak out

Even though I have a lot to do I am trying to enjoy my last weekend before all the hard work starts so I am watching the X factor in my pajamas and I am contemplating going to rummage in the freezer for some ice-cream.  

I have been really enjoying the X-Factor this year, although I much prefer the guest judges to Nicole Scherzinger.  My favourite moment so far was watching Gary Barlow literally running away from a particularly bad act.  You can see it here, I am sure that tonight's episode won't be quite as eventful but I am still hoping for some good entertainment.

Life is beautiful because...you can make it that way

Part of doing this 'Life is beautiful' series is to remind  myself of the everyday things which make he happy that often go unnoticed or are forgotten about.  I worry that I sometimes take my happiness for granted.  I am a very lucky person.  I have wonderful friends, a truly supportive family and am about to train for a career that I love.

I have had tough times in my life and I have days where I don't feel particularly happy but thankfully they are in the minority.  I am known amongst my friends as being upbeat and optimistic and I feel it partly due to my decision to be so.

Obviously not everything is within my control but the things that I can control I do so that they make me happy.  I don't spend time with people I don't get on with, I speak to my family often, I have hobbies (such as this blog) which I enjoy and I try to give myself 'me' time where I can.

Today on youtube I noticed that the beautiful Tanya Burr of pixi2woo (one of my favourite youtubers)  uploaded a video with her own 10 Ways To Feel Happier.  I think it is important that when discussing makeup and beauty related products we remember that true beauty comes from within and that can come from being a happy person.

What things do you do to stay positive?

Life is beautiful because...of helping hands

I am starting a new university course in less than 4 day.  Eek!  As preparation I have been talking to people that have also taken the course in the past.  One of whom I didn't really know.  However she was so wonderful and helpful.  She sat with me for ages giving me loads of lovely hints and tips that I will definitely be using.

She really didn't need to be as friendly and helpful as she was but I cannot fully express how grateful I am that she took time out of her day to give me advice.  Today has been one of those days that reminds me how great people can be.

What has been making you happy today?

Confessions

I have a confession to make.  I have broken my spending ban.  I have been really good recently and I think it all just got a bit much.  I have been desperate to get some little beauty goodies.  Its terrible that I was missing that excitement of finding something good and then waiting for a parcel to come through the post and make my day.

The only defense I have is that my fall off of the wagon was relatively minor.  I really want to subscribe to Joliebox but am holding myself back from making that commitment until I have finished my project pan.

So instead I went onto Latest in Beauty and order 3 samples for £1.50.  I think this is really reasonable and for a relatively small cost has fulfilled my need for a little beauty treat. The best bit is that I can choose what I am getting so that they will be things I will use.  The things I chose to order are L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream, Elemental Herbology Cell Food and a mystery sample.  I have never tried any of these before but I am excited to.  They all come in various different sample sizes but I will keep you updated on how I get on with them.

If you want to try it as well you can order your own little beauty box click here.

Update: It has arrived - See what it looks like here

Life is beautiful because...of crazy dancing

Have you ever heard the old saying ''Dance like no one is watching''. Well dancing when no one is around is one of my favourite things to do.  I love dancing in general and am always dragging my friends onto the dance floor.  Yet there is no greater pleasure than being in my room, dancing around whilst I am getting ready in the morning.

Today' dance track of choice was the wonderfully weird 'Bom Bom' by Sam and the Womp.  It is better than any coffee or tea for waking me and it gave me a really postive outlook on the day.

What is your favourite song to dance to?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of books

I have spent a large chunk of today in a library.  I love libraries, one of my fabourite places on earth is the library within The British Museum.  It is beyond stuning.  It reminds me of the library in Beauty and the Beast.  I love everything about books.  The feel of the pages (I am not a fan of e-books), the sound they make when I turn them, the smell of old books and most importantly the hours of entertainment that they give me.

My love of books started from a very young age.  I would often hide myself away and escape to another world through the pages of a book.  A few of my favourite books from childhood are:

Elmer
The Faraway Tree trilogy
Ella Enchanted
Each Peach Pear Plum
Guess how much I love you
Journey to the River Sea

I studied English Literature at university and in some ways it curbed my love of books by making it a chore rather than a joy.  However since graduating I have been reading a huge amount and it gives me such a lot of happiness and entertainment.

What do you love about books?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of the British weather

One of my close friends is originally from the Netherlands.  She told me once that when she first came to England she couldn't understand why we talk about the weather so much.  However after a few months she realized the reason that we talk about it so much is because it so changeable.  We never know where we are with it.  So we celebrate, we moan, we try and guess how long it will stay the same for and ultimately we (or at least I) love its little idiosyncratic ways.

Today has gone from miserable to sunny to terrible and back again.  I have spent time longing to be outside and I have been glad to be safe and sound indoors.  Do I say I want it to make up its mind?  Yes.  But do I actually want it to?  Well no, like a misbehaving child it is infuriating but at the end of the day it is our misbehaving child and we cannot help but love it.

What has been making you happy today?

No7's Foundation Match Service Update

I recently used Boots' new No7 foundation match.  You can see my first thoughts on it here.  I used the Beautifully Matte foundation yesterday and I'm not entirely sold on it if I'm honest.  The foundation itself seemed fine.  It applied nicely, had good coverage and held up throughout the day.

My issue with it was the fact that I didn't feel that it matched my skin.  I felt rather ridiculous wearing it, though in the interest of writing a review I did leave the house and go about my day.  It was a bit too dark for my liking and it made it extremley obvious that I was wearing foundation.  Which was not the look I was going for.

I am disappointed that the entire selling point of finding my 'perfect match' is the one part of the foundation that I was let down by.  I will wear it again to see if I feel differently about it second time around and will also try out the other foundation sample that I was given to see if that suits me better.

So for now my recommendation is use the service and get samples before you buy full sizes of any of the foundations.

I will keep you posted.

Has anyone else had any experiences with this service?

See my second update here

Life is beautiful because...I've been making daisy chains

I have had been enjoying the late summer we seem to be having at the moment.  Today I sat in the garden listening to music and reading magazines.  Yet the thing that I enjoyed the most was making daisy chains.

I have been fairly remiss at cutting the grass recently so there were plenty of daisies to choose from.  Making daisy chains reminds me of picnics with my family, of studying for GCSE's and of wasting away free periods whilst at college.  There is something comforting about concentrating on making a daisy chain that makes me truly happy.  It lets me explore my hippy side and makes me think of fairies and secret gardens.  Taking something so natural and making it into something dainty but ultimately doomed seems somehow magical to me.  Or maybe I have just spent too long in the sun.

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of fantasy shopping

I am now quite a way into my spending ban and although I have slipped up a couple of time I am feeling fairly proud of myself.  However lately I have been feeling very tempted to just pick up 'a couple of bits'', but it would never be a 'couple of bits'.  It would escalate and then I would be suffering from buyers remorse whilst sat on a bed covered in things that I have no room for.

As such I have been trying to control my urges (ooh-er) by fantasy shopping.  As a child I would spend hours whenever the newest Argos catalogue came out flicking through it and deciding what I wanted to spend my pocket money on.  I would start by writing an embarrassingly comprehensive list (item, page number, price etc) and would then go through and cut the list down to what I really wanted.  This was a hobby of mine throughout childhood.  As I got older I would decide on household things I wanted for when I became an adult (still from the Argos catalogue).

I have now moved on from handwritten shopping lists and I am no longer limited to Argos.  The internet has opened up a whole world of fantasy shopping to me.  Today I have been dress shopping on Dorothy Perkins, jeans shopping on ASOS and makeup shopping on FeelUnique.  All without spending a penny.  Then again I haven't actually bought anything but i still got a strange enjoyment from browsing.  I guess it is the online version of window shopping.  You know you can't afford to buy the things but sometimes it is just nice to pretend that you can.

Where do you do your fantasy shopping?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because of...that Friday feeling

I love that feeling when you realize that there are only a few hours of work separating you from the weekend.  Even though I am really enjoying what I am doing at the moment I still get that giddiness at the thought of days to myself.  I find it also brings the whole workforce together, everyone becomes that little bit more cheerful and energetic.  It is something which everyone is experiencing together, the joy of the impending weekend and the relief that another work week has passed without anything going terribly wrong.

Today as I was counting down the hours I could think of nothing more decadent than spending tomorrow having a lie in, experimenting with my new sun-in (could go badly wrong) and lying in the garden enjoying the sun that the weather men have promised us.  Indeed that is what I plan to do, I don't want to do anything 'exciting', I just want to enjoy relaxing and having a stress free day.

What do you do to relax?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because of... spaghetti

I have a confession.  I love pasta.  Lasagna, tortellini, spirals, bows, penne.  Once I even made my own ravioli from scratch (including the pasta - no mean feat without a pasta maker).  It tasted delicious but my sister did complain that there wasn't more of it, causing me to grump that my work was unappreciated.  Spinach and ricotta cannelloni is on of my favourite dishes of all time and my friends always know that if it is on the menu I won't go for anything else.

However there is a simple pleasure that can be found in a bowl of spaghetti bolognese.  I don't know what it is about it.  It might be the unladylike slurping of strands of spaghetti.  it may be that it reminds me of lady and the tramp, which is sure to make me smile.  I mean come on, they're dogs.  Sharing pasta.  Plus he lets her have the last meatball...even better than the last rolo me thinks.  It could be the fun I have twirling spaghetti on my fork.  It might even be the fact that it can be cooked so fast and yet tastes so good.  To be honest I don't know what it is but I know it fills my belly and makes me happy so its a winner in my eyes.

Does spaghetti have this effect on anyone else?

What has been making you happy today?

Life is beautiful because...of chatty strangers

Since I was a teenager I have noticed that I seem to attract strangers at bus stops.  I have had a guy tell me about the the fact that the day before the police had raided his house for drugs.  I was once told off by an old man that I hadn't learnt to drive yet (obvious from my reliance on the buses).  Another time an old lady bragged to me about her son who had written his masters in a foreign language.

Today I had another bus stop encounter.  An elderly lady waiting for the same bus as me was telling me all about the 'do' that her daughter was throwing for her 63rd birthday.  I quite like talking to people at bus stops, on trains and in queues it helps pass the time and I you sometimes meet really interesting people that you wouldn't meet under normal circumstances.  I do wonder though  if I am sending out some sort of signal that makes people talk to me.  Maybe I just have 'one of those faces'.  

Do you find yourself befriending strangers in odd places?

What has been making you happy today?

No7's Foundation Match Service

Today I took a little jaunt into town and thought I would try out the snazzy new foundation matching service from No7 in Boots.  You can see some information about it here and see the stunning Lisa Eldridge talking about it here.

If I'm honest I wasn't sure what to expect but I do find it ridiculously hard to pick a foundation in shops where the florescent light are making everything look strange.  Then you want to try it on your face to see if it actually matches but there are hardly any mirrors and there is the fear that you will be left wearing too dark foundation on one half of your face for the rest of the shopping trip.  All in all its my idea of a nightmare.  That's why I love Benefit so much, they do all the hard work for you.  It is quite common amongst high end brands that you can be given a consultation and they will pick a shade that will match you.  Yet this is the first time I have seen it on the high street.

So in I popped to Boots, when I got in  I was disappointed that there wasn't much advertising for the service itself.  Had I not have known already I wouldn't have realized it was available.  However when I asked the women at the counter they were friendly and helpful.  They had a few technical difficulties with the device but this was solved with the classic 'turn it off and then on again'.  I heard two clicks when it was held to one side of my face (on the jaw) and then two more on the other side.  The magical device then determined that I am the shade 'Soft Rose'.  Shallow I know but I really like the name of this shade, usually I am a shade named something rather unglamorous like 'Beige'.

I was then given the choice of taking home some samples to try.  I chose to have a sample of Stay Perfect and also Beautifully Matte.  I really like this aspect of it as now I can try them out whilst during normal everyday things.  I will try one tomorrow and see how its holds up through the day.  I have never really used No7 foundations before so I am hoping that I like them and that they make fill the liquid foundation void in my makeup bag.

Have any of you tried this service?


See my first update here

See my second update here

Life is beautiful because...of house parties

A friend of mine is celebrating his 23rd birthday today and as such he is having a house party.  I have not been to a 'true' house party outside of university for years.  When I think of house parties I think of being 15/16 and doing things which seemed outrageous and 'cool' but as an adult I can see that actually everything we did was normal teenage stuff.

We listened to music a bit louder than we should (but not too loud as to make the parents who were hiding upstairs to come down).  We dancing like no one was watching, I would love to bring back that lack of self-awareness is so gorgeously teenage.  We had first kisses, sometimes memorable for the wrong reasons.  People starting going out and people had horrendously public breakups.  We tried alcohol though there was never enough for people to be any more than tipsy.  Yet the thing I remember most was the fun I had with my friends, laughing and being generally silly.

I hope tonight is like that.

What is making you happy today?

This or That? TAG

This month's Tuesday Tag is 'This or That'.  I will be letting you know what I would choose if I could only have one of the two options given to me.  All of these questions are beauty orientated and split into categories; make up, nails, body and hair.

So here we go...

Make up

Blush or Bronzer: Blush, I don't often wear either but if I am going all out for a night out I almost always choose blusher over bronzer.

Lipgloss or Lipstick:  Lipstick - always.  I do own lipglosses but I almost never wear them.  On a daily basis I wear lip tint or a tinted lip balm or lip butter.

Eyeliner or Mascara:  Mascara.  I often leave the house with no makeup but if I do have a couple of spare seconds I use them to quickly pop on some mascara.  I love eyeliner but I could live without it.

Foundation or Concealer: Foundation but to be honest I could live without both of these.  i rarely wear foundation, preferring  tinted moisturizer   

Neutral or Coloured Eyeshadow: Neutral, though I do like an excuse to wear bright colours such as costume parties.

Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow: Pressed, I love the colours available from loose powders but cannot stand the mess they make.  I once had one of my younger cousins (who was 7 at the time)  spill an entire pot of loose eyeshadow on my bed.  Even a few washes later I could still see the sparkles.

Brushes or Sponges: Brushes.  i use my brushes almost everyday whereas I have never really got into using sponges.  I do own the beauty blender and want to start using it more as everyone seems to rave about it.


Nails

OPI or China Glaze:  China Glaze, I own far too many China Glaze polishes.  I just cannot resist the colours are incredible and the formula is my favourite.  I like OPI and do a quite a few of their polishes but I never like the formulation as much.

Long or Short: I have long nails.  I have stupidly small child-like hands and I feel as if when my nails are longer I look more like a 'grown up.  i don't like to have them too long though.'

Acrylic or Natural: Natural.  I try to look after my nails to that they will grow to the length that I like.  Other than a few bad experiences with stick on nails as a teenager I have never had nails other than my own.  It partly because I am a bit of a cheap skate and don't want to pay someone else to do my anils when I can do it at home and save the money to buy more polishes.

Brights or Darks: It depends on the season but mainly I wear greyed out pastels.  Not sure which category that falls into though.


Body

Perfume or Body Spray: Perfume because of the staying power but I do love a body spray for everyday when you are in a mad dash to leave the house.

Lotion or Body Butter: Body butter, though I am far too lazy and often neglect to use either. 

Body Wash or Soap: Body wash because i like how much more bubbly it is and I feel as if the scents are stronger.


Hair

Curly or Straight:  Curly.  I have naturally wavy hair so I usually leave it how it dries but for special, occasions I will sometimes opt for a change and straighten it.

Bun or Ponytail: Ponytail.  I usually wear my hair in a ponytail but if it needs a wash I will hide it with a bun.

Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips: Bobby pins. I use these all the time and am always having to buy new ones as they seem to be rather mutinous and are forever falling out of my hair.

Hairspray or Gel: Hairspray, though I rarely use this as I hate the smell so much.

Long or Short:  Short, I like having my hair shorter as then it is easier to manage.  At the moment it is a bit past  my shoulders and needs a bit of a trim.  I always had very long hair as a child and I do miss it sometimes but it was just so much extra work.

Light or Dark: Dark.  I have naturally very dark brown hair but it is currently ombred so I guess it is both light and dark.  I do want to go fully blonde at some point but haven't worked up the courage (or the funds) quite yet.

Full Fringe or Side Fringe:  Side fringe.  I haven't had a full fringe since I was about 9 and dread to think what I would look like with one. I do think I might try it again at some point though.

Up or Down:  Up.  My hair is fairly hard to manage so unless it has miraculously dried in a way I like I will bung it up and keep my fingers crossed for the next time.


What would your answers be?


Are there any TAGs you would recommend?