My Computer Broke!

Hiya!

So as some of you may have noticed I haven't blogged in a little while. That is because disaster struck in my life! Yes, that's right, my computer broke! It was very annoying as I couldn't do any of my coursework and not only that but I couldn't blog!
But luckily it has been replaced with a lovely new computer, so I can keep blogging. Hurray!

This was just a memo to let you all know, but I have posts coming soon! I have two hauls to write about, and I might do some reviews on products, but also books, film, and television.

Will post very soon
Mary









Live Healthy Feel Happy

Hiya!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have felt a little down recently, but I have decided to change that. We only have one life, so I guess it is important that I make the most of it. Whatever it is I'm not happy with, I am going to try and change it. So this is my campaign for me, to try live healthier and hopefully that will make me feel happier! Hence the post title.

Step one of this new motto, was to tackle my skin. Recently it hasn't been looking so good, so I have started getting into a new skincare routine every morning. I hate having spots, but luckily this is helping...

Simple make really amazing products. They are a popular brand, and it is no wonder why. The products are easy on the skin, making it softer as well. So first off, I wipe my face with a 'Simple Spotless Skin Quick fix Cleansing Wipe.' I do this because it gets rid of excess make up and generally makes you feel fresher.

The three products above (from left to right) are 'Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser' from The BodyShop, 'Seaweed Clarifying Toner' from The BodyShop and 'Neutrogena Visibly Clear oil-free Moisturiser'.

After using the wipes, I splash my face with warm water. Then use the cleanser. As the picture of my hand shows, the cleanser comes out as a foam. I apply this to my hands then rub all around my face, until it is mostly rubbed in, then leave for a minute or so. It smells very leafy, which might not appeal to all, but it is actually a really nice product. Then I wash this off with warm water. Next using the toner, I dribble it onto some cotton wool pads, or tissue, and apply to face, by stroking the pad in an upward motion. This is a pretty big bottle, and as you can see even though I have used it a few times, I have loads left! After that I apply some moisturiser to my face. The Neutrogena moisturiser should get rid of spots, however it doesn't completely, but it does still help and is a worthwhile product.

However, the only problem with using moisturiser is that it leaves your skin looking slightly shiny. So to stop that I use 'Dream Matte Powder' by Maybelline. It comes with a fold out mirror and pad. I bought this because I had heard rave reviews over it on the internet, and it was worth the buy! I don't like to wear foundation all the time, so instead I use this to powder my face!

What products do you like? Feel free to leave a comment!

Mary

Ankle Boots Galore

Hiya!

So the weather is miserable and I've also been feeling a tad down for a week now. I feel as if I'm not going through a 'midlife crisis' but a 'teenage crisis'. It's all because I have to choose my A-level options soon, and I feel like the only one who hasn't got a clue what they want to do in their life. But I'm sure the solution will come to me soon!
Since Saturday, to cheer myself up, I have been making a giant wishlist of stuff that I want, and I have to admit the majority of it is clothes. However, I did realise the other day that I have no shoes for winter. All I own are flimsy canvas shoes, pumps and sandals. I started looking online for new shoes, and have come to realise I now have a new obsession with ankle boots. Yes ankle boots. I can't explain it, I just think they go really well with all kinds of outfits and are generally cute.
So here is my wishlist of a few ankle boots that I would love:

From left to right:    River Island -£40 | Topshop -£40 | River Island -£30 |

River Island -£30 | Topshop -£40 | New Look -£40

I realise that the two chelsea boots from River Island are identical but in different colours and patterns, but I have so many outfits they could go with!

With that said I have now decided that the next time I go shopping I'll be picking up some ankle boots for this winter!

Mary

P.S Pinch punch first of the month!

Get Me Some

Hiya!

First off I'd like to say that I have had over 100 views on this blog. I know that isn't much but I've only just started, so it means a lot to me! Thanks everyone!

I have a cracking cold at the moment and so to cheer myself up I made a list of things I want to buy. Shopping is the best remedy after all! I thought I'd show you a mixture of things that are on my list:

Satchel -River Island -£35 | Skater dress -River Island- £32 | Creepers -Topshop -£75 | Galaxy leggings - New Look -£10 | Retro dress -Modcloth -$244.99 | Triangle Ring -Topshop -£6.50 | Knit jumper - Monki  -£35 | Cat slippers -Amazon -£16.99 | Deathly Hallows Necklace | Cross bracelet -Urban  Outfitters -£6 | Hat -Topshop -£25 | Marvel messenger bag -TReds -£24.99 | Skirt -Topshop -£20

 I would love to buy all this stuff and more, sadly there is only so much money a teenager owns. But you
 never know, Christmas is coming after all!

Mary

P.S Kudos to anyone who recognised the obscure Sherlock quote in the title! Yes, I know I'm a geek.

Battle of the Lip Balms

Hiya!

As it is Autumn now and Winter is coming up it is getting pretty chilly. I don't know about anyone else but my lips get so dry and become cracked at this time of year. So I am always on the look out for an amazing lip balm to help with this. I must have a million at home, and so this post is a review on which is the best from the bunch!

Here are the contenders:

I am going to be reviewing (from left to right): Cherry Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm, Vaseline Lip Therapy, Burt's Bees Beeswax Balm, Nivea Soothe and Protect and finally Agatha Ruiz De La Prada Lip balm in Tutti Frutti.

Vaseline Lip Therapy

This had an easy application, as it is a simple wind up tube. Once applied my lips didn't feel too greasy, but it did accentuate the cracks in my lips. Exactly what I wanted to avoid! It didn't last for too long on the lips, however the tube would last me a very long time.

Score: 6/10





Nivea Soothe and Protect

I must point out firstly, the colour of the balm isn't orange, my camera is broken so I had to borrow one and it came out that colour. It is more of a yellow/cream shade.

It was quite similar to the Vaseline, but the look of the packaging is more appealing. It smells quite nice too, but again it doesn't last as long on your lips

Score: 7/10


Agatha Ruiz De La Prada in Tutti Frutti

I want to start by saying this is the best smelling lip balm I have ever owned. As the name 'tutti frutti' suggests, the smell is of a mixture of fruits. It is also really cute looking and you can buy them in different colours, patterns and smells. But the actual lip balm itself is a disappointment, it is greasy, and comes off very easily.

Score: 5/10


But's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

The smell is of honey, but it is very strong and I personally dislike it. Your lips feel soft when you first apply and looked fuller. However something started to happen to my lips! On the label it describes it as being 'cooling and refreshing' but it felt more like an unpleasant burning. I ended up scrubbing it off my mouth!

Score: 2/10




Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm in Cherry

I had heard so many rave reviews about this lip balm and so I had to buy it! It looks cute and smells really nice. But the best part is when you apply it. My lips felt softer and looked plumper. There was a tiny hint of shine, and the application wasn't as easy as it is in a small tin. But the lip balm itself was really great.

This was definitely the winner.
Score: 9/10



So as you can see, out of some of the most popular lip balms around Carmex really lived up to the reviews, and was the winner!
What lip balms do you use? Feel free to leave a comment, I love to read them!

Mary

Inspiration Around Every Corner

Hiya!

I'm always feeling inspired to do different things. This is partly the reason that I set up this blog in the first place! As cliche as it may sound, life is short and so I really want to live it. I hate to have any regrets. It makes me really sad to think that some people in the world are giving up on life, when there are so many inspiring things around every corner.

There is a lot of beauty, so I find music, people, places, pictures, knowledge everything inspiring. I want to do something and make a difference.

Macy Gray -Beauty In The World    

So I am going to share my latest inspiration with you...

On Saturday I went shopping to Bluewater. First I went into this shop (shall remain unnamed!). I love the clothes there and when you first step foot in the shop, all you see is the beautiful clothes and the beautiful shop assistants. Every shop assistant looks like a model that has stepped out the pages of a magazine.

Which is fine and dandy, but what really affected me was when my sister lent over to me and shouted over the bustle of the crowd "I bet I wouldn't be allowed to work here."

She shouldn't be allowed to work in a shop because she doesn't have model looks? It felt really wrong. We moved on and went to Topshop. That was where the theme of this post kicks in. I went to try on some clothes in the changing room and the shop assistant gave me a tag.
This shop assistant is my very inspiration. She was a curvy woman, not what is considered 'model looks' but she had such an amazing and beautiful vibe. She was wearing a velvet dress, boots and a bowler hat.

That is when it struck me, how beautiful it is to express yourself through clothes. And she really had, she didn't look like anyone I had seen that day, she was unique. Just being herself. So that's why I have decided I want to be more brave and express myself through what I wear more, because it can be fun and creative. Best of all it will make me feel good.

Lastly I am going to be daring and order these shoes I haven't been brave enough to buy from Topshop!

Just from this one encounter I feel inspired and reminded of all the beautiful things around. What has made you feel inspired recently? Feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks bowler hat girl

Mary 

Shopping Haul!

Hiya!

So this weekend I went shopping, which was great! I went to Bluewater aka the kingdom of all shops. Seriously if you haven't been go! So basically this is just a haul post of all the stuff that I bought.

I absolutely adore River Island, so of course I headed straight for it. Sadly there wasn't as much stuff as usual that I liked. There seemed to be a lot of tartan check which I am personally not as keen on. But I did find this top I really liked:

                 £15 River Island -Chelsea Girl

I thought it was really quirky and cute with the foxes. The photo to the left makes it look huge but that is because I bought it in a big size because I wanted it quite loose.

It's quite thin material, so will probably wear on a warm Autumn day (that is if we get one!). One thing I would say that isn't as good is the elasticated bottom which rides up every so often. 

Yes that is me in the photo! As you can see it has quite a high neckline, but I really like that about this top.

Then I took a detour to Waterstones. That was probably a big mistake, because I always come out with a new book, even though I have loads of books I need to read first.



  

As you can see I bought 'The Hobbit', 'The Understudy' and 'Starter for Ten'. Looking forward to reading these! I am so excited for The Hobbit movie, which will be coming out this December. Starring Martin Freeman who I love so so much. I also watched the film of Starter for Ten at the weekend, it was fantastic. Also Benedict Cumberbatch is in it, so that's a bonus! Will probably do a review on one or two of these books, if I really enjoy them.

Next I kind of went insane and bought lots of DVDs...

The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne Ultimatum

Briget Jones's Diary

One Day

Titanic

I love my DVDs so I shall enjoy watching these! I must have spent a fortune that day but it's worth it!

Have a lovely day, and feel free to leave a comment!

Mary x

P.S  Before I go, you all probably know that it was the Emmys this weekend. But I can't believe Sherlock didn't win any awards! In my eyes they deserved ALL the awards!