January Favourites

This posts is going to be mostly writing as opposed to photos, as my camera is currently being used for a school photography project. As in my previous post, you would have seen that I have taken a chilled-out month, so I haven't really been experimenting with many make-up bits or fashion pieces.

Films/TV: 

• The Hunger Games: Okay, so I know I'm REALLY late to the game- try 3 years- but I watched this at the start of the month with my dad and I loved it! It was one of those films that were so over-hyped that I put off seeing it, I hadn't even read the book. I was pleasantly surprised- it was full of drama... but more importantly- Isabelle Fuhrman! My god, I love that girl. I've loved her ever since I watched Orphan, but she's such a good actress and always delivers the evil roles perfectly! Can she just be a favourite by herself?!

• Into The Woods:  I saw this in the cinema this month and really enjoyed it. The storyline was great, the songs were catchy and the range of actors were amazing. But seriously, how can you give me a film with Chris Pine and Johnny Depp and not expect me to love it?

• Gossip Girl:  So I recently got Netflix, and wanted to get hooked on a new TV show, so Gossip Girl was my choice. This is an amazing show; full of drama, style and mishap! All of the characters are so different and interesting and the storylines are phenomenal. Of course, I have been dragged onto the Chuck/Blair bandwagon.. I just can't get enough of them. They are by far my favourite characters. So, if you haven't seen it already, please watch it- you won't regret it!

• Die Hard:  Wow, is all I can really say! I have a long list of classic films which everyone raves about but I haven't got around to seeing, and this was one of them. My parents persuaded me to watch this and I couldn't be happier that I did.. it's amazing! One of the best action films that I have ever seen and it's one of those films that seem so cool and instantly make you want to become a bad-ass hero. Oh, and I think I may have fallen slightly head over heels in love with young Bruce Willis! Dayum! Yippie Ki-Yay, mother f*ckers. 

 

Songs

• Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne- Rather Be
• Every song from 1989 (favourites: Blank Space, Shake it Off, All You Had To Do)
• Nappy Roots- Good Day (if you want a feel-good song, give this a shot)
• The Kooks- Naive Remix

Youtubers

• Breelovesbeauty
• Essiebutton
• Itswaypastmybedtime
• Ava Allan
• Viviannadoesmakeup
• GeorgiaMMusic
• beautycrush

Fashion: 

• Biker coat (eBay)
  

• Dress (H&M) 
  

Random:

• Divergent Book- I loved the film when it came out, but my friend convinced me to read the book and I loved it! I'm not one for reading the book and then watching the film, I choose one or the other. However, the book had some great parts that the film missed out, but overall I really enjoyed reading this one!

• 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' book by Dario Fo. I've been reading this book for English A Level and surprisingly, I really liked it! I found it very funny and the Maniac character very likeable! Also, it's only a short book- so that's a bonus! 

• As I said in my 'Hello 2015' blog post, I've started scrap booking this year. It;s been going really well so far and I've enjoyed relaxing and thinking back over the memories I've had (Cheesy- I know!). Here's a sneak peek into my supplies! (Paperchase all the way!)

Hope you've had a great January! Roll on February...

Jennie, xo

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February Favourites ♡

I know that this is a little late but these are my February favourites! I can tell this is going to be a long post so enough rambling, let's begin.

Beauty

 

Earlier in February I picked up the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, after hearing many youtubers rave on about it. This is by far the best concealer I have ever used. It covers up my dark under eye circles amazingly and does not crease or become cakey. Also, the doe foot applicator makes it very easy to apply. I got the shade 'Cool Medium'. Next are the Tanya Burr Lipglosses. These were brought out at the very end of January. The first shade is 'Vampire Kiss' which is a very dark, vampy red... perfect for the evenings. The other shade is 'Let's Travel The World' which is a more orange toned colour.  This is much more wearable in the day. The quality of these is very good and they are highly pigmented. Also, they smell amazing! Lastly, the Revlon Lip Butter in 'Juicy Papaya'. This is a great creamy, light shade... very subtle and light for Spring.

This was shown in my 2013 Favourites but I've been wearing the Body Shop Pink Grapefruit body mist every day in February. I can't get enough of the scent and it is so light and perfect for Spring.

Fashion

I am in love with this jumper! It says 'Ain't Laurent Without Yves', which is a play on the brand 'Yves Saint Laurent'. It is oversized and has fleecy lining, making it the perfect slouchy jumper. I got it on eBay for £16. Maybe it is too warm for Spring but I couldn't resist!

These have been my recent jewellery must-haves. I got my rose gold boyfriend watch from asos, however I think it is sold out now. I have had this watch since christmas and it has barely left my wrist. The orange and yellow braided bracelet was a gift from my trip to Madrid earlier in the month- a kind man selling them on the streets was kind enough to give this to me free as a present. The red bracelet in the back is also from Madrid, it has a beautiful engraved pattern on it. I love stacking braided thin bracelets in the warmer weather. The bow bracelet is from Brandy Melville. It is a simple gold, thin ring which I bought last Summer. It goes with most outfits and being gold, it matches my watch perfectly. The six silver rings came as a pack and are from H&M. They are all different sizes, some are normal rings and some are midi rings, which is a new trend for 2014. 

These shoes are from New Look and were around £14. These have been my most worn shoes since Summer. They are so comfortable, are very sturdy and being black and white, they go with pretty much everything. 

I recently bought these sunglasses from eBay for £2.99... what a bargain! These are knock off RayBan Clubmasters. These are the black ones with gold rims. When buying these, I thought that the lenses were black but once I tried them on, I noticed they had a slight purple tinge to them. This made me love them a lot more. Excuse my face in the second picture haha!

Electronic

Towards the end of February, I discovered 'Boyce Avenue' on Youtube. If you love acoustic, meaningful covers of well-known songs, check them out, they are amazing! Being a sucker for acoustic covers, I was immediately drawn in. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

If you know Hannah Hart, Grace Helbig or Mamrie Hart, you would have been aware of the release of Camp Takota. This is a film about a woman (whose work life and love life have gone to pieces) who is summoned back to her childhood camp to become the counsellor. She is reunited with her two old friends who have pretty much never left the camp. When the camp is put in jeopardy, they must work together to save it. It is a great film with lots of laughs along the way. You can buy it on iTunes for £7.99 which is a great price for such a good film.

I know that I'm late on this bandwagon but I have finally watched Despicable Me for the first time. Wow, what a film! I was always unsure about it but it was on tv recently so I thought I'd see what all the hype was about. I can see why it is such a popular film, it is heart warming and hilarious! I think I'm going to have to watch the second one soon. 

In February My Mad Fat Diary returned to UK screens. I watched this series last year and absolutely loved it. The context is so real. I knew that Nico Mirallegro (Finn) was in it and I've been a fan of him ever since he played Newt in Hollyoaks. You will fall in love with him, he is so perfect! Season 2 came out and I have loved every single episode of it.

In terms of music, I have been listening to a lot of Maroon 5. My favourite songs from the Songs About Jane album are 'This Love' and 'Sweetest Goodbye'. The songs are so upbeat and the tunes are very catchy! Also, I've been addicted to Eminem songs recently, especially this past month on the plane and coach to Madrid. My favourite songs from his old albums are 'Without Me', 'The Real Slim Shady', 'When I'm Gone', 'My Name Is' and 'Lose Yourself'. Although I've too been loving 'The Monster' as a more recent song. I can proudly confess that I know all the words to Slim Shady and can rap along to the song without losing my breath haha! 

You may think that this is just a small red cube but it is so much more! This is a Juice Cube. It is an on-the-go charger for your phone. You charge it at home and then it is ready to charge your phone when you're out and about without any plug sockets. It comes with eight compatible adaptors: Apple, Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony Ericsson and PSP, Nintendo DS. This is also a USB charger, a mini USB charger and a micro SD charger. This has been so useful and I especially used it in Madrid. It is very small and compact, perfect for putting in your bag. It comes in six colours. I bought mine from Currys for £24.99, which I think is definitely worth it.

In terms of apps, I found one called 'QuizUp' for free on the app store. This was recommended by beautycrush on youtube. It is a quiz game, where you can go against other players playing different categories. It is very addictive and a great game to play and relax with. 

Miscellaneous 

At the start of the month, I bought this desk. It is the 'White Micke Desk' from Ikea. It cost £60. I have never bought anything from Ikea so this was very exciting for me! It has a large drawer, a smaller drawer and a side door with optional shelves. You can choose whether to have the side drawer and door on the right or left side of the desk. This is a very durable desk with plenty of space on top. I decided I needed a desk this year for revising and homework and it has also become my makeup station. I have fallen in love with this desk! I highly recommend it. 

After hearing great things about it and seeing as the film is coming out soon, I thought it would be good timing to read 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green. This is a well known book and is very popular. I have wanted to read it for a long time and only just discovered that my sister had the book. I'm only half way but it is already my favourite book. It is so well written and is just an amazing read. I bet my friend £1 that I wouldn't cry.. let's see how that goes! I really recommend this book if you haven't read it already. 

I am usually lacking on the exercise part of my life but I've decided to try and become healthier and get into better shape, not that I wasn't happy with my body before but it could have improvements. I decided to try the 30 day shred after hearing many good things about it. I started watching it on youtube however only level one is on there so I picked up the DVD from Boots for only £4.99. I am only just starting out but I have already noticed a difference in my stamina and endurance. I can't wait to see visual results.. I might write a blog post review on it once I have finished it. My black sports bra with pink detail is from H&M. They do great sports bras with breathable material, the quality is great. There is a whole range of colours and I definitely need to go back and get more. The red dumbbells are from TK Maxx, and I found them for £5.99. They aren't very heavy but I don't think I could manage much bigger ones. 

Going hand-in-hand with the exercise, I have decided to eat a lot healthier. It makes me feel better and also will help me lose weight. I have been enjoying greek yoghurt with berries and honey for breakfast or as a snack. It is delicious and is still great for my sweet tooth. I have given up coke and other fizzy drinks for lent and have been enjoying eating more fruits and vegetables. 

On the other hand, these have been my treat from all the healthy eating. I found these chocolate covered oreos in Madrid, and was recommended them by my friend Sharee. These are amazing! They are so much better than regular oreos. Unfortunately, you can't get them back in England but I found that melting chocolate and dipping oreos in them works just as well. 

Being a very organised person, I like writing to-do lists in notebooks instead of reminders on my phone. Ticking off boxes is the most satisfying thing ever! I have been using these two notebooks for writing down my thoughts and lists. The black faux leather one on the left is from WHSmith and the turquoise, black and white chevron notebook is from Wilkinson. 

Thanks for reading- Jennie xo

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2013 Beauty Favourites: Skin, Hair & Makeup ♡

Welcome to 2014!

What better way to kick the new year off than a look back at the best products used over 2013?! Just a disclaimer, the majority of these products were released in 2013, however some are only new to me and have been around for longer than last year. I'm warning you now that there are A LOT of products so let's crack into it! I would recommend you grab a hot drink before you read this! :)

Makeup ♡

Face Makeup

From left to right:

• Seventeen 'Photo Flawless' Face Primer:  This is a great product to incorporate into your daily makeup routine. This primer came in the Seventeen Box, which I got for Christmas this year. This primer ensures that your makeup will stay on throughout the day, but I mainly use it under my eyes before my concealer.

• Real Techniques 'Expert Face Brush':  This is a brilliant multi-use makeup brush. You can use it for blush, concealer, foundation, powder and contouring. This brush has a very soft tip, which is very beneficial for the skin. Real Techniques is a brush line from Youtuber and Makeup Artist Samantha Chapman.

• Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream:  As always, BB creams are a lovely, lighter alternative to foundations- and this one is no exception. This offers a smooth, thin consistency with medium coverage for those days where you don't feel like wearing loads of foundation or you want to give your skin a bit of a break.

• Maybelline 'Instant Age Rewind':  This concealer has been a highly-talked about product throughout 2013. There is no doubt about that. This concealer provides a medium to full coverage and is mainly tailored for use under the eyes. Also, this product lasts a long time.

• Soap and Glory 'Trick and Treatment' concealer:  This concealer has also been highly talked about. This foundation also has high coverage. However, the only downside to this concealer, for me, is that it has tiny, gold shimmers which are quite obvious in the light. I would prefer the concealer to be matte but I guess that this is because it is a brightening concealer, which can also double up as a highlighter.

• Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch:  This concealer has been a year-long favourite of mine. Although my bad circles are hard to completely cover up, this has given enough coverage to make them less obvious. The main things that I like about this product are that it has a creamy consistency and has peachy tones instead of orangey ones, so it blends into my skin tone better. Also, it doesn't settle into fine lines. 

Eye Makeup (again from left to right)

• Seventeen Black Pencil Eyeliner and Rose Gold Pencil Eyeliner: These eyeliners also came in the Seventeen makeup box. They are quite small and so are good to take when travelling. They apply very easily. I use the black eyeliner on my top lid underneath my liquid eyeliner (I'm not brave enough to put it in my tightline! Haha I don't like sticking things near my eyes!). I sometimes use the rose gold eyeliner in my waterline. Rose gold was a very popular trend in 2013. 

• Seventeen Black Mascara:  This mascara came in the Seventeen box. It is a very good mascara as the applicator grabs onto the eyelashes well, gives length and volume, and  doesn't leave clumps. This is not a waterproof mascara. 

• Maybelline Great Lash Mascara:  This mascara also works very well. It gives super volume and length, but the downside is that it leaves clumps of mascara on your eyelashes. 

• Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner:  This eyeliner is amazing! As well as being very affordable, it applies very smoothly, and is fantastic for doing winged liner. This is the only liquid eyeliner I've used this year. I much prefer using liquid eyeliner than pencil eyeliner because it is smoother, more accurate and easier to use. I have never used gel eyeliner before but I will always be a liquid eyeliner kind of girl!

• H&M Dark Brown Eyebrow Pencil:  This eyebrow pencil applies very well on my eyebrows and is much easier to use than powder. The colour suits me perfectly and it fills in my eyebrows very well. 

Lip Care

• Nivea 'Raspberry Rosé' Lip Butter: This is an amazing product, well worth the hype! The texture is smooth and creamy. The lip butter is very nourishing and moisturizing. Very suitable for the winter! Also, this flavour tastes and smells delicious. I have to restrain myself from using the entire tin in one go!

• LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub:  This is a very different lip product to those that I normally use. This is extremely good for getting rid of dead skin and helping keep your lips smooth.

• The Body Shop 'Born Lippy' in Guava:  This lip balm is very nourishing and smooth. It has a great texture and smells amazing! All of the Body Shop lip products are fantastic!

• Nivea Milk and Honey Chap Stick:  Although I forgot to include this in the picture, I have loved this chap stick in 2013 as it is very refreshing and leaves my lips smooth and in great condition.

Lip Products

• Rimmel Kate Moss '107':  This has been my favourite lip product of the entire year. Admittedly, I only bought this in December but I wore it throughout as, being a dark and vampy red, it was a great winter colour. The whole Kate Moss range is incredible and faultless. Even the price is good at £5.49 (at Boots). The lipsticks are highly pigmented, apply evenly and smoothly, and there are a great range of colours. This colour is my favourite. 

• Revlon Lip Butter in 'Candy Apple':  The Revlon Lip Butters have been very popular during 2013. They are lighter and less pigmented than lipsticks, so are great in Summer as an alternative. They have a smooth consistency and there are a great range of colours. 

• Maybelline Baby Lips "Cherry Me":  The Baby Lips range were brought out in British Drugstores in roughly September this year. They were very raved about in America and I can see why now. They are very beneficial to the lips and leave them very soft. There is a variety of these. There are some which are designed to benefit the lips and the others are just for the colour and appearance, however they all moisturize really well.

Seventeen Makeup Box

• This makeup box is found in Boots and I was given it for Christmas. This box comes with: fives brushes, a mascara, two eyeliners, a primer, an eyelash curler, a sharpener, metallic cream and gel eyeliner. On the right side, it contains: 5 lip colours, 12 eyeshadows, a blush, and a contour set. All of this for under £20. This box is amazing and deserves a lot of recognition. 

Hair ♡

• Matrix Exquisite Oil:  I use this oil after I've dried my hair to make it healthier and reduce frizz. It works very well. I was given this as part of a set from my hairdresser so I don't think that you can find it in a drugstore. 

• Herbal Essences 'Beautiful Ends' Split End Protection Cream:  This is a very effective product, after washing my hair, I apply this to the ends of my hair and then dry my hair. I have seen a difference in my hair since using it, as my ends look and feel healthier, and I don't need to get my hair trimmed as regularly. 

• Remington Pearl Wand:  This is the best hair curler I have ever used. It has a medium sized wand so that the curls aren't too big or too small, but you can change the sizes of hair that you use to make the curls more beachy or tighter. These curlers are very reliable. The wand gets smaller at the end so the curl varies. 

• Tigi S Factor Smoothing Lusterizer:  This is really good for reducing frizz and smells of strawberries and cream!

• Superdrug own brand dry shampoo 'Head in the Clouds':  This is only about 95p and works just as well as any other brand of dry shampoo. It also smells of oranges and grapefruit!

• Tresemmé Salon Sleek Straightening Spray with Argan Oil:  This is the best heat defence that I've used. I usually opt for Tresemmé, but since my last one exploded in my suitcase in July (oops). This has lasted me five months so far and it's only about half way. It is also quite cheap and the argan oil helps keep the hair healthy. 

• Tigi S Factor Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner:  These have been my trusty shampoo and conditioner for the year. This 750ml salon size lasts for ages and has an easy to use pump. These also smell like strawberries and cream, and make my hair feel very healthy and rejuvenated. 

• Tangle Teezer:  This Tangle Teezer has been a lifesaver for me. It is very different from regular hair brushed and I am very glad that I made the change. This was recommended by Zoella from Youtube, and is amazing at getting rid of tangles painlessly for long, thick hair, like mine. It makes combing my long hair less of a chore! These are available online and from Boots.

• Turby Towel: This is a great invention for keeping wet hair out of my face. It has an elastic clasp on the back of the head to secure the hair, and is much more practical that wrapping a towel around my head. The only downside is that it is getting too short for my long hair!

• H&M Fabric Hair Bands: These hairbands are a very good invention because, being fabric instead of elastic, they don't leave kinks in your hair. They are also quite cheap and come in a pack of 5 cool colours from H&M. 

Skin ♡

Shower and Bath Favourites

• The Body Shop Peach Shower Gel:  The Body Shop shower gels never fail to please me. They lather well, smell divine and are only four pounds. However, I bought the peach and pink grapefruit together for only £6, as it was buy one get one half price. The peach smells very summery and reminds me of being on holiday. It isn't too sweet, which is nice. All the scents are very refreshing.

• The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel:  This is my favourite shower gel of all time! The pink grapefruit line is my favourite smell! I have been using the shower gels alternatively. This one smells sweet and feminine but also very fresh. These shower gels also last a while. 

• The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Shower Gel:  I'm not going to dwell too much on this one as I've already written a blog post on it: http://jenniewaeland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-specials-at-body-shop.html but this is a very sweet, christmassy scent which is great for winter. However, it only is sold at christmas time. I got this in a sale for £4, reduced from about £6.

• Soap and Glory 'Calm One, Calm All':  This smells absolutely amazing and is very relaxing for a pamper session  in the bath. You only need a capful of this bubble bath and it will create loads of scented bubbles. A bath must-have!

Fragrances

• Superdrug own brand 'Crush' Body Spray:  This is a very affordable spray which is very suitable for Summer. It is very fresh smelling and isn't too sickly smelling. 

• Boots Natural Collection 'Apple and Lime' Body Spray:  This spray smells amazing! It is great for everyday use and is not too overpowering. I love the whole collection, however the apple and lime one is my favourite. 

• Soap and Glory 'Mist you madly':  This scent is more feminine and floraly. I was bought this for christmas and it is already a favourite. Although to be fair, everything from Soap and Glory smells incredible. Also, can we please admire this beautiful packaging?!

Dove 'GoFresh' Deodorant

• I know it's a bit strange to put a deodorant into favourites but believe me, this one is worth a mention. It smells so fresh, with a cucumber scent. It lasts all day, doesn't leave white marks, and is very affordable.

Facial Care

• Simple Soothing Facial Toner:  This toner is very handy in a travel size , and is very refreshing and gentle. Definitely a keeper!

• Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser:  This is also very refreshing, and dries quickly without being too sticky. This is very light, so is perfect for the face. 

• Neutrogena Visibly Clear Cream Wash:  Again, being Pink Grapefruit, of course this had to make it into my favourites! This is very soothing and applies well to the face with water. It also lasts a very long time. It helps reduce blackheads and spots, and has kept my face very clear.

• Ùna Brennan Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask:  This facial mask is great for a weekly treat. It is very relaxing and soothing to the face. It leaves my skin very soft and clear.

• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes:  These remove makeup very well and doesn't irritate my face. The whole simple range is very fresh and gentle. I definitely recommend it! These packs come with plenty of wipes and I have used them for at least a year now.

The Body Shop Body Butters

• Cranberry Joy: Again, this only comes around in the christmas season. It smells amazing and sweet, and makes my skin feel very fresh and soft. I got this for only £5, which was a great deal.

• Satsuma:  This is more of a scent for Summer as it is sweeter and more fresh. I love the Body Shop body butters as they are moisturising, refreshing, and creamy. 

Lush Bath Bombs

• 'So White'  This bath bomb smells absolutely gorgeous, it smells of apples. This is a white bath bomb which releases a pink centre to fill your bath with. I haven't actually used this bath bomb yet but I have heard great things about it, and I am looking forward to using a fresh scented bath bomb rather than a floral scented one.

• 'Magic Wand':  This bath bomb doubles up as a bubble bath. Whilst the water is running, swish the wand around your bath. It creates pink, sugar scented bubbles. This can be re-used about 10 times, depending on how sparing you are. This has a very relaxing scent and does not disappoint.

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