Would you like a cup of tea, love?

When I write down blogs I try and be as frank as I would be talking to my best friends, and talk about the same stuff that would crop up. Sometimes this might offend people and I'm really not trying to do that, it's just that I think it's nice to have complete honesty. Alot of blogs that I read (and really enjoy) only include a certain part of their life, for example their feelings/fashion outfits/make up reviews etc which is great as you know what you're getting, but I'm always left wondering hmmmm I wonder how they feel about this subject or that.

It's for posts like this that I'm choosing to stay anonymous....... Today I'm going to talk about anal sex. Now this really is not my cup of tea. When I'm in the mood for a bit of sexy time I don't think "go on then love put it in my bum". At the same time I like to try and keep an open mind in every aspect of my life (which is why I'm attending a party which takes place as a soft play area for my friends 19th birthday, and why the next day we're going out in Sunderland under the 'Snog/Marry/Avoid' theme.... cringe haha). So yes I agree to try it. Once. Something to tell the grandkids, eh? Or not.

Well let me tell you, I was influenced into doing it by lovely Steven who is attempting to rationalise the illogical (to me it seemed anyway) and he finally managed to talk me into it. I can only say that it's like if someone inside your digestive system decided you were going to shit out some crisps alongside your normal number, that's what it would have felt like.

Case over.

..................................................................................................

On another note, I'm on day two of Nicky Hambleton-Jones 'Ten Years Younger' plan, so today I get to treat myself to a magazine in return for excercise, and write a list about my likes about myself and fives things I want to change.

Five things I like
* Good skin
* Manageable hair
* My lips
* Body shape
* Determination

Five things I could improve
* Confidence with new people and situations
* Ablility to stick to healthy eating and excercise
* Body confidence
* Not being intimidated
* Being tidier

Burnt Toast on the 120 Pro-palette!

I've had the pro-palette since before christmas now so I thought I'd do a proper review on it :).

Cost: 7/10. You can pick these up off Ebay for £10 inc p+p. Search around using key words until you get a good deal and remember to check user ratings. I personally paid £15 but that's when everyone was after these bad boys. Alot cheaper than other brands and good quality.

Packaging: 9/10. Mine arrived in perfect condition after about a 3 week wait as it arrived from Hong Kong. I've heard of a few people who have had perhaps one or two of the colours a bit broken but this is to be expected in the post and I'd say is unlikely if they're packaged correctly.

Colour range: 7/10. The colours are varying and very beautiful on. They're very high intensity; I would not recommend most of the colours for day use as you would look a bit like a drag queen, but they're fab for a night out! I use the burgandy, whites, browns and creams for everyday use, and use the other colours for a night out. They're perfect for the party scene more than anything and look amazing to make your eyes really stand out.

Durability: 6/10. They last a long time, but if you start rubbing your eyes then it will end up smudged down your face - so keep those mitts away and they should stay put for the whole day or night!

Mark out of 10 overall: 8/10. Perhaps more natural colours could have been put in, but the overall cost and amazing range of colours for partying greatly outweighs this setback!

Love <3

SPECIAL OFFER FOR NAILS INC!

Because I love everyone who reads my blog so much (especially my subscribers that have supported me from the beginning - thanks so much!), I'm going to share a special offer with you. I'm sure you've heard of Nails inc, it has lovely but very expensive nail varnishes that are at least £10.50 and £2.99 per one sent to you. How would you like them for....

£1!

Yep, £1 inc. p+p. Just click here. Pick whatever colour you want and enter this code: FABNA0709

This will let you have it for just a £1! It's one per household so you can get them sent to everyone's house you know if you want more than one colour ;). This was in my magazine which I bought at the weekend, and it's only valid until Tuesday so get typing before they sell out completely!

I've ordered one to my house, my boyfriends, my Nana's and I'm going to use my friends address too. So I'll be saving like £45 - how great?

Loves <3>

Making the most of your appearance: Skin

Skin is the largest organ your body has and clear skin is one of the most important attributes that allow us to be considered attractive, so keep these basics in mind.

Face MasksYou should treat your skin to a face mask every week for your skin type.
Your skin will be one of these types - it's important that you do use the right products as they can have the opposite effect to what you hoped for if they are wrong for your skin type.



Dry Skin
Skin feels tight and dryNo oily t-zoneSkin shows signs of photoageing- wrinklesSkin may feel flaky or roughSkin tends to be thin and appears dull



Normal/Dry Skin
Cheeks are dry and skin sometimes feels tightMinimal oily t-zone, usually on nose onlySkin gets dehydratedSmall blackheads are visible on nose & chin



Normal/Oily Skin
Cheeks may be oily or dryT-zone gets oily by the end of the daySkin is dehydrated with some dead skin build upSmall blackheads in t-zoneOccasional breakouts


Oily Skin
Cheeks or face are oily with open poresT-zone gets oily within hours after cleansingBumps under the surface of the skin with dead skin build upVisible blackheadsFrequent breakoutsSkin tends to be thicker


Acne/Problem Skin
Face is oily soon after cleansing Could be a mature skin that was once oilyVisible blackheads, whiteheads and open poresThere may be inflammatory lesions and scarringProblems may also occur on the neck, back or chest Skin may get red

Sensitive
Has trouble with environmental factorsSkin reacts to sun, temperature extremes, cosmetics, perfumes etcMay experience rashes, burning sensations and be easily irritatedHas permanent diffused redness particularly on nose, chin & cheeksSkin tends to be thin and may scar easilyShows signs of ageingCan be congested




Moisture


Keep your full body in great condition by using an exfoliator and moisturising afterwards to keep moisture locked in. Remember to cleanse your skin on your face every night too by carefully removing all traces of make up, then applying a toner and finally a night time moisturiser to wake up with great skin on your face and body.

Sun kissed

Bronzer is great for the summer to give a fresh dewy look. Make sure to not go over board and only apply it to the parts of the face that would catch the sun; the bridge of the nose, the forehead, chin and cheeks.

Fake it

Darkened skin by the sun looks very glamorous and flattering, making you appear slimmer. Using sun beds is not only unhealthy but makes your skin look like leather. 80% of wrinkles are caused by UV rays, so exposing yourself will cause alot of damage. The answer? Fake tan.

Ask around for what works for other peoples skin tones closest to yours to avoid purchasing a streaky tan. Many swear by Johnsons, but even the light one leaves streaks on me. My Mam who has a darker skin tone than me loves Nivea, it just depends! Set time, maybe once a week (unless you're using a gradual tanner) to fully moisturise then apply a tan.

Making the most of your appearance: Grooming

Hair might be natural, but we've been conditioned to expect a certain level or self preservation from society.

We all have days where we can't be bothered for the pain of eyebrow waxing and plucking, we think our legs are in jeans so what's the point of shaving, or our armpits won't be on show so we'll leave them for a few days. So, so tempting. What you wont realise is that your jeans rise as you sit or cross your legs, your top might move slightly to reveal that armpit - and in one go you've just shown everyone a flash of your ungroomed bits. Noone wants to see straggly hair and it screams 'I can't be bothered to make an effort!' so don't give it the chance to rear it's head.

Eyebrows

Eyebrows help to give structure and to frame your face. Go to a professional and ask them to wax them into a suitable shape, then upkeep them at a home with some good quality tweezers which will work out alot cheaper in the long run.

Armpits and legs

Wax or shave these - shaving is easiest and cheapest, but waxing last alot longer and gives a nicer finish. Remember to moisturise afterwards! I personally choose to shave, but my sister waxes and it really does last for weeks, unlike the effect with shaving.

The bikini line

The same theory as getting knocked down by the bus - you never know what might happen and who with. Imagine the shame of a sexual encounter where you get to your knickers and realise your hair is making a bid for escape around your crotch. Whatever you prefer, from all off to au natural - make sure that your pubes are at least trimmed and that you have totally removed the hair outside the knicker line by shaving or waxing.

Making the most of your appearance: Hair

I honestly believe that anyone can be attractive without the need for surgery. Humans are programmed to find certain attributes appealing because our instinct is to carry on the human race through sex. I'm not saying you'll look like a supermodel with effort, but you'll still look great and attract the right kind of attention. Everyone has parts of them that are unique and quirky and you can work with them. It's extremely harsh and shallow to say, but it's true most (if not all) people judge you on appearance, and I think it's more about the effort you put into yourself than anything else. If you make an effort with yourself, others will think you're worth the effort too.

Here's a guide on how you can make the most of your appearance. This is just a guide; everyone is different and two people who are both very attractive will be polar opposites. You have to stay true to yourself - confidence is after all the most sexiest thing about a person.

In this post I'm going to concentrate on hair, I'll write and post the other sections later on.

Hair

Looking after your hair

Scientifically, we are drawn towards thick healthy hair, and with so many options this is easy to imitate. Make sure that you deep condition your hair ideally once a week, and keep it in good condition by using heat protectant when drying and styling. Consider a daily protectant to prevent sun exposure, weather damage and fumes which can ruin the texture and natural oils in hair.



What hairstyle is right for me?










Find a few hairstyles you like the look of and go to a reputable hairdressers to discuss how they could work for your hair type and face shape. Try and find looks that would suit your hair type, the amount of time you'd be willing to spend styling your hair and your budget for upkeep. There's no point picking a hairstyle that would take 30mins if you are only prepared to spend 5mins in the morning, or picking an amazing hairstyle that would need regular dyes and cuts to keep it intact if you're on a very limited budget.

I'd say go to a reputable hairdressers at first and splash out, then upkeep your look with a cheaper hairdresser. If you fancy a change, consider small changes, only changing your hair on a massive scale with a hairdresser you trust completely.


General advice for hair and upkeep







Strictly speaking, highlights on your natural colour (for example, if you have light brown hair go for dark blonde highlights, ginger then consider vibrant red etc) and soft layers are the most flattering to nearly every single face shape and hair type. A solid hair colour can look tacky and hair is one of the first things people notice so it's well worth the extra money for a professional dye. I only go to the hair dressers for highlights every six months as I'm a student, and in the mean time I touch up my roots every 2 months and get my Mam (who's a hairdresser) to trim the ends to keep them in good condition. If you don't have a hairdresser on tap, then in the meantime go to a very cheap hairdresser and just ask for a trim which is very difficult to get wrong and can make you feel a million dollars.


Daily effort



Hair is so important, so don't leave it for days on end to get disgusting and greasy, people will notice. If you're completely stretched for time and can't possibly wash it, invest in some cute hats to hide those roots. If you dry your hair with a hairdryer rather than leaving it to dry naturally you will also have more control over the finished style. Otherwise you might end up with a slanty and uncontrollable 'do which has dryed strangely overnight from the way you've been lying on it.



Where to get basic hair style ideas and find out the basic tools you need for your hair...


(A photo from the Youtube channel 'Itsjudytime')


Check out youtube tutorials for hairstyles you can try out in ways which are easy to follow. I particularly like the channel 'Itsjudytime' as she's so friendly and explains in a way which is easy to follow. Also buy fashionable hair bands and clips to update your look so you appear that you have made an obvious effort to look presentable. Invest in simple styling products - heat protectant, styling spray and hairspray are total essentials. The right tools are also a must; at least a straightening iron, hair dryer, hot air brush, a teasing comb and a normal brush. You may think what is the point of so much effort, but believe me people always notice your hair and the effort you've made even if they don't comment - I personally always notice hair and find those who make an effort instantly look more glamorous.


My own daily hair regime:
I'm not blowing my own trumpet (ok I am a little....) but I often get complimented on my hair as being thick and in really good condition. My hair used to be totally unmanageable and I had MANY cringworthy days. Thankfully I've learnt to work with my hair and I rarely ever have a bad hair day.......


1) I wash my hair every day as it becomes so greasy otherwise. This isn't essential for every hair type so consider your own hair. I wash it twice with shampoo and then rub conditioner on the ends which I leave on for a good five minutes before washing off.

2) It's bad for your hair to apply heat when it's soaking wet (wait until it's only damp) so I towel dry it. I pat the wet out my hair rather than rub as my hair would break.

3) When it's nearly dry, I apply a heat protectant spray all over my hair and comb it through, and use the hair dryer on the lowest heat to cause the least damage. To make my hair look thicker and to create volume I dry it upside down. Also when I turn off the hair dryer and the heat is still in my hair I remain with my head upside down. This is because your hair remains in the position it's cooled in, so it would end up flat against my head if I let it dry in that position, but it falls nicely volumnised at the roots against my head if I wait with my hair upside down.


4) I use styling spray for any flyaways and as well as this I use it to comb through my hair to make it more manageable. If any of my hair is at a weird angle I usually apply heat protectant spray on that section before I get out the straighteners.


5) If I want a really glamourous look, I section off my hair as if I was going to do a half do. I then put in my extentions (£15 from Extras) and clip them down. I let down the top of my hair which covers the clips from my extentions and then I use my fingers to comb through my hair and extentions so they don't break. I then add a fashionable headband or clip to show an obvious effort.

I get my hair highlighted with two different shades of blonde to keep my hair slightly natural, as one tone can look brassy and cheap. My hair is kept layered to create bounce and volume.


Love <3

PORN!

Boredly browsing the net, I came across the most gorgeous website ever for jewelry. I particularly liked this, but it was so hard to choose! I'M. IN. LOVE. You can see their pieces on this link: http://eclecticeccentricity.bigcartel.com/. Well worth a look and a nudge in your partner's direction ;)

Blog Lovin

I recently signed up for Bloglovin.com but to be honest I don't really understand what I'm doing.... But if you want to add me anyway ;). I'll keep with it for a while in the hope that it starts to make sense :p

Loves <3

Shoe Splurge

Today I went to Newcastle to hand in my project which is thankfully completed fully now. Laura (my new friend from the summer school) met up with me to hand in the project and waited after as Ashley was typically late. It was a bit awkward with Laura but it was ok; I think I would still hang out with her as she seems like a nice girl. Then it was on to SHOPPING though :D. Everywhere had sales on, it was amazing! I got a £2 hair band from River Island which is super super cute, I'll upload a photo later. I also got these:::

They're quite hard to walk in but for £15 down from £35 I'm willing to brave it ;). I also got these:

These bad boys aren't the exact ones, they're the exact same shape but mine are snakeskin red and black. That sounds so trashy but they're amazing! It was really good to see Ashley and we also found a great coffee shop where you get massive mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream, a flake and sprinkles for £2.25

ALSO.....................

IT'S MY FIFTIETH BLOG!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO

I'm now at Stevens (again!) so I best be off and give him some love and attention.

Friends are like trees

How many friends do you have?
Not in the loose sense of the word of people you occasionally chat to, sit next to at work, only see in your studies... I mean the type of people you would spend time with just because, who you could truly trust and who you know you can rely on.

I decided to arrange my full Facebook list into groups (that only I could see!). The first list were people I considered my real friends, the second were people that I could see with time could become real friends if the relationship developed, or people who with a bit of work I could be very good friends with. The third were people who had been really good friends at one point in my life, but now we were distant. The fourth were just people from school/work etc.

It was so eye-opening to see that some of my friends had fell into the second category just because we hadn't seen each other for quite a while, and the how many people had once been so significant in my life and now were barely part of it, other than the occasional 'how are you?'. The most noticable thing though was how many true friends I actually had. They were only a few; about 5/6. We all have friends we only see as part of a group, or not nearly as often as we should who we get on very well with. It's so easy to let things slip. I honestly want you right now to actively think of the people you'd say were great friends... My problem was 'Oh well there's Katie, but in all honesty, we've split ways alot now...... Well there's Kim, but I haven't seen her for years' etc etc. Since they'd been a big part of my life at one time and I know so much about them still, I was still seeing myself as close to them on initial thoughts until I actually thought about it.

I felt so depressed; 5 bloody friends. So I started asking around, searching blogs, reading articles etc just to see, am I the only one? Not at all. They all agreed to have on average between 3-6 close friends with tons more people that were just acquantices, or only 'social friends'. My favourite analogy was the one about trees.

Supposedly friendship is like trees because they are part of of your life in the same way as different parts of the tree are. There's the leaves; these are people who are friends for a little part of your life, but blow away when the wind changes direction. These are your friends you see every day at work to share lunch with, but when you/they change jobs you barely ever see eachother; neighbours, at particular places for example if you both go to the gym together, or see eachother walking dogs. The point is, once this main thing in common changes, the relationship goes kaput.

Next is branches; these are friends that have had a significant part in your life, perhaps for years, or people you once saw alot of and shared many events together with. Falling outs, just generally being busy, losing touch etc and slowly but surely they stop being proper friends and you drift away from eachother.

Then there's the roots, these are the people you could call on for any reason, at any time. You know they are always there for you through thick and thin. The people you could tell your embarrassing stories to, bitch at, have fun with and your shoulder to cry on. These are the people who have had massive influence in your life. Often, these are the people who have been around consistantly for years.

What do you think? How many friends have you got? Do you agree with the tree analogy? Let me know! Love <3

Tagging game

So I got tagged by 'Style is the sixth sense' to put up the 6th photo from your 6th album from your computer.... BUT mine was a photo of myself, and since I'm trying to stay anonymous (particularly after the embarrassing sex story) I had to black out my face. Don't worry, I don't usaually sit and take photos and then think, 'you know, I'm going to block my face out'.... Because that would just be weird....

I tag all you guys to go 6th album 6th photo crazy! Anyone reading this, leave a comment and I'll check it out!

Yesterday, I got my hair highlighted blonde so I want to show it off! I suppose Roz has already seen my hair whilst it's in the hairdressing-glory stage of things, before I've washed it. We had a nice pizza night which was great! My parents are away at the moment so I might ask Steven to sleep...

If your thinking, 'DAMN that girl just did an excersise vid and she isn't washing her hair after!!...' I will wash my hair as I do everyday! I'm not that skanky......yet ;)

Today I've been fairly productive; tidied my room (a bit), did a 'Pump it up!' DVD, wrote some of my essay up. Go me! So yeah, I'm gonna head off now

Loves <3

Giving Blood Take 2!

Aaaaa dear.
Is it wrong I was slightly pleased I couldn't give blood?

I tried to justify not going all day, but in the end a guilty concsious won out and I headed down with my sister. After a half an hour wait from the appointment time (they always run over) I was pretty much shitting a brick. When the finger pin prick said I had low iron I must admit I was secretly pleased....
'Yesss I don't have to have needles in my arm'. BUT for being a bad person I still had to get a needle for a blood test.

Summer school is finally over, but I still have to write a letter to get in. I'm glad I had to go as I don't feel nervous about uni at all! I'm at Stevens right now so I best be off as I'm ignoring him x

plodding

Sometimes the best fun really is for free...

Today I went to the beach with my sister and dog Molly. The waves were really strong and high so we started to plod, then we got a little deeper - and all of a sudden a massive crashed straight over my head! I totally lost my footing, fell forwards and floated back to the shore again. It was hilarious to everyone watching seeing my feeble attempts to get back up. I lost all respect I might have looked like I had, my sister actually literally wet herself and had to find a cliff to edge by. The rough charves were not amused at all, but it was great. I think they at least got some satisfaction that I cut all down my legs and bruised them haha.

Molly was being ambitious with the waves thinking she could swim out to the sea to catch the birds floating. It was futile but soooo cute bless her. I never really go out to the beach or for a walk if I can help it, but I always love it when I do. So if you're reading this, get your old trainers on, grab a family member and go find some fun!

(Here's a photo that I nicked off a website, but its the exact beach we went to. My favourite are always the beaches which are rocky rather than the white sandy ones because they bring back so many lovely memories...)

Kill Me Now

I think I might just start a blog called the 'kill me now' blog, since I'm inecapable of staying out of embarrassing situations.

I lock the door in Steven's room as we are getting down and dirty. All of a sudden the door starts to open to reveal Steven's Dad. HIS DAD. Of all people. Jesus.

"Get out! Get out!" Steven shouts, but it's too late. Too late for any dignity, denial or a chance to escape.

I had locked the door, but not clicked it shut properly so it was locked but not attached to a door.
My. Life. Is. OFFICIALLY. Over.
It will take many years to get over my sad, sad life. So please put me out my misery now. Actually, if any crazy people are reading this not in a literal way thanks haha.

I was convinced by Steven he never saw anything, but as Steven went down the stairs first I heard his brother smirk, "Got caught?". Steven's brother is such an asshole I just knew he'd be dropping obvious hints to embarrass me, and Steven's reaction pretty much confirmed everything.

Up until then I'd been keeping myself together, not even blushing, but I felt so humiliated just then I waited up the stairs until Steven came back up and opened the door again in his room for me. At first he wouldn't leave me alone as unfortunately my inability to stop myself crying always comes to play when I'm embarrassed, but it was only a one or two tears thank god.

Ergh... I hope I can avoid seeing either of them when I leave. But of course, I will bump into both of them.
Hope nothing this embarrassing has happened to you guys lately haha :)
Loves <3 for you all.