An Avril Lavigne inspired outfit

Dress - Jack Wills

Boots - Doc Marten 

Avril Lavigne has been my favourite artist since I was little and I have always admired her style! It's quite punky which I really like but she also has a somewhat girly take on it. The dress I thought would be perfect for this outfit as  Avril wears lots of plaid items and the boots screamed her style to me. Although this is an edgy outfit, the colours in the dress add a more girly take on punk. I think, if you wanted to wear more layers, a leather jacket would look great. From what I can remember about her style over the years, she seems to rock the sweetheart neckline so this dress fits in perfectly with this. 

What did you think of this outfit? Do you have any other celebrity looks you want me to create? Let me know!! 

xox

Long-lasting makeup products

Urban Decay | All nighter makeup setting spray - After I have put all of my makeup on, I spray this over my face, from about 30cm away. This product doesn't feel sticky like some other spray's I have tried and I feel like it really does help keep my makeup up. I particularly love this as it is oil-free and many of you may know that I have ridiculously oily skin. The bottle itself lasts really long too, I bought this last Christmas and I haven't needed to repurchase it yet!

Maybelline | Baby skin - I bought this in France on my holiday as it worked out cheaper to buy it over there. It comes out as clear and you just apply it all over your face before putting any makeup on. From what I have seen so far, it helps my base makeup stay in place for longer - my foundation doesn't seem no-existence by the end of the day! This product is amazing for the price I payed.

Rimmel | Stay matte powder - Honestly, I could say that this is my favourite ever beauty product! It's brilliant for oily skin and so cheap to repurchase when you run out of it. I put it on in the morning and reapply it whenever my face is looking a little shiny; it solves the problem instantly! It helps keep all of your other base makeup in place too! 

Primark | Eyelash curlers - Eyelash curlers always make my mascara look better. I find it hard to have long lashes without curling them before applying mascara. These particular curlers were only £1 which is a really good price to pay as they work so well. 

Urban Decay | Eyeshadow primer potion - I have previously before mentioned how much I love the primer potion from Urban Decay. At the moment, I only have the samples from when I bought my Naked palette but I'm looking into buying the full size. I apply this before putting on any eyeshadow and it really feels like it is holding the shadow in place. For me there is a noticeable difference to my eye makeup when I'm not wearing it. 

What are you favourite long-lasting makeup products?

xox

My first fashion post | OOTD

Top - Victoria Secret's Pink

Skirt - Topshop

Boots - Doc Marten

I'm so excited to share with you my first fashion post - hopefully many more will follow! I wasn't too sure what to show you but I decided on an OOTD. This is one of my favourite outfits as it is so comfy and I feel like it represents my personality a lot - the top especially!! I'm always the person wishing it was Friday so when I saw this in Pink, I had to pick it up! In actual fact, the 'top' isn't a top; it's a nightie. However paired with this skirt, I don't think you can really tell and it's so comfy to wear!! The skirt, I picked up about a year ago in Topshop when skater skirts were the new craze! I love it because I think the lace detailing is so pretty!! Finally, I thought the Doc's would make this outfit more edgy and I always love wearing them!

What did you think of this outfit? Have you got any fashion post requests for the future?

xox

Expressing individuality in today's society

Image source 

Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking at all’. For me, he has perfectly summed up the importance of being an individual. If we all were the same, the world would just be one massive clone - dressing the same way, thinking the same way and living the same way! For so long, I was fixated on trying to act and be like everyone else; I thought that more people would like me this way and maybe be more accepting of me! I couldn't have been more wrong. 

By trying to be someone else, I was losing who I really was! A few months back, I was asked what I thought my true personality was and if I could describe it. This turned out to be a struggle for me. Back then, I tried to adapt my personality to who I was with - this was tiring. I was so worried about what people thought of me; terrified that some of my peers would think I was weird. Well, what I've realised is that being weird is a good thing. 

I applaud people I see in the streets who are wearing something different. They have had the courage to dress how they want to, be how they want to. Even if passers-by give them strange looks, they wouldn't care because their true personality is being shown and they are proud of it! This, is how we all should live! Not being afraid of being who you really are despite societies preconceptions. If you feel comfortable and happy wearing a certain outfit, whether it is a trend or not, just wear it for yourself - don't just do things because people have told you to do so. 

Tattoo's. Tattoo's are something that can be judged in today's society. I've heard stories about people who have been discriminated against because they just have tattoo's. I understand that for some jobs, such as teaching, they have to be covered but you should never judge a person based on what they put on their bodies. It's their decision as it is their body. Personally, I wouldn't get one, however that doesn't mean I would be prejudice against someone who has. It, most likely, is their way of expressing their individuality or having something that means a lot to them close by. 

Interests is another thing that can show a lot about someones personality. Boys don't always have to be interested in football and girls don't always have to be good at dance. Just 'Do what you wanna do' (Maroon 5 reference) and don't worry about what other people will say. As many of you know, I play badminton. I have heard some people take the mickey out of people that play this sport. Honestly, I have no idea why. I play because I love to do so and I won't be influenced by any one else's views. 

I truly believe that being your own person is so important. Embrace and express your individuality. Love who you are without worrying about judgement. I will leave you this this from my favourite artist, 'Why should I care what other people think of me? I am who I am. And who I want to be!' - Avril Lavigne

Image source 

xox

Autumn beauty picks

Sephora eyeshadow in Girl Talk - I featured this in my June favourites because it is such a gorgeous shade. I'd describe it as almost rose gold and it would be so nice blended across the lid for an everyday look. The pigmentation is great on this and the shimmers really come into their own when the shadow hits the light. Definitely a go-to product for the autumn.

Mac lipstick in Brave Red - I bought this fairly recently in the summer as I hadn't really owned a lipstick like it before. When I wear it comes off as a pinky/red shade which is so nice for a pop of colour on the lips. The formulation of this lipstick is a creamsheen making it very moisturising. What I most love about this product is the staying power! I wouldn't have expected it to stay on as long because of the creamy formulation but it's truly amazing.

The Body Shop Smoky Brown palette - This is my favourite eyeshadow quad because every shade is so wearable. The palette comes with two brushes and instructions on how to apply the shadows. These colours remind me of autumn as they have shimmery gold undertones. Three of the shades are very shimmery and the other is less so; you could apply the darkest one as an eyeliner. It also has a massive mirror so it is a great product to put into your makeup bag. 

24hr Colour Tattoo in Turquoise Forever - Bright colours on your eyes, such as blue, have been quite trendy recently. As some of you might know, I am not the best at doing complex eye looks but this product allows me to have a more outgoing colour on my lid, without having to struggle applying it! This I use as a base as it is a creme eyeshadow and I put another similar shadow on top of it. If you are looking for a great eyeshadow base, the Colour Tattoo range by Maybelline are amazing! 

Mac eye pencil in So There Jade - Following on from the Colour Tattoo, this is another great product for putting a bit of colour into your eye makeup. The liner is really creamy so it blends well on your eye. As well as applying this on your actual lid, I think this product works well along your waterline! This, for me, is an easier than drawing a line along my lid. 

Colour Sensational lipstick in Midnight Plum - I feel like I can't do an autumn beauty post without adding a purple/berry lipstick into it! This is my favourite shade to wear during this time of the year and the formulation of this product help it last all day long! In this lipstick, there are blue shimmery undertones which makes it look really nice on your lips. Also, not that this matters, but I love the smell of the Colour Sensational lipsticks - not sure everyone would agree but personally I think they smell lovely! 

What are your go-to beauty products in the autumn?  

xox

Battle of the concealers

I wrote a post similar to this a few weeks ago and people seemed to enjoy it so I'm back but this time, I'm talking concealers. This is a product that I wear every day to cover imperfections and hide away my dark circles. Admittedly, I haven't tried out a high-end concealer therefore this post will be drugstore based. I have two that are my all time favourites and these are: the Collection Lasting Perfection and the Rimmel Wake Me Up. If you have read my 'Battle of the foundations' post you will recognise that I'm talking about another product in the 'Wake Me Up' range. 

Ever since I can remember, the Collection concealer has been a major hype. Everyone seems to rave about it! I can see why though as the coverage is amazing and it stays in place all day. With this concealer, I find that it is better at covering imperfections than dark circles. Whereas, the Rimmel one works well as an under-eye concealer. From my swatches above, you can tell that the one on the right has a more orangey tint to it! This is similar to the Wake Me Up foundation in the sense that it brightens your face with this tint. 

I find that it is easier to work with the collection concealer as it blends out more easily. However, the packaging of this product isn't as good because the words rub off and sometimes the concealer sticks to the seal. This isn't a major problem; the product itself is what should really matter. The Wake Me Up concealer, I find, is better to use in the summer months because I like my face to look more radiant then. 

Overall, I would say that I prefer the Lasting Perfection concealer as it really covers all of my imperfections and stays in place all day. They are both similarly priced at about £4-5. My dark circles don't tend to get that bad so that's why I don't tend to reach for the Wake Me Up as much. In contrast, if you want to get both - go for it! You could have the Rimmel as an under-eye concealer and the Collection one to use elsewhere. They would be a perfect duo!

What concealer do you use on a day-to-day basis?

xox

Love/hate | Tag

I was tagged by Tore from A Tiny Mew to do the love/hate tag. I have actually seen quite a lot of these posts recently so I was really glad to get a nomination to do it! 

The rules:

1. State 10 things you love and 10 things you hate.
2. Tag 10 other bloggers to do the challenge. 

Things I love:

• Walking along the beach, watching the surfers out at sea and throwing a ball for my lovely dog.
• Re-designing and cleaning out my room - I'm always doing this! 
• Taking photos of places that I have visited.
• Speaking to my friends and family about anything and everything.
• Watching old films that I used to love because it brings back so many fond memories.
• Deciding what to wear as I love coming up with new outfit ideas, even though some may be a bit odd!
• Reading and commenting on other blogs; I'm usually scrolling through my Bloglovin feed every evening.
• Chinese food! It's my favourite and I always go for the same thing!!
• May sound strange but I love to plan things! I'm forever filling up cute notebooks full of lists and doodles. 
• Staying active by going to varies sports clubs. I love participating in both badminton and dance.

Things I hate:

• Cold, miserable weather and having to stay indoors all day.
• How bad I am at procrastinating! I'm honestly the worst.
• People who eat loudly and I'm sure I may have done this but somehow it just bugs me. 
• This is a food one and it's carrots. I have never liked them and I'm probably won't ever - it's just the one food I can't stand.
• Wasps surrounding your food if you are eating outside. I was once stung in the ear by one and now they just terrify me.
• Walking alone outside when it's dark. I always seem to think that someone is following me and it will end up like a scene in a horror film. 
• Bad lighting when I'm trying to take blog photos. The saturation levels on my camera go crazy and they either turn out blue or orange.
• Having to wait through an advert on Youtube without a 'skip to the video' button.
• Painting my nails; one hand always looks nice and the other is horrible. It's because I can't control my left hand very well! The nail polish ends up everywhere!
• Forgetting my password when I want to log into a website. 

My nominations:

• Time with Yana
• Thrifty Vintage Fashion
• A Small Distraction
• Perks of Being Amy
• Tea Stained Lauren
• One More Girl Online 
• Vanilla Drxps
• Chapters of Kat
• Starry Skies
• It's Emma Mack

I hope you have all enjoyed this post. If you have any other post suggestions, feel free to let me know! 

xox

Can you blame bad grades on bad teaching?

Today, I have decided to write about a slightly controversial topic which comes up in conversations a lot. I cannot count the many times I have heard people say, 'My teacher never teaches us anything' or 'She/he is such a bad teacher'. If I am honest, I am amongst these people and I know that it is wrong to label teachers good or bad. Many people in my family are, or have been, teachers and I know how hard they work. It honestly isn't just a case of working the usual school hours as so much more goes into it - planning and marking included. In addition to this, what equates to being a bad teacher? Is there such a thing? I understand that some lessons feel like nothing is being taught to you or the teachers seem uninterested. However, the vast majority of teachers put lots of effort into their lessons and know what they should be teaching.

My main point is: where does self motivation step in? Can you really say that bad grades are solely down to teaching methods? If you care enough about your marks, you should be studying at home to make up for lessons that you feel haven't been fulfilling. It is very easy just to blame bad grades on teachers and, of course, if they have given you no guidance whatsoever it is hard to do well. You have to be motivated, however, to do your best. This is how you will get good marks. Many subjects don't come naturally to people, I understand. I hate art because I'm really not good at it. Last year, I had to do some art and at the start of the year I wasn't doing well in the lessons and I was getting bad grades. My teacher was lovely and a good teacher overall but she didn't give anyone individual feedback or advice. I then went home and worked hard at it and by the end of the year I was doing a lot better. This rise in my grades was mostly down to my change of my attitude because I started believing that I could do it. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you have to put in the effort elsewhere if you feel that you aren't benefiting your upmost potential in lessons. Personal motivation is key if you want to do well. 

All of this is from my own experiences. Sorry if this post is a bit different from normal, tell me if you like it or if you prefer my usual types of posts! 

xox

The Self Love Challenge 13

I was recently tagged by the lovely Beth from Fashion Belleza  (I would definitely recommend her blog - it's brilliant) to do the Self Love Challenge 13. 

The rules of this tag are to:

• Nominate other bloggers/vloggers to do the challenge
• Write a list of 13 things that you love about yourself
• Share your post via #theselflovechallenge13

My nominations are:

Minniemousechic

Missamrunaway
A Little piece of driftwood

13 things:

1. I love my determination. If anyone ever says that they don't think I can do something, I will make it my mission to prove to them I can. 
2. I love that I can organise myself well; I have filled up multiple notebooks just full of lists - yes to list makers!!
3. I love my sense of interior style. I absolutely adore designing rooms and putting together all of the accessories.
4. I love my height - I'm not too tall, not too small. I think I am about 5'7.
5. I love that I am very committed to things and won't just quit when the going gets tough; I like to see things through.
6. I love that I finally had the courage to write a blog! It's become such a great hobby of mine! 
7. I love my sense of humour - even though many do not!
8. I love my confidence. If I am honest, I'm not the most outgoing person but I feel that the confidence I love isn't about people knowing who I am, it is more to do with my confidence to speak my mind and voice my thoughts. 
9. I love my music taste.
10. I love that I can stay true to myself and not always follow the crowd. 
11. I love that I have able to choose such amazing supportive friends - I don't know what I would do without them!
12. I love that I have an open-mind and I'm willing to try new things.
13. I love that I look forward to the future and have the ability to imagine great things. 

xox