University Life

So it’s been a while.

A lot has changed since I last posted. Most importantly I am currently in my first year of university, studying for an MSci in Physics. I still find it crazy to say and sometimes when I’m sitting in lectures I find myself in awe as I realise I am studying the things I have wanted to for so long, before the inevitable “holy crap I am studying Physics, why have I done this to myself” fogs my mind. Overall, it has been an amazing time and I have been wanting to blog about it for a while. In all honesty, with the craziness of freshers and trying to keep on top of my studies I haven’t really had the chance.

Adjusting to living as an adult has been a learning curve; I see myself as a very capable cook yet somehow I found myself eating digestive biscuits for dinner several times now. Living on campus meant that I got into the habit of waking up at 8:50 for my 9am lecture.  There’s a constant struggle between getting enough sleep or being involved in social events but I think I’m finally getting the hang of it (I have yet to have a digestive dinner this month!)

But yes, this is a very exciting time in my life and I would love to look back on it, and this is the perfect place to do so. The probability of another post taking a year to appear is very great but I’m hoping that I keep on top of this.

Until then,

Joanne.

W7 In the Buff: Lightly Toasted Palette Review

Teddy Bear // Wonderland // Cracker // Happy // Lady Luck // Twister // DiDi // Delilah // It's A Dream // Up in Smoke // Dawn 

My sister got me the Naked on the Run palette for Christmas and after a few months of messing about with it, I was wanting a few more colours to play about with. So, with that in mind, she lovingly bought me the In the Buff: Lightly Toasted palette for my birthday a few weeks back. I really wanted mention the Naked palette due to my sister hearing that this palette was a good dupe for it and after my time with the palette, I would agree.

Teddy Bear // Wonderland // Cracker // Happy // Lady Luck // Twister // DiDi // Delilah // It's A Dream // Up in Smoke // Dawn 

There are a variety of shades to chose from including two matte (Cracker and Lady Luck), and one demi-matte (Teddy Bear) shades for everyday use. For the most part the colours are pigmented and with a few layers they all look great. From the one I use most (the mattes and demi-matte), I have found that they’ll stay all day with just a bit of concealer used for primer. I really don't think that my photo does justice to how nice the colours - especially the lighter ones - look. 

I just thought I’d make this post for anybody who has come across this palette and was in two minds to buy it. If you are in this situation, I would definitely give it a go! I’m not sure if it tops the Sleek palette for drugstore palettes for me but the amount of colours that you get for the price, which I believe is £5, you can’t really go wrong. There are so many colours which all suit me very well which I never find as I have a skin tone that’s not quite pale and definitely not olive and they really do look beautiful.

If anybody else has this palette and has any interesting make up looks I can look at I would love to see them. But for now, I hope you are having a great week!

Joanne

Monthy Favourites March 2015

Monthly favourites are one of my favourite posts to write; it gives me a chance to go through all of the items I have loved recently but not made a post about. Seeming as it has been quite a long time since i have done one, there are a lot of things I just have to mention: 

1. Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner by Aussie

Simply because my hair is in awful condition and this stuff atleast makes my hair look healthy

2. Gentle Exfoilating Scrub by Which 

I switched to this from the Clean and Clear face scrub a few months ago after reading how bad the beads in face washes are for the enviroment. I would hardly call myself an enviromentalist, especially with the leather bag lower down below, but if there are small things that really won't affect my life that I can do I don't see why I shouldn't. I had tried a few other washes - which all broke me out - so this one gets a little shout out in my favourites.  

3. The Naked on the Run Palette by Urban Decay

Honestly this is my favourite product I have. If it included a concealer and eyebrow gel I would just throw away the rest of my products as it literally has everything. 

4. Master Precise by Maybelline

My sister raves about pen liners and so, whilst Boots was having one of their three for two sales, I decided to pick one up. After years of using gel eyeliner, I think I have been converted. It is just so easy for everyday and the name doesn't disappoint as it is so easy to make precise winged liner!

5. Ultimate Lash Multimizer by Catrice

Back in Febuary I went to Switzerland with my school and when we were there was had a lot of time to shop. One of the things I picked up after looking at a few reviews was this mascara. Whilst I realise that most people who read this wont be able to get the product, if you ever find yourself in Switzerland you should definetly get one. It was so cheap and so much better than a lot of the mascaras I have tried for triple the price (I'm totally not looking at you Lash Sensational).

6. Tropical Dry Shampoo

This is pretty much one of the most raved products so I don't really think I have anything else to add to what people have already said. I am a very lazy girl especially during the school week and this is a lifesaver. 

7. Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Cream by Nivea

My moisturiser ran out a few months back and so I found myself trying so many new ones. Every single one would do something strange to my skin except the Nivea. I feel like I always rave about Nivea but it is the most affordable brand with the most amazing results and I just can't ask for anything more out of them. 

8. Coco Butter Moisturiser by Palmers

Because who wouldn't want to smell like chocolate?!?

1. Backpack by French Connection

I died a little inside when I checked to see if Asos still stocked it and that it was £20 pounds cheaper than I had gotten it for (But if anybody wants to buy it is here). This is just the best bag for school as I can pretty much fit my house inside it.

2. Leather Canvas Shoes by Graceland

I picked these up in Switzerland but I believe that they are stocked in Deuchmann. I love these shoes because they are so versatile, comfy and I can literally be running out of the door and just slip these on.

3. Black Trainers

Womens Get Fit Mesh Go Running Trainers Athletic Walk Gym Shoes Sport Run - Black/White - 6 - 39 - CD0048

So I had be eyeing up the Nike Flyknits for a while (tweeting how I would sell a kidney for a pair because I am just so hilarious...(sarcasm)). However in the end I just couldn't bare to spend all of that money on shoes so I bought these off Amazon and they are so nice to run in! I own a pair of Nike runners and quite honestly I don't feel the difference so if anybody is thinking of buying the Nike pair I would tell you to at least take a look at these first. 

Photos of the Week 21/03/2014

                                                             Starbucks // Bridge // Selfie

                                                               // Holi Celebrations // 

                                                            Selfie // Breakfast // Party

Obligatory Sorry For No Posts Post

So it has been a year.

Of course, firstly I would like to say sorry for my lack (by that I mean non-existent) posts that have happened for the last year. Being short school has gotten in the way which seems like the worst excuse but I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I know what I want and what I need to do to get there and so I have prioritised that. I hope you can forgive me!

Saying this I also hope that I have gotten to a point where I am good enough with my time keeping to take half an hour out of my day to start doing this blog better. It was something I found really fun when I first started and it still is something I love to do. As somebody who does Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry there really isn’t a lot of creativity in my work and so I constantly find myself in a rut of wanting to just do something that isn’t just numbers and facts. Please don’t get me wrong; I love what I do but the human brain can only take so much calculus.

So in about a week I start my Easter holidays which marks, arguably, the most stressful times for a student. Exam period. From this I have decided that I need something that isn’t school to spend my time on so I don’t go completely crazy for the next few months as my exams are ever coming closer. I am not making promises – especially during June – but I hope to get a few posts up a week just to let my mind have a rest.

 As well as this I have an extremely long (and deserved) holiday afterwards so perhaps doing this will mean that my time isn’t completely being wasted. 

To be honest I don’t know in what direction I am going to take this blog but I have ideas. I like to think that I am slightly healthy so I wanted to attempt to do a what I ate (insert day of the week) kind of series, mainly for myself so I don’t eat badly that day. I am also interested in kind of going over my complete turn around with my attitude towards school and how I have tried to be more mindful this year, although my friends may disagree and I wouldn’t dispute it. 

I also see this blog still having a few beauty and fashion bit but definitely not as much. If there was something I realised since starting this it is that I actually am not that fashionable or make up savvy. However I would like to still like to do a few posts such as my everyday make up look and what I have been wearing as personal style is something unique to everybody and I at least have that. Apart from that I don’t really think I am the person to be telling you what looks good and what doesn’t because quite honestly I don’t even know. 

I feel like I am being a bit presumptuous acting as if anybody even read this anymore but if anybody is actually reading this I hope you have had a good year so far. I can’t wait to see where this blog actually goes this time round!

June Favourites

1. The Fault in our Stars

I feel like at this point you must have been living under a rock if you haven't at least heard of The Fault in our Stars (or you just don't have to endure being around teenage girls). It is an amazing book which emulates in the film (which i may have had the opportunity to watch at the London premier!) and the soundtrack goes perfectly.

2. Lush's Ultrabland

If you have dry skin I would recommend that you get off your computer, get five pounds and go to your nearest Lush store. Now. This has ended up replacing my whole nighttime routine because it is so good at taking off make up and moisturising with the littlest amount of effort.

3. Britney Spear's Midnight Fantasy

An oldie but a goodie; I've gotten back into using this perfume. It's so light and summery and just smells so nice!

4. (Not so) White Platforms

I have been using these religiously all month. They go with so many clothes and gives me the height of a heel whilst keeping my outfits casual and my ability to walk worthy of walking outside.

5. Astor's Soft Sensation Lipcolor Butter in 005 Pretty Poppy

I've never really owned orange-based lip products but as summer is here I thought I'd invest in one. It's such a pretty colour and is so moisturising. However, I will add that - as with a lot of lip products - it does not last very long.

6. Sleek's Storm Palette

My sister kindly gave me this palette recently. I love the array of colours which are neutrals in mattes and shimmers, making them perfect for both everyday and special events.

7. Kobo Mini

Last year I invested in a ereader but it has just been sitting in my top drawer for most of the year. However, for my English Literature course, I get to chose which books I get to write an essay about next year. Having this has given me the ability to read whatever book I want (well, the ones I'm allowed to write about by my school) without having to lug them around with me the physical copies which I am out and about.

70 Calorie Mug Blueberry Muffin

5 minutes

What You Will Need

• A mug
• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal (30 calories)
• 1/4 of a banana (20 calories)
• a handful of blueberries (15 calories - unless you have a massive hand).
• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened almond milk (5 calories) 
• some water (if needed)

Instructions

1. Blend the oatmeal until you get a flour-like consistency. If you want to add a bit more texture, you could leave half not blended and just add it to the mixture. 
2. In the mug, mash the banana until it turns into a paste.
3. Add the almond milk to the banana.
4. Mix the oatmeal with the paste.
5. If it is a little dry, add some water.
6. Add the blueberries.
7. Microwave for a minute or until the mixture looks ready.