Throwback Thursday Week 4: Music

In true 'Throwback Thursday' style today I wanted to look back at the music I listened to whilst I was growing up. I remember listening to cassette tapes, followed by CD's when I was younger and music has been and still is a huge part of my life. I've never really been a TV or film addict and would much rather listen to a new album in the sunshine or whilst driving my car instead of sitting in a cinema.
  I have also always loved the thought of having a physical CD in front of you. With technology taking over most of our lives it is so easy now to download the music straight to your phone but I love the concept of seeing a CD and the album cover. I do still download a lot of the music I listen to but if there is a particular CD I want I will go out and buy it. 
 The music I listened to growing up was inspired by the music that others around me was listening to. My mum has always been a huge fan of Robbie Williams and Take That so I've been familiar with their work for a long time. I also obviously developed my own music taste as I was growing up and I wouldn't particularly say that I have a particular genre of music. I'm open to listening to any song and if I like it I will play it again and again regardless of who it is sung by or how old or popular the song is. 

  I remember at one stage growing up I was a little obsessed with buying the 'Now That's What I Call Music' CD's and would always get them as birthday and Christmas presents as well as buying them myself with my own pocket money. The first CD of this collection I got was Now 54 and this was released 11 years ago back in 2003. I was 8. After this CD I didn't get another until Now 57 but I have every single release from Now 57 all the way up to Now 80 I think. 
 Another huge part of my music collection when I was younger was dominated by the band Blue. I was literally obsessed with their music and I actually have all of their albums. I remember buying one of them in Woolworths and playing the Guilty album all Christmas Day one year. I even saw Blue in concert at the old Wembley Arena and this was one of my earliest memories of a concert. Their album Guilty came out again in 2003 and I'm surprised the CD still works considering how often I listened to it.
 I love rediscovering old albums that I loved and so when I came across this one last year when sorting through my music it was played solid for a good two weeks. My 18 year old self loved it as much as my 8 year old self all those years ago. 
 Atomic Kitten was another band that I used to listen to a lot. Their favourite album of mine was Feels So Good but when I listened back to it I found that I didn't recognise a lot of the songs on there. Along with Atomic Kitten I also liked the Sugababes but I was never a huge fan of Girls Aloud and I don't own any of their albums or particularly like any of their songs. I have bad memories of their performance on the X Factor when they all wore gold glittery dresses and didn't sing that well!
 The final band that I remember listening to a lot was Steps. I discovered this band through one of my childhood friends and remember watching the tape version of this album showing all the music videos round my friends house multiple times.
 Although Steps got back for the TV show 'The Big Reunion' I didn't watch it because I wanted to keep the memories of when I used to listen to them as a kid and I knew it wouldn't be the same as when I loved them all those years ago.
  Although I haven't featured them here there are so many other artists and bands that I listened to throughout my childhood and whilst growing up such as: The Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Busted, McFly & S Club. Although music has changed over the years and my taste has developed I really enjoy listening back to the old albums and reliving the songs that I used to play on repeat on the good old portable CD player or even on a tape in the car.

May 2014 Favourites!

It honestly felt like just yesterday that I was putting together my April favourites post. Now a month later it is time to share the things that have been worth my money this month! Enjoy.

Beauty/ Makeup:
Barry M Hi-Shine Jelly Nail Polish in Guava
It is no secret that I adore the nail polishes by Barry M. A few months back I actually bought a few more shades after noticing  that Barry M had added some new colours to their Gelly Hi-Shine collection. One of these was the shade 'Guava' and it has been by far my favourite nail polish this month. The colour is an incredible teal/blue colour and it lasts ages! Costing only £3.99 this product is worth every penny.
 I've found that like with the other polishes in this  collection that two coats of this stuff is plenty and the dry time is also really good.

 

 

 

 

Real Techniques Brushes

For Christmas I was lucky enough to receive a collection of the Real Techniques brushes from my sister. Although I was really excited about trying them I thought it would be a good idea to wait until I had built my collection a little more and to be honest I didn't want them to get dirty! However this month I realised that this was a ridiculous thought and started to use them religiously to apply my makeup. I particularly love the contour brush, as it blends product really well and gives me a really defined look. Next I would like to buy the set of eye brushes which would help me to apply my eye shadow better especially because I have been a bit more experimental this month.  

Sleek Blush in Flushed
My final beauty favourite this month has been a blush from Sleek. After discovering Sleek blushes in the middle of last year and having loved the shade Flamingo so much I decided it was time to try out the other shades in the collection.
  This month I have really enjoyed using the shade 'Flushed.' Unlike Flamingo this is a much darker shade but is still a beautiful pinky shade. It gives my complexion a really healthy glow and looks so natural on my face. Although I find myself having to apply more of this than with Flamingo, I think it is because Flamingo is so much brighter than this. I like that the colour isn't as bright though because it means that you can gradually build it up depending on your skin tone and the look you are achieving. This shade is also a lot more matt than Flamingo but it still contains the slightest bit of shimmer in it as well. The price of these blushes are also a huge plus point costing only £4.49 each.



Fashion:
Kimonos
Up until this month, I had never owned a Kimono. I'm not sure why, but they just didn't appeal to me and I never thought that I could pull one off and was worried that they wouldn't flatter my shape or that I would feel too self conscious in one. However, whilst I was shopping this month a came across one in New Look. The print instantly attracted me because it was full of greens and purples and was a gorgeous Hawaiian floral style. The material was also really soft to touch and as my friend was going to be trying on some stuff I decided to try this out. When I tried it on I really liked it and so bought it for £12.99.
  Since then I have been back into New Look and bought another kimono because I loved my first one so much. My second kimono is more of a sheer material, but is once again a floral print combining cream, a pinky/nude tone and also a beautiful royal blue too. This one was a little more expensive at £24.99 but it's been perfect for Spring. 
Forever 21 Vest
Up until now I have been obsessed with wearing a printed vest from Pull & Bear because it has been so comfortable and easy to wear. Whilst shopping with friends this month I found a new vest which I have fallen in love with from Forever 21. I think it cost around £10 and I really like the print and think it will be perfect for summer. It is cut quite low at the sides so I have been experimenting with bandeau tops underneath to add something different too.
Statement Jewellery
My final fashion related favourite product this month has been statement necklaces. I have never been a jewellery person really in terms of necklaces but after discovering this wing necklace from River Island this month I have been converted. Although it isn't the biggest statement necklace in the world I think it still makes an impact on a simple outfit and I love the detailing on it too. It cost me only £7 and I can't wait to start buying more necklaces.



Music:
The 1975
How has it taken me this long to discover the genius that is the 1975's self titled album? This album has been out in the UK now for ages, yet this month I started to listen to it for the first time. It only took a few songs to realise that I would love this album and I have been listening to it on repeat throughout the month alongside my other music favourites. Some of my favourite songs from the album are 'Robbers' and 'Girls' although I have liked almost every song!
Mr Probz: Waves
I am a huge fan of songs that you love the moment that you first hear them. Although I do eventually like songs even if I haven't when they were first played it was not the case with the release of Waves. I really liked this song as soon as I first heard it and although now I have started to over play it a bit I have been listening to it a lot throughout May.
Sam Smith: Stay With Me
I will be the first to admit that I wasn't overly keen on 'Money On My Mind' by Sam Smith. I didn't think the verses were too bad but along with the chorus which I didn't like and the radio station over playing the song up to 7 times a day everyday for 3 weeks I dreaded to hear it. However, this month I discovered the song 'Stay With Me' and I have been listening to it on repeat ever since. It is so much different to MOMM and I think it is really beautiful to listen to.
The Vamps: Meet The Vamps
Although The Vamps featured in my April favourites I couldn't resist putting them into my May Favourites as well. Last month I was raving about their performance in Radio 1's Live Lounge but since then their debut album has been released in the UK. I bought this album alongside The 1975's and although they are both completely different I have been enjoying these a lot. The Vamps album is really fun with a mix of upbeat and slightly more serious songs. For a band so young I think their album is incredible and there hasn't been a 'bad' song that I've listened to. Big favourites of mine have been 'Somebody to You', 'Shout About It', 'Dangerous' and 'Lovestruck.'


Films/TV:
Bad Neighbours
I don't go to the cinema very often and so when I do it is because I am going to see a film that I really wanted to see. At the start of the month Bad Neighbours starring Zac Efron and Seth Rogen came out and so my friends and I went to watch it. I won't give too much away apart from the fact that it is hilarious and you should go watch it!
Modern Family
My final TV/Film favourite is a program which is regularly shown on Sky 1 and Sky 2. Modern family is a show which follows three families which are all related in one way or another it follows their lives and choices. It is hilarious and unique in that one as the storyline is played out the characters narrate and comment on their thoughts and actions. My sister has been watching this program for years and I can't believe it has taken me this long to give it a chance. I think it is brilliant. 

February 2014 Favourites!

Throughout February I had been loving a variety of different things. Although slightly belated (with it being almost time for a March favourites) here are the things that I had loved throughout February.

Beauty/Makeup

Remington Pearl Ci95 Curling Wand:
Ever since my sister blew up my trusted Babyliss curlers at the end of last summer, I had been dying to find a new pair. With Babyliss not making the curlers I had before anymore I was forced into trying something different. After reading loads of reviews on many different products and deciding that £179 would be a lot to spend on curlers (sorry Babyliss Perfect Curl!) I opted for the Ci95 Curling wand from Remington. From amazon at the time they only cost me £16.95 and I've love using them. You can change the temperature on these and create both loose and tighter curls. What makes these even better is because it is a wand you can get the curls to start right near the root, unlike typical curlers with the clamp function. I've loved using them this month!

TRESemme Salon Finish Extra Hold (4) Hairspray:
This next favourite is something of an old, rediscovered favourite. As I've been using my new curlers recently I've found that I've been more hairspray as usual and I've gone back to the TRESemme Salon Finish hairspray, purely because it is so good. It makes my curls stay put all day and I've even found that my hair is still curly the morning after too. The spray also doesn't make my hair heavy or greasy looking and I'm glad I've started to use it again.

Dove Style+Care Heat Protect Spray:
A few months ago I purchased the Dove Style + Care heat protect spray and to be honest I've been in love with it since I first starting using it. If I had written a favourites post for December or January, this would have featured. The product itself is so lightweight on the hair and doesn't weigh it down or make it greasy. It also smells amazing and I always apply it before blow-drying my hair and I've noticed that the condition of my hair has improved!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub:
I recently reviewed this product because I have loved using it since the moment I brought it. It is the lip scrub in bubblegum from Lush and it has been a saviour for my lips. Costing around £5.95 it has been fully worth the price and I've noticed a difference in the condition of my lips, they have been less chapped and generally healthier looking.

Food/Drink

Chiquitos:
Very recently the Mexican restaurant Chiquito's opened in a town near where I live. Since trying it out on New Year's Day it has become one of my favourite places to eat. I love Mexican food so immediately I knew I was onto a winner and the food there is so delicious. The prices are also reasonable and the atmosphere is brilliant in there!

Music

Bastille- All This Bad Blood:
I have been a HUGE fan of Bastille ever since their debut album 'Bad Blood' was released. I made sure that I ordered it as soon as I could and absolutely fell in love with it. It is a big contender for the best album that I have ever listened to. After admittedly playing the album to death I was overjoyed when I learnt that they would be releasing a second part of the album called 'All This Bad Blood.' I pre-ordered this album and immediately put it on as soon as it arrived and it I safe to say I fell in love this this too. My favourite songs from the album change from time to time but I love 'Haunt', 'Laughter Lines', 'Poet' and their cover of 'What Would You Do.'
  Like the original album I have played All This Bad Blood to death, to the point that I had to stop listening to it throughout January. However this month it has been back in my car and just listening to it on my way to work makes me feel really happy. The next step is to try and see them live, and with them performing at V Festival in the summer, I really hope I can get tickets!

Films/TV

Criminal Minds Season 9 (Mon 9pm Sky Living):
Ever since my sister introduced me to crime series Criminal Minds a few years ago, I have been hooked. This program basically follows a team of behavioural analysts who work together to solve murders and is a bit similar to CSI. However, the show is now in it's 9th series which have started just recently on Sky Living (Channel 107) on Monday nights at 9pm and I have loved seeing my favourite characters on screen again. It seems as though each series has got better and better and it has really kept me guessing throughout. Love it! 

New Series of The Middle (Tues 9pm Comedy Central):
Another program which I have loved watching over the past few years is The Middle. Totally different from Criminal Minds, The Middle is a comedy program about a family of 5 and their day to day problems and situations. Very easy viewing and hilarious, you can catch the new series on Comedy Central at 9pm on a Tuesday.

New Series of Two And A Half Men (Mon 9pm Comedy Central):
The start of 2014 has brought a load of new series for a number of programs and another one is Two and A Half Men. Which I have also loved watching throughout January. Hilarious. Also on Comedy Central on a Monday at 9pm, which you may notice clashes with Criminal Minds, but thank goodness for Sky+ haha.

New Series of The Magaluf Weekender (Sun 9pm ITV2)
The final program that I have enjoyed watching throughout January is the surprise, surprise, new series of The Magaluf Weekender. I think I may have featured this program in my October favourites, but it is back again and better than ever with a new rep and even more drama between the reps! Unfortunately the program has now finished, but I think it is returning in the summer for a new series! 

Random

Bingo:
This month I went to my first ever proper bingo night, where I gambled actual money in attempt to win even more money for matching numbers in a line or by getting full house. This is strangely addicting and I can see why many people spend hours in there. So far I've won £20 so that's not too bad
Quiz Nights:
Since early October I have been attending a quiz night at a local pub on a Thursday evening with friends from work and it has been a lot of fun. Basically you are in teams and each person pays £1 to play. That money then becomes the jackpot (usually around £50) and then you play a family fortunes type quiz where you are asked 10 questions and expected to think of the 'top answer' (worth 2 points) and then four other answers (worth 1.) At the end, the team with the highest score wins and then has to pick one of about four envelopes containing different prizes. If the jackpot isn't picked it then rolls over to the next week until it gets won which means that the jackpot can get really high.
Formula One Winter Testing:
With the 2014 F1 season starting in a matter of weeks, throughout Feb I have enjoyed hearing about and reading about the testing that the teams have been going through. I also loved watching all the teams unveil their title contenders and it has made me even more excited for the start of the season and the end of the 4 month break from the sport!

That's just about everything that I've been loving this month!

Music Wishlist November 2013

When it comes to music, I am a massive fan of albums. I much prefer to have the physical album and CD in front of me rather than a download. As a result I have a healthy collection of CD's which I have been accumulating over the years and I've recently looked into the new albums that I would like to purchase.
  I usually buy all of my albums either from HMV or online at www.play.com. As the town I live in doesn't actually have anywhere that sells a wide variety of albums I tend to head over to play.com because they have some incredible deals on the albums they sell and I often get them for a much cheaper price than normal retailers. Another bonus is that play.com offer free delivery!

After browsing on the play website, looking through their top sellers as well as the pre-order chart, I now have a list of the albums I would like to purchase. Here's what that list looks like, in no particular order:

• Katy Perry- Prism
• Justin Timberlake- The Complete Experience (Part 1 & 2)
• Jason Derulo- Tattoos
• One Direction- Midnight Memories
• Tinie Tempah- Demonstration
• Lawson- Chapman Square Chapter II
• Passenger- All The Little Lights
• Macklemore- The Heist
• The Saturdays- Living For The Weekend
• Jessie J- Alive
• Rizzle Kicks- Roaring 20's

These are just a few of the albums that I feel I'd like to buy over the coming weeks and months. I would say that I have a mixed music taste, with the attitude of if I like it, I'll listen to it and so I don't put myself into a category. However, before I buy any of these albums I will probably give them a listen on iTunes so that I can be sure I will like the songs and won't be wasting my money. There are also other artists that I wish were bringing out albums but aren't at the moment and so sometimes it can be a waiting game. 

October 2013 Favourites

I say this every month but I cannot believe how quickly October has gone. There are now only 2 more months left of 2013 and that is one scary thought. Here are the things that I have been loving this month!

Beauty/Makeup:

Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in 'Not An Illusion'

When I found out that Rimmel were releasing some new lip products into their range I knew that I had to try these out. I picked up the shade 'Not An Illusion' and with a retail price of £5.49 they are so affordable. I've worn this product most days as the shade I brought is a light pink and is perfect for everyday wear. I plan on expanding my collection of these balms because they are so hydrating yet also give your lips a real colour boost.

Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 'Wine'

Having been looking for new lipstick shades to try out when I came across this little beauty in the Rimmel range I knew I had to try it. I've seen it on other people and love that it fits perfectly with the Autumn/Winter season. Like with the other Kate Moss lipsticks in the Rimmel range the product applies so easily and evenly, and it is so hydrating. Also retailing at £5.49 it means that I continue to buy them because they are such a bargain. 

Fashion:

New Look Printed Top

Prior to this month, I had not brought new clothes in such a long time. So this month, with some money to spend and some time to waste in New Look I decided that I was going to treat myself. (I was also going out the night I went shopping so needed an outfit to wear.) The first thing I brought and have loved this month is this spaghetti styled strap top with this aztec pattern on it. I love the bright colours from the red to the blue to the purple and although it may not be the most practical in terms of keeping warm I know I can layer this with cardigans and also wear it next season. It cost £12.99 from New Look.  

Leather Sleeveless Jacket

Another of my cheeky purchases from New Look was this leather jacket. When I tried this on alongside the top I fell in love with it and knew that I would have to buy it. However it is sleeveless which may not be great for the Winter, but again I'm sure I can layer this up with jumpers or cardigans to make it a bit more suitable. I also only paid £11 for it, as it was in the sale and originally cost £24.99 and I couldn't leave it. 

Denim Skater Skirt

My final purchase and another favourite of mine this month has been this denim skater skirt, also from New Look. It is so comfortable and versatile and I was surprised that I didn't already have one in my wardrobe. I love the colour of the denim and the fact that it can be worn with tights or alone in the summer and I can see this being a staple in my wardrobe for a long time. Also it was another bargain at £14.99, and so it had to come home with me. 

Scarves 

Finally in terms of fashion items, I have really been loving wearing scarves as the weather gets cooler. In particular I have loved this printed scarf which I got at the beginning of the winter last season because I love the bird print and also the colours. 

Food/Drink:

Wrigley's Extra Mints

A bit of a random food favourite this month has been the peppermint mints from Wrigley's. They are so refreshing and much more practical than chewing gum and leave my mouth feeling really clean and fresh. A lifesaver if you've had a particular smelly sandwich at lunch time or anything with garlic or onion in it. You get 16 in a pack for around 40p, so you get more for your money than with gum. 

Pitta with hummus & pepper

Another food favourite this month is this combination of hummus, pitta bread and red pepper. I've found myself reaching for this during lunch breaks and have occasionally enjoyed this as my evening meal if I am not feeling that hungry. I buy a pre-made pot of hummus, costing 99p from Morrisons and a pack of pittas for 70p. I then toast the pittas in the toaster and cut up the pepper, and then dip them both into the hummus whilst eating. I've also found breaded chicken strips to be delicious with this and I've also eaten these foods with guacamole as well on occasions.

Games:

4 Pics 1 Song
There haven't been that many games that I've really enjoyed this month and I haven't really had the time to find some, but I have been enjoying the 4 Pics 1 Song game. Basically you are given 4 pictures which give you clues to a word which will be the name of a song. They get harder as you progress through the levels and the developers are always introducing new levels so I am no where near completing it yet. Admittedly I have googled the answers once or twice because some of them are really hard, but I have enjoyed playing overall. 

Dumb Ways To Die
I recently discovered this game on the Apple App store whilst browsing through the top categories. This game is strangely addicting, and the purpose of it is to stop the characters in the game from dying. You earn points and then the points unlocks new characters on the 'home' screen of the game. So for example, one of the ways you have to stop the character from dying is by swatting the wasps off the screen with your finger so that the character isn't stung to death. It is a strange game, but one that I've found to be a good time waster.

Music

Bastille- Of The Night
I am a massive fan of Bastille and I absolutely love their cover of 'Of The Night.' I'm not a massive fan of the original song, but there is something about the vocals of Bastille that I love and I have had this song on repeat although I was only introduced to it towards the end of the month. 

Conor Maynard- R U Crazy
This is another song which I have had on repeat throughout the month. I love the bridge in this song, especially the first one and I've turned it up every time I have heard it on the radio. It took me a couple of attempts to get the words right at the bridge but I think I've finally nailed it. Woo. 

Scouting For Girls- The Light Between Us
I've always been a fan of albums and would much prefer to have a physical CD as opposed to a download. I have a fairly large album collection and so I love it when I rediscover an album that I haven't listened to in a while. This month I have rediscovered Scouting For Girls' album The Light Between Us and have honestly fallen in love with it all over again. My favourite songs from the album are 'Snakes & Ladders', 'Rocky Balboa' and 'Somebody New.' 

Films/TV:

The Guardian
I am a huge Ashton Kutcher fan and so I'm always keen to watch the films that he has starred in. I realised that I had never seen The Guardian and borrowed it off a friend to watch. Admittedly it did take me a long while to finally get round to watching it, but I seriously loved it when I did. I never usually cry at films and this film nearly, but not quite got me. That is quite some achievement. Basically the film centres around a coast guard and the training of Ashton Kutcher to become a coast guard. Honestly, the film is much better than I just described it and I can't believe that it's taken me this long to watch it.

The Magaluf Weekender
One TV program that I have watched throughout October is The Magaluf Weekender. Basically this is a 'reality series' which follows a bunch of reps at a hotel in Magaluf. Every weekend a two new groups of people check into the hotel and the cameras follow what they get up to. i.e. Getting very drunk and trying to 'pull.' It is entertaining to watch and there is always drama between the reps too and it is really is just easy viewing. I think the series has now ended, but it will be returning for it's third season next year. 

8 Out of 10 Cats
I love this program. 8 out of 10 cats is basically a comedy panel show all about statistics and opinion polls and the news and is hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr. It has nothing to do with cats apart from if they've been in the news, but it is so funny and a good way to start the weekend. They've also recently made their own version of Countdown which was hilarious, but now I think they are back to the standard format of the show. 

These are just some of the things that I have been loving this month. I'm really looking forward to seeing what will be included in my November favourites, especially because I know I will be shopping more with Christmas just around the corner!

September Favourites

So it's that time again. September is over and we are getting ready for the Winter months. Although I haven't been particularly loving the colder and wetter weather this month, I've had a whole load of beauty, fashion, food and random favourites that I am about to share.


Food/Drink:

Coffee-mate by Nestle & Nescafe Gold Blend Coffee

During the colder months I tend to start drinking more hot drinks and I'm a huge coffee lover. I featured an iced frappe in my August favourites, but this month I've been loving the classic cup of coffee. In particular I've loved the Nescafe gold blend as it is so rich and full of flavour. It also smells and tastes delicious, and can be brought from most supermarkets.
  Alongside my coffee I have been loving this little gem from Nestle. It is called Coffee-mate and you put two heaped teaspoons of this into your coffee instead of milk and it gives you a lovely creamy coffee. Absolutely beautiful. Again, you can buy this from most supermarkets although I think it's pretty pricey.



Nature Valley Granola Bar
This isn't so much a new favourite, but I have rediscovered these granola bars over the past month. They come in loads of different flavours, with my favourite being the Canadian maple syrup. They are brilliant for just chucking into your handbag and enjoying as a snack if your out and about and I admit that I've naughtily had one of these for breakfast on some occasions. You get 6 of these packets in a box, and each packet includes two bars and you buy these individually as well.

Mexican Food

Throughout the past month I have been addicted and craving Mexican styled food. This has included everything from burritos to fajitas to nachos and I've loved cooking this type of food as much as I have eating it. My particular favourite has been to cook up a beef chilli with kidney beans and then add it to some peppers, rice, sour cream and guacamole in a tortilla wrap. I've found if I go out for a meal I have been looking straight for any type of Mexican food as well, so it has been a bit of an obsession this month.



Makeup/Beauty Products:

Benefit make-up bag
In my September wishlist I wrote about how I was in need of a new makeup bag. Whilst I was tidying my bedroom a few weeks ago, I found this makeup bag from Benefit which I've had for a few years but never used. It is much bigger than my old makeup bag and I can now do it up which makes it much easier for when I take it in my bag with me. I wasn't sure whether I would like the fact that it is clear but I've found as you can see all the products through the bag you can find your products much quicker and easier and I now really love it. I'm sure you can still buy similar products from Benefit and eBay could be a happy hunting ground if you are looking for something similar.

Sleek Blush in Flamingo

 This has probably been my best purchase throughout the month of September. After eyeing the collection of blushes on the Sleek website for the past couple of months I finally brought one and I have loved using it. I've got the shade called 'Flamingo' and it is really natural looking pink once applied to the cheeks. However it is important to remember that these blushes are super pigmented so you don't need a lot of product and a little goes a long way. A huge bonus to this blush it that it only cost me £4.49 so I can imagine myself expanding my collection. Depending on where you live, you can pick these up in Superdrug or alternatively from their website.



Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in 08

I have really been loving the Kate Moss lipsticks by Rimmel and although I am rather late with jumping on the bandwagon, I am glad that I've brought these. In particular I have regularly wearing the shade 08, which is a lovely pinky/nude colour. I've found these lipsticks to be really hydrating and although I'm still not sure whether or not I like the scent of them, they are so affordable at around the £5.49 mark. 

Games:

Candy Crush

I was a huge fan of Candy Crush when it was first released. At one stage I was literally obsessed with it and both myself and my friends would play it continuously. Then after a few months the novelty wore off and after being stuck on one level for a ridiculous amount of time I stopped playing the game.
  However, one day at the beginning of the month I was going through the apps on my iPad and rediscovered the game. I thought to myself I would have one quick game to waste some time and this has turned out to be a huge mistake. I am now once again addicted to the game and I am determined to catch up to the levels my friends are on. I'm only on something like level 126 and there are about 400 levels now so I don't think I will ever be able to finish it. The best thing about this game is that it is totally free, apart from you have to wait for extra lives when you run out of the initial 5. You can also purchase special power-ups to use during gameplay but I've never used this feature.

                                            

Dots

Another game that I've been addicted to this month is called dots. This game is very simple in that you are given a grid of different colour dots and you have to join them together by colour without moving diagonally. The more dots you connect, the more points you score. You earn 'trophies' after achieving certain things such as 100 points or by making a square out of the dots, amongst other things. There are two main game modes that you can play. The first is a timed mode where you have 60 seconds to get as many points as possible. You can also play a moves mode where you have 30 moves to get as many points as possible. The game itself is very simple, yet strangely addicting and when I first started playing it I didn't think I would become obsessed, but there is just something about the game which makes it appealing. This is a free game as well which is an added bonus. You earn points which allows you to purchase power-ups just from playing the game, but you can also purchase these as well.

  The three power-ups consist of stopping the clock for 5 seconds (in timed mode), removing one dot of your choice and removing dots of a specific colour. These can only be used once a game though.



Fashion:

Over-sized/Baggy tops
At some time in August I went on a shopping trip and got two tops from H&M. One was a plain white rolled short sleeved t-shirt and one was a burgundy and grey marl baseball type top. Both of these are oversized and I have been absolutely loving these two tops this month. I've been wearing them alot with leggings and so now I'm trying to go back to wearing different things. They were £7.99 and £6.99 and are so comfortable that I will be getting some more in different colours as they are so easy to wear and incorporate into an autumn or winter wardrobe. 

Purple Converse
A few weeks ago I was going through my shoe collection and realised that I had been rather neglecting my purple converse. I do sometimes find these shoes hard to wear because of the colour and whilst I have been wearing more plain white tops I've embraced my converse. I probalby won't wear them as much when the weather gets colder though as they don't keep my feet very warm, but I'm still wearing them as much as I can. 

Hollister Hoodie
During the summer, all my jackets and hoodies go into my wardrobe and are rather forgotten about. You know when it is autumn/winter when these come out of the wardrobe and this month they have reappeared in my life. I had totally forgotten that I brought a hoodie from Hollister last winter and so I've been wearing it a lot this month. It is so warm and because it is a zip-up I can still wear it when it is slightly warmer yet still a bit chilly. They are expensive at about £50 each, but they are a good investment and keep you really warm!

Music:

The Vamps
Having been subscribed to this band on Youtube for quite some time, I am always listening to any new covers of songs that they upload. The Vamps are a band consisting of four boys, and I have been particularly loving their cover of Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop.' I actually prefer this version to the original and would highly recommend people checking it out. They've also released their first ever single called 'Can We Dance' which I have also been listening to on repeat this month. It is a really fun and energetic song, and just makes me feel happy whenever I listen to it. 
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtGdOn3XSNWVK54P13jDoCg

OneRepublic: Native
Who would've thought that OneRepublic brought out a new album in March?! I cannot believe that it has taken me until September to realise that they've released a new album and I regret not discovering it sooner. It all started when I was watching a friend's uni tour video on Youtube and she used their single 'If I Lose Myself.' I then found the entire album on Youtube and I was hooked. I then ordered my own copy from play.com and since then it's followed me everywhere. I've listened to it in the car, in my room, on my iPod; everywhere! 
   This album is completely different to some of their old music such as 'Apologize' and 'Stop and Stare' but in a good way. The album has a mixture of slow and upbeat songs and I can honestly say I love almost every single song. I highly recommend if nothing else you give this album a listen and you will not regret it!
Films/TV:
Rush:
By far this has been the best thing I've watched this month. I patiently waited until the film was being shown in my local cinema (which is much later than the release dates of films) and absolutely loved the film. The film was sold to me once it was announced it would be based on the rivalry between two of F1's greatest drivers and World Champions, Niki Lauda and James Hunt. However, you I don't believe you have to be the biggest fan of F1 in order to enjoy the film. Everything about it was simply amazing, from the way the movie has been directed, to the storyline and the brilliant acting from Chris Hemsworth (James Hunt) and Daniel Bruhl (Niki Lauda.) I seriously recommend this film!

One Direction: This Is Us
I have to admit that I do listen to One Direction's music and they are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Along with 2 of my other friends we went along and saw the movie and we all loved it. I'm not a hardcore One Direction fan, but I did think the film was good. The quality was amazing and it just shows you their story and how they've got to where they are now. We also see bits that fans wouldn't usually see and it is a good insight into their lives. Without giving too much away in case anybody hasn't seen it yet, they show you parts of concerts and the quality is so good that it feels as though you are actually there at the concert. Overall I was really impressed.

Through the Keyhole
Saturday night TV has a new addition. Keith Lemon is back on our screens not only with a new series of Celebrity Juice but also a new show called 'Through the Keyhole.' Basically he hosts a programme where a panel of celebrity guests try to guess whose house Lemon has visited. As viewers we are shown round celebrity houses and its really interesting to see what they look like. Some celebrity houses have included Olympic medallists Greg Rutherford and Louis Smith as well as other celebs such as Kerry Katona and members of boyband Blue.