Results Day!

After spending the past two years of our lives working hard and experiencing many ups and downs, Thursday was the time to pick up our results. For many, it would determine whether or not they would be going to University in September and whether they would be going to their first choice or second choice Uni. It was time to see if all the hard work, stress and lack of sleep was worth it and for the first time find out how well that 'brilliant' exam actually went. 
  When I was getting ready to go to my school to pick up my own results, I was expecting to find people really nervous. I remember last year when I went to collect my AS results that there were people in the year above crying because they didn't get the results that they wanted and this memory was in the back of my mind.
  However, the atmosphere was totally different to what I expected when I went to get my results. This was mainly because Universities had already text/emailed students if they had got the grades to get in. This meant everyone knew if they were going to Uni even before they found out what grades they had. Pretty much everybody I know have subsequently got into either their first or second university choice and this illustrates the sheer amount of hard work that was put in this year. For the first time it has started to feel real that people will be leaving our small town in around 4 weeks. Everybody will be going their own separate ways and it's going to be really strange. Furthermore, I no longer have to step into my old school and I never have to sit A Level exams again. 
  I still do not regret any of the last two years, because I've made some amazing friends, learnt so much about myself and discovered many new things. I don't know where I'm going to be in 5 years time but I'm really looking forward to it!

What's In My Makeup Bag?

 

I've noticed recently that my makeup bag is becoming quite full. So full in fact that I can't actually shut it now, which isn't great when I take it out with me. Still, I thought that it would be quite interesting to go through what I currently have in my makeup bag, especially because I'm always interested to see what is in other peoples. 

  The makeup bag itself is from Marks and Spencer. However, because it was a gift to me I don't know how much it was and because it was brought for me a few years ago I don't think you can buy it anymore. 

Max Factor Colour Adapt Foundationhttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/face/foundation/max-factor-colour-adapt-foundation

I've decided to organise the products for this post in a similar order in which I would apply them. Firstly is the foundation which I am currently using from Max Factor. This retails at £9.99 and I think it is reasonably priced although it is a bit more expensive than other drugstore brands. I use this product in shade 70 which is natural and the best thing about this foundation is that you do not need a lot of product for coverage, I usually only use half or one pump depending on the condition of my skin.

Helen E Cream & Concealer Duohttp://www.helen-e.com/cosmetics/face/cream-and-concealer-duo.htm

The next product is from a brand called Helen E. I've never seen this brand in Superdrug or Boots and I had this product for a few years before I actually started to use it. I got this particular duo from a Helen E stand at The Clothes Show Live and so paid considerably less than the retail price. The left side of the duo is a cream foundation called a 'skin smoother' but I haven't really got into using this because I prefer to use a liquid foundation. However, I regularly use the right side of the duo which is a yellow concealer. I use this under the eyes to cover up dark shadows and I think it really makes a difference. This product retails at £16.50 which is quite expensive for what the product is and considering that I don't use half of it I would recommend buying their concealer stick instead.

Max Factor Creme Puff Powder Compacthttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/face/powder/max-factor-creme-puff-powder-compact

For powder, I'm currently using the Max Factor Creme Puff Powder compact in the shade translucent. As the foundation I'm using gives a good coverage, I use a translucent powder just to set the foundation and the concealer, instead of using it to add colour to my face. However, you can buy this powder in different shades and it retails at £5.99. I find that the powder gives a smooth finish to the face and I use the applicator provided to apply the product. 

Jelly Pong Pong Chocolaterie Palette
Not Available Online 

For blusher and bronzer I'm finding a palette by a company called Jelly Pong Pong really lovely to use. I picked this palette up from The Clothes Show Live around the same time as the Helen E product and so I'm not sure whether or not you can still buy this. It consists of 4 eyeshadows, 2 lipglosses and then this blush/bronzer duo which is the only part of the product I really use. However, once I have used this product up I will be experimenting with new products, especially if I cannot repurchase the bronzer or blusher. Each shade contains a small amount of shimmer but it also looks really natural on the skin and gives you a healthy glow.

Eyeshadow Quad Palette 

This eyeshadow quad has been part of my collection for a long time. I'm not sure where I got it from or how much it was, but I love the neutral colours which make them very wearable for everyday use. However, I'm not the biggest fan of eye shadow so I tend to use the bottom right colour to subtly fill my eyebrows. Using a small eye shadow brush I apply this product and you can see that it is well loved.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Linerhttp://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/glameyes-professional-liquid-liner
Max Factor Kohl Pencilhttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/eyes/eyeliner/max-factor-kohl-eye-liner-pencil

For a typical everyday look, I usually apply both liquid and pencil liners to my eyes. Along the lower lash line and waterline I apply a black kohl pencil and I am currently using this one from Max Factor in the colour black. It applies really well to the eye as it is quite a soft consistency and I have also used it on the upper lashline because it blends nicely. These kohl pencils retail at £4.99 and are much longer than pictured, I think this one was a sample size.

  In addition to the kohl pencil, I also use the Glam'Eyes liquid liner by Rimmel. This retails for £5.29 and I have repurchased this product so many times because it is so easy to use and lasts all day. 

Mascaras L-R:
Rimmel Scandal Eyeshttp://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/scandaleyes-mascara
Maybelline Le Colossal Volum' Express Smoky Eyeshttp://www.maybelline.co.uk/products/144/eyes/mascara/volum-express-the-colossal-smoky-eyes/black/dark-001?shadeId=945
Maybelline Falsies Black Dramahttp://www.maybelline.co.uk/products/106/eyes/mascara/volum-express-the-falsies-black-drama-mascara/black-drama/001?shadeId=571

I always seem to have a lot of mascaras in my makeup bag because I find that I like to change what I wear on my eyes. The oldest mascara in my makeup bag is the Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara and so soon it will be time to get rid of it. This mascara retails at £6.99 and I think it's a right bargain as it makes a big difference to your eyes. 
  The next mascara which I use if the Maybelline Le Colossal, which I find is really good for applying to the bottom lashes because the brush is quite small and thin. I find like the packaging advertises it adds volume to the lashes, but to enhance my eyes further I use this alongside the scandal eyes mascara. This costs £7.99.
  My most recent purchase is the Maybelline Falsies mascara and this will eventually become the replacement for the scandal eyes mascara. I've read a lot of positive reviews on this mascara and thought it was about time that I tried it out. I'm not disappointed by the product as it makes my eyelashes look really long and voluminous, and I find that I don't need to use an additional mascara alongside it because it can be applied to the bottom lashes easily as well. This product costs £7.99.

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint
http://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/lips/1000-kisses-lip-tint

 As a change to lipstick or lipgloss, I brought one of these lip tints at the Clothes Show Live in 2012. It took me about six months to start using it but I find that they are a great alternative to lipstick. They are really easy to apply and really pigmented but they don't last for as long as I thought they would. I usually reapply this product after a few hours and I love that they have a balm with them to hydrate the lips. The two shades I've brought are 'Nothing but Nude' (above, top) and 'Timeless Tango' which is a brighter colour. (above, bottom) These retail at £5.99 each. 

Vaseline
http://www.superdrug.com/vaseline/vaseline-lip-therapy/invt/543876&bklist=

I find Vaseline is a necessity to have in my makeup bag for when I have dry lips, especially during the winter. I always have a small tin in my makeup bag and it's a total bargain for only £1.99. I also apply this on top of my Rimmel lip tints if I don't feel like applying the balm included with the tint.  

The Body Shop Colourglide Lip Colour
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/make-up/lips/colourglide-lip-colour.aspx

During the summer months, I also have this pink lipstick in my makeup bag. This is a really summery colour and is really hydrating and pigmented. The lipstick itself is shade 57 called 'Pink Flirt' from The Body Shop and I love the packaging of the product. It costs £10 which is quite expensive but I brought it as a treat to myself. 

Makeup Brushes L-R:
Eyeshadow Brush by Jelly Pong Pong
Blush Brush by Colour Works
Foundation Brush by Superdrug

These are the brushes I typically use to apply my makeup. I use the eyeshadow brush to apply the shadow to my eyebrows as I find this brush is very precise because it is so small. Fairly self-explanatory, but I use the blush brush to apply my blush and bronzer usually and the foundation brush to apply my foundation.

Contents of my makeup bag

Focus on F1: Paul Di Resta

Through all the rumours and the matter of the World Driver's Championship, there are many different aspects to Formula One. Sometimes, I find that the media focus so heavily on the latest rumour linking Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari or how Lewis Hamilton is now seemingly in the hunt for the 2013 World Title, that we forget about the other talented drivers which we encounter at every race, but do not necessarily receive the attention they should.
  The media is quick to notice when someone performs extraordinarily well or when someone falls short of expectation or when they become outspoken, but no driver is given the nod when they are doing well within their team and is quietly getting on with the business in hand. There are so many underrated drivers on the grid at the moment and I believe one of these to be Paul Di Resta. Although he has captured the media's attention over the past couple of races due to his allegations against his team, prior to this I found that there was not much focus on the young Scot. 
   Already in his third season competing with Sahara Force India, it seems as though Paul is ready to show everybody exactly how talented he really is. Many people may not know that he beat Sebastian Vettel whilst competing and winning his Formula Three title and this is one indication of his speed and talent. I've noticed recently many people criticise Paul and his performances, suggesting that he perhaps isn't good enough. This baffles me somewhat as it makes me wonder if they can see the same thing as me when I'm watching the tv. The important thing to remember here is that he isn't driving the fastest car with the most downforce yet he is still managing to regularly score points in races and qualify within the top 10 (prior to recent qualy problems.) Clearly the car he is driving at the moment isn't capable of winning races or podium finishes because there are teams such as Red Bull, Lotus and Mercedes which are much faster. Di Resta is capable of overtaking, racing other drivers hard and fairly, and is rarely involved in accidents or incidents with other drivers. 
   One side of Paul that we've seen more of this season is when things start to go wrong. For three consecutive races from Monaco to the British GP and even in Hungary, Di Resta has qualified towards the lower end of the grid, for various reasons.
   In Monaco he qualified in 17th place due to the team failing to put on a new set of intermediate tyres in time for him to set a time at the end of the session when times were tumbling, similar to the way that the team didn't manage to get him out in time during qualy in Canada at the next race, resulting him starting the race from a familiar 17th. For these errors Paul blamed the team, but faced criticism for being quick to blame them. Personally, I do not feel as though he did anything particularly wrong here, he was obviously frustrated as he knew what the car was capable and it was clearly better than the 17th place it qualified. After it happened twice in as many races, it's no surprise that he was disappointed and I'm glad he felt as though he could be honest about his feelings at the time. Formula One is a team sport, and so the team should rightfully accept some of the blame for the situations although on the flipside of that some would argue that Paul so accept some responsibility too. Maybe he should.
   One of the most impressive moments of the season was when Di Resta qualified in 5th place for the British GP. However I cannot imagine his frustration when he was later disqualified from qualy and made to start from the back of the grid for being 1KG underweight. Nevertheless, it was still an amazing effort from the driver, and even more amazing to learn that even with the added kilo, he still would have qualified in that position. He really outperformed the car that afternoon and fought back the next afternoon coming from 22nd to 9th to score 2 points at his home race.  
    As it stands Di Resta is currently 10th in the WDC standings, after 10 races. He has 36 points, a career best and has scored more points in the first half of the 2013 season than for the total of the 2012 or 2011 seasons. More importantly, he is consistently beating his team-ate Adrian Sutil, who is no F1 rookie, and this shows in the current 13 point difference between the two drivers. Paul is constantly improving, and surely deserves his chance at a bigger team with a more competitive car that is capable of competing for championships.  

With still 9 races to go in this season, although Di Resta is very unlikely to win the WDC, he is historically stronger in the second half of the season and this provides an exciting feeling for the rest of the season. Along with all the other drama that constantly surrounds F1, you're going to want to be watching the Belgium GP weekend, starting on on 23rd August, with the race on the 25th.

Sixth Form Prom!

By the 27th June, everybody had officially finished Sixth Form. This meant that there would only be one more event where everybody would be together before setting off on our own ways, heading off to University or getting an apprenticeship or job. This was the Sixth Form Prom, located in a hotel in Ipswich. 
  At the end of Year 11 we had our first prom, which consisted of limos and other exciting forms of transport to take us to the venue and most of the girls dressed up in big prom dresses, often described as a meringue dress. However, at the end of Year 13 our prom was so much different. The concept was the same: get dressed up and spend some time with friends dancing and singing and eating, but the main difference was that the dresses were much less in your face and cost considerably less. 
   For prom in Year 11, I had my hair done by my hairdresser, and went to have my nails professionally done in a local nail bar. I spent most of the day getting ready for Year 11 prom, before going down the seafront to have pictures taken with my friends and family by a professional photographer. Afterwards we got into our hired limo and went to our venue, a golf club in the countryside, and had a varied three course meal. After eating we danced and took photos until midnight when we were taken home by our limo. We then had a manic rush getting out of our prom dresses and changed into party dresses for an after party at a friend's house. That was our Year 11 prom. 
   In comparison, for this year's prom, I spent about two hours getting ready, did everything from my hair to makeup to my nails myself and I didn't spend nearly as much on my dress as I did for Year 11. Also, unlike in Year 11 where I had brought my dress 4 months before prom, this year I got my dress the day before. Nothing like being organised!  
  Instead of getting in a glamorous limo this year, I drove myself and three other friends to prom in my own car and when we arrived we were greeted with canapés.

  

My nails for Year 13 prom done by myself, shown on my instagram account

We arrived at the hotel around 7.15pm and I think it was about 8pm when we were ushered into the main function room where our prom would be held. When we entered the room we were welcomed by about 10 huge circular tables where we would be eating our meal. Myself and nine others were on table 2 which was great because it was at the front of the hall so you were able to see everybody. The only disadvantage was that the bar was the other side of the room.

This was my starter.. Forgot to take pictures before I started to eat it though

We had previously ordered our food and the picture above shows what was leftover from my starter. I had ordered the roasted vegetable skewer because I didn't fancy risking spilling tomato soup down my dress! The skewer was basically mushrooms, onion, pepper, courgette and aubergine on a stick and wasn't too bad. I tried courgette and aubergine for the first time and it's safe to say that I don't like either of these veg and my face didn't hide it either. 

I remembered to take a picture of my main meal half way through eating it

As I didn't take too many photos during prom, I thought that I would share my meal, and so this was my main course. I ordered steak with peppercorn sauce and it was absolutely delicious! It was cooked just right (medium) and the sauce was amazing. It was served with this cheesy mash type potato thing which was lovely and vegetables like broccoli and carrots. Mmm. Once again I forgot to take a picture until I was half way through it but I thought better late than never.

I actually took this picture before starting my dessert!

The only photo I remembered to take before eating was dessert! I chose to have profiteroles and these were lovely apart from the massive amount of cream served with them! As they already have cream in the middle I thought that this would be enough but no they put more cream over the top of them and it was so thick it was too much. The presentation of this was nice though. After our desserts I was sophisticated and had a coffee with cream and then most people got up and started dancing. There was even a chocolate fountain but I couldn't even bare to look at it after all the food I had eaten. 

The night came to an end at around midnight. However many people took this opportunity to go out to the nightclubs and bars. Unfortunately I wasn't old enough to join them as I am not yet 18 so I went back to the hotel room that my friends were staying in along with another friend who didn't feel like going out. I waited at the hotel room until the people I was driving home were finished at the nightclub and used this opportunity to make myself another coffee and catch up with my friend. I was collected from the hotel around 2am and after walking back to the car in the rain and with no shoes on I then drove us all home. I love driving at night because I find it much more relaxing as there are less cars on the road and it's much quieter. 

  Once I had dropped my friends home, I got back to my mum's house as I was housesitting whilst they were on holiday and I was exhausted. By this time it was about 3am and I was ready for bed. 

 I had an amazing time at Sixth Form prom, although it is quite sad to think that it was the last time that I saw some people as I haven't seen them since... 

Haul: Makeup, Nails & Clothing

So last Wednesday I went shopping. I accidentally brought some stuff and thought that I'd share it with you!

Although I went shopping not needing to buy anything in particular, as I was walking around I soon started to find some things which just needed to be bought. The shops are not amazing near where I live and there isn't that much variety due to the town centre being quite small, but I still managed to pick up some bargains and some necessities.

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Mascara
http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-The-Volum-Express-Mascara-Falsies_1150618/ 

Although I didn't really know what I was looking for, I knew that I needed to buy a new mascara as my current one is starting to get a bit old so I took a trip into boots. Instead of buying the same one again, I chose to try out the falsies mascara by Maybelline as my sister uses it and she recommended it to me. It was also reasonably priced at £7.99 so I thought that it was worth a try.  

Barry M Hi-Shine Gelly in Passionfruithttp://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Hi-Shine-Gel-Effect-Nail-Polish_1281299/

 As I was walking past the Barry M stand I had to stop to take a look and see if there were any nail polishes which caught my eye. With a bit of money left over from buying the mascara I decided to treat myself to a new nail polish, as usual. The shade that caught my eye this time was another from their 'Hi-Shine Gelly' collection called 'Passionfruit.' It is a really bright red colour and this was the first red that I would have brought from Barry M so I decided to purchase it and it cost £3.99.

  

After visiting Topshop, H&M and New Look I came out with three tops and a skirt. For somebody that didn't need anything I brought quite a lot of stuff. These haven't photographed very well, but I'm still going to show you them anyway!

Green skater skirt from Topshophttp://www.topshop.com

When I went into Topshop, they still had a small amount of items on one side of the shop. I find looking through sale rails challenging because sometimes there are some lovely pieces and at other times it isn't worth the time looking through it. However when I looked in Topshop last week, I found this dark green skater skirt in the sale. It had been reduced from £16 to £10 and thought this was a bargain. Although summer is almost over, I still think that I will be able to get wear out of this during the autumn with tights and I can always keep it for next year!

Baseball style top from H&Mhttp://www.hm.com/gb/product/15933?article=15933-A#shopOrigin=SD

When I went into my local H&M I was slightly disappointed with the stuff that they had in there. I had been in there about a month ago just before I went on holiday and found lots of lovely clothes. However, last week I didn't find hardly anything that I liked and the stuff I liked online wasn't in the shop. I did find this baseball style top in there though and this was something different from what I already have and a total bargain at £6.99. I love the grey marl colour and the maroon coloured sleeves and it is slightly oversized so I can easily team it with leggings or jeans. 

Basic t-shirt with rolled sleeves from H&Mhttp://www.hm.com/gb/product/10458?article=10458-G#article=10458-B

The other t-shirt I got from H&M is just a simple white short sleeved top from their basics collection. I've previously brought a grey top similar to this one and it is so comfortable I wanted a different colour and because I don't have many, I decided on white. What I love about these t-shirts are the rolled up sleeves as it makes the top look more interesting and again was a bargain at £7.99. This is also oversized because they didn't have my size so I think I'll be wearing it with either jeans or leggings and I can easily wear this throughout the rest of summer and autumn. 

Peplum top from New Lookhttp://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/tops/red-peplum-shell-top-_284011360

My final purchase of the day was from New Look. Recently in their sale I brought two peplum tops, a dark plum purple and dark green and I've found these so versatile that when I saw this red one I had to buy it. I don't have a lot of clothes which are red so this is a nice change from the colours I usually buy and I can wear this on either a night out or during the day in autumn. It was also a total bargain at £8.99. 

The F1 Title Battle

Aside from all the rumours flying around in the world of Formula One, there is still the small matter of the World Driver's Championship. We are over the half way point of the season, and it is usually at this time where we can determine how well each team has performed. 

  However, instead the main focus will be on the title battle and the chances of each contender ultimately winning the WDC at the end of the season in Brazil.

   Currently there are four drivers which stand out in terms of being in contention for the title as they have amassed the most amount of points and there is a fair gap in points between the 4th and 5th placed drivers, illustrating a clear group which have stood out from the rest. These four drivers are reigning triple World Champion Sebastian Vettel, former double World Champion Fernando Alonso and former champions Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. Each driver represents a different team, consisting of Red Bull, Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes and this illustrates how competitive this season is becoming and how close each car is to each other in terms of performance.
  Leading the standings with 172 points from 10 races is Vettel. With his worst result this season being a retirement in the British GP from a technical problem, and an impressive record of four wins and three additional podium finishes so far, it is clear to see why he is at the top of the standings. Aside from the retirement, his worst results have been fourth place at the Chinese and Spanish Grand Prix.

   A further 38 points behind in the championship is the Finn Kimi Raikkonen. After scoring points in 19 out of the 20 races last season, Kimi has contiuned his consistent form in 2013. So far he has finished and scored points in every race and alongside his win in Australia, his consistency has been rewarded with 2nd place in the standings. Not only is Raikkonen consistent, but he is also consistently good, with 5 2nd place finishes this season. 

  A single point behind Raikkonen is the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, driving for Ferrari. Like Vettel, Alonso has only had one non point scoring race this season, but what has stopped him from being higher in the standings is the lack of race wins and podiums. From the nine races Alonso has had 5 non podium finishes, which illustrates that the Ferrari is not as competitive as the other cars surrounding it. Alonso takes the most out of the car at each race, which is evident when you look at Alonso's performance against his team mate Massa. 

   Finally, 48 points adrift from the top of the standings, but still in with a chance, is Lewis Hamilton driving in his first season for Mercedes. Like Vettel and Alonso, Hamilton has also had one non points finish and has only so far managed to pick up a single win. However, this season's Mercedes is a huge improvement from the one we saw last season and after seemingly putting their tyre trouble behind them they are now starting to pull in some good results with Hamilton. With Hamilton so far this season it has quite consistent like Raikkonen, but instead of consistent 2nd place finishes, they have been consistent 3rd, 4th or 5th place finishes. 

Sebastian Vettel now has over a race win between himself and his closest rival. This means that as it stands, even if Vettel wasn't to finish the Belgium GP and Raikkonen was to win, he would still be leading the WDC, by 13 points. Even if Raikkonen then went on to win the next GP as well, Vettel would only need to finish 4th to keep them on the same amount of points. A 3rd place would mean that he would still be leading the championship. However, with a fairly reliable and extremely quick race car, if Vettel can just keep doing what he has already done this season, a fourth successive championship is surely inevitable. The Red Bull has the pace to win races, which also massively improves his chances. Some believe that he has already done enough to secure another championship, in terms of securing enough early points and only needing to remain consistent for the rest of the season. 

   Although Vettel has won the previous three championships, the 2012 season was not as dominent as the previous. The title went down to the final race, which was something he has not experienced in 2011. This illustrates that it is getting harder and more competitive to win the WDC, although many were not shocked when he won it last season. 

  Another factor which plays into Vettel's hands is the fact that he has three close contenders. Although this may not seem as though it is an advantage, in the coming races we will see Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso all taking points off each other, which will allow Vettel to further extend his lead.   

With only 9 races left of the 2013 season, it is now that we usually see the bigger teams pull away from the smaller because of their budgets and rates of development. Some teams will now also put more focus into their 2014 car, especially because of the new regulations coming in. However, I still expect to see these four compete for the title, with it hopefully going down to the last race in Brazil. I still also hope McLaren can spring a surprise, although their title hopes went nearly as quickly as the season started. Will Raikkonen be able to continue his consistent form? Will Hamilton win more races during his first season with Mercedes? Will Vettel suffer with any problems with the car? And will Alonso have a more competitive car for the remainder of the season?

Only time will tell, and with the Belgium GP under two weeks away, it's nearly time to start the speculation again. 

Current 2013 Standings: Driver's Championship

Sebastian Vettel: 172

Kimi Raikkonen: 134 (-38)

Fernando Alonso: 133 (-39)

Lewis Hamilton: 124  (-48)

Reflection: Sixth Form

Last Tuesday, I was reminded that I had left Sixth Form over two months ago. This got me thinking and I have wondered how time has managed to go so quickly. It seems as though I've only been finished for a few weeks. 
  Even this time last month I was in a foreign country, enjoying the hot sunshine and relaxed atmosphere.
  Being reminded of when I left has got me thinking about the time that I spent there. For the past two years of my life Sixth Form has literally taken over and has dominated all aspects of my life. So to suddenly not have to go to school or do any kind of coursework was really strange. For the first couple of weeks it didn't feel as though I had actually finished and it took me a while to realise that I could now do whatever I wanted to, without having the guilt of knowing that there was school work to do. 
  Throughout my time at Sixth Form both myself and others would moan about how rubbish it was. We would moan about how we hated our subjects or one of the new rules which were introduced, but looking back at it now, it wasn't really that bad. I mean, all in all I really enjoyed the two years I spend there. There were a lot of good things that happened to us whilst we were there and I think it is important to remember these when reflecting on the past two years. 
  At the start of Year 13, the second year of Sixth Form, we were told that half of us would be moving from the other campus so that all Sixth Formers would be located in one campus. Initially we were sad and angry that we would have to be moved, as we had been in the same school for six years and wasn't up for the move for our final year. However once we were there it wasn't that bad. We got to meet people from the other half of our year and we've made new friends, which we wouldn't have done otherwise. Although we still had to cross-site for some of our lessons, this was alright by the end of the year because many of us got our drivers licenses and cars. 
   Sixth Form was also a chance to study subjects which you had never studied before. In my case I took photography which was a totally new subject because I decided not to take it in GCSE. The past two years have been a challenge for everybody, as it has always been a careful balance between school work and having a social life and it is totally different from what we were all used to. 
  One of the highlights for me is being involved with the iPads which were introduced to our school. Firstly I was part of a team which tested them out before they were distributed to the rest of Sixth Form and then during my final year I became an iPad ambassador, which focused on helping out staff and students if they had any problems with the devices.
  As part of this me and five of my friends went to the Hilton hotel at Stansted to present to over 100 associates and headteachers of the AET about the iPads and how they have influenced our learning, which was an amazing opportunity and experience for all of us. From putting a presentation together to delivering it, we put so much effort into the day and we were all lucky enough to be able to keep our devices at the end of the conference, which was so unexpected. 
  Our Sixth Form also got involved in many charity events such as Sports Relief and Children In Need, which were memorable days. As well as raising money, the whole Sixth Form came together to organise stalls and events which made the days enjoyable for everyone. We even dressed up for these events, for the first Children In Need the theme was fictional characters, for Sports Relief we dressed up as footballers and for the second Children In Need we had a pyjama theme. Soaking our head of Sixth Form with wet sponges is one of my memories from Children In Need, as well as watching a massive group of people dancing to Gangnam Style on the school field.  
  On our last official day at Sixth Form we had our leaver's assembly. I think this was one of the days when we realised that it was nearly over and it actually started to feel real. After giving out comical awards and watching a video put together by myself and my friend we were meant to have a BBQ. Typically though, it was raining so we had an impromptu one in our cafe, which was still great fun.  
  Moving away from the events that happened at school, there were also quite a few parties in during the two years which we attended, particularly in our last year. There are also many highlights from these, with each one being memorable for one reason or another.
 It's hard to believe that I've been at one school for seven years. It feels like 7 minutes and it's scary how quickly it has gone by.  


Now as we look forward to results day, it will be the day that determines what happens next. With many of us going off to University or Apprenticeships next year, it is inevitable that we won't see or speak to the people we would at Sixth Form as much. Some of us will be the other side of the country, or occupied by a full time job and I think that this will really sink in on results day. I hope that I do continue to speak to as many people as possible, but there are some people now that I haven't seen or heard from since our last day or Prom, but that's part of life. Although I moaned about Sixth Form, next year I am going to miss it, but it will be the people that I will miss even more. 

Tutorial: Monochrome Aztec Nails

Aztec prints and patterns have been very popular recently, particularly in clothes. However a different way to wear the trend could be in the form of your nails. Aztec nails can add something to a simple outfit on a night out or can be used alongside other aztec prints to enhance your outfit. You can even reproduce the same aztec pattern from your clothing onto your nails to create a matching outfit.

Although aztec patterns look intricate and difficult to transfer onto your nails, they are mostly made up of a variety of simple shapes and lines and I've found that you can easily create an aztec nail look in your own home. This tutorial will focus on a monochrome aztec nail effect, but you can change the colours and the patterns used to suit your own style or taste. 

Aztec inspired nails

Before you start, you will need to ensure that you have used a nail polish remover to remove any nail polish that you are currently wearing. I also recommend that you take this time to cut and shape your nails so that they look even and straight. 

Polishes Used: L-R Avon Base Coat, Barry M in Matt White and Models Own Nail Art Pen in Black

To create this look you will also need a base coat, a base colour and a nail art pen. The base colour and nail art pen can be any colour of your choice, but for this tutorial I am using a white base colour and a black nail art pen. I think a dark/light colour contrast works best for this look, because it makes the pattern really stand out. 

Step 1

Step 1: Apply a base coat to your nails. This will prevent the coloured nail polish from staining your nails and can prolong the wear of your nail polish. Once the base coat is dry, apply two coats (depending on the consistency of your nail polish) of the base colour to your nails and allow plenty of time to dry.  Here I am using Barry M nail polish in the shade 'Matt White.'

Thin nib part of the nail art pen used for intricate designs

It is essential that the base colour is completely dry before the next stage, as the nail pen will work better and will not stick to the polish already on your nails. 

 Next, you should get a nail art pen ready to use. The best type of pen to use is one which had two applications. A thin nib at the top for intricate detailing and then a long, thin brush which is used for lines and strokes. The models own nail art pens are brilliant for this job as they feature both and I am using their nail art pen in the colour black. 

Step 2

Step 2: Once the base colour is dry, take the nail art pen and using the nibbed end, paint three small dots at the bottom of the nail, near the cuticles. As you are doing this whole look free hand it may take a while to get the hang of being precise, but practise makes perfect. Don't worry if you find that your line of dots are not straight, it does not necessarily need to be accurate. 

Step 3

 Step 3: Then using the same technique, use the nail art pen to draw three more dots at the top of the nail. If possible, try to align these dots with the bottom dots which you have already drawn to make the nail look symmetrical. 

Thin brush for strokes and lines

Step 4

 Step 4: For the next stage of the nail, you will need to use the thin brush as this will be used to draw the lines. Using the brush, drag the brush along the nail, from one side to the other, starting at the bottom of the nail. Then leave a small gap and then using the same technique draw a line across the middle of the nail as pictured above. 

Step 5

 Step 5: Once the lines have been drawn across the nails, it is time to draw the zig zags which are found just below the top dots. For this stage I usually change back to the nibbed applicator as I can join the lines up easier than the brush. You then need to draw the zig zag in the space between the top line and the top dots.

Step 6 & finished nails

 Step 6: To finish the nails, using the nibbed tool, go back to the space between the two lines drawn with the brush and then draw some more zig zag patterns to fill in the gaps. Finally, using the nibbed tool carefully paint dots in between the zig zags in between the two lines and then wait for the paint to dry. 

At this point you could add a top coat to preserve the nail polish, however I do not usually use a top coat for this look because of the texture created by the nail pen. 

You can always try experimenting with different patterns and colours. If you have more than one nail art pen you could always paint different parts of the pattern with different colours and make your nails look really unique. 

Ralph Lauren: The Big Pony Collection for Women No. 2 Review

During a recent trip to Majorca, I found that I had some time to spend in the duty free whilst waiting for my flight back to London. Instead of heading towards the makeup, chocolate or alcohol, I knew that I wanted to try out a new perfume and I was spoilt for choice.

A few minutes later I had picked up hundreds of perfume tester cards and was trying out a range of the perfumes out on display. By the time I had got to the Marc Jacobs stand, my nose was completely overpowered and the choice was insane. 

  However, when I went over to the Ralph Lauren stand I felt drawn in by the 'Big Pony Collection.' I have previously brought one of these fragrances for men for my dad and was intrigued to find out that they had brought out a women's collection. 

  Like the men's collection, 'The Big Pony Collection for Women' have four scents available, named 1-4 and all of them smell completely different. 

   I decided to try out all of the scents available and immediately fell in love with the number two, which is in a bright pink bottle. 

Ralph Lauren The Big Pony Collection for Women No.2

The bottle was a big factor which influenced my purchase of this perfume because I loved the bright colours. There is a good contrast between the lime green logo and pink bottle and although the bottle itself is quite simple it makes it look rather sophisticated.  On the back (or front?) of the bottle in blue is the number 2, telling you which scent in the collection it is and the bottle is completed with a silver lid. 

The perfume itself is very sweet and is described on the box as a 'fruity sensual fragrance' which makes it very girly and perfect for summer. I can particularly smell cranberry notes in the perfume and it is very fruity, which I love. It reminds me of the fragrance 'Fantasy' by Britney Spears but there is a clear difference between the two brands. 
 The only real disadvantage to this perfume is that the smell itself doesn't last very long. After a few hours I cannot smell it and feel the need to reapply the product. Nonetheless it is still a lovely perfume for the summer and I'm sure that I will wear it throughout winter as well.
  As it was the first time that I purchased this perfume I decided to get the 50ml version, however it is also available in 100ml.  

Although I purchased this from the duty free at the airport, you can purchase this fragrance at most retailers such as Debenhams in the UK. The perfume is also available online at websites such as www.theperfumeshop.com, which costs £36.99 for 50ml. 


  

Majorca 2013: Part 2

The view from our hotel, looking down over the pool and sea

Once we had arrived in Palma, we quickly made our way to the baggage reclaim section of the airport and waited whilst our bags were put on the conveyor belt. Typically our bags were one of the last to come out, but we managed to find all of them. We then had to find our coach to transfer us to the hotel. 

  After a lengthy journey I think we finally got to the hotel at 4pm local time. We then checked in and collected our wrist bands from reception, which were a good indication to how tanned we were by the end of the holiday. By this time I had been awake for nearly 30 hours and so we were pretty tired! Luckily we were on the fifth floor instead of the ninth!

The view from the fifth floor lobby

 The location in which we stayed was beautiful. The views were amazing and really relaxing. We walked along the cliffs to the beach a few times and this was when I took the majority of these images. They are mostly taken during the evening too, which shows just how beautiful the place was. 

The main swimming pool in our hotel

 We spent most days just chilling out near the pool or the beach and it was just lovely to not have to think about all the stress and worries at home or during normal life. It was a chance to just relax and enjoy our time away for a week. 
  The main swimming pool was always busy and we often watched people wait around the pool at 8am waiting for the man to unlock the sunbeds. After about 10 minutes the pool would be packed full of occupied sunbeds and towels.

View from the hotel grounds of the cliffs and walkway 

 We also spent some time walking to the little shopping centre about 10 minutes away from the resort and brought souvenirs and trinkets which you wouldn't buy at home. I think most of us came away with sunglasses and t-shirts, a total novelty shopping trip!

Flowers found in the hotel grounds

 As well as the amazing views and scenery within the resort, there was also a wide variety of beautiful flowers and plants. There was a tree with lots of roots growing from it's trunk and hanging from the branches as well as some gorgeous flowers such as the ones above. 

Views from the hotel grounds

On our last evening at the hotel, a few of us went out to get some last photos of the island and we realised how much we were going to miss our holiday and how we did not want to leave. The scenery here was a complete contrast to the views that we are used to at home. 

Views from the cliff-tops near the beach

 I love this image taken near the beach. Although it looks like a panoramic shot, it is indeed just a single shot and the way the land is shaped makes it look like a panorama. The beach itself was beautifully sandy and the sea was so clear and blue, a complete change from the sea and beach in our home town. One day we enjoyed pizza on the beach, played bat and ball in the sea and some of us even explored some of the coves.

The swimming pool which we regularly went to

 Although the main pool in the resort was always packed, the hotel had many other pools which guests could enjoy. On our first night we discovered the pool pictured above, which was located near the second of our two rooms. This was also our usual sunbathing spot and we found that you could always get a sun bed at this pool whenever you went down to it. One day the entertainment team brought down a water carpet and allowed the adults to attempt to run across it which was extremely funny to watch!

The entertainment team performing their rendition of 'Grease'

 In the evenings we typically went down to watch the entertainment. Whilst we were there we watched a circus act, played bingo, watched the entertainment teams interpretations of 'Mamma Mia' and 'Grease' and some of us were even forced to participate in the children's disco! The entertainment team there works extremely hard and are thoroughly entertaining, making sure that everybody gets involved and they happily chat to you whenever you see them.

The main pool at night

Sunrise on the last morning

 We awoke on the morning that we left at about 6am because we were being picked up at 8.40. We had time to finalise our packing and take a few more photos and it was amazing to see the sun come up over the horizon. The photos do not do justice to how red the sky and sun was when they first appeared. We knew that it was likely to be hot that day, and knew we wouldn't be experiencing any of it.

The sun rising on our last morning

We left our hotel, boarded the plane and soon arrived back in England. It's been nearly a month since we went now and it was one of the best holidays I have been on. Not only did I get to experience a beautiful resort and island, but I also got to spend it with my closest friends that I will not necessarily see all the time next year. Going on holiday was one of the best decisions that we made and I would do anything to go again because it was truly a brilliant week. 

Oh and if you're wondering what happened to that group of lads that went to Magaluf... On the flight home one of them was sick, and they said that they 'were never going to Magaluf again' because 'it was a total sausage fest' according to them. Sounds like they had a brilliant time!

Part 1: http://tammypenton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/majorca-2013-part-1.html