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Autumn Goals & Hometown Hunt // Lifestyle

Hey cats!

So here we are in Autumn and the last thing I thought I'd be doing is writing an Autumn themed post or be feeling even remotely excited for Autumn. There is reason for my usual pessimism at this time of year as I suffer from depression & anxiety, so the lack of light makes these much worse, plus my birthday is in December and I hardly relish the thought of being another year older!

Having said that I'm trying more to enjoy each day and give myself things to look forward to, yes it's a basic distraction technique but it's about time I stopped wallowing and started planning! It has to be said that the on/off warm weather has helped me slip into September with ease, and to now be surrounded with Autumnal decor/Halloween tat, well, I'm in heaven. The idea for this post was sparked when Eventbrite got in touch asking if I'd share my favourite Autumn pastimes on here, and knowing that my Dad has used them countless times for attending events, I figured why not get into the 'Fall' spirit!

It's a new season so that means it's time to reaffirm my goals and as my blog can also act as a little to-do list, here are the things I want to achieve this Autumn, as well as a few event picks I hope to get myself to!

Fall Goals

Try a pumpkin spice latte for the first time
Go have a carvery - I do love a roast dinner!
Get back into having driving lessons
Get up-to-date at college
Have a wardrobe clear out before buying Winter clothes
Set more time aside for painting - promote your creativity!
Just order the camera you've been eyeing up
Join a gym & actually go
Take time to learn more about crystals
Stop being scared and go for that reiki training!
Start reading again, even if it's only magazines
Eat at a Caribbean restaurant

Upcoming Events/Places I Want To Check Out

Manchester Museum

Since being a child I've always adored museums of any kind, anywhere with hands-on learning and I was there! This museum is wonderful from the get go, full to the brim with all things dinosaur & Egyptian (always winners for me), and if that wasn't enough it also runs a great selection of events and displays which I love to check out. There was a Charles Darwin exhibition a couple of years back which totally won my heart!

Manchester Art Gallery

This is one of my favourite places to go in and take a breather from the hustle & bustle of the town centre. I find it such a relaxing atmosphere, the café has lovely food and I just think it's nice to soak up some culture once in a while.

Halloween In Manchester

It's no secret that I love Halloween and always have, there's something afoot in Manchester and I'm excited to know what it is!

Cheshire Outdoors

This is located right next to one of my favourite places to go (Blakemere Village) and I've forever been eyeing up all the people having a fantastic time playing mini golf or taking part in the segway course. I'd love to try my hand at some archery and maybe even take the Nature Trail, something I haven't done properly since a Primary School trip!

Cheshire Falconry

This is more of a hope to treat myself or receive this as a birthday/Christmas present, but I would absolutely love to take part in the 'Meet the Birds' experience, I love owls and I'd be so interested in seeing the other birds fly, as well as getting to be a part of it.

The Wonder Inn

This is health & wellness centre with an organic, vegan café that runs tonnes of regular and pop-up events such a music nights, yoga and holistic retreats. I've attended a couple of wonderful events in the past and would love to experience more.

EventBrite Events that I have my eye on:

PLAY Expo Manchester 2016

Manchester Alternative & Burlesque Fair

Photography Workshops

Photography 101

Scrapbooking w/ Paperchase

Down the Mines!

Indy Man Beer Con 2016

You can also help to support local event creation here, there's tonnes of both free and priced events &
workshops to nosey at, as well as blogger specific events!

What are your favourite things to do in Autumn? Let me know in the comments!

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*Just an FYI, I didn't receive anything in exchange for this post, I liked the idea and was happy to incorporate it.

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My Body Shop Basics // CF Beauty

bb cream 16:44

Hey cats!

As soon as I'd decided I wanted to go cruelty-free my jumping off point was by immediately replacing my basic make-up products with CF ones as soon as I could. Before I'd learnt too much about CF and non-CF brands my first port of call was The Body Shop, especially since at the time they had a 3 for 2 offer on! Plus I've always experienced their staff to be really helpful, friendly and happy to spend their time with you helping to find what you need; perfect if you're very socially anxious like myself! So here are my picks that set me off on my cruelty-free journey.

Base

Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream

This is actually a fairly recent purchase and I've only used it a handful of times but I'm already in love with it. I've never really been one for the lure of BB creams, but I really wanted something to use on those days where I didn't want to put any make-up on but wanted to cover up any breakouts & blemishes in order to feel more confident. This product does that so perfectly, instantly covers redness and as a bonus the tea tree treats spots whilst you're wearing it! Plus the fact a little really does go a long way, the consistency doesn't dry out your skin or make it greasy and if the shade isn't perfect straight away just give it a a minute, it adjusts to your skin tone. I've also noticed that The Body Shop have recently changed all the packaging for their skincare products and I absolutely adore it. I can't be the only one who likes having products that not only do the job but also look good sitting around the house, right? I've honestly never before had a BB cream that covers so well & still looks natural (hence never purchasing one before) but I heard good things from Laura over at Life Beauty Lens so I decided to take the plunge and I'm very grateful that to her that I did!

Moisture Foundation SPF15

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of the dewy look and think it's the best way to go for my skin. Naturally I wanted a moisturising liquid foundation that isn't too runny and ideally has sun protection; 3 big ticks for this product! Although I'm very pale, the very kind lady who helped me pick out my make-up products recommended that I go a shade up to add some colour to my face which was actually a great tip (as long as it still looks natural on you of course). Again with most of The Body Shop's products a little goes a long way, I bought their new foundation brush to apply this with which I think is a big help and I feel that this foundation keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day whilst still looking fresh and natural.

Lightening Touch Concealer

Now from my experience and having previously been a big fan of it, I feel that this concealer is The Body Shop's version of YSL's Touche Éclat concealer, but with a better mechanism than the push button; winding definitely saves time and frustration. I feel it does everything that YSL's does for a fraction of the price. It conceals really well and also brightens at the same time, great for under eyes and getting a head start on highlighting the top of your cheekbones. There's not much else to say other than the fact this concealer does everything it claims to do and blends really well into your foundation.

Eyes

Super Volume Mascara

I'm one of these people who doesn't really see the point in a mascara that doesn't completely voluminize your lashes although I've definitely calmed down in comparison to how I used to be (try about 4-5 coats of the thickest, clumpiest mascara I could find) and I'm much happier with a more natural yet enhanced look. What's great about this mascara is that I can achieve that in just one coat and for the time that saves me I'm very thankful. I would say that this mascara can take a little while to dry but the formula isn't particularly wet, and albeit it's not waterproof it doesn't budge that easily. One thing I do notice too is that it comes off really easily with make-up remover and doesn't drag out any lashes, usually I would always lose about 5-7 lashes on my make-up pad with other mascaras!

Brow & Lash Gel

I cannot praise this highly enough! I was always a girl who wore waterproof mascara but I've grown out of this habit because the formulas were so tough that they were destroying my lashes. So naturally panic set in when I chose to buy the mascara above, which isn't waterproof. I'd seen good things about this gel and the reviews were great so I thought why not take the plunge. This for me personally is a holy grail product. The formula is absolutely incredible, one coat on my lashes and they don't flake or drip off (watery eyes happens all too often for me) and of course it does the same for my brows, keeps them in place all day with no touch ups needed! My only issue with this and other clear products I've had in my time is the fact that they don't stay clear for long after collecting mascara/brow pomade on the brush over time. If anyone has any tips to reduce this happening then please let me know!

Skinny Thin Felt Eyeliner

Albeit I've not been wearing eyeliner much lately I still had to have one in for those times when I fancy going that extra mile with my make-up. There's not much to say about this other than the fact it does everything that I want it to, plus I find felt tip style eyeliners easier to use. It's really simple to control, the nib is nice and thin, the staying power is solid and doesn't budge with watery eyes. And it's super black in pigment which I adore! One of the best eyeliners I've used to date.

Lips

I think it's important to mention here that all of these lipsticks have great pigment, last for hours, aren't either too shiny or too matte and the formula isn't runny/drying at all. I chose to pick out three colours that I would be most likely to wear day-to-day; they're listed in order from left to right and I didn't see the point in swatching as the colours come out as you see them there. Also, how stunning is the packaging?!

Colour Crush Lipstick - 110 Coral Cutie

This was the first lipstick to start me on my coral coloured lips addiction. I was searching around the stand wondering what colours to buy and thought actually maybe I should be more adventurous, after all I'm not really a classic red lip kinda girl but my recent love for the colour orange is what sparked the purchase of this beautiful colour. There isn't much else to say other than it's a stunning shade that seems to work well with any look, but I do love pairing it with an orangey/gold smoky eye!

Colour Crush Lipstick - 340 Berry Me

Another new favourite colour of mine along with coral is deep brown/purple tones on your lips. Maybe I'm eager for Autumn already but I really feel like this hue suits my skin tone much more than pinks and pillar box reds (which tend to make me look washed out). I absolutely love popping this on with a dark eyeshadow look, I think it compliments it perfectly; but it works just as well with only your brows done and a coat of mascara!

Colour Crush Lipstick - 105 Coral Blush

I wouldn't really describe this as a true coral colour, its much more toned down than the other and I suppose I'd class it as a more neutral red if that makes sense? I feel like this colour is one that enhances your natural lip colour so as someone with naturally 'blush' lips this lipstick works great with a more natural/barely there make-up look.

What are your basics & where are they from? Lets get nattering!

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My Make-Up Essentials // CF Beauty

barry m 13:58

Hey cats!

Since I wrote about my current skincare faves (which you can find here) I thought it would make sense to follow up with a make-up version. So here are the things I don't think I could live without currently, as I use all of these each time I do my make-up. Here are my ultimate failsafes!

The Body Shop Instablur Primer

This is the priciest of products on my list but hear me out because I believe its well worth the £14 *gasp* price tag. I've never been one for primers and didn't honestly see the point, well now I do. I bought this after a lovely lady in the Trafford Centre branch committed her time to helping me find make-up that would cover up my acne & dry skin (which at the time were both horrendously bad and affected me so much I rarely wanted to leave the house). She spent ages with me, testing out different things and putting me a full face of make-up on to walk around with and see how it wore. A little side note but I find that The Body Shop staff are usually always so lovely!

Right, down to the nitty gritty of me listing off why I love this. First of all the smell is delightful, an almost floral scent but not overpowering and also you don't need a lot of this product to cover your face. The consistency of the primer can take a while to get used to and I find it doesn't really work on a brush so I just apply it with my fingers. When I'm wearing this primer I find that my make-up not only goes on smoother but it also 'sticks' better to my face, lasts longer because my foundation doesn't just get absorbed and therefore putting your base on is easily buildable. Lastly I really find that this helps to minimise my pores and give my face a smoother appearance. Now because of the price I only tend to use this on heavy make-up days (c'mon we all have them right?) so otherwise I'll just use a BB cream. Either way, even if you don't want to give this product a try I would say that applying some sort of primer or BB cream before your foundation will do wonders if you have tetchy skin.

(If you're feeling like you don't want to spend that much but have a couple of Body Shop products on your list then do check out an outlet store of theirs, they always have fantastic offers on that will save you lots of pennies!)

MUA 5th Birthday Eyeshadow Palette

I searched high and low for this palette and just when I was about to give up I finally found it. In a sense I do regret this because it's been the most amazing & functional palette ever...and it was a limited edition. So once I hit pan I've no idea what I'm going to do with myself although I assume there will be plenty of similar shades from MUA's huge selection. I think it's best I bullet point why I love this palette so I don't go on with myself too much!

For the very small price tag (£5 I think) the pigment in every colour is spectacular, lots of depth to them, they blend so well & they wear for hours and hours
There's such a great range of colours and selection of shimmers & mattes, its a really usable palette for all kinds of looks
With all the shades being in one palette it's a fab piece of kit to take on holiday
The shimmer shades aren't too glitzy/don't fallout and the lighter colours are great for highlighting your inner corner/brow bone
I've had this for a long time now and it's lasting for ages (thankfully!)
It's the only thing I use for eyeshadows and once it's run out I will definitely be hunting down replicas of every single colour

Barry M Illuminating Strobe Cream

It took me forever to get hold of this, everywhere I went it was out of stock with only the tester stick sitting there teasing me. When I'd finally given up I'd popped into Boots out of curiosity and managed to get the very last one in stock in the shade (frosty pink) I'd wanted. Fate! Now, I cannot stress enough how good I find this - especially as a highlighting novice - you barely have to use any product for a great highlight, it isn't greasy or too creamy and it's just so easy to use. I love a convenient product and this is just brilliant, I dot it on all my high points and from my temple down to about a third of the way into my cheek (just under by eye bags of course) and then smudge it slightly to make sure it's blended in. I also find that it's very buildable so one sweep is great for a natural look or you can really go crazy with it for some severe strobing! When I'm putting effort into my make-up I like to pat a little powder highlight on the top and the cream holds it so well. It lasts all day, doesn't look shiny/sweaty and just makes me feel so glowy; for such a budget price I'd really recommend giving this a try!

Barry M Genie Lip Paint

To be honest I don't really feel I need to justify my reasons for buying this lippy, I mean it's a green lipstick that goes on pink, ultimate wizardry! Aside from this and the gorgeous, punchy packaging it's actually a really fantastic, unique product. I didn't take a picture of a swatch because the lipstick adjusts to the alkaline in your lips, so it looks a different shade of pink on each person! For me it looks very similar to the packaging, a hot Barbie pink. This lip stain claims to last for 8 hours and I can definitely agree with that; even after food, drink and me vigorously wiping my lips they were still a vibrant pink colour. I know many can worry that lip stains are drying but this one feels just like a lip balm would and it moisturises for hours. All I can say is make sure you swatch the tester before purchasing as there is no guarantee you'll like the shade it turns on you; when my mum swatched it, it was a very pale pink colour. If you needed to know any more about the legitimacy of the colour adjusting to you, my boyfriend kissed me before he left for work and when I saw my reflection, my lips had changed to a plum colour!

NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray

I went through the matte phase and battled with constantly greasy skin ruining my vibe, then when I finally tried to embrace this and the dewy look, my skin became exceptionally dry, flaky & snake-like (thanks contraception). Tonnes of products later - including prescription ones - in order to get 'normal' skin back I'm about halfway there with combination oily/dry skin. I still adore the dewy, glowing look and this spray for me just enhances what I manage to achieve with moisturiser & make-up. Popping about 3 spritzes of this over my face when I'm done applying my make-up does wonders, but at first I'll be honest, I was underwhelmed. Why? Well as per usual I expected immediate results, I wanted to look instantly dewy and fabulous. Despite this not-so-great first impression I stuck with it and over time realised that it really does hold your make-up ALL DAY, doesn't make you look sweaty or sticky and you do end up looking fresh faced with a healthy glow! For the holding power of this spray and the fact it does give you that dewy/highlighted look I think it's a bargain and it's definitely the best setting spray I've used out of the numerous things I've tried.

What makeup essentials do you always keep handy? Let me know in the comments!

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The Get To Know Me Tag // Lifestyle

chatting 13:30

Hey cats!

I like to think that I'm quite an open person but I feel that social media like Instagram and Twitter can sometimes give quite a narrow view of what a person is really like; I wanted to do this tag so people can see a bit more of how open I like to be & after putting a poll on Twitter people said they wanted to see this so I hope I can give you more of an insight!

What is your middle name?

Victoria

What is your favourite colour?

Without a doubt it's green! I've always been drawn to the colour but I chose it as my fave colour in school about age 7 because no one else would pick it as theirs and I felt sorry for it...yup

Who was your first best friend?

My first ever best friend was a girl called Jade, she was my favourite person to play out with/spend time around and she gave me her only Posh Spice sticker in class one day to cheer me up. Sadly she passed away because of a brain tumour when she was 6; it was my first ever experience of death and I still miss her to this day

How tall are you?

I am a tidgy 5ft

Cats or dogs?

I do love both but I guess I'd have to say cats purely because you rarely have to clean up after them and I've never actually owned a dog!

Funniest moment throughout school?

For me, every day of Primary school was funny but I really didn't enjoy High School at all. In fact I missed 2 years of it in Year 8 and Year 10 because of Glandular Fever, so I found it quite funny that I still left with As, Bs and Cs despite me missing all that time, being bullied consistently and having been forgotten about by all my teachers. Karma eh?

How many countries have you visited?

Erm, I'm not much of a traveller so 3 I think (France, Portugal & Greece)

Are you in/gone to college?

I've been there, done that, went to Uni, bought the hoodie and now I'm back at college again doing a diploma!

What was your favourite/worst subject in High School?

Favourite has got to be either English or Science and worst is without a doubt Maths

What is your favourite drink?

Soft drink would be sparkling lemon water; alcoholic drink is hands down lager & lime

What is your favourite animal?

Bats! They're so cute but can be super creepy too, love them! Plus they used to live in our roof and it was the best thing ever watching them out of the window every night

What is your favourite perfume?

Probably Flight of Fancy by Anna Sui. There's just something about the smell that takes me straight back to my happiest college days sat in the park with all my friends. Pure, delicious nostalgia

Tea or Coffee?

COFFEE! Preferably as black as my soul

What would you (or have you) name your children?

I don't have children yet but I honestly have no clue, I think I'd come up with names nearer to knowing my lil babas!

What sports do you play/have you played?

Since I was ill in school I developed Chronic Fatigue and have struggled massively with my health, so sport is off the menu these days! But before that I was the most energetic child and I loved rugby and rounders!

What is your favourite book?

Probably The Savage Garden by Mark Mills

Who are some of your favourite YouTubers?

I don't watch many 'beauty/fashion' YTs, the two I do watch are Helen Anderson & Rhiannon Ashlee

I love watching gamers like Markiplier, JackSepticEye, Daz Games and PewDiePie

I may have a guilty pleasure in watching Dr Pimple Popper!

What is your favourite movie?

Without a doubt it's Nightmare Before Christmas and always has been. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an extremely close second though!

Are you Single or Taken?

Taken for 3+ years

What's your idea of an ideal first date?

Dressing up a bit, going for a mooch, grab a meal somewhere and then maybe head back to the pub for drinks, chatter and some pool

How many girlfriends/boyfriends have you had?

6 including my current

Favourite memory from childhood?

Going to Disneyland Paris for the first time, it was so magical and I adored every minute. I would love to go back again now

Do you speak any different languages and how well?

I don't! I know little bits here and there of French, Spanish & Portuguese but it's hella rusty

Do you have any siblings?

Nope I'm ~~spoilt rotten~~ an only child!

How would you describe your fashion sense?

A mix between glorious hippie queen & 'I just rolled out of bed'

What is your favourite restaurant?

This is a toughie! I think I'm going to have to go with Wagamama (most oriental food wins my heart though)

What are some of your favourite tv shows?

There's so many: GoT, OITNB, iZombie, Suits, Supernatural, Grimm, Scorpion, Bottom, The Young Ones, Jackass, Arrow, Once Upon a Time, Castle, Sherlock, Ghost Whisperer, Nurse Jackie & any nature documentaries to name but a few!

PC or Mac?

Only a recent convert but Mac, it's the best thing ever

What phone do you have? (iOS v Android?)

I just upgraded recently to the iPhone 6, happy with it so far and having it sync with my Mac makes life much easier!

Tell us one of your bad habits!

Hoarding/buying too much, its such a difficult one to break

Anything you want to know? Let's get chatting!

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Fall Goals

Upcoming Events/Places I Want To Check Out

Base

Eyes

Lips

What is your middle name?

What is your favourite colour?

Who was your first best friend?

How tall are you?

Cats or dogs?

Funniest moment throughout school?

How many countries have you visited?

Are you in/gone to college?

What was your favourite/worst subject in High School?

What is your favourite drink?

What is your favourite animal?

What is your favourite perfume?

Tea or Coffee?

What would you (or have you) name your children?

What sports do you play/have you played?

What is your favourite book?

Who are some of your favourite YouTubers?

What is your favourite movie?

Are you Single or Taken?

What's your idea of an ideal first date?

How many girlfriends/boyfriends have you had?

Favourite memory from childhood?

Do you speak any different languages and how well?

Do you have any siblings?

How would you describe your fashion sense?

What is your favourite restaurant?

What are some of your favourite tv shows?

PC or Mac?

What phone do you have? (iOS v Android?)

Tell us one of your bad habits!

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