143. Share The Love: Angsty Princess

This months share the love post is dedicated to the lovely Chelsea from Angsty Princess. It's a new blog in my life and it's a fab one at that. I discovered her blog through a beauty swap i took part in and i was partnered with Chelsea, I couldn't have asked for a better swap partner she's such a lovely girl and i had a lot of fun emailing and talking to her.

Her blog is lovely, great content, clear photos and a really nice layout too! I'd definitely recommend heading over there and checking out her blog!
What blogs have you been loving reading?

142. You're your own limitation

Taken from Tumblr.com

Since finishing Uni, I've been having frequent panics about what the heck I'm going to do next. As I'm sure many of you are aware - lets face it, I've complained about it enough - i disliked uni and i hated my course so during my final year i decided that once i graduated i wouldn't be going into the career I'd studied for. So I'm literally back to square one.

I've been out of employment for a while - i left my last job because i wanted to live out in my second year of uni so travelling to and from for my job would have been difficult so i made the decision to leave it - worst decision ever. I hated living out and moved back home as soon as my uni year was over and since that day (about a year ago) i have been searching for a job. I'm literally looking for anything, just something that will provide me with income just til i know what i want to do next.

Particularly this last month, I've upped the job search and have been applying for a lot of jobs but during this process I've also avoided some job vacancies not because I'm being fussy just because i doubt myself and i don't think id be good enough for them. I've also been trying to think of what i want to do with my life, because i don't want to be stuck in some dead end job but when i think of the type of careers i wouldn't mind having i find myself thinking of reasons why i can't do them, i find excuses as to why i can't.

and i realised... that we are our own limitation and by that i mean that we can only achieve something by going out there and doing it, if you want something to change only you can change, if you want something only you can get it. My constant doubt in myself and this constant thought that i won't be good enough or that i can't do something is limiting me.

I'm terrified that this doubt i have is going to stop me from achieving all that i can. I don't really know why I'm writing all this in a blog post but i just wanted too, the expression you are your own worst enemy is so true - i doubt myself beyond belief and I'm going to be the only reason i won't get anywhere. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that enough is enough and I'm going to change and everything will be hunky dory because lets face it, those bunch of words don't guarantee anything.

but I'm going to say this, that i will at least try.
If anyone knows of any magic cures to stop constant self-doubt and assumption that you'll fail at everything, please let me know!

141. Manshiu Longlasting Eyelash Extension Volume Length Curling Mascara

I bought this Manshiu Longlasting Eyelash Extension Volume Length Curling Mascara (what a name) back in January from Ebay when i had a little splurge on some Korean make-up products. I had a few mascaras to use first so I've only started to use this particular one this past month. I originally paid £3-4 which is already a really good price but it's gone even cheaper now and is only £1.99 so it's very bank balance friendly and the postage is also free, it does come from Hong Kong so it did take about 3-4 weeks to arrive but that doesn't really bother me.

I wasn't too sure what to expect from this mascara, as before buying it I'd never even heard of it let alone seen any reviews but i was sucked in by the packaging - I'm sorry but how could anyone resist this? I'm not actually that much of a cat person (sorry) but when i saw this mascara i just had to have it, the design is so cute and the cat has a little dickie bow - how could i not?!





As a mascara itself well it definitely did not disappoint, it gives my lashes some serious length - i did  not expect it to be as good as it is, especially for such a cheap price, i thought it might have been one of the products where the packaging was gonna be as good as it gets but this it has definitely proved me wrong. It adds volume, adds a curl to the lashes (i still use my eyelash curlers but i could get away with using them) and as you can see from the photos it really does add length to my lashes. I found it very long lasting and it didn't smudge on me either. Can this mascara do no wrong?

On the Ebay page (linked above); it says that the mascara is good for sensitive eyes, has an oil free formula and is suitable for people who wear contacts too - I don't have sensitive eyes nor do i wear contacts so i can't offer a review for those but they can only be a good thing?

Overall, i am seriously impressed with this mascara and I'd definitely recommend checking it out. It doesn't quite replace Benefit's They're Real as my favourite mascara but it's definitely up there with it, and it's definitely one i would repurchase over and over.

What's your favourite mascara?

140. Natural Collection Blush | Peach Melba

You know when you read about a product being mentioned on a few blogs and hyped up and you just have to try it - well this is one of those products. The Natural Collection Blush in Peach Melba (£1.99) Natural Collection is a Boots own brand and is dirt cheap, so its ideal for people starting out and people on a bit of a budget - It's also perfect for make-up obsessives like myself.

First impressions; the packaging isn't anything amazing - it's cheap looking and i don't know why but i hate the screw top style packaging like this for blushes, it's also quite plain and boring but at £1.99 you get what you pay for. One good thing about this packaging is that it's quite a nice compact size so its good product to keep in your handbag or take travelling with you as its won't take up too much space.

I was really looking forward to trying this out, especially after reading so many positive reviews and just look at that shade its so pretty but if I'm honest the first time i tried it i just didn't get it nor understand what's the hype?  I may have not wasted a fortune but i just didn't get the whole hype about it, i found the pigmentation to be kind of weak unless i built it and it's not that long lasting either, after a couple of hours its barely visible.

Sometimes i think i might have a dud one because so many people love it and say its really pigmented but i just don't see this? I have found a way to work with it (I'm trying to be more persistent with products i don't like and trying to find ways to get along with them so I've not wasted money) I use my ELF Stippling Brush with it and build up the colour on my cheeks and i can't deny that the shade gives a pretty peachy flush to the cheeks.

I did try and get a photo of me wearing the blush but the camera didn't pick it up - whether it's the blush or just my camera i don't know but i did try! I wouldn't not recommend this blush but i wouldn't say its amazing either. I will still use this blush, but I'm really disappointed and don't really understand the hype around it - like i said maybe I've got a dud one but id love to know if you've tried this blush and what you think of it?

139. The Bell Jar

I've had The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath on my shelf for years. I remember mithering my sister to buy it me so i could read it and as soon as it came i started to read the first chapter, got really confused and left it to gather dust on my shelf.This year i was determined to read more (I'm finally back to reading as my attention is no longer dedicated to uni work) and this was one of the books i was determined to read and i finally read it back in Feb/March - yes, this review is a little late.

Esther Greenwood is at college and is fighting two battles, one against her own desire for perfection in all things - grades, boyfriend, looks, career - and the other against remorseless mental illness. As her depression deepens she finds herself encased in it, bell-jarred away from the rest of the world. This is the story of her journey back into reality. Highly readable, witty and disturbing, The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel and was originally published under a pseudonym in 1963. What it has to say about what women expect of themselves, and what society expects of women, is as sharply relevant today as it has always been.

I personally found this book quite a difficult read, it's quite intense and it's a very difficult subject matter and i found it quite draining to read - others may disagree with me, but this type of novel is a lot different to the usual boy meets girl smush i read. The Bell Jar is actually an autobiographical novel but Plath's real life persona has been replaced by Esther Greenwood - a woman who is on the verge of breaking the writing world. The book starts with Esther as an intern in New York, and as it progresses we see her return home where she essentially suffers from a nervous breakdown and assumes the best method is suicide, from that we see her spend time in a mental rehabilitation unit.

This book is definitely worth a read, it was quite a tough read and i found it kind of draining but it was really interesting to read how she felt and what she went through. It also gives great insight on how people with mental disabilities/issues were treated with during that era!

Have you read The Bell Jar?

138. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Foxy | Half Baked | Bodycall | Chopper | Tease | Snakebite

Suspects | Pistol | Verve | YDK | Busted | Blackout

Well aren't i late on the bandwagon with this one? I know you're probably sick of reading reviews about them but i thought id throw my 2 cents in anyway.

I've wanted the Naked 2 palette for a while to go with my others and i also wanted to see how it compares to the Naked 1. I wasn't in a rush to buy it as i had so many neutral palette but they were selling it on the plane and along with duty free it had they had a summer sale on which was an extra 10/20 % off (i can't remember exactly what percentage it was) but it was at a price i just couldn't refuse. I paid for mine in euros so i don't know the exact price that i paid but it was less than £30.

They've changed the packaging of this palette and it comes in tin-style container so its alot more sturdier than Naked 1 - it also comes with a dual ended brush and mini lip junkie lipgloss in the shade naked. The Naked 2 palette is filled with more cooler toned shades than the Naked 1 palette which is more warmer shades. It has 12 shades and contains a mixture of matte and shimmery shades so there is something to suit everyones taste. Like all Urban Decay eyeshadows; these are fantastic quality with excellent pigmentation and the lasting power is brilliant.

The combination of shades I've been wearing the most from this palette is Bootycall all over the lid, Tease in the crease and a bit of Busted in the outer-corner and taken underneath the eye and blended out - it's a very subtle eye look but its one that I've really been enjoying wearing on a day to day basis.

Overall, i think this is a fantastic palette. They are a little steep in price to buy but they really are worthwhile investments - i think its £36 that they retail for but they really are worth every penny. I reach for all of my Naked Palettes (both Naked 1, Naked 2 and Naked Basics) quite a lot. You don't necessarily need to own them all but regardless of which one you choose to get you will not be disappointed.
Do you have any of the Naked Palettes?

137. 101 Update

Taken from Tumblr.com - text added by me.

Everytime i complete 10 things on my 101 things in 1001 days, i like to do a little update and let you know how its going. This 10 has been completed so quick compared to the last update which seemed to take forever but I'm really happy that I've managed to accomplish so many of them..

Onto the '10 things'....

31. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
I wrote an inspiration quote i came across inside a book and then i donated it to a charity shop for someone to find. I wrote it in pencil so they can remove it if they want because i know i hate writing and marks in books.

32. See Olly Murs Live
I went to watch Olly Murs in Liverpool back in March and he was incredible - i did a full post here, if you'd like to see some photos and read a little more about

33. Give up something for Lent

Every year i give up something for lent and every year i fail, this year however i did it! I gave up both crisps and chocolate, it was really hard because i love to the two but I'm so proud of myself for doing it!

34. Go to Rome
Ahh, i still can't believe that one of the things i have been, I've been dreaming of going to Rome for so long that i still can't believe it happened. If you'd like to see my photos then check out my two posts i did - here and here

35. Visit a Sephora

It really bugs me that the UK don't have Sephora so as soon as i knew i was going to Rome i intended to track the nearest one down, and it was really nice! I only picked up a couple of things from there but i loved going in and being able to see some of the brands that i don't have access too and the staff were really lovely too!

36. Eat Pizza in Italy

I'm a big pizza eater and one of the things I've always wanted to do is try real Italian Pizza and we did, we went to a little cafe near the Trevi Fountain and it was one of the most disgusting things i have ever eaten.

37. Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain

This is one of my proudest achievements. I don't know what it was that made me want to see and and make a wish in it so much but its something I've always wanted to do and it's one of thee most beautiful places. If you ever get the opportunity to go, please do! & don't forget when throwing your coin - stand with your back to the fountain, coin in your right hand and toss over your left shoulder otherwise it doesn't come true! 

38. Go to Hardrock Cafe

Ive never been to the Hardrock Cafe before and went to the one in Rome whilst i was away. The food was delicious, it a little on the expensive side but it was really tasty and we was on holiday.

39. See the famous ‘Through the Keyhole’ View
This is one of those 'off the beaten path' tourist places that i came across whilst researching for places to visit in Rome and it was quite spectacular - it wasn't what i originally thought it would be but it was beautiful in its own right.

40. Do a Beauty Swap

I've wanted to do a beauty swap for ages, especially with someone from the US so i could try all those brands that i constantly seeing the American bloggers/vloggers talk about and it finally happened. Not only have i made a lovely friend in Chelsea who i did my swap with but she sent me a whole load of amazing products! You can see what i got here.

Now to complete another 10!
Anyone else doing the 101 things in 1001 days, id love to see your lists and updates?

136. Topshop Lipstick | Brighton Rock

I picked up this Topshop lipstick in Brighton Rock (£8.00) back in March after it was recommended to me on twitter. This is the first Topshop lipstick i own so i was looking forward to trying it out, as I'm constantly seeing people talking about them on their blogs and in their youtube videos and i wanted to see for myself it they are worth it.

I was recommended to check out the shade Brighton Rock which is a bright pink lipstick - it's quite barbie-esque, it almost reminds me of Mac Chatterbox Lipstick. Its so pretty that i knew i wanted it as soon as i picked it up in the shop. The lipstick itself is really nice to wear, the shade is very pigmented, it has a really creamy formula and its very long lasting - i wore this the night i went watching Olly Murs and i only reapplied it once and it was still as bright at the first application when the night was over. The creamy formula of the lipstick also means its not drying on the lips, and its really nice to apply and to wear.

That hair that's fallen over my face is really annoying me - i don't know how i didn't notice it when i took the picture!

I love the packaging of Topshop Make-up and this lipstick is no exception. I'm really glad for the recommendation of this lipstick as i really like it. It's great quality, a gorgeous pigmented colour and really long lasting and i definitely want to check out more shades that they do.

Have you tried the Topshop Lipsticks?
Whats your favourite shade?