Going Out

Hello Everyone, 

Every girl loves going out. Especially, the getting ready to go out. Picking your outfit, choosing the accessories, and doing make-up. Its the only time it is perfectly acceptable to spend half an hour in the shower doing absolutely nothing. However, my favourite part is doing my makeup. I will spend so much time doing, just because I am going out. There are some items that I will never leave for a night out without them in my make-up bag. 

Simple Ultra-Light Gel Moisturiser

An extra light moisturiser is perfect as a base for make-up. It is especially good as being ultra light, it stops you looking quite so shiny when you're sweating on the dance floor. The gel formula holds onto your make-up pretty well too, so you don't really need a primer, unless you have ultra oily skin. 

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder Tansparent

Mattifying powder is a must when I go out, and this is the best one I have ever used on the high street. I use instead of foundation, but it can be used as a setting powder for your base, giving you a matte finish that lasts all day and night. It comes in a variety of colours, including Transparent, so it is suitable for all skin types. 

Rimmel London Gel Eyeliner in Black/Emerald

Depending on the look I'm going for, I will generally use either black gel eyeliner, or Kate Moss's Emerald. Everyone loves a winged eyeliner, and I love using interesting shades and colours, so these are perfect. 

(From left to right) Tanya Burr Lipgloss Vampire Kiss, Max Factor Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint in 09, Clinique Red-y to Wear

Red lips are my signature 'look' for a night out, so I have a slightly large collection of red lips. I use stain, gloss and classic lipstick. These three are my favourite. The Clinique is a blue toned red that reminds me of Marilyn Monroe, it is a glossy, glamorous finish that reminds me of the Hollywood Golden Age. The Max Factor Lip Tint has incredibly good colour pay-off, it will last all day with no bleeding. The Tanya Burr Vampire Kiss Gloss was a Christmas present to myself, and it is gorgeous, it can be worn by itself or with the stain. 

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Violetta

Although you can never go wrong with a red lip, sometimes I want to try something a little different, and my love of interesting colours means that I am often drawn to this. A gorgeous purple with a slight shimmer to it with a satin finish, this is fantastic if you want to spice up your normal make-up look. 

L'Oreal Paris Colour Appeal Trio Pro Blue Eyes

Creating a smoky eye could not be easier with this little kit. This one is made specifically for blue eyes, but there are some for other colours too. It makes my eyes pop, and is very versatile with other palettes and in creating different shapes with the shadow. 

New Look Pure Colour Glitter Nail Polish in Rose Gold

This adds a little sparkle to every outfit. Simply apply a coat over existing nail polish, or for a more subtle approach, use a clear base coat, and apply on its own. Rose gold is a lovely colour, and will enhance any nail colour. 

My Daily Routine

Hello Everyone, 

I love beauty, and beauty tips and recommendations of beauty products. The only time I cannot leave a shop without purchasing something almost all of the time is when it sells beauty products. So I am going to go through my make-up collection (condensed make-up collection, I may add), and use each item at least once in a post, either reviewing them or using them in a make-up tip.

I have a lot of 'everyday' products that I use, depending on time restraints, my having a 'good skin day', or what I 'look' I am aiming for that day. The ones in this post are some that I keep going back to again and again.

This was a new product that I picked up on a whim, and I love it. It removes my makeup incredibly easily and without any harsh dragging on my delicate eye area. My mascara and eyeliner seems to melt off my eyes without my realising it. I was worried that it would make my skin break out after I used it, but it does not seem to block my pores. 

I am really careful about what I use on my skin, as I don't want to use too many harsh chemicals on my skin, stripping it of its natural oils, causing more breakouts as my skin works to replenish it ten fold and clogging up my pores. Simple is very good, and doesn't cause my skin to flare up incessantly. I love this cleanser particularly because although it doesn't get rid of blackheads, it does leave my skin feeling refreshed and it does not get as oily throughout the day as it normally does.

I love this moisturiser. It manages to both moisturise my skin, and keep shine off my face all day. All I have is a nice dewy glow to my face, not oily. The fact that it works with my cleanser is a bonus as well. 

This was another impulse buy. I had been constantly reading about the foundation that goes with this concealer and it was on offer, so I tried out a tester. It matched perfectly with my skin, so I bought some. It completely covers any under-eye discolouration that I have, and makes my eye area much brighter and much more awake. And of course, you can't even tell that I'm wearing it. 

I've just started filling in my eyebrows, and this is the only light brown powder that matches my eyebrow colour. It is a darker brown than I would normally use, but when on, it is much lighter than in the palette. It makes my eyebrows much less sparse looking, and while I am growing them out, it creates an even shape and colour. 

This is a quick fix for my already ruddy cheeks, creating some depth and definition in the apples of my cheeks. The slight shimmer also brings out a glow in the apples, along with a highlight. 

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Black and White
Maybelline ExpertWear Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde

My pencil eyeliners are staples. I use the white one on my lower waterline to create a wide eye look, the black to outline my lower lash line, and the pale brown if I am in a rush with my eyebrows. The pencil gives my eye brows structure and definition quickly. 

No. 7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Eyeliner in Black/Brown

This felt tip eyeliner is a life saver, creating winged lines in a flash. It also can get right into my lash line drawing a thin line to create a natural boost for my eyelashes, making them seem fuller and darker, and defining my eyes. 

Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette

The Naked Palette is something that I just love. I feel incredibly chic when I wear it, as I have never really been that good with nudes, but this palette makes it easy. The colour pay-off is very good, with it staying on my eyes all day. The bronze undertone to all the shades really makes my blue eyes pop, and there are enough shades to create a multitude of looks. 

No. 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Black

This mascara is a life saver. It creates fuller, longer looking lashes with a natural looking curl. It does everything I want in a mascara, with no clumping. If I am in a rush in the mornings, all I do is apply this, and I'm good to go. 

What are your 'go to' products in the morning? 

Review: The Blood of Olympus

Hello Everyone, 

I have finally got my hands on the last of the 'Heroes of Olympus' series, and I have to say I loved it. It was a remarkably adult finale to the series considering its firm position in the children's section of the bookshops and libraries. The story line, although fantastic, is not the starring point of the series. That is reserved for the development of the characters. I will outline my favourite and my most problematic characters that I found throughout the series. 

Looking back on the characters of Percy and Annabeth, who are the only ones to continue to this series from the last in any major capacity, Annabeth is the only one who is not allowed as much development space as the others. Percy on the other hand remains an incredibly relate-able character for young boys wanting to branch out their reading to some more adult books. Annabeth's lack of development for me was because she was not allowed as much text space as the others.

Jason was a bit of a hit-or-a-miss character for me. Most of the time he seemed a bit unrealistic, there was too much confusion in everything he did. He simultaneously had too much responsibility, and too little. The only times I truly appreciated him as a character was when he interacted with both Percy and his girlfriend Piper. In these moments, he was really vulnerable, letting his walls of 'Roman-ness' you could call it, down. His relationship with Percy was founded in the fact that they were both sons of the 'Big Three', meaning that a lot was expected of them, which I related to the most.  

The most intriguing character has to be Nico DiAngelo. He represents that dark questioning insecure part within ourselves that we all have. He is truly a tragic hero that I have ever read about. He gives us the truest message in the entire series. In acknowledging yourself for who you are, warts and all and accepting it, you will push past the darkness of despair, and other will accept you too.

The entire group reflected any group of friends in the modern world with all the different dynamics and histories. There are the couples of course, with all the stresses that causes . And the girls, being the minority group, are especially close as only girls can be. In fact, the boys are more clique-ey than the girls, with district groups, but with more camaraderie that guys have. They rag on each other more and jesting insults, hiding their feelings. Going between all the groups is Piper- smoothing feelings and working through it with her peace making abilities and empathy and love for everyone involved. (Every group has to have one person like that).

Leo, the most likely to be in trouble (also the most likely to get out of it) is the best character. With an upbeat sense of humour, and his inability to let anything go, he is the highlight of the group. His ending leaves more questions than answers (and with Percy and Annabeth heading to college in New Rome, so out of the picture for a while) so is Leo going to be the future for the Percy Jackson universe? Or perhaps Reyna, the Roman Praetor with a mysterious past who must look past the camp's boundaries to find love.

Letters From America: The Balloon Fiesta, Balloon Glow

Hello Everyone, 

Yesterday I went to the Annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for an event called the Balloon Glow. It is a hot air balloon festival like no other. It is one of the biggest in the world with hundreds of balloons taking to the sky over the  first week in October, One of Albuquerque's largest tourist attractions, it draws tourists and balloonists from all over the world for events such as the Mass Ascension and a Flight of the Nations. It is simply one of the most stunning sights you will ever see. I went to the first evening Balloon Glow of the week on Sunday night. The Balloon Glow is a static display of balloons lit up on the ground while the guests can walk around and take pictures, followed by a firework display. 

Although the event was slightly hampered by the wind, as many of the balloons did not manage to make it up, it was still a really good night. I tried funnel cake for the first time, which for those of you who don't know what it is, it is fried pancake like batter with a liberal shaking of icing sugar on top of it. It vaguely reminded me of a Spanish churro, which I love. I wasn't quite able to finish my funnel cake as it was a huge portion, so next time I think I will share with someone. 

The Balloon Fiesta is a unmissable part of Albuquerque culture, even though it can be unpredictable as it is completely reliant on good weather. However, even that doesn't impact the atmosphere of the entire event, or the sheer volume of people that can fit in one huge field. The anticipation and excitement that can be felt around the balloons is second to none, as well as the slight terror that one of the massive balloons will fall on you. It is a completely unique event, summing up Albuquerque perfectly. Ready to take off at any moment, but always burning from within. Looks pretty nice with a sunset too. 

Doctor Who New Series

Hello Everyone, 

On Saturday I watched the new Series 8 Episode 1 Doctor Who episode with the outing of Peter Capaldi as the new doctor. This was the make or break episode that would either send people running for the hills, never again to watch the show, or leave them hankering for more. So I was prepared to judge this episode very quickly if it didn't live up to my expectations. I didn't read anything about it before I saw it so it was completely fresh and new to me, with no bias.

Well, I loved it. I knew Peter Capaldi would be a good doctor, and he hit the ground running. His doctor was more complex and less obviously comic than Matt Smith's was at the beginning. You never quite knew what he was going to do next, even though he was the doctor, and all the expectations that it brings. He seemed to be trying to find out who he was, rather than knowing exactly what sort of man he was meant to be. When he was walking through the alley, muttering to himself, he was the madman with the box, but a deeper sort of madman, not the happy-go-lucky one Smith had been. There was a little bit of all the Doctors in the episode, almost as if he was going through his memory banks and finding out all that he had been. I was hoping for a darker doctor, a bit like Christopher Eccleston's, which I got a little bit of, but not a lot. I think we will see more of the darker Doctor in future episodes as the Doctor was not really considered too much this episode. In fact, it was more about Clara than the Doctor.

Clara needed to know that he still was the Doctor and she seemed less capable of handling the regeneration idea than the only other recent companion who saw him regenerate: Rose (I can't count the Classic Whos yet as I haven't seen all of them). Either way, Clara wasn't coping well with the new face of the Doctor, apparently because he looked older. Now, most people would judge Clara for this kind of reaction (which she was, by Madam Vastra) but I think it represented the struggle that most people would have when faced with someone who regenerates and changes their face. The face is such an intrinsic part of someone's personality, and for it to change so completely would test anyone. In finding it difficult to accept this change, Clara became more relatable to me than perhaps Rose was when Tennant started. Moffat used the character of Clara well by using her to call us all out on wanting a Doctor that was similar to both Smith, Tennant and Eccleston, young and attractive. In doing this, he created a more three dimensional character that reflected the audience's reactions to Capaldi's casting.

I look forward to seeing the relationship dynamic between the Doctor and Clara. I am looking forward to a different kind of relationship rather than the flirty, euphemism-filled, almost desperate companions that we have had in the past. I liked the previous companions, but almost always hated the romantic, unrequited love undertone to their relationships with the Doctor. The only one that didn't was Donna Noble, and it was a better dynamic. She wanted to see world, not just follow the Doctor. In doing that, she helped him heal and grow. I hope the relationship with the current Doctor and Clara becomes a similar one, although with it's own ups and downs and nuances.

For the most part, the plot was superlative to the episode. You needed it to give some background to what the characters were doing, but it could have been anything. I enjoyed the subtle points of Moffat's writing with the slight references to past adventures, past companions and past Doctors. The best reference had to be about Capaldi's past character in Doctor Who. He played Caecilius in the Fires of Pompei, when Tennant was the Doctor. The idea that the Doctor gets some say in his faces, or that his faces are only ones from his memories is one that the fans will discuss for quite a while, unless Moffat decides to make a definitive decision, which I hope he doesn't. I love a little debate and theory in Doctor Who, it's almost as enjoyable as the show itself. That said, the end of the show provided enough debate to keep me going for a while. Who is the mysterious Missy, the 'girlfriend of the doctor'? Where is Paradise? And did the clockwork droid jump from the escape pod, or was he pushed?

The Amazing Spiderman 2

Hello Everyone,

I said in one of my earlier posts that I would write a review on the film ‘The Amazing Spiderman 2’, so here I go.  Sorry it’s a little late.

The first Amazing Spiderman was good, but this one was better. The differences between Spidey’s character and Peter Parker’s were much more noticeable. Even though they are the same person, when he puts on the mask, Peter becomes a different person, more confident and charming, and less of the goofy, slightly awkward guy Peter feels he is. As Spiderman, he is loved and revered by the people of the city, which Peter somewhat lacks in his own life. He is loved, by Aunt May and Gwen Stacey, but he is damaged after being abandoned by his parents as a young boy, and nothing is going to repair this damage. By being Spiderman, Peter can escape his life for a while, and be a hero, even when his own life is falling apart.

The plot of the Amazing Spiderman was okay, I enjoyed Jamie Foxx’s character arc from a needy weird little man into a super-villain ready to destroy New York. However, the movie was not really about Spiderman beating the bad-guys (we all know that’s the point of the movie), but it was the collapse of Gwen Stacey and Peter’s relationship, which her father had known would lead to her death. This sort of made the movie have a chick-flick, rom-com feel to it, which made the death of Gwen Stacey, although not unexpected, quite startling to the audience.  How Peter dealt with his and Gwen’s relationship difficulties was to try and re-discover himself, both through re-friending Harry Osborn, and trying to find out what his father had been doing in Oscorp Industries before he and his wife abandoned Peter with his aunt and his uncle. The conclusion to this part of the story, what Peter’s father’s research for Oscorp means for Peter, and the future of Spiderman still remains to be concluded, inevitably in the next film.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 was a good film, and I enjoyed Spiderman’s sarcastic wisecracks to the villains he captured, it gave Spiderman a bit of an edge, and made him less of a broody Batman sort of hero, which Tobey MacGuire’s rendition of the role was far too full of, lacking the lighter tone to contrast with. I await the next instalment in the franchise with baited breath to see where they take it.

Gracexxxx

Wicked

Hello Everyone,

Original Stuttgart Cast
Photo by Brinkhoff/Mogenburg

Sorry for my absence from here, I have been so swamped with uni work, so unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to write anything. However, I have an hour free to quickly write about my fantastic night out in Glasgow seeing the UK and Ireland Tour of Wicked: the Musical, The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.

Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Nikki Davis-Jones (Elphaba)
Photo by Matt Crockett

This was my third time in five years seeing this musical, so you can assume I am a fan. There couldn’t be any story surprises, although if you haven’t seen it before, I don’t want to ruin it for you. Just listen carefully to everything said in the first act, it will be useful.

Emily Tierney (Glinda) and Nikki Davis-Jones (Elphaba)
Photo by Matt Crockett

I absolutely love the songs of Wicked, and they are so catchy! I have the Broadway recording, which is fantastic with Idina Menzel as Elphaba, and Kristen Chenowth as Glinda. They are just so perfect in these parts. Clearly the songs are not going to change every time you see the musical, but the performance standard can differ.

Nikki Davis-Jones (Elphaba)
Photo by Matt Crockett

Elphaba, played by Nikki Davis-Jones, was superb. She captured the sarcastic passionate misfit who became the Wicked Witch of the West. She truly convinced the audience that all she meant to do is try to do good, it just came out wrong. Her version of Defying Gravity got the biggest cheer of the night at the end of the second act. It was the best version of the song that I have seen performed. She managed to portray the depth of emotion that was needed for the part, despite the slightly rushed element of the show (not any of the actors’ faults, really down to lack of time).

Emily Tierney (Glinda)
Photo by Matt Crockett

The next witch of Oz, Glinda, had a slightly more difficult job to do, as well as the seriousness of the role, she needed to have the biggest character arc of all the characters, starting as a dim insipid girl into a strong independent witch, with a lot of comedy in there as well. In the first act, especially the opening song, I thought that Emily Tierney (who played Glinda) was little pitchy, and struggled to reach some of the notes, but this can be put down to nerves. I would just like to say that she never hit a wrong note, but her voice was perhaps straining a little to get the volume that was needed. Nevertheless her version of Popular was one that she really made her own, and was one off the highlights of the show. And by the start of the second act, she was absolutely flawless, and really came into her own; especially in For Good, which moved me to tears.

Liam Doyle (Fiyero) and Nikki Davis-Jones (Elphaba)
Photo by Matt Crockett

Prince Fiyero, played by Liam Doyle, was a pretty impressive guy. Handsome, and with a swagger, he certainly looked the part. His dancing in Dancing Through Life was superb, which highlighted that perhaps he had been cast mostly based on his dancing ability, as his voice, while good, was not as strong. His performance with Elphaba in As Long as You’re Mine, was therefore surprisingly good. Again, although this is no fault of his, I would have liked a little more emotional depth from the character, but there just wasn’t enough time.

Photo by Matt Crockett

The highlight of the show however, was not any of the principals, but was the ensemble. The costumes and make-up were fantastic, and they were so well rehearsed it took my breath away. They looked as if they were having the best time. The big numbers, Dancing Through Life and One Short Day just put a smile on my face. Every single one of them was individual, but they were so together. They made me wish that it was socially acceptable to break into song and dance in real life.  I am trying really hard not to use too many clichés, but it is just so difficult when they were that good.

Dale Rapley (The Wizard) and Nikki Davis-Jones (Elphaba)
Photo by Matt Crockett

One of the problems I had with the production was that right at the end, when you see Elphaba being melted by Dorothy, one of the iconic and most important scenes, there was a technical problem. For the effect, and in order to set up an essential plot twist, a curtain was pulled across the front of the stage. Therefore, with the use of a backlight, the audience would only see the silhouette of Dorothy and the Wicked Witch. However, this went wrong, and I could not see anything apart from the green flames where Elphaba was melted. Only because of my previous knowledge could I have known what had happened. However, this is a small point that marred an otherwise very enjoyable show.

The biggest cheer at the end was saved for Scotsman George Ure (Boq)
Photo by Matt Crockett

Gracexxx