The Halloween Edit: Nails, Make Up and Films

One thing I really love about Halloween is people's spirit, whether it's making an effort to dress up, buying/making Halloween inspired food, watching scary movies or carving pumpkins. It's a lot like Christmas nowadays, and I really love that so many people get involved, whether old or young, and in any small or big way possible.

First of all, I have seen some really great make up looks floating around various social media sites, and I am in absolute awe in some of the creativity of some bloggers. I wish I have some of the talent that so many of you have, but I have done a little experiment of my own, in trying to create some Halloween inspired nails. As shown in the image above, I think I did pretty well and have received some good responses from people and I am very pleased about them. I think with a little more practice I might try doing some more designs in the future. I'd recommend trying the pattern on my little finger because it is really simple to create, and you could even do it in red so it looks more like blood.

Next, in preparation for my Halloween plans, I have purchased some more of my favourite lashes the Eylure No. 83 volume lashes. Eylure create some amazing lashes, and they last absolutely ages, so there is no problem with them on a night out. They have a new limited edition princess collection out, that have sparkles on them, so I am quite keen to get my hands on some of them too. Also, I am a big fan of dark red and plum lipsticks, and they go perfectly with the spooky Autumn season. The two pictured above are Rimmel's Kate Moss lipstick #30 and Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick #14 which are both divine dark plum shades, and are very long lasting so also perfect for a night out. My only debate will be deciding which one to wear out!

Top: Rimmel, Bottom: Bourjois

I am not really a big fan of horror movies, because they're scary, but I can handle watching some especially if I am not alone. So I have decided to compose a small 'Halloween films to watch' list. I am going out in the evening, but will be sure to cram in some scary films during the day before I go out. Here are some of my film suggestions:

1. Any of the Saw films (pick any one, the first few are the better ones in my opinion)
2. Dawn of the Dead (a must if you love zombies)
3. Halloween (could possibly be an obvious one)
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974 - I always find older films scarier)
5. Sleepy Hollow (two words: Johnny Depp)
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (you can watch this at Halloween and Christmas!)
7. Shaun of the Dead (actually one of my favourite films)

How are you going to be spending your Halloween this year? Do you have any further suggestions on make up looks, or films to watch?

P.S. A big thank you to my lovely friend who designed and created my Halloween themed post header. Just look at how cute the pumpkin Mickey Mouse is!

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 3 Review

Image credit: http://www.amc.com

I was so excited to see the other perspective of last week's episode, and what the rest of the gang were going to do after they heard the truck horn blaring and leading half the zombie herd towards Alexandria. I found it even more exciting when the group decides to split up; Rick going back to the RV to lead the herd away from Alexandria, Michonne and others heading back to Alexandria through the woods, and finally when Glenn and Nicholas split up to further distract walkers by planning to set a building on fire.

The Alexandrians were always going to be weaker, and as Rick pointed out they "aren't all gonna make it" so it was inevitable that a few of them were going to be picked off by walkers. They slowed the group down, but I much agree with Rick telling Michonne to keep on moving because the priority was to get back to Alexandria. However, I was really angry when watching Nicholas freeze with fear because he was putting the others' lives at risk, and shooting himself near the end could potentially kill Glenn as well, so I was really annoyed about that. I am not sure if I think Glenn is dead just yet, I think the image we saw was more the walkers eating Nicholas' body on top of Glenn, at least I hope it was, so I am anxious to see what happens in the episode next week. What do you think?

And then to see the Wolves that Morgan let escape in the previous episode try to climb onto the RV and kill Rick was shocking. It just showed Morgan's potential mistake in letting them go, because they were using the guns they managed to pick up from the Alexandria community. However, Rick's immediate response by grabbing the machine gun and killing them all was fantastic, and I was shouting "yeah, come on, go Rick" (embarrassingly) at the TV. But as the breakaway herd of zombies emerges from the woods, and Rick can't get the RV's engine started I am literally on the edge of my seat. I know Rick's not going to sit there and let himself be a walker's feast, so I wonder what idea he will jump to next week. I hope the engine will start, or at least someone will come to help.

Also, I am glad to see Michonne, Heath and Scott arrive back outside the Alexandria community, but I wonder if they will face anything before they get back inside. And, I can't help but wonder what the rest of the community have to say when they get back. There are a lot of "what if" ideas going around inside my head, and I just cannot wait until next week's episode to see what everyone does. Mostly, I want to know if Glenn is actually alive, and if Rick can get away from the walkers emerging behind him.

In my opinion, this episode was just as exciting as the previous two, and already I feel a little impatient about having to wait a week to find out what happens next. Have you seen this episode yet and what did you think?

Make Up Review: Seventeen Stay Time Foundation

 

You know when you're happy with your current foundation, but feel like looking for a new one just because there are so many products out there? Well, that was my reasoning for purchasing Seventeen's Stay Time 25 Hour Foundation, and the Miracle Matte pressed powder. I had already read some great reviews about the stay time foundation, so was keen to try it out for myself and I must admit that I am quite impressed already even after only a few uses.

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 2 Review

Image credit: http://www.amc.com

Now, before this episode started I had my own ideas on what might happen, and as to who was sounding the horn which made the zombies split off from their route at the end of the previous episode, but episode two was nothing that I expected (in a really good way). And, I know I asked where was Carl in the first episode, but was glad to see him looking after Judith which was probably going to be the only logical answer to my question.

First of all, I absolutely love Carol's character, and in my opinion the way she dealt with the Wolves as they came intruding inside the Alexandrian's community and killing everyone in sight, was so bad-ass. Carol's conflict with Morgan over killing the Wolves was seen clear at the end when they walked down the street past each other without acknowledgement. I must admit that I agree with Carol in having that mentality because it is very much a 'kill or be killed' situation, and you're not just going to let someone hack your friends to death with a machete and walk away, right? However, I think we have yet to see a darker side to Carol because the scene where she saved her neighbour from a Wolf, but then put a knife in her head, was quite surprising as she didn't need to kill her. So I wonder what Carol will do next.

Also, I really like Morgan's character too, but I am really unsure as to whether I agree with his methods of stopping the Wolves by harming them, but not killing them. They would come back after all, right? And one of them even managed to grab a gun as Morgan told them to get out, so this just aids their revenge even more if they were to come back. I would like to see what Rick thinks of this when he gets back to the Alexandria community. And, at the end when Aaron finds his backpack on one of the dead Wolves and sees his photographs inside which probably led the Wolves to the community, I wonder if he will try to hide this in the next episodes.

I just knew that Enid would leave, and wonder how this will affect Carl and Ron in the episodes to come as well. I am not quite sure what the significance of 'JSS' was in this episode, so if anyone could shed some light on this I would appreciate it. Anyway, this episode took a turn that I was not expecting but was non-stop exciting and the wait until next week's episode is going to feel like forever. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Have you seen episode two yet, and what did you think?

Film Review: Maze Runner The Scorch Trials

Image credit: http://www.foxmovies.com

I finally got round to watching the second installment of the Maze Runner trilogy, and I must admit The Scorch Trials was far from disappointing, so it was well worth the wait for me. There is exciting non-stop action throughout the entire film, and it even made me jump quite a lot which I was not expecting. I much agree with the movie tagline 'the maze was just the beginning'.

As Thomas and the gang escaped from yet again another institution that turned out to be under control of the mysterious 'WICKD' organisation, they soon found themselves in danger from virus-infected beings called 'cranks' as well as running for their lives from WICKD . However, it was the cranks that mostly made me jump, as they would appear out of the darkness from nowhere and run crazily after the gang. I felt myself hold my breath on so many occasions when the cranks were chasing everyone in fear of what might happen, and I must add that they were pretty scary looking too.

There is not really any dull or slow moments during this film, it is quite fast-paced and full of action, as Thomas and the gang head towards the mountains to find the 'Right Hand', a group of resistance fighters who could possible help them fight WICKD. Of course, along the way they are met with many obstacles, until they finally join forces with the Right Hand, but all is not that smooth in a twist of events at the end. It is safe to say I was not expecting what Theresa did at the end, and I was even a little shocked, but it only excites me further to see what happens in the final installment of the trilogy. If you enjoyed the first film, then I have no doubt that you will enjoy The Scorch Trials and would recommend a watch to anyone.
I would rate this film 4 out of 5.

Have you seen this film, and what do you think?

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 1 Review

Image credit: http://www.amc.com

The premiere of season six really did come back with a bang, and will certainly leave you wanting to know what Rick Grimes and the gang are going to face next. The first episode entitled 'First Time Again' certainly lived up to its title as it provided black and white flashbacks throughout the episode to correlate between what was happening in the present. I thought this was a brilliant idea and really helped you understand what the gang has endured in the run up to this episode.

What I found to be really spectacular was the quarry full of zombies, and thought it was one of the most full-scale sights that we have seen yet in The Walking Dead, which was very exciting to see. Of course, following Rick's plan to lead the zombies away from the quarry, and thus away from their new home in Alexandria, was also thrilling to watch and I was left on the edge of my seat at the end because something had to go wrong, didn't it? I cannot wait for next week's episode to follow on and show us what happens next.

Also, this episode was particularly good because we got to see Rick and Morgan building their relationship again since the series actually began. I must admit that I have been waiting for Morgan to catch up with the group for a while, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for these two. Plus, I am happy that Morgan is no longer a grieving maniac, but pretty skilled with his weapon so I am sure there are more exciting zombie fighting scenes to come.

Although, we did not get to see much of the others, as this episode mostly focused on the affects of Rick and Morgan, it only excites me further to see what is next. I do have one tiny question though: where was Carl for most of this episode? I would have thought he would be a lot more involved considering the past, and obviously being Rick's son. Maybe this is something to be revealed in further episodes, we shall see.

Have you seen the premiere of season six yet, and what do you think?

Make Up Revolution Review: Cover and Conceal Palette

I bought this Make Up Revolution Cover & Conceal Palette (£5.99 from Superdrug) a few weeks ago, and have been using it nearly everyday to try and make my mind up as to what I actually think of it, so I can write a better review for you.

My October Goals 2015

I had a quick look back over my goals that I had set for myself in September, and I must admit that my goals for October are probably going to be along the same lines. Although I feel as I have made some headway towards my previous goals, I still have not fully completed any but don't worry I am well on my way. So here are my new and improved goals for October this year.

1. Get a job
Still the most important thing on my list is getting myself a job. I am very proud of myself in the fact that I spent the entire previous month applying for various jobs and graduate schemes. Now, this may sound like a total failure to some of you because I have not exactly landed myself a job yet, but I cannot stress enough how long application processes are. However, I have got onto the next stages of a few interview processes which I am more than pleased about, and it is basically a waiting game for now. I have also got myself a temporary Christmas position, which doesn't sound a lot either, but it will keep me going and give me the money I more than need for Christmas this year. I will be sure to keep you updated on the particular goal since it is my top priority right now.

2. Relax more 
Okay, this goal is partly related to my job hunting, because I find myself becoming a lot more stressed since I graduated at the end of September. As the days pass by, I feel as though it becomes a lot more crucial for me to find employment because the next thing you know Christmas will be on the doorstep, and I'll need money for that. But, among all the madness of looking for job I have realised how important it is for me to just relax once in a while. I wake up everyday, get myself organised and apply for different job positions or schemes, so when it gets to the evening I can just sit back and watch TV or a film, and write on my blog because there is not much more I can do until the next day. So, I am going to try to make myself relax a lot more, and try not to stress myself out so much.

3. Enhance my blog
I feel a lot more comfortable in the blogging world now, even after only four months of being a blogger. I want to enhance my blog by making it a little bit more organised, instead of it looking at bit random and out of place at times. So, I definitely need to start planning my posts a lot more by writing stuff down, and maybe even try to come up with a better theme. I really enjoy writing blog posts about beauty, and I am thoroughly enjoying writing film reviews at the moment too, so these a probably going to be my main priority. However, I have thought more about advertising my blog. I would really like to reach a wider audience and make some blogging friends, but I am always a bit apprehensive when it comes to advertising my blog on social media sites. Don't worry though, I am working on this and slowly building myself up to start enhancing my blog.

I have tried to keep my October goals shorter and a little bit more attainable, and mostly because these are my top priorities at the moment. I think that once I earn some income I will be able to all the other things I want to do, such as socialising and shopping sprees. It is hard at the moment to not do the things I want, but at the end of the day they all involve money, and I am focusing all my energy in trying to get my foot on the career ladder.

What do you think of my goals, and what are yours?

Film Review: Cinderella

Image source: www.followingthenerd.com

Wow! What a spectacular adaption of one of the best-known and loved fairy tales. At first I was not quite sure what I was expecting, as I thought maybe they would significantly change or enhance certain aspects of the fairy tale. But, I could not have been more wrong since the director (Kenneth Branagh) brilliantly captured the magic of Cinderella from the beginning.

Ella (Lily James) is a pure beauty, even when dressed to suit her nickname 'cinders' or 'cinderella'. The nickname, as given to her by her horrible step-sisters Drisella and Anastasia, also played their role brilliantly because I actually found myself beginning to feel hate towards them whilst watching the film. Particularly, Ella's step-mother Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) was superb in her role, and so very cruel that you could almost feel her intentions for Ella. I found that the story line matched that of the earlier animated Disney Cinderella just with real life actors, but sadly the animals (Jaq, Gus and Lucifer) did not talk.

Also, the graphics were spectacular in that they really brought to life the fairy tale aspect of the film. From the fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) creating the glass slippers to turning the pumpkin into Ella's carriage for the ball it was truly magically to watch. Now, I could be a little biased because I am a fan of Disney fairy tales in particular, but I would certainly recommend a watch if this is your sort of thing because I guarantee you will adore this version just as much as the animated original. Not to mention that the Prince (Richard Madden) was a joy to watch during the film, so there's an added bonus for you! It is truly an enchanting take on Cinderella, full of excitement, ups and downs, and of course a happily ever after.
I would rate this film 4 out of 5.

Have you seen this film yet, and what do you think?

Film Review: Inside Out

Image source: www.movieposter.com

This Pixar film follows all the complex emotions that the human species normally endures during their lifetime through its host character Riley. In the film, we follow the emotions as different characters inside her head and see how they affect her everyday thoughts throughout her childhood whilst she is growing up. The main characters; joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust, are brilliantly calculated in this film and portray perfectly how we can feel different emotions, sometimes more than one at once. Of course, being a Pixar film, I felt that it engaged with the audience to help us to actually feel the emotions throughout the film.

During the length of the film I found myself laughing and giggling away at the humorous aspects, such as how negative 'sadness' actually was and how I found myself agreeing with the character. Whenever sadness would just face plant the floor it made me laugh because I know all too well I feel like this myself sometimes. The more of the film I watched I could see how well that it was portraying the painful truth of growing up. It is genuinely a roller-coaster of a film that perfectly depicts the bumpy road of growing older without the rose-tinted glasses you would find in most children's films. I think that Inside Out has done really well in approaching this particular subject in a truly heart touching way.

Not to mention that the graphics are spectacular, as they always are with a Pixar animation. I can see why this film has become such a success and would recommend a watch to anyone. It truly is the type of Pixar film that we all know and love, about leaving our childhood behind, but in such a genius way that is guaranteed to leave you laughing or crying. Overall, Inside Out is a terrific concept, both funny and smart, about the trials and tribulations of growing up and losing our so-called innocence. So, why not give it a watch and come up with your own opinion? I would rate this film 4/5.

Have you seen this film and what did you think?

LUSH Product Review

A while ago, I purchased the Dragon's Egg bath bomb and the Mint Julips lip scrub when I popped into the Birmingham Lush store. I was very excited to use both of these products and to share my review with you.

First off, is the Dragon's Egg bath bomb (£3.50) that I was eagerly waiting to use for a while after I bought it, but I thought I would save it for an occasion when I really needed a bath bomb in my life. This was my first experience in using a bath bomb from Lush, and I must admit that I was not entirely impressed with this specific product. As soon as I put it in my hot bath, it immediately started fizzing and spinning around releasing white foam, and then eventually the orange-y egg colour in the middle began to spill. Next came the crackling sounds near the end, and then that was that.

It left my bath a nice bright orange colour, but I feel like that was all it did. I mean it did smell nice, but nothing out of the ordinary... I think the shower gels and soaps I use seem to smell better and last a lot longer. Overall, I felt like I was just sitting in orange-coloured water and that was it. So, safe to say that I perhaps won't be buying this bath bomb again, but I am still very much interested in trying other bath bombs from Lush because I have seen some really great reviews. So, if you could recommend any to me then I would really appreciate it.

Lastly, the lip scrub that is literally saving my lips as the colder weather is approaching. I chose the Mint Julips scrub because I absolutely love the taste and smell of mint (why I love mojitos so much). I am exceptionally impressed with this product because it really has become a holy grail product in my bag. When my lips are becoming quite dry (all the time with this weather), I simply rub a small amount onto my lips with a tiny scrubbing motion and then lick it off (yes it is edible) et voila, smooth skin is revealed on my lips. Then, I simply put on some lip balm to keep my lips nice and soft. I definitely would recommend this product, and it comes in two more flavours as well; bubblegum and popcorn. Priced at £5.50 and a little really does go a long way, so definitely worth the money!

What are your Lush product must-haves?

Graduation - I did it!

I had my graduation on 23rd September, a week has flown by already! It was such a surreal and busy day, and I haven't really had chance to reflect on it since. I was really nervous on the build-up to graduation, including on the day, but as soon as I walked off the stage with my degree certificate in my hand I felt a huge weight lifted and began to breathe normally again. I had finally done it, I had my certificate and was now an official History graduate. Phew!
I am extremely proud of myself and I could see that all my family were too, it was such a happy day and I could not stop smiling. Of course, I could not stop smiling since my mother was very "snap happy" with the camera, but I couldn't blame her it was an event you'd want to document. I think some of the pictures my mother took were better than the professional photo I had taken... nevertheless you need that official photograph holding the scroll, don't you?

Also, I organised a small graduation meal with my friends to celebrate us all finally graduating. We went for a meal at Miller and Carter, it is an amazing steakhouse that does delicious steak if you have never heard of it and I would certainly recommend a visit if steak is your thing. It was a lovely meal, and was just really nice to catch up with everyone because we hadn't really seen each other since we finished university near the end of May. I wish my friends all the best for the future, and I certainly look forward to when we meet up again and can talk about all the exciting things that we have been up to!

Now, this is the part where it finally hits me that I have graduated (and no longer a student) and need to figure out my next step in life. I need to get a move on and start my career, which is proving to be a little difficult because I cannot decide what it is I want to do exactly. I am sure something will come my way eventually, but until then I will probably be frantically applying for every job possible as the pressure seems to be cracking down. Hopefully I will have some good news to share with you soon regarding this. Wish me luck!

Thank you for reading!