What I Read: August

August is coming to an end and alongside that it's time to share what books I've finished or in this case not finished. This month has been a busy month work wise so reading sort of was the last thing I was thinking of but also the two books I did start, I found extremely difficult to really get into. One I've managed to read more of than the other but I'm thinking I could have chosen other books that would have really hooked me in and given me more to work with for this post.

Th1rt3en- Steve Cavanagh
The first book I started this month was one that caught my attention immediately in the shop but in fact is extremely difficult to get into. Or so I found. I don't think I could even describe the plot to you as it switches between perspectives every chapter with no connection between each chapter. I don't know if perservering with it would make it make more sense but I spent a good part of the month trying to get into this and it just wasn't happening. Maybe one to put back into my TBR pile and come back to at a later date. It's such a shame though as the bylines under the title really gripped and made me finish my previous book quicker so I could start this one.

Red Queen- Victoria Aveyard 
The second book I started this month I've managed to get through a little more but am still finding this hard to devour like I would other books. This is set in a dsytopian future with the population seperated into the Reds and Silvers with Silvers harnassing great powers that make them the elite of the population. It centres around a Red girl who whilst in service of the Silver King, discovers she may not be as much of a Red as she thinks. And that's kind of where I've gotten to in the book. There's a lot of different elements to this novel and whilst I'm enjoying it, I'm finding it hard to keep up with everything, something I think has be exacerbated by the long breaks I've taken between reading snippets of this. I think for now I'll again put this back in my TBR pile and go back and start it from the beginning when everything is less hectic and I can really focus on it. I also have the two sequels that follow onto this and really want to read them but I think this is a novel I have to really concentrate on and this month I've had the attention span of a goldfish. 

Monthly Favourites: August

It's the end of the month and frankly, I'm quite happy to say goodbye to August. September is shaping up to be a good month for me and I have tons of new content that I can't wait to share with you all. It also means Autumn is one step closer and my Autumn/Winter baby heart is going into overdrive. This month has been a weird month for favourites, I've spent most of it make up free because of the weather and haven't really deviated from usual skin products. I have however added a couple of new additions into my routine but the majority of my favourites have been more lifestyle related this month.

I'm going to start with the beauty bits as they're what I have less off. The first favourite is a bit of a problematic favourite. I absolutely adore it but it doesn't always seem to agree with me. It's the newly released Nip And Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme 6% Scrub. This makes my skin feel so so soft, it's unbelivable. It doesn't dry my skin out or leave it feeling tight and any texture I have is pretty much non exsistent. However everytime I've used it, the day after I wake up to find a new friend on my face. Which is where my dilemma lies. I love how it makes my skin but I don't want to have to fight a blemish or two every time I use it. I thought my skin would get used to it like it did with their 6% liquid toner but I don't think it's going to get better with time and I don't really feel like putting my skin through that repeatedly when I could easily just use another scrub that agrees with my skin.

My next two beauty favourites both centre around the eye. The first is the Garnier Moisture Bomb Under Eye Masks. These are fantastic under eye patches/masks that have changed how my under eye area look completely, well these and my next favourite. Both eye masks leave my under eye area looking hydrated, puff free, with a great reduction in the appearence in my dark circles which as a combination makes my whole eye area look more awake and alert. I've gone through numerous packets of these already and have a good two or three packs as back ups. I haven't repurchased my holy grail Rodial under eye patches since I started using these and that's saying something as normally I'd need at least one pack of those in my possession at all times.

My last beauty favourite is again focused on my under eye area but is definitely less budget friendly than the Garnier. I recently recieved a sample of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream to try and I instantly fell in love. From the first use, my under eye area looked smoother, hydrated and my dark circles look/ed reduced but not completely eradicated. I had a feeling I'd like this as I love the Advanced Night Repair Complex from them and I wasn't wrong. It's extremely thick for an eye cream but I find that it doesn't leave my under eye area feeling greasy and actually sinks into skin quite quickly but obviously works a lot longer than you'd think. I'll happily buy a full size when this runs out.

Now for the non beauty favourites I don't even know where to start. Actually as I type this and look at my notes for this post, I have a good idea of where to start. BAKE OFF IS BACK! Now I know it hasn't actually started tonight (Channel 4 8pm, if you've forgotten) but I don't even need to watch it for it to be a favourite this month. Bake Off is one of my absolute favourite programs of all time and I always find myself waiting impatiently for it every year. It is the only show that will get me to put my iPad down for an hour and fifteen, I won't even reply to Jasmin's texts until afterwards, and that's saying something as she's one of the only people I reply to quickly. Ir's what inspires me to continue baking and one day I'd like to maybe even apply even though a lot of my friends and family think I should apply for next year. So for the next twelve weeks I'll be curled up in my pjs at 8pm with a snack and a hot drink, enjoying Bake Off to it's fullest.

My next favourite is somewhere I went at the beginning of the month and loved every second of the day, even if I didn't manage to stay awake past half nine that night. At the beginning of the month me and my mumma had a week off together and one of the days we went to the zoo. Marwell Zoo to be more precise. And it was beautiful. I went last year with my friend Lauren and her little girls but I'd completely forgotten how beautiful it was until I got there. The big cats were my favourites (crazy cat lady in the making) but every animal we saw was beautiful to see in the flesh rather than on a TV screen. I took over three hundred pictures that day and still to this day can not whittle it down to a favourite. I post ten of the best over on my instagram so I'd suggest going over and checking them out.

I have a new favourite YouTuber and her name is Brogan Tate. She is an amazing lifestyle, beauty, Disney vlogger who I discovered when I stumbled across her Florida Disney vlogs and I've been hooked ever since. Not only is she a lover of Disney but she's extremely down to earth and shows exactly what day to day life even if it's not the greatest. There's something extremely calming about her videos and I love watching them after a long day at work. She creates amazing content and I find myself prioritising her videos over anyone else's new uploads and I'm excited for her next batch of Florida Vlogs. If you haven't watched any of her videos, I highly recommend you do. I can guarantee you'll be hooked just like me.

A song I've been hooked on this month is God Is A Woman from Ariana Grande. I wasn't too sure about it when I first heard it but then I watched her perform it live and I found myself listening to it over and over again. After Carrie Underwood, it's one of my most played songs this month. I love everything about it. Her vocals kill it, the beat is amazing and I love the message she's putting through the lyrics. I'm not a big fan of what I've heard of Sweetner so far but I think if I listen to it again, I could be hooked on the rest of the album as I am on this song.

My last favourite this month will not be to everyone's taste but I absolutely adore it and that's all that matters. I'm a huge fan of the Disney film The Nightmare Before Christmas. I've loved it from a young age, with one of my earliest memories is of me sat in front of the TV watching this on repeat, literally rewinding the video (I'm a child of the nineties) back to the beginning as soon as the credits started rolling. I apparently did it that much, my mum had to hide the video. But even twenty odd years later I'm still a huge fan of it so when I saw what Disney had released to comemorate the twenthy-five year anniversary of it's release, I just had to have it. This beautiful purse with Lock, Shock and Barrel on the front was one of the easiest purchases I've ever made. I absolutely adore it, it's the type of purse I like, it has plenty of room inside for cards, cash and coins and is just the softest material I've ever felt. It was definitely the best twenty quid I ever spent. 

GRWM: Minimal Make Up

 

The Summer months always mean lighter bases and barely there make up. This year has been no exception, especially considering some of the temperatures the UK has had during the last couple of months. For the most part I've been going bare faced but the times I have dared to put make up on, it's been extremely minimal and doused liberally in a setting spray or two.

Primer
For primer I have several that I use to really create the perfect base for make up. Yes I know it's rather excessive but it works and that's all that matters. Two of them will be no surprise if you've read any of my previous GRWM's, the first being the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water. It really hydrates skin and leaves it feeling plump and ready for any base product you apply over top. The second is the Maybelline SuperStay Primer which again is an old favourite. Normally I'd apply them and go in with foundation but lately I've been adding in the Maybelline Master Primer Anti Redness Primer to help tone down some of the redness in my cheeks. The two of them combined creates a flawless looking base that reduces any redness in my skin and leaves skin feeling perfectly tacky so it'll grab and hold onto any base product you apply over top.

Foundation
Now during the warmer months I like to keep bases light so I don't have to worry about touching it up during the day. Normally my choice of base is the Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer but today I wanted something light but with a little more coverage to cover the fading dark marks from a couple of blemishes I've had. So I went with the Gosh Foundation Drops instead. It's a water based foundation so it feels extremely light on the skin with an easy to build coverage. I used three drops for a light coverage that allowed my skin to look perfected but still like skin. A damp beauty blender is my go to for blending this in as it gives its a beautiful finish that looks and feels like skin.

Concealer
For concealer I kept it mostly under my eyes to hide the fact I spent most of the early hours scrolling Twitter in an insomniac haze. For that I went in with my trusty Make Up Revolution Conceal And Define Concealer. It may seem a little heavy for a minimal make up look but I only but apply the most miniscule amount under the eye. One dot is enough to cover my dark circles and again, I blended it out with my damp beauty blender. Then I just applied a little over my forehead and down my nose as they are areas my foundation just seems to disappear from. Again a little goes a long way and when blended/pressed in, it gives a more skin like look that lasts longer than blending with a brush would.

Powder
I've tried to stay away from powder as the weather's gotten hotter. It just seems to sit in an unflattering way on my skin and shows up, even after I've set everything with setting spray. However I find I still need a little under the eye to stop my concealer creasing. The only powder that doesn't dry my under eye area out is the MUA Ultra Fine Loose Setting Powder. It's white in colour which doesn't translate on the skin and is invisible, leaving it looking like skin, instead of powdery and dry in places. I use my damp beauty blender to press this over top of my concealer as I find it lasts longer on the skin and my concealer doesn't crease or fade throughout the day.

Eyes
Moving onto eyes, I wanted my lashes to stand out in a not overly dramatic way but in a way that made my eyes look bigger and awake to coincide with the fresh, healthy skin look I started with the base. So to start with I curled my lashes before going in with a coat of the Maybelline Lash Sensational Primer. I usually use Benefit's They're Real Tinted Primer but I couldn't find it in my stash so Maybelline had to do. This white primer base coat really helps keep any volume that the lash curlers have created and nourishes lashes as you wear it. Over the top of that I applied the Maxfactor Clumpy Defy Mascara. It's similar to the Lash Sensational mascara from Maybelline but it's brush is ever so slightly thinner. It really catches each lash and creates a volumised, defined look that makes me look more awake even when I'm not.

Setting Spray
I didn't bother with lipstick because I wanted to keep the look minimal and lipstick would make it more put together than the casual vibe I was going with. And we were also eating out so I didn't want the bother of having to reapply lipstick and make sure it was perfect when I could just pop a bit of lip balm on and be done with it. So to finish this look, all the was left to apply was setting spray. For this I went with the Make Up Revolution Rose and Guava Make Up Fixing Mist. It smells divine, feels really lightweight on the skin and locks make up in place all day long, even in the humid weather we're still experiencing.  

Review: T-Zone Charcoal Under Eye Patches

I love a good under eye patch and if you've been reading for a while then you'll know that. I also like to try every new offering the beauty world releases. So far this month I've tried the new Garnier Moisture Bomb Under Eye Patches and loved them as well as these new charcoal and bamboo patches from T-Zone, which is today's subject matter.

These intrigued me from the get go. One they contained charcoal, two they were black in colour and three they were made of  hydrogel instead of material, something unusual for more inexpensive under eye patches. Containing activated charcoal, this masks are designed to hydrate, cool and brighten tired or puffy eyes. And I have to admit they do actually do a really good job of cooling and removing signs of puffiness but I wouldn't go as far as to say these hydrated and brigthened my under eye area. A lot of this comes from the fact that they're that saturated in product they slip down your face as you wear them and readjusting them is required every few minutes. In fact I found I had to apply eye cream as soon as I'd removed them to hydrate the area whilst staring slightly horrified at how pronounced my dark circles were, something I'm not sure I can put down to using these patches and something I've never noticed after using various other eye masks.

An upside to this product is that you get four in the pack for around a fiver which is how much I sometimes pay for one pack of higher end patches. Each pair comes individually packaged in a foil pack; I assume to keep the hydrogel as fresh and saturated as possible, as nobody like a dried out eye patch. However getting into said individual pack is a pain and I find I have to cut around and as close to each patch as possible to get them out with tearing a chunk out of them. Overall I think the basis for this product is good and that T-Zone did an okay job for their first attempt but these aren't an eye patch that I'd rush out and buy again. Maybe if T-Zone took them back to the drawing board and modified them every so slightly so they were easier to get into and didn't slide down your face as soon as apply them, then they have the potential to be a great product, especially one available on the hight street at a reasonable price. For now though, I think I'm going to stick to others I like more.

Recipe: Drumstick Cupcakes

So a few weeks back I was scrolling through the explore page of Instagram and stumbled across a post that was showing the newly released Drumstick flavoured icing available in supermarkets. And that sparked an idea for a recipe which I've been putting off for weeks, due to immense worries about messing it up when in fact I had nothing to worry about. I made them for the first time on Wednesday and by Friday they were all gone.

Ingredients
100g Caster Sugar
100g Stork, softened
100g Self Raising Flour
2 Eggs
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tub Of Drumstick Icing
12 Drumstick Squashie Sweets

Method 
1- Pre heat your oven to 180C. Line a twelve hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2- Place the softened stork and caster sugar into a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. I always use my stand mixer to bake as it takes out a lot of the arm work and is generally quicker than doing it by hand/ However a wooden spoon or silicone spatula would work perfectly as well to cream the two together.
3- Add one egg at a time alongside a tablespoon of flour. Beat until fully incoporated, then repeat. I also took the opportunity to scrap a silicone spatula along the sides to make sure everything gets fully incorporated into the mixture.
4- Fold the rest of the flour into the mix, making sure to not knock any of the air out of the mixture. If you're using a stand mixer, I recommend using the slower settings at the start of the dial to fold the flour in. It'll get the job done and gives you the choice to speed it up or slow it down.
5- Then add the vanilla. You can fold this gently into the mixture if you wish but I personally like to use a faster speed on my mixer to make sure it's fully incorporated into the mixture. A faster speed doesn't knock out any of the air I've put into the mixture but if you prefer to use a slower speed that's just as good. It's all personal preference.
6- Spoon the mixture into your cake cases. You can use a tablespoon to do so or a batter scoop to get a more even amount of mixture in each case. I use a batter scoop just so the mixture is evenly distributed between the cases.
7- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and the cake springs back once touched. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes and then place onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
8- The icing is already made which is cheating but I would have never been able to produce something that tastes this good. The icing comes in two tubs, one tub raspberry and one tub vanilla. I wanted it to be the two combined and swirled together on top of the cakes so I alternated a tablespoon of each into the piping bag until I had the amount of icing I needed.
9- Then with a steady hand, pipe the icing onto the top of the cakes. You can go with any design you like but because I wanted the two flavours to swirl together I went with a classic swirl design. Once your happy with your design, place a drumstick flavoured squashie on top of each cake and place to one side to set.
10- Once you've done all twelve, place in a airtight container to set and then enjoy whenever you want.

Review: Loreal Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick

When I saw Loreal advertising their Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks on Instagram, I wasn't instantly hooked and wanted one of every shade. I waited patiently for them to come into stores and then spent even longer deliberating what colour I wanted. Then I finally had my colour and it was mine to wear whenever I wanted which is where the disappointment set in.

 I got the shade, a deep browny greige shade. There's a backstory to why I went with this shade when there where other shades I could've chosen. A couple of years back Stila released their annual miniature liquid lipstick set and in one there was a limited edition shade called Serenata. It was stunning, a deep greige shade that complimented my fairer complexion perfectly and acted like my perfect nineties grunge brown shade. However with it being limited edition I haven't worn it as much as I'd love to because I don't want it to run out. So I've spent ages looking for a good dupe that'll give me the same shade without being limited edition or hard to repurchase. I thought this was it and whilst it's a beautiful colour match, the formula is the biggest formula let down I've had in ages.

When somethings advertised as ultra matte you know it's going to be long wearing but slightly uncomfortable to wear. We've all worn something similar before and will likely do it again in the future but I for one can tell you, this liquid lipstick will never grace my lips again. It's highly pigmented and opaque in one swipe making it sound perfect but during the drying process it becomes extremely sticky and if you make the mistake of pushing your lips together then it's game over. Thinking it was dry, I pushed my lips together and ended up with a string of product hanging from my top lip, it also removed product from my lips and when I tried to remedy it, it just got worse.

The formula is too thick, the doe foot applicator holds too much product and not enough product at the same time. The product isn' distributed evenly across the lips, meaning you have to dip back into the tube and end up applying even more product where it isn't necessary instead of where you need it. Yet it wasn't all this that put me right off this product. It's the fact that it took several layers of my skin off with it when I removed it. I used an oil based cleanser like I do with all liquid lipsticks and it still took five minutes of me removing it to see even the tiniest bit of my lip underneath. Once I did manage to remove it, my poor lips were sore, red and chapped. No amount of lip balm was saving my lips from this product and if I were you, I wouldn't even give it a second glance in the stores. Sure they have beautiful neutral shades, sure they smell like chocolate but application is more work than I and I'm sure many others are willing to put in and removal both after a mistake and in general is a painful task which will leave your lips so sore you won't be able to wear lipsticks for a good few days afterwards. Want a long lasting lipstick that won't ruin your lips? Try the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Inks or pay a little more for the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks or Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. 

Review: Garnier Fresh-Mix Tissue Masks

Garnier have recently released some new masks into their range, last week I reviewed their Moisture Bomb Tisue Eye Masks and today I'm back with my review of their new Fresh-Mix Tissue Masks.

The Fresh-Mix Tissue Masks are essentially a DIY style mask. So instead of having a pre soaked tissue mask that you apply straight to skin, this mask requires a little work. Each sachet is divided into two parts. The top half has a dry algae infused tissue mask in it whilst the bottom half contains the serum which you usually find pre soaked into the mask. The instructions are easy to follow, with each packed marked clearly where you're supposed to fold.

There are two masks so far in the range. The first is the Replumping Shot aimed at hydrating and smoothing the skin. It contains Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Castor Oil to deeply nourish and hydrate skin for a longer period of time, giving skin a plumper look and feel. This is perfectly suited to all skin types, even oily skins and would make a fantastic hydration both throughout the Summer transitioning through to the colder months of Autumn and Winter.

And the second in the range is the Glow Shot. Enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C, this mask aims to brigthen and even complexion, giving skin that healthy lit from within glow whilst still leaving skin feeling hydrated and soft to the touch. It's perfect for this time of the year when make up is minimal and a natural glow is appreciated but it would also make the perfect Winter glow boost when skin tends to lose it's lustre and becomes a little uneven and dull looking.

These masks are great fun. They're the perfect thing to get in for a girls' night in as they're just so enjoyable to put together and wear. I was a little worried that the serum would go everywhere when it was being pushed upwards into the mask but it actually turned out fine. The instructions were so easy to follow and the mask so quick to put together. There was just enough serum in the sachet to coat the mask generously without it dripping or pouring excess product everywhere when you applied it. They sat well on the face and didn't slide, drip or drop off once on, even when I was moving about. I haven't tried the Glow Shot yet, I'm saving that for my pamper night this week but I have tried the Re-Plumping Shot and I adored it. It left my skin feeling hydrated, soft and smooth to the touch as well as plump looking, something I never thought I'd say was a good thing when it comes to the appearence of my skin. They slightly more expensive than the original Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks but they are well worth every penny. Garnier again are thinking forward into how the beauty world can and will evolve and their nailing it on their first attempt. If you see these in your local Superdrug or Boots; I highly recommend picking a few up, you won't regret it.

Review: Garnier Moisture Bomb Eye Tissue Masks

I love a good under eye patch and am slowly working my way through every pair available in the beauty industry. And for the longest time I wondered why Garnier hadn't added a under eye patch to their ever growing skincare ranges. That is until recently. I've had these sat in my collection for the last month but didn't use them until I had a back up of each waiting in my eye patch basket.

Their Moisture Bomb Eye Tissue Masks are an extension of their popular Moisture Bomb mask range. There are two under eye masks in the range. One is a pair of conventional looking under eye patches and the other is a mask that sits over the entire eye area. The patches contain Orange Juice and Hyalruonic Acid that work to reduce the appearence of bags and brighten the under eye area. They're a material mask which can sometimes be a pain to work with but these are simple and easy to use, something I put down to their size.

The eye mask on the other hand contains Hyaluronic Acid and Coconut Water to reduce the appearence of fine lines whilst simultaneously hydrating and redefining the under eye area. Both the patches and the mask claim to reduce the skin's temperature by up to four degrees when used but can be more if they are stored in the fridge beforehand. They're also fragrance free so they're very unlikely to irritate anyone's eyes but if they do, taking them off and rinsing your eyes is the obvious solution yet I think that the majority of people would be fine using these.

I like these, I'm a huge fan of Garnier and their Moisture Bomb range anyway, so it was a given that these weren't going to let me down. The patches are absolutely massive which surprised me at first but after wearing them, I see that my skin benefited from them being bigger. My under eye area looked brighter, felt smoother and any puffiness that I had, hadn't gone completely but had reduced significantly and made me look more awake and alert. The eye mask thankfully fit perfectly to the contours of my face and didn't slip or drop off when I moved, even if I did look like a member of the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles. It was extremely cooling on the skin and left my under eye area feeling smoother and hydrated, pretty much creating the perfect canvas for make up if I had worn any the day I used it. I've tried a variety of different under eye patches/masks and whilst these won't knock my holy grail Rodial under eye masks off the top spot, they come a close second. They don't cost the earth and actually work unlike other high street options that claim to work when in fact they leave the under eye area feeling tighter than it was before you applied the mask. Definitely a new release I'd recommend checking out if you're in the market for some under eye masks or are just a massive fan of Garnier like myself.

GRWM: Day At The Zoo

On Monday me and mum went to Marwell Zoo. We had a fantastic day even if I was asleep before head even hit the pillow that night. And I was going to do a GRWM that showed the minimal make up look I was going to go for but I didn't end up wearing make up and I'm glad considering it got to a good thirty degrees as we walked round there. So instead I'm showing you the things I packed in my backpack as well as a few tips that I found came in handy.

As I didn't wear make up, I thought I'd share my skincare for the day with you. It's all very lightweight and simple at the moment as I don't want to clog my pores and cause unnecessary break outs. Two stand out products I had to use though were my Optimum Glycolic Pads, this just really tighten the skin and leave it feeling soft and smooth to the touch and the Hawaiian Tropic SPF30 for the face. I don't go anywhere without putting a layer of this on and Monday was now different. And I even took a different facial SPF to spray my face with as I walked around Marwell.

My outfit was pretty simple, I went for a white t-shirt and black jeans but both went straight in the wash when I got home, hence the lack of picture. And I paired them with these faux Vans-esque shoe from Primark. And by god were they comfortable. These have a cushioned insole that makes wearing them for hours at a time a dream. My shoulders ached from carrying a backpack all day but my feet felt fine and I put it all down to these shoes. I highly recommend wearing your comfiest shoes when it comes to trips to the zoo. I saw a lot of women in shoes that looked nice but offered little comfort and I just knew they'd be regretting it at the end of the day.

The backpack I took is this rather shapeless looking yet amazingly functional one from Primark. I used it last year when I went to Marwell with Lauren and her childrens and it easily held so much stuff so taking it again this year was a no brainer. This managed to hold my lunch, a 1.5 litre bottle of water as well as the other essentials I packed with me.

If you saw my What's In My Bag then you'll know I carry a rather large purse and for the day out I didn't want to carry that around on top of everything else So I transferred the money I took and any cards I needed over into this Minnie Mouse card holder and Aladdin pouch. It made it a lot more slimline and I could easily slide it down to the bottom of my backpack without creating a bulge or bulking the bag out.

Alongside everything else I packed three essentials that definitely came in handy throughout the day. The first is headache pills, I really needed this as I ended up with a headache from hell. I never go anywhere without the Anadin Actifast Paracetamol Tablets. They work really well at getting rid of a headache in record time. The second is a antibacterial hand gel, mine's the Hand Maid from Soap and Glory but I saw a variety of hand gels as I walked around the zoo. Because toilets were far and few between, this was great at giving my hands a clean feeling without having to double back to the nearest toilet block. And the last was a pack of pocket tissues, I suffer with hayfever so these definitely came in handy as Marwell was quite dry and dusty which made my nose itch quite a bit.

Something I thought would be a necessity was sunglasses and I took my favourite pair from Primark because if I'd lost them I wouldn't have wasted a lot on them. However I barely wore them, firstly because it made it harder to see the pictures I was taking and secondly I didn't really want to get a nice big glasses mark if I did happen to catch the sun. I do wish I'd worn them more though as I think squinting as I walked around gave me the headache that made me feel like utter crap.

And the last thing I took was my iPad Mini. I would have preferred to have taken my new iPad as the picture quality on that is amazing but because it is so new, I decided to take the Mini. It got me the pictures I wanted and managed to last the whole day without dying so I was impressed. I saw a lot of people with massive, professional cameras but unfortunately one of those isn't in my budget so I made do with my Mini.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate and Coconut Cookies

Ever since I made my Double Chocolate Cookies I've been thinking of other combinations that would make a great cookie. It took a while but I managed to think of a few. And the one I decided to try the most was a combination of coconut and dark chocolate. Now I know everyone isn't a big fan of dark chocolate but paired with the coconut, some of the bitter taste is taken away and is a welcomed flavour in the cookie. 

Ingredients 

150g Salted Butter, softened 

80g Light Brown Muscavdo Sugar 

80g Granulated Sugar 

2Tsp Vanilla Extract 

1 Egg

225g Plain Flour 

1/2 Tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda 

1/4 Tsp Salt 

100g Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies 

50g Desicated Coconut 

Method 

1- Pre heat your oven to 180c. I sometimes do mine at 200c to warm it up as my oven takes a while to warm up and then turn it back down to 180c just before I start creating the balls of dough. 

2- Line several baking trays with greaseproof paper or baking parchment. I always do three trays as I never know what size they’re going to turn out and I like to be prepared. 

3-In your stand mixer place the softened salted butter, granulated and muscavdo sugar and beat until creamy and smooth. You can use a electric hand mixer but I find a stand mixer is a lot quicker.

4- Add the vanilla extract and egg and then beat again. I always take advantage of this step to really scrape around the bowl and make sure everything is incorporated. 

5- Then sieve the salt, bicarbonate of soda and plain flour into the mixture. I advise taking your bowl off the base of your mixer so you don't end up with flour everywhere.

6- Beat briefly until everything is combined and you have the makings of cookie dough in your bowl. 

7- Then it’s time to add the chocolate chips and desicated coconut. I started with the chocolate chips and beat them in, both with my stand mixer and a spatula when I took it off the base. Then I added the desicated coocnut bit by bit so I got the exact amount of coconut I wanted which is something I advise you to do. Not everyone is a fan of coconut so just aff as little as much as you want. 

8- Now it's time to make your balls of cookie dough. Normally I'd just use my hands but I wanted to see if I could make smaller balls and get more out of the mixture. So I used my trusty old ice cream/batter mixture scoop. It creates just the right size ball of dough and you don't have to get your hands dirty and covered in dough. I managed to make around sixteen cookies by using my scoop and I'd highly advise using one if you're wanting to make large amount of cookies from one dough. 

9- Bake in the oven for 10-15mins or until the edges are firm and the centres are still a little wobbly. 

10- Once out of the oven leave them to rest on the tray for a couple of minutes. It just allows the centres to firm up and less likely to stick or fall apart when you transfer them to a cooling rack. 

11- When they’ve firmed up transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely or enjoy whilst they’re still warm. I'd highly advise enjoying them whilst their warm as the chocolate chips are still slightly melted and will make the rest of the cookie just melt in your mouth.

Summer Lip Edit

I'm not the biggest fan of Summer, it's too hot, I have trouble sleeping, my self confidence takes a nose dive at all the crop tops and booty shorts in the shops. The only thing I genuinely enjoy about Summer is that I can pull out some of my bold shades that don't fit in any other time of the year, oh and that it means we're one step closer to Autumn/Winter, my absolute favourite times of the year.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam
This is one of my absolute favourite red shades. It's sits between being a blue toned red and a tomato red and compliments my fair complexion perfectly. The Soft Matte Lip Creams are very mousse like in texture and well wonderfully on the lips. They're not like other powdery matte formulas and wears comfortably on the lips for a good few hours without the need for touch ups.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
A holy grail red I wear not just in Summer but all year round is Beso from Stila. Again it's that perfect mix of tomato red and blue toned red. It gives my complexion a perfected appearence but doesn't wash me out or make my skin look flat or lifeless. It's more of a powder matte finish than Amsterdam but still comfortable to wear and can easily be worn for a good few hours before you need to reapply. I would advise not eating anything oily or greasy when wearing this as it could end up everywhere.

Rosie For Autograph in Supermodel Kiss
Whilst we're on the topic of red's, this orange red is one of my absolute holy grail lip products. Supermodel Kiss is bright orange with red undertones that makes it suitable to be worn by all skin tones including those with paler complexions. It's satin finish that lasts all day on the lips comfortably and doesn't require any touch ups, unless you're chowing down on a burger or something equally as greasy.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte in Siren In Scarlet
Let's just get all the reds out the way now. Siren In Scarlet is another matte red shade that leans more towards being a blue toned red than an orange red. It looks gorgeous on a multitude of skintones and won't wash out fairer complexion. It's a very creamy formula that doesn't dry lips out but still has a slightly powdery feeling to it. Because it is creamy, it can bleed or smudge if your not careful but a transparent or red lip line applied beforehand will stop any problems you may run in to.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper
An old favourite that I've rediscovered this Summer is Hot Pepper from Bourjois. It's a stunning orange red that really pops on both fairer and darker skintones, making it the talking point of any look. It's not a real matte but it's also not a satin finish, it's a weird hybrid that doesn't dry lips out but also doesn't budge or bleed. It's definitely one I can see myself adding to a minmal make up look to give it a boost.

Sleek Matte Me Up Liquid Lipstick in Rioja Red
This is a red that I haven't worn a lot but plan on changing this Summer. It's again a more orange based red but doesn't have that much orange that it washes out fairer complexions. It's definitely a lipstick that requires some prep but when done right, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'd highly recommend taking a lip balm with you when you wear this to combat any dryness but it certainly won't budge no matter what you eat or drink.

Make Up Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Pigment in Spiritual 
Now I know you're probably fed up of red's right now but I promise this is the last one. Red is my go to shade all year round but especially during the Summer when the sun's out. And this is the latest addition to my collection. It's again a mixture of an orange based red and a classic blue toned red, which for me is my perfect Summer red shade. This has some staying power but does require a little waiting time as it dries down. I don't advise pressing your lips together as this dries as you'll have to redo it but the wait is worth it. I found this to be a little uncomfortable to wear but a lot of that came down to lack of prep on my side. This does not budge and is a perfect budget dupe of both Stila's Beso and Kat Von D's Outlaw.

 Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong
Let's move on to the very small amount of pink shades I'll be wearing this Summer. Pink Pong from Bourjois is the perfect blue toned pink that compliments all skin tones including fairer complexions and doesn't make teeth look yellow. It's a weird formula that sits between a matte and a satin finish without the accompanying powder feeling of a matte finish. I love wearing this with minmal make up and a basic white tee and jeans.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole' Flamingo
Another shade from the Rouge Edition range I adore for the Summer is Ole' Flamingo. It's not a blue toned as Pink Pong but still looks stunning on a multiude of skin tones. It's got warmer undertones than Pink Pong which warms up us with fairer complexions and gives our complexions a boost even if we are covered in SPF30.

Rosie For Autograph in Rosie Lips
A deeper pink that I reach for a lot when I'm looking to tone down a look is this one from Rosie For Autograph. It's got a deeper raspberry tone to it that stops it from being too over the top but still allows it to be bold and seen. It's a satin finish that doesn't budge from the lips and easily brightens the complexion, a must have pink for anyone who finds pink a hard lip colour to wear.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Even though it's Summer and bold lips are the in thing, I still love a good neutral lip every now and again, especially when I'm wearing something more colourful. And that's where this shade from NYX comes in. It's neutral enough to not clash with anything bright but still has enough colour and warmth to make it stand out and compliment the rest of your make up. It's mousse like texture makes it a dream to wear for long periods of time but application can be a little tricky if you don't have enough product on the doe foot applicator. Time and patience is the best way to go with this product, something not all of us have but is well worth it.

 Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina
Another pinky neutral shade I love comes from Stila. Patina may look more brown in the tube but in fact has a deeper pink undertone to it that doesn't really show itself until it's on the lips. More of a traditional matte finish than others I've talked about but with the right prep beforehand this can look gorgeous on the lips for a good few hours without drying, peeling or flaking off.

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Dash
And finally my last neutral and last lipstick for this edit is another pinky nude shade that is a great budget friendly dupe for Patina. Dash is slightly darer in tone but still has that pink undertone that won't wash out fairer complexions. It again is a traditional matte finish and can feel powdery on the lips if too much is applied. It isn't one to wear out to dinner but is perfect if your nipping out to run errands or nipping to the shops and don't need to worry about reapplication. This is a gorgeous lipstick that I have worn many a time but if I were to chose, I'd have to chose Patina over this down to the wear time and feel on the lips.