In the nud

I love a good old smokey eye, in fact I love creating eyeshadow looks. When I put my make up on I go to town on the eyeshadow, making it the main feature, then when it comes to the lips only a nude will do. Now, I know we are heading into summer where I hear bold pinks are hot but I think there is still time to channel our inner Kylie Jenner, minus a shot class and bruised lips. A nude for one person may not be a nude for another, so I am basing these on what suits my olive skin tone.

1 MUA | Shade 11

I had been on the hunt for this shade for months, even my boyfriend remembers the famous 'shade 11'  quest of 2014. Now, you can't go wrong with MUA lipsticks. They are creamy, they glide on and stay on the lips. A real no nonsense lippy and for £1 you really can't go wrong.   

2 Maybelline | 630 Nude perfection 

These Maybelline colour drama chunky lip pencils are the bomb. Great colour collection and a soft and smooth application. 'Nude perfection' is a colour moving onto the brown side of the nudes.

3 Loreal | Collection Privee by Eva
This was the first nude I bought in my collection and it still remains my favourite, almost like a first child. I went for the 'Eva' shade as I thought this would be the best match for my skin tone. A lovely rosey nude with a smooth, long lasting finish. 

4 MAC | Fast Play 
Ok yes, this maybe a little bit of a cheat. An intruder to the nude family but I would say it is a neutral colour that looks great paired with a smokey eye. A deep brown with a tint of berry. 

5 Rimmel 1000 kisses lip pencil | 050 Tiramisu
Great to line the lips or to add an all over colour. Not scratchy like many over lip pencils and cheap. However it does leave me craving some tiramisu.  

Back to Black, again

Looking back on my last couple of blog posts it looks as though I have been in mourning, as black has been the predominant dark colour theme. This post is no exception; however a trick to wearing an all black outfit is texture. Got these gorgeous flared culottes from Primark, reduced to £3. They are so comfortable and look effortlessly smart. I paired them with an all over black sequin T-shirt, originally from H&M but won on Ebay. I broke up the black with this grey leather jacket from the H&M sale and a bold red lip. Unfortunately despite my put together outfit, I still just can't manage to take a picture with my eyes open.      

Jacket: H&M

Top:H&M/ebay

Culottes: Primark

Black courts: Next

They're all the same

I've been had.
 Despite the amount of money I spend on cheap clothes that get 1 wear a year; I am fairly cautious with my money. I never spend more than £20 on an item of clothing, unless it is a coat or pair of jeans - even then, they tend to be from the sale.

I have been lusting over the 70's trend and to complete said look I have had my eyes on a perfect  button up blue denim skirt. I found one from Miss Selfridge for £28. I loved it and it was exactly what I was looking for. So I shelled out my hard earned money; 4 hours worth of work in fact.

I then proceeded into Primark where I found an identical skirt for £10- £18 cheaper!! Here are the two skirts next to each other; can you tell the difference?

I am planning on sending one back but I am questioning whether the extra pounds have bought me quality or just the same old high street copycat fashion.     

So moral of todays post. If you have the time and you are money and fashion conscious, shop around.

 Miss Selfridge- £28

Side note: Label states this skirt is £28 however is £25 on the website? 

Primark- £10

Spring like

Now lets calm down everybody, yes the sun has been out but is it really time to don sandals and maxi dresses already?  I wouldn't describe myself as an opportunist, I am a little more reserved and cautious. As much as I am full heartedly ready so say 'good riddance' to our british winter I am not quite so ready to dive straight into summer; partly due to the fact that my pale and goose-pimply legs are just not up for an appearance yet. 

I decided to go for colour, instead of flashing flesh. I found this bright yellow coat in the reduced section of Primark, £20 down to £7. It has a thin lining and a boxy fit. I knew this would come in handy in the warmer months. I don't have anything this colourful in my wardrobe and really, who could resist such a bargain? 

White top - again from Primark 

Jeans- Topshop Joni jeans    

Size?

Let me tell you a bit about myself. Im 23 years old and size up to 5ft 2 inches. I stopped growing when I was in year 9 in high school. I know this because I still have a pair of joggers I bought from Primark at this age; only missing one diamante, winning!!
I would probably class myself as having a petite frame. I have danced throughout my life, I had managed to stay flat tummy'd and toned legged from constant training. When I was in uni studying dance I wavered between 7st - 7st 6lb. There was a period of time that I dipped below this. My BMI indicated that I was underweight, but really it was never an issue for me. I ate what I wanted because I knew I would be burning it off straight away. Yes I had a toned figure, abs and all; but that is what you get from living on tinned soup, hot cross buns and cheesie puffs. Needless to say, I was fit but probably not healthy.

After university my heart and spirit was a little smooshed by not receiving the grades or the experience I had wished for, in a subject that I truly loved. I just stopped dancing. People used to ask why I had stopped and I would always brush the question aside, mainly due to the fact that I did not know the true reason myself. I stopped dancing for 2 years. I actually felt like I went through a little grieving process.
Despite not dancing I still walked everywhere. More down to the fact that I couldn't drive then for fitness levels.

Some brilliant things happened to me last year; I got a new job doing something I love and I funded my driving lessons, passed my test and bought myself a car. My luck had gone up but my fitness plummeted way down and I welcomed in a little bit of what they call cellulite into my life.  

For the first time potentially since I started puberty I am growing and I find myself going up a dress size. A size 6 to a solid 8. This may sound ridiculous to some people but for someone who has never seen weight gain in her life, it is something I am taking notice of. I have also learnt that sizing means nothing! The way high street shops size their clothes is so backwards, as a size 6 in one place could be a size 10 in another. I have learnt not to be concerned by what size my clothes are but by whether it fits, looks nice and I feel confident in it.
What I do need to stress is that, I don't care. I really don't care. The reality is that I bloody love food. Cake, cheese and carbs being my main three C's
I feel like a woman, mainly due to these things they call 'breasts' I have managed to grow on my chest.

Contrary to belief  (and my growing waistline) I do know what I should do to lead a healthy lifestyle. I know that the 7 after dinner mints and 2 glasses of wine I've had tonight is bad (but it feels so good) that is why I do not do it everyday. I know that I can get my trainers and leggings on and go for a run, but it's raining, cold, wet and dark. Do I need any more reasons?

Since working in a school and talking to young girls I am stunned by their body consciousness. For girls to talk about dieting at such a young ages makes me despair. They are still so young with such a tainted view of what women should look like.

I should mention that I have started dancing again. I have done it because of my love of dance, not to loose weight. Mainly because I just don't need to. I think what is healthy is knowing your body. Knowing what feels right and most importantly what makes you feel confidant.
      
 I understand that what I am saying is not ground braking stuff but sometimes it is hard to realise what matters most when the media is ramming ideas of the perfect body down our throats and Instragram is saturated with gym selfies. We know that chocolate is bad and we know that exercise is good. What we should also know,which is potentially most important, is what makes us happy. When can we look in the mirror and say 'Yep, this is me and I'm happy with it'.