Nine loves ..

Hello!

This is the second instalment of the 10 day you challenge, which I am taking part in. Today's topic (as suggested by the handy title of the blog post) is things I love.

NINE LOVES:

1. Chris Hemsworth. Okay. I'm obsessed. I love him so much. I bought 2 posters of him as Thor from the Avengers for my bedroom. Here he is, the man I currently wish to marry!

To clarify, the mouse I mentioned in the Ten Secrets post was not named after Chris Hemsworth, but got its name when I asked my friend Chris what to call it. Really imaginative Chris, well done haha! Chris was a good gender unbiased name however! 

2. History! What I call 'actual history' (As in no Modern History..) Especially tudor history, classical history and mediaeval history

3. I love nature and natural things and the outside.. I'm lucky to have quite a big garden with lots of greenery and trees. I would hate to live somewhere for a long time with no garden or views of hills or the sea or anything! The city-landscape is not my scene. Flowers in the bedroom are essential.

4. Baking! Although it seems that over the years, my abilities in this area have somehow degraded. I used to produce amazingly decorated cakes for friends' birthdays

5. Blogging. I really appreciate all my followers - it is amazing knowing that there are people out there reading my thoughts! Thank you ladies! It's great to have a space where I can speak out and also talk about things like makeup a lot. My best friend is a guy, and my other friends can get bored with this! 

6. Movies! If it's a really good movie, like the original Pirates of the Caribbean, or Films 1 to 3 of Star Wars, or Harry Potter, I get so into it that there is always the sad return to normal life afterwards, once the suspension of disbelief is broken. I own both lightsabers and wands..

7. My cats. Coming home to animals has always been something I've loved, whether cats or dogs (or mouse). Sometimes it's great being around people who can't talk. A cat's life seems so easy!

8. Youtube! I now watch my favourite youtubers instead of watching TV haha! These include Essiebutton, MyHarto, Jim Chapman, Pixiwoo, Tanya Burr, Aushnakilops, Fleur De Force ...and The Slow Mo Guys! 

9. My friends. I have mentioned some of them on my blog, but really I struggle to survive without them! I am heavily attached to my phone and facebook because I pretty much communicate non stop! And I always have best friends, because a girl needs her besties! I'm happy to say there are a couple of friends I have had almost my whole life! Though this is not to discount the ones I have made along the way *

I appreciated being able to share with you things that I love! If there is anything that you wish to share, leave it in the comments!

And again, I encourage you to take part in this challenge

Rachael Xx

*Note to Beetle: Evan loves her incredible long-lost twin Beetle 

and wishes that Beetle would never ever ever leave.

twitter | bloglovin' | hello cotton

Ten secrets ..

Hello!

Yesterday I spotted this ten day challenge on Jen's blog HERE and knew I wanted to give this a go! I like reading bloggers' tags, because there's something fascinating about getting to know something about the real person behind the product reviews and beauty advice! So I equally love to take part in these myself!

This is a pretty self-explanatory challenge, so I'm just going to jump straight in. I'll hopefully be posting the next segment each day, so watch out for these!

TEN SECRETS:

1. I used to be awful at makeup. I'm not saying that I'm now highly skilled at it, but really, I was truly terrible. To put it into perspective, between the ages of 13 and 15 I found it appropriate to draw a line of kohl eyeliner under my eye and call this makeup. No mascara, no foundation (Until the latter part of being 15 when I used a very orange one from Avon called 'shell') Sometimes I threw in a very dark bronzer, across the majority of my cheeks. It hurts me to look back on these days! 

2. I am a highly disorganised and incredibly messy human being.

3. I still have all of my barbies, plus house accessories, cars and 3 horses. They stay in my attic. Occasionally I go see them

4. When I was 5 my little brother was born. I was so jealous of not being the younger sibling that I would sometimes take away his toys to make him cry, then complain to my parents that he was being noisy. Honestly, I do like him now... haha

5. Having been in various choirs from age 8 to 17 and having 4 years of music from singing lessons, when in my house alone I take this all out and throw myself a little concert. No, basically I sing EVERYTHING at the top of my voice, terrorising my cats who dislike high notes, and praying that the neighbours can't hear

6. Generally, a couple of nights a week I shall go to bed unfazed by the makeup that remains on my face. (scandalous) Really, this is bad

7. If I could have any job I would choose being an author. (or an archaeologist...) I'd like to do my imagination justice in writing

8. Once my cat left a baby mouse on the doorstep (inevitable if you own outdoor cats) I randomly decided to rehome it. In a fish tank filled with shredded paper and toilet tubes. It was called Chris. Eventually, Chris went free. Sorry for the little holiday Chris.. 

9. I love art (when it's produced by me - art galleries are not my thing) and I always regretted not continuing it as an exam subject at school. I still give my parents homemade presents, often paintings. I enjoy these tasks

10. I think I'm in denial about leaving school. I'm glad to be free to go to university and not wear uniform and all the rest! But I can't believe I'm not allowed back haha. I still have one of my teacher's books..

I invite you too to take part in the challenge!

Rach Xx

twitter | bloglovin' | hello cotton

Lipcote Review

Hello!

Today I am reviewing a product I recently impulse bought from Boots: Lipcote Lipstick Sealer

For me, sometimes lipstick just doesn't stay on - especially the more vivid shades which I really want an even lasting coverage with! So I had been looking into lipstick primers, trying to decide whether splurging on one was pointless or not, so when I spotted this product for the cheaper price of £3.69 I immediately decided to give it a go! 

So, what do I think?

 Application: 

The process is as follows: Liner, blot, lippy, blot, lippy, blot, lipcote.

If you have ever read a review of this product before, a common theme is the stinging that you experience when applying it to your lips. I had not read a review, and so this was rather an unexpected surprise!! However, it's not that uncomfortable, you don't really need to 'man up' in order to take the very low level of pain. The stinging is short-lived. It's rather like the feeling of some lip-plumpers which irritate your lips to bring the blood to the surface and make your lips appear bigger. 

I breathed in whilst applying this.. Bad idea! The alcoholic fumes are ridiculously strong! Quite a shock to the system! You have to keep your lips apart whilst it dries, and a little goes a long way. It does dry relatively quickly, and initially you can taste it, but this doesn't last very long.

Appearance: 

At first the lipcote coat is noticable on your lips with a tell-tale sheen, however this wears off relatively soon. However, the first time I used this I had put rather a lot of lipcote over my various layers of product, and a couple of hours later the lipstick started peeling off in strips.. Using a very thin coat of Lipcote does preserve the wear of lipstick, and I noticed it working for up to around 6 hours.

So, this all said, if you can handle the taste, the fumes, and the stinging - as well as work out how much to use through trial and error, this product is for you! haha. I will probably use it again..

Rachael Xx


twitter | bloglovin' | hello cotton

HAUL: more MAC

Hello!

Another MAC post! Having obtained my first MAC items I decided to go myself and pick up another few things I've been interested in - having seen them repeatedly pop up on various youtube videos and blogposts. This included Blacktrack Fluidline gel eyeliner, Studio Finish concealer and a lip pencil, to match 'Dare You' 

(featured in THIS post) 

Blacktrack Fluidline: Honestly, I almost didn't want to use this - it looked so perfect and untouched! But I did, although I can't properly comment on it yet because I don't have a thin enough brush to apply it with - yet! I have discovered though that this has really good staying power! My love/hate relationship with gel liners is being tested

Studio Finish Concealer: This has been recommended to me by one of my best friends who is a dedicated MAC lover! She had already told me that my shade is NW20 (as a new MAC buyer, I really have no idea how this number/letter system works..haha) You can find her on Youtube HERE - definitely go check out her channel! This concealer is a good all over one, and is thick enough to build up easily to cover pimples and spots without being blatantly obvious. One of my new go-to products!

Lip Pencil in 'Brick': This purchase was to complement the lipstick which my best friend gave me for my birthday. Lip pencil is required for me with red lips, and I decided to try out a MAC one. There's not much to say.. I don't own a wide variety of lip pencils, so all I can comment is that it's good! haha And it isn't too creamy or too hard. A happy medium. 

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend! Mine has been one to remember :)

Rachael Xx

twitter | bloglovin' | hello cotton