August Favourites

Getting to the end of summer is normally a cause of sadness, but since I love Autumn and I cannot wait to get back in to jumpers I'm glad August is over! Having said all that it has been a particularly good summer and in some ways I will be sad to leave another one behind.

But enough of that - let's crack on with the faves.

Books

I have two time travel books that I have loved this month. Apparently I went searching for this genre for a while! First up is 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' by Claire North. If you love history,suspense and humour then this is the book for you. Working on the idea that there are those among us who can repeat their lives over and over with butterfly effect consequences it is interesting to see the characters develop.

 The second is 'Life after Life' by Kate Atkinson. This novel has been cleverly written so even though you are going over the same life again and again there is always a slight change, making sure you don't get bored. It is also set over WWII which is my favourite period to read about anyway!

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson- I have read a lot of books over my life. Recently it is very difficult to surprise me in novels, I can see what a plot is going, which is why I am including this book in my favourites. Because although I picked it up as a bit of fluff reading two things happened when I read it. 1) I thought I had guessed the plot twist and then it hit me and I was surprised! 2) I read this book in one day. I got home from work and I read it all the way to the end, ignoring the last episode of Glee in favour of this book. That says a lot.

 

The Martian by Andy Weir - Now I read this book last year but thought it might not appeal to all so decided not to include it in my favourites, however with the release of the film I thought I should mention that you should all read the book too! It was a lot funnier than I thought it would be, you almost need to think 'Castaway' on Mars. I am super looking forward to the film but if you do get a chance to read this book, do!

Music

I have been loving summer music with several new favourites that you might like to lend an ear to.

Hungry (Nikias Ibach Remix) - Dotan just makes me want to get up and dance and sway and it makes me wish I'd gone on holiday and played this driving along a coastline.

Listen here!

Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis is what I like to call 'a good walk to work' song. It's a little bit silly and a lotta bit catchy.

Listen here! 

Unfinished Symphony - The Six is another one of those catchy, dancey songs that I love so much. This one has been around a while but I haven't done a favourites in ages so it has been saved up!

Listen here!

We Ride - Missy Higgins. I found this song through a good old shazam on a youtube video I was watching of someone's world trip. It just provoked all sorts of emotions in me and although I normally try to avoid the slower songs because they make me sad when I only want to be happy, I don't mind with this song.

Fashion

I am quite disappointed with the fashion world right now - if there is one style I really could do without it is 70's fashion. All those browns and suede and yeah I'm not really a fan. I do however need a dress for graduation next month so I've bought the following to try (both Dorothy Perkins):

 Blush Pencil Dress - Was £38 Now £26

Lavender 50's Lace Dress - Was £75 Now £30

Home

I'm including this little beauty in here rather than in 'Books' as the books I write about tend to lean more to the fiction side. This however has taken pride of place in my house where all can see and I LOVE IT. I first found Anna Maes Mac and Cheese a couple of years ago at Glastonbury and I have been an addict ever since. Now I can actually make it their way on my own. With over 50 recipes this is one recipe book that makes me hella happy!

Beauty

I already have another one of these Bourjois lippies and I love it so much I've gone back for more. I love that it goes on like a lipgloss before settling into a matte lipstick. I find it to be quite pigmented, giving a strong colour and it wears for several hours before you need to reapply. I've gone for no 12 - Velvet this time around and I love it.

I am not a big make-up wearer. As I'm sure I've said before when I can remember my 'face' normally consists of eyeliner, mascara and some lippie. If I'm feeling really adventurous maybe some eye shadow. But I went and picked up some new bits from Boots the other day and that included a new mascara which has to be one of the best I've owned. It makes my eyelashes look so long and as it's from the 'Seventeen' brand you don't have to break the bank to buy it. Mine is in the colour Brown Black which has a slightly subtler look than just Black.

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer!

C x

May Favourites

It's May Favourites time! I've been a bit busy with revising but here are some of the things that I've been loving this month... 

Music
There's a couple of singles and an album on my favourites list this month - 

Firstly Sleepless by Cazette

Secondly Goddess by Banks

And the album of the month is Flume - Deluxe remix. This is an album from 2013 but I have only just got round to giving it a proper listen and it's really good, especially some of the remixes.

Books

No new books for me this month unless you count the ones I have been reading for my course. If you fancy reading any nineteenth century literature I recommend The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. This has been by far the best book on the course. It's a story of love, marriage, betrayal and mystery told through lots of different points of view. There's plot twists and old school romance and it's just a really fun, easy to read nineteenth century novel.

Food/Drink

I have a new found love of croissants which although regrettably aren't the most healthy thing to eat but they just taste so darn good. 

Last month I discovered croissants in a can and I blogged about them here, so if you haven't already try and make some!

Home

After saying for ages that I needed cake tins I have finally got round to getting some and I was also gifted three, so now I can make as many cakes as I want and find a home for them all. 

The rose tins I found on Amazon for £5.99 and the set of three are £6.50 from Wilkinsons.

I was given some lovely ceramic mixing bowls as a present and they just look so pretty in my kitchen. I am loving open shelving at the moment and just wish I could redo my kitchen! Look at their beautiful pastel colour. I managed to hunt down their location so if you want to get these bowls you need to head on over to Sainsburys.

 Fashion

A couple of fashion pieces for you! I wish I had more money this month because there are some lovely summer pieces out at the moment that I am dying to get for my holiday but here are some I have purchased already.

Starting with this lovely swimsuit! I am just in love with floral so this is perfect!

Swimsuit - Next - £28

I love this midi skirt, as mentioned I am loving floral  and the best thing about this skirt - it has pockets!

Skirt - Dorothy Perkins - £22

Beauty

I recently went make up shopping for the first time ever with a good friend and a separate blog post will be coming about all of the things I bought but I thought I should mention my favourite item out of the whole trip which has to be my eyebrow mascara. Yes, you heard me right - eyebrow mascara. It helps keeps the eyebrows neat and darkens them slightly. It is also a hell of a lot easier than sitting there trying to fill in the brow line with a pencil or eyeshadow. This one is from Maybelline in the colour Dark Brown. Honestly this has been a revelation!

I feel like my favourites are a bit sparse this month but I will be on my 'summer holiday' and on a little break from Uni in June so I will have time to find and do more things that I'm sure I will love. Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading this post, let me know what you love this month! 

xxx

January Favourites

I keep meaning to do this post and then so much keeps cropping up. I have had such a busy month – I had an essay to get in and everything got a bit mad at work. Our bedroom ceiling also collapsed in earlier this month so I have been trying to get that sorted, as well as contributing to Miss Mint which I am having to work into my timetable.

So sitting down and writing a favourites post kept being put off! But it is the last day of January so when is a better time to do this :)

FOOD AND DRINK

I have been loving a lot of food and drink this month, which isn’t good because I am meant to have joined the masses in the ‘January Diet’ and instead I can’t get out of Christmas eating mode.

I have become addicted to this drink, it is coming up a close third to Coke and Cream Soda. If you haven’t tried it you really should. I love bubbles but they also do a non bubbly version if they dont make you happy.

I have also developed a slight love affair with Sweet and Salty popcorn. These little nuggets of goodness make me wiggle my toes with glee. Popcorn goes far too quickly in my opinion.

MAKE-UP

FINALLY after months of waiting I have managed to get my sticky little fingers on a Naked 2 Palette, but now I am faced with a dilemma. It’s so pretty I don’t actually want to use it.

MUSIC

I have discovered a new favourite band and they go by the name of Clean Bandit. I love their mix of classic, electro with a dash of pop thrown in. There new song just hit number one in the charts but I am loving Mozart's House and have been listening on repeat.

Mozart's House - Clean Bandit

Rather be - Clean Bandit

WEBSITES

No Surprises here - I have to champion Miss Mint. If you haven't gone and have a look please do, because it's pretty and full of fun things to read and well I write 2 columns, The London Monologues and Wanderlust,  so you have to go and look! 

FASHION

I have been fully embracing anything with long sleeves and to the knee when it comes to dresses because it is just too cold. I love this dress from Dorothy Perkins as it ticks both those boxes and is full  of gorgeous colours. There are loads of winter floral dresses available at the moment.

And those are my January Favourites! Hopefully next month won't be as crazy and I will be able to spend a little bit more time posting on here. I hope you have all had a good start to your 2014! 

xxx

Hello Miss Mint

So some very exciting news - I have been asked to be a contributor/writer for a new website called hellomissmint.com which is coming to a computer screen near you in January 2014.

I have been asked to be the writer of a weekly travel section - which will be called 'Wanderlust' with lots of little travel tips and my reviews of countries. I will also be writing a column called 'The London Monologues' which will discuss life in the big city.

As well as the travel column you must all make sure you tune into the other ladies columns which will be covering all of the below.

It's going to be filled with lots of fun things which will enrich your lives and make you wonder how you ever lived without the sound advice of the Miss Mint team.

I am honoured to be asked to take part of this fresh project and it gives me a chance to write more which is so great because I love any excuse to have a chatter. Also don't worry I will still be posting my usual waffle on here.

Make sure that you all tune in - I will post the link when we are up and running in January. I know you are as excited as I am!

xxx