A little slice of me...

It's taken me a while to realise that while this blog was originally set up to let me express my love of all things superficial (because finding people in real life who can listen to me talk about one aspect of a mascara for 15 minutes without wanting to hit me/run away/fall unconscious is surprisingly difficult) it doesn't just have to be that. It's my slice of interwebs and if I want to write a post about nothing then I can do that too.

So that's what I'm doing...

It's currently 2:44am and I am awake for no apparent reason, having also been awake until 5:30 yesterday morning and having around 4 hours sleep (plus a sneaky nap until 8:30 this eve, waking in time for Torchwood, which I like to watch but which has a tendency to leave me rather confused..). This isn't particularly unusual, my body likes to remind me that it is totally convinced it is right in thinking night time is the best time to be awake but it had been considerably better for a few months and I was enjoying my more normal sleeping habits.

Whatever. Stressing about it gets me nowhere and I'm making the most of the time. I live in the middle of nowhere (not literally, like a black hole) and it is totally silent here tonight. Some nights I can hear sheep chewing (they have no respect for night time and call across the field and play their music loudly...) and coughing and other times it's cows but tonight it is silent. And dark. Totally, pitch black, dark out there. I love it. I grew up until age 11 with a street light right outside my window so the dark used to freak the hell out of me (monsters and spiders and bizarre people and strange dreams and all).

Perfect. I've talked myself to sleep now, and will risk clicking publish in this half asleep state and hope that this doesn't strike me as a hideously-boring-mistake of a post when I wake...!

If you're very unlucky there may be more of these entirely irrelevant ramblings.

x

Fancy guest blogging?

So I've managed to do something very clever with my wrists.. I have tendonitis in both of them, quite probably from a mix of jewellery making, using crutches, typing, driving etc. both my wrists are in splints and as they're meant to be resting, typing isn't ideal! Rather than leave my blog a post-less desert I thought I'd open things up and ask if anyone was interested in doing a guest blog.

click picture for source!

You can leave a comment, email (queenofturquoise@gmail.com) or tweet me- button's in the sidebar- to let me know if you'd like to be part of what I hope will be a bit of a guest-blogging fest! A chance to discover some new and different blogs, you don't have to be a beauty blogger to apply.

I'm looking forward to hearing from some of you and having some exciting new content on here!

x

I am...

...Buying new duvet sets for the change in season! I love, love this colour, it's so bright and pretty! The back of the duvet cover and pillows have a contrasting red background with big white polka dots too.

...Eating fizzy strawberry lances (what the heck are lances anyway, I just call these laces like their non-fizzy counterparts) in some kind of addicted crazy fashion... Fizzy sweets confuse me a little as the sourness makes me feel slightly uncomfortable upon eating them but I just can't help it!

...Loving Nutella... I had a break from my caffeinated-chocolate ban over Easter which has been wonderful! Nutella is my particular weak point, but straight off the spoon, no wasting this on bread!

...Buying pretty ring components, I love getting new ones through the post and getting excited about making them into little pieces of jewellery!

...Enjoying the sunshine :)

x

Weekend Update...

A bit of a random post from me... I've been really bad recently at posting, I've got lots of lovely things that need reviewing for you! From bronzers to moisturiser, fake tan, a BAD products post and more..

I'm also just waiting on some very last bits for my belated one-year-birthday-giveaway... There are TWO different prize sets, which means TWO winners :) I'm very excited!

It'd be absolutely amazing if you'd be so kind as to pop over to my facebook page for my jewellery business... Lovely Little Charms and take a look at my handmade jewellery, I make rings, handbag charms, charm bracelets and earrings, and I also undertake custom work too :)

There's an "I am..." post coming right up too, so I'll try not to spoil it by telling you everything right now.

The gorgeous summer weather seems to have disappeared and the sky is currently grey with totally rubbish lighting for taking pictures!

What are you doing this weekend?

x

A post in which I blurt out (some of!) my insecure thoughts..

As my one year blog birthday approaches (April, so a couple of months yet) I can't help but wonder if I could have done it better. Not because I'm ungrateful for what I have, or because I want to have a moan, these are just some of the thoughts wandering through my head.

I've loved writing the posts that I've done and I've enjoyed just about everything to do with being part of the blogging community. I'm ashamed to admit however that I look at other, newer blogger's (or the same "age" as me) reader count and the amount of comments they get, somewhat enviously. 

I have a wonderful 201 readers and page views that are getting higher and I'm definitely not complaining, but I just can't help but wonder if I'd written differently, or about different things, if I'd not be feeling like this and feel that I was doing really well. 


It frustrates me that it bothers me but I really think that wanting to be better,  in whatever you do, is natural. I still love to read these blogs, my feelings and personal insecurities don't get in the way of that! They're well written, interesting, light-hearted, which is reflected in the amount of readers they have.

But then confidence becomes an issue too, I wonder why I've not managed to do as well as they have, is my blog boring, does my writing need to be better, am I not entertaining enough? ;) I am in no way fixated with readers/followers/page views, but with them being a reflection of how well I write and how many people enjoy what I do, it's hard not to! 

This doesn't really mean anything in terms of my blog. I'll keep on going and enjoying writing and posting and taking photo after photo trying to get the perfect one...! I'd really love some feedback on what I could do to improve my blog however, it seems a good time to review, so there's going to be a poll up on the side for you to tell me what you want! 

x

Image credit: click on photo for link.

I am...

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...Wrapping, writing and sending, like a Christmas MACHINE!

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...Enjoying the excuse to have more fairy lights in my room!

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...Loving nail art at the moment! Feeling quite inspired and looking forward to re-doing them each time. (How amazing are the nails in this picture?!)

credit: Disney

...Feeling like my head is full of things I need to do whizzing round like a song in a Disney movie, the dining room scene with the dancing crockery in particular!


...Wearing coloured eyeliner AND glitter...

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...Waiting for new boots in the post, utter bargain, just hope I like them! 

I am...

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... Loving looking out of my window to see snow and my beautiful old oak tree (well, it's not mine personally... he's his own... tree.) Beautiful wintery scenes.

(this is my view!)

... Ill! My voice has been pathetic, in the manly, yet barely there way, for the last 3 days, I'm a snot monster and I feel pants.

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... Still wearing the same wardrobe... but with long sleeved tops underneath. More warm longline tops (I live in leggigs, two pairs at once if it's cold!) needed I think!

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... Enjoying feeling organised about Christmas this year! Some presents have even been bought already! (if you've done all yours already, you may sit there smugly but do it quietly.)

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... Making my mind up about a new face wash.. (Cleanse and Polish ran out Friday... no warning... panic ensued.) Still in the "Meh" face

... Eating many satsumas. Love them, one of the more reliable fruits...! Less random taste changes, always appreciated.

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... Finally getting to grips with twitter, tweet random thoughts, I can do that! I may actually be worth following now ;)

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... Very excited about getting a new camera for Christmas, hello 8x optical zoom! It'll be a nice present for you lovelies too, super sharp pictures and amazing detail should be coming your way!

What have you been up to this week?

x

Weekend update!

Wow! I was shocked to discover my reader numbers skyrocket yesterday and again today (thank you link love...!) and I'm stupidly feeling a bit shy about writing this ;)

Anyway, hellooo to all my lovely new followers and readers, always wonderful to have more of you!

I've been busy busy this past week, and I've started making handbag charms and earrings which I'm loving. I hope to get making some more this week and then possibly pop some up on the blog for sale if they're something anyone would be interested in buying for little pressies or similar for Christmas, let me know, and if you wanted custom colours or similar then drop me an email and I'll see what I can do for you :)

Please excuse rubbish-y photos, it's dark outside so it's difficult!

I've also been organising a series of Christmas giveaways for you all! At the moment I have 7 prizes which I'm planning to give away over 14 days from the 12th to the 24th of December... So keep watching for that! They're mainly little bits but I've had some gorgeous donations from very generous Etsy-ers (what else can I call them?!) and I'm very excited about it!

I also still owe you a blog on an Accessorize Eyeshadow duo, plus new ELF bits, a couple of OOTD's and some other posts.... I'm way behind!

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

x

I am...

A while ago now I had a poll up on my blog about what you'd like to see more of, surprisingly "life" posts came top, I do very few of these as to be honest, I really don't think my life is exciting enough to share with you, but your wish is my command, if you like it, leave a comment, and I'll see if I can magic up some more exciting things to share with you!

I am...

... (still!) learning to drive, I originally started almost 2 years ago now and learnt in a manual for a few months before it got too much for me and my silly legs. It was almost a year until I started again, and now I've been learning since May, with a couple of few-week-breaks where life has got in the way and I've not been able to have lessons.

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At the moment, because of where I live and my inability to use buses even if there were any... I'm reliant on the parents to get me OUT and my beauty perusing is limited. I am very much looking forward to being free to spend as long as I want in Boots although I very much doubt my bank account will thank me for it! I'm also looking forward to being able to start in some kind of volunteer role in the big wide world, as I've been out of it for some time now, all kinds of normality is welcome here!

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... Eating Milkybar buttons (I'm only allowed white chocolate due to being caffeine-free right now on doctors orders!) which I'm loving, with Cadbury white chocolate buttons as a treat- they're far more calorific but creamier! 

... Making flapjack with too much Golden syrup.. Eek! I've discovered that the cold corner cupboard is the perfect place for it to live, it's made the flapjack squares more solid, which can only be a good thing, they were falling apart everywhere before!

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... Hoping that my goodies from CSN stores arrive today, I've got some pretty cool things to come, and I'm looking forward to using those and showing you the results!

... Enjoying the colder weather, I have gorgeous Sugar boots that I bought last year and they're just perfect, so much more elegant Uggs! (though probably not as warm.. I'm on a as-warm-as-my-slippers hunt at the moment!) people actually come up to compliment me on them! Snuggly scarves- though not loving the little fibres they leave all over me!

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... Loving being inside, warm and cosy, while it pours with rain outside!

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... Looking for a liquid foundation, I'm going to try out Dream Satin Liquid for colour when I next go to Boots, see if that's any good for uber pale me.

... Looking forward to sharing my (likely-failed) first attempt at nail marbling with you!

... Desperately in need of a hair cut. Which requires a hair dresser... Mine moved away (she was on the verge of being dropped by me anyway) and I now have to find a new one, such a scary task!

Rach x

P.s... All images are sourced from Weheartit.com or google images, all sources are credited below the pictures. 

A quick update!

So my phone has fallen out with my laptop at the moment and so bluetoothing (ha, that sounds like a species of shark or something...!) is nigh on impossible... Which makes blogging somewhat difficult ;) I've been lacking the patience to fix it up until now but I will try and magic it, or .. use the data cable or something like that.

I have a number of posts lined up for you though, including:

October Favourites
Liz Earle's Superskin Moisturiser review
Urban decay Vs. ELF eyelid primers
New ELF bits including cream eyeliner- copper
A couple of NOTD's
Accessorize make up post

Let me know if there are any of those that you'd like to see first, and/or any other posts you'd like to see from me!

x

The vast array of matte top coats.... WHICH ONE?!

Yes. I'm slow aboard this. Months ago when 17 started tempting us on their facebook page with their matte top coat I decided that I'd go for that one when it came out... Which at first they claimed would be in August, then September.. and now October. If it was a ploy to get me to hold off buying another matte top coat IT WORKED! However it's left me annoyed. (they even gave 2 away the other day. I am not lucky.)

Now I'm not overly happy with paying £8 or so for a matte top coat that I may or may not like. I'm also not particularly keen on the finish of ELF's mattifier (though imagine I will buy it!) so that leaves mid range like the Rimmel one... Of which I'm not a fan. (Getting a theme here? Fussy? ME?!) It just seems like it was an after thought, it wasn't advertised, and then suddenly it plonks itself down in Boots. 

Then after an ebay search I came across Nubar's V for men matte finish nail protector, a quick google led me to this page at All Lacquered Up where it looks like it does a pretty good job! This one is around £7 or so I think but as it's original job is a nail protector it's a 2 in 1 product I'm ok with that ;)

Same goes for OPI's nail envy, which I've been eyeing up ever since I saw it on Vaguely in Vogue at the beginning of the month. Then I remembered that when I was searching for cheap Nail Envy's on ebay I'd come across a matte version which I've now decided is the one! Next month I'll hopefully be going for this, a real 2 in 1 product that will hopefully bring my nails back from the dead (flaky, splitting.. GAH!) and mattify polishes tooo! Genius ;)

If you'd like to run screaming down the (aisle?!) at me to warn me of the horrors of any of the above, please do. 

Or if you've got recommendations and/or can convince me to spend more then that would be great too! I'm definitely more into the slightly-satin finish than the blackboard-style matte finish. 

x

In-between times...

The last couple of months have been so frustrating! Waiting for new autumn releases to come out that have been waved under our noses for months (I'm talking about you 17 matte top coat!) and have yet to materialise..

The weather's at it too, it seems totally undecided, one day a scarf and thick cardigan are too much, the next I'm cold! I am really looking forward to wearing boots and slouchy hats, but I hate covering up an outfit with a coat, it seems such a shame! Hot.... (I'd normally say chocolate here, but with that being out of bounds I've no idea!)... drinks in cosy cafes, pretty gloves and scarves and gorgeous coloured leaves. 

Maybe that's why I'm feeling a little in-betweeny on my blog at the moment too, it's now nearly 6 whole months old and I can't believe the time has flown by so fast! I feel a little lost though, still loving the beauty blog world, but struggling from time to time for posts. I do think that it's totally normal to feel like that sometimes, I love blogging, I just don't feel inspired all of the time. Those bloggers that do I think are amazing!

Are you feeling in-betweeny? 

x

Ebay addict?

I'm an ebay addict. 

It's almost always the first place I go to when I want to buy something, whether it's obscure or ordinary. 

Obscure being things like.. A camping washing line, or a 60cm gym ball (always sold in 55cm or 65cm) or slippers that are socks that don't slip ;)

Ordinary including never-endingly changing top coats and hair grips and avon colour trend liquid eyeliner. 

It's a great place to go for products that have a £3.95 postage tag attached to them, although there's always the odd muppet-like ebay seller trying to get £3 more than the product retails for PLUS £765 postage ;)

Plus when you use Pigsback you earn 3 points per pound you spend (3,000 points is a £10 voucher, they offer lots of retailers who you can earn points with!) on top of ebay plus points too. 

Genius.

Are you an ebay fan or more of a high street shopper?

Image credit.. Ebay!

Tweezer disaster?!

So this morning I was contemplating the state of my eyebrows and wondering why I'd let them get to the state that they are currently in.. (it's not good!). It was only when I picked up my tweezers and tried to start plucking that I realised.. MY TWEEZERS ARE BROKEN!

How do tweezers break I hear you ask! I have absolutely no idea. (unless trying to pull glue dots off with them was a bad idea.. It could well have had something to do with it!) They just don't pull eyebrow hairs out! 

So now I'm in the position of desperately needing new tweezers and I think they should be pretty... I can't believe how many different sizes/styles and colours of tweezers there are! 

Oh the decisions..!

Have you spent £10 on a pair of tweezers? Recommend Tweezerman? Let me know! 

Rach xx

All images borrowed from Google images... If it's yours and you'd rather I didn't have it up here, please do let me know :) 

A post of excuses!

Hello lovelies!

I know I've been quiet over the last few days, I had theory revision to do (I passed my theory on Wednesday!), I've not been feeling great, I've got forms and applications that I need to do and I've also been distracted by Big Brother!

Was also curious to know if anyone had anything they'd like to see a post on at some point... It's often hard to find things to post about when you've not been buying crazy amounts without rambling on like a loon ;) I do have some post ideas lined up for you, I just need to write them now!

Also, a huuuge thankyou to all of you wonderful readers and followers, my blog's only existed for 4 months and I have an amazing 121 of you that have clicked the follow button and I've been enjoying some amazing amounts of hits recently which is always so great to see!

Hope the weather's less dull and windy and more August like where you are!

Rachel xx

Hair cuts.. Scary business!

Yesterday I had my hair cut.. Possibly one of the longest hair cuts ever as I only had an inch off and decided I'd go for a little bit more of an asymetric sweepy side fringe. Hairdresser obliged, only she started a little high, and my curly hair decided it didn't like that and just sprung up.. despite being straightened ;) It just wouldn't sit right... Que sitting there looking like an idiot ;)

She had to do some extra cutting, while I sat there freaking out inside and this is the result...

I'm personally a little unsure about it.. It's not a proper fringe (which is great, I didn't want a proper fringe!) but it doesn't really fit the original idea either.. and there are bits of it that need to grow out before they look better in my opinion! Getting used to it now though.. after a freak out yesterday ;)

These pictures are rubbish for seeing my eye makeup, but I used my Sleek Safari palette (which I FINALLY got, and love!) and am really pleased with the selection of colours, their blendability and versatility. 

I'm interested in your honest (but not too blunt please ;) it's not like there's anything I can do about it aside from wearing a paper bag over my head..!) opinions about the new.. half fringe.. ;)

Rach xx

FOTD- Primark style!

By Primark style I mean- "Oh look, I used 2 Primark products at the same time!"

L'Oreal Telescopic mascara

Everyday minerals "Weekend getaway" blush.

Band of Bold blue chunky eye pencil and some carazy liquid lipstick... (Onto the story I know you've been waiting for..! Or you know, an insanely long ramble...) 

Primark had a load more make up products in the store than last time I went, although for some strange reason they seem to have 99 of each product... Which I feel is a little OTT! Anyway, this rather snazzy lipstick lookalike caught my eye as it sat prettily in it's packaging, despite the fact it looks a little like something that a 7 year old would own

Anyway, I bought it, and once at home ripped (hence why you don't have any pictures of it..) off the packaging to quickly try it out.. Oh dear. I read on the back of the annoying plasticky thing they used to trap the lipstick that you twist the base for the liquid lipstick to come to the top. 

Now let me explain, the top is made out of something resembling the material that they put on some (only the special ones'!) teddy's noses.. it may feel soft on the bear's nose.. not so much on lips! Obviously I twisted the thing too much- NOTHING WAS COMING OUT!- and so I ended up with a hysterically large amount of this rather thick "liquid" lipstick on the top of the weird flocked tip, and let me tell you, once it was on my lips (which took some doing, the applicator is useless, the lipstick just smooshes into it, instead of onto my lips! and then smudges and drags it's way across..) I looked like a 5 year old who's got into her mum's makeup...  Or a clown.. The applicator is crap on this thing, rubbish at smooth application, it drags, it leaves all product on one side of your lips, and beyond the lip line border... Pah. I'll have to try and recreate the situation and take a picture for you ;)

I have however discovered a way to use it without looking like a clown, you got just the watered down version in the above picture, where I used a little of the lipstick and attacked it with a lipbrush of vaseline, but it is possible to use it as a proper lipstick (albeit still with a little vaseline attacking..) 

Primark's make up is worth buying purely for the entertainment it gives!

Rachel xx

Cherry Culture not-quite-shopping...

Cherry Culture have 20% off till the 30th of June (thanks to Charlotte for the heads up!) so I went over to have a look and found myself in a frenzy of "adding to basket"... 

I love nothing more than being able to put anything and everything I even vaguely like into my basket and then proceed to chuck it out later, it's part of the buzz of shopping online. Am I the only one who does that? You can't do it in real shops, it's a right pain!

One of the NYX Runway Palette's in particular caught my eye and so that went in too. Finally I whittled my selection down to two palette's (total of just $10!) and 2 lipsticks for a total of $15 which then goes down to $12 with the 20% off... Until you add shipping, which in all fairness isn't unfair at all, it just turns a giant bargain into only-just-on-the-verge-of-bargain-land. Which is a shame. I may well end up doing it all again tomorrow and actually buying the stuff.. We'll see!

At least I got a nice buzz out of throwing everything into the basket! Anyone else find you end up in a much better place mentally after a nice lot of nearly-buying on the web? Or is that just me?! ;)

Rachel xx

Sunny days!

I love the summer, I do.

I like to wear floaty skirts and dresses and eat ice cream, wear brighter eyeshadow, go out without a coat... The one thing I do not like about summer is the insane heat. It zaps all of my energy and creativity and so it's something that on the hotter days (like today!) keeps me inside, on a day like today I may aswell be inside, because being outside will only mean that I don't get anything done all day, because I can barely move ;)

Until it cools down at least a little, you can expect rambly disjointed posts from me!

Like this one...

x

Eep! A ramble, and a giveaway reminder!

I know I've been a little quiet lately, I've been having trouble getting excited enough about any of the posts I had lined up to write you a decent one ;)

Anyway, I just had a quick look on statcounter and was so excited to see that the amount of page views I'm getting on days when I don't post, is now at the level that I considered a really great day (with 2 posts!) just a couple of weeks ago! Lovely to have some more of you reading!

I have a NOTD post for you tomorrow, I have to wait for the natural light to get a decent photo, it's my first time with a nail art brush and so I'm still getting used to it.. Am sure it'll improve in time! I wanted to try these out before going for the nail art/striping set from ebay to make sure I'd use them, no point having them around taking up space if I don't use them! See what I mean about having a wishlist/plan... for the month and then totally ignoring it ;)

Anyway, enough of my rambling, new post up for you tomorrow lovelies!

Don't forget that my giveaway ends on the 9th July which is 2 weeks time.. I've gained lots of followers since I put it up but surprisingly few entries, I'd love to see more of you entering, especially those of you who are old time followers :)

Rach xx