school bag essentials

The first day of school is a daunting one, and with school starting again in a few days, I thought it would be apt to blog about things that are essential to take with you on the first day. This is generally for high school, although can be adapted.

Planner
I guess this doesn't really count as it is given to students (in my school anyway) on the first day of school, but planners are essential to write down all of your work and remember places you have to be if you are as forgetful as I am.

Pencil Case
To write things (100% possibility that you will have to), please please don't forget your pencil case. Things you should have are:
3 Black/Blue pens (don't take 10 at once, you will lend them to people who won't give them back because of your new found power, and they will take up space; who uses 10 pens in one day?)
3 Pencils (same rule applies)
5 Pens of a different colour (sometimes teachers like you to use different colours for different topics, and who doesn't like a bit of colour?)
Black Sharpie (these come in extremely handy for posters)
Rubber (you could even go insane and buy a rhino rubber; I called mine Phillip)
Sharpener (sharpen those bad boys up)
Ruler (just take a 15cm one, the longer ones are inconvenient for carrying unless it is a magical bendy one)
Maths Set (protractor, compass, other ruler shape things)
Scientific Calculator (or just a normal one)

Lunch
I take lunch with me everyday and much prefer it to school dinners because it is so much more convenient (you can eat any time you like) and much less expensive. I take a sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit, a sweeter thing (like cake mmmmm) and a carton of fruit juice. Free mini milk cartons are no longer around unfortunately.

Plasters
It's likely that you will have new school shoes for the new year (feet tend to grow), so it is also likely that you will have to endure breaking them in. As this is not a nice process, it is best to take some plasters to ease the pain.

Paracetamol
At the start of a new term especially, this is vital for headaches and others ills that may prevent you getting through the day with ease.

Water Bottle
I normally just take a 300ml little bottle filled with tap water, or bigger if I'm feeling crazy. Vital for summer and useful to have the rest of the year to quench your thirst during lessons.

Phone
Not allowed to use in school, but a must to keep in touch. It's simple communication needs.

Keys
If you plan to ever enter your house again, it's a good idea to take a key. Also, a key is needed for your locker (provided at school usually), and I keep a mini torch (to do what, I don't know), and some things to bulk it up so they don't get lost forever in the depths of my school bag.

Mini Make-Up Kit
Not generally one for the guys (unless you're into that kind of thing), but vital to top up over the course of the day. I take concealer (collection 2000 lasting perfection like everyone has), a little custom palette (current one mentioned in my ELF post), liquid eyeliner (eyeko skinny liquid liner), mascara (soap and glory thick & fast) and a lip product (changes regularly).

Lip Balm
I don't count this in my mini make-up kit as I keep it in my pocket for quick top ups during the day. I normally use Vaseline or Carmex (people will freak out, thinking you are putting super glue on your lips), as these are the best. Also, as pleasant as it is, I tend to bite the skin off of my lips when I am nervous, so it is definitely a must around exam time.

A Safety Pin
Let's face it, you always need one for something.

Ipod+Headphones
I walk to and from school, so this is just a case of entertainment. Headphones are also useful for lessons to listen to sound (obviously).

Umbrella
Rainy rainy England means that it is vital to take an umbrella or some sort of rain-protective headgear so as to not get soaked to the bone, as I have made the mistake many a time before.

Bye!!

ELF Haul + Review

Even though I'm not exactly what one would call a beauty blogger, I do get a lot of thrills out of reading beauty blogs, hence encouraging me to do some of that sort myself. A couple of months ago, as a treat to myself for finishing my exams (well, half of them), I found myself on the ELF website, with a basket full of a lot of products. ELF is such a good brand, and their products are such good quality for how much you pay. I would pay much more for some products than I actually did, so I'm pretty darn happy. Also, I bought it all while the sale was on, so everything was so so cheap and it made my bank balance very satisfied.

I got two tool things; the Mechanical Eyelash Curler because I needed new ones and the Professional Shine Eraser sheets as I was curious to try them, having never done before. The eyelash curlers are pretty standard but do a great job. They get right into the corners and curl the outer lashes as well, so for £1.50 (reduced from £3.75), they are well worth it. 

As I said, I was curious to try the Shine Eraser sheets as it's a concept I had only just come across, and oh boy, do I love them. I get pretty oily skin during the summer, especially on my nose, so these were a godsend. I use one before make-up application when it's a warm day, and it absorbs a lot of the oiliness from my face, giving me a nice blank canvas. I also pop them in my bag whenever I go out, just in case my skin transforms into butter during the day, and I will definitely be using them during the new school year. They were £1.50 for 50 small sheets (bargain).

I got two nail polishes; 'Smoky brown' and 'Innocent', both quite muted colours. 'Smoky Brown' is a (surprise surprise) brown colour, and 'Innocent' is a creamy colour. I like the consistency of these, as they are quite thin and lightweight, but still have a really good pigmentation. This is also good for my tiny tiny hands and nails, as they don't gloop on the nails (technical term). These were £1 each, reduced from £2.50.

darker colour in real life

I'm not that into bronzers and blushes because my face is pretty pink anyway, but I did get a Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in 'Sun-Kissed' as a bit of an experiment. I think it's a good product with great colour pay-off but I will never use it as it just doesn't match my skin tone as I don't tan or have a very bronzey skin tone. However, I have used it as a goldy-brown eyeshadow, and even though the formula is a bit different, it works well. Also, it was only £1.50!

goldy-browny colour in real life

Also for the face, I got the Clarifying Pressed Powder in the lightest shade, Ivory. I am SO impressed with this, especially as it was only £1.50; it gives me a nice matte finish without looking chalky or cakey, and is pigmented enough to make my skin look really clear, but not overbearing. I highly recommend this and think it is in line with the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, which has been raved and raved about. I will definitely be repurchasing!

My most loved product that I bought actually consists of 5 products, as it is a custom palette. It has 4 slots, 3 of which I filled with eyeshadows in 'Pink Ice', 'Moondust' and 'Aubergine', and 1 with a lip colour in 'Berry Brown'. I adore this palette and cannot say enough about how amazing the eyeshadows are. I use 'Pink Ice' for highlighting in the inner corner and brow bone because it is a gorgeous shimmery creamy colour, and it opens my eyes up insane amounts. I also sometimes use it to sweep across the lid if I'm having a lazy day and just want something there.

'Moondust' is a light brown taupey colour, with a subtle goldy shimmer to it and I use this sooo much for the lid, or sometimes to contour with 'Pink Ice' on the lid for a lighter look. It reminds me of 'Satin Taupe' by MAC, and it it great for an everyday nude eye look.

a bit more brown in real life

The final eyeshadow, 'Aubergine', is dark dark purple, also with shimmer, and I use this for contouring in the crease. It is a very dark colour but when blended out goes perfectly with 'Moondust'.

darker in real life

The colour pay-off on all of these eyeshadows is phenomenal and I will certainly be repurchasing. As well as these, 'Berry Brown' is a great addition to the palette; a browny-red lip gloss/balm. I don't generally wear lip gloss and the formula to this is more in between being a balm and a gloss, as the finish is quite muted. Nevertheless, I really like it to spruce up my lips with a bit of colour during the day.

Each product, including the palette itself is £1.50 now, but in the sale the make-up elements (not the palette) were 45p each, which is completely insane and I have no idea why I didn't buy more.

The only other lip product I got was a Studio Matte Lip Colour in 'Praline', and oh boy, I love it. I'm not too big on having glossy, shiny lips and I much prefer matte products, so finding this was a dream. It has a similar consistency to a matte lipstick, except it lasts a lot longer and is a bit thicker, which is perfect for going back to school next week. The only thing I would say about this is that I wish there was a bigger colour range; I find that a lot of lip products on the high street have a glossy finish, and that just doesn't appeal to us matte girls. Even so, I love this product intensely, and it was £2.50, reduced from £3.75 (look at me going all up market).

darker in real life; very similar to 'Berry Brown' from the custom palette

Another brilliant product that I got was the Eyelid Primer in 'Sheer', which keeps my eye make-up on all day. It absorbs instantly and leaves my eyelids a blank canvas; I hate it when a primer has too much pigmentation. In my opinion, it is comparable to the Urban Decay Primer Potion, so at only £1.50, I will definitely be repurchasing.

I hate to be mean about products, but I must be honest, the Brightening Eye Colours that I got in 'Ethereal' and 'Ocean Dreams' (don't know why I bought Ocean dreams as I have blue eyes, so it would never suit) aren't for me. They have little colour pay off and I was bitterly disappointed because they are actually really nice colours. I tried all that was humanly possible; using a wet brush, and scraping off the surface, but still, there would be no pay off unless I ground them into a loose powder (but I'm not that desperate). I don't really mind though, as they were only £1 (reduced from £1.50) each, so it is to be expected.

I'd never tried cream eye shadow before buying the Duo Eye Shadow Cream in 'Mocha Swirl', as I get quite oily eyelids. However, I love this one with all my heart (almost). It has two colours; one a light lilacy purple and the other a deep brown. I was a little apprehensive at first, but these have grown on me massively. With a good primer (ELF one), they blend amazingly, and the consistency is very smooth. I think it is brilliant for autumn, and I have thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope to buy some more colours. This was £1, reduced from £1.50 (WOW).

Finally, I bought two more things for the eyes; the Waterproof Eyeliner Pen and Individual False Lashes, both in Black. I don't like the eyeliner because even though the nib is a nice shape and would be good for precision, there is virtually little pigmentation to the liquid. It's disappointing, but for £1.50, I can't complain all too much as it does work, just not very well.
UPDATE: I have recently gone back to this eyeliner pen and am completely in love with it. I think that the little colour pay-off was because it was a new product, and it works perfectly now. Have repurchased since!

I bought the lashes for my prom, because I can't stand using normal lashes as they feel heavy on my eyes. It turns out that I didn't actually use them for prom (lack of time), but I do like them a lot. The glue in the pack is actually pretty good; it lasts the whole night, but doesn't hurt my eyelid when I take them off. At only £1.50, I am very impressed.

This order alone has made me love ELF as a brand so so much, and I will definitely be repurchasing some items and trying out some brushes next time I order. The brand is such good quality and so insanely cheap that even if you get a bit carried away, it won't break the bank. ELF have a little sale on at the moment, and there is a 1p postage offer this week (it's amazingly cheap already and they still have sales; sign of a good brand), so I highly recommend getting a few things!

All bought at: http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/en/restofworld/page/home

Bye!!

ps. does it sound like justin timberlake is saying 'pocket full of soap' in 'mirrors', or is it just me?

wishful wednesday #6

One week from now, I will have been at school for one day. Hence, I am planning to make the week ahead much better than since last wednesday. I have been doing virtually nothing, with the exception of a torchwood marathon, various trips into town to shop (yay!) and my dad's birthday. I ended up getting him a case and accessories for his new ipad, which all worked out rather well. I always find it difficult to buy for my dad, as I find that he just has everything anyway. Also, as I only buy out of my pocket money, it can't be anything too extravagant; as others my age who are jobless may know, money is limited, and I feel bad asking for any cash from the 'bank of dad'. Anyway, he seems to rather enjoy it, so all is well.

This week, I have several preparation things in my schedule, as I want to be prepared to go back to school for once (you're welcome future megan). I like to be an organised person and have a schedule to go by, even on non-school days; a planned week is a much better one. However, this doesn't tie in too well with my tenancies to procrastinate a lot, so I am generally quite disorganised and very anxious about where I have to be. It's not the best thing in the world to worry about trivial things, so I am making an effort this time to reduce levels of procrastination and increase levels of organisation. Sounds like a plan! To contribute to this (and because I feel obliged to), these are things I am wishful for:

torchwood series 5
sherlock series 3
sdoacg series 5 (I like tv, get over it)
see chicago again (best show I have ever seen, although not this week funnily enough)
think of a birthday present to get my friend
get all of this red pen off my hand so I don't look like a murderer so much (you've got red on you)
find out what homework was from induction week
do homework from induction week
meet tom burns (why did I miss sitc)
not watch so much tv
elves to clean my room while I am sleeping
have motivation to go out for a run
change to film studies instead of drama
get the red pen out of my hair

Also, as I feel inclined to, these are the things I have been thankful for:

all the small things (song)
new decking in garden (have been spending time there)
friend amy (thanks for tolerating my freaking out)
new posh sharpener (I know, but it does such a good job)
costa sticky toffee creamy cooler (I want one now mmmmmm)
everyone who congratulated me on gcse's
losing 1lb (except I had to go and celebrate and gain another 2lbs NICE ONE)
red sharpie
mum for making delicious lemon cake and carrot cake mmmmm
there is still 4 minutes left of wednesday (therefore I am succeeding in blogging)

Bye!!

gcse results

I know that GCSE results day was yesterday, but due to general celebrations, I haven't posted yet. Here are my grades that I got anyway (always save the best for last):

Drama - B - I got a B :'''( which has forced me to reconsider my IB subjects (am considering doing film instead of theatre studies
Biology - B - am happy with this! I don't really get biology even though everyone says that it is the 'easy' science, I JUST DON'T GET IT
French - B - am extremely happy with this, as I thought I would get a C/D, but it turns out that I even got full marks A* on the reading exam! (how?)
English Literature - B - very much expected as I did the course last year, but for some reason only got my results back now (why?)
RE - B - I also thought I had done terribly in this (even though I didn't really care), but it turns out I got 48/50 in one of the exams, so am very happy!
Psychology - A - am super happy with this as I am doing psychology next year, so at least I know that I am okay at it before doing it at higher level
Chemistry - A - how the hell did I do that?! It turns out that in the last module (june), I got a really high A, so that meant I got an A overall
Physics - A - I was expecting this as I had done pretty well in the other modules, but even so, I was super chuffed because I'm doing this next year
ICT - A - am happy with this, although was expecting this anyway because I did pretty well in the coursework
English Language - A - I pretty much knew this as well because it was all coursework and one exam in January, but it's nice to see it on paper
Maths - A* - I AM SO SUPER HAPPY!! I totally didn't expect to get it and am soooooo pleased that I have; it pretty makes up for me getting a B in Drama in my eyes, and I'm considering pushing maths up to standard (instead of studies) next year for IB incase I want to do a mathsy career

I am SO HAPPY overall, as overall I got 1 A*, 5 A's and 5 B's, which was way better than I expected! I am most amazed by the A in chemistry as that is NOT like me, and obviously the A* in maths!
I feel inclined to say that my brother also got some results, and he got an A in maths and ICT, and a B in music. I am a super proud big sister.

This was probably the most boring blog post I will ever write, but I don't care as I am very proud of my results and wanted to share them :)

Bye!!

wishful wednesday #5

This week has been slightly more eventful than the last (thankfully), having been out a lot to see friends and general family outings. I am pretty satisfied right now with my general circumstances as I got a lot of things sorted throughout the week, although am not looking forward to starting back at school in september (uuugghh so soon). I will be starting IB which (as I often drone on about) is a slightly harder version of a-levels, consisting of 6 subjects (3 higher, 3 standard) as well as 150 hours of volunteer work (cas), an extended essay and tok (theory of knowledge). I'm not exactly looking forward to the workload, having watched my sister struggle though it previously. I'm doing english, psychology, theatre studies (all higher), physics (standard), maths (studies) and french (ab initio - basically from the start). I love all of the subjects that I'm doing (with the exception of french; there's always a catch), so I guess the next two years will be bearable.

Anyway, once again I have rambled on about things that are making me anxious (can you see a theme?), these are things I have been wishful for:

winter (PLEASE)
good gcse results (obviously)
for my new shoes not to rub and make my feet bleed (yeah, that happened)
no sugar cravings (lets face it, the whole of Britain is addicted)
school to be delayed for a few months
the new recycling scheme to be abolished (I know a hopeless cause when I see it)
teenage dirtbags (album)

As promised to myself, these are also the things that I have been grateful for since sunday (being grateful on a sunday was a failure):

marvin gaye
the rogue traders
dean martin
costa sticky toffee creamy coolers (mmmmmmm)
files that fit exactly in the space under my desk (it satisfies the ocd side of me)
my elf custom palette
soap and glory smoothie star body milk
the rocky horror show (I know it was before sunday, but it was THAT good, post here)
rubicon for making the best mango juice (am obsessed)

Bye!!

the rocky horror show

A couple of nights ago, I went to see The Rocky Horror Show at my local theatre, and OH BOY, it was good! Being the first time I had ever seen it, and having not seen the film (sorry), I had no idea of the plot or what it was really about. We had also bought the tickets on a bit of a whim the morning before the show, so we had no time to organise costumes (not that we knew about them). Yes, I was a bit of a noob.

We knew as soon as we got to the theatre (and perhaps prior to it, the show having quite a reputation), we knew that it would be... adult. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've never seen so many transvestites in one room. About 90% of people had dressed up, and the ATMOSPHERE! Even if I had hated the show, I would have gone again and again purely for the atmosphere when the show started. Even though we only had seats in the upper circle (to be expected, having booked them only a few hours in advance), we instantly got into it and enjoyed the show. Also, having been a bit of a 'gleek' when I was younger, I knew a few of the classic songs like the time warp and sweet transvestite. We enjoyed the show throughout and it never had a weak moment; undoubtedly thanks to the amazing cast. My favourite performance was dammit janet, purely because of the audience heckling the characters (although don't be alarmed, it's all part of the show); it made the audience's interaction with the characters so much better, and I really felt like part of the show. I wore my prom dress with some black sheer tights and black creepers, to which, according to my mum, actually made me look okay; she said that I fitted in with the 1970-esque style of the show. Thanks mum!

Overall, it's a great show with a lot (understatement of the century) of rude bits, and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of going to see it. The show is on a UK tour throughout 2013, so check your local theatre, and don't forget your costume!

Bye!!

'being grateful on a sunday' is a failure

I am going to combine wishful wednesday and being grateful on a sunday, because frankly, I want to write other posts as well. I feel like I would be writing too frequently if I kept both because I don't like posting on consecutive days, therefore writing on both wednesday and sunday only leaves me friday to write, which sucks! By combining them, I will be still writing about things I am wishful/grateful for, but as well as other things that interest me. However, for now, I will jot down a few things I've been grateful for in the past week:
my mummy for buying me lovely new clothes
hmv
the guy who dropped his ice cream in town
nice, fairly cold weather
foot cream, specifically heel genius (click here if you have managed to get it in the hair)
the rocky horror show
new 187 brush <3<3<3
Not too many things, but this week I have felt a little materialistic. I will write on wednesday!
Bye!!

wishful wednesday #4

In the past week, a lot of things have frustrated me, to be blunt. I spent a lot of time on a blog post yesterday about a trip to Kew Gardens, before my computer crashed and I lost all of it. Also, I have stubbed my toe more than I care to admit, and am gaining weight despite eating more healthily than I have ever have and doing a lot of pilates (this is v good for me). Also, I am VERY worried about getting my GCSE results on the 22nd, as I think I messed up a couple of subjects. This is what I think I have got:

English Lit - B (did this last year)

English Lang - A - I love english and lang actually allows creativity (unlike lit)

Maths - A - I like maths

French - B/C but I don't give a crap about it

Biology - B - good for me considering it's biology

Chemistry - B - also good considering it's chemistry

Physics - A - pretty sure I got an A because I did well in the first two modules

Psychology - A - happy with this

Drama - B - I got an A in all of my coursework but really messed up the written exam :'(

ICT - A - got an A in all of my coursework, so pretty standard

Religious Studies - B - genuinely have no idea what I will get though

I am most worried about Drama because I am doing theatre studies next year for IB, and I want to do really well so badly. Also, I think that there is a massive difference on how people view getting an A and getting a B. People at my school generally see the margin of an A to a B much bigger than a B to a C, or likewise an A to an A*, whereas in reality the mark schemes are not like this at all; the margins between grades are pretty much the same. I hope that makes sense.

Anyway, after going off on that little tangent (probably showing just how much it has been on my mind), here are my wishful wednesday things:

get an A in drama (a girl can dream)

stop stubbing my toe

vegetables to taste like maltesers

finally have the motivation to read Antigone

resist the temptation to stick my finger in my jelly candle on my desk

new laptop battery & charger (although I still can't take it anywhere because the screen is broken off

kew gardens blog post to magically appear on my laptop

my new clothes to arrive already

phone to stop messing up

winter

motivation to go for a run instead of constant pilates 

new clear nail varnish

a hot chocolate mmmmmm

Bye!!

being grateful on a sunday #1

On Wednesday (wishful wednesday), I said that I would post about things that I am grateful for, and the reason for this being fairly late in the day (21 hours in) is that I have been struggling to think of a name for the damn thing. My mind still fails to come up with anything slightly inventive.

Anyway, this week, I haven't been doing a whole lot, with the exception of many home improvements including moving my desk into my sisters old room and stealing some drawers, and popping to London to Kew Gardens (amazing, I may even blog about it some time) with my family; exciting stuff. I hate to be bored with nothing to do in the holidays (especially as for the next two years, I will be up to my neck with IB work), but I have done a lot of reading and other... exhilarating activities.
Also, I got some cacti!!!! I have four different ones in a little pot that look like this:

Back: Frank, Front: Hercules, Left: Jerome, Right: Bobble

As you can see, they do have names but I'm NOT mental! I just love cacti! Also, I have never had a pet (sad, I know, but my mum has allergies), so I feel like I have earned the right to name my plants. Although, the little information card that came with the cacti only has instructions for winter (no water), spring (keep moist) and summer (keep moist also); what am I supposed to do in autumn?! Never fear though, I will be doing extensive research as it reaches the Autumn months to make sure my cacti don't perish.

Enough talk of cacti. These are the things I have been grateful for during the last week:
my cacti (obviously)
new set of drawers (I have space!!)
strawberries
stories I wrote in year 6 (not the main source of my reading material, but entertaining even so)
I won't say I'm in love (new favourite disney song)
ebay (specifically dresses)
my diary
the guy who discovered paracetamol
concealer (cover up those bags of mine)
new laptop charger (can use my laptop finally!)
being able to have a lie in

Bye!!

wishful wednesday #3

This week has been another fairly bland one, with the exceptions of trips to town and London. I have read what feels like a thousand books and rearranged my bedroom (yay). Things I am wishful for:

all the crap from years 10 and 11 to myseriously disappear so I don't have to sort through it
emily brontë to have written more books
new curtains
thigh exercises to work (so cliche, I know)
a cactus family for my room
more batiste
winter
a new multi-purpose makeup brush
better posture
a black skater skirt
work experience in publishing/journalism
the cat that I met and stalked me home

These are the things that I am wanting, but I was thinking the other day about how selfish and vain it is to write about things I want, but not things that I am perhaps grateful for. Seeing as there is no day of the week beginning with the letter G, I thought I would start the little segment on a Sunday (the name was derived from the sun, and I am certainly grateful for that), just so that I can keep updated on things I am thankful for as well as wishful for. Now it is in writing, I can not go back!

Bye!!

socks!

As my sister was in town for a couple of days last week, we decided to pop to the high street, and took the obligitary trip to Topshop. People who know me well are most within the knowledge that I hate shopping for things like tops and jeans and jackets, but I LOVE buying little things like socks and undergarments and cosmetics. So as we had some vouchers to use up, I picked up some socks!

AREN'T THEY SO CUTE?!

I adore animal faces printed on clothing, so when I saw these I almost cried of joy (it was THAT emotional). Although, I think half the reason I picked up the pug (left) was because of how I felt sorry for how sad it looked. It was screaming out at me "No megan, you can't leave me here, I have nothing else!!" so what else could I have done? As they were 3 for £8 (still pretty pricey for socks; although looking at them, I really don't mind), I picked up the other two to complete my collection. I certainly will be the king of cute socks in the future.

Bye!