January 2014 | Loves and Loathes

Since it's the last day of January (can't believe how quick this month has gone!) I thought I'd do a quick little post on the things I've been loving this month and also the things I haven't been enjoying so much.

Loves!

(original source edit by me)

If any of you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you may have seen a few of the great deals I've managed to pick up in this years January Sales! (Though there are a few others I haven't posted on either of those sites which I do want to show off... maybe I'll make a small post maybe not though). Who doesn't love a bargain?! 

(original source edit by me)

This is just a little thing, but this month I've really felt like I've been getting into a good routine with university and I'm a lot more organised with uni work, and in general, at home (which was one of my resolutions!). It's just something that makes me feel good... I don't know why. Organised space = organised mind, perhaps?

My last love for January is Blogging! I've really enjoyed getting into blogging this month, and though I'm yet to fully get into a groove and have been occupied with university assignments and other things, I've tried to put as much effort into this blog as possible and I hope this can continue!

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Loathes!

(original source edit by me)

Gotta love the student life, right? Work load has been my biggest downer this month, it's left me with virtually no free time and I've literally had sleepless nights over these assignments. One is due in this Tuesday (Feb 4th) and is accompanied by a oral presentation on the same day (which have given me mild panic attacks in the past, so not looking forward to that).

You know, I wouldn't mind the work if they were just essays or revision, but it's because we have to write up experiments we have conducted in true scientific paper style, with results, statistical analysis, references to other papers, the whole shabang. It is NOT FUN. I have, like, 5 more that need doing as well, but they are all in for March 21st so if I start now and pace myself I should be all good... hopefully.

(original source edit by me)

Okay, okay, I know a little weight gain over Christmas happens to a lot of people, but I just feel really sluggish and groggy. I mentioned wanting to be healthier and lose weight in my new years resolutions post, and I am eating healthier, but I've yet to notice any weight loss, which I know it is to be expected as it is still very early days (and I've yet to fully implement my exercise regime!) but some days I just don't feel like myself, you probably know those days too though! 

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That's about it... not that much has happened this month, and like I said, due to uni work I haven't been out that much, so there's not been that much to love and loathe, but I think I'm going to do one of these every month since it's nice to reflect as you go along!

Anyone else had any particular loves or loathes from this January?

Keep smiling!
Birds in Blossom x

GIVEAWAY | 100 blog lovin' followers!

Hi everyone! 

Well, a few days ago I hit 100 blog lovin' followers! I honestly never thought I'd get even one reader of this blog, and so, never ever thought I'd see the day that I'd hit a milestone that would justify a giveaway! Yet here we are!

Anyway down to business, as a thank you for all of you who have followed my blog on blog lovin', I'm hosting a little Giveaway!

(You must be following me on Blog lovin' to enter the giveaway. Also, unfortunately it will be a UK ONLY giveaway this time.)

I've decided to give the lucky winner a One4all voucher, now if you don't know what that is it's a gift card like any other but you can use it in a wide range of shops and restaurants. For example Boots, Debenhams, Miss Selfridge, New look, Oasis, Pizza Express, River Island, Topshop and so many more!! Check out their website here to see where else it can be used! 

(source, source)

Now it's going to be a £20 voucher up for grabs and you can enter via the rafflecopter widget below! You have a week to make your entries count!

Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep smiling,
Birds in Blossom x

Favourites | Mascara & Liquid Liner

Today, I thought I'd share with you my favourite mascara and liquid liner, they are both Rimmel products and both are black in colour. I use them every single day, practically without fail, and they never let me down, so yeah, I've decided to do a quick post on them!

Oh, by the way, I bought them both from Boots, but obviously that isn't the only place to find them and as there may not even be a Boots near you, so I've put links to the actual product page on the Rimmel website as they tell you all places where is available for you to buy them, hope that helps for anyone who is interested!

I have only just started using this particular mascara, the Rimmel ScandalEyes Lycra Flex Mascara (RRP £6.99), but I have instantly fallen in love. I do have naturally long lashes (though you couldn't tell from the photos!) so mascara does tend to work really well for me, but this product is on another level in comparison to mascaras I have used in the past. It truly lengthens my lashes and adds volume to them, just what you want from a mascara, and as a person who actually never wears false lashes but has considered wearing them, ScandalEyes makes me think that I really don't need them!

The applicator brush is large and thick (and a conventional shape, I don't really understand the benefit of all these strange shaped mascara brushes) just what I want, as it means good coverage of mascara on your lashes in just a few quick strokes of the brush.

However, I do find if you're not careful with application, it can start to clump a little if you apply more than one coat (like mine did today a bit). The best way to avoid this is by making sure the mascara isn't too thick at the end of the lashes and to 'wiggle' your brush as you are applying it, so make quick short side to side movements as you go up and along your lashes. Also let it dry after the first coat and use a clean eyelash comb (which I didn't have on me today) to separate the lashes, then carefully apply another coat if necessary. But just look at the difference it makes to my lashes!

Note that mascara does go 'off' and won't work like it should so it will probably clump a lot more that you'd expect and it'll be thick, so it won't spread nicely over your lashes.

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Now this product is now an good old friend of mine, I've been using Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Liner (RRP £.5.29) for years and it's by far the best liquid liner I've come across for two reasons; Firstly, the liner itself, it's matte dark colour and lasts all day, very rarely do I have to do touch ups. Secondly, the applicator, which is actually a brush, you know with individual hairs like a paint brush, rather than a felt-tip nib type thing you often get which is good as I tend to find the nib ones to be too solid and stiff to get the smooth lines you can achieve with a brush style applicator. 

My eyeliner isn't perfect today and is a little messy (as you can see from the photo below, I had still to do the clean up on the smudged mascara below the water line and on my top lid), but like eyebrows, the eyeliner on each lid, doesn't have to be identical, just a similar style (otherwise it would just look odd). So I just go with what works from day to day, which tends to be a pretty simple cat eye look with a not too drastic flick.

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Anyway, that's that for now, I would highly recommend these products if you don't mind very obvious and dark make-up. It's probably a little to heavy for most people, but it's what I do everyday and it is pretty quick and easy to do. Though, obviously if you did a thinner eye-liner line, and just one coat of mascara it would be more subtle look. They aren't too expensive compared to other products around, they do last a while and definitely have the quality. Thanks for reading! (and sorry for all the gross, high quality, up close pictures of my eyes!)

Here's a little start to finish comparison photo set!

         

Keep smiling,

BirdsinBlossom x

Mixed Prints. Love it or Hate it?

1. Black Spliced Leopard Print Oversized T-shirt - £18.00

2. Contrast Gingham Shirt by Boutique - £75.00 

3. Aloha Check Slinky Bondycon Dress - £34.00

4. Graphic Flower Tee - £18.00

5. Mixed Check Jacquard Tee - £26.00

6. Black Floral Tartan Print Spliced Smock Dress - £25.00

7. Floral Grid Split Shell Top - £30.00

8. Oversize Contrast Check Shirt - £30.00

9. Coral Chelsea Girl Mixed Print Dress - £25.00

I was flicking through a magazine last week and came across something that I hadn't really seen before in a commercial piece of clothing, it was three completely clashing prints all on one dress (number 9. in my list). Now, I didn't know what to make of it because the magazine article had a plain image of the dress, like seen above, and then next to it was a photo of a model actually wearing it and it definitely looked far better on her than in it's picture, but I still wasn't sure what I thought about it. 

Then a few days later, I was browsing online and saw even more clothing with this mixed print look and I think I've come to the conclusion that, at the minute, I'm not really a fan, some of them are alright, like the oversized check shirt (8.) and maybe the smock dress (6.) but overall I've not seen anything that I would wear myself. Maybe I'm missing the point? I thought I'd show you guys as I think I'm still on the fence, perhaps I'm waiting for a piece that I like before I make a proper decision. 

Though, I must say, I've only picked out a few examples as I don't think this style is very common yet, but each time I look there seem to be more and more, so maybe it's a trend that's going to catch on (or is it already a thing? I don't know).

So, what do you guys think? Do you like it, and would you wear any of these?

Keep smiling,

Birds in Blossom x