All in a haze

Elf - Desert Haze.

(Rimmel matte top coat)

I can honestly say this has the most staying power. Ive had it on for about 3/4 days and barely any chips.

Quite surprising for a polish that cost a mere £1.

Have you tried these polishes? What did you think of their staying power?

*Im off to Centre Parcs for the weekend, blogging will commence as usual when im back!*

Jibber Jabber 004

3 Posts in one day! Im on a roll!


Just a quick one today i suppose, i didn't manage to do my last jibber jabber till friday last week i don't think. Time really gets away from you sometimes doesn't it? I can't really say i've done much in that time, because i havn't. I have 2 projects on the go which ive taken a back seat on this past week, don't really know why, and my dissertation isn't going great at the moment. I promised myself fridays would be my "dissertation day" but somehow i blogged, played on my sega game that i got for xmas on joes ps3 and spent the rest of the time just visiting various websites. Im terrible with uni work, deadlines, anything like that! (Not a good quality for a soon-to-be-graduate!) -oh thinking about graduating, my uni doesn't actually graduate till NOVEMBER! we finish around may/june time. Is anyone else's like this? or is mine just being cheap or something?


As i'm sure most of you know its IMATS this weekend. I wont be going! :(. Its one of my housemates 21st birthday tomorrow, so 12 of us are off to Centre Parcs for the weekend. (The Longleat one!) If anyone has been there, let me know what's worth doing. Were all thinking paint-balling and quad-biking. Quite excited for it. We've got 2 cabins/houses/chalets? right next to each other, so it should be a laugh. 
Oh, while on the subject of her birthday, it falls on Australia day. (yay!) so we're all going out dressed as Australian-themed things. I think the birthday girl is going as a crocodile, one of my other housemates is a fosters can, Joe's going as Steve Irwin and i'm going as Terri Irwin (though neither of us look like either of them!) and my other housemate is going to be a flamin galah Not sure about others. Im sure photos will follow! (For anyone wanting to know, the fosters can is being made from one of those pop-up wash bins that's just been painted. We plan on doing a night out dressed as cans. Lame, but we are students after all! ha.


Finally got around to ordering a new battery for my mac. I can't bear it when the charger gets unplugged and it all switches off. Its supposed to be coming from Portsmouth, but is being sent to my house in Oxford, so that will the require a drive home to get it. Fun fun!


I went to watch Black Swan last night with Joe. Ive read other bloggers opinions on it, and seriously, there are no words than can properly  describe it. Its beautiful, strange, weird, tense and twisted all in one. My advise it to see it, if not for the fact that Natalie Portman plays her character amazingly, then for the story line which is full of twists.


I also just wanted to quickly thank Charlene for the Blogger Award! :)


What have you all got planned this week? Is anyone going to IMATS? x

Through The Looking Glass

I don't think i ever got around to showing you all this necklace my boyfriend bought me for xmas. He actually took notice when i said i wanted a telescope necklace and saw me looking at the love hearts and crosses jewellery website. 

I love how long the chain is, i love the fact it works and the unusualness of it. 

What do you all think? Would you wear it?

Bargain Buys.

Like most students (in the UK?) i got my loan through recently. I know it's not something people like to really talk about, especially with all the student protests and stuff thats been going on recently, but ive been in desperate need of some new clothes forever for ages. Yesterday, when i took a quick trip to town, i managed to pick up a few pairs of tights in primark and some odds and sods elsewhere. The local Matalan here isnt directly in the centre of town, but its not far out, so i thought id take a walk there to see if i could find anything nice. I managed to pick up a few  things, but when walking past the jewelery stands on my way to the tills to pay, i came across these 

I'm not normally a massive ring person, but recently i've found myself buying more than usual, and in styles that originally i probably wouldn't have bought. The first one is a bird covered in little studs. The second one is a double finger ring that recently ive found myself loving. Ive got quite chubby fingers, so i need to find slightly bigger ringholes, but matalan always do theirs in different sizes which is always a bonus. Most of the jewelery i saw had been reduced by 70%! Both of these rings were originally £6, but with the markdown price (and student discount) i got them at £1.65 each! Baaaaaaaaaargain!

In The Nude

(Please excuse my gammy thumb nail!)


Models Own Nude Beige. Definitely a new favourite. 

What Does Steph Think: Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment

As some of you will know,  back in November i bought a few products by Lee Stafford when they were on offer in boots, i finished the hair treatment the other day, so i thought it was about time for a review.

Although i can't say that i can see my hair has grown a considerable amount, i still think its quite a good product. The smell isn't the most pleasant, but its something that i found easy to get used to, and by the time the pot was coming to and end, i didn't really notice it that much. 

the directions said that you were to use about an egg-sized amount and spread it evenly through your hair and massage into your roots. Generally i left it on for about 5 minutes or so and then washed it out to have really, really soft, tangle-free hair. It did seem to be more manageable and a healthy, so in that aspect, it definitely a plus. Although for a drugstore brand, it is priced at £7.14 for 200ml. (you can generally pick up a Tresemme one for around £5)

Would i buy it again? If it was on offer. I don't think its worth £7.

Rating: 7/10

Have you tried this? What do you think of it?

Jibber Jabber 003

[Link]

Can't believe it's friday already!


Havn't really got up to much recently, so this will be a pretty short post. Today im trying to focus on my dissertation, although i do keep veering onto my e-mails, twitter and facebook occasionally! 


My uni briefs are going well and my lecturer told me he liked my ideas, so i just need to get some photos taken and edited and i'm almost done! Can't really believe it. I know i keep banging on about the D&AD and YCN briefs, but if your into creative subjects and you havn't heard about them, its worth having a look! I'm finding it hard to get back into my old routine after being off for about a month. This semester i just need to get my head down and work work work!


I'm really sorry i havn't put my giveaway up yet and i keep rambling on about it. I'm hoping to get it up within the next week. I just want to make sure i have things you will all like. :)


Also, i will try my hardest to do some better posts over the weekend. I want to do some work, but i also need to go to town. I think i might buy some new clothes and a few other bits before i have to pay my rent! ha.


Lastly, It would have been one of my friend's 21st birthday today had she still have been here, so share a thought for everyone thats not about anymore <3


I hope you all have a nice weekend! Anything planned?

Batiste: Now for all hair colours.

Ever have those days where you need to wash your hair, or jazz it up a little bit when its dull but don't have the time? I'm sure many of you, like me, reach for your Batiste dry shampoo. 

I also know, that lots of people are hesitant of using it because of the grey/white powder it gives off, well for those of you that are a bit of unsure of using it because of this, Batiste are introducing 3 new shades of Dry Shampoo. They Say "The three new variants, each with a hint of colour to complement light and blonde hair; medium and brunette hair and dark and deep brown hair" So no more worrying about weather your roots look slightly lighter than usual!

"introduced a range of dry shampoos with a hint of colour specifically designed to complement your hair colour whilst instantly giving you clean, fresh hair full of body and texture. Left in at the roots, it’s great for blending in regrowth on coloured or highlighted hair and can even disguise stray greys too. Brilliant for banishing oily roots and freshening-up dull, lifeless hair – Batiste Dry Shampoo can now bring a little colour to your life!"

New Batiste Dry Shampoo with a hint of colour £3.05 from Boots, Superdrug and all good retailers and pharmacies.

ELF Polishes

I'm a bit late on this train really, but the other week i placed an order with Elf, it eventually turned up and here are the 3 polishes i bought.

L-r: Mint Cream, Desert Haze, Lilac.

I havn't properly used them yet, but the quick swatches i have done, they seem to need a few coats, but they are buildable and do seem to turn out okay. I plan on doing some nail designs tonight, so hopefully pictures will come tomorrow! :) 

The ones i bought, were (i think) only £1, some are £1.50. All available from the Elf website. Do you own any Elf polishes? What do you think of them? 

Recap

Backwards Clock that i can rarely tell the time on.

Oxford, full of bikes.

Oxford, college

DVDs unpacked and up on my shelf. Hello American Office series 1-4! :)

Ipod, Beatles

Youtube, That song i havn't heard in years that sprung to mind

YCN Brief, Open University

Just a few snaps of the past week or so. Sorry i've not posted much, got back to uni yesterday and had a class today. Usual posting will resume tomorrow! :) Anyone else doing any of the YCN or D&AD Briefs? 

*i probably won't be doing these type of posts very often*

Affordable Alternative: Take two

Who remembers when i made this post about a cheaper but similar version of the beloved Mulberry Alexa? Well while trawling the internet, i came across this beauty..

Believe it or not, its actually from Peacocks and priced at a very reasonable £14. Just £2 more than the Matalan one.

I havn't seen it in person yet, but the material of it looks much thicker and sturdy than the Matalan version.

Both versions are avaliable in Tan and Black. 

I think i may need to go shopping tomorrow. What do you all think?

Jibber Jabber 002

After finishing Gavin and Stacey (which i undoubtedly talked about in my last Jibber Jabber) i've been watching Gossip Girl with my sister. Almost finished series 3 (still not done uni work as i'm sure you've worked out by now!) We have like 2 episodes left and don't own series 4 (yet!)
Still waiting for Amazon to deliver The american Office that i ordered over a week ago. I've lost all faith in them after something i ordered for my mum (for xmas) never arrived (still hasn't now!) Also waiting on other orders in the post. Is something going on with Royal Mail or are they being slow/on an xmas backlog? its so frustrating. 


I go back to uni on Sunday. As much as im looking forward to seeing my friends and being back in my lovely house, i kind of just want to stay here. Im fed up of that student bubble of having no money and scrimping and saving left, right and centre. I know when its all over in May/June though i'll be mega sad. 


I've been looking for graduate jobs recently so i spent last night trying to perfect my CV. I'm rubbish at things like that, especially seen as im applying for graduate jobs (or "proper jobs" as i think of them!), they don't want to know about retail and bar work do they?! 


The people in the Apple shop in Milton Keynes shop weren't really too helpful. They kept me waiting quite a while and the guy that dealt with me basically just told me to buy a new one. The good thing is that they had been reduced to £101, but i'll still be buying a cheaper one online. Im not made of money!


This is something that is seriously annoying the hell out of me..My Blackberry. Its favourite thing to do is freeze. Especially after being charged (then loosing it all the next day) I've had it for just over a year now, and still have another year to go...great!

Have you all noticed the new layout and difference in photos? what do you think of it? I don't want the images to flood the pages too much! let me know if you think they're too big or if they look ok. I'm desperate to re-do the banner at the top again because its really annoying me, and im thinking of getting rid of the pink.


A few to follow this week: Emma, Lucy, Kirsty and Dan

Too good to be true?

In my last post i told you all about how i was going to Milton Keynes on Sunday, well while i was there i managed to pick up 3 more Models Own polishes. Quite often Boots run offers with Models own where you can pick them up on 3 for £10 (rather than paying £5 pet 14ml bottle) Seeing as how my obsession with the brand is growing by the day, i decided to pick up 3 that i didnt already own.

Nude Beige, Purple Mystique and 25 Carrat Gold. The gold is not one that i would generally buy as i cant see myself blinging up my nails with that colour, but for doing nail art, i think it will come in really handy. 

If you havn't already tried the polishes, they are very true to bottle colour and only take 1-2 coats. They, along with various other make up bits and pieces are sold in Boots and online.

The photo above are the ones that i currently have at home with me whilst being back for xmas break.  I didn't bring them all.

L-R: Grace Green, Nude Beige, Purple Ash, Purple Mistique, 25 Carrat Gold.

What are your favourite Models Own colours?

Jibber Jabber 001

Hi guys, Im really sorry for not posting more recently.

After the rush of xmas and new year, i had planned on blogging, and tried my hardest last night, up until my laptop had a mind of its own again and then almost got thrown out of my window.

I have a macbook pro (the old style one) and i've had it for about 2 and a half years, and recently its all started bodging up. The click button doesn't work properly, (its as if something is stuck underneath it) the trackpad doesn't like me and decides to highlight everything when i try and move my finger, and when the power supply has been taken out for longer than 30 seconds, mighty mac just goes into meltdown and decides that's it. This has all only happened recently though. So this morning i decide to phone apple and when i look at the battery, look what i find..

i realise most of you probably don't care, but seriously, this was  is my battery. The man on the phone basically told me that i might have to buy a new one as it's not covered by applecare. So thats £140 down the drain (it would be less, but i have the 17") so my question to any of my faithful readers is has anyone else had a problem with their mac battery? if so, did anyone opt for a cheaper option? i've looked on e-bay and they're about £50. I've got to go to Milton Keynes on Sunday for an appointment with one of their genius people to see if there's any chance i can get a free one as the battery shouldn't do that. i'm not holding my breath.

Anyway, xmas and new year was good. i got a new camera, conical wand and some other bits and bobs. I havn't really bought too much in the sales. a new pair of pj bottoms, cheap xmas decs that caught my eye and the other day managed to pick up some of the accessorize makeup.

I've managed to watch all 3 series and the xmas special of Gavin and Stacey over the past 4/5 days, and i'm waiting for amazon to deliver the office so i can start on that. Unfortunately i never managed to watch all of friends, and with Joe not here, i cant carry on. Lame.

anyway, i hope you've all had a good week. Don't forget to keep a lookout for my competition which should *fingers crossed* be up within the next couple of weeks. :) Have a lovely weekend. xx