Teen Spirit Smells Like...

...Sweat, beer, wee and fireworks. This weekend I went to Leeds Festival with a few of my friends and it was completely incredible. It was my first festival so I was a bit wary to begin with but the smell and the awful toilets are definitely worth it!


We arrived at Bramham Park (after the coach ride from hell) at about 11 complete with bags full of baby wipes, food and a tent and, after getting our ultra-cool wristbands, set off in search of the perfect spot to set up camp. After much huffing, puffing and lugging we found it. Just far enough away from the toilets so we couldn’t smell them, close to the water taps and only 5 minutes walk from the arena itself.

Over the weekend I saw a lot of amazing bands so I’m just gonna give you a run down of my top five. In reverse order, in true TOTP style…

5. Frank Turner
This guy was absolutely incredible. He had the unfortunate job of playing when it had been raining all day and everybody was down in the dumps but he managed to get the crowd dancing. I love the realism of his lyrics and it was the perfect music to cheer everybody up.

4. The Vaccines
I absolutely adore this band and I’ve been desperate to see them live since I heard their album. The boys did not disappoint and Justin Young was the perfect frontman. They played a brand new track and it sounds like the band have got more of the same up their sleeves.

3. My Chemical Romance
Okay, so this might seem a bit out of character for me but I absolutely loved MCR when I was 13 so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to live out the dream and see them live. They headlined the Saturday night and they had a tough job outdoing Muse’s set from the night before but they definitely did themselves justice.

2. Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit
This wonderful man and his band were on after My Chemical Romance and I dragged my tired and begrudging friends to go and see him. It was definitely worth the loss of 45 minutes sleep. I’ve been wanted to see Johnny Flynn for a long time and it topped off my Saturday.

1. Pulp
Two words. Jarvis Cocker. The guy is the epitome of front man, it seemed like he was just making casual conversation with the crowd before thrusting like mad during the songs. It seemed like the whole of the festival had turned out to see the original indie band and the atmosphere was absolutely incredible.

In fact, the atmosphere over the whole weekend was brilliant. Some of my favourite moments happened in between bands. The whole of the crowd singing Bohemian Rhapsody before My Chemical Romance for example, or the security guards doing dances for us before the Strokes. Ignore all the horror stories you hear about festivals, there’s such a sense of community. Even if most of that community are drunk most of the time, everyone’s there for the same reason; to enjoy a bit of live music.

Store Card Blues

As you may have guessed from the numerous amounts of CDs, I spend a lot of money in HMV. So, when they brought out their ‘pure hmv’ store card I got very excited. From the look of the leaflet I was expected fun, free things and endless amounts of joy to pour out of the plastic card, but no such luck.

In reality, HMV’s points card is a bit pointless. You get a point for every penny you spend, which is really good in comparison to some other store cards, where this one falls down is that the points themselves are pretty useless.

Just £2 store credit is 10000 points, which involves spending a lot of money when you don’t get a lot back. However, credit is not the only thing you can buy in the pure HMV ‘arena’. There are exclusive and exciting other things in the arena, I was told. Not so, I’m afraid. It’s pretty much just posters, which are all well and good but I could have bought them without going through the hassle of buying a card.

Basically, HMV have finally let me down. The card is not all that, and if you haven’t got one I wouldn’t change that. Then again, all store cards have their downfalls, so check it out for yourselves and see if it could be worth it for you. 

Hydrated and happy!

Warning: This post does talk about feet!(No feet photos though,blah)

Ok, so lately my feet have been really dry!(is this just me??) I'm not sure why but they constantly look dehydrated which as you can imagine is not an attractive look, especially in flipflops. And so, i have become obsessed with moisturising my feet. My favourite new found hobby? Well, i don't actually know if there's a name for it but i call it 'moisture socks'! Basically, before i got to bed, i get a really thick moisturiser and keep working layers into my feet. I keep going till literally my skin can't absorb anymore. Then, i simply put on my socks to lock in all the moisture and go to sleep. When i wake up my feet are gloriously moisturised and happy :)

It's not just my feet that have been rather dry though lately but my lips aswell(i know it's a  true tragedy). I tend to get alot of dry skin on my lips. I find the best way to get rid of this is to exfoliate. I do this a few different ways:
1) Simply use your face exfoliator over your lips. It couldn't be any easier!
2)Use a toothbrush aand well, brush your lips. I find this the most effective way when you have a lot of dry skin.
3)Take a cotton bud and put a bit of lipbalm on it. Then twist it quite firmly into the lips. This is really useful if you've got flaky lips and it also helps work the lipbalm into your lips better so it's more effective.

A bit of a random post but hopefully some will find it useful :)

We'd love to read about any of your beauty tips in the comments below. Hope you have a happy and hydrated week!

A Bridge Over Troubled Water

Cambridge to be exact. With results day looming ever nearing and the summer drawing to a close my family decided that this weekend would be the perfect time to take ourselves off for the weekend. Now, we’re not a family that does impromptu holidays well or often so on Saturday morning there was a definite feeling of panic in the house, but once we were out and on our way all our anxiety seemed to melt away.

However, this bliss was tainted with anxiety for me as I’m looking at going to Cambridge University the year after next. So, when we parked up we headed for Emmanuel College to have a look around and I absolutely fell in love with it. 

From the front it looks like your typical old, grand, Cambridge college but once you get through those arches there’s a wonderful paddock, even a pond with ducks! Also Emmanuel is home to the world’s oldest outdoor swimming pool that’s still in use (although it’s been renovated a fair few times).

After having had our fill of the college we strolled through the beautiful town itself. If you’re a sucker for old architecture like me then I definitely recommend a trip into Cambridge. But the buildings aren’t all the place has to offer, there were loads of buskers around which gave the town a really lively feel. We even found one guy playing guitar in a very odd place…

Also while strolling through town we came across a most wondrous delight…Mr Simm’s  Olde Sweet Shoppe! I couldn’t resist these peanut m&m’s…

Then, after an amusing half hour watching the punters crash and climb and all sorts in the river we headed to our hotel and had a much needed rest. I absolutely loved Cambridge and now really have my heart set on going there, fingers crossed for results day!

Photographs courtusey of my lovely sister Danni!

Shine on!

Shampoo is often overlooked. I can understand why, I mean it's hardly the most exciting beauty product. I think the main reason people tend to underate Shampoo is the fact that it's not usually that luxurious and it's effects are not always so apparent. Yet the power of a good shampoo, should not be undervalued!

Recently my hair's been feeling a little lacklustre. By the second day it feels dirty, it acts weird, making it more difficult to style and keeps going frizzy:(  My hair constantly feels like it needs refreshing, a little pick me up.

After having decided to strip back my hair routine to the basics i.e. shampoo and conditioner, i felt the need to try something new. Before leaving for her year abroad my elder sister was kind enough to leave me with a departing present: Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure Smooth Shine Shampoo and conditioner (hardly a snappy name?!)

Heres what Schwarzkopf have to say:'Cleanses, nourishes and smoothes unmanageable hair for lasting frizz protection and a mirror-like shine. Smoothes the hair surface promoting a shiny healthy finish. - Panthenol: provides essential moisture. - Amino Cell Rebuild Technology: penetrates deeply into the hair to repair its inner cell structure.'

The shampoo retails for £6 and the conditioner for £7. Hardly breaking the bank and i've found that they do last for quite a long time, obviously this depends on how much you use per wash and if its just you using the bottle.

Now it is a little more expensive than your regular shampoo you get at the supermarket but you definitely notice the difference when applying the products, specifically the shampoo. Rather than turning into an afro of bubbles as soon as you start to work the product into your hair(this happens alot with cheap shampoos because of all their nasty chemicals) instead it turns into a rich creamy lather(mmm lovely!). It feels noticeably more luxurious than typical drugstore brand shampoos. The conditioner is as equally nice to apply.

The packaging is also lovely. Sleek and simple.  Although still in essence just a plastic bottle it has an air of sophistication.They look nice enough to be left out on your bathroom shelf which is always a bonus.


Both shampoo and conditioner do what their supposed to. My hair was noticeably smoother after using them just once. But the next day it looked as lacklustre as usual, though admittedly a little less frizzy after having used it a few times. So let's get to the point: would i reccomend it? Yes, but it depends what your looking for from your shampoo/conditioner. Both the shampoo and conditioner do what they advertise; smooth and add shine. Yet i wouldn't repurchase as the difference they've made to my hair doesn't outway the extra price or the inconvience of finding a stockist. I still think it's worth spending a bit extra on your hair products and to me a good shampoo is like a good foundation it helps give a perfect base so all your other products look/work better.

Unfortunatley i'm still looking for my perfect shampoo and conditioner. If you've discovered any amazing hair products i would love to read all of your suggestions in the comments:)

Everyday I'm Shufflin'...

…to Bombay Bicycle Club. Sorry for the false advertising but this is, in fact, a review of the London band’s brand spanking new single. And, once more, it will be more of a rave than a review. I am completely in love with this track, it sounds like summer is here (although a look out the window confirms that the glorious sun still has not arrived).

The piano riff intro instantly had me dancing when I heard it and the rest of the song does not disappoint. The simple rhythm guitar and bouncy bass part don’t detract from the gorgeous riff at all, but add enough difference to allow for it to be stripped back in the bridge. The middle section again allows the riff to dominate but the string synth over the top and the softer vocal allow for a bit of variety within the song.

The lyrics are surprising because they seem to be about losing a relationship which doesn’t seem to fit the upbeat feel of the music but the ethereal way in which they’re delivered just adds another lovely layer to the rest of the song.

When the sun finally comes out (okay, I know it’s never coming, this is England after all) this will definitely be my summer soundtrack and I cannot wait for the new album. I love Bombay Bicycle Club and you should definitely check them out if you haven’t already!

Also, look out for Lucy Rose in the video; she's been a backing singer for the band and is now starting to make a name all for herself in the folk scene.

Maximum wear

After waiting for about three months, it finally feels as though summer has arrived! While I am trying to make the most of it, i'm all too aware that it won't last for long. Like most people, the recent appearance of sunshine got me rather excited and I decided that my current summer wardrobe was not cutting it. Yet after having splashed some cash on some suitable summer clothes, it rained the next day; typical!
This is what gave me the idea to share some tips on how to transition some of your summer wardrobe into the upcoming autumn or simply through the unreliable British Summer.

The maxi dress. A summer staple for many women. I prefer to keep things simple when out about in the heat. To add interest to a plain dress, while keeping yourself cool, layer up jewwellery. Mix in different lengths, different textures, stones,metals to create an individiual and eclectic look. Just be careful not too over do it. Keep in mind the wise words of Coco Chanel; "When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on."

A simple trick for wearing your maxi dress in chillier climates?Layering!

The picture below shows Katherine Power, co-founder of WhoWhatWear, adding various layers and textures in order to keep herself warm-perfect for winter not just autumn.

So really, the Maxi dress is a year round wardrobe staple! Perfect as it is in Summer, add a checked shirt or t-shirt and jacket in Autumn, jumpers,coats,boots, 3 pairs of tights in Winter and a  denim jacket/shirt in spring! Definitely a worthwhile investment.

So, as promised, here's our review of the Collection 2000 lasting colour nail polishes. Obviously the main selling point of these varnishes is the price! £2.99 people! Easily availbale at Boots and Superdrug, it's perfect for picking up on a wim one day. I was actually given a couple as a birthday gift and was more than pleasantly surprised. As many people do, i always tend to favour more expensive cosmetic products assuming that they'll be of better quality. However price is not always a reflection of quality, as this product shows.

That said there is one problem with these nail varnishes: the brush. The brand sells it as a 'one stroke'  maxi brush. Clearly the intention of this design is to speed up the process and help lesson mistakes. Although in my opinion it does the exact opposite of this. I'm sorry to say but the brush is just a teenie bit too fat for my personal liking. Yet in a strange way i find it often helps me make less mistakes, as i'm taking more care and thinking about what im doing. Also, if you have large nails, you probably will like the brush.

The main thing that i love about these is that they only need one coat, which actually lasts. I wore my silver nail polish for 5 days without topcoat before it started to wear and chip. Although Collection 2000 advertise that it should last for ten. Why they have done this, i don't know because i am yet to find any nail polish that remains in an acceptable state for ten days!
I currently only have two colours,both of which are metallic. As i said earlier, the price is a major selling point and yes i'll admit while both of my polishes when applied to the nail are vivid and opaque; they don't quite match the smooth subtle glossy shimmer of say a Chanel nail polish but you cant really complain when they're ;ess than a quarter of the price of a Chanel polish. Overall i'm really glad i tried these polishes and will definilty be getting some more! I don't care if it's sad, i can't wait to try out some more colours. The only problem is: which one?

I can see these becoming my go to nail polish brand. What's your favourite nail polish brand? Leave a comment telling us or letting us know any that you're keen to try and we'll be sure to review!

Currently Boots is running a 2 for £5 deal on all Collection 2000 Cosmetics.
To see what the nail polishes look like on the nail, check out our last nail art tutorial which features 'Stardust' as the base colour.

Marbled Delights

Baking, for me, is just as much fun as eating the cake itself at the end. I have to bake with music (usually cheesey 80’s tunes) and normally end up having a dance around the kitchen with the wooden spoon as a result. Possibly shouldn’t have admitted that on the internet…

Anyway, these marbled delights taste as good as they look and are definitely recommended by me.

Here’s what you’ll need…

280g plain flour
1 tablespoon of baking powder
115g caster sugar
2 eggs
250 ml milk
85g melted butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

To start with, pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 6/200⁰C/400⁰F.

Then, sift the flour and baking powder and mix together with the sugar.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and add to them the melted butter (don’t worry if the butter starts to clump together, it will bake in when put in the muffins), vanilla essence and milk.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and poor in the liquids. Stir together.

Next, divide the mixture as evenly as possible in to two bowls and add the cocoa powder to one half.

Now comes the marble-y bit, into a muffin tray pour your mixtures into muffin cases, alternating the chocolate and plain. When I did this, I was too accurate with the layering and ended up with stripy muffins so try and be a bit random with your pouring.

The recipe suggests to bake for 20 minutes, but I’d put them in for a few minutes extra to crisp the tops.