October Birch Box

I am aware we are almost in time for the November Birch Box. However, I have only just received the October one. There was some hiccup somewhere along the way, but the Birchbox team were really great, and helpful and sent me a replacement box. I hope my November box gets to me okay.

But back to October's surprise, I must say that I really love this box. It was so good, that I wanted to share it with you guys. 

Cattier Pink Clay Face Mask - I'm excited about using this. There were two samples in the box, which will help to see how it looks after a multiple uses. I've never actually used a face mask. I know, I know. I should, and I plan to. This will be perfect to give them a go. 

KMS California Hair Play Playable Texture - This is probably the product I am least excited about in the box. I usually use products that are specifically made for making my curls look great. I think I will give this a try and see how it looks, but I'm not sure it would become part of my routine.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix - I do have trouble with ingrown hairs and this product is made to combat that, as well as razor bumps and redness. I'm really looking forward to trying this one.

Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm - This is probably my favourite thing in the box. It feels so soft on my lips and has a little colour to it. I received it in the shade Honey Nectar, and it's such a lovely muted colour. It makes my lips look great, I really love it.

Lollipops Nail Lacquer - I'm sure I've said this before but I'm not a fan for red nail colours, so I'm not sure I'll use this one. It seems like a good product, but it's just not the colour for me. I think I may give this one away.

Birchbox Lipstick Pen - This seems a little of little random product. It's a pen, shaped  like a lipstick. There's not more I can say than that.

October Favourites

I can not believe it is now November. I seem to say this every month, but the year is going so quickly.

October has been quite quiet for me in terms of this blog, but my life has been quite busy. I have began fencing, there was a fair in Nottingham, and work has been very crazy. This last week I took a trip down to London to meet a friend, where we went for sushi. Saying that though, there's a lot to look forward to in November (my birthday for one), but here are my October highlights.

Favourite make-up

This month I have found a renewed love for my rockateur blush. It's just a beautiful rose gold shade and looks great on my cheeks. I think it looks great for autumn.

I also enjoy using the Maybelline Eye Eraser. It's good to use if I'm going minimal on my make-up and just want to brighten up my eyes, as well as using it as a concealer over my foundation.

Favourite beauty

I am quite late to the party, but in October I picked up the 'Mint Julips' Lip Scrub from Lush. It smells and tastes delicious, and keeps my lips feeling really soft. I love it.

I have also been using the Dove Dry Shampoo this month and it's great. I think it's definitely my new dry shampoo of choice. It barely leaves any residue on my hair and smells great.

Favourite candle

A Yankee Candle store has recently opened up in Nottingham, and I picked up this spooky holder and candle, in the scent Ghostly Treats, which were perfect for Halloween. I have had this lit for the last week of October in time for Halloween and it's given such a lovely scent to my room. But now Halloween is over, I can start on the Christmas candles.

Favourite gadget

I am pretty much completely in love with my Chrome Cast. It is such a great gadget. It's just a usb sized dongle, which you plug in into the back of your television. Then using your phone, tablet or laptop you can cast such things as Netflix or IPlayer onto your television. It is brilliant. As someone who would watch a lot of things on my laptop, it's great to be able to put it on my TV and be able to work and watch things at the same time.

Favourite tea

In my trip down to London this month I visited the Twinings shop, which I have been wanting to visit for a long time. I was pretty much like a child in a sweet shop. The best thing I bought was this beautiful tea caddy. There were samples to add into the box like a tea pick 'n' mix. Tea-wise I have been in love with the Twining Camomile and Spiced Apple tea. It is perfect for this time of the year and, and as well as being very delicious, it is also relaxing. I love drinking it in an evening to relax before going to bed.

Favourite television



I know I'm about 9 years behind, but this month I have really been enjoying the US version of The Office. I have pretty much been binge watching it and already I am halfway through series 4. It is incredibly hilarious.

Music



I have been listening to a lot of music this month. I use Google Music All Access, and now and then I like to listen to the songs it picks for me. This is where I discovered Florrie's Summer Nights. I really love this song. It's really upbeat and great to bop to.

What have you been loving this month?

October Loot Crate

I must say that I am beginning to become a fan of monthly subscription boxes. I already have two on the go, and even have my eye on a possible third. I've not been able to post about my Birch Box this month, as I've not actually received it yet. The Birch Box team have been really nice about it and are posting me out a replacement. Fingers crossed for this one!

But this post is for the Loot Crate; a subscription box for geeks. It includes things like figures and t-shirts from TV shows, films and games. It's actually an American subscription box, but they have a good deal for international shipping, and best of all, there's no delay on the time it takes to get here. The box costs about £17 per month, and for that you get quite a nice bundle of stuff, in an awesome looking box.

Each box has a theme, and for October it is 'Fear'. You know, because of Halloween and all that. As I mentioned in my previous post I don't like horror, I especially don't like zombies, so I wasn't sure if I would like this box as much as I maybe could.

Luckily I have a family who love The Walking Dead, so I'm sure they're more likely to appreciate the print and the comic. Even though I'm not a fan, the comic is quite cool. It's an actual issue with a Loot Crate exclusive cover. I don't understand the reference in the print, so that's not one for me.

From the rest of this month's goodies, I particularly like the saw. It's actually a secret pen which I thought was really cool. There was also some realistic temporary tattoos of slashes and bites, which were perfect for Halloween; a quick idea for a costume.

The book in the picture is called 'How To Survive a Sharknado' which is actually a full book of how to survive various 'sci-fi' incidents. And then there is the t-shirt. This month it was a skull made from cats, which is very fun.

Finally it comes with a booklet. This one was particularly cool as the outside cover has 3D zombies. They actually look really, really good.

Overall, I really loved this box. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Halloween films!

It's Halloween!

It's time to get out the scary costumes and carve those pumpkins. It is, without a doubt, one of the most fun times of the year.

My plan today, is to curl up with a bag of treats and watch a bunch of Halloween films. Now I must confess that I hate horror films. I should put hate in capital letters there, as that's how much I don't like being scared. Because of this, I have to pick my Halloween films a little more carefully, and end up going more for the 'family' option. Luckily, there are plenty of films out there that are fun and fantastic, and just perfect for this time of year.

So here is a list of Halloween films, in no particular order, that will not terrify you. There are most certainly some classics missing, as there will be quite a few I've never seen. This year I plan to watch Hocus Pocus and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, as I've never seen either, so below are the tried and tested ones.

The Addams Family



I'm sure without even seeing the film everyone can click along to the tune. They are a dysfunctional family, with some interesting ways of going about things, but bring in a lot of laughs. It's really fun film and great to watch with the family.

The Lost Boys



This may be bordering on the scary, especially Keifer Sutherland's character, but I love the film. Forget Edward Cullen, these are the original teenage vampires. There are some recognisable 80's teenage actors in this, and a lot of laughs and scares throughout.

The Nightmare Before Christmas



I guess this is technically a Christmas film, but there is enough spooky imagery to make this perfect for Halloween. It's a brilliant film with lots of songs to sing along to.

Beetlejuice



This is another very funny film. It's a bit ridiculous, and a fun take on hauntings. It's got just the right amount of scariness, and because it's from the 80's, the effects are hilarious.

Edward Scissorhands



Another Tim Burton one here, but that's because he does these kind of films so well. Edwards Scissorhands is a such sweet story and beautifully filmed.

Ghostbusters



A incredibly fun film, this, and definitely a classic. I don't know anyone who hasn't seen this. Like most of the other films on this list it's funny and scary and really perfect for any day of the year, it's that good.

Little Shop Of Horrors



Finally, for one of my favourite musicals, I could sing these songs all day. This is such a brilliant film, and even has some great guest stars (Bill Murray and John Candy, anyone?).

What is your favourite Halloween film?

September Favourites

I know it's incredibly late, and we're well into October now, but I really wanted to get my September favourites in, as there were some great things I enjoyed. I might post a few extra times this month to make up for my absence.

You may be wondering where I have been. I've simply been too busy. I picked up some extra-curricular activities in September, including a beginners course in fencing, which I love. I've also spent the last few weeks studying for my car theory test, which took up all my time. Now that's over I can concentrate on my blog again (I passed by the way!).

I've not had the light to take pictures of my favourite make-up, and beingconcious that this is already very late, here are my multimedia favourites.

Film



I didn't think I would have a film in September. I saw a couple, but they weren't brilliant. Then on the last day I went to the cinema with my sister to see Pride. I was blown away by it completely. It's based on a true story, set in the midst of the mining strikes in Britain. A group in the gay community decide to begin raising money for the strikers, What follows is a wonderful story of camaraderie and adversity. It's brilliantly paced, very witty and perfectly cast. I love it so much I've seen it again since. Cannot. Recommend. Enough.

Television




The best television without a doubt has got to be Great British Bake Off. I, like many other people, am in love with this show. I chose this clip of Mel and Sue as I don't think it could be the same without them. They're just so funny and caring. If you've never seen it (and I don't know why you wouldn't have) a group of amateur bakers get pitched against each other each week, in a number of challenges to become Star Baker. But one must be eliminated. All the bakers are just so nice, and it's so lovely to see what they bake. Already, I am longing to make some bread soon.

Music

Since watching Pride, I have once again been hit by the 80's bug, and this song in Pride is the best. It's so catchy and danceable! I love that 80's sound. Somehow the video being cheesy and typically 80s is a plus!



I'll be back with more posts soon!