#1

With the Naked 2 Basics Palette on the horizon, I've been obsessively using the original, both in anticipation and with the inkling it's soon to be replaced! The Naked Basics Palette is a neutral eyeshadow staple in lots of people's collections, perfect for both travel and subtle every day wear, however I find myself using it for a lot more than simply glamming up my eyelids and if that means more bang for my buck I'm certainly not complaining.

As the one shimmery shade in the palette, Venus predictably works great as a highlight, both on the cheek bones and Cupid's bow. I also love to use it under other matte eyshadows to create a slightly shimmery base and add more dimension.

Foxy is probably my least used in the palette as I find it simply a more yellow based alternative to W.O.S whose pink tones work better on my skin. So if you've got any ideas for this one please let me know!

My favourite is W.O.S which I find I use for almost every makeup look. It's a great 'nothing' colour on me for helping to blend out other shades and diffusing harsh lines. I particularly like sweeping it just under my lower lash line on a pencil brush when I've used a black eyeliner or shadow along the lashes as it helps soften the look.

For pale skin tones, Naked 2 is the perfect contour colour as it's not warm or oranged toned like lots of bronzers can appear. I particularly like using it just under my bottom lip in the dippy bit to create a natural looking shadow and an illusion of fuller lips.

Faint on a small angled brush is all I ever use to do my brows. It provides enough pigmentation to define them but being a shadow instead of a pencil stops them looking harsh or overdone.

I use Crave as an eyeliner more often than my Maybelline gel eyeliner or any liquid eyeliner. I find it so quick and almost impossible to mess up. I simply push it into my lashes using my favourite BareMinerals full edged liner brush (which I've just realised with horror seems to have ceased to exist so I best not lose it!) which does the job perfectly. It's ideal for when you're running late or just can't really be bothered with the unpredictability of proper eyeliner.

I can't wait for the Naked 2 Basics and hopefully it'll be a versatile as this. I'd really like to make this into a kind of series, hence why I've called it number 1, as it definitely makes a product better value money when you find multiple uses for it. So, if you have any suggestions or products you'd like me to play with just leave a comment and I'll be sure to check it out.

Lara xo

Quirky Home Inspiration

Wishlist

With the prospect of leaving home looming, even if for only 10 week terms at a time, I've recently become obsessed with browsing homeware sites. Forever in my quest of looking for things a bit different, here's some quick inspiration of unique items that I've added to my ever growing wishlist.

1.

Complimentary Sloth Art Print / La La Land / £10

Who doesn't want a sloth above their bed telling them they look great every morning? End of. 

(however, if I did have endless money I would not only buy this but almost everything on their entire website - if quirky arty stuff is your thing, this is the site for you)

2.

Sitting Ballet Dancer / Next / £16

Whilst on first sight not a particularly quirky item, anyone who has tried looking for ballet themed decor that's not designed for a kid's room will realise it can be quite rare. This is classy and elegant but would definitely add a bit of character.

3.

Salt and Pepper Lovers / Prezzy Box / £4.95

I saw something a little like this in a little craft shop whilst in Swanage and never thought I'd find anything like it again, but panic over, google didn't fail me. The design really does make a usually very boring and basic item become interesting and unique.

4.

Storage Basket / H&M / £7.99

Admittedly this is from the kid's room section but who doesn't love something both cute and practical. It's fairly spacious too being 19cm tall and 22cm wide. It really is the ears and embroidered nose that do it for me though.

5.

The Bright Side Tin / Really Good Shop / £6

'Tin of Denial' and 'Money That I Used to Have' are, I'm sure, very relatable phrases for lots of people. It also is again very useful and has the potential to stop us simply hoarding receipts in our handbags. This would make a very witty gift for someone moving away to uni.

So which of these is your favourite? Also feed my addiction and let me know of any sites you know that are full of quirky things. Until then, back to my browsing I go!

Lara xo

Being Part of a TV Audience

ITV's Surprise Surprise with Holly Willoughby

Did you know that for most TV shows you can get tickets to be in the studio audience FOR FREE? Well I never did until a bit of internet browsing about a month ago, followed by a cheeky booking until lo and behold, last Sunday my boyfriend and I found ourselves within touching distance of Holly Willoughby. Kind of a surreal experience but definitely one of the best days of my life!

I don't know how but I'd stumbled across a site called Lost in TV which advertised 'free tickets and casting opportunities for your favourite shows'. Admittedly at first I was a bit dubious but I've always been intrigued by the behind the scenes aspect of TV and when I told my boyfriend who hosted the show, he was definitely more than happy to come along! To apply, I simply had to select which date and the number of tickets and on the same day I received an email saying not only had I been successful but we had priority tickets meaning we would be among the first people admitted into the studio.

Aside from basic details like where to go and what time we had to be there by, we had relatively little information so hopefully this post will be helpful for anyone planning on going to a similar event. The priority tickets meant we had guaranteed entry if we arrived before 5:30 but otherwise it is very important to remember they over book these things to ensure they get a full audience and we saw many people in the Great British Bake Off queue get turned away. We checked out the area around 3 just so we would know where we going and were told by the security staff people would probably start queuing around 4. However, unable to contain our excitement, we returned to join the line around 3:30 and were about 30 people back. The information on our ticket had stated the dress code was smart and glamorous evening wear but there was a complete mixture from people in jeans and t-shirts  to blazers and skirts to summer dresses. The only important thing to remember is to not where anything with large brand names or logos on. I personally wore a cream floaty chiffon blouse tucked into a black skater skirt with black tights and comfy flats. Whilst I did get very warm in the sun during the day I definitely felt I was dressed appropriately when subjected to the extreme air conditioning in the studio. When the queue for British Bake Off was let in, our own line was divided into those with priority tickets and those with standard and we became only 15 people back. At around 5:15 we were let through the gates and given stickers with our seat number on, although interestingly they weren't given out in order; the couple just ahead of us received row F tickets whereas my boyfriend and I were on the front row! There were also different colour stickers being allocated, indicative of which block of seating you were in.

After almost 2 hour of queuing, although it really didn't feel that long, we were let in and completely chuffed when we found ourselves not only on the first row but by the aisle therefore in the middle. There was a fantastic comedian who warmed the audience up whilst technical adjustments were being made and just generally provided great entertainment throughout the evening despite not being actually on the show himself. He was hilarious and it would be worth paying money solely to see him. We were also treated to seeing celebrity guests and a rather well known musical act perform but of course that can't be revealed until the series airs at the end of September! The actually filming process wasn't tedious at all which was perhaps what I'd expected, but ran very smoothly perhaps taking 2 and a half hours but definitely seeming to go a lot faster. We were out by 9 so had plenty of time to still get the train home.

All in all it was an amazing experience and great for a relatively inexpensive day out (all day we only spent money on travel and food). It would be perfect as an unique gift for a special occasion or just as a bit of a treat to yourself. I'm still buzzing from it and would absolutely recommend it to anyone because of the variety of shows you can apply to see. I really can't wait to book for something else!

Have you ever been part of a studio audience?
Lara xo

Back to School/Uni Essentials

Haul

As much as we hate to admit it, the time is very much upon us now as most schools have already gone back and university terms will begin at the end of this month. Whilst I haven't done my proper uni shop yet, I have begun picking up some bits and pieces as and when I saw them. In keeping with the student-esque 'I have limited money', I have been very conscious of only buying practical items but still that I would be happy to be seen with! So without further ado here's a small haul of what I deem some of my uni essentials.

A Waterproof Coat

Living in England, we have to accept that rain will be a given in autumn/winter and with the reliance of lifts from Mum now being taken away, it was about time I didn't place all my faith in a £2 umbrella. This mac has small, bright pink flamingos on which admittedly very much sold me from the start. It was also (and still is) in the sale; another great plus meaning it was only £10 instead of £20. Even better, it actually works! In the recent rain we've been having I've trotted around in this and successfully remained dry. I do wish the hood stopped at protecting my hair though rather than my entire face and causing slight visibility problems. And when you're done, this coat handily folds into its pocket making it extremely lightweight and easy to carry around in your bag which brings me onto . . . 

A Bag That Will Not Destroy My Posture, Actually Fit My Stuff In and Not Disintegrate in the Rain

Catchy title - I know. I am guilty of many bag crimes over my school years; telling Mum that yes this bag is big enough then proceeding to carry most my books in my arms all year, choosing one made of canvas then drying textbooks on the school radiator and carrying so much stuff in my bag that now one shoulder seems to permanently droop. Well no more I say. This rucksack from Accessorize is large enough to fit in A4 folders (and more than one I add), made of plasticy coated material so will be shower proof at the least and will be possible to carry for when I wish to cycle from my accommodation to lectures with considerably less balance issues. Accesorize also offers 10% student discount and despite being a rucksack it doesn't look like I'm about to set off on a D of E trek. An all round perfect bag I think.

Sensible Footwear

Sticking again with the waterproof theme I really did need some practical shoes that would stay on my feet, be comfy to walk more than 2 steps in and be suitable for most weathers. It seems all my shoes end up being from New Look but once again they've provided a shoe that ticks all the boxes and you know they're good shoes when the first time you wear them they don't rub at all. I chose these Patent Chunky Lace Up Brogues in burgundy because they're still subtle enough to go with nearly everything but if you did want, they are also available in black. New Look is another store offering student discount but even at full price of £24.99 they're well worth it as even my Mum commented on how good quality they looked. (Rest assured though I will still insist on wearing my heeled boots as often as I can manage this term!)

Pretty Stationery

Perhaps not a necessity to everyone, but definitely something that appeases me! I will still be doing a much larger stationery shop but for now I have a basic purple ring binder and the main feature, this beautiful set of 24 different colour sharpies. It really does make me feel so happy every time I look at it! The purple folder really was only bought so I could save £10 on the sharpies meaning they only actually cost me £6.99 (and getting my Financial Maths practice in that means they're around 29p each.) I'm definitely going to end up labelling absolutely everything using these this year.

And that's it . . . For now. Let me know what you think of these things and when you're off to school/uni. At least getting to shop before hand makes the pain of going a little bit less!

Lara xo

Beach Holiday | Photo Diary

Swanage 2014

It's September 1st and having just come back from 5 days at the beach in the South of England, now's the time where post holiday blues hits and I trawl through the photos (yet inwardly knowing I should be doing something more productive since the Summer holidays is officially over.) Guess the organisation is just going to have to wait till tomorrow . . . Or the day after . . .

I love Swanage; I've grown up going there every year and it's the perfect setting for the traditional British family holiday. As you can see from the photos there's old style deck chairs, beach huts over looking the sea and the forever addictive 2p slot machines. In keeping with this, we did all the appropriate activities such as building sandcastles, putting and I even braved a swim in the notoriously cold English sea. Over the course of the holiday we went to all our favourite local eating places including the fish and chip shop (twice!), a pub in a nearby village and a traditional homely cafe/restaurant, however the highlight definitely was the Italian where I had a delicious chicken, pesto, tomato and mozzarella pizza and a brandy bread and butter pudding for dessert. We stayed in the same, most welcoming B&B as last year called A Great Escape having enjoyed it there so much. The room I shared with my siblings looked straight out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and I really did look forward to those waffles every morning!

As you can tell, I've been Instagramming like mad trying to capture the fun and if you want you can find me on there at  laram_w. Whilst I'm shamelessly plugging, I'd also love it if you followed me on Bloglovin here.

Whilst I'm sad Summer's over and I still feel just as pale as before, with the start of university approaching there's definitely no time to just lie around and mope!

What have you enjoyed most this Summer?

Lara xo

OOTD | Floppy and Floral

Beach Day

Today we travelled down to the South of England for our annual family beach holiday in Swanage. Given the 5am wake up and long journey, I wanted clothes that would be equally comfy for the journey and then beach/summer appropriate. I chose this baggy t-shirt from Republic which is so old the store in fact no longer exists, however it was perfect for spending the day relaxing whilst also protecting my pale pale shoulders from the sun. My jeans are from River Island (who do perfect leg lengths for shorter girls) and are wonderfully summery but with a subtle enough print that they go nicely with most things. Accessories wise the only things I have on are cheap and cheerful sunglasses from Dorothy Perkins and everyday stud earrings. Whilst many bloggers are moving towards more autumnal pieces, I'm definitely still definitely trying to hold onto the Summer!

Sunglasses: Dorothy Perkins similar on sale for £3 here

Top: Republic

Jeans: River Island

What's been your Summer holiday read?

Lara xo

Ballet Shoes

Handmade Cards

Wow it's been a long time since I've just sat down and drew. I used to love sketching and being creative but after 2 years of GCSE Art and a year of AS Art it ended up being more of a burden. However, as I was saying goodbye to my dance teachers today in preparation for leaving for uni, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make something a little more special and personal. I was so pleased with how this turned out; I started with some crumpled brown paper from a package, did a rough pencil sketch then added detail using water colour pencils. I then stuck the design to a folded piece of plain white card and added a border with biro. I love how the texture and colour of the brown paper make the whole thing look a little more rustic.

Interestingly, whilst I was doing this, I remembered I'd done a very similar drawing when I was in year 10, so around the age 14. I've always thought ballet shoes were beautiful to draw. At the time I thought that this was one of my most amazing pieces of work ever and I was so proud of it, but now, looking back, I realise just how much I've improved.

One day, I'd love to set up a little online store selling cards that are a little different from what you'd find in a card shop, so let me know if you'd be interested in this. 

Here's to drawing just for fun again in the future!

Lara xo