What's in my bag? | Festival edition

With festival season well underway, and with the task of packing my own festival bag about to occur, I thought I'd share with you what i'll be packing into my festival bag this year. 

Approx clockwise from left

First things first, the actual bag. I try not to spend too much money on things that i'll really only be using for one weekend of the year, so I bought one similar to the above from ebay for about a fiver last year. I wanted something that I could sling across my body and that had a secure fastening to prevent anything being stolen; I've never had anything stolen from me at a festival before *touch wood*, but the possibility is always there. This fringed bag is perfect for what I need. It's big enough to fit in all my essentials, but not too big as to lose things in. Plus, I think it suits the laid back vibe and atmosphere of a festival pretty well. I've toyed with the idea of taking bum bags to festivals before, however while they're a good idea, I don't think I'd feel as comfortable wearing one as I am with a cross body bag. 

Hip flask - I bought a hip flask for festivals last year, and it was a brilliant purchase. They're small enough to hide around your body - anyone that's been to a festival will know how strict security are when it comes to alcohol - but big enough to keep you going with a bit of alcohol before you have to pay the hefty arena prices. 

Phone/Portable charger - Bit of an iffy one, and no doubt something a bunch of people with disagree with, but I always take my phone to a festival. Not so much used for contact with the 'outside world', but more so to ensure that you have constant contact with the people you've gone to the festival with. Although it's rare, you can lose people at a festival and so a phone is essential in ensuring that you can be reconnected with ease. Portable chargers can be bought before you go, we all know how unreliable an iPhone battery life is, and probably work out to be a lot cheaper than the prices that are charged once you're there. 

Hand sanitiser - Pretty much self explanatory, but hand sanitiser is one of the most essential things you need at a festival. Nothing can prepare you for the state of those toilets by day 2 so I always make sure I have a few bottles thrown in the bottom of my bag to make sure i'm feeling as clean as possible. 

Roll on deodorant - Most festivals ban aerosols, so a small roll on deodorant is the perfect way to keep yourself smelling fresh without running the risk of having it confiscated at the arena gates - especially if you plan on staying down there all day and won't have time to run back to your tent for a quick freshen up. I always have a spray version that I keep back at my tent, and a roll on to take down to the arena for double the freshness. 

Handy wet wipes - Pretty much running along the same lines of sanitiser but a small, handbag sized pack of wet wipes will become your saviour when at a festival. Whether you use them to freshen up your body half way through the day, or to wipe down the inevitable dirty toilet seat, you'll thank your lucky stars approximately 300 times during the weekend that you've got a pack of these handy.  

Waterproof poncho - PAC a MAC, whatever you want to call them, you'll need one. You can never rely on the British summertime to stay bright and dry, and it's almost guaranteed that it will rain at least once during your weekend away. PAC a MAC's come with an attached bag that the poncho can roll into and be packed away small enough so that you won't even realise it's in your bag at all. There is no excuse not to shove one in your bag to quickly whip on once the rain makes an unwelcome appearance - just make sure yours has a hood!

Tissues/toilet roll - Any festival veteran will tell you how essential a roll, or three, of toilet paper is. Whilst some festival port-a-loos do provide toilet paper in with the stalls, it's going to run out by mid day. It's always better to be safe than sorry and a small roll of toilet paper, or a little pack of tissues will save you the world of hassle when you make an unwated trip to the toilet.

Disposable camera - I've favoured disposables over digital cameras for years now - I cant actually even remember the last time I used a digital camera - how very vintage of me, I know! But preferences aside, you can't really knock a disposable when it comes to festivals. You run the risk of anything being stolen, broken, or damaged during your weekend and using a disposable camera softens the blow if any of these do happen. Having a £10 disposable camera breaking really is a lot less heartbreaking than ruining your £500 digital, plus the excitement of not knowing what you've taken until after the photos are developed is always fun. 

Coin purse/money/ID - It pretty much goes without saying that you're going to need money and your ID when your at a festival. Much like all pubs, clubs, and bars around the UK, festivals operate a 'Challenge 25' policy when it comes to alcohol and cigarettes. So if you are over 18 and plan on buying either, always make sure you have your ID handy. Money is an obvious one, but I do like to keep all this stashed away in a small coin purse. They're, obviously, smaller than regular purses and therefore take up a lot less room in your bag and avoid any other important documents that you'd keep in a your regular purse from being lost. Failing that, take a leaf out of my book back in 2010 and just shove it all down your wellies!

Sunglasses - While i've painted a pretty much rubbish picture of the weather at festivals, good old Britain can sometimes surprise us and the clouds can part and the sun can shine for the entire three days, so pack your sunglasses and a good SPF. I've opted to take a cheapish mirrored pair of wayfarers from River Island this year (although I have taken Ray Bans in the past I fancied a change), perfect for shielding the sun and hiding those inevitable bags under your eyes on the journey home. 

My top 5 | Perfume

1. Diesel Fuel For Life Unlimited - £49.50 for 50ml

This has been one of my favourite perfumes for a few years now. Initially attracted to the bottle, Diesel's Fuel for Life Unlimited quickly became one of my signature scents. Launched in 2008 and not as popular as it probably should be, Fuel For Life mixes woody scents with spicy and fruity undertones to create a modern and sexy fragrance. The bottle comes encased in a net covering and the brown and golds give the perfume a sophisticated, yet modern feel. One of my all time favourite understated perfumes and one of the first I grab when heading out for a night with the girls, Fuel For Life Unlimited is the perfect feminine fragrance and then some.  

2. Paco Rabanne Black XS - £38.50 for 50ml

A Paco Rabanne fragrance that isn't 1 million, can you believe it. As lovely as the 1 million scents are, Black XS is much more suited to my style. More hard and 'rock and roll' than 1 million, this perfume combines vanilla based scents with cranberry to create a floral scent that contrasts both innocent and sensual. Although not as well known as the more popular Rabanne scents, Black XS is just as gorgeous and, despite the appearance of the bottle and package, and some of the underlying scents, is just as feminine. Probably the scent that i've been wearing the longest, i'm always guaranteed to receive a few complements when i'm wearing this, and the connotations suit me down to a T. Paco Rabanne can do not wrong when it comes to perfumes, but Black XS definitely comes out at number one for me. 

3. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue - £48.50 for 50ml

The one that David Gandy advertises topless on that boat, D&G Light Blue is probably my all time fave fragrance. The packaging is admittedly nothing special, and coming in a simple velvet powder blue box, doesn't stand out much on the shelf when placed amongst Vera Wang and Marc Jacobs. However, this light floral scent that mixes musk with jasmine is the perfect perfume to take you from day to night. It's pretty strong so not a lot is needed to create an impression, and with its individual mix of citrus fruits and cedarwood packs a punch without being too sickly whilst leaving you smelling refreshed. Perfectly suiting all seasons and all occasions and described as a perfume to represent the aroma of sparkling summer days yielding to evocative evenings, Light Blue does exactly that and will no doubt remain a staple on my shelf for years to come. 

4. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb - £57.50 for 50ml

Admittedly not the biggest fan of strong floral scents, Flowerbomb was the one to convert me. Still not as sweet as a typical 'floral' scent, the fragrance remains feminine, fresh, and delicate, combining a bouquet of jasmine, rose and orchids. Packaged in a bottle reminiscent of a hand grenade, Flowerbomb contrasts innocent with mysterious and it's easy to see why it's so popular. Described as a play on opposites that explodes into a burst of sensations with its addictive floral notes that is distinctively couture, Viktor & Rolf have produced a perfume that is fresh and sexy, and perfect for any age. The newest addition to my perfume collection, however slowly becoming my signature scent, Flowerbomb is the perfume I like to save for the most special occassions. 

5. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess - £46.50 for 100ml

Released every year as part of Estee Lauder's 'Bronze Goddess' limited edition range, i've been after this perfume for years however have never managed to grab one before it completely sold out. I bought it this year with a slight 'YOLO' frame of mind and i'm bloody glad I did. Bronze Goddess optimises holidays and summer. With strong scents of coconut and under tones of amber and sandalwood, spraying this scent makes you wish you were somewhere far away from the misery of the UK. The packaging is sleek, stylish and timeless and i've found myself wishing i'd have picked up another bottle to carry me into the Autumn months. Definitely living up to the hype, it will be a scent that I can see myself repurchasing every year. Perfect for complimenting a tan, real or fake, Bronze Goddess is summer in a bottle. 

Lately I'm Loving... | Printed Joggers

 L-R Miss Selfrige, River Island, River Island, River Island, Topshop

As a student comfort and sleep trumps pretty much anything else; I'd much rather have an extra 10 minutes in bed, shove on a pair of leggings and go than spend any longer than necessary picking out a decent outfit to sit in a couple of lectures in. Up until a few months ago i'd have never dreamed of wearing anything other than leggings (jeans occasionally - mainly when my leggings needed washing and I hadn't yet got round to it). That is, until now. The printed jogger is every lazy girl's dream - comfy enough to shove on when you've snoozed your alarm once, twice or five times longer than needed, yet still stylish enough to look like you've actually made an effort. I am in love.

They're bang on trend at the minute and the high street is full with a medley of styles so you're guaranteed to find a style and print to suit you. The best part is that the majority of styles are 100% cotton and have an elasticated waist, literally making them a more socially accepted jogger and my favourite on-trend fashion piece that's hit the high street for a long time. 

They're suitable for all ages - I have a pair, my sister has a pair, and my mum has a pair - cheap, and can easily be dressed up or down. Pair with an oversized top, a pair of converse and a messy bun for a relaxed look during the day, or with a cami, a killer heel and a red lip for a night sipping cocktails with your best girl friends. 

Comfort, style and versatility. What's not to love?

Product Wishlist | High End Edition

Clockwise from top

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade - Very much becoming more and more obsessed with my eyebrows as the year goes on, this little product has been at the top of my wishlist for months. I've heard nothing but brilliant things about it, however after putting myself on a makeup ban i'm having to wait until i've ran out of my current eyebrow product until I can purchase.

Illamasqua Pigment in 'Androgen' - This multipurpose product is my shade of peachy pink down to a T. I think I will always favour the age old 'smokey eye, nude lip' combo, and Androgen is a beautiful shade that I can see myself getting a lot of use out of. 

NARS Creamy Concealer - I'm currently on the last remains of my current concealer and NARS' creamy concealer seems like the perfect replacement. It's luminous finish and buildable coverage is exactly what I need to help cover my stubborn under eye circles. 

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - I'm going a bit concealer mad but I recently swatched this at my nearest counter and instantly fell in love. The coverage is gorgeous and easily covered a lipstick stain and freckles on my hand, leaving a natural finish without looking cakey. 

Illamasqua Masquara - I'm currently on the hunt for a new mascara that could easily become my holy grail and 'Masquara' by Illamasqua seems like it could just be the one to do it. The product lengthens and defines lashes and (apparently) doesn't flake. It's very very black and the more I look at it the more I want it. 

MAC Fix + Setting Spray - Apologising in advance, but I'm afraid I commit the biggest beauty sin and set my makeup with hairspray. A setting spray has never been at the top of any wishlist of mine, however just lately i'm finding myself wanting one a lot more. Fix+ sets makeup whilst refreshing the skin and taking away the 'cake' that too much foundation and powder can sometimes cause. Gimme!  

My top 5 | High Street False Lashes

Over the past few months my love affair with false lashes has reached an all time high, however, I've been wearing false lashes on and off for the best part of six years and I've tried and tested my fair share during this time. For me, Eyelure come head and shoulders above the rest; they're cheap and cheerful, reusable and look and feel light and natural when applied to the lash line. Still, there's a few even cheaper surprises hiding within the high street - here's five of my faves for under a tenner.

1. Eylure Nadine Coyle Girls Aloud - £5.59 @ Boots

Pretty much my fail safe lashes these are perfect for creating volume, length and texture. They're a dream to apply, can be used four or five times before they start to show wear and tear and I never find myself having to re apply throughout the night. All the lashes in the Girls Aloud range are gorge depending on what you're looking for and the Kimberly ones come a close second to these for a more natural, however still dramatic look. Described as a 'plush, layered style for a cool, offset look', these lashes do exactly what they say on the tin.




2. Collection 2000 Luscious Lashes Natural - £2.99 @ Boots

Despite only offering two different styles of lashes, these Collection 2000 naturals are perfect for daily wear. Before discovering these I'd never even considered wearing false lashes on a day to day basis, however these create a very natural effect, giving your own lashes a bit of extra length that, unless you're truly blessed, mascara just can't achieve. They do sometimes need a bit of a trim at either ends as the strip runs slightly longer than the lashes and can cause some discomfort, but at less than £3 a pop and the ability to reuse them around three times, who's gonna complain?

3. Eylure 'Ultra Glam' 120's - £5.39 @ Boots

A step up from the classic 116 lash, Eylure 120's add length and volume without being too dramatic. As with all Eylure lashes these apply with ease and last throughout the day and night without unsticking at the corners. The longer spikes that sit between much shorter lashes give the 120's an evening look without overcrowding the eyelid, making them perfect for gals with smaller eyes such as myself. I'd happily wear these both throughout the day or during a night out when I want to mix it up a bit and give myself a bit of a break from my typical Girls Aloud choice. Cheap, comfortable and versatile - a winning combo. 



4. Hedkandi 'Twisted Disco' by Eylure - £6.50 @ ASOS

Described as a collaboration perfect for ensuring that your lashes last as long as the music when away on a girls' holiday, the Hedkandi by Eyelure range does exactly that. I bought the 'Twisted Disco' lashes especially for Ibiza and they managed to withstand hours of drinking, dancing and sweating. Not as heavy as I'd usually wear when it comes to an evening lash, the 'Twisted Disco' lashes accentuate your lashes with length and volume, without feeling at all uncomfortable and have become my go-to holiday lashes.

5. 'Star Eyes' 2 Pack Natural Lashes - £1.59 @ Home Bargains

I know what you're all thinking already and I was as dubious as the next person when first trying these, but they're absolutely brilliant. I use an Eylure glue with these lashes so I'm unsure as to their staying power if used with the glue included, but they're incredibly easy to apply, comfortable, long wearing and can be used easily over five times. They're good enough to rival lashes five times their price and are my new go-to lashes that I've found myself reaching for daily. A perfect dupe for Eylure 116 and the Collection lashes mentioned above - albeit slightly shorter in length -, I can't sing the praises of these lashes enough. Don't knock 'em until you've tried 'em!

A high street surprise | Maybelline colossal volume express mascara

I'll admit it, i'm a make up snob! I rarely try any high street products and the ones that I do i'm never completely satisfied with. 
However, a couple of months before christmas i'd come to the end of my trusty Benefit mascara and needed a new one. Being a student, money is tight and I couldn't bring myself to part with £20 on one mascara. So I headed to the high street. 

I'd used a variety of Maybelline mascaras throughout college when I was 16/17 and a bit of a makeup amateur, not yet familiar with any high end brands other than MAC. Whilst browsing my local Boots store I remember how much of a fan I used to be of the 'Colossal volume express' mascara and 'The Falsies' mascara, both by Maybelline. It was a toss up between the two but in the end I opted for the 'Colossal' because I much preferred the look of the brush and was a fan of the similarity that it had to Benefit's 'Bad Gal Lash'. 

Although significantly smaller than 'Bad Gal' (will any brush beat it?) the Maybelline Colossal brush is a dream to work with. It's big enough for me to achieve the look I want, however not too big as to become uncontrollable. I very much favour volume mascara's over length as my eyelashes are quite long to begin with, and the colossal volume express mascara is perfect for achieving this.

The colour is very very black and I find that it stays on my lashes all day. I found myself almost disappointed when it ran out and I went back to using Bad Gal Lash. Don't get me wrong, Benefit mascaras are pretty much unbeatable, but for pretty much half the price, Maybelline Colossal is ultimately the perfect dupe and a great stand in until you can afford something that little bit more expensive. 

The one down side of this mascara is that i'm not necessarily a huge fan of the packaging. I find the bright yellow very garish and not fitting with the rest of my makeup. But for all it's plus points I can definitely let this point slide and will no doubt find myself picking up another once my current mascaras have dried up and ran out. 

The V word

The day rolls around every year and slowly but surely reminds us singles just how very single we really are. Yep, you've guessed it! I'm talking about Valentines Day.
Now, whether it's to do with the fact that i've never in fact been in a relationship on valentines day (says a lot about my love life doesn't it) or because i've grown up in a house where little to no fuss has been made on the day, I don't know, but I just don't get it (i'm not bitter, I swear!). 

The idea of having a day to declare your love to your partner seems almost alien to me. Call me old fashioned but whatever happened to showing your significant other how much they mean to you every day of the year? To me it's always just been another day, but I can almost guarantee that the day that I am in a relationship on valentines day, I won't be making a fuss. 
Despite the idea that teddy bears holding hearts telling me i'm the 'only one for them' makes me cringe beyond belief - I never have been one for cheesy, needy declarations of love and a teddy, seriously am I 12 years old?! - wasting money on a box of chocolates and flowers that i'd appreciate much more if I was surprised with them any other day of the year seems like a complete waste of money. 

I'm all for showing your parter how much they mean to you, but the sickly connotations that accompany valentines day makes me want to crawl into a ball and let the ground swallow me up. Comparably, my parents have been together for the best part of 20 years, have not once celebrated a valentines day that I know of, and are still in as much of a happy and committed relationship as the day that they met. It just goes to show that you don't need to lumber your partner with embarrassing gifts on one over hyped day of the year to secure a long term relationship. 

I've never been one of those girls that needs a man in their life to make them feel happy (all the women who independent, throw your hands up at me etc etc) so it's easy for me to push the idea of valentines day under the carpet and completely forget it exists - despite the fact that everywhere you turn there's something, somewhere advertising it - but I can appreciate that there's some girls out there that feel the opposite. 

Seriously though girls, if you're holding our for a man that's only going to show his affection on one day, you're wasting your time. I'd much rather be in a relationship with someone that worships the ground I walk on every other day of the year and completely ignores the concept of valentines day; at least then I'll know that his affection is sincere and a hell of a lot more genuine than some half-arsed card and stuffed toy thrown my way on 14th february each year. 

I'll be spending my valentines day with my girlfriends, a bottle (or two) of wine and a takeaway. All together now ALL THE SINGLE LADIES....

Black is the new black

Every since the tender age of 13 when emo was taking over the world and I wore nothing but mosher and batman tees (!!!) and covered my eyes in lashing of black kohl liner i've been a fan of black.

Needless to say my style has changed and my makeup techniques have hopefully improved, but one thing that has remained constant is that my wardrobe is still filled to the brim with black clothes. It kind of goes without saying that i'm not the biggest fan of colour and will always favour autumn/winter fashions over spring/summer. Whether it's the fact that 'black is slimming' has been drummed into my brain for the best part of 10 years, or if in fact that a small part of the pre-teen emo girl is still somewhere living inside me i'm not sure, but I can't see myself throwing out the black and embracing pink, orange, yellow and green pastel shades anytime soon.

It's universally known that black is classic. The LBD is one of the most iconic wardrobe staples and a black stiletto wins over any other colour. A black leather jacket can instantly make any outfit edgy and black jeans can easily take you from day to night. If it was a choice between black and any other colour, the chances are i'd opt for black. 

The beauty of black clothing is that it goes with anything, it's timeless and will never go out of style, and I think this is why I like it so much. Very much more into beauty and make-up than I am into fashion (don't get me wrong I love clothes, and I love shopping, but I wouldn't class high fashion as one of my expertise) it's easy enough to look stylish, classy and on trend with a bit of black in your wardrobe. If in doubt, wear head to toe black and it's almost guaranteed that you'll look like you know what you're doing. 

I've never been one to favour what I like to call more 'delicate' clothes; delicate ultimately being anything that doesn't have some form of embellishment, leather or stud emblazoned on it. And it just so happens that all of the above come on darker shades of clothes. I always find myself opting for clothes that edge towards the darker side of the spectrum and rarely find myself wearing anything lighter than a khaki. Even in summer I chose to complement my tan with a black, as appose to a cream or white. 

It seems that the goth inside me is still a lot more present in my life than I initially thought, and I think she plans to stick around for quite a while. 
After all, Christian Dior famously once said: "Black is the most slimming of colours. It is the most flattering. You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age. You can wear it for almost any occasion. I could write a book about black," and I couldn't agree more!

Products not worth the hype | Mini reviews

L'oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray - I used to be an absolute massive fan of this hairspray and rarely ever used anything else, so i'm surprising myself that i'm including it in this post. The fine particles of hairspray don't hold my hair the way I like and although you can't feel the hairspray in your hair at all (a massive plus!) I always find myself having to use far too much product in order to get any sort of style perfected and I find myself not loving this hairspray lately the way I used to. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara - I've mentioned this product in a post on my blog before and I just cannot get along with this mascara at all. I don't find it does anything to my lashes other than making them look wet. Initially the big brush wand attracted me to the product and I had high hopes, however it adds absolute no volume or length to my lashes and has been discarded at the bottom of my makeup bag ever since. 

YSL Touche Eclat - I'm apologising in advance for including this product because I know how much of a cult classic it is but I just don't find that it does anything to my face apart from change the colour a bit. It receives such rave reviews everywhere I look and whether i'm using the wrong shade, i'm not sure but I just hate what it does to my skin and the way it looks on my face. I don't find it illuminates or leaves my skin looking radiant at all. Sorry!

Revlon Lip Butters - When the lip butters first launched I was so excited and picked up a few of the different shades almost instantly. The formula intrigued me, however I found myself being less of a fan than I was expecting. The staying power is poor and I don't like the way they feel on my lips at all; I found myself wiping the product off within half an hour of application because they irritated my lips and made my entire face feel greasy. The shade range is pretty broad, however I don't find myself being a fan of any of them in particular and find none of them necessarily complementing my skin tone. 

Benefit 'Thrrrob' Blush - I actually think this particular shade of Benefit blush has been discontinued so maybe i'm cheating a bit including it. The 'thrrrob' blush was one of the first Benefit products I ever purchased and when I swatched it on my hand I fell in love. I was under the impression that the pale pink shade would leave a light dusting of colour over my cheeks and be perfect for everyday natural makeup. However, upon application I found absolutely no colour transferred onto my skin at all, regardless of the amount I felt as though I was putting on. I also found this product broke me out a lot and has consequently steered me away from all Benefit blushers since. 

Maybelline Gel Liner - Another very unpopular opinion but I can't get on with this gel liner. I don't tend to get on with liquid/gel liners in general because I find they don't complement my hooded eye lids anyway, but this product has been my least favourite i've tried. I find this liner creases and cracks a lot on the lid and prints constantly onto the upper part of my eye lid throughout the day - even when I think it's dry! Thumbs down from me. 

My weekend in Amsterdam

Amsterdam centre, the classiest of signs, ferry fun, floating bed

A trip to Amsterdam with my closest friends has been on my to-do list for the past three years, however it wasn't until last weekend that I got to visit the city i'd heard so much about. Back in November myself, along with nine others, booked a dutch dash for one of my friends 21st birthday and on 8th January all gathered at a local pub ready to start a weekend of fun. 

I'd heard a lot of stories about Amsterdam from people I know that had previously done the trip, the main comment being that the ferry is the most fun and ultimately the best part. Well, they're right. Boarding the ferry at 6:45pm (you had to be on for 7pm, we were pushing it!), and after finally finding our cabin through the maze of corridors, we managed to unpack and get the drinks flowing by 7:15. 

The ferry entertainment kicked off as we set sail at 8:30pm and we were all soon singing along and possibly drowning out the singers on stage with our rendition of each of the songs - oops! After a long karaoke session to a variety of 80's and 90's classics and multiple attempts at drinking games that never really went to plan, we hit the casino. I say casino, it's more a single blackjack and roulette table placed towards the corner of the room. Regardless, we managed to cause havoc and ultimately spent the couple of hours we were there just screaming at people as to where they should place their chips; '24, 24! NO, IT'LL DEFINITELY BE 11'. Needless to say, it never actually landed on either. The highlight of the night was possibly a rather drunk man giving us multiple handfuls of chips to 'do what you want with them, just don't cash them in'. I think it goes without saying that we in fact did cash them in. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for the round of tequilas he unknowingly bought us - never again!

With plans to set our alarms for 6am (vile!) we finally decided to head to bed at 2am, not before heading to costa and attempting to haggle the woman for a pasty!

The next day we awoke bright and early ready to catch the coach and head into Amsterdam for the day. After a slight delay we finally got into Amsterdam at around 11am and were ready to explore. First stop, the red light district, of course. If only it was that easy. We somehow managed to head in the complete opposite direction and end up in a Mcdonalds. How very cultured of us. I have to say though, a spicy McChicken sandwich and green mayonnaise is not something I can stomach at 11:30 in a morning and so feel refreshed (ahem) we headed back out on our search for Amsterdam's most famous street once more. This search resulted in us doing one big 360 and ending up exactly where we started from, typical. After ending up in Amsterdam's shopping area, and passing a huge MAC store which I did nothing but think about for the rest of the day, we were left with no other choice but to ask someone for directions. 

After a nice man showed us the way, not before asking money off us for the privilege, we finally dipped and dived our way through more bikes than I care to remember, and ended up in the red light district. 

There's no denying that the place is an eye opener. Where else would you find every other building offering you a real life sex show and the chance to stand in a window yourself. No thank-you, I think i'll give that offer a miss. After a lot of umm-ing and ahh-ing we finally settled down in a little cafe in the middle of the district. 

A couple of ciders and some special cake (it did nothing to affect any of us and i'm left wondering whether in fact it was indeed just standard brownie) we headed back out onto the street with plans to see a show. Well, if you can't in Amsterdam, where can you. However, this idea didn't exactly go to plan. With a charge averaging on €45 each we decided to give it a miss and instead continued on a sight seeing walk around the city. These sights included a rotting bed floating down the canal that some of my friends thought may be used by people who wanted to pay a little extra for some fun. Honestly, I think i'd have paid extra not to touch it, it was disgusting and definitely would have collapsed with even the slightest touch. We, of course, found it hilarious either way. 

Time was getting on and with instructions to be back at the pick-up point by 5pm we decided to have a last few drinks in a pub before heading back. The returning coach was equally as uneventful as the one there and after a quick nap we had pulled back into the ferry port and were ready for another night of fun. After a quick freshen up we headed back down to the entertainment area with a quick stop in duty free to pick up an all important, and very necessary perfume purchase. The second night continued in a similar fashion to the first, with plenty of drinks and a whole lot more singing. 

As the night drew to a close and we ended up being the only ones left in the bar, we decided to request some songs. These included the classics of Will Young and Blue with a bit of Gary Barlow and R Kelly being thrown in - I think it's a good idea we were the only ones left because our music taste is clearly awful. 

The day in Amsterdam had been a full one, tiredness was starting to take over and by 1:30 we were ready for bed. We all woke up the next morning having not had nearly enough sleep and thankful for a day to do nothing but rest and sleep in our own beds - cabin beds are not the most comfy of things.

We all departed ways as we left the ferry with heaps of brilliant memories and plans to do it all over again in a few months.  

I'm back | Happy 2014

Hi guys, I'm back and I guess I should start by wishing everyone (a late) Happy New Year! 
First things first, sorry for the lack of updates, there was no real reason for me to stop blogging but I started university again and was enjoying spending time with my friends before the work started piling up. But I'm here again and back to, hopefully, blogging on a regular basis.

Amongst many other cliche new year resolutions (eat less, exercise more etc) I'm going to try and get back to blogging at least once a week as it was something that I genuinely enjoyed doing over last summer. I'm also aiming to start pulling my finger out and write a lot more posts for MyStudentStyle (link here!) and will be sure to post the links to all my work for you all to check out and read. In the mean time make sure to check out the website as lots of interesting and different content is being uploaded daily.

I already have a couple of posts in the pipeline so it shouldn't be long until I'm back into the swing of things and getting things posted up frequently again. 

Stay Tuned xo


Twitter - /beth_cheevers
Instagram - /bethcheevers

Take Cover This Autumn @ MyStudentStyle

Read my article on the must have coats you'll need this autumn and winter over at MyStudentStyle.co.uk or click HERE :) Enjoy!

Products worth the hype | Mini reviews

Real Techniques Brushes - These brushes feel like everything i've ever been looking for when it comes to makeup application. They're super soft, leave no brush strokes on the face, don't malt and leave skin looking pretty much flawless. Single brushes retail at around the £10 mark which is a bargain when compared to the price of brushes from brands such as MAC when the quality is just as good. 

MAC Lipsticks - Perhaps the product that MAC is most famous for, the brands lipsticks come head and shoulders above any others i've tried. Depending on the finish these lipsticks do not budge and I rarely find myself having to top up throughout the day. Albeit slightly pricey (they retail at £15 now) I believe that they are definitely worth the money and their shade range is unbeatable. 

Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation - My number 1 holy grail makeup product and the one that I think I will repurchase until the day I die. The coverage is thick and heavy so if you usually opt for a light coverage foundation I would avoid this, however it will erase any imperfections and leave your skin looking flawless. A little product goes a long way and once on the skin it literally does not budge making it perfect for long days and nights out. Love it, cannot fault it and definitely worth every penny!

La-Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - A product that I only recently purchased but have already fallen in love with. The gel-based formula moisturizes into the skin seamlessly and leaves your skin feeling light and not caked in product. The skin is left feeling super smooth, and although I don't have 'severe imperfections' my skin is by no means perfect and I can already see improvements after only a few days. Heard this is also a great base for makeup and at only £13 is an absolute steal for a skincare product that actually works! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Perhaps the most raved about concealer out there, Collection lasting perfection concealer is definitely worth the hype. The consistency is pretty thick and can look 'cakey' if you apply too much but covers any spots or dark circles pretty much flawlessly. One of my all time favourite drug store products and for someone who was never a big concealer wearer, this product has definitely converted me into using it daily. 

Hair Oils - One of my all time favourite hair products i've ever used is the healing oil treatment by Macadamia Hair. Macadamia oil (and all hair oils in general) leave the hair feeling conditioned and soft. If you're in two minds about splurging on a hair oil - they're not the cheapest of products - i'd say do it. All hair oils are worth the investment as they improve the condition of over-styled, coloured and dry and damaged hair brilliantly.  

My weekend at V festival 2013

image from instagram.com/bethcheevers

(Disclaimer - this post is very light hearted and nothing more than a fun way for me to re-live and reminisce on a hilarious weekend. Please don't take it too seriously. That aside, I hope you enjoy reading about my weekend as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.)

Finally the day was here; one of the most anticipated weekends of my year had arrived and on 16th August me and three of my closest friends packed a suitcase full of necessities and headed three hours down south for V festival. The journey down to Weston Park was a car crash short of a nightmare. A journey which should have taken 2 and a half hours, in fact ended up taking us nine (NINE!!) and after setting off at 9am, we finally got parked up at 6pm. Thank you traffic, we owe you!

We finally found a pitch after the dreaded trek through the campsite with all our stuff (let's not talk about that! I need to learn how not to over pack) and it's safe to say that we were all definitely ready for the weekend to begin. Deciding on an early night - it's weird how tired sitting in a car for half a day can make you - we settled down for the night at 1am and soon realised that the concept of a peaceful nights sleep was definitely easier said than done. To the boy a few tents down with the megaphone chanting about police until 5am, i'd like to thank you. 

Saturday morning soon arrived and what better way to start the day than with a can of fruit cider. If you can't do it at a festival, when can you?! After that, it was time to explore. We headed down to the campsite, had a mooch around the stalls and soon decided it was time to head back up to the tent and refuel ready for a day of music. 

A few (ahem) shots and cocktails ('on the beach' - hilarious!) later we headed down to the arena, complete with bottles of alcohol hidden around out bodies with no other intention than to have the best time. A personal highlight? A friend - naming absolutely no names -  falling over the tent and not being able to get up due to the alcohol stashed down her pants. I could tell already that this weekend was going to be a laugh a minute. 

All in all we managed to sneak through a bottle and a half of shots, not before we had to take shelter under the cover of a burger van for five minutes while the rain passed (we are girls, after all!). While this may not seem much when shared between four girls, it didn't even take half of the bottle before we were feeling tipsy. I like to blame the fact that we'd barely eaten and not at all that all four of us are cheap dates and ridiculous lightweights! Still, that didn't stop us heading to the arena bar and stocking up on yet more ciders - honestly, at £4.50 a pop you'd think we were made of money - and by the time Olly Murs hit the stage we were, well, drunk! Shout out to the girl with the bag of wine who shared it with us, also! Think I perhaps got more down my chin than I did in my mouth but still, it's the thought that counts. The clouds had parted, the sun was shining and spirits were high.

Singing and dancing our way through his set, Olly Murs put on a brilliant show and definitely kept us in the best mood. We even managed to make up some dance moves (however basic they may have been!) that would go on to define the weekend. These included the 'welly dance', which basically involved us sticking one leg in the air and shaking it about, and pretending to pump an air bed and spread bird seed. Well, I did say they were basic (I wish I was joking - the looks we must have got).

The rest of the day pretty much continued like this until we felt ourselves sobering up and so headed back up to the tent to stock back up on alcohol. Many ciders, shots and some kind of schnapps, woo woo and malibu cocktail later (thank you, rebecca!) we decorated our faces with neon paint - probably not perfecting it as well as we would have liked - and headed back down to the arena ready for the headlining acts. 

By the time Kings of Leon were ready to hit the stage we were all rather merry. For whatever reason, we thought cracking a bunch of discarded glow sticks we'd found on the floor so we could decorate our bodies with fluorescent ink would be a good idea. In turn, I managed to aim it directly in my left eye (OW I THINK I'VE GONE BLIND. IS MY EYE NEON PURPLE?!) and we also managed to annoy everyone around us by getting more ink on their clothes than our own bodies (DON'T WORRY, IT WASHES OUT!). Oops! I also thought asking, who was possible the best looking man at the festival, how tall he was would be the best idea - it wasn't - however, I do pride myself on not fainting as the mere sight of him until after he had left! 

Kings of Leon put on an amazing set and while using a glow stick as a mustache has its advantages, the novelty soon wears off and they were thrown into the crowd within 10 minutes. And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the tent and prepare for the second day of music.  

Sunday rolled around and we awoke to bright blue skies - a relief after the rain and grey skies of the day before - I even managed to burn, I thank my ginger skin for that. After another cider and cereal bar breakfast and cracking out some of my better innuendos ('I like them big and chunky' 'just bite it and blow, that'll do it' - make of them what you will) we prepared ourselves for the day ahead. The day passed by with ease and as the night started to draw in and after forcing the most disgusting cheap amaretto and warm cranberry down ourselves we made our way into the arena ready to see the queen (Beyonce). 

Jessie J kicked off the night and was my biggest surprise of the weekend. Admittedly not the biggest fan, she managed to get me jumping around and making an even bigger fool of myself than I already had the day before, while she insulted all her haters in the crowd - harsh, but I guess she had a point. 

The Script were up next and definitely know how to get a crowd going. After being joined on stage by Labrinth for a rendition of 'Earthquake' and 'Hall of Fame' (a lot less awkward to watch than that 'The Voice' performance), Danny proceeded to join the crowd and then ring a girl's ex and haul abuse at him down the phone telling him how little he was worth. Brilliant!

A quick toilet stop later and it was nearly time for Queen B to hit the stage - or so we thought. After a chorus of boo's, Beyonce finally started her set 35 minutes late. Well, it was worth it. Kicking off her set with 'Who Run The World' Beyonce turned Weston Park into one big party and I didn't stop dancing (yes, the welly dance was included) until she hit her last note. 

The weekend had barely finished and I already missed it and as we made our way back to our collapsed tent (I still don't know how it managed to stay up so long, us girls are not cut out for camping life) a serious case of festival blues were already starting to hit. 

The walk back to the car park the morning after was slightly better than the one on the friday, however the car journey back was just as traumatic as the one there - for a group of people that live in the north east, I don't know why the sat nav decided to direct us south west... I think it's best if we leave it there. 

Despite some things not exactly going to plan, i'd do it all over again in a heartbeat and I already can't wait for next year. Bring on V FEST 2014!!

Hello jumper season! @ MyStudentStyle

Jumper season is upon us! Read my article on all things knitwear over at MyStudentStyle.co.uk or click HERE to be taken directly to the piece. I hope you like it.

My top five festival accessories

First things first, if you're not yet bored of my festival posts then congratulations; but it's less than two weeks until my first festival of the year and my excitement levels are reaching an all time high! 
We all know that as the years go on festivals are, and to the disgust of many, centering as much around the clothes as they are the music. However, as much as looking the part at a festival is important, the little extra bits that accompany you can add that ever needed edge. Which is why i've made a list of the top five festival accessories that will make your experience that extra bit more fun. 

1. Hip flasks

hip flasks @ urban outfitters

Hip flasks are a great way to carry your poison of choice around the campsites at festivals, and even greater for sneaking alcohol into the arena without being found out by security - pop them down your wellies or in the back of your pants and they'll be none the wiser (you didn't hear it from me!). Retailers such as Topshop, River Island and ebay offer a great selection of hip flasks, however it's Urban Outfitters for me that have the edge. Coming in a variety of great styles including those that feature a bunch of light hearted slogans such as 'Everybody Loves A Drunk Girl' and others covered in glitter or floral patterns, Urban Outfitters are guaranteed to have a hip flask that suits you. 

2. Novelty glasses

novelty glasses @ ebay

Everyone loves to look good at their festival and while ray-bans are the go to glasses of choice for many, adding a bit of fun to your outfit with a pair of crazy, novelty glasses is a great idea and shows everyone that you have a brilliant sense of humor. Again, urban outfitters offer a cool range, however, with a quick ebay search page after page of different styles of glasses are available, and from as little as 99p, a pair of novelty glasses make for a fun and cheap extra to your festival wardrobe. 

3. Slogan flask/glass

slogan cups @ urban outfitters

Sitting around your campsite throughout the day chilling with friends preparing for the night ahead is a great way to relax at a festival and these slogan cups are a great way to look cool whilst staying refreshed - and they make a great change from the standard plastic cup. Urban Outfitters (again!) is brilliant for this sort of thing and stock cups with a variety of light hearted, funny slogans such as "It's Just Water I Swear" (above) and "One Thirsty Bitch". Granted the slogans won't appeal to everyone, and at £12 a pop the price tag may appear a tad too expensive for something that will be used mainly for only one weekend of the year. If this is the case for you, why not head to hobbycraft and pick up a pack of 'american style red cups' for less than £1.50 for 8! A perfect solution. 

4. Hair/face accessories

 feather ear cuffs @ river island

Accessorizing my hair and face a festivals is perhaps one of my favourite parts (music aside, obviously), and as the years go on the high street is catering more and more towards this aspect. Floral hair garlands are perhaps the most obvious accessory of choice for festival goers; they top off an outfit perfectly while concealing less-than-perfect hair after, in my case, day one! However, high street stores such as River Island are stocking a bunch of feather ear cuffs that add a brilliant touch to your festival attire. My favourite has to be the 'gold tone feather ear cuff' (above centre), however any cuff would be a brilliant way to add the edge to your outfit. Similarly, neon paint is a great way to decorate and add patterns to your face. Neon paint is usually available at the festivals stalls for around £4 and (usually) available in 5 colours allow you to create a number of different styles and patterns.

5. Disposable camera

Perhaps i'm cheating a bit as a camera isn't necessarily classed as an 'accessory', but a camera is a must have for a festival and I always opt for a disposable over a digital. I've been a fan of using disposables at festivals for around three years as I think the outcome looks a lot better and suits the style of festivals down to a T. Plus, there's no need to worry about it getting lost, broke or stolen. Disposable cameras average at no more than £10 per camera, an absolute fraction of the price compared to digital cameras, making it easy to not worry about throwing them into your bag with worry of them breaking, and making it no great loss if if gets broken or left somewhere accidentally. I love capturing the atmosphere of a festival and it's great to look back on your memories; sometimes too much happens that it's hard to remember every single detail! Still, whether you use a disposable, a digital, or your phone camera, capturing your time at a festival is essential.