July noted

Somehow, we seem to be over halfway through July and I've yet to do my monthly update post - bad Franki! Anyway, here it is, better late than never, right? RIGHT?!

I'm currently loving;

Festival funsies. You may have noticed that I've been holidaying a lot lately - Glamping in May, Lanzarote in June and I got back from Lisbon in Portugal last week. I'm really not the sort of person that normally goes on loads of holiday, it's just how things have worked out recently. Obviously, I'm not complaining though! Lisbon was fab - I went with Tash and a few guy friends and we spent the first couple of days checking out the city (and lounging by our hotel pool) and the rest of our time was spent at the AMAZING Optimus Alive Festival. We were actually a little bit concerned that when we got to Portugal, we'd discover that the festival didn't really exist because nobody had heard of it, fortunately though, it did exist in a massive way! I'm pretty much the worst person ever when it comes to music and bands (I'm a musical theatre girl through and through) so I'm probably not the obvious person to go to a massive music festival, but I had loads of fun and saw some amazing bands including Foo Fighters, Primal Scream, Bombay Bicycle Club and Fleet Foxes. I'm so up for going back next year - Glastonbury and the other British festivals look like fun, but a festival with guaranteed sunshine and no mud whatsoever is far more my cup of tea :)

Churros. Being the foody that I am, I had to make the most of all the different food stalls at the festival - most of it was pretty standard - burgers, pizzas, kebabs etc - but there was also a waffle and churros stand which sold the most amazing chocolate filled churros. I had one every day and I'm not even a little bit sorry.

My new vintage skirt. I bought this at a vintage fair in Liverpool just before we went to Lisbon and I think it's fabulous. The label inside it is BhS and it's in really good condition so I'm not sure just how 'vintage' it really is. Saying that though I'm definitely getting a very 90s vibe from the pattern, so it could be at least 11 years old - who can say for sure?

One Day. I've been meaning to read this for ages and when Tash offered to lend me it last week, I said yespleasethankyouverymuch. The basic premise is that Dexter and Emma meet on the day they graduate from uni and stay in touch, despite their lives going in very different directions. Each chapter in the book takes place on the same day (15th July) but a year later, so we basically see how their lives unfold over twenty years. I've been reading it for the past few days and sat down on Sunday night to read a few more chapters before bed but then got to a really good bit, couldn't put it down and stayed up until 1am to finish it. I'd definitely recommend it, though I must warn you, it's a bit of a weepy one. It's been made into a film starring Anne Hathaway and comes out next month, though I'm not sure I'll bother seeing it as, having just watched the trailer, it's really annoyed me how Anne Hathaway is doing a really bad generic British accent, even though her character is meant to be from Yorkshire. Hey producers! Crazy idea - why not just cast a British actress who can actually do the correct accent in the first place?!

This video. I've still not seen the final Harry Potter film as I'm planning to go with my sisters but Liv is away on holiday this week. Fortunately, this video has provided me with some much needed Potter brilliance. Wizarding kittens? Yes please!

I'm currently hating;

Not fulfilling my tanning potential. Ok, 'hate' is probably a strong word, I'm just a bit miffed really. After two holidays in lovely hot countries, I was expecting to spend the rest of the Summer looking like something from a St Tropez ad. Sadly, this is just not the case - I am tanned, just not as tanned as I could be. I think it may be because I've not actually been abroad for the past six years and my skin had just forgotten how to tan. It was like "what the HELL is this?!" - it got to a certain level of brownness and then refused to go any darker. It could also be that I should have used a lower SPF - I used SPF 20 both times, but I think I could have gotten away with 15 in Lisbon - maybe that's where I went wrong? Either way, while it's nice to have a bit of natural colour for a change, I'm feeling drawn to the bottle of St Moritz currently at the back of my cupboard...

Ok, normally now I'd link to some blogs I've been enjoying lately, but to be honest I've been mainly reading all my usual faves and not come across any new ones - if you have any suggestions of new or lesser known blogs that I should check out, please let me know! I'm planning to do a favourite blogs post at some point soon.

So that's this month's update over and done with - hope you're all well and enjoying graduations/holidays/other exciting things that tend to happen around this time of year. Peace out, eight town.

"...and I dance, dance, dance and I dance, dance, dance"

This is the Sleek haul video I promised a while back when I posted about my order with the Sleek 50% off voucher code.

Featuring;

Contour Brush

Pan Tao Blush

ONE Finishing Powder

Eye Drama Mascara in Black Out Waterproof

High Shine Lipgloss in Sweet Sixteen

Paraguaya iDivine Palette (click here for my review of this)

This is a scheduled post as I'm away on holiday (again)

Violent Lips

Special thanks to my gorgeous friend Lydia for bringing the subject of this post to my attention!

I may have said this before, but one of the things I love most about the beauty industry is that there's always some amazing new product to get excited about. Whether it's the latest 'it' nail polish from Chanel are another fabulous MAC collection, there's always a buzz surrounding something. While it may not be good news for our bank accounts that Estee Lauder have brought out a new 'miracle' foundation or skincare product, it certainly is fun to lust after such things.

One of the things I've noticed though, in the past couple of years, is that these new products are becoming more and more "out there". I suppose this is down, in large part, to celebs such as Katy Perry, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, whose theatrical/quirky/fabulous approaches to fashion and beauty constantly challenge the 'norm', while inspiring their fans to embrace the fun side of hair and makeup. With the huge increase in popularity of nail art, multi-coloured hair dye and even temporary tattoos, it's clear that we're in the middle of a beauty revolution! For once, it's not just about lash lengthening and skin perfecting, it's about having fun, being different and getting creative!

Jessie J's spikey lips in the Do It Like A Dude video, Katy Perry sporting Russell Brand nails and multi-coloured hair streaks and Beyonce's leopard print eyes and nails in the Kitty Cat video

The latest in a long line of fun new beauty products is Violent Lips; temporary lip tattoos that are available in designs such as polka dot, leopard print and stripes...

Violent Lips, from what I can gather, are pretty much exactly the same as traditional transfers. Using guidelines on the back of the design, you have to cut the transfer so that it matches the shape of your mouth and then hold a damp cloth against it so that it adheres to your lips. Cool eh?

They come in packs of three and retail at $14.95 per pack, although there are some currently on sale on the Violent Lips site for $9.99. The company ships internationally and some of the designs are also available in the UK at Harvey Nicholls for £12. I've read some reviews online and the general consensus is that they're tricky to apply - it's difficult to get them to line up perfectly with the corners of your mouth and you have to make sure that your lips are stretched when you're applying the transfer, as otherwise it'll crease. They also flake a bit, I guess in the same way a normal temporary tattoo would after it's been on for a while. However, most reviewers have also said they love how the tattoos look as they're so different to any other lip products that are currently available. What I like about Violent Lips is that there is such a huge range of designs, so you can go as subtle or as whacky as you like. They're perfect for a night out or a party, though I'm not sure I'd want to wear them for longer than a few hours, as I'd imagine a temporary tattoo on your lips would be quite drying. That being said, I definitely want to give them a go! I've got my eye on "The Coral Cheetah" in particular...

Violent Lips in The Coral Cheetah, The Rainbow and The Black and White Stripes

So what do you think? Will you be trying them out? And what other crazy beauty products would you like to see next?

Things things glorious things

I pretty much never do 'haul' posts, mainly because I very rarely go on massive shopping sprees that would warrant a haul post (oh woe is me...) but also, on the rare occasion when I do buy a lot of stuff, I've usually opened all of the packaging/cut the labels off/put it away before I actually remember to take a nice picture. Anyway, I'm off to Portugal in a week (I'm going to the Optimus Alive Festival - it's going to be AMAZING!) so I headed into town on Saturday to pick up a few things, and for once, I actually remembered to take a photo when I got home.

What I bought;

Boots Essentials Cucumber Cleansing Wipes - I use these almost obsessively as a) they're VERY gentle and b) they're always on offer (three for £3). I had been using Johnson's wipes which I've definitely used before, but I seem to have become a bit allergic to them as I've been suffering from really sore, dry skin around my eyes and forehead and they're the only things that might have caused it. So back to the old reliables it is!

Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream - I've talked about this before, in fact, tons of people have talked about it before, so I'm sure you're already well aware of this product. Even though I'm still LOVING my Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser (mentioned in my recent vlog), I've been feeling the need for something a little more gentle due to my aforementioned dry skin attack. This stuff does the job nicely.

Lee Stafford Treatment For Hair That Never Grows Past A Certain Length (catchy name, eh?) - I've heard so much hype about this and have been desperate to get hold of it. I really want to have ridiculously long hair, like a mermaid, and while my hair does tend to grow fairly quickly, I also lose quite a lot in the shower/during brushing. The treatment claims to strengthen hair follicles, which means they stay "anchored to your scalp" (that's actually what it says on the tub) better and therefore don't fall out as easily. I've only used it twice so far, so haven't noticed any massive changes yet, but Im keeping my fingers crossed. Also, it smells heavenly. I got it for £5.99 instead of £7.99 as Boots are currently doing £2 off Professional Haircare vouchers. Score!

17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish in Tropical Island - I didn't need another nail polish. I know I didn't and you know I didn't. But there was an offer of a free concealer pen with any 17 purchase so I got excited. I still haven't fully lifted the makeup ban, but I figured that getting two products for the price of one was a good plan, especially when I needed a concealer anyway and the concealer on its own would have been more expensive. I've been wanting a really bright orange polish for ages as I think its a great summer colour and this one is almost there, though it's not quite bright enough for me. I want obnoxiously vibrant nails! You can't see in the photo, but it has tiny flecks of gold running through it, which is pretty, but not noticeable unless you look very closely.

17 Hide & Chic Eye Brightening Concealer - This was the free concealer. I've only used it once or twice but so far so good; it's just a typical highlighting concealer - it has a brush/pen applicator like Touche Eclat and a creamy, blendable consistency. May review this at some point in the future when I've used it a bit more.

Ambre Solaire Clear Protect Transparent Body Protection Spray (SPF 20) - I just started writing my reasons for buying this, but it turned into a bit of an essay, so I think I'll save it for another post. This was about £6.50 in Wilko's, which is one of the cheapest prices I've seen for sun care.

25 Allura Emery Boards - bought these in Poundland, I always need nail files so this seemed like a good idea. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by these as not only are they different shapes and sizes (the mini ones are ideal for your handbag) but they also have different levels of courseness (not sure if that's the techincal term, but you know what I mean, don't you?) some are really course for nail re-shaping while others are finer, so are better for tidying the edges. Not bad for £1!

Turquoise tribal-style ring - I've seen these rings EVERYWHERE lately, so when I spotted this one in Primark (£2.50!) I had to have it. Love a bit of turquoise.

New sunnies - I never, ever buy expensive sunglasses as I almost always lose them or break them and I just don't see the point. I really liked the ones I took to Lanzarote but the lenses are really badly scuffed and scratched as I've had them for about a year now. I can only really wear over-sized sunnies, as I've got such a massive face. I really like the Wayfarer and aviator styles but whenever I try them on, they just look ridiculous. The size of the sunglasses MUST be proportionate to the size of the face. It's a scientific fact.

Skinny belt - Think this was £1. I love the colour and I think skinny waist belts like this add a really nice detail to an outfit. I've got a black vest-tunic-dress thing that I can't wait to wear this with.

Pink and brown satchel - Normally when I go on holiday, I spend a lot of my time at the beach or pool so I'd just buy a big beach bag that can hold a book, suncream, money and lots of other "essential" bits and bobs, but as I'm going to be at a festival this time, I figured a heavy shoulder bag wouldn't be the best plan. I only really need my suncream and money, maybe a lipbalm etc, so this little bag is perfect. Plus, it's pink!

So that's everything - mostly cheap and cheerful stuff, which is good. Right, off now to watch the final episode of Made In Chelsea - I hate to admit it, because I said I wasn't going to watch it, but I've really gotten into it. I love Ollie!

Are you off on holiday this Summer? What are your Summer essentials? Why can't it be Summer all year round?!

And the winner is...

Just a quickie to let everyone know that the giveaway is now closed and a winner has been selected...

The winner is...

MIM!

Yaaay, congratulations to you! (This is pretty much the most exciting thing I've done all day.) The lovely Mim has been emailed so as soon as she gives me her address I'll get her prize sent out to her.

Thanks to everybody who entered (and hello new followers!), I'm sorry you couldn't all win, but you'll always be winners in my eyes, every single one of you. And who knows, I may just have another giveaway at some point in the near future...

Pow pow

You've got ONE DAY left to enter my giveaway!!! Quick, before it's too late!

So I *may* have lifted a tiny corner of my makeup ban this weekend when I spotted the new Models Own/WAH Nails nail art pen in Boots. To be fair, the black nail pen I already had is broken, so I did need a new one - this was clearly a very necessary purchase.

The Models Own/WAH pen has been out for a good while now, however, they seem to have improved upon the original design as the one that I bought is a bit smaller than the first one they released. Like I said, I already had a black nail art pen (I bought a random 'Flags of the World' nail art kit on sale in Debenhams ages ago) but the Models Own one is definitely superior - the nib is so fine, perfect for drawing really tiny details. I tried it out on a few of my favourite designs and came up with this;

Colours used - Nail Polish by H&M in U Must Have This, Collection 2000 Hot Looks in BMX, Models Own in Pink Blush and Natural Collection Nail Tip Whitener. Black detail done with Models Own/WAH Nails nail art pen, pink and yellow details done with random nail art pens.

I love a bit of mix 'n' match goodness, though I wish some of the lines were a bit smoother - it's just so darn fiddly though. I'm right handed, so when it came to doing my right, my left hand was SO shakey! (which is why I've only shown the one pic - the other hand is shockingly bad in comparison...)

I used the images below as inspiration - they really do put me to shame though - how on Earth do they get everything so neat?!

WAH Nails

Effiesmakeupbox

What do you think? Have you got the nail art pen? Any tips for getting everything super neat? I need to know!

Products of the Month (I have a new camera!)

Whoop whoop! New camera new camera!

Products featured;

Nail Polish by H&M in U Must Have This
GOSH Special Edition Nail Lacquer in Lavender Love
Collection 2000 Lock N Hold Lipgloss in Rock Steady and Break Dance
Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser
Sleek Makeup Dip It Liquid Eyeliner

June know who I am?!

WHOA! It's been a while hasn't it? Really didn't mean to go this long without blogging; I got back from Lanzarote on 7th June and since then it feels like I've not stopped!

Anyway, thought I'd do a little update post (these seem to be happening monthly now and I'm really enjoying them!) and I filmed a video today with my shiny new video camera so, youtube Gods willing, that'll be up in the next couple of days too. Blogging-a-go-go!

I'm currently loving;

Cheeky holidays. As I've just mentioned, my boyfriend and I decided to book a little last minute break in Lanzarote. I realised it was the first time I'd been properly abroad for about six years - how did that happen?! We ate and drank lots, discovered some pretty beaches and even hired a car for the day to drive around the island and see some sights (driving on the wrong side of the road is scary. And I was only navigating!) It was lovely. Got another holiday lined up for July with Tash - I'm getting a bit of a taste for this jet-set lifestyle ;)

Magazine freebies. I'm sure most people are already aware of this, but just in case you've been hiding under a rock for the past few weeks - Glamour magazine are currently giving away one of three Benefit products with the July issue. You can get your mitts on a mini High Beam, Benetint or Posie Tint absolutely free! Since the mag only costs £2 and the freebies are worth £8-£10 each it's a pretty bargainous offer! I was a bit greedy and got all three, but I'm sure lots of other people have done that too - it seems silly not to! Also, Elle are currently giving away a free Reiss vest top designed by Garance Dore - couldn't help but get myself one of those too!

Dr Faustus. Not the play by Christopher Marlowe, but my sister's new kitten! Yes, that's his name - God only knows why, but Liv has always been a bit *different*. Did you ever see anything as flippin' cute as this?! We're going to be cat-sitting when Liv goes on holiday and I absolutely can't wait - I've got A LOT of snuggles planned.

This video. Anyone familiar with Auto-Tune The News will have seen this sort of thing already, but when my friend Liam posted this Jezza Kyle remix on my Facebook wall last week, I knew I had to share it. Absolutely brilliant.

I'm currently hating;

Insane weather I know that British folk spend their lives complaining about the weather, so this is an extremely mundane thing to mention, but my issue isn't so much that it's too cold or rainy, it's that every day seems to bring with it three different types of weather for the price of one. This sort of mix and match weather is a right bastard because you know that at some point during the day your outfit is going to be rendered completely impractical. I actually walked to the bus stop swearing at the weather last week because the clear blue sky and lovely sun had provided a cunning disguise for what was actually an insanely windy day and my flippy skirt/jersey blazer combo was just no match for it at all. Weather, make up your mind what you want to be and stick with it. Nobody is interested in your identity crisis you little bugger!

Rubbish sequels. I went to see The Hangover 2 last week and thought it was absolutely horrendously bad. It's the exact same story as the first film except with a few tiny details changed and a lot of less funny but more offensive jokes. Sadly, it seems that I'm the only person who thought this because everyone around me in the cinema laughed uncontrollably all the way through. Apparently all a film needs to be considered funny these days is a drug dealing monkey in a denim jacket...

So how've you all been? Have you bought this month's Glamour yet? What did you get? And what did you think of The Hangover 2?

Also, don't forget! My competition to win the Sleek Paraguaya palette ends in a mere few days - if you've not entered yet, get to it, pronto!