EYE EYE

Happy 101st post to me!
(Really annoyed that I forgot to acknowledge it on the last post)

I decided recently that I'd like to be a bit more adventurous with my eye makeup as the only thing I was ever wearing was pencil eyeliner on my water line and just below my eye, and it's good, but slightly boring. I'm not going to lie here, I do have a fear of all things eye makeup (i.e. liquid liner, eyeshadow, eyebrows), purely because I do not know how to work them properly. But I'm trying. And I'm branching out. And it's rather fun.
This post is a kind of eye-themed haul of recent eye product purchases in the past couple of months.

Sleek i-Divine 'Oh So Special' Palette
It was either this or the Sleek 'Au Naturel' palette, but I opted for this one as I already have a more browny-nudey-natural palette (MUA 'Heaven and Earth' palette). I chose this one as, being pale and blonde, I think pinks and lighter browns work really well on me; my favourite from this palette is actually the shade 'Organza', as it is a more copper shimmery colour, and oranges/bronzes/coppers are meant to look really good with blue eyes as they make them stand out more. This palette is so beautiful, with it's mix of shimmers and mattes, even though it is the hardest thing in the world to open.
Thought I'd add in here that I definitely have my eye on the Naked 3 palette (hint hint for Christmas) as it has got to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen- you will soon learn that I really love pale pink eyeshadows.
Anyone else found that eyeshadow palettes are the hardest thing ever to photograph?

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattos in 'Pink Gold' and 'Metallic Pomegranate' 
Most people seem to use these as eyeshadow bases, but I personally think they look good enough, and that they stand out enough, to wear successfully on their own. They're a tricky thing to apply, having spoken to people, most just seem to apply using their fingers which works well enough for 'Pink Gold' but not so much for 'Metallic Pomegranate'.
'Pink Gold' is, without a doubt, one of my favourite eye products ever, it's more of a subtle shimmer and so I find can be built up quite a lot without looking over the top. The pink is so beautiful and I have had many complements on it.
'Metallic Pomegranate' is a really gorgeous colour, but it has to be applied in moderation as it can give the impression of being punched in the eye if you're not careful. I think I am going to have to apply 'Metallic Pomegranate' with a hard brush, especially as it's a slightly harder and more solid product, as I think that will give an overall better look than with a finger. 'Metallic Pomegranate' may also be the one to use as a base, I'm thinking potentially with mattes or dark colours.
I also have my eye on two other Colour Tattoos- 'On and On Bronze', and 'Permanent Taupe'.
These are also very difficult to photograph: 'Pink Gold' is pale pink, and 'Metallic Pomegranate' is a beautiful plum-ish colour.

Liquid Eyeliners
I decided that I wanted to experiment with liquid eyeliner, even though it scares the hell out of me (don't even know where to begin with trying to use it).
I bought the Natural Collection liquid eyeliner (from Boots) which I personally think is one of the best places to start with liquid liner as it only costs £2. Not going to lie, I've barely used either of these products, there was a tragic accident of black blobs everywhere when I tried to use the Natural Collection one for the first time. I am, however, feeling good about this next product.
I actually got this eyeliner pen free in the September issue of Company magazine, which I was really pleased about as I was wanting to try an eyeliner felt-tip, without having to splash out on the Soap and Glory Super Cat liner one. Yet again, I've barely used this, but it's a good product for beginners as a felt-tip is much easier to use that any other brush-type.

Aims:
I thought I'd end this with my future eye aims, apart from to get better with eyeliner and to be able to wear eye products (looking at you eye shadow) without looking like an absolute prat.
My main eye aim is to get my eyebrows sorted properly and to perfect the art of doing them myself. My eyebrow sorting is a must-do.

THE BIG FEASTIVAL

During the summer we went to Jamie Oliver's Big Feastival (I last went in 2011) which is a combination of a music festival and a food festival, though much more pleasant than your normal music festival. The Big Feastival is held in the Cotswolds on Blur's Alex James' cheese-making farm (you heard me right) and is an experience I would definitely recommend, the place is full of food stalls selling the mpst amazing and delicious food and you want to eat all of it.

Hello 2011 Rosie...

Just to add that I'm trying out different ways of blog post layout currently, I appologise for the fact that the photos overlap into the sidebar, I am not very good with technology.

Caroline Craig and Sophie Missing signing their book 'The Little Book of Lunch'- you need this book

Stupid hats calls for stupid pouts

Alex James' cheese- his 'No. 5' cheese was to die for

Sylvania Families were my entire childhood

Not quite Fleetwood Mac...

And not quite Abba...

SPAIN #6- SAGRADA FAMILIA

The Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been to, yet again I have over 100 photos that, sadly, it is impossible for me to show all of them. I would definetly reccommend the Sagrada Familia if you get the chance, the first walk through the front door is literally breathtaking there are no words for it.

SPAIN #5- WELCOME TO BARCELONA

Moving on from the Pyrenees, these are photos of our day sight-seeing in Barcelona plus the incredible view from the roof of our building (shown also in the first Spain photos post). The two beautiful buildings here are designed by Gaudi, the famous architect who designed Barcelona's Sagrada Familia.

SPAIN #4- JUST A CASUAL DAY OUT

Following on from the last post of my train pictures, these are photos from the same day when we visited a ski resort in the Pyrenees. There are too many beautiful photos to share and I hope I have done the place justice.

SUPER SKIN

In honour of our Baby Lips throwback to September 2013 at the end of September 2014, I thought we'd do another throwback to October 2013- the aforementioned 'Skin Month'. So as a celebration of a month dedicated to talking about skin products this time last year, I am doing my current skin care routine.
I don't know if this is because of simply getting older, but my skin has got a million times better in the past six months, and it's only fair that I share my skin secrets (the main one being that I secretly really enoy washing my face).

Morning:
I wash my face twice a day (as everyone should) using the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel foaming face wash, and the cleansing and toning lotion of the same range. I occasionally use the Body Shop Tea Tree facial toner, but personally I prefer Boots' one. It should be noted here that Boots normally have a three-for-two offer on their Tea Tree and Witch Hazel range. Next I moisturise my face using my trusty Neutrogena moisturiser; the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel range and the Neutrogena moistuiser are the only products that I have been constantly repurchasing for about the last 6 years.

Evening:
In the evening I wash my face again, though this time I don't moisturise. Before I wash my face, I take off my eyeliner and concealer (just general everyday makeup) using the Body Shop Vitamin E gentle facial cleansing wipes; though these wipes are quite expensive, I am actually allergic to Simple wipes so I have to use them. Personally though, I think that they work better than Simple wipes, and the packet actually lasts a very long time. In the evening I also use the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel spot wand, which, despite having a 'Day' and a 'Night' side at either end (something which I personally love), I am bad and sometimes don't bother with it in the mornings. As it is part of my nighttime routine, I thought I'd add that I use the Body Shop Lip Butter in Shea every night before I go to bed and it is probably one of my most favourite lip products ever, it keeps my lips super soft and smooth and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Extras:
These are things which I am trying to make part of my weekly routine, but I am bad and neglect them, and most of the time I also forget to use them. It is recommened that you use a face mask and exfoliate your face at least once a week (I never do them on the same day), and I am trying really hard to make this happen. I have never been all that keen on exfoliating scrubs as I never used to like the gritty, sandy feel of them, but I do quite like the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel exfoliating face scrub. You can read my post from 'Skin Month' last October to see how I got on with a Body Shop exfoliating face mask but I warn you, it is not good at all. However, the Body Shop face mask that I have always loved and can always see myself loving is their Tea Tree face mask, which I would highly recommend. I would also suggest getting some of the sample packet version of this mask as it comes in little sachets for £1 each and you can get at least three face masks out of each one, depending on the size of your head.

WINTER WISHLIST

Wishlists are a new thing on here for me (I write them constantly in the notes section of my phone normally) and previously I had just been including them in my monthly goals-and-books posts. HOWEVER, seeing as autumn/winter is my favourite time of the year, I thought I'd make a whole post on it, just for fun, because this is fun for me.

-Tartan scarf; I like tartan a lot a lot and I like scarves a lot. Despite my main winter coat being tartan, a tartan scarf is a necessity for everyone and they're just so simple but so perfect. (I've said tartan too much already, it's become a stupid word).
-Tartan shorts; yes, still, two years on I am still searching for the perfect grey tartan shorts (grey is preferable) and I found more or less the best ones last year and I DIDN'T BUY THEM because I am stupid.
-Pinafore dress; more of something I quite want rather than really want, but they're just super cute.
-Cute ankle boots; this basically completes an outfit and everyone had them last year and I didn't but this year is my year and I am excited.
-Gloves; I don't actually own any so it would probably be a good idea if I did.
-Winter skirts; I love skirts all year round but especially in winter with thick tights and cute ankle boots. I'm thinking kilts, tartan, velvet, burgundy, dark grey, black pencil skirts. The whole shebang.
-Thick jumpers; I am already an avid collector of jumpers but I need more. I always need more. Jumpers are quite possibly my favourite item of clothing and I need all the thick, pretty jumpers. This year I think I need a staple black jumper as it is a key item in anyone's wardrobe and I am yet to own one (also maybe a dark green one this year too?).
-Mustard jumper; this deserved it's own separate point. I love the colour mustard and so a jumper in that colour is something I need. Mustard is perfect as it is so ugly it's nice and it's just a super cool colour and suits everyone.
-Black and white checked trousers; or a small dogtooth pattern. These are just the most perfect trousers that always always always look good with everything, they're just so effortlessly amazing and beautiful and quirky.
-Stripped t-shirt; specifically black and white with long sleeves. A wardrobe staple that looks effortlessly good without having to try too hard.
-Oversized checked shirt; back to the winter tartans, another item that can be dressed up or down and is super comfy.
-Another bobble hat; Accessorize is normally top notch when it comes to winter hats but they're suprisingly slacking this year. Miss Selfridge actually though is quite possibly the place to be this winter (aside from New Look- bet I will delve into that more another time). I love bobble hats but who doesn't really?
-Tunic/shitf/smock dresses; whatever you want to call them. These are perfect for the winter as they can be dressed up or down with tights, boots and accessories and they're so comfy and cosy and just easy.