A QUICK NOTE - JULY WRAP UP EDITION

I just wanted to write a quick note to say that my July reading wrap up won't be going up on the last day of July as is custom here, but will be going up sometime in early August. I'm on holiday until the end of July, so it's only going to be a couple of days late, but I like to be prompt and it's bugging me that it won't be. That is all. Have a good day.

Rosie 

OBLIGATORY PLANE POST

As everyone else does around this time of year, I'm doing a post on what's in my plane carry-on bag for my 9 hour (cry) flight next week. I love these posts, I love seeing what other people have in their handbags and carry-on bags, so for me this is a lot of fun.

Firstly, a little bit of 'admin', the basics before you even think about packing your carry-on: The Bag. My carry-on bag is my black classic Fjallraven Kanken bag, which I got for Christmas and have featured in an outfit of the day post on the blog before. Whilst we're on the topic, now seems a good enough time to talk about what I'll actually be wearing on the plane. Planes are cold so I'm going to be wearing my Topshop Jamie jeans (my favourite jeans, and also the only pair of trousers I'm bringing on holiday with me, it's going to be hot), and a thick jumper. I'm also wearing my bulkiest shoes, so that I don't have to pack them in my suitcase and take up too much room.

There are three main categories to the carry-on bag: 'listening material', 'reading material' and 'everything else'. I'm bringing all this stuff but, frankly, we all know I'm just going to spend the entire journey watching films.

Listening Material
There are two things I want to mention in particular for my listening material, so we'll start with the latest edition to my iPod. Hamilton. I haven't spoken about Hamilton on my blog yet but, like everyone else in the world, I am OBSESSED. It's one of the best, most clever things I've ever listened to and it's the only thing I'm listening to at the moment. My whole family is absolutely loving it and I know it's going to be basically the only thing we listen to over the next few months (we're already so excited for October 2017 when it's coming to the UK).

The other thing I wanted to mention is Audible, which is another one of mine and my mother's new obsessions. In the spirit of summer, the audiobook I've downloaded for the holiday is 'Since You've Been Gone' by Morgan Matson, which I've already started and am really enjoying. I've heard so many fabulous things about it and I know it's going to be the perfect summer read listen. I'm really enjoying Audible and I'd highly recommend it. (I'm on a one credit a month contract, in case you were wondering).

Also included in listening material is your own headphones, as the free ones they give you on the plane are really uncomfy.

Reading Material
As with the listening material, there are two main things in my reading material. We'll start with magazines, which I'm planning to stock up on at the airport. I haven't decided on which ones to get yet, but I know a copy of Heat magazine will definitely be featuring in there somewhere.

The other part of my reading material is, obviously, the book I'm currently reading. I'm bringing two books on holiday with me, as I don't tend to read that much when I'm away, and I'm so excited for both of them. The book I'm currently reading is 'A Court of Mist and Fury' by Sarah J. Maas (SO excited to have this one), and I'm also bringing 'The Unexpected Everything' by Morgan Matson, which I know is going to be the perfect summer read. Both of these are quite long and I know I'm going to just love both of them.

Everything Else
The everything else section of this post is a couple of random things in my bag that I think would be good to have on the plane with you; all of the 'wash bag' variety. Firstly, wipes, both hand and face. Wet wipes are just really useful to have and I more or less never leave the house without a packet in my bag (ditto tissues). Face wipes are also really useful to have on a plane, as it's more difficult to wash your face properly, but face wipes can help to keep it clean and reduce the chance of the plane doing anything bad to your skin. Along the same lines we have a toothbrush and a mini toothpaste, because oral hygiene is important; and lip balm and moisturiser, because planes are really drying.

Rosie

TOP TEN TUESDAY - THINGS I WANT TO WATCH

I was originally going to make this about the top ten things I want to watch on Netflix, but some of the things I want to watch most aren't on Netflix (big problem for Rosie) so I've opted for a more general list.

1. Parks and Recreation
I am so desperate to watch it but, like many great shows, it's only available on Amazon's version of Netflix (I can't remember the name) and I can't justify the need to have both that and Netflix. I need, need, need to watch this, it's ridiculous how desperate I am, I know I'm going to love it.

2. The US Office
This is a bit of a sore spot for me, I was half way through series 5 (out of 9 series) when it was removed from Netflix. I was a combination of furious and heartbroken and I really want to finish it.

3. Season 6 of Community
Can Netflix just have this available already please?

4. Outlander
Everyone should know by now that so many people are obsessed with this, and it's no secret that I read the first book and really didn't enjoy it. Saying that, I watched the first half of series 1 of the show and I really enjoyed it, and I'd like to see where the rest of the series goes. I'm definitely going to be watching it rather than reading it, though, once again, this is only available on Amazon.

5. Gilmore Girls
I've heard nothing but good things about this show and it's just become available on Netflx, so I think I'm going to have to give it a go.

6. Love, Rosie
I read the book of this and really liked it, and the film is on Netflix, I just haven't got round to watching it yet.

7. Game of Thrones
I've watched the first series of Game of Thrones, I own the first three series on DVD, but I wanted to read the entire book series before I watch any of it. I've got two books left to read, but the show has been getting so much praise recently that I really want to watch it.

8. Now You See Me
I've watched the first half of this film but didn't get a chance to finish it. I thought it was absolutely genius; magic tricks confuse me so much but they're so clever, I really want to see how this one ends.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy
No one can believe that I haven't see this yet, but it's finally on Netflix and now is my time.

10. X-Men
My best friend raves about these (along with all Marvel films, which I need to catch up on) and I really want to give them a go. I just have no idea where to start.

Rosie

Too much TV to watch

THREE MINI BODY SHOP REVIEWS

It's been a long time since we had one of these. If you're new to the party, I have a slightly unhealthy addiction to the Body Shop, and every so often we revisit the classic Body Shop reviews. When I say mini, I mean seriously mini. So mini that we're going to do the first one right here, right now. It's more of a shoutout than a review, but I needed to mention the new Pinita Colada range. I have literally never smelt anything more incredible in my life. I want to live in a bubble of it so that I can smell it forever. Smelling like pineapple and coconut, it's the most delicious, tropical, summery scent that will have you watering at the mouth and crying over how good it smells. Even if you don't buy it, you need to make a trip to your local Body Shop, just so you can smell it.

The BB cream is pictured here in the old packaging, the new packing is the same as the pore minimiser

So onto the two main products up for mini review, both are from the Body Shop tea tree range, which is my absolutely favourite for skin care. Tea tree is really great for clearing up spotty and blemish-ridden skin, and I would highly, highly recommend anything from that range (especially the face mask). Another thing I wanted to add up here as it applies to both of them, is that they have quite a strong tea tree scent, but that fades really quickly so you don't spend the entire day walking around smelling like tea tree.

Tea Tree Pore Minimiser 
I always use the two products being reviewed here together; I never put on the BB cream without the pore minimiser underneath, as it protects my pores from getting clogged up by the makeup. Honestly, I can't tell you if it works to actually minimise my pores, I haven't studied them closely enough to see if they're looking smaller, but it definitely reduces how clogged they get. I use a small amount of this on the areas where I have noticeably (to me, anyway) larger pores and it works as a really good, slightly matte base for my makeup. Overall, I really like this product and, though I don't know if it's making my pores smaller, I definitely think it's reducing the number of black heads I get.

Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream
I'm not the biggest fan of foundation (I don't actually own one), I don't like the feeling of having something too heavy on my face and running the risk of making my bad skin worse. The tea tree BB cream is great as it's like a light foundation and kind-of spot treatment combined. I wasn't sure at first that it had the best coverage, until I took it off later that evening and I could see a noticeable difference in how my skin looked when I wasn't wearing it (if you know what I mean, I didn't explain that very well, basically it has better coverage than I thought). I really like this product, it gives me enough coverage on days when I don't feel happy with my skin, without feeling too heavy or being too bad for my skin. I love these two products as a pair and I'd highly recommend both of them.

Rosie

Back with the Body Shop love

TOP TEN TUESDAY - THINGS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX

Welcome back to another Top Ten Tuesday. Today's topic, as you can see, is my top ten favourite things on Netflix that I think everyone should watch. Happy watching, y'all.

1. Community
Arguably the best show on Netflix. Fight me. Community is hilarious and wonderful and lovely and so, so, so, so damn funny. Watch it. Please. (Seasons 1-3 are the best, though).

2. Orange is the New Black
Obviously the next best thing on Netflix. Everyone knows what OITNB is and you're clearly living under a rock if you haven't watched it. It's so fantastic, season 4 will ruin your life.

3. Pride and Prejudice
This is not just any Pride and Prejudice, this is the 1990s BBC Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and it is the best version of Pride and Prejudice ever. No arguments.

4. Clueless
Clueless is one of the greatest films ever made and don't waste this opportunity of it being on Netflix.

5. Death in Paradise
Death in Paradise is undoubtedly the best murder mystery series out there. It's not only ridiculously clever, it's set on the most gorgeous Caribbean island, and if that's not reason enough to watch it, I don't know what is.

6. Rugrats
Rugrats is my absolutely favourite TV series from my childhood and some of it's on Netflix. Very exciting.

7. Gossip Girl
Everyone is obsessed with Gossip Girl so I thought I'd give it a try, and it's really, really addictive. Don't try it, you'll get hooked.

8. Just Go With It
The most important thing you must know about this film is that it's set and filmed in Hawaii. HAWAII. Need I say more? You should also know that it's an Adam Sandler rom-com, meaning that it's not the finest film (though it does also star Jennifer Anniston), but it's really enjoyable, really compelling and I just really like it.

9. Full House
A feel-good, if not slightly cheesy, classic sit-com. It's really, really good, it's a cult favourite for good reason.

10. Wet Hot American Summer
This is a cheat one because it's actually two-in-one. Wet Hot American Summer is both a film (the original) and a TV series (made last year). It's a lot of fun and it'll make you really want to be an American summer camp counsellor.

Rosie

I watch too much Netflix 

ROSIE'S GUIDE TO GETTING INTO COUNTRY MUSIC - SONGS

One thing you should know is that my family and I really love country music. Really, really love it. I was basically raised on country music (if you've never heard my parent's 'Country Car Tape' (which no one has) you're missing out). It is by far the most underrated music genre, country music songs are by far better than any other. As my family are going to Nashville this summer, the home of country music, over the next couple of months I'm going to be doing a mini series of 'getting into country music', including individuals songs, artists (and particular albums), films and places to visit.

Clearly, today we are starting with some of my personal favourite country songs that I think are a great way to introduce people into the genre.

(Please note: I won't be saying anything about the individual songs, as they're all ones that I absolutely love. Please also be aware that the Dixie Chicks and Kacey Musgraves will be featuring heavily, as they are two of my all-time favourite artists. Ta.)

'Follow Your Arrow'- Kacey Musgraves

'Dime Store Cowgirl'- Kacey Musgraves

'Biscuits'- Kacey Musgraves
Tom Felton tweeted lyrics from this- just saying.

'Landslide'- Dixie Chicks
It's a cover of a Fleetwood Mac song that's better than the original.

'Easy Silence'- Dixie Chicks

'Not Ready to Make Nice'- Dixie Chicks
The greatest revenge song of all time.

'Wide Open Spaces'- Dixie Chicks

'There's Your Trouble'- Dixie Chicks

'Tonight the Heartache's on Me'- Dixie Chicks
Believe it or not, I cut out a lot of Dixie Chicks songs from the original list.

'Take Me Home, Country Roads'- John Denver

'Deep Down'- Pam Tillis

'Ain't That Lonely Yet'- Dwight Yoakam

'Jolene'- Dolly Parton

'Chasin' That Neon Rainbow'- Alan Jackson

'I Walk the Line'- Johnny Cash

'See You in the Spring'- Court Yard Hounds
They're two members of the Dixie Chicks.

Rosie

The country music fanatic