Boots Haul :)

I really should be banned from my local Boots store - a quick pop in to pick up some Soap & Glory goodies resulted in spending a lot more than planned! Still, at least my Advantage Card points are totting up nicely again :)

As stated in the previous post, Boots are doing 3 for 2 across selected beauty, including Soap & Glory so I took advantage of this to stock up on my favourites, so that they will be there waiting when my current ones run out. I was one of the lucky ladies to get one of the large totes for 25.00 before Christmas when it was on special offer, so I'm already quite well stocked up, but every little helps, especially when you're getting one free! I bought another pot of The Righteous Butter, a tube of Hand Food which is the ultimate hand cream (the mini version is also great for popping in your handbag) and Clean on Me shower gel, which I use everyday so I need a constant supply. I bought Replenishing Rich Mouisturiser by Simple because, as much as I love Soap & Glory, their face creams are too much for my sensitive face to handle and I've used Simple for as long as I can remember! I do want to find a proper face cream, especially as I'm nearly 24 and really should invest to stop any wrinkles when I'm older, but I've yet to find one that works for me. Any recommendations?

Once I'd picked up my goodies I headed for the tills, walking past the make-up aisles - big mistake! I didn't really want to be buying make-up this week as I'm moving to London on Friday and am meant to be budgeting (which I'm horrendous as). However, the 3 for 2 offer tempted me yet again, this time on 17 products. This used to be my favourite range, back when I was aged 17, although I have in the past few months gone back to this range, especially for my favourite lipstick. In June last year I was in Boots looking for a really gorgeous pale pink lippie as my favourite MAC one was getting a bit low. I decided to save the MAC for special events and look for an everday replacement. I spent forever looking for one, but having really dry flaky lips and a funny shaped pout, it was quite a challenge. A lovely sales assistant (I wish I'd clocked her name as I'd have sang her praises to the store manager) suggested 17 Mirror Shine on Lipstick in Beehive - I LOVE IT! I wear it all the time as it goes on really well and gives a gorgeous glossy colour. It doesn't go all flaky on my lips and is such a wearable shade.

However... on a night out a while ago my brother's girlfriend asked to use my lippie while we were in a club and she broke it! At the time, we drunkenly laughed but the next day I was gutted. I've been trying to salvage the last half by using a lip brush but tonight I decided to treat myself to a new one. I'm glad I can use it as a lippie again :) Has anyone else tried this shade? What are your thoughts? As well as the lippie, I also bought some Shine Control Pressed Powder, however was a bit disappointed it only came in one shade - Neutral? I'll give it a try tomorrow so hopefully the shade matches my skin tone. I also bought Hide Away Corrector Cream to give it a go. I finished uni in December and haven't found a teaching job yet so my sleep routine has gone to pot, and for the first time in my life I have dark circles :( I don't think at 3.99 this will be a miracle cure, but I thought the price was decent enough to give it a bash anyway. Will update tomorrow on how it works...

I am also trying this for the first time, mainly due to the fact Boots didn't have my usual shade of Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid. My cousin, who I was shopping with, has used this and said it's really good... we shall see how this pans out...

I'd really like your thoughts on this lipstick if you have tried it. I bought it months ago, keep putting it on then taking it off again before I leave the house! The lighting isn't really doing it justic here - it's very pink! It's 17 Lasting Fix Lipstick in Dreamy. It looks pale pink on the Boots site, but in person it's brighter and slightly coral-pink. I'm not sure if it's the texture against my rubbishy lips, or the colour... will try and take a pic of it on my lips, although I have a wonky pout :(

And finally, NOTD...

George make-up at Asda Living has some surprising little delights, including great nail colours and really cheap! These two were chosen to match a top I was wearing today. The orange is a bit brighter than I'd like, but orange shades are quite hard to find!

Today's Mask: Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - Ivory ; Bourjois Little Round Pot - Rose De Jaspe; No7 Smokey Eyes Palette; No7 Amazing Eyes liquid liner; Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara; 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick- Beehive.

Sorry for the poor lighting of the pics, I was shopping til 10pm so my room was really dark :(

Haitus Over!... and I have a new name...

I completely forgot I even had this blogging account and a whole year has passed since I've logged in, but I can now safely say, I'm back in business. Since I last posted I have become a graduate - I have letters after my name and everything! I never thought I'd be one of those people who would write those letters next to their name, as proof of their brilliance (always thought it was a bit big-headed and in-your-face-ish) but I actually think I'm turning into one of them! Not becoming big-headed-and-in-your-face-ish, but just, proud really that I achieved something, and like, it's kind of who I am now. In case you were wondering, the new addition to my name is in the form of B.Ed (Hons). The (Hons) past is necessary - it's a whole other year added onto the B.Ed part, so it would be rude not to include it. So yes, I'm now officially a teacher and and no longer a student (I hate paying full price in Topshop/Cineword, but not so much as to give up my B.Ed (Hons) unfortunately) which means job hunting!

I am, as I type, getting ready to move to London for several months in the hope of finding a teaching job! Bold move from a recently graduated Glasgow Gal, but a highly necessary one given the current job market, especially in teaching! I hate to sound like one of those people who moans about the government, but to be honest, they are pretty much ruining this country right now and with it, a lot of innocent, decent folks' lives. I have spent the best part of three months 'job hunting' (and by that I mean literally applying to every available job going and handing out millions of CVs) only to have an inbox full of "Thank you for your application, unfortunately..." e-mails alongside the blatant non-response from employers. It's been less than delightful I can tell you. At present in Glasgow, and I'm probably right in saying Scotland as a whole, there are no teaching jobs. Not a single vacancy. On top of that, there are several hundred (probably more) teachers out there currently unemployed, or living on irregular supply work. This situation is not restricted to the teaching profession either, and worryingly, councils are announcing cuts and subsequent job losses every day. The rate of unemployment in this country is growing at an alarming rate and Mr Cameron/Clegg's wonderful solution... cutting benefits, raising taxes, cutting council budgets and therefore jobs, and to top it all, telling us all to get off our backsides and get a job! Well Mr Con-dem... where are these jobs we're meant to be doing? The majority of unemployed people I know are very actively seeking employment, are very willing to get off their backside and are very sick of the leaders of this country kicking them when they're down and being completely ignorant of the lives of everyday British people! I just wish the people in charge of this country would for once, think about the people they are being paid to serve and who voted (not me though) them in! Give us all a break eh?

With that little rant out of my system, I leave you with my newly painted nails, and the thing that inspired them...