Autumn Perks

I haven't written a post in SO long, mainly because I moved to London to start music college about a month ago so it's all been very stressful! So I decided it's about time to make a new post.

Since living alone in London, my obsession with style and beauty has gone a bit mad! Considering I'm living on a student budget, I have bought A LOT of new clothes and make up which I will definitely compile into a haul or Autumn favourites post for you very soon (I promise!). But for today I've made a short list of things I love about Autumn to help conquer any post-summer blues:

1. Crisp mornings and colourful trees make for beautiful photos.
2. The colder weather is a great excuse to drink A LOT more coffee.
3. Cozying up on the sofa with a blanket and sitting in front of the fire.
4. Bonfire night and fire work displays.
5. I'm not a massive fan of halloween but carving pumpkins does make me rather happy.
6. The Xfactor is back and even if, like me, you don't follow the show, you have to admit the first round of auditions is pretty funny.
7. Berry lipstick.
8. Finally time to whack out my favourite tartan scarf knitted jumpers again. In fact autumn fashion in general!
9. Amazing autumn scented candles.
10. Getting into a warm bed feels SO much nicer.
11. The clocks go back meaning we get an extra hours sleep!
12. Better sunsets.
13. Cuddling.
14. No need to feel bad about staying in in pyjamas with Netflix.
15. And of course, christmas is closer!

I hope you all have an amazing autumn and love it as much as I do! I am going to try and blog more often from now on so PLEASE leave any ideas of posts you want to see in the comments below, It would mean a lot! I will definitely post a beauty/style in the next few days so I will see you then.
Lots of love
xoxo

My (Benefit obsessed) summer look

Hello everyone!
I haven't posted in sooo long (thanks Alevels!) but I went on a bit of a make-up shopping spree yesterday with my mum so seemed like a good excuse. Basically Benefit has ALWAYS been my favourite brand of make-up so I've created my 'light summer daytime look' using some new Benefit products I bought yesterday and some of my old favourite... enjoy!

In summer I don't really like to wear foundation or powder unless I'm having a bad skin day or I'm going out just because it feels so much lighter and fresher so I just started with blusher. However many blushers I try, I always come back to my trusty Hervana. The swirl of colours just works so well together and with my skin tone. The back of the packaging describes it as a 'heavenly rose and berry delight' which pretty much sums it up. Next I used the High beam highlighter. I'd never actually used a highlighter when doing y own make-up because it didn't really seem necessary but I just bought it on a bit of a whim yesterday and I'm so glad I did!  It just really lightened up my face and defined my cheek bones. I don't have any past experience in highlighters to compare it too but it worked a treat!

Now onto eyes... I bought one of the 'world famous naturals' sets a couple of years ago for my prom make-up and I have used it to death ever since! You get 4 eye shadows and 2 cream shadows in each set. The cream shadows work perfectly as base I use the 'no pressure' colour when I'm going out and the 'R.S.V.P' colour during the day (and for this look). I just apply it with a brush up to the crease and then apply the shadow over the top. During the day I use 'call my bluff' up to the brow line and then 'thanks a latte' blended into the outer corner and the crease. I have tried both of Benefit's older mascaras so thought it was kind of compulsory that I try out their new one 'Roller lash'. I find that their old one 'Their real!' gives an amazing false lash effect for going out but for during the day 'Roller lash' is perfect- it is less thick but really lengthens and curls ever lash and just looks AMAZING!

Finally onto lips. I am usually obsessed with lipstick but yesterday when I was at the benefit counter I saw their 2 lip tints which I used to love so I thought I'd try them again. They feel kind of weird to apply as they are so liquid and cold but they dry beautifully and last really well. The 'benetint' always used to be my favourite but for this look I used the 'posietint' just because it looks so summery and matched the other colours. They look a lot more finished when used with a lipgloss and I've never really been a lip gloss person so I purchased one of theirs yesterday. 'Dandelion' works SO well with the 'posietint' and again looks really summery :)

I hope you enjoyed/found this useful. I will try to use other brands in future but I went a bit crazy with Benefit yesterday and it already makes up about 50% of my make-up draw so seemed suitable :') I would LOVE to hear any products you're loving at the moment or any good make-up tips so please drop a comment! Hope you're all having a great week and for those of you (like me) stuck in the middle of exams/revision GOODLUCK <3

Lots of love x x x

Summer Bucket List

Hello again <3 I've been getting really sentimental about how this is my last summer at home before I go off to uni so I want to make it the BEST SUMMER EVER soooo I've decided to make a summer bucket list of all the exciting, cute things I want to do after exams! I could probably go on forever so I am just going to do my top 10 for now, enjoy :)

1. Go up the Eiffel tower at night (I am going to Paris with a few friend's after exams and I think this would be so cute!)
2. Stargaze- so generic but can't believe I've never done this!
3. Go to a yoga class
4. Have a professional photoshoot with a friend (going to do one in London with my friend Maddy <3)
5. Put pink/purple stripes in my hair (again, with Maddy because she is queen of hair)
6. ROADTRIP (since I'm finally at the age where my friends can drive!) even if its just to another town
7. Go a full 24 hours with no technology
8. Have a trip to the zoo- I haven't been for yeeears!
9. Save up and have a MAJOR pre-uni shopping trip (seems like a good excuse!)
10. Tie-dye some old clothes because it's so colourful and summery and is funky to wear

Like I said, I could write so many more (and probably will soon!) but unfortunately I have to go back to college tomorrow *cry* so need an early night

Have a great week and comment any more ideas for me to add

Much love x x x

My Life in Music

Hey everyone :)

Basically music is a really massive part of my life and I thought it would be cool to make a record of some of the most influential/inspirational pieces of music through my life so far. This is mainly for me because I think it would be cute to look back at this in 50 years time and remember all this music but I will put in some youtube clips so please have a read/listen because I am SO passionate about young people listening to classical music and there are some pretty epic pieces!

My first introduction to classical music was a CD my parents got me when I was about 5 of Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals. My favourite (and also most famous of these) was The Swan form Saint-Saen's Carnival of the Animals which I have linked bellow. It is such a beautiful piece and I guess one of the pieces that made me want to play a stringed instrument.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b44-5M4e9nI

Probably one of the most inspirational moments for me was playing with the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra for the first time. I was in the string training orchestra and for the 40th anniversary we joined with the main orchestra and played Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Vaughn Williams. I have linked a snippit of the rehearsal with HCYO because I find it really cool that I'm playing in it :')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgmjbc_5qo8

My next influential piece is also one we played with the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. It was a very controversial at the time and was booed of stage! It is Stravinsky's Rite of Spring which was my first introduction to 20th century classical music. I remember hating it when we first started playing it by the end of the year I was completely in love with it. At first listen you'll probably think it sounds awful but I promise that after playing it for months the really strange rhythms and harmonies are so beautiful and emotional and eeeee I'm actually getting so excited just talking about it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRyd5zR_3Bc
I told you you'd think it was weird!

Next is Ravel's Mother Goose suite. This is meaningful to me for 2 reasons. Firstly it was one of the first pieces I played with the National Youth Chamber Orchestra of Great Britain which was one of the best experiences of my life and secondly it was the first piece of Ravel I'd played or properly listened to and he is now one of my favourite composers! This is a really light and relaxing piece and I think EVERYONE would love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3YGf7_8RWA

I could literally go on about amazing music forever but I am going to do just one more. Scene de Ballet by Beriot is a piece I started last year in preparation for my music college auditions. For me, this is the piece that really shows me how far I've come in the last few years. When my teacher first played it to me I thought there was no way I would ever be able to play it but I practised hours and hours every day trying to master the complicated techniques and awkward notes and not only can I now play it but it got me into Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music in London where I am going to study from September! Couldn't really have asked for much more! Plus it's a really amazing piece!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEFj1Gzyaew

I'm sure I'll do more posts in the future about music because it is my main love in life but for now I will leave you with these 5 pieces. I really hope you enjoy them!

Lots of Love xxx

Spring Skincare and Makeup

Hey guys! So procrastination has got to a whole new level and I thought the amazing sun was a perfect opportunity to do my first spring post! My first post is going to be on my spring skincare and makeup, enjoy :)

I am going to start with my skincare products that I use in the morning and evening

I have always had really sensitive skin and the Body Shop Aloe range has been an absolute life saver! I use the day cream, face wash and cleanser everyday and (without sounding aragont) it keeps my skin in tip top condition! I generally only use the exfoliator when I can feel my skin getting worse but I would definitely recommend using it weekly. A few weeks ago I was going away with a friend and I wanted face masks which never go well with my skin BUT my mum managed to find a pot of 'protective restoring mask' from the same range, parfait!

Now from something I've used for years to a new discovery...

Stila is a makeup brand I had never used before until my Mum bought me 'the natural' pallet a few weeks ago. I don't really like wearing foundation or powder in spring/summer because it feels too heavy so at the moment after concealer I just use the soft clay bronzer and all over shimmer from this set. It adds a bit of colour without my face feeling weighed down all day.

I don't really wear much make up through summer so I am just going to end with my favourite part- lipstick! 

These are my top 4 picks for this spring! (left to right)

• Bobbi Brown, Pink blossom- I wear this colour for going out or I mix it with lip salve for college, it is a really versatile colour and is also really moisturising so doesn't dry my lips out
• Maybelline, electric orange- This has been such a fun and bright colour, I can't wait to wear it in summer with colourful beach dresses!
• Rimmel London, 30- This is currently my main party lipstick, it is such a bold colour and I think looks really sophisticated
• MAC, Violetta- This is actually one that I don't have but am going to buy as soon as I have more money! My friend got it at the start of the holiday and as soon as she put it on I fell in love with it <3 It is so young and happy and summery

Thanks for reading and I hope you've found it interesting :) PLEASE leave any tips or your fave products because I am always interested in new make up! 

Have a great day x x x