Celeb Make Up

Sometimes, we need a little fresh inspiration when it comes to make up. We may have been creating the same looks for ages or just want to try something new. I have collected a range of different pictures of celebrities that have make up looks that have particularly caught my eye.

I loved Cheryl's smoky eyes shadow Saturday night on the X-factor.
I think it is a great evening look.

Here, Kylie's simple but sparkly gold eye shadow
is noticeable but not too overpowering.
I think it works well with her lovely blue eyes.

Emma Watson's make up is certainly eye catching
in this picture! The dark colour in the centre of the lid is
dramatic while the gold makes her sparkle.

Here, Joana Smalls purple eye shadow is bright yet sophisticated.
She has toned it down by wearing a natural lip colour.

I love Katy Perry's statement eyes in this image as I love that colour!
I also think it works well  with her pink lips.

Taylor Swift is rarely seen without her bold red lipstick.
Her look definitely makes an impact, even though her eye makeup is simple.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the strangest, craziest, weirdest book I have ever read. Just when you think you have come close to understanding it, something even more confusing happens. And then it ends before it has finished, leaving questions unanswered.

Just after Arthur Dent's (the main character) house has been knocked down to make way for a new by-pass, the earth gets destroyed so that a new hyper-space by-pass can be built. Arther Dent and his best friend are saved because, although Arthur did not know it, his best friend happens to be an alien hitchhiker, who gets them lift just before the planet is incinerated.

What Arthur then discovers is that there are millions of other intelligent life forms out there, most of which are far more developed than humans. And the humans are not even the most intelligent life on earth. However, although they know that the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything. Maybe, they will oneday work out what this means.

The reason this book is so hard to get your head around, is because it recognises the fact that aliens are beyond our imagination. I think reading it makes you realise that we really don't know what is out there and that we are small and insignificant in a huge galaxy. It also cleverly points out that an answer is no good if you don't know the question.

Although the book was written quite a long time ago, a film came out more recently that featured Martin Freeman playing Arthur Dent. Click here to watch a trailer
Have you ever read a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? If you have, tell me what you think about it in the comments.

Britain's Spending Secrets

At this age, we seem to gain more of an interest in money. Kids don't need much, as most of their clothes are bought by their parents and when they go out with their friends, it is just to play down the park or to go round each others house. Now, we spend more as we often buy our own clothes when out shopping with our friends and go to the cinema, eat out and go to events like fun fairs. We still don't have much to spend as we have only small amounts of money from pocket money or a part time job. This means we have to learn to budget.

Britain's Spending Secrets is a TV programme that reveals how people of all backgrounds spend their money and the effects it has on their lives. It has been recommended to me by a friend and is presented by Ann Robertson. It is particularly interesting at a time when we are becoming more interested in money and it could also show us some of the problems/benefits of spending our money certain ways. Here is a trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBaUAAQB_d0

The programme is shown at 9.00 on BBC 1 on Wednesdays after Bake Off.

Alcohol For Teens

In England, you can not legally buy alcohol until you are 18. However, there is no law against giving it to children over 5 at home. I have always been allowed small amounts of alcohol from a young age. However, I only drink occasionally as I don't like most of the things I have tasted. Both me and my parents agree that if I am allowed to drink at home, I am less likely to drink out with friends where there are more dangers. If teens are not allowed something, it often makes them want to do it more. When I am 18, it will be less of a big thing that I am allowed to drink so I am less likely to suddenly start drinking lots. It also means that I am more experienced with alcohol and therefore know what drinks I can have without getting too drunk or ill.

However, some people think that children and young people should not be given any alcohol as it could set them a bad example. If children drink too much, it could be especially harmful as their bodies have not fully developed. It can increase the likely hood that they get involved in crime if they get drunk as they will not have such good judgement.

I think small amounts of alcohol is ok for teenagers as long as they do not get drunk and they are told the risks of doing so. Tell me what you think. You can use the poll to answer in a couple of clicks or use the comments section. Either way, you do not need to sign it as you can now comment anonymously.

Teenage Adventure Camps

At the beginning of this summer, my school ran a residential trip to an adventure centre in Wales. I have never been on one of these trips, as when I was younger I did not feel ready for that level of adventure. However, now I am older, I want to try new things and be more independent so they have become more appealing. Also, I think my Mum needs the experience as much (or more!) than I do, as she hates it when I stay overnight somewhere.

I think these camps are great for teens as they make us more independent. They also give us confidence as if we can live away from home and do all these tricky challenges, we are happier to try new and possibly difficult things in the future. They also give us something different to do.

I will be asking some of the people who went this year about it, but I would also like to hear your experiences. Have you ever been on a trip like this? What are the pros and cons?

Denim Dresses

A piece that is perfect for this time of year is the denim dress. Wear it with bare legs for what is left of the summer and then pair it with thick tights or leggings as the weather turns colder. Wear it loose round the house or take it in with a belt to give you more shape. However you wear it, this on trend staple is suitable for everyone.

This simple straight down dress comes
in a darker Navy Blue as well.
It also has practical pockets.
New Look, Was £24.99, now £11 (Navy now £17) 

This fitted dark blue dress is smarter than
the others. Wear it in the the day or dress
it up for smart casual evenings.
Primark, £12

The long sleeves and dark colour
of this dress make it perfect for Autumn.
You can also pull in the waist.
ASDA, £18

You can roll the sleeves up on this casual
denim dress depending on the weather.
It has a slightly washed out look too.
Next, £28

The Great British Bake Off

I love watching the Great British Bake Off. I have been baking myself ever since I was little. First with my Gran making fairy cakes and rock cakes in primary school, then slightly more fancy things with my Dad as I got older. I also have my own recipes and skills from Home Ecc classes. Watching the Great British Bake Off means I can get new idea's about flavours, learn about new techniques and just see the variety of things that can be made with practise.

I particularly like seeing the creative designs from the show stoppers. Last week, I loved Paul's Bread Lion, which received a special commendation from judge Paul. It also helps that I love the shows comedy presenters Mel and Sue and also like Mary Berry, although Paul can be very mean.

Next Wednesday at 8.00pm on BBC 1 it is Desserts week. I will be watching the remaining contestants battle with Creme Brulee, Meringue and Souffle. Hopefully, I will be watching on a TV and not a laptop, as they have fixed the cat battered screen and should be delivering it Monday. Do you love Bake Off as much as I do?

Nothing To Wear

Interesting, isn't it, how a teenage girl (or any woman) can have a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear?

Yesterday evening, I stood in despair in my bedroom staring at the contents of my wardrobe. I was desperately trying to decide what I should wear to next month's Hawaiian Party SNAP disco. Everything thing was not disco enough, or not Hawaiian enough, or not teenagery enough. I was sure that a shopping trip was in order.

However, I then had 4 revelations:
Few people would probably dress Hawaiian, as it was not actually a fancy dress party.
Everyone would probably be too busy worrying about what they were wearing to care about my outfit.
I have many things that have been worn only once or not at all. Anything new that I buy will just end up on that pile.
Most other people planning to go would probably have the same issues.

So I decided to wear the dress my best friend bought for my birthday. It's brightly coloured (Hawaiian), it's short (teenagery) and if I wear it with heels and lots of make-up it will be suitable for a disco as well. Can you relate to this?

Simon's Cat

Simon's Cat is a cartoon about a man and his badly behaved cat. It is based on the creator's four cats and all the naughty things they get up to.  It started being shown on YouTube and then it was so popular they started making books and calenders. Today, new videos are still being made and uploaded to his youtube channel. He even has his own website.

Simon's cat is hilarious and very realistic. Many of the things he gets up to are similar to the things my own cat does. My favourite is "Wake Up" as Bumble does many of the same things when he is trying to get my Mum up. Therefore, it is perfect for cat owners, as well as being great for everyone else too.

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done

Last week, I read Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done by Sarah Mlynowski. I loved it! April, the main character is about to live a 16 year old's dream when her dad moves away to another state and lets her stay at her best friend's house. What he does not know is that her friend's parents' won't be there. This leaves April and her friend Vi with a house on the beach. Boys can come whenever they want them. They can have parties whenever they want them. This, of course, leads to 10 things the girls shouldn't have done!

This book is a funny, lighthearted read about teenagers and their priorities, as well as what they get up to when their parents are away. It also has a serious side as both the main characters parents have split up and that effects both their lives deeply. They both also have to deal with their own relationships going wrong too, although not before them and their boyfriends take full advantage of the situation! I think all teenage girls should read this book (although maybe don't show this one to your parents!).

SNAP!

Great music, mocktails, fun nights out. Hard to find if you are a teenager, as most of the clubs and events are for over 18s. School disco's can be disappointing (or non-existent at my school). This is where SNAP comes in...

SNAP nights are discos run by Fareham council for 11-16s. They are on from 7pm at Ferneham Hall and include a D.J, non alcoholic drinks and other themed activities. You buy tickets for £6 online. These are upcoming events on the website:

Hawaiian Party - 18/09/15
Christmas Party - 27/11/15

I have not been to one of these events yet, but when I have I will tell you more about them. If any of you have been to one, please tell me what they are like. Hopefully, they will fill the gap in the market for safe, fun, teenage nights out.

What On Earth Are You Supposed to Buy Teenage Boys?

The teenage boy- in my opinion, is the hardest person to buy for. They're too old for kids stuff but adult gifts are not always suitable. Unlike girls, you can't just fall back on a beauty gift set. Most of the stuff they want is electronic (and often out of your price range). So, I have searched the web for some cool ideas you can get for you friend, brother or boyfriend for their next birthday.

Sneaker sock
The perfect thing for teenagers who can't part with their sneakers!
PrezzyBox- £4.95

I am not awake yet T-shirt
I think most teenagers feel like saying this at some point!
Not on the high street, £24

Black Leather Bracelet
A simple masculine accessory.
Argos, £9.79

Touch screen gloves
These mean they can text as much as they like
without getting frostbite!
PrezzyBox- Was £7.99 now £6.39
 

    

Animal's Cool Clothes

A little while ago, I wrote about the shop Animal. This time, I have included some of my favourite clothes from their summer sale. Normally, their clothes are quite expensive, so buying them in the sale makes it more affordable. It's a bit long now though, as I loved lots of stuff and went a bit over the top! Each item has a girls name, which I have included with the price.

This blue and white stripes on this top give it a
oceanic feel. The strapless look is perfect for summer.
Carol - was £25. now £12.50
 

This T-shirt is light and summery with a
pretty floral design.
Azisa - was £25. now £12.50   
 

I love the straps and neckline of this top.
The henna- like design on the front is also
in one of my favourite colours.
Chita, was £22 now £11

This warm yet light coloured cardi is perfect
for the cooler summer days we get in this country
or the transition from summer to autumn.
Edille, was £50 now £25
 

This fab maxi dress could be worn on beach
holidays or casual evenings out.
Luluu, was £45- now £22.50
 

These denim shorts are very versatile and could
be worn with all of the tops above. A summer essential.
Gracy, was £40 now £28
 

These cool wood look wedge sandals could be worn casually in
the day or with a dress at night, like the one above.
Susie, was £25. now £12.50
 

I love these summer shoes. They are still more
 enclosed than sandals but are more summery than ballet pumps. The colour will go with most things too.
 Poppy, was £25. now £12.50

This spotty bikini is perfect for those who do not
wish to show their whole body to the world.
I really like the wide halterneck and the ties at the side.
The dark colour is flattering, too.
Pennie-May, was £38, now £26 

This bag is practical yet colourful and on trend.
Colourful satchels are cool and this one is is one of my
 favourite colours. It matches several of the items on this page.
Minny, was £35 now £17.50

Bad Reputation

A few months ago, I posted about my badly behaved cat, Bumble. He has a reputation for being trouble and this week he has gone above and beyond his usual standards.











Last week, we got a new smart TV. Our old one was really big and bulky, so a certain cat used to sit on top of it:










However, our new TV is slim and lightweight. In fact, it weighs less than him. When Bumble decided we were giving the new telly too much attention and ignoring him, he tried to jump up as normal. He did manage to stand on the top with all 4 paws for a second, before the TV started swaying backwards. The cat managed to jump off over the back, sending it crashing forwards onto the floor.

Long story short, half the TV screen was not working. It is currently being repaired, so at the moment we have no TV. My dad is not pleased, leaving badly behaved Bumble in the dog house. I am not too angry with him though as he did not know it would tip over. Are your pets this troublesome?

Poll Results

Most of you will have noticed the poll about my posts I placed on my blog a couple of weeks ago. I now have the results and they are displayed on my front page for all to see. Thank you to all who voted, it was very helpful to me. I am please to see that you enjoy reading most of my posts, and I am interested to find out that you particularly like posts about my opinions. I will write more of those in future. Look out for more of my polls.

If you particularly like a post, you can click on one of it's labels at the bottom of the post. This will take you to all the posts with that label. This is a great way to find older posts that you might like.

Unrealistic Summers

Is it just me, or does it seem like the media think everyone spends (or should spend) all of their summer holidays relaxing on exotic beaches? From TV adverts to music videos and magazine articles, everywhere seems to be showing images of 20 somethings drinking cocktails under palm trees wearing the latest in summer fashion. I am starting to think they all have partnerships with Thomas Cook! Either that or they think they are more likely to sell that dress/drink/fake tan if people think it will lead to fun in the sun.

The fact is, not everyone has the time or can afford to spend 2 weeks in LA. Even if they did, they might not want to and should not be made to feel that it is what they should be doing. And in this country, we don't really have the weather for it. So I think the media need to be a bit more realistic in their portrayal of summer.

No. 17

Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days, I have been doing other things as it is the holidays. Yesterday, I popped into Boots to see if there was anything I wanted to spend my birthday voucher on in there. I really like their No.17 range as it is much cheaper than No.7 but is still good quality. Also, as it is aimed at a younger audience, they have bolder colours than some other ranges.

Another reason I like No.17 is because they often have smaller size products than expensive ranges like No.7 and Max Factor. This is great because I always find my make up never actually runs out, it just gets old or I get fed up with it (mainly because I wear lots of different eye products and don't wear face base that often). Click here to go to their website.

Do you like No.17? Or is there another make-up brand you want to tell us about in the comments?

Summer Fun

Today, I went out in the summer sun with my best friend. First we went shopping. I bought a white summer cardigan with a lace back in the New look sale (see left). it is perfect for wearing over summer dresses. I also bought Megan Trainor's new album with birthday money, as I like all her songs so far and so will probably like the rest of her album.












Afterwards, we went to a funfair that had set up near the shops for the week. This was a different fair to the one I mentioned previously. That one was a modern fair, this time it was an old fashioned fair with traditional rides called Carter's Steam Fair. We went on the Octopus, the Swinging Chairs and the Bumper Cars. They were all great fun especially the Octopus, where you sat in cars on the end of long metal arms that spun you in the air. It was all expensive though, £2.50 a ride. Also, most of the other rides were aimed at children or families. I would go again, but I prefer the other fair. Finally, we went down the beach to walk along the sea front and have an ice cream.

First Jobs

For most people, their teenage years are when they get their first jobs. Whether it is a paper round or babysitter as a younger teen or a shop assistant or lifeguard once you're 16, it is the first bit of money you earn yourself. I have yet to get a job, as I am not particularly desperate for money and like to have plenty of free time. I will probably wait until I have done my GCSEs. However, a couple of other teens I know have jobs now so I decided I should still talk about it.

A part time job can give a teen work experience, finance and budgeting skills and time management. However, apparently, old teens who work more than 20 hours a week can experience negative effects such as not enough time for college work and increased stress. You need to find a balance between leisure, studying and work.

For unusual job ideas for when you are an adult, read Huffington Post's 10 best jobs in the world (you will have to scroll down, although the article at the top it good too.)

Birthday Shopping

I had a great birthday yesterday! The night before, me and 3 of my best friends went to TGI Friday's for dinner. We all had lovely meals and mocktails. At the end, they made me balance on a chair with a burning candle and wedge shoes (dangerous!) while the restaurant sang happy birthday. My friends gave me some cool presents and I received more of these the next morning. I ate lots of cake and saw friends and family as well. My presents included an orange Kipling handbag, ballet pumps as well as my ear piercing and highlights that I have had earlier on in the summer.

One of the presents was a voucher for H&M. Today, when we were shopping in Southampton, we went and had a look in there. I bought two simple T-shirts (one black, one white) from the teenage department and a fab blue and white striped shirt like the one below. All in all, I had a great birthday with lots of nice presents.

Little Mix

Little Mix used to be my favourite and I still really like them now. I love their lively, catchy tunes and cool lyrics. Their songs are a mixture of songs about love and ones with positive messages for girls in, like Change Your Life and Little Me. I think they are the perfect girl band for tweenagers and teenagers.

Their new single, Black Magic is currently number 1 and was played a lot at AAA yesterday. I love it and think it is a great start to their new album, which is going to be released in November. The video is great too, something different and quite funny.

I probably won't post tomorrow, as it is my birthday (yay!). We are going out tonight with my friends to TGI Fridays and tomorrow my family will come round. I will tell you all about it on Thursday.

Zorbing

Today, I went to a Fareham Access All Areas event with 2 of my best friends. To find out more about this scheme click here to read an earlier post. We had a go on an inflatable obstacle course, got henna tattoos and jumped off a giant inflatable onto a huge crash mat, but best of all was the zorbing.

I have never been zorbing before. These zorb balls were on a large area of grass (not water). The entrance was quite small and hard to get in and out of. Also, they don't  block off the entrance so you have to try not to fall out. Once in, I tried to stand up and walk but it was too hard so I ended up crawling. it was quite hard work after a while, a surprisingly good workout. To make things even more difficult, people kept crashing and the men running it kept jumping on the sides of the balls. It was great fun though.

Overall, the event was great, even better than last year. I will probably be going to another this summer. I think they are better than the Gosport Passport events too, although I haven't fully tried one of those out yet.

Internet Issues

Sorry I haven't posted for the last few days, my internet hasn't been working. It was down for over 48 hours due to a local problem with Virgin. It could have been dealt with much quicker, as at first when we reported the problem they said it was an issue with our hub, even though our next door neighbour's was also not working. Virgin had told her that it was a problem in the area.

Considering how much money households spend on their internet connection you would think companies would be better at finding and fixing a problem efficiently. With more people online than ever before and the connection under more strain, perhaps this is a problem companies will need to address.

Still, it is back up now and that is the first time we have had a major problem for ages. Hopefully, this is just a one off. Normal service will resume.