So starting with this month I'm planning on doing a 'non-beauty favourites' alongside my regular 'monthly favourites' posts. The reason behind this is because I really enjoy reading these type of lifestyle posts, it gives a glimpse into the blogger behind all the beauty.
Camis
So if you haven't noticed, the backdrop to my photos are 3 camis. These aren't the only ones I have been wearing, I actually have quite a few in my wardrobe. I have really been loving wearing camis recently, they go with everything! I've been wearing them with skirts, shorts and jeans. They are such a versatile piece of clothing as they are easy to 'dress up' or to keep casual. Plus they are great for layering with cardigans, scarfs and jackets. The ones I have featured in my photos are from Primark and Tesco.
Golden Wonder Tangy Toms Crisps
Ok so I'm not eating these anymore due to the fact I am back on my diet, but at the beginning of this month I was introduced to these by a local pub landlord who 'insisted' I try them. After that I have been well and truly addicted. They are small, tomato-flavoured corn balls that are incredibly moreish, and they are just 30p a bag!
Match the Dots App
I really am not one for apps or playing games but one day I was pretty bored at home so decided to download a few apps to give a go. I started playing Match the Dots and didn't think much of it but now I am well and truly addicted. The concept of the game is very simple, just match the different coloured dots to form lines that will then pop and make room for more dots and so on. I am now on level 300 and something and find myself trying to complete a level in any of my spare time! Oh good lord, it will be Candy Crush next!
New Girl
I've loved this programme ever since its release a couple of years ago. In a quick brief it is about single girl Jess (Zooey Deschanel) who moves in with 3 single guys and is about their day to day lives and mishaps. It is absolutely hilarious and every time I watch an episode it has me in fits of hysteric. All the characters have brilliant comedic traits, and with each episode it just gets better and better. My brother and sister bought me the DVD of the first two series for Christmas so I have been really enjoying rewatching those this past month.
Music
I used to be really up to date with music, however in the last few months I've been a lot slower with hearing the latest tracks. This has meant though that I have been really enjoying listening to a wide range of music from old to new. Here are a few tracks I have been loving this last month:
One Replubic Vs. Alesso-If I Lose Myself
Avril Lavigne-Rock N Roll
Sugababes-Push The Button
Willow Smith-Whip My Hair
So there we have it, just a little round up of the other interests I have in my life besides my beauty passion!
Has anyone else done this kind of posts? Send your links as I would love to have a nose!
So last month I didn't do a monthly favourites purely because there weren't many new products I had been really loving, it was just the same things I have always used. However this month I have been loving some great new products, possibly because the weather has warmed up slightly so my makeup routine has changed a bit. But I made it my mission to break out of the rut of using the same products day in day out.
Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint
I have recently posted a review of this product which you can see here. I have been loving using this highlighting skin tint as a primer all over the face to create an overall glow or as a highlighter on top of foundation to highlight certain areas of the face. I've been loving it because it creates a perfect dewy glow which I love at this time of year, it is also super pigmented so only a very little of the product is needed.
Scandaleyes Eye Liner in Taupe
In the last few months I have really started experimenting with eye liner, and recently I have been trying different colours out because sometimes black can be a bit harsh for the daytime. I have been using this taupe eye liner mostly on my water line as it creates excellent definition without being too over the top or striking. This eye liner is also really easy to use compared to other pencil liners I have tried.
Toni and Guy Classic Shine Gloss Serum
I received this a few months ago in a GlossyBox however I only started using it recently. After my hair has dried after washing, no matter whether I use a hair dryer or let it dry naturally, it will always become frizzy, ALWAYS. So in a bid of desperation, I thought I would give this a go. I apply a 50p size amount to the midlengths and ends of my hair and the frizz disappears almost instantly. Not only that, but my hair feels so much softer the following day and although the frizz may return slightly, its nothing compared to what it could have been. Now the weather is getting warmer this will no doubt be my best friend!
Barbara Daly Kabuki Brush
I may have mentioned before, but I have been really getting into contouring at the moment and been trying to create a perfect sculpted look. Although I love my Real Techniques Contour Brush and it is very good for creating defined contouring, recently I've rediscovered my love for my Kabuki brush when using bronzer. I use the brush to apply bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks and my temples, and it creates a much more natural sculpted look without looking too harsh.
Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me
I love the Maybelline Baby Lips range and I have all of the lip balms however this month I have found myself reaching for Cherry Me over and over again. First of all it tastes incredible, but also it has a beautiful soft red tint which is perfect for both during the day and in the evening for a more subtle lip. These balms are amazing at keeping the lips moisturised and stop them from drying out too, a real winner.
Sleek Blush in Life's A Peach
For me, Spring is all about looking and feeling fresh, and on a recent trip to Boots I was after a new blush to help me create that perfect fresh faced Spring look. The Sleek blushes are incredible anyway because they are super pigmented and apply like a dream, so when I saw this peach shade I knew this would be my perfect Spring time blush. And I was right. I learnt straight away to be careful on application as too much of the product can create a bright orange effect, not the look I am going for! However teamed with a good bronzed contour and this blush is just perfect! I have done a review that you can check out here if you wish.
So there we have it. Quite an in depth monthly favourites but I personally love these posts as it shows the reader exactly what the blogger has actually been loving using. I am also going to start doing a monthly non-beauty favourites so keep an eye out for that!
Has anyone else been loving any of these products? Or any similar? I would love to know!
So on the 20th March I turned 22 and I had a lovely few days celebrating that I thought I would share with all you lovely people.
Its fair to say I ate very well the days around my birthday; I went out for posh fish and chips with my grandmother a couple of days before, I went out for lunch with one of my best friends, my mum bought me some lovely cupcakes, and I indulged in fajitas and nachos with my brother. Remember though, this was spread out over a few days!
I saw lots of my favourite people including a group of my best school friends when we went out for drinks the night after my birthday, and one of my best friends and her little lady.
I also went over to Westonbirt Arboretum for a day, went to my gym and spa, and just generally had a lovely few days.
March has been an incredibly busy month for me! I celebrated a birthday, went out for food and drinks quite a lot, and lost the best dog in the world (see my story here). I documented most of this daily using my Instagram account (gemmaford) however I like posting a selection of the photos on here for any non-Instagram users/followers.
On 20th March I turned 22 (cue Taylor Swift). I had a lovely few days around my birthday (possible birthday celebration post to come) and received some lovely gifts. I thought I would show you all what I got, not to show off but just because I'm a nosy parker myself and hauls are my favourite posts.
Make Up Haul
I received a little bit of cash from my grandparents and used some of that to treat myself to a few things in Boots, they had 3 for 2 on which meant I got a couple of extra things for free. I'm planning on reviewing most of the products so this will just be a quick run through. So, I picked up the Seventeen cheek stamp in Stare Struck, the Sleek matte lip cream in Party Pink, the Seventeen shimmer brick in Pink Bronze, two of the Rita Ora for Rimmel nail polishes in Lose Your Lingerie and Oragasm, one of the Barry M silk paints in Pearl, a Soap and Glory lip balm in Juicy Peach, a Seventeen solo eye shadow in Ivory Coast, and a nude Rimmel Scandaleyes eye liner.
Soap and Glory Birthday Box
I received this from my brother and sister, who know I love Soap and Glory. The box includes my favourite shower gel which is Clean On Me, a tub of the Righteous Butter (another fave) and a loofa.
Ted Baker Nail set and Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance
I received the Ted Baker nail set from my brother and sister also. The set includes two new shades-a candy pink called Sweet on You, and a pink glitter paint called Champagne Sundays. I got the Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance spray from a friend who knows I have just discovered the brand. The spray is a lightweight conditioning spray which is designed for weak and distressed hair, perfect for my tangled hair!
Marshmallows and Sekonda Watch
I got both of these gifts from my mum and step dad. The Marshmallows are just a little treat they know I love, but the watch is my absolute favourite present. Its a gorgeous rose gold, and has rose gold pearls and gem encrusted pearls connected to the face of the watch, and then a rose gold chain. The watch also comes with a beautiful bracelet, I haven't taken off the two since I got them.
I had an absolutely lovely day and I'm very lucky to have such wonderful people in my life who helped me celebrate and bought me such lovely gifts.
I know for some the very thought of contouring frightens the life out of them, however over the last few months I have really enjoyed experimenting with different contour products, trying to create the perfect sculpted look. I have to admit, I haven't had any issues using bronzer to sculpt my face, as long as its not a shimmery bronzer as a matte product is much better to contour with, however I have been eager to get my hands on this contour kit from Sleek because I have heard many good reviews.
The contour kit contains a contour powder and a highlight powder. I have been using my Real Techniques contour brush to apply the contour powder to the hollow of my cheek bones, my temples and the sides of my nose. I find when used properly this does create a lovely sculpted look and lasts quite a long time which is another bonus. Sleek products are well known for their pigmentation and this powder is no different, very little of the contour powder is needed as it can quickly look very dark and heavy on the skin and borders on the ridiculous side a bit. So just be very careful not to load too much product onto the brush!
The highlighter powder is beautiful and applies like a dream. I have been using my Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this to my cheek bones, brow bone, the bridge of my nose and my cupids bow. It creates a lovely glow to the skin without being too shiny or shimmery.
Together these too powders work brilliantly however one must be careful not to overdo it with the contouring powder! But overall this kit is brilliant, especially for those just starting to experiment with contouring.
Has anyone else tried this product, or anything similar?
Taz was the oldest of our 4 dogs, a golden Labrador that we adopted from a rescue centre 11 years ago. On 13th March 2014 we made the heart-breaking decision to put Taz to sleep. Taz had been suffering for a while; he had severe arthritis, a heart murmur, was profoundly deaf, had cataracts and had quite a few lumps which we guessed were tumours. However we had always said until Taz stopped wagging his tail and coming to greet us, we wouldn't take any drastic action. The day before Taz died he didn't touch his morning meal, something that never happened with Taz, he loved his food. The following morning, he wouldn't come out of his bed, and when he tried his back legs gave way. We all knew this was the day we would have to say goodbye. After a few hours of comforting Taz and making sure he was comfortable, the time had come. My step dad lifted Taz into his car, tears streaming down his face as he did this. I couldn't bring myself to go with my parents to the vets, it was too heart-breaking. My mum told me his passing was very peaceful and that the suffering left his eyes almost instantly. Our old boy had gone, a day we knew was coming but none of us had prepared for.
Our dogs are part of our family, they structure our day and we make plans around them. For those who don't have animals in their lives, its hard to understand this, but losing Taz was losing a member of our family, and we all shed many tears that day. To see him suffering and in pain was the worst part because he was always such an active and happy dog. It was also devastating to see our other lab, Maddie, who has never known a day without Taz. Her heart was breaking too, and the worst part was she couldn't understand it. For us, losing Taz was in the foreseeable future, and it was something we had talked about for almost a year. When that moment finally came to say goodbye to the dog that had provided us with so many happy memories, we all found it very hard but we knew it was the right thing for Taz and he was ready for it.
Life has been strange without him, when someone asks me how many dogs we have now, I still want to say 4. Or when I peg the washing out and Taz isn't there to trip me up, or when someone opens the back gate and then you have to spend 10 minutes trying to get Taz back inside the garden. Its the little things like that that I miss. I still expect to see him walk out of the kennel, or come and say hello when I go into the garden, I guess that is something I will get used to but its very strange.
We are all giving Maddie and the other two dogs a lot of attention now, they need it because they've lost their leader. Losing Taz was a lot harder than I ever expected, and seeing the rest of my family (including the other dogs) suffer from his loss is just as hard. He was a brilliant dog and we can still laugh at the memories he gave us.
Rest In Peace Taz, our old boy x
