Sleepover Week #3: What to do at a teen sleepover?/Sleepover ideas

Sadly, we have come to the end of Sleepover week - this post will be some ideas of what to do at a sleepover. I have 10 ideas - any more please leave as comments!

1. Gossip - we're 14 year olds in an all-girls school; there's gonna be gossip! We love to chat about who's up to what and share all our info!

2. Truth or Dare - I personally am more of a truth girl, but I still enjoy this game as it keeps us all on edge and we all have a laugh! We've had things from 'shout that boy's name out the window' to 'propose to my mum'!

3. Never Have I Ever - although we tend to play this with coke or sweets, this is traditionally played with alcohol (we'd never!). Basically,  one person says something they've never done (ie never have I ever got lover than 50% in an exam) and if you have you have to take a drink. I love this as it's a load of laughs and you end up spilling a load of secrets.

4. Movies - one of my friends has NetFlix so we watch all sorts of TV and movies but sleepover faves are Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (did you see my tweets?!), Mean Girls, BigBangTheory, HIMYM and Twilight.

5. Making food - when it's one am and you're making brownies, you know you're with your besties. That happened at my friend's when we were hungry and had eaten all the other food, oops!

6. QI - we're big QI fans over at mine and so we love this book of fun facts like 'the centre of the universe tastes like raspberries' and 'The words written on twitter everyday would fill a 10-million-page book'. They're fun for nerds like us.

7. Makeovers - obviously my forte. I tend to bring over a large makeup bag and we all have a go at painting each other's faces. It all goes well until someone uses blue eyeshadow on cheeks and end up with 3 eyelashes. But it's all fun really!

8. Murder in the dark - best played before the parents are asleep. Pick a piece of paper which either says murderer, detective or victim but keep shtum unless you're the detective. You then turn the lights off and hide, then the murderer 'murders' someone. The detective then has to figure out whodunnit. More fun when played high on sugar and with a bunch of screaming teenage girls.

9. Twister - we LOVE twister so much; we all just end up lolloped on top of each other crying with laughter because I always lose.

10. Just Dance! - or any other wii or xbox games as we love to dance, and again, it has us howling to the hills!

What are your sleepover faves? Have you enjoyed sleepover week? What other themed weeks should I host?

Love, E X

Sleepover Week #2: Packing Tips and Essentials for a Sleepover

Obviously, we all have different circumstances in which to leave a sleepover - some may go home at 11 after a leisurely breakfast then drive home not to be seen by anyone. Me, however, will be sleepover-ing til late on Friday, then at 8am the next morning will have to leave (with Becca) to go to Maths where I have to look presentable etc (ie: mathletes don't like smelly people). So, this is what I'm packing and I hope this helps one or two of you x

This is the bag I'll be taking - it's from BHS sometime last year and the zip's broken, which means it fits a lot more stuff. Oh, and the massive yellow thing is my maths folder; I also have a pencil case, calculator and A4 notepad in there. It could fit a lot more if I wasn't mathsy. 

First thing you need is an outfit for the next day - I tend to go for leggings or joggers and a tee if I'm not going anywhere afterwards, but because I am I went for jeggings-jeans hybrids, a pink tee, snood and grey cardi. I paired this with my smallest shoes, my pumps.

 (sorry for the craperoo picture, lighting was awful)

You need cute PJs for a girlie sleepover, and Primark is the place - whether you're a shorts, joggers, undies or onsie kinda girl you'll find something for you there.

Next is toiletries - I try to pack light but it always fails, resulting in my friends thinking I'm crazy but having a mini-facial anyway.

So that's it all in there - what do you think? Am I missing anything? Yes - a bag for your dirty laudry, but that's it I think!

Love, E X

Sleepover Week #1: Beauty Essentials/What's in My Sleepover Makeup and Skincare Bag?

 

Welcome to the first post in my 'Sleepover Week' series - three posts dedicated to packing for and what to do at sleepovers. I hope you enjoy - I was inspired by my best friend Becca's sleepover happening this friday for her 14th.

My beauty bag is always overflowing, no matter where I'm going. But considering I'm only away from my dressing table for one night, I think it's okay to cut down and 'slack' on my regime. Although from the looks of things this is more skincare than most do everyday anyway...

I got this Toni&Guy hair set for Christmas and I love the bag - it's the perfect size for a couple nights away. As you can see, it's stuffed full. Here's a sneak peek:

Okay, it looks a lot but I promise it's not too much *liar*

For cleanser, I'm bringing my Peaches and Clean mini I got sometime last year, and I love topping it up and using the small tube, double cleansing with the REN Rosa Centifolia Gel. I'll use that with a flannel. For toner, I'll use the Botanics All Bright Toner to remove dead skin cells. Then in the evening I'll use my Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser to control acne with Balance Me's Radiance Face Oil - I love the rollerball and consistency of this oil - followed by  my REN Vita Mineral Eye Gel and Blistex Lip Balm. In the morning I'll use the Clean and Clear Moisturiser again then my REN Vita Mineral Day Cream for extra hydration.

For body, I'll shower using whatever my friend has in their shower, but I won't wash my hair due to time. Instead I'll use One More Day dry shampoo from Philip Kingsley and my Tangle Attack. For deodorant, I love carrying a mini and this Sure Clear Aqua doesn't smell to floral or powdery.  I think it's handy to have a spare toothbrush set aside for travel just in case you forget.

Makeup - the fun bit. If I wasn't going anywhere afterwards I would skip it but I have maths so I need to perfect the complexion. I start with a primer sample - this is Garnier's Perfect Blur which I like. Skipping foundation, I use my Collection concealer and Stila powder as a coverage duo - they last forever! To add some colour I use my elf contouring blush and bronzer - the original one - with my ecotools mini kabuki. Eyebrows are essential so a spoolie, brow gel and a pencil are musts. For eyes, eyeko curlers and my Max Factor waterproof mascara are a fuss-free waty of waking me up. Then to add a hint of lip colour, Soap and Glory's Mighty Mouth is a great lipgloss-balm hybrid.

What are your essentials? Is it too much?

Love, E X

The Weekend Post #5: My Month in Pictures #2

Ready. For. Maths.

New love?

Thanks gloss2pout on Amazon!

Oh, how I love you Amelia!

 Football... how interesting?

 The first mini eggs of the year

 they see me rolling... in my uncle's wheelchair

#TBT - Bruno of my toddlerhood

 Pepsi at Nanna's

 Eucerin samples... review?

 Countdown to eurovision starts NOW!

 Brush wash.

 Scotch egg = love

 New things drawer - what to review next?

 

 Bubble bath

Cinnamon Apple

What have you been up to? What should I review next?

Love, E X

January Favourites 2014 | What I'm Loving

 I know I say this every month, but I cannot believe we are one month into 2014! This means less than 6 months until school ends! I'm constantly reminded by my best friend Becca, who is turning 14 in a week, that this year I'll turn 15! I cannot believe it! Now, stop with the rambling Elizabeth and get on with the favourites!

NB no haircare favourites in this post as I chatted about those in my Haircare Highlights post.

 

Skincare

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub was a treat to myself just before Christmas and I have to say, it's so much better than a home made one! I love the scent, the texture (a lot drier than my recipe), the taste - yes, I do eat it!

I have been using the Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm on/off this month as a school lip balm - it adds a slight shine but mostly it's the thick texture that keeps my lips from dying in the winds (my school is in about 4 buildings that are quite a walk apart so we're constantly outside!).

My skin has been surprisingly oily on my nose recently so to combat that I've been using the Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser from Superdrug, and it's been working well. I know, foaming cleansers are terrible for my skin but I needed an oily-skin product to almost dry out my nose, and I'll stop using it as soon as I'm back to normal!

For my evening cleanse, I raved about The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil in my Cleansing Oil Convert post - I love it for removing makeup and, as they say, oil attracts oil so this should be helping with the issues I've been having!

Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Day Cream was helping amazingly with the dry patches I've been getting on my forehead (I know, my skin is in a state!). It works great as a base for makeup and the ingredients aren't too bad for a £3 cream!

Also helping with the dryness and oiliness is the Botanics Organic Facial Oil - it smells really funky, but the affects are amazing, and I'm using this every night from now on! Do you want a review?

Face Makeup

Witch Anti-Blemish Skin-Clearing Primer was something I bought to clear up my acne and it has been working in conjunction with my Witch Anti-Blemish BB Cream to stop me getting angry breakouts, and although my skin isn't by any means perfect, the large spots have gone and now I'm left with a few average teen pimples!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is an old favourite, and it's been covering my blemishes well this month without looking overly cakey - why do you never have it in stock, boots and superdrug?!

Another concealer favourite is the Dainty Doll 'It's a Kind Of Magic' Concealer Pen in 2 - the shade is perfect for highlighting under my eyes and on my face for everyday, as it looks natural and doesn't crease.

I've been using my elf small stipple brush to apply cream blush this month and it's the perfect size and shape for my little head! Along with blush I've been bronzing with this red toned bronzer - Une Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in H08 - as it doesn't look muddy on my pale skin.

Eye Makeup

My eyeko eyelash curlers have been a new discovery - how did I live without good lash curlers? These are amazing for curling well in the morning.

Two mascaras - No7 Exceptional Definition and Max Factor False Lash Effect in Waterproof Balck/Brown. I love the No7 one for over the top of other mascaras to separate and define my lashes, as the brush is really different. Max Factor is great for low-key events (ie 9am maths on a saturday) and it holds a curl well.

As for eyeshadow, the elf eye enhancing eyeshadow in blue eyes 1 works well for my eye colour and the shades are so versatile for a range of looks. For a sparklier look, Maybelline's Iced Fudged works well for shimmer and a one-colour smoky eye.

 

Body

Last is my Soap and Glory Body Butter which I have been slathering myself in every evening after my bath to keep me moisturised and also because it smells amazing!

What are your favourites? Would you like to see my random favourites next month too?

Love, E X

HD Brows 'Foxy' Eye and Brow Palette Review and Swatches

I was really excited to receive the HD Brows Foxy Eye and Brow Palette in my Latest in Beauty Glamour Beauty Edit Box, as it was quite an expensive brow product and I was looking for a good alternative to my MUA kit. As my fellow blondes will know, having blonde eyebrows and finding a good shade match on the high street can be a challenge, and although I could've done with Bombshell in this, Foxy matches me quite well.

As you can see from the swatches, the shades are all pigmented and not too chalky, but are dry enough to stay on my eyebrows and not melt off. I use an angled brush from Bella Pierre to apply the shade Dark Brown lightly to my brows and it works well.

I also enjoy using these as matte eyeshadows, a product hard to find good ones of, and the shade Warm Brown makes an amazing crease colour.

I've never delved into the world of threading and/or waxing my brows, as they're not too crazy, but if anyone has any recommendations in the London area of where does good brows, let me know!

Have you tried HD Brows?

Love, E X

The Weekend Post #4: Bath Bomb Storage

I love bath bombs and as you may have seen in my birthday presents post, my best mate Becca bought me a cake stand covered in bath bombs. As gorgeous as that packaging was, it was quite inconvenient which led me into TK Maxx looking for new storage. And low and behold I found it - two jars that'd be perfect in my room with any bath bombs/soaps in. The larger one was £2.49 and the smaller one was £1.99, so super affordable. I think these look quite pinterest-worthy.

The bow was from the cake stand and the bath bombs now live in the larger jar - any ideas for which Lush bath bombs I should buy for the smaller one?

What do you think of my storage? How do you store bath bombs etc?

Love, E X