Nails (9) + Needing French Manicure tips.

Before I begin, press play on this and listen to the song whilst reading, it is so so beautiful!

I haven't blogged in forever! I just haven't been on the computer since I can do most of what I need to do on my phone, which you don't expect when you look at it, but I'm here now. I had half term and used that week incredibly unproductively, I did learn the Horid Henry theme tune words which when you've heard it wont be that impressive. However, I went to a halloween party and that was really fun, I went as a vampire (reality was just a dress, £1 cape and some 5p fangs that didn't fit in my mouth) I looked a treat. Also I have a job! Woo. It means leaving my netball group and moving to one in the same club that train on a different day, so i'll still see a few of them but I'll miss the others :(.

 Anywaaaaay.

I did these nails for my mum and then really liked them so did them on mine too, so yep we match right now. The base colour is a Beauty UK polish called 'Lilac Girl' (cheap and cheerful too) which dries really fast and I used two coats to get the opaqueness I wanted. The glitter polish is Models Own 'Purple Haze'. That takes a while to dry properly but looks really nice I think.

The overall effect at the end is quite a deep purple with a gorgeous glitter. 

I did my nails as french manicure this week so I've been practicing the white tip as I don't like using those stickers. I'm pretty pleased with them but they never last very long for me before the tips start peeling off or chip. I use a top/gloss coat on them. 

Does anyone know why they do this or what I can do so that they don't?

Hope you saw some pretty fireworks last night!

Victoria x

Finding the Right Pair Of Jeans With The New Look Body Scanner

Here is a link to an article explaining all about the body scanner. (It seemed a little pointless me writing one that would be giving you the exact same information).

What do you think of this? 

Victoria x

The Strength of British Music

Did you know that from 23rd July 2011 - 1st October 2011 there was a British artist at number one in the singles chart. (here & here). 2011 has been a massive year for music in Britain. This year we've seen so many artists 'break through' and finally get recognised. There's been Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Wretch 32 and Katy B to name a few. Not only have we had loads of new music this year but we've had some of our 'more established' artists come back stronger than ever, for example Coldplay headlined Glasto and T in the Park and the Arctic Monkeys headlined Oxegen and V and of course Adele came back and owned the charts for 18 weeks overall. 

via; here.

The shape of the music industry has changed as well, I think we've finally accepted Girls Aloud aren't going to re-form and the only girl band that are massive right now are The Saturdays who are releasing their new album in November. Wonderland have appeared this year though and been nominated for a DMA for break through. Whereas, we've gone from no boy bands to several. I remember watching JLS audition for the X Factor in 2009 and thinking that they've got a really good chance of getting somewhere, not only because of their talent but also because there was a gap in the market for a boy band. Take That were quiet in 2009. Mcfly were touring a little but weren't at the top like they had been before. So there was a JLS shaped gap that they were ready to fill. 

Two years on and there definitely isn't a gap anymore. JLS are releasing their third album, Jukebox, in November of this year. Mcfly are stronger than ever, and writing their sixth album (and of course Tom got engaged). The Wanted exploded on to the scene with All Time Low and now have a massive fan base and continued hits. Their new release Lightning looks as though it is set for number one this weekend as well.Take That got Robbie back and went on tour after releasing their album Progress which became the fastest selling album of the century. Also, as  I am incredibly sure you will know, One Direction graduated X Factor in 3rd place and now have a number one and an album on the way and of course an inZAYNly (I'm sorry I had to) massive fan base.  

Our solo artists are massive right this year as well. Professor Green is releasing his second album which includes the amazing single Read All About it which features up and coming Emeli Sande. Ed Sheeran has become massive and is on tour now, Example has had another strong year so far playing a crazy amount of festivals and his third album was released in September and went to number one. Dappy went solo and to number one. Jessie J won 4 mobo's and has kept going even through her broken foot. We've also got Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Devlin, Pixie Lott and Chipmunk going strong among many others.

SB.TV(also here) has contributed massively to British music by finding up and coming artists and giving them a platform to be heard and recognised. SB.TV has also finally had proper recognition this year by being nominated for awards, the Google Chrome advert about SB.TV founder Jamal Edwards and being given their own show Inside SB.TV: From bedroom to boardroom. They also have their own label now and signed Maxta. 

Get ready because this is going to sound corny, but I'm pretty proud of British music right now. There is so much talent and we've got a bit of everything right now. The strength and quality of British music right now is amazing. 

What do you think?

Victoria x

all images other than captioned found via google search. 

Making Practical Fashionable.

It's getting significantly colder lately, seriously my toes are constantly freezing, and so all the coats are out in the shops. I've tried on several (only one that wasn't red) until I found mine (red). This got me thinking about the practicality of some coats. If I'm honest I wasn't basing the majority of my choice on how water resistant or warm it is, it was mainly on the fit and colour. 

Being at school, it's easy to see which trends are about because all of a sudden everyone has it, literally you are walking in a sea of Pauls Boutique bags or Hollister hoodies. Last year saw the Superdry coat come along. 

Superdry - £59.99

This is called the 'Technical Windcheater'. (Before I go any further, that name is purely amazing. Technical WIND CHEATER. It cheats the wind. Hello selling point.) This spread through school practically overnight, everyone had one. Boys, girls and probably some of the teachers. If I'm honest I didn't think that they were that lovely to look at, don't get me wrong it's not one of the worst but it just always seemed a little boxy and robotic to be, but it kept people dry (they don't actually market it as water resistant though) and also kept them warm. This coat is practical but I don't think on it's own it is that 'fashionable' and to be completely honest I don't think this is why most people in my school were buying this coat, I think they were buying it because it was Superdry. They wanted the brand and not the coat. 

Republic - £54.99

 

Jack Wills - £98

Hollister - £130

I've noticed quite a few of the Republic coat shown above around this year and of course the Jack Wills gillet will once again be a staple in our school. Once again these coats keeps people warm and dry, good qualities to find in a coat, but if you took away the pheasant and the bird then I'm just saying I think there would be a lot less of these coats around. 

I'm not saying this is a bad thing, that we buy things for the brand that it is. In fact, in this case it's probably a very good thing, especially in schools as the kids can wear something that is on trend and will keep their parents happy because they're going to be warm and dry.

So, these brands making practical fashionable is very good in my eyes when we're talking about coats. Maybe I'm wrong and people just found out there is a coat called Windcheater...

Victoria x

we were in school, listening to grown ups.

 Jacket - £24.99 - H&M

I got this today because I need something to wear to an interview on Tuesday (eeeeeekk). 

I think i'm going to wear my trousers and then the chiffon shirt in the photo. 

This is a little pricey to me, just because I'm not used to spending over £15 for clothes, ha. This will be used again though and I suppose I'm going to need to look professional and smart on other occasions as well. 

It's quite a weird material, it reminded me of grandmas when I first touched it, but I love it. It's cut really nicely  and the shape is lovely. Ah! I love it. 

Hopefully, it will give me some luck on Tuesday. My interview fits in to my free's that day, which is lucky. I'm trying not to get my hopes up though because lots of people have applied for it. If I don't get it, there will always be somewhere else, eh. 

Hope you've had a lovely weekend.

Victoria x

Avon Super Shock Gel Eye Liner

This is only one layer.

Before I begin, I'm going to warn you that I'm not a make-up expert. Seriously, I'm incredibly far from it, I know little bits but nothing big so If you wanted a fancy in depth analysis of the ingredients and pigments and whatnot then this might not work for you but if you want a jargon-free opinion then please carry on. 

I decided to buy Avon Super Shock Eye Liner in Blackened Metal the other week because if you ordered the eye liner and the brush there was a discount I think. Also, I decided to try it as a cheaper alternative to the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel.  

I like the brush, it's cute and it does it's job (I some know people can write a whole post on one brush but I really don't see what else I could say). The first time I used the gel I wasn't really that impressed. It's called Super Shock so I kind of expected something super shocking and I didn't think it was. It took several layers to get it to the colour I wanted. I gave the gel a bit of a mess around with my finger to soften it up a bit and re-tried. It looked better this time, it got to the dark colour quicker but If i'm honest it still isn't 'super shocking'. I actually think I look a bit more 'natural' when I use this liner, however I am comparing to this liquid and the colour isn't claiming to be the jet black i'm used to so maybe the change to a lighter shade takes a little getting used to. Also, It's glittery but not excessively so, just the right amount so you get that odd glisten which I love. Finally, I didn't feel I had to re-apply throughout the day as I didn't think it needed touching up. 

Overall, I do like this product, I have no doubt it will help me achieve a smokey eye very well one day, and I think i'll switch between this and my liquid eye liner. I still feel like I need to try the Maybelline Studio Gel Liner though, so when one of these runs out I think that's where I'll head. 

 Have you tried any gel eye liners?

Victoria x 

Nails (8) Halloween.

I did some Halloween nails, the classic dripping blood - although my red nail varnish is on its very last (probably injured) leg so it was really sticky and gloopy. Then I did some slime of course.

The second lot were just a bit of a mix really. I think the scars look quite cool going off of one side. I also love the ghost and the gravestone. The black kind of splatter was meant to be a bat.. yep go and take a second look and you probably still wont be able to see the resemblance. It didn't go well, it does remind me of a butterfly I drew in year eight art that my teacher said was crap and looked as though it had gone through a shredder. That was a good lesson.

Anyway, what do you think? 

Victoria x

p.s. i know this is the second nails post in a row but ima bit keen.