My New Favorite Colour

In case anyone hasn't realized I am absolutely awful at blogging! It was my birthday almost 6 weeks ago, yet I am only just getting my 'birthday blog' written now! But never fear dear readers! I am working on being more organised and blogging more, and I am finally getting the internet! Woohoo! I know what your thinking, who has a blog and doesn't actually have the internet right? Well, yes that would be me... but internet is on the way so expect to hear a lot more of me you lucky munchkins! I am almost investing in Glossybox so will have lots of nice new things to write about! 

Anyway... I have come to explain what an absolutely thrilling colour brown is!!!!!!!! Honestly! I have recently fallen in love with it and it is all due to my lovely Grandma and the amazing birthday presents I have from her! Now when I say Grandma everyone imagines a little old dear sitting in front of the fire with slippers, grey hair and some knitting. My Grandma however has crazy curly hair which changes colour every time I see her, is far more fashionable than I could ever hope to be and also owns leopard print boots! She is incredibly glamorous and I absolutely love her! Anyway shrine over... I came here to explain how she has a knack for amazing presents and how it created my obsession with brown, I'm just diving headlong into showing you birthday presents, you will then understand!

My favorite present was my handbag! Just wow! I haven't managed to get amazing pictures as they are all off my phone but you can see what I mean! This is a 1940's style bag which is in absolutely amazing condition, no marks, nothing broken, perfect! It has a lovely little clasp in the shape of a horseshoe and is a mahogany colour all over. It is perfect handbag size, enough for necessity's but not big enough so that I feel I need to cram it full of everything except my kitchen sink and then look like I am lugging a suitcase round. Anyway I do believe this is the perfect bag *happy sigh*. 

My other present from her was 2 fur stoles. Now I am not sure where everyone is at on the fur situation but please don't throw paint over me, I am a nice person sometimes! Where I stand is that I collect vintage, any and all forms of vintage. Fur falls into this category and I collect it because it represents the era that I love. Anyway this is far too deep to get into for a Monday morning blog! So the first stole was a large one, more like a wrap with a stripey effect and beautiful colours. The second was smaller, a darker brown and one that would be used more as a collar to dress up a plain coat.

Both were such beautiful presents!! It kick started a maternal love for the colour brown which I have very little of in my wardrobe. So the first thing I went and purchased were these little bad boys! I bought these off ebay for under £15 including p&p! BARGAIN! They are styled on the late 30's/40's and remind me of something a little old lady or a school teacher would wear (clearly I go for the 'sexy' look.....). They have a lovely small heel and are so easy to dash about in, therefore are mainly kept for more casual outings when I'm doing errands and what not. I think I may just go and put them on now I have such cravings for them!

I was going to include other small purchases such as a brown cardigan but then I thought gosh how boring can I actually be, raving about a plain brown cardigan, so I decided not to bore you. But please expect lots of lovely future brown themed outfit posts! I know your all sitting at the edge of your seats and can hardly wait!! Until next time!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shall We Dance?

Good evening beautiful people!

I have had the most fabulous weekend and thought it would be rude not to share what I have been up too... My lovely friend Jo is a dancer, an incredibly good one if I may say so, and I have just spent last Sunday watching her compete! I've never been before and it was amazing!!! The atmosphere, the beautiful dresses, the incredible dancing, gosh I can't even begin to explain it! Unfortunately I got incredibly swept up in the moment and was too busy watching to get many good photos, didn't even think to pick up my camera and snap away at the really cute 8 year old's ballroom dancing in their little suits and dresses! They also all move rather quickly so getting a good photo was pretty much impossible!

So.. there were two types of dancing (Jo competes in 12 different types, this was just on this particular day) which were ballroom and latin. The two most different types of dancing ever! I can't really explain much about them, I'm rather clueless but it was rather awe inspiring just watching. And the dresses I have fallen in love with and made myself a promise to make one! 

Unfortunately my outfit wasn't as eye catching or glittery as those on the dance floor but I have included a little outfit post! I really struggled with what is 'normal' to wear to these things. You obviously have all the dancers glammed up to the 9's (is that the right saying?), the pushy glamourous mothers of the cute little kids who dressed as though they were about to hit a very posh bar, and then the extreme of people in their comfy clothes and hoodys. Therefore I went for my 'go-to' casual day outfit....

Dress - Lindy Bop

Late 1950's Bag - eBay

Seamed Stockings - Present from my Grandma 

Shoes - Charity Shop

I also had my navy blue thick wool coat from Zara but didn't get any snaps of it, so I will therefore save it for another day!

Apologies for all the photo's, my blog is becoming more and more photo orientated rather than much content, but I doubt anyone would like to read me moaning on about old lady's clothes etc!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A Few Photo's

Hello lovely people, long time no speak!

I recently took part in a photo shoot for the most loveliest of photographers Stephen Keighley, and had the most fabulous time. Other than messing about with friends, or taking photos for my blog I haven't actually modeled for anyone before, with the exception of a friend for a project, therefore I was incredibly nervous about what to expect! But all went incredibly smoothly!!

He is located in Launceston, the small town where my Mummykins lives so it was all organised for my visit down there. The photo shoot itself was SO easy, I quite fancy being the next Kate Moss if this is the norm! I made sure I had 3 hours spare, I have no clue what for but it is always better to be prepared yet it was over and done with in 45 minutes! There was no rushing and without being big headed I would like to say I personally think the photos are amazing for such little time and effort. I even had a little tour of the town so all in all I am a happy girl! 

I am very happy with the photos! I'm one of those girls who can pick faults in all pictures ever taken of me but I love these! There was a little hair issue in the fact the my dearest Mummsy stole the hairspray therefore my curls lasted a total of 9 minutes, but despite the argument I had with my hair all is good! I wore my Stop Staring dress, the coat is from Topshop, my ever trusty handbag from my Mum, seamed stockings and simple black heels. I hope you like it!

Stephen's twitter

Stephen's Facebook

xxxxxxxxxxx

Ready Steady Bake

Hello!

I am currently having some time off work and have come down to Cornwall to visit my family and catch up with friends so I will have loads of photos to share over the next week and a half! As of yet I haven't got up to anything too exciting, but instead have spent the time being lovely and lazy! I even spent the afternoon cooking with my two brothers which was an adventure in itself! One brother had taken control of the camera, the other was on 'mess making' duties!! I haven't got too many photos to share that are in focus but I will do my best!

I am really enjoying spending quality time with my family as I don't see them too often. It is also so beautiful down here, something I didn't appreciate when I lived here myself! Although I have had a super lazy day today I am making this a small outfit post, just to give a feel of my 'chilling' outfits. 

Knitted blouse - charity shop

Skirt - Vivien of Holloway

Heels - charity shop

xxx

Hey Doll Face

'I love glamour and artificial beauty. I love the idea of artifice and dressing up and makeup and hair' - Dita Von Teese

Ok.. I really am planning on making this more of a vintagey style blog rather than a beauty and makeup blog but then I thought, hey!! makeup is part of my era and the glamour in which I love comes from being able to create that! Unfortunately I wasn't born with satin smooth picture perfect skin, I have blonde eyelashes and eyebrows which means I am able to pass very convincingly as an albino who has died their hair and I also suffer from the worst under eye bags which have ever existed, even after 12 hours beauty sleep! 

What I love about the era in which I dress is that beauty and glamour can be created. I am amazed at the women who can leap out of bed, put their hair up and look stunning, I am also incredibly envious! But on the other hand I love my makeup. I enjoy doing my face everyday, I like having the patience to slowly build up what ever I am trying to achieve, to learn different methods of applying and see improvements. Many will disagree with me but I genuinely feel like make up is art and I am the little old painter with his palette trying to create what ever tickles his fancy today! Dear lord I sound like a crazy old bat but it is just how I feel!

I was thinking of doing a before and after photo but the before photos were so shocking and not something I wish the world and his dog to view! Therefore I have just included my whole makeup case, what I use in 'everyday' makeup and then plan to do separate posts reviewing single items of my makeup over time! 

My makeup box

Things I slap on my face -

Soap & Glory - Feel Good Factor SPF25

MAC - Prep + Prime

Benefit - Boing concealer

MAC - Studio Fix Fluid in NW10

MAC - Studio Fix Powder

Bourjois - Blusher in Frosted Rose

MAC - makeup brushes no. 187 (foundation brush), 150 (blusher brush) & 195 (concealer brush)

QVS - compact powder brush 

My go to lippy things -

Aloe Vera Vaseline (20 minutes before putting lipstick on)

MaxFactor - Colour Elixir Lip Liner in 10 Red Rush

MAC - Matte Ruby Woo

Soap & Glory - Sexy Mother Pucker in Yummy Plum

As I have already done a post on my eyemakeup I won't bore you with the details again but I will mention I have invested in a new eyeliner which I am getting on much better with!!

Rimmel London - Glam'Eyes

The finished product!!! Please ignore my stroke face lips and ever so attractive hair rollers! The last photo is of a different day and therefore different lipstick. I prefer the photo more but I think that is due to the quality being poor and I love a little blur around the edges to make everything seem peachy! 

Reviews on individual products to come in due course!

xxxxxxx

The Half Moon Manicure

The half moon manicure was the most popular nail design from the 1920's to 1940's. It vary's slightly throughout the years with the tip of the nail also being left bare or lightly coloured in; this was popular until the late 30's. 

Cosmopolitan Magazine, December 1936

The most popular colours used for nails were always shades of pinks through to reds, and those are still the colours in which most people interpret the manicure with today. However even back then there were a few more diverse colours for the daring ladies, such as gold, green, blue, yellow and black. They were definitely not the most popular or common of choices, but they were still an option! 

. 

 

Ladies Home Journal, June 1945.

I have been to get my nails done a few times, and I ALWAYS get the half moon manicure in some form of red as they always do it so beautifully but when it comes to painting my nails at home I have very little patience. I often do 2 coats of red all over (no half moon manicure) and then get impatient in sitting still and usually smudge them trying to get some chocolate out of its wrapper!

But today I was determined to not only sit still until my nails are 100% dry but to attempt a half moon manicure myself! Up until recently I have worked with horses and therefore growing my nails to even a respectable length without them breaking was impossible! But now it has only been 3 weeks and I am LOVING the length of my new nails (except one of them has broken, not exactly great for a nail post so please ignore!) 

Think this photo makes me look slightly like an octopus

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have only just got my hands on a camera. This post was written on Wednesday but as I was unable to add photos until today it means my nails are a little worse for wear. But after 3 days there is no chipping and although they aren't in the 'just painted' standard I was planning for this post, I am still very impressed!

For the 'half moon' in my half moon manicure I used Rimmel London 60 seconds nail polish in 730 Silver Bullet. It has a mother of pearl look to it and I just think it is so eye catching, compared to if I was to leave it bare. I then used Jessica Custom Nail Colour in Regal Red. This is probably one of my favorite nail colours, it is a truly pillar box red and I find it hardly chips which is really saying something as I bash my nails around like there is no tomorrow.

I absolutely love having a half moon manicure. I think it looks elegant and creates a beautiful vintage look. I think my DIY half moons really need some work but as long as I show everyone from 2 feet away I think there will be no problems! I have also included some photos of 'cool' half moon manicures, for those who like the idea but want to look a little more modern and funky (yes I use the word funky and I love it!!!)

Big love xxx