Wednesday 30 April 2014

New Key Choker from Etsy: TwirlyTrinkets!

Hello!

I wanted to share with you my beautiful new choker from the Etsy seller Twirly Trinkets!
This is the key charm and chain velvet choker which is cheap at £3.99. It is great quality, easy to put on and take off and sits comfortably around the neck. You can request the length you want also so you know it will definitely fit around your neck! I absolutely adore the key and the chain around it just adds to that. I always get compliments when I wear it and I definitely want more from this Etsy seller!

This was the first time I had bought from Etsy and I am so pleased how it turned out. The owner, Penny Lee, is such a nice person and talked with me throughout the order. She sent the choker in a pretty little jewellery draw-string bag and also gave me a little gift of a simple chain to say thank you! How nice of her!

To check out TwirlyTrinkets, go to https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TwirlyTrinkets where you can find velvet chokers, lace chokers, satin chokers, earrings and bracelets.

Monday 28 April 2014

HOW TO: Creeping Vine Nail Art!

Hello!

Here is a simple and fun-looking nail art design for you. The 'creeping vine' comes from my days in high school where I would find myself so bored I would start drawing these vines going up all my exercise books. Needless to say my teachers weren't very impressed!


You Will Need:

*A base coat
*A base colour (I used this one from Barry M!)
*A black striper/black nail art pen (I used the one above from Barry M!)
*A shiny top coat

1. Paint your nails with your base coat to protect your nails from staining.

2. Paint your nails with your base colour and leave it to dry completely otherwise the design won't work properly! 

3. To do the creeping vine, use your pen/striper to draw a line from the left bottom corner of your nail to near the centre. Then, draw some various sized lines coming off from each side. The trick is to make the lines coming out of other lines really random and at different sizes. Make sure most of them continue the cycle and leave one or two as they are. Continue this until you are satisfied with the look.

4. Making sure you have left your design to completely dry so the black lines do not smudge, paint on your top coat.

Done!


There you have it! What do you think? Let me know if you recreate it!


Friday 25 April 2014

Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

Hello! So I was surprisingly tagged in the Very Inpsiring Blogger Award by www.emilyatsunset.blogspot.co.uk. Thanks! 
Here are the rules:

1. Link the person who nominated you in your post
2. List the rules and display the award
3. Share 7 facts about yourself
4. Nominate 15 other blogs and link them in your post
5. Let them know you have nominated them

My facts!

1. I dye my hair a blackcurrant colour
2. I am taking a gap year next year where I plan to travel and do some voluntary work for a mental health charity!
3. I am a dancer and have been the large majority of my life. I do tap and also used to do ballet.
4. I am the youngest of 5 siblings: four sisters and one brother!
5. I want to work with mental health and teenagers as a career.
6. Once I sent a photo to my male friend on Facebook and didn't realise I had underwear I had worn on the floor in the photo! I was severely embarrassed and couldn't face him for ages.
7. I have two crested gecko lizards which sometimes breed and we look after the babies until they are old enough to sell on.

I am going to break a rule- I'm not sure of 15 other blogs to tag! However I will definitely tag www.emilyfrancesx.blogspot.co.uk and anyone else who would like to do it!

If you do it, let me know!




Thursday 24 April 2014

Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation & Concealer REVIEW! (My ULTIMATE concealer!)

Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation:
Would I Repurchase This?   Yes, 100%!
Would I Recommend It To A Friend? Yes
Rating: 9.5/10

I have always used the concealer of this but didn't realise this foundation existed until about three months ago. Knowing how much I love the concealer I bought this foundation with high expectations! I was definitely pleased with it.

On the bottle, it says:

*Lasts for up to 16 hours
*Flawless coverage
*Minimises imperfections
*Oil free
*SPF 20

I found it a bit hard to choose my shade but in the end I went with 'silky beige'. This didn't sound right for me because my skin colour really isn't 'beige' and when I brought it home even my Mum and sister said it probably way too dark for me. HOWEVER when I tried it on it matched perfectly!

This foundation is a medium/high coverage foundation which I like as I suffer from acne/red scarring. This is perfect for my skin and hides blemishes and redness well. 

I find this foundation blends very well and doesn't make me look orange. Sometimes I find it kind of clings to the dry patches underneath my eyes which therefore may not make it suitable for really dry skin but it is barely noticeable, only to me. 

It does last all day I will give it that, but sometimes it can go a bit 'dusty' looking shall we say around the nose/on wrinkles after about 7 hours. However it isn't that big of a deal and can easily be fixed although it really is not that noticeable!

PROS:

  • Blends easily
  • Doesn't make me orange
  • Medium/High coverage
  • SPF 20
  • Oil free
  • Great for acne prone/red/acne scarred skin
  • Long lasting


CONS:

  • Clings to dry patches slightly
  • Can go slightly 'dusty looking' after approx. 7 hours 
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer:

Would I Repurchase This? Yes, always have done and always will!
Would I Recommend This To A Friend? Yes!
Rating: 10/10!

I have been using this concealer for many years now, perhaps four, but this is the first time I have used it since they have changed their brand, the packaging and shade names. I was a bit wary of it but when I eventually found my colour I soon realised it was just as good as it had always been.

Similarly to the foundation, the name of the colour sounded way too dark for me but in actual fact it was perfect! I was also worried about it not blending with the foundation but thankfully it does.

I have always loved this product because it is immensely good at covering up redness, acne and scarring as it is high coverage and blends well. It is so good that I have only recently started wearing it with foundation! I always used to wear the concealer and the concealer alone which worked great. I would only use it where necessary and it still blended great with my natural skin colour.

PROS:

  • Long lasting
  • Blends well
  • High coverage
  • Brilliant at covering imperfections

CONS:

  • Can slightly cling to dry patches

Overall I cannot recommend these products enough. I have been excited for a while to share with you the concealer as it is my ultimate concealer I have used daily for many years. I was quite young when my Mum came home with this to help cover up the horrible 'pizza face' I had at the time and let me tell you it was quite the self-esteem saver. I will forever repurchase these and would definitely recommend you try them out!

Have you used any of these? What do you think of them? Let me know!






Sunday 20 April 2014

TMI Tag!

Hello! My lovely real life best friend Emily (click her name to see her awesome blog) tagged me in the TMI tag so here it is!

1.) What are you wearing?
A black, long top with skulls and anchors all over with black leggings with Frankenstein and his wife all over. All from Blue Banana I believe!
2.) Have you ever been in love?
Yes, with my boyfriend.
3.) Have you ever had a terrible break up?
 Unfortunately, yes. It was awful but I guess it kind of made me who I am!
4.) How tall are you?
I think I am about 5ft 6! I am taller than everybody in my family apart from my Dad. I come from a family of small people!
5.) How much do you weigh?
8 Stone on the dot.
6.) Do you have any tattoos?
 No, not yet. But this time next year this answer may be different! I am very in to tattoos so there definitely will be a couple.
7.) Do you have any piercings?
 Yes! I have 7 in total: in my left ear I have three ear lobe ones, my tragus and the top of my ear. In my right ear I have two ear lobe ones. I plan to get many more piercings as I am very in to them!
8.) What is your OTP?
Fourtris (Divergent), Clace (City of Bones) and Phan (Danisnotonfire/AmazingPhil). I used to be a guilty reader/writer of fanfic!
9.) What is your favourite show?
My ultimate favourite is SUPERNATURAL with American Horror Story in second. Thirdly is Family Guy!
10.) What are your favourite bands?
 I don't really have favourites any longer but I love rock/metal music and going to concerts. Recently I have been listening to a lot of Cancer Bats and The Darkness music.
11.) What is something you miss?
 Is having a life a reasonable answer? Haha but seriously I haven't been to a concert in a looooong time and I really miss them.
12.) What is your favourite song?
Some of my all time favourites include Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life by Deaf Havana, Nirvana's Lithium, In Waves by Trivium and September's Children by Rise Against.
13.) What is your zodiac sign?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarieeeeeeeees.
14.) What is a quality you look for in a partner?
Someone who is in to the same music as me and shares a similar humour to me. I don't like someone who is really romantic as I am not in to that but they must be committed and in it for the long run. I prefer longer hair on partners and I love tattoos and piercings on them. My boyfriend fits for the most part!
15.) What is your favourite quote?
"Two hands working together does more than a thousand clasped in prayer" -(Don't know who said it)

"Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book" -John Green

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations" -John Green
16.) Who’s your favourite actor?
I don't particularly sit there and define favourite actors/actresses for myself but I quite like Evan Peters, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Ian Somerhalder and Jennifer Lawrence as people.
17.) Loud music or soft?
I love rock/metal, what do you think? Haha! Although I am in to musical numbers and jazzy stuff too...
18.) Where do you go when you’re sad?
I go to bed, eat food and talk to my boyfriend.
19.) How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
About an hour.
20.) How long does it take you to shower?
5 minutes if it's a normal shower and 20 if it is hair washing day.
21.) Ever been in a physical fight?
I don't proudly say this but yes I was got in to quite a few when I was much younger.
22.) Turn off?
Someone who doesn't take care of hygiene or does drugs.
23.) Do you have any fears?
I have a fear of being in social situations and when I was in secondary school I had a fear of being in a classroom with people. I am also scared of going downstairs by myself in the dark haha!

24.) What is the last thing that made you cry?
I think it was perhaps on my birthday two weeks ago when my sister announced to me she was pregnant. It was a shock and very overwhelming! I also cried a little when I watched the film of Divergent.
25.) When was the last time you said you loved someone?
Yesterday to my boyfriend. :-)
26.) Meaning behind your blog name?
Well my real name is Briony but my family have always called me Bea, therefore giving me the nickname Bea. People sometimes call me Briony and they sometimes call me Bea so that's how I came up with BrionyBea. Sincerely is there because it is like how you sign off a letter and yeah, nothing special really!
27.) Last book you read?
Allegiant :')
28.) Book you’re currently reading?
I have not started another yet because of revision and probably won't until my exams are over but I will probably begin the Infernal Devices next!
29.) Last show you watched?
The last programme I watched was Britain's Got Talent and the last series I watched was season 2 of American Horror Story.
30.) Last person you talked to?
Mother
31.) Relationship between you and the last person you texted?
Boyfriend/girlfriend
32.) Favourite food?
Nothing beats my Nan's roast dinner!
33.) Place you want to visit?
America!
34.) Last country you were in?
Ummm either Wales or Kos I am not too sure which came last!
35.) Do you have a crush?
One thing to know about me is I absolutely hate the term 'crush'! Although I have forever had a thing for Taylor Momsen, she is an extremely attractive woman. Kat Von D is pretty great too.
36.) Favourite flavour of sweet?
Starburst flavours! Orange perhaps?
37.) What instruments do you play?
I don't play any, I played harmonica for four years in primary school but that was it. I would love to know how to play the drums!
38.) Favourite piece of jewellery?
I love my pentagram choker and I have got another choker in the post coming which as a key and chains on! That is super exciting.
39.) Last sport you played?
Lol, since when did I play sports? Anyone who knows me knows I hate sport. Although if you count dancing as a sport then that was the last sport I did.
40.) Last song you sang
Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile from the musical Annie.
41.) Last time you hung out with someone?
Yesterday with my boyfriend. (God he comes up a lot doesn't he?!)

42.) Who should do this tag?
Anyone who feels like doing this! I'd normally tag Emily but she got here first.


Thanks for reading! Let me know if you do this tag!

Saturday 19 April 2014

How To: Bow Nail Art!

Hey BumbleBeas!

I did this nail design about a month ago and I would like to share with you how I did it as it is definitely in my top 10 of favourite nail arts that I have done and it received so many compliments. It is cute and doesn't take much effort or skill!

What You Need:

*A sky blue nail polish (I used Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine Guava)
*A black striper or nail art pen (I used Barry M's black nail art pen)
*OPTIONAL: Base coat
*OPTIONAL: Shiny top coat

1. Paint on your favourite base coat to protect your nail and prevent staining from the nail polish. Let it fully dry.

2. Paint all your nails with the blue nail polish and let it dry. You may need more than one coat!

3. You can do this in two different ways, I found it was easier to do both ways depending on how small the nail was or on what hand it was!
                                                            A) Keeping both wrists on your surface to give a steady hand, draw a medium thickness line across your nail. Then, draw two triangles that meet one another at the singular point to form a bow. Colour it in and leave it to dry.

B) Draw two triangles facing one another with the singular point touching one another for the bow. Colour the triangles in then draw a medium thickness line coming out of each side. Leave it to dry.

4. Leaving enough drying time so the next coat doesn't smudge the design, put on your top coat. I recommend using a shiny one as it just adds to the cuteness of it!

And there you have it! Lovely bow nails. I really recommend buying a nail art pen for this as it very similar to drawing with a normal pen so it is soooo much easier to use! You should also decide where you'd like to put the bow on your nails so they all look equal. Perhaps decide to put them all in the middle of your nail or on the left/right side. 

What do you think? Will you try it? Let me know!

Wednesday 16 April 2014

Bohomoon: Moonstone Quartz Wrap Choker

Hello BumbleBeas!

I wanted to show you this necklace I got from www.bohomoon.com

It is a moonstone quartz with a snake wrapped around it and I think it is beautiful! What's great about it is that it shines various pretty colours in the light and the snake just gives an extra quirkiness to it.

It was only £8.00 and you can either get it on a 16cm sterling silver chain OR on a choker like I did!

There are some other beautiful, cheap pieces in this online shop and I am sure this won't be the last time I buy from them.

You can buy this specific one here.

What do you think? Let me know!


Monday 14 April 2014

30 Day Squat Challenge: My Experience!

Hey Bumblebeas!

If you are as lazy, weak and as unmotivated as me, you may find it difficult to commit to exercising which can put you in to this continuous cycle of feeling bad about your body.

I HATE exercise, anyone who knows me would tell you that, so when I discovered the 30 Day Squat Challenge I was pleasantly surprised. In addition I also have scoliosis (a curved spine) along with very poor back and stomach muscle. This means that I am much weaker than I should be and my muscles do not support me very well therefore leading me to really struggle with exercise. However none of these problems were affected by this challenge which I was grateful for!

This is a plan you can follow for an entire month. It's easier to begin at the beginning of the month so then you can easily keep track of what day you're on. It starts off easy and slowly builds you up to do more.

The good thing about this challenge is that it doesn't take too much effort. I did my squats just before I went to bed whilst I watched TV so it didn't take any sacrifices or commitment. I also never worked up a sweat which was nice.

If I can commit myself to a month of this, then trust me so can you. This has been the only form of exercise apart from my dancing that I have ever stuck to and didn't give up on!

By the end of the month I felt really proud of myself for sticking to it and I was so pleased that at first I could barely do 10 squats but now I can push through! I noticed my legs and bum looked more toned and my muscles were getting stronger. 

This has been a real confidence boost for me and I highly recommend it, from one lazy and weak person to another!

Have you tried this 30 day challenge? What do you think of it? Will you do it? Let me know!

Saturday 12 April 2014

Boots Haul!

Hello BumbleBeas!

Seeing as it was my birthday last week I received some birthday money. Of course I was going to go shopping! I didn't actually get much as most of the things I want you can only get online but I picked up a few things.


1. Impulse body spray: Vanilla & Peach

I was originally going to get a Natural Collection body spray as I love them but I saw the Impulse ones were on a major sale so I couldn't resist. Vanilla & Peach sounds very nice to me!

2. Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Dark Spot Corrector

I used this last year until I finished it and I felt it made an improvement to face so I decided to buy it again. I don't want to say too much as I am definitely going to write up a review of this soon but let me say if you're looking for products to treat either dark spots, age spots, post-acne scars (like me!) or sun damage on your face then you don't want to miss my review!

3. Revlon Colour Burst Matte Lip Crayon: Shameless

I have wanted this for so long you have no idea! I already have one of these lip crayons so will be doing a full review on them soon but this is a lovely deep purple colour and I adore it! Review coming soon!

4. Benefit Gimme Brow!

I don't normally buy myself more expensive make up brands but I have always admired Benefit. I decided I may as well treat myself to something from Benefit as it was with birthday money so I ended up getting this coloured brow gel. I will be writing up a review soon!

So that's it! Have you used any of these products? What do you think? Let me know!

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Birthday Activities + Divergent (film) Review!

Hello BumbleBeas!

My birthday was on Thursday but I didn't do anything until Friday and Saturday.



  • FRIDAY:
I went for a meal to Bella Italia with my friends Emily (www.emilyfrancesx.blogspot.co.uk), Ruby (www.dearrubyx.blogspot.co.uk), Robyn and Antonia. It was a lot of fun and I ate tomato pasta with cookie dough and ice cream for dessert!

Afterwards, we went to see the film Divergent! We are all pretty die-hard fans of the books so for months we had been waiting for that day! We saw it the first day it came out in the UK and I'm pretty sure we nearly hyperventilated in the cinema. It was super good and we are planning to see it again soon. It sticks to the book quite well and definitely lived up to the standards I set up for it! I seriously recommend it whether you have read the books or not.
(Three of us dressed up as Dauntless from Divergent!)
(galaxy tights!)

  • SATURDAY

I went to Bella Italia AGAIN (you can tell I like it, right?) with my family, There were 10 of us so it was a pretty big do! It was lots of fun and my sister Kimberley surprised me by baking me a cake (shown above) which the waiters/waitresses carried in with lit candles on with everyone singing happy birthday! The cake was extra special as it is a recipe me and my sister used to make together ALL the time for every occasion until she moved out and had my niece. Slightly embarrassing. The funny part was that one of the candles was a trick candle that after you blow it out lights itself back up again!
(outfit!)


I had a great birthday and I really appreciate all the things my family and friends did for me to make it special. I love you all!

Have you seen Divergent or are you planning to? What do you think of it or the books? Let me know!

Tuesday 8 April 2014

Birthday Presents!

Hey BumbleBeas!

So on the 3rd of April I turned 17! I decided I would make a blog post about what I received from friends and family as if it were a haul. I am still yet to receive presents from my boyfriend, brother and uncle but this is the majority of it. Also, sorry the photos are pretty rubbish quality but I took them late at night as I knew that would be the only change I could get to take the photos.

But the most important and rather unique present was that I found out I am going to be AN AUNTIE AGAIN! My sister rang me up and said "do you wanna know something interesting?" as I replied what she said "I'm pregnant!". I thought she was joking at first as if it were a late April Fools joke but alas she was being serious. At that point I cried! Certainly a birthday present I never thought I'd receive. 

DVDs: Chicago (musical), Catching Fire and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I love these films and got them from my Nan.

Scandalous Eyes Flex mascara (from my friend), Revlon Matte Lip Crayon (Cannot remember the colour but it is a bright red from my mother) and L'oreal Manga Mega Volume mascara (Also from my mother).

Babyliss Keratin Waves received from my sister Kelly. I don't ever put curls or waves in my hair so this should be interesting!

Dairy Milk Oreo (the best thing in existence!) from my friend Toni along with the Lush bath bomb Sakura (I think that's how it is spelt!) 



The first three, the 60 seconds ones, are pastel colours from Toni. The Colour Show graffiti one is from my friend Vicky and the Models Own ones from my mother. They include hypergel, speckled eggs, a top coat and sticky fingers. Posts on them will come soon!

Shock of the Fall and The Never List are from Emily and Ruby. However I've already read Shock of the Fall so they're going to let me return it and choose a new one. I also got Wreck This Journal which I am planning to turn in to a series on this blog soon from my friend Robyn!

This is the 'Gorgeous' gift box by Lush from my sister Lisa. An unboxing and first look post will be on its way soon!



The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner and No7 Colour Calming Skin Corrector from my mother and Happy Hippy shower gel by Lush from my friends Emily and Ruby. (www.emilyfrancesx.blogspot.co.uk and www.dearrubyx.blogspot.co.uk) Reviews coming soon!



When taking these photos I forgot the clothes I received from my sister Kimberley, her boyfriend and my niece. They bought me a white top with black bows all over and a pair of black high waisted trousers with 3 buttons on them. Super nice! I mostly got money for my birthday to spend on what I'd like.

So those were my birthday presents! I will make a second post showing what I did for my birthday if that interests anyone which should hopefully be up tomorrow. 
Do you use any of these products? Let me know!



Monday 7 April 2014

March Favourites

Hello BumbleBeas!


My March favourites comes a bit late as it was birthday the other day so it has all been a bit hectic! A big 
birthday post will be coming this week. :-)

1. Real Techniques- Expert Face Brush

This is my ultimate favourite for this month and possibly even my favourite of 2014 so far! I am so glad I bought this brush as it applies my foundation wonderfully which gives me more confidence. I would definitely recommend this brush over other ones. To see my full review on it, click here.

2. Seventeen Metallic Cream
I have owned this for a long while now but only started using it at the beginning of March. I like to apply it daily on my eyelids to brighten them! To read my full review, click here.

3 .  American Horror Story 
My friend recommended this TV programme to me over a year or so ago and I am so annoyed at myself that it took me so long to watch it! If you like programmes with dark, weird twists then this is the programme for you. It has been described as a horror/erotic horror/supernatural series, but it isn't too 'erotic' before that may put you off! I'll admit it isn't for everyone but I personally absolutely love it and I watched the first series within a day and a half on Netflix. I've heard the other series aren't as good as the first one but I am going to watch them anyway. 10/10!!

4. The Body Shop Tea Tree Night Cream
I have used this product before but somehow stopped using it. But, I fell back in love with it since the beginning of 2014 and once again I use it religiously every night! You put it on before you got to bed and is good for acne and acne scarring. I will write up a full in-depth review on it soon so stay tuned!

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation & Concealer
Although I have been using the concealer for years now, this is the first one I have used since they changed their name from Collection 2000 to Collection, changed the packaging and shades. It as great as it always has been! I never realised they had it in foundation form until recently so when I finally realised I instantly picked it up! It goes so well with the concealer and I feel my make up look so much better with it. I will certainly be buying the lasting perfection powder to complete the collection! (no pun intended)
Full in-depth reviews will be coming soon!

So that is my March favourites! What do you think? Do you use any of these products? Let me know!