European Castles Bucketlist

I love old, ornate, wonderful looking buildings: cathedrals, parliament buildings, old theatres, you name it. But I have a real soft spot for castles. If there is a castle around, you can bet your ass I'm going to be exploring it with my camera.

Perhaps that love stems from living in Britain, specifically Wales, which you may not know has been dubbed the castle capital of the world. Cute. We had over 400 castles, and over 100 are still standing today!

As if Britain wasn't amazing and jammed with enough castles, if we venture slightly further afield we come to the magical land of Europe (Yay!). All I can say is oh my god. The collection of castles across Europe is absolutely mindblowing, with so many different types of architecture, history and surroundings.

I thought I'd share a few of my favourites for you to drool over and get that wanderlust feeling that we know so well!

Sunday Smiles #3

I am officially half way through my lectures for first semester. OH MY GOD. That means exams are a-coming. Nope. No thank you. But this point in time also means that I am only two weeks away from my first trampolining competition which is so exciting!! As long as I don't injure myself anymore... which is probably unlikely. Shit happens to me.

Clearly I am a bundle of mixed emotions! On to the happy things -

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Guys, have you heard? It's Autumn. 
In case you missed all the tweets. Bloggers love autumn...

Its all about berry lips and pumpkin spice err'thing aaaaall day. 

So go put on your roll neck, slap on some MAC Diva and gold eyes and sip your PSL, this is hashtag basic bitch territory and I love it.

Can We Be Modern Day Suffragettes?

I am a feminist. And a proud one at that.
So naturally I'd been eagerly awaiting the release of Suffragette. (Especially 'cause I've got mad love for Carey Mulligan). I'm so glad to say it met, even exceeded my expectations in every way.

I'll start by promising no spoilers in this post. I will NEVER be that person!!

However, if you know the basic trajectory and milestones of the suffragette movement and fight for votes for women, many of the plot points (including the climax) won't be a surprise to you. It does not lessen the impact in any way at all, though. It still hit me like a tonne of bricks and I have to give credit for the amazing sound and camera work.

The film the captures the real essence and "grit" of the suffragettes; not just the big-names like Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Davison, but the impact that it had every day on the lives of these working class women.

The amount that they sacrificed and endured to fight for our right to vote literally gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. They faced torture, brutality, ostracism and slander which, of course, paid off in the long run, but their lives were hell. And really, when you think about it, how far have we come?

Sunday Smiles #2

Is it just me or is time just flying by? I don't think I have the mental strength to deal with how quickly this year is getting on. Another week has passed and with that a whole bunch of things to smile about. (Even though I've done more than my fair share of frowning this week like the miserable old goat that I am).

The Apprentice Drama. IT'S BACK! And I could not be more giddy with excitement. Another big bunch of dickheads for us to enjoy for the next couple of weeks. Especially with a double whammy of fish and shampoo to whet my appetite!

Hobbit Envy and Aragorn Love. I watched Lord of the Rings for the first time since developing an intense phobia of gollum when I was 7. Safe to say I am now a convert and wish I lived in Middle Earth. Sigh.

"Date Night". (I thoroughly hate that phrase, btw). Despite us living together, Martin and I haven't spent any real "quality time" together since I've gone back to uni, after spending every waking moment together all summer! He took me for dinner in a local Caribbean restaurant and then we went bowling and played in the arcade and it was just what we needed :-)

My trampolining social. I started trampolining in uni this year (the first society/team I've ever joined!) and we went on our first social. I got to know my fellow trampoliners better and had a great night!

University isnt't making me want to jump into a pool of sharks. Yawn yawn yawn but my proposal for my dissertation has been submitted. I now know what I will be doing this year and I feel so positive about it!

Hometown glory. I've ventured back home to Bridgend and had some lovely cuddles with my best friend and her gorgeous little girl, a catch up with my mam and dad, and some puppy kisses from my dog, Rosie.

What has made you smile this week? :-)

Teri-May

xxx

My Cruelty Free Journey Update

I have FINALLY used up nearly all of my non-CF products and replaced them with cruelty free alternatives. I’m still very much experimenting with products and trying to find my new favourites. I’ve had some real successes and some disappointments but everything I’m learning I want to share with you! 

Aside from make-up, I’m currently working on replacing hair and skincare products. I’ve always been a big Soap & Glory fan so luckily I didn’t need to swap any of my favourite shower goodies! I was also super pleasantly surprised to find that Alberto Balsam (a brand that I often use) is cruelty free. 

I’ve switched from Batiste to Superdrug dry shampoo which I love. The volumising one especially is excellent, easily as good as the branded stuff. I’ve also switched my toothpaste and soap and stuff to co-op own brand. That was a switch that I was really worried about, as I didn’t know how accessible or expensive CF alternatives would be but I really didn’t need to worry! 

Sisters, Nostalgia & Dissonance

I feel a bit weird for thinking what I'm thinking.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I really don't "suit" living at home, for want of a better word. Don't get me wrong. I adore my parents and my family home, but I think everyone would agree that we are much better living twenty minutes apart.

Lol as if that's actually far. But there's less rows, less tears and more happiness and excitement to see eachother. Wins all round, right?

Living away from home is amazing. Literally, the best.

As much as I hate my minging student flat with it's gappy floorboards, creaky beds and mushroomy ceilings (Yep, no lie. Grim.), I love having my independence. And, I'm sure loads of you will agree,  living with your best friends is the absolute best thing in the whole world. I get shouted at way less for leaving mugs and bowls all over the house and no one bugs me to eat "real food". Don't even try to stop me eating cereal three times a day.

Sunday Smiles

Sundays are a perfect day to reflect. (And sleep until midday).
About what you need to do, what you've done and what made you happy this week!
It's easy to forget about all the lovely little things that have happened through the week after being swamped by work/stress/money/life so I like to remind myself of the happiness of the week on a Sunday and thought you might like to share in some Sunday afternoon positivity. :-)

This week hasn't been particularly wonderful or awe inspiring, but I can't say it's been totally crap either. It's just been one of those uneventful, boring weeks. I've had a miserable cold and it had a pretty sad start when I thought I buggered my back so haven't been able to trampoling. I even missed squad try outs!! BUT it's the little things that perk up a week.

1. Friends and Cocktails. I went for some drinks with my besties in a new bar in Cardiff for a friends' birthdays and we had some mighty weird cocktails! Marshmallow and guava flavoured, to be exact, but it was bloody lovely. We drank, we laughed and had a fab night to celebrate, I came home quite the happy bunny.

2.  All the rugby! There was some absolutely fantastic rugby this weekend. It may not have been the result the Welsh were after.  but Saturday was an unbelievable day for rugby and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Who'd have thought Scotland v Samoa would be one of the best games of the tournament so far?!

3. A lovely morning at Lou Lou's Vintage Fair. I attended the event in Cardiff as press for Quench magazine and took part in a blogger challenge (I will definitely be posting about it soon!). There were so many lovely stalls and gorgeous bits and bobs, don't even get me started on the cakes. I could barely contain my excitment.

4. MY NEW RING. Whilst on the subject of the vintage fair, I bought this uuhh-mazing ring. I tried it on, fell in love, and the rest was history. (Especially for a cheeky £3, and all). Check it out on my instagram.

5. 30p Walnut Cake. Like, seriously, what? I went to Tesco for some cheese (obvs. I am a cheese fiend) and came back with a reduced walnut cake and enjoyed it with a nice cup of tea while watching gogglebox. Simple things...

6. Wednesday night telly. BAKE OFF IS THE BEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO BRITAIN AND I BLOODY LOVE IT. I'd wanted Nadiya to win since the beginning and I was on tenterhooks the whole way through. Then just as my heart rate returned to resting, all the tense craziness that is Doctor Foster had me on the edge of my seat for the next hour. What a night!!

7. Late night sundae dates. Martin and I are becoming regulars in the new gelato/dessert parlour down the road and I'm not even ashamed. We had a sundae of salted caramel, peanut butter and vanilla ice creams with aaaalll the toppings. I also discovered carrot and orange sorbet. Oh my god. Sounds weird but is actually insanely good.

So, like I said, pretty uneventful but lots of smiles and happiness which is the most important thing! Next week is going to be even better with actual things happening!!!(always an exctiting prospect in my boring little life).
I hope you've all had a fabulous week full of happy moments, I'd love to know what you all got up to!

Teri-May xx

Autumn Lipstick Awards

Welcome to the Autumn Lipstick Awards!

I have painstakingly combed through my lipstick collection to bring you the best of the best. My number ones (and runners up, of course) for each favourite Autumm hue.

How to Plan and Enjoy an Interrail Trip on Under £800

Some of you may know that I spend the month of May interrailing with my boyfriend, Martin. We visited ten cities in Europe in mostly Central and Eastern Europe but most of you won't know that I spent only £800. On everything: flights, trains, accomodation, food, drink, insurance and trips.

Impressive, eh? ;-)

Well I think everyone should get the chance to go interrailing, so follow my advice to make it a far more affordable aspiration!
It doesn't happen overnight and you need to work hard and put the effort in. It is so worth it to know you can go on an amazing adventure and not worry about having to sell your internal organs to fund it. Yes, you will need to research a lot. My dad is a veteran traveller and he was convinced that it would ruin the spontaneity, but I promise you it does not. At all!

Drugstore Haul | Beauty

I am a firmly "drugstore" kind of girl. Nearly all of the high end make up I own I have had bought as a gift. As much as I enjoy using it, I think I would rather be able to buy more for cheaper than one fancy, sparkly expensive piece. Generally. (That's not to say I don't lust afterthe NAKED palattes every day of my life). This is mostly because I'm a student with no steady income, when I have a job or become princess of some small, random European country (still waiting...) I don't doubt I will indulge in some higher end pieces.

But for now, here is my most recent haul for going back to Uni!

 Skincare

Simple Cleanser (£1.99)

I have always loved this cleanser and have used it for years. It removed make up well and leaves my skin feeling really soft and clean but I have found out since purchasing that Simple are not CF so I will unfortunately not be repurchasing which is such a huge shame for me.

Garnier Micellar Water (£2.99)

Everyone's new favourite drugstore skin product has not disappointed me whatsoever. It's such a good price and removes make up so much better than make up wipes so if you're trying to improve your skincare routine and ditch the wipes this would be a good place to start! (I have recently heard conflicting information about Garnier's animal testing policies and am currently investigating this).

Face

GOSH X-Ceptional Wear Foundation (£4.99 offer)

This was the first CF foundation I bought after having to ditch my beloved Rimmel Wake Me Up. This foundation claims to give a medium coverage but I would say it's probably more light-medium but is very buildable and gives a nice natural finish which I love, however I would say it needs to be set with powder. I will definitely repurchase this, and it's CF!

GOSH Primer Plus + (£8.99)

Having slightly mixed feelings about this at the moment, I definitely don't dislike it but I can't quite say I love it quite yet. I'm going to hold off on commenting too much until I fully make up my mind, but again it's CF which is always a bonus.

Make Up Revolution Focus & Fix Concealer (£2)

Again, I bought this concealer after running out of my non CF product and to be honest, I was skint and just looking for something super cheap. This is okay for the price but needs to be blended with fingers rather than a brush as it can sometimes look a bit weird on skin. It does cover blemishes well and once it's set with powder it does a pretty good job.

Make Up Revolution Pressed Powder (£2)

I think I like this product. It was another one that I bought in a panic after running out of powder and looking a bit shiny when I was in town but for £2 I really can't complain. It's never going to be my Holy Grail powder but it actually brightens up my under eyes when used on top of the Revolution concealer.

Eyes & Lips

GOSH 161 Velvet Touch Lipstick (£6.99)

I adore this lipstick. Plain and simple. I love the 90's look it gives when paired with toned down make up on the rest of your face. It's a mauve toned nude and darker than other nudes I've been wearing recently which I like. It is very creamy and hydrating, and is very pigmented - it's a lovely formula! They're not the most long-lasting but they wear off evenly. I can't wait to buy more of these!

Models Own Volumizing Mascara (Free)

I actually was given this mascara and an eyelash curler for free just for entering the kiosk in my local shopping centre which is pretty cool! As it was free, I wasn't expecting much and to be honest I haven't been blown away. I like long, thick and separated lashes and while this doesn't clump and I suppose it does volumize, it doesn't do much else. That said, for popping to the shops or for a real natural look this is great. I do find it quite wet and I have yet to apply it without getting it all over my eye lid which puts me off using it sometimes.

Brushes

Real Techniques Stippling Brush (£9.99)

I had a bit of a make up tutorial vlog binge the other day and so many of them used a stippling brush and I wanted to give it a go for myself. I actually really like using it, I can't decide if i prefer picking up the product from my hand and stippling it straight onto my face or applying the product to my face with my fingers and blending it with the brush. Either way, it gives a lovely flawless finish, doesn't shed and doesn't retain too much of the product. 

Models Own Academy Brush Set (£9.99)

I wanted a little fluffy brush to apply powder under my eyes and I was fancying a new lip brush so when I saw Models Own had a set of 5 brushes including those two for only £9.99 it seemed silly not to. They are very, very soft brushes which I like, and they are pink! I love the powder brush, it picks up a perfect amount of product and I like to use it for highlighting my cheek bone too as it dispenses the products nicely. The 2 eye brushes (blending and shading) are great for the price and I'm getting a lot of use out of them, the lip brush does what it says on the tin and the eyebrow brush is a bit hit and miss. It sheds when used with any type of gel brow product but does a nice enough job with powders.

I love most of these products, and this whole bunch of products cost under £50 so I'm not complaining at all. Money well spent, I'd say!

T. xxx