January Favourites ’17

Woohoo a New Year and therefore a new favourites post, BUT I have decided to change it up again this year! Instead of just writing about my beauty favourites, I’ll also mention one favourite TV show, film, book, song and game. Of course as it always has been, my favourites will focus on beauty.

So without further ado let’s get on with talking about my favourites!

• My Face Shop x Kakao Friends Clarifying Foaming Cleanser.

I picked up this foaming cleanser around my birthday when I popped in TK Maxx to have a look for some goodies. It only cost me £2.99 which I thought was a bargain and I wish they had more of these in stock as I would have bought more. This is one of my favourite cleansers at the moment to use as it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and fresh. It’s said to leave your skin looking brighter and I can’t say as I have noticed this severely but I do feel like my skin looks healthier since using it. You only have to use a little bit too because as soon as the cleanser gets into contact with water it foams up loads on your face. If you can pick one of these cleansers up then do as they’re worth every penny.

• Lush Bubbly Shower Gel.

This as many people will know was one of Lush’s new Christmas additions in 2016 and I am so sad that I was never able to get anymore of this. I’m glad however to have picked up a little bottle to see what it was like as aside from Snow Fairy and The Comforter this is one of my favourite shower gels to date. It smells of oranges and lemons and is really refreshing to use in the mornings or to perk you up in the middle of the day. I’ve been using it lately when I’ve been on the really early shifts at work to perk and wake me up in the morning.

• The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Concentrate.

This was something else I picked up from TK Maxx for the bargain of £14.99 when it was originally meant to be over £30! I worried I would regret picking it up but alas I love this serum so much and it’s something I use on a daily basis! It’s a lovely cooling serum and a little bit goes a long way to cover the whole face and neck. I use it after my toner and eye cream and before my moisturiser. I would recommend picking it up if you want to introduce an anti-aging serum in your daily beauty regime.

• Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Cherry.

My lips have suffered during the harsh cold days lately and I’ve found only this seems to have fixed them and even then they’re still very blistered and sore. This is a thick cream lip balm that smells and tastes of cherry drops, yummy! A little goes a long way but I do find I have to keep applying it to ensure that it’s doing its job to its fullest.

• Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Body Lotion.

This is an odd favourite this month because I haven’t been using this the way it should be… Instead of using this as a body lotion I use it as a hand cream during my shifts at work. I often get water on my hands and wash them a lot so it’s necessary to keep them hydrated when hand creams and lotions to make sure my eczema doesn’t flare up again. This body lotion works remarkably well as a hand lotion and it also smells amazing! I keep it inside my Etude House seal pot which did originally have a green tea hand cream in, but I used it all. Hey! Why through away such a cute little pot when I can re-use it?

So now my beauty favourites are done, time to talk about the miscellaneous favourites of the month!

Image taken from weheartit.com

Favourite TV Show – Sherlock Series 4

This will always be one of my favourite TV shows as I have some very fond memories behind it. One being that my best friend Gabriella got me into it in the first place and second of all I remember my boyfriend Dane wanted to catch up on series 3 episodes online whilst he was on a snowboarding holiday and suggested we watch them at the same time during a Skype video conversation. Other than that I LOVED series 4 and although I am sad to see the show come to an end the three last episodes had me on the edge of my seat, but not as much as the last! My favourite moment was the start of episode 2 when Sherlock goes out for chips with Faith and tries to stop her from killing herself. I thought it was heartwarming myself and really pulled on my heart strings.

Image taken from weheartit.com

Favourite Film – Gone Girl

Although this isn’t a new film and is also one I watched back in December, I couldn’t actually think of a new film I’ve watched recently… I was going to mention Star Wars: Rogue One but meh I saw that nearly two months ago. That was still a great movie mind! But Gone Girl was amazing to be honest and one that kept me constantly shouting at the TV and to Dane about what’s going on throughout the film, until the truth is finally revealed. I might watch it again in the week if not in a bit as I really did love that film. I wouldn’t mind reading the book to see what the differences are between the two, as well as see how it was written. If you’re interested in watching it it’s on Netflix.

Image taken from weheartit.com

Favourite Book – Your Lie in April

Of course it’s going to be this manga. I haven’t stopped talking about it since around Christmas and I have fast become obsessed with it, as have most people! I’ve only read volume one of the manga so far but after I’ve done loads of blog work I’m going to sit down with a nice cup of tea and continue to read the series as I love the anime so much, so I know I’ll love the manga just the same.

Favourite Song – The Pretty Reckless – “Absolution”

I love this song so damn much and it’s one that I’ll listen to loads as and when I can. I recently saw them play live in Birmingham and I had such a lovely evening! Sadly they didn’t play this, but that’s not a problem. It’s from their second album Going To Hell.

Image taken from Nintendo UK website

Favourite Game – Pocket Card Jockey

This is a game on my 2DS that I have been addicted to since I downloaded the demo of it! I immediately bought the game when the demo ended as I was just enjoying playing it. It’s especially good for relaxing if you feel stressed of anxious, which I’ve found has helped me a lot throughout the month. You’re a jockey and in order to win your races you must play solitaire and win games etc etc. That’s the only way I can describe it. The demo is still available for the game and to buy it it only costs £6.29. The game itself reminds me of a horse racing game me and my dad used to play at an arcade years ago when I was little.

So those are my favourites from January! January was a weird month for me to be honest and I know February isn’t going to be that much better sadly due to some personal stuff going on at the moment. Sadly I won’t be sharing any of that on my blog, but just know that I am okay and I’m slowly on the mend.

What were your favourites from January? Make sure to let me know in the comments down below!

Until next time take care all and see you soon.

Currently #8

Wow it’s been a whole seven months since I last wrote a currently list! Well no time like the present and I have a long time to catch up with to be honest! I still can’t believe how long it’s been since I last wrote a currently, I guess it just goes to show how busy I’ve been.

Watching – I’ve been watching all sorts of stuff recently but for some reason throughout November and December me and Dane were watching LOADS of anime! I love anime so much and at times I go months without watching it, only to come back to it and realise how much I miss it. We’ve been watching various different anime’s at the moment but a couple in general that we’ve been watching are Penguindrum and Your Lie in April.

When I was first talking to Dane I was making my way through Penguindrum (known in Japan as Mawaru Penguindrum) and it’s a very strange anime, but one I will never forget as it does leave an impact on you due to the story line. I had told Dane about it before and for years he wanted to watch it but it was always expensive to buy. However when we were at Comic Con in November (you can read about what fun we had here) we found the anime for £20, which was a bargain! We haven’t actually finished watching it together yet BUT we’ve watched most of it and I forgot how weird and funny the show can be. To quickly explain what it’s about…

With their parents gone, twin brothers Kanba and Shouma live alone with their beloved little sister Himari, whose poor health cannot decline any further. On the day Himari is given permission to temporarily leave the hospital, her brothers take her out to the aquarium to celebrate, where the family’s supposed fate is brought forth with her sudden collapse. However, when Himari is inexplicably revived by a penguin hat from the aquarium’s souvenir shop, the hand of fate continues to tick faithfully forward. With her miraculous recovery, though, comes a cost: there is a new entity within her body, whose condition for keeping her fate at bay sends the boys on a wild goose chase for the mysterious “Penguin Drum.” In their search, the boys will have to follow the threads of fate leading from their own shocking past and into the lives of other wishmakers vying for the Penguin Drum, all hoping to land upon their chosen destiny. (Taken from My Anime List)

I decided to attach a funny video of the penguins in the show, as they’re probably the best part of the anime. 😀

Another anime I mentioned that we’ve been watching is Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso in Japanese) which I am yet to finish watching. It’s currently on Netflix but for my birthday Dane bought me the first Blu Ray (you can read about that here) which I loved so much! My favourite anime is Nana because of how romantic and beautifully realistic and powerful the story line is, BUT this is definitely one that could have overrode Nana as I love the story line so damn much! I recently guessed how it ends, which I’m gutted about. I’ll pop a little synopsis for this anime as well, even though I’m sure the trailer above will do it justice!

Music accompanies the path of the human metronome, the prodigious pianist Kousei Arima. But after the passing of his mother, Saki Arima, Kousei falls into a downward spiral, rendering him unable to hear the sound of his own piano. Two years later, Kousei still avoids the piano, leaving behind his admirers and rivals, and lives a colorless life alongside his friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari. However, everything changes when he meets a beautiful violinist, Kaori Miyazono, who stirs up his world and sets him on a journey to face music again. Based on the manga series of the same name, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso approaches the story of Kousei’s recovery as he discovers that music is more than playing each note perfectly, and a single melody can bring in the fresh spring air of April. (Taken from My Anime List)

Reading – I’ve been reading quite a lot of manga lately! Reading books isn’t really something I do anymore… Which is a shocker considering I love writing. I actually blame my masters to be honest. I read so much shit during my course (is that too much to admit? :P) that I think I’ve read enough to last me a while.

Image taken from weheartit.com

ANYWAY… I finally finished reading Nana and I felt so numb and deflated at the end of it because of writer and artist of the manga hasn’t finished it yet. I want to know how it ends so I won’t be able to find out until she returns from her hiatus. I thought I was going to cry as I came close to finishing the manga due to what happens and what I’ve already said, but I was okay. I’ll just have some hope that someday soon I’ll be able to know what has happened to certain characters.

Image taken from weheartit.com

Dane and his parents bought me quite a lot of manga for Christmas and my birthday so I have loads to keep me occupied for a while. Before Christmas however Dane gave me the first volume of Your Lie in April which I loved reading! Since then I’ve been gifted some more and bought all of them, so now I have the whole collection! I intend to spend the next couple of weeks reading the series as I want to know what happens.

As well as that I was gifted some other manga books too which I intend to get through after Your Lie in April.

Listening – I don’t think I’ve actually mentioned it on my blog recently but I went to see The Pretty Reckless live nearly two weeks ago and I can safely say I had an amazing time and definitely had some post gig blues a few days later. Dane went with me and it was our first gig together, which was also really lovely. I’d seen The Pretty Reckless support Evanescence back in 2011 and I loved the show so much. I had heard The Pretty Reckless’ stuff before but had never thought much about it until that gig. From then on I fell in love and they’re one of my favourite bands now. Their new album came out in October so since then I’ve been listening to the album loads, especially recently after seeing them play. One of my favourite songs from the new album is “Take Me Down” which was the first single they released from the album. As well as that I also love the first song on the album “The Walls Are Closing In / Hangman”.

Image taken from weheartit.com

Eating – Since the start of the New Year I’ve changed my diet so much! Both me and Dane realised that since moving into the house we’ve not exactly been eating as well as we could or should so we said we would change the way we eat and what we eat. I’ve been making a lot of stuff myself, including chips and let me tell you, my own chips are the best! I’d prefer to make my own than go to the chippy for example. I’ll be popping my recipe up on my blog in February as they’re too nice not to share. As well as that I’ve baked a couple of times since my birthday including gingerbread men (and foxes!) as well as a red velvet cake loaf.

Wearing – I’m not going to lie when I admit I’ve been living in my lounge wear the majority of the year so far. I bought myself a new pair of Victoria Secret PINK boyfriend pants, which I picked up in the sale. They were meant to be £29.00 but the sticker on them said £21.00 so I got them cheaper than I should have! WOOP! As well as that I have been wearing my Ohayou Clothing Eevee varsity jacket loads since Dane gave it me for Christmas. At The Pretty Reckless gig I bought one of their t-shirts before the show and picked up a raglan tee. I love these and would love to get more! This new addition to my wardrobe is one I’ve worn quite a lot already as it’s just so comfortable and I often team it up with my PINK pants, which are a dusky rose pink by the way. 😛

Wanting – I’m trying to be all spending ban at the moment and as hard as I try I do keep seeing things I want. ARGH! But right now the one thing I REALLY REALLY WANT is tickets to go and see Evanescence in June. They’ve released another date which isn’t yet sold out and sadly due to lack of funds I can’t afford to go, BUT I’m going to see what I can do. I want me and Dane to go to London for a few days for the show, to have a look around London and just enjoy ourselves. We’ve had a very busy seven months since we got the  keys to our house and I think we deserve a break and something to look forward to. Sadly we can’t afford to go aboard on holiday right now, so why not just go somewhere for a couple of days? I’ll see what I can do. Maybe make it a surprise. 🙂

SO I finally have a currently list since when me and Dane first got the keys for the house. Those seven months have flown by and I can’t believe we’ve been in the house that long already.

What’s on your currently list right now? Make sure to let me know in the comments down below!

Until next time take care all and I hope you had a lovely weekend.