Current Favourites

So it's been a good few months since I last wrote on of these posts and due to me having a bit of a stressful couple of weeks (I'm very much looking forward to the long weekend!), I figured it was high time to talk about some things that I've been really enjoying.

B. Pure Micellar Water
I've been a little wary of the micellar water hype that has swept the entire internet, but as I'm running out of my favourite make-up cleanser (Soap & Glory's Peaches & Clean) I was looking out for a slightly cheaper product to do the job. This was reduced in Superdrug to just £2.45, so it seemed like a bit of a no-brainer to pick up. And it is truly fab. Just a few drops on a cotton pad got rid of all my face make-up. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on the B. range at Superdrug which is pretty reasonably priced and all entirely Cruelty Free which is nice.

Township App
So this is possibly the first app I've been properly addicted to since the heady early days of Candy Crush. I first heard about this in Emma Pickles' February Favourites, downloaded it, and have been contently harvesting wheat and wool ever since. It's essentially a kind of town-building game, where you begin with a farming community & essentially work on growing into more of a thriving city. There's even a zoo that you unlock at some point, making it kind of a blend of SimCity and Zoo Tycoon (two of my favourite games growing up).

(I'm now on about level 20...)

Amazon Fire TV Stick
This was actually a birthday present from my brother (the first present he's bought me a) out of his own money & b) without any prodding from my Mum) and it's great. For those of you who don't know, it essentially turns your TV into a smart TV, meaning you can watch all the on-demand channels, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video through your TV. It's been great for me to finally finish off watching series I've started on Netflix when I'm eating dinner rather than watching an episode of Come Dine with Me for the hundredth time.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
I've had my eye on this foundation since it came out, and I believe it was Gemma's review that really cemented it as something that I wanted to buy. I tend to be a high street girl for all things make-up, but asked for a Debenhams gift card for my birthday so I could finally pick this up. It's really natural looking on the skin and feels really light too despite giving good coverage and being really blendable with my concealers. The only downside is that it doesn't really wear as well as my usual work day foundation (Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation) even when 'set' with powder, so I am on a mission to find a decent (and not crazy expensive) primer-so if you have any recommendations please let me know!

Clipper Lemon & Green Tea
I'd completely forgotten how much I enjoyed green tea. Whilst I do quite like the subtle taste of standard green tea, this with a hint of lemon is even more tasty and is really refreshing. While I do, of course, love standard English Breakfast tea there's something just weirdly calming about having some green tea in the evening.

Marks & Spencer Lemon Curd & Almond Shortbread
Another birthday present which I have made me way through was this tin of shortbread. These are so good. I'm not sure if they're still available in store (my birthday was Mother's Day so they may have been a limited gift purchase) but if they are I recommend grabbing a pack. Lemon curd and almond didn't sound like a 'normal' combination, but the tangy lemon and almond texture just works. Trust me.

What have you been loving recently?

Amy
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Current Favourites

(Can you tell my concealer exploded over my make-up bag?)

So, I haven't done a favourites post in a couple of months, and after a bit of a iffy few weeks (in which I lost my debit card, lost my SD card and certain government actions made me want to cry) I thought it would be nice to put together a little list of things I've been enjoying.

Bourjois Air Matte Foundation

I'm forever on the hunt to find a foundation that I can put on and just feel really happy with. One of my real favourites is the L'Oreal Infallible Matte foundation, but I have to use it sparingly as it appears my skin is not quite as crazy about it. This new release from Bourjois has impressed me a fair bit though. Although it does run a tad yellow (like most of the brand's foundations) and is attracted to dryness; it lasts really well even on my oily skin and doesn't feel or look cakey which is something I always hate when my skin isn't feeling too great.

Benefit They're Real Lash Primer

I got this as a sample with Elle magazine, and I'll admit to being a little sceptical at first. The They're Real mascara doesn't really work on my lashes, it tends to flake and leave my eyes feeling really irritated. However, this primer is seriously amazing. It can be worn by itself as a brown natural mascara which still gives really good length or as a first layer under pretty much any mascara. I'm a bit obsessed with giving my lashes length so I really, really love this.

Yankee Candle in Fireside Treats
It's a candle that smells like marshmallows. What's not to adore. I know I should probably be burning Christmas scents, but I like to use them after Christmas to try and keep the season going.

London Spy

I'm so hoping that some of you watch this, so I can talk conspiracy theories with you but London Spy is a definite favourite. It’s a new BBC drama starring Ben Whishaw as Danny who has a chance encounter with investment banker Alex (Edward Holfcroft). Alex is awkward and this appears to be his first proper relationship and they fall in love. Until Alex ends up dead inside a trunk in a sex attic, leaving Danny reeling. When he learns that Alex, real name Alistair, was actually worked for MI6 he is convinced of foul play and sets about trying to find out what really happened. It’s written by Tom Rob Smith who is the author of Child 44, and thus far I have literally no idea what is going on but the acting is seriously fantastic (and it’s one of those shows where literally everyone pops up) and it’s excellently filmed. [Edit: I wrote this prior to watching the last episode, which was SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT, let me know what you thought in the comments]

Master of None

This is Aziz Ansari of Parks & Rec fame’s very own series streaming on Netflix. It’s the story of Dev, an actor in New York as he attempts to negotiate the perils of adult life. There’s some great stuff about racism and immigration in it, and Ansari is a really engaging on-screen presence (although it’s pretty hard to tell where Dev ends and Aziz starts). Just fun watching, and a nice antidote to London Spy!

Hamilton

I'm kind of surprised that I haven’t mentioned this anywhere yet, but we need to talk about Hamilton. It’s a musical currently on Broadway which tells the story of the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, Alexander Hamilton, who was also the first politician embroiled in a sex scandal and was killed in a duel with long-time friend Aaron Burr. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also plays the titular character, it’s a hip-hop musical and stars mostly people of colour playing historically white characters. The lyrics are so smart and the music is catchy, the vocal performances are obviously all fantastic and you also learn a ton about the early days of the United States. You can listen to the cast album on Spotify, or download it from iTunes if you are properly keen. And then we can all cry together to “It’s Quiet Uptown”.

Welcome to Night Vale

This is a rediscovery favourite; I got into Welcome to Night Vale quite a while ago (I think when they had about 30 episodes) and then somehow fell out of habit of listening to them. Welcome to Night Vale is framed as a fictional local news station, but it’s quite clear that some very bizarre things are happening in Night Vale. It’s funny and completely weird.

The return of Serial
IT'S BACK. Whilst the first series focussed on a little known case, the new series features one that dominated American news last year, and judging by the comments on the Facebook page-one that many people still have strong feelings about. It's the story of Private Bergdahl who spent five years captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan and who was released in a prisoner swap for five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay. However, within days of his return to the US it was revealed that his disappearance was maybe a little more complicated, and he was accused of desertion and is currently awaiting court-martial by the army. It's pretty different to the first season, but I'm really intrigued in the media/government/army angle that this story is likely to have.

Amy
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Top 5: Films

In addition to being an avid bookworm, I am also a bit of a film fan. Whilst am I by no means a movie buff, and I have gaps in my film watching that would seriously embarrass a hardcore film fanatic I still really enjoy watching them; and am a longtime listener of the fab Five Live review programme. I thought I would put together a little selection of just some of my favourites.

A Single Man

A Single Man was the 2009 directorial debut of the designer Tom Ford, and is based on the (similarly fabulous) novella by Christopher Isherwood. It's the story of George (Colin Firth), a university lecturer mourning the loss of his lover (Matthew Goode). It's an unsurprisingly beautifully shot film, and although there isn't a great deal of plot, it's quietly heartbreaking. Firth really should have won an Academy Award for his completely out-of-character performance as George, and there are really good performances by Julianne Moore as his friend who is clearly in love with him, and Nicholas Hoult as one of George's students. Not exactly uplifting, but well worth a watch.

An Education

Another 2009 release, An Education is a firm favourite of mine. Directed by Lone Scherfig and based on Lynne Barber's memoir, it's the story of Jenny (Carey Mulligan) a teenager desperate to escape her mundane life. She is therefore easily taken in by the handsome, charming and older David (Peter Sarsgaard) and experiences a very different 'education'. When I first watched this film, like Jenny, I thought there was something rather romantic about being whisked off your feet to Paris by an older man. Obviously as years have passed I've realised that there is very little romantic about Jenny and David's relationship, but this film is great. It cemented Carey Mulligan as one of my favourite actresses and there is excellent supporting performances by Dominic Cooper as one of David's associates, and Rosamund Pike who has one of the film's greatest laugh lines. There is also a heartbreaking scene with Jenny and her father (played by Alfred Molina) which makes me cry every time. 

Romeo + Juliet

I am sure I am not alone in just straight-up loving this adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. Baz Luhrmann's modernised 1996 Romeo + Juliet stars baby-faced Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers, and it's just pretty much perfect. I know Shakespeare purists don't like that Luhrmann cut parts of the text, but from it's technicolor beginning, to its fabulous soundtrack and great performances all round (John Leguizamo as Tybalt and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio stand out; and you get a brief cameo from Paul Rudd as Paris) I simply adore this film.

Moulin Rouge!

Another Baz Luhrmann film, but another all-time favourite. In case you somehow don't know, Moulin Rouge is the story of Christian (Ewan McGregor) a young struggling writer who heads to the inspirational city of Paris in the midst of a bohemian revolution. There, he comes across the courtesan & Moulin Rogue performer Satine (Nicole Kidman) and the pair fall in love. The musical gets its music from a variety of original & pop songs but they all work in context of the story. A visual feast, with stunning costumes and an excellent ensemble cast make this film one that I can watch again and again. Sadly it doesn't end happily (but you can always just pretend the last 10 minutes doesn't happen), but it is still a great film.

Pride & Prejudice

So, two potential controversial opinions coming up. 1) I don't particularly like the novel of Pride & Prejudice. 2) I prefer this 2005 adaptation to the BBC miniseries. Pride & Prejudice is obviously the story of Lizzie Bennett (Keira Knightley) who has a disastrous first meeting with Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfayden) but eventually they figure out that they are meant for each other. Joe Wright's opening scene is one of my absolute favourites and the score by Dario Marianelli is perfect. As a theme for these films, the ensemble acting is great particularly Tom Hollander as the horribly awkward Mr Collins, Simon Woods as an adorable Mr Bingley and Rupert Friend as the moustache-twirling Mr Wickham. The entire Bennett clan is great with launchpad performances by Jena Malone (of Hunger Games fame) and Carey Mulligan (as above). There are so many moments in this film that make me gooey (the hands and the carriage guys!); it's just lovely.

There will definitely be a part two of this, simply because I kept thinking of more films that I love as I was writing this. What are some of your favourites?

Amy
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Top 5: Books

Oh hi laundry

If you haven't picked up by my monthly book posts, I am a big fan of reading. Whilst I've been blogging about the books I've read in the past few months, I thought I might mention some previous reads that I've really loved. I also have way more than five favourites, so this is probably the beginning of a series!

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I picked this off my GCSE English teacher's classroom bookshelf and just immediately fell in love. From it's famous opening line 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again' du Maurier just sucked me straight into this gothic tale. It tells the story of an unnamed narrator who is working as a ladies companion in Monaco when she meets widowed Maxim de Winter. A whirlwind romance later, she accompanies him home to his large estate, Manderley. It is there that she realises things may not be all that they seem with Maxim, and that some people-especially the delightfully wicked Mrs Danvers-are keen to keep the ghost of Rebecca haunting the house. Du Maurier is now one of my favourite authors and I really recommend reading this as a 'classic that doesn't feel like a classic'.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
I very rarely cry at books, but I sobbed through the last few pages of this novel. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the story of Max, a young boy whose father is killed in the 9/11 attacks. He discovers a key inside an envelope which is convinced will explain to him why his father died. Interwoven into Max's story is the story of his grandfather, still dealing with the aftermath of surviving the bombing of Dresden. This is beautifully written and moving without (in my opinion) being manipulative. It deals with love and loss and family and urgh it's just a really beautiful book. I'm impatiently awaiting Safran Foer's next novel.

A little glimpse at the multimedia used throughout the novel.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I didn't read this in school, so was probably pretty late to the Fitzgerald party. In case you have no idea what happens, The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway, a young man who moves in next door to a sprawling estate owned by the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. No one knows anything about him, aside from the fact that he throws hugely popular parties; which could be aimed at winning back a lost love. Gatsby is pretty bleak; everyone is pretty awful and the final message of the novel isn't particularly upbeat. However, it is pretty darn perfect when it comes to the writing. Every word feels perfectly chosen and those famous opening and closing passages are famous for a reason. If, like me, you haven't picked this up yet-you really, really should.

My edition is the gorgeous Tiffany's designed edition; which narrowly survived water damage when my room flooded at uni (really).
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
David Levithan is a pretty popular Young Adult author, but The Lover's Dictionary is his first foray into adult writing (although it is still accessible for mature YA readers). It tells the story of a relationship in the form of non-linear dictionary entries. It's brilliant and makes up about 95% of my Goodreads quotes.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
I figured I would throw in a non-fiction title to this list as well. Susan Cain first came to my attention after her TED talk on the differences between extroverts and introverts. I, as well as a lot of people, always felt that the former was the thing to aspire to and as an introvert myself desperately wanted to avoid the 'people-hating' label that the term seems to have. Quiet tackles this division head on, by first explaining how introverts don't hate everyone, they just lose energy when interacting with people rather than gaining energy from this. Cain explores different societies and the positives that can come from being an introvert, as opposed to using it is a character trait that needs to be changed-I'm sure I'm not the only one who had school reports telling me I was too quiet in class, something that Cain tackles head on. This book was a bit of a welcoming hug for me, and I recommend it to introverts and extroverts alike.

What are some of your favourites? Or do you have any recommendations based on these?

Amy
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Current Favourites

Favourite posts tend to be a monthly thing within the beauty community both in the blogosphere and on YouTube. I don't really try enough new things each month to do these monthly (stick with what you know, right); but this is a sneak peak of the things I'm liking right now.

(Apologies for how grim the Ren bottle looks-at least you know I use it!?)

This is basically a bit of an insight into my skincare routine for the past few months. I picked up the Ren ClearCalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser after reading many good things about the brand and spotting it stocked on the M&S website (that link here) which meant a discount. I use this in the morning which always feels a tiny bit luxurious. A long time favourite is the Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Deep Cleansing Milk, which is so good at removing make-up and lasts forever. Whilst I wouldn't say they totally cure my skin issues, but any break-outs do get dealt with quite quickly. I've also been loving the much-loved Soap & Glory Hand Food, I've previously been really lazy with hand cream but living somewhere where I have to wash-up means that I've been reaching for this loads to stop my hands feeling all weird and prawny.

If I do get a monster zit that all the positive thinking in the world won't diminish, the Soap & Glory Dr Spot Super Strength Breakout Clearing Gel is amazing at reducing a spot pretty much overnight. Though it can really sting if you apply it to a particularly sensitive spot, as a word of warning. In terms of make-up I've been enjoying anything that helps me look more awake. The Revlon Powder Blush in Haute Pink is bright without being scary, but definitely makes you look more alert. Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude is a) a complete bargain and b) amazing in the waterline to make you look like you have actually slept.

Moving on to another one of my loves, food. As a former M&S employee it pains me to admit that a competitors Meal Deal could be as good as our Dine In, but Tesco runs their £10 meal for two all the time and I indulged as a pay day treat. These are great if you have someone to share with, but if you're a single pringle you can also use them to take care of at least two meals. Plus, they have these truly amazing chocolate & salted caramel pots. So naughty, but so good. In slightly healthier food recommendations, the Pret a Manger Teriyaki Salmon Salad is to die for. It's about £5 but far better than cheaper supermarket versions, and I could quite happily eat just wakame seaweed. It's a definite treat for me, but really worth trying if you haven't yet.

Finally, something a little bit different. You've probably heard of the website Snapfish, which I hit up when I realised all my physical photos date from my first year at university. Downloading the app meant that I got 50 free prints, and it's in some way easier to use than the website. You can view photos from your phone, Facebook, Instagram and existing albums online, and can pay through the app as you would normally. I just like well-made apps. So yes.

What have you been enjoying lately?

Amy
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Podcast Recommendations

Podcasts seem to be gaining more and more of a presence of the internet these days; rather than being a simply ways to catch up with radio programmes there now seems to be a podcast about literally anything you can think of. I'm a big podcast listener-they've kept me going through many an essay or job application-and so I thought I'd let you know some of my favourites.

Books
I listen to an embarrassing amount of book podcasts, mainly because I like to live vicariously through people who can read a scary amount of books a year. The downside to this is that I have an ever-growing wishlist of books that I want to buy (despite perhaps owning 70+ unread books [I know]).

My top favourite is the Book Riot podcast, presented by Jeff O'Neal, Rebecca Schinsky and Amanda Nelson. Book Riot as a website is a bit of a book nerd's paradise; and their podcast covers all the latest book news. They're especially good at discussing the importance of diversity in publishing, and are in no way snobby

I'd also like to give a shot-out to Overdue. This podcast is basically two friends, Andrew and Craig, discussing classic or popular books they 'should have read by now'. It's really funny, they're Fifty Shades episodes made me properly laugh out loud.

Film
Mark Kermode & Simon Mayo's podcast from their BBC Five Live film review show is probably the first podcast I really listened to. It tends to feature an interview with an actor or director, followed by the UK Box Office Top 10 and then Kermode reviews the week's new releases. The two presenters have an excellent rapport, having worked together for over a decade, and there are tons of in-jokes within the regular listeners. It's a great way of sounding way more educated about film than you actually are as well.

Theatre
Another of my long-time loves has been the theatre. A podcast which has lasted the years has been This Week on Broadway. This is obviously an American podcast, but it looks at developments within the New York theatre area and beyond (which tends to be a lot more inventive than here). Whilst there are times that they're older dude opinions can make me a tad uncomfortable (especially when they discuss female characters), Peter Filichia and Michael Portantiere have a vast knowledge between them. I have just discovered As Yet Unnamed, which is an English equivalent.

I'd also give a shout-out to The Ensemblist and Theatre People, both of which are interview based podcasts-the former focusing on ensemble performers in musical theatre and the latter interviewing key theatrical performers.

Comedy
If you get frequently frustrated at the fact that HBO refuses to allow much of John Oliver's videos be watchable outside of the States, then The Bugle is the podcast for you. Along with Andy Zaltzman, this is a regular satire podcast covering the UK and global affairs.  Probably not one to listen to on public transport due to pretty high snorting possibilities.

Serial
Serial seems to be the podcast that really took off last year, and was truly fantastic (if you haven't listened go. now). It started life as part of the This American Life podcast, which is a magazine show with each episode having a set theme and stories feeding into this. The stories have made me laugh and cry so far and I would 100% recommend it.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know!

Amy

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January Favourites

January is known as being pretty much the worst month. It's a come down after the festive period, it seems to drag on forever and it's dark seemingly all the time. Therefore, focusing on the good is certainly helpful in getting through the month.

Maybelline Forever Strong in Divine Wine | Ciate Mini in Fit for a Queen

I have two nail polish favourites which is a definite side effect of work. We're allowed to wear nail polish so long as it looks nice, and not chipped. These two polishes did a really good job of lasting a long time and looking great. The Ciate polish came in my advent calender, and is really space-agey. I saw the Maybelline on Amelia Liana's instagram and it's really great-and does genunially last pretty much the 7 days it claims to. I use both of this with an Essie base coat, which probably helps.

Yankee Candle in Christmas Eve

I know technically Christmas Eve was a long time ago, but festive scents are probably my favourite thing. Plus, this was a Christmas present from my parents so I kind of had to burn it. This made my room feel really warm and I am pretty heartbroken that the wick has broken and so it just won't light anymore.

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel 

I popped into Lush before Christmas as I bought my Mum a bath melt, and spied Rose Jam when I was there. This is a product I thought they'd discontinued and doesn't appear to be on the website anymore, but it smells heavenly. Think Turkish Delight in a bottle. If they bring it back I would definitely recommend it, and it does looks as though they have a bath product with the same scent.

Bourjois CC Cream

I tend to stay away from BB/CC creams generally because they don't tend to offer the coverage I need or tend to look pretty ashy on my skin. However, I was really pleasantly surprised by the Bourjois CC cream. It offers really good coverage without feeling really heavy.

I've been a subscriber to Elle UK for a while and just wanted to give this month's issue a shout-out. Whilst I'm not crazy about the fashions for the new seasons, I really liked Emma Forrest's article on growing up as a girl and a wonderful article about the ballerina Michaela DePrince, who was orphaned during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Plus, this month's Vogue had the individual cover debut of the gorgeous Jourdan Dunn, important in the sense that women of colour are hardly ever represented within the fashion industry. Plus, there's a really good article about David Miliband, the former Labour MP who now runs an NGO. Annoyingly, you can't read any of these online but if you can track the magazines down before the March issues come out-I would recommend them both.