Blue Flamingo

I will always set myself New Years Resolutions every January but, in all honesty, they’re never very good ones and I always struggle sticking to them. Since lockdown, I have done nothing to motivate myself or feel like I’ve achieved something so I thought I’d write a post, and set some goals for the remainder of 2020 – and there’s no going back as it’s on the internet! So.. here it is 🙂

1. Read more books
   I always challenge myself to read at least one book a month, and in 2019 I read 13 books all together. This year, so far, I’m on track with my one book a month but, as I am too competitive for my own good, I want to smash last years record. I’m currently reading the Noughts & Crosses series by Malorie Blackman and I am addicted.
2. Exercise more
   At the beginning of 2020, I joined the gym and was going around four/five times a week. During lockdown, I bought myself all the gear – weights, kettlebells, resistance bands. I kept up with it really well. However, I’ve hardly done anything over the last few weeks due to the pub where I work reopening, and I’ve had the worst wisdom tooth pain – so I’m excited to get back to it!
3. Watch more films
   Watching a film, if it’s when I’ve come in late from work or if it’s a sofa day, will always relax me. It takes me off to another place and settles all my anxiety and stresses. My aim is to watch one film a day, if I don’t then that’s fine, no stresses – it’s just something to look forward to each day!
4. Shopping ban
   Well maybe not as extreme as a ban but at least a major cutback. I have enough clothes, enough make-up and enough to clutter my room for a lifetime. Of course, if there is something I fall in love with, I will treat myself. The unnecessary purchases need to stop!
5. Find more ‘me-time’
   I love fake tanning, and I love sitting and taking time on my make-up – I just never give myself a chance to do it! I work a full time job and I study part-time for a law degree and I’ve just managed to neglect my hair and body. Honestly, sometimes I get home and I can’t believe I let myself go out in the state that I looked. Needs to stop!
6. Eat more veggies
   This one is pretty self-explanatory and something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I want to cut down on the amount of meat I consume and replace it with plant-friendly options instead.
7. Become a plant owner
   For my last goal of 2020, I want to buy an indoor plant and make sure it survives and lives its best life! It’s a small goal but I know it’ll make me really happy.

So, there we go! It’s out there and I’m going to start on sticking to these goals! I think January will be a good time to reflect and actually see how well I’ve done!

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily x

I discovered makeup around 4 years ago, and I fell in love with it straight away. Not just the products and the luxury of it all, but the process of sitting down and putting a full face of makeup on! So, I thought I’d share with you my everyday makeup and my current go-to products – I wear these products on a daily basis so they are well loved!

Primer – No7 Airbrush Away Primer
I only recently started using a primer, and I had never realised how much of a different it makes! However, I feel like there’s not too much to say about a primer – it either works for you or it doesn’t! I can confirm that this one does do the job for me, and if in doubt, I always go for a No7 product! This product retails at £16.5 (30ml).

Foundation – No7 Stay Perfect Foundation
You will probably notice a theme going on here… The primer and the foundation just pair so well on my skin. The foundation isn’t cakey and I have found that it doesn’t oxidise on my skin (which a LOT of other foundations do). I have pretty severe acne and this helps cover it really well. This product retails at £15 (30ml).

Concealer – Revolution Conceal & Define
I can honestly say that I won’t even bother trying a different concealer, or like a different concealer as much as I do this one. I’m certain that plenty of people will agree with me that this concealer is amazing! It’s coverage speaks for itself and I have no desire to change it for that reason alone. This product retails at £4.99 (or £7 for supersize).

Powder – Collection Pressed Powder (translucent)
In all honesty, I have used this powder since I started using makeup and I haven’t found a drugstore powder that is as good, and I haven’t even attempted to use a high end one. It works well on my oily skin and as its translucent, it doesn’t add any extra colour to my foundation and concealer. This product retails at £2.

Brows – Benefit Gimme Brow & Revolution Duo Eyebrow Powder
I use two different products to fill in my brows. So I begin with brushing through my brow hairs with Gimme Brow – Benefit are known for their brow products and due to that, I love it! I then fill in and draw my brows with the Revolution Duo – again, I’m a creature of habit and have been using this product for years! Gimme Brow retails at £22.5 and Revolution Duo Powder retails at £4.

Eyeshadow Primer – No7 Stay Perfect
I’ve mentioned this product in the couple of eyeshadow reviews that I have done a blog post for, and I think you can tell that I love this product! Similarly to the face primer, I only recently discovered using an eyeshadow primer and I honestly don’t know how I used to achieve a good eyeshadow look before! This product retails at £9.5.

Eyeshadow – Morphe 3503 Fierce By Nature Palette
Now, I have enough eyeshadow palettes to last a football team a lifetime! I do usually mix and match between them all however, at the moment, I keep reaching for the Morphe 3503 palette. It’s got a bunch of lush nudes in there as well as some pops of colour (including a gorgeous green). This product retails at £24.

Eyeliner – Huda Beauty Life Liner Duo
I only got this eyeliner last month when it arrived in my Glossybox but since then, I haven’t stopped using it! Before the eyeliner, I only own one eyeshadow palette from Huda (which is one of my favourites) but it just makes me want to buy more and more! It is a duo eyeliner, so there is a pencil on one end and a liquid on the other. This product retails at £22.

Mascara – Mascara Revolution & Maybelline Lash Sensational
I go in between these two mascaras, as they give me two different (but similar) looks. I’ve tried so many different mascaras but these are the two that give me the look that I actually want. The Revolution mascara gives me almost a false lash look – it can look clumpy but I absolutely love that look. Lash Sensational gives me more of a natural look. Mascara Revolution retails at £8, and Lash Sensational retails at £8.99.

Bronzer – Revolution Reloaded (Take a Vacation)
Again, I’ve got so many different bronzers. My current go-to is the Revolution Reloaded. It has a slight shimmer in it which I think is lush during summer time! I don’t have anything that I don’t like about this bronzer! This product retails at £4.

Blusher – Benefit Gold Rush
At Christmas in 2018, Benefit brought out a set of tiny blushers in all of their shades and of course, I had to buy it! I love blusher, and I have quite the collection. The mini’s have lasted me ages and still have no signs of running out soon! Gold rush is neutral but has a pop of shimmer in it – it looks sun-kissed on your skin. This product retails at £27 (full-size).

Highlighter – Benefit Cookie
Just like Benefit know how to do banging brows and blusher – boy do they know how to make a highlighter! I had a full size in a set at Christmas time last year and I still love it and continually use it – even then, I’ve barely made a dent in it! This product retails at £27.

Setting spray – Kandi Cosmetics Glow Up Mist
Again, this was something I received in a Glossybox at the end of last year. I only recently started using it as the amount of shimmer in it scared me slightly – but it just makes me look glow and dewy (perfect for summer skin). I definitely think I am going to try some more from this brand! This product retails at £15.

That is my full face of makeup!

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily x

I did it again… I just couldn’t resist!

Last Thursday (18.06), Morphe launched their collaboration with Coca Cola. I, of course, couldn’t resist and had to get my hands on something! Just because I don’t have enough already… I bought the ‘Thirst for Life Artistry Palette’.

As well as the eye shadow palette, they have released a set of highlighters; a beauty sponge kit; a set of brushes; and a set of liquid lipsticks.

The eyeshadow palette consists of 18 different shades, which range from neutral nudes, to bright red, to blue. I’d say the stand-outs in this palette are the glitters – they are SO shiny and so chunky (yet smooth) but they apply amazingly.

The packaging is also gorgeous! It’s still a rather large palette but, you kind of expect that when you see what Morphe has launched before.

I had little issues with fallout from this palette (I’d expect nothing less from Morphe 🙂 ). As always, I recommend using an eyeshadow primer, but doing that just makes life a bit easier! Going back to the glitters.. they’re phenomenal. I’ve found, in the past, that chunky glitters tend to apply patchy and just flake off my eyelids – in all honesty, the reason they could have applied easier is because of using a primer and having a base – regardless, it doesn’t change my mind on how amazing they are. They’re smooth and turn a look from 0 to 100.

Coca-cola is by far my favourite drink – so of course, I was quick to get my hands on a piece from this collection. I haven’t been disappointed and it’s made me want to buy more of the range!

https://uk.morphe.com/collections/thirst-for-life-collection/products/coca-cola-x-morphe-thirst-for-life-artistry-palette

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily x

Reading is my most loved hobby – it makes me feel relaxed, and it has the ability to take me away from the present world and enter somewhere completely different! So I thought, as a little series, I would do a books I’ve read recently! When I have a small bundle of books that I have read, I will come on here and have a chat with you about them!

Book 1: Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Askaban (J.K Rowling)
I started off 2020 by reading (for the second time) everyone’s favourite wizard! I read the first two Harry Potter’s at the end of last year, and of course, it’s a great way to end and start a year! If you’re not familiar (I mean, I hope you are), this book follows Harry Potter in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During this year, he discovers hidden secrets about his family, plays some damn good quidditch and meets a werewolf! I don’t think I will ever get bored or get enough of Harry Potter, it always provides me with the perfect escape.

Book 2: Love, As Always Mum xxx (Mae West)
This one is a heavy one! It is an autobiography from the daughter of Fred and Rose West – Gloucestershire’s most notorious serial killers. Crime and law will always be a fascination for me and reading something by a person who has had first hand experience can allow you to learn so much more than what the media reports, or the gruesome facts. It is emotional and gripping, and I finished it within two days.

Book 3: Rachel’s Holiday (Marian Keyes)
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I had, I really enjoyed it! The story follows Rachel, who is Irish, but has moved to Manhattan with her best friend Brigit. It is apparent that Rachel is a drug addict, but she won’t realise it – until she is shipped off to drug rehab back in Ireland. It focuses on love, sex, friendship, and denial. You will end up loving, hating, sympathising, and cherishing Rachel. Marian Keyes has recently announced that the sequel is currently being written, I’ll definitely be purchasing when it’s released!

Book 4: Cilka’s Journey (Heather Morris)
Another heavy one! This is the sequel to ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ and, as a sequel, it does not let it down. The story follows Cilka, who was taken to Auschwitz at the age of sixteen – she is then charged as a collaborator to the Nazi’s by the Russians and is sent to Vorkuta (a prison camp in Siberia). It primarily tells the story of Cilka’s journey in Vorkuta, with flashbacks to Auschwitz and her family life beforehand. Again, I finished it within 2 days.

Book 5: Normal People (Sally Rooney)
I can’t even put into words how much I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with the storyline, the characters, Ireland, and Sally Rooney. It follows Connell and Marianne who were at school together, and then continue at college together. It primarily focuses on their relationship, and the obstacles and barriers that it faces. It has a heavy focus on sex, mental health, and relationships. I loved it completely – there isn’t much else to say other than READ IT!! It has been adapted to a BBC show which helped me to fall in love even deeper (didn’t know that was possible).

Book 6: Her Best Friend’s Secret (Anna Mansell)
This is the most recent book I have read. It follows four friends – Emily, Jess, Amanda and Lolly – who were best friends throughout school but drifted apart shortly after. Emily, who moved away, is now back in Cornwall and they reunite after years and years apart. It was lovely to read something that is focused on love between friends rather than between lovers, as it can be just as strong (if not stronger) and there isn’t a bond like it.

I am currently reading Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard – I loved the TV series and I have watched it completely five times. I thought it was about time to give the book series a go!

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily

I definitely would say I have enough make-up to last someone more than a lifetime! However, I can never resist a new release (especially if it’s any form of eyeshadow; they’re like shiny jewels to me).

Beauty Bay launched the Pastels Palette earlier this week, and as soon as I had the newsletter email, it was ordered straight away! It is a small palette, consisting of 8 different pressed pigments. It is also vegan, and cruelty free.

It arrived in holographic rainbow cardboard packaging, and the theme carries on through to the palette itself. The inside of the palette is holographic glitter.

As you can see from the swatches, the colours are rather pigmented however, in person a couple of shades are brighter than what could be categorised as ‘pastel’. If you wanted more of a pastel shade, popping a white base underneath would help. I would also recommend using an eyeshadow primer, I use the No7 Stay Perfect and I have no complaints. I would also recommend using a finger, to spotlight the colours on their own – I always find using my finger picks up more colour than a brush.

Pastels are such a trend at the moment, and this palette does not let it down. I’m excited to create lots of different looks with it!

It costs £10, and for that price, there isn’t really anything you can grumble about. It is available now to buy, and I will pop the link at the bottom!

Colours:
Cloud Free – pastel blue
Euphoria – pastel pink
Daze – turquoise green
First Light – pastel yellow
Golden Hour – pastel orange
Serenity – pastel green
Lovesick – brighter pink
Day Dream – pastel purple

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily x

https://www.beautybay.com/p/beauty-bay/the-pastels-palette/

So, for my first post, I wanted you to learn a little more about me without answering lots of monotonal questions!
I always feel that you can learn a lot about a person just by seeing how they like to spend their day, and what they like to do when they have nothing to do! Therefore, here is my idea of a perfect day!

Firstly, I love a lie-in. I love having nothing to get up for and to wake up, and just lie there until I feel like getting up (instead of having to 😦 ).
My all time favourite thing to do is to go out for breakfast – well just breakfast in general. It is 100% the best meal of the day. I don’t think I have a ‘favourite’ breakfast – I eat all breakfast and any breakfast. However, I would say my go-to’s are a full English; eggs benedict; and pancakes.
After finishing breakfast, I would go for a walk around the town that I live in – it is only tiny, but it has lots of quirky shops where you can find some gems! It’s perfect for a little wander. As much as I love the local town, I also love to travel a little further and go to a big shopping complex (my bank account isn’t as fond).
Walking is thirsty work….. so going out for coffee would be next on my list! Even though there’s lots of cafe’s around the town I live in, I can’t deny myself a Costa! A typical order for me would be a latte, a cappuccino, an iced latte, or a peach iced tea! As you could imagine, it takes me a while to decide.
This would probably take me to mid-afternoon, so I’d head back home for a cosy night-in! I’m definitely not one for a wild night out 🙂 . For evening meal, a takeaway is always on the cards – my favourite is Thai, and the one in my town makes the most AMAZING food!!! Settling down after that would consist of a board game (if I can get anyone to play with me). Finally, watching a film before I go to bed – my automatic choice would always be Harry Potter. I really shouldn’t pick my favourite one but, Prisoner of Askaban will always be picked by default!

An easy-going, laid-back day will always put me in the brightest of moods.
I live a wild life!

What’s your idea of a perfect day? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! 🦩💙
Lots of love, Emily x

Hi everyone!

Welcome to a brand new blog!

My plans for here are to talk about everyday life and lifestyle! I enjoy writing a lot and it’s taken me a while to take the plunge and make a blog – yet here we are!

I love books, beauty, fashion, travelling and just random, weird life!! Oh, and talking, a lot of talking!

Watch this space 🙂

Here’s to the future of Blue Flamingo!🦩💙

Lots of love, Emily x