Rediscovered #2 - RT Sponge

Apologies for the dirty sponge, but I'm a lazy girl who doesn't wash her brushes every week, ok...

Today is my second 'Rediscovered' post which is my aim to try and use the products that are collecting dust in my makeup draw. This time I have an applicator - the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge aka the best thing in my life. I got this from Cohorted back in November and reviewed it here, and one thing I complained about it was the fact that when you wet it and ring it out, the water is still trapped inside and you can feel it being all wet on your skin. So, the result was that I stopped using it; until a few weeks a ago when I had a ta-da moment and decided to bring it back out and use but this time use it dry. 

My life then changed forever, I prefer this over to using a brush and when I do use a brush I hate the finish. This sponge makes applying your base so much easier, it goes on smoothly, looks less cakey and feels as though it doesn't even exist on your skin. You can tell by the photos above that I prefer one side of the sponge the curved edge is much easier to use, I don't like the idea of the flat side as it makes no sense! And the tip is great for buffing in your concealer - double trouble! 

I took this sponge away this past weekend for some weddings and it worked a treat, double duty and easy to take along on the go. Have you tried this sponge?? Thoughts?

 

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Trying to get into Fitness

The word 'fitness' is a weird one, i don't hate it nor do i love it. It's more of a love hate relationship that I am now currently getting a little bit more serious about it. Over the last 40 days I have taken part in the DW Fitness Challenge to push myself and really get that summer body workout going. I took a small break in the middle due to pulling a ligament in my knee, completely unrelated to the exercise I was undertaking as I started out slow so that my body can get used to it. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed giving myself a new challenge everyday, it has pushed me to really change my diet, way that I look at life and also it has helped me to feel better in myself.

I understand that you can't just lose weight like that, and that wasn't ever my aim in the first place I just wanted to have something to give me a push and then I can carry on and I certainly will be from now on. DW were kind enough to set me and a group of other lovely bloggers a huge hamper full of goodies half way through, this definitely gave me the strength to carry on going and keep it up. It was full of protein drinks, food, books and little knick knacks to get through it. After (kind of) successfully completing the 40 days of fitness, I thought that the best way to sum it all up was to share a few tips and gifs to help you get motivated and kick you into that fitness mood! I am no expert in the world of health, so please don't go by everything I say and do what you can and aim to be who and what you want.
In the last 40 days I seem to have completely changed the way I look at regular exercise, it doesn't have to be going to the gym everyday or lifting tons of weights, simply doing a 5 sit ups one day and building up by 5 every day is more than enough. I've also started to walk more, living on a hill is a struggle but each week it was getting a little easier and I could stand it. It is really that simple! 

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Tip 1: Keep Hydrated
If you are someone like me who doesn't exercise frequently, then keep a bottle of water with you whilst you work out you will need it. Also a big thing when you are trying to get fitter is to always be drinking water, I have completely cut out anything else apart from water and the occasional cup of coffee, this doesn't only help with your fitness but also your body in general you will feel awake, and your skin will see a big difference.

Tip 2: Only Do What YOU Can
I am one for pushing myself to my limit, but when it comes to exercise I have found that you should only do what you are able to do and what your body can take. Pushing yourself is fine because you get a rush from it, but never do too much that you are in pain or distress.

Tip 3: If you injure yourself then please stop
When I hurt my knee during the process, I kept on going without any fears but then realised that I shouldn't do anything when in pain. Have a rest or do exercises that mean you don't move that part of your body, because my whole leg was unable to do anything I worked on my arms instead.

Tip 4: Make it FUN
The amazing thing about the 40 day challenge was that it was fun, different things to do everyday and talk about so you were doing something fun. A reason why the gym isn't very appealing to me because you will just be doing the same thing over and over again without any sort of change, doing it in the comfort of your own home means you can do what you like and look how you want. Take a break if you feel like it and do it at your own pace.

Tip 5: Set goals and give yourself an incentive
If you are wanting to lose weight, or even build a epic six pack then write the goal down, stick it on your wall and read it every single day. Having a end goal to reach makes everything worthwhile and makes you feel content because you aren't just working out for no reason. Eating healthy and getting fit is a great idea, but you need to have a goal and in my opinion an incentive as well. At the end of the week give yourself a little treat, if you are once step closer to the end goal then give yourself a day off!


I hope that this has inspired you all to work a little harder in achieving your fitness goals, I am hoping to carry on now forever. Doing a little bit everyday has really helped me become a different person.

*Collab with DW Sports*

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A Fangirls Guide of Girls Aloud Albums

Today I bring you a guest post from the lovely Olivia, she blogs over at Olivia Curls - all about her thoughts, fashion and also posts album reviews which are amazing! One thing that both myself and Olivia have in common is our love of girl bands, so when I asked her to guest post for me; she came up with a guide to the albums from Girls Aloud (i love them and so does she, perfect right?) Enjoy! 

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Girls Aloud, famous for being the most successful reality TV band ever, shook the charts for seven consecutive years, racking up 23 top ten singles, some fabulous, some damn well cheesy. Fast forward to 2013, their reunion tour became one of the most anticipated events in the pop calendar and grossed a sweet £7.8 million from 20 shows. Featuring at least one track from all 5 albums, the tour was hailed a success by critics. But what's a critics opinion to a fan? Does the rating in NME matter to a fan? Here's my review of the best (and worst) Girls Aloud singles from a honest fangirl's point of view.

Their first album, Sound Of The Underground, opens with the title track, a fast, upbeat yet cool and collected debut single which deserved its Christmas number one spot in 2002. The album on the other hand is a scrambled mess with only a few tracks worth listening to, one of those being Life Got Cold. I hated this ballad till the final tour, where I realised its true beauty and found that you needed a teenage mindset to understand the true underlying message within it. All I Need is a S Club rip off and I'm sure it samples one of their album tracks, while Boogie Down Love and Girls Allowed are fun filled 90's infused records that would probably have got the party started back in '02. The rest aren't worth a listen at all.

Their second album, What Will The Neighbours Say? features the cheesy as hell Love Machine, a cover of I'll Stand By You and a weird ass track namedThank Me Daddy which features the lyrics "listen to the noise that I'm making, not the boys on my answer phone." Lyrical geniuses here. *rolls eyes* However, the tracks Real Life, Graffiti My Soul and Here We Go, a cover of the Totally Spies theme song, are little gems that I love.

Chemistry on the other hand, the girls' third album, is absolutely fabulous. It's the best Girls Aloud album out there, which is surprising as it didn't sell too well in the charts. Released in 2006, there is only two songs on the whole disk that I don't like and skip within moments of the opening bars beginning, which are It's Magic and No Regrets. The seventh track on the album, Waiting was such a fan fave that it was featured on the girls' Out Of Control tour three years later as a bonus. It's not swing and it would be offensive to say that it was but it's one of those songs you swing along to the second you listen, alongside Wild Horses which prompts the same feelings within me.

Tangled Up, album number four, saw the girls become more electro than pure pop which alienated some fans but I adored it. The lead single Sexy No No No was fab, Call The Shots was in the charts for months. I personally adored Blackjacks as a child but find it cheesy and repetitive as an adult, but I've got a renewed love for Close To Love and Crocodile Tears, the latter being the finishing track of the record and an electro infused ballad.

Their final and most successful album, Out Of Control, is surprisingly not my favourite. Though I adored and still adore The Promise, the first release from the album, the rest of the album falls flat for me. Fix Me Up and Turn To Stone are skippable, and the only gems from the album come from the beautifulRolling Back The Rivers In Time and Miss You Bow Wow which is as fun and ridiculous as it sounds.

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What did you think of Girls Aloud?

Thank you Olivia, for this amazing post! Be sure to check her blog out!! 

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The Makeup Bag that Outranks all the Others

I am literally giggling inside over writing this post, never been so excited to write about a makeup bag!! I know what your thinking, mad women - she wants to talk all about a cosmetics bag but seriously if you love organising your toiletries/makeup then this is perfect for you and any lovers of organising basically. You will no doubt need to make a cheeky purchase as soon as possible.