August Favourites

This month I thought I'd combine all my favourites in one post. August hasn't really been a month full of new beauty discoveries.

Emma's July Non-Beauty Favourites

This month, even more than last month, I have many non-beauty favourites. These include books, music, TV and movies. I think this may simply be due to the terrible weather we're having in the UK at the moment.

Music

Newton Faulkner 'Write It On Your Skin'

I have already reviewed this album but I have to include it in these favourites as I have continued to listen to it all this month and can conclusively say that every song on the album is amazing in its own way.

 

Lianne La Havas 

I discovered her this month through iTunes free song of the week. After listening to the track a couple of times I decided to purchase her whole debut album Is Your Love Big Enough? and I have not been disappointed by it.

1. Don't Wake Me Up
2. Is Your Love Big Enough?
3. Lost & Found
4. Au cinema
5. No Room For Doubt (feat. Willy Mason)
6. Forget
7. Age
8. Elusive
9. Everything Everything
10. Gone 
11. Tease Me
12. They Could Be Wrong

The whole album has a very alternative soulful vibe with many tracks also having an apparent folky edge to them also. Thought not overwhelmingly a standout album there is definitely a fresh quality to her voice which keeps you interested throughout.

Each track has a different vibe from the next so it is quite easy for me to pick out my favourites. The track which immediately stood out the most to me is Gone which is a beautifully simply arranged song that allows her amazing vocals to shine. I also really like the catchy title track Is Your Love Big Enough?

Overall this album displays a great potential for her to go far.

8/10

June Favourites (Loz)

Music

Adien Grimshaw

The former X factor contestant has finally released his debut single Is This Love . I have to say I had long forgotten about him but with this new single I won't soon forget.

His Strong haunting vocal really make this track. I wasn't expecting this type of sound for his first track but it has left me hungry for more! Luckily his album Misty Eyes is out on the 20th of august. 

 Alex Day

Good Morning Sunshine

This may be the cheesiest cutest song on my Ipod right now... but hey who doesn't love a happy song. 

Movies

I recently went to see the new movie release at the cinema The Amazing Spiderman. Me and my friend had been excitedly waiting for the release after seeing the trailer. I was worried the movie wouldn't live up to our high expectations.

 My expectations were not reached but completely obliterated. Somehow this movie was even better than I first expected! I felt the chemistry between the leads Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone was electrifying. The movie has been dubbed the sequel of a sequel however I feel that the fresh performances and direction give this movie a completely different feel to the 2002 trilogy. The option to see the movie in 3D actually does help improve the momentum of movie as many scenes look terrific I would suggest seeing it in this form if you can. We all have different tastes but for me this was just the perfect movie, the right balance between action and drama. If you were considering going to see this at the cinema I would highly recommend it! In fact I am going a 2nd time to see the movie, I fear I may have been bitten by the spider too!

TV

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Season 7 is now airing new episodes

 Now I know what you might be thinking "how could you like this?!" well I like you would be thinking the same. I've never really been a big fan of the generic reality shows however even though this is obnoxious stupid money making television. It is just so damn entertaining. It may be the need inside all of us to be nosey see how the other half live and the gratification that nobodys life is perfect.  Some of the scenes and plots in a episode are so ridiculous that you just have to laugh. In the newest season the plot of on episode was that momanger Kris had a 'surprise'meeting with her ex causing huge drama in the family dramatic fights were had. Scripted maybe but if you are looking for humorous light entertainment to pass the time this is the show. Be prepared to be shocked at the amount of makeup used, the sensitive feelings, the huge egos,the fake fights,realising you are poor,that these people are crazy and of course Bruce. 

Books

Nope I have still not finished the Hunger Games...*hangs head in shame*

Random

My favourite purchase has to be my real leather biker jacket from Topshop. I went to check out the sale and found  the jacket and got it for the bargain price of £20 from £65.

Going out for a Birthday Party!!

 I have to say I am in love! I have been looking for this style for so long and to get so cheap is great! I so far have had great use out of it having lots of parties to go to this month! But I can't wait to wear it casual as well! I hadn't really been as intrested in Topshop but this has put my faith back in the shop.

Thanks for reading! We'd love to know what you think of our blog.

Lauren x 

Emma's June Non-Beauty Favourites

This month, as always, I have loads of random non-beauty favourites. Some of these are recent discoveries and others I've been enjoying for a while.

 

Books

 

The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I finished this book in June in about 3 days. I absolutely loved it and became completely hooked almost immediately. The story was heartrenching and the main character was instantly compelling and relatable to any teen.

The book has also made me really look forward to the film adaptation starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Nina Dobrev just to name a few.

Eleven by Mark Watson

This was a really excellent book so much so that I've already dedicated a full review to it.

 

Clothing

 

ASOS Allsort Leather Shortie Lace Up Flat Ankle Boot

 I've barely wore anything but these in June. I got them a few months ago in yet another ASOS sale for £16 down from £55.

Sadly their now out of stock but they were a great buy so I'm glad I managed to get them. The quality is great and they are a perfect fit for me which is very difficult to find because my feet are quite narrow. These were definitely one of my favourite ever buys from ASOS.

 

Music

 

Newton Faulkner

Now even though I'd heard of him before I'd never really listened to his music. This month after hearing his cover of It Must be Love in an advert on TV I decided to see what his albums were like.

His first album Hand Built by Robots (2007) is exactly the sort of simple, fairly acoustic, laid back sort of sound that I'm really into at the moment. The whole album has a really positive and feel-good vibe to it which had me hooked almost immediately but has also made it extremely difficult for me to pick out my favourite songs. If I could only pick a few I'd probably go for his mellow cover of Massive Attack's Teardrop, the really feel-good Into the Light and the slightly bass heavy Dream Catch Me.

His second album Rebuilt by Humans (2009) is very similar in style to the first with just a slight progression to a more rock sound. Even though this album came two years after the first and following some success at that, it does not have that over produced sound that a lot of other artists follow up albums have had. This album still has the catchy lyrics, amazing vocals and excellent guitar playing found in the first album. My favourite tracks are the soaring Over and Out, the fun and catchy Lets Get Together and Won't Let Go.

Overall I'd say his style is a mix of pop and rock with his extreme musical talent and unique voice stand out from the rest.

TV

 

Revenge

This is an American import (airs on ABC) which started airing in the UK on E4 this June. This show is a real guilty pleasure with its soapy dramatics and twists and turns. The acting in the show, in particular Emily Van Camp and Madeline Stowe, helps the quality remain high however. I am just really enjoying this show and I think it is prefect viewing for the rainy summer we're having.

Films

Paul

This film was even more hilarious than I expected it to be. It may not be the best comedy ever but it is certainly really enjoyable and has much more heart to the story than I expected.
It basically follows two British sci-fi obsessed friends who go to America to visit all the UFO hotspots and actually run into an alien. He takes them on a crazy journey through the desert in order for him to make his ship 'home'.

The films two lead stars are Simon Pegg and Nick Pegg. They are, often hilariously supported by Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner and Sigourney Weaver (who has a short but terrificly executed part).
This film is perfect to and most enjoyable when watched with friends.

Super 8

It is a film created by a collaboration of  J J Abrams and Steven Spielberg. That alone made me completely confident that I would love this film... I was not wrong.
The plot had that great mix of fantasy/sci-fi with a giant heart and soul at its centre that one would expect from a J J Abrams. The characters were well developed and compelling as always with his writing.

 The film is set in the summer of 1979, when a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Following the accident, unusual disappearances and unusual events begin to take place in town. The attempt to find the truth leads to something none of them could ever have imagined.
The conclusion of the film is heart-warming and almost speaks at being a homage to Spielberg and in particular his films such as E.T.
Though this film does not quite reach the heights of E.T it is definitely J J Abrams at his best and is a film that anyone of any age could enjoy.
I do have to also mention that the train crash scene contains some of the most epic CGI effects I've ever seen in a film before and I cannot imagine how much it must have cost!

Until next month

Thanks for reading! We'd love to know what you think of our blog.

Emma x