August book of the month: Sex drink and yellow fish

This is only the second time that I have done book of the month but I hope that you enjoy this one as much as my other one, and maybe even go out to buy the book? 

The book of the month for August is 'sex drink and yellow fish' by Jason Blake. This book is slightly longer than last months, but trust me it is well worth it. 

So, what would the plot of the story be in a nut shell? 

Well, I suppose it's a typical teenage book which does what it says on the cover. The story basically revolves around alcohol and sex. This being said it's not as crude as it sounds; I mean he does fall in love, and have some pretty incredible friends who put up with a lot of shit from him. I suppose then it's not only about alcohol and sex, it's also about love, friendship, and being a teenager. 

The whole book is basically the author, Jason Blake, sharing his diary from his teenage years in 1989.

If you need a particular reason to read this book I can certainly try and give you one. The story is an interesting one. It's not typical, yet it's true to the British teen. As well as this the music discussed throughout the book gives an insight into the tunes of 1989, as well as the fashion, and schooling. If this isn't reason enough to read the book well, I suppose the only other thing I can say is that it's just one of those books. The ones where there isn't one reason for why you love it. You just do. 

If you want a sneaky insight into the book, I suppose I could write you a couple of lines...

'It was only then that he allowed himself to tear with the realisation that she really wasn't just his girlfriend, she was his pal, his companion, his best friend.' 

All right, there's the adorable quote that's sappy, but if that doesn't do it for you, here's another one...

'well, all my mates were off from the pub somewhere without me, so I tried to dive through one of the windows as the bastards were leaving. I guess at some point I just fell out.' 

And with drunken anecdotes like that who wouldn't LOVE to read this book?!

In all seriousness though this book is incredible as it just describes the anarchic life of a ordinary British teenager in 198, stumbling drunkenly through life dealing with collage, love, and family. 

100% a book that at least every teen should read.

If anyone has read the book comment and tell me what you thought of it, and if you have a book suggestion just comment below, or email me: IslaCatherineRussell98@gmail.com     

Bedroom cuteness...

Recently I have been thinking that my room is too plain and clinical; as a result of this I have started to buy small objects that, used in a certain way, can make a room look more homey. 

So, this week I have decided to share my new homey objects with you...

•  The first of my new objects is my tartan throw from primark. This was the first thing I bought for my room as I had a plain brown pouffe that needed something to liven it up. I chose a tartan throw as my room colour scheme is red and white. As well as this it was only £4 from primark- BARGAIN! 

                                 

                                      

• After my throw I decided to get some jam jars. I have always thought that they were incredibly adorable and could be used in more ways than just storing jam- this is what led me to buying 3 from the range! I was looking for my jam jars for what felt like forever as some places are cheaper than others, however when I found them in the range at 75p per jar I couldn't resist!! 

The whole reason I bought my jars, besides them being adorable, were so that I could fill them with candles. I could literally imagine my room being lit by my jam jar candles, whilst I read a book, and sat on my tartan covered pouffe!! 

• One of the final things that I bought were my floral draws which could sit on my desk. Before I had a set of hideous plastic draws which, in my opinion, just made my room look tacky. Adding to this, my room is relatively small so having my draws sitting on my desk limits the space used up by storage, as well as making my room look a lot better. They were also from the range and were only £14.99. 

• So finally, the last thing that I got was my mannequin. I have always wanted one, but could never really afford one until only the other day. Mine is a vintage rose mannequin from the range, which was £30. I use mine to hang my headbands and hat on, however it could be used to hang clothes, jewellery, or just stood plain. Either way it makes a room look super cute!

So there it is, my 5 new objects that have hopefully made my room look a lot more homey. 

If you want any more suggestions on things to improve your room, or have any ideas of your own, please leave a comment. 

Thanks!

 

The face is the first thing to be seen...

The very first thing that people are judged on, no matter what people may say, is your face. It's the very first thing that people will see; this is why it is important to make sure that it looks refreshed every day. 

It may sound hard and time wasting developing a skin care routine to follow every day and night, but it really isn't! In fact there are only 3 vital products to be used every morning and evening, which takes only a matter of 10 minutes tops to be completed. 

Here are those 3 vital steps...

STEP ONE:

The very first thing to do is use a facial wash that will cleanse the skin but will also be gentle to it. The cleanser will remove any impurities on your face from the night before or the day you have just had; it's sort of creating a blank canvas. Personally I use simples kind to skin refreshing facial wash, which is only £2.39 from superdrug. There are other washes available, however simple is one of the best brands out there as their products are proven to be suitable for most skin types, and are very effective.

STEP TWO:

  

After applying your facial wash and washing it off the next thing to do is to use a facial toner. Toner generally prepares your skin for moisturising, as well as tightening the pores and removing oil from the face.Using a cotton pad, which are easily and cheaply bought from any local shop, use a small amount of facial toner and rub it onto the facial area using circular motions. After using the toner your face should be feeling very refreshed! As with the facial wash, I have used a simple facial toner which is £1.50 from superdrug , however there are others accessible. Some toners include specific qualities to deal with acne so if you do have a problem with spots then these toners can help; it is important to know your skin type.

STEP THREE:  

The final step in your facial daily routine is to moisturise. Obviously moisturiser does what it says and adds moisture to the face; this could be what puts people off. Most people think that using moisturiser on the face will make it greasy and cause acne, however this is not the deal. If you get a moisturiser that suits your skin type then no acne will be caused, and your skin will receive the moisture it needs, resulting in a refreshed looking face. Again, I have used a simple moisturiser which is £1.50 from superdrug, however there are others available. To apply your moisturiser pour a small amount onto your finger tip and dab it onto the face before gently rubbing it in using circular motions. 

And that it is! 3 basic products that are easy to use, don't cost a lot, and won't be time wasting. Use these 3 products every morning and night to achieve a refreshed face.

The final thing I would use is a simple face mask once a month. 

Using a face mask will deeply cleanse the pores of your face, and will make it smooth and hopefully acne free. 

So there you have it, 4 products that used daily/monthly will give you the perfect face that everyone hopes for. 
I hope this helped, and if it did leave me a comment! :)

5 things to do this summer

So, now that it's nearly the end of July and, especially in Britain, the weather is FINALLY starting to become sunnier, I suppose it is now safe to say that it's summer!

Being away from school for 6 weeks, or 11 if you had exams, is such an amazing feeling!! BUT, by the end of those 6 weeks everything can become boring and school suddenly seems a lot more exciting.

So, to stop these monotonous feelings from appearing here are 5 things to do with your summer...

1)  Go outside!! In today's society where the internet rules every 21st century persons life, it can sometimes be hard to imagine a world outside of mine craft, or Facebook; but there is! So enjoy it!!! The sun will not be out forever, so while it is here go outside and do whatever; sunbathe, play a new sport, just sit outside with friends, it really does not matter, just soak up some of those rays.

2) Go for a walk!! It may not be everybody's thing to do exercise, but there is nothing better than to walk in the sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Walking is not only a good way to exercise, but exploring is fun, even when you are older than 10! Just start walking, don't think, and go exploring. 

3) Everybody loves to go on holiday to someplace exotic where there are beautiful beaches and seas etc etc, however that is not always affordable. Instead why not take a break to someplace more local? If you live somewhere close to a beach why not take a day trip, or even a long weekend? Even local beaches can be beautiful no matter where they are! If you don't live close to a beach, why not visit a park and go camping, or go to a theme park? Just go out to somewhere outside of your normal scenery, and your summer will at least become slightly more exciting. 

4) Granted, this one can be perceived as more for the female population, but why not go on a shopping trip? Male or female, shopping trips are incredible, especially when with friends! Just going out, perhaps even to a new shopping center, and seeing whats new can be a way to kill time in the best way. Leave early in the morning to get the best of the day to shop, and maybe even get some lunch while your out. There is so much more than just looking at clothes whilst shopping; why not go home shopping? Or just buy something new?  

5) Finally, read something!! Summer is one of the best times to read new books, and explore new authors. You have plenty of time, so why not? Go to your local libraries or book shops, and read every blurb if you have to, but when you find the perfect book, it may just contribute to making your perfect summer. 

So, there it is, 5 ways to hopefully help make your summer a little bit less boring! Hope it helps, and if it does leave a comment telling me what you are planning to do/ have done so far this summer!

Book of the month: July 2014

The July book the month is...

The statistical probability of love at first sight

By Jennifer E. Smith

I began reading this book weeks ago, and in between work and general life tasks, I managed to finish it just a few days ago, but although it did take me a while to finish the book it was definitely worth it!

Not to give too much away, but it's generally a typical love story of boy meets girl; however their circumstances are different. It's not the love story that is expected, as the two characters meet during an airplane ride to London, and only have 24 hours to fall in love; hence the title. The book is not all about love and romance though, as both characters have interesting problems of their own.

Perhaps my brief description is not enough to make you particularly excited about reading the book, so here are 5 reasons that may excite you more:

• The book is relatively short as it is only 215 pages long, so is easy to read in between life's tasks, or when on holiday. 
• It is such an adorable story it HAS to be read!!!!
• There is a lot more to it to interest readers then 'just a love story'
• Depending on your situation it may even be relate-able - it was to me!
• It's an easy book to become completely lost in

One of the many things that is amazing about books are the inspiring or incredible quotes that are used. My favorite one in this book would have to be... 

'and when he leans to kiss her, it's slow and sweet and she knows that this will be the one she always remembers. Because while the other two kisses felt like endings, this one is unquestionably a beginning' 

This book I could write about forever; however, I do not want to give anything away. So all I will say is that it is such an amazing book, that could be relate able to many people (perhaps not in the love story) but in a lot of different ways. If not then okay, the love story within is unpredictable and adorable, which is guaranteed to make any heart melt! 

So, the book of the month is 'the statistical probability of love at first sight' so why not read it??

P.S: Here is my twitter/instagram if you want to follow me...

My twitter is @sh00ttherunner and my instagram is islabcdefgh

Thanks for reading/comment below if you liked

Styles for the shorter haired women

Having short hair is not as easy as everyone thinks; trust me. It's not all 'just waking up and rushing a brush through it', or 'a quick dry and it sits perfectly'. It is so much harder. 

Finding the perfect style for short hair is a real task. There are so many things to think about...

• Does the style suit your face shape?
• Is a headband too much?
• What can I actually do with my hair?

It can be a daunting task to style a short crop!!

I myself have short hair, and so empathize with anybody else who shares the difficulties of styling their short crop. So, in honor of all the short haired beauties, here are 4 styling options...

1) The pixie crop:

The pixie crop is a beautiful style, suited for women with square or rounder faces, as it gives them a more feminine look to, what could be considered, masculine features. It also brings out the cheekbones and eyes. 
On the left is just one example of a pixie crop, modeled by actress Carey Mulligan. 









2)Bobs: 

Bobbed hair cuts are perfect for women with square shaped faces. If your bob hits your jaw line, then it will show off your prominent jaw, and will work with your facial bone structure. It gives the face a less sharper look, and creates a more softer effect to the angular features.
Keira Knightley is an example of the perfect bobbed style for women with squarer shaped faces.










3) Angled, side swept fringes:

Angled fringes, which are swept to the side, are the perfect style for women with rounder faces. The angled cut of the fringe will give the face more of a structured shape, and will draw attention away from the roundness of the face, and instead will emphasize the jaw line, to create a more angular effect.
This is perfectly shown by Frankie Sanford from The Saturdays. 










4) longer bobs: 

I know that this post is all about short hair, but technically a bob is still a short haired cut, so...
A longer bob is perfect for women who's faces are more heart shaped. The longer and sharper chin that is associated with the heart shaped face is softened by the longer length of the hair. Had the bob ended at the chin, the angular and elongated shape would have been emphasized, which would have thrown off the otherwise gorgeous aesthetics of the face. 
Jennifer Anniston is the perfect example of a heart shaped face with a long bob.






So there it is! My 4 styles for women with short hair! I hope this helped or was maybe just a fun thing to read, and not a GIANT waste of your time!!
 I hope you enjoyed the post.