Life Lately: Spring

Hello to all of my sweeties, welcome back to my blog! And finally we have summer- only theoretically, sadly. The weather here on our little island is nowhere close to summer, but it's so good to finally have some freedom from school, tests and pressure. Today I'm going to be talking about the things I have been using and abusing over spring- when I think back now, spring was a hectic time for me. I got so much done, including travelling and work experience, but more on that later. 


Makeup

Benefit's Hoola Bronzer

I literally cannot say enough good things about this bronzer. I made my first ever visit to a Sephora in Paris in the Les Quatre Temps shopping centre and omg it is literally my heaven. It's a haven of overpriced, gleaming and smiley assistants, with flashy gold palettes and Kendall Jenner's face plastered all over the walls (whyyy Estee Lauder is working with her I will never understand). I want to be the women working at the counters (except not the orange lady that didn't understand my pronunciation of Nars), engulfed by makeup all day; and I also want to be the beautiful women that come in and buy bags of overpriced cosmetics, dewy skin and flawless lipstick. Actual goals.
  

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, Hoola. I had a bit of money to spend and I knew I wanted to get something nice that would last me a while. I originally wanted to get Nars' Orgasm, but the pricetag shook me a little too much, so I strode towards a counter I know through and through, even though I hadn't actually purchased anything yet- Benefit. Everything I had tried, I loved, and so I went for a Benefit classic- Hoola bronzer. I cannot rave about it enough. It is creamy, yet just the right amount of dusty; it creates a beautiful appearance of shadow in your cheekbones, and it doubles as a bronzer or a contour powder. It has cool undertones, which means you won't look orange with it on. I even love the brush- it reminds me of the Nars Ita brush, as it has a similar slim, rectangular tip and carves out the hollows of the face effortlessly. It's just a win win, and it is worth every penny. I cannot wait to be making more investments from Benefit.


Mac Lipstick in Faux

Another Paris purchase! This wasn't as impromptu as Hoola, I spent forever trying to decide what my first shade of Mac lipstick should be. Obviously, I have fallen for Kylie Jenner's lips just like anybody else, and teamed with Mac's Whirl lipliner, she supposedly uses Faux on top. It's not so much the Kardashians that attracted me to this lipstick, it's how unusual the shade is. All my lipsticks are either berry, red or pink- so I knew I wanted someting different. Faux is a beautiful deep pink/mauve with blue undertones and even a somewhat brown finish. It has a satin finish, meaning it is semi-matte, a thick, creamy and pigmented lipstick that moisturises your lips but doesn't have a glossy, shiny finish. Satin is my favourite choice of finish for lipsticks- it's just the perfect balance between shiny and matte, and is very long lasting- it lasts a good few hours, and even after the feel of it wears off, the colour is still there. I have yet to invest in Whirl, but I've been sporting it with Essence's lipliner in 06 I'm Yours. The combo, or the lipstick alone, looks beautiful on the lips, and I love how different it is, from a sea of nudes and reds.

Diorskin Ultra Matt Foundation

I'm not going to lie, I picked this up at a charity shop. This has been discontinued for a while, but me and my beautiful friend Ailish spotted it in the back, and after discovering it was bang on my shade, I bought it- for a mere 2.50e. What made me love this most was that it was just the right shade for me, not too pink (as I have made the mistake too many times) and not too cool, as I have sallow, olive skin. It applied matte but it didn't stay matte as I have very oily skin, something I struggle with in all of my foundations, but it does have a nice coverage and conceals undereye bags and hyperpigmentation nicely. It's a bummer this is discontinued, but it was lovely to at least have a Diorskin in my makeup bag for a little while.

Fashion

All Things Rose Gold

As my good friend Samantha, with whom I share this obsession, will tell you- rose gold is in, and it is beautiful. Me and Sammy are so obsessed with rose gold it is unhealthy- all we do now is tag each other on rose gold related posts on Instagram (have you seen a rose gold bike tho) and buy all things rose gold related. We also plan on having copper/rose gold pots and pans when we go to collage. We have no shame.

It's funny, I actually haven't seen that much rose gold jewellery in high street shops, but I have picked up a a good few rose gold accented things- including shoes, makeup brushes, and home decorations.



Ripped Black Skinnies

I have been after a pair of black skinnies, ripped at the knee for forever- and I never found a pair, so I bought a pair from Penneys and attacked them with scissors. The way I rip my jeans is I make white chalk markings as to where I want the rips, and then I take the jeans off and cut along the markings. Alternatively, and if you're brave enough, you can even cut them with the jeans on- but be careful, of course. The strings will start to fray from the rips at first, but as you cut them off and wear the jeans more, they will even out and the holes will get a little bit bigger. You get the exact same, clean result as you would with a shop bought pair- the question is, are you brave enough? I love this new take on ripped jeans- ripping them at the knee only, I think that's such a refreshing twist, and also channels my inner Matty Healy (love forever).

White Cotton Tops



I actually didn't think to include this in my favourites- but as I was Snapchat'ting people (I finally got it! Add me xogaby98) I realized I was always wearing one of my two thick cotton tops. When I'm at home, I don't really bother to make an effort to what I wear, but recently I have been wearing cotton tops out as well- they're comfy and warm and white is always such a pretty colour to wear.


Random

Paris

I just finished 5th year, and usually 5th years get to go abroad- and we went to Paris for 4 days during the Easter holidays. We got a first look at Paris in those few short days- we visited Disneyland, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Montmatre and other places- it was so exhilarating to finally see a glimpse of one of the most famous cities in the world. It is so rich in history, architecture and is just in general so pretty, I cannot wait to return to it for a good week or two and photograph everything properly. A blog post on Paris will be up soon, once I get around to editing the remaining 200 photos *cries*.

Work Experience

I don't know if I've shared this before, but I hope to go on to be a fashion journalist when I'm older- and so I spent the remainder of my Easter holidays doing work experience in a local newspaper. It was such an insight as to what the world of journalism is really like, and I even got a few news articles published in three issues. The highlight for me was definitely writing a full page dedicated to spring trends, entitled 'Sweet Like Cinnamon', where I rambled on about rose gold, ripped denim and dewy skin, in order to give readers an idea of what my blog is like! And as if that isn't enough, the editor is kindly giving me a full-page column to write over the summer- on all things viral, beauty, fashion and lifestyle. It's so exciting, I'm going to be able to see what journalism is really like- keep your fingers crossed for me!

Tom Rosenthal's Bolu



I talked about Tom Rosenthal in my previous Life Lately, where I talked about how in love I am with his music- and recently he released an album, titled 'Bolu'. It is so good, I can't stop listening to it- combined with folk and indie vibes, it features catchy phrases and unbelievable beat. It's not just music, it sings you into nostalgia, onto paths we've all been down before. My favourites include 'To You Alone', 'Borrowing', 'I Got Myself a Finish', 'All of Them Dreams' and 'How Could I Not?'. His songs remind me of different times in my life, and I love how music can effortlessly do that.

And that's it! I hope all my sweeties are having a wonderful summer so far- it surely doesn't feel like summer here :(. I'll talk to you soon!


Thanks for reading!



Gaby x

17 Things I Learned During the First 17 Years of My Life

I turn 17 this Friday. Honestly, I cannot believe so much time has passed and I actually feel so old. In some areas of my life, I feel like I should be trying a little harder (cough maths cough), and in others, I feel like I am working to my full potential and more. I have learned so much over this past 17 years, and I feel like in many ways, I still have such a long way to go, such a crazy, fun, successful and hopefully long life ahead of me. Here's me toasting to myself. Here's me teaching you 17 things I have taught myself over the years.

1. You've got to stop watering dead plants. You have to let go of people that you don't need in your life, that repeatedly hurt you. You need to get rid of dead weight.

2. Always bring a pair of flats with you if you decide to wear heels for the day. Always. 

3. Speak your mind but don't be rude. Just because something has to be said, doesn't mean it has to be heard.

4. Start studying a few weeks before big tests, a few months before state exams. Make a realistic study plan and try to stick to it. You'll be so relieved you did later.

5. Take time choosing what cosmetics to buy. Invest in more expensive products if possible, do research on them before purchasing. Over time you will have a good quality, versatile makeup stash you can use anywhere.

6. If you're in a relationship that doesn't really hold any value to you, or if you cannot see a future with that person, let go. Don't waste your time.

7. Listen to music you like. Don't care what anybody else says or thinks, you like it, no matter how folk, western, rock or techno it is, stick your headphones in and let it play, loud.

It's actually sad how accurate these two photos are- they are legitimately, the summary of all I do.

8. Be nice to your teachers. You may secretly despise them, but arguing with them will get you nowhere.

9. Have some alcohol, smoke a cigarette. Only if you want to. Don't give in to peer pressure, make your own decisions. Everything in moderation.

10. Get in the habit of taking care of your skin. Cleanse, tone, moisturise every morning and evening. It's hard at first, but you will eventually get into a routine and you won't ever forget to look after your skin. It'll become like brushing teeth.

11. Be fair to yourself. Take care of yourself. Don't hang around toxic people, don't get into pointless drama. Stick to a group of friends you trust and that trust you. There's only so much you can do until you know you need a change from the people around you.

12. Don't let stupid boys make you sad.

13. Watch makeup/hair tutorials on Youtube. They will save your life and ensure you look gorge always, keep you full of handy tips and get you loads of compliments. 

14. Read books, watch movies. Go on walks in the park with you dog. Gaze out the window on long car journeys and dance to songs in your room. Write things every once in a while, or draw if you prefer. Let your mind wander, let yourself breathe.

15. Check back to sweetlikecinnamon05.blogspot.com every so often because let's face it, it's the best blog ever (not even guilty).

16. Love yourself. Tidy your room, pet your cat. Talk to your parents every once in a while, they are always there for you. Your mother is really your best friend and you dad will help you make decisions.

17. Be your own hero, nobody else will save you. If you're feeling down, do something about it. Look after yourself, love yourself, keep yourself healthy and happy and everything else will sort itself out.

Thank you so much for reading! I have been writing this little blog since I was 14, so its become like a diary to me. Thank you for clicking back and reading my rambles, I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

Gaby x

Review: Zoeva Luxe Rose Gold Brush Set

Hello and welcome back to my blog, all of my beautiful sweeties! I have been slacking on this blog lately- and that is an understatement. It's strange, I always find this time of year so busy and so refreshing- but to be honest, I feel that even though this little blog keeps me going and is my outlet for all things beauty, fashion and lifestyle, that it kind of reaches a dead end as every post ends. Even though I am immensely proud of over 20,000 pageviews, and the views each post gets, I feel it can do so much better- so I slack and postphone it to the backseat. I need to stop doing that, and I need to start writing on here again- and it's been difficult, as I've been writing just about everywhere else.

For starters, I did work experience over my Easter holidays in a local newspaper, and I actually wrote a piece talking about latest trends entitled Sweet Like Cinnamon! But stay tuned for all about that in my next Life Lately, as I will be doing one for April. As always, school has kept me busy but I can't wait until summer, as I will be writing for the newspaper again, and writing for this blog more, all in much warmer temperatures and crop tops (fingers crossed). 

Anyway. Moving on to the actual point of this post after the longest intro in the world- my gorgeous Zoeva brushes. I got these for Christmas and I first spotted them in one of Zoella's favourites videos- and I instantaneously knew I had to have them. I have to admit, I had only heard of the Zoeva brand a few other times, but they are a German makeup brush and cosmetic brand, and the Luxe Rose Gold brush set is one of their bestsellers- and no doubt, these brushes are beautiful. 

They have a warm matt brown handle, and the star of the show is a long rose gold farrell. The bristles of the face base brushes are brown with blond ends, which makes it super easy to know when to wash them, and the finishing brushes and eye brushes (except for the wing liner brush) have pure white bristles. The brushes have generally quite short handles- compared to some Sigma and Mac brushes. The name of each brush is imprinted into the handle in rose gold lettering which doesn't rub off (my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush has no name, so annoying). These look amazing on any makeup table- in short, they are soo pretty and I get so many compliments as they attract all eyes- they make an unreal present.

The following brushes are contained in the set: 4 face base brushes, 106/Powder, a powder brush, but I also use it for dusting off excess blush/softening bronzer. The 102/Silk Finish, which is a mineral foundation brush, but also works like a dream with liquid foundations. The 110/Face Shape, which I use for blending out and contouring my face, also works wonders with foundation. The 142/Concealer Buffer, which does what it says on the tin- buffs out concealer, on blemishes and under the eyes.

L-R

106, 102, 110, 142 and 127

4 finishing touch and eye brushes, 127/Luxe Sheer Cheek, which I use for blush and also contouring. The 227/Soft Definer, and 231/Petit Crease are unreal for eyeshadow blending and 317/Wing Liner, once used correctly, gives a long wing. Each brush is made with a mix of real and synthetic hair, mostly synthetic, so blending is a dream.

L-R

317. 227, 231

What are my thoughts on the brushes? I must say, I am extremely impressed and happy with them. They perform extremely well and are very easy to use- just like with all brushes, you do need to get used to them a little bit, but once you do, you receive a professional finish every time. They are so soft it's unbelievable- I washed them about a dozen times now and honestly, they feel and look brand new. In terms of shedding, I have noticed very little- they did shed a bit when I first got them, but after their first wash, I can say the 8 brushes have maybe in total lost about 10 hairs over the last 5 months. That's mental- their quality is unbelievable. They don't loose their shape, and it usually takes overnight to fully dry them.

I highly recommend these brushes- not only for the way they look, but for their performance. My only little glitch would probably be the density of the powder brush and the face shape brush- I wish they were a little less dense, especially the face shape brush as it can get a little difficult to blend powder that sits on top of layers of concealer and foundation. Other than that, I give these a 10/10- if you are looking to get into professional brushes and want to invest in a nice set, like I did, definitely look into these- you get a brush for everything you need in the set. The only brushes it's missing is a fan brush, a stippling brush and a pencil brush, but of course extra brushes would increase the price tag. It retails for 65e, and comes with a gorgeous brown case with a rose gold zip, ideal for travelling with the brushes. 

They're my thoughts on the brushes- I'm definitely not an expert on makeup brushes, as only recently I've started investing in good quality brushes. I'm super happy with these, I reach for them every morning and they make makeup application so much easier.

I hope this review gave you some insight and maybe helped you along your makeup brush way! Have you tried these brushes, what were your thoughts?


Thank you so much for reading!



Gaby x

Zoella Beauty

Hello again to all of my lovely sweeties! How are you guys doing, I'm so happy spring is finally here. To be honest, I can't stand the cold weather- spring always seems to be a breath of fresh air after a long, cold winter. To kick off spring, I'm actually heading to Paris with my school year later on in the month- I'm so excited I can't even begin to describe. I think I've most of my shopping done and I cannot wait- but first I have a review coming your way.

I've been a fan of Zoella for a long time now- I wrote a blog post on Zoe last year, and since then, she gained about 6 million subscribers, published a book, was published in Vogue (life goals) and of course, released her own beauty range. I was soo excited when ZoellaBeauty was first announced- and I had such high hopes for it. 

Luckily, I wasn't dissapointed. Zoe suffers with panic attacks and anxiety, so her she created a range for young girls that would help them relax and de-stress, either to calm anxiety, or calm stress before it develops into something else, as she finds pamper nights helpful when she's anxious. I love this concept- it's so important to keep calm and carry on- and for girly girls like me, taking a bath is one way to unwind. The range consists of 3 cosmetic bags or pencil cases, a shower gel/bath soak, candle, body mist, body lotion and a bath fizz- everything you would need for a pamper night. Thanks to my lovely sister Sky, I'm lucky enough to own the Creamy Madly Dreamy Lotion, the Guinea Pig Cosmetic Bag and the Blissful Mistful Body Fragrance.

The range all has the one scent- and it is the most gorgeous smell ever. It's sweet but not too sweet- it has gentle floral girly hues and smells a bit like fresh laundry on a summers day- I'm unreal at describing scents (not). The mist has the strongest scent, and the lotion, shower gel, fizz bar and candle all share the same scent, but a much lighter, fainter version. I'm not really one for sweet smellies, but I don't mind this, as it is gorgeously sweet and not too overpowering.

First up is the mist of course, and it has been my go-to fragrance lately. I'm not the best for perfume, I usually reach for my Miss Dior Cherie on special occasions, but ever since I got this, I've been reaching for it and spraying it on my everyday outfits for a fresh scent. I adore the packaging- it's a square typical layered glass bottle, with the name on the front and pale pink polka dots printed on the back. I love this touch- I haven't seen it before and it adds dimension and a background to the product. The fragrance is finished off with a pink gold cap, and the result is very pretty. However, I wish the smell lasted longer- I would say it lasts 1-2 hours at most. For a 10e pricetag, I wouldn't expect anything more though, so it's the only fault.

Up next is the Madly Creamy body lotion- and again I looove the packaging. If you know Zoe, you know her obsession with all things rose gold (I really can't talk), hence the rose gold shine on the lettering. The outskirts of the bottle have lace detail, which is the exact same as she used to have on her Youtube channel a year or so ago. These are super cute little touches, and they're a nice treat for all the fangirls. The product itself is beautifully rich and thick- they way I like all of my lotions. It's really moisturising, but I feel like it takes quite a while to absorb into the skin as you first put it on. The smell really does last quite a while though- it's so nice to whip up your sleeve and inhale and smell like Zoe when you're in school haha.

The last piece is my guinea pig cosmetic bag- a place to put all your ZoellaBeauty goodies into. I originally wanted the eyes bag, but it sold out quicker than life, so I chose this one instead. It's super spacious and legit everything fits, so I use it as my pencil case for school. It's got white polka dots on it, with a pink background and a surdy gold zip, and a guinea pig with glasses. It's so unbelievably childish but it's so adorable, I love it.

Have you tried any of the ZoellaBeauty products? Do let me know what you thought of them! I'm very impressed with the range overall- some bloggers shamed it and eggazerated the teensiest problems with it- but I think you have to be realistic with a range thats all below 10e and aimed at young girls. I love it and would definitely buy from it again, it's just such a pity we don't have Superdrug here in Ireland.

Thank you so much for reading! Happy Spring!

Gaby x

Life Lately: December, January and February

Hello again to all of my lovely sweeties welcome back to my blog :) It's that time again where I decide to ramble on about my recent favourites- I think Life Lately posts are one of my favourite posts to write. They're fun to shoot, edit, and to narrow down as to what I have been well and truly loving this month. 

My fashion style has changed a little over the past year- I actually now own black clothes. As a child, I obviously adored pink and all things pink, and then I ventured into more of a vintage vibe as I went into teenagehood. Now, I prefer more rough textures, that black, effortlessly cool look with messy long hair and a flawless face (or I try to make it as flawless as possible). 

I think as I've been writing my blog for 2 years now, and gone from compact camera to DSLR, my photographs have also changed in style. Taking photos now is such fun, as I know for sure they will be aesthetically pleasing as well as visually. 

Anyway! Grab some tea and I hope you enjoy!


Fashion

River Island Booties

Oh yes, my new children. Oh my god, I am so in love with these it's unreal. I picked them up on St Stephen's day in River Island for just over 20 quid, and they are perfection. I have been looking for boot-stompers with a chunky heel for a while now, and these are just it. They have all you need- cut outs, straps, lace-ups, zips on the heel and buckles. They are so badass (yes I know) and they add some height to my frame, height I probably don't need but now I tower over everyone and feel empowered (I'm so weird, I'm sorry). Anyway, they are soo gorge- I don't get too tired in them either, but I do need to sit down after 3 or so hours. They're perfect for the ever changing weird Irish weather, they don't get my feet wet in puddles and don't mind the snow either. They're probably gonna be my winter shoe for the next year as well- I am so in love, I've been wearing them non stop since I got them.

Holographic Copper Booties

Really, these aren't booties, but more of a sandal, but I like the word booties so I call them booties (again, a bit weird today). They're like a spring version of my River Island booties above- they have that same thick platform and heel, but in white. They have three buckles and a closed toe, and a zip on the heel, same as the black pair. They're also a lot lighter than the black pair, so hopefully I can wear them in the summer as well. I actually haven't worn these out yet, but they are so beautiful so that even if they turn out to be uncomfortable I'm gonna sit at home with my feet stuck out in front of me and just admire them. Fingers crossed I can take these to Paris with me later on in the month, you can never know with the weather!

Beauty

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser Primer

Unless you're into a full glam look, primers are almost a taboo topic- there's so many misconceptions that they clog up your pores even more than your make-up (oh my god the comments about clogged skin on make-up posts on Insta drive me around the bend and back) or that they don't let your skin breathe. They're the main reasons I always avoided primer, but I have the oiliest T-zone in the world, and my makeup wouldn't stay on my skin no matter how much I powdered- it would slip and slide and after 5 hours wear, none would be left. So I eventually gave in, and bought this primer- and omg I am obsessed. It's like glue for your face- it keeps absolutely everything on, nothing goes nowhere. In terms of it being a pore filler, it doesn't do much to minimize anything or 'airbrush' my skin- it isn't the best at reducing oiliness either, but it keeps my makeup on my face all day, and that it is enough for me. It's a clear gel consistency, and a little goes a long way. Also, it leaves my skin unbelievably soft and velvety, its amazing to touch. If you have oily skin, get this- it is an absolute life saver.

Catrice Camouflage Cream in Ivory w/ Zoeva 142 and Cala 408

If you've been keeping up to date with all the latest S/S 15 trends off the catwalks, you would've noticed that clear, effortless, beautiful, fresh and dewy skin is especially big this year. I love my make-up and I can definitely take a lot of it, layered, blended, set and powdered. However, my skin went through a rough patch and I needed something to truly cover. I heard amazing things about this concealer, and I definitely agree- for a tiny 3.45e, you literally get the coverage of a Mac product. This is soo good- it deposits cleanly, blends in like a dream, stays on your skin, and covers blemishes like nobody's business. It's so creamy, and the formula is buttery, so it blends into skin easily and stays there. I put it under my foundation usually for a full coverage, but these past few days I've had good skin days so I just dab this on to blemishes, blend out and set with powder. I like applying it with my Cala Concealer brush, and blending out and buffing into the skin with my Zoeva Concealer Buffer brush (a post on the beautiful Zoeva Rose Gold set will be up soon!)

W7 In The Buff: Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

I have heard so much about W7 In The Buff palettes at this stage- how they're such spot on dupes for the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, how theyir pigmentation is amazing, how they're even supposed to be more long lasting than the Urban Decay shadows- and I was so curious to try one. Originally, I wanted the In The Buff original, but I didn't realize until I got home that I picked up the Natural Nudes version- the dupe for the Naked 2 palette. I have to say I'm a little disappointed that there is only 2 matte shades- Buff and Chocolate. The rest are beautiful sparkly shimmers, which is perfect if you like shimmers, but I prefer most matte shades. 

Nevertheless, I really like this palette. With a primer, they last a long time and don't crease. I don't notice any fall out, and they are the perfect blend of dry and buttery- they have enough pigmentation, but aren't overly dry and deposit nicely. There's 12 gorgeously blendable shades, and I reallyyy like Dust, which is a beautiful rose gold shimmer (I may be a little obsessed with rose gold atm). There's also a truly beautiful orange gold shimmer, Camel, and it brings out blue tones in blue eyes, so it really works for me. Obviously, the palette is designed to be a Naked rip-off, so the packaging is extremely similar. The shadows are encrusted in a foam material, and the rest is metal- but the packaging is kind of ridiculous as the lid fell off after a day. Also the brush that comes with the shadows isn't too bad, but I prefer to use my own. It's a great palette to have, and it's been such a change to add some colour to my shadows as usually they are brown, taupe or there isn't any shadow on my lids at all.

Right-Left: Buff, Camel, Sand, Dust, Chocolate, Topaz

Right-Left: Earth, Storm, Silk, Wave, Thunder, Onyx

I even gave this whole eye look malarkey a go- and tried to photograph a look for you guys. I wish I had put more brown in the crease and winged it out (old habits die hard) but I'm very happy with this result, I hope it fuels you with inspiration haha. I believe I used Camel and Dust on my lid, Chocolate and Wave in my crease, and then Buff for my inner lid and brow bone highlight.

Random

Hozier



It all started when one of my friends went to see him perform in Castlebar- and then I listened to Take Me To Church, and couldn't stop. And then I downloaded his album, and the rest is history. Hozier is definitely something entirely else- his lyrics are rich and brilliant, with a hidden meaning behind each clever phrase. All of his songs have a purpose- a poignant sweet meaning, and his deep husky voice accompanies the string and bass orchestra gorgeously. He is truly so talented, and when I first got the album, I didn't even listen to The 1975 for 3 days :O I would love to go see him live, and from what I've seen on Youtube, he sounds the exact same on record as live, which is so rare nowdays. It also helps that he looks like an Irish Jesus. 



American Horror Story



I'm going to try and make this as short as I can, as I never shut up about it ever, but AHS is so good. Like, the freakishly brilliant sort of horror that's so weird and twisted yet genius and brilliant and you never knew you could like it but you do. If you haven't heard of AHS, it's an American (duh) anthology horror series, which means that in every season, there is a new plotline, new set, new charachters, but the same original actors remain in every season. Those include the genius Jessica Lange, who is life goals, Evan Peters, who is bae goals, and Taissa Farmiga, who is hair goals. 



The first season is really the scariest- it's set in a large 20s mansion, which is possessed by the ghosts of people who have been murdered there. Asylum is a lot more messed up, with a Catholic bedlam run by extreme nuns and badly cared for patients. Coven is my least favourite, although it is aesthetically pleasing, witches, witchcraft and voodoo magic. Season 4 is Freakshow, one of my favourites- it follows the events of a travelling freakshow in the 50s, with its main stars having two heads, a lady with a beard, and lobster hands.



I will be writing a monster post on AHS soon, because I have soo much to talk about. I love how it involves a lifetime of different themes in each season, and even references each and future seasons, it's so clever.



Tom Rosenthal



Tom Rosenthal is a musician I've been familiar with for a while, but I never fully listened to his music till now. I first heard his Take Care in the last generation of Skins, and then started only listening to him through Bertie Gilbert's Rocks That Bleed (brilliant short btw, watch it it has Jack Howard in it what more could you want). Tom is so amazing- he has those deep, husky vocals and short little lyrics. I love how he keeps his songs 2-3 minutes long, and doesn't throw masses of lyrics at the listener. His songs are so catchy and you learn the lyrics quick- they're clever and quirky and once you listen to one song, you really can't stop. My favourites include Ian, As Luck Would Have It, Sex Death and Landscapes, and A Thousand Years. They're sad songs, but they're good sad. And good sad is sometimes very necessary. (he also replied to my tweet on twitter so I like him even more now)





Thanks for reading! Have you tried any of these products, I'd love to hear your thoughts/read reviews. Don't forget to leave your favourites below!



Gaby x

Lorde

Welcome back to all my sweeties- it is true, I have been a little absent lately. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious, but then I remembered to turn to people and things that keep me happy- and writing, blogging specifically, is one of those. So. Today I am back and I am writing about a very special little lady- a lady that is incredibly successful, and only a short year older than me (forever jealous). 



I discovered Lorde just like everybody else- through Royals, of course. I adore Lorde's uncannily fresh vibes- trippy addictive beats, smoky yet gentle voice, clear and true lyrics, all trapped in a wild mane of brown curly locks. After a while, I went on to listen to Ribs- and I fell right in love, it's one of those songs that just gets you. I only downloaded her album at around October of last year however-long after Royals, long after it was released. I listened to it one song at a time, and I had to keep reminding myself that she was only a year older than me- she is so incredibly talented and her songs, just like The 1975, take teenagehood and spin it into music and lyrics flawlessly.


In a way, I do think that Lorde is a breath of fresh air for the music industry in our generation. As much as I love Uptown Funk and Love Me Like You Do, I feel like in a way, the music industry is heading downwards in terms of content, and the quality of songs. It's so good to see artists like Lorde, or even Lana Del Rey, that come out with music that actually means something. Sam Smith is another one, I'm a sucker for blues. I have also been listening to Hozier non-stop, and a post is coming about him soon too. There is good artists out there, and they need to be heard, appreciated and recognised. Lorde is a perfect example of this- she carries a clean, talented name for teenagers, girls and indie music.



It's also so good to see these talented artists being successful- Lorde now is the pride owner of 2 Grammys, and a platnium album. Pure Heroine has now sold over 2.7million copies, and it's definitely worth a listen or two- or a million. My favourite songs include Ribs, Buzzcut Season, 400 Lux, Still Sane and A World Alone. It's one of those albums that's good to have and listen to- on long car drives, when new relationships begin and when old ones die- it's an album about life of a teenager, coping, moving forward, living on.




Being so successful and admittedly famous, Lorde has shared her fair share of controversy. She has without shame slammed celebs and fellow artists, claimed to be a feminist, and raised eyebrows when she revealed to have a relationship with photographer James K Lowe- a photographer boyfriend who got her an Olympus for her birthday- the type of boyfriend we all wouldn't go a miss without (cries in a corner).



Lorde is actual goals though..I'll know when I'll have made it when Alexa Chung interviews me *crosses fingers*. Also when I have my own Mac range.





Give Lorde a listen, and if you didn't like her too much when she first started out (I can't even listen to Royals anymore tbh), then give her another chance. She is a true, exceptional artist, through and through, and still has a long way to go in the music industry.


Thanks for reading!



Gaby x