Hello and my first MAC lipstick!

Hi everyone!

My name is Sarah and I am  a new guest blogger for this blog!
For a while now I pave been trying to get into blogging but always failed at it! So I thought that I would ask the lovely Emma whether I could take part in this wonderful idea of a blog with guest bloggers!

A little bit about me:
My name is Sarah, like I have already mentioned and I tuned 16 last Friday (24th April).  I live with my parents and my two cats Holly and Leo in Norfolk. I have Instagram (go give me a cheeky follow ;) @ohhheyitssarah #selfpromo) and twitter which is the same as my Instagram but just with an extra 'h' on the end! I have a boyfriend of almost 3 years and I have wonderful supportive friends and family. I suffer from anxiety and a condition called Hypermobility Syndrome (if you look it up on google, it'll tell you more about it on the association's website).

I hope you enjoy this blog post and I hope I'll be talking to you all soon whether it's on here, Instagram or twitter!

Let's get on with the post!


MY FIRST MAC LIPSTICK!

I received my first MAC lipstick at my birthday meal from one of my best friends, Lily.

"Twig"

I love this lipstick because of how beautiful the colour is and because of  how nicely it goes onto my lips. I actually chose this lipstick after looking online on the actual MAC website and then reviews on blogs that I found and then finding what it looked like on people's lips on google images along with another one, Faux (I know I know, slightly risky!). I am so pleased that Lily chose this one for me out of the two. In the photos it looks quite red-y but in real life it's a pink/nude type of colour which I LOVE!

I will definitely be purchasing another MAC lipstick soon! And for what they are, I don't think that the £15.50 price tag is too much! 

Thank you for reading, see you in my next post! Remember to check out all my social medias in the mean time. 

Sarah 

X

Emma's Ramblings about Exam Season

So I know a lot of us have exams starting in about a months time (my first exam is in fact one month today) or towards the end of the academic year whether they're GCSEs, A levels or end of year tests. Whatever stage you are in education you'll have to do some kind of test, and they're not nice are they?

A lot of people get so stressed out about them because they determine a lot for your near future, but it's important that you try not to get too worked up about them because at the end of the day, they mainly test your memory. You could be an A* student in class and when you get into an exam nothing comes back to you no matter how much revision you've done and you won't get the A* you're capable of. 

Everyone's a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid ~ Albert Einstein 

This is an analogy that I think is really good to remember, we all learn differently, we all react differently in situations and there is no real way that we can all be tested on one thing because it's different for everyone. So you may perform well in exams or you may not but this doesn't mean you are in any way stupid, it's just how your brain works.

When you're revising make sure that you don't do too much. Give yourself breaks and make sure you eat and drink plenty because you need to make sure you can concentrate so you can learn something. I also think it helps to make sure you see people, don't isolate yourself. Ask your family questions and discuss topics with them, arrange to revise with your friends, that way you can encourage each other to revise and I'm sure you'll enjoy it a whole lot more!  Also get plenty of sleep and don't leave it all to the last minute, getting yourself stressed out about your revision will not help, you won't learn anything from it! Easier said than done really, but take a walk, have a chat, listen to some music, do whatever makes you feel more relaxed and try not to think about the exams for a bit and you'll feel more refreshed and ready to revise. Don't stop arranging to do things or quitting hobbies because you want to revise, I dance and I have a job and I'm glad I have them as a break and somewhere to go where I don't have to think about exams, it allows me to be with friends as well! So go and get a coffee on a Saturday morning, have a shopping trip on Sunday, go do your hobbies and again, this will mean you will be less stressed out because you've allowed yourself to have a nice time. Exam season doesn't have to be as horrible as you think it is.

When it gets to the time of your exams what do you do? Panic? Freak out? Breathe, eat a good breakfast and lunch and keep hydrated, take a bottle of water to your exam for if you get thirsty (or if like me your surname is near the beginning of the alphabet, having a nice drink of water helps to pass the long wait to get out of the hall and to the bag room). 

Whatever you do, do not doubt yourself. I've said this so many times but if you go into your exams thinking 'I'm going to fail, I can't do this' you won't do as well, you'll not try as hard as you can and when you get your results you'll get what you thought you would when you went into the exam which is not as good as you possibly can! Go into your exam with a positive mindset, tell yourself 'I'm going to try my hardest, and I'm going to make myself proud and the work will have paid off' and trust me you will try your hardest and will get better than if you have a more pessimistic attitude towards it all.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.

My friend Emma was willing read what I wrote and offered to help me a bit, so here's something she wrote for you. When you have finished your exams don't stress about them until the day you get your results, just try and forget about them and enjoy your time off because you deserve it from all the hard work you've done. When you get your results if they aren't what you expected don't panic there are plenty of routes you can take like resitting the year or retaking them. But you can talk to your teachers about what you should do and maybe you are concentrating too hard on the wrong subjects, yes you may enjoy them but that's not really the point the point is if they are needed for your job. Now here comes the choice if you have just done GCSEs is picking what A levels you want pick the ones that are right for you pick the ones that will benefit you in the future and you will enjoy, don't pick ones that you won't enjoy and won't benefit you in the future. 

So my wonderful friends, that is my little exam de-stress advice or whatever you want to call it, Lauren and I have decided anything I write that's like this becomes a speech. Speaking of Lauren (smooth transition I know;) ) this is a collaboration with her, she has done a little stress beating, pampering, treat yourself type post so click here to give that a read (I'm sure it will be fabulous just like her!)

That is all from me for now, I wish you every bit of luck in any exams you have, I believe that you can all go into them and prove how hard you've worked and get the grades you deserve. If you want any extra Emma C chatty speech things (we need a name for these really), or you just want a chat (I'm always willing to chat!) drop me by an email (haveacupofteax@gmail.com) or a direct message (@_emma__c on Instagram) and I'll be willing to share some more of my ramblings (probably a more appropriate name for them!) with you! 

Lots and lots of love this exam season, remember to keep smiling! 

Emma xxx

Spring Polishes

As spring is just around the corner I thought I'd do a little more of a spring related post. And what's more spring-esk than pastel barrym polishes?

Left to Right-
Lychee
Blueberry
Rose Hip
Papaya
Mermaid


Formula
I love the formula of the Barrym polishes. Especially the gelly range. All coats apply so evenly and smoothly on to my nails,

Lasting power
The lasting power of these polishes really is incredible. The longest I've had my nails painted without getting chipped is almost two weeks! And that was when I painted them using Papaya. The quality really is outstanding for only £3.99

Finish
Depending on what type of Barrym polish you have gone for the finish differs. But when it's the gelly range then the finish it quite a shiny but thin finish, They colour really does stand out, but I also find that you don't need to apply several coats to get a full on pigmented finish. Which is great, and helps with the polish last longer!

I can't wait to wear all these polishes again for spring 2015!

Gabriella xx

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Easter Treats!

Hello!

Today I have another Easter post for you all, this time some baking! I hope you enjoy the post!

Pebbles Cookies

If you don't know what pebbles are (not your garden sort) they're basically flat mini eggs!

Ingredients:

- 250g plain flour

- 2g bicarbonate of soda

-170g butter (melted)

- 280g caster sugar (I used 320, so my cookies are very sugary, I'd recommend less than that so 250-300g, just adjust to your personal taste)

- 15ml vanilla extract (doesn't have to be exact, again just adjust to your taste!)

- 1 egg

- 1 egg yolk

- a pinch of salt

- pebbles, (or smarties, mini eggs or something else of your choosing) I used 2 bags...well probably more like 1 and a half bags after I'd eaten (tested...) a few!

1. Preheat your oven to 165 degrees and Line your baking tray with grease proof paper.

2. In one bowl, sift your flour and baking soda, add your salt and leave to one side for later.

3. In a different bowl, mix together your melted butter and sugar thoroughly, then beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk.

4. Then add the ingredients you sifted and mix it all together.

5. Add in your pebbles, I added a bag in at this point.

6. Spoon onto your tray, making sure the cookies are well spread out, the spread a lot while cooking so don't make them too big and do only about 6 on a tray at once.

7. Bake the cookies, depending on your oven it will take different times, mine took about 12-15 minutes but yours might take more or less!

Easter Cake

This is just a decoration idea really, (the recipe I used is the same as a cake I've done before, click here to see that) I used light yellow buttercream to ice the cake (if you can't have yellow icing at Easter, when can you?!) and then I piped 'happy Easter' with orange icing onto the top! I then put mini eggs around the edge to make the cake look extra delicious!

I hope you enjoyed these baking ideas, 

Happy Easter if you celebrate it, if not, I hope you enjoy some time off to (hopefully) relax!

Lots of love,

Emma xxx

Easter Nails!

Here are some cute, simple to do nails that are perfect for Easter! 

Paint nails pastel colours with one nail yellow (or all yellow depending on how many chicks you want!) the yellow nails will be chicks! 

Paint the shell using white or a very light pastel and add spots or a pattern to the other nails if you'd like to!

Add two black dots with a white dot in each for eyes and a red or orange triangle as the beak! Finish off with a topcoat to ensure your nail design lasts as long as it can!

And then you're finished! Enjoy your cute nails! 

I really want to do some baking, however I'm not sure what to bake! What would you like me to bake and do a blogpost on? Leave me a comment below!

I hope you enjoyed this quick post!

Lots of love,

Emma xxx

Recent Purchases || February & March

Hello!

In January, I did a little round up of some of the things I'd bought and you seemed to enjoy it so I'm doing another one now for things I've bought during February and March.

Real Techniques brushes

You will have seen these in the review I did last month (click here to read it!) so I won't write much about them, all I'll say is I'm still loving them!

Makeup Revolution Essential Mattes Palette

I bought this at the same time as I bought the Real Techniques brushes I just mentioned, although I'm not sure if I've mentioned it! Its full of neutral, matte shades which are all insanely pigmented and easy to blend. All this for only £4?! I definitely recommend having a look at some of Makeup Revolution's palettes!

L'Oreal CC Cream

I bought this as it seems slightly magical - a green cream that turns to the colour of your skin and corrects redness. I have to say that I really like using it, It's light and perfect to just put on in the morning. It has a very warm undertone so if you have a cool, pink undertone to your skin then I wouldn't recommend it, the same with if you are very pale!

L'Oreal BB Powder

I bought this as I'd run out of powder and remembered how much I liked it when I bought it last year to try out! I use it to set my base everyday and it never lets me down!

L'Oreal Brow gel

I bought this because I wanted to be able to add some definition to my brows without filling them in, and it does just that as well as keeping your brows in place all day! There is one for blonde/light brown brows, a medium/dark one and a clear one too.

Barry M Top Coat

An essential really, it helps to keep you nail polish on longer and give it an amazing shine!

Statement Necklace

My mum bought this in the Matalan sale for a murder mystery evening and I have since claimed it as my own *insert evil laugh here*. I mean it's gorgeous, I couldn't just let it go unloved;)

Pastel Bag

Matalan is heaven for pastels at the moment, I chose a baby blue bag which cost only £16 and I take it everywhere (apart from school obviously) it fits so much in! I took it to work with a purse, a bottle of water, two packets of Soothers, a box of Strepsils (yes, I was getting ill), a sandwich, and probably a lot more things I didn't really need but it still had plenty of room and actually closed!

Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette

I have the Nude Bronze shade of this little palette costing only about £4. The shades are beautiful and so pigmented too!

L'oreal Lipstick Shade 228

This is the perfect pinky-red, matte lipstick and I am totally in love with it! I'm trying to break out of my comfort zone with lipsticks and delve into bright shades for summer so I will get plenty of use out of this!

Stripy Top

I bought this top earlier as a little treat for myself, it's not from a kids section and it wasn't in the sale (I only buy Topshop things in the sale, anyone else?) and I'll definitely be wearing it a lot!

I bought a dress and shoes for my prom today and I can't wait to show you, but you're going to have to wait until I've bought everything else, sorry;)

I hope you enjoyed this post, as always, I bought everything with my own money unless I've said otherwise!
Make sure to follow our blog on Bloglovin to keep up to date with posts!

Have a lovely day,
Lots of love,
Emma xxx

Blush || Is it Worth Paying More?

Hello everyone!

Sorry for not posting last weekend, I had a post planned but I didn't have time to put it together and I couldn't remember the order of the photos as I'd taken them a few weeks before! 

Today's blogpost is a collab with two of my favourite bloggers, Chloe  (click here to go to her blog) and Gabriella (click here to go to her blog). I would explain more about the post, like I usually do with a little intro, but if I'm honest I think I'll just confuse you, so let's get straight into it!

Low priced - MUA Mosaic Blush. 

At only £1 this blush is perfect for someone on a budget, I bought this a couple of years ago after seeing it on Instagram extremely regularly, and I definitely got a lot of use out of it at first, I used it for a dance show, and just to add a bit of colour to my cheeks when I needed it! It's quite shimmery, so if you put too much on you will look like you've bathed in glitter which is something you might want to watch out for! The purple in it looks quite intimidating - why have purple in a blush? I don't know the answer to that but when you apply the blush using a bit of all the colours you can't tell there's purple in there and it looks lovely. Not bad for a £1 blush is it?!

Middle priced - Sleek Blush by Three in Lace.

Sleek is known for blushes that rival Nars, with a price point of £9.99 for this palette of three intensely pigmented blushes, who's winning? 'That's very bright!' My mum pointed out when I showed her it after buying it, it is very bright and pigmented but you can apply it lightly and get just the right amount of colour on! Two of the colours are matte, the other is not, but it's not overly shimmery. I think the quality of sleek blushes is fantastic especially at that price!

High priced - Urban Decay Naked Flushed. 

If you haven't heard me mention this before, where have you been?! I bought this palette in January and I've used it nearly every day since. The pigmentation is amazing, it's easy to blend and the packaging is sleek and luxurious. The bronzer/contour colour is good for my skin tone, it doesn't look muddy when applied as I've heard some people have that problem with bronzers. The highlight is quite intense, so a light hand is needed for that and the blush really helps to brighten your complexion! This palette costs £22.50, so it's not cheap but is something worth investing in if you are  a makeup lover like me!

In my opinion, you can get a good blush on whatever budget you have, whether you can't spend much, or are willing to pay more for the brand.

I hope you found this post interesting, make sure you've checked out Chloe and Gabriella's blogposts as I'm sure they'll be amazing, they are both such good bloggers and friends too, so thank you girls for inviting me to join your collab!

As always, you can follow our blog on bloglovin to keep up to date with posts!

Lots of love,
Emma xxx