No Freedom

Hi there beautiful,

Last night was one of the worst nights sleep I've had in such a long time, so today it's all about home comforts. My favourite candle, a good book, even better music and a soft blanket, hell maybe even a glass of white if I'm feeling particularly rebellious!

I hope you have a relaxing day too, particularly if it's headed towards exam season for you too! Everyone needs a bit of time off, and since I utilised my sleepless night by powering through work, I feel like I can actually justify this one!

Have a great day darlings,

Lea

x

Soul it out Sunday [On a Wednesday] - What Am I Gonna Do With You?

Edit: This was a scheduled post but for whatever reason it never went up, so I thought I'd give it an airing today.

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Hi Darlings!

It's my favourite time of the week again! Today I'm sharing one of the classics, by one of the greatest soul singer/producers of all time. Hang on to your hats, and your mothers - because we all know that they love a bit of Barry on the quiet side..

From the Album 'Just Another Way To Say I Love You', What Am I Gonna Do With You peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, but reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles. It was  In the UK it peaked at number 5.

I have to say this is one of my favourite Barry White songs, it's less Uncle at a Wedding and more Bridget Jones on a good day <3 

Check it out? 

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Lea

x

Making the effort?

Hi Darlings,

A certain someone came into my bedroom this morning and commented that I looked very nice considering I was only going to be doing work today. This comment provoked two reactions, a) well at least said person thinks I look nice, and b) what's wrong with making yourself up in the morning?

I'm the kind of girl who prefers to do something with myself on a daily basis. Some days if I'm just cleaning it won't be as much as other days, but it'll still mean that I look presentable should someone turn up at my house. However, as the majority rule, I'm almost always fully made up. From this, I have noticed there appears to be a problem, and that is the stigma that's attached to it. Supposedly, making yourself up renders you vain, self indulgent and anti-feminist. I've had many a comment thrown at me over the years, 'You do know it's Monday, right?', 'Oh... WE don't feel the need to wear makeup on the weekend', 'Gosh you must have been up for HOURS, I'd rather spend the time in bed'. Apparently it makes other women feel bad, and makes you look like a tit. Well I have a counter argument for those darlings who throw these comments about willy nilly; why don't they make the effort? I spend 45 minutes getting ready in the morning including a shower, and if I can manage to get all of that done in that time, then what's wrong with it? Is it really so masochistic to make yourself look pretty? Gone are the days when it's about looking good for your significant other, what about making yourself look good to feel good, to make your day that little bit brighter when someone comments on your lipstick? When did it suddenly become such a chore to look presentable? It can take as little as 2 minutes to do those extra couple of things that mean they don't look like they have been living in a cave for 3 months. 

I have also heard the argument that people don't take you seriously when you're made up. Well what a load of rubbish. If you can fully participate in an intelligent conversation, walk into a room with an air of confidence and meet anyones eye with a genuine smile and a firm handshake, nobody is going to think you're a floozy. Now I understand that this could apply to the counter argument too, but all I'm saying is wouldn't you prefer to be remembered as the well put together one, rather than the one with the monobrow? 

One of the things I love so much about this community is that 99.9% of the ladies here all make the effort. We like to smell nice, feel nice and look pretty, and what the hell is wrong with that? We aren't vain, or fake, or out to make others feel bad. We don't put it before anything else in our lives, it's a few minutes out of our day and it makes us feel good. And it certainly doesn't mean that we aren't strong intelligent women who can achieve anything we put our minds to. I think it's sad we're labelled like this, and I think it's sad that some women feel like they should look shabby to be taken seriously. 

There is nothing we can't do, and just you watch us achieve it and stare in disbelief at our 6 inch heels at the same time. 

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In other news, God this made me laugh! Just thought I'd share <3

Have a wonderful day beautiful, 

Lea

x

(Images via weheartit.com)

Soul It Out Sunday - Don't Mess With My Man

Hello darlings,

I thought I'd make my soul posts a little more scheduled, so I can try to keep on top of things. I often find songs that I want to share but then completely forget, so hopefully this way it'll remind me!

Tonight's Soul It Out Sunday is brought to you by Lucy Pearl, who gave us the original (and best) version of 'Don't Mess With My Man'. Most of  you will be familiar with the Booty Luv version that was released in late 2007, but this my darlings, this is the real thing. Released in 2000, this was the second single issued from their self titled album. It reached number 20 on the UK singles chart.

If you fancy a bit of a dance on this fine evening, may I invite you to have a listen. Some of you may even be fighting the urge to say this to someone at the moment, and if that's the case, I'm sure you'll enjoy it all the more!

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend lovelies,

Talk to you all tomorrow!

Lea

x

And I'm wishing like crazy...

Hi Darlings, 

I haven't done a wish list in so long, and now that spring is finally on the horizon I'm suddenly craving so many beauty bits and pieces. I thought I'd share some of them with you today <3

Hippolyta perfume from Sweet Anthem. I cannot tell you how much I want this perfume. With notes of lemon leaf, lotus, opium, osmanthus, tobacco, vanilla, it couldn't be more perfect. I fall for any perfume with opium, vanilla and tobacco notes in it, and I think that the lemon would be a lovely touch for spring. This is a seasonal perfume, and can be found here from $8.50 for a solid perfume twist, so hurry on up if you fancy it. 

Pink Grapefruit Body Butter from The Body Shop. I was at a friends' flat last night and used some of her lotion version of the pink grapefruit scent on my hands. I completely and utterly fell in love with it. It's sweet but sharp, and absolutely gorgeous for spring and summer. Get it here from £5 for the small size and £13 for the large. 

Mavala Vanilla and Arosa nail varnishes. I love how clean and fresh these polishes are, they're such a change from the dark colours or statement nails that I've been choosing over the colder months. Find them here for £3.50 each with free delivery. 

Lilac Rose Shimmer Brick from Bobbi Brown. It's been a while since something from Bobbi Brown really made me say wow, but that has blown me away. The colours are absolutely beautiful for spring and summer. Get it here for £32. 

MAC Pink Pearl Pop. I can't get enough of this shade, I think it would look incredible with a tan, and anyway, life's too short for boring lipstick! Get it here for £14.

Looking back at this list it seems I'm having a slight love affair with pink at the moment doesn't it? I think after winter I start to crave light girly colours, unfortunately judging by the snow outside I might be slightly premature in that this year!

Have a great day darlings,

Lea

x

Formal Makeup Inspiration

Hello darlings,

On Wednesday night I'm going to the Leeds Uni Law Ball as a date to someone. I say this as though I have no right to be there myself when in fact I do, I have just thus-far managed to avoid said occasion. However, I am going to be in attendance this year, and could I say, it's been a lot more work (and money!) than what was initially anticipated! I have the dress, the shoes, the handbag and the accessories, but I'm still stuck on hair and makeup. I want to do something different. I know I'm going to wear my hair up, which will be a mammoth task in itself, but I don't know what I'm doing with my makeup. 

My dress is pale pink, so I'm not going to go wild on the colour front as I would most likely end up looking like a dragon. I'm decided on soft pink lips, I just need to decide on the eyes now. These are my picks for inspiration.

Most of you will have seen the first look on Facebook, I must have seen it a hundred times now. But every time I look at it, I think how beautiful it looks. I'd swap the peach tone for a pink though, something like 'Expensive Pink' from MAC which is a bronzy dusky pink. 

I'm also in love with the lips on the third look, the fact that they're so luminous really attracts me. 

I think I'd like to aim for a sort of cross between the first and third images, although I do love how sultry the final look is. I think I need to have a play around with some shades and see what I think. If I get time, I'll pop a few looks on here and see what you ladies prefer?

I hope you're all having a lovely day!

Lea

x

(Images via weheartit.com)

Wishing for warmer weather

Hello Darlings,

Today I'm in Leeds city centre looking for a dress for the up and coming law ball next week. I have never been to said law ball before, I can't say that it's something that floats my boat. However, I have been asked to be a certain someone's date, so I thought I'd better make the effort.

On another note, I am sick to death of this grey weather. I wake up in the morning and it always looks so bleak. I'm craving the rich colours of summer, and the climate of a foreign country. One day I aspire to live somewhere where it looks like this on a near daily basis. Having said that, I would undoubtedly miss the odd bit of snow in the winter...

Have a wonderful day everyone,

Lea

x

(Images via weheartit.com)

Hey I'm back, with the 25 Facts About Me TAG!

Hey there stranger,

Now don't think that I'm doing that highly irritating thing where bloggers disappear and then reappear without bothering to explain why.The truth is, I don't have any sort of huge reason at all. I just lost my blogging mojo and to be honest, talking about my life when things were so unstable felt fake. Likewise, talking about beauty products somewhat lost it's appeal when everything around me was changing, it all seemed quite irrelevant and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. So, I took a step back. I can't give my all to my blog if I don't feel secure in myself, and at the end of the day, this is a hobby, I should enjoy it. Now things are settling down though, and certain people in my life have been encouraging me to start up again, at one point I was considering shutting down but I'm so glad I didn't now. 

So in a nutshell, I'm sorry I've been absent, hi to those of you who have followed me in the meantime, and thankyou to those of you who have stuck by me! I'm so looking forward to reconnecting with all of you <3

So! To get back into the swing of things, I thought why not do the 25 facts about me TAG? Since a lot has changed with me in the past few months, and believe me, it's been a lot (I fear some of you may fall off your chair when you hear one particular snippet of news that I have for you!) I thought why not?

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1. I'm a matter of months away from graduating from the University of Leeds with a Law degree. I have to be honest, and tell you all that I cannot wait for that day. Law was never my choice (it was my parents'), and I can't wait to be out of this and doing something that I enjoy. 

2. I have a new job! I started a couple of weeks ago now, and I'm back in the world of Frozen Yogurt. I now work on Tuesday evenings as well as odd shifts, up at Moo in Headingley, Leeds. If you're near me, come have some yogurt and say hi! 

3. My closest friend and I just made the decision to move in together next year once we graduate. I'm so excited and I couldn't be happier that we finally got round to this!! <3

4. I am an obsessive cleaner, if my house is a mess I freak out!

5. I would love to own a Corvette Stingray, and MGB or a Triumph Spitfire one day. Classic cars have soul <3

6. I hate gin. I think it tastes of herbs.

7. I have an obsession with owls and always have done since I was little. Some have said that this is because I share certain characteristics with them, but I won't divulge into that as quite frankly it was rather derogatory! 

8. YSL Opium is my favourite perfume, the smell always reminds me of good memories <3

9. I have an aversion to ironing. I hate it, genuinely hate it. If you'd like to come and do it for me, I will love you forever!

10. I'm going to Vegas to celebrate my 21st this summer (excited!).

11. When I was little I couldn't say 'hot air balloon' so I used to call them 'dig boons' (big balloons). To this day if my family see one they shout this at me. Baffling.

12. One of my favourite things is how the sea looks at night (preferably when it's not freezing outside). I find it kind of eery in a beautiful way.

13. I am obsessed with yogurt. To the degree that rich women are obsessed with Chanel. I need help.

14. My time keeping is horrendous if I don't absolutely have to be there on time. It's better to arrive late than to arrive bedraggled!

15. I'm terrified of Zombies but I watch The Walking Dead religiously. (Is it just me or are the zombies getting slower as the seasons go by, they used to run and now they just kind of hobble. Not that I'm complaining, I'd like to think I could take out one of those types.)

16. I quite fancy a lollipop peacock. Completely pointless but entirely worthwhile!

17. I have recently started seeing someone.

18. Just lately I have had to come to terms with something pretty big, and it made me question who I was again. But, with the help of this image, I think I'm sorted now. 

19. I don't like sleeping in a house on my own, it makes me feel claustrophobic.

20. I am notoriously bad at keeping plants alive. My friends have taken bets on how long it will take me to kill the new plant on the landing. 

21. Skittles milkshakes blow my mind, seriously, you have to try one.

22. It's just past 10am and I'm craving Thai food. If you happen to be in Leeds and you want good thai food that isn't expensive, go to Jino's in Headingley, it's really good.

23. My hair hasn't made it past collar bone length in almost 5 years now. It grows at about a rate of half an inch per year. 

24. Rachel Weiss is my biggest celebrity crush. I think I would probably sell a kidney to be with her. 

25. One day I would like to take a year out and travel up through South America, all the way to Canada, stopping at all the places I've ever wanted to visit on the way. Perhaps in the next couple of years I'll get to realise that dream. 

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I really didn't realise just how hard it would be to think of 25 facts about myself that wouldn't bore you all to tears! I love finding out more about you guys, so if you do this tag, link it below so I can check it out?

Have a wonderful day everyone,

Lea

x 

(Images via Google Images)