Cardigan: New Look
Dress: Primark
Shoes: Primark
Dress: Primark
Shoes: Primark
When I visited the Surrey Docks Farm at the weekend, I made sure to dress for the bright day with pink and orange.
Tuesday
OOTD // Pink & Orange Floral
When I visited the Surrey Docks Farm at the weekend, I made sure to dress for the bright day with pink and orange.
Monday
Review // NARS All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation in Mont Blanc
It's funny because, although I am a creature of habit through and through, I just cannot stick to one foundation. Every time I finish a bottle, I try a different brand and this time I decided to head in the direction of NARS. I'm a matte girl so wanted Sheer Matte but, when I couldn't find my shade available (details here of how I matched my shade online), I settled on All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation instead, on the basis that reviews said it was super matte, despite the name.
NARS suggest that one pump will cover the whole face, which is definitely not the case. Shaking the bottle well before pumping the applicator, the foundation comes out extremely fluid, almost like water. The recommend that you use your fingers to warm it up and create a creamy consistency but, because I'm a rebel, I use a brush.
NARS Mont Blanc is the far right. Centre is Benefit Pure 4 Sure and left is MAC NW15.
Once applied, as previous reviews have stated, it is extremely matte. As I said, I'm all for a matte appearance but the problem with this one is that it clings to dry patches. I know you've got to expect some dryness with a matte base but this is extreme and very frustrating. However, that aside, it's very even and lightweight. Even when I build it up to more coverage, it still gives the illustion of being extremely sheer and this particular shade gives me a lovely porcelain apperance.
NARS claim that this foundation lasts 16 hours which, while a litle optimistic, is not far off. It certainly does last hours and feels great on my skin throughout the day.
All in all, this is a great little foundation but I am so let down by how much it accentuates dry patches that I didn't even know I had! I'll be experimenting with different techniques to eliminate the appearance but I think it's safe to say I won't be repurchasing. I'm already considering my next option!
PACKAGING
First of all, the packaging is gorgeous. A frosted glass bottle, with a secure plastic lid and a pump applicator. Having never tried a NARS foundation before, I didn't appreciate how big a deal this was but it turns out that most come without an applicator, so this is a huge bonus. It's perhaps a little heavy, being glass and all, but it does feel very stable and looks lovely on my dressing table too.
APPLICATION & CONSISTENCY
NARS suggest that one pump will cover the whole face, which is definitely not the case. Shaking the bottle well before pumping the applicator, the foundation comes out extremely fluid, almost like water. The recommend that you use your fingers to warm it up and create a creamy consistency but, because I'm a rebel, I use a brush.
NARS Mont Blanc is the far right. Centre is Benefit Pure 4 Sure and left is MAC NW15.
On application, the foundation dries very quickly so speed is essential, and I prefer to use a wide brush as I can buff it in much more effectively. That one pump covers perhaps a half of the face, but it's very light and buildable.
APPEARANCE
Once applied, as previous reviews have stated, it is extremely matte. As I said, I'm all for a matte appearance but the problem with this one is that it clings to dry patches. I know you've got to expect some dryness with a matte base but this is extreme and very frustrating. However, that aside, it's very even and lightweight. Even when I build it up to more coverage, it still gives the illustion of being extremely sheer and this particular shade gives me a lovely porcelain apperance.
LONGEVITY
NARS claim that this foundation lasts 16 hours which, while a litle optimistic, is not far off. It certainly does last hours and feels great on my skin throughout the day.
All in all, this is a great little foundation but I am so let down by how much it accentuates dry patches that I didn't even know I had! I'll be experimenting with different techniques to eliminate the appearance but I think it's safe to say I won't be repurchasing. I'm already considering my next option!
Sunday
#PataPet at Surrey Docks Farm
You guys, there is a farm in the centre of London. Seriously. Just a half mile across the river from Canary Wharf (0.57 miles to be exact, I Googled it!) is Surrey Docks Farm where you can feed and pet sheep, goats, cows... and fluffy pigs. Fluffy. Pigs. Thanks to the RSPCA, I got to pop down for a visit on a gloriously sunny day and spend the afternoon surrounded by lovely, friendly animals!
Anyway, gushing over the location over, we headed into the farm itself which, while very compact in area, is surprisingly spacious and... animaly... Well, you'd expect a farm to be animaly but I was impressed with the range of animals they had for such a small farm.
These pigs are called Mangalista pigs and are a Hungarian breed created through cross-breeding pigs with boars. Aren't they just the cutest things ever? I wanted to sneak one home with me!
Surrey Docks Farm is free to enter and is open 7 days a week 10am- 5pm (4pm in the winter). It's just behind a residential estate in Canada Water which is the greenest, loveliest, most peaceful part of London I have ever encountered. (I totally fell in love with the area and may have looked up places to rent when I got home) Oh, did I mention the view?
Seriously, look at that!
Donkeys, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets... The list goes on! Since pigs are my favourite animal, I was very excited to see them but there was a special highlight I couldn't wait to visit- the aforementioned fluffy pigs.
These pigs are called Mangalista pigs and are a Hungarian breed created through cross-breeding pigs with boars. Aren't they just the cutest things ever? I wanted to sneak one home with me!
Erm, this is why I didn't!
As well as all the cute animals to see, there were sheep shearing demonstrations by Tom from Longhorn Shearing. He was a great speaker and shared some really interesting facts. Did you know, for example, that there are 68 breeds of sheep in the UK and other sheep in the world, such as New Zealand sheep, originate from UK breeds. This one here is an Oxford Downs breed. 
By some wizardry, Tom managed to get all of the wool off in one piece and then he showed us how to roll it up the special way to keep it in pristine condition. I love this photo because the sheep is at the back like "Don't even look at me, Tom. I trusted you and look what you did to me. I feel like I don't even know you any more".
After some time chilling on a straw bale, we headed back along Thames Path where we discovered a very handy bus that goes all the way to Waterloo from outside the estate and only takes 30 minutes. I'm still getting over the shock of a farm that is 4 tube stops away from Waterloo.
If you're ever stuck in the city with an hour to spare, I highly recommend popping down to Surrey Quays and exploring the farm. Man, I love London with all its little secrets!
Friday
FF CXXIV
Since it's Mental Health Awareness Week, I've contributed to two of Sophia's posts (part 1 & part 2)
Great advice from Amber on how to deal with emails effectively.
Other Favourites
This guide on what bloggers earn is so helpful!
Really useful information from Helen on why some bloggers get PR samples.
Book Review // The Life and Death of Sophie Stark
The Life and Death of Sophie Stark^- Anna North
c/o Orion Books
Sophie Stark is a young, striking filmmaker obsessed with creating the perfect film and capturing the world as she sees it. Isolated and somewhat of an enigma, the key figures in her life, from her brother to her ex-girlfriend and her husband, struggle to understand the workings of her mind. As she becomes ever more consumed by her mission, these loved ones tell her story from their perspective.
c/o Orion Books
Sophie Stark is a young, striking filmmaker obsessed with creating the perfect film and capturing the world as she sees it. Isolated and somewhat of an enigma, the key figures in her life, from her brother to her ex-girlfriend and her husband, struggle to understand the workings of her mind. As she becomes ever more consumed by her mission, these loved ones tell her story from their perspective.
Sophie is a fascinating character, both vulnerable and tough in equal measures. As the story is never told through her eyes, we are left as bewildered as the people who tell her story, although we have the benefit of multiple perspectives to piece together a clearer idea.
North's writing is beautifully perceptive and welcomes us in to study the realities of human nature: Every character, including Sophie herself, have elements we will recognise and relate to. Perhaps we all have a Sophie inside us. Perhaps this is what we would be like if we allowed ourselves to retreat inside our own worlds.
The running themes of life and death are clear, although I would prefer more subtlety here. However, the thread of capturing life that flows throughout the text is very powerful and forces us to think about the realities of life and how we capture it. What is left of us after we cease to live? Are we ever able to fully capture our sense of self?
North's writing is beautifully perceptive and welcomes us in to study the realities of human nature: Every character, including Sophie herself, have elements we will recognise and relate to. Perhaps we all have a Sophie inside us. Perhaps this is what we would be like if we allowed ourselves to retreat inside our own worlds.
The running themes of life and death are clear, although I would prefer more subtlety here. However, the thread of capturing life that flows throughout the text is very powerful and forces us to think about the realities of life and how we capture it. What is left of us after we cease to live? Are we ever able to fully capture our sense of self?
North's storytelling is so clear and her characters are so interesting that I was hooked throughout. However, I would have preferred more subtlety in the themes and for that reason I give it six out of ten.
Thursday
Bookshelf Tour
Back in 2009, when Rich and I first got our own place, we bought two Billy bookcases from Ikea. We still have them now but they are awful. So unstable- they lean so far over that we have to prop them up with other pieces of furniture. This meant I was never too keen to put my books on them so, finally, we bought a new one!
Also from Ikea, but infinitely more stable, we opted for the Brusali model and it is perfect. I spent some time organising my bookcase so it's perfect for me and thought I'd take you on a little bookshelf tour.
The very first book is The Creature Vault for the simple reason that it won't fit on any of the other shelves. After that comes my fiction and non-celebrity biographies, organised alphabetically by author. I'm old school like that!
The bottom two shelves are for my non-fiction and celebrity biographies, again arranged by author. Only books I've read are allowed on this bookcase as I intend to buy a new one for my TBR pile, which is overflowing out of my bedside cabinet.
Wednesday
Review // The Body Shop Strawberry Selection
When I was little, I was given a bar of The Body Shop's strawberry soap for Christmas. Ever since, that particular fragrance has given me all the emotional feels so I was very grateful to receive this Strawberry Premium Selection* from The Body Shop.
Inside the box are four deliciously-scented products, complete with a little shower puff. Since I've made my love of lip balms very clear in the past, it makes sense to start with the Strawberry Lip Butter. In a sturdy plastic pot (with a lid that's thankfully very easy to open), the butter is extremely smooth and creamy. Just a tiny bit of product coats the lips in balm with that sweet, fruity strawberry taste and it absorbs relatively quickly, leaving my lips moisturised and protected.
For exfoliating the body, the large tube of Strawberry Body Polish is ideal. Again, it has that strawberry fragrance, but it's more concentrated than the lip butter and has a sharper, richer scent. Possibly a little overwhelming as it is very strong when applying. However, it lathers really well and the kiwi seeds do a good job of giving a gentle exfoliation with silky smooth results.
After using with the body polish, I covered my skin in the Strawberry Body Butter. The Body Shop are pretty renowned for their body butters, and with good reason. Application was creamy and the butter, which has an almost mousse-like consistency, absorbs really quickly without leaving any greasy residue. The fragrance is thankfully more subtle than the body polish, with shea butter and cocoa butter (fair trade, might I add!) which gives it rich, almost boozy notes.
Finally, we come to the Strawberry Eau de Toilette which, if I'm honest, I had my doubts about. As much as I love this fragrance, did I really want to smell like a strawberry? Luckily, although the fruity notes are undeniably apparent, it's a lot smoother than I anticipated. It's a light, fresh scent with a deeper berry note than the usual strawberry sweetness. With a moderate sillage, it's apparent from a metre or so but won't fill the entire room, but the longevity is quite short, lasting perhaps an hour. It's great for radiating a fun, punchy impression in the summer months.
Well, I think it's fair to say I will be smelling like strawberry for the rest of my existence!
For exfoliating the body, the large tube of Strawberry Body Polish is ideal. Again, it has that strawberry fragrance, but it's more concentrated than the lip butter and has a sharper, richer scent. Possibly a little overwhelming as it is very strong when applying. However, it lathers really well and the kiwi seeds do a good job of giving a gentle exfoliation with silky smooth results.
After using with the body polish, I covered my skin in the Strawberry Body Butter. The Body Shop are pretty renowned for their body butters, and with good reason. Application was creamy and the butter, which has an almost mousse-like consistency, absorbs really quickly without leaving any greasy residue. The fragrance is thankfully more subtle than the body polish, with shea butter and cocoa butter (fair trade, might I add!) which gives it rich, almost boozy notes.
Finally, we come to the Strawberry Eau de Toilette which, if I'm honest, I had my doubts about. As much as I love this fragrance, did I really want to smell like a strawberry? Luckily, although the fruity notes are undeniably apparent, it's a lot smoother than I anticipated. It's a light, fresh scent with a deeper berry note than the usual strawberry sweetness. With a moderate sillage, it's apparent from a metre or so but won't fill the entire room, but the longevity is quite short, lasting perhaps an hour. It's great for radiating a fun, punchy impression in the summer months.
Well, I think it's fair to say I will be smelling like strawberry for the rest of my existence!