Time Flies

So it’s been a month since my last upload, which I don't know how this is possible it feels like a second ago it was September, and a lot of the previous posts were pre written because I went away to New York City on a family holiday over the half term. I wanted some content on here but didn’t actually think about how busy I would be by the time I got back. So much work to be catching up on at college!

I had such an amazing time; we’ve been before so didn’t do loads of touristy sightseeing, we actually did most of the sightseeing in the last few days the rest of the time we did smaller things and shopped, personally my favourite part. I spent so much money you don’t even want to know. Let’s put it this way, I went to Sephora 5 times .5 times in 6ish days. 5 TIMES. Just let that sink in. And don’t worry I left with at least 4+ things each visit. It got so bad that I was upgrades to a Sephora Beauty insider VIB member within a few days! I have a makeup addiction okay. Someone get me help?!

So I thought I’d share a few images of my trip and tell you a few of the things I did when I wasn’t dragging my poor family around Sephora and Brandy Melville!

We went to see Kinky Boots the musical on Broadway, I think on the first actual day we were there. I really enjoyed it but I love the theatre, me and my Mum don’t leave our local one we are constantly there seeing some show. However the show was meant to be set in Northampton in the UK and so English accents were required and lets just say they were butchered, I even forgot by the end that they were attempting them because they were so bad but the actual show was so good.

We also went to a Basketball game the next day, and I hate sport so wasn’t expecting to really enjoy it, but it was so fun, I had no ideas what was going on but I was cheering and getting angry. We saw the New York Mets who aren’t meant to be any good and they actually lost but we did get a snazzy orange free T-shirt because it was an opening game of the season!

We also went up the new World Trade Centre, this has amazing views and the same day we went up the empire state at night. If you’re ever going to New York and are thinking about going up the empire state definitely go up at night, the last time I went I did that, it’s a lot quieter so no massively long queues and the lights are so picturesque. But bring your gloves and scarf.

One of my favourite parts was on Halloween they open up a Christmas market in Bryant Park. I just love Christmas and they had so many cute handmade gifts and decorations it really got me in the festive spirit!

On the last day for breakfast we went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner. I you love food and musicals you will love this place the waiters all sing as well as serve you food. One minute your waiter will be picking up your plate and the next sing phantom of the Opera. Strange, but so fun.

We did so much but it felt like we were only shopping and walking around. I just want to be back there right now in my home land Sephora, or Bath and Body works or Brandy Melville!

Have you ever been to New York City before? What's your favorite part about the city?

Skincare Suprises

My skin the past month or so has been off there seems to be something new everyday may it be a dry area or a massively visible spot. However there has been some definite improvements as the days have gone on, and surprising have come from unexpected places.

I'm at the moment receiving Glossy boxes, which if you don't know what it is, it's basically a subscription service that sends you a new box every month with new beauty products. The first few months I was loving it but as the months have gone on I don't really think they are worth the money, it's not that the products are bad they just don't excite me anymore. Anyway in my August box nothing stood out except the cleanser the Sass Purifying Cleanser.

Okay at first, I need to admit I thought it was like a balm cleanser meaning you put it on a dry face and wash off, only because of the way it explains the application. Well it's not that type of cleanser and so stung my face after a few uses until I thought, 'Wait, what if you use it like a normal cleanser?' and after that it worked a dream. I see such a different in my pores and in the tightness, it feel so soothing and purifying (as the name describes) when you use it as well as moisturising, a definite repurchase soon and maybe try out a few other products by the company. And that's what I love about beauty boxes, you get to try out new products that you might not have tried otherwise but I think I'm just having a bit of a hit and miss at the moment.

Simple is an amazing low end brand with so many products that I love and adore. But never did I think I would find myself enjoying these two quite so much.

Toner always was a complete mystery to me I didn't get what it was for let alone want to spend my money on it. However I decided to finally get on the toner band wagon and understand what it's all about. So I read up on it and decided to start out on a cheaper option from a pretty trust worthy brand and see if I actually notice a difference. The whole point of them is to finish off the cleansing process after you've actually cleansed, to get those last bits and reduce visibility of pores etcetera. I think the Soothing Facial Toner does just that, there is still so much crap on you face even after you cleanse, I had no idea.

My skin is very annoying in the way it's extremely dry in places and very oily in others. So a moisturiser that really enriches my dry skin but also doesn't make me a shiny mess is hard to find but I think this Replenishing Rich Moisturiser does a pretty good job of that.

Often we associate money with high quality when a lot of the time the best things don't come with a huge price tag like these items, that will teach me not to expect much from a cheaper product!

What products have surprised you?

Romantic Movies For a Cosy Autumn Night In

When it comes to Autumn and winter time something I love to do is just have cosy night in when its raining or cold outside and just wrap up warm in loads of blankets and watch a movie. I don't know what it is but I really enjoy romantic films in autumn and winter, I feel like they have way more effect on my feeling and mood compared to summer. 

These 5 all picked out here I think are the best for these kind of nights, they either are set around this time of year or have parts which are or even the film itself just remind me of a cosy night, they just make me feel all warm in side. Now you can have a cosy night in with your friends and loved ones or like me, sit in your room on your own, which I'm not going to lie is just as fun!

First of all there is Remember Me, one of my absolute favourite films, mainly because it has Robert Pattinson in it but also the story line. It makes me cry every time and it being set in New York always makes me feel very Autumnal.

Then there's One Day, probably not of of my favourites because of the way it ends, I'm not going to spoil it if you haven't read it or seen it but it really bugs me. Though if I do watch it, it will be around this time of year and I feel like I can enjoy it a bit more. 

Save The Last Dance, although may not be predominantly classed a romantic film it has a lot of romance in it. I love Julia Stiles in it she plays her character so well and a lot of the dancing is presented really good, it's just such a good film, I love it.

P.S. I Love You, a classic movie, so classic in fact that I seem to have managed to retain 2 copies of it, no idea how this happened ! Even when I went to look for taking the pictures and I had even organised them next to each other ages ago! A pretty sad film but it makes you feel so warm because of how romantic it is.

And lastly there is The Time Traveler's Wife. This is a book as well and I haven't personally read it but my mum has and said it's really confusing sometimes like the film can be but the film does explain it a little better so I still want to read it but I'm not sure if I will like it. For me I really love dystopian worlds and things that, as far as we know, don't exist and books and movie with that sort of idea in are my favourite so I do really like this film but where it drops in and out of time you do kind of need to pay attention.

What sort of Movies do you love for a cosy night in? Do you love any of these as much as I do?

What's in my College Make up Bag

I don't know about you (but I'm feeling 22!) but I really can not be bothered with constantly having to reapply make up through out the day I'd much rather be napping or eating or I suppose socialising though sleep is better. For me I'll spend like an extra 5 minutes making sure my makeup will last through the day just so I don't have to go and touch up during lunch. Not that most of the time you need to touch it up anyway, come on by the end of the day everyone has make up half down there face am I right? Oh just me. Okay.

However there is those really bad skin days, or those mornings when you waking up 2 minutes before you need to catch the bus and have no time to do anything but get dressed and brush your teeth. These are where you might need a little something to apply during your day.

Gone are the days where I would lug around my entire make up bag every day to school and add concealer and powder in breaks even when I didn't need to. I just can't be bothered for one especially when I have so many art materials to carry around and it's also just not necessary! I did a lot of other really silly make things back in the day, check out my post on Beauty Advice for my Younger Self for a good old laugh at me!

I hate leaving my brows untouched so a clear mascara can just be used to brush over them quickly so at least they sit in the right place, this one is from Maybelline but I don't know where I even got it from. If you want as well you can use it on your lashes but I don't think it does a lot anyway.

Next a colour correcting concealer from Maxfactor which I don't really like too much, hence being kept in a place where it doesn't get too much use. I still keep it in there although I'm not a huge fan, because all my other concealers are way to precious to not get used everyday! I also keep this Real techniques brush in there to blend it out.

Of course you also need powder, this probably gets used quite a lot more during the summer months to rid myself of the shininess, I really like this little translucent powder from Make Up Forever because a little goes a long way and it's such a small pot. However it is loose powder so is a bit of a nightmare when your in a rush. And if you have powder you going to need a brush. I've had this brush for so many years from Bare minerals, it literally has been my little baby ever since I first tried high end make up when I got my foundations started kit from them. Oh the mems.

Theres also this lipstick from Mac in the shade Angle, definitely not my favourite shade but a great light colour for a more natural look. I also keep this perfume sample from Chanel I have so many random ones of these I constantly change this out because they run out quick and I'm always in need of a quick sprits.

Other essentials are a travel deodorant, always a must, tampons because I am a girl and they are needed, and who doesn't need tic tacs in their make up bag? I do and in 2 flavours clearly.

My make up bag came in a glossy box a few months ago and is a perfect little size for the few things I have in there. 

Isn't it nice to have a clear bag with your tampons roaming free! Hope you enjoyed, let me know what you keep in your make up bag for school or college or work etc, or do you even bother at all?

A Child Stuck in an Adults Body

Last Friday on the 16th of October 2015 I turned 18 years old. I am now, according to the British government, an Adult. How absolutely weird is that. I still feel so little, a baby how can I be 18 already it's insane. I am literally a child stuck in an adults body, I do stupid things I act silly I'm sometimes completely immature but apparently I've lived for 18 years so I must have some wisdom in me. I feel a least 10 years old and hopefully I look better than I did back then, it still shocks me every time I say I am 18.

I had amazing Birthday with so many lovely gifts and experiences, I really do have amazing parents, family and friends. I cried in the morning of my Birthday, I know lame right, I was just so overwhelmed with love and support I wasn't expecting it to be like that I am so grateful. My mum woke me up to cheesy Happy Birthday music and  put balloons, banners and photos of me when I was little and recent ones too, it was so cute.

I can legally drink, go clubbing, which I very much enjoyed on my birthday and see 18 rated movies! I really only wanted to remind myself of these things to be honest.

Anyway I just wanted to say how I had amazing birthday and I'm so thankful for everything.

Love Sophie

Follow me on Instagram: @blabberblair

Beauty Advice for my Younger Self

When comparing my overall beauty routine and look to 4 or 5 years ago lets just say I have come a long way. There are so many things I wish I knew so that I could save myself from a lot of embarrassment, although all those embarrassing appearance moments has given me the chance to learn from my mistakes, which is what it's all about.

Saying this though there are somethings that someone should really have sat me down and told me NOT to do!

#1 LEAVE YOUR EYEBROWS ALONE!
I can't tell you the amount of times I have cringed at my old photos where I can't even see my eyebrows. Okay fair enough having thicker eyebrows wasn't really a thing back then, but not having any eyebrows? I'm pretty sure that wasn't a thing either. I didn't even know filling in your eyebrows was a thing and I didn't need to fill them in either. But when I discovered tweezers I got obsessed with plucking my eyebrows, to be fair I still really like plucking my eyebrows, is it weird that I like the feeling! But I wish I either left them alone or got them done properly by a PROFESSIONAL because then I wouldn't have had to grow them out over the last few years which was difficult for a plucker obsessed girl. Eyebrows frame your face they are so important so just wait until they really need shaping. I can say I have learnt from this experience but I could have done without it for photographs sake.

#2 You don't need to wear foundation.
I remember the day I bought my first liquid foundation. Because of dancing I had used them before in shows but they needed to be dark for the bright lighting and I wouldn't put it on myself my Mum would do it for me. I went into town on a weekend shopping with friends I must have been 11 or 12 and we took a trip into boots around all the high street make up. Now I never really had any skin problems up to this point, I was really lucky but soon after I started getting more spots not loads but a fair amount because I was slapping on a foundation that wasn't covering up anything! I remember my friend was buying a foundation because she already had one before and I thought I should get one because she's getting one. I had no idea what I was doing, all the colours looked the same to me so I just picked up what ever, I probably bought the cheapest possible, it was so orange and I had no idea about blending. I did go through that stage of having a dark line on my chin and I'd wear this too school! getting it all over my school shirt.

#3 Don't cut your hair just because everyone else is.
I think I must have been maybe year 6 or year 7 when I cut a good amount of hair off maybe 6 or 7 inches. I always had long hair pretty much to my bum, but all my friends had short hair and I really wanted to cut mine as well, Mother told me I'd regret it because she did the same thing and really regretted it. But I didn't listen. I wasn't aloud to cut it as shot as I wanted, my mum was protecting my beautiful locks, and I'm so glad she did this because it would have made it even harder to grow it out. I loved it at the time and I am glad I did it because it showed me how bad I look with mid shoulder length hair and an awful side fringe. Looking back I really only wanted to cut it because everyone else was and I know now not to do anything unless I really want to.

#4  Do your makeup in NATURAL lighting.
Having that awful foundation already made my makeup bad but the fact I'd do it either in the bathroom with over head yellow light or with my really yellow desk lamp making me think it blended perfect with my skin! Please do your makeup in natural light or in white light, lighting changes everything when you go outside YOU WILL LOOK LIKE AN UMPA LUMPA!

#5 Please take off your makeup at night - your young skin is important.
Most nights I'd take my makeup off with a make up wipe, but it's really bad, sometimes I'd sleep in it!That's probably what gave me my first array of spots. I wouldn't always cleanse either, your skin is so important, if you look after it, it will make such a difference to your makeup especially when your young and pre-puberty it's better to get a head start.

#6 Don't shave your legs yet!
Self explanatory, I started too early because my friends had and I  really didn't need to no one would have noticed at a young age. It was a waste of time and razors. Stay young for as long as possible!

What would you advise your younger self?

My Game Addiction History

Especially when I first got my iPod touch forever ago, must have been a really generation, I would play so many games and I thought I would put together some games I got seriously addicted to and hopeful that will make you wary before you download! 

It's so easy to get addicted to these games, its not being able to pass a level or getting really angry when something stupid happens that ruins your high score so that it makes you keep playing more and more. It's a clever way to make money I'll give them that. But don't spend your time playing these for hours just to realise you have home work due in the next day, I have done this, I'm not proud, but it happened and recurred I'm not going to lie, but lets move on!

Power of 2 - The most recent addiction that I have a massive high score on now of over 13k, from literally playing when I'm bored all the time. 

Traffic rush - Always used to play this on my iPod touch back in the day, and I still play it on my iPad mini sometimes 

Falcros - I still play this on my iPad mini sometimes its a puzzle game so less addictive but I have found my self still playing it after an hour!

Angry birds - Everyone had played this and I was addicted to it for a while when it was popular. 

Temple run, Flappy bird - These both went round my school for a game that everyone was playing, and it would make it even worse when someone had a higher score than you, so I'd spend hours trying to beat that just for someone else to get even higher.

Candy crush - Everyone has played this and lets face it we all got angry at this game! I think I got up into the 400 levels but my cousin completed the game many times before they updated it and added levels! At one point it was a little bit of a competition in my family with who was on what level! 

Aa - A very frustrating game, it's near impossible, do not download this, you've been warned.

Tap tap - I love this game, it brings me back to all the songs like tap tap revenge, and the many times I would drop my iPod from trying to get the motion action to work. You had to really throw it to one side so it would work and I can't help if it flung across the room out of my hands! I'd like to think that it would work better now but I'd probably still manage to throw it across the room. 

Frozen free fall - this is kind of like Candy Crush but Frozen themed, come on what's no to love. 

This post has made me sound like such a nerd! But I am so it's okay. 

Have you been addicted to any games? Was it any of these?