Squishy, squeezy bags of gloop!

Hello again,

Today has been an interesting day and I bring you my first ever tutorial!

My day consisted of creating some sensory, mark making bags for my class.

I know it sounds bizarre, but I wanted to introduce a more interesting way for the children to practise their letters and numbers. It's great stress reliever too!

They may not be the prettiest things to look at, but I'm pretty chuffed with them!

It's super easy, cheap and surprisingly enjoyable to make!

First you'll need some hair gel, I picked up some from my local supermarket for 15p a tub! Not sure I'd be keen to smear that all over my head but it's lovely for squishing and squeezing!

Pop some glitter into the pot and give it a good shake or stir to blend.

Next, you'll need to prep the bag. I used medium-sized resealable bags, to ensure no gel was going to escape.

Using heavy duty tape, like duct-tape, tape along the three closed edges of the bag to reinforce the seams. Remember to overlap the tap at the corners for maximum protect. (ooerr misses).

Pop the glittery gel into the bag and carefully squidge any air out of the bag. It's important to get rid of as much air as possible, as little fingers need to be able to move the gel around without popping the bag. Seal the opening with the zip and a sturdy strip of tape!

Voila! A wonderful mark-making bag of jelly gloopyness that are perfect for tiny fingers. Particularly great for childrne who struggle with grip and pressure when writing with a pencil as they must press quite hard to create a clear line. Can't wait to try it out this week! Speak soon, Emily xxx

Unposted

Hello again,
Today is a Wednesday. There is nothing special about this particular Wednesday but today is the day I have chosen to start writing. January is a miserable month, the weather is dismal and the holiday season is well and truly over. I haven't given myself a new years resolution because there not something I ever really focus on. I spend a good few days trying to think of the perfect resolution, the life-affirming, epiphany of all new years resolutions and come back repeatedly to the same three targets. 1. Worry less. 2. Smile more. 3. Stop whining about being fat then eating an entire share size bag of Doritos in one sitting.

As I fail to tackle these resolutions in any form of proper manner, it seems only appropriate to choose a slightly more vague approach to them. And so, may I introduce to you, my list of things that make me happy!

I don't appreciate the good things in life anywhere near as much as a well-rounded twenty-something could, and it seems apt to choose today, this very Wednesday, to throw caution to the wind and scribble down (metaphorically, naturally) the things that make me feel pretty alright. Shall we?

1. Appropriate song choices - I listen to music, I enjoy music - but I'm not particularly knowledgeable about music. I don't even know where my headphones are. But I'll admit, the right song choice is absolutely essential for a cheeky little lift on a miserable day. I seem to be one of those people that has a list of go-to songs depending on my mood.

When I'm lonely, or having a bit of an emotional wobble re: boyfriend living in Brighton, the best and only song I want to hear is Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen, we are floating in space. It's bloody brilliant.

Foals are there for me when I'm feeling nostalgic for days gone by, reminding me of my huge but freezing third year flat in Portsmouth. I can practically smell the mould when I listen to Inhaler, excellent by all accounts. The same goes for Bastille and Kate Bush. They give me that summery feeling and make me miss Albert Road, the road of pure joy!

2. Reaching 'a third' - It's not quite a half, but it's a pretty solid milestone! I'm currently a trainee teacher, which may well be one of the greatest and most difficult things I have ever done. I am offically now, a third of the way through my training and it feels GOOD. A third is good, it is better than a half. A third means you have TWICE as long as you've just done to go. You're submerged, you're in the thick of it, but steady on, you've got a way to go before you're expected to know everything. The perfect place for a worrier like me, who expects to know everything and be amazing before I've even started.

3. Re-reading - A magazine article, blog post, book, anything! When I'm feeling a bit lost and underwhelmed, re-reading something familiar that reminds me of feeling good is a perfect pick-me-up on a dreary day. Preferably carrying out re-reading in the bath, for maximum happiness.

So there it is, the top three things I do to keep the grumpy day away! They're simple, but essential for me to kick the blues and keep my chin up!

What do you do to keep yourself feeling chipper?

Speak soon,

Emily

xxx

Edit - It's no longer Wednesday, or January... It's the very first day of March and once again I begin the resurrection of this poor blog. Third time lucky?

Re-introductions

Once again, I've started something I couldn't finish. A few short months ago, I was one super keen bean getting myself mighty prepared to become a proper blogger. Three posts down the line and I'm not closer to being where I want to be, simply because I let myself make a thousand excuses rater than just get on and work at it.

I've decided that a beauty blog isn't really what I'm going for anymore and so this is born. I intend to use my blog to rant/natter/post about my life/anything and everything. I know the most successful blogs tend to stick to a specific style but I just can't see that working for me as I'm an inconsistent person and it seems only fair that my blog is the same.

To re-introduce, I'm Emily. I'm a third year English Literature and Language student with plans to become a teacher and a make up artist on the side. Lets see where we go from here...

Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional effects

Hey guys!
Just a quick post today about some charming teeth whitening strips!
My Mum has been in a bit of a flap about her teeth recently. Her teeth are pretty much fine, but she's not impressed that they've lost their whiteness and being a tea and coffee fan has taken it's toll her her pearly whites.
So on recommendation from a friend, we hot footed it to the internet to purchase the Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional effects.
I was a little skeptical about using teeth whitening strips as I've heard some horror stories about them as well as the problems of tooth sensitivity. I researched a lot online and heard mostly good things about the Crest 3D whitestrips so decided to bite the bullet and give it a whirl.

They come in sachets of two strips, a shorter one for the bottom teeth and a longer one for the top. They are long enough to reach the teeth that are on display when doing a big cheesy grin so I'm pretty impressed with that.
The strips are clear and stick well to your teeth and you only need to leave them on for half an hour a day. I like that they're clearly and almost unnoticeable so you could get away with leaving them on while you run some errands if you're that kind of busy bee.  I personally have only gone for the ten day set as my teeth are pretty white as it is, but it's always nice to have a little top up now and again.

The strips are comfortable and easy to use, though they're not available in the UK. Having said this, they're easily purchased online at stripsrus via paypal. (As a side note, the transaction was seamless and they arrived promptly which was fantastic.)

I'm currently half way through my treatment and have noticed a pretty significant difference. While this product won't leave you with blinding white gnashers, they sure do brighten them up and give them a nice natural whiteness. I'm super chuffed with the results so far! I have had a little tooth sensitivity on my lower teeth, though that disappears pretty swiftly after using a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth so it really hasn't been a problem for me.

I'll let you know the results in a few days!

Emily.Bethan's June Favourites!

Hello beauty lover!

I'm back again with my June favourites. I've tried a lot of different products this month that I've never tried before and I think I've found some amazing products!

Skin: This is a boring one. I'm always trying different moisturisers to find one that that really hydrates my dry skin without being too harsh or causing any irritation. I think I may have found it!

Nivea Soft.

I've been using this product for a little over a month now and it's the most gentle yet hydrating moisturiser I've ever used. It soaks in easily and quickly which means I don't have to wait around for hours before applying foundation in the morning which is a definite bonus. It's like a lotion in consistency, so nothing like the thick cream of the original Nivea. It's left my skin feeling perfectly soft and I absolutely love it.

Double Base Gel.

This is an usual one but I thought it might interest some of you. It's an over the counter gel-based moisturiser that was recommended to me for my psoriasis. It's thick and has the consistency of jelly but smoothes into the skin wonderfully. It's a little too harsh to use on my face and can lead to a burning sensation but on my body I've had absolutely no problems and it seems to reduce redness. If you're suffering from a skin condition, or just have very dry skin, I'd recommend giving this a go!

Soap and Glory Flake Away.

I've used this exfoliator on and off for a good few years. The price tag is the only reason I don't repurchase again and again (the student budget is pretty tight) but every time I use it I remember how much I love it. It's a pretty rough salt and sugar polish but the shea butter leaves skin feeling noticeably smoother and softer and generally lovely jubbly. 

Perfume: I've decided to have a little break from my beloved Boss Orange because I don't feel that the smell really suits me anymore so I'm on the hunt for a new go-to perfume. I like fruity, fresh and floral. Nothing too heavy or musky for day time!

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy.

I was a little sceptical about this when I received it for my birthday. Juicy Couture had never been a brand I've had much interest in and I never thought it would suit my tastes but this perfume is absolutely delicious. It's super fruity and light, I can't smell the perfume on my skin all day, but I do receive a lot of compliments on it. It's a lovely summer fragrance that I really do like. 

Ghost Deep Night.

A perfume my Mum has worn on and off for a long time that I have recently tried and really love. It's much heavier than I'm used to but it's the perfect night time perfume. It's not exactly what I would call a youthful or fresh perfume as it's quite musky but I like the way it smells on me and the smell lingers for a long time which I love. The only perfumes that last for hours that I've tried are The Body Shop ones, especially the vanilla one.

Nails: I've been making good use of the No7 vouchers recently as well as trying some combinations!

No7 Cheeky Chops

I'm not entirely blown away by the consistency of this one and I've found it rubs off of my toe nails if I wear pumps but as I only paid £2 for it and the colour is absolutely amazing, I'm not going to complain too much! It lasts well enough on my finger nails but definitely needs a top coat. The colour is a beautiful cross between candy and coral pink and I love it.

No7 Dollar
A beautiful greeny blue shimmer that is a little dark for this time of year but does look amazing on your tootsies. Better staying power than cheeky chops!
Rimmel Jade with Models Own Indian Ocean
This has become my all time favourite pairing ever in the history of beautiful nails. It looks like a mermaids tail or fish scales as my brother told me. Stays unchipped for ages and is the perfect look for a summer holiday or just to brighten up the dull weather in England.

Fashion: I've been stocking up for my holiday so it's pretty but cheap which is always good. I'm not a brands kind of person, mainly because I can't justify spending all of my money on expensive clothes.
Polka Dot Dress
This dress is absolutely beautiful and I love it. Long enough to be worn without leggings or tights which is an absolute must for us curvy girls that don't have killer legs to flash about in the sun. It sits beautifully, nipped in at the waist for a very sophisticated hourglass shape and isn't too tight in the bust.

Cosmetics: I've not had many new products this month but there have been a few I absolutely adore.
Mac Woodwinked Eyeshadow
For my birthday, I was lucky enough to have a mac palette made up for me and woodwinked is by far my favourite and most used product. It glides on like a dream, blends beautifully and just generally looks amazing. It's a golden brown with golden shimmer and is perfect for summer nights!

The Introduction.

To those of you who have stumbled across my brand new blog, hello!
I'm Emily, a 20 year old English student from Essex, with a love for cosmetics, beauty products and pampering. I intend to fill my blogs with reviews, tips and interesting products I come across.
My blog may be a little different to other beauty blogs as it's going to have some focus on how my skin reacts to the products. I have had psoriasis (think eczema but less localised) since the age of three and one wrong cleanser leads to red blotches and dry patches that are pretty impossible to disguise! Heavily perfumed or fragranced products irritate my already sensitive skin so this blog will be a way of me keeping track of the products I have tried and how my skin gets on with them.
 There will also be a healthy dose of make up, hair products, foody type posts and anything I (or you) fancy!

See you soon with my first proper post, my June favourites!