Long summer!

My A2 finals are finally over and I am free! Until October, that is. After a tough 2 months of revision and being ill for the whole of my exam period, I'm glad it's all finally over. All of my exams went well too, I'm so glad. I just hope I've done well enough to get the grades I need for uni!

Hopefully I'll try getting more into this now that I'm free a lot more, it'll be good to get things back into flow. Currently, I'm a volunteer at a nursery where I did some work experience last year. It has such an amazing atmosphere and I love being there. I get to do fun little jobs as well as playing with the kids, all of which will help me when I study Education at uni later in the year :-)

I still have to post my other reviews and I shall get onto those swiftly! Keep a lookout for more posts!

T,

♥

REVIEW: Rimmel Lip Lacquer (Galaxy)

Hi, my lovelies!

Here's my review of Rimmel's Lip Lacquer in Galaxy.

For starters, I originally wasn't too fond of purchasing the product because it just seemed so unoriginal. Just a lipgloss with a fancy name. But after I got to inspect and try on some of my cousin's one, I decided maybe it's not so bad.

I decided to try it 2 times - one day at college just the lip laqcuer, and then repeat it with MUA's lipstick in shade 2 which is basically the same colour. The results of both days are below.

Day 1: College day, just the lip lacquer. I talk a lot at college - class, friends, teachers. I put on a coat and it lasted for about 2 hours. When I went to re-apply, I didn't need to put much on because it left a nice stain which I could've left by itself and not reapplied but me being me, I put some on anyway.

Day 2: College day, lip lacquer and MUA Lipstick. I was thoroughly impressed this day. The lipstick and the lip lacquer work SO well together, I loved it. The lipstick provided the base colour to provide even colouring and the lip lacquer enhanced the colour so beautifully and lasted longer than the previous day.

It's not sticky and horrible like some lipglosses, and it tastes nice too - not that I'd eat it, of course. It has a nice consistency too, not thick and heavy but not really light and quickly gone in 5. It has a little shimmer to it, which reflects light quite nicely, rather than being glittery and looking like a lipgloss from the bag of a 6 year old.

It would've been nicer if it lasted a little longer but hey, maybe it's because I talk a lot. 8-)

♥

Quick post! New music: The Wanted - Walks Like Rihanna

Hello, my lovelies!

My favourite boys have released a new - and well overdue - video! I was a little unsure of the video but now I absolutely love it and the song. I've had it on repeat for an hour..or so. Maybe a few. In the video, they're imitating iconic boybands NSync, Backstreet Boyz and Take That! It's a pretty funny video to me; Nathan looks funny, Jay's expressions, Siva's awkwardness. But most of all, I absolutely love Max in this. His little giggle and Jay's gangnam style and Irish dancing. Yep, he's putting Siva to shame with his skills.

I also love the meaning of the song. Some people have twisted it on so many levels and it's really not necessary. The message behind the song is that even if you're talentless, as long as you walk with your head held high knowing you've tried, that is all that matters. Good on you boys. There are so many reasons why you're my favourite and we won't start on them now or we'll be here forever.

Here's the video below - check it out and let me know what you think?

I also miss them terribly so this is going to keep me going. I haven't seen them since March and decided it'd be best not to see them until exams are over for me. That way, no distractions and no blaming them if I fail miserably. It'll all be my fault.

'Til next time! 

♥

Rescue remedies!

Hello, my lovelies!

I've been trialling something for the last few days in order to help me with my stress and gluten intolerance. I was skeptical at first, I have to say, but I have definitely been wowed over. It really is a godsend.

The product I'm talking about is the Bach Rescue Pastilles pictured below.

I bought the product after my lovely friend told me that she was recommended it by her step-mum as a way of relieving exam stress. She told me that a lot of people were skeptical at first - like myself - but it has had amazing reviews and here's mine to add to the lovely list!

You chew one of the pastilles whenever you need to - for me, it's 8am after breakfast, just before I leave for college. On the first day, I was busy revising peacefully at 10am when I noticed something weird; I had no stomach or abdominal cramps. I felt like I was being deceived (honestly) but then I remembered taking the pastille earlier.  I just told myself I'd finally got to grips with the food and that the last of the gluten was out of my system so that's probably why.

To test my mini-theory, I did something a little stupid. I had couscous for lunch at 12 to see if my stress levels really were down. If they were, I wouldn't react to the gluten. If they weren't, well...

A few hours later and I still had no pains, whoop-de-doo! Bearing in mind I took this pastille at 8am and it was now 4pm, it was pretty good. I decided not to have another spoonful of any gluten-containing ingredients, though, because I knew the effects had to wear off sooner or later.

Soon enough, they did. It was 7pm and I was starting to feel like cramps in my gut. It wasn't unbearable, but it was there.

Everyday since, I've been having one pastille a day and I am loving it. I have a stress free day and can slip in a little gluten treat around midday like a packet of crisps or a cookie. It's awesome.

Yay for Bach's pastilles. 

♥

Food all around but I can't have any

So, on top of my gluten intolerance, my doctor told me that stress alone can sometimes cause abdominal cramps and pains. This makes sense because I know I've never been as stressed as I am now because I am absolutely terrified about these exams coming.

I've got a cocktail of medicines to take but none seem to really take away the pain. It's always there, in the pit of my stomach. When I'm least expecting it, it'll get really bad for a few moments like someone is tearing me apart. It's so painful and so hard to keep up with

What's more, I keep feeling bloated every time I eat. As well as not eating gluten, I've had to take out foods which would be fried and for a South Asian, that's hard. Today I had an apple for breakfast, sweetcorn for a quick college lunch and then a handful of plain white rice once I'd got home. I just want to cry because I'm that hungry. 

Every little bit of gluten affects my cramps, the stress affects my cramps and now no food is making it worse. I can't have toast, a biscuit, a piece of cake, crisps, cereal, couscous, nothing. No fried/oily food means no curries, omelets, and well, what else does a Bengali eat on a daily basis?

I just want to drop everything and sleep. Sleep it all away.


♥

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe

Hey guys! Here's a recipe on how to make delicious gluten free chocolate chip cookies posted by Barbara Arnold on allrecipes.co.uk. All Recipes is a great source of gluten free goodies to make and I use it myself! My favourite is this recipe because it's so quick to make and easy to follow. :)

I'm going to copy and paste the ingredients and method here for those who feel it's easier to access. I'll put a link at the end for the page on the website too if you want to check out more. :)

Ingredients:

Serves: 18

• 175g butter, softened
• 275g dark brown soft sugar
• 4 tablespoons caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
• 20g egg replacer
• 250g gluten-free plain flour blend
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 350g chocolate chips

 Method:

Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 7 mins

1. Preheat oven to 190 C / Gas mark 5. Prepare a greased baking tray.
2. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Gradually add replacer eggs and vanilla while mixing. Sift together gluten-free flour mix, bicarb, baking powder and salt. Stir into the butter mixture until blended. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

3. Using a teaspoon, drop cookies 5cm apart on prepared baking tray. Bake in preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Let cookies cool on baking tray for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Link to recipe

Hope you liked it and enjoy baking!

Let me know what you think of it. :)

  
♥ 

Exams, gluten and my first reviews

Hey guys!

I know it's been a little while since my last post but I have my reasons!

Easter holidays just passed and I'll be honest, I barely even remember it. I spent well over a week ill and feeling sorry for myself because that was the third holiday in a row that I spent with a horrid cold or fever. It really isn't nice. When I'm ill, my brain doesn't really work properly so I wasn't surprised when my parents told me to stay in bed after they found a comb in the fridge and a dinner plate in the utensils draw. Oops. >.<

While I was ill-ridden and in bed I decided to make this blog to try and see if I can mix up a few of my favourite things and put them out to you all. Photography and make-up are lovely things, but I'm no pro when it comes to either! So hopefully you'll bear my mistakes and forgive me with my puppy eyes.

My first point! Along came Wednesday 10th of April and I realised I still had a ton of work to do for college. So while I got stuck into my Biology book with my recovering self, all other things really and truly just flew over my head. It's why I haven't posted and won't be posting frequently until they're over.

It's now nearly two weeks after that and I'm still getting back into the flow of college. Essays, revision notes, cue cards and God-knows-what-else has pretty much taken over my life right now. I'll be honest though, the only real learning I do in an academic year is during revision season.

Second point! So while I'm slumped with all my exams I've also got another little bugger that's been pestering me for a year now (and will do for the rest of my life I'm afraid.) This time last year I was heavily and intensely under pressure with my AS exams. I'd never done a resit in my life and I'd struggled throughout the whole year with Chemistry and Biology. It actually ruined my life because I developed a gluten intolerance which is a pain in the bum. It's a pretty long story so I'll put it on a page just so it's there for easy access rather than a post. (Top of my page, clickity-click!)

Third point! This one's a little nicer. I took a little trip down to Superdrugs lately and bought myself a few things which I've decided to review. The first is the Rimmel Lip Lacquer in Galaxy which I'll post. I'll also be doing a review on the Sleek Au Naturel palette and an MUA Lipstick in shade 2. :)

I know this has been very long post but I had to get rid of the backlog of things and which I just can't stand.

Happy reading and exploring. 

♥  

Friday Favourite - 19 Apr - Bastille, Bad Blood

(I know it's not Friday but I was suffering, so I couldn't post this on the day.)

Today's Friday Favourite is the Bad Blood album by Bastille. I've really been loving Bastille the past month. Their single Pompeii is pretty eerie but amazing at the same time.

One of my favourite tracks off the album has to be Icarus. Damn, that song is good. The atmospheric beginning and almost anthemic feel which makes you feel kind of empowered. (Is that just me?)

I also love Laura Palmer, which happens to be the next video which the band released recently. It's another eerie one but I feel it's also quite sad and melancholic. Check it out on the right.  :)

I also noticed that a lot of the beats on the album are quite multicultural. Whether it was just a coincidence or not, I don't know, but it makes the album pretty amazing. I noticed some Indian beats, Middle Easten belly-dance type beats (subtle, but there) and also some tribal drum beats. It sounds good but if it's just me then I probably sound crazy right now.

Have a listen to Bad Blood by downloading the album from iTunes by clicking the album cover below. :)

Trust me, the album is worth the money and they are seriously talented people.


Let me know what you think as I'd love to know whether I'm going crazy or not when it comes to the thing about the multi-cultural beats haha.

Enjoy and happy listening!  

♥ 

My best memories of 2012.

Hey, there.

So, what I've planned to do is go through every month of 2012 and choose the highlight of that month. It'll be a way for me to remember and share the best bits of my 2012. :)

Let's start at the beginning. January.

For starters, it's my birthday month, but I didn't do anything for it because I was busy revising for my first ever A-Level Chemistry exam which was on the day. Friday the 13th didn't prove to be so great because I failed it. Boo. :( But enough of the sad stuff, I said this would be a highlight so it will.

Okay, I'm struggling already. I can't find something really exciting for January 2012 that happened to me but I can tell you that the band I was supporting for 2 years got their first official number one in the UK official chart! It was a emotional moment because I've followed them since they started posting covers in 2010, being signed, releasing their own music then getting a number one!

It was even more exciting because they're not even a UK act, they're from the sunny island of Barbados! (I will go there one day, it's basically paradise on Earth.) Yep, that band is Cover Drive and they went to number one with Twilight. I shed a tear.

I met them a couple months earlier but the photo is awful so I won't post it. :)

If you want to check out their music click on the links below:

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

My favourite cover is of J-Lo - I'm Into You and favourite song has to be either Hurricane or Headphones of their album Bajan Style.

So yeah, they're pretty awesome and lovely people so go check them outtt! :)

♥

My first time playing with snow. Feb '10.

In the eighteen years I've been alive and living in London, the first time I ever remember seeing snow was in February 2010.

I was fifteen when I saw my first snow. Fifteen. 

Was I deprived of a fun winter by living in London? 

Anyway, here are some of the shots I took when I ventured out and touched the snow for the first time.

I was excited to say the least.

 

 

Hackney Marshes, East London.

It was a fun experience and I'll always remember being hit in the back of my head with an ice ball.

Fun times.

♥

A close friend of mine..

Let me introduce you to a very dear friend of mine.

He's not human, but he's always there for a little playtime and cuddles.

Meet Mylo. He's a 3-year-old tabby, who my uncle bought when he was just a mere 3 weeks old. 

Back then, he was the size of my palm, but now, he's a massive cuddly bundle of fur who refuses to be picked up. He'd much rather jump onto my lap, make himself comfortable and fall asleep while he's stroked.

 

 

He's also a massive poser and sometimes his playfulness becomes a little aggressive, but I love him nonetheless.

♥

Celebrations!

Last Thursday was my friend's sister's mendhi. For those who aren't South Asian, this is the equivalent of a Western hen do! We book a venue, make lots of scrummy dishes and have a great evening with friends, family and of course, the lucky bride-to-be.

The colour theme of this one was red and that's what most people wore - with the exception of a girl in purple and her sister in peach.

Here are a few shots I took on the night! :)

 

 

All in all, it was a great night!

Well, hello there!

Welcome to my blog!

This is my first post and it hasn't even been ten minutes since I made the blog. It's so easy to get around and I'm already staring to love it.

I don't know what I'll be posting, but I hope it'll be a fun way to share my feelings, photos and the things I get up to.

:)

Ciao,

♥