Review: Into The Woods

I know I'm late to jump on this bandwagon BUT I did actually watch this a couple of weeks back and have only just come about to write my review!

Source

When I saw the trailer for this I knew right away I'd want to see it: a musical, Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and many more famous faces - what more could I want!? Oh yeah, the fact it's DISNEY!!

Source

Source

The film is very clever in the sense that it captures many fairy tales and puts them all into one, there's elements of: Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Jack and The Beanstalk. The film is actually based on the Broadway musical going by the same name which I thought was very cool and how amazing would it be to see this live on stage!?

Source

The basic synopsis is that a baker and his wife wish desperately for a child but a witch has laid a curse on them and only if they bring her: a cow as white as milk, a slipper as pure as gold, hair as yellow as corn and a cape as red as blood will the curse be lifted! You can probably already picture the individual fairy tales just by that list but what I liked was the fact that I thought I knew what the film would be like and then suddenly other characters are revealed and more events occur and it keeps the audience on the edge of their seat!

Overall, I really liked this film and will now be taking some of the songs with me for my road trip around Europe!!

Abi :)

Review: St Ives Face Scrub

I have wanted an exfoliant for a while now as I never got round to replacing my last one which ran out a few months ago. I've heard a lot of positive reviews on St Ives products so decided to pick up this and try it out. 

I FUDGING LOVE IT. 

I got the Apricot one as you can see, the smell is pleasant - not too in your face - and I love how much 'grit' is in it. Personally, I don't like exfoliants which have minuscule little grit bits which you can barely feel on your face. This really makes my face feel as though it's getting a really good, deep clean, you don't need to apply it too hard either as the bits do all the work for you. I usually just dabble a bit (you don't need much at all, with this product a little goes a long way) on my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin and use circular motions to spread it across my face.

When I wash it off my face feels so soft and clean, I am so happy I bought this product I really love itt and will definitely be using it again when this one runs out!  

Abi :)

I Wish...#2

1. A milky way/galaxy bed spread. I don't know how or why it started but I have developed an OBSESSION for all things like this, shame it's so expensive but I have my eyes on some matching pillow cases too which are obviously a lot cheaper. Get it HERE

A sun jar, I love little cute light things like this. I have fairy lights wrapped round my bed frame all year round! Get it HERE

Victoria Secret, I really want something from here I just feel like it's something every girl would love to come home to, and the bag is so nice! Get it HERE

Whittard's Luxury White Hot Chocolate, I love hot chocolate and I have tried this before and loved it a lot so would definitely not pass a chance in getting it again! Get it HERE

Abi :)

How To: Make The Yummiest Hot Chocolate

Okay, so if you don't already know I LOVE HOT CHOCOLATE so much!! Naturally, I've tried many over my short life so far! In the past few months I think I've found the best way to make them!

First, make the hot chocolate (it can be any one you like, I really love the Whittards White Hot Chocolate but here's I'm using a Clippers one). I usually heat up milk for about a minute and a half then put about 3/4 teaspoons of hot chocolate in and stir.

After this I put marshmallows in just to cover all the milk not to fill to the top of the mug otherwise they'll be no room for milk! I put marshmallows in before the cream as they go all gooey and sweet as they melt in the mug of chocolate!

Then, squirt some cream on top in whatever fashion (I am CLEARLY no professional in doing this, but then I think it's just going to be devoured anyway so why does it matter!?). Lastly, pop some marshmallows on and enjoy!

Abi :)

RECIPE: Pizza From Scratch!

The other night my boyfriend and I decided to make pizzas from scratch! We'd already done the whole buy-the-base-and-add-your-toppings thing, so this time we wanted to do it all buy ourselves! 

We used a Jamie Oliver recipe for the dough which you can find HERE (we didn't follow this recipe exactly though) and added our own toppings. 

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees

You will need:

1kg strong bread flour

2 x 7g sachets of yeast

1 tbsp caster sugar

1 tsp salt

650ml lukewarm water

tomato puree

cheese (any kind you like!)

Firstly, clean a surface and sieve the flour and salt onto it and form a well. Then, stir the yeast, sugar and water into a glass bowl and leave for a few minutes. Thirdly, add the liquid to the middle of the well bit by bit and add the flour into the well, do this until all the flour and solution is mixed and is looking like a dough (you may also want to flour your surface if it gets too sticky). Then leave for about half an hour in a bowl with cling film covering it. 

Once you've left it, sprinkle some flour onto a surface and start rolling your dough out to about 1cm thick depending on how you like it! Next comes the fun part: DECORATING YOUR PIZZA!!! I squeezed some tomato puree all over my dough and spread it out with the back of a spoon, then I added some ready-grated mozzarella, Gloucester cheese and cheddar cheese with some black olives (I love olives) and added some bacon bits and pepperoni too!

Put it into the oven for around ten minutes but keep checking it!

Here's my final result!

Abi :)

Review: Bomb Cosmetics' Robin's Nest Bath Brulee

So being the lemon I am when I put this into the bath I was EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED "It's not even fizzing!" I thought. I had been very much looking forward to using my Bomb Cosmetics product especially as it was a Christmas present.

Whilst in the bath in my fury I searched up Bomb Cosmetics on my phone and BAM this wasn't a bath bomb, it was a bath brulee!! I really liked this product once over the disappointment about the fact I thought it was a bath bomb and then wasn't acting like one! It's so creamy and fizzes gently during the duration of your bath, not like a bath bomb where it all fizzes out in a few minutes - or seconds!

I also loved the design, it literally looks edible...I assure you they're NOT! I thought it was so sweet how, not only was it designed as a cupcake, but also in a cake case!

Overall, I really enjoyed my first Bomb Cosmetics product of 2015!

Abi :)

Photos: Scotland

Hi chums!

Last Summer I was invited to my first ever wedding (WOO!) and to make it even more special it was in Scotland (WOO!) on a boat on one of their famous lochs (WOOOO!). I thought I'd do another photo post for you to show you the wonders of Scotland I enjoyed! 

Hope you enjoy!

Abi :)

I Wish... For a Cat

I almost want to apologise for the number of times I have mentioned how much I WANT A CAT, then again this just had to be my first thing on my wishlist series as it's been on my wishlist for literally a decade! 

Yes, I said I'd be realistic BUT I seriously want a cat and I don't think anyone understands just how much! I fudging adore cats they're so pretty and funny and feline and I just love them! I don't want to be a crazy old cat lady (actually I kind of do) but I'd love to have about 4 cats when I move out - good luck to whoever is living with me!

Any fellow cat lovers out there?

Abi :)

Where I'm Going on my Holiday

As I have mentioned in a previous post (WANTED: Guest Bloggers - if anyone else would like to do a guest post you're more than welcome!) I am going on holiday soon eeeek! It is the first time I've 'properly' been abroad and I'm VERY excited! I'm going with my boyfriend and it's also our first 'proper' holiday too so it's super special!

Source

Enough waffling and onto the holiday itself! WE'RE DOING A 3000 MILE ROAD TRIP ROUND EUROPE!!!!! Ahem, yes excited was perhaps an understatement...

Firstly, we're going to be spending a few days - including Valentine's Day - in Paris, then head to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, followed by a stay in Rome and finish off our stay in Italy with Venice (which I am probably MOST looking forward to!) 

After Italy we're heading to Switzerland and straying over to Liechtenstein for a look around and then will end up in Germany. After Germany we're going to Luxembourg and then Amsterdam and finishing off our European road trip in Belgium!

Source

So, I hope you understand why I'd REALLY APPRECIATE some guest bloggers for the while I'm on holiday and look forward to all the posts and photos I'll be posting after my trip!

Abi :)

A New Series!

Hi chums!

For a few months last year I did a "My Favourite..." blog series where I talked about one of my favourite things in each post, be it films, music or make up. 

I've decided I'd like to do a new blog series that would act as an extensive wishlist - I'll do one "wishlist" a week. I'll be doing them every Wednesday so keep your eyes peeled!

Abi :)

REVIEW: The Imitation Game

Source

Last year the town down the road from me was buzzing: there was so much traffic and a lot of delays and  it looked as though it was a town from decades ago, the reason: they were filming The Imitation Game (eek!) A few of the local boys I know were actually extras in the film too (in the flashback scenes from the school) so that was super cool to know!

I've always been a fan of biopics and films based on real events so wanted to watch this when I saw the trailer a few months ago. The film is based on the life of Alan Turing who was a great mathematician and computer scientist and during the Second World War worked for the British Government to break German ciphers (codes). I can't really say much more than that without spoiling the film, but the film does explore Turing's relationships and sexuality which is nice as it allows the film to be more accessible to people (like me) who don't really understand coding and Enigma. 

Benedict Cumberbatch plays a very convincing Turing with mood swings and varied emotions displayed throughout the course of the 114 minute film. If you're a Downton Abbey fan (also like me!) you'll recognise Allen Leech who plays John (plays Tom in Downton) in the film and is also another very interesting character...

The film has been nominated for a whopping 8 Oscars including Best Motion Picture, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. I'd really recommend this film to anybody who loves biopics, Benedict Cumberbatch or anything to do with World War Two!

Abi :)

A Few Poems

As I have said countless times before I really love to write, so I thought I'd share with you a few of my poems I've written: 

Schoolhood

Start in Reception and count to ten

 Learn joined up handwriting with your first Biro pen

Read simple books like The Magic Key

Write short stories titled ‘All About Me’

Learn about Egyptians, Tudors and Kings

Draw self-portraits and paint wonderful things

Do harder Maths like times table and addition

Learn about electricity, materials and nutrition

Join after school sport clubs with games, toys and bats

Sit down at a desk and do your Year 6 SATS

Secondary school now you’re new again and scared

You’ve got countless pens and books though so you’re definitely prepared

You learn local Geography, navigation and map skills

Making recipes in food tech like smoothies and pasta meals

Acting in Drama playing team building games

You begin to feel more confident and learn lots more names

You’re made to sing in music but just a few lines

Read about World War 2 and conditions in the mines

Wear a white lab coat and learn the elements table

In Physics learn about force and what makes something unstable

Develop views on Religion, laws and society

Talk about World affairs and personal things like anxiety

Play netball, rounders and hockey in the rain

You’ve learnt so much – imagine the size of your brain

There’s still more learning which needs to be complete

So up to Year 10 you reluctantly greet

You’ve chosen your options and there’s just two years to go

In Drama you’re assessed on acting in the school’s Summer show

Work becomes harder like components of a cell

You worry about exams but teachers say you’re doing well

Develop a passion for languages Spanish and German

Practice and practice as your grade it will determine

Pythagoras’s theorem in Maths as well as surds

You come home and tell your Mum, she thinks it sounds absurd

And so the final year has just arrived for you

Homework and coursework are nearly always due

Time becomes precious, you want everything to last

Yet the dates of your exams are coming round so fast

You sit in the exam hall tapping your pen

You’ve splurged out everything you’ve learnt yet have to do it again

Another ten exams come quickly your way

But once they’re done they’re done, there’s nothing left to say

You’ve learnt all those things and made several friends too

So if you had a replay button what would you do?

Future Jobs Throughout The Ages

When I was in nursery I wanted to be a fairy

They were so pretty and could fly!

Then a nursery worker

I loved my fellow toddler friends

A vet

Because who doesn’t want to stroke animals all day

An English teacher

So I could read and write whenever I pleased

A sports coach

Encouraging people to be as fit as me!

A journalist

To document to the World of today’s happenings

A poet

To rhyme, to make you laugh or cry

An author

Because I’d love my name to be on the front of a book

An actor

On the West End with my name in dazzling lights

A broadcaster

On the BBC news, the public clinging onto my every word

Those were my dream jobs

Do you remember what yours once were?

Love

You can’t stop thinking about someone

Get jealous and fight

Make up passionately all through the night

Their scent drives you crazy

You care so much

Want to do everything with them

Crave their soft touch

Gone for an hour, a day or a week

The thought of them not being there just makes you feel bleak

They bring out a side to you no one else can

A side and a smile you reserve just for them

Experience a sense of warmth and security

Talk deep meaningful nonsense until 11.30pm

Share both happiness and sadness, good and bad times

You push each other’s buttons and cross each other’s lines

But there’s no such thing as perfect

Fairytales aren’t real

Just know that they are worth it

The pain, the tears and the sacrifices too

But not forgetting the good stuff

Presents, love, company and someone who genuinely cares

A feeling so real and raw

So powerful yet delicate

In all this strangeness it fits like a glove

That’s when you know it must be love

Abi :)

WANTED: Guest Bloggers

Hi chums,

As you can tell from the title I am in need of some guest bloggers to write posts that will be published over a week in February when I am on holiday (more to come on that soon!) I'm looking for at least 5 bloggers but any more is of course welcome, please comment or contact me through my blog or Twitter and let me know if you're interested in doing a post for me.

I'd really like the topic to be a travel experience/holiday, it doesn't have to be anything grand like a gap year in Africa (although that would be cool!) it can be as little from a trip to the beach, just any travel experience with a few nice photos would be great!

Any takers?

Abi :)

REVIEW: Simple Facial Wash

I have been using this face wash for a while now and the first thing that becomes apparent is just how gentle it is on your face, I often use it to remove foundation and it works so well. It has a creamy formula which becomes foamy once worked into the face. However, because it is so gentle I never really feel like my face is PROPERLY clean so I usually work the face wash into my face for a while to make sure it's not just sitting on my skin and then remove it with a flannel. 

This product is very affordable too being under £4 in most high street shops, Simple is known for being very natural, with no artificial colours or smells so is also nice to use instead of a fruity smelling orange paste! 

Overall I really like this product, I use it alongside a trusty face exfoliant and it's nice and soothing to use after my face has been exfoliated but I also find it works well when used before I exfoliate too!

What face washes do you enjoy using?

Abi :)

PHOTOS: Evening at Glastonbury Tor

The other evening my boyfriend and I decided to take a bit of a road trip to Glastonbury Tor to do some timelapses (long exposure photos) with his camera. I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you!

P.S. Let me know what you think of photo posts - yay or nay?

Abi :)

REVIEW: Luxury Lush Pud

Back with my lush bath bombs and my first one I used this year was the Luxury Lush Pud, I got a lot of Lush products for Christmas as you may have seen in my 'What I Got For Christmas' post, and wanted to use the most 'festive' ones first...I'm really not going to want to be using 'Dashing Santa' in April!

I really liked this bath bomb it was so colourful and turned the bath a lovely red/pink colour, it also smelled of Christmas but not overly in your face! What I love about Lush bath bombs is that they're so big, and this was probably one of the biggest ones I've used. It also formed lots of bubbles which lasted a long time especially if you put some bubble bath or shower gel in there too! I noticed some glitter on my body halfway through my bath and (unfortunately I wasn't turning into a fairy) it turns out there's some fine glitter in there too, don't worry it is very subtle I hardly noticed it at all!

Overall, this is a very festive and colourful bath bomb and will most probably be buying it again!

Abi :)

Review: Annie

Source

As some of you may know, I LOVE MUSICALS so when I saw the trailer for this film I really really wanted to see it! It's a remake of the original and some things have changed a lot, Annie herself is physically very different from the original Annie which I think is good as this film really captures the multicultural society we all live in. 

I loved the songs, my favourites include: "Tomorrow", "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here" the songs aid the upbeat feel to the film, however I did feel that because the songs are quite old and already well-known, performing them in a 21st century set up seemed a little mismatched. 

I think the time in which this version of Annie is set also means that some of the characters are less realistic and believable for example Cameron Diaz's character Hannigan should (in my opinion) be a lot like Ms Trunchbull from Matilda during the majority of the film, so having an actress like Cameron Diaz playing her made this character less believable for me. 

Overall though, this is a feel good film and the songs are great to sing along to as well as enjoying a happy ending!

Abi :)

First Ever Topshop Jeans

I know chums, I know I am wayyy behind most of you with going to Topshop and buying jeans (I've literally only bought sweets and socks from there before!) but their jeans are pretty pricey so I've always avoided going there until ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH and I was desperate for some skinny jeans that weren't going to wear away or become baggy after a few washes!

These were £38 and are my first ever pair of black jeans as well! They are quite thin which worries me a bit because I don't want them to wear away or get holes in them after spending quite a lot of money on them, but they ARE skinny which I am happy with! 

As I am (clearly) a peculiar body type I struggle a lot with jeans because of my short legs so skinny jeans which are too long look baggy because I have them all bunched up at the bottom to fit my feet through! These are length 30 and are on the longer side but I'm not complaining because they're comfortable with a bit of stretch in them and because they're black they go with a lot of my outfits too!

Where do you get your jeans from?

Abi :)

Sturdy Boots Under £10

The other day I went to town with my friend with the intention to get some new shoes, a belt and some jeans, for the first time in ages I actually managed to get all of those things so I was very pleased when I came back home with all my goodies!

These boots are from Primark and were just £10, I couldn't believe it at first I thought maybe they were in the wrong place but no! They are very sturdy boots with a good tread, they are fairly waterproof and with spray and polish they will be even more so. There's also a fleecy lining inside of them which makes them very comfortable and quite warm too and I like that the laces can be done all the way up to the top but can also be done to halfway or however you like them to be!

I have a feeling I'll be wearing these shoes a LOT in the next few months, I'm so happy I found them and bought them for such good value too!

Abi :)