Everything Erin

Every summer I aim to read a few books while I have the time to spare. During the school year sadly it is rare I make time for books - especially studying English Literature next year I feel like the only reading I do will be the kind of books I study, not books I would go and choose for myself! So over the summer I have read three books I just had to share my thoughts about with you all.

I Was Here - Gayle Forman

 

Holding Up The Universe - Jennifer Niven

Having read Jennifer Niven's novel 'All The Bright Places' I was intreguied to read her next, Holding Up The Universe. Just like in All The Bright Places, it is written in the point of view of both a girl and a boy, Jack and Libby, with the characters viewpoint alternating each chapter. Again, similar to Niven's previous novel, it's a story of the two characters finding themselves, while also finding love. It may be the least favourite of these three books I've read, simply because I found myself reading it so I could write my opinion of it in this post, not because I really wanted to read it. I didn't find either of the characters the most interesting and the storyline was pretty predictable, but it was a decent read.

The One We Fell In Love With - Paige Toon

Being a part of the blogging community, I often see drama arise about a variety of different issues to do with blogging. Recently there's been a lot of talk about bloggers ‘wasting their voice’ and writing about pointless topics, and how unfair this view of us is.

Blogging has grown and grown over the past few years and I hope it keeps growing, with more and more people creating blogs and being welcomed into this amazing community. The majority of bloggers I have dealt with on social media have been the loveliest of people, but you have to bear in mind - likewise in any community - there are those who seem to try and bring others down.

Lately I've read a few blog posts by bloggers who seem to look down on those of us who like to take a good marble flatlay and write about our favourite lipsticks. But is being a "typical blogger" really a bad thing?

It really saddens me that there's this idea of a “typical blogger” who writes about pointless topics and only care about pretty photos. All bloggers work hard, whatever kind of topics they write about. It can be difficult, but it's definitely the best thing I've ever done.


Blogging shouldn't be about putting others down for the way they use their platform or the way they take their photos. So what if I like marble? So what if you don't? The blogging community is so broad that you can literally blog about anything, and this shouldn't be seen as a problem.

My biggest tip to bloggers is you do you. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, if you enjoy writing, then write. If you enjoy taking your photos on a marble background with copper props, you do that. If that isn't your thing, that's okay too! But don't bring other bloggers down for being into that.


*The irony that I didn't use a marble background in this post! I'm on holiday, it's the best I could do*

Quickly I would love to say thank you all for helping me reach 1000 followers on bloglovin! Another huge debate about blogging is how important the numbers and statistics are, and although I don't think it's the most important thing, it really reminds me how far I've come over the past 3 years here! Thank you so much, it means the world :)

Recently I went on a trip to Liverpool and bought a few items of clothing - I actually didn't buy any makeup whatsoever, can you believe it? Although it is because I'm waiting until I go to the duty free at the airport when I go away soon. So while I wasn't shopping for makeup I managed to find some amazing clothes finds for some really good prices.

Firstly I headed to Hollister, since it is one of my favourite shops and had a sale on. One of the items I ended up getting was full price, this lace vest in blue. They did a selection of colours, from burgundy, white and black but I settled on the blue because it's totally different to everything I own and for £15 I thought it was really nice.


I also picked up a pair of jeans from Hollister from their sale, where jeans were only £15 each which is amazing since usually they are about £40. I bought a pair of their high rise super skinny in a mid wash blue with rips in and they are such good quality.


Next I went to SuperDry, a shop I haven't actually been to in ages, but I thought I would pop in since they also had a sale on. There I found out SuperDry do the most amazing selection of summer clothes, all on sale half price.


 I got a pair of navy shorts which are so comfortable and a playsuit. I love playsuits in summer and I wanted one for wearing in the evening on holiday. I love this one I found for £20 on the sale; normally I wouldn't go for a playsuit predominantly black (I like a contrast to my long, dark hair) but I really like it on and knew I wouldn't find one I like more, especially for the price.

In Pull & Bear I got a lovely striped t-shirt which was only £9.99. I love checking out the Pull & Bear store in Liverpool since there aren't many round here and their clothing is so nice and inexpensive.


I also bought another t-shirt from Jack Wills who had a sale on. I wouldn't normally buy such a colourful t-shirt nowadays (I mostly live in burgundy, navy or white) but I love the style of it, it's more cropped and boxy which I find so flattering to wear with high-waisted jeans and it was £9.95 so really good value, since Jack Wills t-shirts are great quality.

Something I was on a hunt for this trip was a pair of denim shorts which I managed to find in Forever 21. They were so comfortable when I tried them on and exactly what I wanted - I thought they were great for the £13 it said on the tag, but when I got to the till they were only £4.99 which I was amazed at.


The final item I picked up was this blush pink sweater in Topshop which has "New York City" embroidered on it. Again, I thought the price of it was really good for £24 it's really nice quality which you would expect from Topshop, and so comfortable. I literally live in sweaters in the autumn (and on the dull days in our British summer) so I know I am going to get tons of wear out of it.

We all have those makeup products that without them, our makeup routine just wouldn't be the same. They are the products we repurchase time after time. They are unbeatable, many products have tried and failed to beat my favourite highlighter or foundation, and that is why they are my everyday makeup essentials.

L'Oreal Touche Magique Concealer

I feel like I rave about this one so often but I'm currently on my second one because it just has to be my favourite concealer. It's so great as well that it's a drugstore favourite because it's also really affordable while having such sleek packaging which fits in a makeup bag so easily. The shade 'rose beige' matches my skin perfectly to conceal blemishes and I also use it to prime my eyelids before eyeshadow so it is a staple throughout my makeup routine.

Rimmel Stay Matte

I've just hit pan on my second Stay Matte because I've never seemed to find a powder that does it justice, especially for the price. It sets my base all day and does exactly what it says on the tin. I just can't fault it and that's why it is an essential for me.

Benefit High Beam

Now I'm a liquid highlight kinda gal, and it's all thanks to the wonderful product that is High Beam from Benefit. I often struggle to find highlighters actually light enough for my face but the shade of High Beam is just right for me.

It adds a gorgeous glow to the top of my cheekbones and really gives that sunkissed look. It also brightens up my face but is subtle about doing it. I'll sometimes apply a powder highlight on top for a more intense glow but often use it on its own. It's so rare I will wear makeup without this so I can't recommend it enough.

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

Since I got the Naked Ultimate Basics palette a few months ago I have hardly done a full face of makeup without using it. Although I often pair it with other palettes, there is one shade in particular, 'Commando', which I think is the perfect transition shade in the crease to begin the eye look. I also try and use the shade 'Extra Bitter' whenever possible because it's a stunning burnt orange that I just can't get enough of!

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Although I only have a sample size of this, (I can't justify £20 on a mascara okay I'd rather spend it on lipstick) the They're Real mascara has to be one of the best I've tried, therefore one I am always reaching for. It provides enough volume and length on its own and is just an essential for me after eyeshadow.

MAC Honey Love

Don't get me wrong, Velvet Teddy from MAC is my favourite lipstick of all time, but Honey Love is my everyday essential lipstick. It's a very 'your lips but better' shade and isn't too light or too dark for every day. It matches any eye look because it's such a neutral nude shade and I think would suit all skin tones universally.

Lytham Festival is an event I am always so excited for every year. Having concerts from the likes of McBusted come and perform so local to me every August is so good, and this year the Festival welcomed back Olly Murs who I made sure I went to see.

Olly last graced the Lytham green stage five years ago, in 2012, which was a concert I really enjoyed, so three albums later I was excited to see him again.


I decided to start queuing from about 2pm, since I really wanted a good spot and it wasn't at all far for me to travel. Four hours and a rain shower later, we were into the Festival Arena and had a spot on the second row which I was really happy with.


The first act of the night was band The Tailormade who were actually quite good, especially since one of the members was actually from Lytham. They played mostly original songs which were good although obviously the crowd didn't know them at all.


They were followed by Louisa Johnson, past X Factor winner who I was really impressed with. She was definitely one of the best support acts I've seen (with the likes of Conor Maynard and Tinie Tempah) and she didn't seem so much of a supporting act, more like the act I would come and pay to see!

She played some covers such as Ed Sheeran's Shape of You and also some of her own music, such as Best Behavior, Tears and a new song that will be on her debut album I am very excited for.


Olly Murs came onto the stage at quarter to nine after a countdown that got the crowd really excited. He began with his single You Don't Know Love and continued with hits such as Wrapped Up and Grow Up. He immediately had the crowd going as you can tell straight away that he is a real performer.


A highlight for me was Louisa coming back onto the stage to join Olly with Unpredictable, their latest single together. It was so much fun to see the two of them perform together and I really love that song.


I also loved how much banter Olly had with the crowd; I think it is so important at a concert to have a bit of a laugh and I think it can be quite difficult for solo acts but he has so much fun on stage. From singing 'Singin In The Rain' when it started raining and 'I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside' because Lytham is a seaside town, he is such an entertainer and guarantees a memorable performance.

Alongside his biggest hits Olly performed some covers, such as Superstition (his X Factor audition song) and a whole medley of songs from different eras including Can't Stop The Feeling which I really enjoyed. I also loved how he would always end each song with a different pose, it was a really unique addition to the show.


It was amazing to see Olly's old classics such as Heart Skips A Beat and Dance With Me Tonight live but I also loved the newer songs such as Years & Years, which is a really heart-felt song that he ended on. There were also songs you could really dance to as well, such as Troublemaker so it was really fun.


 I loved seeing Olly and Louisa at Lytham festival, especially because it was so close to home. I would really recommend seeing Olly on the rest of his summer tour or perhaps when he next does an arena tour because I imagine the show would be just as fun in an arena.

I'm really not a huge fan of chart music at the moment it seems, however there have been a few tracks over the past couple of months that have really stood out to me. The songs I have recently been listening to are the ones that in a way, define my summer, so here are a few of my latest favourites.

Crying In The Club by Camila Cabello is the first song on my playlist, I really like this song. There have been a few great songs lately from solo female artists including Malibu by Miley Cyrus which I was so pleasantly surprised by and I think it has really good vibes to it. I also have been enjoying Bad Liar, Selena Gomez latest single, I heard it first on the music channel and really liked the video so I ended up liking the song a lot too.

When I heard DNCE's latest song Kissing Strangers I wasn't very keen and although I still don't like Nicki Minaj's addition to the track (I really dislike her) I really like the chorus and I think it is quite a fun song, like Cake By The Ocean was last summer.

Cut To The Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen is another song I have been loving this month. I feel like she is really good at producing summery pop songs and although I'm not a huge fan of her previous songs I do really like this one, it's a real feel good summer song. Similarly Dua Lipa's single New Rules also features on my playlist, I've liked her other releases as well and this one hasn't dissapointed.


The Script's new single Rain is probably my favourite song on this month's playlist, although at first I wasn't as excited about it as some of their other singles such as Superheroes, it really has grown on me. However I can't listen to it too much because it gets stuck in my head so bad! I am so excited to see it live when I go and see them on tour at the end of the month.

Finally on my playlist is Rose-Colored Boy by Paramore; Hard Times featured on my last playlist which I still listen to a lot, but when I have had a listen to their After Laughter album on Spotify the second track, Rose-Colored Boy really stood out to me in particular. I think it's such a good song and I am loving their sound at the moment.
 

What have you been listening to lately?