Everything Erin

Throughout the entirety of my A Levels, I never got chance to read a book unless it was something for my courses, or to potentially put on a personal statement. So, this summer marked the first time in a long time that I could decide exactly what I wanted to read for fun. I haven't managed to read tons, but the books I have read have stood out to me so much that I wanted to share them on the blog. There's a mix of everything - from historical, autobiographical to fiction.

THE BOOKS I READ

Unusually for me, most of the books I have read have actually been read on my iPad rather than a physical copy of the book. Some of these are on the Kindle app - you can get free or very cheap copies of so many classic novels - I downloaded many and only got round to reading one! The other app I use regularly is BorrowBox, an app that links to your local country library where you can reserve, borrow, renew and return books like you would at a library, but at the ease of an app. It has got me reading a lot more when huge best sellers are available for free.

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz - Heather Morris

The first book I read was a true story, retold very much in the format of a novel, about the experience of a Holocaust suvivor, Lale, a Slovakian Jew. I was really caught up in this book and had to find out his fate so I read it in two days flat - typical for me, I don't read for months and suddenly it is all I do! Although I'd heard a lot of praise for the book before I read it, afterwards I read criticisms about the style of the writing - it was originally meant to be a film script, so there isn't lots of fancy description. But considering the topic of the book, I think this is perfect, to allow the reader to focus truly on the hardships experienced. The author had written a second book about another survivor mentioned in this book, published in October which I can't wait to read.

The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

I had always wanted to read this modern classic - I saw so many people studying it for A Level and I am so sad my college didn't do it! It isn't too long so it is the perfect summer read, easily finished in a couple of days, set in 1920s New York which of course is the reason why I wanted to read it so much. It really focuses on the darker side of the glitzy 20s and being published in the heart of the era itself it reveals so much about the true setting. I watched the film afterwards and as much as I liked it, it certainly didn't live up to my version in my head as I was reading the book!

Becoming - Michelle Obama

I've been really excited to read Michelle Obama's autobiography since it came out and it certainly didn't disappoint. It's a long one, so it felt like it was taking a while to read but it was so worth the read. Of course, I was most looking forward to reading about her experience living in the White House, how that huge change affected her and her family life, but I equally enjoyed reading about her childhood and her story of 'becoming' herself. Her story reveals the huge inequalities faced in US society in the past few decades and even today, something that is really emphasised in the book as it is a huge part of her life. There were parts that had me on the verge of tears and many that made me laugh too so it was a really enjoyable read, one I wholeheartedly recommend. 

Fall and Rise: The Story Of 9/11 - Mitchell Zuckoff

This book, my most recent read, compiling stories of both the survivors and victims of 9/11 was harrowing and heartbreaking, a difficult one to put down. Zuckoff tells the tale of the devastating day in three parts - the air, the ground, and the aftermath, which gives you a real insight into not only the devastation and destruction caused but also the incredible acts of heroism.
He has conducted such in-depth interviews with survivors and the victims' families that make the book as captivating as it is hard to read. For me, only 10 months old at the time, 9/11 is part of history so it really gave me a deeper understanding of how it affected people on a very personal level.

THE BOOKS I BOUGHT

Paris Echo - Sebastian Faulks

The first two books I bought recently were part of a Waterstones Buy One Get One Half Price offer, which was really good value. Often I have a look in Waterstones as I like to look at physical copies of books, then order them cheaper online but this time it was actually better value in Waterstones which is great.

The first of the two is called Paris Echo, a novel which when I read the description really captivated me and persuaded me to get it. It is about two teenagers set in Paris, and it seems one has a connection to the occupation in WW2, and the other to the Algerian war. These are both periods we learnt about a lot in French last year so I really wanted to expand my knowledge in the context of a novel - I can't wait to give it a read!

A History Of The World In 21 Women - Jenni Murray

I saw this a few months ago and thought it looked so interesting. When deliberating which book I would buy as my second choice, I spotted the paperback version of it and instantly grabbed it and took it to the till. Women are often overlooked in history so I love the idea of telling the stories of 21 women who have made a huge difference. The author covers a huge time period as well, there are women featured in there from a thousand years ago, to modern figures such as Madonna! It definitely looks like the sort of book I will find really interesting.

Expectation - Anna Hope

I actually decided to purchase this one because of a recommendation by Eleanor Claudie, I searched it up and it sounded exactly like something I wanted to read. Surprisingly it is a novel not based on history at all, which makes a real change to my current bookshelf! It is a story about three women who are unhappy with how their lives turned out, compared to the lives they envisaged for themselves as teenagers. As a very ambitious young person beginning university, it felt like the perfect book to read at this time.


I read some great books this summer and I can't wait to read my three new ones. I will let you know my thoughts when I have read them! Let me know what books you have really enjoyed this summer, I will have to check them out!

EG x

As fashion comes and goes, we find ourselves constantly looking to the past for new ideas; trends really aren't brand new after all! It seems what comes around will always come back around - I'm just hoping that's not the case for skinny brows and low rise jeans, not on my watch! Instead, currently I am feeling very inspired by fashion from the seventies, as is the general consensus across the fashion world, from high street shops to designers and magazines, so here are my favourite trends from the that are working their way back into our high street shops and wardrobes today.

DENIM

Denim from the seventies is making a huge comeback and it is something everyone has taken notice of. Topshop have a whole section of flared jeans to explore for the iconic seventies look, but if that feels a little out of your comfort zone, a wider leg option, such as denim culottes could be your answer.

However, when it comes to styling denim with a 70s flair, you definitely don't need to stop at jeans. Denim dresses are everywhere right now and perfectly give a nod to the decade of denim. Similarly an A Line button through denim skirt adds the 70s denim look while also super versatile; I own one similar in my wardrobe and it is a staple, perfect for dressing up or down.

The best thing about the focus on denim is we all own it already in some form or another, so it is super easy to give your look a seventies spin without spending anything at all!

JUMPSUITS

I'm a huge jumpsuit fan, so I am not surprised they were one of the ultimate seventies essentials. While back in the era they were most associated with disco, in eye-catching prints, these days you'll find one to suit any occasion to make you feel effortlessly put together, with a classic nod to the seventies.

TROUSER SUITS

YSL pioneered the trouser suit look that exploded in the 70s and it is certainly making a resurgence today. You'll see them everywhere, from high street stores to high-end catwalks in a variety of styles and textures. The high street is giving them a modern spin by making them available in every colour under the sun, with an emphasis on pastel colours, such as baby pinks and lemon hues.

MAXI SKIRTS

Long skirts are probably the item of clothing that has made the biggest comeback this year, and an item I am super fond of. It's definitely the biggest way this year seventies style has made its way into our high street stores. They have been modernised by appearing in an array of colours and prints - New Look love a floral number, I can tell you that now!

RICHARD ALLAN X H&M COLLECTION

While this new H&M collection is inspired by the swinging 60s, personally I feel the colour schemes lend itself better to early 70s style; the burnt oranges, khakis and neutrals. The styles such as plenty of long, maxi skirts are also perfect throwbacks to the era. The scarf scrunchie featured in the collection reminded me of the hair style worn by Felicity Jones' portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the film On The Basis Of Sex (recently watched & loved), set in 1970 - a style I totally love.

The whole collection, in my opinion, is the idea of seventies style in the modern day to a tee. I had already started putting together this post before it was revealed and it felt like it was made for me to feature here. In the window of H&M at the Trafford Centre, the mannequins wear the style with some very 2019 chunky white trainers which really modernises the look.

COLOUR

The seventies styles are truly dominated by their rich colour palette of burnt oranges, mustards and other earth tones. Going into the autumnal season, it is without a doubt that mustard will be a staple shade just like it was back in the day, with a couple a mustard tones recently creeping their way into my wardrobe over the past year or so. The earthy colour palette is a perfect throwback to the seventies in 2019 because you'll probably find a lot of this in your current wardrobe anyway, because its neutrality makes it match with almost everything.

MOODBOARD

I got my inspiration from Seventies looks past and present - even found a few items in my wardrobe that I felt lent themselves to the theme.

SHOP THE EDIT

My favourite seventies inspired style in the shops right now:



I absolutely loved combining my two loves of fashion and history in this post and would love to do similar such posts, perhaps in a little more depth! How could you inject a bit of seventies style into your look?

EG x

Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks have to be some of my all-time favourites. Not only for the quality and the clever names they all have, but they are all so pretty. Her original range, in a variety of formulas, comes in beautiful rose gold packaging, but her new collection, the second Hot Lips range, are even prettier - both the packaging, which comes in five different types, and the shades themselves.

Priced at £28, the Hot Lips 2 lipsticks certainly aren't cheap, but they're worth it for a treat, as was my reason for purchase. They feel very luxurious, heavier than the average lipstick, and are also able to be refilled, with refill bullets at a cheaper price, so it is value for money in this sense.


The hot lips 2 range includes 11 lipsticks in a range of shades, from light nudes, to pinks, reds and even a clear balm. Charlotte Tilbury named the eleven shades each after people she considers 'iconic', and of course without even seeing the shades, I instantly knew I had to get the one inspired by Jennifer Aniston, called 'Glowing Jen'.

Fortunately, this definitely is the shade best suited to me too, a gorgeous pink toned nude. It definitely makes a change from all the brown tones I wear! It is super flattering and I imagine this would be the case for all skin tones. While I felt some of the nudes in the collection were a bit too light for even my pale complexion, Glowing Jen has plenty of colour and pigment.


My other Charlotte Tilbury lipstick is from her matte range, so above all I was interested to see what the formula turned out like. I would consider it a creamy formula, but unlike a lot of cream lipsticks I own, it is still plenty pigmented so a real win-win. To say it is a cream, it doesn't feel uncomfortable on the lips at all, instead very hydrating, as the product description promises. It lasted a surprisingly long time on the lips too, and evenly faded so I am really impressed.


A huge pull of these lipsticks is the packaging, for sure. The hot lips collection comes in 5 different designs, from a night sky which fits perfectly to the one inspired by JK Rowling, to the leopard print featured in my shade. While I've never been a huge leopard print fan, I think as a lipstick it looks so pretty! I also love how if you had a few shades, you can mix and match the packaging.


I also really love the idea of being able to purchase a refill to pop back into your packaging when you've finished the lipstick, it definitely motivates me to try and finish it eventually! These are only £19 which is really good value compared to Charlotte Tilbury's usual lipstick price. You could refill it with the shade you finished, or even perhaps try something new which is really fun.


If you haven't tried a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick before, I seriously recommend trying these ones out. While they do sound pricey, it is worth a real treat because you know this is a lipstick that is going to get its money worth - and if nothing else, it's inspired by Jennifer Aniston, so it's practically Friends merch!

EG x

'I’m just fed up.’
 

EG x 

When it comes to summertime makeup, for me I love a natural base paired with a gorgeous highlighter for a soft glow. While this look suits all year round, it is certainly what comes to my mind in summer, so today I am sharing with you the highlighters you need, in three different formulas - a powder, a cream and a liquid finish, perfect for everyone.

THE POWDER GLOW - Colourpop's Supershock Highlight in Flexitarian

Colourpop's Supershock powder highlighters are genuinely out of this world, so much so that when I purchased mine in the shade Flexitarian, it was basically the only highlighter I used for a year! I seriously could not get enough of it.
It is so easy to apply, dabbing it with a finger onto the tops of your cheekbones, browbone etc, and gives an everlasting glow throughout the day. I love how pigmented it is, which of course is a given being a Colourpop product, and although they have a huge shade range I would really recommend Flexitarian - the champagne-gold tone is really flattering and pretty.

THE CREAM GLOW - Fenty Beauty's Shimmer Stick in Starstruck

My most recent makeup purchase is certainly a good one; when Fenty Beauty arrived in Boots I knew I had to try something from the range, and I settled on a shimmer stick because I didn't own anything like it. Again, super easy to apply, straight from the stick onto your skin, or dabbing on with your finger if you want a lighter glow. I went for the shade Starstruck which is a pink toned highlight, probably the second lightest in her collection so perfect to add some glow while also leaving a natural finish.

The packaging is also so stunning and sleek in the light pink - they are also magnetic so if you get more, or one of her foundation sticks they all stick together! It has impressed me so much I am really interested in trying some more products, her powder highlighter duos really impress me too.

THE LIQUID GLOW - L'Oreal's True Match Liquid Glow Illuminator in Icy Glow

Back in the day I was a real liquid highlighter lover because of how easy it is to blend into the skin for a natural yet glowing look. The L'Oreal liquid illuminator is my personal favourite because it is a perfect dupe of Benefit's High Beam - the pink iridescent shade is an almost exact match, while you get way more product for your money, lasting you absolutely ages!

EG x

I'm a huge fan of high-end beauty, but it is often the case that there are alternative, more affordable brands that are just as good quality at a lower price point. I'm always interested in saving a few pounds, so I have rounded up my favourite beauty brands with an affordable price point, sharing the best products from their range.

The Best Affordable Beauty Brands  

Colourpop

Colourpop's slogan is 'beauty that doesn't break the bank', so it's an obvious feature in this post! Colourpop is one of my all-time favourite brands, especially because products are super affordable, I can really get behind some $6 lipsticks that feel like they cost over double! I love how their products are also so unique, they're really trying new things such as the supershock shadows, which are incredibly pigmented! The only downside to Colourpop for UK readers like myself is that shipping can be pricey, however if you wait for one of their free, no minimum spend international shipping offers, you couldn't get any better.

Price Range: $5 - $18
Best Products: Supershock Eye shadows, Supershock Highlighters, Lux Lipsticks
Read More: My Favourite Products From Colourpop

Revolution

The Revolution brand has done exactly that, revolutionised drugstore makeup in the UK and beyond. They don't even own one brand nowadays but three, the original makeup revolution brand, I heart revolution (mostly dupes), and Revolution Pro, my favourite of the three. The Pro range looks so sleek it could almost be high end, except from the fact its price point is so low. Sure, sometimes the quality isn't quite the best, but it is worth trying because you could find your new favourite product at a bargain of a price.

Price Range: £1 - £15
Best Products: Concealer, Palettes, Soph Lipsticks
Read More: Revolution First Impressions

Morphe

Morphe was the brand that actually inspired me to write this post, because I am absolutely blown away at the fact Morphe sell 35 pan eyeshadow palettes for only £23, that are not only the cult favourites of beauty bloggers everywhere, but also makeup artists too. These products are seriously professional quality, and yet at a really affordable price point. Now Morphe have begun opening stores across the UK, I would seriously recommend getting yourself to one and treating yourself to their array of products!

Price Range: £4 - £25 (although influencer collabs are much more)
Best Products: Palettes, primers and brushes
Read More: Morphe First Impressions

NYX

The NYX brand exploded about three years ago when their counters started to appear in Boots stores across the country, and there was certainly a reason for it - their products are amazing quality for the price. Nowadays I see their brand practically everywhere I turn on the high street and I feel like the hype has died down, but they definitely can't be overlooked. Their liquid lipsticks are classic favourites, almost comparable to high end quality.

Price Range: £3.50 - £22
Best Products: Lip Lingeries, Lid Lingeries, Pigments
Read More: The £4 Lipstick that Stole my Heart

But how are they so cheap?

The question many of us ask when we see such affordable makeup is often, but how exactly can it be so cheap, yet apparently the same quality as high-end brands? It seems to make no sense, and be too good to be true. So, I researched all the brands I mentioned to try and find out exactly how they keep the prices so low, but unfortunately there is no hard and fast answer.

Most of the brands have a lack of expensive, flashy advertising. These brands all seemed to appear out of nowhere to the usual consumer, but in fact these brands have been able to flourish by word of mouth online. The online beauty world, such as blogs, YouTube and social media, has promoted these brands because they are great products for a low price, something everyone can't say no to, which has led these brands to where they are today.


This is evident considering how affordable Morphe is. I couldn't get my head around how usually their palettes cost from £15-£23, yet their so-called 'beauty guru' collaborations are much more expensive. They pay these YouTubers a ton of money for advertising the product, and this drives the price right up, whereas their standard range is really good value for money.

When it comes Colourpop, their products are all designed, manufactured and shipped from their base in Los Angeles, so everything is done under one roof, rather than supplied from elsewhere. Additionally, apart from small Ulta stands in the US, Colourpop's business is entirely online, so they're not spending a ton on shelf-space.

For brands sold in Superdrug like Revolution and NYX, it is simply that they produced using cheaper ingredients, much quicker. Revolution always seem to be bringing out new palettes left, right and centre. Whilst they're not an investment product, they are great for experimenting with bold shades you don't use often, so don't want to spend lots of money on.

Affordable beauty brands - the future?

It seems certain that these makeup brands are taking the beauty world by storm and aren't stopping anytime soon. With professional quality at a small price, these brands are revolutionising the way beauty enthusiasts use makeup; it's now affordable to have an artist's style kit. While YouTube and blogs we're a huge step in making the beauty world more accessible, the average viewer could never afford half the products the YouTubers recommend, but now they can, as the two work side by side to make makeup accessible to all.

EG x 

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The Pixi skincare brand is undeniably the bloggers' iconic favourite. I'm not even exaggerating, it's definitely guaranteed that every blogger and their best friend has some on their skincare shelf. So of course, I had to try some of their products out myself to see what the fuss is all about!

I'm a pretty simple person when it comes to skincare, literally I have been using Simple's trusty products since forever, so it was exciting to try something else out and see if it made a difference. I tried products from their Best Of Bright set, which was perfect to try them in a miniature form to see if they would help my skin before going for the full-size, especially because they aren't particularly cheap!


The set comes with three products, which I would consider to be three of Pixi's best-sellers. Firstly, we have the Glow Mud cleanser. I use this in the evenings and as far as cleansers go, I find it super easy to use, popping a bit all over the face, working it in and then rinsing off. I definitely notice a difference when using it, my face feels so clean but I've noticed on days after using this, I'm a lot less oily too which I often have a problem with so I am really impressed with this one.


Then we have the cult classic, Glow Tonic. I don't consider this product as life changing as some bloggers, however I can see why it's worth the hype. It's so gentle on the skin which I consider important for a toner, and definitely provides some 'glow' as it claims to. I also love that it seriously lasts forever, I have used this tiny bottle for a while now and it's barely gone, so even though it seems quite expensive it will last ages.

The final item in the set is the Glow Mud Mask, which because it's not part of my nightly routine I do usually forget to use it in all honesty, so I can't talk about it as much as the other two. I apply it to my T-Zone, especially in times of breakouts which only ever happen on my chin, and I can definitely say it has made a difference by fighting spots as it claims.


My final product from Pixi is a full sized Glow Mist, the item I was possibly most excited to try, and the one I have been most impressed by too. I've always loved the idea of trying a mist to freshen up and it really works, making my face feel brighter. I find it best to use before makeup, or throughout the day - a reason I really wanted it was for hot summer days, and I can tell you right now as I write this at 30°c, it really helps! The only thing I would advise is not using it straight after makeup application, I thought it might work as a setting spray but nope, just made my makeup go everywhere!


I can totally see the bloggers' hype towards Pixi; all the products I have mentioned are cruelty free and suitable for vegans which is a huge step for a skincare brand. Pixi is also available in lots of stores now, I remember when it was only available in M&S and now you can get it in Boots, Selfridge's and loads of other online beauty retailers.

EG x

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While I am a huge Friends fan, there are also other shows which deserve my love almost equally as much. Overcast days over the summer in England, just like right now it seems, as I look out of my window, are perfect for watching a new show, so I had to take this opportunity to give my best recommendations.

New Girl -

This has been one of my favourite shows for ages now, but I have been rewatching a few episodes since it's on Prime nowadays, and I think I forgot how genuinely funny it really is. The characters, including ditsy main character Jess, played by Zooey Dechannel, and my two favourite characters, her roommates Nick & Schmidt are all so funny and likeable. There's some real stand out episodes for me (see Season 2's Pepperwood and Season 4's Background Check) which I constantly rewatch.

Suits -

I've watched this one on Prime up to season 8, but I'm currently rewatching it on the Paramount Network channel every weekday at 5pm, I don't know why but sometimes I like watching shows on TV rather than a streaming site, even if you have to sit through ads! Suits is one of my favourite drama series because all the main characters working at the law firm are all very different, hence there's often lots of clashes, while so many interesting cases the lawyers often impossibly solve.

The Marvellous Mrs Maisel -

I held off watching this one for quite a while because I wasn't really expecting much from an Amazon Prime series. Once I read it was set in 1950s New York I thought I may as well give it a go, and it seriously exceeded expectations so much. A feminist story following the character of Midge, a 1950s housewife turned comedienne, figuring out how to fit this new career into her family life, it's well worth the watch, providing plenty of giggles as well as drama, and I can't wait for its third season.

The Crown -

The most well-crafted, beautifully shot series I have watched has to be The Crown. The detail of the show is stunning, so many of the episodes stand out to me for this. The Netflix hit series about the Royal Family from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign is well worth the watch, I only wish there was more of it because I can't wait any longer for its third season!

Brooklyn Nine Nine -

I decided to save this one for this summer, so I'm currently on its fourth season out of six because it is SO ADDICTIVE and I often find myself watching a few episodes in one day. It is a really feel-good sit-com, set in a New York detective precinct, and what makes it stand out are definitely its character range. Once you get into the series, you realise there's certainly not one character you dislike, and there's such a range of personalities as well.

Gossip Girl -

This is actually an old favourite which I haven't watched in quite a while, but it deserved a mention because it's a really good show, a must-watch if you haven't already. I think the New York setting is what makes Gossip Girl come alive, it just makes me wish I was in Manhattan! I kind of have controversial views about the show, basically unlike a lot of the fans I hate Chuck and, even though I liked how the show ended when I watched it first, I like to invent my own ending now that I've watched it more! I would love to hear what your views are about it, especially if you have any controversial ones!