LUSH (Bubble bars)

It was really only a matter of time before I started writing LUSH tumblr posts wasn’t it?I have tried SO many lush products that I decided to start at bubble bars.  Which basically are solid bubble bath.  

Directions; With ALL of these I would cut each one into at least 2 pieces, put in small stocking and tie to my tap so that the water touches the bubble bar.  If needed agitate the water with hands or feet.  This means you get FAR more bubbles, and consequently they last longer, and you will get better value for money.

Creamy Candy; £2.75

Rating 2/5

This was the first bubble bar I ever bought.  I was intrigued!  I love the smell; very sweet and sugary.  This is the ‘Snow Fairy’ scent which comes in the form of a shower gel for the Christmas period.

I would cut this into two! I found it was moisturising, but didn’t produce much of a colour in the bath.  It it produce that many bubbles either - but I will need to revisit this one - using the stocking method and irritate the water a bit to see if it works any better.

Dorothy; £3.25

Rating 4/5

I absolutely LOVE the design of this one! Designed and named after Dorothy from The Wizard f Oz this uplifting bubble bar smells AMAZING.  A zingy scent which smells fresh and clean.  The website describes this as like ‘figs and leaves’ but to me that description sells it a little short!

I would cut this into three.  One bath with the top plus a slither from the side and the rest cut in two.  This turns the bath blue, and has a bit of added sparkle! It makes LOTS of bubbles and is a firm favourite amongst the LUSH community.

Pop in the Bath; £2.95

Rating; 3/5

This one comes in a few different colours - which gives you a little bit of choice.  I have had blue and orange colours in mine.  This smells floral and slightly powder - I love it. 

This would cut into three again for me.  A simple but effective bubble bar which produces a LOT of bubbles.  Similar to Creamy Candy, this does not offer much colour to the bath.

Sunnyside £3.75

Rating 2/5; Not great value for money - and I personally amd not too much of a fan of glitter.

This one look like the sun - hence the name! if you like sparkles and glitter this is the one for you.  Made  with plastic-free gold lustre with dissolves this turns your bath into liquid gold - and it smells like citrus.

This one only does two baths.

The Wizard (Halloween 2014 exclusive)

Rating; 3/5

This was the recent seasonal bubble bar.  This had a spicy scent which was quite mild - a definitie autumal scent.  With essence of clove, ginger and cinnamon.

For me this did 2 baths - and produced an impressive amount of bubbles. The strength of the scent however was a little disappointing.

Ma Bar; £3.75 (Lush Kitchen Exclusive)

Rating; 2/5

This bubble bar is made with cocoa powder and cocoa butter.  It smells like a chocolate milkshake!  Although it looks very cute, and it is! I personally found it a little underwhelming.

I used it for 2 baths, but it was a bit of a stretch.  The bubbles were very small and there was no added colour.

Holly Golightly; £4.75 (Christmas 2014)

Rating; 5/5

This christmas bubble is very big! It is very similar to the size of The Comforter and Brightside.  This is a spicy christmasy scent.  Inside the silver base is a bright green centre.  

I used the decoration on top for 1 bath and it was full to the brim with bubbles.  You would get at least 5 baths out of the entire things - I nearly didn’t get this - and I am SO glad I did!

It turns your bath a jade green colour, with a shimmer of silver.  Very festive and beautiful.

The Comforter

Rating; 5/5

This bubble bar in incredible.  It smells like blackcurrant and sugar and will last you at least 5 baths as it is really big.  It turns your bath bright pink and the scent lingers on your skin for ages.  It’s also very moisturising and he bubbles last for ages!

Brightside

Rating; 5/5

This is the zesty sister of The Comforter and smells like grated orange zest.  This is wake you up and brighten up your skin (and your day).  Also lasting 5 plus baths it is not to be missed.

This was orginally out for the Easter range but it was loved so much it has remained in the permanent LUSH catalogue.

Rose Jam (Pink)/ Green Bubbleroon; £3.65

Rating 3/5.

Although these technically are bubble bars they are different sort of breed.  They produce less bubbles (but still an average amount!) and leave the water more silky.  They are made with a lot of cocoa butter and are incredible luxurious and moisturising.  Not my favourite - but I do use them from time to time.  They spilt easily in two and do two baths comfortably.

Rose jam smells floral with a hint of coconut, the green is more fresh and vibrant - but they work the exact same way.

Those are the ones I have tried - I am working on the rest. :P

Lovelove. x

Taylor Swift's 1989 Review and Analysis

1.  Welcome To New York 

Taylor said on getting her friend Lorde to listen to the album this one was her favourite.  Rumoured to be about the cancelled HBO TV show The Carrie Diaries, the song is upbeat and repetitive.  A good first song, but definitely not up there for one of my favourite and I doubt I will remember it when I look back on the album.

The song embodies the excitement and bright lights of a buzzing city and the lives that occur there.  

Took our broken hearts
Put them in a drawer
Everybody here was someone else before

2. Blank Space.

The second single from the album, and from the first listen it clicked with me that this was a catchy beat that would be lip sync worthy.  The song is very tongue-in-cheek and illustrates the life that the media think Taylor has.  She writes as if she looks at men knowing they are a mere pawn in her complicated love life, and how she turns into a crazy ex and smashes up their cars wearing couture.

This is a great track, and the video is on point and demonstrates Taytay’s angle perfectly.  

'Cause darling I'm a nightmare
Dressed like a daydream

3. Style.

You’ve one guess  who this song is about… Yup probably the ‘long hair slicked back’ one direction boy with ‘the white tee shirt on’ (actual lyrics in the song).  Not what you might think think though - it’s not whiny, sad or longing.  It’s well.. stylish?

She talks about their romance through black and white lenses instead of rose tinted ones and tells their story almost as if it was set 50 years earlier.  Describing his looks as ‘like James Dean’ and hers as ‘red lipped, classic’ and saying that despite the romance not being everlasting, or necessarily love it is stylish - and it always will be.

I should just tell you to leave cause I
Know exactly where it leads but I
Watch us go round and round each time

4. Out of The Woods

Co-written with Jack Antonoff.  Another song, presumably written about the stars tumultuous relationship with 1 Direction’s Harry Styles.  This was the countdown Itunes single before the album’s release.

This song is great, full of hope for a romance which was doomed to fail.

Remember when we couldn’t take the heat
I walked out, I said “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up
You were looking at me.

 5. All You Had To Do Was Stay

So I have to say this again - another one about Harry.  This, as the title suggests focuses the the fact he was never really ready to commit.  She throughout the album references a snowmobile accident back in September, she sings in this one ‘All I know is that you drove us off the road’

She says after harry broke it off (‘This is what you wanted - you ended it’) he calls, asks for her back etc but she doesn’t believe he’ll ever commit.  The song for me is forgettable, but it’s Taylor so I love it.

Why’d you have to go and lock me out when I let you in

6. Shake It Off

This was obviously the first release of the album.  A song making fun of her inability to dance firstly, but secondly her response to media constantly criticising… well everything about her.  Taylor tell us that instead getting upset about what people say we should ‘Shake it off’, because it’s better to be happy and confident in yourself than pick yourself apart and listen to the ‘liars and the dirty dirty cheats of the world’

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

7. I Wish You Would

This is a great song.  Detailed in the end voice memo Taylor thought of a scenario (possibly Jake G) who bought a house close to Taylor’s house.  She pictured him driving past her house and wrote what she wished happened, what she wished he would do now.

The song sounds like a drive home, the drum beat mainly in the corner gives the song a sense of nostalgia and longing.  I love it.  It’s great, you should listen to it.

You always knew how to push my buttons
You give me everything and nothing

8. Bad Blood

This is a powerful song about a rift with a former friend - heavily rumoured to be Katy Perry after she told Time magazine that it was about somebody “basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour” and then some people noted that KP had hired many of T Swizzle’s dancers for her own tour back in 2013.  

Ed Sheeran picked this out as his favourite song on the album - I sadly have to disagree.  This would be the track on the album I am mostly likely to skip past - Sorry Taytay.

Band-aids don’t fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
If you live like that, you live with ghosts

9. Wildest Dreams

Hate to say it, this is probably about Harry.  It’s about Taylor asking an ex to remember her despite the fact that they are not together anymore.

I actually love the verses of this song - they almost sounds like Taylor is whispering to somebody she isn’t really meant to be talking to.  Like a dirty secret that she wants to indulge in - the chorus for me is less memorable.  

It also hints that her and Harry may have been together after the very public break-up. With the line ‘No-one has to know what we do, his hands are in my hair - his clothes are in my room.’ 

Nothing lasts forever
But this is gonna take me down
He’s so tall, and handsome as hell
He’s so bad but he does it so well

10. How You Get The Girl

Allegedly about Justin and Selena’s break up.  And how he wants her after a 6 month break up.  This is another one I am likely to skip, definitely my least favourite on the album.

11. This Love

A slower song - probably about Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff,  this song is full of echos and soft notes.

it tells the story of two people who were pushed apart and then pushed right back together.

This love left a permanent mark
This love is glowing in the dark
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me

12. I Know Places

This song has a dark sound to it of Taylor wanting to escape the cage of the spotlight inside the media - especially when she is trying to have a light-hearted romance.  She uses the analogy of foxhunting, with the hunter constantly trying to track her down.

I can hear them whisper as we pass by
It’s a bad sign, bad sign
Something happens when everybody finds out
See the vultures circling in dark cloud
Love’s a fragile little flame, it could burn out

14. Clean

Forgive the obvious pun but this song is refreshing.  When the chorus creeps up on you it bursts out of the sky and makes you feel like the drought is over.

This song is about a break-up (classic Taylor) and how after 10 months she is finally clean from her addictive boyfriend.  She tells of her pain and her stifling attachment to someone of her past.  This song is fantastic.

The drought was the very worst
When the flowers that we’d grown together died of thirst
It was months, and months of back and forth
You’re still all over me like I wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore

*Bonus Track*
14. Wonderland

Very very good track, especially the end.  It speaks of a confusing relationship with is interesting but hard to pin down, causing drama and eventually separation.

Didn’t it all seem new and exciting
I felt your arms twisting around me
I should’ve slept with one eye opened at night

*Bonus Track*
15. You Are In Love.

This was written for Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff, and it is a better version of ‘This Love’, imo.  It’s soft and poignant and soothing to listen to.  The song tells the story of the romance between the pair and showcases how much Taylor and admires their relationship.

This is one of the best tracks, and it always gives me goosebumps.  Lena Dunham states she will use this as her wedding song - but has vowed to not get married until her gay sister Grace is allowed the same right to do so.

You two are dancing in a snow globe, round and round
And he keeps the picture of you in his office downtown
You understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
And why I’ve spent my whole life trying to put it into words

16. New Romantics

This sounds like a throwback to the Speak Now era.  Also a similar sound to ‘Shake It Off’  It sounds like Taylor is expressing herself as a single woman, and the fact she has no interest in dating shown in the line ‘we are to busy dancing’.

The lyrics give the impression she wants to have fun with men, but nothing serious or anything she has to commit to.  She also speaks of the constant spotlight on this aspect of her life - and how in order to stay happy she has to disregard this altogether.

The rumours, are terrible and cruel
Buy honey most of them are true

Overall Review; A great album, a completely different Taylor from previous albums.  Admittedly I would of liked a Dear John/All Too Well type heartbreak song which is what Taylor does best (imo) and consequently what she gets criticised most for.  This album is Taylor’s first FULL Pop album, coming away from her country roots - which to be honest I did miss.

Is it her best album yet? Probably not.  However, it is more positive and upbeat.  I do miss her country/heartbreak/whiny stuff.  I just really wish she was bringing out another album next year.  

My favourite tracks; Blank Space, I Wish You Would, You are In Love.

My least favourite; How You Get The Girl, Bad Blood.

Historically Taylor releases an album every 2 years, so I await 2016 when we will hear the new album. 

What did you think of 1989? Do miss country Taylor? I would LOVE to know!

Love love. x

My old blog, my old self.

So I have recently moved to tumblr after almost 6 year of ‘writing’ on a blog over on blogspot.  A few reasons for the change - blogger didn’ have much to offer in terms of other bloggers and I wanted to find a sort-of community or at least other people in the abyss of the internet.

I have landed here and much like a landing on a desert island I don’t know where to go, what way things work or what role I am meant to play.  Which means I gotta figure that out bu creating all of the answers myself - which is, let’s face it my only option.

I seem to have found some new time to devote to writing, and as I used to be so familiar with it and now it looks like a far off cousin I haven’t seen in years - I wanted to re-embrace it.  Eff it, might as well.

On leaving my old blog space I first of all read some very old posts and very old comments.  Most of which were written by people who are not in my life anymore; old friends and old boyfriends.  The rest well, they were my internet following - all 10 of them! if they follow me onto this blog I will be genuinely surprised as my last post was May 2013 and even then the posts were months apart with barely any subtance in the previous few years.

It made me look onto the past and onto the people who were in my life and the emotions I was discovering and experiencing.  It got me thinking about what those people are doing now and if they are doing as well as me on my good days or as bad as me on my bad days.  I briefly thought of re-engaging with some of them - but quickly realised there was nothing to gain and I barely have enough time to spend with my own close circles.

As much as I loved my life back then, and thought I liked those people who were in my life - I am in a happier and more stable point in my life now.  

Lovelove. x

Love, life and long distance relationships. (Boring life update)

(Originally posted 20th November 2014)

I have moved from Blogger to tumblr.  Is that what the cool kids do?  Since I wrote a blog I have had two different jobs! The second one I am in now - and it’s very relaxing and actually giving me time to relax and catch up on writing.

So what’s new since I last wrote? New car, new job and the rest is prettyyy much the same.  I have been playing Ni No Kuni, I have been reading deathnote and I have been watching Girls (again), The Legend of Korra and American Horror Story Freak Show.

It’s a few days to my birthday where I plan to go out with family and friends over the weekend.  In December I am attending Sandra’s wedding with Gerald where we will get to see Catherine be bridesmaid.  I am very excited about this - haven’t been to a wedding in ages! Need to get a new dress!  This is on the 18th December (a week exactly before Christmas) and then I get to spend Christmas with my family at home for some cosy time off enjoying being lazy and eating a lot of chocolate.

Shortly after Christmas, on the 28th December I am going to Japan for just over a month.  I’ll be going to Karatsu, Saga prefecture and we will spend a week in Tokyo at some point.  I will be ringing in the New Year eating noodles with my ba so it’s making me happy when I am feeling unmotivated.  Also getting an international drivers permit so I can drive in Japan - so adventures!

When I return at start of Febuary it is then 2 months until my big sisters wedding which is in April.   am really looking forward to it, but we do have a lot to plan until that date comes.  Also her hen do needs to happen and we will probably travel for that - so that’s exciting!

Lovelove.
x

Belfast Christmas Market

Long time, no write.  Let's get on with it?

So the Christmas market always lands a few days before my birthday each year and alas my birthday is in 3 days and the market and been here since 15th December so here we are!

Each year up to this point I hear whispers of excitment when the market is about to land.  It's exciting because it makes so many feel very festive.  It's not hard to see why, with the lights lining all the small-house-like shops, and the congregation of winter hats and scarves.  The smell and the look is unique and draws peope from all around.  Before I really get in to this post - I DO like this Christmas market, but I can't help but be a little critical while we are pouring out our wallets on the whole novelty of it.

Firstly, I don't know about you but when I hear 'Christmas Market' I think beer tent. Isn't that the point?  Is there anything else actually in the place? Now, hear me out.  I don't drink too often (once every 2 weeks is average for me) and I have a pretty unshakable dislike for beer.  This german beer tent (there is an altnerative one for Laverys - but what's the point) offers beer, wierd beer and sweet beer.  Think fruit cider - but less sweet or gassy.  The peach one year was my favourite, the strawberry and mango are also delicious and I can't help but stop by every year at least once and have a pint or two with a friend.

Now the bad stuff.  Have you ever actually been in the tent? I work office hours during the week so I basically am restricted to drinking at socially acceptable hours of after 6pm on weekdays or weekends.  Which obviously is fine, but when it comes to the beer tent if I were to go these times I would either have to que outside it (yes this actually happens) or squeeze through the already-at-capacity to get a sweet, sweet beer.  I, admittedly can be a little lazy and the thought of waiting outside an actual tent in my free time doesn't set my heart alight.

After the waiting, the squeezing and being ID'd (You betcha I am 24, still look 16) you get up to the bar, choose your flavour and get your glorious sparkling pint.  You go to pay and they tell you the pint, in the plastic cup will be £5.  My heart sunk the first time I heard that, five pounds is a lot and if you want somewhere to drink it? I'm sorry that's 90% of the time not an option.  You stand there amongst the drunken customers not able to get a seat holding your pint which is 20p a sip.  Thank god they are sweet to counteract my bitterness.

Bonus point if you do find somewhere to sit.  Odds are you will become BFF with the group and have a really rememberable time.  We did this on my 22nd Birthday, pictured below is me and Lisa, holding our steins (I think these are £10).  If you are wondering who took this photo it was a man we met that day, became BFF's with, along with 3 others.  Who we never saw again.

Overall verdict of beer tent; Go for the novelty; stay if you find a seat and be friendly.  If you can avoid weekend evenings; you'll definitely have to queue! Avoid if you are claustrophobic, or become faint at the thought of paying £5 for a pint.

The rest of the market falls into three main categories; kids stuff (Santa's grotto and Mary-Go-Round), food and drink and craft stalls.  There could be more kid's stuff, I distinctly remember a massive snow-globe with Santa in it last year - could have only been for last year.

Food and Drink.  Disclaimer; everything is VERY expensive, and those dutch pancakes you're eating was served by a Belfast girl with an accent as strong as your morning coffee.  I don't know why about that ruined some of the authenticity of the market - not so continental anymore!

Personal highlights within Food and Drink have got to be the German hot dogs with crispy onions.  They also have giant hanging sauce bottles with a contraption not unlike an udder which you squeeze for the condiments.  Sounds rotten but seem more hygienic that having a plastic box full of ketchup with a spoon to serve yourself, which evidently the stall around the corner had.  I am not a fan of eating and walking but I can wind my neck in during the festive period and eat a hog dog with a red nose and a hat on.  There is also; hog roast, kangaroo burgers, paella, noodles, garlic bread and a whole lot more!

Not to be missed on the sweet side of the food is definitely the waffles, crepes and churros.  Then again, throw nutella over any warm pastry and I am yours.  They are delicious and ordering mine in french always makes me feel like I am the smartest person in the world. Spoiler alert; I'm not.

To take home though, it's gotta be the cheese. OH MY GOD THE CHEESE.  From ginger to garlic, cranberry to carmelised onion they have them all -  and they let you taste them all. Me and Gerald always do this, and the vendor doesn't tire of offering you more.  My favourites were; Two Smoking Barrels and Hot and Garlic.  I think these were £10 for 4.  Last year I bough 4 and left them on the bus home; please don't do this.  It will cause you endless pain.

The rest of the stuff, for me is forgettable.  Most of it is random stuff which is very nice but useless and overpriced.  Worth a look though, the stuff can be very interesting.

Last note; Avoid the pick 'n' mix.  Yes it look delicious and it's all colours of the rainbow but you'll get 2 chunks of fudge and a gummy bear for 7 pounds and wonder why you didn't go to poundland.

I hope if your in Belfast you go to the market, experience it's joys and don't empty your wallet too much.  I hope that I will be writing again soon.

Happy Christmas.
Lovelove. x

Love, life and long distance relationships. (Boring life update)

Long time no write, yadda yadda yadda.

Since I wrote in this blog I have had two different jobs! The second one I am in now - and it's very relaxing and actually giving me time to relax and catch up on writing.

So what's new since I last wrote? New car, new job and the rest is prettyyy much the same.  I have been playing Ni No Kuni, I have been reading deathnote and I have been watching Girls (again), The Legend of Korra and American Horror Story Freak Show.

It's a few days to my birthday where I plan to go out with family and friends over the weekend.  In December I am attending Sandra's wedding with Gerald where we will get to see Catherine be bridesmaid.  I am very excited about this - haven't been to a wedding in ages! Need to get a new dress!  This is on the 18th December (a week exactly before Christmas) and then I get to spend Christmas with my family at home for some cosy time off enjoying being lazy and eating a lot of chocolate.

Shortly after Christmas, on the 28th December I am going to Japan for just over a month.  I'll be going to Karatsu, Saga prefecture and we will spend a week in Tokyo at some point.  I will be ringing in the New Year eating noodles with my ba so it's making me happy when I am feeling unmotivated.  Also getting an international drivers permit so I can drive in Japan - so adventures!

When I return at start of Febuary it is then 2 months until my big sisters wedding which is in April.   am really looking forward to it, but we do have a lot to plan until that date comes.  Also her hen do needs to happen and we will probably travel for that - so that's exciting!

Lovelove.
x

I just wanna sleep.

I have started full-time employment and during the day, nights and weekends all I wanna do is sleep and curl into a warm bed and close my eyes for long period of time.

I feel very much on auto-pilot.  I hope this gets easier!