Its CHRRISSSSTMASS!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

We put up our Christmas tree today! I'm totally in love with everything about Christmas and I'm so excited that I can finally go out wearing Christmas jumpers and tinsel in my hair and not be judged (much).

My mum and I had such a great day, playing Christmas songs, (Listen to a Christmas playlist HERE) burning cinnamon candles, drinking mulled wine and watching a Christmassy film later on that evening.  

Last year we didn't have a Christmas tree as the boys were kittens and we just knew they would tear it down! This year we are confident that they wont destroy it (although Jay-Jay has been having some fun with the Wise men......). Still don't know anything about these cats?!? Read a post I did a while back about them HERE.

Said Jay-Jay having fum with some tinsel :-)

Henry helping me put some decorations on the tree. Just call him an elf!

I think I got a bit confused with which glass of Mulled wine was mine.... I ended up drinking both and getting a little tipsy. Whoops!

"Which one is Joseph?"

Obviously getting distracted by cats. Story of my life.

Yep, causing havoc once again......




This post is obviously just for me. Hopefully I can look back on this in a couple Christmasses and smile at the memories.
Hope you are having a great time preparing for Christmas. Now all I need to do is buy some presents!

*Sparkle* this  Christmas---

Rachel   xxx

OOTD: Birthday party!

Hello! 

Long time no blog. Apologies. Been busier than busy.

 Tonight I went to one of my best friends 15th birthday party at a restaurant. I only had just over an hour to get ready and I had no idea what to wear so I went with the classic: An LBD. Not so classic that I had to pair it with brown boots though.

Imagine the scene: I'm rushing out at the last minute and ask my dad to quickly take some pictures for my blog. My dad, being the technology expert he is (note the extreme sarcasm is this sentence) agreed . So, therefore I apologize in advance for these terribly shot pictures. And the junk in the background! I tried to edit it out but it just looked weird. We are forever renovating at our house XD.

I wore my hair naturally down, tied at the back with a black bow from primark. (It wouldn't show up in the picture as it blends in with my hair)
Fake Pearl Necklace: Claire's

Coat: Peacocks
Bag: F&F for Tesco

The dress is plain black, with black lace on the back as shown here.
Dress: H&M

Boots: F&F for Tesco
(wish I had them in black D:)
They're the same shoes I wore in THIS blog post

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

Facts about me #4

Fourth installment!
Read the 1st HERE
The 2nd HERE 
The 3rd HERE


44) I could eat popcorn (sweet or salty) all day.

45) My toes click all the time.

46) When I was younger, I was obsessed with Club Penguin, and later on, Stardoll.

47) I have a brother who is quite a lot older than me. He's like a second father and I love and respect him so much.

48) Said brother is getting married next year, and I'm going to be a bridesmaid!

49) I come from all over the world. One granddad is Jamaican, another is Indian, One grandmother is White English, the other is Vincentian, African and Portuguese. Saying that, I have a great-granddad who is Scottish (My last name, Reid- is Scottish). So when people ask my where I'm from, I find it hard to know what to say. 

50) I'm very dramatic.

51)  The world amazes me everyday

52) I have ambitions goals for myself, but I don't like to share them with other people; otherwise they'll expect too much of me- and if I don't fulfill their expectations then I'll be letting down more people than just myself.

53) I'm a doodler. My geography book is like a trip inside Picasso's MIND, my dear.

54) I love to act & sing, and have done since I was very little.

 My mum has countless videos of Young Rachel prancing around on a stage.

 I've starred in 2 of my Secondary School's Productions, and plan to continue until I leave.

55) I hate speaking on Skype or the phone. I feel like I'm just talking to myself. I'd much rather see someone face to face or text them.

56) I've always been a poser in photographs. When I was little I used to turn my head on an almost 90 degree angle for photo's haha.

57) John Green is AMAZING.

58) I'm messy/clumsy 

59) Music is my escape.

60) Socially inept. 

61) I find it hard to understand why people like me at all

62) Doctor who is my favourite TV show, forever and always


Since I included a couple of pictures of me when I was younger, I thought I'd include this one too...hopefully to make you smile.

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

Hopelessly lost and not needing to be found.

I'm always losing things.

My phone, 

                 headphones,

                                     watches,

                                                   jewelry,

                                                                  schoolwork.....

                                                                                          the list goes on and on.

I read online somewhere that although the amount of time people spent looking for lost things varies, in John Ortberg's book 'When the Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box', and in James Gleick's 1999 book 'Faster', it is said that we spend sixteen minutes a day (roughly one year of our lives) looking for lost possessions.

For me though, its probably a lot longer. I'm scatty, forgetful and all-round clumsy. Poor me.

Yesterday I lost something relatively important. In a couple of my previous blog posts, I have confessed my love for Youtube and my desire to start filming one day in the near future. I filmed that video yesterday....but accidentally deleted all of the footage. This was after I'd spent practically the whole day getting to grips with the editing system. That was one thing, that no matter how much I looked for it, I'd never get it back.

*all go awwh for unfortunate Rachel*

Losing things generally seems to be a bad thing; but then I look to characters such as the 'Lost Boys' in Peter Pan, which are lost... but seemingly perfectly content with this.

Some days, I feel that I'm lost. Not my possessions, but my personality. Its something that I can't always interpret. 

I've been feeling this way lately, a lot more than I'd like to admit. 

I sometimes have to pinch myself out of my self-pity, and remind myself that I'm not the only one to have ever gone through hardship. We all do and are, just in different ways.

Next time I feel lost, I'm going to remember that I'm only young, and life is about creating yourself, not trying to replicate someone else.

I'm also going to remember the saying:

                                                      'I'm hopelessly lost, not needing to be found'.

I can't remember where I heard this, but it came to mind whilist writing this post. 

Sometimes its okay not to know how you are, to feel lost in yourself. You can't find yourself the way you would a item, but acknowledging your current state, and still being happy with it (Like the Lost Boys) is enough, for now.

So I've re-filmed that YT video, (will keep you posted if I have the nerve to put it up...!) and I'm going to revel in the fact that I'm lost.

You know what they also say about lost things. Sometimes when you stop looking for them, they turn up.

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

Facts about me #3

Third installment. 

Get Excited!!!

Lets continue right where we left off:

30) I lived and went to school in Brisbane, Australia for just over a year. I've been back 5 years now (!) and don't remember a lot about living out there.

31) I'm an observer. I could people watch all day. 

32) I like to understand what makes people tick, and I'd maybe like to take physiology when I'm older. 

33) it's not just people though, I like to understand why things are the way they are anyway. My dad subscribed to 'how it works' mag, and it's safe to say I'm a little obsessed.

34) I love food way to much than is healthy, and because of this, I'm bordering on 'OverWeight'. Oh dear.

35) I love all animals, but cats are my favourite.
(and I have a soft spot for penguins)

36) I take extra-curricular lessons in: Singing, Guitar, and Keyboard.

37) I'm not as confident as I make out to be. Its an act (shh, don't tell anyone)

38) I'm in Year 10 (UK). In America, I guess this means I'm a Freshman?

39) I've been wearing glasses since I was 5 years old and my prescription is pretty high.

40) I tried to wear contact lenses and month ago and fainted. I'm still trying.

41) I get dehydrated really easily. When I was a lot younger I was admitted to hospital for being severely dehydrated.

42) If something new or important is happening soon, I can't sleep leading up to it. 

43) I have literally no upper body strength, but I can kick pretty hard.

There ya go, pointless things that you definitely needed to know!

Talking of pointless things, there is this amazing twitter account, that you have probably heard of called 'UberFacts' filled with even more pointless things. 

You can also follow me, if you are feeling snazzy.

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

A touch of magic.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: 

A green lipstick. I love it.

Nothing like Glozell's though, don't worry.

Its green in the Bullet, but when applied to the lips it transfers as a wicked deep pink. The official name is 'Touch of Magic'.

This is my first Barry M lip paint, and I'm really impressed.

I think Barry M tries to portray an image of: glitter, colours, and really fun affordable makeup...and I must say I agree!

Barry M say that this lip product is meant to react with your natural Ph levels, to create your own unique shade of pink. (Not sure of the validity of that statement, though.)

This colour dries down into a stain, so you can eat and drink, and the colour still remains. Thats probably my favourite thing about it.

The colour is also really build-able, you can have a light wash of colour or a bright statement lip from this product.

The only negative thing I have to say, is that it can look a bit patchy (more in the middle of the lips than round the edges)

Below are a couple of pictures of how they look on me. 

Sorry for the PJ's, headphones and general shabbiness. This is a post-writing addition; thought you might like to see how it looks on. :-P

That's it for now, folks! Next post, 'Facts About Me' will be out in the next couple of days, so be sure to look out for that.

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

Facts about me #2

This is the second installment of my 'Facts About Me' thingy that I'm doing. (Check out the first one by clicking HERE).

It's fortnightly, so this is due for the 17th, but I'mma put it up early 'cause I'mma rebel. (not).

15) Even though I said last time that I don't like voicing my opinions... My Favourite colour is purple.

16) And, My favourite male singer is Ed Sheeran

17) In general I prefer old music to new music; I'm going to a Barry Gibb concert in October!

18)I gave two facts in my last fact, so I'm going to waste this fact. (...I love to write)

19)I have the worst long term memory going. I can remember yesterday and last week perfectly, but when it comes to last month or last year; my knowledge of what happened then is very limited. 

20)I don't remember as much I'd like to about my childhood, and that makes me sad. 

21)I'm the type of person who can appear to be doing something, but actually not achieving anything at all.  As my mum would say 'Busy doing nothing'. 

22)I'm an extreme girly girl. I like nothing more than dressing up in a big princess gown, wear lipgloss and play with dolls. It's sad I know. 

23) I love the sound of rain. Its so relaxing. If its raining at night, I'm almost guaranteed a good nights sleep. 

24) I'm notorious for constantly being late.  The only thing I'm always NOT late for is school.... Just about. 

25) My first pet was a blue Siamese fighting fish called Splash.

26) I watch too much Youtube.

27) I can spend a whole hour in the shower (I'm a poet and I didn't know it)

28) The more clothes I have, the less I know what to wear.

29) I'm a UK size 7 in shoes.

That's it for now, Folks (third installment will be up in 2 weeks)

My Mum is frying frankfurters and plantain as I type this, it smells sooo good.
I'm going to eat some of that now. Bet you wish you were me! :-P
(or not...)

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

Dove Intensive Repair Line

Previously posted as a Guest Post on Sophie's blog, but thought I'd post it if anyone hasn't seen it yet. (check her out HERE)

I recently subscribed to Company Magazine. (which is not the focus of this post but it's a really great mag btw) and when you subscribe, you receive a free gift. If you know me, you know I'm all over anything that is free.

I received the 'Dove Intensive Repair' line. This was a blessing in disguise as I didnt realise how damaged my hair actually was. My brother is getting married early next year, and I'm a bridesmaid. I want to grow my hair out, but have it still look healthy. Using any random product I can find in the bathroom probably isnt the best way to do this.

I got the Shampoo, Conditioner, Quick Repair Conditioner, Intensive Repair Masque, Leave In Conditioning spray. 

The intensive repair line contains good sounding stuff like 'Hydrolyzed Keratin' and  'Hydrolyzed wheat protein'.

The Hydrolyzed Keratin is particularly important because your hair is made from 80% Keratin anyway- so its as natural as it gets.

 It repairs the hair shaft, increases elasticity, volume and future breakages.(Read more HERE) 

Some products in the line DO contain Sulfates (hey, its not a miracle product) but I wouldn't what that to put you off as they still great products. (For the low price as well!)

Still, I'm guessing its less of a gimmick than the products that contain a crap-ton of silicons. *I'm looking at you, Herbal Essences....*

This is what Dove have to say:

Dove_®Intensive Repair Shampoo + Conditioner system contains breakthrough Keratin Repair Actives that absorb into Keratin already present in your hair, and repair proteins at the cellular level. Lustrous locks without excess residue:

• Gentle, everyday moisture doesn’t weigh hair down.

• Strengthens hair* and prevents split ends.

• Leaves hair silky to the touch and healthy-looking.

• Hair is easy to manage and style.

 Honestly and truly, I'll have to agree guys!

 Its the best thing ever. (Read to tune of 1D's 'Best Song Ever' for maximum effect.)

My hair feels pretty damn soft. Probably the softest in been in recent memory; and smells the way you want your hairs to smell after washing. I'll probably be repurchasing. *she softly strokes her hair whilst typing*.

The shampoo and conditioner 

Intensive masque-thing

Express Treatment Conditioner 

Leave-In Creme and Conditioning spray

So now I've spruced my hair care up, maybe this will give you the notion to pay more attention to any part of your beauty regime...or even lifestyle. (Next on my list is to take better care of my hands- I can't remember the last time I moisturized them.. Don't judge me :-).

For more rambling you can:

Chat to me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rachie228

See my beautiful big nosed face on Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachie228

If you've read to the end...well done you! Its a long 'un. 

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

*Not sponsored

*Sorry for bad pic quality 

Facts about me #1

I've nearly published as many blog posts as there are days in a month, so I've come to the conclusion that its time to say a little bit more about me. 

 This post idea is kindly 'borrowed' from the lovely Amber Davies. Check her out here: http://amberjayez.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/10-things-about-me.html

1) I was born on the 18th of Feburary 1999, and I weighed 6.1 1/2 lbs!

2) I didn't eat very well when I was younger, so my parents gave me Cerelac and Minidex Baby Powder to open up my appetite, and I've never stopped eating since :-)

3) When I was a young child I walked into the kitchen and put my hands in a pan with oil in (Thank goodness the pan wasn't on the heat) and smeared it all over my face. It was like it was a premonition that I'd have oily skin when I was older!

4) I have oily skin, and I am incredibly spot-prone.

5) I'm 5"9 3/4 (The 3/4 is VERY important)

6) I've always loved reading books, and I have done for as long as I can remember. Like Carrie Hope Fletcher mentioned in one of her vlogs, I also have the tendency to forget that the character's problems in the book I'm reading- are not my problems too.

7) I don't have a particular 'type' when it comes to boys (geez, I'm not even 15 yet!) But if they are talented *preferably can play an instrument* Then I'm so much more likely to fall for them.

8) I'm starting my GSCE'S on the 4th of September, and that scares me.

9) I love imagining new things.

 I was out with my family, and totally zoned out whilst trying to imagine a new colour.  This is as close as I could get: Murcla... Anyone?(derived from mulch, like a mossy green but with pastel yellow and maroon undertones- a lot more dimension) but its still based on colours and words I already know... Ill just have to keep trying 

10) As well as imagining new things, I find myself often living in a dilute fantasy world myself. (My current fantasy is that everyone knows me before they meet me from a  reality TV show about my life that is filmed with hidden camera's- I'm not meant to know about the show ( to keep the show candid), and they have to pretend that they don't know me. 

Totally random I know, a couple of months ago it was that aliens were everywhere- but they looked like normal people. I tried to make the fantasy plausible: 'that lady over there looks a little green and shifty, I bet she's not of this galaxy'. (I watch too much Doctor Who, haha). 

11) I'm quite idealistic, I'm deluded in the sense that I think if I try hard enough, I'll have everything exactly the way I want it. 

12) A facet of that is that I always assume the best of people. If someone does something wrong, I'm the first to make a pardon for them and the last to criticise them. (Who am I to judge?)

13) I'm extremely indecisive. I think. 

I can't help thinking that, whether it's choosing my GCSE'S, or deciding what colour to get a jumper in (the one I featured in my last OOTD)- that the decisions are going to change my life. And that scares me to death.  

 14) Because of this ,I don't like when people ask what my favourite is of something. For example I prefer pop/rock over screamo, but voicing this opinion is too finial, too rigid. 

This is going to be a fortnightly feature for a while, hope you enjoy.

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx

The Liebester Award

Hiya everyone! A slightlly different post today.

I've been nominated for the Liebester award by Lizzie from: http://head-full-of-flowers.blogspot.co.uk/
 (!) Thank you so much! My blog is my own personal creative space, and its so cool that a few other people are enjoying it too!

 I'm really happy for the opportunity to connect with more bloggers out there.

( I had no idea about this award before Lizzie contacted me, so this is in her words):

"The rules for the award are basically-answer the  questions given to you by your nominee, then nominate up to 10 of your favourite upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Then Notify them on their blogs (no tag backs!!) and of course, remember to write them up to 10 questions! It's a great way to connect with other bloggers while getting more out of your own blogging.

So, here goes! I have 5 to answer so I'll be asking 5 also."

*If you've been nominated by me skip to the end to see the questions you have to answer!*

Here goes with the 5 questions that Lizzie asked me. Hopefully you'll learn a bit more about me too!

What do you like the most about blogging?

Hum, that's a tricky one.

Probably that there are no boundaries of any kind- I can put up what I want, when I want to.

Its completely mine to do what I want with it.

Oh, and that most people I've interacted with who are into blogging are super nice too :-). *ahem, LIZZIE*

If you had to drink one drink forever, what would it be?

If you know me, you know I drink A LOT.

And even though I love coke, drinking coke forever would be seriously unhealthy; and I get bored of it every now and again.

  I guess it'll have to be water, I never get bored of it and its healthy. Super boring- but true.

Favourite book/magazine and why?

I read all the time. Picking favourites are near-enough impossible. Here are some of my picks of the mo. I'm going to include a quote from each book so that you can get a feel for the story without me giving the synopsis away.

Paper Towns by John Green

“I'd had nearly four years of experience looking at these clocks, but their sluggishness never ceased to surprise. If I am ever told that I have one day to live, I will head straight to the hallowed halls of Winter Park High School, where a day has been known to last a thousand years.” 

 Angel Dust By Sarah Mussi

"I looked at a T-shirt flung carelessly on the floor. What was it to be human? To feel the breeze against your face and know that nothing lasts? If Marcus could have lasted, would he have changed? I could smell change and goodness somewhere in his scent. Standing there, in his room, his life spread out before me, in clothes and music and passion, I saw the speed at which he'd lived. No time for regrets. No thoughts of the hereafter."

and

MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza. 
“The room was a small square of hopelessness.

A flash of red. And then:

Dimensions: 10 ft. by 9 ft.

I swallowed a horrific giggle. Perfect. And now I knew the exact measurements of hopelessness.”

(Click on each link to go to their respective Goodreads pages)

 Magazine would have to be Company- its jam-packed with fashion, beauty inspiration.

What is your fondest memory?

When I was about 5 or six, my brother was working part-time at McDonalds whilst at college. My mum and I went to pick up some food from there, and on the way home I remember him leaving the joint and running down to street with tomato ketchup and a happy meal toy for me. I didn't even know that it was his shift and it was such a lovely surprise. Little stuff like that mean a lot to a 5/6 year old...ya know?

Another is, in Australia on Christmas Day. Because its obviously summer over there at Christmas time; we all had Lobster and lounged by the pool-side. That was probably the biggest Christmas I will ever have, there was so many of my family members there and we were all so genuinely happy.

Anything you can never leave the house without?

I don't really take that much out with me, I take a small shoulder bag which prevents my bag from resembling a Mary Poppins bag.

 However, one thing I always have to take is the Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets. I have super oily skin; so whether its' picture day at school or a shopping spree with my friends, I NEED these on my person. Without them I'm a spotty, stinky, sebaceous MESS.
However, they are kinda hard to get hold of... and I'm running out :-(.

Enough about that, I think.

 My 6 questions are:

1) If you could go back to any era in time, which would you visit?

2) Can money buy happiness?

3) Favourite place you've visited
4) One word to describe you

5) Favourite animal

6) One product you can't live without.

Nominating 5 blogs was relatively easy for me, as most of them I'm following already.

http://www.lolajaneloves.com/

http://amberjayez.blogspot.co.uk/

http://bohofashionbandit.blogspot.co.uk/

http://xlaxx.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.scarphelia.com/  <----- This one in particular is one of my all time faves! :-) 

Thank you again to Lizzie for asking some interesting questions, I sure had a lot of fun answering them. Make sure you go check out her blog!

*Sparkle*---

Rachel   xxx