Bookish Things Haul | Little Women Out Of Print

Out Of Print is a company that searches for unique and quirky out-of-print book cover designs to use on book-related clothes and accessories. This beautiful pencil case, with a cover design for an out-of-print copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, is available, along with other Out Of Print products, from Waterstones. 

Visit the website to find out more: http://www.outofprintclothing.com

Quick Winter Glamour | Makeup Look

It would feel somewhat more ironic to be posting a winter glamour makeup tutorial on a grey, rainy Wednesday morning in January, if we hadn't already had weeks of grey, rainy Wednesday mornings. January, and winter in general, can make you feel blue, Christmas and summer holidays seem distant, fond memories, so why not glam it up with a simple, low-key, quick makeup look (and let's not talk about the terrible picture above, snapped just before going out a week or two ago).

Foundation: Rimmel Wake-me-up 'Sand'

Red lip: Revlon 'Fire and Ice' (the 1950s classic) lipstick and Revlon 'Bordeaux' lip gloss

Eye shadow: Maybelline Mocha Mirage

Mascara: Maybelline Rocket Volume 'Black'

Ambition and Aspiration | 2015 Reading Challenge and TBR

On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin - I have a slight obsession with butterflies on book covers, and butterflies in general, at the moment.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life, Justine Picault - This is an entrancing read that I found in the library. I'm nearly finished.

Shakespeare, Ivor Brown - This year I am challenging myself to do a Shakespeare course in order to fill some gaps in my literary knowledge. Back to school!

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou - A well renowned autobiography and author. I've never read anything by Angelou and so decided to start in the middle of her series of autobiographies of her life.

From Russia With Love, Ian Fleming - Since getting the entire James Bond box set a year ago I still have 12 of 14 to read. Oops!

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak - I'm bringing some much needed YA into my reading list with this one. It's a classic and widely appreciated so hopefully it won't disappoint!

A Woman in Your Own Right, Anne Dickson - Also with the aim of continual development and learning for life, this is an almost-feminist take on assertiveness training in the 21st Century.

The above represents some of what I hope to achieve in reading this year. I have dropped my reading challenge from 80 as, conversely, the more free time I have the less I seem to read. Now that that minor haul is out of the way, here are my loose reading goals for 2015:

1) At least 52 books/1 per week, to include:

2) At least one back-to-university book (feminist, anthropology, etc.)

3) At least one autobiography (e.g. Coco Chanel).

4) At least one historical non-fiction book (e.g. A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor).

5) At least one back-to-school book/play (e.g. Shakespeare's Hamlet).

6) And, finally...at least one science non-fiction book (e.g. Sherlock Holmes).

What are your reading goals for the year?

Spring 2014: A Book Haul

In celebration of the beginning of spring in the UK, here are four books that I have acquired recently; two at the new year and two last week. 

Ian Fleming - Octopussy and the Living Daylights (Vintage):

At a mere 123 pages I don't think this one will take long, so I hope to get to it soon. Part of the James Bond vintage collection that I treated myself to at the beginning of the year. It contains four short stories based on James Bond's time in New York.

Ian Fleming - Casino Royale (Vintage):

The first of Fleming's 007 novels, Casino Royale is also part of the James Bond vintage collection. In this adventure Bond is desperate during his last chance to bring down SMERSH agent Le Chiffre. As this is the story behind the 2006 film of the same name, which made me fall in love with Daniel Craig, I'm putting this one high on my priority list.

John Williams - Stoner (Vintage):

Originally dismissed when it was first published in 1965, Stoner was so-called 'rediscovered' by the art and literature academia and republished in 2012. Stoner tells the story of quiet teacher William Stoner, through whose life the 'conflicts, defeats and victories of the human race that pass unrecorded' are recognised. As a trainee teacher and recent graduate with a passion for classics, this is a must read.

Hannah Kent - Burial Rites (Picador):

A thrilling crime novel, Kent's debut. A page turner composed of the plot of the last execution in Iceland. I've been eyeing this one for a while, so I can't wait to get started!

Carpe Diem xx

Blog Sunday: Christmas Craft Haul

Welcome to the first of my Christmas-related blogs! As I've already done most of my minimal Christmas shopping I thought I'd share a haul with you. I will be crafting most of my presents and using these crafty decorations.

6 Tartan Gift Tags, W H Smith - £1.49

I love the pattern on these gift tags. Can be used as tags to remind you who your presents are for or as decoration.

3 Christmas Ribbons, W H Smith - £4.99

These ribbons come in three different thicknesses and patterns and have a myriad of uses. I particularly love Merry Christmas one.

Adhesive Christmas Decorations, Tiger - £1.00

Having never heard of Tiger before, I have been in 2 local stores in London in the last week and love it. This Danish chain is amazing value! Adhesive stickers/decorations can be used on your own Christmas cards or as part of a Christmas present decoration (e.g. on top of a jam jar). Be careful though, these Christmas stickers do look nice but the sticky backing did come off on some of them.

Carpe Diem xx

Sunday Spree: A Collective Book Haul

I mentioned a few blogs back that I had been on a book buying spree. A few weeks ago I realised that I wasn't making full use of my spare time and that I needed to be reading more, in particular catching up on the classics that I have never read (which is a lot!). So here are four of the books that I have accumulated in the past month:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

I first read To Kill A Mockingbird as a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl and much of it went straight over my head, so when I saw this beautiful 50th anniversary paperback edition by Arrow I decided it was a chance to right some wrongs and give it another go.

Christmas Books by Charles Dickens:

This is a Wordsworth Classics edition of collected Christmas stories by Dickens, which of course includes A Christmas Carol. Can't wait to read it for the first time nearer Christmas time.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith:

This new Bodley Head hardback edition of the classic was just released on 7th November 2013. It is beautiful and was so happy to get it in the post after pre-ordering it a month before. Unfortunately it doesn't come with a dust jacket, which I think lets it down slightly.

The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde:

I have definately trumpeted the genius of Fforde's work on this blog before, so again, I was tempted to add to my collection of the Thursday Next series with this, the third in the set.

What have you been reading this month?

Carpe Diem xx

How To Make A Bulb Lasagne and a Gardening Haul

On Monday I tweeted and Instagrammed to let you guys know that had a garden centre haul for you, and here it is! This might seem strange and off topic, but bare with me for a minute or two. My mum has been an avid gardener for most of her life but I have never really done any with her. So, at the age of 21 I decided to take up her offer of making a 'mini-garden' in a pot. With trepidation we set about making gardener and former BBC Gardener's World presenter Sarah Raven's 'Bulb Lasagne'. First things first, this is not edible and does not involve lasagne pasta, but it is in fact fun. The idea is to build up layers of soil and plant bulbs in a tall pot, similar to the layers of pasta in a lasagne, and allow each one to flower at different points in the year.

In order to build up your Bulb Lasagne all you need is soil and a tall/large pot. All you need then is two or three packs of bulbs that will flower at different times (for example February, March, and April/May). When you have layered up your bulbs, the largest and latest flowering planted deepest, cover with soil and some grit on top. As well as using tulips and narcissus you can also plant violas on the top layer. My bulb haul includes Queen of the Night (a tulip), White Dream (also a tulip) and Misty Glen (a narcissus). My aim is to create a unique, dramatic Shakespeare-inspired 'Black Garden', full of deep purples, blacks and contrasting whites.

Have fun!

Read Sarah Raven's guide to layering bulbs here:

http://www.sarahraven.com/bulblasagne

Carpe Diem xx

Makeup Monday: Nivea and Simple Skincare Haul

Hello there on a wet Monday morning (the kind where you want to hide under your duvet)! Some of you might be thinking that I've been slacking on my posts and the truth is that I just haven't bought much recently. I try to blog 2-3 times a week when I really feel strongly about a subject or product and want to produce high quality, informative and entertaining content for you, so keep your eyes peeled because I'm not going anywhere!

Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream (50ml) Dry and Sensitive Skin - I use this on hot and sunny days because its SPF 25 protects against sun damage and ageing, even the hidden kind. Great for sensitive skin, although I find it on the oily side.

Nivea Pure and Natural Regenerating Night Cream for All Skin Types - Perfect for all skin types. A rich texture that 'turns over' your skin at night.

Simple Spotless Skin Triple Action Face Wash - A really great face wash, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin, but definitively for all skin types.

Why not check out my previous blog post review:

http://cupcakesandcosmeticsbyclare.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/how-to-clear-hormonal-dry-skin-simple.html

Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish Moisturiser - Use on days when you need a lighter formula moisturiser! I still need to test this one out more but may blog about it soon.

Carpe Diem xx

Brussels Haul: Belgian Pharmacie, T-shirts and more

I took the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Bruxelles Gare du Midi and spent 10 hours exploring Brussels! Here's what I brought back (not all for me :)

Rensonnet Marzipan Fruits - these almond paste 'marzipan' sweets are all delicately molded into the shape of different fruits. Yum! - 9,90

La Roche-Posay Hydrating Anti-Redness Moisturiser - I've never really tried French skincare but La Roche-Posay is meant to be good for sensitive skin so I can't wait to try it out! - 15,96

I Love Tintin T-shirt (Rue de la Colline) - I got this in the official Tintin souvenir shop, on a street just off the main Grand-Place

Titans Comic (1978) - comic-strip art is a big thing in Belgium and there's even a whole museum dedicated to it. I got this vintage one cheaply - 2,00

Beer Revolution T-shirt - to add to my collection of oversized tourist t-shirts! - 12,00

Carpe diem xx

Boots/The Body Shop Travel Beauty Haul

Boots:

Boots City Lights Cosmetics Purse (£5) - small but fits in much more than you might think

Boots 200 Cotton Buds (£1.05) - 1000 uses!

Colgate Advanced White Toothpaste 50ml (£1.85) - small travel size

Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Daily Scrub (£3.99) - value for money

The Body Shop: 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Lotion SPF 15 50ml (£10) - expensive for the size of the tube but great for moisturizing dry/sensitive skin

The Body Shop Chocomania Body Butter 50ml (£5) - smells so amazing you could eat it - DON'T!

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel 60ml (£2) - really fruity, perfect travel size for a week

Carpe diem xx