On The Big Weekend

When it was first announced that Radio One's Big Weekend was not only going to be in my home city but actually on my university campus I was so excited it was unreal. My city is relatively small, so to have a big event like that is really special. The morning the tickets were released I spent over an hour on my laptop, but to no avail. Excitement changed to sadness. Half an hour later, and I was back on the excitement train again - one of my very kind friends had a spare Sunday ticket and was offering it to me!

A video posted by Vicki Maitland (@vickimaitland) on May 25, 2015 at 2:03pm PDT

This Sunday felt like the most perfect end to a degree anyone could ask for. Taylor Swift stood on stage saying 'Hello Norwich' was the culmination of three years worth of hard work. I actually welled up when I caught a peek of her through the crowd. Not only that, but I was stood with my two beautiful housemates (and another of our lovely friends) who have been there for me the past two years we've lived together and are the best friends a girl could ask for!

There aren't words to describe how the day felt as a whole, so I'm just going to share a few highlights with you.

1) Olly Murs. I loved him when he was on X-Factor and always thought he'd be amazing live, and he really didn't disappoint! He was every bit the cheeky chappy I thought he'd be, and he did an incredible funk medley.

2) At the front for Rita Ora. The stage was at the bottom of a hill and we got to get to eye level with Rita! I'm not a huge fan, but it was pretty incredible to be able to say that I've seen her.

3) Catfish and the Bottlemen. I hadn't heard of this band before and was surprised when I recognised most of their songs. I officially have a crush on their lead singer - his baby blue's had such long lashes on them, and I'm a sucker for pretty eyes.

4) George Ezra has one of the most lovely voices. His set was more of a mid-afternoon chill than a prelude to Taylor Swift, but it was wonderful all the same.

5) TAYLOR SWIFT. I've loved Taylor since her first album and she put on the most incredible show. Her set felt slightly shorter than it should have been, but that could just have been because I was loving it so much! She is amazing live and it was a really special experience.

6) Foo's to finish. I'm not a massive Foo Fighter's fan but Dave Grohl is great at talking to a crowd. His repeated dedication of songs to Taylor Swift was hilarious, and there was a moment when he called the band to go silent and the whole audience sung the riff/bridge (I don't know the technical term) of his song.

So, despite the rain, I had an incredible day. I am so grateful to my friends for giving me a ticket, so happy I got to spend the day with people I love, and so in awe that this was all happening on my doorstep.

Sorry I forgot to post on Friday - I completely lost track of the days of the week. As per usual, there will be a bonus Sunday post at some point in the future to make up for it.

#reviewsdaytuesday: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Last year E. Lockhart's book We Were Liars took book bloggers everywhere by storm. Although she actually wrote Frankie Landau-Banks before that, it was re-released after the staggering success of We Were Liars. We Were Liars was easily one of my favourite books of 2014, and I think Frankie Landau-Banks is topping my favourites for 2015 already.

I read this book on Kindle so this picture is sourced from the GoodReads page.

Set in Alabaster (a privileged boarding school in America), this is the story of a girl, her boyfriend, her boyfriend's best friend, and an old boys club in need of a shake up.

Frankie is a very compelling character. She is the epitome of a strong teenage female character, as far as I'm concerned at least. Yes, she loves the attention of the boys, but her life doesn't revolve around it (it's almost a sub-plot). Yes, she's flawed in the way she treats her female friends and other women in the novel, but she either recognises when she's being problematic or it's pointed out to her and she listens. And, ultimately, she has grown up with a father who wanted her to be a boy, and her every action is an attempt to say 'So what I'm a girl, girls can do everything that boys can and better'.

The word 'feminist' is thrown around a lot in this book, and E. Lockhart doesn't use the 'f' word shyly. She has written about girls finding themselves and recognising their own worth as being equal to the worth of men in a system that tells them otherwise - essentially a feminist realisation. I think this is a feminist book, and that's not something that should put you off from reading it but rather draw you in.

This book doesn't have the huge plot twist that We Were Liars delivers so well, but it is utterly engaging for a completely different reason. I was gripped, and although my reading of the book was interrupted by a four day holiday I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I really recommend The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (and We Were Liars if you haven't read it yet). I think E. Lockhart has just become an instant purchase for me.

Have you read either of her books? What did you think? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below. Any book recommendations? Tag me in your Instagram (@vickimaitland).

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is published by Hot Key Books.

The Happy Skin Tag

As you're reading this I'm just waking up to my final day in France! I've spent the past four days there visiting one of my closest friends, so there might be some kind of travel related post up on Tuesday. In the mean time, here's a quick little tag! Tanya Burr did this tag a few weeks ago and I thought it looked fun so I'm giving it a go.

1) How would you best describe your skin?

A little on the oily side, prone to blackheads but not to breakouts. I also have over reproductive skin cells on my cheeks, upper arms and occasionally on my thighs, which means I get little red bumps on my skin unless I scrub scrub scrub!

2) What are your main skincare concerns?

My T-zone is my main problem area for shine, so I try and counteract that whenever possible. Obviously I also have to watch out for the skin on my cheeks etc too.

3) What's the weirdest natural ingredient you've ever used in your skincare routine?

I wouldn't say this is part of my routine, but I tried out cinnamon and honey as an exfoliator the other day. It worked really well, and I've never heard of using cinnamon before!

4) How do you define happiness?

This is a bit of a loaded question after my Art of Emotion module this semester. For me, happiness is being comfortable in who you are, where you are, and who you're with.

5) Describe your skincare routine in five words.

Easy, exfoliating, speedy, cleansing, daily.

6) Top skincare tip.

Clean your face morning and night. Even if it's only with a warm, damp, flannel, it really makes a huge difference.

7) What makes you laugh every day?

My friends. They are always hilarious.

8) What steals your skin's natural radiance?

Lack of sleep/poor diet for sure. I really notice it if I have a couple of nights out!!

9) What are your top tips for healthy glowing skin?

Exfoliate in the evenings, especially in summer as it really makes a tan look even more beautiful. Keep hydrated and, most importantly, eat well!

10) What's your skin care 101?

Similar to the above but - keep hydrated, eat well, and get a good eight hours of kip a night! find a nice face mask that you can pamper yourself with once or twice a week, too, as it makes a real difference!

11) What is your happy place?

I love being surrounded by fields and nature, and anywhere my friends and family are!


I'm tagging anyone and everyone! If you do take part, tweet me a link to your post @VickiMaitland, tag me in your Instagrams (@vickimaitland) or leave a comment below!

Thoughts on the Election #GE2015

As a 21 year old, this was the first year I was allowed to vote in the UK general election. Like many, I entered the polling station with hope and optimism. And like many, I ended the day with disappointment, disillusioned by the whole process.

Whether you vote for one or vote for 'none' the important thing is that you vote! #ge #ge2015 #generalelection

A photo posted by Vicki Maitland (@vickimaitland) on May 7, 2015 at 5:45am PDT

Needless to say, I wasn't one of the 11 million or so who voted for the Conservative party. I was one of the 18.9 million who voted for an alternative party.

This is where my disillusionment comes from. Not the fact that the party I voted for didn't get in, but the fact that a party got in with only 36% of the electorate supporting them. That's 64% of people who voted against them. The Conservatives received 34,000 votes per MP. The Liberal Democrats received 301,000 votes per MP. The Greens received 1,000,000 votes, yet only got one MP. To me, that seems wrong.*

I'm not going to lie. I'm afraid of how this country will turn out being run by a Conservative government for the next five years. It will doubtless mean more cuts to the poor, the young and the vulnerable: benefit cuts, cuts to health services, cuts to education, a rise in tuition fees. At the same time, it will provide tax breaks for the richest. It will re-instate fox hunting. It will repeal the Human Rights Act. It will campaign to have us leave the EU.

But I'm more afraid to see that my voice hasn't been heard in this election. In UK politics we have scarce opportunities to see that happen and the general election is the biggest opportunity for the general public to be listened to. There have already been protests outside Downing Street, protests the mainstream media have either ignored or else only shown one side of (such as a WW2 monument being graffitied or the fact that five police officers were injured).

The next five years are going to bring about a lot of change. It's a shame that this change will reflect the views of a minority, rather than giving equal representation to the views of the electorate.


* As bit bit of background, the UK is run on a constituency based election. The country is split up into 650 areas of differing sizes but (in theory) equal population (so there are a lot more constituencies in London than there are in Scotland because the population density is so much greater in London). Each constituency then votes for the political party they want to see represent their constituency, which means that not all political parties field candidates in all constituencies. Because of this, a party can become elected with less than half of the population voting for them - for example:

If party A received 40% of the vote, but parties B, C and D received 35%, 15% and 10% respectively then party A gets elected, despite 60% of voters voting against them. If we pretend that there are 100 people in a constituency, this could mean that party A only needed 40 votes to get an MP.

If you spread this across the country with a similar vote break down (say, out of ten 100 person constituencies, 55 seats went to party A, 20 seats to B, 15 seats to C and 5 seats to D) then parties B, C and D needed a lot more votes to get fewer MPs.

The government only needs 326 seats to have a majority - which means that provided all MPs from the party in power vote for a law then it will be passed. The Conservatives currently have 331 seats, which is a majority albeit not a strong one, so if six MPs vote against party line then laws can be blocked, but that's a big if, and relies on opposition parties also voting against policies.

In short - we need electoral reform. 'First Past The Post' is an outdated system that was formed when there were only two political parties (the Tories and the Whigs). We now have a multi-party system, and the way we elect our politicians should reflect that.

Got opinions? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below.

Spring Everyday Make-up Look

In spring I really like to strip back my make-up. As much as I love deep autumnal colours, something about spring makes me want to go barefaced into the world, with rosy cheeks, clean eyes, and neutral lips.

I've been wearing this look for the past couple of weeks and I love how neutral it is. It's the kind of make-up which would compliment any skin tone, and it looks really fresh and natural. It's almost no-make-up make-up.

 First things first, moisturise. I bought this B. Ready cream when I finally used up the last of my Olay Daily Fluid. I'm not in love with it as feels a little heavy on my skin, but it soaks in pretty well and definitely leaves me feeling hydrated.

 I've been using this B. Rescued Engergising Balm after I picked it up on a whim. I wouldn't say I've noticed a huge difference in my skin, but it is a pretty good daily primer.

 This is the Collection Long Lasting Concealer in the shade 02 Medium/Light. I use it under my eyes, on my lids, and around my nose. It is pretty much my exact skin tone, so it doesn't lighten anything up but it does a great job of neutralising redness. I've said it before, but I can't find any evidence which says if Collection is a cruelty free brand or not.

 I set everything with this e.l.f Pressed Powder in Buff. This is technically my summer shade, but it was so beautiful in April that I tanned!

 I have been loving this e.l.f Cream Blush in Flirty. It gives a beautiful pink glow!

 I sometimes like to add a little bronzer, so the middle shade in Barry M Flawless Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit if perfect for me.

 This is TopShops Smokey Eye pallette in Golden Aurora. It was a winter favourite for me and I've brought it back for the spring. I apply the top champagne pink shade all over my lid, in the inner corners of my eyes, and under my brow bone, then I add a little contour with the satin taupe shade.

 I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this M&S Limited Collection All-in-One Mascara. I love the length it gives me, but sometimes it gets really clumpy and the wear isn't great - it's almost a little gritty when it dries.

I use the middle shade when filling my brows.

 For everyday I don't bother to fill my brows (it looks too heavy with this make-up look), so I just use the brow gel to set and shape my brows.

I've managed to lose this in the day between taking the photos and writing this!

 I layer two colours on my lip - e.l.f Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Sangria Starters and Barry M Cor Balmy in Rosie Lea. Because these are both balmy products they don't last very long, so I carry them around with me to top up throughout the day.

 Here's the finished look!

Tag me on Instagram in your everyday spring make-up look, or tweet me a picture (both @VickiMaitland)!

May TBR

** Before I start this post I just want to remind all of my UK readers that the general election is being held on Thursday. Please, please vote. If you're not sure on who to vote for this is a really good site which separates policies from parties. This is an excellent series by Jazza giving reasons to vote for each of the major political parties. This is his wrap up video, which I urge you to watch even if you don't have the time to watch any of the others **

Term has officially ended for me, which means I finally get to read purely for pleasure. Because neither of the modules I took this year had books to read I have painfully behind on my 50 books goal, so I'm hoping to get back on track over the next couple of months. According to GoodReads I'm currently 9 books behind schedule, so this is going to be a pretty ambitious TBR in order to begin to get me back on track.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche - I'm actually 300 pages into this already, having started it in February. I'm loving it so far and can't wait to get stuck back in.

This is a story about a woman who moves from Nigeria to America and back again. It's really rather good!

S by J.J Abrams and Doug Dorst - Another book that I'm part of the way through. This book is seriously incredible, but it's such a time consuming read considering it's two stories simultaneously.

Story A is about a man who wakes up and doesn't know where he is and is written by a fictional author. Story B is the annotations of two people researching Story A. It contains loads of little pieces of paper and notes scribbled on napkins - it's really cool!

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer - I've heard mixed reviews about this, but it sounds really interesting so I'm hoping I'll enjoy it!

'I'll tell you what happened because it's a good way to introduce my brother... in a couple of pages he'll be dead, and he was never the same after that'

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North -  This book sounds so intriguing so I can't wait to get stuck in!

'As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message."'

Stardust by Neil Gaiman - I got this book free on kindle not long back, and I love the film, so I'm hoping for good things! I've got a mixed relationship with Mr Gaiman, but I've got my fingers crossed. This is also the only book I don't have a picture of because my Kindle was out of charge when I took the photos. Stardust is about a town called Wall and one mans search for a fallen star.

The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester - I saw Carrie Hope Fletcher pick up this book, and she's got pretty good taste. It sounds like it's going to be a fun read.

Set during the suffragette period (1900's), a circus performer dissappears during a performance and a reporter attempts to find out what happened.

The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - I'm pretty sure this is a 'middle grade' book, so I might use this as a trump card if I decide to take part in any read-a-thons this month.

I can't even really tell what this will be about from the blurb, but it appears to be about a girl and a boy during a summer where the girl's mother works for a mysterious toy maker.

There you have it! 4/6 of the books were gifts from my sister and not necessarily things I would have picked up from the shelf, but I trust her taste so I'm really looking forward to reading them. I think she's looking forward to me reading them too so I can pass them on to her! If you're wondering, my nails are painted with the decidedly not cruelty free Rimmel Lasting Finish polish in 200 Orange Your Life (let me know if there's a cruelty free dupe out there because I love the vibrancy of this colour!)

What are you reading this month? Tweet me @VickiMaitland, leave a comment below, or tag me on Instagram in a pic of your TBR pile (@vickimaitland). You can also friend me on GoodReads to keep up with my reading progress!

Bonus Post: Libraries and Why They Matter (RE: Ariel Bissett and Leena Normington)

I'm writing this post as a response to two videos which have been posted in the past few days. The first was posted by Ariel Bissett, who, in short, said she got out a library card, really valued libraries, but never used them. The second was a response not only to that video but also to the comments in that video, and was posted by Leena Normington. Leena argued that, among other things, libraries aren't the best way to distribute knowledge anymore - they are an antiquated system and we need to find a better one in today's metropolitan society. If you've got 20 minutes, I urge you to watch both of these videos before continuing with this post.

I fall somewhere between these two view points. I love libraries, I don't use public libraries very often (the university library is a different story), and I also agree that the current library system is in need of amendment.

I disagree with Leena that libraries are completely out of date, mostly because of my childhood and teenage years. Whilst I come from a relatively well off background, between the ages of six and fourteen I would take out about six books every fortnight. Needless to say, my parents wouldn't have been able to justify spending £84 (ish) a month on brand new books that I would only read once. Libraries are incredibly valuable in that regard, and my childhood would have been so much worse off without them. My local library is also very well used by the elderly people in the surrounding villages - people who can't get out and about in the the city to buy books, people who require large print books which are very difficult to find outside of a library environment, and people who don't use the internet so can't order books online. Libraries are vital for these people.

Where I do agree with Leena is that for the vast majority of us (those with a disposable income, aged eighteen to sixty-five) libraries are not functioning to the best of their ability. People don't have the time to wander around the shelves, pick out a book, and then remember to return it three weeks later. The solution? E-Libraries. Providing a service much like LoveFilm, people would pay a certain amount each month to have a certain number of books posted to them, with a return envelope to send them back when they were finished. I'm sure there could also be options for downloadable content which would expire after a certain period of time unless renewed.

This isn't a perfect option, and is certainly a lot less idyllic than those that Leena proposed (and that I support). But it's one that I believe would function in today's society.

In short, much like Ariel, I love libraries and I'm very sad to think that they are closing. On the other hand, they do need re-evaluating so they can function to the best if their ability.

What do you think about libraries? Do you use them? Can you think of a better solution? Join the conversation by tweeting me @VickiMaitland, or leaving a comment below. You can also tag me in your Instagram pics (@vickimaitland).

April Favourites!

I haven't done one of these before, mostly because I hardly ever try new products so my favourites is just 'stuff that I own'. This month, however, I've been trying to mix up the things I've been using/wearing and I've really noticed myself thinking 'wow, I really love this', so I thought I'd share them with you all.

Beauty

Lush Jason and the Argon Oil Shampoo Bar - I got this as a Christmas present and I just love it. It smells amazing (if you like floral scents; it's very warm and rosey) and worked wonders on my hair. Sadly I used the last of it up the other day, but luckily I have the Jumping Juniper bar to replace it!

You can find it here.

Collection Nude Pallette - I've used this eyeshadow pallette almost everyday since I got it. I'm still not 100% on Collections cruelty free status (I can't find anything that explicitly says they are not cruelty free, but equally I can't find anything that says their parent company are...) but I'm giing them the benefit of the doubt until I am told otherwise!

e.l.f Jumbo Lipgloss Stick in Sangria Starters - Out of the three lip gloss sticks I got this is definitely my favourite. It looks like a light coverage lipstick on and really gives that 'your lips but better' effect - especially as it suits my skin tone perfectly!

I did a mini-review when I hauled this product.

Clothes

River Island Boots - I'd been looking for a pair of black Chelsea boots all winter, so when I saw these in River Island I had to grab them. They are super comfortable and dress up any outfit - I love to wear them with my 'Mum' jeans.

These are literally my Mum's jeans from the 90's (pre-me!)

Miss Selfridge Mini Skirt - I got this skirt in the sale at Miss Selfridge. I love that it looks a bit like 70's curtains and the gold poppers make this for me!

I posted this OOTD on Instagram with the caption 'I feel like a librarian'.

Diamond Cut Chain - I got this (and matching bracelet from the off-cut) for my birthday and I love it. It's really hard to find a diamond cut chain nowadays (it's very 80's) and I was so chuffed when I opened the box to see that Mum and Dad had found it!

I also love this Topshop top, but I couldn't include everything!

Food

Wheat and Oat Bran Porridge (with figs, prunes and almond butter) - I am a huge porridge fan, but this is my current favourite way to eat it. Almond butter might actually be the most delicious thing on the planet.

Dried figs and prunes aren't that expensive and really spice up porridge.
I use 2 figs and 4-6 prunes (depending how I feel).

Hotel Chocolat - Okay, so I really don't have the budget for this chocolate, but luckily my lovely neighbours bought me a box for my birthday! I never realised this but Hotel Chocolat are basically the Lush of the chocolate world - they are very ethical and support their famers, as well as being a British based company (despite the French name!) Plus, their chocolates are divine!!

Chipotle - I had my first ever Chipotle Burrito this month. It was a very special moment.

LOOK HOW GOOD IT LOOKS

Cheese of the Month: Halloumi - What a cheese. Great for BBQ's, grilled on salads, fried with chorizo, it's just excellent.

Apps

Forest - The premise of this app is you set a certain amount of time that you want to focus (eutehr in social situation, studying, working) and you grow a tree. If you move off the app in that time your tree dies. Once your tree has grown, you get points (to buy more interesting trees, the more time you spend focused the more points you get) and you have the option to write a little summary of what you did in the time. At the end of the day you can see you forest! This app is really clever and definitely made me stay focused on my work. I don't like spending money on apps, but for me it was worth the 79p!

Quest - This is part to-do list, part game. You enter your to-do's as normal, and a little monster appears next to them. When you complete a job you kill the monster and gain xp. Every time you level up you get new equipment to wear. It's way more fun than a regular to-do list and definitely keeps me motivated - plus it's free!

Other

KleverCase - I saw these phone cases whilst browsing through tumblr and I fell in love instantly. I hopped over to Etsy and grabbed one. I'm so impressed with it - it feels exactly like a cloth-bound book and the metal corners make me feel like my phone is going to be really safe. It was also delived within a week of me ordering it - which is great for Etsy! I couldn't take my phone out of my case to take a photo (it's really secure). If you click on the link above you'll be able to see all the cases they offer - I've gone for the Pride and Prejudice one as it's my favourite classic.

Tulips - I bought one of my very lovely friends a bunch for her birthday and it reminded me how much I love having fresh flowers around. They're expensive for something that doesn't really last very long, but I thought I'd treat myself to a bunch since I'm in my final week of uni!

Cactus - I've named him Clarence and he's sat next to my tea-caddy of tea-lights on my desk. He's a little lonely though, I need to get him a friend.

What have you been loving this month? Tweet me @VickiMaitland, leave a comment below, or tag me in your Instagram pics (@vickimaitland).

Tuesday's post will be a TBR! Today I officially finish my degree, which means I get to read for pleasure again!

#reviewsdaytuesday: Oil Pulling

There are many British stereotypes that I adhere to: my love of tea, my over use of the word 'sorry', and, sadly, my teeth. I've always had wonky teeth because my mouth is ridiculously small (as in, I've had to have 6 adult teeth removed and worn braces for two years and my teeth still don't fit right), and due to lackluster dental hygiene they've always been a bit on the yellow side (probably due to all that tea I've been drinking).

So, when I saw Kylie Jenner advertising 'Coco White' on Instagram, I googled the company to see what they were about. As far as I could tell, they were advertising sachets of flavoured coconut oil, which you're suppose to swill around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes each day. The result, they claim, is whiter teeth, healthier gums, reduced bad breath and better all around oral hygiene. All for the somewhat extortionate price of £19.99 (without shipping).

After a little more research I found out that 'oil pulling' is actually an ancient Indian medical practice and has been used in oral hygiene for thousands of years. The theory is that the oil draws out toxins and bacteria in your mouth. Needless to say, Coco White wasn't around in ancient India, they just used whatever oil that could, so I decided to save the money and just use the oil I had around in the house anyway! Coconut oil was the most appealing out of my options, so I tried that.

I took a small tablespoon, poured the oil out (I had warmed it in the microwave first as coconut oil is solid at room temperature), and spooned it into my mouth. I'm not going to lie, it felt really strange.

At first the hardest thing to do was not to swallow. You have to hold the oil in your mouth for a really long time and it feels very unnatural. On the first day I only did it for 5 minutes before spitting out into the bin (not the sink, it can really clog up your pipes!), but my mouth did feel cleaner afterwards. I made it part of my routine to pop a tablespoon of oil in my mouth before my shower each morning and spit it out afterwards.

The oil grows in size as you use it (partly due to your own saliva, partly due to the stuff its pulling out) and you can really see it working (it turns milky with gunk). I haven't noticed a huge difference in the whiteness of my teeth, but looking at the pictures they certainly look whiter!

The lighting change makes it a bit hard to tell how much whiter my teeth have actually got, but it does showcase nicely how small my mouth is...

Everywhere I've read says that you're meant to use this technique for two weeks. Today is day 14, so that means my oil pulling experiment is over. I'm thinking about keeping it up for a little longer though to see if I can see more effects from it, and I'll update on Twitter (@VickiMaitland) if I stop or notice any huge changes.

Shopping at Lush and Checking Your Privilege.

I love Lush. I love their ethics. I love that all the products are organic. I love that they are a cruelty free company. I love that all their products smell amazing. I love the quality of their products on delivering their promises.

As much as I love all of this, and despite one of my recent Instagram posts, I will admit to becoming a bit tired of seeing huge Lush hauls, mostly because Lush products are expensive.

I am a huge fan of the Lush shampoo and conditioner bars - my shampoo bar has lasted me from NYE till now (and I expect it will last me to the end of the month). I've gone through 6 (ish) bottles of conditioner in the same time as one shampoo bar, and I am expecting the same results from my conditioner bar. The hair mask Roots and the hair treatment R&B have been similarly long lasting as you only need a tiny bit of product to get good results. The deodorant bar I use (review here) will easily see me through till the end of June, and I'm pretty sure the lip scrub I've got will go out of date before I've got to the bottom of it, despite using it every time I wear lippy.

However, some of Lush's other products are much less economical and can be very expensive for the amount of use you get out of them.

Take for example a bath bomb.

If you are regularly buying Lush bath bombs, and regularly enjoying hour long soaks in the tub, I think you are probably someone who needs to check their privilege. (I mean this in the kindest of ways).

Lush bath bombs range in price for between £2.75 and £4 (ish). So, if you're having a bath using this bath bomb, you are having a £3.50 bath. You want bubbles in that bath? A Lush bubble bar will set you back between £3-£5. Admittedly you can get more uses from one bubble bar than they advertise (they say use a whole bubble bar per bath, but it depends on how many bubbles you like). Let's say that you can get two uses from your bubble bar. That's about £2.50 added onto the cost of your bath.

Already you've got a £6 bath. This isn't including heating/water costs.

Baths like these are not practical: you don't use them to get clean, you use them to relax. This means you've got the free time (the most expensive thing of all) to have and enjoy a bath. The process of drawing a bath can be quite long winded, and I know I've had baths where I've soaked for an hour or so.

What I'm trying to say with all of this is: There are lots of people (beauty bloggers etc) who can make it seem like having a hundred or so pounds (£) of Lush products ready to go is the norm, and it really isn't. For the vast majority of us a Lush bath is a treat.

Checking privilege isn't about backing down from an argument (although it can be), but rather about acknowledging that not all people have the same circumstances, and that yours might be from a place of 'privilege'. Racial/ethnic background, sexuality, gender identity, and economic status all play a part.

I don't think this post was quite as coherent as I wanted it to be, but I am writing this after 3 hours of sleep, 22km of cycling, and after almost fainting earlier in the day.

In short: Lush products are luxury products for many (despite their high-street status). Having and using them regularly is probably a sign that you have a disposable income, and therefore that you are probably coming from a place of privilege (no matter how hard you may have worked to get there).

Any thoughts? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below!

The 'Me Time' Tag

As promised, after Friday's post thinking about priorities I thought I'd take a step back and reevaluate my own 'consumption of time' (for want of a better phrase). The 'Me Time' tag was a collaborative project between Estee and Amelia.

Q1) What do you read or watch in your 'me time'? I have got super into The West Wing recently, and that's been my go to TV show for the past few weeks. Sadly I don't have access to it at uni (boo hiss), so my down time is mostly spent watching YouTube. Bob's Burgers is a great one for an essay break as they're only 20 minutes long. I'm (still) currently reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, so that's my 'me time' bath read at the moment!

Q2) What do you wear? I'm pretty boring and I'll just wear my average day to day clothes. I'm not a huge fan of trackie bottoms or hoodies, so if I want something super comfy I'll probably just pull on a pair of harems, a loose t-shirt and a snugly sweater. I used to always be a bra on gal, but recently I've been enjoying the freedom of going bra-less on a down day.

Q3) Beauty products? I'll normally have a bath on a 'me time' day, so I'll toss in a bath bomb (if I have one, they're such a treat - actually they'll be a post up soon about why bath bombs are a sign you may need to check your privilege, but that's for another day). I'll put on a hair mask - either make my own from coconut oil and castor oil or (as that's a bit messy and coconut oil can clog up pipes really badly) I'll massage some Roots into my scalp and let it tingle! I'll put on a face mask - any of the ones from my 'Mission Skin' post depending on where the mood takes me. After the bath I'll always take the time to do a full body moisturise (I just use Superdrug's own brand Vitamin E moisturiser) or at this time of the year I like to do a bit of gradual tanning - I use Turn Me On by UR CHEEKY gradual tan and let me tell you there isn't too much gradual about it! Normally 'me time' means a no make-up day, but if there's the chance I need to look presentable I'll slap a bit of concealer under my eyes and a flick of mascara on my lashes and Bob's your mother's brother.

Q4) Current favourite nail polish? I have been loving the Barry M Speedy Quick Dry polish in Pit Stop - it's such a great neutral colour. I also love Sally Hansen's Good to Grape polish (although that's not cruelty free - it was a gift!). Painting my nails can feel like it takes forever sometimes, so on a 'me time' day I take my time and put on an episode of my favourite show to watch whilst my polish drys.

Q5) What do you eat and drink? I will always have a nice big cup of tea during my 'me time' - a friend recently gave me a box of Teapig's Popcorn Tea which is an extra special treat. Give me a couple of malted milks and a bar of dark chocolate and I'm sorted! A nice freshly blended smoothie will also do the trick during summer.

Q6) Current favourite candle? I love minty scents - I think they're so clean and refreshing, and my sister got me a Candy Cane Yankee Candle for Christmas that I've been eeking out. Sainsbury's do a nice Madagascan vanilla one too. If I had the money I would splash out on a soy candle, but student living doesn't allow those frivolities!

Q7) Do you have 'outdoor me time'? In the spring/summer I love going for walks around the fields where I live. I'll either pop on a comedy pod cast or my favourite album and I'll just go for a wander. If it's super hot reading outside in the sun is just the best thing ever.

Q8) Would you go and see a movie alone? I haven't, and I don't know if I would. I'm not a huge cinema fan - unless it's a really big film I don't see the point in spending the money and I'd much rather watch it in the comfort of my own sofa.

Q9) Favourite online stores? If you saw my back to school haul you'll know I am a big fan of boohoo.com, ASOS is pretty good too . I don't actually shop much online - usually I'll have seen something in store first then I'll go back and buy it online if its not in my size or something.

Q10) Anything you like to do during 'me time'? I really enjoy re-ordering my bookshelves - so if I've got the time that will be a 'me time' activity. Going through old photos, letters and ticket stubs etc is really lovely way to spend down time too. A scroll through my Instagram feed is nice if the physical copies aren't there, as it reminds me of happy memories and days when I was feeling myself.

I'm tagging anyone else who wants to take part - tweet me (@VickiMaitland) to let me know that you've taken part! I'm also going to tag a couple of fellow bloggers, Katie and Gemima. I know tags might not be your thing though, girls, so no pressure!

Priorities

Michael Aranda posted an interesting video on his WhatI'mDoingRightNow channel the other day where he talked briefly about the way we think about time (and, more importantly, our free time). If you want to watch the video, the piece I'm referring to is 2:25 in, and lasts for about a minute and a half.

I am always moaning that I don't have time for things. Mostly, I moan that I haven't had the time to read for pleasure. I love reading. Curling up with a good book, a cup of herbal tea, and a couple of chunks of dark chocolate or a couple malted milks is honestly one of my favourite ways to spend an evening. At uni, I rarely do that. I claim that it's because I haven't go the time, but as Michael so astutely pointed out, it's because it's not a priority.

I'm not going to claim it's as simple as that. I have leisure time at uni. I just choose to spend the vast majority of that time on the internet watching people like Michael, or else socialising with my friends and housemates. I regret the amount of time I spend on the internet, and it honestly saddens me when I look back on my day and see how many times I've checked Facebook, or else count up the minutes (sometimes hours) I've spent watching YouTube videos.

I don't necessarily prioritise these things over reading because they are more important to me or because they give me greater pleasure. I mostly prioritise them because they give me the kind of stress relief that I need.

My degree is very reading heavy. I spend hours of my day either reading my own work or the work of others. By the end of that day, as much as I adore reading, I am fed up of it. I want to have a break and wind down, not only my mind but also my eyes. Watching YouTube on a low light setting is a lot kinder on my eyes than continuing to read. That's the sad truth.

So, yes, priorities have something to do when choose our activities, and they definitely have a part to play in picking our work activities. But they aren't the be-all and end-all, and it's interesting to look at the other reasons you may have for picking one task over another.

However, it's important to remember that you also need to look after your mental health. Sometimes prioritising an activity that might not be important in terms of school or your career but is important to your well being is an important thing to do. Taking time out for yourself (in balance) is such a healthy way to live. Don't always push your favourite things down your priorities list, or else they might drop off altogether, and take your well being with them.


What fun activities do you wish you could prioritise over practical things? What is your favourite way to spend your 'Me Time'? Leave a comment below, Tweet me @VickiMaitland, or tag me in an Instagram photo of your doing your favourite thing!

As we're thinking about Me Time, my next post will be the Me Time Tag - started by two of my favourite beauty YouTubers Estee and Amelia.

On a final note, Michael Aranda, whose video inspired this post, is one of the most consistent YouTubers I've ever seen. His daily vlog channel is very well edited (I find a lot of daily vloggers to be very rambling), and although due to technical reasons he's a couple of weeks backlogged, his videos are always entertaining. Or, at least, I have become invested enough in his life that I find them interesting. If you are able to prioritise watching a YouTube video, check out his channel, he really is very good.

Mini e.l.f Haul and #reviewsdaytuesday

 The other week I was reading one of my favourite cruelty free beauty blogs and it sent me into a panic with the news that e.l.f would no longer be distributing in the UK. e.l.f is one of my favourite budget cruelty free brands, and if you've read any of my make-up look posts then you'll have seen that e.l.f products are a huge part of my everyday make-up routine. I abandoned Gemima's blog post mid read and dashed (metaphorically) to their store to try and pick up some products before they were gone for good! Sadly my favourite pressed powder and liquid eyeliner were already out of stock, but I took the opportunity to treat my self to some cut price (up to 70% off!) cruelty free, vegan treats before e.l.f were gone forever (although in good news, they may be returning in the next couple of months).

I was a little disappointed with how slowly these items arrived (they took 10 days from order to delivery), and I know I've had slow orders from e.l.f before - however I did order them just before Easter bank holiday, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. It helped that they threw in a free tote bag too - what a lovely surprise! I won't be giving full reviews of these products as I've only had them since Saturday, but I've tried them all once so I'll try and give a bit of a feel to how they measure up to their claims.

Top to Bottom: Studio Cream Blush in Seductress, Studio Cream Blush in Flirt, HD Blush in Superstar, HD Blush in Headliner)

HD Blush in Headliner

HD Blush in Superstar

HD Blush (Headliner and Superstar) - 

The Claim: Naturally sculpts and highlights for a soft focus effect that is great for everyday use. The Vitamin E enriched formula conditions and hydrates the skin for a healthy glow. The velvety soft, lightweight and highly pigmented colour creates long lasting result for all day wear.

These HD Blushes pack a bunch of colour. They have a beautiful light creamy consistency (almost whipped) and are really blendable. Less is definitely more, and you barely need a pump of product. I was very nervous the first time I used it after pumping out a full squirt when I first opened the product - it stained the back of my hand for hours afterwards (which, I suppose is a testament to its longevity) - but it's a very buildable colour, so you won't lose anything by starting slowly. The end result is perfectly described on the packet as 'soft focus'. I apply this product to the back of my hand, then stipple it onto my cheeks with my finger before blending out the edges with a brush, but I think a beauty blender would be great with this product, or even just a stippling brush. So far Superstar is my favourite out of all the blushes - it's got a beautiful coral tone to it which is perfect for spring.

Studio Cream Blush in Flirt

Studio Cream Blush in Seductress

Studio Cream Blush (Flirt and Seductress) -

The Claim: Smooths on as a cream and finishes as a velvety soft powder for long lasting rich colour that's never greasy. Easy to blend for layering and building colour for sculpting, highlighting and adding dimension. Lightweight and refreshing formula looks natural and radiates a beautiful glow for all skin types.

The way this product turns from cream to powder is staggering, and it honestly does feel velvet soft - I wanted to stroke my cheeks all day after applying it! I think it's actually a little more difficult to blend out than the HD Blush, mostly due to the differing consistencies of the products, but the colour is a less powerful so requires a little less blending anyway. This is not to say that this blush is delicate - you still get a lot of colour for the amount of product you use! I've been applying this product with my fingers and blending with a brush, but I might try applying it directly from the pot with a brush to see if that helps it blend any easier. I'm very impressed with the wear of this product - it's definitely long lasting!

Left to Right: Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Coco Loco, Sangria Starters and Tiki Torches

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Coco Loco

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Sangria Starters

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Tiki Torches

Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick (Tiki Torches, Sangria Starters and Coco Loco) -

The Claim: This long wearing tinted lip colour glides on like a lip stick but looks like a gloss. With nourishing Jojoba, Soybean and Vitamin E ingredients it conditions and moisturises the lips. The twist up component and smooth glide formula is easy to use for on the go comfort.

I don't think this product applies like a lipstick or looks like a lip gloss, but I love it anyway! It feels, applies, and looks more like a tinted balm than anything else, and it doesn't dry out the lips at all. It isn't a pigmented as the Barry M Cor Balmy lip balms, but the delicate colours (particularly in Sangria Starters and Coco Loco) are very flattering. They really give a 'your lips but better' look, and would be perfect for a natural make-up look. Tiki Torches is a lovely colour but the flakes of glitter in it are slightly too big for my liking, but I bet it would look great at a spring/summer party. I love the smell of these Lip Gloss Sticks - they smell like minty crayons (which is lovely). Sangria Starters is definitely my favourite so far as I really think it brings out my natural lip colour, but that being said Coco Loco is a great brown tinted nude too. I've just had a look on the website but it looks like all the Jumbo Lip Gloss Sticks have sold out - sorry if any of these took your fancy, hopefully e.l.f will be back soon!

All of these products totaled in at just over £12, shipping included, which I think was a real bargain. I'll be so sad to see e.l.f go and I really hope they manage to set up a new UK distribution service soon!

If you're sad to see e.l.f go, or can recommend another cheap cruelty free brand, please Tweet me @Vicki Maitland or leave a comment below, or tag me (@vickimaitland) in your Instagram pics showing off your favourite e.l.f products!

Know Your Body (Still Learning)

I've written a few posts about my body, the way I look at it and the way I treat it. But I'm still learning a lot about myself and the way I function, especially in the two years I've lived away from home whilst studying at uni.

1) Sleep. One of the biggest things I've learnt about myself is that if I get 4 hours sleep I can function well (in the short term), or if I get 8-9 hours of sleep I can function well (in the long term). Anywhere in between or outside those I am a big, tired mess. For most of my life I've had a pretty strict sleep schedule, decided mostly by when I have to get up the next morning. At uni I don't have to get p every morning to be somewhere, so it's been interesting to learn how I best function and what works for me.

2) Mornings. On top of this, I've also reaffirmed my belief that I am a morning person. I'm at my most productive when I've started work by about 9am, and I tend to have switched off by 7pm. This also means I like eating early (in both the morning and the evening) and getting an early night (in bed by 10:30pm), which isn't always possible when uni social life tends to happen after hours.

3) Veg. I love vegetables. At uni it's a rare day when I don't have all of my 5 a day and then some. At home, I very rarely eat 5 a day - mostly because our meals are based around a meat and carb combination (ie. cottage pie, lasagna, roasts). My meals at uni are almost always centred around vegetables and they form the base of any meal I eat (don't worry, I still get my protein - mostly from nuts and cheese). I really feel the difference when I come home, and though there is often more fruit around the house I really miss the veg!

4) Periods. I've noticed my hunger levels change drastically depending what time of the month it is, particularly since being on the combination pill. If I've used the pill off licence (ran over, so I skip a bleed week), it really throws my body off and I get a lot more cravings. As soon as I get my period, my appetite drops off and stays that way till the week before my next period. If you are someone who gets periods, it can be really interesting to map a pattern in your hunger levels (among other things), as hormones can have a huge influence on how we act. I used to be so hard on myself for overeating in the week leading up to my period, but now I know that for the three weeks during and after my appetite returns to 'normal' I'm a lot kinder to my cravings!

5) Exercise. I have never enjoyed working out, but I've come to realise how much my body values exercise. Leaving the house, going for a short walk, cycle or jog makes so much difference to the enjoyment of my day, and to my state of mind.

What I'm trying to say with all this is that it's vital to learn how your body functions best, and though I'm still learning a lot about myself I feel like I've come a long way in the last few years. The body is a machine, and how you treat it (and what you fuel it with) will affect a huge amount of your life - not only the way you act but also the way you look and think about yourself.

Let me know what you've learnt about your body in the comments below, or send me a tweet @VickiMaitland.

On Awkward Meet-ups

It's always a little daunting when you arrange to see someone you haven't seen or spoken to in a long time. You're never quite sure if they'll be the person you've remembered them as and you're certain you're not still the person they knew you as, and you don't know how they'll react to that change. It's more nerve-wracking when the last time you spoke wasn't on good terms, even worse when it's your ex and you haven't seen or spoken to them in the last seven months.

My advice? Try not to worry too much about it. Accept that you'll have both changed, and that those changes are probably a good thing. You'll both have grown and (hopefully) matured, so there's no need bringing up old issues which probably aren't relevant anymore and are just going to cause unnecessary tension. If you want to (and are making the effort to) see them after however long, chances are they are (or were) someone who was important to you. There was a reason for that. The worst thing that will happen is that you'll go back to not speaking to them, or you won't meet up again. Considering that's been the situation for the past however-many months, chances are it'll be okay.

I know I was almost ill I was so worried about how I'd react when I saw someone who had hurt me, but once we got talking I remembered exactly why we had been best friends for so long. Things weren't back to the way there were, and there was always going to be awkwardness and a bit of a guard up, but afterwards I felt so much better - not only about the person but about the whole situation surrounding them.

Have you had to meet up with someone you haven't seen in ages (friend, family member, ex-significant other)? How did it go? Any advice for someone else? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below.

'After'

I don't often have strong associations with words. In my first poetry seminar we were asked to write our favourite word on the board. I wrote something along the lines of 'mystery'. This was partly because I do quite like the sound of the word, and partly because I was afraid of spelling the word I actually really like the sound of the best (serendipity) wrong. But I don't have a favourite word based purely on meaning. Words alone don't tend to speak to me. But there is one word I have grown to dislike.

After.

I hate the word after. It makes my palms clam up and gives me a sticky sensation in my stomach. Not only does it imply that the thing you are currently doing will end, but it also implies a time beyond that where you should have figured out what you're going to do.

For me, after has come in two questions recently, both of which have struck fear into my heart,

1) 'What are you going to do after you graduate?'
2) 'Do you think you're going to keep seeing him after you leave uni?'

Both of these terrify me. I love plans, I'm a big plan maker and to-do-list creator. I like to know what's going on, and even if the plans change I like to be kept in the loop.

This being said, I like to go with the flow. I'm quite a laid back person, and I don't like to set things in stone if it means I'm going to potentially miss out on something better at a later date. Especially when it comes to relationships with people, I tend to be a little afraid of arranging things too far in the future as people and situations can change pretty quickly.

The combination of these two characteristics means that I've got all these ideas about where I want to go and what I want to do, but no real path to take me there.

I know I'm a victim of circumstance. I took a degree to postpone real life for a bit, to further improve myself, and because for me there was never any other option which appealed. Now that I've come to the end of that plan, I've got this huge window of opportunity in front of me. There are all these huge helium balloons floating just out of arms reach. 'Editor in a big name publishing house' one reads. 'Marketing and Publicity for LUSH' says another. 'Travel' a third. 'Just write' a fourth. It goes on and on. It takes a jump to grasp any of them, and I definitely can't grab two at once. I'm just worried my fingers will slip on the rope and I'll fall.

My feet are over the edge of the ledge, what happens after I jump?