The Silence Of The Moon

Legannany Dolmen

2012-03-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

I've lived just down the road for a portal tomb for 8 years and had still never visited it until this weekend when I just decided I was going! Legannany Dolmen is a megalithic dolmen and is around 5,000 years old! It's name in Irish is Liagán Áine meaning "Aine's standing stone" (Aine being an Irish Goddess) and was used as the grave site of a chieftain. I went to find another dolmen close by but apparently the road it is on doesn't exist :S But I shall find it on my next journey to historical places. Northern Ireland has around 150 dolmen's that are known, and could have many more, but Ireland as a whole has some of the best preserved and oldest dolmens, stone circles and standing stones in the world! I'm hoping to see as many as possible :)

I'm Alive!

2012-02-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been so MIA lately, with exams ending, my health going crazy and a lot of stuff going on in my personal life I haven't had much time to sit down and type out a post. I just celebrated by 18th birthday last Sunday (12th) so have been out partying for that as well as many of my close friends and family whose birthdays are in February. I also managed to get tonsillitis in the middle of it (which I've never had before,) I swear I am a magnet to every infectious illness in existence!

But other than that I am intending to up the posting in the near future. I still intend on putting up a post on angels, guardians and spirit guides as well as the February Amarya Organic Beauty Box, Heathenism and even tattoos! So keep your eyes peeled for those in the coming weeks. Hannah xx

2012 New Year's Witchy Fitness Challenge Check In: Week 2 (15/01/12)

2012-01-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

I was surprisingly good this week... until Saturday night :( Friday was my day for intense yoga and I felt so good afterwards! The next night however I took a break from revising and decided to treat myself to watching LOTR The Two Towers (it's my favourite!) In doing so I managed to nearly munch my way through a whole box of pringles and a jar of salsa. (I deserve a slap on the wrist for that!) I know I said I wouldn't deny myself some treats but that was waaaaay too much. So this week I plan to be healthier than usual.

Week 2 Challenge was about figuring out what other health issues you have and how they effect your fitness and quality of life. These can be physical or mental including stress levels and comment on how you can improve these.

As someone who's missed a year out of school due to illness, it plays a big role in my life. Although I try to grin and bare it most of the time it can take over and make me unable to do anything. If you haven't read any of my other posts, I had a chronic dry cough for 8 months due to stress (ie coughing like a 40 year old on 60 a day every two minutes, and that is no exaggeration.) I was very good at dealing with stress when I was younger but being a typical Aquarius I can't express my feelings and I'm used to giving others advice rather than asking for help myself. and so ended up very ill. While I was ill many people though there was nothing wrong with me, thinking a cough can't be serious which made me feel even worse. It's true that people don't get a three dimensional view of long term illness until they've experienced it for themselves. It was also around the time when swine flu was gripping everyone so I was started at a lot in hospitals.

What made my cough worse was the fact that two years prior I fell off a horse, landed on my hip and moved all my vertebrae from the top of my neck to the base of my spine out of place, my hip was rolled forward and trapped with a nerve in my leg and the bottom of my spine. I went to the hospital the next day and they said I just had muscle damage so I didn't go to an osteopath until a year or more after when I learned what was really wrong. He wasn't sure how I managed to go on for a year but most of the time I didn't notice the pain as it was constant. It's safe to say I have a high pain threshold but am now prone to getting trapped nerves and tense muscles in my back as well as my hip rolling forward every so often.

My cough has impacted all aspects of my life; my voice changed due to the damage of my vocal chords so I can't sing as high which is quite annoying as I'm in the choir and liked doing the soprano 1 pieces. I've been left with hyper sensitive airways similar to an asthmatic's so I have to take an inhaler. I also physically can't breathe when I walk past someone smoking or if deodorant has been sprayed. My immune system got a serious battering and I get awful migraines. Although my chronic cough has been cured for nearly two years I still get a horrible barking cough when I'm ill and take a long time to recover. My health has also made me have to reconsider what job I want to have in the future.

My exercise plan has been improving my core muscle strength so I should be less likely to have problems with my back. I also want to go back to horse riding soon as I have gone for 10 years but have only been three times in the last two years. I will continue to take vitamins and herbal remedies to strengthen my immune system although I try not to let illness get in the way of me enjoying my life. A major thing I need to do more is learn to relax and have more me time. Most of the time I consider things like doing word searches or researching topics of interest relaxing but in truth my brain is still going mad. I'm going to take even five minutes out of each day to do some breathing exercises or meditation. As far as migraines and my airways go there isn't much I can do. I take preventative medication for my migraines which works amazingly but I'm not sure if there are any herbal alternatives? My airways just have a mind of their own so I just try to stay away from triggers but I'm so glad they aren't affected by incense. The main thing I can do again is exercises to help relax my throat and vocal chords.

Illamasqua Goodies

2012-01-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

As I've been ill for the past few weeks I thought I'd treat myself to a present to make me smile (also because Illamasqua were giving away a free liquid metal with anything from the Christmas gift shop section, I couldn't resist!) (Just adding to this now, I started writing this soooo long ago that I've bought even more Illamasqua products which I'll include.

Illamasqua Brush Roll & Liquid Metal in Resolute

Firstly, how gorgeous is the brush roll! It's an image of Narcissus gazing at her reflection. I had my eye on it for a while but it was only available with a full brush set and I couldn't justify spending £90 then I saw it was in the Christmas shop along with a lip brush. As it was my third purchase with Illamasqua I also got 10% off :)

Here's the inside

Illamasqua Lip Brush

Liquid Metal in Resolute

Liquid Metal in Resolute - Intense then blended

This is such a gorgeous red shade but it does blend to be quite copperish, beautiful as a base under MAC Twinks.

Illamasqua Illumine Body Oil in Volt, Powder Blusher in Unrequited, Pure Pigment in Fervent & Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

Illamasqua Illumine Oil in Volt

Firstly I'm going to warn you about the bombarding of pictures of this product but it's gorgeous! There is a golden version called Pulse (I think) but as I'm as pale as they come I got this one that has amazing blue shimmer in it! Definately very Skadi/Ice Goddess like :) It has quite a delicate coconut scent too. I purchased this from the sale so it was reduced from £32.00 to £7.50 - a complete steal! I really hope the sparkle shows up, and ignore the yellowish one, just the way the sun was coming in.

Illamasqua Illumine Oil in Volt - Intense then blended

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Unrequited

This is a soft baby pink with a matte finish. A lot brighter and deeper than Katie which I will compare below. The blushes also have a wonderful scent in the pan but not on the cheeks.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Unrequited - Intense then blended

L-R: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Unrequited & Katie

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Fervent

Although I think Illamasqua's packaging is gorgeous they really haven't thought it through on the pure pigments; they go everywhere if you don't open them right, which I clearly found out. Other than that Fervent is a reddish brown with blue, green and silver shimmer, (I recommend clicking on the picture to see it better. A very unique shade which I'm unlikely to find anything similar to. I'm looking forward to coming up with a look using this shade. This was also purchased in the sale for £7.50 and was originally £15.50.

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Fervent - Intense then blended

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

Another purchase from the £7.50 section of the sale, orginally £13.00. Hermetic is a gorgeous deep wine red, very vampish and me! I think it will look gorgeous over Revlon's Black Cherry lipstick.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

Amarya Beauty Box Jan 2012

2012-01-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

So it's the first Beauty Box of the year and I have to say I was surprised when I lifted a very small and lightweight box from the hall when I came home from school. This month's products didn't come in the usual Amarya Beauty Box, but instead a regular Amarya delivery box. I wasn't too worried when I found out what was inside.

sorry there's a usb in the corner :/

There were only 3 products in this month's box but never fear, something special is hiding inside that pretty purple bag...

Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream - £23.95 30ml full sized sample.
"With the extract of over 1,075 organic Rose petals in each tube, this rich, beautifully scented and bestselling moisturiser will regenerate the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and calm. A fantastic cream for reducing redness and couperose conditions." As someone who suffers from redness and broken capillaries, I'm highly excited for this cream. I've only been using it for the past two mornings so haven't yet noticed anything drastic so I just have to give it time. It has a similar floral smell to Pai's products which I like but it doesn't linger on the skin. It has been a good moisturiser so far and coming from a person that has to use eczema cream on their face and doesn't actually have eczema that's a big claim to make!

John Masters Organics Jojoba and Ginseng Exfoliating Cleanser - £26.00 full size 118ml, 5ml sample.
"A luxury beauty range that combines high performance products with ethical, yet innovative, ingredients. Treating the skin and the earth with equal respect." This must have been this month's "random" product from a brand. I love John Masters Organics hair products and have been keen to try some of their skin products too. It is described on the site as being, "For all skin types Herbal extracts and plant & essential oils are combined to reoxygenate and nourish the skin as they gently cleanse. Ginseng improves circulation, which can reduce fine lines and make the skin firmer. Jojoba beads gently exfoliate without scratching, stimulating micro-circulation and lymphatic drainage Properties:

spherical structure of jojoba beads allows exfoliating without risk of scratching skin

stimulates blood circulation

restores vibrancy Usage:

for all skin types

use for gentle exfoliation on face & neck

use daily for thicker skin, weekly for more sensitive, thin skin."

Caudalie Vinexpert Radience Day Fluid SPF10 - £38.00 full size 30ml, 3ml sample.
"Using a patented formula of grape-seed polyphenols from their own home-grown grapes, Caudalie offers a range of high anti-oxidant, anti-aging products." Another "random" product. Personally I won't be using this as I'm just about to hit 18 so I don't think I'll need anti-aging products for another few years but my mummy is keen to try it. "This silky fluid offers exceptional anti-ageing effects. As a firming, anti-wrinkle cream, it also ensures optimal moisturizing and anti-oxidant protection. Its subtle pearly tones give you a radiant complexion throughout the day. Who is it for? For anyone who wants to fight against wrinkles and loss of firmness. Main Ingredients: Patented vine Resveratrol titrated at 500ppm, patented grape-seed polyphenols, Vinolevure®, coppery pearlizers and light reflecting pigments, cassia angustifolia, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, olive squalane, peas, sun filters, mint, mandarin... Caudalie cosm-ethics: 0% parabens, phenoxyethanol, artificial colorings, mineral oils… No animal testing. Non-comedogenic."

11 Random Things About Me Tag

2012-01-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

I got tagged over at My Life As I Know It. This is my first tag, how exciting :) (I've put this into UK spelling)

Rules:
1. post these rules.
2. you must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4. create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. no stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 people!

1 I can easily spend a whole night's "sleep" reading, I often found myself still engrossed in a book when other people in my house were getting up for work.
2 I've gone through a lot in my life for a 17 year old and although I nearly didn't make it I've come out a stronger because of it.
3 My friends always come to me for advice but I am unable to ask for help for myself. I bottle my emotions until I snap which can have horrible effects on my health.
4 I adapt well to new situations. I had to go back a year in school because of illness and didn't know anyone, now I have the best friends imaginable :)
5 I'm a work hard play harder kind of person. Most people in school think I'm quiet and get on with my work and don't think I party as much as the people who brag about it.
6 I need my alone time! I go mad if I'm around people ALL the time. I was the only girl out of three children so learned to be by myself. I enjoy being solitary, my sanity depends on it!
7 I'm fascinated by pretty much everything, the more knowledge I can have of something the better. Once something interests me I have to find all the information on it I can!
8 I am an organ and blood donor, I believe in helping all those I can :)
9 I am mildly allergic to pollen, cat hair, dust and house dust mites and have hyper sensitive airways but incense doesn't affect me :D
10 I play the guitar, piano and used to play the violin. (I wish I didn't quit!) I would love to play the harp.
11 My favourite smells are lavender, petrol and a winter's day when it has been snowing.

11 Questions I Get To Answer:
What is your favourite colour? Why? Green :) I don't really know why, I like earthy and dark colours so hunter green.
What is your favourite band/music? I love music from all different genres but I always come back to Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Ludovico Einaudi & Fleetwood Mac time and time again. I love New Age and Soundtrack music and I'm getting more and more into Pagan Metal.
What is your favourite movie? Why? Oh, it HAS to be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! I own all three, extended editions of course! The Two Towers is probably my favourite though. I love Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven too. I have a thing for reallllly long movies :) I don't know why, I'm just obsessed, I mean, have you SEEN Viggo & Orli?! who wouldn't want to look at them for 4 hours ;) & have been told I look like Arwen :) ...ahh Liv, she's so lovely.
What is your favourite website? Why? Probably Blogger! I love catching up on all the blogs I follow and get new ideas and perspectives on things :)
What is your favourite time of year? Why? I love Autumn/Winter. I am a Winter baby so it is understandable but I do love the darker part of the year when the air is so cold and crisp, you can really feel Skadi is here :)
What do you do for work? I'm currently a student in my penultimate year at grammar school studying Chemistry, Biology and Psychology... (spot the science nerd!) I was doing English Lit but dropped it in November, I enjoyed it but it was taking up all my time.
Do you have a favourite set of sheets or blanket you love? Why do you love it? My mummy made me a little quilt when I was in a cot and I've had it ever since, I love it, it's so cute, with little patchwork elephants, butterflies, ducks and more :)
Do you have pets? What are they and their names? I have two dogs, three cats, two tropical fish and a kitten (we did have two more but they disappeared :( ). The dogs are a chocolate Labrador/Collie cross called Bailey & a Lhasa Apso called Pippa (she actually has a big long silly name because she's pedigree), then the cats are called Muffin, Buttons & Minnie, and the kitten is called Mog. One of the fish is called Harry the hoover because it's one of those sucker fish that sticks to everything, (they were my mummy's friend's fish).
If you could have any superpower what would it be? This is a really hard one, but probably to be able to absorb information and keep it all. I'm an Aquarius, I'm interested by everything and like having knowledge :) wouldn't mind being able to time travel either :)
What is your favourite food/dish? Sushi! Oh I love sushi :)
What is your favourite drink (alcohol or otherwise)? Earl Grey Tea, nothing but the best :)

11 People I Tag:
Inner Moon
The Flaxen Owl
Powdered Almond
Winterdays
She Who Seeks
I Am A Weapon Of Massive Consumption
New Moon Summer
Pagan Culture
Plush Possum Studio
Emily Charlotte
Every Magical Day

11 Questions For You:

1 Where is your favourite place? Why?
2 How do you like to relax?
3 What is your favourite smell?
4 What are your hobbies?
5 What is your favourite animal? Why?
6 What was your favourite subject at school? Why?
7 What is your favourite book?
8 What was the last thing you ate?
9 What is your favourite computer game?
10 Are you more introverted or extroverted?
11 What is your favourite song?

Leave a link in the comments below when you've done it :) Anyone else who I haven't tagged feel free to do one too :)

A Little Pic

2012-01-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

I liked the make up I done at the weekend when I went out for my friend leaving for uni so thought I'd share. I used my new Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Resolute :)

2012 New Year's Witchy Fitness Challenge Check In: Week 1

2012-01-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

So it's been a week and I have to say I'm surprised that I have already lost about half an inch almost everywhere! I wasn't really good on what I was eating but portion sizes were definitely down and I've been drinking as much water as possible. I've been sticking to my exercise plans making sure I did stretches everyday but I didn't get a chance to jog so I'm off to do my intense yoga session (this will be fun :/)

Current Measurements (last weeks measurements in brackets)

Weight 9.12st (10.0st)
Waist 29.5in (30 in)
Hips 35.5in (36 in)
Bust 35.5in (36in)
Widest Part 39in (39in)
Thighs 21.5in (22in)

I really wasn't expecting this result after only a week but it has encouraged me to continue on my quest to becoming the fittest and healthiest me possible :)

A short post but I've too much studying to do!

The Joys Of January

2012-01-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

January is well under way, I've only been back to school for two days and already I'm stressing! My mocks are coming up in the next few weeks and are really important so I won't be back to posting until near the end of the month, except for the Witchy Fitness Challenge check-ins on Sundays. I'm going to be soooo behind on the New Year, New You Challenge but what can you do. Hopefully my work will pay off and I'll be back posting soon. Have a good January! Hannah xx

2012 New Year's Witchy Fitness Challenge Begins

2012-01-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

So, it has arrived at last, and as you would guess the first requirement is to take your starting measurements.

Weight 10.0st (138.8lbs)
Waist 30 in
Hips 36 in
Bust 36in
Widest Part 39in
Thighs 22in

Another requirement was to take a before photo, I'll take one later but I don't think I'll put it up as I don't own a bikini (yet!)

Next is goals. As this is a fitness challenge I'm not interested in losing lots of weight (although it would be nice!) My main goal is to improve my strength and posture, and tone up my curves. I don't want rid of them but I do want them to be tighter. I've been to countless physiotherapists, osteopaths and Chinese therapy acupressure sessions about the whole of my back that I know I need to start doing something myself about it.

Finally is the plan. This is probably the hardest thing to make and stick to but I'm going to give it my best. It's best to put it into two sections; a diet plan and an exercise plan.

Diet Plan

1 Drink at least 2 litres of water. I can become a little dehydrated when I have my cough but this should be easy enough when I get back to school as I always fill a bottle up in the morning and have it drank before the end of the school day. I'm going to bring an extra one and make sure to fill it back up when I get home.

2 Stick to the Meatless Monday Campaign. I'm beginning this today as it is Monday as I've recently purchased the River Cottage Veg Cookbook after watching the programme. This will not only improve my health but the environment too!

3 Stop grazing when I don't need to. I have a habit of eating whatever is in the house when I'm not even hungry, or even worse I eat while waiting for something else to cook!

4 Cut down on portion sizes. I don't really eat that unhealthily but I know that my portion sizes are waaaay too big for one person. I can eat quite quickly too so my body doesn't have time to tell me it's full before I've finished my plate.

5 Stop having I NEED THE MOST UNHEALTHY THING I CAN THINK OF phases. Like I mentioned above my diet isn't that unhealthy but when I crave something sweet or savoury that is loaded with calories and not much else I go mad eating as much as I can. I'm not going to deny myself a treat once in a while, I already do try to limit the amount of buns I bake, but no more nights of milk chocolate that I don't even like! (I do however like dark chocolate and a square of proper dark chocolate is meant to be good for you.)

6 Make sure I take my vitamins! Pretty self explanatory but I ALWAYS forget to!

Exercise Plan

Monday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance band stretches
Gentle Yoga before bed

Tuesday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance band stretches

Wednesday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance ban stretches
Jog on Wii

Thursday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance band stretches

Friday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance band stretches

Saturday & Sunday

Core muscle stretches
Resistance band stretches
Intense Yoga or Walk & Rest on other day

It is possible that my mummy and I will join Slimming World or Weight Watchers in the next few weeks too. Good luck on achieving whatever goals you have set!

Meatless Monday Campaign

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

I'm really jumping on the challenge bandwagon and this time it's something that I've been contemplating for a while. After talking it over with my mummy earlier today, I've decided to join the Meatless Monday campaign, to "one day a week, cut out meat" in order to improve health and the environment. Although I wouldn't become a full blown vegetarian (I love bacon and red meat too much) I did choose too study adolescent vegetarianism for my home economics coursework a few years ago and found that there are many benefits to excluding meat from your diet no matter how long it is for. Health benefits include reducing the risk of some cancers, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Not only that, leaving out the meat one day a week reduces your carbon footprint, decreases fossil fuel dependancy and minimises water usuage making it environmentally friendly too.

If you are thinking of joining in on the Meatless Monday campaign there is a widget in the side bar with recipe ideas and I will post some recipes I've tried out too along the way. Meat often takes centre stage on the dinner plate, but it doesn't have to be there for food to be just as delicious.

New Year, New You Blog Challenge

2012-01-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

Deborah over at Charmed I'm Sure has started an experiment, along with her muse, to get people off their butts and do the things that they've been putting off and need done called New Year, New You . As someone who tries to have a "just do it" approach to life, I still need a kick in the ass about doing certain things.

She will post prompts to get us motivated into doing whatever it is we need to do. I hope you all join in to make this your most magical year yet!

A New Start

2011-12-30T11:42:00.000-08:00

We all know the cliché new years resolutions that everyone keeps up for about a week then drops but I thought I'd share mine anyway. Thankfully some of mine have been made into blog challenges so that should have some motivation. 2011 has been an odd year with many ups and downs but I do not wish to look back with any regrets, only to look forward to the year ahead with an open heart and mind. So, here are my resolutions!

1 Accept myself for being me. If you read my Yule Magic gift it was to let people know that they deserve to give themselves a chance. I had a habit of letting people get to me with nasty remarks but it's not me that needs to change, it's them.

2 Be healthy. I don't want to lose loads of weight and be a size zero, I'm happy with my curves. For me health is about feeling good mentally, physically and spiritually. Since my chronic cough, my immune system has been shot to pieces and I pick up everything, but I try not to let that get in my way. After suffering with a back injury for 3 or 4 years I really want to devote myself to strengthening my core muscles which will not only help me tone up, but prevent further injury.

4 Focus more on school. The last point ties in with this one in that my not so great health has an impact on my school performance. I still try to go to school as much as I can but sometimes it's not possible and I fall behind. This is an important year for school work and can determine whether or not I get to do the course at university that I want to.

3 Explore my path as a Pagan. Although I've officially been practising for over a year, I often have so much other stuff preoccupying my mind that my spiritual practice gets pushed into the background. Poor health and school work seem to be the main things that diminish my practice, although I say a prayer everyday I want to do more than that and explore other practises and traditions.

4 Plant a veg patch and herb garden. I love gardening as it gets me closer to nature. We grew lots of food at our old house and I loved it so it's definitely something I want to do again.

5 Get more involved in the craft. As my knowledge of herblore increases I want to make my own incense, oils, tinctures and beauty products so that they are personal to me.

6 Exercise more. I guess this is associated to the being more healthy one but again time and injury are the main components as to why I don't exercise enough. As the strength of my back improves I want to go back to horse riding and start yoga again as I love doing it.

At the moment those are my main goals for the coming year, I may add to those or give myself goals for each month but those are the long term ones for the year. What are your resolutions for 2012? I'd love to know :)

A Year To Read

2011-12-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of my resolution for the coming year is to make more time to read, so in light of this I've joined another reading challenge for 2012.

As fantasy books make up the majority of my collection I thought this was a suitable challenge to join as I need to get reading them! I'm opting for the Elf Level of 10 books but hopefully I'll get reading more than that. I hope you join in and challenge yourselves to read as much as you can next year :)

Yule Magic 2011

2011-12-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

My magical gift to you all is one I think everyone would like to hear every once in a while; and it is the gift of knowing you deserve a chance. All too often we are quick to tell ourselves that we don't deserve something or we aren't good enough.

Quite often the only person setting us back in life or not letting go off the past is ourselves, so every solstice I like to perform a little ritual to give myself a break. I write down all the things I want to let go of and the things I want to let happen in my life on little bits of paper. The things that I want rid of such as fears, regrets and bad habits, I put in fire and burn them to be cleansed and renewed. Those that I want to prosper such as good health, happiness and personal goals, I bury in the ground so that they can grow within the earth and grow on a energetical level on the physical plain.

We all deserve to give ourselves another chance, to wipe the slate clean, forgive ourselves for something we've done wrong so that we can grow and live our lives to the fullest. Have a blessed Winter Solstice! xx

Amarya Beauty Box Dec 2011

2011-12-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

Ahh the heating is broke, a classic sign that winter is well and truly here, (we've even had a little snow!) however this little box arrived in the post and brightened my day :)

The paper seemed to be lighter this time and there were no foam pieces which I found out for having such a heavy item in the box. (All my tissue was ripped underneath so I won't be able to use it for other people's presents :( )

Firstly I just have to say how much I love the packaging of the first product. REN have teamed up with de Gournay to create this gorgeous artwork on their 2011 Christmas Gift Sets!

REN Neroli Duo Gift Set - £28.00 full sized sample
"A zesty, invigorating, uplifting duo of Neroli and Grapefruit Body Wash and Body Cream presented in a beautiful box with de Gourney design. Great for a morning pick me up!" Firstly this is almost triple the price of the box so immediately you are getting your moneys worth. I had a little smell and try of the moisturiser and I have to say I'm liking it. I can't wait to get using these to perk me up on these dark mornings.

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream - £14.95 full size 50ml, 10g sample.
"This gentle cleansing cream will offer a deep cleanse without upsetting the delicate acid mantle of the skin. Press this cream gently in to damp skin after removing make-up." As someone with skin that tends to be very dry I can't use make up remover or wipes as it sucks they are both extra drying so cleansing cream it is. I'm looking forward to trying this one out.

Acorelle Eau De Parfum - £29.99 full size 50ml, 1.5ml sample.
"The World's first certified organic perfumes made with essential oils and natural extracts based on the principles of aromatherapy. Nine Eau de Parfums to choose from." I got the Wheat Almond Eau de Parfum, "revitalizes your senses thanks to the combination of bitter almond essential oil, palmarosa essential oil and essence of orange." I had a little spritz and the fragrance isn't for me. Perfume is a really personal thing so you either like a scent or you don't. It's quite a similar in smell to Marks & Spencer's White Peach and Almond Hand & Nail Cream. Personally, I prefer the cream.

I was going to do a "star of last month" bit at the end of each Amarya Beauty Box but I had a really hard time choosing what I loved the most. Maybe I'll have one next time :)

Apologies

2011-12-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

As you might have noticed I haven't put up my post for The Witches Yuletide Ball that was on Saturday. I haven't been very well for the past few weeks so haven't been in the mood to decorate or bake, (I couldn't eat all weekend) however it is my school Winter Ball on Wednesday so I will put some pictures up of it as my post.

Sorry if you were looking forward to the post, I will try and have the Yuletide Blessings post up on the correct date. Hannah xx

2012 Pagan Reading Challenge & Get Off Your Broom Witchy Fitness Challenge

2011-12-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

So, I've just signed up for two blog events over at The Domestic Pagan. Both start in January and last the whole year through so I will have many updates (hopefully) on both of these.

The first I have joined in the 2012 Pagan Reading Challenge. It is designed to get us all motivated to read more about the craft, nature and paganism in general. The challenge includes any fiction books also related to this topic, so anything about witches, magic and the paranormal counts.

I have decided to opt for the realistic Beginner Read of 11-15 books at present as next year is going to be pretty heavy on school work from January to June but I may advance on or reduce this number as the year goes on. There's so many books on this path that I want to read but don't have the time so I'm hoping this will motivate me to get reading! Hopefully I'll make a start on a Book of Shadows next year too.

My next motivational challenge is the 2012 Get Off Your Broom Witchy Fitness Challenge. I've wanted to get into shape so bad the past couple of years but illness and other obligations just haven't made it possible. I'm not really worried about losing lots of weight but I do want to tone up, eat better and feel as healthy as I can (despite the random illnesses I get.) When you feel good about yourself it really boosts your confidence and an event like this will hopefully give everyone the determination and focus to achieve their goals. Check ins will be every Sunday so expect some health related posts in the coming year!

I hope your December is getting off to a magical start! Hannah xx

Yuletide Cupcakery! 2011

2011-12-05T14:53:00.000-08:00

Happy December! I've been in a Yuletide mood today, singing carols at choir, snow this morning and of course baking for this cupcakery! I decided to make gingerbread cupcakes, well, because I love gingerbread :) I was initially going to try my hand at eggnog cupcakes but couldn't find the recipe book :( hopefully I'll find it before Saturday's blog party. Anyway, here's the recipe!

Ingredients

150 g butter, room temperature
150 g soft brown sugar
3 eggs
150 g self-raising flour
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cinnamon
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 tbsp milk

For the frosting

200 g butter, at room temperature
50 g soft brown sugar
3 tbsp milk
200 g icing sugar
pinch ground cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4.

2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Sift the flour together with the spices.

4. Gradually mix the eggs into the creamed butter and sugar alternating with the flour to stop the mix from curdling. Finally, stir through the milk.

5. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into a muffin tin and divide the mixture between them.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and springy to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

7. For the frosting: while the cupcakes are cooking place 50 grams of the butter in a pan with the brown sugar and cook over a low heat until melted. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk and stir to form a thick glossy toffee sauce. Leave to one side to cool to room temperature.

8. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter until smooth, then start to sift in the icing sugar, stirring regularly. Add the toffee sauce and stir until thoroughly incorporated. Add a splash more of milk if the mixture seems too thick - the frosting should be light and creamy.

9. Put the frosting in a piping bag and pipe onto the cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon before serving.

Enjoy!

MAC & Illmasqua Haul

2011-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

My mother and I found ourselves in Debenhams yet again after picking up my formal dress so decided to treat ourselves during their Big Gift Event Sale, so here's what I got.

I've been really getting into MAC & Illamasqua lately, I'm loving the products I have so far and I've converted my mummy to MAC when before she didn't see what was so great about them... she was easily turned!

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation - 03

"Inspired by the cult Asian market Beauty Balm creams, Skin Base Foundation is a brand new, refined formula unlike anything on the UK market. Easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion, and like the entire Illamasqua foundation range, is undetectable in a professional HD environment. Suitable for all skin types, it smoothes, softens and conditions your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage."

I've been looking a new liquid foundation for ages, but find it difficult to get one to match my skin tone exactly or one that is moisturising enough. I wanted to try this out because of the great hype and reviews surrounding it and I saw why it has gotten this attention when the lady at the counter put it on me; it's flawless skin in a bottle! The woman also informed me as to why my skin is so dry and it is because I exfoliate too much (any scrub that recommends using it every day don't do it! It takes around 8 days for healthy skin to surface so if you scrub all the top skin off everyday there's no moisture left in the deeper layers that are coming to the surface.) This shade is the lightest for colourings with yellow undertones.

Illamasqua Powder Blush - Katie

"Illuminate, radiate, make your face come alive with the colour and drama of Illamasqua Powder Blusher. Colour-intense and highly pigmented, use it to shade, brighten, enhance and define the shape of your face. Be bold, be daring, be the centre of attention."

The lady at the counter also used this on me as both a blush and a contour which had amazing results for such a light and natural colour. Katie is described as a soft candy pink with a matt finish.

Illamasqua Highlighter Brush

"Illuminate your alter ego. Use the Illamasqua Highlighter Brush to apply Illuminator to anywhere you’d like to draw attention. Wonderfully versatile, this brush can also be used to buff Illamasqua Light or Rich Liquid Foundation onto the face, to create a polished look."

Since the cover of my elf stipple brush melted into the bristles I've been on the lookout for a new buffing brush. I prefer using this kind of brush than a regular foundation brush as it provides a more natural and buildable coverage. It is particularly good with both the skin base foundation and for applying blush.

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow - Shimmermint

Another part of the Glitter & Ice collection. I fell in love with this shade but managed to miss it the other week when I was there. A beautiful pale green melange. Not more else I can say, frosty, glittery, like having snowflakes on your eyelids!

MAC Eye Shadow in Patina & Satin Taupe

Two gorgeous shades I've had my eye on for a while, Patina is a taupe brown with golden pearl and Satin Taupe is a taupe with silver shimmer.

MAC Eye Shadow in Mystery & Twinks

I forgot to include these in my last haul post as that is when I got them but had them straight into my pallet so forgot about them. Mystery is a muted plum-brown which is perfect alone for my eyebrows at night or mixed with Espresso for the day. Twinks is a gorgeous deep plum with pearl.


My current MAC eyeshadow collection; Top Row L-R: Blanc Type, Vanilla, Dazzlelight, Girlie; Middle Row L-R: Wedge, Patina, Era, Folie; Bottom Row L-R: Espresso, Mystery, Woodwinked, Satin Taupe, Twinks

MAC Lustre Lipstick - Viva Glam V

I was looking for a really moisturising lipstick that was quite natural but still had some colour and the lady at the counter came up with this beauty, a neutral pink with pearl. Is it just me or do these smell amazingggg! Better still, all funds from the Viva Glam range go towards Aids Awareness & by getting this, along with the next product, the money has given someone a home for two nights and eight meals.

MAC Lipglass - Viva Glam VI

I'm usually not a fan of lipgloss, (I'm a lipstick girl for life!) but I couldn't resist this warm plum with pearl after trying it on over the lipstick; they're a match made in lip combo heaven!

Current Loves

2011-12-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

I've found myself day dreaming lately about lovely thing so thought I'd share. (All images from we heart it)

sparkly shoes!

lovely liv

cute kittens

& again

& again!

jeffrey campbell lita boots

winter jumpers

warming drinks

to die for nails

norse mythology (I might be going to a camp in Norway in the summer!)

what kind of Mjölnir pendant I want

cute hairstyles

big rings

& again

women of the past

baking

yoga

& of course, snow!

Have a wonderful weekend! xx

December Plans

2011-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

The season of yuletide is almost upon us! (I've promised myself no decorating or seasonal themed music until December 1st! including not changing my blog background!) Before I inform you of my plans for the coming month I'd like to say thank you for subscribing, I've now reached 20 followers, which to me is is a lot as I didn't think I'd even get one let alone anyone finding my blog but thank you all :)

December is going to be a busy month for me, 3 blog parties which you can find more info about in the side bar and in the previous few posts. I've also got my school's Winter Ball on the 14th (and I'll put some photos up!) and my piano exam the day after :(

Winter is a time that I feel most connected to the earth and the elements. Everything about it is so magical. I'm particularly looking forward to the snow and working with Skaði as I'm being more and more drawn to the Norse pantheon. Hopefully I'll get some snow magic in there too, but I shall save that for one of my blog party posts. I hope you all have had a wonderful autumn and a magical Yule! Hannah xx

Spiderweb Cheesecake Recipe

2011-11-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

I made this cheesecake for Samhain & the Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon blog party. It's safe to say it was the first thing everyone dived for and kept eating even though they felt sick, so it must have been really great. It is a very rich cheesecake and definitely not kind on the hips but we all deserve a treat every now and then :) This recipe is taken from The Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days book.

Serves 8-12

Ingredients
For the biscuit base

220g (8oz) digestive biscuits
100g (3 1/2 oz) unsalted butter, melted

For the cheesecake topping

4 leaves of gelatine
600g (1lb 5oz) full-fat cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
100g (4oz) caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence ( I used extract, it has more real flavour)
1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
200ml (7fl oz) double cream
60g (2oz) dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)

One 20cm (8in) diameter spring-form tin
Piping bag with a fine (no.2) writing nozzle (I just used a spoon and let it drip)

Method

1. Line the base of the cake tin with baking parchment, then, in a food processor, whiz the digestive biscuits into fine crumbs using the blade attachment. Alternatively, place the biscuits in a plastic bag, seal it shut and crush with a rolling pin.

2. Tip the biscuit crumbs into a bowl, pour over the melted butter and mix together with a spoon. Pour the buttery crumbs into the lined cake tin, pressing them into the base of the tin, then place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to cool and set while you make the topping.

3. Place the gelatine leaves in a bowl of tepid water to soften. Using a hand-held electric whisk or freestanding electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla essence and lemon zest until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the double cream until it forms soft peaks.

4. In a small saucepan, on a very low heat, melt approximately 200g (7oz) of the cream cheese mixture. Allow it to warm slightly, then remove from the heat, add the softened gelatine and let it melt in the cream cheese.

5. Add the remaining cold cream cheese to the warm mixture in the pan, mixing it in 3 tablespoons at a time and stirring continuously,. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake mixture and then pour on to the prepared base in the tin. Smooth down the top of the cheesecake using a palette knife.

6. Break the chocolate into a glass bowl and melt over a pan of simmering water, then remove from the heat and allow to cool. Pour the chocolate into the piping bag and pipe on to the cheesecake in evenly spaced concentric circles. Using a toothpick or the point of a sharp knife, draw a fin line from the centre circle to the outer circle to create a spiderweb effect. Clean the toothpick or skewer after drawing each line.

7. Place the finished cheesecake in the fridge and allow it to set for a couple of hours, or preferably overnight.

Of course this cheesecake's design was ideal for any Halloween or Samhain celebrations, just changing the design will make it suitable for any occasion, although the more darker of us can make it feel like Samhain any day of the year with the spiderweb design :) Enjoy!

I Knew It!

2011-11-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

I was so sure I took a picture of the spiderweb cheesecake I made at Samhain & was confounded that I couldn't find it but I finally did, almost a month late but ah well it was my favourite out of everything I baked for the Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon :)

Yum!

So Many Blog Parties, So Little Time

2011-11-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

I've joined yet another blog event! This time it's one dedicated to baking!
Here's the schedule for all the events I'm participating in as well as links to the hosts' blogs:

Yuletide Cupcakery! - December 5th
The Witches Yuletide Ball - December 10th
Yuletide Blessings - December 18th
Yule Magic - December 21st

Be sure to check these out on the day and support the other bloggers who enjoy the season!

Doing What's Right For You & Anti-Bullying Week

2011-11-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

This week marked Anti-Bullying Week in the UK with the slogan 'Stop and think - words can hurt' which focuses on verbal bullying. As someone who has been a victim of verbal bullying for a very long time I thought it was right to share my experience to let people know how serious of an issue bullying is.

I was bullied for over 4 years from primary school right into secondary school. It started out as 'just joking' but it was clear to many people that all the jokes and snide remarks were aimed at me even if they could be applied to anyone. While people might think this is a bit of fun, me included at the beginning, it evolved into me believing what was being said. Usually I didn't care what people thought of me but hearing not so nice comments to my face everyday started to take hold and I was letting people tell me I was worthless and there was nothing good about me. I hid it pretty well, I've always been good under stress and at faking a smile so as not to drag other people into it, but what amazed me is how none of my "friends" stood up for me or said enough when they knew it was getting out of hand. I've never been one to want to ask for help as I don't like getting other people down because of how I am feeling and I never told the people saying the comments where to go because I didn't want to hurt their feelings even though they didn't care about mine.

Then one summer I just broke down. It came as a shock to many people, including my family who didn't even know what was going on. I couldn't handle feeling like that and pretending I was ok when I wasn't. As a result I became extremely ill, having to take a year off school due to a chronic cough which was affecting me whole body. Now I get sick any time I get too stressed and the cough comes back, but thankfully it goes away again. I didn't deserve to be treated like that but what made me angry is that the school did nothing about the bully because there was "no evidence" regardless of many witnesses every day. They might as well have said I was making it up and I should have wrote it down (how you couldn't just make that up I don't know) and why would I want to replay it in my head? I just didn't want to think about it. But, because of this the bully didn't get any punishment; they get to leave school at the right time, do their important exams and live on as if they never did anything wrong while I had to go back a year, into a year without knowing anyone, having to redo coursework and learn some of the teaching myself because the syllabus had changed whilst still being ill. How that is fair I do not know.

What annoyed me the most is that school goes on about preventing bullying and say that they take it very seriously but in my case they did nothing. The only way they could have had evidence is if it was cyber bullying or did they want me to record it?!

In the past few months however I've been regaining my confidence and getting back to the old me. I've stopped letting people walk all over me. Yes we all want to be nice to other people but if it is harming your happiness then what's the point. I told some of my "friends" that also didn't treat me correctly that I didn't think we should be friends, including my "best friend" from I was 2 years old. I pity people who treat other people that they supposedly care about or are friends with in a way that they would not want to be treated themselves. Anyone who makes other people feel worthless to make themselves feel better is only pointing out what they are insecure of themselves and they should learn that it will get them nowhere in life. Just know that if you are being bullied it is the bully that has a problem not you. You are worth something if it is you they decide to verbally attack and you're better than to listen to what they have to say. Stand up for yourself but don't become a bull yourself or you're just as bad as the other person.

If you are feeling down about yourself I highly recommend you check out these 50 Life Secrets and Tips that are sure to improve your sense of self, I know they helped me! (and of course so did my discovery of paganism!)

Shopping Saturday

2011-11-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

I went shopping for my formal dress today and found the perfect one more quickly that expected so was able to go for my annual holiday shopping with my mummy as this is usually when I buy new clothes and get part of my present, so I thought I'd share some of the stuff I got. These first few things are from Debenhams.

Illamasqua Freak Limited Edition Gift Set, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, MAC Paint Pot in Let's Skate! & Morning Frost

(Yes, I know I already have Illamasqua's Hemlock Nail Polish but my mummy is taking this one.)

Illamasqua Freak Eau De Parfum

"Freak is a concoction of dangerously exotic unconventional flowers which Illamasqua has unashamedly blended together to celebrate the night.

Celebrate the night with Freak, the first fragrance from Illamasqua. An expert blend of dangerously exotic midnight blooms, this intoxicating scent awakens forbidden floral tones that are unashamedly seductive, magical, timeless and unforgettable.

Top Notes: Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna bewitch the senses into uncontrollable lust and passion.

Heart Notes: Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen Of The Night blossom, caress and kiss.

Base Notes: Aromas of Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh, addictively mesmerises and captures the senses.

The rich and daringly provocative opening notes of Black Davana cast a magical spell of desire across the senses to celebrate the night. This compelling Burnt Orange Bloom base is highly prized the world over for its ability to enhance the wearer's natural perfume. The subtle mustiness of Poison Hemlock haunts the background tone of Freak, adding alluring depths of mystery.

Datura, The Moonflower, and intoxicating scent that as long been used as a heady aphrodisiac. The exquisitely rare Queen Of The Night blooms fleetingly for a single night each year, and completes this daringly provocative concoction with its warm, soft floral scent touched with sweetness."

I tend to get a new perfume as part of my present every few years. I've been wearing Estee Lauder's Sensuous quite a lot these past few years so it's night to have a change. This perfume is definitely something different. Like most other perfumes it smells different on everyone but what makes this one unique is how much the scent changes as the time goes on; the scent when you first spray it and the scent when you have been wearing it for an hour are so different but the notes change so subtly, it just works! I love the little snail climbing up the bottle, hehe :)

Illamasqua Limited Edition Pure Pigment in Queen Of The Night

"Bringing a gloriously rich shimmer to the night's darkest hour, this high-shine metallic powder was made to be played with. A blackened plum, use on its own, with Illamasqua Eye Shadow, or mix with Sealing Gel to create a colour-rich metallic eye liner."

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Queen Of The Night - Intense then blended

Illamasqua Limited Edition Sheer Lipgloss in Datura

"Kiss and tell in the moonlight with bruised, sensual neutral mauve lips - this super glossy, seer colour mirrors its namesake, the Moonflower, to enhance your lips and add sexiness to your smile. Use over Illamasqua Lipstick for added pout."

Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Datura

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NC 15

I've been looking a heavy duty concealer for quite a while now so who better to get one from than MAC. I tend to have big dark circles under my eyes and I have broken capillaries on my cheeks so because that and with my formal coming up I needed something with a bit more coverage.

MAC Glitter & Ice Paint Pot in Let's Skate & Morning Frost

These are from MAC's newest Glitter & Ice collection and the colours are beautiful; Let's Skate! is a pale pink with pearl and Morning Frost is a Shimmering Champagne Taupe. I've been looking to get a MAC paint pot for a while so now I have two :)

MAC Paint Pot in Let's Skate! & Morning Frost

I also popped into the actual Lush shop for the first time too. (I used to think it was a cheese shop cause they had big wheels of soap in the window which I thought was cheese haha!)

Christmas Eve, Gingerbread House, The Melting Snowman, Amandopondo

I decided to go with a festive theme (bar Amandopondo) it all smells so great, I had a hard time choosing what to actually get.

Christmas Eve Bubble Bar

"This bubble bar was invented for those times when you are getting ready for a big event. Soak in a bath and relax in mountains of bubbles and rise with a hint of sensual jasmine fragrance lingering on your body.

Irish moss powder in this bar ensures that your skin feels smooth and soft whilst the essential oils will relax you and leave your mind and body ready for great things.

Designed by some of our ( more party-animal ) shop managers, who wanted something to use after long days at work, when they had parties or nightclubs to go to. They wanted something to refresh, wake themselves up and also leave them smelling fantastic.

They put a night sky and moon on the bar, because to them that heralds the time to get going and get out!
For the less party prone amongst us – this bar is great for use at all times of the day or night, but always when you want to be left feeling fantastic."

Gingerbread House Bubble Bar

"Ginger and spice and all things nice. That’s what our little bubble bar house is made of.

With its little snowy roof and cinnamon stick chimney, this bubble bar looks as good as its edible cousins. But, when you come to use this one, instead of a stale gingerbread biscuit, you get mountains of spicy, fruity foam and a jolly good wash.

With ginger powder and ginger essential oil, this is a warming little number. But we’ve also given it lemon oil and a fruity scent based around the blackcurrant notes of buchu oil. It’s a wonderful treat that you’ll want to lose yourself in.

If you’re feeling the winter blues a soak in this will help you find your way out of the woods."

The Melting Snowman Bath Melt

"Our little snowman is about to shuffle off this mortal coil – but not before you get one last bath from him as he disappears for another year.

It is a short but glorious life that our Melting Snowman lives. He may not have long to go, but boy is he going to make a grand exit.

Exquisitely fragranced with a blend of oils containing vanilla absolute and sweet wild orange, giving him a deep marzipan fragrance with notes of rich fruit, reminiscent of Christmas cake and figgy puddings. Which means he smells exactly the same as our bestselling Snowcake soap.

But if it isn’t enough to smell of our most popular Christmas fragrance, he’s also got a body made of water-softening bicarb of soda, cocoa butter and shea butter. This means that when the heat gets to him and he finally melts away, he fizzes those wonderful butters through your bathwater, leaving you soft and moisturised. What a way to go !

His legacy is your great skin – which means he lives on in the memory of all who knew him."

Amandopondo Bubble Bar

"A gentle bath for times when the world owes you a favour. Let the rose wrap you in a comfort blanket and the lemon lift your mind and spirits.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best – a bath of uncomplicated bliss.

This bubble bar was inspired by the idea of forgiveness. For those times when life is unfair or people untrue. We all know a bouquet of roses is a good place to start putting things right – so we wanted to sum that up in a bath-time experience.

At Lush we love trading with family businesses. We buy the rose absolute that we put into this bubble bar from a family in Turkey who have been growing roses and distilling their oil for over three generations. We’ve learned so much from their passion and expertise in the years we’ve known them."

Spicy Roasted Butternut Soup & Homemade Wheaten Bread Recipe

2011-11-18T13:26:00.000-08:00

This soup screams autumn to me. It's just so yummy and warming and comforting, like it's giving your tummy a hug :) My family aren't really that keen on things like butternut squash or sweet potato and I don't know why, I love them, but I think I've brought them round with this recipe! This recipe is from the Women's Institute Soups for All Seasons cookbook & the recipe for the bread is one I was given in school

Ingredients for the soup:

1 large butternut squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 onions, chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
dash red chilli in sunflower oil
600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
toasted pumpkin seeds to garnish

Method

1 Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6/200°C/400°F
2 Thickly peel the butternut squash. Scoop out the seeds and chop the flesh into chunks. Place in a large roasting tin. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil and season. Roast for 30 minutes, or until tender.

3 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large lidded saucepan. Add the onions, ginger and chilli. Cover and sweat for 10mins, until softened. (At this point I made the wheaten).

4 Add the roasted squash to the pan with the stock and bay leaf. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

5 Cool slightly, remove the bay leaf and purée in a liquidiser until smooth.

6 Reheat until piping hot. Check seasoning.

7 Divide the soup between warmed serving bowls and sprinkle with the toasted pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients for the bread:

200g wholemeal flour
50g pinhead oatmeal (I prefer it without this)
75g porridge oats
50g margarine
25g castor sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
250mls buttermilk

Method

1 Rub margarine into flour.

2 Add oatmeal, oats sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix well.

3 Add buttermilk, to give a soft dough.

4 Pour into a 900g loaf tin; press some oat flakes on top.

5 Bake in a preheated oven, 200°C, gas 6 for 40 mins.

I didn't have any toasted pumpkin seeds :(

Follow Me On Bloglovin!

2011-11-13T15:54:00.001-08:00

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3190643/the-silence-of-the-moon?claim=4rcaaq64q3g">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Amarya Beauty Box Nov 2011

2011-11-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

My first Amarya Beauty Box arrived last week! With the success of previous Beauty Boxes Birchbox, Glossybox, Boudoir Privé, Feel Unique etc. Amarya have released their own containing only natural and organic products available in their store. As I'm trying to convert to using as many products that aren't harmful to me as possible I knew this was the one for me! It is currently £10 a month including p&p and always contains full sized products up to the vale of £20, trial sized products and samples as well as a mystery offer only available to Beauty Box subscribers.

The box is very like a shoe box, made of cardboard but it is sturdy. When I've found somewhere to put the products I will use the box for storage. I love the simple design, very clean and pretty.

So this is what you are presented with upon opening your first box.

The first card has message from the Amarya team welcoming you to your first Beauty Box. The next has a run down of the products and a discount code of 15% off all four brands. The third has a message about inviting your friends to join, by which you both get a free box each (if anyone is thinking of joining let me know then we can get free boxes :) )The final piece of paperwork is a little Christmas catalogue.

They also throw in an eco friendly shopper with your first box!

Hiding behind the pink tissue paper are this months products. Amarya have been really smart with their packaging; only some tissue paper and a few foam pieces, no little bits of paper anywhere to be seen!

WELEDA Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil - £19.95 full sized sample
"Fantastic for tired skin, to nourish and revitalise. Dermatological tests have shown that Pomegranate Body Oil accelerates natural skin renewal by 50% in two weeks. Apply a small amount to your damp skin. Massage in thoroughly until absorbed." I don't really get Weleda's packaging, I always think it looks cheap and dated, but that's just my opinion. I'm a fan of Bio-Oil so I'm keen to try this out.

BODHI Body Moisturiser - £23.00 full size 250ml, 40ml sample.
"This luxurious range of body creams has just been launched to compliment the fabulous body washes. Leaves your skin velvety soft and wonderfully scented." I received the Ylang-Ylang Incensa Sensual Body Moisturiser and it smells amazingggggggg! Just like an incense I have that has ylang-ylang in it. The other possible moisturisers were Jasmine Falls, Pep Noir & Rosemary Chi. I can't wait to use this and I love the bag it came in! I have a few of them already which are handy for keeping my crystals in.

SANTAVERDE Aloe Vera Cream - £28.00 full size 30ml, 2ml sample.
"A simple yet effective range of face creams that absorb easily, allowing the aloe vera to support your skin's natural regeneration." I'm always on the look out for a new moisturiser so I'm glad one has been included, especially at this price as I probably wouldn't purchase the full sized product unless it worked really well.

REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Mask - £28.00 full size 50ml, 5ml sample.
"REN make clean products that are free from skin-unfriendly ingredients, allowing you to treat your skin gently whilst ensuring that it's kept in tip-top condition." I assume that the REN sample was random as the info is just about the brand and not the product. The description on the website is "A potent bio active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone.
Results:
Removes dead skin cells to renew the complexion
Skin looks brighter, healthier, more radiant
Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Combats congestion, blackheads and blemishes"
I'm quite excited to get using a product that costs almost £30 quid, this is why I love beauty boxes!

Overall I'm really pleased with this box and I will definitely try out all the products. A great deal for your money!

Nail Polish Haul

2011-11-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

I've acquired a multitude of new nail polishes from a few different brands over the past month or so (I think I'm maybe addicted :/) so I can show the swatches.

China Glaze: L-R; Ick-A-Bod-Y, Mummy May I & Zombie Zest

These three polishes make up Awakening Collection that was released for Halloween 2010.

China Glaze: L-R; Sugar Plums & Jolly Holly

These to polishes are from the 2010 Holiday Tis The Season Collection.

China Glaze: L-R; Ick-A-Bod-Y, Mummy May I, Zombie Zest, Sugar Plums & Jolly Holly

SpaRitual: L-R; Howl & Running With Wolves

These polishes are from the the Autumn 2011 Wilde Collection. It is a gorgeous collection and I intend to get all of the polishes.

SpaRitual: L-R; Howl & Running With Wolves

Illamaqua: Hemlock

This was a limited edition polish released at the launch of Illamasqua's first perfume Freak Collection for Winter 2011. It is impossible to photograph but it is an iridescent opal like green that changes in the light to an almost lilac colour. It is a sheer colour but can't be build up to almost opaque with three coats. A very whimsical fairy-like colour, one of my favourites and definitely nothing like anything I already have. It can be worn alone or as a top coat over dark polishes which makes it really stand out (particularly when worn over dark green.)

Illamasqua: Hemlock

I also received an Illamasqua catalogue promoting the Theatre of the Namless Collection as well as showing all the other products available on their site. It is a really gorgeous one, I wish there were magazines with this styling!

Essie: L-R; Going Incongnito & Mink Muffs

From the 2010 Winter Collection & the 2009 Autumn Collection.

Deborah Lippmann: L-R; Don't Tell Mamma & Bitches Brew

I love these colours! They're just so dark and vampy and me!

NARS: Tokaido Express

Carmine Beauty Box Oct 2011

2011-11-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

Carmine is the newest brand to arrive on the beauty box scene. It is currently £10 a month plus £2.75 p&p. I actually got their first box for free because I had problems when ordering (I was the first person to have problems ordering with maestro so they kindly didn't charge me for the box.)

As I got the box near the beginning of October I didn't get to take any photos of it when it arrived so I've just got pictures of what was inside.

Firstly was little card with a message on the back giving ideas of what you can do with your box. I'm currently using the base to store my nail polishes and the lid to keep any samples and sachets.

Inside is a little welcome message introducing the first box and then a run down of the products as well as the discount offers for last month's products and brands.

So here is the content of the box!
Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream
Trind Nail Repair Natural
TheBalm FratBoy All-in-one shadow/blush
Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach
Caudalie Quenching Sorbet-Crème.


Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream

"Made by the experts in natural skincare, this multi award winning cream will get you soft and smooth from head to toe - with delicate aromatherapy scents included!"
£14.50 full size 100ml, 30ml sample.

I've really been liking this hand cream, it's thick but absorbs easily and doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy. The aromatherapy scent is also divine! I'm likely to purchase this when this tube is done.

Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach or Ice

"A pot of sweet, shimmery dust to give your eyes a little something to smile about. Created by professional make-up artist Daniel Sandler, this incredibly versatile eye colour can be swept across the eyelids or mixed with water for a bolder effect."
£10.25 full sized sample.

I received the Peach shade but I would have preferred Ice, I don't think I've seen any reviews with someone who got Ice. However I'm sure that I can use this shade as I wear a lot of orange and copper toned eye looks. The packaging is pretty smart too as it prevents powder from ending up anywhere.

Trind Nail Repair Natural

"Produced by Dutch experts in nail, cuticle and hand care, this little lacquer is not just another nail varnish. Made with TLC, brush it on to naturally strengthen and protect your nails."
£12.95 full sized sample.

I don't see anything natural about a product that contains formaldehyde and I wasn't really wanting to use it for this purpose, but I gave it a go and it really does work. I put it on under my base coat and it stops my nails from peeling which they tend to do a lot. I will more than likely continue to use it because of the drastic change in the condition of my nails when I have it on.

TheBalm All-in-one shadow/blush

"Want to get noticed by those college frat boys? This peachy-apricot-coloured blush doubles up as an eye shadow and miraculously adds life to any skin tone. So hold the ketchup, here's a taste of vintage America that will also go nicely in your handbag."
£16.34 full sized sample.

A lovely peachy pink shade that will compliment most people, not more else I can say. I would never spend this much on a blush so it's a nice inclution.

Caudalie Quenching Sorbet-Crème

"This deliciously creamy sorbet will naturally refresh and hydrate your skin with all the anti-oxidising powers of red grape seed. It's the perfect way to quench your thirst after your summer holidays!"
£20.00 full size 40ml, 10ml sample.

I've been looking to try Caudalie for a while now so I was glad to see it in the box. I used this as my daily moisturiser throughout October and I quite liked it. It's very cooling on the skin so would be great in summer or if you live somewhere hot. It has a lovely fresh and uplifting scent too.

Overall the box is great value for money (well for free in my case!) I'm unsure wether or not I will continue with the subscription as I am currently subscribed to Amarya's Beauty Box.

Halloween LUSH Haul

2011-11-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

I (finally) got my camera back so can share some of my recent purchases!

I made my first ever purchase from the Lush website (despite there being a store in Belfast that I've never been in) the week before Samhain. I've heard a lot of good reviews about Lush's products so thought I'd give them a go!

Skullduggery Bath Ballistic, Pumpkin Knot-Wrap, Potion Retro Body Lotion, Ghost Retro Shower Gel, Flying Fox Shower Gel, Brimstone Body Scrub & Bewitched Retro Massage Bar.

Skullduggery Bath Ballistic

"Skullduggery is an eerie but magical celebration for your bathtub. We used brightening and refreshing lime and neroli for the fragrance and olibanum (also known as frankincense resinoid) to help that citrusy smell stay on your skin until the witching hour and beyond.

Lime oil is a popular ingredient in remedies to combat congested skin, cellulite or simply to wake you up!
We use expensive neroli oil as it is one of the few essential oils to be scientifically proven to increase serotonin production in the brain - Arriba!

Olibanum resinoid, otherwise known as frankincense, has a woody, slightly fruity aroma and covers the skin with a thin, protective film, softening the skin. It is extremely effective on sore, cracked, de-hydrated skin." I really like the smell of this one and intend to buy more soon before they're gone until next year!

Pumpkin-Knot Wrap

"Turn every ballistic into a Halloween treat with this neat knot-wrapping trick." I thought this wrap would be a cute addition to my Samhain decor. I it also came with a card of ways to use it in other ways, similar to the Japanese style of using scarves as bags. (Our Japanese teacher actually showed us one the week before I purchased this!)


Potion - Exquisitely Perfumed Body Lotion

"The sexy scent of carnations wafts from your supremely soft skin after moisturising with Potion Lotion. It's a bewitching concoction full of luscious and smoothing ingredients; a light touch of almond oil and cocoa butter to soften, with rose petal infusion and toning tangerine. We want to smell like Potion all the time, so we take it everywhere we go and smooth it on (it's especially nice as an after sun lotion too).

A magical blend of natural oils, tangerine, carnation and rose to tone, soften and condition your skin. To refresh, smooth and rejuvenate. (Essential if you're over 20 and when you've caught the sun.)" I actually am not very fond of this lotion, it works fine but the scent is too overpowering for me. What I assume is the scent of carnations is very like cinnamon, which I hate the smell of (why around the holidays does everywhere smell of cinnamon?! :( ) I'll probably give this to my mummy.

Ghost - Shower Gel for Body and Hair

"The season of spooks is upon us, and with it comes our very own spectre – the gorgeous Ghost shower gel. Pure white and carrying a subtle shimmer, this is one phantom you won’t want to exorcise.
Ghost brings with it the haunting aroma of lilies, jasmine, ylang ylang and neroli – the same fragrance as that found in our lovely Liliy Savon soap. It’s made with rose water and dove orchid infusion, a beautiful combination that’s mild and gentle on the skin.

Ghost’s thick creamy texture is made even more luxurious with the addition of jojoba oil, to gently moisturise and soften. We’ve even added a soupcon of white wine vinegar, so if you’re the kind of person who likes to use shower gel on your hair too, you’ll find it should have a little extra shine (don’t worry, you won’t smell it!).

Spiritually uplifting, shimmery white shower gel, with the haunting scent of lilies. Don't get into the shower alone." I'm on the fence about the scent of this shower gel, it's quite powedery and floral. Not awful but not great either.

Flying Fox - The Sex-Appeal Honey Shower Gel

"You can use Flying Fox at any time of the month, but it’s especially good at The Time of the Month, because we’ve added the top essential oils for calming PMT. Use this for washing your hair too and get those essentials oils wafting with every flick.

There are times when you want to feel sexy in body and mind.

This magic gel is crammed full of specialist honeys from around the world that will make your skin feel great. We then added the sexiest perfume we could, packed with aphrodisiac essential oils to set you on the rampage!

Lascivious, licentious, vivacious, and insatiable. With the finest aphrodisiac essential oils - masses of jasmine! (Plus the best three for controlling PMS)." An intoxicating scent of honey and jasmine, good enough to eat! Who doesn't want to feel like a goddess who's bathed in honey?

Brimstone Body Scrub

"Don't worry; the apocalypse isn't coming quite yet. Brimstone was inspired by our UK team member Shakira's visit to St. Lucia, where they use sulphur for all manner of skin complaints. Brimstone is a deeply fragrant, hardcore body scrub, with natural sulphur to condition the skin and keep it clear of problems.

Sulphur has been used to treat skin problems for hundreds of years.

Sulphur, Sea Salt, Hemp oil and Jasmine - A scrub to soften the roughest of skins." I confess I was a bit suprised to sea sulphur in a body scrub but after learning that it is safe and effective I decided to get it and give it a go. I've never used a solid scrub before so it'll be a new experience for me.


Bewitched Massage Bar

"We make Bewitched with essential oils to help to bring you closer: violet leaf is said to restore the bonds of friendship, lime oil to help get rid of apathy, cedarwood to stop people straying and chamomile to get your massagee to forget the past. Bewitched is made with knobbly bits on one side; smooth it all over your favourite person's body to give him or her a bewitching experience. It's like having two strong hands firmly working magic on your muscles!" I used to hate getting massages (what kind of crazy person doesn't like getting a massage?!) I think it's because I was so tense and the hurt but after a few years of going to osteopaths, physiotherapist and acupressurists I've been converted. This bar smells lovely so I can't wait to get using it (I could be doing with a massage now!)

More Blog Parties & Organic Beauty Box

2011-11-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm going a bit mad with these blog hops, I've just signed up to another Yule themed one! After the Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon one I'm hooked! I mean, who doesn't love looking forward to a party, even if it is virtual?

My newest join is Yule Magic Blog Party on Dec. 21st, hosted by The Village Witch. While the post is based on Yule (obviously) there's a sweet little requirement to post a virtual gift to the people of blog land, how cute! I better get thinking on what my gift shall be. Be sure to check out all the other participants of these blog hops and share the love!

Regarding the other Yule blog parties, I think I've decided what each post will be on:

The Witches Yuletide Ball, Dec. 10th - scrummy kitchen gifts & Yule baking ideas
Yuletide Blessings, Dec. 18th - Yule decorations
Yule Magic , Dec. 21st - Yule & Winter time celebrations

P.S. if I ever get my camera back I'll be showing my first Amarya Beauty Box, it contains all natural and organic products and I have kept everything in the box for photos. I'm quite proud of myself for that!)

Another Turn Of The Wheel

2011-11-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

I could have swore last week was only the beginning of October, but alas November is here! I really love the autumn-to-winter transition period; the warm clothes, cozy fire, chill air and morning frost... what's not to love!

I didn't get anywhere near as many posts as I would have liked last month due to illness and school work but as they sill tie in with the theme of the dark half of the year I'm sure I can still post them in the coming weeks. I'm also getting involved in two Yule Themed Blog Parties; The Witches Yuletide Ball on Dec. 10th hosted by On The Broomstick & Witch Of Howling Creek, and Yuletide Blessings 2011 Blog Party on Dec. 18th hosted by Astraea Sapphire's Almanac. Blog parties are so much fun and a great way to find other bloggers with similar interests, I encourage you all to join in with the fun, even if it's something small. Who knows, maybe one day you might host your own blog party (I know I want to.)

For now I'm going to be working on the posts for the blog parties as well as trying out some recipes and crafts for yule. I didn't have much time for Samhain preparations but I want to have everything well underway for Yule before December even starts. Blessings to you all, Hannah xx

Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon 2011

2011-10-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! I'm a day late, eeeeeek! But my brother forgot to bring my camera home from uni so I had to have my party today instead (Samhain.) It's good in a way as I won't have to go mad baking on two days, although I did start my baking preparations on Sunday. I've been up since the crack of dawn whizzing around the kitchen, decorating and sorting out my ritual but it's all been worth it :) Check out the other bloggers who joined in with the party hosted by Frosted Petunias here: Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon.

Come in, come in and sit for a spell, I promise that I will treat you well!

Willow is here to join in with the fun... watch she doesn't try to steal your bun!

The table is set with an arrays of delights, I hope you have a fantastic night!

Oh dear, oh dear I can't see what is going on! Perhaps somebody should turn a light on?

Ah that's better, now what would you like? A red velvet cupcake? It might give you a fright!

I see you eyeing up the chocolate chunk pecan pie, if you want to sneak a piece off you'll just have to try!

Maybe you were hoping to get some cheesecake? From all the photos it managed to escape!

There's sticky apple gingerbread and pecan loaf too, with melted butter it turns into goo!

The party this evening has been so much fun, I am sorry to say that for this year it is done!

I had a great time baking for my first blogger party & hope to join in with more in the future!
Have a Blessed Samhain :)

My Path So Far

2011-10-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I'd have this up as soon as this but this is what you get when you just go for it...

Well saying as I'm pagan and enjoy learning about how other people found this path I thought it was about time I shared my story. It's been almost a year since I began practising and letting people know what path I follow so I guess I should share! (Pre warning it's gonna be long and there'll be a lot of rambling but I'll try to just get the stuff I feel is important in.)

I guess my story begins at quite a young age. From I can remember I was always obsessed with ancient Egypt, their rituals, pantheon, symbols, everything ( I wanted to be an Egyptologist & could even write and understand hieroglyphs!) I would often pretend I was in an Egyptian temple, honouring the gods and goddesses, and holding my own little rituals. Growing up with two brothers meant I spent a lot of my play time on my own, but I let my imagination run free.

I was brought up Christian and was made to go to Sunday school every week but my parents weren't overly religious. I didn't mind it but I found it hard to connect in a church full of people, I didn't feel like I belonged. I then went with my cousin one week when I was ten to a Christian camp and I loved it! Afterwards I decided that I was a Christian, but my decision was based purely off the fact that I enjoyed the experience of the camp so much. My relationship with the Christian God/Jesus then started to take a turn. I found myself praying out of fear that if I wasn't thankful for all I had the people and things I held most dear in life would be taken from me and I wouldn't be accepted into heaven. I felt guilty that when I prayed my mind would wonder and I wasn't focusing on God or Jesus.

Soon after I declared myself atheist. I couldn't accept a religion that made me feel guilt, shame and fear. Where I'm from there is a religious divide between sects of Christianity, and I've seen the devastation it has caused. I remember when I was a child being asked my some other children if I was "a cup or a plate" or a "cat or puppy" I had no idea what they were taking about, but they meant was I Catholic or Protestant. If I was the opposite to them they didn't know how to react except "oh... I guess we can still play with you." It wasn't something I wanted to be associated with.

I spent live happily as an atheist for a few years, I'm a keen science enthusiast and trusted it for the answers to most things but I still felt like there was something missing. I had a connection with earth the whole time, particularly stormy weather and the moon but didn't think much on it, I was just thankful that for whatever reason it existed. Then when I was fifteen everything went downhill.

I don't want to make a sob story but it helped me to be where I am now. One day my parents busted me for going to a house party and I just burst into tears and couldn't stop crying, I even cried myself to sleep. The next day when they tried to talk to me about it I started bawling again but this time I couldn't stop, I don't even know why! My mum grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me go until I told her what was wrong but I couldn't stop to tell her because I didn't even know, I was crying for hours. They thought something bad had happened to me at the party but it hadn't. Being an Aquarius means I rarely express my feelings as I'm used to being the one everyone come to with their problems but no ones knows what to do when I have any because they're so used to me giving the advice. When I was asked a whole array of problems which might have caused me to act this way I finally had to think about it myself. I was bullied for five years and I'd never talked about it. I was always the one a joke was put on or any snide thing said would end in "...yeah, like Hannah." Even my friends were putting me down and treating me like a doormat, only hanging around with me because they knew I was always there for them or choosing me as a second option. I guess I was silly letting it go on for so long, but I never said anything because I was afraid to hurt the other people's feelings, even if they didn't care about mine. My mum had also been ill for two years so I was worried about her so pretty much a lot of bottled up emotion came out that no one had any idea about.

So it was out and that was fine but then at the beginning of my fifth year at secondary school (the big year for GCSEs) I got sick. It started as I cold and I was coughing a lot, but when my cold went away my cough was still there and it wasn't just a normal cough, it was a high pitched barking cough of someone who had been smoking 60 a day for 40 years. I started missing school more and more and eventually I had to resort to home schooling as it was disrupting my whole life. I couldn't concentrate, was getting migraines and has some serious chest and back pain which wasn't helped by the fact that I had all my vertebrae and my hip out of place and a nerve in my leg trapped with my spine and my hip after falling off a horse the previous year which I was unaware of. The muscles on my back were covered with scar tissue and were in constant spasm, not to mention my vocal chords. I saw countless specialists but no one could find out what was causing my cough. I was housebound for 8 months, only leaving to attend hospital appointments. (I looked like a corpse and I'll be afraid to show a photo of how I looked at the time but I'll add it once I get my camera back.) Eventually I saw a speech & language therapist and was given exercises to help me to relax. I never did anything to relax. I previously relaxed by doing word searches or researching things but never gave my brain or my body a rest. But while I was off I had the chance to do a lot of research and lots of online quizzes which I enjoy.

I managed to find one about what religion are you and I got the result wiccan/pagan. I read the description and I thought that sounds just like me! I was intrigued to learn more so started looking into the different paths and the more I read the more I felt like this is where I belonged. Many people say it feels like "coming home" when they find the religion that works for them, for me, I think I was always at home but never had to curtains open to see what else was out there.

When I began getting more and more into paganism I was all for the idea of the existence of magick and the energies of the earth. I found it hard to grasp the concept of both male and female as separate entities, which is understandable for someone raised in a monotheistic religion but the longer I pondered on it the more it made sense. I always found it hard to connect to a religion based around men, there had to be a feminine divinity somewhere, which I viewed as earth. I believed in a life force that was both masculine and feminine and that the divine lived in everything, that all things, including people had the divine within themselves. As my path has progressed I have come to view god and goddess as both one and entities in their own right, as well as believing that ancient pantheons are both mythical and actual. Each God/Goddess is just a manifestation of one higher being but people find it easier to connect with particular deities. In the words of Albert Einstein, "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree." That pretty much sums up my beliefs.

A year on I haven't looked back. Although I went through a lot I'm glad I did, I might not have been where I am now if I hadn't. I had to repeat a year of school because of illness but I didn't really mind. The person that bullied me never got punished because there was no proof of them doing anything (did they want me to record it?!) but I've never wished anything bad on them. I let go of the "friends" that took me for granted and for once I'm completely content in my life. Finding this path has helped me in so many ways, to appreciate life, health, and the people that truly love me no matter what. (I was shown who really cared and who didn't while I was ill.) I've also came to appreciate myself as someone who loves and is deserving of love, we all have a god/goddess inside us and we should always remind ourselves that we are special in the eyes of the Gods. I pray everyday now but not out of fear, it is as though the Gods/Goddesses and I are friends rather than they are my masters and I am their servant. There is more to this life than living in fear of what may or may not exist, life is to be enjoyed and my spirituality plays a big part in my happiness and how I cope with the hardships of life. If it weren't for the Gods & Goddesses I don't think I'd even be here today so I am truly thankful for all that they have given me and continue to give. My journey is only beginning and I will have more to learn both in life and in this path and I'm ready to let that happen!

What's That?

2011-10-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

If you've had a look over to the right you may have noticed that I'm joining in with the Witches Tea Party Under A Halloween Moon blog party, hosted by the lovely Frosted Petunias. This will be my first time participating in a blog party, so, naturally, I'm really excited! I intend to have a real tea party, well I'll be making lots of tasty treats that weekend anyway which will tie in nicely :) Is anyone else taking part? You really should!

P.S. A little sneak preview for next month, I'll be receiving my first Amarya Beauty Box, you've seen them all but this one is all natural & organic, how lovely! Also check out the up and coming Carmine Beauty Box that's yet to launch. I hope your October has got off to a wonderfully wicked start!

It's October?!

2011-09-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

(Technically it's still September but I won't have time to post this tomorrow!)

I really don't know where the time has gone this past month, it seems that everyone thinks the same. However, I am totally ready for one of my favourite months! So, I'll give you a round up of some things I'm hoping to talk about.

Last Samhain was when I properly dedicated myself to the pagan path, none in particular, but just to recognise the God & Goddess and all the other energies that exist. I thought it was fitting then to do a post on how I landed into paganism and why I even started looking into it in the first place. It will probably take me a while to write this post up, it's quite a long story (I went through a lot to get here) so I might not have it up until nearer the end of the month. There will most likely be quite a bit of Samhain related posts; recipes, rituals, how death has affected me etc. the usual things associated with this time of year.

Depending on how my school work and health goes I might not get to post as many things as I want, or I may post some random things that have nothing to do with this month at all (such as reviews or random thoughts that pop into my head which I find interesting enough to post.) Anyhow, I hope everyone's September was great and you have a fabulous weekend! xx

OPI Shimmer Swatches

2011-09-28T05:16:00.000-07:00

Lena White has a section on their site called "Last Chance To Buy" with polishes that have been either just reduced or reduced to clear so I, of course, had to get some nail polishes I've had my eye on before they're gone! (The swatches are taken indoors under sunlight.)

L-R: Copper Mountain Copper, Bronzed To Perfection & Berry Berry Broadway.

If you've seen any of my latest swatches which I've done you'll notice how bad the condition of the skin around my nails is lately with me starting my habit of biting it (& a leighton denny nail polish not wanting to come off which resulted it me ripping off a chunk of skin!) So I've decided just to show the swatches on nail art display wheels, it also makes it easier to take pictures.

Copper Mountain Copper

I've wanted this polish for agesssssss! I kept putting it off as it wasn't included in the "Huge Savings when you create your own collection" but when I saw it was going I knew this was my last chance. It's a beautiful coppery-wine shade packed with shimmer that screams autumn. As with most of OPI's shimmery polishes the sparkle is only visible in sunlight, however unlike these polishes it looks metallic in dim lighting instead of a flat block colour. A favourite already!

Bronzed To Perfection

This is a gorgeous caramel-brown colour packed with gold shimmer and possibly very fine glitter which is actually visible in dim light. A summer-to-autumn transition colour if you're not quite ready to say bye bye to the sun.

Berry Berry Broadway

I'm usually not drawn to pinks but I liked this shade as it's quite similar to Copper Mountain Copper except more berry toned (obviously.) It reminds me of Conquistadorable Color but it's darker and less bright yet has lots of shimmer. I think my mummy will like this for her toes :)

As it's a sunny day I thought I should add in the other shimmery OPI polishes I own as previous photos in ambient lighting doesn't show their full potential!

Black Cherry Chutney

OPI Ink / Nevermore

Royal Rajah Ruby / Sanguine

Unripened

I hope you are having a wonderful day! Hannah xx

Leighton Denny The Atmospheric Collection A/W 2011 Swatches

2011-09-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

So if you follow me on twitter you're probably aware that I won the Bath & Unwind autumn manicure competition to get the new Leighton Denny nail polish collection. All but Your Planet Or Mine arrived in the post today, (it's currently only available on pre-order) but I have the rest to swatch for you :)


L-R: Astronaughty, Big Bang, Meet Me On Venus, Meteor Match, Purely Plutonic.

Thumb - little finger; Meet Me On Venus, Meteor Match, Big Bang, Astronaughty & Purely Plutonic. (All with two coats on top of a clear base coat.)

Meet Me On Venus "A new take on nude, this creamy mink has an indulgent satin finish and a subtle shimmer. Flirty lilac undertones adds a new twist to your everyday nude." It is a paler lilac colour than in the picture but other than that it's described pretty well. I wouldn't really call it a nude though, not for my skin tone anyway. A pretty shade none the less.

Meteor Match "Shimmering pale marine is injected with delicate glitter. Inspired by the a cosmic meteor trail, this metallic shifting silver is truly out of this world." I can't really describe it better myself, a lovely angelic colour which I'll be wearing in winter so I'll always have the frost outside on my nails.

Big Bang "This black and silver glitter polish is guaranteed to make an explosive impact." This is a very sheer blue base packed with black and silver glitter, it's is a bit chunky but not unpleasantly so. The black glitter looks purple in the bottle but is black when painted on the nails. One of my favourites.

Astronaughty "Intense plum is injected with sizzling red shimmer for serious glam factor." This polish has an almost duo-chrome look to it, as it has a green undertone when moved around. It is more noticeable with one coat as it goes on very sheer so two coats are recommended.

Purely Plutonic "This cool gunmetal polish is the understated shade of the season. A molten silver shade that suits every skin tone and adds a hint of sophisticated sparkle to your look." On the nails it looks just like the lead of a pencil or the layer on metals that tarnish when they cut. I don't have anything like this is my collection. A great alternative rock chick colour than black.

Finally I'll show you the nail polish that won me the collection...

None other than O.P.I. Ginger Bells! with a matte top coat!

Chocolate Guinness Cake

2011-09-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

So, two day's ago it was Arthur's Day, (23rd of September every year which celebrates the anniversary of the brewing of Guinness which started in 1759,.) No one in my family drinks Guinness but we do like it in our food and we had some bottles in the house so I thought we might as well join in with the celebrations. This recipe is from the April 2011 issue of delicious. magazine.

Ingredients

250g softened unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
200g soft dark brown sugar
100g good quality dark chocolate, melted in a bowl over simmering water
2 large free-range eggs
200ml Guinness
275g self-raising flour
30g cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the Icing
200g tub cream cheese
75g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tbsp soured cream
125g white chocolate, melted

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Grease and line a 23cm loose-bottomed cake tin.

Beat the butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy (will take around 5mins.) Gradually beat in the melted chocolate until smooth, then beat in the eggs one at a time.

Gradually whisk in the Guinness. You will have a smooth batter at this point (don't worry if it curdles.) Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, then fold carefully into the chocolate mixture.

Pour into the the tin and bake for 35-40mins until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin then turn out onto a cake plate. (You can wrap the un-iced cake in baking paper then cling flim and freeze for up to 3 months.)

For the icing, beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract together until smooth, then mix in the soured cream and melted chocolate. Spread over the cake and serve... TO ARTHUR!

Where Has The Time Gone?

2011-09-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's almost October?! Although it does feel a bit more like October with the Practical Magic Blog Party today. I'm not participating, but I am going to watch one of my all time favourite movies so I feel like like I'm joining in :)

Sorry I'm a bit lacking on posts lately, I've been busy trying to stay on top of school work as I've been ill so have a lot of catching up to do, and haven't been very inspired to post anything. Let me know if there is anything you want me to review/talk about, but, for now I'm going to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey, flick through my encyclopedia of spells and relax with Practical Magic. Have a fabulous day!

Now On Twitter!

2011-09-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yup, I've rediscovered the twitter account that I forgot I even had so feel free to follow me there, my user names is : @__AfterMidnight. I hope you are having a fabulous weekend :) xx

Random Buys & Mini Reviews

2011-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

I came home to two packages after school the other day which I had completely forgotten about even ordering (school is seriously messing with my head!) One is from Trim & Polish, a UK O.P.I stockist that sells permanent and retired polishes as well as having other beauty products from a few different brands. The next one is from Naturisimo, a site much like Love Lula that stocks only natural & organic products. So... on to the purchases!


Trim & Polish: Couture Minis - Halloween 2010 Collection

Dark nail polishes combined with Halloween... what more could you want? The polishes were put in the wrong place in the box though, (hence they are wrong in the picture.)


L-R: Nevermore, Obscurity, Sanguine & Unripened

And here's the swatches! p.s. sorry for the sloppy painting & seriously bitten fingers... I blame tiredness and school bringing back the habit! Also I probably won't be doing Nails of the Day very often because of school rules on nail polish, so I'm more likely to just swatch the colours as I buy them.

Thumb - ring finger: Unripened, Nevermore, Sanguine & Obscurity.

Unripened "A glittering green so dark it's dangerous" I haven't really noticed the "green" in this polish but it is a very unique shade, a glossy black with lots of aqua/teal sparkle. This is probably my favourite!

Nevermore "You'll be c-raven this blackened purple" It's not very dark for a blackened purple, more of a blue/purple with loads of sparkle. It is pretty much identical to OPI Ink.

Sanguine "Deep, dark blood red-maroon" Well, I couldn't really describe it any better myself, it's just Royal Rajah Ruby renamed, which is one of my favourites! (I have a thing for dark red/burgundy polishes.) Looks best in sunlight to show the shimmer/sparkle, otherwise it looks like a plain dark red.

Obscurity "A matte black that's never dull" I quite like OPI's suede polishes and I have a matte topcoat to make any polish matte that I've used a few times, so I'm a fan of the matte look. It is really just as described.

I got a Butter London Nail Polish from Naturisimo as well as some Pai skin cream samples.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Chancer.


Clockwise from top; Pai Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream, Pai Macadamia & Rose Dry Skin Cream & Pai Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream.

I am currently using the avocado & jojoba cream as my daily moisturiser and the macadamia & rose dry skin cream at night. The pacakaging of these samples is much better than that of the last samples I got, the tubs are smaller (but the same quantaty) and less deep meaning less products gets under your nails when you are scooping it out. So far I'm liking both creams.

To finish here are some swatches of a few of the new nail polishes I got. Excuse the terrible painting attempt, (and the seriously bitten off skin,) but I'm not left handed.

Middle finger - thumb; Deborah Lippmann Bitches Brew Nail Lacquer, Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Chancer & Essie Mink Muffs Nail Polish.

It's Autumn!

2011-09-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! My favourite season has finally arrived! I would have done a post sooner but I just started back to school on Thursday and wanted to get the first two days out of the way and get settled in. Anyway I started the season off by making some new purchases and here they are:

The first arrived on Thursday while I was at school and are from Bath & Unwind. Like Love Lula they have a points system so you earn 5 reward points for every £1 spent.


Essie Mink Muffs Nail Polish & Butter London Powder Room Nail Polish Remover.

These next things arrived this morning and are from House of Fraser.

Deborah Lippmann Bitches Brew Nail Lacquer, Burberry BODY Perfume Sample, Shavata Black Heart Tweezer & Shavata Soothing After Care Gel.

The Burberry Body perfume sample isn't actually from House of Fraser but I just put it in this photo. I got it free from Burberry's facebook page as the first couple of thousand people to order a sample got one, (it smells amazing!) I also got the Shavata Soothing Gel free with a purchase of £20 or more on Shavata products, (the Black Heart Tweezers are £21.) Seems like a lot for a pair of tweezers but I first saw them on the QVC channel a few weeks ago and they looked like a good investment.

Hooray! ( A Little Update)

2011-08-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I got my GCSE exam results, (the big exams in the UK you sit at 16,) of course I'm 17 but as I was ill last year I didn't get the chance to do them. Anyways, the repeated year paid off, I got an A*, 7As and 2 Bs which I'm more than happy about :) I intend to study chemistry, biology, psychology and English literature next year so here's hoping they go well! I hope you are all having a fantastic week! xx

Green Tea Facial

2011-08-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

I had a whole packet of green tea in the house but I wasn't that fond of it so needed to think up a way to make some use out of it. I knew green tea was good for your skin on the inside but how about on the outside? I quickly discovered some recipes for green tea scrubs/face washes with recurring ingredients. I finally decided to try it out tonight and the results amazed me! It left my skin far softer and smoother than any cleanser or scrub I've used before and reduced the redness of my complexion. So, obviously, I knew I had to share this miracle concoction with you lovely ladies!

With the results I've gotten from just one application I have high hopes for my skin in the coming weeks of usage as my complexion has been less than desirable this past while. I think it's best to start with mentioning the properties of the ingredients that make them ideal to be included in skincare.

Firstly, and obviously is green tea. Green tea contains potent antioxidants which help to fight damage from free radicals. It neutralises the damage caused by UV light and reduces the risk of sunburn, hence preventing premature ageing and the risk of developing skin cancer. It also helps to rejuvenate skin cells and improve elasticity in the skin. Green tea is especially good for those with acne or skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea and dandruff as it has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. Green tea catechins are anti-bacterial and can decrease hormone activity. It can also lighten skin tone and improve the overall appearances of those with hyper-pigmentation or redness.

The next ingredient I used was granulated sugar. As a natural exfoliant, sugar removes dead surface skin cells, encouraging cell renewal and restore the natural brightness of the skin, giving you a glow from within. It helps to remove blemishes without clogging the pores and restores the balance of the oils in the skin.

Finally I used honey for it's ability to absorb and retain moisture, leaving the skin feeling hydrated. Honey also has anti-microbial and antioxidant properties so can be used to treat sunburn, minor skin irritations and also prevents further damage from the sun which could otherwise lead to premature ageing.

So, onto the...recipe? It sounds like a strange word to use for this but anywho...

Fill a bowl with warm or recently boiled water, (depending on how much you want to make,) and steep one or two green teabag(s) for a few minutes. Squeeze the moisture out of the tea bag into the bowl so you get as much of the green tea in as possible. (You can use the teabags on your eyes to improve dark circles when they are cool.)

Add the sugar when the water is lukewarm. (If the water is too hot the sugar will automatically dissolve so you'll have a face wash rather than a scrub.) Add the honey and leave for a few minutes for the ingredients to infuse together. Mix the ingredients together until they are incorporated. (Don't mix too much or the sugar will dissolve!) Use as much or as little ingredients as you want, until you get the consistency that you like.

Scoop the sugar portion at the bottom and gently massage into the skin. Leave for a minute and then remove with a damp cotton pad. Dip a clean cotton pad into the liquid portion and wipe over the face,(don't forget your neck!) leaving for a few minutes to sink in the remove with another clean damp cotton pad and splash face with cool water to close pores and remove excess. Pat skin dry and feel the softness! Then finish with your moisturiser.

Wrap any left over in cling film and keep in the fridge. Adding more sugar the next day if necessary. I'm not sure how long it would keep for but you can always use the rest on your body as it would have similar effects on the skin. Enjoy!

Banana Loaf

2011-08-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is a delicious recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, (their recipes never fail to impress me!) I'd say it's more of an autumn/winter bread as it does contain some spice but not so much that's it's off putting. I'm not a big cinnamon fan although I don't mind it in this recipe, so the spices aren't overpowering.

Ingredients

270g soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
200g peeled bananas, mashed
280g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
140g unsalted butter, melted

a 23 x 13cm loaf tin, greased and dusted with flour (I just used a loaf case instead)

Method

Preheat oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3.

Put the sugar and eggs in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until well incorporated. Beat in the mashed banana.

Add the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and ginger to the sugar mixture. Mix it thoroughly until all the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the egg mixture. Pour in the melted butter and beat until all the ingredients are well mixed.

Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool slightly in the tin before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Personally, I can't resist eating bread when it's still warm :) Enjoy!

Broccoli & Cheese Soup

2011-08-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

When I told my family I was making this for dinner this evening, it's safe to say they gave me a look. As gross as it sounds it's actually pretty tasty, and judging by everyone's second helpings I'm not the only one who thinks so.

I actually made this is school in a home economics class so it is pretty healthy, (school's in the UK have gone healthy eating mad!) which is good as I'm trying to slim down. So if you want the recipe... here it is!

Ingredients

25g (1oz) butter & 1 tbsp oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
150g (5oz) peeled & diced potatoes
225g (8oz) broccoli divided into florettes
1 1/4 pints ham stock or water

250ml (1/2 pint) milk
1 tsp sugar
110g (4oz) mature cheddar cheese
1 clove garlic, minced

Method

Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan & sauté the onion and garlic until soft.

Add the potatoes, broccoli and ham stock/water & simmer until the vegetables are cooked (around 10mins.) Season to taste.

Blend the vegetables and stock until smooth.

Return the soup to the saucepan & add the milk, adjusting seasoning. Heat gently to serving temperature, do not boil.

Add the cheese & sugar, stir through to melt. Serve with crusty or wheaten bread.

I would have made home-made wheaten bread but I didn't have any butter milk. I'll save that recipe for another time! Enjoy!

Monday Blues?

2011-08-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

Today has been a rather strange day. I didn't get up until 3! No I'm not being lazy, my body clock has completely reversed so I'm up most of the night and asleep all day :/ (I need to sort that out before I go back to school!) My cold or other random infection had started going away and has decided today that it would worsen again which is just great...

Needless to say I've been feeling pretty sick and snappy lately. Tonight however, I got a random must-clean-everything-in-sight mood! I started on my bedroom which was meant to be decorated this summer but it isn't looking likely with the amount of tidying left to be done. I cleaned my bathroom and then from some time after 10 until just after 11 I started on the kitchen; filling the dishwasher, going through cupboards, washing down the island and getting dishes ready to wash tomorrow. Usually I need to be asked to do this stuff but I went on my whim and got as much done as possible. I've also been eating really healthily today, (bar 2 squares of 70% cocoa dark chocolate), but other than that I've been good and drinking loads of water. Although my sickness is all over the place I'm determined not to let it put me off track!

I guess the moral of this story is even if you are feeling a bit off, physically or emotionally, find something productive to spend your time on. It will not only keep your mind off what's bothering you but you'll feel better that you've set a goal and accomplished it! Hey, it might be something really mundane like cleaning but it definitely works!

Happy Esbat!

2011-08-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Full Moon Blessings Everyone!

I did my first proper meditation since Samhain! (Can you believe that?!) I thought I'd share my "altar" so to speak. I don't have a free workspace to make a proper altar so the floor of my bedroom beside my balcony doors with a view of the sky is my make-shift space.

It's pretty simple and I just set it as I instinctively thought I should. No, there's no formal correspondences here, just whatever felt right to me! As you may also be able to see in the bottom right hand corner, I took this opportunity to give the Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm a go so I'll let you know how that was after I've done some yoga using it. Blessed Be! xx

Being Truely Faithful

2011-08-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about religion earlier and just recalled an incident in my religious studies class a few months ago, (it should be called Christianity studies, but more on that another time.)

I think the topic we were covering was about the Kingdom of God and God's plans for each individual. The person I sat beside however said something that I found very odd, which was that they aren't ready to accept death at any time, although it may be God's wish. I felt it only natural to speculate my confusion, as I found it strange that a Christian was not ready to meet their God when their life is spent earning a way to heaven. For many religions life's purpose is to reach some sort of afterlife with their deity(ies). I'm not saying this to criticize other religious people; I believe all faiths are created equal and so are equally valid and deserving of followers. My teacher admitted that he too was not ready to die at any given moment but also agreed with my view that it is strange that they would say that.

Anyway that was a strange little thought I was having and wanted to share. I think it was quite an interesting situation which I couldn't quite get my head around, anyone else think so? Blessed Be! xx

NOTD: Nails Of The Day!

2011-08-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight it's... O.P.I.'s Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow SUEDE!

at night with indoor lighting and camera flash

The orignal Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow is one of my most favourite shades so when I saw that it was available in a matte or "suede" version I had to get it! While the suede range are based on other classic colours they don't tend to be anywhere near the same shade. For a matte polish it is actually full of sparkle which is really pretty! As I've only put this on tonight I can't be 100% in describing the colour, it could be lighter in natural light but I'll redraft this tomorrow. (I was just too excited to share this colour before then!)

I am also going to photograph the polish with a top cot as I've seen pictures of this and it looks amazing! I just hope it will be as fabulous in real life.

Is It Really Still Summer? (And I Want To Know What YOU Think!)

2011-08-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

These past few days have had me questioning that... Take tonight for example, I'm sitting here drinking a hot chocolate, (I'm being healthy with what I eat, I swear!) with wooly socks on and nursing the onset of a cold or some other related illness?! I also managed to pick up a sniffle while I was on holiday, (the weather was hot and humid everyday), how is that even possible?! It left me after two days but I gave it to my brother and he had it for almost a week!

Anyway, I have definitely moved on from summer, at home it's been rainy and cold, (although I don't mind), and I've even been craving soup! I thought as I probably won't sleep tonight, (it's a quarter to 1 and my nose isn't showing any sign of not running), I thought I'd do a few posts or at least get some drafts done to post at a later date, whilst letting the echinacea take effect.

If there's something anyone would like me to post about let me know! I'm always open to new ideas and don't want to feel like you have to read whatever I post. I'd rather post the things you're interested in; more reviews? my crystal and oil collection and their properties? ritual or prayer ideas? my cooking ventures?

I feel this would help me to better connect to you, after all I have this blog in the hopes to inform as well as to share and learn from others. Blessed Be! xx

Me... Only Healthier!

2011-08-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many times I've told myself I'm going to eat more healthily and exercise more and went on to wallow in my unhealthiness with a tub of Ben & Jerry's! So starting tomorrow I intend to eat as healthily as possible; including more fresh fruit and vegetables and healthier recipes into my diet, aswell as restarting yoga and walking atleast once every two days to build muscle strength and stamina. (I might even be able to jog soon!) I recently started back to horse riding aswell so hopefully that will help.

I'll share some good recipes I come across in my venture towards a healthier me, although I won't be depriving myself from treats altogether, so some not-so-good-for-your-hips foods will be stuck in too.

It's good to finally do something that you've been putting off for ages; even things like tidying a room in the house, doing those dishes you always walk past or cleaning out the fish bowl. Set a timer for even ten minutes, you'll be surprised what you can get done and you'll feel much better for doing it! :) Blessed Be! xx

Beauty Giveaway!

2011-08-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Fancy winning some makeup and body treats? Head on over to Massachusetts Mask for Back To School Giveaway!

Here's the link: http://massachusettsmask.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-to-school-giveaway.html#comments

Follow the instructions for your chance to win :)

NOTD: Nails Of The Day!

2011-08-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

This time it's... O.P.I.'s You Don't Know Jacques!

taken in natural light, beside a window.

I'm a big fan of unusual polish colours, and this greyish taupe brown is perfect for me! A very cool toned colour which is good for autumn and winter, (I have now moved on from summer to welcome my favourite seasons!) I put this on the day before going on holidays and it lasted almost a whole week. I'm pretty sure this was only one coat as well as there are a few flaws in the application but I had to get packing!

I'm Back!

2011-08-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings! I am back from my week in Portrush, Northern Ireland and it was wonderful :) We couldn't have asked for better accommodation; our apartment was overlooking the beach and was right beside the town, (but it was never noisy), so we could walk to anywhere.

I couldn't get a good enough picture of the view, it was beautiful! Donegal was visible in the distance and the whole shore line was at our feet :)

While I was there I got back in tune with the element of water by body boarding on two different days. I love how the waves look like lots of white horses galloping towards the shore, (scene in The Lord of The Rings where Arwen turns the water to horses to get the Nazgul anyone?) I saw Niamh Kavanagh & The Illegals, a band who cover Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles songs, they were fantastic! Niamh has also been in Eurovision twice representing Ireland and made it to the final! I also visited Downhill Demense and Mussenden Temple (where I want to get hand fasted!), but forgot to take my camera with me :/ the grounds were beautiful so it was a shame! Finally, (of course), I got some new witchy buys in the two New Age-ish shops as well as some other things so I shall share my new items below!

These first things are from Blue Moon

I loved these earring so much I bought all the colours!

Another pair of earrings I am loving!

I finally got a pentacle necklace! (Though I really want a Thor's hammer pendant)

A gorgeous dark wooden pentacle wall piece with Celtic design

I of course picked up some incense sticks, this time it's cedarwood :)

And the Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells which my mummy bought me, I've been putting off getting it for forever!

The next purchases are from Sapphire, which stocks a wide variety of good quality crystals.

Clockwise from far left: Apache Tears (Black Obsidian), Charoite, Smokey Quartz, Petrified Wood, Snow Quartz, Bornite (Peacock Ore/Stone), Honey Calcite.

Incense sticks; Relaxing (Cardomom, Cedar wood, Patchouli) & Meditation (Vanilla, Sandalwood, Camomile)

The next pictures are just of some miscellaneous items that I got.

Another book I've had my eye on and just went ahead and got it, definitely worth the money! (I intend to do a review of this and the Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells when I've read them completely, so watch out for that!)

I have the original Hummingbird Bakery and everything I make from it has been divine and this looks to be the same! Some recipes are repeated but there are many new editions for Halloween, Spring, Winter, Summer days and afternoon tea treats :)

I picked this up in a second hand book store called The Bookcase and it was in very good condition! I'm a big LOTR fan and have many J.R.R. Tolkien books :)

I'm also a huge Game of Thrones fan, (not mainly because they have filmed and still are filming in various locations in Northern Ireland), so I treated myself to the first set of books, there's a new one out but I think it's better to read what I've got first, (I've a bit of a love affair with books :/)

Last but not least is the brush I have found to use with my Bare Escentuals bareMinerals foundation, it's the ecotoools Bamboo Bronzer Brush. It's a bit like a small kabuki brush but is perfect for mineral foundation!

So that's it! I hope you like the pieces I've gotten so far. I'm hoping to go through my crystal and oil collection in the coming weeks to share what I have and their properties as well as reviewing the books I've mentioned and perhaps there'll be some cooking ventures thrown in there too! So until then, Blessed Be! xx

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! :)

2011-07-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to do another post but this is just too exciting not to mention.

...A few weeks ago one of our kittens went missing and we had no idea what happened to it, then today when my daddy and I were outside we heard a cat meowing extremely loudly so, of course, went to investigate! The sound was coming from a vacated barn conversion across the road that used to house tonnes of wild cats, so we expected to find a rather large stray. I tapped the front window and saw the upstairs curtain move and who appeared but my kitten!

I was so happy that she was alive! I had preyed everyday for the three weeks that she was missing, but there was a problem, how to get her out! Firstly, we had no idea how she got inside in the first place unless a door was open. We noticed a new letter box and padlocks on the door so that could only mean she was locked in by the people that changed them! (An RSPCA report will be filed if I find out who!) Her cries were so loud it was heartbreaking to hear :(

Eventually we found a hole in some boarding covering a window and she came to our voices. When we got her out she was skin and bone! We most certainly found her in the nick of time! We assume she had been living on mice otherwise she wouldn't be alive, but she recognised us and was almost tripping me as we brought walked her back across the road to our house.

We took turns making sure she was doing ok, she was eating and drinking well and just wanted a snuggle, so seems on the way to recovery :) (Her meow is so loud that even the older "boss" cats were scared of her!)

Her brother seemed content to welcome her back, however her mummy and sister were hissing at her, (most likely because of how loud she was and her smell,) but I'm hoping they will soon accept her back into the family as they were all so close before.

I knew in my heart that she was still alive, I'm very close to any pets we have but more so the cats, they seem to gravitate towards me, (especially the mummy as she wouldn't go near anyone else (she was wild when she brought her newborn kittens to us)). We've had other cats disappear, which they usually do when they're older and find somewhere to rest for the last time, and I subconsciously know when this has happened. I sent all the energy I could to the universe and the gods to find her because she had to still be in this relm and she was :)

Mog back on my knee where she belongs :)

See Ya!

2011-07-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm going off on holidays for a week tomorrow so won't be doing any more posts until I'm back. I'm not going far, just to the north coast of Northern Ireland but we have many fun activities planned; body boarding, surfing, visiting National Trust sites as well as other things we'll find to do along the way. I'm also glad to be going back to Blue Moon, a sort of metaphysical shop in Portrush which sells beautiful clothing and jewellery as well as books, incense, CDs and a whole array of other pagan-y stuff!

I'll be taking LOADS of pictures so I can share my experiences, some old and some new (hopefully), so until then, Blessed Be! xx

p.s. I hope everyone has had/is having/is yet to have a wonderful holiday, I'd love to know what you get up too when you have some time off, so let me know!

Quick Pic!

2011-07-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share another snap of the moon.

It was taken from inside and with a flash but it was just outside my balcony doors and I thought it was beautiful :) I tried to get a picture of the moon a few nights ago as it was red and very low down at the horizon but the flash messed it up. Although here's a lovely picture just before sunrise, (I don't tend to sleep in the summer.) Again through the glass doors, but the view from my room never fails to impress me,

Reviews Galore!

2011-07-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ok so, I've accquired a lot of products and haven't reviewed very many, (some samples I've yet to use) but I've nothing better to do so I might aswell get stuck in or I'll never get it done! This will be a review of just random products from Love Lula. So... I shall begin!

Lavera Intense Volumising Mascara

I have quite sensitive eyes which can react easily to mascara so I was happy to try a natural one that would be more gentle on my eyes. Firstly, I LOVE the brush, (it reminds me of Benefit's Bad Gal mascara,) the fact it has bristles and is not made of rubber/plastic as so many mascaras are these days is a bonus as I hate them!

As far as how the product actually works, it did make my eyelashes longer and more defined, and quite a bit thicker. The only downside to this product is that it isn't available in a waterproof version, which I would like as my eyes water if I even smile never mind crying while I laugh, (don't ask!) Overall I think it's just your average mascara.

bare lashes

lashes curled, one coat of mascara

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Alcohol*, Stearic Acid, Besswax (Cera Alba)*, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Algin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Liquorice) Root Extract*, Silk (Serica), Shellac, Jojoba Esters , HippopHae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, TocopHerol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Vegetable Oil (Olus Oil), Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract*, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract *, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract*, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Citronellol**, Geraniol**, Limonene**, Linalool**, [+/- Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Ultramarines (Ci 77007)] (* ingredients from certified organic agriculture)

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Original Foundation SPF15

I was able to get a free "make under", as it is called in the world of bareMinerals, with a coupon from 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty last September, which I brought to my nearest bareMinerals counter and I fell in love! I've been looking this foundation ever since but as it is quite costly I kept putting it off. Love Lula had a £5 discount code which could be used in July, (as this month marks their 5th birthday!) So I decided to treat myself and I'm so glad I did! Although I'm still looking for the perfect brush, (the bareMinerals brushes are just as expensive as the foundation) the technique is easy with any face or powder brush and a little goes a long way. There are 11 shades available for all types of colourings with specific undertones; I chose the palest shade "Fair" which is for the lightest porcelain skin with cool neutral undertones, (my skin has more golden/yellow undertones but the next shade wasn't light enough in colour.) It worked wonders for evening out my skin tone, as any discolouration shows up quite easily because my skin is so light; it's just like having another layer of beautiful dewy, natural looking skin, and the best thing is... it doesn't look like you're wearing any makeup! (A key feature I think all foundation show achieve.) The added SPF of 15 is also an added bonus as my current moisturiser does not contain any SPF. My only critique is that the starter kits only have 4 shades available, which contain all you need to get introduced to the brand, leaving many people missing out on saving money if they want to buy all the products but have to do so separately. However, I'm looking forward to buying more mineral makeup, not just from this brand but from others that have caught my eye.

Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)

Badger Unscented Healing Lip Balm

I managed to misplace my Badger Vanilla Madagascar Lip Balm while I was out, (either that or it's fallen down the side of my bed :/), so I bought a new one, this time the unscented version, and to be honest I'm not really sure why I did. To begin with I thought it was great, a lip balm that actually worked! But after repeated use I've found it's not working as well as I had originally hoped. This is the first Badger product that has disappointed me, which I'm quite sad about as I love the brands other products. (which you will see in a moment!) Again, like the other products in the brand, there's a herbal undertone although it is "unscented", but I think I shall have to return to my quest of finding the perfect lip balm for me.

Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Beeswax, *Castor Oil, *Rosemary. (* = Certified Organic Ingredient)

Badger Cuticle Care & Foot Balm Duo

I....LOVE.....THIS!

Badger Balms have never failed to impress me, (apart from the lip balms.) This combo is a dream for hands and feet that need some TLC and are quickly outshining other lotions I have!


Badger Cuticle Care

As a piano/keyboard and guitar player, it's safe to say my nails get a lot of battering on a daily basis. They grow extremely fast but are very brittle so break and peel easily. I rub this into my cuticles, on the nail itself and the area around it on nights that I have removed polish so they are soothed and healthy after being in contact with acetone, (I'm soon to switch to a non acetone remover) and before being re-polished, giving them a chance to rest and repair. This balm is a lot thicker and most easily melted than the other balms. There are bubbles throughout the balm which are caused by the shea which gives it soothing and restorative properties.

Ingredients: *Wild African Shea Butter, *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Castor Oil, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, *Seabuckthorn Berry Extract, and Essential Oils of *Geranium, *Ginger, *Cardamom, *Rosemary, *Litsea Cubeba, *Mandarin & *Lemongrass. (* = Certified Organic Ingredient)

Badger Foot Balm

I walk around in my bare feet more than I wear shoes or socks, it's just so natural for me. Unfortunately this means the bottom of my feet are more like a hobbit's than those from a sandal add :( (I don't know how people cared for there feet before shoes were invented?!) Before trying this balm I was using Boots Gorgeous Feet Cracked Heel Repair which was AMAZING! I was stunned at how soft the skin on my feet was over night, never mind "visible results in just 3 days", it is a miracle product. I thought to myself wouldn't it be great if I could get something that was as good as this but was natural... and voila! Badger Foot Balm just happens to exist. Firstly, the smell doesn't do it justice; it's not THAT off putting but it's not the nicest of smells, (I love the smell of the Boots moisturiser) however, it works just as well which is what I was hoping for. I put it on after getting out of the shower or bath, then put on some cuddly bed socks to lock in the effects and I wake up in the morning with lovely soft soles!

Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Castor Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, and Essential Oils of *Rosemary, *Peppermint *Balsam Fir, *Eucalyptus, *Tea Tree & *Cardamom. (* = Certified Organic Ingredient)

NOTD: Nails Of The Day!

2011-07-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today's colour is... O.P.I.'s Can You Tapas This?

at night with indoor lighting and camera flash

Well actually I've had this on for a few days hence the white nail tips, (my nails grow so fast!) It's a sort of dark red-brown colour; reminds me a bit of BBQ sauce. I used a base coat, one coat of polish and a top coat. Usually I use 2 coats so the colour is more opaque, but I just wasn't in the mood for waiting around for my nails to dry and I wanted to get this up before I change the colour tomorrow. I'm not sure if I like it or not, I'm a fan of dark colours but it's kind of strange, sometimes it's more red, others it's brown and it even has a purplish raisin tone to it. Maybe with another coat I could get a better idea of it's full potential but until then I'm undecided!

p.s. I've noticed that I'm all about natural and organic products at the minute and haven't been able to find any nail polishes in this category however, O.P.I are one brand that are part of the "3 free" bandwagon. These are brands whose lacquers are free of the 3 toxic chemicals that were once found in most nail polishes, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde & Toluene. The Body Shop products are also not entirely natural or organic but responsibly source their ingredients from Community Trade farmers and growers which ensures ingredients are grown in a traditional and time honoured way as well as providing growers with long-term, stable incomes. You can read more about this here.

Pai Skincare Review!

2011-07-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

I bought trial sizes of Pai's cleanser and one of their skin creams and have been using them both for over a month so thought it was about time for a review. Firstly, these products have lasted for a very long time, even now they're not even half gone! Secondly, they have quite a strong floral smell at first, which you get used to after a few uses. The smell doesn't last on the skin however, it fades as you rub it in.

Pai Camellia & Rose Organic Cleanser

I used this at night about once a week by massaging it into my skin, leaving for a while so it could get to work, then removing it with warm, damp cotton pads then I splashed my face with cooler water to close the pores. I didn't use it that often only because I always forget about doing my night time skincare routine (or there's something really good on tv), but from the times I have used this product it has been lovely. It leaves skin soft, smooth and it feels hydrated, not tight like I find other cream or milk cleansers do. I will most likely buy some more trial sizes before deciding for certain if I will make this my new evening cleanser.

Ingredients rose water*, water, camellia oil*, castor oil*, sweet almond oil*, coconut and corn-derived emulsifier, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, corn extract, manuka oil, rosemary extract*, basil extract, lavender oil*, geranium oil*, may chang oil*, rose oil*, lactic acid. (*Certified organic ingredient. This organic cleanser is certified organic by the Soil Association under their organic beauty standards.)

Pai Organic Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream

Like my hair my skin doesn't know what it's at! As I'm a teenager my skin is more combination, not just of oily and dry but of sensitive too. After a year of being ill my skin had taken the toll, becoming extremely pale and often very dry with patches of discolouration and pigmentation, particularly on my cheeks. Areas like my forehead and between my eyebrows can get very dry and flaky, (which is rather annoying) but can end up quite oily by the end of the day. This skin cream has definitely helped my skin dilemma. As I've mentioned, I've barely used any so a little goes along way even though the cream is quite thick at first it melts on contact with the skin to cover a large area. I find most moisturisers to be too heavy, where they stay on the skin for a long time or too light, so they are not able to moisturise the dry parts as well as I would like them to. This product is in the middle; it's thick enough the moisturise anywhere that really needs it but still absorbs quickly into the skin (which is a bonus as I've started wearing mineral foundation.) This was the only skin cream sample I've been able to try so far as others have been out of stock. I'm particularly interested in trying the cream for combination skin to see how it compares, but if I don't think much of it this will be my new staple moisturiser!

Ingredients: purified water, chamomile water*, apricot kernel oil*, corn-based emulsifier, jojoba oil*, rosehip oil*, thistle oil*, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, chamomile extract*, rosehip seed extract, corn extract, manuka oil*, rosemary antioxidant*, lavender oil*, neroli oil*, rose geranium oil*, basil extract, lactic acid. (* = Certified Organic Ingredient)

More buys!

2011-07-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

After a few days of no postal service, I received two packages this morning :D One from Love Lula and one from Lena White.

Love Lula; Clockwise from far left: Bare Escentuals barMinerals Orginal Foundation SPF 15 (Fair), Sample of Alquimia Anti Cellulite Body Oil, Sample of John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler, Badger Unscented Healing Lip Balm & Sample of Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream.

Lena White; L-R: OPI Ink, Royal Rajah Ruby & You Don't Know Jacques!

In the next few days I'll be doing a review of the Pai skincare samples which I have been using a lot recently, as well as my first posts of the ten days of tea series. I'll also post "nails of the day" to give swatches of the newest colours to my nail polish collection, as well as a few oldies I'm sure. Blessed Be! xx

New Mini Series!

2011-07-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

I was making my usual evening cup of tea and noticed I've collected a rather large amount of samples that I've yet to use. Starting tomorrow I'm going to lay off the Earl Grey, to the best of my ability, and begin a new series called 10 Days of Tea. As a tea enthusiast I love to try new teas so I might as well take you along on my journey through the world of tea. Blessed Be! xx

p.s. I looked out my window when I sat down to the laptop earlier and look what I saw!

Someone's Trying To Tell Me Something!

2011-07-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

After seeing those 12 spiders a few nights ago I've been pondering the changes I am currently making and can still make in my life. I hadn't noticed the spiders since then, they were tucked away during the day, and just as I was closing my curtains this evening, there they were again! I counted and it was still 12! I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out what choices I'm meant to be making and how they will affect the web of life, perhaps this is why the message is still being sent to me.

A few weeks ago when I was in an exam a money spider dropped down onto my paper. I find money spiders soo cute because of their size, and fond it strange that it would let itself down on a strand from a ceiling that's two stories high! The chances of it landing on my tiny desk among hundreds was so small I definitely took it as a sign.At the time I assumed it had something to do with my exams as they weren't over, perhaps telling me to make the choice to work harder or revise more, but now that the number and size of the spiders has increased I'm worried that there is an urgent matter to be addressed but I am unable to see what it is. Maybe it's staring me in the face or I'm currently going through it and I'll know which choice is right, but for now I have been left thoroughly perplexed.

Blessed Be! xx

100 Things About Me Bio

2011-07-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

I had some time to spare whilst waiting for my hair to dry so thought I would do this bio as I enjoy reading other people's, so without further ado I will begin!

1. I am 17 years old.
2. I am an Aquarius.
3. I am obsessed with The Lord of The Rings.
4. I am a solitary eclectic pagan and
5. have been practising since Samhain 2010.
6. I do not find silences awkward, and have no desire to fill any with non essential chit chat when they occur.
7. Because of this a lot of people think I am shy.
8. I believe school is for learning, and I remain reserved in school.
9. I am neither quiet nor shy outside of school.
10. I enjoy researching topics that interest me for fun.
11. I am deeply fascinated by but have a slight fear of death.
12. I am an organ donor.
13. I am on the blood donor register but have not yet given blood due to illness.
14. I am a year behind in school due to a chronic cough and
15. because of this I now have hyper sensitive airways.
16. I am mildly allergic to pollen, cat hair, dust and house dust mites.
17. I have 3 cats, 3 kittens, 2 dogs and 2 fish.
18. I played the violin for 5 years but quit.
19. I have played the guitar for 3 years and am self taught.
20. I began lessons for the piano/keyboard this year, although I was previously self taught.
21. I would love to play the harp.
22. My favourite smells are lavender, petrol and a winter's day when it has been snowing.
23. I am currently growing my hair, it is about waist length now.
24. My friends always come to me for advice but I am unable to ask for help for myself.
25. I bottle my emotions until I snap which can have horrible effects.
26. My emotions and my physical health are very much interconnected.
27. I aspire to be a trauma surgeon, pathologist, psychologist or holistic healer.
28. My favourite colours are dark green, dark purple, navy and burgundy.
29. I pray to the God and Goddess everyday.
30. Earl Grey tea is my favourite drink.
31. I would rather go somewhere cold than hot.
32. I prefer body boarding in the wind and rain than lazing on a sunny beach.
33. I have always been pagan but only come to realise in the past year.
34. When I was younger I was obsessed with Egypt and often pretended I was in an ancient temple and held rituals for the Egyptian pantheon.
35. I love The Addams Family tv show from the 1960s and The Munsters.
36. I think Liv Tyler, Eva Green and Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams are the most beautiful celebrity women.
37. I love historical fantasy and fiction books and movies.
38. I wear glasses/ contacts.
39. I have an astigmatism.
40. I have the beginnings of Dupuytren's contracture.
41. I light a candle every day.
42. I sleep the best when it's raining.
43. I prefer night over day.
44. I love when it rains, there is a thunder and lightening storm or it snows.
45. My favourite season is autumn.
46. I love gothic things.
47. My favourite perfumes are Yves Saint Laurent Belle D'Opium and Estee Lauder Sensuous.
48. I love expanding my knowledge on anything.
49. For a few years every vertebrae in my neck and back, my pelvis and a nerve in my leg was out of place after falling off a horse.
50. The worst physical pain I have ever felt is having gastritis (an inflamed stomach lining.)
51. I walk around in my bare feet where and whenever possible.
52. I prefer wrapping up in warm winter clothes than wearing summery things.
53. I wear pyjamas most of the time unless I'm going somewhere, I don't believe in having to wear normal clothes when they'll only create more washing to do.
54. I smile every time I see the moon and stop for a while to take in it's beauty and energy.
55. I am hoping to study Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and either Health and Social Care, Home Economics or English Literature at school next year.
56. I can spend hours in a book shop deciding what to get.
57. I often begin reading when I get into bed and am still reading when I hear people in my house leaving for work the next morning.
58. I know all the lines to many movies.
59. I can usually guess the lyrics to a song even if I've never heard it, or just know the tune.
60. I enjoy reading and writing poetry, although I don't do it very often.
61. I am currently saving up for an Amazon Kindle and a Book of Shadows.
62. I find the human body and mind fascinating.
63. I find most things fascinating really, and love learning how and why they do what they do.
64. I used to suffer from insomnia but watched the sun rise every day and loved it!
65. I only watch tv around two or three times a week.
66. My favourite flowers are snowdrops and bluebells.
67. Ivy is my favourite plant.
68. I have a habit of collecting unnecessary stationary.
69. I overcame my fear of fire and heights.
70. Owls, foxes, deer and pigmy shrews and cats are my favourite animals.
71. I want to visit Scandinavia, Canada and New Zealand.
72. I can speak French and Spanish, and would like to learn Latin and Nordic languages.
73. I enjoy baking and cooking.
74. My ears are pierced.
75. I have ideas for several tattoos but am unsure of where I'd get them.
76. I prefer wearing a school uniform to normal clothes.
77. I need more alone time than the time I spend socialising.
78. The Johnny Cash version of Hurt is my favourite song.
79. My favourite movies are The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.
80. If I'm in the mood for cleaning, I get annoyed about how untidy I let my room become.
81. I give people too many chances because I'm afraid to hurt their feelings, even if they don't care about mine.
82. I find it extremely difficult to trust anyone because of this.
83. Before I was ill I was quite swarthy but am now extremely pale, I never got my colour back, but I love being pale!
84. I used to think everyone had blue eyes.
85. I love wearing thermal hiking socks and knitted boy's hoodies when it's cold.
86. Water from a natural spring is the best!
87. I adapt well to most situations.
88. I have a good judge of character.
89. I can't stand people who are stuck up, judgemental and just plain rude.
90. I attended ballet lessons when I was 5 but quit because I didn't like the routine I performed in the final show, and I wish I hadn't'
91. I am in the girls' choir at school.
92. I love star gazing and will force myself to wake up at anytime, even on school nights, to see meteor showers, planets and lunar eclipses.
93. I listen to almost every genre of music.
94. If I can't sleep I will play the sound of a rain or thunder and lightening storm on the laptop to help.
95. It bugs me when people keep appliances on stand by.
96. I love waking up to texts, though I rarely use my phone.
97. I love being snuggled up in bed more than sleeping, however
98. I love my dreams as they're usually always very strange.
99. I love going for walks at 6am.
100. I had a hard time thinking of things to put in this.

If anyone else has done this, let me know as I'd like to read it! Blessed Be! xx

O.P.I Lovin'

2011-07-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

I have a new obsession, and it's for nail polish! We're not allowed to wear nail polish at school so I rarely take the risk of getting a lecture, so in the summer my nails are almost always covered, (to the point that they look strange unpolished.) Yesterday my order from Lena White, the online UK stockist of O.P.I, arrived, with 3 new polishes that I treated myself to. With Lughnasadh coming up, the beginning of the harvest and autumn (my favourite season!) I got into the spirit a little early by choosing some autumnal shades, and I love them!

L-R: Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow SUEDE, Can You Tapas This? & Ginger Bells!

I can't decide which to wear first! Blessed Be! xx

Message From The Universe!

2011-07-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

I was out on the balcony this evening having a moment with nature, pets gathered round, (which isn't that odd.) When I turned to go back inside I felt beyond calm and just plain good! Anyway, when I got to my room and was closing the curtains I happened to spot a spider outside in the top corner of the window and as I moved my eyes across I saw another, and another... and another! In total there were 12 spiders, all relatively small, equally spaced out, seemingly of the same breed, individual webs joined. After a moment of pondering this sight I, of course, began researching the meaning.

When spiders appear matters of choice are to be addressed; how your choices are affecting the web of life, the people in it and how can they improve this grand design? As there were twelve in total I of course believed this to be a serious matter to address, it definitely caught my attention! Twelve is a number used so commonly but the reason is unknown; there are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, two sets of 12 hours in a day, 12 inches in a foot. Twelve is said to be a number of space and time. It corresponds to the Hanged Man Tarot which represents letting go of troublesome parts of your being so you can just be.

I believe that together this message means to sacrifice the things that act as a hindrance to better help the earth, other people and myself. We're all in this world together, to take care of it, appreciate it, and to live as one universal being. Like the spiders weave a magnificent web, we too should work together to make this world an ideal home, where we can live together in peace, harmony. We rely on the earth and other people as they rely on us, no matter what race, religion, age or gender, each choice we make affects every living energy around us. Know that the actions you perform, for good or bad, have equal reactions, so be sure you can live with the consequences.

Blessed Be! xx

Quick Pic!

2011-07-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

I was looking out over the side of the house this evening and just remembered about the picture I took on midsummer night;

The river runs a few fields over, and I'm always captivated when mists come off it. I think one of the most breath taking and mysterious sights of nature have been on a winter's night; trees bare, a full moon with whisps of cloud and fog moving eerily closer to my house. It feels like a scene from a supernatural or horror movie and I love it!

Hopefully when it is winter again I can take a picture and share it's magnificence (if my camera picks it up that is). I'm always grateful to live in the countryside as it gives me the oppurtunity to witness the undisturbed energy and beauty of mother earth, (meteor showers and planets included!) Blessed Be! xx

John Masters Organics Review

2011-07-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

I think I am in love... with hair products! My hair has grown so much in the past few years, (and is far longer than I think it is), so it needs all the care it can get. I've tried a few samples of the John Masters Organics hair products and have to say they are great! The full sized products are quite expensive but are definitely worth their price.

John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair

I'm not one to use products for dry hair, when I was younger anything for dry hair would leave mine greasy, so I was wary about adding this sample but there were not other samples I wanted to try so I gave it a go, and boy am I glad I did! I used it with the lavender & avocado conditioner and it left my hair so moisturised, but not greasy. The quality of my hair has changed as it has grown, (it's about waist length now), the ends can be very dry so I wash my hair less often and let it air dry, but this doesn't make it greasy. The smell was quite overwhelming at first but it wasn't over unbearable, if you don't mind floral and herbal scents that is. All in all I think this is another trustworthy product from a brilliant company!

John Masters Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo & Hair Reconstructor

I used these products together, (as intended) and was very impressed by the results! Again I was cautious about whether they would leave my hair greasy, but the following day even my roots were fine! Like the primrose shampoo the smell is quite strong, but not unpleasant. My hair was in need of some TLC and these delivered. Like all the products I have tried, the quality is evident across the brand. This is one brand that I will come back to time and time again! Blessed Be! xx

Happy Solstice!!

2011-06-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a blessed midsummer! I had lots of plans but unfortunately the sun never made an appearance all day, we even had a thunder and lightening storm! It rained for most of the day, but I didn't mind, I love storms and the rain, (I guess it's good that I live in Northern Ireland, I must be the only one who does!) Although my plans of an outdoor celebration were not possible, I took time to appreciate the need for and refreshment of the rain, and welcomed the energy of the storm. If such weather never happened then the land would not be green and grow crops, there would be famine and drought, and I am thankful everyday that I live in a place where such things do not affect the people living here today. As this is a day to celebrate the height of the God's power, although not visible, I thanked the sun for it's constant energy, heat and light, without which we would not have food, warmth or sight, and recognised that from this day on the sun's potency will diminish until the winter solstice. As the wheel of the year turns once more, it will bring the harvest, warm evenings and long sunsets, all showing the power and breathtaking beauty of nature. Blessed Be! xx

A taste of my midsummer weather.

The sun didn't shine all day!

It's Summer!!!!!

2011-06-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

So my exams have ended, hurrah! I've got quite a lot of plans for the coming months, midsummer solstice celebrations, craft ideas, places to go, as well as some ideas for posts and (hopefully) getting my youtube channel up and running with some videos, but I will see how I feel about that closer to the time. For now I'll just be focusing on my blog. Speaking of which I've noticed I've become a bit of a Love Lula freak!

As you can see I have acquired quite a collection of boxes, (definately a sign I should stop buying everything in online sales), but I don't mind, I'm a bit of a trying new things out junky, and I've many plans to try new things, both products and activities which I am looking forward to :)

I also made another Love Lula purchase:

Left to Right: Trial Size Pai Organic Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream, John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner. (I also got another free John Masters Organics bodycare set, and forgot to add some free samples.)

Love Lula have also included something to brighten everyone's day with their packages; angel cards. They always make me smile, and as you can see from the box they have taken time to think about the packaging.

Here's some close ups:


courage: "you gain confidence & strength by every experience in which you do the thing which you think you cannot do"

beauty: "there came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"

magic: "fairies are invisible & inaudible like angels, but their magic sparkles in nature" (This one's my favourite!!)

I'm hoping this will be a summer worth remembering, as my last few haven't been great, but I'm keeping a positive attitude, Blessed Be! xx

The Body Shop Order

2011-06-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

I have finally received my Love Your Body card after two getting lost in the post (and being invalid), so treated myself to a purchase, as members get a discount online. I didn't get much (I'm saving up for a kindle!) But I thought I would share anyway.

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub & Body Butter.

Here are my other body shop purchases:

Clockwise from top left: Lip and Cheek Stain 02 (I can't remember the name of the colour, it's possibly rose gold), Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash, Facial Brush with lid, Vitamin E Body Butter, Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream, Vitamin E Moisture Cream.

I got this all for £20 as a 60% off pamper set called the English Rose Collection. While I like most of the products, the one thing I do not like is the Lip and Cheek Stain, it tastes horrible and smells a bit funky, the colour is also very not me. I am however impressed with the night cream and facial wash. The wash, when used with the brush, leaves my skin so soft, and the night cream is very thick and rich. The only negative point I have about the Vitamin E collection is the smell, it's quite strong at first, similar to that of the Nivea creams or sudocream. But other than that I am quite impressed. The Body butter isn't the most moisturising, but it is classed as being for normal to dry skin on the website. Blessed Be xx

New Order

2011-06-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

My most recent purchases from The Body Shop and Love Lula have arrived! Here they are:


The Body Shop, clockwise from bottom: Lightening Touch (under eye concealer), Ultra Fine Bath Lily Olive Green, Divine Calm Serenity Milk Bath Powder.

Love Lula, clockwise from top: Lavera Intense Volumising Mascara, Sample of John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair, Sample of John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo, Sample of John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor.

Can't wait to get using and reviewing my newest products, Blessed Be! xx

Crystal Collection

2011-06-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated by crystals and stones from a young age, I believe that everything has it's own spirit, and that's no exception for crystals that are millions of years old. I pick the ones that call to me. The specific shapes, colourings and sizes all have a part to play in which stone is right for you, but when you pick it up and feel it's energy, you'll know. So, to date these are the crystals that I own:


Clockwise from Quartz (far left), Apatite, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Onyx, Goldstone, Citrine, Chalcedony, Malachite, Rose Quartz, Aventurine, (The next three I am unsure of), Blue Goldstone.

Most of the crystals I picked up in a crystal and jewellery shop in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. I got the Quartz and Amethyst with a magazine called Mind, Body, Spirit and I received the larger Rose Quartz as a gift from one of my mother's friends when I was ill. She is doing a crystal course and brought along the stones which I was unable to identify and there's a few guesses as to what they are, but if anyone can help, post a comment below as I would quite like to be sure of what they are. I'll post some close up's here:


Deep magenta coloured stone; possibly a Star Ruby?


Bright blue with dark blue lines; possibly a Chrysocolla?

This one is hard to describe, it's a sort of brownish, purpley red stone; possibly a Jasper?

Again I'd appreciate it if anyone could help to identify these stones, I've looked descriptions up online and in my crystal books but stones can come in a variety of colours and most only show a stone in it's most common colour, making it hard to distinguish one stone from another. Blessed Be! xx

I'm Meltingggg!

2011-06-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, so, yesterday's plan of a productive day didn't turn out so well. Northern Ireland decided to have a heat wave, so I could either lie outside and do some yoga (which I did), or sit inside in the cool air and do nothing (which I also did), but I managed to try out two of my latest Love Lula purchases and gifts, before deciding what to do for the rest of the day. Here they are:

John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner

I love this! I've only used one of the samples and am already contemplating buying the full sized product. The smell is divine! And it definitely helped to moisturise my damaged tresses. It has a very thick consistency, and you can feel how smooth it leaves your hair when you've rinsed it out. A much needed treat for dry or damaged hair, I would recommend this any day!

For now I'm not writing out all the ingredients... there's too many!

John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender

I'm one of those people who's natural hair can't really be defined; when I was young I had extremely long hair that was poker straight. When I got it cut shorter and layered for the first time it became wavy, and now it's a mixture between wavy, curly and straight. I usually scrunch my hair when it's drying to give it a bit more of a curl, and have used so many curling/ products for wavy hair in previous years when my hair was in a bob, but now that it's long I find they don't help, so I was eager to try out this sea mist (I've been looking to try Bumble & Bumble's Surf Spray for years.) I had read some reviews of this product saying it could leave hair greasy due to the oils it contains, but I found it to do the exact opposite. My hair felt like it would when I've been in the sea, slighty on the drier side, however I had kept my hair pinned up all day as it was so warm but when I took it down to go out last night I had the most textured beach waves I've ever had! This will definately be a staple hair product for summer.

Ingredients: Water, Sea Salt, *Lavender Oil. ( * = NOP Certified Organic)

Animal Crossing Meets Harry Potter?!

2011-06-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for anything witchy, I confess! And when Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardry caught my eye, I had to have it! I'm a big fan of the Animal Crossing DS and Wii games, (they no doubt keep you occupied when you're bored, as well as making you lose track of time!), so when I spotted a game that was similar but envolved magic... well, let's just say I was pretty quick to make a purchase. I'm hoping it is worth all my excitement, but I will let you know when I've played it for a while, after all it did only come in the post this morning, but I have made a plan today to work on some new posts as well as revising, trying out some of my Love Lula products and tidying up my room a bit so it can get decorated, but I'm sure I'll squeeze a bit of playing time in there somewhere :D Blessed Be! xx

The source of my excitement!

p.s. it has come to my attention that the time stamps of these post are not in GMT, as my post at 6.30AM is stamped as being after 10PM, I'm not sure how to change this as my draft saving time is correct, any hints?

Mail's Here!

2011-06-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love getting packages in the post? I know I do, and today my most recent order from Love Lula has arrived! :) I ordered (to no surprise) more Badger Balm products as well as a John Masters Organics hair product and a trial sized Pai product, as well as 3 free samples. So without further ado, here is my purchase:

Clockwise from top: Sample of Suki Exfoliate Foaming Body Cleanser, Trial Size Pai Camellia & Rose Organic Cleanser, John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender, Free John Masters Organics Bodycare Set; Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Wash and Body Milk (free gift with John Masters Organics purchase), Sample of John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner, Badger Cuticle Care and Foot Balm Duo.

I've been loving all my organic products so far, so hope to swap as many of my everyday products as possible to those that are organically manufactured. I find the option to include 3 free samples of products highly beneficial, as we all know trying out new things can be expensive and that's no exception for natural products, so what better way is there than to sample products you otherwise might not buy for free? Definitely a thumbs up from me!

On another note in my upcoming posts I'm hoping to show my crystal collection as well as more natural product reviews, (I've ordered some things of The Body Shop website today, 30% off, woohoo!) and I'm also hoping to include a more serious post on some topics that catch my attention, so until then, Blessed Be! xx