My Makeup Collection: Mascaras

Hello Friends! Here is another instalment of my 'My Makeup Collection' series. This time I'm talking about my mascaras. One of the magical things that makes me look like a half awake human being. I only own 4 at the minute as a couple have dried out and I don't want these to dry out before I've had a reasonable amount of use out of them. So I try to only have a couple in at a time. 

The first mascara in my collection is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara. It is supposed to be a dupe for the Benefit Roller Lash but honestly I'm not a fan. When I bought it everyone was raving about how good it was but I find it way too goopy. I have to wipe off a lot of excess on the brush before it can anywhere near my eye lashes. I certainly won't be repurchasing it, but I'm not ready to throw it away just yet. #hoarderproblems

Next up is my all time favourite high-street (drugstore for the American lot) mascara. The Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara is my most repurchased mascara ever! It is just so good! Being Soap and Glory it is kind of in that limbo zone between premium and high street, but at £10 I'd argue high street! Nevertheless - I absolutely adore it! It really makes your lashes look long and voluminous and for a tenner you can't really complain! 

For when I'm after a little more volume or for when I'm wanting to feel all glamourous and sassy, I have the Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara. OH MY GOD I don't think words can describe how much I love this mascara. It always makes my lashes look incredible - without fail! Granted it can smudge a little if the weather is hot or you're frantically running around Leeds train station all day.. 

And finally! One of the latest additions to my collection is the No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara. It is the one I use when I am running late! It always makes my lashes look curled and fluttery so I don't have to spend time curling my lashes before running out the door! I usually only like the wands with the bristle brushes, but this one has a rubber wand and surprisingly I really like it!

If you have any recommendations for me, please leave them below as I'm desperate to try something new! 

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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The Bloggers Blog Awards 2015

(Photo: C/O HelloApril)

Hello my lovely readers! After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, last Saturday was (finally) the day of the Bloggers Blog Awards ceremony - organised by the lovely Hayley of Tea Party Beauty. I don't think I ever actually mentioned it here on my blog, but I was actually nominated in the Best Up and Coming Beauty Blogger category! Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be in a room full of some of my favourite human beings, so I immediately RSPVd to the invite! 

(Photo: C/O HelloApril)

The event was held at Lamberts Yard in Leeds, and I've only recently found that this place existed! I really wanted to come and see the Humans Of Leeds exhibition when it was on earlier in the year - but I never got the chance! So I was delighted to hear that it was the venue! I met up with Lucy in the train station and together we managed to find it without much trouble, and when we arrived I was amazed by how beautiful the industrial decor was! We were offered Prosecco, but unfortunately for me I was driving (DAMN UK WITH THEIR NO DRINK DRIVING RULES LOL)  or as Joe called me 'A bad student', and were given a quick tour round their clothes shop (they have some gorgeous pieces in if you're ever in the area!). Although I've been to a few blogger related events, this was my biggest yet and the first one I've gone to alone (without dragging a mate along as a plus one haha) so I was incredibly anxious! Within in moments of arriving, bloggers starting pouring into the room in groups and conversation was soon flowing! 

One of the only photos I actually took myself AHAHAHAHA #badblogger

All being bloggers, everybody had something in common and so you could start a conversation with literally anyone in the room and it was absolutely brilliant! We mingled for about an hour and then we took or seats ready for the winners to be announced! I sat with three of the loveliest bloggers (Ana, Sam and Amy) that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting (see next photo) and we spent ages chatting (mainly about shoes but that's what bloggers do best!). When flicking through the event programme, we discovered that myself, Ana and Sam were all nominees in the same category! Which was lovely as we were rooting for each other! Ana was awarded Highly Commended and the winner of our category was Lily of Pint Sized Beauty. 

Sam, Ana and Amy! (Photo: Ana of Ravishing Roses)

Once all the awards had been dished out, it was time for the raffle in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK. And OHMYGOD it was the best raffle I have ever seen in my life! There were prizes from the likes of Pandora, Magnitone, TheBalm and Jurlique - amongst many others! As always, I didn't win anything! Although Sam was getting really excited whenever the colour of my tickets were called out hahaha! A few of us joked(!!!) that it was rigged as Jemma seemed to win almost everything ;)

Afterwards, most of us headed over to The Black Swan on Call Lane for some dinner! The staff were absolutely brilliant and seated over 40 of us and served us with no complaints or issues. We filled over half the restaurant, and the food was absolutely delicious! I got one of their sourdough pizzas and it was  soooo tasty! I had to dash off for the train towards the end, but I had a massive grin plastered across my face the whole way home. I met lots of lovely bloggers and I can't wait to see some of them again soon!

Group selfie! (Photo: @lovedbylaurac on Twitter)

I would just like to thank Hayley for organising such a brilliant event and I think she really did herself proud! I'd also like to thank all the bloggers for being so lovely and to you guys reading as I'd never have got there if it wasn't for you!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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Recipe: Warming Tomato and Basil Soup

Hello everyone! Hope you're having a lovely Sunday! I haven't done a recipe post for absolutely ages, so I felt like doing one today! As it is starting to get a little chillier and the sun is nowhere in sight, I thought I'd do a soup recipe as soup is one of my favourite things to eat when I'm feeling chilly or when I have a dreaded winter cold! I've been making it a lot recently as the weather is freeeeezing and this week I've been feeling a bit ill. Making soup is incredibly easy, and you will be surprised at how much better it tastes than it does out of a tin! You can even make it in large batches, freeze some and save it for later! I like to mess around with different flavours but I love making the classics like tomato and basil, and that is the recipe I have for you today!

You will need!

Around 8 large salad tomatoes per person (don't use tins of chopped tomatoes or it will taste like pasta sauce! Which isn't very pleasant - trust me! Ew!)

Vegetable stock cube (I use the Knorr stock pots)

200ml of water (roughly)

Fresh basil (dried also tastes just as good)

A blender - essential!

Salt and pepper (as seasoning - optional)

First things first, you'll need to stick the kettle on (not for a cuppa) to start off your stock! Whilst you are waiting for it to boil, you can start chopping your salad tomatoes (and basil if you are using fresh) into chunks. Smaller chunks will cook faster if you are in a rush or staaaaarving! Once your kettle has boiled, add boiling water to a large pan and pop in your stock cube. Wait for it to dissolve before adding anything else. 

Once your stock is ready, you can add the tomatoes into the pan. You want to let them simmer down so they go all soft and squishy. Once they are soft enough, turn off the heat and add in your basil. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes before blending (or you'll burn yourself if it splashes!) and serve! I like to have mine with a granary bread roll as the two go together perfectly!

See I told you it was simple! And so so quick! 

As always, if you make it tag me in a photo as I love it when you do this! 

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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