The Reading Tag

I haven't written a tag post in ages and after seeing The Reading Tag on Fay Olivia's blog a little while ago, I knew this was one which would be perfect for me because although I am quite lazy with reading, I am quite the book worm when I get into it. They're also something a little different to post and let you get to know me better. I won't tag anyone specific just anyone reading this who wants to give it a go. Be sure to let me know if you do.

Do you have a certain place for reading at home?

Usually on my bed but I've been known to actually travel around the house and sit/ hang upside down in every little space until I'm comfortable.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I can never find my bookmarks so usually just whatever I have to hand. Recently I've used post its.

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?

In general I can just stop at the end of a page or even paragraph. Stopping midway through a sentence is of course unthinkable.

Do you eat or drink when reading?

Reading is probably the only activity I don't consider snack- appropriate. Perhaps just a cup of tea.

One book at a time or several at once?

One at a time unless they're educational/ completely polar. I'm very easily confused.

Reading at home or everywhere?

Most of the time at home, particularly if I'm really into a book though I'll sometimes take one along on train journeys in case I run out of Facebook/ Instagram updates to scroll through.

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Completely silently. I used to get so frustrated with my friend in school who read out loud next to me because I'd become so distracted.

Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?

I'll admit I did this when I was younger (and it gave me a rather confusing expectation for the end of HP7 - imagine knowing Dumbledore/ Snape are dead but discovering them speaking on the last page). Now I wouldn't dare.

Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

Keep it new through fear of it crumbling. I learned this the hard way when I broke the spine of my teacher's personal copy of A Scarlet Letter and had to hand it back to her in bits. 

Do you ever write in books?

Ever since I had to annotate and highlight my copy of The Great Gatsby in school I can't stop. I could be reading anything and feel the urge to note at the side that I like the way it is written or what it could represent. Its a curse.

What are you currently reading?

I'm between books just now. I finally admitted defeat with A Tale of Two Cities and now my university books have taken over. I think my next will be Pride and Prejudice though. .

The Liebster Award

Hey Everyone!
It has been a long while since I done a tag post but I thought since my lovely friend Melanie nominated me last night and I'm taking the whole day off from studying, I would do this one. I'm sure you have all heard of the Liebster Award- I've been aware of it almost since I started blogging (over 2 years ago!) but its only just struck me that I had no clue what Liebster actually meant. With a little help from the old pal Google Translator (ah how I have missed it since the days I would copy over whole passages in French for homework), I discovered that its a German word and translates as 'favourite' or 'dearest'. The idea is that you answer the 11 questions you were tagged to, and then make up a set of 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer. 
Questions  1. What is your guilty pleasure song at the moment? This is a really difficult question- I have thought out about 3 different answers and then deleted them because most of the songs I love at the moment aren't 'guilty pleasures' so much as 'pleasures.' But, I have eventually thought of one that, although I don't love,it is very catchy and pretty funny. I'm slightly ashamed to say it is The Chainsmokers' #selfie.  2. What are you excited to wear this summer? My brightly printed 50's style Primark bikini. Its sooo cute and pretty- I just fear that if I don't start exercising soon- it'll be worn under a potato sack on the beach. 3. Would you rather give up eyeliner or eyeshadow?

I absolutely love both- but it would probably have to be eyeshadow because on an everyday basis I only wear eyeliner anyway.

4. What is your favourite snack?

Everything and anything. I have been especially liking Belvita Breakfast Biscuits since I tried them recently though. 

5. What is your go-to nail polish colour?

A few weeks ago I bought Topshop's Gilted Nail Polish in the sale for just £1 and I've been loving it. Its such an unusual colour and I don't own anything like it. Its beautiful with a tan and looks so pretty in the bottle too.

6. What is your favourite candle scent?

Fig and Herb by The Copenhagen Candle Company. I had a big 3 wick one from TKMaxx and it lasted almost a year and since it finished I've had their Strawberry and Madagascan Vanilla but they don't measure up to the scent of Fig and Herb. 

7. Diet soda or regular soda?

Regular all the way!! A lot of people may scream at me for my logic but I believe if you're going to have soda you may as well have full sugar because at least sugar is natural instead of all those artificial nasties in diet.

8. Are you a scarf person?

Oh yes! This winter I've been wearing my Primark tartan scarf with my parka almost everyday.

9. Combat boots or girly boots?

Probably combat boots because they're easier to style. Though in general I'm pretty girly, and not a boot person.

10. What is your favourite lip product?

I've loved Topshop Depth over the past few months- check out my review here to see why.

11. What was your favourite cartoon when you were a kid?

I wasn't that big on cartoons at all- I preferred the Tweenies and stuff. I would occasionally watch a cartoon on CBBC about a dog that spoke but only to his owner? Hmm does anyone know what that was called?

Nominees

As I always seem to do with TAGs, I'd like to nominate YOU if you're reading this- so anyone can do it :)

Questions for nominees 

1. What made you start up a blog?

2. What are your favourite posts to read and write?

3. Where do you find inspiration?

4. What is your favourite book?

5. What TV show/ movie makes you LOL every time?

6. Zara or Topshop and why? (ain't that a toughie?)

7. What are 3 your favourite songs?

8. What is your dream job?

9. What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?

10. What are your HG makeup items?

11. What's the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Please be sure to comment or tweet me if you decide to do this- I'd love to read your answers!

Why Do You Wear Makeup TAG

Hey Everyone!

The other night I got to thinking about how I portray myself through Julz' Obsessions. I think my 'life self' and 'blog self' are pretty much the same, but its easy to present myself the way I want you to see me, brushing my flaws aside. I am therefore thinking about doing a few posts about insecurities, though I am slightly worried about the reception they may receive, so let me know if that's something you might be interested in. 

Anyhoo, I thought the 'Why Do You Wear Makeup TAG' would be a good place to start with the whole 'getting to know the real me' thing.

1. When did you begin to love makeup?

I've always been pretty interested in makeup, I always remember begging my mum to put makeup on me as she was doing her own and smearing the Avon kid's cream blush over my cheeks when I was really young. Around age 10 I would wear lipgloss and maybe a bit of concealer. I started putting on makeup as a routine when I went to high school. However, I only began loving makeup around December 2011 when I discovered the wonderful world of beauty blogs. My love has just grown and grown since then!

2. How do you feel without makeup?

Without vs with makeup

Probably like the majority of us: naked. Its weird but I feel really self conscious going out without makeup and feel a whole lot more confident with it on. 

3. What do you like about makeup?

My everyday makeup when I started bloggng and my everyday makeup now.

I like that its like art. I find doing makeup really, really enjoyable. When I'm super busy with exams and studying etc, its a part of my day I really look forward to, especially at weekends when I have time to experiment. There's always something new and exciting to try and different looks to create. I love how, used correctly, it can enhance your features and make you look like a better version of you.

4. Three 'Holy Grail' items?

Find this is my guest post on Natasha's blog here! 

So there we have it. Its actually quite a short TAG but I've certainly went on a bit. I don't usually tag specific people but today I shall, but if you're not tagged feel free to do it anyway- that's what I done- I just thought it looked like a good one to do.

I tag Melanie, Becky, Islay, Hayley, Becky & Siobhan.

Make sure to send me a link if you do it :)

The Fashion TAG

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday I was tagged by the lovely Melanie from http://makeupisdelish.blogspot.co.uk/ to do the fashion tag and I thought it looked like a great one do to!

1. How would you describe your style?

I don't know an exact name but definitely girly, oxford style. I might try and incorporate different trends as they pass but mostly I stick to the same kind of thing. 

2. What are your wardrobe staples?

Peter pan collar blouses!

3. Most expensive item in your closet?

I thought about this for ages and I don't actually have an extraordinarily expensive items in my wardrobe. They're mostly in the under £30 range! Maybe my Hollister cardigan actually which was about £60, but I don't wear it very often and actually I'm not sure if I still have it!

4. Most wanted item?

Pretty much everything from Topshop. More specifically though, I would like new tops and another good pair of jeans.

5. Favourite designer?

Again, since most of my clothes are high street I have little experience of designers! I'll say Dior as I did a project on Christian Dior for school a few years ago and I got a Dior skirt (age 12) from TKMaxx about 5 years ago for £15 that I often still try and squeeze into!

6. How much do you spend on clothes?

It depends how much I go shopping that month or if there are sales on etc but in general I don't spend a lot on clothes maybe £30 a month!

7. What are your favourite stores to shop at?

There are heaps- I was actually considering a blog post on this? But H&M, Primark, New Look and Forever 21.

8. Favourite fragrance?

In my current perfume collection its Marc Jacobs Daisy but I have samples of Dot and Lady Million which I love too.

9. What's your favourite way to do your hair?

Ideal situation, curly, though I rarely curl my hair and when I do it usually fails so I get someone else to! On a day to day basis I have 3 hairstyles:

Hair down with side pattern, high ponytail, messy bun (those are in order of easiest to most time consuming, bearing in mind hair down takes less than a minute and messy bun takes 5 minutes)

10. What is your go-to outfit when you have nothing to wear?

Probably my trusty H&M skinny jeans and a collared top- I'm so predictable!

11. One fashion trend you wish would come back or stay?

I want peplums to stay because I really like my peplum. I also want to see the kind of tie-dye trend come back in summer as I bought dye and a pair of cheap shorts but never dyed them!

12. Show us your most prized possession in your wardrobe.

H&M skinny jeans- I never have them off, particularly at this time of year!

13. Tag some people.

Instead of tagging specific people, I thought I'd tag you all- anyone reading this! Be sure to let me know in the comments if you do so I can read yours!