Update-stagram

Hi guys! 

Just to let you know I've got some blog posts on the way and as well as reviews I've given my hand at outfit posts - eep! Hopefully you'll catch them at some point. Until then here's my busy month so far...

got a hair chop (subsequently after I moved it back to a side fringe) | long journey back to pompey | back in my uni bed after xmas! tip: clean your room before you get back

for anyone that knows that i can't cook - times are changing! | my staple juice | treaaats!

i've also been out and drinking (ofc) back at uni. though i've been sensible and i'm doing work pretty much every day. i've got a 15 minute tv show and a 10 minute one soon as well as making a film, doing a promo video and lots and lots of other work!

Insta-sorta-week #2

So this is sort of an odd one.. I can't actually upload things to Instagram anymore as I don't actually have Wifi but Instaweek fits so I'm going to leave it as that. These are all pictures of my last few days in Essex.

I'll be posting more frequently soon including my opinion on the X Factor & university! Hope you're well!

Instagram: raechellexo

my favourite panini lunch with holly || last few work shifts! || starlight express

ollie is pretty || cake made by the lovely janet || leaving gift from work <3

telly nights with levi || pedantic about facing up || the best food in the world!

surprise leaving meal with my faves! || hair chop || the worst attempt at packing ever

10 day 'you' challenge - TEN

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

1 picture of yourself



this is me & my friend aimee on my (probable) last night out in essex. she's been an absolute rock for me over the past 9 years that i've known her and i love her to pieces.
hollaaah.

10 day 'you' challenge - NINE

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

2 songs

1. mcfly - the heart never lies/shine a light

both these songs resonate so much with me. so many memories between the releases of these and so many memories have come from this. these are both beautiful, beautiful songs. the above video (top) is from the wembley concert. i was there and to hear the crowd this loud singing a song that was relatively old considering gives me absolute chills every time. the second video (bottom) is from the shepherds bush gig that i was at again and this song hadn't even been released. hearing a crowd sing along to a song they've barely heard just shows the strength of galaxy defenders (the mcfly fanbase).

2. olly murs - hold on

this was a difficult one for me but i can always see him dancing to it in concert in my head. this isn't one of my ultimate, ultimate favourite songs but the lyrics (despite being a little bit cheesy in a way he can get away with) mean a lot to me!

10 day 'you' challenge - EIGHT

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

3 films

1. deja vu. i will always, always rave about how amazing this film is. denzhel washington is amazing in himself but this has a plot whereby when i watch it i'll always pick up on something new. (i'd also like to mention inception which came close but unfortunately isn't as amazing as deja vu)

2. crazy, stupid, love. a very recent viewing of mine but it has 3 of my favourite actors in; emma stone, steve carrell and ryan gosling. i don't believe it has any lagging in plot and it's the perfect mixture of comedy and romance. plus there's a certain moment (well quite a few) where i wish i were emma stone.

3. mean girls. the ultimate classic and i believe it always will be. i'd be shocked if i ever came across someone that hadn't seen it. YOU GO GLEN COCO! 

INSTAWEEK #1

My first instagram post! Yes, I'm officially an instageek.

Instagram: raechellexo

lay ins & rainy days || bacon roll treat || nights in with goodwin, vino & towie

unsuccessful shopping trips || midnight quiche after work || best yoghurt 

ollie looking pretty || new juice discovery. thanks aldi || grumpy alfie

how i woke up || beautiful buffet food with katherine || boogie nights

hangover food is the best || sabrina the teenage witch || uni plans!

10 day 'you' challenge - SEVEN

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

4 books

1. harry potter. i think this is either a 'love' or 'hate' for most people but this was one of the first series i've ever properly gotten into and liked as a whole franchise. most of the time there's something missing from it but i can say these books are as close to something that i'd call excellence as i can find. 

2. jill mansell. i know this is an author rather than a book but i find it so hard to whittle down books that i'm so passionate about. her books give me a little happy buzz and i think that's very important when you're trying to connect with something.

3. jane costello. yet again an author but her books grasp me from the very first page and i don't feel forced into reading them. they're funny and something i both want to be a part of and wish i'd written myself.

4. this one was so difficult because i love books and choosing the last one out of my whole (massive) collection is hard but the 'i heart' series is brilliant. lindsey kelk really connects with her readers and the 'average/normal' woman. which is wonderful. yet another book i wish i'd written.

10 day 'you' challenge - SIX

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

7 foods

1. chicken. (i'm into a lot of 'ch' words!) i love chicken. i love it any which way and think it's possibly the best food ever. you can put it in anything and eat it with everything... plus it's a bonus that you can tell if it's cooked or not. perfect!

2. potato. channelling my inner keith lemon. yet again, something else i can have any way - although jackets are my favourite. i always crave potato. 

3. chocolate. who doesn't love chocolate?! i do get shocked when people don't like chocolate. usually i'd choose savoury over sweet... unless it's chocolate. 

4. cheese. this was a bit of a random one. i generally like meals but when i think about food, cheese is something i can have with anything. it's such a 'vital' ingredient to make anything taste better.

5. chinese. my favourite takeaway. i may order the same thing but that's because it's just so beautiful.

10 day 'you' challenge - FIVE

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

6 places

1. spain. from the age of 5 to about 16 we've always had family holidays in spain and it felt a little bit like an extensions of where i live in a sense. i've always had a good time in spain; the food, the areas and the people are always so, so lovely. i've had my fair share of illness there but despite that i loved it and definitely want a holiday there soon.

2. disneyland. i've been twice - once when i was 5 and a second time for my 18th. i don't think anyone can get be too old for disneyland. it's such a magical place and, although i didn't go on any rides, the whole atmosphere from the park itself to the hotels are absolutely gorgeous and you forget about everything else.

3. essex. my home town. it will always be my home town and despite the fact i've fallen a little out of love with it you can take the girl out of essex...

4. london. this is so, so cliché but the 'london feel' is one i can't describe. i don't like the whole oxford street 'vibe' and shops but walking along the embankment after watching a show and going along the river and looking out at the beautiful lights is so calming and one of the nicest places. 

5. portsmouth. i'm moving here in september so i'd be silly not to mention it. at the moment i can't say too much about it but when i went there it felt 'right' it's really chilled but busy at the same time.

6. america. i've always, always, always wanted to visit and am hoping that one day i can. 

My Summer Face 2012

So I thought I'd create a post of the products I've been using the most this Summer and just a little bit about them. I hate any sort of warm weather so when it's a cold day I'm perfectly happy! The problem with the 'Great British Summer' is that when it's rubbish it's rubbish and when it's hot... it's really hot. These products have generally catered for both of these situations... so what's your Summer face??

1. Maybelline pure cover mineral Concealer in Nude Beige

I don't generally use concealer but in the Summer I prefer to use this under around my eyes rather than a foundation. I also don't use this dark a colour normally but in Summer I go for something darker to reflect the season.

2. Collection 2000 colour match foundation in Ivory
This Summer I've been using two foundations. This first one has a sheen that makes my face look moisturised without being greasy and is quite a light formula. This is also perfect for if I catch any colour because it adapts to whatever colour my skin is.

3. Avon Eyebrow pencil in dark brown

Shamefully I've only been pencilling my eyebrows in for the past 6 months or so and now I'd be lost without them. My face looks so much more 'finished' with this on. I use a dark brown because I like my brows to stand out. There's a blonde option but it just washes me out completely.

4. Avon Colour Trend mascara

Although this is from an old line this mascara is perfect. It's subtle but has enough oomph to make my lashes stand out without feeling like they're going to melt in the heat.

5. Natural Collection Blusher in dusky pink

I very rarely wear blusher in the Summer but when I do I go for this pink that comes out very light and again is subtle which I think is key for a daytime Summer look. 

6. Rose Otto Lip Salve

I got this free in a magazine near the beginning of Summer and initially I hated it but I got used to the scent/taste and can say it's a gloss that isn't sticky or shiny and my hair doesn't get stuck in it at all which is good when you're walking along and a gust of wind gets you.

7. Maybelline Falsies mascara

This is one of my favourite mascaras of all time. It makes my lashes look great and long and adds extra volume. There's not much left of this so I use this as a 'top up' to my Colour Trend mascara.

8. Avon SuperShock Eyeliner in Black

I'm a big fan of eyeliner and find this one of the easiest to put on compared to eyeliner pencils or liquid eyeliners. It's easy to distribute and isn't too bold a colour (it comes out as a light glitter-black rather than strong) which is good for a more natural take.

9. MUA Matte Foundation in Soft Sand
I've spent most of my Summer at work or out when it's quite hot and I hate the feeling of a sticky foundation some times which is where this foundation is perfect as it keeps my skin dry and stops me looking too greasy/shiny. 

10. Natural Collection pressed powder in Cool

This is my saviour! One swipe of this around my cheeks/nose and I'm good for the day without having to worry about looking shiny. My ultimate make-up fave!

11. Maybelline Eye Studio Mono in Gold Sands

I love a bronze/gold eyeshadow under eyeliner and I think it completes a look by making eyes pop without being too much.

10 day 'you' challenge - FOUR

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

7 wants

1. happiness. this is most important for me and all i've ever wanted from life. happiness is all i could really ask for. if i was rich but wasn't happy i wouldn't like that which is where i think happiness is the most important thing to 'want'.

2. money. i think this is one of the top 'wants' for people. unfortunately, as shallow as it may seem, money really does make the world go round. sadly there's not enough of it! but it would really help me in my current situation as i'm sure it would most.

3. a successful future. goes without saying that a successful and secure future that i really enjoy would be an ideal.

4. a family. as an only child i've decided that i want the full family and pet thing. i'm talking 5 kids, 10 dogs, 20 cats, 5 rabbits and a tortoise. okay, maybe not quite that dramatic but you catch my drift. i want to have a massive kitchen table and people flowing in and out.

5. a holiday/travel. i miss getting away for a bit and i miss being able to travel - even if it's just down to brighton or somewhere likewise.

6. tattoos. i've got at least 8 tattoos that i've planned in my head but i have so many things stopping me - largely regret/finances. i'm hoping i'll get all the ones i want soon/eventually.

7. to be able to drive. this is a big one. i could've been driving for 4 years now but i didn't take lessons at 17 because i didn't have the money to get a provisional let alone to afford lessons. i could imagine if i had a car now i'd love it though and that's a big want for me that i'd like that independence. 

10 day 'you' challenge - THREE

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

8 fears

1. butterflies. a lot of people don't understand my irrational fear but i went to a butterfly 'farm' when i was about 12 and i started shaking and sweating and crying because of the amount of fear i felt from it. i cannot stand them. i can't think of anything worse. they creep me out and make my skin crawl just thinking about them.

2. spiders. yet another thing that has me crying and shaking and screaming. i can't be in a room if i know a spider is in there and will spend forever on edge until i know it's no longer there. i know  people are a million times bigger than they are but i don't care. they scare me a silly amount.

3. fire. i've always had a fear of fire and it hasn't been helped by chemistry lessons and being asked to work a bunsen burner. safe to say i got away with not touching it for the best part of 5 years. the thought of anything to do with fire and explosions doesn't bare thinking about.

4. scary movies. i don't like horror films. i sit through them with my hands over my eyes and talking through it and getting really angry at the main character. i don't like the tension and the on-edge-ness. it makes me feel sick and i usually cannot sleep properly for days after.

5. being sick. yet again, a fear i've had from a young age. i got food poisoning when i was 5 and on holiday and couldn't stop being sick/puking blood. grim i know. from that age the thought of being sick has always scared me. not good for a hangover!

6. holes. this is yet another irrational fear but when you see like a toad with holes in its back or big pot holes my skin quite literally crawls and feels disgusting and i want to itch my skin and get the thought out of my head. it's so, so, so horrible. i believe stronger forms (such as holes in cheese) are called trypophobia. don't google it because i did. it was not good.

7. not being able to support myself. i don't ever want to have a lack of money or have financial support for myself and the thought of having to live off of some sort of jobseekers or parential money scares me. i want to be able to stand on my own. of course, this isn't 'slating' those that do in any way.

8. growing up. i want to be peter pan!

10 day 'you' challenge - TWO

10 day you challenge

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

9 loves

1. mcfly. i've loved them from the moment i saw them 9 years ago when they supported busted on tour. i straight away knew that i'd love them and i still do now. they're my favourite band/artist of all time and i've seen them bordering on 20 times now (perhaps more)! their music is not only beautiful (both music and lyrics wise) but they're 4 of the loveliest people i've had the pleasure of meeting and listening to.

2. my cats. i have two gorgeous kittens called ollie and alfie who are 5 months old but look about 5 years old, they've grown so quickly! they're ragdolls and the cutest things & ollie plays fetch with me. sort of. 

3. my family and friends. it goes without saying really!

4. writing. since i could write i've always been making up stories and writing articles and letters and notes and i have a massive passion for it and hope one day to finish a novel. i love how i can go into my own 'world' when i'm writing.

5. theatre. this has been one of my passions since i started doing drama from the age of about 4. even now, though i no longer am involved in acting, going to the theatre always moves me in some way and at the end of each performance i see i always get goosebumps. i don't think this will ever change.

6. bad weather. bit of a weird one but anyone who knows me knows that i hate summer and hot weather and anything generally considered 'nice'. i love rain and snow and wind and being all cosy in a hoodie and hat and i think it's a million times nicer than the sun.

7. transport. i know a lot of people hate public transport and prefer to walk or take a car but i really enjoy buses and trains (given they're not too crowded). i'm a people watcher so i love guessing where people are going and seeing their journey and i like going from one place to another. i think if i had money/a passport i'd be travelling a lot.

8. being organised. now, the state my room is sometimes left in you'd be shocked that i love this - however having there's not much nicer than having a neat and tidy folder or file and a freshly made bed. making plans and organising routines etc is one of my favourite things.

9. laughing. i don't mean a little "LOL", i mean a full on, can't talk, can't breathe, tears rolling down your face, belly aching laugh. it's my favourite thing. ever.

10 day 'you' challenge - ONE

10 day you challenge

I've seen this floating around a lot of blogs lately and have never really created that many 'personal' posts so I thought I'd just do this 10 day challenge which might provide more of an insight. I got this from jayde who has such a beautiful blog - it's one of my favourites and i've followed her on tumblr for several years now. it's lovely to see how everything's going with her and her blog is definitely one to watch.

#10 secrets // #09 loves // #08 fears // #07 wants // #06 places // #05 foods // #04 books // #03 films // #02 songs // #01 picture of yourself.

10 secrets
These aren't secrets but more 'facts' - I have no secrets in general nor do I wish to share any I may have!

1. i have to eat my food in a certain order. it's really weird but i've done it since i was little. i have to eat things in a specific order and can't mix them together. so if i have a roast dinner i eat my vegetables then yorkshires then meat in a particular order. it even stretches to things like a kfc burger - i eat the top bun, then the bottom and then the chicken. 

2. i hate warm weather. i hate it. it makes me cringe and i actually avoid going out if it's a really hot day. i much prefer the cold and am ten times happier in the winter when it's cold and snowy.

3. i'm a saver. i save everything: from receipts to old school books and cards. i also save money. it's good in terms of the future and having saved an amount of money but it means i physically feel a little ill at spending money. i worry about it for ages and have to justify any purchases or anything i've spent money on to the point where i can relax. 

4. i love reading and writing. i have done since i could read and write and there are constant streams of paper around my house with ideas and loads of attempted novels on memory sticks, emails and hard drives. 

5. i have no idea what i want to do. i've flicked through ideas from teaching, scriptwriting, filming, nursing, counselling and even careers advising (oh the irony!) and i'm still not entirely sure. i don't think i'll ever know what my 'true calling' is but i think as long as it's something i enjoy then i'll be happy.

6. i love drama & theatre shows. i used to go to drama clubs from the age of 4 and continued it up until the age of 16 when i stopped abruptly. i was planning on going to a drama school but then changed my mind and i haven't done it since. however, it's still a massive passion of mine and i try to see as many theatre performances as i can.

7. i break everything. i can be so, so clumsy at times. i walk into bollards and walls and have no general balance or spatial awareness. i'm also ridiculously bad at video games that involve any sort of movement. it's probably a good job i don't drive!

8. i go off on one when i get angry and rant and rave and people think it's funny. i express things with my arms and moan and can generally be a little sarcastic. i love a good moan and i think it's a good way to relieve stress/anger.

9. i have to have things on certain numbers. the volume of things always has to end in 0, 2, 5 or 8. it's my own rule. it has to be on a certain number.

10. i worry about absolute everything. i'm trying to change that though, a little bit of stress is good but not the amount i worry!

Battle Scars (please read)

From March of this year I started work on my Final Major Project and it's finally here. Please, please check it out, I'd be so grateful...

Battle Scars

A coming-of-age romantic drama following Gabrielle who creates videos for her boyfriend, William, whilst he is away fighting at war. However, all is not what it seems as the plot unravels further and Gabrielle has to face her fears. Can love conquer every battle or is everyone left with Battle Scars?

Hair care!

If there's one thing I'm really happy with I have to say it's my hair! I used to have my hair shaved at the back in 2009 and began growing it in early 2011. It's grown rather quickly - I'm really proud - and I don't actually do much to it itself. I had my hair cut recently and it's left my hair in beautiful condition: both colour and cut. Check out my pictures and tips below on how I keep my hair in good condition:

sorry for the overload of pictures! the colour is 'ruby red' by schwarzkopf but it was put over the top of cyber purple several weeks ago.

Top tips:

• Have it cut regularly
  By regularly it's recommended 6 - 8 weeks although if your hair is in okay condition and you're growing it then I've left mine for 12 - 16 weeks at times however I'd say anything around 10 weeks is suitable to stop split ends.
  
• Use a good conditioner/hair masque
  Treating your hair is very important. It's laziness not to really and there's no excuse. We all have to wash our hair. Well we don't have to - but in terms of hygiene and feeling good it's recommended! Once a week I use a leave-in conditioner. I recommend the Naked ranges or TresEmme but pretty much any will do. It keeps my hair strong and in good condition.
  
• Put down the straighteners!
  I rarely use straighteners unless it's a special occasion or I've come back from the hairdressers. I do blow dry my hair although not all the way through. I encourage this lack of heat on the hair as not only does it leave my hair looking drier but it's damaging. If you are going to use straighteners regularly I highly recommend a heat protecting spray. It's the same as going out in the sun - your hair will get burnt and damage will be caused if you apply heat on a regular basis.
  
• Don't wash every day
  I am a sinner of this guide. I wash my hair 4 - 8 times a week so in a way I'm being hypocritical but it's recommended to give your hair a break so that natural oils can build up and replenish your hair. I personally find my hair is fine with the amount I wash it currently and have a mild 'OCD' about my hair looking greasy but dry shampoo is the perfect alternative.
  
• Try not to go too light
  If you want to dye your hair lighter than the colour you have currently you will have to strip it of colour which usually involves using bleach. The problem with this is that it dries out hair a ridiculous amount and can make it prone to breakage and damage. I've dyed my hair blonde twice and both times it has come out horrendously. If you go lighter please, please make sure it's done by a hair professional to avoid any mistakes which may cause even further damage. I usually dye my hair dark shades of brown, purple or red. None of which put particular stress on my hair and actually leave it really shiny and in good condition afterwards.

Have you got anymore tips you could recommend?

IMPORTANT: BATTLE SCARS

As you may, or may not, know I've been working in my final few months of college on a Final Major Project. I have created a 15 minute film and I've finally finished. I'd really, really, really appreciate you watching the trailer (below) and letting me know your opinion so far. It would mean an awful lot. Then if you could perhaps pass it on.

Thanks so much, hope you're well! x

March & April 2012

Wow! Sorry for the major delay on the round-ups of my month so I'll be doing a little backspin. I finally managed to get my mobile uploads - yay. Hope you're well.

So March/April were the months of:

massive wine glasses, first time playing the lottery, first kebab, friend dates, the best combination: mini eggs and chocolate milk, lots and lots of new clothes, pink wine glasses and pink nails, my new fave yoghurt mm, bringing lunchables back, pub times and £1.25 vodka lemonades, melted minstrels, filming, portsmouth letters, more filming, gemma the cat, fake lashes, amazon packages, books, the l word, matt cardle, mcfly, steps, drinking far too much whilst singing call me maybe and starships and almost getting thrown out of clubs, finding an extreme amount of love for will.i.am, finding names for my kittens that i'm eagerly anticipating the arrival of, shamalama bracelets, many pub lunches and spending far, far, far too much money.

This next month will be one of my last at college so preparations for my FMP, student finance and redoing work = busy, busy, busy!

Mother's Day

Please excuse the horrifically out of focus quality of this post's pictures. My camera was playing up!

My mum & I have never really bothered too much for mother's day. Her birthday's just a few weeks after so she'd prefer me to put more effort in with that.
I just ended up buying her a little tea towel and a relevant keyring with mum's taxi on! It's only a little something but it's relevant and I know she'll like it. There's no point spending lots of money, she knows I appreciate her anyway.
Ta-da!

I'm moving to Portsmouth!

Yep, that's right. I'm off down South in September to the town of Portsmouth where I'll be living for at least 3 years at uni. I've been waiting for my offers to come in and I've put it as my firm with Hertfordshire as my insurance. I'm so excited to start packing and begin my new adventure! Hope everyone's okay, I've got some posts coming up shortly. Have a lovely rest of the week.