My Body Shop Body Butter Collection

I have a slight obsession with The Body Shop Body Butters and if I allowed myself I would probably buy nearly every scent they sell. 

I have been collecting body butters for a few years now and I have only ever bought one myself. All the rest have been gifts for either my Birthday or Christmas. 

The first body butter I was given as a gift from my cousin was Strawberry and oh my gosh it is the best smell in the whole world. I put it on my hands just so every time I move my hands I can smell it. If you ever liked strawberry sweets as a child you will love this scent. 

I was then given a small size peach body butter for a Christmas present which also smells exactly like what it says it does on the pack. It is a perfect scent for the summer months and has a lovely creamy consistency compared to the more buttery consistency of the normal body butters. I use this one sparingly because there is not much left but I still love it.

I have had this small hemp body butter for quite a long time. It came in a gift box with a hand cream, foot cream and lip balm stick and I haven't used up the whole of any of these. I'm not sure on the smell of these products and the butter isn't that great at blending into the skin although it works just as well as the other products.

On black friday of 2013 I went shopping with my mum for Christmas presents and I decided to have a sniff of the Gingerbread body butter. Such a bad idea because I instantly wanted it. Luckily my mum saw it was in the sale and said she would get it for me for Christmas. I then had the grueling wait for Christmas to come round.

When you smell it on your skin it's like you have been standing in a gingerbread factory all day. I absolutely love it and hope it comes out again next Christmas because if I run out of it I this I'm going to cry.

My latest edition to the collection was an impulse sale buy this January. I really enjoy the smell and taste of almond and though this was a great idea to put it in a body butter. Smelling it from the pot it reminds me of Play-Doh which in my books is not a good thing. Then after a while on my skin it smelt slightly like babies which was very weird. After a whole day I felt it smelt like almonds. Now I don't know whether it was just my sense of smell but it was very strange. I like it but it might not be to other's taste.

If you are going for a Body Butter make sure you test it out at the start of a shopping trip and see how it smells on your skin by the end.
I would highly recommend any body butter as they all work really well to moisturise skin and the scent stays on all day. Just make sure you buy a scent you like.

Betsie

Batiste Cherry Dry Shampoo - Review

I have never been a big believer in dry shampoo since I bought a 150ml bottle of a Percy & Reed Dry Shampoo which ran out in one use and didn't really do much for my hair. Besides it was overly expensive at £12!

Ever since I've been going with baby powder in my hair. It works miracles making your hair look clean again however you are left with the classic baby powder smell which isn't the best and it takes some time trying to blend the powder in.

I decided to try dry shampoo again, this time go with a brand that has very good reviews and I am more than impressed. I put it on my hair and instantly had a new best friend.
I bought the Cherry bottle just out of the pure fact that I am a sucker for anything that smells of cherries. The smell of it is absolutely lovely and compliments the smell of the shampoo I use. My hair feels so soft and clean, it's pretty incredible.

Anyone who has had bad experiences with dry shampoo in the past should definitely give this a try, I have been converted. 

Betsie

I Enjoy Being a Girl!

For the 22 years of my life I feel like I have built up a big collections of things girls have to go through in every day life. So I have wrote a list of 22 things that I have come across in my lifetime;

1. Buying the perfect lip colour which matches your hair and skin tone and smiling in the mirror only to notice that the colour makes your teeth look hideously yellow.

2. Putting on foundation which is completely the wrong colour, not realising and walking around looking like an orange all day only to notice the mistake when you catch yourself in the mirror whilst out.

3. Using a concealer for those 'morning after' under eye circles only to put a tonne on and find it isn't concealing anything.

4. Rubbing in hand cream and needing a wee straight after so have to go, thus washing off the hand cream in the sink after.

5. Having a cold and to make yourself look better putting on a bit of makeup. Ten minutes later and you find this exercise was completely pointless as all of your makeup is now on the tissues in the bin.

6. Of course when you paint your nails you are really pleased with how they have come out only to look at them the next day and see a huge chip.

7. Wanting perfectly white teeth but at the same time craving a cup of tea.

8. Thinking, 'I will straighten my hair tonight so I don't have to do it tomorrow morning,' and waking up with the biggest kink in your hair only to redo the straightening process.

9. Realising you haven't plucked your eyebrows in a long time.

10. Then plucking your eyebrows a little too much. We've all done it.

11. Putting on a black bra then deciding you want to wear a white top. Cue the awkward bra change.

12. Wearing a white top with a white bra underneath then realising the bras shows through therefore having to change the white bra for a nude coloured one.

13. Realising your underwear is showing through your leggings.

14. Having a massive underwear line when wearing tight trousers or a bodycon dress.

15. Looking at yourself in a shops changing room mirror and hating how the lighting makes you look.

16. Whilst in the changing room worrying that mid change (when in your underwear) someone is going to peek in to check it's not a free room.

17. Trying a dress on for a night out and wishing you had a pair of heels with you to see if it would look any good.

18. Having dry lips and no lip balm in your bag so constantly licking your lips all day only to make them worse.

19. Being out all day only to be asked to go to the pub for a few drinks and realising how much makeup has slid off your face. Then the frantic search for makeup items in your bag begins to try and make yourself look semi decent.

20. Wearing a skirt on a windy day and having to hold it down when walking outside.

21. Taking nail varnish off, staring at your yellow stained nails, making a promise to yourself you will give them a rest from nail varnish, realising you are going out the next night and painting your nails again.

22. Getting into bed and snuggling down only to realise you haven't taken your makeup off.


Although all these things on the list seem like complaints, I quite enjoy all of them. It makes life interesting.

I hope you enjoyed the read and if you are a girl you can relate to some of these things so I don't feel like I am completely insane. If you are a guy, you might have learnt something about girls today.

Feel free to share any things which you have encountered through the years, I'd love to hear them.

Betsie

Highlights of 2013

I though it would be a nice idea to summarise on the past year and share with you my favorite parts and some exciting things that happened. I always forget what happened in the past year and I think documenting it will help me look back and think, that was a really good year! It's a bit of luck I have a diary to look through!

I started off 2013 by going to see Matilda the Musical in London's West End. This was the second time I had seen it and from a completely different angle. First time round I was in the back of the stalls and had a great view, this time I was up in to top circle right near the front. It gave the whole musical a different perspective and seeing as I have to wear glasses for long distance I found it difficult to see so didn't enjoy it as much. I do still love the musical and I am going to see it again this February.

Now this is not so much a highlight but a memorable moment.
I work at a dance studio on a farm so there is lots of farming equipment round and big muddy potholes. Mid January I managed to drive my car into a digger bucket which was covering the potholes that had just been covered in. You may be thinking, well that was a stupid thing to do, surely I would have seen it. It was pitch black and I was going round the corner like I usually take it and I didn't manage to catch it out the corner of my eye so went straight into a nice big bit of metal. Not the best idea. I had to put my car in to be repaired for a week and it made me appreciate having a car so much more.

I went to a few gigs to see the boyfriend play in his band and therefore also seeing other unsigned bands which is always nice. I like to hear songs that aren't on the radio every day and see what other talent there is out there. Besides, all the popular artists and bands get a bit monotonous after a while.
I also the band play their last gig before having an extended break which was very sad to see because I know how much they love playing together.

At the end of June I used my 21st birthday theatre vouchers to go and see Derren Brown. If you ever have a chance to see him live, it is well worth it as he is amazing. I came out the theatre absolutely gobsmacked at his talent. Just incredible!

Most of the rest of the year was made up of working which was a highlight in itself as we was working towards a show in the end of July. All the theatre rehearsals and sleepless nights worrying costumes wouldn't turn up paid off and all the kids had a whale of a time. I don't think a bad word came out over the show week, everyone was just so excited. At the same time I'm glad we have a year off, we need the time to recover.

A lot of my friends turned 21 this year so I had quite a few birthday parties and get togethers to go to which was fun. I enjoyed celebrating with them.

I completely forgot until I looked in my diary that in the middle of August I went to the Harry Potter Studios which I will  say, being a big Harry Potter fan, was so cool. All the work that went behind the films and the amount of intricate details is astounding to see. Parts of the tour are quite funny, looking at how many different Crookshanks' the cats there were and what they all did. Other parts are just mesmerising, like the last room (you know what I mean when you've been).

In the middle of September I went to America for the first time and did a California road trip. It was so much fun visiting different places every day and I will have to say although Vegas was great to go to, I did enjoy San Francisco the most as it was such a lovely place and a lot like home.

Last but by no means least, my most exciting bit of news this year. 
My cousin is getting married and asked me to be her maid of honour!
Most people will think that, ah it's just a cousin, but she is like a sister I never had. We always went shopping together and got on so well.
A couple of years ago she moved to Australia and so I don't get to see her as much as I would like to but through the magic of the internet, we still keep in touch and update each other.
When I heard the news I was probably just as excited as she was and wanted to get plans going straight away. She needs lots of help as is planning on having the wedding in the UK but is still living in Australia.


I think 2014 is going to be a good year! I have a lot planned and will also be helping organise my cousins wedding.
I hope everyone has a happy new year!

Betsie

Blushers...

I am a big fan of blusher as it really compliments my skin tone and evens out my natural colouring.

I own three blushers which I really like and use constantly, so I thought I would share them.

I am a natural ginger and it's really hard to find makeup that complements not only my hair but my skin as well. I find that peachy pinks look lovely on me.

Right to Left: Rimmel, Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush, Rimmel, Soft Cream Blush, Sleek, Blush.

I will start with my favorite every day blusher which is Rimmel, Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Pink Rose 020. As you can tell by the battered package in the photo, I use it a lot!
It is a powder blush and is a really pretty pink peach with a touch of shimmer. The colour perfectly matches my natural flush so I don't have to worry about being precise with it, just brush it along my cheek bones and I am done. 

My second daily blusher is another Rimmel product (yes, I am a big fan of Rimmel makeup). This time it is the Soft Cream Blush in Cocoa Kiss 006. I was given this as a raffle prize a long time ago and never thought I would wear it as it is on the more brownish pink side. Recently I have been using it and I really like the colour. I have never really been a wearer of cream blushers but I thought I would delve into the world and I actually enjoy wearing it. I am not entirely sure if Rimmel still make this product but if they do I will highly recommend it. 

Lastly is a new addition to my collection and I save this one for nights out and special occasions. It is the Sleek Blush in Rose Gold 926. I went on recommendations of beauty bloggers and though I would give it a go as it is a pretty coral pink colour with a gold shimmer to it and thought it would go nicely with my skin colour. I have to use this sparingly as I am sure if you have seen any other reviews on Sleek blusher, you will know it is very pigmented. You only need the tiniest bit on your brush and it will give you a wash of colour. I can sometimes go a bit overboard accidentally but blending it in with a foundation brush works to tone it down. 

If you have any good recommendations for blushers I am happy to experiment with them. Also let me know if you also like these blushers.

Betsie

Being a Dance Teacher.

Most people I speak to are really surprised when I tell them my occupation.
'You're a dance teacher? I would never have thought that. What style of dance do you teach?'
To which I always come back with, ' mainly ballet but I also teach other styles like tap, theatre craft and modern jazz.
I enjoy talking about my job and could talk about it for hours, so I will tell you a bit about it.

Teaching dance is all for the love of it. You can not be a dance teacher and want to be rich or have lots of money to buy a house or a car of your dreams, it's not going to happen. What will happen is, you will have money to keep you afloat and you have to find other ways and places to teach to get more money to survive on. It also helps when you have a boyfriend or husband who has a full time job, but I don't have that so no luck there.
The reason I stay with this job is because every day I teach a class of girls who are just as passionate about dance as I am, and that reminds me why I kept going year in and year out. It was a for the escape from whatever was happening in the real world. I could come to dancing for a few hours and forget all about it. Of course most styles of dance you either experience pain whilst dancing or the day after but I enjoyed the regular muscle ache, it meant I had worked hard. I enjoy giving the girls I teach the experience I had at dancing and hopefully when they get to my age they will look back at it as one of their favorite things to do as a child.

Teaching dance does come with a downside. Some people are all enthusiastic and think it's great that I am working in a job I really enjoy. Others are not so enthusiastic.
The question which is really a bug bare to me is, 'so do you have another job to go along side it?'
No I do not, I barely have time to find another job, let alone do it, and if I did have time my lessons would be rubbish for numerous reasons.
The trouble with being a dance teacher is, people hear about how many hours you teach a week and what times your lessons are and wonder, well what does she do all day? Sit around at home watching television? Wrong! The life of a full time dance teacher has a lot more to it than that.

I teach nineteen hours a week, which to most people working nineteen hours a week seems a breeze. The other bits that go along side the actual teaching is what adds up the hours.
I am currently studying to take my Intermediate Ballet exam before I take my Associate Ballet exam which makes me a full qualified ballet teacher. (Yes, I am only qualified in teaching freestyle but the ballet exam takes a lot more time than a small freestyle exam will.) However, this takes up a lot of hours a week.
Along with the principle of the school, I also have to make up all the ballet dances for each grade, as well as the modern jazz dances and learn everything I have to teach the pupils of the school so I don't stand there looking like I don't know what I'm talking about. Surprisingly not everything is there for us to just go in and teach. And that's only in exam year.
In show year it is a lot busier. We have to choreograph the whole show, not only doing one dance for each song, we make different groups do different dances in each song. Plus there's usually a story which we have to fit together. We look at costumes, props, set designs and have to do all the admin which goes along side it.
Ok so some days I have to find bits to do to keep myself from sitting around doing nothing all day, but I work well into the evening of most weekdays teaching.

Sometimes I get tired of the question, 'what do you do all day?' and really go off on one on all of the things I have to organise and choreograph. Soon after I have finished they understand how much work goes in to it.

I have recently been asked to teach cheerleading at a local primary school which is great except for the fact I have never taught cheerleading. The closest I have been to it, is helping teach cheerleading once at the dance school. Now, I wouldn't mind if the primary school teacher who had spoken to me had said, no problem you can do another style of dance if you like. But what she really said was, 'you will be fine, the girls are lovely and they won't cause you any problems.' Hello, I've just told you I have never taught the style you are asking for and you have brushed it off as if it's nothing. How on earth do you know that I'm not going to walk in and produce something horrific? Oh right, that's because you think all styles of dance are the same and so easy to teach. I can tell you now, that's complete lies.
However I am still going in there because it's more money in my day which I can add to. I will just have to research into it and try my best to give the lesson I would want to be given.

I hope this has given you an insight into my work life and probably the work life of most full time dance teachers.

If you plan on becoming a dance teacher yourself it will be the most rewarding job you will have but don't expect to get rich from it.

If you come across and dance teacher, before you brush them off for having an easy job which anyone could do, take a minute to think how many hours at work you do and how many of those hours you get paid for. Then think about my ten hour day of which I only get paid for doing four hours. Ask yourself, do you love your job enough to be able to sacrifice that much for it? Instead of berating them for not having a 'proper job', enthuse about the job they have. They will love you for it.

Betsie

Thank you for reading.

Vaseline Healthy Hand + Strong Nails hand cream

It has come to that time of year again where the weather has become so cold that you dread the thought of getting out of your cosy bed and put off stepping outside the warmth of your house.
The change in weather means there has to be a change in the way you take care of your skin. Gone are the days of moisturising your legs so they look semi decent in a pair of shorts. On go the woolly tights, thick jumpers and clothes which cover every inch of your body. All except your hands and face which we need to use constantly.

My hands especially are worn and torn during the winter time. I have dry skin in between my fingers, my hands feel rough and sometimes touching fabrics makes me turn into Spiderman where my skin just clings to the fibers. It's horrible I know.

One product I have been using a lot lately is my Vaseline Healthy Hand + Stronger Nails hand cream. In the past I have had Vaseline hand cream and find they really do work as well as their lip products.
The formula is quite creamy and has a soft soapy smell to it. Within minutes of rubbing it in to my hands it is totally absorbed and I can go around my day doing whatever it is I need to be doing.
One of my pet hates is hand cream which you have to wait for ages to soak in to the skin and even then you feel if you touch something you will leave the remainders of the hand cream on it.
I thought Vaseline would be one of those hand creams as I know the lip products stay glossy for a long time. It is the total opposite.

I would highly recommend this product and think it is worth a try if you are like me and struggle to keep your hands looking healthy in the winter.
Also the pink bottle makes it quite a nice stocking filler for Christmas.

Betsie