The Best Of 2012 Tag!

Hey, Happy New Year's Eve!!!
So, as 2012 quickly draws to a close, I find myself thinking about the last year. I have already done a post on 'The Top 5 Things 2012 Has Taught Me'. I was thinking about the things and products I have loved over the last year. I was going to do a post called 'The Top 12 Things Of 2012' but then I realised there are a lot more than 12 things I have loved in the year 2012. I was trying to decided what I wanted to do when I stumbled over a video on YouTube that 'Macbarbie07' did this year called the 'Best Of 2012 TAG!'. She had done one for 2011 and decided to bring it back for 2012. This is the perfect tag to do for the end of a year because you pick one thing you have loved for each 'category'.
So, with of further ado, lets get crack-a-lacking with this tag!

The Best Of 2012 Tag...

BEAUTY:

 1. Face - 17 Skin Perfecting Shine Free Foundation

 2.Cheek - NYC Cheek Glow Powder Blush in 655 Central Park Pink

 3.Eyes - Urban Decay Naked Palette 

 4.Lips - Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in 080 Strawberry Shortcake

 5.Skincare - The Beauty Parlour T-Zone Oil Control Mattyfying Moisturiser

 6.Nails - China Glaze Nail Polish in 625 For Audrey 

 7.Hair - John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray 

 8.Body Product/Perfume - Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice Perfume

FASHION:

9.Clothing Pieces - Over Sized Cardigans and Peter Pan Collars 

 10.Accessory - Silver Crystal Stud Earrings 

 11.Pair Of Shoes - Converse Chuck Taylor All Star True Love Graffiti High Top White Canvas Shoes

RANDOMS:

 12.TV Shows - Pretty Little Liars and Miranda 

 13.Movies - Hunger Games, 21 Jump Street and Pitch Perfect 

 14.Book - Hush Hush By Becca Fitzpatrick

 15.Foods - Jaffa Cakes and Red Peppers 

 16.Drink - Water (Sounds silly I know but I like 'discovered' water in 2012 and started to love drinking it)

 17.Song - I Knew You Were Trouble By Taylor Swift (I love pretty much every song on Taylor Swifts 

                 'Red' album but 'I Knew You Were Trouble' is probably my favourite)

So, there you have it, the things that I thought were the best of 2012. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did like this post please take a moment to follow this blog. I hope you all have a fantastic New Year and that 2013 is full of good, positive things for you. I will speak to you all soon.

-Jess<3

Mini Haul #3!

Hey! Today I am doing a mini haul. I have not been able to get my hands on a camera today, so I am just taking pictures of the products from the internet, I hope you don't mind. Today I went shopping with my friend with the intention of only buying 2 things: baby wipes and a face moisturiser. I came away with 6 things and did not even get a moisturiser. Typical me.

Shops and Products:

-B&M's:

Johnson's Gentle Cleansing Baby Wipes-£1.00

-Home Bargains: 

Clean & Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash-£1.99

Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion-£1.99

-Savers:

Max Factor Powder Brush-£1.99

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment Gel-£1.99

Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer 

for Normal & Combination Skin-£3.69

So that was everything I picked up in town today. I have wanted to try the spot treatment and primer for a while now so I am glad I picked them up. I hope you liked this 'new' way of doing haul posts. If you enjoyed this post, please remember to follow this blog. I will speak to you soon.

-Jess<3

The Top 5 Things 2012 Has Taught Me!

Hey! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are going to have a fab New Year. Just 1 quick note before we start, I am not going to do a 'What I Got For Christmas' post this year. I mentioned in one of my post's that I was thinking about doing it but I have decided not to this year as my blog is still getting up and running. But I do have some things to haul that I got with some Christmas money I received this year. It is also my birthday January so I might do a 'What I Got For My Birthday' post and a birthday haul, we will just have to wait and see nearer the time.
Anyway, as 2012 is drawing to a close, I thought I would reflect on the past year and see if 2012 has taught me anything. I reflected for a while and have come up with a list of 'The Top 5 Things 2012 Has Taught Me':

1.'Nothing Last's Forever' - 2012 has seen the end of a lot of things in my life. This year I got to pick my
                                           GCSE options. Because of this, 2012 has seen the end of subjects I don't
                                           like. Also, this year, I lost some people that have been a big part of my life for
                                           the majority of my life. Both of these things, as well as lots of other things that
                                           have happened to me and my life in 2012, have 1 big thing in common. Non of
                                           them have lasted forever. This year, one of the biggest things I have learnt is
                                           nothing ever lasts forever. It does not matter if you loved or hated the thing that
                                           has ended, everything ends and that's okay. That's life.

2.'You Have To Believe In Yourself' - This one is mostly to do with school and grades. I got grades this year
                                                           that I did not think I could get. I have always felt like I was a
                                                           bit 'dumb' compared to some of my friends and things. But this
                                                           year I have realised that I can do just as well as everyone else, I
                                                           just have to believe in myself a bit more.

3.'Nobody's Perfect' - I am the type of person who wants everything to be perfect. Weather its that way I
                                   look or the way I set out plates for tea at home, I strive for it to be perfect, no matter
                                   what. This year has taught me that nobody or nothing is ever perfect. It has taught me
                                   that I should not dwell imperfections but, that instead, I should embrace them.

4.'Looks Aren't Everything' - I have always been very conscious of the way I look. I am someone who
                                             compares the way I look to the way other people look. This year I have
                                             started to see that looks are not everything. I am starting to see that its about
                                             you as a person, the way you treat people and the vibes you give off to the
                                             world around you.

5.'Not Everyone's Going To Like You' - This year I have worked out that not everyone is going to like me.
                                                               All my life, I have been someone who has always wanted to
                                                               make everyone like me. I have realised that not everyone is going
                                                               to like me. People are naturally different and not everyone gets
                                                               along with everyone else. This year I have finally realised this
                                                               and I have stopped trying to make everyone like me.

So there they are. Those are the things 2012 has taught me. If you did like this post please take a moment to follow this blog. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it and I will speak to you soon.
-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012:Day 24-Christmas Eve Traditions!

Hey, happy Christmas eve everyone!
On Christmas eve, my family have 1 'tradition' that we do every year. We bake. We spend most of the day baking all sorts. Jam tarts, mince pies, sausage rolls-you name it we probably bake it on Christmas eve. I enjoy this tradition even though, in my opinion, it is kind of pointless.
On the weeks running up to Christmas, we stock up on treats. Things like nuts, posh crisps and expensive drinks (you know things that trough out the year we never normally buy). Even though we have stocked up wees in advance, and we are not allowed to touch them until Christmas eve, we still bake mountains of treats on Christmas eve. The treats we make don't go with our Christmas dinner and we never eat them on Christmas but, every year, we make them no matter what.

Today I want to know if your family have any Christmas eve traditions. Even if you see your tradition as pointless, I would still love to hear about it. And, for anyone who wanted to know, yes I have finally wrapped my Christmas presents. Actually, this year they have come out pretty well. In my opinion, they look pretty darn good.

I hope you have a very merry Christmas.

-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 22-Christmas Prep!

Hey, long time no speak I know, I am sorry.
I have failed at doing Christmas prep. I have wrapped non of my present for other people. Its 3 days till Christmas and I have done nothing. I will tell you the truth here, I am putting it off. I HATE wrapping. Is not just that I extremely dislike wrapping, its that I am also really bad at wrapping. It always ends up looking messy and rubbish.

I could use gift bags but my family always tell me to wrap things up, even though I suck at it.

Any tips for bag gift wrappers?

-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 14- The World Is Horrible Sometimes!

Hey!
So, you have probably already heard about all the primary school children and teachers who died in the Connecticut shooting today. It breaks my heart to think that someone could shoot innocent, defenseless children like that. My thoughts obviously go out to all their family's. R.I.P.
Sometimes the world sucks. Sometimes being a human sucks. The fact that I am even the same species as murderers and things makes me feel sick. The fact that I am the same species as someone who could just walk into a primary school and kill innocent children and teachers makes me sick.
Today in PR (philosophy, ethics and religion), we were talking about how life is precious. Its sad to think that all those children who died today won't even get to grow up and experience life. That fact makes me extremely sad.
The more I think about death, the more I think about how we should make the most of the lives we have. Sometimes life gets tough. I am 14 and, trust me, I have had my fair share of tough, horrible times. Illness and death have affected me but I have kept smiling. You have got to keep smiling.

Keep your chin up, your head high and a smile on your face no matter what life throws at you. Life is to far short, that is something I am just starting to realise. R.I.P to everyone who died in that terrible shooting today.

-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 12- The 'What Would You Do' Tag!

Hey! I know I missed days again... but I did say I could not promise I would post everyday.
Today I am doing the 'What Would You Do' tag. Basically its a tag that gives you different things and asks you what you would do in them. So, lets get crack-a-lacking.

1.What Would You Do If You Were A Man For A Day? I would probably go to some big sporting event
    somewhere (I know women can do that) because I would like to see what it is like from a male point of
    view, see what the big deal is about football and things. Yeah, I think that is probably what I would do.
2.What Would You Do If You Were 5 Years Old For A Day? I would go to a fairground somewhere and
   go on all those little kid rides. Things like the spinning tea cups, caterpillar ride and car rides. If I went on
   those now, unless I was with my younger brother, I would get weird looks and probably would not be
   allowed on most of the rides.
3.What Would You Do If You Only Had One Day Left To Live? I would go shopping and sight seeing in
   the snow in New York City and then go skydiving on a lovely summers night in Paris. I know it probably
   can't be snowing and cold in New York and lovely and hot in Paris on the same day but that is what I
   would want to do. It would have to be snowing and Christmas time in New York because I think its one of
   the most beautiful city's in the world when its all Christmassy and covered in snow. I would also want it to
   be snowing so I could get over my fear of snow/ice. I would want to go skydiving so I could get over my
   fear of heights and it would have to be in Paris because I think its beautiful on a warm, summer nights. I
   would also want the Eiffel Tower to be covered in beautiful white lights and, after skydiving, to have my
   final dinner on the Eiffel Tower surrounded by family members, friends and loved ones. Then I would want
   a dance party on the Eiffel Tower because I love to dance and think that would be really fun.
4.What Would You Do If You Could Go Back In Time- Where Would You Go? I would go back to like
    the late 1990's and I would want to go to a US high school. I would want to go around the time that
    films/books like 'The Perks Of Being A Wall Flower' and '10 Things I Hate About You' were wrote. I
   would pick to go there because I would love to experience an 90's American high school for myself. Either
   that or I would go to 1978 and try and be in the film/musical 'Grease'.
5.What Would You Do If You Could Spend A Day As Any Celebrity? I think I would spend the day as
   Ellen DeGeneres. I think she is so amazingly inspirational and I love her show. I think it is so kind and
   amazing how she helps people in need all the time. I would want to spend a day giving people things and
   spreading kindness and happiness. I also think she is so funny and would love to crack jokes all the time
   and make people smile.
6.What Would You Do If You Could Be An Animal For A Day? I would probably be a bluebird. The first
   reason is obviously because of the flying thing. I would love to experience proper flying even if it is just for
   one day. I also think bluebirds are extremely beautiful and very peaceful.
7.What Would You Do If You Could Only Eat One Type Of Food For The Rest Of Your Life? I would
    probably only eat pepper. I love peppers and I think if I had to pick I would pick them. They are good
    for you and there are lots of different types of peppers. So, yeah, I would probably pick pepper.
8.What Would You Do If You Could Have Any Super Power? I think I would want to be able to read
    peoples minds. Even though I think that could be a really bad power because you would constantly know
    everything about everyone and if someone hated you or whatever and said hurtful things about you, you
    would always know everything. But I think it could be a really useful power in certain situations. And also,
    sometimes, I think it would be really interesting to know what people are thinking.
9.What Would You Do If You Could Meet Anyone Dead Or Alive? This is a hard question for me. I would
    love to meet my Nan and Grandad, who both sadly passed away before I got to meet them. I would also
    love to meet Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. I think they were both beautiful, inspiring, amazing
    women and I would love to meet both of them. So I don't know who I would pick to meet if I could only
    meet one person.
10.What Would You Do If You Could Live Absolutely Anywhere? I would live the USA but I just don't
      know where in the USA. Probably some seaside place as I am from a seaside town myself. But where in
      the USA, I don't know.

If you liked this post please remember to follow this blog. I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time, stay beautiful-inside and out.
-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 9- Are Fairy Tales Real?

Hey! Yes, I know, I missed 4 days of BlogMas. What can I say? I am sorry.
Recently, I have been getting back into reading. I used to love to read. I was a girl brought up of fairy tales, happy ever afters, princesses, hero's, love story's and, most of all, magic. I still believe in 'True Loves Kiss' and 'A Prince Sweeping Me Off My Feet'. Anyway, like I was saying, I used to read loads. It all changed 2 years ago. I got my first laptop and the world of the internet took over my life. Reading became something I did when I went to family gatherings and I did not want to talk to anyone or when I was on holiday and my parents had banned laptops and the internet. I am a quick reader. I don't skip pages and I read from cover to cover but I am just quick at it.
This summer, on holiday, I read the first 2 books in a series.The series is called the 'Hush, Hush' series. It is gonna be the next big thing, trust me. Now that 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter' are over, 'Hush, Hush' is gonna take its place. Its about angels. Fallen angels. I know, it sounds a bit weird and rubbish. But its good, I promise.
The series is by Becca Fitzpatrick. There are 4 books all together. The 1st book is 'Hush, Hush', the 2nd is 'Crescendo', the 3rd is 'Silence' and the 4th is 'Finale'. I have the first 3. The 4th book, 'Finale', has only just come out. I read 'Hush, Hush' and 'Crescendo' on holiday in the summer. I read them both in 4 days and I fell in love with the story line. I don't want to give anything away because I think you should all read them so I won't spoil the story line. 'Hush, Hush' is, by far, my favourite out of all of the books. I know I should not say that because I have not read all of them, but I can not see any of them being better than that one. I always seem to like the first book in any series the best. I guess its because the characters are new. Your getting to know them in the first book, working out if you like the story line or not, working out if you like the characters or not. In the first book, 'Patch' (the main male character, the love interest of the main female character, 'Nora'), seems to say all these things that make my heart melt a little. He is mysterious, interesting, exiting and, by the description of him, seriously hot. I have a bit of a thing for 'bad boys', I won't lie, and he is a 'bad boy'. Yes, I know he is a fictional character but a girl can dream, right?
Anyway, after I read the first to on holiday, I was gonna come home and read the 3rd book but I guess I just never got round to it. On Wednesday (5th of December 2012), I had a sudden urge to read 'Hush, Hush' and 'Crescendo' again. I read 'Hush, Hush' from Wednesday to yesterday (Saturday the 8th of December 2012) and I fell back in love with 'Patch' and the story line. I started 'Crescendo' at around 7pm yesterday night and I finished it this morning. I read 3/4 of it last night and was up till 2 A.M this morning reading it. I finished the last 1/4 of it in about 1 hour and a half this morning and now I am on to book 3, 'Silence'. I have read the 'Prologue' but I am scared to read any further. By the sounds of it, this book is gonna test the relationship 'Nora' and 'Patch' again. The 2nd book tested in and now this books gonna test it as well. Even though I know it will all end fine I don't want to have to read the sad bit (if there is a sad bit/sad bits).
 At the start of this post, I told you how I was brought up on fairy tales and 'Happy Ever Afters'. Has the fact that I was brought up on that made it harder for me to deal with the things that don't end well, even if its just in a fictional book? Has it made me believe that life is easy and that someone is just going to turn up and 'Sweep Me Off My Feet'? Has it made me just assume everyone gets a 'Happy Ever After'? Has it made me assume I get a 'Happy Ever After'? I guess what I am trying to ask is: How much, if any, of fiction/fairy tales is real? How much of it is a accurate representation of real life? Is any of it an accurate representation of real life?
By believing in fairy tales and 'Happy Ever Afters', am I believing in something that was never true to begin with? Am I clinging on to a childhood dream that will never come true? Am I waiting for someone that is never gonna turn up?
-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 5- My Phone Has Water Damage... I Want To Cry!

Hey, so I know I missed out 2 days of BlogMas and I am sorry. I was really busy and, like I said in my first BlogMas post, I can't say that I will post every single day but I will give it my best shot.
Nothing much has happened over the last 3 days. My mum and little brother left for their trip to Lapland and I miss them loads but they are back tomorrow so I am looking forward to seeing them. Apart from that I have just been doing homework and relaxing. Until tonight.
I was in the bathroom, you know just doing my business, and I turned round to go and wash my hands and my phone fell out of my pocket. Guess where it landed? In the toilet. There was obviously nothing in the toilet or anything and I got it out the right away but that was not enough to save it. I dried it out but it would not work. There is water inside the screen and the back of the phone. My brother told me to wrap it in a towel and put it on the radiator. This is meant to make the water evaporate and its meant to make it work again. At the moment it is on the radiator but I am not sure that is going to save it. I nearly cried when it happened. That makes me sound like a really sad, pathetic person, I know, but I use my phone for so much and now its no longer alive. R.I.P. phone...
Nothing else has happened and I am not doing much tonight. I have some YouTube video's I want to watch and then I will probably head to bed. There was one thing I wanted to share with you all though.
I am not a big fan of covers of songs but I have found one I love to bits. No seriously, I love this cover more than the original song. Its a cover of the song 'Stronger' by Kelly Clarkson. The cover is sung by a girl named Carrie and I think its worth a listen. I will link the song here: Stronger cover by Carrie Fletcher.
So, I think that is all I have to say today. If you liked this post please take a moment to follow this blog. I hoped you enjoyed this post and I will speak to you soon.
-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 2-Cleaning And Christmas Decorations!

Hey, so today is day 2 of BlogMas and today I have done loads but its not been interesting at all. I spent like 6/7 hours (I wish I was joking) cleaning and re-arranging my room. It looks loads better than it did and I am really pleased with it but, like an idiot, I forgot to take before and after pictures because I was rushing to get it all done. We also put up Christmas decorations today and I got some silver tinsel to put in my bedroom. Some people have trees and all sorts to go in their bedrooms but I have never really bought anything like that for my room. Every year I just pick some tinsel to go in my room, last year it was pink and this year its silver. Apart from that I have done nothing. I am in school all day tomorrow and then I am going to a 'Aqua Fit Fitness Class'  tomorrow night. As for the rest of tonight (its 8:13pm at the moment) I am going to have a nice, hot shower, do the last little bit of homework I have left to do and then either watch a movie or Youtube videos or something.At the moment I have Lightweight by Demi Lovato on. I was never really a big fan of her music until recently but at the moment I really love her music, particularly this song. Its such a beautiful song and the way its been recorded makes it even more amazing. I think that is all I have to write about today. In BlogMas, some posts will be longer and more interesting than others. Sometimes I have done nothing in the day or don't really have much to talk about and other days I have done loads and have loads to talk about. Today I have not really done much and don't have much to talk about. I hope you enjoyed this more relaxed, talkative post. If you enjoyed this post please remember to follow this blog. Talk to you soon.
-Jess<3

BlogMas 2012: Day 1-'Jess's Top 10 Things To Do In December 2012'!

Hey, so as it is December now I thought I would attempt to do BlogMas. If you don't know what BlogMas is, BlogMas is where you blog everyday till Christmas. I am not saying I will be blogging everyday till Christmas but I will try my best to blog everyday.
So today and tomorrow (1st and 2nd of December) I am not really doing much. Today I am going to see some family and tomorrow I am sorting my room out and moving things around in my room. I think we are also putting Christmas decorations up tomorrow so that will be fun. As I am not really doing much today I thought I would just share my 'Top 10 Things To Do In December'. I thought I might start doing these at the start of every month and then at the end of the month review everything I did that was on the list. I thought it would be a cute and fun little thing to do. So lets get crack-a-lacking with my list for December.

Jess's Top 10 Thing To Do In December 2012:

1. Snuggle up for a day, watch Christmas movies and eat sweet treats.

2. Dance around your house/room with Christmas music blaring.

3. Go late night Christmas shopping.

4. Bake Christmas treats.

5. Go to a Santa's grotto even if your to old to sit on Santa's lap.

6. Go on a tour of all the Christmas lights in your local area.

7. Try at least 1 Christmas drink from Starbucks/Costa.

8. Use your favourite bath products and take a nice, long, hot bubble bath.

9. Countdown to Christmas.

10. Make plans for New Years Eve, even if its just you and your best friend watching movies and eating 

      junk.

So. there you have it, my 'Top 10 Things To Do In December' as my first BlogMas post of 2012. If you enjoyed this post please follow this blog. I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it and I will talk to you all next time.

-Jess<3