BOOK REVIEW: V.C. Andrews - The Dollanganger Series

These treasures were the epitome of an attic find! While moving house my mum came along hundreds of her old books that she'd stashed away when she was a twenty-something! Now my mum and my sister had tried to convince me to read the first book when I was a bit younger, but I found them a bit too dark - but when I picked them up this time, i was enthralled!

#1 Flowers in the Attic #2 Petals on the Wind #3 If There Be Thorns #4 Seeds of Yesterday #5 Garden of Shadows

This is a series that I have read, and re-read, and re-read all over again - and each time i understand different and further parts of the story that make me love it even more.  The story line in definitely not for the faint hearted.

The books may not be great literature, but it's an amazing story nonetheless. And I disagree completey with all the people who say that it would have been better with the incest taken out. I found that that was essential to the horror of FITA, and it turned the characters into flawed humans. And by the end of the book, the narrator's future looks promising and the reader is left believing that perhaps she and her brother will become better and stronger people.  As for this being a true story, as far as I know, it was never proven that it was. I read that V.C. Andrews used some real life events in her book, but she never disclosed which parts were based on truth.

Cathy is still the narrator in the next sequel, which is not as grim as its predecessor, but has ten times the amount of incest. Returning characters include Chris and Carrie, of course, and Corrine, the grandmother and Bartholomew Winslow. Cathy is still haunted by her past.
I am one of those people who tend to prefer the characters whom others hate, or simply disregard. In Julian's case, he is seen as nothing more than a wife-beater. But he is definitely more than that!
Many will say that the mystery surrounding the events, and the characters, is enough to drive you nuts! One thing is for sure, her books keep you guessing, even after the last page is turned - what more could you want?

The next two books are set up differently from other V.C.A. novels. The story is told from the points of view of Bartholomew Scott Winslow Sheffield, Julian Janus Marquet Sheffield aka Jory, and a little bit of Cathy. I'm really struggling on what to say with these novels without giving away the plot!

The last book is not just a prequel - it's the most thrilling, enticing prequel i've ever read. It answer's questions you didn't even know you had, and you're left feeling like you know more about the characters lives than any of them do!

i highly, highly, highly recommend this series to anyone that just needs to disappear - even if it's just for that half an hour before bed.  The books are so easy to pick up, put down and pick up again whenever you have a free few minutes.

If you have any recommendations for some new books please let me know :) knowledge is useless if not shared!

beccxbeauty xoxox

Herbal Essences 'Beautiful Ends' range review

When i began this blog, my aim was for it to be a place for the everyday, average beauty lover that perhaps don't have the money to purchase every item available from MAC! (am i right?) So this is a little post just to let you guys know about a cheaper, yet high quality alternative to give your hair a bit of attention and care!

The beautiful ends range isn't new or anything - just some items that i've been testing for a fair few months and that i feel are blog worthy enough to share with my lovely viewers.  I believe they have the same range in America, known as the relationship range.

I have most definitely seen a change is the condition of my hair, the ends look a lot healthier and last a lot longer between trims! I'm admittedly very lucky with my hair as it tends to grow at a fast pace, as I learned after making the horrendous mistake of having 4 inches chopped off in May - but thankfully my locks are back to their rightful length :) these products certainly aided in up-keeping my hair's maintenance!

All the products from this range are so, so affordable - which makes the whole experience, in my opinion, much more enjoyable! The Shampoo and Conditioner both retail at £1.99 for 200ml - these bottles are HUGE. I'm a 'plaster-on-the-product' kinda girl, and these beauties last me a good few weeks.  The formular is directed at mid-long hair, so a little is designed to go a long way.  Although I probably shouldn't, especially being a b.blogger, i HAVE to wash my hair every.single.day and although some say this results in hair getting dirtier quicker, they definitely keep the grease at bay.  The consistency doesn't dry out your hair, and is so different to the usual gel like feeling that usually come with the shampoo's especially.  They have a deliciously creamy texture.  Needless to say, with Raspberry and Silk extracts, they smell fabulous!

The Leave-In Cream retails at £4.99 for 150ml.  Slightly more expensive, but a little goes a long long way.  As i said, i've been using this routine for months and have only just had to repurchase a bottle.  My only constructive criticism of this product is that you really need to use it sparingly - only apply to the ends of your hair as i have over applied on many occasions and the results are dirty looking hair all day long - how attractive! but other than that, it's fabulous.  You can feel the protection and the condition of your hair improve almost immediately.  The pump on the bottle is a great asset, i've found it to help me measure exactly how much product i need to satisfy my hair (half a pump).  It finally works as a detangler, which for me is ESSENTIAL.

Finally, the split end intensive protection mask retails at £3.99 for 200ml.  It's advised to apply this mask once a week, which i take full advantage on my pamper filled sunday nights.  I apply the mask after wetting my hair, soak in the bath for half an hour, pop in the shower, rinse, shampoo and rinse again.  The mask is so replenishing and nourishing and really gives your hair that oomph it needs after facing a long week.  Again, this tub has lasted me a good while, as i've only had to repurchase this week.

So overall, for me this hair routine has worked amazingly over the last few months.  It's cheap, affordable and smells amazing.  I highly recommend!

Beccxbeauty xoxo

welcome back, bloggers!

As you may or may not have read in my last post, in the past 6 months we've had some huuuuge difficulties with the flood and moving and various things - so i took a bit of time out from blogging, but it's safe to say im back and here to stay! I've also recently bought myself a Macbook pro 13" and if anyone has any tips or tricks for this life long windows user - it would be greatly appreciated! So! as of tomorrow i'll have my next real post up for you guys, if there are any requests i'd be glad to here them!

In the mean-time, here are some ridiculously attractive photo's of me playing around with my new toy.... 

til next time :)

BeccxBeauty

Excuses!

Hey bloggers! Just a little update and reasoning for why i've disappeared! Unfortunately, late last use my home was flooded with the terrible rain we had, and so while the renovations are being made we've had to move out in to a town house... With no wifi!! It's a nightmare.

So I apologise to my followers for the lack of blogging, but I'm going to try my hardest under circumstances! :)

Miss you all!
Beccxbeauty
Xoxo

Weight Watchers - week 2!

So - my first week of weight watchers, let me tell you - it was fab :) I've tried maaaany many diets in my time, including the atkins diet (do NOT recommend, it made me dread mealtimes.), a freaky 2 week only diet that resulted in me consuming about a carton of grape fruit juice a day and so on and so on, but nothing has ever made me feel so comfortable and at ease! I got to eat pretty much whatever i wanted, had three full meals a day, with a cheeky snack when i came back from lessons! and as long as i tracked my points, everything was fine.  I felt that having to track my points through-out the day gave me something to focus on, and i could really see the diet coming together, therefore helping to keep me on track! At no point in the week was i tempted to teach or go over my daily allowance of points, and considering it's exam week - i think that's an achievement in itself!

So, as my meeting and weighing on Monday approached i began to get more nervous - not that I hadn't lost weight, but the disappointment i knew i'd feel if i hadn't when I knew i'd be soon good! But low and behold, scales time came and i'd lost a fab 3 and a half lbs! which i was very much pleased with :) 

On my high, i must admit i did impulse buy! on the counter i spotted a cracking deal that I knew would not only make my points counting easier, but would also keep me interested and therefore motivated :)

I purchased this fantastic little box, called the Deluxe Starter Kit - it contained a journal that held 12 weeks, with page long days to track your points and events, a shopping guide, to tell you the points values of everything you can think of in all your local supermarkets, no matter where you live in the UK, The propoints calculator that allows you to work out the points of something on the go without needing to log in online or look up in your pocket guide, a weight watchers pen - double ended with a Biro and highlighter, a complimentary shopping list note pad and finally an eating out guide containing the menu's of almost all the mainstream resturaunts around the UK.  Unfortunaly the stand had sold out of the eating out guides, so i'm currently awaiting mine to arrive in the post :) 

Here's to another good week! :)

what are your experiences with weightwatchers? how are you getting on?

thanks for watching beautiful's!

BeccxBeauty

xoxoxo

MUA products!

MUA, (Make Up Academy) is a fairly recent make up brand, available in Superdrug, and i think it may be available in Boots too! The first thing that attracted me to this brand was the price.. £1! with a few exceptions, the vast majority of the products available in this line retail and just £1.  The brand has quite rightely been compared to ELF (Eyes Lips Face), with the added value of being available to buy on the high street, where-as in the UK, ELF is an online store only.  

Apologies for the rubbish lighting - alot of these swatchers aren't appearing true to their colour, but whats a girl to do! 

I especially want to comment on the two trio pallet's.. the amount of pigmentation and product you get, all for £2.50 is incredible! 

The MUA proffessional eyeshadow trio, in "innocence"

The perfect combination for a lid colour, crease and highlighter.  Personally, i like to mix, match and combine these gorgeous colours with those from my other pallet... 

"Chocolate box"

Personally, this trio doesn't compliment all the different colours as well as Innocence.  I could easily use the first trio to create a look that i'd be happy with all day - but i don't feel like the chocolate box allows you to do that without incorporating some other shadows.  None the less, a gorgeous trio :)

The line also offers singular eyeshadows.  

The single eyeshadows definitely have mixed reviews with me! The second and the fourth picture, featuring shades 1 & 2 are extremely sheer.  The swatches you can see come from me digging my finger in to the shadow and applying 4 or 5 layers - so all in all, very disappointing.  Other than that, the colours are extremely matt, if that's the look your going for - i guess the white could be seen as a staple colour, but the more skin coloured tone is a powdery and really oranged toned.  

However! the two darker shadows, shades 11 & 12 have really impressed me.  They're very similar, with shade 11 having more red, burgundy tones.  Both shades shimmer beautifully, but don't glitter, which can often look too over done on the crease, and are extremely pigmented.  

My attention was then drawn to the amazing range of lipsticks! although they don't have many variations of colours, they make up for it in that they carry every staple colour a girl could need! 

Now, the lipsticks aren't the most pigmented available, but if you're anything like me, that's perfect! I love to have a bit of colour on my lips but i'm not brave enough to pull of the bold colours! 

So all in all, the brand has many positives and negatives! the biggest issue is the pigmentation,  but for the price ladies, can we really complain?!

Let me know what you all thought of the brand if you've tried it out, and whether i'm neglecting any must haves!

thanks for reading!

BeccxBeauty

xoxoxoxoxo

Weight Watchers - week 1!

So! New Year, new me and all that... or maybe not!

I've decided to sign up to weight watchers for the new year :) 

my motivation comes from my brothers wedding this August requiring me to wear a very skimpy dress, and also the booking of my girls holiday in August, wooooooooo!

So, at first impressions - i loved it! The women were so lovely and friendly, and I felt i could talk openly about any weight issue's or problems in front of them.  

My group leader, Phillipa, was so welcoming, asking what my reasons were for joining, what my motivation was and my goals.  She came across as very approachable by giving me her phone number and telling me to phone her anytime.  

I was given a blue binder to keep any leaflets or info i'm given, and also the weekly magazine, as seen above.  I'm not yet accustomed to what the whole situation is, but this week the theme of the magazine was motivation :)

This handy pocket guide provides almost all of the basic foods you could think of on a day to day basis, states the recommended weight and amount and then the propoints value of the food! 

I decided to get a monthly pass, i paid £14.99 for the first month in cash, and then would have to pay £19.99 every month onwards from a debit account.  It works out that i'm paying something like £3.45 a week, instead of the normal weekly fee £5.99! so i ended up with a really reasonable deal :) 

I was provided with so many informative booklets to get me through the week, and found it all extremely motivating!

i'm looking forward to going again on Monday!

thanks for reading, let me know you're experiences with weight watchers!

beccxbeauty

xoxoxo