Daring to be bare... faced...

Hello! I hope you're all well. The weather this week has truly thrust us right in the midst of a good ol' fashioned British Autumn, or Winter, or Spring... I mean it's rainy and cold pretty much all the time here. We've had such lovely weather in England over the past couple of months that I've sort of forgotten what it feels like to be cold. And let me tell you, England has been quick and cruel to remind us all, aha. I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone with this when I say that I refuse and will refuse to put on my heating until I see icicles forming on my furniture. I guess I should just prepare to be called 'Rudolph' for the foreseeable, eh? Also, as tempting as central heating sounds right now (as I struggle to type with frozen fingers), its not the best thing for the skin and dries it out really badly. 

...Anyway, this weeks quote is 'to not have some battle scars is to never have lived'. To me, personally, this quote symbolizes that in life we make mistakes, we make wrong turns and regret certain things that we've done, or decisions we've made. But those bad decisions, those wrong turns; they've led us to where we are now. They've shaped today as we know it and molded who we are. We owe every moment of happiness we have today to all the choices that we made yesterday and we shouldn't regret them - we should accept them and realise that they are part of our journey. So even though you may have ugly scars physically or mentally, they are part of you and you shouldn't hide them away or conceal them.

What does this have to do with makeup up, you ask? Well, steering back to the actual point here, I wanted to talk about confidence without makeup. 

I used to be the kind of person that couldn't leave the house without wearing a bit of shadow to fill in my eyebrows (due to the horrible eyebrow incident of 2009. This story may crop up in the future). But that eyebrow shadow would turn into concealer, blush, highlighter, bronzer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, powder, lipstick... before I knew it I'd have a full face of makeup on because I didn't feel like I could leave the house without it. Maybe it was because I thought that I'd sort of fooled people into thinking that I didn't have spots, or bags under my eyes and that I had naturally glowing cheeks with long fluttery lashes. Maybe it was because I didn't feel as pretty as my friends. All I know is that sitting in front of the mirror for ridiculously long periods of time, scrutinizing my appearance became ritual.

Then one day it hit me like an empty tube of mascara. I wasn't born with all this cosmetic crap on my face. Sure, I might look half dead when I don't have concealer under my eyes... but that's what I look like. That's me. That's when I started to go out with absolutely no makeup on. And, as cheesy as this sounds, I felt free. I actually felt the breeze on my bare face and got a natural rosiness on my cheeks.

There is absolutely no shame in going out in public with not a smidgen of makeup on, in fact, don't you think it's more normal to go out with your bare face rather than swiping and brushing and rubbing all sorts of lotions and potions all over your face to be deemed ok to be seen by others? It's crazy how much people rely on the 'magic' of makeup to blur away all their imperfections. But it's our imperfections that define us. Now having said that, I'm definitely not adverse to the idea of makeup to enhance features that we like and I love playing with makeup and trying out new things - but makeup should not be used to cover up every little tiny thing that we don't like about our faces. After all, everyone gets spots and has dull skin days, that's completely normal.

My tip for today is this: Let your skin breathe sometimes. Be confident about the face you've got because I reckon its beautiful! Of course, It wouldn't be a proper post about confidence without makeup if I didn't show you my bare faced mug, would it?

Me (Lily)

Ryon - Writer of Music Monday

Carly - Writer of Wind Down Wednesday

Hazel - writer of Food Friday

Ryon, Hazel and Carly also kindly volunteered to put their bare faces on this post :)

#barefacedbeauty

And there you have it. My collosol ramble about having the confidence to bare it all. Well... not quite 'all'... remember, public nudity is illegal :D.

Until next time;
Over and out,

Lily
www.lilynotlilly.com

To Not Have Some Battle Scars Is To Never Have Lived

Warrior - Paradise Fears

Hey guys it's Ryon again. Here with another song for you guys, that I am actually listening to as I type... well I would if YouTube would buffer. Now for me it is currently Sunday night... and this is a Monday post. But that's OK because... as you will have realised is that this has posted on Monday. I am trying out the schedule thing. and if I find this easier I will be doing it this way from now on. 

Anyway onto the post. 

The Quote this week is 'To not have some battle scars is to never have lived' and that is a quote from this song that I have posted. I know exactly where it is through having listened to it millions of times. It is right at the end of the song. Since knowing about the band I have been in love with them. And getting to meet Sam (the singer) was amazing. It was at a concert for The Summer Set... you know the band I put in my blog last week. These guys have been there for me for months. I have listened to them everyday with out fail for about 5 months maybe 6. Since then they have brought out new songs and most of the time I can listen to them and it makes my day a little brighter. 

With this quote. To me it means that you have to go through the shit to get the awesome. It just helps if you have someone or something to help you though that shit. For me that SOMETHING has always been music, and that SOMEONE has always been Lily. Who coincidently made me love music all that much more. Through middle school we were always coming up with new band names and ideas and never following through... but we have different dreams now... ones that we are actually pursuing so all these embarrassing memories from middle school that we have are the 'battle scars' if you will but if we didn't have them then we would 'never have lived'. 

Now we are living. Well... kind of... I mean we are both still at college and I definitely have a long way to go before I achieve my dream. 

So if you are hiding you battle scars, Physical or mental, don't... our scars are what makes us unique and tells its own little story.

So remember 'To not have some battle scars is to never have lived'.

Loves and Hugs
Ryon

Just a reminder I am doing sober October so please donate here: Bryony Smith

Fuck it all sunday

Fuck it all Sunday!!!!

(Decided to call it that because everyone hates Sunday, shops open late and close early and around here the bells start around 6:00am so yeah fuck it all!)

Well I don’t know what the hell I am meant to write about so I’ll introduce myself!

With 5 not so interesting facts 

1) I’m dyslexic, and not the intelligent one or the one which is handy with a paint brush, nope the dump shit one, but that’s who I am and I like it (plus I get a free laptop out of it and some other pretty cool gadgets so it ain’t that bad!) so expect shit spelling and grammar J

2) I like taking photos, I am shit at it but it’s something I enjoy maybe one day I shall share them with you guys but if you do wanna see some check deviant art I’m called loonyloo1

3) I am a university student and that’s why I get a free laptop and crap YAY :D I’m doing a degree in theatre and tv performance and for our Christmas show we are doing GREASE one of the most overplayed and overdone musicals in the world today but it’s going to be fun :D so please don’t expect me to post one every Sunday because of script work, log books, and sometimes call in if we need extra reahersals, and I will be going out some Saturdays so I might not even wake up till late on Sunday mornings, I bloody hate Sundays!!!! A useless day like group chat on facebook!! 

4) I have a twin sister who was ment to do this but seeing as Sunday is kinda the only day she really has off its not fair into pressuring her to do this with a stressful job it would be nice for her to have a stress free day J

5) I’m dying from the most disgusting illness you will get when you move into uni

 FRESHERS FLU!!!!!!

 So as I am writing this (which feels like my will) I am collapsed on the bed with my lovely laptop on my lap (te-he love the person who created that name oh the laughs) for you’re enjoyment J

so umm yeah enjoy the bad spelling, grammer and swearing XD its comes with not only being dyslexic but a student the swearing is a must it fits nicely with alcohol J

Good night my ginger ninjas and I’ll write soonies 

Lorna 

I was so busy watching 'The perks of being a wallflower' with my housemate that I forgot the time, it's an okay film, if a little bleak and meaningful for my tastes.

Having recently moved into university accommodation with strangers and no plates (bowls, cups, pans, we could be here all day) I have learnt many things, some of which I may share with you now.

1. Not everyone microwaves their cereal, more interesting is the fact that some people do.
2. The phrase "ménage à trois" is not in as common usage as I thought (and your housemates do not appreciate it when you tell them we could have two sets in the house).
3. The housing is grim and you won't care as much if you chip paint off the wall with glue dots.
4. (Related to 3) Nothing will ever be as funny as making a cling film screen on the front door for your housemates to walk into late at night.
5. Nicki Minaj is truly the strongest test of your worth I.e. How many times can we watch "Anaconda" before madness grips (it's more than you'd think)


But personally I think the best tip would be to never move anywhere where the hills have a gradient of 25%, which for those of you wondering is just a little bit less less steep than a forward slash (///).

So I will be broadcasting my ’spontaneous’ outburst every Saturday from here on out, probably until the end of time, and hopefully I can do enough things in my life to keep up with this rigorous shedule.

- Zoë (don't judge me that I sign off like and old lady)

Food Friday Introduction

Hello World,

Hazel here, So I'm here to give health tip and simple recipes for all of you try. 

Now I'd just like to warn you guys that I am Vegan, so most of my recipes will be too, but they will all be Vegetarian. 

And I want to apologies in advance to anyone who thinks I'm 'preaching' on here by just doing vegan/veggie recipes, but its just my opinions and views and I'm sorry if I offend anyone. 

Every recipes I give you I will have tried myself before hand, so I can give you my personal twist to them, and anything that I think will work well or not. 

So today's blog is just an introduction, and I will start with the recipes next week, but I will give you a very, very easy meal (Which I made myself tonight).

All it is is Salad, Potatoes and veggie Sausages,

Now I prefer Linda McCartney Veggie sausages but the ones here are Fry's family (which are just as good). So the ingredients are:

-Veggie Sausages
-Potatoes (New, If possible)
-Lettuce
-Spring Onions
-Tomatoes
-Cucumber
-Celery
-Spinach
-Vegetable/Sunflower Oil
-Mayo (Egg free)

So basically, Put the potatoes on to boil, and while the potatoes are boiling, chop up the Lettuce and spinach and place into a salad bowl, cut up the tomatoes, cucumber, and celery and mix them into the bowl, adding the thinly sliced spring onion. Now you can dress this salad however you want, but I like to add some balsamic and olive oil (with some salt) and then mix everything together.

The potatoes should take about 20mins, so 5(ish)minutes into putting them on, place you sausages into a pan and cook them for 15mins.

When the potatoes have cooked, drain the water and allow to cool for a few minutes. Once cooled, scoop in some of the egg free mayo and mix. 

Place everything onto a plate and enjoy.

Now this is a very simple (boring) recipe really but its so tasty and easy I feel like I have to share it as I don't see why everyone can't do this, and it's such a health meal, I don't see why everyone shouldn't do this.

I hope you liked this post, the recipes should get better, and I hope to do some seasonal stuff as well which I'm excited about.

I don't how I'm going to finish my blog each week, maybe you guys could help, but for now... Bye!

Love

Hazel

xx

Please go check out my other blog - http://readmystoriesandrants.blogspot.co.uk/

Tough Love Thursdays- An Introduction

     Good evening homies, the names Rebekah and I'm going to be you're weekly dose of tough love.

     As this is my first time blogging I hope you'll bare with me, I tend to rant, vent and go off topic often, but ya know.... all's a learning experience and I can't wait to see how this blog will grow and flourish into something fan-fucking-tastic.

     My idea for Thursdays was to be some sort of self help thingy.... I dunno, I'd talk about something (with lots of cussing so be warned young residents of the inter-web) that's happened or affected me, we can all learn from my experience and make ourselves better people, because the worlds full of assholes, so don't be one of them. Hopefully I'll cover everything from dealing with mental health issues, be it yours or someones around you, to loving and nourishing yourself. And yes I know...... some of these subjects need to be handled with care and patience, and we'll learn how to together, but I won't be dealing out the help like that, sorry bitches, I'm here to help but I'm not a fucking saint, hence the tough love.

     So let us begin, Good Seasons Start With Good Beginnings.
   
     October...... ahhhh the season to be spooky, but, it's also the time of year where thousands of people start new lives,  new school year begins, uni starts, new jobs (at least they do here on the Isle of Tea). So as a student who's just left the nest (though not in the usual way, we'll probably go more into that in anyone actually reads these O_O god forbid I'm interesting) let me tell you the basic of the basics, look after yourself fuckers, mentally and physically, because unfortunately you can't rely on the people round you to. So if you won't, who will?

     Students, hear my call. Find your student support, it will come in many different forms, like in school it could be you're favorite teachers or a counselor, but do it! Just knowing where it is will be a major help if you're ever in trouble in the future, knowing that you have someone just to talk to who isn't friends or family, who's unbiased, is amazing.

     Make the right friends, my munchkins, surround yourself with people who will benefit you and from you, don't let anyone drag you down from doing whats good for you. You need to immerse yourself in you, make sure you put yourself first in all your decisions and if anyone, anyone, tells you you're being selfish and self absorbent for putting your well being before someone else, fucking drop 'em, life is short and stressful as it is, don't make it harder by letting toxic dickbags into it. Live it for you, and make the best of it. And, trying not to be patronizing, eat well, keep hydrated, ya know, all the things that keep the human bean up and running, because if you don't, so help me I will internet boot you the next week.

     Well that's all I can think of right now, I hope this helps at least one person in the big scary world of in-between child and adultness, and anyone else who needs it.

So until next week, Bye Bye Bitches.
   

Wind Down Wednesday

Hello good people that actually read our blog, it is Ryon here. 

It would normally be Carly doing this day. But something happened so I stepped in as I was the one she told. Hopefully she will be back next week and introduce her day properly and what it is all about.

I believe this is the day is mid week wind down to just to make the stresses of the first half of the week more bearable. But that would only be a small guess as to what the wonderful Carly has in store for you lovely people.  

OK so I'm more to starting the week with a bit of music and basing a post around that, so at the end of this post I will find a song that relaxes me. 

So sorry guys that I don't have much more to say but I haven't got the slightest clue what Carly has in mind. I guess it will be a surprise for all of us.

My relaxing song: Who You Are - Paradise Fears

OK so tomorrow is a new day and a new girl... so here's to Thursday (And a day off college for me and another on here)

See you Monday, 
Lots of Love... Ryon xxx

(Oh Sober October has started so if you guys would like to donate here is the link... it is for MacMillan cancer support... let's beat Cancer together :P Sober October Profile)