Rambling on about books, baking and beauty…
ramblingmads.com is taking a short break to enjoy the festive season and spend some time with the tbr mountain. I’ll be back after Christmas with more books, and hopefully some other things too. If you want to see what I’m reading, I’ll be posting on Instagram every now and then and on Twitter if you want to say hi!
Whether or not you’re celebrating, I wish you a peaceful and joyous time.
Hi lovely blog readers, just a little note to let you know that we’re having some technical issues at ramblingmads.com at the moment. Posts may look a bit odd over the next few days and may appear to be missing bits but never fear we are on the case and should get everything look shipshape very soon so thank you for bearing with us. You’re all superb.
Hello faithful readers,
You may have noticed it’s been a little quiet round here, due to some technical glitches and some life upheaval I haven’t been able to post all the lovely things I’ve been waiting to share with you, but they are coming soon, so don’t go anywhere.
Come say hi on Twitter or Instagram, even drop me an email at ramblingmadsblog@gmail.com
Check back on the blog soon as we’re making some behind the scenes changes you’ll hopefully love and there will be exciting new content very soon.
I saw this on Naomi’s blog a while ago and lost it in my drafts. I love a tag post – it’s a great way to tell your readers a bit more about yourself.
1. How Tall Are You?
5ft 8in – so just above average for a woman
2. Do You Have A Hidden Talent? If So, What?
I can pick things up with my toes – like pencils or paintbrushes when I was a kid, it’s useful if I drop something.
3. What’s Your Biggest Blog-Related Pet Peeve?
The snide bitchiness that goes on and the accusations of stealing people’s ideas – it’s not always plagiarism. Sometimes it’s genuinely being inspired by a post. Maybe just say “this post was inspired by ….” or something.
4. What’s Your Biggest Non-Blog Related Pet Peeve?
People who walk really slowly in the middle of the pavement so you can’t walk around them. Living in London this is a daily nightmare.
5. What’s Your Favourite Song?
It changes depending on my mood, but Nina Simone singing “I think it’s gonna rain today” is always on the list.
6. What’s Your Favourite Social Media Website?
I do love the twitters (HT Marian Keyes)
7. What’s Your Favourite Way To Spend Your Free Time When You’re Alone?
Reading and eating popcorn, or taking a much needed nap. I do love a nap.
8. What’s Your Favourite Junk Food?
Probably salted popcorn with Galaxy counters or chocolate buttons chucked in there so you get the salty and the chocolatey – oh so good.
9. Do You Have A Pet Or Pets? If So, What Kind And What Are Their Names?
Currently we have four rats, all girls, Izzie who is a pink eyed white and about 2, then 3 little cheeky ratscallions – Rosie Posie, Dumbo (Little D) and Ninja who are sisters and about 8 weeks old, they’re hooded, dumbo rex rats, so they have different markings, really soft fur, big round ears and curly whiskers.
10. What’s Your Favourite Fiction And Non-Fiction Books?
This could be a really long list – I have so many top reads, but I will go with These Is My Words by Nancy Turner as I love this book so much, and recommend Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis (from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) as my favourite non-fiction biographical book as it is so compelling a read I literally read it in one sitting. Otherwise Prisoners of Geography is one of the most interesting non-fiction books I’ve ever read.
11. What’s Your Favourite Beauty Product Or Tool?
I really do like a good blending sponge and my Spectrum Collection brushes are pretty excellent. Product wise I am a big fan of Soap & Glory’s primer and Make Up Revolution’s setting spray, both mean that my make up looks good and stays put.
12. When Were You Last Embarrassed? What Happened?
I trod on the back of my friend’s boot the other day, she was really nice about it but I need to watch where I put my clown feet.
13. If You Could Only Drink One Beverage (Besides Water) For The Rest Of Your Life, What Would It Be?
Diet Coke – my one vice apart from buying takeaways instead of cooking too often…
14. What’s Your Favourite Movie?
Much like the book question this contains multitudes – Empire Records, The Princess Bride, My Neighbour Totoro, Rent, Disney’s Hercules, the list goes on…
15. What Was Your Favourite Lesson In School And Why?
Drama because Mr Jones was a fab teacher, and I thought I wanted to act. I now know I’d be better off as a Stage Manager, and that one day I will write a play.
16. If You Could Live Anywhere In The World, Where Would You Live?
There’s an island in the Venetian lagoon that hardly anyone lives on – that would suit my hermit nature down to a tee.
17. PC Or Mac?
I like the look of Macbooks but I lack the resources to own one. Mostly I use my dying laptop.
18. Last Romantic Gesture From A Crush, Date, Boy/Girlfriend, Spouse? (Or Kind Gesture From A Friend)
My fiancé, bless him, isn’t the romantic sort really, but he bought me some biscuits while I was stuck at home sick in a bid to cheer me up.
19. Favourite Celebrity?
Not really into celebrity as such – there’s some pretty cool writers out there I’ve met and Sarah Millican seems like she’s pretty awesome.
20. What Blogger Do You Secretly Want To Be Best Friends With?
George from Fuller Figure Fuller Bust – who is incredibly lovely (we got our first rats from her) and just seems to be someone who’s really fun to hang out with.
21. Who Is Your Biggest Inspiration?
My Grandad – left school at 13 to start working, was in the RAF, lost his father at 19, first wife died at 22, moved to London shortly after, met my Nan, married her, adopted her children (my mum and aunt), raised his family, worked like crazy, ran his own company, retired and sold it, got bored so went and got another job, has travelled all over the place, and now takes care of Nanny who is very poorly, despite being 86 with 2 new knees, 2 pacemakers and hearing aids. He’s pretty cool and we swap thrillers.
22. What Is Your Favourite Blog To Read?
Vix Meldrew is hilarious and insightful. I also loved Tara from Cattitude & Co but she’s taking a break from blogging right now.
23. What Is Your Favourite High Street Shop?
Waterstones or Superdrug probably – books and skincare are pretty much all I buy these days.
24. Are You In Education Or Do You Work?
I work for a charity, but even when I was a student (oh I miss those days) I worked as well so it feels like I’ve been working forever.
You may have noticed if you’re a regular reader that my blog’s focus has shifted slightly. There’s been a lot going on in my personal life and with my health that has taken my energy and focus.
I haven’t been working so I haven’t been wearing much make up – although my skin care game is still strong, so I haven’t been writing about that. I also haven’t been subscribing to many beauty boxes as I need to actually use up my stash and save some money.
However I’m hoping to share my skincare regime, faves and problem products as well as perhaps my great love of glitter soon. So stay tuned.
If there’s anything you’d like to see here – recipes, rats, books etc just let me know. And if you’re a PR, writer or brand and want to work together, I’m friendly, promise.
Don’t forget you can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin or drop me an email.
The lovely Karen of Confetti and Curls shared this tag post and I thought ‘why not’. Feel free to join in on your blog too.
GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?
Cheapest – my MUA blusher in Cupcake – it’s only a squid!
Most expensive – my current Lush moisturiser – over thirty quid but it is gorgeous.
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WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
Eye liner – it never looks even, just utterly awful.
I have pale, fussy skin and getting the right foundation is hard, too many are orange or too dark. I found a perfect one, it’s no longer produced.
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GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?
Lush Cupcake facemask or Bubblegum lip scrub.
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SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?
Toner – I can’t work out if it’s still a thing or if I need it.
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PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
A good highlighter that makes me look all glowy and healthy.
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LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?
Relevance to make up? Anyway, humour, a good smile and excellent personal hygiene.
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ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?
One of those slightly too pricey Urban Decay palettes – I won’t buy them for myself.
As David Bowie and Freddie Mercury sang changes are heading to ramblingmads. I’ll still be posting beauty box reviews and other bits and bobs but I wanted to change some of the things about the blog and write more broadly on things I care about and am passionate about that might be more serious in tone.
I will mix it up with book and product reviews, recipes and handy hints but there will be more activism, feminism, rats and potentially grumpy rants.
Hope you all stick around for the changes and as always, join in the conversation in the comments. I love hearing what you think. I’ll also be on Twitter and Instagram as always, so come say hi. 🙂
Thanks,
Mads.
ramblingmads
It’s been a bit quiet round here, I’ve been a wee bit busy.
I started a new job last week, which so far, so good. But it’s meant I’ve been a bit knackered and not had the energy to write much. Once I get my routine sorted, that will change, promise!
Working a three day week, then it’s Christmas, so that’ll hopefully give me some blogging time, before I head back to the office in the New Year.
However, I am a bit more active on Instagram and Twitter, so feel free to find me there and say hello, I’m @ramblingmads on both.
Keep an eye out for the posts I am busily drafting and polishing.
ramblingmads
The lovely Laura of Style Breakdown posted this tag post on her blog. As I am a famous procrastinator I thought I’d answer the questions as she suggested. If you like it, please do the same.
1. Name the beauty regiment that you rarely do.
I am always planning to apply a face mask to deep clean my face and rarely do because I am lazy.
2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you rarely do?
Yes, although Sal and Tifa would probably tell me off. I put off doing this all the time.
3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?
Depends how annoying it is, I have been known to pick at the chips and make it worse, needing to repair the damage sooner.
4. How long will you put off buying/repurchasing a beauty product, even if you need it?
Not long, I tend to have a spare waiting in the wings, but if something really run out then it’s off to Boots I go.
5. What is your worst beauty habit?
I pick and poke any lumps or spots threatening to appear. I know I should leave my face alone but I can’t.
6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?
Taking out the recycling, only when it’s overflowing do I run out to the bins. Just sheer laziness.
7. When going out somewhere do you put off getting ready to the last minute?
Not really, I get anxious about being on time so often rush to get ready but I invariably forget something and have to rush around at the last moment.
8. Can you commit to a spending ban?
As long as nothing essential runs out, sure, but essentials must be repurchased.
9. How organised are your beauty/nail polish collections?
Not as organised as my brain in its analytical obsessiveness would like, but I’m working on getting it so.
I hope some of you lovely people take this tag up and have some fun with it. Thanks for reading.
ramblingmads
ramblingmads 