Rambling on about books, baking and beauty…
This box opens like a book, tied with a ribbon, which is rather neat. Collaborating with Freddy My Love & Claudie Pierlot this box isn’t the most packed ever but it does feel super French.
Soft leather embossed envelope purse from Claudie Pierlot.
Erborian Ginseng Shot Mask
My Little Beauty Audacious Volume Mascara Mademoiselle
Yves Rocher Perfume
My Little World magazine
Last week we went to the cinema intending to use our free ticket voucher from Sainsbury’s to see Miss Peregrine. According to both the website and the interactive noticeboard at the cinema there were seats but the dead eyed staffer said it was sold out. Normally we would have just said sod it and gone to Nandos. But the voucher was due to expire so we went to see The Magnificent Seven instead.
I grew up with a father who loved sci fi and cowboy films. I remember watching the original version with Yul Brynner (who will forever be the King of Siam to me, however inaccurate that film was) and indeed watching the Seven Samurai aka the original of the original.
So I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this, but Chris Pratt was in it and I find him amusing and for six seconds the very pretty Matt Bomer was as well.
I have a whole theory about Chris Pratt and his mission to recreate Toy Story by himself – he’s played Andy (Parks & Rec), a spaceman (Guardians of the Galaxy), run with dinosaurs, because unless you’re Andy Serkis you can’t be a dinosaur (Jurassic World) and now a cowboy. Next up Bo Peep, a slinky dog or a pig (remake of Babe maybe).
Anyway. Onto the title of this post. There may be spoilers ahead so read on only if you don’t care.
The plot centres around a small frontier town in California during the Gold Rush, where a wealthy and ruthless man plans to drive the locals out to dig more mines. Matt Bomer dies in a shootout and the church is burned down.
Matt’s widow (Haley Bennett) decides to find someone to help her town and sets off with human puppy dog in tow.
She finds Denzel Washington, a bound sheriff doing his duty, interestingly dressed all in black, counter to most cowboy films where the heroes wear white hats (something much referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
He recruits gambling sharpshooter Faraday (Pratt) and sets out gathering a posse.
There are seven men, one woman and the aforementioned human puppy. No one assaults her, no one even intimates rape. Not even the Mexican or Native American. (Trump would dislike that).
After a rather explosive shootout with the bad guys – most of the seven and many of the townsfolk are dead. The villain gets his comeuppance and is shot by the heroine.
The three heroes who ride out of town are a black man, a Mexican and a Native American – hardly Trump’s fan base. The four buried in town include the son of Irish immigrants (Faraday), a Chinese man (himself an immigrant), a crazy mountain man who spouts the Bible – in a good way, and a Cajun from New Orleans who again would be descended from immigrants.
They stood up and defended strangers against a wicked man only concerned with his own wealth and power.
I think Hollywood just allied itself even more firmly with Hilary Clinton. The true hero is a woman who united people, who found the best people for the job, regardless of their background or ethnicity.
While Clinton is far from perfect (she is human) I think she’d probably enjoy the film a damn sight more than Trump. I just really hope the Americans can see that Trump is not President material.
This box contains:
Oskia Renaissance Mask – passion fruit, grape, lemon, Papaya and grapefruit extracts to exfoliate and decongest skin.
Mio Liquid Yoga – a bath soak infused with Epsom salts, lavender, arnica and mandarin to ease achey muscles and relax.
Polaar The Genuine Lapland Cream – a lipbalm free from parabens, fragrance and colour. Contains polar berries, blackberries and lingonberries.
Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel – a blend of Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C and Indian Figurine to protect against free radicals.
Laura Geller Pout Perfection Waterproof Lip Liner – creamy lip liner with jojoba oil and Vitamin E to condition. Shade; Cabernet (pinky mauve).
Alterna Caviar Moisture Intense Treatment- pre-shampoo treatment to rehydrate frazzled hair with Caviar extract.
As winter starts to loom more ominously and the temperature drops skin needs more moisture and protection from the elements. This box has some good bits in it to offer some support to skin and hair during the upcoming cold snap.
If you haven’t read the prequel, Six of Crows, go do so and come back.
Has Kez Brekker gone too far this time? After being double crossed at the end of Six of Crows he and his gang are after revenge.
An elaborate scheme to get what they’re owed and then some, but with enemies piling up and short on resources, can Kez and Co pull it off?
This is a read it in one sitting book, rip roaring alone at some pace and peopled with the characters I loved in the first book. Nina the Grisha Heartrender and her stoic Fjerdan love Matthew, fast on the draw Jesper and clever but illiterate Wylan.
This definitely needs to be read after Six of Crows, so much of the plot depends on knowing the first book.
I don’t want to say too much or spoil the book so I’ll post this very short almost a review.
If you love fantasy and thrillers, read Six of Crows and then read Crooked Kingdom.
I got this in my last Illumicrate and for some reason put off reading it till now. I think I just wasn’t sure about it. Foolish me. This book is a right cracker.
Mia Corvere was once a pampered daughter of a wealthy and important man, now she is a creature of death and shadows.
She wants vengeance for the deaths of her family and will train in the ways of the Red Church to get there, if it doesn’t kill her.
The writing is strong and the characters are fun, from a horse called Bastard to the shadow-cat only Mia can see, they’re richly drawn and as the plot thickens and gathers tempo I found it harder and harder to put it down.
The first in a planned trilogy Nevernight is set in an alternate world, with three suns in the sky and warring gods whose squabbles are echoed by their believers.
I haven’t done an order from Love Me Beauty for a while. But I heard they had a few of the soon to be in Debenham Kat Von D products, so I thought it was time to have a look at their boutique again.
Every month you get 60 credits to use and you pick your products. Recently they’ve scaled back the options and shrunk everything down to sample size, which is a bit disappointing when everything used to be fullsize.
You can buy top up credits if you want more treats from the selection.
I picked five items which arrived in a stripy make up pouch. Gone are the boxes.
Omorovicza Budapest Copper Peel – this two part at home facial uses minerals from the healing waters of Hungary. Combining a blue copper paste and a lactic acid activator. My skin’s not too happy at the moment, between commuting on London’s Underground and the cold brewing in my head, so hopefully this will strip out some of the gunk and cheer it up.
Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Skin Toner – refreshing and cooling to tone the skin after cleansing. I haven’t been using toner recently but I read a few articles recently from beauty writers I trust and look up to saying it’s a good step to look after skin so using this tiny bottle for a bit to see the difference before committing.
Omorovicza Budapest Deep Cleansing Mask – this Hungarian brand seems to be the pick of the boutique and this clay mud mask is full of minerals to deep cleaning skin.
Kat Von D Studded Lipstick in Magick – a pinky nude tone with a hint of sparkle, this is quite a nice everyday shade. The tube is studded and looks quite fun in my collection.
Kat Von D Ink! Liner – I am so rubbish with eyeliner but this superfine pen is supposed to be one of the best on the market and easy peasy to use.
I really liked this selection and the new edit style of options in the boutique.
It will be interesting to see what the next selection is and whether they bring back full size items.
Do you subscribe to Love Me Beauty?? Thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.
This month’s box is all about trying new things as it’s a new season (autumn!)
Peeks Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in shade Quick Sand. This is a matte brown-y colour which to be quite honest is not really my thing. It would probably be good on someone with a darker skin tone but not on my ridiculously pale face.
Lash Unlimited Strip Lashes – another dud for me, I have naturally long, very pale lashes, so I’ve never bothered with falsies, but I do think they can look amazing.
Nanshy 4-in-1 Marvel Blender – this is more my speed, I’ve really got into using a sponge blender so a spare is always welcome.
Siskyn Skincare Oils Frankincense & Jasmine Night Facial Oil – this scented oil is a blend of 18 botanical oils to soothe, replenish and rejuvenate skin while you sleep. I am starting to get quite into oils – especially the new generation that neither dry you out or leave you looking like an oil slick.
Epic Blend Vegan Lip Balm in Wild Berry – petroleum and gluten free lip balm. Added to my stash already.
September’s Bookish Box has arrived and it’s all about the ladies.
LeviosA earrings from J&Co Jewellery – silver feather studs
Kimmy Scmidt magnet from Jar of Buttons “Females are strong as hell”
Pride & Prejudice tea from First Edition Tea Co – citrus and roasted mate tea
Katniss Arrow Pen & Highlighter holder from Nonies Custom Creations
Thrones of Glass watercolour bookmark from Lexy Olivia
The Bookish Box Bookworm highlighter & Matilda sticky noted
Appraising Pages Hermione t-shirt
Chapter sampler from The Call by Peader O’Guilin
Some really lovely things in this box, really impressed at how the team behind this box find so many lovely literary things every month.
This month’s Buddy Box from The Blurt Foundation has arrived and it’s a green fingered box.
I love growing things, I’m just not very good at it.
There’s a clever little grow your own kit, adding that to my windowsill garden right now, a cute pot plant pin, cactus shaped rubber, vanilla scented soap, herbal tea and postcards.
Although summer is drawing to a close my plants are still blooming so this feels a timely little treat as the evenings begin to get longer.
I honestly think I’m done with Glossybox. This month’s collaboration with Red Magazine just isn’t good enough.
Also where is my bonus MUA palette?? Last month Glossybox sent out an email saying that people had received the wrong palettes so a replacement would be included in this box. But nope.
Too Faced Better than Sex mascara. You know my feelings about mascara in beauty boxes. I am not going to repeat them.
Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat – eh. Not feeling particularly thrilled by this.
Radial Smokey Eye Pen – what is the point of filling out a beauty profile if almost every month they send another eye liner.
The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm – this may be the only thing in the box I get much use of. Even though I have 9 million lip balms.
Just completely underwhelmed.
