The Weekly Round #11: feeling ill & re-reading Me Before You

The Weekly Round #11: feeling ill & re-reading Me Before You

Sunday, 21 February 2016

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Sorry for the radio silence for the past week folks. I've been stuck in bed since Tuesday with the flu. I'm feeling a bit better but not quite 100% yet. I'm still coughing a lot but I'm getting there. I haven't done much this week because I've been so poorly, all I've done really is curl up in a ball, moan pathetically, drink way more lemsip than advisable and surf youtube. That's literally been my week.

I did get the chance to read Me Before You, which is something I've wanted to do for a while. I first read it a few years back and I absolutely loved it but after the release of the film trailer, which looks amazing by the way, watch it here, and the release of the second book, After You, I thought it was about time I re-read it. And it was even better than I remembered. I cried for like 2 hours after finishing it because it is so heartbreakingly sad. If you haven't read it you definitely need to change that, but for those of you who don't know Me Before You is about Louisa Clark, who after losing her job in a cafe, takes a job as a companion for the quadriplegic Will Traynor. Before his accident Will was a thrill seeker and a daredevil but is now confined to his wheelchair with only the limited use of his hand and a plan to end it all. Neither of them are aware of the profound impact they're going to have on each other.

It raises a lot of really important questions about a person's right to die and highlights the difference between what is legally right and what is morally right. On top of that it is a fabulously written, beautiful, funny, heartbreaking and bitter sweet story about love. Sorry I'll put my English Literature nerd back in her box now and just tell you that it's amazing and definitely worth a read before the film comes out in June. But make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.

What have you been up to this week? Have you read Me Before You? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

2 Stars & A Wish #12

2 Stars & A Wish #12

Thursday, 30 October 2014

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In the last couple of weeks I've tried out some really fab new make up and I've had quite the job trying to limit my Stars to just the 2 but somehow I've (almost) managed it.

This week I'm gonna do something a little different and start with my wish first as it informs one of my stars. 

My Wish goes to Liplift Peel by Être Belle 

Liplift Peel by Être Belle 

I got this in a subscription box last month and was genuinely quite excited about it. With winter coming, bringing with it chapped and dry lips, I thought this would be ideal in helping to keep my lips smooth and nourished during the winter months. The Liplift Peel promises to replenish and define the lips by gently exfoliating and removing dead skin for 'perfectly soft lips' sounds good right? Wrong! It absolutely wrecked my lips. It completely dried them out and left me with a very attractive (and crusty!) rash across my top lip. I couldn't wear lipstick for 4 days! It was horrendous. I can honestly say I have never seen my lips in a worse state. Now I don't know if I'm allergic to something in it or if my lips are particularly sensitive but I would definitely not recommend it. So not impressed. But this brings me to my first star.

My First Star this week is actually a tie and it goes to Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner and Blistex Intensive Moisturiser. 

Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner and Blistex Intensive Moisturiser

Because the Liplift Peel utterly destroyed my lips I've been using the Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner and Intensive Moisturiser to return my lips to their (less crusty) natural state and they've been amazing. I've been using the Intensive Mosituriser as a base, letting it sink in before slicking on a layer of the Daily Lip Conditioner to seal in all that nourishing, moisturising goodness and the combination of the two has been a total life saver. My lips are almost completely back to normal and it's all thanks to these two. 

My Second Star goes to Revlon Gel Envy Color Stay Longwear Nail Enamel in Up the Ante

Revlon Gel Envy Color Stay Longwear Nail Enamel in Up the Ante

 I came across this a couple of weeks ago in an Essie Button video and it was love at first sight - the nail enamel, not Estée...although I do love her - and I had to get my hands on it. The colour is a ridiculously pretty pinky-purple that is both gorgeous and super wearable. It's also really versatile, it's light enough to be worn in the summer but warm enough that it can be rocked in the winter months too. I've never tried a Revlon nail polish before, the main reason being I really don't need any more nail polishes, but I was so impressed. The formula is kind of amazing, it acts as a base coat as well as a regular polish and gives a really nice gel finish plus it lasts ages. The longevity is amazing, I've had it on my nails for nearly a week now and whilst there's some minor chipping it's nothing too major. I am in love with it and you'd better believe more will be making there merry way into my now frankly ridiculous collection. 

So those were my Stars and Wish for the week? What did you think? Agree? Disagree? Let me know on twitter using #2StarsandaWish or by commenting below, if you do comment I try to reply so check back :) Also check out my facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest. You can also drop me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. 

That's me for today but I'll be back on Sunday. Until then...

Love love love xxx

Friday I'm in Love #11

Friday I'm in Love #11

Saturday, 13 September 2014

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L-R: V05 Smoothly Does It Curl Defining Mousse, Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Chai and Frizz Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Chai

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Chai

I am struggling to remember a time when I haven't mentioned a Barry M Polish and for the life of me I don't think such a time exists. Good Old Barry, the undisputed King of High Street nails, will always be one of my favourites. Chai is a new release, part of Barry M's new Autumn collection. I love grey nails, always have and this one has become a fast favourite. I won't bang on about the formula and how good it is, we all know how good Barry M's formula is. So all I will say is that it is gorgeous and let's just leave it at that. 

V05 Smoothly Does It Curl Defining Mousse

I use this on an every other daily basis and yet have somehow never actually mentioned it on here. This is a staple in my haircare routine (which has taken years of perfecting by the way) and one of the strongest weapons in my frizz fighting arsenal. The mousse is amazing it get's rid of frizz and strongholds my hair into smooth curls rather than fuzzy ringlets. It is also really longlasting, it's a little bottle but it goes a long way. 

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray

This is a recent addition to the aformentioned frizz fighting arsenal (I like the metaphor, I'm sticking with it.) John Frida deserves a medal for Frizz Ease. The spray is really light weight and gives me really nice curls without any kind of sticky crunchiness. My curls are quite tight but this relaxes my hair a little bit, leaving me with looser, frizz free curls. I am in love with it. 

Picture via www.amazon.com

This week I have been really poorly, I have acute laryngitis which is refusing to shift. I've almost completely lost my voice and am coughing constantly so it hasn't been a great week to be honest. Now when I'm sick there are a couple of things I like to do to make myself feel better (read more about that here) but one of them is to lose myself in a really good book. And this week that came in the form of How to Fall in Love by Cecelia Ahern, which I thoroughly enjoyed. How to Fall in Love tells the story of Christine Rose, owner of a recruitment company and lover of Self-Help books, who meets Adam when he is trying to commit suicide by jumping off the Ha'Penny Bridge in Dublin. Determined not to let that happen Christine and Adam strike up a deal in which Christine has 2 weeks to prove to Adam that life is worth living. I thought it was amazing and really brave of Ahern to write about such a taboo subject.  I couldn't put it down, I thought the story itself was lovely and very moving and I loved it. 

My SOTW this week may seem a little bit strange but hear me out. Like Whoopi in Sister Act 2 my taste in music is completely eclectic, whilst I will admit to a passion for classic rock, particularly from the 80's and it is no secret that I love Bruce Springsteen more than I love... well anything. Anyway I have gone completely off point here, the point was I love music and in anticipation for Cilla (which starts on ITV on Monday, I can't wait!) I downloaded Anyone Who Had A Heart performed by the lady herself and I kinda love it. I already had the Dionne Warwick version on my iPod but Cilla's is surprisingly good. Being a 90's child I only knew Cilla Black as the red haired, Liverpudlian present of Blind Date but... she can sing! Who knew?! Mark my words I will be singing this loudly and proudly in the shower just as soon as my voice returns. 

So those were my loves for the week. I am off to bed for the rest of the day, probably the weekend, where I will be coughing and croaking until someone brings me tea. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! If you find some time and feel like cheering up a poorly girl, check me out on twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram and pinterest and give me a cheeky like or follow ;)

Love love love xxx

PS If anyone would like to see a post detailing my haircare routine and the sheer effort it takes to maintain my hair then let me know either by commenting below or on twitter. If you do comment I always reply so do check back. L xx

2 Stars... #11

2 Stars... #11

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

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Happy Wednesday! I have had a hell of a week so I hope everyone's week is going better than mine. After over 2 weeks of the most painful and irritating dry cough, this morning I finally dragged myself to the GP where I was told that I have Acute Laryngitis and have been told that I have to rest my voice for a couple of days. Which for a chatterbox such as myself is a tall order anyway BUT my day job is basically 8 hours of me talking to people so it's not been easy to say the least.  But I am ready to put all that aside for a moment and get started on this weeks 2 Stars & A Wish. I may not be able to talk but I can still type damnit! 

M&S Lemon Hand Butter 

M&S Lemon Hand Butter 

M&S Lemon Hand Butter

AKA the best handcream to ever grace my humble hands. Now having slightly germophobic tendancies and working in the environment I work in my hands get really dry and sore if I don't constantly moisturise. I have tried a fair few handcreams in my time BUT this could be the very best. The formula is incredible. It is really thick and creamy with a lovely buttery consistency that somehow manages to be non-greasy and sinks into the skin really quickly. It also smells gorgeous, like a cross between lemon sherbet and lemon cheesecake. All that and it cost something ridiculously cheap like £1.74 at an M&S Outlet. So not only is it incredible it was a total bargain. Love it. 

Barry M Nail Paint in Cappucino 

 Barry M Nail Paint in Cappucino 

 Barry M Nail Paint in Cappucino 

Last Friday, after a long day at work I decided to pop into Boots for a quick pick me up where I unexpectedly bumped into my best friend/enabler and before I knew it this little beauty and 3 other autumn-y nail polishes had found their way into my basket. Now my nail polish collection is the stuff of legend (well not really), with 200+ polishes I really don't need anymore. However nowhere in my extensive collection is there a shade quite like this. It is a beautiful smokey mauve with subtle grey and brown undertones. It is gorgeous and absolutely perfect for Autumn. Now being Barry M it obviously has the formula that Barry M is famous for, applies like a dream with some serious staying power. I can see this becoming a firm favourite. I also picked up Chilli, Chai and Coconut (Oh my God I just realised they all begin with the letter C!) so expect to see more about them up here very soon. 

This week I found myself without a Wish, despite everything else, it has been an incredibly positive week make up wise at least. 

So those were my Stars for this week?What do you think? Love them? Hate them? Let me know on twitter using the hashtag #2StarsandaWish or #2Stars or by commenting below. If you do comment I always try to reply so do check back. Anyway that's it for me today but check me out on facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest. 

Until next time lovely readers 

Love love love xxx