Thoughts on a Thursday #2 - #LikeAGirl

This is kind of a weird post as it was inspired by the YouTube advert by 'Always' which I know is a brand which sells girly products and the boys reading are gonna be like eww this is about periods and what not, however it's not. The advert is basically about sexism, about how the phrase 'Like a girl' (run like a girl, throw like a girl) is seen as humiliating, and that being a girl is seen as negative.

Which led me to think about sexism, sexist behaviour and what it truly is to be a woman in the 21st Century. Society has come a long, long way - women no longer have to stay at home washing and cleaning, it is no longer unusual for women to earn their own money. Men and women are of the same status, and although there are some people who still believe men are superior and women inferior, generally as a society we see men and women as equals.

The advert led me to think, what is it about throwing like a girl that is so negative? Running like a girl? Kicking, punching, screaming, acting, etc etc. Is this because us 'girls' are supposed to be weak, and a throw by a girl will be a weak throw, a race ran by a girl will be a slow race?

      

Young girls these days have many strong, powerful women they can look up-to and aspire to be like. With the ever-growing media emphasis on our lives, you do not have to look far to see women in the spotlight doing women proud. Young girls may watch sports channels on the TV and see women performing at the Olympics, showing that running, kicking, throwing like a girl is definitely not negative. They might tune into the apprentice and see women owning business', making lots of money for themselves in their own name, their own way. Or they may turn on the music channels and see Women dominating the charts.

There are many organisations just for women; Girl guiding for example, girl guiding is at the forefront of empowering women and giving young girls opportunities to develop and grow, and give them confidence within themselves. Being a girl, a lady, a woman is certainly not something to be humiliated by, being a woman opens many many doors. Sure, being a man has its benefits, but in my opinion, being a girl is fab, and if anything something to be extremely proud of and happy about. 

I could talk about this a whole lot more but these "Thoughts on a Thursday" posts are not meant to drown you in my opinions, just short and sweet snippets of what's in my mind! Check back next week for #3 ! :) 

See the advert that inspired this post here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs 

Whats On My Face?

This edition of 'Whats on my face' (see my previous post here) focuses on Summer make-up! 

I have recently bought a few new products that I wanted to share with you all, and I have also found an old blusher that I use to use, and have rekindled my love for it!  

The products I've already spoken about on Blondiei are part of my everyday makeup. 

1. No 7 Stay Perfect Super light Foundation in 'Cool Vanilla'
2. No 7 Concealer also in 'Cool Vanilla'
3. No 7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder in 'Translucent' 
4. Rimmel London Exaggerate Eye Liner in Black
5. Maybelline New York 'Illegal Length' Mascara in Black
6. Rimmel London 'ScandalEyes' Mascara in Black
7. Mac Lipstick in 'Creme Cup' 

The above are obviously all my favourite everyday necessities, and i'd recommend them to anyone. If you're going to get the No 7 face makeup i'd suggest speaking to one of the makeup artists at the counter as they can do a match for you. 

Okay, now to the exciting bit. The new products i've been using..

No 7 Perfectly Bronzed Bronzer, this was recommended to me by the lady in No 7 I explained my skin colouring and about how i'd run out of my Ted Baker bronzer and she suggested this and I couldn't be more happy with it. It is smooth on the skin, the colour is perfect and it is really easy to use and apply! 

Natural Collection Blusher in 'Peach Melba'. I found this when sorting out my old make up bag, there was still a fair bit left in so I thought why not bring this into my current make-up bag!? And i'm glad I did, its a lovely light pink colour and gives a gorgeous colour to the apples of my cheek. 

Maybelline New York 'BROWdrama' in Dark Blonde, I was always very sceptical about colouring in my eyebrows as my eyebrows are very light. So I've always been nervous about doing it. I saw this product in boots and thought why not give it a go? And i'm really happy with it. I use just one coat on my eyebrows and its colours them and shapes them all in one go. Also I saw Rosie talk about these in her youtube video on 'Drugstore Starter Kit' and she raved about this which reassured me :)
(https://www.youtube.com/user/MsRosieBea)

                                                           
Maybelline New York Super Stay Lip Gloss in 'Delicious Pink', This is a really cool idea, firstly you put on the lip colouring which then stains your lips, you leave it to dry for a minute or so then apply the gloss which gives it a shine! It lasts all day and I love the colour! 

Thoughts on a Thursday #1 // 'Growing up'

Growing Up

Today I had my last exam and officially finished my A-Levels, therefore technically I've finished school completely. I know that we are still classed as students until the end of the academic year blah blah, but nonetheless I'm free. I could have potentially finished education forever, depending how well I turn out to do in my exams. This is the beginning of the rest of my life, without sounding dramatic, it really is true. I am no longer in the scheme of having to be educated, it is now my choice - I could go to Uni, I could travel, I could get a job. The world is my oyster. 

Half of me feels accomplished, happy, stress-free, the other half, anxious and apprehensive. This summer is going to be so very good, I have so many good things lined up and I am so excited. However depending on what happens on the 14th August(Results Day) could shape my whole life. I feel very excited for the future, obviously it is daunting. There are many decisions that will have to made, huge watts of responsibility on my shoulders but I am surrounded by very positive people and I have a huge support system in place. Therefore as scary as the future is, I embrace it with open arms. 

Growing up is a confusing idea for me, as at 18 years old, I am considered 'Grown up'. I'm mature, I have a job, I have a car, I can vote, I can get married and therefore I am an adult. I think I am quite mature, and I can understand why 18 is the age of adolescence. I know my own mind and I know what is right and wrong, I know what is fair and unfair. However I do still sometimes get it wrong, sometimes I do feel as though I could have done better, I've maybe gone about something the wrong way. As a child, I assumed adults and grown ups were all very clued up, always knew what to do and would always be kind and helpful. I would look at girls in the years above me at school, and couldn't wait to be like them, couldn't wait to know myself and have it all figured out. I've now realised that this is not the case at all, everybody is human. It doesn't matter what age we are, we all make mistakes, we all have different views and we all have different ideas.

Life is a scary thing, but it is an amazing thing. It is the most incredible journey, and to think we are still in the first stages of life, still teenagers, thats even better. We really do have our whole lives ahead of us and we still have the chance to be whatever we want to be. When I think about how much i've learnt in the past 2 years, it's so exciting to think what i'll learn in the next 2 years, and the 2 years after that. We are all still growing, at no age do we stop growing, at no age do we stop learning. Life is full of growing up and of realising who we are and who we're supposed to be and I cannot wait for the rest of my life!

Update, Apologies and New Blog Series!

Recently i've been very inactive on the blogging front, Blondiei has been at the bottom of my to do as I am currently sitting my A-Levels. I only have one more week of revising and I will be free and then I intend to blog lots and lots. So huge apologies for the lack of posts! I promise I will make up for it!

Here's a few photos of what i've been up-to since we last spoke!  

Safari Park with the girlies, it was a really hot and sunny day so we had took a picnic and headed to the safari park! We did the safari, had our picnic and then went on the rides, which was absolutely hilarious, oh and I almost got my hand bitten off by that nasty little buggar down there ! 

  

After 7 years at my secondary school I was very sad to leave. As much as i've slagged school off and moaned about work, exams etc etc. I really will miss it! Emosh! On the penultimate day me and my friends had a watertight which was funny and on the last day we had our leavers Eucharist which was so cute as all pictures from the younger years were put up (embarrassing but funny) I really will miss seeing my friends every day although I know i'll stay in contact with my close friends ! 

 

My friend Alex celebrated her 18th birthday the week we left school and she had a big party at a hotel and the theme was 'The Great Gatsby' which I just absolutely loved, I LOVE the book (if you haven't read it you should) and the film is pretty good too! Alex's party was so so good and everybody really enjoyed themselves. Everybody dressed up to the theme and it was such a good atmosphere in there! I wore a little blue dress with all embellishments and tassels on which my mom found in TKMaxx for £30 (I was well chuffed) as the dresses I was originally looking at were much more expensive! I paired it with a purple fur wrap around for effect but it didn't take me long to take it of as it was extremely hot in there, my friend Hannah did my hair (I've mentioned her before - she's a hairdresser) and I just wore plain nude heels! Wish I could relive that night as it was honestly so good, Well Done Alex (I know you're reading this and smiling to yourself) ! 

    

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NEW BLOG SERIES!

Next week (hopefully if all goes to plan) I will be starting a new blog series called 'Thoughts on a Thursday'. Every thursday a new post will go up with a different topic/different opinions. I have quite a few ideas but if there is anything you really want to know my opinion on then definitely comment and I will try and use it :) I'd love to go more in-depth on here into what I think about things, what I agree/disagree with (to an extent of course). I think it will be really interesting and fun for me, and fun for you all to read too! And I can't keep writing about my favourite lipstick every week, therefore thoughts on a thursday will hopefully be a bit more interesting for some readers who read lots of beauty blogs and are a bit bored of this stuff! But for those of you who like the beauty and lifestyle posts, fear not as I will still be featuring those too!


So make sure you check back next thursday and hopefully the first instalment of 'Thoughts on a Thursday' will be up!