Rachel Ellen

Monday, 17 April 2017

opinion 18:56

Instagram Themes...

Today I wanted to have a little talk about Instagram themes. For those that don't know, many people stick to a certain theme on their Instagram page, whether that be all black and white, all featuring the colour red, all having a white background etc. It's quite common among bloggers.

Personally, my Instagram is whatever makes me happy, an event, a pretty picture I've taken, some food, an occasional picture of me, usually when I like my makeup... It's a photo sharing app so I just share regardless of colour, shape, anything else.

Very honestly, I rarely follow accounts that have themes. I don't usually look at peoples own pages, I just look on my feed, so the theme doesn't really have any impact on me.

I don't want to see really same-y pictures all the time, I've come across some pages that re-post, or have a slightly re-arranged shot, I just find it a little boring #sorrynotsorry

I adore Instagram - though I do agree with EVERYONE, put it in chronological order Insta, come on! I love seeing people be creative with photography, I love to see what pictures people choose when you might only pick one. I love that people post selfies, woohoo to self confidence!

I'm just looking forward to themes being a thing of the past.

What do you think of Instagram themes? Do you have one?

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Ps. if you want to follow my random selection of posts with no theme at all, it's @racheleiwood

Monday, 10 April 2017

university 14:53

Storing Make Up

by Rachel

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about how I store my make up. Most people on the internet seem to use those plastic transparent drawers, I have to say I'm not a fan (this post explains why).

At home, I have the MALM white dressing table from IKEA, yeah that one that everyone has. It's so great for make up as the drawer is so wide so you can fit all you need in there!

But at uni, I'm not so lucky with furniture, I have to work with a dark brown TV table that has one drawer. I made do for a while but it just wasn't what I wanted.

Then I remembered I had these drawers (which were bought to store uni work... oops)

I thought they'd be the perfect place to keep my make up organised and safe from damage.

In the top I store any face related products, foundation, concealer, highlighters, contours that sort of thing. Don't judge the number of Revlon foundations, in BnM they were selling them for £5, when they're normally £12.99, the shades and types are a little limited, but absolutely worth the buy. (UK people check BnM out to see if they still have this deal!) But also, don't buy that bronzer, orange 'r' us.

The next drawer is dedicated to eye and eyebrow products, shadows, liners, primer and mascara

And lastly, which is looking a little bare, is the drawer for lip products. This isn't even half of my lip products, most are sitting at home.

I get that this way of storing make up may be less organised than the plastic drawers and containers but I like that I can hide everything away and make it look really tidy. It stays out of sunlight and stays away from dust. And I can actually see the colour rather than just a range of black lids.

How do you store your make up?

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Sunday, 2 April 2017

university 16:00

I Went to London!

by Rachel

On the 21st March I had a very exciting uni trip to London. Although we stayed in very close quarters in a hostel it was such an exciting few days.

On the first day, Tuesday, we went to visit John Brown Media, who own magazines such as Waitrose Food magazine and John Lewis magazine, Edition. We had some really valuable talks about the magazine industry and this was my first time ever experiencing a magazine room in action. Unbelievably exciting.

On Wednesday morning, we had the absolute pleasure of visiting Immediate Media, we were spoken to by various people who work for Radio Times (including Ben Preston, oooh), some of the people that work on loads of children's titles, such as Lego titles, Cbeebies ones, Octonauts and so many others.

In the afternoon we headed over to Hearst to speak to the Good Housekeeping team, Hearst also own other titles such as Prima and Cosmopolitan (honestly not a big deal at all....)

Now unfortunately, it has to be mentioned, when we were in this meeting we found out about the terrorist attack outside parliament, where a lot of our course were trapped inside. All were safe so this isn't any detailed post, you can find so much information across the internet about that.

My input is, that no matter what the media says, London didn't stop, Soho was buzzing as you'd expect on any other Wednesday afternoon, people had pints in hands, absolutely no strangers spoke to me, our meeting went on as planned and it was as informative as you'd expect. We kept in contact with the others, knowing they were safe. Just don't be fooled into thinking that London came to a halt, that's just not the capitals way.

In true London fashion, we treated the next morning as a brand new day, we headed over to Dennis Publishing, Publishers of The Week magazine among others.

Not one of these experiences wasn't valuable, and as intimidating as the whole thing was I am absolutely spurred on to complete my Masters degree and get into one of those newsrooms as soon as I can (if any important people read this, please can I have a job?)

In a last minute dash, we went into Kings Cross Station to visit the good old platform 9 3/4 (which is neither on platforms 9 or 10, but just against a wall, my upset is now your upset too), super cool to actually see it!

If you ever get the chance, make sure you experience a magazine room in action, it's not crazy and shouty but a creative, hardworking atmosphere and I'm so excited to one day call one my place of work.

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

home 17:00

Vintage Jewellery Box

by Rachel

In August 2016, on a trip to Lyme Regis, I spotted this little jewellery box in a vintage shop.

Ignoring all my inner complaints about what ghosts it might bring into my house (stop watching scary films Rachel) I decided to get it.

I think it's such a beautiful little box that makes a really nice addition to my bedroom when so many online fashions are light colours and minimalism. The deep colours of it really make it stand out. And I really love all the different ways of getting into it.

A well loved little box that is going to get a lot more use out of it!

Do you have any little vintage pieces in your room?

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Thursday, 23 March 2017

review 17:00

Sleek Make-Up Review

by Rachel

Today, I wanted to write about a couple of make up bits that I've had for a little while and think they are well worth the money. They are both by the brand Sleek which I'd never had any products from them before so it was exciting to try!

First, the Sleek highlighter palette in solstice. So many bloggers have spoken about this palette and it does live up to expectation. It was a little more than I expected, at £10 it seems pricey for a cheap brand, but you do get 4 colours.

Superdrug website describes the product as "This versatile face and body highlighting palette suits all skin tones and includes two baked powders, one luxurious cream formula and one silky shimmer powder."

The two baked powders are my favourite, I always get compliments when I use the purple one, although it is a bit strong and glittery. I like to save it for evening wear now.

The cream one is really nice for under your eyebrows. I've had this palette for a few months now and used it plenty, but look at the products, they don't look like I've touched them! I couldn't imagine this EVER running out.

The other product is the Matte Me lip cream in the shade Shabby Chic

It's a really pretty mauve shade and was only £5, it's super matte and long lasting, but is incredibly drying. Anyone with particularly dry lips shouldn't try this.

I made a video of the lip cream on, please ignore the state of my lips, but this is over a lip balm and still quite drying and tacky, but minimal printing.

Sleek does seem to be a good affordable brand and I'm really pleased with my purchases!

Have you ever bought anything from Sleek? What do you think of their products?

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Sunday, 19 March 2017

fashion 15:57

An Ode to Winter

by Rachel

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring (woohoo!) We're getting much more daylight, the occasional sunny day and a little warmth in our lives, which I am loving!

So I thought, in an ode to Winter, I would just show off a couple of pairs of boots I've got this year that I loved, before they go in to cupboard until colder days (actually they won't, I love to wear boots all year round but you get the idea)

For a couple of years I'd been wearing the same brown and black pairs of boots, I adored them like my own children but they had holes in, I had to keep colouring one of my brown ones in with sharpie (I'm a student, don't judge). So new boots were in order this winter.

First, my boots that I got for my birthday in November. My khaki green Timberlands, as soon as I saw them I was totally in love, though they have taken some effort to wear them in properly, the inside at the back isn't the best shape, for the price that's not really ok. But I still love them

Next, a very recent buy, these beauties were in the New Look sale for £12 which I thought was amazing, they're wide fit and pretty comfy, although, in future I need to remember to take pictures before various evening escapades that involve drink splashes :(

Winter, it has to be said, I will almost miss you. But I will dread your arrival once again. In the mean time, summer, can you be a little less disappointing?

Sunday, 5 March 2017

fashion 22:49

International Women's Day

by Rachel

Wednesday is international women’s day. As a 23 year old female, I feel I might actually be on my way from a girl to a woman (you know like when a stranger refers to you as a lady #sogrownup).

There are a lot of women in my life that have made a huge difference to me, family and friends included.

But I thought I’d talk today about Hayley Williams of Paramore and why she was important during my teenage years in my growing into a woman, and maybe some of you can relate.

I was about 13/14 when I became a fan of Paramore, and that Misery Business hair style.

I didn’t learn about feminism and the deeper things of being a woman in my teenage years, in fact I was pretty unaware of gender inequality still existing, which is sweet really.

For a while, I didn’t really know how Hayley Williams could be someone I could look up to, I was never going to be a singer (I sing like I’m being stood on)

But being a fan of Paramore and of Hayley Williams, taught me not to be afraid of being a girl. She always had mad hair styles and colours, she had crazy make up and cool clothes. She wore skirts and dresses but she was still punky as hell. She wore things with studs but also wore leopard print and pink.

"This is what I've learned, in my life: Headbanging is crucial. Growing up is hard to do. There's nothing wrong with wearing a dress."

Being interested in your own appearance is always associated with self-obsessed girls, and apparently negotiates your intelligence. But it was an important development for me to learn you can like make-up and clothes, but also be a human being who has important things in their life.

But also, being interested in your appearance, doesn’t mean you have to conform to a standard way of dressing. You can wear clothes that other people think are weird, you can have hair styles people don’t agree with, and that doesn’t matter because that’s your style.

“I’m really into healthy self-expression; That’s why I dye my hair, that’s why I wear stupid clothes, that’s why I don’t care that my bangs look like Spock from Star Trek.”

She taught me that it’s important to pay for music when you can, even when it is so freely available to you.

"Support music every day because there isn’t a day music won’t be there for you”

She taught me that a woman can stand up in a male dominated environment (the rock music world) and have a voice, work hard, and get what she wants.

I know there are a lot of inspirational women in the world, but for me, Hayley Williams was just such a big part of my teenage years, in a time when all the other bands I liked were male dominated, she was so important in realising, its OK to be a girl. That being a girl isn't a hindrance.

This year, International Women's Day have a hashtag #BeBoldForChange and I think that's important to me and in relation to this post, let's not be afraid to be bold, but also be a woman.

On international women’s day, celebrate the women in your life appreciate all they do because women are pretty badass after all.

Thanks for reading,

Rachel xx

Monday, 17 April 2017

Instagram Themes...

Monday, 10 April 2017

Storing Make Up

Sunday, 2 April 2017

I Went to London!

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Vintage Jewellery Box

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Sleek Make-Up Review

Sunday, 19 March 2017

An Ode to Winter

Sunday, 5 March 2017

International Women's Day

Rachel

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