Law of Increase

Increase is a scriptural command from God to us. Increase generates pleasure, influence and ability to bless others. ~Dr. Mike Murdock
(Genesis 1:28)

*Photo by kconnors at morguefile.com.

Tuesday Tips: Halloween DIY Ideas!

EEK! It's Halloween tomorrow! Have you guys got fun plans? I'm working then going for dinner straight after but think I'm going to do a more subtle version of my below video tutorial from last year for that 'casually dead' look... 

Here's a bunch of other cool DIY Halloween Ideas from the blogosphere...

Katie from Katie's Beauty Blog did this amazing skull tutorial for Company Magazine - check it out on her blog or in this month's Company, obvz!

More skulls, this time in the form of Ella Masters' pretty mexican skull nails! She's done a fab tutorial over on her blog if all out Halloween make up ain't your bag...

Dexter inspired bloody cupcakes, anyone? Created by Sarah from A Million Dresses! 

Pimp your pumpkin the classy way... Who needs knives when you have rhinestones? 

Lily Pebbles and Gem from Gem's Maquillage did a frankly AWESOME tutorial for their corpse bride look! 

Any excuse for cat nail art! Black cats are totes Halloweeny right?

I love how Kavita went ALL OUT with her skeleton look. Halloween is about looking creepy/scary/gross, not slutty (although I am seemingly the only girl in Canterbury with this opinion...)

More cupcake creepy/cuteness from Zoe from The London Lipgloss! Aww :)

Hope you've gotten a bit of inspiration from my little roundup post, and if you already celebrated at the weekend - SORRY for being fashionably late - bookmark it for next year ;)

xo

Speak the Word

You can have what you say, or you can say what you have. ~Pastor Ernie Medina
(Romans 4:17)

Filter of the Word

The Bible doesn't keep us from knowing truth; it prevents us from believing lies.
~Julie Ackerman Link
(Psalm 119:37)

*Photo by xandert at morguefile.com.

Goodness Overcomes Evil

In a heated conflict, we may be tempted to "fight fire with fire." Yet John urges us to turn away from what is bad and follow what is good. This is the pathway that honors our Savior. ~David McCasland
(III John 1:11)

*Photo by EmmiP at morguefile.com.

We're Never Alone

In a world filled with despair and trouble, we can take courage. The Holy Spirit lives within us, providing us with His peace and comfort (John 14:26-27). Aren't you thankful that you never have to fly solo? ~Bill Crowder
(I Corinthians 3:16)

Pause, Think, Talk!

Over the years I've enjoyed and written the abbreviation "PTL" for Praise The Lord! Today, I offer the abbreviation "PTT" for all who struggle with unrighteous anger. How many know someone might make you angry/mess with you today? PTT stands for pause, think, talk. When we pause we give the precious Holy Spirit time to intervene, when we think we allow our minds to refocus and think it through, and finally, when we talk, it will not be hurtful harsh words, but words powered by the Holy Spirit. So today, choose to PTL! & PTT!-all the day long. ~Donnie Alexander

They Call Me Mellow Yellow

I've passed the half way point of my week off work today and spent it lunching with my pal Charlotte and lazing about the house (and trying to tidy...)

I resurrected some old classics when I got dressed today. My eBay cat t-shirt (similar here) and my ye olde faux fur coat from H&M! Worn with my acid wash New Look jeans and new Sarenza* shoesies. 

These suede t-bar shoes from Mellow Yellow at Sarenza* really remind me of the kind of shoes I used to wear when I was little, with the cute heart-shaped cut outs! The gummy heels mean they are super comfy - always a plus in my book. I've worn them loads in the short time I've had them! 

Now I just need to find some grown up versions of the shoes with the key that changed the image on the sole for my nostalgia-footwear-fest to be complete! Anyone else remember those?! 

Hair update (because you're clearly on the edge of your seat): I gave my fringe a trim today to make the sides look longer. It's starting to look ever so slightly more like a short bob rather than an outgrown crop now! Hoping to grow it just a few inches more and then I think I'll be happy with it. 

The growing-out period hasn't been nearly as awkward as I was expecting! If I'd have known it'd be this easy, I'd have done it yonks ago! 

xo

The BEST foundation EVER: Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless

I got this foundation at a beauty sale at work recently and it has officially changed my life. 

Before finding Max Factor All Day Flawless, I was in this horrid routine of using a too-light Illamasqua Skin Base teamed with a too-dark MAC powder on top to mattify and counteract the lightness. Hello midday cakey-face and constant retouching. 

This stuff claims to be 3-in1 - a primer, concealer and foundation. Those kind of claims usually annoy me (isn't that the elongated way of saying 'longwear full coverage'?) but whatevs, I'm letting this product off the hook. 

I am pale but have really red and blotchy skin tone. Horrid stuff. You'll see when you scroll down. But this stuff has got the world fooled. Sophie, the Beauty Director at Company sits at close range and deems my complexion perfect, and the fashion stylist Emma said I have "the skin of an angel" the other day! Admittedly she sits a bit further away. 

The bottle is pump activated and one pump is plenty for the whole face. I use shade Ivory 40 (For reference I'm NC15 in Mac and Shell with Estée Lauder - although that shade has just been discontinued!)

Consistency: A lightweight creamy texture - super-easy to blend and a little goes a long way! 

PREPARE FOR THE HORROR of the before shot... red and oily! Nom nom! 

After: Redness and oil begone! Matte (but still ever-so-slightly dewy) with fully covered imperfections. No need for any powder (which is ideal because I'm almost out of my MAC stuff!) I just applied this with my finger, but usually I use my ELF powder brush. 

It lasts ages, but I touch my face quite a lot so do tend to touch up towards the end of the day if I can be arsed. 

This £11.99 high street foundation has replaced the £45 high end face routine before it and I am not looking back! 

Have you tried Max Factor All Day Flawless? What did you think? 

And if you've found your holy grail foundation elsewhere, feel free to share it in the comments! I love knowing the best ones out there!  

x

No Entrance Here

Each sin has its door of entrance; let's keep that door closed.
~Dave Branon
(James 1:12)

It Is Finished

Salvation is achieved by Christ's atonement, not by our attainment. ~Dennis Fisher
(John 14:6)

My Delight

Whether morning, noon, or night, make God's Word your delight. ~C.P. Hia
(Psalm 119:47)

God's Voice

Don't let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord. May we, like Samuel, learn to discern God's Voice and say, "Speak, Lord. I'm listening."
~David McCasland
(I Samuel 3:10)

Dress Down Friday

Here's what I wore to work yesterday on my last day in the office before my week off (aka. now!)

Comfy was key...

(Skirt - New Look, Tee - Forever 21, Glasses - c/o Specsavers)

Must dash as I'm off to Liverpool in a moment! Going with Alex and his family to do some Beatles superfan activities! We're all Beatles mad. Going to John Lennon's actual house - eee! 

Then I will be in a state of utter laziness after Monday when we return, so expect lots of blogging from my inevitably PJ-clad self!

Have you guys got fun plans for the weekend? 

Any of you Liverpool folks got any recommendations for nice places for lunch/dinner? Been getting lots of fab ideas from Twitter followers, so if you've tweeted ideas to me - thank you!

xo

Real Love

Real love is helping others for Jesus' sake even if they can never return the favor. ~Dennis Fisher
(2 Corinthians 4:10)

Witnesses to Me

Each of us has the opportunity to take the gospel to people in our "end of the earth." No matter where you are, you can tell someone about the love of Christ. Who can you tell today?
~Bill Crowder
(Acts 1:8)

God of Peace

When we enter the disturbing, unsettling seasons of life, it is good to know that real peace is available in the God of all peace. ~Bill Crowder
(2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Someone Very Special

When someone very special comes alongside your life to help you in an enormous way--give all the credit to God, for He has truly blessed you indeed.
~Donnie Alexander
(Romans 8:28)

Giving Thanks

Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for everything you possess.
~C.P. Hia
(Philippians 4:11)

God's Timing

God's timing is perfect--every time!
~Cindy Hess Kasper
(Romans 8:28)

Photo Diary #2

Recently I have been: 

Drinking my favourite cider and watching X Factor (anyone else hooked for another year despite their very best efforts?)

Judging Alex on his ridiculous amount of T-shirts. 57 t-shirts to a box?! Oh and there are two more of these - filled with almost solely Morrissey and The Smiths shirts. He's a tee fiend.

Bumping into a duck on the high street. It just casually sauntered into a shop! But then got a bit stressed out about being on the crowded high street which was a bit sad. I hope it found its way back to its chums in the river :( 

 I wore my Luella t-shirt for the first time in ages the other day. It made me so happy. Might have to wear this to work on Halloween given the kinda gross nature of it. #bringbackluella

 I've been having serious desk tidiness issues...

 Last weekend Alex and I went to Whistable for the day. We HAD to go to the yummy doughnut place on the beach. Rude not to. As agreed by Anthony Worrall Thompson (see sign below!)

I picked up these chunky heeled loafer boots in a charity shop for £3.50. They are actually really nice on! 

 Pre-work snuggles with Roxy. It's our daily ritual.

 I wrote a little piece about Brass Eye for the latest Company mag! The feature was about the Channel 4 shows that changed out lives (the channel is celebrating some kind of anniversary right now... Can't remember which!) If you haven't watched this show and you aren't easily offended, you should Youtube it pronto!

I've been loving the amazing American candy sent to me by @nickohlaa!

 I had a major tidy of my beauty products and finally threw out a bunch of cute packaging I was hoarding. Bye bye, cute old Eyeko! Miss you!

Now off for a day of fun on at Badger's Hill Farm with Nicki! 

Hope you've had a fun weekend so far :) 

x

God's Hands

When we put our problems in God's hands, He puts His peace in our hearts. ~Joe Stowell
(Psalm 46:10)

Always Near

Our loving God is always near--forever by our side.
~Anne Cetas
(Genesis 28:16)

Fear Not

You need not fear the darkness if you are walking with the Light of the World. ~Dennis De Haan
(Proverbs 3:25)

Remember God's Patience

When tempted to lose patience with others, remember God's patience with you. ~Bill Crowder

Kind of Fruit

The seeds we sow today determine the kind of fruit we'll reap tomorrow. ~David Roper
(Galatians 6:7)

No Small Victories

There are no small victories in the Christian walk, only MASSIVE ones. Remember this next time satan tempts you, and you tell him NO! Christians most always have more victories than defeats, yet satan is a master at getting us to focus on our freshest sins. Everyday, choose to focus on your victories, not your defeats. Just as one sin leads to another, so also one victory leads to another and another !
~Donnie Alexander

What God Speaks

What God speaks will come to pass. Next time you get discouraged over an area you are struggling with or against, remember He promises in His word: "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17). That's a promise for NOW and a promise for LIFE. ~Donnie Alexander