Too Faced Mini Haul - Own Your Pretty

They say; 'Don't judge a book by it's cover!', but as far as packaging goes, Too Faced probably has one of the most beautiful! Which you can't help but have high hopes that what's on the inside, is just as beautiful.

Even the packaging INSIDE the outside packaging is just as gorgeous, it just keeps on getting better! I would be lying if I said that wasn't what drawn me to Too Face in the first place.

La Creme Lipstick - Coral Fire

A gorgeous Pinky Coral colour, that glides onto your lips so effortlessly, and you don't need to use a lot of it, one swipe is enough!  It has a shine, but not so much that it looks more glossy, I would say - the perfect amount of shine. 

I am let down at the staying power of this though, you will need to touch up a few times throughout the day, and after eating and drinking. So if you are looking for a lipstick which lasts longer, for the price of this at 19 pound, I wouldn't recommend. But seen as the colours are so pretty, I think we could let this slip!

Chocolate Bon Bons Palette

If you are new to eyeshadow, buying a Too Faced Eyeshadow palette is a great start, as they come with a handy little booklet to guide you on a few chosen looks. 

You should be able to tell from this, which are my favourite colours. However, personally I probably won't be using all of them. I can't really see me wearing 'Totally Fetch' anytime soon, a very pretty colour though and the pigmentation is fantastic. It's great for selection though, you have a mix of both matte and shimmer finishes, ideal for creating a large number of looks!

I'm not sure about you, but I was interested before purchasing this, if the smell of chocolate would actually stick around, or if the scent would wear off from the palette after multiple uses. It's been multiple uses now, and the palette smells just as strong ever single time I open it, it kinda hits you in the face, it's amazing.

Natural Matte Eyeshadow Palette

Though small, (and cute!) it's mighty! For me, this palette is perfect! I have been on the hunt for an eyeshadow palette that holds the colours I want and need - nothing more nothing less. You know like when you buy a palette because you like the look of a few colours, and the majority you will never touch. Rest assured this one will be getting it's full use! 

The pigmentation is just as good as Bon Bons, however, no tasty smell (I think I can accept that). They are so soft to apply, almost like butter thats only way I can describe the feel of it. But what is great, is that it doesn't flake away all over your face, and definitely stays around all day. 

I've been using 'Strapless' at the moment, a brownie red colour, for a grunge eye look.

If you would like to see some swatches, be sure to let me know and I will do a separate post! :) x

Current Underrated Bands, You Are Going To Love

Casey

My new favourite Welsh boys (since FFAF are no longer around). Currently they have one EP out, but believe me, that is enough to make you fall in love with these guys. I really think that these guys are going to get big. 

With a new album coming out late September; Love Is Not Enough, you can expect to be hearing a lot more from these guys in upcoming months. If you just can't wait, check out the new song Ceremony, which features a familiar voice from a little band we all love; Being As An Ocean...

Listen Here

Disparity

Speaking of the brilliant Being As An Ocean, here is a band that to me rings similarities to them. But this time, they are British. I came across this band the other day as they were featured on Dreambound. Fairly new and with not many tracks yet to blast through our speakers, I for one am already ready for more. 

The spoken part of their new song Surface which you can hear below, are very well done. I usually find the British accent in music (although British myself) something awkward to listen to, but these guys, along with Casey make me want to discover more bands just like them. 

Listen Here

Embracer

If there was one word to describe this band, it would be Beautiful. Everything about their music is Beautiful. If you like the sound of Jonny Craigs voice, but hate Jonny Craig himself, Implore you to listen to this bands EP; My Fathers Will, in full. Neither the less despite sounding similar, he truly has a unique voice. 

These guys are currently teasing something over on their Facebook page, so stay tuned! All will be revealed in the next few days (we hope)!

Listen Here

Baggage

Just in case you don't know already, I love The Swellers. So by default I should love anything and everything they go off and create separately, so this may seem a little bias. 

The Swellers drummer Jonathan Diener is at it again with his music genius genes and has created a new child that goes by the name of Baggage. 

Cheaper Than Therapy is the guys debut EP, it's catchy and if you are anything like me, you will find this more of a grower than something you are going to want to stick on repeat straight away. Well, it grew on me. 

Listen Here

Summer Nights Were Meant To Save Us // Outfit Post

Dark floral prints are all the rage for me at the moment, they are definitely very 'me'. I've never really been one to wear bright colours, so i'm loving that we are being spoilt for choice lately by all these dark floral prints, they are everywhere. Jelly shoes also - the greatest way to bring out your inner 90's child. 

And don't get me started on Smashbox Be Legendary Matte lipsticks, I have two at the moment - Mauve and Stylist ( you can check out my previous review here), but I definitely need more! :)

x

Dress // Motel
Tshirt // Primark (similar) 
Jelly Shoes // Asos
Choker // Ebay
Lipstick // Smashbox - Stylist

A List Of Some Bands I've Seen

Sorting through my box of tickets, I decided to make a list of all the bands I've seen. I've missed a lot out, because I've lost a lot of tickets and simply can't remember every single band i've seen since the age of 14 when I started gigging. 

Please note that I don't enjoy every single band on this list.

A

A Day To Remember x4

Attila x2

Alesana

A Loss For Words x10

All American Rejects x2

Architects x3

Asking Alexandria x3

As Blood Runs Black

B

Beartooth x2 

Being As An Ocean

Betraying The Matyrs

Boys Like Girls x2

Blessthefall x2

Blink 182 x2

Bring Me The Horizon x2

Birgade x2

The Blackout x2

Buried In Verona

Bury Tomorrow

Bullet For My Valentine

Bowling For Soup

C

Cage The Elephant

Cancer Bats

Capsize

Carnifex

The Color Morale x2
The Chariot
Chelsea Grin

Chiodos x2

Chunk! No Captain Chunk x3

Counterparts
Creeper
Crooks
Citizen

Crime In Stereo

Cruel Hand

D

Dance Gavin Dance

Deaf Havana (with and without Ryan)

Defeater

Deez Nuts x2

Dream On Dreamer
Down

E

Enter Shikari x2

Emmure x3

Escape The Fate
Every Time I Die

Exit Ten

F

Fall Out Boy
Fathoms

Fightstar x2
Finch

Framing Hanley

For The Win

Forever Came Calling

Four Year Strong x5

For The Fallen Dreams x2

Foo Fighters

Funeral For A Friend x7

G

Green Day

The Ghost Inside x2

H

Handguns
Hadouken! (..I was 14 ok)
Hand Of Mercy

Heart In Hand 
Heaven Shall Burn

Hit The Lights x2

Hundredth

The Human Abstract x2

Hollywood Undead

House Vs Hurricane

I

I Killed The Prom Queen x2

Innerpartysystem

J

Jimmy Eat World

K

Knuckle Puck

Korn

L

Letlive x2

Less Than Jake

Like Moths To Flames

Linkin Park

Linkin Park & Jay Z
Lostprophets

M

Man Overboard x6

The Maine

Memphis May Fire x2

Mcfly x2

Miss May I

Motionless In White x2

Moose Blood

N

Napoleon
Nai Harvest

New Found Glory x7 

N*E*R*D

Northlane x3

O

Obey The Brave

Oceans Ate Alaska
Of Mice And Men x2

Our Last Night

P

Parkway Drive x2
Panic! At The Disco
Papa Roach

Pepper

Pendulum
Protest The Hero

Pierce The Veil

Q

R

Real Friends

Reel Big Fish

Roam x5

S

Save Your Breath x2

Seaway

Shadows Chasing Ghosts

Set Your Goals x4

Set It Off

Senses Fail

State Champs x4

Simple Plan

Silverstein x2
Silent Screams

Sleeping With Sirens

The Swellers

The Starting Line x2

Stone Sour

Sonny Moore (Yep, his DJ set before he became shit..ter) 

T

The Amity Affliction x5

Taking Back Sunday x2

The Devil Wears Prada x2

The Story So Far x5

The Plot In You
Thy Art Is Murder
Turnstile

Trash Boat 

U
The Used
Upon A Burning Body
The Urgency

V

Vanna

W

We Are The Ocean x4

While She Sleeps x3

The Word Alive x5

X
Pretty sure no bands even begin with X

Y

You Me At Six

Z

Zebrahead x3

Zoax

Friday Favourites // The Swellers

This week I am dedicating a post to one of my favourite bands - The Swellers. I quite regularly (though it may be sad to some) watch their last US show at the Chain Reaction, which I did this week and reminisce on last April when I saw them on their last London show at the Dome. An emotional day for sure. Unfortunately it was the first and last time I saw them.


I think it's a real shame how a band with so much potential never got their big break or enough recognition as they truly deserved. Their records are something I will never grow out of or get tired of, they are timeless, and every play is just as good as the last. 

Isn't it sad how we live in a world where pop groups like One Direction get so much publicity and they don't even write their own music, the only talent they have is they sound good, and to a lot of people 'look' good. Yet the bands who work hard, doing something because they love and enjoy it, and are talented don't even get a penny back. But these bands like The Swellers, make more of a mark on peoples lives. They will never be forgotten by their fans, they weren't just a faze or some fad. 

I feel like the music world has lost a lot of talent over the past year or two. Personally I feel a lot of loss. The Swellers, Funeral For A Friend, A Loss For Words, are the main few for me, but there's been an awful lot more.

I miss The Swellers.

X

Not sure who took this picture, but It was one of their crew. I wanted to put this on here because me and my partner are in it. And it makes me smile.

Dear Your Name Here // Outfit Post

I'm really into slip dresses at the moment. They are great to style up or down. I'm making extra use of them at the moment, come rain or shine by sticking on a simple plain t-shirt underneath on more chilly days.

I think this choker is so cute too, and it literally cost pennys! (Well..2 pounds). I would call that a bargain!

I promise I will feature something other than Motel soon..

x

Dress // Motel

T-shirt // Primark - Similar

Lipstick // Mac - Velvet Teddy

Choker // Ebay

MAC // Burgundy Times Nine Eyeshadow Palette

Left - Right / Top - Bottom
Honey Lust, Poppyseed, Quarry,
Antiqued, Embark, #Noir,
Haux, Star Violet, sketch.

Top 3 Colours - L-R
Quarry, Poppyseed, Honey Lust

Middle 3 Colours - L-R
#Noir, Embark, Antiqued 

Bottom 3 Colours - L-R
Sketch, Star Violet, Haux

What made me buy this palette was my search for a colour similar to Too Faced's - Almond Truffle, from their Chocolate Bon Bons Palette. I love MAC, but had never tried their eyeshadows, so I decided to take a look at their range. I found that Quarry and Haux both looked kind of similar to Almond Truffle. I decided on buying the Burgundy Times Nine Palette to try both of them out and the other gorgeous colours that come alongside. 

Both Quarry and Haux are what I had hoped for and Haux was almost Identical to Almond Truffle. This is the perfect palette for a subtle grunge eye look, which was just what I wanted. You also have a mixture of Matte, Satin and Frost finishes, so this palette is also perfect for creating a night time look also. 

It's a pretty small palette, but perfect for slipping in your make up bag and carry around with you! I will definitely be buying full versions of both Quarry and Haux

Friday Favourites // Beartooth - Aggressive

This weeks favourite is kind of a surprise one for me, as when I originally first listened to this album I have to admit I wasn't really a lover. 

I've been a Beartooth fan from the very beginning, and a fan of Caleb Shomo since his Attack Attack! days. His musical transition formed Attack Attack towards the end of their run into what I think was their best state, and it continued into Beartooth which for me I thought was fantastic. It was almost like the 'new' Attack Attack was just Beartooth with a different name. 

As you can probably tell I was a massively into their first release / EP - Sick. So much that I couldn't wait for the release of their first full length album, Disgusting.

Funnily enough, for some strange reason it took me a few listens for Disgusting to grow on me. But eventually it has become one of those albums I am still not sick of. This is where I can say that Aggressive is following down the same road.

Aggressive has been out for just over a month now, and although it has took me that long, after giving it a second chance recently, I am beginning to appreciate it. It is definitely a grower.

My first initial reaction was every track sounded similar, no different from the last, I got a little bored. For me it took them to release Hated and I gave it a proper listen along with the video, to come to terms with 'hey, this is actually a pretty good song'. So I decided to give the whole album another listen, and now I'm hooked.

I feel like this album is a continuation from the last album. They have stayed true to their sound, which I applaud a band for doing so - not many bands stay true to themselves. The last track on the album King of Anything reminds me slightly of the last track off of Disgusting - Sick And Disgusting. Both tracks I feel were a great choice to put at the end of each album, for me it kind of closes the album, almost like closing the end of a book. 

I don't really have a favourite track yet, I'm going to have to give it some more listening before I decide that! But if you were just like me and were a Beartooth fan not fond of the new album at first, I say give it another chance!

I am looking forward to seeing them play some new songs in December over here in the UK, as after seeing them a few times perform older songs, I can safely say this band knows how to get a crowd going and feed off the crowds energy. This is one band I recommend you to see, even if you are not familiar with every single Beartooth track, you will not be let down.

What's your favourite track?

x

Don't Say I Quit // Outfit Post

I'm starting to fall back in love with leopard prints, and Motel currently have a few leopard print items all on my wish list. What I love about this cami dress is that it's so versatile, theres so many different ways you can wear it. Whether it be like myself, over a t-shirt and shorts (it is sheer), or with a cami vest to make it appear more like a one piece dress rather than something to slip over. You could even tuck the dress in to your shorts and hey presto, you have converted your dress into a top!

x

Leopard Print Cami Dress // Motel
Scoop Neck Crop // Primark (similar)
Shorts // Asos

Glitter Choker // Pretty Little Bootique - Depop

Australian Bands You Need To Hear

Australia over the past few years has slowly been producing more and more bands that deserve more recognition then they may get. I have discovered a few and I know there will be many more I am yet to discover, but I wanted to put together a list of those that I think need a mention. So sit back, turn up your speakers, and enjoy...

For All Eternity
From: Sydney
Most Mentionable Record: Beyond The Gates (2012)
Most Mentionable Song: Broken Hands
For Fans Of: Of Mice & Men, The Amity Affliction

Ocean Grove

From: Melbourne

Most Mentionable Record: Black Label (2015)

Most Mentionable Song: Lights Off Kinda Lover

For Fans Of: Hellions

Saviour

From: Perth
Most Mentionable Record: First Light To My Death Bed (2013)
Most Mentionable Song: Unstoppable 
For Fans Of: For The Fallen Dreams, Confession

Dream on Dreamer
From: Melbourne
Most Mentionable Record: Heartbound (2011)
Most Mentionable Song: Lifestream
For Fans Of: The Amity Affliction, The Word Alive

Storm The Sky
From: Melbourne
Most Mentionable Record: Storm The Sky (Self Titled) (2011)
Most Mentionable Song: Common Kings
For Fans Of: Memphis May Fire, Dayseeker

House Vs Hurricane
From: Melbourne
Most Mentionable Record: Crooked Teeth (2012) 
Most Mentionable Song: Moonshine
For Fans Of: Vanna, Like Moths To Flames

Polaris
From: Sydney
Most Mentionable Record: The Guilt And The Grief (2016)
Most Mentionable Song: Regress
For Fans Of: Wage War

Sienna Skies
From: Sydney
Most Mentionable Record: Truest Of Colours (2009)
Most Mentionable Song: Directions
For Fans Of: Hopes Die Last, Blessthefall

The Brave

From: Brisbane

Most Mentionable Record: Epoch (Out August 2016)

Most Mentionable Song: Searchlights

For Fans Of: Of Mice and Men

Our Past Days

From: Sydney

Most Mentionable Record: Nothing as of yet - watch their space!

Most Mentionable Song: Bloom Where You're Planted

For Fans Of: Trophy Eyes, The Story So Far

Stories

From: Sydney

Most Mentionable Record: Void (2013) 

Most Mentionable Song: Clairvoynce 

For Fans Of: Northlane, Parkway Drive

Other mentionable bands that are no longer around:

Confession, Hand of Mercy. 

And bands you probably already are aware of, but just in case:

In Hearts Wake, The Amity Affliction, Buried In Verona, I Killed The Prom Queen, Thy Art Is Murder, Volumes. 

Friday Favourites - The Amity Affliction - Severed Ties

I'd say this is a more special favourites post, as it's not something i've so much been listening to for just the past week, but instead an all time favourite. 

If someone was to make me choose one album to listen to for the rest of my life, I would instantly reply with Severed Ties by The Amity Affliction. Let me tell you why..

In 2008 I stumbled across this little Australian band from Brisbane, by attending a show on their UK tour. I was instantly blown away. Something about them at the time reminded me of Atreyu, and that was fine by me, I was always a big Atreyu fan. 

I loved the energy they had. Back then Troy, Trad and Clint, were all still part of the band. They included my favourite instrument in metal music - keyboard, and I fell in love. You can say I was pretty devastated when Trad eventually left the band, goodbye keyboard. 

I went home that night, and I dived straight onto their MySpace. From that moment on, I listened to that album and post Severed Ties every single day, without fail.

There was just something about this album that grabbed me and in a sense it never let me go. I loved the lyrics, around that time they really spoke to me, and I guess that has always stayed with me. My inner angry teenage self is hidden within this album. My Severed Ties vinyl, is now one of my most pride possessions, and I think the album artwork for this album is awesome.

Besides the lyrics and sound of this album, it has a pretty neat list of guest vocals such as Crafter of Confession features on Jesse Intense and JJ Peters of Deez Nuts in Stairway To Hell (The breakdown in this song is insane). There are a lot so for a full list it's best to check out yourself!

If you haven't listened to this album, listen to it in full, from start to finish. I could name a few songs that always stuck out for me, but I honestly love the whole masterpiece. The Blair Snitch Project was one of them songs that when I learnt word for word, I felt like i'd accomplished something just from the pure mayhem of the lyrics. B.D.K.I.A.F (Big Dick Know It All Fuck) was purely a favourite for it's angry-ness. 

It seems a shame that If i'm honest, I can't get into their most recent albums as much as I did High Hopes, Glory Days, Severed Ties and Youngbloods. To me they were different and unique, where as I get a little tired of the same similar sound of their newer songs. I know that plenty of people will disagree, and that's absolutely fine, this of course is only my personal preference and opinion. 

I've been lucky to see them a number of times over the years, (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015), so at various stages of their progression as a band, and I've watched them grow. It's amazing to see that the small band I once fell in love with, has now touched so many other people. They still pack that same amount on energy and clearly love what they do.

This was also the album that got me hooked on Australian music, as it opened a door for me to discover the likes of Dream on Dreamer, Confession and Parkway Drive. For that I only have Amity to thank. 

What's your favourite Amity album? What was the album or song that got you into them? :) 

x