Postcard From: Paris

It's happened, I've been bitten by the Wanderlust bug. I have a list as long as my body of places I'd now like to visit, but as I've got car insurance to save for first, I thought I'd show you a few lots of my pictures from when I went to Paris at the end of November last year, and hopefully begin a new series of 'Postcard From' on my blog.

We went: Paris (22/11-25/11/14)

We stayed: Hotel Monceau Wagram

Our hotel was pretty nice actually. It wasn't too expensive and was just a short walk from the Arc De Triomphe and an even shorter walk from a Sephora. It was close to a metro stop, and the next stop along was a main station which meant travelling was easy. Staff were pleasant and friendly, the only thing I'd say is, don't bother having breakfast there, it's not worth the price.

 

We got there via the Eurostar, which was a first for me, however I can't believe how simple it was. I'd maybe look into getting a taxi to/from your hotel if you've got a lot of bags as trying to get the Metro with a tonne of bags is stressful. 

  

We found: 

1) There is hardly any supermarkets (that we could find), but tonnes of pharmacies. Great for stocking up on French skincare, not so great if you want some food.

2) You probably only need one 'carnet' ticket between two of you. We thought they'd be like an oyster card so asked for two and ended up with lots of Metro tickets. Just don't try to leave zone 2 with them, they won't work.

3) You can pretty much do all the main sites just by walking. On our first day we walked from the Arc De Triomphe to the Eiffel Tour, to Tour Montparnasse to Jardin du Luxemburg to Notre Dame, to the Pantheon with other sites thrown in along the way.

I really think that Paris may be one of my favourite cities, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

We finished our trip at the most magical place ever, but maybe I'll save that for a different post.

Being a 80 year old in an 22 year olds body

I've always been mature for my age. I think it mainly stems from the fact I've always been the oldest of all my relations, and really bossy(!).

People would regularly complement me on my maturity levels, I've been told off for being too 'motherly' when looking after my younger brother and I often find myself telling my parents off for being too immature.

With this in mind over the last few years I've found myself filling the stereotypes of people much, much (much) older than me. Many people find it weird how small and select my social life is, how a night in with a box set is heaven for me & how I'm 'wasting my youth'.

So this post is dedicated to all those other secret grannies living in a young body. 

You're welcome.

1) People look sad when you tell them you have no plans for the weekend, whereas you're jumping for joy at the thought. (Not leaving the house or getting dressed = best plans ever!)

2) More than three items on the calender for the week makes it a busy week. (Even if one of these events is going to the dentist.)

3) Silence is nice. You don't need to have the TV/music/YouTube/anything on to relax. 

4) People don't understand why you take a coat on a night out with you. 

(Let alone, the thought of a night out makes you want to hibernate and leaves you pondering which excuse you could use, before going on the night out & realising you're not 18 anymore.)

5) You also end up staring at people with little clothes on wondering how they're not cold.

6) Anything past 10pm 9pm is a late night.

7) You find yourself tutting at the 'youth of today'.

8) You've found yourself uttering the phrase "when I was young..."

9) On more than one occasion you've wondered what retired life would be like.

10) You like to wake up early to 'make the most of the day'. Even on the weekend. 

Now go get down with your granny self!

Ideas of adult life would be like VS actual adult life

I rarely call myself an adult. I still live at home with my parents, sleep with a cuddly toy and throw a tantrum if I'm over tired (or things don't go my way!)

However, when facing facts I'm 22, in a full time job and need to start thinking properly about my life! (I've had more quarter life crisis' in the last few months then I thought possible.)

Whether it's due to the fact that the economy is a lot different to when I was growing up or whether my parents did a much better job at pretending adult life was fun, things are definitely not how I thought they would.

When I was younger: By 22 I would've finished uni have a great job and be living in my own place.

Actual Life: I managed to finish uni, and find a job (which I know I'm incredibly lucky in doing), but I will probably be living with my parents for the best part of my twenties.
To be honest, I love my parents and don't actually mind living with them at all, but who knew houses were so expensive, and renting basically means it's even harder to save for a deposit. Also, you have to get a deposit then pay a mortgage, you don't just buy the house! Who knew?!?

When I was younger: I wish I was older so I can buy everything I want to.

Actual life: I wish I had more money so I can buy everything I want to.

When I was younger: Being able to drive is so cool, you can go anywhere.

Actual life: Being able to drive is so cool, and I can go anywhere, as long as I have enough petrol, and I've paid my car tax, and I've got enough money saved for my insurance. Oh what's that? I need new tyres? There goes my savings again.

When I was younger: I wish I got more post.

Actual life: Oh great, another bill, a leaflet, more bills, I'm entitled to a credit card.... more bills.

When I was younger: Eugh, coffee is gross.

Actual life: Eugh, coffee is gross.  

Video: Let's Chat University

So I decided to film a video about my university experience and here it is for you to view, and enjoy?

Laura xoxo

Video: TV Talk

So I watch far too much TV, but thought I'd share with you some of my all time faves. Excuse the tag coming out of my dress and necklace chain. I must check what I look like before filming.

Also, excuse how much I say incredible. 

What are your favourite shows?

Laura xoxo

Video: Facebook Fail

A little video about the things that annoy me on Facebook! Enjoy.

What annoys you on Facebook?

Laura xoxo

New Video: Get Ready With Me - Beyonce Edition

I may have mentioned it once or twice, but the other week I was lucky enough to go see Beyonce. I filmed me getting ready and thought I'd post it for you!

Sorry about the music, I'm still a bit of a noob. But if you like Beyonce, stay tuned til the end!

Hope you like,

Laura xoxo

Video: So, I'm Weird!

I may have filmed this when I was rather sleepy, couldn't be bothered to put much make-up on, and had an idea just come to me that I wanted to film. Another reason I'm weird?



What are your weird attributes? (I thought of loads more of mine. Who knows, there may even be a part two of this video at some point...)

Laura xoxo

Video: Things I Don't Understand

There is a lot about this life that confuse me. So I thought I'd share with you a video about said things. I thought it may be interesting to upload random videos like this on my channel occasionally  as I found it rather fun to film, and hopefully you'll find it entertaining to watch.


What do you find hard to understand? Do you like this kind of video?

Laura xoxo

Sunday Summary

I still haven't properly got back into the blogging mode really, plus I haven''t really worn anything interesting this week, so I came to realise that I had nothing to show you for a post today. Not wanting to not post (does that make sense?) I decided on a little summary-esque post. 

This is a photo of me at pre-drinks on New Years Eve, I was pretty blown away by the red cups the host had managed to get there hands on. My nails are Revlon's Cherry Crush, lipstick is MAC's Doubennet and my dress is from Debenhams. 

Going out for New Year was an experience. It was pretty much the same as any other night out, but more expensive, more people and ridiculous taxi fairs. Whilst it wasn't a terrible nice, good music and good friends, a part of me (the granny/intolerant to alcohol side) just wished I was in my comfy bed with a face mask on. 

I've seen a lot of resolution posts going round, but to be honest, I don't feel like making any this year. I'd rather see where the year takes me, and go from there.

Hope you've all had a lovely week, and 2013 has been good to you so far.  

Laura xoxo

Christmas Party- FOTD

Yesterday was my little sisters playgroups Christmas party, and I thought I'd make a bit of an effort for it. I also thought, why not document it and make a post out of it, 'cause I'm like that.

Base:

Rimmel Wake Me Up

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Eyes:

MAC Charcoal Brown  - Brows

Urban Decay Half Baked

Stila Smudge Stick in Damsel

MAC Powersurge

Max Factor False Lash Effect

Cheeks:

Nars Multiple in Portofino

Lips:

Loreal Rouge Caress in Rebel Red

Sorry this pictures aren't the best, I had to use my iPhone.

I also thought I'd included a few snaps of me and my little sister, one with a very special person.

Laura xoxo

What I Wore this Week

It feels nice doing another one of these posts, I actually really enjoy them, who'd have thought haha! This week has been pretty much uni based, with a lovely shopping trip with Rachel, a trip to the hairdressers and seeing my beautiful baby sister and brother.

Monday: Shirt: George at Asda // Scarf: Topshop

Tuesday: Top & Boots: New Look // Skirt: Topshop

Wednesday: Cardigan & Skirt: Topshop // Top: Fat Face // Boots: New Look

Thursday: All Topshop - I also wore my New Look Boots

Friday: Top: Topshop // Jeans: Dorothy Perkins // Boots: Primark // Scarf: H&M

Saturday: Top: George at Asda // Jeans: Dorothy Perkins // Shoes: Zara

Today will probably be a joggers day, I got up at nine to do some uni work, and now rewarding myself with a shower and blogging, oo how exciting my life is.

Also, the most exciting news of all, I now have an iPhone, wooo! I've never had a phone with internet before, which is probably why, if you follow me on Twitter, you will see I've become a tweeto'holic.
But this also means I now have Instagram which excites me immensely. If you have any app recommendations please let me know!

Instagram: callofbeautyb
Draw Something: LauraTrysToDraw

Give us a cheeky follow if you like!

Have a lovely week :)

Laura xoxo

Call of Beauty Travel Addition #2

Happy Saturday everyone! As I mentioned yesterday, I am currently in Kent, which is why I'm probably not on Twitter or replying to comments (unless my phone decides to work...) Any way I thought I would show you the things I am taking with me! Now I left on Thursday to stay in Bristol for the Night with my best friend, we then drove down to Kent on the Friday, and I'll be here until Sunday, but for that (long, rambly) reason, this post is in parts, as I am that OCD and organised.

Everyday Make-up:

Bag: Primark

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

MAC Charcoal Brown (eye brows)

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Nars Multiple in South Beach

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Cream in Ice Gold

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

RT's Buffing/Expert Face/Blush/Contour Brush

MAC 217 

Models Own Angled Brush

I was going to show you my other make-up bag, but that is basically the rest of my collection, oops! But if I do some looks I like, I will of course share them with you (there is a post for Monday on what I will probably wear on Friday, 'cause I'm sad.

I was also going to show you the skin-care I was taking with me, but I seem to have taken the whole of my bathroom, bar the sink. 

So this is kind of a pointless, rambly post, and I apologize.

Do you pack way too much stuff too?

Laura xoxo

If you follow me on Twitter @callofbeautyb, you will probably be able to see the mass of things I've taken with me!

My 20th Birthday

In case I haven't blabbed about it enough, it was my birthday on Friday (this is the last I will mention it, promise) and I thought I would try and do a lifestyle kind of post out of it! I'm not going to do a haul or what I got type post, but I thought I'd show you bits and bobs of what I got up to on the day.

I woke up and came downstairs to find a balloon and badge off of my parents which was lovely. I woke up at around 8, don't know why, but luckily from my brother it meant I was able to drop off his bag to his school as he forgot it (he goes to before school club and leaves at half seven.) On my way back, I decided to get the ingredients to make pancakes as a special b'day breakfast. YUM!

My hair I curled with my Enrapture Totem Styler (review to come soon) and my make-up was inspired my this video. And my dress is from New Look (quite old though.)

Here are a few pictures of my little cake, me and my balloon, and an awesome Moon Pig card!

And silly me forgot to picture the food (I was just too hungry, kudos to people that remember to picture it and can wait!) So here are just some pictures of my and my favourite little person and my nan! (We went to the Harvester! I had half a spit roast chicken, chips and BBQ sauce! (It was gorgeous!)

So that was my birthday, nothing exciting, just chilling with the family and a nice meal, curled up in bed before half ten. I'm such a party animal!!!

Laura xoxo

Something a Little Different

So a while back on a #bbloggers chat, Lifestyle blogs and personal life on blogs was a topic! The consensus, and my opinion is that I Lifestyle posts are very interesting. However unfortunately, my life is rather dull, but over the bank holiday weekend, my family and I headed down south for a few days at the beautiful Longleat. We stopped off at Swindon on the way for a bit of bowling and food, but Miss Brainy here cleared her camera by mistake. However I do have lots of pictures of animals for you, I hope you enjoy.

A mommy and her baby, so cute! Except when they are running all over your car and pulling off windscreen wipers!

I love the way they stand. Rather Amusing.

This made me laugh too!!

Feeding the Deer. Someone was hungry.

Whenever I look at Lions like this Nala from the Lion King just springs to mind.

I now officially want a Rabbit! SO CUTE!

Butterfly House.

Madagascar! Nuff said really!

Guinea Pig Land!

A nice hungry Rhino.

Look at the eyelashes on that!

Anne Elephant!

Moving Tiger.

OK, so maybe not a real Lifestyle post, mainly just animals, but I hoped you enjoyed looking through! It's something different! Usual schedule will resume tomorrow!

Laura xoxo