Have you seen the line up for Download Festival?

....and if not, why not?!  I suppose Rock/Metal isn't everyone's cup of tea, but my oh bloomin my, how amazing is this year's line up?! 

Stone Temple Pilots (am listening to Core as I write this entry!) ACDC, Bullet For My Valentine, Wolfmother... and I am SURE, Soundgarden are gonna get confirmed, well they HAVE to!!

http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2findex.aspx

"Kiss and make up - but too much make up has ruined many a kiss” Mae West

Mae West was way cool wasn't she?!  I thought this quite apt, as an introduction to this particular entry, re my favourite make up brand of the moment, Illamasqua.

I discovered it last year, I think it launched in either 2008/2009.  If you're someone who is afraid of experimenting with make-up and always goes for the safe option, then this brand probably isn't for you; that's not to say that there isnt something for everyone though, as there certainly is, but as a whole, it's a dramatic specimen of a brand and to me, it completely personifies the qualities and aspirations of the kind of things that excite me: costume, gothic style, the dark, glitter and sparkle, lacquer, rich vibrancy and nostalgia of times gone by.

I have a variety of the products in a fair few shades; foundations, pigments, mascara (*this is the only product so far that Im not impressed with - both the formula and brush need re-working in my opinion, and Ive used A LOT of mascaras!...and have pretty damn good eyelashes too!) lipstick, liners (for lips and eyes), eyebrow cake, cream blusher, concealer, eyeshadows, liquid metal, brushes.... Favourites are Static and Fervent in the pure pigments, Machine and Intense in the eyeshadows, Rude in the cream blusher, and I think the brushes are fantastic.

* This is further backed up by a number of other reviews Ive read online re the mascara.  Guys, if you read this, maybe conduct some new market research as it is the only product which I think isn't good at all.

Ive become make-up friends with a couple of the artists at the counter in Selfridges London; Helen and Rhiannon.  Both ladies are lovely, highly talented and are always happy to show you how to apply the latest products/trends and to give you some of their very busy time; it's always rammed in there!  I havent dealt with any of the guys there yet, but they look absolutely fabulous, I definitely want to get a tutorial booked in with Mika & Adam, who I hear between them have worked with the Pussycat Dolls and Courtney Love!

There are also a variety of tutorials you can book in for; whether it's a simple make-up lesson or you want to be given a certain look (see some of my faves below!)  They also do lessons in how to apply falsh eyelashes, gotta get at least one of them booked in!

Check it out, it will change your life! http://www.illamasqua.com/

"Headaches are like resolutions. You forget them as soon as they stop hurting" Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) Psycho, 1960

The above quote, from Psycho, is one of the many memorable quotes, I think, from one of the best movies ever made.  I thought it particularly fitting, given the time of year.  Well Happy New Year!!  How was yours?

A few of us spent ours in the freeeeeeezing cold temperatures on Dec 31st, watching the London Fireworks.  They were the best Ive ever seen, and I am a self-confessed firework/fire addict...pyromaniac?  Possibly... However, having to wait for four hours for the ten minute spectacular to begin, in what was arctic conditions (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but you get my drift, right?) has led me to conclude that that will probably be the first and last time I intend to do that.  We had to get there early as the entry gates were to close at 8pm, or as soon as the capacity of 180,000 was met, so from around 8pm until midnight, the four of us sat there freeeeeezing our little selves off.  We took supplies with, namely mulled wine in flasks, beer that none of us drank due to the cold (have I already mentioned that it was cold?) crisps, choccie and a cake a friend had brought via Amsterdam ;) and luckily, all of the above kept us occupied until the clock struck, which we could hear perfectly, due to us sitting on a wall directly under Big Ben!

It's also the time of year where people make resolutions isn't it?  Ive resolved not to make any!  Well not any serious ones, such as "I will never do this" or "I will always do that"  Someone once said to me that it's harsh to put "shoulds" on yourself..."I should be/do...." as this can just drive you crazy and ultimately make you unhappy.  What I have decided though, is to pick up my bass guitar again and start playing.  I got made redundant last year and had to stop with the lessons as I couldnt afford the extra £80 a month, but with the skills Ive built up, there's no reason why I cant start playing again.  Apart from that, Ive re-joined the gym.  It costs so much more money here in London to join a gym, double what it was in Manchester, but Ive found a local council run one which is fab and very close to where I live for half the price of most gyms here, so Ive resolved to get back into that again.  Apart from that, Im just going to try to improve myself (if that's possible haha) whether it's through the way I treat myself, others, my outlook on and attitude to things.  Did I say I hadn't made any resolutions?....now it seems I have made some....hmmmmm!...Im seeing them as an on-going process though, no pressure.  Like Marion Crane said, "Headaches are like resolutions. You forget them as soon as they stop hurting"