Lush Bath Bomb Review: Honey Bee.

Ahhhh, Lush. The word that makes most bloggers squeal with joy - including my own. I love the place! Yesterday I was in the city with my mum, so, with a few coins jangling in my pocket, I walked into Lush. I was originally going to get The Comforter, but considering that a) it cost more than I had and b) I had already tried the shower gel so I wanted to switch things up a bit, so I got the Honey Bee bath bomb. This thing is soooo pretty - I mean, just look at it!

I do feel that it is a real bang for your buck. I mean, I paid $6.50 (about 12 pounds? I think) for this, and I've gotten three uses out of this already. All the baths were still amazing considering the smaller portions I used, and I do have a feeling I'll be buying this again in the future.

However, they say to get the bad stuff out of the way first. So here are the minor complaints about it:

• I was under the impression that all Lush bath bombs have bubbles. And I haven't had a bubble bath since I was ten years old. So I was kinda looking forward to that side of things. There weren't any bubbles, to say the least. But this is my own fault for not realising that, and the bath itself was still amazing.
• This is going to sound really rude and horrid... But the colour it turned the bath? It looked like I'd peed in it. Once again, this didn't really change my opinion on the product and it was really good... But a bath is warm. So is pee. Really, it actually grossed me out a bit, because it felt like I was lying in a bath of my own piss.

However, I still really liked the bath! Neither of those things would stop me from buying it again (which I do think I'll be doing) and they're only minor problems. Now, let's get to the good side of this product:

• The price! I really cannot afford some of the more expensive Lush stuff, mainly because... Well, when I get $5 every once in a blue moon, I'm not exactly going to rush to buy a 100ml shower gel for 10 bucks, am I right? But I really like that as well as having some more expensive products, they also have smaller bargains that others can afford as well.
• The smell. Hands down, I love the smell. It smells like honey, obviously, but it also smells like so much more. It's BRILLIANT!! I don't even know how to describe it - kinda like honey mixed with a bit of spice? All I know is that you'll be finding every way possible to get into your bathroom the next day because it just smells so damn amazing!
• It totally moisturises you. My skin was baby soft after this, and it was soooo soothing for me. It goes all the way through - Lush is no knockoff moisturiser! I was definitely very sleepy after this!
• How many uses you can get out of it. I'm going to do a bit of maths now. So I think this will last me for 4 washes. 6.50 divided by 4 equals 1.15, or near that. And it does all of the above. I was really impressed by this side of things and it just makes me even more excited to try another bath bomb!

Overall, whilst the Honey Bee does have a few miniscule complaints from me, all around I was really impressed with this product. It does the job brilliantly, is extremely affordable, and has some major perks to it. This is a product I highly recommend! What are your favourite Lush products? Tell me in the comments below.

El xx  

A Story I Need To Share!

Hey, everyone! I know I've already posted today, so I'm sorry if I'm clogging up your email/bloglovin account/blogger dashboard. But today I wrote a story that I really, really wanted to share. You've all loved it when I've shared my poetry, so I thought you might like this. I am SUPER proud of it and I hope you like :-) I haven't actually edited this AT ALL yet, this is the first draft, so I don't blame you if you think it's awful. Anyway, let's get this on the road!

If I was to give you my advice, you'd be shocked by it. Not that I ever would, of course; if I start talking now, I won't ever be able to stop. All the emotion, pain and lust within me would bleed out until there was nothing left, like pulp from a passionfruit. People say they have secrets; I'm going to tell you a secret within a secret. 
They don't. They don't know what it's like to feel a blade against your skin, somehow burning hot yet freezing you at the same time. They don't know what it's like to kiss a boy who tastes like barley sugar, who is so wrong yet right for a girl like me. They don't know what it's like to live with all these thoughts going through their heads, jumbled up and broken. I thought I could sympathise with people who made stupid assumptions, at first. 
But then I realised - I can't. It chips away at me, bit by bit. Soon I'll be nothing but a pile of shattered bones. These people aren't afraid of things like I am. They say the only thing to fear is fear itself; I beg to differ. 
The only thing that every human, at some point, universally hates and fears, is oneself.
Fear is not anything without secrets. Fear is not anything without self loathing. Fear traps us all.
I keep my own secrets, fear entangled within them.

I know, I know, it's very cringe worthy.. But I'm actually proud of it! What do you think? Leave it in the comments below :-)

El xx

March Favourites.

Hello, everyone! At the start of the year I made a pact to myself that I would do more posts - and I have been. But I also wanted to start getting into the habit of doing some more series. I do have my Sketch Of The Week, as you know, but I also wanted to do a few more monthly favourites. I got into my stride in January... And kinda forgot about it in February. Anyway, let's get to the actual point of this - my March favourites! I hope you enjoy.

Pintrest.

What is it with that big red P that has got me so addicted? I know I'm not the only one (damn, now this post is turning into a Sam Smith song) but I honestly think that there should be some kinda rehab for Pintrest addicts - because, unfortunately, I'd be turned in. The place is amazing - with so many different pins and GIFs to look at, it's hard to not be addicted.

Run 3

I feel horrifically embarrassed to admit to this one, seeing as it's a game probably intended for two year olds, but it is honestly so addicting. Basically, you've got to make the little dude on the screen jump around the cave type thingy to get to the next level. It's very addicting (and great for when I simply have no motivation to blog).

Writing!

On basically all the March Favourite posts I've seen so far this month, I've mentioned writing quite a bit as one of my March favourites. I don't even know why I'm so obsessed with it lately - all I know is that when I get it, I need to write it down! Songwriting, poetry and fanfiction (as you all know) are becoming a major favourite lately, and I'm having so much fun exploring it and playing around with ideas. I still haven't published my second chapter, but that's because I'm editing it at the mo (and I'm also procrastinating from that :P)

What have been your favourites this month? Leave them in the comments below!

El xx

Happy Easter + Mini Haul

Hello, everyone! To start off this post, I'd like to wish you a very big HAPPY EASTER! I've been eating waaaaaaaaaaay to much chocolate for my own good, as you can probably tell I'm a bit of a pig ;). But enough on my way too large very small chocolate addiction. I really hope that you had a great Easter, with enough chocolate to put you into a sugar coma. :-)

I also have a bit of a haul for you! Yesterday I decided to go up to my local op shop, and I got a lovely little hat! I am honestly in love with this thing, it looks so quirky and cute. And I was also in love with the price tag. Five bucks for this beauty, and it retails for SEVENTY DOLLARS! I was so happy with this lil' bargain.

I also went into the city with my dad, and with enough cajoling I also managed to get him into Lush. Unfortunately I can't afford most of the products and will have to wait till my birthday before I can get proper bottles of anything :'(. But, the lady at the counter was nice enough to offer me two samples! I was absolutely insane at that, insisting on sniffing everything in the shop (my dad was going insane by this point :) until, FINALLY, I came to a decision. I desperately wanted to try Prince Charming as it smelt insanely good, but since it was limited edition I wasn't allowed to. Instead, I opted for The Comforter shower gel, mainly because I'd heard such amazing things about it, and Honey I Washed The Kids, because I love the scent of honey. They are actually very photogenic - look at these little beauties!

I've been using very small amounts of these, to make them last, and I can say that a little goes such a long way. My skin is soooo much softer and it smells amazing (I keep on sniffing myself, I must look like such an eejit). I really am looking forward to my birthday now, with the promise of Lush!

Have a great Easter, everyone! May your day be as joyful as mine! :-)

El xx

Finish The Sentence | Collab With Acqua.

Hey, everyone! Today do I have a post for you! Acqua and I have put together a little 'Finish The Sentence' collab, so I will be posting her answers and she will be posting mine. Please go check her blog out, it is absolutely AWESOME!! Anyway, let's get this on the road.

1. My grandpa once: let me style his hair and braid it with tiny braids hahaha I loved him and still miss him after these 7 years!

2. Never in my life have I: gotten drunk. 

3. When I was younger, I: was the most shy and insecure child!

4. When I'm nervous: my hands always sweat! It's really annoying when I have a violin concert hahaha

5. If I were to get married right now: I wish it could be near where I live, because I don't think I could stand being permanently away from it!

6. My hair is: really, reaaaaally long.

7.My feet are: way too big for my height hahaha

8. Last Christmas: all of my cousins gathered for the family lunch, something that hadn't happened for years!

9. When I turn my head left: I see my uni homework >.<

10. When I turn my head right: I see my brother composing a song.

11. My life is not complete without: working with children. I don't think I could live without it!

12. By this time next year: I will be about to finish my uni studies and I'm terrified of what comes after. I'd like it to be either a masters degree or a year off in the UK, but you never know!

13. I have a hard time understanding: why people just keep judging others like it had something to do with them. Just live and let live!

14. One time at a family gathering: my little cousin sang a really funny old song and it was HILARIOUS.

15. Take my advice: be confident that the future holds amazing things for you. Don't you ever think you won't get a good future. Trust, hope and work hard. Things will work out all right in the end :)

16. My ideal breakfast is: a delicious thing we call "bomb croissants". They're just handmade croissants full of nutella-like chocolate, which is so bad for your health but so delicious hahaha Because they're not healthy we only eat them on special occasions, which makes them even more precious!

17. If you visit my hometown: you'll find it really small and you'll see that almost everyone knows me because I'm just involved with every activity that takes place here hahaha There is a crazy amount of cultural activities considering the size of the village!

18. My friends are: crazy and awesome.

19. If you spend the night at my house: we'll probably have to put things into place before hahaha We're really clean, but we're just too messy!

20. The world could do without: wars and hatred.

21. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: eat it? hahaha

22. The most recent thing I've bought myself is: cookies because I had to climb a mountain and I needed something to eat when I got to the top!

23. And, by the way: you're awesome!

24. My Birthday: is a time of the year when everybody is on holidays so I actually spend it quite alone hahaha I used to hate it when I was younger!

25. In the past I shouldn't have been: so harsh to myself.

26. Last night, I: went to sleep early to climb the mountain this morning! Hahaha

27. If I didn't have any obligations tomorrow: I would still do something out, I NEVER spend a whole day home, it doesn't do any good for my health!

28. In the last 6 months: I've seen a friend recover from cancer and it was the best thing!

29. I bet you didn't know: I don't like to use shoes when I'm home!

30. I am: a mess.

31. I read: a lot.

32. I regret: having worried so much about what others think of me

What Are My Favourite Singers/Bands?

I don't really think I've ever really talked about my music preferences on this. I mean, I talked a bit in depth about it during one of my numerous Liebster award posts, but I haven't really talked about it at all. I think it is really interesting to hear about someone's music tastes; after all, I think it can really sum up one's personality! Anyway, here is my (rather long and random!) list.

Pentatonix

My friend introduced me to Pentatonix earlier this year, and I can honestly say I've fallen in love with them. They do amazing a capella - like honestly, amazing. I cannot rave about them enough, except to say that they are definitely my favourite out of all the bands listed on here. They have amazing tones, they write awesome music (please please PLEASE check out their song Sing) and they do covers that are better than the original. Enough said.

Favourite song: Sing.

Fleur East 

Acqua and I have a shared love of this woman! I love love love her - Fleur's songs are so original and catchy. They're light and upbeat and just downright awesome. She is so much fun and her songs always inject a bit of happiness into you. She has been compared to Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson (for her killer dance moves!) and I personally she's better than the two combined. Enough said.

Favourite song: Sax.

Lorde

I think you will know this lady better than a few of the others, but I genuinely love Lorde. Her songs have this vibe to them that just makes them amazing, and she sounds so good. I loved her when she first released Royals (and I didn't even like it the first time I heard it!) and I still love her now.

Favourite song: Yellow Flicker Beat.

Sia

Sia is such an awesome singer. Not only does she have incredible range and tone, but she has an amazing backstory that I love. I also deeply admire her courage and strength to be able to perform, considering that she has struggled with depression and self harm for years. She truly deserves her fame.

Favourite song: Big Girls Cry.

Jess Glynne

I honestly don't know what it is about Jess Glynne that makes me love her so much. I truly don't. But there's something about her that I love so much. Her songs are heartfelt and serious and I can relate to them so much. I just adore her music style and her songs all round.

Favourite song: Don't Be So Hard On Yourself & Real Love.

Elle King.

Elle King has a very Western country vibe to her voice, but I love her for this exact reason! I normally hate country music but she manages to put her own little spin on it that I love. She really stands out in the industry; most current songs seem to be carbon copies of each other, so this makes her stand out. I also can't help but love her tattoo's: they are so damn awesome!

Favourite song: Ex's and Oh's.

AC/DC

They are definitely a very old band, but I cannot help but love their music! It is just so fun and I love belting out their lyrics with my friends, it always puts me in a great mood! Honestly, this is a band that I listen to when I'm upset or exhausted or stressed out and it always puts a great big smile on my face :-)

Favourite song: Thunderstruck.

KISS

Once again, these dudes have been around for quite a bit, but their music is just damn awesome. My dad originally showed me this band and we love to listen to them together (when we're not watching John Oliver :)). Their music is just so hardcore and I love love love it!

Favourite song: Deuce.

I hope you liked this post! It was so much fun to write and I think that you might know a bit more about me now. Who are your favourite singers? Post 'em in the comments below! And please check out these ones if you haven't already! Have a great night everyone. 

El xx

Fanfic: To Be Or Not To Be?

I think you'll all know that I love me some writing. Whether it's reading someone else's (a.k.a books) or writing my own, I just think that there is something so truly magical about writing. And I don't mean dudes pulling rabbits out of hats - I mean the undercurrent, subtle magic that revolves around us without us even noticing. Somehow, it's just... Amazing. In ways I can't even put into words.

Enough of my incoherent ramblings. To get to the point of this post, I'd like to announce that I've started writing fanfiction. I'm writing Dance Academy (an Aussie TV show) fanfiction with my friend from school, and despite the fact that we are all talk and no work, I have hopes that we will actually be able to get this off the ground. Maybe. Someday. Probably when we stop swooning over how hot Keiynan Lonsdale is...

But, I've also started writing some stuff by myself. I was thinking for ages about writing fanfic, but if I'm being honest, I didn't give a flying fart about most books that generate the most fanfiction (I'm talking about The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, that kind of thing). It took me a long, long time to realise a character that I was actually interested in exploring and looking into: the Cheshire Cat.

I think we all know just how goddamn obsessed I am with Alice in Wonderland. The story, the land, the characters, the everything serve to create a darkly thrilling book and movie. I honestly cannot rave about this enough, especially not when it comes to the Cheshire Cat.

Thing is, what is the Cheshire Cat's background? Why is he in Wonderland? What got him there in the first place? And does he know anything about how the Mad Hatter got there? They are just some of the few questions I thought about the Cheshire Cat, and why I'm now writing a fanfiction based around him. I actually plan to work on this during Camp NaNoWriMo, mainly because I have almost no good ideas at the moment. Except for one, which I actually plan to give it's on little backstory in a post that will come out at some point.

I have no idea whether this is going to be an absolute flop or if I'm going to end up being as big as Cath was in Fangirl. I have no idea if I'll actually be able to get this idea off the ground or if it just won't work. I have no idea about anything, really. But I do want to give it a try. And if I give it a try... Well, that's the first step I've taken!

Hugs,

El xx

(If you want to check out what I've published so far, go here)

Sketch Of The Week #2 And A Bit Of Poetry AND 50th Post!

Hey Munchkins! So I'm doing my SOTW, as planned, but I realised that that was going to be super short, because I wouldn't do anything but post the picture and maybe waffle on like I do constantly a little bit. Sooooo, I decided to share some poetry of mine. You know those moments when you get, like, a world changing story idea or really good poetry? And you're right in the middle of a maths/science/English test? That's kinda what happened to me, except I finished early and I got to write 'em down! I'll only be posting one of the poems here, if you'd like to see the others than notify me in the comments.

Anyway, enough talking! Let's get to the point of this post: the sketch!

I am so, so happy with this sketch! Mainly because I didn't use any kinda tutorials, I just used a photo (thanks for the advice, Rosie!). And I love love love love LOVE the Cheshire Cat. Like honestly, I can never and will never be able to choose between him and the Mad Hatter. My heart splits perfectly in two so I can give one half to each. The pain..

To close things off, I'll finish with the aforementioned poetry.

What if

Smiles were fake 

Laughter forced

If life was

A thoughtless ghost.

What if

The sky was yellow

My skin bright green

The ocean was a raging canyon

All colours of the world.

What if

Reality wasn't so harsh

Life was a perfect utopia

High school not so exhausting.

What if

The statement used 

To fulfill 

The dreams 

Of many.

I hope you liked this little post! I also wanted to mention that this is officially my 50TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited, this feels like a major milestone for me and I've been re reading all my old posts today. To think what this blog started out with, to where I am with it now - I couldn't be happier. A big shoutout to Acqua, who also just reached a milestone with her blog! Well done on 1000 pageviews, dear! And to anyone who has something worthy of a shoutout - whether it be 1000 or 100000000 pageviews, even acing a maths test at school - YOU GET A SHOUTOUT TOO! Have a great day/night everyone!

El xx   

What Do I Want To Do With My Life?

I've been thinking about this lately. What do I want to do with my life? What do I want to get out of it? I wish life was simple, easy: for years I've just envisioned that I'd map out my life and that would be that. But nothing is ever that simple. And definitely not something as big as this topic.

So what do I want to do with my life? I just keep on repeating that over and over, because I really have no clue. But I do have dreams. Massive dreams that engulf me and make me so passionate because I want them to happen. I want them so bad. I do know what I'd like to do with my life, and for the moment, I'm working toward trying to achieve a few. Not many. A few. Here is my list.

Write a novel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been working on this dream for so long. Ever since prep, when I came home with my first 'book' heavily decorated with pasta and glitter, this has always been a dream of mine. I got distracted over the next few years with history and novels and music and really hot male celebrities but I've realised that it never really left me. I still want it as badly as when I wrote that first story. I am currently working on a novel, and am in the stages of planning it even though all I want to do is write. But hey, at least it'll be that much better when I actually begin.

Expand my blog and meet new bloggers.
I have so many amazing blogger friends, of whom I actually consider some of the closest people in my life even though I've never met them. I would love love love to be able to talk to more bloggers, as it's so fun and I really do enjoy the lovely emails you guys send me. If you'd like to get in contact with me, my email is fragmentsofthestars23@gmail.com. Please do send me an email, I promise I don't bite! And to have more readers would be amazing. I don't expect to get 2 million followers overnight - and I don't really want to, otherwise I wouldn't be able to connect with you guys as much! But to have a few hundred followers would be so so so awesome.

Somehow turn watching The Graham Norton Show into a career.
Yeah... Onto the next one...

Accept what's happened to me and move on.
This is a pretty weird one to include. I think you guys were all expecting the to be fun and light, but this is something that I really need to work on. I think you all know that I've been through some pretty tough times, but if you don't... Well, I have. I really do think that I need to move on from what's happened in my life and try to focus on my future (and achieving all of these). I can leave my childhood for what it is: a past that I don't want to visit. And I can accept my future for what it is: an adventure I haven't started.

So I hope you like this little post, and I will have a sketch of the week up tomorrow! It will, once again, be Alice in Wonderland themed - why don't you try and guess which character it'll be? See you tomorrow, earthlings!

El xxx

Sketch of the week #1

Hey, everyone! As you will quite clearly remember from my last post, I have all of a sudden become OBSESSED with sketching. Like, I'm doing at least three drawings a day at the moment. With my creative mind going around in whirlpools at just how many (crappy) sketches I'm doing, I figured I'd start a new little series on my blog: Sketch of the week! I also have a little announcement, which I will make at the end of the post.

So here is this week's sketch!

I have no clue as to whether I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it now: I love the early Disney films. The new ones are good, but there's something about the old ones that makes me go back to them every. Single. Time.

As you have probably already told, Alice in Wonderland is by far one of my favourite Disney movies (I can't pick between it and Mulan!) And I love The Mad Hatter sooooooooooo much. He is totally one of my favourite movie characters. I don't know why, I just love him :) :)

Anyways, the announcement! Remember last year when I spectacualrly failed at NaNoWriMo did really well at NaNoWriMo? Well, the time has rolled around for camp NaNoWriMo! I still have to wait another 25 days before it starts, but I'm much more excited about this than last time because I chose my word count, and I'm going to do 15,000 words - 500 words a day. This will hopefully be a lot more manageable and I'm really hoping that I'll win this time! So wish me luck! :-)

El xx 

Doodles and Sketches

Hey world! Lately with school, I've been getting really stressed out, mainly with all the school work and all the expectations placed on me. It's come to test time and I'm really stressed out as I have quite a few assignments to look at and I need to do revision for an upcoming test. It's freaking me out massively and so I've found lately that sketching is really helping to calm my nerves. I know that it will get easier in a weird way and that it's only my first term, but I've been loving art lately anyway. Here are a few of my latest sketches:

I'm sorry about the lighting in the first one, it's not all that great! However I am really happy with both of these pictures - they're some of my best pictures to date. My art teacher's been really great with helping me - for years I've done straight, thick lines which has made it really hard to erase and make it look better. Now I've learnt that you should do lots of little lines that make it much easier to erase and edit, and it just looks all round better than what I was doing before. A lot better.

What are your methods for coping with revision stress? I have this.... And a very unhealthy chocolate addiction...

El xx