Animal Instinct

I am getting good at practising now!

So today's inspiration came from my phone's case, its exactly like this (but a bit older and worn now)!

I decided to take a few more shots to put on here to as it helps show how i got to achieve the look:

I started with a few coats of white!

Followed by a few dots of red on each nail in various sizes - I did this with a hair pin!

These are the products I used (plus a hair pin)

I took the pics in bad lighting I know but I always do my nails before bed at around 10pm, so lighting is a challenge! I am also often on my phone when I paint my nails so sometimes they aren't perfect - but I'm working on it!

I love doing leopard nails now and they've become 'my thing' to some of my friends, so I will continue doing leopard in different colours but I do want to try some other cool stuff too!!!

Heidi xxx

Got Tiger Blood?

Here are a couple of my nail designs, I practice on false nails and either stick them on or paint the deigns onto the nails. My nails don't grow very well so I usually stick a set on!

a couple from halloween and a couple of recent animal print ones, as I wear a lot of it and everyone seems to like them!

Heidi xxx

Bring on the New Year

So 2011 has almost come to an end now and I'm wondering where the time went. I don't feel like I have been able to achieve enough because money became such an issue. I am now preparing for a much better 2012. I am already applying for jobs in London and now spend most of my weekends there. Ideally I'd work as a Make-Up Artist but I also wouldn't mind being in a creative office. I'd love to work in a Fashion or TV Production office. I know I'd be really good at that too!

Anyway!

Here are some examples of nail art that I have achieved lately!!

I think I'm getting better!

Heidi xx

Nailease Review

I have discovered a new love for nail art and the weirder, the better!

I bought myself a nail art pen too which I have had a ball with, I can do leopard print like a pro now, I find it more presentable to use false nails to paint on and then attach them to my real nails. My nails are too short unfortunately!

On the other hand, there is an easier option yet- and probably favourable now I work in an office and can't type with falsies on!

NAILEASE! They are stickers really, and you pop the right size one on, and file off the excess! It lasts about a week and is ideal if you're like me and you paint your nails then leave then until they are embarrassingly chipped!

Nail varnish remover takes them off and there are a good variety of sizes. I went for leopard print and a colleague who saw mine went and bought the polka dot ones the next morning!

I will try out the ones with a lipstick print on next I think!

H xx

Outlook Festival - My Experience - 3. What to take & Overall

WHAT TO TAKE?

Money - You will need around £200, but it really depends on who you are, if you know you eat and drink a lot then take more, there is a restaurant that is a bit more pricey and you can just live off the bakery and snacks. I was skint last year and took £100 but ran out, I will take £200 this year so I can eat!

Passport - Obviously you need this but I think they keep them at the campsite reception so you don't have to have them in your tents.

Swimwear - It was hot last year and everyone has to have a dip in the sea, there's inflatables too!!!

Sleeping Bag - Obvious right? I didn't take one last year... I was that skint! Some guy I chatted to on beach lent me a blanket from the hostel on the last night though - yay!

Shampoo -  Yes there are showers :)

Minimal Clothes - It's hot and dusty generally so take stuff thats ok to get messed up a bit. It might rain, but should be that nice hot weather rain!

TIP # 1


The fort gets so dusty that almost everyone came back with husky voices, the 'Outlook Lung' type thing. Blokes began to wear scarves over their faces, so guys bring your balaklavas! And girls too, unless your like me and just accept huskiness (it sounds sexy right?).
TIP # 2
Wear shoes that you don't care about getting dirty, DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS they told us that persistantly last year, and I'm glad. I took boots and they were amazing to have but did age very quickly! I will be wearing boots again, I wanted some nice Dunks but no no, they will be destroyed!

LADIES - WHAT TO WEAR??


Luckily, there are nice bathrooms with mirrors, sinks and showers but theres only minimal mirrors so you might not nab one, but you can try. A lot of girls were really going for it with hair and make up so if you are a dress up and full make up girl then don't imagine you will have to slum it for a few days! Your hair might go a bit cavegirl but it looks quite cool anyway.

I was suprised at what people were wearing as I thought it was going to be less dressed up but some girls had nice dresses on and there was a lot of hippy girls. So you can be yourself - which I love!

I took hot pants which are good for day and night

Bikinis - Took a couple to mix it up

I wore Boots at the fort and nothing much on feet in day

Vest Tops to whack over bikini and with shorts at night

Bandanas went down a treat to stop coughing at the fort and to put hair up in the day -making it look nice

Take whatever really cos no one judges, this festival is so friendly and you meet all sorts of people!

OVERALL

Outlook Festival 2010 was the best week ever - The music, The people, The Venue and the combination of these just rolled into one big ball of AWESOMENESS!

3 weeks till Outlook Festival 2011...

H xx

Outlook Festival - My Experience - 2. Music & Venue

So the reason we all went and are all going again is all down to the music!! Now, I am no music snob - I really hate it when people argue about music and don't listen to certain music cos it's not cool. You should discuss it when you are passionate and that is what I like to do.

BOAT PARTIES

I didn't get to go on a boat party last year because I was lacking funds and was a bit too relaxed that I missed out (got a ticket this year - what a battle that was too!!!) so I can't say much on this but I have heard they are awesome! I have also heard that you pay with kuna (not tokens) on them and they can get a little bit slidey. Do correct me if I am wrong, but hey I will soon find out.

MUSIC

I went without knowing a lot of the artists as some were not very well known at this point, but that was the beauty of it! I got to see my favourites including Plastician, Alix Perez, Roots Manuva, P Money, D Double etc etc and was introduced to heaps more talent. When you arrive you can buy a little menu (as I like to call it) of set times and it has more festival related information inside too.

TIP

If you plan on going to see one of the big acts, get there early as they do stop letting people into arenas once they are too busy and you can't really jump over the walls unless your spiderman.

The daytime is a mix up of reggae, dancehall, chilled dnb and more to get the beach vibes surfing. There is a sandpit area where daytime ravers can skank out and has drink and food stalls around. It's heaven basically. The pebbled beach is right on your doorstep if you camp, you might need to adjust some rocks though, especially the blokes, as it is a liiiiiitle uncomfortable at times.

VENUE

The fort is a short walk from the campsite and when you first approach it there is security men to stop you from bringing bottles in, you gotta buy your booze at the bars. Once you've concealed your booze and pretended to be fat you will see the fort in all it's glory. Worship it, as this is your church for the next few days.

The main area is on your right and hosts the big boys, it has a bar and a secret little upstairs bit (didnt understand that). There is also the outside arena on your left, which has hay bails around to sit on and another bar, its nice when your boiling hot to come here and cool off.

Theres some cheeky little stalls selling stuff- it is literally stuff I didn't take much notice of it in my excitement, think they might have sold cigarettes on the sly. These are as you walk through to reach the other rooms like Mungos Arena (which was my favourite - it was not as big as the main arena so you can squash to the front and it busy enough to be a decent act!).
There was also Noahs Ballroom, which was tiny and had such a unique feel to it, loved it for the novelty value! Now, the Dungeon was so hidden that we didn't know about it on our first night, were all a bit scatty you see.

There are portaloos around and last year there was never tragic queues, nothing like other festivals and they were in a good enough state. The bar queues were ok too, you're gonna have to queue at all these things but it was not ridiculous here.


H xx

Outlook Festival - My Experience - 1. Transport & Campsite

This is a bit different to what I have previously posted but as I no longer use this for my studies ( I have finished uni now!) I am keen on posting other items on my blog!

So, last year (which was 2010) I went to Outlook Festival - see http://www.outlookfestival.co.uk/ for more info. It was pretty much, almost definately, actually it was, the most fun... EVER!

TRANSPORT - COACH!!
The coach trip was painful... (Don't get me wrong I am not about to moan for this whole entry, just read on.) I can't sleep on public transport so that was a harsh 30 something hour drive. A couple of dorks took drugs on the coach too so we were stopped for a few hours at the Italian border - luckily they had such small amounts of weed they just had it taken away and were warned. No one was happy about that, as we are told many times by the organisers not to take anything, but sniffer dogs are used on luggage and on board the coach!

The way back was not cool, we didn't notice any of the signs saying the time change for coach departure so we were a little late *awkwarrrrrd* and had to sit with the most irritating human in the world. She was on her own when she left the festival but didn't go alone.

The coach stops enough times for everyone to take sychronised wee breaks and get food/drink. Switzerland is beautiful to drive through (looks like lego) but SO expensive - I'm talking £7 for a side salad.

TIPS

• Take snacks - anything dry like crisps as they won't squidge everywhere, my friends scotch egg rolled down the aisle!

P.S. This year... I've decided to fly! Coach is good if you can sleep and I suspect some coaches will be more fun than others. They did put on some tunes during the day n whacked on some DVDs and it was good value.

CAMPSITE
When we arrived I was almost insane with lethargy!! I put up my tent in no time (had one to myself) then helped my mates put up theirs! We chose a spot in the shade (good choice) and also near the bathrooms (but not too near that it smells!) but due to my desperation to get in my tent, I didnt notice the large rock underneath. I couldn't be bothered to move so I manned up and dealt with it!

Obviously we had to have a look around. The campsite was awesome - clean bathrooms when we arrived with showers, nice! Beach was looking tempting under the sun and had big inflatables at the ready, yeah that's right, inflatables.

There's a shop in the campsite (sells booze!), little market stalls with nice bread and fruit (huge watermelon slices - shame I don't like watermelon) and lots of burger/chips/drinks stands all over the place! Only problem with them was that most of the things on the menu weren't being served at all, and if you asked for one of the things they didn't have they looked at you like hell, it was quite funny though...
There was other holiday makers there who weren't there for the festival, the occassional child lurking around which didn't seem right! I saw a man with his family go and have a dance on the sandpit by the beach DJs!!

*to be continued...*


H x