Book review: Little Book of Vintage Horror...

(I'll warn you now this post is very picture heavy.) Today's book review is something a little different. I am a huge fan of anything classic horror related, in fact I love anything horror related in general and also love old comic books; so I was pretty pleased to receive the Little Vintage Book of Horror for my Birthday. 

The book focuses on 'The Golden Age of Horror' which began with the release of issue one of Eerie Comics in January 1947- the first complete front to back horror comic. The popularity of that series led to tons of different releases throughout the early 1950s right up until 1954 when a child psychologist claimed that horror comics encouraged juvenile delinquency causing strict regulations to be put in place, and effectively kill off the genre.

This little book includes a collection of various comic book covers, full comic strips, different images and full stories such as the brilliantly titled "The Cellar of Blood!" and "King of the Zombies." There's so much great (and amusing) artwork to enjoy in this book I had to photograph some to share...

"Have you ever been too frightened to scream... too terror stricken to to move? This is the sensation that awaits you behind this cover!"

This is by far my favourite page, and never fails to make me laugh. Annoyingly the stupid flash hides some of the words -_- but it says "Let go, you blasted monsters! Let go of me! Get your filthy flappers off of me!"

 

So many brilliant "Aiyeeeeeee!" images! 

The book also comes with a comic book cover magnet in the back. Overall I love this little book, and think it makes the perfect gift for comic book fans. If you are not into horror they also have versions for vintage romance, sc-fi, terror, space, crime and love to name a few! Tempting to collect them all...

The Blogger Tag...

I felt in the (lazy Sunday) mood for doing a tag today and have seen this one a few times so thought I'd give it a go...

What is your Favourite beauty product?
To be honest I change my mind all the time, and am always changing what I use. There's only one product that comes to mind that I have always loved and that's Russian Red lipstick by Mac which is my all time favourite lipstick.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Most certainly Japan. Ever since I learnt about Japan at school I've had a deep fascination with the place. I am obsessed with Japanese popular culture and all things kawaii. Forget Disney World, Sanrio Puroland is where it's at.

What is your all-time favourite brand?
In terms of cosmetics it would have to be Etude House (slight obsession with them...) and Illamasqua. 

Do you collect anything? If so what is it?
I have a tendency to start collecting all sorts of things... over the years I have collected Hello Kitty items, kawaii stationery, donut related stuff, picture postcards, vinyl records, pin badges, Garbage music memorabilia, Tarantino film memorabilia... See what I mean??!  

Early-bird or night-owl?
100% night owl. I'm completely useless and zombie-like in the morning, night time is when I get things done.

Tea or coffee?
I can't go a day without at least one cup of coffee, tea on the other hand can go and never come back. Just the smell of it makes me shudder in disgust. Kind of like this:

What is your favourite TV show?
My all time favourite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and despite having watched each episode about 8343260782 times, I'll never get bored of it. I also love Homeland, Breaking Bad, The X Files, Spaced, and Being Human to name a few *watches too much Netflix*.

If you could travel to any era, what would it be?
For some reason I'm drawn to the 40s and 50s. I would also love to experience the 80s as an adult so I can fully appreciate the terrible fashion and great music (and go and see The Smiths live.) Randomly I also find the Tudor period fascinating and would love to visit the times of Henry VIII or Elizabeth I (although not for long as it's probably pretty grim!) 

If anyone else wants to do this tag then I tag you!

Ebay Picks: Shoes

Pastel purple wedge sandals £19.99 here

Cat ballerina flats £7.84 here

Holographic pumps £8.99 here

Lace up military boots £13.99 here

Pastel blue cut out platforms £19.99 here

Pink hologram platform sandals £19.95 here

Block heel ankle boots £19.99 here

Some of these shoes make me seriously wish I wasn't so terrible at walking in heels :(

Seventeen Polka Dots Nail Effects...

I love nail effect toppers and was instantly drawn to this one from Seventeen. I chose the Blue Mix which is a combination of light and dark blue and black hexagonal pieces in a clear polish. I usually always wear these over a coloured base coat, but thought I'd give it a try on it's own. It took a bit of patience to get each nail fully covered, but I quite like the end result. I also used Maybelline Express Finish Diamonds in Flash Cosmic which has fine iridescent blue glitter (you can just about see it in the picture) as a top coat to add a bit of shimmer. It lasted on my nails for about a week before it started to come off.

The reading tag...

Do you have a certain place for reading at home?

Generally I prefer to read in bed, all cosy with my Pyjamas but if I'm really enjoying a book then I'll read it wherever. 

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Pretty much whatever I can grab that's nearest to me, which is usually a scrap of paper or a tissue. Folding down the page is the LAST RESORT!

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?

Under no circumstance can I stop reading until I get to the end of a chapter. I take that really seriously. ಠ~ಠ

Do you eat or drink when reading?

Not usually, I like to give the book my whole attention, also it's awkward holding a book and eating.

One book at a time or several at once?

I struggle to read more than one book as I tend to get mixed up, and I have a terrible memory so it's a disaster!

Reading at home or everywhere?

I prefer to read at home, as out and about it tends to be too loud to concentrate and I prefer to just listen to music.

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

In my head. I used to hate it at school when the teacher would make you read out loud. I could read a whole page out loud and not be able to tell you a single thing about what it said. I think it's far easier to get lost in a book when you are reading it in your head.

Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?

No. Although sometimes it's tempting. Ok, I admit I sometimes skip a few lines if the writer is going on a bit. Really detailed description can bore me sometimes.

Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

I'm not too bothered as I get a lot of my books second hand so the spine is already broken. Ever since I was a kid I have loved that new book smell though :)

Do you ever write in books?

I tend to always have mini post it notes when I read to highlight quotes that I like, I prefer not to write in them.

What are you currently reading?

Right now I am about to start The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey which I'm looking forward to as I've read so many great reviews.

I wasn't tagged by anyone but I've seen a few bloggers do this and thought I'd give it a go. If you want to do it too then I tag you!

Japanese candy kit: Kuru Kuru Cake Shop

The Kuru Kuru Cake Shop kit from Meiji is one of the smaller (and much easier) of the Japanese candy kits. Kuru Kuru means to roll in Japanese and in this kit you get to roll your own gummy pastries! In this kit the pastry sheets are lemon flavour gummy, and the fillings are a mixture of peach and strawberry flavour gummies that are all sorts of pretty shapes.

I must admit I was a little disappointed the gummies weren't as vividly coloured as they are on the adorable packaging. Other than that I had fun rolling my pastries and trying different flavour combinations, but of course they kept unrolling when I tried to take pictures of them  -_- . The gummies were very nice and squidgy (squidge factor 10/10!) but the flavours were fairly subtle and surprisingly the one with the strongest flavour was peach. 

Overall a cute and fun little kit!

You can buy the Kuru Kuru Cake Shop candy kit here for £1.22 from Oyatsu Cafe!

Korean skincare sample round up...

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-full cream
This facial moisturiser has a really strange but nice consistency to it. It looks like a thick white cream but once you touch it it kind of melts straight into the skin. It's non greasy and feels refreshing and hydrating. The scent reminds me of mens shower gel that are usually called stuff like 'aqua' and 'ocean'. It's quite strong, and I'm not to sure if the smell fits with a face cream.

Lioele Blooming Pearl Base
At first this looks pretty scary- it's a shimmery pearl pink base and I thought putting this all over my face would turn it into a metallic mess. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it brightened up my dull dry skin without making it too over the top with shimmer. My BB cream also blended really nicely over the top of this too! Will consider purchasing.

Holika Holika Premium Sheep Milk Yoghurt Wash Off Pack with wild berry: First off this smells amazing! So amazing in fact that as soon as I washed it off I went online to try and find a a full size tub. It also left my skin feeling fresh and smooth. Thumbs up!

FOTD: pastel purple overload...

This was my attempt at an arty picture... haha 

Despite the fact that pastel purple make up really doesn't suit me I still cannot resist buying it all up. Lavender, lilac, whatever you want to call it- I just love the colour. So i decided to wear all lavender make up just for fun.

The stuff I used: Lioele Blooming Shimmer Pearl Base (sample sachet), Seventeen BB Cream, Benefit Fake Up concealer, Hello Kitty liquid eyeliner in Purple Fame (from Poundland), Tony Moly Delight Circle Lens Mascara, Etude House Water Colour Blusher in Lilac, and Mac Quite Cute lipstick mixed with Look Beauty Double Hit lip in Berry Blast.

With the winning combination of an old camera and an eternally unphotogenic face this was seriously the best picture I could come up with (╯◕_◕)╯┻━┻

Oh well. Are you drawn to colours that don't suit you, or is it just me?!

Recently watched...

Here are some things I've been watching lately...

Lucy (2014)

This started off as a really good badass thriller that slowly descended into complete ridiculousness. Despite that I still really enjoyed it! Even during the later half of the film when it was spouting all sorts of crazy "scientific" philosophy and trying to be all poignant. As with all Luc Benson films this looked amazing and sounded good too, but Scarlett Johansson's performance stole everything. It was also a bonus to see Korean actor Choi Min-sik as a mobster boss. 

In Their Skin (2012)

This was one of the most frustrating films ever. A house invasion film that looked like it could have an interesting story ended up being an hour and a half of me shouting angrily at the screen (they had so many missed opportunities!) There was an attempt at a twist but it fizzled out to a really disappointing 'nothing' kind of ending.

Magic Magic (2013)
Sky described this as a horror so I went into it expecting something completely different to what the film actually was. Following a young girl travelling to visit her cousin in Chille this follows her slow descent into madness after getting insomnia and struggling to cope in a place so far away from home. The film is pretty strange, but captures Alicia's breakdown and paranoia so well you find yourself questioning what is real and what is in her mind. I'd describe this as a dark psychological drama, which is well worth a watch.

Bates Motel
I've been waiting for this to come on Netflix for ages, and very quickly worked my way through season one's ten episodes. This is a prequel to the film Psycho but set in modern day, and follows an eighteen year old Norman Bates and his mother Norma just as they are moving into Bates Motel. The series is really dark and full of shady characters and the gradual development of Norman is interesting to watch. I'd definitely recommend this, and am eagerly awaiting series two being added to Netflix. (Damn you Netflix, why must you take so long?!) 

Etsy find: I Like Cats...

I've been following I Like Cats on Instagram for ages and when they mentioned they were selling some lucky dip bags I decided now was the time to make a purchase, because frankly I can never resist a lucky dip!

I Like Cats sell all sorts of adorable handmade accessories and jewellery for cat fans. I especially love the art prints, and badges. 

I bought the £5 lucky dip bag and it arrived jam packed full of things, they were so generous with what they included! I got a very handy pocket mirror and three super cute badges- I especially love the cat eyes one.

Also in the bag was this grrreat greetings card, a lovely handwritten note...

And finally these beautiful prints, which will be going in frames and straight up on my wall.

If you love cats then this store is definitely for you! Check out their site and etsy store.

Ebay picks: bags

Evil Clothing Fluffy Monster bag £21.99 here

Bunny Ears pastel backpack £12.19 here

Panda shoulder bag £11.40 here

Mini pouch bag £2.69 here

Milk Carton canvas bag £8.99 here

Cupcake canvas backpack £14.99 here

Cartoon plush bag £8.99 here

Rimmel Metal Rush nail polish in Gold Save the Queen...

Cheesy name aside I love this shade from the Rimmel Metal Rush line. In some lights it's gold, and others a deep bronze. I managed to pick up this in Poundworld so it was also a complete bargain too. The above picture is with two coats and no top coat, it lasted without chipping for two days and then after that the chipping was only a little bit on the edges so this gets the thumbs up from me! 

Book review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn...

This was the last of Flynn's books that I hadn't read, and I think probably my favourite. It centres on Libby Day a 30-something still trying to come to terms with a terrible tragedy when she was seven; her brother brutally murdering her two older sisters and mother and her own testimony sending him to prison. Then she is contacted by a group who believe her brother Ben is innocent. Libby then starts to question the events of that night and try and get to the bottom of what really happened.

I enjoyed the way the book alternated chapters between first person Libby in the present day, and different members of her family on the day of the murders. It slowly unfolds that everyone had a trauma of their own they were trying to overcome. I'm pleased to say this was a rare time that I didn't guess the ending, not even close.

I found the story really intense, one that I couldn't forget. So much so I ended up reading this in two sittings as I was hooked and desperate to unravel the end. The book often mentions the notion of ripples- unintentional major consequences caused by minor events, which is exactly how this story unfolds. 

Another theme in this book is growing up. Libby struggles in adult life, and won't allow herself to move on from the incidents, Whilst her brother on the other hand seems to have coped strangely well. I really liked Libby, although she wasn't an outwardly likeable person. Her past had hardened her, and she was wary, and cold but human.

Dark Places, as the name suggests was very dark and scary- in an eerie, creepy way. It didn't hold back on the gore and I'd say is probably not for the faint hearted. It wasn't afraid to go to the darkest places of these characters minds. Overall, I recommend this book if you enjoy a dark suspenseful read that constantly keeps you guessing, and constantly keeps shocking you with how deep it will go.

"I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ. Slit me at my belly and it might slide out, meaty and dark, drop on the floor so you can stomp on it."

(I also found out they are making this book into a film, and Charlize Theron has been cast as Libby which I think is a perfect choice.)

Hello Kitty stationery from Tesco...

During my weekly shop at Tesco I of course had to have a little look down the back to school stationery aisle, and as soon as I saw a Hello Kitty collection that *INVOLVED DONUTS* I quickly forgot about buying food! Here's the three items I bought...

I couldn't resist this cute pencil case (£5) just for the tag alone. I mean it's covered in donuts! With Hello kitty! And it's sparkly! And lavender lined! *breath*  

I also picked up this keychain which was £2.50 which I thought was pretty reasonable. Look at the donut head!

Finally I picked the stamper set (£3) as I'm a big fan of stamps and use them a lot to decorate notes, scrapbooks etc... They work nicely and I quite like the brown ink colour (and look donut head is back!)

Are you a sucker when it comes to cute stationery?

Etude House Ice Tint Balm review...

I can never resist a lip balm so when Etude House released the Ice Tint Balms they went straight on my wishlist. They promise to be "cooling and smoothing" and an "ice bar like lip balm." I didn't really know what to expect with the ice bar side of things but was very surprised when I first applied it, that it is freezing cold. It's a strangely nice sensation, like rubbing an ice cube over your lips. I'm not sure of the reason for it or whether it's just for novelty but it's nice all the same!

The colour I chose is Blueberry Lover a blue toned red. I was really impressed with the pigmentation especially since it's a lip balm, it could give any lipstick a run for their money in that department. The balm also had a lovely smell that reminded me of cherries. The only small moan I have is the shape of the balm means it can be a little awkward to apply as the colour is so bold but that's only minor.

The staying power of this was also really good, it survived drinks and snacks, it wasn't until I had my dinner that this thing faded! I'd say it was nicely moisturising but not for overly dry lips. Overall I really love this lip balm and the colour will be great for Autumn too. (Anyone else excited that Autumn is coming?!) 

I got mine here for £5.89. There's six shades altogether.

Book review: Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney

This is a graphic novel memoir I stumbled on by accident when looking through the graphic novel section of Waterstones. It starts at the point writer Ellen gets a diagnosis for bipolar. I really enjoyed this book as it was a really warm and personal account of her experience spanning 10 years. 

She explored the fear of medication affecting her creativity (a common fear) and looked at artistic people through history who had or believed to have bipolar. I found the parts about medication particularly interesting, she tried many different meds which had many different effects on her. Some good some bad, as she tried to find the right combination for her.

The book was filled with beautiful illustrations, some picturing her thoughts or fears. I found much of it highly relateable and loved the fact it was told in a friendly and honest manner. Right now I am at the beginning of her story, and reading this book was a big help and comfort, Ellen managed to explain everything in her head so well I felt like I was right there with her.