Sunless Tanning

As many of my British readers will know, sometimes the British summers feel like the wet season. Those of you who remember as far back as 2007 will agree with me. Tanned skin has been fashionable in western culture for decades. But what if there is no sunshine? How will a girl get a tan?

The answer is fake tan. We've all heard of it. Celebrities such as Katie Price and Jodie Marsh are famous for using it, as is the cast of TOWIE a programme which the beauty product has become associated with. Despite the fact my natural skin tone is quite fair, I come back from my holiday every year with a tan. (Or a great big burn if I spent too much time in the pool and couldn't be bothered to put on suncream. I then have to put on a cheap t-shirt with faded images on it to protect myself from the sun and I end up looking a little bit silly). 

But what if I want a tan and I haven't been on holiday to Sunny Beach or Son Bou? The answer is fake tan. Until this "summer" (can we really call it summer if I had to go in the car to the cinema today wearing a raincoat because it was so wet! If it was really summer I'd have walked to a public outdoor pool wearing no coat whatsoever) my milky skin was a virgin to fake tan. But when I was shopping last Tuesday in Sainsburys I came across a dove moisturiser enriched with tanning lotion for £3.99, so I decided to purchase some. 

 

When I used it, I slathered it on like normal moisturiser. I did this as the bottle said it was a moisturiser enriched with tanning agents. It gave me a nice brown glow that made me look as though I really had taken a holiday to St. Tropez. Like all beauty products, it went quickly so once I ran out I decided to buy a new bottle of tanning lotion but this time a different brand.

I bought Rinmel's "In-Shower Self Tan" which is a self tanning lotion that is used in the shower. Basically you wet you're skin in the shower as you normally would and then massage the lotion into you're wet skin. You then wash it off and when you dry off, you pat you're skin with a towel rather than rub it so that the lotion does not come off you're skin. 

I love the formula of using this product in the shower because it means that I don't have to use a tanning mitt or worry about about staining the carpet in the event of a spillage. It has given me a gorgeous glow that makes me feel like a sun goddess.

 

Autism

So yesterday was World Autism Day. Why am I writing about this?

Well I have Autism. Autism is not an illness, not a disease, not a lifestyle, not a trend. Its a neurodevelopmental disorder, that affects the way affects a person's communication, social interaction and non-verbal communication.

There are several types of Autism such as Classical Autism, PDD-NOS, Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. I have High Functioning Autism, I was diagnosed at the age of 4 and I attend a specialist school where I receive support.

I'm not sufferer, a victim or member of Autism, I'm a person who has been given that label by psychologists.


One of the ways my Autism affects me is my obsessions. I can remember all my obsessions that I've had through out my life. I'd be here all day if I wrote them out. When I was 8 I had a pretty random obsession - Supermarkets. Whenever I saw friends of mine, relatives or family friends I would ask them where they did their food shopping. Once they gave their response, I would lecture them through my opinion on the supermarket, why it was better than others and what my favourite product from there was.

 Of course they probably thought I was a bit weird for asking this and I ended up boring them silly. 

  

 

To be honest in the last year I've managed to curb my obsessions so much to the point that I no longer get obsessive about stuff. 

Oh how I'd love a gorgeous man like Tom Hiddleston to clap for me! 

However those around me might argue that my current obsession is food. 

 

  

 

I love food so much that one of my "unrealistic" dreams is to be a restaurant critic. 

Of course I do have more "realistic ambitions". 

Even though I'm nearly 18 I'm sitting my GSCE's this year. NOT A-LEVELS. I won't go into detail because its a long story. 

So after I've sat my GSCE's I'm going to spend next year learning Lifeskills and preparation for working life. But after that I'm hoping to do an Art diploma before going to University. Even though I'm Autistic I can still go to University, I'm allowed to have dreams and goals as much as anyone else. Just because you're autistic it doesn't mean that you can't have dreams. It doesn't stop you studying a trade or degree, buying you're own home, falling in love, getting married, starting a family etc. 

It may happen a little later but wouldn't you rather it take a bit of time and be happy with the end result than it taking a small amount of time and be miserable with the result?

Enjoying my Easter Holiday

So over Easter I managed to get a fair bit of chocolate plus money. I was almost as excited as I am on Xmas morning as I was on Easter morning. I couldn't wait to get the chocolate eggs. There is just something about Easter eggs that makes them special and exciting. I think its the fact they're hollow and big and you can bite into them and get a big chunk of chocolate in you're mouth!

On Easter Monday my parents took me to look at where I hope to go to university - UCA Farnham, I did some artwork the following day, I treated myself to a Starbucks Strawberries & Creme Kreme Blend on Wednesday and on Thursday I had a girlie day out with my friend Hannah. We had our lunch in ASK where we shared some meatballs for our starter, I had a spicy pepperoni for my main and we shared a chocolate lava cake for dessert. Of course I washed down my meal with a still Sicillian raspberry lemonade.

Over the holidays I have been trying to revise each day and I've been taking photographs for my Photography project. It's good to do revision in small chunks each day and then relax after, I find.

One thing I can happily is say that I feel like I've really enjoyed this holiday so far. Whereas I look back on other school holidays and think I could've enjoyed them more. I feel I was way too stressed over the February half term, very unhappy over Xmas and I felt that I wasted last summer holiday by being stressed and upset all the time! Well it's time that I started enjoying my holidays.

My counsellor told me to enjoy my Easter and eat lots of chocolate and I think her kind words really helped. I can't wait for next week. Hopefully I'll get to go to an art gallery and next Saturday I'm meeting Hannaha and a mutual friend of ours named Poppy. My mum also said that next week she'd like to come to the cinema with me to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, it's been a while since I saw the first film but I look forward to seeing the 2nd. I also want to see Zootropolis at some point.

This holiday I have felt that I've been eating well. I've had fruit most morning for breakfast, vegetables with all my dinners and a glass of fruit juice at breakfast time. Yesterday I had sweetcorn and chicken soup for lunch and later on I smacked on Brie with crackers before tucking into prawn and vegetable stir fry at dinner time. I've discovered that it's better to have a little bit of Brie or another cheese on a cracker than a bag of crisps because although cheese contains fat, it is more filling than crisps and crisps are higher in salt!

I've been helping my mum in the kitchen by chopping vegetables and tonight I had medium-rare rump with straight cut chips, onion rings, mushrooms, garlic mushrooms, peas and peppercorn sauce. Twas very nice. I feel like I've done well with food, positivity and life so far this Easter break.

Easter Update

Totally unrelated update: In an earlier post I mention a boyfriend, all I have to say is he is no longer mine and that has been the case for a few months now. 

As you know this weekend coming up is Easter weekend. There are a few things I like about Easter.

1. Time with family. 

 

2. Springtime weather (fingers crossed it will be warm) 

3. Two weeks off school 

 

4. Lambs 

5. A nice meal 

 

And I forgot to mention...chocolate!

 

So I love Easter  and today my school had a church service. The service focused on the easter story and as a believer in the Christian god, it made me think that despite all the bad in the world there really is some good. 

Since mid-February I have felt that my life has been going up and down. There has been social problems that will eventually sort themselves out and exam preparation which has been making me want to tear my hair out. 

I guess I can only do my best and then have a relaxing summer. I've even got a prom coming up this summer. Its the first one I'll ever have and I can't wait. 

Opinion Time: Hijabs On The Catwalk

So my mum and dad called me from the bottom of the stairs to tell me there was something that might interest me being featured on ITV 1 6 o'clock news. The featu
re was about fashion designers creating trendy hijabs. While some Muslims are against the idea of a fashionable hijab others think of it as a form of expression.

 

   

      

Fashion shows for both luxury and high street brands have been featuring models wearing hijabs in recent years. But there are many who don't want to see hijabs becoming a trend amongst white people. 

So I've come up with some reasons against and for hijabs on the catwalk: 

Its not a good idea because:  

1. Hijabs are an item of clothing worn by Muslim women to protect their own modesty. Many muslims could be offended if non-muslims were wearing hijabs as a fashion accessory. 

2. It could romanticise a religion when in reality converting to another religion is a serious commitment. 

It is a good idea because:

1. Muslim women are able to express themselves and be holy at the same time. 

2. It has created more diversity on the catwalk and could change socieitie's views on Islam in an era where Muslims are as vulnerable as the Germans during the aftermaths of both world wars. 

Many would think white women wearing hijabs as racist but...kimonos have been fashionable in the West several times. They were first made fashionable in western culture 100 years ago, and have recently been made fashionable again. 

Like hijabs, kimonos hold religious importance in Japan. They are often wore during religious ceremonies and are a symbol of Japanese culture. Nobody has batted any eye about kimonos being racist against Japanese culture when displayed on the catwalk however when Hijabs are displayed people associate it with Racism. Although hijabs and kimonos have very different connections to their cultural beliefs and different purposes, I believe that wearing one item of clothing from one culture is no more offensive to wearing one from another. If there were Arabic models on the catwalk wearing Christian crosses and clothes inspired by christianity people there would be no outrage, whereas if its the other way round there is A LOT more outrage. 

How to find a look thats for you?

Ever look at models in a magazine with a particular look i.e. Abbey Lee's Boho. Well if you're looking for one to suit you then follow my advice. 

After some time of finding a look for myself. I've decided I have a retro inspired boho look. 

1. Look at you're face in the mirror.

Identify you're facial features, google them individually and you'll get images of icons and fictional characters with those features. I.e. if you have a doll like face images of Lily Cole and Gemma Ward may appear. I found that my face was similar to vintage stars such as Bridget Bardot and the musician   Michelle Phillips. I also found it was slightly similar to the modern model Lara Stone. But don't get too carried away with comparing yourself to others you don't want to end up self conscious! 

2. Link you're hair with you're face.

Have you got lots of curly hair that makes you're face look dainty or straight hair that makes you're face stand out? My hair is naturally straight, its also long. When long and let loose I feel that I look very Bohemian. Whereas if I backcomb it to a beehive I see myself looking very much like a retro movie star. Play around with you're hair,  if you put it into a plait you may look like a cute schoolgirl or the female heroine from a piece of Medieval Fantasy literature. 

3. Love you're body the way it is. 

If you're petite (naturally slim and under 5 ft 4) then you can look dainty, if you're around 5 ft 5 and curvaceous (like myself) you can look voluptuous, if you're tall and naturally slim then you can look very graceful whereas if you're tall and slightly stocky you can look very strong willed. The important thing is love you're body no matter you're size and height. 

4. Think about you're lifestyle?

Are you a city chic who travels on the bus everyday wearing you're favourite beret, a country girl who rides horses everyday in a pair of nice jeans or someone who lives near the beach and is forever wearing beach clothing. I live in a town which is a 45 minute train journey from London, and I spend half of my time on the Isle of Wight. Because I've always lived quite close to London, and I've always lived in towns with lots of lovely shops I feel very much like an urban chic.

5. What are you're interests? 

I may have a retro boho inspired look outside but what rally helps is that inside my brain I have interests that are related to it. I love the sort of music boho people in the 1960s would've listened to - The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas & Papas etc. I'm also a very creative person - hence my stories and artwork which Bohemian people tend to be. I love vintage things which helps the fact that I have a retro inspired look.

For example if you love heavy metal music and love dark literature then you could consider yourself a heavy rock goth. 

6. Add up everything you've just found out and come up with a cool interesting name.

Be happy with yourself but don't be narcissistic about you're look. Make sure its cool but in a friendly way so that others may become inspired. 

5th Wave: Hunger Games and HSM rolled into one film with Lolita Influences on a low budget

So on Wednesday I went to the cinema with some friends to see the new Sci-Fi Thriller film 5th Wave. I was expecting it to be epic judging by the promotional trailer and poster.


Ever seen a film where the trailer is better than the actual film? Well 5th Wave is one of these.


The film starts off with middle-class schoolgirl named Cassie from Ohio played by Chloe Montez. She explains how in High School you think is life is to tough when it comes to things like exams and boys when in reality there are things a lot worse - something I can relate to totally.


The world is then invaded by an alien race named "the others". In comparison to films like Avatar where the humanoids had an interesting name "the Na'avi" I thought "the others" was a naff unimaginative name.


The beginning of the film is okay and is slightly emotional when Cassie loses her father. But after she is separated from her brother things get rubbish. The fact that it was a teenage Sci-Fi movie reminded me so much of the Hunger Games but then there was the High School stereotypes that are everywhere in Disney's HSM. What about the Lolita references? I'll come to them just now.


Chloe is rescued by a man named Evan Walker after becoming injured. Evan is a man who appears 10-15 years older than 16-18 year old Chloe making him somewhere between 26-30 years old. He acted as though he was there to protect Chloe - making out that she couldn't defend herself because of the fact she is a woman. *sniffs* I smell controversy. I hate to see women being treated like this by guys - especially if the guy is a lot older. To me it was just another example of sexism on our screens.


In a way it reminded me of when 30 year old Sportacus on LazyTown paid far more attention to the feminine delicate 8 year old Stephanie than he did to any of the other children. When I watched that show all those years ago I realised something wasn't right there and when I was 8 I went all anti-damsel in distress and...guess what nothing has changed.


Anyway I left the cinema laughing at how rubbish this movie was. They could've made it really epic but the makers didn't.


Hope you enjoy the rest of you're weekend my lovely readers,


Poppy x