Meeting my best friend for the first time.

Being a female entails the age old argument of "who's REALLY my best friend?" - there are several answers to this question. I have the "Jon is because i spend all my time with him and i love him" and i have the "Lora because she knows too much" and the "Nat because we've been friends for ages and gone through hell and back"

None of these answers is the correct one, they are all true, but not correct. The form of my "best friend" lies within a 24 year old American lass who's been there for me for over 11 years of my life, longer than anyone else who isn't family. We met through a mutual ex girlfriend when i was 13 & she was 14. This girl was a total psycho (even by my standards) but was also one of the best things that's happened to me because she brought Ashley into my life.

She's been with me through break-up's, depression, suicide, good times, bad times, drug habits, lunacy and god knows what else - & that's just her supporting my problems. She's a marvelous human being with a kind soul and the personality of a 12 year old who's eaten too many poprocks. Somehow she's stuck around all these years, with a 5 hour time difference, a fortune in parcels & general awesomeness. Don't get me wrong, i've got friends locally who support me the same, but this is different. She changes the topic of conversation to let me talk about my shit whilst cheering me up at the same time. She has the most wonderful girlfriend, who incidentally has become one of my great friends as well.

Being so far apart geographically, financially and time wise has proven difficult over the years but somehow we've come out the other side. We never thought we'd actually get too meet. Ever.
This year i took my student loan and paid for flights for myself & Jon to get our arses over there, we're doing it. No fucking about, no "i'll save up and come next year", it was a do or die decision and i don't regret it one bit, we've been power saving for spending money, the whole holiday is booked, paid for and confirmed.
I am shitting myself.
Never in our lives did we think we'd meet.

In 52 days i'll be on the same continent, waiting to meet her, i'm going to cry, i'm going to hug her until she pops and then i'm going to play with her dogs and swim in her pool.

Have any of you ever met a long distance friend/partner?

Homeware Wishlist.

It's that time of the month - too far from the last payday and too far to the next one.
Here are some gorgeous housewares I've got my peepers on.

1::2::3::4::5::6::7::8::9::10::11::

What're your current home-ware wants?

My Name Is Beki & I Am A Photographer

Buenos Dias Beautiful.

As i spend much of my time on here rambling and raving about god knows what, i thought it was about time that i told you some things about me (without boring you to death).

I am first and foremost a photographer - picking up a camera and capturing the world has always been a passion of mine - for over 10 whole years. September 2013 was the year i decided (after a 5 year gap yarrrrh') to plunge into the deep depths that i higher education. I study at Bolton university, not as prestigious as some but it allows me to live with my boyfriend at home and be able to see his mush every single day. 

These idiots mean the world to me:

Clockwise from me- Jon (my other half), Reece (main man), Beany (boyfriend's Wife), Ant (sisters boyfriend) & Kayne (my bestest bro)

Sam (worlds most beautiful unicorn)

Nat (best milf friend)

Lora, Emma & Amy (long term college friends)

Bedy (slovakian lunatic), Gav & Mike (brum friends)

Jordan, Fender & Bethy (best brum bro's)

Here are some other fun facts:
- I am scared of the dark, sharks & marionettes/puppets (this is excludes Muppets)
- I am OBSESSED with the Muppets :P
- I am a Capricorn (for those, who like me enjoy star sign and horoscope related faff)
- Kelly Osbourne is my heroine

- I like pens, and stationary in general.
- I do NOT look good in gym clothing. It's wrong.
- I scrapbook almost everything, it's the one thing i'd save in a fire.
- My favorite dessert is Banoffee Pie.
- I suffer from several mental health issues.
- I'm obsessed with the idea of a wedding...

Some Photography

What're your weird habits/hobbies/fears?

Radical Lifestyle Chance - Happier, Healthier Me

As of last week i decided that i needed to sort my life out. I'm not happy at the size i am (which is a UK20 by the way) - not to say that ladies of this size are "gross" or "disgusting" at any point, i am a firm believer in self happiness, and if ladies who are my current size - or even bigger - are happy and feel luscious and gorgeous, then my god i admire you for your amazing bodies and your self confidence, i however have none, i feel disgusting, i wont let my partner see me naked, i wont prance round in my underwear & i often cry in the shower looking at my body.

I joined a gym - £16 a month as a student, which i consider to be a good price as i get use of 6 swimming pools in my borough, 6 different gyms and any/all workouts classes that i fancy. I couldn't grumble at that sort of deal.
For those in the Wigan/Leigh/Hindley borough - it's the WLCT lifestyles gym (Link) and with that you get a full induction and a 1-2-1 with a very competent instructor who will ask you your needs and wants and set you up a personalized workout - so you're not going in all doe eyed and freaking about what does what and what scary looking machine is going to get you next. I got set up with 88 minutes of cardio, leg exercises, tummy crunches and some cool running type machine (no, not a treadmill) which takes the impact from your legs since i have a dodgy ankle - i ran a whole 10 minutes on this thing, i could've gone longer - this i find an achievement because i can't usually run for the bus without having a mild asthma attack.
Yesterday i had my first attempt at not dying in the gym and i felt great after, i was spurred on to eat a healthy lunch & i slept like a log - i was so damn refreshed when i woke up this morning.

My workout album:

Alongside this i've been eating ALOT more veggies, i've cut down chocolate and crisps and all that type of junk food to maybe one or two nibbles a week - and my god i feel proud of myself.

My biggest step however (yes, bigger than putting my gigantic body into Lycra and exercising in-front of strangers) is becoming vegetarian.
I'm not going to get all political and over the top about my views, but animal cruelty is something i feel VERY strongly about, i saw this Facebook page & saw a few videos and articles and that was that - end of my meat eating reign. Hopefully i can keep this up.

What're your exercise routines?

P.S//

Also, completely non-related to this post, i found this on the internet and i couldn't not share it, i thought it was so wonderful :) it made my tummy go all funny and happy.
Take a look, you wont regret it.

March Wishlist.

Being a poor student, having no money & a ton of credit card debt means that i have to window shop online and hope to god i can sweet talk some poor sucker into buying me pretty things (this never ever works by the way..)
These are the beauties I've found today that i desperately need, a life or death situation if you will..

1;;2;;3;;4;;5;;6;;7;;8

All of these goodies are fabulously created & a few of them I've had my eye on for a while.
The Captain Morgan's would go down a treat.

What're your current *wants*?

Berlin - January 2014.

23rd January 2014, I jetsetted off to the glorious place that is Berlin.
Now - if you've never been, I suggest you get your asses into gear & go - you will NOT regret it.

Now, I can't go telling you everything single thing in detail, because lets be honest - it was a month ago & I spent half the time drunk.

(source)

There is some AMAZING graffiti I saw whilst I was in & around Berlin. Now, over there Graffiti is a work of art, it's not shunned into being anti-social and destroying buildings, they embrace it into their culture and practically frame it. It's far better than the "Debz i luv u, marry me" crap you see over here.

It's such a magical place, with a million & one things to do and see.
I will NOT be hesitating to go back and see more of it, considering I went on an educational trip - I spent most of my time trying to find museums and wandering round looking at art I'm not too bothered about. 

If you ever get chance to visit this magical place, do so. Don't think twice, pack your bags & get on that damn plane, trust me - you will NOT regret it.

It's the sort of place you want to get lost in, because every corner you turn you'll find something weird and wonderful, from a man jumping on the U-Bahn and playing the accordion to finding the sweetest smelling bakeries, it's home. Topophilia kicked in, big style.

(source)

University Quibble.

Speaking as a student, a lazy lady & an "artist" I think I'm entitled to an opinion on a few things, well I have an opinion on almost everything really - yes, I'm "one of them"

Image Source - Here

Uni life seems easy to begin with - "3 days a week? is that IT?" I beamed when I first started - now it's like "3 days of 6.20 am wake-ups, bad skin & carrying round heavy books? eugh, fuck that" - please pardon my French, I am NOT articulate and enjoy a good profanity. Don't get me wrong, I love my course, I love my lectures, I love finding out new things & discovering myself on my epic journey of on-line research & nacho breaks but the hassle - am I right? I'm one of the rare few who chose to go to a University relatively close by because I wanted to be with my nearest and dearest so this entails a 6.20 am alarm, the most minimal amount of make-up you've ever laid your peepers upon, angry grunts, heavy bags & clutching my bus pass between my teeth as I find a seat on the oh-so-glorious bus filled with screaming children, old people who look at me like I've just spat on them & teens who enjoy talking as loudly as possible about how wasted they're going to get on Friday night.
This is not okay, I spend £45 a month for a bus pass, and even if I could be arsed learning to operate (legally anyway) a vehicle then I still wouldn't drive because it'd cost me £45 a week in petrol. You see my dilemma?
I have to put up with it in order to continue my educational journey.

Between looking like a scruffball & grunting through conversations I can generally communicate well with others and get through the day with maximum input. Other people don't like this, they don't seem to like my input - as they sit clock-watching as the lesson ends in 3 minutes and I'm having a wonderful conversation with my tutor about semiotics and all sorts of other weird and wonderful topics (that when brought up with Jon he seems to look at me all doe eyed and then shrugs it off as though I've just asked him to change the bedding) - my point is that I enjoy a good ramble, a good discussion and I LOVE finding out new things and taking on a new perspective on the world. So why is it that you find other students itching to leave the class BANG on the second it turns 12pm? Where's the fun? If I'm paying 7k a year to be taught, then I'm milking it for all I can. Screw what everyone else thinks. Bitch, I'm here to learn & pass out with a first, not sail idly by and come out with whatever I can be bothered to do. Not a cat in hells chance. 

University is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, so why do I and so many others think it's okay to just not go to class? I'll tell you why - because it's so bloody easy to just have a lie in, doss about and watch RuPaul's drag race all afternoon, eat pasta & contemplate updating our journals but never getting round to it - then pick up the missed work on-line afterwards. Granted, the internet is a wonderful invention and I'd be lost without it, but it's so easy to just skip out of classes because the ENTIRE lectures are just there, sat waiting for us - in fairness, we do miss the lecturers commentary, but that's also not hard when we have friends we can pinch notes off.
I myself am guilty of this crime, and I'm not proud of it.
So guilty in fact that I have work due in on Monday & I'm sat here writing a blog post. Am I worried? Actually, no, because I know that I'm going to spend a good few hours on Thursday finishing it off - but I know at least 5 students in my class haven't even started it. These are the people who are also the ones itching to get out of class bang on the second it's scheduled to finish.
My priorities are in order, others are not. This post was not designed for me to sit and state how wonderful I am at University, It's more of a platform for people to give me some answers as to why getting home to your boyfriend or TV is more important than putting in the hours in the library or doing actual physical work? I really do not understand.
Drinking is more important than your future?

I want my future to include my own business, my partner to be able to work part time and a gorgeous family. Tell me how a person is supposed to achieve goals like this if they're not willing to put in the effort to get there?

Go big or don't fucking bother.

Geisha Wigs

I am an avid lover of forever changing my hair. Always have been, since i was 13 and decided i was a goth & went some sort of sickly purple shade.
I've been turquoise, pink, orange, a combo of all 3, black, brown, lilac, blonde, yellow, green, apple green, blue, snot green, red, purple & lord holy knows what else.
I discovered wigs a few years back - i chopped all my hair off into some strange pixie bob type thing when i was 15 and it's never wanted to grow back into a respectable length. 

Then came the shaved head (half of my damn head)
Then the undercut, which I've JUST started growing out after 5 years.
My hair has been up, down, cut, glued, shaved, bleached & generally abused for over 12 years. It's only very recently that I've started to take very good care of my hair & treat it properly.
Regular haircuts, i trim my own fringe & i ALWAYS condition, use heat protection spray and give it the love it deserves.
Granted, i am a student & sleeping/wallowing in my own filth is usually the choice over getting a shower & making myself not look like Stig of the dump.

Wigs are my lord & savior
I can be whoever i like depending on what i wake up feeling like.
I purchase my wigs from Geisha Wigs as she has some of the best colors and styles imaginable - from cosplay to natural, bobs to Rapunzel lengths. It's amazing.
Maria who is the sole owner, runner, shipper, poster, etc etc etc is wonderful, she'll reply to any questions you have & get things out to you ASAP.
Be prepared to wait for a wig though, if it's not listed as "in-stock" it can take several weeks to arrive - so my advice is to order at least a month before any event you'd want it for, just to be on the safe side.

These are some of the wigs i currently have from Geisha Wigs:

Powderpuff - £22 + p&p

Prairie (both above, natural & plaited)- £24 + p&p

Pixie - £20 + p&p

Highland (left) - £22 + p&p

Noir - £20 + p&p

I love all of my wigs, i wear some a lot more than others, but i plan on buying a lot more.

My current wishlist includes:

Candy Twist - £22 + p&p

Modelled by Caviar

Duckling - £20 + p&p

Model: Emma-Rose Smith 
Photographer: Andy Photography

Scout - £22 + p&p

Model: Chello Chan 
Photographer: ClickClickBangPhotography 
MUA: Jolene Smyth

Half Moon - £22 + p&pModelled by Joanna Strange

&

Cherry Lipgloss - £22 + p&p

Modelled by Jemmy J

I hope this inspires some ladies to stop ruining their hair & purchase some different personalities that really DO help with feeling different having a different perspective on the world.

Geisha Wigs Facebook

 

Homewares - The Pink Minx

dobrý den amigos

I am here today to talk to you about the wonderful world of cushions. My most recent (and one of the best things that i own) is a creation from thepinkminx.co.uk

This woman is a goddess to cushions - an absolute goddess (i promise)

I recently went to a vintage fair, and i usually expect to find the most beautiful somethingorother while i'm there and not be able to afford it, then go home sulking - standard. This did happen with 4 dresses, 2 leather jackets and a print. However - i did stumble upon Debs, a quirky lady with the most offensive (so, naturally perfect) & reasonably priced stall of cushions i've ever laid my peepers upon. 
This is the beauty i came home with & now takes pride of place on my chair:

£30

From nice to naughty, she makes cushions with the usual "love", "bless this home" amongst many others, alongside the best "soapy tit wank" "cunt" "suck me off" & a ton more. The detail and precision into these cushions make the price worthwhile (she even stuffs them herself)

She can make you anything your heart desires - i don't think this woman has a limit when it comes to offensive homwares.
She also makes gorgeous bunting - perfect for newborns and store fronts! :)

Please please please go check her out, you will NOT regret it.

Glossybox - February 2014

This is the second Glossybox I've received this year, and ever actually.

I didn't actually upload anything from the first one because I didn't believe it to be much cop, however - this month's arrived today and from the box alone I got excited.

The kisses on the box got me instantly alert and I practically tore the thing open.
The packaging itself is delicate and feminine (totally unlike me) and gorgeous (totally like me eh? ;))

In my box I received:
Nougat London - Sparkling Body Shimmer Sample. £14 for 250ml
Eldora - Eyelashes (Full size). From £3.90
Ciate London - Paint Pot (Full size). £9 for 13.5ml
Giovanni Eco Chic Cosmetics - Ultra-Sleek Range Sample. £7.99 for 251ml (each)
Maybelline NY - Color Sensational Strippe Nudes Lipstick (Full size). £6.99
Lindt - Lindor Treat Bar. £0.79 for 38g bar

The main product that stood out to me was the Maybeline lipstick, i got colour 740 Coffee Craze - now, never in my whole life have I bought a nude lipstick, so this has started up a curiosity - I will fo'sho be making another blog on this product.

The Eldora lashes, although gorgeous are a total waste of time with me, I have no patience for fake eyelashes plus I wear glasses, so if they're that teeeensy bit to long then they flutter against my lenses all day and irritate me until my eyes are red and I look like puff the magic dragon's long lost cousin. 

The Ciate nail polish also intrigues me A LOT - I've heard people rant and rave over this particular nail polish brand, I received PP053 Cocktail Dress & it's a lovely vibrant pink shade, I'm not usually a big pink lover (I should've really expected a lot of pink and red in a valentines themed box though, huh?) this is a shade I'm excited to try out, so look for a post on that in the very near future - maybe tonight if I get bored of doing work that goes toward my Degree! ;)

If you would like me to do a blog post on January's box (it wont be as lovely and exciting as this one) then please let me know!
What did you think about your February Glossybox?

Denman & Lee Stafford

I could shop until I spent every last penny in both mine and my partners bank account, that's a given - but I find it very hard to shop for myself and spend money on things that i can't justify anymore. I think growing up and having to put gas and electric on outweighs the need for new shoes or eyeshadow.

However, me and my aforementioned better half went for lunch with our 2 friends and godson yesterday and i was "forced" (i use this term VERY lightly) into going shopping, granted i didn't buy much - i did spend about £70, for me this is ALOT.

I have been absolutely desperate for a new brush, I had 2 until about an hour ago that looked like world war 2 had possibly been fought among them, it was disgusting.

This just isn't good enough for the products that are supposed to keep my hair looking lovely and healthy, I'd had them for years and when I cleaned it out I found hair colour I haven't had for almost a year - gross, I know.
So i splashed out (on my budget anything more then £3 is "splashing out") and treated myself to a Denman - I did stand looking at tangle teezers for 20 minutes before convincing myself that Jon would murder me with it if I spent £13 on a brush that didn't make a cup of tea.
The one I eventually opted for was Denman "Strawberry Shortcake" Fragranced Hairbrush - I wont lie, I DID spend £2 more than necessary on a hairbrush because it smells like strawberries, how long the delicious smell will last I do not know, but right now it's not something I want to think about.

Since looking on the website to find a decent photograph of the brush as it's currently (already) covered in my hair and out of the packaging - blogger oops 101, I am informed that there is infact an apple scented one aswell. Hmmmmm *shifty eyes*

Pfft - here's what the smelly bugar looks like 

I also treated myself to a wonderful Lee Stafford product - my hair is so snappy and falls out at ANY given opportunity so I decided to go back to being 16 year old Beki who looked after her locks and they were lucious and long (unlike 23 year old Beki who has to purchase hair as her real hair resembles a birds nest) and buy myself some heat defence spray, I have previously used Lee Stafford's product and I have repurchased over and over mainly because it smells delicious (I wont lie, i'm a sucker for smells..) but as I was looking for said product i came across his new(er/est) range containing Argan Oil, now any lady in the world knows that this shit aint cheap but my god it's a dream come true in fixing your fucked up locks. 

At a pricey £12.99 I decided to MEGA splash out and try to rectify the mess i've made since I discovered bleach at the age of 14. 

It smells absolutely divine and comes in a snazzy reddy/orange spray bottle, it says that it's "light weight" on your hair and that it protects your hair from the damage of a blowdrier and any other heated styling products - I used this for the first time this morning and I can say that my hair doesn't feel as straw like and it does smell lush.

Denman fragranced hairbrush - £8.99 Boots

Lee Stafford Argan Oil Heat Defence Spray 200ml - £12.99

Christmas "Haul"

I am quite aware that it's no longer Christmas, infact I'm 6 days away from my 24th *gulp* birthday, but like most of you i got quite an array of beauty products and i think there's a good chance they'll last until next Christmas. 

Here is a compiled list of all the facial products I received :) (be warned, it's a little long):

Nail Varnishes:

Me Me Me long lasting gloss in a bronzey/gold colour

Klean Colour nail lacquer in 89-Starry Night 

Barry M 20

Barry M 284 - Emerald Green

Barry M - 161

Collection 2000 1-Liquorice

Topshop - Sketch

Rimmel French Manicure - 461 Nude Silhouette

Rimmel - 193 Black Cherries

Juicy Couture duo (hot pink & black sparkles)

Eyeliners:

Barry M, Super soft eye crayon No.5 (Lilac)

Models Own Glitter Pencil - Too Turquoise

Barry M blue glitter eye crayon

Barry M kohl pencil - 16 (pale grey/blue)

Eyeshadows:

Belle Pierre Cosmetics - SPO49 - Calm

Creams/Lotions/Potions:

Anatomicals "spray misty for me" facial spray

Benefit "total moisture" facial cream - normal to dry skin

I could spend forever and a day talking about some of these products because I think they are wonderful but I shall keep it as short and sweet as possible.

The "black cherries" nail varnish by Rimmel is by far one of the most beautiful shades i have ever laid my peepers on. It costs £2.99 in Superdrug (price may vary in other stores) and it comes in a see through bottle with a very easy to apply brush. The colour itself is a dark plum and it has some slight brown undertones, it's a fabulous colour and it make me feel like an absolute vixen - I cannot comment on the chipping of this product as i wear falsies (will write about these another day) and they hold colour amazingly well. 

My second favourite product of the lot was the anatomicals facial spray - anatomicals have lovely and simple packaging with cute and witty paragraphs on the back (i did also get a gorgeous smelling hand wash) & the spray itself is lovely and refreshing and doesn't have a stickyness to it like other face sprays, before this i solely relied on Lush's Tea Tree Toner Water (£3.95/100g) and now i constantly find myself grabbing this. Both products are equally fabulous and i do like a change from time to time.

The spray costs £6 per 100ml.