Monday Musings: Relocation, relocation, relocation.

Ever done something that you're well aware is a little bit daft, but you go ahead and do it anyway? We've all done things like this, whether it's something minor, like eating chocolate when you know it gives you a damned headache for the next four or five hours; or something a little more major, like quitting your job, upping sticks and shifting yourself to the other side of the country on little more than a whim. Oh... oops.

Yep, I've moved. Made the grand old journey from Essex to Liverpool. I'm here predominantly for university (studying a History degree, starting next monday on the 29th.) I quit my job, and moved away from my family to do it, but I don't regret making that decision. I thought I'd be more nervous/worried about it, but in truth I'm glad I did it. I definitely miss my family and the familiarity of home, but I'm excited to explore this new place a bit more, and my boyfriend's family have been more than welcoming to me. I haven't started at university yet, but I'm hoping to make plenty of new friends when I do, giving me more opportunities and things to do - and new people to get to know and explore the city with. I've never been particularly good at making friends, but I'm prepared to put 110% of my effort into it.

I definitely feel like this has been a big step for me. I had a full time job in Essex, in the industry that I thought I wanted to be in (I know now that I definitely don't - it's not right for me and I couldn't have been less happy while I was working there), and all my family and friends were there. I'd only been up here a handful of times, and it was a bit of a risk upping sticks, but as I've already said, one I'm so glad I took. I'm looking forward to university infinitely more than I'm nervous about it (though I am also incredibly nervous!) and I've already started taking steps to finding a little part time job while I'm here.

All in all things are going pretty good at the moment, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things pan out.

What are your thoughts on taking big steps? Ever done something you thought you'd never be brave enough to do?

Time toooo say helloooo

I was aiming for something a little sing-song-esque for my title. I started this blog a few months ago, with a view to actually posting on a regular basis. Truth be told I've had neither the time nor the motivation to do so of late, and I've missed blogging. Following what can only be called the most massive clear out known to mankind earlier today (offer free makeup on a Facebook selling page and it'll disappear faster than you can say Abracadabra) I'm feeling freshly motivated to get back to two of my biggest passions and interests - being makeup and writing, if you weren't aware of that!

We'll not be counting this as a proper post. More a "Hello, I still exist and I will be returning with content fairly shortly" - so shortly, in fact, that I'll be throwing a post up right after this about the things that have made the cut post-makeup culling.

Get To Know Me: Beauty Blogger Edition.

There'll be some more specific posts going up next week, pertaining to actual makeup items, but I thought for a nice, relaxed Sunday post it might be nice to do something to help anyone who might stumble across the blog get to know me a little bit better. With that in mind, I set out in search of a tag that would help me do just that - although, obviously I've not been tagged, there's nothing to stop anyone just taking the questions from wherever you find them (Emily's blog, Beauty Broadcast) and answering away. 

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

My hair is naturally somewhere in between, a little bit wavy. It is predominantly straight though, and a bit flat. Something I'm never quite satisfied with!

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I dye it myself - I've never had my hair coloured at the hairdressers, and only had it cut there once or twice! My mum usually cuts my hair for me, and I do the colouring :)

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

I usually just have it up in a ponytail or a bun for work, sometimes I'll straighten it if I have a bit of extra time, but I don't really curl it unless I'm doing something a bit more special. I guess I am a bit samey with regards to styling my hair, I'll have to find new things to do with it!

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

Again, never had my nails done in a salon either. I had acrylics done once by my mum when I was still at school and couldn't get on with them so I just painted them myself. I got an at-home gel system a few weeks back though that I've been playing with. I'll be looking into getting some better quality polishes to use with it on pay day too :)

5. How often do you change your nail polish?

It used to be everyday when I was using regular polish, it chips so quickly on me! But it's less often when I'm using the gels, will be even less often when I figure out how to do it properly :D

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter, or just in the summer?

To be honest, I never paint my toenails. I never have my feet out so I don't really see the point. I might do it this summer, though, see if it makes a difference to how I feel about my feet, haha.

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?

Much like anyone else I imagine, it entirely depends on what I'm doing and how much time I have. If I have half an hour, I'll take half an hour, but if I only have ten minutes, I can get did what needs to be done in those ten minutes. So yeah, it all depends I guess!

8. What do you do first, face or eyes?

I do it a bit awkwardly - Primer, foundation and concealer, then eyes, then powder and coloured face products, then brows and lips. I don't know why I do it in that order but I've got myself into a habit that I can't break now! 

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

Awkward question, that. I don't buy things I don't think I'll use, but not everything I buy I necessarily need (I bought a set of  Make Up Revolution lipsticks the other day that included a yellow and a blue, can't say I really needed those, can I?) but...yeah. I know I technically have "too much" makeup, but I wouldn't call it a collection because it all gets used.

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I don't, really. I have some, but I only really use them to play with and never to go out with. I find them quite uncomfortable and awkward to apply if I'm honest.

11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?

Erm, most days I do. Not everyday though, and it varies as to how much I'll actually use :)

12. Do you wear makeup when home alone or with family?

I do, yes! I enjoy playing with makeup, trying out silly things and I genuinely enjoy the process of putting it on, so I'll wear it whenever I feel like it. There are some days where I just can't be bothered though, and those days I'll not put anything at all on.

13. Will you go out without makeup on?

Absolutely. I don't do it very often, because as I said, I do enjoy putting makeup on, but I'm not afraid of leaving the house without it. I usually put at least mascara on though, just out of habit I guess.

14. How many high end products do you have?

Zero. Absolutely none! Unless you count a sample of The Porefessional I got in a Birchbox? I haven't actively bought any though... yet. :P

15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or just pick it out as you get dressed?

I have a general idea of what I'm going to wear on work days, but on weekends I just wear whatever, really. 

16. How often do you change your handbag?

I only really have black ones, so I just change it as and when I have more or less stuff I need to fit in a bag. Hardly ever, really. 

17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?

I'm usually asleep ridiculously early, I have no idea why but I'll lay down and just fall straight asleep! I get up around 6.30, not too bad :)

18. How often or when do you work out?

Not very often at all, unfortunately. Such a lack of motivation!

19. Left handed or right handed?

Left handed, though I'm capable or writing with my right hand and I do most things other than writing with my right :)

20. How tall are you?

Around 5'4", average, not short! haha.

21. Do you speak any foreign languages?

I don't :( I keep meaning to start learning German, but not getting around to doing it. 

22. How many pets do you have?

In the house, we have 2 snakes, 3 cats and a puppy. Personally, I have one cat. Her name is Amie :)

23. How often are you on Blogger?

Most days. I read blogs through Bloglovin' though, so I'm on there more often.

24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?

I do! I'm quite nosey and enjoy seeing what other people have to say about things. 

25. Do you keep a list of products you'd like to try as you see other posts?

Not really. I have some things that I'm interested in trying stored away in my mind, though. I've kind of exhausted high street things that I actually want to try though, so it's psyching myself up to part with high-end prices to try things I'm especially interested in now! 

26. How did you come up with your blog name?

From the phrase "the world is your oyster" and my love of blusher :)

27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?

Sometimes my mums, I don't know what it is exactly but it's a Fuji something or other! Sometimes just my iPhone, depending on the light that I've got available :)

28. How often do you clean your house?

What an odd question! I still live at home with my family, so I just clean my room fairly regularly and help out with other bits as and when they're needed.

29. What's your favourite colour?

Generally, purple. I love me some purple!

30. Do you swear?

Unfortunately, I do. I try not to, but it doesn't work.

31. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

Writing up a few more posts for next week, watching a film with my mama and doing some washing. What a glamorous Saturday night! 

That's a fair bit of information there! Congratulations if you made it this far though haha. Answer some of these questions in the comments so I can get to know you too? :)

A Quick Hello.

As you can likely see from this being the first post, Oyster and Blush is but half formed and not quite ready to go, but I wanted to get my introduction post up as soon as possible, and I'll crack on with the rest of it tomorrow when I'm slightly more awake! To begin with, I'll introduce myself (although I'll be adding an "about me" page at some point to offer something more stationary). My name is Charlotte, I'm 21 and from the South East of England. Oyster and Blush will predominantly be a beauty blog, with some lifestyle and hobby posts thrown in.

I've blogged before, most recently over on Make Up Natters, a blog I made around a year ago to have a place to rant about my obsession with all things makeup related. Since then, though, I've found I've outgrown Make Up Natters a little - I kind of pigeon-holed myself with the name of the blog, I haven't been happy with the content I'd been posting for quite a long time and felt that the time had long passed where I could make MUN something I was truly proud of, although I only arrived at that conclusion today after thinking about it for a long time. I'm hoping that Oyster and Blush can be what Make Up Natters never quite managed for me, something I can be proud to show off to family and friends, and a place that people who stumble over here looking for something will want to stay and be a part of.

So, what can you expect from Oyster and Blush in terms of content?
As I said, this will predominantly be a beauty blog, as that's one of my most prominent interests and passions, however I'd like to post some lifestyle features once in a while, and during the month of November when NaNoWriMo hits, I'll likely be posting things to do with my writing also - but since I find I don't have a whole lot of time to do much writing these days, it is probably only going to be November I'll be posting about that.
I've tried blogging without a schedule, and I've tried every-day blogging, neither of which are really for me. So, the sort of schedule I'm going to be going for with this is Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday posts. This week will likely be a bit shaky, what with still having to set everything up (I also want to find a dedicated photography spot so I can set it up nicely and ensure my picture quality is consistent, that might take a while!), but I'm hoping from next week each of those days will have a post up and that post will be something worth reading. I'm not going to have a set theme for each of the days, it'll just be an as it comes sort of thing!

So, that's myself and Oyster and Blush introduced. I will put together a proper "about me" page and set up my social networking links and all that malarkey, probably tomorrow morning, but I have work in the morning and these eyes need to shut!