So...? Couture Rio Toilette*

The So...? body fragrances have been a staple in my handbag since I was a teenager. In the late nineties they were very popular and my friends and I would pass them round each other during classes. Best of all they were so cheap!

I recently had the chance to test one of the new So...? Couture Eau De Toilette, So...? Rio. I tested both the Eau De Toilette and body spray. The perfume bottle was very elegant and chic and small enough to take to work. The top notes of pineapple, melon and mango were subtle and sweet but didn't last long on my skin. I couldn't even smell the heart or base notes. It's a shame really but everyone's skin is different and this toilette just didn't want to work on my skin.  I wore it day in and day out for one week and not one person remarked on it, not even my boyfriend. I will be trying out the other scents when I next visit Boots to see if they are a better match for me.

If you are sampling perfumes in your local store try no more than three on your skin at any one time and smell them again after 30 minutes. This way you'll be able to smell the base notes and see if it works with you skin. Remember Eau De Toilette's don't last as long as perfumes and this is reflected in the price.

Body Fragrance 75ml £1.99 Available in Asda, Superdrug & Tesco

Eau De Toilette 50ml £9.99 Exclusive to Boots

Mad Max: Fury Road Review

One word - INTENSE! This movie has no low points, it starts revved up and stays fuelled until the very end. Having not seen the original Mad Max, despite being a Mel Gibson fan, I had no idea what to expect with this film. It pounded my senses and left me wanting several more hours of footage. I was excited to hear that Tom Hardy has already signed up to 3 more films.

Hardy as Max Rockatansky was the typical action hero but almost became a prop with the chase taking centre stage. Charlize Theron, Furiosa, was at her best with every look from her full of emotion. It always amazes me how she can show so much through emotion alone, an incredible actress. 

The lack of dialogue doesn't set this film back, it helps with the flow of the film and kept the action at the forefront. Director George Miller had a storyboard before the screenplay was even written because he envisioned one continuous race. This works well visually and makes a feast for the eyes while the score replaces the lack of conversations.

Amazingly over 80% of the effects seen in the film are real which is a nice break from the over-saturated CGI used nowadays. Mainly CGI was used for Theron's prosthetic arm and ofcourse the amazing weather formations. I'm so use to seeing drab colours on the screen when it comes to dystopian films but this was vivid and beautiful. This is a must see in the cinema and I really want to see it again!

I know everyone told me I should see this is 3D but I prefer my movies in 2D and the experience really wasn't any less, just cheaper. 

Fav Quote: Feels like hope.

Cinema: Odeon Norwich

 

The Library of Fragrance Reviewed*

Perfume scents from everyday life.

Before I tell you about this amazing cult brand I just want to say how much I appreciate my postman! Odd right? Actually I was out when he tried to deliver these perfumes and after asking for a redirection from the post office they still weren't delivered. Eight days later he turns up at 9pm on my doorstep. I was surprised to see him at such an hour but he explained that after his shift he went to our local post office in search of my package and had to deliver it personally to apologise. How great is he?! I need to find out how I can thank him better.

So yeah, I finally got my delivery of The Library of Fragrance perfumes I was hotly anticipating. This brand is now a cult figure among bloggers and had I not read about it on other blog posts it probably would have passed by me. What a huge disappointment that would have been! Why? Because they are divine, and that's putting it mildly. This brand has managed to bottle our everyday scents; scents which we often take for granted. If you love sipping on a Gin & Tonic during a heavy Thunderstorm while eating a succulent Pizza then you could smell them all day too. I swear some of the scents are crazy - Holy Water - where as others are more typical - Amber.

The two scents I requested where Paperback and Vanilla Cake Batter. I'm an avid reader and love walking into a bookstore and smelling that new book smell. Some may think me odd but it's like wearing a new pair of shoes and smelling the Leather. I was half expecting The Library of Fragrance to have made this scent more musky but then I'd be smelling old books not new books. It's light and evokes personal memories. It's something I will be wearing when I need a reminder of what great read is awaiting me back home. 

I use to bake cupcakes for family and friends a lot. These days I can never find the time and seriously miss it. The scent vanilla cake batter is spot on and it really is like sticking my head in a bowl off freshly made batter. This is also my boyfriends favourite on me as he's a big vanilla fan. 

The Library of Fragrance scents are clever, wearable and inexpensive. There is no top, heart and base notes just one scent which won't change over time on your skin. They are described as cologne sprays which makes them unisex and the elegant style of the perfumes will make them a classic. You can purchase them Online at The Library of Fragrance or at Boots and I hope you get a chance to smell all of them. My goal now is to collect as many as possible so I have something for every occasion.

From Brunette to Blonde with Bleach London

Another bleach, another ruined hair colour? Maybe not. I've gone and bought Total Bleach by Bleach London and despite being too scared to use it I did it anyway. It sat in my draw for some time before I plucked up the courage to use it but it was worth it.

I've been brunette for 2 years and it was getting kinda boring, I missed my blonde hair. I had some highlights already so I was worried bleaching might totally dry my hair out. I needn't have worried. 

So about the kit: The gloves were made for gorilla hands and the mixing tub for a child's. They need to have a look again at those. I found the mixture incredibly dry and although I have short hair one box wasn't enough. It was though very gentle on my scalp, I felt a slight tingle to start with but after 45 minutes I'd got used to it.

The bleach only lifts 7 shades so I expected to have some ginger bits. I kinda ended up looking like a flame, my roots were bright blonde! I did buy Bleach London White Toner so I tried that in the hope it would tone down the redness. It didn't. I wasn't totally unhappy about it as it did lift most of the brunette buildup from my hair and the generous conditioner turned my hair into a soft marshmallow. I wouldn't recommend doing this if your hair is already damaged. My hair has taken some beating in the past but it hasn't seen bleach in over 2 years so could handle this bleach bashing and come out strong.

 

 

Changes to my blogs URL and name

Welcome to Bumpkin, Broke and Reading! 

Yes, that's right, I did it! I committed a blog sin and changed my name and URL. It's something I've been needing to do for a long time. My originally address was WendyEnglandMua.blogspot.co.uk and my name Wendy England MUA. Since deciding to take my life in a different direction, as a career in makeup just didn't seem for me, my blog has been neglected. It took some time but thanks to a #bbloggers & #crazybloggers chat on Twitter I found my new identity and simplified my life.

My blog is still a lifestyle and beauty genre, that hasn't changed. I simply changed my name (not birth name obvs, I'm still Wendy England) and URL. Upon doing this I have found a few things which I think every blogger who's going through the same needs to know, and do, so their blog doesn't get lost on Google.

I use blogspot so the following will be tailored for that (sorry if you use another platform):

1. Sign in to blogger.com 
2. Under Settings on the left, click Basic.
3. Edit your URL in the Blog Address box & hit save
4. Write a post to say you have changed URL & name
5. Contact Bloglovin team on http://tinyurl.com/pkh3fr3 (quick link) and tell them about your change and ask to move your followers to new URL.
6. Update all your social networks with your new URL address

Have I missed anything? 

It is really scary changing a blogs address because there's always the worry that nobody will be able to find you. Naturally you have to grow all over again to be seen on Google. Until people start viewing your blog through its new URL then Google won't recognise you.

What do you think of the new name?

 

Jennifer Lawrence face of Dior Addict

Jennifer Lawrence has been announced as Dior's newest face of their Addict Makeup range. The fresh, youthful J-Law has extended her contract with Dior having already been the "body" for their fashions. The above photo is the first image from the campaign: a dewy, clear complexion, subtle smokey eyes and natural glossy lip, Jen looks stunning.

The Oscar-winner is the perfect choice for this brand and will bring in a younger audience. I prefer Jen when she looks more natural and this first image appeals to that Hunger Games Katniss style we know her best for.

Following in the footsteps of Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman as Dior's brand ambassador in 2012 she has wowed us in Dior's couture gowns on the red carpet and advertisements in glossy magazines. She is a role model for strong, ambitious young women today and has made a smart decision with Dior as they have always styled for her personality. Here's hoping this partnership will continue. 

Images from Google

 

 

My love of Charity Shops

Everyone loves a bargain right? It saddens me to see the swarms of young people in Primark hunting for a bargain when there are thousands of charity shops that need your money. As an ankle biter I spent much time in and out of these Aladdin's caves. Growing up in a single parent family with three siblings meant we rarely had spare cash for clothes and our mum would buy our clothes from charity shops, often those in Great Yarmouth and North Walsham. I always loved rummaging through the rails and never coughed at the things that were bought for me. Now I'm older I still get excited about charity shops and the treasures that can be found; it's a bit like an indoor carboot, which I also adore but that's another post for another time.

I came home with four gorgeous hardbacks on my last visit which totalled a small £4.25. Fellow bibliophiles will scream at me for what I'm about to say, and for this I am very sorry, but I plan on using them for the craft of book folding. I will be reading a couple of them first mind, I'm not a complete monster.

In Norwich, which has a impressive vintage scene, there are many vintage/retro stores and markets scattered about from The Lanes to Anglia Square. Still you can't beat the Charity shops. Vintage stores are just charity shops in disguise with a higher price tag, but the money doesn't go to a good cause. The next time you want something new but don't want to spend a fortune, I challenge you to head to your nearest charity shop instead of Primark, the clothes will probably last much longer too.

Help out a good cause and find a bargain in the process.