On Life

First things First. 

Apologies. 

My sudden disappearance for about 5 months was not planned or intentional. But as Summer says in 500 Days of Summer, what happened was what always happens: Life. 

Life gets in the way. Of essentially everything. And yes we are all busy, and we all have things to do, and we all have commitments, and we all want to just do nothing sometimes. So life shouldn't really be used as an excuse. But really it is all I have. 

Working a full time job (that's more than 9-5) plus commuting takes up a significant amount of time. When it was dark as I got up and left for work, and dark as I came home it was really hard to adapt and appreciate what I was doing. I would come home, eat my dinner and not move from in front of the TV until I went to bed. 

I was exhausted and feeling very 'meh'. But now the heavy onset of winter seems to finally be fading into a more dusky morning, there quite literally is light at the end of the tunnel. I am embarking on some really exciting projects. My commuting routine is down to a T (except for of course when a strike or fault hits, then we are all in the horrendous boat of delay). 

I have always been on a 'day-to-day' basis. That hasn't particularly changed, but now my days are planned out hour by hour; my calendar is colour coordinated. 

The first 6 months of the particular industry that I am in is said to be the worst. It is claimed to be utterly horrendous when you are starting out. I am nearly at the end of that bridge and it definitely is looking up. There is purpose and reason. There are projects and rewards. The 'Sunday Scaries' still set in, but that's okay. Because on Monday morning I know I am in the exact same position as everyone else that is crammed onto a train so that they can't actually feel their hands nor are you actually carrying your bag because it is just being held up by the mobs. And time flies pretty quickly when you have too much to do. 

In other news though; I miss my blog. I miss blogging. So I am going to endeavour to return on a more regular basis. 

Because there are so many things I want to explore and share.

My new blender and how everyone needs one. 

How the last three books I have read have seen all of the main characters die (also why you should not read these kinds of books if you are not enjoying your day job).

Why working round the corner from Kikki.K, Mac and Jack Wills is a serious problem.

That my best friend had a baby. 

Why having a routine is beyond necessary if you have little free time. 

That Dublin is amazing and everyone should go.

So please bare with me and thank you all for still coming back despite the lack of new content. Let us all endeavour to do that bit more than just 'our daily lives' (but maybe after Monday...)

xoxo 

On Blogging

After reading this post on Hannah Gale's website, and this blog in general, I really came to terms with the fact that blogging has really changed since I first started.

When I first started, blogging as a whole, Youtube as well, was still pretty much a hobby for most people. All of my favourites blogs had not yet become the worldwide successes that they now are. And don't get me wrong, I'm really happy for those people. But things like that kind of have a dampening effect on the blogging world for those who are still just doing it for fun and as some sort of creative outlet.

So I had become very disillusioned with the whole of the blogging world. (Which let's face it, loads of people have said and probably more than once).

But since finding blogs such as Design For Mankind, I have really started to appreciate the art of writing again, and blogging. And I don't just mean blogging to review something, or to share a new beauty deal. But blogging to share something a bit, heavier. 

I have for a long time aspired to write semi-autobiographical essays/books and I think that is the kind of route that I wish to take with The Kazlight Anthem. At the end of the day, it has Anthem in its name, and so really it should be a Anthem to me and what I'm doing and everything I want to share.

I think that I have started to find more the kind of style and just, way, of doing things that I want to do. I wanted to write about myself, but in a way that not only engaged readers, but also was kind of cathartic for me. I wanted to write in a way that not only covers the kind of things I always wrote about anyway, but things as well that maybe weren't just about going somewhere new, or buying a new lipstick.

Maybe it was just that suddenly I wanted to be a bit more selfish with what I was actually sharing, and wanted my blog to become a kind of place for me to work through a lot of things.

Essentially, I didn't want to get stuck in the world of blogging as how I'd seen it become, so much that I couldn't break free from that and blog in my own way.

Hopefully that's what will be happening here more. But don't worry, it will still be me, just probably a bit more me than maybe you'd be used to.

xoxo

Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin | Book Review

I chose this as my book to give away for World Book Night 2014 (see Instagram here for photos of the special edition copies) because it had had many greta reviews and was considered an acclaimed series. This is the first installment of the series.  Originally published in 1978, the book follows Mary Ann Singleton who has just moved to San Francisco. Although not fully explained, it would appear that Mary Ann wishes to escape the less interesting and more routine-based life of her parents house and realises a sudden need for her to be independent and try and make it on her own.
The story follows through various different perspectives of friends Mary has and makes, her neighbours, her dubious landlord Mrs.Madrigal. Considering the book was published in the late 70s, it covers numerous topics which would have seemed controversial at the time including homosexuality and a variety of alternative lifestyles. Due to these different styles of living portrayed in the book, the characters are a complete array of mismatched personas resulting in a very colourful depiction of San Franciscan life. There is not an exact, straight storyline, so much as Maupin just fumbles along with the characters as they attempt to find happiness and freedom. Drugs and sexuality and farily prominent within the book and Maupin writes with a tone which is not so often seen in modern day novels which makes for a very different read to what seems more readibly available!

I gave a copy of this to my Nan and at the time I had not read it. She, I am pretty sure it can be said, is not quite a fan... I definitely feel that this book is suited to more older readers, such as from young adult and above.
I reallu enjoyed the book; it was a ncie and easy read which really transported you back those 40 odd years to a time when people's lives were very different. Maupin has filled the book with mystery, relationships, life and death, all mixed in with a strange ability to really relate to all of the characters, especially Mary Ann Singleton.

Next Up: Little Women - Louise May Alcott

Would you read this series?

xoxo

My Mascara Collection

Now to be perfectly honest, to some this will look like loads, and to others absolutely nothing. In my opinion, it is quite a lot, but what can I say? At the time of writing this, I have also realised that it is in fact missing two from it, so there we go. What girl doesn't need 12 mascaras?

From left to right: Soap&Glory Thick & Fast, Collection Supersize Fat Lash Mascara, Avon Sparkle Lash and Line, Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara, Avon Mega Effects Mascara,  Rimmel False Lash Affect, L'Orea Paris Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara, Seventeen doll'd up Mascara, Avon Super Shock Mascara and yes that is another Soap&Glory Thick and Fast Mascara that you can see...
I also own the Clinique High Impact Mascara and No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara. I'd forgotten about these as I wear them together and so they kind of stick together as a pair.

First and foremost, the Avon Mega Effects is the absolute bomb when it comes to mascaras. If you are yet to try this, get your hands on it now. It is a revelation in the mascara world; it looks a little scary in that it does look like a paint brush but it makes your lashes look phenomenal. All the Avon mascaras that I've used have actually been pretty good and I would definitely recommend trying them out!

The No7 Exceptional Definition I find works great as a bottom lash mascara as one side of the wand has smaller bristles (bristles? Is that even right?).

The Soap&Glory, you also cannot go wrong with; the brush is as big as my eyes!

What aren't so great is the Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara and the Collection Fat lash mascaras. They just do not work for me. The Jelly Pong Pong one I honestly had no words for. The brush is just plain weird; it doesn't make my eyelashes look good at all; and it does not come off. I had to pluck it off. It was horrendous. The Collection one can work well as a base for another mascara, but it just does not live up to it's name for me.

I hope that you found this interesting and that it gave you some ideas as to what mascaras to try! I am definitely eyeing up (see what I did there...) the Maybelline The Falsies; thank you Tanya Burr.

What are your favourite mascaras?

xoxo

Mid-Blog Crisis

I am aware that in my description it says 'trying to post at least once a week' and that it has now been around double that...My apologies. Not only has second year completely broken me, leaving me in a state of feeling completely run down and exhausted, but the mere thought of doing 6000 words in less than a week broke my laptop too. It is currently in limbo awaiting me to restore it back to its original settings. I may sound cheery here, but believe me, I am devastated. Like my wonderful friend Lucy said, 'it's like you don't realise just how necessary computers are...it's like losing a foot.'
Anyway, whilst I have been consequently limping along...I just wanted to let my lovelylovely followers know why I have seemingly been on hiatus from any form of social media for the past couple of weeks. But don't you worry, photos have been taken, blog posts have been planned and as soon as the ol' lapapatop is resurrected, The Kazlight Anthem will be back on it's top alright form!

In the mean time, here are some things which I have been enjoying lately and which have been getting me through this very boring and quiet time:

• Tanya Burr's blog; how could you not be loving this at the moment!?
• Blog Sales. They really are a case of one man's trash is another man's treasure. 
• This Missing Cat article (believe me, it's a lot funnier than it sounds).
• The Wolf of Wall Street; my current book and I am whizzing through it! Stay tuned for a review.
• Cadbury Egg and Spoons. Enough said. 

What have you been loving recently?

xoxo

Wishlist #1

This was a difficult one to just narrow down my current wishlist to a quick few, but I managed! The Revlon ColorBurst lip crayons have been released in all the lovely gloss finishes as well as matte versions as well. As much as I want to try the matte balms as well, I think that I've got my eye on at glossy ones at the moment; anything to break out of this dismal weather!
The Lush Bubblegum lip scrub is again something that I have been lusting after for a long time...now that I'm back homehome, Lush here I come!
The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, well need I say any more? Hyped up as being one of the best facial brush products out there at the moment and definitely something that my collection needs!
And of course Naked 3. I really don't need to say any more on this one.

What are you currently lusting after?
xoxo

A Day In The Life #3 | Birthday Goodies!

So some of you may be aware that it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I was completely spoilt by my family and friends. I wanted to blog all of the lovely things that I received, it has just taken me some time...
Get ready for a picture heavy post!

So here are some bits; as you can see it is a mixture of amazing beauty products and percy pig...
From left to right: keyboard stickers, Mac lip gloss, Moleskine Diary, Percy Pig sweets and cake mix, Nail Art Set (buzzing to try!), Bicycle necklace, Hello Kitty Sweets, Sisley eyeshadow and eyeliner pencil and of course some stickers.

My sister also sent me a box of lovely goodies! Most of which were Moomin related; if you follow me on Twitter, you'll probably know that I love Moomins.

From Mother... this beautiful gold Claddagh ring which I have been wanting for years

And of course my lovely kitty cats sent me this Vaseline pouch as they know I am always losing it.

I hope that you found this interesting; if you're nosy like me then I love seeing what people receive for birthdays and Christmas etc! 

xoxo

Mother Proof Beauty Rules (They Never Fail!)

My Mother is full of some very unique wisdom and although her love of make up and all things beauty does not quite reflect mine, she has taught me many very important things over the years. Not to mention have I always had certain things ingrained into me by general life.
So I thought that I would share these and maybe spread the wisdom!

1. The Killer: always remove your make up before bed. (Sorry guys, but you know it's true...)
2. Try not to touch your face; what's on your fingers will go onto your face! (Wipes off jam smears...)
3. Plucking brows after a bath or shower is most definitely easier. 
4. Only put your conditioner on your ends (smother it on them if you will); otherwise your roots will become very greasy! You may in fact not need conditioner if your hair is naturally very soft. 
5. Applying body moisturisers/lotions is best when you skin is still damp. (Check your righteous butters if you don't believe me!)
6. A bit of cold(er) water can make your hair that much shinier. 
7. Use your face moisturiser on your neck too!
8. Old toothbrushes can be great for exfoliating lips. 
9. Always file your nails and never cut them; file in one direction, the same way every time. 
10. Never tug hair bands out of your hair, unwrap them. 
11. Always start brushing your hair at the ends. 
12. Do not stretch the skin around your eyes when applying or removing make up; this equals wrinkles!
13. Use your ring fingers (are they both ring fingers?) to apply product(s) to your face as it is the most delicate/gentle and will damage your skin less. 
14. Face creams and body creams are not the same. 
15. It's nice to let your skin breathe a little some days; it's okay to leave the make up!

I hope  that you've found these useful and maybe your mother's have told you these as well!

What are your fail-proof beauty rules?

xoxo

Divergent - Veronica Roth | Book Review

Hopefully some of you have also embarked on a reading challenge with me and I think that I've gotten off to a fairly good start! One week of the year down and I'm already one book down. Apparently I have completed 2% of my challenge! (From Good Reads). 

Divergent is the first instalment of what is simply called The Divergent Trilogy. It is the next big cult series following The Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments. If you don't like these series' or are just thinking 'What!?', then this book is not for you.
The storyline is made up of a city which is split into different factions, upon which when you turn 16 you can then decide to stay in the faction you were born in or choose to join a different one, abandoning your family. The book follows Beatrice who embarks on this journey along with her brother Caleb. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it had everything that you would want and expect. It had cliffhangers. It had violence. It had action. It had a bit of romance. I struggled to put it down to get out of bed in the mornings!
I would definitely recommend if this kind of genre is your type of thing. I now needneedneeeeed to read the next two books!!

Next Up: The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Let me know your thoughts!

xoxo

Seventeen Lip Crayon Kit | Sales Goodies

As Christmas takes over at Boots in the form of 3 for 2 gift sets, I peruse these aisles to spot things which I will then hope to God that they will still be there in the sales afterwards. This year, or in fact, last year now(!), I spotted this little set and thought: you my friends, will be mine in the half price sales.

The lip crayon sensation completely took over last year with all brands jumping on the Clinique Chubby Stick band wagon (which are a particular favourite of mine). Revlon had their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, Bourjois Color Boost, L'OReal the list goes on. As I really enjoy these kinds of products I thought that four of these for a fiver (half price from £10 originally) were a complete steal!

I was sceptical about the more nude-y pink, but really loved the look of the red and the orange; as we all know these are my favourite colours for lips. However I have really enjoyed wearing the nude! Seventeen may have converted me...

From left to right, Nude, Red, Pink and Orange

I really like these; they glide on nicely, they feel nice on your lips and the colours are pigmented. They have nice glossy effect and although do seem slightly washed out than the packaging colour, for such a bargain I can't complain! I don't really have any downsides, just me being slight pedantic over certain aspects in that I really wish they had names! As opposed to just 'that pinky one', however I can't complain! The 'Hints and Tips' are also slightly having delusions of grandeur but here they are:

'How To create the Perfect Lips

1. Use a sharpened lip crayon to contour your lips, following their natural outline.
2. Colour in the whole lip, blending the colour evenly.
for more pout appeal, add a dab of clear gloss to the centre of your top and bottom lips, it cleverly reflects the light to create the optical illusion of fuller lips!'

I hope that you also got your hands on a pack of these babies; they were definitely a good find!

What sales goodies did you find?

xoxo

Box Swap | 2013

That's right, my friend Emily and I went a did a box swap. And it was such a good idea! We both really loved what we got the other and so of course, as it was beauty related, I needed to blog about it. It is also a really good idea for birthdays or even Christmas (that's right, get organised for this year!)

Emily's Box:

For Emily I chose some products that I really love and wanted her to also love! I went with the MUA Undress Me palette, an Essie Mint Candy Apple dupe which was by Sinful Colours, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Burt's Bees Mango Lip Balm and some of her favourite sweets: Percy Pigs.

I re-used a Glossy Box for Emily's box.
Sorry for the poor lighting here as well!

My Box:

Emily got me some lovely things; I was really pleased! Mine included some thermal socks, a lovely purple throw (so cosy!), a Barry M lipstick in 151; a beautiful red coral shade, a Glitter nail varnish, some earrings from River Island and the AMAZING L'Oreal Skin Perfection Water Cleanser. 

I hope this gives you some ideas for a box swap!

xoxo

Reading Challenge 2014

Last year, using Good Reads, I set myself a challenge to read 50 books. For me, I thought that this was quite a small amount and did consider setting it as 100. However, I only managed 35 and am quite disappointed with myself to be honest! I know that to a lot of you this may seem a lot and for some hardly anything!
This year though I am really motivated to get that goal reached and I hope that some of you will also set yourself a reading challenge. I have applied for the third year running to be a World Book Night Volunteer and this will spur on my motivation! I'm also going to be blogging about the books I'm reading/would like to read etc so I am going to be on top of my reading.

Currently I'm reading Divergent by Veronica Roth; it's looking to be the new cult classic after The Mortal Instruments series.
So far: 157/487 pages.

For some ideas on what books to read, take a gander at my Good Reads profile (nice sly little plug there...)

What will be your goal?

xoxo

Chapter 2014...

Now I know that, yes, I am a few days late to the band wagon with this post but I had to collect my thoughts on it (and look at other people's resolutions...); I didn't want to just babble down a load of things that sound nice on a blog but not really mean.
I definitely have beauty resolutions. I have life resolutions. I have blog (?!?) resolutions. I have book resolutions; (don't worry, I will write more on this one). I could go on. But I think that for me, my main new year's resolution is that 2014 will be the year of Karina. 2013 wasn't quite up to par on that one but this year will be the one where I really focus on myself, my work, my future (oh lordy) and really put myself forward.

There will be more to come on my resolutions, but for now I'll leave it here. However, I will throw in an inspirational quote to keep us all tide over. Tied over? I don't know, but you know what I mean.

Or maybe not...

xoxo

Party Season Make Up

As my lovelylovely friend Lucy said, we all need to know how to nail that perfect party look 'without looking like a drag queen'. As it is the Festive Season, it is also the time for all that sparkles, glitters and twinkles. This can only mean one thing: shimmer eye shadows and lip gloss.

1. First thing's first. The Face. Think of your face as a blank canvas; making that first mark is always the hardest and so you need to prep the surface first. One of my absolute favourite products is concealer; seriously, the right one works wonders. I have been loving Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. I use it in the colour '2 Light". I personally blend this into my skin using a Real Techniques Foundation Brush (I know, I know, the wrong brush but it's so good!), or even sometimes I just use my fingers. I apply this under my eyes, around my nose and wherever else I might have blemishes or any redness.
2. From here, foundation. As it is a party look, I think that a foundation which has illuminating features makes your face have that little extra glow and means that you are left looking even more radiant. The Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation is perfect for this; it has a slight shimmer with it, which not only wakes up but does also give your skin a lovely complexion.
3. At this point I would move on to eyes. If you have an eye shadow primer/base, now is the time to use it! If not, don't worry just take a bit of extra care when applying. If you're going for a sparkly finished look, I would use a matte shade as a base; this will enhance the shimmer and help the top layer blend better. I am currently really loving he MUA Undress Me palette; it is very similar to the Undress Me Too Palette which is a Naked palette dupe, however  I feel that the Undress Me palette could quite easily be a dupe as well! For all eye shadow needs I absolutely adore the MAC 217 brush, (it has served me better than any man ever could!) Blend your shimmer eye shadow from the inner corner of your eye to your brow bone, blending into the crease of your eye. 
4. Over the top of this I would then advise, not even suggest, advise, you to apply a little of MAC's Vanilla Pigment into the inner corner; this really opens up your eyes. Also apply this to your brow bone; it works as a wonderful highlighter. At this point fill in your brows however you wish!
5. Now Mascara. I have absolutely been. loving Avon's Mega Effects mascara so will be applying lashings of that. don't forget to curl them beforehand! This means your lashes will look even fuller and longer once mascara is then applied. 
6. As it is Winter, I also like to give my cheeks a bit of sparkle with a slightly shimmery blusher. I go for reds/pinks during this time as it gives you a nice natural outside glow. I would use either a Sleek blush or Avon Face Pearls. 
7. During this process I would have applied some lip balm of some sort (the amount of lip balms I own is beyond ridiculous; didn't stop me buying two more today though...). This just means that your lips are really ready for lipstick/gloss. I would go for some form of red; I'm really liking Sleek's Rioja Red Matte Me Lip Gloss; it is a very vibrant red. If red isn't for you, maybe try a shimmer gloss such as Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker. Whack one of these on and you're ready to go! 

Bare Minerals Makeover

One of my closest friends, Emily, and I won a makeover at Bare Minerals and it was so good! the girl who did it was lovely and it felt so nice to have my make up done. We were both a bit worried about it as we weren't actually sure what it would entail.
All of the make up is so lovely though; it is a bit pricey but as the name suggests, it is all minerals. Even their eyeliners are a powder which you can mix up with water. It all feels so light and lovely on your skin; I didn't want to take it off! My skin looked really natural and I loved the eye make up.  I went for  an natural smokey eye which is what I tend to wear on a daily basis; I was so pleased with the end result!

Are you a Bare Minerals fan?

xoxo

Boots 'Soap and Glory' || Offer

So it is that time of year again where Boots do their big reduction on a beauty blogger's favourite product: the massive Soap and Glory, for want of a better word, box-set. This year it is entitled 'The Yule Monty Gift Set' [which at the time of writing that I have only just got the pun!].
The reason for this post it to let you all know that tomorrow Boots are reducing this product from £60 to £27! That's a massive saving of £33!!

This set includes some different pieces from last year:

Sugar Crush Body Wash

The Righteous Butter

Heel Genius Foot Mask

Hand Food Hand Cream

Peaches and Clean 3-in-1 Cleanser (originally pink and 4-in-1 but that's another matter!)

Thick and Fast Super Volume Mascara

The Scrub of Your Life Body Buffer

Butter Yourself Body Lotion

Sexy Mother Pucker XL Lip Plumping Gloss in Pink Out Loud

Could it get any better?!

Will you be getting yours? I know I will!

xoxo

A Day In the Life #2 || Birmingham Christmas Market and The Nutcracker!

So last weekend with the lovely dancing girls, (which if at any point I mention CMD (Classical and Modern Dance) that's who I mean) went for a trip to Birmingham to the Christmas Market and to then see Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker!
It was such a lovely day and everyone had a great time. The Market was sooo much bigger than I was expecting! I haven't ever been properly to Birmingham so it was all a new experience for me. ME and my lovely new friend Charlotte got some mulled wine in the most adorable cups (which we then kept!). We tried some tiny little pancakes (sadly my camera memory ran out at this point so no photos of them :( ). I had mine with vanilla and cherries with icing sugar on top; they were heavenly.
I absolutely adore watching ballet performances, a love which probably came partly from my sister as she always used to take to the Royal Opera House to see various performances. I had only previously seen Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker so was beyond excited to see a traditional version. I was by no means disappointed! Karla Doorbar played Clara, one of the main parts and she was amazing!.
The whole day was lovely and it made me feel really festive and excited for Christmas! I am now going to apologise for the picture heavy content coming up...which will have been cut down!

 Mulled Wine!

What are your plans for Christmas?

xoxo