116. October Favourites

Hello everyone and Happy November!  Hope those of you who celebrate Halloween had a fabulous time yesterday whether you were out trick or treating or attending a party! I'm pretty sure I say this at the start of every monthly favourites post but I can't believe how quickly the last month has gone by. At work, we've already decided on the venue for the Christmas lunch, it's insane just how close we are to the festive period once again. I can't wait for Christmas this year as it will be the first time in six years that I won't be revising for January exams during the Christmas break (sorry to rub it in to anyone studying for A-levels or a degree) but hold your horses, we still have November and most of December to get through first! Here's what I loved in October:

1. Barry M Gelly Nail Polish in Chai - My love for neutral nail polish shades continued from September and I've been loving this grey shade from Barry M. This is probably the first grey nail polish I've worn as far as I can remember and I love how versatile it is. As for the formula, I wouldn't say the Gelly range is more shiny than the standard Barry M nail polish.

2. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Balm - Every winter, I like to have a new lip balm. Last year, I used Lush's Lip Service but because it was in a tin, I decided to go for one in a tube this year. This has a very subtle vanilla scent much like the Nivea original blue lip balm and it has good staying power, I only top this up once during the day. This has SPF 20 too so is great for all year round.

3. Ted Baker Kassady Leather Crystal Bobble Matinee Purse - After over two and a half wonderful years, my Cath Kidston button spot folded zip wallet broke (R.I.P) :'( I fancied a change so decided to go for Ted Baker because their purses are real leather and I just love their vibrant colours and patterns. I went for bright pink so it's easy to spot in my bag. I love how it has card compartments on different parts of the purse so I keep my four most used cards at the front. This purse also has an ID window where I usually keep my staff card. The rose gold hardware and monochrome pattern compliment the bright pink and tone it down.

4. Schuh Wonder flats - I wanted some new flats for work which weren't Chelsea boots so decided to go for these lace ups. A lot of you may not know this but if you write a review for the Schuh website, they reward you with a 15% discount which lasts for 90 days. I reviewed my Crocs sandals a few weeks ago so thought I may as well use my discount code on these. What attracted me to these was the white sole and the tan detailing. Also, as they are real leather at a mere £55, you can't go wrong. I've worn these most days since purchasing them. Honestly, whenever I buy a pair of shoes from Schuh, I wear them so much.

5) George Animal Print Socks- My Mum and I were in Asda and I spotted these and they were so adorable that I just had to get them. The colours are gorgeous and the animals are so cute, my personal favourites are the robin and polar bear so I'm saving them for Christmas. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be on the George website so I'm unable to include a link but check in your local store if you want some. I've worn the fox ones so far #foxsox

6. Icestone Gelato, Oxford Road, Manchester - So a new dessert place has opened near work which is great news as most of my friends, colleagues and I have a very sweet tooth. Two of my colleagues and I went to Icestone Gelato for lunch I kid you not (yes, just to reiterate, we had dessert for lunch and no main in sight). My colleagues and I all had banana in our desserts so at least we got one of our five a day, teehee. I went for the banoffee cookie dough and one of my colleagues went for a banoffee and Nutella waffle. My other colleague decided on a crepe with strawberry, banana and cookies and cream gelato. Their gelato flavours sound amazing, they have everything from Jaffa Cake to Bounty so there's something for everyone. I can't wait to try them all next summer!

7. The Apprentice Honest Subtitles - Have any of you been watching The Apprentice? I am so disappointed with the girls this year, they all spend most of their time bickering instead of paying attention to the task. I miss Nick but love Claude as he's so brutal. After each episode, there's a short video uploaded onto BBC iPlayer with the highlights and honest subtitles and it's so funny.  My favourite moments of the series so far have been the guy who was trying to sell fish to a vegan café and the guy who was fired in week one who suggested "Sugar Babes" as the team name. In the honest subtitles for episode 1, when the secretary answers the phone, the subtitles are "You can go through to get shouted at now". Watch all the Honest Subtitles here.

8. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates - This is the first piece of feminist literature I've read and it certainly won't be the last. Many of you will be familiar with The Everyday Sexism Project which was quite prominent on social media during 2012 and 2013. It is a website set up by Laura Bates that allows women and girls from all over the world to submit their experiences of you guessed it, everyday sexism. Bates has gone onto write this book and it was a fantastic read. What I loved about this book was how the different chapters focused on a particular oppressed group in society, examples of chapters include Women in Politics, Double Discrimination and Women in the Media. Each chapter starts with vital statistics, for example, did you know that the UK parliament comes 57th in the world for gender equality? For a developed country, that's awful. Laura also includes a chapter about the difficulties men face in society and I think that was a brilliant idea.

I am a feminist and I'm incredibly passionate about encouraging more young women to study STEM subjects and work in those areas too, however, gender equality has to work both ways. Men need to feel comfortable in society so they are able to seek help for eating disorders, domestic abuse and suicidal thoughts. 

I give Everyday Sexism 5/5 for taking a hollistic approach to sexism and also using statistics to back up the points made. It's a great introductory read for anybody looking into reading more feminist literature like myself.

9. Bridget Jones' Diary - I am a massive Colin Firth fan, I don't think it's possible for a film to be bad if he's starring in it. Surprisingly, I've never seen Bridget Jones' Diary from start to finish (shameful I know) and after seeing some scenes on Gogglebox, I watched it last weekend. I love British rom coms from the early noughties like this, Wimbledon and About a Boy but obviously I was too young to watch them when they were released initially. *SPOILER ALERT* Bridget and her friends are just so lovable and it was great seeing a few other familiar faces including Celia Imrie, Jim Broadbent and Sally Phillips. I'm so happy Bridget and Darcy end up together because Daniel's a lying cheat and I can't believe he blamed Darcy for being unfaithful when it was him all along. My favourite scenes are when Bridget and Darcy prepare her birthday meal together (blue soup, yum yum) and when she runs after him in the snow at the end.

I had to give this 5/5 as it is such a classic and has become one of my all time favourites. The above picture includes my favourite quote and I really must read the books soon. 

10. Paddington -  Paddington and I have quite a bit in common, we both love marmalade and own a blue duffle coat. Colin Firth was originally cast to play this iconic lovable bear but the film's release was delayed and Ben Whishaw ended up taking on the title role and he did a marvellous job. *SPOILER ALERT* After an earthquake in darkest Peru in which Paddington's Uncle Pastuzo unfortunately dies, Paddington's Aunt Lucy sends him to England after she moves into the Home for Retired Bears. Explorer Montgeomery Clyde visited Pastuzo and Lucy long before Paddington was even born and they told him all about Peru and in return, he taught them all about British culture after he realised that the bears could speak English. The Brown family spot the eponymous bear at Paddington Station but Mr Brown is determined for Paddington to move out. Mr Brown isn't the only one Paddington needs to worry about because a Cruella de Vil-esque taxidermist is after poor Paddy. Mrs Brown and their children are much more welcoming of Paddington and want to help him find Montgomery.

My favourite scenes were when Paddington wreaks havoc in the Browns' bathroom and when he carries a random dog down the escalator after taking a health and safety sign literally. Although this film is aimed more at children, it's a fantastic film for the whole family to enjoy and laugh at. I love marmalade and how quintessentially British Paddington is so I have to give this 5/5 too. 

Phew, well done if you made it to the end of this post, have a great November. I have

a couple of exciting posts planned for this month so see you soon. 

Until next time, take care.

Love,

Mancunian Sheep x

113. September Favourites

Hello everyone, I hope you're well. Apologies for not posting much these past few weeks, I started work in mid-August and have been ill so haven't had much time to blog. I would like to wish all my Muslim readers a belated Eid Mubarak, hope you all had a lovely day. 

Autumn seemed like it was here but now we're getting an Indian summer, not that I'm complaining. I've not been out to enjoy the sunshine this weekend as I'm being a sloth in bed because  I am working for the next two Saturdays. Also, I've not been getting much sleep for the past few days as I keep having coughing fits (yes, I've had Freshers' Flu for the 4th consecutive year). 

This month's favourites are diverse even for me but there is an autumnal feel to a few of them and two others link together as well. Instead of keeping you in suspense, I shall get on with sharing my September favourites with you all. 

1. H&M maroon tote bag - I have been on the hunt for a maroon/burgundy bag for the past 2 autumns and Accessorize didn't have any that I liked but I spotted this one in H&M whilst casually browsing and at £14.99, it was a complete bargain so I had to get it. 

It is generously sized and has a main zip so I was very impressed considering the price. On the interior, there is a small zip compartment for your keys, phone etc. Also, there are two other open compartments that I put pens in. The bag is available in other colours and you can find out more here.

2. Nails Inc Jermyn Street - I've actually had this nail polish for over 2 years and it is still in great condition. Regular readers know that I love nail polish and don't get me wrong, I love my bright and pastel colours but I've been really enjoying Jermyn Street this month as a more neutral shade. In my opinion, it is a combination of mauve and taupe and co-ordinates well with my new bag. 

I am wearing just one coat of Jermyn Street in these photos, you can see just how brilliant the Nails Inc formula was. I'm yet to purchase any of the new Nails Inc. products since the brand's overhaul last year but may well treat myself to Alexa Chung's collection.

3. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Agent Touch Up Crème - My other beauty favourite this month is a hair product which I have needed for years but only found this month. I have thick hair and there are quite a few baby hairs around my face which annoy me as flyaways. This is the first item I've found to tame them to give a sleek but not greasy finish. It smells gorgeous too. Massage a small amount into your palms and apply it where required on dry hair.  You can find out more about it here. 

4. Simpsons Pictures That I Gone and Done mug - For those of you who have heard of Chris (Simpsons Artist), you will know just how much joy he brings to the lives of many. If you haven't heard of Chris then you are seriously missing out and can read his amazing stories and look at his incredible artwork here. I bought a t-shirt from Chris three years ago and have also pre-ordered his book. I have far too many mugs as it is but just had to get this because of the brilliant quote on it which I couldn't agree more with.

5. My fifth favourite links to my previous and that is Carte Noire instant coffee. Now, I used to drink a lot of coffee (what student doesn't?) and then for the past year, I stopped but I do occasionally have it. We have a cafetière but sometimes you just want instant coffee in the morning when you don't have the time to wash all the components of a cafetière. I used to love Asda Extra Special Brazillian Instant Coffee but they stopped doing it over a year ago so I bought Kenco Millicano instead but since buying a new pack, I've found that the coffee granules will not dissolve. I picked up Carte Noire because I don't like Nescafe or the other Kenco instant varieties and it is lovely. It has a strong, rich flavour and the granules dissolve, hoorah!

6. Imperial Leather Rock Pool Hand Wash - We've been using the Imperial Leather Spring Meadown Hand Wash in the kitchen and bathroom for the past year and I was absolutely sick of the scent so decided to order this in our weekly grocery shop and it smells incredible. It smells so fresh and reminds me of an aftershave although I'm not sure which one. I like the blue colour too as it goes with the blue and white colour scheme in our bathroom.

7. Danny and the Human Zoo - This was screened initially on Bank Holiday Monday in August but as I had work the next morning, I watched it on iPlayer a few days later. It is roughly based on comedian Sir Lenny Henry's childhood and teenage years. There were a few familiar faces from the Harry Potter films including Evanna Lynch who was Danny's girlfriend and also James and Oliver Phelps which was of course an added bonus for a Potterhead like myself. Sir Lenny himself played Danny's father. The programme showed the racism and bullying encountered by Lenny in 1970s Dudley. Unfortunately, the lack of BME comedians and performers in the UK even today is a real concern. Although it was 90 minutes long, I'm gutted that it isn't a series. The programme is available on iPlayer until Wednesday here.

8. First Dates - I'm so happy that there are finally a few good shows to watch on television with Gogglebox, GBBO, First Dates and also, The Apprentice which is starting soon. For those of you have never heard of/watched First Dates, it is a Channel 4 show which takes place in a restaurant and we follow 4-5 real first dates per episode as the title suggests. The people are paired up based on similar interests when they apply to be on the show but have never seen one another before entering the restaurant. There have been some real characters on the show including a couple who both loved Cheese Balls which was hilarious. Occasionally, a person may come back to the restaurant for a second date with a new person if the first one was a total disaster such as a really sweet guy who was so nervous that he kept stammering during his first date which was full of awkward silences. There have been 3 episodes screened so far this series and you can catch up on All 4 (no idea why they changed the name from 4OD because everyone still calls it that) here.

9. Andreya Triana - Gold - I first heard this song in Asda back in June and since then, I've been trying to find out who sings it and what it was called. This week, BBC One released a new autumn trailer and it was used as the background music and after a quick Google of the lyrics, I found it! It is so catchy and I'm looking forward to hearing more from Andreya who has a beautiful voice. For the record, it is about as far from Spandau Ballet's Gold as you could possibly get.

Enjoy the last few days of September and for everyone who went back to school/college/university this month, best of luck for the new academic year! To Class of 2015 graduates like myself, good luck to those of you starting new jobs. I will try my very best to post before my October favourites, see you all soon!

Until next time, take care.
Love,
Mancunian Sheep x

107. Lilac Nails - Barry M Berry Ice Cream vs Rimmel Rita Ora Go Wilderness

Hello everyone, just a quick little beauty post for you today. I love painting my nails and am loving lilac this summer so thought I would review two lilac nail polishes for you.

First up is Barry M Berry Ice Cream:

Barry M is my favourite nail polish brand because they have such a large collection, are reasonably priced and well pigmented. Berry Ice Cream is more of a pinky lilac compared to Rimmel's Go Wilderness. I applied two thin coats to achieve this finish:

Go Wilderness is part of the 60 Seconds Supershine nail polish collection by Rita Ora for Rimmel London. I can vouch for the 60 seconds as it did dry quicker than the Barry M one however, that is likely to be because it is such a thin formula. This shade of lilac has more blue undertones rather than the pink seen with Berry Ice Cream. I used two coats for Go Wilderness too but whereas one coat of Berry Ice Cream could have passed, you really do need two coats for Go Wilderness.

What I really like about the Rimmel nail polish is the brush, it is wide so makes application much easier despite me testing this on my right hand.

As you can see, the wide brush made it easier to apply so that the nails on my right hand are neater but usually as I am right handed, they are messier than my left hand. 

Overall, I like the formula of the Barry M one better but the brush of the Rimmel one. If Barry M made their brushes wider, they would be perfect. I love both the colours and they're both £2.99 so you can't lose!

As well as using lilac products on my nails, I am obsessed with the passion fruit EOS smooth sphere lip balm. It smells delicious but these aren't just a gimmick, they are really good lip balms. I love the sphere packaging because it makes for hygienic application, it's compact and there's no way that you're losing the lid. 

I hope you've enjoyed this post, let me know if you've tried any of the products mentioned above and what you thought of them. Also, what nail colours are you all loving this season?

Until next time, take care.

Love,

Mancunian Sheep x

89. March Favourites

Hello everyone, I haven't actually done a monthly favourites post so far in 2015 because in January, I had exams so didn't get up to much apart from revision and in February, I was busy producing resources for my antibiotic resistance project. Quite a few favourites have accumulated so I have a few more than the expected three for the third month as I have made up for not having favourites in January or February.

1) Nivea Soft- If you're on a budget and are looking for a good facial, hand and/or body moisturiser then you're in for an absolute treat because this is a 3 in 1 product! It is a rich formula but sinks into the skin so well. I have been using it mainly on my face every morning and hands when it's cold and it hasn't lead to any break outs or excess oil in my oily T-zone. I'm yet to try it on my body as I prefer to use the Soap and Glory Righteous Butter. It smells gorgeous and it does last all day on my face at least. It contains vitamin E and jojoba oil which is an added bonus. Jojoba oil is said to be good for people who suffer with acne, sunburn and psoriasis. Vitamin E is an antioxidant so protects our cells from damage from free radicals which may lead to cancer.

2) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original 6 Effects Serum- My thermal protection Frizz Ease hair serum finished so I needed to replace it but decided to buy the original serum instead as I rarely use heat on my hair. I apply this to my hair as soon as I get out of the shower so it's literally dripping wet and it really does tame my mane and prevent frizz. It smells great just like the thermal protection serum and the effect lasts between washes. I use about 3 pumps as my hair is quite thick and the length is halfway between my shoulder and elbow. Just a little disclaimer- the product is not red, it's actually just a clear serum. 

3) The Avengers- I know I'm about 3 years late to watch this film and after several of my friends telling me that I have to watch it, I finally watched my first Marvel film and all I can say is that my friends have very good taste in films. I have this thing where I have to watch a film or TV show from the very beginning and I definitely need to do that with the Marvel Cinematic Universe series. Thor and Captain America are my favourite superheroes and my favourite scene was when Thor went mad at Captain America for asking him to put down his hammer. The fighting scenes are amazing especially when it was Captain America and Natasha Romanoff. Another character I really like is Maria Hill and that's not just because Cobie Smulders plays her. The film had the right balance of romance, action and comedy so it's not surprising that it was such a hit. My friend, Sammia has already said we should watch Avengers: Age of Ultron together in a few months so I best hurry up and get watching all the other Phase 1 and Phase 2 films. I really want to dress up as Captain America and Thor (but not at the same time haha)!
Rating: 4/5 (It didn't get the full 5 sheep because I'm yet to watch other Marvel films which could be better than this).

4) Branston pickle- this is probably the first time someone has featured this in their monthly favourites but I do love it on my Ploughman's sandwiches. We actually finished lectures three weeks ago (but university is far from over as we still have exams and coursework) so I have been working quite a few shifts as a student ambassador this past month because I haven't actually worked since the October open days as I have been so busy with university work. I take a packed lunch to work and honestly because of Branston pickle, cucumber sandwiches are no longer my absolute favourites, they have been replaced by a good Ploughman's.

5) My favourite drink this month is Robinson's Blackcurrant and Apple- unfortunately, my Mum is still in hospital and she loves this stuff and now, I have it too whenever I want an alternative to plain water. I like having it in my favourite cup which is the one my lovely summer internship manager got me as a leaving present <3

6) Adidas Ultimate Fit Tights - We're almost in April and yes I am still going to the gym having had my membership for 2 months now (yes I'm also surprised that I've stuck with it for so long). All the clothes I've been buying so far this year have been gym gear and these are by far my favourite purchase. Although they are a little pricey at £31, Adidas do offer a 10% student discount and also, their quality is incredible so they're a good investment piece. Before I bought these, I got some from H&M which were £15 and the seams started unravelling at the calf bit so I decided to stick with good old Adidas. What I love about these tights is that they fit perfectly and don't slip when doing vigorous exercise like running on the treadmill at 8.5km/h for 5km or working out on the cross trainer for an hour. I also love how flattering they look by smoothing out any bumps, even on my thunder thighs! Mine are in the black colour as it goes with everything and in the medium size (I'm a size 10-12 and 5ft 4 in height).

What has been your favourite food, film, fashion and beauty item in March? 

Until next time, take care. 
Love,
Mancunian Sheep x

83. Products That I've Used Up and Repurchased

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I did a beauty related post and as I need to buy some of these products again soon, I thought I may as well share them with you. I don't wear any makeup apart from lip balm/ lip gloss and nail polish so these are all hair care and skin care products!

1) Witch Hazel Oil Control Foaming Face Wash - I used to use the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam and this is a much cheaper alternative and is just as effective (if not more) as the Clinique one. I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and normal cheeks, overall my face can be a bit drier in winter and a bit more oily in summer. Since using the Witch Hazel face wash, I no longer wake up with excess oil on my forehead and skin whereas with the Clinique one, I had to use it as part of their 3 step system to achieve a similar effect.

2) Whenever I get a breakout, Clinique's Anti-Blemish All Over Clearing Treatment (phew what an unnecessarily long name!) is the only thing that I've found so far that will calm and soothe my skin. I only use it when required rather than daily. I've found it to be particularly effective on my skin when I get large and painful bumpy spots on my chin. What makes this so good is that it is moisturising without causing more spots and medicating without being too harsh on your skin and leaving it dry. This is going to sound disgusting (but I'm sure I'm not the only one) but because it is moisturising, it stops you picking at your spots too which obviously aids the healing process! 

3) Soap and Glory Hand Food - My hands are always cold in winter and the skin also tends to get a little dry. This is amazing as it isn't greasy so won't leave any nasty finger prints on your phone or keyboard and the smell lasts for ages. I personally find that even after washing my hands a couple of times, the softening effect it has on my skin is still there. They do a larger 125 ml tube but I prefer this smaller 50 ml one as it is perfect to pop in your bag to use throughout the day!

4) Sticking with Soap and Glory, I also cannot get enough of the Righteous Butter. I actually bought this travel sized one in a 3 for 2 offer a few months ago with the hand food and Hand Maid hand sanitizer but think I'm going to buy the bigger pot this time as it is the best moisturiser ever and just sinks into your skin without leaving a greasy residue. Again, the gorgeous smell lasts for ages too! 

5) Now onto hair products! I don't blowdry my hair very often, I used to every time I washed my hair from 2009-2012 and this left my hair quite damaged but, the two products mentioned below have rescued it. I've also stopped washing my hair in the mornings/ before I go out so it has enough time to naturally dry. When I do rarely blowdry my hair, I have found the John Frieda Frizz Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum to be much more effective than the Tresseme/ Vo5 thermal protection hair sprays. I highly recommend this as it does exactly what it says on the tin. Even when I'm not blowdrying my hair, I still use this as it does tame my hair to be fair. It isn't greasy and a little goes a long way. If you do decide to use it, make sure you concentrate on your ends and not your roots.

6) And last but by no means least, this product has been described by many as liquid gold and I absolutely agree. As I now leave my hair to naturally dry, I've found that the Moroccanoil Treatment helps my hair to dry quicker, makes it shiny and it just feels so much healthier. Before using it, it was frizzy and I had a lot of baby/ fly away hairs which has now gone. I buy the 25ml bottle from the salon where I get my hair cut because it is in a glass bottle (which is the only thing I would change about this product) so I'm worried about smashing a larger bottle. Also, when I had long hair last year, a bottle would last me 3 months and since getting my hair cut to shoulder length, this bottle has lasted almost 6 months! Again, a little goes a long way! I know that there are a lot of hair products on the market with Argan/ Moroccan Oil in them and I've used the Umberto Giannini Miracle Worker with Argan Oil and honestly, although the MoroccanOil treatment is a little pricey, it is worth it as this is the pure and natural product so is much more effective. 

Which products have you used up and repurchased? Have you used any of the products mentioned in this post? Comment below and let me know! Also, watch out for my book and film review as well as a lifestyle change post which will be up in a few days!

Until next time, take care.

Love,

Mancunian Sheep x

80. December Favourites

Hello everyone and welcome to my 50th and final post of 2014! Firstly, I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone reading, The Life of a Mancunian Sheep has had almost 4000 hits in 2014 which is incredible. I hope you've all had a great 2014 and would like to wish you the very best for 2015 and now it's time for my final favourites post of this year! There are 12 favourites as it is December so you're best off grabbing a hot beverage (good word, beverage isn't it?) and some leftover chocolates/ biscuits from Christmas because this is likely to be a long post.

1) Gogglebox- the first of my television favourites this month, December is always a good month for television don't you think? Every year around January exam season, I become addicted to a random television programme, last year it was Four in a Bed and this year it's Gogglebox. I love everyone on the show (except Reverend Kate who I for some unknown reason find irritating, sorry Kate) particularly Scarlett who I find hilarious. I think my favourite moment so far was when they were watching the programme about Tatler and the posh woman was really excited in Poundland and Scarlett said: "Just wait 'til she finds Aldi or Lidl, she'll have a heart attack her" - I was crying with laughter!

2) The Apprentice- my other television favourite. I loved this series and think it was the best for years. I was a bit disappointed that Roisin didn't make it to the final because she excelled in so many areas as shown by her great record in the weekly tasks but, I've noticed that the best candidates often don't have very good business plans like a guy in the Young Apprentice a few years ago called James who wanted to use the money to pay his tuition fees. I think anyone that watched this series has to agree that the best moment was Solomon's interview with Claude, it escalated so quickly! Also, I'm gutted that Nick is leaving because he has the best facial expressions. I do hope Claude isn't his replacement because he is the best interviewer. 

3) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- Apart from watching Gogglebox and The Apprentice, I read Me Before You this month which was fabulous. It is about Louisa who works in The Buttered Bun Cafe which is unfortunately shut down leaving her job hunting. She ends up becoming a carer for Will who used to work in the city but ends up quadriplegic after being hit by a motorbike. I highly recommend it to anyone but especially to other carers because it really makes you empathise with someone who has a long-term disability. What I really loved about the book was how realistic it was because it portrayed the demands of caring and how different each day can be extremely well.  For anyone that has read One Day, you'll end up thinking of Louisa and Will as two close friends like you did with Emma and Dex. Me Before You is much more than a romance novel as it covers so many issues including euthanasia, unemployment, relationships and teenage pregnancy. I really couldn't put it down once I got into it and read most of it in 5 hours. There is going be a film adaptation of it too starring Sam Claflin :D

Rating: 5/5 

4) The Mockingjay movie- I braved the cold today (I say that but wore my Me to You slipper socks to the cinema, shh don't tell anyone) and finally got round to seeing this with my lovely friend, Sammia. Apart from the part where I almost dropped my nachos because I jumped when Katniss slammed the table at the start, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Despite there being less action in the film compared to the first two, the storyline was still strong and set up the ending for the next film well. It was sad to lose Philip Seymour Hoffman earlier this year because his performance in Mockingjay was outstanding. I also liked Effie without her wacky wigs as she looked much better and Haymitch was just as hilarious sober. It was adorable when Katniss asked President Coin to let Prim keep Buttercup and when Prim and Gale went to get Buttercup during the evacuation however, the scenes where we see Cinna's designs and Peeta strangling Katniss made me sad.

5) Desk planner- I went to my local Calendar Club store to buy our 2015 calendar and spotted this beauty. It has a whiteboard attached to the calendar which is exactly what I need for to-do lists during a very busy time like the final year of university! The best thing was it only cost £2.99 so was an absolute bargain. I love how a dry wipe pen was provided and the cute foxes are a nice touch too.

6) Sloth phone case- regular readers will know how much I adore sloths so this has to be one of my favourite purchases ever!

7) Local businesses- a slightly random favourite but I was thinking how The Life of a Mancunian Sheep should really include some more Mancunian based content which is something I intend to change in 2015 so watch this space! Anyway for now, we have had an absolute nightmare trying to find a reasonably priced handyman and gardener for months but I got lucky in December when I found both on the same day. The gardeners are based in Ashton-under-Lyne but do cover the Manchester area. They mowed the lawn, cleared the leaves and pruned the trees. They provide a free quote, are reasonably priced and take away the rubbish which won't fit in your green bin. Trevor and Jenny are very friendly and offer a range of services ranging from gutter cleaning to gardening. Here is a link to their website. The handyman was from MSK construction and they are again reasonably priced, provide a free quote and a variety of services. They repaired the hinge on my cupboard, sorted out my bedroom door which didn't close properly after being painted and also fixed a mirror back onto my Mum's wardrobe. Despite being stuck in traffic for 4 hours on the way back from Hale, they still turned up and cleared up after themselves! MSK Construction also cover the whole of Manchester.

8) Aurora- Tanya Burr Lip Gloss. I have been intending to try Tanya's products for months and this was worth the wait. Aurora smells delicious (like strawberry laces/ candy floss), has long-lasting pigmentation and is smooth not sticky. I don't wear a lot of lip gloss but the next one I do buy will definitely be one from Tanya's range.

9) Red or Dead Geography boots- Since buying these boots, I've worn them almost all day everyday because they are just so warm. Unlike other winter boots, they aren't heavy which makes them so comfortable. I like to think of them as "outdoor slippers". They go with everything and are also available in tan. 

10) Lego Cloud Cuckoo Palace- I re-watched The Lego Movie earlier this month when I bought it on DVD and it made me want to play with Lego. It has been more than a decade since I last played with Lego but I am proud of the construction skills I have retained, I am a master builder because I built the Cloud Cuckoo Palace in just over an hour of it being delivered by the postman (yes, I know I am a 20 year old child).

11) Ainsley Harriot Couscous- With my Mum in hospital, there isn't much point cooking large meals and because I've been busy with university, I've found couscous so convenient. The roasted vegetable and Moroccan Medley flavours are my favourites and others are available. All you do is add boiling water, stir and wait for 5 minutes. A serving contains less than 200 calories, who said fast food couldn't be healthy? I like to have mine with falafel, hummus and salad.

12) Roasted parsnips- my other food favourite this month is my favourite component of a Christmas meal. I love roasted parsnips so much and will definitely be having them more often as I prefer them to crisps.

Enjoy the last few days of 2014 and see you in 2015!

Until next time, take care.

Love,

Mancunian Sheep x