SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES YO!

Sorry this has been late coming. The past few weeks have been a bit busy – uni's starting, Fresher's Week, fighting Fresher's Flu and generally getting my shizzle together! I'm hopefully going to try and have a post every week as opposed to every few days because of time. But check this space out weekly!

Apologies aside, time for a Monthly Favourites! I have got a camera now, but I'm still trying to get it right, so hopefully videos soon?

Favourite Make-Up Product:

FlatOut Fabulous by MAC

As you guys would know from my 'Mid-Month Favourites' and 'Lipstick Love' posts, that I may have a thing for matte lipsticks. There's something so sleek and sophisticated about them! This was a birthday present purchased by my boyfriends a few months ago to start adding to my MAC lipstick collections, and recently, I've been turning to this lipstick a lot more. It's popping, and colour, a great colour to experiment with on 'nights out', especially during the wild and crazy fresher's week! I also wore it on an 80's themed sports social, which worked a charm to get create that vibe. It's a great shade that suits me and that staying power is incredible! I sometimes go to bed after going out without taking my make up off, wake up in the morning and it is still pristine! There are still remnants after I've scrubbed my face with make up remover. Perfection.

Favourite 'Beauty' Product:

SleekBe Beautiful Blemish Balm inDark

Does this count as a beauty product? I'm going to say yes, because of the SPF? Haha. Confusions aside, this product has been my essential over the past few weeks as a base for my make up. It matches my skin quite well, and combined with my Beauty Blender Sponge from Primark, and a quick spritz of Eau Roma Water from Lush on my face, it works a charm. It's easy to apply, quick to use, and when my face needs a quick boost, it's a nice alternative to my foundation I use! It will be a sad day when it runs out.

Favourite Item of Clothing:

Please ignore the mess in my room. Please?

Primark Lace Kimono

As stated before, Fresher's Week as a thing for me, even though I'm a third year now. But how can I say no to a week long party! I have gone out a few times, but it's difficult sometimes to judge what to wear because British weather is always dodgy. So I've been turning to this cheeky number to 'cover' up for the nights out. It's quite nice to dress up and down, and sometimes, I do wear it during the day as an alternative to a thick cardigan if it is still quite warm, but not warm enough to go without anything to cover my shoulders. My Mum wasn't a fan of this, saying that it looked like lingere, but I love it. It adds a sophistication to outfits, and is a nice transitional piece from day to night, from autumn to winter. Love.

Favourite Food/Drink:

Kellogg's Froster Strawberry Flavoured Pop-Tarts

I'm going old school here. This used to be a cheeky breakfast treat as a child, but I find myself really craving this recently. It was on special at Tesco and couldn't help myself! They're a nice snack every now and then, and a nice 'pick-me-up' in the middle of the day. Just a cheeky indulgent buy I've been loving really. Here's hoping after I finish the current pack my craving stops, even though I do love sugar. Hehe.

Favourite Song:

This has been a difficult choice, and have chosen to narrow it down to three songs at the minute!

1. Wanklemut – My Head Is A Jungle

I think this is just a song that is getting me back into my partying mood. Such a dance anthem for me, whilst also being quite relaxing from when I'm just chilling around. The voice, the piano, and steady beat, it all just works for me.

2. Sia – Chandellier

Sia's vocals are out of this world! They are so good and recently, I've just been obssessed with this song. I would hear it on the radio, and just think this is a great song, but when I stumbled onto the music video channel surfing, I was hooked. It reminded me of my old dancing days which I missed, was so creative and captivating – I just love it. It a dance tune, with such emotion to it! I honestly can't get enough of it!

3. Calvin Harris – Blame

More recent of the three songs, I literally heard this today, and haven't stopped playing replay on my Spotify. It's addictive, it's something I can groove to on the dance floor, with Calvin Harris beats I just can't get enough of. I'm really loving 'dance songs' that don't sound so generic and like everything else, and whilst this one, out of the three, does slip into that sound just a bit, there is a fine line, and this one is above it!

Favourite TV Show:

America's Next Top Model (Season 21)

I am a massive ANTM fan! I've seen every single episode since day one, and I am loving this season as of current. It's not as gimicky as season 20, but still has fantastic drama that keeps me hooked. Obviously, it doesn't have quite the class of older seasons (Andre Leon Tally, come back?) but it's getting better and is one of the best cycles I've seen in a while. I especially love the 'No Bullsh*t' attitude Tyra has this season, taking nonsense from no one and teaching good life lessons not only the models can take but that the world can. Men can dress in heels, and labels should not define someone, and you should never give up! And the return of Miss Jay!! This is seriously doing it for me right now!

Peace Out!

Thulani x

“Can I Touch Your Hair?”

Yeah - I ain't amused!!

I go to a university in a not-so culturally diverse area. Which isn't a massive issue to me. It's like a new adventure, where I go from the multi-cultured London, where there were other black people around me. Now, it's quite exciting meeting another black person on the street. Sometimes we chat, other times we smile, acknowledging that we are very scarce having a secret chuckle about it. It's a strange phenomenon I've found, I'm not sure how to explain it. My Mum calls it 'fictive kinship', a sense of brotherhood and community with this stranger.

Going to a university in a not-so culturally diverse area has its downs, however. The 'casual racism' which I sometimes don't find all the casual. Finding people don't understand why I don't like the rain because it gets my hair wet. Not being able to find make-up in my shade! The struggle can sometimes be immense.

The worse experience, however, occurred today, and must be document and the word spread that this is NOT OKAY!! I was waiting in Argos, ready to buy an Ottoman, after having a really good day of shopping. In the cue, a white man, who had been staring at my head, then asked “Can I Touch Your Hair?”

I turned to him, probably an expression of utter shock written across my face. I didn't know if he was being serious or not – but he was. He asked again, and I shock my head at him. There was no maybe in this situation. “No. You cannot touch my hair.”

“But it's so cool!” He insisted, raising his hand whilst I took a step back, further shock hitting me.

“No.” I said again. Didn't he get the message?! He had a woman friend/girlfriend sniggering next to him. Were they high, mental, had they never seen dreadlocks before? I was angry and upset. I wasn't an object that could be touched and gaped and awed it. Sure, I don't mind compliments to my hair. I compliment other people's hair if I find it fascinating or beautiful. I may ask questions about it, but never, no matter what race, gender, culture, have I asked a stranger if I could touch their hair!!! It was mortifying and I almost wanted to cry, even after he insisted I touch his hair in return.

I glared and made sure my back wasn't turned before paying for my goods and leaving, still in shock as I called my Mum and told her of this experience. It was a first, but it may not be the last. Here's hoping, that if there is next a next time, that I'll have the guts to stand up for myself further, and explain why it's not okay to ask strangers, to touch their hair. Maybe talk to me a little, exchange information, but don't you dare treat me like a walking petting zoo. Ever.

Peace Out,

Thulani x

I met this Alpaca once at a petting zoo to de-stress during exams. He has so much sass.