If you got asked, why do you use make up remover in a bottle and not wipes, what do you say? Because to start with i didn't know what to say, but then i replyed, 'because it lasts longer', and i believe overall it does. I use a make up remover cream/moisturiser, and then toner. I go through the cream more than the toner, so i only have to buy odd bottles, and it usually lasts me around a month or longer anyway, although if i had wipes, which normally come in packs of 20, and takes around 3/4 to get a whole face of make up off, i would go through them within maybe less than a week. The good points of wipes is that its hassle free, just a few wipes and all the make up has been removed, whereas with bottles, you need tissue etc etc. I would say bottled make up remover win's this battle, due to the fact it does a great job, although wipes are great if your in a rush or on holiday or going away.

i understand there are a lot of scarves about, but this one is about fashion scarves. I personally wear a lot of these, because i love the look that they give. They make an outfit look casual, but also quite indie-ish, but i feel they make it look quite polished and indvidual also. Its quite easy to pick these type of scarves up nowadays, from places like river island, to primark, and asos.com. I've picked up quite a few scarves, of different materials, lengthes, and styles. Saying this, it makes it easy for this seasons trend to add interest and textures into an outfit from a ruffly, lacy, starry scarf, immedientley add's interest. Before i started wearing them, i found it baffling how to put them on and searched the interest for hours trying to find out how, and one day i just realised how to put them on, and for those who don't know either, here is a few simple steps;

♥1. get your scarf, which should be a square shape, if not, make it into a square shape.

♥2. fold the square together with two diagonal corners together, so you now have a triangle.

♥3. grab both ends of the triange and pull the middle of the scarf [which you are not holding] and place it on top of your bust.

♥4. still holding both of the ends of the triange, fold them around your next, so the end in your left hand, is going round to the right side of your bust, and the one in your right hand is going on the left side of your bust.

♥ 5. Adust the scarf to suit yourself, and its all finished!

I saw nica from a pretty advert in a magazine i was reading and so i decieded to read up reviews on their bags and look on their website. I was also on asos a lot at the time, and they also sold them on there, so that helped quite a bit. Their bags take inspiration from all around the world and what is produced is truely beautiful. I'll take a picture of the bag i got for my birthday by nica, from my boyfriend, which is beautiful, and also the bag below is the one i want, which i hopefully my boyfriend is buying me for christmas if i can't scrape together the money for it before-hand. Their bags are made out of a range of materials and also have such a pretty lining and are quite strong and waterproof. The charms which come with a lot of the bags are also so beautiful and really stand out from the crowd. I liked the bag so much, and wanted a purse at the time, and i saw on the website that they had half-price purse and charm offers, i found one i liked and it came a few days later and it was so beautiful. I'll take pictures of the bag and the purse in a while. I do truely recommend this brand, the bags are amazing, and so are their accessories.

This is a new show from HBO, and came out about 3 weeks ago, which isn't a problem as its on their website to watch, so its easy to catch up. Don't let the word 'vampires' put you off if your not normally into this kinda stuff, its not buffy the vampire slayer or anything like that, and quite different from any other vampire stuff i've seen, so if your not too keen on vampires, try to keep an open mind if possible. The plot is basically that vampires have announced themselves to the world because of a new japanese invention called true blood, which is synthetic blood which they can live off, which means there is no more need to kill human beings anymore. The lead actor in this is anna paquin who stars in all the x-men's as rogue and a few other movies. The other lead actor is stephen moyer who i don't know from anything famous but he's been in a few movies/tv shows. This show is really really good, and very addictive.

I have never been a person for high heels. Which is strange because heels make a woman look so incredibley skinny, leen, & gives attitude, lady attitude. I'm more of a flat's person. This makes me sound boring? far from it! I find heels so uncomfortable, i spend most of the time i'm wearing them wondering where i'm going to trip up and look like a complete idiot. I know it takes practice, but why would i practice when i have some nice gleaming flat shoes which are so pretty and cute, AND practicle waiting for me? I find flats are so cute and dainty, and so comfortable. Seeing as a i live in skinny jeans, they are quite easy for me to wear too. The only downside to flats is that they are pretty hard to wear in wet weather. Although i have seen some waterproof 'wipe clean' flat shoes around before, so maybe not. I don't own a pair of these waterproof shoes, so instead i swap flats for converse, babysham's, or some lovley a/w boots :)

I have recently got illustrator to accompany my photoshop, and having taken a while to get used to, and after watching many tutorials which has really helped so much, i have created my first FILM NOIR comic strip! :) It was quite difficult for me to use photoshop to start with, as i was used to paint shop pro. I am working on a new layout for my site at the moment, and hope to come up with something nice!

Firstly i haven't been neglecting my blog, I've just started back at uni again and things are so hectic, so I'm getting used to juggle my uni work, blogging, & reading. I will be posting regularly in a week or so, and I'm hoping to also put up a brand new layout :)

I love reading styleicon pages on other people's blogs, although I'm not really of a styleicon poster, as although i do take style tips from a few famous people, i more take inspiration from their style, looks, make up, hair, and their personality.
My first post is about the twins mary-kate & ashley. In pictures i see of them i always love their style, the way they dress, and when reading interviews, their attitude. I would describe their style as very boho - indie, messed up and making their own style. Which is a look i personally love. As with everyone, i'm not always a fan of some of their looks, but i believe this happens with everyone and its no big deal. Below are some pictures i find are inspiring from these two twins;

Below is an interview with this amazing artist, which featured in my blog a few weeks ago, which took place over email. As soon as i looked at Mia's art, i decided to email her, and from there she has been so polite, so thoughtful with her replies to me, which you can see below from her answers;

♥ How are you today?
I am quite alright, thank you. I am sitting here with an electric blanket and a cup of tea to keep me warm now that the autumn has arrived and my landlord has forgotten to turn on the furnace!
This is my favorite time of year, though. Nature is full of color and earthy smells and that sometimes choleric and manic energy which is tied to summertime is taking off, and this relaxed and grounded sensation takes it place during autumn. I could never live in a place with everlasting summer. I need all four seasons.

♥ Do you enjoy drawing and producing magnificent art?
I love to draw. It is my favourite thing to do. It collects my mind and I get totally relaxed by doing it. It is like meditation to me. If I haven't done it for a while I get all tense and easily irritated. I can be quite a nuisance to my surroundings that way...

♥ How would you describe your style? (Art)
I tend to use bright colors in my work and combine that with soft and detailed lines, that is what feels most natural to me. And I love geometrical patterns, butterflies and birds. Natures aesthetics all in all are a great resource for me in creating my art.

♥ How would you describe your style? (Fashion)
Fashion and illustration/art are two very different occupations. But I enjoy both very much. At this point I spend more time on my art than on fashion and I am in the process of trying to combine the two; incorporating the illustrations into the clothing. My style in fashion I would describe as feminine, sculptural and bold.

♥ What inspires you most? (it doesn't have to be just one thing)
My art is inspired by many different things. Music, my friends, fashion, pop culture, childhood memories and the mystical; all that surrounds me and is within me I guess. I don't know... when I am doing commercial art everything is planned and corrected to what best satisfy the clients needs, but when it comes to my personal art it is created gradually and intuitively without too much planning ahead. Sometime I have a clear vision in my head that I want to get out on the canvas or the paper and most times it has great resemblance, but most times something happens in the process that makes the work have its own will and logic. Those times I surprise myself with my art. And I think basically that is what keeps me going. I look at the finished work and think; "So this is what was within me just waiting to get out!". I am still in the discovery phase... but I guess that phase can last a lifetime!

♥ What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Hopefully I will keep on going with the speed I am at right now in my creative carriere. I would love to be involved in bigger projects like designing a suite in a hotel, painting murals in department stores, or have the chance to illustrate a whole collection for a well known fashion designer, or get more into the beauty industry. Another thing I would like to focus on is getting to exhibit my personal art in galleries around the world! There are soooo many things that I would like to achieve, and luckily I have a lifetime to get my goals. Right now I feel like a kid in a candy store. I am just rolling with it...

♥ Who is your favorite artist?
Oooooohh, that is a hard one... There are so many!
Aesthetically I am in permanent awe of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele as so many other people are. Art Nouveau-style has had a major influence in my work... the jewelry and glass of Rene Lalique is breathtakingly beautiful.
But also a contemporary artist like Damien Hurst inspires me in his conceptual way of thinking and the beauty of his creations.
Photography couples like Zoren Gold & Minori, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin and Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott are incredibly inspiring as well as the imagery by Nick Knight. They all take a quite artistically approach to photography. They create beautiful images but always with an underlying uneasy current, which is quite disturbing. In a good way.
I love the way photography, illustration, fashion, design and art intertwines these days. Boundaries are broken down between creative fields which I see as a major relief.

This is my first beauty review, with more on their way. I think reviews of beauty product reviews are important as the product can be quite expensive, and even more expensive if that product doesn't work.

Eyeko beauty tins are approx £5 each, and can be found either from their website, or from where i bought them, ASOS

pros;

♥ The tins have 5 eyeshadows in one, with a good range of colours.

♥ Can quite easily mix the colours, i.e. one colour on the lower lash, one on the top lash, and use another for highlighting.

♥ 3 different tins for a massive range of colour combinations

♥ Can also blend the colours

♥ The packaging is so cute, and the designs are so pretty, i'm proud to have these showing off in my makeup box

cons;

♥ Only available from a limited number of places at the time, i havn't seen the beauty tins in boots or superdrug yet, although i have seen another product in the eyeko range - fat balm.

Overall i would give them a great 9/10, and a definite must buy, especially at £5 each.

This is the new look blog, and also my name has also changed from oaktree to greystrawberrys. I think when i post it still comes up oaktree, but i didn't want to confuse anyone. :)

HEROES IS BACK THIS MONTH! :) yay! i cannot absolutely not wait. I have been looking forward to this season starting ever since season 2 ended because it was abruptly cut short because of the writers strike. Although then it seemed ages away, now its about 2 or 3 weeks until it is premiered, both in the us and england at very similar times, which is quite good. ALSO the new season of DEXTER is out at similar times, i think its the end of September, which will also be great. A lot of people gave the second series mixed reviews saying it was the normal dexter, but i think its great because hes not just staying the same as i think it would be incredibly boring. A few other series me and my boyfriend watched in the summer was i survived a japanese game show and also wipeout which were both really amazing and hilarious. To add to heroes and dexter, a new vampire series called true blood is also out this month, which looks fantastic, there is a trailer on youtube i think. This is all the TV I'm looking forward to this month :)

Looking at an amazing picture of Japan i find it amazing that people want to travel more than knowing about their own town. I would prefer to travel to somewhere like japan, where it looks so beautiful, rather than go investigate my own town. But is it only because I'm caught up in the beauty of places in pictures and when i actually go there its not so picture-perfect? Thinking about it, people in magazines aren't going to publish pictures of cities on their most awful day, raining, foggy, etc, or they aren't going to take pictures of things that would potentially put people off going, because thats not what the article which accompanies the picture is all about. I'm sure if i saw pictures of my town in the beautiful sunshine, with freshly mown lawns, i would think 'wow i would love to travel there'. It could also be that some people have lived in the same town all their life, and have seen all they want to see in their town and would love to see the rest of the world. The thing that attracts me to different countries is the fact that their different, and the whole different culture. When i read blogs where they've posted different regions magazine, i think their wonderful, because its a change i guess.

I LOVE it when I find something I really really love when I’m browsing other people’s blogs. This is how I felt when I was looking on boardandbeautiful’s blog (see blogs ) and finding Mia Marie Overgaard’s art. It not only made me so happy to be looking on such great art, which is not only inspirational, but also beautiful, but i also spent hours looking over her website which i enjoyed so much.
Mia is a Danish illustrator and fashion designer and I feel her art reflects a women’s persona and beauty. Not only is her drawing amazing, but she adds little quirky colours and circles which divulge what kind of pattern and colour the clothes are, but without removing the artistic drawing. I love the fact that her work not only shows the beauty of young women, but also the middle and elderly too.
She has also been featured in Amelia’s magazine, which is a biannual magazine which features artists and many other things, another thing I’ve fell in love with and ordered straight away. I really do recommend looking up Mia’s art, which can be found at www.miaomiao.dk. picture above from www.miaomiao.co.uk

People have their own views and ways of being more environmentally aware
or going 'green' as its also known, although what drives people to change ways of life they've been brought up with? I don't think a lot in fact does. Nothing
drives people to recycle, expect maybe fines from local counsels, nothing drives people to get solar panels put on the roof's of houses, even though it might save them money, or drive an electric car.
Nothing also drives people to buy organic clothing either in terms of fashion, or drive me to take my old clothes to the charity shop. There could be many reasons for this, but i think a main one is lack of knowledge and awareness.
Whether it's on global warming, lack of knowledge in alternative ways people can still live the same life, but by helping
the planet, or other reasons. I'm sure a lot of people love nature and being outside, and just doing one of the above could help that nature.
In terms of fashion, i am not aware of a lot of places that sell organic clothing, which is clothing that isn't made with any chemicals and is 100% natural, and also no additional chemicals added to the garment when its been made.
I have got some organic clothes from new look, which do a range, but not a large one. I'm also aware of People Tree who make clothes which are fair trade and organic, and also Organic Stereo. A lot of fashion retailers also have an organic range available. My point is they are not known as well as i think they should be. I believe they should be advertising more and stress this fact, and also have a reasonable price tag, which is another thing why people don't buy organic things, is because they are normally more expensive than something that probabley looks nicer, and is a lot cheaper.
I'm not saying everyone should chuck their wardrobes out and buy organic ones, i believe that people should know more about organic clothing lines, and company's should advertise more on the high street. I'm sure there are quite a lot which i don't know about, which is why i think advertising more and bringing awareness of the environment into fashion is important, every little thing helps, buying just one organic garment could be just that.