"It's a very powerful thing to be quiet and collect your thoughts"

Quiet. Shy. Introvert. Mouse. The list of words to describe myself could go on.

Last week I was put into a situation where I had to explain my quietness, because someone can't handle the fact that I don't want to tell all and sundry what I did at the weekend or what I had for my breakfast that morning in general chit chat (it was a bit more than that but i'm trying to tell you in simple terms).

I felt like my quiet nature was for the first time being used against me in a way to justify the way I was being acted towards. In a bad way.

As a natural born worrier this totally played on my mind all weekend to the point I was beginning to question myself and my nature and my whole being. Not good.

Then I remembered an article I'd read via a link posted on Twitter. (There's no point in me linking it here because they've taken it down but it was a excerpt from a book on introverts by Susan Cain. The article was entitled Why The World Needs Introverts (I believe she did a TED talk about this too called The Power of Introverts). Google it. no wait, here's the link.

Anyway, I'm fed up being classed as hard work just because I don't engage in certain conversations, or give you every single detail of the weekend just passed or that I may not be the one with the quick funny retorts in a chat. That is not me and never has been me.

I am Angela. I am an introvert. I'm also shy when I don't know you. I'll never come up to you and chat freely if i've never met you. However i will listen if you come and chat to me. I mean really listen, not that pretend listening that say an extrovert might do when they've not got a clue what you've just said, they're just planning their next in to your conversation. That kind of listening I can do. I'm never going to be the life and soul of any party but I really do like to have fun.

When I get to know you I can be as chatty as the next person, with you, one on one. I respond well to people who are genuine and take the time to get to know me by not giving up on me after the first encounter. And most of all I am a good person.

Yes, i'm quiet. Yes, I could also be labelled as shy. But don't ever call me aloof or grumpy or hard work because you don't know how to talk to me.

“It’s a very powerful thing to be quiet and collect your thoughts.” Susan Cain.

I had to say my piece there.

Angela x

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Fishtail braid and curls

Last weekend i decided i was going to try curling my hair with my new curling wand. It's an Enrapture Totem styler (currently on sale in certain places). I bought mine half price from Next online - good deal.

Anyway, yes i do have very nice naturally curly hair but it's the kind of curls that are really tight at the sides and front and falls into big waves at the back. And although I really do love my curly hair, I wanted to try that uniform big blow dry type of loose curl that sort of just hangs there and you can swoosh around. We all love a bit of swooshing don't we girls.

I washed my hair and let it air dry overnight. Sunday morning I straightened the hair (I have to do this first or it ends up a pure frizz ball). An hour later I set about it with the curling wand. It sort of worked - there are no pics. By the end of the day my own little tight curls started to appear around my hairline, well it was a drizzly day here in central Scotland.

On Monday i curled it some more and this time it was better. There's still no pics though. Duh! It sat well and i think i got the hang of this curling malarky.

On Tuesday I decided to try a fishtail braid what with my hair now becoming a little bit less clean than it had been the previous days. I managed to do it pretty quickly and so glad I tried it. It sat perfectly and managed to get me a few compliments - result!

first time fishtail braid - result!

This time i did manage to take a few snaps. They're a bit grainy due to the front facing iPhone camera less than perfect picture quality. (what a mouthful that was).

I also snapped this cute little curl that my hair managed to find its way to hang in during the day. love it.

Angela x

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#NOTD Every Month is Oktoberfest by OPI

Quick NOTD post.

I bought this Every Month is Oktoberfest by OPI about a month ago and decided it was time to give it a go.

Every month is Oktoberfest (flash used)

In the bottle it leans towards a shimmery looking purple rust colour (not my bag), but i'd seen swatches of this and thought it was a good alternative to the wine stains that are out just now for autumn. Look at the photo above. It looks like a lush wine shimmer. That was under lamplight and a flash. Deceiving...

It applied really well. I could've gotten away with one coat but all pics (iPhone pics btw) are 2 coats and no top coat.

close up of the shimmer

On the nail it goes between a dark blue toned purple with dark burgundy shimmers to just plain dark brownish metallic (Don't you just love my descriptions?!). I'm not sure exactly what colour it's meant to be but in plain daylight (no sun) to me it was a dark (leaning towards rusty brown) burgundy colour. When the light shined on it it sparkled a little and the wine tones showed through more.

Overall I don't think i liked it on my nails. I'm sure some people love this colour. However, the formula was great as is usual from OPI. If it hadn't been so rusty looking in daylight then i'd change my mind. I prefer the straight up wine colours out like Essie Skirting the Issue or Bahama Mama, also from Essie.

Angela x
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