Hello from Scotland

Once again, I feel like I should preface this with the fact that it is not an all-beauty post, despite my desire to have a blog simply devoted to this! However, hang in there through the rambling and there will be shiny packages to come...

So I will blame my more-than-a-month-long absence on the fact that the semester was wrapping up, and there were exams to take and an astonishing amount of thrift store sweaters that had accumulated over the semester to pack into suitcases. Somewhere in that mess I resolved to write blog posts more often, though that promise got packed with the sweaters, it seems! Despite the hectic-ness, I cleaned out my dorm room,  headed home for a few weeks (spent mostly sleeping and on tumblr, no shame) and then off to Scotland!

I was terrified at first - I never been to a foreign country on my own. And even though I knew that there would be no language barrier, and that I would be faring far better than some of my friends scattered around Europe this semester, I had several weeks of anxiety and little sleep. Mostly, the idea of being away from home for so long scared me, as well as not making new friends! Typical worries I think, but I didn't have much head space for chatting online!

The famous Edinburgh Castle - from the hotel at orientation. 

However, I have been here a little over a week and I absolutely love it! Not only does my inner-Harry Potter fan do a little happy dance at all of the massive stone buildings (I pass a school on the way to my lectures that is partially based on the castle in the films, I've heard) but the history is amazing, the people are so wonderfully friendly, and I have met some lovely new friends! I honestly sometimes walk around the streets with my headphones in and smile because I feel so lucky and happy!

I have loads and loads of travel stories to tell, and I could certainly do so if anyone would be interested. Again, I am kind of held back on the fear that no one would want to read it! 

And now for the beauty. Back home, I follow several bloggers and feel so frustrated when the products they use aren't available in the states. But now that I am on the other side of the pond, I have been enthusiastically looking for everything I've been practically pining over for months (with some restrain - I am here for five months, and the goal is not to go broke in the first week!) However, I have been to a massive Boots and picked up the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. And it is just as amazing as everyone who raved about it said it was! I have to go and pick up a few of them, because it is constantly moving around from my purse to my book bag to my dresser - I cary it just about everywhere I go. It has the best coverage I have ever seen, and it makes you feel so good about your skin! I also picked up the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the color Metallic Pomegranate, which I know are sold back home, but I just couldn't find the color anywhere! It was in stock at Superdrug and I picked one up. Lastly was the Bourjois chocolate bronzer, which I was so excited about. Unfortunately, I got a shade a bit too dark for my complexion (blame it on the excitement and the shoddy lighting in pharmacies) so I'll have to go back and find one a bit lighter. That's the haul so far, as I usually am in pharmacies with a group of people and don't want to hold everyone up as I swatch lipsticks! So, I'm planning on taking a nice long trip on my own one day next week to give myself a bit of time to walk around and explore. 

The view from my bedroom window - so beautiful!

Next on my list is a thorough investigation of the Sleek counter, as well as the Barry M nail polishes (all of mine got left sadly at home, as nail polish - I was told - is flammable). If anyone has any more brands to try out, let me know! 

I also did a (relatively) controlled Primark shopping trip, and the details of those purchases can certainly be shared for anyone and everyone who would like to have a peek in my  new closet (that sounds very naughty!) I have a growing, dangerous obsession with Primark and they're cute dresses and sweaters! 

Thanks for reading anyone! If you would like to follow this blog it would make me ever so happy! I can also be found on twitter and instagram (both under the name uv_rae)