Long Time No See :o)

Hey there beautiful people! Hope you've all been well while I've been away.

I stopped blogging because life got in the way, but I'm back now

with more time and energy than ever before - so lets get this show on the road! (^__^)

A little update for you guys - I've changed my blog URL from

'themaryfairy.blogspot.co.uk'

to

'ReflectionsAndAffections.blogspot.co.uk'.

I thought it was about time I shed my childhood nickname

and choose something more grown up instead ;D 

I'll be slowly making changes to my blog layout too -

once I remember how I did it the first time I set up my blog.. XD

That being said, if you are, or you know of, someone who does

blog designs, please drop me a link below and so I can check out your/their portfolio :)

In the meantime, look forward to more regular blogposts - I'll be

posting a variety of beauty and skincare related stuff, and maybe even outfits too!

If you have any requests or ideas, do comment below and let me know!

Till next time, stay beautiful my lovelies ♥

Skin update #1 - Lymecycline/Tetracycline

Aloha my lovelies~ Today I thought I'd talk about what I've been doing for my skin lately.

Last time I posted about my skin, it was in a really bad state. You can click here to read the full post. After asking many people for advice, and them telling me to see my dermatologist, I gave in and made an appointment. I explained to her how painful it was and how I'm sick to death of battling with my acne on a daily basis; it's been about eleven years now, and I still haven't gotten rid of it, no matter what I tried. I had already been on antibiotics when I was around sixteen, and that messed my skin up even more, which put me off going to the doctors for it until now.

She decided that it was time to put me on Roaccutane, which is a last resort drug that is extremely harsh and you have to jump through a million hoops before even being considered to be put on it. I had to book a blood test to see if I had the all clear, and in the mean time she prescribed me something else to take as the time until I get Roaccutane will be quite long, and she wanted me to see if anything else that was left (that was less harsh) would work on my skin instead.

And guess what she gave me? Yup you guessed it.. more antibiotics.The first set she gave me when I was sixteen was an antibiotic called Tetracycline and some topical creams containing Benzoyl Peroxide and Differin in. It dried out my skin, my eyelids were rough and dry, and it LITERALLY cracked my lips. LITERALLY. It even made them turn bluey purple. 

It didn't help that I had no good idea about skincare back then either. She never told me to wash it off properly in the morning, she didn't explain what the ingredients were - I just assumed it was like a moisturiser like a nivea cream I had that had some added bonus ingredient in to get rid of the spots. It didn't occur to me to look up the ingredients or research them either, as I had a lot of bad things going on in my life which took centre stage instead.

But now that I know a lot more about skincare, I can battle anything that comes my way when it comes to any skin-related side effects when taking antibiotics.

But alas, as prepared as I was for those side effects, it was not to be. At least not with this one anyway. My dermatologist prescribed me some antibiotics (which is similar to tetracycline) called Lymecycline. I took these for two weeks exactly, and I had no skin related side effects apart from a little dryness, but that was easily combated with a heavier moisturiser. 

The reason I had to stop taking these was because I was having other side effects that I couldn't handle. These included headaches, dizziness, and itchy skin. I was itchy on my face, arms, legs, torso, back. It was ridiculous! When I would pray and stand up after prostrating, I would be so dizzy I would fall side ways and end up hitting myself on a wall or a sofa or even the fan!

If you know me personally, you'd know I suffer from migraine attacks very frequently, but less so than before. Because of the fact that they had been getting less, I was very happy - but then I would get a different type of headache which lasted a lot longer and was painful in a different way, and the only thing I was taking that was different was the antibiotics.

Anyone who has had migraine attacks like mine will agree with me that you wouldn't wish them on your worst enemy, and I did NOT want to have any more headaches than I could take, so in the end I had to stop taking the antibiotics.

I managed to get another appointment with my dermatologist and she told me to stop taking the Lymecyline and prescribed me another antibiotic which is also in the same family of drugs, but I will post about  how I'm getting on with that in an other skincare update, seeing as I've only just received them, so I can't really tell you if I have any side effects yet!

Whewww, sorry about the length of this, I didn't realise I had so much to say! I might post another update in about two weeks, or maybe earlier depending on if these antibiotics work or not - hopefully they will, that way I won't have to go on anything harsher! (^__^)

Let me know in the comments below if you like posts like this, and/or if you have any questions about any of the topical creams or antibiotics I've used, or anything else related to this post - I'll try my best to answer it :o)

Chitchat: Eid, Summer, and Life in General~

Anneyong my lovelies! Hope you've all been well and you've enjoyed your summer (^__^) 

I thought I would post a little update since I haven't posted in a very long time~

Ever since Ramadan ended, I've been feeling a bit down and I just wasn't in the mood to blog as a result. When an honoured guest like that leaves, it's presence is missed greatly, because it's presence basically did take over my whole life. It's just one of those things. Eid was a little bittersweet because of how sad I was that Ramadan was over, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I'm looking forward to next years Ramadan already - I pray I live long enough to see it once again! >.<

I hope everyone else's Ramadan and Eid went well though, and if you aren't muslim I hope your summer has gone well! Sitting here typing this, I'm already wrapped in a blanket and a hoodie, it's that cold up north! While I did enjoy the heat, I think autumn and winter will always have a special place in my heart; there's just nothing like being wrapped up in a massive coat and boots, sipping on some hot chocolate, speaking through a woolly scarf wrapped around half my face whilst waddling to lecture first thing in the morning. xD

I think I've made the most of my summer this year, for once. I got work experience in various healthcare settings, went on trips to the seaside, to lakes, to parks. I applied and bagged a couple of volunteer jobs that were difficult to get, and spent a lot of time with my close friends and made many new ones.

I went to a lot of weddings, and learnt more about my culture and religion. I've always been into my religion, Islam, but never so much into my Pakistani culture.

I like how everyone looks after each other not only in the Muslim community but my Pakistani community too, and how good hospitality is central to our culture as well as our religion, not just to our own people but to others too. :o)

Another thing I learnt how to do this summer is learn how to be alone, and not feel lonely. Being lonely is something every human fears deep down inside, and it's something I've struggled with for a long time.

I never liked doing anything by myself, I'd always want someone to be with me at all times and would only go out alone if I had no choice but to do so; I guess I just didn't like the company of my own thoughts.. of myself.

Lately though, I've actually begun to like being alone, doing things alone. I no longer feel shy or weird going out for a coffee or shopping on my own. It's times like these where I feel at peace and at ease, because I've realised that I can go at my own pace, I don't have to hurry or be afraid I'm holding someone up. The lesson I've learned from this is that being alone does not mean being lonely - sometimes all I need for company is me myself and I (^__^)

Oh, and I actually managed to soaked up a lot of Vit D this summer too! Something I've been meaning to do for a long time, since I'm severely deficient and have been so for ages now.

This summer I only tanned on my hands and feet -_____- My face didn't feel like tanning so now I look very strange when I put my hands anywhere near my face haha!

Anyway, enough about what I have been doing. As much fun as it has been having nothing to do and going with the flow, I've already got loads of things planned for this year, and also the next! Let's pray that God is planning the same thing as I am, but if He isn't I'm sure He will have something even better than I could even dare to dream of planned instead, so I'm not too worried if my plans don't pan out. (^__^)

As for my blog, I'm definitely going to carry on with it. I might take breaks because ultimately, this is only a hobby and my degree and career is far more important to invest my time and effort in. But I will definitely still post as much as I can - in fact, I already have a few blog posts planned out, I just need to type them up :D

Goodness me, I've typed a whole load of waffle today haven't I? I just sat down and anything that came to mind spilled out. I hope I didn't bore you to tears and that you're not mad I haven't been posting for a while. (>.<) Mianhamnida (that's the formal way of saying I'm sorry in Korean ^.^), I will post more often now!

Anyhoo.. until next time, stay awesome my lovelies! ;D

On being a female in a Muslim household in Ramadan..

Girls. I need to rant about something. Y'all know how much I love fasting. It makes me sad when I can't. But it's that time of the month right now. And it's slap bang in the middle of our blessed month. Which means I can't fast. 

It also means I can eat whatever I want; but the thing is.. I just - I just CAN'T okay, it's really hard!! Not because I physically can't, or I feel like I should be fasting (although I do sometimes feel like the latter). No it's neither of those. It's just.. how do I eat without getting caught by the opposite gender? They're usually clueless about the whole period thing..

 Let me walk you through the awkwardness and problems I face when it comes to this issue and how I deal with it.. or how I try not to deal with should be much more an accurate of a description, LOL

At first, I try and eat stealthily. When they're in masjid, when they're at work, when they're napping. I tip toe across the creaky landing outside my room and lightly jump over a couple equally creaky stairs like a cat stalking its prey, flee to the kitchen and find something to eat that won't leave a mess, a scent or any dishes to wash. 

But then... *horror music* they come home early, or they wake up from their nap and instinctively walk to the kitchen for a snack and BAM they find you stuffing your face with Jaffa cakes with a cuppa on your right and a half eaten tube of Pringles on your left and time freezes for a moment and you're just stood there like AW POOP NO I'VE BEEN CAUGHT! 

So now what do I do? Do I flat out tell them the reason?

Me: ...

Them: OMG YOU'VE BROKEN YOUR FAST?! 

Me: ohai.. um.. yeah I'm on my er.. you know.. my erm... *mumbles* period..

Them: Your what?

Me: *flails at the prospect of having to explain menstruation to her 15 year old brother*

(or alternatively)

Them: Oh.. *awkward silence*

Me: *flails inwardly just as awkwardly*

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? If I wouldn't tell someone I'm on my period on a normal day, why am I going to tell them now?! Obviously I try to avoid this situation. I mean who wouldn't? Maybe someone who wasn't dropped in a pool of awkward as soon as they were born and can deal with stuff like this in a mature way.. heh.

The only alternative left is for me to not eat, or flat out lie by saying I'm ill. Or bring up a fruit basket* up into my room and put a lock on the door. 

*sigh*. #muslimgirlproblems

Luckily, (even though I don't believe in luck, I just couldn't find a better word) I have actually been ill and have been given some meds so I can just half lie and say the doctor told me not to fast if they ever catch me. xD Teehee! *rubs hands with glee*

How do you deal with your time of the month in Ramadan?

*And by fruit basket I mean a basket full of Jaffa Cakes. And Pringles. Lots of Pringles..

Ramadan Mubarak! (^__^)

Salaam and hello everyone! Guess what?

RAMADAN IS HERE!!

 *bounces off the walls in excitement* 

*squeals like a child*

*moonwalks across her room* 

SDJFKLDSADFSGKHASLDFGHFDSKAJGSHDK;LS!!!

...

Sorry (>.<) I'm just REALLY REALLY excited xD 

It's definitely my favourite month in the WHOLE YEAR, and I wait for it to come back as soon as it ends - that is how much I love this precious month! (♥__♥)

For anyone interested in the topic, I will definitely be posting some Ramadan related posts this month, In Shaa Allah! 

However, if you're curious about Ramadan and want to know what it's all about, you'll be glad to know I have already posted a couple of posts on the subject last year, so instead of typing it all out again I shall leave you with a link to a brief overview of the basics of Ramadan for you to read at your leisure by clickety clacking here~

Right, I'm off to type up some more posts! If you're curious about anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to leave your question(s) in the comments below - remember, there is no such thing as a silly question! (^__^)

Google Reader --> Bloglovin'

As I am sure many of you know by now,  Google Reader will be no more from tomorrow, so I thought I'd  put out a quick little post on how to follow me after its gone! (^__^)

Bloglovin' is my favourite way of keeping up to date with my favourite blogs! Click here to follow me on there ;D 

It's easy peasy to set up an account, and you can import all the blogs you're following on Google Reader to Bloglovin'! It'll save you a lot of time, trawling through your blog list trying to find their Bloglovin' button (if they have one)

So yeah.. get on it guys! Please *wide eyed, pleading kitty face* it'll mean the world to me! ^^

Chitchat - Can someone help me? (T____T)

[ To anyone who is reading this.. If you have a minute, would you mind helping me with something? It's kind of getting to me and I'd love some help from my fellow bloggers. It's kind of hard for me to talk about this because I'm so self conscious about it and I absolutely hate talking about it but I've come to a point where it's affecting me so much I'm actually willing to ask for help now. So please, if you have a moment, please read. Thankyou ♥ ]

Can someone please explain to me why, despite doing everything that needs to be done to prevent spots.. I'M STILL GETTING THEM?

I genuinely do not know why I have them. 

I cleanse, exfoliate, moisturise. I use face masks. 

I drink plenty of water, I don't have dairy (apart from a teeny bit in my tea). I eat healthily. I exercise. I even have supplements specially for my skin. 

I change my pillow case every other night, I wear hijaabs that won't irritate my skin, and I keep my hair out of my face. 

I let my skin breathe any chance I get, I never cake on the makeup and I've stopped using makeup wipes.

SO WHY AM I BREAKING OUT?

Is there anyone out there who is in the same situation as I am? Even my trusty Witch Stick can't handle my skin right now. It's getting to the point where I can't sleep properly because it's getting that painful.

I get the feeling it might be hormonal acne, because it's mainly sore bumps under and around my jaw, chin, the sides of my cheeks and forehead.

But like I said.. I eat healthily and exercise and have given up dairy (which was damn hard to do, because I bloody love my cheese!), and I've read that all these things affect hormonal acne so I don't get why my skin is breaking out like it's getting paid to do so?!

If you have any advice, any blog posts that will help me, please comment below. I'm willing to try anything right now.. it's painful and I hate it. If anyone can help me, please do. I'd appreciate it very much. ♥

Chitchat: Everything Far Eastern~

*clears the cobwebs off of her blog and sidles in awkwardly*

...ohai guyz. 

Aaaaaghhh. I'm sorry for falling off the blogging bandwagon again. It's just that.. life and uni have been taking up almost all of my time these past few weeks, and any spare time I have I've started to spend it with my friends, and venturing outside and trying out new things instead of being a hermit and just spending my free time on the laptop.

I even tried Japanese food the other day! I went to Leeds Trinity with a friend (to meet up with yet another friend xD) and we ended up eating at Wagamama's. Even though I'm not a fan of the way they make the rice, I really liked it over all. I'm going to try a soup next time~

I'm going to hunt down a Japanese restaurant in my own city now (^__^) I really want to try Chinese food too!

Errrrmmm...what else is there.. hmm. Oh, I've started learning two new languages! :D Korean and Mandarin to be precise. I've only just gotten into learning Mandarin relatively recently if I'm honest, I made a couple of Chinese friends and one of my close friends has actually gone to China for a couple of weeks too! So when she gets back she'll be teaching me what she has learnt aswell! ^^

But I have to say.. I love the Korean language just that teensy bit more. My love for their music, culture, and now the Korean friends I've made, has spurred me on to learning it properly - I've even bought a dictionary >.< haha

I like to sit around in university reading through it in public when I have free time. I've made so many friends that way, people I would never have been able to speak to and fangirl about things with if it weren't for the language barrier - I didn't realize there were so many benefits to learning a new language until I actually started learning one! :-)

I think instead of buying a new lipstick I might pick up a copy of the Mandarin version of this dictionary instead :P They actually are the same price, I got my dictionary for about £7/8 at Waterstones I think! I wholeheartedly recommend you pick one up in any language you're vaguely interested in (^__^) You won't regret it hehe~

*grins* Wellllllll that's all I can think of that has been taking up my time at the moment (apart from my studies).. I might do another chitchat post like this sometime soon, I really like talking about things other than beauty/skincare/fashion! 

Okay well then.. *clears throat awkwardly* bye. :D

(*..walks off, rubbing her forehead*)

What I learnt from my 2012 Project Pan ☼

*sidles in awkwardly* Um.. heyyyyyy everyoneee. *pauses just as awkwardly* ... :oD

*clears throat* Long time no see eh? Gosh, I've not spoken to you lot since last year! :P

*crickets chirrup at her lame joke*

LOL sorry sorry sorry. I'm back now. Sortof. Just thought I'd just pop by and say howdy~ 

I apologize for yet another long absence - I had a lot of exams, and revision was obviously going to be my top priority, but hey I'm back now! (^__^)

(I seem to have lost the masacara.. hmm.)

I thought I'd ease myself back into blogging by talking about my 2012 Project Pan. I can finally say that I have finished most of the things on my list! The ones I knew I couldn't use (because of a variety of reasons e.g. really didn't like the smell, didn't suit my skin tone, etc) I either sold or gave away. And now I can finally throw away the contents of my Project Pan box! It feels a bit bitter-sweet tbh, I didn't like a lot of the items, but I remember feeling accomplished whenever I finished something I didn't particularly get along with, especially the ones whose scents didn't agree with me >.<.

I remember telling myself I'd buy myself something as a reward for when I finished it, but I had already broken the spending ban a couple of times and bought a load of stuff from The Body Shop and Benefit. 

Most of the things I spent my money on were things that I needed everyday or skincare, but I felt guilty for buying the body butters so I decided not to open any until I had gotten rid of everything on my Project Pan list. So Peach Vineyard, here I come! ;D

Looking back over the year and being on a spending ban for so long, it has made me realize how much money I actually spend. I don't even spend most of it on myself, it usually goes down like this: I see something and I immediately think OH MY GOSH! My sister/mother/brother/father/other family member/friend would love this! *proceeds to buy it even though it isn't their birthday and they don't even need it*

Yep. I'm that girl. I like the rush of giving other people gifts lol.

 I also realised that i am very lazy when it comes to food and uni time. If I am out I will just go out to eat (even though it only takes me ten mins getting home) or I'll buy a load of sweets and dump them in my bag and nom on them all day. I learnt to bulk buy healthier snacks to eat whilst I was at uni, or just go home and eat!

The last thing I learnt to do was differentiate between the things I wanted and the things I needed. Once you  figure that out you save a whooooooole lot of money let me tell ya.. LOL. I've become quite good at just being satisfied with window shopping, which it was quite a bit harder for me to do at the start of 2012; I almost feel all grown up now.

Yeah.. almost. :P

So tell me, what did you learn to do last year? Did you go on a spending ban/Project Pan? How did it work out for you? (^__^)

Guess who's back, back again.. ;D

Heyyyy.. *smiles timidly* how is everyone doing? 

..uh, guys? Where are you going? Wait.. what?! NO NO WAIT NO COME BACK I'M SORRYYY! asdfghjkl;'

 I am SO sorry I left you, you guys. Seriously! *wide eyed* This stupid thing called Life and it's friend Uni got in the way of us. Please forgive me. Please take me back!

What's that? You will?! *squeals and does the dougie* I love you all SO much! ~GROUP HUUUUUG!~

Seriously though, I've missed blogging. A LOT. All I ever do these days is go to uni and sleep. And maybe eat sometimes. It's exhausting (;__;) 

So I thought instead of disappearing for months on end I'd MAKE SOME TIME and POST SOME STUFFS. Not only because I miss it, but because some of my blog followers have actually been asking me regularly when I'm going to be posting another blog post! Everytime someone asked I would always react the same - like, you actually follow my blog enough for you to notice that I haven't been posting for a while?! 

My reaction usually goes something like this:

 

Then proceed to do this:

or alternatively, something like this, but more halal:

(When in reality I actually do this:

 

.. mainly because most people who say it are online. Awkward laptop dancing ftw! *fist pump*)

LOL no but REALLY.. like really really..

..it honestly does make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that even one person likes my blog, forget all of my followers and people I know in real life and on twitter who tell me they read my blog! It honestly makes my day whenever someone compliments my blog, because it is my baby, and I did put a lot of work into it and to know that I've helped someone - whoever it may be, even in the smallest way possible - it makes it all feel worth while, so thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Where was I going with this? I don't even know. Oh wait yes! I have already started typing up a blog post  - a short one but a blog post all the same! *beams, proud of herself* And if I get any more time this weekend, I will type up another one too! :D

So yeah.. watch this space, ladies and gentlemen.. watch. this. space... cuz I am BACK and I am here to stay! ;D

Anyway.. peace out - for now! 

*dances out backwards to Gangnam style*

P.s. Yes, I was in a ridiculously odd mood when I typed up this post. You know you love me. :P 

Update :)

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in aaaaaages. I fell ill for a while, and just when I started feeling better, something personal came up and I had to focus all my attention on that. Once it is over, I'll start posting again soon :) 

Hope everyone is well, In Shaa Allah! You're all in my prayers (^__^) 

x