Winter Hair & Makeup Update

Usually when the months get colder and darker I like to switch my hair colour and as a result I alter my makeup too.

Last month I dyed my hair a deep burgundy which I liked for a bit and then I felt as though it washed out after 2 weeks so I was not impressed.

Then just last week I decided that my hair seriously needed a hair cut. So I opted to keep the length but to have more choppy layers and a choppy side fringe which I am liking more and more each day :)

As you do I had the urge to go freshen up my hair colour SO I went to superdrug as they have a much better colour range than the Boots near me and I chose a Schwarzkopf XXL Live Colour in Plum. I usually go for a plum colour but I wanted ut to be slightly more purple this time around. I dyed it and at first I was a little unsure as it just looked too dark but actually this week the colour has come out and it looks amazing! I love it and I am hoping I will keep this colour until the next big school holidays which is in April.

As my hair is a deep dark purple my current makeup didn't really match so I switched it so that it complimented my new hair colour. I went for a slightly bronzed look but kept the eye makeup simple and brightened the look with a pop of bright lip colour and  I love the look!

*I recently bought Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturiser which is amazing! The colour matches my skin perfectly and on top of that it's lightweight and provides me with a super luminous glow. Amazing! I now want to purchase their Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Overall I love my new hair and makeup look - I will re-edit this post tomorrow with the products used too :)

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

 

October Break: Visiting Israel-Palestine

In October, in the UK teachers and children have a half term break. It is a week's holiday for us teacher's to recharge but actually I am sure many of us work through these holidays.

So going to Morocco gave me the travelling bug and since I got back I just wanted to go on another holiday…so I spontaneously booked a short trip to Israel-Palestine. It was a great plan as my sister was working over there at the time. I really enjoyed my time over there but at the same time it was sad seeing how segregated the Israelis and Palestinians are because of the ongoing conflict. Personally I think it is such a shame children grow up in a country where it is the norm to see soldiers with guns everywhere and also that they may just be taught to hate each other and not to respect each other. On the positive side, I got to teach kids art at a refugee camp and also witness what life is realistically like for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is also a very beautiful country which I hope to visit again soon :)                                                                                            

Love & Blessings,

Sara xx

My Classroom { 1Pine }

In July 2013, I passed my QTS which is basically my first year in teaching. It was a really enjoyable and rewarding year but also quite challenging too. I never dreamed of becoming a teacher but so far it has proved to be the profession I am suited for.

For those of you who do no know, my BA (Hons) is in Mixed Media Fine Art and originally I wanted to go into Regenerative Arts (developing art in deprived communities). However I graduated at the time of the recession in the UK and could not secure a job. The route I eventually opted for has really developed myself and I am in a job I feel quite passionate about.

I currently teach Year 1 ( 5-6 years) and lead Art and Design in my school, which I absolutely LOVE! Children are so inquisitive and amazed by everything and everything at that age. I also love the fact that I can utilise my art background to create such a creative learning environment for my kiddies :)

Last year, I created a range of displays from scratch as well as using Pinterest and adapting them to my classroom. This year I started designing displays from a blank canvas which is the best part as you can really unleash your creativity! Being an artist, I adore bright colours that compliment as well as contrast one another. My favourite colour is turquoise and the moment I rolls of display paper in that colour I knew I had to do something fantastic with it. Yes I am crazy about turquoise - it is just such a beautiful colour. So I decided to use it for my phonics wall and transform my 'Book Corner' into 'The Beach'. Inspiration from my displays comes from my experiences of working/volunteering with children in the UK and abroad, Pinterest and placement schools. However first and foremost I always try to put myself my kid's shoes and think what they might want their classroom to look and feel like. How will I get them excited? What will make them engaged? How can stimulate their learning? Which resources will encourage independent learning?

Below I have included a selection of photo's of my classroom in its current state as I regularly change it to show the latest topics I have been teaching them about.

Teaching in and Exploring Morocco {Aug 2013}

Earlier this year, I decided that it was time for me to get back into volunteering abroad. I have previously been to Jordan and Romania where I worked with children through art. They were both amazing experiences and I learnt so much from the children I worked with. I have always wanted to go to Morocco purely because of the Arabic/Islamic art over there but I also wanted a reasonably worthwhile and cost effective experience. I researched charities and gap year programmes online for a while before I stumbled across Plan My Gap Year. As the name suggests it is predominately for gap year students, but I thought I would give it a shot as a teacher and apply for a placement.

I successfully got through and was put on a placement to work in an orphanage. To cut a long story short, when I along with the other girls got to Marrakesh a day after visiting the orphanage, based on a previous incident with the previous volunteers we were unable to commence our placement there. We were a little disheartened but luckily our supervisor had contacts and found us another placement which formed into a mini summer school at a guy called Hassan's house. He is a disabled man and a single parent with two children and was such a lovely person. He was very welcoming and had a clear objective of the summer school which was to teach children basic english along with creative activities. 

I volunteered with a group of girls who were all university students. We got along well which was great considering I was quite a bit older then them. Teaching English was really enjoyable and the kids were so lovely and some very cheeky! We had to plan our sessions daily which were full of sing songs and a range of activities to consolidate their learning.

When we weren't teaching, we had time to go and explore Marrakesh. We went to the local square Djema'a El Fna which was hustling and bustling with locals and tourists eating, bargaining and just admiring local handicrafts. I really enjoyed Marrakesh as there was lots to do from day excursions to Essaouira (beach) to the Sahara. Below are a selection of photos from my visit. I am now planning on where to venture next summer to teach :)

Well, Hello There!

Hello!

Ah I know I have seriously neglected this blog as of lately. I have been meaning to a backlog of blog posts but since school started up in September I have just been uber busy!

From teaching in Morocco during my summer holidays and preparing my new classroom to visiting my sister in Israel-Palestine in October and teaching in between, life has been pretty full on! I am now currently on Xmas break and enjoying time just catching up on sleep, meeting up with friends and just relaxing. I am off back home tomorrow for a week which I am looking forward to :)

Be sure to check out my blog as I will be doing a few blogposts on my trips to Morocco and Israel-Palestine, my new classroom and a beauty post on my new hair colour/makeup!

Love Sara xx