Showing posts with label List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label List. Show all posts
Now that I have shaken that off and stocked on some necessities from the shop, I thought I would list a few of my favourite meals that I am planning to make while staying at home, in the hope that it might give people some inspiration. And please remember that these are all dependant on whether you have the ingredients at home, good luck getting some!
Now don't get your hopes up, none of these will be ground breaking. I am a simple cook :)
- Good old simple tomato pasta and garlic bread
- Homemade pizza made from naan breads, pitta breads and bread rolls
- Sausages and mash
- Slow cooker chicken roast
- Herby baby potatoes
- Chicken in a bag with potatoes
- Stir Fry
- Slow cooker curry
- Homemade wedges - these make any dinner that little be better!
- Pie and mash with lots of peas and gravy
- Sausage roast in a pan
- Shredded chicken in pasta
- Toad in the hole
- Pasta Bolognese with lots of leftovers
- A giant lasagne if you can find both sauces!
- Sausage Casserole
- Chicken tray bake
I have a list of meals I want to make/cook/bake while I have time at home so watch this space for that post. It would be silly to not try out some new dishes while I am home all day. The more meals I can make at home, the longer it will take us to get bored and lose our minds.
Also feel free to read some of my other food related posts where I go into more details on how to make them! Lazy Girl Guide To Cooking | Favourite Home Cooked Meals
It can be quite daunting thinking about all the items you want to invest money in for the long run and then totalling up how much it would cost to invest in them items... I find that investment pieces can be something that you gradually add to your collection when and wear you can, and there is nothing wrong with buying non-investment pieces in the mean time.
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
- Skincare
- Moisturiser - Apart from the Sukin Facial Moisturiser which I am a big fan of, I mainly only use Clinique or Origins moisturiser and the main reason for this is simply - my skin like them much better. I have tried a few drugstore moisturisers but 9/10 times my skin does not agree with them so naturally, I am going to listen to my skin.
- Eye Cream - Since I started wearing eye cream a few years back (not as soon as I should have mind you) I have always stuck to the Clinique All About The Eyes Cream and I have never found anything to rival it. I tried to find a pot of eye cream from Boots when I ran out and all I could find was tube eye creams. What is up with that?
- Outerwear
- Outerwear is generally a higher price point because of what it is made of and the amount of material used but I do like to spend a little extra on my outerwear to make sure it lasts me for many many years. You end up wearing your outerwear 10x more than any other item in your wardrobe and it completely covers your outfit so it needs to be something that works with everything and stands the time. I also like to spend a little more on a outerwear piece because i have a select collection of coats and jacket rather than having a large collection to choose from.
- Footwear
- Footwear is around the same thinking as my outerwear collection, i have a few key pieces of footwear that I rotate depending on the season so i like to invest in shoes that will last me more than one season. I still have some shoes from Primark and Newlook which have lasted me a long while but I do like to go into TKMax and see what more brands I can get my hands on.
- Jewellery - excluding earrings
- I used to love the 'costume' jewellery that I used to buy in Clair's Accessories when I was younger but now I have ground up I much prefer the more simple diligent pieces. I find to buy a piece of jewellery that will last years without the chain breaking, you do need to invest a little into the piece.
- Handbags
- Again this is very similar to my thinking process about footwear and outerwear, a good hand bag can last you so many years and work for any occasion. I am someone who bangs and bashes their handbag around all days so i need one which is going to last more than a few months before breaking.
- Kitchen Equipment
- Strange one maybe to put in but a very important one for people deciding to move out! When im talking about kitchen equipment I'm talking washing machine, slow cooker, dish washer - all of the equipment which can cost a lot to replace at the wrong time. When i need to buy something for the kitchen i do like to go by certain brands which i know last a long time and have great customer service. My favourites if you wanted to know are Russel Hobbs and Samsung.
Where I like to save
- Home Decor
- As much as i love looking in the white company... it just isn't going to happen. The price some brands charge for home decor is crazy considering Home Bargains and Primark do some amazing items which are similar and more than half the price! I feel like only a few years ago it wasn't seen as cool to buy home bits from shops like Home Bargains and then in the space of a year or two, everyone is raving about their products and I can see why.
- Makeup
- If you have been around for a long time than you will know that i have always been a drugstore makeup girl right from the beginning and nothing has really changed. Although i like to spend a bit more on my skincare, I find most makeup works on a good base and I do have my favourites. Rimmel, Revolution and Kiko are to name a few which i have stuck with for many years. I have a few higher end products in my collection but the majority of it is from Boots.
- Earings
- I couldn't count for you the number of earrings I have upstairs, the number would carry on for a long while and along the years I have picked up big packs of multiple design earrings from Newlook and Primark and I have never had a problem with them. If you have sensitive ears than maybe ignore this point but i would rather spend £10 on a pack of 50 earrings them £50 on one pair.
- Jersey Basics
- This might make people gasp in horror but I buy all my basics from Newlook and H&M because you can't go wrong with them. Most of my wardrobe is made up of basics from H&M and Newlook and i have had some for years.
- Jeans
- I know a lot of people like to invest in their jeans and have the one perfect pair but I still have some jeans that I bought from Newlook about 7 years ago and they still look perfect. I find that as long as you wash them right, you shouldn't really have a problem. Always remember to go for a smaller size so when they naturally give, they aren't too big!
- Nails
- If you have never tried the fake nails from Primark what have you been doing all your life? A full set of acrylics can set you back £30 ish and to have them removed cost an extra £10 for the removal? Primark sell amazing stick on nails for just £1. When i tell people this they do look at me like OMG you must be that stingy but once i show them my hands with the fake nails on, they can't believe how good they look. Honestly if you have never tried them give them a go, it will only cost you a £1! The glue you get with them is also amazing!
- Cleaning Supplies
- Another random one but the amount some people spend on cleaning supplies is ridiculous. I buy all my cleaning supplies from Aldi or Home Bargains if certain things are on offer. I find with cleaning products... it all does the same thing!
- Food Shop
- Ever since I moved into my own home I have shopped with Aldi and I love the food they make. I have converted so many people to Aldi and it is amazing the amount of money you can save on a big shop. Yes it has some set backs like the packing is really annoying but I tend to open all my bags in the trolley and throw them into the bags - rebel I know! Again i feel like it is now cool to shop at Aldi thanks to people on YouTube recording their 'weekly Aldi food shop'.
Does anyone else find it extremely difficult to get themselves into gear during the winter? I am quite a lazy person at the best of times so once the mornings get darker and the nights get colder, you can imagine how much of a sloth I become.
Here are a few steps I find help me stay motivated during the winter months!
# make a routine
I know not everyone likes having a routine to stick to but I find if I don't have one, I just sit in my pjs any time I'm not at work. Whether its an evening routine to stop me getting into bed too early or a weekend routine that involves going out for a walk and visiting a new village, it just means I feel like I have done something with my time rather than waste it.
# batch cook and plan your meals
I love planning my meals for the week, for one because it means I can buy in the ingredients I need beforehand and two, because it means I have a delicious dinner to look forward to. It can be so easy to finish work, finally get home when it is pitch black outside and not know what to cook. Let alone the effort it takes to make a cooked meal!
I like to batch cook something like a lasagne or Sheppard's pie on a Sunday so that I have a warm lunch all week or a easy homecooked dinner to fall back on. I also find the easiest thing to do in the winter is to stick a load of ingredients into the slow cooker first thing in the morning when you have the most energy so by the time you finish work, there is no cooking to do.
# lay out your clothes ahead of time to remind yourself not to get into your pjs
When I do decide to have a workout at the gym I like to lay my gym clothes on my bed in the morning so by the time I get home, I have the urge to actually put them on and go. If I am planning to go out for the evening with friends, I also like to pick my outfit ahead of time because when I finish work in the evening, you can be sure I'll want to go out in some leggings and a baggy jumper.
# make plans!
I know it can be so easy to spend most evenings and weekends relaxing at home in the comfort of your fluffy pjs but I try and make plans on a weekly basis during the winter. I am an introvert person at the best of times so I know what it is like when your don't want to leave the house at all but, I do make myself busy. I like to plan meals with my friends during the week or Christmas events with my family at the weekend. I know during the Christmas periods most peoples diaries are jam packed anyway, I know mine is already! Got to love the season!
Let me know how you stay motived during the winter months!
Is it acceptable to officially call it autumn now?!
I hope so because I can't wait any longer and the fair lights are finally out of their boxes! Ever since I was a child, autumn has been my favourite time of the year so I thought, since it appears to be a tradition on my blog, to list all the things that make me love autumn.
Your welcome.
The festive films on Netflix
The amazing candle scents
All the jumpers in the world
Fluffy PJs
Roast dinners
Golden eye shadows
Hot chocolates
Log fires
Country walks
Country walks to the country pub
Dark lip colours
Bonfire night
Halloween
Film nights in
Baking sundays
Harry potter themed evenings with friends
All the layers
Your favourite black boots that you wear with everything
Not feeling bad for doing nothing all weekend but snuggle on the sofa
Shopping in home sense and TKMax
The smell of cinnamon in every drink and cake
Collars poking out of jumpers
Tights and boots with everything
Going out for sunday dinner with the family
Re watching Hocus Pocus
A bold red lip
Wearing my long hair down and not worrying about a sweaty neck - I know you know what I mean!
Mince Pies
Gavin and Stacey is kind of acceptable to watch
The dramas shown on ITV
Living with your partner is one of the biggest steps in your life so it can be crazy, scary and over whelming at first. When we first got the green light to move into the home we bought i'm not going to lie, i was nervous. You always hear about couples who are together for years and years and then when they move in together, they can't make it work and break up. Some may call me a pessimistic, i call myself a realist.
Luckily for me and my partner, we are still going strong three years into living together and 5 years into our relationship. Living together has taught me a lot about relationships in general, so i thought i would share my thoughts with you today. Obviously everyone is different so some people will not agree with my five points and that is absolutely fine! This is just a few things which have made living with a smelly man work.
1. give yourself your own jobs
One thing i was really worried about when we moved in together was arguing about stupid house things. Most people argue about chores and people pulling their weight so when we moved in we subconsciously gave each other jobs. I do most of the cleaning and cooking in the house and Cal does all the hoovering and washing up, which is one of the things i hate thank god.
2. don't get stuck in a routine
Some people love routines and find life runs more smoothly when they are in one. Cal and I personally are half and half. We find when we have done the same for a few nights we can get bored, its when we get to this point we plan something spontaneous. Whether it is just a walk down to the local village pub for a drink after work, going out for dinner or even spending the night round a friends house. It breaks up our week and makes it a bit more interesting. I think sometimes we forget that we are only a 25 and 28 year old living a old married couples life.
3. don't forget to have your own space
Both Cal and I are quite introvert people so we can easily spend time by ourselves and some nights we really need that. Some nights when i get home from work and i really want to sit in the bath for a few hours and go straight to bed, Cal just leaves me to it, and vice versa.
4. give each other free rein of the house
Some people don't like to leave the house when the other half have company which is perfectly fine for them. I personally like to have space so if i or Cal have friends coming round, the other person goes out for the night. A lot of people don't feel the need to do this but personally i think its nice to give your partner the space to entertain.
5. having fights about absolutely nothing is all part of the course
You might not be the type of couple who normally argues but that will change when you move in together, and that is totally normal. If you don't argue about the colour of the wall or the Santa on the stairs then tell us all your secrets! Don't worry if you start to bicker about stupid things because that is just life and normally they don't last very long, well so far...
Over the time that I have been blogging I have learnt a few things that really help to make a blog look better and get more attention. Some of these I have seen in other blogs and some I have found myself along the way. I thought today I would tell you guys a few tips that I wish I knew when I first started blogging.
- A little goes a long way - Posts don't have to be paragraphs long with super super detail. I love reading bullet point posts and lists.
- Labels are important - These help people who search for a specific topic find your post which means more page views
- The blogging community isn't scary- I didn't start taking part in the blogging community until recently because I didn't know if I really fitted in, but since I have I have met so many lovely people and gained some lovely followers so don't be scared to put your self out there.
- Add properties to your photos - By copying your labels into the Properties tab on your photos, when someone searches a topic your photo can appear leading them to your blog which means more page views
- You can post as much or as little as you want - Some times I can feel like I need to post more frequently because all of my favourite bloggers do but if you have a good following, it won't matter how often you post they will still be there to read them.
I have learnt a lot since I first started my blog many moons ago, feel free to comment anything you wish you knew at the start!
My favourite cleaning product to date has to be the disinfectant Zoflora. I know the product is huge within the family and home community which I have become a big fan of recently (watching speed cleaning and house tour videos is my new favourite thing) and I couldn't ignore the hype around the product. If this isn't your thing I completely understand, take a look at my other beauty and skincare posts at the top!
To date I have 6 bottles underneath my sink and once that stash starts to decrease I am totally picking up some new scents! I used up 3 scents this week so I definitely make the most of them!
There are so many uses for this disinfectant I have seen over the months and here are 9 of my favourite.
1. Down the sink
I like to pour some of the disinfectant down my sink plugs at the end or beginning of the day. Afterwards the kitchen smells beautiful and every time water goes down the plug the scent will come back and please your nostrils.
2. In a spray bottle mixed with water
This disinfectant you will come mix with water to make your own disinfectant spray which smells amazing. Depending on the size of the bottle your using I tend to normally mix 1 to 2 cap fulls with water to make the spray.
3. Sprayed on fake flowers
This is such a genius idea the person who thought this up needs a medal! Zoflora make a ton of flower related scents so you can spray the disinfectant on to fake flowers to make them smell like real flowers and to keep them bacteria free.
4. In your clothing wash
This tip is based on the Fresh Linen scent of Zoflora which smells like clean clothes and fresh bedding. Pour 1 cap full of the disinfectant in with your detergent and your bedding and towels will be totally clean and smell amazing. I find my clean clothes can sometimes not smell like anything but when I use this I can really smell it through the material. Plus while it is out to dry it fills your rooms with the scent.
5. Wiped over your warm radiators
This is a great one for the cold months! All you need to do is wipe a cloth soaked in the disinfectant over your warm radiators, every time the radiators are on the smell will fill the room. This is perfect in the winter when all the winter scents are available.
6. In a sink full of boiling water
This is a great thing to do before you go to bed so during the night the scent fills the room ready for the morning. The hot water makes the scent more powerful and when you empty the water in the morning it leaves the scent in the drain.
7. In your car
I don't look after my car at all, I'm sorry car for never washing you or emptying you of rubbish but I am getting better! I now have a small spray bottle in my car to spray along my dash board to 1. clean my car of horrible germs and 2. to leave it smelling fresh and inviting. I find my dash board gets very dusty very easily so this is really handy to have.
8. In your washing machine
I have started doing an hot empty wash with a cap full of disinfectant in to clean out the drum and the draw after I have done a few spins. Washing machines can be full of bacteria with all the dirty warm water running through it so running disinfectant through then can be really useful.
9. Wiped over your door handles and entrances
This is a great tip especially if you have a busy house with people coming and going. Door handles are full of bacteria with the amount of times people touch them so wiping them over with scented disinfectant is a must. Also wiping Zoflora over the handles and door frames means every time someone walking into a room they catch a whiff of the amazing smell and it lingers with them.
You arent an adult until you become excited about cleaning products! What is your favourite scent?
Back in May I wrote a list of objectives I wanted to achieved over the summer, a little summer to do list and I thought It would be a good idea to look back over the list and see if I actually achieved anything because yes, I'm sorry to say... Summer is over in my eyes. Bring on the blankets, fairy lights and hot chocolates.
#Get a new job
The most important goal of the summer was to get a new job and thankfully I have achieved that. If you haven't read a few of my more personal posts lately you might be questioning this goal but I don't want to bore you with the topic anymore so head over to a previous post to find out all the details. Anywho I am now in a new job, with amazing work friends and a much better work life balance. I really couldn't have found a better place to work at and I am so thankful it all worked out in the end.
#Become more fit
This was always going to be the up in the air idea, would I start working out or would I forget or just not be bothered. Annoyingly right now I am not signed to any gym BUT i do have plans to join one with Callum in October so watch this space!
#Grow my hair
I am proud to say I haven't caved and chopped all my hair off yet, I have even had a trimmed and the dip dye taken higher to balance out the length of my hair. I have even invested in a hair oil so hopefully that will encourage my hair to grow even faster. I am aiming to have my long bum touching hair by the start of next year so wish me luck!
#Finish off the bedrooms
Even though no physical progress has been made in the bedrooms, we do have plans in place. A colleague at work has agreed to make and fit my wardrobes since he is a carpenter which is amazing. Having someone I already know come over to make my wardrobes takes a load off my mind and makes me excited about the process. Once they are in my blogging/beauty room can really take shape. I have already made plans of how I want my space to look so I will definitely make a post about it when it happens.
#Fill up my cooking book with recipes
Do you know where the best place is to get dinner recipes? Pinterest of all places. There is a whole community of food lovers on it who share all their favourite recipes and I get most of my dinner ideas from there. My book is filling up but I definitely have room for more!
#Get the garden started
This ambition was a bit ambitious for myself really... I bought some lovely plants and painted my garden table and chairs to make the place feel homely and then all my plants died in the crazy heatwave we had. I have since replaced the plants and so far they are still alive, just. My plan is to spend more time in the garden now it is cooling down so hopefully by next summer the garden will look like a jungle.
#Visit another country
It's been a long time coming but I am finally going on holiday! After the year I have had this holiday can't come quick enough. Cal and I are going to Majorca at the end of the month and I can't wait to spend a whole week sitting by the pool reading hundreds of books and exploring the island. Hopefully being on holiday will spark some new ideas since there is nothing better than letting your mind run wild with no distractions.
What have you done this summer?
Sticking to a budget can be hard and when your a home owner and have bills to pay for you don't really get a choice. I've been living in my own home now for just over a two years now and I have found some ways that help me to stick to my budget and not go into my overdraft every month.
- Meal Plan
This can be a life safer if you are someone who ends up buying a bunch of food that you don't need. Cal and I like to sit down and plan what we are going to eat for dinner that week for many reasons, one is so we can get what we need on our weekly shop ahead of time and because it gives us something to look forward to.
- Stick to your list
I think it should be a known rule never to go food shopping while you are hungry otherwise I come back with 2 cinnamon swirls, 3 different biscuits and a box of microwave chips so stick to the items on your list. You made a list for a reason so only get the food that you need.
- Choose food with multiple uses
It's easy to buy food because you like it but it worked for one meal and then its done. I like to make meals which I can freeze for another night or pop in the fridge for my lunch tomorrow. It helps me save money and stops me using everything in my freezer in one go.
- Shop Around
Before I moved out I was a self confessed Tesco addict and if I needed anything whether it was food or random bits I would go to Tesco. When we moved out we didn't know how we would find balancing our mortgage, food shopping, petrol and such so we ended up trying the Aldi store which is 10 minutes down the street from our house. We've found we can get a full weekly shop with meat and chicken and the everyday bits for between £20-£30 which is really good considering how much we bring home so we are official Aldi converts now. I love the chicken and meat from Aldi so if you don't already shop there then you should try it once. I know down the line when we start to have a family it will really help with saving our money. Its easy to stick to a shop that you are familiar with but when you can save all this money you have to give it a go.
- Check your online banking daily
It sounds very silly but I am terrible for not checking my online banking for days and it has become Cals job to remind me to pay the bills. By checking it daily you know exactly what bills has already come out and what you still need to pay for, that way if you see something you want for the house you know what money you have left for the month.
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Anyone else remember this saying up on every wall in your school?
It does still apply now in every day life so I have implemented it back into my life. When we first moved in we were still learning a rhythm and we ended up not using fresh food which meant it went off and we had to throw it away, which is such a waste. So when we plan our meals for the week now we also check what we still have in the fridge and freezer and what dates they go off. Then we make sure we use the food before the due date so that we don't waste the food anymore.
This doesn't just apply to food as well, we had lots of random house decorative bits which didn't have a home for a while and rather then getting rid of them we have rotated them round the house until we found a room where we liked them. Its so easy to chuck something away because it doesn't suit your theme only to need one a few months later and end up buying it again.
- Never impulse buy for the house
I love buying items for my house like most people and going into Home Sense or Dunelm can be really hurtful for my bank balance, I like to go home shopping with Cal because he does stop me going crazy for stuff that we don't need and don't have room for. Home stuff can be really expensive so I try and really think about what I want for the house and stop myself impulse buying. If I find something that I really like but it is super expensive, I like to sleep on the idea of spending that much money on one item. You can get into the hype of 'I need to buy this now, it won't be here tomorrow if I change my mind' but I have come to believe that if I return to the shop and the item is still there then I was meant to purchase it.
- Treat Yourself
This one may sound strange in this list but when you have been really good for a long period of time you deserve a treat. Me and Cal have the occasional take away when we have cooked dinner for the whole week because it gives me a night off from cooking and its something a bit different. If we don't have a take away we sometimes go out for date night instead and again its just a little treat for our hard work. Just watch they become too much of regular thing!
I recently felt like a robot living my life day by day and not enjoying my life. This has made me want to change my outlook on life and be more present in my everyday.
I am trying to stick to these 6 things that will help me be more positive.
1. Leave your phone alone
My old work had a number of group chats which all took over my life and pinged all day every day, I am learning to leave my phone in my bag while I'm out so I can enjoy what is happening around me. I was always getting told to put my phone away so now I don't let it rule my life. Its much more peaceful.
2. Look for the positives in things
I've been letting my bad mood ruin my days off and now I am starting to think positive about everything. Its easy to focus on the negatives in life but its more important to focus on the positives around us.
3. Make plans for something to look forward to
Being too busy to life your life is the worst. Making plans, catching up with friend and enjoying life is what it is all about.
4. Get out in the fresh air every day
I love going on walks in the summer and the winter, it calms and relaxes me and iis great to do with another person or by yourself. It gets you out of the house and into the sunshine and that can make all the difference.
5. Every day is a brand new beginning
It doesn't matter what has happened yesterday every day is a new day. We have a chance for a new start 365 times a year so take that chance and make each day count.
6. Watch the world around you
Magical things happen everyday and everywhere so take in what is happening around you and live in that moment.
This summer I am planning on overhauling my life and basically sorting my shit out. This year has taken me on a roller coaster and it is only the fourth month in so I am expecting big changes this summer and I will make them happen.
# Get a new job
My work life has changed dramatically this year as you all know now and not for the good so my main aim this summer is to get a new job. As much as I love retail I really do think I need a change of environment and surroundings. Something closer to home with less stress would be the ideal situations so fingers cross something that ticks them boxes comes up.
# Become more fit
I don't really care about losing weight and going on a diet, my plan is to tone my body and become more fit in general. Although since moving out my eating has become so much better and I am learning to cook something new everyday, I still have weeks where my eating is terrible especially if I am working long hours. I am planning to join the local gym with Cal in the next month or so which will be really good for me, I used to go gym nearly every day when I first left school as a hobby so I can see myself getting really into it again.
# Grow my hair
I have had short hair since 2015 now and I think it is about time I went the other direction and grew my hair (if I can) I have been trying to grow my hair since I was 16 and it would never grow past my boobs so I ended up giving up and going for the chop. Now I am ready to try again and hopefully grow my hair long and put more bleach in the ends so my dip dye starts higher in my hair. This is how I hope to have my hair soon...
# Finish off the bedrooms
We are nearing a year in our house now and we still haven't finished everything we would like to because we aren't made of money and life gets in the way. We still need to get built in wardrobes in the master bedroom and once that is done we can get rid of all the rails of clothes in my little room and turn it into my blogging/beauty room. Once that is complete I think my blogging game will become stronger and more routined.
# Fill up my cooking book with recipes
Like I said my cooking skills are getting better with every Mary Berry cookbook I read (she is my gal) and everything that I really like to make I write up in my own little cooking diary. It has four different colours on the pages so I can separate my cooking lists, slow cooker recipes, recipes for dinner and baking recipes. I love filling in this book (because I have no life apparently) and get wait for it to be full.
# Get the garden started
My garden is a blank space at the minute and I really want to make the space into something beautiful and relaxing so in the summer I can sit in my quite place and read a book or do some gardening. I plan to dig out all the plants in my front garden and start from scratch and decide what me and cal want to have.
# Visit another country
Lastly I really want to go on a holiday aboard this year and get out of England. I have some ideas in the pipe line with my family to have a big group holiday but if that doesn't work out, Cal and I will definitely go somewhere by ourselves. Maybe a weekend in a city or a week by a pool in a cheap hotel in Spain. My ideal holiday would be Benidorm but no one shares my love of it :(
I make a good toad in the hole
I really should have started wearing eye cream in my early 20s
Looking young sucks no matter how much people say I will be grateful when im older
Zac Efron isn't going to find me and fall in love and that's alright
Wine doesn't taste that bad
I should have carried on dancing when I was younger, I could be famous by now
I am a bad photographer
I hog too much of the bed
Life is better with a snapchat filter
My fear of heights will only get worse as I age
I worry about things too much, I need to let go more
I'm stronger than I look
London will also be my favourite place
Also I will never be a Made In Chelsea girl
I spend way too much on food and clothes
But I'm also really good with money
I'm a simple girl
I'm a early riser and that will never change
I'm also a sloth past 6pm
I really don't care about leaving the house without makeup, bring it on
I will also cry at emotional films I can't help it
Don't bother looking at jeans unless their petit
I'm not weird for imagining myself in films and music videos when I fall asleep
I deserve that extra piece of cake
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !
The most popular blog post of 2017 is no surprise to me because it has featured in every popular blog post post since 2015. I don't know why but you guys love this post since 2014 How To Style Ripped Jeans when it first went up. In the post I take you through my favourite ways to style my ripped jeans showing you photos from Pinterest.
My second most popular blog post from 2017 is Why Short Girls Have More Fun which is basically a silly post which I wrote right after I first cut my hair off into a lob. I featured my main girl Jenna Louise Coleman who even today is still my main girl crush.
Next up is post all about one of my favourite drugstore brand for foundation. Rimmel Foundations take you through all the foundations I had in my collection at the time and which formulas I like. I always say you can't go wrong with a Rimmel Foundation!
Next is another post all the way back from 2015 about my Dream Pinterest Home where I show you photos from Pinterest of my dream type of kitchen. I love the look of old fashioned wooden kitchens with big windows, anything that looks like a cottage catches my eye.
My fifth most popular post from last year was my New Years Solutions for 2015 which I totally forgot about. It is nice to look back and see if I have actually achieved what I set out to do 3 years ago. The first resolution was to start saving money again after just buying my car, I have definitely done that saving enough money to buy a house! Mission completed for that one I think! Next was to stop getting take away and learn to cook more which I would say I have done since moving out. I can make loads more now and only really get takeaway if someone comes over to visit or when I'm home alone. My final resolution was to plan more things to do in the warmer months and I've already made my summer checklist for this year so I can check that off my list!
My sixth most popular post was a list of reasons Why I Love the Autumn Time which is my favourite time of the year. We might as well use this now since it feels like winter is coming again.
Next up is my Whats in My Makeup Bag from September 2017 which features all drugstore products which I still love today and have repurchased many times already. It also features my Zoella makeup bag which looks super cute in photos.
Next up is a wish list I made back in October of all the products I want to invest in this year and sadly I haven't had a chance to purchase any yet. I'm hoping I will get some for my Birthday next month hint hint Callum and Laura...
My 9th most popular post of 2017 is My Favourite Shops For Home Decor with home related posts becoming my favourites to write recently. I love reading about what other people buy to kit out their homes and love writing them too. We are 10 months into living in our house and still no where complete in filling the house. By the end of the week we will have another corner of the house started but finding home decor pieces can be time consuming,
Lastly we have my engagement story post which went up September last year, 5 months after Callum proposed. Like I said in the post it was a complete shock when it happened and even know I forget that I am engaged, especially now while my ring is away for a few weeks being cleaned. If you want to feel like you know me a little better take a read of this post.
I have already started making a list of things I want to do this summer with Cal and the girls so I thought I would share it with you all (and keep it as a reminder to do these things!)
Go to a pub garden for Sunday lunch
I normally get 9/10 Sundays off so I love going out for a late lunch on a Sunday. I love having a roast (because I don't have to make or clean up afterwards) and sit in the pub garden enjoying the weather. Fruit ciders are my summer, winter, spring and Autumn drink so I'd never say no!
Go for walk round random villages
Even before I moved to the village we live in now Cal and I have always loved walking round cute little villages. We love old buildings, churches and manor houses so if a village has any of these Callum and I will walk round.
Go crazy golf/driving range
I went crazy golf for the first time last year and loved it! I wasn't the best but I enjoyed playing it so much. I then went to a driving range for the first time after that and enjoyed that even more. I was actually not that bad at the driving range so I really want to have another go this summer. We have a giant golf course just half an hour away in Milton Keynes so I want to drive down as soon as it is warmer outside and give it another go.
Go for a picnic in Emberton /Wickstead park
We are very lucky that Wickstead park is only 10 minutes away in the car from us so when the weather is good we normally go there for the day and take some food and lay down in the sun. You can either have a lazy day in the sun or walk round the ground and play on the rides. It has so much there is something for everyone. I really can't wait to go back and if we want a change of scenery we can drive a little further to Emberton Country Park in Olney which is super pretty and right next to the village of Olney which is nice to walk round.
Go to the Zoo!
I love going to the zoo on a sunny day and we live not far from the Hamerton Zoo which is surprisingly bigger than you would have imagined. They have everything from Meerkats and lions to camels so definitely worth the money.
BBQ in the garden
I have been to many BBQs over the years but I have never hosted one myself so I really want to host one this year in our garden. We have a big enough garden to host all of our close friends and family so hopefully we don't burn down the house... I will let you know how that goes.
Go for a weekend away at a English seaside
Although I have gone down to the seaside many times over the years, I have never spent more than one day there so I would love to spend a weekend somewhere. I am someone who is easily pleased so spending the weekend laying on a beach and playing the penny machines sounds amazing to me.
Transforming my garden into the secret garden
I really want to become the new Charlie Dimmock this summer and transform my garden from boring to colourful. I am going to watching lots of old Garden Sos and Garden Rescue shows for some tips and inspiration. I will blog the process once it is underway.
Hopefully keep my house plants alive for longer
Not much more explanation needed really.
I don't consider myself a pro at moving house as I have only moved house once in my life but I thought a lot of people who read my blog will probably be around the same age as me so will probably be in the same situation too (first time buyer) and would appreciate this post. I know for a lot of people moving house is really hard, especially if you already have a house so you have a house full of items to move with you. Being a first time buyer made moving much quicker and easier then for other people as most of the big items we bought once we moved in. I have so much admiration for people who moved from one large house to an even larger house with children!
So here are a few things that I think help making moving house so much easier.
1. Preparation
I am quite an organised person anyway but when we started the process of putting in an offer for our house in January 2017, I started sorting through my wardrobes and draws straight away and I moved in in May! Some might call that eager but it helped out a lot. Knowing that I had sorted and thrown away all the old stuff I didn't need to bring with me beforehand made me feel much better when it was time to move. A week before we moved I boxed up all my bedroom and just kept a few things out that I would have needed over the week and it meant I didn't have to worry about anything. I know some people are very last minute and would pack their belongings the day they moved but I can't do that, it probably would have given me a heart attack when the day came! Preparation is everything!
2. Friends are life savers
Now its your first big house and you want to do everything yourself because your a big girl now... but you need help. Our friends were life savers when we moved because they helped up bring round our sofas in a van we borrowed, they helped build lots of Ikea furniture and they spent quite a few trips driving boxes between our old houses and our new house. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't have moved in as quick and it would have cost us money to pay for vans or removal services. They also make moving house even more fun because they lighten your mood when your stressing about your kitchen floor and after everything is in you can all sit in the sun in the garden and have a nice cold beer/cocktail.
3. Plan your work
I am quite lucky in the fact I told my work straight away in January that I would need a week off around these dates to move house and they were very good about that. I know some companies aren't this laid back and wouldn't give people time off work but you might as well ask and shout and scream until they agree! If both Cal and I didn't have the week off after we got the keys the house wouldn't have actually been a home for weeks. Still now nearly a month in the house and we still are adding bits to the house to make it feel more homely.
4. Getting friendly with neighbours
This point is more for new build buyers who have neighbours who will be moving in around the same time as you. We were very lucky in the fact the site that runs our development stagger moving in dates for the buyers so in our little cul-de-sac we were the first to move in on the Friday, then the following Friday another house moved in and so on and so forth. This made moving in so much easier because we had everyone's packing space to pack our cars full of stuff and when everyone came round to see the house they all had somewhere to park their cars. Now I know some places don't do this and everyone moves in on the same day (I can't even imagine...) so if you get the chance I would get friendly with the neighbours so you can find out what time they were planning on bring their vans/cars so you can try to work around each other. The worst thing would be you can't get to your house because three vans from next door are taking up the parking and the road. If our moving in dates weren't staggered I think Cal and I would have moved in the following day to everyone else since we had to the week off just to make life easier to everyone especially us.
5. It won't all come together straight away
When I imagined my moving in day I imagined every room to be perfect and filled with furniture and for it already to look like a home. This didn't happen obviously. We only had two sofas and a TV in the living room, one bed in the second bedroom and every other room was storage. It is impossible for your house to be ready straight away unless you have literally moved everything already from your old house into your new. We spent the first 3 weeks without a TV unit, kitchen table, microwave, coffee table and chest of draws. We still don't have a washing machine, blinds or curtains and wardrobes but new houses are homes in progress. I find its better to wait to buy something then rush our and buy the first thing you see because you spend more than you should on the item and it isn't exactly the one that you wanted.
I will give you a house tour soon once I feel like it is ready and we have all we need. If you have moved house yourself and have any other tips leave a comment below with them. I'd love to know how yours went!
You all know how much I love to read and I have three amazing books which I have read lately that I want to talk to you about. You can read my first book post here and my second post here.
The first book I want to talk about is called Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon. I read this book in just one sitting and loved it so much. What first made me want to read the book is I saw the advert for the film version and fell in love. The book is based on a girl called Maddy who has bubble child disease which means she is allergic to the world, she hasn't step outside into the world for the last 17 years. Then she falls in love and her world basically changes and I was totally rooting for Maddy and Olly (the boy who catches her eye) and I am not going to lie... it did make me cry at times. Not to ruin the book for anyone but Maddy finds something out during the book which completely changes her life. I don't usually like to read books about ill people mainly because I become so invested in books that they upset me too much but I am so glad I read this book. Because I had already watched the trailer for the film I could picture the scenes perfectly and think the actors that were chosen were perfect for the characters. Plus I have loved Nick Robinson since Melissa and Joey and Jurassic Park.
5/5
My next book I want to talk about is called On The Other Side by Carrie Fletcher. I love Carrie as a person and her first fiction book is brilliant. It is beautifully written and a really heart felt story which made me cry at a few different points. The story follows a old women called Evie who at the beginning of the book dies and the book starts with her starting her passage into the afterlife at her old apartment building in her younger body. For her to actually enter into her afterlife she has to unburden some of her past and secrets to her loved ones which are still alive for her to be light enough to pass through to her next chapter. I think this book would really make people sit back and look at their life and their choices and say 'would I do that again?' The book is a love story and a very romeo and Juliet style of forbidden love. The stand out character for me is not the main couple, it is the second character Jim who is so sweet and so understandingly that I feel in love with him more the Vincent who is Evie's love interest.
5/5
The last book I have read lately is called A Summer At Sea by Kate Frorde. This book has made me realise I need a break away from my life so that is high on my agenda once I have moved into my house! The story follows Emily who is having troubles which her job as a midwife where she lives so she takes some time off to help an old friend who owns a puffer boat. Of course, she falls in love because I love a good love story and Alasdair her life interest is very old fashioned which I like. It is based in Scotland which I found really interesting and makes me want to take a puffer cruise around the Scotland coast like in the book. This book is really light hearted and made me smile while I read it.
4/5
Just because I write a blog about beauty and makeup doesn't mean I know everything about makeup and doesn't mean that I can do all the tricks which I certainly can't. I thought it would be good to make a list of all the things I can't do just for fun.
1. Winged liner
I am so rubbish at winged liner it is really embarrassing, my attempts are so funny. It takes me hours of watching YouTube videos and reading beauty books to even attempt to do them and they still done work out every time. I think we all share a bond on this one.
2.Applying blush without looking like a drag queen
It doesn't matter how lightly I use my hands when handling blush, I always look like a drag queen with it on. I've never found a colour that suits my skin perfectly and look good with my bronzers so I tend to avoid them.
3. Keeping up with fake tanning
I have loads of different fake tans in my cupboards in my bedroom and I absolutely love the look of wearing fake tan but after I've applied it once... I forget/can't be bothered to do it again and before I know it, I am pale again. I then don't bother with fake tan for a few weeks until I start the process again.
4. Doing anything with my hair other then clipping half of it up
I am so lazy with my hair! I do have an excuse at the minute with work but even when I am not at work, I tend to not style my hair at all. The most I do most days is clip it up just to get it out of my face. My straighteners are feeling pretty unloved!
5.Applying more then 2 eye shadow colours at one time
I love a good golden shimmer eye shadow over a matte base for a day to day look. When it comes to adding more colours into the equation I tend to end up ruining what I have already done so that's another thing I tend to stay well clear of.
1. How To Style | Ripped Jeans
This post still gets a lot of love 2 years on and I am so happy as I loved writing it. I take you through my favourite looks that I style with ripped jeans from checked shirts to over sized jumpers to winter boots. I got all the photos from Pinterest which is my main source of inspiration for most of my outfits.
2. Kiko Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation
This is another post which a year on still gets so much love. I was really excited to try this foundation and sadly I don't still have it in my collection after using it up and never repurchasing it. Since this post I have tried loads more products from Kiko and it has become one of my favourite brands for eye products.
3. Why Lily Collins Will Forever Be My Girl Crush
This post is all about my favorite gal on the planet. I run through a list of reason why she is amazing and why she is my girl crush and trust me, there are quite a few. If you love Lily too then you will love all the photos I included.
4. Pure Lips
You guys should know by now how much I love Newlook makeup. For a high street clothing brand I think most of their products are top notch. A popular post of mine is this post on my first 4 Pure Colour lipsticks that I bought, shock the lipsticks are all nude but you know me very well. Since then I have bought soooooo much makeup from the brand and definitely recommend to everyone.
5. Why Short Girls Have More Fun
I wrote this post after having all my hair chopped off and I felt like a new women tbh. I have been trying to grow my hair for so long but it never seemed to reach further than my shoulders so I took the plunge and cut my hair into a short bob. I absolutely loved it so wrote a post about all the great thing about having short hair. It also features me other girl crush Jenna Louise Coleman.
6. Pure Colour Collection | The Good, The Bad and The Wonderful!
So you know I love Newlook makeup and this bumper post includes all of my collection from their old collection. They have recently re-branded their range so non of the products look the same as in their post but it does give you an idea of how good their products are and which ones to look out for.
7. My Hair Inspiration
Linked to my previous post about why I loved having short hair, I posted this first of all the beautiful women who inspired my to chop off my hair. It includes beauties like Poppy Deyes, Wonderful You and Jenna Louise Coleman. It also shows off my new hair which sadly has totally grown out now.
8. Rimmel Foundations | The Formulas
Rimmel foundations have always been one of my brands to use so I had to write a post about all my favourites. It includes Wake Me Up, Match Perfection and Lasting Finish which are firm favourites in my collection. You really can't go wrong with this brand.
9. LaRoc Beginners Eye Shadow Palette
In this post I talk through this amazing eye shadow palette I found on eBay for £4.99. It is a right bargain and definitely deserves a look if your love brown and golden shades. It is a big chunky for travel but you have everything you would need to do god knows how many makeup looks.
10. 5 Things I Wish I Knew At The Start | Blogging
This post is slightly different to my normal posts as I talk about a few things I wish I knew when I started my blog how many years ago. A lot of you found this post really helpful which made me really happy and made the post worth while.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who had followed my little blog this year and a huge thank you to everyone who has followed my blog for a long while. I love writing this blog and I am so happy people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it xxx
I haven't wrote a skincare post since February and that is just not alright with me. Skincare is my all time favourite kind of products to talk about but I very rarely mix up the products that I use, once I have a routine that works for me I stick with it so I don't want to talk about the same products over and over again. Today I am going to talk you through three of my favourite skincare brands for work for me. Now everyone's skin is different and different things work for different people so just because these brands work with my skin doesn't mean they will definitely work for you too.
Even though I have called this brand the 'fancy skincare' doesn't mean I have the products just because of the name! My mum used to use this brand when I was younger so I knew of the name and always wanted to try it. I started out with a moisturiser from a discount beauty shop and fell in love with it. Clinique are the only moisturisers I use as they make my skin feel amazing every time I use them and they don't irritate my skin or break me out. I have tried other brands (and the Origins moisturiser is quite good I'll give the brand that) but I always come back to my Clinique moisturisers and always take them away with me because they are so amazing. Some of the products can be expensive so I tend to buy them when I go through duty free or visit Bicester Village so I can save some pennies.
I have ... Dramatically different moisturising lotion, Daily superdefence moisturiser, All about the eyes eye cream.
The Everyday Skincare - Lush
My love affair with Lush started out with the bath bombs and gradually moved onto other products like the skincare. I really like their skincare as I know non of the products are going to irritate my skin or break me out as they only include natural ingredients. I use Lush products on a daily basis as they aren't too expensive and won't break the bank if I need to repurchase them. I have a range of products from Lush from cleaners and face washes to toners and eye creams and all of them I have fallen for as they really works for me. You can tell how much I love the brand with the number of products I have in my skincare collection!
I have ... Enchanting Eye Cream, Eau Roma Toner Water, Ultrabland Facial Cleanser, Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash, Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub, Dark Angels Face and Body Cleanser and lastly Angels on Bare Skin Face and Body Cleanser.
I love using Origins skincare for a pamper night product as the masks in their range are so good at refreshing your skin. I tried one mask many moons ago and fell in love with how it left my skin, so tried another one and then it snow balled into to buying a new mask every time I visit Bicester! Origins know how to make a good mask and all their masks make my skin feel cleansed and polished after I use them. You get a generous amount in the packaging too so they can last you for ages which means less money you are having to spend. Again some Origins products can be pricey but they do sell them in discount shops and obviously at duty free. After trying the face masks I moved on to buying a moisturiser from the Gin Zing range which I love as much as my Clinique Moisturiser!
I have ... Original Skin Retexturising rose clay mask, GinZing Refreshing Face Mask, Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask and Drink Up 10 Minute Mask.
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