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?
We decided to visit Newcastle for Callum's birthday because he has supported the team since he was four so when i asked him where he wanted to visit for his birthday, it was a no brainer for him.
We traveled down on the Wednesday and made it just under four hours which isn't to bad considering how back traffic can be on the motorway. We arrived just before 2pm so had the whole afternoon to explore the place. When we return we have a few favourite places we want to visit again.
H O T E L
We picked to stay at the Romada Encore Hotel in Gateshead which is just a bridge away from Newcastle. We decided to stay just outside of the city center just so that we could get away from it all especially as the weekend approached. We have no bad words to say about this hotel. The staff were amazing and so friendly and unlike some hotel in the area, it included a car park which only cost £5 a day. We were right next to the Millenium Bridge so it only took us 10 minutes to be right in the center of the city
D A Y A C T I V I T E S
There are so many things to do in Newcastle we never got bored once, most of them involved alcohol but hey we are on our holidays! The first place we visited on Wednesday was the St James Football Stadium of course and Callum was in his element. We had a drink in the Nine bar located underneath the stadium and had a little planning sess of the next few days. Lucky we also go tickets to the Newcastle vs Huddersfield game on Saturday so we return for the game on our last day and it was a-m-a-zing!On from there we went to Lane 7 to play a few games of bowling, have a few drinks and fell like proper locals. The place is spaced out over 3 floors with bowling, ping pong, mini golf, a bar and a resturant. We really wanted to return before we left but we ran out of time.
Along the same line we also visited Space Golf in the middle of the centre which was a lot of fun. We first saw it while walking round one night but decided to actually go in during the day. It ended up being full of kids to maybe the evening might have been more fun with people the same age as us but we still enjoyed it.
Lastly if you are like me and Callum who love a walk, you will love Newcastle. most days we started and ended the days going on a random walk and we would end up at a random place with a cute little pub and having a drink. We also walked across all the bridges because they are so beautiful and the views from them are breathtaking.
S H O P P I N G
I love a bit of shopping but i was quite reserved while away but i did pick up a few bits. We visited the Gateshead Intu Metro Center first since it is meant to be the biggest center in England? There was loads there like food resturants and games areas as well as all the shops. Callum ended up winning me a Peter Rabbit in the grab machines which made me very happy! We had a lovely lunch in Coast to Coast which set us up for a day of shopping although i didn't end up buying anything that day.We then visited the Newcastle Intu Center the next day and i found it so much better! I found the lay out of the shops much easier to look round ended up finding loads of bits in Topshop. I would definitely recommend the Newcastle Center to the Gateshead Center.
F O O D & D R I N K
There are so many places to end and drink in Newcastle and unlike London, there are ridiculous ques and endless waiting. We went to quite a few places for dinner and lunch including Frankie and Bennys and Coast to Coast and then we tried a few random places. We had brunch one day at Georges Great British Kitchen in the Newcastle City Center, which also gave you 20% off if you had a match ticket which drew us in. I have definitely put on weight since we have been away.We did our fair share of day drinking while on our break (Callum more then me) and our favourite place we found has to be the The Stack in the City Center. It is made of loads of industrial containers which are made into drink and food places. You have loads of benches to site on all the levels and gas heaters attached to every table to it was lovely sitting outside. Although the weather while we were there was beautiful, it was nice to stick your face next to a heater. We ended up having fish and chips at The Stack and it was amazing!!
The last place we visited before we left was the By The River Brew and Co which is a brewery located just be the river, like the name suggests, where you can try loads of locally brewed drinks. It had a few food stalls getting ready for a busy Friday night when we arrived and we sat by the river with a heater and it was the perfect way to round off the break.
I can't wait to return to the city because it was such an amazing break. I would definitely say i prefer Newcastle to London 100% because it is less expensive, less busy and so so friendly! The only down side is that it takes me 4 hours to get there when as London is only a hours train journey away.
When we return i can't wait to explore much more of the city as i know we only saw a fraction of the place. If you have any recommendations for our next visit, leave me a comment so i can make a list of places to see! :)
This week I had a huge de-clutter of my makeup and removed a huge bag of products from my collection. When I first got into beauty blogging and youtube I thought the aim of the game was to have the biggest makeup collection. I used to watch youtubers collections and be so envious of the size of theirs and the different products they had to hand. That made me end up buying makeup every time I went out and picking up bargain products I found in random shops so that I had products to bulk up my collection.
I know now that that is stupid since I hardly used the majority of the products because I had my favourites, thankfully people started focusing on steamline makeup collections and the 'makeup declutter videos' were born. As silly as it sounds, now that big youtubers are reducing the size of their makeup collections I now don't feel deflated with my small collection and enjoy reducing my own to the essentials.
So here are 5 questions that I ask myself when I am de-cluttering my makeup!
1. Is it used up?
Sounds simple but I find so many products which are basically empty but are still in my collection. Whether its a reminder to repurchase the product or you just forgot to throw it away get rid of it. Luckily with my blog I can talk about the products that I love so in the future I can look back and know the formula and shade I want to repurchase.
2. Have I used it in the last 3 months?
Like I said when I was trying to expand my makeup collection I had quite a few products in my collection that never got used so I had wasted my money and time in purchasing them. Now I like to go through my collection and see if I have actually used the products. If I haven't used the products in the last 3 months then I will either give them away or put them in my everyday makeup bag to use them and see if I like them. The worst thing is throwing away a product to later find out you would have loved it if you had tried it. If when I next sort through my makeup I still haven't used that product it then goes in the give away pile.
3. What is the expiry date?
I am someone who will hold onto a product because I love it even if it is a little bit old... I know it is disgusting but you ignore the fact that the product is gloppy and just spend an extra 10 minutes blending it in... I have stopped doing that you will be pleased to know and I follow a strict process now where every 6 months I go through the items which I know would have expired during that time. I do use the little icon on the back of products to identify if I need to get rid of them but lets be honest, who remember exactly when they bought that lipstick? I also use this cheat sheet to remind myself of the time frames for makeup.
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| Photo Credit - show some love! |
4. Do I like it?
Sounds very strange when you have spent money on this product to ask if you like it but so many times you are keeping products you don't actually like because of sentimental value or because you spent a lot of money on it. I am quite careful with high end products because I will always research them before giving over any money, the idea of spending so much money on a product I won't like scares me. So I always ask myself if I like this product when I am going through my makeup because a lot of the time the products that always make it through your sort outs are sentimental but not your shade or formula at all. You might be thinking I couldn't do that my nans best friends son's girlfriend got me that eye shadow palette but when you have minimal room for your storage and the palette hasn't been used once, isn't it better to give it to someone who will use it?
5. Do I have anything similar
Lastly the question we are all guilty of, have the same product in 5 different variations. I am not that adventurous with my makeup because I like the natural look most days so this can mean I end up with 5 eye palettes all with the same shades in which is obviously silly and wasteful. I don't need two matte nude palettes or two shimmer pink palettes sadly so I like to pick my favourite one and pass on the other to a friend. It is the same with lipsticks so many shades right now are basically the same with different packaging so who needs two browny nudes with look exactly the same.
I hate the idea of waste so any products that aren't out of date or a bit grim go to my sister or friends who love rummaging through and finding treats. I find that I might not like a product but my sister who is different in her style of makeup and shades might love the product so at least it goes to a loving home.
I hope this post helps you de-clutter and spring clean your makeup collection.
I have always been a forgetful, lazy person since i was a child and it has never really changed, but i have decided that this year i am going to get shit done. I am someone who likes to makes plans and follow a diary so a bullet point planner was right up my street. I found this one by Wendy Hobson back last year in my local B&M and kept it on my book shelf for months.
Then in January i knew i wanted to make a change so i dug out the book and started from there, if i had the time and the fancy hand writing i would make my own but sadly i don't so pre made books will do. This book is really good because it has not dates printed on the pages so you can use it how ever and whenever you want. I started using this the first week in January so hopefully if i keep at it, i can complete the whole year and become more organised.
Included within this planner is a week to week planner with to do lists, meal plans, inspirations, priorities, themes, countdown clocks and annual and yearly reviews. Here are some of the ways i am going to use this planner to organise my year.
Become more healthy
I am a serial takeaway eater and i can't do it anymore not just for health reasons but to help save for a wedding as well, so i have been planning our meals every night and prepping my lunches for work to stop myself grabbing rubbish to eat. I have cut out rubbish lunches and junk food as well opting for healthy fate free options and seriously reducing my portion sizes. I think one of my main problems is i am always scared to not make enough food and be hungry afterwards, which then makes me cook stupid amounts of food. Since January i have been filling my lunch box with fruit and yogurt and recording everything i eat to keep track of my intake in the notes section of my weekly pages. Since starting this the only thing i have seen a reduction in the size is my fingers, i feel like they are less chubby which i guess i can;t complain about.
I am also making a list of the routines/exercises i want to do each week or how many times i want to go gym. I plan in which day i am doing what so i know which type of meal i want to make for dinner and how much spare time i will have that night. I've been doing this for a 5 weeks now and if you don't include the week i was ill and dying, i have stuck to it quite well. I have purchased new workout gear, bought a yoga mat and even some exercise bands. check me out! At the minute i am doing more home workouts rather than going to the gym mainly because i don't have to go out in the cold and dark to complete them. Once spring rolls around, which i can not wait for, i plan to become more active at the gym.
Take charge of my weekends
My weekend normally start out the same. It gets to a Friday night and i plan all these things i want to achieve over the weekend, i do a big clean and go for a walk on Saturday morning and then for the rest of the weekend i am sitting on my arse dreading the approach of Monday. I don't want to be that person anymore. I now make a list of jobs i want to complete over the week and at the weekend i make sure i tick off all the job left on the list. Now they aren't boring jobs like empty the bins (even though it has been on the list once), it is fun stuff like finish my puzzle which i did this week thank you very much.
It is currently Sunday when i am writing this post and my last two jobs are look up hotels for my birthday which is very exciting and hand wash my nice party dresses which i am dreading but when they have been sitting in your dirty bin for months, you just got to bite the bullet.
Up my blogging game
Last year i made a conscious effort to post more on my blog over the summer when i had some free time to myself but once i started work again my blog kinda took a back seat. I do this as a hobby because even though i am pretty rubbish at it, i like to write. I'm using my planner this year to keep me motivated and up to date with my blog. I am planning in my posts on my weekly diary and setting myself goals to achieve blog wise. I don't write for anyone other than me so i don't put too much pressure on myself about my blog because like i said, its a hobby i enjoy for myself.
I do feel like i am a more organised person since the new year, i have more time for myself but i'm also planning in making time for other people. i have a second bullet journal which i received as a birthday present last year which is cuter and smaller than the Wendy Hobson planner. I wanted to start out with the Wendy one so i could figure out what i wanted to use it for most and make it messy ready to start again next year with my nice journal.
Moisturisers are like gold dust in a skincare routine especially for people with dry skin like me. A moisturiser is the most important step in my skincare and i find a good moisturiser can make or break a makeup look.
My skin type is dry which has bouts of normal happy skin and bouts of severly dry patches. My skincare routine consists of using a moisturiser every morning and if i remember, in the evening too. I've collected all the moisturisers I've used over the last year and ranked them from favourite to least favourite, even though i still like some of the products at the bottom of the list.
1. Clinique Moisture Surge
Starting off with my all time favourite moisturiser which i first spoke about back in March 2017 in a wishlist post. So many people spoke about how hydrating this product was and how it made people feel like they had just experienced a facial. I agree with every statement ever made about this product and i am gladly on my second tub now since i was given a gift set this Christmas with a new tub included. The product is super hydrating, leaves the skin super soft, gives a boost of life to your skin and lasts all day on the skin. I like products that make a big difference on my skin and after a long day, i can still feel the benefits of this moisturiser on my skin. The product is rich without feeling heavy and clogging on the skin which means it doesn't break me out after using it. Lastly you only need a small amount of product to make a big difference so the tub lasts ages, my first tub lasted me from April to December and i used it every single day.
2. Origins Gin Zing Moisturizer
Now this was my favourite moisturizer for a very long time and even when i first started using the Clinique Moisture Surge, i still went between the two when we came to choosing my favourite. Just like the Clinique Moisturiser this product is so hydrating for dry skin it leaves your skin feeling brand new, as soft as a babies bum. Also the Gin Zing ingredients make the product super relaxing, hydrating and soothing on the skin. It somehow always seems to feel cold on the skin so every time you use the product it really wakes up your skin. I really liked using this product on really bad skin days because it wouldn't irritate my bad skin and it give my skin a big boost, it left me feeling like my skin was glowing when it was at its worse.
3. Lush Gorgeous Moisturiser
Although i only tried a tester of this moisturiser back in January, the product is still on my mind. A lot of people raved about this moisturiser so i ended up getting a little sample pot and i couldn't be how much i liked it. The product was really rich and luxurious on the skin and took a while to completely sink into the skin which normally i don't like but i found this moisturiser worked as a great base for my makeup. I didn't need to use a primer afterwards and the product helped make my makeup last longer. The only thing that has stopped me repurchasing this moisturiser is the price. £42 for a moisturiser from Lush seems ridiculous especially when my origins and Clinique moisturiser cost around £25 each and they are bigger brands.
4. Sukin Facial Moisturiser
Sukin skincare is a brand which I only started trying out last year and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the products. They advertise themselves as natural, cruelty free, vegan and carbon free skincare which doesn't cost a bomb. This moisturiser was a firm favourite of mine when i first purchased the range, opting to use this moisturizer during the day underneath my makeup. What i liked about this product is that it is a bog standard good moisturizer with no nastiest in. It worked at moisturizing my skin without breaking me out or making my pigmentation standout.
5. Clinique Dramatically Different
If you have been around for a while then you will remember when every skincare post of mine included this moisturiser. It was y holy grail for a very long time and even though i haven't repurchased it in a few years since trying out different products, i know if i needed to go out and purchase a new moisturiser this product would be on my list. I've tried this product in a few formulas and packing but my favourite is the cream formula in the pot. The product has a thick consistency which soaks into the skin and leaves it feeling so smooth. This used to sort my skin out on bad skin days when my dry patches were at their worth in my early 20s.
6. Clinique Super Defense Night
This is another product that i had in my collection a long while ago while i recently used again when it came in a free promotion from Clinique. From what i can remember about this product when i first used it was it was quite greasy and slippery but the small pot i received of the product was so much better. It obviously had been reformulated and i'm not complaining at all. I found it was really good for wearing underneath my makeup and helping me start with a even base, don't hate me for not using it as a night cream... I wasn't too keen to use the product at first when i received it but when i ran out of moisturisers it was my only option and i ended up falling in love. The consistency of the product is quite thick but easy enough to sink into the skin in good time.
7. Sukin Moisturizing Restoring Night Cream
This product is what i call a magic product because it doesn't matter how much product you scoop out the tub, the product never seems to go down. It looks perfectly untouched every time i go to use it. This is the only night cream i use at the minute and there isn't much to say about the product apart from it is a good night cream. I pair it with the Clinique All About the Eyes cream before i go to bed and in the morning my skin feels like a babies bottom.
8. Clinique Prep Start Moisturiser
I brought this product because of a recommendation of a shop assistant in Bicester Village as she said it was amazing underneath makeup which i agree with, the product works great as a primer but it doesn't feel amazing as a moisturizer. It feels more like a matte primer then a moisturiser so i tend to use it as a primer using the summer when i don't need a lot of moisture added to my skin.
9. Glossier Priming Moisturiser
I won't say much about this product because i don't have many good things to say about it. It is advertised as a priming moisturizer but i don't feel like it moisturizes my skin at all and the primer element i don't rate as well. I know a lot of people who claim to love this product so it is definitely all down to different skincare preferences. I love every other Glossier product i have tried but i just don't rate this product at all.
What are your opinions on the products ive mentioned? Skincare is definitely something that works differently for different people so if you have liked something that i haven't or vice versa, no worries i'm glad it works for you!
April seems like a very long time ago considering in two months it will be a full year. Man time flies! Back in April i shared with you some of the beauty products i received for my 24th birthday (link), i thought i would write another post dedicated to these products to give you my feedback and all but two are high on my radar.
Starting off with the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette (link) which i have used non stop since April. My preference for eye shadow shades is basically this palette, i can make great everyday looks with this palette as well as ramp up the shades on the right side of the palette for a more dramatic look. I already had the Naked Palette 2 which was a holy grail for a very long time. Now this palette has overtook the old favourite in my opinion. The shades are generously pigmentation and the formula is really easy to blend, i don't know one person who dislikes this palette.
Dressing for work can be a hassle and a bore if you work in an office and have to abide by a dress code. Knowing how to dress for your body shape is so important for everyday but sometimes people don't take into account this when they dress for work. I am a pear shape so I have a smaller top half then my bottom half and I have a small waist but bigger hips. Finding office clothes to fit that body shape can be hard when most black trousers look hideous on a big bum and short legs. I've picked out some of my favourite items to wear to an office which look great on pear shape bodies.
Culotte trousers & Cigarette trousers
I love how culotte trousers look on me because they are super smart but don't make me look even more shorter than I am. I have small ankles so I like to show them off and these trousers do that perfectly. They are normally high waist as well so they really highlight my skinny waist but hide my muffin top.
With cigarette trousers as well they fit my short legs perfectly and are tight where you need them to be down your legs. They balance out my body and with a crisp white shirt it looks super smart. I love tucking shirts into these trousers and layering them up with blazers or jumpers to complete my look.
Peplum and Tube Skirts
I have always been a big fan of peplum skirts on a day to day basis so these are a perfect item to have in your work wear rotation. The length of the skirt makes my legs look longer then they actually are so they balance my body out. Again I pair these with a crisp shirt that I tuck in to the waist to highlight my waist and make me look smaller. These are great when it is warm in the office and your skin needs to breath. Your skin isn't covered in loads of layers and you still look smart and respectable.
Tight Dresses and Patterned Skirts
During the summer a smart dress can be a life saver when it is unbearably hot in the office. It is simple, smart, easy to style and looks great with flats and heeled shoes. Finding the right tight dress for a pear shape can be hard so I tend to drift towards the more thinner fabrics so that they hug my body better, I find stiff material dresses don't show off my shape as well.
Pattern skirts are a most for me during the winter season I have always been a mini skirt kind of girl. I pair these skirts with a plain long sleeve black top and black thick tights to make sure I am covered up for work. The only thing you have to watch out for is that you don't go crazy with the pattern skirts that are out in the shops. Stick to muted colours and patterns so the skirt isn't too distracting at work.
Coloured Trousers and Shirts
When shopping for work wear you can fall down the hole of the black and white rabbit hole and end up with a super plan wardrobe. Having a pear shape body means I tend to stay away from patterned or light trousers because they throw off my balance. So to add some colour into your wardrobe stick to darker colours and nothing too nude or skin coloured unless you want to look naked... Pairing any colour bottom with a white shirt again makes the outfit look smart and simple and depending on the season you have the choice of short sleeve or long sleeve.
All images are from Pinterest in my Work Outfit board which you can click the link to go to.
Writing this post has given me a huge urge to go work shopping, too bad i don't like anything in the shops at the moment and i am on a spending ban. Hopefully once the weather changes i might find some nice new pieces to rotate.
Here I am going to go through the 5 stages or questions I ask myself when I am de-cluttering my wardrobe.
1. When was the last time I wore it?
If I haven't wore a item for more than two season I make myself get rid. I am a big horder sometimes and think 'oh I'll wear that if I ever go...' and then I still never wear the item so I know it is just taking up space where something new could live.
2. Is it in good nick?
If anything has any pulls or holes in and I can't fix it (or usually my mother...) I get rid, there is no point in keeping it in my wardrobe for me never to wear again because it looks trampy now.
3. Do I have anything to wear with it/wear it to?
Sometime you can have an amazing top which you love but never wear it because you don't have anything to wear with it, it is too hard to style with other pieces but you don't wan't to let it go. And there is no point keeping a prom dress when you are never going to go to a prom again. Get rid of it if it never leaves the wardrobe so someone else can show it some sunlight!
4. Is it still my style?
My style has changed so much over the years and some of the items I used to wear only a year ago I would never wear now so keeping them is silly. If I don't see myself wearing it now it is a definite throw away!
5. Does it still fit?
The one thing we sometimes can't admit to ourselves, when our most loved pieces are too small for us but it would break our heart to get rid of them. When you have worn a lovely outfit to an occasion you usually want to cherish it forever but when you have 10 of them outfits it can get a little crowded. I think to myself as long as I have photos of the great night, I don't need to keep all these special outfits especially if they don't fit anymore!
Although sorting through and getting rid of old clothes can be a long process, it is also great once it is done as your old clothes can help other people along the way. All the clothes I decide to throw out either go to friends and family or to the charity bins at my nearest supermarket. Sometimes that makes the whole process a little easier to go through.
P.s. No that sadly isn't my wardrobe in the photo, thanks IKEA for taking such great photographs for your website! Click here for the wardrobe!
I love nothing more than putting on some cosy clothing and getting comfy on the sofa with a good book. I bought four books to read over the summer and I thought I would do a round up of them. You will notice that the main jist of all the books is escaping your real life and having an adventure and I'm sure you will agree that after the year I had, I could do with one myself.
Starting off with the first book I finished, A Match Made in Devon by Cathy Bramley.
There are a few different story lines happening within this book and one of the story lines i loved while another bored me a little. The main plot is about an actress from London who has to leave the city and go into hiding as such and ends up in the village where her older brother lives. A few things happen and she ends up helping an old friend who is in a sticky situation, that story line i followed and loved reading more about, then it adds in a boathouse i wasn't that interested in and a love interest who didn't tickle my fancy. The idea of the book was really appealing to me but once the ending to the plot of the story that i liked happened, i wasn't really interested in the last few chapters. It just wasn't my cup of tea but that's just my opinion.
The second book I read was The Greek Escape by Karen Swan which is about a girl called Chloe who has an amazing job working among the filthy rich. The story follows her life with her annoying ex boyfriend who followed her from England to America and the crazy chaos which comes with her job. The story includes small chapters dedicated to a mysterious women who at the end of the story you realised where she fit in. I didn't expect it to be so gripping based on the front of the book but it really surprised me how much was going on, i mean it is no Dan Brown book but it did keep me glued.
The Perfectly Imperfect Women by Milly Johnson
This book caught my eye in Tescos mainly because i thought the illustration on the front was really cute and i thought it would have a cute story behind it. I love books set in quiet villages with old women and this story is about a brilliant women called Lilian who invites a strange to visit the village she owns. Marnie, the said stranger, is running away from her life back in the city and finds a lot of secrets hidden in this small village. The plot of this story is really cute and such an easy read, i definitely want to read more of Milly's books especially The Mother of all Christmases because i love a Christmas love story!
This could change Everything by Jill Mansell
This was the last book i read out of my little summer haul and it didn't disappoint. I love Jill Mansell books so much, i find them so easy to read and become really embedded in the story. The story follows Essie who's life turns upside down after an email circulates of her saying exactly what she thinks of the people around her. I loved reading about Essie, Conor and Lucas and i think you will too. My favourite book by Jill Mansell so far is You and Me, Always which i was recommend to you all. There are too many books to choose my next read.
I thought i would give myself three aims to get my butt in gear.
1. Become at peace with the gym
I joined the gym back in November with the instinct to really hit it hard during the last two months of the year to get me prepared to become fit and healthy in 2019. Its safe to say that didn't work out well but my mission is to make this happen this year. I know a lot of people say they want to become fit every new years but i am not too fussed about being a gym bunny or having a perfect body. I am more interested in becoming more healthy and maybe losing the extra timber around my stomach crossing fingers. Wish me luck! I am already searching the internet for healthy dinner ideas which will hopefully encourage me to keep on track.
2. Use up my makeup / skincare collection
I have said before on twitter and Instagram that i really want to shop my stash this year and use up my never ending collection. I am putting myself on a spending ban until my collection has been reduced significantly, that way i use up all my products instead of letting them go bad in my draws. I only have one face so i don't need a ridiculous amount of products. This will also mean i get to try lots of products which i have forgot about in my collection.
3. Save save save for the wedding!!
It has been a year and a half since Cal and I got engaged and we think it is about time we finally start making plans. This year we are planning to hard core save so hopefully we can plan a day both of us enjoy. We are in no rush to actually walk down the aisle, maybe in the next 5 years before i turn 30. Ideally i would like to have one child before we get married so that we can have the the child as a flower girl/ page boy. I already know Callum and I will last the whole 60 without killing each other so i don't feel like i need the big white wedding before we have kids. So we start saving now and we don't get married for another 5 years then hopefully our savings will be amazing!!
The hardest out of the three aims is definitely the gym but i have some proper gym clothes, some new trainers and a whole load of cute summer dresses i want to feel comfortable in.
What are you planning to do with your year?
I am all about the glitter eye shadows during the party season and i have a few favourite products which get a lot of attention this time of year.
First off is my baby palette which i whip out every year, the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette which has some of the best shimmer gold shades. It has everything you would need for a smokey eye or a simple shimmer lid and the shades are so pigmented, especially for shimmers. You can make some easy quick looks with this palette and it is good to travel with for a weekend away for a special occasion.
Another palette from Urban Decay is the Naked Heat palette which is a mix of shimmer and matte red, orange and burgundy shades which i have fallen in love with. I really like the look of a burgundy eye and lip, which really suits my features and makes it look like i have out a lot of effort into my makeup.
The last palette in the post is the Revolution Iconic Pro palette which is super old now and basically a dupe for the Naked 2 palette but i use it just as much as the Naked version. I like to mix between the two palettes and create different looks. The packaging has changed for this palette but the shades are the same so it is worth a look if you are on a budget.
When i switch it up to a cream shadow i like to use the Collection Glam Crystals in shades divine and Envy. I like to use these cream shadows on their own or as a base underneath a powder shadow. You can either apply a thin layer for a subtle shimmer or a few layers to really build up the colour. During the day when i don't have much plans but i want to look a bit festive, i like to use these cream shadows to add a pop of colour which is subtle.
Another cream shadow i love are the Max Factor Excess Shimmer pots (similar) which are super easy to apply and look so pigmented on the lids. You can either use your fingers or a makeup brush to apply these pots but i do tend to just use my fingers as it blends out much quicker and easier.
Lastly i have the PS Bronze Metallic Eye Cream which is a rich gold shade which is really pretty. I don't use this as often as i use the Max Factor Shadow but that is mainly because the Max Factor product is my favourite cream shadow and is the easiest to apply.
My eye makeup doesn't change up very often as i don't tend to buy a lot of eye makeup, so i like to try and make lots of different eye looks with the palettes I've got. I'm a little more adventurous then i used to be so hopefully one day i will move away from earthy nude shades.
What is your go to festive eye look?
It's that time again where I list all the movies and TV shows i will be watching over Christmas and this year i will actually have the time off to watch them! I can't wait!!
Christmas Eve
The Grinch - ITV - 12:55pm
Monsters University - BBC1 - 1:20pm
Shrek the Halls - ITV - 2:55pm
Mary Poppins - BBC1 - 5pm
Despicable Me - ITV2 - 6pm
Miracle on 34th Street - Channel 4 - 6pm
Michael Buble: Back for Christmas - Channel 5 - 9:30pm
The Lady in the Van - BBC2 - 10pm
Christmas Day
Wallace and Gromit in The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit - BBC1 - 11am
Peter Pan - ITV2 - 11:20
Arthur Christmas - Channel 4 - 1:45pm
Monster Inc - ITV - 4:10pm
Elf - ITV2 - 5:40pm
Mary Berry Country House At Christmas - BBC2 - 6:35pm
Michael McIntyre 's Big Show - BBC1 - 6:45pm
The Greatest Showman - Sky One - 6:45pm
Call the Midwife - BBC1 - 7:45pm
Jurassic World - ITV2 - 7:45pm
The Great British Bake Off - Channel 4 - 8pm
Torvill and Dean - ITV - 9:15pm
Bridget Jone's Diary - ITV2 - 11:30pm
Boxing Day
Happy Feet Two - ITV2 - 10:45am
Bridesmaids - ITV2 - 9pm
Dirty Dancing - Channel 5 - 10pm
Love Actually - ITV- 10:20pm
The Green Mile - Channel 4 - 11pm
30th of December
Les Miserables
New Year's Eve
What Women Want - Channel 5 - 11:45am
Casper - ITV2 - 2:40pm
Maleficent - BBC1 - 4:15pm
Despicable Me 2 - ITV2 - 4:35pm
New Year's Eve - ITV2 - 6:40pm
Take That Live: Wonderland - Sky One - 8:20pm
Absolutely Fabulous The Movie - BBC - 9pm
TOTP2 - BBC Four - 10pm
New Years Day
Nanny McPhee - ITV2 - 3:45pm
Sister Act - Channel 4 - 5:55pm
Minions - ITV2 - 6:15pm
Doctor Who - BBC1 - 7pm
What are you going to be watching over Christmas?
I haven't posted my makeup routine since in September last year so this post is well over due, especially since all the products have flipped over. I have always been a light to medium coverage with a dewy healthy finish but i am officially a full coverage foundation lover.
I got the Clinique Beyond Perfecting foundation back in April for my birthday and on fire impressions, i didn't like it at all. I felt like it dried out my skin and left my skin feeling really clogged and slightly pale. Turns out I was using way too much product which was why it clogged my skin up so much. With a light hand it gives a really lovely smooth flawless healthy finish which lasts all day. I have been wearing this foundation non stop this month.
Then I've been using my trusty Bourjois Radiance Concealer underneath my eyes and my Collection Lasting Perfection on my chin and any blemishes. I'm trying to lay off powder at the moment as i feel like that may be a contributing factor to the uncomfortable dry skin i am currently experiencing so I've been moving straight on to bronzer and highlight and these two are products I've already spoken about this year. The Kiko Fall 2.0 bronzer is amazing at a subtle colour which paired with the foundation makes my skin look really healthy. I am still obsessed with the PS Glow Palette Highlighters so i basically don't use anything else for highlight. I use every shade in the palette and the pigment is incredible!
Onto eyes on a every day basis i have been using mainly cream eye shadows as they are super easy to wear and last all day on your lids. I'm currently using my PS Bronze Metallic eye shadow to give my eye lids a pop of metallic gold colour and make my makeup feel more festive. It is a really beautiful colour, i just wish it was easier to get the product out!! As for eye brows i am still using my holy grail product which is the NYX Tame and Shape Brow Pomade. It is really easy to use and this pot has lasted my so long without drying up which is a miracle.
Lastly for lips i have been playing it safe with my Glossier balm dot com in Cherry on a daily basis and only wearing lipsticks when i am going out anywhere nice. You can't go wrong with a good lip balm!
What is your current makeup routine?
How is it only 9 days away from Christmas? This month has flown by so quickly i don't know what to do with myself.This past month has really took everything out of me, i am always tired and never seen to feel relaxed, so my evening routine has changed up recently. The nights turning dark at 4 oclock has also changed up my routine, is it acceptable to fall sleep at 4 in the afternoon? okay no worries...
After a long day of sitting at my desk at work eating chocolate biscuits and singing along to Christmas tunes i love nothing more an a cosy night at home. I finish work at 5pm which means i can be home and in my pjs by 20 past 5 so my cosy evening begins early. As soon as i step through the door my clothes are coming off and my pjs are coming on.. The house is all set up for Christmas with our tree, animals and fairy lights so i switch them on all over the house to make it even more cosy.
Most weeks i plan our meals ahead of time so i normally know exactly what i'm having by the time i get in. If i am actually putting any effort into dinner i usually spend this time prepping any veg or meat, unless we are having a easy quick meal. I always watch YouTube or Netflix while i cook as i like to have something on in the background. Then we always find a TV show or documentary on Netflix or see what shows we have recorded on sky to watch while we eat, at the minute we are watching the second series of Making A Murderer.
We normally end up eating between 6-7:30 unless we get sidetracked by something on tv. If it is a gym day we then head to the gym for 8 for an hour workout. We joined at the end of October and although i am slow in getting my pace back, i'm enjoying my nights there. I've even bought some proper gym uniform so once i find my rhythm i'll be set!
Once we get back i jump in the bath, light a few candles and put something on my iPad to watch, vlogmas videos are keeping me busy most nights. I still have a few bottles of Molton Brown bubble bath which i like to mix together to make a a really foamy bath which smells amazing.
Once I'm all relaxed and clean, its around half 9-10 oclock and Callum is already in bed with the tv on. as you can tell we are very rock and roll. This is when we normally put on a tv show to fall asleep to or i'll pop the bed side table light on read a few chapters of my book.
So that's my weekly evening routine, not very crazy for a 24 year old but it keeps me from falling asleep at my desk during the day.
What do you do during these dark evenings?
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