Here We Go Again… Version 2.0

Hi guys!

So here we are again, with another what I’ve been up to/where I’ve been post.

Life has been crazy. I’ve been sorting my life out, reading a lot, thinking about my life long goals and trying to rediscover my love for writing.

I’m thinking of reassessing what I write about. Yes, I love beauty and make up, but I’m not entirely sure that is where my writing fits the best. On the other hand, I have always had a massive passion for reading fiction. A few months ago I joined a book club at work, and it is one of the best things I have done this year. I have also downloaded the Good Reads App. I have used this to set myself a “Reading Challenge” for the year. My initial target was 15 books for the year. As it stands I am already at 11 books for the year. As well as our book club books, I am reading 1-2 books extra a month. This is so much more than I have been reading over the past 12 months and it is so good for my mind. I cannot stress the positive impacts of reading enough!

I am hoping to start reviewing some of the books I have been reading, as well as looking more at the music scene as this is something else that I am missing massively! I’m super excited to get back into writing and music. I think part of the issue behind my lack of writing recently is due to the fact that I feel like no-one is reading my posts and that I feel like I can’t find my “place” (That sounds awfully cringe worthy, I know).

So this is basically an open letter to myself to say that eventually something will give, but I have to put the time in if I expect to ever gain the readership that I would like.

Here’s to a new version of the blog.

Review: Body Positive Power – Megan Jayne Crabbe

Hi guys,

This is the first of, hopefully, many book reviews that will be coming your way in the foreseeable future. I’ve powered through quite a few books in the past six months, however this was one that took me a while…

This is nothing to do with the way that the book is written, but the topic that it covers. I think this book is such an important read for any young women. This is the point at which I would normally say “regardless of whether you have been affected by…” but this covers topics that are impacting the lives of every human on earth! To name but a few, Megan goes into great detail regarding;

• media manipulation
• social media (and it’s misconceptions)
• the flawed diet industry
• mental health and the long term implications

I have always thought that I was pretty aware of social media, and it’s “highlight’s reel” functionality, however the further I got into this book, I realised how easily people, including myself, have been and are being dragged into the social media “claims”.

This book, amongst others that will get their time in the spotlight, have helped me step into the new year with a completely different mindset. Now, this isn’t some “new year, new me” crap. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I’m learning to love the real me, as I am. No more caddy weight loss incentives or fitness challenges. The more I read, the more I realising how much have been affected by the diet culture from a relatively early age and feeling term effects that thieves had on my life,mental health and outlook on life.

In this book, we are being taught not to apologise for taking up space in the world, or for our thoughts, feelings and views. This is a book that, I feel, every young person who wants to change their world should read.

I implore you to order this book and add it to the top of your to be read pile.

xo

New Year, New Me…But Not As We Know It…

Hi guys!

I know it’s been a while, but I have been incredibly busy in the run up to Christmas and with various family occasions. I’ve also been doing a fair amount of “soul searching” (gosh, I hate that word). I’ve got a lot of blog posts in the pipe line, I’m planning to write a lot of books reviews. Basically, I am turning a new page, my gosh to cliche’s are rolling out today.

Basically, my 2019 will be the year of being more financially responsible/stable, more enjoyment and the year of me. I’m intending to completely overhaul my view on life and make more time for my own well being and enjoyment. This isn’t a commitment to a “diet” or some faddy fitness regime. This is working on my own outlook and lifestyle for good.

My mental health took a hit in 2018, it felt like the longest yet fastest year of my life. I sure am glad to see the back of it. I am feeling incredibly optimistic about this year. We started the year as we mean to go on. On New Years Day we flew out to Amsterdam for five days. This was the first proper city break we have been on together, and it was incredible. I think I have well and truly fallen in love with this city, and we will be back soon!

This will be the first blog post coming up this month, an Amsterdam guide.

Thank you to those of you who are still following me after so many false starts, but I really am hoping to stick to it this year.

xo

Here We Go Again

Hi guys,

Here I am again, back to writing some rough explanation of where I have been for the past who knows how many months. It’s been a difficult time, this year has been difficult. But here I am, still swimming. There is always a light at the tunnel, no matter how dark it seems at the time.

So, what have I been doing with my time if I haven’t been writing?

• Eating at restaurants
• Reading
• Rediscovering old music that I adore
• Spending time with loved ones
• preparing for Christmas
• Dealing with things that are far from fun.

This year, has been an odd one. I have become old very quickly, gained a lot of stress, responsibility and possibly even the odd grey hair. This year has also taught me to value what you have in the here and now, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I have seen death, I have seen people leave, I have seen people lose the most important of things in their lives.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading. This year has seen me dive head first into the self help/motivational book realm, and honestly it has been invaluable. The last post I wrote began to review just a few of the books that I had read this year, since then I think I have read another 2 or 3. This has been more difficult than normal, because my concentration has been zapped. This has affected my every day life and some of the things I enjoy the most, like reading and even my make up!

This is all very rambly, but what I am trying to say is that I am trying to make a come back. I am trying to fix things for myself, because nobody else can.

I promise I am coming back, whether anybody is reading or not.

xo

What I’ve been reading…

This year I have changed the type of books I have been reading. I have been sitting on the outskirts of the Body Positive movement on Instagram and had seen a lot of these books mentioned. I started stock piling ready for my holiday and it is safe to say that I did a lot of reading whilst I was away. I honestly think this is one of the best ways for me to completely relax. It’s safe to say I have learned a lot about myself whilst I have been reading these books.

What I’ve already read:

The Goddess Revolution – Mel Wells
This was the first of these books that I read. I had seen so many people say that this book had completely changed their relationship with food as well as their own body. It made me realise a lot of things about myself that I think I had shut away. I realised that I desperately needed to make peace with my body and begin to be more aware that the things we see on Instagram and Youtube are snapshots of people’s lives, which are often edited. Shock horror, I know! Mel has a way of writing that genuinely makes it so much easier to consider a different way of viewing the world. I definitely think this is the best place to start with these sort of “self help” books, it’s a good first stepping stone.

Healthy Is The new Skinny – Katie H Willcox

This was actually the first of these books that I gained, it was gifted to me for my 21st last summer. I had been meaning to get around to reading it for quite sometime, but generally lost my interest in reading. Reading this book made me realise so much. There is not a one size fits all to body confidence and happiness. There certainly is not a quick fix to repairing the damage that the media may have caused to your relationship with your body. It’s okay to not have it all worked out, you know your body best and it is all about learning to listen to it. Katie Wilcox is a fabulous role model for young women following so many years of the “perfect body” message, we are finally beginning to be taught that everyone will find their own “perfect”.

Happy – Fearne Cotton

Happy is easily one of the most important books I have ever read. The term “happy” is such a flippant term nowadays. Everyone believes they have to be happy, that people expect them to be happy. Fearne has such a unique way of discussing depression and various other conditions. This makes it so much easier to feel less isolated. When you can read about someone of such high status, and many of her famous friends, having suffered with similar conditions

Body Positive Power – Megan Jayne Crabbe

Even though the content of this book is very similar in some ways to Healthy Is The New Skinny, I did find this a lot more difficult to get into. With that in mind, I do believe that part of this is not being in the right head space to be reading to be honest. I have found this book revolutionary as it is lovely to see the Body Positivity movement from a British point of view. I also adore the contributor essays that are featured within this book, it really creates a sense of unity amongst the readers and contributors of the book. I have loved it.

And Finally, What I have left to read…Light is the new black – Rebecca Campbell and Calm – Fearne Cotton. 
I fully intend to write a review of these books, I just don’t entirely know when I will get around to reading them, and I didn’t want to hold off posting this anymore.

 

I’m really intrigued to know whether you guys have read any of these books, or if there are any books like these that you would recommend in order for me to continue on my journey.

Thanks! xo

 

Holiday Essentials

Hi Guys!

I know I’m dragging this whole “I’ve been on holiday” vibe out now, but honestly, I spend most of my days wishing I was back on my sunbed with a cocktail in hand… hey ho, another year of working and saving! I thought since we’re hitting peak holiday season, that it would be useful to show you guys some of the products that I think are an absolute must when going away!

Aussie Gold SPF 30 with Instant Bronzer Gel 
My mom has sworn by this sun cream for so long, and I finally bought some myself this year, as I am finally beginning to tan! It smells incredible, it isn’t greasy and it doesn’t stain clothes. It definitely helps you to achieve a lovely, golden glow, even on the fairest of people like me.

Aloe Vera Gel/Aftersun
Now, it’s not something that I am proud of, but I do regularly burn/go an iffy shade of red. This year, it was whilst quad biking, not even sunbathing. Anyway, Aloe Vera gel is easily the most popular health/cosmetic product on the island of Lanzarote, it is literally in every shop you enter. I had after sun with me, but it wasn’t really doing the trick, and I have used Pure Aloe in the past. Honestly, if you’re fair, or even just want to retain your tan for longer, I would highly recommend using a product similar to this. It smells lovely and fresh, however they can be a little bit sticky and I wouldn’t recommend trying to get dressed for a good half an hour after application. Honestly, this sort of product is to thank for my tan this year.

A Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
I am a proper water baby, even at 21. So, as a semi unnatural blonde, my hair suffers in the water and sunlight. This is why I always take a deep hydrating shampoo and conditioner away with me. My favourite two at the moment are Aussie Miracle Moist or Garnier Ultimate Blends Coconut Water . Both of these products work really well on my hair, and prevent it from looking and feeling like straw!

Packing Cubes

A friend of mine told me about these a couple of years back, and I honestly think I would be lost without mine now! They make packing and unpacking so easy! I tend to co-ordinate what is in each pouch, as they are various sizes. I have ones that are small enough to handle my hair products and face products, right up to ones that I use to pack Short and t-shirt/vest combinations, even playsuits end up in them. It honestly makes life so much easier!

Birkenstocks – Arizona 
I’m virtually certain I have featured these on the blog before, but honestly they are the comfiest shoes I have ever owned. I know that Birkenstocks are a little bit pricey in comparison to other shoes on the market, but they are completely worth the money. Think of them as an investment.  These are quite a bold shoe, but you can get them in far less out there colours. They do feel rather tough at first, but they do mould to the shape of your foot eventually, which is what makes them so flipping comfortable!

 

I’ve included links to everything I can or similar products, so I hope you’ve found this useful!

What are your holiday essentials?

xo

Half Way There…

So here we are, half way through 2018. I can safely say that this has already been one hell of a year. There have been some incredible highs, and some serious low’s, but I’m still fighting. I just thought I would let you guys in on what is going on in my head at this current point in time.

1. I fell out of love with blogging
   I know this happens to a lot of people, but I’m serious. I originally started my blog so that I could write about the things that I love, and hopefully find people that would listen and contribute about the topics I love. I felt like I was making some serious headway in the blogging world, and then I realised that I had failed to take off. I know that people say it is somewhat of a cut throat game, but sometime’s it really hurts when you have put time and effort in to a post, for it to only get a handful of views. And this seems to be the same on Instagram. Regardless of how many hastags you put on a post, the reach just doesn’t seem to be there anymore. This is why I’m intending to come back bigger and better than ever after my holiday. I am hoping that two weeks away will give me some motivation to push on harder than ever.
2. I’ve had to work on my health, both physical and mental
   This year has seen me suffer possibly the worst illness I have ever had, and I’m still not quite right. I’ve ended up on quite a few different tablets to try and get me back to full strength, but it’s taking a while. Physical illness can have a massive impact on mental illness. Recently, my anxiety has sky rocketed which is another reason the blog has taken a back burner. There are good days and there are bad days, but it’s getting easier.
3. I’m coming back to the blog, because I have realised just how much I still love music and fashion
   My inner 15 year old has reared her head recently. I’m discovering new music, and still trying to find my place in the world. I would love nothing more than to end up working for a record label, or a fashion magazine or high-street brand. At almost 22, in this scary world, I’ve almost began to feel like I’ve missed my chance to achieve these dreams. I know that the city I live in is limited in regards to the two industries, but so much work is done online and remotely now that in some ways it is becoming less and less of an issue. So, this is my first step towards my new dream.

 

This may sound like a slightly random post, but it was something I felt like I had to get off of my chest. Maybe nobody will read it, but then again maybe it will be my post with the highest views, who knows. But, I’m ready to work my butt off to get there.

 

xo

March Review!

Hi guys!

Apologies for the awful lack of posting this month, it’s been a strange one! However, I have discovered some truly amazing products this month, not just necessarily beauty products!

Essential Oil Diffuser:

So I was talking to a friend last month about the fact that I am struggling to sleep a lot. I had tried a few things like lavender pillow spray, however none of it seems to work. I was told that these things work magic, and to be honest, I wholeheartedly agree! I bought my one from Avon on a whim, for £15 – but then I found a much better, brighter one on Amazon. I love the fact that it also has a mood light built in! I ordered a bottle of lavender essential oil from Amazon which was only £3! Honestly, this has made the world of difference to my sleep!
This is the link to the one I bought from amazon:

The one below is my one;

Elegant Touch Nails:

I bought these as a matter of desperation because I needed a quick fix before going out! I ran into Boots and bought these for £7.46. This shade is Chrome 2.0 Violet Vixen. I am obsessed! They are super easy to apply, and all you need to do is file the very tip of them down as they are a little bit rough. These are the most gorgeous shape and shade and these are supposed to last 10 days so I will update when I see how long they last!

Marble Handled Make Up Brushes:

These were actually bought at the very end of last year, but I had completely forgotten about them. However, I needed a new brush for a new product the other day, so I pulled one of these out. They are completely synthetic, but they do not feel horrid, they are super soft on your skin and they transfer product really easily. They’re £8 for the set of 10 with the travel bag.

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara:

I first heard about this product prior to its launch due to a fabulous vlog from Jamie Genevieve. Then I received a sample of it in the March Birchbox. I have honestly never been so obsessed with a mascara! I don’t have particularly short lashes and never wear false lashes, but this gives you such long, individual eyelashes, it is incredible! I am fully intending to buy the full size product!

These are just a few of the things I am loving at the moment, however I am on somewhat of a spending ban at the moment in an attempt to save money!

xo

The 70s vibe

Hi guys!

So I thought I would start to branch out into fashion a bit more. Here we are!

The fact that this 70’s, boho vibe is making a reappearance is making me super happy! I would have loved to have experienced 70’s fashion first hand, but alas, I was 20 years too late. I adore the style and the themes so I am so excited to get into this trend! I have only just realised that I unintentionally pre-empted the trend as I picked up the pieces I already own a few months ago!
Item’s I already own:

George – swing dress – I bloody adore this dress! It was such a bargain, and it is so cosy and comfy, making it an effortless choice for work.

New Look – embroidered,bell sleeve top: I picked this up in the Boxing Day sales – it is such a lovely fit and a simple top for a night out.

George – Fringed, faux leather biker jacket:

I found this entirely by accident, and I am so glad that I found this in Asda! For £30 I thought it was just perfect, the fit is lovely and I cannot wait to get so much use out of it during the spring – summer season.
Item’s I’m lusting over:

Red Embroidered Mirror Smock Top:

This is totally my vibe! I adore this colour and I love the little mirror detailing, I just think it’s so unique!

New Look – Mustard Bell Sleeve Jersey Tunic Dress

This dress is just so me! I adore a good bell sleeve, and mustard is a colour that really suites me!

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my fashion sense!

xo

February Faves – 2018

Hey guys!

So, here we are! January has been an exhausting, ridiculously long month and then February was gone in a flash!. But, here we are, the beginning of March! I am honestly so happy that January and February are over. Anyway, it was somewhat slow in terms of new products, considering, but I did kind of put myself on a spending ban. So this post is a bit difficult to write but lets see what we can find.
GlamGlow:

I have never tried a Glamglow mask before, but I had seen such good things about these that I had to find a way to try one of them before committing to the £40ish price label. Thank you Boots! I found a sample set in the Boots sale and thought I would give it a go. I used the pure cleanser one and I tried the anti ageing one out on my mom. The Cleanser is very dark when first applied but dries to a grey colour. I honestly don’t think my skin has ever felt so clean! The anti ageing one however is like pure glitter! It’s incredible! My mom did comment on the fact that her skin felt far tighter than beforehand and it did look notably more firm. It’s a yes from me on both fronts.
YSL – Black Opium Glowing:

Opium defined my childhood because my mom constantly wore it, to the point that I couldn’t stand the smell of it on my self. Then Black Opium happened. Originally, when it hit the shelves, I couldn’t stand the smell. But I received a sample of Black Opium Glowing and it, to me, smells completely different. I am a little bit obsessed with it. I am becoming far more impressed with heavier scents.

Avon Silicone Beauty Sponge:

I was curious about this because I was really falling out of love with my beauty blender, they are just so high maintenance! Now, this was sold to me on the pretence that it doesn’t absorb any product as you are using it. This is true. It holds the product on the outer layer, but does not get absorbed into the sponge, meaning it can literally be wiped clean after use.
Halo Top…

So I couldn’t resit including this in my post. I have a soft spot for good ice cream. I just had to jump on the band wagon. OMG! I was not dissapointed. I am, however, now avoiding them since they have gone back up to £5 a tub, which I feel is a bit steep.

Tarte “Tartiest” Lip-paint:

It has taken me so long to get around to using this product! I got this as part of my Birthday free gift from Sephora back in September, however it was put into a pile of samples and never been used until recently. It is safe to say that I am well and truly in love with this product! The full size product over here is between £11 and £15, which to be honest I don’t think is awful for a product of this quality but it has definitely got some competition in my eyes.
Barry M Matte Me Up “Bespoke” lip kit:

I discovered these when I saw a post by the incredible Zoe London, I just knew I had to invest in one. I had to purchase my primer so I thought I’d invest. There’s a very specific range of colours that they have released at the moment but I did notice that they are doing metalic options too. I fell in love with this colour straight away! It’s brilliant quality and super good value because you get the liquid colour and lip liner for £6.99! It is super durable and well lasting, it also doesn’t give you the under lip smudge when eating and doesn’t mark cups/glasses. I will definitely be investing in some more of these!

I hope this has been interesting to you guys, and I would love to hear your views on any of these products if you have tried them

xo