Wednesday, 30 January 2013

#3 What Did I Buy This Month? - January


If I were to sum January up in one word, it would be... stressful. I had a bit of a meltdown at the start and pretty much just gave up on things, something that seems to happen to me a lot. I need change, this change hopefully being university in September. I've started to receive offers from universities, so far from the University of Nottingham, Newcastle University, and Bournemouth University, but I know there's only one university I really want to go to. Please have your fingers, eyes, heart, toes, arms and anything else that you can possibly cross for me guys! On a more positive note, I had great fun in London for my best bud Allie's birthday at the Ice Bar, I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't been before.

Eylure Naturalite Lashes 107: I have to admit, I've only worn fake eyelashes a couple of times, and I'm completely useless at applying them myself, but I really want to teach myself so I invested in some.
Simple Soothing Facial Toner: A re-purchase, all that I need from a toner.
La Roche-Possay Effaclar Duo: Wow, this product has received a huge amount of attention across blogs and Youtube recently. I've had problem skin for a long time and couldn't resist giving this a go.
Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen: Another product that's been praised by bloggers, I really wasn't getting on with my gel eyeliner so it was the perfect opportunity to buy and try.


Q&A A Day Five Year Journal: After seeing this unique diary over on Sophia's blog I just had to get myself one. I love the idea of looking back on my answers after five years and seeing how much I've grown and changed as a person. I thought I would be perfect for the next five years especially as I'm finishing A Levels, going to university and will then be in the big wide world.
Jillian Michaels The Collection: If you've read my 2013 blogging, beauty and lifestyle resolutions post you will know that one was to get fit and lose some weight. I've never really fancied the idea of going to the gym or going for a run, I'm a little too self conscious to exercise in public so workout DVD's seemed to be the next best option. The 30 Day Shred is a killer, I wanted to kill Jillian.


New Look Brown Double Buckle Ankle Boots: Having really awkward shaped feet, and a very fussy mindset when it comes to shoes resulted in me spending the whole of Autumn and Winter in dolly shoes. I finally found this pair on a trip to London, I love the simple design and they were a bargain at £19.99.

I'm hoping February will be a better month than January. I've been trying very hard to motivate myself to get back on track with college, and it's working so far. I just need to remember it's only four months until the summer, and then I have fourteen weeks of freedom to look forward to and university at the end of it!

What have you treated yourself to this month?
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Sunday, 13 January 2013

Wishlist: River Island Bags

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Whilst I was wishing my time away during a five hour free between lessons the other day, I found myself in River Island. Yes, I may have accidently fallen into River Island, where I was met with a wall of beautiful bags. I was tempted, I won't lie, but my self-constraint and lack of funds stopped me (damn you). So instead, I found myself on the River Island website staring at these lovelies and writing a blog post about them. I guess that's as far as it's going to go... for now. However, it is definitely time I treated myself to a new bag, but I suppose I should find myself a job first. By the looks of things, I seem to be favouring beige at the moment.

Which of these do you like?
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Wednesday, 9 January 2013

NOTD: Models Own Beths Blue and Juicy Jules

Wow, it's been a while since I did a NOTD post. It's not that I haven't been painting my nails recently, I just always forget to photograph them (blogger problems). I haven't really been into nail art much either, so my nails haven't been the most interesting. It's no secret that I love Models Own polishes, and I've been loving this combo, the cornflower blue tones of Beths Blue look gorgeous with the holographic glitter in Juicy Jules. Please excuse my random short nail, it broke the other day, and It was a very sad day indeed.



LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS! These colour's are great for anytime of the year, but I'll be wearing Beths Blue throughout Spring especially. I love Juicy Jules because it can jazz up any manicure, and I always get compliments on my nails when I'm wearing it, I also find my manicure seems to lasts longer. So, quite obviously the love affair with Models Own isn't over, I have almost bought every colour I like though. I don't know what I'll do after. I suppose they'll just have to keep creating new shades, I won't be complaining!

Would you like to see a post about my nail polish collection? 
What have you been wearing on your nails recently?
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Saturday, 5 January 2013

Tag: Goodbye 2012

I bet you're thinking 'oh no not another 2012 related post!' (so last year) and yes I have to admit I'm starting to get to that point as well, but I saw this tag over on Rachael's blog and I loved the idea. I haven't really properly had a think about last year, so this tag will definitely bring some memories and feelings back.

What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I ventured out of Europe for the first time, I went abroad with no adults, bought alcohol, went clubbing, and probably plenty of other things that I can't remember!

Did you keep your new years resolutions, will you make more for 2013?
I guess to an extent I did. I can't remember any specific ones I made in 2011, but I know a generic one for me is always to lose weight, and that I did. I ended up losing around 3/4 of a stone last year. I've made a post with my new and crazy resolutions here.

Which date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?
I literally can't think of one. Maybe my 18th birthday, I spent it in Poland and it was a pretty awesome night!

Which countries did you visit?
I was luckily enough to visit Los Angeles in the USA, and also Poland (still a post to come at some point).



What would you like to have in 2013, that you lacked in 2012?
More self discipline, motivation, and money. An iPhone would be rather fab too.

What was your biggest failure?
A failure that I keep making year on year is my self discipline when it comes to school. I left all my revision to the literal last minute, and all my first drafts of my coursework were handed in the day it was being marked and sent to the exam board. I put myself through hell.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was very lucky and didn't even suffer a sickness bug, just the usual common cold.

What was the best thing you bought?
I largely extended my nail varnish and make-up collection. I didn't buy anything too extravagant.

What did you get really really excited about?
My trip to Los Angeles. I'd spent four years knowing I was going and getting very excited, so it was amazing when it finally happened. It felt so surreal.

What song will always remind you of 2012?
There's quite a few! Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People, Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap, What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction (guilty pleasure), We Found Love by Rihanna. There's so many songs that trigger memories of 2012, but I'll stop there.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned the glorious alcohol-inducing age of 18. I was actually in Poland for my birthday, and ended up going to a beach, a shopping center, the beautiful city of Gdansk (never seen anywhere else like it), and then spent the evening at a music festival in a park opposite our hotel getting hideously drunk. There was also fireworks dead on midnight which was a pretty special end to my birthday.




Compared to this time last year, are you sadder or happier?
I guess a bit of both depending on the aspect of my life. I had more money this time last year, I hadn't hit the stressful and pretty serious patch at school, I had more of a social life, and every one of my close friends were still around rather than being at university.

Thinner or fatter?
I'm proud to say I'm thinner, lets hope I can say the same next year.

Richer or poorer?
Definitely poorer, I need a job again. It's not just the money I miss, but the independence that comes with it.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
School work by the deadline, less feeling sorry for myself, spending more time with my friends, and exercise.

Who were your best friends?
It changed from the start of the year to the end. I've lost touch and drifted with some people, but I'm happy to say I'm back talking to some of them and rebuilding friendships. 2013 should be a good year! I have a lovely group of amazing best friends, they know who they are.

What were your favourite TV programmes?
The Vampire Diaries, 90210, Gossip Girl, New Girl, Take Me Out, also agree with Rachael about Cherry Healy's documentaries! I also watched a lot of Louis Theroux documentaries online.

What was the best book you read?
The Hunger Games. I absolutely adored it, and managed to read it in under 24 hours. I was actually on holiday and took it out to a restaurant and read it under the table because I literally couldn't put it down!

What was your favourite film of the year?
Not exactly a new film, but I loved going to watch the re-release of Titanic at the cinema. It's always been one of my favourite films, so it amazing to see it on the big screen.

What did you want and get?
Somehow I managed to get pretty decent A Level results, still to this day I don't understand how I actually pulled it out of the bag so last minute. I don't think my teachers really understand how either!


What did you want and not get?
A size 8 figure, and clear skin. I can dream!

What one thing would of made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A holiday with my friends, going to university, losing weight, having more money. Oh.. that wasn't one thing.

What kept you sane?
My bed, my friends, my family, chocolate, alcohol, and my blog.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Henry Cavill. That man is just the epitome of sexiness. Be mine.

Who did you miss?
Nearer the end of the year, I missed all my friends that left to go to university. It didn't help that I was majorly jealous that they'd left the boring town we live in for more exciting cities!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learnt in 2012.
It's natural and part of growing up to lose touch with people, to think about what I want from life rather than thinking about what other people want from me all the time, and that I will eventually get to where I want to be, its just taking me a tiny bit longer.

Well that's definitely made me think a lot harder about 2012, it was a pretty up and down year full of stressful times but amazing experiences as well. I tag anyone who wants to do this!

What was your favourite memory from 2012?
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Thursday, 3 January 2013

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub Review

I think at least 80% of the beauty blogging community received  the Best of All Soap & Glory set for Christmas, or had a cheeky purchase of it for themselves, but who could resist such an amazing bargain? The Sugar Crush Body Scrub was one of the products I was most excited about trying, after all, it's always nice to have smooth skin, rather than the 'lizard' skin mentioned in the directions. I absolutely adore the smell of this scrub, the brown sugar, sweet lime, almond oil, and macadamia grains all make an amazingly sweet yet tangy scent. I've definitely converted from Flake Away to Sugar Crush. 



I've always been a fan of Soap & Glorys quirky packaging, it definitely makes the products stand out on the shelves, and Sugar Crush doesn't disappoint. You get 300ml of product, which should definitely last me a while, although I got a bit carried away last night as it just smelt so good! It's a great exfoliator, and isn't too harsh on your skin. I used mine with my exfoliating gloves just for that extra jin ne sais quoi, and it definitely left my legs soft and smooth, just as an exfoliator should.

Funnily enough, the first thing I thought of when I looked at the actual scrub was porridge. Does anyone else see this, or is it just me being a little bit odd? Luckily though, it doesn't smell or have the consistency of said breakfast  food. I highly recommend Sugar Crush out of the many Soap & Glory scrubs that exist. It smells good enough to eat, is a great exfoliator and by the looks of it will last me a long time! Sugar Crush retails for £8.00 from Boots, there is also a body wash and body butter available with the same gorgeous scent.

Have you tried Sugar Crush? What are your favourite exfoliators?
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Tuesday, 1 January 2013

2013 Beauty, Blogging and Lifestyle Resolutions

Source
Happy New Year everybody! I guess it's time to make those all important promises to ourselves for 2013. Usually I'm not one to bother with resolutions, I usually forget about them or just turn into my lazy self again, but this year has to be different. In 12 months time on the 31st December, I want to actually feel happy with my body, feel like I've achieved something, and be at a content place in my life. Even if I don't keep to this longer-than-intended list of goals, I'll be satisfied if I manage to stick it out with a few. That's a change.



Blogging Resolutions
· Post at least twice a week
· Go to a bloggers meet-up
· Make a separate twitter for my blog
· Reach 200 published blog posts (currently on 82)
· Get talking to more bloggers
· Create some weekly features
· Post an outfit of the day
· Reach 30,000 views

Beauty Resolutions
· Only use make-up wipes after a night out
· Clean make-up brushes once a week
· Stop being lazy with moisturising my legs/arms
· Find a way to improve my skin
· Delve into hair products

Lifestyle Resolutions
· Drink more water
· Have a healthier life style and achieve some weight loss
· Change time management habits
· Keep a diary
· Get my university offers
· Get a B in my Sociology A Level
· Get a C in my History A Level
· Get into university
· Look for work experience in marketing/pr/advertising
· Get a job and save up money rather then spending it as soon as it hits the bank account
· Spend more time with my family
· Stop spending so much time sitting in my room on my laptop

Randoms
· Ride a rollercoaster (why am I doing this to myself?!)
· Give blood
· Make a youtube video
· Tidy my room and actually maintain the tidiness for once (ha!)
· Be more experimental with fashion and don't just go for the 'practical' choices all the time
· Learn to drive
· Go to a festival in the summer
· Finish reading The Hunger Games and er, Fifty Shades of Grey (force* myself to)

Let's wait and see how this all pans out then, I'm rather excited about it all. I've even put a motivation sticky note on my desktop to remind myself not to be a disappointment! I'll only be disappointing myself, and that's one of the worst feelings. So it's January 1st, it's 2013, lets get cracking.

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
What are your new years resolutions?