My August Highlights

Whenever I do posts like these it makes me realise just how fast time goes by. Are we seriously nearly in September?? Crazy. Although, having said that, I'm really looking forward to Autumn and Winter (even though we've practically endured autumnal weather all summer here in the UK, but I digress). August has been a really crazy and special month for me so I thought I would share my highlights.

1. Getting into University

If you're not from the UK it was A Level results day on Thursday 13th August which meant thousands of Year 13 students across the country were not only getting their A Level results but were also finding out if they had got into their University of choice. As soon as UCAS went live on Thursday morning I logged on to see that I had been accepted by my University to study the course I wanted and I have never been so relieved and happy in my entire life. I cannot tell you how stressed and worried I was for months leading up to results day and I am so glad all that hard work and worry paid off! Not only did I get into my University of choice, but my best friend also got accepted too which is amazing as, come September, we will be starting University together and I could not be happier. 

2. Results Day Celebrations

As soon as Kim and I knew we were going to the same University we were ready to celebrate. We have a results day tradition - after we have been to school to collect our results, we head into town for a Costa and a massive splurge on makeup and other stuff we probably don't need but have wanted for ages. We then head back to mine, watch  a film with a glass of champers, and then use everything we've bought during the day to get ready to go out for a meal at our favourite Chinese restaurant. We then went for drinks after but frankly we were so exhausted from the day that we had one drink in the bar and headed back to mine to fall into a deep sleep (after all we had no sleep for at least a week prior to results day with worry and dread). It's honestly one of my favourite days of the year.

3. My Mum's Birthday

Another highlight of August was my Mum's birthday. As her birthday fell on a Wednesday it meant that she had to go to work during the day but we all had a family gathering at my grandparents house in the evening which was lovely. It was really nice to see everyone and catch up over lots of birthday cake. No shame. For my Mum's birthday my Dad had planned to take her to London to see her favourite musical Les Miserables. The jealousy was real. I love Les Miserables and so I was very jealous that she was going to see it but also excited and happy for her as I knew she would love it. This is a lovely lead on to my next highlight.

4. I'm going to see Mamma Mia! in London

As a surprise treat for getting into University my parents have booked for us to go to London and see Mamma Mia. They landed me with this huge surprise right after I had told them I was in University on Thursday morning. So as you can imagine, I had just stopped crying tears of joy over getting into University and then started all over again when they told me we were going to see Mamma Mia. If you don't already know, I LOVE Mamma Mia. Well actually I love Meryl Streep but Mamma Mia is one of the best feel-good films ever and so I am so excited to see the west-end show. We are going next weekened which means it is sure to creep up in my September highlights.

5. University Shopping

So as soon as Kim and I knew we were both going to the same University we headed straight to Ikea to pick up some bits. We had such a nice day mooching and buying things and talking about University. Me and my Mum have gone shopping for things too a couple of times which I enjoyed. I just love buying homeware things! And don't even get me started on stationery shopping. Me and my Mum are also having a shopping day out tomorrow which will be nice. I'm trying to spend as much time as I can with her before I move out because I know I'll miss her a lot.

So there are my August highlights. It has been such a crazy month but one I will never forget. I'm really looking forward to September, I have a weekend in London planned and obviously I move to University which will be scary and exciting. What have your highlights of the month been? 

My Month Through Instagram: July 2015

1. Beautiful view of Kos walking along the beach| 2. Cocktails in town| 3. So many pretty flowers| 4. Ready for a night out in Kos Town| 5. More yummy cocktails| 6. Happy and ready for more lovely Greek food| 7. Kim picked a flower for me. How romantic| 8. A holiday isn't compete without a Palm-Tree shot| 9. One thing I did miss terrible when I was in Greece - a lovely cup of well-brewed tea| 10. Pretty flowers in my grandparents' garden| 11. Loving the sunny weather| 12. The coat of dreams from Zara| 14. Out for Dinner| 15. New cute notebooks make me happy| 16. New hair| 17. Saturday vibes| 18. New pretty eye shadows.

Firstly, can we all just take a moment to ask ourselves where the hell July went? HOW IS IT AUGUST ALREADY?

Rants about the speedy progression of time aside, as you can probably tell my month got off to a lovely start - my best friend and I jetted off to Kos for our first holiday together. It was so so nice to just spend a week lounging by the pool, soaking up the Kos sunshine and sipping on cocktails - it was definitely what we both needed after months and months of exams and stress. However, like all good things it came to and end pretty swiftly and now it feels like it was months ago. I find it really hard to believe that we were there just at the beginning of this month - crazy. Other highlights of my month include new buys such as my beautiful new lace coat from Zara, some eye shadows from Makeup Revolution, a new pair of cat-eye sunglasses that I simply adore, and a new notebook that I probably didn't need but just had to buy; I'm such a sucker for cute stationery. If you don't already follow me on Instagram, you can here, and keep up-to-date on all of my new purchases (that I really shouldn't be buying) and also probably a lot of selfies and pictures of tea. Hashtag no shame. 

Andddd, with the end of July comes the beginning of August, which means I am now officially in the month where I get my A Level results and find out if I'm into University or not - so not a big deal at all. I also have my mom's birthday this month so that should be nice. 

What have been your highlights during July? Have you got any exciting plans for August?

My Top 5 Red Lipsticks

From left to Right: MAC "Russian Red," Revlon "Cherry Blossom," Rimmel Kate Moss 101 "kiss of life,"Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in "Brick," Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick in "Scarlet"

1) MAC "Russian Red"

I think pretty much everyone owns this lipstick. It's a gorgeous deep red shade, and the matte finish is lovely and long-lasting but not at all drying. I tend to apply a little layer first, pat it in with my finger to create a stain, and then add another layer for a nice deep bold red lip.

2) Revlon "Cherry Snow"

This is a lovely moisturising lipstick. It's not completely matte, but isn't at all glossy on the lips. It's a lovely raspberry red shade and I really like wearing this in Summer when I want a red lip but something more fresh.

3) Rimmel Kate Moss 101 "Kiss of Life"

Again this is a lovely true red lipstick. The matte finish isn't drying at all, and the lasting power is great. A great drugstore alternative to MAC's Russian Red.

4) ELizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in "brick"

This is such a lovely lipstick. I'd moisturising, but lasts throughout the day/evening. The brown undertones of this red lipstick make it unique and go well with a brown smokey eye for an evening look.

5) Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick in "Scarlet"

This gorgeous hollywood red suits pretty much any skin tone. It's lovely, rich red tones definitely give your makeup that hollywood glam vibe. I would have to say that this is probably my favourite out of the lot, I just love the colour and the formula is lovely too.

What are your favourite red lipsticks?

School's Out For Summer, School's Out For Ever.

Sincere apologies for my absence on here, but I have a good excuse - promise. Since about February I have been studying for my A Levels. If you didn't know, I'm in my last year of Sixth Form studying English Literature, History and Psychology and all throughout June I had my exams that decide whether I get into University or not (not a big deal or anything); hence my lengthy absence on this blog. But finally, after months and months of stress, I have finished all my exams and now have a long Summer off catching up on all the blog posts, YouTube videos and trashy TV shows I've missed - which also means I'll have a lot more time to create posts and blog more regularly. It feels so good to finally be free of exams

and not have to stress and worry about something (except results day, yuk). 

For my next post I was thinking of doing my top five favourite red lipsticks - what do you think?

Have any of you had exams this month? 

Music I'm currently loving

Besides having a love for makeup, skincare and anything beauty-related, I also love music and enjoy listening to different artists from different styles and genres. I often go and see bands live and so I thought I'd share my favourite current artists with you to mix things up and deflect from the usual beauty babble. 

1. Little comets - Now I was fortunate enough to see little comets last month and after trying to see them twice before, both attempts ending in complete disaster, I can officially say they were worth the wait.They are by far my favourite band. Like. Ever. And as big as a bold statement that is to make, it's true. Their songs are beautifully written, each song explores a different social issue and they are so talented. My favourite songs from their album 'In Search of Elusive Little Comets' are Adultery, One Night in October, Joanna and Dancing Song. Favourites from 'Life is Elsewhere' are A Little Opus and Bayonne. THEY ARE SO GOOD. I also love Violence Out Tonight, Semaphores on the Lawn and Woman Woman. They've recently brought out their new album, 'Hope Is Just A State Of Mind,' and worthy mentions go to Fundamental Things, The Gift of Sound, The Daily Grind and Don't Fool Yourself. I highly recommend checking these guys out.
2. James Bay - everything by him. His album is incredible; every song is unique and could easily be majorly successful as singles. So happy I got tickets to see him in October. Favourites include If You Ever Want To Be In Love, Running, Best Fake Smile and When We Were On Fire.
3. Angus and Julia Stone - love this brother-sister duo. Favourite songs of theirs has to be Big Jet Plane, A Heartbreak and Grizzly Bear.
4. Laura Mvula - Recently re-listened to her and fell in love with her voice and music style all over again. Worthy song mentions go to Sing To The Moon, Like The Morning Dew, Can't Live With The World, Is There Anybody Out There? and Green Garden.
5. Hozier - I first heard Take Me To Church ages ago, way before it hit the charts and became popular and I really liked it. After listening to this album, my favourites have to be From Eden, Like Real People Do and Cherry Wine.

What artists are you currently loving? Hope you're all having a lovely week.

(PS: I'm struggling to think of posts to do so if you have any ideas on what posts you'd like to see feel free to leave them in the comments!)

Matching Lips and Nails for Spring

Whenever it comes to Spring, I love ditching the deep reds and burgundy's that I've sported throughout the Autumn and Winter for more neutral and pretty pink shades; hence this perfectly spring-orientated duo of Barry M's nail polish in the shade 'Ballerina,' and Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipstick in 'Don't Pink of It!' Firstly, I love both the names of these products (superficial, I know, but true all the same) as well as the gorgeous blue-toned pink shade they both offer. I'm definitely one of those people who match their lipstick colour to their outfit, but lately I've taken a real liking to matching my shade of lipstick to the colour on my tips. Needless to say the formula of both of them are lovely. You can get away with even one coat of this nail polish, but two just gives it that lovely pop of colour and considering I painted my nails on Saturday and there are still no signs of any chipping, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed. I already knew what to expect for this Bourjois lipstick as I already have one in the shade 'peach club.' I love the - as the name would suggest - velvet texture that glides on the lips and makes for a very easy and precise application. The formula is lovely - matte, long-lasting, but not at all drying and wears nicely throughout the day. I'm so in love with this pretty pink combo and I'm sure I'll continue wearing it all throughout Spring.

Have you been loving any nail/lip choices lately?

10 things that make me happy

1. Having some alone time.It may sound sad but I really enjoy having time to myself to think about things and just relax. As much as I love spending time with my family and friends, I think having time to be alone with your thoughts is important.
2. Sundays evenings. I have a little pamper session on most sunday evenings to unwind and prepare me for the week ahead. I then watch films in bed (most likely something with either Meryl Streep or Grace Kelly in) with a massive mug of tea and, of course, biscuits.
3. Costa dates with my bestie; it's when we usually have our best talks.
4. Reading books that you can't put down. Worthy mentions go to The Picture of Dorian Gray, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Fault in our Stars. (Can you tell I'm a literature student?)
5. Watching the sun go down on the beach in Greece. It was beautiful.
6. No makeup days. Any girl who claims she loves wearing a face full of makeup 24/7 is lying. Letting your skin breathe feels so good.
7. Seeing my grandparents every friday. I'm so close to them, and I'm grateful for everything they've done/do for me.
8. Meals out with my best friend. We recently went to our favourite Chinese restaurant for results celebrations; it's kind of become tradition.
9.Lazy days where all I do is catch up on YouTube videos and drink copious amounts of tea in bed.
10. Days out with my mum; whether it be lunch, shopping or even just a chat over tea and cake. I'm so close to my mum so spending time with her is the nicest thing.

What things make you happy? Share them in the comments!

Welcoming September and the Last Year

I can't quite believe that it is September already, where has the year gone? On the 4th of this month I go back to Sixth Form, which means it'll be the start of my last year in school (I can't lie, the thought makes me extremely happy.) I wanted to make a post at the beginning of my last year, and set myself some goals for the academic year ahead so that I can look back on them and see if any were achieved. So, without further a do...

- Get into university. It's an obvious and standard goal for people my age but this year my biggest goal is getting into university (preferably my first choice) and studying a degree I enjoy.

- Finding a balance between work and social life. Last year I hardly went to any of the events organised by the enterprise team so this year I'm going to make an effort to attend more of them. 

- Stop Comparing myself to others.  I'm so bad at this. I need to stop focusing on how everyone else is doing and just concentrate on myself and my own success. 

- Spend more free periods doing work. Although I worked through most of my frees this year and didn't actually have many frees where I was just sat doing nothing, that was mainly because I'd deliberately leave all my homework to do in frees. Not a smart move. This brings me onto my next point...

- Do homework on the night it is set. I started off really well this year but as the year progressed I started leaving homework till a couple of days before and I was buried in work. I'm going to make a conscious effort to not let that happen again by completing my homework on the night it is set. Getting it out of the way is the best thing to do, because I can't even count how many nights I spent worrying over work that I hadn't started.

- Stay organised. Dear me, if only you could have seen the state I was in this year. I had random pieces of paper dotted all over the place and I had various notes from different subjects in the same notepad. One word, shambles. This year I need to make sure I file away all my paperwork and notes and stay organised. I can't be rummaging for hours to find that one piece of paper that had everything important on it again this year. Just, no. I'm hoping that if I buy a lot of cute stationery, it'll encourage me to actually use them. Am I the only person that does this?

It feels so bizarre that I'll be going back as the eldest in the school. It always feels like there's another year group above you, but this time I really am in my last year. Crazy. 

I hope that any of you starting Sixth Form or even High School in the next couple of days enjoy it, and good luck!

My Month Through Instagram; August 2014

1.Skiathos island view from the plane| 2. The best cocktails I've ever had| 3. Dinner with a view| 4. Re-reading TFIOS on the beach| 5.Celebratory meal with my bestie| 6. Movie date with Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant accompanied by tea and biscuits.| 7. Chilled Saturdays| 8. Sundays are for musicals and copious amounts of tea| 9. Sweet treats| 10. Happy to be reunited with my bestie| 11. Another picture of tea featuring my new pretty ikea teacup.| 12. Re-kindling my love for both Mary Poppins and Emma Thompson by watching Saving Mr Banks.

The month of August has been a great one. The first two weeks of August were spent on the sunny island of  Skiathos (aka Paradise). If you haven't seen it already, I did a post all about my trip here. On the Saturday after I got back I went for a lovely meal with my best friend, Kim, to celebrate our AS results; she's the best. Other highlights of the month include many film nights, over indulging on biscuits and sweets, and, as you can see, a lot of cups of tea! You can follow me on instagram here.

Hope you've all had a lovely month. I must admit, although I go back to Sixth Form in September, I'm excited for autumn to come. I love wrapping up in jumpers and watching the leaves change colour on the trees; definitely my favourite time of the year. Are you looking forward to September?

A Journey to Paradise

You may or may not know that on the 1st of August I jetted off to the sunny island of Skiathos in Greece for two whole weeks. I had always wanted to visit Greece; I really didn't mind which part because everywhere looked so beautiful, and when we settled on Skiathos I was so excited as I knew it would be the ultimate relaxing holiday, and it was exactly that.

1. Skiathos Island| 2. The pool at the apartment.| 3. Kourkounaries beach

4. Elias Beach| 5. Walking down to Agistros beach| 6. The sea at Agistros

The main reason for why Skiathos was such a beautiful destination is all due to the true blue waters and white sandy beaches. Whilst we were in Skiathos, we visited a total of 4 beaches; Koukounaries, Elias, Agistros and Lalaria. Out of the four, Koukounaries had the best sea/sand, however it did get very busy with the locals. All beaches we went to were absolutely stunning, with thick blue waters and white, grainy sand. We visited Lalaria beach when we went on the Mamma Mia! boat trip (more on that later) and it was the most stunning beach I've ever seen. It's only accessible by boat, meaning it was very quiet and serene, the most tranquil place I've been to in a verrrrry long time.

7. The Clock Tower| 8. Ready for dinner and drinks| 9. Long Island Iced Tea

Other than the beaches and boat trip, this post would be nothing without mentioning the food.....ah the food. Being so close to sea, we were offered fresh, locally caught fish every night. We dined at a few of the tavernas near our apartment; worthy mentions go to Elias for some seriously equisite food, and Augusteras for the best cocktails you'll ever have.

On the Monday of our second week we decided to book the Mamma Mia boat trip. For obvious reasons, I couldn't come all the way to Skiathos and not visit Skopelos/the Mamma Mia church. It was everything I imagined it to be and the beach surrounding the cliff where the church was was equally as beautiful as the ones on Skiathos island. The climb up to the church was, to put it mildly, a very tough struggle. The steps were very steep, and it was about 35 degrees, and we were without water. Great. It was all worth it though because the view from the top was incredible. It was such a bizarre experience to be stood where they'd filmed Mamma Mia and it was a day I'll never forget.

10&11. On the boat, ready for the Mamma Mia trip| 12. Lalaria beach| 13. The Mamma Mia cliff| 14. The view from the top| 15. The Mamma Mia church in all its glory| 16. Lalaria beach (aka the most beautiful beach I've ever been to| 17. Chilling by the beach| 18. Boats by Kourkounaries

This is mostly just a post for me to look back on my holiday and give me a serious case of the holiday blues but nonetheless I hope you've enjoyed having a little insight into my holiday. I really would recommend Skiathos for people who want a really relaxing holiday. All the locals were very friendly, and it was definitely one of the best holidays I have had.

Sorry, again, for the lack of posts, I will hopefully be getting back into posting more frequently. The combintation of being on holiday and being completely uninspired has unfortunately resulted in an absence around here.  Would you be interested in a 'What I Wore' post from when I was on holiday? Let me know. Have any of you done holiday posts? If you have, be sure to link them in the comments! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

How to get motivated

I, more than anyone, know how it feels to be completely unmotivated and lethargic - especially around exam season. We all have those days where we just want to stay in bed all day and then we regret it and feel guilty afterwards - been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and worn it pretty much all year. However, if you have work to do or even jobs that need doing around the house, it is often hard to get that bit of motivation to get started. Fear not, I've got a few tips that may just help...

Create a list

Write down a list of all the things you want to do and the date that you want/need to have done them by. Whether it be that wardrobe you said you would revamp last summer or that homework piece you keep putting off, scribble it all down. This will help you see what exactly you need to do and just how long you have to do it.

Prioritise

Once you've made your list, prioritise your tasks. You could use one colour to underline things that need to be done asap, and other colours for things that can wait a little longer (although that doesn't mean you don't do them at all!) 

Be realistic

By this I mean don't  tell yourself that you're going to complete all your tasks in one day - this will only make you stressed and more unmotivated. Instead, set yourself realistic goals that you can achieve- you'll feel much happier being able to tick off one thing that you put all your effort into than ticking off several things you rushed and did half heartedly.

Get in the zone

When I have things to do I often make a music playlist on spotify to listen to whilst I'm doing it - it makes the task that bit more endurable. For example, when I need to tidy my room, I'll listen to some music as I go along - pick up beat tunes, it'll put you in a happier and more motivated mood. If you need to do homework or something that requires your full concentration then music is definitely not one for you. Instead, you could give yourself a reward. For example, you could tell yourself that once you've completed that piece of homework you will sit down with a cup of tea and watch your favourite film. Not only does this make you more motivated to complete your work, but it also gives you some relaxation time in between tasks where you can just forget about work for a while and enjoy some 'me-time.'

Tick off your tasks

As you go along, tick off the tasks you've completed. I don't know about you, but I find there's nothing more satisfying than scribbling the hell out of things I've completed. My exam timetable is a prime example!

I hope this helped some of you. I often find that when I have a lot to do I just see it as one big task whereas confronting each task individually makes the process a lot more bearable. 

Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this!

Beauty Wishlist #2

My beauty wishlist is progressively starting to resemble a scroll. Calling it a list is a tad - and by tad, I mean colossal - understatement. There are just so many things I want/need to get my hands on. 

First up, Nars Sheer Glow

I'm sure you've all heard about this foundation. If you haven't then...how's that rock you're living under? I have wanted Nars Sheer Glow since the beginning of my makeup addiction and it's about time I saved up my pennies and made a trip to Selfridge's.

Stila One Step Correcting Primer

I haven't really seen that many reviews on this primer but a few weeks ago my favourite online magazine, Nouvelle Daily, posted a full review of this which you can see here. Anything they review has me scribbling it down. I don't really have that much interest in primers as my skin is on the drier side, but even their post had me wanting to make a sneaky online purchase.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square

I want this. I need this. It will be mine. No more need be said.

Charlotte Tilbury Palette in the shade The Vintage Vamp

For ages I lusted after the Dolce Vita Palette but I was recently perusing the Selfridge's website and came across the shade Vintage Vamp. It's fair to say it was love at first sight. At a gasp-worthy price of £38 the palette is obviously on the higher end of things, but it is beautiful and it is less than the Chanel Quad that is similar so therefore, in my books, it is fully justifiable. 

Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess Perfume

A big massive YAY for this one. I'm so happy this is being relaunched on the 1st of May. I wanted this perfume desperately last year but my student budget just didn't agree with the price tag. Needless to say I'm still on that budget but I'm willing to save for this one.

I know all these products are high end but they are things I've wanted for a looooong time. Do you own any of these products? I'd love to see what's on your wishlists, so please leave comments to posts you've done.

Skincare Wishlist #1

Pixi Glow Tonic

I know nothing about skincare. And by nothing I mean I know that the three steps to a standard routine is cleanse, tone and moisturise. What can I say, Caroline Hirons would be ashamed at my lack of knowledge. Talking of Caroline, I remember reading her post on this toner ages ago and well if it is good enough for the queen of skincare it's definitely good enough for my chops.

Clinique Take the day off cleanser

I've heard a lot of good reviews about this stuff. I've never actually tried a balm cleanser, I tend to use my trusty Bioderma or a cream cleanser, so I'm intrigued to try this to see whether I prefer it.

Hydralauron

So this is probably the smallest serum I have ever seen. I remember seeing an opened box in boots one time and actually gasping that the full-sized serum is actually smaller than something sample-sized. That aside, it must be incredible stuff as it always pops up in people's skincare routines on YouTube.

Origins Drink up intensive overnight mask

I've wanted to try origins skincare for so long now and I have heard so many good reviews on this mask. I have combination skin at the moment but in the winter my skin is very dry. This may just be my savior come winter.

Origins Ginzing Moisturiser

I really need to try this moisturiser. I think it will be perfect for fresh and awake skin for summer. Origins look out.

Are there any skincare items you're lusting over lately?

Goals for June

Can we all just take a moment to sit in amazement that it's already June? Okay moment over. Looking back at the month of May I can honestly say that it hasn't been the best of months for me. I've had so many exams and have lived a very stressful life for what seems like forever. The month of May aside, I thought I'd set myself a few goals for June in order to have a more positive and happy month in June. So without further a do..

Getting Healthy

I know this is one of the main goals everyone has at the beginning of the year and admittedly it was one of mine but unfortunately I'm not one of those gals who can't eat anything when they're stressed instead I comfort eat (damn you domino's and your student discount). For the first two weeks in August I'm jetting off on holiday to Greece with my family and it's the ultimate relaxing holiday which means beaches which means bikini's which means a whole lot of toning up is needed. So, in a bid to get my beach bod on I'm going to start eating more healthily and doing more exercise over the next nine weeks. Don't get me wrong, I'll still have the odd treat, this isn't going to be one of those fad diets where all I devour are slim fast milkshakes - no thanks, I just want to be more healthy in what I eat and get into a fitness routine that works for me. I'll keep you updated on that one (if you never hear from me again I've gone into hiding with endless tubs of ice cream).

Finish exams

You may know that during the month of May I sat nine of the ten exams I have this year and I can honestly say it has been a very stressful time and I may even cry with joy when it's all over. On 12th June I shall be sitting my last exam which is typically a Maths exam (talk about going out with a bang). Oh and whilst we're on the subject of typical, the day after my last exam I have to go in to sixth form and start next year's work, JOY. And yes that is a Friday and yes they really are making us go in. Number for child line anyone?

Save Save Save

I'm one of these people who saves for ages and then has hardly anything to show for it. It seems like I've been saving for weeks and I currently have about 28p in my purse. My bestie and I  are going to London in July and we're trying to save so we can have a good old splurge on Oxford Street. As you can tell from my thrifty 28p purse, it isn't going all that well.

Get Tidy

I am probably the messiest and most unorganised person you'll ever meet. I've recently moved rooms in my house and there's just piles of stuff in every corner of the room. I'm making it my mission in June to tidy my room and get more organised. What's that phrase, clear space makes for a clear mind?

Sort Wardrobes out

This kind of carries on from my previous point about being more tidy. My wardrobes are overflowing with so many things that either don't fit me anymore or I simply don't wear. Time to follow Lily's Spring Cleaning video  and get those wardrobes clear. Ebay I'm coming for ya.

Do you have any goals for June?

Life Lately #1

Cheeky little selfie on Easter Sunday.

So shall we just skip the apologies for my absence? Yes? Ok I'm  fine with that. Life lately has been pretty hectic; I've had lots of mocks and revision for exams, with the addition of  a pile of homework that's as tall as the Empire State building. Hence my reason for not posting. I've also finally had my room decorated which means all my camera equipment is packed away in a box somewhere in my living room. Anyway, life problems aside, I decided to start a new series on this blog called 'Life Lately.' Although I have a love for beauty, I want this blog to be one that covers a whole spectrum of topics; from the latest beauty purchases to my latest Mary Berry inspired bakes in the kitchen. I also thought it would be a good way for you to get to know me a bit more rather than just my opinions concerning makeup. So here goes...

Being an A level student I am constantly working. Wait, let me rephrase that...being an A level student means I constantly have work to do (whether it gets done or not is another story.) A couple of weeks ago I had mock week which meant a week of highlighting just how much I don't know. Thanks to the wonderful Michael Gove (he's not wonderful in the slightest) we no longer sit January exams meaning there's no chance to resit...thanks Michael, thanks a bunch. I have three weeks until my first exam *insert sick-faced emoji here* and I just cannot believe how quick this year has gone. Am I really having to sit exams again? sigh.

Anyway, I shan't bore you with my hatred for both Mr Gove and A levels, instead I'll bore you with the details of my Easter weekend. The last couple of days I've have chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't judge me I know you've all done the same. On Sunday we had my grandparents over for lunch and it was really nice to just spend the day with family. We had a lovely meal and rounded the day off with a game of scrabble accompanied by tea and hot cross buns....we know how to live.

In other news, I'm having my hair cut on Wednesday. For those of you that don't know, I only have my hair cut about once a year and even then I only have a couple of inches trimmed off the ends. However, lately I've been getting very bored with my hair and want a change so on Wednesday I'm going to have a few inches cut off and have a fringe put in. Given my previous experiences with fringes (apart from when I was little and it looked cute) this is more than likely going to look awful but I can always pin it back if I don't like it.

Not the most exciting of posts - more likely the most boring - but I wanted to write about things other than beauty. If you've made it to the end of this post then give yourselves a jolly good pat on the back from me.
Would you be interested in seeing a post on my room when it's all finished? I know room tours are popular on YouTube but I thought I could show you a few snippets from my new room as well as a few storage/bedroom decor ideas? Let me know what you think.

Hope you've all had a lovely Easter weekend.

Topshop Wishlist #1

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I've been perusing the 'New In' section on the Topshop website A LOT lately, and I've been lusting after so many pretty items. I have wanted gingham print trousers and a skirt for SO LONG and these two from Topshop are super cute. Seeing as we're heading in to Spring, these hot pink cigarette trousers are the perfect addition to brighten up your wardrobe. Oh and let's not forget those adorable heart-print slipper-style shoes. 

What have you been loving lately?
Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Ps: I've made a few Avon purchases recently, would you be interested in seeing a haul?
PPS:if you have less than 200 followers and haven't been nominated for the Liebster Award let me know! x

Non-beauty February favourites

In my previous post I threw in some self-praise for doing a mid-week post and then I didn't blog for ageeees, fail. Nevertheless, I am back with a favourites post inspired by all the things I've been loving throughout the month of February that aren't beauty related. 

The App

This month I've been trying to get a lot more organised (which clearly hasn't been reflected in my blog) and so I downloaded Wunderlist. Wunderlist allows you to organise your tasks, in addition to creating to-do lists. You can separate your lists under various categories such as work and personal, as well as allowing you to create your own categories. It's been super handy to note down any ideas I have for blog post etc. 

The TV Show

Silk is back people *does a cringey dance move* - I don't think anybody understands my love for this show. For those of you who don't watch silk, it basically revolves around a set of barristers in London; in particular Martha Costello who is played by Maxine Peake. Each week Martha takes on a different case. As well as providing a story of the case Martha undertakes, Silk also follows the life of Martha herself, showing her to be a very independent and sassy woman. Let's get this clear - I want (need) to be Martha Costello.

The Film

This month I watched Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. The film is based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the hijacking of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama - the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. The film does drag a little, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Needless to say that Tom Hanks' performance was utterly moving, and well worthy of an oscar (I'm still bitter he isn't nominated.) Having said that, Barkhad Abdi who plays Muse, the leader of the hijacking crew is nominated for an Oscar in supporting-role and he is completely deserving of it. His performance was outstanding. The fact that the film is up for best picture says it all...I highly recommend giving it a watch.

The Album

This month I discovered Alex Winston after hearing Velvet Elvis on an advert. After some searching, I found her on spotify and gave her King Con album a listen. It is now my new favourite album. Her voice is so unique and her songs are really up-beat..perfect to have a little dance to. Some of my favourite songs from the album include Fire Ant, Velvet Elvis, Locomotive and Host. Her single 101 Vultures is also my new favourite song - it's always on repeat. 

What have you been loving throughout February? Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

PS: would you be interested in fashion posts? I'm thinking of doing a haul post and maybe a few fashion-inspired posts soon? I also want to start a baking series on my blog...thoughts?

Handbag beauty essentials

Look at me doing a mid-week post..impressed? I thought I'd show you my top things beauty-related to take in my makeup bag to touch-up throughout the day.

Lipstick/ Lip balm

Now, if you're a huge lipstick lover like me, you'll know that having a lipstick (or three) in your makeup bag is essential. I try and limit the amount of beauty products I take out with me but I always end up having about five lipsticks rolling around the bottom of my bag (anyone else share this problem?). Lately I've just been sticking my carmex in my bag and my lipstick that I'm wearing that day. 

Hand Cream

I always make sure I have my Soap and Glory Hand Food hand cream on me. Especially in these winter months my hands get so dry and the non-greasy formula doesn't leave your hands feeling sticky..winner. The gorgeous fruity scent combined with the pocket size tube makes this perfect for your handbag.

Powder/ Powder brush

I always take my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and a little Eco Tools brush with me so I can touch-up throughout the day. My skin type on the whole is dry, however I've noticed that lately I've been getting a little oily around my nose. This translucent powder just takes away any shine without being cakey and heavy on the skin.

Perfume/ body spray

I always keep a body spray or sample size of perfume with me just to freshen up throughout the day..because why wouldn't you want to smell nice? If you only have full sized perfumes you can buy a Travalo which allows you to pour your perfume from a full sized bottle into a friendly, travel-sized bottle that you can easily keep in your bag.

Mirror

I keep a mirror with me so that I can see what I'm doing when I re-apply my lipstick or powder (don't worry I'm not that vain that I stare at myself all day). It's also really handy to have in case one of your friends has a makeup emergency.

What are your handbag beauty essentials?

January Favourites

First of all, where the heck did January go? Time really does fly by. Anyway, enough of sounding like an old woman, here are a few things I've been loving throughout January..

Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm, Umberto Giannini eyeliner
 and Rimmel Stay Matte powder.

Forever 21 necklace, Urban Outfitters watch.

1) Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm in the shade Elusive

I only bought this last week but I'm already in love with it. The smooth consistency and matte formulation, along with the super pretty pink shade, makes this my go-to every-day lipstick.

2) Umberto Giannini Eyeliner

I got a pack of these eyeliners at Christmas back in 2012, and I've been using them every day since. The fine nib allows me to create either a super fine line to make my upper lashes appear fuller, or pursue with a full-on winged out look. The colour is a deep, intense black, and they last pretty much all day. Big thumbs up from moi.

3) Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent 

I love this powder. It's super good for touch-ups throughout the day. It comes in a range of shades but I opted for translucent. This just means that it sets all my makeup in place without adding extra coverage, meaning this will let you stay well clear of cakey makeup (no one wants that look, am I right?).

4) Cheetah Necklace from Forever 21

This was one of my Christmas presents off my best friend, Kim. Before Christmas we were roaming around Forever 21, and I happened to spot this. However, for some reason or another I didn't end up getting it. Kim had obviously made a mental note of my love for this necklace, as there it was a couple of weeks later wrapped up in Christmas paper. (Thanks Kim, bonus friendship points for remembering).

5) Black watch from Urban Outfitters

This was another Christmas present that I received off my brother (the amount of times I've mentioned Christmas clearly has no reflection on the fact I miss December..). I had wanted a black thin-strapped watch for ageeees and so I was super happy to receive this on Christmas morning.

What have been your favourites this month?