Saturday 26 April 2014

Once Upon a Time, in a Faraway Land...

Hey there!

As a young girl growing up, I was a dedicated bookworm! Rather than skipping outside with the other girls or playing kiss chase with the boys, I would much rather sit myself in the library, on a plush bean bag, with my head deep in a book, completely oblivious to my surroundings. I was never really living reality, just what I thought would end up as the perfect fairy tale! Unfortunately, my love for reading has slowly worn off over the years, due to my studies and increased levels of socialising. Rather than reading fictional stories, I now prefer to write my own non-fiction to a larger audience, spilling my life story to the world and here it is! Nevertheless, when I do find the time, I do love to settle down with a large coffee, a good selection of biscuits and a hardback book and relive my childhood hobby. Often I find this a good source of inspiration to write new blog posts too...

Childhood Classic
Jacqueline Wilson has always been a favourite childhood author of mine - creating the typical teenager Tracy Beaker, played by the gorgeous Dani Harmer in the TV series. Covering a wide range of scenarios, inspiring the young minds and teaching them a good, few life lessons. As you can see, I have a grand collection of her novels, proudly stood on my bookshelf, which I just can't bare to get rid of. Her stories never failed to disappoint me and I loved the little illustrations every now and then - credit to Nick Sharratt. 


Highly Recommended
Suzanne Collins - famous for the award-winning trilogy, the Hunger Games. A televised drama following the footsteps of Katniss Everdeen voluntarily taking her sister's place in the big games, where two teenagers are picked from 12 Districts to represent their hometown and compete in the bloody battle ground, fighting their way to victory Such a gripping and thrilling book - one I definitely found difficult to put down!


Currently Reading
Miranda Hart - the Queen of Comedy, showbiz exclusive and my favourite comedian! Starring in her own sitcom 'Miranda' and featuring as Chummy in 'Call The Midwife', this woman will have you in fits of giggles! I'm sure you can all agree that sometimes it's nice after a stressful day at work or school, to sit down with a light-hearted book for some deserved laughs. In her biography, Miranda writes about all her experiences in her guide on how NOT to live your life - what to avoid and when to avoid it! Such a great book to pick up and read whenever and wherever, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 


Bye for now! Xxx

Thursday 24 April 2014

New Purchases!

Hey there!

I know I said I wouldn't be making another post on this blog until all my exams are over, but I just couldn't help myself! I heard there were some bargains in Boots and couldn't resist popping in and spending a little, treating myself to a few purchases I've been wanting for a while! 



Garnier - Summer Body Moisturizing Lotion
Living in England, it's not often the sun comes out, so when it does you have to embrace it! However, I am extremely pale and it takes me forever to get a good tan, (before burning first!) After reading many reviews on this product and seeing it being rated so highly, I knew I just had to try this out! Enriched with natural extract of apricot, perfect for lighter skin tones, leaving it feeling soft and supple - you can't get much better than that.  It smells absolutely amazing and I'm so excited to use this product over spring to get the perfect summer tan! Currently priced at £2.55 instead of £5.20 - what a bargain! 


Garnier Ultimate Blends - Shampoo and Conditioner
Ever since I was a young girl, my hair has always been thick, curly and frizzy! I do love my hair and am extremely thankful for my straighteners, but sometimes it can get out of hand and often very tangled. These products I found were another hype among bloggers and so naturally, I was intrigued! Made with coconut oil and coconut butter, this blend was tailor-made especially for dry, frizzy hair. I have always been a big fan of coconut smelling products, so this seemed like the perfect combination of products for me. I was extremely happy with the price of these too with shampoo priced at £1.95 instead of £3.89 and conditioner £1.95 instead of £3.89 - great bargains!


Overall, I managed to save myself £6.45, so I'm extremely happy with my purchases and am excited to try them all out!

Get yours now whilst the sale is still on! Xxx

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Life Update: Back to Reality

Hey there!

Easter has always been a busy holiday for me - so much to do in so little time, but somehow I still manage to cram it all in. People to see, places to visit and chocolate to be eaten, there's never a dull moment! There's been some ups and downs along the way, but nothing a glass of wine can't sort out! I was lucky enough to receive a few Easter treats this holiday including: a bottle of champagne, a supportive friend, 4 Easter eggs and a deserved trip to London, (which can be viewed here.) 


Unfortunately, the Easter break has finally come to an end meaning no more late nights and sleeping in, no more back-to-back episodes from my favourite TV series and no more socialising! Most importantly, no frequent blog posts! Somehow in the space of a few weeks, I'm going to become extremely motivated, if I have even a slight chance of passing these upcoming exams, and find a constant supply of coffee. It's finally time to face reality and kick it's ass! Back to everything school-related - cramming in revision notes, making flash cards, knuckling down to a tough term! There's no denying that I'm terrified of these life-changing exams and that my anxiety has flared up to an uncontrollable level. Sadly, my blog may suffer as a result of this, when my life takes over!



Wish me luck! Xxx

Monday 21 April 2014

#2 Weekly Favourites

Hey there!

What I'm Eating 
Since Easter has been approaching us all this week, I haven't stopped eating these naughty treats! As I'm sure you're all aware, Creme Eggs only ever feature in supermarkets this season, so what better way to celebrate this Easter, than to stock up on a year's worth of them! I even have my own stash hid away that I am constantly dipping into. Everyone loves a good Creme Egg once in a while, so savour them whilst you still can! 


What I'm Watching 
A new series I have started watching only this week is My Mad Fat Diary. A heart-wrenching comedy-drama that follows a 16 year old girl through a series of events, from bullying to complicated relationships! I'll admit now, I was a latecomer to the program, joining the hype in Series 2, but after continuous hours spent in front of the TV, it's safe to say I am completely hooked on it! I would say though as a word of warning, some scenes can be extremely triggering, so be prepared before you watch it.

My Mad Fat Diary

What I'm Trying 
Somehow over the course of this week I managed to lose my daily make-up kit, which I managed to retrieve when tidying up. Therefore, much to my annoyance, I was forced to try some new combinations of make-up. Among a wide range of beauty products in my drawer, I came across an unused Barry M Lip Gloss and Rimmel London Plunge 030 Cool Shine Lip Stick. After trying this new combination, I found my lips looked bigger and better than ever! They were well hydrated, with increased definition and a glossy shine - perfect for a good pout!


Bye for now! Xxx

Sunday 20 April 2014

Life Update: London Lassie

Hey there!

As a follow up from the last post, I thought I'd share my experiences from my day out in London. Luckily for me, the capital city is only a short train ride away from my hometown, so at any given opportunity, I'm there! London always excites me, I just get so caught up in the buzzing atmosphere, especially when the day comes to a close and the buildings light up!


I was well equipped for my journey to London with an ice cold bottle of water and Heat magazine, starting the day catching up on this weeks hottest celebrity news! After a rather pleasant train ride, we hopped off at London Bridge and I just couldn't resist capturing a picture of the Shard - forever feeling like a tourist! 


Into the Underground we went, packed tightly together like sardines - the only acceptable time to be face-to-face, nose touchingly close to a stranger! Our first trip was to the Monument - built to commemorate the Great Fire of London. A tough climb for someone that doesn't do a lot of exercise, with a 311 step trek to the top! The scenic view makes it all worthwhile, as you tower high above the city of London. It's not often you manage to capture two famous landmarks in one picture! I even managed to take a few selfies, despite the wind blowing in my face. 


No trip to London is complete without some sightseeing, so next stop was St. Paul's Cathedral! Passing through the busy streets, dodging all the tourists, I realised not once have I ever appreciated this building. Standing in the cathedral grounds, I noticed how intricately designed it was and pictured the many workers it must have took to create this spectacular landmark. After many snapshots and much amazement, we continued on our travels! As we crossed the Millennium Bridge, counting the padlocks along the way, the famous Shakespearean Globe Theatre came into view. Yet another building I had not come across in London before. Fun fact: the Globe Theatre is the only building in London to be made with a thatched roof!


To continue our cultural trip, we visited the Tate Gallery! I'm not a massive fan of artwork, nor did I ever enjoy art in school, but I'm always intrigued at how artists manage to interpret different aspects in life and portray them in such creative ways - something I've always found impossible! Picasso has always been a favourite artist of mine and I spent a while pondering over his artwork and appreciating his talent. However, other artists left me speechless, and I didn't understand the logic in their 'works of art'... It was certainly an experience!


After all this excitement, I had worked up a rather large appetite! We'd been so busy and eaten not even a morsel, that there was no way we could avoid food. In-fact, we'd been so occupied that we'd managed to skip lunch! We treated ourselves to a much deserved McDonald's and I was pleasantly surprised that they had vegetarian options. I would definitely recommend the Spicy Veggie Wrap to any vegetarian readers and non-vegetarians, it was just that good. Finishing off with a free Monopoly Instant Win Toffee Sundae - so worth it!


The last visit of the day was to Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum. I'd never really considered the museum before and had always by-passed it when in London, but it was a great experience. Full of surprises and some real eye openers - from the World's Tallest Man, (featured below,) to the World's Heaviest Woman and my personal favourite Lizard-man! All his life he'd been a street artist and wanted to express this in his own being, so transformed himself into a reptile. Time flew by in the museum and somehow we'd spent 3/30 hours there! 


But that's not where the excitement ends! For the train journey home, I treated myself to a Mars Bar, but when I opened it something caught my eye. 'Congratulations, you've won a free bar!' I've never won a competition before, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to have received this lucky treat. I could not believe it - such a great ending to the day!

Bye for now! Xxx 

Friday 18 April 2014

What's In My Bag? - London Essentials

Hey there!

A popular post I have seen recently, especially among beauty bloggers, is 'What's In My Bag?' and after reading Barb's post in her mini series, I was inspired to write my own! Living so close to London always has its perks and I am forever travelling by train during my holidays to the capital city, to see what new bargains I can find. This Easter break, my family and I spent the day up London - sightseeing, weaving in and out of tourists and generally just enjoying the buzzing atmosphere, which can be seen here. But no trip is complete without your essentials to get you through the day! I chose my summery, coral handbag to carry them about in, which can be a pain to search around, but can fit all my essentials in!


Magazine - no train journey is complete without the latest celebrity gossip to catch up on! Not forgetting the crossword puzzles and horoscope at the back to keep you entertained.

Tube Map - often the hustle and bustle takes over London and makes it difficult to read the signs for the Tube Map. I like to keep my own personal one in my bag so I can access it whenever I want. 

iPod - music makes everything better! Lifts the mood, drowns out your thoughts and keeps you company when you're alone. I take my iPod everywhere with me and have a playlist for pretty much everything - spring/summer, autumn/winter, workout...

Make-Up Essentials - one thing you'll never see me without is my make-up! I don't have a reason for carrying it about, sometimes I don't even use it, but you can never be too sure...

Sunnies - England has surprised us all with a few outbursts of sun this spring! Around this time, I am always known to be carrying around my sunglasses - either wearing them on my head as a fashion statement or protecting my eyes from the blinding light rays!

Hand-sanitiser - you can never be too sure of the cleanliness around London and germs are quickly spread. Therefore, I am always carrying around my sanitiser to refresh my hands and maintain my hygiene!

Hairbrush - standing around on Tube platforms can often get windy, a worst nightmare to girl's with long, curly hair like mine, that tangles easily! Although my hairbrush can be a pain to carry about, it's always a must! 

Mints -  I often worry how my breath smells during the day when I'm travelling around London, especially after a meal out and there's no harm in freshening up your breath once in a while - nothing a pack of mints can't sort out. 

What's your top essentials to take with you on a trip out?

Bye for now! Xxx


Wednesday 16 April 2014

TMI TAG...

Hey there!

I have seen this tag been spread around the blog community recently and have decided to participate in it simply for the fun of it, but also so you can get to know more about me!



The questions listed below were ones I found on Natalie's blog. I have heavily cut them down, picking out the best ones to limit the length of the blog post... 

1. How old are you?
17 years old, 5 months until I'm 18 and very excited 

2. How tall are you? 
5ft 6 - average height and happy with it 

3. How much do you weigh? 
9st 3 last time I braved the scales - losing it slowly, hoping to get a figure I'm happy with for summer 

4. Any piercings?
My ear are pierced, but would love to have a belly button stud! I think they look extremely pretty!

5. Your favourite show?
TOWIE has always been a favourite of mine, but I am slowly starting to join the hype of My Mad Fat Diary

6. Favourite band and song?
Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down
A few years back I probably would have answered with One Direction - oh, how times have changed!

7. Favourite quote?
'Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened!' - Dr Seuss. Always has been and always will be

8. Your OTP? (one true pairing)
Liam and Rae from My Mad Fat Diary. They understand each other, are great together and share the same habits

9. Have you ever been in love?
I can honestly say that I have been and it feels amazing! I was treated like a princess and I couldn't be happier!

10. Qualities you look for in a partner?
They have to have a good sense of fashion and humour, great eyes, hair just long enough to play about with and smell great!

11. Something you miss?
Someone that I will always miss will be my Grandad. Sadly, he passed away when I was 13 and I loved him dearly. He was always there for me, spoilt me rotten and was fun to be around. He fought his battle for Cancer and sadly was defeated, but he will always be remembered! <3 

12. Reason for starting blogging?
I recently became a YouTube fanatic and started reading the blogs that linked to their channels. Zoe, Tanya and Louise, my favourite of them all, inspired me the most and without them, this blog would still be scribbles and brainstorms for future posts in my notebooks, yet to be published on the Internet

13. Fears? 
Besides the general fears of spiders, I also fear being trapped in cramped conditions, walking through horror mazes and not being able to have children 

14. Last thing that made you cry?
I recently broke down, as the sudden realization that my exams are less than a month away hit me and I am nowhere near prepared 

15. Last book you read?
I am currently reading 'One Day' by David Nicholls - a strongly recommended book to me 

16. Places you want to visit? 
I'd love to go Florida, mainly for Disneyland, but also for the gorgeous scenery and weather! Norway is another dream of mine to gaze up at the Northern Lights!

17. Last sport you played? 
I love to play badminton in my spare time and challenged my family to a game at the park yesterday

18. Last song that you sang? 
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston. My favourite song to sing in the shower alongside Titanium and Rather Be 

19. Last time you hung out with someone?
Yesterday evening I spent my time walking round town with a good friend of mine. Hello, if you're reading this! ;)

20. Who should answer this tag next? 
I nominate Lewis, my best friend and new blogger and Emma, my favourite blogger, to take part in this tag! 

Bye for now! Xxx

LUSH HAUL Review: Marshmallow Moment

Hey there! 

For those that don't know me personally, I am possibly the biggest fan of  LUSH - my absolute dream shop to work in! The staff are so friendly and I can't get enough of the vast array of handmade products! I spend literally hours smelling them over and over, until my nose is satisfied! It's often difficult to keep me away and it's becoming a danger to my bank, I can never walk out empty handed! Over these past couple of months, I have gathered together a collection of LUSH products including a few of my favourites and some new products, which looked too cute to leave on the shelf! As a result of this, I decided to post a series of posts, reviewing these products, over the course of the year...



1) Marshmallow Moment

This little beauty was first released in stores for the start of February, alongside the Valentines collection! As a regular shopper in LUSH, I was quick to notice a new appearance in store and immediately picked this up! Made from the marshmallow herb, this pink cupcake-shaped bath bomb fizzes beautifully, producing a creamy fluid of soothing cocoa butter and almond oil. The creamy film of bubbles left floating on the water creates a lovely moisturizing effect, which leaves your skin feeling silky smooth and smelling amazing! A sweet smelling product, not too overwhelming, just right to sink yourself into...

I am pleasantly surprised by this and found it relaxed me completely! It doesn't just have to be used in the bath. If you fancy a quick shower, a tiny bit of this mixed with water works just as well and has the same effects! Definitely recommended for those of you who love Rock-star and Snow-fairyI loved how it made my skin feel afterwards and I will definitely be purchasing this again - multiple times! 

Reasonably priced at £3.95 - nice and affordable
Rating: 10/10



Happy bathing! Xxx

Life Update: Sunny Southend

Hey there!

It's not every day that England, (known for it's dull, rainy weather,) surprises us with a full day of sunshine, but when the time comes, you have to take advantage of it! At the moment, I am lucky enough to be on my Easter break - 2 weeks away from everything school-related. So, when given the opportunity to embrace the beautiful weather, I couldn't resist! My family felt the perfect way to do this was a trip to Southend - famous for the longest pier in Europe, seriously tasty ice-cream and it's Adventure Island beside the coast! 


After what seemed like a never-ending car journey, we finally parked up outside the entrance to Adventure Island. It was such a great atmosphere - with the sun streaming down, a slight breeze in my hair, breathing in the seaside air, what more could you want! The park was a little busy, but that was to be expected and everyone was buzzing with excitement. The place was teeming with adrenaline junkies! My personal favourite above all the rides, besides the loop ride I managed to drag my brother on, was the dodgems - a good excuse for a head-on collision! 


After spending a good, few hours in Adventure Island, we took a break for lunch. By this time, I had worked up a large appetite and was thrilled when we found a traditional fish and chips cafe in the local seaside town! Being a vegetarian, my menu choices were extremely limited and were heavily reduced to just two options: veggie burger or jacket potato. It seemed like an obvious pick and tasted even better, with nothing but a sauce stain left on my plate!


My family have always been known for going on long walks, hiking long distances and exploring new areas on holiday. So, it wasn't a surprise when I found myself on a brisk walk along the famous pier, stretching out to sea for just over a mile! It felt good to be breathing in the sea air and was a good way to burn off lunch. For the return back to land, my brother and I challenged ourselves to run the length of the pier. As a passionate blogger and hardworking student, used to lying horizontally on my bed planning future blog posts or making revision cards, exercise is not my expertise. However, the sheer torture I put myself through was over within 15 minutes and was celebrated with a well deserved ice-cream afterwards! 


To end our busy day, we took a casual stroll along the beach, back to the car. I stopped along the way to take a few snaps of the scenery, being the passionate photographer that I am. I just had to capture such a beautiful moment  - I just couldn't help myself!


Unfortunately, due to the long hours spent out in the sun, I am currently suffering with a spot of sun stroke meaning that I haven't left my bed for a good, few hours! Hopefully I'll be back on my feet soon to enjoy the last few days of my holiday!

Bye for now! Xxx

Sunday 13 April 2014

App Store Favourites!

Hey there!

In today's world, technology is rapidly advancing all around us! Even now whilst you're sat here reading this, producers are frantically brainstorming new ideas for future products, which they hope to be successful! It's simply impossible to avoid buying the latest gadgets and nowadays, it's a rare sighting to see someone without their trusty devices! No matter where I am, whether it be travelling on a Tube around London or an evening meal in a local restaurant, people are constantly using their mobile devices. A large majority of these being Apple products! 

Apple have always been a favourite brand of mine when regarding technology and one I will strongly recommend to anybody! However, I do NOT rate their chargers and am fuming at the countless times I've had to replace my broken ones. As I am currently studying for an ICT A level, I am forced to be passionate in learning about the new, upcoming technologies and therefore, the devices I do own are relatively new. I spend the majority of my day scrolling through the App Store in search of new apps to update my device with. However, I am fussy with the apps I do purchase and refuse to pay for any, unless absolutely necessary! 



Here is a list of my favourite app store freebies: 


Social Networking
  1. Bloglovin' - an absolute necessity that should be at the top of all bloggers favourite lists! Simple layout, easy to use and great for quick updates when the laptop is too far away! Thankfully, I can sneakily have a peek at my updates on the school's system too! 
  2. Twitter - this is one of my absolute favourites! Perfect for lying in bed in the morning, checking through tweets I missed over night - celebrity gossip, TV spoilers etc.
  3. Snapchat - an excuse for sending the ugliest face imaginable to all your friends, embracing the no make-up, 'just got out of bed' look!
  4. Instagram - the perfect way to collect all your favourite photos/collages together - from holiday snaps to daily posts. An invitation for inspiration!
Entertainment 
  1. ITV Player - everyone gets a little busy from time to time, sometimes too busy to watch your favourite TV shows. There's nothing better than being able to catch-up and watch them on the move, whether it be in bed or on a long car journey. 
  2. Blinkbox Music - what better way to listen to all of your favourite music in one app! No need to download music, this app allows you to listen to over 12 million songs to choose from and create your own station! 
  3. iBooks - who needs physical copies of books, when you can have them all stored in a library on your device to read them whenever and wherever - from the typical classics to short stories written by wannabe authors! 
Games 
  1. 2048 - a simple, yet addictive game consisting of sliding blocks together to make 2048. A great way to kill time, but slowly drags you in deeper... so deep you physically can't do anything else with your life!
  2. Flappy Bird - the game that grabbed the nation at the tap of a screen! People absolutely everywhere were losing their mind over a bird and some Mario-like pipes. Never before have I seen anyone so addicted, that they spend ridiculous amounts of money on eBay, purely because of this app - it simply drew people to new levels of extreme!
Hope you find this blog helps you to choose, which are the best apps to update your device with! 

Bye for now! Xxx




Friday 11 April 2014

Weekly Favourites!

Hey there!

Inspired by Barb, I thought I would create my own little series of weekly favourites, sharing with you the best bits - What I'm Eating, What I'm Watching/Reading and What I'm Trying....and who knows, this may inspire you, (especially in the long run,) to purchase some of the products mentioned or start watching a new TV series!


What I'm Eating
For those that don't know, I must confess that I have an extremely sweet tooth. I'd much rather choose a chocolate cake oozing with fudge sauce, over an Irish cream coffee for pudding, despite my love for caffeine. If I had the money, I would buy an entire sweet shop, given the opportunity! Therefore, it wasn't a big surprise to me that these Strawberry and Cream treats would entice me and become one of my favourites this week. These sugar coated sweets are filled with flavour and melt in your mouth, as soon as you pop them in! Once you start, you can't stop and before you know it, they'll be gone...



What I'm Watching
As an avid blogger and hard-worker at school, I find it difficult to manage my time and often after a hard day at school, I like to kick my feet up, grab myself a coffee, my favourite book, and settle down for the evening, with my lava lamp glowing in the background. However, that doesn't mean I have been living under a rock in the TV aspect! I regularly glance through magazines on the shelf, to update myself on celebrity gossip and TV dramas. But, although I am not always around to keep up with my favourite TV shows, I make sure I have them recorded on my planner, so I do not miss out! Therefore, I spend a lot of time catching up with episodes, so try not to read social media when they're on to avoid spoilers. I am not ashamed to admit that a personal favourite of mine is TOWIE! Fake tan, fake boobs and fake entertainment may be what springs to mind to the majority of you, but for me I find it extremely amusing. It may not be your typical Eastenders, but I'm sure you'll agree that there is never a dull moment! Mates, dates, banter and drunken arguments feature in every episode and you'll soon become drawn into the action. As a viewer, my guilty pleasure has to be Arg. He may not be the best looking, but he sure knows how to have banter and never fails to make me laugh!



What I'm Trying
Growing up, I have always suffered with dry skin, whether it be on my face, knees, elbows or scalp - from eczema as a baby to mildly dry skin now. I am more conscious of it now and therefore, like to keep myself well hydrated and moisturized, but I can never stick to one brand! I'm constantly trying out new products and new brands, but am yet to find a product that works 100% with my skin and gives me the complexion that I desire. Recently, I came across this Cath Kidston Body Cream - a gift which had been hidden away in my Beauty drawer! My instant reaction was to try this out immediately, so I applied some the night before I went to bed. In the morning, I reapplied before going out and made this a regular habit. I am pleasantly surprised with this product and it has to be my favourite so far! I find it leaves my skin smooth for the entire day and does not require any topping up. In short, this does my skin absolute wonders with no irritation and smells amazing! I'm sure there won't be any turning back, just yet!



Bye for now! Xxx

Primark Tag

Hey there! 

After browsing endlessly through the Internet for some inspiration for my next blog post, I found a new tag make an appearance on Blogger from Barb! For as long as I can remember, Primark has been my absolute favourite shop to pick up some top purchases in, whether it be an evening outfit, a floral dress or some new underwear. So naturally, I couldn't resist taking part in this tag and would love to see this shared across the Internet...


1) Do you have any nicknames for Primark?
Personally, I do not use any nicknames for Primark, other than the brand name itself. However, I do know there are some floating around including 'Primarnie,' which my father often refers to it as. There is also a lot of controversy about how to pronounce it, whether it be 'Preemark' or 'Primark.' 

2) Which item can you never resist picking up?
One of my all time favourites at Primark, besides the cute jumpers or summery tops with the collars, are their underwear, who could resist, when they're priced at £1 per pair! Whether it be the lacy thongs, patterned knickers or the diamante bras,  they never fail to keep me away! Regardless of whether people may not see these beautys, (unless they're lucky enough,) I always prefer to have classy, matching underwear to make myself feel glam or slightly cheeky! 

3) Are you guilty of buying knick-knacks at the tills?
I am a sucker for lip balms and fluffy socks and coincidentally, BOTH of these products seem to appear by the till line. Being an eager shopper, I often find myself picking up additional items to fill up my already bulging shopping basket, which always seem necessary at the time! But when the pounds add up, I realise self-discipline has failed me once more...

4) Do you visit your local Primark or shop further afield? 
For a quick browse and a fashion fix up, the local stores never let me down! I am lucky enough to have a store in my local town and I rarely ever come out empty handed! The staff are so friendly and the queues are tolerable so I enjoy my shopping experience. I have once been known to shop further afield for a product I had fallen in love with online, but was not in stock in my local store! However, this was not ideal, and I found myself fighting my way through crowds of fiesty shoppers, to find myself at the back of an endless queue!

5) What is your Primark bugbear?
A bugbear I have always disliked at Primark, before and after the refurbishment, is the lack of respect by the customers! Before I was interested in fashion, I found it a chore to shop in Primark and refused to search for bargains in what looked like a charity shop! Even now, after the refurbishment, shoppers often knock clothes off the hanger and never bother to put it back! You don't see this kind of behaviour in River Island or Topshop, so why here?! It's a disappointment to see one of my favourite shops being treated this way! 

6) What season do you look forward to most?
The spring/summer collection in Primark are by far the most exciting! I find myself changing fashion styles, as the years progress, but Primark floral dresses, patterened shorts and bikinis never fail to make an appearance in my wardrobe. I constantly restock up on these items and ensure I am always up-to-date with the upcoming designs and outfits. I consider myself a bit of a fashion guru when it comes to summer! 

7) Do you use the Primark website or fall back on Primark hauls on YouTube? 
I never really rely on either, as I am lucky enough to pass by my local store, before and after school, 5 days a week, so it's impossible for me to miss out on the new collections! That being said, I also look forward to watching hauls on YouTube for some inspiration. I especially look forward to watching Zoella's videos, as we share the same taste in fashion and I rely on her to make some good purchases. I reccommend you give her a watch, you will NOT be disappointed! 




Happy shopping! Xxx

Monday 7 April 2014

Life Update: Vegetarianism

Hey there! 

To those that know me personally it's obvious that, growing up I was an avid meat eater! Chicken nuggets, pork sausages, pepperoni pizza, you name it, I ate it....I couldn't live without the stuff! Meat was a significant part of my diet and was often my first choice from the menu. I was so dependent upon it that I looked forward to it being served on my plate! 

Recently though, my life has redirected itself and followed new paths, which were never expected by neither myself nor those around me, including my new dieting habits, which has been the most significant one to date... Since then, I've noticed a few changes, including my sudden positive outlook on life! Not forgetting the wonders it does to the complexion of my skin. 

My family have always been and probably will continue to be hardcore meat eaters and therefore, have the typical ignorant view that:

  • 'We were born to be meat eaters!' 
  • 'It's just a phase, give it time and it will pass'
  • 'Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival for life on Earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet! 
I decided to break out of this shell only last week, by pushing the boundaries of regular family procedures in the kitchen! However, as a result of my parent's lack of support to my new lifestyle change, I found the first week hard to kick-start my new dieting habits. I am lucky enough to have a large group of friends, who I consider to be extremely close to me. They've always been there, through thick and thin, and supported me in every life decision I make! Without them I doubt I would have been as determined to stick to this mentality and change my diet. As a large majority of my friendship group are passionate vegetarians and have been for a long while, I have been blamed for my change in lifestyle, as a way to 'fit in with the crowd!' However, there are numerous and well thought-out reasons for making this decision:

1) Morality 
I am a strong believer in morals, despite the gender or form of life! Studies have shown that animals are moral creatures; they support  each other, have a sense of outrage and show empathetic behaviour towards not only their own kind, but humans too! A lot of people seem to forget that animals have emotion and feelings, so...

"The question is not Can they reason? nor Can they talk but, Can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham

Why should a poor, defenseless animal suffer for human pleasure? It wouldn't be seen as morally correct to skin a sedated human for their meat, to cook for dinner, so what makes it okay to do this to animals?

2) To Challenge Myself
I consider myself to be an outgoing teenager who is always up for a challenge! I get a thrill out of having to work towards something or achieve a personal belief, especially if there is an element of danger involved! As mentioned before, my love for meat when I was growing up was a passionate one and I never felt like I could part from it. Therefore, I saw this as a massive deal and a challenge I was determined to achieve. I'll admit now, it wasn't an easy decision of mine to transform to a diet that was completely meat-free! For a number of months, maybe even a year, I had always wanted to become a vegetarian, but had consistently been shunned away every time I brought up the topic. Therefore, the first hurdle to overcome was braving my parents! Once I proposed my argument and adopted a new attitude, I found it easy to announce my change in lifestyle. However, despite the unpleasant reaction from this, I was determined not to let this get to me!

3) For a Healthier Way Of Living
Studies show that on average, vegetarians are healthier in all aspects! A 12-year old Oxford study produced the results that the life expectancy of a vegetarian when compared with meat eaters, show that they can outlive omnivores by 6 years. This is due to the plant-based diet of a vegetarian, which strengthens the immune system and slows down the aging process! Depending on the attitude you adopt as a vegetarian, it is extremely easy to lose any excess weight that isn't wanted and keep it off! A vegetarian diet consists mainly of vegetables, nuts, fruits, whole grains and legumes, providing the individual with the nutrients they need. These are low in fat and rich in fibre and when accompanied with daily exercise, the perfect formula is made for healthy weight loss!


"My body will not be a tomb for other creatures" - Da Vinci

I was not expecting to become vegetarian so soon and suddenly, nor was I expecting the reaction I got from it, (which wasn't a pleasant one!) However, I will not let that stop me from wanting to stick to this way of living and will do my best to maintain this attitude, to prove everyone wrong!




In other news: I have a set of important exams approaching fast and a pile of notes to revise! This may have a slight impact on the amount of posts I make in the upcoming month, so apologies in advance!

Bye for now! Xxx 

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Happy Mothers Day!

Hey there!

Some may think this will be a cliche post and a soppy one at that but, I believe that the wonderful woman who brought me into this world deserves a post of her own! After all, without her I would not have come into existence and you wouldn't have the opportunity to read this, which means you all have her to thank! 





As I'm sure you are all aware, yesterday was Mothers Day! A day to show your Mum how much you appreciate her: by spoiling her with breakfast in bed, showering her with meaningful gifts and sparing her from having to lift a finger by helping around the house! 

I'd be lying if I claimed I was the perfect daughter! I am hopeless at preparing presents for special occasions, (often finding myself frantically browsing the shops for last minute gifts,) am useless when it comes to keeping track of upcoming birthdays and events and fail at telling those that mean a lot, how much I love and appreciate them!

As a young girl growing up, I'd say I was the most difficult child to bring up! I suffered with terrible anger issues from 4 upwards, ranging from minor tantrums to physical damage and occasionally harm! No amount of comforting or gentle words would calm the 'raging animal' inside! For days, sometimes weeks, my Mum was my enemy constantly at war with me, with no sign of a way out!

But there comes a turning point in your life where you realise how much your parents care, how much they have given up, just to ensure you are happy! Never did my Mum give up on me, she was there by my side, supporting me through every stage in my life! Not only influencing my life, but everyone around with her constant positivity!



I'm lucky enough to still have my Mum around to care for me, support me through thick and thin and to love me endlessly despite my imperfections! From toddler to adolescence, she fought by my side: saving my friendships when they were at risk and encouraging opportunities which would not have been possible otherwise.

Love you Mum, you deserve this! Xxx