What Lauren Did Today

 

Hello! I've noticed that recently this blog has received a lot of new followers, so I thought I'd just do a quick post to direct you all to my new blog: What Lauren Did Today. I've posted a few times saying I've moved and will no longer be blogging on this blog, but in case any of you missed it I thought I'd just do another, as well as link to a few posts that might tempt you across haha.

 

So my new blog What Lauren Did Today is a lifestyle/book/fashion/beauty/food blog. I don't really have a specific 'thing' that I feature, which is really the opposite of this blog as it was beauty based. I've so far done posts about anxiety, book reviews, recipes, photo diaries, wishlists, OOTD's, Lush reviews... quite a variety of things!

 

My favourite posts:

 

6 Vegetarian Recipes I Want To Try // 4 Tips For Overcoming Anxiety // Book Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green // Wreck This Journal #1 // Fiction Inspired Jewellery // 3 Tips For Relieving Anxiety // Holiday Photo Diary // Bedroom Details #1 // Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

 

Follow my new blog on Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12340871

 

xx

 

 

My New Blog!

I've moved!

 

As of a few weeks ago, I packed in my beauty blogging & started up a whole new blog: What Lauren Did Today. As well as writing content about beauty and fashion, I also feature book reviews, home décor posts and just things about my life in general! Recent posts include a photo diary from my beach-side holiday, a chat about post education anxiety and a lot of book reviews. My love of Lush definitely hasn't died down since pulling away from beauty blogging (my current collection will be up tomorrow!) and I've also tried my hand at a Healthy Turkey Curry recipe! 

 

I'd love it for any of you to switch over to my new blog if you want to keep up with my posts, but I understand if it doesn't sound like your thing!

 

Follow What Lauren Did Today on Bloglovin', or this is the URL if you want to take a direct link over there: www.whatlaurendidtoday.blogspot.co.uk

 

xxx

May Favourites!

Here comes that little cliché again: I can't believe how quickly May has gone by. And to be honest, I can't really remember which products I've been using the most, but these three (plus one book) are the things that spring to mind when I think about what I've been loving recently.

First up, we have the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer in Nude Eclipse. This shade. I've never been one for nude lips, but this caramel shade has converted me. It glides on beautifully and sits really nicely upon the lips. Perfect paired with lashings of mascara! Next we have Soap & Glory's Hand Food hand cream, a delicious-scented lotion that is a little greasy but sinks effortlessly and quickly into my skin. I've been getting really chapped hands lately and this has been great to keep flakiness at bay! And the honorary Lush product this month is: the Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly. I can't even rave about this stuff enough. With a scent like blackcurrant jelly babies and the perfect lather, I adore it. It's also the most refreshing thing ever to use in the shower after a hot day! Finally, my book choice this month: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I finished City of Bones two days ago and have been reading this at every moment since. For a fuller write-up on this book, check out my post on my new blog What Lauren Did Today: here.

 

My Little Links:

 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurennpiper#

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/laurenpiperx/

Figment: http://figment.com/users/207140-Lauren-Piper

 

xx



NEW BLOG: What Lauren Did Today

 

Hello everyone!

 

This is just a quick post to share my new blog with you all: What Lauren Did Today. It's going to be more of a lifestyle blog, with posts on books, food and writing amongst other things. I decided to take this new direction with my blogging because, as much as I love being a beauty blogger, I feel like there's so much more for me to share than just my current favourite lipstick. Loving skincare and make-up is just a small part of my life and I didn't feel like I was giving my whole self on this blog, so I just decided to take a chance and created the new one. I'm still planning on uploading posts on this blog, but a majority of my time and attention will be switched over to my new one.

 

I'd love it if any of you would be interested in following my new blog as I don't want to lose any of my readers, but I understand if it isn't really your thing.

 

This is the Bloglovin link: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12340871 and the general URL: www.whatlaurendidtoday.blogspot.co.uk.

 

xx



The In-Between Foundation Shade

As a pale girl, I find it very hard to find foundation shades that suit me. The lightest shade available is almost always too dark for me and if I do find one pale enough, it's always that touch too pale. So instead of continuing with my search and foundation-buying obsession, I tried the next logical step: mixing a too-dark shade with a too-light shade and voila: the perfect shade.

I use the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation, which I reviewed here, in the two lightest shades: Light Porcelain and Ivory. I find that Ivory is the perfect shade for me well into the summer-time and Light Porcelain in the dead of winter, but between the building and fading of a tan, I have to mix it up.

In order to create my perfect foundation shade, I apply one squirt of the Light Porcelain foundation onto the back of my hand, with half a squirt of the Ivory shade. I then simply mix the two together with my finger tip until they're fully blended together and apply as normal with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

 

I'll adapt the mixture when it develops further into the summer time to accommodate my hopefully tanned skin, but until then this works well for me!

 

xx

 

My Skincare Storage

Hello everyone! And welcome to part two of my little skincare series, the first part showing my updated skincare routine. Here I'm going to show you how I store my skincare bits and pieces, as well as a few other things that share the drawer.

 

As you can see, this little drawer (which is the top drawer of my TV stand by my bed) has been split into four separate sections, each holding different things. The bottom left box is an old sweet box, similar to the one I use for my make up storage, as is the box on the top left which is actually an old take-out box that has been washed several times before using. The top right is an old tin that I received as part of a lip balm gift set (minus the lid) and the bottom right is just the last little gap of drawer that was sectioned off by the other storage pieces.

 

The bottom left box holds most of my skincare bits and pieces: my Boots Simply Sensitive Toner & Cleansing Lotion (which I have a back-up of), the L'Oreal Miccellar Water, an Avon Peel-Off Mask, the Avon Eye Make-Up Removing Lotion and a Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion. The top left box holds a few fake tanners that I never use, mostly the Primark Wash Off Tan but there's a bottle of a Fake Bake tanner in there, too. The top right tin holds a few Lee Stafford hair minis which I adore, as well as a few Primark hand sanitizers, a random pot of glitter and a spare Jelly Belly lip balm. The bottom right section is my favourite section. It holds my Johnson's Day Cream (as well as a back-up), a pack of Primark Sensitive face wipes, my M&S Coconut and Shea Butter body butters and a few small sachets of the Avon Mediterranean Olive Oil face masks which I adore.

 

So there you have it. That's how I store most of my skincare products! Aside from a few other bits such as my Boots moisturiser (which I keep by my bed side) and my Johnson's Exfoliating Wash (which is stashed in my bath room), I hoard everything in here. I find the organisation so handy for when I'm preparing for bed and just think it looks pretty, too. (I'm an organisation freak)

 

xx

 

 

My Updated Skincare Routine (Sensitive Skin)

Welcome to a little impromptu two-part series that I've just thrown together to show you guys my updated skincare routine and storage! I last posted my routine at around this time last year and I've gone through a bit of a half-switch up as only a few products have changed. As you can see from the photos below, I use only budget-friendly high street products on my skin. Paired with drinking a lot of water, my skin's sensitivity, dryness and redness is tackled easily with these products.

 

As a side note, I'm really sorry about the quality of these photos, the weather has been so cloudy lately I had to make a mad dash to snap these before the sun disappeared again!

Left To Right: Back Row - Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Moisturiser // Johnson's Daily Essentials Exfoliating Wash // Boots Simply Sensitive Toner // L'Oreal Skin Perfection Miccellar Water // Boots Simply Sensitive Cleaning Lotion. Front Row - Planet Spa Mediterranean Olive Oil Face Mask Sachets // Johnson's Daily Essentials Day Cream // Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover // Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Eye Cream

 

My Night Routine.

 

This is when I do the bulk of my skincare routine. First off, I use the Simple Eye Make-up Remover to remove all of my eye make-up (including waterproof mascara!). Next, I use the fail-safe combo of the Boots Simply Sensitive Toner & the Cleansing Lotion also from that range to double cleanse my skin. Finally, I'll apply a few dots of eye cream to my under eyes and coat my skin in a generous helping of either the Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Moisturiser or the Johnson's Day Cream depending on how tight and dry my skin is feeling.

 

Twice a week, I wedge in my little mask-and-exfoliation slice of the routine in after the double cleanse and before the application of moisturiser. I tend to leave a gap in between this stage and the cleanse, where I hop into the bath and give my skin a good steam with what comes off of the hot water. Then I scrub my skin with the Johnson's Exfoliating Wash, pull on some pyjamas and apply the Planet Spa Mediterranean Olive Oil face mask before jumping into bed with a good book (currently, a re-read of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).

 

My Morning Routine.

 

A little naughty of me, I know, but in the mornings I have other things to rush around and do rather than a good, in depth skincare routine. So a quick sweep over my skin with the L'Oreal Miccellar Water and another application of either of my two moisturisers and I'm good to go!

 

-----

 

I think when it comes to skincare, finding products that work for your skin is half the battle. The other half is that old cliché about a balanced diet and good water intake. Cliché as it may be, it's definitely true! Since ditching the fizzy drinks and drinking a lot more water, I not only feel rejuvenated in my energy levels but my dryness has definitely been helped. Overall, I'm very happy with my skincare routine, which is proven by my loyalty to the Boots Simply Sensitive Range ever since I discovered it last year.

 

What do you think of the products I use?

 

xx



Dry Skin Heroes

Following my post a few days ago on my new obsession with the M&S Coconut Body Butter, I got to thinking about the other products I rely on to help battle my dry and dehydrated skin. Here is a little compilation of my favourite products to use!

 

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub Body Scrub - £8.00 - Boots.

 

One of my favourite Soap & Glory products and favourite scents to boot, I nearly had a meltdown when I couldn't find this in Boots last year, only to discover that it had been re-packaged and re-branded as part of their Smoothie Star range. This scrub packed with oats, shea butter, banana and almonds is the perfect thing to tackle dryness. It's not harsh at all and it perfect for sensitive skin(although I recommend skipping the chest area if you are sensitive as the skin is delicate). Using this once a week leaves my skin feeling refreshed and soft.

 

Lush Butterball Bath Bomb - £2.50 - Lush.

 

A firm favourite of mine and a repurchase, the Lush Butterball Bath Bomb is filled with moisturising cocoa nibs that dissolve into the bath and leave your skin coated in a gorgeous non-oily film that sinks into skin quickly and comfortably. I adore chucking this into the bath when I'm feeling a little too lazy to moisturise afterwards as it does the job for you!

 

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser - £2.85 - Sainsburys.

 

I've had this product for a while now and always reach for it during a last-minute shower. It kind of work like a conditioner for your body - after washing, you apply this much like you would a hair conditioner and then simply rinse off for nourished, moisturised skin. For my full thoughts on this product, click here.

 

M&S Naturals Shea Body Butter - £5 - M&S

 

This is the shea variation of my much beloved Coconut body butter. The thick but light-weight cream is perfect for slathering onto dry patches and flaky bits without being heavy or tacky at all. Despite it's thickness it takes mere moments to sink in and leave you with beautifully soft skin. To read my thoughts on the coconut version, click here.

 

xx

 

NEW IN: My Muji-Inspired Lipstick Storage

On an impromptu trip to TK Maxx with my dad the other day, I came across the most awesome little surprise: clear acrylic make-up storage. I'm a fan of MUJI but I'm not a fan of their prices, so after quickly rushing over to check out these little beauties I was more than happy when I saw that this 24-space lipstick storage was just £5.99! I've seen a few floating around on eBay, but after reading reviews from others on their poor quality I gave them a miss and invested in this set instead.

 

The perfect width for a variety of products of different shapes and sizes, this unit measures three spaces down and eight across, giving 24 holes in total. The rows raise slightly higher as they go back, giving you a good over-view of all of your lipsticks without having to rummage around.

 

Featured on top of my new Ikea Billy Bookcase alongside a beautiful copy of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a strawberry and melon candle, I adore my new lipstick storage!

 

xx

Review: Lush Granny Takes A Dip Bath Bomb

 Making my rounds in Lush the other day and I spotted something that made me very excited: a new bath bomb. Naturally eye-catching with it's bright colours and design, the new Granny Takes A Dip bath bomb is something a little different from the regular Lush standards: It's flat. Well, not exactly flat but it's shape isn't that of a ball - it's more like a ball that's been flattened. A few inches thick and quite a good width around, this is one of the largest bath bombs I've seen at Lush. So naturally I had to bring it home with me.

It's fresh citrusy scent is the perfect pick-me-up after a long day and the ginger and pepper elements are very warming and refreshing. This is the kind of bath bomb whose scent lingers long after the water has been drained away. And the water, it's such a pretty colour! A kind of mulled wine shade, kind of a pink/purple/red if that makes sense. As this bath bomb is quite a frothy one, the water is clouded by a little bubbliness but it soon fades away. Whilst the bomb is fizzing away (which takes about 4 - 5 minutes in total) it releases a lovely array of colours as each circle melts away. So pretty.

Overall, I think this is one of my favourite bath bombs from Lush. The price is perfect (£3.25) as I think it's well justified and it's pretty colour show is lovely to watch.

xx

Birthday Gifting: Lush's Dirty Range

In just three days time, it's my boyfriend's birthday! He's turning the ripe old age of 22 and this will be the fourth birthday I've shared with him. Add in four Christmases and this means it will be the eighth load of presents I'm going to be showering him with. Needless to say it's getting more and more difficult each year to find him something unique and special, simply because he is the kind of guy who doesn't want a lot and buys himself what he does want. 

 

But this year, I think I've done pretty good! Aside from what's pictured below, I've bought him the Game Of Thrones Season One on DVD and a cute little travel mug with a Marvel design on it from Primark.

Pictured above is I think all of the Dirty range from Lush: the shower gel, the toothy tabs, the shaving cream and a mini piece of soap. Lush's Dirty range is aimed towards their male customers and the fresh minty scent is refreshing and stimulating. I also picked up the Squeaky Green shampoo bar. I know that some people might think that this isn't something that he'd like, but I know he's going to love it! He already enjoys using the shaving cream (which is conveniently running out), has always been intrigued by my shampoo bar and always picks up the toothy tabs when we're in store. As we're planning on going on holiday sometime in the summer, the shower gel and soap seemed a good idea as he can just chuck them into his suitcase. Altogether this Lush goodie pack came to about £17.50, which I think it completely worth it.

 

What do you guys think of this gift idea?

 

xx

NEW LOVE: M&S Naturals Coconut Body Butter

 First things first: I hate moisturiser. I find it tacky, heavy and uncomfortable. I've dabbled in a few different methods of moisturising before (in-shower moisturisers, cocoa butter bath bombs ect) and haven't been able to find anything that I'm 100% happy with. Until now.

 

I got a 50ml pot of the M&S Naturals Coconut Body Butter for Christmas, but cast it aside without a second thought. But my hands, shins and elbows have been so dry lately that desperate times called for desperate measures and I tentatively slathered a layer of this gorgeous cream onto the dry patches and waited with expectations for it to take forever to sink in and to stick to my clothes. It didn't do either of these things. This thick yet light cream takes mere seconds to dissolve into my skin, taking my dry patches with it. Applied twice daily and my flaky bits are looking and feeling so much better. It isn't sticky at all and leaves behind the most delicious, mouth-watering coconut scent.

 

For just £5 for a huge 200ml tub, I'm definitely-nearly converted to moisturiser and am going to be making a mad dash to the nearest M&S when I run out.

 

xx

LIMITED EDITION: Lush May Day Bath Bomb!

Just a quick post today to share with you this adorable limited edition bath bomb from Lush. The May Day bath bomb is only available until the end of May - meaning a quick dash to your nearest Lush store is necessary! It features the cutest badger design and a subtly sweet liquorice and chocolatey scent. It's a quick fizzer, meaning that it gives off a pretty smokey effect in the bath. All proceeds from this bath bomb (minus the VAT) are being donated to a badger-supporting charity! I'm as yet to try this one, but I'll pop up another little post to show it's effects in the water and what I thought of it.

 

A bargain at £2.95, plus it's double feel-good factor of a lovely bath and a charity donation means this bath bomb is a must for any Lushie out there.

 

xx

In A Dream World...

1. I would have gorgeous lilac hair that doesn't require re-dying every few weeks and wouldn't dissolve my fine hair.

 

2. I would have a lip ring. Not really to everyone's taste, I know, but I think they're so pretty. I just now have to pluck up the courage to get it done.

 

3. I would have a book-related tattoo. I don't have any tattoos, but most on my wishlist involve a favourite book.

 

4. I would be tall enough to wear a maxi-dress without drowning in fabric (or shopping in the kid's section for a length-appropriate skirt).

 

5. This beautiful dip-dye knit would be in my wardrobe.

 

6. This adorable little puppy would be mine. Look at those eyes.

 

7. I would be a professional writer.

 

8. Cassandra Clare would be my BFF and offer her word-ly wisdom when it comes to writing.

 

9. This book-nook would be an integral part of my bedroom.

 

10. Sun + picnic blanket + no wind + books = how I would spend all of my time. (In between looking at my hair/tattoo/lip ring/puppy)

 

11. This would be my back garden.

 

12. This beautiful fictional universe would be real. (And this is how everyone would spend Christmas)

 

What makes up your dream world?

 

xx

April Reading Wrap-Up & Mini Reviews

April has been such a good reading month for me - I powered through almost 11 books! I admit, most were re-reads but I did also try out a few new books, too. I just thought I'd share my thoughts on what I've been reading, I hope you enjoy it!

Re-Reads -

Slated by Terri Terry. I bought this book years ago and after finishing it, never really thought about it again. I hadn't enjoyed it too much the first time around, I admit, but this time I'm really loving it. It's basically about a girl who is supposedly an ex-criminal, for which her punishment was being Slated. Slating is a new thing in the world (the book is set about 20 - 30 years from now), where the government decides that instead of death, they simply erase every memory and every personality trait you have, so you're basically born again. Kyla is the main character in the book, and although I do find her quite babyish sometimes in the way she thinks and describes things, she's fairly interesting. I'd describe this as a light-hearted thriller - it's certainly intriguing and has a few twists and turns through-out to keep things interesting. 3.5 / 5 stars.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I'm not sure what it is with me and re-reads, but I always seem to love things more the second time round. A story centred around two cancer survivors (Hazel and Augustus) who fall in love, this book is refreshing and thought-inducing. I'll leave it there for now, as I have a full review here which explains a little more about the story line and my thoughts. 4 / 5 stars.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Anyone who knows me knows I adore this book. It centres around Charlie, a teenage boy about to start his first year in high school. It sounds quite cliché, but bear with me. This is honestly the most thought-provoking book I've ever read. Charlie offers opinions and thoughts on things that make you see things in a whole new way and there's always something you can relate to, whatever stage you're in in life. For a full review, click here. 5 / 5 stars.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The final instalment of the Hunger Games trilogy, we follow Katniss's final adventure in her attempts to throw down the Capitol. This book is definitely more of a 'war book' compared to the previous two in the series, as we see Katniss actually step out into the front line of the Capitol VS Rebels war efforts. Katniss experiences a lot of new things in this book - post traumatic stress, the loss of friends and family (I'm not telling you who!) whilst fighting for a cause she's not sure she should be backing. I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't read the previous books (which you totally should!), but I do think this is better written compared to the others. 4 / 5 stars.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Well, Cassie Clare's books have definitely been a big part of my month! The most recently read, though, is Clockwork Angel, the first instalment in the Infernal Devices trilogy. Set in the 1800s, the story centres around Tessa, a seemingly normal girl who has the ability to change her appearance and touch the minds of whom she transforms into. She bears no warlock or Shadowhunter mark and no one - not even herself - really knows what she is. The main plotline of this book centres around the alarming army of Clockwork creatures that are intent on destroying the Shadowhunters (a group of half-angel demon hunters) and kidnapping Tessa, in order to give her over to their master, The Magister. Witty, fast-paced and beautifully written, this series has fast become one of my favourites! 4.5 / 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix by JK Rowling. The fifth book in the Harry Potter series, we see Harry return for his fifth year at Hogwarts. Not really much to say about this one - if you don't know Harry Potter, where have you been for the past ten years?! Another brilliant chapter of Harry's story, I thoroughly enjoyed this. 4 / 5 stars.

Divergent by Veronica Roth. The first book in the trilogy, the story opens up into a world set far in the future - a dystopian world, whose inhabitants have been split into five factions to maintain the peace. We follow Tris as she, for the first time, makes her own choices in life and watch as she deals with the consequences. This is a pretty hard-core book, with fights, deaths and alarming plot twists to keep the pace moving. Honestly, though, I'm in two minds about this one. Whilst I adore the storyline, the writing just isn't up to scratch for me and I find the dialogue rather awkward. But that aside, I have high hopes for the next chapter of this trilogy, Insurgent. 3.5 / 5 stars.

New Reads:

Looking For Alaska by John Green. I'm not really going to offer very much on this one, as I abandoned it mid-book. We follow a boy nick-named Pudge as he pushes through a year of school. I think it may be the fact that the characters are a lot younger than me, but their antics and conversations just didn't really register very much interest from me. I often found myself skipping pages as nothing really contributed to the story-line. 2 / 5 stars.

City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. Set in the same kind of world as Clockwork Angel - but two hundred years later, in present day - this book features the same amount of handsome and witty Shadowhunters, a girl who doesn't know much about who she really is and another load of exceptional writing. I really do adore Cassandra Clare's writing style - it's so captivating. I can't offer much opinion on this as I'm only half-way through, but I expect if I enjoy it I'll upload a full review on my blog. So far - 3.5 / 5 stars.

Wonder by RJ Palacio. Such an adorable little read. The story is written from the point of view of a few different characters, but the main character is clear: August, a 10 year old boy with a lot of facial and genetic deformities as he steps into school for the very first time. Despite the sad subject, this book is very light hearted and uplifting. I did cry at the end - but they were happy tears! A few of the characters point of views were unnecessary in my opinion (like Via's boyfriend) and I did find the writing a little skip-able at times due to this, but the main theme is clear - people can be wonderful, despite their lot in life. 4 / 5 stars.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. The final chapter in the Infernal Devices series, we see all plot points that were built in the previous two books come to a boil. Characters reveal their true nature, relationships are tested and we say goodbye to a few dear characters. I honestly did cry during this book, during the last chapter (not the epilogue). The writing, as expected from this brilliant writer, was beautiful and the plot was thread together wonderfully. Despite the length of this book, I was never bored. 4 / 5 stars.

So that's what I've been reading through-out April!

xx

April Favourites 2014

 

 It's that time again: here are my April favourites!

 

Let's kick things off with my new obsession: Avon's 'Perfectly Flesh' Nail Varnish. How gorgeous is that shade? A lovely pinky-nude that works well with gold and silver jewellery and makes my skin look so healthy and glowy. £6 - Avon. Next up, the mascara I pulled out in my recent Shopping The Stash post, Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Retro Glam mascara. I've been really enjoying this, it coats my lashes with a dark black colour and really lengthens and lifts. I do with it was a tad more thickening, but hey. The brush is quite unusual and does take a few attempts to work out how to use it best, but I think it's shape is perfect for coating lower lashes without smudging. £6.99 - Boots. Another recent find in the backs of my drawers is the Anatomicals Snog Me Senseless lip balm. A tingly, minty offering that coats my lips in a clear sheen similar to a lip gloss, but without the heaviness and stickiness. I quite like using this in the morning as a bit of a wake-me-up, as the scent and tingle I do find very refreshing. £2.55 - Asos. Lastly, beauty-wise, I've been loving the Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Eye Cream. I had a bit of a run-in with a make-up wipe that my skin didn't agree with (nothing unusual there!), which left my under eyes very flaky and dry. A little of this applied before my concealer for a few days and the problem was solved! £1.74 - Boots. And finally, a little non-beauty favourite thrown in for good measure: the Yankee Candle Tart Melts. This one is the Strawberry Buttercream, but I also picked up the Vanilla Frosting and Summer Scoop. I adore these, they're so much cheaper than a proper candle but give off all the same scent and power. Popped in the top of an oil burner and left to melt, it fills my room with gorgeous fragrance. £1.25 - Yankee Candle.

 

xx

SPRING SHADES: Barry M Hi-Shine Gelly Polishes

 

Another day, another nail varnish shade. The fact that I'm not allowed to wear nail polish at college has forced me to develop the habit of changing up my nail shades after a day or two. And aside from one polish that will be featured in my up-coming April Favourites, these three have been amongst my most reached for.

 

Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine Polishes are a fresh take on regular nail varnish - extra shine, extra pigmentation, extra beautiful shades. Seriously, the shade range for this line: delicious. I have several of the pinker shades on my lust list, but these three are the ones I currently own 'Blueberry' (the lightest blue), 'Blue Grape' (the darker blue) and 'Prickly Pear' (the lilac). They give gorgeous colour and shine within two coats and last really well paired with or without a top coat.

 

Blue Grape is definitely my favourite, paired with an all black outfit and red lips, although Prickly Pear has started to grow on me on sunnier days. And how adorable is that shade name? Cute.

 

xx

Shopping The Stash #1

Following my recent haul and the fact that I'm saving for a holiday, I've installed a bit of a spending ban upon myself. I've been avoiding Boots and Superdrug like the plague and so have found another way to evoke that new-product excitement: raiding the hidden depths of my beauty drawers. Of course a lip balm had to be involved in this rotation: I have so many that I do need to remind myself to use them. The pleasant oiliness of the Maybelline Baby Lips is a long-term favourite of mine, but one that has been neglected. Another lip product is my Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub. I can't believe I forgot about this, but it's nearing it's use-by date and I want to make sure I make full use of it before it needs to be disposed of. Next we have a Natural Collection eye shadow, a lovely chocolatey brown that I've been using in my eyebrows in the place of a pencil. Finally, I picked up the Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam mascara from my big box of mascaras and swapped it for what I'd been using previously. Welcome to the make-up bag.

xx



HAUL: Books & Home Decor!

 

Well, well, it's definitely been a while since I popped up a new post on my little blog! I recently found myself in a bit of a slump with no motivation to really do anything, in any aspect of my life - college, work-out, eat healthily - so I took a few weeks away to myself to kind of re-grasp my reasons for doing things. Do you ever have that? Also the fact that I'm nearing the end of my college course and have no real idea of what to do with my life has definitely spooked me. All-round, I've had a difficult few weeks, but let's just put that behind us and get on with this haul!

As you can tell, I've been on a bit of a book splurge. I find that when I'm having trouble with reality, a book is a nice place to be instead. So as well as re-reading old favourites (Mockingjay, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower & The Fault In Our Stars), I've picked up a few new books lately. Firstly, I got Looking For Alaska by John Green. I have to admit, I had high hopes for this book as I liked The Fault In Our Stars, but I have to confess I'm not really into it. Not sure why, but I just find it quite... uninspiring. I don't feel a real connection to the plot or the characters, so have deserted this book half-way through. If anyone has read it and feels I need to read on, let me know! Next, I got A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin. I haven't actually read this yet, but have seen adverts for the TV show and think it looks amazing. I don't have the channel that it runs on, so naturally the next best thing would be to read the book. I got these two for a 2 for £7 in Tesco. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell and Cinder by Marrisa Meyer were charity shop finds, for £1 and 50p respectively. I naturally had to pick up The Carrie Diaries following my love for SATC and I've heard great things about Cinder, so am looking forward to reading both. City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare follows my adoration for the Clockwork series, also by her, and is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. I got this for £3.85 from Asda. And finally, my little love, The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. My dad actually got this from a car boot sale for me for 50p! From reading the first few pages I can tell I'm going to adore it. Incidentally, I also bought The Desolation Of Smaug on DVD and have watched it twice since.

 

Home-ware-wise, I picked up a few things from Poundland: the little decorative jar, the strawberry and melon scented pillar candle and this amazing macaroon print chopping board. Not sure what I'm going to do with the latter yet, but how adorable?! Such a great find. Maybe just use it as a desk protector for my make-up? As for the jar, I think I'll either store cotton buds or write down all my to-be-read books and chuck them in there, ready for plucking when I'm lacking inspiration. Lastly, I bought two little Yankee Candle tarts from the Yankee Candle store: Strawberry Cheesecake and Summer Scoop. Yum!

 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

 

xx

Health & Fitness Update #3

 

Hello everyone! And sorry for my unexpected disappearance. I'm nearing the end of my college course and with the impending finish date brings a whole host of exams and panic and stress. So I've been cramming everything from my multiple notebooks into my head lately and haven't had much time to sit down and write a blog post.

 

But I just thought I'd check in and give you a little health and fitness update. I have to admit I've been slightly unhealthy this week, with a McDonalds and Chinese take-away happening both within the same week a two-day time span. This is partly due to the fact I'd been too busy to shop for healthier things and partly due to the fact that I honestly couldn't be bothered to cook. But I'm still only drinking water (unless you count a sip of my boyfriend's Dr Pepper when he wasn't looking) and my skin is looking fresher than ever. I rarely wear foundation anymore! But the crappy food has taken it's toll as I felt lethargic and simply ill within a day of eating it. Whether that was due to coincidence or not, I can't wait to get back on track after a good food shop this weekend.

 

Exercise-wise, I do personally feel that I've been kicking ass. I have some cool new apps on my phone that are fitness related (let me know if you would like me to do a post showing these apps) and I have finally taken to writing down in a notebook what exercise I do and when. Sit ups and wall sits were a bit of a pain last week, but this week I can do them effortlessly. Which naturally means that I do more of them more often so my muscles don't get used to easy workouts. Again, if you would like a post showing my regular work out, let me know and I'd be more than happy to upload it.

 

Favourite healthy foods this week:

 

Apples. Oh my god, I could eat them all day. In fact, on Monday I ate two within the space of about half an hour, simply because I couldn't wait to eat the next. Healthy binging is okay sometimes, right?

 

Wholegrain tomato and herb bagels. Now I know this isn't exactly healthy, but hear me out. Toasted with a sprinkling of grated cheese in the middle, this tastes better than pizza and definitely curbs those cravings.  If you're having trouble kicking your pizza habits, I'd say to try this!

 

Broccoli. This is so plain and simple, but I've been really enjoying eating broccoli. Paired with wholegrain pasta and some chicken/turkey, it's so good! It's great for filling up my plate, too, as I've now started to section vegetables on half of my plate, carbs on a quarter and protein in the other quarter.

 

I hope you guys had a lovely week, and for all of those out there who are considering/pushing through a health & fitness lifestyle change, keep going! It will all be worth it in the end, promise!

 

xx

Review: Lush Blackberry Bomb Bath Bomb

Despite it's delicious scent, I've never paid much attention to the Blackberry Bomb Bath Bomb whilst doing my rounds in Lush. It's simple lilac colouring and lack of snazzy design is probably something to do with this - I'm a sucker for a pretty pattern - and I'm honestly ashamed I've put it off so long! Since buying this the other day, it has fast become one of my all-time favourite Lush products.

 

 Packed with essential oils that are relaxing and great for relieving anxiety and a scent that reminds me of those little purple refresher sweets when I was a kid, this bath bomb is the perfect thing to chuck in the bath after a long, hard day. It's simplicity is one of the things I enjoy about it - no crackling or shimmery water here - meaning I can just lay back with my eyes closed and breathe in the smell, whilst trying to recover from my awful day.  

 This does have a little surprise though. A little note emerges from the bomb after it's been sizzling away for a few minutes saying "BOOM BOOM" which I think is cute. The bath water turns an amazing, rich purple colour that I honestly think is lovely and the scent was picked up on by my unassuming sister who was sat downstairs. Plus, for the price (£2.95) this is one of Lush's largest bath bombs. I'd compare it to the size of the Dragon's Egg.

 

Overall, I adore this bath bomb. I'm definitely going to pick up another on my next trip into town!

 

xx

Health & Fitness Update #2

This week has been an okay-ish one. Exercise-wise, I've been doing pretty well. Last Sunday was one of the sunniest days I've seen for a while (UK problems!) and I took advantage of the warm-ish weather and took my puppy for a walk through the woods. We were out for about an hour and a half, but I made sure I had a bottle of water on me! Other than that, I've been fitting in small bursts of exercise whenever I have a spare minute, whether that's a 1 minute plank, a set of 30 squats or a 2 minute jog. Diet-wise, I've been failing a little. I had a large chips from McDonalds today and two bags of salt and vinegar Kettle Crisps yesterday... see the second point below to explain why.

 

What I've Learned This Week:

 

Fit in work-outs where-ever and whenever. This tip has been a lifesaver this week. I've been so busy with stressing about college that I've barely had a minute to sit down, let alone drop 20 squats. But I've been making an effort doing simple things: lifting my knees higher whilst walking up the stairs in college, doing calf raises whilst brushing my teeth and jogging on the spot whilst I wait for my bath to run.

 

Eating healthy food I don't enjoy makes me eat more. I've noticed lately that I'll prepare myself a lettuce and celery side salad, take one bite, deciding it's too bland and boring then end up buying a bag of crisps from the vending machine at college. As weird as it sounds, eating and enjoying food does put me in a better mood so when I'm eating something I don't enjoy, it honestly does make me miserable. From now on I'm only going to pack food that I'm looking forward to eating - red grapes, pineapple and red apples are my current favourites!

 

Cute gym wear makes me want to work out. Also, the brighter, the better. I now have a purple sports bra and a neon pink leopard print one and a pair of pink and black running shoes. Cute things like that motivate me as I want to wear them!

 

Lunches This Week:

 

 

Tuesday: lettuce, sweetcorn & celery salad with breaded chicken pieces and wholemeal seeded bread croutons. As a snack I had a peanut museli bar (not pictured) and a bottle of water. This was probably my favourite lunch this week - the salad was so refreshing!

 

 

Thursday: wholegrain pasta with a side of lettuce and celery. This meal was honestly pretty damn boring to eat. I ran out of veg to chuck in with the pasta so had to have it plain, which I didn't mind as I like plain pasta, but the side salad was hardly touched. This was the day that I splurged on the two bags of salt and vinegar crisps. As a drink I had water.

 

Overall, I think I'm working at a steady pace that I'm fairly happy with. More exercise was done and a lot more water was drank (the only drink I had this week!) but the diet changes are making me unhappy. Hopefully a trip to the Sainsbury's fruit aisle will change all of that for next week!

 

xx

Primark & Lush Haul!

 

It's been a while since I've posted a haul! That's mostly due to the fact that I've been trying to save as I really want to go on holiday sometime soon, which means I've been avoiding shops like the plague! But I checked my 'lush jar' and I only have half of the Creamy Candy bubble bar left so I was in desperate need of re-stocking some lush goodies. I was also on the look out for a new pair of sunnies and found the perfect ones in Primark (along with a few other things!)

 

 

The thing about me and Primark is that I always see a million things that I love and end up making multiple trips to the changing rooms, but only ever walk out of the store with a few things. Aside from what I have pictured above, I did pick up a black cropped vest top and a lint roller but I thought they were a bit too boring to show. Firstly, we have my new sunnies. *insert heart-eye emoji here* I adore them. They're the sort that have a outline across the top (does that make sense?) and are so similar to a dozen pairs I've seen in River Island and on Boohoo.com within the price range of £8 - £16 so I was so happy when I spotted these for just £2! Paired with jeans and a cardi or a little black dress, these beauties are going to see me through the sunny months! Next we have my two denim picks: a acid wash denim skater skirt and a polka dot jean. Both of these picks were actually on the sale rails, the skater skirt reduced from £8 to £3 and the jeans from £10 to £5. The jeans are actually from the kid's section but I'm short enough that I can squeeze into a size 11 - 12 years!

 

 

Next up, Lush. I don't know what it is about me & Lush, but when I'm having a bad day or I'm feeling particularly lethargic a bubble bath with a Lush product honestly makes me feel better.

 

 

I haven't actually been into a Lush store since they launched their Easter/Mother's Day range and so spent a little while longer than usual sniffing all the new bits and pieces they had in. Eventually I walked out of the store with a big smile on my face, a little less cash and a bag full of goodies. I bought two bubble bars and two bath bombs, one of each being part of their limited edition Easter range. I naturally had to go for the Karma bubble bar (£3.25) - one of my favourite lush scents. It smells exactly like my solid perfume and I can't wait to try it out! The vibrant scent uplifts my spirits quickly, meaning it's perfect after a stressful day. Next we have the Bunny Bubble bubble bar (£3.25) - an adorable bar shaped like a little bunny with a scent of vanilla. This is the only bubble bar that contains little flakes of something - I think they're mini flower petals - but I'll let you guys know once I've used it. As for the bath bombs, these were accidental purchases. The Fluffy Egg (£2.95) shares the same scent as the infamous Snow Fairy shower gel and it was the last one in the store so I had to give it a home! I don't think it does anything special, just turns the water pink, but I'm excited to get my Snow Fairy fix. Lastly I got the Blackberry Bomb bath bomb (£2.95) which has a lovely, gentle scent and is packed with essential oils good for anxiety and stress, which should help me calm down after a difficult day.

 

I hope you guys liked this haul & have a lovely weekend!

 

The Social Stuff: Bloglovin' // Instagram // Twitter

 

xx