Welcome to 2018!

Despite this being said every year by everyone in the human population, I cannot believe a whole year has passed. 2017 is slowly passing us by leaving only memories of the past twelve months. There's no doubt in my mind that this year has seen many tragedies across the world leaving families and a large number of people devastated with world events. Although these tragedies has caused sadness and anger across the world we have seen people come together and show evil never wins. Kindness and love only brings us all together to ensure nothing tears us down.
I hope we can all learn from what has happened this year and make 2018 the best and positive year yet.

As it is New Years Eve as I write this, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on my own year. I certainly do not want to be writing this tomorrow hung over in bed. As tonight I will be going out with my all my friends celebrating the end of the year.

In January we celebrated my aunties 50th birthday which was in fact in October. She had a huge party full of all her family can closest friends.

My mum then turned 40 in February where we can had a quiet night in at home eating yummy Chinese. My boyfriends sister baked my mum a lovely cake with a shoe on top made of icing.

We then got to May and I turned 22. I celebrated by going out with my friends and then a meal out with my mum. I also celebrated with a chines take away with my dad and his side of the family. All in all there was plenty of food. Me and my boyfriend also celebrated our first year anniversary.

June was a very special month as it was my first trip to Disney Land Paris. The week spent there was magical and everything I thought it would be. I went on rides I never thought I would go on and just had an amazing time. 

September was quite a romantic month for me and my boyfriend as we were invited to two weddings. One was in the UK and the other was on the beautiful island of Skiathos. The Greek celebrations was to celebrate my boyfriends brothers wedding. 

If 2018 is anything like 2017 then I am very much looking forward to what is yet to come. Have a happy and healthy new year everyone.

What I got for Christmas 2017

It Wouldn't be right if I didn't write my annual "What I Got For Christmas" post. Therefore I am writing this today three days after December 25th. Christmas this year was what I would describe as lovely and chilled. It was filled with laughter, enjoyment and brilliant memories. It all kicked off on Christmas Eve by a lovely cooked breakfast at a nearby restaurant then down the two locals for a couple of drinks.

The morning of Christmas day I was awake at seven thirty where a cup of hot tea was waiting to be drunk. Santa had certainly been as the back room was filled with festive bags. Within about half an hour the room was covered in wrapping paper and empty bags. Before going to my auntie and uncles for dinner I chilled in bed in my new pyjamas and watched some wonderful telly.

Now lets get started with what I was very kindly gifted.

My dad brought me some new gym wear which I chose myself. Some fluffy socks and a new card holder for mu Arsenal membership. He also brought me a lovely, over sized jumper and fluffy body warmer from Matalan.

My sister brought me some new pyjamas, fluffy slipper boots and a couple of bits of Zoella beauty products.

My Nan and Pap spoiled me with a jumper from Zara, floral trousers from H&M, some Simple face wipes, socks and a Ted Baker compact mirror. The Now book is from my Dad.

Moving on to my Auntie and Uncle I was gifted a Ted Baker beauty set, some nail varnishes and perfume.

My Mum and her Husband also brought me some wonderful presents. These included a Charlotte Tilbury face palette, Liz Earl Moisturizer, Soap and Glory body washes a book and a Pandora ring. My boyfriend also brought me a beautiful Pandora ring in plain silver which I have stacked with my other two.

Now last but least my brother got me a dress and scarf from Miss Selfridge .

And that is all the generous presents I was very kindly gifted. I was very lucky to receive such wonderful gifts. It has been such a brilliant Christmas with my family and friends. I hope everyone else had lovely Christmas just as much as I did. I hope the day was spent with family and friends eating all the yummy food and chocolate. Now that Christmas has finished here is to a happy 2018. 

A few of my favourite things.

This blog post is dedicated to all the amazing things I am currently loving. I haven't wrote anything in a while so I thought shearing some of my favourite things is a nice way to get in the swing of.

The first thing I am going to mention is a my current favourite song. In all honesty I haven't been enjoying music that much. The songs high in the charts are not what I would call my cup of tea. However there is one song that I cannot stop listening to. It's medium pace, a little bit folky but has such a catchy melody. The song I am referring to is Niall Horans too much too ask. When band members split up and go solo, you never know how well it's going to go. But for the One Direction boys this doesn't seem to be a problem. Each member has not gone their own path creating music of different genres. Niall and Harry's music is probably more my taste. This song by Niall is by far my favourite. Although I haven't heard the whole album I defiantly will be.

The second of my current favourite things is a TV problem. This is shown on the holy grail that is Netflix and is called Riverdale. If you were into Pretty Little Liars as much as I was then you will defiantly be into this. Riverdale is about teenage high school students whose lives are filled with drama. It contains family portrayal, murder, love and friendship. I'm on season 2 so will let you know how I get on once I've finished the season. 

It seems that I am loving a lot of media related things at the moment because my third favourite thing to mention is a book. Although we are only in November I am reading a book basked in my favourite season Christmas. This is called "A Merry Little Christmas" by Debbie Macomber. It's such a light hearted story, so easy to read to. It's very comforting and the perfect to read when the weather is dull and you have a yummy hot chocolate to drink. The story is about a women named Beth who's ex-husband is invited round for Christmas day by their two daughters. The girls hatch a secrate plan to get their parents back together. 

Onto beauty items now as another of my favourites is a range of products from Sanctry. They have created a brand called Being based on a younger audience. There was a 3 for 2 offer in Boots so i couldn't resit purchasing a few items. I picked up in the scent salted caramel and macadamia in the body butter, hand cream and body wash. The smell of these items is so amazing. It's super sweet and makes me want to eat it. The products themselves are creamy, soft and luxurious feeling. They would make lovely gifts for someone over Christmas.

There you have it. These are all the things I am current into. There isn't alot of things therefore it is quite short and sweet but something quite easy to read on a Sunday afternoon. I'll see you soon! bye.

Autumn make up

Autumn make up.

Summer has been and gone, October has well and truly arrived which means only one thing. Autumn has at last greeted us. The leaves have fallen turning into beautiful colours of oranges and red, the temperature has dropped and the fashion industry has brought all it's glorious winter coats.

Whenever the new season comes upon us I love having a good old clear up and re-vamp from my skincare, wardrobe and of course make up. In this blog post contains all the new in make up products I've purchased to help bring myself into the new season.

The first one starts with a good old eye shadow pallet. Although the Naked heat pallet has been on everyone's radar I've gone for a cheaper alternative. I don't wear a lot of eye make up day to day so something like this was perfect. Here I am referring to the Barry M Fall in Love pallet. This contains ten wonderful mat shades of red, orange, pink and a couple of neutrals.The perfect day to night transformation. Although the quality isn't the best it's certainly a really nice alternative to something more expensive.

Another make up product I like to change up into the new season is foundation. I've heard so many great things about this product so I took the plunge and brought it. This is the Loreal Infallible 24 hour matt. During the colder months I like to change from a dewy texture to a mat finish as my skin becomes more dry and more coverage is needed. This one from Loreal is absolutely brilliant. I wore it to a wedding reception and it stayed on all night. I was really impressed by the formula. It gave me the right amount of coverage without it looking like too much.

Although it's not a lot of changes these are just a couple of things I've started using to get me through the Autumn season.

 

Skiathos 2017

Last week I went on a amazing holiday to the beautiful island of Skiathos in Greece. This holiday has been a long time coming since booking it way back in February. Ever since then I was on count down dreaming of the days in till we had landed in Greece.

The purpose of the holiday was to attended the wedding of my boyfriends brother and is lovely now wife's wedding. They couldn't have picked a better location to share with family and friends how much they love each other. The backdrop for the ceremony had the shimmering blue sea and the height of the tall mountains.

We went for a week with the wedding being on the Saturday. A perfect number of days to perfect a tan in time for the wedding.

One of the days we hired quad bikes where we drove around the whole of island exploring the beautiful sights Skiathos had to offer. We also went on a boat trip which took us to a number of different islands around Greece. Unfortunately I can't remember what the name if the island was but it was for sure stunning. The island was very small and only contained a number of restaurants, cafes and shops.

I had never heard of this island but I would defiantly return back to witness the gorgeous scenery and enjoy the yummy food we had plenty of. The island is so small the airport contains only one runway. The weather as you would expect was hot but called down in the evening. Properly due to the time of year we went. Greece certainly lived up to my expectations with the majority of the buildings being white and the frames of the wood panels being a sky blue.

Superdrug Vitamin E Skincare

This range of skincare from Superdrug is a range I've been looking at trying for quite some time now. There is something about it that has made me want to branch out on something new for my skin. I've been braking out with random spots and felt my skin needed some TLC. Therefore I just decided to go for it and I ordered five of the products. The fact their from Superdrug and such a reasonable price made me want to purchase them even more.

Hot cloth cleanser
When it comes to removing my make up after a long day there is nothing better than using a hot cloth cleanser. This one from the Vitamin E range intrigued me and certainly didn't disappoint. The appearance of the product is a thick, white colour. The texture is so soft and creamy it feels amazing on the skin. It can even be used to take of your eye make up and doesn't irritate the eyes. Once I'v removed the make from my face and used a warm cloth, my face is left feeling so clean and fresh. I highly recommend this if your on a budget with your skincare.

Moisture Boost Facial Serum
With serums I've never been too fussed about using them as part of my skincare routine as I don't see much different with my skin when I do use it. But as the price is so reasonable I thought I would give it a chance. The product is a clear colour and is not too thick like some serums can be. I out a small amount on my fingers and gentle rub into the skin. I haven't seen much difference with my skin byt do enjoy applying it.

Nourishing eye cream
Looking after your eyes is to me one of the most important. It is the face area on the skin that is the first sign of your skin aging. Therefore for me I think it's important to care for the eye area before the problems begin. It's very light and you only need the smallest amount. I just place a small part on my ring finger and dab over the eye area.

Day and Night cream
Out of the products I have brought these two are probably my favourite. Their so light, creamy and leave your skin feeling like you have had a facial in top spa. If I'm being completely honest I do think they are the same product but I still use them as day and night creams.

Overall I'm really impressed with the range. From a price point of view their so reasonable and easy to get hold of. Their simple products that can be used for all skin types and ages. It's defiantly worth thinking about purchasing if you are looking for some new skincare because even if you don't get on with them you haven't spent too much money on them.

A year on from education

A year ago this month I graduated from University with a degree in journalism. I remember the day very clearly as it was one of the hottest days of the year at over 30 degrees. Standing in a line with a large group of other graduates wearing a long, black gown does not go well in intense heat.

The year has flown by and since then so much has happened. Me and my boyfriend have been together for over a year and I am in my first full time job.  

My job unfortunately isn’t in journalism which Is the reason for this post. I wanted to address the situation that not everyone walks away from student life, a degree in hand and into the dream job. This isn’t the case for everyone and I am sure there are many graduates out there who have graduated and come out with the best possible outcome.

The field of job that I would love to work is a very hard area to full into. The world of media and the way we source our news has changed dramatically over the last few years that not many media company’s take on employees like they used too. This is down to the majority of news being read online meaning that there is less need for people to work in newsrooms for newspapers. Other reasons for this is because you need a large number of experience working in this field and sometimes for little or no money. For some people including myself I still need to earn money whilst pursing my career.

This doesn’t mean to say that I am giving up. I apply for jobs on a daily basis. I also have this blog which enables me to be write whatever I would like. It also allows me to make sure I have not forgotten how to write and structure sentences.  

So if you are at or thinking of going to university please do not think it will be a waste of time as the lessons you learn and the friends you make will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Chloe Faye Bag

There is no denying that I love bags. I am constantly searching online for new style's, trends and offers. I'm not sure what it is that makes me love the accessory hanging from your arm so desirable?  Maybe It's the way they set an outfit together or just how attractive they look.

My latest, most expensive purchase is the reason I'm typing this today. About two months ago I finally caved in and brought a Chloe bag. This bag is the Chloe Faye bag in the motty grey colour. I had been eyeing this bag for quite a while and justified my purchase as an early birthday present to myself.

When the delivery driver delivered my parcel I was so excited. It felt like waking up on Christmas morning seeing a bundle of presents under the tree. The bag was placed neatly in a white Chloe duster bag like the most precious stone in the world.

The bag itself is the perfect size to use everyday when you don't want to take an unreasonable amount of stuff. It contains three sections with a small pocket slot in the back. The front has that signature Chloe chain which falls to the side. The front of the bag is made of sued so I wouldn't recommend using outside if it's raining.

I haven't used the bag everyday as I'm scared I'll damaged it. So far it has worn really well and has kept it's shape.

This is for sure oneof my favourite  bags I have every brought. If you are wanting to treat yourself to a luxury item, I would highly recommend a Chloe bag.

The Great British Seaside

One of the occasions when people are their most happiest is when their on holiday. A couple of weeks out of reality where you do not need to think about work or having to set your alarm. Walking down to the beach with the feel of soft sand underneath your feet and the hot sun warming your whole body. The turquoise colourd sea fills your bones with calmness and relaxation. There really is no better place to be.

For a couple of days me and my boyfriend went down to the east coast of Lowersoft where his parents have a chalet. Although it wasn't a two week vacation in the Bahamas, just the thought of not being at work was enough to send me packing. We didn't plan to do anything specific or go anywhere  around the area, we just chilled and enjoying each others company.

Lowesoft is on the east cost of the UK very close to Great Yarmouth and Norwich. It has a gorgeous pier with many meters of long sand. The seaside town is filled with cute little lanes full of quaint little boutiques and tiny pubs you could drink all day in.

With the weather in the UK being so unpredictable I packed enough clothes for all weather types. This year we were really lucky. The weather for the few days we were there was about 19-20 degrees which in mu opinion is the perfect temperature. Not too hot that were sweating and not to cold that we're shivering under blankets.

Overall we had a really nice couple of days. Even being only back for one day, I'm already on countdown for the next holiday.

A couple of make up bits

Over the past few weeks I've managed to accumulate quite a lot of make up. Some have been recommendation's from friends and family, and some have just been me wanting to try them. Here is a summery of my thoughts on how I got on with these make up products.

Bases and foundations

Loreal Lumi Magquic Primer- This light weight texture gives your skin a bright appearance. Makes a great base for your make up.

Maybelline Dream Saturn Liquid-Gives a good coverage with looking too much. Light weight and not heavy. Very similar to the Rimmel London foundation.

Nars Sheer Glow- As the name suggest gives a really nice gradient, natural glow. Gives an even coverage.









Concealer

Collection Lasting perfection concealer- Brightens my dark under eyes but does live a little bit of green under my eyes.

Mascara

Loreal Baby Roll Mascara- Pretty, pastel colourd packaging. Lifts the lashes and gives a fuller look.

Disneyland Paris 2017

As a child all I ever dreamed about was going to Disneyland Paris. The land of magic where dreams come true. This year this became a reality as last week was my very first trip to Disneyland.

As soon as I arrived the atmosphere of the park was uplifting, inspiring and led you to believe that anything is possible.

The buildings are Victorian inspired and the streets are spotless. Children are filled excitement whilst dressed as their favourite characters.

The theme park rides are suitable for all ages raging from gentle boat river rides to rides for thrill seekers loving the adrenaline of going a 100mph. I'm not a massive roller coaster fan myself and I'm happier on the ground than in the air. Despite this fear you don't have to go on the biggest rides there to have a good time. There are plenty of other activities on hand such as the animation studios and the brilliantly done ratatouie 3D effect ride. 

The best part of the week was the lights show they displayed every night we were there. They light up the beautiful, giant castle with clips from all the best Disney films with gorgeous fireworks going off in a ray of different colours. It is truly spectacular. 

If you are thinking of going and leaving your childhood dream, please do book up as there is so much you do. It's magical and takes you back to being and feeling like a child.