Lifestyle

So, earlier this summer I picked up a new bag...it's a beauty...and the first higher-end designer purchase I have ever made. I didn't just want to pick one up willy nilly; I had handed in my university dissertation, bagged myself a great internship over the summer, so I wanted something to celebrate feeling like I had my shit together. I wanted to give it a real good test before featuring it on my blog, to make sure I'm still obsessed with it, and if it's worth the money. I didn't want to just do a bag review either as that isn't really what my blog is about, so I thought I'd share what goodies I keep with me day-to-day. 

A little disclaimer before we start...I know that designer bags are not to everyones taste or budget, I'm not showing off, or saying you need to buy this, I just wanted to share my thoughts. 

The bag in question: I picked up the Chloe Marcie in the small size, tan leather. I had a major gap in my bag wardrobe, only having a small black bag and a bigger one which I use for travelling, I didn't have anything which complimented lighter shades for summer. I am not a big bag person, so this size is perfect for me to house all my daily essentials. It has two pockets inside to keep smaller items and one larger compartment. The closure is very secure and I love the design, it's the perfect little tan bag. I picked it up from Harrods in the UK, and the customer service wasn't amazing I must say, they were pretty blunt and hasty with me in all honesty. When I picked up my Balenciaga wallet form Harvey Nichols, the customer service was really really great, so that was a fairly disappointing buying experience. Any-who, onto what I keep inside..

A card wallet: I never have cash with me, and if I do it goes towards car parking, or a coffee, pretty imminently, so a card wallet is all I really need. If you're one to hoard loads of receipts and unnecessary loyalty cards to places you went to once 5 years ago, these are great to force you to downsize. I have this dark grey Balenciaga Card Holder which has a few single card slots and two bigger sections which I use for my ID, student cards and membership cards for various different things. I'm not 100% sure how easy this is get hold of now as I believe it was a limited edition design, but there should still be some knocking around online. 

Another card holder: I do also keep a separate card holder for all my travel bits, so, Oyster card, travel card, and about 50,000 train tickets. This just means that when I'm on the train I have everything I need in one place and I don't need to keep dipping in and out of my bag to find various tickets etc. I love this Whistles one, it's fairly inexpensive and I love the colour and croc texture.

My phone: I can't go anywhere without my phone, just like everybody else on this planet. I have this lovely case from The Rifle Paper Company which looks so pretty on the rose gold iPhone. They have the most gorgeous designs so make sure you check out their site if you're after a new phone case! 


Sunglasses: My eyes are very sensitive to light, especially when I'm driving, so sunglasses are a must for me. I have the classic Ray Ban Wayfarers in the tortoiseshell colour-way and I adore them. I've had them for years, they're so reliable and go with everything. In the autumn, these sunnies with a big scarf and leather jacket look super cool, just sayin'...

 A lip balm: I alwayyysss keep lip balm with me, especially as the weather has really cooled down here in the UK and my lips are always dry when autumn rolls around. The one which is currently in my handbag is from Lanolips, and it's a very simple jelly-type balm. I love the cute packaging, and it's a great balm to have on hand.

A lipstick: I tend to have a couple of lip products floating around in the bottom of my bag, normally they're ones I've been looking for for weeks, does that happen to anyone else? At the moment I have one - round-of-applause please - which is the Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Playpen, a gorgeous pink everyday shade. It adds a nice colour to the lips without being too bold or high maintenance so I love throwing this in.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I keep in my bag. I definitely don't carry the kitchen sink with me, so a little bag like this is all I need. If you're on the hunt for a simple, everyday cross body which goes with everything this is a great one. The leather is super soft and the crossbody design means you have you're hands free at all time, bonus! I wear this with black as well, I find tan a really versatile shade, and the black dye doesn't rub off on the bag of the bag!! If you do have any further questions about it, please comment below! 

Sunday, September 17, 2017

What's In My Bag? Ft.The Chloe Marcie.

So, earlier this summer I picked up a new bag...it's a beauty...and the first higher-end designer purchase I have ever made. I didn't just want to pick one up willy nilly; I had handed in my university dissertation, bagged myself a great internship over the summer, so I wanted something to celebrate feeling like I had my shit together. I wanted to give it a real good test before featuring it on my blog, to make sure I'm still obsessed with it, and if it's worth the money. I didn't want to just do a bag review either as that isn't really what my blog is about, so I thought I'd share what goodies I keep with me day-to-day. 

A little disclaimer before we start...I know that designer bags are not to everyones taste or budget, I'm not showing off, or saying you need to buy this, I just wanted to share my thoughts. 

The bag in question: I picked up the Chloe Marcie in the small size, tan leather. I had a major gap in my bag wardrobe, only having a small black bag and a bigger one which I use for travelling, I didn't have anything which complimented lighter shades for summer. I am not a big bag person, so this size is perfect for me to house all my daily essentials. It has two pockets inside to keep smaller items and one larger compartment. The closure is very secure and I love the design, it's the perfect little tan bag. I picked it up from Harrods in the UK, and the customer service wasn't amazing I must say, they were pretty blunt and hasty with me in all honesty. When I picked up my Balenciaga wallet form Harvey Nichols, the customer service was really really great, so that was a fairly disappointing buying experience. Any-who, onto what I keep inside..

A card wallet: I never have cash with me, and if I do it goes towards car parking, or a coffee, pretty imminently, so a card wallet is all I really need. If you're one to hoard loads of receipts and unnecessary loyalty cards to places you went to once 5 years ago, these are great to force you to downsize. I have this dark grey Balenciaga Card Holder which has a few single card slots and two bigger sections which I use for my ID, student cards and membership cards for various different things. I'm not 100% sure how easy this is get hold of now as I believe it was a limited edition design, but there should still be some knocking around online. 

Another card holder: I do also keep a separate card holder for all my travel bits, so, Oyster card, travel card, and about 50,000 train tickets. This just means that when I'm on the train I have everything I need in one place and I don't need to keep dipping in and out of my bag to find various tickets etc. I love this Whistles one, it's fairly inexpensive and I love the colour and croc texture.

My phone: I can't go anywhere without my phone, just like everybody else on this planet. I have this lovely case from The Rifle Paper Company which looks so pretty on the rose gold iPhone. They have the most gorgeous designs so make sure you check out their site if you're after a new phone case! 


Sunglasses: My eyes are very sensitive to light, especially when I'm driving, so sunglasses are a must for me. I have the classic Ray Ban Wayfarers in the tortoiseshell colour-way and I adore them. I've had them for years, they're so reliable and go with everything. In the autumn, these sunnies with a big scarf and leather jacket look super cool, just sayin'...

 A lip balm: I alwayyysss keep lip balm with me, especially as the weather has really cooled down here in the UK and my lips are always dry when autumn rolls around. The one which is currently in my handbag is from Lanolips, and it's a very simple jelly-type balm. I love the cute packaging, and it's a great balm to have on hand.

A lipstick: I tend to have a couple of lip products floating around in the bottom of my bag, normally they're ones I've been looking for for weeks, does that happen to anyone else? At the moment I have one - round-of-applause please - which is the Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Playpen, a gorgeous pink everyday shade. It adds a nice colour to the lips without being too bold or high maintenance so I love throwing this in.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I keep in my bag. I definitely don't carry the kitchen sink with me, so a little bag like this is all I need. If you're on the hunt for a simple, everyday cross body which goes with everything this is a great one. The leather is super soft and the crossbody design means you have you're hands free at all time, bonus! I wear this with black as well, I find tan a really versatile shade, and the black dye doesn't rub off on the bag of the bag!! If you do have any further questions about it, please comment below! 

Read more »

Oliver Bonas is one of my favourite places to buy homewears. They seem to have the pretty Pinterest theme down, and I could easily spend a months wages in that shop. They have a sale on at the moment, so the perfect excuse to pick up some new bits, right? Since graduating university and moving back home I wanted to freshen up my room a bit and treat myself to some new goodies, and Oliver Bonas was my first stop. 

Glass and Gold Tray: Sadly I can't find this on the Oliver Bonas site anymore, but I did get it in-store only a couple of weeks ago so hopefully it's still available! I have linked a similar one for you incase you love the design. I picked this up to make my skincare look a bit more presentable. Organised chaos if you will. I always have moisturisers, lip balms, serums and other bits laying around on my vanity so I needed something that would look nice and keep them all in one place. 

L'art de la Simplicate by Dominique Loreau: I'm sucker for a pretty book cover, and the contents of this book really enticed me. It's all about how to create a very minimal, fuss free environment, and covers everything from your home, to your friends. I'm not planning on getting rid of 70% of the things in my life, but it is very inspiring and definitely encourages me to declutter! 

Embroidered Tassel Cushion: Another cushion...but this one was on sale so it's totally justified. I love the gold embroidery and the pink tassels, it fits the theme of my room perfectly. I feel like one can never have too many cushions, so I'm very happy to have this one, it was a great steal!


Palm Leaf Photo Holder: I have been lusting over the West Elm gold lettering for ages now, but I can't quite bring myself to splurge that much. Gold is another colour I'm trying to incorporate into my room so little decor pieces like this are great. It is a photo holder, though I have yet to put any photos into it, and looks perfect on my dresser.

Pink Sheepskin Round Cushion: When I saw this I fell in love. Can you get a more perfect pillow? I think not. This is pricey, and there are probably less expensive alternatives which will give the same effect, but the softness of this one sold me. It's a very soft baby pink shade and is probably the fluffiest thing I own. It looks great against my white bedding!

Estella Mini Bowl: I really wanted a cute, trinket bowl to house some of my everyday jewellery items. I love the size, and colour of this one and it has that handmade vibe due to watercolour- esque design in the middle. I wanted to have pink as an ascent colour in my room, so this fits in perfectly. 

I'm planning on showing you these bits styled in my bedroom, but it's not quite finished yet so keep your eyes peeled for that in the future. I wanted to show you everything beforehand so you can get hold of them and hopefully get some inspiration if you're after any new homewear items. 

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Oliver Bonas Haul.

Oliver Bonas is one of my favourite places to buy homewears. They seem to have the pretty Pinterest theme down, and I could easily spend a months wages in that shop. They have a sale on at the moment, so the perfect excuse to pick up some new bits, right? Since graduating university and moving back home I wanted to freshen up my room a bit and treat myself to some new goodies, and Oliver Bonas was my first stop. 

Glass and Gold Tray: Sadly I can't find this on the Oliver Bonas site anymore, but I did get it in-store only a couple of weeks ago so hopefully it's still available! I have linked a similar one for you incase you love the design. I picked this up to make my skincare look a bit more presentable. Organised chaos if you will. I always have moisturisers, lip balms, serums and other bits laying around on my vanity so I needed something that would look nice and keep them all in one place. 

L'art de la Simplicate by Dominique Loreau: I'm sucker for a pretty book cover, and the contents of this book really enticed me. It's all about how to create a very minimal, fuss free environment, and covers everything from your home, to your friends. I'm not planning on getting rid of 70% of the things in my life, but it is very inspiring and definitely encourages me to declutter! 

Embroidered Tassel Cushion: Another cushion...but this one was on sale so it's totally justified. I love the gold embroidery and the pink tassels, it fits the theme of my room perfectly. I feel like one can never have too many cushions, so I'm very happy to have this one, it was a great steal!


Palm Leaf Photo Holder: I have been lusting over the West Elm gold lettering for ages now, but I can't quite bring myself to splurge that much. Gold is another colour I'm trying to incorporate into my room so little decor pieces like this are great. It is a photo holder, though I have yet to put any photos into it, and looks perfect on my dresser.

Pink Sheepskin Round Cushion: When I saw this I fell in love. Can you get a more perfect pillow? I think not. This is pricey, and there are probably less expensive alternatives which will give the same effect, but the softness of this one sold me. It's a very soft baby pink shade and is probably the fluffiest thing I own. It looks great against my white bedding!

Estella Mini Bowl: I really wanted a cute, trinket bowl to house some of my everyday jewellery items. I love the size, and colour of this one and it has that handmade vibe due to watercolour- esque design in the middle. I wanted to have pink as an ascent colour in my room, so this fits in perfectly. 

I'm planning on showing you these bits styled in my bedroom, but it's not quite finished yet so keep your eyes peeled for that in the future. I wanted to show you everything beforehand so you can get hold of them and hopefully get some inspiration if you're after any new homewear items. 

Read more »

August is my birthday month, so naturally I want to chill out, have a little pamper session every now and then, and treat myself. Even if August is just another month to you, I urge you to do the same, as a little me-time is super important for everyone and can do so much good. Even taking 5 minutes out of your day can be all you need to recharge. I wanted to share 10 ways I love to treat myself when I'm in need of a little mental break, and some relaxation. 

1. Buy some flowers: Flowers instantly cheer me up and put me in a good mood. Every week I try to add some fresh flowers to my home, it's a lovely treat and a great way to end, or start the week. If you have a local flower market, or a favourite florist in your nearest town, make it a priority it visit a few times a month to pick up some fresh blooms. Even the trip itself is a nice way to spend a morning or afternoon. 

2. YouTube binge: I always love to catch up on some YouTube videos on a Sunday, or whenever I have a spare evening. It's so nice to zone out and just watch all fashion and beauty related content, it's such a great way to switch off from the outside world. 

3. Do a face mask: Face masks are my favourite way to pamper myself. They take 30 seconds to apply, and you can get on with other things whilst it's working its magic on your skin. I think face masks are something everyone should do once a week, you deserve it! 

4. Take a bath: Baths are the ultimate way to relax and unwind, and they basically force you to sit and chill for 30 minutes or so. Of course, you can indulge in loads of bubbles, or pop in your favourite bath soak for that added touch. 

5. Get 8 hours of shut eye: I know that we're all super busy, and to some 8 hours of sleep seems like a world away, but please try at least one day a week to get a full 8 hours in. If you struggle getting to sleep, try a pillow spray, or an eye mask to help you drift of quicker. You will feel 10times better I guarantee. 


6. Book a spa day: I love any excuse to sit around and basically do nothing...and a spa day is just that. Go with your mum, or a group of friends, and treat yourself to a massage or a nice manicure before Autumn hits. There are some great deals around these days for spa days, so you don't have a fork out a load of money.

7. Indulge in a luxury candle: Having one or two luxury candles dotted around your house is a great way to add a bit of indulgence to your evening. It feels like a treat when you burn them, as some of them are so bloody expensive, and they really create such a lovely atmosphere, especially if it's a scent that you adore.

8. Get stuck into a good book: I'm definitely a coffee table book gal. I like something I can flick in and out of, nothing too farfetched, and something I can take inspiration from. Urban Outfitters and Oliver Bonas have a great selection of easy-reads, and they make the perfect 10 minute break companion.

9. Buy some new pyjamas: Maybe some new PJ's will be the excuse you need to get to bed earlier, or have that well deserved Sunday lay-in. I don't tend to buy pyjamas, but when I do, it definitely feels like a bit of a treat as how many pairs of matching pyjama sets do we actually need? Never-the-less, they make for the perfect excuse to get cosy after work.

10. Make some baked goods: Baking is something we can all do, and no matter if you want something very healthy, or very indulgent, that can totally be achieved. It doesn't have to be a super complicated recipe, some simple brownies will do, but it's nice to have that treat in the cupboard. I'm a huge fan of cookies, so of course, one in the evenings with a hot chocolate sounds like the perfect treat, no? 
Sunday, August 06, 2017

10 Ways To Treat Yourself This Month.

August is my birthday month, so naturally I want to chill out, have a little pamper session every now and then, and treat myself. Even if August is just another month to you, I urge you to do the same, as a little me-time is super important for everyone and can do so much good. Even taking 5 minutes out of your day can be all you need to recharge. I wanted to share 10 ways I love to treat myself when I'm in need of a little mental break, and some relaxation. 

1. Buy some flowers: Flowers instantly cheer me up and put me in a good mood. Every week I try to add some fresh flowers to my home, it's a lovely treat and a great way to end, or start the week. If you have a local flower market, or a favourite florist in your nearest town, make it a priority it visit a few times a month to pick up some fresh blooms. Even the trip itself is a nice way to spend a morning or afternoon. 

2. YouTube binge: I always love to catch up on some YouTube videos on a Sunday, or whenever I have a spare evening. It's so nice to zone out and just watch all fashion and beauty related content, it's such a great way to switch off from the outside world. 

3. Do a face mask: Face masks are my favourite way to pamper myself. They take 30 seconds to apply, and you can get on with other things whilst it's working its magic on your skin. I think face masks are something everyone should do once a week, you deserve it! 

4. Take a bath: Baths are the ultimate way to relax and unwind, and they basically force you to sit and chill for 30 minutes or so. Of course, you can indulge in loads of bubbles, or pop in your favourite bath soak for that added touch. 

5. Get 8 hours of shut eye: I know that we're all super busy, and to some 8 hours of sleep seems like a world away, but please try at least one day a week to get a full 8 hours in. If you struggle getting to sleep, try a pillow spray, or an eye mask to help you drift of quicker. You will feel 10times better I guarantee. 


6. Book a spa day: I love any excuse to sit around and basically do nothing...and a spa day is just that. Go with your mum, or a group of friends, and treat yourself to a massage or a nice manicure before Autumn hits. There are some great deals around these days for spa days, so you don't have a fork out a load of money.

7. Indulge in a luxury candle: Having one or two luxury candles dotted around your house is a great way to add a bit of indulgence to your evening. It feels like a treat when you burn them, as some of them are so bloody expensive, and they really create such a lovely atmosphere, especially if it's a scent that you adore.

8. Get stuck into a good book: I'm definitely a coffee table book gal. I like something I can flick in and out of, nothing too farfetched, and something I can take inspiration from. Urban Outfitters and Oliver Bonas have a great selection of easy-reads, and they make the perfect 10 minute break companion.

9. Buy some new pyjamas: Maybe some new PJ's will be the excuse you need to get to bed earlier, or have that well deserved Sunday lay-in. I don't tend to buy pyjamas, but when I do, it definitely feels like a bit of a treat as how many pairs of matching pyjama sets do we actually need? Never-the-less, they make for the perfect excuse to get cosy after work.

10. Make some baked goods: Baking is something we can all do, and no matter if you want something very healthy, or very indulgent, that can totally be achieved. It doesn't have to be a super complicated recipe, some simple brownies will do, but it's nice to have that treat in the cupboard. I'm a huge fan of cookies, so of course, one in the evenings with a hot chocolate sounds like the perfect treat, no? 
Read more »

There's always the odd beauty product I like to apply right before I hit the sack. Although I do my skincare routine in the bathroom, there's some miscellaneous products which stay right here on my bedside table. Stuff like hand cream and lip balm, I much prefer to use before bed so I know they are going to sink in properly without me disturbing them too much.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray: I know that 99.9% of the world population use and love this, and I totally believe it's worth the hype. If you're slightly sceptical of this, I get it, is there something that can actually send you off to sleep? Well, technically no, however it does an amazing job at creating a super relaxing atmosphere to make the task of falling asleep a lot easier. I spray this around my room 10 minutes before bed, so when I'm ready to sleep I feel totally calm and switched off.  It's infused with lavender and chamomile, so as you can imagine, it smells amazing.

Nourish Refreshing Toning Mist: Using something refreshing before bed may seem strange, but as the weather has been so hot and muggy here in the UK, this has been a total life saver. I hate going to sleep when I feel hot and sticky, it's never a nice feeling, so a few spritz of this really cools me down. It's also packed full of great skincare benefits that tone and hydrate the skin so I love it. The smell is also beautiful, quite rosy, yet very fresh and spa like.

Lanolips Intense Rose Hand Cream: I always use hand cream before bed, I can't stand to use it during the day when I'm doing things, I find it's just a faff. This one does sink in very quickly, and the smell is a gorgeous subtle rose, nothing to overpowering. The packaging is also so cute, very retro and look gorgeous sat on my bedside table. As the packaging suggests, it's an intense formula, so it does a great job at hydrating the hands, something many of us forget to do!

Glossier Balm Dot Com: Glossier is the brand of moment I feel, everyone is talking about them. In the UK, we aren't able to get hold of them YET, but they are coming!! To hold you over, you can pick up their Balm Dot Com from Net-a-Porter, which is exactly what I did. It's a very simple, vaseline-like formula which works great as a lip balm to plump and hydrate. The smell I'm not crazy about, it's kind of plasticy, but I do like how it feels on the lips. The packing is enough for me to want to pick up another one! 

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Beauty Bedside Essentials.


There's always the odd beauty product I like to apply right before I hit the sack. Although I do my skincare routine in the bathroom, there's some miscellaneous products which stay right here on my bedside table. Stuff like hand cream and lip balm, I much prefer to use before bed so I know they are going to sink in properly without me disturbing them too much.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray: I know that 99.9% of the world population use and love this, and I totally believe it's worth the hype. If you're slightly sceptical of this, I get it, is there something that can actually send you off to sleep? Well, technically no, however it does an amazing job at creating a super relaxing atmosphere to make the task of falling asleep a lot easier. I spray this around my room 10 minutes before bed, so when I'm ready to sleep I feel totally calm and switched off.  It's infused with lavender and chamomile, so as you can imagine, it smells amazing.

Nourish Refreshing Toning Mist: Using something refreshing before bed may seem strange, but as the weather has been so hot and muggy here in the UK, this has been a total life saver. I hate going to sleep when I feel hot and sticky, it's never a nice feeling, so a few spritz of this really cools me down. It's also packed full of great skincare benefits that tone and hydrate the skin so I love it. The smell is also beautiful, quite rosy, yet very fresh and spa like.

Lanolips Intense Rose Hand Cream: I always use hand cream before bed, I can't stand to use it during the day when I'm doing things, I find it's just a faff. This one does sink in very quickly, and the smell is a gorgeous subtle rose, nothing to overpowering. The packaging is also so cute, very retro and look gorgeous sat on my bedside table. As the packaging suggests, it's an intense formula, so it does a great job at hydrating the hands, something many of us forget to do!

Glossier Balm Dot Com: Glossier is the brand of moment I feel, everyone is talking about them. In the UK, we aren't able to get hold of them YET, but they are coming!! To hold you over, you can pick up their Balm Dot Com from Net-a-Porter, which is exactly what I did. It's a very simple, vaseline-like formula which works great as a lip balm to plump and hydrate. The smell I'm not crazy about, it's kind of plasticy, but I do like how it feels on the lips. The packing is enough for me to want to pick up another one! 

Read more »

ASOS is one of my favourite places to shop. Whether it be for beauty, or clothes, they have everything you could ever need. The student discount also helps a lot when it comes to picking up some new pieces for my wardrobe. I figured as I check the new-in section daily, and have probably spent the equivalent of my life savings on the site, I'd tell you about some of the brands I love to shop. They have everything from New Look, to Self Portrait, so there really is something for everyone to meet every price point.

Sunday, July 02, 2017

My Favourite ASOS Brands.

ASOS is one of my favourite places to shop. Whether it be for beauty, or clothes, they have everything you could ever need. The student discount also helps a lot when it comes to picking up some new pieces for my wardrobe. I figured as I check the new-in section daily, and have probably spent the equivalent of my life savings on the site, I'd tell you about some of the brands I love to shop. They have everything from New Look, to Self Portrait, so there really is something for everyone to meet every price point.

Read more »

Yay, summer is almost here!

The weather has really been warming up in the UK - dear sun, please stay - and it's making me really excited to pick up some more summery bits. I didn't want to include just clothes, or just beauty, so there's a mixture of things here to get you all inspired for summer. I, for one, can't wait. I've been seeing so many fun prints, cute playsuits, and amazing plants spamming my Instagram and Pinterest, so I can't wait to share with you some of the items I've got my eye on. 

Monday, May 29, 2017

It's Nearly Summer! Here's My Summer 2017 Wishlist.


Yay, summer is almost here!

The weather has really been warming up in the UK - dear sun, please stay - and it's making me really excited to pick up some more summery bits. I didn't want to include just clothes, or just beauty, so there's a mixture of things here to get you all inspired for summer. I, for one, can't wait. I've been seeing so many fun prints, cute playsuits, and amazing plants spamming my Instagram and Pinterest, so I can't wait to share with you some of the items I've got my eye on. 

Read more »

It's National Smile Month!...

Happy National Smile Month everyone, I hope you're blinding people with those pearly whites! When Janina contacted me asking to try out a couple of their products to promote oral health and safe teeth whitening, I couldn't wait to jump on board and give you a few tips on how to create a brighter, whiter smile! I was really excited to try out a couple of the whitening products as they're made with natural fruit enzymes, as oppose to harsh abrasives. As I'm prone to a bit of sensitivity I was super happy to discover these. 

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Creating a Brighter Smile; Happy National Smile Month.


It's National Smile Month!...

Happy National Smile Month everyone, I hope you're blinding people with those pearly whites! When Janina contacted me asking to try out a couple of their products to promote oral health and safe teeth whitening, I couldn't wait to jump on board and give you a few tips on how to create a brighter, whiter smile! I was really excited to try out a couple of the whitening products as they're made with natural fruit enzymes, as oppose to harsh abrasives. As I'm prone to a bit of sensitivity I was super happy to discover these. 

Read more »

Work hard. Play harder.

I honestly can't believe my three years of University are nearly up. In less than two weeks I'll be handing over my dissertation and calling it a day. Please world, be nice to me. I've learnt a lot over the three years, not only about myself as a person, but what I want to achieve and the direction I want to take myself in later life. I still see myself as 16, barely out of high school, but I'm now 20 and starting my life for real, so it's time to put on my big girl pants and do this. This post is a little insight into my time at University and some thoughts I have going on.
SaveSave


Sunday, April 23, 2017

Finishing University; My Thoughts and Plans for the Future.


Work hard. Play harder.

I honestly can't believe my three years of University are nearly up. In less than two weeks I'll be handing over my dissertation and calling it a day. Please world, be nice to me. I've learnt a lot over the three years, not only about myself as a person, but what I want to achieve and the direction I want to take myself in later life. I still see myself as 16, barely out of high school, but I'm now 20 and starting my life for real, so it's time to put on my big girl pants and do this. This post is a little insight into my time at University and some thoughts I have going on.
SaveSave


Read more »

I feel very lucky and privileged to say that I've done my fair share of travelling over the 20 years of my existence. Discovering new places and seeing what the world has to offer is a gift that I feel everyone should experience. Put me on a 5 hour flight, and I'm fine, anything long haul however, I struggle. I wouldn't say I get anxious over whether or not we're going to make it without plummeting to the ground... I get more anxious over whether or not my stomach can handle being in the air for 7+ hours - I have puked multiple times on a flight hence the worry...

This has definitely affected me negatively and I get extremely worked up when it comes to hopping on a plane, even beforehand in the airport I can feel my stomach turn. I never thought travel sickness would really effect me and when I was younger being sick on a flight never worried me, as not much does when you're 6, but now I'm older it's something which is impacting me more and more.

If you're in the same boat as me, here are a few tips I have which help get me in the right frame of mind and make the flight a lot easier and not a deterrent for allowing you to see the world. 

Friday, April 14, 2017

How to Become a Calm Traveller.


I feel very lucky and privileged to say that I've done my fair share of travelling over the 20 years of my existence. Discovering new places and seeing what the world has to offer is a gift that I feel everyone should experience. Put me on a 5 hour flight, and I'm fine, anything long haul however, I struggle. I wouldn't say I get anxious over whether or not we're going to make it without plummeting to the ground... I get more anxious over whether or not my stomach can handle being in the air for 7+ hours - I have puked multiple times on a flight hence the worry...

This has definitely affected me negatively and I get extremely worked up when it comes to hopping on a plane, even beforehand in the airport I can feel my stomach turn. I never thought travel sickness would really effect me and when I was younger being sick on a flight never worried me, as not much does when you're 6, but now I'm older it's something which is impacting me more and more.

If you're in the same boat as me, here are a few tips I have which help get me in the right frame of mind and make the flight a lot easier and not a deterrent for allowing you to see the world. 

Read more »
The off the shoulder trend is not going anywhere this Spring and Summer - yay! - it's in full force and I'm always seeing new patterns and colours I want to add to my wardrobe. I think off the shoulder pieces are so flattering and the little shoulder reveal is very sexy, without showing too much skin. I thought it would be a nice idea to share some staple off the shoulder tops I have in my wardrobe and how I like to style them. This is just a bit of inspo for you guys, I'm not telling you to dress like this, you do you! 

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Off The Shoulder Staples And What To Pair Them With.
The off the shoulder trend is not going anywhere this Spring and Summer - yay! - it's in full force and I'm always seeing new patterns and colours I want to add to my wardrobe. I think off the shoulder pieces are so flattering and the little shoulder reveal is very sexy, without showing too much skin. I thought it would be a nice idea to share some staple off the shoulder tops I have in my wardrobe and how I like to style them. This is just a bit of inspo for you guys, I'm not telling you to dress like this, you do you! 

Read more »
|  BRONTE, LONDON  |
Bonte, The Grand Building, 1-3 The Strand, London, WC2N 5EJ

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Afternoon Tea at Bronte, London.

|  BRONTE, LONDON  |
Bonte, The Grand Building, 1-3 The Strand, London, WC2N 5EJ

Read more »
I love to discover new blogs, there are so many amazing people out there sharing some amazing things I can't help but get wrapped up the world that is blogging. I've recently come across a few blogs I've been obsessed with lately and I wanted to spread the love and hopefully tell you about some you may not already be following. I've got five here to chat about today, a mix of fashion, lifestyle and beauty, so a nice mix for everyone. 

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Recent Blog Discoveries.

I love to discover new blogs, there are so many amazing people out there sharing some amazing things I can't help but get wrapped up the world that is blogging. I've recently come across a few blogs I've been obsessed with lately and I wanted to spread the love and hopefully tell you about some you may not already be following. I've got five here to chat about today, a mix of fashion, lifestyle and beauty, so a nice mix for everyone. 

Read more »

So, some of you who have been following me for a while may have noticed a little change around these parts. For those of you who are newly following, welcome, and I hope you enjoy what I share. 'By Millie' is the new and improved 'abeautyromance' that I really hope you all love. The beauty content won't be going anywhere, but I'm excited to start introducing some new ideas and formats.

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

By Millie; A New Chapter.


So, some of you who have been following me for a while may have noticed a little change around these parts. For those of you who are newly following, welcome, and I hope you enjoy what I share. 'By Millie' is the new and improved 'abeautyromance' that I really hope you all love. The beauty content won't be going anywhere, but I'm excited to start introducing some new ideas and formats.

Read more »
I can't believe the first month is 2017 is nearly over, I still feel like we're only 1 or 2 weeks in! This year I really want to share my favourites with you all more regularly and include things other than beauty. I thought talking about 5 good things which I've been enjoying at the end of every month was a good, quick way to keep you all up to date, so it goes...

 1. The Peak District: This month the fam and I took a little trip to the Peak District, which is a National Park here in the UK. It was so nice to be one with nature and have a little technology break. The scenery was beautiful and we went for my sisters birthday so there was also a lot of booze consumed...Overall it was such a nice little break and something I definitely want to do more of this year, after all, nothing beats the English countryside!

2. Origins skincare: There have been a couple of bits from Origins which have really stood out to me this past month. Origins is one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I found a couple of gems. Their Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay is a fab one for detoxifying the skin. The clay sucks out all your impurities and the gunk, whereas the rose helps to hydrate and nourish the skin, not something you normally get with a clay mask! The next is their Original Skin Serum which  I've been using in the mornings to brighten and add another layer of hydration to the skin. This works so well underneath makeup, it;s very lightweight and feels like a total dream on the skin.

3. Get Your Sh*t Together, Sarah Knight: This is an amazing book if you struggle with motivation. I'm currently at university so need all the help I can get, and this book certainly gives me that kick up the ass I need! It shows you how you can plan out your day more affectively, to writing the perfect to-do list which will actually get you to do things! Sarah's books are really funny and take a super relaxed approach to the subject at hand. 

 4. Nashville: I've recently started watching the show Nashville and ooh jeez, I'm hooked! I love music and singing, so when it's incorporated into a TV show I get super excited and can't wait to get stick in. I've nearly finished the first series and I'm so happy I started watching it. If you like a good drama, and/or country music, it's a great watch. 

 5. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow: This has not left my makeup bag the whole month. I've tried a lot from CT and I'm yet to find a product I don't like, she's a total makeup wizard! The bronzer in this is the perfect medium tone, not too orange, but not too ashy. It's matte so you can use it to contour if you wish. My favourite part about this little palette is the highlight, holy moly, it's good stuff. It's a beautiful golden tone which somehow blurs the skin at the same time as adding an insane glow. 

Saturday, January 28, 2017

5 Good Things: January 2017.

I can't believe the first month is 2017 is nearly over, I still feel like we're only 1 or 2 weeks in! This year I really want to share my favourites with you all more regularly and include things other than beauty. I thought talking about 5 good things which I've been enjoying at the end of every month was a good, quick way to keep you all up to date, so it goes...

 1. The Peak District: This month the fam and I took a little trip to the Peak District, which is a National Park here in the UK. It was so nice to be one with nature and have a little technology break. The scenery was beautiful and we went for my sisters birthday so there was also a lot of booze consumed...Overall it was such a nice little break and something I definitely want to do more of this year, after all, nothing beats the English countryside!

2. Origins skincare: There have been a couple of bits from Origins which have really stood out to me this past month. Origins is one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I found a couple of gems. Their Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay is a fab one for detoxifying the skin. The clay sucks out all your impurities and the gunk, whereas the rose helps to hydrate and nourish the skin, not something you normally get with a clay mask! The next is their Original Skin Serum which  I've been using in the mornings to brighten and add another layer of hydration to the skin. This works so well underneath makeup, it;s very lightweight and feels like a total dream on the skin.

3. Get Your Sh*t Together, Sarah Knight: This is an amazing book if you struggle with motivation. I'm currently at university so need all the help I can get, and this book certainly gives me that kick up the ass I need! It shows you how you can plan out your day more affectively, to writing the perfect to-do list which will actually get you to do things! Sarah's books are really funny and take a super relaxed approach to the subject at hand. 

 4. Nashville: I've recently started watching the show Nashville and ooh jeez, I'm hooked! I love music and singing, so when it's incorporated into a TV show I get super excited and can't wait to get stick in. I've nearly finished the first series and I'm so happy I started watching it. If you like a good drama, and/or country music, it's a great watch. 

 5. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow: This has not left my makeup bag the whole month. I've tried a lot from CT and I'm yet to find a product I don't like, she's a total makeup wizard! The bronzer in this is the perfect medium tone, not too orange, but not too ashy. It's matte so you can use it to contour if you wish. My favourite part about this little palette is the highlight, holy moly, it's good stuff. It's a beautiful golden tone which somehow blurs the skin at the same time as adding an insane glow. 

Read more »
Sleep is such an important thing in everyones life and I feel like one big new years resolution we should all have is go to bed earlier and get more sleep, who's with me?! My bedtime routine can definitely be improved so I get a better quality of sleep and wake up feeling fresh. Here's a few tips to achieving that perfect night sleep...

 Get rid of any blue light: Blue light is essentially the brightness your phone and laptop screen give off, and staring at it before you go to sleep isn't going to be very beneficial. It keeps your mind awake. This is something I need to work on too, but shutting down your electronics 30 minutes (or more) before going to bed will really help your mind to switch off and relax. I'm currently reading 'Get your sh*t together' by Sarah Knight before I go to bed, which is a great read for motivation and it really makes me what to get some zzz's and get up early to start my day.

Use a sleep spray: If you struggle to relax and wind down try spraying your room with a calming fragrance. I love the This Works Pillow Spray which I've spoken about a lot, but it's fab! I spray this on my pillow and around my bedroom 10 minutes before I go to sleep and it really helps you to drift off. It's infused with lavender and chamomile to help you fall asleep naturally and wake up fresher.

'Do not disturb': You know that little moon icon on your phone, use it! This is something I've started doing recently and I sleep soundly through the night. If you constantly have your phone buzzing all throughout the night, that's going to disturb your sleep and you may even wake up, not good! It's a very simple, but effective, thing to do and I highly recommend pressing that do not disturb button before you head to bed.

 Light a candle: This tip goes hand in hand with the sleep spray. I love to light a candle when I'm getting ready for bed and I tend to reach for warming scents as I find these very relaxing and enhance your cosy environment. I've been obsessed with the Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon candle, it's a gorgeous sweet scent which is relaxing and a super warming scent to wind down to.

 Slather yourself in lotions and potions: 10/15 minutes before I settle down with a book, I love to focus on my skincare routine and apply some thick creams to ensure my skin is going to wake up looking fresh. By doing my skincare routine the same time every night it tells my body that it's the end of the day and it's time to wind down. Every now and then I'll apply an overnight mask which just helps to add moisture back into my skin. I love the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask as it smells divine and leaves your skin looking and feeling nourished. If you want to treat yourself before bed, this is the way to do it! Don't forget about your body too! I love to apply a thick body cream then pop on my pj's. The Clarins Moisture Riche Body Lotion is really nice for dry skin. It sinks in quickly and restores moisture back into those limbs.


SHOP THIS POST
Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Achieving the Perfect Night Sleep.
Sleep is such an important thing in everyones life and I feel like one big new years resolution we should all have is go to bed earlier and get more sleep, who's with me?! My bedtime routine can definitely be improved so I get a better quality of sleep and wake up feeling fresh. Here's a few tips to achieving that perfect night sleep...

 Get rid of any blue light: Blue light is essentially the brightness your phone and laptop screen give off, and staring at it before you go to sleep isn't going to be very beneficial. It keeps your mind awake. This is something I need to work on too, but shutting down your electronics 30 minutes (or more) before going to bed will really help your mind to switch off and relax. I'm currently reading 'Get your sh*t together' by Sarah Knight before I go to bed, which is a great read for motivation and it really makes me what to get some zzz's and get up early to start my day.

Use a sleep spray: If you struggle to relax and wind down try spraying your room with a calming fragrance. I love the This Works Pillow Spray which I've spoken about a lot, but it's fab! I spray this on my pillow and around my bedroom 10 minutes before I go to sleep and it really helps you to drift off. It's infused with lavender and chamomile to help you fall asleep naturally and wake up fresher.

'Do not disturb': You know that little moon icon on your phone, use it! This is something I've started doing recently and I sleep soundly through the night. If you constantly have your phone buzzing all throughout the night, that's going to disturb your sleep and you may even wake up, not good! It's a very simple, but effective, thing to do and I highly recommend pressing that do not disturb button before you head to bed.

 Light a candle: This tip goes hand in hand with the sleep spray. I love to light a candle when I'm getting ready for bed and I tend to reach for warming scents as I find these very relaxing and enhance your cosy environment. I've been obsessed with the Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon candle, it's a gorgeous sweet scent which is relaxing and a super warming scent to wind down to.

 Slather yourself in lotions and potions: 10/15 minutes before I settle down with a book, I love to focus on my skincare routine and apply some thick creams to ensure my skin is going to wake up looking fresh. By doing my skincare routine the same time every night it tells my body that it's the end of the day and it's time to wind down. Every now and then I'll apply an overnight mask which just helps to add moisture back into my skin. I love the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask as it smells divine and leaves your skin looking and feeling nourished. If you want to treat yourself before bed, this is the way to do it! Don't forget about your body too! I love to apply a thick body cream then pop on my pj's. The Clarins Moisture Riche Body Lotion is really nice for dry skin. It sinks in quickly and restores moisture back into those limbs.


SHOP THIS POST
Read more »
The start of year is always the busiest for those gym goers. A new year and everyone wants get fitter and stronger and get a start on that summer bod. If that's you, then here are a few beauty essentials I feel you should keep with you when hitting that treadmill...

 Origins VitaZing Moisturiser: I'm not the biggest makeup fan when I work out, but a little tinted moisturiser never hurt. If you like a little something something on the skin this is a really great product to keep in your gym bag. It comes out a grey colour and then it adjusts to your skin, giving you a nice glow and evened out look to the skin. It's definitely not a heavy base by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good hydrating option.

Mitchum 48 Hour Pure Fresh Deodorant: Deodorant is obviously a must have when you work out and I love the ones from Mitchum because they are very hardcore. I like their stick formulas as their not too drying on the under arms and I feel like they actually do something. The fresh scent is very unoffensive and one I feel everyone can get along with. A little tip I have with deodorant as well is to apply it just before you go bed, I find this makes it even more sweat proof come the next day.

Caudalie Beauty Elixer: This is a life savour at the end of a workout, it makes be feel that little bit fresher when I'm making my journey back home. I'm not one to shower at the gym, I prefer to be in my own space and have a good proper cleanse, so a pick-me-up like this is great for when I'm done sweating out. I have the travel size and it's perfect for throwing in my bag. It's such a refreshing mist and I love the way it makes my skin feel.

Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara: If you fancy wearing a little bit more makeup to the gym then picking up a good waterproof, or smudge proof mascara, will be essential for you. I adore the Clinique mascaras, they are definitely worth the money. Their High Impact formula is great for defining the lashes naturally and adding a nice amount of length and volume, and it being waterproof means it will survive that cardio session.

Bobbi Brown Skin Serum Corrector: This is another one for those who prefer a bit more makeup, you can never go wrong with a corrector or concealer. For me, if I do wear makeup to the gym, it's normally a mix of this with some mascara and then the Origins moisturiser as a natural base. As it's a serum concealer so it's a lot more breathable under the eyes and offers a great amount of hydration.

Invisibobble: If you work out with your hair up, which I highly recommend, then I suggest getting a few invisibobbles. These are hairbands which don't leave a kink in the hair, perfect for when you work out and then have to be somewhere after. I have the brown ones, as I have brown hair, and they do actually hold your hair in place, so I think they're great.
Friday, January 06, 2017

The Gym Goer's Beauty Edit.
The start of year is always the busiest for those gym goers. A new year and everyone wants get fitter and stronger and get a start on that summer bod. If that's you, then here are a few beauty essentials I feel you should keep with you when hitting that treadmill...

 Origins VitaZing Moisturiser: I'm not the biggest makeup fan when I work out, but a little tinted moisturiser never hurt. If you like a little something something on the skin this is a really great product to keep in your gym bag. It comes out a grey colour and then it adjusts to your skin, giving you a nice glow and evened out look to the skin. It's definitely not a heavy base by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good hydrating option.

Mitchum 48 Hour Pure Fresh Deodorant: Deodorant is obviously a must have when you work out and I love the ones from Mitchum because they are very hardcore. I like their stick formulas as their not too drying on the under arms and I feel like they actually do something. The fresh scent is very unoffensive and one I feel everyone can get along with. A little tip I have with deodorant as well is to apply it just before you go bed, I find this makes it even more sweat proof come the next day.

Caudalie Beauty Elixer: This is a life savour at the end of a workout, it makes be feel that little bit fresher when I'm making my journey back home. I'm not one to shower at the gym, I prefer to be in my own space and have a good proper cleanse, so a pick-me-up like this is great for when I'm done sweating out. I have the travel size and it's perfect for throwing in my bag. It's such a refreshing mist and I love the way it makes my skin feel.

Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara: If you fancy wearing a little bit more makeup to the gym then picking up a good waterproof, or smudge proof mascara, will be essential for you. I adore the Clinique mascaras, they are definitely worth the money. Their High Impact formula is great for defining the lashes naturally and adding a nice amount of length and volume, and it being waterproof means it will survive that cardio session.

Bobbi Brown Skin Serum Corrector: This is another one for those who prefer a bit more makeup, you can never go wrong with a corrector or concealer. For me, if I do wear makeup to the gym, it's normally a mix of this with some mascara and then the Origins moisturiser as a natural base. As it's a serum concealer so it's a lot more breathable under the eyes and offers a great amount of hydration.

Invisibobble: If you work out with your hair up, which I highly recommend, then I suggest getting a few invisibobbles. These are hairbands which don't leave a kink in the hair, perfect for when you work out and then have to be somewhere after. I have the brown ones, as I have brown hair, and they do actually hold your hair in place, so I think they're great.
Read more »
I feel like it's the natural thing to do when a new year comes around, reflect on the old and create goals for the new year ahead of us. So, here I am, doing exactly that. This year should (hopefully) be a pretty special one for me, I'm finishing university, I turn 21, so adulthood is finally here and new chapters in my life can begin. With that in mind, here are a few things - or 17 to be exact - I want to do in 2017...

 1. Finish university on a high - I feel like I had to include this because it's definitely going to be a huge part of the year. I'm not going to graduate with a first class degree, and there's no shame in that, but I still want to do well!

2. Keep learning - Even though I'm finishing uni, that doesn't mean I can stop learning new skills. I would looove to do a course in interior design or photography as these are two things I adore and would love to know more of.

3. Save for a new car - I love my little car, I've had it for three years and as my first car it will always have a special place in my heart. When I get a full time job I will be driving a lot more than I am currently, so I would love to get some shiny new wheels!

4. Be more sure of myself - I always always doubt myself and my ability to do well or achieve something great. We're all hunan and I'm sure we've all been there! I would love to believe in myself more than I do.

5. Go somewhere new - I love to travel and I've been very lucky to able to go to many different countries with my parents when I was growing up. There's still a lot of places in Europe I want to explore with the bf. Amsterdam and Edinburgh are top of my list!

6. Be a better blogger - I've always loved my blog but I really want to take it more seriously and start branching out into other platforms. I've gotten a lot better at using Twitter to share my content, but I still have a long way to go. I would also love to start posting a lot more and introducing more diverse content.

7. Wear more lipstick - I have so many lipsticks and there are many more on my wish list, buuut I don't wear them half as much as I should. If I'm going out for the day I always forget to apply it but this year I'm determined to work my way through some I already have in my collection.

8. Walk more - A few years ago when I was at college I used to walk all the time and I felt great for it. Since being at university and having everything so close to me, I don't walk as much as I used to and I would love to get back into it. If I lived in LA, I feel like I would hike all the time and have the best legs ever...

9. Eat better - This is always on everyones list but it's something I really want to educate myself about this year. I don't eat terribly, but I could definitely put better foods into my body. There are loads of good cookbooks around these days which I'm really inspired by.

10. Invest in timeless pieces - Over the past few months I've been searching the internet for some pieces I would love to invest in for my wardrobe. Jeans are the top of my list and I would love to find a pair that fit me perfectly.

11. Build up my CV - After finishing university my aim is to get as much work experience as I can before looking for a full time job I can dig my teeth into. I would love to get some experience in either social media/advertising or PR.

12. Streamline my wardrobe - My style has changed so much over the past few years and I feel I really need a revamp. I know my style now, very simple, yet chic and there are so many pieces in my closet which just don't fit the bill. I would love to have a wardrobe I can mix and match and be totally happy with.

 13. Up my hair game - I do nothing to my hair half the time and I would love to learn some more styles and maybe pick up a few hair tools to help me along the way. My hair is very straight and lifeless which is maybe why I've been so reluctant to pay it attention!

14. Redecorate my room - My room at home as been so neglected over the three years I've been at uni. It definitely needs a new lick of paint and a good clear out, god knows what lurking in the bottom of my wardrobes...

15. Cook more - I really want to get into cooking and also meal prepping. I want to dedicate my Sunday afternoons to cooking up some food for the following week, this way I can be sure I'm going to be consuming nourishing meals everyday.

 14. Get up earlier - I am so not a morning person, I hate getting out of bed, but I need to push myself and try to get up earlier. Since last year I have made progress, but I still feel like I need to get up an hour earlier...I hope I can do that this year!

15. Try out a new cuisine - Food is such a huge part of my life, I eat out more than I probably should, but I love to indulge. This year I want to branch out and try some new foods. I would love to go to proper sushi restaurant, and also Lebanese is high on my list to try!

16. Perfect my smokey eye - For some reason, I'm crap at smokey eyes. Unless it involves less than two shadows, I can't seem to make it look nice. I'm going to watch so many tutorials this year and practice practice practice ready for next New Years Eve!

17. Make more cocktails - My dad and his girlfriend picked me up a nice cocktail mixer set for Christmas so I really want to put it to good use. I'm not a huge drinker, but a good cocktail never disappoints. I would love to get good at making my own!

What are your goals for 2017? 

Monday, January 02, 2017

Seventeen Things To Achieve in 2017.

I feel like it's the natural thing to do when a new year comes around, reflect on the old and create goals for the new year ahead of us. So, here I am, doing exactly that. This year should (hopefully) be a pretty special one for me, I'm finishing university, I turn 21, so adulthood is finally here and new chapters in my life can begin. With that in mind, here are a few things - or 17 to be exact - I want to do in 2017...

 1. Finish university on a high - I feel like I had to include this because it's definitely going to be a huge part of the year. I'm not going to graduate with a first class degree, and there's no shame in that, but I still want to do well!

2. Keep learning - Even though I'm finishing uni, that doesn't mean I can stop learning new skills. I would looove to do a course in interior design or photography as these are two things I adore and would love to know more of.

3. Save for a new car - I love my little car, I've had it for three years and as my first car it will always have a special place in my heart. When I get a full time job I will be driving a lot more than I am currently, so I would love to get some shiny new wheels!

4. Be more sure of myself - I always always doubt myself and my ability to do well or achieve something great. We're all hunan and I'm sure we've all been there! I would love to believe in myself more than I do.

5. Go somewhere new - I love to travel and I've been very lucky to able to go to many different countries with my parents when I was growing up. There's still a lot of places in Europe I want to explore with the bf. Amsterdam and Edinburgh are top of my list!

6. Be a better blogger - I've always loved my blog but I really want to take it more seriously and start branching out into other platforms. I've gotten a lot better at using Twitter to share my content, but I still have a long way to go. I would also love to start posting a lot more and introducing more diverse content.

7. Wear more lipstick - I have so many lipsticks and there are many more on my wish list, buuut I don't wear them half as much as I should. If I'm going out for the day I always forget to apply it but this year I'm determined to work my way through some I already have in my collection.

8. Walk more - A few years ago when I was at college I used to walk all the time and I felt great for it. Since being at university and having everything so close to me, I don't walk as much as I used to and I would love to get back into it. If I lived in LA, I feel like I would hike all the time and have the best legs ever...

9. Eat better - This is always on everyones list but it's something I really want to educate myself about this year. I don't eat terribly, but I could definitely put better foods into my body. There are loads of good cookbooks around these days which I'm really inspired by.

10. Invest in timeless pieces - Over the past few months I've been searching the internet for some pieces I would love to invest in for my wardrobe. Jeans are the top of my list and I would love to find a pair that fit me perfectly.

11. Build up my CV - After finishing university my aim is to get as much work experience as I can before looking for a full time job I can dig my teeth into. I would love to get some experience in either social media/advertising or PR.

12. Streamline my wardrobe - My style has changed so much over the past few years and I feel I really need a revamp. I know my style now, very simple, yet chic and there are so many pieces in my closet which just don't fit the bill. I would love to have a wardrobe I can mix and match and be totally happy with.

 13. Up my hair game - I do nothing to my hair half the time and I would love to learn some more styles and maybe pick up a few hair tools to help me along the way. My hair is very straight and lifeless which is maybe why I've been so reluctant to pay it attention!

14. Redecorate my room - My room at home as been so neglected over the three years I've been at uni. It definitely needs a new lick of paint and a good clear out, god knows what lurking in the bottom of my wardrobes...

15. Cook more - I really want to get into cooking and also meal prepping. I want to dedicate my Sunday afternoons to cooking up some food for the following week, this way I can be sure I'm going to be consuming nourishing meals everyday.

 14. Get up earlier - I am so not a morning person, I hate getting out of bed, but I need to push myself and try to get up earlier. Since last year I have made progress, but I still feel like I need to get up an hour earlier...I hope I can do that this year!

15. Try out a new cuisine - Food is such a huge part of my life, I eat out more than I probably should, but I love to indulge. This year I want to branch out and try some new foods. I would love to go to proper sushi restaurant, and also Lebanese is high on my list to try!

16. Perfect my smokey eye - For some reason, I'm crap at smokey eyes. Unless it involves less than two shadows, I can't seem to make it look nice. I'm going to watch so many tutorials this year and practice practice practice ready for next New Years Eve!

17. Make more cocktails - My dad and his girlfriend picked me up a nice cocktail mixer set for Christmas so I really want to put it to good use. I'm not a huge drinker, but a good cocktail never disappoints. I would love to get good at making my own!

What are your goals for 2017? 

Read more »

Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...
Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


Friday, December 23, 2016

That's A Wrap.


Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...
Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


Read more »

    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...


Homemade Holiday Marshmallows, Sugar and Charm


  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________

Chocolate Snowball Cookies, The Recipe Critic 




Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________

Gingerbread Spiced Vegan French Toast, Dolly and Oatmeal





  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Gingerbread Granola, Love and Olive Oil

 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday, December 19, 2016

Festive Recipes To Try This Christmas.


    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...


Homemade Holiday Marshmallows, Sugar and Charm


  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________

Chocolate Snowball Cookies, The Recipe Critic 




Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________

Gingerbread Spiced Vegan French Toast, Dolly and Oatmeal





  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Gingerbread Granola, Love and Olive Oil

 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________
Read more »

With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...
Saturday, December 03, 2016

What's On My Christmas List 2016.

With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...
Read more »
Looking for something?
© By Millie., Made By Underline Designs Back to Top