Life Lately #2

Hi guys and welcome back to the second installment my 'Life Lately' series. If any of you read my first one all the way back in July, you would know that I used to do a lot of Instagram updates but too often I found that I never had enough photos to share. So, instead, I have decided to just do the occasional update when I feel that I have some fun things to share with all of you. Of course, if you would like to keep updated between these posts, feel free to give me a follow on Instagram here! Anyway, here's what I have been up to lately...

1. This photo is with my friend Yasmin when we were out for a friends birthday. Unfortunately, I didn't get any clear photos of my make-up after I got ready but I went for a classic grey shimmery eye with plenty of lashes and glowy skin!

2. Me and the girls have been making a concious effort to get together on a more regular basis. At this age, I've found that we are all so busy that sometimes it's hard to get everybody together on the same day. However, we have been going to our favourite breakfast cafe a lot lately in order to catch up and enjoy some yummy food whilst we're at it!

3. One lazy Saturday afternoon, Kieran (my boyfriend) and I decided to make some brownies as a treat. We wanted to make them even more exciting and decadent, so we added Rolos into the mixture. As you can imagine, they were deliciously gooey and the caramel from the Rolos made them soooo good!

4. This photo is before another night out with my fellow blondies, Yasmin and Sarah. We went to our local indie/alternative club and had the best night, followed by a sleepover at my house.

5. Obviously I am a huge Lush fan all year round but of course, now that winter is upon us I'm having even more baths than usual. This time, I used the Intergalactic bath bomb which is full of the most crazy colours and glitter. I loved it so much that I had to take a photo!

6. This is a photo of Kieran's family's new kitten called Esmée. She is an adorable grey tabby cat! I manged to get this cute photograph of her whilst she was napping just in time, before she woke up and started playing with all of her toys again!

7. If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you will know that I have suffered with anxiety since I was about 10 years old. After being in counselling for the last few years, I have conquered one of my biggest fears which is eating out in restaurants. I always knew that this fear was irrational and I am so glad that I am getting better at it. This was actually mine and Kieran's first sit down lunch in public and I'm so glad that I could share my accomplishment with him!

8. Me and my friend Lucy went out for Halloween and it was a really lovely night. I had so much fun experimenting with my makeup look for this and I opted for a super dark MAC lipstick and a smokey cat eye. I went as a stereotypical black cat and Lucy went as a skeleton.

9. This week I got my first Christmas Costa drink of the festive season! I opted for a Caramel Fudge hot chocolate and it was so tasty. I love the themed cups at this time of year, so I just had to take a snap of my first one of the year!

So, that's it for the second of my 'Life Lately' posts. I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have gotten up to since the last post. Be sure to check back soon for another new installment!

Life Lately #1

Last year, I started doing a monthly Instagram update but I soon decided to end the series as the posts were not very popular. However, after putting in so much time and effort into developing my blog over the past 2 years or so, I realised that it's not all about the view counts and comments! My blog is a place for me to express myself, as well as talk about beauty & fashion. As I do not own a diary that I write in, I thought that it would be a nice idea to occasionally share my favourite photos with you all and talk about my life every now and again! If you would like to keep up-to-date inbetween these new 'Life Lately' posts, feel free to my follow me on Instagram here. Anyway, here's what I have been up to in the last two months!

1. One of my best friends got engaged!!! Chloe and Jake have been together since they were 15 years old and they are the most cute & loved-up couple ever. At the end of May, they had a lovely engagement party in a local hall that even had a really fun photo booth complete with hilarious props!

2. My friend Charlotte had a Disney themed birthday party and I went as Alice in Wonderland. I managed to get this adorable outfit off of eBay for just £9.99! I paired it with a pair of white frilly socks and my Primark flatforms.

3. On the 28th of May, I turned 21! My parents, my boyfriend Kieran and I decided to have a fun day out at Colchester Zoo (which I blogged about here.) I had a really lovely and relaxed day walking around and seeing all of the different animals. A few of my favourites were the penguins and the red pandas.

4. Here are some of the wonderful birthday presents that I received. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world! My gifts included a Pandora ring, some NARS make-up, a new hair curler, some Lush goodies, new underwear and the first two seasons of Pretty Little Liars on DVD.

5. At the beginning of July, it was my friend Harriet's birthday - whom I have knownfor most of my life! We all had a lovely evening drinking cocktails and taking numerous selfies before heading out to ASK Italian for a yummy meal.

6. As I am at home a lot of the time, I am always looking after my dog Sasha so I just had to throw a photo of her into the mix! She is almost 8 years old and she is the most gorgeous Husky-Labrador cross ever!

7. As we have had some lovely weather here lately (ignoring the past week or so,) me and Kieran have been making the most of it! We have visited our local beer garden a couple of times and it is so gorgeous there. I normally order a Malibu & Coke but this time I ordered a summery cocktail - a strawberry daiquiri.

8. On the 11th, it was also Kieran's 21st birthday! We didn't make any major plans as he was due to fly out to Ibiza with his friends later that evening but we did go out for a delicious brunch with his family at a local tea room.

9. Last but not least, I treated myself to a night on the town with my friend Sarah a week or so again. We had so much fun getting ready together and we spent absolutely yonks on our make-up; contouring, smokey eyes... the lot! We danced the night away and had a really great evening, which is exactly what I needed as I was missing my boyfriend who was still in Ibiza.

So, that is my 'life lately.' I hope you enjoyed having a little catch-up with and seeing what I have been up to between the months of May to July. Be sure to check back soon for the next update!

How I Relieve Stress & Anxiety

Over the past few days, my anxiety has flared up drastically and ever since Sunday evening, I have been doing everything in my power to keep myself feeling relaxed and calm. It hasn't been easy... I mean, heck, I have been crying on and off for days! However, I have found a few techniques that have been working really well for me. Although lifestyle posts are not my usual thing (I usually post one every few months or so,) this topic means an awful lot to me as I have suffered with both anxiety & depression for years now and so I thought that I would hop online & share a few of my tips with you all. I hope that you find them helpful!

1. Colouring
Adult colouring books have become all the rage this year and I have well & truly jumped on that bandwagon. I honestly do believe that doing something creative can give you something else to focus on your attention on - plus, its pretty fun too! The two books I currently own and am working my way through are Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom and the Zen Colouring Advanced Art Therapy book - which I strangely couldn't find online! Concentrating on such a simple task is really helping me to pass the time and I am really enjoying experimenting with lots of different colour palettes too.

2. Apps
I had used a few apps in the past but have never used them on a regular basis. However, I have re-downloaded a couple to help me through this difficult period that I'm having. There are so many apps out their that help you deal with stressful situations but my favourites are 'Calm' and 'Headspace.' I think it's really important to actually listen to your body and to your emotions rather than suppressing them and these apps allow me to do just that. Simply lying down or sitting somewhere quiet, listening to some relaxing sounds or going through a guided meditation is really helping me so far!

3. Lush baths
Last but not least, you can never go wrong with a good old-fashioned Lush bath. Pamper nights are one thing that I can always rely on to make me feel a little better. Using a bath bomb or taking the time out to give yourself a manicure may seem pretty trivial but I find it really useful. Different things definitely work for different people! I love how scents can relax me and a bubble bath can really make all the difference if you are feeling tense too!

A few extra tips:

- Listen to your body; make sure you are getting enough rest and are eating properly.
- Never be afraid to talk to your friends and family about how you are feeling.
- Take everything one step at a time, so that everything feels more manageable.
- Most importantly, be proud of yourself for getting through each day!

I hope that these tips may be helpful to some of you, as I am finding them to be quite useful for me this week! Hopefully I feel a lot brighter and less anxious soon! If you have any tip of your own, please feel free to share them with myself and other readers by leaving a comment down below :)

15 Things I Love About Summer

Lately, we have been pretty lucky weather-wise in the UK! Aside from the odd overcast day or thundery downpour, the Sun has well and truly had its hat on over the past few weeks. Of course, us Brits have therefore been making the most of the amazing weather before it rears its head for yet another year! Summer has always been my favourite season and rightly so because there are so many enjoyable things that come with this time of year. So, I've decided to let you know the 15 things that I love most about summertime in England. Enjoy!

1. The Sun makes everybody feel happier and more positive!
2. Sunkissed skin and glowy make-up.
3. It's still light outside at 9pm!
4. Sunbathing for hours on end whilst reading a good book.
5. Going for drinks at my local beer garden.
6. Cute playsuits and flowy summer dresses!
7. Tasty barbecues with my family & friends.
8. Going to the seafront for ice-cream and hot doughnuts.
9. The smell of sun cream and aftersun!
10. Large jugs of Pimms & lemonade.
11. Festivals - need I say more?
12. Fresh fruit that's perfectly in-season!
13. The sound of the ocean.
14. Waking up every morning to gorgeous blue skies!
15. Adorable bikinis and swimsuits.

Is summer your favourite season too? What are some of your favourite things about this beautiful weather we're having? Be sure to let me know by leaving a comment down below!

My Birthday Trip To Colchester Zoo

As you may or may not know, depending on whether you read my latest blog post about all of the Lush goodies that I received (click here), it was my 21st birthday last Thursday! I wasn't really too sure at first as to what I wanted to do for it but I remembered how much fun a day out at the zoo can be, whatever age you are. Furthermore, me, my boyfriend Kieran and my parents took a little drive up to Colchester Zoo to spend the day looking at all of the gorgeous animals and feeling like little kids again! So, today I wanted to show you what I got up to for this milestone of mine. I know that it may not be the most traditional way to celebrate such an occasion but I had a great time and so I thought that I would give you all a little glimpse into what my day was like. I hope you enjoy reading all about it!

Luckily for us, it was PERFECT weather! It was sunny without being unbearably hot, which meant that we could walk around freely and really take everything in. We took our time to visit all of the animals around the zoo and we also managed to fit in some elephant & giraffe feedings, as well as the sea lion presentation too! We also went on their 'Lost Madagascar Train' where you get driven around a certain route to view some of the animals up close and personal. You're even allowed to get out and wonder around inside the lemur enclosure!

In terms of what all of our favourite animals were to see, my Mum is a huge fan of giraffes, my Dad loved the elephants, Kieran's all time favourite animals are otters and I particularly loved the penguins and red pandas. However, I practically thought that every creature there (apart from the spiders and snakes) were all pretty amazing!

Even though I'm quite the novice when it comes to photography, I am really proud of some of the photos that I managed to capture throughout the day - especially as the animals were almost always moving around! Over the course of the day, I must have gotten my camera out a million times so that I had lots of memories of the day to look back on.

After about 5 or 6 hours at the zoo, you can imagine that our feet were aching quite a bit! So we decided to call it a day, took a quick look in the gift shop and then started making our way back home. After having such a fun-filled day, I decided that I just wanted to chill out at home, open some more presents and have a huge Indian takeaway for dinner as a further treat. It really meant a lot to me that I got to spend my day with the three most important people in my life. Overall, I had such a wonderful day trip and I wish that I could do it all over again! 

21 Things That I've Learnt In 21 Years

With it being my 21st birthday next week (god, I'm getting old!,) I wanted to post something a little different here on my blog. Of course, you are used to seeing the more superficial side of me - what with this being a predominantly beauty & fashion site - but I wanted to write something just a little more personal than usual. In my 21 years of my life so far, I have learnt a lot of valuable lessons that I think maybe rather helpful or relatable to some of you. So today, I decided to jot them down. I hope you enjoy them!

1. Good friends will always stick around. Even when you are all busy living your lives and growing up, you will come back together again and it will be as if nothing has changed.

2. Not everybody is going to like or understand you but it's okay because as long as you and your loved ones have accepted you, nobody else matters.

3. Do not follow the crowd or give in to peer pressure. Just because it seems like everybody else is doing something, it doesn't mean that you have to as well!

4. Being in love for the first time is worth waiting for. Don't worry if all of your friends have had boyfriends and have experienced those things before you. Your time will come and it will be worth waiting for!

5. Having an anxiety disorder does not mean that your life is over. You will still smile, be happy and have fun. The down days are only temporary and things will get better! 

6. Enjoy the little things! Sometimes we get so distracted by the bigger things going on that we forget to appreciate the simpler joys in life.

7. You can say 'no' to something if you want to! Sometimes its okay to be a little selfish and put what you want to do first.

8. When you're young and people tell you that school will be the best years of your life, they are right (regardless of how awful it seems at the time.) 

9. Your parents will always be your number one supporters, no matter how much your argue and disagree with each other!

10. Comparing yourself to others is never a healthy thing. It will only ever bring you down and damage your self-confidence and self-worth.

11. When something occurs that feels like its going to be the end of the world, it's not. In a few years time, you will look back on that situation and probably laugh about it. 

12. Do not put so much pressure on yourself. We are only human and we shouldn't be so quick to beat ourselves up.

13. Ask for help when you need it. Do not feel embarrass if you cannot accomplish something on your own, you don't need to be independent all of the time.

14. Put down your phone every now and again. Switching off and connecting with who you're with and your surroundings is such a lovely thing to do.

15. Having money is not the be all and end all. In the long run love, family & friends are way more valuable than the pennies in your pocket!

16. Success isn't necessarily determined by whether you are rich or have a good career. Success comes in many different forms.

17. What you may see as a flaw, others around you might find rather endearing. Embrace your uniqueness!

18. Change is inevitable, no matter how much you try and fight it. All you can do is try to adapt to a new situation the best that you can.

19. Compliments really can make somebody's entire day!

20. Be kind and respectful at all times. You never know what somebody is going through behind closed doors.

21. And lastly, BE YOURSELF!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about the 21 things that I have learnt so far before hitting the big 21 next Thursday! I know that this was a different post to the ones that you are used to from me but I really enjoyed being a little more creative and mixing it up a little! Please let me know if you think that I should create some more content like this in the future by leaving a comment down below. Also, don't forget to share some of the life lessons that you have learnt too!

Loving Lately: YouTubers

I'm sure that many of you are just as addicted to all things YouTube as I am, especially when it comes to watching beauty channels! I can safely say that I am obsessed with watching these types of videos for hours on end - I just cannot get enough of them! In fact, one of the main reasons that I got into blogging in the first place is down to solidifying my love for make-up by watching lots of these lovely ladies online. Since this became my hobby a few years ago, my knowledge has widened dramatically and so has the amount of channels and beauty gurus that I watch. So today, I have decided to share with you a few of the YouTubers that I have really been enjoying watching lately. 

Kathleenlights
First up is Kathleen, whom I only started watching a couple of weeks ago (much to my dismay!) I first found out about her by hearing about her collaboration with Color Pop Cosmetics through over YouTubers and I'm so glad that I decided to hop over to her channel. Not only does she do amazing tutorials but I love her personality, I think that she is super down-to-earth and relatable. She is a must watch!

Jaclyn Hill
Next is Jaclyn Hill, whom I have also only been following for a little while - possibly a month or two. I love her channel as her personal style is really glamorous and that also reflects in her make-up tutorials too. She always looks flawless! Her sense of humour and sassy attitude also make her so fun to watch, she is definitely contagious!

Aspyn Ovard
I have been watching Aspyn (aka HauteBrilliance) for a long time now but I have found myself enjoying her videos a lot more lately. She has really upped her game in terms of how she puts together and edits her videos - they are bright, colourful and very Tumblr-esque! Plus I love seeing videos including her boyfriend Parker, their relationship ridiculously cute.

Mirella Belle
The last YouTuber that I have been thoroughly enjoying watching is Mirella. The main reason why I love her channel is that she gives really honest reviews when it comes to products. I also like how her tutorials are quite creative and she uses a lot of colour, which is very refreshing as a lot of people tend to stick to more neutral and wearable looks. Her channel is fun, young and definitely worth a watch!

So those are the four YouTubers that I am loving lately. Do you watch any of these gorgeous ladies? Who are your favourite beauty gurus? Also, please let me know if you would like to see more 'Loving Lately' posts, as I am thinking about making it into a new series here on my blog!

My 5 Spring/Summer Goals

Hi guys, today's post is a little different to my usual fashion & beauty offerings, however, I wanted to write a blog post that means a lot to me! Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what I want to achieve as we go into spring and summer. If you have been following my blog for a while now; you may or may not know that I have suffered with anxiety & panic attacks since I was about 10 years old and my condition has gotten a lot worse over the past few years. My anxiety affects a lot of aspects in my life including social events, travelling and working. So much so, that I have actually been unemployed for quite a while now due to the fact that the thought of being back in a workplace is something that overwhelms me every single day. 

With that in mind, I have decided that this year is the year that I am going to change my circumstances and try to make my life both fun and well-rounded once again! So, I wanted to share a few of my goals that I aim to accomplish this year!

1. Go on more adventures
My anxiety has stopped me from doing a lot of things in the past and I always feel like I am missing out on some of the best years of my life. I feel like I need to embrace being a young, almost 21 year old a little more! Whether its stepping out of my comfort zone by saying 'yes' to that party or finally going away for a special trip with my boyfriend of over a year. I want to explore a little more and say a big f*** you to my horrible anxieties that have been holding me back all this time!

2. Find a part-time job
Now that I feel a little more stable what with having regular counselling sessions and a medication that works for me, I want to ease myself back into a working environment. I feel like getting a part-time job is now something that feels a lot more manageable to me. I definitely don't want to go back into full-time employment straight away, as I don't want to overwhelm myself, but this goal seems like the perfect stepping stone.

3. Become healthier
Due to being at home so much, I often have the tendency to eat out of boredom and even though I have always been a petite girl, I have noticed my weight start creeping up on me. Although I am not super unhealthy, snacking is a bad habit of mine and I would like to keep it in check and to lose a few pounds before slipping back into my pretty summer dresses. I would also like to start doing some light yet enjoyable exercise to shift those calories and to release lots of feel-good endorphins into my body. Apparently, exercise is a great outlet for those with anxiety!

4. Appreciate my life 
As I am an avid worrier, I feel like I sometimes forget to simply stop and look around me. Although I have my problems and my struggles, just like everybody does, I am still an incredibly lucky person! I have a supportive family, great friends and a lovely boyfriend who all care about me a great deal. I have three meals a day, a roof over my head and lots of luxuries that others simply do not. I definitely need to remember that more often!

5. Gain more confidence
Last but not least, I want to finally find my inner confidence. I am my own worst critic and I think I need to remember not to be so hard on myself. Who cares if there's a photo of me from a night out where I'm not looking my best or if I have a pimple. I need to remember that we are all beautiful in our own way, even if it is hard to think of yourself in that way sometimes!

Although this was an extremely different post to normal, I hope that you enjoyed reading about my hopes and aspirations for the up an coming months. I am hoping to achieve all of these goals over the next few months, as I really want to better myself and my life. I hope I can somehow inspire some of you to do the same too! Do you have any goals that you would like to put into motion this spring/summer? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Post From The Past: Creme Egg Brownies

With Easter just around the corner, I thought that I would dig up the recipe for these delicious Creme Egg Brownies that I first previewed on my blog around this time last year. There are so many lovely Easter treats recipes floating around at the moment including the classic 'Easter Nests' made from shredded wheat to more challenging bakes like making your own hot cross buns from scratch! However, this super chocolate-y and indulgent brownie recipe will always be a firm favourite in my eyes. You can read my original post from last April by clicking here, or else, keep on reading for a recap of both the ingredients you will need and the step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients needed
185g of unsalted butter
185g of dark chocolate
85g of plain flour
40g of cocoa powder
3 large eggs
275g of golden caster sugar
6 Cadbury's Creme Eggs

Step 1
Place your Creme Eggs in the fridge to firm up for later. Then, melt the dark chocolate and butter together using whichever method you prefer and set it aside to cool.

Step 2
Crack the three eggs into a bowl and add all of the golden caster sugar. Mix the ingredients together at a high speed for around 3 minutes or until the mixture has doubled in volume.

Step 3

Pour the cooled chocolate and butter mixture into the bowl with the eggs and sugar. Gently fold until everything is combined.

Step 4 

Sieve your plain flour & cocoa powder into the mixture and gently fold it all together. Pour the finished mixture into your greased/lined baking tin, smooth it out and cook for 15 minutes.

Step 5

Whilst the brownies are cooking, take your Creme Eggs out of the fridge and cut them into halves using a sharp knife. After the 15 minutes are up, remove the brownies from the oven and gently press the egg halve into the mixture. Cook for a further 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 6
Cut the brownies into squares whilst they are still hot and in the tin, as it is much easier, and then leave them to cool. Then, dig in!

Please let me know if you decide to try out this truly scrumptious recipe for yourself, I know you won't regret it (apart from maybe the calories haha!) My boyfriend has booked some time off of work this week and so I am really excited to make another batch with him this week. I cannot wait to dig in and I bet that you can't too!

My New Healthy Habits

Recently, I have been feeling very unhappy with my body and I have finally decided to take action! I have consciously tried to eat healthier for quite a long time now but I have found myself falling off the wagon time and time again. So, I knew that I had to start taking my eating habits a little more seriously than before. I know that 'dieting' is not for me because that word is extremely restricting, plus I only really need to shed a few pounds and tone up a little. With that in mind, I have decided to slowly ween myself away from the junk that I was eating before and simply make a few healthier choices instead (rather than cutting everything out at once.)

Today, I wanted to share with you the three main changes that I have made so far and show you my new 'healthy habits.' Let's get started!

1. Exercise
Ever since leaving school and no longer having those grueling PE lessons on the sports field, I have not participated in much physical activity - especially since I gave up my dancing lessons when I was 16 too. So, I have decided to start off with small exercises that still get my heart pumping. I have been taking my dog for more brisk walks, as well as using a Pilates DVD to help tone up my stomach, legs, arms and bum.

2. Porridge for breakfast
I used to eat Crunchy Nut almost every morning for breakfast and although it wasn't the unhealthiest thing in the world, most cereals contain a lot of sugar. So, I have recently switched to having this Special K red berry porridge instead. Not only does the wholegrain fill you up for longer but each sachet only contains 104 calories. Result!

3. Snack substitutions
As soon as I got peckish throughout the day, the first thing I used to reach for was was the biscuit tin or a chocolate bar. The temptation was just too good to be true! However, I have now started to choose slightly healthier snacks instead. I reach for a piece of fruit, a yoghurt or cereal bar instead. I love Yu! dried fruit pieces as they count as one of your 5 a day. Plus, Nakd bars are simply made up of dates, cashews, raisins and fruit.

So, those are the three subtle changes that I have made to my diet and exercise regime so far. I still have a long way to go, as I have really only just started but I am looking forward to becoming a healthier and more active individual. What are your 'healthy habits'? What do you like to do in order to stay fit? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, as I would appreciate any advice to help me better myself even further!

My Current Obsessions

Hi guys! I have really been enjoying writing more lifestyle based blog posts recently, especially as I do not have too many beauty products to review at the minute. I have been getting a lot of inspiration from other bloggers and their innovative lists for potential blog ideas (tips like these are really helpful from time to time!) One idea that I really liked the sound of was writing about my current obsessions. I think what really excited me about the prospect of writing this post was that it would enable my followers to get to know me and my personality a little better... so, that's exactly what I did! Without any further ado, here are my nine current obsessions.

Pretty Little Liars
I absolutely love this show! There are only a few more episodes until we allegedly find out who 'A' is, the suspense is killing me!

My Dog
Of course, I have loved my dog from the moment we got her - so, she is obviously one of my permanent obsessions. I love taking adorable photos of her on Instagram!

Ariana Grande
I love everything about Ariana, from her music to her sense of style. She has an incredible voice and her songs are super catchy too.

Looking at homeware online
My brother is moving out very soon, so I will be switching over to a much bigger bedroom (yay!) I am so excited to re-decorate and I have been browsing for inspiration online a lot over the past couple of weeks.

Watching countless Youtube videos
Zoella, Tanya Burr, Amelia Liana, Essiebutton, Lily Pebbles, Vivianna Does Makeup... the list is endless! I am forever watching these lovely ladies online for beauty and fashion inspo!

My Naked 2 palette
Ever since I received this palette for Christmas, I am now a fully-fledged eyeshadow lover and I am really enjoying getting to grips with creating all sorts of different looks.

Lazy Sundays
There is nothing I love more on a Sunday than to chill out with my boyfriend, order a Dominos, snuggle up and watch a good film or TV show.

Lush products
Taking a long bath with a colourful, scented bath bomb is one of my favourite hobbies. Lush goodies make bath time a lot more fun!

Anything Kardashian/Jenner related
I cannot wait for the new series of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, I am seriosuly addicted! I also love each of the girls' individual styles, plus their make-up is always on point!

So, those are my nine current obsessions. I hope that you enjoyed reading all about them and getting to know me a little better too! What are your current obsessions? Are any the same as mine? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below!

My All Time Favourite Blog Posts

Yesterday, I was thinking about when I first started my blog back in 2013 and how even though I still have a tiny amount of followers (although that doesn't really matter to me,) my blog and its content has progressed drastically over the last two years. I never used to edit my photos to make them more aesthetically pleasing, my posts were seldom original and they just didn't have enough detail at all. As well as this, my writing style has come on leaps and bounds - it is way better than it used to be! Consequently, I have found myself scrolling back through my blog and discovering a few posts that I am really proud of. Therefore, today, I wanted to share my all time favourite blog posts that I have ever written with you all today. Think of it as a little blast from the past if you will!

1. 'Love, Tanya' Book Review
First up is one of my more recent posts, a review of Tanya Burr's new book. The reason why I am proud of this particular post is that it shows how my photography has improved over time, I am paying much more attention to detail and how to make the composition of the image prettier and more appealing.

2. Easter Baking: Creme Egg Brownies
I think the reason as to why this is one of my favourite posts is pretty obvious... these brownies are indulgent and down right delicious! Although I didn't create the recipe myself, I was so happy with the end result. Normally, my work only gets recognition from other bloggers but even some friends and family read this post and used the recipe as well, which felt very rewarding!

3. Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour Review
This review of the Provocalips lip colours from Rimmel is my most read blog post ever, so I had to include it mainly for that reason alone! However, I am also proud of how informative this post was, as I went into as much detail as I could to review the product to my readers.

4. Benefit's 'Do The Bright Thing' Beauty Kit
This is one of my favourite product reviews I have ever written because it so in depth. I do believe that is also my lengthiest review too! There were so many aspects to this Benefit beauty kit and I really enjoyed testing each product out. Plus, it was given to me as a birthday present too - which means that it was even more exciting and special to write about!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my all time favourite blog posts and why I was proud of each one. What is your favourite blog post that you have ever written? Leave me a link to it below and I'll be sure to check it out!

'Love, Tanya' Book Review

Whilst out shopping on Tuesday morning, I decided to pop into Waterstones and pick up popular blogger and YouTuber Tanya Burr's new debut book, 'Love, Tanya.' Luckily, I was able to get the last copy in the store - apparently its been selling like hot cakes (which I am not surprised by!) Without even meaning to, I got so engrossed by the book that I have already read its entirety, and so I thought that I would share my thoughts and opinions on it with my lovely followers!

Ever since Tanya announced that she would be writing a book, I was really excited by the prospect that she would be sharing lots of aspects of her life that we didn't already know about. Within the book, Tanya delves a little deeper into her childhood and how she has grown up over the years. Plus, she has also added some more lighthearted sections to the book too - such as skincare, make-up and baking! There are twelve chapters in total and my two personal favourite topics are Love (where she talks about her relationship with Jim) and Confidence & Happiness (where she talks about learning to love and accept herself.)

The book itself has been put together so well; everything from the colour scheme and photography is perfect! You can really tell how much time and effort Tanya and the people helping her put into making this book so wonderful. Not only is there a gorgeous shot of Tanya at the start of every chapter but there are also so more personal, never seen before photographs too. 

Also, another unique element to the book is that there is the occasional page where you can write about some of your own experiences. For example, within the 'Growing Up: Part Two' chapter, there is a place for you to write about the ten things that have shaped who you have become. Although this may be a fun and interactive aspect for younger readers to make them feel more involved, I personally think that the book is just too nice to write in!

Overall, I think it's safe to say that I really enjoyed this book considering how quickly I read it! As well as enjoying the more heartfelt and personal parts of the book, I also really liked the fun chapters on all things health & beauty too! I also really want to try making one of the recipes in the book, as they all look super yummy and the recipes look easy to follow. To summarise my thoughts, below is a list of pros and cons about 'Love,Tanya.'

Pros
Lovely photography
Contains great hints and tips on a wide range of topics
Appealing to a wide age range of girls
High quality design
Reasonable price point

Cons
The book is too nice to write in yourself (in my opinion!)

'Love,Tanya' retails at £12.99 and is available Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smith. Will you be getting a copy?

What I Got For Christmas 2014

Hi guys, I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas with your loved ones! It seems like 'What I Got For Christmas' posts are extremely popular amongst the beauty blogger community, so today I thought that I would jump on the bandwagon and show you all the gifts that I received from my friends and family this year. As always, I feel incredibly lucky and privileged for all of the presents that I have received and I have been thoroughly spoilt. I am a very lucky girl! So, without any further rambling, lets begin.

One of the main presents from my parents this year was the Naked 2 palette, also accompanied by the Real Techniques eye starter set. I am typically a liquid liner girl but I have been wanting to get into using more eyeshadow and changing up my look, so I am incredibly happy that I received these two gifts! I cannot wait to start using them and create the perfect smokey eye! On top of this, my parents also bought me my second ever lipstick from MAC in the shade 'Plumful,' which I have been eyeing up for quite a while.

I also received some more gorgeous beauty bits from my friend Sarah that I am beyond happy with! She bought me a MAC eyeshadow in 'Joy & Laughter,' a Clinique lid smoothie and a Bobbi Brown tinted eye brightener.

From my brother, I asked for a whole lot of Lush products this year! I asked for some of my all time favourites (The Comforter and Buffy Body Butter,) as well as some more festive items that I am yet to try. I am really excited to use the Luxury Lush Pud as I've seen how multi-coloured it turns your bath water and I am also so pleased that I am finally the owner of Snow Fairy, it smells soooo sweet and delicious!

Another amazing gift that I received from my parents is this gorgeous bra and knicker set from Boux Avenue! I absolutely love the colour and design of this underwear and I feel so lucky because Boux Avenue are such a luxurious brand. The set was packaged up so nicely and there were even white petals hidden inside the box! I've never really spent that much money on lingerie in the past, so this is a real treat for me! 

My boyfriend got me a lovely array of gits this year! Firstly, he bought me The Fault In Our Stars and the final 90210 box set which was missing from my DVD collection. Plus, a huge box of Munchies that I can indulge in whilst watching all of my new discs. As well as this, he also got me a few Lush bits that all smell absolutely amazing, as he knows how much of a Lush addict I am. However, the most amazing gift of all is the most gorgeous feather necklace from Pandora! I was incredibly shocked when I opened it up as I have never been bought expensive jewellery before. This necklace is so special to me and it's something that I can keep forever!

As you can see, my parents thoroughly treated me this year, as I also received a new bottle of my favourite perfume - Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna. As well as this, they also got me these adorable Minnie Mouse fleece pyjamas. They are the most comfortable & cosy PJ's ever and they're so soft that even more dog loves to lie on them!

Last but not least, my friend Laura got me these two lovely presents. First up are these cute penguin slipper socks. They are really comfy and I just love the adorable slogan on them! As well as this she also got me this really cool lip set from Kiko, which is a brand that I've never tried before. The set include a matching pinky nude lipstick and lip liner. They are the perfect every day colour and are super long lasting!

Overall, I am so happy with each and every present that I received from my friends, family and boyfriend this year. I know that I am incredibly lucky to get such wonderful gifts and I cannot wait to start using them all. I hope you all liked reading my 'What I Got For Christmas' post. If you have done a post like this yourself, please send me a link to it because I would love to see what all of my followers got too! Thank you for reading and again, I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

Hi guys. I'm sure you all know that feeling of having guests turn up at your house last minute around Christmas time and it's often hard to know what to give them upon their arrival. So today, I thought that I would show you this super simple yet impressive peppermint hot chocolate recipe! I originally got this recipe from the BBC Good Food website here but I have adapted it ever so slightly to make it even more minty and delicious. Let's get started!

To make six servings of this yummy drink, you will need:

200g of plain chocolate
600ml of milk
150ml of single or double cream
6 candy canes
1/2 a teaspoon of peppermint essence
A can of whipped cream
Cocoa powder (for dusting)

1. Break up your chocolate and add into a pan along with the milk and peppermint essence. Gently heat the mixture until all of the chocolate has melted. Continue to heat the mixture until the milk starts to steam.

2. Then, remove the pan from the heat and incorporate the cream into the mixture. Pour your mixture into each cup.

3. Add some whipped cream on top, pop on your candy can and sprinkle a little bit of cocoa powder on top for decoration.

And voila, a tasty and warming peppermint hot chocolate within a couple of minutes! This drink will be bound to impress your guests upon arrival, even though the recipe is so quick and easy to make! Do you like the look of this minty drink? What will you be serving to your guests over the festive period? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.  Also, this will now be my last post until a few days after Christmas Day, so I hope that all of my lovely followers have a lovely Christmas and get lots of wonderful gifts this year! Thank you :)

The Perfect Autumn Recipe

In the past, I have only ever done baking posts on my blog. However, today, I am bringing you something a little different in the form of a savoury dish that is perfect for autumn and winter. This lamb and sweet potato curry is the most delicious warming and hearty dinner for when it's cold and dark outside. Since my Mum and I first attempted this dish a couple of months back (found on the Simply Beef & Lamb website here,) it has become one of my favourite meals to have. Not only is it a yummy yet mild, fragrant curry, it is also packed with ingredients that are good for you too! Although the list of ingredients below looks pretty extensive, you will find that you probably already have some of this stuff in your cupboard already, so try not to be put off by that! If you have clicked on the link to the original recipe above, you may notice that I have made some changes but that's the beauty about cooking, it's adaptable to your own tastes. So, without any further rambling, let's get straight on with the recipe!

For a curry that serves four, you will need:

450g of lamb cut into generous chunks
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2tsp of oil
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped or crushed
400g of canned chopped tomatoes
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated
1sp of tumeric
3tbsp of garam masala
200ml lamb stock
A pinch of salt and pepper
4 handfuls of spinach
Juice of 1/2 lime
Chopped coriander for garnishing

Step 1
Heat half of the oil in a large saucepan and brown the lamb for roughly 4 minutes (you may have to do this in batches as there is a lot of lamb to be cooked and you want to be thorough.) Then, leave the meat aside on a plate for the time being.

Step 2
Heat up the rest of the oil in the same pan and cook the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, tumeric and garam masala for a couple of minutes until everything is soft and golden. Remember to ensure that your spices do not burn or stick to the pan!

Step 3
Add your browned lamb back into the saucepan. Then, add the canned tomoatoes and stock in too. Bring the mixture to the boil, then allow it to simmer slowly with the saucepan lid on for about 2 to 2 and a half hours. Remember to stir every 30 mins and season it with salt and pepper if you think it needs it.

Step 4
Twenty minutes before the end of your cooking time, add in the sweet potato and lime juice. Once those twenty minutes are up, add in your spinach and stir it unto the curry until it wilts.

Step 5
Serve up your curry with a side of basmati rice and add some chopped coriander to garnish and add even more flavour. For an extra treat, you could have some naan bread or some poppadoms too!

So guys, I hope you all enjoyed reading this recipe and are maybe thinking about trying it out yourselves! It really is the perfect meal for this time of year and I know that I am going to be having it an awful lot. This dish is also a great batch recipe too, so feel free to freeze or refrigerate your leftovers so that they can be used for another day! What do you think of this tasty lamb & sweet potato curry? Will you be giving this delectable recipe a go? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!