My Month Via Instagram - July 2013

Hi guys, I cannot believe that another month has flown by already - 2013 is going so quickly! This month has been particularly lovely due to England finally getting some hot and sunny weather, which means that I have been out enjoying the sunshine whilst it lasts! This month has also been pretty exciting as yet again I have had quite a few nights out. So, without anymore rambling, let's begin talking about what I have been up to all throughout July.

1. First of all this month, to kick off our spell of nice weather, me and my friend Sarah spent an entire weekend together laying in the sun and eating a ton of yummy barbecue food. One Saturday afternoon, we decided to drive to one of our local parks for a change of scenery as opposed to my back garden. Little did we know that there was a huge event going on in the park and the entrance to the park had this really cute rainbow inflatable and I just had to get a photograph! Inside the event was a charity stall for Lukemia & Lymphoma, which me and Sarah both donated money to and got a free key-ring - that was our good deed for the day complete :)

2. My friend Sydney completed a nail course last year and recently she has been doing my nails for me. This time around, I decided to go for a natural polish as opposed to Shellac or acrylics as my nails are quite weak and damaged at the moment. I chose a lovely aqua blue colour and then went on to pick one of OPI's limited edition James Bond glitter polishes for an accent on my ring fingers. The combination of these two polishes really reminded me of mermaids on the ocean, the end result was so pretty!

3. My friends Danielle, Sarah and I were invited to a house party and this is a photograph that we took before we went. We all decided to get ready together at Sarah's house and do a little bit of pre-drinking too. The outfit I chose to wear was a denim Topshop bralet, which you can kind of see in the photo, teamed with a plain black skater skirt and sandals to keep me cool in the hot weather (it was even too hot to bother wearing heels!) The night was so much fun and I don't think that I stopped laughing all night!

4. This photo is from a a day where I simply stayed at home all day and worked on my tan. As you can see, this year I have tanned pretty well (especially for a fair-skinned blonde, blue eyed girl,) however, I accidentally chose an Instagram filter that made my skin look incredibly orange - oops! I took this quick snap because I thought it was really cute how my dog Sasha decided to come and lie right by me and enjoy the sun too!

5. I took this photo to show my outfit before an impromptu night out with my friend Charlotte. I managed to convince her to come out on a bit of a whim and I put this outfit together last minute. It's pretty simple, seeing as it just a black crop top and some high-waisted denim shorts, but I threw on some accessories and some fake eyelashes and I was ready to go. We went to a a club in my hometown that plays rock and alternative music, which is right up my alley! I love spontaneous nights out as they always turn out to be much better than planned ones and this night was definitely a random and eventful one!

6. Last but not least, and probably my favourite part of the month, is the fact that my best friend and fellow blogger Laura finally came home from Germany. She had been over in Dusseldorf for four months as part of an Erasmus for her university course and obviously, I miss her terribly. To surprise Laura upon her return, me and a few others decorated the front of Laura's house with lots of welcome home banners and balloons. We also wrote her a card and got her a few little gifts too. When Laura turned up and we welcomed her on her door step, it was really funny because me and Laura were wearing the same exact dress from H&M and so we decided to take a picture! I'm so happy that my best friend is home and I am excited for all of the fun we will have for the rest of the summer! 

That's all for this months update! I hope that you have enjoyed reading about my antics all throughout out July. Please stay tuned to my blog as I have lots of posts planned over the next few weeks. Thank you :) 

Outfit Of The Day: Maxi Skirt

Top: Topshop (£8) - Skirt: New Look (£19.99) 

Hi guys. Again, I realise that it has been over a week since I last blogged and so I am making up for it today with something that I have never done before - an outfit of the day post! I have always been dubious of maxi skirts because as a petite girl who is a mere five foot two inches tall, I tend to steer away from long lengths as I have always felt that I suit shorter lengths and I have always just stuck to that. However, I have taken the plunge and finally purchased an aztec print maxi skirt. Consequently, I thought I would share my outfit with you today as I am on my way to a barbecue this afternoon. I absolutely love the entire outfit and I've come to realise that I can get away with maxi skirts after all. I have so many tops in my wardrobe that will go with this garment, especially as the skirt is black and white, which will match almost anything. To take this skirt into the evening, I would switch to some wedges instead of the sandals that I am wearing today. Also, teaming this outfit with a denim jacket over the top would also look lovely. 

Necklace: Primark (£2) - Ring: New Look (£3.99) which is part of a pack of 4

Shoes: New Look (£17.99)

If you would like me to do more Outfit Of The Day posts in the future then please comment below and let me know as I really enjoyed putting this post together! Thank you for reading :) 

Summer Beauty: Essential Products

Hi guys! Following on from my previous post, 'Summer Style: Crop Tops,' I thought that today I would share with you some hair & beauty products that have been getting me through this lovely spell of hot weather that we have been having in England lately. Soaring temperatures often means that our make-up is prone to sliding off and our hair becomes unruly, which are both major beauty no-nos. Whether you are off on holiday or are just enjoying the beautiful sunshine here in this country, the products I have chosen should definitely be essentials in your beauty kit. So, here are the few key products that I have chosen... let's get started!

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light - £7.99

During the summer months, it's very important to take care of your skin by using products that contain SPF to protect us from the suns harmful rays. I love this BB cream by Maybelline because it's so light on your skin and it almost feels like you are wearing nothing on your face at all. Plus, it has SPF 30 in it too which is perfect for days when you still want to wear make-up despite the heat. BB creams are great alternatives to foundation during the summer, as wearing heavy make-up can clog your skin and cause you to sweat and eventually break out (ew!) I simply apply this product to my skin using a buffing brush and then set it with powder to make sure it doesn't slip off of my skin during the day.

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm -£2.69

This lip balm by Carmex does exactly what it says on the tin (or tube in this case.) It soothes, relieves and moisturises your lips and also leaves them with a nice glossy, sheen too. When out in the sun, many of us neglect our lips and forget to protect them in the same way that we would protect our skin with sun tan lotion. Luckily, this balm contains SPF 15 to keep your lips from burning or drying out in the sun. In addition, I love this product for it's delicious cherry flavour. Carmex also make other versions of this lip balm including Strawberry and Mint, which smell just as lovely. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical - £1.99

Over the last few years, dry shampoo has become a cult product for so many people and I am a huge fan of Batiste in particular. Batiste can instantly refresh your hair and stop it from looking greasy inbetween washes, as it is unhealthy to wash your locks every day as it strips your hair of it's natural oils. In addition, the spray adds lots of volume to your hair and so if you have very fine or lifeless hair, you can also use this spray to add a bit of uplift to your tresses. To use this product, simply spray it on to your roots and then massage it in (you can also brush it through with a comb if needed.)  This dry shampoo comes in a variation of scents (including Cherry and Blush,) so there is definitely a scent to suit everyone. I use the tropical scent which is a lovely coconut smell, which is so refreshing and it reminds me of being on holiday. Batiste also do travel mini versions of this product, which are perfect for if you are on the go and need to slip a can into your handbag.

Revlon Photo Ready Perfecting Primer - £9.99

The key to getting your make-up to stay on all day is to prep your skin using a primer. Primers mattify your skin, which decreases shine, and creates a base for the rest of your make-up. In turn, this will allow your foundation to stay on much longer than it usually would and prevent it from slipping. I love this Revlon Photo Ready primer as it also really minimises the appearance of your pores and any imperfections that you may have. Of course, high end and premium primers will probably do a much better job, but I think that this primer is so affordable and it is easily accessible in the high-street. However saying this, I would love to own a Smashbox primer as they are meant to be amazing!

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets - 99p

Last but not least, this pack of 50 blotting papers from Kleenex are so useful. Hot and humid weather often causes your skin to become a lot more oily - especially around your t-zone area. Normally, we combat shine by applying powder, but doing this several times a day is not only time consuming, but it is also bad for your skin too. Caking on layers of powder throughout the day can clog your skin and can cause a variety of problems including spots and blemishes. Instead, consider using shine absorbing sheets. They absorb the oil on your face just by you dabbing the sheet on to your face. The greatest thing about this product is that the packaging is so compact, so you can literally pop the sheets in to your handbag and you will always be prepared for when that shininess appears. I bought these sheets when they were on sale in Sainsbury's for 99p and I have since looked for them online to find the original price. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find them on websites like Boots or Superdrug etc. I have only found them in stock on various pharmacy and beauty websites where the price seems to vary. However, there are so many brands out there that also do blotting papers which are widely available in shops and I highly recommend you give them a go!

I hope that this little essential products post has been helpful and that you have enjoyed reading about them. As always, I love reading your opinions so if you have ever used any of these products or even if you want to after reading these mini reviews, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. Thank you :)

Summer Style: Crop Tops

Hi guys. I haven't posted anything for about a week now and honestly, it's because I have been lacking in ideas lately. So, whilst I am searching for some blog inspiration, I have decided to do a post about one of this seasons biggest trends - crop tops. In the UK, we have had some lovely sunshine over the past week or so, hence, it is perfect weather for throwing on a pretty crop top with some high-waisted shorts or a skirt. Topshop have a great selection of bralets and crop tops in at the moment, so this post is dedicated purely to Topshop garments. You can always count on Topshop for having high-quality clothing that fits really well. Although Topshop is usually quite pricey, these tops are rather cheap in comparison. Furthermore, without any further ado, here are my five favourite crop tops in stock at the moment.

1. Tribal Aztec Crop Tee - £12.00 
Firstly, I adore the tribal design on this crop top. Topshop also have a bodycon dress version of this garment, which I purchased a few months ago, and I feel so confident when I wear it. The fabric is super-stretchy and is just the right thickness, so that it is not too hot to wear in the summer months. As you are all probably aware by now, tribal print is huge this season so why not combine two trends in one and buy this beautiful top? I know I'm going to! 

2. Zebra Cupped Bralet Top - £16.00
Secondly, I love this aqua coloured zebra bralet. I think that this design is amazing because it is so unique and eye-catching - I have never seen a design like it before! This garment is rather in your face, so it is not to be worn by the faint-hearted. I think that teaming it with a simple plain black skater skirt would be really flattering. You could either dress the outfit down with some cute sandals or dress it up with some heels or wedges. It's a really versatile and striking item and it is definitely on my current wish list! 

3. Stamp Print Crop Top - £12.00
Next, this crop top really grabbed my attention due to it's intriguing pattern which included lots of different coloured stamps. I rarely buy white tops that are tight to the body as I find it hard to find a bra that does not show through it (even with a nude or flesh-coloured bra.) However, I think that the pattern breaks up the material nicely, which will in turn make it easier to wear. I particularly love the pale colours featured in the design which makes the top feel really summery. 

4. Super Lace Crop Top - £12.00
This crop top is stunning! I am a big lover of lace and I have a lot of it in my wardrobe because it makes me feel really girly and feminine. The neon orange colour of this crop top is very on trend at the moment and it will definitely make you stand out in a crowd! Plus, neon colours tend to look amazing against a tan, which means that this top would be perfect for wearing on holiday. This top also comes in other colours (neon yellow, lilac & pale pink,) which are equally as pretty. Make sure you check them out!

5. Lace Corset Top - £22.00
Last but not least, and the most expensive item I have picked, is this monochrome lace bralet. I wear a lot of black & white as I feel that those colours suit me well, so I was instantly drawn in to this particular top. Out of the five bralets and crop tops that I have picked today, I think that this crop top would be specifically for a night out or for a dressier occasion. I really love that the lace features flowers in it's design, which instantly makes the garment appear girly and gives it that 'cute' feel. I must save up and buy it!

I hope that you all enjoyed reading about my top five bralets and crop tops from Topshop. Please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know if you will be braving it and be sporting a crop top this summer! Also, if any of you have any posts that you would like me to do in the near future, then please leave your suggestions below. I would love your help to give me some extra inspiration! Thank you :)

My Guest Post For Beauty Becky

Hi guys. I recently wrote a post for one of my favourite blogs that I follow, Beauty Becky. As Becky is currently on holiday, she hand selected a few fellow bloggers to write a post for her which have been scheduled whilst she is away. The topic I chose to write about is 'My Top 5 Beauty Buys For Under £5.' As mentioned in the post, I am a firm believer that many high street brands can be just as good, if not better, than some higher end products. The products that I have selected for this post are so effective and are great for those on a budget. 

Furthermore, I would really appreciate it if you all clicked here to hop over to Becky's page and give the full article a read. Also, I really recommend that you all follow Becky as her blog is amazing, so I will leave all of her social networking links below. Thank you for reading and keep your eyes peeled for more posts very soon!

Beauty Becky's Links
Blog - Twitter - YouTube - Facebook - Bloglovin' - Instagram