Housewarming hamper!

My friend/university housemate has recently moved into a new home with her boyfriend, so I decided to buy them a few small presents to make one big hamper/parcel. Normally, I would have got her one big present, but seeing that I used to live with her, I know she pretty much has everything she needs. Plus, I just love the idea of making hampers.

I started off the hamper by buying some cards. Obviously, one card had to be a 'new home' card seeing that this is the reason why I am making the hamper. And the second card happened to be a 'Congratulations' card as she has recently passed some exams and got into Brighton University to do her PGCE for primary education. So proud of her!

Let me just mention here, me and my friend are obsessed with Cath Kidston. In our University house, you would have found it so hard to go into a room without finding something by Cath Kidston. We had teapots, cake stands, cutlery, the lot. So to keep with our old University theme, I got her a Cath Kidston keyring as I believe with every new house key you get you also need a new keyring to hang alongside it. And the Cath Kidston travel tag will be useful for her whenever she flies back to her homeland in Southern Ireland. 

Here are the things I actually bought for the house. The first, which you may find a bit random, is some hand wash. Hand wash as a present you say? Well, when it smells like strawberry laces it is totally understandable, especially when my friend went her whole University life munching on the sweet laces. Plus, hand wash is always guaranteed to be used. So yeah, I've convinced myself it's totally a good idea to include this into the hamper. I may also have to buy myself some, as well as the coca cola and orange chocolate scented ones. 

The second homely item is a porcelain milk jug in the shape of a milk carton. So cute! As soon as I saw it I just had to get it for the hamper....and one for myself. I thought she could either have it as a decoration in the kitchen, or use it for milk whenever she uses her Cath Kidston teapot when guests are over. 

These two gifts were cheapies from Primark. £1 for each of them. And for the price, I just could not leave them. Seeing as it's summer coming soon, and I know she is a huge fan of a BBQ gathering every now and then, I knew these would be the perfect addition to the hamper. I thought the ice cubes would be a great idea seeing that every time we used to have a BBQ we'd always forget to make ice, so now she can just simply put these away and not worry about warm cocktails. 

The ice cream scoop speaks for itself really. It just looks amazing, and even though my friend hardly ever has ice cream I know she'll still love this and will most probably buy ice cream just to try it out. I got to admit I can't imagine it being very strong seeing as it's plastic, so I just hope it doesn't snap straight away.

This small watering can decoration is a bit of a joke. My friend recently sent me a picture of a bit of flower planting she had done in her garden which came as a bit of a surprise as I never knew my friend had green fingers. So yeah, this cute watering can is included so that it can be placed in the soil amongst her pretty flowers.

The heart shaped decoration is made out of loads of small bells, which actually really annoyed me as I walked around the shop with it. It's just so noisy, but so pretty. Plus, you can't have a hamper without a small decoration for the bedroom or lounge. 

This pretty paisley lunch bag was actually bought for my friend as a well done present for getting onto her PGCE course. On this course they are required to carry out a placement in a school, so I thought buying her a lunch bag will allow her to keep her sandwiches fresh during those long work days. Even though this is a well done present, I thought I may as well include it into this hamper.

And finally the chocolate. You simply cannot have a hamper without some sort of food, and in this case it is all chocolate. 

To finish off the hamper I wrapped up every present in brown paper, and then tied up a few with some pretty string to give it that old fashioned parcel vibe. 

Now all that's left to do is to send it and wait for her surprised reaction. Let's hope she likes it. 

x x

How to deal with oily skin

For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from oily skin and I know I am not the only one. It can be annoying trying to deal with greasy skin everyday, especially when you are a makeup fanatic. Though I am still looking to find a product that can stop my pores from producing an unfortunate amount of oil forever, I have instead learnt many different ways that can help reduce an oily look which many of us dread.

Have a good and effective night routine -
Don't just use facial wipes, instead make sure your routine includes scrubs, cleansers, and toners. Scrubs are a brilliant way of getting rid of any dirt and dead skin cells, whilst cleansers get rid of the bacteria on your skin and in your pores. The toners will help to close your pores which is where the culprit of your oily skin is created. So by closing your pores will hopefully help tone down the oil. I would recommend to stay away from alcohol products as they strip the skin which can be unkind. Instead try and go for a micellar water or a gel cleaner.

Use an oil free moisturiser -
After your scrub, cleanser, and toner routine, use a moisturiser. Even though you may think that your skin is hydrated enough with all the oils leaving your pores, you should still moisturise morning and nighttime as even oily skin needs to be hydrated. But make sure your moisturiser is oil and alcohol free.

Use a makeup primer -
Using primer before applying your makeup will help keep your makeup at bay throughout the whole day, which is exactly what us oily skin people need. For my oily skin I personally prefer to use a silicone based primer as I think it creates better and longer results to help make my makeup look less greasy. It is great to use all over the face, but do make sure to focus on applying it to your oily zones.

Use oil free makeup -
This may seem obvious to many of you, but some people who have oily skin do not realise that it is down to the fact that it is because their makeup has oil in it, especially their foundations and concealers. So if you avoid makeup with oil in then you may find that this could be your main culprit.

Use colourless powder -
I'm sure we are all familiar with the quote "powder my nose", well this is indeed a good way to help reduce the appearance of an oily nose. By applying a powder to your skin with mop up the oil allowing a less greasy look. However, if you are doing this then please stay away from tinted powder. I know tinted powder matches your skin tone perfectly, but by using this it will just create a cakey look. Instead, go for a powder that appears colourless. This will get rid of the oil whilst also keeping your makeup looking natural. Rimmel sells a good powder called 'Stay matte pressed powder' which can be bought here.

Blotting paper - 
For a quick fix the best thing to do is just blot the oil away with some blotting paper or tissue. This will immediately get rid of the oil but it is likely to come back a few hours later. So make sure to keep a packet handy in your bag, or if you're desperate just lightly dab some tissue paper.

Facial masks -
Try and use a facial mask once or twice a week as they are a great to tighten the pores. As said up above, if you can tighten the pores then it is likely less oil will be produced. To get the best results then I would recommend using a clay mask.

x x

Ideal shoes for high heeled haters

Top left to right 
1. Topshop - Naive cross through sandals - tan - £45

2. Kurt Geiger - Block heel sandals - black - £95

3. Asos - Humour heeled sandals - £40

Bottom left to right 

4. Missguided - Genna flatform sandals - Nude and black - £27.99

5. Bank - Ribbon scrappy mega platform - white - £30

6. Asos - Harrow heeled sandals - Off white or Aqua - £30

If you, like me, dread the day you have to go to an elegant celebration because you know this means hours of agonising feet pain from the high heeled shoes that women are expected to wear these days, well good news is here, the past year or so mid heels have come into fashion, and they don't all look like a 12 year olds first pair of kitten heels.

It is a cliche that all women have to wear high heeled shoes to look good with a dress. I admit we do look pretty darn hot in heels, but for some, wearing heels is pretty impossible, and I am one of those girls. All of my life I have lusted after every pair of heels thinking that one day I may be able to finally walk in them longer than ten minutes. I don't know if it's due to the fact that I may have weak ankles, weak foot muscles, or maybe a weird foot structure, but all I know is that after ten minutes the balls of my feet are in unbearable pain. It feels like I have suddenly acquired huge bruises on the bottom of my feet. I have tried all sorts to help: wearing foot cushions, walking around the house on tip-toes, and even trying to 'wear in' the shoes whilst doing the dishes.

Because of this annoying pain I would dread nights out, parties, and pretty much all celebrations that required me to dress up. I remember my sixth form ball where I wore stilettos just for the sit down meal and then they were kicked off as soon as I hit the dance floor. When it came to friends birthday parties, I found myself being the only girl wearing sandals or ballerina shoes. But luckily when it came to university nights out my friends were also like me, so I didn't mind so much wearing some flats. Though I couldn't help being jealous of seeing all the other girls in the club tottering around as if they were walking on pillows. Honestly how do you girls manage it?

When it came to my graduation last year however, I just knew I couldn't wear flats to this occasion. This was my big day and I really wanted to walk across that stage in high heels proudly. In reality, that was never going to happen. So instead I went on a search to look for some mid heels that could create an illusion that they were higher than what they actually were.

Luckily, I came across this one pair of shoes from Topshop that have become my saviour. Without them I do not know what I would have worn to graduation, nor what I would have worn to many occasions since. This pair of shoes do look chunky, but the platforms on them create an illusion that they're much higher than they are. Exactly what I wanted! And what's even better is the fact that my feet did not ache one bit, which means I not only looked and felt great for all the graduation photos, but I also managed to walk across the stage to accept my degree without looking like I was walking on a path of fire.

I think I got them for around £45 and although they are no longer sold on Topshop's website, I have included a similar pair on my recommended list up above. I also decided to include some other shoes that I believe would look more comfortable to wear than high heels whilst also managing to look hot enough to wear during nights out or to celebrate special occasions. Although they do still have a heel, they are actually much more comfortable than 5 inch high heels.

x x

Bedside beauty

Most girls will be all too familiar with their bedside table being taken up by an amount of beauty products that get applied whilst they lay in bed just before their head hits the pillow. Every night I do my normal scrub and cleansing routine in front of the mirror, but then when I get into bed I can't help but apply some last minute products whilst I catch-up on my tv programmes that I have missed.

1. Tweezers -
Bedtime is most probably the only time I get time to pluck my bushy eyebrows. I know it seems daft doing it when light is at its minimum, but I have a bright lamp shining right next to my bed that will allow me to see any stray hairs.

2. Nail varnish -
If I ever decide to apply a nail polish, then it will normally be applied at nighttime when I'm in bed. This allows my nails to dry and set properly whilst I watch catch-up tv. If I apply nail polish during the day then I always manage to muck the nails up by feeling the need to do tasks whilst they dry. I have just got to keep busy during the day. I also have the nail polish on my bedside table to do some touch ups whenever it is needed. At the moment my nail polish of choice is Topshop's 'Disclosed' which I have done a review on here.

3. Mvala nail hardener -
Before I apply any nail polish I will always use this nail hardener to make sure my nails don't get dry and brittle from the layers of nail polish. But if I am having a lazy day and decide not to apply a nail colour, then I will still apply this hardener when it looks like my nails need it.

4. B. Nourished night serum -
I am constantly trying out facial moisturisers to help my oily t-zones and some random patches of dry skin on my cheeks and in between my eyebrows. At the moment I am using this cream after reading up on some good reviews. At the moment I am liking it for controlling my dry skin, but it seems to be doing nothing for my oiliness.

5. Soap & Glory body cream -
This smells so nice which is why I apply it to my hands. I absolutely hate applying moisturiser to my hands as they just get all greasy and it seems to take ages for the cream to be absorbed into the skin. Because of this I always try and apply the cream at night, hence why I leave it near my bed.

6. Vaseline petroleum jelly -
This is most probably the very last thing I apply before I try to fall asleep. I normally smack on a huge layer onto my lips so that a lip mask is created in order to nourish my lips over night. Sometimes I will also add some castor oil to the mix to hydrate and protect my lips even more. If you are interested in the use of castor oil on lips, then read my blog that I typed up recently.

7. Simple spot zapper -
This is a new addition to my table, so I am yet to give a good review. I am always on the hunt for a good spot zapper that works and doesn't leave the skin dry. So, every night I use a hand held mirror to help me apply this roll-on pen onto any blemishes that are visible with hope that they will disappear by the morning.

x x

Wishlist - Spring dresses

It has come to that time of the year where I have found myself continuously browsing the internet looking for outfits that I can add to my spring wardrobe. I have now put away all of my chunky knits, my uggs, and my coats and brought out all my flowy dresses and tops. But like every year I seem to have gone off  most of the items and finding myself wanting a whole new spring and summer wardrobe. So here is some of the dresses that I am now lusting for:

1. Zara - Thin strap polka dot dress - £35.99
I am really into strappy dresses this year, and I believe this dress would not only look great during the sunny weather but it could also be worn during nights out. I love the flowy skirt near the bottom too,  it makes it an alternative to the normal shift dress

2. Motel - Penny baby doll dress in acid wash denim - £42.00
Denim dresses seemed to be everywhere last year, but I was never taken in by it. This year however, I am dying for this one from Motel. I have no idea if denim dresses are still in this year but I so want one as it would perfect just to throw on when I am feeling a bit lazy. Just accessorize it with a nice necklace and voila!

3. River Island - Yellow checkerboard t-shirt dress - £28.00
This checkered tshirt dress has had my eye for a while. I wouldn't normally be attracted by something like this because it's got that 60s fashion vibe about it, but I think it would look perfect with some white sandals on a hot day.

4. Zara - Jumpsuit with sequin embroidery - £39.99
I know this post is called 'Spring dresses' but I just had to add this playsuit to the list. I can't normally pull off a playsuit because of my wide hips, but the fact that this one is a straight style I think it would fit my curves easily. It's simple yet the embroidery really makes it look unique. And once again, I think it would look great during the day and night.

5. Asos - Smock dress in gingham and lace - £45.00
I am so into smocks this year! I just think they are perfect for all shapes and sizes, so they are perfect for when I am feeling a bit bloated. This one in particular looks so cute without looking too pretty, and it will also let me embrace my guilty love for checkered patterns without going the whole hog.

6. Topshop - Moto babydoll tropicana print dress - £36.00
I have got to admit that I am really into the tropical hawaiian type print that is all over this years summer fashion. However, I am not someone who I believe could pull off all those bright colours. So when I came across this neutral coloured dress with a tropical print I just fell in love and thought it would be the perfect way that I could express my love for the tropical print without looking too bold.

7. Motel - Patience babydoll dress in huge paisley red - £38.00
I have just bought this patterned dress but in a shift style. I am adding this skater dress to my list because I just love the pattern so much that I am actually thinking that maybe I could buy it in this style too. Or is having two dresses in the same pattern too much?

8. Boohoo - Debbie solid colour smock chiffon dress - £20.00
Even though this dress is plain it actually has me written all over it. I am a sucker for a plain skater dress which I can accessorize till my heart's content. I have been looking for a nice yellow dress for a while and this one is definitely my winner. It's just perfect! And with that price tag it's made me even more happier.

x x

Review - Leciel nail polish

The past couple of weeks I have seen endless amounts of blogs on the new 'Models Own' polish for tans range. I will hold my hands up right now and say that I have not been a fan of the range ever since I set my eyes upon it. Not because of the quality, but just because of the colours. I am not a fan of having brightly coloured nails that always seem to distract the human eye away from an outfit to the nails. I believe nails should just compliment an outfit.

However, during the week I was going through my nail polish collection to give it a quick tidy up. This is when I came across one nail varnish that reminded me of this new Models Own range. This specific polish that I am talking about is from the 'Leciel' brand in the colour '305 Carrot' which I bought from a pharmacy in Cyprus for €7. I was not familiar with the Leciel brand which is why I decided to give it a try. There were so many colours to choose from, so I have no idea what possessed me to get this bright orange which I have not even worn since its purchase. So, I decided to give this colour a chance to see if the brightness would grow on me. Maybe I would change my mind and end up buying the Models Own collection.

Note: This picture does not show off its brightness :/ 

After one day of wearing this carrot coloured polish, I think my hatred for brightly coloured nails has grown even more. I applied the nail varnish at night, and then the next morning I woke up to get ready for work and just could not decide on an outfit that would make my nails seem more dull. They seemed to stand out against each colour I tried on, I just hated it. I suppose I could understand people wearing this nail polish in a sunny country, but in the UK I could only see myself wearing it to a rave....which is likely to never happen.

The brand of the varnish itself is horrible. It's very thin to apply, it took about three to four layers to get a coverage yet still managed to look pretty streaky, after a few hours of wear the coating had created cracks and chips even though I had not done anything to influence this damage, and after removing the polish it ended up leaving a yellow stain on my nails....nice! So, seeing that this range seems not to be sold widely in the UK (fortunately) I would just like to say that if you do see this range of nail polishes whilst on holiday abroad, don't bother wasting your money on it, especially for €7 a bottle.

x x

Review - Rimmel sweetie crush nail polish

These new sugary textured nail polishes are amazing! I first saw them on Dahlia Nails blog and thought they looked ideal for Easter, so I just had to go out to Superdrug and buy a couple for £3.99 each. The pink and blue colours that I have bought are called '009 Candyfloss Cutie' and '012 Blueberry Whizz', but there are three other colours in the collection which are yellow, purple, and green which all look just as juicy as the two I bought.

Both of these colours are easy to apply which is surprising seeing that they are a textured varnish, but you do need to apply about three layers of polish to get a good and even coverage on your nails. Luckily though, the polish itself is actually pretty quick at drying so you are not waiting around for ages for your nails to dry.

So sorry for the nastiness of the skin around my nails! 

The word to describe the texture of the polishes would be grainy. Wait, is that even a word? Basically, they just feel like you have just glued some grains of sugar or sand onto your nails but in a more pleasant way. The texture is also not overpowering so that the grains are not falling off during the day, or snagging tights like some textured polishes.

Even though I do love these varnishes, I cannot help but think that they look better having a different colour on each individual nail, just how it is shown on Dahlia Nails blog. I guess this just means that I have to go out and buy the other three colours :)

x x

Heal dry and peeling lips!

For as long as I can remember I have suffered from dry, chapped, and peeling lips. Everyday I would wake up to a new layer of dry and hard skin on my lips, and by the end of the day that new layer of skin would be peeled off by myself to reveal red, cut, sore, and inflamed lips. It was not attractive at all.

It became such an annoyance to my life that I ended up going to the doctor to see if anything could be done to help. Unfortunately, that doctor's visit was pointless. They mentioned how it was likely that I had a mild form of  'exfoliative cheilitis' which actually had no cure or any product to help, so I left the doctors surgery with nothing. Since this diagnosis I have googled the condition and I have to stress to you that I must have had a VERY mild form of it because some of the pictures I saw during my search were vile and much worse than what my lips looked like. But still, the condition did seem to outline my problems.

Since this diagnosis, I have tried and tested plenty of natural and chemical products to see if anything would help. And hallelujah, I think I have finally found my cure. I understand that this routine may not work for everyone, but I thought I better blog about the products I used just incase someone wants to try it out.

First off, this may be obvious to some but you must stop licking your lips. I found out when I started this search just how much I unconsciously licked my lips to make them more hydrated. But in fact, by licking your lips you are instead dehydrating them. To avoid myself from licking my lips I made sure to always carry my trusty ol' Vaseline lip balm around with me. If I ever felt the need to lick my lips, I would instead apply Vaseline. I have got to admit, this was surprisingly very hard for me to get use to during the first couple of days. But on day three, I became much more conscious of my lip licking and the use of Vaseline.

The second thing you must do, or should I say you must not do is to peel the dry skin on your lips. Do not touch them! By peeling the skin off is like picking off a scab..... you are not allowing your lips to heal. You may find that over a couple of days the skin will naturally fall off, but this is absolutely fine. I should also mention now that it would be best to start this routine during a period when you haven't got much planned, because having obvious dry skin hanging off your lips is not a great look.

The third and final thing I do is apply castor oil and Vaseline petroleum jelly onto my lips every night to create a lip mask that will help hydrate my lips throughout the night. Castor oil is basically just a vegetable oil that has been claimed to help hair growth, help skin infections, help acne, and help hydrate the skin. And this last point is exactly why I thought it would maybe work well for my lips. Each night I get a cotton bud and dip it into my castor oil bottle and then apply a generous amount to my lips. Fortunately, this oil is odour free, but sometimes you will get a taste of vegetables in your mouth if you accidentally digest a bit. After the oil has been on my lips for about ten minutes I will then add a bit of petroleum and massage it onto my lips with the amount of oil that remains on my lips. Try and do this just before you go to bed so that it hydrates through your sleep. Sometimes, I will even apply a small amount of castor oil onto my lips in the morning as it is a clear substance so it will look like you have just applied some clear lip gloss.

And there we have it, this is my routine to help heal peely lips. It took me about a week to actually start seeing some results, but do persevere because it is totally worth it. I now have smoother lips and I can now even wear matte lipstick for the first time in my life!

x x

Accessorize daisy handbags

These daisy handbags from Accessorize are so adorable. I don't normally go for pretty and girly looking accessories as my style seems to be quite plain with my wardrobe mainly consisting of block colours. But these handbags are drawing me in. I suppose this is somewhat understandable seeing that the pattern on these bags aren't overpowering. They are in fact, plain enough for my style to deal with.

Daisy patterned clothes and accessories seem to everywhere this summer, so one of these bags can be the perfect addition to any girl's wardrobe. They come in three different pastel colours: cream, turquoise, and yellow. Again, these colours are perfect for this time of year.

When I first saw this bag it actually reminded me of Marc Jacob's 'Daisy' perfume. You know the one I am on about, the cute bottle that is topped with three white plastic daisies. Well, this perfume is actually my scent of choice, I can't live without it. And I can't help but think that because of my love for this bottled perfume, this is one of the reasons why I am so attracted to this bag. Plus, how weirdly cute would it be to smell like daisies whilst wearing them.

I am currently trying to decide which one to buy..... at the moment I am thinking either the turquoise or cream. But which ever one I pick I believe they would both look perfect with a plain top and skirt.

Get the bag from here for £19!

x x

Review - Soap & Glory Glow All Out

I have always loved Soap & Glory's bath and skin range, but for some reason I never ventured into their make-up range. Well this was true until I went Boots last week and picked up a cute packaged illuminating powder called 'Glow all out'.

Although I absolutely love the packaging of all Soap & Glory products, I can't help but be a little bit disappointed at the fact that this powder is set within a cardboard compact rather than a sturdy plastic container. I can already see it being bashed, dented, and damaged in the future. And the fact that it only closes shut through the use of a magnet, I am scared to put it in my bag just incase it opens and let's powder escape everywhere.

The powder itself is amazing. I don't normally like products that have a shimmer/glitter ingredient but the shimmer within this powder is so minimal that it is not overpowering at all. It provides a natural and subtle glow to your cheeks, and it even makes my complexion look dewy and flawlessly smooth which I love.

It is the perfect product to finish any daytime makeup routine as it's so effortless. All you need is one swipe of the palette and one swipe on the cheek, repeat this for the second cheek and then you're good to go. Now that it is in my routine, I use it on my cheeks, nose, and occasionally along my neck and shoulders if I am in my summer clothing.

Sorry for the bad quality swatch - hopefully you can still see the difference

Now that I've seen just how good the quality of this product is, I definitely will not be shy to try more of the makeup range. And fortunately, it all looks to be well priced. This particular powder was only £11. But as I said before, I just wish the packaging was stronger.

x x

What's in my travel handbag?

This evening I am off to London for the weekend with a group of my girl friends. I haven't been to London for a touristic weekend since 2012, just before the summer Olympics took place. To be honest, I don't know why I don't travel there more often than I do. I mean, I only live a two hour train ride from Paddington station, and since University I have gained plenty of friends who actually live in the city. Maybe it's to do with money, or maybe it's to do with time, but all that matters now is that I am finally returning to the city which I love dearly.

Because I am off on this trip, and because I am an organised freak who packed her suitcase days ago, I have decided to give you a quick glimpse into my handbag that I will be travelling with in these last few hours before I set off. Choosing items to go into your travel handbag can take a lot of thinking. You want to take as much as you can, but you've also got to think about size and weight. Do I really want to carry around my iPad in my bag and allow it to take up the majority of my handbag space whilst allowing it to weigh down my shoulder with pain as we walk around London cluelessly looking for our hotel? Well no of course I don't, but I know I'll get so bored on that train without being able to watch a beloved tv series. So do I take it or not? Well, here is my list....

My handbag - I have decided to take my trusty grey bag from Primark. It has a long strap for the shoulders and a short strap for times when I just feel like holding it close. There are also three compartments (two big and one small) which is great for travelling so that I can put certain bits together in each section.

My purse - I think this is most probably an essential for every person who even steps out of their house. Inside my purse I have made sure to include my ID for any partying that may occur, my bank card for obvious reasons, an Oyster card that I purchased on my last trip, and loads of loose change for the public toilets.... there's nothing worse than going to London and arriving with a bladder full and no coins.

My mobile - Again, this is an essential that hardly anyone these days leaves the house without. Battery is fully charged too which means my charger can go away into the suitcase.

Headphones - Listening to music and watching videos is a great way to pass the time.

Chewing gum - It is very likely that I'll end up snacking on some food that will create my breath to offend a lot of people. So mint chewing gum will be my saviour!

Lip balm - Every day of every month I suffer from dry and flaky lips, so lip balm is an essential in my life.

Mini deodorant - It's always nice to have a quick spritz of spray every now and then when travelling. It's a good way of making me feel more refreshed.



Bronzer - I always take either a blusher or a bronzer in my bag just incase my face needs a touch up or I need to look a bit more awake.

Stay matte powder - My skin is an oily mess so it is bound to need a bit of dabbing and going over with this powder to help keep the oil at bay.

Makeup brush - This powder brush is obviously in my bag so that I can use my bronze and matte powder.

Sunglasses - I'm taking these just incase the weather decides to be much brighter over the weekend. Even though there's a high chance I won't be wearing them on my travels today, I can always hope.

My pad and pen - I take this with me everywhere as you never know when you might need to jot down a note of some sort. Plus, I just love making random lists every now and then.

And that's it. In the end I decided against taking my iPad, and I'm even shocked at how long it took me to make that decision. My iPad is my life, I just can't live without it. But I'm sure I'll get distracted enough to not even notice it is not with me.

Now, time to catch my train :)

x x

Jogging for beginners

Last year, after going about trying to lose weight the lazy way (using toning lotions, and a few minutes of hula hooping) I had to come to terms with the fact that the only way I would ever lose the stubborn fat on my hips and thighs would be to diet and exercise. I know that this epiphany is pretty obvious, but I am a lover of food and I absolutely hate exercising (I was always the kid who was last in races and chosen last for teams). And because of this, I couldn't help but keep optimistic over the fact that there could be another way of losing weight without going down any drastic routes. But obviously I found there was not, and unfortunately for me I only came to this conclusion the day before I was due to go on holiday.

It wasn't until about a month ago I actually decided to give in and start a bit of exercising to try give these muffin tops a shove. The problem is that I am truly rubbish at exercising. I have no fitness whatsoever and that is no exaggeration. But because of this, the idea of heading to a gym full of pumped up fitties was my idea of hell. So the only thing that came to mind was to start jogging at nighttime. Luckily, I live on the outskirts of a small market town in South Wales, so I knew if I were to go for a jog in the darkness then it would be unlikely to bump into anyone whilst I was red faced and heavily breathing through exhaustion.

Now, I will admit that my first jog did not go exactly to plan. At 8pm I walked up my street to get away from any prying eyes, and then soon set into jogging mode . . . for all of thirty seconds. That's right, that is how unfit I am. I couldn't even run longer than half a minute until I was gasping for air. At this point I was just about to give up, but thought how about trying to power walk instead. So, that first jog ended up being a two mile power walk. I know that sounds pathetic to many of you who are fit but I do not care. This was the only way I was going to improve.

For that first week I continued to power walk two miles a day. Sometimes I'd even try and find alternative routes to make the walk even longer. I thought, if I wasn't jogging I might as well focus on  the length of the walk. Because of these walks the first week my fitness was very slowly increasing. This meant that on week two I would find myself doing a minute burst of jogging every now and then. This increased even more week three, and on week four I can just manage to jog a whole mile. To me this is a big improvement from the girl who was struggling for air on that first day.

Now, I know that I am no jogging expert after a month, but I kinda thought it would be a good idea to give a few tips to others who are in the position I was a month ago. As I say, there is nothing better than getting tips from someone who actually has the experience.

- First off, buy yourself a new kit. This is what I did and it weirdly motivated myself to get out there and jog. Make sure you do buy proper trainers as I must admit they do make a huge difference to comfort. My ones are Nike Roshe Runs and they are brilliant.
- Make sure to warm up for about 5 minutes before. Google some ways on how to warm up before you set off.
- The first jog is all about finding out your limits. If you are like how I started then there is no shame with starting off power walking. But if you can cope, then do start with jogging.
- If you find yourself struggling during a session, then please stop and collect yourself. One time, I pushed myself too far and ended up going a bit dizzy. So know your limits!
-  If you do power walk, try and push yourself to walk for a long duration, and maybe include some hills to climb every now and then. Remember this is exercise, so you should never be finding it easy. Your heart rate should increased, and if it's not, you need to push yourself to the next level.
- If you are embarrassed about jogging like I am, then try and find a route that is safe during the night time. I live near a river, but I definitely wouldn't go there to jog at night time. Try stick to neighbourhoods.
- Going out later will also provide you with cooler weather, so you are less likely to get too hot. But if it is too cold, try and take a hat to cover your ears and a scarf to cover your mouth (it can be harder to breath during colder weather).
- When you find yourself coping well with the power walk, try and sneak in a bit of jogging. Even if it's just for twenty seconds. Take breaks with power walking, and then try jogging again. Little spurts of jogging every now and then are a great way of increasing your fitness.
- Try and exercise as much as you can. I go out five times a week and no more than that as your body does need to rest. But remember, even going out once a week is better than nothing.
- Use an app on your phone to track how long, and how fast you exercised. This is a great way to spur you on to go out and exercise again. I use the Nike+ Running app.
- Maybe sign up for a 5k run. This will give you a goal, and it will also motivate you to carry on exercising. This is exactly what I did, and even though it was daunting at first it has actually motivated me to get fit in time for my first 5k of July this year.
- I know it's obvious, but always take a bottle of water out with you.
- Finish off with a cooling down. Normally, I just walk back home for the last two minutes of the jog and then stretch my leg muscles under my porch.

I hope this has helped you at least a little bit. Let me tell you now, if I managed to get this far then so can you! And if you are looking for a way to lose weight, then yes this is definitely one way to go. I admit I haven't lost an enormous amount of weight, but I can definitely see improvements over the month. Hopefully, in the near future I will be able to post some pictures of my weight loss to help motivate some of you even more.

Here's to getting that bikini body in time for this year's holiday.

x x

Obsession of the month

How cute are these sweets? Or should I rephrase that to, how cute is the packaging for these sweets?  Yes that's right, I am one of those people who buys a lot of their food and products based on their packaging. I remember when I was younger and looking through the Boots catalogue at Christmas time choosing perfumes I wanted based purely on what they looked like. Very stupid really, because I still have a stack of perfumes that, even though they look good, they actually smell vile. So if anyone wants Thierry Mugler's 'Angel' perfume, then I'll happily send mine your way.

Anyway, back to the sweets. I saw these 'Hope and Greenwood' pastel coloured sweets on the confectionary aisle in my local Waitrose. They are brand new to the store, so at the moment they have a lovely introductory offer of £1.50 per bag. But the normal price is around £2.00.

I found it hard to choose which sweets I wanted as there was so many to choose from; from flavoured marshmallows, flavoured candy floss, boiled sweets, flavoured fudge, and many more. In the end I decided to simply go for two bags of the boiled sweets in the flavours of 'Lemon meringue pie' and 'Candyfloss'.

The boiled sweets themselves mirror their pastel packaging, and the flavours are delicious whilst not being too overpowering. They are a subtle flavour, so there is no hint of a tangy or sour sweet in sight. And it is fair to say that they do actually taste like their labelled names. When it comes to the style of the sweet, they are just simply a boiled sweet. Yet with the lemon meringue pie sweet, you seem to get the extra of a chewy middle as if it's trying to mirror the texture of the meringue.

I am loving this selection of sweets, and I will definitely be buying more. But maybe next time I'll add a few bags of fudge and candy floss as well ;)

These will be great to open during a picnic, a movie night, a road trip, or can even be given as an alternative present for Easter. Hope you enjoy them just as much as I do.

www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk

x x

Review : Topshop Nail Polishes

As I said in my previous haul here, I am really into my blue coloured nail varnishes. So when I went into Topshop and found these two beautiful tones I just had to get them. I have always been a fan of Topshop's makeup range ever since they released it a couple of years ago. Every product that I have used of theirs is of great quality for a clothes store range, and their nail varnishes spread across a wide range of colours so I can nearly always find one that satisfies my mood.

First up is the matte double denim colour, and the best way to describe this polish is as a navy tone. I know this is more of a winter colour, but I have been after a navy coloured polish for years now. No joke! I have searched high and low in many stores and in many brands for a good navy colour but have never been able to find one that fulfils me. But now I have found this one it seems that my search is finally over. I have got to admit, at first I was disappointed that there wasn't a glossy version, but now that I have given the matte version a go, I actually think I prefer the idea of the matte effect. Overall it has an elegant and sophisticated look which I think will look good for all occasions. And if you are like me, over using your black nail varnish, I believe this will be a great alternative.

This is the Topshop's Disclosed colour which is found in its normal glossy range. I absolutely love this colour. I can mostly describe it as a blue duck egg tone which is great for spring and Easter time. So glad that I have discovered it just in time! It applies easy to nails, and even on its first layer it isn't as thin as I expected it to be. But I would still say it has to have at least two layers for the best coverage. It is a really cute and creamy colour which is most probably one of a few pigments that would suit all different types of skin tones. And I have to tell you this, on my first outing wearing this polish, I had three compliments on the colour from three different shop cashiers. Definitely going to be wearing this pot of brilliance more!

x x

Haul : Beauty products

I went shopping recently and went on a bit of a beauty binge. Let's face it, we have all been there. Aiming to go into a shop to buy one thing, and then come out with a bag full. And it definitely did not help my situation when I realised that Boots had their amazing 3 for 2 deal on.

Maybelline Fit me foundation stick - I should not have bought this! I know that sounds odd, but when I was in the store trying it out on my hand I thought it was a concealer. I have been after a concealer stick for ages and when I tried this out I really liked how it wasn't oily, and felt quite smooth and chalky. But now that I've read the packaging properly I can clearly see that it is a foundation. Silly me!

Collection lasting perfection concealer - I have heard nothing but good reviews on this concealer over the year, so this is why I decided to finally give in and buy one for myself. Fingers crossed it lives up to expectations.

Real techniques expert face brush - I am really into applying my foundation and concealer with a brush recently. I always used to use my fingers just because I always thought it was the easiest way...boy was I wrong. But since, I have applied my foundation with a QVS flat brush, and I have now bought this Real Techniques brush for my concealer. If I like the results, no doubt I'll buy another one for my foundation.

Champneys 6 way nail file - Annoyingly, my nails always seem to grow with a few vertical ridges on them, which means I am constantly maintaining them with a nail buffer to smooth them down. My last nail buffer was a cheapy from Superdrug so it did it's job but didn't last long. This is why I decided it was best to buy this more sturdy one in hope that it will last longer.



Simple pore minimising toning cleanser - You may know already that I suffer from huge and oily pores, which is why I had to buy this to see if it helps minimises them at all.

Garnier BB cream skin perfected - This is my first BB cream that I have bought, and I am surprised I haven't bought one sooner. I like the idea that it replaces your primer, moisturiser and foundation, so it will be perfect to apply on a day when I'm feeling a bit lazy, or just popping into town for a quick visit.

Dove deodorant in 'Pomegranate' and 'Cucumber' - I bought these because they were on sale. I normally go for a Nivea spray but I am so glad I decided to pick these up. They smell so good and they don't even cause those annoying white and flaky marks.

BarryM black nail varnish - I always seem to lose my black nail varnishes and it happened again very recently, so this was the main reason why I entered Boots the other day. I could have picked up any brand of black nail varnish but decided to go for BarryM as they are cheap and cheerful. Plus, I know I will most probably lose it again over a friends house, so I won't be wasting too much money.

Topshop nail varnish in 'Disclosed' and a matte 'Double Denim' - I am really into my blue nail varnishes recently, so when I saw these in Topshop I just had to buy them straight away.

x x

To do : Make cushions cheaply and quickly

Ever wanted something bright and cheerful to add to your bedroom for a small amount of money? Well I believe cushions are always a great answer. I am a sucker for a pretty cushion, which is why my bed is currently covered in loads of mismatched cushions. But the problem is with them, is the fact that they can cost anything from £10-£100 for just one cushion. Because of this I decided why not make my own for a smaller cost.

To make my cushions I first had to choose my own decorative material, and what better place to search than eBay. After many minutes of searching, I came across a bundle of fat quarters (materials measuring a quarter of a meter) in a bright and floral pattern. This bundle included four square fat quarters in blue, green, red, and white for just £7.

When the materials had finally arrived at my door, I then set out to make two square cushions using two colours of fabric for each cushion. To do this, I first drew out my square template onto a bit of newspaper. I then cut this out and pinned it onto each bit of individual fabric where I then cut around the stencil to create my four pieces of square fabric.

Next, I chose which colours would look best together. In my case I used the red and white fabric for one cushion, and the blue and green fabric for the second cushion. This is now where I had to pin the pieces of fabric together around the edges, but making sure that the patterns are inside out, or in other words having the patterns facing each other. This made sure that the sewing lines I was about to sew will be on the inside of the cushion.

Now it is time to get the sewing machine out and just simply sew a straight line down each of the cushions edges. But when it came to the last edge, I left about a quarter of the side left un-sewn. By doing this allowed myself to pull the material through the hole so that the material is no longer inside out and instead looking more like a cushion cover as the seams are now no longer seen as they are inside the cushion.

Before I sewed the last quarter of the cushion edge, I had to fill the cushion with stuffing. You can either buy this from a craft shop and online, or like me just use the stuffing from an old cushion that is no longer used. Now, after the cushions is fully stuffed, it is time to sew up the hole. For this part I simply just bent over the edges so that the frayed ends are inside the cushion, and then just hand sewn across the hole. I did this part really quick so it does not look the best, but if you are looking to make a better looking stitch then I recommend you google how to sew an invisible stitch.

And there you have it, you now have two new cushions in less than an hour. I know this is not the proper way to make a good quality cushion, but for someone with little money and little time on their hands, this is the best way to achieve a good looking cushion. Plus, doing it this way will make it easier for those who do not have any sewing experience.

If you feel like you may want to wash or swap the cushion covers over time, then it may be best to add a fastening in somewhere, such as a zip or buttons. But I obviously did not show you this as adding fastenings do add on time.

If you do have any material left over then why don't you try and think up of something else to make. In my case I had plenty left to make some pretty bunting which I proudly hung up in my boring University room. But you could also use it to make a patchwork, a purse, baby clothing, hand puppets, or a bookmark.

x x

Review : Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

To be honest, I never really know how to review cleansers. To me, they all seem to do the job they are sold to do. Which means this review will most probably be more about the actual product rather than how well it works.

Basically, this is a new cleanser sold by Garnier. I know Garnier have already sold plenty of makeup removers, but what is so special about this one is that it is a 'micellar water'. I think I am the only girl who is not that familiar with this term, but apparently it is a way of breaking down makeup to remove it rather than just stripping the makeup off. This means it is much more kinder to the skin. Perfect for my sensitive skin.

What I like about this cleanser, is the fact that it can be used on not just your skin, but it can also remove makeup from your lips and eyes as well. I was a bit skeptical about this at first, but it does indeed fully remove all traces of makeup. Even removing those hard to remove clumps of mascara from your eyelashes.

The texture of the liquid is very thin, actually water-like hence the name. And I do prefer this thinness compared to some of the thick or oily products I have previously used. This not only means that it easy to apply and spread across the skin, but it is also mess free and there is no need to rinse after use. It is literally just a quick and good quality way to remove all of your makeup - just like using a facial wet wipe.

And to top it off, you can roughly get 200 washes out of this bottle for just £4.99. Brilliant! This will definitely be added to my skin care routine.

x x

It's music time!

I am absolutely loving this weather at the moment. It's not too hot, not too cold, but the sun is shining bright and it is dryer than it has been for months. Us british citizens totally deserve this weather after the floods and storms the majority of us just had to live with.

Because of the weather, I am in one of those moods where I am constantly blasting out my music at every chance I get (don't worry though, I am not one of those annoying people with my music blaring through my mobile speakers on a public bus or train). But there is something about having music on loud whilst the sun is out that makes me feel all happy inside.

I know a lot of you will not be interested, But I have decided to share with you my top eleven favourite songs that I play to get me into that summer time mood.

1. Train - Hey, soul sister
This is such a feel good song that always cheers me up.

2. Estelle - Free 
I have only just started listening to this song due to the Cadbury advert, but I can already tell it's one I will love continuously.

3. Aluna George - Attracting flies 
This is my driving tune. Every time it comes up on my car playlist I straight away feel the need to wind down my windows and turn up the volume full pelt (in a non chavy way).

4. Ellie Goulding - Only you 
You either love or hate Ellie, and I am obviously one who loves her. I found it hard choosing which song to put on this list, and it turns out I have actually chosen one which has not been released as a single yet. But some other feel good songs you should check out include: Burn; Anything could happen; Lights; Goodness Gracious; and I need your love.

5. Mumford and Sons - Little lion man 
This specific song always gets me in the mood for a festival. Ciders, sun, the atmosphere, and singing at the top of your lungs with your mates by your side...nothing gets better than that.

6. Avicii - I could be the one
Avicii is well known for his dance songs, and I do love a good dance song. If I could, I would have made this list up of just dance songs, but obviously I wanted to kind of make this a list that spread across more than one genre. So, out of all the dance songs I like, I suppose this is most probably my favourite.

7. Iggy Azalea - Bounce
This is a very repetitive tune, but one that never seems to get on my nerves. I can tell it won't be everyone's taste but I just had to add it to this list.

8. The 1975 - Chocolate
The 1975 got huge last year, and I am indeed one of their fans. Again I struggled to choose which song of theirs to add to this list as I find their sound has that feel about them that makes them appropriate for summer weather.

9. MGMT - Kids
I seem to remember this being a huge tune in 2008, but it is one that has never let me down. I even enjoy the alternative version by Chiddy Bang, Opposite of adults.

10. Snoop Lion ft. Rita Ora - Torn apart
I love this song! And I will never understand why it never caught on with everyone else. But take a quick listen because you will soon feel like you are on a beach wanting to dance away with the locals.

and I had to add a cringey one to the list:

11.  Carly Rae Jepson - Call me maybe 
Just because I can't help but sing a long and feel happy when this comes on.

x x