November Book Haul

Hello everyone! 

How is everyone doing? Not getting too frozen in the cold weather I hope :-) I'm back today with a little, okay maybe fairly big, book haul. I love going book shopping, to be honest even if I'm just browsing I love it! For me books are the ideal winter hobby, you can curl up with a blanket, a hot drink and enjoy a good story. It's complete heaven! 

At the moment I have been really into classics, something about winter and the back to school vibe always makes me want to read them. Also the Penguin Clothbound Classics are simply divine! They are seriously not helping my bank account or my rapidly diminishing shelf space. As you will no doubt have seen from the photo, I treated myself to a trio of these...

I just love the covers of these books, Coralie Bickford-Smith designs the most beautiful artwork. I think this collection is a triumph, and I am now the proud owner of four of them. Hopefully with more appearing on my shelves in the future! Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert is decorated in pink and purple pomegranate patterns, these colours and the fruit of passion perfectly portray the very passionate nature of the heroine of the story. I'm hoping the red and orange fiery colours of Lady Chatterly's Lover by D. H. Lawrence mean the story will also be fiery. In its day it was considered quite the scandalous tale, so I'm quite looking forward to comparing it to modern times. Now when it comes to Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the cover speaks volumes (anyone like the bookish pun? No? Okay...). The anatomically correct hearts on the front give it such a dark edge and lead perfectly into the dark sciences the story is based on. 

The next book was a second hand bookstore find, which I'm actually really pleased about. This is one of the original hardback designs of the Discworld stories by Terry Pratchett. The Last Continent is one of the editions missing from my best friend's collection so I'm super excited to give it to her for Christmas :-) 

Finally, leaving the best to last really, is The Original Screenplay of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them by J. K. Rowling! I have been beyond excited about reading this since it was first announced. So yes I bought it yesterday and have already read it, I make no apologies for this! The design of this book is gorgeous, so I thought I'd give you a little sneak peak before I write a proper review later this week! 

Have you read any of these? Let me know what you've been hauling in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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My Little Brooklyn Box

Hello everyone! 

So October is long gone and I didn't even notice. Honestly, I don't know where my head has been! Well actually I do, I've been up to my eyes in work and assignments. Buuuuttt that is no excuse for not blogging as much and I apologise guys. Today I wanted to tell you all about the delightful contents of the October My Little Box :-) 

My Little Box is a deeply fabulous french brand dedicated to concocting a monthly box of delights for us! October's box is the Brooklyn box, celebrating all things from that celebrated hipster hub of New York. For those of us wishing for a holiday, this box is a little peek into one! I think this might actually be one my favourite boxes yet, and yes I am aware I say that most times! This box is slightly edgier than the previous ones and bang on trend! 

The design on the front shows a woman wearing the just-this-minute fashionable mid length pleated, metallic skirt. I love this design, it is so current and stylish. I can hear you all shouting at me to just get on with talking about the contents, so let's dive into the box. There is the usual little magazine filled with fashion and beauty tips, this month interviewing Penélope Bagieu, a french writer who moved from Paris to Brooklyn, New York. A bit of a culture shock to say the least, but incredibly interesting to read about. 

Look how cute the pins are! 

The products this month were particularly good! This little mug is ideal for your morning tea or coffee, personally I'm a hot chocolate kind of girl. You can even use the special leaf stencil to dust your drink with cocoa powder to make it look like a Starbucks! Although, these mugs are enamel so you can't put them in the microwave...very important to know! 

I love the little cards that come with each box, I have a little arty wall of them above my desk for inspiration :-) 

The little canvas bags that come in each box have such a super cute design, I love using them for transporting my makeup on the go. However, I think the contents are infinitely more exciting, don't you agree? This month there is this lovely perfume from Courrèges, called La Fille de L'air. It has quite a strong citrus scent so I think I'll be applying this one lightly! It's a perfect summer to autumn transition fragrance, not too spicy, but also not too heavy on the florals. The nail serum is My Little Beauty's own brand product. This Save My Nails strengthening treatment will be such a god send this winter to help me keep my nails healthy and in good condition. I get such dry nails in the winter, it's what comes from working outside a lot *sigh*. 

I thought swatching the colour on here could look arty...

This khol eyeliner pencil in 15 Gold Ornament By Terry is so decadent! I love the way it is not simply a boring black liner, the fact that it is thick, bright gold is so perfect for the upcoming holiday season! It is also the ideal makeup staple to turn a simple, understated look into a style with much more wow factor. This colour would suit any eye colour and skin tone, and will really pull the emphasis to your gorgeous eyes :-) I have taken to wearing it every time I feel like spicing up my look a little. 

The final product is just as gorgeous as all of the above. These three pins are super cute and stylish. I love the matching green and gold collar pins! They work so well with a collared shirt in a light colour. I wear mine with my silky black and white dalmatian print shirt and a pinafore dress. They really complete the outfit, giving it that extra classy, put-together boost. The other pin is of a strawberry iced donut, my favourite kind of donut by the way. This one is super cute to put on a denim jacket or on a jean pocket :-) 

What do you think of this box? Have you got any tips for using these items? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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How To Read Shakespeare

Hello everyone! 

I thought I would write something a little different this time. Recently I have been on a big classic literature kick, with one of my favourite writers by far being William Shakespeare. Now I'm sure the majority of you will have studied, or will be planning on studying his various works. As most of his work is aimed to be seen rather than read, he is admittedly not the easiest to read from a book. So I thought I would give you a few quick tips on how I like to making reading the Great Bard's writing easier :-) 

1. Pick an easy one to ease you in! This one seems a bit of a no brainer, but with so many pieces to choose from it's not as straightforward as it might seem. Personally, I find tragedies quite heavy and hard to get into, so they aren't really my first choice. My favourites by far are The Sonnets and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I think these two works are quite short and easy to read. The Sonnets can be split into manageable chunks and are so beautifully written that any reader will be held spellbound. A Midsummer Night's Dream is delicate, magical and such a wonderful satire. These factors make them ideal candidates to help you get used to the writing style and old fashioned turn of phrase! 

2. Get in the right mind set. Reading verse or plays can be made so much more difficult if you're feeling tired or disconnected. I find that I really have to concentrate to enjoy Shakespeare to the full. Keeping track of the various plot twists and characters is tricky, so make sure you're equipped with tea and sweet treats! 

3. Annotate! Never be afraid to annotate your books, obviously don't do this if it's a library book or lent by a friend, I doubt they'll thank you for it :-) However, if you own the book and find it easier to absorb things if you write them down, then why not make little notes. Or if you don't want to write in your beautiful book, why not crack out the colour coordinated stationary and make little notes and stick page tabs all over your copy! I particularly recommend this for the historical texts, like King Henry IV for example. 

4. Break it up. Marathoning books is the perfect way to get bogged down and push yourself into a reading slump. If I am finding a plot hard to follow, then I will watch an adaptation of it. Sometimes I do this in chunks as I read the play, it just helps me to understand the direction of the story and distinguish between the different character's voices. That and taking regular breaks to absorb the twists and turns was invaluable in helping me survive studying Macbeth! 

5. Enjoy it :-) The Bard's words were written to entertain and the fact that they are still well loved all over the world is testimony to their quality. That being said, not all of it will be your cup of tea. Don't be scared to say "yup I don't like that genre or style". Read what you enjoy and take the time to appreciate it.

I hope you found these little tips helpful and please do let me know yours in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Autumn OOTD and Beauty Essentials Collaboration With Simplly Me

Hi,

This is Simplly Me from Simplly Me Blog! 

Today I’m writing a guest post for GingerSnapHattie’s blog!

I absolutely love her blog and it was really really fun collaborating with her because she is a wonderful and amazing person. Also this is my first ever blog collaboration and I’m so excited and Hattie this whole experience really fun and exciting.

But, before I start I wanted to tell you a bit about me and my blog:

My name is Simplly Me and I’m currently in school, I spend most of my time writing and photographing for my little section on the internet, Simplly Me Blog. When I’m not busy blog writing I’m probably baking, reading, watching YouTube, hanging out with friends or doing homework. (Ugh!) On my blog it is based on Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle. If you like those genres then hopefully you’ll enjoy my blog!

Anyway, for my part of the collaboration I'm doing an Autumn OOTD and an Autumn Beauty Essentials. I really hope you enjoy this post and remember to keep reading GingerSnapHattie's blog it's brilliant!

Autumn OOTD:

This burgundy checked flannel shirt is from New Look. I think this top is perfect for Autumn because Burgundy is my favorite Autumn color so I really like to wear this to feel really nice and Autumnal. I don't know the actual price of this top but I bought it for £1 at New Look on sale. Bargain! I know right?! This top is also perfect for Autumnal weather because it’s not too thick but not too thin so it keeps you warm but not boiling hot. I also like how it has this really cute collar which I think is a nice touch.

To pair with my top I wore a Black A-Line Skirt from New Look. I really like A-Line skirts because I think that they just really suit me and my figure. Also I think that these are a real wardrobe staple because you can easily dress this skirt up with a classy shirt or wear it more casual with a sweater so I think it’s a very versatile piece.

When I wore these two pieces I tucked my top into skirt. I think this is the best way to style this because this top is quite long so in my opinion to have it untucked may look a bit weird. If it’s a colder Autumn day then I'll just add a pair of black tights. And then finally for the shoes I’ll just wear a pair of black flats or some black boots.

Autumn Beauty Essentials:

So now onto the beauty part of this blog post. I’m a real beauty lover so of course I had to include a few of my Autumn faves.

Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream 

My hands are literally always dry but, when in its Autumn/Winter it doesn’t make the situation any better... Sooooo, to solve this I bought The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream. I absolutely love this product! After I apply it it keeps my hands all nice and moisturized and removes all the dryness from my hands. Also, the product smells AMAZING! I absolutely love this scent, at first I just picked it up because it was quite a different scent but I’m different going to picking more products in the Wild Argan Oil Range.

Clean & Clear Dual-Action Moisturizer 

I use this product all year round because it’s part of my skincare routine but I wanted to include this because I think this product is vital for Autumn/Winter. The product I’m talking about is the Clean & Clear Dual-Action Moisturizer. I use this in my skincare routine because I have combination skin so my T-Zone is oily but the rest of my skin is quite dry. Sooooo, to solve that issue, I tried this moisturizer and absolutely loved it! Also this is oil-free so if you have oily skin then it’s a good moisturizer to have.

The Body Shop Born Lippy Strawberry LipBalm 

My lips are unbelievably dry so always have to have lip balm with me at all times of the year and especially at Autumn/Winter. I normally use the Born Lippy Strawberry Lip Balm from The Body Shop which I actually love because it keeps my lips very soft and keeps them to not be as dry as a bone. Also this is only £2 which makes it really affordable as well. (In the photo I included my Primark Lip Balm instead because I couldn’t find my Born Lippy.)

I really hope you’ve enjoyed this collaboration and I hope that you’ll carry on reading Simplly Me and GingerSnapHattie. 

What’s your favorite thing about Autumn?

xoxo

My Latest TV Obsession - Married At First Sight

Hello everyone! 

I'm sure most of you will sympathise with the problem of developing obsessions with TV shows... I love discovering new programmes, especially those with a unique element to them. I love a good romantic scene as much as the next person, but often they have an unreal feel to them. My latest favourite is as real as it gets! 

Married At First Sight, Channel 4's latest masterpiece, aired episode 1 of its second season last night and I absolutely adored it. The title may startle you a little and have you saying "no way, that's an exaggeration", but in actual fact it is how these couples get married. Tired and jaded by the world and what feels like a never ending quest for love, thousands of people signed up for this revolutionary social experiment. Putting their faith and their hearts in the hands of science. 

Everyone signing up goes through extensive physical, psychological and background testing. The process takes several weeks and isn't guaranteed to find them a match. The reason for being that the team want to pair up the most compatible people they can, they don't just want success for the experiment, they also want to provide happiness to the lucky chosen few. 

Once a match has been found, if they still wish to participate, they can consider themselves engaged and start planning their upcoming nuptials :-) How exciting!! However, they won't meet their other half until the bride floats down the aisle. That might sound daunting to some, but to me it sounds thrilling. The anticipation must be incomparable!  

Last night we saw Clark and Melissa matched and married, Clark's delight at finding Melissa so pretty, engaging and lovely was heart warming and I can't wait for next week's episode to see more couples and the progress of these two! 

The program itself is wonderfully put together, with lovely scenes with the families, picking the wedding outfits and preparing for the moment their lives will change forever, and hopefully for the better. The music in particular tugs at the heartstrings, it is so effortlessly romantic without a hint of cheesiness. It is the perfect blend of modern and classic, it actually made me tear up a little :-) 

Will you be watching? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - Review

Hello everyone! 

It's been a while hasn't it? I'm really sorry about that, time management has gone out the window a little, but I'm back now and will be making a Herculean effort to keep you guys in the loop! To kick things off again let's do a quick book review :-) 

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley has been on my tbr for so long! My best friend bought it for me over a year ago after having sped through it, then my Mam read it and loved it, yet it still stayed on my tbr pile. I just wasn't massively intrigued by the cover or the story. Silly right? Especially when it does have all the makings of a fantastic story! 

Set in London, this story follows Myfanwy Thomas, or rather the woman inhabiting her body, as she navigates an incredibly complicated life. Being in charge of the admin for magical MI5, the elusive Checquey, is hard enough, without the mysterious gloved strangers trying to assassinate her at every turn and no memory of her previous life to guide her. Myfanwy must rapidly overcome her amnesia or adapt and flawlessly impersonate herself if she has any hope of survival. However, these are all small concerns! Myfanwy isn't the only one at risk, the whole world is under threat. There is a traitor in the Checquey and it's up to Myfanwy to stop them. 

This world is filled with magic and intrigue, it's complicated low level fantasy at its best! When I first picked up this book I found it quite hard to get into, it took me committing to the first 300 pages before I fully invested in the story. I think I had built up a mental block to it really, once I was into it properly I couldn't put it down! The pace of the story feels a little slow at first and it is quite convoluted, meaning it does require a lot of attention to follow, but I promise it is worth it! Towards the end I started to appreciate the slower beginning, it gave me time to comprehend the story and the world it is set in. 

I would recommend this book if you are a lover of Harry Potter or the Cassandra Clare books. Fantasy stories in our world are so accessible if you're a newbie to this genre :-) I would give this 3.5 stars! 

Have you read this? Let me know what you thought in the comments below and keep your eyes peeled for the sequel Stiletto, I know I will :-) 

xoxo

Basking In Baylis

Hello everyone! 

It's finally Friday! Now we all know that means it's time for some good pampering. I find the best way to relax in the evening after a long week is to do all my skin care and wash my hair using as many beautiful kinds of lotions and potions as possible :-) 

Recently I have been using this Baylis & Harding mini luxury set. This would make such a perfect little gift for someone. The packaging makes it look quite luxurious and inviting, nothing wrong with a little gold on the packaging! 

The actual products are really nice quality. I love the sweet mandarin and grapefruit scent, it's really refreshing without being too sweet. I've been feeling a bit stuffy this week and this scent is actually helping to clear my head a little. The shower gel is thick and lathers really well, the only thing is that I love it so much it probably won't last very long! 

The body lotion has the same scent and is ideal for putting on after a shower or a bath right before you go to bed. It's super creamy and smooth! However, it doesn't soak in that quickly so I would recommend using it as an evening cream. If you want to use it in the morning, make sure you take the time to let it soak in properly to avoid transfer to your clothes. 

Sorry this post was a little short, but I am off to pamper myself now! Have you tried these? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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September Favourites

Hello everyone!

I feel like this month has gone by in such a blur, I have been extremely busy in all aspects of my life. I hope you guys have been enjoying this month as much as me, it can be one of the most exciting times of the year! What with the returns to school and university and the change in seasons :-) 

This month I have been really loving all things cosy! I'm a big one for putting on a tv show as background noise when I'm tidying, unpacking and doing general house chores. I'm currently watching Vampire Diaries seasons 1 and 5 simultaneously. I've been watching a bit of season 5 to try to catch up and to help me chill out in the evenings. Season 1 is a re-watch as background noise! I love this series so much, it's so corny and un-realistic, but I don't care. I unapologetically love it! :-) 

Two of the key things to a cosy TV evening are candles and chocolate. My number one favourite form of chocolate is the much adored Terry's Chocolate Orange. Some people think these should only be a Christmas food, however, I disagree and eat them all year round! I recently bought this Ghost Stories candle from Old Glow Candles. They do a huge range of bookish and movie themed candles, that are affordable and smell amazing! My housemates personal favourite is Wonderland which is quite a sweet smell, like a cake. Ghost Stories is a bit more fresh, like wood and leaves, so it's definitely getting me in the mood for autumn :-) 

In terms of beauty I have been loving my Benefit Air Patrol eyeshadow primer. I do extremely long days, so it is vital that my makeup stays in place. I go with the logic of "if I look good, then I'll feel better". This primer is perfect for me, it doesn't irritate my eyes the way some others do and my eyeshadow honestly does not fade at all! Even after a 12 hour day!! 

Handling lots of animal patients means that I wash my hands a million times each day, which can be a nightmare for dry skin. My saviour for this is the La Main Verte hand moisturiser from Lush, it is super refreshing and could even be called a little spicy. It's really creamy so I can work it right into my hands and really feel my skin drinking it in. The richness of the rose oil, cocoa butter and almond oil feels like a proper nutrient punch for my hands. 

My final September favourite is a mushy one! Can I put Mr.GingerSnap as a monthly favourite? With going back to university and rotating in the teaching hospital for long, stressful hours I have been needing a lot of TLC! He has had the Starbucks pumpkin spice hot chocolates and cuddles at the ready, such a lifesaver! :-) 

What have you been loving this month? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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My Little Mademoiselle Box

Hello everyone! 

First up, let me apologise for the appalling quality of the following photos! The light and my camera were not working with me when I took them. *Sigh* What can you do? Since My Little Box first had their U.K. debut two Septembers ago, I have been a very keen subscriber. Essentially it is a Parisian founded monthly subscription box delivering all sorts of beauty, fashion and lifestyle goodies to your door. They theme every box and you don't know what you're getting until it appears! Which if you are a lover of surprises is completely magical :-) They strive to send you all things Parisian, to make you feel a taste of that beautiful city every month! 

The packaging is so gorgeous, yet another stunning design by Kanako Kuno, who works with many big brands such as L'Occitane. This month's box was designed with the help of British youtuber and blogger Freddy Cousin-Brown and French designer Claudie Pierlot. They wish to help us all achieve that classic, elegant Parisian nonchalance with a carefully selected box of delights. Starting with the monthly magazine full of interviews, style tips and stunning fashion shoots. I always love devouring this. It's such a cute little magazine, ideal for taking on the train or reading in a lunch break. 

When you delve a little deeper in the box, they call contain a little canvas bag with the beauty goodies. This month it is a ginseng shot masque, a mascara and a perfume. The face masque is from the Korean brand Erborian, now if you are a frequent reader you'll know I hold Korean beauty brands in very high esteem! This masque was wonderfully fresh and my skin felt so rejuvenated. Applying it was quite a laugh, it was so slimy and strange, but I swear it did my skin so much good! It was my first experience of shot masques, and now I'm officially converted. The cute vial of Yves Rocher perfume looks wonderful on my nightstand and is the perfect size to take on weekends away. I love Yves Rocher, they are so typically French, whilst remaining affordable. The So Elixir Bois Sensuel scent is quite musky and grown up, I'd say the tones of iris, vanilla and patchouli are quite sensual actually. Ideal for a woman trying to achieve that seductive Parisienne attitude. 

Every month they put in a product from their own My Little Beauty brand. Over the years these have become some of my favourite products, especially their facial mists and micellar water. This month is their Mademoiselle Volume Impertinent Mascara. The wand is gloriously thick and the mascara itself pigmented an intense black. I love it, it gives me seriously glamorous lashes! I'm thinking of keeping this mascara as an evening one for when I want to channel my elegant French up-bringing :-) 

The final surprise is this super cute Claudie Pierlot purse. It's in her classic, simplistic style of a pretty, deep navy, subtly bordered with red. The signature Claudie bow decorates the front. It's the perfect size for carrying your few essentials and the soft leather is a delight to hold. Be a minimalist like all the best Parisiennes! 

Of all the subscription boxes out there, this is a firm favourite and I honestly can't wait to see what next month's box has in store! Have you tried this subscription box? Let me know what you think in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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London Cosmetics Haul

Hello everyone! 

It feels like forever since I last did a haul post! I think it's because I tend to buy new products in bits and bobs rather than one big splurge. This is in the vague hope that I will feel less guilty for decimating my purse...it doesn't work! Anyway I went to London last week with my Mam to keep her company to and from work. While she was working I decided to do a little bit of cheeky shopping! 

My first stop was of course the infamous Lush shop on Oxford Street. It's hard not to pop in when I'm so close! I have been mentally preparing for the dry skin that comes with autumn breezes and damp weather by planning a new and improved skin care routine. To aid this I wanted to try out a few new products in store and decide what suited me. The shop assistant was so helpful and spent at least 30 minutes talking me through products and trying out treatments. 

In the end I mixed it up by getting a facial soap and a steam toner. Yes, that was not a typo, I meant to write a steam toner. For those who, like me last week, don't know what that is, it's a small tablet (similar to a dish washer tablet) which you put in a small amount of water. You then put a towel over your head while it hangs over the bowl of water and you use the steam as a toning treatment. Afterwards you can pour the water into a small bottle and keep it as a normal toner for the next weeknas long as it is refrigerated. I went for Dream Steam, which has the most lovely scent! It smells of rose, lavender and chamomile blue oil, with a slight hint of tea tree oil. Apparently it is really good for dry or sensitive skin as it opens up your pores so the oils can be absorbed properly :-) 

Now for the facial soap! I went for Fresh Farmacy because I loved the scent of elderflower and calamine, it is simply delightful. It makes me think of meadows! The chamomile blue oil and lavender oil make it feel very soothing on the skin. It is super creamy and lathers up beautifully. The different elements provide antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as helping to restore the natural balance of your skin. 

I couldn't go to London without nipping into Abercrombie and Fitch to pick up a new bottle of Fierce. I love this scent to pieces, even though it is a men's cologne I think it can smell quite feminine on the right person. Over the years it has become my signature scent. The sandalwood fragrance makes me feel so refreshed and ready to take on the day! 

Another sign that summer is almost over is my fading tan. Not that I had much of a tan anyway, let's face it, as a red-head I am rather porcelain skinned. However, I do still need different shades from summer to winter. Sadly my current foundation is getting a tad too dark for me now, so I went in search of a new one. The Nars Sheer Glow foundations have been raved about on the blogosphere for years and it was about time I tried one! In case you are wondering my shade is Light 4 Deauville. I loved how well it worked with my skin, the coverage is medium, but buildable without feeling heavy on my skin. I felt like my skin did glow and was still well moisturised by the end of the day. Another aspect I liked was the buying the pump separately part. It means I can recycle it for future products and help the environment in some small way :-) 

I did a tad of clothes shopping when I was there so if you would like to see those pieces then let me know in the comments below! Please do tell me what you think of these products if you've tried them :-) 

xoxo

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Sample Sunday - Lush

Hello everyone! 

It's Sunday again so it's time to look at some samples! Lush is such a well loved shop throughout the entire world and the vast majority of beauty bloggers have written about them at some point. However, they are constantly updating their products to keep it fresh so it's worth popping in every now and again to check for new things :-) 

Having sensitive skin means that I like to try things out first as a sample before I buy them. The shop assistants are more than happy to provide samples where possible, especially for skin care. With the onset of winter I want to up my skin care game and really go all out for moisture. To achieve this I have turned to Lush, trying out two products this time. 

The first is the much acclaimed Dream Cream body lotion. This product is aimed at dryer skin or people suffering from mild eczema. I get a bit of hay fever related dry skin on the backs of my arms and I want to get rid of it and feel confident getting my arms out while I still can! The Dream Cream actually feels like cool silk when I rub it in, soaking in almost immediately and leaving my skin feeling soft and calmed for hours. It smells subtle and like most normal body lotions, being primarily made up of cocoa butter. It also has hints of rose oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil and oat milk to help your skin feel soothed, yet invigorated. Since using this my skin has calmed down a lot and I am definitely planning on buying a full size tub. This is a real winner for me! 

The second sample is the Aqua Marina fresh cleanser. This cleanser is not a makeup remover, it's aimed at people cleansing in the morning, after a makeup free day or for when you do a double cleanse after taking off your makeup. This product feels quite luxurious and I am very much enjoying trying it out. I was slightly concerned that the seaweed would feel rough on my sensitive skin, but it is actually quite soothing. It smells a little odd, but it isn't unpleasant. I think it smells quite beach-like with the Irish moss seaweed, aloe vera and calamine powder. I could imagine Ariel and her mermaid sisters using this! It's soft on the skin and very rich, so I think I would make this an occasional product rather than an everyday cleanser. Maybe for every 2-3 day use for a deeper cleanse. 

Have you tried these products? Let me know what you think in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Getting Dressed Up Playlist **

Hello everyone! 

Tonight is Friday night and I know that for many of you that means a party or going out with friends. It usually does for me too, but I am driving back up to university tomorrow morning so I can't afford the tiredness *sigh*. However, I am still in the party spirit so I thought I would share with you my go to playlist for getting ready!

I'm fairly old school with my taste in music, I like country and classic rock mostly with the odd pop song thrown in the midst! What I like the most about parties isn't actually the party itself, I find it much more fun getting ready with all my girlfriends. The gossiping, outfit swapping, makeup and anticipation of the fun is often better than the event itself. Although much as I love getting ready at university, I do miss my best friend, which I'm sure is something a lot of people struggle with! Airtime is the perfect app for that, you can video chat with a couple of people at once and share your songs with them so you end up listening to the same thing. Long distance getting ready together!! 

Anyway, I can hear you all shouting "Please just give us the playlist!" so without further ado here it is: 

• Supermassive black hole - Muse 
• All Summer Long - Kid Rock 
• Welcome to the Jungle - Guns'n'Roses 
• Perfect - One Direction
• Dear Maria - All Time Low 
• Gun Powder and Lead - Miranda Lambert 
• We Weren't Born to Follow - Bon Jovi 
• You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi 
• Mississippi Flood - Hayden Panettiere 
• Why - Avril Lavigne 
• Levitate- Hollywood Undead 
• Le Deux -  Hollywood Undead 
• 22 - Taylor Swift 
• I See Fire - Ed Sheeran 
• TNT - ACDC 
• Bat Country - Avenge Sevenfold 

Yeah I know this is a weird playlist, but I just put on some of my favourite tunes :-) This isn't a definite list and can vary quite a lot between types of nights. If it's a big party I quite like to throw in some Glee covers, or for a ball I like Disney songs! Occasionally I'll do classical music too, it really is quite eclectic! 

What do you like to listen to before going out? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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