Motivational Monday #9

 

Wow, how often do most people fall into this trap? It’s so easy to do! Especially with using social media such as twitter and facebook on a daily basis. I regularly get life envy when I read others blogs!

It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others and feel insecure but we often don’t know what’s actually happening behind the scenes. Behind someone’s smile can be a multitude of things happening.

I guess the purpose of today’s post is remind myself that we all have a highlight reel, good points about ourselves, what’s on yours?

The Aloe Vera Dream Team

 

Lately my face has been a bit of a nightmare, it is a mass of contradictions! It can be terrible dry and then all of a sudden really greasy and spot central. I also get eczema on my cheeks, so finding skin products that work has been interesting!

I’ve been trying to use more natural products and Aloe Vera is top of my list, I even have purchased a plant! Aloe Vera has been used for a host of purposes since the ancient Egyptians called it the ‘plant of immortality’. Its leaves produce a clear gel that when broken off from the rest of the plant that can be applied topically to heal wounds and soothe. Or in my case sort out the burns I regular acquire from the kitchen and my dodgy cooking skills!

Aloe Vera works on various skin issues and ticked a few of the boxes on what I want in a skin product. It moisturizes the skin without giving it a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily skin complexion. It also treats acne as it contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins (get me being all scientific!). These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Giberellin in Aloe Vera acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. As an added bonus it Aloe Vera also contains beta carotene, vitamin C and E which are all antioxidants that can help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated.

The first product I want to tell you about is one that someone suggested trying, The Body Shops Calming Facial Cleanser for sensitive skin. After washing my face I apply the cleanser to cotton wool pads and gently swipe across my face to remove any make up and grime. This product has been amazing! My skin has not reacted at all and feels so clean and fresh after use.

The second product in my Aloe Vera dream team is JASON Aloe Vera Pure Natural Moisturising Gel which I came across on lookfabtastic.com. As I’ve already mentioned Aloe Vera is amazing for healing skin and I thought it might help with the acne scarring I have on my chin. I love this stuff! It’s a gel so goes on a little gooey but it works wonders and is quick to sink into your skin. My scarring is definitely less noticeable, my skin is so much softer and my pores have reduced!

I’d really recommend both of these products as they have made such a difference to my skin! I’m one happy lady!

Nails // Seventeen Gel Colour in Pretty Bang Bang

My new obsession is Seventeens Gel Colour range, it’s just so good! It stays put for ages and is really good quality polish! I love it! The latest one that made it into my boots shopping basket is the shade ‘Pretty Bang Bang’ which is a dark lilac. I really love the colour and think it’s perfect for this time of year! I really recommend this polish if you are looking for a high street gel, you just can’t go wrong!

Benefit ‘From LeeLee with Love’ Gift Set

 

I have wanted Benefits Porefessional for ages! I was lucky enough to receive a few samples of the product and absolutely loved the stuff but I couldn’t justify the £24.50 price tag for a primer. So when I came across this awesome offer from Boots it was like all my prayers had been answered!

They have this gorgeous ‘From LeeLee with Love’ Gift Set that contains Full size the POREfessional primer, a full size they’re real mascara, and a 10ml Laugh with Me Lee Lee fragrance  all for £29.50! I just couldn’t resist making this purchase! A 30ml benefit fragrance is around £29.50 and the mascara is £19.50, so all together this set is worth £54 meaning a huge saving of £24.40. What a deal, I just had to share it all with you!

I am devoted user of Benefits ‘They’re Real’ Mascara, check out my review here. I just haven’t found anything that matches its quality! The perfume is gorgeous, a nice musky scent that I can see becoming a firm favourite. The gift box it comes in is a lovely printed metal tin that I can’t wait to find a purpose for!

This would make a lovely mother’s day present or if you’re naughty like me a treat for yourself?

Motivational Monday #8

I came across this quote recently and it really stuck a chord with me. I have been struggling to remain positive lately, I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life and haven’t been managing it as well I would have liked, leaving me often feeling frustrated and discontent. It’s easy to blame others for your situation and yes there are just some things that are out of your hands. However it is in your hands how you react to things and how you manage your emotions. I am determined to try and not get as upset and bothered by things as I have been lately, I want to put a positive spin on things and start seeing the glass half full again. This week I am determined to have a good one, there may be sad things happening to people I love at the moment but I don’t need to be negative.

I hope you all have a happy week!

Thailand || Ao Nang & Krabi

 

 

 

 

 

 

After an all too short but incredible few days in Bangkok we flew down south to Krabi. Internal flights are so cheap, however be prepared for unorganised chaos! The gate must have changed about 8 times and no one had a clue what time the flight was due to leave!

After we eventually made it to Krabi, we headed down to Ao Nang. The place we were meant to be staying was fully booked, so they sent us down the road to ‘friendly bungalows’, which worked in our favour as we were a lot closer to town! The accommodation was very basic, a rundown wooden bungalow in a bit of jungle. I think this was one of my favourite places we stayed, which I guess was lucky as we spent 6 nights here! In the evenings we sat on our tiny porch drinking beers and listening to the crickets. At night we had monkeys banging on our roof!

Ao Nang is a popular tourist destination, and was full of Danes and Aussies. We were about a 15 minute walk to the beach which was out of this world beautiful. I just can’t put into words how stunning it was and really don’t feel my photos do it justice. We spent the majority of our time here, sunbathing, swimming, reading, relaxing and just soaking up the scenery. If you walk to the very end of the beach here, you’ll find a group of monkeys playing!

In the evenings we would eat at various restaurants and bars, Ao Nang is full of lovely places to try and we found most of our meals including a drink averaged at around £5, you won’t find that at home!

Half way through our stay we booked a trip to go to the ‘Elephant Village’, which was around a 30 min drive up North. It involved an hour’s trek through the jungle and then we could watch the elephants have a bath after. I was a little apprehensive as id heard that in some of these places in Thailand the elephants were treated poorly and were abused. I have to say where we went the elephants seemed very well looked after and loved. It was a very enjoyable trip and the elephants were awesome!

On the final day we caught the bus to Krabi, the largest town in the area and had our photos taken with the famous giant crab and got a bite to eat! It was fun hanging with the locals and getting the bus, but we didn’t find Krabi as exciting as we had hoped and we soon found our way back to the beach at Ao Nang to finish our day!

After a fantastic time in Ao Nang we headed to the island of Koh Lanta...

You can check out my previous blogs on Thailand here:

New Years Eve in Bangkok

Bangkok

The Book Worm Tag!

 

I recently spotted this ‘Book Worm Tag’ on a few of my favourite blogs and thought I would have a go at it, as I rarely do a rag post! I have really got back into reading lately; I am aiming to read at least 2 books a month this year and am currently on par to do this! If you are a follower of this blog you will know that I love reading and every so often will post a book review when I come across a good gem I want to share! I just find there is nothing nicer than snuggling up on an evening with a good book and a glass of wine on the sofa!

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading

I have no idea how my love of reading began! For as long as I can remember I have loved a good book. I remember reading all ‘The Babysitters Club’ books and the all the ‘True Romance’ series. Anyone else love these?!?

Where do you usually read?

I love to read in the bath! I think there is nothing more relaxing than a bubble bath and a good book.  I also like reading in bed, it’s a good way to wind down before sleep. However if I become engrossed in a story I am quite happy to read anywhere and everywhere, I have trouble putting it down!

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?

How do people read more than one book at a time?!!! I think that’s too much for my little brain to handle! I would get confused and lose the thread of the story and characters!

What is your favourite genre?

That’s easy, I’m a complete romance addict and love a good chick lit! My friends think it’s because I’m single, but I just adore a good love story and if it has a bit of comedy in it as well I am hooked! My favourite authors include Lindsey Kelk, Paige Toon, Sophie Kinsella among many others! I am also the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan! I much prefer the books to the film and that’s saying something as the films are pretty awesome!

Is there a genre you will not read?

Autobiographies! I just can’t get my head into them! I find them hard work and sometimes tedious. I’ve read a couple that are amazing but it’s a rarity so I tend to avoid completely. I’m also not a fan of books like Lord of the Rings, it’s all just a bit too much for my little brain. I like to read as a form of escapism and to relax not to get a headache because I’m too confused!

Do you have a favourite book?

‘You before Me’ by Jojo Moyes, it’s the only book that’s ever made me cry! You can check out my review of it here. I am also a huge fan of Harry Potter, they are classics.

What is your least favourite book?

I’ve never made it to the end of a book I don’t enjoy! So not sure I can answer this question! If I’m not enjoying it, finding it awful or boring I tend just stop reading it.

What is the longest book you have ever read?

I have genuinely just sat in front of my book shelf trying to figure this out, now I have a kindle I’m not 100% sure of the answer. So looking at my shelf it looks like the answer is Harry Potter, The Order of the Phoenix!

What was the last book you bought?

I have just downloaded The Fault in our Stars by John Green. I wanted to read it before the movie comes out as I’ve heard so many good reviews on it!

Do you prefer library books or buying books?

I used to give going to the library when I was a child and early teen! I have to admit I now can’t remember the last time I stepped foot in my local library, which I now feel terrible guilty about as I think they are excellent provisions! I now tend to just download any books I want to read onto my kindle, but every so often I also buy a proper book. You just can’t beat an actual book! I love the smell of them and I’m also terrified I may drop my kindle in the bath!!

What are you currently reading?

I am just about to start ‘The Fault in our Stars’ by John Green. 

Where do you buy your books?

Amazon tends to be my first port of call, but I also buy books at our local market, there is usually this amazing stall with piles of chick lit books all for a £1 each!! I also browse my local charity shops and sometimes supermarkets have good offers on books. I also love the smell of Waterstones, I love the smell of books and book shops, and yes I’m an odd one! However it tends to be a little expensive in there so only tend to make a purchase if they have an offer on.

Do you ever pre-order books?

I never used to but now I have a kindle I am terrible for this! A lot of my favourite authors seem to have books coming out this May so I’ve already pre-ordered a few. I love waking up to new books on my kindle!

How many books do you buy a month?

I tend to go through phases and buy a bunch of books in bulk and work my way through the pile and when I run out I do the same again!

How do you feel about second hand charity shop books?

I love them! I am a huge believer in reading a book and passing it on to someone else! I love sharing a book I’ve really enjoyed. I also love it when a books a bit battered and worn, I have a romantic view that they were loved and well read.

Do you keep your read and to-be-read books together?

Nope, all my read books are on my book shelf. All the to-be-read books are on the floor by my bed! If I had them all together id forget which ones I have read as I have loads!

Do you plan to read all the books you own?

Absolutely!

What do you do with books you own that you know won't be re-read?

I sometimes keep books if I have really enjoyed them or I usually pass them onto someone else if I think they would enjoy it. I also donate to my local charity shop.

Have you ever donated books?

Yep all the time as if I kept all the books I’ve read I wouldn’t have space to store them!  They either go to charity shops or friends.

Have you ever been on a book buying ban?

No unless I’m skint and am reducing my spending in general!

Do you think you own too many books?

Haha probably! I can get away with it a bit more now I have a kindle!

What a nice way to remind myself how much I enjoy reading! I now tag you all to do this post too. If you do, please let me know in the comments below!

Nails // Models Own in Pinky Brown

For a while now I keep going for bright clean colours for my nails, I think it’s been with the dreary weather I like to perk things up with a splash of colour! So for a change this week I decided to try a darker shade with Models Own Nail Polish in Pinky Brown. The colour is what it says on the tin! However it’s a glittery shade and looks very shimmery in the light. I really like this colour and have been receiving quite a few compliments!

Time for a Blog Revamp!

Have you ever been in a bloggers rut? Where you just can’t seem to get motivated or inspired? I’ve been having one of these lately! I’ve had a lot going on in life in general and haven’t had much time to blog, and then when I have put some time aside, I haven’t been that excited about it.

So I took last week off! I gave myself a bit of a blog breather and now the ideas are flowing and I’m so excited about posts that are coming up! Also in my week off, my blog got a little makeover! I was getting a bit bored of the old design, to the point I was picking faults in it. I also thought it looked a little childish and a bit too pink!! It was a design that suited when I started blogging but as I’ve grown as a blogger and just over time my tastes have changed. I wanted something that suited me now, that was a little edgier and grown up.

I contacted the gorgeous Hayley over at ‘Tea Party Beauty’, I’ve been following her blog for a while, her lifestyle posts usually make me laugh out loud! Anyways I digress, I’ve noticed that she’s been venturing into blog design and they are pretty damn good so I called on her talents to give my little blog a overhaul....

And ta-dah! Here is the outcome! I’ve had a few lovely messages via twitter complimenting my new header. I am so chuffed with the results and thought I would do a little post saying so. Hayley was amazing at taking my sketchy ideas and turning them into a reality! It’s really made me fall in love with my blog again so a massive Thank You to Hayley!

What do you all think?

Motivational Monday #7

Happy Monday Lovelies! If you saw last week’s Motivational Monday post you’ll know that I’ve been having a bit of a hard time of it lately. Things are still a little rough, but I’m determined to try and be positive and not let it all get on top of me as much! I think the recent sunshine has massively helped! I’m a huge believer in the notion that the sunshine feeds you soul.  

So this week I am going to work hard to be upbeat, focus on myself and try not to worry about others as much! I’m going to start learning to love myself, flaws and all, again.

Oooh and a massive happy paddy’s day to any Irish readers!

 

 

Nails // Seventeen Gel Colour in Mint BON BON

 

I am obsessed with Gel polishes! I totally see a future where normal polishes are long gone and only Gel ones exist. I always have my eyes open to try new brands and couldn’t resist trying Seventeen’s Gel Colour range. Seventeen’s not a brand I used to turn to but lately I’ve tried a few of their products and have been really impressed!

This one didn’t let me down! Mint BON BON is a gorgeous dark mint green. I love bright nails at this dreary time of year! It states on the bottle it lasts 8 days, well I’ve been wearing this one for around 12 days now (yes I’m lazy!) and there is no chipping, only a bit of re-growth!

I am definitely going to be trying the other shades in this range!

Motivational Monday #6

 

I am going to be a bit more deep and open today than I usually am on this blog, I just feel like I need to get it out there. So I’m sorry if it comes across as a bit depressing and woe is me, I just want to put my emotions out there in order to fix them and put them into positive emotions instead. Lately I have been feeling very down in the dumps. I feel ridiculously lonely, like I’m stuck in the mud and not getting anywhere. My confidence is rock bottom and if I could hide away for a while under my duvet I would.

I think there are many reasons why I feel this way, work has been really stressful and unpleasant lately, my mum’s been really poorly , I’m 28 and I live with my parents..... All in all, I’m just struggling and feeling like a bit of a failure. It’s amazing how things can really affect your mood and the way you feel.

I know I need to make changes but I just don’t know what yet. I feel like I need a life coach, any offers?! Until I figure out what to do, I am determined to stop thinking negatively about myself and start focusing on the positives! I know deep down there are lots and I’m not a completely bad person! I need to start loving myself a bit more!

Do you ever get stuck in a rut? How do you snap yourself out of it?

MAC Eye Shadow in Satin Taupe

 

A while back I wrote THIS POST about my favourite three MAC eye shadows. Well ladies, a new contender has entered the ring in the shape of ‘Satin Taupe’ It’s a gorgeous brown/lilac shade, okay I guess taupe, as it says on the tin! It’s also slightly shimmery and is just such a perfect colour.

As I’ve waffled on before, I know MAC shadows are a little pricey at £12.50 but I really do believe they are worth every penny. As with all MAC shadows I have previously tried, this one didn’t let me down. It’s highly pigmented, doesn’t go all powdery and fall all over your face, and it actually stays in place all day! I spent the whole of last Saturday with a friend and she even made a comment at the end of the day that she couldn’t believe my eye shadow was still place and wanted to know what it was!

Mostly I am just completely in love with this shade, it’s just so ‘me’! What do you all think? What us your favourite MAC eye shadow?

Nails // Models Own in Pink Fizz

 

Back in January I was incredible naughty and massively took advantage of Models Own 50% off everything offer and this was one of my lovely purchases, Models Own Nail Polish in Pink Fizz. It’s an absolutely gorgeous champagne pink glitter, and I can honestly say I am so chuffed with the results. I can’t stop swooning over my nails! For real.

Most glitter shades you need to put hundreds of layers on in order to get a decent coat, well not with this one! Only two coats ladies! I’ve had it on for a few days now and it’s pretty chip resistant too. Fully recommend this one, its girly with an edge!

Decembers Snail Mail Collective

Towards the end of last year I came across the Snail Mail Collective on Melyssa’s blog ‘The Nectar Collective’ . It’s a great initiative that’s a monthly gift exchange where you can meet other people from around the world. When I came across this project they were taking sign ups for their last ever one, so I knew I had to take part! What was even better was each round had a theme and Decembers was ‘Travel’! Perfect, I thought, as travelling is one of my passions and I was about to head off at the month for 3 weeks in Thailand!

I was paired up with the gorgeous Jessie who from Seattle in America and blogs over at ‘Enjoying the Journey’. We emailed each other numerous times, getting to know each other. We share a passion for working with children and young people and Jessie is such a positive inspiring person. I really enjoyed the whole process and had fun deciding what to send her!

Due to Christmas and me swanning off for most of January we only recently sent each other’s gifts and I was so excited when mine arrived this week!

 

 

I feel very lucky to have been involved in this project before it stopped and getting to know Jessie has been a privilege!

So as the Snail Mail Collective has come to an end and being a bit disappointed about this, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands! I’ve decided to attempt to run a similar project #TheBloggersSnailMail and would love for you all to get involved! Check out THIS POST for all the info on what it’s about and how to sign up!

Motivational Monday #5

 

I can’t believe it’s the first Monday in March! This year is going way too fast for my liking! It’s really making me want to stop and make sure I fully appreciate all the little things. This post put a massive smile on my face, lots of awesome things happen every day and sometimes we just need reminding of them!

Happy Monday lovelies!

The Skills of a Blogger...

 

During a recent bloggers chat on twitter the question was posed ‘Do you put your blog on your CV?’, I didn’t even need to think about my response! No I don’t, as my blog isn’t relevant in the slightest to my day job. My blog is also my girly indulgence where I enjoy my spare time, so why would I put it on my CV?!

Well, when I started thinking a little bit more into this, my blog actually highlights a diverse range of skills I now have, that I hadn’t really acknowledged until this moment! We as bloggers are pretty multi talented, no matter the size of readership. These are the skills I’ve come up with, let me know if you can think of any more!

WRITING – This is probably one of the more obvious ones and actually my favourite. I love writing and started this blog as an outlet to do just that. My dream is to be a published writer, I just need to overcome the lack of confidence and self doubt!

PHOTOGRAPHY – This is definitely something I have improved on, which you can see if you head back to my first few posts! I now spend so much time trying to achieve the perfect lighting and to make my blog look a little more professional.

MARKETING – It’s just clicked that I do this as a blogger! I am technically always ‘marketing’ my blog to others, whether that’s to potential readers of different companies.

PR – I quite like this one! I guess it’s because I like the interaction with others, it’s also pretty much summed up above in marketing! My confidence has also massively improved in this.

SOCIAL MEDIA – A couple of years ago twitter used to baffle me! Now though, I am hooked! I mainly use it for blogging purposes. I love chatting to other bloggers!

TIME MANAGEMENT / ORGANISATION – I am a pretty scatty person who juggles three jobs, so throw in blogging on top and it can be a little crazy! Therefore when it comes to blogging I need to assert some time management skills and be pretty organised to get the posts up and keep my blog ticking along nicely.

CREATIVITY – All bloggers need a bit of this! It’s what keeps your blog going, helps you come up with post ideas and encourages people to come back and read more.

I also think my blog shows I have initiative and drive! How many ‘hobbies’ tick all these boxes? And I am sure there are tons of other skills I haven’t even thought of!

What skills do you use as a blogger?

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