Twenty Eighteen

Oh, 2018, what a strange year you were. I feel as though the year taught me a few different things and so to start the New Year, I thought I'd share them with all of you.
1. Saving is Better Than Spending After a pretty spendy Christmas on myself, friends and family, I've decided to reign it all in, and start to think about saving more than I'm spending and just having more control over what I'm buying and making certain things more of a treat. I'm starting to set the boundaries of what I need versus what I just want. And I feel like this is a lesson that everyone can take on board, cause as much as people like to spend, I also like to know I have some money put aside ready to set my future up.
2. There's No Better Time Than Now This almost leads in to my last one, so I had already decided as soon as Christmas was done that I wasn't spending anymore money. And it made me think, why do people wait for a new year to start before they decide to start changing things? If you really wanted to change something, it's something that you could change at any time and shouldn't just be because of the New Year.
3. Set Yourself Realistic Goals If you are someone who likes to set resolutions, that's completely fine but I've always found that sometimes it's better to set yourself an end goal for the year, instead of trying to change too many thins in your life at once. And always make sure that the goal is a realistic one as it's something that you want to be able to say you've managed to achieve 12 months later.
4. Everything Does Happen for a Reason I wouldn't say I've ever been someone who doesn't believe this, but I've always been sceptical of it, just due to the type of person I am. However, I feel like 2018 has it's ups and downs and it really did show me that sometimes things have to happen in your life for you to be able to move on and make changes, and it usually always works out for the best even if it doesn't feel like it at the time!
5. Sometimes You Have to Put Yourself First It's okay to have some time to yourself and be selfish from time to time, how are you supposed to look after the people around you if you don't give yourself time to look after yourself? I feel as though the last year has showed me that I need to take more time for me and just put my feelings and self care first more often because at the end of the day, you're the most important person in your life. 6. It's Okay Not To Be Okay Over the past year, I feel like this has a been a phrase that has been drummed into people and it really is true! The last year has been one of the most testing years for me in terms of who I am as a person and where my own head is at, and it truly makes you realise you don't know mental health until you live it. I can safely say, I'm glad I took the courage to do something about the way I'd been feeling and can say it's made almost every aspect of my life so much better, including my job, relationships and just how I feel about life in general.
I hope you've all enjoyed this little read, and hopefully I'll be back soon with another one! Let me know what kind of goals and resolutions you are setting for yourself in 2019!

Instagrams to Follow

Living in a world of social media, it's easy to get lost in the realms of tweets, posts, pictures and videos. And I can admit, I am one of those people who sometimes finds myself using social media way more than necessary, so I thought I would share with you some of my favourite Instagram accounts!

I have to admit that most of these accounts are beauty related and so I thought I would start it off with the one fashion account I absolutely adore! And this account is caitlinheathxo and this would be a great acount to follow if you love trends such as the fishnets, graphic tees and jumpers, and lace up everything! I'm someone who always keeps my fashion very basic with intentions of changing it up and this account has been giving me all the inspiration I need, I'd highly recommend checking this girl out!

This next account is not only one of my favourite Instagram accounts but a favourite of mine on YouTube as well, it's jamiegenevieve. She is an absolutely beautiful and talented makeup artist, and so this account is everything beauty, and I could scroll on through this for hours! If you love a variety of makeup looks, ranging from natural to full glam this is the one for you and she uses a lot of neutral colours which will always be my favourite colour palette!

Someone I've been following for a long time now is grgctts who is also a makeup artist, and I feel like I can take so much inspiration from this girls looks because she is just as pale as me! She's incredibly talented and does a variety of different looks ranging from neutral to colour and so I always find there's something to take from her posts, and I feel like she has a look for everyone on her account!

The next account I love is lydiaemillen who is an all round blogger and YouTuber and so this account is all about lifestyle, fashion and beauty, and I love this because it feels so real! Scrolling through her feed is aesthetically pleasing as well, but I love how her photos range from one thing to another, instead of all being based on one topic, as I feel like this makes it appealing to a wider audience! Also her and her fiance are both extremely cute and she does often post pictures of them together!

My final favourite is cartiamallan who is honestly one of the most inspirational people on the internet that I've come across. She is also a YouTuber and I'd highly suggest checking out her channel, but I love her Instagram for the photos and the captions, because she's always so true and really promotes positivity and a happy state of mind! I would say that her account is more of a lifestyle one, but I love seeing the places she visits, and the people she goes with, and she is another person who is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside!

Do any of you have any Instagram accounts you could recommend? I always love following new people! 

Finding Happiness

credit

We're already a month into the new year and I decided to not make any resolutions at the start of the year as I'm someone who never sticks to them anyway. But as we're getting into this new year, I've had a few ideas of things I want to start up and most of these ideas come from things that will boost happiness within myself and I thought I'd share them with you all!
Last year I really didn't stick to blogging as well as I wanted to, and I'm not going to set myself targets but I really want to get back into it and enjoy it again! So instead of telling myself I should be posting on certain days so many times a week, I'd rather post content I want to and really like the content I'm putting out, and this means the content will be a lot better for all you that are reading it.
I also want this year to be a lot happier for me and so I decided that I need a hobby and I've chosen to join the gym, as not only will exercising release endorphin's which makes you feel a lot happier, but I also want to get my body to a point where I feel comfortable and enjoy what I see, so this seemed like a great way to boost my self confidence as well as boosting my happiness!
Positivity is also something that I really want to focus on and so I've decided to start journaling so that I can write everything down and go back to it to see how much things have changed for me, and just watch my own journey to becoming a lot more positive. And I feel like it's always good to have somewhere to write everything down and get everything out!
Have any of you got any resolutions that you've managed to stick to so far?

Lingerie Lusting

Everyone loves lingerie right? And I'm someone who likes cute lingerie the whole year round but this time of year seems to be the time to grab those deals so I thought I would share with you some of the pieces that I have been lusting over!

Everyone has been a really big fan of the Calvin Klein modern cotton sets and while I do keep thinking about purchasing some myself, I also found these also from Calvin Klein and I think this set is beautiful!

Calvin Klein Fearless Set

ASOS also have a lot of different sets on their website and I have found quite a few that I want to order, and I think you'll find there is a following pattern with all of these, mainly the colour black and that they all have lace or pattern on them in some way!

one | two | three | four

If you're someone who likes to spend a little bit more on lingerie then Victoria Secret is the place to go and I'm going to share some of my favourite pieces from there as well!

one | two | three | four

I hope you all enjoyed this post, if any of you have any other places you buy lingerie from then please let me know in the comments, as I'm always looking for new sets!

Five Things // 11

photo credit

I've been loving the stripes and dungaree trend for a while now, and it's making me feel the need to invest in some more dungarees (maybe long length ones this time!)

photo credit

Just recently, I've been so intrigued by Amsterdam and really want to visit this beautiful place

photo credit

I really can't wait for the day that Colourpop will ship to the UK, because these colours are all so dreamy. This is the part where I go all heart eye emoji!

photo credit

I am totally obsessed with cute lingerie at the moment and I really need to browsing online at so much because I probably will cave and end up buying a lot!

photo credit

I think that Khloe has always been my favourite Kardashian but just recently she has been slaying the game, and everything is so on point with her! She kinda makes me want to cut my hair short again, and even her makeup is just flawless, is this a girl crush?! Maybe.

A Month In Photos, January

one. I made a post all about the gorgeous En Taupe palette from Zoeva

two. my most recent post which is all about my January favourites features these products

three. some of the items that were featured in my yearly favourites

four. a few more of the products from my 2015 favourites post

five. I was feeling a seriously bronzed look and shared some of the products I used for this six. a few pieces from a face of the day, using another beautiful palette from Zoeva seven. I found my old camera and decided to post a photo of myself which is very unlike me! eight. my absolute favourite palette at the moment, I need to buy some more shadows for this soon

Five Things // 10

photo credit

As the first Five Things of 2016, I thought it was appropriate for a quote, and I hope that this is something that not only myself but everyone else remembers this year. It's not a crime to love yourself.

photo credit

I really love the idea of having a bed without a frame, and I'm such a fan of monochrome decor so this is my absolute dream!

photo credit

It's almost my 21st and I've been looking for things to do, and this reminded me of a cute retreat type of idea, and would be such a nice thing to do with your partner.

photo credit

I love wearing all black and I don't think this will be the year that changes, but I am always on the hunt for black boots, and if anyone knows where to get some that look like this, please let me know!

photo credit

I want to start visiting more cities and just more countries in general, growing in a small town makes a girl curious!

Five Things // 9

photo credit

The thought of a tattoo is becoming more appealing every time I see hand and wrist tattoos like this, I'd just be too scared that it doesn't suit me

photo credit

Winter is on the way and I couldn't more excited because it also means that Christmas is coming, I'm just waiting for the year I can spend this time of year in a place like New York, because the UK will never have a truly white Christmas!

photo credit

I feel like this is pretty self explanatory

photo credit

It's sweater weather and this makes me extremely happy because it means I can wrap myself up in the most oversized jumpers and it still looks socially acceptable

photo credit

Zendaya has been completely slaying just recently and I think she absolutely deserves all this recognition plus she is beautiful and I think many of us will be taking inspiration from her beauty and fashion

A Month in Photographs // July

one. just a few of my July favourites

two. some kind of make up mess, where I show me using far too many products

three. another smaller make up mess featuring the beautiful Jaclyn Hill favourites palette

four. I got some new Gerard Cosmetics lipsticks and made a post about them

five. I found some new skin care that I have to admit that I wish I'd starting using some of these a long time ago!

six. there was a few confessions up on the blog this month including me not being a pro at eye liner

seven. we had some sad news about our dog and she will be greatly missed

eight. I was having a moment with my MAC Quad

nine. I finally got some more Makeup Geek eyeshadows and what a dream they are

ten. this month has been pretty bad as far as my skin goes, and so concealers have been my absolute go to!

eleven. the start of the month saw the arrival of my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit, who wouldn't be happy about that?!

Five Things // 8

photo credit

I've been seeing these types of tattoos a lot recently and there's something so pretty about them, it's actually tempted me to get a tattoo!

photo credit

There's been so many photos of minimal make up floating around at the moment and although I don't feel I could pull this off, I really do like the look of it, especially the thick brows!

photo credit

This is something that speaks for itself I feel, surround yourself people who don't put you down for what you enjoy 

photo credit

I keep seeing more of Kendall Jenner, and I've always a fan of the Kardashians and Jenners, but she is a real underdog for this family and I think she should be an inspiration to many people!

photo credit

I'd love to be one of those people who can sit in a small cafe with a coffee and a book and just be by myself but instead I choose to do this at home, maybe I'll transform my bedroom into a serene place with lights like these!

July Favourites

Another month has rolled around at a ridiculously fast pace and so that can only mean that it's time for me to ramble about what products I've been loving for the month of July! I do have to admit that July has been a month where the weather got ridiculously hot for the UK, to then be raining at the current time of writing this post! And so due to all this, it's safe to say that my skin is rebelling and really doesn't like me at the moment!
So the weather has made my skin a little drier than usual and so I have been using The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser which not only provides my skin with a hydrating layer to help battle my dry patches but also leaves my skin looking so refreshed and glowing like the name would suggest! Due to the colour of this moisturiser, it helps to prevent the look of tiredness to the skin and I really think that it does improve this, at least one me. It's one that is a little pricey for a drugstore option, but if you suffer with skin that looks a little lifeless and dull, I would highly recommend trying this out!

The first of my makeup favourites comes from Makeup Geek, and their eyeshadows are something that I wish I had discovered a long time ago because the quality of these shadows are incredible for the price! But the one shade that I really want to mention is Peach Smoothie which is the perfect transition shade for any eye look and honestly this has been my go to for almost every time I've done my makeup, and I can see me hitting pan on this before any other of the shadows from Makeup Geek! I've also been using my MAC Quad again which honestly, I'd kind of forgotten about and glad I've rediscovered, it houses Vanilla, Charcoal Brown, All That Glitters and Woodwinked which all together create the sort of eye look that I create all the time! There's something about MAC shadows that I really love, the pigment is amazing and I have yet to find one that doesn't blend out beautifully and although these are pricier than the Makeup Geek ones, I would still highly recommend if you want to splash out a little more!
Sticking with the eyes, I have also been using the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner but not in the typical black shade, instead I have been opting for brown which I have found is a lot easier to wear and goes with a lot more of the shadow colours that I tend to wear! And I have found that the Maybelline gel liner is so easy to use, and because it's so creamy, it just glides straight onto the eye and really does stay in place for the day! And even though I have been using brown liner, I have still been loving my Maybelline Lash Sensational because it's the one mascara that really separates my lashes while still giving them length and definition, and it doesn't transfer onto my eyelids! But everyone has raved about this mascara and so I feel like I don't need to say too much about it, just buy it if you haven't already!

A few new purchases have made their way into this months favourites, the first of them being the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit which I am questioning to why I didn't buy earlier! My most used shades from this kit are definitely Sand and Fawn which I use for my contour and highlight and I don't feel like I would use any other contour shade (except maybe Hoola) now just because it is so grey and really looks like a shadow on the face and not bronzer in the wrong place! And as for the highlight, it isn't chunky or too glittery, instead it looks subtle on the cheekbones and is a shade that really reflects in the light! And to go with this I have been using the Real Techniques Sculpting brush with the fawn shade as the brush fits into the hollows of the cheeks perfectly and really helps to create the defined contour!
As I have been trying to get into using pink lipsticks, I picked up Brave from MAC and I have been loving using this shade as it is one that is so easy to wear! I feel like if I have been wearing a lipstick this month, it has most likely been this one and for someone who wasn't into pink lipstick a few months ago, they have really started to grow on me as long as I'm wearing the right shade of pink to suit me! As well as this I have been using the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in the shade Nude Mauve which I have found is so subtle on the cheek, while still giving a glow due to the marbled effect of the blush! And this is one that I have been using a lot because it goes with almost any make up look and any lip colour and so it's definitely been my go to blush! And my final favourite for this month has been the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer which I have been mixing with the concealer for my under eye area as it this concealer really brightens and reflects in the light which is perfect for the under eye area! But I do find that using this on its own doesn't hold enough coverage and so this is why I mix it with other concealers!
So these have been my favourites for this month and as you can see there has been a lot of make up involved in this one! I would love to know if any of you have been loving the same products as me? Or any products you have been loving this month, I'm always looking for new things to try! 

Saying Goodbye

I firstly need to point out that the title of this could have been misleading and no it does not mean that I am leaving my blog, but there is something that I need to talk about. 
Yesterday was possibly one of the hardest days I've had for years, and I can still remember when my favourite little ball of fluff turned up as a gift in November 2007. But sadly, we had to make the decision to let her go, and for those who don't have pets or aren't dog lovers, you can stop reading now as you'll probably find the concept of this post to be ridiculous. 
For me, this whole process hasn't really sunk in yet and I keep expecting to see her walking about the house or sleeping on her bed and every time I realise she's gone, it's as though it hits me all over again. But I can't even begin to explain how much that dog meant to me, yeah she was just a dog to so many people, but to me she was so much more than that. She was a true companion, a best friend and my favourite thing in this entire world and letting that go was extremely hard. She would always know when I was upset as stupid as it seems and there have been many times where I would just sit and cuddle her until I felt alright again.
There is so much I'll miss about her, not just the company because when she first arrived, she would sleep with me all the time, but also the silly quirks she held, she was the dog that everyone loved, the one that would sunbathe all summer long, eat raw pasta as though she actually enjoyed it, try and sneak onto the furniture when she knew she wasn't allowed. And she was the one dog I knew that wouldn't fetch a ball no matter how hard we tried to train her.
I didn't ever imagine writing a blog post would be this hard and there's so much more I could say, but I need to stop myself from crying and so I'll finally say that I'm glad because she looked peaceful and content and I know now that she won't be in pain any more, and that she'll be happy up there if there is a heaven. 
Rest in Peace my precious little angel and best friend, I'll love you forever.