What I bought with my Christmas Money

Hello all. Around this time of year, if you're like me, you're welcoming in the new year with a shopping spree or two. With Christmas money, I always feel like I need to make more of an investment with my purchases so I always make a list of the things I really want, to avoid me spending money on silly or rash things. I hope this doesn't make me sound ungrateful as over Christmas I've already received more than enough lovely things! These are only a few of the things I bought (mostly because I forgot to take photos of the rest, oops) but I hope you like them nonetheless.

For me, an everyday bag is a big deal. It has to go with everything in your wardrobe and needs to carry all the crap that always somehow ends up in it. But we're not going to carry any old tat around, oh no, so choosing one becomes a very personal choice. For me, I always like to think through what sort of colour schemes it needs to match (sad) and then go searching for a bag that ticks all those boxes (more sad). That being said, despite countless searches, I never found one that was just right. Last week, I went to visit my lovely boyfriend at university and decided that whilst he was in lectures, I'd do a tad shopping (dangerous). I walked into New Look with the intention of buying work trousers (lies) that I really needed (more lies). When I saw this bag, it was like birds were flying and angels were singing because I knew that I'd finally found the one. There was only one left but needless to say I practically ran over there and grabbed it. We've been hand in hand ever since. It's love.

When it comes to buying a new bag, buying a new purse to go with it is mandatory, right? I've always loved River Island purses for their quality and always seem to have really good card organisation (again... sad). That being said, not so impressed with the super large price tags attached. It's the age old question, do you buy a purse for £17 and no money in it or have a cheaper one with more dollar in? I don't need to tell you which I chose as this little beauty is now a permanent resident in my new beautiful bag.

I can't tell you how long I've been searching for a Topshop with the Orelia jewellery brand. I saw them shopping with a friend ages ago and loved how delicate the jewelery was and since hadn't found them anywhere. When I did finally find it again, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity and picked up a few little bits that caught my eye. I love paring fluffy jumpers with dainty little necklaces like this one for a feminine look. Plus I feel like the anchor charm was just a no brainer. They also had other cuties like a wish bone and cupids arrow, adorable!

Grey High Neck Long Sleeve Swing Dress £19.99 Here

Rose Gold Contrast Centre Watch £19.99 Here

Black Buckle Side Ankle Boot £24.99 Here

This little swing jumper dress was a complete find. I think this super smart sort of trend is really coming into it's own. It makes you feel feminine, smart and grown up, all in one trend. The fact that this swing dress covers inevitable food baby dilemmas whilst simultaneously being the most comfortable dress ever makes it my number 1 favourite outfit of the moment.

I team the jumper dress with my next little purchase, these adorable little ankle boots. I much prefer ankle boots to any other type of boot as they lengthen the legs but are actually comfortable and weather appropriate. These are waterproof and being black will go with everything.

And finally, the rose gold watch. The picture above isn't actually the watch I picked up, but was as similar as I could find. My watch has a purple dial but is otherwise the same. I'm not sure what it is that draws me to rose gold things but I've really entered into a love affair with it at the moment. Plus, a good watch never goes out of fashion and what's more, looks wayyy more expensive than it is.

It was actually these love heart earrings that drew me to the Orelia brand in the first place. They are so tiny and delicate, the photo really doesn't do them justice. Put it this way, they are probably about 6mm wide, that's tiny. The little butterfly earrings (which weren't in a multipack by the way, just put them on the same card for storage) we're one of those items that you see and know you shouldn't buy but just can't walk away from. Zero willpower for pretty things.

Even I don't know how I manage to ramble this much about basically nothing. Besides the above, I also picked up a plain, unremarkable pair of dolly shoes and some boring old work trousers. Sadly, between this lot and nights out, I've depleted my Christmas money now. But my post winter wish list is not exhausted just yet. Next on my list is the Scholl micro pedi so I can start getting the feet summer ready as the thought of it is sending me running for the hills. Anywho, that is quite enough from me! If you've made it this far, thanks and I'm sorry! Lots of love,

Laura. 

Monthly Diary: January

Good evening all, I hope I'm reaching you all healthy, happy and well. I've been taking photos all day today for my little slice of the web and It's got me in the blogging mood. Plus, I've used my brand new bag for the first time today (yes, pictures are coming) and it's made me feel a million dollars! If only every day was a new clothes day, sigh. Anywho, shopping addict rambles aside, I've been talking to so many people lately who are just left drained from January already. What is it about this month that makes us miserable? So, I thought there was no better time to do my monthly diary post while I'm in such a reflective mood.

I think everything in the news is mainly the reason for feeling a little low at the minute. Every time I open the paper or watch the news, there's some new tragedy or murder. It's enough for anyone to loose faith in the world a little. I found it odd that when I turned on the TV today, it featured Angelina Jolie and she was talking about how, in our current society, we can be uplifted by faith and the human soul. It was actually about her new film that she directed, but you know when what someone says just connects with you? I decided that any time my morale felt a little low, I'd think of all the amazing people who do good in the world. 

On that note, I'll move onto something a little more light hearted, I'm going to be visiting my good friend for her birthday celebrations in Cardiff and I'm so excited I'm counting down the seconds. I've never been to Cardiff and always relish an excuse for a new adventure. I've also been on a shopping spree on the run up with all my Christmas money (is it too soon to mention the dreaded C word?) hence the new bag. I will be doing a haul post soon as I can't wait to show off my goodies! That sounds very bad. Anywho, I'm entering into the unnecessary babble region so know now is the time to stop. How are you all finding January? Let me know in the comments below!

Laura.

Mac Fix +

Hello all, I'm finally getting around to reviewing the much talked about product that is Mac Fix Plus. I can't even tell you how many beauty "How-to" videos on Youtube there are that rave about how great this is. Naturally, with such great reviews, comes great expectations. I first heard about it from my beloved Carli Bybel (Youtube Vlogger, here) when she suggested dipping your make up brushes into it before applying eyeshadows.

As it turns out, there are multiple ways it can be used. A product that has lots of different uses and works hard for your money is okay with me. And work it does. So far I've been very happy indeed. It can be misted over your face before or after makeup application and, as Carli suggested, dipping your brush in before eyeshadow application. Misting it before make up feels a little redundant to me as I prefer to stick to just my primer before any application. However, dipping in your brush before applying eyeshadow really works. The pigmentation of even cheap eyeshadows is greatly improved.

I've also tried misting it over my makeup after I'm completely done before a night out and similar to Urban Decay's All Nighter Spray, this fixes it in place for a lot longer than if I hadn't used it. I actually thought about doing before and after shots but felt that photographs couldn't really capture the differences. So unfortunately, you're going to have to take my word for it!

As it stands, I already have a very good foundation, so I don't tend to use the misting option. I've found the most value in dipping my eyeshadow brushes before application and I can say that it's become a permanent resident in my everyday routine. So to sum up an already long post, I've been pleasantly surprised that a product has met up to the hype. I know I usually put a link to the product but as it was a gift I don't want to know the price, I'll only link the Mac website here. If you've tried it, let me know in the comments below! Thanks as always lovely readers.

Laura.

Book Review: Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Hello lovely readers, it's my favourite time of the month, Book Review! This month, it's all about "Girl Online" by Zoe Sugg, better known as Youtube sensation Zoella. I first talked about this book in my "what I got for Christmas" post here. As I mentioned, my mom has a knack for just knowing what I want and this book was one of them. So as you can imagine, I started reading it there and then. I've actually just finished it and thought I'd pop on the old blog and talk about it before I go to work as I'm super excited.

I think i'm always a little anxious when reading things by people who aren't usually writers. I feel like there's more pressure on them for it to be good and as a result can lead them to unfair criticism. I've been a huge fan of Zoella for some time now and desperately wanted to love this book because of her but knew I couldn't let that cloud my judgement. When I first started reading it, I was unsure. The writing style is simply written, no fancy words or hidden meanings which I think works well with this type of story.

It centres around Penny, a young girl suffering from anxiety and blogging about her life anonymously online. This, as we all know, is something Zoella herself has come to terms with. The fact that she's following the old "write what you know" gives the book a real sense of what anxiety is actually like. In the beginning of the book, I was a little dubious and felt that I was waiting for something to happen, and then it did. Penny meets Noah, a mysterious boy from brooklyn and the story just takes off. I'm a sucker for a love story and while their tale is a little cliche, it's exactly what we the reader, wants to happen.

I'm embarrassed to say that I figured I'd got this book all sussed out and that I'd predicted the ending. And then something magic happened. It completely went another way. I've read a lot of books and it's not often a book throws me off the way this one has. During the turbulent chapters, I actually felt for Penny like she was a real person, something I hadn't realised was happening. During these chapters, it also built a really realistic feel for how the online world works, and how easily it can turn on you.

 I tried to put my love for Zoella aside whilst reviewing this book as I wanted this to be an honest review for people thinking about buying it. My verdict? Go out and buy it already. If you're expecting a novel written like Wuthering Heights, you'll be disappointed. But, if you're wanting a somewhat lighthearted read with morals and romance thrown in, look no further. I can confidently say that my love for Zoella has only heightened since reading this. As to all the rumours that she didn't write it herself, I feel that's rubbish. Have you read Zoella's new novel? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below! 

Laura.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Hair Reconstructor

Hello all, I hope you've had a lovely day! Can I just start by saying that winter, whilst a great excuse to find new products, is seriously not a bloggers friend. I've struggled  to get some decent daylight and this is the best I could get. So on that note, apologies for the rubbish photo quality in this (and my last) post. Summer 2015, please hurry up! Anywho, on to the topic on hand, the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Hair Reconstructor. In my last post, I reviewed the Miracle Moist shampoo and conditioner. Whilst buying those, I also saw this and as I have quite long hair, I always tend to pick up more conditioner as I go through the stuff in no time. If you've read my last post, you'll know that I wasn't too keen on the Miracle Moist, but decided I'd review this seperately and here's why.

We all know winter is super drying for the hair and I always like to give my hair an extra oompf once a week with a hair mask. Firstly, the lid on this is huge, meaning you can dispense a large amount in one go, great for saving time on long hair like mine. Secondly, this smells amazing and having nice scented hair is a major plus for me. As for the product itself, it does what it says on the tin. After the first use, my hair felt silky right to the ends. With other products, the ends would become dry again after a few days but the moisture has lasted with the Aussie reconstructor. I've since ran out and even noticed that it's still not dry on the ends and actually great condition.

As fore-mentioned, I've now ran out but I will be picking up another which is always a testament to how much I like a product. Have you tried it, and what do you think? As always let me know below! 

Laura. 

Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo and Conditioner

Good evening all, I've had an exahusting day and thought I'd get all my thoughts on Aussie Miracle Moist off my mind. Following summer, my hair was dry at the ends, oily and the roots and generally in bad shape. I did a bit of researching to find a product that had good reviews and that could rid me of the dreaded 'dry ends'. After many searches, I came upon these badboys over and over again. Obviously, I decided too try it out. Here's what I thought.

First of all, the packaging is nice and simple which is always a plus for me. The second thing is how sassy the description is. I know I make no sense but, on the front of the bottle they say "It's a miracle (well kind of). Not like child birth or solar eclipse..." For me, a company that has a sense of humour instantly stands out from the crowd. I was instantly draw to this product from then onwards. Sadly, the love affair was not to last.

After first using the shampoo and conditioner for about two weeks, my dry ends were a thing of the past and I was chuffed. However, I noticed a large build up of dandruff (ew, right?). As time went on, the more there was which was a concern as in all of my life, I have never had dandruff. Not even following harsh procedures on my hair, i.e bleach bath.

I thought, as i'd introduced no new hair care products into my routine, it had to be this product and sadly I was right. I've stopped using them and noticed the dandruff completely clear up after just one wash with my usual TRESemme. I'm quite gutted, the original impression was so promising but sadly it's not the one. 

As for this product, would I recommend it for others to use? Yes, because despite it not being a match for me, others may find it doesn't cause dandruff and after all, it did give my locks some moisture. You can buy the shampoo here and the conditioner here, both from. Have you used this product? Let me know what you think in the comments below! 

Laura.

A Personal Reflection on 2014

Happy New Year! I've been really thinking about 2014 and how everything has changed all in twelve months. It was a big year for me filled with lots of big life changes. Firstly, I graduated from Aberystwyth University in the June and remember feeling so lost and so unsure of what I was going to do in life. The things people never talk about is how hard finding a job can be, and how it can make you feel. Overcoming all those feelings was a huge thing for me and even though I'm still not in my ideal career, I know now that I'm on the right path.

How I feel about myself has also changed. When I started university three years ago I was seriously insecure and unsure of where I fitted in. Now I'm a much more confident, happier person and that is entirely due to me taking a long hard look at myself and the people I decide to surround myself with. No matter how scared you may be, removing toxic people from your life is always a good decision. If those people make a change and apologise for what they have done, there is no reason why they can't come back to you. If not, they gotta stay gone.

Negativity, or perhaps positivity depending on your outlook, aside, I've decided on my new years resolutions. The first is to attempt being vegeterian. I love animals and don't enjoy meat enough to warrant me ignoring the injustice surrounding them. Next, grow my nails. This one has been on the top of my new years resolutions for years and years. Maybe 2015 will be the year for it to actually happen and thirdly, continue to be in a state of self improvement, rather than insecurity. And those my lovely readers, are my new years resolutions. What are yours? Let me know in the comments below! 

Laura.