Wednesday Wants

Another Wednesday, another bunch of wants. No matter how much I buy, there's always something I've convinced myself I need. I've been really working on my room lately, clearing out all the crap. I've even started on my PJ draw and after beginning the Gossip Girl series (again), it's made me want  more glamourous nightwear than the "I love being cute" PJ's I currently own. Well, to avoid yet more rambling, here's my wants!

Maybelline The Nudes Palette has been on just about everyone's lips lately. I've never been one for Maybelline shadows as I never found the quality to be that good. That being said, the reviews for this palette have been very promising and to seal the deal, my girl crush Carlibel used this in one of her tutorials. Consider me sold.

The Bow Ballet Slipper Sock is one of those things I know I could live without, but I just don't want to. As forementioned, I want a more grown up PJ collection (sad) and I think these are just lovely to roam about the house in.

Rosie Huntington-Whitelys Floral Camisole Top and Floral Satin Pyjama Shorts are enough to make a grown woman weep. Sleeping in satin is like nothing you've ever felt before and honestly, when they're this gorgeous there's literally no reason I can think of to not make them mine. Kudos Rosie, kudos.

I've been loving smart simple dresses lately and this Dark Grey Fine Knit High Neck Midi Dress (seriously New Look, couldn't think of a shorter name?) is no exception. Throw on some tights and pointy heels and you've got yourself a super elegant outfit. Can't stop buying!

I think for my sanity (and my bank balance) I need to stop there. There's so much I still need in my life like VS undies (just for the sake of having a pair) and a few other bits and bobs. But, I'm grateful for all I have and I know these pretty things are uninportant in the big scheme of things. Alas, until next time lovely readers.

Laura.

How to revamp your old wardrobe

Images not my own, sigh.

If we're being honest, most of us girls (and boys) will admit that we've dreamt of having a walk in wardrobe more than once, I know I have! Looking at the pictures for this post was torture enough believe me. Something about the new year always makes me want to update my wardrobe, but unless I have a couple thousand to hand, it's not a realistic wish. That being said, I've managed to revamp my room with clever use of storage and in doing this, I've found I have much more than I thought. We've all had those "oh my god, this is gorgeous I forgot I had it!" moments and when your wardrobe is a tip (ahem...) they happen more often. I've set myself on a mission to have a neat and tidy wardrobe and have found these tips to help make it happen. Read on if you want to find out more!

Get rid!
One of the most painful parts of this process is the clearout. I had one recently and it actually hurt. I went through my wardrobe and, if I hadn't worn it in the last year, it had to go. The only things I kept were expensive dresses or quality clothing such as my leather jackets etc. Fashion can be quite fickle so quality pieces should be kept, but otherwise if it's not worn, it's gone. It was a difficult process but once done, you can see exactly what you've got and it makes putting together new outfits that much easier. Doing this once or even twice a year will keep your wardrobe clean and up to date.

Organise Organise Organise
The obvious part, you have to organise your wardrobe. By this I mean if you have to put some clothes in the corner of your closet, put the ones you're not going to be wearing. I.e, for me this means putting all my chunky jumpers folded neatly away during spring and summer when they aren't touched. Then, come Autumn, swapping them out. This saves much needed hanger space and helps you see what you have to work with that is season appropriate.

Key Pieces
These are the first things your money should go towards when you want a spend. For example, I'm always picking up basic t-shirts and plain dolly shoes. These are the boring things we hate to splash the cash on but really work for your money. I purchased a pair of plain back leather dolly shoes for £20 from Matalan and at the time, it pained me to spend the money. Two years later and I've only just chucked them in the bin. So you see, the boring purchases are the ones you need the most.

From left to right

Periea Underbed Shoe Storage £5.99 Here

Algot Wall Shoe Organiser £48.00 Here

MIU Colour Drawer Divider £10.77 Here

Algot Frame/3 Mesh Baskets £24 Here

Clever Storage
So there is no use having all your wardrobe de-cluttered if you put it back a mess. I've spent ages searching for clever storage ideas to make the most of little space. Periea Underbed Shoe Storage is a great idea to keep all your shoes together and easily seen and at £5.99 is an easily affordable option. Next, if you have a reasonably big wardrobe, the Algot wall shoe organiser may be a better option for you. This closely resembles the beautiful heel displays in my pictures above so if you're a heel lover, this may be perfect for you. At £48 it's more pricey but will protect your beloved heels.

Miu drawer divider isn't actually for your wardrobe but more the panty draw. Again, seeing all your smalls neat and in one place will save time and at £10.77 is an affordable solution. And finally, the Algot 3 mesh baskets would be great to store all your clutchbags and handbags, perhaps even shoes in the bottom. Bags take up a lot of space so keeping them somewhere like this would be really handy. At £24, it's an easily affordable option to keep the accessories safe.

Think before you buy
Probably the most exciting part of revamping your wardrobe is the buying of new clothes. I am the first to admit that with the new year, comes the new additions to my wardrobe. However, too often do I find myself in the position where I've bought new items only to discover I have nothing to wear it with. Then I need to buy more. Vicious cycle. My mom gave me some fantastic advice and that was to think about what you would wear an item with before you buy it. If you can't think of at least three things it would go with, leave it. Secondly, even if you really want something, wait as long as you can before buying it. If it's a rash purchase, you'll forget about it. This slightly boring, yet sound advice will avoid you getting into the "wardrobe full of crap" scenario all over again.

Ta-da, your wardrobe is revamped. Following these steps you'll find your closet cleaner, with more space and better access to all your lovely clothes. I cannot wait to get stuck in again and revamp mine. Lately I've been feeling a little safe in my outfit choices, so i'm going to bust out some old figure hugging pieces and perk up my style that way. Have you got any tips for revamping your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below! Lots of love,

Laura. 

How to remind yourself of NY resolutions with one app

Good evening all, it's an unusual post from me today. Part of the fun of new years is to think of resolutions to improve ourselves. However, most people will agree that these things never really happen because we loose focus or fankly give up. One of my new years resolutions was to eat healthily and grow my nails. My nails have been breaking and with them so has my resolve. When I spotted my sisters phone background I asked her what app she used to make it and informed me it was Pic collage. Pic collage is a free app that lets you design collages from pictures in your inventory.

I've never been a big person for apps and I have never even considered blogging about one. That being said, this nifty little app is too good to keep quiet about. Firstly, you can choose between different backgrounds and select (upto 12) photos at a time. Once the photos have been uploaded you can reposition, resize and rotate them, all with just touch. It makes creating a personalised background an easy task even for a novice such as myself.

The reason why I loved this app so much was because, by selecting the right photos, you can remind yourselves of your NY resolutions. Your phone is with you 24/7 and can act as a constant reminder and motivator for you to achieve your dreams. I chose different things for mine, several lovely nail pictures to help me stick to growing the claws. Next I added some toned bodies and healthy munch to remind me to get my summer body back from the dead. And finally, I added in women who inspired me such as Rosie Huntington-Whitely and girl crush Carli Bybel.

This inexpensive app has given me a little boost each time I receive a text. You can personalise it with anything you like, pictures that are associated with good memories, people you miss, anything! So to sum up an unusual blog topic, have you been achieving your resolutions? Do you need this app in your life? Let me know in the comments below! 

Laura.

Hair 101: How I grow my Hair long

Good evening all, I hope you've all had a great Monday, as good as any Monday can be anyway. Last week was quite the week for me, but I'll talk about that in a diary post, but I'm glad to be starting a new week. I actually came across an old "Grow my Hair" list that I had written a while ago and was reminded of how my hair was a year ago. It's been through quite the journey, which I've written all about in my post here, and so having finally got it to a length I'm happy with, I am keen to share the tips and tricks that got it here.

The key things to consider when growing your hair

• Damaging Treatments
• Heat
• Washing
• Cutting
• Nutrients

All the things above a contributors to the health and condition of your hair. You may not think that altering small habits will make a difference to the length and condition of your hair but it is the combination of good habits that results in long hair. Trust me, I've found out the hard way.

Damaging Treatments

I have had my fair share of treatments on my hair (that rhymed, not intentional!) and even knowing how damaging they were didn't stop me going ahead with them. As I mentioned in this post Here I have dyed my hair for 2 years, bleach bathed it, highlighted it and stripped it of dye. All of which left my hair in pretty rubbish condition. Naturally, my advice is to leave out damaging treatments, which is what I'm doing now. However, if you're dying your hair and want to keep it that colour, this isn't an option for you. 

So my advice to those of you that are going to be bleaching or dying your hair is firstly, go a little longer between treatments. When I was dying my hair, I would count 10 weeks before I would do it again. Regardless of how bad I thought it looked. Second of all, whenever I would do a treatment, I would balance it out by using a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment. I found this helped in reducing the damage to the locks. 

Heat

Although countless "How To" posts will tell you not to use heat, if you're anything like me, this isn't really an option. On a night out I want to curl my hair and do something with it to make it look nice. What's the point of having beautiful hair if you can't do anything with it? I've also stopped hairdrying my hair and letting it dry completely naturally. I've taught myself how to do some up-dos in order to reduce how often I use heat on a daily basis and this has helped. Here are some links for how to do a messy bun, knot braid and my personal favourite heatless wavy hair! 

Next of all, if you are going to use heat (which we both know you are) always always always use a heat protector. They actually do work when used correctly and make a such difference. The one I swear by and cannot live without is my  Loreal Studio silk & gloss Straightening cream. I've done a full review here and as you can see, I'm in love with the stuff. I've been using it six years now and can 100% say it makes your hair silky soft and it smells amazinggggg. 

Washing

Obviously, washing is a big part of hair care. All I really need to say is firstly, when my hair needs washing, I'll put it in an updo and try and go another day. I know it's a little gross but the hair is never really that dirty but reduces the amount of times you're messing with it. Second of all, use good products which I know, obvious. I'm currently liking TRESemme colour protect shampoo and conditioner and throw in the Aussie 3 minute miracle hair reconstructor for when I have time to really give it some moisture. You can see my full review on it here. 

Cutting

I think of all the steps I took to grow my hair, this one was the hardest. I just felt that cutting my hair was counter productive when I'm trying to grow it. But, it's that classic saying of quality over quantity. Without cutting it, I had longish hair but it was unhealthy at the ends and never really grew any longer. If you want to keep your hair the same length, cutting it every six weeks will keep it that way. However, I've found that getting my hair cut every ten weeks has kept it in perfect condition, but has still left it long enough for it to grow. Now my hair is just past my boobs and still has healthy ends. So bite the bullet and get it cut! 

Nutrients

You've heard countless sources tell you to have a healthy diet, so you don't need me to tell you that having a healthy diet will give you good hair, among other things. I've found perfectil hair and nails supplement worked great for giving my hair an extra kick. I've also heard that pure biotin supplements are available to buy. In case you didn't know, Biotin is the nutrient that your hair and nails need most to grow. As with any supplements, always check with your GP that it's safe for you to take! 

I've also found that gently massaging your head with my fingers has helped speed up growth, I imagine this is due to more blood being brought to the scalp and so increasing growth. And finally, my last tip is not brush your hair when it's wet and if you absolutely have to, do it very gently as harsh brushing when it's weakened will cause it to snap. So that concludes a very long but hopefully helpful "How to" post. I've followed all of these steps in combination with one another and that is when you see the most results. I actually tried on my old hair extensions and was thrilled to discover my hair is now the same length. Proof they really work. Hope you've found this post helpful and let me know your tips in the comment below!

Laura. 

Scholl Velvet Smooth Pedi Electric Hard Skin Remover

Hello all, I've been spending money again, no surprise there. I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I wanted the Scholl Velvet Smooth Pedi Electric Hard Skin remover (what a mouthfull) and ended up buying it last week, oops. I actually didn't intend to get the Scholl version as, at £39.99, was far too expensive for me to justify purchasing. I think it always feels like more of a risk the more expensive an item is because your expectations are so much higher. Long story short, I happened to be on Amazon when I saw this on sale for £25. As the cheaper alternatives were still £30 I knew I had to get it ASAP.

Being a blogger, good reviews mean everything when I'm spending a lot of money on one item. On Amazon, the majority of the 1,631 reviews were graded five stars and from people of all ages. Some reviews also included diabetics which, if you didn't know, a symptom of diabetes is painfully dry and flaky feet. On that note, prepare for a somewhat gross description of mine, you've been warned! My feet prior to using this had actually reached an all time low. I'd never had such dry, flaky feet in all my life and was too embarrassed to bare my naked feet. I felt so gross and after trying countless lotions and pumice stones, I'd lost all hope.

 I'm happy to say that I agree with the five star reviews. My dry, flaky feet? Gone. In just one week. On unpacking this little lifesaver, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the batteries were already in the device and it could be turned on straight away. Not having to mess around stealing batteries from your remote is a big plus for me. Second of all, despite being unbelievably ticklish, you can see the effects from the first use. I have used it once a day since and when combined with my moisturising routine (once a day before bed with Johnsons Baby Oil), my feet are actually flawless. They are actually unbelievably soft too and I've been walking round the house barefoot since.

When summer does come, I'll be the first to slip off my flip flops! I may even pair this treatment with shellac nail polish on my toes for feet that stay perfect and fuss free. Cannot recommend this enough and now is the perfect time to pick it up as, like I mentioned earlier, It's on sale for £25.00 on Amazon, here. Thanks for reading!

Laura.

Sinful Cuticle Oil

Hello all, review time again. I've recently returned from a trip to Cardiff for my friends birthday and I had such a good time. Since university, I've always had a soft spot for Wales so having an excuse to go back was perfect for me. We did a tad shopping (understatement), had some food and then went to hers to get ready. Despite it being a Sunday, it was such a good night out. It was as busy as any Saturday night and the atmosphere was amazing. Plus, we went to a cocktail bar called Mocha lounge and the drinks, whilst expensive, were amazing. So tasty and looked sensational. I was sad indeed to come back on the train yesterday, especially knowing I'm back in work today. Nonetheless, I had a fantastic time and I'm definitely wanting to go again!

As I am in work today (boo), I thought I'd kick of the day with a good review. As I mentioned before, I've been having shellac treatments on my nails and following the treatment, they apply a cuticle oil. I'd never noticed the skin around my nails feeling so smooth and healthy. My sister already owned the same brand and said I could try it (just once of course) and I loved it. Well recently she picked me up a bottle (thankyou Emily, what a babe!) and I knew I had to share such a fantastic product with you all.

Sinful do many different types of cuticle oils, for example my sister's oil is citrus scented. This cuticle oil is the regular version but still smells like watermelon, delicious. My main problem with nail oils in the past was how messy they were. You always got oil just about everywhere but your nails. This bottle is great because it comes with a tiny applicator so you can pop the tiniest drop on your nails and just rub it in. No fuss and no mess. It's perfect for night time application before you go to bed although as it does apply such a small amount you can use it in the daytime.

As for it's moisturizing qualities, my nails feel so soft and smooth after using this. It really does work. I've also noticed that using nail oils helps speed up nail growth, which for me is absolutely ideal. Overall, I'm so incredibly pleased with Sinful Cuticle oil and can't recommend it to others enough! Such a simple product for such good results. Thanks for reading as always!

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.

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. 

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.

Vaseline Healthy Hands Hand Cream

Hello all, Christmas is already over, boo! I've had an absolutely lovely couple of days and feel so blessed by the people I have around me! Cheesy but true! Yesterday was a dream and watching my family open the presents I'd spent lots of time on really made the day for me. My sister Emily has been talking about Cards Against Humanity and she had no idea I'd surprised her to them. We played them after dinner and they are outrageous and hilarious in equal measures! I was also blown away by the gifts they brought me, they were all so thoughtful and 100% me. My sister Sophie even made me lipgloss, that's right, she made it. And what's more is it's a delicious pink and really good quality. I will be putting up a 'What I got for Christmas' post hopefully tomorrow so keep your eyes peeled.

Anywho, I thought I'd get my butt in gear and do a review today as I feel I've neglected my little old blog lately. I know that it's a part of life that we don't get as much time for our hobbies as we'd like but it still makes me feel a little guilty. Nonetheless, I thought my review of Vaseline Healthy Hands Hand Cream was perfect for this time as year as I think everyone is suffering from dry hands. Since starting my new job, I've noticed it a lot and decided to pick up this little package during my break.

I was drawn by a)The cute pink packaging (what a nerd) and b)The 'Stronger Nails' claim plastered on the front. Lately i've been trying to grow my nails so it was important for me. First of all, the smell of this hand cream is lovely and I can't imagine it being a scent that will offend anyone. Secondly, this product just works. You rub in a pea sized amount and you're good to go. It leaves the hands a little greasy for two minutes but after that your hands are moisturised for the rest of the day. As i'm in particuarily dry conditions, I keep it in my pocket and reapply throughout the day but I love it for the cuticles.

Overall for a quick purchase I'm happy it does the job it says on the tin. As for stronger nails, I've had multiple products in effect so can't say that it is 100% down to this cream that they are stronger. Nonetheless, I think it's a good product anyway. If you fancy giving it a try, you can pick up this little travel bottle from Boots for £3.29 here  or invest in the larger bottle, which I now also own, for £5.39 here also from boots. Hope you've all had a lovely Christmas! Love you all.

Laura.

Reasons to LOVE December

Hello all, I'm utilising another post to waffle about all the things I love about December. I love writing these sorts of posts because it makes me appreciate the little things so much more. Plus, I get to look at lots of Christmassy (not a word?) pictures that get me in the spirit! There is no holiday quite like Christmas and December is the time to fill your social calendar. Since changing jobs, I've filled up my weeks by going to the german market, parties and all sorts of fun things. Plus, my wardrobe has never seen so many new incomers. Well, before I waffle any more, on the the post!

1. Dark Nights
No, I don't mean the Batman kind. Many people actually hate how the dark evenings seep in but I actually love it. I love how the Christmas lights are illuminated and sitting in front of the fire is just that little bit cosier.

2. Christmas
Do I really need to say anymore. Christmas is a wonderful time of year, it's recieving lots of presents (yay) but more importantly, giving presents that we know our loved ones will enjoy. What's more, spending quality time with family, which in our hectic lives isn't always as often as we'd like. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to stuff our faces and not give a crap.

3. Snow
Some people see snow as a major inconvenience and in many ways it is but it's oh so fun! I love playing in the snow and making snowmen, I seriously need to grow up. First thing I'm doing is building Olaf (I like warm hugs!) and have a snowfight. If it makes in in time for a a white Christmas, it literally just makes the day 100% more amazing!

4. Sequins, Glitter and Parties
My social calendar is literally rammed full this time of year and I love nothing more than a good excuse to don the glitter. All things fur are also welcome and give us all the more reason to look forwards to the dark nights!

5. Hot Chocolates
I know you don't have to limit hot chocolates to just December but in the winter months it becomes more of an event. Plus, I don't feel half as guilty lamping on the whipped cream and marshmallows which are completely essential in my opinion.

6. Christmas Movies
Christmas movies have so much more to them compared to normal movies (massive statement there) as they just make you feel happy and grateful of what we have. Some of my favourites include Polar Express, Elf, It's a Wonderful Life and most of all Miracle on 34th Street.

So thus concludes another fairly pointless, but very fun, post to write. We all know why we love December, mainly Christmas. I know I'm an adult now that I'm more excited to give presents this year than receive them, what about you guys? Let me know in the comments below!

Laura. 

Monthly Diary: November

Good evening lovely readers, I hope this post is reaching you curled up in front of a cosy fire! I thought I would do a diary post this month as there have been some pretty big changes in my life at the minute and I find it so therapeutic to write them all in a blog post and hopefully, it's something interesting for you to read.

Around this time of year, as more and more Christmas ads creep on telly, the present buying panic starts to set in. Last year, I brought all of my presents the week running up to Christmas and it stressed me out so this year I promised I wouldn't do it again. I'm actually already sorted with everyone's presents this time around, only needing to buy a few bits for the boyfriends family, call me Miss Organised! I've already received some in the post and awaiting others and now I can't wait for the big day to see everyone's faces! Some of the things I've bought for people I really want myself, whoops.

Christmas aside, I've actually recently changed jobs too. My final shift at my local pub was last night and I was on the brink of tears all night. The people I work with are one big family, lots of annoying little brothers haha, but people I'll miss so much and would consider great friends. The shift itself was completely hectic and I was determined to work really hard and go out with a bang. We ended up staying for drinks which then ended up as a McDonald's run at 2AM, not clever but fun.

You're probably wondering after reading this why I'm leaving at all, which is something I've been asking myself. Whilst I love the job, the late hours that come with bar work make it difficult to see my friends and make any plans. They also overlap with my families jobs so I feel like I never see them despite living with them. Now, I'm joining my local Midcounties Co-operative for a higher wage and more regular hours. I also won't have to work Christmas day or till the early hours of Christmas Eve morning. That being said, i'm still sad that I'm not going to be working with the same lovely people.

Overall, I think it's a better job and I do think I'm making the right decision (finally). As for what I want to do in life, career wise, I haven't decided but it's a decision I want to take time with. There's no rush as long as there's money coming in. I'm currently working towards gaining my driving license and until then, my feet are firmly planted in the Co-Op. All I know is that there is a career for me out there and i'm going to take my time in finding it.

What about you guys, have you found that all perfect career for you? Have any advice for me? As always, let me know in the comments below! Thanks as ever for reading and have a lovely evening! 

Laura.

Birmingham German Market

Images: 3-10, 14, 15 mine, 1,2, 11, 12, & 13 from Tumblr. 

Hello all, I am happy to say that I am well and truly in the Christmas spirit. Last night, my sister and I decided on a spontaneous trip to the German Market in Birmingham. For me, It's a "must-visit" destination if your Christmas spirit is yet to make an appearance. We got wrapped up in our warmest clothes, even donning the earmuffs which have yet to make an appearance this month. In fact, part of the fun for me is the dressing warmly to avoid the cold nipping at your fingers! 

As for the German Market itself, Birmingham delivers every year. Last year I tried Apple mulled wine and absolutely hated it which is strange as I generally love 99.9% of alcohol (whoops). This year, we avoided it completely and tried the raspberry cider instead and while it did taste suspiciously like it had been watered down, it was absolutely yummy. Following that, the heavenly scent of Nutella crepes wafted over until till we could resist it no longer. So delicious but so messy! Following that, we ended up eating potato wedges with a garlic sauce which was absolutely gorgeous. As to why we had that after the sweet food I couldn't tell you. 

The stands also sported such cute little goodies. My family tree is already overflowing with decorations and so I had to resist splurging on more cute decorations. I have to be honest, following the raspberry cider, the quality of my photography had nosedived completely. So I have to be honest and tell you I've had to supplement some of my blurry images. I know right, what a lightweight! Overall, despite being freezing, it was lovely evening. After telling the boyfriend about it on the phone, I found out that he has never been. I know, completely unacceptable. So, I will be dragging him along to experience the magic all over again soon.

Have you visited a German market near you? Are you in the festive mood? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading, I love you all!