As I said in my recent post, I was previously lucky enough to win two amazing giveaways over on Twitter. One of them was a box of Beauty goodies (worth over £60) from the lovely Hannah, then there was the To-Do List pad that I won in a giveaway from Mia Felce. I am usually the kind of person that never wins anything and I am so so grateful for these winnings. Here is a post reflecting on my first impressions of every item I gladly received.
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HANNAH'S BEAUTY BOX GIVEAWAY
When this parcel arrived (or more so, got picked up from the Post Office because, as ever, I missed it) I opened the impeccably wrapped paper to a pink polka-dot box. Inside the box was a letter, kindly written by Hannah with some really heartwarming words. Honestly, she is so lovely - you should follow her Twitter here.
Along with a hella lot of silver tissue paper and shredded pink tissue paper, there were a lot (a lot!) of amazing goodies inside.
The first products are the Models Own Rock & Rosy Blush Palette in Pyxie Pink and the NYX Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette.
Firstly, the Illuminating Palette looked really intriguing to me. Initially I thought it was just a highlighter palette with lots of different colours but then, when looking a bit further into it, I've realised that this little palette of magic isn't just designed to get your cheek bones 'poppin'. With Bronze colours, rosy colours, and an array of highlighters, this set of pressed shimmer powders looks like the perfect way to glam myself up for a night out or whenever I feel like I want to shine.
I am yet to try the Rock & Rosy palette on my face but I have swatched this trio. The lovely pearly packaging includes 2 pressed powder blushes - one is a very pale pink (Sugarspace) and the other is more of a rosy/coral pink (Sherbet) which I think looks perfect for adding that wintery-frost look across the face. At the far right of this one is a cream blush (Slipper). This one has more of a gold shimmer, making the shade a somewhat Rose Gold colour. I think the cream blush will probably be my favourite because I love the control and blendability of cream products.
Next up is the I Heart Blushing Hearts Baked Blush in Candy Queen of Hearts along with the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Birthday Suit Eyeshadow Palette.
Both of these products are somethings that I have always wanted and lusted over in Blogger's posts. Lucky enough for me, I have recently started finding a fondness for Blush after never wanting to wear it for a fear of looking like a porcelain doll, so getting the blush that I've always wanted to try is wonderful! The Blushing Hearts baked blush is a huge size and consists of 3 very complimentary colours. When brushed over together they produce this glamorous true rose shade with a lot of shimmer. On the skin, the blush isn't too striking or crazy and I really praise it for that. I can't wait to get using it some more.
While my prejudgment on YouTuber merchandise and cosmetics is always a little more on the negative side, I've always had the desire (and not the pocket) to try one. Out of every Tanya Burr eyeshadow palette, Birthday Suit is most definitely the one that I would've picked up myself so I was delighted to get this in the box. On first glance, the colours are so soft and are the kind of colours that are fitting for either day or night. I honestly couldn't pick one favourite but Toast really does stand out for me. This light, peachy brown is exactly what I want for the kind of days where I'm just popping to the shops and want to add a bit of definition. As well as that, I love the chunky glitter in Coco Sugar and I think it's name suits it so well.
There was then the Limited Edition KIKO Nail Lacquer in Tropic Heat Strawberry and two NYX Lip products: The Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Soft-Spoken and the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cannes.
Firstly, the Lipsticks are just to die for. I've tried the Matte Lip Cream before in Stockholm and, when buying my first one, it was always between Stockholm and Cannes. I can't describe how perfect this dark, dusty pink colour is for me. It flatters my skin tone, the formula is so soft, not drying, only requires a thin coat, and is exactly the kind of colour that I enjoy wearing. Contrastingly, the Suede Lipstick is more of a brown with a very slightly purple tone (in comparison to the more red Cannes) with more gloss. This isn't typically the kind of shade that I would wear on my lips but, with it's irresistible formula, and with Autumn coming up, I reckon this will be with me at all times.
The Limited Edition KIKO polish is a very sweet, traditional pink however slightly more dusty - a colour that I think is missing from my collection. It does claim to smell like strawberries but I really just can't pick that up.
Lastly, in the giveaway from Hannah, I got a handful of samples. I have only yet had chance to use the Scent Of A Dream perfume sample by Charlotte Tilbury which, I must say, smelt exactly how I imagine Tilbury to smell: rich, floral and sensual.
As well as that sample, I got a bunch of Clinque samples. So far I've only tried one of the samples which is the Moisture Surge and I have fell head over heels in love with it. Right now, there isn't a product that I want more than that but it comes with such a hefty price tag.
The huge looking samples are actually the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks in Green Tea and Chamomile. I am so excited to try these because I adore face masks, having fun with them, and indulging in a pamper session. I'm so pleased that these were included; I always suffer with dry skin so the hydrating qualities should hopefully be my saviours this winter.
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MIA FELCE TO-DO LIST PAD GIVEAWAY
Since finding Mia's brand a few months ago, I have always been in awe at her work and recently fell in love with the tropical and brush stroke prints that she has designed. You have to check her out if you're looking for stationery, ways to keep yourself organised, or just quirky designs to add to your collections.
The prize that I won was the Monstera Leaf To Do List Pad which is a tear-off paper pad of 50 sheets, each consisting of a quirky multicoloured Monstera Leaf pattern. The quality of the pad is incredible; the pages feel super soft and well printed. They are easy to tear off without ripping the page and the whole pad is card backed which also makes it useful for when it needs to travel with me.
One of the most brilliant things about this was also how beautifully packed the gift was. Held safe in a Mia Felce card-backed enveloped and including a burst of colourful confetti, this giveaway prize definitely put a smile on my face.
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I feel so lucky to have won such amazing items from such amazing people. Don't forget to check out their blogs and social media as another little thank you from me.
Also, make sure you keep an eye on my social media because I have more giveaways coming your way soon!
For the past two weeks, I have been somewhat inactive on Social Media, missing my own blog post schedule and struggling to find time to answer emails. This has been happening because I have been super busy with life but, d'ya know what, I'm happy.
The tasks that have been taking up my time recently have been things that have left me feeling pretty proud and while I want to share my recent achievements, I also want to discuss the aspect of pride. But, initially, here's what I have been achieving...
DRIVING.
After quitting my driving lessons earlier this year, it has taken me so long and so much courage to get started back up with it again. The thing is, driving isn't for me. I don't like the pressure of it and I certainly have zero interest in cars. In the weeks before I finally got booked in for a lesson, I was constantly putting it off but, now that I've had my first lesson, I feel motivated and ready to get back into learning.
DECORATING.
This week, my boyfriend and I have been completely redecorating his rather sorry-for-itself bedroom. The cream-washed walls, peeling wallpaper, and mismatch design is getting freshened up by two first-time decorators. The pair of us had never painted walls before this, so it's becoming quite a learning curve. I'm finding that naps have made a reappearance in my daily routine because decorating is unsurprisingly tiring and that my hair needs washing 24/7. It's difficult, messy and tiring but so rewarding. So far, we're nearly at the half way point with a lot left to do. Wish us good luck!
WINNER!
I can't believe my luck in that I recently won 2 giveaways on Twitter! Now, this is me we're talking about; I never win giveaways or competitions and I'm usually the most unnoticed person ever but, this time, within the space of just 3 days, I won two amazing giveaways. I have received both of the items and I will VERY soon be showing the winnings in a blog post for anyone who is particularly nosey (like myself). I am so grateful, I couldn't say thank you enough.
As well as being lucky enough to win two giveaways, I also recently sent off my own giveaway prize and it was given a such lovely welcome by the winner Chessie. The giveaway that I hosted was a Blogger's Surprise Kit and consisted of everything from a mindfulness book and a to-do list pad to Blog props and Pens (you can see everything that was inside here).
HAPPY BLOG, HAPPY ME.
I mean, typically it would be the other way around ('happy me, happy blog') but lately, due to the changes that I have made on my blog such as buying my own domain, forking out on a Pipdig theme, and enjoying the content that I've been uploading, I have been feeling really content and proud of my blog and this has been really lifting my mood. I regret to sound like investing and spending money on my blog was the key turn that generated my pride and happiness but I guess it has. I just think that, personally for me, that was the only way that I was going to feel really in touch and comfortable with my blog because, at the end of the day, it's only a reflection of yourself and your own aesthetic.
INSTAFINALLY.
While my engagement and love from Instagram probably has no pulse, my feed is finally starting to be something that I'm comfortable with. I used to never be able to settle on one effect/filter for every photo and therefore my grid was super mismatched and just not something that made me happy. While my feed still contains pictures of all different sorts, the filter is nearly always the same and knowing that keeps me satisfied. You can view my Instagram feed here.
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I think there's something so special about achievements and, as someone who suffers with anxiety, I feel like even when I achieve the smallest things, others can't quite understand why I have such an immense level of pride. Even if you open the curtains this morning, sign a big business contract, put an Instagram post up, or walk 5 miles, there is NO limit to pride. For me, even organising my driving lesson was something that put a smile on my face but I feel like I can give myself a hard time for feeling proud about those tiny things. Don't let anyone put a scale on your achievements; even the seemingly tiny routines in your day could be someone's hard work and effort. There's no shame in feeling proud. Embrace it. Enjoy it. You're doing great.
What have you been achieving lately?
When it comes to skincare, I am picky with a capital P! I'm not the kind of girl that can mix it up every single week and I can't even go 12 hours without cleansing and moisturising my skin (seriously). This is because I suffer with combination skin, meaning I get oily patches but 1cm away will have extremely dry, flakey patches. My skin can be a nightmare unless tamed by a good skincare routine.
When I was approached by Botanics to be a Brand Ambassador for their new, rebranded skincare product range, I was a little apprehensive. For around 4 years I have used the same skincare products on my skin and never dared to go different, so trying new products would be an adventure. Nevertheless, I took on the challenge and, when I eventually received my parcel I was greeted with 4 products.
The products that I tried out were: The Botanics Organic Hydrating Day Cream, Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz, All Bright Purifying Face Scrub, and the All Bright Radiance Balm.
THE ORGANIC RANGE
The Rosewater Toning Spritz claims to be 100% organic and, while a product's organic ingredients aren't always the most attractive element to me, this Toning Spritz contains one of my all time favourite products: Rosewater. If you know me, roses are one of my favourite flowers particularly for their elegant and fond fragrance. This toner, when sprayed over the face and neck after cleansing, just completely showers you in that gorgeous, crisp scent.
While the smell of rosewater is a bonus, the power of Rosewater is almost endless and this is exactly what Botanics are promoting - the power of plants. In this case, Rosewater is one of the most powerful plants and has been renowned for it's benefits for centuries (even my Grandma swears by it). A few of it's benefits include the pH balancing of your skin, the elimination of excess oils, and cleaning pores which makes it perfect for toning your skin pre-moisturise.
Personally, I haven't really found too much of a physical difference in my skin since I started using this product but I am trying new ways to find benefits from this Spritz. I plan to try using this on a cotton pad, applied gently over the face as an aid for scars and spots when I'm having a breakout day. In the meantime, I'll be over in this corner enjoying the smell of it.
This toner is £7.99 on the Boots website which is really fantastic for an organic, beneficial toner.
This next one was the biggest change for me - the Hydrating Day Cream. While a teeny bit less Organic, this product still contains the powerful plant of Rosehip. A little different to Rosewater with a slight more leafy scent (equally as gorgeous), Rosehip has essential fatty acids (perfect for anti-aging and moiturising qualities) as well as vitamin goodness.
In general, the consistency of the cream is very smooth and light and a little goes a long way. The amount that I use is often a dip of the top pad of my finger and that's usually all that's required. In terms of doing it's job; I reckon it does but as someone who has very dry patches, I require something thicker and more concentrated. For me, this is great for a good skin day but, honestly, doesn't quite cut it for a deep moisturise which, unfortunately, leaves me doubtful of some of the powers that a Rosehip plant claims to showcase.
Perfect for anyone in need of a light, aromatic, fast drying moisturiser that's an easy size for travel and storage, this simple moisturiser is a simple price of £9.99.
THE ALL BRIGHT RANGE
Hibiscus flower is the predominant feature in the All Bright range and the Face Scrub showcases this with it's lovely scent. But, it's far from just the scent that makes this face scrub impressive. This scrub is way ahead of the rest and contains not a single earth-damaging bead; instead, it is made up of crushed walnut shell and apricot seeds that are designed to be purifying but gentle on your skin. I really love the gentle elements of this because it's taken me so long to find a face scrub so careful but effective.
Having dry skin means that there is often flaky skin on my face so scrubs are essential - I'm so glad that I can use this with confidence. My only miff about this product would be that I don't really find it brightening. Understandably, it eliminates dull skin, but I think brightening could be a long shot.
For a product that only needs using 2-3 per week and only requires a small amount per use, the price of £5.49 is fab!
My favourite out of all 4 products has to be the Radiance Balm. Call me a princess, but I think the main reason why I love it is because there are teeny tiny bits of glitter in it. I feel like a fairy when I'm wearing this. Radiant is definitely the word.
Initially I tried it just as an additional product on my face and didn't wear makeup over it. I found when doing this that I was quite aware of the product and could almost feel product on my face. But I didn't give up. If you watch my Instagram Stories you'll know that when I first used this as a foundation primer I was BLOWN AWAY. Now, here's a thing, I'm more of a matt make-up kinda gal and never really use highlighter but this Radiance Balm has completely changed my game. I can wear matt makeup without looking flat or dull because the shine and radiance of this balm gleams through ever so slightly and gives that beautiful healthy glow.
Perfect as a primer to make foundation stay, add a glow to your makeup look, and leave you looking like a fairy; at £7.99 I would definitely repurchase this.
I can't wait to continue getting familiar with more Botanics products because I am so passionate and a strong believer of the idea of using nature's powers.
*These products were kindly gifted to me by Botanics as I am a brand ambassador. The opinions are 100% my own and honest.
What do you think?
For this project I designed 3 different items, each with 3 different star signs. Here's what I did:
The first item is an embroidery hoop showing the Pisces star sign. These hanging decorations would make perfect gifts and cost next to nothing. I think one particularly cute use for this would be a 'New Baby' gift - perfect for hanging in the baby's bedroom.
The equipment that you'll need for this DIY is thread (any colour you desire - I chose white because it contrasts perfectly with the black fabric), fabric (again any colour you like - the black fabric that I used is actually a pillow case; you don't have to spend lots on this), a needle, and a hoop. Hoops can be found in local craft stores just about everywhere and will range from around £2-£5, depending on the size you wish to create.
In terms of actually creating the decoration, it's so simple. Tightly secure your fabric into the hoop but don't worry if it's not perfect because it will need re-tightening at the end as stitching can move stuff around. The next tip is to separate your embroidery thread. It's most ideal to use 3 strand embroidery as 6 strand can often be too thick and leave ugly holes in your fabric. Especially with a delicate and thoughtful DIY like this one, having thinner thread will improve the detail of the finished look.
After you've mapped out the star sign with a pencil or tailor's chalk, you can go ahead and add in the crosses at each point where a main star would be. Don't be afraid to use one long piece of thread to do every cross, as long as you go in a uniform direction it should still look fine at the back.
When I was connecting the crosses together, I used a plain forward stitch and made sure that each time I stopped at a cross, I was directly in the centre of it; this gives a more continuous look to the finished item. Then, simply tighten your fabric and that is ALL you need to do. It's so simple, quick, and makes an adorable little decoration.
To complete it you can tack stitch the frilly edges outside of the hoop together so that they are hidden around the back of the hoop. Alternatively, you could leave these out and cut them shorter so that they look pretty, you could back the hoops (you can find tutorials for this on YouTube), but just don't cut the fabric all the way down to the edge of the hoop because you could really struggle to re-tighten the fabric again incase it loosened again.
This next one is a card with a Virgo sign, perfect for Birthday's. It requires parcel paper, black card/paper, gel pens of any colour (for this design I chose silver), a plain card and glue.
The first thing I did was cover the front page of my card with parcel paper. The card that I had was a pre-folded card that comes with plain envelopes, but you can make your own. As well as that, you can also choose to cover the front cover in any colour/pattern paper you like. I chose parcel paper for this design because I feel it compliments the black paper and suits the personality of the person receiving the card.
To stick the paper onto the front, you can use glue, double sided tape, washi tape, or even a double sided foam tape to make the paper stand out. I used double sided sticky tape and found it really useful.
Once you've cut your black paper to the desired shape and size, you can plot out the points of the star sign with a pencil then add gel pen. With this design, you can shape the stars any way that you wish. I chose to do crosses again but you could do dots, squares, star shapes, etc. After that, using a ruler, connect the stars with the gel pen and add dots around the star sign to represent surrounding stars (optional). In the free space, I added the name of the star sign to finish it off.
The black paper can be stuck onto the card and Voila! you're done!
The next card design, featuring a Libra star sign, is very similar to the previous card but requires a bit more equipment. On top of the previous items, you will need a hole punch, Washi tape, and glue or sticky labels.
After backing the card with parcel paper, cutting the black paper, and plotting your stars with a pencil you can then go and connect the dots with a gel pen. This time, you have to connect the dots before you put the main stars onto the design. You can use any colour gel pen that you wish but it will look especially great if it matches the colour of your Washi tape.
Next, cover a sticky label with Washi tape and punch multiple holes out of it using the hole punch (at this point, keep the back of the label on; don't take it off). You now have lots of mini stickers so peel off their backs and stick them at every point of a main star on the star sign. Alternatively, if you don't have sticky labels, you could stick the tape to paper and use glue to stick down the circles. Just like the previous card, glue the black card paper onto the card and you're done!
I particularly LOVE this design as the gold Washi tape that I used shines perfectly in different lights.
These star sign DIY Projects are so adorable, I would definitely love to receive a card like this just as much as I loved making them.
Let me know if you try out any of these DIYs and what you think of the
Pisces Poem over on Jade's blog.
Happy Crafting!
Suffering with a mental illness like anxiety is not only difficult for yourself, but it can be an extremely frustrating and challenging experience for those around you. Friends and family can say things to you which upset you, make the situation harder, or doesn't help at all but, a lot of the time, they're unaware of the damage being made. In partnership with the new Mental Health campaign Huddle and Cuddle, I am sharing my experience of things that friends and family have said in a harmless way, but can be very hurtful to those with anxiety. I think this is particularly beneficial to those who have partners with such mental illness as it could really open someone's eyes.
IT'S ONLY 'X' MINUTES.
It's well known that, for those suffering with anxiety, the concept of time can be something difficult to get your head around. For example, if someone is to tell you to 'Live in the now', that isn't going to be effective as you're too aware there's 'that situation' coming up in the future. But, I think the most irritating and frustrating thing that someone suffering with anxiety can hear is: "You'll be fine, it's only 20 minutes".
I remember when I first started going to college and getting the bus to and from was one of the worst experiences of my day to day routine. I used to purposefully stay back at college so that my family had to pick me up, and I was constantly asking for lifts in place of bus trips. People used to say that the bus ride is 'only a 20 minute ride' and it boiled my blood how no one could understand. The thing that changed my perspective on this and made me feel more comfortable about this fear of time was knowing that I wasn't alone. One time my therapist said 'but 20 minutes is a long time' and the weight that lifted off my shoulders at that point was immense. Even though I still suffered with the prospect of sitting through 20 minutes of a bus ride, it was just that little bit easier knowing that I wasn't strange or weird. I guess my therapist, at that point, opened my eyes on acceptance and realising that there's no one to convince other than myself and if I think it's a long time, then it is a long time. While that might not have fixed the anxiety while on the bus, it gave me piece of mind.
NO ONE IS LOOKING AT YOU.
Of course they aren't; there are far more important things in the world than watching you pleasantly sat in this cafe. Or at least that's what anxiety DOESN'T get told. If anyone would be able to illustrate the creature called 'mental illness' it would most definitely be the devil, or a big spiky lump of bacteria, or what ever else you hate - therefore, along with it's purpose of looking ugly, anxiety manages to be ugly by convincing your mind of things that aren't true.
You're sat in a cafe and you spill a drink. The drink is all over the floor, the glass is smashed and there are waiters running frantically trying to pick up your mess. At this point you would be MORE than happy if the ground opened up and swallowed you because, of course, all eyes are on you. But there's a reason why they are. As humans, we are genetically trained to be aware. In the prehistoric ages we were dependent on our observation of things near by to determine if we were in danger or if others were. But why am I waffling on about neanderthals? It's because when something dramatic happens in life, (or something shocking; unlike any of our previous experiences) we are trained be observant. So if you think people are looking at you for spilling that drink and smashing that glass just remember that if it was them who did it, you would react the same only naturally. Understandably, they might not get the urge to run away and cry, but that is what makes us different.
DON'T WORRY.
Out of everything, this is the one that bugs me the most. I think this phrase comes most likely from parents and elders - or at least it does from mine. The reason why I am so irritated by this statement is because the concept of 'Worry' is abstract and cannot be touched. You cannot just stop the amount of worrying that goes on in your head because believe me, if I could, I would.
I get it, we all suffer with worry. Again, it's the human's natural mental reflex for preservation. I guess saying 'don't worry' to anyone, regardless of a mental illness or not, is an extremely crazy thing to say. In fact, my boyfriend and I have this running joke that whenever someone tells us to 'Stop worrying' we say 'OMG, it's gone I am no longer worrying. Thank you so much for that instruction', because it's absurd.
This one really gets on the last nerves of many, many people and I've seen lots of writing refusing this belief online. People, particularly those suffering with no mental illness, dismiss it as 'teenage hormones' which is incredibly offensive and belittling to anyone suffering.
The one thing that I want to put in their heads is that, yes, it can be a result of teenage hormones but, here are the facts: Only 20% of the UK's adolescent population have experienced mental health problems in any given year. So where is your reasoning for blaming 'teenage' hormones? But yes, teenagers are incredibly hormonal and, in fact, it always baffles me as to why these intense and confusing hormones are so incredibly dismissed by society. Studies also show that 75% of mental health issues are established by the age of 24 which means that adults are amongst the many suffering with this.
It's not a fashion trend; it's not a get out of jail card; and it's certainly not an excuse, so it's about time it stopped being treated like one.
I think that the importance of understanding mental health is incredible and has such a long, long way to go but there is so much hope within me that, one day, mental health will be as understood as a broken arm or leg and those who suffer will finally feel less of a need to explain themselves. There's a long way to go but I feel that with fantastic campaigns such as Huddle and Cuddle small changes can be made for big differences.
Check out Huddle and Cuddle on Twitter as well as the fantastic founder Sophie.
Share your mental health experience in the comments and share the love.
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