February Favourites | 2016

I have some beauty favourites this month! Normally my favourites consist of YouTuber's and TV programmes because I spend most of the hours of my day watching them. There is still a TV show and a YouTube favourite (there just has to be!) but there is some skincare and random favourites too so there is a bit more variety this month.

Skincare

I have five skincare favourites this month thanks to all the breakouts I've been having. This month just hasn't been a good skin month at all, maybe its the cold weather. I guess I am lucky to rarely have breakouts but when I do, they are bad and always on my chin. One product that I do tend to use on a regular basis but have been using a lot more of recently is the Nivea Daily Essentials Gentle Exfoliating Scrub. I have been using this product for well over a year and because my skin is usually quite good, I normally only use it once a week and use other products in between. Lately, I've been using it three times a week to try and clear my skin. I could definitely feel and see a difference pretty quickly; my breakouts calmed down within a week of increasing my usage of the product. I have been pairing the Exfoliating Scrub with the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleansing Toner just to cleanse my skin that little bit more. I've been using the toner on a daily basis in the morning after I wash my face and after I exfoliate with the scrub, it leaves my skin feeling so clean and nourished. At night, I apply a little bit of the T Zone Spot Zapping Gel and I leave it to work on my spots overnight. 

To cover up the breakouts I've been applying the Dr J's Skin Revive Spot Treatment to my skin before my make up to reduce and balance any redness I may have and to keep my breakout area as clean as possible throughout the day. Once I've applied that, it's time to cover those problem areas. I have recently changed my foundation to the Rimmel Match Perfection Light Perfecting Radiance Foundation (the one with the blue lid) and I am never looking back. This foundation is incredible, it doesn't turn cakey or fade throughout the day, it doesn't dry up and it provides a medium to high coverage; what more could you ask for?! I don't feel like I'm wearing any foundation when I have it on, it blends nicely into the skin and it's been doing a great job at hiding my breakouts this month. I will definitely be keeping this foundation around for a good while.

Television

Surprisingly, I only have one TV favourite this month and that is The 100. If you haven't heard of or started watching The 100 then rearrange your priorities and get watching because it is an amazing, gripping show. To me it is like The Walking Dead meets The Hunger Games with a little bit of The Vampire Diaries thrown in there too; hence why I love it. The 100 is a post-apocalyptic drama set 97 years after a nuclear war supposedly killed off Earth's entire population. The show follows a group of teenagers who become the first humans to return to Earth having lived amongst the 2400 other survivors in a space station known as The Ark. When they arrive on Earth they face numerous challenges to survive and soon discover that they were not the only survivors. The 100 grips you from the very first episode and has very strong lead characters that are very likable. I guarantee if you give The 100 a chance, you will not regret it. 

YouTube

My YouTube favourite this month has without a doubt got to be Ingrid Nilsen. I have been watching her videos constantly. Whether they are new videos or three years old, I've been watching and re-watching them all month long. Ingrid was actually one of the first ever YouTuber's I started watching years and years ago. I just love Ingrid's personality and how honest she is in her videos, she films what she wants and doesn't care what people think and I admire that.

Random

I have three completely random favourites for February which include porridge, P!nk and Pugs. What can I say, I told you they were random. Every single morning I've been having the same breakfast: Oats So Simple Maple and Pecan Porridge and it tastes amazing. It has just the right amount of sweetness and when combined with Coconut and Almond milk, it's mouth watering and perfect to have when it's a cold morning. I would go as far to say that I'd happily live off the stuff. Unfortunately I finished all the packets and have four other boxes of porridge to eat before I can go back to the Maple and Pecan. So, it'll be a while until I have it back in my life.

When I was younger I listened to a lot P!nk. Recently I have found myself listening to her again. Her songs are just so catchy, timeless and remind me of my childhood, so she has made her way into my monthly favourites. The songs I've been listening to mostly are 'Who Knew', 'Funhouse', 'Raise Your Glass', 'Leave me Alone I'm Lonely' and 'Just Like a Pill' (one of my all time favourite songs in general). P!nk songs bring back all the good memories of singing 'Just Like a Pill' constantly on SingStar Party on the PS2 (showing my age) at After-School Care or giggling with my brother at the fact that 'Leave me Alone I'm Lonely' swears and how rebellious we felt singing it.

Pugs. They are adorable little dogs and I would love to have one, two actually, I have it all planned out. Unfortunately I don't think two Labradors and two Pugs would get on very well so I'll make do with Pug pyjamas, Pug bedding, a microwavable Beanie Pug and more. It may be a bit over the top but I don't care because I love it and I think my bedding looks adorable.

Another month done already?! That was quick! I hope you enjoyed reading my February Favourites and maybe I've persuaded you to try a new product or to watch a new show. What have been some of your favourites this month? I'd love to know what you have been loving or even if you have anything exciting planned for next month. March has a couple of exciting things planned for me and they cannot come soon enough, there will be blog posts about all of them so just wait and see what I get up too.

xxx

I Got a Job!

Sorry I haven't been as active with my blog lately but I promise there is a reason. After at least a couple of years of applying for jobs and being rejected from numerous employers, I finally have a job!

From supermarkets to clothing stores to restaurants, I applied everywhere and made no progress beyond one interview. I now work in a small, local cafe called 'The Bluebird Cafe'. It is a short fifteen minute walk from my house and ideal for my first job. My aunt's best friend lives next door to the woman who owns the cafe and mentioned me during a conversation with her; the next thing I know, I have a trial shift.

Walking down to begin my trial shift, I was extremely nervous. The weather was dry but very cold so I wasn't expecting the day to be very busy. I could not have been more wrong! Shortly after my arrival, the sun surfaced and so did all the customers. I barely had an hour to learn everything from the layout of the cafe and names of other employees to the cash register and coffee machine. It was hectic and stressful but I enjoyed myself. Despite the chaotic atmosphere, the owner thought I did well and offered me the job. I was absolutely delighted! The other employee's are lovely, helpful and always making jokes. The cash register and the coffee machine were the two things I was most nervous about but after a couple of tries, I got the hang of it and picked it up quite quickly.

Finding an employer who was willing to work around my university life and my First Aiding proved to be difficult but the ladies at The Bluebird are more than willing. They think my First Aiding is an amazing thing to have and they don't want to hinder it in any way. This attitude was a complete bonus for me, I am both glad and grateful to be able to work and earn my own money and continue my First Aid voluntary work.

Now that I am an employed woman, it was only sensible for me to go out and purchase some suitable work clothes, at least that is what I told myself. The only guideline I was given from my boss (feels weird to say) was that in work, we wear black. Black is a terrible colour to try and photograph, especially when it is clothing so now, description is the key.

First, I went to Primark. I picked up two pairs of simple, black trousers and a couple of long sleeved, black tops. I then moved on to a couple of lightweight, black jumpers that have a slight batwing effect and can be layered if it's cold, a black knitted skirt and a black scarf. 

With my clothing sorted I had to pick up some suitable shoes, Primark had none that I liked so I ventured a little further and went to Topshop. I found a pair of black, slip on, snake print shoes that were my size and also happened to be on sale! Originally £35, I paid a very respectable £8 for them. The second place I checked was ASOS. I was looking for a pair of flat, paten, T bar shoes and that is exactly what I found and they were also on sale for £8. With the work uniform sorted, now it's just a matter of getting more shifts.

I have only had a couple of shifts so far but they have all been great and I can't wait to get my shift schedule for March. Everyone is welcoming and helpful, which makes me less anxious and more solicitous to work and learn.

xxx

Snow, Sun and Getting Closer to Spring

Having frost, hail, snow, rain, and sun all in one day isn't all that unusual for Scottish weather. In fact, it happens pretty often. Normally on one of those days we start off with frost and freezing temperatures. Then we move onto hail and snow, followed by rain and then sunshine. We even had snow in May last year! It's bizarre but it does allow me to capture some pretty good photographs!

As soon as the snow begins to fall, I grab the first opportunity I can to walk my dogs. It's a win, win situation since they absolutely adore the snow and I can take some pretty decent pictures if I do say so myself. My dogs go crazy for the snow, they roll about in it, eat it, accidentally sniff some up their noses (which is hilarious) and they expect me to throw snowball for them to catch. They just don't seem to figure out that when they catch the snowball in their mouth, it melts and disappears. Maybe one day they won't be as shocked when it magically vanishes.

I definitely believe the scenery around me is taken for granted. I have lived in the same place for nearly twenty one years and you forget how pretty and scenic it can actually be, unless the weather highlights it. I can get some really nice photo's by walking around a reservoir two minutes from my house that I have walked around thousands of times. Even something as simple as walking to the top of a nearby hill can provide some beautiful view's of the River Clyde. I definitely do not take these things for granted anymore, especially because of how much I love taking photographs, even more so when they actually turn out good.

 I would like to take advantage of the scenic views that surround me more often, whether that be wandering up one of the nearby hills to catch the sun setting or walking around a bit more when Spring finally arrives. I cannot wait for Spring, all the flowers and trees always look so pretty (even though I do have hay fever). Hopefully Spring comes sooner rather than later so I can take more pictures of all the flowers in bloom and of the sun as it rises and sets and share them with you all. The temperatures outside will still be freezing but at least it will look pretty.

xxx

All Time Favourites: Tv Shows :)

Tv takes up quite a percentage of my free time and I am not ashamed to admit that. Similar to books, I love to get completely lost and indulged into a different setting, whether that be in Albert Square or in Rosewood. I watch A LOT of television and for me to write about everything I watch would take me forever, so, I have compiled a short list of my all time favourites that I could watch over and over again (some of which I already have).

 

 

I have about nine television shows that I could watch constantly on repeat. One of the shows that fall into this category is definitely Law & Order SVU. The show is currently on it's 16th season and I have seen every episode at least three times! I never get fed up with this show no matter how many times I watch the episodes because the storylines are brilliant but quite disturbing at times - perfect for a psychology student!

 

Criminal Minds is of a similar genre to Law & Order SVU and you never, ever get bored because the storylines are so unpredictable and always keep you on edge. Criminology is an area of psychology that I am interested in and criminology is the basis of this programme. Each serial offender and storyline is so cleverly thought out that doubt about people you know in real life surfaces. The central characters are so incredibly different and unique that it makes it near enough impossible to pick a favourite, you just love them all.

 

 Pretty Little Liars is currently on it's 5th season and at the very beginning of the show it was more 'teenage drama' storylines but now it is all about the murders and the mystery which makes the show even more gripping. You could come up with twenty different theories to try and solve the Pretty Little Liar A mystery and still not be right because the show is thought out incredibly well.

 

I first watched Casualty when I was around four or five years old and since then I have not missed a single episode. Growing up I did want to be a paramedic and then emergency medicine doctor which is probably what sparked my interest in the show despite not actually going on to study medicine.

 

EastEnders is another show that I have watch since early childhood and I can fully admit to becoming quite attached to some of the characters over the years. EastEnders never fails to test the boundaries when it comes to storylines, from baby snatching to murder.

 

From the ages of 11-15 I was really into horror films which is probably why I started watching The Walking Dead and do I regret it? Definitely not because the show is AMAZING. I introduced my brother to the show as well who was only ten years old at the time and he loved it. Each time a new episode airs we watch it together, which is pretty much the only thing he will do with me now that he is seventeen. The slaughtering of the living dead just makes life better.

 

A relatively new show that was introduced via Netflix is Orange Is The New Black and I have seen all episodes of the currently released seasons twice. Netflix releases all the episodes of a season at once in June, so once you have binge watched them it's back to the waiting nearly a year to the next season is release. A short description of the show would be lesbians in prison but do not let that put you off watching it because nobody that I have recommended the show to has regretted watching it, even with the explicit content.

 

A show from my childhood that hasn't lost its appeal is H2O: Just Add Water which is about three girls who live in Australia and stumble across a magical cave that implements a little magic into each of them; as soon as water touches them, they turn into mermaids. I don't care how old I get or how cheesy this show may be, I like it and it's a good show that has a good chance of cheering you up.

 

Supersize Vs Superskinny is another 'strange' show that I watch constantly, I guess it just appeals to me. I watch a lot of documentaries and I think that's partly why I like it. As a psychology student, there are various things that affect people psychologically as well as physically that particularly interest me. One of those topics is food and I never tire of watching episodes because you pick up on something each time you watch.

 

Desperate Housewives was introduced to me by my friend Laura and I am so glad I listened to her (she will love that). I finished all eight seasons of the show in six weeks (during exam time) which just shows how good the show was. Each season has a new mystery and has you gripped from start to finish. The show has the right combination of humor, drama, mystery, heartache and highlights the importance of friends and family. The development of the central characters throughout the season is great as well. The only thing I have to fault Desperate Housewives on is that between two seasons there is a five year jump which I am not keen on at all. Despite this, if you haven't watch it then you definitely should.

 

 

There you have it, my all time favourite tv shows. Quite diverse in genre I know but I would recommend each show to absolutely anybody and I've had no complaints from people receiving my recommendations so far. Thanks for reading about my all time favourite shows, keep an eye out for more posts soon xxx

 

My 2015 Lent Challenge :)

I am in no way religious and I don't have anything against people who are religious but I choose to take part in lent to give myself and extra challenge.

 

I started giving myself this challenge about 4/5 years ago when I decided to try and give up chocolate, crisps, sweets and fizzy juice. I completed this challenge and then decided that each year that followed, I would add on another item to give up. Those items included cake, biscuits, cheese and takeaways. Throughout the years I discovered that I was in fact allergic to chocolate so I could no longer eat it anyways and therefore couldn't count it in my yearly lent challenge. About a year and a half ago I also gave up eating cake for good so I no longer count that within my challenge either.

 

Over the years, this challenge became easier and easier for me despite giving up more things. However, this year I decided to give myself a real challenge and give up something that is often eaten daily, bread. At first my mum wasn't very keen on me giving up bread as well as everything else but she came round to it once I showed her how easy it was to have meals that didn't contain bread and explained how it was only for a short time. So this year the things I have given up for lent are sweets, fizzy juice, crisps, cheese, takeaway food, biscuits and bread - as I no longer eat chocolate or cake anyways.

 

So far this challenge has been relatively easy, touch wood! I haven't had any major cravings and haven't felt any hungrier than normal even though I don't expect the rest of the challenge to continue in this way. As lent continues, I do expect this challenge to become a lot harder but I am 100% completely determined to do this and fully believe that I will. I will also do another blog post at the end of lent with an update of how I found the challenge and whether or not I manage to complete it!

 

 

I would love to hear all about your 2015 lent challenges and how you are finding them. Keep an eye out for more posts soon xxx

Childhood Favourites: Books :)

I haven't posted as much as I would have liked to this month, I've just been extremely busy with university and volunteering. To make up for the lack of blog posts, I am going to do a double post today. As a child I read a lot. I would devour book after book. I remember at primary school we had fortnightly trips to the library which I loved, but it wasn't enough, so my mum would take me to the library every other week as well. Another thing I remember from primary school is that when we had finished a book, we would have to fill out a fun book report sheet and put them in our folders (to try and encourage reading), most of the children in my class would fill out maybe one of these fun report sheets a week but I was nearly filling out one a day! I have always loved to read and still do and I thought that I blog post on what I used to love reading would be perfect!

 

 

Early Childhood

 

My mum would read to both me and my brother every day and night before bed and we both absolutely loved it. When we were really young, the go-to books were almost always the Walt Disney Ladybird Classics (top right). Every single book in that collection was owned by us and had it's own place in our rooms on our bookshelves. Because of this, my parents created a personalised Disney book for me, The Little Mermaid starring myself, Stephanie and Sarah (friends at the time) and Stuart received a Batman version. As I grew older and learned to read myself, I would read the books to my brother and we would make up our own versions of the stories. Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter both had there place in everyone's childhood, for me that place was at my nana's house on her big armchair or in the spare bedroom when I would stay the night. She would read me the stories of Peter Rabbit and Winnie and then I would fall asleep to the accompanying VHS tape. I remember opening the Alice in Wonderland Jigsaw Book one Christmas and instantly going for the pages with the Jigsaws on them and completely forgetting about the story itself. I absolutely loved Barbie when I was little and when my mum gave me the Barbie as Rapunzel book, I carried it almost everywhere with me for around a month, I must have read the book at least twenty times!

 

Mid Childhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I could read before I went to school, so when I did go to school and we had fortnightly public library trips, our own school library and bookshelves in each classroom, I absolutely loved it. I had a pretty rough time in primary school so reading became my way to escape. Animal books where a particular favourite and I had plenty of them! The Animal Ark, Puppy Patrol, Twins at St Clare's and Sheltie the Shetland Pony Series kept me occupied for hours at a time, I would finish a story a day with these books and often had audiobooks of them to listen to as well. My Secret Unicorn series was one of my all-time favourites which is why I still own all the books in the series to pass on to a child of mine in the future. One of the things that I loved the most about this series was the fact that the main character who owned a the horse that turned into the unicorn at night was called Lauren. The first time I read Ballet Shoes, I was about 7 and it took me quite a long time to read because the writing was so small and it was a good couple of hundred pages long but when I did eventually finish it, I loved it and became obsessed with Ballet as a result. It quickly became one of my favourite books and still is to this day.

 Later Childhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I found the transition to high school quite difficult so reading was still my way primary way of escape. Television and writing also became ways of escape. Besides Harry Potter, Jacqueline Wilson was a must have for pretty much all pre-teens and teenagers. I own all the Jacqueline Wilson books and would often stay up all night finishing her books. I remember when I bought my first three books of hers in a shop in the local shopping centre; Dustbin Baby, The Illustrated Mum and Secrets, I had saved my money up for three weeks. Those books where quite lengthy but nevertheless finished within five days of purchasing them. The only thing I really liked about high school at first was the size of the library and the variation of books it contained. I started reading different genre's of books including fantasy. The Inheritance Cycle in hardback is one of the best purchases I ever made, the books are amazing and don't really have an age limit. It took me a whole month to read Eragon (the first book in the series) when I was twelve but it was most definitely worth it and certainly didn't put me off reading the other books in the series. I would recommend this series to absolutely anybody even if you might not think it is your preferred type of book. The Darren Shan Series was also a childhood classic for me. Images of me reading these books on a beach in Spain comes to mind and I read six of the twelve books whilst on a family holiday. These books where originally my brothers but he wasn't reading them so I thought I would. They have just the right amount of adventure and horror in them to make them very enjoyable to read and gripping from start to finish. Another genre that I began to read was crime and young adult. Catherine MacPhail books occupied quite a bit of my bookshelf when I was about 13 and I was lucky enough to meet her and for her to sign my favourite book of hers; Roxy's Baby. It has quite a sinister story line involving a pregnant teenager but was gripping from beginning to end and I read the book in one sitting. Quite a lot of the books I read from the ages of 12-14/15 involved teenage pregnancy when I think back, what can I say, I was a unique child.

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed the first in hopefully a series of Childhood Favourites blog posts in the future. Thanks for reading and I'll have more blog posts up soon xxx