Relationships: A Game of Yes/ No

Okay, so the way I understand it- relationships are simple.
That is not me saying that relationships are in any way easy, but they are simple. We seem to make relationships really hard, we overcomplicate something that could be so simple to move through and develop.

Here's how I see it: relationships are a series of yes/ no questions. The questions are easy, people are difficult, Inner conflict, moral boundaries, effects on others, that's what makes these decisions difficult, but essentially we are answering yes or no.

For example:

"Can I take you out some time?"
"Do you want to do this again some time?"
"Do you have feelings for them?"
"Do you want to keep hanging out?"
"Do you want to make this thing official?"
"Do you love them?"
"Do they make you happy?"
"Do you guys collaborate and compromise?"
"Do you trust each other?"
"Can you keep going like this?"
"Is there a future here?"

All yes or no questions.

Now don't get me wrong you have to ask a lot of questions in your own little head when you're in a relationship- and you're human, Sometimes you are going to answer wrong, but that's okay because relationships aren't a test and you can change your mind. If your answer to the questions "do they make you happy?" was yes but changes over time, you are going to have reasons for that- changing your mind is okay.

Here's the catch though: we can't control how other people are answering their questions. If you ask someone in a relationship "are they the one?" sometimes for each person in a relationship there is a different answer. For the most part, there is not a lot you can do about other people's decision making. You can't change a person, you can't decide their answers for them and you can't live your life or base your relationship based upon someone else's decisions. You do you, they can make their own minds up and if the answer to "are we on the same page?" is "yes" then go for it, knock yourself out.

So if it's rough and you're second guessing a situation or a person, break it down because essentially answering yes or no will clarify in your own mind whether you are happy where you are. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. If there are a lot of factors in your relationship start with the basics yes or no and keep adding factors with yes or no answers.
"Do I like this guy?" Yes.
"It's my best friends ex, does this make me a bad person?" Yes.
"Should I talk to her first?" Yes.
Work through, add factors, do not overcomplicate.

In the end you know in your own heart what you want in a relationship, you know what and who is going to make you happy. You know the people who are bad for you and equally you know the people who are good for you, the ones that pick you up when you're down, make you feel better, motivate and inspire you- and you need to break it down and keep them close.

So the way I see it: you can't control everything, but don't spoil the beautiful simplicity of the things you can, that's the way I see relationships anyway.

If this helps any of you at all, or you just want to leave a comment and say your piece I'd love to hear from you! Just drop a comment in the box below:)

X

December Favourites: What's In My Bag.

It's winter time! And I thought I'd share with you lovely people a few items in my tiny little bag.
Enjoy!

1. Chunky Accessorize scarf.

I bought this chunky piece of knitted goodness last year as a Christmas present to myself, it was a premeditate buy and one that I am so glad I went for! The scarf is a big snood and is 100% wool- I cannot express to you how warm it keeps me. I have to wear it as one big loop when it's even mildly sunny because the thing keeps my neck a little too well insulated at times. I am DEFINITELY the sort of person who feels the cold (I blame my mother for giving me her incredibly poor circulation) and this buy is one of the best I've ever made.

2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm.

Palmer's- I don't know what it is, but they just get it right for me. Being a huge advocate of all their moisturising products, be it butters, oils or any other chocolatey products of joy- their lip products is what got me hooked. I usually go for a tube of their glossy moisturisers but when I grabbed this little gem off the shelf in a Tesco express all in a faff (as per usual) I figured I'd have a regular chap-stick type balm, for ease of access. This one is the chocolate and mint, and lord the smell is honestly gorgeous, but not too overwhelming either.

My lips have been so completely chapped and sore lately (my lip struggles never cease, I won't bore you with the details) and this little lip balm is an absolute saviour. Usually I put some on in the morning as I do my makeup to keep them soft, top up before I rush out into the cold and then also a little at night before I go to sleep so I don't wake up with that awful chapped and mildly pissed off look. (Instead I just stick with the mildly pissed off look.)
Palmer's you're just doing it right. Thank you for gorgeous smelling, beautiful effective products.

3. Sony earphones.

Earphones. Essential for travelling around Kent on poor public transport, especially in the dark and cold, by myself.

My current companions are little pink Sony buds, and I love them very much.

4. Lena Dunham's: Not That Kind Of Girl.

Okay, so this could turn into an entire post fangirling over Lena Dunham: her amazingly successful shows, her acting or writing, her wit, her honesty, her incredible sense of humour, fabulous levels of realism, how she is flawed in such a human way that everyone can relate to the broken pieces of her, her approaches to her own hair (currently luminous and amazing), her outlook on body image- Lena Dunham is someone who has completely enticed me into the arts world she emerged from.

Her book is hilarious and heartbreaking, realistic and outrageous, sincere and obscenely sarcastic- the storiess you will hear will each have an impact on the reader: making them stop to think and consider something: their own outlook on the world, their parents, their childhood fears, a string of ex-boyfriends, being in love, being heartbroken. Lena Dunham is incredible- I bought the book the second it hit the shelves in Waterstones and I keep it in my bag for free periods or coffee's alone, even the bus (despite the fact reading whilst travelling makes me feel gross- that's how much I was committed to reading this book.).

5. Kleenex. (I'm not going to photograph it because y'all know what Kleenex is, don't play.)

It's cold season, embrace the granny attitude of keeping tissues on you. You will thank yourself, I promise.

6. Body Shop Hand Sanitizer.

Again, it's cold season and after feeling like my insides hated me for about 4 days, I am OVER being ill. I am by no means a germ freak BUT I am sick of being ill, painkillers and laying in bed not being able to sleep. So I invested in hand sanitiser- which usually I have issues with because the smell makes me feel like hospitals and waiting rooms (and I don't know about you, but it's not a smell that hugely appeals to me). My personal favourite is Mango Hand Cleanse- but I'm just a mango obsessive so.

7. To Do Book.

I am a very disorganised and easily panicked individual, so I have a to do book. I picked up this teenie little black book for my notes and lists etc from Sainsbury's for literally 99p, and I feel like everyone needs a light little list book full of their to do lists. My essential.

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into what's in my bag! Please feel free to comment below anything you have to say- I'd love to hear from you!

X

22.48: Sharing Tonights Thoughts With My Best Friend.

I was on the bus home and I was kind of zoned out and I was thinking I am so blessed like whether you relieve in the god thing or not 

I feel lucky at least because 

I have it pretty good right, and I don't realise it 98% of the time 

I procrastinated away 4 periods, got home and managed to do some work 

I only did that because I was around people who I love and who entertain me endlessly, I have a lovely boyfriend, my brother is acting like a decent human being and my mother is awesome (albeit mildly insane) and however much she drives me insane I love the woman?

And I'm all sat in a cosy little bed (and I've just ordered a bed that looks a bit princessy and I'm excited)

Life is good and sometimes I miss it and it scares me that I don't notice all the amazing stuff I have

because one day it'll be gone, and that could be in 30 days or 30 years or maybe I'll live till 200 

but it doesn't last forever and I neglect noticing beautiful things and people because I'm so focused on the next stage

so focused on moving along and ticking off my lists of things to do that whenever I pass brought stages of really ignorant and blissful time I'm "too busy" or "too tired" to hang out and laugh and sit and watch 5 episodes of the newsroom with my mum on a Tuesday

what I'm getting at is the little stuff matters to me a whole lot more than I realised

I'm having one of those cheesy clarity moments

that's all, felt I had to share today's thoughts

Positive Energy.

Okay, so here's what I think.
In this life you put out an energy.

You know sometimes you meet someone and they're eccentric and funny, they have a charisma and a charm that makes them attractive to be around? I'm not talking attracting you to them in a relationship way, I'm talking you are attracted to their energy: their enthusiasm, their manners, their stance on certain issues, the way they hold and present themselves, what they have to say about things in life that matter- a person's drive or focus. All that kind of stuff that keeps you interested in a person, keeps you engaged in what they're doing and have to say- you leave a conversation with them inspired or driven, happy, or even feeling a little lighter.

Chat's with people who put out good energy and invaluable. Some people have a gift, in that their innate drive and avidity for something allows them to convert other people's energy into something good and positive. People like that are gems in the world that we live in: in a state of gossip and controversy, bitching and a little craziness, it is so completely refreshing to meet people like with positive energy.

Sometimes it happens that when the right combination of people get together they bounce off each other- musically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually. It is not always in a good way, for example: you can be with a group of  really gossipy friends who sit and steam over the latest scandal at school and leave conversations with them negative, bitchy and a little whiny, thinking over the issues in life and picking flaws in your own. But some people are so constructive when they are together.

I am lucky to have a best friend who I can really bounce of positively: even if we meet for coffee down and pissed off and done with the world and the people around us (family, friends, boyfriends, ex-friends, teachers etc) we can still finish that session of coffee laughing hysterically having vented and worked through solutions to all of our issues.

Sometimes you need to vent. Period.
People need an outlet, and often talking to another human being is the perfect way of doing that. You need to put out what you are feeling and work through it, but you do not need to put out negative energy. You can vent your feelings without bringing people down and you can be sad or angry or hurt without having huge and dramatic effect on the people around you.

Be the sort of person who puts out positive energy.
Have a passion for what you do best, work hard, have a drive and focus. Make time for other people, and take an interest in what they have to say to you- LISTEN don't just hear, it makes such a difference and the person you are talking to will feel so much better having spoken to you. Human interaction is deteriorating in an age of a digital world, a lack of bike rides and late night walks, and Snapchat. Listen to people how you would like to be listened to.

If you love something, be a part of it. Embrace what you love, do what you love and practice what you preach.

If you are living a life that you love, chances are it will love you back. Bear that in mind as you go about your day to day. 

Real Talk: Riding the waves.

Recently I have been checking out the whole mindset of being 'mindful' to help me deal with any issues or anxieties I am having about my school work, social or home life, to try and organize my issues and various situations into more manageable chunks. As someone who does tend to panic, worry and generally get very anxious about stupidly small things, I feel like some of the techniques I use and some of the thinking I've been looking at might help other people in a similar position.So if you are the sort of person who has difficulty dealing with their anxieties and huge amounts of jobs then keep reading...

So here we are with the real talk: Sometimes it gets hard.
Sometimes life gets really overwhelming and real and important, and when that happens, everything seems to happen kind of at once. Nothing important or stressful happens by itself, it is always accompanied by other important or stressful things. I know, it sucks- but cest la vie!
Sometimes there will be periods of time when it feels like nothing is ever going to be okay again.
Everything goes wrong, everything hurts, and the number of things that need to get done start to have an almost physical presence in your life.


1. Let me start by saying you are not alone in that feeling.
That weight, and that stress- that anxiety that keeps crashing into you like a wave, someone else has felt that way. In fact, many other people have felt that way.
So you should take comfort in the fact that your inability to handle and process everything that is happening to you, is something that we have all felt at points in our lives- you're not alone.

2. Breakdowns are human.
We are taught we need to be strong to be successful, this is not untrue. You need to be strong enough to chase your dreams, to be knocked down and to get back up again.
But it is an entirely human response once in a while, to sit down and feel sad- to be overwhelmed, to be emotional. Letting your sadness wash through you, letting the struggle hurt and addressing the fact you're angry or frustrated or upset is actually very healthy. human beings are not designed to be happy or strong all the time, we are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, We are flawed, it is a fundamental feature of our existence. It doesn't matter how pretty, or rich, or successful, or funny, or smart a  person is- they will have flaws. They will have too short a temper, be too harsh on themselves, be too harsh on others, fear relationships, test relationships, have issues with authority, have issues without any authority. The fact is no one is perfect, and the acceptance of our flaws and moments of weakness is okay.

3. Drowning.

Being overwhelmed is a horrible feeling- it's like everything you need to and are expected to do suddenly washes over you when you least expect it. You turn your back on the sea that is your responsibility in life and suddenly you're caught up in a strong salty woosh of horrible things. Jobs pile up, and the more there is the harder that wave hits you- and if you let that wave wash over you and drag you down it feels like you're drowning.
In this instance you have to hold on to something that will keep you afloat. This can be in the form of many things, the least healthy but arguably the easiest of which is people: good, kind, constructive people in your life will help you float to the surface of the problems you are having, by giving you advice and support to get you through.
This is highly effective, although you need to be careful how regularly you do this because those people, for whatever reason, may not always be there to bring you back up, leaving you to cope for yourself. So use people to stay afloat very rarely.
Alternative ways to keep yourself afloat include routine: have a set time to do things, go and sleep, make a little time for yourself, for your family, friends, extra curricular activities. But have them in a regular and achievable routine. This will help normalise your issues, or regulate the waves you feel. Organising yourself to the point you know when those waves or that intense pile up of jobs is going to happen will help you to prepare for their impact. Trust me, it helps.


4. Physical effects of drowning (ie: panic attacks and anxiety)

To deal with the physical effects of your emotional or mental "drowning"in your worries or anxieties it's really important to think about how the effect you physically. The most important is breathing:
breathing slower and more deeply is going to pull your body out of a sense of panic and shock, and once your body starts to stop freaking out, your head should automatically follow. It's like an anchor. Think about how you're sitting and if it is going to make you feel more light headed. Do not sit paralysed, movement helps to get the blood pumping round your body in a non-panicky way. Make sure you move, but as you do make sure you are doing things deliberately with force and focus: this way you don't feel like you're treading water and more like you're swimming to shore. The more you make a conscious effort not to panic and try to improve whatever situation you're in, the faster these overwhelming thoughts and issues can be resolved.

So there we have it, some real talk about how to deal with anxiety on a small and personal scale. I hope you find it helpful, and I'd love to hear anything you have to say about this or anything else I post!

X

To My Best Friend (II).

So, I wrote you like this once before- it was very different and very teary and very very honest, and I felt like after that milestone you would never want to read this little blog of everything ever again! But yet when I force posts and reviews on you, you read them and you humour me and I feel like I can probably force you into reading this one too. I know you hate these kinds of cringey things, but I know you appreciate when things are heartfelt- so I figured I would be a huge melt this evening and write a little something.

We're friends through mutual, muddled, acrylic paint and coursework deadline filled circumstances. Through the eye rolling over that annoying girl at school, through dropping every lame excuse in the book for late homework. A random person who had unknowingly sat on the edge of the others social spheres, who turned out be so frighteningly like each other that we still spook each other to this day,

When I met you I was a very very different person and you were too- we made questionable fashion and lifestyle choices, we consumed at least 4 times our daily calorie intake on a weekly basis, and once we got talking people found it very difficult to shut us up. (As they still very often do today.)

Since then there's been a billion coffee dates, Snapchats, Facebook messages. One prom, so many envied profile pictures, a few drunken nights of hilarity and one New Years that neither of us ever want recreated. There's been obscure conversations until early hours of the morning, frantic phone calls, and crisis after crisis.

There was a crazy Halloween, and flapper dresses- that cheeky almost foursome that we stayed well clear of.

There's been friends who turned out not be such great friends, and boys who turned out to be just as stupid as we thought. There have been eventful mornings where the pink shirt makes an appearance- and there was also that time all the lads wore suits. (Class. An absolute class day.)

There was that time we went to Wagamamas and had to walk to the station in the pouring rain with Ollie, who was only wearing a jumper, and laughed ourselves stupid. ( I never will remember what we found so hilarious.)

That time we breathed the same air as Cal, Ash, Mikey and Luke, and we screamed until our throats hurt, and we walked down Camden in search of a Starbucks FOR A STRAIGHT HOUR BECAUSE WE ARE THE DEFINITION OF WHITE GIRLS.

There was that time you were hungover, and we sat on the kitchen floor and I made you toast- we talked about the people we love (and hate) and about stresses and confusion and about how we actually felt about a moron, and I ignored the bitter things in my head and we laughed about silly things and then got back under our duvets because it was 5 am and we were out of it.

There was that time at Ollie's house when everyone ended up attacking each other with wet dishcloths and we had to tidy before his parents got home. We were breathless and hysterical and we had to watch a weird movie with wet t shirts whilst Ollie muttered the entire script.

That time with Kathleen in muffin break when we went for a random coffee.

That really cute lad in the year below, and how much we giggle to be annoying.

There was one session of messages about feeling guilty because the only remotely negative thing we had ever felt towards each other was jealousy. I will never forget that conversation because no one had ever told me something like that before, and I had never said something like that before either.

There's been dates and crushes and morons at school. Teachers that could only be the devils spawn and a few essay related panic attacks. There's been much needed catch ups involving impromptu trips to my house those times when you forgot your keys and we sat and stalked social networks, listened to old songs and went through endless OTP's on Tumblr.

There has of course been youtubers, a day watching Pretty Woman in duvets with all the unhelathy food I could find at Sainsbury's (one of my favourite days). There's been Brighton, and Nandos, and Nero's on a weekly basis- and I think I'm safe to say I have laughed more in your presence than any other human I know.

You have stuck with me, even though I am probably a hugely demanding person- even though I'm clingy and dramatic, and kind of mad. I think it's because secretly you're nuts too and when we're happy and nuts we seem to bounce off each other. Maybe it's because we only have like 4 people we like and 1/4 of them are each other, maybe because we hate the same people- maybe because we can Snapchat serenade each other without fear of humiliation or screenshots.

Whatever we've managed to do since we've known each other we seem to have ended up together trying to work out the utter madness of our very teenage lives, so thank you. Thank you for all the above and more, because I probably couldn't put down the amount of things you've helped me through, laughed with me about, cried a little over, eaten too much of...

So I guess thank you for everything Chummy

x

The Bug Autumn Haul.

So this one has been a long time coming, and I've been promising it for a while to the real life people who read my blog that I would do this soon and I've just been putting it off and putting it off.

BUT here we are lovelies- IT'S AUTUMN! I'm sitting here at my desk listening to the rain with the 'Stuck in Love' soundtrack playing to my left, and a hot chocolate to my right- and let me tell you, it is ideal. So, possibly my favourite season of the whole year and it is here, so I though I'd do a post with all my Autumn essentials in one big haul.
Hope you enjoy it!

The Winter Warmth Essentials.

1. The Cardigan.

Okay so this cardigan was my absolute MUST HAVE this season, I was sitting around on blogs and Pintrest and I was seeing these gorgeous tall models kicking it in long lines cardigans, rushing to castings and around big cities- and I thought to myself: I haven't got the big city, or the long legs, or the cheekbones, but I can sure as hell have one of those hella comfy looking cardigans.
So I looked around for a while before I found this one here (available from New Look, about £20). I actually gave back 3 caridgans, 2 from H&M and 1 from Zara before I settled on this one. It's not actually wool, it's acrylic but it is so so much softer than the others I tried.

I'm not usually fussy about material and textures but this knit was just so cosy without being all baggy and hobo-ish. (Some girls can pull those off, I cannot because I don't have the figure...)
It's been absolutely gorgeous for those crisp autumn mornings waiting around for obnoxiously late public transport. I usually wear it with plain black jeans and a tea, or blue denim- I seem to have quite a thing for monochrome at the moment and I think I may need to branch out a little... Regardless though, this is one of my all time favourite winter essentials, so cosy and warm, so soft, and so easy to chuck on with a chunky scarf and leggings or jeans.

2. The Boots.

So my search for boots is never ending.
I was bought a gorgeous pair of tan leather Chelsea boots last year from Red Herring, and I can tell you now that they are the single greatest purchase I have ever made. Beautiful, comfortable and easy to pair with ANYTHING. Jeans, skirt, dress, leggings- the whole deal. I was in love with them.
So, this year when I came into a bit of money, naturally the first thing I spent it on was black versions. (yeah, I am seeing why people are telling me I have a bit of a monochrome obsession). I was initially going to buy a fancy expensive pair for myself, but somehow I managed to sign myself up to help out at a school event where we had to dress fancy and put together an outfit that required black boots- so of course I rushed out before the evening, dropped into Cafe Nero for about 3 hours with a couple of my favourite human beings, and made a quick purchase when I realised I needed black boots.

These little beauties were only about £25 and are so comfortable- they were an absolute steal.
Recommend so much.

3. The Scarf.

I bought this scarf last year from Accesorize, and I cannot stress to you enough how completely essential woollen scarves are. I have a little beanie hat to match, and it is so warm and cosy I have actually had to take it off mid-walk on a couple of occasions for fear of overheating and passing out. So there's a little story for you.

The Cold Weather Health and Beauty.

1. The Handbag Must Haves.

• Tissues- it's cold season.
• Strepsils- it's cold season.
• Hand sanitiser- it's cold season.
• A scarf- you may need it, don't be a muppet and stand around all cold.
• Headphones- always, not because you're an antisocial muppet, but because music on a cold night waiting around for public transport is often beyond a jokes. therefore, even if you have frostbite hands and blue toes- at least you'll be mildly entertained.

2. The Lush Products.

So I was treated to a mini Lush haul this half term, and lord did I take advantage.
I picked my top 5 products- and yes, they are all seasonal.

Melting Snowman

This little munchkin was perfect for kicking off my Christmas spirit this year, making my bath water soft and bubbly and oh so sweet smelling- the perfect stocking filler.








Brightside

This bath bomb was obsolutely gorgeous, and made me feel very exotic and warm. The orange and the yellows were beautiful in the bath water.






Dashing Santa

It's that time of the year, and I refuse to be calm about it- I am excited, because cold weather means santa... in Lush bath bomb form.





Cinders

Although this little gem only turns bathwater a yellowy apricot colour and not much else, the smell is absolutely lovely and fruity- and the water was so soft it left my skin feeling the same.
Love it.



Big Blue

Self explanatory really- pacific ocean blue water and a fresh and sharp smell, a little different from my usually fruity tendencies but a lovely addition to my favourites.











3. The Lip Product.

So I am definitely a big investor when it comes to lip products, and in winter time- this really needs to pay off. Being one of large lips is difficult when all the icy winter winds and cold weather does is chap them- but fear not, I have a solution.
What I've been doing as the weather gets colder I've been carrying around a little pot of aloe vera Vaseline, but also just before I go to bed, and as I start my makeup in the morning I apply a little Blistex Intensive Lip Moisturizer and I've been good to go.

4. The Nail Varnishes.

Barry M is forever my go to for nail varnishes, and I thought as the cold weather has arrived I could get away with some switching up of colours. So I purchased a little everyday wear 'Peach Melba'.




Then I also found myself being roped into some 2 for 1 deal- so I grabbed this little berry coloured beauty in 'Red Wine'...

5. The Christmas Smells.

As can quite easily be guessed from this post- I am a very pro-Christmas person. I love the holiday season and the corny TV, the crackers, the presents and the smells. My favourite little christmassy body product is Body Shops gingerbread flavoured body butter. Soft, awesome smelling skin? Yes please.

6. The Perfume.

Hugo Boss, woman. In love,

7. Concealer.

Cold weather is back, and my skin has gone into freak out mode. In the winter time I tend to wear a lot of foundation, a little bronzer and of course some blusher. My make-up is brighter in the winter time, a lot more shaping and bright, bold colours- and of course my skin suffers because rather than look after it, I just cover it up really.

So I've made myself a deal in order to keep my skin somewhat alive I'm going to have cheat days, where all I wear is a little moisturiser and concealer- this little Rimmel London Wake Me Up is my perfect little make-up bag essential. Light, decent coverage, and I found a colour that matches. ideal.

... 

So there we have it, my absolute FAVOURITE items for this season, and my essentials in one big Autumn/Winter haul. I hope you liked it, if you have any comments or questions feel free to drop one in the comment boxes I'd love to hear from you! There's a Winter Term Back To School Haul coming really soon too- because I went a little stationary crazy and feel like I could share that too!

But for now, have a fabulous day lovelies!

10 Reasons Why Autumn is Awesome.

1. Hot drinks.

Lo and behold children for it is the season of the pumpkin spice and gingerbread latte. Starbucks will be filled with us "white girls" kitted out in our oversized knits and Instagramming our little mugs and cups of joy. If nothing else, these gorgeous smelling, heart-warming treats are just some of the beautiful winter drinks we can start drinking now that autumn is in full swing.

So if you're feeling a little chilly, a little sad or low- get your ass into your kitchen and makes up some hot chocolate! Sugar boost, warm up and general joy will ensue. Make it as basic or fancy as you want- add that whipped cream, those flavour shots (my personal favourite is hazelnut- lord knows hazelnut hot chocolate is a whole new hot drinks ball game), shake on some sprinkles and shake of your chilly winter blues!


2. Leaves.

This is a simple little joy that not everyone will get, but is in my humble opinion, one of the best things about the seasons changing. The leaves go from a deep green to crispy reds and browns and golds. I live out in the countryside so I get to witness this all on a pretty big scale, driving down badly laid roads and avoiding tractors and their hay bales- some of you may live in cities. But here's the thing, you can still enjoy this little phenomenon in parks or on the street. It's simple, it's silly but I think it's beautiful.

3. Movies.

Cold weather = movie day excuse.

Get your besties, popcorn and duvets- Netflix it out or whack on a DVD (or VCR, it's your life) and enjoy a day of relaxation.


4. Candles.

My personal favourites at the moment are my classic Yankee Candle, and a brand call Lily-Flame that do the most delicious and unusual scented candles ever.

Really, look into them, they make me look forward to my evenings.


5. Fall fashion.


Cool bright mornings that give you an excuse to wrap up warm are my favourite.
The boots come out and you feel sassy and sophisticated, the big chunky cardigans,and ugly sweaters from the 80s, the big cosy snoods...

and the boys start wearing their beanies and THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
And they wear long sleeve t shirts and then have to roll their sleeves when they get warm and forearms and.... IT'S JUST A GOOD SEASON FOR MENSWEAR. OKAY?







6. Halloween.

Nothing more to be said.

7. Fireworks.

Hot foot, cold feet, lights and colours in the sky that little kids stare at like it's magic. The bonfires and the friends, the slightly damp socks and misty breath.
It's like magic.

8. Christmas party dresses and general increase in sparkles.

Everything is in sequins, and metallic prints, and its bright and bold and theres jewellery and big earring everywhere. So have a look about at this seasons party frocks, H&M ad New Look have a whole range of cute little numbers to suit everyone's needs. It's brilliant.
It sparkles.



9. Christmas build up.

• Present displays.
• Christmas foods.
• Fairy lights.
• Trees.
• The Coke advert.
• The Christmas movies.

10. Reminiscing.

• It's getting to the end of the year.
• Get those bucket list things done.
• Kiss that boy. (Or girl)
• Get those last few pounds off.
• Think about the good.
• Think about the bad.
• Start making those New Years plans!

New Years is my favourite night, it's magic, it's fun and drunken, and it's always got it's ups and downs.

The Power of Trashy Books and Television.

We all have those day's, those weeks- those times that we just need to stop thinking for a little while.

Reality shows like Keeping up with the Kardashian's, Made in Chelsea, The Only Way is Essex, are all shows we switch on as a nation to zone the hell out of our own lives. Reality shows are escapism for some people, the way that other people read books, draw or write- it's all the same thing, so don't judge people for how they escape, we all need to do our own thing.



Trashy TV shows have endless quotes or jokes that you'll use in your daily life.

Kim Kardashian's crying face is an international phenomenon.

And I am not entirely ashamed to say that I have fallen into the appalling habit of calling my friends "doll", which my mother also tends to use when she feels that I'm being too sassy for her liking.

As much as it's unhealthy to live in a world entirely dominated by those beautifully made up reality show celebrities, it can also be a good release.

Now we have to remember:
We are not the overly paid, spoilt, and entertaining stars we see on TV. They are not real and to be honest we can't act like them- because, well, it's just not socially acceptable. Enjoy it but do not be consumed by it- words to live by regarding anything you like.

I love you.

It's come to my attention recently, that life is short.

One day we are going to die, whether we're 90 or 19- one day our lives will end, and all that will be left of us will be what we did and the people we loved and those who loved us, and that will be our legacy. That's how I feel about it anyway.

The reason for this strangely morbid way of thinking, is the result of being very very near a fatal car crash a few weeks ago, and having a good friends family member witnessing it first hand. There was an awful incident where a 15 year old on her bike was hit by a car going 60. She died upon impact. The driver was seriously injured as they have swerved trying to miss the girl and crashed into the trees that line the road. A close friends mother was in the car behind, and was the person who got out called the ambulance and watched while this girl was tucked away, because 7 minutes was too late to save her. It shook her family up, and made them think about their priorities- that night they had a big family dinner, and sat around actually talking to each other, sitting on sofas and looking at old photos. It was an event that really put things into perspective.

So here's my thing, if life is short- why don't we say how we feel? Why don't we tell that smug bitch she isn't actually God's gift, tell that teacher that he's being a rude ass hoe, tell that boy we've been crushing on we think he's cute, telling the people who really matter in our lives that we love them?

So this morning, my mum woke me up late to let me sleep, made me coffee and left things for cooked breakfast on the kitchen counter- it's stuff like that I love. It's little treats from Body Shop that sometimes surprise me when I get home from school, it's buying my favourite conditioner, or making loads of great food on really cold days. I love my mum, and I'm a melt about it, and we probably have far too co-dependant a relationship, but she's always been the only consistent thing in my life. Now sure we argue, and we argue a lot, and rarely it can be a huge fight (rarely, but it's a fairly gigantic affair when it does happen)- but I love her, and she loves me.

After a rough time at home over the last couple of months, we sat down and decided enough was enough, we all needed to change our attitudes towards each other in order to make our home environment a lot better. One of the things we started was hugging goodbye and saying goodbye properly when we left for school or work in the morning. Because you shouldn't leave the people you love angry, or alone- because honestly you don't know if there's going to be a car crash, or a fire, or some huge tragedy that's going to leave you in a situation where you don't know if they're okay. All you will know is the last thing you did with that person was fight, or you blanked them, or snapped at them or yelled at them. How awful would you feel if after that fight you hear about an accident and all of a sudden that person that you love isn't picking up the phone? Replying to their texts, and nobody has heard from them?

Time is short, people!

Those people that you truly love and who truly love you should be told as often as you can. You need to make the people that matter aware that they are important.

I have issues the phrase "I love you." I think it is overused, and that as a society we have become desensitized to what it actually means. I think hormonal teenage boys ruin it by telling a girl they love them on the second date, or to get in their pants. I think teenage girls ruin it because they put it on every single Instagram post with "bae" and tell them over and over and over.
But sometimes it's sincere, sometimes people need you to call them up in the middle of the night to see how they are and to inform them that you love them, that you appreciate them, that you care about them.

Telling your Mum thank you and I love you for the coffee ad breakfast on a lazy Sunday will be something she feels happy about. Telling your boyfriend or girlfriend I love you for the first time changes everything, and it can be so beautiful to be able to admit the extent of how you feel to someone, it can be liberating.

You don't have to say it if like me, sometimes you're cynical and treat it as a tired cliché. You can make your mum tea in the morning, cut someone's sandwiches into cute shapes, leave your friends stupidly long emoji filled messages that basically say "have a good day"- like for God's sake, hold that persons hand in public, kiss them on the cheek even when you're with your friends so they know you're proud to be with them. Listen to that awful track your crazy friend loves and tell them gently that they're crazy and to each their own. Leave dumb notes, make phone calls instead of texts, and try with all your might not to fall asleep hurting, yourself or anyone else.

Go to bed knowing you put out positive energy into the universe that day. 

Regardless of what I believe about God or religion or any of that, I maintain the belief in karma, and that the universe rewards you for what you do or don't give in life.

So say it or show it in some way, but our time on this earth is short, and one day all that will be left are the people that mattered, and the memories you made- in time most of us will be forgotten in the world but not in the hearts of the people that cared, so tell them you love them.

Back To School Must Haves.

It's that time of year again guys, our triumphant return to school. (Eeeek)

This summer, for me at least, has gone so quickly. It was a summer of relaxing and recuperating, and now that I feel a little more human, I also feel a little more prepared for the next school year. I've had time to sort out my life a little before I get thrown back into my final year- and lord knows it's gonna be busy.

Now I may be a total girly girl and you might judge me, but one of the ways I feel on top of things in life is to look put together. If all else fails and I feel like I'm losing control of things, having great eyebrows or killer lipstick, or on POINT shoes- I feel like I have a little more together in my life. If things are falling apart a little in life and you are totally overwhelmed with it all, a good place to start is eyebrows, I promise.

So, here for you all is a list of my essentials for the new school year- so you can at least start the year feeling put together and fabulous.

1. Facewash

This gentle little dream right here is the Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Scrub. (the name is hella long I know)

This little tube of orange cuteness is a wonderfully gentle gel I use on a daily basis for my morning skin routine. I like to use a gentle wash in the morning and a stronger exfoliator before I go to bed the night before. My skin is quite sensitive when it comes to washes so this one is perfect for a something to make your skin feel a little tighter and smell really quite lovely!



2.  Garnier Ultimate Blends, The Marvellous Glow Oil

If you hair is feeling a little limp, or a little dry- maybe from heat damage, that holiday sun or a little ombre, then this is fabulous stuff.

After I ombred my hair at the start of the summer I really wanted to take care of it properly, because after my first ombre my hair really needed some serious TLC. A little of this stuff really goes a long way for me, and I try to use it as much as I can during the week- but you really don't need to use it every day depending on how damaged your hair is.

There have been a lot of these products brought out over the summer time and they seem to be super popular at the moment. I decided to give this one a go, because as an honorary Broke Girl I like to keep my hair and makeup essentials to a fairly tight budget- this little beauty is only £9.99 at Boots, which compared to other brands bringing out essentially the same product, was pretty good in my mind!

The oil takes a little time to disappear in your hair so I tend to put it on, pin my hair back and do my makeup while my hair absorbs it. By the time I'm dressed and makeup is done my hair is usually good to go, I run my fingers through it (I have no time to spend hours on my hair when I go back to school) and go!
Damage control that smells lovely!

3. Johnson's Face Care Makeup Be Gone Moisturising Wipes 

Makeup wipes are a hand bag essential for school.
I have no idea why schools are so weirdly over heated when we get back into school, but between rushing to classes and being squeezed into non-air conditioned classrooms- eye makeup tends to run, or if you are brave enough to attempt eyeliner on the dodgy bus ride to school, then these are a MUST.

I don't do anything special when it comes to makeup removers usually and tend to get the cheapest and most basic no-perfume packs of wipes from my local Superdrug or Boots store, and it works just fine.

Recently I decided to treat myself a little and buy some Johnson's Face Care Makeup Be Gone Moisturising Wipes. There's not a lot to say about them other than they are super gentle on my skin with a nice subtle smell I love post-shower and pre-bedtime. They  remove makeup so much quicker than the cheapest makeup wipe brands and I just love them!

Johnson's have and entire range of makeup wipes for all different kinds of skin types, ranging from dry skin to oily skin. If you want to give your face a treat and switch up your skin care routine, these are perfect for the job.

4. Gum

For school, be that girl who always have gum- but protect it with your life.
Either embrace the fact you will ALWAYS be asked for a piece by EVERYONE, or get really good at being sneaky about your gum.

My personal favourite is the classic Rigley's Extra packs, they are perfect for being on the go, pre-date freshen up, post lucnh freshen up rituals, and go a long way!

A back to school essential.


5. Rimmel London Colour Rush Balm

Now this is my ABSOLUTE august favourite item.

Being someone who struggles with having fairly large surface area when it comes to my lips, I struggle to find "quick fix" products for my lips when it comes to colours. But this has saved me in my daily make-up routine!

The balm is like a big crayon that you just draw up on your lips, and is really really quick to apply and fix up if you make a mistake. This one really is a quick fix! The product has a bunch of different shades for a pinkish every day tinge or a brighter and bolder lip too- and the thing that's great about it is that because its a balm you can layer it. If you start with one sweep of it you definitely get a first base of colour, but you can build it up however you may need for whatever look you're going for.

The balm is perfect for really long lasting colour after one application, but I recommend topping it up half way through the day to keep it all together. The colour that I personally use is called 'Not and Illusion', a bright peachy pink colour perfect for brightening up my everyday look with a little colour.

The item is about £5.99 at Boots, and it's available at all Rimmel London supplies- currently the product seems to be on offer just about everywhere and I recommend you grab it when you can!


So there we have it my lovelies, my personal favourites for going back to school this year!
Good luck munchkins, it's going to be great.