A letter to my fourteen year old self.

Don't stress about being tall. The boys in school may call you 'lanky' and a 'giant' but before long people will be longing for longer pins! You'll get used to it - I promise. (plus your height comes in handy when you lose your friends in a club).

Make the most of your perfectly clear skin. It won't last - it's just luring you into a false sense of security. Start cleansing now.

Go to the dentist and ask for braces. They will never offer you them and when you reach the age of 24 you'll be seriously considering forking out almost £4,000 on them. Make the most of free dental treatment on the NHS while you still can!

You have a great body. Don't binge on rubbish foods - you'll regret it when you reach your twenties!!

Log off MSN once in a while. Go outside with your friends (if you can lure them away from their desktop computer that is...). Ask mammy for some pocket money (make the most of the pocket money. Spending money on sweets isn't half as fun when you earn it yourself), get a 'Run Around' bus ticket and go down the Mumbles or something.

Don't worry about being the only single one out of your friends. Make the most of being free. You're too young to be dating anyway. You'll fall in love at 19... That's only 5 years away. You can wait - be patient.

When you do experience 'heartbreak' - you'll get over it. When you're older, you'll look back and laugh. (Remember this when you're 24. You'll experience real heartbreak. You'll feel lost and inconsolable. Life is not over. You'll grieve for a while but that's normal. You'll be OK in the end. I promise you).

Don't stress. You'll end up going to College and University. You study Psychology. University will be bitter-sweet. It will be both the best and worst time of your life. One of your flatmates in the Halls of Residence where you'll live will be horrid. You'll be sad. You'll get over it. You'll fall ill and spend most of your second year in hospital appointments - but you'll be fine - it's just Pernicious Anaemia. You'll meet one of the most important people in your life, but you'll also lose two of the most important*. Make the most of your graduation day - you deserve it. Mammy will cry - she's proud on behalf of herself and daddy.

*Spend as much time as possible with Bampa and Nana Freda. Speak Welsh to bampa - he loves it. Stop being a moody teenager and treasure your time with them. You'll miss them when they're gone.

You'll never stop missing Daddy, but it gets easier.

Stop arguing with Mammy and Darren. Appreciate them and everything they do for you. You're very lucky... Spoiled rotten in fact. Stop moaning about the things you don't have and be grateful for the things you do have. You always have the best of everything.

Your little sister Carys won't always be annoying. There'll come a time when she won't be so little and she will be your best friend. Let her borrow your makeup - because one day you'll need to borrow hers too!! Ps.. You'll have another sister soon - Abigail. Mammy hasn't told you yet, but she's pregnant. 

You'll move away at 23. Only four and a half hours away. You won't like it and you'll be sad. It only lasts 6 months. It all gets too much and you move home. While you're there, embrace it and make the most of it.

Don't worry that you don't know what you want to be when you're older. You still won't at 24. It don't matter.

Your family love you. You may not see it, but you're constantly surrounded by people who cherish you. Show them how much you love them too.

Give Pebbles, Cloe, Suki and Sophie a cwtch. You'll miss them when you're gone.. Although the majority of them live until their twenties.

School will be the best years of your life. Yes, mammy says it all of the time. Yes, you think it's annoying. But yes, it's true. Trust me, in a couple of years you'd your right arm to go back. Sitting in a science lab watching Mr Thomas create chemical reactions trumps sitting in an awfully lit office, answering the telephone all day.... Even running around a track when it's -2 degrees outside trumps what they call 'The Real World'. Make the most of it. Listen to your teachers in your lessons instead of drawing pretty patterns on your weekly planner - specifically in Science. You'll end up resitting. Concentrate more on the reactions themselves rather than how beautiful Mr Thomas is. You'll thank me for it I promise. Nobody likes staying behind for a Science GCSE resit class in College on a Wednesday afternoon when everyone else gets half-day.

Have fun. Cry. Laugh. Obsess over silly boys. Make friends. Lose friends (it's a part of life). Enjoy.

Ps... Remember, some of the best times of your life haven't even happened yet. I can vouch for that. ♥

Pps... Don't wear whatever it is you're considering wearing today. I can almost guarantee that your outfit is horrendous.

Ppps... Stop ironing your hair. NOW.

Autumnal Lips

I'm absolutely loving bold lips at the moment, particularly deep reds, berries and purples.
I've got a selection of textures, tones and finishes - from completely matte to shimmery glitter.

I've picked four of my absolute favourites which I have accumulated over the past year. They are all under £10, therefore super affordable.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - 477 Black Cherry.
A gorgeous deep burgundy/ purple colour which is mostly opaque but leaves a slight sheen. It's easily applied straight from the bullet but requires a good lip liner and a steady hand. It's very dark and therefore a good choice for when you're feeling brave. Probably not for you if you're not sure that dark colours are your thing.

Collection - Gothic Glam - 1 Seduction.
A beautiful deep red colour. It applies well - I press it into my lips first to stain the lips and then add one coat straight from the bullet. It's not dramatic enough not to wear it day-to-day but dramatic enough to add a statement to your lovely Autumn outfit. A fab choice for those of you who may just be beginning to venture into the world of gothic, vampy lipsticks. (I'm pretty sure these are only about £3 too - BARGAIN!)

Maybelline New York - 338 Midnight Plum.
A shimmery, sparkly violet colour. The colour reminds me of my childhood - was my absolute favourite. Almost everything I owned was this colour; my walls, clothes, shoes, nails, eyeshadow - EVERYTHING. When I saw it, I had to have it. Despite being bright purple and sparkly, it isn't too dramatic. Go buy it - NOW!

Topshop Lips - Beguiled.
This is a statement lip colour in my makeup bag, Autumn, Winter, Summer, Spring... No matter what the season, this lipstick makes an appearance. I've repurchased a few times. It is so wearable and really creates a statement. It has a thick consistency with a very subtle sheen. It's a happy medium between the Collection Gothic Glam and the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick.

Hello, 2013.

Happy New Year, guys!

I hope you all enjoyed your New Year celebrations, whatever you did. Mine consisted of lots of food, alcohol and laughs at Gregs' house. I have never been the biggest fan of New Years but with everyone else excited, who am I to say no to a celebratory shin-dig. 

The beginning of a New Year is the perfect time to reflect on the previous year. A year that was full of ups and downs. A year that was full of stress and relief. 2012 began with me and Greg splitting up for a month in January which was an obvious low, we worked through our differences though and sorted things in the February. In the March I booked a Holiday to Ayia Napa with the girls. April must have been one of the most stressful months of my entire life. On April 27th my dissertation was due in, and it literally took over my life. I cannot explain the feeling I felt when I finally handed it in - a kind of mixture of relief and anxiety. In May it was my 22nd birthday and also the month I completed my final exam in University - that's it, it was all done! In June myself and the girls jetted off the Ayia Napa for a week - which was sooo much fun! A week of not having to worry about anything and just chilling in the sun, cocktail in hand! It was also the month I received my degree results. I moved back in with my parents during June too - after living with Greg for three years this was definitely very difficult. July consisted of graduating from my Psychology degree *woop woop!!*, job hunting and enjoying (& visiting Alton Towers). In August I started my new job. September saw Greg turning 22 and going to London to watch Spurs vs. QPR. October was the month I finally had a new car!! Love my white (new shape) Micra!!! She's my baby. I was admitted into hospital in November with Pylonephritis (a severe kidney infection) - I never knew kidneys could cause so much pain!!! December just consisted of getting ready for Christmas - exciting! 

There you have it, 2012 was definitely a year full of memorable moments - both good and bad. Regardless of this, it was a year I wouldn't have changed. 

I am entering 2013 with an open mind and open heart. I have high hopes for this year. I already have something to look forward to. I am visiting Naples, Italy in March for 10 days - exciting :). I also have goals I would like to achieve this year; not necessarily 'New Years resolutions' just things I'd like to do at some point throughout the year. These are:

♥ Blog more. I have had this blog for over 3 years now, I think it's time I started to blog regularly. 

♥ Incorporate fashion into my blog. 

♥ Instagram a photo a day for whole of 2013.

♥ Spend more time with friends.

♥ Visit a Trans-Atlantic country - working in Virgin Atlantic gives me the perfect excuse to do this. San Fransisco, Las Vegas and Barbados are all on my list *fingers crossed*

♥ Join the gym and actually go!! I paid £30 a month for a gym last year (for the WHOLE year) and went once - not once a month... ONCE! In the entire year!! Shameful!

♥ Live more. Don't stay in all day doing nothing. Make an effort to make more memories.

♥ Don't dwell on silly little things. You only live once - as cliche as that is, it's very true. I do tend to worry about the most irrelevant things. 

As I said, these things are more like goals than resolutions. I never make New Years resolutions e.g. "I am going to lose weight" , "I am going to spend less money", "I am going to join the gym and go 4 times a week" because basically, that would just be setting myself up for a fail. I think the goals I have set myself are quite achievable. We'll have to wait and see I suppose!

So, there we are. A quick round up of 2012 and my hopes for 2013. 

I truly hope you all have a brilliant year and enjoy every minute.

"THERE IS NO TROUBLE SO GREAT OR GRAVE THAT CANNOT BE MUCH DIMINISHED BY A NICE CUP OF TEA" - Bernard-Paul Heroux

My Christmas (late I know!)

I'm absolutely gutted that the festive season is now well and truly over. That time of year is definitely my favourite. From the sparkly baubles to the countless tins of chocolates, I just love it all!!

I always start feeling festive very early on - sometime in November (Michael Bublé's Christmas album was on repeat in my car for way over a month - I think I know every single word to every single song on the album now!!!), although I start counting down the days starting the beginning of September maybe?! All the anticipation and excitement and then it is literally over within a few hours - a very good few hours at that. 

I was very lucky indeed to manage to book myself 9 lovely days off work to relax, chill out and properly enjoy. 

I have 2 little sisters - One who is 13 so not-so-little anymore; Carys and another who is actually still little; Abigail who is 7 :) Abigail still believes so it is still very magical in our house at this time of year, I think that's probably why I, myself, get so excited. Christmas eve was very exciting! We all got into our new onesies early in the evening (it's become a tradition in our house to have our Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve).

I was woken up at 6:55am on Christmas morning (after a very sleepless night due to excitement) by a very excited little girl and a very tired teenager! It's also a tradition in our house to open the presents in our stockings in our mum and step-dad's room before going downstairs to see what Santa has brought us. 

I must admit I was well and truly spoilt by my family and boyfriend. I got so much more than what I asked for/ was expecting! I am very very grateful for all that I received. *Thanks, guys!!!*

I was lucky enough to receive an iPad with Retina display (waaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!) which was obviously my favourite present I had, along with a Fossil watch, Chanel Chance perfume, Topshop studded bag, Pandora Charm, Benefit make up and a whole load of Yankee Candles! I LOVED everything I received but I was extra excited about these items!!

After the excitement of opening our presents, we got ourselves ready and headed down my aunties house to see my family, which was lovely. We exchanged gifts and my cousins showed me what they'd received. My nanna was the one who bought me the Pandora Charm - she's amazing I love her. I love spending time with the people who mean most to me on Christmas Day!  

It was then time to head home and prepare for dinner... Exciting! My mum always makes the most amazing dinners. While my mum was slaving away in the kitchen, I laid the table to look all pretty and Christmassy - adorned with Christmas Crackers and nicely placed serviettes. The time finally came to eat, and it was absolutely amazing. Yum yum yum. 

The rest of the day consisted of doing nothing, watching all of the Christmas specials on tv and forcing myself to eat mountains of chocolate (such a hard life!) 

I truly had the best day, spending it with the people who mean most to me. I was just gutted that I couldn't see Greg as we live an hour away from eachother, but we saw each other on Boxing day anyway so that was okay. 

I hope you all enjoyed as much as I did! Roll on Christmas 2013!! 

Hair Envy - Ombre

I'm currently loving ombre hair! I know this trend has been around for quite a while now and I've always liked it but I'm looking to do something a little bit different with my hair at the moment and I think this is what I'll go for. 

I've seen a lot of people doing ombre themselves with a blonde dye/ bleach. However, I'm going to go to the salon because I need the opposite done. I already have light blonde hair, I just need the darker mousey blonde put in at the top - if that's even possible at all?! I'm sure it is! Has anyone else done it this way?!

I think it's time I booked an appointment!

My current 'go-to' foundation

Foundation is a product that I sometimes don't feel the need for. On good skin days, I can literally pop some powder over my face and feel that I have enough coverage. However, days like these are few and far between. On the more common bad skin days, foundation is my savior (along with some Collection 2000 concealer). This is the reason why choosing the right foundation is so important! Over the past couple of months, I've tried numerous drug store foundations (another post coming on that soon!) - none of which seemed to do the job.

Last year I purchased MAC Studio Sculpt foundation after being roped in by the sales person in a Debenhams store. I loved it so much due to its longevity and coverage that I saved it for special occasions (or those days when nothing else would do!) Unfortunately I ran out of that recently and after being disappointed by so many drugstore foundations that I decided to go have a look at MAC again and maybe purchase something different than before. That exact day I received an email from Debenhams to say there was 10% off beauty AND free delivery! Winner!

I'd never ever bought a foundation online before without testing it for colour match first so I was a little apprehensive despite having had previously owned a MAC foundation. The reason for this is that I could not remember for the life of me whether I was NW15 or NC15. Anyway I bit the bullet and decided to buy MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15, praying that it was be a match! 

It was delivered within 2 days and I was SO excited to try it. I applied it with my Real Techniques Buffing brush. Application was simple although I did find it dries quite quickly so as long as you move swifly it's fine. Thankfully, the colour is a match!! WOOHOO! I find the coverage to be medium but buildable (a little bit goes a long way!) When used with my Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer my big bad bags under my eyes aren't visible! Always a plus :) As for its longevity, I've only really worn it at work so far, so in an office. I'm yet to expose my face to the elements whilst wearing it. But so far, I've found that it lasts throughout the day without needing a touch up. 

Over all, I'm very impressed with this foundation. I'd highly recommend this :) I understand that I'm way behind the times with this foundation and 99% of you have probably already used it, however if you haven't, go try! 

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush

Now, I must admit that when it comes to body skin care, I can be quite lazy. I'm not one to buy scrubs, moisturizers and body washes in abundance - especially not expensive posh stuff! To be quite honest, when it comes to shower gel, I usually just go for what's cheap or on offer at the time - normally ends up being Original Source or something similar. Call me cheap but this is what happens when you live as a student for 3 years! Old habits die hard and all that malarky.

 It's VERY rare for me to exfoliate and moisture either. No matter what time of year it is! The only time I regularly apply moisturizer is when I'm on holidays, after soaking up the sun. 

A couple of years back, just before I went to uni, I was obsessed with Soap & Glory. Everyone in the bloggesphere was raving about this brand, so I just had to check it out. The smell of this brand is what got me hooked. Such a lovely, light girlie fragrance. So for Christmas 2009, I received gift sets upon gift sets which included the well known Righteous Butter and Flake Away exfoliator. Anyway, after I while, the novelty wore off and I got lazy. I still often receive the travel sized products for birthdays, Easter etc.. But they just mostly sit in my baskets collecting dust until it is absolutely necessary that I use them. 

The only exception to this was when I was in my first year of uni and randomly bought the 'Sugar Crush Body Scrub'. The reason behind this purchase was that there was an offer on in Boots, I had just had my student loan and this smelt like an absolute DREAM... The rest is history. I'd found an exfoliator which I actually enjoyed using, purely due to the smell! I'd often catch my boyfriend using it too... Despite how much he'd deny it. Anyway, after many Sugar Scrub filled showers, the pot was empty *boo* and so was my bank account. By the next time I had money to spare, I'd completely forgotten about this little beauty. However, a while later when I was reminded by my boyfriend about how much I loved it, I just could not find it ANYWHERE. I searched each Boots I went into and couldn't find it on the website either. I gave up hope and thought it had been discontinued!! UNTIL... earlier on this year, I was browsing the Soap & Glory shelves and was smelling the glorious exfoliators and I FOUND IT!! :) ...It had been repackaged!! (How silly did I feel?!! School boy error!!) Previously it had a turquoise lid but it now blends in with the range more. Anyway, on a recent trip to Boots, I repurchased this exfoliator and was VERY excited when I saw that they had released a 'Sugar Scrub' body wash and moisturizer - yayyy! Anyway, I thought I'd give you a little review on these products!

Well, I thought I'd best start with the product that I was originally hooked on - The exfoliator. If you can't already tell, I absolutely LOVE it. It smells like nothing I have ever smelt before. On the packaging it claims to contain 'Smashed brown sugar & sweet lime, almond oil & macadamia grains'. It definitely does smell like lime... Although my 8 year old sister is adamant it smells like cream soda! As for the exfoliating part, it definitely does the job. It is very grainy (the smashed brown sugar and macadamia grains are fab!) and after the first use, I noticed a difference to my scaly legs (eww!). It isn't harsh enough to cause discomfort though, however I would not recommend using straight after shaving your legs as it does sting quite a bit (it does state this on the tub but I obv didn't listen!). The consistency is quite oily and does moisturize a lot - both during and after use :) I would definitely recommend this and at £8 for a 300 ML tub you can't really go wrong as it does last AAAAGES. The only thing I'd say, is that maybe the packaging should be updated again to match the pink and lime of the new products! 

There isn't much to say about the Body Wash except for the smell! It's gorgeous. It's also quite moisturising! It's definitely a lot better than other body washes that I'm used to using - especially when used with a shower puff. (It's £6.50 for 500 ML - bargain!)

The Body Buttercream is absolutely fantastic! After using the body wash and exfoliator I jump out of the shower and slather myself in this moisturiser (while I'm still damp) and if you haven't already guessed - it smells the same!!! :) It's thick and contains 'Shea & coco nut balm, lime & almond oils and kiwi juice water'. It retails at £10 for a 300 ML tub. It will seriously last ages!!!

I definitely recommend these products to anyone! I understand that this smell will not be to everybodys taste but for me it gets a MASSIVE thumbs up! You can buy these products from Boots online here or in-store. These would definitely make a brilliant Christmas present and at the moment, Boots have a 3 for 2 offer on! Hurry hurry!!

Instagram #3

Sorry I've been a bit MIA lately. I've finally finished my undergraduate degree, and the last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of my laptop typing! Since finishing my exams, I've been relaxing and doing a few fun things & I've taken a few photos along the way.

1-Topshop nail varnish 2-Ready for a night out 3-Childish fun in the sun 4-Coldplay! 5-Me and Greg
6-Excited 7-Me and my mum 8-Our wristbands 9-Balls & balloons 10-Confetti
11-Wristbands 12-Tacky phonecase 13-Gregs patriotic nails 14-Gregs nail art 15-On a night out
16-I want a black pug so bad 17-Chilling before Mrs Browns Boys 18-Mrs Browns Boys!! 19-Coldplay wristband randomly lit up 20-It's still going!!!

I'm going to Cyprus on Saturday with the girls, so doubt I'll be posting much but look out for a holiday post soon! :)

Hope all is well.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Well here's a product that you've probably heard everyone and their dogs (and probably their cats too!!) raving about. It claims to provide an "anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow". Being that I prefer glowy, natural finishes I was excited to try this. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump to dispense the product. I much prefer this to others, such as Revlon colorstay which makes it a mission to get just the right amount without any major spillages or wasted product, not to mention the fact that it makes it all the more hygienic. My first impression of the product was definitely good. The consistency of this foundation has definitely impressed me. It's almost gel-like. 

I used my Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this, and the finish was flawless. It's true what it says on the bottle. This foundation really does leave you with a dewy glow. I'd describe the coverage as medium, but definitely buildable. It doesn't dry too quickly either (again reference to the Revlon colorstay), which means you have time to really work it into your skin. 

This foundation lasted around 6-7 hours before I began to look quite shiny, but I touched it up with some powder and voila! Problem solved. 

I must say though, the colour range is very limited, with only six shades. I don't consider myself to be the palest of people, but I bought shade 100 - Ivory and it is still a little bit too dark. I also found it to dry a little bit darker on the skin as well - being 'Ivory' and the lightest shade they do, this definitely surprised me. Rimmel, why no more colours?

The fact that it doesn’t cater for lighter/ darker skinned people is definitely the biggest down side of this foundation. But that aside, I do like this foundation and will continue to use it (maybe when I've caught a bit of a tan)! It's affordable - around the £8.99 mark - and makes your skin look good. I'd definitely recommend this if you're skin tone matches any shade from their range! :) 

What are your thoughts on this foundation?

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Everyone’s probably heard of Moroccan oil, yeah? Me too. Everyone here in the bloggersphere tends to rave about it, and I can’t lie – I really want to try it. BUT, being a student, I cannot afford to fork out around £30 right now… I know you can buy the smaller bottle for less, but I can’t justify paying that much for such a small bottle.

Ever since I heard about Macadamia Oil, I’ve wanted to get my hands on it. From what I’d heard from my hair dresser and others, it seemed to be a cheaper alternative to the expensive Moroccan Oil. I had a look on e-bay and managed to get my hands on some for around £17 (125 ml) which I thought was pretty reasonable (I can’t remember the e-bay seller I bought it from but I’ve checked and there’s loads available right now).

This product is meant to be beneficial for dry/ damaged hair - which is perfect for me because I have more split ends than you can imagine! It claims to provide ‘intense nourishment for tangle and frizz free hair’ for hair that is ‘ultra-smooth, manageable and shiny’. It also promises to reduce drying time by 40-50%. Anything that vows to provide tangle-free hair and a quicker drying time is a definite yes for me. Despite having relatively thin hair, it literally takes around 20-25 minutes to dry which drives me absolutely insane! Also, my hair knots like crazy… If I don’t brush my hair throughout the day, it literally starts to dreadlock - absolute nightmare.

I’ve been using this product now for around 6 weeks, around 2 or 3 times a week depending on how often I wash my hair. After washing my hair, I literally towel dry it and pump the product into my hands (normally two pumps), rub them together and then apply to my hair, focusing on the ends. The consistency of this product is more gel-like rather than an oil, making its application far easier. However, being oil based I tend not to apply too much to the roots as I want to avoid greasy roots. The brilliant thing about this product is that if I do accidentally apply a bit too much, it doesn’t actually make it overly greasy.

I have definitely noticed a difference in my hair. After using this, my hair feels silkier and shinier and my split ends have definitely improved. And the biggest test of all… My hair DOES tend to dry quicker when I use this *celebratory dance*.

I absolutely love the smell of this product… It reminds me of Lee Stafford products – yummy. I still have around 3/4 of the bottle left which is good. The packaging of Macadamia oil is also lovely if you ask me! It comes in a brown glass bottle with a lime-green plastic pump dispenser, and a lovely gold pattern. Lovely.

I absolutely love this product and would definitely repurchase once it runs out. However, I would still like to try Moroccan oil. Have you tried either product?

Graze Box

On Tuesday I ordered my first ever Graze box. You've probable seen a lot of codes floating around entitling you to your first box free. I did. I tried, but as I registered my card to my account, the website crashed and after that it wouldn't let my try it free as my card was already registered to an account *sob*.

Anyway, I still really wanted to try one so I payed the regular £3.79 which includes Royal Mail first class delivery; this ensured my box would be delivered on the next possible delivery day which was today, Thursday the 17th. 

After creating ac account and registering your card, you're offered whether to have a 'nibbles box' which gives you maximum variety OR a 'nutrition box' which claims to only include 'just our healthiest foods rich in micronutrients, designed by our nutrition team'. 

I chose the 'nibbles box' which then directed me to a page where I could browse and rate the foods on offer. The foods were categorized by the types of foods; seeds, crackers, dried fruit etc... You can literally chose to 'bin' some items which really don't tickle your fancy - this way graze will never send you these items or chose the 'send soon' item which means they'll do just that. Basically, the way Graze works is it uses your ratings of the food to know what you like and dislike, they put the box together themselves using this information - so it's a surprise.

Everything looked quite interesting, but I did chose to bin all of the foods containing dates or figs - not the biggest fan I must admit. After completing this process, it was just a case of waiting. I had an e-mail yesterday letting me know my box was in the post and should be with me today... It gave me the option of having a sneak peek of what was in my box - I couldn't resist!

Mr Postman delivered my box to me this afternoon.

In my box, I had: 

The herb garden - 'herb and onion peanuts, baked herb bites and oregano rice crackers' 

Savoury roasted seeds - 'roasted sunflower seeds and roasted pumpkin seeds'

Bounty hunter - 'milk chocolate drops, coconut flakes and cranberries'

Mississippi bbq pistachios - self explanatory really

The box came with a little welcome book and a little book describing how the service works etc... Which I thought was a lovely addition.

In the welcome book, it gives you all the nutritional information you need regarding your foods, with little tips such as "coconut keeps you fuller for longer". 

I was really happy with the contents of my box and will definitely be ordering again. Each thing was lovely and I loved that I had a variety of different things!

My boyfriend and housemates have all signed up for their free boxes now as Graze provided me with 'free Graze box' codes to 'feed my friends'.

I also love the cardboard packaging of the boxes. The material for the boxes themselves are sourced from a sustainable forest and is 100% biodegradable and recyclable. All other materials are also used from bamboo and other recyclable materials - so Graze is 100% environmentally friendly, which is always a plus!

I'd definitely recommend these boxes to anyone, especially seeing as you can have your first one free.

The only bad thing about these boxes is that I know some people won't like the fact that you can't chose exactly what you want in your box, however I think it's nice to have a little surprise!

If anyone would like to try a free box (you may as well - how often do you have free food given to you?!), feel free to use my code:

B769F4JD

(you do have to enter your card details but as soon as your box has been sent out just basically just cancel your account hassle free - although they do try to prevent this by offering you other deals such as your next two boxes half price etc, but you can easily say no)

Lemmie know what you think of them guys! 

Sorry for the long post!

Instagram #2

Eating a chinese in the car & this was our view | Greg drinking tea - shock | Pringoooals (revision time snack food) | Thierry Mugler that my mum didn't like so kindly gave to me | Dissertation completed & bound! | Race for life | Inglot | Cute message from Greg | Balloon panda made for me in a nightclub | Got my hair did | Last ever uni assignment | Lee Stafford shampoo | Take home TGI - heaven | VIP booth for housemates birthday | Rare sight - parking available in uni | More revision snacking

Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo

This shampoo claims to 'lightly tone, refresh and restore your blonde hair to salon beautiful colour'. It's ingredients include a Pro-Blonde complex of panthenol, chamomile and morina seed extract; more commonly kniwn as Miracle tree (which claims to keep hair squeaky clean and encourages natural shine to glow). It's also meant to protect your hair from fade caused by styling, sunlight and damage caused by UV rays. 

Last January (2011) whilst in the hair dressers, I made a very impulsive, spontaneous decision to dye my hair ginger - and by ginger I mean orange ginger. I think I posted a picture maybe? Anywho, after that I continuously dyed my hair different shades of ginger/ red... As summer approached, I knew I had to consider going back blonde. I was going to Gran Canaria with my boyfriend, even when there was no sun in sight, my hair faded like crazy so I knew that as soon as sun was involved, it would be disasterous, plus I tan quite easily - meaning I'd be brown with orangey/ yellow hair. Not attractive. 

Anyway, I went back blonde, and have since gone blonder each time I visit the hair dressers. However, because my hair was abused so often with ginger/ auburn/ red dyes, it tends to get quite brassy, quite quickly. 

This is where this product comes in. The first time I used it, I was quite scared after I'd dispensed the product into my hand. It is a very dark purple. I was wary about it dying my hair, rather than just toning it. However, I was so happy with the results. The brassiness of my hair was gone after just one wash. It made my hair a lot lighter, more white even.

After the second time of using it, I noticed a purple tint to my hair. Quite a few people said that my hair looked pink/ purple. I instantly changed my mind on the product (despite quite liking the lilac-y shade it left in my hair - it cannot be good for your hair, can it?). However, once I got home, I read the bottle and it actually tells you not to use it every time you wash your hair because of the toning agent. *Schoolboy error, Hayley. Always read the label*. Now, I use it every two to three times I wash my hair, and I must admit I absolutely love this product.

You can probably still see a bit of purple but hey-ho, It matches my dress!

Being only £6.49, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who suffers with brassy blonde hair. You can buy it here at Boots and it’s often on offer 3 for 2 or 2 for £10.

P.s. I know there’s cheaper alternatives out there but my housemate has tried quite a few and don’t find they work very well. Plus, quick little tip, apparently the darker the purple, the better the results ;)

Haul | Superdrug 3 for 2

Just to let you all know, Superdrug is doing a 3 for 2 offer across all cosmetics! I popped up just to grab some deodorant and came home with some makeup (and no deodorant! I was so engrossed in the makeup that I forgot, *facepalm* - Before you judge, I have since been back up to buy some so I'm still smelling fresh) 

When I noticed the offer was on, I went straight to the Rimmel stand. I’ve wanted to try the ‘Wake me up’ foundation ever since all the hype started on here! I currently use the Bourjois healthy mix serum and I absolutely love it, so couldn’t really justify buying a new one that I may not like as much. Buying the Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation made me realise that what some people love, I may not… So yeah, I was a bit cautious. However, today I bit the bullet and it is now mine. I shall let you all know how I get on! I have high hopes for this foundation.

I must admit, this was a bit of a random purchase. This wasn’t part of my 3 for 2 purchase – I spotted it as I was walking out of the store. I wanted to try a really pink blush and this looks nice enough. There was no tester, but being only £3.99 I thought ‘why not?’. I’m sure my sister would appreciate this if I’m not too keen. To be honestly I’m not expecting miracles from this product, I’m just hoping it’ll be nice enough.

I saw the Max Factor Flipsticks on Fleur’s blog originally and thought “Wow”. She made them look so funky and different I just had to try them. I chose the shade ‘Gypsy red’ as that one was the most impressed by once Fleur had created her ‘lip art’. Can’t wait to use this double ended lipstick!

I already own one of these Revlon ColorBurst lip butters in the colour ‘Cupcake’ – a gorgeous pink with blue undertones, but as much as I love the colour when I swatch it on my hand, and as pretty as it looks in the packaging, that colour is just not for me. I wish it was, but it just does not suit me *sob*. Aside from the colour not suiting me, the texture and formula of the lip butter was lovely… Creamy, moisturising and had good colour pay off. This was why I decided to buy ‘Sweet Tart’ – another lovely pink colour. Again, this colour looks nice swatched on my hand and lovely in its packaging, I’m just praying that this one looks remotely good on me! Please, ‘Sweet Tart’, please?! I’ve heard comparisons made to the L’Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks… & those are my absolute favourite at the moment. I wonder if the Lip butters can compete?! We’ll see!

Shabby chic: Inspiration

I'm currently redecorating my room & have been looking at these for inspiration:

*all images were sourced from google

Aren't they gorgeous?


HN x

Instagram #1

1. Treats c/o the girlies 2. Joes ice cream 3. Bananas spooning 4. Gorgeous flowers 5. Choice of fabrics for the room 6. New Pandora charm 7. Unbelievable ice cream 8. Costa - cuppa tea 9. Heart shaped potato


HN x

Holidays are comin'

Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well. It's currently 01:58am & as you can tell, my body clock is non-existent. 

Oh my gosh, Christmas is coming up - 23 days. It's crazy. This year has literally flown by. Seems like just yesterday I was almost stranded up in uni just before Christmas due to the snow - nightmare! 

I've got high hopes for this festive season :) last year there was a loss in the family so it was quite a sad time but this year it's looking up. 

I've invested in a 'Happy Christmas' yankee candle (which I've not stopped burning yet) and am currently listening to Michael Bubles - Christmas album which is definitely making it hard to contain my excitement.

I've been Christmas shopping with my mum, which was lovely... Although I'm mega jealous of my boyfriend at the moment as he's up in London doing his Christmas shopping for a few days! *sob* 

I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with Greg. This is the third Christmas we'll have spent together (such a long time!) & I've just got a feeling it's going to be a good 'un. I've also got quite good shifts to work with at Zara so more family/ friend/ boyfriend time, woohooo! :) However, for some (unfair) reason we get a week less off for Christmas than we did last year. Hmph - sort it out uni! 

I'm praying it doesn't snow this year, however, it probably will. I just hate it. Like really, really hate it. It's just so inconvenient. The year before last I was almost stranded at Greg's house for Christmas because it snowed so heavily on Christmas Eve and then I couldn't get back up to uni after the holidays. Then last year as I mentioned before, I was stranded up in my uni house 'cause there was no way I'd be able to drive in such conditions. Literally, nightmare. Fingers crossed the fluffy white stuff won't make an appearance this year *FINGERS, TOES & EVERY OTHER BODY PART CROSSED* It makes it so difficult to see Greg as we live an hour apart & there's a big huge ginormous mountain between us, which closes at the first sign of a snow flake. NOT GOOD.

Anyway, enough of my moaning about snow - SCROOGE. Hope you all enjoy the run up to Christmas guys!!! I'm sure I will! :)

HN x

Crest whitening strips

Hey guys :)

I had a new laptop today, a Sony Vaio, as my old one decided to s-l-o-o-o--w right down to an unbelievably annoying speed making it difficult to revise etc & seeing as it was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I've been saving my birthday money to get something I really needed, I thought why not. It's lovely & now that I'v brought it home, I've realised it's glittery & now cannot stop looking at it.

Anyway, as promised, I thought I'd do my review of Crest whitening strips.

I bought the Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid whitestrips.

"If you suffer from yellow discoloured teeth or you just want whiter teeth, then Crest 3D Whitestrips Advanced Vivid with thenew non slip strips will remove your surface tooth discoluration and you will be able to enjoy a brighter, whiter and healthier smile in the convenience of your own home."

In each box, you get 14 sealed pouches (28 strips) - 14 for your top teeth, 14 for your bottom teeth. You apply a strip to both top and bottom teeth for 30 minutes, once a day & they claim you'll begin to see results within 3 days.

I've got 7 days worth left, so I've not yet seen the full effect, however I took a picture before I started using them & I took one today - half way through the treatment..

Before:

Half way through:

As you can see, my teeth are considerably whiter than before! Before they were really quite yellow, but they are beginning to become more white! Definitely cannot wait to see the end result :)

So far, I love them! The only down side is is that they make your teeth quite sensitive - However, I bought the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste for a mere £1.84 in Tesco and it has worked a treat!

I'd definitely recommend these to anyone considering undergoing a whitening treatment as they can be pretty expensive and I paid £29.99 for mine from here.

I'll be sure to do a post after the whole 14 days :)

HN x

My attempt at hair modelling

Hiya guys!

Sorry I've not posted, I've had exams & loads of stuff has been going on, so I do apologise!

A couple of weeks back, I was approached in work (Zara) by a guy asking if I'd be interested in doing hair modelling. This would include having my hair done for free, so being a student, I jumped at the opportunity!

So on Monday, off I trotted to the hairdressers situated in Cardiff.

I was there for a whole 7 hours... & there was a proper photographer and everything, so scary considering I'm not the biggest fan of having my photograph taken.

Anyway, this was the result -

Apologies for the awful quality but the photographer is going to send me the real images on a disk so I'll upload them then! I had about 200 pictures taken! So much fun, although I'm not too sure how a model does that day in day out..

I had my hair coloured 3 different colours - Copper, red copper and copper plum. It's really bright considering my hair was a dull auburn colour before. Every time I walk past a mirror I'm like "AH!" haha. He also trimmed my hair 'cause it was quite dry... & then the BIG OTT hair obviously haha. Had such a fun day!

Oh, and I have a post on Crest whitening strips coming up really soon! :)

HN x