Blogmas week 2!

I can't believe we are half way through December... Being at work 9-5, Monday-Friday really does make time go quickly! 

Everyone's starting to get excited and the Christmas tunes are in full swing! This week has been a bit of a lucky one for me and 3 other girls on the team because we all won a beats pill each, so that was a good start to the week! Although our street cred has been slightly damaged, with our embarrassingly Christmassy/cheesy winning photo being emailed out on the company's weekly newsletter... It was definitely worth it though! 

Hoping we're having a lucky streak, we started to decorate our pod at work, competing for £1000 to our chosen charity. After contemplating themes of Narnia, Elf and The Grinch, we all managed to settle on a pantomime theme.  It's not finished yet and the pictures aren't very clear, but the team next to us have baubles hanging off string from the ceiling as a doorway (which are tangled 100% of the time), so I still think we might stand a good chance! 

Midweek, I stayed at Mel's again to meet the new addition to her family; little Marnie! She was incredibly cute and I did NOT want to leave for work the next day! At the weekend, I celebrated Georgie's 21st birthday with most of the girls from school. As always when I go out with the NGHS girlies, it was a night full of laughs, chats and dancing; just what i needed after 3 weeks of not going out! I'm loving all these 21st's at the moment!

how i felt at the start of the week // our pod's panto decorations // even our lego are excited for Christmas!

eating 10 'curiously minty' mints // georgie's 21st // at the beginning... // I'd love a Christmas weave

...at the end! // visiting Millie & Marnie! // 'doing bits' at work... // it's nearly Christmaaaassss!

The pictures are quite small so sorry that you can't see the detail in some of them!

Blogmas week one!

It's Christmassss!

The wait is over; December is fiiiiinally here! The advent calendars are out (this year I have two chocolate ones and a LEGO one at work, which is the coolest advent calendar I've ever had) and it's acceptable to be playing the Michael Buble Christmas Album on repeat, loud and proud - time to get excited! As usual, I was starting to get excited in November, but luckily the month flew by and I feel less guilty for feeling festive now - the shops and radio are both playing Christmas songs, so it's officially aloud! To the annoyance of everyone at work, I'm that person who is on the Christmas hype good and proper; I sound like an official promoter of all things Christmassy, including Christmas Markets/Fairs/Music/Food etc, and I hadn't noticed that I point out every Christmas tree I pass until this year! I tried to tone it down until December, but surely being one of the youngest people in the business makes it acceptable to be the most excited?! (I'm kidding myself if I think this will change as I get older...)

A week of December has gone already, and I have a feeling it's going to go too fast; so I've decided to do a post each week with what I've done so that I can remember everything (and so that I can read it next year and get really excited for Christmas 2014...) To kick start December, I went to London with my friend Mel from work and crashed at her house for the weekend! It was such a nice start to the month, we had loads of fun getting into the festive spirit!

Like a little girl, the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park had been forever in my dreams, I longed every year to be taken to the festivities in the capital. This year, I'VE BEEN, woohooo! It was just as I expected; hustle and bustle with a festive atmosphere, cute gift stalls, Christmas lights and decorations and most of all endless supplies of food and drink. The highlight was definitely the German Beer Hall; countless beer and mulled wine stands, masses of singing people, and a cringeful German duet - what more do you need?! That definitely got me into the Christmas spirit!

 We also went to the outdoor ice rink at Somerset House, I'd seen so many pictures of it and thought it looked incredibly Christmassy, needless to say, we paid a visit. It wasn't as big as I expected from photos, but nonetheless it was a great atmosphere and it had a huge Christmas tree, so it was well worth going.

At the weekend, I went to the clothes show with my Mum, her friend and my sister; it was nice to have a girls day out! I absolutely love the clothes show so I had been looking forward to it as soon as the tickets went on sale, and again, I was not disappointed (my bank balance on the other hand...let’s not go into that!). I mostly invested in new make-up and goodie bags, but I also got a few dresses because I've still got some 21st birthdays to dress up for! We did a lot of celebrity spotting, but waiting in a queue for a picture was certainly not on the agenda (wasting valuable shopping time!). As usual, there's never a dull moment when you're with the Powell's; if I wasn't dancing to songs being played around the arena, I was knocking a whole stand of shoes off a stall (I was not dancing at this point...). Luckily, the man selling them and who was unfortunately standing behind said shoes, forgave me! Due to being too busy spending money, the only photo I got of the clothes show was of me and my boys...

Sunday was a day for doing run arounds! I helped with the shopping, got some Christmas presents, picked up Dad's train tickets and filled up my car before I had to head back to MK that evening. But before I headed back, I dropped by to my friend Imy's house – it was lovely to catch up (because she's so bad at bloody texting/phoning!), and as usual there were tears...crying with laughter! I'm looking forward to more laughs this weekend!

(this was a snapchat, so we aren't really looking our best...)

So far, December's been so much fun and I've been super busy; I have a feeling it's only going to get busier but I’m not complaining! Although this post does include two weekends, so it is cheating a little... Here's to the rest of the month!

Don't worry, be happy.

There's never a dull moment in my life, be it uni, family or anything in between, there is always something going on. This month has by no means been an exception, its been a rough patch to say the least. I won't go into detail because it's probably a pretty boring topic for most, and it drains me to keep thinking about it! If one good thing has come from this chapter of my life, it's been to realise that whatever life throws at me, I can continue and it can only make me stronger. This leads me to the point of this post; I thought I would write about things that have helped me get through each day, one at a time, not only so that I can remember how to deal with something like this in the future, but maybe it will help someone else when you think everything's gone to pot! Some seem pretty silly, or painfully obvious, but they've worked for me!

1. Sing in the shower. 
Yep, I sing in the shower and I'm not ashamed! The louder the better. I read somewhere a few days ago that it reduces stress and blood pressure, which probably explains why it has helped make me happier! If you don't sing in the shower, you definitely need to add this to your daily routine.

2. Spend time on yourself.
An extra 5 minutes doing my make up or hair in the morning, or doing a face mask once a week seems to make all the difference. Even if nobody notices, I leave the house feeling good and it seems to put a spring in my step. You never know who you might meet!

3. Hit the gym.
When I signed up to the gym I really didn't think I would get into it. There are clocks and calorie counters everywhere, which automatically made me want to give up. Now I've got into a bit of a routine with what I do when I go and it's good to have something to work towards (preferably I want to transform into a Victoria's Secret girl...). I go with two girls from work which really helps spur me on too!

4. Give in to rubbish food.
Contradicts number 3 a little bit, but we all have those days where we fancy anything sweet/sugary/fatty/unhealthy... No need to feel bad, just don't skip the gym the next day and enjoy the treats while they last!

5. Engage in conversation.
Sometimes I notice full tables in bars or restaurants where everyone is sitting with their phones out. I can hold my hands up and say I have definitely been there. But since I've noticed, I've tried to cut down the amount I use my phone around other people and actually talk to them; it's been way more interesting so far! 

6. Dance.
Whenever and wherever. If I'm out in public on my own I have to hold back, but if I am with someone and hear a good song, I'm not afraid to embarrass myself and whoever I'm with. It's fun to let out a bit of a jig, and other people find it funny too, so it's good to know you've made someone else's day. Others on the other hand, probably think I'm a bit of a freak, which leads onto my next point...

7. Don't worry about what other people think.
I've had the life motto 'fuck the world' for quite a long time now, after someone told me to stop worrying so much. Not in the sense of destruction or anything crazy like that, but in the sense of; if I want to do something I need to do it, otherwise I will only regret it later down the line. Sometimes you need to think of number 1. I'm not the kind of person who struts around pretending I'm perfect, I let my hair down and have fun. I'm glad I don't get caught up on worrying about what other people think - if I'm dancing in a shop - who cares, get over it. Obviously, this sometimes takes a back seat in certain situations, but it's always in the back of my mind.

8. Keep busy & plan ahead.
In the past 2/3 months I have only had 1 weekend where I've not had plans. Although I did use it to sort my bedroom out at home, because it still had my uni things crammed inside! Having things to look forward to makes the weeks pass quickly and it means I'm always excited for something. It's a good year for me because most of my friends are turning 21, so there will be lots of birthday celebrations. I used to be quite happy knowing every weekend I would be sat in front of the tv, but now that I'm used to not having a tv in the flat in MK, I like to get out and about as much as possible at weekends; I feel like I'm making use of my time so much better now!

Gifts To Myself; New Look

Another unusual blog post for me but I like to be different and just talk about anything and everything! I thought I would just post about what I bought from New Look at the weekend. I have been desperate for new clothes recently so I couldn't wait to get paid (although my new iPad and rent have made a pretty big dent in the old bank account already!) 

I saw this dress and immediately thought of work. In this lovely weather the office aircon does nothing, and the shared fan doesn't do a lot either, so thin dresses are a necessity! I didn't plan on wearing such casual things, but until the office is cooler I won't be wearing thick dresses or trousers!

I wasn't sure about this dress at first, but then I thought what the heck, I've just been paid! Maybe the wrong attitude...I really need more going out clothes and when I tried it on, it did grow on me a little more. If I don't wear it soon I'm sure the sparkles will go down well at Christmas time (thinking ahead!).

This top and the top below were the first things I picked up. I've been looking for a top like this for agesss but in cream and for a decent price. Unfortunately, they didn't have a cream one in my size, so instead I made up for it with my two favourite colours; I couldn't bring myself to leave one behind. I'll continue to keep my eye out for a cream one.

I especially liked these tops because of the fit; they've been sewn in at the sides, so they don't just hang and go baggy. I thought this was good for when I tuck them into things like the skirt below.

I also originally bought this skirt for work but I really want to wear it with the bright coloured tops on a night out. I think I'll hold fire for the work outfits for now and wear it out first. Might not be a good idea if I wear it when I'm out with work colleagues but never mind! Who doesn't love a good mix and match?!

I'm looking forward to the weekend and the week ahead because firstly, Elliot's coming down to Milton Keynes and it's always fun when he is around. Secondly, my brother is staying while he does work experience at the Argos photography studio. Can't say I don't do anything for him! I'm excited for him because I think it will be such a good opportunity for him to use what he has learnt in a different working environment and also to learn new things! We will see if he likes Milton Keynes life as much as I do! 

The Best Eye Make-Up Remover I've Ever Used...

Review - Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover

So far I have only really done lifestyle posts, but this was too good to not put online somewhere! I know it's only eye make-up remover, but these things can easily go unmissed and we settle for whatever make the shop has when we need little things like this! That is exactly what I did when I bought this whilst doing my food shopping in Sainsbury's, but luckily I made a good choice! 

The product is made from two sections; they stay separate because one is quite oily. You have to activate the remover by shaking it well first. 

The first thing I was impressed with was that it was suitable for contact lense wearers. I dont usually take my make-up off with them in but it was good to know its safe incase I ever forget.

The next thing I was curious about was the fact it said 'no rubbing needed'. I thought 'yeah right..' because all seye removers say that, and it usually takes a good few make up pads! But I can safely vouch for this! I can take all my eye makeup off with one pad, and I don't rub my eyes at all! Which also means I don't look like I've been crying for hours after removing my make up...

I know taking make-up off feels like a chore but this makes it much more bearable and I can see this will be a repeat purchase!

3 Favourites - July

catching some rays in thelunch hour at work

cocktails in the sun

taking advantage of the garden when I visit home

ice lollys - yesterday i had 4 because it was so hot...oops

babybels (literally get cravings for these bad boys)

salad - sun = heath eating for once!

* spotify - if you've not got an account, at least use the trial!

* etsy - I can't decide on one seller, theres loads to look at on there...

* bloglovin - I visit this every day without fail to keep up on my favourite blogs, if you don't have it and enjoy reading blogs, its worth a look!

yougotpowelled // elegant-chaos // EventualMinute.

Off To The Fox!

top: Internationale

jacket: Miss Selfridge

trousers: New Look

shoes: Flossys (available here)

necklace: Primark

First outfit post! Not a great one I must say, as I was in a rush meeting two of my friends for a drink and I was running late (as usual). So to waste a little bit more time before I left to meet them, I got my brother (YGP) to do a few cheeky shots before I whizzed off! I've wanted to wear these trousers for agesss and this was a couple of weeks ago, just before I left for placement, when the weather was looking up! I wear this top a fair bit, especially with patterned bottoms so that my outfit isn't too overpowering!

week in pictures #4

cheeky costa with Mum after some shopping // two peas in a pod // leaving present from my bestie

leaving home for placement // new bedroom // going to explore the cocktail bar!

me and mum enjoying the cocktail bar downstairs!

                 lunch at Zizzi's // my beautiful mother in the new lounge! // first bake in Milton Keynes!

first day on placement!

I'm having to backdate this post as I've been super busy! So let me think back to last week... it seems so long ago! I began to get very excited to leave and start my placement but at the same time it also meant leaving home for the third time, and leaving behind all the home comforts that go with it. This meant saying a few goodbyes to those I might not be able to see in a while, so I visited my auntie and cousins, two of my best friends from school for a drink, and another best friend, Robyn, who is in the picture on the first row.
I can't quite believe that me and Mum actually managed to fit everything I wanted to take into her car, find the car park and the allocated space, carry all the bags up to the flat on the 6th floor and get me settled in, but girl power got us through! Mum stayed with me in Milton Keynes from Thursday-Sunday and we had a lovely time. It was nice to have her helping me to sort myself out and to explore my new home! My godmother Auntie Sue also popped along and took us to a big Primark which is where I bought the skirt I wore to the cocktail bar. As you can see, we thoroughly enjoyed our first trip to a cocktail bar, and the fact it was only downstairs was a bonus!
So after a lovely time at home after exams, and a fab time with Mum in Milton Keynes, it was time for me to start work on the 17th June. Yesterday I completed my first week on placement, I really enjoyed it and think I'll have a great year; I have learnt a lot already and it's only week 1! Me and my flatmate Bridget are settling into the swanky new apartment too, hopefully we will explore the nightlife soon!

week in pictures #3

shopping in Birmingham // afternoon with my cousins // amazing weather!

my dog is lethal! // roses in the garden // soaking up the sun!

This week has been jam-packed so it's gone really quickly! On Tuesday, Elliot and I went for lunch and some shopping with one of his friends and his girlfriend. It was quite nice to go in the week because it wasn't so busy, which made shopping a bit more bearable! Unfortunately, I had no money to spend on treats for myself, but Elliot did treat me to a Wagamama's. It was soo sunny though so we did have a drink outside to make the most of the weather!
On Wednesday, I went to visit my Auntie because I don't see her very often and I do think family time is important. I saw 3 out of the 4 cousins which was nice, I miss them a lot when I'm at University! We took the twins to the park and they loved it, I love watching children have fun; it reminds me to have fun too and not take life too seriously!
Luckily the weather has been reallllly nice this week, so lots of time has been spent in the garden. I spent all weekend with Elliot; we went shopping (again) and then today has been spent eating KFC, chilling in the garden and catching up on Britain's Got Talent and The Voice! 

I've also done a bit of baking, started reading one of Richard Branson's books and sorted my room out a little, although there's still a bit left to go until I'll be happy with it! I just have sooo much in such a small room! I'm happy I have been able to cross off some things from my post-exam to-do list now! (which you can read here) 

Here's to another busy week!

week in pictures #2

congrats card from my sister // auntie sue at the grand opening of our new kitchen // new family rules

                      chi bar meal with shiv // yummy chicken tikka! // wine & the voice = exam freedom

           first bake post exams // stranded at the train station // Louise's 21st birthday party

Ross & I at Louise's 21st party // nobbly bobbly's got smaller! // partying in Keele                                    

Now that exams are over, I've been using my time much better, with things I actually enjoy. Although surprisingly I always miss not having work to do when it ends so suddenly (I already regret saying that!). I've had time to actually sit around and chat with my family and friends which is something I think is important to make time for regardless of having work or not. 

My godparents came and visited last weekend, and the five Powell's have just got back from a family friend's 21st birthday party in Manchester. It was a good excuse to get dressed up and it was nice to spend time together, because we rarely have all five of us together at once nowadays!

I also went to see my friend Jodie in Keele with some of her school friends and we went out down her neck of the woods! It was good to visit her because we hardly see each other because of both being at uni and having placements. 

Not long after exams, me and my friend Shiv from uni booked a meal together to celebrate our hard work, so we went for an indian at Chi Bar in Birmingham; it was really nice food, we were both stuffed!

Needless to say, I'm most definitely making the most of no exams and free time before starting my placement!

Argos Induction Day

Yesterday I was in Milton Keynes, having my placement induction at the Argos Head Office. I travelled down from Birmingham on Tuesday night and stayed overnight in the nearby Travelodge; I was a little scared because I'd never stayed overnight in a hotel on my own before, plus I had a massive family room with no-one to fill it! On the evening I arrived, I met my future flatmate, Bridget, who is also doing a marketing placement; she was lovely and I think we will get on really well!

On the day of the induction, after lugging our cases to the office in the miserable rain, we finally met 3 other placement students after some communication over Facebook. They were all really friendly and chatty, so I think we will make a good bunch and get along throughout the year. We went for a general introduction with all of our managers and the HR team, who seemed really excited for us to start; I hope we live up to their expectations! All of the staff were approachable and bubbly, which makes the work environment that little less intimidating. We then got taken around the office and introduced to the teams we will be working with. I will be on the 'New Content' team, so I will be deciding how to present the products on all the different channels that customers view, in the best possible way.

The next stage of the day involved being taken to the photography studio, where all the pictures and videos are made for the catalogues and website. This part was really interesting, as we saw first-hand how everyone's work from the office got pulled together for the final presentation of the products.

By this time, I was reallly hungry, so I was happy when we got told it was time for dinner! We got taken to Zizzi's which I was quite excited about because I had never been before. I really enjoyed the food; I had a chicken, tomato and rosemary pasta! I'll definitely be visiting again because it is right under our flat!

After dinner, we went on a walking tour of the area and got shown all the main attractions, including the shops, theatre district and xscape centre - unfortunately, I didn't know this was part of the itinerary until the day, so my choice of wearing heels was not the best decision! There was a particularly strong theme of pointing out good bars during the tour which was very useful!

Finally, we went to All Bar One with our managers and also met two of the current placement students there. It was nice to talk to people who had experienced what we will be doing and they seemed to have enjoyed their time at Argos which was good to know!

I had a really good induction day and am pleased that the staff are taking good care of us and are so friendly. It's made me even more excited to start on the 17th June, and it's made it 'feel real' visiting again, as the last time I visited I was being assessed for the role! Although the process of finding a placement is long and draining, I definitely think I will gain a lot from going on placement, and I am really looking forward to the experience!

let 'summer' commence!

YAAAAYY!

Finally, exams are over! As usual, it feels like I've been bogged down with them for years, when in fact its only been a month! Today is most definitely a happy day! 

I finished my exam about 2 hours ago, and I've done absolutely nothing since, this feels strange! I'm about to pack some things up from my uni room in time for my Mum and Dad to come and pick me up to go home, for a well deserved two and a half weeks off before my placement starts! 

I already feel so much weight lifted off my shoulders, although it is a stressful time, exams are so good for feeling a sense of achievement; hopefully the results will have the same effect!

I hope the next two weeks will be as good as I have hoped!

11 more days...

...until I'm exam free!

Ironically, Motivation creeped up again this year!

As of now, I have done 2 exams, but I still have 3 to go. I'm not really any more motivated to revise than I was before they started, but time is just flying by and running out, just need to remember that this is the last push! One thing that I do I feel motivated about, is what I'm going to do after exams on the 24th May. Due to this being the only thing I have actually given a great amount of thought to recently, I thought what better to blog about. So here is my list of what I am going to do when exams finish, I'm sure a lot of people feel my pain! 

1. Go for cocktails.

I have been begging my boyfriend for months to come to a cocktail bar with me. Probably to bring back the holiday feeling of all inclusive cocktails...(we probably haven't been because they wont be all inclusive, making it very expensive, but anyway...) He has been out quite a bit recently for various things, and always ends up at a cocktail bar. This and the fact that I think they are pretty hard to find, has made me very jealous. I can't wait for it to be sunny and exam-free so that I can enjoy a cosmopolitan without feeling guilty!

2. Go shopping.

Obviously. Reading blogs has recently become my favourite past time and top procrastination tool. I have been drooling over sooo many products so I now have a list as long as my arm to go out and try. Also, it feels like I have been wearing the same clothes for about a year, so I'm most definitely looking forward to browsing the shops and taking as long as I like, with no worry about how long I have left for revision. 

3. Do my make-up properly.

During exam season, I don't think I'm the only girl who abandons all self-respect and turn up to exams looking tired, stressed and run down! No shame. To be honest, I'd rather spend the time that I would be doing my make up to fit in that last bit of cramming, but that's just my opinion! Needless to say, if I wear any make-up it takes me about 5 minutes; so I can't wait to get back into my make-up routine. 

4. Read.

I never read before exams, but recently I have noticed so many books that I own but have never read. During exams, I've decided that when I am free, I will start to get through them so that I can clear my bookshelf a little. I think the first one will be The Hunger Games, because the film was really good and my brother said that the books is better; so hopefully I'll find out soon!

5. Bake.

Just before exams started, I got addicted to 'The Great British Bake Off' on BBC2. When I say addicted, I would plan my day around it, and be on edge about half an hour before it started, getting really excited (you don't have to tell me I'm sad, I already know this...). I recorded the remainder of the series as I had to go back to uni after Easter, but catching up on them was amazing; a huge bake-off marathon with no adverts! I felt so lost when I watched the final that I pretty much straight away got online and ordered one of the recipe books. I made a lemon cake and now I can't wait to make more. I also bought books on cake decorating after going to Hobbycraft and seeing the Aladdin's cave full of all things cake related. So I really do have a lot of baking to get on with!

6. Get into blogging.

At the moment, I hardly have any free time, so I really haven't had enough time to fully appreciate my blog. I keep talking to my brother about different ideas, so now I just want to get to it! 

These are just some things that are rattling around in my brain whilst I'm doing revision, which obviously is very distracting; maybe writing them down will help me get on with work now! Hopefully there will be lots of things I can blog about when exams are over and I'm busy with more exciting and less tedious things!

my week in pictures #1

Week 1

night out with the best friend // the best breakfast I've ever made // discovered Big Johns - amazing!

         

beyonce on the middle stage // Elliot & I waiting for the show // beyonce concert

                            

I treated myself to some time off revision to go out with my bestie, Robyn; we all need a break once in a while, life is too short not to have fun in between our stressful schedules. I also don't respond well to stress so I realised this exam period that I need to give myself more breaks to relax and let my hair down. I had a presentation at uni on Thursday which was the worst part of the week, but it always feels good once those kinds of things are over! Then I could get properly excited about going to the Beyonce concert with my boyfriend Elliot; it was a late valentines present - such a lucky girl! It was absolutely amazing, but it felt surreal that I was actually there. I'm definitely buying the DVD so that I can have another dance along! So pleased that  didn't cry (which I warned Elliot about - these kinds of things make me a little emotional!), so laughing at my expense was spared this time!

xxx

nails nails nails!

For anyone who knows me, you should know I love doing my nails and am into everything nail and nail art related. I don't go anywhere without a nail file, and usually at least one nail varnish. I find that having my nails painted makes me feel better because it shows a bit of personality and personally I think it finishes an outfit. I can't remember the last time I had plain nails; actually it was because I had to for dance competitions, but I don't remember before that! 

One night last week I had horrible chipped nails and it started to get to me. After gawping over some nail photos on instagram, I was given a bit of inspiration to do my nails after revision; I couldn't keep looking at pictures anymore! So here is a picture of the nails I did (which I started way too late and didn't finish until about 2am...) 

Admittedly, they're not my favourite creation, but I think when I realised what the time was, and there were no good programmes on TV I just wanted to finish and let them dry a little before bed! 

I used a mixture of varnishes including Barry M (yellow, green & pink), a nail varnish that I had as a present from an accessorize set (really light pink) and a cheap black nail varnish with a nail art tool from Avon, to do these nails.  

National Sibling Day

I am lucky enough to have two siblings; an older sister, Emma, and a younger brother Ross. I am the middle child, but fortunately do not suffer from middle child syndrome. Seeing as it was National Sibling Day yesterday, I thought I would make a little picture collage of some memories we have together and to write a post about them, because I don't tell them often enough how much I appreciate them. We have got millions of memories together; from holidays and getaways,  family parties, even to stupid laughs in the living room, there's never a dull moment with us three (not to mention our two young-at-heart parents). Obviously there are some bad memories, nobody is perfect, but lets not focus on those!

I love looking back on old photos, although I don't like it so much when I can't remember where we were, or what we did, because it shows I'm growing  up and already losing my memory...

The top left photo is of my sister and I, I would've been under 2 as Ross wasn't around, and Emma would've been about 5. I believe we were in the car on the way back from Disney World in Florida. Obviously I don't remember that journey in particular but I have loads of memories from our other 6/7 trips to Florida, including all the rides, Mickey ice lollies, breakfast with the characters, being locked at the back of a crocodile infested hotel & Ross getting his leg stuck in the railings whilst waiting what seemed like hours for the Dumbo ride. The top right photo and bottom left photo are also pictures from Florida (we love it there). I remember we loved these hats because our mum had just had a fancy dress party where she made an appearance as the statue of liberty (our family never ceases to amaze me), but we were too stingy to buy them because they were wayyy overpriced, so just took a sneaky picture instead (everyone's done it...).

The bottom right picture is me and Ross at our much loved annual Easter & summer holiday destination: the infamous Clarach Bay. Our lovely Nan & Grandad owned a caravan there and used to take the Powell & Kang clan (our cousins), along with many other special guests (our school friends) along to the 2 bedroom caravan which quickly became a tradition. We loved it, it was the best place for fun as children and I think it was where we were first given some independence. We made loads of friends and would go into the town, to the arcade, swimming and bowling, not forgetting fishing and playing on the rubber dingy on the river. We would be taken down to the 'Showboat' club most evenings for the kids disco, bingo and a family show, and if we were good we were allowed a tray of chips. I'd do anything to be that age again and to go to Clarach Bay altogether, but I'll just have to try and hold the memories for as long as possible.

Anyway, that was just a quick post to show my appreciation for my siblings :) I think in life we can get carried away with all the stresses and little things, that we don't get enough time to reflect and appreciate the things that really matter; these two help to keep me sane (but sometimes drive me insane too) and have shaped my life dramatically, I don't know where I'd be without them, so thank you for being there.

Happy National Sibling Day!

Cherry on Top!

If you're a student, you're probably in the same situation as myself; boredom, restless and pulling your hair out because its revision time! I hope I'm not the only one who looks for anything else to do but revision, when it's probably the most important time of the academic year for a student. My boyfriend always teases me around exam time, because I always develop new hobbies in a bid to avoid revision. Not quite the right approach... After days on end of psychology revision (which is only one out of the five modules I have exams in) and daily time slots allocated for the 'Great British Bake Off', I couldn't cope any longer; I needed to get my creative juices flowing! I decided to make Cherry Bakewell Cupcakes which I saw one of the contestants make on the programme and they looked delicious. She was the top baker that episode so I hoped I could give her a bit of a run for her money...(you never know, I might be good enough to enter myself next year...)

Not bad, eh?!

Here are the finished results, minus a couple that had been sneakily eaten already. I had to use blackcurrant jam instead of raspberry, but I think it worked as a good substitute! They were very tasty and a nice twist on the bakewells that the shops sell. I'd make them again, but I hope to extend my baking skills by attempting sausage rolls soon!

If anyone wants to give these a try the recipe is at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cherry_bakewell_cupcakes_24953

Best Buys: MARCH

Like most girls my age, I am a bit of a shopaholic. Even though money is tight for me at the moment because I'm waiting until my placement starts in June, I still manage to give-in to temptations! Granted, I'm not buying anywhere near as much as when I worked at New Look, so the buys aren't very extravagant, but nevertheless I have had a bit of retail therapy and I've been pleased with what I did spend money on in March! I thought I'd write about my few favourites...

 (sorry about the photo quality, I quickly took it on my phone!)

1. L'Oreal Wild Ombre Dip Dye Kit. 

I got box number 2 which was meant for dark blonde to medium brown hair. I was going to buy box number 1 for dark brown hair, but I had seen some disappointing reviews, and was told by my friend that it doesn't really show a difference. I was sooo scared doing this kit because firstly, I have only dyed my hair once and it didn't really work, so I wasn't used to hair colouring! Secondly, I was even more scared about technical aspects; I wanted a gradual effect and was worried about getting a distinct line, so I got my brother and sister to help me! So on went the bin bag, and away we went! The brush that came with the kit was really useful to spread the dye, I've kept it in case I want to go over the ends in the future. It did smell quiteee strong, but it was fine once we opened the window (even though it was snowing outside!). 

Here are some pictures of the final dip-dye! It's not too drastic but I'm really pleased with the outcome. There's no prominent line, and I can always lighten it if I want to, but at the moment I'm leaving it how it is. Don't want to run before I can walk!

2. Nivea SOS Lip Care.

I alwaysss seem to have dry, sore lips and no lip balm seems to help! I had this lip balm years ago and I remember thinking it was a miracle worker! Somehow, as things do, it got misplaced; I think I gave it to my Grandma, but I couldn't find a replacement anywhere! At the beginning of the month, I ran into Superdrug on the way back to my flat at uni and went to buy a lip balm, because my lips were so sore I couldn't wait until I was back (and then use a rubbish product!). I saw this little baby was back on the shelf and wanted to cry with happiness. It was a bit more expensive than the others at around £3, but I knew it would be worth it. Unsurprisingly, my lips have felt the best they have in months, and haven't hurt or split in a while now! Plus, lipstick looks ways better on a night out now!

3. MUA 'Undress Me Too' Eyeshadow Pallette.

For weeks I've been umming and ahhing over buying the Urban Decay 'Naked' palette, after watching eyeshadow tutorials which use it, and make it look really easy to achieve both natural and smokey eyes. As you know, I'm on a bit of a budget, so over £30 for an eyeshadow set seemed a bit too much. The bargain hunter that I am went on a hunt! On a separate occasion in Superdrug (I actually went to buy nail varnish; always the way!) I saw this palette for £3! Obviously I thought it might not stay on as long as the Urban Decay alternative, or be as strong, but for £3 I couldn't refuse. I've used it quite a few times now and I've been pleasantly surprised with the outcomes! So glad I didn't splash out (for now anyway)!    

4. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner.

I've always wanted to be able to do eyeliner flicks because they look good both in the day and at night for going out. Again, the tutorial videos made an appearance (during revision) and I thought they definitely looked achievable, but more so with a gel liner rather than the pen style. To my surprise, I did flicks on the first attempt and I was dead chuffed with them! So much I instagrammed a picture of them... This was quite pricey at £8 for a tiny pot, but there was a 3 for 2 offer on at Boots, and it also came with a brush so I could start using it straight away, which made me feel better about buying it. After using it, I realized that actually a little goes a long way, so it will probably last me ages. I've used it loads already because its so quick to use, so it was definitely worth buying.

Not bad for a first attempt!

The instagram photo...