Hello 2014

Happy New Year guys!

Thank you so much to everyone that has subscribed and has taken the time to read my blog. 

As if its 2014 already? I'm looking forward to what the year will bring...

January Fashion Wishlist

January approaching means not only the New Year, but also my student loan arriving in my bank account, which also means a massive splurge on myself. I'll have to pay it back one day, but we'll forget about that for now... These are the fashion items I'm loving at the moment:

1. Dorothy Perkins Tartan Dress £35

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs iPhone 5 case £24

3. Burberry Scarf £295

4. Topshop Croc Clutch £25
5. Topshop ALL YOURS Ankle Boots £80
6. Topshop Petite Velvet Skirt £32
7. Missguided Umaiza Dress £22.99
8. Topshop Jacquard Treggings £28
9. Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch £155
10. Topshop Croc Purse £16

What fashion items are you dying to purchase at the moment?

My Year in Pictures: 2013

I pondered over doing this post, because I didn't feel like I had much to show for 2013. But looking through my Instagram, I had such busy summer, but then it went downhill from there. 

I made some important decisions about my future this year which are: I don't want to do a Masters degree; I don't want to go travelling; I want to move out soon. I feel like I've had a bit of an epitome recently - I realise now that some of the things that I have done in my life, and had planned to do in the future, were things that I thought were expected of me and not things that I actually wanted to do. Looking back, I wish I hadn't gone to university. All my friends went, and a lot of my family members have studied for a degree, so I did it as it seemed the 'done' thing. Really, university isn't suited for me - I don't like living with messy people, I don't like doing uni work and I don't like studying English Literature or Media studies. I'm half way through my final year so I'm grinning and bearing it for the next 6 months. 

However, on a positive note, during Summer I studied an intensive short course in Fashion Journalism at the London College of Fashion. Despite it being ridiculously expensive, it was such a brilliant experience. I visited places in London that I would never have though of visiting like: Dover Street Market, V&A Club to Catwalk Exhibition and the Miles Aldridge Exhibition at Somerset House. My teacher was so inspiring  and it opened my eyes to what I really want to do in my life, which is something to do with journalism, pr and fashion.

I went on an amazing holiday to Ibiza with my friend Ruth. We went pretty crazy, we went to the Zoo Project, Ibiza strip, Space, saw Bastille at Ibiza Rocks, Luciano at Ushuaia, Sankeys and David Guetta at Pacha all in 6 nights. Coming home was more of a break than actually being out there. But I had such an amazing time and wouldn't hesitate to go back there.
I also went to two festivals during summer. The first was V Festival with my best friend Hannah, seeing Beyonce was unreal, but it just reminded me of how much I hate camping. The weekend after V, me and my friend Aimee trekked up north to Creamfields where we made the brilliant decision to stay in a hotel. Seeing Annie Mac, The Prodigy, Avicii, Nicky Romero and David Guetta to name but a few was amazing, and being able to go back to a warm bed and a shower at the end of the day was even better.
At the end of September I went on a family holiday to Corfu with my Aunt and Uncle. It was such a perfect time to go, the weather in England was horrible but it was still 26-30 degrees in Greece. I had such a relaxing time and got an amazing end of Summer tan. 

On the advice of my Fashion Journalism teacher, I also started my blog this year, which has become a really important part of my life now. I love writing posts, and it gives me an excuse to buy new things! Hopefully my blog will continue to grow as I do.

As Summer ended, university began. I decided to remain living at home for my final year. I am a pretty tidy and clean person, and at uni you are bound to end up with some pretty messy people. People leaving dirty plates to the point that mould grew on them - disgusting. At home, the entire upstairs of the house belongs to me, so I have my freedom but also my home comforts and cleanliness. I still hate going in to uni, but I am way happier now.

The end of summer also meant the start of the 21st birthdays. For my friend Katie's, I met her and the girls in London after a day at LCF and we went for dinner at La Tasca and went for drinks up the OXO tower. My friend Aimee planned a night out in London at the club Aura Mayfair. When we got there, I noticed Conor Maynard sitting at the table behind us. The night ended in us being invited over to their table which was a turn of events! It was recently my friend Ruth's 21st, which was one of those nights where at the time it was so much fun, and then the next day you are filled with regrets and embarrassment haha.

I can't believe how fast 2013 flew by, I had fun but nothing groundbreaking happened. Even though in 2014 I face some huge challenges and milestones in my life - having jaw surgery, turning 21, graduating from university - I feel like it will be a much better year for me.

What I Got for Christmas 2013

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas, and got everything that they had wished for! I love reading and watching what other people got for Christmas so I thought that I would share some of the things I received. I am extremely grateful for everything I got!

My Nan bought me a pair of black UGG Australia boots which I have already worn to death. A warm pair of black boots are essential for winter and these are like heaven on my feet!

I got 2 gift cards for Topshop, one from my cousin Amy and the other from a family friend. Topshop is my far my favourite shop...

I bought myself the Beyonce album on a quick trip out on Boxing Day with some Christmas money. I also got a loaaad of money from various family members which I am so thankful for! Everything on my Christmas wishlist that I didn't receive I'll be sure to buy with the money I was given.

A family friend bought me a 10 month subscription to Vogue, which is such a thoughtful present. I love Vogue and I'm an aspiring fashion journalist, so this gift was perfect.

Christmas isn't Christmas without Primark pjs. These are so cosy, as soon as I unwrapped them I put them on, and basically haven't taken them off since. 

My Aunt ordered me this concealer palette as just a stocking filler. It was something ridiculous like £1.80 on eBay and I fancied trying it out. My Nan also bought me this Ted Baker Lip Crayon set, all of which are extremely pigmented, way better quality than the Revlon equivalent. She also bought this little Essie trio, I love burgundy nails all year round, so this was perfect. 

One of my Aunts made me these cute little lavender filled hearts. I love things like this to decorate my rooms with, and the fact that she made them herself makes them even more special.

My Aunt also bought me this huuuge book on the history of fashion, I can tell this will come in handy.

My Aunt put together this box of random bits and pieces. I'm so happy with the jewellery hooks as I am forever untangling necklaces. 

This is just a fraction of the chocolate I received for Christmas. The rest I've either already eaten, or given it away to stop me eating it! 

These Nike Roshe Run's were from my Aunt and Uncle. I've been lusting over these for so long and am so happy to finally have a pair. I wore them to the gym yesterday and they are so comfortable and look great.

These Frootz bath and body sets were from my cousin Tom and his girlfriend. They are all perfect travel sizes so I'll be saving them for when I next go away. They also smell so good!

My cousin Jack bought me the Jimmy Choo fragrance gift set which smells amazing! And my cousin Billy bought me a bottle of Absolut Vodka, which will go down nicely before my next night out. 

I would love to know what you all got for Christmas!

January Beauty Wishlist

Here are just a few beauty items that I am lusting over at the moment...

1. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette £37
2. NARS Blush in Gina £21.50
3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation £31.50
4. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Perfume £34.50
5. Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer in 03 £34
6. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush £9.99
7. Lancome Doll Eyes Mascara £21
8. Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer £24.50
9. Dior Creme De Rose Lip Balm £22

I was kindly given a hell of a lot of money from various family members/family friends this Christmas, so I will probably be buying all of this in January!

What is on your beauty wishlist for the New Year?

Battle of the: Red Lipsticks

Left - MAC: Russian Red - NYX: Electra - Rimmel Kate: 01 - Revlon Lip Butter: Candy Apple - Bourjois Color Boost: Red Island - Rimmel Kate: 12 - Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids: Neon Red - MAC: Lady Danger - Rimmel Apocalips: Big Bang - MUA: Shade 1 - Right 

I love a red lip. It's the one colour lipstick that I don't feel guilty having so many variations of. So I decided to pick my top 10 favourite red lipsticks:

MAC Lipstick in Russian Red: Blue-toned vivid red, matte finish. 

NYX Round Lipstick in Electra: Blue-toned red, creme finish.  

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 01: Dark vampy red, matte finish.

Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple: Sheer warm-toned red, glossy finish. 

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Red Island: Classic pillar box red, sheer glossy finish.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 12: Pastel coral-red, matte/creme finish. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Neon Red: Bright orange-red, matte/creme finish. 

MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger: Vivid orange-red, matte finish.

Rimmer Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang: Vivid classic red, glossy finish.  

MUA Lipstick in Shade 1: Bright warm-toned red, glossy finish.

What is your favourite red lipstick?

Latest in Beauty Box - The Glamour Beauty Edit

Now that I have started blogging regularly, I thought it was about time that I bought my first Beauty Box. On the recommendation of another blogger, I decided to go for the Latest in Beauty box as it is not a subscription service. Not only can you pick and choose when you want your box, you can pick and choose what goes inside the box. However, when visiting the website I saw they were selling this limited edition 'The Glamour Beauty Edit' box, full of beauty items that I knew I would love. 

The box was £14.95 (without p/p) and delivery was 5-7 days. The contents of the box is worth £65 making it extremely worth while!

The box was packaged beautifully. The only downfall was that the Balance Me face oil had leaked over the Benefit mascara - nothing that some soap and water couldn't fix.

Maybelline Baby Lips (Full Size)

'Want lips that look healthier and feel baby soft? The intensely hydrating formula moisturises lips for a full 8 hours, with SPF29 and a hint of colour*'

I hoped to get one that wasn't either the yellow or the pink one as I already have both. However, I'm not that fussed, you can never have enough lip balms. 

Eyeko Lash Curler (Full Size)

'Ensure ultimate precision and ease of use for the optimum curl with this luxurious eyelash curler from Eyeko. The chic blue velvet handles provide the perfect amount of pressure to create beautifully curled lashes.'

I'm actually really happy to receive these as believe it or not, I don't own a pair of eyelash curlers. As I have naturally curly hair, my eyelashes are also very curled so I have never felt the need to use eyelash curlers. I'll definitely be trying these for special occasions, and I love the navy velvet handles on them!

Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo (50ml)

'A lightweight spray that refreshes and soothes the scalp, absorbing excess sebum whilst providing volume and texture to the hair, leaving you ready for One More Day.'

I will be broadening my Dry Shampoo horizons with this product, as I have never tried any other but Batiste. I'm desperately trying to grow my hair for next summer, which involves washing my hair less, so this is a welcome addition to my hair care routine.

HD Brows Eye & Brow Palette (Full Size)

'Long-lasting, anti-smudge powders which stay in place all day to keep your eyes and your brows looking picture perfect.' 

This was the main reason I decided to buy this box! I've heard so many people rave on about this on Youtube. I think the darkest brown shade will match my eyebrows perfectly, plus the shades will also double up as great matte eye shadows. 

Toni & Guy Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray (75ml)

'Backcomb hair high and wear it with style thanks to the definitive hold and control that takes you effortlessly from day to night.'

Toni & Guy is by far my favourite hair care brand. It smells so so so so so good! One thing that puts me off hairsprays most of the time is the smell (L'Oreal Elnett makes my hair smell like a 70 year old lady), so this is perfect. It's also a great travel size to shove in your bag on a night out.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil (10ml)

'Enhance luminosity, plump and smooth your skin with this award winning, 100% naturally active 'nectar for the skin' face oil.'

I have tried a Balance Me product before, but never a face oil. It scares me slightly as I have oily-combination skin. However, this is what these boxes are intended for - trying things out of your comfort zone that you may or may not fall in love with. 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara (30g)

Lengthen, curl, lift and separate your lashes with this jet black, long-wearing formula which won't smudge or dry out. 

This is the product I was most excited about, as we all know I'm a mascara hoarder. I've never actually tried this Benefit mascara, the £19.50 price tag has always put me off, so this little sample is perfect for me to try out. I've heard a lot of good things about it so I can't wait to use it.

I have already ordered my next Latest in Beauty box which I am super excited to receive. There is not a set price for the usual LIB boxes as you can have as many or little items to try which I think is great.

What would you like to try out of out of the Glamour Beauty Edit box?

Tag Tuesday: The Christmas Tag

Merry Christmas Eve! What better time to do the Christmas Tag. I know there's a few variations of this, but these are the questions I answered...

Favourite holiday movie:
Home Alone will always be my favourite! It's so cheesy but never fails to make me laugh. And Macaulay Culkin is so darn cute in it (not so much nowadays).

Whats your favourite Christmas colour?
Reds. I love wearing a red lip, tartan scarves and red gingham Christmas decorations.

Do you open your presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas day, I did used to open a present on Christmas eve but I'm not as excited to open my presents now I'm 20 as I usually know what they are!

What is your favourite winter fragrance?
I'm not one for changing my perfumes depending on the season. Miss Dior will always be my favourite fragrance whether it be Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. 

Favourite Christmas smell?
Yankee Candle Snow in Love and Cinnamon Stick.

What is your favourite holiday drink?
I love the Christmas drinks they come out with at Starbucks and Costa Coffee. My favourites last year were the white chocolate and cranberry latte, and the gingerbread latte. I haven't had one this Christmas as I've been on a weightloss kick and the Starbucks and Costa lattes always have about 10000000000 calories in them and I'd rather eat my calories than drink them. 

Candy cane or gingerbread men?
Gingerbread men, I'm not a huge fan of sweets.

Favourite song: 
Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas.

Have you ever made a snowman:
Every year that it has snowed!

What is most important to you about the holidays?
Without being cliche, family and friends and remembering the people who aren't here with us anymore. And Terry's Chocolate Oranges. 

Why don't you give the Christmas Tag a go?

Haulin' #6: American Beauty

Unfortunately, I haven't been to America. But after watching beauty Youtuber Shaaanxo, I came across the website Beautyjoint.com based in the US, that sell beauty products that you can't find in the UK for super cheap prices. These 10 items, including postage (£8) came to £32 which I was amazed about! I ordered on Black Friday, so got a 30% off and $5 store credit to use. 

Ardell False Eyelashes - Demi Wispies: £2.15 
These are my ultimate favourite eyelashes, and seeing they were only £2.15 I ordered 3 pairs. In Boots or Superdrug you can pay up to £6 per  pair so I took full advantage of the cheaper price.

Milani Baked Blush in 05 Luminoso: £4.90
Ingrid from MissGlamorazzi has mentioned this in a few of her videos so I needed to try it out. This is such a perfect peach colour with a bit of shimmer running through it. 

Milani Bronzer in 02 Medium: £3.06
In terms of the colour, this looks like a brilliant dupe for NARS Laguna bronzer. 

NYX Blush in Peach: £3.07
From the name of the blush 'Peach', I expected this to be a peach colour - it's not. It's more of a bright corally pink, it looks like it will go perfectly with the NYX lipstick that I also purchased in Stella. 

NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium: £5.52
I've heard a lot about this bronzer, so I thought I'd try it out. A decent matte bronzer is hard to find so I have high hopes for this product. In hindsight I wish I'd got the darker shade as I'm pretty tanned at the moment, but when it fades I'm sure it'll work perfectly.  

NYX Round Lipstick in Electra: £2.45
Of course I needed another red lipstick. To be fair this isn't to similar to any other red lipstick I own. It's a darker blue toned red, comparable to the colour of MAC Russian Red, perfect for the Christmas period. 

NYX Round Lipstick in Stella: £2.45
The NYX colour swatches are really bad so I wasn't too sure what this would end up like. But it's a beautiful bright coral colour which is right up my street. 

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells: £2.45
I have wanted some of these palettes for so long! I just think it's a great concept to have shades specifically for the browbone, crease and eyelid. Plus it just makes them totally idiot-proof as you know exactly how and where to apply them. 

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment: £2.45
This is a beautiful trio of colours with a shimmery light pink for the browbone, a dark brown with gold running through for the crease and a cool toned taupe for the eyelid. I know I will get so much use out of these palettes.  

Wet n Wild Mega Volume Mascara in Very Black £2.45
I ordered this purely because it was super cheap and I'm obsessed with trying new mascaras. The brush and the packaging makes me think it's going to be comparable to the Maybelline Colosal Volum' Express mascara. 

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in W6 Sun Beige £6.64
I bought this from an eBay shop based in the US because I can't seem to find this colour anywhere. I've looked in all the Boots in my area, most of which have the full L'Oreal range, and the assistants have told me that if they didn't have it then I probably wouldn't be able to find it in the UK (They only stock W5: too pale and W7: too dark). Luckily I found it on eBay and it was only £6.64, where in Boots/Superdrug it's £9.99. The colour is perfect for me and it was delivered in a week! The only con is that it is in the American packaging which doesn't have a pump, but I can work with that. 

I wouldn't hesitate to order from Beauty Joint again. The postage was pretty quick considering it came from the US and I didn't have to pay any customs charges. 

Which American beauty products are you lusting over at the moment?

Tag Tuesday: My Firsts

First tweet: 

'just met @joeyessex_ so in love.' #embarrasing

FIRST youtube video: 

It was Grace from the Ugly Face of Beauty, a video on her favourite products to use on curly hair. 

FIRST person you subscribed to on youtube:

The Ugly Face of Beauty.

FIRST Facebook profile pic:

One of me wearing a leopard outfit for the last day of 6th Form at Southend High School for Girls. It was jungle themed and we all went out later that night.

What was your FIRST alcoholic drink:

Most probably Smirnoff Ice or WKD, disgusting stuff!

What was your FIRST job:

I worked in Homebase and it was awful. The staff were literally evil. The only saving grace was that I worked with two of my best friends. 

What was your FIRST car:

A black Renault Clio.

Who was the FIRST person to text you today:

Conor.

Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning: 

My media lecturer and how pissed she would probably be when I didn't turn up to her lecture today. 

Who was your FIRST grade teacher:

I can't really remember but I think it may have been Miss Thompson. 

Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane:

My Mum took me to Montserrat in the Caribbean when I was about 8 months old.    

Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk:

A girl called Chloe, we were really good friends for 15 years and then we fell out. She lives down my road, and I saw her last week for the first time in years. 

Where was your FIRST sleep over:

I slept over at my friend Daisy's house and I remember staying awake and crying all night haha. 

What was the FIRST thing you did this morning:

Turn off my alarm and go back to sleep. 

What was the FIRST concert you ever went to:

Busted with my friends Hayley and Daisy in 2004. It was just after my Mum died, and she had arranged for us to have a meet and greet with the band which we were totally shocked about. 

FIRST broken bone:

I broke my are falling off a motor scooter in Year 8. 

FIRST piercing:

I had my ears pierced when I was about 7, I let them close up within a few months and haven't bothered having them redone since. 

FIRST foreign country you've gone to?

Montserrat in the Caribbean. 

FIRST movie you remember seeing?

101 Dalmatians.

When was your FIRST detention:

I've honestly never had a detention in my life. 

If you had one wish, what would it be?

Bring my Mum back to life - depressing but true. 

What was the first sport you were involved in:

I loved netball through primary school, I always played center. 

What is the first thing you do when you get home?

Look in the fridge to see what there is to eat.

Why don't you try the My Firsts Tag?

Christmas Gift Guide: My Christmas List

Christmas by ruby-frampton featuring lightweight shoes

Family, take note. This Christmas there literally wasn't anything I really wanted, accept a new car which was never going to happen. I'm the sort of person where if I really want something I will just buy it myself rather than save it for someone else to give me for Christmas. What can I say, I'm impatient. 

iPod Shuffle 2gb - £34

Despite the fact I have an iPod touch, an iPhone and an iPad, I really want an iPod Shuffle for when I go to the gym. I could buy one of the iPhone holders that strap to my arm, but I always end up shoving my phone down the side of my gym leggings and ends up being a general annoyance when I'm doing my squats and lunges. With an iPod shuffle, I could just clip it to my top and get on with my workout.  

Audi A1 - £14,115

If anyone is feeling generous, I'd really like this car please. 

Black UGG Australia Boots - £150
I know that I will be getting these already! I have the sand, chestnut and chocolate pairs but I never wear them. I just wanted a pair of warm black boots to wear for winter and these fit the bill. 

Nike Roshe Run - £70

I obviously need another pair of trainers to add to my collection. I saw a girl wearing these in the gym last week, and I have also seen Charlotte from Geordie Shore wearing them casually and they look amazing. I also know I'll be getting these ha. 

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer in 03 - £31

Zoella mentioned this bronzer in one of her recent favourites videos - if she has it, I need it. I am tragically running out of my Nars Laguna bronzer, and because I am rarely brand loyal, I'd love to try this out!

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara - £21

I bought myself the Hypnose Drama mascara earlier this year, it was amazing, but slightly too clumpy so I would love to try this out. I think that higher end beauty products are ideal to ask for at Christmas as you can try new things you wouldn't usually and don't have the guilt of spending your own money!

Money
Who doesn't want to receive money at Christmas?

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - £30.50
This will probably be one of the things I buy with any Christmas money I receive. Sammi from BeautyCrush always talks about this foundation, plus I just love Nars products.  

What will you be asking for this Christmas?