Tag Tuesday: Beauty vs Brains

1. Favourite book

The Great Gatsby

2. Favourite quotation

'Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end' - John Lennon. This quote is actually really important to me, it really is something that I live by. 

'Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light' - Albus Dumbledore. I just love Harry Potter to be honest haha. 

3. English or Maths

English, I have a passion for writing and would die to be a Fashion Journalist in the future!

4. Science or Art

At school I was a bit of an all rounder, I convinced myself that I was better off doing Biology than an arty subject at A levels and ended up getting a U in it haha. So I dropped it and picked up Textiles and Photography instead. 

4. Name 5 musical artists that changed your life
If I'm honest I don't think any musical artist has changed my life. I like to listen to certain artists but I've never had a song really affect me in anyway. 

6. Favourite and least favourite subject at school

Textiles was my favourite, languages were my least favourite. Essex accents and French just don't merge well together.  

7. Favourite celebrity with a brain

Emma Watson, again because I love Harry Potter. 

8. If you could study anything, anywhere what would it be?

I wish that I could go back and shout at my 17 year old self and tell me not to do English Literature at the University of Brighton, and tell me to do Fashion Journalism at the London College of Fashion. I have thought of doing an MA in it, but my university experience has put me off staying in education for any longer!

9. What is your nerdy little secret?

In 2002, aged 9 I was the Under 11's Essex chess champion. So embarrassing haha. 

10. Beauty gurus who you admire for more than their love of fashion/beauty.

Grace from the Ugly Face of Beauty. She is so real, and has real life issues that so many people can relate to and are helped by her honestly addressing them. I find myself watching her videos and thinking, 'Yes Grace! I feel the exact same'.  

11. If your blog couldn’t be focused on beauty/fashion what would be the focus instead?

Probably interior design. It's something I would consider as a career path. 

12. Name some things you’re obsessed with that others would find strange.

Crime and prison documentaries, I find them so interesting finding out why people do what they do. They always scare the s**t out of me, but I get hooked!

13. Name 5 people who inspire you (no friends of family).
Anna Wintour
Beyonce
Zoella
Andrea's Choice
I know I'm cheating a bit but my Mum.

14. Who is your intellectual soul mate?

I don't think I have one. Plus the fact they say opposites attract. I've never been out with someone that had/was studying for a degree, I have always been the smart one!

Haulin' #7: Boots Sale

Original price: £14

Paid: £7

Worth: £18.37

Original Price: £15

Paid: £7.50

Worth: £22.47

Original price: £15

Paid: £7.50

Worth: £20.40

I'm not really a sale shopper, there's usually a reason why nobody bought it in the first place. But the annual Boots half price sale is one that I always make a point of visiting. It's basically Boots getting rid of all of their Christmas gift sets and everything is half price. Last year I went a bit crazy in the Boots sale on Soap and Glory gift sets, but none of them really caught my eye this time around. Instead, I went for the hair care gift sets. I'm on a mission to have long hair for summer and I need all the help I can get! 

Toni & Guy Brunette Set

The Toni and Guy Brunette range is my all time favourite shampoo and conditioner. It was the last set left and I am not lying when I say I ran towards it.

James Brown London Volume Kit

One of my favourite products for curly hair is the James Brown Photo Fabulous Wave Spray, which is also from the Volume collection. Whenever I wear it I always get compliments on the smell of my hair, so I thought I would try out the shampoo, conditioner and hair mask. This was a total bargain because the mask alone retails at £8.49.

James Brown London Seductive Shine Set

There was no other reason that I bought the James Brown Seductive Shine set other than it was a great deal considering the collective retail price of the items is over £20. You can never have enough shampoo and conditioner in your life!

I also bought a few more gift sets for my Nan and my Auntie as their birthdays are in January/February, but haven't shown them as they both like to read my blog. I'm probably going to pop back to Boots as there were a few other bits I was eyeing up, so watch out for another cheeky sale haul!

What have been your best sale bargains of the new year?

Haul / Lookbook #1

Missguided Tartan Dress - Size 10 - £19.99

Sheinside Ombre Sweater - One Size - £14

Missguided Didget Rose Jumpsuit - Size 10 - £29.99

Missuguided Floral Shift Dress - Size 6 - £24.99

Topshop Cami - Size 10 - £7 Sale

Topshop Daisy Shell Top - Size 8 - £15 Sale

American Apparel Riding Pants - Size M - £64

Asos Smock Top - Size 6 - £14

Missguided Rose Dress - Size 10 - £22.99

Hi lovelies. Seen as yesterday's outfit post went down so well, I thought that I would show myself wearing a few new purchases from over the past couple of weeks. 

Enjoy :)

My First OOTD

Fedora - Missguided Similar Here

Eyelash Knit Jumper - Primark £10

Faux Fur Gilet - Sheinside £18

Tartan Leggings - Topshop £25

Converse - Asos £45

I don't know why, but I was really nervous and slightly embarrassed to post my first outfit of the day. Today was pretty casj, I just wanted to be comfortable and cosy while running some errands and a little lunch date with my Nan. I saw Lily Melrose wearing these leggings and had to get them - they are super comfortable and surprisingly good quality. I'm also wearing the Sheinside faux fur gilet, which despite being a bargain, hasn't really lived up to my expectations. It's so thick that it makes me look a bit like the abominable snowman.

This is what I had for lunch, I could barely eat any of it it was so big. Tasted amazing though!

Weightloss Journey: How To Lose That Christmas Kilo

I am not proud of it, but I knew it was going to happen - I put a kilo on over Christmas. On the 21st of December I was 58.9kg, and by the 26th I was 59.9kg. To put on a pound, you need to have over eaten by approx. 3600 calories, meaning that I over ate by about 7200 which is disgusting haha. However, it is now the 1st of January and I am back down to 58.9kg. 

Here's a few tips to how you can shed those Christmas kilos:

1. Starting tomorrow or next week is not good enough. There's no better time like the present right? Whether it's starting a diet, or getting back to the gym just do it today. Wait a week, and you may even have put on another kilo to add to what you want to lose. To lose my Christmas kilo, I was back to the gym on the 27th.
2. Remove all the temptations. All the chocolate I got for Christmas, I put in a bag and gave to my other family members. If it's in my house, I will end up eating it.
3. Drink a s**t load of water: I have been drinking between 2-3 litres of water a day. It sounds a lot, but if you buy the 2 litre bottles of water to drink from you will do it. It'll help flush out all those toxins, whether you've over done it on the alcohol or stuffed your face with fatty foods. 
4. Drink green tea. I was always a bit of a cynic when it came to the apparent benefits of drinking green tea. It takes some time to get used to the taste, but I use Clippers Green Tea with Lemon, which actually tastes amazing. Drink 3 cups a day, and it will help to speed up your metabolism and aid with your digestion. 
5. Get some money for Christmas? Go out and treat yourself to some new gym gear. Being able to look good at the gym is surprisingly motivating. H&M have some amazing fitness clothing that you should check out.
6. Weights, weights and more weights. Girls, do not be afraid of weights, you will not look like a bodybuilder after a few visits to the gym. Just ask the assistants in the gym to show you how to do a few circuits including weights and it will help tone and shape your body better than any form of cardio. In an hour, I burn between 700-800 calories lifting weights for 35 minutes and then cardio and stretching for the other 25 minutes, as appose to 500-600 calories only doing cardio.
7. Believe that you can do it, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! All cheesyness aside, this has helped me a lot. Being able to lose this kilo I put on over Christmas in such a short time has made me feel so good. I'm now aiming for 53-54kg as my final goal (I am 5'5, the healthy weight range for my height according to the NHS is between 50-68kgs). But the other day someone said to me 'You're not going to lose more are you?' and it really pissed me off. Why should I be told what I should and shouldn't look like, why can't I have abs and amazing legs? And the answer to that is I can do whatever the f**k I like, if I want abs and am willing to work hard enough, I will bloody well get them. 

I hope some of these tips help! If you don't have a gym membership, here are some workouts you can do in the comfort of your own home...