Tuesday 31 March 2015

Things I like when I'm ill ...

Hey everyone :)

illness shoutjohn

I'm ill ... I have a cough and sore throat and a headache ... so here are some of the things I like to use/do/eat/drink when I'm ill.

Cup a Soup
I love a good pot of homemade soup but if I'm really under the weather then cup a soups are amazing too!

Tropicana Orange Juice (with Bits)
I used to hate orange juice with bits but now I love it. Orange juice is full of vitamin C so helps to fight the infection of the cold.

Water
Water is amazing and has so many benefits - one being that it can flush out toxins in the body. So I always drink lots of water when I get ill so I can hopefully 'flush' out the cold from my body.

Soothers
I like things to numb or soothe my throat and so Soothers are a great choice - there are alternatives like Halls or Strepsil lozenges - but they all work the same to stop that tickle or sore jaggy throat.

Bed
When I'm ill I love my bed and lots of napping. So that is a big comfort for me.

Netflix
There's nothing more better than snuggling up in bed with a cup of tea or soup and binge watching your favourite television programme while your ill. I can say that I have caught up with lots of my programmes while I've been ill and resting.

What do you do when your ill? Let me know in the comments below!



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Friday 27 March 2015

March Spotify Playlist

It's that time of the month again!

march spotify playlist

What have I been listening to this month on full volume in my car driving around Tesco car parks - thinking I'm cool!


Piece By Piece (Deluxe Version) by Kelly Clarkson
Her new album came out this month and I absolutely love it - I really enjoy Kelly's albums because they're full of real life things and she talks about feelings she has had or gone through. So defo worth a listen. I'm loving 'Invincible' and 'Heartbeat Song' at the moment!



Into the Woods by Various Artists
I got round to watching this (it was released in December last year) and I loved the music in it - I managed to find the songs/soundtrack on Spotify so I have been listening to this lots!



FROOT by Marina and The Diamonds
I've been a fan of Marina and The Diamonds for a couple of years now - I loved Primadonna and Bubblegum Bitch! I think I found her through Gossip Girl - as they were playing Bubblegum Bitch at a party and I loved the song so much I found it and played it to death. I'll be honest I've only listened to a few songs of this new album but what I've heard so far - I love!

That's the 3 most played albums this month! I have been listening to Taylor Swift's 1989 but I featured that the month is came out so didn't want to bore you again with it! But I mean ... seriously ... who doesn't love pop/country music :)


shoutjohn logo

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Thursday 26 March 2015

Space NK Apothecary

Hey everyone :)

I shop in Boots ... alot! But sometimes they don't have certain items that I want to get my hands on - and that's where Space NK comes in. I never knew this company existed. It wasn't until I started searching certain face creams and make ups online on Google Shopping that I saw it kept popping up.

I also happened to notice on my frequent trips to Wagamama in St. Albans that there was a Space NK near it - I've yet to venture in - it's never busy and I hate going into an empty shop - it's awkward!

I will admit - for certain products - they are quite expensive - things range from £5 to £300ish ... that's only what I've seen - there is probably more expensive products I've yet to discover on their website.

I've picked a few items I've had my eyes on and that I'm planning to buy at some point when I have the spare pennies. They aren't too expensive and they come highly recommended by well-known beauty bloggers and YouTubers.


Emma Hardie Amazing Face AM/PM Treatment Moisturiser - £38.00
I think I saw this when I was reading Tanya Burr's new book 'Love Tanya' - she said she really liked using it and that kept her skin full of moisture - as I have dry'ish skin I always look for a good face moisturiser that can help with that - so I'm planning to get this to try after payday.

NUDE Purify Deep Cleansing Mask - £38.00
I've gotten into a habit of using a face mask once a week on a Sunday and I'm always on the look out for new masks to try. This was has popped up a few times and so I thought about trying it to see how I get on with it.

REN Radiance Perfecting Serum - £35.00
I never knew that a good skincare routine included a 'serum' - I always just exfoliate, wash or moisturise. Many beauty bloggers/YouTubers do recommend a good serum within your routine. Again - I was reading Tanya Burr's book and she also uses a serum - I thought about trying the one she used but it was £125 and that's really out of my price range lol. So I had a look around Space NK and found this one which comes highly recommended by a few beauty bloggers that I read.

Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Gel - £45.00
They say you should always get 8 hours of sleep every night but I never do - I'm either up early writing a blog post, or editing a video for my YouTube channel or up early for work so I always look tired - so I try and get/use products to help me look less tired (and so people don't say 'oh you look tired') - I've tried different face creams, eye creams and some help and some don't - so I'm always on the lookout for new products to try and I saw this on a YouTube video a few weeks ago and I saw it on Space NK and I remembered I saw it - I think it was because of the name: 'Dragon's Blood' - obviously it isn't actually dragon's blood. 

Sunday Riley Start Over Eye Cream - £65.00
I can't remember where I saw this eye cream. I think a beauty blogger must have featured a different product by the same brand and then I saw this product and it caught my eyes. As I touched on above the skin under our eyes is very delicate and we need to take care of it - which is why I'm willing to spend a little more on cream for my eyes in the hopes I don't look all old and horrid when I'm older. So this is a very well known brand within the beauty industry and from the reviews I have read it's does what it says on the tin.

Have you ever shopped in/on Space NK? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!




Images: Space NK
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Wednesday 25 March 2015

The End of GLEE!

glee logo
Source: Wikipedia

I used to be a hardcore GLEEK. For those of you who don't know what a 'gleek' is:

Anyone who is obsessed with the television show Glee may call themselves a "Gleek". It is a combination of the words "glee" and "geek," implying that the person is a "Glee Geek."

I watched the episodes as soon as they came out and downloaded their versions of popular songs as soon as I could, or listened to them on YouTube constantly. My data limit was always maxed out well before the end of the month. Everyone at work hated me for posting the songs on Facebook or Twitter constantly and were sick of listening to Glee's version of songs in the office - but that didn't stop me - they gave in eventually and dealt with my 'weird' taste in music (according to them).

The phase then passed ... so you might say I wasn't a hardcore gleek because what gleek would get bored with Glee or their songs ... well I did. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed the episodes every week but I just lost interest - probably because other more interesting (and you possibly could say) more grown up programmes were showing (such as Vampire Diaries, Revenge, The Originals etc).

When I heard about Cory Monteith's death and that that the sixth season would be Glee's last I was quite shocked - I thought Glee was going to be one of those shows like Friends or ER that would last for lots of series.

So I've rambled enough about the backstory so ... last night I watched the last two episodes of Glee and to be honest I wasn't that impressed.

rachel and kurt glee
Source: Zap2it

Episode 12 was a flashback episode to the first lot of New Directions and how some of them dealt with problems before they joined the glee club and how the glee club helped them with those problems - Kurt was considering suicide before the glee club, Mercedes wanted to be recognized for her singing in other places rather than just her church or it might have been racism as she was upset that Rachel got chosen for the play (whom is white) and Mercedes (whom is black) didn't get chosen - you with me?

I really liked this episode as it was great to go 'back in time' - I'm not sure whether this was actually filmed recently or whether these were clips that were cut from the first season that didn't make it into the actual episodes - either way I really enjoyed it. It was great to see a little backing to the main characters featured. What I did notice was that they only focused on the 'main' characters so that was Rachel, Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mercedes - they didn't really bring anyone into it - I've noticed a few critics pick this up and I would have liked to have known some of the supporting casts background and why they really joined the glee club.

The episode starts with the words 'present day' so we're back in the present - and we're anxiously waiting to see if the glee club has won nationals - which they do! We then flash-forward 3 months and the superintendent has decided to change McKinley High into a school of arts and make Will Schuster the principle because of all his hard work and enthusiasm.

Sam (now jobless) because the football team has been stopped (because its a school of art now) is recruited by Will to lead the new directions as their teacher! So we're all happy about that.

Mercedes also received amazing news that she will be the opening act for Beyonce's world tour. We flash forward five more years and she has her own world tour and is famous.

We then flash forward again - so we're around 2020 now. Sue is Vice President of the US and her and Becky are best friends again - Becky is actually her head of security. Will is still the principle of the school and has 3 children with Emma and both are happy.

Source: PMCTV

Rachel is married to Jessie St. James and we join them on an award night where she is up for a Toni Award - she wins the award and dedicated it to Will. She is also heavily pregnant with Blaine and Kurt's baby (she agreed to be a surrogate to them). Jessie also hopes that once she has given birth - they can start a family of their own.

Kurt and Blaine end up living in New York and going round all the little schools singing songs - I'm sure they did more than that but I can't recall much about their future. As I mentioned above Rachel has a baby for them too.

Artie and Tina end up getting together (finally!) and one of Artie's films gets into a film festival - woo!

finn hudson glee
Source: Uproxx

The show ends where it all began back in the Auditorium where Sue is renaming the Auditorium after Finn Hudson. Then glee members past and present come on stage and sing together and that was the end.

The show ends with a picture of Finn next to the plaque with 'Finn Hudson Auditorium'.

Source: US Magazine

So that's the end of Glee! Did you watch it? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below!



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Tuesday 24 March 2015

TMI Tag: 50 Questions

Hey everyone :)

I love tag posts - depending on what the topic is or what they're about they are always very interesting. I noticed I hadn't done one in a while (I think my last one was the Taylor Swift 1989 Tag) so I thought the TMI Tag: 50 Questions was a great post to do.

tmi tag pic shoutjohn


1. What are you wearing?
I'm wearing a t-shirt, blue chinos and stripey socks.

2. Ever been in love?
Yes, and I still am (3 1/2 years).

3. Ever had a terrible breakup?
Yes, my first relationship was terrible - I won't go into details.

4. How tall are you?
I'm quite small - I'm only 5 foot 5 inches.

5. How much do you weigh?
I weigh 9 stone exactly.

6. Any tattoos?
None - but I do want some.

7. Any piercings?
I used to have my tongue pierced (I've had it done twice) but taken it out and its healed up. I currently have my left ear pierced and I'm in the process of stretching it.

8. OTP?
Currently ... Caroline and Stefan from TVD

9. Favourite show?
Can I choose only one? I have about 10 at the moment - if I had to choose Once Upon a Time.

10. Favourite band?
I really like Kelly Clarkson at the moment as her new album has just been released. I know she isn't a 'band' but I don't care!

11. Something you miss? 
Working with all my school and old friends at the ice cream factory/attraction centre. Was great fun!

12. Favourite Song?
At the moment - Style by Taylor Swift

13. How old are you?
I'm 24 (25 in December)

14. Zodiac sign?
Sagittarius

15. Quality you look for in a partner?
 Someone who cares about you, is interested in you, looks don't bother me that much and thinks about the future.

16. Favourite quote?
“Sacrificing your happiness for the happiness of the one you love, is by far, the truest type of love.”

17. Favourite actor?
I'm loving Elena Gilbert from TVD at the moment. That's Nina Dobrev (I think).

18. Favourite colour?
Blue

19. Loud music or soft?
It depends on what kind of music and the mood I'm in - but it's a catchy tune then I like it loud.

20. Where do you go when you're sad?
Normally the shower so I can think.

21. How long does it take you to shower?
I like long hot showers - so I can be in them from 5-40 minutes :)

22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
It depends on my mood - if I have time then maybe 15 minutes otherwise 5 minutes (which is clothes on, teeth cleaned and out the door).

23. Ever been in a physical fight?
I got into a scrap with a irish man once - he grabbed me by the neck but luckily my friend was there and grabbed him and pulled him off me. Other than that fighting with my brother - does that count?

24. Turn on?
Cuddling (with the right person obviously)

25. Turn off?
Rudeness or cockiness

26. The reason I joined YouTube?
I wanted to reach a variety of people - some people only read my blog, and some people only watch my YouTube so I wanted to reach both audiences and I wanted to have some fun :)

27. Fears?
Spiders and death.

28. Last thing that made you cry?
Caroline's mum (Sherif Forbes) died of cancer in TVD.

29. Last time you said you loved someone?
My boyfriend last night.

30. Meaning behind your YouTube name?
Well I first joined YouTube years ago and set up the name 'mrjohnagnew' because 'johnagnew' was already taken - but it's just my name - plain and simple.

31. Last book you read?
Zoella (or Zoe Sugg)'s Girl Online book - really good and fun to read - more a girly book but I still enjoyed it.

32. The book your currently reading?
I'm currently 3/4 way through Shane Dawson's 'I Hate My Selfie' book - it's really good.

33. Last show you watched?
Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network Channel

34. Last person you talked to?
My mum (about 10 mins ago)

35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
Hmmm (I won't say who the person is) but we have our on and off moments :)

36. Favourite food?
There is a chicken and bacon pasta bake in Tesco for about £3.50 and I love it - buy it all the time.

37. Place you want to visit?
New York or San Francisco

38. Last place you were?
Liverpool

39. Do you have a crush?
I've got my celebrity crushes - but I don't really look at anyone in that way since I'm not single.

40. Last time you kissed someone?
When I said goodbye to my boyfriend before he went to Canada for 6 months.

41. Last time you were insulted?
Can't really remember - I'm sure people say lots of insulting things behind my back though.

42. Favourite flavour of sweet?
I like mint or citrus.

43. What instrument do you play?
I used to play the recorder in school but that was about it. I had some lessons on the piano and guitar but probably forgot all that now.

44. Favourite piece of jewellery?
When I first started making a bit of money - I bought myself a Links of London bracelet from their little shop in Convent Gardens.

45. Last sport you played?
I can't even remember. I did some swimming a few months ago but then stopped.

46. Last song you sang?
Probably 'Style' by Taylor Swift in the car on the way to work this morning.

47. Favorite chat up line?
I have no idea - I don't think I have ever used a chat up line on anyone.

48. Have you ever used it?
Think I answered that above - no I haven't

49. Last time you hung out with anyone?
Last week I visited my friend Katherine in Liverpool.

50. Who should answer these questions next?
Anyone who wants to :)

Answering 50 questions took longer than I thought ...

Thank god that's all done :)

Let me know if you have done this before or if you do - do it - then link me up in the comments below.



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Friday 20 March 2015

Graze Tea Box Review

Hey everyone :)

Every time I talk about Graze boxes I always start the post the same way - it normally goes: "now if you've followed me, you will know I'm a big fan of Graze boxes' - so we're just going to skip that and dive straight in.

When I first started getting Graze boxes - they only did the variety one (which was 4 random snacks) sent to you (obviously you could choose the love, like, bin etc option for these). Then they introduced the porridge (breakfast) items and they're main range got larger and larger.

I stopped getting them for some time because money got a bit tight and I was trying to save - so that meant cutting down on luxury items - you know things like Graze, Netflix and Spotify. I needed the money to eat and buy petrol for my car.

So as I was not visiting their website much (and because I said 'no' to they're newsletter) I didn't know that they had introduced a range coffee box, or a tea box, or a mint box and so I was rather excited when I visited their page one day and saw all these.

I tried to get the coffee box however that was sold out, so I opted for the tea box so I could try that.


Graze Tea Box Review

Graze Tea Box Review

Graze Tea Box Review

The box costs £2.99 (inc delivery) and you get 24 tea bags in the box. As per normal the box fits through your letterbox so you don't need to worry about having to collect it from the post office or anything. 

You can set up recurring deliveries, one offs or can even gift it to someone like normal. I just got the one delivery at the moment as 24 tea bags will last me a good while (I don't drink tea everyday).

The tea contains the finest Kenyan and Assam leaves which have been sourced from around the world, they have then been 'expertly' blended by a tea master for a lovely cup of tea. They have also added a hint of bergamot to the tea which makes it a great cup of tea and noticeable when drinking however it's not too strong or overpowering.

Graze Tea Box Review

Graze Tea Box Review

Graze Tea Box Review

Currently the tea box is sold out because of its popularity - similar to the coffee box - so keep checking if you want to try it :)

Let me know in the comments - if you've tried any of the other new boxes that Graze have - I really want to get the protein box next to see what that is like :)



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Thursday 19 March 2015

OnePiece Clothing Range

Hey everyone :)

I was watching a YouTube video the other day and one of the guys had a hoodie on that I really liked the look off - and the quality of the video was good enough for me to pause and zoom in so I could get the make off the zipper - I could be a private investigator lol).

So I visited the website and fell in love with their clothes. They are called OnePiece - most of the clothing is Jumpsuits (or onsies as you might know them) and they also have a small range of hoodies, t-shirts, vest and other items.

You can check out the full range HERE.

I put together a little wishlist of my favorite items - they also had a ton of sale items - so I might actually end up buying from them:

OnePiece

Everyday Zip Hoodie Grey Melange - £59
This was the hoodie I saw on the YouTube video. The reason I love these hoodies as much is because the zipper is on the hood too! I also like that it's a plain grey with a hint of black and not too 'colourful'.

Diamond JumpSuit Snow White - £129
I've been a big fan of these for years - although I only have two as I only wear them around the house. However this is very colourful (compared to the hoodie) and I really like the design and colours on this.

New York Long Hoodie Heavy Grey Melange - £79
This is a very unusual hoodie and you don't really see many of these longer length types around the UK. I think this is more a US thing. That doesn't bother me though. I like the idea of a longer length one and this would probably be part of my first purchases if I buy anything.

Cape Town Tank Top Blue Melange - £29
I never really used to wear vests but I'm starting to fall in love with them. I had a bit of a shopping spree in H&M last year when they had a summer sale during Winter to get rid of their excess summer stock and I went a bit crazy and bought lots of vests. They're comfortable, not too constricting and there are thousands of designs.

Let me know if you have ever heard of OnePiece - as I said it's more of an American company so I don't think it's very well known in the UK - but they're worth checking out!




Images: OnePiece
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Wednesday 18 March 2015

Aussie Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Hey everyone :)

So a couple of months ago I was looking in the mirror and couldn't help but notice that my hair was quite tired and dull looking. I had previously a few months back gotten the idea that my hair was quite thin looking and so I started using the L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Range which did make my hair feel thicker and fuller however I wasn't using anything else and my hair had gotten that bored, dull, tired, you-don't-look-after-me-properly look.

So I had a look around the internet for the answer to 'tired and dull hair' and there were lots of great reviews on the Aussie range and I recall my boyfriend had mentioned it a couple of times before when he was looking for shampoo and conditioner and I remember someone at work talking about it - so I knew it was a well known range.

Aussie Shampoo & Conditioner Review


So I popped down to Tesco (I know shock, shock, horror horror - not Boots) - and found the range there - luckily Tesco has a 2 for £7 deal on so I managed to get the:

> Aussie Miracle Shine Shampoo
> Aussie Miracle Shine Conditioner
> Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Shine Deep Treatment Conditioner
> Aussie Miracle Recharge Shine (Leave In) Spray

Aussie Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Aussie Shampoo & Conditioner Review

I still think paying £14 is a bit crazy for hair products and I know my mum would slap me if she knew I was spending that much on these - but I love spending money and I wanted something to 'fix' my hair.

Now I won't go into detail on the 'how to' wash your hair because let's face it - we're not idiots! I have my hair on a schedule (sad, I know) so I wash my hair with the shampoo and conditioner every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, then on Sunday I use the shampoo and deep treatment conditioner. On Tuesday and Thursday I just rinse my hair - I don't wash it - I'm one of those people who don't wash my hair every time I shower because it does wash away the natural oils in your hair.

The Aussie shine collection contains extracts of Australian ginseng (which is known for boosting energy) and pearl powder (which are known for sparkling, obviously!) and a formula of special ingredients to give your hair the shine you want.

I've been using this for a good month now and I've noticed when I do my hair in the morning and the light is shining on it - that it has a nice shine and that I'm proud of the way it looks - so the product definitely does work. Obviously I'm a guy and I have short to medium length hair so it's not very noticeable - perhaps on a girl with longer hair you would notice more of a change. This is definitely a product I would recommend to anyone looking to give their hair a better shine.

Aussie Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Have you tried any of the Aussie ranges/collections?? Let me know in the comments!



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Tuesday 17 March 2015

Mr Bean Coffee Scrub Review

Hey everyone :)

Mr Bean Coffee Scrub Review

I bought this product last year as I was looking for a good body scrub and I happened to be watching a YouTuber (Joey Graceffa) and he had it in one of his monthly favourites videos and he said it was a really good product and he loved it - so I popped onto their website and bought myself some - it comes in at £13.95 - but depending on where you are in the world - shipping charges will vary - mine was only £2.

Mr Bean Coffee Scrub Review

There are three available to purchase:

- Coconut Coffee Scrub
- Mandarin Coffee Scrub (pictured above)
- Mr Bean Coffee Scrub (MAN)

Mr Bean Coffee Scrub Review

Ingredients include:

- Robusta Coffee Beans
- Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
- Himalayan Pink Rock Salt
- Demerara Sugar
- Organic Cacao
- Vitamin E Oil

So the main attraction to the scrub is that its made of coffee beans - so for those coffee lovers out there - if you love coffee and the smell of coffee then you will love this - you're basically just scrubbing your skin with coffee grounds and you get that wonderful coffee smell (with lots of added benefits).

Mr Bean Coffee Scrub Review

There are many different benefits from each of the ingredients - I will try break them down:

Caffeine (from the coffee beans) - stimulates blood flow
Coconut Oil - hydrates and moisturises your skin
Himalayan Pink Rock Salt & Demarara Sugar - exfoliates the skin and help remove dead cells, blackheads, blemishes etc
Cacao & Vitamin E - both are high in antioxidants which help to protect skin and promote cell repair

When showering - I find it easy to do my hair, get wet and then apply and scrub - it's best to keep the shower hose off you while you do it otherwise most of the scrub washes off quickly before you have time to scrub. I did notice that it the scrub leaves your skin a slight brown shade so afterwards I use a shower gel and body puff just to wash that brown colour off.

I will say that the idea of a coffee scrub attracted me more than the actual benefits - but with all the above benefits and the smell of coffee (and mandarins for me) it's a great combo!

I have included pictures of the scrub on my hand as I didn't want to take pictures of me naked in the shower - which you can view above. If you want any further information or want to the buy the product then you can click HERE to go to the main website for them.

Have you ever tried a coffee-based scrub or something similar? Did you love the smell more than the actual scrub itself? Let me know in the comments below!



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Friday 13 March 2015

ASOS Wishlist

Hey everyone :)

So I will be honest and admit that I have a slight obsession with ASOS. I think it's because they have millions and millions of items and I can look for hours and hours and still not get the end of a category.


ASOS Smart Shirt in Long Sleeve with Block Check - £22.00
I don't know why but I love checked shirts or tartan-inspired shirts - they look cool and they're are so many different colours and designs available. If you were to look in my wardrobe most of my 'going-out' shirts are checked. I have a slight obsession - shh!

New Look Skinny Fit Jeans - £14.99
I used to hate skinny jeans with a passion! But I slowly started coming around after trying on a pair on the off-chance I would like them and I did! I don't make a habit out of wearing them - I prefer some room and don't like clothes clinging to me too tightly but they're good for a night out - only bad thing is that it's a struggle to get your wallet, phone and keys in the pockets when they're so tight.

Converse All Star Ox Plimsolls - £45.00
Nearly every outfit I put together always, always includes converse - I told myself I need to get out of my 'converse-comfort-zone' and try some different trainers but I always find myself coming back to look at them. They're just so comfortable and there are that many colours that they almost go with anything.

ASOS Leather Wallet with Heavy Stitch - £12.00
I really like the 'big stitch' designs on accessories at the moment - especially this wallet. I'm not a fan of leather in particular - but with the white stitch design around the edge sealed the deal for me.

Persol Wayfarer Glasses - £175.00
I wore glasses when I was younger which corrected my vision and I've not needed them since. However I like the look glasses give you and on my last eyesight test they said I didn't need them but I could get them for using the computer (as I get a sore head sometimes) and so I got a pair of RayBans and loved them. So I'm always on the lookout for new glasses to try.

Let me know what you think? Do you think it's a good outfit or a bit too dull? I'm really into my greys, blacks and whites at the moment (as you can probably tell lol).

Hope your having a great Thursday!



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Thursday 12 March 2015

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Hey everyone :)

I'm a big fan of http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/  - I have been for years and most of the presents I buy for family or friends are from this website. For anyone that doesn't know - the website is a place to buy unique, rare, odd, cool gifts that you wouldn't normally find on in High Street stores. Mostly all of the businesses are small and so the point of the website (and why it was started) was so that its easier for us (the shopper) to browse lots of small businesses and search products rather than having to visit 500 small websites individually - it's a great idea and saves so much time and hassle.

For Mother's Day I decided to put together a few gifts I would consider buying my Mum.


1. Mother's Day Mug - £12.75
My mum has a big mug cupboard so I know she'd love another mug (actually she'd probably kill me if I bought her anymore) but this one with the funny quote on the side would be a great addition.

2. Katia Silver & Thread Bracelet - £46.00
Jewellery - the last time I bought my mum a bracelet she told me off for spending so much on her. This bracelet is relatively cheap and looks great. My mum is more a gold jewellery fan than silver but still looks lovely.

3. Mother's Day Chocolate Message - £7.00
Who doesn't loves the odd bit of chocolate now and then and you can customise this with the words you want.

4. Personalised 'Thanks Mum' Print - £28.00
I really like these present ideas - where you can personalise it with your own 'history' - with this particular present you can add in why you want to 'thank' your mum.

5. Monthly Tea Subscription - £32.00
My mum is a big tea drinker - so this present is a great idea. Each month you get different tea to try.

6. Mum's Measure Wine Glass - £22.00
A bit of a comical present (as I think it insinuates) that you're calling your mum an alcoholic (maybe not) - she'd probably still find it funny!

7. Best Mum Handmade Chocolats & Truffle's Box - £12.99
I bought this present for my mum either 2 years ago or last year (my memory is getting worse - old age?!) and she really liked it. You get the words 'best mum' and some truffles in a lovely box.

8. Cake Slice Club - £24.00
Similar to the tea subscription - you can sign your mum up to join the 'cake slice club' which means you get a slice of cake each month to try.

(I just wanted to add - that the prices shown above are just 'starter' prices - the products can be customised so it will reduce or increase the price depending on what you choose)

Have any of you ever tried www.notonthehighstreet.com for presents before? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

If you want to look at anymore of the Mother's Day range then you can click HERE.



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Wednesday 11 March 2015

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

Hey everyone :)

A few months ago I was annoyed with my skincare routine as I was breaking out constantly and so I decided to switch moisturisers and try something different to see if that made a change.

(I later on discovered that it was my diet that was the main culprit but that's not the topic for this post lol)

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

I was internet-window shopping when I came across: Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' - the moisturiser promised to do lots of things and I was intrigued so I spent the £70 (yes, shhh - it's quite expensive) to see if it made a difference to my skin.

Now I bought the moisturiser nearly two months ago so I think a reasonable amount of time has passed now that I can give judgement. Up until now I have been very happy with all the products I have used and shared with you on my blog. That is about to change. - now I'm not unhappy with the product so please don't misunderstand that part - I just don't think it worked for me.

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

The story goes - that for the last 20 years Charlotte mixed her 'magic cream' backstage and used it on models and her regular clients and they loved it and kept coming back for more - and now she has decided to box it up and share it with the rest of the world.

The 'magic cream' contains:

BioNympth Peptide Complex - which is an anti-age ingredient that does a number of different things like increasing collagen and fibre levels, fighting free radicals and stimulating cell energy.

SPF15 - Charlotte is always telling her clients to use products with anti-UVB (sun rays that burn us) and anit-UVA (sun rays that age us) filters to ensure you are protected from the Sun's harmful rays. The cream has a SPF15 and a anti-UVA filter.

Sodium Hyaluronate - which forms a film of hyaluronic acid over the skin to seal in the moisture.

Damask Rose Water & Aloe Vera - stimulate skin regeneration

Vitamin A - helps improve skin firmness and smoothness.

Vitamin E - rose hip oil, camellia oil and Vitamin E together transform a grey complexion into a hydrated mirror-shining skin.

Vitamin C - promotes collagen activity.

Extracts of Frangipani - form a soothing, purifying and hydrating comfort blanket on the skin.


Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

Charlotte Tilbury's 'Charlotte's Magic Cream' Review

I used the product for a full month and applied in the morning when I got up and before I headed to work. I used the product sparingly and didn't over-apply. I found the product to slightly burn when applied and tingle. I've noticed this when I use certain face masks with hyaluronic acid - so I assume this was the acid making my face feel like it was burning slightly. I do have very sensitive skin so I put that issue down to the hyaluronic acid in the product.

I also found (funnily enough) that even though the 'magic cream' is supposed to promote and support moisture in the skin - I felt like it was actually drying my skin out. Obviously I'm not a professional so these are just my observations but I would notice during the day my face would feel dry and tight and flaky. I have never had dry/flaky skin so I know its not an underlying issue.

I know that each person's skin is different and some products might work for some people and not for others. It just goes to show that expensive products don't always work no matter how much you pay.

If you want any further information then you can check out Charlotte's website HERE.

Have you tried this product? Would you pay £70 for moisturiser? Let me know in the comments!



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Friday 6 March 2015

The Versatile Blog Award

Hey everyone :)



So I got nominated for another award - which is so exciting! When I first started blogging I had no idea about all of the award you could possibly get. From the big to the small :)

I have been award 'The Versatile Blog Award' by Books Bones and Recipes. Thank you for the award - it was really nice of you to consider and nominate me!

The aim of this award is for bloggers to connect with other bloggers and so you can learn a little bit about them.

The Rules:

1. Thank the person that nominated you.

2. Share 7 interesting facts about you.

3. Nominate/Award 10 other bloggers to connect with.

7 Interesting Facts

1. I'm originally from Scotland but I moved to England more than 3 years ago.
2. I've been blogging since June last year and I am overwhelmed at the welcome I got to the blogging community! It's been amazing so far!
3. I love chicken - chicken is the best food in the world!
4. I live in shared accommodation with 6 other people in a 3 floored house hopefully by Christmas this year I'll have my own house.
5. I love Starbucks.
6. When I worked in a Polish warehouse I started learning Polish - so I can speak some Polish.
7. My music taste is out of control!

I'm now supposed to nominate 10 people but I know lots of people have gotten this award already - so I will just nominate everyone or anyone who reads the post :)



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Thursday 5 March 2015

An Interview with a Snowboarder

Hey everyone :)


I had never really heard or thought about snowboarding until I moved to England a few years ago. I thought it was one of those fancy Olympic sports that only rich athletes could afford to do.

It wasn't until I started making friends in the area and finding a friend in a snowboarder that my eyes were really opened. It was very exciting to tell me friends I 'knew a snowboarder' - who really ever gets to say that to anyone?! (Please bare in mind I'm from a small town in Scotland in the middle of nowhere so that's why I think that's a cool sentence to say)

I managed to persuade him to answer some questions which I found on various websites across the internet (thanks internet) and some that I made up myself!

Dave (the snowboarder I'm questioning) is currently in Canada living on the side of a mountain teaching various people how to ski and snowboard - so for a moment - let's all be very jealous!

Question 1: How long have you been riding and what got you into it?
Nearly 6 years. I've always wanted to do it since I was young and never got the chance. In 2009 I went to Finland and had a Ski lesson which was okay but I still wanted to snowboard. The dry-ski slope in Hemel Hempstead (where he lives) was being turned into an indoor real slope and that motivated me to start to learn to snowboard.

Question 2: Out of all the snowboards you own - which you prefer and why?
I have at the moment 7 snowboards. I don't have a favourite one - I have two! Number 1 is my Salomon Villain snowboard. I tried this on a Spring Break Snowboard test and absolutely loved it. It could hold up on the mountain, go fast and was still really fun to play about on. Number 2 is my Ride DH. I love this board as I did my Level 2 Instructor training and exam on it and passed. I did 3 months on it and the thing is indestructible and is still going strong now. It's extremely fast and can do just about anything and handle anything I throw at it.



Question 3: You are a dual-qualified instructor but which do you prefer to teach: snowboarding or skiing?
I prefer teaching snowboarding. I can teach skiing but I don't have the same passion for this as I do for snowboarding however I do enjoy teaching both.

Question 4: What has snowboarding taught you?
Very touch question. I feel it has taught me to go out and enjoy the outdoors and mountains by yourself and with friends. Also it has taught me to appreciate what is out there and make the most of it. I feel free and have a clear mind when snowboarding and there is only a few things apart from snowboarding that make me feel that way.



Question 5: Have you ever met any famous snowboarders or skiers?
Yes I've met a couple. I have met Stevie Bell, Aaron Bittner, Marc Frank Montoya and Marko Grilc. They were at a local Bulgarian bar when I was in Bansko.

Question 6: Where has your favourite place been to shred? (holiday, snowdome, season etc)
Favourite place so far is definitely Canada. Even though we are a bit low on snow it doesn't compare to anywhere in Europe. The resorts are so much nicer, staff are friendlier and the terrain available is incredible.



Question 7: What gear are you using currently? (board, bindings etc)
Currently I am using 2 snowboards as I bought one out in Canada along with a new pair of bindings. Setup 1 is my Solomon Villain with some Salomon District Bindings on. This is my playful freestyle board which is extremely fun, however I can use it all over the mountain. Setup 2 is my all mountain setup which is new this season and is a Ride Helix 153cm with Burton Malavita Bindings in Duck Camo. I can use this all over but it is better for some off piste, fresh powder, going fast and carving.

Question 8: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
As I love snowboarding - I want to try and pass on that love and passion onto other people by helping them get into the sport to see how much fun it can be especially with friends. Also it's great exercise and you get to work outdoors and get paid to do something you love.



Question 9: What is your advice to anyone who hasn't tried snowboarding?
DO IT! If in the UK go to your local dome or nearest resort and get booked onto a lesson - you won't regret it. Snowboarding ruined my life! Let it ruin yours too! In short - once you are hooked you are in for life!

Question 10: (Let's finish off with a quickfire question round)
- Frontside or Backside - Backside
- Park or Pow - Pow
- Baggy or Tight - Baggy
- Surf or Skate - Skate
- Boarding or Skiing - Boarding
- Sun or Snow - Snow


I hope you enjoyed the post! This is my first 'interview with ...' style posts and I really enjoyed it - even if it was with someone I've known for ages! :)

If you have any other questions I've missed then please do leave a comment and I'll pester him further!


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