First Youtube Video

Hello

So I never thought I would ever end up writing this post, however I have plucked up the coverage and I have uploaded my first YouTube Video!!
I must admit its not fab but for my first attempt I am pleased of it, so yeah it would mean the world if you checked out my video and also subscribed.


 So here goes - https://youtu.be/y3M9hvjYYi0
So thank you for advance and if any of you have any tips for YouTube/making videos better please please let me know.

Lots of love,
Nicole xxx

What I love about Christmas

So when I was younger Christmas always used to be fab for the presents, but now I have got older what I love about Christmas is completely different. So yeah I thought I would put a list of what I love about Christmas.

1.       1.The food… oh wow it’s the best meal of the year... you eat so much and you don’t care that by the end of the day you have consume six trillion calories.

2.     2.  Family- I love getting together with everyone. Everyone is always so busy now days so it’s nice to have a day where you can just spend time with each other.

3.       3. People’s reactions- when you give them a gift they love (or hate).

4.     4.  Decorations- making my house into a winter wonderland is what I love most!! It makes the house look really bare once the decorations are no longer around.

So that I what I love about Christmas..

What do you like about Christmas? Do you agree with what I have written?

Lots of love,

Nicole 

Hangover Cures

Hello!!

So I very different post from me today, I thought though as we have the festive season just around the corner and a lot more people go out and drink, that I would do a post of my Hangover cures and what works for me.

 A big glass of water- I always have a glass by my bed before I go to sleep so when I wake up and can drink that and feel a little better.

·         Fresh air- I love going for a walk or even just sitting outside, I feel that fresh air just automatically makes me feel so much better.

·         Some junk food- It wouldn’t be a hangover cure post if this wasn’t mentioned, just something greasy I love to eat ie full English. Perrrfect.

·         Just having a shower- Once I have washed my hair and all my half taken off makeup has been removed, I literally feel so so much better.

What are you hangover cures? Do you agree with mine?

Lots of love,

Nicole 

La Igunas restaurant review

My favourite thing to do in my spare time is eating out, so this post today is a foodie post. So I got  email about 3 courses for £24.95 so I could not turn that down.  La Igunas is a Latin American food chain and so I visited the one in Leeds .  I love trying out new places and so this is definitely one for me to try out.

I had Nachos to start, they were delicious!

I chose a vegetarian option which was Veggie Chimichanga and it so beautiful. A crispy flour tortilla parcel stuffed with roast butternut squash, roasted red peppers, spinach & cheese topped with tomato salsa, soured cream & chunky guacamole. Served on a bed of spring onion rice & refried black beans. 

I had Tembleque for dessert which is a creamy set coconut pudding. Massive coconut lover over here!!

Bry went with the cheesecake which looked lovely also. 

I couldn't recommend this restaurant enough, the food and service was lovely! And ill definitely be trying other ones around the country. 

Have you ever visited La Igunas? Where would you recommend to eat?

Lots of love,
Nicole xxx

Leeds Christmas Markets

I say this every year, but I have no idea where this year has gone? We are back round to the festive season so quickly, and this will be my first Christmas in my own house which I cannot wait for! Look out for some post of my house being decorated a bit OTT!. Anyway I had a trip to Leeds Christmas Markets so why not blog this.

Ah these were delicious, chocolate coated strawberries/marshmallows/bananas etc

I went with white chocolate coated strawberries and marshmallows. It was so nice.

Gorgeous hut selling all sorts including big gingerbread men etc. 

I feel like all I did at the markets was eat a ton of food, so worth all the calories. 

Spicy German sausage.

The entrance into the bar. 

 I would definitely recommend going to the German Markets in Leeds as it has such a great atmosphere about it all. One thing I would say is its quite pricey, a pint of beer is £4.50 and a Amaretto Hot Chocolate is £4.50 also, so worth the money though. 





Hope you enjoyed this post, it has definitely got me into a Christmasy mood now, I am going to Manchester Christmas Markets in a couple of weeks so watch this space. 
Do you like Christmas Markets? Have you been to Leeds Markets?

Lots of love,
Nicole xx

Christmas wish list... A girl can always wish

So many luxury items but you look at the price tag you think, nah no way am I paying that. Even asking Santa for these items are cheeky, so putting them on a wishlist makes me feeling a little bit better.

The classic Mulberry Handbag, ah I just think this item would never date and it would just go with every item being the colour it is.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar, this bronzer and highlighter are beautiful and the packaging just looks classic. Maybe this will be a new year treat for myself.

Aspinal card case, now this is a product that looks so beautiful and so handy also. When you are taking out a tiny bag, you don't want a big bulky purse in there.

A beautiful Pandora Necklace, that is one thing I do need is a nice necklace that will literally go with any outfit.. I currently feel like my accessorising is very poor at the moment, however this necklace would change that. 

This Ted Baker Jacket, I tried this on when I was down in Kent and its so beautiful and flattering. Just sadly when I looked at the price tag I didn't buy it. 

Christian Louboutin Lipstick - I have always thought no way are these worth the price tag, but it wasn't until I was watching Lydia Millen on youtube and she was trying these out I thought, wow they look fab.

Do you like the products I have mentioned? What is on your Christmas Wishlist?

Lots of love,
Nicole xxx

Moving out.. 1 year on

Wow, I can't believe it has been a year! I must say I have never looked back, It has definitely been the best decision for me to buy my own house. You can read about how I bought my house here. 
So I guess we haven't been living in the house a year yet, but we have had the keys over a year now.

The best things about having your own place

• You can decorate however you want, whether its bright pink walls or big fluffy cushions everywhere, its totally up to you! That is now definitely my favourite shopping is for home ware, its so exciting (I can tell i'm growing up). 
• If you wanna bake/cook you can because you will have no one to moan that their is a mess (well apart from Jack in my case)
• And there is so many more reasons

I few things that I have learnt from having my own place. 

• You are conscious of how much gas and electricity you are using, (no leaving random lights on anymore)
• That Click and Collect is so good, if you don't like going to do food shopping. Order everything online then go and pick it up, perfect.
• You learn to cook different meals rather than just spag bol or beans on toast.. I would say now I can cook a few different meals.
• You become precious about you house, like I don't want to have a party as I worry about my house becoming a mess or things being broken.  

So yeah that is me 1 year on from moving out. I can now say I feel like our house is slowly feeling like a home, we are adding our own personal touches to make it feel that way.

Hopefully you found this some what interesting.

Lots of love,

Nicole 

Tips to try Motivate Yourself

Hello 

So recently I have felt so De motivated with a few things, slimming world, exercise and even down to my blog. I don't know whether its the dark mornings and the dark evenings that De motivate you, anyway I thought I would put together ways to try re motivate yourself.

So at Slimming World at the moment I have maintain the weight I'm at for 8 weeks now, and I'm feeling like I am never going to lose weight and that has been my mind frame for ages. Also I am desperate to get back into running, but on a cold dark night, its not something I really want to be doing. Lastly I have pushed my blog to the side big time, as I have had anything I have felt passionate about to write, so therefore just taken a big side step from it. Hopefully this post will also motivate me!!

1.Remember why you started it- whether its losing weight, doing a degree, writing a blog. You were obviously passionate and had a reason to start that journey so think of them reasons to help you get back on track.

2. Look at how far you have come already. So I have so far lost a stone on Slimming World and that is massive achievement for me already, so I need to remember I have already come a long way just to give up.

3. If the goal you have set is to far to reach, adjust it so I it makes it more achievable.

4. Mix things up. ie bored to going to the gym, go swimming or find a team sport just to make exercising a bit more interesting. Bored to slimming World, find new recipes to change things a bit. This is what I am going to do with my blog, not just mainly beauty posts but a lot more lifestyle posts.

Anyway I hope you find this useful, I will certainly be using what I have written to motivate myself.

What are you tips for motivating yourself? Do you like what I have written?

Lots of love,

Nicole 

What I love about Autumn

Hello!!

So I thought I would put together my favourite things about Autumn as I would definitely say its my favourite month!!! I love looking at the changing of colours of the trees and when the leaves are all on the floor. 

 

Walks 

I love nothing more than long walks through the trees, wearing boots just kicking the leaves around, then getting back home and having a bowl of soup or a hot drink to warm you up.

Nights in 

I must say, i have always been the kinda person that would rather have a takeaway and chill out at home, although the odd night out is always good! But with it getting colder and darker, its such a better excuse to say at home and chill out. Warm hot chocolate and the fire one.. perfect.

Cosy clothes and pj's

So last week I went to Primark to stock up on nice warm pj's, and as soon as i get home from work now, they are the first things I go to put on. In Autumn/winter I love wearing chunky scarfs and boots (still yet to buy some new winter boots), you can't wear them in Summer.

Dark Colours

I always prefer wearing dark nail polish but in summer I try not to! So in A/W its such a good excuse, dark purples/greys/blacks. Its the same with lipstick, I love a dark purple lip, I think it looks really elegant.

I'm a Celeb

Now I saw my first advert of this, this morning and it has got me so excited!! I just find with it being on every night, there is always same kind of telly to watch in the evening!! And it is so entertaining!

Christmas 

It wouldn't be my favourite thing about Autumn if Christmas didn't make it onto the list. I love just going into shops and seeing all the fairy lights and Xmas baubles. Think I may go over the top with the Christmas decorations this year with it being my first Xmas in this house but ah well!! So look out in the future a post of me turning my houses in a winter wonderland!!

What do you like about Autumn/Winter? Do you like what my favourite things are?

Lots of love,

Nicole xx

  

Bali!!

Hello!!

So I have been back around a week after my trip from Bali and I have LOOOVE it!!! You see all the pictures of Bali and you think ahhh it surely can’t look like that in real life. But it certainly did. I would have loved to stay longer, but we made the most of the time we had.

We stayed in Nusa Dua in the Grand Aston Hotel which is on a big complex and on the beach. When we arrived we were welcomed to cold flannels and a cocktail style drink which is a lovely touch. The staffs were so lovely and couldn’t do enough for you.  The choice of breakfast on a morning was incredible, could never decide what I wanted to eat.

One the first proper day we had, we booked a tour through our hotel. We had a day  tour of Ubud, so a driver turned up and took us to the best bits of Ubud and the driver just waits for you while you look around the places. So first we went to see where gold and silver is made and there is also a shop there where you can purchase items.

Entrance into where they make gold and silver

Next we went to a coffee farm where we wondered under the trees and saw where coffee is actually made. Then we had the chance tried a variety of tea’s and coffees and the most amazing chocolate, we then had to buy some to take home with us.

The list of coffee and teas we tried

Monkey Forest- I had read reviews about this place and I am so glad I visited it!! I really don't like zoo's or anything like that so I was concerned it might be like that but no. The monkeys are literally in a massive forest just running about, jumping on people. At the forest you could buy banana's to feed the monkey's but I decided not to as I was afraid of them jumping on me (i'm a wimp!)

How cute are these baby monkeys!!

Markets- I am so gutted I didn't get a picture of the markets as they were so impressive! There is so much choice of lovely unique bits. I wish I had room in my suitcase for all the lovely bits and bobs.  I bought a few scarfs which had lovely patterns on. The only down fall is walking through busy markets when it is SO warm. But it was so worth it!

Rice Fields- Now this is must to do in Bali as they are so impressive to see. You can walk through the fields or if not just a chance to appreciate the beauty of it! So amazing, it’s actually hard to explain which just a picture to show.

Temple – So when we arrived at the temple, you give a donation of any amount you want, then you go put on a sarong. You just wonder through at your own pace, and it is so lovely all the detail.

Kuta Shopping centre- So we had a day trip into Kuta which was put on by our hotel which was a nice touch. And after visiting Kuta, I am glad we stayed out of Kuta as it is so manic. But it is definitely worth a trip to visit, plenty of bars and places to eat. The shopping mall is huge, but it is so bizarre you have a shop selling real stuff, then directly opposite there is a shop selling fake gear.

So after all my rambling, that is my trip to Bali. I must say its a beautiful place and great if you want to see lots of sights or if you just want to relax. Definitely a place worth a visit.

Have you ever visited Bali? Would you like to go? Where would you recommend visiting?

Lots of love,

Nicole

Top Tips for Surviving a Long Haul flight

Hello!!!

Always dreaming of first class flights but not willing to want to pay the mega money for it. So I thought I would put my tips together on how I manage to 'survive in economy'. 

We all want to fly like this but reality its not.

Reality its like this. 

So Long Haul flights are never pleasurable unless you are flying first class, so I thought I would put my tips together on how I personally 'survive a long haul flight'.

1. Get Comfortable, think are them jeans really gonna be nice wearing 8 hours into your flight, erm I personally don't think so... I usually wear leggings or gym leggings, a comfy bra (I use a sport bra), light weight cardy as it does get freeezing on the plane and some shoes I can wear socks with so I can take my shoes off without my toes being on display.

2. Sleeping on a flight makes time go so much quicker than just watching a film. Buy a neck pillow, they are literally a god send. Wear a eyemask, as planes don't turn off there lights until its 'night time', which ain't ideal when you are tired at that current moment. On planes now you can make your own playlist, or you can make a playlist on your phone and add some smoothing music to help you sleep.

3. Buy/bring a bottle of water with you on the plane, just to keep your liquids up. I know its hard to resist when their is free alcohol being offered around, but alcohol and flying don't mix too well together.

4. Pack hand sanitiser, it just a must with flying as there is so many bugs and germs flying around the plane, preventing any is a must. 

5.Pack a range of skin care products if you want, or just pack a moistoriser as your skin will feel like its been dried out in the desert. So just lather some moistoriser into your skin and youll feel a bit more human like.

So they are my top tips for a long haul or short haul. How do you cope on a long Haul flight, do you find any of these tips useful?!

Ps I'm heading to Australia and Bali on Monday so look out for them travel posts.

Lots of love,

Nicole xxx

Skin Care Routine which is easy to stick to?!

Hello!!

So I have finally found a night time skin care routine that is easy to stick to and still makes my skin feel all fresh. When it gets to the night the last thing I want to be doing is faffing around with all these different products when all I want to do in get into bed and watch a TV series (Currently obsessing over Desperate Housewives).

I find doing a cleanser or washing your face in the shower is less effort, as it literally takes two seconds and half your makeup has been removed. Then ill remove the rest of my makeup using a cleansing wipe or micellar water (whichever is on offer at the time). Then not every night but every few nights Ill exfoliate my skin just to get rid of the dirty dry skin, making my skin feel like a baby bottom.

Then I will use my holy grail moisturizer, my Liz Earle which is good for dry skin and makes my skin feeling so hydrated.

 I never use to use eye cream but I remember watching YouTube videos and saying how it is good to prevent wrinkles around your eyes. SO this one is really intense and makes my eye area all nourish.

Then lip balm, who can really sleep without moisturized lips. This is fab.

So yeah you can see how I have made my skin care routine so easy and simple that I don’t mind doing it every night without it feeling like it a chore. 

Lots of love,

Nicole xx

My Experience with Roaccutane

Hello!!

So this afternoon I have just spent looking at old pictures of me thinking wow, my skin was shocking then. Which gave me inspiration to write this post about my experience with Roccacutane. There is very few pictures of myself when my skin was bad as I had no confidence to take any pictures. 

I have started taking a lot more care into my skin care now- which I am going to do a post on in the near future.

Back when I was in my mid teens, my skin wasn't terrible however I had the worst break outs and it really got my confidence down. I had the oiliest skin which didn't help with trying to wear foundation as I would layer it on, praying that it would last the full school day. I was eating well and exercising frequently so I had no idea why my skin was so bad. I had tried everything, antibiotics, going on the pill just to try balance my hormones. Last resort was to refer me to the dermatologist. 

After we talked through everything, side effects, things to be cautious of, then I was given my first lot of medication. 

Skin Effects
I was constantly tired, I would go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 7am. After school I would have a two hour nap and still be shattered. I was too tired to do anything on a night, not fun what so ever specially when the age I was at, everyone was going out. 
I had the driest skin, lathered on moisturiser but nothing seem to work. 
Vaseline was my best friend, I went through pots of it. 
Whatever you do- do not get anything waxed when you are on the medication, I found out the hard way when I got my eyebrows waxed. I was in agony- as my skin was so so sensitive, it just took a layer of skin off. 

Does it work?

Yeah it does, but it comes with awful side effects. I still now have such dry skin not nearly as bad when I was on the medication but still bad now. Also I have incredibly sensitive skin, for example I can't spray perfume on my chest area as I come out in a rash. 

I must say I am incredibly pleased with the results, however three years on I am still have bad breakouts which is no fun as I went on a medication  to prevent any breakouts in future life. 

I would definitely do your research before going onto the medication as some side effects are severe i.e. low moods. Every time I went back to the dermatologist, I had to fill out a questionnaire about how happy I am feeling- if you ever experience any low moods speak to your doctor as soon as possible!!

So thats my experience with Roaccutane, it definitely isn't for everyone, I hope its helped with telling you about it all. 

Lots of love,
Nicole


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