A Little Catch up and Favourite items

I feel like this post has been a long time coming, like I have been such a bad blogger posting once a month if lucky (sorry) however I thought I would do a little catch up on my little busy life. 

Now we are talking the end of July, which does feel years ago. But I went to York Races where Jess Glynne was performing. And sadly, the weather wasn’t great.  It poured down like no tomorrow. Luckily, we found somewhere to sit indoors, however for her performance we were outside. We bought ponchos for a £1, which kept us kind of dry. However, I was wearing a white dress and I slipped over in the mud. Ahhhh the joys of British weather hey!

Only a couple of months ago now, we had V Fest which I did a post on, which you can read here And that was the best weekend ever, on an alcohol detox now! Then last week I went for dinner at Turtle Bay, and sadly I can’t say I was very impressed. It was very reasonably priced; however, the food was very average! However, we didn’t try the cocktails, but they looked incredible... so I will return for cocktails one time! Also I had some friends round the other night for a pizza night which was lovely. I was just nice to be in a comfies just eating lots of pizza.

And the littlest thing please me in life, all I can say is ASOS a lister! I love it, I redeemed my £10 voucher the other day, which meant I only had to pay £15 for a new pair of jeans, bargain! So now ASOS is my only go to shop now!

So here are my Current Favourites

Shooter- You can read my post about what I have been loving on Netflix here I am actually addicted to this TV show, its only coming out weekly, and its killing me but I am so engrossed with it. So, I recommend this to anyone who hasn’t watched it!

Miss Gorgeous makeup applicator- Ah this makeup applicator has been amazing! So useful for carrying around in your hand bag and with a mirror you can fix your makeup so easily. And with this protection cover, you don't have to worry about any germs sticking to it!

Swimming- So i recently did the Great North Swim ( Well back in June I did). And I have kept swimming since then, I just find its a place where I can completely switch off and just relax so that is definitely a current favourite of mine. 


Oh and last but not least, I have started a new job, which I have been focusing a lot hence the lack of blog posts. So yeah that is a catch up from over the past months, which has been keeping me very busy!!

Anyway, how are all you guys doing? As excited for Christmas as I am?

Lots of love,
Nicole xx 

Maybelline 24 hour Colour Stay

Lipsticks, the bain of my life finding a product that sticks around all day, without constant reapplying. To find the perfect lip product, it takes trying so many and wasting so much money.  I have found a few products in the past that have lasted all day, and they are lip stain, which were a task to remove at the end of the day. 

So, I always find it very optimistic when brands say ‘24hr’ wear, it’s like yeah right like that will happened. And I guess they can say that, as who wears makeup for 24 hours?! I have always been a big fan of the Maybelline Colour stay, as at work, I am eating/ drinking throughout the day and, I go to the gym, where my makeup is put under the test (I know you shouldn’t wear makeup for the gym). So my lip products are always under strain.

When I came across the Maybelline 24 colour stay lip product, I believe it is the only lip product that I have ever repurchase (which says something, how much I loved and how much I used the product). I repurchased ‘into the nude shade’, as it I wore it every day as the shade was beautiful. Such easy wearing. I also picked up '240 Plum Seduction' shade, as I wanted a lip product with a little more colour in it, for any time I wanted a different look.

Just a little heads up, wait for the colour to dry on your lips, and your lips will go very tacky. Then apply the conditioning coat, and then it’s done. It feels so lovely and light on the lips. And I have had many compliments about the nude shade before, which is why I wanted to purchase an assorted colour.

So I wear it all day, for over 8 hours and it is still stuck to my lips like glue. Which is what I want from a lip product, low maintence that keeps it colour all day.  Also a little heads up, these retail for around £9, however usually they are offer, so I always stock up then!

What is your favourite lip products? Have you tried these before?

Lots of love,

Nicole xx

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Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

 Apologies to anyone that's on a diet/healthy eating while reading this! I was doing so well eating well through the week, then it gets to the weekend and bam I struggle big time! 

Recipe

150g Butter

150 g Caster Sugar

3 Eggs

1tsp Vanilla

175g Self Raising Flour

25g Cocoa powder

To be fair, it is a pretty basic recipe to follow. So, cream the butter and the sugar together. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Then add the flour and cocoa powder and mix together. And bob your uncle. It’s that simple. Then obviously fill your cupcakes cases- it should fill 12 cases. Then bake at 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes (mine took 20 minutes).

Icing

So, this is the Hummingbird Chocolate icing- literally has been my all-time favourite icing ever! You can buy their recipe book here, which has lots of other amazing flavours of icing! I have always been an icing girl, weather its fondant or butter cream. So, topping these cupcakes with this icing made it a chocolate heaven!

Recipe

300g Icing Sugar

100g Butter

40g Cocoa Powder

40 ml Whole Milk ( I used semi skimmed and it still worked fine)

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa Powder together until they all come together ( this takes a little bit of time but eventually is does come together). Slowly add the milk to the mixture. Once all the ingredients are together, turn the mixer on high until the frosting is light and fluffy.

And there you go, lovely chocolate cupcakes with the most amazing icing!

Do you like baking? What is yours favourite recipe?

Lots of love,

Nicole x 


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Blogging a year on

So I know it has been over a year, but last year I didn’t post anything for 3 months, so I don’t count that as my year. I just feel like it has only just been a year hence this post. I just cant believe how much my blog has changed. 

Investing money into my blog

I have changed my layout twice, and I am so happy with my layout now so I seriously recommend Kotryna Bass. She even helps with sorting everything for you, no task was too big for her! I bought my own domain, which made me take my blog a little more seriously as I had actually invested money into it. And I also invested in a camera to try make my blog photography a little better.   Also I have found what I love writing about, and what I feel passionately about, I love writing travel posts, which will never been too often as I can't afford to go often, but when I do its my favourite thing to write about. I also do still love writing beauty posts, but also adding Lifestyle content to the 

mix.

Setting up a Youtube Channel

I also set up a Youtube channel, which I will get back into eventually, you can see my channel here. 

Blogging Break

However this year hasn’t been all plain sailing, I recently had a blogging break which you can read the post here  I did that as I found blogging wasn’t ‘fun’ anymore as I was putting too much pressure on myself to try get a post up on time, however I have learnt a lot since then.

Social medias

I set up a new Instagram just for my blog, however I have stopped looking at how many followers I have, as I was always gaining one and losing two, and I’m much happier with my Instagram now. You can follow me here. My Instagram has no theme, which I kinda like, as I can just post whatever I want whether it suits it or not. 

Also with twitter, this is now my favourite social media to promote my blog. I try and take part in as many as twitter chats as I can, as there is so many lovely, genuine interesting bloggers out there, so I love chatting to them!

So I thought I would put some picture together to show how much my blog has come on, and looking back its made me realise how far I have come on my blog. So here is too another year. I have learnt so much through blogging, and it really is the best hobby!

Lots of love,
Nicole xx


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Loreal Colourista Review

So I don't know why, whenever I go to any festivals, I just love adding wacky colours to my hair. Like 4 years ago I went bright pink, and it took around 6 weeks to properly come out, which sadly isn't appropriate now I'm at work. Which when I saw Loreal range, and and how it washes out in 5-10 shampoos, I was like hell yeah. So I chose a light blue for a change so here is my thoughts.
Sadly in this picture, the packaging doesn't look great, as my bottle leaked and the packaging just went soggy. 

So I am writing this, as I currently have green hair and it won’t come out. All fun and games when you’re at a festival however being back at work now it really isn’t suitable.  Yeah, I tried out the Loreal Colourista in blue, and on the box it just looked incredible which is why I thought yeah let’s give it a go, as I have gone pink in the past and I loved it! 

Please excuse my Minnie Mouse dressing gown 

So I will now tell you exactly why this product did not work for me. So, I have blonde hair, and it said if it’s a darker blonde it won’t show. I only bought one box, however one box wasn’t enough so we did half a head to find out we have no more product left. No good. A heads up if you going to use this product and have long hair, you will need two boxes! I left it on for 15 minutes as it for a more of a subtle colour which is what I wanted. Followed all the instructions, and you can see from the picture that the top layer has a quite nice blue colour through it, and I’m sure if my full head was covered it would be nicer. 

However, after one more wash it started to turn green. And I must say, green is a much more noticeable colour than baby blue. The picture below, doesnt do the green justice. From the front it is very green! So, on my way home tonight, I am picking up some DIY products to try get this colour out. If my DIY products work, that can always be a separate post.

So please excuse my badly straighten hair, but you can see how my hair has turned green. 

I don't think personally this picture does it justice of how green my hair is, two days after the application, it was like grass green (the only way I could describe the colour of it). 
Update- The DIY products did managed to fade the product massively! And I have constantly been washing my hair, and now I feel like the product is starting to come out. 

Have you ever tried this product before? What were your thoughts?

Lots of love,

Nicole xx

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Why I decided not to go to university

Hello

So today I thought I would write a post about why I decided not to go to university. And what I am doing now.  Before I start, I think if you want to go to Uni go for it!! I have nothing against anyone going; I just thought I would put together reasons why I didn’t want to go.

Image not mine Source

I have never been one to want to sit in a class room, like PE and food tech were my favourite subjects as it wasn’t like a usual lesson. I must admit also, I am far from clever, like I did okay in my GCSE, and very very average in my A Levels, that even if I want to go to Uni, with the grades I got, it wouldn’t have been a university I wanted to go to. I just had a bad two years with A Levels, like it put me off anymore studying, sounds stupid but true. I know some people love studying, which is good for them. But I knew when I got my first Saturday job, that I just preferred working. I just found I enjoyed working than school. Which I think was my first sign. Now I work full time and love it!! And because of that is how I managed to buy my first home, which you can read about my post here. 

So onto my School, the school I went to is very university orientated to even the extent that when I said I wasn’t going, a teacher said “well what are you going to do then” which isn’t very supportive specially if you aren’t going to Uni and want help with your options. My favourite teacher ever literally helped me so much with all my options, with jobs, apprenticeships, management schemes and there are literally so many options out there to progress into amazing careers with good prospects. And there really is some amazing opportunity and careers for someone who doesn’t want to go to Uni. There is so many website and everything to help you find exactly what you want to do.

I always look up to my mum, and she never went to university. I just think wow she has done amazing and had so many different careers, which also gave me, a reason to think I’m not a failure for not going to university. She always said for me to carry on education until I was 18, just to get some education under my belt which I did.  I use to look forward to my Saturday job working as I felt like that was a day off, so the thought of doing three more years of education- I couldn’t manage it.

Finally, there was no subject that I thought yeah I could study this for 3 years, and when it came to applying for University, I had no clue what I wanted to do as a career. So personally to me, it was a very expensive option for someone that had no idea what to do.

 So yeah they are my reason why I decided not to go to university. If you want to go to university do it, you will probably have an amazing time. If you are unsure what to do, google/speak to people about what options are out there.

I just think now days that most people assume going to university is the norm, even when they don’t need to go for their dream job. I think before people jump straight into University, they should research into their dream job and if a degree is necessarily. Which is why I put together reasons why I decided not to go, just in case anyone is in the situation where they are indecisive. Also, I might in the future suddenly decide that I want to go to Uni, which I could do a part time course, so there is plenty of options out there. 

Lots of Love,

Nicole xx

My Time at V fest

I can’t quite come to terms that V fest is over. Like seriously I have festival blues, it was honestly the funniest weekend I have had in a long time. I will admit it, we did stay in a hotel so didn’t have the proper festival experience, however I still went for the full weekend. I was quite apprehensive of going to V fest before, with everything that has been happening recently, however there is plenty of armed police to keep you at ease.

The main thing I love, it just covering my face in glitter, sometimes a bit OTT, ah well all part of the fun. Also, the music! Like Pink was the highlight for my weekend, she was incredible. But also, Anne Marie, she seems like such a lovely girl also. And James Arthur voice, wow just so powerful and incredible! I think that’s why I love V Fest, as I know all the acts, so I get to see so many I love and would pay to see in concert.

We stayed in a hotel, which having a warm shower every morning was lovely, oh and a full English. Especially because the weather wasn't great, we needed a hot shower to warm up. However we did wear brolly hats which did kept us pretty dry.  Having their shuttle buses are handy, only £10 return, however the queue at the end of the night is pretty hectic!

Overall, it was just amazing, and I had so much fun! And I will be returning next year. I was hoping to do a ‘what I wore at v Fest’ post, however I completely got carried away, and didn’t end up taking pictures. And by the time I had remembered, I had mud everywhere. Yeah little tip to anyone off to a Festival, don't wear white!! Much more noticeable if you get mud on you!

Have you been to any festivals this year? 

Lots of love,
Nicole xx

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A week in Rhodes

Primark Lip Kit - First Impressions

I know I am about a year late to be on the band wagon about Primark Makeup , but my moto is always better late then never. So I thought I would do a post of my first impressions. As who doesn’t love a good lip product. I have heard people say these are like a dupe to the Kylie Lip products, but I couldn’t say as I have never bought any of Kylie lip kits as I always thought they were massively overpriced for what they were, and you were paying for a name more so than the product. However these Primark lip kits are £3!!!

Don’t asked me why I picked up this shade (I think its was because it was called Chocolate Brownie and it made me hungry) as I never wear brown ever, first time for everything hey.So the shade I bought, I wouldn’t say its like everyday wearable, because of the colour but is a lovely colour for a night out.

I found the packaging very sleek, and I also think the packaging makes the product look a lot more expensive than £3. The colour of the lip gloss was so pigmented. However when I went to swatch the lip liner, the top of it snapped off. Which is annoying, however you can sharpen them. The colour personally doesn’t suit me, however if say it was in nude or a pink I would wear it all the time. As it dry’s matte ( which is my favourite as I really don’t like lip gloss as it always gets in my hair).   Its also didn’t help when I was trying on the lip products, I didn’t have any other makeup on, which always makes a difference. So when I next have a full face of makeup on. I will try again with the colour, as the product is lovely to wear as it doesn’t feel too heavy on the lips. 

So overall, I am very impressed with the product, and I can seriously say I am going to go back and buy the nude or the pink colour. I would also look at purchasing some of their other products, as they are so reasonably priced!

Have you ever tried Primark Makeup before? What Lip Kits do you recommend?

Lots of love,

Nicole xx

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A week In Rhodes

Right this post has been a looooong time coming, like I have been at home for over a month and this post still isn't live, better late than never right?! So I was in some desperate need of some sunshine, so we booked a half board trip to Rhodes and it was so well needed, so I thought I would put together our week in Rhodes, and things you should go visit.

This beautiful little religious building, near our hotel. 

Lindos
 So, if you’re in Rhodes this is a must! Even just for the surroundings, its incredible. The hotel where we stayed at, opposite was a bus stop and the price of the bus was only like 3 euros to get to Lindos. Once you arrive, it is a bit hectic with cars everywhere, however once you are down the hill it gets a little quieter. So you wonder through these little streets which has stalls either side, (really cute and quaint stalls). You can hire a donkey to take you up the hill, but I personally thought it was unfair with the how heavy I weigh haha. Eventually, you reach the top of the hill, its like a castle at the top (really hard to explain) and views from there is gorgeous. However with all the brick walls surrounding you, it does get very hot! You have to pay to get it, I believe its 10 euros per person. 

The view from the top!

The Little streets walking up

Rhodes Town

So, I didn’t get many pictures of the town, unless they were drink related which you can see below. Their looked just like the typical british town, full of plenty of well known shops and cafes. However also full of gorgeous little greek restaurants.  I went and had hummus and tzatziki with pitta bread, trying to stick to Greek food. After wondering around for a few hours, we just went around the harbour and looked at all the amazing boats (a girl can always dream). And it was just lovely. I struggle with the heat, so I get very grumpy walking round if it’s too hot, however there is so much to see. I bet also the town would be gorgeous at night!

Seriously recommend their fresh orange juice!!

Enjoying a watermelon Slush puppy over looking the harbour

Hotel- TUI Sensimar Imperial Resort & Spa by Atlantica

The hotel was beautiful!! We wanted adults only, just for a little more relaxation. The location we were in, was perfect... right in the middle of Lindos and Rhodes town, so its didn’t take too long to get to either. We went half board and the food was incredible. And I over indulged on holiday, if you can’t indulge on holiday, when can you?!

The Most beautiful bar in the hotel

The most beautiful sky

Have you ever been to Rhodes? Where would you recommend?

Lots of love.

Nicole xx

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Bali

The Best Spot Clearing Products

So I have never been blessed with clear skin, ever since I hit being a teenager my skin has been a nightmare. From such oily skin to now, such dry skin. From a young age, I went on the pill to help balance my hormones which did help a lot. But my skin has always been spot prone. Then age 13 ish, I went on roaccutane. And wow oh wow that did wonders, I have done a full blog post on that, which you can read here Ever since being on roaccutane, now I have really dry skin. After roaccutane, I continued with my pill which I think that when my skin was at it clearest. However, I had to be taken off that pill due to gaining weight. So now, my skin is back to where it was at the start. Plenty of break outs, and gone where the days of clear lovely skin. I have tried so many products, just to try get my skin is so kind of order.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid

So it was Hannah Hearts that recommended this product, you can read her post here. Its so affordable at only £4 and you can buy it from ASOS, which is fab specially if you have ASOS premier for next day delivery. 

L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Purity Foam Wash

Right ill admit it, my skin care routine did use to be zero to non, like I would take my makeup off and that would be about it. Whereas now, my bathroom is full of washes and scrubs for my face. Personally, this seems to be the only facial wash that is working for me. Well what I can tell anyway.  If you have read my blog before, you will know I love L'Oreal products. You can read my favourite L'Oreal products here.  So this is quite a new product for L'Oreal, and it just works. I use it every morning and night and my skin feel so soft after using it!

Superdrug Deep Action Anti Blemish Overnight Serum

So I picked this up after seeing it on offer in Superdrug. You apply it on a night, under Neath your night skin products whatever they may be. And it does its magic over night, I have found every time I have used this so face that my blemishes have gone down quite dramatically.

L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Mask

I have actually done a full blog post on this, which you can read here  Whenever I am having a bad skin day, I put this on. It only takes 15 minutes to dry, so perfect to have on your face while watching love island (please say I am not the only one obsessed with love island). 

Water

I know everyone always goes on how good water is for you. But also so good for you skin. It just clears up your skin, however drinking plenty of water is still never good enough to clear my skin. 

Vitamin D  
When I came back from Rhodes, my skin was like the clearest it has ever been, due to having no blemish. I always wear factor 50 on my face, but my skin was so clear after being in the sunshine for the week. Which is always a lovely thought not having to wear foundation. 

Please excuse my facial expression.

So the first picture is when my face has a lot of blemishes, and the second one was last week when my skin has been at its clearest since 5 years ago! I cannot tell you how happy it makes me seeing my skin this clear, like I am finally confident enough to wear no foundation. Which is why I literally swear by these skin care products, as they have changed my skin massively! 

What products do you recommend for spots? Have you tried any mentioned?

Lots of love,
Nicole 

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Why Its Okay to Have A Blogging Break

So I have been writing this while I have been in a blogging rut. Which is what inspired this post, of why a blogging break is okay. I have recently just disliked my blog, and reading other people’s thinking eurgh there is so much better and forever comparing mine. Which I shouldn’t do. I think I have around 20 post drafted, and looking at them I just think the content isn’t good enough to post, just because I want to get a post out there. So instead, I would rather post less and post better quality stuff.

So here is two reasons why a blogging break is good for you and your blog.

Life always has difficult obstacles, and you can’t help that! And everyone reading your blog will understand, after all it is a hobby. And for example if you didn’t feel up for going swimming say, you wouldn’t. Also working along side your blog, you do want nights where you come home and do absolutely nothing. And i have to admit that has been me every night for like the past month! So blogging is the same.  You blog is still going to be there, whether you stuck to your blogging schedule or not.

New year, we always set new goals and stick with them for a good few blogs. But then the determination dwindles away, so having a break. Well I know for myself, I have come back and thinking of how to make by blog so much better and what content I can put out there.  Also having a break from my blog, as made me realise how much I love blogging. However before my break I was growing to hate it. So this break I guess has saved me from deleting my blog.

Have you had a blogging break recently?

Such a appropriate picture, not!! However here's to a better blog

PS hopefully now my content will be so much better!!

Lots of love,

Nicole xx


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Barry M Gelly Nail Polish review

So I absolutely love going to the nail salon and getting Shellac on my nails. Just because it just looks nice, unlike when you do your own nails they clip in a matter of days and just never look as ‘nice’. So this post is my review on the Barry M gelly nail polish. As these are my current favourite nail polishes to use at the moment!

I always find painting my nails is a chore, however once they are done its perfect. It’s the same with fake tan.. I can never be bothered to do it, but absolutely love once it’s done. But these Barry M nail polishes, make it a little less of a chore.The brush on this nail polish makes application so easy, a couple of strokes of this polish and your nail is painted.  And bonus the colour doesn’t need endless amounts of coats on to make it the correct colour!! Woo, otherwise you spend bloody years waiting for it to dry!

Please excuse my application, painting nails has never been my strong point haha

So I currently have the greeney colour on my toes, but I won’t show you them as I know some people hate feet!! You can see below how beautiful the pinkey colour is on my nails.  Perfect for summer! 

Do you like the colour of these nail polishes? Have you ever tried any of Barry M products? What is your favourite nail polish brand?

Lots of love,

Nicole 

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