Making a comeback: Attempt #2 (AKA Holiday Essentials)

About a month ago, I tried to be really funny and clever and make some sort of hilarious comeback on my own blog, which basically ended in a really shoddy past about diddly squat that I was far too embarrassed to let loose on the general public. Yeah, it was pretty atrocious. So, here is attempt numero deux at making some form of 'welcome back' post that isn't completely shit.

I've just returned from a beaut of a holiday to Majorca with some friends, where I got the first tan of my entire life (whut), took part in some hilarious water aerobics, and pretty much just sat by the pool drinking cocktails all day, every day. It looked a bit like this:

Hashtag no filter. Oh alright, maybe on the first one. Anyway, since I am the universe's actual worst packer, I've been thinking all about holiday essentials, especially since I've got to pack for two weeks away at the end of August which I'm actually dreading. If anyone wants to come help, holler at me.

Since I'm whacking this out late on Sunday, I can't guarantee anything fancy or well put-together here, but we'll give it a shot. LEGGO:

• SUNCREAM. Ok, let's start with the obvious. If you're going somewhere where sun exists, you're gonna need to be whacking the stuff on. My top tip for suncream is to start high-ish (I started around 40 but I have the skin of a ghost so 30's probably fine) and then work your way down. Probably pretty quickly if you're anything like my mother.

• AFTER SUN. Another pretty obvious one, but it's a godsend of a creation, even for the slightest of sunburns. Really good for getting moisture back in the skin too and doubles as an everyday moisturiser. I've always used a Nivea one, just because it's never let me down and is incredibly moisturising: 

• EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS: Shampoo, conditioner,  deodrant etc etc. Blindingly obvious, but if you don't write it down, chances are you'll forget. Easy to pick up at the airport if you want, but I always nip to Primark for empty bottle set. Only £1 and saves spending more on new shampoos. OH, and do not forget a TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE.

• PASSPORT and TRAVEL INSURANCE DOCUMENTS and MOOLAH. Yeah, probably naht a good idea to leave these behind.

• FIRST AID TYPE KIT. Just make sure you've got a good selection of essential medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol, bug bite cream, Imodium and stuff like that, just in case.

• SUN PROTECTING SPRAY. I swear by Charles Worthington's Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Spray for keeping my hair looking not too shabby in the heat, especially since I dip-dyed it. Spray on before you hit the pool, and again once you've been in water. The shampoo and conditioner counterparts are pretty awesome too. 

• iPod SPEAKERS: When you're getting ready for just about anything, it's always good to have a banging' playlist on, so make sure one person brings some speakers. Oh, and get someone to create some sort of holiday playlist to keep everyone happy.

• SUNGLASSES: Obviously, but essential. A cheap pair is good for going in the sea, but I think it's worth investing in a decent pair to get the best protection for your eyeballs.

• MAKE-UP. Waterproof mascara is an absolute must, so you don't look like the joker when you glide effortlessly out the pool/sea/unexpected downpours. I'd also highly recommend BB Cream, and I swear by this Maybelline one for £7.99. I don't like putting much make-up on abroad as it feels so heavy, so this BB cream is a godsend, and is perfect for putting on round the pool too, as it contains sun protection. Also, bear in mind that with a tan, your normal make-up might not fit, so don't go too cray cray. Sun protection Vaseline or Nivea Sun Protect stick for lips are also highly recommended to save from nasty sunburnt lips. 

• SHOES: Alright, here's where it gets tough for me. I normally bring abut 5 pairs too many, but on an essential level, I'd opt for some flip flops, a couple of pairs of sandals, perhaps a pair of nicer wedged heels for any nights out. You could chuck in a pair of espadrilles in you're not a sandals fan, and I've also just fallen in love with jelly shoes which are AMAZING. I have these ones from New Look, which are £9.99 and only gave me blisters at home. Sounds bad, but I walked over two hours in them (an hour each on separate days) and they didn't hurt one iota. 

• CLOTHES: Again, this is pretty subjective, but as long as you've got a couple of bikinis or swimsuits, some underwear and enough outfits to last, you'll be good to go. I always take a few cover-ups for if you want to pop out to the shops too - kimonos are a new favourite of mine, because you can also add them to other outfits to jazz them up. Perfect for a bit of cover up if it gets a bit chiller in the evenings. I always over pack outfits for choice, but a good variety of day and night options will be perfect, in case you plan any day trips and whatnot. A couple of dresses/playsuits, a couple of pairs of shorts and some tees will see you through. OH, and a good hat is a wonderful idea too. So is jewellery. AGH.

Supermarkets abroad are pretty damn good, so don't worry about food or anything if you're going self-catering. 6l of water was about 6Euros in Majorca, so stock up. The alcohol was surprisingly cheap as well, so if you forget any, ne panique pas. Just drink Sangria and Pina Coladas and forget the rest. OO, reading material - Pack a good book/magazine for pool times.

This has turned unnecessarily long and that's all I can think of for now, but I might come back to this if I think of anything more that's needed. 

Please comment below which anything you can't go on holiday without :)

Love y'all
x

My Week in Pictures #4

This is going to be a bit of a mismatched post, as I try and cram a few extra bits in. This is because I may not have a chance to blog properly for a while as I have racked up a couple of weeks of work experience HOORAH!!!... followed by turning 21. I'll let you know how that one turns out. Hashtag I am getting old.

Moving on...

Firstly, MISSGUIDED. I'm going to make a separate 'Summer Wishlist' post at some point, which turned out to mainly be consisted of Missguided products. Yes, I'm a little obsessed. During my last couple of years or so of university, I'm pretty sure my housemates and I kept Missguided going, judging by the amount of parcels we had delivered to our house. I don't doubt the delivery man began to recognise that. There's so much stuff I could buy from there, especially thanks to their new 'Sweet Deals' range, and I thought I'd just share my favourite dress on the website at the moment. I'm obsessed with it, and I keep having to debate with myself over whether or not I can afford it (newsflash: I really can't. Someone please buy it for me). It's this lovely skater dress...

... and you can pur-chase it from here. For me. As a present. Thank you very much (IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON).

Secondly, just thought I'd draw your attention to my current eBay. I've started uploading a bunch of clothes to sell that I don't like/don't wear/don't fit into anymore, and I've got a tonne still to come, so go have a ganders... because I am poor. Thanking you kindly in advance.

FINALLY. The point of this post. My week in pictures. This week I have been catching up with uni friends in Primrose Hill (as featured in the collage) and in Leicester Square, celebrating my sister's birthday with a delicious roast, experimenting with my Mum's new record player and doing a tour of London food markets, from Borough Market (which holds the biggest meringues EVER) to Southbank's food festival. Also thrown in what the Science Museum thinks I looked like as a child. Not accurate AT ALL. 

Apologies for the blurriness of this collage, can't quite figure out what's going wrong but I'll keep trying to fix it. That's all from me for a bit. Looking forward to my next few weeks of work experience and birthday-ing and perhaps a bit of blogging in between. Have a lovely weekend!
x

My Week in Pictures #3

This is more like 'two weeks in pictures,' but I thought I'd show off the two main events that have dominated the past couple of weeks- our holiday to Tenerife (TAKE ME BACK) and my amazing graduation (AHHHH!!!!). The reality that university is completely and utterly over for good has yet to hit me, meaning I am completely in denial that I need to get some form of job (although if anyone wants to employ me, I won't say no!). Enjoy...

Tenerife

I won't describe these collages, as they're pretty self-explanatory. I'll be honest, most of my Tenerife photos are of food and drink, and it was down to my housemates to get the lovely group ones. This is a quick look at how our holiday went, from the delicious food (see tapas and ice cream) and cocktails, to the gorgeous views and just having a great relaxing time together (all together now... AWWW). 

Graduation

Again, won't be explaining but here is a snapshot of my graduation. Amazing day all round!

There are more photos of my holiday and my graduation on my Instagram feed if you fancy a ganders, with more to be added I'm sure. I'm hoping to put up a feed on the side of this blog too (when I figure out how) so keep an eye out for that :)

Enjoy your weekend! 

Featured Post: Mallzee

I was recently contacted by the very lovely and friendly Laura from Mallzee, and although I had not previously heard of the site, I was keen to have a nosy. Once I'd had a good look around (I got quite into it, I must admit), I decided this was definitely something my readers need to know about!

Mallzee work with 200 brands (including Little Mistress, Asos, Motel and Miss Selfridge to name just a few!) to create a completely new online shopping experience that is completely tailored to you and only you. You pick exactly what types of clothes (via a short quiz) and brands you want to shop, only to have them all handily in one place. You can also create a wardrobe of the clothes you want to buy, which then shows you recommended pieces to go with your chosen items, so you can quickly and easily find them again. Sounds better than rifling through pages of clothes you don't like right?! This is what my Mallzee currently looks like...

Mallzee also makes shopping social, letting you shop with friends using their built-in chat features, as well as allowing you to create polls to get your friends opinions on what you should buy. Much quicker than sending clothes back and forth over social network sites! 

Need more convincing? In addition to ALL this, you also get paid to shop. Yes, you read that correctly. Don't look so shocked! For every £3 you spend, you get 1 Mallzee dollar to spend, meaning more clothes and more rewards!

I currently have VIP membership, and you can do, if you click on the link below. You lucky things!
Your one click access to exclusive features and offers

Last but not least, Mallzee are running a Pinterest competition, the details of which I'll add below. 

Happy shopping!

*Disclaimer: I am not receiving any money for this post, merely spreading the word of a unique new shopping experience!

My Week in Pictures #1

NEW FEATURE: Decided to start doing 'my week in pictures' that I'm hoping to routinely update, depending on how medial my week may have been. This week's is coming slightly late, so it now spans from last Monday - yesterday (Tues 5th June). 

Now Playing: Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

1. Last Monday was glorious, so we decided to move our sofa outside into our (disappointingly not so glorious or sunny) garden. Best idea we've ever had, and I think I may consider a career move to a removal person...

2. Below this, Monday night is Q Bar night... for any Reading students, need I say more? Picture 2 is me and my housemate Prema.

3. On Wednesday, we headed to Anna's house in Gloucester, which has an amazing view (which sadly I don't have a good picture of), as Gloucester is a lusciously green and serene place which we are now all in love with. Picture 3 is the first night of late-night, Bachelor-watching snacking.

4. On Thursday, we went to Anna's family friend Julianna who gave us our first manicures for just a fiver. I loved the pink sparkly colour I went for, and Julianna did a fabulous job. Highly recommended!

5. The day we left ( :( ) we went to see the bluebells Forest is infamous for, and they were glorious. The top picture is my housemates Emma and Prema in the bluebells, and the picture at the bottom shows a close up.

6. On Saturday, we went to Surrey to celebrate our bonus housemate Lucy's 21st Birthday at an amazing party (as you can see by the champagne). Free bar, gorgeous buffet (which we may or may not have run to as soon as it opened) and loads of dancing... what more could you want?! Happy Birthday Lucy!

7. Last but not least, yesterday I went with my home friends to El Mariachi, a Mexican restaurant which has recently opened in Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge. I had spicy beef nachos, chilli con carne potato skins and spicy chicken enchiladas, all of which were delicious. However, perhaps my favourite part of the evening was the £3 cocktails (it was Senõritas' night... wahey!), so I (obviously) took full advantage, opting for a Piña Colada, a Chiquito and an Amaretto Choco Cream... or words to that effect. They were SO good, and I would highly recommend giving the restaurant a visit if you're in the area.

I'm now onto a week of job and internship applications, followed by a trip to Manchester, so I'll be posting more pictures very soon!

Day Two - An Ever-Growing Barry M Obsession

As any of my housemates will tell you, I am a teeny weeny bit obsessed with Barry M nail paints, so much so that it takes most of my strength not to buy a new colour on every shopping trip. At the last count, I own almost 30 paints, and 2 nail art pens. Bad I know. So, to kickstart my venture into the realms of beauty blogging, I thought I'd review some of their products.

[L-R, clockwise: Paints used; nails in daytime light; nails under flash photography; close-up of 'watermelon' colour; paints used under flash; paints used without flash]

Forgive me for the shoddy painting, I am definitely no artist. I'm not sure how clear the Watermelon colour is going to come out, so I've added a close-up picture to hopefully help. These colours are both fairly dark, so next time I would probably not use the black nail pen with them, although this could be a good look for the Winter months. However, I love how easy the pen is to use, although I was already hoping this was the case from all the different designs I've seen from bloggers. The best thing about the gelly paints is their shine, as they look smoother than normal paints, and last a lot longer without chipping. Brilliant for summer, when nails are always scrutinised, as there will no need to repaint every five minutes. Looks even better topped with Barry M's (surprise) base, topcoat and nail hardener, although I have slightly cheated with an old Rimmel topcoat in these pictures as I left my Barry M one in Reading #cry.

[L-R, clockwise: Paints used; nails in daytime light; nails without flash photography; paints used under flash; nails under flash; paints used without flash]

Again, forgive me for the shoddy painting and dodgy flash in the middle, although I'm sure these pictures are making it look worse than it is. I won't repeat the whole review of the products here, as they worked just as well with these colours, although the 'art design' is severely lacking on this hand, as I find it extremely difficult to draw with the hand I don't write with! I particularly love these pastel colours for summer, as they brighten up rainy day (of which I'm sure they'll be loads of in the lovely British summer), and fit really nicely with the pink pen. I know the lilac colour in particular is a hit with many of my friends, and if I had to choose between the two colour combinations in this blog, I would definitely choose this one, if only for the summer.

I hope this has been useful. Please feel free to comment below with thoughts, favourite colours, or perhaps a different brand of nail paint I should be trying!