058 : 2015 Goals & Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a good one, what did everyone get up to? I had a really quiet one and watched movies in bed with the boyfriend (no longer a Tinderella!) and we were asleep by 12.30! New Years are always a good time to reflect on the past twelve months and make new goals for the upcoming year. For regular readers of my blog, you know that 2014 was pretty bad for me, it was honestly one of the worst years I've ever had. After suffering a severe relapse of depression and going through a horrible break-up, I lost an awful lot and really struggled to get myself to a place where I felt content. I'm happy to say that I am feeling better, but still have days where I really struggle and find it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The past year has made it easier for me to set goals for the upcoming year, that being said.. here's a few of them...

1. Be the best mother I possibly can.
I became a mother aged 18. I had Alfie almost 8 years ago and Oliver 4 years ago. It was a huge learning curve for me and looking back on those last 8 years, I wish I'd had more faith in myself to know I could be an amazing parent. My sons are the absolute center of my world and this year I really want to fill them with positivity, creativity and the belief they can do anything they set their little hearts on.

2. Save, save, save.
I really, really want to save a lot of money when I can this year. My boyfriend and I are hoping to own our own house in the next few years and we really need to pull together as much as we can for a deposit. I've always been one of those people who spends as soon as they get, I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to tightening the purse strings so this is going to be a massive challenge for me. I'd really love for us to have our own space that we can do whatever we want to do with it (so many beautiful homes on Pinterest!) I think it'll be my motivation for not buying everything in that Limited Edition Mac collection that I just really don't need.

3. Blog More.
When I first started writing Blush & Belle (it was actually a new years resoultion two years ago!) I was blogging a fair bit, but the last few months I've been so slack, between working and juggling friendships, relationships and family life - it's been almost impossible to update my blog on a really regular basis. It's something I'm absolutely determined to commiting myself to over the next year and the coming years. I adore blogging and love updating with new content, so this one is a pretty big one for me.

4. Worry Less.
I've always been a massive worrier, I have no idea why. I constantly worry about the tiniest things and get myself worked up into a little tizzy over nothing. I really want to relax more, think more clearly and more realistically to help overcome my anxiety and have a more positive outlook on life.

5. Get Healthy.
I know a lot of people have this as their new years resolution - to fight off the post Christmas/New Year Bulge, its a little cliche but I really want to get fit and healthy this year. I definitely need to cut out fizzy drinks and chocolate, plus I eat enough bread to sink a ship! I really want to be more creative when it comes to cooking, making more home cooked, healthy dinners and not skipping breakfast so often!

So, those are my goals for this year. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve all of them! What do you guys hope to achieve for 2015? Did you all achieve your goals from last year? I'd love to know!

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057 Review : L'Oreal Color Riche / Blakes Pure Red

Ohh my goodness! Long time no see! I have been so utterly desperate to update Blush & Belle but my laptop decided to go to laptop heaven, fortunately I'm up and running again! I've missed blogging massively and have tons to fill you guys in on, but I'll save that for a later post. I've been super busy trying to get organised for Christmas, I've actually been pretty good and am all shopped and wrapped. I can't wait to spend the Christmas period surrounded by loved ones, definitely my favourite time of year.

So aside from doing all of my Christmas shopping, I picked up a few little things for myself. I never wear lipstick, I have a lot of it, but it's rare that I decide to put it on. I'm not sure why, partly morning rushing and partly because I've never found a shade that I've fallen utterly in love with. Until now. Meet Blakes Red..

I have to apologise for the awful picture quality, my DSLR is broken too so I'm having to use my iPhone for now! Anyway, I'm not sure why I was drawn to this lipstick, as red is a bit of a brave shade for me, but I figured it would be perfect for this time of year and its the most beautiful red against my Morticia Addams-esque skintone. Plus I have a massive girl crush on Blake Lively (please say I'm not the only one!)

I absolutely adore the packaging, I love L'oreals sleek, matte black casing and gold trims. They always look so much more expensive than they are! The thing that blew me away about this lipstick was the longevity of it, it literally lasted all day long, even after eating and drinking it didn't need reapplying and hadn't budged. Great for when you're working all day with minimal breaks too! Blake, I think I've met my match.

There are three other shades in the exclusive Reds collection; Eva's Pure Red, Julianne's Pure Red & Liya's Pure Red. Have any of you guys tried out the Reds collection? What did you think of it?

You can find  Blake's Pure Red in Boots, Superdrug and other good chemists.

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056 Want, Need, Wear, Read #1

(Nails Inc Alexa Cashmere - £15)

(Canon 600D - £411)

(Lace Embellished Crop Tee - £36)

(#GIRLBOSS - £10.49)

This month I've been pining after tons and tons of different things, from homewares, to beauty products and electricals.. my list of 'must haves' is longer than both my arms put together right now. Having had a little browse through ASOS's beauty department, I noticed that the very lovely Alexa Chung has collaborated with NailsInc (who have a new logo! tres chic!) to bring out her own range of nail shades. I've fallen head over heels for Alexa Cashmere, a dreamy pink shade. I'm kind of expecting big things from this range after her collab with Eyeko was so popular. Plus, a girl can never have enough pink polishes, right?

A few months ago my trusty Canon died on me, I've had it since I was 17 and studying art in college so it lasted me a while. At the moment I'm having to take all my blog photos on my trusty iPhone, definitely feeling its time to invest and upgrade. Plus the 600D has movie mode, maybe a little shift to vlogging is in order?!

I've been wearing lots of loose clothes and lots of lace recently and absolutely fell head over heels for this little Topshop number. It's absolutely beautiful and for £36 isn't too badly priced. I think it'll look stunning with this adorable Missguided skirt. I adore monochrome combos and together they'll look just perfect.

#GIRLBOSS has been flying around the blogosphere since its release and its an amazing read. Sophia Amoruso is incredibly inspirational and her writing style is just perfect. An absolutely hilarious read, Sophia had no real career prospects but has since taken the fashion world by storm. From a young woman who was arrested for shoplifting to being the CEO of NastyGal, a $100million business in just 8 years - her story is uplifting and inspiring. Definitely worth a read!

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055 ....Tinderella?

I'm 25. And Single. I'm also a self-confessed Tinderella. Yep, I could spend hours searching for Mr Swipe Right, so much so, I barely go out into the real world on the off chance of meeting an amazing man. Plus, with thousands of erm, eligible bachelors to choose from, it's almost impossible to say no. The world is our oyster, full of a whole range of potential pearls.

At my age, both my mum and my sister were planning their weddings. My life consists of cheap cider, Marlboro Reds and trashy TV on TLC - cue endless reruns of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (has anyone seen that?! I'm hooked!) I definitely don't have a boyfriend in the near distant future, let alone a husband!

I live in a small town where the chances of meeting someone you'll be even remotely attracted to are, well, non existant. Even extending the boundaries doesn't get you very far and to be honest, I'm tired of bumping into the same old faces! Honestly, I can't even remember how I met guys before Tinder came along. Plus, taking control and swiping left is just way too satisfying!

Tinder is full of absolute comedy gold. To be honest if you're not really looking for anything serious, it's a good place to start. I've never seen so many photos of heavily sedated animals, if you're yet to enjoy all the err, 'tigers' Tinder has to offer. Here's a choice selection. 

The online dating scene has given us singletons access to more options than we've ever had before, which should make finding 'The One' easy right?

No. 

I've actually been on a lot of Tinder dates and the majority of them have actually been really good, so I haven't quite met Prince Charming yet but I'm certainly kissing a lot of frogs en route! My very first Tinder date was with a guy named Miles, and unfortunately he was completely gay. We're talking gayer than Sex and The Citys Anthony Marentino and Stanford Blatch rolled into one. He was really nice, don't get me wrong, but definitely more gay best friend material. When a man knows more about Angora cardigans than I do, its definitely time to cut ties. 

Tinder definitely has potential for dating, but there's also endless amounts of guys showcasing their wedded bliss on the profile pictures, be prepared for full-frontal nudes, guys with socks over their junk (seriously..) guys on the loo.. its endless. And be prepared for creepy messages, because you can guarantee you'll get one or two! 

One of my favourite features of Tinder is the hilarious messages that pop up when you're yet to speak to someone. 

I know meeting guys on the internet can be a dangerous game, always meet in a well lit, mutual place, tell a friend where you're going and keep them updated throughout your date. Sorry to sound like your mum! 

Tinders definitely a good distraction if you have an hour or so to kill while you're travelling or waiting around in waiting rooms! What do you guys think of Tinder dating?! I'd love to know your thoughts!

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054 : July Favourites

Hey beauts, long time no see! I'm so sorry for the lack of updates the last week, unfortunately life got in the way! I've been trying to curb my spending slightly this month as my youngest son turns 4 in a couple of weeks (eek!) - but I've put together a favourites post from July, there was a lot of products I loved last month and it was so hard choosing  my absolute faves!

 (1. The Body Shop Vitamin E Ultra Boost Sorbet, 2. Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, 3. Percy & Reed Bodifying Cream, 4. Vichy Thermal Spa Water, 5. Lush D'Fluff, 6. Bun Garlands, 7. Essie - Lapiz of Luxury, 8. Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector - Shades 04 & 05, 9. Clinique Cheek Pop Blush - Plum Pop, 10. The Body Shop Vitamin E Exfoliator)

I can never get enough of moisturisers and when I heard The Body Shop were adding to their vitamin E range with this ultra boost 'Sorbet' - I just had to give it a whirl! This moisturiser is unlike any other that I've used, its ultra light, yet still creamy. It feels beautifully fresh on the skin and is super refreshing, plus it smells like green tea. Delish! On the subject of lovely scents, Marc Jacobs new addition to the Daisy family somehow made its way home with me, it was an impulse buy and it did break the bank slightly. I'll be honest, I would have bought it just for the bottle even if it smelled like a camels rear end, but fortunately it doesn't. Daisy Dream is a flirty, floral & feminine scent which I simply cannot get enough of! For my locks I've been using Percy & Reeds Bodifying Cream, which retails at £14, I picked it up for £5 in TK Maxx! I love it so much, my hair is usually quite flat and lifeless after being washed, but an almond sized drop of these onto damp hair and a good old blow dry and its full of body, with a nice healthy shine. TK Maxx is an absolute diamond for high-end bargain beauty products!

When it comes into the Summer months, I find my skin gets quite tired and feels almost malnourished. I've been using Vichy's Thermal Spa Water spray for a while now and I always keep it in my handbag for a little spritz. It's a really refreshing toner, especially for the warmer months, plus it doubles up as a toner too! For shaving my legs, I've been using Lush's D'Fluff, which I absolutely adore, I have quite sensitive skin, especially on my legs, suffering with eczema and dermatitis, D'Fluff is a light, moussey, strawberry scented gem, the perfect bathtime companion. Leaving skin ultra soft and silky. 

I've been wearing my hair up tons lately, its getting quite long and its nice just to keep it out of the way when it's so hot outside. I always opt for a messy bun, tying my hair up into a backcombed ponytail, wrapping it into a bun and popping a bun garland around it. These bun garlands were from New Look, the magenta one in the middle was from Primark for a teeny £2! My nails have been adorned with Essie's Lapiz of Luxury, I never have blue nails but I've fallen in love with this shade, its the perfect mix of a light and bright blue, giving outfits a gorgeous pop of colour. On my lips I've been wearing the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors in shades 04 & 05. Shade 04 is a gorgeous light pearly pink, with shade 05 being a deeper, more 'my lips but better' shade. These are the perfect mixture of gloss and balm and feel lovely and soft to apply. I've really been loving Cliniques Cheek Pops too, not only do they look absolutely beautiful, the floral design is just far too cute, they apply really nicely and are long lasting - shame all the shades are so gorgeous - could be a potential bank breaker!

Back to Vitamin E, I've been trying to double cleanse as often as I can, sometimes just a single cleansing session doesn't quite feel enough and I just don't feel as clean as I'd like to, after applying cleanser and washing it off with a muslin cloth, I've been using the Body Shops Vitamin E Cream Exfoliator, it's absolutely gorgeous, smells divine and leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and polished!

 

 Finally, my best friend, Samantha (on the right), Samantha has been an incredible friend over the last 13 years, but especially so in the last month. Between us we've been through things most 25 year olds should never have to experience, but we both know we have each others backs. Samantha is absolutely irreplaceable and I love her to the moon & back. Having a best friend who is understanding and supportive of everything you do in life is all you could ever ask for. Thank you <3

 

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