This post is about my pamper night that I recently had. The weather has turned chilly, the dark nights and dark mornings are setting in and I was just feeling a bit deflated and in need of some pamper time.
I had been working all day on my university work and I was down in the dumps thinking of what I could do. The items I list now, are my top pamper night necessities, which will hopefully inspire you to take a break, have a few minutes to yourself and relax.
Firstly I ran myself a bath. I don't usually have baths and I prefer the thought of germs/dead skin (all that kind of thing) to drain off me and go straight down the plug hole. As you can tell, I'm very much a shower kind of person. However, when I'm feeling stressed, a good soak in the bath can often help alleviate stress. For me, a bath helps me to focus on what matters, or at least allows me to clear my head. I used a lush bath bomb called Golden Wonder. If you are wanting to check out some of their bath products, they have some great seasonal ranges out for Halloween and Christmas. I got two uses out of this because I broke it in half. You could also just have one use or plenty of uses depending on what suits you. The inside is an amazing blue colour that turns your bath water, yes you guessed it, blue. It has orange and lime scents which make it nice and fresh.
Secondly I lit a candle. This is a Yankee candle in my favourite ever scent lavender. I love lavender in general so this was a no-brainer for me. It fills the room with the calming scent and also works well to add some ambient lighting.
Once out of the bath I moisturised using the Body Shop's strawberry body butter. Then, I got all cosy in my; M&S dressing gown and my Primark pyjamas. My pj's are in a Christmas theme but I don't really care. I love Christmas and they're super soft, comfy and very affordable so go check those out if you are curious.
This was my short and quick pamper night to relieve some of the day's worries. It's not rocket science and I am aware that this is not an original idea, but sometimes you need a little inspiration and encouragement to give yourself ten minutes of you time.
Today's blog post is about a recent restaurant launch I went to and my first initial experiences there.
The Red Dog Saloon is an American themed restaurant that is already well established in Hoxton Square and Clapham North, London. But it has now made a home in Nottingham.
The overall theme of the restaurant is smokey food, due to the way a lot of their meals are cooked. Some of their courses are smoked for up to 18 hours, giving it an authentic American taste (apparently). As you can imagine, it's a meat eaters paradise. They serve burgers and wings and other BBQ dishes. Unfortunately there is only one main course that is vegetarian.
I can't review the food too much due to only going to the opening and not receiving much. However, after looking at the menu what I can say is that it isn't the place for a vegetarian to go, due to there only being one option for them on the menu (this may change after the publishing of my blog- hopefully)!
Prices are very similar to those of the other smoke houses located around Nottingham, so there is no difference there really. From the food that I did try (a bbq wing), it was quite tasty. The other food product I was given was one of their 'original' wings. I'm unsure as to why these are called original, as you get an extremely spicey shock after just tasting some of the sauce. As someone allergic to spicey food, an indicator or the spice should really be indicated in the dish's name, for example, 'super dooper hot wing'. The server may have made a mistake so if you do go, just ask!
(Sample size for tasting at the launch)
The drinks are possibly the highlight for me. There is such a wide variety of drinks on offer. I had a margarita which was nice and also one of their wines. However, if wine, cocktails and spirits isn't to your taste (or legal drinking age), there are also milkshakes in three non-alcoholic flavours (alcoholic ones are also available) and other general soft drinks.
The interior is another highlight for me. It's really well decorated, spacious for its occupancy and the bar area is also of a good size. The toilets are up some stairs so you can work off your burger if needed on the way up, but don't drink too much because there could be a few trips.
I really hope you enjoyed a little insight into the Red Dog Saloon Restaurant that has only just opened in Nottingham!
Hello everyone! So I've been a busy bee recently and have just returned from a lovely holiday in Ibiza. It occurred to me that it might be interesting to see what my top hand luggage bits and pieces were, to help you if you're going away soon, or just to have a relaxing read.
For this holiday I took a small backpack. It's lightweight so wasn't too bad to carry around. I like the style of the bag, with its minimalist black and brown fabric. It has a simple magnetic popper opening, disguised as fake buckles. I do like that this means you can get into your bag easily, but sometimes for extra security, it'd be nice if the bag had a zip or did actually buckle down. Inside, there are two small sewn-in pockets, a small zip pocket and a large compartment at the front.
Ipod and Headphones
I placed my Ipod and headphones in the zip pocket so that the headphones and Ipod were easily accesible. I think it also helped my headphones stay un-tangled, a first world problem I'm sure many people have encountered.
Wordsearch Book
I have had this wordsearch book for a while now. It contains loads of word searches and so it keeps me well distracted whilst on the flight. It's also useful to have when on holiday, to use on the beach, by the pool, or just whilst you're waiting to do something.
Magazine
I love magazines. I am not the type of person to be able to sit down and read a full book. I find that magazines suit my lifestyle. I love to be doing things, going in the pool, playing a sport etc. Therefore, a short one page read, or a look at the latest trends for five minutes is great for me.
Sunglasses
I love my sunglasses. These were just around the £2.50 mark and came with their own travel sleeve which is really handy. I like to pack these for when I come off the flight when the sun can be quite dazzling, or even just when coming off the plane due to the change in brightness. I also like to carry these for tired eyes because often my flights are in the morning or late at night and so they can be a little more susceptible to being sensitive to the light. Also, an extra tip and reason to carry sunglasses is that they're great for hiding tired eyes/ eye bags, which I get a lot. And because I don't wear make-up on flights, you can at least still look human for a bit.
Tissues
Anyone who knows me, will know that I often carry tissue with me wherever I am. The air-con on planes can sometimes make my nose run, or eyes water and so tissues are just convenient to have. I tend to be sensitive to dust or strong smells also, so I'm normally the one sneezing. If don't have the above issues, still take a pack of tissues (yes, I know that rhymed), because you never know when an unexpected sneeze may arise. And they're multi-functional for spills too.
Camera
My camera goes in my carry on so that when I get off the plane, I can start my holiday snaps. On my recent trip to Ibiza, we had a short transfer and so I took a few pictures on the journey. I also just like to have my camera in my bag anyway....I don't really know why.
Passport/Travel Documents
This is a given. Without them, you're not going on any flight. However, I thought I'd mention them anyway, just to remind you that if you're going away, check they're in-date and that all your documents are ready.
Stress Ball
I'm afraid of flying. I have been going on aeroplanes since I can't even remember and have experienced flights with bad turbulance. I have also been on a long haul flight to America, which coincidentally was one of the flights with bad turbulance. None of these experiences even phased me and I actually found the jumpy flights to be entertaining. It wasn't until around four years ago that a little nerve kicked in. Firstly, I wanted to be sat next to my family, then I just didn't like flying and then last year, I just freaked out. Now I have found a way which really really works for me. A simple stress ball. This green, squidgy, foam, stress ball helped so much to the point where take off and landing was a doddle for me. If you're not a good flyer, I would highly recommend trying this out.
So these are a few of the things that I took with me in my carry-on bag. Obviously you may need to take more if on a longer flight and you can take liquids that are up to 100ml. I decided not to take any liquids with me, just for ease and you can always buy drinks once you're through security.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and if you're going to be flying soon, where are you going? Leave a comment, follow my blog and see you soon!
Hello and welcome back to my blog! This week I am going to be speaking to you about my EcoTools brush set that I bought from Boots.
The brush set, named the 'Six Piece Day to Night Set' contains what I would class as everyday make-up brushes. It includes: an angled face brush, a pointed concealer brush, a highlighting fan brush, an eye shadow brush and a detailed lip/liner brush. All brushes come in their own neat cosmetic case, which they advertise as being multi-functional and able to hold evening basics.
The bag itself has an elastic brush holder inside so that the brushes are nice and secure and will hopefully get less wear and tear from not rubbing against each other, ruining the bamboo wood handles. The base is covered in a really nice, soft cork which gives an extra quirk to it, making it feel very tropical, in conjunction with the tropical green gradient sides. The bag feels sturdy which would make it possible to be used for different purposes as described however it might be a little too small for today's 'essentials' e.g: my phone.
All brushes are really soft and I love the added detail on the end of each brush which gives each brush their usage name. The three larger brushes are the softest brushes, which allows things like contour, highlight and eye shadow application to be nicer and easier. The other two brushes (liner and pointed concealer) are more rigid, which works for the liner brush, but I personally would prefer if the pointed concealer brush was a bit more flexible. I feel like if this change was made, the concealer brush would be better suited for its use as the structure of the brush makes it less practical for blending.
The Brushes
The pointed concealer brush is a little odd. I often use a stick concealer, so this brush doesn't work well for its designed use. However, I sometimes use this for inner corner highlight or for general under-eye smoking/blending.
Pointed Concealer Brush
The contour brush has a great angled top, making it perfect for creating a natural shadow at your cheek bone hollows. This is one of my favourite brushes in this set, as I like to use bronzer. I'm not a heavy contour-applier, so I generally use it all over my face which works well too.
Contour Brush
The thinnest brush is the liner brush. This is best for the lips in my opinion, although it can also be used to apply eye liner under the lower lash line. I often like to use the brush to line my lips or to use it just to make sure I have a neat line of lipstick.
Lip Liner
Finally is the highlighter brush. I'd say this is great for the cheeks, but probably steer away from using it on the cupids bow and nose. It could be the highlighter I use but I find the brush often makes my product very dusty and so fall out occurs, making me look a little like a disco ball. However, this doesn't mean the brush isn't great! And quite honestly, I'm a beginner at make up.
Fanned Highlighter
Following on from my last point, I am a beginner in make-up. You could say this is my first proper set of brushes so I am finding what they're best used for and experimenting. However I would say my favourite brush is the eye shadow brush because I love a good smokey eye and so this brush is great for blending. It's also good for initially packing on the product.
Eye shadow
Overall I think this is a set for beginners and the brushes themselves would also fit perfectly in someones bigger collection who uses make-up more often. I bought these from Boots and they cost £16.99, which was a very good price in comparison to other brushes available. They wipe clean really easily and don't shed.
I hope this post has helped anyone decide on which make-up brushes to buy. If you don't wear make-up I hope you had a laugh at me sharing my opinions anyway.
Thank you for reading my blog. If you haven't already, go back and check some of my other posts including a Stranger Things review. Please share, follow and comment below and let me know your best brush or make-up buys.
Hello. So I'm back with another blog post today about something I have been obsessed with. That 'something' is the Netflix series 'Stranger Things'.
This tv series aims to thrill, excite and intrigue. The show, released in the UK 15th July 2016, was created by Matt and Ross Duffer. The brothers tapped into nostalgic 1980's America, with a similar production style to the likes of Stephen King. It is as though the makers of this series took Alien, IT, and a little of E.T and stuck them all together.
Here's the series trailer, take a look!
Plot Opening
Without giving away any plot spoilers, the story follows the mystery disappearance of Will Byers, a young boy who lives with his Mum, Joyce and his elder brother Jonathon. With another blast from the past, Joyce is played by the brilliant Winona Ryder, who has famously acted in Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.
She plays an amazing part of a grief stricken mother, who against all odds, is fighting to find her son. The chemistry that is then left between her and her other son is made unstable, with both relatives feeling devastated by their loss. They also have to deal with a low-life Father who doesn't seem to care about the old family that he has left behind.
The cast is all-star excellence. The main group of characters in the series are; Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas are all school friends. Eleven is also a main character within this group, but you'll find out more about her lower down.
After playing a long anticipated and thought out game of 'Dungeons and Dragons' the boys leave Mike's house in the dark. I loved this scene as it introduced each character well, without showing us too much depth of character. You could see which character got most annoyed, who was the problem solver and which one was most openly emotional. The iconography definitely sets the scene, especially the well renowned chopper bike.
Once the boys part ways, Will skids off road....This is where I shall leave the story. However, my reasoning for mentioning this part, is the funny comparisons the rest of the group then relate to their home town. The road where Will goes missing is called Mirkwood, tac-tics to find Will are also compared to moves in their games and there's plenty more, so watch out for those geeky inputs.
The town of Hawkins then experiences other strange goings-on, featuring E.T. style; extra-terrestrial, sci-fi in the form of Eleven, who appears to be a normal girl upon first meeting her. That is really all I can say, without giving away too much information. However, I would recommend this show to everyone who enjoys this genre and more- I was hooked from the off.
The Analysis
Even celebrities make time to watch it! Here's Zac Efron.
What makes this show so good? Why should you watch it? What's all the hype about?
People love nostalgia, but not too much of it. This show has the right amount of a flashback feel, whilst using more up-to-date technology, special FX and better quality filming. It makes the show easy to watch and is therefore more immersible. I was hooked within the first 20mins so seriously not long at all. The next positive for this show, would be the story arc. Yes, some of the plot is a little predictable, but I quite enjoy that. It allows you to follow the story easily whilst still being shocked by some of the unexpected twists in there. Predictability isn't always bad. If we know there's someone or something on the loose taking people and a character is by themselves, the likelihood of them being killed/ injured is pretty high. The plot is so perfect for the target audience and even I was often lulled into a false sense of security, especially about some of the relationships in the show.
So before I even begin to talk about stereotypes, you can already see the likability of the show from it's traditional sci-fi roots, to a more relevant production now. One analysis that I can make about the characters are the great dynamics of them all. There isn't really one main stereotypical hero. I feel that all characters gain equal chance to appear; brave, scared, upset and logical. Some stereotypes can be seen, as that is how it would have been at the time the show is set, but the present day input is also great. Winona Ryder aka Joyce Byers appears mad and crazy through grief, so do many other female characters who are often stereotyped as being emotional. Yet throughout the show, you can see Joyce's strength and intellect, her open mindedness and understanding is what ultimately gets her through day-to-day. Another female character that I haven't mentioned yet is Nancy Wheeler, who at first seems shallow. On the other hand, her high schools struggles are very relatable, where popularity can often seem a priority. Originally an A grade student, she becomes mixed with the wrong crowd, due to wanting to please 'hard guy' Steve. Steve and the rest of the group are your average, slacking, skiving teenagers who almost change Nancy. However, as the show progresses, Nancy too becomes strong, overcomes a sense of 'evil' and challenges the traditional damsel in distress stereotype.
My favourite character has to be Eleven. I am blown away by Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, and her level of acting and believability. One of my favourite story themes is the chemistry between her and character Mike especially. She challenges traditional female stereotypes. Trying not to spoil the plot too much (this is however, shown in the trailer), Eleven is strong. She holds some incredible talents (as you can see, trying very hard not to reveal spoilers) which enable her to become practically an unconventional heroine in my eyes. The show features some bullies that the boys have trouble with, often targeting Dustin's speech impediment. Once Eleven comes along, things appear to change...I'll let your imagination think about what might happen there. You'll just have to go and watch it to find out. Her short hair, which originally makes her appear ill, gives her a rough edge to her, which is a complete contrast to what a 'normal' young girl would look like. Her dependency on an elder male role/ her want for a family is evident and so the depth of her character is revealed, yet I don't feel that this is just entirely because she's a girl...I think it shows her vulnerability through being young. This is reflected in other characters, which shows a base theme of the importance of a strong family unit.
You also know it's a good series when it receives 95% on 'Rotten Tomatoes' so go an check it out.
I hope you enjoyed this spoiler free tv series review. If you want more film or tv reviews let me know in the comments.
Hello and welcome back to my blog! Today's post is about a recent visit to Primark.
The intentions of this trip were to do some holiday/summer shopping, however, I ended up getting general, everyday clothing for typical British weather.
I love Primark. As a bargain lover and cheapskate, I appreciate a shop that provides low budget clothing.
Blue striped shirt and dark, navy jeans
Firstly, I shall mention the shirt. The fabric is really nice and soft, so I'm looking forward to wearing this. I would team it with some dark navy jeans like the ones in the pictures above, or some black trousers for a smarter look. I like that the collar isn't too structured as I feel it gives the shirt a softer appearance. The roll up sleeve option also makes this shirt very wearable for both smart and casual occasions. I love this style of clothing, where the block white colour makes the cuffs really stand out. Secondly are the jeans. I really like Primark jeans as they always fit me well. I opt for the skinny fit style, but they do loads of others. I have now got a few pairs of jeans, many of which are in this high-waisted style. I think the two items in the picture complement each other and the high-waist jeans would create a nice silhouette with the shirt tucked in.
Dark pink pinafore
Next I bought a pinafore (£10), my second from Primark. I like pinafores because I think they're really versatile, add a quirky edge to a normal dress style and I find them super comfy, which is high priority for my clothing choices. The material is suedette I believe, which makes this item also nice and soft. It's a great fit for me and is paired nicely with either a block colour top underneath or, my other go-to is my stripey knit, cropped, short sleeved top, also from Primark. I think an Autumn inspired outfit would look great with this- think white knitted bobble hat, brown boots and big scarf.
Grey NYPD t-shirt
My final item of clothing I'm going to show, is this NYPD top. A classic slogan t-shirt makes it easily pair-able with some high-waisted jeans or a high waisted skirt....As you can tell, I do like my high waisted clothing. Again, this is made out of a lovely, soft material and fits really nicely. It's not super tight or clingy, but allows for the shape of your body to be seen, if that makes any sense. It was only £6 so I thought it would be a worthy investment and addition to my wardrobe.
I bought some other bits and pieces, including; a new make-up bag in a nautical theme, some blue slip-on pumps, a 4 pack of ordinary black socks and a foldable, reusable shopping bag for a great price of £1. Hopefully, I will be able to grab some last minute holiday bits, although to be honest, I think I need a whole wardrobe revamp!
I hope you enjoyed this post, comment down below your favourite item or anywhere you'd recommend for me to go and shop for some wardrobe inspiration.
So a few weeks ago I went on a boat trip with my Mum's work colleagues. This took place from Gunthorpe, along the River Trent. The river is opposite both Tom Browns Brassiere and The Unicorn pub. There is a small car park so the access is really great. We got there about 5:45, as the boat was set to go at 6pm sharp. After paying for my trip, I'd rather the boat didn't leave without me! We got there and the friendly boat driver/skipper welcomed us on board. The boat is big enough for a small kitchen area, a patio area and a seating room. Most importantly for me, there was also a toilet, which gave me comfort on what would be a three hour round trip.
The bow of the boat. Grey skies didn't bother us!
Looking back along the boat.
The amount of time we spent on the boat allowed us to enjoy; the wildlife, scenery and calming setting of Gunthorpe and the eventual arrival in Burton Joyce (near to the Ferry Boat pub). We all organised to bring some food and drink....not least forgetting a lovely chocolate cake made by one member. After taking a few pictures of the surrounding fields and animals, I was given the chance to steer the boat. I am able to drive a car, I have driven a speed boat with a wheel, but this was a traditional 'steering pole' (not sure of the official term). This meant that if you wanted to turn right, you point the pole left....Confusing right?
The happiness I gained from being in control
You can see the confusion.
I managed to do an okay job at it as I'm quite hands on. Other members of the group also had a go, with some better than others. This made the trip entertaining and it was a good chance to ask the skipper some questions about the river, his time working the river and about the job itself. The three hours flew by, although as stereotypes suggest, women can talk and we sure did! I would recommend this boat trip for work groups, small party groups or look into using a smaller boat and just enjoying what boating has to offer!
I hope you've enjoyed reading this blog post and leave a comment about your times on water!
A challenging year at university calls for a holiday!
After finishing what had been an extremely tough year at university for me, it was time for a break. During my break, I was fortunate enough to have a trip away to Wales.
I had never been to Wales before, or at least, never a time that I could remember. The drive down wasn't actually that long from where I live, so I managed to entertain myself for the journey. It was good to have a change of scenery, pester my boyfriend for conversation and sing along to some oldies but goldies with my parents.
I would recommend going for walks if you can. We did two long walks, with the longest being 7.5 miles. A lot of car parks and beach parking is free, so for a few days, we explored nearby areas. The places I enjoyed visiting will be listed below, along with some of the best attractions and restaurants from the trip.
On one of the walks
We walked all the way to that point. This was also where we saw a seal, which explains the grainy, zoomed photo
A meal with a view
On our first full day we walked along the seafront. We discovered on that journey, a very nice restaurant called Bryan Williams at Porth Eirias, so we decided to make a reservation for the following night. Once we got there, we were welcomed by a really friendly waiter. The service he gave was first class and it made our experience even better. The restaurant was placed on the beach front and so when the sun set, everyone was getting out their cameras. I had the fish fingers, which was simply a posh version of the traditional. The food was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend had the lobster to start and that was one of the meals that stood out for me. Therefore, if you enjoy posh nosh and excellent service I'd go there for a meal out.
The view out of the window of the restaurant
Trams, tourists and taste buds
Llandudno was another nice seaside spot. And when at the seaside, ice cream and chips are a must (not at the same time obviously). I was very happy just scoffing those to be honest. Before this treat however, we went on the Great Orme Tramway, that takes you to the top of the Great Orme summit. Once we were at the top, the wind was immense, the rain hailed down and yet, this seemed to add to the character of the place. It's full of history as its tower has had many uses over the years, including a ww2 radar tower. There is also a small nature reserve and educational cove with lots of interactive things to look at.
That looming grey cloud didn't stay for long. This was the view on the tram from Great Orme
Llangollen Explorations
The aqueduct at Llangollen was a bit scary- if heights aren't for you, then maybe skip the walk along the top. If you aren't phased by heights or the narrow walkway next to the canal, then you'll definitely enjoy the views. However, once over the bridge, there is an interesting information centre and I'd say the experience was worthwhile. Llangollen itself was nice to walk around and we ended up having a tea break at the Cottage Tearooms. The cuisine in Wales allowed me to discover some new dishes that I hadn't had before, such as Welsh cakes and something that resembles a Cornish pastie called an oggie.
The viaduct (the train version of the aqueduct)
You see why I felt a bit scared? Great views though
Conwy Castle, Knights and Chips
Conwy is the final place I would recommend on my North Wales tour. On the outskirts of Conwy lies Conwy Castle. It's castle walls stretch and encircle the small sea-boarded town. The castle has seen its fair share of fights, captures and seizures and so the history here is also vast. For me, I was more interested in exploring the towers, to gaze on the views of Conwy harbour and beyond. The castle offers student discount which is always a positive for me, however, I felt the pricing was a little steep for what you can see and for how long you spend there; however, it's about the experience isn't it. After this we explored the harbour which allowed us some relaxation time; to look at the boats, the sea and enjoy a mouthful of fish and chips at the same time. There is also fresh fish sold on the front in small cups, which I always enjoy. The town is host to a knight shop, the the smallest house in Great Britain and a selection of lovely cafes.
Conwy Castle
I hope you enjoyed this blog post
Comment and let me know if you've been to Wales or
where you'd recommend to visit.
