It's been a while hasn't it?

Hey lovely people!

So it's been a long time since I last posted on my blog... Since the 25th of June to be exact... And well I wish I had a really good excuse but I really don't. 

I have just been living life with my husband and my dogs and well... time just got away and before I knew it October arrived and it really hit home that I have been severely AWOL on my blog. 

So onto a fresh, new start and a new subject. 

My cousin Lorraine is getting married next year in Cyprus and she has asked me to help her with all of the planning. She is a very busy lady, with a very stressful job and weddings are kinda my thing so I jumped at the chance. As well as this I will be travelling over there (hubby-less) with the rest of my family to watch her get married and to take the photographs (being a photographer and all) so I have decided that I seriously want to get in shape for it. 

Now I know I have said it a million times before and even put a few posts on about starting a diet... But this time I actually have something to work toward. I don't want to be working an entire day in the Cyprus heat, sweating all over the place and feeling rubbish. I want to be able to do my work and enjoy the day and celebrate with my family. So I joined my local weight watchers yesterday (which is the 1st time I have ever joined a class on my own in my whole 29 years) and I am super determined to make it work this time. 

On that note, I thought it would spur me on and make it easier for me if I brought you all along on my journey. So I will be updating my blog regularly with progress reports... Meal ideas... and I'll do a weekly round up of "What I ate" over the course of the week... Pictures and all. 

I hope you all enjoy coming along with me on this weight loss journey and I would appreciate all and any words of encouragement from you all. 

Until next time...

Take care lovelies.

xxx

Healthy Recipes

Hey lovely people, 

So in keeping with my new healthy approach to eating... and well... life... I have decided to share a couple of my favourite healthy recipes along with the cost of the ingredients. I feel that we are all encouraged to live healthier lives and eat more fruit and vegetables. However, I find that it is often overlooked that eating better often costs us double the price of a standard weekly shop, so sometimes it's not that people don't want to, it's just that they can't afford to eat better.

On that note, these recipes will not only be healthy, but cost effective. 

Warm Quinoa Salad with Grilled Halloumi

(serves 3)

Ingredients

3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 small red onion, sliced

1 large roasted pepper from a jar, thickly sliced, or a handful of ready-roasted sliced peppers

200g quinoa

500ml vegetable stock

small bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

zest and juice 1 lemon

large pinch sugar

250g pack halloumi cheese, cut into 6 sliced

1. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a medium saucepan. Cook the onion and pepper for a few mins, then add the quinoa and cook for a further 3 mins. Add the stock, cover and turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook for 15 mins or until soft, then stir through half the parsley. Heat the grill.

2. Meanwhile, mix the lemon zest and juice with the remaining parsley and oil, and a large pinch of sugar and salt. Grill the halloumi until both sides are golden and crisp. Serve the salad with the grilled halloumi and the dressing poured over everything.

Asda

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil - £1.50 (250ml)

Sliced Red Onions - £0.50 - 225g

Roasted Red Peppers - £1.40 - 480g

Great Scot Scot Quinoa - £2.18 - 300g

Vegetable Stock Cubes - £0.40 - 120g

Parsley - £0.70 - 31g

Lemons - £0.30 - each

La Doria Fine Sea Salt - £0.50 - 500g

Halloumi - £2.00 - 250g

Total Cost - £9.48

Cost per person - £3.16

I think you'll agree that £3.16 for a delicious, healthy meal isn't asking too much. I've used Asda for purchasing the ingredients, but by all means check your own local supermarket. 

So you've wolfed down that delicious meal, now you want to wash it down with a delicious and super healthy smoothie.

Mango & Banana Smoothie

(makes 1 litre)

Ingredients

1 medium mango

1 banana

500ml orange juice

4 ice cubes

1. Cut the mango down either side of the flat stone, then peel and cut the flesh into chunks.

2. Peel and chop the banana.

3. Put all the ingredients into a food processor or blender, then process until smooth and thick. Keep in the fridge and use the day you make it.

Asda

Large Mango - £0.75

Banana - £0.68

Orange Juice Smooth - £1.00

The Ice Co Ice Crush - £1.00

Total Cost - £3.43

Cost Per 250ml serving - £0.85

So there you are my lovely readers. Two delicious and cost effective recipes to help you become a healthier and happier person. I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!

Take care lovelies. x

Bourjois Instant Dry - Full Review

Hey lovely people!

So time for another little review. This is a product that I have had on my radar for a few weeks. I went scouring the internet, after smudging my newly painted nails for the millionth time, and in my frustration I found this little beauty on ASOS. 

I don't know if any of you are like me, but I change my nail polish 2-3 times a week, and I have a job, dogs to look after, a house to maintain and a husband to keep so I don't really have the time nor the inclination to wait for my nails to dry before moving!

So anyway, I discovered this little beauty, promising wonderful things in the realm of instantly dry nails and I felt super excited to give it a try. It did not disappoint. 

It is a 9ml bottle of wonder and delight, making the process of painting your nails all the more fun and interesting. All it takes is a single drop from the fabulous little dropper provided in the lid of the bottle. Just one single drop on top of your polish will, I found, dry (not harden) in about 20 seconds. 

It really is quite ingenious... and makes simple tasks like getting dressed and doing the dishes a much easier feat to achieve! You can get this little beauty at ASOS for the bargain price of £5.99... and what a price to pay for finally being able to say goodbye to smudged nails???

Hope you enjoyed this post lovelies and seriously hope, if you're a nail polish addict like me, that you will purchase this fab little life saver. You will not be sorry!!!

Take care lovelies. x

It's A Weighty Issue!

Hey lovely people,

So I recently made a decision to lose weight. This is an ever-present thought in the back of my head, due to being really overweight for quite some time now. But as serious as I thought I was being each of the other times, I didn't realise until recently that this wasn't actually the case. I often convince myself that I am absolutely well and truly determined to shift the load, but when it comes down to actually doing it, I never rise to the occasion. 

This time is different! I have not only signed up for the Juice Plus diet, but I've made a commitment with my husband that we will lose weight together.

The thing that got the ball rolling in the first place??? Lying in my bed at night and imagining my poor husband having to arrange my funeral!

Now, let me be clear. I am very overweight, however I have several visits with my doctor keeping checks on things, and other than that I am perfectly healthy. I have no ailments or disorders, and have healthy BP and cholesterol levels. I drink water by the gallon, and have a relatively healthy diet (except for the amount I eat) and so there are no immediate threats of death. But for some reason... since I was a little girl, I have always had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me I won't live past 30. I honestly don't know why, but it's a substantially heavy feeling I've always had. So being 28 and turning 29 this year, you can imagine the feeling of impending doom I am currently experiencing, and therefore this is a last ditch attempt to get myself into shape, so as to not tempt fate any more.

On that note, as mentioned before I've started the Juice Plus diet. I won't bore you all with the details but if you want to know more then just click here. The sole purpose of mentioning it though is my way of committing fully. I've committed my money and not i've committed my word to you all. I will make a point of updating you on my journey every week, whether i've lost or gained and hopefully you will enjoy being a part of this little junction in my life. 

Before I finish, I'd just like to say for the record that I don't believe that happiness can solely be found in being thin or skinny. I am a very happily married woman, and I know for sure that my husband still loves and adores me and would find me attractive at any size. This change in my life is solely for me, and nobody else... So please don't go changing yourself for the sake of somebody else. 

Take care lovelies. x

TGIF!

Hey there lovely people,

It's that beautiful time of the week where my hubby comes home to me for 2 whole days and we get to relax and unwind, go shopping, play with our dogs and all that general loveliness. 

This week has been a quiet one with not a lot on, so I've had some time to relax and catch up on some of my fave things, some of which are included in this weeks list, so without further hesitation here we go:

1. An old TV fave!

So I started watching this show when it first aired on tv and I got hooked... and for one reason or another I ended up watching it half way through season 1 and then forgot all about it. Until this week! I watched it from start to finish due to the wonder and delight of Sky On Demand and I remembered why I loved it. Even my hubby loved it. He has always had a thing for country music (passed on to him from his grandparents) and he and I both agreed that if we were American, we would be country music enthusiasts. Lol! So if you haven't watched this already, get your behinds in gear and get it done. It is quite literally fabulous!!!

2. Good Food!

So I actually have a post coming up that explains why this healthy food is part of my diet now, but in short, this week I have been enjoying eating super healthily. I've cut out wheat & gluten and all sorts of other things from my diet and I've been eating loads of fruit and vegetables and it's been delicious. Don't get me wrong, I am a big bread girl, and that has seriously been difficult to cut out, but needs must... and it's better for me in the long run (still trying to convince myself of this fact).

3. Flowers (surprise, surprise)

These were 2 very quick snaps I took of my freshly bloomed tulips and carnations yesterday. How beautiful are they??? I know I post images of my flowers a lot, but I seriously think they are some of the most beautiful sights in the world. I always feel better about my home when I have fresh flowers dotted all over the place. They give me a sense of calm and well being and they truly make me a happier person. 

4. Photography

Cindy Crawford - Vogue Jan 1990

Claudia Schiffer - Vogue May 1991

Emma Stone - Vogue Aug 2012

Kate Moss - Vogue June 2013

Kate Moss - Vogue Sept 2010

Scarlett Johansson - Vogue Oct 2006

This week, and more than I usually do, I've been admiring the work of some of my favourite photographers. I've been thinking about how I would like to decorate my home studio as right now it is very plain and boring, and I've been thinking about having some of my favourite photographers images blown up and put on my walls as inspiration. These are some of my favourite images by the ever so talented Patrick Demarchelier, the renowned French fashion photographer. These have been taken directly from his Vogue archive, and you should all know by now how much I adore Vogue magazine!!!

5. Blog Of The Week

http://www.hemsleyandhemsley.com/blog/

I am absolutely loving this blog this week my lovelies. I've recently started a health kick and I discovered these fab ladies on Instagram. This blog is filled to the brim with brilliant recipe ideas and the most beautiful images of deliciously healthy food. I seriously recommend you go take a look. You will be hooked instantly! Get following them on Instagram too, because let me tell you, there is nothing more pleasant than gorgeous photographs of delicious and healthy food popping up on your news-feed when you're hungry... it will encourage you to stay on track and not reach for the chocolate cake!

So that's my faves this week. It's a good mix of things for a change, as the previous weeks have been a little beauty heavy, and that is certainly not the type of blog I aimed to create when I started, so I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! 

Take care lovelies. x

A Little Update

Hey lovely people!

So I have been absent from the blogging world as of late, and my posts have gone from being daily to sporadically. This has been down to life and generally being out the house and away from my computer. So, on this basis I thought I would update you all with what's going to happen going forward with my posts.

I don't want to bore all my lovely readers, so I've decided to cut my posts down to 3 each week. The content isn't set in stone as such, or the days for that matter, but I do aim to share at least 3 every week with you.

That is all I'm going to share today lovely people. As ever though, thank you so much to everybody who already reads my blog. You will never know what it means to me.

Take care lovelies. x

Look back at my April Photo Challenge

Hey lovely people!

So as you know I took part in an instagram photo challenge for the 1st time this month, and as much as I intended to share each post with you everyday, it just did not happen. So on that basis, here are my submissions in their entirety for the April Instagram Challenge.

Look out for my May submissions, and feel free to take part yourself. Here is the May challenge:

Hopefully you will all get involved this month and you will enjoy it as much as I have. Remember to use the hashtag #supergorgeousmay on every one of your photos so we can all enjoy them.

Take care lovelies. x

Liebster Award

Hey lovely people!

So yes I know I said that I wouldn't be back until tomorrow, but then I noticed that the truly lovely Vicki from Not The Pretty Girl had nominated me for the following award. 

To say I'm cheesied is an absolute understatement. It has quite literally made my day so much lovelier... so thank you so much lovely lady. 

So here are the technical details: (and the bit to copy onto your own post)

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A Liebster Award is an online award for those bloggers who have less than 200 followers (I used Bloglovin). It's passed on from blogger to blogger to show their appreciation and interest in your blog. 

The rules for the award are:

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you and display the award logo.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger gives you.
3. Give 11 random facts about yourself. 
4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that you think deserve the award and have less than 200 followers. 
5. Let the blogger know you are nominating them.
6. Give them 11 questions to answers.

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So here are the 11 questions that the lovely Vicki asked me:

1. What made you start your blog?

I initially started my blog as a Photography blog, where I could share the technical details and stories surrounding my photographs - but after reading so many other Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle blogs, as well as getting really into Youtube, I decided that I would incorporate my whole life into it, as opposed to just my work... and I love it!!!

2. If you could choose a part of the world to live in, where would it be?

This is an easy one - NEW YORK!!! I've never been, but it has always been a dream of mine.

3. Do you still own any of your childhood toys? If yes, what is it?

I don't still own any of my childhood toys, but I do still have a lot of my childhood books. I just can't seem to let them go, and being a bit OCD with stuff like books, CD's and DVD's I don't really like ever throwing them out. 

4. What would your dream job be?

I'd love to be a majorly successful photographer, like Annie Leibovitz or Patrick Demarchelier - working in the fashion industry, and in major fashion magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair!

5. What's your worst nightmare?

This is going to sound sick and morbid, but my biggest nightmare is that my husband dies before me. Selfish... probably... but I just know that If I ever lost him, my life wouldn't be worth living and I wouldn't be able to cope... So I hope I never have to. 

6. Favourite animal and why?

Dogs. And specifically my dogs. I have 2 Labrador's, Oscar and Bonnie and they are quite literally my babies. 

7. Favourite musical?

This is also easy... Hello Dolly!!! :) Who doesn't love Barbara Streisand and it's directed by Gene Kelly... I mean what isn't there to love about that movie?!?!

8. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes. I am a big believer in love itself... and I genuinely believe that you can know instantly if a person is worthy of your love from the instant you meet them. That's exactly how I met my husband... and 13 years later, I love him even more than I could ever imagine was possible. 

9. Famous person you would love to meet?

This is going to sound really sad to a lot of people... but I would love to meet and pick the brain of Aaron Sorkin. He is the brains behind the TV programme "The West Wing", and "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip". These are my 2 favourite TV shows of alllllllllll time... and I have watched them over and over again to the point where I could quite literally play a part in them. He is a genius and I would love to be able to sit down with him. 

10. Favourite song right now?

I love "Imagine Dragons" new song "Demons" right now. I could listen to it all day. It's one of those songs that makes the hairs on your arm stand tall. 

11. What's your summer must have?

A good pair of sunnies (ray bans aviators are my current choice) along with some pastel and neon (yes I love both) nail colours. 

Here are the 11 random facts about me:

1. I am married to my high-school sweetheart!
2. I love... and collect fashion magazines!
3. I always have to have the volume on the TV or Radio at an even number!
4. I overuse exclamation marks in my texts and blog posts!!!
5. My favourite flower is a carnation!
6. I believe that the only way to listen to music is very LOUDLY!
7. I cannot watch horror movies... Or I will never sleep again for the rest of my life!
8. I am an insomniac. 
9. I cry... maybe... 5 or 6 times every day!
10. I have a very addictive personality - i.e shopping, gambling & internet is all done in excess!!!
11. I chose to be a photographer for the joy of taking photographs... NOT the earning potential!

So here are my Liebster award nominations: (which I have based on Bloglovin followers)

Deanna over at Tesori Belle

Harriet over at Makeup and Meringues

Scarlet over at Anxiously Bold

Clare over at Bee Happy & Healthy

Karen over at A Stitch To Wear

All of these ladies, have the most beautiful and inspirational blogs, with gorgeous photographs and loads of helpful hints and tips about makeup, fashion and life! 

Here are the questions I put to you, the award nominees:

1. What is your favourite part of blogging?
2. Who inspires you? 
3. What is the most exciting thing you have ever experienced?
4. What was the last book you read?
5. Are you an optimist or a pessimist... or somewhere in between?
6. What is the best life lesson you have ever learned/ been taught?
7. What piece of advice would you give to a newbie blogger?
8. Do you have any regrets?
9. Which 5 people would you invite to your celebrity dinner party and why? (Dead or alive)
10. What's your ultimate summer anthem?
11. Name each of your fave Hair, skin, makeup, nails & fashion items?

There you have it then lovely people. Thank you, thank you, thank you lovely Vicki for my nomination... you are a sweetheart and I love this award. :)

Take care lovelies. x

Thank You For The Music

Hey there lovely people!

Well today is Thursday and we are officially one step closer to the long Easter weekend. I'm super excited for this weekend, as not only do I have the company of my hubby for an extra day, but I have a lovely Christening to photograph on Sunday, a night out with friends on Sunday night and obviously with it being Easter, I have permission to eat lots of chocolate, without the usual feeling of guilt attached to it.

Anyway, today's post has been inspired by my love affair with music. I honestly feel like my life would not be what it is... or at all interesting for that matter... without music. I'm sure you all feel that way too!!!

So I thought I would share my current fave tracks and albums, that I just can't get enough of... and let me just clarify that these are not ordered in terms of my fave to least fave... that's far too difficult a task. I have just numbered them for the purpose of neatness and organisation. Lol!

Fave Tracks

1. Aloe Blacc - The Man

I love this song so much, not only because Aloe Blacc's voice sounds just like velvet... but also because of the influence of Elton John's Your song in the chorus. It's just a beautiful little easy listening track. 

2. Imagine Dragons - Demons

This band are just unbelievable. They are one of those bands, whose songs get into your bones. You know what I mean??? Like, every time I listen to one of their tracks, it just feels so powerful and important that I feel like the music and the lyrics course through my veins!!! Beautiful words and exceptional music to go with it!

3. The Killers - Shot At The Night

Although not entirely new, this is the most recent single release from my absolute favourite band of all time... The Killers! It's another electro-pop, indie rock fusion of splendidness!!! If you're not already a fan of The Killers, then what are you doing with your life??? Get on board & enjoy the sweet vocal styling's of Brandon Flowers, the dulcet tones of Dave Keuning on Lead Guitar, Mark Stoermer on Bass Guitar and Ronnie Vannucci trashing it out on the drums. You will not be sorry!!!

4. David Guetta ft. Sia - Titanium

This is just a classic! This is one of those songs, that in my opinion will be played in 20 years time, and remembered fondly, like "Rhythm Is A Dancer" and "Children" are now. It is just a fantastic track, with inspirational lyrics sung by the amazing Sia! I just love it!!!!!!!!!!

5. Embrace - Gravity

Now this song, is one that I loved when it was released way back in 2004, but like many other songs, I forgot all about it... until I started watching "Gavin & Stacey" a few months ago (for the 1st time) and this song was used in the final episode of Season 2. It is such a beautiful song, written by Coldplay, and graciously and generously given to Embrace. They too, recorded a sensational version of the song. 

Now onto my fave albums at the minute. 

1. The Killers - Battle Born 
This is their 4th, and most recent released studio album. It is a brilliant compilation of what they do best - write tremendous lyrics and pair them with the most beautiful music. I will never get tired of listening to them.

2. Beyoncé - Self Titled Another fantastic album from this amazing lady. It is her 5th studio album, and man oh man is it gooooood!!! She is the absolute epitome of a singer, songwriter, businesswoman, actress, model and mum. She can quite literally do no wrong in my eyes... everything she touches turns to gold... and this album is no exception.

3. Snow Patrol - Eyes OpenSnow Patrol are one of my favourite bands. I've watched them live on loads of occasions and I could honestly listen to Gary Lightbody sing all day. He has such a distinctive and soulful voice, that every word he sings feels like oxygen being pumped through your veins. This album is my Snow Patrol album of choice (at the minute) and I can listen to it, from start to finish, over and over again until I'm blue in the face. 

4. James - The Best Of
Now James are a band that I was properly introduced to by my husband and his family (who are majorly big fans of them). I had always known of them and liked a few of their songs but never really anything more than that. Now however, that is a different story. They are a great band who formed in 1982 and still to this day, are touring every year. They have written some amazingly good songs, all of which can be found on this album... and if you haven't seen Tim Booth's dance moves then you really need to check that out ASAP!!! 

5. Frozen - The Official Soundtrack

Finally, after watching (and crying all the way through) this wonderful Disney movie, I have fallen over the heels in love with the soundtrack, and find myself randomly singing out loud at the most inappropriate of times "...do you wanna build a snowman..."! Does anybody else suffer from this? I think its an epidemic that's afflicted a generation of people. Lol! Anyway, if you haven't already seen the movie then get that sorted... and soon you will understand my dilemma. 

So yeah... these are my current fave tracks and albums. And yes, like everything else in my life, my choices will of course change as often as the weather does. Hope you enjoyed reading all of my ramblings and I'll be back tomorrow with my Friday Faves!

Take care lovelies. x

Monday Wish List - All Things Ebay

Hey lovely people!

So it's Monday and it's time to share with you, a small selection of some of the many... many things I currently want in my life.

This weeks post is brought to you via the fantastic little world that is Ebay. Now I know a lot of people maybe don't like shopping on Ebay or don't trust using the site, but there are so many safeguards with PayPal, that it just hasn't ever been an issue for me. 

So this wish list is a mix of all of the little accessories etc, under £20 each, that are currently sitting in my shopping basket. 

1.Rectangle Clutch Bag - £15

2.Flower Iphone 4s Case - £0.99

3.Pair Of Bookends - £19.99

4.Beautiful Statement Collar Necklace - £8.59

5.French Glass Bottles with Cork Stopper - £7.50

6.Green Patent Flat Pumps - £11.99

7.Acrylic Makeup Organiser - £19.99

These are just some of my fabulous little finds on Ebay. I could honestly shop on there for hours... it literally has everything you could possibly want... most of the time at a cheaper price and in my case, always received without a hitch. So do yourself a favour, give Ebay a visit and grab yourself a bargain!

Take care lovelies. x

Sunday... Lazy Sunday!

Hey there lovely people!

So it's Sunday, and I am typing this while wearing my "Surfboard" jumper, leggings, leg warmers and a super red and puffy face! I have been crying non stop for the last 12 hours or so while my hubby and I had a "How I Met Your Mother" marathon. It was totes emosh!!! 

Anyway, today I don't plan on leaving the house... It's grey and chilly looking outside, and it's just not a day for going out, so after picking up a few new books from the library, and buying the new Lauren Weisberger book ("Revenge Wears Prada", the follow up to "The Devil Wears Prada"), I've decided to have a little reading marathon. 

I feel like lately, I've been engrossed in TV and the internet so much that my mind is needing a bit of an intellectual restoration. Does that make sense to anybody??? 

So anyway... I made a decision that I am going to try to keep on top of my reading, and delve into at least 2 books every month. This should be relatively easy, since my life literally stops when I get into a book, and it doesn't normally take more than a couple of days to get through one. 

On that note, I am going to dedicate a post every month to that past months reads. I will review the books I read and give you my open and honest opinion on each of them, and would happily accept any recommendations you can give me with regards to any books you think I just NEED to give a go. 

So before I go, here are the first 5 books I have chosen to read. You might notice there is a common theme amongst the bottom 4... they are all by the author Wendy Holden. :)

Take care lovelies. x

Friday Faves - My Favourite Youtubers (Part 2)

Good morning lovely people!

The sun is shining here in Glasgow and I am in a very good mood. I'm waiting on a new TV being delivered - a 50" beast - and I am chilling out and catching up on all my YouTube subscriptions which appear to have doubled since the last time I shared my faves with you all.

Anyway, I mentioned on my twitter feed, but I thought I'd also mention it here... I'm going to start featuring my favourite blog every week in my Friday Faves. I do have a list of all my favourite blogs at the minute in a list down the right hand side column of this blog - but I've decided to remove that and just focus primarily on one blog per week. I figured it's a nice way to personally get to know a lovely new blogger and get down to the nitty gritty of what they are all about and what they want to achieve through their blog. I thought it would be a super fun addition to my own post and would help you - my amazing readers - to find new and exciting reads too.

So anyway, onto today's business and the addition of 5 new Youtubers into my faves.

1. WheezyWaiter.

 

This guy is an absolute genius and comedian all rolled into one. He somehow manages to take actual real life pieces of news and current affairs, and interpret his thoughts and feelings on the matter in a funny and coherent way. I have literally never stopped watching his videos since discovering him and I think you should definitely give him a watch yourself.

2.Amelia Liana

This gorgeous lady is another of my Youtube faves who is a bit of a makeup guru. She shares makeup tips, shopping hauls, tags and all sorts of other fun and entertaining videos. She is so charismatic and normal, that you genuinely feel like your listening to a friend speaking. Definitely pay her a little visit.

3. Aaman Birk - Girl On Beauty 

So this lovely lady is Aaman and again she is super similar to Amelia Liana above in that she's a bit of a makeup, hauls & tag person. The reason I chose to share her with you too though, is because she's a really great speaker and is super confident in front of the camera. I know that's a weird thing to say really... but I have watched several videos over the past few weeks of young girls, obviously just trying to get into YouTube and they are so shy and nervous that you often can hear or understand what they're saying in the videos. That's why I love Aaman, she is super straight talking and to the point and doesn't waver on her opinions about skincare and beauty products. She's a straight shooter and you should give her vids a watch. 

4. Digital Rev TV

Ok so in my last Fave Youtubers post I shared Matt Granger with you all. He's a photographer sharing his skills and knowledge through reviews and tutorials etc. This team of experts are similar in that sense. However, Kai and Lok, break everything down into layman's terms, making everything more understandable for the less knowledgeable. As well as that, Kai is super quick witted and sarcastic and most of these videos are just downright funny, so if you're wanting to learn a bit more about photographer equipment then these guys are your best bet for learning successfully.

5. Carrie Fletcher - It Was Way Past My Bed Time

Ok, so Carrie, as many of you will probably know is the sister of Tom from McFly... and if you don't know who that is, he is the amazingly romantic guy who sang his wedding speech and shared it on YouTube and it went viral a few years ago. Ok??? Got it now??? Ok, so Carrie is Tom's sister, and she is a star in her own right. She plays a part in Les Mis on the West End in London and has the biggest and best personality a person could have. She is a tremendous singer and often collaborates with her brother and others on her page, singing songs with just the accompaniment of her acoustic guitar. To say I LOVE HER is an understatement. Every time I watch her videos she just fills me with absolute joy. She is one of those people who was sent here to be kind and make the world a better place. You would be bonkers not to subscribe to her NOW!!! 

So there you go my lovelies. Another 5 Youtubers for you to get to know and hopefully subscribe to. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Youtube is a truly remarkable place, full of super talented people, all sharing a little part of their lives, and I feel truly blessed that I am able to enjoy and be part of that... I hope you do too. 

Take care lovelies. x

I want that... and I want that... Oh and I want that!!! Part 2

Hey there my lovelies! :)

So earlier I posted my accessories wishlist, which included the likes of earrings, a handbag and some sunglasses. However, now I'd like to share with you some of the other items I've had my eyes on, specifically of the skincare variety. 

So, I'm a bit of a QVC addict. I watch it every night when I go to bed and have been watching it for the last 15 or so years. It's where I discovered Liz Earle, one of my absolute favourite genius skincare creators.

This skincare set I am about to show you, contains the famous Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. It is the absolute best cleanser I have ever used in my life... and I have tried a lot! You're skin feels so clean and smooth after each use, especially if you've had a heavy face of makeup on. This will wipe it off as easily as you could possibly imagine.

Liz Earle Essential Superskin Collection - £41.52 (£4.95 p&p)

If you were to purchase these items separately from the Liz Earle boutique or website, it would cost you a total of £75.50, so you are saving yourself a great deals of money buying from QVC, not to mention you have a full 30 day money back guarantee with them.

The next set of items is from L'Occitane, the most deliciously sumptuous beauty products and fragrances inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle, promoting well-being and an absolute delight for the senses. I am yet to find an alternative for the Shea Butter hand-cream, having tried many so called dupes and absolutely none of them coming close to the luxurious, creamy and nourishing feel of the L'Occitane collections.

L'Occitane 3 Piece Shea Hand Collection - £31.92 (£4.95 p&p)

Again, if you were to purchase these items separately from the L'Occitane boutique or website, then it would cost you a total of £46, not as substantial a saving as the Liz Earle products, but still less than the RRP. 

The final skincare set that I have chosen is from Decleor. It is the 4 Piece Salon Size Skincare Collection. This is a brand that I have had very little experience of. My mum has used Decleor products for years, and I have dabbled a bit with some of the products she had, as well as the odd Decleor facial at salons I've visited. But other than that... I'm not too familiar. Except for the fact that I have watched these items being used over and over again for years on QVC and up until recently I had never really bothered about trying them out properly. However, over the last few years my skin has become more and more sensitive and I am quite prone to have breakouts, especially in the areas on and around my cheeks. This is unusual for me, even as a teenager, I seemed to be spared of the horridly vicious acne phase. So now I've decided that this is a skincare regime I would really love to try.

Decleor 4 Piece Salon Size Skincare Collection - £80.04 (£6.95 p&p)

So yes it is very pricey, but it is after all high-end, as well as being enormous salon sized products. The thing about these items is that they are not available anywhere else, other than QVC, in these sizes. So the price comparison I am giving you is based on the standard sizes available at the Decleor boutique and website. Surprisingly, these same products, at half the size offered on QVC, would set you back £104. That's for half the size!!! So really... despite it being quite a considerable investment to make, it is one that is well worth it in terms of the value for money you are getting.

So that's all for my wishlists today lovely people. I hope I haven't bored you too much, and if you haven't already you should definitely hop on over to QVC (Sky channel 640, Virgin channel 740, Freesat channel 800 and Freeview channel 16) or visit their brilliant website here. 

Take care lovelies. x

I want that... and I want that... Oh and I want that!!!

Hey there lovely people!

Happy Thursday to you all. One more day till the weekend and I can't wait. I know I write this every week but I really do love the weekend. Not because I'm a crazy party animal or because I have a ridiculously interesting social life, but because I get to spend some good quality time with my hubby and my dogs. Sad... perhaps... but it's my little life and I love it... and I wouldn't change it for anything. 

But anyway, onto today's topic... and surprise surprise it's another wishlist... but of the accessories variety. I'm talking everything other than shoes & clothing, and today's list comes straight to you via ASOS.

1. Knot Turban Headband in Bird Print - £6 - ASOS
2. Raw Edge Lightweight Scarf - £8 - ASOS
3. Suede Fringe Clutch Bag - £30 - ASOS
4. Cheap Monday Letter Hoop Earrings - £15 - ASOS
5. "Don't Worry Be Happy" Necklace - £6 - ASOS
6. ASOS Curve "Hope", "Love" & "Faith" Ring Pack - ASOS
7. ASOS Curve Large Face Slim Strap Watch - £20 - ASOS
8. Gold Aviator Sunglasses - £10 - ASOS

I'm really loving gold right now and it appears to be creeping back into trend, along with some gorgeous bright and vibrant colours like the yellow items above. These accessories would sit well in any spring wardrobe and they are definitely the top of my wishlist. Hopefully this weather will change soon, and they won't feel so out of place in my own wishlist wardrobe. 

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 9 - "...Bright Lips..."

Hey lovelies,

Just another short post to update you with today's April Photo Challenge submission.

This was in no way, shape or form particularly challenging for me today as I am a sucker for bright and vibrant lipsticks... and any excuse to get my lippy on is a good thing in my book!

So I went with a lovely bright pink lip today... with a little bit of gloss over the top to make it pop! 

Hope you all like it. 

Take care my lovelies. x