New makeup brushes

So for a very long time now I've been using the most cheap basic brushes and my fingertips to blend in my base makeup and a standard blusher brush for contour and blush, and I was getting a bit fed up of having streaky makeup. I knew it wasn't my actual makeup and I needed new brushes.

So I went on good old eBay to see if there were any good sellers. And I found an excellent one (who I will link down below) selling brushes similar to real techniques brushes. I was going to buy the real techniques ones until I found these, as I wanted to see how I got on with buffing style brushes before I went and bought the whole core collection.

I randomly decided to photograph these outside...

They are synthetic brushes and I have been using each one for a different thing:

(Left to right)
Blusher,

Contour (it is angled, but you can't see it...)
Handbag powder brush
Foundation and powder

Concealer and foundation

 

They're really soft but take a long time to dry when cleaned, so beware!
I'll leave the links to the set, the individual buying option, and the eBay shop.

 

Brush set: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Blue-Pink-Gold-Flat-Top-Foundation-Angled-Blusher-Face-Powder-Makeup-Brushes-/400499630142?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Make_up_Cosmetics_Make_up_Brushes_PP&var=670101072184&hash=item5d3fa3603e
Individual brushes: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-Cosmetic-Stipple-Fiber-Powder-Blush-Brush-Foundation-Makeup-Tool-/161004745301?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Make_up_Cosmetics_Make_up_Brushes_PP&var=460165444437&hash=item257ca17255
eBay seller: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/makeyourselfbeautiful

 

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

 

Autumn OOTD- a cold day at sixth form.

I thought I'd just share an OOTD today, as I quite liked this outfit and thought it was worth sharing.

 

Outfit

Shirt and Skirt- Primark

Jumper- Next

 

Makeup

MAC Studio Sculpt- NC20

MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer- NC20

MAC Sheertone Blush- Dollymix

Maybelline Baby Lips- Cherry Me

Maybelline Colour Tattoo- Pink Gold

 

If all my makeup disappeared...

Then what 10 things would I repurchase?

 

1) MAC Studio Sculpt foundation. It's new to my collection but I think it's safe to say that this is my new holy grail base. I don't have good enough skin for light coverage foundations and find the gel formula perfect for dry skin as it doesn't settle in dry patched like liquid's do. It doesn't cause breakouts and is surprisingly gentle on sensitive skin.

 

2) MAC Select Moisture-cover concealer... it does what it says on the tin, conceals, covers, and is moisturising- good for people who struggle with concealer going dry and patchy.

 

3) Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me... to be honest, I would buy any tinted lip balm again but this is my favourite at the minute!

 

4) Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. This is just a beauty blogger classic, and rightly so! It's brilliant and I've not yet found a better setting powder... It's also good for lazy days with a bit of concealer underneath!

 

5) No7 Maximum Volume mascara... I just love this, and have used it since I started using makeup as it's a nice natural everyday mascara

 

6) Colourworks eyeshadow quad... I use one of these colours for my eyebrows and couldn't live without it! I completely ignore the other colours and I don't even know if you can still buy it but I would repurchase if I could!

 

7) MUA Heaven and Earth Palette... I only use neutrals on my eyes so this would be all I would need for eyeshadow!

 

8) Benefit That Gal Primer... this is brilliant for when you don't have time for a full face of foundation as it just gives you a little pick me up

 

9) MAC Costa Chic Lipstick... it's my favourite everyday lippy, couldn't live without it to be honest...

 

10) Clear mascara! For eyebrows and trips to the swimming pool!

 

 

 

So that's everything I'd repurchase after having a breakdown over having no makeup... is that sad? Leave me a comment letting me know what you'd repurchase... or create a blog post about it!

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

Moving out of your comfort zone.

I decided to write this blog post after auditioning for my last ever school show this week. This is because, although I've been in the shows since year 7, I've never actually auditioned for one. This is because I have a huge fear of singing created by some not very nice people putting me down in the younger years. This year I convinced myself I would audition, and then I woke up on that morning to find my voice had gone. However, I still went ahead and auditioned and realised how much of an idiot I had been by stopping myself the previous 6 years of school!

 

Now, the audition wasn't the greatest and compared to everyone else in the room I felt a lot worse, but I genuinely didn't care for once. All I cared about was that I'd actually stood up and did it for the first time. It didn't matter that I was all croaky, couldn't reach the high notes and had never even heard the song before- I did it, and I was proud. I still don't know what the outcome is, but to be blunt, I don't really mind. I'm writing this post in the hope that at least one person will try and leave there comfort zone, for me it has always been singing in big groups behind my extremely talented friends, for other people it might be even getting involved in shows, or art, or anything that you think you'll enjoy but are too scared to try.

 

Since a very young age I've always been a very anxious, panicky person. As a child I was often on edge and wasn't extremely relaxed. When I moved to secondary school this seemed to move on to being extremely self conscious, shy and quiet, and recently it's amounted to me staying away from a lot of social situations because I'm just too scared to try and be involved. Shyness and anxiety is extremely restricting and it can feel like you just can't get out of it. So I tried to push myself in a situation where I knew everybody, the staff and students, to actually try and achieve a small goal.

 

I know a lot of people will think it's stupid to be scared of little things like singing in a room of school friends, or even going out to the cinema, but for others this is their daily reality. It's difficult for anyone to move away from their comfort zones, but it's important to do so. Even if I still end up in the chorus this year, I'll still know that I at least went for it this time, and made the most of my last year in school.

 

So whatever your fears and anxieties are- whether it be a big thing like performance or something smaller like getting on public transport alone- just know that you're not alone and you can take small steps to get over them. I still have a long way to go to get to a "confident Katie" but little steps just help to get there. I hope this has helped at least one person to know that you can get over fears in order to achieve goals.

 

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends- Review

Today I thought I'd take some time to rave about two products that have actually made a difference to the ends of my hair, unlike products I have used before that never seem to do anything. My problem is that anything that is for "treating" dry and damaged hair seems to weigh down my extremely fine hair, which is awful when I'm trying to create volume without heat to save my already damaged hair! It's like a vicious circle!

 

 

 

Anyway, to get to the point, I have been using the serum and intensive mask from the Herbal Essences "Beautiful Ends" range for around 2-3 weeks now. I first bought the serum on a whim in Poundland (yes, you heard that right, Poundland!) and used it the same night after washing and conditioning with my usual Aussie products. My Aussie haircare is brilliant, and I thought my hair was already a lot better- this somehow improved this further! This serum seems to stop that thing happening where the layers of your hair stick out at the ends and it looks frizzy, conditioning them, and smoothing them out, without weighing your hair down so you look like you've stuck it to your head. It smells great and is easy to just pump onto your palm and rub through the mid lengths and ends of your hair to avoid straightening those fly-aways!

 

 

 

I then spotted the intensive mask whilst in Wilkinson (or Wilko's as I call it) with my mum. We decided to both try it and phwoar is this good. I leave this on for around 5-10 minutes and then brush through it and rinse away. I just like to brush it to let it get deep into my scalp and that way I'm giving my brush a wash too! I use this around once a week, normally on a Sunday, and it just softens and treats my hair. The smell is again beautiful and is lovely to have on your head for 10 minutes, and makes a change from the typical Aussie scent.

 

Overall these products are lovely and I would definitely recommend hunting them out. I'm pretty sure they're stocked in virtually every English drugstore and supermarket, so they're not that hard to find!

 

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

An Autumn OOTD- An outdoor gig

So on Sunday I went to my friend Brandon's gig. He's in a great local band and I'll leave a link to their soundcloud below, as well as their Facebook page. I thought I'd share with you what I wore for my first OOTD.

 

 

 

(Looking a bit windswept after the gig!)

It was at a local park for charity and it was a mild, windy day, but I catch the cold easily so wrapped up in some knitwear!

 

Cardigan, shirt, trousers and bag- Primark

 

Shoes- burgundy high top Converse

The Gorgeous Chans:
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TheGorgeousChans?fref=ts
SoundCloud-  https://soundcloud.com/the-gorgeous-chans
 

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx



Handbag Essentials- Autumn and Winter.

So today I'm going to share what I think are my handbag essentials for the colder months. I will be using these things in Sixth Form, but also take them around with me everywhere and are just general daily essentials.

 

 

Firstly, I recommend a cream as hands can get very dry in the colder months. I like this one as you can use it on your hands, feet, body and your face so it's a good all rounder and does the job.

 

 

Next, a lip balm is a good idea to avoid chapped lips. This Nivea one is great as it has a slight tint and shimmer to it without taking away from the moisture, so means you don't have to worry about having zombie looking lips, they still look more alive and moisturised at the same time!

 

A powder is a very good idea in case your foundation wears down or goes a bit shiny, especially good for if you've been running around because you're late! I recommend a compact as it's easier, and this is next on my shopping list, but for now I just carry a powder brush with me.

 

Next is a body spray and/or deodorant as you want to smell nice and fresh!

 

This is a pretty mirror that my lovely friend Eleanor gave to me, and it's a handy size for checking makeup and doing quick touch ups. Great if your school doesn't allow makeup, you can put a little (unnoticeable) amount on in the toilet to avoid detentions!

 

Hand sanitizer- you never know what germs are around! And good to clean your hands before makeup touches to avoid dirt induced breakouts!

 

I just carry a small brush, bobbles and clips for when my hair isn't behaving, or the wind keeps blowing it into my face!

 

This is the little bag I keep it all in, along with lady things, tissues and some painkillers, as these are all handy to have too!

I hope this was helpful or insightful for some people,

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

My new obsession

Recently I've been absolutely obsessed with my MAC Red lipstick as I'm really pale and always thought it would look too bright on me. Yet with the whole Marilyn Monroe look coming back in I've realised a red lip can suit pale skin.

 

So if you've always been afraid of a red lip, then give it a go, you never know, it could look a lot better than you would imagine.

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

Smart Lookbook

So I thought as many people are going back to school, college and university and the Autumn Season is starting for those at work, it would be nice to style up some smarter outfits for those of us who have to dress smartly for school and work as I'm one of them myself. Many of these outfits are transitional from warmer to colder weather due to a lot of layering, and can be swapped around in a capsule wardrobe type way.

 

 

The first outfit is a very Autumn suited one, with muted greys and blacks but speckles of mustard yellow running though the print (Which you sadly can't see) This can be paired with a jacket, coat, or blazer to smarten things up and to keep warm. You can also ditch the tights and cardigan for a cooler outfit.

 

 

 This one is definitely a more summery, smart look as it's much brighter, so good for warmer countries or just brighter days. Of course tights and a coat could warm this dress up- or just a blazer like I have added in the middle photo.

 

 

 This is one of my favourites as the printed dress paired with little vintage boots looks quite 40's, as well as being very Autumnal and fitting with the inevitable English rain...

 



This outfit is a really good one for transitioning from late summer to early winter as the key piece- the skirt- is navy and white, a classic all year round colour scheme. It can be wintery with a coat or suited for late summer with a cream cardi and clear tights/bare legs, depending how brave you are!

 

This is personally my utter favourite from the lot as I love the pinafore dress. It can be paired with shirts of nearly any colour, t-shirts, crop tops- nearly anything- and still looks great. It's really good for moving from summer to winter as it is easily layered up, or brightened up!


 

This outfit is simple and plain, and can be smartened up more with a blazer and is nice for a fast paced morning as it is easy to throw on.

 

 

This final outfit is one of mine that I always go back to. I often wear this to sixth form as it's smart, classic, and the contrasting prints liven things up a bit.

 

Hope you liked these outfits! Comment below what your go-to autumn looks are for smarter occasions like work, interviews or posh do's!

Lots of love,

Katie xxx

 

My everyday makeup look

So I thought I'd share what I've been loving to use as my everyday makeup look. I like to have very natural and minimal makeup as I'm still young and don't like looking cakey and plastered in makeup.



My everyday look.
 

At the minute I'm enjoying pairing a more red-toned blush with neutral shimmery eye shadow and a subtle coral lip. These are the products I use to get this look:

MAC Studio Sculpt foundation in NC20
MAC Select Moisture Cover concealer in NC20
Benefit That Gal Primer (small size)

MAC Sheertone Blush- Dollymix
Bourjois Bronzing Powder- shade 52

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette
(Bottom row 2nd and 3rd colours)

 

Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care Mascara- Ultra Black

 Non-branded clear mascara and shadow works palette (eyebrows)

 

 

MAC Frost Lipstick- Costa Chic

 

So that's what's on my face right now!
Lots of love,

Katie xxx









 

 

My August Favourites

So it's finally September! And that means three things: Back to School, Spider season in the UK and August Favourites! I've actually been looking forward to writing this post as I have been loving so many new things this month!

 



Leather Jacket- Topshop £58
Shirt- Local shop
Dress- Miss Selfridge
Shoes- Dr Martens

So my only fashion favourite this month is my faux leather jacket, pictured above. I've been loving this so much as even though it's still summer, I feel the cold very easily and it's not that warm in England right now! It goes with everything I own bar my disco pants so I've been wearing it non-stop! My family actually keep making jokes that soon I'll need some new superglue to glue it back on again...

 





So at the beginning of August I had a big breakout and my skin dried out and I felt rubbish about my skin, and so decided to try out the much raved about MAC studio sculpt to try and hide my hideous skin. And this does just that! The colour range is great for my extremely pale skin, something that drugstore foundations fail to provide. In this foundation I'm shade NC20 as I have very olive-yellow undertones. The coverage is amazing and the formulation is lovely to blend and easy to work with. I first thought it had a hefty price tag, but it is apparent that this will last a long time seeing as you need the tiniest bit.

 

 

Staying with the MAC theme, this month I decided to delve into the world of red lipstick, pondered over Russian Red and Ruby Woo- but eventually ended up with MAC Red, which I'm so happy with. The colour is a pinker toned red, but still nice and deep- which makes it less bright. It's a satin finish which makes the staying power amazing and is not too drying on the lips. This lipstick is such a nice red one- the best I've ever owned for fair complexions as it's not too overpowering and doesn't wash me out.

 

 

This No7 Intense Volume Mascara is not one that I use every morning, but always have in my handbag as it's the mini size. It's just a natural, enhancing mascara that is handy for on the go, doesn't drop onto my face and lasts a long time- it's quite dramatic so handy for nights out or for glamming up your tired morning makeup!

 

 

My next makeup favourite is the MUA Heaven and Earth Palette. Yes, I'm late on the bandwagon with this one, but oh am I pleased with it! The colours are all extremely wearable and there's not one that I dislike- a rarity for me with palettes! They are long lasting and overall just great everyday eye shadows.

 

 

I have also been loving this Primer from Benefit this month (the trial/travel size) as I've not been wearing too much makeup, so this is good for making me look more awake really quickly. Today my friend even said she thought I had foundation on my skin looked that nice- a massive compliment for someone with skin as bad as mine!

 

 

And last but definitely not least, are the Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paints from Barry M. Again, kind of late on the bandwagon with these but they're so good I have no choice but to rave about them! They last well over a week and are so easy to apply. The colour range is beautiful and I have (left to right) Prickly Pear, Lychee, and Blueberry. Three lovely colours. I chose these as my nail polish collection was lacking any lilacs, blues and nudes so I stocked up with these!

 

I hope you liked reading all about my favourites this month, leave a comment telling me what your favourites were!

Lots of love,

Katie xxx

About me

Hello everyone, today I thought I'd just share some more things about me!

 

10 random facts about me:

I'm tiny. I have to buy children's shoes and my head is extremely small.

I cannot go out without a cup of tea first, I just don't wake up!

I'm a bit obsessed with candles and makeup brushes.

I am extremely gullible.

I'm frightened of crowds and masses of people.

I'm very chlostropobic.

I love ballet dancing but had to stop because of a knee injury.

I break very easily.

Me and my friend Emma act like mother and daughter half the time, because she is very tall and has her head screwed on the right way.

I live in England, and between me and Kirsty, we are the definition of British.

 

And some random questions!

1) What is your all time favourite TV show?

Miranda. Oh how I love her, and Stevie, and Gary and Penny and everyone. If you haven't watched, it's a British comedy.

2) You win the lottery. First thing you buy?

A house for my brother, one for me and give money to charity. Then I would go mad in London shops and go on holiday.

3) Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years time? Job, where you'll be living etc

I honestly have no clue! Probably being a teacher, married in a little cottage with children would be lovely.

4) What is your best beauty tip that you live by?

To cleanse and moisturise instead of using face wipes- at age 13-16 I always used them and it started my acne of... :(

5) What's your favourite thing about blogging?

Being able to talk about everything I don't usually talk about, and to have a space that's completely mine to say whatever is on my mind.

 

6) You get given one magical power. What would you choose and why?

Basically, to own the Tardis. So time travel, just because it would be awesome.

 

7) Who is your biggest fashion icon whose style you worship?

Taylor Swift in her early days. I think the country, girly style is lovely and just timeless. Especially her hair and iconic red lip.

 

8) If your entire makeup/skincare/hair product/clothing collection was destroyed, what would be the first thing you would repurchase and why?

My MAC studio sculpt foundation, because I have horrible skin and need to cover it up.

 

9) What is the one thing in your wardrobe that you will always wear, no matter what is in style?

Skinny jeans. They're just comfy and go with everything.

 

10) Who or what inspired you to create a blog?

Zoella; she was the first blogger I discovered, and also Sprinkle of Glitter, as her motivational videos on YouTube are just the best.

11) What is your currrent favourite song, and your all time favourite song?

My current favourite would have to be... Eye of the Tiger by Katy Perry, and my all time favourite is probably Perfect by Pink... just love them both.

 

12) What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning, and the last thing you do before going to bed?

The first thing I do is check my phone and the last thing I do is wee. Yeah that's right, I just announced that on the internet.

 

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

Along Came Betty Hot Cloth Cleanser: Review

So I mentioned in my beauty Q&A that I wouldn't repurchase the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, yes this sounds absurd and is probably controversial as everybody loves this cleanser. However, with extremely dry and sensitive skin, having mild acne, psoriasis and eczema, this product just didn't work for me, however I did like the way a hot cloth cleanser works, so I went on the hunt for a different one, and found this:

  

The bottle and cloth come in the box.

 

So I was casually browsing the shelves in Tesco and came across this. The price of this cleanser is usually £3.49 and was on sale for £2.33.Yes it was extremely cheap, but I'm not afraid of cheap skincare as long as the ingredients look good- and these do. This cleanser has Shea butter, cocoa butter and antioxidant cranberry.  I'm not over keen on the packaging, however I prefer the tube to a bottle as I just think it's easier to use all of the product up, and as it was cheap I can't really complain.

 

The smell of this cleanser is absolutely divine. It has a fresh sent, but isn't too sweet, or fruity, and is definitely not overpowering. It doesn't leave a sent on your face after it's washed off, and the smell is completely natural. The smell comes from the Shea butter, cocoa butter and cranberries, and the mix of the sweet cocoa butter, fresh Shea butter and fruity cranberries creates a near perfect sent. The reason why I'm raving about the smell is because it makes it soothing enough for night time and doesn't wake you up like the Neutrogena passion fruit face washes, but at the same time it is still nice and refreshing for the morning- good, as I like to stick to one cleanser for the morning and night.
 

Photo of product itself.

 

The consistency of the cleanser is beautiful. It is very creamy, and almost like a moisturiser, and this makes it perfect for my dry skin. It doesn't foam up which is good because soap suds and foam on dry skin doesn't help a lot. I'd probably stay away from this if you have oily skin, as I think it would be too moisture rich for you. It's lovely to wipe away and makes cleansing really easy.

 

However, I'm not a massive fan of the muslin cloth that comes with this as it stains quite easily, looses it's shape and isn't the softest one I've tried- but again, for £2.33 with a cleanser and muslin cloth, I can't complain- I'll just be using a softer muslin cloth. Another thing is that it says to avoid the eyes, and it does sting if it gets in. I still use it to remove my eye makeup, but I have to be extremely light handed and careful... not great when you're in a rush and you then have a bright red eye... but that's just me being too lazy to use a separate eye makeup remover...

 

Overall, I love this cleanser- it takes off my makeup, cleans my skin, and, as the name would suggest, does clean out my pores. I haven't seen a difference in the size of my pores yet, but I wouldn't expect it this early on. However my skin does look a lot brighter and feel much more hydrated, so thanks to this brand "Along Came Betty", which I believe was launched in March this year, for this really good product. The rest of their range looked extremely intriguing so I can't wait to try more out!

Link to the full range: http://www.tesco.com/direct/search-results/results.page?icid=spiffy_along%20came%20betty_spf_along%20came%20betty&catId=4294967294&searchquery=along+came+betty&SrchId=4294967294&_requestid=2307579#

Direct buy link: http://www.tesco.com/direct/along-came-betty-skin-cleansing-kit-porefectly-clean-100ml/420-8161.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=420-8161

 

Lots Of Love,

Katie xxx 

A little beauty Q&A

I thought as this is my first proper beauty related post, I'd do a little fun Q&A to get things started.
 

·What’s your favourite eye shadow colour to wear?
Neutral browns and sometimes a burgundy in the crease, at the moment my favourites are the MUA Heaven and Earth Palette.

·What’s the one product you wouldn’t leave your house without?
Lip balm, I get extremely chapped lips whether it be summer or winter, so I get really wound up if I accidentally forget it.
 
·What’s your favourite makeup look ?
 My favourite makeup is my go-to winter look- a creamy white shimmery eye shadow with light pink cheeks and a natural lip... I just think it looks nice when it's all snowy!
 
·Which feature do you play up the most?
My eyes, I have quite large very green eyes so I like to make the most of them.
 
·Which feature do you try to downplay/cover up?
Urm, probably my skin... that sounds weird, but I get acne quite badly so I do like my concealer and foundation!
 
·Your favourite makeup brand, if you could pick only ONE to exist?
I would say MAC, however because it's so expensive, I could never afford to buy variations of makeup for different looks from them... so I'd have to say Maybelline as they're the only drugstore brand that do base makeup pale enough for my skin!
 
·Which product have you re-purchased OVER and OVER again?
My AVON hair mist, it's like a leave in conditioner and makes my hair look and smell so nice!
 
·Which product would you NEVER repurchase again and why?
The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation... don't get me wrong I love the formulation of this, but the lightest colour is way too dark for me. Also, the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, again, love the product but it breaks me out, which is a shame because it was lovely to use :(
 
·One beauty treatment you would always PAY to have done?
Eyebrow waxing... I'm not too good at shaping my eyebrows, so I like to have them shaped around twice to three times a year, and then I can keep on top of them for a while.
 
·One beauty treatment you would NEVER pay to have done?
A leg wax... I can do that myself in the comfort of my own home.
 
·One beauty trick you can share with everyone?
Urm... one would be that Germolene, Sudocreme and Savlon are really good for banishing spots as they don't dry your skin out, don't create oils, and they're antiseptic so they kill all the germs and bad bacteria in your spot... which in turn kills the spot! It's great used with an anti-redness treatment as it doesn't really help with redness, but it does calm inflammation.
 
·Best advice you've ever been given regarding beauty and makeup?
To use a primer. Up until a few months ago I had never even heard of a primer, and now my new purchase of ThatGal by Benefit is my saviour. It makes my skin look a lot better, even before foundation!
 

So there's my little Q&A, if anyone has any suggestions for more beauty related posts then please leave me a comment!
Lots of Love,

Katie xxx 

Time goes so fast!



So this week has marked the 4th birthday of my beautiful little niece, Lacey, and all the celebrations have bought along a realisation of how much things change over what seems to be no time at all. So in today's post I take a bit of a trip down memory lane *sniffs*.

Me, my brother and my niece on the day she was born.
  

 This photo is one of my favourites, as we all just look so happy. Now you're probably thinking that I look about 7/8 in this photo, but I was in fact 13 at the time! This photo makes me happy and sad all at the same time because part of me is happy of how much I have grown as a person, and how much my brother has become an amazing father to a wonderful little girl- but I can't help wish we still had that little baby to cradle and I still had years before I had to go into the adult world! (eek!)

 

About 3 months ago

 And this is us a few months ago! Now things have definitely changed! My niece is a walking, talking, happy little girl with bundles and bundles of love and is extremely loud! And I've come a long way too, from being extremely shy and trapped in a not very nice circle of friends, to being still shy but surrounded by amazing people who bring out the best in me- and it seems as my niece has grown up, I've learnt to be a responsible adult- too!

Now it's nearly September and my niece is going to start full time school *sniffs again* and looks adorable in her uniform! And that means I have to start back at my Sixth Form in my A2 (final) year- really looking forward to exams, a retake, UCAS and personal statements! Not! And I can't help but think how much time flies! I still remember the day my niece was born, and how everything was a doddle being in lower school, but I'm thankful for how much progress we have all made and if I admit it, am excited to see what lies ahead!

I'm sorry for the rather pukey, babbly post, I hope you've learnt a bit more about me now!

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

 

How to de-stress after a hard week

Hello everyone, so today's post is going to be about how to calm down after a long hard week, and when better to do it than before a bank holiday?

I'm mainly writing this post because I've had one of those weeks where everything that could go wrong, well, it went wrong! And I find myself needing a bit of downtime before I can even think about my hectic schedule for next week, and I realise everyone gets like this sometimes so how do you snap out of feeling stressed, lethargic and like you're a volcano about to blow? Well I have some top tips!

 

Firstly, I'd recommend sorting out your schedule- maybe with a notebook or a whiteboard, just jotting down things that need to be done, so it's clearer in your head. Now this may seem like a massive bore, and like you'd be overwhelmed by a long list of things, but it actually helps to be able to prioritise things, and allows you to plan specific times for yourself, and for socialising.

So, once you have some slots for yourself planned into your diary for the week, you'll know that you probably won't be so tired at the end of the next week. Now, I hear you saying, but what do we actually DO to have some well earned downtime? Well, here are some things that I like to do when I'm a tad overwhelmed and stressed:

 

1) I like to have a nice long bath with some lovely bubbles and have a nice long soak- this helps to calm yourself down, relax, and also to relive tired and aching bodies! After a bath I like to put a face mask on, paint my nails, and basically pamper myself until I feel a bit better!

2) Another thing I recommend is just relaxing in front of a movie with a nice beverage. Sometimes just taking some time out for a movie with a nice drink, whether it be alcoholic (if you're of legal drinking age, mind) hot, cold, fizzy, or just a glass of ice water, can really help to relax you, and movies in a dark room can also help your eyes feel heavier before bed.

3) I love to read when I'm stressed, whether it be a sad book, or a happy one. Sometimes putting yourself in another person's mind can help you forget your own problems- if the character is happy, you're happy for them, and if they're sad, you appreciate your situation a bit more.

4) Music is also another good one for relaxation, whether it be playing music, or just listening to it, it can really help you to calm down a lot after a hard week.

5) Finally, and especially good if you have the day off on Bank Holiday Monday this week, a nice walk in a pretty natural area can really help calm you down. Whether it be walking through a park to get somewhere else, or driving to a nice nature reserve, it really is nice to be outdoors in some fresh air to clear your head a bit!

So, there are all my top tips for de-stressing, either at the end of a hard week, or just after a bad day! I hope that this has helped someone out there!

Lots of Love,

Katie xxx

Hello!

 

Hello everyone, so this blog will mainly be beauty and fashion, with many lifestyle and design posts thrown in along the way. I decided to title this Blog "All the little things in life." because I think that it's these little things that make life so special. Little things like a walk in an empty field, or a cup of tea with your mum can really enrich your life. So, who am I, and what do I love in life, besides these "little things"?

My name is Katie Louise and I am 17 years old, soon approaching 18. I am starting my second year of A-Levels this September and am hoping to study History and English to degree level. Besides my love for literature, reading and all things historical, I absolutely love the world of fashion and beauty, and how you can express yourself through it.

I am quite an introvert, and this is why I like to use style as a way to express the type of person I am, without having to say much. I love that putting one outfit together can say so much about you, and so can your bedroom, or house. Walking into my room, you can learn so much about me that you wouldn't already know; like my favourite Bible quotes, and that I have an extreme love for the piano and guitar. You could also learn that I ballet dance, and that I absolutely love flowers and butterflies. I think that the fact one room can express so much about a person is fantastic, and that's exactly why I love style, and fashion.

My love for all things fashion and beauty has recently increased as I find it a way of expressing positive emotions. Instead of looking at yourself in the mirror and detesting what you see, it's nice to be able to be rational. You don't like your freckles? Foundation! You think your hair is bland? Hair dye! Fashion items and beauty products allow us to make ourselves look a bit perkier, and feel more confident in our own skin, and that's why I love them so much! Not because you can hide the natural you, but so you can enhance it along with your confidence so one morning you can look in that mirror and think "you know what, I look great without makeup" and embrace those freckles and blemishes!

I have not yet reached that stage, and still find myself reaching for the makeup bag every morning, but I hope that I will reach that stage, and although I'll always love my makeup and beauty products, one day I'll be less reliant.

So, with this blog I aim to review products, rave about my favourites, talk about self esteem and confidence issues, and also just have a good old natter about whatever it is that's at the forefront of my mind. If anyone has any post suggestions or questions, feel free to comment them below!

Lots of Love,
Katie xxx