Things I Love

Long walks in the forest. 

Lush Bubble Bars.

When the light catches the steam rising off a hot drink. 

Driving at night.

The first morning of Spring. 

Long rambly text conversations with my long-distance best friend.

New socks.

Freshly washed hair.

Falling asleep by the fire. 

Early morning productivity.

Photo walks with Con.

Early morning kitty cuddles. 

New mugs. 

BBC documentaries.

Browsing vintage stores.

A fresh pot of tea.

What do you love?

Real Life: The Uniform

I think one of my struggles with blogging recently has come from struggling to project a happy life. Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in creating idyllic flat lays, dressing up and trying new products to try and convince you to buy, and I forget why I created this blog. What I wanted, was to share my life with you guys, and real life isn't always perfect. Sure, sometimes it's fun to play photographer with cute props, and talk about pretty things, but I also think I need to get back to real life too.

And real life isn't always perfect. 

Real life is heading out to take blog photos, and getting caught in a freak 3 minute hail storm, and being soaked through to your skin.

Real life is wearing the same skinny jeans, Nikes and sweater for three days this week because it's the comfiest outfit ever. 

Real life is picking where to take your outfits photos not based on where looks good, but instead a good spot to stretch out and dry off.

Real life is picking up a giant Vanilla Bean Macchiato, and having a little splurge in Space NK to help Monday move along. 

Real life is carrying the world's biggest handbag just to fit my laptop, cameras and notebooks in.

Real life is taking blog photos and then getting annoyed because your cheeks look chubby in all of them.

Real life is windswept hair and squinting in the sun.

Real life is not being perfect 100% of the time.

Real life is not being happy 100% of the time.

 Real life right now is a mixture of hard work and family time, and very little else. My uniform is currently Topshop skinny jeans, my Nike Free Runs, and some kind of sweater. This one is one of my favourites, a Whistles number that's cosy and cute all at the same time. My parents bought me this new Kate Spade bag for my birthday, and it's perfect for carrying almost all of my possessions, whilst still looking cute. 

So yeah, this is what running around doing work days look like right now. 

Do you have a go to uniform?

SKINNY JEANS - TOPSHOP // SWEATER - WHISTLES // TRAINERS - NIKE // BAG - KATE SPADE // RINGS - PANDORA // WATCH - SKAGEN

Let's Catch Up

Hey guys,

The longer I go without posting the more guilty I feel but also the more scared of posting I become. I'm not entirely sure why that happens, but that's where we are right now.

Life is manic right now. I'm working as a freelancer, trying to launch my own business, trying to spend time with my family, all while trying to feel with the awful sense of panic and impending doom I feel in relation to my grandad's health. It's stressful, and I feel so emotionally exhausted by the end of the day that blogging about lipstick or clothes or my social life (HA! What social life?) just seems trivial and unattainable.

That being said, I've always loved that this blog is a little bit of relaxing, creative space for me. It doesn't come with the pressure or deadlines of my freelance work, it's not as stress inducing as my business, and it's not as emotionally tiring as dealing with family stuff.

I have a big list of content that I want to create for my blog, I just think I need to ease myself back into it.

I hope you guys don't mind that content may be a little sporadic over the next few weeks. I'm going to try and ease myself back into daily posting, but it's going to take a while.

Again, thank you all for your continued support and love. You guys rock.

Jaye xxx

The Moisturiser I Want To Love

Back in January whilst dealing with dry, dehydrated winter skin, I picked up the Clinique Moisture Surge Instense Skin Fortifying Hydrator Gel Moisturiser, on the recommendation of pretty much everyone who has ever tried it. 

This is billed as an intense, oil free moisturiser that helps repair the skin's natural barrier, to help keep your skin protected. It claims to keep your skin happy for 24 hours after you apply it, and is best used regularly to help maintain the skin's happy balance.

And for the most part, I agree. I put this on before bed and instantly my skin feels soothed, and by morning? Well my skin is happy. It feels plumper, smoother, softer and more comfortable. It gets rid of the dry, tight feeling in my skin, leaving everything feeling happier.

The problem though? The smell. This stuff smells akin to industrial grade acetone - not in the slightest bit subtle and extremely offputting. There's something not quite right about slathering chemical scented gel all over your face. Every time I apply this I can't help but wonder whether the long term effects are worse than the short term benefits. 

The verdict? Well, I'll use the pot up, but I don't think I'll repurchase. As much as I like the product, the scent is just too much for me!

Does chemical scent put you off using products?

The Video: Exploring Primrose Hill & Lots Of Meetings!

A weekly vlog where I attend a bajillion meetings, eat a delicious meal at Wagamama, hang out with creatives at The London Artisan Market, and explore Primrose Hill!

Things To Do More Often

Go to the beach. I live so close and yet I rarely make the most of it.

Go for drinks with my sister. Despite the fact I spend a lot of time at home these days, I don't see much of my sister since she works full time and lives across town. Last week we went out for a drink at the beach and it was so lovely just to chill together.

Get up early. I love the feeling of being up and about before the rest of the world, and I love feeling like I've achieved a lot before 8am -  but I love my bed and I'm terrible of getting out of it.

Connect with creatives. I love being surrounded by creative people, they give me so much energy and inspiration. I want to make more time for creative networking.

Film life. I want to get into the habit of filming more of my day to day life, even if it's not for YouTube, just to have to look back on in the future. Photos are great but they don't always capture moments quite like film.

Wash my makeup brushes. Still working on that one.

Walk. I used to be so good at getting my 10,000 steps a day done, but right now I suck. I generally feel more awake and more productive if I get my steps in so I need to work on this. 

Travel. Feeling totally inspired by my awesome friend Kelly who just went to Brugge on two hour notice. That's what I want. 

What's on your to-do more often list?

Easy Like Saturday Morning

Is there a better way to spend a Saturday, or indeed, Sunday morning, than brunching with good friends and cute puppies? No, I thought not! That was the way Katy, Milli & I whiled away our morning last Saturday, sat in the window of Village East, catching up, sipping coffees, & cuddling Sylvie the cutest little Westie you ever did see. 

The staff were super friendly and accommodating (and definitely kept sneaking over for cuddles with Sylvie - who can blame them?!), and bought us lattes and mint tea to our window seats. I don't know about the girls, but it took me ages to decide what to order - the whole breakfast menu looked totally delicious! 

In the end, I settled on the Eggs Benedict, which came out with perfectly cooked eggs & thick cut bacon. The girls both went for the Avocado Benedict with Feta and it got a big thumbs up from them. Sylvie was most upset that none of the plates were for her! 

I definitely need to make more time for slow brunches with good friends! If Milli hadn't had to head off to work, we definitely would have stayed for a cocktail or two, the concoctions coming out of the bar looked amazing! If anyone wants a boozy brunch soon I'm all ears!

What's your favourite way to spend a lazy weekend morning?

8 Nude Lip Colours You Need

I'm in a real neutral lip loving rut right now, and I'm totally okay with that. I just feel comfortable in a nude lip, and it's nice to have something on hand that's minimal fuss when it comes to touch ups. My current go-to's are a mixed bag of formulas, finishes and shades, so I thought I'd give you the deets on them today. 

Firstly, my favourite product from the Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani Collection, the lipstick in Ex-Girlfriend. This one is a mid toned pinky nude that's very similar to my natural lip colour, and isthe sheerest formula of the bunch. It's got a good slip to it so it's easy to apply & comfortable on the lips, and whilst it's not the most longwearing, I'm reaching for it a lot because it's so unnoticeable on the lips. 

I've fallen sucker to the hype of the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors, and my latest addition, shade 07, is no exception. This shade is a pretty cool toned pink with a hint of berry lilac to it, and is completely different to anything else in my collection. Even if you're not a gloss fan you're guaranteed to like this, it's not at all sticky and glides onto the lips imparting just a hint of glossy colour. This shade is the perfect accompaniment to a taupe smokey eye, and is a great all rounder to have in your handbag. 

I've waxed lyrical on the MAC X Ellie Goulding Lipstick in Only You a few times so I'll keep this brief. I've struggled to find a pink nude lipstick from MAC that works on me, Creme Cup was close but a little too light, but this one is perfect. I love the Cremesheen formula from MAC, it's my favourite finish, glossy & pigmented but still comfortable, it's kinda a good all rounder. 

I've been lusting after the Marc Jacobs Nude Lipsticks since they were announced, and finally got my hands on one in their Mayfair Store. I picked up the shade Roleplay which looks quite pink in the bullet but translates to a pretty, demi matte dark peach nude on the lips. I love everything about this lipstick from the packaging to the formula, and I am desperate to try more from the line. 

I got the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Naughty Nude as a gift with purchase and it led untouched for ages. I whipped this out a few weeks back and was reminded just how much I enjoy the formula of these lipsticks. This shade is your classic nude and goes well with everything, and is super affordable. 

Before picking up Blushing Mauve, I'd never tried one of the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks, but I'm glad I picked this one up. This is the darkest of this line up, and is almost a berry, but not quite. The formula is kind of what you'd expect a standard lipstick to be, nothing to write home about, but it's a pretty shade on the lips.

I've already spoken about the Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Tea Rose this week, but I couldn't leave it out. I love the soft formula of this, and the pretty pink shade too. The packaging feels incredibly luxe, and I've received a lot of compliments on this lip colour! 

I picked up the Fleur De Force Written in the Stars lipgloss just after Christmas and was suitably impressed with the formula. It's not at all sticky, but is by far the most pigmented gloss I own. It wears well and is a really flattering shade too.

Are you a nude lipstick kinda gal?

Currently Consuming #2

It's been a while since I shared what I've been reading, watching, listening to, generally consuming, on the media front, so I figured I'd share the Friday love today with a list of things for you to check out.

I recently finished reading The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A Fuck, and it was exactly that, life changing. An interesting read for anyone who spends too much time worrying what other people think.

My girl Tasha has been churning out some stellar content on her blog this month, someone give the girl a hand for the ridiculous amounts of inspiration she gives me.

I watched Ashley's latest Plan With Me video and now I'm lusting after that nude Kikki K planner. I definitely don't need another planner, but a girl can certainly dream.

I watched Regina's webinar Blog Like a Mag last week, and Serious Social this week and it got me inspired for taking my content in a new direction. Watch this space. 

The new series of Serial has been out for a while but I've only recently had time to start listening to it again. I've only listened to the first episode but I'm already hooked. 

Life and Death Row on BBC Three was a refreshingly different look at how the death penalty in the US affects so many different lives. Worth a watch if you're a fan of true crime stuff.

Since seeing her in concert last week, I've been listening to Foxes new album pretty much on repeat. The girl's got a set of lungs on her. 

I'm a big Bill Bryson fan, and really enjoyed watching A Walk In The Woods last weekend. It's got me dreaming of getting out of the country and exploring somewhere new.
Thanks to a recommendation from my girl Tami, I've been hooked on Casey Neistat's Vlogs and err, may have watched them all in the last month. Oops?
I downloaded the Streaks app and I'm totally hooked. I don't normally pay for apps but this was totally worth every penny, it's a great motivator to achieve little everyday goals.

What have you been consuming recently?

On My Wishlist

With my birthday coming up next week I've been pinning to my Pinterest Wishlist board like a maniac, and there are some seriously beautiful products on my lust list that deserve a mention here! It's been a while since I've treated myself to anything new so I think it might be time for a few birthday presents to myself? 

I've been lusting after golden cutlery since I spotted some in Habitat in January, but this set from Waitrose caught my eye during a food shop and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I'm obsessed. 

I'm totally in love with the Hygge clothing range from Mint Velvet, but I spotted this candle trio in there last month and I think I may have to treat myself. 

I've tried a few Grown Alchemist products and loved everything, so I'm keen to try out more. I ran out of my cleanser from them so may splurge on another bottle. I've also been eyeing up the Vanilla Watermelon Lip Balm and the Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream, and I noticed they are both in this set, so perhaps I'll pick up that too! 

I'm totally hooked on the Marks & Spencer Loft Range, I think I want everything! In particular, I've got my eye on this dinnerware set, and this &  these cushions. I'm eyeing up this bedding set too. So yeah, basically all of it. 

It's been a while since I've updated my wardrobe so there are a few clothing pieces on my wishlist. I'm having a real moment for Oliver Bonas clothes, in particular this skirt, this dress and this top. Swoon. 

I'm aware there's a real colour scheme going on here!

What's on your wishlist right now? 

P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest! 

3 Luxe Loves

In contrast to Monday's post on 5 of my current drugstore favourites, today I thought I'd chat to you about three more pricey favourites of mine right now. I could have made this post about 20 products long, but I figured instead I'd concentrate on three products I've been using on a daily basis. 

 Let's start with the Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder. Now, I have a bit of a love hate relationship with Bumble and Bumble, I love the products and the packaging, but I hate the pricepoint. Unfortunately for my bank account, my hair just loves Bumble and Bumble products, so here we are. I'd been eyeballing the Pret-a-Powder for quite some time and finally took the plunge on the mini bottle with some Boots vouchers I had left over from Christmas. Now, if you're after a dry shampoo to cover up third day, I really should have washed my hair last night kinda hair, this isn't your guy, but if you're after something to put a little pep in your hair on day two, this stuff is great. It gives life and volume to limp roots, messy texture, and takes the edge off of any shine that may have appeared. It doesn't leave a tell tale white cast in your hair, and I love it so much I've since bought a second bottle to keep in my handbag for on the go! 

A bad case of the flu in January led to the worst case of cracked lips I've ever experienced. Nothing was helping to soothe the skin until I picked up the Bobbi Brown Lip Balm. Yes, this is pricey, but it soothed my lips and nursed them back to health so it was worth every penny. This is now living on my bedside table for nightly top ups! 

And lastly, a shout out for my latest luxe lip colour love, I picked up the Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Tea Rose on my friend Carrie's recommendation, and I'm head over heels in love. It's got a smooth formula that's incredibly comfortable on the lips, and it's not too pigmented. It's a great every day nude pink shade that I've been reaching for on a near daily basis since I picked it up. 

So that's it from me, what have you been loving recently?

My 3 Favourite Starbucks Hacks

Okay, so these aren't really hacks per se, but it was pointed out to me last week that my three favourite Starbucks orders are all off menu (yeah, I'm that girl, I know) and I figured I should share them with you!

If you follow me on Instagram or know me in real life, you'll know I spend a lot of my time (and money) in Starbucks. I don't really know how it happened, it was kind of a slow evolution and all of a sudden the baristas in my local store knew my name. I've tried a lot of the drinks in Starbucks but these are by far the three I order most!

Starting with my go to for a caffeine fix, and the least hack-y of them all. I love me a White Mocha, but sometimes I just need an extra sugar boost, so I go in with a shot of Vanilla too. Yes, the result is sickeningly sweet, but in a very good way. Even if you don't like coffee, I guarantee you'll like this, it's the drink that got me into drinking coffee.

Three words. Cinnamon. Bun. Frappuccino. Oh yeah. You get a Caramel Cream base Frappuccino, and add in three pumps of cinnamon. Magic, I tell you, magic. The perfect one for a warm day pick me up, it's creamy AND delicious. And decidedly naughty.

In the Summer months I find it really difficult to stomach hot drinks, and I'm not an iced coffee fan, so I had to come up with a warm weather alternative to give me a boost. I try to drink Green Tea but in all honesty I'm not big on the flavour on it's own. So my favourite summer Starbucks order? An iced Green Tea, with a splash of mango juice from the Mango Passionfruit Frappuccino. Yes, they look at you weird when you order this, but man is it worth it. Refreshing, delicious and the green tea gives you a caffeine boost!

I hope you enjoyed this post, I know it's a little different to my usual stuff! Let me know in the comments what your favourite Starbucks order is!

5 From The Drugstore

I'm back today with some more recent drugstore beauty discoveries, some new and some just new to me, that are ticking my boxes right now. I'm a big fan of drugstore makeup, and it makes me so happy to find a well-priced gem in the aisles of Boots! 

First up, let's talk about the fact that it's getting easier to get ahold of Nyx in the UK! Some larger Next stores have stocked a selected range for a while, but now you can also find them online in Boots and in Selfridges in London! I had a peruse of the counter in Selfridges and was very impressed, but some how managed to exercise some restraint and leave with just one product - the Nyx Radiant Finishing Powder. I was drawn to this purely because of its similarities in appearance to a similar Bobbi Brown powder (that comes in at a whopping £42). And yeah, I'm digging this, it's definitely more natural and glowy looking than your average setting powder, and it's not necessarily mattifying, but it looks really pretty and glowy on the skin. I've been reaching for this on days where my skin feels like it needs an extra boost of brightness, which is most days in this gloomy March! 

I spoke about Soap and Glory's new colour correcting concealers in this post, and since then I've been really digging the lilac shade. I use this before my under eye concealer to help neutralise dark circles, and it's doing a stand up job. When I use this I definitely look more awake, and more radiant! The formula is creamy and easy to apply, but it blends into almost a powder finish, meaning it's super long wearing throughout the day! 

My girl Daphne sent out the Innisfree Brow Pencil in her latest Asian care package and I've barely put it down. This is a pretty perfect dupe for my Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Brow Pencil, and I love the handiness of having the pencil & spoolie in one go. 

The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Blushing Mauve has been my go to every day lip option for the last few weeks. It's such a pretty shade, not too brown and not too pink, and it's super comfortable to wear! 

And lastly a quick shout out for the Kiko Shade Fusion Trio Blush in 05, the perfect blush accompaniment to the Revlon lip colour. Matte, longwearing and natural looking on the skin, what more could you want?

What budget buys are you loving right now? 

Establishing Your Photography Style

It's taken nearly four years of blogging for me to get into my photography groove - I've gone from out of focus photos taken in warm artificial light, to finding an image style that really works for me. Whether you're a blogger or an Instagram addict (or both), having consistent imagery that can be easily identified as yours can be massively useful in growing your following and brand.

Obviously this isn't for everyone, there are no rules for blogging or Instagram, you can post whatever you like, but it can be a fun experiment to create a brand identity for yourself through your images!

Step One - Have an idea of what you want to achieve! What kind of images are you drawn to? Bright and airy images, or dark and moody? Is there a colour palette you're excited about? Do you like busy images or clean lines and blank space? Spend some time looking at the kind of images you like, create a Pinterest board, allow yourself to be inspired. 

Step Two - Do some planning! Think about places you'd like to shoot, things you'd like to experiment with taking photos of. Plan out shots to try and ideas you like so you can take photos in bulk. 

Step Three - Experiment! Lay out products or set up scenes, experiment with different angles, lighting, product placement. A lot of getting a good product shot is trial and error, often I'll start shooting something from a birds eye view, and then decide it looks better with the products stood up at eye level, or vice versa. Try lots of combinations of the same photo, you never know what will look good!

Step Four: Work in bulk. Take your photos & edit them in bulk, so you are more likely to end up with consistencies across all your images. Block out a space of time when the light is good to take photos to last you a week or two! 

What are your top tips for consistent images?

Naturisimo Skin Radiance Box

Natural skincare is something I've been dabbling in for a while now, ever since my mum started her nutrition course I've been taking a newfound interest in all things natural. I've gotten into the habit of lunchtime perusals of the Naturisimo site, and in the interest of dipping my toes into natural waters, ordered the Skin Radiance Discovery Box. 

This box is curated by the Naturisimo team month by month, and the cost varies depending on the contents, although you're always getting a good deal. This month's box was £12.95 and there's no subscription or commitment to make, you just order one single box! 

So, what's in the box? 

Elemental Herbology Vital Glow Overnight Resurfacing Cream: Marketed as an intensive overnight treatment that will help stimulate cell turnover for a healthy glow, I'm excited to give this a go on evenings when my skin feels a little lacklustre. The full size product is worth £16, so not too pricey if I fall in love with this 15ml sample! 

Caudalie Resvertrol Lift Firming Serum: This oil free serum is formulated Revertrol and Hyaluronic Acids to help lift the skin for a more youthful look. I'm hoping I can get past the weird gone off yoghurt smell because I'm super intrigued by this. 

Aurelia Probiotic Miracle Cleanser: A creamy natural cleanser that can be used to remove makeup. It's gentle and a good sized sample for travelling! It comes with a dinky muslin cloth too, which is a nice touch! 

Argentum La Potion Infinie: An ultra hydrating, lightweight face cream that helps target wrinkles, dullness and skin stress. Sounds right up my street! I've used this twice already and I really like it! 

The Organic Pharmacy Lifting Serum: At £190 for the full size, here's hoping I don't like this one! This serum supposedly uses gene mapping to restore skin cells, giving radiant & luminous skin! 

Kae Creme Argaroyale: An anti aging day cream formulated with Royal Jelly, I've been intrigued by the use of Royal Jelly in skincare, so I'm looking forward to trying this! 

Tata Harper Moisturising Mask: A rich moisture boosting skin treatment. A useful product to have around right now in the awful cold weather!

This month's box is sold out, but it's worth keeping your eyes peeled on the Naturisimo website for next month's box, as I was super impressed with this one! 

Have you tried much in the way of natural skincare?

My Top 8 Tips for Happy Skin

Having had problem skin throughout most of my teenage years, I totally understand the importance of good skin. When your skin is acting up it can really affect your confidence, and nobody wants that. I'm a firm believer in good skin and a good skincare routine being more important that makeup, so I'm sharing my top tips for happy skin!

1. Cleanse more than you think is necessary. I cleanse in the morning, when I take my makeup off, and before bed. I love the Origins Checks and Balances  and Philosophy Purity Cleansers, because they're gentle but effective. 

2. Cut out fizzy drinks. I have the occasional cup of tea or coffee, but aside from that, all I drink is water. The difference I notice in my skin if I don't get in my usual four pints of water in a day is utterly astounding. 

3. Serums, serums, serums. Serums are basically the holy grail of the skincare world, whatever your skincare concern, there's guaranteed to be a kick ass serum to combat the issue. Right now I love the Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum, which keeps my skin mellow and happy.

4. Avocados and Beetroot are a must. For happy, clear, plump skin, you want as many of these bad boys in your diet as possible. 

5. Oils are not just for dry skin. Oils can do wonders for the skin, and are not something to be afraid of if you're an oily gal. Start by mixing a drop or two of something like the Trilogy Rosehip Oil into your evening moisturiser - it's a great one for getting rid of redness and helping breakouts heal faster.

6. Have a contingency plan. Hormones and poor diet choices can override even the best skincare routine, so have a plan of action for when things aren't looking so hot. For me, that means a hot shower, a go over with an acid exfoliant, 10 minutes with the Origins Clear Improvement mask, La Roche Posay Effeclar A.I. on any spots, and an early night.

7. Cut out dairy. I can never understand people who complain about their skin, or take harsh drugs like Roaccutane to clear their skin, when their diet is still heavy in dairy. Cutting out dairy will improve everything from acne to little breakouts to eczema.

8. Look into acid exfoliants. They're less harsh on the skin than gritty scrubs, and help keep your skin looking clear and fresh.

What are your top tips for happy skin?

10 Things To Do in March

March is always a massively hectic month for me - it's packed with family birthdays, deadlines, Mother's day, Easter, lots of good stuff - but because it's so busy, I often get to the end of the month and wonder where it went. I like to set myself little to do goals to achieve to make sure I'm making the most of the free time I do have! Here's my to do list for March!

1. Have a duvet day. When your schedule is jam packed, it's easy to forget to take a little R&R time for yourself. I'm looking forward to a day on the sofa snuggled up under the duvet, eating pizza and watching Disney movies. 

2. Take an online class. After taking part in the #BlogLikeAMag webinar last month, I'm feeling super pumped about broadening your knowledge online. I'm looking into a Pinterest class for this month!

3. Buy yourself an Easter Egg and eat it way before Easter. Why does Easter Egg chocolate taste better than regular chocolate? You deserve a Tuesday afternoon chocolate treat. 

4. Have a stock photo day. Whether that means going out and taking a billion different photos out and about, or spending a day arranging products on a table to create 101 flat lays, create a ton of imagery to have in your arsenal in case you need it.

5. Save some money. For a rainy day, a trip, or an emergency, put some money away to spend on something important. I'm saving for my trip to Paris at the end of April! 

6. Get outside. With a little luck, the sun may make an appearance, however brief, this month. Make the most of non freezing temperatures by exploring outside. There's a country park near us I've never been to on my list!

7. Curate your reading list. Consider what you consume more carefully, consume less 'shallow' media, and read more creative content that's catered to your interest. Quality over quantity. 

8. Get up earlier. Even if it's only 10 minutes. Find a way to make those ten minutes count. For me it's going to be 30 minutes earlier, and using that time to run through a simple Yoga routine to wake my body up properly.

9. Treat yourself to something you've needed or wanted for a while. A new purse, a new print for above your desk, a ridiculously overpriced nail polish. I'm going to be picking up a new pair of black Topshop Jamie Jeans, because mine are a little worn now.

10. Challenge yourself. To post daily on your blog, to run three times a week, to start a project you're passionate about. 

What's on your March to do list?

Pixi Pop Up Store

 I thought today that I'd share some photos from an event I went to last week, cause darn it, it was just so cute! Awesome beauty brand Pixi invited me down to their new Covent Garden Pop Up store to learn more about their products, and I had the best time! 

Whilst I was previously familiar with a few different Pixi products (namely the Glow Tonic and the lip balms) I was honestly blown away by the sheer volume of different products that Pixi have to offer, I had no idea they had so much!

The great thing about the pop up store is that they have everything out for you to play with, so you can really get to grips with the products. The team at the store are all incredibly knowledgeable & friendly, and they weren't phased by any of the questions I threw at them! 

 If you're in London in the near future, it's definitely worth popping down to the Pop Up store! I'm excited to try out the new products I picked up, keep an eye out for my thoughts on the blog too!

The Pixi Pop Up store will be at 55 Neal Street in Covent Garden until July.

Have you tried anything from Pixi?

Ethical Jewellery

Most of my wardrobe is very simple, monochrome, classic cut pieces, so I'm always on the hunt for new pieces of jewellery to jazz things up a little. When the lovely team at Valentina got in touch and asked if I wanted to try some pieces from them, I was all ears. Not only are their beautiful pieces handmade in the UK, they also donate a percentage of their profits to charity, and the only thing better than treating yourself to new jewellery? Getting to feel good about yourself for doing it. 

Valentina jewellery comes in three different styles, chains, cuffs and bangles, in different themes. I picked out the Spring Chain, because of the beautiful blue green beads, and the leaf charm too. I love that 10% of the funds of this bracelet go to the Woodland Trust, as they take care of a lot of the parks and forests near my home in Bournemouth! The bracelet itself is beautiful, I expected it to be quite heavy and perhaps annoying if I'm trying to work since it's quite loaded up with charms, but I actually find it quite comfortable, I almost forget I'm wearing it! I've had so many compliments on it and rightly so, it's a beautiful bracelet! 

Valentina also sent me a necklace too, so I can mix and match the charms on my bracelet depending on the look I'm going for. I love how dainty and subtle the necklace is, and it really ties the bracelet into my outfit! 

So if you're looking for a Mother's Day treat or a birthday present, definitely check out the Valentina website, there's definitely a style to suit everyone!

Thank you to Valentina for gifting me the pieces in this post. As always, this does not affect my thoughts and opinions expressed in this post!