My Experience Bucket List

More, of a lifestyle, chatty post today. At the beginning of this year I said to myself I want to do more things. Whether that was travel more, go out more, or go to gigs / festivals.. I just wanted to DO things. Before when it's come to spending money on experiences I've held back because 'it's too expensive,' but last year I went to so many more events, like gigs, and holidays and I had the time of my life.

One thing I took away from last year is, experiences are so much more important than material objects. I could tell you almost everything I did last year in regards to travel, or going places, but I couldn't tell you everything I bought.

I started this year without a job, so committing to doing stuff has been difficult, but that hasn't stopped me. Going out doesn't have to be expensive, I managed to spend five days in Brighton, and it cost me £24 for the coach there and back, was it the best £24 I've spent this year so far, yes.

My Bucket List

City Breaks

These are definitely at the top of my list this year. At the end of last year me and Toby visited Paris for four days, not only did we get an incredible deal, we had the most insane time. City breaks don't have to break the bank, and can be a great chance to just get away for a couple of days.

Places I want to visit:

Barcelona

Edinburgh

Rome

Friend Holidays

One thing I've never really done before is a friend holiday, mainly because it's always so tricky to actually organise a time when you know you and all your friends are going to be free, but it's definitely something I want to put the effort into doing this year. I am so lucky to have such an amazing group of people around me, and I want to be able to have more experiences with them.

Festivals

I have never been to a festival... which for me is the craziest thing, mainly because I know I'd love them. Festivals honestly sound like the best thing ever, I've just never gone to one. I can not even begin to describe how much I enjoy concerts and gigs, and last year I got to see three of my all time favourite artists (some twice) and loved every second of them. So this year a festival is definitely on the list.

Anything NEW

So this last one is a bit vague, and I don't think I even really know what I mean, but I just want to try new experiences. Like at the beginning of this year I went Ice Skating for the first time. Last year I did kayaking, I thoroughly enjoy trying new things, whether I love them or hate them, I will give anything a go, and I want to do more of that this year.

What's on your experience bucket list this year?

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Eventbrite, an event registration company are encouraging people to get out and spend money on their experiences, and their mantra couldn't be more fitting to me. If you are interested in setting up your own event, take a look at their event registration page

I'd also love to know some wacky things you've either tried or want to try, so either comment them below, or come say hello over on one of my socials!

twitter

instagram

facebook

Thank you very much for reading,

hugs and kisses

nads

My Hair Timeline

My Hair Timeline

Throughout the years I have had a range of hair styles, and hair colours, from bright red, to 'caramel' ginger, to a lob... the list goes on. In the past year or so I've definitely changed my hair a lot, so I decided to take you through my hair timeline. So sit back, and get ready for some ultimate cringe throwback pictures!

2007

Throwing it all the way back to 2007 (maybe), this was pretty much my hair all the way up until year 7, mainly because my parents wouldn't let me cut it, but oh do I look back and wish I'd listened.

2010 

(yes that is olly murs ha) As soon as it got year 7 and 'emo' haircuts were in I was all over it. What nobody told me was my hair was too thick, so those heavily layered 'gothic' haircuts didn't really work on me. Especially when it used to take me two hours to straighten my hair!

2011

So, things were getting better, I'd learnt to tame my hair, and I decided to dye it bright red (this picture doesn't do it justice - although used to be one of my favourite photos!) This hairstyle didn't last for long though.

I got bored...

and had the chop. (I hated it)

2012

New Years Eve 2012, with one direction around me, my hair was the shortest, and reddest it had been. Not such a great way to start the new year, and unfortunately... it doesn't get better.

Ok... so it got a little bit better, this probably being the best it had looked since the chop, but my full fringe never lasted long, something which I never learnt (have only just really learnt).

This is quite possibly the worst my hair and I have looked, this photo doesn't quite do the hair justice. My intention was that it would be a honey, caramel brown. Well it turned out orange, with burnt red ombre... 

2013

After realising what a horrible mistake I'd made, I backtracked to my natural hair colour, and let it grow out!! (oh yea and that time i 'met' harry styles)

Skipping ahead a good few months, after I'd left school, my hair had grown, oh and I was obsessed with Zoella, I decided to get my hair ombred yay heart eyes!

2016

I then pretty much stuck with this hairstyle, reombreing it so it was lighter, and going further up etc (this picture was basically all my hair goals) but guess what... 

I got bored.

And... I went back to my natural colour. At the time I loved it, but where my hair had been bleached, and dyed, it was dead and wasn't growing so...

Again came the chop... In long term I think it has done my hair a load of good, but I can't help get a little bit bummed down just because I want my hair to be longer, but it will grow... eventually...

NOW

(featuring toby) This picture was taken end of last year but my hair fortunately hasn't changed since, apart from a trim. If I could go back to any haircut, it would definitely be my long ombre, but I'll get there again, eventually!

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So that was my hair timeline, and some incredibly cringe photos, but I love looking back and seeing how much my hair has changed over the years.

Do you change your hair that often? What would your hair timeline be like?

Thank you very much for reading,

hugs and kisses

nads

Updated Skincare Routine | March

Updated Skincare Routine 

At the beginning of this year one of my 'resolutions' was to look after myself more, or have more 'me time,' this included looking after my skin more. In January I wrote a post about my new skincare routine which I'd started in December, so I thought I'd give you an update on what products I'm using now and how my skin is looking.

Since the beginning of this year I have definitely added more products to my skincare routine, and got more clued up on my skin. I have also now started doing an evening, and morning skincare, which has made so much difference to my skin.

Throughout January / February my skin was becoming quite problematic and I was getting lots of spots but mainly on my cheeks, as well as small lumps (which looked like clogged up pores) on the tops of my cheeks / around my nose, and I couldn't tell if it was my skincare routine or hormonal, but being on the pill it seemed strange that I would start getting acne, as it's meant to prevent it.

I visited a Bobbi Brown counter, and the assistant gave me advice on my skin, saying that I had a lot of dead skin, mainly from where I never really exfoliated, so since I've added that into my skincare and have seen a lot of improvement, especially with my 'clogged pores.' 

Liz Earle Cleansing Set | Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream | Bobbi Brown Radiance Boost Mask

My evening skincare hasn't changed too much, other than the addition of the Bobbi Brown products. I  am still loving my Liz Earle cleanse and polish, and it seems to really be lasting, especially the moisturiser and toner.

The new products which I am using are the Bobbi Brown Eye Cream and Radiance Boost Mask. I touched on this in my February Favourites but I have always had problems with under my eyes, and product staying there, and it turns out that they were dehydrated. This is definitely my new miracle product, but obviously not everyone can afford to spend £33 on an eye moisturiser. I will say though that it is worth the money, and I've been using it for around a month now, twice a day and you can barely tell that it's been touched. 

The Radiance Boost Mask I use once a week (or when I remember) and leave it on my skin for around 5 minutes, then massage off with warm water to try and remove my dead skin, I then follow this with my toner, etc. I have noticed it makes a difference and I am seeing a lot less lumps under my skin, as well as it feeling generally softer and smoother.

Simple Cleansing Oil | Simple Pore Minimising Toner | Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base | Bobbi Brown Pore Perfecter

My morning routine has very quickly become one of my favourite things. I had been using these Simple  products before I purchased the Liz Earle set, but there was something about putting oil on my face that freaked me out a bit. I have combination skin, which can sometimes be oily, sometimes be dry, it really depends and in my head, whenever I put oil on my face I immediately thought it was going to get greasy. Since then however I have realised this is not the case. The great part about making this my morning routine, as opposed to using it to remove my make up is, I didn't feel like it did a deep enough cleansing, where as in the morning it makes my skin feel super hydrated, clean and bright.

I never used to bother with a morning skincare routine because I was too lazy, but now I wake up, brush my teeth and pop on the simple products and it's so quick and so worth it. The products I would say are quite expensive for Simple but they always have offers on, and I'm pretty sure I bought these when they were half price.

Along the lines of moisturising, I am still using the Bobbi Brown Enriched Face Base just before I apply my make up and slowly I have become to love it. At first I wasn't sure, but I think that was mainly because I was using the wrong foundation. Another addition which I had to repurchase when I saw it in a beauty outlet was my favourite primer, the Bobbi Brown Pore Perfecter Primer. I got a sample of this last year and immediately fell in love, and was gutted when it ran out end of last year. It's one of those primers where I actually notice it makes a difference, and my foundation goes on so smoothly. Another product I use before applying my primer is my hydrating eye cream.

That is my updated skincare routine!!

I have been loving my skin recently and have been noticing such a change in the feel and look of my skin, and I am getting less spots (woo woo)

What skincare products do you love using?

Thank you very much for reading,

hugs and kisses

nads

February Favourites

February Favourites

I probably say this every month, but how is it already March! This year is already going so quickly and what's even scarier is in two months I won't be a teen, I am not okay with this.

anyways... I have never done one of these posts but I've been loving so many products this month so I thought I would share them with you!

Beauty faves

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (Shade 55 / Dark Beige )

This is new to my collection and, well I love it. I had been using the Bobbi Brown skin foundation, and really wasn't getting on with it, so I tried out the Bobbi Brown longer lasting and MAC pro-longwear foundations (just in little sample pots), when I came across this one in Superdrug. I have tried Bourjois foundations before, but there is just something about this one that is a great mix between healthy, and heavy coverage, my ideal foundation!

Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Peach)

Under eye concealing has always been one of those things for me where I think if I just add more product it'll conceal.. realistically this is not the answer. When I was looking at foundations I popped to the Bobbi Brown counter and the really helpful assistant offered to match my skin. She explained to me that my under eyes were really dehydrated and thats why product seemed to disappear and why my under eyes were dark. She recommended the 'correct and conceal' products they offer and because I already have a concealer which I love, I decided to just go for the corrector. Correcting isn't something I ever gave much thought to, but it makes such a difference, and now it's a step I make sure not to miss.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

The Bobbi Brown corrector I don't think would've worked as well as it does if it wasn't for this little miracle cream. When the lady at the counter matched my skin she also gave me some (much appreciated) skincare advice. My skincare routine has got so much better, and I have seen an improvement in my skin (an updated skincare routine is coming soon, so I won't go into this too much) but an area of my face I never paid much attention to was under my eye. She explained to me that if your under eye is dehydrated, normal moisturiser won't rescue it, which is why my make up was creasing under my eyes. This little cream however, wow, I apply the smallest amount every morning and evening, and I love it!

Nivea Mens Post Shave Balm

I've been wanting to try this product for a while after hearing good things about it working well as a primer, and then I saw it in Tesco at a ridiculously good price, so obviously... I had to pick it up. I don't use it everyday, but on days I know I want my make up to last I apply this to my skin after moisturising and it does make so much difference.

Primark Rose Gold Eyelash Curlers

These little bargain finds are my new holy grail. I never really use eyelash curlers just because in my head I didn't think they made all that much of a difference, and whether they actually work or not I have found my applying mascara after curling them makes them look that little bit longer.

fashion faves

Topshop Boots

I haven't had many fashion favourites this month, and that's mainly because I've just felt really uninspired by retailers. Unfortunately I do not live close enough to a Zara (probably a good thing really) and so I haven't really seen anything I like that much. Although, I do love these boots! I picked them up in the Topshop sale at the end of January, and usually I am a trainer person through and through, but these boots just do something for me, AND they were only £10!

lifestyle faves

Netflix Originals

Onto the more lifestyle-y bits. I have been more addicted to Netflix this month than I have ever been. Realistically it's because I have way too much spare time but... The series I have been loving are the Netflix originals, in particular, Orphan Black (so I think this started as an American BBC but Netflix picked it up I don't understand it really) and Riverdale. 

I'll start with Orphan Black it's one of those programmes that has honestly never been done before and is just so filled with constant plot twists and surprises and turns, I don't want to give too much away, but essentially there are clones, and they're trying to find each other. 

Riverdale is a bit more a 'stereotypical' american, murder, high school, mystery, drama... saying that though I'm obsessed, and my favourite thing about it is, episodes come out every Friday which is great because I can't binge watch all four seasons in a week (I definitely did not (did) do that for Orphan Black).

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What have been your favourites throughout February?

Thank you very much for reading,

hugs and kisses

nads

any products mentioned in the post x 

bourjois healthy mix foundation 

bobbi brown corrector

bobbi brown hydrating eye cream

nivea mens post shave balm

rose gold eyelash curlers - primark

topshop boots - sold out

netflix

London Fashion Week Festival Experience & VLOG

London Fashion Week Experience

Last weekend I went to London Fashion Week Festival with my favourite girls, and I'd never been to anything like this before so really didn't know what to expect. We'd booked tickets for two catwalks, a designer and a trend. A catwalk is also something I'd never seen up close and personal so all and all it was a completely new experience for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I used to love watching shows like Britains Next Top Model, so seeing a catwalk so up close seemed liked such a surreal experience for me. Out of the two I probably enjoyed the trend one more mainly because the pieces they were wearing, anyone could wear (if that makes sense). 

I sort of had a rough idea of what the catwalks were going to be like, but what the actually surrounding area and shopping part of the event was like, was completely unexpected for me! Whilst I probably couldn't of spent a whole day there, or done lots of shopping, it was really nice to wander around and see what the designers had to offer. The thing I loved the most about the event was how interactive it was, and there were so many opportunities to take, and have photos printed, which I just think makes great memories.

Would I go again? I don't think I would've enjoyed it as much, had I of not been with the girls I was with. I would definitely go again but make it more of an afternoon / morning experience, as I don't think I could do a whole day. Although I made a mistake in wearing heeled boots, so maybe that give me an unnecessary sour taste (i've learnt for next time).

So yes, I also vlogged the experience! This was my first sort of try at properly vlogging and if I'm honest I really liked it and I was happy with how it turned out, let me know what you think about it over on my youtube channel!

THE VLOG

Did you go to London Fashion Week Festival? How did you find it?

Thank you very much for reading,

hugs and kisses

nads