January Favourites

Hey guys,

I can't believe it is almost February! This month has gone so quickly, I only realised on Friday that I break up for half term in 2 weeks, and my coursework is due in next week... Good times... Anyway, on to the favourites.

~Barry M - Showgirl Mascara~

Last year I saw that there was an offer on for Barry M that if you brought over £6/7 of products, then you received this mascara for free. It is usually worth around £7.99, so the offer was good value for money!
I really love the packaging for it, The silver outside with the black writing looks very classy and pretty. Although, it is very hard to take photos of! There were 2 options for me to choose from, extra-lengthening and extra-thickening. I went for the lengthening one because most of the other mascaras I own thicken lashes, so I wanted something a little different.
The brush is a bristled one and it applies very evenly. I sometimes need to even out some globs that form, but not too often considering I use it every day. It also makes my lashes look great, long and thicker, which is nice!

~Driving~

I turned 17 last month, so I've been having driving lessons. I've been waiting until I could drive since I was 13, so I'm not surprised that I love it so much! I actually took my theory test last week, and passed it! Woop! So this morning I booked my practical for April, but I'm hoping someone might cancel for a date earlier than that.
If you are taking your theory test any time soon in the UK (I'm not sure how it works in other countries, so I wouldn't want to give the wrong advice!) I definitely suggest practicing the hazard perception test a lot! It can be difficult to see the hazards at the right point, but if you do one that helps guide you when you should be clicking, then it will help you learn for the future where/when you can score maximum points.

~Nail Polish Colour Wheels~

This one is courtesy of my cousin, who gave me these wheels with a lot of nail polishes. The funny thing is, I'd been trying to get some for ages! I spent ages paining my polishes onto them in colour groups and labeling them.

I also really like how smooth they all feel! The polishes have all dried really smoothly and feel much better than when I paint my own nails! I usually get impatient and don't let them dry properly before doing something! Safe to say, they usually end up smudged! I'm pretty sure you can buy these wheels on Amazon, but I could never find any that had good enough reviews that I wanted to order.

~Versace Crystal Noir~

For Christmas last year, one of my friends gave me this bottle of Crystal Noir. It smells so lovely! It has a kind of musky/florally smell to me, although, I'm not so great at identifying smells properly, so it could be anything! I just know it smells nice! I also really love the little bottle it comes in, it's got such a pretty stopper. The only issue I have with it, is that when I try and put it onto my wrists, an air bubble forms that doesn't let me. It's probably got something to do with the size of the neck of the bottle but if anyone knows how to get around it then please feel free to let me know!

~Half the World Away - Aurora~

The last one is a song. I generally love songs that make me feel something, and his one does. It has some really beautiful lyrics. It's also the song from the John Lewis Christmas advert, if you wanted to know that. I feel like the lyrics are relatable and make me want to just go to the coast for some peculiar reason.

I hope you all have a lovely week!

Love, Grace x

A Year of Happiness

Hey guys,

This December I will be 18. I decided around October last year to keep a memory jar, but didn't want to just start on a random date. I had one in 2013 and it ran from January 1st to December 31st, this one, however, I wanted to do from my birthday for a year. It meant I could write every happy thing that happens in my life throughout the year and read them all back on my birthday this year. I did a similar memory jar in summer 2014 (here), the only real difference being the size of the jar! In an effort to be more positive and optimistic, I decided to use a huge jar that my friend gave to me full of gummy bears. It has just sat there for almost a year and a half without much use, but now it is perfect.

After it became my memory jar (ignore the post-it for a label, I couldn't find any stickers!), it sat on my windowsill for 2/3 weeks looking a little plain. Also on my windowsill is a jar full of sharpies in all different colours, so I put 2 and 2 together, and realised, the sharpie wouldn't come off if I drew on it!

Having a memory jar is a good idea if you really struggle to remember the happy things happening at the moment. Even if it is just something as small as getting out of bed, trying a new food, going out or reading a really great book. Anything, small or large, that makes you happy, is a thing to write down for the jar. If you need some motivation that day, or week, then choose a few slips and read them, to see all of the things that have been good recently.

I challenge you all to start a memory jar and stay positive with all of the things you write, whether it lasts for a month or a year, it will be worth it!

I hope you all have a lovely week!

Love, Grace x

Teen Parcel Review

Hey guys,

Sorry there wasn't a post last week! I had mock exams all week and was trying to revise all weekend. This was the post that was supposed to go up.

Back in September I entered the Teen Parcel 500 competition and won a parcel (woo!). It took a little while to receive it, but I completely understand that they're quite a small company. I ended up receiving it actually on my birthday, which was a nice surprise! I loved the packaging straight away, It's very girly and the colours all tie in very well. I think it would be incredibly sweet for a young girl to receive in the post to cheer her up at that time of the month.

I opened it up and it was all neatly packaged in. (Quick disclaimer: I haven't had the chance to try the mascara or eye-glitter yet, even though I've had them a month!) There's a little information card giving some details about the company and what they do. They also included a little box with 2 tampons in, which is good for just keeping in your bag.

I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of products in the box. It was positively crammed full of little bits. The was a Binky mascara, that looks like it would be quite good for lengthening, and a glitter loose eye-shadow with a little eyeshadow brush. It looks like a good one for both applying and blending out. The glitter is quite colourful and it would look great with a darker eye.

Also in the box were these Bandzee hairbands. They're very cute, girly colours, and I love that they don't contain any metal fixings that always end up getting stuck in my hair. They also look like they wouldn't pull out any hair at all because they're not overly stretchy, so they can't be over-tightened when I tie my hair up. I also love how there are little sayings on the card they're held on.

The last thing in the box was this little bracelet. It is made of twisted string and has a cute little charm on it. It is a small-ish size, more suited to a child, so I'm going to give it to my friend Frankie, because I think she would love it!

I would like to say a massive thank you to Teen Parcel for my prize, It has a lot of very cool things inside that I may keep for myself but also may give to people I know will love them.

I hope you all have a lovely week!

Love, Grace x

January Sale Haul

Hey guys,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely evening whether you went out or stayed home. I was at some close friends and we had a fire (in a fireplace, don't worry) and watched the fireworks on tv. It was really lovely. Anyway, I went shopping with my mum this morning, to scope out all the sales, and I have to say, New Look has a LOT of sale stuff. It covered half of the shop floor!

I ended up buying a couple of bits when I was out, and I also brought some shoes online a couple of days ago. The first 2 tops weren't actually in the sale, but they were pretty cheap so I decided to add them anyway. They were from Primark and were £7 and £6 respectively. The first is this long sleeved top with the coca-cola logo. I love how the sleeves are a contrasting colour, I know the type of top has a special name but I can't for the life of me remember it!

The second is this short-sleeved collared shirt. It is a dark grey with white strands running through it and it will be perfect for me to wear to work. It has quite a nice fit too, I think it is a kind of slim fit one although I'm not totally sure.

I also found this picture in Primark, that perfectly sums me up. I absolutely love the sea. And, it fits with the colours of my room.

These next 2 were from New Look. I found them amongst the many, many sale items on the racks. The first is very similar to a top that I brought a couple of months ago, just a different kind of look. The top part looks like it should be stretchy but It's not, I think, again, it has a special name but, again, I can't remember. Late night blogging really doesn't do much for my memory!

This one is a kimono, I've been looking for something brighter to wear with a couple of black dresses I have, and I didn't really want a cardigan that I would only wear with one thing. When I got to the till with both of these things, I found that the top had been reduced further, from £4 to £2 and the kimono had been reduced from £7 to £5, which is pretty impressive!

The last thing is my absolute favourite! At some point at the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015, I brought some boots. They were leather with a buckle across the top, flats and they had a zip up the side, which made them a lot easier to put on than just using the laces. I have since worn them to the ground, and the sides are beginning to come away from the soles. I found some replacements on the New Look website that are kind of similar, and I really like them. They have a chunky heel and are a perfect fit. However, they are incredibly difficult to get off again.

I hope you have a lovely week and that the start to 2016 has been great for you all!

Love, Grace x

Love, Grace

Hey guys,

Tomorrow it will be two thousand and sixteen. Doesn't that sound totally wrong? It only seems like yesterday that everyone was freaking out that it was going to be 2015! I feel like this time, I don't really care as much as I have before. To end this year, I thought I would do something a little different. I thought I would write a letter. Well, to be more precise, multiple short letters to people I know, to say thank you and let them know how much they mean to me. It's also made up of things I should have said this year, but didn't.

To my family,
I'm very aware that I don't say it nearly enough, but I love you all. You have taught me that I need to really do what I love most in life and not just settle for what I think people would want me to do.

To my little brother,
You may not be quite so little anymore and you may be incredibly annoying sometimes. You're the best brother in the world and the best friend I have ever had.

To my friends,
Thank you for (mostly) being there and for making my birthday lovely. I  Forget the guys who made you feel worthless, they suck, and you're irreplaceable to everyone else. Date someone who is actually nice to you or just stay single for a while. Just please, I can't stand all the arguing anymore.

To the friend who showed me Biscat,
I don't know if you'll even see this, I showed you the post about the painted plant pot quickly a few weeks ago. Thank you. Thanks for accepting me and my (slightly) weird sense of humour and not calling me a freak. Also, thanks for being so patient while I ask thousands of stupid questions about DT all the time!

(This is Biscat)

And finally. To all the bloggers I speak to and all those in the #GirlGang,

You're all such lovely people with amazing blogs. I'm so happy to have been accepted into the blogging circle and get to talk to you all. 

This year has really been a fantastic one for me, and this blog. We've gained so many new readers, friends and followers throughout the year! I look forward to 2016 being full of friends and happiness. I hope you all have a lovely New Year! 

Love, Grace x

The Christmas Tag

Hey guys,

Sorry I didn't put up a post yesterday, I had to spend all day in bed to try and be better for Christmas. I won't go into details but lets just say, yesterday wasn't fun at all... My head is still kind of fuzzy so sorry if there are any mistakes in this post! I'm also not sure what I'm going to do about the post I had for yesterday, because it is very Christmassy and I'm pretty sure it won't have the same effect in June. I'll probably just save it until next November or something. I just have to try not to lose the photos I have for it.

The lovely Izzy over at http://qthee.com/  did the Christmas tag a few days ago and she nominated anyone who wanted to do it, so I decided to give it a shot. I mixed up some of her questions with some others that I liked from other tags too.

~White lights or coloured lights?

I love coloured lights on the tree but if it's outside, then white lights. I love the ones that hang down and look like ice.

~What tops your tree?

We have an angel on the top of our tree that I'm pretty sure we've had a while seeing as I can't remember there being anything else on the top. Here's a funny story for you: My brother and I used to argue so much over who got to put the angel on the tree that I made a rota for who's year it was for putting it on/taking it off. Apparently it was a big thing for us at the time! We also gained another little angel for the tree last year, when my 5 year old cousin made one for us last year! It's so adorable and we put it in pride of place at the top. 

~Do you like to stay in your PJ’s, or dress up for Christmas?

I like to stay in my PJ's when I open presents with my parents and my brother in the morning. This is mostly because I'm either too excited to bother getting dressed, or my brother has woken me up so early that I'm too tired to. I do, however, get dressed for when my family come over, or when we go to see family. 

~Favourite Christmas scent?

I brought a couple of candles for my mum last year, from Primark, and I really love their smells. One is 'Warm Winter Berries' and the other is 'Coconut and Vanilla Cream'. I really love the smell of berries and it just makes my feel really festive. Also, the smell of Christmas dinner cooking.

~What is your favourite holiday drink?

Considering how I don't like any other hot drinks, it would definitely have to be either hot chocolate or hot milk. 

~What’s your favourite Christmas food?

Chocolate log for sure! My mum makes them from scratch and it is honestly the best thing! I also love honey roasted vegetables, I'm not just about the chocolate!

~What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

I love getting to give people presents and see their faces when they open them! I also love getting to spend quality time with my family. We always see (almost) everyone on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day and I don't get to see some of my family as much as I would like to throughout the rest of the year. 

~Favourite Christmas film?

I've never really got into watching Christmas films and shock horror, I've never seen The Grinch. However, I did watch Nativity! the other day, so that counts right?

~Favourite Christmas song?

I've always really loved 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' I love the 1984 version but also the 2014 version because it just mixes up a lot of different people that are influential to this generation and brings the song back into play really. I also like 'All I Want For Christmas' and 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas'. It's also fun to listen to people's covers of Christmas songs.

~Real or fake tree?

Sadly, it's a fake one! I love real trees and I really love the smell of them, but unfortunately I'm allergic to them. *Sadface* 

~Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts?

This one is definitely easiest to answer! I really love giving people presents! I love getting to think of ideas for them and buying/making things! I even love wrapping them! Even though I'm not particularly good at it!

I'm not sure when my next post will be up. It won't be Boxing day, even though it's a Saturday, because I'm working all morning and then we're having family over, so it will probably be either the 28th or the 31st. I hope you guys all have a lovely Christmas and you get everything you ask for! 

Love, Grace x

Special Snowflakes

Hey guys,

Happy Christmas eve eve eve! It's only 3 days! Woo!

I thought today's post should have some cool and different snowflakes in it. AKA, special snowflakes. There are two types in this post today, paper ones and glue ones.

The paper snowflakes have a theme... I figured that since The Force Awakens has been so huge this year (and last year if you were anticipating it, like me), that the snowflakes should be star wars themed. My mum found a post on Facebook about it, so she made the Darth Vader one while I made the Storm Trooper flake. They're actually pretty simple to make. You just have to search 'Star Wars snowflake template' and there is a lot to choose from! If you are more skilled than me with a Stanley knife (or just scissors) then you could probably do a trickier one like the Millennium Falcon whereas, if you are just starting out and you want a slightly simpler one, then the Storm Trooper might be for you. Although, I would suggest sketching out the design (half of it anyway) onto the paper before you start, so that you know where to cut.

Using a coffee filter might also make it easier for having a pre-cut circle because That was one of the issues I had, folding the paper and trying to make it circular!

The other snowflakes in this post are ones made from glue. I think they would look pretty cool hanging up in a window because you are never guaranteed a shape with glue so it creates some pretty unique shapes. You can do this with either PVA or a glue gun, but I decided to use my glue gun because I knew it dried semi-clear.

To do this, you will need some grease-proof paper (baking paper), which you can either draw out a snowflake onto or just put the glue straight on top. Before it dried, I also sprinkled some glitter over the flake, to give it some added sparkle factor.

I think they actually worked quite well considering it was my first attempt at shaping glue ( besides my dismal attempt on the jar a few weeks ago!) I actually rather like them. I think I will tape them to our kitchen window along with the Star Wars flakes.

I hope you guys have a nice evening. See you all tomorrow on the eve of Christmas Eve!

Love, Grace x