February Favourites

Nail Polish Favourites 

There are two polishes I have discovered during February that really stand out to me. The first is Butter London Lovely Jubbly.

It is a gorgeous blue, purple and pink glitter *heart eyes emoji x1000* I think this is a great all-year-round glitter as it doesn't look too Christmassy, I might even wear it for my birthday this year. 

The next polish is Four Leaf Clover from China Glaze. Towards the middle of the month, I cracked out some brighter, more spring-like colours. This green is quite unusual as it has a slight blue tone to it without looking turquoise at all. It's shot up to be one of my all time favourites and I can see myself wearing it again really soon. 

Beauty Favourites 

As we are nearing the end of winter and heading into spring, I have been trying to make the most of wearing a berry lip this month. I have heard people rave about Mac Plumful Lipstick for a long time so decided to try it.

I prefer to use one light layer of this and use it almost as a stain rather than build it up to be bold and glossy. 

Macadamia Deep Repair Mask - I LOVE this mask, I have been using it for over a year now but recently rediscovered it. My hair is really thick, coarse, long and dry and this mask really seems to make a difference too my hair. It is so nourishing and moisturising and my hair feels really soft afterwards. I have also noticed that it adds a lot of shine to my hair. The smell of the mask is incredible too, it smells fruity, like peaches and the scent lingers on my hair until I next wash it - amazing! 

TV Favourites

I rewatched Series 1&2 of My Mad Fat Diary this month. I loved it the first time I watched it and I am still absolutely obsessed - I can't wait for Series 3! Its quite different to the sort of shows i usually watch but the fact that it is based around teenagers in the 90's is what drew me in. I especially love all the Oasis references and songs! 

Achievements: 

I went shopping a couple of times with my mum. 

I went to a garden centre for lunch with my mum and nan. 

I went to the beach which was the first time in over 6 months I've attempted to travel so far in the car and spend so long out but I had a really amazing time and didn't feel too bad - yay! 

And then 3 days later I managed to go to the dentist!! 

I had a fab time talking to my friend Katie on FaceTime a couple of times.

I watched two films in one day - before Christmas I could only watch the first 20 minutes of a film before feeling too ill to carry on but on Valentine's Day, I watched two whole films in one day! 

I don't really have any goals for March, I'm just going to see where the month takes me! 

How was your February? What was the highlight of your month? 

January Favourites and Achievements

The most long, grey and miserable month of the year is finally over! *cheers and confetti emoji!*

Can you tell I am glad that January is over? Onwards and upwards to the month of love and pancakes aka February.

Beauty Favourites

During January I have fallen back in love with the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. Last time I ran out of this I ditched it for the Breakfast Scrub because I fancied a change but have since gone back to Sugar Crush and I think I'll be sticking with it for the foreseeable. I love the scent and I prefer sugar scrubs to the grainy ones. I really like how harsh and scrubby the S&G body scrubs are which means a little goes a long way and they last for ages. There's nothing worse than a body 'scrub' that is more like a shower gel with the odd stray grain in.

 

I also really love the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, the shade Ivory is a near perfect match for my skin. I have normal/dry skin but at the moment it is very dry and this foundation doesn't cling to any dry patches - Yay! I love the light/medium coverage it gives, it is perfect for everyday and it gives a glowy/healthy look. I will definitely be using this foundation going into spring.

 

The next product  have been loving is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I can tell I am going to go through the concealer super quickly because I've only had it a couple of months and can see i have used about a third of it already.. Whenever I heard people talk about it, I was adimant I didn't want it as they said how light the coverage was and I thought, concealer needs to be as thick and full coverage as possible why would you want it to be light coverage! Surely that's a waste of time and it won't do its job! ...But actually I was wrong and I love this soooo much! I have the shade 15 which I use for under my eyes (I prefer to use something like the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for blemishes or spots). It gives a really lovely brightening effect and because it is so light in coverage, it blends really easily (I use my ring finger to pat it in, then the Real Techniques contour brush) and it doesn't look cakey or too thick and heavy.

YouTube Favourites

I have been enjoying quite a few new YouTube channels during January. The first is the lovely Meg from Meg Says. Not only is she possibly the most gorgeous person on the planet but she is a fellow ME sufferer and beauty lover.

 

The beautiful Emma from Emma Drusilla started her channel this month. She is a fellow ME sufferer too and is such a natural at talking to a camera and engaging with her audience and I am really enjoying her videos. I am so proud of both Emma and Meg #spooniesistersunite

 

I also found Leanne via Instagram at the beginning of January. She has ME and Lupus and has been vlogging and talking about make up on her channel M.E Myslef Leanne. Leanne is so positive and relatable and such a joy to watch. I really look forward to her videos.  

 

Book Favourite

 

My book favourite for January (along with One Million Lovely Letters that I wrote about here) is Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes. I have loved Sali's website and YouTube channel for quite a while, her 'In the bathroom' videos are my absolute favourites so I knew I would love her book. You might find this strange (I think I do) but my favourite chapter was probably the Anti-Aging one. I love reading about skincare so it was really interesting for me but everything is written really simply so it is informative, witty, relatable and easy to understand. Every beauty lover (or woman!) needs this book. It is amazing and I already want to keep it forever and pass it down to my daughter(s).

 

 

Achievements

 

 

During January I have got my anxiety under so much more control and my anxiety medication has started to work really well. 

I don't feel like I've done much at all in January but actually when I write it all down, it does seem like quite a bit. 

Here's the list:

Went to my nans for an hour for a cup of tea

Went to the doctors 

Went to the bank and opened my first bank account 

Went to nannys for Christmas take 2 

Washed hair 3 times

 

Goals for February:

Try and make a homemade green smoothie - find out what I do/don't like and practice a recipe 

Go shopping at least twice (already been once)

Wash hair once a week 

Carry on with walks and stretches  

Eat some pancakes for pancake day! - hopefully I'll fancy one and wont feel too nauseous so be able to eat it - nom!

 

How was your January?

October/November Favourites and Update

Sorry I didn't manage to do an October favourites so thought I'd combine the last two months together. October was a pretty rubbish month for me, hence why I didn't write a favourites. I have been struggling with M.E, anxiety, not being able to sleep etc and didn't manage to get things done like in September. Some days in October were quite frankly awful and some of the worst days I've ever experienced. I felt partially bad around Halloween and November didn't start much better. As I said my anxiety has been really bad and I've been waking up in the night having panic attacks and struggling to sleep and eat because I am so anxious. It's so hard to know what to do when you've tried everything you can think of and you're exhausted and in pain. M.E and anxiety do not mix. I think I know the reason for my anxiety so I know I will be okay soon but it is still an awful thing to have to go through. 

November has been about the same with lots of panic attacks and struggling to sleep. At the end of the month I had a lot of really bad pain too which I struggled to deal with. If anyone has any tips on coping with pain, let me know. 

One thing that has been helping me is an app called BeatPanic. You do have to pay 69p for it but it honestly works really well when you're having a panic attack and the best way to describe it is as a set of flash cards that appear one after one on the screen with either things to do to help you calm down i.e. Repeating a calming word to yourself or taking deep breaths or reminding you that you are safe and that anxiety cannot hurt you. I'd definitely recommend it if you struggle with anxiety or panic attacks and would be great to use in public because no one would know what you were doing, they'd just think you were looking at your phone - which you are! I've also been using other meditation apps. 

I don't know if this goes alongside how bad I've been feeling but my skin has never ever been this dry. There was a point at the beginning of the month where it was flaking off and crumbling in my hands and the only thing I've found to help that is exfoliating my skin with a physical face scrub and applying argon oil. I've used Argon Oil for a long time in my hair but have never really had the need to use it on my face before now. I've since tried going back to my regular face serum but nothing is cutting it at the moment. 

I've been enjoying reading and have read the whole Confessions of a Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella which I tried to read a few years ago but found super boring. Tried it again and loved it. Couldn't get enough. Also been loving christmas books by Carole Matthews - The Christmas Party and Calling Mrs Christmas. 

I've been out a few times over the past two months but not as much as usual or as I would like. I have been shopping a couple of times but felt quite ill during both times and had to sit down/go back to the car. I've been out for lunch a couple of times too and have been going for a little stroll down our road with my mum every evening which I am really proud of. 

I've managed to write all my Christmas cards but am struggling to get things done in time for Christmas and I'm feeling anxious that I won't be well enough to enjoy it as much as I would like. I forgot how exhausting small things like writing cards can be when you feeling extra poorly. 

Goals for December are:

- Put Christmas Decorations Up

-Bake something 

-Wrap and send presents 

-Go shopping at least once and get eyebrows done before Christmas 

-Get a festive drink from both Starbucks and Costa 

-Enjoy Christmas 

Chloe xxx 

P.S sorry if this is badly written, I didn't want to not post but pain/brain fog are not on my side today. 

September Favourites

Beauty 

I am so in love with the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush. This was new to me at the beginning of the month and i love how it is a dark berry shade without looking too dark or gothic. It's super wearable and perfect for the day time.

 

I had a sample of the New Charity Pot from Lush in with my birthday present from my friend Charlotte and loved it so much that I went and bought the biggest tub they do. It is quite thick so you probably wouldn't need to use it all over, every day but it's great for super dry patches like elbows and feet and is surprisingly even more moisterising than any BodyShop body butters I've tried.

 

Something else that I love from Lush is The Comforter Bubble Bar which smells of raspberries and sweets and turns your bath pink and super bubbly - what's not to love? Sorry I don't have a picture of it, I've used most of it up! 

Achievements

I baked two cakes this month, a lemon drizzle and a Victoria sandwhich cake, went shopping three times, went to a garden centre for lunch and went to a Macamillan coffee morning. I'm super impressed with how much I've done this much and really pleased I managed it all and feel really grateful to of had such a good month! 

The lemon drizzle cake I made 

Things I'm looking forward to next month

October is one of my favourite months and I'm really looking forward to Halloween! I love Halloween so I'm hoping to bake something Halloween related and maybe dress up a little bit... 

I'm hoping to go out shopping a couple of times too and to my favourite place for a hot chocolate with my mum and nan! Sorry I don't really have many new favourites this month. A lot of the books I have read haven't been very good! 

How was your September? 

August Favourites

Books

I have two book favourites for August, the first is Past Secrets by Cathy Kelly. This book is about not letting your past define you or keep you from living in the here and now. It is an uplifting, inspiring book with a touch of magic. I'm definitely going to read more from Cathy Kelly.

My second book favourite is The Teashop on the Corner By Milly Johnson. Milly is my favourite author ever and I saved this book to read when I was on holiday. It is about a few very different people who meet and make friends in 'The Teashop on the Corner'. Its funny and sad - one of my favourite books ever!

 

Beauty 

Beauty-wise I've been loving my Maybelline The Rocket Mascara (I have the waterproof one). It's basically my perfect mascara. It doesn't smudge, it holds a curl all day, separates my lashes really well, doesn't flake, gives me tonnes of volume and length and makes my eyes look bigger and more awake. 

The Maybelline ColourSensational Shine gloss in Cashmere Rose has been my go-to lip product this month, I wore it almost every single day whilst I was away on holiday. It's just a super easy product to use, you don't need a mirror to apply it and it makes your lips look healthy whilst adding a bit if colour without liking fake, too glossy or 'plasticky'. It's not sticky either which is always a bonus. No one wants to be the girl with her hair stuck to her gloss. 

This month finally saw the release of some new Maybelline Baby Lips in the UK - the Neon Baby Lips! *cheers* and I was super lucky to receive one from my lovely friend Hannah, in the shade Strike a Rose (which was the shade I had my eye on anyway - she knows me so well!). The way I've been wearing this is by putting a fairly thin layer on and not building it up to be too glossy but using it as a stain. Doing this creates such a pretty effect and gives your lips a naturally rosy pink tint and you can't really tell there is anything on your lips at all. I feel like the theme to my make up this month has been quite natural and healthy! 

Sidenote: I've just realised how many Maybelline products I've been loving recently. I really wouldn't class Maybelline as one of my favourite brands either! 

On to something by a different brand... I've been loving my Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef. I love wearing coral blush in the summer, I think it looks super pretty and I love the formula of these Revlon ones. They're somewhere between a cream-to-powder and a dewy wet finish and make you look naturally flushed and healthy without looking shiny or sticky like some other cream products. 

On to a body-care favourite, I am a HUGE fan of the Body Shop Body Butters and loved the raspberry scent when they brought it out limited edition 6/7 years ago so as you can imagine, I was thrilled when they brought it back! The scent is amazing and fruity and delicious - a perfect summer scent and really moisturising too.


 

Nail Polish 

In August, I've only painted my nails 5 times, which for me, is very strange! My favourites however have been Barry M, Elderberry which is a gorgeous blue-grey shade. Perfect for winter (yes, I know it's August) if you don't want something dark too dark. 

Next up is this Miss Sporty polish (which annoyingly doesn't have a name). I love this polish, the brush is lovely and wide which makes it really quick and easy to apply. 2 coats and you've got a beautiful cobalt blue which will last for over a week.

Last but not least is Essie, Pansy. A bright blue-toned pink. It's girly, summer-y and fun. What more can you want? 

Youtubers 

I know I mentioned her in my July Favourites but I just HAD to mention her again... EssieButton. More specifically - her vlogs. Estée and Aslan have been travelling for most of August around places like Norway, Sweden and Denmark (just to name a few!) and I have loved watching their adventures SO much! 

I have also really gotten into watching Gabby from VelverGh0st. If im honest, I wasn't sure I would like her at all but I love her beauty videos and her vlogs. She is so similar to me its crazy and oh my god her cat is the cutest thing ever!!
 

Achievements 

August was quite a busy month for me (I feel like I say that every month!) but I went on holiday and had quite a few days out, trips to the beach and to Dover Castle which required a lot of walking (for me anyway). More posts on all of that soon!

Things I'm looking forward to next month...

I don't really have anything specific planned for next month but I am hoping to go shopping a couple of drives and maybe for a little walk too. I'm not sure when Starbucks bring the Pumpkin Spice Lattes out but when they do, im definitely going to get one! September is probably my second favourite month of the year. Points to whoever can guess my favourite month!

How was your August? Do you have any plans for September?

July Round Up and Favourites

After seeing my lovely friend Alice's (from Floral Smile) June round up post, i decided to steal her idea and join in the fun too! At the end of each month, I'm going to try and do a monthly round up to tell you about some if the beauty things, nail varnishes and books I've been loving, blogs I've been enjoying, and some of the things I've been doing and the achievements I've made. 

Books

My favourite book that I've read during July has been Me Before You by JoJo Moyles. It is such a good book and a bit different to the chicklit I usually read. It's super sad though, I cried! 

Beauty

I got the NUXE Reve De Miel lip balm for my birthday at the end of June and I have been loving it during July. It is one of those products that you fallin love with the first time you use it! It's honestly the best lip balm I have ever used. I didn't even know a lip balm could be this good! 

I've also been loving the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation again and luckily I've been tanned enough to wear it. I have the shade 100 and the shade 103 which I mix in when I'm a bit more tanned. I've heard that they've added an even lighter shade to the shade range too so I might have to pick that up as well. 

Nail polish

Nail polish faves this month have been Essie Style Hunter... 

 

Essie Tart Deco

And Models Own Pukka Purple

Food Faves (although this month, it's technically a drink) 

This may be a bit of a weird favourite to have but this month (and for a couple of months previously) I have been loving lemon water. I have a pint every morning and I'm seriously obsessed. It helps with digestion, bloating and loads of things, AND it tastes super good! It's basically just the Bomb.com. 

I'm also loving the Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappachino, I'm soooo glad it's back again this year. SO bad but SO good! 

Blogs and Youtubers 

I have been obsessed with HelloOctober, her blog and youtube. Suzie is such a babe and she's gorgeous! I love that she has been vlogging a lot more and I'm super excited to see more of her new flat and how she decorates it. 

Talking of more vlogging, I've loved EssieButton and Zoella's daily vlogs this month. Both girls vlogged through June but I didn't catch up with a lot of them until July. Estée is hilarious and I just love that girl. I'm totally in love with Reggie too. Who knew I was a greyhound person? Certainly not me... I'm converted! 

Achievements 

I have been out quite a lot in July, I went shopping 5 times (I've not been shopping that many times in one month in about 4 years!), went out for lunch for my mums birthday, went to the beach, the dentist and for a few drives around and about. 

Yay! 

Things I'm looking forward to next month...

In August, I'm super excited because I'm going on holiday and getting my haircut which is very exciting! I'm going to Devon for a week and I haven't had my hair cut for nearly 3 years.

How was your July? What things have you been loving lately?