What are you happy for?

What are you happy for?

Hey guys and happy Monday!

I hope you have all had as relaxing an Easter weekend as mine has been; I have barely moved!

So one of my fave bloggers Louise has written a lovely little post as part of her ‘Motivational Monday’ series, which you can find here. Here she lists some of the things that make her happy, so I thought I’d write a little list of my own, and encourage all of you to do the same 🙂

Sometimes it does us good to remind ourselves of the things that make us happy; big or small, and that sometimes, parts of life aren’t bad at all ❤

This Monday I am happy for –

Waking up to sunshine streaming through the window
Green tea
My newfound love for yoga and all the wonderful youtube videos out there
My lovely squishy doggy
Long phone calls with loved ones
Family time
Leggings with cats all over them
Reuniting with my university friends and nothing changes (they’re still crazy and wonderful as ever)
Ideal home magazine
Beautiful notebooks full of ideas and lists
Leave in conditioner
The smell of coconut. YUM.
The blogging community (especially on Twitter the little gems)
The rewarding feeling when you work with children and how magical the journey can be
Chocolate buttons and cup of tea

So let’s all make this Monday a truly happy one, list some of the things that make you happy on this lovely sunny Monday; it will perk you up and make you smile!

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Mini Haircare Haul!

Mini Haircare Haul!

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Hey guys! I hope you’re all having a relaxed and chocolatey Easter weekend 😀

I thought I’d share with you just a few haircare bits and bobs I got recently, let me know if you’ve tried any or you prefer something else, also if you’ve done a haircare review or haul, send me the link so I can read please 😀

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Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo – Uplifting Volume

Ooh this is a goodun, I (like most girls) am always looking for a good dry shampoo that not only works but smells nice. There are so many more to choose from nowadays and this is one I’ve had a couple of times. It has a citrus like smell, without smelling gross, and I always get whiffs of it throughout the day. It does what I expect it to; makes my hair look clean. Also, unlike some others I have tried; there isn’t huge amounts of white powder to brush out which means if you’re in a rush, this is a good one to consider.

 V05 Ultimate Hold Hairspray

Just because I’m not keen on the heat defence spray does not mean I don’t like any V05 products, because this hairspray is badass. I know a lot of people LOVE the Tresemmé hairspray which I agree is awesome; but I loooove this! Smells amazing, holds the hair for a very long time. I work very long days and it stays all day and for that I adore it. It also gives my hair a nice shine without making it lok greasy which always works for me.

Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo

So this product I bought as my hair is looking slightly brassy (perks of platinum highlights) and while I take care of my hair sometimes it needs a bit of a toner to bring out the ashy tones and eliminate the brassy ones. It is bright purple which is a bit scary, and you should only use it a couple of times a week to ensure your hair is protected. I will do a review on this product as I know a lot of bloggers looking for a good toner!

Tresemmé Care and Protect Heat Defence Styling Spray

This is my go to heat defence spray. The first time I used this was when my previous housemate used it and the bathroom smelled glorious. Since then, it has been my loyal friend. Relatively cheap the bottle lasts for ages and only needs a couple of sprays to protect your locks. I did dabble with the V05 version of this but no matter what I try, this one is always my fave. Stick to what suits you!

Boots Coconut and Almond Leave in Conditioner

Ok girls, if you are a sucker for that gorgeous coconut/almond smell; buy this product. I haven’t tried it yet so I will feedback in terms of results. But jeez; the smell is INCREDIBLE. It has that gorgeous beachy scent, takes me on holiday as soon as I smell it. And it is an absolute BARGAIN at under £1.50. Go buy it, go!

Let me know if you have any great haircare products you’ve always used or that you’ve newly discovered!
And also, any blondes out there that have any recommendations for toner shampoo/silver saver I would love to hear from you!

Lots of love,

Sophie xx

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Welcome To My Workspace.

Welcome To My Workspace.

I love my workspace.

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It’s completely personal to me, a bit quirky, full of little interesting artefacts that remind me of where I’ve been and what I’ve experienced. Depending on my mood, I might sit at my desk and write up an essay for my postgrad degree, or if I’m feeling relaxed, I’ll sit on my bed and think up some blog ideas. Whatever it is I choose to do, I love that my room makes me feel comfortable and creative. It’s home.

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I love light, so my workspace is airy, bright and full of lighter colours such as creams and whites, and you can see there are little pops of colour here and there. I keep my deskspace fairly minimal, like they say; tidy desk, tidy mind. The books I keep on my desk include notebooks (love a notebook, who doesn’t?), my Filofax, and my happy book. I also have a few postcards from various people and places. Looking at them just makes me ooze with nostalgia, and a smile always pops up on my face. For that split second I can look back and reminisce on those happy memories, then focus back on my work.

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As I write about all kinds of stuff, I change up my space according to what I’m writing about. I have a lot of beauty and make up trinkets and treasures in my drawers, but the things I use most I keep out for ease of access. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a magpie, in that small sparkly things really attract my eye and I love to see them on display! One thing I’m definitely working on is how to create a bit more storage for my beauty products, so any suggestions feel free to send them my way! How do you store you makeup?

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I love that my bookshelf is overflowing with different recipe books, children’s books, romantic novels and photo albums. I love to look at things that bring back amazing memories and inspire me to make more. I’m so lucky to have travelled so far in my life so my little tourist books are always on display!

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Another thing in my space is a lot of interior design magazines. I am always dabbling with different ideas and themes to create my dream environment, especially innovative ways to use the tiny amount of space I have. Through my mini interior design journey I came across WeWork who are a coworking  company that specialise in creating shared workspaces. On their site you can see some of their amazing spaces, all designed for people like us bloggers and beyond! They really motivated me to have a think about my space, and how I can make it unique and personal to me, and get my creative juices flowing. Check out their Twitter page here.

Check my Pinterest to see some of the workspace ideas I’ve pinned, and feel free to send me any links to your Pinterest boards in the comments! Follow me on twitter, my name is @sophie_d247

I’d love to see some of your spaces, send me your blog links 😀

Love,

Sophie xx

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What Makes You Happy?

What Makes You Happy?

Hi everyone and happy Friday!

I’m not one for all of these days with labels but I love the idea of today being the International Day Of Happiness, I think everyone could kind of get on board with that one 🙂

So I won’t make this a huge long list of things that make me happy, but instead show you a few, and then I invite everybody, all bloggers, all friends to share some of the things that make them happy. Positive vibes spread to everybody is great, and you never know, you might just make someone smile.

So here are some of the things that make me happy:

DSCN0665I made a little collection of things that make me feel happy. These include:

Cupcake recipe book (with obligatory teething puppy bite marks in corner).

A notebook to write down ideas, list things, doodle.

My filofax. My lifeline. My organisational buddy.

One of my huge collection of teapots (my favourite one).

My Urban Decay Naked On The Run palette. Makes my face pretty.

My Wicked mug. I love Wicked!

Brighton magnet. I love Brighton, it holds a really special place in my heart, so vibrant and exciting!

Sydney Harbour Bridge decoration. I lived in Sydney for 7 months, it is one of my favourite places and bring back so many amazing memories, I will go back to visit, promise!

Lipstick. Just because.

Knitting needles. Because it’s cool, therefore it makes me cool.

Here are a few photos of what else makes me happy:

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There are so many other things that make me happy. So many people, places and things. Feel free to let me know about the things that make you happy, it’s so interesting to find out about what makes you smile.

What makes you happy?

Is there anything you are looking forward to?

Is there anything you want to change to make you happier?

Love Soph xx

Advice From One Girl With Problem Skin To Another

Advice From One Girl With Problem Skin To Another

For as long as I can remember, I have had ‘problem’ skin. The doctor tells me it’s hormonal, and is in the typical areas of my face; particularly my cheeks and chin area as well as around my jaw line. Some days are better than others and I have the occasional flare up. And like most sometimes I am lured into a false sense of security to then wake up the next morning with the worst skin ever! Although I think I will continue to have problem skin throughout my life, I have definitely gained more control of it, and thought I would share my advice. These things work for me, and while they may not work for all, I think it’s best to share any good tips with my fellow girls!

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Drink water

Pretty self-explanatory. Water keeps us hydrated and our skin relies on this to repair itself and work correctly. Admittedly I find it very difficult to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day, so I carry a litre bottle with me during the day and my target is to drink it all by the time I have to get home from work. I also drink a pint of water every night before bed. Since introducing this little routine my skin feels much softer and looks brighter.

Buy products that are suited to your skin type

My skin type is a combination of oily/dry. So I search for products for this. Whether it is a moisturiser that is a lotion rather than a cream, or a foundation that is matte rather than dewy, the product should be suited to your skin. Otherwise, hello breakout. Do your research; there are lots of pieces of advice on skin types online, and if you are unsure, you can visit a dermatologist or see a beautician.

Wash your face

Ok so when I say wash your face, don’t fall into the trap I and many girls have before, which is washing it too often. If you wash it too often you will encourage your skin to create more oil to make up for the fact it keeps getting washed away and this could cause breakouts. A good time to wash your face could be when you wake up and before you go to bed. I’ll talk about certain products later but one I would recommend is the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleansing Polish, and the Instant Boost Skin Tonic. Alcohol free, it contains aloe vera, chamomile and cucumber which soothes and refreshes skin.

Moisturise

My friend is a beauty therapist, and I once asked her if there was one piece of beauty advice she could tell everyone what would it be, and her answer? Moisturise. For those with oily skin, a common misconception is you don’t need to moisturise, but that simply isn’t true. We all need to. For my combination skin I am more suited to a lotion, whereas oily skin needs a serum. Again, do your research and find what is best for you. Even just moisturising before bed will hydrate your skin, and while I moisturise when I go to bed and when I wake up, some people need to do this more or less. Introduce it into your routine, wash your face and then moisturise. Your skin will thank you for it!

Research facial cleansers

I am the first to say I have tried many facial cleansers. The best advice I could give is to avoid harsh cleansers and opt for the gentle ones. Avoid alcohol based cleansers and keep this in your mind: ‘you are what your skin eats’.  Everybody has different skin, but for me, Neutrogena products made my skin break out, and Clearasil felt like it burned all the goodness out of my face. Obviously these may work for some, this is just from my own experience. My Mum actually washes her face with baby lotion on a cotton wool pad, and has done this for her entire life. Her skin is flawless, and this may be down to the gentle cleanser.

Have make-up free days

At least once a week, I like to have a day with absolutely no make-up on my face. This allows my skin to breathe, and repair itself. It also removes toxins and is said to prevent premature ageing.  Bonus! A barrier I had to overcome was people seeing my bad skin, but since I started having a day a week make-up free, I have seen a definite improvement in my skin. I have also become more confident; this is my skin, and I am proud. And if anybody has a negative thing to say about the fact I am confident enough to show my natural beauty, I would say that’s a self-esteem issue on their part, not mine.

Chill and de-stress

During stressful times in your life, your skin may release more sebum. This is the oily substance that mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog the hair follicles. So for people with acne prone skin or problem skin this could cause a breakout. I am in that category and have seen my skin breakout when I’m feeling stressed or anxious. So a few things that may help you de-stress that have worked for me: Sleep – make sure you get at least 7-8 hours a night Exercise – release those endorphins Have me time – take a break, read a book, paint your nails Go for a walk Meditate – there are lots of apps that play relaxing sounds/music. Light some candles, lie down, close your eyes and relax Call a friend – have a chinwag, laugh till your belly hurts!

I really hope this advice helps, although it’s from my own experience, I think a lot of it relates to anyone with bad skin. I can totally relate to those feelings of despair, sadness and frustration when you have a breakout, and while I still have those days sometimes, it’s up to us all to share our advice and understand that you aren’t alone and there are ways to make it better.

I would love to hear any tips for problem skin, so link me your blog posts so I can have a read, and use the hashtag  #lovemyskin

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Love Soph x

January – Essentials To Get Me Through

January – Essentials To Get Me Through

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January is that horrid month. You’re skint from Christmas festivities and pay day seems miles away, have eaten way too many mince pies, no amount of layering warms you up, and your skin is in need of some real TLC.

Like a lot of people, January makes me feel blue sometimes. I need my survival essentials.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
This was a Christmas gift. It came as part of a pack which included the Hot Cloth Cleansing Polish and 2 muslin cloths.

DSCN0640My love for Liz Earle products grows every day. This tonic along with the polish has made my problem skin so much clearer. It feels like my pores are thoroughly cleansed, and there is no redness. The smell is amazing and I can see my skin seems brighter since I have been using it. The first time I used it was when I saw Zoella using it all those years ago and I’ve used it ever since!

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream
This cream is for normal/oily skin, is SPF 15 and is hypo-allergenic. I specifically chose this moisturiser because it is light yet really hydrates my skin – essential for this cold weather. Does anybody else find their skin is so dry during the Winter Months? I also absolutely adore the smell of this cream, it is mild and fresh, and if they bottled the smell I would be wearing it in a heartbeat!

Tangle Teezer
I got my tangle teezer for Christmas after wanting one for SO. LONG. I’m pretty late on the old tangle teezer bandwagon, but have loved them since discovering one of my favourite youtubers Gabby has a larger than life love for them too. They really are amazing. When I first used it I was worried that it’s tiny bristles would snap in my thick hair but they get rid of all my knots and my hair feels soooo soft after using it. It is the perfect size to fit in your handbag, and you can get every colour imaginable. They also do a compact teezer which is even smaller to fit in your bag, and that one has a cover to protect the bristles. Highly recommend!

Next mini perfumes
I got two of these for Christmas and I love them both! I got Cashmere from my Christmas blogger swap Rachel in my little gift box and I carry it around with me in my handbag! It has a subtle powdery musk scent and is also slightly floral. I like the delicate scent and you could wear this day or night.
I got Femme from my Mum, and I actually love this for nights out or dinner with friends. It has a slightly oriental fragrance and is lovely and fruity. I would recommend both to you all, I know perfume is very personal so go to Next and smell them!

Options Hot Chocolate Mint
The Wintery months call for lots of hot drinks, and during my hunt for low fat hot chocolates to fit in with Slimming World I have rediscovered my love for Options Hot Chocolate Mint! I like all the flavours but this one is my ultimate favourite. It really fills the spot and makes me feel all yummy and warm inside 🙂

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Crayons
I got this set for Christmas and live with at least one of these in my handbag at all times. It contains three crayons, in ‘Fuchsia-ristic’, ‘bashful’ and ‘raplumzel’. Out of the three, I would say bashful is my favourite as it is more of a pinky nude, and can be worn with most things. That’s not to say I don’t like the others! I looove the plum colour of raplumzel and fuchsia-ristic is very bright but still quite subtle. These crayons are not too pigmented, so nice to wear through the day, I would probably add a bit of lippy to them if I were to wear them at night, just to bring the colour out a little more.
Side note: they smell INCREDIBLE.

Crabtree and Evelyn Ultra-moisturising hand therapy in Avocado, olive and basil.
This hand cream is amazing. I went into Crabtree and Evelyn to buy a gift for my boss, and came out with this. After trying the sample I was desparate to buy it and I’m so glad I did. This is a staple in my handbag. Without being too oily, my hands feel soft and moisturized, and working with children I constantly wash my hands so need a rich moisturizer to stop my hands cracking. Even the smell indicates this moisturizer is of a good quality.

These lovely things have pulled me through January and ensured I don’t constantly feel January blues. Let me know your January staples, and if you use anything similar!

Speak soon,

Sophie xxx

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The Benefits of Green Tea

The Benefits of Green Tea

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Hello everybody!

So recently I’ve started what can only be called a change of lifestyle; I’ve joined Slimming World and I am making a conscious effort to lose weight. I’m on week three so once there is a significant change I’ll blog about it 🙂

One thing I’ve really got into during my ‘lifestyle change’ (I refuse to say diet) is introducing healthy foods and drinks into my daily routine, and so I’ve started drinking more green tea. I have always loved green tea (along with all other types of tea) but ever since reading lots of different things stating the different benefits of green tea I’ve made it part of my life. This post is a celebration of all things green tea.

Quick bit of information for those tea lovers, all tea is produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. The fresh leaves are steamed to produce green tea, whereas other types of tea go through a fermentation stage. Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, to treat literally anything, from a headache to a more serious condition. They’ve definitely got the right idea!

Some of the benefits:

It contains B vitamins, potassium, folate (naturally occurring folic acid), magnesium and caffeine.

It has anti-inflammatory qualities, proven to reduce skin damage and improve wrinkles, as well as sun damage.

It lowers the risk of diabetes.

It kills bacteria; improving dental health and the risk of infection.

It burns fat; improving physical performance and boosting weight loss.

The natural caffeine improves brain performance, and is linked to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

It combats cardiovascular disease.

It reduces cholesterol.

I’m sure there are many other benefits people who drink green tea have found, and there are many websites with information!

Having made this a part of my daily routine I can say I feel much more alert, my bloating has reduced and I feel happier which I know is part of my routine becoming more active as well, but I know green tea has played a huge part. I also suffer from a bit of anxiety and I feel like that has definitely improved. Whether that be the actual tea or the physical affects is making my mind a lot calmer and positive, either way I’m feeling really happy these days.

I would love to hear if anybody else has felt the benefits of green tea, or if they don’t feel them or disagree, so get in touch with your thoughts 🙂

Speak soon,

Sophie xxx

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My 2015

My 2015

Hello everybody!

Happy New Year and all that jazz!

I hope you all had a fabulous time bringing in the New Year, and I’m sure most people have some goals they have set for themselves! New year, new start.

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I am a total believer in a fresh slate, and although some people don’t like to use the new year as an excuse for it, I feel it helps to set a clear start date, and what date is better than the 1st January.

So I came across these questions and while I have my own set of personal resolutions and a 2015 Bucket list which I will be sharing soon, these questions are very helpful in terms of reflection and setting some goals.

So here we go:

What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?

2015 is the year I complete my Post Graduate degree and (fingers crossed) become an Early years Teacher.

It will also be the year I truly focus on my blog, attend bloggers events and interact with my fellow bloggers!

I am also really hopeful that 2015 will be the year I feel a bit more settled, and spend more time with loved ones.

What do you want to see, discover, explore?

Ooh that’s a tricky one, I want to see all of my friends, travel to their home towns and have them visit me, make memories together and value their company.

I want to discover more about the blogging world.

I want to explore a part of the world I have never been to before. May as well set the target pretty high hey?

Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?

My lovely family and friends, old friends I have reconnected with, and hopefully some new friends along the way.

What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?

I would really like to learn more about my field (education) and gain more experience through my job.

I would love to improve my blogging skills, particularly my knowledge of beauty and fashion.

Is it too much to ask to master my baking skills?!

Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?

My networking skills. I love to meet new people, but like a lot of people I do get a touch of the old anxiety which prevents me from meeting or sometimes interacting with people. It’s something I really want to challenge head on, so I am really going to work hard at interacting with new people!

What do you want your everyday life to be like?

I feel like I wasted a lot of time last year, so I want my everyday life to be productive. I want to be busy, and full of smiles. Sometimes it is so easy to get stuck in a rut and think you’ve got it really bad, without considering others who may be worse off! I work 40 hours a week, do my Post grad part time, and I want to commit at least one post a week on my blog. In between all this I want to spend as much time with friends as possible. It’s completely do-able with time management and a positive attitude!

Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?

I want to cultivate my worried self into an organised girl, who does things because I enjoy them, not because I think it will make people like me or think better of me.

I want to completely get rid of my anxiety, but I don’t think it’s quite as easy as that.

What do you want to achieve career-wise?

I think like most people, I just want to do something I enjoy. Whether that be continue in child care or move on to something new. 2014 taught me that nobody’s path is set, and that life is far too short to stay in something because you’re worried you won’t find anything better!

How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?

I want to look back and see that 2015 was a pivotal year in my life in terms of career path. The year that I set my own challenges and surprised myself. I also want 2015 to be the year I embraced the people/things I love.

What is your number one goal for 2015?

Be a total badass, work hard, and play harder.

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I invite all my fellow bloggers to see if they can answer these questions, send me the link to your blog so I can read them, I look forward to seeing your answers!

Love,

Sophie xxx

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The Me Time Tag!

The Me Time Tag!

After reading this on the beautiful BambiLeigh’s blog, I thought I’d join in the fun!

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– What do you watch or read during me-time?

I have a different film depending on mood or time of year! So it can either be Friends or Orange is the New Black if I’m just chilling.
I love watching films like Frozen, The Holiday, Love Actually if I’m feeling jolly!

– What do you wear during me-time?

My bambi jammies. Bliss.

– What are your me-time beauty products?

I love a face mask, either a lush one or I’ll use Soap and Glory Fab Pore. That one is just amazing, I feel so refreshed after I’ve used it and would recommend it to all!

– Current favourite nail polish?

This time of year is fab for nail colours. I love a plum colour, but my favourite at the moment is the Rimmel 60 seconds in ‘Rapid Ruby’. Its just lovely! I also have a beaut glittery gold for nights out, and I’ve already planned on wearing it for my work Christmas do!

– What do you eat/drink during me-time?

Anything unhealthy haha. I’m a huuuuge tea drinker so that, and what goes best with tea? A bit of home baked cake 😀

– Current favourite candle?

I have a lot of candles but right now my ultimate favourite is a woodwick candle; it crackles like a roaring fire and the smell is just the ultimate Autumn/Winter smell!

– Do you ever have outdoor me-time?

Sometimes, I’ll go for a walk usually with the dogs or go for a run down the country lanes.

– Would you ever go see a movie alone?

Nah, I have an irrational fear of cinema ghosts.

– Favourite online shop?

I have a few; Not on the High Street, Feel Unique and Dot Com Gift Shop!

– Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

I browse through shop catalogues, do a heck of a lot of list writing as I have a manic work life, and I listen to music! I love going on youtube and watching the likes of Sprinkle of Glitter, Zoella, Lucy And Lydia, Rose and Rosie and Hannah Maggs!

I also love baking and putting all my energy into creating something that tastes delicious.

I tag all of my lovely fellow bloggers 🙂

Love,

Sophie xxx

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November Favourites!

November Favourites!

Hello everybody!

This time of year is just my absolute favourite. Cold, crispy mornings, twinkly lights, hot chocolate, warm scarves and gloves, fireworks, I love it all. I have so many favourites at this time of year so I’ve narrowed it down to a smaller number, a bit of a range of things! Hope you enjoy them.

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Ecotools Make up Brushes

DSCN0583These brushes are simply amazing. I swear by them and haven’t found any that even come close. The bamboo handle is smooth, the bristles are so soft they feel amazing. The aluminium ferrules is recycled, and the are 100% cruelty free.

 

Sleek Blush Palette

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The palette I have is called ‘Lace’ which has two intense matte shades; a coral and a bright red, and one rich shimmer which is a pinky colour. When looking for a new blush I wanted something really pigmented and relatively cheap, this palette is perfect. I wear this during the day but can also dress this up for night time make up.

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Varnish in Rapid Ruby

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I got this nail varnish from my best friend as part of a Christmas box of goodies while I was in Australia. The colour just screams Christmas. I love to wear dark jeans with a chunky knit scream scarf and my black coat with red nails, it’s so wintery.

Bourjois Intense Extrait 01 – Biege Dore

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I love love love this eyeshadow. It is so shimery and perfect to illuminate your eyes. It brings out the blue in my eyes, which is why I love it, and the fact that once applied, my makeup is transformed. I love this when going out for dinner to add a little more shimmer, but you can really go to town with this too. A staple eyeshadow for me.

MAC lipstick in ‘Plumful’

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This lipstick is my absolute favourite at the moment. The plum colour is perfect for Winter and it brings out the brightness and colour in my face without washing me out. I also feel like some red lipsticks tend to make teeth look slightly yellow. This plum colour makes my teeth look nice and bright!

L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourising Mask Balm

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A lot of people talk about the summer drying out your hair, I find that my hair feels drier in the Winter. A combination of blowdrying my hair, straightening it and tying it up makes my ends dry and easily split. This mask is very affordable and I have found it really works. I left it in my hair for five minutes, and the result was soft smooth hair, it feels more voluminous and hydrated. A must have.

Sticky Toffee Latte – Costa

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I won’t say much about this, just that I am now addicted.

Baking

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Most people know I am an avid baker and spend most weekends baking something. This month has been no different. Last weekend I made a carrot cake but my favourite cake was the cupcake bouquet I made for my Mum’s birthday. I made chocolate cupcakes with a golden buttercream, piped on in a rose style and I made some leaves with green icing. I am so proud of myself, and I keep baking and improving; one day I might make a living from it!

What have been your favourites over November?

Have you tried or bought any of these products and what do you think?

Love,

 Sophie xxx

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