Sunday 23 July 2017

The Wedding Guest Style Guide*

Despite some temperamental weather recently here in the U.K., wedding season is well and truly underway. Whilst I love a good wedding, with so many event types (ranging from black tie, to casual & even destination) it can be a pretty stressful finding the perfect outfit as a guest.

However - luckily for me - The Black Tux* have created the Wedding Guest Style Guide to help anyone find the perfect outfit ahead of the special day.




I love how this guide creates an outfit perfect for any type of event (personally I would never have known what to wear to a White Tie wedding) & helps eliminate the worry of over/under-dressing.

In addition to the above The Black Tux* also offer Suit & Tuxedo rentals, so be sure to check them out if you - or anyone you may know - is heading to an event this Summer.

If you have any tips that aren't included in the above Style Guide 
I'd love to know in the comments below! 
xxx

Sunday 16 July 2017

July Glossybox Unboxing

Whether you're jetting off on an exotic holiday or enjoying a short stay-cation with the girls, the "Hello Summer" July Glossybox contains a combination of products & accessories perfect for the summer months. 




Products: 
Spectrum Fan Brush - £4.99 [x]
CuteBalms Macaroon Tint Balm - £5.99 [x]
Bellapierre Banana Setting Powder - £25.00 [x]
Papangas Spiral Hairbands - £4.99 [x]
Monuspa Soothing Aftersun Lotion - £19.95 [x]


Besides the gorgeous Summer-themed box (I didn't realise it was possible to love the Glossybox packaging more) the first item to catch my eye this month had to be Spectrum's Fan Brush. I've been looking to test a fan brush for sometime now, so I can't wait to see how this works with applying highlighter and loose powder.

I was also pretty happy to find the Monuspa Soothing Aftersun Lotion. Packed with Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and Vitamin E I'm hoping this will be a life-saver if (when) my shoulders start to turn a little pink after sitting in the sun this year.

The only product I was a little uncertain about this month was the Cutebalms Macaroon Balm. Although ridiculously cute (who doesn't love a product shaped like a bright pink Macaroon?) I'm not really a big fan of lip balms. However after some research I discovered that the product also doubles as a cheek tint - so I'll be sure to put it to the test & hope it can become a part of my permanent make-up collection.


Have you tried any of the above products?
I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments below. 
xxx



Sunday 9 July 2017

A Letter To My Student-Self*

With my not-so-litter sister finishing college this year and starting to think about University, I found myself thinking back to my time as a student. Between moving away after finishing sixth form and then graduating three years later, there were many ups and downs which all contributed towards some of the best years of my life.

For anyone who's taking the step and starting university this year or still trying to figure out which path is best for them, I've listed some of the things I found helped me the most during my time as a student.



Freshers Events:
For those who don't know, Freshers is the name given to the time after moving for university, but before studies actually begin. The Student Guild organises events from bar crawls to quiz nights designed to encourage new students to start making friends. Whilst a little awkward and nerve-wracking at first, there really is so there's no better time to start forming friendship groups then with drinks and nights out all together. Five years after my first "Freshers Week" I'm still best friends with some of the people I met during those first nights out.


Student Discount: 
Whether it's through using your university ID, NUS Extra or My Uni Days - Student Discount will quickly become your best friend. So many high street and online shops offer discounts off of full price items which quickly add up to pretty decent savings over the years (top tip, in your last year of studying be sure to purchase a 3 year NUS Card to continue enjoying those discounts even after graduation).





Budget:
Whilst it may be tempting to splash out as soon as that Student Loan payment hits your bank, it's really not a wise move. With only a small amount going spare, I found the best way to make my pennies last was to divide my total amount of loan (after rent and bills etc) by the amount of weeks left until the next payment, which then gave a weekly allowance. Whilst it seems dull, your future-self will definitely thank you! Remember your student loans are not just free money. They have to be paid back eventually and when they do you should look at all your options of repayment. For any US readers places like Earnest* can help you manage those hefty student loans by refinancing them!

Homesickness: 
If you've chosen to move away for university, the feeling of homesickness is something you'll more than likely experience at least once. I personally loved being away from home for the "full university experience" but still had times when there was nothing I wanted more than a good home-cooked meal and to sit see my Mum. If you're unable to travel home due, a phone call or Facetime is the next best thing to seeing loved ones back home - without the expensive train ticket!




Food shopping: 
If you can, I couldn't recommend shopping at places like Lidl and Aldi enough - I was luckily enough to live down the road from a Lidl in my second and third years of uni which quickly became my favourite place for a food shop. Alternatively own-brand items are usually just as good as branded products at a fraction of the price.

Rail Cards: 
Another great savings tip for those who have chosen to move away for university is purchasing a Railcard. National Rail's 16-25 Railcard costs £30 and offers 1/3 off of all train journeys. Whilst a little pricey up front when on a budget, it quickly pays for itself in savings (this little card saved me a whole lot of money during my three years as a student).


Whilst a huge and scary step, going to university was one of the best decisions I ever made. I gained huge amounts of independence and met some of my best friends during the three years spent studying (and partying).

What tips do you have for any new students moving for uni? 
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx


The Wedding Guest Style Guide*

Despite some temperamental weather recently here in the U.K., wedding season is well and truly underway. Whilst I love a good wedding, with so many event types (ranging from black tie, to casual & even destination) it can be a pretty stressful finding the perfect outfit as a guest.

However - luckily for me - The Black Tux* have created the Wedding Guest Style Guide to help anyone find the perfect outfit ahead of the special day.




I love how this guide creates an outfit perfect for any type of event (personally I would never have known what to wear to a White Tie wedding) & helps eliminate the worry of over/under-dressing.

In addition to the above The Black Tux* also offer Suit & Tuxedo rentals, so be sure to check them out if you - or anyone you may know - is heading to an event this Summer.

If you have any tips that aren't included in the above Style Guide 
I'd love to know in the comments below! 
xxx

July Glossybox Unboxing

Whether you're jetting off on an exotic holiday or enjoying a short stay-cation with the girls, the "Hello Summer" July Glossybox contains a combination of products & accessories perfect for the summer months. 




Products: 
Spectrum Fan Brush - £4.99 [x]
CuteBalms Macaroon Tint Balm - £5.99 [x]
Bellapierre Banana Setting Powder - £25.00 [x]
Papangas Spiral Hairbands - £4.99 [x]
Monuspa Soothing Aftersun Lotion - £19.95 [x]


Besides the gorgeous Summer-themed box (I didn't realise it was possible to love the Glossybox packaging more) the first item to catch my eye this month had to be Spectrum's Fan Brush. I've been looking to test a fan brush for sometime now, so I can't wait to see how this works with applying highlighter and loose powder.

I was also pretty happy to find the Monuspa Soothing Aftersun Lotion. Packed with Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and Vitamin E I'm hoping this will be a life-saver if (when) my shoulders start to turn a little pink after sitting in the sun this year.

The only product I was a little uncertain about this month was the Cutebalms Macaroon Balm. Although ridiculously cute (who doesn't love a product shaped like a bright pink Macaroon?) I'm not really a big fan of lip balms. However after some research I discovered that the product also doubles as a cheek tint - so I'll be sure to put it to the test & hope it can become a part of my permanent make-up collection.


Have you tried any of the above products?
I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments below. 
xxx



A Letter To My Student-Self*

With my not-so-litter sister finishing college this year and starting to think about University, I found myself thinking back to my time as a student. Between moving away after finishing sixth form and then graduating three years later, there were many ups and downs which all contributed towards some of the best years of my life.

For anyone who's taking the step and starting university this year or still trying to figure out which path is best for them, I've listed some of the things I found helped me the most during my time as a student.



Freshers Events:
For those who don't know, Freshers is the name given to the time after moving for university, but before studies actually begin. The Student Guild organises events from bar crawls to quiz nights designed to encourage new students to start making friends. Whilst a little awkward and nerve-wracking at first, there really is so there's no better time to start forming friendship groups then with drinks and nights out all together. Five years after my first "Freshers Week" I'm still best friends with some of the people I met during those first nights out.


Student Discount: 
Whether it's through using your university ID, NUS Extra or My Uni Days - Student Discount will quickly become your best friend. So many high street and online shops offer discounts off of full price items which quickly add up to pretty decent savings over the years (top tip, in your last year of studying be sure to purchase a 3 year NUS Card to continue enjoying those discounts even after graduation).





Budget:
Whilst it may be tempting to splash out as soon as that Student Loan payment hits your bank, it's really not a wise move. With only a small amount going spare, I found the best way to make my pennies last was to divide my total amount of loan (after rent and bills etc) by the amount of weeks left until the next payment, which then gave a weekly allowance. Whilst it seems dull, your future-self will definitely thank you! Remember your student loans are not just free money. They have to be paid back eventually and when they do you should look at all your options of repayment. For any US readers places like Earnest* can help you manage those hefty student loans by refinancing them!

Homesickness: 
If you've chosen to move away for university, the feeling of homesickness is something you'll more than likely experience at least once. I personally loved being away from home for the "full university experience" but still had times when there was nothing I wanted more than a good home-cooked meal and to sit see my Mum. If you're unable to travel home due, a phone call or Facetime is the next best thing to seeing loved ones back home - without the expensive train ticket!




Food shopping: 
If you can, I couldn't recommend shopping at places like Lidl and Aldi enough - I was luckily enough to live down the road from a Lidl in my second and third years of uni which quickly became my favourite place for a food shop. Alternatively own-brand items are usually just as good as branded products at a fraction of the price.

Rail Cards: 
Another great savings tip for those who have chosen to move away for university is purchasing a Railcard. National Rail's 16-25 Railcard costs £30 and offers 1/3 off of all train journeys. Whilst a little pricey up front when on a budget, it quickly pays for itself in savings (this little card saved me a whole lot of money during my three years as a student).


Whilst a huge and scary step, going to university was one of the best decisions I ever made. I gained huge amounts of independence and met some of my best friends during the three years spent studying (and partying).

What tips do you have for any new students moving for uni? 
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx