It's been such a long time since I've done a favourites post so I thought I'd share with you some of the things that have been making me happy lately :)



01. Tilda Garden Vegetable and Quinoa Wholegrain Rice.
I know this is kind of a weird one, and I have no idea if it's any good for you or not, but damn is it delicious. I got a bunch of these on offer and they just make for a really easy meal with some grilled chicken or my absolute favourite: falafel!

02. Maybelline SuperStay nail varnish in 'Pink in the Park'.
I went on holiday in June (more on that below), and I wanted to paint my nails with something that would last the week so I dug out this Maybelline nail varnish that I got last year. It's a lovely pastel pink and it lasted the whole week with barely any chipping - which is pretty impressive! I've been reapplying it ever since because 1) it makes my hands look more tanned *smirk* and 2) it's the perfect summery colour. I think there's quite a few colours in the SuperStay range now so I'm definitely going to be checking out some more!

03. NYX soft matte lip cream in 'Abu Dhabi'.
Last month I finally managed to get to a NYX counter, the awesome one in Selfridge's no less, and picked up the soft matte lip cream in 'Abu Dhabi'. I was hovering around the counter for ages trying to decide between this and 'Stockholm' but eventually went for 'Abu Dhabi' because it's more of a brown-nude and less peachy. I have quite dark lips anyway so darker nudes just look better on me than pale ones. The formula is AWESOME, it lasts pretty much all day - through eating and drinking - with minimal fading, and it feels really comfortable on the lips. I now need every single other shade *sigh*.

04. Primark lip liner.
This lip liner cost me £1. One. Pound. Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! And it's actually really nice! It's creamy and pretty long lasting and did I mention that its only a quid?!
I don't know the exact shade of this, but there are only a few and they're all really nice so go and check them out!

05. Menorca.
Last month I went on a long awaited and much needed holiday to Menorca with my family and my boyfriend and boy was it amazing. We stayed in an apartment with a sea view and a lovely, blissfully quiet pool and my days were spent lounging in the shade, drinking Fanta Limon and reading all the books. I read five books in 6 days and it was the happiest week I've had in a long time. It already feels like it was years ago and I'm craving another break in the sun!

06. Meridian Cashew Butter.
For twenty four years, for some unknown reason, I'd convinced myself that I didn't like nuts - in any shape or form. Then 2016 came around and I decided, you know what, I should probably actually try some nut products and see if I'm making this whole thing up. And guess what? I was. I actually do like nuts, especially cashews, and especially Meridian Cashew Butter. It's made of 100% organic cashew nuts and I adore it, on toast, with strawberries (sounds weird but it's awesome) and just on a spoon. YUM.

07. Witch Please.
Last but certainly not least is Witch Please. How can I explain this podcast and how much I love it?!
Witch Please is a fortnightly podcast about the Harry Potter world by two lady scholars. At least that's how their website describes it. BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! It's about Granger Danger, print culture, the inexplicable terribleness of the fourth film and DESTROYING THE PATRIARCHY! And magic, of course, you can't forget the magic.
The hosts of the podcast, Marcelle Kosman and Hannah McGregor, decided that they wanted to re-read the Harry Potter books and watch the accompanying films and then discuss them in a wonderful mix of literary criticism, hilarity, feminism and awesome sound effects. Have I convinced you yet? Go and listen to it now on your podcast app of choice! You'll be addicted in no time.

Those are the things that have been making me happy lately, what about you? Let me know your favourite thing about June in the comments!

We're half way through April but it's never too late for monthly favourites, right? Today I'm going to be sharing the things that I was loving in March!


01. Galaxy Golden Eggs.
I blame Alice Anne of Annie Writes Beauty for this as she encouraged everyone on Twitter to try these little golden eggs of deliciousness. I don't even want to think about how many packets of these I consumed in March and then my sister went and bought me the giant Galaxy golden eggs Easter egg and my obsession is still lingering!

02. The return of Rupaul's Drag Race.
Last month the iconic Rupaul's Drag Race returned for season eight and I was in my absolute element! My boyfriend and I have loved this show for a long time now and we have a tradition of each picking a queen who we think is going to win each season and the one who goes out first has to buy the other a present. Ah, the little things. Anyway, I'm absolutely loving this season and my pick is Thorgy Thor (only because my boyfriend got to pick first and picked Bob the Drag Queen - the clear winner, but we'll see). We're about half way through now and I'm going to be so sad when it's over for another year.

03. Catching up on How to Get Away With Murder.
My boyfriend got some annual leave last month and we spent an awesome few days snuggled up under the duvet reading and catching up on our favourite shows, including How to Get Away With Murder. Season two was just as good as season one and if you haven't watched this show yet then you're seriously missing out!

04. Reading in the sun.
Spring is started to peek it's head out and we've had a sprinkling of sunny days here and there and a couple of times it's even been warm enough for me to sit outside and read! Reading outside in the sun is one of my favourite things ever and I'm so glad that we're getting to that time of year again.

05. Front Lines by Michael Grant.
I only read four books last month and Front Lines was my stand-out favourite of the bunch. You know when you've read so many pretty-good books for months and then you read one that's fantastic and you remember what great writing really is? That's what it was like reading Front Lines. I was like 'yes, this is what I've been looking for!'. It's a really great alternative historical fiction set in a WW2 where women are called up to fight alongside men in the US army. The characterisation is excellent and I'm so glad that this is the first in a series - I can't wait to read more!

06. Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in '05'.
Just like the last few months, I didn't wear a lot of makeup in March, but when I did I found myself reaching for the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in '05'. I did a big makeup clearout last month and vowed to wear what I have more instead of just reaching for the same thing over and over, and that led to me rediscovering this lipstick. It's kind of a bright-but-not-too-bright berry-ish pink and it's just super flattering and long-lasting.

07. Easter eggs.
Need I say more? Towards the end of last month and well into this month my diet consisted of a lot of Easter eggs. For some reason I seemed to get quite a lot of eggs from various people and I've been loving every single bite. Why does chocolate taste so much better in egg form?!

What were some of your favourites last month?

Okay so we're already over half way through March but who says I can't still talk about February?! I didn't get a chance to do my February favourites at the end of last month but I figure it's never too late to tell you about things I've been loving right?

01. Casey Neistat.
I know all the YouTube purists out there are going to be annoyed with me for this but I only really discovered Casey Neistat last month, when his 'Snowboarding with the NYPD' video went viral. In case you haven't heard of him, Casey is a filmmaker based in New York who makes daily vlogs along with short films. I'd heard a lot of people talking about him before but I didn't start regularly watching him until last month, and now I'm addicted. Casey's vlogs are incredible in terms of quality and style, his shots and editing are flawless and he's just so damn likeable. If you haven't already, go and subscribe.

02. Beauty and the Geek.
Do you guys remember this show? Such a classic, trashy reality show. Well, recently my boyfriend and I have been rewatching all the seasons on YouTube. Sure, it's super problematic in a myriad of ways but it's great for some mindless entertainment. We're kind of addicted to reality tv at the moment so I'm not sure what we'll do when we've finished this! Leave me a comment with your favourite reality show!

03. The first signs of spring.
I didn't realise how fed up I was with Winter until the days started getting a little brighter and the first flowers started peeping their heads through. I'm relishing every second of the oncoming season and we've already had some warm enough days to sit outside and read, hooray!

04. Primark 'duvet day' top.
I've been getting really cold at night lately, which is strange because I usually get really warm at night if anything. I'm not really sure why, it might be a side effect of some altered medication I'm on but nonetheless I wanted something a little warmer to snuggle up in at bedtime and this primark top is perfect. It's probably the softest piece of clothing I've ever owned and pulling it on after a warm bath might just be the best feeling in the world.

05. Spotlight.
Last month it was my six year anniversary with my boyfriend so we had a little cinema and dinner date and went to see Spotlight. Spotlight is the true story of the Boston Globe's investigative journalist team's investigation into the many cases of systemic child abuse committed by the Roman Catholic church in the Boston area. It doesn't feel quite right to say that I enjoyed the film because it left me feeling indescribably upset and angry, but it really was an incredible film. When the credits rolled I think I sat there for a full five minutes with my head in my hands just taking in everything I'd seen and processing the fact that this is a true story, and a recurring worldwide problem and that was kind of overwhelming. If you haven't seen it, then you really should.

06. Bullet journalling.
Bullet journalling was in my January favourites but I'm including it again here because February was the month that I really got into it. I won't go into it too much because I've done a whole post about it here, which has actually been my most successful post ever! It's basically my perfect planner/journalling system and I've been really enjoying it. I'll probably do another post about my bullet journal when I've been using it for a few more months just to reflect on how it's been working for me, but right now, I'm officially converted.

What was your favourite thing about last month?

With a new year comes a fresh batch of monthly favourites posts. These have become one of my favourite kinds of posts because it gives me a chance to reflect on the month and really think about the little things that have been making me happy.

This month's favourites is a bit of an odd collection. I haven't really been wearing makeup or doing a lot of things apart from resting after the hectic festive period and going about my usual daily life. But there have been a few things that I've been enjoying and I thought I'd share them with you today.

01. Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm.
In December my lovely friend Emma gave me this travel sized pot of the Emma Hardie cleansing balm to try, along with a whole bunch of things I haven't got around to yet. I was insanely grateful when she gave me this wondrous box of goodies, whispering 'are you sure? I couldn't possibly...' whilst clutching the box for dear life in my greedy little hands. Anyway, a few weeks later and I'm so completely smitten with this painfully expensive cleansing balm that I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when it runs out.

It works really well as either a first cleanse to remove makeup or as a follow-up to cleanse and moisturise the skin. It leaves me skin feeling silky smooth and it's not stripping or irritating at all. I'm in love!

02. Buying random crap on eBay.
I got really bored one day and started browsing eBay for random little things to use as photo props and the next thing you know I've got 17 rolls of washi tape, endless little silk flowers and 3 lots of fairy lights on their way to me. All for less than a fiver. I really need to stop but who can resist 5 rolls of washi tape for 37p?! Not me.

03. My new phone case.
This was another eBay purchase and cost a whopping, *drum roll*, £1.47. That's right folks, a beautiful phone case for just over a quid with free delivery. I don't mind if I do. It's actually really good quality too.

04. H&M spotty jumper.
I have basically been wearing this jumper non-stop since I bought it in December. It's loose-fitting but flattering, ridiculously comfy and warm and goes with EVERYTHING. I'm not sure it's still in stores but I'm pretty sure it was crazy cheap so grab one if you see it.

05. Mac 'Syrup'.
After going crazy over bold lipsticks last year I'm ready to embrace the nudes once again (*wink wink, nudge nudge* hahaaa. I'm not even sure what joke I'm making, but I'm laughing.) 'Syrup' is kind of a plummy nude and it's just the perfect everyday colour. I love the Mac lustre lipsticks because you don't have to worry about them fading awkwardly, or reapplying without a mirror. Back to basics feels great sometimes.

06. Bullet journalling.
This is my new found obsession. I'd been aware of the term 'bullet journalling' for a while but hadn't really looked into it until I saw Lily Pebbles instagram last week, which made me want to find out everything about it. It's basically my perfect journalling/planner system. I won't try to explain it because it's kind of difficult but this video explains it all perfectly. I love it so much I'm thinking about doing a whole post on the concept sometime soon, and showing you all my bullet journal so far. Let me know in the comments if this is something you'd be interested in seeing!

What have you been loving this month?

Instead of doing my usual monthly favourites post in December, I thought it'd be nice to say goodbye to 2015 by wrapping up my non-bookish favourites of last year! I just wanted to talk about the beauty, skincare and lifestyle bits that I really enjoyed last year, and hopefully you might find some good recommendations in there!

BEAUTY AND SKINCARE

Foundation: Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 hour nude in 'Ivory'.
I discovered this foundation about half way through the year and have been wearing it pretty much constantly since, it's a really good medium coverage that stays on all day.

Concealer: Maybelline The Eraser Eye in 'Light'.
A lot of people were going on about this on Youtube so I picked it up part way through the year and haven't looked back. It's the only concealer I use now and the only one that will brighten my intensely dark circles.

Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in '02'.
I've been using this for quite a long time now (as you can see by the picture, it's almost finished!) and it's basically my holy grail bronzer. I'm super pale so most bronzers look ridiculous on me, but this is perfect. Pale people: this is your bronzer!

Blush: Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour blush in 'Santa Rose'.
This is the best neutral blush I've ever used, it's a little bit pink but not too much and just gives a nice healthy glow, and it lasts all day, perfect!

Brow product: Mac matte eyeshadow in 'charcoal brown'.
I've been using this non-stop for my brows for a couple of years, I've hit pan on it but there's still so much left! It's just the perfect subtle but buildable brow product.

Eye primer: Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot in 'Painterly'.
This has been my go-to eye primer since 2014 as I have such dark eyelids so this creates such a good base for eyeshadows and just generally brightens my eyes, you could definitely wear this on it's own for a neutral look.

Cream eyeshadow: Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Creamy Beige'.
I've always loved the Maybelline Colour Tattoo's as they're ridiculously quick and simple, you literally just stick your finger in it (or a brush if you're super hygienic and fancy) and blend it out. It looks like you've made much more effort than you actually have. I particularly like the 'creamy beige' shade as it's a great neutral.

Eyeshadow palette: Urban Decay Naked Basics 2.
I'm so boring with these neutral eyeshadows aren't I? I love a glittery/smokey eye as much as the next girl but let's be honest, most of the time I want to stick to my lovely warm neutrals. The Naked Basics 2 is a little cooler than the original and I think the shades are just more wearable for me.

Eyeliner: Soap and Glory Supercat.
This is the best liquid eyeliner that I've ever used, it's ridiculously easy to apply and is a pretty bargain price. If you don't already have this then go and get it immediately.

Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash.
The one pictured is a sample size but I've managed to make it last a damn long time. This mascara is great for separation and lengthening and although I love it there are plenty of great drugstore mascaras so I won't be buying the full size when this runs out.

Lipstick: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 'Frambourjoise' and 'Plum Plum Girl'.
2015 was the year that I became brave enough to wear bold lipstick, and it's all down to the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets. I'd tried quite a few bold lipsticks before that but I often thought I looked ridiculous and I was always worried about them smudging or having to reapply them, but none of those things are a problem with these lipsticks. Unlike most liquid lipsticks they're not drying on the lips at all and they last all day, through eating and drinking, without smudging or fading at all. I love these two shades in particular and wear them all the time now! I just feel a lot more 'put together' with a bold lipstick on, and even better that I don't have to think about it at all.

Lip pencil: Rimmel Exaggerate in 'Eastend Snob'.
Before 2015 I'd never used a lip pencil but then I saw a lot of people recommending 'eastend snob' as an all-over lip colour and an alternative to Charlotte Tilbury's lip cheat pencil in 'pillowtalk'. So I picked it up and ended up wearing it so much throughout the year. It's just really easy and quick to apply and looks neutral but polished. I'm on my second one now so that speaks volumes as I never use up makeup!

Tool: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.
This has actually changed my makeup-life! I'd heard about beauty blenders and sponges before and I was like 'yeah yeah I don't need one.' But then they were on offer in Boots, and I bought one, and it was incredible. It makes foundation look completely flawless and it's amazing for blending in concealer and patting over the base to blend in bronzer and blusher. I definitely think it's worth having at least one of these!

Eye cream: Ren Active 7 Eye Gel.
I have really dry, flakey skin around my eyes and I also suffer from blepharitis (a gross eye disease that usually only happens to old people - lucky me!) so using eye cream is so so important for me so I don't constantly look like a freaky puffy scaly monster. My eye area is so sensitive and I've reacted to a lot of eye creams in the past and this is the only one I've come across which actually works and doesn't burn the skin around my eyes.

Moisturiser: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.
This is the best moisturiser! As I said I have quite dry, sensitive skin and this is just so so hydrating and not irritating, I love it, and my skin loves it too. It's also brilliant as a body moisturiser for dry patches.

Cleanser: Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash.
This isn't my everyday cleanser (that goes to the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash) but this is my favourite go-to cleanser for congested or spotty skin. It sorts out any issues straight away and is really gentle and hydrating unlike a lot of spot-busting products.


LIFESTYLE BITS & BOBS

TV programme: Rupaul's Drag Race.


Rupaul's Drag Race is a reality show where drag queens compete to become America's 'next drag superstar', and it's incredible. I first discovered it in 2014 whilst procrastinating from uni work and my boyfriend and I watched the first season in less than a week. Then we went quite a long time without it but for some reason started watching it again last year. Needless to say we became addicted and watched all seven seasons. I'm now desperate for season 8 and I don't know how much longer I can wait!


Podcasts: Serial, Criminal, Ear Biscuits, Dear Hank and John.
2015 was the year I discovered podcasts. I know they've been around for a REALLY long time, but I'm just late to the game okay? I started out with Rhett and Link's Ear Biscuits, where they talk to lots of different Youtubers and 'internet people', and I just love Rhett and Link so this one was always going to be a winner for me. But the others listed above are all amazing!

Youtubers: Good Mythical Morning, SunbeamsJess (+ ExtraSunBeamsJess), Lily Pebbles.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, the Youtubers listed above are my out and out favourites of the year (not including booktubers because this is supposed to be a non-bookish favourites)!

Candle: Pintail candle in the scent 'White Lily & Silk'.
Guys. GUYS. I've found my perfect candle. I know, big deal right? Well it is for me. This is my ultimate candle scent. It's fresh and awesome and fills the room and lasts a long time. I love it so much I asked for a bulk pack of them from ebay for my birthday. You need to get on this.

KitSound Mini Buddy Speaker.
I bought this from Amazon at the end of 2014 but didn't really use it much until mid-late last year. It's got such great sound quality and is awesome for playing music from my phone or watching a film on my laptop. It's USB rechargeable, ridiculous value for money and I love it.

Blogging.
My final favourite of 2015 has got to be blogging. Although this is technically bookish, as I blog about books, it still counts as it's honestly changed my life. I don't know what I would have done or how I would've coped for the last year without blogging. It's given me a purpose, opened up so many opportunities for me and best of all I've met some amazing people through it. I'm honestly so so grateful to every single person who reads or comments on a post or follows my blog, you're all incredible and I'm so thankful. I can only hope that my blog will continue to grow throughout 2016 and that I'll keep loving it throughout the year!

Bloody hell! That was A LOT of favourites. If you read this whole post then you get a medal, it's in the post. Thank you for reading and make sure to leave me a comment if you've found anything in this post helpful!

What were some of your favourites of 2015?

So before you know it, it's the end November and this is only my fifth post of the month. But I'm not going to give any rubbish excuses, because sometimes life happens and that's okay. Even though I love November I'm actually a little happy that it's over because it makes way for the festive season, my favourite time of year!

But before we start decking the halls and hanging our stockings, let's take a look back at November and all the things that made it wonderful with a good old fashioned favourites post!

01. My birthday!
I'm not usually a birthday person, I don't like to make a big deal about it or have a huge party (mainly because I have a deep-rooted fear that no one will show up), but this years birthday was the best one in a long time. Last year my birthday happened to coincide with the first day at a new job so no one in the office knew and it was kind of a scary and underwhelming day. But this year I spent my birthday in my university city, Newcastle, having dinner with friends and going to see Haus of Edwards perform in a drag show. It was absolutely incredible. Haus of Edwards are three drag artists who were on RuPaul's Drag Race, one of my favourite shows ever, and they totally lived up the the hype. They looked sickening and their performances were out of this world. I highly advise you to check them out on YouTube.
I then came home to spend time with my family and as a bonus I got some wonderful presents (mostly books) which I'll be showing you in my November book haul, so keep an eye out for that.

02. 'Warm' - SG Lewis.
My addiction to this song for the last couple of months originated with SunBeamsJess' vlogtober, which featured so much great background music that it inspired the creation of my 'chill vibes' Spotify playlist, check it out for some great tunes.

03. Primark slippers.
When in Primark earlier this month, I couldn't resist a new pair of slippers especially when I saw that they have a memory foam sole! They're insanely comfortable and warm and at only £4, you're crazy if you don't go and get some right now.

04. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.
This book has no doubt been my favourite book of the month, maybe even my favourite book of the year. I'll be talking more about this in my monthly wrap up, but for now, just go and read it, you won't regret it!

05. How to Get Away with Murder.
I'd seen a few people on Twitter talking about this series that was recently added to Netflix so I decided to give it a go. I watched the entire first season in a few days and now I'm completely caught up and have to wait until FEBRUARY for a new episode, which is devastating. Guys, this show is INSANE. Just trust me, go and watch it now.

06. Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash.
This has to be my favourite cleanser of all time, it's definitely my most repurchased. I hadn't had it in a while due to lack of funds so I was over the moon when mum bought it for me for my birthday. I'm so glad to have it back in my life! I have super sensitive skin and this is perfect, it removes makeup so easily and it just does wonders for my skin. Holy grail product for sure.

07. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 'Plum Plum Girl'.
I am so obsessed with this formula. I now have three of these but I think this shade is my favourite, it's a deep red/plum shade depending on the light. It's super easy to apply, not drying at all and doesn't budge an inch, even through a several course meal. If you're looking for a fail-safe bold lip, these are the ones to go for!

08. Jacob's Cracker Crisps.
Aka my new addiction. Asos included a sample pack of the 'thai sweet chilli' flavour in an order last month and I thought 'ooh these are nice'. Flashforward to this month and I don't even want to think about how many large bags of these I've consumed. My favourite are the salt and vinegar ones and if you put a pack in front of me, it'll be gone before the day is up. It's a serious problem, but for now I really don't care. *crunch*

09. Mac 'Heroine'.
I'd been looking for a purple lipstick for a while and although I searched the drugstore high and low I couldn't find ANY true purple lipsticks. They were all pretty much pink or really dark reds, so I ended up in Mac. Now lord knows I can't afford Mac right now so after uhming and ahing for ages, thankfully my wonderful boyfriend swept in and insisted on buying me 'Heroine' for my birthday. I absolutely love it! Although it looks scary in the bullet it's actually really wearable and I think it really suits my colouring. It's a matte formula so it lasts really well and I can see myself wearing it all year round.

So those are the things that have been making me happy this month! I'm so so excited for December 1st as it means I can finally get out the decorations and start playing my Christmas playlist non-stop! Bring on the festive season!

What have you been loving this month?

Sadly, blogtober is nearly over but that means that it's time to reflect on everything that's been making me happy throughout this busy, changeable, blustery month.

I've been so busy with blogtober that I haven't really had a lot of downtime to indulge and enjoy things as much, but over the month I've taken note of the little daily things that have been making me happy so that's what I'm sharing with you today.



01. Primark cosy blanket
I mentioned this blanket in my Autumnal Haul post and it's probably the best thing I bought this month. It's been making my days and nights super cosy and whether I'm frantically writing blogposts or curled up watching Netflix, you can be sure I've been snuggled under this blanket. It's so gorgeous and soft and such a bargain so head to your local Primark and get one before they're all gone!

02. SunBeamsJess' Vlogtober videos
I've loved watching everyone's vlogtober videos this month but I've been particularly enjoying SunBeamJess' vlogs. I stumbled across her main channel at the beginning of the month and was instantly charmed by her down to earth personality and amazing style, I was so pleased to see that she was doing vlogtober and I've been hooked ever since. It's been really nice to see university life through her eyes and it's making me nostalgic for my own uni days, especially as she's studying English Lit like I did.

03. Lush The Comforter shower cream
I freaked out when I found this little beauty on a trip to Lush Nottingham earlier this month as I thought these new Comforter shower creams were exclusive to the Oxford Street store - apparently not! This is my absolute favourite scent by Lush so I'm really happy to have it in shower gel form and I'm now wishing I'd bought a bigger bottle!

04. MUA Heaven and Earth eyeshadow palette
I've had this palette for so many years, I don't even know when I bought it, but I rediscovered it this month when looking for orangey/coppery eyeshadows, as I was craving more autumnal makeup looks. This palette contains 12 eyeshadows in varying warm shimmery shades. In my opinion it's a pretty good dupe for the Naked one palette, the shadows are all nicely pigmented and blend smoothly, and at only £4.00 you can't go wrong. I've been using this pretty much every time I've worn makeup this month.

05. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
This month I noticed that I was running out of my beloved First Aid Beauty 'Ultra Repair Cream' moisturiser so I decided to pick up the First Aid Beauty 'FAB Faves to Go' kit which contains the Ultra Repair Cream, the Facial Radiance Pads and the Face Cleanser. I've had this kit before and I think it's such good value for money and a great introduction to the brand. I've got really sensitive skin so I'm careful about skincare products but all of these are great and so gentle on my skin. I particularly love the cleanser as it's so great for a second cleanse or a morning cleanse in the shower - it's just so gentle and hydrating, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight at all. Give this kit a go if you're looking for some pretty affordable but slightly higher end skincare!

06. Rimmel Exaggerate lip liner in 'East End Snob'
I didn't realise how much I loved this lip liner until it unexpectedly ran out earlier this month. The only bad thing about it is that you can't tell when it's going to run out so I had an upsetting moment half way through using it one day when it just wouldn't turn anymore! As the days went on I realised how much I was missing it so I had to go out and buy a replacement. It's just the perfect liner to wear under pretty much any lipstick to emphasise the colour and increase the wear-time of the lipstick. I absolutely love it and now know I can't live without it!

07. Soap and Glory Supercat eyeliner
I've never really been one for liquid eyeliner because I've never found a really good one before, it always just took too long and ended up messy or wonky - so I kind of gave up. I'd been hearing people talk about the Supercat liner for years but never bothered to pick it up until I was casually browsing Boots one day this month and feeling a bit spendy. Well, I bought it and let me tell you; I'm in love! It's seriously the easiest eyeliner I've ever used, it's really easy to do a thin or thick line and takes about 30 seconds and then doesn't budge all day. I've been wearing it most days since and I'm definitely a liquid liner convert.

What have you been loving this month?

It's the old cliché again but September really has gone by ridiculously fast, summer has faded (mostly) and I'm starting to get really excited for Autumn and all the goodness it brings. But for now let's savour September and have a look back at all the things I've been enjoying this month...

01. Fresh Flowers
This month has been a great one for flowers. Around the middle of the month my mum bought me a beautiful bunch of chrysanthemum's from Asda and they're still going! I'm so impressed with them, and they've been great for Instagram. I was also blown away this week when I received a stunning bouquet through my letterbox from my wonderful friends who wanted to cheer me up because I've been having a bit of a difficult time lately. They sent me the Eleanor bouquet from Bloom & Wild and they're just absolutely beautiful. I'm so grateful for that gift and the support of my friends, I was more than a little bit teary-eyed when it arrived.


02. Ru Paul's Drag Race
If you've never heard of Drag Race then you're seriously missing out. It's basically a reality competition to find America's next drag superstar and it's insanely addictive. My boyfriend and I actually started watching this show last year but have recently got back into it and we've gone through nearly the entire thing. It's ridiculous and hilarious and the respect I have for the talent of these queens is just through the roof. It's on Netflix, so get streaming ASAP.

03. Tidying and Organising
After buying Marie Kondo's The Life Changing Magic of Tidying at the beginning of the month I was super motivated for a big clearout and to finally get organised. I'll go into more about the book in my monthly wrap-up but it's actually the after effects of reading it that have been a favourite this month. I've gone through every single thing I own and cleared out about 10 bin bags of stuff (I've actually lost count at this point so it could be a lot more), everything has either gone to my sister or to charity and I feel amazing! Before the clearout I had two wardrobes and a chest of drawers full of clothes, I've now managed to empty and get rid of an entire wardrobe and in it's place I'm getting a new bookcase, so it's win win! I've just really enjoyed tidying and organising everything and now have a much greater appreciation for the things I own. I would recommend that anyone get this book to get motivated to start moving towards an organised life.

04. Kiko Smart Lipstick in 913 Rosewood
I picked this up on a recent trip to Kiko in Nottingham, I'm always so impressed with the range and quality of the products in there and they're always at such crazily cheap prices! This is quite a dark pinky-nude shade and because my lips are pretty pigmented already it's definitely a my-lips-but-better shade for me. It's quite similar to both Mac's Plumful and Syrup, both of which I have, but it's less purple than Plumful and doesn't seem to wash me out as much as Syrup, It's actually super long lasting and it's perfect for everyday wear, and at £3.90 you can't go wrong!

05. Bookmarks
I gave into the temptation of bookstagram and ended up ordering a couple of new magnetic bookmarks from two different Etsy shops and I love them! The little sleeping moon is from Happy Hello Co. and the zombie is from Crafted Van.

06. Candles
Candle season has definitely arrived! I don't tend to light them much in the summer as I'm just outdoors more and as it's brighter and warmer I usually forget. But as the nights draw in and the evenings generally get cosier I've been turning back towards some old favourites. Including the White Lily and Silk Pintail candle, this smells divine and burns so well (have a look on ebay, I got a pack of six for under a tenner). I'm definitely on the look out for some spicier scents for those autumnal days and maybe a pumpkin one, so if you have any recommendations please leave a comment!

07. Baths
As I said the nights are starting to draw in and for me that means regular evening baths. I don't take many baths in the summer because of the warmer weather but I've definitely enjoyed sinking into a Lush bubble bath lately. I get a lot more reading done on evenings where I have a bath because I tend to just sit there soaking and reading for over an hour, which is totally fine by me!

08. Lily Pebbles
I've been a fan of Lily Pebbles for years but I've really been enjoying her videos just lately, particularly as she's recently moved so there have been quite a lot of home-related videos which are some of my favourites. I really think that Lily works so hard and puts so much effort into her videos and it definitely shows, I would say that the quality and content of her videos is far beyond that of some of the 'bigger' YouTubers. I think she handles 'ad' videos particularly well, she always puts extra effort in and it never seems forced or fake (I actually don't see the problem with getting paid for videos as that's her job, but it's a big controversy so I thought I'd address it). I just really love every video she puts up and I look forward to the days that she uploads.

So those have more or less been my favourite things this past month. So goodbye September, but welcome October! I have some exciting things happening on the blog next month, starting promptly on Thursday so look out for that...hint: Blogtober...oooooh I wonder what it could be? Stay tuned!

Dear August,

You've been a strange one. From blazing hot sunshine to epic downpours, it seems, like me, you haven't been quite sure if you're coming or going. I've been a little bit all over the place myself this month, very unsettled and some days have been cloudier than others. You'll be gone soon August and although I'll be sad that you're taking summer with you, I'm looking forward to the crisp, fresh start that September brings along with it's slightly less welcome cooler weather.

There have been some bright and happy moments that have helped me through your month, August and this post is all about the joyful things you've brought me.



01. Guava Juice
I first discovered the joys of guava juice whilst visiting my sister in Malawi last year. It was almost unbearably hot every day whilst I was there and one of the many joys was being able to cool off with little cartons of this beautiful drink. When I got home, I briefly looked for it on the shelves but was unsuccessful and just figured that you couldn't get it here. Fast forward to shopping in Asda a few weeks ago and lo and behold, there it is, guava juice, in England! I was so happy and stocked up in large quantities. It's been so beautifully refreshing on the hot and sticky days we've been having this month and I'm so grateful that it's back in my life again.

02. The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash
This face wash has been a bit of a lifesaver this month because all hell has broken loose on my skin due to my very unsettled diet and sleeping pattern. It's creamy consistency means that it's not stripping like some other tea tree products and it really does a good job of calming down redness and reducing breakouts. I also love this because it works really well in the shower which is great for my bad days when I don't have the energy for a full over-the-sink skincare routine. It's also a really good price at only £6.00.

03. The Great British Bake Off
So I can't believe I'm admitting this, but until this month I'd never seen The Great British Bake Off before. I knew that everyone goes crazy for it and I figured that it was just another competition show like Masterchef or The Apprentice, which I find kind of exhausting. But this month it a new season of Bake Off started and I decided to give it a go. Boy am I glad I did, it's AMAZING. It's so different to all those other competition programmes because it's so much nicer and less stressful and there's CAKE (duh). I think what I like about it is that everyone's so nice to each other and I actually really enjoy watching the challenges. I also love joining in the #GBBO chats on Twitter every Wednesday. I've also got my boyfriend into it and I think he's even more obsessed than I am, he keeps prompting me to watch YouTube videos of profiteroles and pies. It's very sweet (HA! so punny...).

04. WH Smith 30 Assorted Fine Liners
At the beginning of August I scored what was quite possibly the bargain of the century (or at least of the month). I was casually browsing in WH Smith one day, drooling over the stationery, as you do, when I came across this amazing pack of 30 fine liners in all the beautiful colours of the rainbow. I'd been lusting over an £18.00 pack of 30 Staedtler fine liners which I had tentatively placed on my Amazon wishlist so you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the WH Smith set was only £5.99! I nearly fainted then and there. Well that's a slight exaggeration, but I was at the till before you could say 'stationery addict'. I've been using them whilst journalling and in my Johanna Basford colouring book and they write and colour beautifully. I'm so in love with them, especially the more pastelly colours, so run out and grab these now if they're still there!

05. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
I had a hard time choosing, as I read some excellent books this month, but I think this was probably my favourite read (so far, as I'm slightly pre-scheduling this so I haven't finished my monthly reads). I was kind of nervous in case I didn't like it as I've loved her other books so much but I was not disappointed. It was really amazing and I'll talk about it more in my monthly wrap-up.

06. Podcasts
This month I've been loving podcasts so hard. It all started out with Serial, which I know I'm majorly late to the game on, but after all it's major hype I finally decided to give it a go this month and I was totally hooked. If you somehow haven't heard of it (have you been living under a rock?!) then I'll tell you that it's a series of 12 podcast episodes that revolve around the 1999 murder of high school senior Hae Min Lee. It's kind of hard to explain why it's so amazing so you should just trust me on this one and give it a go, even if you're not usually a true crime fan I can promise you that you won't regret it. I finished up Serial in just a few days and was left wanting more, as the second season hasn't started yet, and that's when I discovered Criminal. The narrative reporting style is similar to Serial but each bite-size episode revolves around a different topic to do with crime. It's super interesting and addictive and if you loved Serial then you'll love this. I've also been really enjoying This American Life, which is a podcast institution in itself so doesn't really need explaining. If you've never tried podcasts before, I urge you to start now.

So those are all the things that have been brightening my days throughout August. As I said, I'm looking forward to September as a fresh month full of possibilities.

What's been your favourite thing about August? Please let me know below!

01. Wales
As I posted about last month, I went on holiday to Wales with my parents and boyfriend. Although a week in a fairly small caravan in the unpredictable Welsh weather isn't most people's idea of a great time, it was honestly the happiest and most relaxed I'd been in ages. I found that I had a lot more energy than usual and just felt so content and refreshed the whole time. I think that might've had something to do with the lack of internet connection and screen time but it was also the beautiful places, the wonderful company and the amazing food. I'm counting down the days until my next little trip away later this month!

02. Bourbons
Whilst away on the aforementioned holiday, I rediscovered a childhood favourite in the world's best biscuit - bourbons. I don't even want to tell you how many packets we got through, but I'll just say it was lucky there was a shop nearby to stock up! These are now a staple in my life again, for better or for worse...

03. No make-up days
As you'll notice there aren't any make-up favourites included here, and that's partly because I've been wearing the same products every time but also because most of the month was spent make-up free. For the days where I'm not really going anywhere and also pretty much every day on holiday, I haven't been wearing make-up and it's felt amazing. I do love make-up and I really enjoy dressing up my face but it's just so nice to feel nothing sitting on my skin and not to have to take it off at the end of the day. And believe me, although I used to be worried about it, I quickly found that no one screamed 'look at that ugly monster!' when I left the house. People just don't really care what other people look like, and you know what. neither do I.

04. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This was definitely my favourite read of the month. I don't want to say too much here as I'll talk more about it in Monday's wrap up post, but I enjoyed every second of it, couldn't put it down and it's now one of my favourite books ever.

05. Dainty necklaces
For the last few months I've been forgoing my statement necklaces for more subtle, dainty pieces like the above feather necklace from Orelia at ASOS (sold out but similar here). I have a couple of different ones that I like to layer up or interchange; including the very special tiny Tiffany heart pendant my boyfriend bought me three years ago (which I'm always terrified of losing). They're just so easy to pair with anything and I seem to get more compliments about them than more obvious jewellery.

06. Instagram
I made it my mission last month to post every day on my Instagram, which you can check out by clicking here. I really enjoyed the challenge of coming up with things to post every day and pushing myself to create photos that I'm really proud of. I mostly post bookish things but there's a little bit of lifestyle bits thrown in too. I hope to continue this coming month and keep on improving the quality of my photos so it would mean a lot to me if you followed me @sarahschapter.

What was your favourite thing in July?

It's that time of the month again and I know it's a huge cliche but this month really has gone by so fast! I can't quite believe that July is only two days away, where has the year gone?! Anyway, enough of my life flashing before my eyes and onto the things that have been making me happy this month...

01. Good Mythical Morning
As I've briefly mentioned before on this blog, I haven't been well for the past few months and have therefore had to spend a lot of time in bed. Now although this might sound like a dream come true it's actually pretty rubbish and means I'm unable to do a lot of things and life can get very boring. Last week I mentioned in my post '10 things that have made me happy this week' that I've recently discovered Rhett and Link's daily morning show, Good Mythical Morning, and this has been something that's been occupying my time and cheering me up a whole lot. I've decided to watch the whole thing from the beginning and am currently on season three, it's seriously funny and seriously addictive. If you've never watched it before, here are a few of my current favourite episodes to get you started:
4 Year Old Walks Into A Bar
How to Make Someone Sound Like an Idiot
Rhett's Most Embarassing Moment
How to Talk to Girls
My Hot Yoga Experience

02. Persuasion by Jane Austen
I'll be posting my reading wrap-up on Wednesday and a 2015 Classics Challenge review next month so I won't go into too much detail but this was surprisingly my favourite read of the month. I definitely didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did and it's now one of my favourite classics. Also I can't get enough of these beautiful Vintage editions, which you can get hold of here.

03. Revlon 'Pink in the Afternoon'
I've had this lipstick for about a year but it's been a little underappreciated until this month. I've been wearing it most days that I've worn makeup, it's a nice mid-tone pink that would suit anyone and it can be quite sheer or can be built up for a stronger look. It's just a really good everyday drugstore lipstick.

04. Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford
I'm sure you're aware of the influx of adult colouring books and in my opinion Johanna Basford's are the best. The illustrations are so beautiful and detailed, they really are a joy to colour. I got this a while ago but have really been getting into it this month as a way to manage my anxiety and pass the time when I can't concentrate on much else. I've completed quite a few pages and have been using a mixture of coloured pens and pencils, I find that both work equally well. See below for an example of some of my pages, they're not the best around but I'm pretty proud of them. If you're interested then you can find Enchanted Forest here.


05. Orabrush
This is kind of a strange favourite but it's a new discovery and I'm officially obsessed. It's basically a brush for your tongue, I know that sounds a little weird but bare with me. I've always been aware that bad breath is mostly caused by your tongue but never really knew there was a specific product out there to deal with it. I've tried just brushing my tongue with a regular toothbrush and believe me it's just not the same. If you're into dental hygiene, no scratch that, if you're a human then you need this. I won't go into too much detail because I don't want to gross you out but you won't believe the stuff that comes off your tongue when you use this. I was like 'that was in my MOUTH?!?!' ok, enough with the gross, just go buy it, thank me later.

06. Rimmel 'Santa Rose'
I already mentioned this in my '10 things' post but I'll say it again here as this has become my new everyday blush, I've honestly not used anything else since I bought it. It's the perfect neutral blush, I'm pretty sure it's much more long-lasting than any of my other blushes and it's only £3.99, score!

07. Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Nude
I promise I'm not sponsored by Rimmel, I've just really been enjoying their products this month! I got a sample of this foundation in a magazine a while back and was really impressed with the finish and the wear time. I managed to pick this up when it was on offer and have worn it pretty much every day that I've worn makeup this month. There are two different versions of this, the standard Lasting Finish with the red cap which is more full-coverage and the Lasting Finish Nude with the white cap which is a lighter coverage. I'd definitely say that the Nude version at least a light to medium coverage and I find that it blends in really easily and gives a glowy skin-like finish. If you're looking for a great everyday foundation then this is it.

08. Switching Off
Last but not least my absolute favourite thing this month has been making the time to switch off. Recent medication changes have been playing downright havoc with my sleep and a full, undisturbed night's sleep has become a very rare thing. I've therefore been making it my mission to get into a healthy nightime routine in order to try and settle down and ultimately improve my quality of sleep. So instead of scrolling endlessly through Twitter and Instagram before bed, I've been putting away all electronics an hour before I plan on sleeping and taking a bath or reading a book. My phone and tablet now live on the other side of my room at night so I'm not tempted by them and I don't touch them again until around an hour after I wake up. Although my sleep is still a big old mess I've found that switching off has been so refreshing and has vastly improved my wellbeing. My mind is no longer buzzing all the time and ironically I feel a little less disconnected and more at peace. I urge you to try it and see what a difference it makes.

So that's everything that I've been enjoying in the month of June. Please do comment and tell me what has been your favourite thing this month?

So this is a new kind of post for me but they're some of my favourite posts to read on other people's blogs so I thought I'd give it a go. I think it's important to appreciate the little things that brighten up each day so here are some of the things that have been making me happy this month:

Dairy Milk with Crunchie Bits
One thing I definitely couldn't live without is chocolate, I could give up all the other 'bad' things but I just need chocolate, it's my favourite food and cheers me up like nothing else! I've been loving the dairy milk with crunchie so much this month that I had to go out and buy another - it goes way too fast!

Tangle Teezer Compact Styler
I bought the special edition Lulu Guiness tangle teezer a while ago from FeelUnique when there was a sale but I've been really loving it this month. I've been well enough for a few trips out this month and this has been so handy to take with me in my bag because it's a good compact size and has a lid so the brush doesn't get dirty - genius! It glides through wet hair like nothing else and makes hair look shiny when it's dry, I'm never going back.

Di Palomo Wild Fig and Grape Hand Cream
We went on a trip to Suffolk earlier in the month and Mum bought me this from a little gift shop in Walberswick. It smells absolutely divine and is more moisturising than any other hand cream I've tried, and the fragrance actually sticks around which is nice. I've been keeping this by my bed and using it every day, I love it!

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream
I got this a couple of months ago and have been using it pretty much every time I've worn makeup. I love bourjois bases in general, their healthy mix serum is another favourite, and this is just a really light alternative to normal foundation. It's really good coverage for a CC Cream, I'd say it gives a light to medium coverage and can be easily built up without looking cakey. When I'm wearing it I just feel like my skin can breathe and I don't want to scratch my face off by the end of the day, so that's always good.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet 'Frambourjoise'
I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to bold lipsticks, I own quite a few but I've never really felt like I've been able to pull them off. And then when I have worn them I find that they wear off quite easily and I've had to reapply often and it's just all a big mess. I picked up the bourjois rouge edition velvet lipstick in 'Frambourjoise' earlier in the month because I'd heard so many people saying how amazing they are so I thought I'd give bold lips one last ditch effort. I've got to say I was completely blown away, this liquid lipstick is ridiculously easy to apply, the colour is a beautiful pinky-red (it's a lot more red than it looks in the packaging) and the best thing is it lasts forever! This thing survived a burger and a glass of wine without smudging or really fading, that's how good it is. You need to go and buy this now. Go.

Yankee Candle Peach Smoothie
This is another thing that I loved so much I went out and bought another. This is from the Yankee Candle 'simply home' range, which is a bit cheaper than the normal range and I think is exclusive to Asda. I'm a cheapskate so I just bought the little votive size for £1 but they have larger jars which I might go for when this runs out. It's just a beautiful, fresh, fruity fragrance (ooooh alliteration!) and I've found that the scent really does fill the room even when it's not burning, love!

Ear Biscuits
Ear Biscuits is a weekly podcast from Youtubers Rhett and Link where they have a conversation with someone interesting from the internet - usually other Youtubers, for example; Grace Helbig, Tyler Oakley, Philip DeFranco, Hannah Hart, the Green brothers and so many more. I've been listening to this a lot whilst doing chores like laundry and cooking and just whilst relaxing. Every episode is just so interesting and often hilarious, they really delve into the lives of their interviewees and I've found out so much about Youtubers that I didn't know before. I particularly like the episodes with just Rhett and Link where they reminicise about their childhoods growing up together and other things. I find it quite soothing and it's something less exhausting for me than watching a tv programme.

I'm sure there's many other things that I've been loving throughout the month but this is all I can think of at the moment. I definitely think I'll make this a monthly thing as I've enjoyed noticing all the things that have been making me happy and being able to share them with others.

What have you been loving this month?