Recent Beauty Buys | Drugstore Haul

Primark Brush Cleaner - £2 // Essence Clear Lip Liner - £2 // Essence Gel Pencil Liner - £2.30 // Orly Color Blast - £2.99 // Essence Express Dry Drops

It happened again...I wondered into town with no intentions of buying anything beauty related and came home with 5 new items.

A few weeks ago I posted about a few bits I'd picked up from essence and I had to go back for more. I also had a quick look around the beauty section of TK-Maxx and bought this gorgeous Autumnal Orly nail polish for £2.99, bargain! Finally I spotted this brush cleaner in Primark and for only £2

I couldn't resist as we don't have many bargain brush cleaners in shops. I also couldn't resist a few new items from Essence including a clear lip liner, gel waterproof liner and express dry drops which really interested me. 

I'm trying out all these products so expect a few reviews coming up soon!

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned?

A Relaxing Weekend Away

This past weekend my boyfriend and I had a relaxing weekend away, and it was very much needed. I've felt especially stressed with uni related work this past week so this weekend was perfect timing.

We stayed at the Crown Inn and we had the most amazing room with a four poster bed and a stand alone bath which was glorious. The first evening we decided to eat in as we arrived pretty late and the food was super tasty. I chose the chicken burger and I wish I could eat it again right now!

On Satruday morning we had breakfast from the Crown Inn and I chose the full English as I usually do because I can sometimes be a fussy eater! The breakfast was also super tasty. 

After breakfast we popped out to Josie's which was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who's in the South and nearby. The cafe itself was super busy and we waited a few minutes before a table was available, but the coffee and pan au raisin was well worth the wait. 

I had such a lovely weekend and I wish I could do it all over again, rather than be swamped with uni work, but oh well! 

How was your weekend? Did you get up to anything fun?

NYX Cosmetics Has Arrived At Boots UK

I checked my emails this morning to find that NYX Cosmetics is finally available in Boots. I've been watching beauty videos on Youtube for years and years and I have always wanted to try a few bits and now I can buy them from Boots.

I know NYX is available in the UK from a few other places (NYXcosmetics.co.uk, Very.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk) but being able to collect Boots points is a bonus you can get from ordering from Boots.

I'm most excited to try the Butter Glosses and a couple of blushes as I've heard amazing things about these so I'll definitely be making an order soon.

Do you have anything from NYX you can recommend me or anything you'd like to try?

Things I Love About Autumn

Source

I'm going to start with a cliché sentence...Autumn is my favourite season. I feel like everyone says this, but it really is for me. I'm not comfortable in Summer clothes as I prefer to be wrapped up and I'll always pick being cold over being too hot.

Oversized Jumpers | Who doesn't love being all cosy and comfortable in an oversized jumper?! Another bonus (apart from being warm and comfortable) is that I can wear bralettes and triangle bras and be more comfortable - the bonus of having small boobs!

Fluffy Socks | The main thing for me about Autumn is being warm and cosy and that definitely includes fluffy socks for me. I have far too many but that never stops me buying more.

Festive Coffees | I love coffee normally, but festive coffees hold a special place in my heart (okay, maybe that's a little OTT?!). Especially Toffee Nut Lattes from Starbucks or Costas Sticky Toffee Lattes I'm all for festive drinks and with Autumn being in full swing it means the Christmas coffees are only around the corner! Although I will say - I feel like I'm the only person who's never tried a Pumpkin Spice Latte, they just appeal to me!

Leaves & Nature | I love watching the leaves change colour and seeing the conkers appearing on the ground on my walk to uni. 

Blankets and Candles | I feel these two go hand in hand. Snuggling up in bed with a few blankets and candles filling the room with glorious scents, it's calming and therapeutic.

Bonfire Night | Finally, I love Bonfire night. I love the smell of the the bonfire, wearing multiple layers waiting for the fireworks to start. I've loved watching the fireworks since I was a child and I still do now many years on.

Dark Lipsticks and Nail Polishes | I adore wearing dark nail polish and dark lipsticks and this adds to why I love Autumn. This is my favourite Autumn lipstick at the moment if you're interested.

Do you love Autumn as much as I do?

A Saturday Night In

How cute is my new glittery wine glass? 

My housemates and I all have matching ones but different colours!

Being a stereotypical student usually includes going out at every single opportunity and rarely staying in. Yet tonight, I'm enjoying a Saturday night spend in, finishing the bottle of wine me and my boyfriend didn't have last night and binge watching Scandal on Netflix. 

Sometimes it's nice to stay in and have some time to myself. Don't get me wrong I adore my housemates but sometimes I need a night off. Here are some of my favourite things to do when I have a night in.

Light candles | This is probably a very cliché one but I love a good candle and at the moment Primark has a good selection of candles in.

Fairy Lights | Once again, this sounds rather cliché but fairy lights are my favourite and makes my room feel far more cosy.

Wine | A glass of wine in bed is just what I need sometimes. Whether you don't like wine or don't like alcohol in general, there are plenty of other drinks I love before bed such as white hot chocolate. 

Netflix | Whenever I read Netflix now I automatically think 'and chill' and hate myself a little bit for it haha! Anyway, Netflix is my best friend and especially as I'm always into one series or another. 

So this is how my night in is being spent and I can't wait to have a good nights sleep.

What are you up to this evening?

My Favourite Pastimes (Apart From Blogging)

I absolutely love blogging, but there are also other things I love besides it. So today I thought I'd share those with you all and let me know what your favourite pastimes are too in the comments.

Photography 

I've loved photography since I was about 11/12 and I always used to borrow my brothers camera to take pictures in the garden. I'd also ask my parents to take me to local parks where I'd spend hours taking photos. I saved up my Christmas and birthday money to buy myself a DSLR (Canon EOS 1000D) when I was 15. I still use that camera now for blogging and I still love it just as much, although I'd love to save for a new lens but paying bills and buying food are my priorities as a student!

Browsing online (and pretending I have millions to spare...)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who could spend hours browsing online and adding far too many products into my basket, only to look at the total and close the tab completely and cry a little.

Netflix

Okay okay I am the first to admit that I spend far too much time on Netflix but procrastination is something I've become pro at whilst being at uni. Need I say more?

Going for coffee with friends

I love catching up with my friends and having coffee together and usually getting a slice of cake too.

Eating out

I think this is a pretty common one but I love eating out. I'm not a good cook, so eating out for me is great as someone else who's talented in the kitchen serves me delicious food! I also love getting ready to go out and I'd eat out everyday if I could. 

What are your favourite hobbies?

Maybelline Big Eyes Rebel Black Mascara | Review

Maybelline Big Eyes Rebel Black Mascara £8.99

For as long as I can remember I've been a huge fan of Maybelline mascaras, ranging from Great Lash being my first ever mascara to one of their more recent releases Lash Sensational. So when I didn't particularly get on with this mascara I was disappointed because I had high hopes. I will also add, I'm not usually one who is fussy with mascaras as I tend to get on with most. 

The mascara has two different brushes, one for bottom lashes and one for the top. The brush for top lashes is quite big and chunky (pictured above) and the bristles are different sizes which is meant to capture all your lashes. I personally really didn't get on with the brush as it just made my lashes stick together and look awful, but I liked the formula of the mascara. It stayed on all day with only a tiny bit of smudging (which happens with every mascara I own, even the waterproof ones). 

The brush for the lower lashes is my favourite part of the mascara. The brush is so tiny and cute and is made for your lower lashes and it does grab all of the lashes and it didn't smudge at all on me. I love the brush so much that I'm going to be keeping the brush so I can use it in future with other mascaras.

This mascara isn't for me and I won't be repurchasing it but I am a huge fan of the wand for lower lashes. I do like the formula of this mascara, but the wand for upper lashes just doesn't work for me.

Have you tried this mascara? 

Freedom Pro Shade & Brighten Matte Eyeshadow Palette | Review

 Freedom Shade & Brighten Matte Kit 1 - £2.50

I've had this beauty in my collection for a few months now and I've been meaning to write a review about it. I actually purchased a few Freedom Makeup bits when the brand first launched, however I'm yet to write a review on any of the products despite using them frequently. 

I've had this palette in my makeup bag since I bought it and it's become a go-to palette for me. Although it's a little smaller than other palettes I have so it means you don't get as much product, it makes it more makeup bag friendly. 

As the title suggests it is a matte palette predominantly but there is one shimmery highlighter shade in the palette too which is great for brightening the inner eye. I also find these shadows to be pigmented and not chalky and there is minimal fall out. The best part about this palette is that it's so affordable at only £2.50.

Have you tried anything from Freedom Makeup?

52 Weeks Project | Week 41

41/52

I've really enjoyed this week, despite dissertation panic setting in already! My boyfriend came down to visit me for a few days which was so lovely. We ate out a lot and above is my food from Shrimp and Burger, which if you've never tried then you have to! I had a delicious pulled chicken bun and chips and we shared some onion rings. 

I've also found uni work quite challenging so far as I have so many deadlines and so much information floating around my head. I don't mean it in a negative way, just that I need to sit down and organise myself!!

I'm also loving the Autumnal themes that are everywhere at the moment as Autumn is my favourite.

How has your week been?

Dissertation Panic (Already)

These are some of my notes from A-Levels - I miss those days!

Good morning! So this may seem like an odd post from me but my 3^rd year at university is in full swing and it’s quite nerve wracking already. This week I’ve decided on my dissertation topic and after changing my mind three times I am finally happy with my topic.

I just wanted to write a little post to let you all know that basically I am writing my dissertation this year and so it’s going to take up a lot of my time and will be a pririoty over my blog. As much as I will still commit myself to my blog, if I miss a post here and there then it will be because of my dissertation. But fear not (don’t worry, I’m sure no one will notice!!) I shall still be posting frequently and by that I mean a few times a week.

If you have completed your dissertation in the past or simply have any words of wisdom for a stressful time please share them with me as I’m panicking a little!!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic week!

Somerset Photo Diary

A couple of weekends ago I spent a few days down in Somerset with my boyfriend and I had such an amazing time. I'd never been to Somerset before and I was shocked at how pretty it was, there were so many beautiful landscapes. I stayed in a log cabin in Wells and the cabin was perfect, really unique features and it had everything you could possibly need for a few nights stay. The couple who own the cabin were also really welcoming and accommodating which made all the difference too.

It took about 3 hours to travel down to Somerset but it was well worth the drive as we had an amazing time. 

 The photos above are all from Bishop's Palace which is gorgeous and well worth a visit if you're ever nearby.

  The two above photos are from Vicar's Close.

We visited quite a few places including Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Wells Cathedral, Bishops Palace and Glastonbury. 

I realise there's quite a few photos in this post but I couldn't reduce the number of photos anymore, especially as I took over 450+ in just a few days!

Have you ever visited Somerset?

Small Beauty Haul & Mini Review

Primark Lip Liners £1 each // Essence Eyeliner Pen £2.50

The other day I popped into town and bought a few new beauty bits. It's only a small haul but nonetheless I still wanted to share it with you all as I'm really enjoying using them.

Primark Lip Liners - £1 each
I picked these up as I'd seen a couple of other bloggers mentioning them and how they were great for the price. In all honesty, if I hadn't read reviews previously I probably wouldn't have picked these up.
These lip liners don't have shades or numbers which is a little inconvenient but the shades are gorgeous. The formula is creamy and non-drying and surprisingly long lasting and I;m impressed and would definitely repurchase these again. 

Essence Eyeliner Pen - £2.50
If you've been reading my blog for a little while you may remember this post confessing Collection's Felt Tip Liner as my favourite liquid eyeliner. However, I think I may prefer this Essence Eyeliner Pen as it's more pigmented and is more long lasting. The tip is thin enough to create a thin liner or a thicker liner look, so it's very versatile. 

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned above?

52 Weeks Project | Week 40

40/52

This week has flown by once again, and today is the last day of freshers. So tonight I have the freshers ball and I'm so excited! It's always a good night. 

I feel like I've been really busy this week with lots of uni work and being bombarded with a lot of deadline dates and assessment briefs. I've also spent a lot of time watching Scandal on Netflix, it's so addictive!

How has your week been? What have you been up to?