This morning was a beautiful frosty morning and I couldn't help but brace the cold and take some photos. Dora (my cat pictured above) was also out in the garden this morning, running around. I really enjoy mornings like this, because although it's cold it's so pretty and worth getting up for.

Do you like frosty mornings?

It was my 21st birthday two weeks ago and I can't believe I'm actually 21! Anyway enough of that, I had the best few days and I am so grateful for my family, friends and boyfriend as I was completely spoilt! I really wasn't expecting any of these gifts and I'm not bragging in any way, I just love reading these posts so I thought I'd do one too.

My birthday was on Thursday, so my friends, boyfriend and I all went out on the Wednesday evening after going to Pizza Express, evening which was great fun. Our hangover breakfast of choice Thursday morning was pancakes with bacon and maple syrup from Stakk's Pancake House which was just what we needed.

I also then went home on Friday to see my family and I was welcomed by 21 banners on the front door, balloons and more banners in the house! It was so lovely to see my Mum and Dad and we went out for a delicious meal on Saturday and I've been craving that lunch ever since haha!

So, onto what I got - once again, not bragging just sharing! I am really grateful for all my gifts and how spoilt I was as I truly wasn't expecting it. 

I was so lucky to receive 3 Pandora charms this year, the cat charm was from my lovely friends and girls I live with at uni, they know me so well! The charms to the right of the cat were from my parents, the pig because I was born in the year of the pig and the amethyst stone because, well it's my birth stone! 

I was also spoilt again by my parents with these two beautiful Pandora rings. I chose them both myself, and I really wasn't expecting my parents to be so generous, but I'm so grateful. I love these rings so much, and they really are something I'll treasure forever.

My amazing boyfriend surprised me with this beautiful rose gold Olivia Burton watch. I've never really worn watches before (not since my Mr Men one I had as a child) and he said he was a little apprehensive as to whether I'd like it, well I love it. I've worn it everyday since I got it and I'm in love with it. He also gifted me a wall print that says 'You know more than you think you do' which is sat on my desk to motivate me. I was also spoilt by him buying me the UD Naked 2 palette - my first ever Naked palette and it's gorgeous!
On top of all of these gifts, he also spoilt me even more by saying we can go for a trip together anywhere in Europe and I get to choose, I was so shocked I almost cried!

Whilst we're still on the topic of jewellery, I also got these really sweet bangles from my parents which have little motivational sayings on them. 

My parents also surprised me once again with the S&G huge gift box from Christmas! My Mum had been saving it for my birthday and now I have even more products to add to my ever growing S&G collection!

I was also given other presents, including a box of all my favourite things from my best friend at uni, a happiness box from one of my best friends from home, makeup and a Moonpig card from another best friend, and many more gifts too! 

Have you had your birthday yet this year?!

As much as I love using my DSLR, but sometimes it's not always practical to carry around a big bulky camera with me and all I have is my iPhone, so for those occasions I have a few apps I swear by. 

Afterlight | 79p 

I use this app for editing all of my photos, and it is well worth the 79p! I use this to brighten my photos, add filters, fix the contrast and so on. The app is super easy to use and I don't think I've edited my photos on anything else for well over a year now.

Whitagram | Free 

I also use Whitagram for all of my Instagram photos as I personally think they look better on my profile and there's no need for cropping out half of a landscape photo so you can add it to Instagram.

Snapfish | Free

I love this app because when you download it you're given 50 free prints a month for 12 months, and all you have to pay for is postage (£2.99). It's quite easy to use, although I find sometimes it does crash when I'm trying to upload photos but it's still a great app.

Fotor | Free

I've actually only downloaded this app in the past 6-8 months, however I've used the desktop version (here) for around 5 years and I love it. On my phone I mainly use it when I want to create a pre-set collage, for example the ones I've used here. I use the desktop version for creating my wishlists! 

What apps do you use for photography on your phone?

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm £5.25 // Benefit Porefessional & License To Blot // Collection Primed & Ready Mattifying Pore Minimiser £4.99

In the past week I have accumulated 4 new primers, now although I am a sucker for primers I feel this is slightly over the top, even for me! However, 2 of them are samples and were free so you know, that makes me feel better haha! 

I couldn't pass up trying the much raved about Nivea Men's Post Shave Balm. I've heard so many people say this works as well as, if not better, than high end primers and you get 100ml for around £5 which is a bargain. I've only tried this a couple of times, but keep your eyes peeled for a review! Now I was given these Benefit primers for free by a lovely girl on the Benefit counter, as they didn't have the Porefessional primer sample alone so instead I got an extra, which was kind of her! 

Finally I picked up the Collection Primed & Ready Mattifying Pore Minimising Primer (wow that's a mouthful) as it's a new addition to Collection's range of primers and I chose it because of the added Witch Hazel. Similarly to the Post Shave Balm I've only tried this a few times so watch out for a review!

Have you tried any of these primers yourself?

Collection Pore Minimising Primer £4.99 // NYX Contour Palette £18

L'Oreal Fixing Mist £7.99 // Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer £7.99 // NYX-Honey Dew Me Up Primer £14

I can't help but make mental lists of makeup I want, and today I'm sharing the drugstore edition. As much as I'd love to splash out on Hourglass, Laura Mercier and Urban Decay it's not practical as I'm a student on a budget! However, drugstore wishlists are more realistic for me and there's a few products I'm lusting over.

I recently read Adrienne's review of the new Collection primers over on her blog (which you can read here) so I knew I had to try them. Along the theme of primers, this NYX Honey Dew Me Up primer caught my eye as it looks different, and the bottle would also look pretty on my desk ha! I'm also intrigued by L'Oreal's Fixing Mist as it's just been released here in the UK and I've seen Youtubers and Bloggers from over seas raving about it. I've read quite a few positive reviews about NYX's Contour Kit and how it's also suited to pale skin tones which is perfect for a pale gal like me. Finally I noticed that Bourjois released a new concealer that sounds like it would be moisturising as well as providing coverage, perfect combination (on paper at least). 

Have you bought anything from the drugstore recently?

L'Oreal Infallible Primer // L'Oreal True Match // Elf Studio Eyebrow Kit

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara // S&G Solar Powder // Primark Lip Liner // Maybelline Colour Tattoo

We've all been there when we wake up late or our beds are just too cosy to climb out of and you realise you only have a few minutes before you need to run out the door. Well, this makeup look is the one I go for when I only have 5 minutes to get ready. I swear by all of these products and would recommend them all to everyone!

Face

L'Oreal Infallible Primer (post) is my go to primer at the moment as it provides me with a smooth base for my True Match Foundation (post) and increases the longevity of my makeup too. I've also been using the ELF Eyebrow Kit (post) for years (obviously not the same one!!) and I love it. It comes with a gel and powder, but I've used all the gel so using the powder. Finally for my face I like to use the Soap and Glory Solar Powder which I bought just after Christmas and have been loving it since. I'm really pale and it doesn't look orange on me which is great.

Eyes

For my eyes I keep it really simple and apply the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze (post) all over my lid and then follow that with a few coats of my current favourite mascara, Maybelline The Rocket Mascara (post).  

Lips

I said I keep my eyes simple, but lips are even quicker. I just apply the Primark Lip Liner (post) all over my lips. Unfortunately these don't have shades or numbers but this is a 'my lips but better' colour.

What are your fail safe makeup products for when you're in a rush?

p.s. I'm 21 tomorrow and it's so scary (but also exciting!!).

In a two days I'll be turning 21, on Thursday to be exact. It's quite an odd feeling, I'll technically be a 'real' adult (even though that was also meant to happen when I turned 18) and I don't feel like I'm ready at all.

I don't really know where this post is going but in my head I'm sort of just screaming that I can't believe in almost 21?! Haha! I remember being in school and thinking 21 year olds had their lives together and were organised, knew what they were doing with themselves etc where as half the time I can't find a pair of socks to wear!! 

I'm going out with my friends and boyfriend the night before my birthday and then going to an indoor trampoline centre on my actual birthday which I'm looking forward to. I'm also going home this weekend so I can see my family (and cats) and go for a meal which will be lovely!

Any advice for me turning 21?! (Haha, what an odd question to leave my post on).