Lola Joseph Jewels

Recently I have been a little bit obsessed with buying oversized necklaces. There are so many beautiful pieces on the high street lately that it is impossible not to cave into purchasing the sparkling gems. I never used to be necklace girl. I would always wear bracelets and earrings and hated the thought of items being round my neck. I often found myself wearing necklaces that looked boring and in the end, it was pointless wearing them. A few months ago I went to a Manchester blogger event and realised that my outfit needed something to give it a bit of personality - my blouse looked incredibly plain. I went into H&M and fell in love with an elaborate turquoise jewelled necklace and it blended with my outfit effortlessly, adding a little bit of sparkle and bringing the overall appearance from dull and dowdy, to rather elegant and sophisticated. As soon as I settled in at the event, I was given many compliments in regards to my new set of jewels and  I suddenly realised that I should invest in more statement necklace.

If you search on Twitter you can find many independent retailers selling bespoke jewellery pieces and with statement jewellery currently being in the fashion limelight, many of them are at incredibly competitive prices compared to the high street. From an hour of browsing Twitter, I was introduced the brand Lola Joseph. Lola Joseph is a brand dedicated to unique jewellery and fashion accessorises that according to the website "convey a sense of effortless, yet bold style." The necklace shown above is from their statement necklace range and exhibits lots of colour, sparkling jewels and some gorgeous faux pearls. I wore it for the first time this afternoon and I have already had two shop assistants asking where I bought it. This multi colour necklace (link*) is £17.99, which is bargain for such an elaborate, complex piece. 

My second latest obsession has to be buying rings. I've never been much of a ring girl and the only ring I wear permanently is my engagement ring. I don't know where my new addiction came from, but these days I love my fingers to be full of rings. I really like this anchor ring set as it reminds me of one of my other favourite hobbies sailing and I love everything nautical. This pirate style ring (link*) is at the bargain price of £2 - probably even cheaper than Primarni.

What do you think of my new jewels?

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Ted Baker Makeup Case

I have a soft spot for anything Ted Baker. The clothes are irresistible, feminine and beautifully cut and their jewellery is to die for. I've never been really keen on their handbags as they are a little bit plastic looking for my liking, but when I saw this beautiful Ted Baker makeup case, I knew I had to have it in my collection. My last makeup case was from Primark and although it was rather nice for a budget price tag, the zip broke shortly after the purchase. I have been delaying buying a makeup case for a considerable amount of time, but this pink little beauty caught my attention in House of Fraser a few days ago.

This Ted Baker vanity case is lined with pink silk fabric and ruches to create a secure hold on your cosmetics. The makeup case exhibits the classic Ted Baker logo and comes in a variety of different colours. I chose the pink as it reflects my girly, vintage style. You can tell just by looking at this pink case that it is sturdy and is made from quality fabrics and for the £29, it's worth splashing the cash.

What does your makeup bag look like?

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Throwback dresses with New Look

Every girl has a dress in their wardrobe that they can rely on for any occasion. I have lots of favourite dresses from my trusty little red dress for nights out to my little pink dress for the summer. Although I regard many dresses in my wardrobe highly, my favourite dress has to be this little printed number Fashion Union.

From the moment I slipped it on I knew this would be a firm contender for my everyday outfit planning. The dress fits like a dream and exhibits a 60s style vibe that I truly adore. The pattern is wonderful and the colours are striking, yet subtle. When I uploaded this image to my social media, it caused a frenzy with my friends, many asking where to buy it. A few months later and I am still getting compliments about this little beauty.

New Look have launched their latest blogger campaign which focuses around the search for a new perfect dress and after hours of browsing through their gorgeous collection, I decided to pick this one up. The pattern is gorgeous and summery and the off the shoulder cut is delicate and feminine. Yet again, this dress (link*) features a vintage style floral pattern and the pink hues that run throughout the garment echo the feel of spring. Unfortunately I doubt this will turn into one of my throwback dresses as this dress accentuates my hips slightly too much, but for a summer holiday dress - this is absolutely perfect. 

What is your favourite dress?

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Time4sleep Sleeping Beauty Challenge

This bank holiday weekend seems to have flown by. I feel like it has been literally two minutes since me and my partner went out on Friday evening. They say time flies when you're having fun and this weekend has been full of excitement and adventures. On Friday I spent the day in Leeds with my mum shopping for work clothes and getting excited about starting my new grown up job tomorrow. Saturday was spent in Manchester with my fiance - celebrating the good news by a lovely meal and cocktails and we also took at trip to the Museum of Science and Industry for a bit of fun. Yesterday was spent mainly been lazy around the house and today I've been to the cinema and spent the majority of the afternoon organising my wedding invitations. It has been none-stop, but that is pretty much how I love my life. 

I'm the happiest when I have a busy calendar and have things to do with my time. I love attending events, writing, going to the gym and pretty much being permanently on the go. My friends always admire the way I can drag myself out of the bed in a morning and the amount of things I can cram into my spare time. I love being productive and believe that not much comes from sitting around all day.To enjoy my hectic lifestyle, a good night sleep is imperative. Lack of beauty sleep can turn the nicest of women into crazy characters and I admit I can be very moody if I get awaken at 3am. I was recently asked to participate in the Time4sleep beauty blogger challenge, giving the best beauty tips on how to ensure you get a good night sleep and look your best first thing in the morning.

So what are my favourite morning beauty products? 

• One of my favourite morning beauty product is the Dr.Organic Aloe Vera eye gel. It wasn't until a few months ago that I actually started using eye gels. During the last year I have become rather anaemic and had such heavy, dark circles under my eyes. Having read a few other blog posts, I took a trip to Boots and purchased a few different kinds. I have been recently gifted this Dr. Organic eye gel, but I have used it in the past and always thought it was such a good product. The cooling cucumber soothes the under eye irritation and helps make your eyes seem more alert. Using this product throughout the day helps revive my eyes when I have been staring on the computer screen and ensures I always look awake.
• To help awaken my skin, my go-to product is the Wake Up Energiser by Clarins. I honestly could not live without this product. The infusion of red currants, green coffee and white tea extracts stimulate the skin and give you a morning boost. 
• My Illamasqua Skin Base foundation gives me a natural, dewy look and adds brightness to my dull morning complexion.
• The Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer is perfect for hiding away the bags under my eyes and smells beautiful with its apricot scent.
• Finally the Trish McEvoy  eye brightener is the perfect way to enhance the eyes and give them a brighter appearance with a little help from a pencil.

And what are my tips for a good nights sleep?

• If you are easily distracted by lights wear a sleep mask like the Aroma Home eye mask.
• Have a lavender scented bath just before bed.
• If you have a partner, ask for a bed-time massage. I suffer from really achy joints and it always helps me sleep.
• Replace your mattress every couple of years and always turn your mattress around on a monthly basis. 
• Create a wind-down time. Go up to bed 30minutes before you actually intend on going to sleep and read a book/ listen to music to help you relax.

I believe with my on the go lifestyle that I have become a pro at perfecting the natural beauty makeup look first thing in the morning and I rarely let my tiredness show. The video I created was mainly supposed to be about tips on how to get a good nights sleep, but my video improvisation quickly took a turn into the top makeup products for a good morning look. Please be gentle - it's my first ever video.

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Moment de Bonheur - Yves Rocher

Perfume is probably one of my favourite items to collect. Many people collect stamps, shells, teddy bears - I collect perfumes and quirky looking perfume bottles. My perfume draw is loaded with over 30 different scents that I can choose on a daily basis and my very own perfume making kit for the days when I feel like experimenting. I love looking through the beautiful bottles and sniffing the varying aromas that bring back joyous memories. I think my perfume obsession is due to my slightly sentimental side and I tend to pick perfumes that go with my current emotions. Take the Roberto Cavalli original - the scent is fresh, sensual and really invigorating and I wore this the night I got engaged. My Jimmy Choo original was worn to one of my close friends weddings which is sweet and reminds me of romance. 

The latest addition to my perfume collection is the Moment de Bonheur (link*) by Yves Rocher. A few months ago I had my first sniff of an Yves Rocher perfume and fell in love with their intense fragrances which are sweet, aromatic and long lasting. Since my introduction to the Yves Rocher brand, I have been wanting to test further products and I was given the opportunity of reviewing the Moment de Bonheur to celebrate the products spring tantalising scent.  Moment de Bonheur is an infusion of Centifolia Rose and sweet apple, with a woody base deriving from Virginia Cedar Essence.  The product reminds me a little bit of the drink apple sours, but with a slight sugary sweet twist. The fragrance is delicate, yet powerful and seems to grab the attention of passers by when I wear it. This perfume is an asset to my perfume collection as its beautiful fruity scent is wearable on any occasion.

Moment de Bonheur can be purchased for £38.00 on the Yves Rocher website (link).

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Bank Holiday Beauty Saviours

The weather this bank holiday might be looking dull, but there's no reason to dampen down your style. I love dressing up on a bank holiday, enjoying cocktails with my friends and generally making the most of the long weekend. This bank holiday will be tremendously important as it's the last holiday I will be having for awhile because on Tuesday I will be entering full employment. I am a mixture of anxious, yet insanely excited - all of which I have been reassured are natural feelings upon entering your first full time job. My daily makeup routine is due a massive overhaul, not just for the bank holiday season, but for work too. I have decided I need to be more experimental and accentuate what I believe to not too bad natural looking features.

One of my new favourite eye products is by RMK Kaleidoscope eye palette (link*) in shades pink and yellow. The palette looks like a piece of art - two beautiful woven colours which can be separated or combined to make the perfect spring time bright eye look. As a girly girl at heart, I love the pink eye shadow and I love the fact that it is bright, but not too overpowering. It is elegant enough to wear all day and bright enough to stand out on an evening.

My favourite hair product at the moment has to be the Redken Iron Shape 11 (link*). Before receiving this delightful little bottle of heat defence spray, I had never tried Redken products. This little pink bottle has made me want to discover more of their collection. Before using this heat defence spray, my hair used to suffer from a lot of frizz and never went as sleek as I desired. The Redken Iron Shape has transformed my hair in many ways - making it feel vibrant, healthier and sleeker and at £11 for the bottle, you cannot go wrong.

I love eyeliner, to the point I wear winged eyeliner nearly everyday. Finding the perfect eyeliner can often be a struggle and during the last year there has two been two brands I have really trusted - the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and Collection 2000s 24 hour pen eyeliner. I find the Daniel Sandler waterproof eyeliner a delight to work with as it has a highly intense colour and it is soft enough to blend.Although the Daniel Sandler eyeliner does not work that well for winged 50s style eyeliner which is my go-to eye makeup routine, it works insanely well for those who are looking for a smokey eye effect and with it being waterproof, it is likely to withstand the bank holiday rain.

Finally, with all this dull weather we are currently experiencing most of us are in need of a quick pick-me-up for our skin. Scott Barnes' body bling (link*) is a tinted shimmering moisturising body lotion that gives you a glow-on-the-go and instantly adds a touch of colour to skin with minimal effort. I love how the product glistens in the sun and warms my skin tone easily when I need it the most. Even better, it only costs £7.50 - it's a fabulous buy for under £10.

What is your favourite beauty product at the moment?

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Workwear Wish List

If you read my post a few days ago, some of you will have noticed that I have been spending a lot of time job searching lately. This week alone I have had two rather complex interviews and I had applied for over 12 jobs. The good news is - as of yesterday, I now have my first ever full time job and it is in the industry that I have longed to be in for as long as I can remember. The communications industry has always appealed to me. I love meeting new people, writing and being able to make my clients happy. As an ambitious person, I thrive off a fast pacing atmosphere and something that challenges me daily. I love that feeling when it turns 5pm and you feel like you have accomplished everything on your checklist and even better when you know the day has been a success for a client or for my own personal development.

I will be starting my job working in PR possibly as soon as next week and I am so excited. I can't believe that I finished university just under two weeks ago and I have already managed to obtain a graduate job. All my nights of panicking as to whether my degree was worth the hassle has well and truly paid off. I have had the most difficult year with illness and bereavement, but I carried on and it was so worth it.

It is obligatory that I will be buying a complete new wardrobe for my new job role. My wardrobe at the moment is still in 'student mode' and needs a de-clutter to enable me to transition to 'adult work life' without looking too young and inappropriate at work. Although I had a de-clutter in April for National De-clutter Week,  I have managed to accumulate far too many clothing in such a short space of time. Although these clothes suited my past 'student' look, they are not really the 'look' I'm going for in the workplace. I cannot wait to hit the shops.

At the moment my head is full of outfit ideas and I know exactly what I would like to wear. Formal, classy but touches of bold colour. I want to be like the women I regularly stare down on the streets wearing the most wonderful stiletto heels and cigarette pants on the way to what I can only assume is a really sophisticated job (come on girls, we have all had those days).  In a few weeks time, I will definitely be buying my dream Michael Kors to accompany me on my professional journey and of course, heaps of new stationary. I want pretty diaries (as I love everything organised), notebooks and pretty pens. This is my chance to shine in a career that I have already grown so much to love and my career has barely even started.

The above image is an example of the type of outfit I would like to wear which consists of a beautiful crisp white shirt, tailored patterned trousers and a pair of bold, striking heels. To jazz up the outfit, I will definitely be investing in a few statement, but not too over the top necklaces. The blouse and pants in this outfit are from H&M (link) which I think is amazing for affordable, easy to wear workwear and it goes without saying that my heels are going to be from Kurt Geiger (link). If you read my blog regularly, you will know how much of a KG fanatic I am.

Have you received any amazing news lately?

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Feeling Yellow

The last few days have been intense. When you leave university, you automatically think of freedom and spare time. It doesn't dawn on you that if you are wanting a career, the majority of your free time will be spent applying for jobs or attending job interviews. I am currently applying for any PR role that I can find and luckily, I have been quite successful at getting interviews. However, these interviews often need a lot of creativity and involve copious tasks as well as a sit down chat. I am not complaining, I will do whatever it takes to gain a foot into my preferred industry, but it has been rather challenging and mentally draining the last few days. Especially when you think that the effort might not have been worth it. I am lucky that I am remaining positive and the only thing that matters is that I have tried my hardest. Whatever the outcome of the recent interviews, I know I will get there eventually even if I have to take the long road.

Anyway, I managed to get some free time to relax in the garden over the weekend and bask in the beautiful English weather ( that isn't a statement I say often). I wore my new favourite yellow lace trim crop top from my favourite Huddersfield store Pink Cadillac and played around with new funky sunglasses from Boohoo. I thought I'd share the pictures with you today and give you a little bit of summer inspiration. I'm loving the colours shown in these images and the flowers are growing nicely in the background.

Have you been doing much lately?

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Wedding Planning

When I started dating my partner I always knew he would be 'the one'. We had been friends a considerable number of years and we have always had a connection. Our love for the same music, having similar hobbies and the same ambitions in life made us a match made in heaven. Since the moment we got together, we have been inseparable. Me and James knew each other for 7 years prior to dating and dated for a mere 7 months before he proposed. It was a whirlwind romance that still is still thriving and making us both happy. When he proposed to me in a posh suite of a London hotel, neither of us knew what we were getting ourselves into. The thought of a wedding thrilled us and we were joyous about the prospect of spending our lives together, however neither of us envisioned the amount of effort it takes planning a wedding. We have less than 5 months until the big day and both of us have sweaty palms and an air of confusion about what we have left to do. Organisation has always been my strong point, but I've never had to organise anything so big. My partner on the other hand has a tendency to panic every time he needs to arrange something. Although both of us are madly excited about the wedding and cannot wait until the big day, there have been times where we wished we booked a trip abroad and got married on the beach with only us two there. 

To help me plan my #stressfreewedding StressFreePrint* have gifted me a few items to help with wedding planning correlating with their current #stressfreewedding campaign. These items included a beautiful little wedding notes booklet, a copy of Bridesmaids on dvd to fill me with laughter, a book to made my wedding stress free and a handful of face masks to calm me down after my wedding planning sessions.

I have had many comments in regards to the little notebook I posted on Instagram - it is beautifully handcrafted and fits great in my handbag. The face masks have been a delight after a long day of printing invitations and wedding prep with the bridesmaids. The stress free wedding planning book has really helped me figure out what I want for my wedding and how to achieve it. I find it funny that many of us will spend thousands of pounds and effort over a wedding, which in reality is only one day of our lives. I am lucky that me and my partner have similar beliefs, as long as we get married - it's our future of travelling, having children and leading a healthy, fun married life we would like to invest the most time in. I can't wait for my big day and I know there are stressful times ahead,but with the help of my best friends and this #stressfreewedding kit, I know I'll eventually get there.

Are you planning on getting married?

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House of Fraser A/W 2014 Press Day

Those who have seen my Boohoo press day post will recall that I visited London last week and not only did I get invited to the Boohoo press day, I was also kindly invited to the House of Fraser office to see their autumn and winter collections too. Admittedly I was quite nervous upon my visit to HOF as I had never really gone to a press day in London on my own and I didn't really know what to expect. I felt slightly out of my comfort zone as a I stood next to the stylist from QVC and saw many editors enter the room, nevertheless it was all worth it to see the beautiful clothing and if asked again, I would say yes in a heart. House of Fraser has always been my favourite department store, the reason behind this is that it is probably the most luxurious place to shop in Huddersfield - the rest of the town is an array of Poundshops and Primarks. I have always loved shopping in House of Fraser and have always found the clothing I wanted. If you looked at my bank statement, House of Fraser is the place I spent most of my money.

The HOF press day was full of gorgeous leather pieces like this leather top, grey soft fabrics and pastel colours. During the a/w it is usually expected that clothes will get darker and grungy, but HOF and Boohoo have stuck with pastels throughout the year, giving us a bright light of hope for good weather in the murkier seasons. 

One of the things I fell in love with at the HOF press day was all the lovely handbags. There was so many different styles and quirky prints like this yellow one above. Some of the bags had unique shapes and one of the clutches I saw had a gorgeous faux fur top.

My favourite items of the day were these mint blue/green leather jacket and skirt from Pied a Terre, a brand heavily stocked by House of Fraser. The jacket and skirt duo are perfect for adding a splice of colour into your a/w wardrobe without looking too bright and bold for the weather.

What do you think of the House of Fraser autumn and winter collection?

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Madam Rage Dress

Since getting my hair colour changed, I have noticed that I have needed to slightly re-assess my wardrobe to match my new style. Dark colours don't look as good on me anymore and boring none patterned clothes do nothing to compliment my hair. My wardrobe has been filled with lots of patterns, bright colours and new summer dresses. I feel like a completely new woman and enjoying experimenting with my style.

To help with my style reinvention I was sent this gorgeous dress by Madam Rage (link*) to show you here on the blog. When it first arrived I was a little bit worried as they sent me a size 12, despite only being a size 8, but teamed up with a little waist belt, it makes the perfect summery baggy dress.

I am currently in love with the blue, orange and white colours running through this dress and I really like the way it warms my skin tone. The Madam Rage Slouch Print Dress is available from the Madam Rage website priced at £24.99.

Have you shopped at Madam Rage before?

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The Next Chapter: Finishing University

Despite all the advice from the previous third years and the lectures your tutors give you, I don't think anything can really prepare you for the inevitable time when you say goodbye to university life. Whilst studying at university the prospect of leaving is something that gives you daily excitement, but when you are finally met with the end and the door closes on the way out, a fear of dread suddenly strikes upon you. 

I am lucky that I have loved almost every moment of my course and met the most wonderful people that have made the last three years enjoyable at the University of Huddersfield. I always thought that I would be happy to see the back of university life, but when I handed in my university work for the final time on Friday, I suddenly went numb. My mind was full of emotions - what now? Where do I go? How the heck do I start looking for a job in my chosen career? But then, I was met with happiness, the warm feeling of accomplishing something you never thought you could and the anticipation for my future career.

What I have realised is that whilst I studied at university, it became less about the piece of paper that I receive at the end of my course, but more about how university shaped me and made me the person I am today. I am more confident, enthusiastic about my work and much more skilful. University has also given me the skills to progress with my blog and helped me believe in myself in times of struggle. I already have interviews lined up for jobs and the future is looking bright, I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life and the new things I will have to write about here at Forevermissvanity.com.

Have you been to University before?

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Emu Australia Sandals

Imagine a golden beach, blue sea with white little ripples and the sun gleaming on the shoreline. Your feet casually dipped into the soft, silky sand as you walk with ice-cream in hand wearing your favourite sandals. Unfortunately the weather today isn't fabulous and I am nowhere near a beach. The rain is making me dream of faraway shores and all I want is a holiday. 

My desire for a beach holiday was evoked when I was sent this beautiful pair of Emu Australia Sandals to review a few weeks ago. Emu Australia (Link*) is a brand that was established in 1948 and still makes fine sheepskin and merino wool derived shoes over 60 years later. The brand is known more commonly for their sheepskin boots similar to their competitor UGG. Although their sheepskin boots are the brand that made them famous, Emu Australia stock many types of shoes including sandals and slippers. These sandals are my introduction to the brand and so far I really like them. As you can imagine, the British weather has not given me much of an excuse to wear them, but during the odd warmer day we have had, I have managed to take a quick stroll around my garden wearing these. I am not much of a sandal fan, especially sandals that wrap round the large toe. However, I find these extremely comfortable and a delight to wear. The 'ALMA' sandal that retails at £95.00* comes in three different shades and features a comfortable leather footbed and textured detailing on the straps. I do find the price a little steep compared to my average spend on sandals - usually around £10 from Primark, however I truly believe that the quality of these shoes are the reason why they are the comfiest sandals I have worn and if I was walking around for hours on an exotic holiday, comfort would definitely be a factor to consider when purchasing sandals.

Have you tried any shoes from Emu Australia?

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Boohoo A/W 2014 Press Day

Pastel colours are a trend most commonly associated with spring and summer, but autumn and winter at Boohoo sees the favourite trend carried on all year through. I had the pleasure of visiting London for the day and being able to attend the Boohoo autumn and winter press day, showcasing their upcoming clothing. Needless to say, I was in love with almost every item I saw. From eye-catching pink and yellow faux jackets to the the grungy leather look, Boohoo are catering for everyone this upcoming autumn and winter fashion season.

I am currently in love with cleated shoes. I'm not overly sure I can pull them off, but they look fantastic. The heel not only grabs attention with its striking design, it also provides support for your feet with a chunky platform that levels out the height of your foot. Metallic straps and darker colours are on their way in during the autumn and winter, replacing the current pastel trends we are seeing on the high street today.

One of my next favourite pieces is this beautiful faux leather jacket. If there is one type of clothing I excessively hoard it is leather jackets. They seem to go effortlessly with any outfit and look great day or evening. I have many in my collection, but it would be nice to get a bit of colour and invest in some pinks and blue tones. Pastel faux leather jackets are all over the high street at the moment and are here to stay for quite a long time. Buying a pastel coloured jacket now or in the future will be a worthy fashion investment.

Finally as a self proclaimed 'rock chick' type girl, I love my leather and just as last year saw a lot of leather tops and pants in their autumn collections, the trend is here to stay. I really like how Boohoo have teamed this little leather crop top with a baroque style printed dress. It looks edgy, yet feminine.

With all the wonderful clothes on show, I am really excited for the autumn winter collections coming our way.  But lets not rush things just yet, we still have the summer to cater for.

Do you shop at Boohoo.com?

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Bank Holiday Outfit of the Day

It seems light only two minutes ago it was the last bank holiday, but I definitely feel like I deserved a break. This last week I have working like a maniac trying to get all my final university submissions in order and applying for jobs for when I graduate. Most people I know are currently terrified of the thought of leaving university, but I am incredibly excited. I thrive off new adventures, learning new skills and meeting new people. I see the next chapter of my life as a time to really discover myself in the industry I spent three years training for and to see my skills lie. I want to travel, create a career and learn to love myself. 

I spent today shopping, grabbing a bite to eat with my partner and working hard at the gym. My partner coaxed me into purchasing a lovely pastel blue blazer from River Island after saying it would suit me and I had the most delicious meal at my local Revolution. Me and James have also got into the habit of going to the gym today and spent the remaining day working hard at the gym, then heading to the pool and sauna for some relaxation.

Today I wore one of my favourite tops that I bought from River Island last year and my new favourite bright pink skorts from eBay (link) that I bought for as little as £7. I love them. They effortlessly add colour to my wardrobe and make me feel so summery. I teamed them up with my floral top to add a touch of spring to my outfit and a black blazer to cool down the bright colours in my top and to make my skorts colour pop.

What did you do this Bank Holiday?

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Spring Time Beauty Products

Spring and Summer are my favourite seasons. I love being able to go out wearing bright colours, warm bronzers and rosy pink cheeks without looking too washed out. The cosmetic stores are full to the brim with pretty feminine colours to help you enjoy every part of the warmer weather. I admit I can be quite bland when it comes to my makeup. During the winter I wake up first thing in the morning and generally settle for cat flick eyeliner and a nude lipstick because I am too tired. When the spring and summer comes around, I tend to have a new lease of life and the urge to experiment. Out with the dull, boring Miss Vanity and hello to colourful, vibrant and confident Miss Vanity. I also think it helps that I can use fake tan when it is warm without it streaming down my body. To help get me out of a style rut and ready for the sunshine, I was gifted several items from the company Fragrance Direct. Fragrance Direct specialise in all the best high street brands at affordable prices. If you think you cannot afford Ciate nail varnish to treat yourself to Elizabeth Arden, think again. This website has all of products for a lot cheaper than other retailers.

The first item I received in my package was the Maybelline 070 Orange Crush lipstick (link). I really like the moisturising sensation of this lipstick and the dewy effect it gives upon application. The lipstick tastes like oranges and looks subtle, yet summery. 

I am a massive fan of Ciate polishes and I have done product reviews on them countless of times. This yellow colour is from the Corrupted Neon Manicure set by Ciate (link). The polish applies really well, dries fast and gives a wonderful finish. This picture does not have the top coat added as I could not find it when writing this review, however once the top coat is added, it really does look like a professional manicure. It sparkles, shines and gives your nails a bold statement colour. 

In the past I have never got a long with any of the Maybelline volumising mascaras, they often leave my eyelashes looking clumpy, flat and unattractive. However the Maybelline Colossal Volume Express (link) was a delight to use. Yes it still comes out a little bit clumpy, but it does in fact add quite a lot of volume to my tiny little lashes.

Next is the Glo-Minerals Precise Micro Lipliner (link). Shamefully, I am one of those people that do not use lipliners as much as they should do. As a blogger, I should know better. Lipliners are fab for defining the natural curves of your lips and giving your lipstick a fuller effect. I really like this lipliner because it is easy to apply and looks great once filled in and used as an actual block lip colour, as well as a lipliner.

I have always wanted to try the L'oreal 24hr Super gel eyeliner (link) and to be completely honest I was not blown away by the quality of this product. This is good for a gel eyeliner, but it does not beat my favourite Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner. If you are on a budget this may be a good product for you, but at usual retail price of £16, it is a little steep. Thanks to Fragrance Direct, you can buy this gel eyeliner for £6 and try it for yourself.

Finally, here is my new Elizabeth Arden (link) cream blusher. I am a big fan of cream blushers because they are easy to apply, perfect for contouring and they leave a natural finish. This cream blusher is perfect for my complexion and is a beautiful spring time colour.

Are you ready for the spring/ summer seasons?

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