I'M BACK! New Job & University Take 2

I've been trying to start this post for a while and I've not found the words to explain my sudden disappearance from the wonderful world of blogging. In all honesty, I decided that I needed to a break. And boy, did I! I was beginning to feel that I was blogging and writing posts for the sake of it. Not because I was passionate about a product or because I was excited about sharing something with you guys. Has anyone ever felt like that?

A lot has happened since I last posted (waaaaaaaay back then!). I got a brand new job and I started university - again!

I started my new job in July and I now work as a Communications Assistant in my local council's press team. The job is very similar to my old one (read about it here). I write press releases, handle questions from the media, organise filming requests in the area from the likes of BBC, and I also manage our set of social media channels. I absolutely love it and feel like I've really hit the ground running.

And so, after that huge blog post last year about why I quit university and why university wasn't for me, what did I do? I decided to go back! A completely strategic career move might I add. I really wanted to start climbing the working ladder in PR and Communications yet found myself stuck in a rut when every job I fancied applying for required a university degree as 'essential'. So, this time I did my research and successfully gained a place at Manchester Metropolitan University studying PR & Marketing! I'm only a few weeks into my course but I definitely feel that I've made the right decision and it's so cool that I get to apply what I'm learning at uni into what I do at work :).

Oh, and I've also lost 1 and 1/2 stone in weight and bought myself a brand new Vauxhall Corsa!

Anyway, this is just a quick post to update you on where I'm up to and to ease myself back into blogger.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

AllBeauty.com Bargainous Mini Haul

I was acquainted with this absolute gem of a website when a colleague at work was telling me how she'd got some aftershave (for her son) for more than half the price than it was selling for in the shops. Obviously I asked her to send me the link and spent my morning at work scrolling through the endless bargains on there - naughty!

50 Years of Superdrug May 2014 Glossybox

After hearing on the grapevine that Glossybox was teaming up with Superdrug to their celebrate their 50 year anniversary, with a promise of four full-size products, I was super super excited to receive my box. After reading a few reviews on what other people had got in theirs (Rimmel mascaras and Max Factor primers) I was even more thrilled! However, when I ran out of the post office, got in my car and ripped open the packaging, I was left feeling a little...meh. 

Garden Party in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

Most people out there either have been or know someone who has been affected by cancer. I don't need to tell you about the heartache and grief that it can bring but I will tell you about some of the fantastic things that people are doing to raise money for a charity who help make things as easy as they can be. Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that helps cancer sufferers and their families through everything. My own personal experience of Macmillan nurses was absolutely second-to-none. They really are the loveliest team of people and I could not thank them enough for how much they supported and helped us through a very difficult time.

Mr Nutcase Personal Phone Case & Discount Code*

I love having photos on display in the house. You literally can't see the walls in my room for noticeboards covered in pictures and keepsakes hung all over them. Anything with a personal touch really stands out to me so I jumped at the chance to design my own personalised iPhone case!

My 'Emergency' Handbag Kit

Just like any typical woman, carrying a load of crap in her bag is an obligatory trait within the female species. Deep within the depths of Boots and Nando's receipts, perfume bottles, empty sweets packets and loose change, in a tiny little corner of my bag, lives a leopard print cosmetic bag that I like to think is there for 'emergencies'. However, these aren't just any emergencies that I've prepared myself for. Oh, no. Disasters such as a dry hands, streaky fake tan, annoying bits of hair in your face and excruciatingly painful blisters are all taken care of thanks to my trusty bag of wonders.

May Must-Haves

All images sourced from Google

WHY oh why are there so many gorgeous new Spring releases that I feel that I must purchase but that my bank balance tells me otherwise? I've been spending quite a lot of time online window shopping as I know that shopping in stores where I can feel, touch and try-on will only end in disaster. So, I've gone through my online Wishlists and picked out a few items that will definitely become new residents in my wardrobe/make-up storage this month.

Weightloss Wednesday: Food Replacement

Weightloss and dieting isn't about starving yourself and depriving your body from the food that it needs - it's about changing what you eat. Believe it or not, the more you eat - the less weight you lose (obviously if you're making the right choices). Not eating enough throughout the day can actually cause you to gain weight as your body starts to store the fat. Your body starts to think 'Hang on a minute, she's not fed me for four hours. Better start storing incase she doesn't feed me all day!" Since starting to diet, I've had to replace the unhealthy foods that I eat, with something a little better for me. Here are some of the replacements that I've made whilst still being able to enjoy my food.

ZSL London Zoo

As part of our Easter trip to London, my Mum and I decided to visit London Zoo. We had a 2 for 1 voucher too so it didn't work out too expensive. Since buying my new camera in March, I've not really had chance to use it outside and photographing actual moving objects. This was the chance for my camera to really show off what it was capable of doing and I was so impressed with it! The zoom was absolutely incredible and I got some fantastic shots. Here are some that I really loved. Enjoy!

Spring Cheeks with Topshop

I'll be honest, blushers aren't up there in my most used make-up products as I find it really difficult to find a shade that complements my complexion. I much prefer a noticeable bronzer with a subtle hint of blush when it comes to my make-up routine. However, since coming across some of some my Topshop make-up stowed away in my drawer, my love for their quality has re-blossomed and have decided to share them with you.

April Lovin'

Like most, I am ridiculously excited for the warmer months to begin and the sun to start bronzing my skin. I've been getting so hyped up about buying light coverage foundations, tanning moisturisers and I'm up to my eyes in bright and pastel nail varnishes. Anyway, here are some of the products that I've took a shine to this month. (Get it? Shine. Sunshine...)

Easter in LDN

So my Mum and I spent our Easter weekend down in London town. We went from Friday morning to Sunday evening and spent two nights in a gorgeous hotel in Kensington. We did SO much in so little time and we must have walked for miles! We went to; Buckingham Palace, Selfridges, London Zoo (will do a seperate post for this), Lyceum Theatre, Natural History Museum, Harrods, Big Ben, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey and even managed to squeeze a Nando's in there too! Here's a selection of some of the pictures we took :)

GIVEAWAY (Closed): Peppy Galore Cleansing Oil*

This week I've teamed up with the lovely ladies at Peppy Galore to host a giveaway! The winner will receive one of their Rebel Cleansing Oils specifically tailored for oily skin. If you haven't guessed, Peppy Galore are a cosmetics and skincare company based in the UK. They make products that are made from natural ingredients, not tested on animals and are affordable too. Jessi, the founder of Peppy Galore, started the company from scratch and I can't believe the amount of products they have on offer! From body mousses to lip balms, all at great prices and (very) cute packaging! Be sure to visit their website for reviews and more info.

"The oils in this cleanser are lightweight, astringent and softening, so they reduce pores without clogging them. Tea Tree essential oil is the super ingredient here. It’s naturally antibacterial, so it keeps your skin clean and helps your blemishes heal. Rebel Cleansing Oil also moisturises and conditions your skin keeping it in good health."

This giveaway will run from Friday 18th April until next Thursday 24th April when they will pick a winner and they will be notified! Get entering and GOOD LUCK! :-)

April 2014 Glossybox

There's no better feeling than coming home after a hard days work and seeing that cardboard Glossybox-branded box sitting there waiting for me on the desk. Yep, it's that time of month again where I decide whether I got my £12's worth of beauty products. I was pretty much ready to cancel my subscription after last months monstrosity of a box but Glossybox - you've done it again! 

Manicure Monday: Models Own Blueberry Muffin

I adore wearing pastels during Springtime and Models Own Blueberry Muffin has been such a favourite of mine. This polish comes from the Fruit Pastel collection which includes 4 other gorgeous pastel shades. There are so many ranges of pastels on the market but the thing that drew me to this was the fact that it was scented!...

Topshop TIKA2 High Vamp Skaters

After constantly wearing my Chelsea boots throughout the whole of winter - the first peek of sunshine through the clouds and I was scrolling through Topshop's online SS range. I knew that I wanted some sort of comfy slip-on pumps as I was sick to death of wearing my converse and vans and I've never been a fan of the whole sports trainers rage (apologies if this offends you)...

Weightloss Wednesday: Getting Motivated

Source

After healthily losing a stone and a half in two months last year, since Christmas I've slowly but surely found it again! During a recent trip to the doctors, I discovered that I'd found more than I originally lost in the first place. I've decided that I really need to do something about it and I'm bringing you along for the ride! Since motivating myself to start dieting has worked for me in the past, I thought I would share some of the ways that I encourage myself to ditch the doughnuts and bin the biscuits. 

How I Created A Custom Domain

A very short post today but I thought I'd share my experience of setting up my own custom domain for my blog. Since starting this blog, I'd always wondered how bloggers had magically rid the '.blogspot.com' or '.wordpress.com' from their domain. I thought it looked so much more professional and made for much easier accessibility. I soon realised that there were a few sites in which you could buy your own domain and link it in with your blog account. However, I was a little reluctant at first as I wasn't sure how well I'd stick to this whole blogging thing. 

After continuing to blog, setting up a twitter account and beginning to work with a few companies, I decided that I would finally purchase my own domain. The only problem I had to face was - erm, so how do I do that?...

I scoured the internet for some recommendations of a decent site where you could pay for and set up your own domain. I read a lot of good comments and reviews from the site godaddy.com and thought I would give it a go! Purchasing the domain itself was simple enough and only cost me £7.10 to be paid per year. HOWEVER, linking it with my blogger account was beginning to make me want to rip my hair out!!

I came across a fantastic blog called xomisse.com which had SO many tips and tricks for blogs and site design. She had written a fantastic tutorial on setting up a custom domain that had step-by-step, easy to follow instructions that helped me along the way. From following this simple guide, setting up my custom domain took me around 15 minutes. You can find the specific guide that I used by clicking here. There are so many other step-by-step guides to follow too.

Hope you find it as interesting and helpful as I definitely did!

X

How to Schedule Your Tweets

You may or may not know but I currently work as a PR Assistant. (What it's like to work as a PR Assistant blog post here). This means that I manage a lot of different social media accounts and am particularly responsible for live tweeting at our events. So, the next time you're at an event and you see someone sat in the corner with an iPad frantically typing away, then that's what I do. However, all my birthdays came at once when I was recently introduced to a website called Twuffer.com which basically does some of the work for you...

Mother's Day

Starting off on a bit of a morbid note but this year has been my Mum's first Mother's Day without her Mum. My Nan passed away last summer so I thought that my Mum definitely needed spoiling this year!

As you can see, I got my Mum a range of gifts as I just LOVE buying presents for people. I love getting them something that I know matches their personality or that I know they'll love and get use out of.