BACK TO SCHOOL | BAGS ON A BUDGET + BAG ESSENTIALS

Hello everyone! So now that summer is coming to an end, that means one thing for a lot of people... it's time to go back to school/college/university. With that in mind i thought i would share some tips and advice for when it comes to going back to school. Kicking things off with sharing a selection of bags perfect to stay stylish, yet practical and also on a budget before talking all things bag essentials and what you are going to need to pack/carry with you for any of those beauty emergencies...

Picking the right back for the new school/college year isn't always so simple, as you have to take so many different things in to consideration when it comes down to it. You need it to be practical, easy to carry, spacious enough to fit what items you need to take with you daily yet you want to stay looking stylish also. I always find that there are a select few styles of bags that tick all of these boxes and those are backpacks, tote bags and shopper bags. This year there is a ton of new-in bags, both online and in-store, under £40 and some under £20.

1. topshop sydney zip shopper bag | £26 | 2. accessorize holly lilac backpack | £32 |

3. justfab blush chadwick bag | £10.74 | 4. romwe polka dot print canvas tote bag | £7.50 |

5. h&m reversible shopper bag | £14.99 | 6. primark mustard shopper tote bag | £8 |

7. romwe double zipper flap pu backpack | £10.50 |
8. asos design black backpack with rose gold zip | £25 |

9. next zodiac shopper bag | £4 | 10. h&m black backpack | £19.99 |

11. primark black oversized shopper bag | £10 | 12. topshop hobo bag | £29 |

13. mango pebbled tote bag | £19.99 | 14. zara everyday backpack | £19.99 |

15. zara reversible studded tote bag | £2.99 | 16. hype pink embroidered backpack | £25 |

17. boohoo studded rucksack | £20 |

Once you have selected the perfect back to school bag, you are going to need to fill it with all the essentials that you might need.  (including some items you might need in an emergency)...

1. makeup/wash bag

Kicking things off with the main event and that is all about selecting the perfect makeup bag or wash bag, that is going to not only fit everything you might need to carry but also fit inside of your bag perfectly without taking up too much room. Personally i will always recommend a transparent bag, as you can find the items inside quickly and they are easy to clean if you get a spillage. 

2. deodorant, tampons + mints

When it comes to bag essentials, everyone should always carry products that are going to help on the hygiene front. Personally i prefer to use roll-on deodorant as they are not only long-wearing but also a lot more compact and better value for money rather than picking up the mini-sized spray deodorants. Tampons are another must as you just never know when that situation is going to occur for either yourself or a friend, it is always better to be prepared and a lot of tampons are super compact so they don't take up very much room. Finally on the hygiene side of things, i always like to carry mints or chewing gum and at the moment the tic tac mint rush mints are a personal favourite of mine.

3. hand cleansing gel + mini dry shampoo

Mixing a little hygiene and beauty together but two other essentials that are always in my everyday essentials bag, are hand sanitizer and dry shampoo. Merci Handy is a favourite brand of mine, especially when it comes to hand gel to help you kill any germs on your hands. The brand now stock dry shampoo in a 100ml sized can, which is a perfect size for carrying with you. Dry shampoo is definitely a must carry item, especially if you are going to be playing sports/getting sweaty.

| shop the mercy handy cleansing gel: here | shop the dry shampoo: here | 

4. concealer + mini sponges

The first step for makeup touch-ups is definitely concealer, which you can simply pack your go-to concealer or buy a duplicate. That being said the revolution conceal and define concealer is the perfect travel/essential makeup bag sized concealer, as it is smaller in size to your regular concealer want. Not only is this concealer compact it is also one of my personal favourites from the drugstore at the moment, it only retails for £4 and has high-end quality. Of course if you are going to be touching up using concealer, you are going to want something to blend it out with and the perfect compact tool for that is a mini beauty sponge. Revolution also have your back when it comes to blending, with this amazing value for money mini pro sponge set for just £3.

5. choose a pressed powder with a compact mirror included

By selecting a face powder which has a mirror included in the packaging, is such a space saver as sometimes powders and mirrors can take up some room. Powder is definitely in the top three must-pack essentials, to not only set any touch-ups you have made but to also prevent/fix any shine that might occur through-out a long day.

6. keep lip products to a minimum

It is so easy to go overboard with packing one too many lip products (trust me, i would know i am that girl with ten different products in her bag). Obviously you are going to be at school and more than likely opting for a "no makeup, makeup" look for the day. A personal favourite of mine would to just pack a lip liner, as you can keep the lip looking natural yet you are adding some shape and definition. I also mentioned this in a recent motivation monday post, where i shared my go-to gym/workout makeup.

Happy Weekend!

xo.

TRAVEL | TWENTY-FIVE MUST DO THINGS IN ROME, ITALY

Hello everyone! Seeing as we are fast approaching the summer holidays, where we all tend to take a trip at some stage before the season is over and even if it is just getting away for a few days, it is still nice to just head off somewhere. With that in mind i thought i would share with you twenty-five must do things if you visit one of my favourite places i have ever been, which is Rome. If you are yet to visit Rome and it isn't on your must-go to list of places, then i highly recommend that you do... 

1. visit inside and outside the Colosseum

2. visit the Pantheon (it is simply beautiful)

3. visit Vatican City

4. toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain

5. visit and climb the Spanish Steps

6. try as many different Gelato's as you can (chocolate hazelnut is a must)

7. pizza for lunch, pasta for dinner is a must

8. order a cappuccino at a café (but not after 11am, any time after that is considered a no no to the Italians, after that time order an espresso)

9. visit the shops on the Piazza di Spagna (at the bottom of the Spanish steps)

10. visit the Piazza Novona (popular restaurant/café spot)

11. take in the sights at St.Peter's Square

12. visit St.Peter's Basilica

13. whilst in Vatican City, visit the Vatican Museums

14. visit the Roman Forum (located near the Colosseum)

15. visit/tour the Sistine Chapel

16. visit Villa Borghese (large beautiful park away from the city bustle)

17. climb Paletine Hill for the beautiful view

18. climb the Janiculum hill (steep but worth it for the view alone)

19. take the Pope's secret escape route at Il Passetto di Borgo

20. wander the ancient Thermal Baths at Le Terme di Caracalla

21. visit inside Santo Stefano Rotondo (the first circular church in Rome)

22. take in the sights of the Arch of Constantine (next to the Colosseum)

23. when in Europe (out of the UK anyway) always visit a Sephora

24. never skip dessert, when in Rome isn't just a saying

25. take as many pictures of the beautiful architecture as you can

Fancy something else to read? Catch up on a suggested post HERE...

xo.

TIPS + TRICKS | HOW TO STAY STYLISH FOR LESS

Hello everyone! Staying "on-trend"/up to date on style could be seriously costly, but it honestly doesn't have to be that way at all and there are so many ways to stay stylish for less money. This doesn't just count for clothing, style is more than just clothes it is also accessories, lifestyle choices and beauty. With that in mind for today's post, i thought i would share with you some of my tips and tricks on how to stay stylish on a budget...

1. swap designer labels for high-street pieces

You might think you are getting the best by spending the extra cash on a designer bag or clothing, yet you might be surprised what you can get on the high-street or online for a lot less. If you are a lover of designer handbags, then a way to get your hands on something super similar is by shopping on shein. This is where i picked up my "chanel boy bag" dupe from and the quality of the bags are really good for the price point. 

2. wait until there is a discount code or sale

When it comes to shopping online the best thing to usually do is wait it out, especially until there is a discount code or the item comes on sale. Clothing sites which have so many affordable versions of on trend pieces such as Boohoo, MissGuided and PrettyLittleThing have discount codes available weekly if not daily. This way you can pick up some items you have your eye one and save money by doing so.

3. save money on having your nails done by diy'ing them at home

Having a manicure/acrylics/gel nails every couple of weeks or once a month can quickly become costly at around £30 a time, save yourself money by giving yourself a manicure at home. Whether that be simply painting them, or adding your own acrylics which are simple to apply and can be picked up from as little as £1 from Primark (they are my favourites). Even if you like to get creative with nail art, watch tutorials or search Pinterest for easy step by step guides on how to re-create it on your own nails.

4. choose drugstore makeup over high-end makeup

When it comes to makeup i do love a good high-end product but there are definitely a lot of drugstore products that i love even more, especially when it comes to foundations. Wearing high-end makeup every single day can become costly, especially because you are going through things quicker so swap out your high-end foundation/concealer for everyday use and limit using high-end to weekends/special occasions. 

5. choose pieces that will go with multiple things

If you are going to invest in something, make sure before buying it is something that is going to go with more than one thing. There is no point in wasting your money on something you can wear only once, or with only one outfit. One of my favourite things to do is wear a simple outfit and switch up the way it looks with a different jacket, coat, cardigan and shoes. 

6. style your hair different

Another really easy step to look put together/stylish is to put in a little more effort when it comes to your hair, you could be wearing a simple pair of jeans and top but look really put together with a really easy to do hairstyle. My favourite thing to do is a easy DIY salon looking blow-dry at home, which i mentioned in a recent beauty hacks i swear by post. I also love doing voluminous waves, which can be super quick and easy to do by placing your hair in a high pony-tail and curling as you normally would before removing the hair-tie. 

7. how to afford luxury fragrances

Smelling good is sometimes as good if not the perfect way to finish off a stylish look and perfume can be super expensive, but there are ways to dodge the cost. A great tip is to shop/search for designer fragrance dupes from places such as Next, M&S, Primark and New Look for a lot less. Other great ways are to try out a fragrance subscription service or even shop duty free/sales. 

8. make your old clothes new again

Another great way to switch up some of your current wardrobe pieces is to do a little DIY on them, whether that be adding rips to a plain pair of jeans or making them into shorts. There are so many great step by step ways on how to DIY your clothing/accessories on Pinterest, which you would be surprised at how simple they are to do. If DIY isn't really your thing, you can also add things to an existing outfit such as a belt.

Catch up on my previous tips + tricks post HERE...

xo.

WAYS TO SWITCH UP YOUR EVERYDAY MAKEUP ROUTINE

Hello everyone! We all have those moments when we get stunk in a rut, especially when it comes to our everyday makeup routine and we tend to just keep doing the same thing over and over again. That being said applying makeup should always be fun and never seem as if it is a chore, keeping that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some great ways to switch up your everyday makeup routine...

1. look through all the products in your makeup collection

It is super easy to just reach for your most recently purchased makeup items, but then all of your other products get pushed aside and forgotten about. By looking through your collection once in a while will make you see what other products you used to love reaching for, to encourage you to reach for them again.

2. have a makeup de-clutter
That being said sometimes you can get into a makeup rut because you are slightly overwhelmed with the amount of products in your collection, when that occurs it is always good to have a good makeup de-clutter and rid yourself of any products you dislike or don't want to hang onto anymore.

3. dedicate a drawer or makeup make to your everyday essentials

Something i did a lot and still often do, is to dedicate a drawer from my acrylic storage to some everyday essentials of mine and to avoid getting into that rut again switch the products up/around each month. This is also a great way to save time searching through your collection/makeup bag, especially if you are in a hurry!

4. try out some new-in makeup products

It is so easy to just say oh this is my favourite product i am not going to bother trying out anything new, but this is in fact when you get fed up of something. Be adventurous and try something from the new-in section, you never know something could become your new go-to everyday makeup item.

5. switch up the order of application if something isn't working right

Doing your makeup every single day the same way as if you are on auto-pilot can get super boring quick, even if every single product you are using is still working well for you there is still a simple step to help switch things up. Simply switch up the order in which you apply your makeup, even if it is just one or two steps.

6. upgrade your tools/appliances 

Sometimes switching up your makeup products isn't always necessary, something simple like switching up or upgrading your tools and appliances can do just the trick. Treat yourself to a new well lit makeup mirror, some new brushes or new storage. Having great lighting makes such a huge difference to the way your makeup ends up looking and makeup storage is a great way to stay organised (clear view, clear mind).

7. wear what makes you feel happy/confident 

It is easy to follow someone else/or a trend and say you love something just because they do, which in fact that certain product/look doesn't work well for you. Makeup should always be fun and you should always wear your makeup the way you like to wear it, what type of look makes you feel happy and confident in yourself.

8. skip non-essential products if you are pinched for time

In an everyday makeup routine it can either go one of two ways, stick to the bare essentials or go all out and reach for everything and put it on your face. That being said if you are in a rush and pinched for time, skip the non-essential steps such as winged eyeliner or a technical eyeshadow look which isn't necessary all of the time. Also if you are anything like me and still when it comes to winged eyeliner, it probably takes me ten minutes per eye as i still struggle with getting them even looking often!

9. nail your skincare routine

The way your everyday makeup looks can be improved a huge amount, simply by making sure you nail your skincare routine/application. Making sure your skin is super hydrated and prepped for makeup, will make your makeup look and last a lot better as it has the perfect base for everything to be applied on top of it. Even adding an extra face mask into an evening a week, will make all the difference.

10. turn your everyday makeup from simple to glam in seconds
Maybe you are headed straight from work or school to something a little more dressy. A couple of great quick and easy fixes for transforming your makeup look from simple to glam in seconds, are to apply a little more highlighter to the areas you usually would and also to glam a simple face of makeup up, add a bolder lip choice like a red for example.

11. be comfortable when applying your makeup
One of the most important things for me when doing my makeup everyday is to make sure i am sitting down comfortably, i like to sit on my chair at my dressing table and either watch TV or listen to music by doing this it makes it a lot more enjoyable than being sat in silence. We have also all been there before, when you sit on the floor then realise you can't get up because your feet/legs have gone to sleep. 

12. experiment with products in your collection
Finally is a step that will inject some fun back into your makeup routine and that is to experiment with the products in your collection. Something as simple as mixing two or three lipsticks together to create the perfect shade, especially when you dislike a product by itself but mixed with another product it could work well.

Catch up on my recent updated brow-routine post HERE...

xo.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU WANT A LITTLE BREAK FROM THE INTERNET

Hello everyone! The majority of us human beings now spend more time in the day on the internet than we do sleeping at night, me included. Obviously when your job revolved around the internet/social-media you are spending a lot of time online, as well as spending time online "off-duty" so to speak. With that in mind as much as we all love the internet, it is still nice to take a step back and have a little break from it for a while (even if it is just an hour). For today's post i thought i would share with you some great things to, when you need to escape and take that break (trust me it will do you good from time to time).

1. read a book, whether that be a paperback/hard back or kindle.

2. watch your favourite feel-good movie, or a new movie you haven't seen before.

3. go to the cinema with your friend/loved one.

4. listen to music.

5. give yourself a manicure/pedicure, i like to do this and listen to music.

6. go for a walk, whether that be simply down the street or in the woods/park.

7. give your wardrobe a clear-out/re-organise.

8. re-organise your makeup collection.

9. try out different hairstyles/makeup looks for fun.

10. binge-watch your favourite tv show/a new tv show.

11. have a gathering with friends/family with great food or drink and company.

12. read your favourite magazine.

13. write a journal, whether that be for work ideas or personal goals.

14. go on an adventure with someone to somewhere you are yet to visit.

15. bake or cook something.

16. have a relaxing bath with a bath bomb and light your favourite candle.

17. do a face mask.

18. colouring in an adult colouring book.

19. go grab a coffee from your favourite coffee shop.

20. take a nap (i mean we need to catch up on the sleep we miss from being online).

21. read a cookbook and take notes on what recipes you want to try.

22. go out for a few drinks with a friend and have a good gossip.

23. look through old pictures/create a new picture album.

24. have a family/friends board game night.

25. make a playlist filled with your favourite songs (technically this requires going on the internet but try to stray from spotify, iTunes or amazon ha ha).