Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette

I have swatched each shade:

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I have been waiting for this Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette to be released since I first saw it appear on Twitter a few weeks ago. They day it was released on the debenhams website (currently out of stock), I went online and instantly bought it with no regrets. I am so glad that I picked it up as it is such a lovely palette. I have never tried any Too Faced products previously, but I have heard so much about their Chocolate Palette I was so excited to try a product from the brand.

This palette smells of peaches but it is nothing too overwhelming and you have to get pretty close to be able to smell the scent. I was worried that there was going to be too many peach shades in this palette, which sounds crazy considering the name but I wanted it to have some versatility. It was every thing which I could want and more, in terms of the shade range. It has three truly peach shades - Just Peachy, Candied Peach and Bellini. These are all beautiful shades and I have enjoyed using them as I don't have any true peaches in my collection. My favourites from the palettes are Nectar, Lusicious and Cobbler. Surprisingly I love Peach Pit which is a beautiful glitter purple shade which I think is lovely. 

In terms of the the pigmentation I think there is a bit of variety within the shades. Most of them have amazing pigmentation with one swatch but shades such as Peaches n Cream take a little more work. They are all still good shades though which is what you want in a palette. This is great for everyday is there are a range of nudes and golds, but there is also some much more intense shades to create a much darker smokey eye.

This palette is perfect for the spring and summer and I really think if you are looking for a new palette with versitaltity that this is for you. It is great for travelling and I was surprised at how streamline and thin the packaging is, making it less bulky and doesn't take up a lot of room. The palette is limited edition so if you are wanting it, I suggest you try and snap it up sometime soon.

Are you going to get your hands on this beaut of a palette? 

Lucy

xoxo 

My Favourite Liquid Lipsticks

There are soo many liquid lipsticks on the market these days, as they have landed in the beauty industry with a well and truly big boom. I am a huge fan, and am always wanting to try new ones out whenever they are released. I do own quite a few so I thought I would do a little run down of my current favourites.

First up the latest addition to my liquid lipstick collection is from Kat Von D in the shade Lovesick. I have fallen head over heels for this, and is a stand out favourite. It is a rose toned nude which suits my skintone beautifully. The formula of these are one the best out there, but they are also the most expensive. They have a soft texture and apply super easy. Some people have commented that they are not fond of the long wand, but I actually really like that as I find it makes it easier to be precise. I wore this at a night time and I found it lasted really well, and the texture is the most comfortable and lightweight of them all. A firm favourite and I must pick up more next time I stumble upon a Sephora.

There was sooo much hype around the release of the Kylie Cosmetics lip kits (post). I really wanted one and one night whilst scrolling Twitter, I saw that they were doing their first ever restock so jumped on the site and managed to get one. I picked the shade Posie K which is a little darker than Lovesick, and has darker purple tones running through it. I do really like this and I like that it comes with a matching lip liner. These are a tad drying on the lips but they are the mattest of the bunch. They dry matte and stay matte, so they do what they say they are going to. These are so hard to get hold off, but I think $29 is a good price. However, with the shipping and custom fees which adds up to nearly the same amount as the product I won't be in a rush to reorder.

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are more of a mousse like texture, which I like as they are comfortable to wear and are not too drying, but these are not a true matte. Prague is a lovely rosy pink shade which is a great spring colour and I think I am going to get a lot of wear out of. Istanbul is a cool pink toned nude and I am a huge fan of this. It is a great everyday shade and one which I keep in my handbag as it is a shade which will suit all makeup looks day or night. These are great value for just £5.50 and are so much easier to get hold of now they are sold on Boots online and also within many Boots stores.

Discovering the brand ColourPop has not been good for my bank account, but thankfully the prices of their products are very affordable (post). A lot of american bloggers are a huge fan of their liquid lipsticks, and I love their Ultra Satin range. I have three shades, all of which are great quality and different to any other liquid lipstick within my collection. Panda is a deep pink violet and a colour which I would never usually choose as it is much too daring for me to wear. I took the plunge and ordered it and I have been totally loving it. Lyin' King is another bold shade and one which I have been loving just as equally. I own lots of nude toned liquid lipsticks and its great to have a brighter pink shade to wear. Echo Park is the nudest lipstick of any kind which I own, and I previously always stayed away as I thought they would wash me out, but in fact this looks really lovely. It is slightly darker than a true nude so it still stands out slightly, this has become a favourite of mine and is also one which I reach for on a daily basis. I adore the formula of these as they are a satin finish. This means that they have a slight sheen and are more moisturising than any of the others. They are definitely not glossy but they have a satin finish which means they look more glossy on the lips than any other liquid lipstick.

I have just picked up two of the Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks and I cannot wait to try them out! What are your favourite liquid lipstick?

Lucy
xoxo

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

I bought this back at the start of April when I took a trip to Sephora in Spain. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner was a must have within the blogging / beauty community when it was first released quite a while ago. I always thought 20 euros was rather expensive but I really needed to see what all the hype was about. I am so pleased that I did pick this up as I definitely do not feel as though I have wasted my money in any way. The nib is ultra thin and made into the perfect point, this is what sets this apart from the rest on the market. Before this I had been using the Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner for years, and I stand by that it is the best eyeliner available at the drugstore. However, the nib is much finer and flexible which really allows you to create the smallest line if that is the look which you are going for. I always try to take some extra time with liner, to build it up to my desired thickness. This allows you to do it as quickly and precisely as possible as it is so super easy to use. I picked up the black shade which is called Trooper, I would say that it is a true black and is true to colour. They also have a dark brown shade called Mad Max Brown, if you prefer brown to black.

 I had heard that this does not include much product for the price, which was one of the reasons which was keeping me back from purchasing it. I was surprised at how small it is as it contains 0.02oz, I am hoping that this does last me quite a while. As I say it is definitely not cheap and the most which I have ever, and will ever spend on an eyeliner. The pen nib clicks into place within the tubing and it feels like there is a spring inside it. This is a great addition as I am hoping this will keep it fresh and prevent it from drying out which is the one downfall with all liquid liners. When I bought this I did not know it was waterproof but this is such an added bonus as my eyes do get watery and I hate when it starts to peel off and looks patchy. All in all, I have been really loving using this and has fast become my go to eyeliner.

Lucy
xoxo

Zara Cross Body Bag

Whilst doing my weekly browse of the aisles of Zara within the TRF section, my eyes were instantly drawn to this pale pink Cross Body Bag. It is a great size and is perfect for everyday as well as nights out, as you are able to fit everything which you need for the day or night into it easily without it being a tight squeeze. I really like that the press stud fastens on the inside of the bag as I feel like it is a little bit safer, but also it doesn't take away the simplicity of the bag. This will be great to take on holidays as the colour is pale and will suit so many outfits. I love that the detailing is golden and the chain is chunky and adds some style to the bag. I am a fan of clutch bags especially for the night time and this is really versatile as you able to take the chain off and have it just as a clutch if you prefer. If you are not a fan of pink this also comes in a lovely mint colour, and I was torn as to which shade to choose as they were both beautiful colours. I think I am going to have to go back and buy it as already know that I would get so much use of it. If I have not yet managed to convince you to buy this for yourself, I think I will by telling you the price which is just £9.99. I think it is such great value for such an on trend bag for the Spring/Summer.

Lucy
xoxo

Refinding motivation

After I got back from my recent holiday from Spain, I found myself being so relaxed and super chilled which is just what I needed. Before I went away I found myself at the peek of my 'blogging game', I was organised, constantly posting, having pictures and posts written up in advance and having lots of new ideas to constantly feature on my blog. I was so motivated and excited about my content, which is the key reason as to why I blog.

On return from my holiday I had some motivation to start the motions again, but it was forced rather than my usual enthusiasm. I decided to kickstart myself by brainstorming lots of ideas as this always leads to me thinking of lots of new things. I then look in my diary to see when I have free time and assign when I'm going to take photos and when I'm going to write posts. This helps to feel in more control of when I'm going to blog and I instantly feel much more organised. I think I can put lots of pressure on myself to blog as I want to have constant new posts, and it's sometimes frustrating not having the time.

To find further inspiration I always have a browse online, read magazines, read others blogs to see if it can spark anything which can relate to your content and blog, and lastly read your own older blog posts. I read Elle monthly and it always inspires me to find new products and trends for the season. Following brands on Twitter and joining in #bbloggers chat always motivates me as I can get excited about beauty products with others who equally enjoy the same passion.

I also enjoy looking back over old posts and what I my viewers have most enjoyed reading. This is especially helpful for posts such as favourites, must haves and posts which feature multiple products. This really helped me plan for the entire month as I you can plan around things which you will doing within that month. Even if you just start listing products which you want to feature in a post, but are not sure what you are going to do with it yet, at least it is down on paper and you can refer back to it at any time you like.

I find using my blogging notebook and planning out posts is also an essential way to kickstart your mojo as having it out in front of you makes everything much more easy to see. I also put the dates of the days I am blogging down one side and then brainstorm on the other page so I don't miss anything which I might think of in an instance. Just having a few ideas jotted down can catapult ideas and before you know it you have your entire months worth of posts planned out.

I think something which is important to kickstart getting your mojo back is reading comments from your readers and looking at your stats. No matter how big or small your blog is seeing that someone is reading it is a huge deal and that is what keeps me going. Seeing that people are reading and enjoying your work is the biggest amount of motivation in which you can get.

I do however think that if you do need a blogging break then take one. We all get those days when we just do not want to blog and I always find on these days that my work is never as good. Never force yourself to blog, it is something which you should enjoy every moment of. Sometimes I find myself really unmotivated yet when I do start blogging I totally get into it. But I have had many of days when I just cannot get into it, and these days are definitely not suppose to be blogging days. I put my camera and laptop down and just reschedule to blog on another day.

I hope you can take away a few tips from this post! Please let me know what motivates and inspires you with your blog?

Lucy
xoxo

The Best 2016 Launches So Far

The beauty world has released so many new products since the start of 2016, and it can be overwhelming as to what we should/shouldn't be picking up. I have picked out a few of my ultimate favourites which I have been loving so far this year.

I think this Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara launched right at the start of the year, and it has been my only mascara of choice. If you a regular reader of my blog you will have seen this mentioned in many posts as a must have drugstore item. I love the formula it gives my lashes a good amount of lift and volume, it is a little bit wet so it does take a little longer to dry but that is the only downside I ever find when applying this.

I discovered the brand Colourpop at the start of the year, and the one product from them which I have become obsessed with is their Ultra Satin Lipsticks. These launched at the start of March I have three different shades but the one which I have been wearing on repeat is Echo Park. It is the perfect nude but with slightly dark and has rosy pink hint to it which is what I adore about them. These are a liquid lipstick which have a great shade range, but most importantly apply smoothing and last a good amount of time. As they are a satin finish they do not feel dry or flaky on the lips, and are super comfortable to wear all day long. I have a full post with swatches here, but seriously these are fabulous and for $6 you cannot go wrong.

This Anastasia Brow Definer launched in February and I instantly ordered it from BeautyBay. It was the perfect timing as my Brow Wiz had just finished and I was on the lookout for a new brow pencil. I was a little sceptical of the triangular shape at first, but it actually works amazing well and allows you to add both definition and detail. They have a great shade range in this collection, I wear the shade Taupe and it is a great match to my hair colour.

These only launched at the start of April but the Kiko Candy Canes Nail Polishes are just so much fun. I have the pink colour which is called Fun Guarana. This is a polish which is literally fun of glitter and little pieces of decoration. It is quite a thick formula so I only need one coat for it apply, and they have packed so many of the little speckles that you don't have to go back in and try to add more. This is just £4.90, and I am excited to pick up some of the other shades.

What have been your must have products to launch so far this year?

Lucy
xoxo

April spending ban - the lowdown

At the end of March I seemed to have a pile of new makeup stacked up in the top of my muji drawers. I had my new Kylie Lip Kit which I had been wanting for the whole of March, and I finally took the plunge and got my hands on one. I also made a Colourpop order which I had also been wanting to make forever. I think that you can get pulled in very easily to making online orders, and forget how much you've already spent even quicker. Then I went on holiday to Spain and not one. but two Sephora trips happened which included a lot of Kat Von D which have hefty price tags. Therefore, I pledged for the whole of April to not buy any makeup or beauty products at all. I knew this was going to be hard, but until you've banned myself you don't quite realise how often you 'treat' yourself.

You are going to totally laugh as I kind of failed on day one. On the 31st March Kylie Jenner announced she was releasing a new line of lip glosses and I totally got caught up in the action. So on the 1st April when they were released I ordered two. I was considering ending my ban there and then, but I thought I would carry on and see how I would get on.

For the first half of the month I had been on the look out for the Pixi Glow Tonic in every M&S in the North West I think, but thankfully it is sold out. I have checked BeautyBay and it is stock but I don't need to until the end of the month so I think I will be able to resist. Receiving a text off my friend saying the next holiday installment is due next week has definitely managed to keep my spending at bay. Even if I do say so myself so far I think I am doing well.

I did have a stumble on the 19th April as I went to a student lock in night in Manchester. Boots were offering 10% off everything and I also had a £10 voucher to use. I did picked up a few bits from NYX, I went in for the Angel Veil Primer as my Laura Mercier one had ran out and I've heard it is a good dupe for it. I also picked up a new butter gloss in Angel Food Cake and a Born to Glow Illuminator. I spent £11 of my own money, as I also used the voucher so I didn't do too much crazy spending.

I had to literally prise the laptop out of my hands when Jeffree Star released his new liquid lipstick in Scorpio, but I decided it wasn't an everyday shade. But god help me when they release the shade Gemini as I don't think I will be able to resist. I also resisted a Colourpop order (although my saved basket is full!) and ordering some Morphe brushes. I was so close to ordering and then I thought about everything in which I need to pay for in the next few weeks and that definitely managed to squash my temptations.

It is now the last day in April and I am super proud of how well I have done. I did have two minor slip ups but they weren't massive, and I didn't spend a lot at all which I am super happy with. I think I did save a little money, but I found myself treating myself to other things instead which kind of took the purpose of the spending ban away. If I was to do it again I would definitely put myself on a spending ban of all types, and not just beauty products. Like I have said having at the back of my mind that I have to pay for holidays and a hen do, that definitely kept me on track and focused.

Now, where are all of those saved basket full of products at!

Lucy
xoxo

April Favourites

Since I got back from my holiday in Spain where I unfortunately managed to burn my head whilst in the sun, I have only been using this shampoo and conditioner. When I got back, it was very itchy and dry and it needed a moisture boost desperately. My mum actually recommended using the Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo and Conditioner in their Rice Cream & Oat Milk scent. This is described as the 'delicate soother' which is exactly what my head and hair both needed. It is really smooth and really relieved the dryness from my scalp, and I think this would suit all hair types but especially thin, fragile hair.

I discovered this Wet n Wild Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil in a drugstore in Spain. Wet n Wild is always a brand which a lot of American bloggers talk about as being a great addition to their drugstores. I think you can get it over here, but not very easily. I totally bought this on a whim as I had forgotten to take my bronzer on holiday, and bronzers are a product which totally lack within my collection. The colour of this is not too orange, has great pigmentation, suits my pale skin tone and is a must have for just 5 euros. I can already tell this is going to be a go to product this summer.

I borrowed this MAC Margin Blush from my sister and I have been totally loving it. It is a perfect light peach/nude blusher with a hint of shimmer. I usually go for more pinker tones of blushers, but this is a perfect addition to my collection, and I am going to have to buy one for myself.

If you are going to order anything from ColourPop then this has to in your basket. It is the Ultra Satin Liquid Lipstick in Echo Park, it can only be described as the nude that everyone needs in their lipstick collection. I have been totally using nothing but liquid lipsticks on my lips recently. The ColourPop liquid lipsticks are non drying, have good longevity, are easy to apply, and essentially just look fab on the lips. I cannot wait to make another order as they have just launched a summer line with lots of new colours.

What have you been loving in April?

Lucy
xoxo

NYX Haul & first impressions

This shopping spree was the reason why I failed my spending ban. I had a £10 boots voucher and I went to a student lock in night in Manchester and it was 10% off everything in Boots, and I simply could not resist.

I went in to buy the Angel Veil Primer as my Laura Mercier Primer had ran out that morning and it is mega bucks expensive - like £30 expensive. Kathleen Lights had informed me in a recent video of hers that Angel Veil is a dupe for the Laura Mercier one so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to test it out, and with my £10 voucher I would barely be spending anything! I have tried this a few times since buying it and the texture is a soft cream not a silicon gel like Laura Mercier. It is also a little thicker but rubs in really lovely. The only difference is that you need a little more of this as like I say it is a little thicker, and is not as soft as a gel so does not go quite as far.

I also picked up the Angel Food Cake Butter Gloss as I already have the shade Creme Brûlée and it's fab! For £5 they are such great value, and there is definitely something special about these compared to any other glosses which I have ever tried. A bold statement, but a very true one. They are a proper gloss and look glossy on the lips. I find them to not be too tacky and they last a long amount of time on the lips. This colour has a slight purple tint and makes my lips look fuller. These are also great to layer over lipsticks if you want to or they look just as good on their own. I'm a big fan as you can probably tell! 

With all the sunny weather last week, I decided that I needed to invest in a new highlighting product to give those cheeks some extra glow. I picked this Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam up totally not knowing about anything about it at all, but on a mission to achieve the perfect summer glow. I am not sure whether I should be mixing this in with my foundation as it is a illuminator or whether to use it as an actually highlighter. If anyone has an illuminator recommendations of use please let me know. My first impressions when I have used it this week is that it has a thin liquid consistency, and when applied lightly to the cheekbones it definitely adds some peachy highlight to the tops of my cheekbones. I have a feeling that this is going to be a staple in my makeup bag this Summer.

Is there anything else I need to add to my ever expanding NYX wishlist? 

Lucy

xoxo

Kiko candy canes nail varnish

I recently stumbled into KIKO and my eyes were drawn to a new display of nail varnishes. I picked up one from the Candy Canes collection in the shade Fun Guarana. This is a pink polish but it contains small particles of glitter and freckles of other colours. Once applied it gives a 3D effect to the nail and I really love it. Excuse my short nails and application, but you can see in the picture the end results. The brush handle is easy to hold, and the brush is flat making the product apply smoothly and evenly. They have these in three other colours a white, blue and green, and I have my eyes on picking them up.

I applied the Limited Collection by Marks and Spencer undercoat (similar here) to my nails first. I then applied a first coating of the varnish and once dried, and went over with a second layer to make everything stand out more. The candy cane polishes are just £4.90, which is great value for such a unique product. I finally finished off by applying the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat which is a must have when I apply any nail varnish. It is a thick gel like consistency that is suppose to mimic shellac. It works really well and keeps nails from chipping, I had this on for 5 days and I took it off as I wanted to change to colour.

Lucy
xoxo

Interview makeup

It is that time of the year where university courses are finishing and people are having to start applying for graduate jobs. I have had a few interviews of the last few years, and last week when I had a job interview for a graduate job so I thought I put together a post of the makeup which I wore.

The Laura Mercier Foundation Primer is my ultimate favourite as it is a silicon gel which instantly adds hydration and is soothing on the skin. It is really does prime your skin ready for base products to be applied. I applied the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation as it a medium coverage foundation and I wanted it to stay in place and it is a really great match to my skintone. The Charlotte Tilbury Powder is by far my favourite ever powder which I have ever tried. It is velvety soft and feels silky and smooth on the skin. It sets my base products perfectly and helps keep everything fresh and glowy all day. I choose the lightest shade (middle) of the Hourglass Blush palette in Dim Infusion. It adds a lovely peachy glow to the cheeks.

The Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette is my favourite for when I want to add a little shimmer to my eyes. I used all of the four shades for a subtle blended golden smokey eye, as I didn't want to rock up in an over the top eyelook as I didn't want my interviewer to be distracted by any of my makeup. I think you should wear your makeup to a interview in the way you would if you was to work within the job role. For me it was a nursing job role, so within the profession we are not allowed to wear anything too bright or loud. However, if you were to be going for a role where being individual is a huge part of your role then go all out!

I never go anywhere without my eyebrows being filled in and structured and I always use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Taupe. This is an amazing brow product as it allows you get instant eyebrows in a few seconds. It has a wide section to help you fill in the middle section of the brow, and a more tapered side to help with definition. I finished off by adding my ever so reliable MAC Lipstick in Brave. It is a medium toned pink-beige with a satin finish which makes it look slightly pearlised when applied to the lips.

Lucy
xoxo

Sephora Haul | Kat Von D & beauty blender

(Top to Bottom - Trooper, Lolita, Lovesick)

Whilst in Spain we took a trip to Cordoba and I unexpectedly saw a Sephora whilst on a city tour bus! My brain went into overdrive and over eating lunch, I quickly google mapped how far the store was from where was eating and it was 12 minutes away. I had 35 minutes until our coach was leaving, I leapt up and took to the tiny streets to try and find my way there by myself. Thankfully, it was easy to find. As I took a step into the store the Kat Von D was standing staring at me in all of it's glory, which was the reason why I headed to the store. I had already looked online before going on my holiday so I had a few shades ideas however, I instantly started swatching like crazy. Lolita and Lovesick ( were the two which I instantly fell in love with. I had my eyes on Double Dare and Bow n Arrow, but they both branched into the darker nude/brown shades which don't suit my skin colouring. Whilst in the queue at the checkout, my eyes fell upon the Beauty Blender which I have been wanting to get my hands on forever, and I just could not resist.

On another trip later on in the week, we went to Malaga where there was a Sephora within one of their huge department stores. My mum treated herself to a few bits from Sephora's pwn collection and bought me the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper as I had completely forgot to pick it up with being in such a rush on my previous trip.

I am super excited to try my new pieces out. What other Sephora pieces do I need to add to my new wishlist?

Lucy
xoxo

Gibraltar

I went on a day trip to Gibraltar whilst on my holidays in Spain. Gibraltar is actually part of the British Isles so the country is run exactly how ours is, and it is literally just like Britain but a lot sunnier. It is a really beautiful place and has a lot of culture and heritage. They are renowned for their underground caves which have monkeys. We went on an organised trip and we went on a minibus up into the mountains where we went into the caves which were sensational and they hold concerts and special occasions within them. Outside the caves they have families of monkeys who have settled there, and they were really friendly. We got a few hours to look around the town and I found it really crazy as they had literally all of our shops like Topshop and BHS. They have no VAT or charges on alcohol or perishable goods such as perfume and makeup. Lots of the residents in Spain cross the border as they are able to buy their goods and take them back. I was really astonished at how cheap alcohol was, I got a litre bottle of Smirnoff Vodka for just £6. All other branded alcohol was just a cheap. You pay for everything in british pounds but they also accept euros. When you are crossing over back into Spain, you have to go through customs and it is the law that you are only allowed to take a litre of alcohol per person each back into the country. We didn't get searched but they can ask you to declare your goods. For all of you who read my blog mainly for the beauty, the makeup wasn't much cheaper as the original prices of the products were more expensive than over here. Therefore, with the discount you were saving no more than 10% off the RRP.

The place itself was very lovely with lots to see and do, and you could definitely take a holiday there. It would of been nice to spend some more time there, but we definitely managed to do and see a lot in the time we were there. During the summer they do dolphins trips around the coast of the island as dolphins migrate into their sea. This is something which I would love to do if I was to visit again at the height of the season.

Lucy
xoxo

Marbella

So whilst on holiday in Spain we took a day trip to Marbella as it is something where me and my mum have wanted to visit for a while. It certainly did not disappoint, it is a really beautiful place to visit.It seems to have become a holiday hotspot for people in their 20s, and seems to have excellent nightlife. I was excited to see what all the fuss was about. To get to Marbella we got on the local bus from Benalmadena, and arrived in a lovely port area which seemed to bustling with locals and tourists. The beach is beautiful and has a harbour of boats surrounding it which was stunning. The town was bigger than we thought, as it was quite busy in the town with lots of little shops, bars and restaurants. 

The scenery was simply stunning and around the town there were traditional spanish buildings and churches which were beautiful, and made me really appreciate their culture and traditions. There are lots of little side streets which have shops selling lots of unique and individual gifts. Marbella is easy to get to as it a well known tourist attraction across the Costa Del Sol and is not to far from the main town of Malaga. Me and my parents all said at the end of the day you could definitely go a holiday to Marbella itself and have a enough to see and do.

This is the second segment of my holidays series here on my blog this week, I also have posts on my trips to Benalmadena and Gibraltar (coming on Sunday).

Lucy

xoxo

Benalmadena - Spain

I have serious holiday blues writing this on a cold and drizzly morning back in England. The first week of my Easter holidays, my parents booked us all a last minute holiday to Spain. We stayed in a resort called Benalmadena which is at the South of Spain and part of the Costa Del Sol. The hotel which we stayed in was called The Best Benalmadena. The weather was beautiful, not too hot as I burn very easy. Don't get me wrong I love a bit of sun but when it is blazing at midday and there is no shade, I have to retreat for a while. It was that lovely weather where you don't need a cardigan, and there is a constant cool breeze. We have never been on holiday abroad at the Easter break, we usually go somewhere within the UK. It was really nice getting away, and it gave me the much needed break which I needed from uni, before I go back and finish my last term of uni and my sign off placement. 

We went on lots of day trips such as Malaga, Cordoba and Gibraltar. I am going to go into more detail in posts later this week about the individual places that we visited, so I won't go into too much detail in this post. Where the hotel was located was right next to the beach which was great to wake up to. The town of Benalmadena was small itself, and we stayed at the top end so we was a little bit out of the town. One night we went down to the harbour and had a fabulous meal, which was amazing and I recommend visiting if you are to visit Benalmadena. The local bus service is excellent around this area of Spain, and it makes it so much easier to get around the area and adds to the excitement of going on holiday. We went to the local aquarium called Selwo Marina where they had dolphins, sea lions, penguins and lots of other animals. I love dolphins and I had a great day here, and if you have children or younger family members they are sure to love it. I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday, and this is a part of the world which I would go back to as there is so much more to explore and discover. 

If anyone has another other questions please feel free to leave them in the comments. 

My next question is where should my next holiday be?

Lucy

xoxo

& Other Stories Sale Haul

Whilst on my holiday in Spain we took a day trip to Malaga, and I was super excited when I saw an & Other Stories store on the high street. I instantly dragged my mum in as I knew she would love it. I first discovered the brand when I went to London last year, and I instantly loved the vibe and style of the store. At the front of the store they had a huge sale section which I had a good rummage in.

I picked up the Steel Garden Body Mist, the Couture Carnival Hand lotion and a Lauburnum Tide Nail Varnish. Everything which I picked up was 70% off which made everything mega cheap. The beauty side of the brand isn't high end to start with, but with 70% off each item was £5 so was now just £1.50. The body mist has quite an unusual scent and is not something I would usually choose as it contains floral scents, but it has a hint of apple and honey which work really well together. It is really refreshing and the perfect size for on the go to pop into your handbag. The nail varnish can only be described as being the shade of a mermaid it has multiple colours running through it and super shiny. I am a huge lover of hand lotion and I don't usually have a big bottle as I usually have miniatures for on the go. But I just couldn't resist this after trying out some of the tester and rubbing into my hands. The scent was what instantly drew me in, it is described as a 'rainbow of cocktails'. The scent is fruity and you can really pick out the sweet citrus scents such as pineapple and orange. It is quite a thick formula, but rubs in nicely and the scent stays and settles nicely.

Have you tried any of the & Other Stories beauty range?

Lucy

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What's in my Handbag?

I featured this new bag of mine in a recent post. It is from Forever 21 and I having been using it on a daily basis I love it. As a say in the post it is a dupe for the Chloe Faye bag which costs over £800 and this from Forever 21 is just £20! It is a great size and it easily fits everything in which you can see and has room for more if needed.

I love this NYX Soft Matte Cream in Instanbul, and have been wearing it on a regular basis. It is a great Spring colour as it is a light pink shade which is great for everyday wear. These are smooth to apply and set to a matte finish which is not too drying.
My sister got me this Kate Spade Purse for Christmas 2014 from New York and it is still going strong. Pink is my favourite colour and this fuchsia shade is beautiful. It has not worn, scratched and it looks in really good condition even though I use it on a daily basis. It is definitely worth investing in a good quality purse, and Kate Spade is one of my favourite designer brands.
I bought the pompom from Primark a few weeks ago and costs £2, and it is to stop me losing my keys! It also very cute and the lilac shade is gorgeous. I got the ballerina bear key from Harrods a few years ago and it was a present off my mum.
I always carry chewing gum with me as I like to eat foods which have strong scents. It is also great just to have refresh your breath during the day.

What are your handbag essentials?

Lucy
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Not got into university first time? My experience

It is that time of the year where everyone is finding out what university they are going to, and the excitement starts. For me and I think for many (a lot more than you think!), that isn't the way things go. A lot of people find themselves not getting into their first choice universities or in fact not any. That was me this time in 2012, and I have never, ever, before or since felt as disheartened as I did during that time of my life. All of my friends were doing academic courses and had all 5 offers in the bag before I had even heard back from one. I think it is a whole different ball games when it comes to vocational subjects. I had applied to do Midwifery as I had always wanted to be a neonatal nurse and this was the route which I have chosen to take. The process is very different as first of all you have to get an interview, at some uni's there was 30 places for over 1000 applicants and it was really tough. I never thought that I wouldn't get in as I had always had this grand 5 year plan in my head, and never had it ever crossed my mind that I would find myself in this situation. This was not because I was full of myself, I think it was because I was ensured by everyone at college I would get in, and that I wouldn't face these problems. Time after time, I would log on to UCAS and see rejections and it was simply heartbreaking to go through as a naive 17 year old. I had the pressure of also finishing my exams and now no plans, not only had I disappointed myself but also my family.

There and then I decided that I was taking the year out. I had a part time job at Debenhams at the time and I decided I would work there for a year earn some money, learn to drive and reapply. During this time I had already decided that I now wanted to do Children's Nursing instead as I was assured that this was a better route to follow to become a neonatal nurse. So I reapplied after doing some volunteer work and having gained confidence by working full time and being given some responsibility at work. Second time round the process was just as difficult, as I had now decided to apply for a course with even less places. However, thankfully I got three interviews and two offers. I was still really upset as I had got an interview for my first choice but unfortunately I was a little too timid in my interview and got overshone by others. So I had chosen to go to the University of Cumbria and that was where my life changed forever. It was so different to how I thought was university was going to be, this being both positive and negative. I wasn't sure whether to move away from home, and I have to say it was far harder than what I thought. I'm now here in my third year finishing my course in July, with a job due to start in September in a different department and not in neonates. There is only one word to describe how I feel currently and that is terrified.

I firmly believe that taking that year out allowed me to gain so much confidence, gather my thoughts and essentially grow up. Moving away is not an easy choice and for me being on placement for 6 months of each academic year, working 40 hours a week during nights and weekends has not been easy. The added pressure of having a small budget to live off, needing to also have a part time job, and juggling essays and life has also been hard. But I have learnt so much, have gained independence, confidence and I can't imagine being anywhere else now. For me I couldn't become a nurse without going to university so I didn't really have a choice. I also think I am very lucky that I always had some kind of idea of what I wanted to do and how to get there. I understand that many people will be in such a predicament over university decisions as at the end of the day it is a huge decision. All I kind of wanted to get out this post is to say that things don't always go to plan, but it is just a bump in the road and you will get to wherever you want to be as and when. I totally believe in fate and sometimes it can be heartbreaking, but you have to be willing to grit your teeth and dig your heels in deeper.

Lucy
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Forever 21 Chloe Faye Dupe

I have been swooning after the Chloe Faye bag for a while now, but with the price tag of £865 attached to it and with my student budget it is never going to happen. I love the design of the bag with the clasp and chain, and it is just a really statement handbag to have.

I visited Liverpool two weekends again, and popped into Forever 21 which is one of my favourite shops for high street fashion. I instantly saw this Forever 21 version on one of the top shelves and said to my mum 'I need that bag!'. It came in black and brown, and I initially wanted the black but I have lots of black handbags, and I have some new brown boots which I have been loving to wear and I thought this would be an amazing match. When I got home I instantly swapped over all my things into my new handbag, and was instantly feeling fabulous. Forever 21 has quite a few stores now dotted around the UK, and you can order online so it is coming much more available to us. For £20 it is such a bargain, and it perfect for both day and night time occasions.

Lucy
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MAC 217 & Bronze Eyeshadow

Somewhere between coming backwards and forwards from university, I have misplaced my ever so beloved MAC 217 Blending Brush. I have been without it for a few weeks now, and my eye shadow game has not been the same since. I decided it was finally time to rebuy one and was shocked to find out it was £20, they have definitely added a few pounds to the price of the brush which is definitely down to its popularity. I also had a free spot in my MAC 4 quad palette, and thought it was time to finally fill it. I hadn't planned on buying a particular shade before I went it, so I was browsing and swatching every shade on the display. I did come across a gorgeous golden shimmer shade which looked super pigmented in the shade Havana which is part of the Extra Dimension range but it was £16, and they don't come in pan form. It seemed a little bit expensive but it is definitely going on my wish list. I then swatched Bronze and thought it was the perfect addition to the three current shades in quad which are Satin Taupe, Woodwinked and Omega. Bronze is a golden brown with shimmer and is a frost finish. I am really excited to start wearing this, and I think this will be a perfect addition to smokey bronze collection.

Lucy
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