The best time to buy anything from The Body Shop, is during sale period. My favourite time is after Christmas when they send out the 40% off all site email. This is what led to my box of treats.
Natrually I stocked up on shower gel, arguably one the best product that is stocked. Favourites includ; Strawberry; Passionfruit; and Pink grapefruit - though it could clear what my favourite is. Given my love for Pink Grapefruit I thought I'd give the beautifying oil a shot; not one for using oil in my hair but this one used as a body oil is a welcome treat in winter. Honeymania body scrub, is one I thought would be more like Lush's 'Honey I Washed the Kids' soap, it is not and I would not recommend. Satsuma Body Sorbet was a bonus item, which I only have because I found a random code online that gave me it for free - always always always search '*** discount code' online before buying anything from The Body Shop, there is always a code that give some glorious bonus.
If like me, you're an avid The Body Shop customer, I highly recommend getting one of their loyalty cards. The points feedback is similar to Boots but you get a £5 voucher every 500 points collected, which makes stocking up on your favourites a little less painful on the bank account.
If you're anything like me, you're anxious about so many things it can stop you from moving forward. Every now and again I feel like crying in bed, and that's when I need to phone a friend and realise that we are all in the same boat really. A small pep talk now and again won't hurt.
1. Not everyone is going to like you.
This is not necessarily your doing. Sometimes you'll meet someone and they just won't click with you. That doesn't mean that they dislike you as such, it mostly just means that they don't click with you instantly and wouldn't think to invite you out for lunch or a party etc.
This is okay, and you will have done it to someone at some point. There is nothing wrong with you.
2. Everyone is a little bit weird.
Okay, so maybe others more so, but everyone has a quirk. And by quirk I'm not talking about some hipster, Instagram, Hot but geeky bullshit quirk. I mean the nitty gritty, text people on the toilet, never wash you makeup brushes, and other borderline disgusting things we all do on a daily basis.
Bottom line: Everyone checks Instagram on the loo.
3. Use technology less.
This one is actually very difficult. And what makes it worse is that, technology is a modern necessity, and we us it all the time. You can't give it up entirely without a massive lifestyle change, but do more without it; go to the gym and don't post a selfie about it - you will be red faced and you will be 'that guy'
4. Take personal time
I wish I could phone into work and take a day off as a 'personal day', without being ill. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and just don't want to go into work that day.
The point is you need to take time to yourself. Drink the tea, light a candle, watch a cartoon. It's okay.
5. Exercise
I know, I know. We ALL hate this advice, but it's the best one. In a years time you'll wish you'd started sooner, so find something you enjoy and get moving.
6. Stick with things
I'm terrible for starting things and not finishing them. Actually, I only put this point in because I nearly stopped writing this post out of sheer laziness.
7. It's normal to not be in a graduate level job after university
This one is very specific but it isn't drilled in enough whilst you're a student. It's totally okay to have to live with your parents after university until you get the job that gets your foot in the careers door. Don't worry about it.
8. Drink more water
I don't drink enough, my friends don't drink enough, and I bet £10 you don't either. Find a way to drink more, I personally like those novelty plastic bottles with straws because it fools me into thinking I'm having fun. Drink the water.
9. Eat better
I'm not going to say 'only eat healthy all the time' because that's an eating disorder waiting to happen. Just make better choices, have the McDonalds if you really want it, but don't have it every night. Broccoli in one hand, Nuggets in the other. Balance.
10. You're probably not fat
I don't mean medically. You spend so long looking at yourself that everything becomes a flaw. You see a belly, but that girl at work thinks you're perfect. Don't put yourself down.
11. Buy the shoes
If they make you feel good, buy them. Unless you'll be using numerous credit cards, then financially it's not advisable. But if you have the money, and they make you happy, do it.
12. Effort proves more than words
If you're texting that person all the time and they say they're really into you but they're 'busy that day' all the time, then you're probably better listening to your gut. I know it's hard, but people can be selfish without realising it. There's someone out there for you that will drive to your house with chicken nuggets at 2am to prove they care. Find that person.
13. Drink Responsibly
I mean, this advice is even on the side of the bottle. If you know you're a crying, vomiting mess when you're drunk, drink less. You can't be drunk and not embarrass yourself, know your limits. Also, why would you want to be hungover, honestly.
14. Be honest with yourself
'I'll wake up early and do it in the morning' No, you won't. Don't lie to yourself. Stay up and finish it or it won't get done. This leads on to the next point...
15. Organise yourself
Nobody is forcing a filofax onto you, but find a method of organisation that works best for you, then you won't stress the night before a deadline.
16. Save
Save for a rainy day. Save for a house. Save for that jacket you really want. We live in a materialistic society and it's sad that money runs the world, but don't leave yourself short for things like your boiler breaking.
17. Try and sleep better
I say try because I know how it feels to be a bad sleeper. But get an early night regularly to rest up, especially if you've been tired for a long time
18. Be self aware
Know about you; your strengths; your weaknesses; how you make people feel. It'll make you a better person overall, and you need to know yourself best.
19. Don't judge anyone else's life choices
Chances are you've made a few decisions people judged you for too. Whether its your diet, that guy who was bad for you, or that dress you loved the colour of. We make our own decisions and mistakes and we need to learn for ourselves.
20. Find something your passionate about
But don't stress about this. There are 19 year old DJ's and 60 year old marathon runners. When you find something you love you'll know, give it your all.
21. Minimalism isn't just an aesthetic
I'm not about to start preaching a simple lifestyle, I'm a terrible hoarder of clothes. But there's something to be learned from minimalism as a lifestyle. We're all materialistic and definitely don't need half the stuff we have. So put some music on and have a clear out, you'll feel better for it.
22. Age is just a number
This isn't a justification for the 16 year old with the 25 year old boyfriend, that's an entirely different topic. My point is, your age is irrelevant with your choices. If you're having a crisis and want to change jobs/hair/weight/look/house etc. then sit down and work through these thoughts. It doesn't matter that you're not a fresh faced 18 year old.
23. Everyone is faking it
That girl at work that 'has her life together'? She goes home and eats far too much dominos and binge watches KUWTK too. It's all a facade, you only feel like you're not accomplishing anything cause you think everyone else is; but they feel exactly the same as you.
We've all heard it enough already, but it is in fact July.
Every month I like to set myself a to do list that spans the month. Actually, I like to write to do lists for most aspects of my life, but the monthly one helps me keep my anxiety about life at bay so I feel it is necessary now.
- Clean out room
- Donate inevitable pile of clear-out
- Get hair cut
- Get up to 5K
- Read a book
- Instagram plan
I think this month, and summer, is mostly about being as productive as possible and actually going through with the declutter I've been planning since I was about 14. It's gotten to the point now where I've gone away to university and then come back, and it's all very out of hand. Part of me feels like I won't have succeeded in becoming an adult unless I have culled through all my possessions.
Everything else is mostly a part of a bigger plan. I want to be able to comfortably run a 5K by the end of the month so I can begin to push towards the goal of running a 10K as well. Giving myself the milestone will certainly help. I also want to almost 'brand' my instagram account. Having studied the use of the platform in depth over the course of my dissertation, it seems daft to not use my knowledge to my own account, and really prove to myself - and potential employers - that I know how it works.
This month is one of self improvement, and one that cannot come soon enough.
Recently i've been trawling through the new collections on the high street.
Shifting through pages and pages of new stock i've realised that trying to save money and trying to limit my purchases is going to be a VERY hard task.
After recieving a £20 voucher for Debenhams from my uncle for christmas i decided to have a look on the website for something that wasn't make-up as per (though lusting over the YSL lipstick with the amazing packaging). Whilst doing this i stumbled upon the 'H! by Henry Holland' lookbook for s/s 2011.
Not normally impressed by the range, i was surprised. I'm thoroughly enjoying his use of floral print that i'm not used to seeing (daisies and pansies, as opposed to disty generic floral) and though the pictures aren't giving too much detail, i'm enjoying the feel of the pieces. Particularly the blue daisy print dress in the top left and the middle pictures.
The range for spring/summer contains the obvious floral prints, blues and lighter floatier material to introduce us to the warmer (HAHAHA. it'll rain.) weather. There isn't a huge range judging by the photo's but as he is a designer within the Debenhams store i wasn't expecting him to have as much stock as Oxford Street Primark. Catch my drift. Suprised and satisfied with the lookbook, i feel a trip to my nearest Debenhams (that stocks the range, not all do mind) so i can feel the clothing - to avoid online regrets with clothes that do not fit.
The last image is the Daisy dress in more detail (looking forward to seeing this one up close the most). This reminds me a lot of the Peter Pan collar one that Topshop had not to long ago, but with less 'uniform' daisies that don't form a line on the clothing.
And just a quick update (i actually wrote this in another post yesterday that i decided against posting!), The dress from my previous post, from River Island look AWEFUL on. The shift neck plus the A-line shape made me look shapeless (though bare in mind i already have a boyish figure) and Tent-ed me down to my knees. The zip on the back also extended down to the hem of the dress making it way too much effort to edit for a £35 dress.
HOWEVER! I have decided that i am going to try and make the dress. This approach will save me money and give me much needed dressmaking experience for my fashion portfolio.
With the much used and bold design of the extra long crochet scarf (skinny and fat version available on asos), I suddenly feel the need to sit down and force myself to crochet. The patchwork and bright pattern has been plastered all over the internet since the launch of the Fall collection. When i learn how to crochet, i shall whip up one of these scarves.
I love simplicity, and small twists such as the knotting of a t-shirt or floral maxi skirts. Also, i know i haven't been posting as much recently and for that i apologise but are my posts showing on people dashboards? I find they are taking days to appear on mine, so this post won't show up till maybe 2 days after it's been posted? Don't know if it's just me. Let me know :)
I adore japanese street style, the use of layering, clashing patterns and the beautiful pieces they seem to always have. my favourite site for street style is style arena. The site is basically a japanese version of 'stolkholm street style'.
I always turn to websites like this for inspiration for what i could wear the next day (or in this case the next 3 days, seeing as i'm getting up at silly o'clock). The looks i've picked from this aren't exactly ideal for the weather in Britian for the next 3 days (Rain. Cold. Wind. Typical) but the layering is making me sift through my wardrobe trying to find out why it is full to the brim and i still have nothing to wear.
I'm loving the use of red and blue in these looks. I think i need to invest in a red cardigan (You know, to add to my abundance of cardigans), particularly the 3rd one, a slouchy fit, almost like the cacoon shaped cardigan that curve down at the back and are slightly batwinged.
So with all the inspiration i've posted today and yesterday, i'm off to dive into my wardrobe and rummage around for outfits for the next 3 days.
