New Brand Alert: Orelia Jewellery

Now Orelia isn't a new brand however I have just discovered them. When it comes to jewellery everyone knows I love my rings and love to switch up what I wear. I'm not a fan of Primark rings (although love their cheap statement necklaces) but I'm ever so clumsy so don't want anything too dear (Monica Vinader rings makes me swoon).

I cam across Orelia on ASOS but they also have a website and in a lot of the Topshop stores as a concession. I love how dainty everything is but still a bit sparkly. I like to mix and match my rings and always have a minimum of 3 on at a time - I want to buy all of them. Seriously if you know me just click on the link below for my birthday/Christmas/Tuesday.

There isn't much silver on the website, mainly rose gold which is still so popular at the moment and little bits of colour such as pinks and turquoise to keep it interesting.

I'm on a bit of a spending ban right now but I really can't resist that eye ring in the middle...

Orelia can be found here!

Happy Hump Day No. 02

Happy Hump Day people! I do hope you're week is going well? Here's a few thing's I've been up to and enjoying this past week.

Last Thursday Dad took me to see Omid Djalili (he's that Iranian comedian) and took me to one of my favourite little restaurants in Northampton called The Seafood Cafe. It's not somewhere you would go for a group dinner with friends but the do the best fish supper in town!

As you may have seen on my twitter Saturday I went away for the ultimate sleepover. A top notch three course dinner (see above), wine & chocolates in the room and then watching The Fault in Our Stars in bed with one of my best friends. Sometimes working for a hotel chain does have very good benefits!

Talking of The Fault in our Stars, what a film! I loved the book but the film surpassed the book for me and I have never said that about any film. The cast were just incredible and the story was told beautifully. It will make you cry but it's honestly placed into one of my top 5 films ever (I rented it and watched it 3 days in a row). I must buy the DVD asap.

It's Valentine's Day this weekend and I'm going out with the girls to celebrate my friend's Birthday with skittle vodka's and a good catch up - they are my loves so no one I'd rather spend it with.

Next week marks one of my favourite evenings of the year - PANCAKE DAY. I love it and we do it right in my house. I'm the official pancake tosser in our household so will have a busy night ahead of me as we can easily put away 20 of them in a night. We don't have dinner either to make sure there's lot of room. Screw Slimming World on that night!

Happy Hump Day No. 01

Welcome to a new series I fully intend to stick to. Wednesday aka Humpday a day where the stress of the week is at it's highest yet the weekend is in sight. I'm using this day to write down the things I'm loving, enjoyed getting up to and the looking forward to in. A mid week catch up if you will.

Here's 5 things which made the last 7 days pretty decent:

1. Mum coming home with a whole bag full of perfumes. She works in the scent industry and they have to buy products to try and match them. I got about 5 new perfumes including Flora by Gucci, Chloe & Miss Dior Cherie!
2. Going to an Ann Summers party! I’ve been to a few but I love how open everyone is about the deed with no judgement and it’s always just such a laugh.
3. I placed my first ever Sephora order. I spent way too much but I cannot wait to try out my goodies and show you what I got.
4. How I spent my Sunday; watching TV with one of my best friends eating matchmakers, then Starbucks with 3 of my other friends and then a pub dinner with the girls. Literally makes me so happy that I have all these amazing people in my life and I can spend my day with them.
5. Luther. Didn’t think it would be up my street - only bloody love it don’t I?! So much that I spent my Saturday afternoon in bed watching. 

Tips to Deal with Christmas Body Blues

After over indulging throughout Christmas I was sure I had put on at least 3 pounds as I basically ignored my Slimming World lifestyle for 2 weeks. I went to my group the other night and found out I have maintained my weight throughout the festive season; something I am extremely happy about! However I know I still went too far due to a few signs which I can't hide from. I'm not going to tell you to join Slimming World or a gym because I did neither at Christmas time and I think personally joining in January never works. These are just a few little things I have done over the last week to help get my mojo back.

My Skin

It's the worst it has been in nearly a year. As you probably know I'm lactose intolerant and know my limits as to what I can and can't eat. A bit of cheese? Yes. Strawberries drenched with even a smudge of double cream? Hell No. Well Christmas consisted of lots of chocolates, cheese and even a mince pie with that blasted cream. As well as other symptoms which actually make me ill my face shows every bite I enjoyed for that short amount of time. 

Solution? Of course cutting out dairy will help this within a couple of weeks but to help speed up the process I have been using my Origins Super Spot Remover and loading on my Alpha H Liquid Gold a bit more regularly. 

Bloating

Ew I know but although I didn't put on any weight I feel like I did and my tummy felt ever so horrible. I enjoy going out and I think in 11 days off work I went out drinking 7 days of them. My stomach is my problem area and the bit I want to work on the most this year.

Solution? Firstly I am cutting out alcohol for 2 weeks (I would do Dry January but I am going to Leeds and have my work Christmas party). I am also making a conscious effort to drink more water and less fizzy drinks. I think just not eating crap will also help.

Feeling Blue

Two weeks off work is amazing and I packed in lots of fun nights with my friends, time with my family and a holiday. Going back to work can just make you feel a bit down. 

Solution? Get organised. I had a huge clear out of my room as well as getting rid of unwanted items to give to those less fortunate. I also have my new diary which is my saviour for writing my to do lists for work everyday and writing my syns down to keep on track with my treats! I find also organising fun things to do throughout the year in January can help give you something to look forward to. I've already booked of time from work to go to 2 festivals, an Ed Sheeran concert and weekends away with my friends!

Looking at Past Goals

I realise we don't all make resolutions however I do and try to stick to them. Of course it doesn't always work out for me! 

Solution? Look at ways you can alter your goals into manageable pieces. Want to save £5000? Try and save £500 at a time and use these as mini goals. The same can go for weight loss. I think breaking things down can help you realise your goals more easily. I also think that dwelling on not achieving your goals in a certain time frame 

Christmas Sales Clothing Haul.

Miss Selfridge £15.00

New Look £16.00

New Look £10.00

New Look £10.00

New Look £12.00

Having lost a dress size over the past 7 months I have found some of my nicer going out dresses are a too big (I know woe is me) so found some lovely bits online on Christmas Day in my post Turkey haze. The playsuit is my favourite piece and the pictures do not do it justice - it's so classy and looks much more expensive than it is. 

I could have bought so much more online and thought the sales were amazing this Christmas but felt I was quite restrained. Beauty wise I only got two things - one's a repurchase and the other's something I've been wanting to try forever! 

What I Got For Christmas 2014

I thought I would share with you a few of the bits I got for Christmas this year. I love looking at these posts to get some inspiration of what I would like to add to my ever growing wish list of stuff!

Every year Soap & Glory products come high up on my wish list. They are so moisturising and my skin craves them!

I love this dainty little ring from my friend Mia!

My friend Lyn got me this lovely Ted Baker make up bag which is the perfect size and has a French Bulldog on which she knows I love. She also tracked down MAC's Velvet Teddy which I thought was very lovely as I had been banging on about it for the last 2 months.

Mum got me this money bank; you have to smash it to get the money out so I can't keep dipping into it. Rather than save for shoes I'm going to call this my New York fund - I want to go there in 2016 and have a huge shopping spree!

I was also very lucky & received some money towards my trip to Budapest as well as some lovely little bits too. Most surprisingly my Dad picked out a 3 hour make up class for me and a friend using high end products which I am really looking forward too!

If you got any amazing presents please let me know as I am always on the look out for new present ideas for my friends and family. 

New Year Resolutions 2015.

(Source: Pinterest)

Happy 2015 Everyone! I have just returned from celebrating last night in Budapest (post to follow) which was amazing. I thought I would review last year's resolutions and set myself some new ones for 2015.

How I got on with 2014's resolutions:

Improve my mental wellbeing.

This time last year I was really struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I took the right steps to get some help but counselling was not for me at all. I know my anxiety is 100% stress related so caught on I needed to find ways to relieve this in order to help myself. I used a couple of different meditation apps which I did before bed for 2 months which made a huge difference and then tried yoga for a little while in the mornings. I haven't had a panic attack since August and feel really happy that I'm in such a better place now.

Read more books. 

I have definitely taken the time to read a good few books this year. My favourite book of the year was The Night Circus - apart from Harry Potter this is the best book I've ever read and would recommend it to any HP fans.

Spend more time with my Sister.

She's been out the country doing her thing since September but we went to Spain for a week before she went! We Skype all the time and she's coming home next week and I get her for a good couple of months!

Save Money.

No comment.

Blog at least three times a week. 

My workload has increased a lot since there were talks of me changing my job role slightly and as much as I love blogging it is just a hobby for me I have no intention of making money from this; so my job will always come first. That being said I have missed it a lot so I have some plans to get my ass back on here more regularly.

Go Running at Least Twice a Week.

HA. This didn't happen. However I have lost 20 pounds since May and feel a lot better in myself so surely that counts?

2015 New Year Resolutions

Do more of something different.

I've turnt into a creature of habit. Town most weekends, hangovers most Sundays. I want to go to different places and just make some different memories this year.

Use up my lipsticks.

I no longer have space for anymore. I have got to start using up some of the older ones which got replaced by nice new shiny ones.

See more of old friends.

I'm incredibly lucky to say I have a few different groups of friends however you get into a place where you make all your plans with one lot! I'm usually very good at making an effort with everyone but I'd like to arrange some nice things to do with my older friends so I can see some more of them!

Make more of an effort to see and speak my Grandparents.

It's not that I don't see or talk to them but I just want to make more of an effort to give them a call just to see if they've been up to anything nice. 

Get my tattoo touched up. 

I have be happy written on my back and when I got it I didn't get the letters completely joined up in case I didn't like it. I feel it could look slightly better so want to get it altered slightly as it rarely makes an appearance but want it to look good for when it does!

Use Instagram more.

I really want to start recording my memories through some photos so I think Instagram is a quick and says way to do this! I want to print a load off and make a 2015 scrap book.

As for the blog I have a few series of things in mind which I think will help me post more regularly and hopefully give you all something fun to read!