30 Things I Love and Hate

I like to think we all get into a bit of a blogging slump sometimes. This happened to me recently.  While I was at a bit of a loss as to what to write about next I started to think about the posts I like to read myself. Something I will always stop to read through will be an 'about me post' or something that tells me a bit about the blogger without having to read a full paragraph. Bullet points can be a godsend after a long day, it's easy reading and usually full of easy-to-digest fun facts -and boy do I love facts.

I've written posts such as 50 Facts About Me and tags like The Story of My Life
so I thought I'd keep this one simple with some balance. I've listed Things I Love and Things I Hate. 

It was actually really tough to get this even. I had about 45 things I love that I had to limit down and only about 20 that I hated. Well aren't I just a positive little bean?! I compromised at a nice round 30, I'm 30 next month so it seemed fitting.

 Now 'Hate' is a strong word, most of these just mildly annoy me. I only truly hate a handful of things and only one person. So take the 'hates' with a pinch of salt and don't take anything too seriously :)

Things I love...

1. Reading -getting lost in a book on a train, in a coffee shop, in the bath - perfect.
2. My Family -I couldn't ask for a better one.
3. The Smell of Paint -I love it more than any normal person should.
4. The Beach -it's my happy place
5. Cooking -I love finding new recipes and cooking for people.
6. Shopping -the best way to spend a day.
7. New Shoes -when in doubt, buy shoes.
8. Disney -it will always have a place in my heart at any age
9. Stationery -new notebooks, new pens, I love it!
10. Working Out -Endorphins = Happy.
11. History -Learning anything about the past has always interested me.
12. Being Creative -it relaxes me and keeps me quiet for hours if I've got a little project going.
13. Summer -Sunshine makes everything better
14. Fresh Bedsheets
15. London -The best city in the world where I have incredible memories.
16. My Friends - I'm lucky to have people around me who are beautiful inside and out.
17. Giving Gifts -I love seeing someones face light up when I've bought them something they love
18. Travelling -Seeing new places, meeting new people, I love seeing the world.
19. Someone Playing with my Hair -I'd actually employ someone to do this if I was rich
20. Massages 
21. Blogging -it's kept me from losing my identity and given me something to focus on apart from just being Mum.
22. Flowers -Lilies and Dutch Roses are big favourites of mine.
23. Knee-High Boots -my Autumn/winter staple that I'll never tire of.
24. A Clean House -Everything being clean and organised makes me feel relaxed
25. Red Lips
26. Dressing Up -I'll always prefer to be overdressed than under dressed.
27. Going Out for Dinner -discovering new places to eat with good company is the best.
28. Honesty -I discovered a while back that it's very rare.
29. Good Manners 
30. German Shepherds -I used to have one and I get silly around them, I love them that much.

Things I hate...

1. Fanatics -Just like things a normal amount, would ya?
2. Mint Chocolate -Why mess with chocolate? It tastes good as it is.
3. Cold Tea -How can something that tastes so good when it's hot taste so bad when it's cold?
4. Snow -Mighty inconvenient cold stuff and only looks nice for about 10 minutes.
5. Shouting -If you have to raise your voice you're not putting your point across well enough.
6. Primark -Too much digging around for badly made clothes that everyone has for my liking.
7. Drugs Just say no. Unless they are prescription, then I LOVE THEM!
8. Flat Shoes -uggs, crocs, if there's no heel I'm not interested.
9. Facebook -It really is full of a whole different breed of idiots.
10. Public Displays of Affection
11. Liars 
12. Salad Cream -what even is it? 
13. Rain -it ruins plans and ruins hair.
14. Laziness -doing nothing has never been a strong skill of mine.
15. People who are offended about everything -Why waste your time and stress yourself out?
16. Sleep -If I didn't need it I wouldn't sleep at all, it feels like a waste of life!
17. Bad Manners there's just no excuse.
18. Bragging -it's so not classy.
19. Being Cold -it makes me angry when I'm cold.
20. Being Hungry -ditto.
21. Slow WiFi -It's sad but true, slow WiFi shouldn't be a thing in this day and age.
22. Shaving my Legs -my legs are long and it's just EFFORT!
23. Fish -slippery little suckers that FREAK ME OUT!
24. Drama -if I can avoid drama I will, it's better for my well being.
25. Music Snobs -My music taste is awful and I'm PROUD OF IT!
26. Bin Smell -it's just the worst smell ever.
27. Peppa Pig -There's 3 things not allowed on TV in our place, Loose Women, Jeremy Kyle And Peppa Pig. All for the same reason. They're rude, annoying  and a bad influence.
28. Fast Food -I gave it up when I gave up toxic people and both have vastly improved my life.
29. Phones at the Dinner Table -it's as bad as getting a book out in my opinion.
30. Beards -unhygienic, messy and the thought of touching one makes me cringe!

Anything you agree with? If you have a similar post let me know in the comments. 

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What's in my Bag

I'm a pretty nosy person. I think we all are. That's what I tell myself. Social media is proof of that, people snoop to see what other people are doing/buying/eating, it's in our nature to be curious.. and that's what it is, curiosity and that makes it ok... yes it does!

In the Supermarket, in a restaurant, in the queue in Topshop - I just love to look at what the person in front of me is getting. People interest me, they really do. I can spend hours people watching but I think the things we own or carry around can tell a lot about a person.

I always love reading posts like 'What's in my Make-Up Bag' - it always has me adding more to my wish list; 'What's in my Hand Luggage' - Usually full of really handy travel tips; 'What's in my Gym Bag' - inspires me to actually have a gym bag again; And 'What's in my Handbag' - more often than not makes me feel better about how much crap I carry around with me! So I thought I'd share the organised mess that is my own bag. 

Firstly the bag, oh, the bag! My other half kindly treated me to the bag that has been on my wish list for a long while, he surprised me when we had a day out together and basically made my year! I've had my Michael Kors bag for almost a month now and it's only just started to become a complete mess. You know how it is, the first few weeks you treat a new bag like a baby or something, everything is kept neat and tidy and you vow that this is how life will be, your bag has organised your life, it's a total investment. Fast forward a few weeks and it's full of receipts, No7 Vouchers (those things multiply I swear!) leaflets and old train tickets just like that bags of yesteryear/month/hour.

So it starts off well, the usual, my iPhone, I don't carry around a charger as my phone never seems to run out of battery, I must be lucky as most people seem to say that iPhone batties don't last at all. Maybe I just don't use it enough. Then there's my keys which have 2 shoe keyrings on them, one is Cinderella's slipper that my sister bought me from Walt Disney Florida, it was a real 'I saw this and thought of you' moment. Disney and Shoes,  yep, that's me in a nutshell. 

I only realised when I started writing this that the other keyring I have is also from Disney and also from a sibling. My brother brought my 'J' Mickey keyring back from Disneyland Paris when he went for a school trip years ago. 

That's right, a School. Trip. Lucky. 

Taking up most of the space in my bag are my Versace Sunglasses. I bought these a few years ago and I love them dearly. They were probably my first proper expensive purchase with my 'grown up' pay cheque so they have some sentimental value.

To be honest, I doubt these are going to be in my bag for much longer but while it's still bright I will be wearing my sunnies! I personally think it's worth investing in a decent pair as they actually protect your eyes. The EU standard lenses filter out the harmful UV rays and protect your eyes properly.

Next is my ISWAI Purse which is from Caggie Dunlops collection and a colour that I love! The contents are pretty simple, just loyalty cards for Boots, Waitress, Tesco and various restaurants/coffee shops. I also carry around plasters for shoe/Mason emergencies. Then of course there's my bank card, driving licence and cash. At preset there is £12.47 in there. I'm rolling in it!

Like I mentioned, after a while the receipts build up. Mine are mainly for Boots, Waitrose and Tesco. It's not just receipts that ruin the ambiance yes my bag has ambiance. I have a few old Train tickets, a couple of No7 Vouchers, and I'm always writing lists, there's one that has ideas/shades of make-up I was thinking of buying my mum for her birthday (I like to do proper research when planning presents!). The others are for food shopping and reminders to post things or buy cleaning products.

There is a random Minion from a Kinder Egg in there too... obviously

Which brings me on to a couple of 'Mum Items'. It's nice to not have to carry around as much for Mason as I used to now that he's older. Now I make do with a pack of wet wipes and a hand sanitiser. Which of course come in handy for me too.

On to Make-up!

 If I'm out all day and night I will carry around a little more with me but from day-to-day it's kept to a couple of bits to touch up my face when it's needed. I have NYX Twin Cake powder and Maybelline's Fit Me Stick which is great for on-the-go touch ups. YSL Touche Eclat is great for brightening quickly with minimal effort and there is always a bronzer in there too. I haven't left the house without a box of Benefit Hoola in a good few years. There's also currently a Maybelline Master Drama black kohl liner which was left in there from a night out. 

I didn't realise how many lipsticks I actually had in this bag but there were 5. MAC's Creme Cup is a shade I wear most, closely followed by 3 nude shades Creme D'Nude, Rimmel Kate Moss 45 and Bourjois Rouge Edition in Beige Trench. Why I need 3 nudes with me? I don't know!

There's a red there too, I wear a red lipstick to cover up days when I've had no sleep or I'm ill. A good red lip is very distracting. The current shade I'm loving is GOSH Velvet Touch Matt Lipstick in Cherry along with a GOSH Velvet Touch Lipliner in 004 Simply Red. These two were kindly gifted  to me at the GOSH event a while ago. 

At this time of year you need a good product to moisturise the lips.  Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick which is the best lip balm out there. And my L'Occitane Shea Butter hand cream is perfect for dry hands.

I have a few Travelos with different scents in them and the one in my bag at the moment is my signature scent 'Dior Addict' which I've worn since I was 18. I remember falling in love with the sample bottle on the shelf, then the box, then the way it sprays and finally the scent. It ticked every box and I love how everyone I know smells it and says it makes them think of me instantly.

I've always carried a pen - you always need a pen! And my mini Alice in Wonderland moleskine for moments of inspiration when my notes app just won't do. And if I ever need leave a note for someone I'm set - not that it's ever happened but I know I'm equipped if the situation does arise!

My iPad is there for my trips to Caffe Nero/Costa/Starbucks where I can get on with some blogging while I instagram sip my coffee and attempt to look like a proper writer for an hour or so. It's also great to have with me on long train journeys where I can get lost in a book -my current one being 'Girl on the Train'.

Since my recent bout of the sniffles I have a pack of tissues, some cough sweet wrappers and some pretty strong pain killers too. 

I'm not going to add up how much the bag and the contents are worth as that would scare me and I'd never want to leave the house. But now you know a little more about me and what is with me on a daily basis.

 If you have a post on what's in your bag let me know in the comments, I'd love to have a little nosey!

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Freebie - Nails Inc With Glamour Magazine

I can't resist a good magazine freebie and this month it seems like every magazine has something brilliant. Elle has an Orly nail polish, Marie Claire has a L'Occitane hand cream, In Style has a REN skincare set. Amazing!  I picked up a couple the other day and I wanted to share the first of my magazine haul. Novembers issue of Glamour Magazine comes with a free Nails Inc Polish and also 20% off at H & M. For just £2 I'd say that is a bit of a bargain!

I picked up the darkest shade, even though I wasn't entirely certain what it was. Was is Black? ...Navy? I knew I'd like it either way as I love a dark nail at this time of year. There are another 3 shades, a Pink, Red, and a Nude I believe.

It turns out that the shade I went for, 'Grosvenor Crescent' is a very dark purple. It almost looks black but when the light catches it you can see the purple tones coming through. It is perfect for Halloween season.

It definitely needs at least 2 coats, I found it a little patchy on the first coat but once a second was applied it was lovely It has a lovely shine to it. I'm wearing two coats without a top coat.

I'm very tempted to pick up another shade but there are a couple of magazine I might have to treat myself to first.

Have you found any good magazine freebies lately?

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September - What I Wore, Ate, Read, Watched and Used

Well, it’s officially Autumn now, and I’m doing ok. I mentioned how it is my least favourite season and I expected that I’d feel pretty down as we enter the colder end of the year but I'm doing pretty well. It's been a busy but rather lovely few weeks and I'm feeling good. Here's a little look at how September was...

What I wore-

I may dislike Autumn but for me it is "The Season of Boots" and that is one thing that makes me happy. I do love a good pair of boots! I actually need to get a load of mine re-heeled, they've sat at the back of the wardrobe for so long and now they need sprucing up! I've been wearing my heeled chelsea boots a lot lately. They were from ASOS a good few years ago now but they've served me well and I get them out every Autumn to pair with my black jeans or leggings. The platform makes them really comfortable and great for all the running around I've been doing lately.

What I ate-

 I saw a post on how to make a Chicken and Chorizo Paella and  I immediately added the ingredients to my shopping list. It's really simple to make. Basically brown some chicken, throw in some garlic and paprika (add onions if you like but I don't like onions) throw in some chorizo, rice, chicken stock and boil. After 15 mins toss in some peppers and peas and leave for 10 minutes and viola! -honestly it's incredible!

What I read-

I'm still reading The Girl on the Train. I wish I had more time to get through it, there's just not enough time in the day lately! I really love it though, it's easily one of the best books I've read and I really recommend it. I'm determined to finish it this month!

What I watched- 
Last month I mentioned that I was re-watching an old favourite of mine, Desperate Housewives. It's finished now and I already miss it, it's such a good series! So without a series to go through I have a little more time and I've been watching a couple of reality type programmes (a complete guilty pleasure of mine!) Ex on the Beach, First Dates and Gogglebox. I'm loving them all. I really love getting a little glimpse into other people's lives and although there's obviously a bit of scripting going on, I still enjoy it.

What I used- 

 I've been really loving the new skincare range from Fake Bake Beauty. I've been using the Skin D Luxe Dream Skin Cleansing Melt daily to remove my make-up and it works like a dream. It melts into the skin and really picks up every little trace of dirt and make-up and it leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean. It contains Taman oil which calms, heals, and reduces scarring promotes skin tissue growth which is great for my damaged skin. I've seen a real improvement since using it. 

For my friends and family this is the time of year for birthdays and October has a couple of big ones so there will be a good excuse to celebrate. It's my bestie's birthday meal this week and I can't wait to give her her present! I really do love giving people things, it makes me smile seeing someone open something they love.

There is a rumour of an 'Indian Summer' so I will be crossing my fingers for that! I'm just counting down to November now as it's an exciting month full of loads of fun stuff. I think October will be the last month to take it relatively easy.

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