Charity Shops

All items purchased from charity shops.

Having a mooch in charity shops is something i like to do quite regularly. Mainly because the stock is always changing and a lot more people are starting to shop in charity stores no a days. So unique pieces can be added and sold all in the same day. So finding a real gem isn't easy. This is why i love second hand pieces because you will never go out in a charity store item and see it on anyone else. 

Most things found in charity store are unique and different to high street stores, because of this they spark lots of compliments and and questions. I get asked all the time where i brought certain things and get this a lot more with charity items. Sometimes i get funny looks but most of the time people are amazed by how nice second hand clothes can look on and how such an old item can look so on trend.  Charity shops aren't just a place to grab clothes its a great place to find photo frames, mirrors and trinket bowls for storing jewellery.  People - mainly my dad, take the micky and say I'm wearing an old person if not worse, a dead persons hand me downs, but i wouldn't stop shopping in charity stores any time soon. I just make sure i thoroughly wash items before i use them, haha! 

Not only are you buying 'limited edition' items for half of what you'd spend in high street stores, you are embracing timeless fashion, being creative and most importantly giving a little to charity. It's a win win situation, you're helping give to a good cause and they help you look fabulous for a very small price. 

Sophie.

Current Obsessions.

I don't know if its just me or if everyone gets like this but if i like something i tend to obsess over it for months on end. I notice patterns in things i buy, for example i will love a certain colour and the next 10 purchases i make will be in that colour. Different tops, jumpers, eyeshadows, nail varnish, it could be anything but it will all be in the same colour. It can even be a certain item like last month it was shoe's. I brought 3 pairs of shoes last month, THREE! Two of them being open toes pairs. I hate to admit it but they were pretty much the same?! 

I never put myself down as someone with an addictive personality but i'm starting to realise that saying that, isn't a reliable statement. Any hoo, now that I'm coming to terms with the fact that maybe i might just have that addictive personality trait, i might as well embrace it, right? 

So here's what I'm obsessing over this month.

Metallic's

Metallic is everywhere at the moment. Copper especially. I'm currently saving up for a mortgage with my boyfriend Kori so I'm always imagining our interior design. I'm constantly drooling over Pintrest and home ware sections of shops, dreaming about how i will decorate when we finally get our own place. One thing i know for sure is that whatever colour themes we go for, each room will have a metal. I love the way different textures compliment each other and i think adding metal into the mix creates more dimension to a room. We have a 'bottom drawer', which is a draw we fill with things we have bought in preparation for our future house (well it started off a a draw, its now a few boxes) I have recently been buying a lot of Metallic things, like photo fames and fruit bowls, which i have been trying to save and put by for our new house but they are so pretty that i'm using them now - oops. 

Aldo Mules - I WANT!

Mules

OH MY GOD. i frikkin' love these shoes. Last year they made waves in the fashion world and i desperately wanted a pair but Kori, my Mum, Sisters and any other family member i told would squeal in disbelief that i liked them. Everyone i knew and asked seemed to hate them, which unfortunately steered me clear from purchasing a pair (peer pressure sucks). But this is the second time around i keep seeing them in shops and swooning over them and I'm not letting peer pressure get the better of me and i will be getting some! Watch this space. 

Lip Liners

Everyone and their mum has either tried or at least read about 'Kylie Jenner's Lips'. Since trying out the matte, flesh tone look myself it has rekindled my love for lip liners. No, I'm not over drawing my lips but i am loving how much longer my lipstick lasts during the day with the added extra of a lip liner. I don't know why i ever stopped purchasing lip liners but i'm glad this Kylie trend has become a thing because i've fallen back in love with how sharp and defined liners make my lips. I'm also a matte lips kinda gal,and its so hard to find a matte lipstick that doesn't crack. I find liners work perfectly for that effect as they have the perfect consistency that doesn't end up looking too 'cakey'. My favourite right now is Rimmel Eastend Snob.

Sports Bra's

My fitness game is on point right now. I feel the healthiest i've been in a loooong time. I'm working out 4/5 times a week and can actually say i'm loving it. So as you can imagine by working out pretty much every week day, i need a good amount of sports wear to get me through the week. With the amount of sweating I'm doing theres no chance of wearing the same item twice so i've had the luxury of going shopping and actually being able to truly say "but i neeeeed all of this". My favourite place for sports wear a the moment is H&M the quality is amazing and its half the price of bigger brands like Nike and Adidas. 

I don't know why i added a photo.
As if you didn't know what broccoli looks like, hahaha! 

Broccoli 

Okay, this is a weird one and no I'm not pregnant. But i cant stop eating broccoli! I've even started eating it raw and nibbling on it before i cook it! (is that even safe?) I can't get enough, putting it in stir fry, pasta, soup, every time we have a veg dish you can bet ya bottom dollar theres broccoli in it! I can't explain it, all i know is, right know i'm loving broccoli!

Do you get obsessions over weird things or is it genially just me?

Sophie.

Lush Haul | Easter 2015

I am without a doubt a Lush addict. I love nothing more than a good bubble bath on a Sunday evening, relaxing with a book or watching Netflix, and of course no bath is complete without a concoction of bath bombs, bubble bars and beautiful smelling shower gels! So as you can imagine I'm always stocked up with Lush beauties and get very, VERY excited when they release their seasonal products! 

 

So last weekend i splurged out and purchased a whole load of the new Easter editions and here's what i thought of them. 

Hoppity Poppity

Not only is this bunny super cute but has popping candy in it too!? And for only £2.50 i think its  This bath bomb has a very herbal smell too it as it's made with lime oil, lavender and violet leaf. I must admit I'm not the biggest fan of herbal scents so it's not my favourite smelling bomb but the added extra of popping candy and the cuteness factor makes it a winner for me and is defiantly going to be in my re purchase list.

Bunch of Carrots

The reusable bubble bars that Lush do are my favourite product as i can use them again and again. The Christmas Magic Wand Star will always be my favourite with out a doubt but these carrots come quite close! Made with Sicilian Lemon Oil, Bergamot Oil, Buchu Oil, these carrots smell yummy and fruity but the oils make sure the fruitiness isn't too empowering.The blend of both oils and lemon create an amazingly gorgeous scent! (so much better than a real life carrot). 

Golden Egg

I LOVE GLITTER! Some people really moan about the glitter products Lush bring out but i love them! So this was the first item i ran over to and popped into a bag before i had even smelt it, and my god doesn;t it smell amazing too! Made from Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Colombian Cocoa Butter, Bergamot Oil, Olive Oil this bath melt smells like sweet like caramel and toffee. With the blend of cocoa butter and olive oil you are sure to be leaving the bath with your skin not only smelling but feeling like soft caramel too. This bath bomb makes me feel like a glittery fairy princess that sprinkles scents of melted caramel behind me and i love it! 10 out of 10!

Fluffy Egg

That famous Snow fairy scent is back! This time better as its in the shape of an egg, and a fluffy one at that. (except its not fluffy, slightly confused?) Obviously this is one of my favourites Lush scents but along with the famous smell comes the famous bright pink colouring and nothings better than bathing in pink water! A firm favourite of mine! 

Great Eggspectation - Pink

This is the most priciest bomb out of the bunch but rightly so as it's supposed to be a 3 in 1 product. But to be perfectly honest i wouldn't say you get 3 uses out of it. I'm not sure if thats because i'm greedy but i found that half the egg wasn't enough. It didn't put on a good enough show for me so i ended up sticking the other half in the bath too. The surprise inside was a small chick which was super cute but again was so small that i felt it wasn't big enough to use on it's own so ended up using it with another bomb. On the plus side the scent was beautiful. Vanilla is one of my favourite smells and when combined with Grapefruit Oil and Lemon Oil it makes it uplifting and leaves me feeling bushy tailed. Perfect from a morning bath.

There's just something about dropping a Lush product into a bath that makes it so much more enjoyable. The smell, the fizz and all the prettiness it brings to bath time is why i am and always will be deeply in love with Lush! With that being said i think its time to run myself a warm bath, create a Lush concoction and zone out for the next hour, or so.

Sophie.

I'm going on holiday!

So just over a month ago today, i booked a holiday. Just like that. 

I was at the gym with my two friends Emily & Erin and thought we're all getting in shape but had no where to show off our 'rocking new bods' (we're currently doing a fitness programme) so someone suggested we booked a holiday. It seemed like one of those ideas that seem great but never actually happens but before i knew it we were booking time off work (shock horror because we're all workaholics) and in a matter of days it was all booked!

 I wasn't even there when they booked, they called me whilst i was working and said they had found somewhere but it needed to be booked asap. I was feeling very spontaneous anyway so was like "what the hell as long as its near a beach, I'm game"! So that was it, our holiday to Tenerife was booked and the countdown began! 

Before i knew it i have found myself with less than a month until we go. I have only just realised it's been two years since i've left the UK so i'm totally in no way prepared. I don't have any of the holidays essentials. So obviously i went shopping!

Quay Invador Sunglasses

Firstly i purchased some new sunnies. I have seen these glasses on many celebrities including PLL star Shay Mitchell. I wanted the black pair as i always go for black with everything, but they were sold out everywhere! Although i originally wanted the black ones, i am surprisingly loving the white version. They give a really clean, fresh look to any outfit and i think i'm in need of more white accessories now! I love the cat eye glasses at the moment but with the cut out on the edges i think it gives it a more edgier look and i'm totally in love with them. 

Primark Floral Jumpsuit

I saw this jumpsuit on Zoella's Primark Haul and fell in love with the print but unfortunately jumpsuits never fit me properly. When i saw it in Primark i thought what the hell i'll try it on just incase a miracle happens and it fits me. A miracle didn't happen as such because its not perfect but it actually looked okay! I mean it doesn't fit properly but i don't expect Primark items to fit like they are tailor made. I had to size up so that it fit comfortably on my bum which has made the top part too big but it doesn't look ridiculous just looks oversized which i don't mind at all. Because i loved the print so much and for a price of £13 i couldn't say no!

Kiss The Sky White Tassel Dress

This dress gets me soo excited for summer, mainly because it has that festival vibe to it and i already know it's going to be one of my outfits for a festival weekend. (i haven't yet booked one this year but i will be). This dress is simple yet has enough detail to be a solid piece in its own right, so can either be dressed up with accessories but also single handedly be the main piece of an outfit. I can't wait for Tenerife so i cant finally get a chance to wear this! 

F&F Scarf Print Palazzo Pants

I am very easily distracted and whenever i go to Tesco and always find myself wandering towards the clothing isle's. It drives my boyfriend insane because we pop in to get milk or potatoes expecting to be in and out within two minutes but end up spending half an hour in the shop because i insist that we have to see if theres any new collections. I'm am so glad i always persuade him because if i had given in and just gone straight to the potatoes then i wouldn't have found these beauties!

Paperchase Passport Holder

I thought while i'm spoiling myself and making sure i'm stylish for my holiday, i thought its only fair to spruce up my passport too! I love tribal prints and monochrome so instantly fell in love with this and at only £6 what's not too love?! The question is, now do i buy the matching luggage tag too? 

I can't wait to be in the sun and able to use all my new purchases. 

Only 2 weeks & 2 days to go! Not that I'm counting or anything...

Sophie.

In The Kitchen | Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie.

Smoothies really are brilliant. They are filling, full of good stuff, and bloody tasty! They are perfect for snacking, breakfasts, and even deserts and what's even better is that they are sooooo quick to make. 

I make smoothies a lot! I like the fact you can get a meal in a drink, you don't have to stop what you're doing to eat a meal you can drink on the go and as i'm always running late this is perfect for me.  

This smoothie is my go to if i'm craving something sweet but don't want to be naughty and eat a cadbury's dairy milk. The honey adds so much sweetness that after one of these i can't even think about chocolate or sweets but by adding the peanut butter it gives it the perfect ratio of sweet and savoury. 

Recipe
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 banana
1 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A handful of ice cubes
(sometimes if i'm feeling super naughty and chocolatley i add a table spoon of Nutella)


Method
Grab your blender, throw all the ingredients in and BLEND! It really is as simple as that. 

The recipe makes enough to almost fill a regular mason jar, so perfect for either two small smoothies or one large one for yourself (if you're feeling greedy). Personally i always make this just for myself but i do sometimes struggle to finish the whole thing. 

This is the most basic smoothie recipe i have pretty much ever come across. I like simple, i like quick and i really really like this smoothie. 

Sophie.

Short Haircuts for 2015

In recent posts i talked about my experience of chopping my hair off. Today i want to write about the different types of haircuts you can choose from if you are too, like so many other woman at the moment thinking of going for a shorter do. Here are three different haircuts i have found to be very popular in the salon recently. 

The 'Lob' 

For those of you who haven't heard of this incredibly popular haircut, the 'Lob' is quite basically a long bob. Making waves last year it has become the new 'it' haircut, almost as famous as the iconic 'Rachel' haircut Jennifer Aniston brought to us in the 90's. Cut so its just below the shoulder, usually sitting on the collar bone, this haircut is a safe option for the ladies out there wanted to try a short style but not sure they can cope with the big change. It's the perfect way of easing yourself into short styles. This easy to style cut is perfect because it's not too short so can easily be grown out back to your original long hair style, but then again its not too long that the change isn't big enough. Celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kim K have jumped on the bandwagon of cutting off their long hair and followed this trend. 

Carefree Crop

If you're feeling slightly braver then opt for a carefree crop. This style is cut just above the shoulder and should sit between the jaw and tips of your shoulders. Its not much shorted than the lob but the extra few inches off takes you into the category of not being able to easily tie your hair up, which can be quite important for some some of us. This style is seen on both heavily styled hair and a more everyday untouched look (see picture below). Celebrities like Lauren Conrad and Taylor Swift have both been taking their lob's shorter and rocking a more carefree crop. 

Jaw Length Waves

If you are more of the daring type and want to go for a much shorter style then cutting to the jaw is perfect for you. The trend this year is to pair this cut with loose waves and a heavy side parting to give that unkempt messy vibe. I predict this cut to become very popular in the next few month and will soon be taking over the lob craze that seems to be happening at the moment. I wish i was as brave as Sienna Miller, who recently surprised us all by cutting her hair to the jaw, and Hunger Games Star Jennifer Lawrence has grown out her pixie crop now sporting this trend too.

Do you think you will take your hair shorter this year?


Sophie.

Reveiw | The Body Shop | Drops of Youth

I have always been a big lover of The Body Shop. Growing up my mum would have those parties, where a rep would come to your house with a box full of new and classic products, would let you try and test them and then talk about them in great detail until you were convinced you'd need every single one of them! I remember always begging my mum for at least ten products and only ever being allowed to have one of them. This is where my love for The Body Shop started and since then i have tried out so many of their products and have built up a collection of holy grail products that i will forever keep purchasing.

 So after hearing so much about the new Drops of Youth range, i thought i'd try my luck and try some of the products out and purchased two products from the range. 

The first product i choose was Drops of Youth - WONDERBLUR. I'm sure a lot of you have read so much about this product already as its doing its round on so many beauty blogs. This is exactly why i went straight over to the product and instantly bought it. And well if you haven't heard of it, then where the hell have you been?! here's what the web has to say about it. 

Drops of Youth™ Wonderblur

This lightweight blur instantly smoothes skin texture, visibly reducing fine lines and pores for an even, flawless finish.

• Smoothes the appearance of fine lines
• Flawless finish
• 12-hr hydration
• With Edelweiss stem cells

At first i loved this product! The first day of the trial was a sunday and i wore no make up and it worked beautifully. I applied it after my usual skincare regime and saw an incredible different to my pores. I suffer for oily skin so regularly break out and have very visible pores. My pores had very clearly reduced in size and were almost invisible. My skin felt amazingly soft and smooth and i thought "wow, this is it! This really is a wonder product". 

Before

After

That was until the next day when i used it again. This time i wore make up over the product and found that my foundation didn't last long at all. Within hours my foundation became oily and slid off my face with the slightest touch. It certainly didn't mattify my skin like it said it should. I have read many reviews about this product and to me it seem like the your skin type really effects your love for this product. Although it is said to be suited for all skin types i disagree and find that it's best suited for dry skin. 

I am really disappointed that it didn't work so well when i wore make up. I'm not sure if it needed more time to soak into my face before applying makeup or if it would work better with a different type of foundation. I'm still yet to try it with others and see if i can find a way for it to work for me, as i really did love the outcome without make up. 

The second product i choose was Drops of Youth - Bouncy Sleeping Mask. I first read about this mask in Vouge alongside other expensive high end masks. I've never though of The Body Shop as high end, but when i saw the price tag i thought maybe it is. At £22 a tub, to me it was a bit pricey but seeing it competing against far more pricier masks and coming out quite high in comparison, i couldn't say no and ended up buying one for myself. With that being said after realising how much product was in the tub and how little you needed to use, i realised that actually you got your money's worth!

Drops of Youth™ Bouncy Sleeping Mask
Enriched with Edelweiss stem cells. Designed to be left on overnight, it leaves skin looking bouncier and feeling replenished.

• Youth-enhancing formula for bouncier-looking skin
• Unique bouncy, memory shape texture
• With Edelweiss stem cells

I love this mask and it really does do exactly what it says on the box. My skin felt bouncier and replenished. The texture of the cream (or is it a gel or a balm, i can't make my mind up) is like a goo. It feels funny to start off with but i now i've used it a few time i actually really like its consistency. They have named it completely right by calling it bouncy, it's almost like a memory foam bed. It seems thick but when applied it is incredibly lightweight and absorbs into the skin almost immediately, which i loved. It comes with a small spatula which helps a lot as its hard to get out the tub without and it's also great hygiene (it's the small things in life like this, that i really love).

The Body Shop also give you a complimentary massage technique to use when applying the gel. Which i thought was a really nice special touch. 

BOUNCY MASSAGE TECHNIQUE

1. Over The Rainbow Hands on forehead and arch out over the eyes to temples 
2. Under The Clouds Massage under the eyes out towards the side of the ears 
3. Quenching The Earth Massage outward with palms, across the cheeks to the ears 
4. Under The Sea Use sweeping upwards movements from the décolletage up the neck 
5. Pitter Patter Use finger tips to lightly tap across the forehead

Both products are great but i don't think i will be purchasing Wonderblur again unless i can find a way for it to work with make up. I defiantly am loving the sleeping mask though and think i will continue to buy this product. With that being said i don't think i will have to repurchase for a long time yet as the tub is so big that i should last yonks! (this is if my sisters and mum don't steal it) 

How do you rate The Drops of Youth range at The Body Shop?

Sophie.