Monthly Archives: January 2020

Beauty Bites: Anti-ageing sun protection from Calypso

29th January 2020

We all know the importance of daily sun protection, especially on your face which is exposed to the sun’s rays day in and day out. During the summer I’m hot on applying sun lotion to my body (being fair skinned and red haired) but I do tend to skip my face due to most products feeling too sticky, or too greasy to wear comfortably, especially under makeup.

Sensitive Lotion for Face & Neck c/o Calypso

I was recently sent this SPF50+ sensitive lotion for face and neck from Calypso, a brand I have regularly used in the past for my general sun-protection needs.
It’s been a while since I used anything from the brand and I was surprised at how big a range of products they do.

This lotion is delicate enough to use on the most sensitive of skin, and it has a special formula to make sure it is light to wear and non-greasy. I was sceptical as to whether it could meet these claims, but after a tentative application one morning before putting my makeup on I honestly couldn’t tell I was wearing this- there was none of that sticky, clogged up feeling you can get with some sun lotions.
This lotion also protects you from UVA rays (responsible for ageing) which is something that a moisturiser or makeup product with SPF can’t do…and now I’m noticing fine lines appearing by the day this is something I definitely need some help with!

A worthy and welcome addition to my fledgling skincare regime and worth checking out if you’ve struggled with facial SPF before.

*product gifted for blog consideration*

Posted in beauty, brands I love, skincare

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What’s on my Wish List? #2

26th January 2020

So much for January being the month I got my blogging mojo back and created content I was happy with/proud of. Actually, those days of blogging feel long gone and I do wonder how much longer this piece of the big wide web will continue for. Maybe as wedding plans progress, new journeys begin, and this current slump I’m in starts to lift I may feel differently. Probably even once this month is done, the first month of the year always kicks my ass no matter how much I tell myself it won’t. At least I’ve had window shopping to keep me sane, and as a consequence, another wish list post has formed.

I’ve not been feeling very body confident lately, bought on by a final push to weight restoration I find myself drawn to looser fitting items. I also find myself drawn to the polka dot trend that seems to be everywhere, so this Polka Dot Dress from New Look is probably going to make the transition from wish list to purchase very soon.
Bob and I are obsessed with Sabrina on Netflix and are eagerly awaiting chance to sit down and start season 3. I am also eagerly awaiting stock of this Sabrina inspired palette arriving on the Boots website; from one of my favourite high street makeup brands, NYX, this is just crying out for me to spend the last of my Christmas money on.
It seems that I want ALL of the dresses right now. New season is hitting the shops and I’m all about the bold prints and clashing patterns. This dress from Oasis is gonna have to stay on the wish list for now at £52, but I just love it and I think it would make a really versatile addition to the wardrobe.
I already own far too many pairs of trainers for someone who works a 9-5 office job and does no sport. I’m having to repeat this to myself over and over since seeing these adidas trainers on the Office website…be still my beating heart, be still.
Another dress that’s caught my eye is this belted denim dress from & other stories. Another piece well out of my price range but very much on my radar as the perfect trans-seasonal piece.
I think the & other stories denim dress would look fabulous with these ankle boots from Zara. My ankle boot obsession is getting out of hand- I’ve purchased three pairs since December (sadly meaning I cannot justify these)…is anyone else powerless to resist their charms?

What’s caught your eye recently? Any ideas for what you might like to see on the blog in the coming year?

*post contains affiliate links*

Posted in brands I love, fashion, personal style, shopping, wish list

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How To Be The Best Version Of Yourself *

20th January 2020
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

If there’s one thing that we can all be proud of it’s the kind of mark that we leave in the world. But (and this is a big but), we don’t always make the right one. Sometimes we are thinking about making marks that are for the wrong reason, or we’re exactly choosing to do what’s for the best. However if you want to make sure that you do some good, you have to be the very best version of yourself, like this.

Be Authentic

To start with it means that you have to be authentic. You have to be yourself. Because if you’re just trying to be someone else, it’s not going to work. You won’t be happy. Because the best version of you, is you.

Be Positive

Next, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re a positive person. Being negative can only drag you down. The best version of you is positive. When you’re positive, you’re happy. So it’s important for you to be grateful and find as much positivity as you can.

Be Honest

You should also be honest too; honest with those around you and honest with yourself. It’s important to be the best you can be in life and your work. This includes white collar crime. And although you may not know that you’re in danger of doing anything wrong, the below infographic can help you learn more about it.


Infographic Design By USC

Posted in infographic

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Important factors to consider when buying a new car*

16th January 2020

With so many different brands of cars available to buy, how can we easily choose one?

Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases you will make so there are lots of factors you need to take into consideration before choosing the right one. Many of us look forward to the process, but others find it very daunting given the number of things we need to take into consideration before choosing our dream car.

In this post, I will show you what to expect when choosing your car such as deciding whether to buy a new or used car, or for it to be petrol, diesel or electric powered and what type of style is best suited to your lifestyle.

Kwik Fit has also pointed out that another factor we need to consider is where we are based. You may be thinking why would this matter? However, prices vary when buying a car depending on where you live. Take a look here on how much it is to own a car based on where you live.

Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash

New or used cars

Deciding whether to buy a new or used car reflects entirely on your budget; there are positives to both sides.

Buying a new car means that you get the exact specification that you want and you’ll also get the benefits of a full warranty and any deals that the buyer might be offering. There will be no history to worry about such as damages that were made by a previous owner, however, you will lose money as the value of the car will depreciate over time. 

On average used car prices are almost 50 percent lower in price than new cars so you will be able to pay off on a used car much faster. One of the biggest disadvantages of buying a used car is that they may not be as reliable and it may need more repairs over time.

Choosing a certain style of car

Most cars now are designed to suit a certain type of lifestyle. For example, Volkswagen Polo is perfect for transporting a small family. It’s very important to choose a car that fits into your lifestyle or plans. For instance, if you have children then boot space is a massive specification that you will need, in order to easily get from A to Z. Kia Sportage is a great example of a car with spacious boot space.

Petrol, diesel or electric?

What fuel you want for your car is the next aspect you need to take into consideration. Some cars are only run on diesel such as the BMW X3, yet most manufacturers offer petrol and diesel engines. Electric models are becoming increasingly popular as they are better for the environment, cheaper to maintain and inexpensive to run.

If you cover less than 12,000 miles a year a petrol engine is best for you. This is because diesel costs more to buy so you would have covered a lot of miles a year to make up the difference in fuel savings.

Deciding which car is best suited for you is an important process. You don’t want to waste hard earned money on a car that you later found out is not suitable for your type of lifestyle.

Posted in information alert

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What’s on my wish list right now?

13th January 2020

I don’t know when I got so sporadic with blogging…as last year drew to a close I told myself 2020 would be the year I got back on track, and yet here we are, 13 days in and I’ve barely posted a thing, oops! Let’s just call that an adjustment period to a new decade and crack on with things from now.

And what better way to crack on than with a wish list? Something I’m always creating and yet never seeming to get around to posting, by the time I do, things are out of stock or I’ve gone off something. I’m currently on a mission for a dress to wear for a wedding in March, and whilst I’m yet to find something that fits the bill, I have found a whole host of other things that tickle my fancy.

Jumper; & other stories. I have such a vast jumper collection that I truly can’t justify any more, but this one is a beaut!
Dress; AngelEye– I went on to the site to look for a dress to wear to the wedding but fell in love with this day dress instead.
Jumper; Joanie Clothing. See above comment r.e. jumpers, but this one literally is the dream and I am sorely tempted.
Trench coat; Monki. Another thing I do not need is yet another coat, but this Monki one is a classic and I am smitten.
Skirt; Oasis. This is unlike anything I’d normally go for, mostly because it’s too fitted for me to feel comfortable in, but I love this skirt and dream of teaming it with some body confidence and fluffy jumpers.
Dr Martens; Office Shoes …what’s not to love?
Dress; Very. I love a high neckline, and a midi dress so this is pretty much my dream. I love V by Very for affordable fashion.

What’s on your wish list right now? I’m trying hard to shop more in charity shops, less fast fashion etc…and whilst I occasionally find some gems (Donna Ida jeans for £3.99 anyone?!) I can’t resit the lure of the high street.

Posted in brands I love, fashion, personal style, wish list

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