Kylie Lip Kits - Are They Worth The Hype?

I know I'm awfully late to the party with this, but last week, I finally got my hands on a couple of Kylie Lip Kits. I'd been skeptical as to whether to buy one of the kits or not, especially when taking into account the price of shipping. I'd been reading lots of reviews about them, and the opinions were pretty mixed. A lot of beauty bloggers had said that they weren't worth the slightly heavy price tag, but then everyone I know seems to really like them. But after my friend let me try one of hers, I was so impressed that I knew I wanted to buy one. As you probably all know, shipping to the UK is awfully expensive, so I thought that since I was paying for shipping, I might as well buy a second one at the same time. So I added Candy K and Mary Jo K to my basket, and eagerly waited for them to arrive.

My lip kits only took about 13 days to arrive, which I thought was really good considering they're coming from the US. I did, however, get hit with a £15 customs charge. I wasn't too bothered about that though as the man at the post office explained that the charge was purely just the tax and handling fee. 

I was really impressed with the way that the lip kits were packaged. However, I was awfully disappointed that I didn't get one of the cute little cards with a message from Kylie herself. As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the lip kits include a lip liner and a liquid lipstick. The lipsticks have a scent almost like strawberries and cream, which I really love about the product. Candy K is a dusky, almost darker pink colour, which is perfect for work or everyday wear. Mary Jo K is a true red, so I think it'll look gorgeous on a night out or if I'm wanting to dress up my make up a little bit.

That evening we had friends round for dinner, so I thought I'd put Mary Jo K to the test and see what it's staying power was like. It's a true red colour, so I had to be really careful when applying it not to end up looking like a clown with it all over my face. Now, I wasn't too impressed with this one as it kept sliding around whilst I was eating, so I was really conscious about it and had to keep wiping it away. This was a bit of a disappointment as I had such high hopes for them.

But the next day, I tried out Candy K and I honestly don't have a bad word to say about it! The colour is absolutely stunning, and could definitely be dressed up or down. The staying power of this one is also fantastic. I applied it before work one morning, and at the end of my shift almost 8 hours later, it was only just starting to fade. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't have many lipsticks that last long without going patchy or fading. Candy K definitely restored my faith in the Kylie Cosmetics range.

So, I'd definitely recommend giving them a try if you've been thinking about getting one. I think the colours are probably just a bit hit or miss, so maybe read some reviews before settling on one. For example, almost everyone I know/lots of bloggers have had bad experiences with Kourt K going patchy, so I think I'll probably avoid that one. But overall, I'd defintely recommend the Kylie Lip Kits, and I think I'd definitely like to try a few more colours from her range.

Tanya Bakes Review // Making Rocky Road

I've been watching Tanya Burr on YouTube for years now, and although she's had various beauty releases and a book in the past, it's never really been something that I've been excited to go out and buy.  However, when I found out that she was releasing a book all about baking, I couldn't wait to pick it up! When I was younger, I used to bake all the time with my Grandma, so it's always been something that I've enjoyed doing. Baking brings back such fond memories of my childhood, so it's something that I definitely need to make more time for. The cover of the book is beautiful, and definitely stands out amongst all other books on the shelves. The book retails for £16.99, but I managed to get mine for £8.50 in Asda. 

Tanya reveals all of her inspiration for the book in the first few pages, which gives the book a very personal touch. She even includes what she loves about each particular recipe, or why it means something special to her, at the start of almost every one. You can really get a sense of her personality throughout the book. Every recipe has a clear list of ingredients and fairly simple instructions, so the book really is for everyone.

The photography inside the book is beautiful, and Tanya herself looks stunning in all of the pictures. Every time I turned the page, there was another delicious looking recipe to drool over. All of the recipes look so tasty, and she has a whole variety of recipes ranging from a beginner level to a fairly more expert level, but I wouldn't say that any of the recipes seem hard to follow. The book is split into 8 sections; Cookies and Biscuits, Muffins, Cupcakes and Traybakes, Cakes and Loaves, Puddings, Pastry, Bread, Brunch and Special Occasions. I think my personal favourite is the cupcakes and traybakes section, as it is filled with super simple recipes that would be fun to make if you had friends over one evening. 

Whilst flicking through the book, I decided to try and make something pretty quick and easy, so what better than Rocky Road! Tanya's book includes a super simple recipe, that only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Of course, the picture of Tanya's rocky road in her book looked an awful lot better than mine turned out, but I was really impressed with how easy it was to make. Tanya's recipe uses only dark chocolate, so I was a little bit worried that it might be too bitter, but it actually turned out to be really nice! It was, however, extremely rich tasting, so once piece is definitely enough to satisfy any cravings. I'd recommend giving it a try though if you're looking for something simple to try first.

I'd definitely recommend picking up Tanya Bakes if you enjoy baking or have a bit of a sweet tooth. The pictures inside really do give the book that little extra touch, and it breaks the recipes down in a way that make it easy to follow. I'll definitely be trying out more of the recipes, so look out for some baking posts on my blog in the near future! 

Have you bought Tanya Bakes yet? What are some of your favourite recipes?

Review // Benefit Brow Bar

I think it's fair to say that over the past few months, I've neglected my eyebrows quite a lot. I've always been far too much of a wimp to pluck them myself, so I just kept filling them in and hoping that no one would notice how bad they were. But it's less than two weeks time now until I go on holiday, so I thought it was about time I got my eyebrows sorted.

Last week, whilst doing some last minute holiday shopping, I decided to pop into my local Benefit to see if they had any appointments available. I've heard so many positive things about the Benefit Brow Bar so I was eager to try it out for myself. They do a whole variety of different treatments, such as upper lip waxing, brow waxing and even eyelash applications. I decided that I just wanted to get my brows waxed and tinted, and I can't even explain how impressed I was with the results. I've only ever had them waxed before, so the tinting made a real difference and I was really impressed with the shape that they managed to create with my brows. They use a technique called 'brow mapping' to create the ideal brow shape for you based on your other facial features. The whole process took about twenty minutes, but I felt like they really focused on making my eyebrows look exactly how I wanted them. When the beauty expert applied the tint, she made sure that I was happy with the colour before continuing, and continued to do so until she was finished. I really appreciated that as I've had a few eyebrow disasters in the past that I wasn't exactly eager to repeat.

The only downside to the Benefit Brow Bar is that it can be quite a lot pricier than your typical eyebrow waxing would usually be, especially if you're on a student budget like me. It cost me £19.50 to have mine waxed and tinted, which I was a little bit taken aback by at first, but I was so happy with the results that I definitely think it's worth splurging that little bit extra if you have the money. The lady that did my eyebrows also said that during May, they were donating £12.80 from every wax and tint to charity as part of the "bold is beautiful" campaign, and in return they gave me a free full size 'Gimme Brow' (worth £18.50). Overall, I was super impressed with the Benefit Brow Bar, and I'd definitely recommend giving it a try if you have a counter near you.

Have you ever tried the Benefit Brow Bar? What did you think of it?

10 Fun Date Ideas

Even after having been in a relationship for a while, I still get excited about going on dates together. I know that thinking of unique ideas for things to do together, whether it be your first date or your twentieth, can sometimes be a bit tricky. So here are some of the things that I think would be fun to do for a date:

1. Go for a picnic 

Now that we're finally into summer, a picnic would be the perfect way to spend a sunny day! You can spend the day together lying on a nice big blanket and eating a delicious spread of your favourite food and drinks. Of course, this doesn't have to be just the two of you. You could go with a group of friends, which might make you feel more at ease if you and your partner are still getting to know each other.

2. Go for breakfast

This is a bit different than just going for dinner. It's a lot more casual, and can also be a lot cheaper if you're on a bit of budget. I absolutely love going out for breakfast!

3. Explore somewhere new

I think this would be a really fun way to spend the entire day together. Is there somewhere you've always wanted to visit? Or why not just jump on a train and see where it takes you? You could go together and spend the day wandering around and exploring. You never know what you might find, and in a few years time, you can go back for a visit and remember what a nice time you had.

4. Go to your favourite bar/restaurant 

Do you know a bar that does really good cocktails? You could introduce your partner to some of your favourite places to eat or drink, and it will also help them get to know a little bit more about some of the things that you like. Going for a drink is also a good way to ease any first date nerves, however, I obviously don't recommend getting completely drunk if this is your first time meeting someone...

5. Go to the theatre

This one is a little bit different to the typical "dinner and a movie" date. A theatre show would be a good idea for a first or second date if you're still getting to know each other and you get a little bit nervous trying to make conversation. I would recommend seeing something lighthearted, like a musical or a comedy, but it would also give you plenty to talk about after the show.

6. Go to the zoo or aquarium

I would love to go on a date to the zoo! It would be so much fun wandering around, looking at all of the animals. A fun date like this would also give you lots to talk about if you're still getting to know each other.

7. Go to a concert

If you have any mutual interests in a particular band or type of music, it could be fun to go and see them in concert together. The feeling you get at a gig or concert when your favourite artist comes on stage is unlike any other, so it would be really special to share that moment together. 


8. Stargazing

You could go for a walk or climb a hill, and then once you get to the top, you can wait for the sun to set and watch the stars as they light up the sky! How romantic is that?

9. Go to the beach

If it's a nice sunny day, why not pack up your things and head to the beach for the day? You could go for ice cream, wander along the sea front, or even go for fish and chips! If only it was sunnier more often in Scotland, then I would absolutely love to do this.

10. Have your own movie night

If you're on a bit of tighter budget, or you just fancy a cosy night in together, then this is the one for you! You could put on your favourite film, grab some tasty snacks and cuddle under a blanket. This one can be as romantic as you please, but it can also be super chilled if you just want to relax and spend some together.

18 Things I've Learnt in 18 Years

Over the last few months, I feel like I've learnt quite a lot of valuable life lessons. It's been a tough few months, I'm not going to lie, but I've made my way through it and now I'm in a good place. So for this post, I thought I'd share just 18 things that I've learnt in my 18 years of life.

1. If people want to be in your life they will make the effort! Since moving to Stirling, it has been a common occurrence for people to say that they will come and visit me, yet they never do. It's always me that is expected to make the effort. It's taken me a while to realise that friendship works both ways, and that there has to be an equal effort from both sides for the friendship to work.

2. Manners and kindness cost nothing! This is a lesson that working in retail has definitely taught me. My parents always brought me up to be polite, but working in retail shows you just how rude some people can be.

3. Before you can let someone love you, you must first love yourself. If you hate everything about yourself, how you can allow someone else to be completely in love with you? You need to firstly accept who you are, and accept all of your flaws, before you can let someone else do that for you.

4. Always appreciate your parents and the things that they do for you! My Mum and Dad would do anything for me, no questions asked. They do everything they can to make sure that I am happy, and I truly appreciate what they do for me.

5. As annoying as it is, your parents are usually right

6. It's okay to want to help people, but always make time for yourself, too

7. Some people won't like you, but that's okay! This is one that I've had to learn the hard way, especially over the past few months. Of course, knowing that someone doesn't like you can make you feel bad about yourself, but at the end of the day, who really cares what they think.

8. Always do the things that you enjoy, regardless of what other people think

9. It's not selfish to put yourself first sometimes! I'm the type of person that would much rather do things for other people than for myself. I love seeing that the people I love are happy, but I often forget that sometimes, I need to be too.

10. Don't let people walk all over you and treat you like dirt

11. It's okay to change direction! I still have no idea what career what I want to pursue once I finish university, but that's okay. You don't need to have your entire life completely planned out, as you never know what might happen one day.

12. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you feel lost! I've always been quite independent and I like to do things by myself, but this can sometimes be to my detriment. If you need help, always ask for it. Don't struggle with something just because you're too proud to show your softer side.

13. Apologising is a strength, not a weakness

14. People will always have their opinions, but you don't have to agree with them! But by the same token, other people do not have to agree with your opinions. Never push your ideas and opinions on to others.

15. When you have the chance to start over, always give it your all

16. Don't be afraid to be on your own! I love having some time to myself, but I sometimes have too much of it and I tend to get a bit lonely. But over the past few months I've realised that it's okay to go and get a coffee by yourself or to go and get something to eat.

17. People change

18. Losing someone that you love will be one of the hardest things you ever have to deal with

An Open Letter To My Grandma

On the 4th of February 2014, my Grandma sadly passed away. She was diagnosed with cancer just 11 months before, and those few short months were the quickest of my life. My Grandma was one of the most important people in my life, and her lack of presence in my life is something I still struggle with every day. Our relationship was truly special. My Grandma would've done absolutely anything for me, and she taught me so many valuable lessons about life. This post is particularly personal for me, and I debated about whether to publish it or not. But my Grandma was a wonderful lady, and my blog is a place where I express a lot about what's happening in my life, so that's why I'm choosing to upload this.

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Dear Grandma,

It's been a couple of years now since the last time we were together. I can't believe it's been that long. It feels like only yesterday that I was by your side, holding your hand and wishing that things were different. A lot has happened over the last two years. If only you could see for yourself how much I've changed and grown up. Every day, something new happens that I want to call you up and tell you about. It breaks my heart not being able to do that, but I know that you're watching over me and helping me along the way.


As soon as I turned 17, I started learning to drive! I know that you were so excited for me to start my lessons. It was all thanks to you and Grandad for saving up all that money for me and buying my lessons for my birthday. I can't thank you enough for that! Less than 9 months later I passed my test and was on the road all by myself, if only you could've been here to see me.

I finished high school with pretty good grades and managed to get an unconditional offer for the University of Stirling. I got off to a bit of a rocky start at university, but now that I have changed my degree, I'm so much happier. You'd absolutely love the campus! There's so much wildlife and a beautiful loch that you would have loved to wander around. I've just finished my first year, and whilst it's been quite an eventful few months, I couldn't have done it without you and Grandad. I know that you had been saving for my tuition fees since I was only a baby, but since I don't need to pay for my fees in Scotland, it went towards my rent. In order to repay you, I will make sure that I do my very best and try as hard as I can to hopefully finish university with a first in my degree.

Christmases and birthdays aren't the same without you. I miss your Christmas dinners and the huge chocolate cake that you always used to make me for my birthday. My mum makes Christmas dinner now, and she does an amazing job, but I think we all miss your presence around the table. I wish you'd been here to celebrate my 18th birthday with me. It was a pretty big milestone in my life. We all went for dinner as a family though, Grandad too, and I had a great time. Everyone made it super special for me.

I think that's pretty much everything that I wanted to tell you. I miss you more and more every day, and it breaks my heart that you aren't here to witness all the amazing changes that have been happening in my life recently. Sometimes it hits me that you won't see me graduate or be at my wedding, and you won't get to meet my future children. That always makes me tear up when I think about things like that. My goal in life is just to make you proud, and I really hope that you are. There has been a huge gap in my life since you left. The relationship that you and I had was unlike any other. You were always there for me, and I felt like you truly understood me. You taught me how to be the best that I could be, and I value every moment and memory that we had together.

I love you with all of my heart.
Jade x

Review // Palmer's Cocoa Butter Moisturisers

I'm ashamed to admit that since starting university, I've become a little bit lazy when it comes to moisturising and skin care. However, it's only a few weeks now until I go on holiday, and I don't want to have scaly looking legs whilst I'm sunbathing. So I decided that I needed to do something about it. Whilst wandering around Boots trying to find some sort of miracle worker, I noticed that a large number of the Palmer's range were on offer. When I was younger, my mum would always use one of their moisturisers, so I was fairly familiar with the brand. I decided upon their Coconut Oil Body Lotion and their Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser. I was really impressed with the effects that both products had and I honestly can't recommend them enough.

Natural Bronze Gradual Tanner Spray Lotion

I've always been a fan of gradual tanning moisturisers. They're perfect for giving me a healthy 'sun kissed' glow whenever I'm feeling a bit ghostlike. Last year, my go-to gradual tanner was the Dove Summer Glow Moisturiser which comes in two different shades, however I felt like it could often be fairly streaky. So when I saw that this one was on offer in Boots, I thought I might as well give it a try. The product comes in a continuous spray bottle which makes it easy to apply for even coverage, and the product quickly absorbs into the skin. It is full of natural ingredients, such as pure Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and Coconut Oil, which are fantastic for the skin. Not only does it give a really subtle glow to the skin, but it also leaves my skin feeling silky and soft. However, I think my favourite thing about this product is the smell. It has a gorgeous chocolatey scent that I just can't get enough of every time I apply it. I even put it on Jordan so that he could appreciate how good the scent was!

Coconut Oil Body Lotion

The main reason that I bought this product was to help get some moisture back in my skin, as it was starting to feel really dry. Which is obviously not a good look when you went to get your legs out. The Coconut Oil Body Lotion is supposed to provide 24 hour moisture, which I definitely felt like it did. I apply the lotion after a shower and give it a few minutes to soak in before getting dressed again, but it definitely isn't sticky and it applies really well. The lotion is made from completely ethically sourced ingredients, such as Coconut Oil and Tahitian Monoi Oil, and is infused with Tiaré flower petals. It also has a really natural coconut scent that isn't over powering. I'll definitely be taking this body lotion on holiday with me to rehydrate my skin after long days in the sun. I would definitely recommend this product if, like me, you suffer from particularly dry skin.

What are some of your favourite moisturisers? Do you have any recommendations?

Holiday Clothes on a Budget

It's less than a month until Jordan and I go on holiday and I seriously cannot wait. This will be the first time that I've been on holiday without my parents, and it's really shocked me just how expensive it is for one week in the sun. I've been trying to get as many of my holiday clothes as I can within my budget, and I've done pretty well so far as I still have some clothes from last year that I can take. All of my shopping has been done at Asos, Primark and Boohoo, which are my favourite places to buy clothes. Of course I will be taking much more than this on holiday, but I thought for this post that I would show you some of what I've been buying to maybe give you some inspiration if you're going on holiday anytime soon!

Boohoo

Most of the pieces that I bought from boohoo were for me to wear in the evenings when we go for dinner and things like that. I was really impressed with some of the things they had online this year. As you can probably tell, I absolutely love anything off the shoulder, I just think it is so feminine and will look great with a tan. Everything from boohoo is so affordable, so I'd definitely recommend it if you're on a budget.

Kate Full Lace Midi Skirt - £15

Zoe Paisley Print Off Shoulder Playsuit - £12

Helen Off The Shoulder Playsuit - £15

Lucy Stripe Ribbed Bodysuit - £14

Tamsin Off Shoulder Skater Dress - £15

Anne Coin Back Sundress - £15

Ella Front Ruffle Cold Sleeve Maxi Dress - £18

Primark

Primark is always a favourite when it comes to shopping on a budget. I didn't buy an awful lot in there this year, but some of their new swimwear is gorgeous. I fell in love with the white swimsuit that I bought. It has an open back and is quite revealing across the front as it ties behind the neck. I think it looks so much more expensive than it actually was.

White Swimming Costume - £15

Black Bikini Top - £12

Lace Hem Denim Shorts - £12

Red Geometric Print Drawstring Joggers - £8

Asos

Last but not least is Asos. I didn't buy much at all from Asos this year, but I fell in love with the sunglasses that I bought and really wanted to include them in this post.

AJ Morgan Exclusive Round Sunglasses With Flowers - £15

*If you see anything that you like, just click the picture and it will take you directly to the item. The only things I couldn't link were from Primark as they do not have a website for online shopping yet.

I do not own any of the pictures included in this blog post

A Letter To My 14 Year Old Self

I've never been particularly confident about myself or my appearance, and throughout school I often felt like I didn't really fit in. I only had a small group of friends, but that was fine for me, as I preferred having a few close friends instead of many acquaintances. I was also a very nervous teenager. I struggled to order my own food in a restaurant, and I hated going up to the till in a shop for the fear of being judged. But I've changed a lot over the last four years, and I wish I could tell my fourteen year self just how happy she would be a few years down the line.

When I turned fourteen, I started taking a particular medication that made me pile on a lot of weight. I went on a family holiday to Majorca, and it wasn't until I got home and saw the pictures that had been taken that I realised how much weight I'd put on. I was quite a slim child growing up, so my weight gain was extremely noticeable. I was so embarrassed. This completely shattered my confidence. From then on, any time I went on holiday I would be worrying that people were looking at me and judging me, and I refused to have my photo taken.

This carried on into my school life. I was always worried that people thought I was fat or ugly, and because of this I really struggled to socialise. I remember sitting in classrooms praying that the teacher wouldn't ask me to do anything, as I hated the attention being on me. I stayed pretty quiet unless I was with my group of friends, and I never did anything out of my comfort zone. I also struggled massively when it came to boys. I physically could not talk to them. I was so worried about being judged, that I wouldn't even order coffee in Starbucks if it was a male behind the counter. That sounds ridiculous to me now.

I would say that my home life also suffered. I had a lot of built up anger and emotions that I frequently took out on my parents. I also have a little brother who was only 3 at the time. He always needed a lot of attention, and I often felt a lot of jealously towards him. Being 14, there were times when I needed my parents attention too, but because my brother was so young, I didn't really get it as often as I probably needed. This caused a lot of resentment on my part. Looking back, I regret this a lot. I've always been extremely close to my parents, but between the ages of 13 and 15, my relationship with them involved a lot of arguing and shouting. 

My worries about my weight and appearance are still something that I struggle with today. I've lost over a stone since then, but even after having weekly sessions with a dietician and a psychologist, I still have days, or even weeks, where I look in the mirror and feel horrendous. But I now know that if the only bad thing someone can say about me is that I'm fat or ugly, then I must be a pretty decent person on the inside. That's all that really matters in the long run. 

There are so many things that I would like to tell my 14 year old self if I could: You are so special and loved. You are smart and caring and everyone around you loves you exactly that way that you are. Things do get better, and in a few years time, you'll be so much happier than you are right now. Stop liking that boy who has no interest in you, he turns into a bit of idiot and you'll wonder what you ever saw in him. You'll have a huge argument with your best friend, but don't worry, you make up a few months later. Just don't be stupid on social media. You'll lose someone extremely close to you, and you'll be sad for a while. But you'll get through it and you'll be stronger than ever. You'll go to university and study something that you love and you'll be closer than ever with your family. You also fall head over heels in love with a boy that loves you exactly the way that you are.

My life is definitely not perfect, but I'm in a good place right now and I'm happy. I still have days when I feel down or self conscious, but compared to how I was at 14, I'm so much happier. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for me, but it's also nice to look back and be thankful for everything that has made me who I am today. 

'Get To Know Me' Tag: 21 Questions

The past few days have been pretty hectic, as I have now finished all my classes and only have my coursework and exam left to do! Unfortunately, the next few weeks are going to be extremely busy for me as I prepare for my exams and get ready to move back home. I can't believe how quickly my first year of university has gone by! So for this post, I thought I would do the "get to know me" tag, as I never really write very much about my personal life on here and I thought it would be nice to tell you guys a little bit about me.

1. Are you named after anyone? Not that I know of! When I was born, my mum was initially going to call me Amber, but for some reason she settled for 'Jade'. I think she must have had a thing for colours!

2. When was the last time you cried? A few days ago during a stressful conversation.

3. Do you have kids? No I don't.

4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself? I'd like to think so! I always try to be kind to everyone, so I'd like to think that I would like to be friends with myself.

5. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Probably more than the average person.

6. Will you ever bungee-jump? I'm not too sure about this one! I like to try new things, but the thought of throwing myself off a bridge doesn't really appeal to me.

7. What’s your favourite cereal? I don't really like cereal, but I'd have to say Coco Pops!

8. What’s the first thing you notice about people? It might sound silly, but I'm a really good judge of character, so I can usually tell as soon as I meet someone whether we're going to get on or not. 

9. What is your eye colour? Sometimes they're blue and sometimes they're green.

10. Scary movie or happy endings? It really depends on the film! I love a scary movie if it has a good story line, but I'm also a sucker for a good happy ending! Overall though, I'd probably have to go for scary movies.

11. Favourite smells? The smell of my boyfriend's Hollister aftershave. It always makes me feel comforted whenever I hug him and he's wearing it.

12. Summer or winter? Definitely Summer! I'm always in a much better mood when it's sunny outside.

13. Computer or television? Computer! I'm always on my laptop and I barely ever watch TV nowadays.

14. What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home? Probably when I went to Florida with my family.

15. Do you have any special talents? Not that I know of. I really wish I did though!

16. Where were you born? I was born in Germany.

17. What are your hobbies? Other than binge-watching multiple TV series' on Netflix, I don't really have any.

18. Do you have any pets? I have a rabbit, but I really want a puppy.

19. Favourite movie? Love Actually, Matilda, Titanic and Just Go With It.

20. Do you have any siblings? Yes - I have a younger brother.

21. What do you want to be when you grow up? Successful! I have no idea what job I want to do, but I really want to be successful. I'd also love a job that enables me to travel the world.

50 Things That Make Me Happy

In today's society, it seems common for people to focus on the negatives in life. Although I am guilty of doing this myself, I feel like we should be focusing more on what makes us happy and what we enjoy about life. As the cliché saying goes, "You Only Live Once", so we need to start living life to the fullest and appreciating all that we have. Whilst reading Thirteen Thoughts' blog, I stumbled across the "50 Things that make me happy" tag and wanted to give it a go. I hope you enjoy reading my 50 things, and that it maybe inspires you to also take a step back every now and then, and just take a moment to appreciate all the good things in life.

1. My family. Especially my mum as she is also my best friend.

2. My boyfriend. He has helped me become the person that I am today, and I am so grateful that he is a huge part of my life. He has the biggest heart of anyone that I've ever met. Every time that he looks at me, I wonder how I ever got so lucky. I love him with all of my heart.

3. Puppies. I don't have one (yet), but every time I see one, I get the overwhelming urge to want to play with it.

4. Travelling

5. Crisps (I think I might be addicted...)

6. Going to the cinema

7. Having a tidy bedroom

8. Sunny weather 

9. New makeup

10. Having an early night

11. Sunbathing on holiday

12. Driving 

13. Summer

14. Spending some time alone

15. The feeling of satisfaction when an assignment is finished

16. Seeing the squirrels running around campus

17. My laptop

18. Green tea (especially with honey)

19. Pay day

20. My Grandma and Grandad. Remembering the things we used to do together when I was younger always brings a smile to my face. I miss my Grandma more and more everyday.

21. Christmas

22. Ben and Jerry's "Phish Food" ice cream

23. Nachos at the cinema 

24. Long summer evenings spent with family and friends

25. Laughing uncontrollably

26. Walking along the beach as the sunsets

27. Hot chocolate with marshmallows

28. Jewellery - I blame this on working in a jewellers

29. Lush bath bombs

30. Looking back at old photos

31. Knowing that I've done something to make other people happy

32. Cosy nights in just cuddling and watching films with my boyfriend

33. Rom-coms

34. Catching up with friends

35. Getting my nails done

36. The smell of my mum's fresh laundry

37. My phone

38. Nights at home with my family

39. Visiting new places

40. Airports 

41. Reading a really good book on holiday

42. Going out for dinner

43. My pandora bracelet that my boyfriend bought me for my 18th birthday

44. Berkley (a stuffed dog toy also bought for me by my boyfriend).

45. City breaks

46. Buying new perfume

47. Finding the perfect gift for someone's birthday

48. Skinny vanilla latté's from Starbucks (Costa's aren't as good unfortunately)

49. Getting hooked on a really good TV series

50. My blog

My Travel Bucket List

It's no secret that I absolutely adore travelling. Visiting different cities and exploring new places is without a doubt one of my favourite things to do. Being a student can make travelling quite difficult, mainly because I lack the money, but also because I just don't have the time. Growing up, my parents would always take me abroad for our summer holiday. I was very lucky to be able to spend a week or two in different countries soaking up the sun all day. However, we never really did much exploring. We were very much the type of family who would lounge around the pool or go to the beach for the day. This was purely because my parents both work full time, and would therefore use their two weeks holiday as a time to chill out and completely relax. However, now that I have grown up and have entered the daunting stage of adulthood, I have discovered my passion for travelling.

In this post, I want to share with you all the places that I want to see before I die. Some of them are easier than others, however, my goal in life is to make sure that I see each and every one of one. So here goes:

1. New York

I'm sure it's of no surprise that one of the most famous cities in the world is at the top of my bucket list. New York City has always been somewhere that I long to visit. I want to walk through Times Square and have my photo taken at the top of the Empire State Building. From the exceptional skylines to the world famous Statue of Liberty, my ultimate goal is to visit this iconic city. 

2. Venice

To me, Venice is full of romance. Definitely somewhere I'd like to visit with my boyfriend one day. I'd love to walk along the canals hand in hand, or take a gondola ride through the beautiful streets. This one might have to wait a while, however, as it's no secret that Venice is particularly pricey.

3. Santorini

Santorini is known for it's clear sea, beautiful beaches and the architecture of it's buildings. But the thing I most want to see, is that famous sunset.

4. Budapest

Hungary's capital is full of culture and history. Of course, it isn't called the 'City of Baths' for nothing, so a trip to one of the cities famous pools is definitely on my to-do list.

5. Blue Lagoon, Iceland 

I think the picture speaks for itself. The geothermal pool is known as one of the wonders of the world, and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. One day, I aim to be one of them. A chance to bathe in such a beautiful spa would be an unforgettable experience.

6. Northern Lights

A bucket list wouldn't be complete without the Northern Lights. The chance to see the extraordinary colours light up the sky would be the experience of a lifetime. But I'd most like to view them from inside an igloo, as that would make the experience even more special.

7. Rome

Italy's capital is bursting with architecture and ancient ruins visited by millions every year. The Vatican City encompasses so much culture and art, and is also the home of the Roman Catholic Church. But the thing I would most like to visit, would have to be the Colosseum.

8. Prague

Prague's is famous for its baroque buildings and its Old Town Square. To me, Prague looks like a beautifully romantic city, and is also somewhere I'd love to go with my boyfriend. However, Prague is also known for being extremely cheap, which is probably why so many tourists flood the city every year.

9. Thailand

The tropical beaches and ornate temples are what draw me to this beautiful country. If I am ever lucky enough to visit Thailand, I most definitely want to visit an elephant sanctuary. What an experience that would that be.

10. Interrail around Europe

The final thing on my bucket list is to Interrail around Europe. Of course, this isn't really somewhere I'd like to 'visit', but it is definitely something I want to do. Once I finish my fourth year of university, my goal is to spend a month or two travelling around Europe. Interrail is the perfect way to do this, as the train enables you to travel from one country to another with ease, giving you the chance to see so many amazing countries, such as Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Hungary.

*I do not own any of the pictures featured in this blog post.