October Love List

Heya buddies, 

Another month of 2015 is over - these posts make me realise how fast the year goes. Freaky how with my posts being a Wednesday and Saturday and its the very last day of the month - like that seems like a great coincidence to me. 

Instead of freaking out that its nearly Christmas, lets reminisce and look back on this month.

What I Watched:

(Fave TV Programme or Film)

This month would have to be Suits. I started watching this a while back but then life got in the way and I couldn't spend days and nights watching all the seasons I had missed on Netflix. I am now just finished season 3 and am away to start season 4. Ever time I watch it, I realise I wound be useless as a lawyer. Harvey and Mike in a suit… mmmmm yes please! Screw Mr Grey, I want Mr Specter. You just got Litt up! 

What I Snapped:

(Fave Photo)

This would be the photo from an October walk me and Chris did on the Deeside Line in Aberdeen. It was a lovely warm day and all the colours were starting to change from the green to the autumnal golds and oranges. It was a 6 mile walk by the end of it so a very active day for me with my back. 

Who I Loved:

(Fave Person) 

Well this one is easy this month as on the 9th it was 4 years that this nutter decided he wanted to keep me in his life as his better half. We’ve been through so much together and I genuinely don't know what I would do without him. Its been one hell of a year so far but I know that with him by my side I will get through it. Soppy couple moment I know but its true. 

What I Wore:

(Fave Piece of Clothing) 

Favourite but not the most fashionable, my RGU sports hoodie. I am almost finished at uni but I have wanted to get this for a while cause I’m cool like that. It is so freckin comfortable and cosy! I don't care if its not in the fashion mags, if you were as comfy as I am now then you would love it too! Who doesn't love a big baggy hoodie?!

What I Ate:

(Fave Food)

FIVE GUYS - EASY! If you haven't tried it yet - do and you will  understand!

What I Heard:

(Fave Song) 

Fight Song by Rachel Platten. What a motivational tune this is. I heard it one day and loved the tune and then listened closer to the lyrics and BOOM fave song! It’ll come on either on my Apple Music playlist or the radio or even just in my head and I cant help but belt it out. Don't know much of her music but this is defiantly worth being on the Love List. 

What I Used:

(Fave Product)

I recently bought my first ever Urban Decay products and I am glad I am now an UD’r. I got two products but the one I am choosing to put in my Love List. The Urban Decay Eye Shadow Potion Primer in the shade Eden. I haven't used eye shadow primers before but was tempted as I found through out the day the colour on my eyes would fade or clump together - not a good look. Found the Urban Decay counter in Frasers in Glasgow and though - why not?! And here we are. I would defiantly recommend this if any one is having the same issues. There are a few different shades and even an anti-aging one so find whats best for you and the look you want. 

That was my October Love List. Do any of you have these love’s in common? Let me know!

Keep Smiling…

x

#beeyou 

Happy Hello's & Tuesday Fun

HELLOOO EVERYONE!

A very excited hello from a happy little me. So I don't really have a topic in mind for this post so I think I am just gonna do a wee post about what my weeks been like - particularly today. Which I guess would be yesterday for everyone as it is Tuesday night and this post will be going up tomorrow. 

Today I spent the day with some of my closest friends having a right old girly day bridesmaid dress shopping. Not for me before everyone wonders but for my friend Hannah whose sister is getting married. Now, I am not a huge dress shopper type of gal but I couldn't pass off the opportunity spending the day with some bestie getting one of them ready for an exciting day in her families life. 

I could go on about how the day was and what we did but it is pretty self explanatory. We went to shops and she tried on dresses. There was lots of pulling and pushing and trying to find heads in multiple layers of fabric. If you’ve ever tried on dresses, you will understand. 

I guess what I loved most about today was, for the whole day, I didn't once have a panic attack or think about everything that has been stressing me out. It was a totally chilled out day - yay! For anyone who is going through a difficult time I would absolutely recommend a girly day. Even if its not completely your thing, getting out and doing something and having fun has made me feel awesome. It felt easier cause the attention wasn't on me, it was on Hannah. This made it easy to relax more as I didn't have to worry about people asking me loads of questions or worrying about keeping a happy face, it was just me being me. Yawns and all. 

Back to work tomorrow for a 7 day stint but got a good bunch of friends that I work with so will be an awesome week. 

Hope you all have had an awesome week and look forward to the rest of it.

Checking in again on Saturday, hopefully!

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou 

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Heya guys!

Hope you’re all well and good. Its been a busy old week as it feels like it is every week. Work, work, work is my main thing at the moment. Blessing and a curse I guess. Takes my mind off things but then, it takes my mind off things. Joys.

So, in my last post I spoke about happiness. Something that we can control. Like I said, easier said than done - totally get that. This post is going to be on decisions and decision makings.

Ask anyone who knows me, I struggle so much with making decisions. Even if its something as simple as choosing something for dinner, I just feel like I can’t do it. Unfortunately, life decisions include but are not restricted to dinner plans.  Every so often, you will come to a moment where a big decision needs to be made. If you are anything like me, this thought it terrifying. 

I am currently at a stage in my life where a big decision has to be made. This isn't the first time a big decision has come along but as I’ve been growing up, the decisions seem to become more important so therefore harder to make. Decisions like picking what subject to take for standard grade seemed easy when it came to picking my highers. Deciding what to do when school finished seemed near impossible to do at the time. It sounds mad but I find it easy to go along with what people suggest than try and figure out whats best for me - something that I, so far, have managed to get by with doing. Not anymore. 

Letting my decisions be ultimately made by others has not been the way I should have lived my life and I would encourage any of you who are reading this and finding you and myself have something in common to push yourself to make more decisions each day that are entirely yours. I haven't made decisions based on what I want and what would make me happy. When I reflect back on my life and some of the decisions that were made, it is easy to see how I tried to make the people around me happy as oppose to myself. Due to this, I am now having to make a decision that has to be 100% for me or else things may go very wrong. 

This blog, not just this post but this entire blog, is based around encouraging others to be themselves. Time for me to take some of my own advice. How can I encourage others to be themselves if I’m not being me? Time for change. 

Family and friends are always around to help support and offer advice on decisions but make sure we are all taking the time to think about what is best for ourselves. Its easy to take advice, go with it then find somewhere to point the blame at if everything doesn't work out just right. I would be lying if I didn't admit that is probably why I take peoples opinions and roll with them. 

So, while I am making this decision, I am finding it easiest to post my thoughts and feelings on here. Gives me time to think about what I wanting to say and why I am wanting to say it. 

Hope you all have a great week,

Speak soon,

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou

Happiness

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light..” - Albus Dumbledore 

As a Harry Potter fan, Dumbledore’s wise words of wisdom will always pop into my head when needed. This quote I found quite fitting for this post…

When you type “being happy” into the grand old  Google search, the top results are articles like;

- 10 Ways to be Happy

- 12 Ways to Keep a Happy Life

- 25 Things That Are Preventing You From Being    Happy

I was looking online and was fed up of seeing lists like this telling us how to be happy or trying to make us the reason as to why we aren't and what we could do to make it right. 

Happiness isn't something we can measure by crossing things off a list and expecting our lives to take some unexpected turn to happiness. One thing that comes up repeatedly when reading these or talking to people and asking how they can be happy are based around achievements. Goals such as earning more money, getting a bigger house, more respect at work, finding “The One”. Understandable goals and things to aim for in life and you can easily see why people will think these things can make them happy. When you flip it into worries of the day they usually revolve around these issues. Money, work, possessions and love. 

Now, I would be straight out lying if these weren't worries I had and goals I want to work towards. Who wouldn't want more money or having someone to share your life with - if you find someone send them my way to share their tips! Where I struggle with these is that people measure them against how happy they are. There is the phrase; “Money can’t buy you happiness” followed by; “Yeah but it can buy you a penguin. Have you ever seen a sad person who owns a penguin?”. Of course money can buy you things that will be a quick fix but in the long term - it wont necessarily make you happy. Happiness isn't something we should measure by the most money or the longest relationship or even the new promotion at work. Happiness is something that is inside us and that we have the controls over no matter what is going on around us. For example, today I have spent all day inside watching TV and wondering how I am going to cope until payday with less that £30 in the bank. Awful right? Wrong. I have spent the day in some jogger bottoms, a comfy hoodie, no bra watching chick flicks and the rugby with Chris. In my eyes, bliss! Yes I am worried about money and know I would have been doing something else had it been pay weekend but its not made me any less happy today. 

This post isn't to be a telling off to people and saying I do things better. All it I am trying to say is that we can make each and everyday end with a smile if we find and remember the reasons we smile at the little things. 

To end on another quote;

“I am in charge of how I feel today and today I am choosing happiness” - Unknown

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou

Just Breathe...

Hey everyone,

Again - its been a while. Thank you to all the readers for checking out my page even while its been quiet. Things as usual have been hectic and for the first time in my life I experienced something I have heard about and seen on websites and TV but never been affected by it myself - a panic attack. 

I didn't really know what it was when it was happening. I have a big decision to make and time is running out to make it. It’s been a good couple of months since I’ve known about what may happened but I’ve just been burying my head in sand - FYI, not a good move. There have been a few times in the past month where someone has brought something up about it and I got a sense of claustrophobia and an increase in breathing rate. I didn't really think anything of it and just carried on. I knew I was nervous and I suffer from asthma so thought it would just be the combination of the two that affected me. 

Then a couple of weeks ago the thought of time running out caught up with me. I had a conversation with my family and it didn't go very well on my side. That evening was when the full on panic attack happened. I was lying in bed, trying to get to sleep so I could forget about everything and I got asked the simple question of “how are you feeling?” and I don't remember much else in-between. I got suddenly felt really sick, my breathing increased. It was as though the fight or flight response had started. I wanted to run and hide but I felt completely stuck. My body tensed and I felt really cold so started shivering but I was warm. I couldn't talk, I couldn't think. I wanted to cry but couldn’t. It lasted about 10-15 minutes although felt like hours. 

When my breathing slowed and my body started to relax my mind was still reeling. Even to this day I feel my heart rate and breathing increase. I had never experienced anything close to this before in my life. I wondered if it had been a panic attack but felt like I couldn't label it with a term I know can be thrown about. I spoke to a few of my closest friends and, of course, Chris who thought it could have been. I am tempted to phone and make a doctors appointment, I need to about my back anyway so could throw the two together I guess. 

I know this has been quite a personal post, the joy of having a blog is it gives you the opportunity to put whats going on in your head and life on paper (well, almost) and relieve some of the anxiety around it. As my Grampa used to say, “A worry shared is a worry halved”. 

Ending my post as I always do, as a reminder to myself as well as to anyone who reads this..

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou

September Is Almost Over.. Love List Time!

Hey everyone, 

So its that time again. Another month gone, another step closer to the end of 2015! Can you belive its gone this quick?!

So I thought, as per tradition for bloggers, to write about their favourite things of the month before. I am going to do it the form of a love list. Not sure what that is, take a peek below..

What I Watched:

(Fave TV Programme or Film)

This would have to be the new TV programme “Hunted” that’s on channel 4. For anyone who doesn't know what it is, it is basically a select group of people who are going on the run from the government. They have agreed to try and avoid capture by British Intelligence for 28 days. They are called as fugitives and in some cases a reward is in place for those in the public that can help. Communication with family and friends is a risk, every part of their lives examined and analysed, completely blind to where the “Hunters” are. Easy peasy right?

What I Snapped:

(Fave Photo)

Now this was a tough one. September has been so busy with so many memories created and pictures taken its hard to narrow it down to just one.. so instead I’m gonna cheat and use a collage of pictures. I used this photo in my last blog as it was a snapshot of what I’ve been doing in September. Birthdays, balls and anniversaries - all round a September full of love and laughs. What more could one ask for?

Who I Loved:

(Fave Person)

This is also a difficult one as I have some many favourite people in my life and to narrow down to just one is near impossible. I decided I would choose one of my very most favouritist person’s and one of my best friends Rachel. I met her at uni last year and think its safe to say we are gonna be in this for the long haul. She has been my rock the past year and I am so lucky I can call her one of my best friends. Unfortunately, with uni coming to an end and her starting her grown up job in the real world we haven't been able to see each other as much (end of an era). Buuut she's always just a call or text away. Love you Bumface - miss you lots.

What I Wore:

(Fave Piece of Clothing)

It would have to be my new Superdry bag. I actually only got this the other day but I’ve had my eye on it since last month just couldn't afford it. Payday has arrived and with it came the arrival of my bag. I love it! Not much of a pink person but with the grey I think it is beautiful. Bit of Spring and Winter in the design with flowers and snowflakes - an all year long bag! 

What I Ate:

(Fave Food)

If any of you follow me on Instagram (link at the side) you will have seen this photo already. It is a prawn linguine. Chris was actually the one who made it so I can't take credit it for all of it but I did cut the tomatoes! It was delicious. He actually say Jim Chapman make it in a video and decided he wanted to try it to. For someone who doesn't eat a lot of fish - this was amazing! Thanks Jim!

What I Heard:

(Fave Song)

Hmmm. I am awful for just listening to m iTunes and never hearing any new songs so this was a challenge. After some consideration and a lot of YouTube browsing I would have to say my favourite song of September would be have to “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams. I did in fact know this song before scrolling through YouTube. I love the tune and the lyrics. Just so catchy - first name is free, last name is dom! Who wouldn't love that?! Smashed it as usual Mr Williams. 

What I Used:

(Fave Product)

The Original Tangle Teezer. Again, this is another post payday purchase. I had seen my cousin use one while we were away and had heard some good things about them so thought I would try it out for myself. I get unbelievably tangled hair, its thin but there is lots of it and with it moving to windier and colder months, it just becomes a nightmare. I have absolutely loved using it. It makes me hair so soft and stops me brushing half of it out with tugs. Recommend it 100%! Already planning on giving it for a Christmas prezzie!

That was my September Love List. Do any of you have these love’s in common? Let me know!

Keep Smiling…

x

#beeyou 

Back to Blogging - Update on Life

Hey everyone, 

Sorry its been a while since my last post I’ve had a pretty mental September so far so just haven’t had the time to write a blog or edit/film a video so my apologies.

I thought I would just do a short blog to let you know what life has been like recently and just a catch up with you all! 

Hope you’ve all had a great September - I can’t believe its already almost over, the dark nights are creeping in! Guess that means time to get the boots on, the scarfs ready and the blankets warmed up. Living in Scotland means we tend to have seasons of cold, slightly less cold, a day of sunshine and winter! You’d think having lived here for 21 years I’d be used to it but nope, still not ready to give up the sunshine and summer nights. Least Pumpkin Spice Lattes area back - still haven’t had my first one so need to get my butt to Starbucks!

My life this month has been pretty busy. I had two family birthdays and my graduation ball within the first 3 weekends, this one is going to be the first with nothing on except work. Its been busy but fun seeing everyone. I have a huge family (as I mentioned in my 21 Things blog) so there was a whole heap of catching up to be had with everyone. I have cousins that live over in Denmark so I don't get to see them often and everyones growing up so fast it makes you realise how much you need to appreciate each moment with the people you love.

Oh soppy much! Moving on.. I have been busy with work recently so feel like I’ve missed out seeing my buddies for a while but hopefully now the busy month is over I’ll have some more time. As much as I am sad to see the sunshine go, I can’t help but get excited about the winter months. I am a total seasons greeting type of person. Also, HALLOWEEN! I was in Hobbycraft the other day (which is like an arts and crafty shop) and they had a whole section for Halloween. It reminded me of when I was a kid and used to go to friends house for Halloween parties playing games and eating LOADS of sweets! Why is it not acceptable to do this as a grown up?!  No fair. 

On another note, I have been thinking about getting fit and eating healthy. I have a bad back, as you guys will get sick of me saying, so sometimes I feel like a 91 year old lady waiting for her zimmer frame to help her walk and I as talking to my dad who always has wanted me to lose wait for my health and I think seeing me sore makes him want me to get fit even more - its how he shows me he loves me, ranting about things. So I am going to try and make an effort to eat better and get to the gym (or rather swimming cause I prefer that) and I think one thing that will help will be blogging about it so if you guys have any tips or tricks or even motivational things that have helped you get through something tough let me know - I’d love all the support I can get to get me there! 

So yeah, thats been my life this month. Sorry I’ve not been around much but hoping to get back on track now! 

Speak soon,

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou

Study Smart - Tips and Tricks for Back to School/University

Welcome back my fellow Busy Bee's,

Today I decided to do a blog on going back to school and or university and the tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years. 

Now, if you are as big a HP fan as I am, the 1st of September was always a sad day as yet again I was not standing on Platform 9 and 3/4, waiting for the Hogwarts Express to take me to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So to get rid of those end of summer and I'm not a witch blues I thought  these tips would help. 

TIP NUMBER 1 - Be Organised

The reason this is tip number 1 is that I ALWAYS worried about going back to school. From Primary 1 all the way up to 6th Year and the thing that helped me the most was being organised. Over the many many years of starting a new year at school one thing I loved was getting stationary. It made the whole going back to school nerves just a little bit better knowing I would then have the opportunity to show off my new school bag and pencil case with matching folders. There is no feeling to describe the feeling of starting a new notebook - for those fellow stationary lovers out there, you’ll know the feeling. Another thing to help with that first day is getting your clothes laid out and ready. In school it was easier cause we had a uniform and you roughly knew what you would be wearing each day - university was a slightly different morning routine. So before starting each new semester, I would go shopping for a new couple of new outfits (any excuse right) and lay out my favourite for my first day and so on and so forth. Again, more stuff to show off and get excited about with friends when you start that first day.

TIP NUMBER 2 - Plan Ahead

This would have to be one of my biggest tip for anyone starting back at school or uni. With a new year comes a fresh start to how we learn and prepare for the course layout ahead. Every year I would promise myself I would be more organised, to this day I wish I got better at it. The amount of times I spent franticly trying to finish an essay, starting my day in the library at 8am and not leaving till well after midnight and doing it all again the next day. It is not a good way to work and I would desperately urge any (if not all) of you reading this to plan ahead for any assignments or essays you have to do, even if it is just reading that one chapter of the book or looking up a couple of articles for the essay - it will help you so much when it comes to the dreaded submission date. We all get timetables, make sure you do the work for the class before you arrive, it’ll make the lesson/lecture a lot easier and if the teacher ask’s you to answer a question then you’ll have some idea what they are chatting about..

TIP NUMBER 3 - Friends, Fun & Being Yourself

My final tip for getting back into studying is the best. Make friends and have fun! Sounds corny but its totally true. Although we are there to study and learn, part of that is making those friends you’re gonna have for life. All throughout school I struggled to make friends and just in my final years I made friends that I know are gonna be there for a very very long time. And the same goes for university. I’m not saying their wont be tears and tough times but they will become a distant memory and situations you can look back and laugh at, it may take time but you can and will make some of the happiest memories of your life while studying. Hopefully there won’t be a crazy dark lord to ruin the school and want to kill everyone in the last year (had to throw a HP reference in - its the 1st of September) but there will be situations similar I can bet you. All of these heartbreaks, temper tantrums, late night stressing and drunken heart to hearts with the random girl you met in the bathroom toilets (university students will understand) will lead you closer and closer to discovering who you are and what you are meant to do. When we are at school and even university, we are still so young with so much to learn. Change your mind, then change it back then take time out and work to save for a gap year - whatever it is, make sure you are smiling when you look back. It will not be smooth sailing but hopefully with these 3 tips and tricks, you’ll get there.

Monsters University, Pixar

Good luck and have fun..

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou

My Daily Make-Up Routine

Hello again everyone,

(I feel I should call you all Bumble Bee's or maybe Bumblers!.. hmmm.. food for thought)

Hope you all had a great weekend and a fabby start to the week, for those who work hope it wasn't too bad a start and for those going back to school I hope you all have a great new term! 

Today’s blog is going to be a typical beauty blog. 

Making My Face Pretty Everyday! 

YAY!

There will be a video on my YouTube Channel to go along side this blog post where you will see me putting on my make up (don’t be too scared of the bland face - beauty sleep is just sleep for me).

Should probably mention this just in case, I am no expert in make-up or what works best for different types of skin. My products and reviews on them is completely personal opinion and based on loads of trial and error over the year. Everyone has a different skin texture and what works well on my skin may not be great for you but I'm all for “don’t knock it till you try it” so any suggestions you guys have - let me know!

MY FACE;

Prep: I always start off my make up routine with some moisturiser. I used to be really bad with my skin and how I looked after it but a few months ago a friend of mine introduced me to the Vitamin E collection from Body Shop and I loved how gentle it was on my skin and how soft it made it feel. I am one of many who suffer a very oily t-zone but I can get dry skin on my cheeks. For years it was difficult to find something that worked well and helped both. The vitamin E moisturise I use daily, morning and night and it gives me a great base to work my foundation on and a rehydration after taking it all off at the end of the day. 

Primer: I usually only pop some primer on my skin when I am wearing quite a heavy foundation or if I’m going out for a party or filming a video…

Foundation: I have recently just purchased the Rimmel London, Wake Me Up foundation. I was looking for something that I could wear daily that wouldn't be too heavy on my skin but still give a good amount of coverage for my wonky bits. I use the colour Ivory which I was surprised about as I thought I had a slightly darker tone but its actually just my red cheeks shining through and the ivory colour gives me a good base to work on for contour etc. 

Contour: I use a M.A.C Matte Bronze Bronzing Powder. Cause I’ve got wee chubby cheeks its important to get that definition AND it makes me look like I have some colour to me which is always a bonus! 

Blush: Whilst I was looking for my Wake Me Up foundation I stumbled across this beauty which is the Max Factor 

Highlighter: Make-Up Academy is a brand I am very new to. I usually shop in Boots and they (I don't think) have any MUA products - well the one in Aberdeen doesn't anyway. My friend introduced me to them on a day shopping and I came across this lovely shimmery whitey gold highlighter (Iridescent Gold) that gives a lovely sparkle to my face - Sparkle Sparkle! 

Powder: So to set all my face make up, I choose to use the M.A.C Mineralize Powder in the colour Medium. I don't do this with all foundations, like with my primer, if I have heavier make up on I will apply my powder straight after to (again) make it last longer! 

MY EYES;

For the look I have chosen to do I start with a gold base colour. This really brings out the brown pigments in my eyes and helps dazzle people with the sparkles - apparently I’m all about the sparkle today! I use the M.A.C Amber Times Nine palette and the 3 colours Creative Copper (Gold), Aromatic (Brown), and to finish the Pepper, Please (Brown/Black Shimmer). And finish it off with my Maybelline New York Colossal Volume Express Waterproof Mascara (Black) - woah! That was a mouthful!!  

MY LIPS; 

To give this look the final finish I always pop on a bit of lippy. The one I used for this look was the M.A.C Viva Glam in the colour VI (which I did figure out means 6 - fewf). I went into M.A.C in Aberdeen and searched for a colour I could wear regularly that would work with most eye colours and not be too BAM and this is what I got. I find it gives me a lot of moisture with very minimal application and its so versatile that you can add more for a darker lip or just a light layer for a soft lip - completely up to you. I see it as the lipstick for every mood. 

And there you have it guys, this blog goes along side my YouTube video for “My Daily Routine” so check it out (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2McG53yG_w)

Hope you enjoyed this (longer than expected) blog!

Keep tuning in if you did and as always..

Keep smiling..

x

#beeyou