My Very Own Personalised Notebook!

With a name like Julianne, it's a real struggle to buy personalised items. When I was little and the likes of Jack, Amy and Emma would come in to primary school with their personalised rulers, calculators and keyrings I'd be a bit jealous. More recently, I tried and failed to get a Coca-Cola bottle with my name on it. Increasingly though, unique name spellings seem to be becomming more popular and there's a lot of us in the same boat. 

This is where Ryman comes in. Thank goodness for online shopping eh folks? They have recently launched a new line of personalised gifts including frames, notebooks and even wrapping paper. When I was asked if I wanted to try out my own personalised notebook* of course I jumped at the chance (you all know how much I love stationery!)

I have the black soft cover notebook, personalised with silver foil. I'm absolutely in love with it. Everything from the cover to the pages and page marker are a lovely quality. I think the typography on the front is especially beautiful. It actually resembles my own handwriting (weirdly) - being joined up and having the same 'J' that I do! The notebook is kept secure with an elastic closure which is useful for carrying it about in handbags to prevent it getting worn. There's a little elasticated pen holder on the side too - ideal if, like me, you always find yourself looking for a pen. It's nice that both these are also black so blend in with the cover. Thankfully, the pages are ruled so I won't go sweggy writing in it, and are ivory-coloured which looks so professional. Another plus: delivery was super-quick. I've noticed on the Ryman website that if you order by 6pm tonight Christmas delivery is guaranteed. This would definitely make a fabulous, unique present. 

I'm still musing over different things I can use this for. Does anyone else do that when they get a new notebook? It's definitely too special to just use for lecture notes. I'm thinking for goals, new year's resolutions or as a year planner since my current organiser has run out of space.  Maybe if I write out all my new year's intentions it will give me a bit of motivation. Since I finished uni for Christmas, I've done nothing but slob about, watch TV and drink tea. I think I've worked so hard over the last 12 weeks that my brain needs a while to rest. Ah well, if you can't be a sloth at this time of year, when can you?

*This notebook was sent to me for consideration for review, but all opinions are my own.

Wilko Have Done it Again!

You may remember in August last year I wrote this post raving about Wilkinson's gorgeous range of affordable stationary. Well you'll never guess what? They've gone and done it again and this time the range is, if possible, even cuter.

Project Book: £2.75 | Exercise Book: £1 | Colouring Book: £1| Desk Planner: £2

I'm an absolute stationary fiend and have been using my Wilko organiser religiously since the beginning of the year to keep track of my schedule and to do lists. There's nothing I like better than writing a list and getting organised because it makes me feel in control during the chaos that is a university semester. When I write things down, not only do I remember them, but I am so much more likely to actually get them done.

As summer approached, one of the things I was looking forward to was Wilkinson's new stationary collection (is that sad?). This new range, called 'Enterprising Britain' has a beautiful colour scheme of pink and mint; each page is fully lined and coloured; and there is an uplifting theme of positivity and affirmation. But the best part? Nothing in the range costs more than £4! I've said it before and I've said it again, I think the quality and design of Wilkinson stationary easily rivals more expensive brands. It took a lot of willpower not to buy the entire collection.

Have you bought any stationary from Wilko?

Ted Baker Makeup Bag DUPE £2.99

As you can probably tell from looking at my blog for two seconds, I am a sucker for anything dusty pink, vintage-looking, rose gold or floral (aren't all bloggers?) 

So, you can imagine my utter excitement when I was in Home Bargains of all places and spotted this makeup bag for only £2.99! It reminds me so much of something you'd see in Ted Baker - at only a fraction of the price. This was too good not to share. 

It is wipe-clean, has a rose pink lining, is the perfect size to hold all my makeup and has rose gold hardware. I hardly needed another makeup bag but who could say no at that price? Even the tag is cute and has a little 'To... From' if you want to give it as a gift. I imagine these will sell out fast.

A New Must Have: Mont Bleu Glass Nail Files*

Pink? Check. Sparkly? Check. You can just imagine my excitment when these little beauties arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. As a notorious nail biter, one of the only things that motivates me to grow my nails is having nice products to use on them. Usually, it is a new nail polish but now its Mont Bleu's Glass Nail Files* with -wait for it- Swarovski crystals 😍😍😍.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you've all had a lovely day. I forgot just how much I love Easter until I got lots of chocolate goodies this evening... yum! I've had lots going on lately - a broken laptop, crazy exam revision, work and a weekend in Manchester. Normal blogging service will resume shortly though. 

How did you spend the day? Do you have anything exciting planned this week?

Celebrating International Women's Day 2017

I hope you have all had a lovely and empowering day celebrating the lives and achievements of women across the globe. I for one have been tremendously inspired by things I've seen online today, from tweets encouraging women to stand together and support one another to Youtube videos sharing this year's IWD's theme : #BeBoldForChange. IWD commemorates the struggles women have faced in the past and encourages us to continue the movement for gender equality. Something that has been brought to my attention by this year's theme and really rings true in my own life is how women, more than men, tend to be unnecessarily apologetic for their success. In my own life, I play down my own achievements for fear of being labelled big-headed or arrogant. Its one thing being modest, but if you say that you're not good enough so many times, you begin to internalise it. Why do I play-down my achievements, passions and the causes I believe in when I should be proud of them? What would happen if I confidently expressed my thoughts and myself instead of constantly justifying myself? Would people judge me as arrogant? Or might they be interested or even inspired?

Gender equality is about choice, freedom, fairness, and crucially, not reducing women (or men) to one thing. I think this was really exemplified last week when Emma Watson's advocation of gender equality was criticised, or devalued, because she posed for Vanity Fair 'topless' (not really topless at all but showing a bit more boobage than usual - for shame! *rolls eyes*). Instead of taking Emma as a whole person she was solely depicted and judged her by her body. Supposedly, the way Emma presented herself contradicted and negated her views on gender equality. For me, this is completely and utterly missing the point of feminism and the fight for gender equality. Why are women constantly reduced to and judged by just one thing? Should we really have to dress a certain way to be taken seriously? Can we only be intelligent or beautiful? How many times does it need to be said? You can be a feminist and embrace your sexuality. You can wear high heels, and be intelligent, and be a feminist, and like men, and wear makeup. 

 I want to share with you some videos of women who have inspired me. Firstly, my favourite speaker, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who I was introduced to a couple of years ago. She approaches the topic of gender equality in such a reasonable, logical, everyday way that its impossible not to be engaged and convinced by her. And, since I've spoke so much about her, here is Emma Watson's 'He for She' UN speech and an excellent article by The Huffington Post explaining why we still need feminism.

On March 8th, and every other day of the year, be bold. Educate and empower yourself and others around you. Celebrate women's achievements of the past, the present, and all the achievements yet to come. 

What makes you proud to be a woman (or a man)? What women inspire you?

Wishlist

Believe it or not, I've been in the 'I don't need anything/ I have so much already' frame of mind for quite a few months now. I've not been buying makeup or many beauty products at all. Besides essentials like foundation, I have enough mascaras, eyeshadows, body lotions, etc. to keep me going for ages and Christmas has topped them up. I'm actually quite good at not buying things for the sake of it. Most of the time I just can't justify the cost (Ted Baker bag I'm looking at you). As a result, I accumulate quite a long list of 'maybe, maybe not' things I have my eye on in stores. Here's what's on it on at the moment:

Life Lately: A Catch Up & A Ramble

This week something completely unexpected, earth-shattering and incomprehensible happened: I submitted my two mid-term essays... 2 days early *gasp*. After worrying about how little time I had and how I didn't have a clue where to start, somehow I managed to get them done - and early. I'm odd. Since I've had a couple of well-deserved days off uni work, I've been trying to get back into blogging. It is always so strange delving back into the blogging community because everything seems to have moved on so much in only a few months. I don't know what twitter chats are still happening, what the latest hyped up products are or how platforms have changed. Its been 5 years since I started blogging but everytime I come back to it I feel completely out of the loop. Tonight I hung around the #bbloggers chat for half an hour and it was deserted - where is everyone?!

Free With 2 Skincare Products in Superdrug...!

Until the 7th of March when you buy 2 skincare products in Superdrug you get a

5ml Versace Fragrance for free! I just had to share it with you all because it always seems to be only the high end beauty counters that do freebies but Superdrug is really upping their game lately. If, like me, your a penchant for Simple skincare, Garnier Micellar water or even Superdrug's own brand Vitamin E range, now is the time to stock up. 

5 YEAR Blogiversary!!

Today marks FIVE whole years since I posted for the first time on Julz Obsessions. Half a decade- I can't quite believe it! Over that time, I've done my school qualifications, nearly 3 years at university, got my first part time job (and several others since), passed my driving test and learned a whole lot! 
 The best things about blogging so far have been being part of such a lovely community (even though I haven't done a blogger chat in ages - I'm here in spirit), mastering basic HTML (somehow), having something to look back on that I'm so proud of, improving my photography and discovering some amazing products and recommendations. The post I'm probably proudest of is this one that I wrote in summer 2014 about body confidence. It was quite different from what I normally write but it went down really well and its the type of thing I'd like to do more of. I also really liked putting together the 'Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone' post as so many different bloggers contributed to it and gave fantastic tips. I also love looking back at holiday pictures and update/ life lately posts. My first posts, especially the photos they come with, are so cringe but I like to leave them up for your amusement (and to see how far my technical skills have come). I do wish I'd been more consistent but after many failed attempts at it, I've come to accept that while uni is so demanding, I should focus on that and write lots when I have free time like in summer. I guess my hopes for the next few years is that, however sporadically, I continue to write and enjoy having such a fantastic hobby. 
Of course, before I go, I'd like to thank you! Thank you for reading, commenting and following. I've always said that I blog about things that interest me as my own little outlet but there is nothing nicer than one of you leaving a comment or tweeting me saying you like what I've written. I'm getting really mushy now so I'll stop. But thanks again and who knows, maybe I'll still be blogging in another 5 years!

Things That Make Me Happy

I always love reading 'What Makes Me Happy' posts so I thought I'd do one of my own. They're such a great way of noting and sharing positivity. For me, its the small things that make me most happy. 

First up- candles! I absolutely love them. These two scents, Yankee Pink Dragon Fruit and the Copenhagen Candle Company Fig & Herb are my all time favourites. I had the Fig & Herb candle a few years ago and its very associated in my mind with blogging. You can smell these around the whole house when they're lit. They last absolutely ages too. I definitely think there's something about having candles burning that makes a room so much more cosy and calming.

It isn't specifically just this book which makes me happy but rather the whole concept of mindfulness, meditation and having a positive outlook. I have been doing yoga since last January and I am totally addicted. It feels like I'm floating out the class afterwards and it is so good for strengthening the body and mind. In a world of smartphones, deadlines and constant distractions, I've never realised how amazing it feels to be present in the moment and focus on something so simple as breathing. After reading The Secret a few years ago I'm also very interested in the law of attraction, visualisation and positive affirmation. 

Something that never fails to make me happy is sleeping. My mum made me this gorgeous crochet blanket last winter and it is the cosiest thing ever. I wear it round my shoulders when I'm cold like a little old lady. I love being tucked up with a snack reading or watching something. In uni when we're doing the ice breaker 'what's your hobby' people answer really impressive things like 'playing the piano' or 'charcoal painting'. I say: 'lying down and watching tv' - #slothlife. 

I've been meaning to share this gorgeous Victoria's Secret makeup bag with you all for such a long time. I got it at the Glasgow Airport store for around £12. Truth be told, I definitely didn't need another makeup bag but I have a weakness for Victoria's Secret things. It's so lovely that I've actually just displayed it in my room since I bought it. I do that quite often with really beautiful products- use them as decor. 

Let me know in the comments what makes you happiest :)