September Haul

I have convinced myself that since I'm going back to uni soon, and (ahem) won't have time to spend money, I should spend my summer earnings now. Anyway, I need lots of new outfits for going back. I'll go to any lengths to justify spending.  Jeans are always a tricky item to buy. Usually either they don't get past my thighs or they are massive at the waist so when I find a style I like, I always buy multiple pairs. I've always wanted a pair of Topshop jeans but when I tried on a pair of Jonis a few years ago they were disastrous. I hadn't even considered that other styles would be a totally different story. I'm now in love with the Leigh and Jamie jeans. I struggle to get my size in store or online so when I seen 2 pairs I just went ahead and bought them both (with a slight tear in my eye at the till). I also really love the Zara basic range. For simple tshirts, you don't pay much more than Primark and you get better material, fit and quality. 
I saw the Barry M lipliners recommended on a Youtube video a couple of weeks ago and since I'm pretty obsessed with brown lip products at the moment, I picked one up for £2.99. While I was in Superdrug, I stocked up on my favourite Simple skincare products as they were on special offer and came with a free Vaseline. I also bought MUA's Pixel Perfect bronzer. I've used their Mosaic Bronzer for years and love it but it seems to have been discontinued (cry) so I've decided to embrace its replacement. Finally, I had a voucher for a No7 Match Made lipstick from the bonus-time summer box. The woman at the counter done a skin tone analysis and gave me a little information card with the shades that best suit me. I've already mentioned my love for brown lipsticks at the moment so I used my voucher to get 'Spiced Latte' worth £9.95! 
All in all, it was actually a pretty sensible shopping trip as I see myself getting plenty of use out of all of this.
What have you bought lately? 

Collective Haul

First off- apologies for the shoddy picture quality. This is what happens when you haven't blogged properly in months and good habits are forgotten (don't even get me started on the amount of new products I've forgotten to take pictures of before I've used them)!
I came across this picture on my phone and thought I'd give a little run down of what I bought on a recent (ish) shopping trip. The top, skirt and necklace were what I wore on my birthday night out and I absolutely love them. A-line skirts are an absolute favourite right now. I think they're a really good shape on me; so much so that I've since bought this  same skirt in khaki. It was actually my mum who pointed out this necklace in Primark after me going on about how much I needed statement necklaces (after watching so much Gossip Girl). Compared to the ones I had been looking at in H&M which were all well over £10, this was a bargain and its really pretty. I always fear that Primark jewellery will break within one wear but this necklace has held up well as I've now worn it a few times. 
I also picked up some holiday bits. You can't go wrong with the sunglasses in Primark for £1 or £2: I buy a few pairs each year; they're cute and it doesn't matter if they break. These sandals were only around £4 and I wore them every single night on holiday- well worth it. As for beauty things from Superdrug I bought nail polish remover as a means of preventing myself biting polish off, Vitamin E Superbalm for cuticles and lips and Eyelure 101's- my favourite going out lashes. 

Christmas Presents!

I've absolutely loved reading everyone's 'What I Got For Christmas' posts. I hadn't planned on doing one of my own so I put some of my presents away before I took pictures. However, I did photograph the beauty related presents in the off-chance that I'd blog about them. I am so thankful for each and every present. I see a lot of pamper nights in the near future with all these lovely bath and body products. Special thanks to Melanie for the amazing gift (second picture) which I managed to keep until Christmas day (sheer will power!) I am beyond excited to try the Wet n Wild palette. I hope you all had a great Christmas.

Autumn Fashion & Makeup Haul

I'll admit it: the prospect of starting uni as well as my excitement for autumn and poring over high street shops' websites for hours finally got to me and I went on a bit of a blow out. You might look at this and think 'you were quite restrained' or, you might be on the 'omg you got all this on one shopping trip?!' camp. For me, this is way more than I'd usually haul but in my opinion, its justified by the above reasons and by the fact it was mostly paid for by the tips I'd been saving for months. 

Apologies for the less-than-great picture quality. I thought it was better to hang what I could up so you could see it better. My camera also decided to run out of charge so today's snaps are 50% camera, 50% iPhone- eugh.

Superdrug: Sleek Palette £9.99 / MUA Palette £4 Boots: Natural Collection 2 for £3.50 New Look: Coat £44.99 (£49.99 without student discount) Primark: Pink Jumper £8 / Grey Charcoal Cardigan £12 / Grey Charcoal Shoes £4 / Grey Gold Scarf £4 / Black Chiffon Blouse £8 / Super High Waist Skinny Jeans £10
Its safe to say that I am so excited to wear all of this and be all cosy for the approaching season. I had an absolute rush of happiness the other day when I first noticed the leaves on the ground (probably also fuelled by the shopping buzz).
I should probably get off to sleep now and try and rid myself of what I think is freshers flu. In all honesty I thought it was a myth/ I would definitely be immune since I'm living at home but general tiredness and a throat which feels sliced have gotten the better of me. 
If you'd like to see any Freshers/ starting uni themed posts be sure to let me know. I currently have a stationery one in the pipeline. Also leave a comment telling me what you've been hauling lately.

Lisbon Haul

Hey Everyone!
One of my priorities when visiting somewhere new is finding out what the shops have to offer. There's something really exciting about shopping in a place which is completely different from what you're used to. In Lisbon, I found many of the same shops I loved in Barcelona, but this time round I only spent a few hours of the holiday shopping as there weren't as many. A stand out was definitely Stradivarius. This clothes shop seems to be really big in Europe but for some reason we don't have it in the UK. I spent a lot of time in there and liked the vast majority of what they had. The only problem was the fitting room scenario: scorching heat, fluid retention and being covered top to toe in sun cream- safe to say I found myself in quite a pickle trying to get some dresses on and off. 

I loved these floral printed trousers (€19.95) so much that I had to buy the exact same pair in two different prints. They are both really light weight and perfect for this time of year. I've wanted some thing yellow since the beginning of the season but until now I hadn't seen anything I thought would suit me. I'm still not sure if this bright yellow will go with my skin tone but for €3.99 sale I thought I'd buy it to suppress my craving. It is a light, baggy crop top and it sits really nicely on. Another clothing item I've sought for ages is a white skirt and this tulip skirt (€15.95) is a beautiful shape and fits the bill nicely. Finally the white knitted jumper (€19.95) is really cute on and will be perfect for this unpredictable weather and into next season too.
My next major haulage was from Tiger. We do have Tiger in the UK, I recently discovered it in Glasgow, but the one in Lisbon is double the size. It is similar to IKEA but minus the furniture, add lots of stationary and crafts. 

I've decided to use some of the time I have left this summer to try a variety of new hobbies. I'll be posting about each one but most of the stuff I picked up in Tiger was to get me going with those. Its really inexpensive and is one of those places you just want to buy everything. 

I then bought miscellaneous from a few different places. There is a big department store in Lisbon called El Corte Inglés and in the beauty department was a Sephora (hallelujah!) which actually had a sale on (hallelujah! x2). I got their own brand of primer for €4 and this minature Nails Inc trio for €5. They also have an amazing stationary department where I found this super cute notebook. There are lots of small independent shops in side streets and my mum and I found a very reasonably priced jewellery making store. Finally, I bought a post card made out of cork purely for the novelty.
I actually spent less than I anticipated on holiday which works out well as I now have extra euros left over for Greece. 

Matalan Beach Buys

Hey Everyone!
For me, when 'high street shops' are mentioned, I automatically think of around 5 well known, regularly hauled and hyped names. Topshop for those treat purchases, Primark for affordable basics and the odd treasure find, and so on. In all honesty, until a few weeks ago, if Matalan was mentioned, I would automatically think of clothes for older ladies and kids. How wrong I was. I popped in out of interest and was very pleasantly surprised. 

On my first trip I bought the royal blue bottom mismatched bikini. I like that the top and bottoms are sold separately as I am often a different size on top than on bottom and sometimes I like to switch up patterns. I also went in after work a couple of days ago for a quick look about in the hope they might have a few beach essentials. Their summer sale is now on and its absolutely brilliant. For £15 I got the aztec bandeau bikini top, tortoise bottoms, a beach towel and the beach bag! Matalan is definitely the place for last minute holiday bargains. I would absolutely recommend popping in- their range completely surpassed my expectations. 
Have you shopped in Matalan lately? Have you found any luckies?

Summer 2014 Primark Haul

Hey Everyone!
When I initially set out to do this post, it was going to be a collective haul but in the process of picture taking I realised that I've bought enough from Primark over the past few weeks to justify a whole post of its own. Primark hauls (both videos and blog posts) are probably my favourites as it gives you a chance to see whats in store. 
I've been buying mainly for my holidays to Portugal and Greece (which are both really soon woo!). I try not to spend too much on summer clothes because I don't get a whole lot of wear out of them as the Scottish weather is so unpredictable (though for once this year it has been pretty decent). I've also found myself going around Primark picking up random bits and bobs and thinking 'I'll find somewhere to wear that!'.

My most recent purchases are the pink playsuit (£14), printed trousers (£11) and foil tee (£8). I love the playsuit and trousers- they're both surprisingly comfortable and they don't look like they're from Primark at all (although I have a feeling that the trousers will be seen on everyone and their granny in the next few weeks). I was, and still am, a little uncertain about the foil top as something about it reminds me of wrapping paper. 
I've never noticed in previous years but this summer Primark's range of swimwear is fab. I personally don't see the point in spending over £30 on a bikini in Topshop (although they are gorgeous) if you're just going to wear it a couple of times when you can get one for just over £10 in Primark. I can't remember exact prices for the rest of my loot because its been a while since I bought it but I think the sunglasses were all between £2 and £3. The cami tops (<£4) are really light and comfortable although I do feel the need to wear a strapless bra underneath rather than having straps showing. I loved the colours of the tropical top (~£4) although its a bit see through. As you can see, I've been suffering a bit of an addiction to the printed shorts. These are loose and pyjama-like which is perfect for the warm weather and paired with one of the cami tops they make a cute, lightweight outfit. Finally, the denim shorts £10 are a really good fit and are similar to ones for treble the price in Topshop. Also worth mentioning, but not photographed, is my new silicon mint phone case which I got for only £1. Considering the difficulty I've faced trying to get a reasonable priced cover- I thought I'd share. Despite Primark's affordable prices, my bank account is still crying itself to sleep at night after all this. The same cannot be said for me though- I'm so excited to wear it.
What have you picked up in Primark lately?

Another Spring Primark Haul

Hey Everyone!

As promised (if a little late) here is what I've bought in Primark recently. This is quite a random selection of bits and bobs: they're mostly for summer/ holidays. You see I went into Primark before work a few weeks ago and I wanted pretty much everything I saw. But you know what always happens in these situations. I'd forgotten my purse. So, the next week I went in: card at the ready, and treated myself.

The first thing I spotted was this ditsy floral playsuit. Its very floaty on top (usually the opposite of what I'd go for) but it was a good price (about £10) and I'm a lover of playsuits in general, so I just had to get it. Its actually very nice on too. A great thing about it is the black which means I'll be able to put it over a pair of tights until the weather warms up a bit. I also picked up the navy, floral, pyjama-like shorts for £4 (ish- sorry, in all honesty I can't be bothered moving to find the receipt). They are super comfy and casual and will be perfect for warm days. Next up, a pair of white jeans which I've been coveting for a good while now. I think white jeans are a bit of a love/ hate item and I really want to love them. I think they're great at this time of year and I think they look great on other people so I'm going to make myself love them on me too. They're not a perfect fit, but they're good enough, and for £10 they're good value anyway. I then got this bodycon pale pink skirt with black lace for £3. Primark have a lot of skirts on sale at the minute so definitely have a look. I'm usually a skater skirt wearer all the way but since this was on sale I thought I'd pick it up in case I fancy a change. It is nice on I just feel like I need some sort of suction device to pull me in and smooth me out to make it wearable. Last up, this black and white aztec top. I think this was £5 and its my favourite item from the haul. The collar is trimmed with a little faux soft leather and the sleeves are a really unusual length (between short and medium) but they're soo cute. This top was positioned next to bright yellow handbags and I was very tempted to get one because I want something of that hue but then I said to myself 'Julz, do you really need another bag when you have just bought that bad boy of a Zara mini city bag?' The answer was of course no. 

So there we have it. This haul isn't as coordinated colour-scheme-wise as my last (here) but ah well- I feel like these have ensembles already awaiting in my wardrobe. Something I haven't done in ages is take like an hour to go through my wardrobe to put together new random outfits. I've put myself in the mood for it now. If only I had time!

I always end on a question related to the post, but today I'm going to be different since I have a creative writing piece due and I have no idea what to write about. Since you are all creative geniuses and give me inspiration all the time:

any ideas about what I can write a reflective essay/ drama/ poem on? lol

Spring Haul Ft. Primark & New Look

Hey Everyone!
Can you see it? Can you feel it? CAN YOU FEEL IT? Kidding sorry I need to control these random outbursts into song. Anyway- spring is in the air WOOPEE!! I can't explain the happiness it brings me to see a little bit of sun coming in my window- hello bright, clear pictures and a fresh looking room. With the arrival of spring, new season lines land in shops and before you know it you're at the till with an armful of pastels and florals. 
While in Edinburgh at the weekend, I went to Primark and New Look and picked up a few bits. I managed to restrain myself and not go crazy but I got some lovely items that have brightened up my whole wardrobe and will drag me out of dark coloured jeans and jumpers (even if it is still a bit really chilly).

Primark: Bright Floral Tee- £3 (bargain!) Mint Quilt Top - £6 Floral Floaty Blouse- £8 Mint Necklace- £5
New Look: Pink Jumper- £14.99 (£13.50 w/ student discount)
I'm so excited to wear these as I haven't had a chance yet. It is so sad- these days I wear school uniform Monday to Friday and work uniform Saturday and Sunday- I'm gonna forget how to dress myself in normal clothes! 
I have a statement necklace from Primark already but its a bit big (hence the statement I guess) and formal for everyday wear, so I wanted to get my hands on one that was a bit more demure and that would match more of my clothes. I thought that since this one matched my new purchases, it would probably match quite a lot of other stuff in my wardrobe (I tend to go for the same kind of thing- anyone else do that?). I'm in love with the mint quilt top- its so soft. I'm also super excited about the pink jumper. Not only did I get student discount, but I've wanted a pink jumper for ages and it will keep me warm in the transition from winter- spring (and probably to summer too, let's face it- Scotland is cold).
I've had a lovely little night of drinking tea and participating in the #bbloggers chat. The twitter community are always so inspiring and happy. I'd better get back to my English dissertation redraft now (eek) -I only need to cut out another 1,000 words. Who said I was a rambler? I should also do today's instalment of the 30 Day Ab & Squat Challenge- I have actually made it to day 30!!! Though today consists of 40 sit ups, 100 crunches and 100 squats. I have a stretcher on stand by, don't worry. 

Primark Haul

Hi Everyone!

Ever since I stopped filming videos of hauls I seem to completely forget to show you all what I've been buying recently. Hauls are one of my favourite kinds of posts on other people's blogs so I need to start remembering to photograph my purchases to share with you rather than putting them straight away.

Like most people, I have quite a love hate relationship with Primark. Sometimes I'll go in and see nothing and walk out disappointed and others I'll want to buy everything in sight. I have been in twice recently (once in Glasgow and once in Blackpool) and picked up quite a few bits and bobs. I'm actually bought quite practical things and manged to resist picking up even more summer dresses because I won't get any use out of them until at least next year.

I have been looking for a statement necklace for absolutely ages and finally found this one which is exactly what I was looking for: weighty, not the cheap looking yellow-gold colour and really compliments a variety of tops. And the best part? It was only £4! I've already worn this twice and really like it for making an outfit smarter. I wouldn't recommend wearing it if you're going to be moving around a lot though as it does clink a bit. 

I also got this royal blue blouse for £8. This is available in a lot of different colours but I liked this one in particular as it goes so well with the necklace. I also like that the sleeves are sewn up and that it isn't sheer like many other Primark blouses. 

Next, I picked up these burgundy suede pumps/loafers/ flats for £6 as I wear a lot of burgundy in the autumn/ winter and they'd go well with the royal blue top. They also have some sort of cushioned sole which I thought was good. I've worn them twice and they have been digging into my heels a bit and the back is creasing and probably won't last long. Ga why do I never learn my lesson about buying Primark shoes? I think I must walk funny as I ruin 99% of the pairs I buy within a few weeks.

I also bought some essentials: white shoe liners (7 for £2), white invisible socks (2 for £1.50) and a pair of navy socks with black frills for £1.50. I like the shoe liners for around the house and with converse so thought I'd just chuck out my old ones and replace them since they're so reasonably priced. I wear my grey Primark invisible socks most of the time (they're so much better than the H&M ones- and a lot cheaper) so I thought I'd get another set in white. These seem to be a bit smaller than the grey though and keep slipping off my feet. Maybe they'll stretch out though after a few washes. I really love little frilly socks especially in winter with booties and I already have these in black so I thought I'd pick up another pair. They're a great alternative to the Topshop ones (which I have in grey) for a smaller price. I also got some underwear which I thought was a bit weird to include so I just included these navy trimmed pants. I thought that was acceptable as I actually saw them on another girls blog and was inspired to get them. 

Then, on my next trip (in Blackpool last weekend), I got this polka dot shirt which I love! I originally wanted the pale blue one but everywhere I went they only had size 14 and up which was so annoying. I ended up picking up this though and its actually very similar to one from Topshop which I featured in a wishlist a few months back. It was £10 which is now standard for a Primark blouse (I personally think its too much but admittedly I am a bit tight.) Again, I love the sewn up sleeves and how its very 90s. I think this will be lovely all year round tucked into jeans or shorts or even skirts. 

Finally, I got these brogues in the sale for £6. "Whatt?!" I may hear you ask, as I have just said myself that I do not get along with Primark shoes. However, these are the exception. I bought a pair this time last year and have worn them consistently all year and they have not fallen apart or given me any injury. YAY! So I thought I'd get another pair so I'm sorted for another year. 

Geez I don't think I've went on like that in a post for a longgg time! Well done (and thank you) if you read all of that! 

Which of these is your favourite? What have you bought in Primark recently?

Hair: Haul, Mini Reviews, Summer Styles & Chit Chat #AD

Hey Everyone!

I had quite a few random bits and bobs to talk about all under the umbrella of 'hair' so I thought I'd just write one bumper post. 

Haul

Firstly, I have finally caved and bought a Tangle Teezer! It is pretty weird getting used to not having a handle but I love it already. I don't have particularly tuggy hair anyway, but it really does just glide through your hair. One of the main reasons I bought it was because my hair falls out constantly and I have noticed an improvement over the last few days using this. What surprised me was that this is great for backcombing-adding a bit of subtle volume without the frizz. This means tousled hairdoos are a lot easier. Another plus is that its really easy to remove the hairs that get caught in the bristles. 

Also, when I got back from Africa, my mum had got me a few bits and bobs (big treat) including these Bed Head minis. 

Ombre

You may remember a while back I had my hair slightly ombred and I thought I'd give you a quick update. It was pretty subtle at first but since I've been in the sun its really lightened at the bottom. Though because they've been coloured, the ends of my hair have been pretty dry lately.

The Importance of a Trim

To combat these dry ends, I had a trim a few days ago. I really don't acknowledge often enough how important having a trim is. My hair instantly looked healthier and those nasty split ends were stopped in their tracks. I've also found in the past that after a snip my hair grows a lot faster.

Favourite Summer Hairstyle

All year round, I have 3 hairstyles: down, sleek straight ponytail or in a bun. In attempt to change this mundane routine up a little; today I tried a doo I saw on pinterest and I am 100% in love and will definitely be wearing it more. Its a twist on a plain ponytail, with the hair gathered as if you're beginning a plait and then tied at the crown. I was amazed at how much volume it created.

Top Tips for Growing Your Hair

Get the ends cut off every couple of months

Minimise the amount of heat you use on your hair

Brush your hair! It seems obvious, but it will stimulate the production and spreading of natural oils. 

Massaging your scalp for a few minutes each day to increase blood flow.

I've heard that fish oil is good for hair growth- has anyone tried this?

Extensions

And you know what, if you are just too impatient for your hair to grow to your desired length- why not try extensions? Clip in extensions will transform short hair and you'll be able to experiment with many more styles. These extensions by Remy (here) are made of real human hair, so will blend with your own hair perfectly. 

seekhair.co.uk offer a huge range of clip in extensions at affordable prices, so you will be able to achieve luscious locks whatever your hair type.  Just remember- give your hair regular breaks from extensions and you may want to invest in a good conditioner to combat any damage.

This is a bit of a random post (all my posts seem to be a bit odd recently- hope you don't mind). I thought it'd be useful to share what I've learned over the past little while and was interested to see if you shared the same experiences. Also, if you would like to see a post on my current hair care routine, let me know.

Sponsored Post

Hair Products Haul

Hey Everyone!

Instead of letting this become another post consisting of me moaning about how flat, straight and boring my hair is- lets dive straight in and I'll show you what hair products I've bought recently. Its weird because I usually do hauls on YouTube so I'm a bit rusty doing blog post hauls!

I'm not usually one for hair products- but after last weeks bbloggers chat, I had a list the length of my arm of things to try. Be warned- join that conversation at your purses risk!

I think I must of had about half a dozen replies to my 'Which is the best hairspray' query recommending Elnette- I couldn't not get it. It was just over £6 but haircare is currently on buy one get one half price in Boots- so it didn't work out so bad. So far I have only used this once so haven't entirely got to grips with it. Let me know if you'd like to see a full review of any of these.

I've wanted a Salt Spray for a very long time- and the haircare offer meant it was a good time to purchase. Weirdly, I couldn't remember a single Salt Spray recommendation- so I went for one that 'looked' good and was a decent price. This worked out about £3 I think.

Finally, after much umming and arring over buying the Lush dry shampoo (which smells amazing but realistically its probably just Talc + something with a nice scent) I went for the budget option of baby powder. I'm usually use Batiste but I'm not a fan of the smell, and a few bloggers mentioned that they thought  this was just as good. I think it was around 84p so its not a big deal if it isn't great. 

Have you tried any of these products?

London Baby! What I Bought...

Video | Mini New Look Haul

Hey Everyone!

Just a quick post to accompany my new video. I thought I would take some pictures so you can see what I bought easier. 

New Look is a shop that I don't often find myself shopping in, then once in a while I'll go in and there's a major sale and I'm like whoaaa I need to come in here more often. My local store hasn't got that great a selection so I tend to go to the one in Glasgow which is huge and its recently been all changed and I really like the new design though I do find myself a bit confused with the layout. The changing rooms are beautiful though- kind of shabby chic themed (which of course, I love) and there were little signs in each as a means of organising your stuff which I thought was pretty cool.

Have you been to New Look recently? Picked up any bargains?