Triple Threat

12 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Black Leather Boots, Dorothy Perkins, £39.99
This pair of boots were my first ever Chelsea boots. I jumped straight onto the band wagon and followed bloggers and celebrities into the leather phenomenon. They're comfy stlish and easy to wear which makes them one of my favourite airs. On a busy day, I lean towards these boots as they aren't too tight-fitting and have a flat but very sturdy sole for me to rush around in. The shape fits my feet perfectly as they're not a wide fit but still leave plenty of room. The basic style helps them pair well with just about everything I own.
Suede Ankle Boots, Next, £37.00
I tend to wear these boots to quite formal events, because they can be easily dressed up. The ontrast in heel and material fives them a bit of edge and adds the small contrast in colour to a look. Fortunately, the suede looks great against tights which have helped these boots become a winter favourite. And who doesn't love suede? The heel is high enough for the to be worn with casual attire as well as a much less colloquial setting.
Black Leather Ankle Boots, Next, £34.00
I was first reluctant to purchase these boots due to the pointed toe and unique look. Pointier toes always make feet look longer in my opinion, which is something I have always been concious of. However, paired with jet black or even charcoal jeans they highlight the best in a black on black look with the tiny details in the boots making the outfit seem more exciting and put together with minimal effort. The leather isn't shiny which means it doesn't contrast with common fabrics such as denim or jersey. I love that the boots pair well with dresses as well as jeans, as it's quite difficult to find an ankle boot style that's so versatile.

Girl Crush: Angelina Jolie

10 March 2015

Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Angelina has been the girl crush of my life for a solid 14 years, Lara Croft and Mrs & Mrs Smith are both films I can't live without and have the luxury of sitting as DVDs on my majestic movie cabinet. Angie has become an idol of mine due to her free spirit but mature attitude. She is someone that's easy to relate to, grew up in the public eye and has experience so much as a woman. The way she carries and handles herself is to be admire as well as her phenomenal wardrobe choices. I may envy her husband and lifestyle, but one thing I would love to steal is Angelina's wonderful wardrobe.
Her style (as well as make-up) are constantly all over my Tumblr feed, and she's basically red carpet royalty. My favourite AJ looks are her award show dress which always manage to steal the spotlight. Similarly, Mrs Pitt's everyday look are so simple yet appear so stylish. All-black outfits are owned by Angelina.
Sometimes the most effective looks are the ones with much less going on. As the years have gone by, I have learnt (with the help of Angelina) that all-black outfits aren't all bad and extremely busy looks can just be too much. There's no shame in wearing an oversized black tee in the middle of August, but that doesn't mean you can't glam up in a bright green glittery ensemble for a dinner party. She annihilates just about every look she tried, and has a presence that's unique to her personality.

Magical Music Apps

9 March 2015

Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
I have a very wide music taste and enjoy most genres as background music. I am possibly the worst person for making playlists, because I never know where to start or what to include. There are a few music apps I use on a regular basis that I rely on most days when travelling, blogging and working out.
SPOTIFY
I tend to use Spotify more as the programme on my computer as I can listen to anything on demand. The mustic list is endless and there are plenty of other users with amazing playlists that I follow and adore. The iOS 8 app works really well (despite adverts and limited skips). It's great for throwing on any old playlist or artist; however if your playlist is too short Spotify with automatically include some extra tracks which can be a blessing or a curse. I have dance around upgrading to Spotify Premiumfor a while as it certainly has it's benefits, such as offline streaming which is great for on-the-go. The price per month is what keeps me from taking the plunge.
8TRACKS
This app is great for discovering new music. Like Spotify, you can create and follow playlists made by other users, but not albums or artists. To find playlists, you can search something to fit your mood, surroundings or activity and narrow the search by selecting adjectives that appear in the list. Spotify also has this feature, including playlists made by Spotify rather than just users, but 8tracks promoted the feature first so I use it more often. There's a playlist for every situation possible and it's one of my favourite ways to find new music to add to my library. There isn't an offline feature for this app, but the website and app do not include sound advertisements despite this application also having limited skips per playlist.
BBC iPLAYER RADIO
BBC Radio 1 and 1XTRA are two of my favourite radio stations. This app is one of the only ways I listen to the radio because my iPod is constantly playing. I use this app to listen to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in the mornings which helps me to have a great start to the day. The sleek design is one of my favourite things about the app, and the option for every radio station by the BBC is available, including a tab named "find local radio" that will use the location services on your device to find a station near you. The iOS 8 application is extremely effective and has never broken down or stopped responding.
YOUTUBE
The original source of music before new media took over. I don't use YouTube for music everyday, mainly because I can't close the app and keep the video playing. YouTube was my main source for lyric and music videos, before the advertisement days. YouTube has changed a lot from the original iPhone app, and the "Music" tab on the "What to Watch" page is usually where I head to find YouTube Mixes and recommended videos. I can also find videos from artists I'm subscribed to and always find the newest and latest music videos to hit VEVO.

Face Wash Favourites

7 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Garnier Pure Active Gel Wash
This has become a favourite because it smells ridiculously good. I'm a sucker for a fruity fragrance which drew me straight to this wash. The great thing about this daily wash is that it's thick and soapy unlike a lot of brands which sell thin facial washes despite the great scent. The amazing aroma fills the room, but I also use it as a mini mask when taking a bath allowing the suds to take over. The smooth serum doesn't leave my skin dry which I value due to my skin type. The was is full of moisture and plenty of bubbles which I use twice a day. This product is a great way to alert me in the morning as waking up early is by far the worst thing about being a grown up. A quick facial wash in the morning preps my skin for make-up and helps me actually keep my eyes open throughout the day. The wash rinses well with water which makes it really use and effective to use.

Garnier Pure Active Gel Scrub & Neutrogena Visibly Clear Daily Scrub
I use two different scrubs to help me exfoliate my skin. Dirt and filth don't always come off with the face wash so I use both scrubs once a day. This is just to ensure tough and long-lasting make-up products like my foundation are cleared from my skin to prevent spots. I also use preventative scrubs just to give my skin that extra push in really keeping the blackheads away. I had a full fring for about two years which meant the skin on my forehead was basically neglected, leaving me which a few spots on my forehead and that area being prone to break-outs. Using these scrubs together has really helped to keep this area clean and moisturised. I have used a few products in the past that were too damaging to my skin despite my soft approach. Both scrubs are exfoliating and don't rub too hard, but rather massage it without tearing off layers of skin.

Pull Your Socks Up

4 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Working full time has helped me to realise I have a very short attention span. Getting bored easily is becoming natural and finding the motivation to do anything is slipping away. It's strange how quickly the time disappears in the evenings in contrast to during the day. My to-do list is getting longer, whereas the days are getting shorter. Every so often I go through these phases of "okay, let's sort out" but it never gets done, or what is completed only lasts a few days. 2015 has already been an eye-opening, reality-slapping year and now is the best time to really pull my socks up. 

Getting into a Routine
This is an essential. Waking up early every day is a shock to the system when waking at around 11 and scrolling through Bloglovin' all day is the norm. Getting into a routine is difficult, but once the ball gets rolling and the internal body clock has adjusted, it's the best way to get the day started.
Eat Real Food
I'm rushing around left, right and centre during the day which leaves me nibbling snacks and unhealthy food. Not only is this terrible for my health, but it also leaves me with headaches and less energy which isn't fair on my body. Packing a lunch or planning where and when to have meals is a great way to maintain a diet and cut down on the caffeine. 
Actually Use the Calendar
The app on my phone has never been more useful. I do have a calendar hung above my desk, as well as a day planner, but electronic reminders are an amazing way to keep the day in check. With voice control and automatic alarm clocks, there's no reason to be late or miss a meeting!
Plan Everything
I can become a control freak with organisation, which is really a double-edged sword. Everything in my day must now be planned the night before, from my outfit to where I'll stand on the train platform. A packed bag keeps my mind at peace and less anxious on a busy day.
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