The Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness

1. push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

3. erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.

4. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

5. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything. 

6. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

7. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small. 

8. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

9. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

10. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.

12. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

14. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything. 

15. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

16. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness - Emma Elsworthy 

(credit)

Something a little different today but when I was small, I loved to write and it made me happy. Somewhere along the way, that feeling has evaporated. I've begun to write this post multiple times, but deleted it and started again. I retouch and edit every aspect of my writing. I'm constantly comparing my writing to the bloggers who inspire me and find I'm falling short. 

Today has been a gradual collection of moments which have made me want to focus on my writing, something which I thought would come naturally to me when I began my blog. One of these moments was finding the above piece of writing by Emma Elsworthy about taking small steps to happiness. Writing can be one of these small steps to happiness for me if I simply shift my perspective on it. 

This was further reinforced when I came across a post by Frassy (here), who spoke of people blogging to put across an enviable life whereas she prefers real women who write with integrity and and passion and heart. The reason I admire the blogs I do is because they write that way, they have a personal writing style and they do all this with conviction. That is the kind of writer I want to be. 

Hollie 

The Advent Calendar

This post comes a little later than it should considering the Christmas connotations, however, I couldn't help wanting to talk about something which made me excited to get up for 24 days of December. I was more than lucky to be gifted this for my birthday in November as my mum had heard me talk about my want need for a beauty advent calendar.

While I did miss out on chocolate for breakfast like the rest of the country, it was definitely worth it for the gems which I received each morning. The box itself was £49.95 and contains over £240 worth of products from brands such as Liz Earle, Laura Mercier, Aromatherapy Associates, Benefit and Essie. 

 Rituals Fortune Scrub 

Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

James Read Sleep Mask Tan 

Vita Liberata Phenomenal Tan Lotion in Medium

Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 

 Teeez Desert Metals Mascara

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Blow Dry Lotion

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle

John Masters Organics Citrus and Neroli Detangler

John Masters Organic Lavender Rosemary Shampoo

Glam Glow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment 

Maddi Alexander Rose Bath Oil

Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Body Wash

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Fragrant Water

Eeyko Limited Edition Blue Velvet Lash Curler

Sally Hansen Nail Rehab 

Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream

Bioeffect EGF Serum

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Rodial Stemcell Super-Food Glam Balm

Benefit The Porefessional

Sisle Radiant Glow Express Mask 

Essie 'On a Silver Platter' Nail Varnish (not pictured)


The plethora of products which had gathered by the end of December has fuelled me to focus on the things I already have in my collection and using them up rather than looking at more and more things to do. I'd like to dedicate a couple of evenings a week to having a nice lush bath and pampering time afterwards. I'd also like to set aside more time in the mornings so I don't find myself rushing through my make-up routine, skipping products and sticking to the same look day after day.

I'd definitely recommend bearing this advent calendar in mind towards the end of 2015. It's a excellent way to try out a ton brands and holy grail products without splashing out, especially if you're just out of university like me!

Also note the change in my photos as I was extremely fortunate to receive a Canon DSLR for Christmas. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing gift so look forward to plenty of high quality photos in the future!

Do you have any beauty new year resolutions? Let me know yours in the comments!

Hollie

The Stay Perfect Foundation

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation - £14.50 (Shade - Calico)

This foundation deserves a little round of applause. It's medium to full coverage but by no means is it heavy on the skin, in fact it's the most lightweight foundation I've ever used. It's lightweight formula means it's easily buildable, blends well into the skin and is comfortable to wear. The foundation has a goldilocks effect to it... not too matte, not too dewy, it's just right. It also gives a fresh feeling to the skin, almost like the feeling you get when you've done an intense skin clean and then apply a moisturiser.

Stay Perfect is a life proof, weather proof, transfer proof foundation that has a intense longevity to leave you with 'non-stop complexion perfection'. It lasts up to 24 hours, has SPF15 and it's hypo-allergenic. Plus it's great for any skin type as it doesn't flake on dry skin or slip and slide on oily skin. 

Let's not forget, the packaging is exquisite. It come in a minimalist frosted glass bottle which make the product feel much more expensive than it's £14.50. Also it comes with a pump which I'm most thankful about because it just makes things easy. 

Have you tried this foundation? What're your thoughts?

I'd definitely recommend trying it if you haven't and they have 17 shades to choose from!

Hollie 

The Clothes Show 2014

                                                                                 

 Rimmel Gift Bag - £10

Scandaleyes Mascara by Kate Moss in Jet Black (004)
New mascara and the first by Kate Moss, this one has a volumising formula with a broken heart shaped brush. 

Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 01
Long lasting lipstick with a creamy texture and a cupcake like smell. This particular colour is slightly deeper than your typical red. My friend swears by this lipstick and I've always noticed it hasn't budged hours and hours after applying. 

BB Cream Matte in Light (Sample Size)
The matte take on Rimmel's original BB cream. A 9-in-1 skin perfecting make-up that minimises pores, controls shine and smooths the skin. 
I've used the original BB cream and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to see how this turns out. 

Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Starlit Black (263)
Retractable waterproof eyeliner pencil with a defined tip, smudger and built-in sharpener. High longevity with a creamy pigmented texture. 

Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Ultimate (046)
Retractable lip liner with a defined tip for precision and a long lasting formula.
The colour is a deep brown - I thought it was an eyeliner at first! I'm going to have to do some research before I use this! 

Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tint in Sunkissed Cherry (004)
A lightweight liquid cheek tint that blends well and has a long lasting formula. Only available in 2 shades in the UK (but 5 in the US!?) of which the other is 'Pop of Pink' a bright pink shade. I owe Pop of Pink and needed to buy Sunkissed Cherry too so I was thrilled to see it in my gift bag!

Glitter Bomb Nail Varnish in Disco Fever (018)
Clear polish with big chunks of silver reflective glitter. I love glitter nail varnish (even if it is a pain to remove) but I've never tried one so bold before!

 Barry M Gift Bag - £10

Nail Paint Limited Edition in Seaside
A sheeney blue nail polish with purple shimmer. This is what I'd picture mermaids would use if they wore nail varnish. 

Nail Paint in Magenta Glitter
Exactly what it says on the tin - magenta nail varnish with subtle sized glitter. One of the most out there nail varnishes in the gift bag - bold colour and glitter but I'll certainly give it a go!

Nail Paint Sequin Nail Effects in White
White sheer nail varnish with green, blue, pink, gold and silver glitter.  

Nail Paint Magnetic in Violet 
Shimmery violet with white/violet through it. I'm a bit disappointed as I'm missing the magnetic to the top of the nail varnish. I'd previously purchased two more of these shades so I do have some magnetics handy but they're different patterns!

Nail Paint Textured Nail Effects in Ridley Road 
A mint green textured nail varnish. Always admired mint shades but never thought they'd suit me! A little background - this nail varnish is named after a place where Mr Barry Mero himself spent his early working days in markets. 

Nail Paint Limited Edition for Boots in Tinsel Town (Discontinued)
Clear nail varnish with tinsel effect pieces in magenta, green and purple. Big fan of Christmas nail varnishes - I think they're a subtle way to incorporate the holiday cheer! 

Loudmouth Extreme Lip Colour in Chatterbox
Highly pigmented liquid lipstick in a bright rose pink shade. I was a little disappointed with this as it's a tester. Not sure if that was a mistake but either way it hadn't been used. Little unsure that it comes from a tube but it can always be applied with a lip brush. 

Super Soft Eye Crayon in No1
Chubby eyeliner (wasn't sure if this was an eyeshadow crayon but SprinkleofGlitter mentioned she uses it as an eyeliner!). This reminds me of Benefit' Bad Gal eyeliner (unfortunately it's discontinued now).  

Super Soft Eye Crayon in Matt Green (No6)
Chubby eyeliner with a soft formula in a matt green. I'm currently looking for a subtle way of using this in an eye look for Christmas!

Metallic Liquid Eyeliner in 18
Silver pale pink metallic liquid eyeliner - subtle take on the current metallic eyeliners. Unfortunately I can't seem to find this particular shade online. 

Dazzle Dust in 64
Loose highly pearlised pigment with reflective colour. A bright magenta pink shade.

Dazzle Dust in 34
As mentioned above, a reflective loose pigment. A shimmery deep violet shade. 

Talbots Petites Jacket - £22 
Purchased from The Vintage Scene

A year ago I used to constantly wear blazers and I loved the way they make causal outfits instantly smarter. However my blazers got traded in for a leather jacket and they have taken a back seat. I showed this to my friends and they both said 'it was me'. Although it's quite thin, it sits nicely on my frame and it look great with black jeans. 
And I couldn't help add another photo of Benjamin exploring the clothes!

Salt & Pepper Combat Boots - £30

Purchased at 4feet

One of the main reason these boots were purchased is because I wore heeled boots and a few hours into the Clothes Show, I was literally limping. Although I needed a pair of shoes, I also wanted some I'd actually wear. I've wanted combat boots for ages but was afraid they'd look too masculine on me, however these are quite tight to the leg and I love how they look with black jeans. I've been wearing these constantly! 

I need to apologise for my lack of Blogmas posts - I missed two days due to the Clothes Show trip away (for which I should have scheduled posts) and then I got out of the routine of blogging! 

 I went to the Clothes Show with two friends and unfortunately due to a difficult morning we missed the beginning of the catwalk show. Luckily we didn't miss too much and arrived just in time to see the models walking down the runway. It was a really fun experience - the show has great backdrops, up beat music and dancers (not to mention the topless men). We then moved onto the shopping portion and the whole place was pretty manic! There was lots of bumping into people with bags everyone and squeezing through crowds. After a few hour shopping, we made the journey to Leicester where we were spending the rest of the weekend. 

We went to Las Iguanas for dinner which I've been dying to go for ages but never got round to. Because we arrived early evening there were great deals like 2 for 1 cocktails so we got 2 pitchers to share. They also provided a vegan/vegetarian menu which was a great first impression as some restaurants only have a single vegetarian option to chose from. We also went for the tapas deal so got 3 starters between us - I had nachos which was a huge portion filled with cheese, salsa, guac, sour cream and jalapenos. For the main I had 'The Full Enchilada' which was incredible - it was a fully packed wrap with butternut squash and spinach and was pretty spicy but the right amount. It also came on a bed of onion and garlic rice with refried beans. WOW.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant - It has a lovely atmosphere, great food and I was really impressed with how they catered for vegetarians.

Did you go to the Clothes Show? How was your experience?

Also, recommend any mexican restaurants that are worth trying out! 

Hollie 

The November Sounds

                                               

A short post today but I've had a lot of music favourites throughout the month of November so I thought I'd share them with you! There's quite a variety here so you're bound to discover a song that you like!

The most played song on the playlist is Breathe by IYES and you only listen to one song from this post, listen that one. IYES are an electronic duo from Brighton and something about their songs that remind me of older Clean Bandit songs (listen to A&E)  combined with The XX. I recently missed out on seeing IYES at the Thekla in Bristol and was absolutely gutted. All of their songs that I've listened to are incredible but there's just something about Breathe that I can't get enough of. It's the kind of song you want to get under the covers, close your eyes and listen to it with headphones in. IYES covered Crazy in Love by Beyonce which is definitely worth checking out here. The lyrics seem to suit IYES' cover much more than the original as you can really understand the thought behind them, something which I feel gets lost in a pop song.

What have you been listening to the past month? I love hearing other people's favourite songs!

Hollie