MONTHLY FAVOURITES // AUGUST 2015

I can't believe this monthly is over already! But on a positive note the weather has started getting warmer and will only be getting warmer from here on in! Yay, I'm so excited for the warm weather to really kick in! This month I don't have a lot of favourites because I did my favourites so late last month but I thought I would just share the few I do have, with you today!

YouTubers //

#1 Amy Young //
Amy is a professional life and love coach. Over this past month I have found that I've been able to really relate to her videos, even the ones based around love. Amy is so freaking inspiring, and everything she says has such a great deal of meaning and just makes sense. After watching her videos I often just sit there and just think, holy moly, how come I didn't think of that with that perspective. Amy has made me so much more motivated than I already was, and like I said before she's so uplifting and inspiring! I totally one hundred percent recommend checking out Amy on YouTube along with her social media too.

Amy's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AMYoungster/featured
Amy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMYoungster

#2 Brittney Lee Saunders //
Brittney is an Australian YouTuber and on her channel you'll find makeup videos, comedy skits, rants, singing covers, Q&As and general chit chat vlogs. I love all of Brittney's videos and I find that she is constantly bringing humor and entertainment to her channel! If you're looking for a pick me up after and long day and school or work then this channel is going to be perfect for you! Make sure to check Brittney's channel out as well her social media!

Brittney's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/beautybybrittneyx/featured
Brittney's Twitter: https://twitter.com/britt_saunders

Blog //

#1: inthefrow or also know as Victoria. Victoria has an amazing blog that covers everything a girl every would want to read. Her content varies from fashion, beauty, life, advice, food and travel. She is so talented in her writing, all her blog posts are so jam packed full of amazing information and I think you guys will definitely enjoy reading her posts as much as I do! Victoria also has a YouTube channel so be sure to check that out as well!

Victoria's Blog: http://www.inthefrow.com/
Victoria's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/inthefrow
Victoria's Twitter: https://twitter.com/inthefrow

Skincare //

#1: This month I have been very pleased with how my skins been looking. I've had one or two spots and I completely believe it has been down to this product! The Body Shop, Tee Tree Cleanser. I'm so incredible pleased with how this cleanser makes my skin feel, it leaves my skin feeling super clean and helps remove an excess oils. This skincare range from the body shop has to be one of my favourites and is amazing for anyone who has trouble with there skin.

Apps //

#1: This month I've been loving the Netflix app. Now lets be honest who doesn't like Netflix anyway but when I'm tucked up in bed at night I either grab my iPhone or my iPad and watch some Pretty Little Liars. I love how it can be portable and on any device you have.

That's all for this months favourites! I told you there was hardly anything but I have brought a few new makeup products recently so look out for those in next months favourites! Let me know what have been some of your favourites for this month.

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen

WHY WE MUST CHOOSE HAPPINESS

A lot of people grow up thinking that they don't have control over there own lives. You don't get in that top netball team you wanted to be in this season - you beat yourself up internally, you feel sad and that you just aren't good enough. Your friend gets promoted at work - you feel incredibly jealous and incompetent. You get in a car accident - you're upset because you're now going to be late to your bestfriends 21st birthday party and that you have a huge dent in your car.

Yes, all of those things are most definitely terrible situations and I know I've felt all of them before and some of you guys probably have too. But you know what? Thats ok, it's totally natural and we're all humans, we're going to feel like this sometimes. I what you guys just to think about limiting that time that you spend feeling sad and down and begin the heeling process. Think about why that particular situation happened. What can you learn from it? Did you actually just save yourself from something worse happening? Is it really that big of a deal? I know it might feel like it at the time but have a good think about it.

I'm a firm believer in "Whatever happens, everything happens for a reason." And when it happens we get to choose how we react and how we want to feel. Take some time to think about it.

You DON'T HAVE to feel sad.

You DON'T HAVE to feel regret.

You DON'T HAVE to feel jealous.

You get to choose how you want to feel and I don't know about you but I choose happiness. Because why not?

Picture: www.tumblr.com

I can't begin to explain to you guys how important happiness is to me. I've spent so many months and years trying to make everyone else around me happy but really the most important person was me. Rather than trying to make everyone else happy I really needed to focus on myself, and focus on what's going to make myself happy and just really be content within myself. Do what is truly going to make you happy because at the end of the day you're never going to be able to please everyone.

Once you really begin to understand all of this it feels so good and liberating. You can try things and simply just fail but get back up again without feeling bad. If you want to get better at something, you have to fail. Failure is all apart of successful. If you fail it doesn't mean you're not successful it's simply just apart of being successful! So remember you are in charge of how you feel no matter the situation you find yourself in! Happiness is so important, you most definitely do not have to feel sad and regret. Whatever the situation, everything happens for a reason. 

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen

SEVEN BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO STASH IN YOUR HANDBAG

We've all been there, we've all got to work or school and then realised that our hair, makeup or nails need a bit of a touch up! But don't fear, with the list of beauty products that I have complied to always have in your handbag you'll never be caught short again!

Cleansing Wipes //
Cleansing wipes are great if you need to freshen up a little bit but they are also great if you need to remove any make up or if you just mess up while re-touching. Cleansing wipes will do a great job without having to carry around make-up removers and cotton pads.

A Nail File //
When you have a nail file on you, you are going to stop broken nails before they even happen. A nail file is especially good for all those nail bitters out there, many of us tend to bite our nails when we are a bit stressed out. Instead of buying the cardboard files, try and reach for a glass or metal one instead. Cardboard files tend to break quite easily and become dull quickly too.

Dry Shampoo & A Tangle Teezer //
Dry shampoo tends to me my life saver more than I ever thought it would be! Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than getting rid of those excess oils! There are so many different dry shampoos on the market but my favourite at the moment is definitely Batiste! And of course you could take any kind of small brush along with you but I find that tangle teezers are the perfect size and get rid of any tangles with root to end without being to painful! So keep your tangle teezer and your Batiste handy for when your hairstyle could do with a little boost.

Kohl Eyeliner Pencil //
Although liquid liner is a favourite, it can be very difficult to put on quickly and can be easy to muck up. You can use a kohl liner on your top and bottom lash line and it'll look just as great. You could also take a blending brush with you to blend and smooth over any spots you may have missed.

A Concealer //
Your favourite concealer is a must. You can use this for any unexpected blemishes or for any under eyes bags! Lets all be real, that 3PM meeting has rolled around and you aren't feeling particularly awake and those bags under your eyes aren't looking great, so a concealer is perfect for this! You never know when a spot will decide to pop up or those under eye bags will suddenly become visible.

Mascara //
Mascara is really good and a must have to the office as it's an amazing eye opener. You're going to need to find a good brush that'll let you layer on the mascara at the office, after school or work. A small brush will allow your lashes to separate and give a lengthening effect.

Lipgloss //
I would opt for a nice neutral gloss because it's a lot easier and there is less chance of any mistakes compared to applying a lipstick and having to apply all the time! You can never go wrong with a nude gloss.

This is what I tend to carry around with my in my handbag, so I hope this was somewhat helpful! Let me know what you like to carry around in your bag or what you keep at the office for your beauty emergencies!

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Getting caught up in social media and society can be rather dangerous, we all have these expectations and images in our heads of how we are meant to look or act in certain situations. We read articles whether they are online or not and we can take in all this toxic information without even realising it. We are burning ourselves out because of the enormous pressure we put ourselves under to perform perfectly all the time under, all aspects. You know, we are meant to have our lives all planned out and sorted by our early twenties but why? I often wonder why there is that pressure because there are so many things in life that can't planned, that we just have no control over. As humans we're going to go through so many changes in our life time, we're all going to make mistakes, we're all going to have our ups and downs but it's so important just to remember who are really are as a person, your values and your beliefs. At the end of the day this is your life, this is your adventure, do what's going to make you most happiest and make incredible memories!

I myself can get caught up in all this at the best of times, but for me it's all about look after my body and mind. After being diagnosed with mental illnesses I soon learnt to listen to what my body is trying to tell me. Whether you have a mental illness or not I think it's really important. Listening to your mind and body is really important to be able to work out what your body really needs. I perspective on this is that your given one body, you need to look after it as well as you possibly can and when I say body I'm not just talking about all your organs on the inside, I'm talking about the outside as well so like moisturising your skin, brushing your teeth, exfoliating your skin, your morning and night time skincare routines etc. And of course you want to be making sure you're eating well, drinking plenty of water, exercising and getting enough sleep too. These things all come down to simply looking after your body and loving yourself, plus don't forget your mind in apart of that as well. So looking after you mind is just as important if not more important than the rest of your body.

Love your body because you love yourself //
It's so easy to get overwhelmed and busy with your work load, whether that's at school or at work so don't forget how important it is to take care of your body as well. This simply means eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, exercising, getting a manicure or pedicure, a facial, a massage, all those things us girls love to get done to make ourselves look and feel decent. However remember you're not doing this for other people, you're doing this for yourself because you love yourself and are willing to take care of yourself!

I'm to busy, I don't have time for that crap //
Sometimes we get so involved with what we are doing we forget to take that time for ourselves or we get so stressed out and overwhelmed that that time you need to have for yourself has completely gone out the window. So something that I find works for me is that every day schedule at least one hour of 'me time'. Put that time in your planner so that you know that that time is specifically for you only. Have a relaxing bath, paint your nails, light a candle, read a magazine or book or whatever, do whatever you want but stay away from all the work stuff. This way you're not going to forget to take care of yourself!

Start nourishing your body with the right foods //
At the end of a long day the last thing we want to do is cook ourselves a meal, once we get home we tend to get a bit lazy and tired, then when this happens we tend to eat out or we just tend to reach for really unhealthy foods. My solution for this would be to plan your meals. On a Sunday night sit down at plan what you are going to have for the upcoming week, work out what you are going to need and then you can do you groceries on the Monday. This way you know what you have a cook each night when you get home and you can do any extra prep the night before! Drinking plenty of water as well of course, and remember your skin will so thank you for this later. Also take some time during the evening to get the following days snacks and lunch ready too.

Hang in there, quit the worrying and bitching and take a chill pill. You are exactly where you are meant to be right now. Calm down because it's all going to work out!

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen

SABOTAGING YOUR MORNING WORKOUTS

If getting your sweat on in early hours of the morning is the only time you have spare during your day then it's totally worth resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and dragging yourself from your bed. To make it all worth the effort make sure you avoid some of these well known mistakes.

Picture: tumblr.com

Not Eating // 

Even though it's super early and the last thing you want to do is eat, not nourishing your body before your workout will slow down your metabolism and also means that you'll have no fuel for your workout. I'm not saying you need to have a huge breakfast before you workout but just something like half a banana or half a piece of toast with some avocado. You can always go home after your workout and enjoy your usual breakfast plus this also gives you something to look forward to.

Not Hydrating Yourself //
Just like your body needs food. you also need water. I definitely wouldn't recommend drinking heaps but just a small glass full along with your snack would be perfect.

Not Getting Enough Sleep //
Although exercise is very important, your body needs adequate rest. You just can't stay up until midnight and expect to be up perky and bright for a 0530AM workout. You need to get at least a good seven to eight hours sleep before your alarm goes off.

Organise Your Outfit //
The night before it's always a good idea to plan to wear the following morning for your workout. I mean lets be real it's bad enough having to be up that early without having to find that one missing sock!

A Boring Workout //
Don't schedule your workout fill of the things you really hate doing at the gym, if you were to then you'd be more inclined to miss that mornings session. Opt for something a bit more exciting, maybe a yoga class with your favourite instructor or your bestfriend. You want something that is going to be exciting and something that'll you'll enjoy that way you'll be more inclined to get up in the morning too.

Not Warming Up //
Not warming is important no matter what time of the day you plan to workout, but I do recommend take a few extra minutes in the morning just because this will not only warm your muscles up but it'll also get the blood flowing and help wake the brain up a little more. Then save all the stretching for after your workout when your muscles are warm.

A week ago I uploaded a post, 'Eight Ways To A Great Morning' it links perfectly into this post so if you haven't checked it out and would like to I'll leave a link here for you. Personally I prefer to workout in the evenings around 4PM and I normally workout for about an hour to an hour and a half but it all varies on how I'm feeling on the day. Although I like working out in the evenings I find myself at least once a week working out in the mornings and this is how I complied these tips along with some personal research. I hope this is going to be helpful in some way! I simply just love working out so lets share ideas, thoughts, and opinions!

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen, I'd love for you to come and chat!

FEELING BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF

As you guys know I've been at home sick for what will be my fourth week now and I'm slowly getting better but still don't know when I'll be 100 percent again. I definitely have had my down days and these our some of the things I've complied that make me feel better about myself. We all have days where we just don't feel great about ourselves and that's perfectly ok! You can try all of these tips or you can just try two or three. I find they all work and I' looking forward to hearing about the ones you love and find that work for you best!

1. Get up at a reasonable time. Getting up at a reasonable time means that you are going to have more time for yourself.
2. Cleanse with you favourite cleanser, it'll wake you up and make you feel fresh.
3. Have a shower and use you favourite body wash, wash your hair with your favourite shampoo and conditioner.
4. Do you favourite haitstyle, play around with your hair, straighten it, curl it, do something simple and what makes you feel great!
5. Put on some comfy clothing, sweats, a jumper, your favourite onesie!
6. Chill out and watch Netflix, YouTube, fun positive TV shows.
7. Give your mum or your bestfriend a text or a phone call. Chat with someone that you know will be able to cheer you up.
8. Tidy your space, whether it may be your room, your office or just a general house tidy up. If your space is tidy then your mind is going to be a lot more tidy too.
9. Moisturise your whole body, including your face. It'll make you feel awake, fresh and you'll smell like a god!
10. Apply your favourite no-makeup makeup look. A tinted moisturiser, light brows, a great volumising mascara and your fav lipstick will just make you feel great and give you a natural glow.
11. Listen to some of your favourite music.
12. Head out to your local store and buy yourself something healthy. There's no point in buying sugary bits because these will just make you feel even more rubbish about yourself.
13. Make a list of everything you need or want to achieve that day. That way you can still keep on track and cross everything off as you go.
14. Do some kind of exercise. A light walk or run, some yoga or just a half an hour workout. I don;t know about you but I always feel great after a workout.
15. Have a big glass of water. Add some ice, maybe some cucumber, lemon or strawberries. Your skin and body will definitely thankyou for it later!

These are just a few that I came up with and I'm sure there are many others, so let me and others know if you have any other tips and tricks to making yourself feel better about yourself on those days where we just feel crap.

Public Social Media: bonni3ellen

THIS OR THAT TAG

Thought for tonight's post I would do something a little more chilled and laid back! I hope you enjoy and I tag all of you guys to do this so leave your answers in the comments below!

MAKE UP //
Blush or Bronzer: Bronzer
Lipgloss or Lipstick: Lipstick
Eyeliner or Mascara: Mascara
Foundation or Concealer: Concealer
Neutral or Colourful Eyeshadows: Neutral
Pressed or Loose Eyeshadows: Pressed
Brushes or Sponges: Brushes

NAILS //
OPI or Essie: Essie
Long or Short: Short
Acrylic or Natural: Natural
Brights or Darks: Definitely depends on the season or whatever I'm feeling in the moment.
Nail Art or No Nail Art: No Nail Art

BODY //
Perfume or Body Spray: Perfume
Lotion or Body Butter: Body Butter
Body Wash or Body Soap: Body Wash
Lush or not: Yes Lush, for sure!

FASHION //
Jeans or sweatpants: Definitely depends, I would lean towards jeans if I was going into town but then sweats if I was at home but I'm not really a big fan of jeans so I'm not sure, I'm normally just wear tights!
Long Sleeve or Short Sleeve: Depends on the weather and the outfit but generally short sleeves.
Dresses or Skirts: Dresses
Stripes or Plaid: Stripes
Flip Flops or Sandals: Sandals
Scarves or Hats: Scarves
Studs or Dangly Earrings: Studs
Necklace or Bracelets: Definitely both!
Heels or Flats: Both!
Jacket or Hoodie: Hoodie

HAIR //
Curly or Straight: Curly, which is my natural hair for me.
Bun or Pony Tail: Pony Tail
Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips: Bobby Pins
Long or Short: Long
Light or Dark: Dark
Side Swept Bangs or Full Bangs: Neither on myself, and different ones suit different people.
Up or Down: Up

RANDOM //
Rain or Shine: Shine
Summer or Winter: Summer
Fall or Spring: Spring
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
East or West Coast: Here in New Zealand, definitely the West Coast
Pretty Little Liars or Orange is the New Black: I'm a big Pretty Little Liars fan at the moment so I'm going to have to say Pretty Little Liars but I definitely want to start watching Orange is the New Black.

I don't normally like doing tags on my blog but I thought this was something I little more chill and a bit more interesting than other tags I've seen! You've also found out a little bit more about me!

Public Social Media Handle: bonni3ellen, come and chat! 

EIGHT WAYS TO A GREAT MORNING

If you're anything like me mornings can be hard sometimes, especially in Winter when you'd rather stay curled up in your blankets! Well here are some tips that I have complied together that make my mornings a little bit easier!

#1: Give yourself time, wake up that little bit earlier //

Giving yourself that extra time in the morning means that you aren't going to be rushing around at the last minute to get out the door. It also means you aren't stressed before you day even really begins. Mornings are really important for me as it sets up how the rest of my day pans out, so although I'm not really a morning person I do try and get up as early as I possibly can. 

#2: Do some yoga or stretching //

This is something that I have recently added to my morning routine and it helps wake me up and feel great about myself right from the get go! I always feel great after doing either one of these as soon as I get up, plus it's great for the mind and body! I think any kind of physical activity is great in the mornings, it really sets your day of with a positive kick. 

#3: Make yourself a decent breakfast //

Making yourself a decent breakfast is what will give your body that extra boost it needs on those early mornings! Have something that is going to fill you up and give your body that kick start it needs. You can peer that with a cup of tea, coffee or smoothie, whatever treat you feel like that particular morning.

#4: Have a great morning skincare routine in place //

Having a good morning skincare routine, again, will set your body up for a fantastic day! Also having a good skin care routine will help wake up you and your skin up! Remember the better you look after your skin, the better your makeup is going to look as well.

#5: Take that extra time to make yourself feel pretty //

Taking that extra time in the morning to apply some liquid eyeliner, or a great highlighter or even just pick out a smashing outfit is really going to boost your self confidence for the day! You're going to feel great about yourself which is going to lead to a happier you, and a happier day.

#6: Create a to do list if you haven't already the night before //

Creating a to do list means you know exactly what you need to get done that day! If you haven't done it the night before I recommend doing that morning. It means that you are going to know what you need to achieve before the end of the day. Having the plan and that list means that you are going to be as productive as possible as soon as you get to the office or school.

#7: Be easy on yourself //

At the end of the day not everyday is going to be a good one. Don't be so hard on yourself, not every day has to be as good as the last. We're all aloud to have bad days! Don't beat yourself up if you weren't as productive as you would've liked to have been, or whatever, there is always tomorrow. You can always aim to make tomorrow better than today!

#8: If all else fails scream into your pillow and have a donut //

Like I said before we aren't always going to have super amazing, productive days! We are all aloud to have days where nothing goes right or the way we planned. But sometimes we just need to let it be what it is. And 
like I said have a good ole screen into your pillow and treat yourself to a donut!

These are my top eight tips for making the most out of my mornings and I hope that they are helpful to some of you guys as well! Mornings are never great, especially not in the Winter when your bed is possibly the warmest place to be! Let me know some of your favourite things to do in the morning that really help kick start your day!

Public Social Media Handle: bonni3ellen 

EIGHT WAYS TO A HAPPIER DAY

We all have those day where we are lacking motivation, our day seems to drag on for longer than it's needed, we're just not in the mood to even deal with our to do lists, and every little thing that comes up just annoys us. Here are my top eight tips for getting back on track to an enjoyable day.

#1: Ask yourself why? Why am so unhappy? Why am I not enjoying today? //
Take a few minutes to yourself and try and figure out why you're feeling so down and unhappy. Whether it may be anything to do with school, work or even maybe your personal life. Sometimes we just have to let our mood do it's own thing, let it take the path it wants to but if you're in the position to know why you're feeling the way you are, the sooner you'll be able to let it go. It can sometimes even come down to not starting your morning right, if you're not starting your morning right then it can affect your mood for the rest of the day! Tune in for my next blog post to see my top eight tips for starting your morning right!

#2: Can't control it, then why are you worrying about it //
Generally we are unhappy because we are to busy worrying about the things we can't control. When we have no control over it, it spends more time in our heads causing stress and worry that's not needed. Take a step back from what you're doing and accept the fact that you need to just keep going.

#3: Take a minute for yourself //
Of course you're allowed to take time out. Put those headphones in if you're aloud to, go for a short walk or go a grab a coffee. Take a few minutes away from your desk and all the papers. If you have to wait until specific break times, take yours to a quite place or somewhere where your around your favourite uplifting people!

#4: Being comfortable //
I know for myself that being comfortable is such an important key thing in my day and I'm lucky that my school uniform is reasonably comfy. However I do know that some school uniforms are incredibly uncomfortable and there isn't much you can do about that but if you're at work make sure you're wearing something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! There is no point in dressing in clothes that are going to make you feel horrible all day.

#5: Add colour and decorate //
For all those school students out there this could simply be using highlighters in your notes, using coloured pencils or pens. Just something that is going to brighten things up and not make everything look and appear so boring. In the way of working in office, decorate that desk of yours, and no I don't mean go out and buy the brightest pink paint you can find and give you desk a paint job, although that would be awesome. I'm talking more like a few photos and beautiful organisation bits that will brighten up your desk that way. It'll make you actually want to spend time there, because there is nothing worse than knowing you going to have to sit at a boring, colourless, messy desk all day.

#6: Tidy Up //
Do a quick tidy up of your work space. Organise everything where it needs to be and put a system in place so that you know where everything is, so when you need it, it'll be easy to find. Once you have a de-clutter of your desk and papers, your mind might feel a lot lighter and happier too.

#7: Do the hard stuff early //
It's so very tempting to leave the hard stuff to last I know but that will only leave you with dread of those tasks looming over you for the rest of the day. It can lead to you going home unhappy and in a foul stressed out mood. If you get those hard tasks done at the beginning of your day then the rest of your day is simple and as stress free as possible. Leaving work on something easy means a happier you at home.

#8: Get yourself in a good evening routine //
Having a set evening routine is great because you know what you're going home to, it's something to look forward to and it'll get you through those most stressful parts of your day. If you're looking forward to something after work or school then you're more inclined to get through the day with a smile on your face. Some of these treats may be a hot bubble bath, a glass of wine if you're aloud that of course, a wonder through your local shops or that new TV series you've been dying to start watching.

These are the thing to go through to ensure that my day is as happy as I can make it! Sometimes we are just going to have plain shit days, day's where we just want to scream but it's important to remind ourselves of why we are here and doing what we are doing. Compassion? Because you simply love it or because it'll better your future? Whatever it may be, it's all happening for a reason and try and enjoy as much as it as possible, you're only going to get to live that day once.

Public Social Media Handle: bonni3ellen

MONTHLY FAVOURITES // JULY 2015

Well it's monthly favourites time again! And like I said with Thursday's post, it's not up as early as it normally would be or when I'd like it to be but it's better late than never! I have quite a few favourites gathered as I haven't done a favourites in awhile! I'm going to be covering makeup, fragrances, skin care, music, and a book! Let's get started!

Make Up //

#1: The Estèe Lauder Double Wear Foundation //
I'm in the shade 1N2 Ecru and while I was in Christchurch recently, my bestfriend and I decided to pick up a sample and give in a go since we had heard so many people rave about it. When I tried it for the first time I honestly couldn't get over how amazing it looked on my skin. It gives such a flawless finish and hides any redness which is exactly what I need. It feels lightweight and comfortable on the skin meaning it's so easy to wear all day. However this foundation does retail for $70 in New Zealand but I think it could be definitely worth it. I'm going to keep wearing it, keep giving it ago but so far so good, it gets a big thumbs up from me.

#2: The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer //
I have mine in the shade 2 cool medium. I have recently gone back to using this concealer. I wasn't a big fan of it to start off with but I think that may be due to having such a dehydrated under eye area. Now this concealer works perfectly for me, it's not quite as bright as I would like it so I'm looking into buying the lightest shade but I can now definitely understand what the hype is all about. This concealer is not only get for the under eye area but also conceals flaws and blemishes really well, it also holds a full and long lasting coverage. Collection Cosmetics are cheap and well worth the money I believe. From the products of theres that I have tried, I love them all. Here in New Zealand the concealer retails for $14.39.

#3: Natio Brow Kit //
I swear this is one of the best brow products that I have ever tried. It's lasted me such a long time and there's the smallest dent in the middle of the pan. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to achieve darker brows. The kit includes two brow powders, in medium and dark along with a brow wax to hold everything in place at the end. It also comes with some mini brow grooming tools, a brow brush to shade and sculpt, a grooming brush to smooth out the hairs, along with some mini tweezers. I adore this brow kit and I know it'll never let me down and always help me achieve the dream brows.

#4: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumising Mascara //
I have mine in black 301 and this is my new holy grail mascara. I had spent so long trying to find some where I could purchase this and when I found it I got super excited! It gives me immediate volume and lift, and as a long staying power. I find that if I want to remove any access mascara from the wand I find that it's easiest to just use a tissue and carefully remove any unwanted clumps, this doesn't bother me as I usually do this to all my mascaras. I purchased this mascara for $7.

Skin Care //

#1 St. Ives Apricot Blemish Control Scrub //
This is a strong staple in my skin care routine. It helps prevent blemishes and it really leaves your skin feeling fresh. It gently cleanses pores and gets to breakouts before they even occur. This scrub has 2% salicylic acid in it which is going to help with any active acne. This product is also sulfate and paraben free. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new cleanser or scrub, it smells fresh and it cleans your skin exactly how you'd want a scrub too. I'm looking into trying a Tea Tree one I think it is, my bestfriend recommended so you might see that in a monthly favourites soon!

#2: The Body Shop Vitamin Skin Boost //
It gives an instant smoothing radiance to your skin. Enriched with Vitamin C which is going to leave your skin smooth and more glowing than ever. You can use this product under or on top of your moisturiser however I like to use it on top in the mornings as it also acts as a primer. I love the Vitamin C range from The Body Shop, I'm alway there either trying something new or re-purchasing an old favourite!

Fragrances //

#1: Kim Kardashian //
This fragrance is a light, sophisticated and sweet scent. It has sleek black packaging with a hint of pink. I think this scent is perfect for a day in the office. I've found myself reaching for this when I've been heading out the door for school. I just love it and it's definitely not similar to anything I already have in my collection.

#2: Lady Gaga, Fame //
This is a light musky scent. It has a clear bottle for packaging with a sleek, classy gold lid. The fragrance is black which I think is very unique and the fact that doesn't stain your clothes is even better. I have been grabbing this fragrance for everyday scents but I think it would be perfect for any special date nights as well.

#3: Selena Gomez //
This fragrance is definitely sweet and more of a floral scent. It again has very unique packaging with the lid being the most eye catching piece I've ever seen on a fragrance bottle before. Eye catching, but different and kind of awesome.

Books //

For ages I've been wanting to get into reading again but I'm really fussy on the types of books I like to read. Half the time I get half way through or sometimes even just a few chapters in and I give up, I get bored, put the book down and never pick it up again. In the month of July, my mum recommended me a book she had recently read, it was called Walking in the Light by Kelvin Cruickshank. It's definitely not the kind of book that everyone is going to like but I personally think that it's really interesting. Kelvin is a psychic medium, he can see spirits and feel all kind of emotions. From the back of the book it says, 'Walking in the Light shares Kelvin's memories of his earliest psychic experiences and his struggle to accept his gift. Nine years ago, after a complete breakdown, Kelvin finally acknowledged who he was and accepted his gift. With this, his life completely changed.' Kelvins life story is amazing, inspirational and, at times definitely heart breaking. I definitely will be reading his other books after I've finished this one!

Music //

Music is like a guilty pleasure for me, I'm constantly listening to all kinds of music especially this month! This past month I haven't really had an specific favourites but if you guys are interested in following what I have been listening to and what I'll be listening to in the future you can follow me on Spotify, my handle name on there is just bonnie.ellen29. If any of you guys follow me on there make sure your playlists are public so I can check out what music you've been loving too!

This favourites has been a long one but starting from next month I'm going to start combining my Monthly YouTuber Favourites in with my Monthly Favourites that way it's all together in one post for you guys! I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe learnt about some new products that you might want to try!

Public Social Media Handle: bonni3ellen

MONTHLY YOUTUBER FAVOURITES // JULY 2015

I honestly can't believe that it's time to write another one of these posts again! Seriously, where has July gone. I know that this post is going up a little bit later than what it normally would and what I normally like it to, but better late than never right?

I have several YouTubers that I have been loving recently, this month I have four favourites.Two I have fallen back in love with again completely and two new YouTubers that I have come across! If you aren't subscribed to them, I'll have there channel linked as well as their Twitter accounts and that way you can also follow them on their other social media platforms as well!

#1: Shaaanxo, Shannon Harris. Shannon is a New Zealand Beauty YouTuber and she is one of the first people I ever started to watch on YouTube. I've always loved her videos and content but for some reason during the month of July I have been loving her that little bit more and I have no idea why! Shannon has fantastic content and without a doubt you will always be learning new tips and tricks from her beauty videos, because I know I always am. Shannon is gorgeous, not only do I like her make up ways but she takes style to a all new level! I just love it! Shannon also has a vlog channel which I'll also link below. Recently she has been daily vlogging which I've been loving jsut as much. You can tell that Shannon puts a great amount of time and effort into her videos, she's so genuine and I think you'll love her as much as I do. Plus lets not forget that she has the two most cutest dogs ever! They'll melt your heart for sure!

Shannon's Beauty Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/shaaanxo
Shannon's Vlog Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/shaaanxovlogs
Shannon's Twitter: https://twitter.com/xoShaaan

#2: Amanda Ensing. I came across Amanda's channel through a recommendation of Shannon's. Shannon mentioned in a recent video on her vlog channel about how she was inspired by one of Amanda's videos. I clicked the link that Shannon had left in the description box and I was hooked straight away. I haven't been watching Amanda that long but she's inspiring, full of energy and so up lifting. The one video of Amanda's which really hit home was over on her vlog channel and it's called 'Wants vs Needs'. It really helped open my eyes to a few things and I felt that it was really insightful. However Amanda's beauty channel is just as impressive. Amanda is gorgeous with and without makeup, but can I just say, her makeup is flawless in every possible way! I think if you're looking for some new creative inspiration Amanda is the perfect person for you!

Amanda's Beauty Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBeautyBox1211
Amanda's Vlog Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AmandaEnsing
Amanda's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaEnsing

#3: SacconeJoly's. If you are not subscribed to their vlog channel, you are missing out on some serious fun and cuteness! They're a family of four, not including their six adorable Maltese dogs! And lets all be honest, they're cute! Anna and Jonathan have two children, Emilia and Eduardo. They're daily vloggers living in London and I love seeing what there wee family gets up to on a daily basis. Anna and Jonathan also have there own separate channels, as well Anna also has a blog, I'll leave all the links down below. I love being able to sit down at the end of a long day, with my cup of tea and watching there videos. They bring happiness, laughter and a lot of cuteness to there vlogs so be sure to check them out! They're an incredible family.

SacconeJoly's Vlog Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LeFloofTV/featured
Anna's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheStyleDiet
Jonathan's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jonathanjoly
Anna's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaSaccone
Jonathan's Twitter:https://twitter.com/JonathanJoly

#4: beautybyalicee, Alice is a beauty YouTuber which a fell across a few months back and didn't really get a chance to check her channel out but in July however, I fell in love with her and I regret not checking her out sooner! Alice does all kinds of beauty videos, she's so gorgeous and so incredibly genuine, I think you guys will really like her! Alice also has a blog which you can check out as well. Alice's makeup looks a simple and flawless, just really classy looks that I think anyone can pull off!

Alice's Beauty Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BeautyByAlicee/featured
Alice's Twitter: https://twitter.com/beautybyalicee_

If you haven't seen Tuesday's post you can check it out still, it'll be hangout under this post but I discussed some situations that hold special place in my heart, I shared my opinions on a few things and it was just me venting in a way. I mentioned that I had some favourite YouTubers and YouTube videos that I liked to go watch in times that I feel down and completely uninspired, so I thought that I would take this opportunity to share those videos and YouTubers with you now. I will also link there YouTube Channel, along with the videos and the Twitter accounts so that you can find them easy as!

Meghan Rienks:
Meghan's Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/meghanrosette
Meghan's Vlog Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/moremeghann
Meghan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeghanRienks
Meghan Opens Up About Depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHvYr5_HTCk
Meghan's Brave Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZTJ8EqjU0
Meghan's Visual Poem, Spark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbdtkfmQnc
Meghan's Video - The Perks Of Being Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4fDdZjJWXg

Connor Franta:
Connor's Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ConnorFranta
Connor's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConnorFranta
Connor's Video - Life Doesn't Wait: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8paaQxzUMY

JacksGap:
JacksGap Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/JacksGap/featured
Jack's Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackHarries
JacksGap Video - Let's Talk About Mental Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkZiBnL0h7Y

These are just a few of my favourites, I have plenty more so be sure to let me know if you'd like to know about them, and I'll be sure to do that super soon. I hope some of you find those links helpful, I still often turn back to these video and I find that they really help.

Remember to follow me on my social media to get regular updates on blog posts and what I've been up to. My handle on all my public social media is, bonni3ellen.

HELLO AUGUST

I can't believe that it's August already! Seriously where has the time gone! I'm so excited for the warmer weather! Winter is finally over for us here in New Zealand and I'm so excited, I can't wait to be able to soak up the sun and hit the beaches.  For those of you who might be new to my blog or are just unsure when I post, it's Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 0630PM + 12:00 NZST. I'll still be following that schedule and be sure to follow me on my social media, Twitter especially for regular updates, my handle for all my social media is just bonni3ellen.

Today's post is just going to be a catch up and just a general chit chat kind of post! I'm going to share my opinions on situations that are a little bit personal but also about things that I strongly believe in. I would also just like to say that obviously these are all my own opinions and I would never force anyone to have the same opinions as me. There are going to be people that agree with me and there are going to be people that disagree with me but I'm totally ok with that. I strongly believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion and that they shouldn't be judged upon that. 

I'm currently sick with Glandular Fever and I'm spending most of my time at home, resting up and trying to get back to my usual self as soon as possible but because I have so much time on my hands I have been on my social media a lot more than I normally would. And with this I've noticed a lot a negativity towards others, nasty comments and all kinds of things. I'm not trying to say that we all have to be happy all the time because that is most definitely not the case. We all have our bad days, we all have our days where we just feel like screaming. I've had those days and I know how truly hard they can be sometimes. But with those bad days I've also learnt a lot. Most importantly I learnt not to take it out on those who love and care for me the most, they want to help, they want to make sure you're ok. Although sometimes it might not feel like, that's all they really want, they just want to make sure that you're alright. Like I said earlier I've seen so many negative comments recently on all my social media platforms. I'm so strongly against bullies, whether they are online or not. What gives them the right to tear someone down mentally, emotionally and in some cases physically as well. They don't know anything about that persons life, they see the mask, the cover, they see what they want to see. Over the past week I've watched YouTube videos that have brought me to tears, these YouTubers were talking about how they felt like that they couldn't be themselves, they felt like people were attacking them for simply being them. I've also seen videos done by some of my favourite YouTubers, they were sharing their story, they wanted to put there story online for there viewers to see because they knew that there was a chance that it might help somebody but when looking through the comments, and don't get me wrong there are always a huge amount of supportive, positive comments too, but I can't help but notice the negative, pure nasty comments too. It makes me sick to think that these people feel like they can bring somebody down for sharing who they truly are. It constantly amazes me how nasty some people can really be sometimes.  Everybody has the right to be themselves, everybody has the right to express themselves how they wish and nothing will ever give anyone the right to bring them down if it. There are no excuses for bullies. I will always strongly stand up for what I believe in, whether it be bullies or other personal beliefs and I hope you guys can too. You may be wondering why I feel so strongly and passionate about this, and it's because I've been bullied for a good 12 years of my life and this was just at school, as well as having other stuff going on in my life, life was beyond tough for me. I promise you it gets better, hang on to that hope, hang onto every last little bit of it. If anything, I'm living proof that it all does get better. Although I'm still going through a lot at the moment, my so grateful for those who believed in me and those who were there for me no matter what I was going through.

I also wold like to briefly touch on a topic which also means a lot to me personally and a lot to my close family and friends as well. Mental Health, I don’t want this blog post to turn into a sad, depressing post but this is something that again, I feel so passionate about. What I want to achieve by mentioning this briefly is that it's ok to not be ok. I myself have suffered with depression and anxiety, coming up five years and it took a massive toll upon my life. I'm a lot better now, I'm in a way happier, more positive place now than what I have ever been before. It's ok to not be ok. I really want to guys to know that. You're not alone in all of this. Those feelings that you're feeling are valid and don't ever think that you're wrong in your emotions. You need to know that this is not a way of life, everyday shouldn't be a bad one and every morning shouldn't be a struggle. Please talk to somebody, reach out for help, don't be afraid. It's ok to suffer but it's not ok to suffer in silence. Reaching out and accepting that you need help is the bravest thing that you can do. My life will always be an up and down rollercoaster but reaching out for help was the best thing I ever did. I slowly recovered and I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I need everyone to remember, whether you suffer with a mental illness or not, it’s not something that's just going to disappear, it's something you have to live with for the rest of your life, you have to learn to accept that it's just going to be apart of your life, you  will learn ways to deal with it, learn coping strategies but whatever you do, don't fight it, it'll win and only make things worse. It fought with me for awhile but I didn't let it win and you don’t have to either, you can get through this, I know if I can then you can too.

This month on my blog it's going to be about really sharing positivity. My blog is and has always will be somewhere that is going to be a positive, happy place and I feel like that sometimes we all just need somewhere to go, somewhere to escape from everything. I often watch some of my favourite inspiring videos on YouTube or I'll read some of my favourite blogs, just to take my mind else where,  rather than all the negative thoughts. I also just find being outside, just taking a deep breath of fresh air can really help. You'll often find me at the beach, the beach is where I tend to go for some time out, a place where I can take some quality time for myself. I know todays blog post is something completely different to what I would normally post but it's important to me and I want to share that with you guys. I'm thinking about doing similar posts to this every once and awhile, just so that we can share opinions with each other and just chat about what's been going on in our society!

Let me know if you guys enjoyed this style of post, I felt like this was the perfect way for me to kind of let you guys know what I've been thinking and let my thoughts and opinions be known. Let me know either in the comments below or over on any of my social media what you guys think, and what some of your opinions are. I'm interested and I would love to know!                     

SEVEN WAYS TO A RELAXING SUNDAY

Sunday's are my main relaxation days. Although I like to take a small amount of time relaxing at the end of everyday, for me Sunday is about becoming prepared for the up coming week and making sure that I can be as productive as possible! For me my Sunday's are about having a little bit of time to myself but just also really taking the time to appreciate what I have and the time that I have with those that I love. These are the step that I take to ensure that I have the most relaxing day as possible and so that I can become as calm and relaxed as possible. 

#1: Have a leisurely breakfast or brunch

• Something you wouldn't normally eat on a week day
• Read a newpaper, book, magazine, kindle
• Take your time, there's no need to rush

#2: Take a relaxing hot bath

• Bath bombs
• Candles
• Music or something to read

#3: Get out of the house 

• For at least 20 minutes 
• Go for a walk 
• Go grab a coffee or juice 

#4: Plan for the upcoming week

• Relaxing music
• Shut off the internet
• A quiet place
• A cut of tea 

#5: Netflix'

• Perfect for lazy Sundays
• Catch up on a few episodes of your favourite series at the moment 

#6: Give yourself a fresh manicure

• Have you nails looking on point and make you feel confident for the up coming week

#7: YouTube

• Get your weekly dose of inspiration
• Watch some of your favourite videos and YouTubers

These are just some of my favourite things to do on a Sunday but what are yours? What do you enjoy doing on a Sunday that helps you prepare yourself for the upcoming week? 

I would also just like to point out that I spend at least half an hour, possibly even longer, just rewinding from my day. I think it's important to reflect on your day and just be able to notice what didn't work so well for you that day but also what did. Being able to identify the positives and the negatives from each day will help you be more productive the next. 

I hope that this was beneficial for some of you! If you would like to follow me on any of my social medias, my handle is @bonni3ellen so if you search that you should be able to find me and we can chat!