Monthly Favourites: February 2016

As we say goodbye to February we also say goodbye to Summer but a hello to Winter & a new favourites post. I hope February has treated you all amazingly. Although I've have had a very crazy month, I've also had an extremely enjoyable month too.

MAKEUP // 
The Maybelline Lash Sensation Mascara has to hands down be my favourite product this month. Whether I'm using the waterproof formula or the original formula, I'm always so pleased with the result & how it leaves my lashes. I'll leave the link here, the post review I need if you're interested more in knowing about the product & my thoughts in more detail.

SKINCARE //
I'm going to keep this one pretty simple because at some point this month I'm going to do a post on my favourite makeup removers, but one I've been loving this month is the Garner Skin Naturals 2 in 1 Express Makeup Remover. It's also great for removing waterproof mascara but I'll talk about it more in my up coming post.

HAIRCARE // 
I absolutely adore using coconut oil in my hair. I probably do this about once week & it helps my hair lock in the moisture especially in the ends.

NAILS // 
This month I've been loving a Sinful Colours polish in 982 Be Happy. It's a beautiful mint shade & it's not something I would normally reach for but I've been trying to use it & much a possible before Winter hits us!

APP // 
I've fallen in love with the app Flipboard. I keep a collection of my favourite blogpost, under a range of different categories, from a range of different bloggers. If you like reading & collecting different articles & are wanting to find one place to keep them all then I think Flipboard may just be for you.

BOOK // 
10 Steps To Earning Awesome Grades by Thomas Frank. Lets be honest, I'm an organisation freak & I love to be able to be as productive as possible so this was definitely right up my ally. Thomas also has a YouTube channel as well as a blog & they are both filled with really useful information.

FILM // 
At the beginning of the month I went to see The 5th Wave with my sister & Ma. I wasn't a hundred percent sure if I would like it but holy crap I loved it. I was such an incredible movie. There was not one single part of the film that was boring, I don't even know how to explain it, it was just great & if you haven't seen it you definitely need too.

TV SERIES // 
Definitely the Walking Dead. There's a new season out on TV at the moment & I'm loving it so far. I believe the series is on Netflix so definitely check it out if you're looking for something new to watch.

SONG // 
Youth by Troye Sivan. Holy crap, I'm incredibly proud of Troye & if you haven't heard his song, definitely check it out along with the music video because it's just recently been released!

ALBUM // 
Again, Troye's new album. Incredibly proud & it's incredibly amazing.

YOUTUBER // 
Rhian HY, holy crap this woman is utterly incredible. When I first came across her YouTube channel, I think I probably watch all her videos, she's inspiring & down to earth. I think you all need to watch her & read her blog. I just don't have words to explain how much I love this woman. Just go subscribe, follow & watch her, you won't regret it!

BLOGGER // 
Logical Harmony, I came across the site about two weeks ago, whether you want to class it is as a blog or not that's up to you but I adore this blog. You can find out all the information on site but it's a site where they review all kinds of vegan products & I find that very interesting because I'm looking into slowly become vegan but I want to start slowly to help my body adjust to it & also because my body is so temperamental. But I'll keep you updated.

INSTAGRAM // 
This month I've been in love with Meghan Rienks instagram. Definitely flick her a follow.

FOOD // 
Avocado. Avocado on toast, avocado in my salads. If you don't like avocado then what are you doing with your life!

PLACE //
I didn't go to any specific places that were anywhere completely new but I did go & stay with my Nan & Pop for a night which was really nice. I always love spending time with them both.

QUOTE // 
'Worrying won't stop the bad stuff from happening, it just stops you from enjoying the good.'

PERSON // 
Rhian HY for sure. I talked about her above so be sure to check her & all her social media out!

PICTURE // 

B x 

bonnieellenxo Update

I honestly had no idea what I wanted to upload for todays post so I thought I would just sit down, talk about a few things as well as of just chat about the things that are on my mind.

I would like to thank everyone that is constantly supporting me, whether you've just started reading or you've been reading my blog for awhile now, my family & friends, it all means the world to me. I've had a crazy increase of reads across all posts over the past couple of months & it's a great feeling to know that you guys are loving the content I'm posting.

Next, I would like to mention that I've made a public Facebook page which you can follow here. This is where you'll get regular updates, very similar to other social media updates. I wanted to create this other platform for those who maybe don't have Twitter or Instagram. I'd love to have you over on my other social media platforms as well, if you want to follow me you can find me @bonnieellenxo on all public social media I have or you can find all the links you'll need at the top hand corner of my blog.

I feel like this months post have been all over the place. I don't know whether that's true or if I'm just being to hard on myself. I mean it could just be that this past month has been incredibly busy & full on & I have to admit that I've very much a perfectionist when it comes to all the work I do. I don't know, let me know what you guys think & also let me know if there is anything in particular that you'd like to see her on my blog because I'd love to know.

Last but most definitely not least I just want to say be kind to one another. I've & heard an incredible amount of hate & just horrible nasty comments, even family & friends. We should all be bring each up with positivity rather than bringing each other down with negativity. Honestly I can't stress that enough & I know that it might not necessarily be you but I'm hoping that you will get on board & just remind those around that kindness is free & it can take all of two seconds.

B x 

I Remember It Like It Was Yesterday // Five Years Later

When a quiet fault line roared to life near Darfield, Canterbury neatly six years ago, it triggered a series of events that I'll never forget.

The first earthquake, on September 4 2010 at 4:35AM measured 7.1 & stuck like nothing I had ever felt before. Since then there have been nearly 20,000 earthquakes recored.

On February 22 2011 at 12:51PM measured 6.3 & again was something completely different to anything I had ever felt before, emotionally, mentally & physically. There were 600 earthquakes recorded that day, with 185 dead &  over 7000 injured. Buildings were destroyed & lives were wrecked.

Six years later from the first initial earthquake & I'm still lost for words. I couldn't tell you exactly how I felt because I just can't think of any words that would do it justice. Canterbury will always hold a special place in my heart even though I don't consider it home nor do I live there anymore.

I remember it all like it was just yesterday & I'm positive it's something I'll never ever forget.

I'm proud of how far we've all come, all of us who have been effected. Five years later we may still struggle every now & then, I know I do but I also know that we couldn't have got as far as we have without the support of one another.

The 185 white chairs represent the lives lost in the February 22 earthquake. Where a church once proudly stood, there are now 185 beautiful white chairs.  There are all kinds & varieties including arm chairs, dinning room table chairs, a wheelchair & even a baby capsule. The artist idea & statement poetically reminds us all that the 'installation is temporary - as is life'. Anyone is welcome to spend time there. It's a truly gorgeous memorial.

I'm going to leave a tribute video link here, if you would like to see the extent of the damage really done. You can always find out more information if you're interested just by searching 'Christchurch Earthquakes'.

Kia Kaha Christchurch 

B x 

Design Fest Love

I don't know about you but I love to change up the wallpapers on my MacBook, my Mac & my iPhone quite regularly. And because I spend a reasonable amount of time on all devices I like to have images the will motivate & inspire me.

If you are looking for some new wallpaper inspiration then I have a perfect website for you.

Direct Link // Website >>  http://www.designlovefest.com
Direct Link // Free Tech Download Section >> http://www.designlovefest.com/category/downloads/

Follow Me On Bloglovin'

   B x 

Why We Love Living With Our Parents

Living at home does have it's downsides but there are also some serious perks about living with your parents & I know you'll miss them when you have your own place.

A FULL FRIDGE // 
Who doesn't love a full fridge? Especially when you didn't even have to go the shops to get it yourself? The best feeling is when you're hungry & the cupboards aren't bare! Or even better when your parents buy one of your favourite foods just because they felt like it.

THE CAUSAL USE OF THE FAMILY CAR
I personally don't drive myself but I could only imagine how good it would be, no payments needed right? In saying that probably not too convenient.

FREE WIFI
I mean who doesn't love free wifi right?

SAVING ON RENT
Even if your parents do charge, it's normally no where near as much if you were in your own home right? Plus let's face it you'd being doing chores anyway.

INCREASE IN MOTIVATION
I don't know about you but half the things my Mum goes on to me about would never get done if hadn't of gone on about them in the first place.

LAUNDRY 
Although I do my own laundry, everything is right there ready to use, quite simple if you ask me.

PETS 
It could well be a few years yet until you're even responsible to look after another living thing so enjoy having pets without responsibility while you can.

HOME COOKED MEALS BY MUM 
Nothing beats a good ole home cooked meal from your Mum.

COMING HOME TO SOMEONE TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH
Crap day at work? A fight with your best friend? Have a cup of tea with your family & let's face it, no matter what they are always going to be there for you.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS POST;  http://msbonni3ellen.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/from-blah-to-badass-in-seconds.html

B x

Working Successfully From Home

We all like to think that working or doing online school is everyones absolute dream but unfortunately it isn't always the dream we all like to think it is. If you don't already know I attend an online school so I work from home on a daily basis & that means dodging Netflix marathons & convincing myself that it isn't a good idea to work from my bed & in my pyjamas.

#1 // HAVE AN ORGANISED & CLEAR DEFINED WORK SPACE

When I knew that I would be working from home I knew that I needed to have a space where I had no extra distractions, I needed a space that was going to specifically dedicated to my work. This could be a little desk in the corner of your room or living area, it could be a spare room in your house. Working from home is going to give you so much flexibility so it's important to give yourself a few minutes to think about what's going to work best & then build & accommodate those needs. You are going to want a space that when you immediately walk into it you know that there's work to be done. 

#2 GETTING DRESSED

The idea of this is to not stay in your pyjamas all day. Get dressed & ready like you would normally if you were actually going to leave the house. Pyjamas create the idea of lounging around & lounging around has nothing to do with working. Do yourself a favour & be prepared, you never know when you might have to pop out or have some kind of conference call. 

#3 STAY ORGANISED 

When working from home you really need to be the master of organising, scheduling, managing deadlines, all this will allow you to keep track of everything, minimise all the distractions. Really find what is going to work for you because we all stay organised it different ways. 

#4 PRIORITISE 

Prioritising when working from home is important because you are going to want to make sure you meet all the deadlines you have. You're going to want to make sure you're making all the right choices that'll lead to you having everything done in time for those specific deadlines. 

#5 SEPERATE WORK & HOME 

There is always something that you could be doing around the house. There's always going to be dishes that need doing, laundry that needs washing & folding & errands to run but try not to think about this during your work time. Create a time of the day that is specifically set aside to do those chores. For me it is first thing in the morning, I like to make sure everything is done & tidy around the house before I get stuck into doing anything work related. 

#6 COMMUNICATE 

Make sure that you're communicating with school teachers, clients or whoever, be professional & stay on top of those relationships. These people are going to appreciate it & be sure to communicate as much as you need too. In my case, with teachers, they are there to help you, they are going to want to hear from you. 

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW I KEEP ORGANISED >>   http://msbonni3ellen.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/2k16-organisation.html

B x

My Baby Girl

For those of you who don't know I have do have a kitten & I thought that I would do a quick we post to introduce her to those of you who haven't met her yet. She's is the cutest thing ever & I've had her for about a month now however since I adopted her from a local family who found her, I believe she's about two months old. Sylvie has grown so much since we've had her, she's really grown into her little body & she's got a great wee personality.

Sylvie has one of the cutest personalities & she's incredibly playful. Although she likes to wake us up durning the night it's usually just because she wants cuddles. She loves the attention & follows me around constantly, as you can see from some of the photos. She plays well with my other cat Scooby which makes me incredibly happy & I think it's great that she has her older brother to play with & to look out for her. She can still be quite timid around people she's not particularly use to but I think that's just to be expected.

I love my little baby girl hugely & it feels even better to know that I was able to adopt her & give her a warm loving home. Hope you don't mind this wee post about Sylvie, I thought it would be good to post something a wee bit different. I have a few product reviews & posts on other bits & pieces over the next few weeks. 

LATEST BLOG POST JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT; 

http://msbonni3ellen.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/breaking-habit-of-comparison.html

B x

Organise Your Life No.001

Welcome to the first instalment of Organise Ya'll Life. I love organisation so I thought I would start a mini series on organisation in different areas of my life. To start things off I thought I would talk about how I generally organise my life day to day. Whether I prefer to use a paper planner or plan digitally. 

If you've been following me for awhile now you may or may not know that I'm an incredibly organised person. I'm one of those people that just can't be disorganised & not know what I'm doing. Over the years I've tried so many different organisation techniques & several different planners, apps & all kinds of bits & pieces. Finally, I've found something that is working extremely well for me.

📷  // www.tumblr.com

I always thought I would have to use a paper planner but I just don't think that using a paper planner is so me. I like to use apps that sync between my laptop & my phone. I use the calendar app, the notes app & the reminders app that come with the iPhone & they automatically sync with my laptop. I also use Microsoft OneNote which syncs again between my laptop & my phone.

Having these apps syncing between both devices means that I can add anything that needs to be added during the week. I know that having your organisation on your devices isn't for everyone which is why I'm going to link some of my favourite planner videos & YouTubers that I've come across over the time where I was trying out different methods of planning.

What I like about using apps on both my phone & laptop is that I either have both or one or the other with me all the time. With that, I'm able to see when I'm already busy or free meaning I won't double book myself & have to change appointments later on.

Feel free to let me know how you like to plan in the comments below. You might also help someone else out with their organisation. 

RACHEL TALBOTT //  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtTeNqhn0sc & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO88Cj_hjQk

HALEY CAIRO //  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o1n1D37W8s

STUDY WITH JESS // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrwn-sxZtpg

ASPYN OVARD // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfQX0ASbsyU

LAST BLOG POST JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT // http://bit.ly/1pHweSi

B x 

Breaking The Habit Of Comparison

Ever been caught up in the act of comparison? Yeah me too & more often than we'd like to admit right? And unfortunately I'll only end up making us bitter. The reasons behind comparison are limitless but I think the biggest three are jealously, worry & the success of others.

JEALOUSLY //
What tends to make us jealous may not matter to the person beside you because it all comes down to personal values & what's important to each individual. Although it's highly natural of us to get jealous, it's also highly self destructive & distorts our reality, our attitude, our feelings & everything else while it's at it. The consequences of all this? Well you only end up getting hurt & hurting those you love & care about the most. That's why it's so important for us to try our very best to control the negative thoughts. When negative thoughts pop into our minds it important to quickly turn them into positives. Right about now, you're probably thinking, 'Yeah well that's easier said than done.' & I'm a hundred percent aware of that because it's taken me awhile to train my brain to automatically think of the positives over the negatives however I still have days where it's not great. Sometimes I need to sit down, take a breath & go through what's important to me. From there I try to focus on the positives. Being positive is something that has always been important to me & making the good out of every situation & I know that can be hard sometimes but the fact that you have noticed & accepted the fact that you want to make that change is the first step.

WORRY //
Without even knowing it I think that we are all constant worriers to some degree. There's always something going on in our lives that will have us worried. As humans we always have a certain amount of stress & worry in our daily lives. However I think  the biggest thing we all become consumed of worry about how people perceive us. We are always worried about the clothes we're wearing, the way our body looks, the way our hair looks, whether people will laugh at us or like our latest Instagram picture. Everyone is trying to look good in the eyes of others. Everyone is stressed & worried about how they look & how they are going to be perceived by others. I think no matter how much we tell ourselves that we don't care, there is still a small portion of us that does. I believe that the best way to go about this is by being aware of the worry & anxiety. Remind yourself that underneath it all this worry & anxiety that you are a good person, that wants to be loved & appreciated.

I have a question for you all. Do you think that it's important to have a certain amount of stress & worry in your day to day life? I know that when I have the right balance of these to things my body is to highly effected by it, I almost want to say that I preform better & that certain worries help me keep my life on track. I'm really interested to see what your thoughts are on this.

SUCCESS OF OTHERS // 
We never really are fully satisfied with the things we achieve, whether they are big or small. There is always somebody that is going to do it better right? I think that when it comes to the success of others we simply just need to be happy for them. We have to remember that we are all individual human beings & we are all on our own journey of life. There are always going to be people that are better at certain things that maybe you aren't so good at & visa versa. We should all be proud of what we all achieve daily, whether it's simply getting out of bed in the morning to sending in a big assignment to the boss. I think we all need to give ourselves a bit more credit when it comes to personal success & achievements.

I apologise that this is such a rambling post. It's something that I'm passionate about as for as long as I can remember I was constantly comparing myself to others & it really wasn't great for my mental & emotional well being, short & long term. Please let me know what your thoughts are on this, I'd really love to hear them.

B x

A Few Of My Favourite People

Today I thought that I would share with you a few of my favourite people. I've been subscribing to new YouTube channels & new blogs, following new people over my social media & I thought that I'd take this opportunity to share just a few of those people with you.

#1 Rhian HY 
Rhian is 28 years old Brit & is currently living in Northen Michigan. Rhian is probably one of the most down to earth people I've stumbled across recently. I absolutely adore all her content whether it's on her YouTube channel, her blog or across her social media. Rhian is vegan & uses all cruelty free beauty products which I love learning about although I'm not a hundred percent began myself. Her content is informative & I definitely think there is an opportunity for everyone to learn something from her.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rhianhy
Blog: http://www.wifelife.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhian_hy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wifelife/

#2 Mimi Ikonn 
I recently came across Mimi's YouTube channel & fell in love. Mimi is a super down to earth person that loves art, style, fashion & inspiration. Mimi does a wide range of videos but some of my favourites are more of her sit down chatty ones where we get to know more about her & her opinions, her beliefs & all that good stuff. Mimi also has an incredible blog & a lot of her posts are linked back to videos on her channel so everything is really easy to find. Along with having a passion behind style & fashion, Mimi also makes a range of inspiration & advice videos. I think these are really great if you're looking for some direction in a particular area of life.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MimiIkonn/
Blog: http://www.mimiikonn.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MimiIkonn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimiikonn/

#3 XOBENZO
Ashley Benson has an incredible blog. It's a place where I can find easy reads & I also find all kinds of inspiration there. If you watch Pretty Little Liars then you may know who Ashley Benson is, she plays the character of Hanna Marin. You may have also seen for around is you follow Shay Mitchell on social media, Shay plays Emily Fields on Pretty Little Liars & I know that the girls are great friends outside of the show too.

Blog: http://xobenzo.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshBenzo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsashbenzo/

Obviously I love a lot more people across many different social medias however these are probably the top three new finds that I've been loving recently. Keep an eye out in my monthly favourites because I usually feature my favourite YouTubers & bloggers there as well.

LATEST BLOG POST IF YOU MISSED IT; http://msbonni3ellen.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/what-we-should-all-be-aiming-for-in-2k16.html

B x

Review: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

In the way of mascaras, Maybelline have never let me down & the Lash Sensation isn't any different. I've tried both the waterproof formula & the original formula, I find both great for different reasons.

I did some research over on the Maybelline website & this is what they claim this mascara should be like. 'Revels layers of softer, denser lashes. Unique formula is blended with precious oils.' Also; 

• Fanning brush with ten layers of bristles to reveal every lash. 
• The inner bristles reach a hundred percent of tiny lashes while outer bristles fan out lashes.
• Liquid ink formula builds coat after coat on each individual lashes with zero clumps.

WATERPROOF FORMULA // 

When they say waterproof they mean waterproof, once you apply the mascara to your lashes it really isn't going anywhere. I've been swimming at the beach, I've had a shower & I've even slept with it on at one point, I think you're going to be safe with this one. The only issue I think some people might have with the waterproof formula is that it is quite hard to get off at the end of the day. I personally have tried a bunch of different make up removers, micellar waters & although some have managed it get bits & pieces off, I haven't managed to find a make up remover which is able to get it off efficiently without having to really scrub at the eye area. However one product that I have found to work magically with removing this mascara is coconut oil. I find that the coconut oil really helps break down the product leaving it super easy to remove. 

WASHABLE FORMULA // 

I have also had a chance to try the washable formula & I find this formula great as well. It wears a decent amount of time however I do like the waterproof formula better for holding the curl of my lashes. I find the only real difference between formulas is that one is waterproof & one is washable, more easy to get off at the end of the day. 

I definitely think at the end of the day it is going to come down to the fact of what you plan to do that particular day. I also what to briefly mention that the formula in both mascaras to start off with is quite wet & with the first couple of uses it can clump a little bit if you have to much product on the wand. I find that this is something that is common with many mascaras.

At the end of the day I would recommend both formulas & it comes down to personal preference. 

B x

What We Should All Be Aiming For In 2016

I personally am not someone that sets big ambitious goals for myself at the beginning of the year. Yes I have goals that I would like to achieve over my lifetime & each year I take steps towards achieving them however over the years I've learnt things about myself & reasons why I shouldn't be to hard on myself when to come to setting & achieving goals.

Ever since I was twelve my ultimate life goal for myself was happiness & to this day it still is. I can be quite hard on myself when it comes to achieving my goals & although that can be a good thing it can also has its negatives. For example last year I really wanted to get back into the fitness side of things, this was all good & well until I got extremely sick & then for obvious reasons I couldn't continue with the extreme workouts that I loved doing. Life happens, this kind of shit happens & there's not a hell of a lot we can do about it. There are constantly going to be ups & downs in our lives & we have a adapt life sometimes because of them. The point I'm trying to get across is that, don't be to hard on yourself when it comes to setting & achieving your goals. Don't get me wrong I think it's extremely important to have goals & have things to work towards but at the same time if life gets in the way, that's ok too.

This year I have come up with five general goals that I think we should all be aiming to work towards this year. I have personal goals that I've set for myself however these are a few smaller goals. You might add one or two to your list of goals or you might add all five or you might even add none & that's cool too.

#1 // LEARN EVERYDAY PICK ME UPS
What I mean by this is learn what is going to help lift your spirits if you're having a bad day. We all have bad days every now & then & I think it's important to have & know a routine that will help you get out of that funk. Whether it's working out, going outside to get some fresh air, doing a little bit of yoga or mediation, it can be anything that you find relaxing. I know that I like to do a little bit of yoga & mediation, then have a shower, put light layer of make up on, make myself a cup of tea & then I'm refreshed & ready to to continue on with my day. I think the main thing is to set yourself a routine, one that is calming & going to help get you out of that funk.

#2 // BECOME IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING OFFLINE
I'm not talking about the neighbours adorable new kitten or the cute boy that lives down the road. I'm talking about falling in love with any kind of activity that gets your heart racing, something that you're really passionate about. Maybe something that you've always wanted to try before but never got round to it or maybe something that even scares you a little bit. I know we all love to sit behind our laptops or cellphones, even I'm guilty of it but lets all challenge ourselves to try something new.

#3 // GIVING BACK & DOING GOOD FOR OTHERS
This day in age we are to quick to take rather than give. Giving back to somebody is probably one of the most awarding emotions you could ever feel. Not only is this something that I think we all need to do a lot more often, it's something that is also going to have a really positive impact on your day to day life.

#4 // DECUTTER RELATIONSHIPS
By this I mean end any relationship, including friendships that are having a negative impact upon your life. Because I'm telling you, you don't need that bullshit in your life. 2016 is the year of you & it's about making decisions that are best for you & not everyone else.

#5 // ACCEPT & ADJUST
I kind of talked about this before but life is going to have its up & its downs, that's just what life does. It's important to accept the fact that these unknown events are going to happen & when these things do happen it's important when know how to adjust. Life unknown events are inevitable & we really just have to go with the flow.

At the end of the day I hope you're are all happy, kind & understanding because I think we should all be continually be aiming to be those three things.

Don't forget you can follow me on Bloglovin' along with all your other favourite blogs!

B x