June 2017: Roundup, Highlights + Favourites

It's time to sit down and talk about the month of June. June has been a crazy, but none the less, it's been enjoyable. I spent a four days in Christchurch for my sister's 16th, which was amazing. I had an unexpected week off due to some health issues that required my full attention, I had a hospital appointment which turned out to be extremely positive and I'm about to take my second weekend trip to Blenheim. Amongst all that I've been working my tiny little butt off on assessments and a tone of school work, content for my blog and a few little projects. Looking back on the month, I can confidently say that it's been a good one. Let's jump into this months favourites, there's a few. 

Australis Banana Powder

Australis banana powder is an old favourite I decided to dig out this month. I enjoy it as much as I did before and I really enjoy using the product under my eyes to keep concealer in place.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream: Athens 

Holy crap, this has to be my new favourite lip colour. Paired with a nude liner, it's gorgeous. It's a little bit streaky on it's own but a nude liner fixes that along with helping create a longer lasting finish. 

Victoria Secret Fragrance Mist: Aqua Kiss

I finally managed to get my hands a couple of the Victoria Secret Fragrance Mists and my favourite scent at the moment is Aqua Kiss. I love that the packaging is plastic, meaning that it's easy to travel with. Would highly recommend picking up one if you're into there scents. 

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula, Vitamin E, Hand Cream

Ever since the colder months have been upon us my hands have come extremely dry. I've had great results from Palmers products before so I had high hopes for this hand cream. I wasn't disappointed, it's a beautiful formula that leaves skin feeling super soft and fresh. I'd definitely repurchase this product, until it starts to warm up at least. 

Carmex Lipbalm

Again, due to the colder months my lips have suffered. They were dry, cracked and sore. I'd never tried Carmex before so it was a bit of a gamble but it worked. I've previously had to go to my GP because of how bad my lips cracked so I'm so pleased that I found something I can get at my local department store. 

Kune, Care Line Satin Oil, Hair Oil

This product is a beautiful and I love the results it gives. It's a treatment statin oil with yangu, papaya seed oil and maracuja oil. It leaves my hair looking and feeling healthy, smooth and shiny. With naturally curly and frizzy hair, this is the perfect product. 

Frankie Magazine

I mention the most recent Frankie Magazine, issue 78, in this months Reading Material post, which I'll leave linked here, if you want to check it out. I've been really enjoying the articles printed in issue 78. They make for a great afternoon reads. 

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant 

I've just finished Option B and I'm recommending it to everybody. Again, I mentioned this in Reading Material post, where I went into more detail about the book. It was definitely life changing and it gave me a new perspective on things, especially since I'm experiencing huge certain amounts of grief in my life at the moment. 

13 Reasons Why 

I chose to watch 13 Reasons Why because I wanted to add my opinion into the mix. I was very late to the game with 13 Reasons Why and heard a lot of mixed opinions. At the end of the day I enjoyed 13 Reasons Why, I liked the overall message that it gave and the fact that it opened thousands of conversations about suicide and mental health. There are some things that I didn't like throughout the episodes but I think overall it's something people need to see. I think we need to focus on the positives that can come out of this TV Series opposed to the negatives. 

Broadchurch

Another series I watched this month was Broadchurch. I had heard so many people rave about it but hadn't gotten around to watching it myself. Turns out I should've watch it a lot sooner. It was amazing! I'm not going to say anything, but you definitely have to check it out! 

B x 

How To Appreciate The Present Moment

The present moment is all you're ever promised. Don't postpone happiness for a time that might never come. 

Practice Daily Gratitude

No matter how bad we think our problems are, you can almost guarantee that there's someone else with much bigger problems that us. The saying, "I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet", represents gratitude perfectly. We should be grateful for everything in our lives, big or small, and by practicing daily gratitude we can train our minds to have an attitude of gratitude. 

Be Present Both Mentally & Physically

Whatever you're doing make sure that both your mind and body are present. Don't eat dinner with your family while thinking about work. Don't work while thinking about the weekend. Always be present and let your mind focus 100% on what you're doing. 

Stop Resisting What You Can't Control

Stop resisting the things in your life that you can't control and aren't the way you want to turn out. Stop worrying about what other people do or say. Start accepting things for how they are, regardless of whether you think it's right or wrong. Accept it as a fact. 

Avoid Negative People & Situations

Another cause of negative emotions and unhappiness are certain people or situations. You probably already know who those people are, they are the ones who seem to only see the negative side to every situation. These people not only create unhappiness for themselves but they also often bring down those around them, by spreading negative thinking. 

Accept 100% Responsibility For Your Life

If we want to be happy, then we have to stop blaming others for what happens in our lives. We need to stop seeing ourselves as victims. 

Be Of Service To Others

One really powerful way to increase your happiness is to focus on helping others. You can give money to a charity, but there are plenty more fulfilling ways to help others as well. 

B x

Reading Material: June 2017

When it comes to the material I've been reading over the past month, there is quite a variety. There have been two books and two magazines that I've thrown myself into this month and I've really enjoyed all three, while learning something different for each. 

Option B, Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant is the latest book I've gotten into this month. I'm probably just over half way through it and I would already recommend it to everyone. 

"After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist, told her that there are concrete steps people can take to recover and rebound from life shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. It is a muscle that everyone can build."

"Option B combines Sheryl's personal insights with Adam's eye-opening research, exploring how a broad range of people have overcome illness, job loss, sexual assault, natural disasters and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the capacity of the human spirits to persevere and to rediscover joy. The book also shows how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children and create resilient families, communities and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave whatever lies ahead. We all live some form of Option B. This book will help us make the most out of it." 

Keep an eye out for other content based around Option B and the topics raised in the book. But until then just know that this book is incredible and I think it's something that should be read by everyone. 

This Modern Love, Will Darbyshire

Such a beautiful book, written by an wonderful human being. This Modern Love is a selection of letters based around love and the different stages of love, from over 98 different countries, with the main demographic being 16-24, the youngest contributor being 12 and the oldest contributor being 81. I'll link the post where I give my feel review and opinion on This Modern Love, here. 

Frankie Magazine, Issue 78

I know I've spoken about Frankie Magazine before but issue 78 is now out for the months of July/August and I'm really enjoying it! I really believe that each issue get's better every time. I definitely recommend picking up Frankie Magazine if you're looking for something to read while having a hot cup of tea and admiring the fact that's it's pouring with rain outside. 

Flow Magazine, Issue 17

Another magazine, that is very similar to Frankie Magazine has find it's way into my life recently. I'm not a hundred percent sure if I've spoken about Flow Magazine before in my content but it's a beautiful magazine printed in Poland. Flow is all about celebrating creativity, imperfections and life's little pleasures. The articles in issue 17 are so inspiring and motiving, which was exactly what I needed, especially on the days when it's cold, miserable and I didn't want to pull myself from my bed. 

B x

It's Okay To Feel They Way You're Feeling

I'm not going to lie, this past week has been a tough one, physically and mentally. I've been consciously reminding myself that it is okay to feel the way that I'm feeling. I shouldn't feel guilty or disappointed in myself that I didn't get certain tasks complete. Reminding myself that there is only so much I can control and that there are certain things that I don't have any control over, especially when it comes to my physical illnesses, is important because not only does it lets me make the decisions that are best for my body, but it also diminishes any kind of unnecessary guilt towards tasks that didn't get completed due to increased pain levels, for example. 

I guess what I'm trying to say that your feelings are valid. You have every right to be feeling what you're feeling and I think it's important to remind ourselves of that regularly. I want you all to know that the following list is just a short list of valid feelings, thoughts and actions. I believe that all feelings are valid and it's just about learning how accept them for what they are.

It's Okay . .

To hate your job. 

To spend all day in your pyjamas. 

To not wash your hair when it's greasy.

To not want to drink. 

To have a bad day. 

To regret your choice of degree. 

To not have millions of online follows.

To not feel motivated all the time. 

To not look 'perfect'. 

To sometimes get jealous.

B x

This Modern Love, Will Darbyshire

"Will Darbyshire is a 23-year-old British film-maker. He has over one million followers across his YouTube, Instagram and Twitter channels. His videos span a range of subjects including relationship advice, mental health issues, career plans, popular culture and travel. This is his first book." 

I first came across Will through following his partner, Arden Rose, on her social media platforms. Naturally, as a fan of Arden and her work, I decided to look into Will's content and various platforms. I fell in love with Will's content, what he was about and the various things he represented and talked about on his channel. 

This Modern Love is a selection of letters based around love and the different stages of love, from over 98 different countries, with the main demographic being 16-24, the youngest contributor being 12 and the oldest contributor being 81. This Modern Love, is something I would've picked up naturally, whether I knew the author or not, but I love the aspect Will brings to the book. Will writes a short introduction to each section of the book, beginning, middle and end and also has scattered photographs of his own throughout the book, in hopes that they reflect some of the themes and images in the letters. 

This book is a beautiful representation of the different stages of love and it shows that not all stages of love are how we perceive them to be. 

If you're looking for something new and insightful to read, I definitely recommend picking up This Modern Love by Will Darbyshire. 

B x

Birthday Celebrations

On the 11 June 2017, my baby sister turned 16. It feels just like yesterday we were playing with our barbie dolls and wishing that we were just that one year older. 2017 has been one hell of year so far for our family and Nicole, I just want to say that I'm so proud of how you've dealt with the unexpected events of 2017 but not only that I'm so proud of how far you've come over the past few years, I'm proud of your continuous achievements and I'm proud to call you my sister. 

I want to thank everyone who made Nicole's birthday as amazing as it was. It was great to be able to celebrate such a milestone in Nicole's life with such incredible people. I know that we're both proud to call you our family and friends. 

Nicole, I hope you had an amazing weekend. I'm so glad that we got to spend the weekend full of laughs together. 

B x 

Beauty Discoveries

After going through my makeup collection, I soon realised that I've been using a lot of new products. By new I mean, new to my collection. These products aren't necessarily new to the market, in fact I think that they have all been out for a while now but I'm only just getting round to giving them ago recently. I thought I would share these new beauty discoveries with you all, maybe you're looking for something new to try.

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Mattifying Lotion

A lot of you will know that I'm obsessed with the Body Shop's skincare products, but more specifically the Tea Tree range. I was gifted the Tea Tree Essentials Kit for my birthday and this product was part of the kit and I wasn't sure how I'd like it but so far I'm loving it, especially under makeup. I don't have super oily skin, especially not in the colder months, but I do feel like it keeps any excess oils at bay. If you have super oily skin, I'd love to know how you get on with this product!

Revlon, Photo Ready Translucent Finisher

I'm a big translucent powder fan. I've always reached for translucent powders opposed to those with colour. I've tried a couple of translucent powders from Revlon and they have to be some of my favourites, and this one is no different. Not only does it set your makeup but it also gives your skin this beautiful luminous finish. Love it.  

Maybelline, Brow Drama

Prior to repurchasing the Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown, I had tried it in transparent. At that point I hadn't tried too many different brow gels and I thought I would give this one ago. Although I really enjoyed it and how it made my brows look and feel, I wanted to see what else was out there in the way of brow gels. After giving some other options ago, I found myself reaching back for this one, and this time I decided to go for the dark brown opposed to the transparent one. The Maybelline Brow Drama is definitely something I think I will continue to repurchase. 

Revlon, Ultra Volume Mascara

This is probably the newest product to the market out of all five. Its become one of my favourite mascara very quickly. It definitely adds volume and helps lashes appear longer. Big fan of this mascara. 

The Body Shop, Matte Lip Liquid

I'm obsessed with the formula of these liquid lipsticks and the finish they leave on your lips once tried is incredible. So far I only have the shade, Windsor Rose 032 but I'm definitely going to purchase some of the other colours. I think these will definitely become a strong staple in my collection. 

B x

It's Nearly Time To Say Goodbye

In five weeks their house goes under settlement, which means we will no longer have the ability to visit 'home'. I put home in quotation marks because to all of us it was a second home. It was where we could laugh and cry without judgement, a place where we all shared so many fond memories, a place where we were loved unconditionally. 

If you're new to following my content you might not know, who or what I mean by 'their home'. In January of this year we lost my Nan, very unexpectedly. Four weeks later, we lost my Pop, again unexpectedly.  As a family we all felt that it was only right to sell the house and allow another loving and caring family to create as many amazing memories as we have done over the years. Not only did they build their home together, it was the only one they ever lived in. It was the home my Aunty and Mum grew up in as children, it was the house us Grandchildren learnt to love as our own home. 

My Nan and Pop were incredible gardeners and they took great pride in how it was presented. Their garden was immaculate, regardless the time of year. I will always remember their incredible fruit trees, they had at least six and they all produced some of the best fruits. I will always remember the sweet smell of their roses, and the beautiful blossom tree, that always comes into full bloom around my cousins birthday on the 17 September. There's a lot I'll remember about their home, but I think the one thing I'll remember most is the compassion and love they both had for everything they did and for those they had in their lives. 

I write this post with tears streaming down my face and my hands shaking like crazy. I don't think I'm ever going to be ready to say goodbye to a home which holds so many memories and so much compassion and love but I have to remember the most important memories are held in my heart and in my mind. 

Take want you want from this post, I'm not sure it offers much but it's been good to put how I'm feeling into words but more than that, life has hiccups. I don't just want to share the good shit, I want to share the bad shit to because in reality the bad shit happens to everybody. I also wanted to share the pictures above, with this post because I think really just show how much, not just my Grandparents, but all of us as a family loved and will continue to love the 'home' we grew up in. 

B x 

Empties 004

'Empties' posts are some of my favourites to write up & share with you guys. I have a variety of skincare empties to talk about today. Some I loved & would repurchase & others I think there are better alternatives on the market. Please remember that just because I don't like a product or that a specific product doesn't work for me, doesn't necessarily mean it wont work for you. We all have different preferences & skin variations, so what works for me may not necessarily work for you & vise versa. 

Palmers, Shea Body Lotion 

Adored this body lotion and would definitely repurchase it again. It left skin feeling silky and smooth, my skin absorbed it quickly and it didn't leave skin feeling sticky. 

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser

If you've been following me for awhile now, you'll know that the Body Shop's Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser has been a staple in my skincare routine for a while now. Love the product and would definitely repurchase it over and over again. 

Lush, Angels On Bare Skin

Such a beautiful cleanser, however I'm unable to get my hands on it here in Nelson. Although I could order it online, there are other alternatives that I enjoy such as much and am able to get locally. 

Lush, So White Shower Gel

This shower gel from Lush has such a beautiful scent however there are other alternatives that I enjoy using more at the moment. 

Nivea, 75ml, Soft Face, Body and Hands Moisturising Lotion

Again, another staple a lot of you have properly heard me talk about. This product has been in my skincare routine for as long as I can remember. What I enjoy about this product the most is that it's not only suitable as a facial moisturiser but also suitable for your hands and body too. 

Yes To Cucumber, Hypoallergenic, Facial Towelettes 

I'm a big fan of facial wipes but these just didn't do much for me and for that reason I wouldn't repurchase them again. 

The Body Shop, 30ml, Pink Grapefruit & Shea Hand Creams 

The Body Shop hand creams have to be some of my favourites and more specifically the 30ml sizes, which are perfect handbag size. Along with the Pink Grapefruit scent I've also gone through another one in the scent Shea. 

B x

The Travel Essentials That Make Me Feel Normal

Since I’ve been traveling every month this year and will be right up until the month of August, I thought I would share some of essentials that help make me feel normal when I travel. 

Find Something To Listen To

I like to have something to list to when traveling. I'm always listening to something in my day to day life, even if it's just on as background noise. What I listen to changes all the time, sometimes it's my favourite podcast, other times it's just music but regardless of what it is I'm listening to, it'll normally make me feel right at home. 

Comfy Clothes

I have had the occasional moment where I have forgotten to bring my pyjamas with me while away and it was such a big mistake. I always have comfy clothes with me. A big baggy jumper and some comfy sweats. I'm definitely the kind of person, who as soon as I get home, I get into my comfy clothes. Nothing beats a jumper that it way to big for you and comfy bottoms, especially when you're away from home.  

Snacks and Water

I alway have a few snacks and a water bottle thrown into my bag. when traveling it's quite nice to have some of your favourite snacks on hand. 

 Work Supplies

Regardless of whether I'm going away with family or friends, or something study based, I will always take with me my MacBook and my Bullet Journal. Even if I'm not working, there tends to still be times where I'm coming up with new ideas and if I don't have a place to note them down, them I'm bound to forget them. 

B x

Everyday Makeup and Skincare Routine

I haven't shared my everyday makeup routine with you in a while so I thought it was about time I did. Over the past few months I've been keeping it pretty simple and since I've been using less that five products I thought I would also throw in my everyday skincare routine as well. Let me know your favourite everyday products, I'm always interested to try new things and hear what you guys have been loving!

Maybelline, Brow Drama, Dark Brown

Natio, Brow Kit

Revlon, Ultra Volume Mascara

Lipbalm: Carmex

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Clearing Facial Cleanser

Lush, Let The Good Times Roll Facial Cleanser 

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Toner 

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Mattifying Lotion 

Nivea, Soft Face, Hand and Body Moisturising Lotion 

B x 

5 Of My Current Favourite Podcasts

Podcasts have become very popular in the last few years and they're definitely something I've been tuning into a lot more whether it's while I'm putting on my makeup, doing my skincare routine or traveling a long distance. Below you'll find five of my favourite current podcasts to listen to. 

Meghan Rienks: Don’t Blame Me 

“Questionable advice from a fellow work in progress.”

Lily Pebbles and Anna Gardener: At Home With . . .

“Your home says so much about you - where you’ve travelled, who you’ve met, and the kind of person you are. We’re Lily and Anna, lifestyle content creators. We’ve asked people we admire to open their front doors and talk about their lives, by taking a tour of their homes to discover who they really are. We’ve riffled through their wardrobes, nosed through their fridges and even scrolled through their Sky+ recordings, to shed some light on their fascinating lives.”

Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes: Ladies Who Lunch 

“Ladies Who Lunch lets you sit at the table and explore topics often left out of polite conversation with YouTubers Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes. Write in to join their dialogue about sex, relationships, social phobias and more as they approach life’s dilemmas with compassion and a sense of humour. New episodes every week.”

Aileen Xu: The Lavendaire Lifestyle

“Life is an art. Make it your masterpiece. The Lavendaire Lifestyle is the podcast on lifestyle design for millennials. Hosted by lifestyle blogger and YouTube Aileen Xu, this podcast highlights stories of personal growth, life lessons and inspiration on how to create your dream life. New episodes released every Sunday.”

Dr Ezzie Spencer: Lunar Abundance

“Dr Ezzie Spencer is the creator of Lunar Abundance and the author of ‘An Abundant Life: Flourishing with the Cycles of the Moon’. This is her podcast for women who want to create more joy, ease and abundance, using practical strategies, imaginative ideas, and a sprinkle of magic. In each episode, Ezzie delves into topics and listener questions about how to live and work in feminine flow, with accompanying mediations and play sheets.”

B x