Revlon goodies and notebook treasure

Hi guys!
Today's post is basically a mini haul from my trip to town yesterday. Aside from the things I mention below, I bought my Mum's birthday present two months in advance (Pandora had a beautiful sale), my best friend's birthday gift (I won't say what it is, because there's a good chance she'll see this) and a refill of my favourite shampoo. I mentioned the shampoo in my 'May favourites' post, which you can view here. I also tried the Starbucks Mango yogurt Frappuccino, which I would highly recommend.

Firstly I bought two Revlon lipsticks, in the shades 835 'Berry Couture' and 420 'blushed'. This is a big statement, but I think Revlon lipsticks might be my favourite. I've been in love with the shade 'Black Cherry' for years, and the lipsticks are moisturising whilst still being highly pigmented. These lipsticks retail at £7.49. The shade Berry Couture is a pretty good dupe for a Clinique chubbystick I had a while back and absolutely loved, in the colour 'violet'. Blushed is a shimmery nude, and I am so in love with it; its the perfect colour for casual looks!

 

 

I took a trip to TK Maxx, a store I have a love/hate relationship with. Some days I'll find absolutely nothing, and feel uninspired by the mediocre display of candles and various forms of argan oil. Yesterday though, they had a really nice range of notebooks, in the style that I've been wanting for quite a while. It's been known in the past to members of my family that I'm quite the stationary hoarder, but I've held off from buying any for months now and decided to pick up a couple of these hardback notebooks. I'm constantly writing, it's what I love to do, and this style of notebook makes it all feel a little bit more special, don't you agree? The first one says 'Write Your Story' which is perfect since I'm going to do it to note down everything I need to remember for the plot of my book. The second is based on Paris and has an Audrey Hepburn quote on the front - what more could you possibly want from a notebook?

 

What have you been buying recently?

Emily xoxo

 

May Favourites

It's that time of the month again - I literally can't believe its almost June! I didn't do a favourite last month as I didn't use any new products, but this month I've changed up my make up and haircare routine a bit so I thought it was appropriate to do a post featuring the new products.

Maybelline have always been my go-to for mascaras. I've tried benefit, and I've tried Rimmel, but I always find my way back to this brand. Their mascaras are always high quality, and whenever a new one is released I can't help but get excited (another bonus is how affordable they are!). One of the most recent releases is the 'Lash Sensational' mascara, and boy have they outdone themselves this time. I didn't think I could love anything more than the Falsies, but I was wrong. My lashes end up looking SO much thicker and longer, I recommend this completely!
Another favourite of mine is the Nars 'Laguna' bronzer - thank God I like it because it cost a bomb! I've loved Nars for quite a while, but this bronzer really beats any other products I've tried. The product isn't too shimmery, and applies well with not a lot of blending needed to finish the contour effect. I will definitely repurchase this once I've finished, because its worth the money I paid.

 

Since I ran out of my No7 daytime moisturiser, I've been looking for a different brand to try. This is the 'Good Things' Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser, which smells so nice! The moisturiser is aimed at teenage skin, and minimises the oily look that teenagers often acquire throughout the day. Love.

My Mum bought me this set of Tony&Guy 'Nourish' Shampoo and conditioner (my sister had the shampoo so I couldn't photograph it), which makes my hair feel a lot softer, especially on the bleached ends. It also smells exactly like the shampoo at my hair salon, so every day is a fresh cut day!

 

 

Lastly is a couple of quite random favourites. First of all, Smart Water. I have always been able to taste the difference between brands of water, which might sound weird, but its true (for example, Evian YES, Buxton NOPE). Smart Water is my latest obsession, and I've been drinking it non stop. Would you get me if I said it tasted fresh and crisp? Probably not, but that's how I'd describe it. Plus, if it makes me smarter during this exam season, who am I to refuse?

Sarah Dessen is my all time favourite author and writing inspiration. Every time she releases a new book I am straight out to Waterstones to get it, and even in the depths of my most recent reading slump I finished this within a day. I won't post a review here, but trust me when I say that 'Saint Anything', like every other one of her titles, is well worth a read.

 

What have you been loving this May?

Stay beautiful!

Emily xoxo



Urban Outfitters Wishlist #2

Urban Outfitters have got it so right at the moment. Every time I go online or instore (which is quite a lot) I manage to find something that I like, and I thought that since I needed a post to go up today in order to keep up with my streak, I'd do another wishlist! Plus, I just got my paycheck, so was obviously inspired to do a bit of online window shopping.

 

Urban Renewal Vintage Customised Boho Trim Tee in White - £25

Check this out here

 

 

Staring at Stars Lace and Print Kimono in Black and White - £36

Buy this here

 

 

BDG Stripe Linen Tee in Mustard - £22

Get a closer look here

 

 

Somedays Lovin' Island Girl Floral Playsuit in Navy - £48

Link here

 

 

Urban Renewal Vintage Originals Raw Edge Denim Shorts in Black - £36

Check these out here

 

 

Classic Leather Watch in Black - £18

Buy this here

 

What's on your wishlist?

Emily xoxo

Style Stalk: Blair

Blair Waldorf. The Queen Bee at Constance, part time Princess of Monaco...its safe to say that Blair has royalty in her blood. Without a doubt Blair is my favourite character on GG, maybe due to the fact that her fashion is always on point (if you've read any of my previous posts that mention Gossip Girl, you'll already know of my love for the Chuck and Blair scenario, so I won't go into that here). I've picked out five of my favourite outfits from all six seasons, and I think its a testament to Blair's iconic style that I knew the exact outfits I wanted, even before I started looking.

I can't believe I'm sat here admiring a school uniform. But, despite the purpose of this outfit, I really do love how Blair avoids sticking to the dress code and changes her uniform to suit her own personal style. There are so many variations on her uniform, but I think this classic look is my favourite, with the preppy white shirt and plaid skirt - and that necktie really pulls the outfit together. I wish my uniform for High School had been as pretty as this...safe to say it was not.

 

 

Blair wears a lot of extravagant dresses over the course of the show, but often I think the simplest ones are the best. This red number fits her petite frame perfectly, and I like the ruffles on the shoulders to add a little bit of intricacy to the design. Red is probably my favourite colour on Leighton (Sometimes I have to remind myself that Blair is a character and not an actual person, sob) as it suits the tone of her skin and the brunette of her hair.

 





STYLE. GOALS. I am so in love with this outfit its unreal. The white tights go well with the ice skates, and I am a huge fan of all plaid outfits (bow down to Clueless, we are forever grateful). Every detail is thought about within the outfit, right down to the pink pom poms on her skates matching the pink sweater she has on underneath the plaid jacket. Although I can't pull them off myself, I love a good beanie - and this one is no exception.

I'm pretty sure this outfit is from Blair's brief stint as assistant at 'W' magazine. I remember pausing Netflix to actually take a photo on my phone of this one, so I could go back and take inspiration from it. I seriously adore the bronze coloured jacket, and it emphasises how simple the rest of the look is. Those heels are so gorgeous, and I am never going to not mention a good ol' statement necklace.

 

I may be predictable, but I couldn't not put it in. Blair's wedding dress, oh so beautiful. Lace detailing is not really my thing, but I think maybe in this case I could be a convert. I promised I wasn't going to mention my Chuck and Blair feels, however this dress is just reminding me of how freaking CUTE the wedding was. I have so many gifs of that wedding on my computer, you could say I'm obsessed. I also love the simple headband she wears - its only fitting that the queen of headbands would wear one on her big day to tie the look together. Okay I need to stop looking at this photo or I might cry.

 

I had no problem trawling through pages and pages of outfits to find these, and to be quite honest I might go back to it right now and carry on fangirling over beautiful style creations. Have a good day, and remember:

 

 

XOXO, Emily.

(Kudos to you if you got that reference)



My Vinted Experience

Hi!
I have recently become very much obsessed with Vinted. If you aren't aware of it, its basically an App, which is an online marketplace for clothes. You can sell and buy clothes for a fraction of the original price and the site is completely safe, as all payment is done through the App and not the individual sellers. If you're feeling a bit sceptical (like I was) about buying other peoples clothes, then there's the option to only purchase clothes that have never been worn and still have tags on (like I do). My username is emilylaura_13 if you want to check out my profile and any of the clothes that I'm selling. I've bought quite a few things from the app, and I put together an outfit using two of the pieces - The 'Genius' jumper from TopShop (which Taylor Swift owns as well, so a double win there), and a pair of violet Doc Martens.

 

 

 

I hope you consider trying this amazing app, I love it!

Emily xoxo

Some Items For Your Summer Wardrobe

Hey guys!
It is so close to summer I can practically taste the strawberry ice cream, and to celebrate I compiled a list of some items for your summer wardrobe. This isn't quite everything, but it should get anyone started on the road to summer style!

 

Okay so firstly I think summer heat (I'm basing this on the hope that England will get its act together for once) calls for loose fitted tops. I love this one from Urban Outfitters because the pale pink is perfect for the warmer months.

 

 

I'm a big fan of tank tops, and I probably own over ten in this style. The halter type neck is perfect to pair with some shorts, and the bright print on this top from New Look really screams summer don't you think? This black velvet one is from Urban Outfitters again, and is just a staple as it goes with anything, and you can dress it up or down.

 

I don't think a kimono is necessary, but I think some sort of light jacket, cardigan or shirt is essential, especially where I live. The print on this kimono from New Look is fun and feminine, and I fell in love with it right off the bat. I uploaded an OOTD with this piece which you can view here.

 

 

I've always been the type of person to prefer skirts over dresses, as I think they are much more versatile pieces to have in your wardrobe. I wear skirts like this all year round, but the difference with this time of year is that you don't need a pair of warm tights to pair with them! I got this floral print skirt from Forever 21, and this velvet-y maroon skirt is from Brandy Melville.

 

Lastly, sorry to point out the obvious but shorts are kind of a must! I'm not the biggest fan of denim shorts on myself, but I do love this pair from Levi's, that were a collaboration with Liberty London. The bright print means that a simple top is needed to balance is out (for example, the black tank top from urban outfitters). Despite my love for these, I'm much more suited to fabric shorts, and this flowy bohemian print pair from Urban Outfitters is right up my street. They're so comfy and light, which means that they're perfect for a beach holiday!

 

I hope this gave you at least a little bit of inspiration on how to turn your wardrobe into something that resembles a readiness for summer. Have a great day!

 

Emily xoxo

Updates and All That Fun Stuff

Aloha Bloggersphere!
Despite the fact that my posts have been going up every other day for the past ten days or so (I haven't broken my streak for almost three months now, can I get a woop woop?) I haven't actually been active on any of my blogging sites due to the magical power of scheduling. My A Levels are well under way now, I've completed five out of ten exams, and since I didn't want to break my streak (but have no time to take any photos) I thought I'd do a general life update for any of you out there that care.

The exams are going okay-ish, apart from the horrific nightmare that was Geography Unit 1 AQA - I have never felt this bad about an exam before, it was really truly ew. On a brighter note, today marked the end of a geography era, as I plan to drop it before continuing my studies next year. Me and one of my best friends celebrated by going out for milkshakes, and let me tell you, some goodbyes are sweet without the bitter. At least I can say the end is in sight now, one more week until half term, and then only two more exams to go!

In the last couple of weeks I have sped through GG, and I am now embarking on season 5. Yes, I already know what happens in the season 6 finale, but that didn't stop me from crying my heart out when Chuck let Blair go with Luis. It's become a sort of comfort from the revision stress, and I honestly don't know what I'll do when I've finished. I also went to the cinema to see Blake Lively's new movie - The Age of Adaline. Oh my God please go see it. It's so beautiful and I broke my pact of not crying in the cinema.

I have also recently discovered a couple of new Apps (can you tell that I have a limited social life at the moment?) including Spotify. LOVE. Right now I'm enjoying albums from Leighton Meester, Imagine Dragons and You Me At Six. UniDays is a great app as well - its basically a whole bunch of discounts for students, and they are great discounts at that! I'm talking Urban Outfitters and TopShop discounts people.

Tomorrow I'm in work early, so I'll have to cut this post short. Before I sleep I have to write something into my book, its been haunting me all day and I need to put pen to paper otherwise I can't let my head hit the pillow. I hope your week has been sparkly!
Emily xoxo

Summer Lovin'

Is there anything more magnificent than a to-do list? Why yes, yes there is. A Summer to-do list.

• Do an OOTD on the beach
• Make sweet potato fries
• Spend the weekend visiting my cousin/soul sister - so far we think this will consist of a major catch up, Wagamamas and a lil' night out
• Tie dye some shirts
• Finish the first draft of my book (eep!)
• Go roller-skating
• Look at potential Universities
• Take a zillion polaroids

So far that's all I have, but I know I'll go back to this post and alter it as we approach the glorious season that is summer.

What are you hoping to do when summertime rolls around?
Stay beautiful!
Emily xoxo

Some Reading Recommendations

I have finally (thank God) gotten out of my reading slump that has lasted about three months. Even though I'm revising pretty much all of the time, I still steal a few seconds when I can to wander off and read a few pages. It occurred to me that I never post anything about books, so I thought I'd recommend a few of my favourites so that a) you might be inspired to pick one up and b) you can see a little bit into what genres I love.

 

#1 To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Jenny Han).

I am a huge Han fan. Her books are just easy breezy, super cute summer reads that leave you feeling ridiculously happy. This one in particular is a favourite, and if you like any of Sarah Dessen's books, then I'm sure you'd love this. Lara Jean, a teenager living in America, writes a letter to all the boys she has ever loved - and hides them in a box under her bed never to be read by anyone else. It's a good form of therapy right? Write anything you want, as brutal or as heartfelt, get every emotion out...and then don't send it. One morning however, all the letters accidentally get sent out to their intended recipients - and all hell breaks loose.

 

#2 The Selection (Kiera Cass)

THIS SERIES THOUGH. This is my go to series to cheer me up, and it definitely is one of my all time favourites. If you like the show The Bachelor, then I think this would be right up your alley. Set in the future where people are divided into 'castes' (a sort of hierarchy based on wealth and social standing) the Prince has come of age to find his Princess. All girls in a certain age bracket are entered into a draw to be in with a chance of competing, and America, a fiery redhead who wants anything but the life of a Princess, is drawn. Her story reeled me in completely (especially the scenes with Prince Maxon, swoooon) and I devoured the series in just two days.

 

#3 Why We Broke Up (Daniel Handler)

I picked this one as a recommendation because its a good book for people who aren't avid readers. Basically, this book is a picture book. There are lots of words, and if you don't like to read anything at all then you probably still wouldn't like this (then again, if you hate reading then why are you looking at recommendations?) but the element of the illustrations makes it a little less repetitive. I think the title sums this one up pretty well, a girl telling her ex all the little reasons why they didn't work out. It's interesting, to say the least.

 

#4 Shatter Me (Taherah Mafi)

I could talk for hours about this glorious series. There are divided opinions on this book throughout the reading community, with many finding the protagonist annoying (I think her actions are justified given her predicament, but you'll have to read it to see what I mean). Set in a dystopian world where everything is falling to pieces, Juliette is trapped in a prison cell, and she has been for months. Her crime? Murder. The only issue is, she never meant to kill anybody - her touch is lethal, and no ones knows why (enter dramatic pause here). Plus, there are TWO hot guys in this one, can I say more?

 

So there you go! Have you read any of these, and if so, what did you think?

Happy reading!

Emily xoxo



Loft Hunting

Hey guys!
I've never really been the type to borrow clothes from my Mum - I've seen people do it and look great, but I have a completely different style to that of my Mum so it doesn't really work for me. The other day however, I was rooting through some of my Dad's clothes from way back when, and I found this Adidas jacket that I absolutely love! At the moment I don't have a waterproof coat, so I popped this one in the wash and have been wearing it a lot recently. I also like to put a black bow in my hair to make the outfit a bit more feminine.

 

 

Have you ever found a gem in your attic?

Emily xoxo

 

Hey Petal

 

Crop Top - Brandy Melville



Kimono - New Look

Black Skinnies - New Look

Choker - New Look

Sandals - New Look (Can you sense a theme here?)

 

This is the most summery outfit I've worn all year, and I am SO excited! What's your favourite season?

Emily xoxo



Playlist #3

She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5 (Listen here)
Sorry - As It Is (Listen here)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston (Listen here)
I Want You To Know - Zedd ft. Selena Gomez (Listen here)
Fancy - Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX (Listen here)
Hold Me Now - Red (Listen here)
Hung Up - Hot Chelle Rae (Listen here)
Naïve - The Kooks (Listen here)
Nashville - David Mead (Listen here)
Peroxide - Nina Nesbitt (Listen here)
Please Don't Leave Quite Yet - Adam Agin (Listen here)
I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic at the Disco (Listen here)
Love - Jana Kramer (Listen here)

What have you been listening to lately?
Emily xoxo

For Those Chilly Spring Days...

Even when the sun starts peeking through, we still have days when the rain dampens our mood (and our hair). On these days its best to stay warm, so I created an outfit that still looks spring-y, but with an added layer of comfort and warmth.

 

Sleeveless Cardigan - New Look

Long Sleeved Shirt - Forever 21

Necklace - New Look

Belt - H&M

Jeans - New Look

Boots - Peacocks

 

What's your go-to outfit for one of the chillier spring days?

Stay beautiful!

Emily xoxo



A Crazy Kind Of Love

Hi guys - I've been meaning to put this post up for a while, but never got down to actually typing it up and hitting 'publish'! I'm a sucker for romantic storylines I must admit, and whilst it never goes the same way in real life (sigh), I'll settle for watching my favourite OTPs. I narrowed it down to five, with my number one being the absolute best. If you agree/disagree with any of these choices, please do let me know! Also, I went all fancy and used GIFs for this post, and fell into the inevitable black hole of looking at cute GIFs on Tumblr for two hours straight.

 

5. April and Jackson (Grey's Anatomy)
There have been so many iconic relationships in this programme, but despite the many dramatics my favourite has to be Japril. Classic cliché of two best friends falling in love I know, but I can't help it. The wedding episode (if you've seen it, you'll get me) was one of my favourite episodes to date, and I spent the hour curled up in foetal position, fangirling hard.

 

 

4. Pacey and Joey (Dawson's Creek)
When I rewatch this programme, it strikes me how old school everything looks! I remember getting through all six seasons of this programme in about two months, and adoring every moment. What I loved about the finale was the unpredictability of it - I NEVER expected her to choose Pacey over Dawson, and assumed a predictable Ross-Rachel situation. Pacey's immaturity compliments Joey's sensible character type really well, and I have vivid memories of running round the house squealing when I watched that magnificent last episode.

3. Aria and Ezra (Pretty Little Liars)
Okay so ALL the PLL relationships are hella cute, but if I had to pick I'm edging towards the (initially forbidden) Ezria love affair. Ezra is pretty much the perfect guy let's be honest. The many - and there truly has been many - trials and tribulations that the couple have overcome has only made them stronger, and if they don't end up together in the last season I will feel extremely hard done by. At first the student-teacher premise seemed a little weird to me, but once I got my head around the idea I fully immersed myself into team Ezria.

 2. Chuck and Blair (Gossip Girl)
I really struggled to pick between my top two OTPs, but in the end I put Chuck and Blair second. I am so obsessed with Gossip Girl that its unreal, and without a doubt my favourite plotline is this one. I love how they can't help but fall back together, and the final episode in season 6 is just the cutest darn thing I've ever seen. The drama is piled on, and sometimes its a bit predictable, but isn't that what we, as viewers crave? A romance so twisted and passionate that it somehow feels right? Oh Chair (yes, I'm using the ship name) you do get me right in the feels.

1. Nathan and Haley (One Tree Hill)
One Tree Hill is hands down my favourite TV programme, and I always find myself skipping to the Naley scenes. Throughout all nine seasons Nathan and Haley are a major focal point, the jock and the teacher's pet falling in love despite all the odds (I do love a good cliché). There are some tough ideas intertwined with their relationship, such as depression and teenage pregnancy, and I think the writers did them justice, as well as the actors. I will never not be cheered up by a Naley montage on YouTube. Also, this GIF is so perfect.

What would we do without TV relationships? Genuine question, because I think I would be lost.
Emily xoxo