How to Have the Ultimate Chill Out Weekend










Every once in a while a chilled weekend at home is absolutely necessary. When I say chilled I definitely do not mean 12 hours curled up in bed with your laptop on Netflix kind of weekend. Oh no. This is for an ultimate relaxing yet productive weekend which will leave you skipping contently to work on the Monday. One which will leave you so refreshed you don’t even need your morning coffee. We spend so much time constantly on our feet rushing around, so every few months you need a chilled weekend like this to really slow things down.

The past few weeks have been hectic to say the least. I said my goodbyes to Ogilvy, hopped on a plane to Ibiza and sadly my poor little blog has suffered in this time. I've been waiting to publish this post for a few weeks and on day 4 of my Ibiza recovery, now seems like a suitable time as I shall be following this ritual myself before I start the new job on Monday! So anyway take notes and enjoy!

Kick things off with a ‘weekend breakfast’. You know what I'm talking about. Instagram worthy breakfast accompanied by hashtags such as #instafood, #foodporn and simply #yum (we’ve all done it). I ABSOLUTELY love avocado on toast. What’s so wonderful about this is not only does it look and taste nice, but it’s super healthy and therapeutic to make. Also eggs are pretty great so the avocado and a fried/poached egg on toast combo is you know, kind of like heaven. I also recently had my breakfast outside on the balcony one Saturday and it literally got me in the weekend spirit.

Write lists and plan things. It can be for your week ahead,  clothes you’re dying to purchase, things to buy for your home, or goals you want to achieve in the next few weeks. It’s so much easier to do this on a weekend when you’re not rushing around or knackered after work. It will also prepare you for the week ahead – you’ll be organised and it’ll make ya feel good trust me. I got these beautiful Moleskin and Aspinal notepads as leaving gifts and I can’t wait to start jotting down in them! Plus they have my initials on so I'm gonna feel totally important using them lolz.

Reading – you guys are probably thinking jeez Nicole again with the reading? But there are some books that you just don’t want to read in public. I once bought How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and I'm quite apprehensive of people thinking I'm a loser if I read it in public. Same goes for Lucy Watson’s The Dating Game. Unless you have a kindle then you escape this problem.

Plan what you’re going to wear on Monday. I can quite easily become the most angry person on a Monday morning when I have no clothes to wear. When I say no clothes I mean I just cant decide. And it basically results in me shouting at inanimate items of clothes telling them to stop ruining my life and that I hate them. So yeah be organised, plan ahead and prevent any psychotic tendencies on Monday morning.

Take a long hot bubble bath where you can use your massive bath bombs from Lush which are deffo not a mid-week treat (PLUS they take at least 20 minutes to even dissolve so you’ll HAVE to stay in long enough) But don’t stop there my friend, why not go all out. As you sink into those bubbles why not sip on some white wine, light some candles and listen to calming Bonobo tracks for ultimate dreaminess?

When the bath water begins to chill, your skin starts to wrinkle and the bath bomb is a distant memory, sadly the bath has come to an end. BUT what a perfect time for a pamper session. The weekend is pretty much the only time I ever paint my nails, because you essentially have to sit still and are useless for half an hour. If you put in the time on a Sunday you wont have to worry about chipped disgusting nails during the week at work! This is also a perfect time to do a face mask. I've bought a few sachets of the Montagne Jeunesse face masks which Primark sell for about 90p each that are fabulous. Personally I think the mud ones cleanse your skin more deeply so opt for those ones for ultimate indulgence! 

Enjoy your weekend! x

                                                                                     

The Ibiza Prep Post: Losing my Ibiza Virginity




In August I will be flying to Ibiza for a week of sun, partying, beaut sunsets, and most probably very little sleep. In other words I will be losing my Ibiza virginity, which by the sounds of it is gonna be better than losing your actual virginity. So naturally I'm super excited. Ibiza is a strange holiday though, much like how I imagine Marbs to be. People seem to get glammed up during the day when they're partying by the pool. Hair done, makeup done, bikini always accompanied by a kimono, bum bag and cool sandals - edgy vibez - or heels if you're feeling the towie vibez. Clearly, preparation is key. So here is what I've prepared for my first time in BEEFA.

Create an Epic Playlist
So pretty much as soon as I booked Ibiza I compiled an Ibiza Playlist on Spotify which has been FAB. Especially when you're in a bad mood, like those days when everything goes wrong and you're like WHY ME GOD?? But it doesn't matter. Just listen to your playlist and your troubles will quite literally fade into the chilled sounds of summer house music, as you imagine yourself sipping a vodka tonic by the sea.

Swimwear
Never has there been so much choice in swimwear than this summer. Swimsuits are fashionable (thank god) so if like me, you know that eating paella and patatas bravas is inevitable, and you're gonna feel insecure, then NO NEED TO WORRY GURL. There are tonnes of beautiful swimsuits on Missguided. However my fave thing this year has been the 90s style bikinis (like the leaf one in my pic). My fave selection was on ASOS, where mine is from. AND what is even better is that these seem to suit most boob sizes - I mean I'm no Gok Wan, but they're comfort than a bandeau. But it's not just bikinis or swimsuits you have to worry about. I've spent as much time tracking down beach cover ups, sandals, sunglasses and jewellery - YES people are wearing chokers so mine will probs make an appearance. So basically there is the whole shebang! So enjoy mixing your beach look up!

Plan Your Outfits
Although crop tops and shorts don't take up huge amounts of space, it's nice to plan out which pieces go together. Plus, there are so many beaut swimsuits at the moment which can totally double up as a leotard/top for a night look (and will save space!)

Learn How To Braid Hair
Marie and I are starting to panic cause we really wanna have French braids whilst in Ibiza - like really badly! So unless anyone teaches us, I'm probably going to watch a YouTube tutorial the night before and hope for the best. I'm particularly keen to acquire this skill as I'm prone to a Monica in Barbados hair disaster (if you don't watch Friends, who are you?) So anyway, as well as rhi's being a fun hair style, it will also maintain that crazy mane if you have curly hair like me!

Tanning
I don't want to wait until day 3 before I'm brown enough to wear my white denim shorts - these bad boys' sole purpose in life is to make me look tanned in my pictures. I've started getting sunbeds which if you're reading mum I *know* are so bad, but I promise I'll stop after my holiday! St Tropez is the king of fake tan so obviously this deserves a mention also. The tan optimising moisturiser is also perfect for avoiding any patches. I've invested in some Piz Buin sun cream, SPF 30 and will move down to SPF 15 once I'm sure I've successfully avoided the lobster look. Both of these have UVB which means protection + enhancer - amazing.

Waterproof Mascara
Usually on holiday I wouldn't touch mascara during the day, but is Ibiza during the day different? I really do not know! Anyway, just to be safe ive been on the hunt a decent waterproof mascara. I finally decided on this Maybelline Lash Sensational one. They have a good selection with different types of brush, so you can find one similar to your everyday mascara.

Hair Removal
Waxung is so necessary for a holiday. Shaving your bikini line every few days is no bueno. Get it waxed and it's one less thing to worry about.

Feel Confident With Your Body
I'm definitely not preaching to eat celery and go for a run - we all saw what happened to those 'get beach body ready' ads. But everyone wants to feel confident on the beach in a bikini. For me I would love to tone up - literally writing this hours after eating a huge burrito from Wahaca, so as you can imagine I'm finiding it difficult! Don't get distraught if you've not reached your goal weight - I've accepted that it ain't 'appening. Just remember A TAN MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE YOURSELF TIMES 1000. So babe, you're gonna look gr8. 

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6 Ways to Stop Feeling Like You're Getting Dumber After You Graduate



The inspiration for this post derives from a level of anxiety I had that I wasn't using my brain after I graduated from university. If you’re still in education but on your summer hols you’ll probably know what I am talking about too. I mean sure, when you finish your finals you’re all like ‘I NEVER WANNA LEARN A THING AGAIN’. After a solid few weeks of cramming you feel like you physically have no room left in your brain. But then a month later suddenly you can’t even remember what you were cramming. Then you get this overwhelming fear that you’re not using your brain and hence are becoming fick. Like even right now I'm not sure that the title of this post even makes grammatical sense, pls help meh. Anyway here are my 6 ways to stop you feeling like you’re getting dumber by the day and remind you that you are in fact amazingly intelligent!

1) Read Books: You won’t believe how nice it is to read a book that isn't a text book. You can actually choose what you read. For me, commuting can be mind numbingly boring, and exhausting – seriously, scrolling through Facebook for an hour sat down is tiring. There’s not much else to do on the train so you’ll get totally immersed in the book. I decided to read all the classics when I graduated and it's fab cause it makes you feel super smart.

2) What’s better yet is casually bringing up these well known books in conversation. Nothing makes you sound more sophisticated than comparing a political situation to George Orwell’s 1984 or Animal Farm.

3) If you’re not into novels, you can always read the paper – please note that reading certain papers will not result in higher levels of intellect. I'm not naming names but if you know who I mean – well done you are probably intelligent.

4) TV can be educational. When you’re in bed in summer, and your days are simply distinguished by which season of Friends you watched, MAYBE you should alternate and watch something like, you know, David Attenborough (I'm actually more of a Michael Palin kinda gal). But don’t put yourself down too much – memorising every line of every Friends episode IS a skill okay and it’s one you should be proud of.

5) Look at your graduation photos. You know the one where you’re in your gown holding a piece of tube pretending it’s your scroll? (I must admit my framed one is still in the box and yeah I should really practice what I preach, and *maybe* this is a new level of laziness but whatever) You’ll look at yourself and think ‘I actually have a degree and the world is my oyster’. Or if you’re thinking jeez Nicole this is so lame, you could even read over a piece of work you got a 1st in – One time I legit read my entire dissertation for reassurance that I was in fact not stupid. LOL too many confessions.

6) Find challenges at work. Most people’s first adult job may as well be titled ‘admin bitch’ because you feel like you’re not doing anything important. I remember in my first month at Ogilvy getting frustrated that I couldn't do something on Excel – suddenly the guy who didn't go to uni knows more than you. Work is a completely different way of learning to school or university. It's much more practical and you’re also dealing with lots of characters you wouldn't usually interact with. Just completing your projects on time and forming relationships with colleagues is a learning curve – and an important one. Don't let yourself feel too stupid if you're not ending world peace just yet.

                                                                                    

Why You Should Ditch Your Microbead Exfoliating Scrub




I recently discovered that the microbeads found in exfoliating scrubs pollute the sea and end up in the stomachs of little teeny tiny plankton. Beauty products containing microbeads are having a devastating effect on the environment and sea life.

Now I definitely didn’t plan to cover serious environmental issues in my blog when I first created it. But this issue has a close tie with beauty and skincare brands that you and I have no doubt used. As a proud Geography graduate and a beauty blogger I would be mad to not to raise awareness of this environmental issue. Chances are if you’re reading a beauty blog, you probably have used products containing microbeads which are damaging the environment. So please carry on reading!

Microbeads that we wash down the bathroom sink are too small to be caught in filters that prevent plastic being discharged into rivers. These microbeads are about the size of fish eggs, therefore plankton and small fish mistake them for food. Lots of fish consume plankton - so yes you guessed it, this in turn affects a whole food chain of marine species. Oh and it’s not just scrubs, they can be in shampoo, soap and toothpaste.

This isn’t a brand new discovery - after a quick search online I discovered numerous articles on this topic. In fact, cosmetic companies such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble have already agreed to phase out microplastics but not until 2017. So how do you know if your exfoliator is a threat to marine species until then?

Look out for polyethylene and polypropylene listed in the ingredients of a product. Or if you wanna be super savvy you can download the Beat The Microbead App for free. How easy is that? After a quick scan of Boots it became clear that the Neutrogena and Clean and Clear scrubs are serious culprits. Johnson and Johnson which owns both these brands are one cosmetic company who are phasing them out by 2017, but until then you should use your power as a consumer to avoid them!

Well what can I use I hear ya ask? Thankfully my beloved St. Ives Apricot facial scrub is free from plastic which I discovered on this website, so naturally I’m excited about that. I also love the Korres Basil Lemon body scrub which is fab and plastic free. Also on the good list are Soap & Glory The Greatest Scrub of All. There are tonnes of other plastic-free products made with salt or other naturally occurring particles. So ditch your microplastic scrub and opt for a more sustainable one. Also if you want to keep it simpler, I sometimes get great results just from using a body brush, exfoliating gloves or a loofah. 

You may be thinking jeez Nicole I didn’t come here to read this, I just want to know which mascara is the best to use… BUT as beauty lovers we should exercise our power as consumers if it means that we can save marine life.

Let me know if you have any sustainable body scrubs that you love! x


                                                                                    

June Favourites


The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Butter

The Body Shop have launched a new Virgin Mojito range which is SERIOUSLY good. I don't even like Mojito cocktails (I know, so controversial, there's something strange about drinking mint) BUT anyway even I can't resist this body butter! So imagine if you actually do drink mojitos... The Virgin mojito range is pure lime scented zesty goodness, definitely not a subtle smell. For me this is especially important when its getting hotter, and a girls gotta do what she can to keep it fresh.


Rimmel Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Concealer

I'm in love with any concealer that comes with a wand - and this Rimmel one is fab. I think it's because you can apply the product and then just use your ring finger to lightly blend it in. The last thing you wanna do is really rub the concealer in and around your face - the trick is apply it in thin layers, dabbing your finger on your under eyes so you are adding another layer, as opposed to just moving it all around your face. Anyways, this concealer is perfect and completely fools everyone into thinking you've had a good nights sleep!  

Batiste Dry Shampoo Cherry

I praised the Lord when Batiste introduced some new scents. I can't even use the original scents anymore because to me they SO obviously smell like dry shampoo. Does anyone else get paranoid that people will know you have used dry shampoo just from the smell??? This one smells amazing and you can just pretend you washed our hair yeaaaah.


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Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser


I've always found it difficult to maintain a cleansing routine, but Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is the ONLY cleansing routine I've managed to stick with! I'm starting to make more of an effort to cleanse because is it even acceptable for adults to get spots??? Do you ever think your skin is fine than you catch it at an angle and see that your entire face is actually really bumpy - but the spots have nothing inside to squeeze!? Scary stuff eh?

So ANYWAY, I love this product, because its luxuriously creamy, and unlike other cleansers it doesn't have that gel like sticky consistency which I hate – and not to mention is so difficult to rinse off. Also what’s great is that this product doesn't make your skin feel tight. There is a HUGE misconception that if your skin is tight after cleansing then that’s good for your skin, when in fact it means you've stripped away too many natural oils and dried out the skin. So yeah actually the opposite! You really won’t get this with Liz Earle and that’s why I love it!
I also love the cleanse and polish method which I've outlined below for you girls….

1) Apply 1 pump of the cream to your face and neck
2) Fill the sink with hot water and place the muslin cloth in
3) Ring out the cloth and use to polish your face and exfoliate the skin in circular motions.
4) Once you've exfoliated and are happy, rinse face with cold water.

Quick tip if you’re in a rush: while the shower is heating up, apply the cream, and polish the skin whilst you’re in there!

I love indulging my skin in the natural ingredients that are used in the Liz Earle products. The cleanser contains chamomile and eucalyptus which are anti-inflammatory, and accelerate the healing process against flaky skin/acne. As well as this is contains rosemary which promotes healthy collagen levels, and cocoa butter which keeps skin hydrated (but who didn't know that anyway). The best thing here is that we can actually comprehend and pronounce these ingredients – usually a good sign that it will be kind to your skin!

The cleanser is around £14, or £15.50 with the muslin cloth. The cloths wear out after a few months, and you can buy the Liz Earle ones on their own, but I've found some cheap alternatives in discount shops like Savers which are practically the same! The cleanser I know is a bit pricey but Liz Earle is 100% worth every penny!

Let me know what your thoughts are! x

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9 Lessons That Every Girl In Her 20s Should Learn


So after nearly a year of graduating from university and entering the adult world, I feel like this stage has been a massive learning curve. Sorry to be cliché but my 20s have been like a roller coaster (and I'm only 22 now ha) and I can confirm that the quarter life crisis does exist! I feel like no one ever really explained how much of a huge adjustment this stage is. This has left many of us thinking ‘why has everyone else got their shit together except me?’ When in reality, from speaking to my close friends, we are all experiencing the same fears and anxieties about our 20s. There is a sense of comfort in knowing this, so I thought I’d make a list of lessons that us girls need to practice in our 20s!

1) Scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram constantly every day will make you feel rubbish. People obviously portray the best version of themselves online and it’s not healthy to read constant updates like ‘Omg just got my dream job, love my life!’, ‘Moving to London with my BFFs’ or ‘Starting my journey around the world, see ya in 6 months’ – DON’T TORTURE YOURSELF. Also you don’t want to become jealous – that’s not an attractive quality nor a trait of a successful person. No one is going to post that they had to move back home because they couldn't pay their rent. People have the same worries as you and things aren't always as dandy as they seem. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, focus on what YOU are doing!

2) If you don’t feel confident fake it. This is something I preach but haven’t fully mastered! Just in the last few days I got told in both my annual review at work and in my driving lesson that I need to be more confident and doubt myself less. On both occasions that struck a chord because I was fully aware that this was an issue holding me back. You will never be 100% confident and you can’t always predict what it going to happen, but you can change how you react to obstacles. Don’t react by going home crying and end up in a downward spiral of misery. When one thing goes wrong it’s very easy to focus on all the other negatives in your life. Try to control that. Go and challenge your failures or insecurities and believe in yourself.

3) Writing a list of everything you like about your life will make you feel 100% better and focus your mind. This is a great way to achieve lesson 2. It's so easy to list all of the negatives in your mind, I've sometimes tried to think of the positives and it’s quite difficult. Force yourself to actually jot them down with pen and paper – your list will grow and it will remind you of all the times in the past that you've achieved something great, perhaps something against the odds. It reminds you that you have the capacity to accomplish greatness when you’re in the right frame of mind!

4) Take the time to figure out what you want to be. At university I was dead set on being a surveyor, I was obsessed and after countless applications and months of trying it didn't work. I felt like I’d failed, this was what I wanted to do but it wasn't happening. When I moved back to Essex I frantically applied to do any job and starting working as a Finance Assistant in an advertising agency. I’d occasionally go to surveying interviews until one day I had a massive realisation that I don’t think I would even like that job. No offence but I felt that it was a bit of a snobby industry - would I even like the people I worked with? I started thinking that I’d be suited to something creative, maybe PR or advertising – this had literally been in front of me the entire time! What I'm trying to say here is that you might think one career path is right for you, when it’s not. Use this time as an opportunity to try out different sectors and find your passion! And don’t worry if your passion is something like playing piano that doesn't pay much, if you love what you do and work hard, the money will come!

5) If you don’t have a hobby find one. Apart from making you seem like a super interesting individual, having a hobby is great outlet for you. I set up this blog because my soul was desperate for a creative outlet. I sometimes have an awful day at work, but once I’m at home posting on my blog my mood is totally transformed. If you are ever having a down day, go and play tennis or learn a language, whatever is good for your soul. You’ll stop wallowing in sadness and feel really productive!

6) Stop analysing your horoscopes. This may not apply to you, but a lot of girls I know analyse their horoscope – I in fact used to as well. I spent like a solid month reading my horoscope and analysing it every single day. I took it as gospel. I needed that reassurance that things would be ok and that something amazing would be right around the corner – I noticed I was only reading this when I felt sad or out of control of a situation. Instead, I should have spent that time working on changing my situation, not relying on the words in a cryptic horoscope. If you talk to guys not one of them will say they read horoscopes – probably because we live in a male dominated society where men believe they can do anything whilst women feel less in control of their life events. But you can be in control, so quit reading the damn things!

7) Start saving money. I spent my first few pay cheques mostly in Topshop, Pizza Express, the work bar, and on taxis home from the bar… I hadn't saved a penny and I wanted to enjoy myself which was fun until everyone I knew suddenly jumped on a plane and went travelling. How did they have the money? How can they afford to go travelling? How can they afford that new car? Whilst some have generous rich parents, most people probably knew what they wanted to do and saved for it. They probably weren't going out every week like I was. What’s even worse than not saving is getting into debt – I haven’t ever had an overdraft or credit card, but I have so many friends that have racked up thousands in loans and the only worst thing than having zero in your bank account, is having a minus! Even if you save £100 a month, you’ll feel so much better having something to show for all those hours at work!

8) If you have a dream, write down a plan. Say you want to save up for a deposit for a flat, write down a logical plan for the next year for example. Plan how much you can realistically save each month and how long it will take to save the amount you need. Having a logical plan stops you from getting depressed and saying things like ‘omg I’m never going to be able to move out’ or ‘omg I’m never going to go travelling’ Write those goals down and plan how to attain them!

9) Find inspiration wherever you can. A few months after graduating, my friends Soph, Marie and I were endlessly Whatsapping each other motivational quotes. We’d just find them on Instagram and send them to each other– It was funny because when we were in our bubble at university we’d judge people posting these quotes like ‘lol that’s so cringe no one cares’. Then once we’d been thrown into the lonely adult world of uncertainty we were like 'OMG YOU NEED THESE QUOTES JUST TO GET THROUGH LIFE'. I'm not saying you should spend hours finding these quotes or reading self-help books, but you definitely should put the advice into practice if it does motivate you. I have a postcard in my room which states 'doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will' and I always have that in the back of my mind when I hesitate on an opportunity. The majority of the time you will be your own worse demon.

Let me know if you girls have any other lessons to add! x
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