Skincare| The Body Shop: The Camomile Range

Happy Easter, loves!

I thought I would show off my first 'proper' skin care range that I have started to use.

I decided to stop using makeup wipes around 2 months ago when my skin started breaking out due to working in a hot food shop, I figured the wipes weren't doing my skin any favours and I needed something to help soothe the redness and breakouts that were happening.

In the past, my go-to store for any kind of break out, redness or just general skin care was Lush, however, recently I popped into the Body Shop to look for a lip balm and came across the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter.

Basically it is a hardened oil-based cleanser that breaks down make-up on your face, including waterproof mascara and tricky eyeliner wings. I have found the holy grail!

I've almost finished my first pot of it and I'm desperate for some more. Because it is made with camomile oil, it is super smoothing and soothing for red, blotchy and even super sensitive skin, all of which, I have.

To use, you collect some of the product in your fingers and massage it gently all over the face, it works as a break down agent for make-up and really lifts left over product from your face. I use it on a dry, make-up covered face making sure to get the creases of my nostrils (where pesky blackheads can pop up) and around my hair line. Once you look like you've been punched in the face, take a damp muslin cloth (also available from the Body Shop for like, £2 BEST. INVENTION. EVER.) and wipe away!

The Camomile oil in the cleansing butter leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and squeaky clean and it smells amazing.

The Camomile range from the body shop includes lots of different products and after falling completely in love with the cleaning butter, I went back in pursuit for more deliciously smelling things.

I found the entire range on the shelves, but when I bought them, I got them in some sort of deal/ promotion pack which included: Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover, Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil and some beautiful soothing eye gel that also contains Camomile.

From the pictures I have taken, the most obvious difference between the Cleaning Butter and the Silky Cleansing Oil (while the two products sound pretty similar) is that one is a liquid in a pumpy bottle, the other is a hardened oil. Personally, I love both. I genuinely cannot fault either of them other than the Silky Cleansing Oil is a little bit messier than the hardened oil, so if you're not a fan of oily hands or find those kinds of things little hard to manage, then I'd point you in the direction the hardened oil.

My skin still has a few spots from working in a warm environment however, I am going to bed feeling confident that my skin is clean and well looked after and it feels even better in the morning.

What's your favourite skin care product?

Special thanks to the Body Shop for creating such amazing products and for the amazing customer service in the store in Dalton Park!

Kate x

How To Be Poorly | My 'Poorly Survival Guide'.

Hey guys,

So, over the last week or so, I've had a bitch of a cold with the added bonus of a slight sinus infection. 

After feeling extremely sorry for myself for pretty much the entire duration of said cold, I thought I made up the perfect 'poorly survival guide'

How To Be Poorly -

1) Make-up Is Not Your Friend - As gross as it sounds, whenever I've put make-up on over this past week, I've either completely rubbed it off by blowing my nose and having leaky eyes or I've had such dry, gross skin that it's just not even been worth the time in the morning. If I've had anything on, it's been concealer to sort out my rudolf nose and mascara and eyeliner. If you can get away with having a few no make-up days, giving your skin a rest and relaxing with the heating on, DO! You'll feel much more refreshed.

2)Tissues, Tissues, Tissues! - When your eyes are already a leaky mess, combining that with a snotty nose and getting a headache from constantly sniffing just makes your day even worse. Make sure you carry tissues everywhere with you! It will keep your petite noses happy and make you feel slightly more human.

3) Keep Your Tootsies Warm - It is a scientific fact that you lose the most heat from your body through your feetsies so it's always important to keep them nice and snug. Invest in some slippers! I'm a baby when it comes to being cold so I bought myself some of the slip-on ugg slippers and they're probably the best thing I've ever got. If you can't afford them, because they are a wee bit pricey, ASDA or Primark have some cute little slip-on ones too!

4) Don't Be Embarrassed To Cough - One of the worst things about being poorly I think is when you've got a horrible, dry, hacking cough that makes your ribs and head ache. The worst thing is when you try and not cough, you know, you hold your breath and almost pass out and when you do cough your nose runs, your eyes stream and you feel like you're going to puke. Buy some heavy duty throat spray - Myself and my family can't recommend the Corvonia Throat Spray enough. It numbs your throat instantly for like, 3 hours so you can even have a nap for a little while! (DISCLAIMER- you'll need to get used to the taste. You WILL make a weird, baby-eating-lemon-for-the-first-time face when you first spray it)

5) Just RELAX - Please do give yourself at least one day of doing nothing. University work can wait an evening to be done, have a bath, surround yourself with hot drinks and tissues and just give yourself a break. You can cancel the day if you're not very well. People will forgive you!

Okay, guys, that's my survival guide for being poorly!

If anyone else is suffering at the minute with the bitch of a cough that is going round, I am sending you snuggly hugs and cups of hot tea.

Have a good day, loves.

Kate x

My 2014| An odd one.

Happy New Year!!

Hello, loves.

I know I'm three days late but as long as the New Year sales are still going on, I think I can get away with this.

I've read a lot of blogs and YouTube vids all titled '... 2014' with all different beginnings. Lots of them have been explaining the different events that have gone on in a year, how much difference a year can make, most include a few near years resolutions too.

My 2014 started off a little oddly. As many of you know and are probably tired of hearing about, I came home from hospital on NYE last year and so I never properly celebrated it.  It was an emotional few days once I got home because I was very new to all of the things that come with being Diabetic and feeling generally emotional and having damaged my shoulder from the hospital bed, I was all achy. 

I'm pretty sure I was discharged at like 7pm or something and went straight to bed once I got home (after attempting to eat a spicy veggie deli wrap from McDonalds and dying because my lips were too chapped for spicy things from hospital air con). Even the fireworks didn't wake me up.

2014 was a massive learning curve. I had to learn how to be brave because before last December, I was petrified of needles and now I have 5 needles or more in my stomach a DAY. I had to learn not to flinch whenever I had to use my finger prick ( I still do now). I had to learn how to walk downstairs properly because I was so weak and in pain from the ordeal I went through, I just wanted to stay in bed. I used to love going on days out but the first few days of January, I couldn't handle being out for more than an hour.

For the most part, 2014 was an incredible year! I realised my soul mate was next to me all along, I met one of the best friends I've ever had, University was so much more interesting and I got closer to my friends there.

I also finally realised that my passion is Journalism. Writing is extremely important to me and I'm very good at it and so my blog was born!

I grew up this year.

Happy New Year, friends. Have a safe one.

Kate x

p.s - I read one of the best articles this year in a book I got for Christmas, 'Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs - 100 years of the best journalism by woman' by Eleanor Mills and Kira Cochrane and I had to share my favourite passage from it.

It's called 'Fabulously Fat' by Erin Pizzey -

"Obviously if you have spent all your life looking at pictures of women with anonymously regular bodies, the idea of stripping off in front of the love of your life is not actually easy. There are various approaches like climbing into the wardrobe and coming out in a flannel nightie buttoned from the chin down to the feet. There is the 'night flying' approach which is to say that you are just going to tidy up - and get him to go ahead and get into bed. You then strip off in the loo, charge into the bedroom, switch off the light and make a crash landing on the spot where you hope he is not. If he is, you might be arrested, and under the circumstances - as one might put it - you would probably get off with manslaughter or, if the judge had a sense of humour, 'parking in an occupied zone'.

TMI Tag | Dear, December

Heeeeeeello...

So I was tagged by my beautiful little Christmas chummy Sophie to do the TMI tag so here we go!

1: What are you wearing?  black leggings, pink ankle socks and a black long sleeved peplum top... I'll stop wearing black when they invent a darker colour!

2: Ever been in love? Yes and I still am very much so!

3: Ever had a terrible breakup? Nope, I'm still with my soul mate :)

4: How tall are you? I'm tall, 6ft exactly

5: How much do you weigh? No idea, I get weighed whenever I have a hospital appointment but I haven't had one in ages so I can't remember!

6: Any tattoos? Yup! I have four, one on the top of my foot, a thigh piece, one on my shoulder blade and one on my ribs :) I'm a huge advocate for tattoos.

7: Any piercings? Ears twice, tragus, cartilage, helix and my tongue :)

8: OTP? Chuck and Blaaaaair!

 9: Favorite show? I have a few...  Gossip Girl, The Office US, Being Human, Grimm, Castle and Bones 

10: Favorite bands? Mayday Parade are my number one favourite band but I also love Jason Lancaster, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Maddie & Tae 

11: Something you miss? I miss my old dog, Paddy and college. I loved college, best two years of my life!

12: Favorite song? I love Your Side Of Town by Maddie & Tae and any song on the As You Are album by Jason Lancaster

13: How old are you? 20!

14: Zodiac sign? Libra 

15: Quality you look for in a partner? A really dry, sarcastic sense of humor and has to make me laugh!

16: Favorite Quote? I dunno if it's a quote but my favourite thing to say is 'I love you to the moon and back'

17: Favorite actor? Johnny Depp

18: Favorite color? Grey, Black and Pink

19: Loud music or soft? Loud!

20: Where do you go when you’re sad? Bed to watch either netflix or youtube videos.

21: How long does it take you to shower? If I'm washing my hair and shaving, 20 minutes, if I'm just jumping in and out, 5.

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes

23: Ever been in a physical fight? Nope!

24: Turn on? Leather jackets and messy hair omg

25: Turn off? Cockyness, rudeness, spitting

26: The reason I joined Youtube? No youtube but I wanted a blog because I needed to write things other than my uni work otherwise I'd end up hating English and writing!

27: Fears? Spiders, clowns and the dark!

28: Last thing that made you cry? Uh... The series finale of the office because it was adorable :$

29: Last time you said you loved someone? My mama this morning!

30: Meaning behind your YouTube Name? No youtube but my blog is literally as straight forward as it's all I talk about. Mainly just the content of my blog :)

31: Last book you read? Christmas With Billy & Me by Giovanna Fletcher, it's so cute!

32: The book you’re currently reading? Nothing actually! I've been catching up with netflix since I finished for Christmas.

33: Last show you watched? Rizzoli & Isles this morning :)

34: Last person you talked to? Jack by text

35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My wonderful other half :)

36: Favorite food? Chinese mushrooms 

37: Place you want to visit? New York

38: Last place you were? Teesside Park with my mama

39: Do you have a crush? my boyfriend!

40: Last time you kissed someone? Tuesday, I think!

41: Last time you were insulted? I can't remember when I was last seriously insulted

42: Favorite flavor of sweet? Apple!

43: What instruments do you play? I used to play Clarinet in school

44: Favorite piece of jewellery? My ring that has two mermaids holding a sapphire from Etsy

45: Last sport you played? Pft, like basketball in school

46: Last song you sang? O Christmas Tree with my mum in the car :')

47: Favorite chat up line? ew

48: Have you ever used it? never.

49: Last time you hung out with anyone? My mum this morning, family yesterday and Jack on Tuesday!

50: Who should answer these questions next? I dunno who hasn't done it but everyone should definitely go check out my chummy's blog and read her TMI post! http://sophieannegriffiths.blogspot.co.uk/

That's all, my loves!

Merry Christmas!

Kate x

Dear December| Christmas Tag!

Dear, December

I thought I'd do a Christmas tag for day 3! 

1. When do you start getting excited about Christmas?

I literally get excited for Christmas after my birthday which is the 27th September so it's pretty early, but I always feel like I can't show that I'm excited until after my mum's birthday which is the back end of November so it seems a little more appropriate. That being said, I downloaded my Christmas playlist on iTunes in like, August so I was ready.

2. Do you still have advent calendars?

I used to have one every year when I was a kid and then I kinda 

forgot about them. 

3. What are your favourite Christmas Films?

Well I don't like things like Miracle On 34th Street or White 

Christmas and I haven't seen Love Actually so my favourite must

be... Elf, The Grinch, With 6 You Get Eggnog, Twas The Night and 

Santa Claus!

4. Do you have any funny Christmas memories?

Christmas is just generally a funny time all round, spending time

with family and remembering past Christmases, last year myself and

my auntie tried to see how many After Eights we could fit in our

mouths which ended in me throwing up but hey!

5. Talk us through your typical Christmas Day?

When I was younger my day would start at like, 6 or even earlier 

and I'd sneak out of my room and find my stocking and play with

stuff in there until my parents woke up. I'm an only child so I never 

really jumped up and woke them up super early. Then we'd go and

open our presents under the tree and then get ready for the day!

Mainly get ready for eating a billion dishes of food... Mmmm!

6. What do you eat for Christmas Dinner?

I, myself, prefer chicken over turkey so I eat chicken and pigs in 

blankets and veg and lots and lots of gravy!

7. Do you have any Christmas traditions?

The only major tradition that I keep to myself is that I buy my mum

a Lush Christmas box every year because we're a tiny family of

three and not huge of gifts, small things like that to last the

year are good to buy :)

8. Which are your favourite Christmas songs?

There used to be a song I sang once in Primary School called This Christmas Time which I think was actually only a thing that our school did because I can't find it ANYWHERE (which upsets me) but that's the only one I love. I like non-traditional ones more like the ones from Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and All Time Low :)

9. What is the best Christmas present you ever received?

There's a photo in my grandads house of me doing a little pirouette 

in this white, sequined ballet set that I got one year which I must

have loved because I look pretty chuffed in the picture! Also I got

a doll called Jimmy when I was really young and I was obsessed, 

he went everywhere with me and I'm pretty sure he's still in an attic

somewhere! 

10.Real or fake Christmas tree?

We have a fake white one and colourful baubles :) As much as we love real ones, they're just very messy and we have a house rabbit who likes to chew and it would end up lopsided by the end of December due to the rabbit eating the bottom. It's just as beautiful though!

Thank you for reading! I hope this was kinda fun, if anyone else does this then do link me to it and I'll be sure to read it.

Kate x

Dear, December | Day 2.

Dear, December

Today was cold. The wind was icy and I forgot to wrap up warm with a scarf and gloves.

I'm pretty sure the obligatory December sniffles started today as my eyes were sore and I sneezed a lot.

Coming home meant three cups of hot peppermint tea and working in my new pair of docs (dr martens) which are matte black and fluffy on the inside, perfect for winter. 

As I gradually warmed up, I got a sudden burst of excitement over the up and coming festivities! Soon, I will have finished my first term of my second year at university and after that the panto season starts at the Little Theatre! I'm seeing Jack and The Beanstalk on the 21st with my parents. A new tradition perhaps as I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the theatre.

Remembering forgotten things is exciting, December! I used to love the theatre and performing, although I think I did it so much in college that it began to be a chore and not something I did out of passion. However maybe that will change when you are done and the new year embraces us all.

You're a month for reminiscing, December.

I've had a lovely day. Have you?

Kate x

Dear, December | the beginning.

Dear December,

With you comes magic and love. Children, even adults, pretending to be steam trains by blowing into the cold air and Christmas lights lighting up the way to warm shops decorated with colourful wrapping paper.

The cold brings snuffles and red noses, watery eyes and fluffy gloves, warm hugs and leaving the heating on for when you get home.

Christmas songs and parades, Christmas films and advent calenders. 

Warm jumpers, hot tea, hot chocolate and endless mornings where you can't quite bare to get out of the hot shower.

All things merry and bright, these make your cold weather worth it, December. It makes me smile at everyone who walks by, even if their brows are crunched over someone shoving them in the Christmas shopping rush. The embrace of the heating at home makes the half an hour wait for the bus not seem so bad.

But, December, the best part of you is walking down my street and seeing every home lit up by the Christmas tree in the window. Some real, some fake, some even white! But all are lit up with glittering lights, colourful and white. Baubles hung carefully or sporadically by excited children whose parents stand back with a watchful eye, smiling at their children's giggling. 

It's knowing that the carpets or floors are going to be matted with glitter by the end of the evening and one or two decorations will end up on the floor already. It's knowing there's going to be a gap at the back of the tree because little arms can't quite reach that far.

December, you can sometimes be full of bustling people and the mad race to the counters to pay for the last stocking before anyone else but everyone has the same idea in their minds.

December is the lead up to Christmas and even if the people are frustrated over the cold or stuffy shops, we are all as excited as each other.

December, I can't wait for you to begin.

Kate x