If you don't already know, I have quite long, blondey-brown hair which falls at my waist when straightened. It is naturally curly and I never, repeat, never brush it. It's extremely thin, although I do have quite a lot of it, insert image here.
Over the past few weeks, funnily enough, I've had quite a lot of time on my hands.
Weird that.
This has allowed me to try a range of different products on my hair. Now, let's talk about my overall goals.
I want to minimise my bad hair days. Like many people, my hair has days where it doesn't want to listen to me. I do have curly hair and sometimes, it can be completely out of control. Below is a picture of my slightly wild, curly hair.
Now, I have been on the hunt for a conditioner that would be good, nay tame, my unruly hair. It also, could not be too pricey.
Now, I have been on the hunt for a conditioner that would be good, nay tame, my unruly hair. It also, could not be too pricey.
I stumbled across this John Frieda Frizz Ease conditioner called Dream Curls. In the past, I have tried other 'curly conditioners' which claimed to tame curls. I want to state, that I have no intention of straightening out my curls. I don't want straight hair, I want nice, controllable curly hair. These past 'curly conditioners' would leave my hair lifeless and frankly, quite flat.
I just don't want the frizz that comes with curls...is that too much to ask?
All in all, I have been using this conditioner and my hair feels amazing! It smells amazing, albeit a little perfume-y but apart from that, it does my curly hair wonders. I highly recommend.
Next up a trio that I definitely need to talk about. Don't worry, you aren't experiencing déjà vu, I have spoken about Mane 'n Tails before. In a past blog post, I tried Mane n' Tails shampoo before for one whole week. Which leads me onto my second goal: to make my hair thicker. You may be thinking, wait, I have a mane but no tail... Don't worry, it's for horses as well as humans.
I do love my thin hair in a way. It's easy to style, it doesn't get greasy easy and I can whip it up in a bun using only one hairband. However, I would love a little more volume if I am being completely honest with myself.
Mane n' Tails is a great way to strength your hair and reduce breakage. Back when I tried their shampoo, I tried their original one. Now, I remember thinking that although the product was amazing, the scent was a little chemical for me. However, I was lucky to have been gifted their newest herbal essential range! Which truly has taken my love for their products to a new level. Now, I can have the results from their original product along with a lovely, fresh new scent.
If you are looking to strengthen your hair, I highly recommend Mane n' Tails. Here is a quick snap of my straightened hair after I have been using it for a week!
Okay, last but definitely not least is my final goal. To improve the texture. My hair is soft, extremely soft even. Which is great and I am not complaining, however, it does mean that hairstyles don't last as long. I need a little something to give it more grip.
That's where my next product comes in. Argan Oil is my new best friend. After the shower, I will towel dry my hair and then run through a small, pea-sized amount of this Argan oil through my locks and bam, slightly less soft hair.
I only do this every so often because it does add a lot of moisture to my hair but it really does my curls hold and adds to the texture.
Thank you so much for reading this super long post all about my hair. I hope you are doing well, staying safe and not going completely crazy.
See you soon x
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Shop this post:
John Frieda: Conditioner
Mane N' Tail: Shampoo & Conditioner
Argan Oil: Oil
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I know this is my second blog post about self-distancing and the nationwide lock down, but it truly has taken over everyone's lives, including mine. It seems that all we talk about right now is the virus and the precautions we taking to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
From a personal level, I am finding it hard to stay healthy whilst in lock down. Going outside seems daunting and I live in a city, where it can be extremely busy, even if it's just going out for a walk.
I do try to go out every other day. I go up to my local walking trail or down to the beach to walk along the coast, but apart from that, I really haven't done much besides from working from home.
However, I am finding a few,easy ways to remain healthy both mentally and physically.
Thank you to all my friends and family members who have not become fed up yet with my constantly facetiming them.
I am lucky enough to be living with my boyfriend, someone I annoy on a daily basis whether we are in quarantine or not. But I know others aren't as lucky and are currently self-distancing by themselves.
If this is you, don't forget to keep in contact with other people. FaceTime them, message them, write them a letter and send it by carrier pigeon, do something! By keeping it contact with others, it truly can lift and elevate your mood.
You are not alone, everyone is the same boat, so don't be afraid to reach out.
Look at self-distancing as a chance to connect back with your bodies needs. I for one, always forget to drink enough water. I am usually in an office, in and out of meetings and writing for hours on end, meaning pretty much all of my brain capacity is taken up.
I always forget about having a glass of water! However, since I have been working from home, I have had not excuse. I have been having one glass of water an hour! I also would like to take this moment to talk about another, healthy water alternative that I have been enjoying.
Introducing... drum rolls please...
I first tried Ugly drinks back in January & I have looked back since! Just in case you haven't heard of them, Ugly is a drink which is only contains sparkling water and natural flavourings. There is no sugar or nastiness in them! They are an excellent alternative to your eight glasses of water you are meant to drink in a day.
My personal favourite is the Peach however, I am starting to be swayed by the triple berry flavour. Honestly, they have become one of my favourite beverages and they are truly getting me through this self-distancing period.
Whilst isolation is a way to improve on yourself and finding the time to actually achieve things you have been putting off, it is also a time to relax and unwind. People tend to move full-speed in life, never giving a second thought to their body or minds.
Yes, you can use this time to do a million things OR you can do nothing. Nobody should judge you for either. I know that personally, I spend my life working, which I enjoy. I felt forced to slow down at the beginning of this pandemic. How dare this virus stop me from going to work? However, I have started to release that whilst, yes, I am being forced to stop and think. I have also spent a lot of time watching really good films, experimenting with cooking and just hanging out with my other half.
In short: You do you.
Thank you for reading, see you next week!
Shop this post:
Ugly Drinks: Ugly
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Disclaimer:
~some items in this post were gifted but all opinions are my own~
Is anyone else going a little mad at the moment? I definitely am.
How do I know this? I've had several conversations with my rabbit. He is no longer enjoying my continual presence and is now just tolerating me.
Same as my boyfriend really. I joke...hopefully.
Anyway, let's talk about social-distancing.
I am currently working from and home and annoying my boyfriend on a continual basis.
Nonetheless, I am still feeling very anxious about the entire situation at the moment. Whilst we are living in a time of uncertainty, anxiety and general madness, it's important to take care of our mental health and to remain focused.
So, without further ado, here are some of my top tips on how NOT to go crazy whilst staying at home.
Get up in the morning, brush your hair and get dressed. It doesn't necessarily have to be into jeans or anything uncomfortable, it can even be glorified pyjamas if you really want, just get out of what you slept in.
Just because life is lacking routine a little at the moment, it doesn't mean you have to forget about yours. It will make you feel more productive if you put on some clothes and get moving, you will feel less cooped up.
Don't spend the time staring at a screen. It can be really tempting, your TV is right there and you finally have plenty of time to finish all those series that you said you would watch. But try to avoid doing it all the time. There are a million things you can achieve from your house!
Talking of screens, try to avoid reading the news too much. When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is check the news and then for the rest of the day, I try my best to avoid it. Whilst it's important to stay informed, the tabloids can be a scary place right now and you don't need that energy all day, every day.
We all have that one book, that we can never quite find time to read. Now is the time! Grab that book that's been sitting on your shelf, cosy up and give it a read.
I'm currently reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, I'll let you know if it's good!
Yes, all the gyms are closed but that doesn't mean exercise is off the table. You are still allowed to go outside, as long as you remain away from other people. Go on a walk, do a home work out, go for a run or put your music on full blast and dance erratically in your living room.
Don't let this scary time slow you down! Also, get up and stretch every hour. Sitting down for an entire day is awful for your circulation.
I've been listening to my record collection a lot more - something I don't usually get to do and you best believe that weird dancing comes with that!
Above everything, stay safe. Listen to what people are saying about washing your hands and not going out unless it is completely essential. Take your meetings over the video, call your family and check they are okay, and look after yourself.
See you next week.
Like many people, I have loved reading from an extremely young age.
As an avid reader, I try my best to sample some of every genre, whether that be something I have historically liked or disliked. I always try my best to finish a book and to not put it down, no matter how much the novel is frustrating or boring me.
Recently, I have been discovering the feminist genre of book. Now, I am not talking about academic, feminist writing. I am not even talking about books that you could really put in the bibliography of your dissertation. I am talking about the books which made me cry, laugh and think.
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman.
Whether or not this book is 'feminist' is up for debate. However, what is not disputable is how empowering this book is.
Eleanor is an awkward, rather misjudged character who wants a simple life. Whilst she is struggling with past traumas which becomes apparent later on in the novel, she tries her best to create a structured routine around her life which will offer feelings of safety and stability.
What is so abundantly clear is that Eleanor is unhappy. Whether she can comprehend that her actions are a survival mechanism, she is not really living a happy life. It isn't until she makes friends with an unassuming male co-worker, that her life changes for the better.
I loved this book and I actually wrote a full, separate review on it, which you can find here.
What I found empowering was Eleanor's struggle. Whilst the events that took place in Eleanor's life is fictitious, the relationship between herself and her mother is something that many people feel and can relate too.
Eleanor grows, matures and becomes a wildly happier person. She learns to accept herself, her flaws and cut ties with toxic relationships in order to make way for new, healthier ones.
Not That Kind of Girl - Lena Dunham.
This book is a common addition to anyone's 'Girl Power' list of books. Whilst this read acts as a description of Lena's life, it is a lot more than that. I finished this book quickly - in a matter of days in fact and it had me in genuine tears, both laughter and crying.
Again, don't be put off by the autobiographical nature of this book. If you have no interest in learning about Lena Dunham, that is fine and it will not, repeat will not, having any impact on your enjoyment of this novel.
You will recognise your younger, weirder self in this story. The journey that it took for you to become the strong person you are today is made up of weird MSN messages, the ex-boyfriends and your multiple personalities you tried on before realising that being you was for the best.
5/5 would recommend.
Women Talking by Miriam Toews.
Women Talking is a bit of a different read and unlike the other books in this list, it is a reenactment of a real historical event.
Again, hold on, you might like the sound of this.
Between 2005 and 2009, in a remote religious Mennonite colony, over a hundred girls and women were knocked unconscious and raped, often repeatedly, by what many thoughts were ghosts or demons, as a punishment for their sins. Spoiler, it wasn't. It was the men of the colony.
Now, the women had to make one of two choices. They could stay but demand equal respect between genders or they could leave, gaining freedom but leaving behind their brothers, husbands and everything they had known.
This event really happened, however, this book is the imagined response of these real-life events. What would the women say, think, act like with these happenings?
I really enjoyed this book. It was repetitive, sure, but it was well worth the read. I learnt so much from it, historically speaking and I enjoyed the overall story of women coming together and demanding more their society.
The F Word - Lily Pebbles
Female friendship is a hard, uncharted territory. The media constantly pins women against each other, making us feel like we are enemies. That one woman gain is another women's lose. This is, in my opinion, counterproductive in a progressive society and above everything, a medieval way to look at such important relationships.
I don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for the great ladies that have helped me along my journey. The F Word by Lily Pebbles helps you to remember that whilst friendships, especially friendships with other women, are hard, they are worth it and you should never take them for granted.
This read is short, fun and definitely worth it if you need a little reminder of who you are!
Just because I didn't mention them, doesn't mean I don't recommend them! Honestly, we would be here all day if I recommended all the books that empowered me.
1. Bossypants by Tina Fey.
2. The Handmaid's Tale by Margret Atwood.
3. Yes Please by Amy Poehler.
4. Animal by Sara Pascoe.
5. Literally anything by Angela Carter.
Thanks for reading, see ya soon.
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Shop this post:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine: Gail Honeyman
Not That Kind of Girl: Lena Dunham
The F Word: Lily Pebbles
Women Talking : Miriam Toews
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*Gifted*
In case you haven't already been bombarded with photos, posts and articles, it's Veganuary!
Veganary takes place in January (fancy that) and it's a month dedicated to encouraging people to commit to becoming a vegan, promoting a healthier lifestyle and overall protection of the planet.
I am not doing #veganuary this year. You will know if you have read my other blog posts, that I am in fact a vegetarian. I haven't eaten meat since March the 20th and I plan to keep it that way. As well as not eating meat, I also rarely eat dairy. I don't drink cow's milk, I don't put butter on my toast, I rarely have eggs unless they are hidden in a product.
I think the only animal-based product I truly couldn't live without would be cheese. Whilst being vegan pertains an awful lot to your diet, I feel that I have already cut out quite a few things. And where I truly lack a vegan mindset is in my use of other things, not food.
Whatever do I mean?
Well, back in early 2019, I made the conscious decision to cut out all non-cruelty free makeup. I also tried to cut down on single-use plastic. I began taking fabric bags to the store and I used bars of soap instead of bottles. Since this time, I have added a more weekly, vegan necessities to my life and in the spirit of #Veganuary, I thought it would only be right to share them.
If you haven't heard of Vegan Bunny, you should really check them out. Vegan Bunny is a company which produce and sell handmade candles that are 100% vegan, free from pesticides, herbicides & genetically modified materials. Everything they produce is certified by Peta as vegan as well, so you can be guaranteed a great product.
*Gifted*
I have worked with Vegan Bunny before and I truly love not only what their company stands for but the product as well. Like many people, I have a rather large obsession with candles. It makes my home a lot more cosy during these colder, winter months and if you are looking for a good smelling candle, again vegan bunny is the company for you.
*Gifted*
I got a range of scents, which I will be linking below but my absolute favourite has always been the Lavender Soy Candle. It is also nice to know that whenever I am lighting a candle, it is completely cruelty-free It has been made with lots of love and good intentions.
I don't think it would be #Veganuary without mentioning Oatley. Oatley has generally changed the way that I view milk alternative. I have hated milk for as long as I can remember. However, I do love a good cup of tea and there is the problem. I think I waited so long to give up on Cow's milk because I didn't like any of the alternatives.
I tried soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk and basically, any other kind of non-animal milk you can think of, but I really didn't like any of them. That was until I stumbled across Oatley. When I moved to Brighton, I found that being vegetarian was really easy. There were lots of alternatives to meat, dairy and most other things. I opted for oat milk once in a local, Brighton-based coffee shop and I have been hooked ever since.
If you haven't tried Oatley, you really should. In my opinion, the Barista version, which is the grey one is the best.
Finally, one my list of #Vegnuary favourites is my -417 Face Mask. -417 was not a brand I was familiar with until last year, when I started looking into changing all my make-up and skincare to cruelty-free brands. Excuse the messy packing, I am not the best at applying facemasks!
This facemask is a mud mask, it targets my dry and sensitive skin. It is a little on the pricey side but I use it every week whilst in the bath. If you have some extra money to spend, you should definitely consider treating yourself with a -417 face mask.
Thank you for reading. If you are doing #Veganuary, I wish you the best of luck and if you are not, why not try changing up some of your regular products for some cruelty-free ones!
Until next week!
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Shop this post:
Candles (Gifted): Vegan Bunny
Facemask: -417
Oat Milk: Oatly
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2019 was a rather big year for me - I achieved a First Class degree, I published a book, I moved to Brighton, etc. (read more here).
I am determined to make 2020 just as big.
So, what does this year look like for me?
Oh, Blog Off...
Well, let's start with the obvious, my social media has dropped off the radar. Completely. I have gone from posting every day, sometimes even twice a day, to being M.I.A all together. I gave no warning, no reasoning, I just stopped. I was even tempted to do one of those blog posts titled 'Why I took a break'. But I didn't, I never got round to it.
If I am being honest, I got a new job centred around social media. This means that I spend all day, most days scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, you name it. Which I love but it does mean, that when I come away from work, I have no motivation for my, and excuse the cliche, side hustle.
Also, I know numbers aren't everything but my followers started to drop the longer I didn't post. Crazy right? Staying active means people stay engaged! Who knew?
But anyway, this made me feel like when I did get back into blogging, posting on social media or just general writing, that no one would care. I had lost my audience, my supporters.
But then I remember why I started blogging in the first place. I didn't start writing so people would read my stuff. People clicking on my blog and perusing my articles was just a plus, I just wanted to write.
So I guess that's my long-winded explanation of why I am coming back to blogging and hopefully, social media. I'll give you an update in February if I have already given up.
A Little Bit Of Money Honey
Let's talk about money. Since becoming an adult, I have realized that money is a touchy subject, that is regularly avoided. Me, being my opinionated, open book self, I have never understood this. And no, I am not blind to the fact that money is a divider amongst society. It can be a heavy subject for some but I always feel the conversation about money is worth having.
On that topic, this year, I am saving money.
No more random coffees or 'treating myself' because I've had a hard week, even when it's only Tuesday. I have already set up a savings account (pats self on the back), to which I will be putting a percentage of my paycheck in.
Always save for a rainy day because when it rains, it truly does pour.
Write it!
If you didn't already know, I released a book last year. It had been a dream of mine since I was little and seeing my own work in book form has been one of my crowning achievements of 2019.
And since then, I have been promising myself that I will be releasing another. Have I done it yet? No. This year, I will find the time, to sit down and write this second book.
Pressure, Pushing Down on Me
My final goal is to stress less. Yes, there is a lot I want to do this year but they are all self-imposed. The world will not stop spinning if I don't post a blog post for a week. Yes, I would love to publish my book this year, but it takes time. This year, I will not, repeat, will not, let the pressure get to me.
As always, thanks for reading.
Do you have any New Year Resolutions?
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