May Favourites

Favourites posts are some of my most read and I love reading them too so I thought I'd share with you all my favourites from May... (side note....HOW IS IT JUNE TOMORROW?!)

Spotify has been my go to this month to help my survive revision. I've created the best playlist full of old songs like 'C'est La vie' by Bewitched and 'Keep on Movin' by F!ve. It's so cool that you can access almost unlimited music for free. Ive got the app on my phone but because I don't have premium I can only skip 6 songs at one time which, for a serial skipper like me, is a bit of a negative but forces me to listen to music I wouldn't normally and sometimes I find little treasures such as 'Be Okay' by Oh Honey. 

Specific music favourites this month include Seafret, a band I discovered when i went to see James Bay live a few weeks ago. Their music is very guitar-y and calming, perfect for revision. On the path of guitar-music I'm in love with the new Mumford and Sons song 'Believe' it's a very relaxing song and the video is a timelapse video through London and it makes me quite nostalgic!

Another app I'm loving is Afterlight. With it being last year few days in school we've had a lot of pictures and Afterlight is the perfect app to edit on! I don't tend to use the filters I just adjust the brightness, saturation, contrast, highlights/shadows etc. 

Since finishing Pretty Little Liars which was undoubtedly my favourite Netflix series EVER I was recommended Gogglebox on Channel 4. All I can say is I don't know how I haven't watched it sooner. It is honestly one of the most hilarious shows I've watched in a loooong time. For those of you how don't know what it is, different families across Britain are filmed whilst watching TV and they make comments on what they think as if the cameras weren't there. Who said British TV was cheap? 

Without Pretty Little Liars I've managed to get a little bit of reading done and I'm loving Carrie Hope Fletcher's 'All I Know Now'. Simply put it is a book about the struggles and difficulties most teens face when growing up and tips on how to survive the teenage years. I haven't finished it yet but it is such a good book! 

As I'm writing this the sun is shining down and the sky is clear blue and cloudless which means the summer is here!! It also means getting my legs out which requires silky-smoothness and I've found that with the Vaseline essential moisture Cocoa Radiant lotion. It's a really thick, creamy moisturiser but isn't greasy at all and it dries quickly and the smell of the cocoa is to die for. 

If only you could smell it!

As always, I have food favourites. Slightly strangely, Wheetabix is one of them! I've had it a lot for breakfast recently with strawberries, raspberries and bananas on top and it's the perfect breakfast. It fills me up but it is light and quite healthy too! As it's revision season I've been treating myself a little bit, I've made my red velvet cake a lot (with the help of the lovely Betty Crocker) and it's gone down a treat every time. But  now I'm trying to eat healthily again because I'm really trying to trim up my stomach 

An old beauty favourite is cropping back up this month the L'Oreal Brow Artiste eyebrow pencil. I've discovered a new combination of this and my collection eyebrow powder works quite well it sorting out my eyebrows. However, I STILL CANT MAKE THEM EVEN! 

After reading Niomi's review I purchased another L'Oreal product, the Superstar Mascara with two ends, one white end to lengthen and volumise lashes and the black end to give a dramatic finish. I wasn't too sure about it to begin with but I now really love it for thickening my lashes but it doesn't seem to lengthen them once I've applied the black colour. I've just bought the new Wake Me Up mascara from Rimmel in the bright green bottle and so far I'm liking it for the length but I need to use it for a bit longer to give you all a full review! 

Wand 1 

Wand 2

I've been quite lazy with hair washing because I've been a bit of a social recluse due to revision so I've used a lot of Batiste Dry Shampoo and my current favourite scent is the classic tropical coconut and exotic. I find the scent so refreshing and dry shampoo works so well.

Despite having so much revision, I've managed to keep watching my favourite youtubers and this month Lily Pebbles has been my ultimate favourite. I loved her 'Everyday May' vlogs and I also follow her on snapchat and she seems so lovely! I also still love Hannah, Stef and Gracie as well as the Saccone-Joly's! 

From all the watched signs you can tell I'm a bit addicted!

  

The Michalaks! 

Hello Friends.....

Hope you've enjoyed my favourites from this month.  What have you guys been liking this month???

Thanks for reading 

Charlotte 

XO

January Favourites

January has been a month of trying new things! Its safe to say I've really enjoyed it so here are some of my favourite things this month!

After running out of the Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser I purchased the Garnier Mattifying Face Cream. The first thing I noticed about this was the scent of it which was quite fresh and actually a nice surprise when I put it on. I chose the mattifying one because I do get quite oily skin and I think I have noticed a subtle difference in the oilyness of my skin, as the day progresses my skin does appear less oily! 

My Zoella makeup bag was one of my favourite birthday presents as it is so spacious to fit my daily essentials in but it is also such a bright happy colour. I also have serious eyebrow envy! 

I mentioned in a previous favourites my love and adoration for the EOS lip balms. Winter has not been kind to my skin or lips, especially since being ill. Luckily I was given another Sweet Mint balm for Christmas because I've been using this repetitively. I really want to try some of the other scents/flavours so let me know your recommendations! 

Ever since I was a young girl I wanted long hair that would cover my boobs so I could be like Ariel and now my hair is almost down to my waist and I love it. But I've decided it's too long now and managing it is so tedious. So I've decided to cut it by about 3-4inches. But I've been trying to make the most of it for the last month so I bought some velvet bows from New Look and I LOVE them. I think they have quite a 'preppy' look and they're so so cute. I've also been so impressed by my Hair2Day Straightners which are specifically for long, thick hair (ironic now I'm having it cut!). They straighten my hair quickly and easily whilst leaving a really soft, smooth, silky finish. I think the silky finish has been helped by a new Elvive Shampoo and Conditioner. When I first used it, I applied the shampoo and washed it out but my hair felt like normal. Then, I put the conditioner in and my jaw just dropped. I have honestly never felt hair so smooth and silky in my life, I can't recommend it more! 

My scent for this month is YSL Black Opium. I first smelt this before Christmas and fell head over heels in love with it, I sprayed it onto a little card and kept it for weeks until the smell faded. I put it on my Christmas AND birthday list. When I didn't open it at Christmas I waited and finally unwrapped it on my birthday. It is the only thing I have worn since and I'm so in love with it! 

Another gift I unwrapped on my birthday was the Urban Decay Naked palette and I was ecstatic. I've wanted it for so so long and I've used it every time I go to an event or out for a meal. My favourite shades are Naked which I think is a really nice base, Half-Baked which is such a lovely gold sparkle/shimmer and Toasted which is more of a rose-gold shimmer.I can't wait to experiment more with this palette and  it has spurred me to buy more and more makeup. 

Non-makeup favourites of this month include The Only Way Is Essex (please don't judge me) and Silent Witness. I realise these two programmes completely contrast each other but I love them both. TOWIE is so entertaining and I actually really love the makeup that some of the girls wear (when it's not too orange). Silent Witness is so gripping and I find it so interesting. I'm always trying to guess what's happened but I rarely get it right!

I've been trying to be healthier this month and I've definitely cut back on chocolate but I think I've compromised chocolate for sugar because I've been drinking copious amounts of orange, orange and mango or orange, lemon and pineapple squash. The third one may sound slightly strange but it is delicious and so refreshing.

How has your January been? Any favourites that I should try out? 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

The Sweater Weather Tag

I was scrolling through Sprinkle Of Glitter's Amazing Advertisers and came across Alices Antics. Having a glance at her blog I discovered this tag and it looked fun so I thought I'd give it a go, especially as it has been so cold recently I thought the Sweater Weather tag was quite appropriate. 

1) Favourite Candle Scent?
I love candles but I'm ashamed to say I don't actually own that many! There is a Yankee Candle scent called Soft Cotton which has a really delightful, crisp smell but I think it's also quite a Spring/Summer scent! For Autumn/Winter I'm yet to discover my favourite candle. If you have any recommendations please let me know in the comments!

2) Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate?
Is this really a question? Actually thinking about it, I don't know if I can choose! Hot chocolate is perfect after a day of shopping or training in the freezing cold. Tea is so comforting. And coffee can be so varied and really picks you up on a day when you might be lagging a bit! I think I'd have to say Hot Chocolate though because I drink tea and coffee all year round but I tend to only drink Hot Chocolate in winter, it HAS to be Galaxy though!

3) Do You Switch Up Your Make-up Routine for the Season? 
I'm going to be honest, I'm quite boring with my own makeup, simply because I don't have a lot of makeup and I don't know what will look good on me! If I'm going to a party I will add more eyeshadow, lipstick, eyeliner etc but I have never done anything drastic. I tend to stick to neutrals and nudes! 

4) Hats or Scarves?

Hmm, this is tricky. I only own two hats because I never thought hats suited me until I found these two. In comparison I have loads of scarves and snoods. Snoods are a must for winter, I always find myself burrowing into it when I get really cold. I guess for that reason I have to say scarves but I do love hats, I think they can complete an outfit.

5) Favourite Christmas Food?
Pigs in Blankets or stuffing I'd say. I LOVE roast potatoes but I have them all year round, not just at Christmas. Of course I love chocolate and Terry's Chocolate Orange is a definite favourite (it counts as part of your five a day right?) 

6) Most Worn Sweater? 

I've only recently bought this  Red reindeer jumper from Boohoo which is actually the first Christmas jumper I've ever bought (shameful I know). But I also bought a light blue, knitted  jumper recently but in size 16 so it's so baggy and I have been living in it ever since (it has been washed don't worry). So I think this will end up being my most worn sweater. 

7) Must-Have Winter Nail Polish? 

I think Barry M have the best winter nail polish collection at the moment. I've always loved the matte burgundy but I recently purchased the Gelly Hi-Shine Chai. It's quite a dark grey but I love it! It dried quickly and I love the shiny finish of the Gelly Hi-shine polishes. 

Gelly Shine Chai 

8) Favourite Autumn/Winter Memory?
I think the one that sticks out most is riding my old horse bareback in the snow about 4-5 years ago. I just remember going down to the yard, seeing the field covered in snow and deciding to get on and have a little ride around the field. It was bliss. I wish I could relive it, I really miss having my own horse! 

9) Boots or Uggs?
I think we all went through that phase at around 13-14 years old when Uggs were all the rage. And yes, they are really warm and comfy but I much prefer boots now. Chelsea boots are probably some of my favourites and I live in my brown Topshop boots. They have a fur edge which adds warmth and they go well with majority of my clothes. 

My Topshop boots are getting quite worn out! 

10) What is the Winter Weather Like Where You Live?
Crap. Rain, Cold. Ice. Wind. No snow. It's really quite grey and bland. I think I'd much rather have my Christmas in Florida where it'll be sunny!  Or go to the extreme opposite and have a white Christmas! 

Much Love

Charlotte 

XO

Friends are the family you choose...

I love this quote simply because I believe it's so true. You don't have to be friends with anyone. No one is going to make you be friends with them. You aren't forced to spend hours and hours with the same people if you don't want to. You simply choose to. 

You know you're friends with someone when you send them a Snapchat of yourself with no makeup and 3 extra chins, or when you know exactly what they're thinking with just one look or (as I've found out more recently) when you say or need the exact same thing as them at the same time (ehem Emma). There is nothing quite like having a private joke where you can just look at your friend(s) and say one thing and you all burst into fits of laughter with that one memory. 

Friends are there for everything, the good times and the bad, with advice, help and a big hug to make you feel better. Recently I've been so grateful for my friends. I realise that I'm not the easiest person to be friends with, especially when I'm anxious or in a really bad mood (or if I'm extremely tired and hungry!). But despite this my friends stick by me and I'm so grateful for that (thanks gals). 

I think when you are growing up who you are friends with, and who you aren't, helps to shape who you are and make you the person you become. You realise your likes and dislikes, your pet hates and your favourite things, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry. Friends are there when you aren't sure if an outfit suits you or to help you do your hair or make up. To let you copy their homework if you've forgotten to do it and to back you up in an argument.  To go to One Direction concerts with you and dance until your feet hurt, to go to festivals and listen to music until your ears hurt and to go shopping with until your purse is empty. Ultimately they are there to make the memories that shape your life. 

One Direction!!

One of my oldest friends and I 

I personally think that friends are essential in helping you grow and develop, supporting you through challenges you may not have believed possible to succeed in. I have doubted myself so many times, and I still do, but I've always had someone pushing me to do it and believing in me. This is probably most prominent within the rowing club where everyone helps and supports each other. I've had so many deep conversations with some of the rowers and always walked away feeling supported, it's just so nice knowing people care.

The rowers aka best people ever 

I recently had a self-esteem talk in school and we ended up writing our name on a blank piece of paper which we then passed around the room and people wrote anonymous messages about what they thought of you (all positive of course). I'd done this before but it was within my form group which meant we were all quite close. Doing it in a larger group with people you don't know a lot about seemed to have more of an impact on me. I received lovely messages, most of which I didn't know who they were from which made it special. There were people in the room I'd literally only exchanged a few sentences with in the past year yet they still had lovely things to say about me, and me about them. We all left the class with huge Cheshire cat smiles spreading across our face.

I think what I'm trying to say is don't take your friends for granted because they don't have to be your friend, they want to. Don't be someones friend to use them, be their friend because you want to, because it'll make you happier. I think friends are one of the world's greatest things. 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

One of my favourite photos ever

May Favourites!

Hello everybody! As we are now into June and supposedly summer (although the weather outside says differently) I thought I would share with you what my favourite things have been throughout the month of May!

Firstly, makeup favourites. I have been loving the RealTechniques Core Collection brushes. Obviously I'm quite late to the bandwagon on this but I adore the pointed foundation brush and the buffing brush. My previous foundation brush always left the foundation feeling thick and heavy on my skin but now with the RealTechniques brush application is a lot lighter.

 For my eyes I decided to try out Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves mascara. I've been in love with the standard Scandaleyes since it came out so I was excited to try the new version. The Rockin' Curves brush is different to the Scandaleyes brush as it is curved (as it's name suggests.....genius) and application is less clumpy and leaves my lashes long and defined with just the right amount of volume. It also works a treat on my bottom lashes, making them appear longer and thicker. I love the thinness of the wand at the tip too as it makes reaching the smaller lashes in the corner of my eyes so much easier without getting mascara all around! I think for my lashes the standard Scandaleyes provides more volume but the Rockin' Curves gives less clumps and considerably longer lashes. 

Rockin' Curves wand

Scandaleyes wand

My favourite nail colour at the moment is from the Barry M Gelly Shine collection in 'Green Berry'. When applied it comes out as a minty/turquoisey green. It is perfect for summer and makes me look slightly more tanned (anything that makes me seem less pale is always a favourite of mine!). Generally I use two coats to get even coverage but once on it really does shine, it is such a pretty, vibrant colour and is definitely my go-to shade for summer! 

Now onto my favourite part....food! I've been really trying to be healthy recently and so I've cut back on chocolate, cookies etc and turned to Jordans Frusli bars. My favourite is currently the apples & sultanas with a hint of cinnamon (I'm a sucker for anything with cinnamon) but I also love the Juicy Red Berries too! They're just the right size to leave me satisfied but with less guilt than a chocolate bar! 

I've eaten out multiple times at Pizza Express last month and each time I had the Pomodoro Pesto with added chicken. To start with I adore pizza but add pesto, chicken and additional Parmesan and it tastes like heaven in my mouth (I'm not even joking!). The Mozzarella and Tomato salad (with pesto) is also so so delicious, I highly recommend it.

 I also had a meal out for the Rowers Ball where I had Goats Cheese crostini which was delightful and followed that with a huge filo basket with beans and vegetables and a gorgeous salad. To finish was lemon cheesecake but it was a little too much and I couldn't finish it! 

The glorious crostini

Cheesecake!

Even though I said I was cutting back on unhealthy foods I did make my heavenly (if I do say so myself) white chocolate and raspberry brownies. They're always popular when I take them to rowing events so naturally I made them (four tins to be exact) for National Schools and they went down a treat. I may do a blog  post on how to make them (if I'm feeling kind and want to share my secrets). 

Don't they look delightful!

Music wise I recently discovered Fred V & Graphics- Major Happy and it has been my go-to song if I've been feeling down as it instantly lifts my mood (hence the name) and it's also perfect for when I workout. Another favourite of mine this month has been Take Me Home by Cash Cash ft Bebe Rexha, like Major Happy it really cheers me up and I have a feeling it will feature heavily on my summer playlist! I'm being 100% serious when I say I had it on repeat for three days solid. THREE DAYS. 

Sam Smith has been one of my favourite artists for a while now and I have fallen in love with 'Make It To Me'. His voice resembles what I can only imagine an heaven might sound like. And of course One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer have been in my top plays this month, not only because I love them both dearly but because I'm going to the Where We Are tour on Saturday (a blog post will definitely follow). 

Due to exams and revision I haven't had a chance to watch a great deal of TV but of course I've been watching Made in Chelsea on catch-up when I've had time. Tyger-Drew Honey's new series about teenage life has been so interesting as it's nice to see things from a male perspective. Often I feel I get wrapped up in how difficult it is being a teenage girl in today's society but I realise it is also challenging to be a boy too (although I think girls still have it harder... No bias there I promise!).

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I loved during May, I'd love to know what you've been loving this past month so let me know in the comments and feel follow me, would be much appreciated and I'll definitely follow back!

Much Love

Charlotte

xo