A Sephora Haul

- All links in this post are affiliate links. Head to my disclaimer for more information -

Whenever I go away anywhere that has a Sephora I always have to pop in to have a browse. In Prague there were a couple of stores, but I only picked up a few things that I've had my eye on my a while as I was trying to be good. 

The Sephora Sheet Masks are always a must for me as I love them so much and I never feel like I buy enough of them. I picked up the Algae offering which helps to detox and purify the skin, whilst the Coconut one nourishes and soothes - something my skin is in dire need of after our trip. 

For the first time, I also picked up the Shea Lip Mask which I used whilst away as my lips had got really sore when the cold weather. It did the job perfectly, making my lips feel much softer after just one use. On the sore lip topic, I also spontaneously picked up one of their Super Nourishing Lip Balm as I didn't bring one with me and although I felt like the price was pretty steep for what it was, it has helped them a lot! 

I've been after the Dr Jart+ Shake and Shot Rubber Hydro Mask for some time now and as it was just there, I thought why not. I've already used this and I can safely say that I'll be buying more when I next have a big event to go to or if my skin needs extra TLC. It's super fun to mix together, yet easy too. You simply mix the two sachets together in the pot you're giving and then you shake it until fully mixed, the mixture goes thick and you have a couple of minutes to put it on your face. Over the next twenty minutes it starts to solidify until you can peel it off. It made my complexion look a lot smoother and feel softer too - I think I'll be trying out their Soothing Face Mask option next. 

Lastly, I picked up the IGK Beach Club Texturising Spray which is a brand I absolutely adore and as it was by the til I was just sucked in to buying it. I need to give it a proper testing, but so far so good and I'm happy it's in a handy travel sized can making it easy to carry around for top ups. 

What do you think of my Sephora haul? 

Our City Break To Prague + My Top Tips

Last week we jetted off to snowy Prague for a city break for four days and had the best time. I knew as soon as I looked at the terracotta hued roofs and colourful buildings that I had to do a blog post full of my adventures and top tips on visiting the city. 

On the first day we arrived at around 12pm after the easiest flight and getting out the airport super fast. We didn't want to faff around too much with public transport after our 5am start, so we decided on getting a taxi straight to our hotel. After checking in, leaving our luggage in the hotel, we decided to make the most of the day we had left. We went straight to the Old Square where you'll find a lot of extraordinary buildings including the Astronomical Clock which does a cute routine every time the hour strikes.

We then headed to the Charles Bridge via the Good Food Bakery which does the best Trdelnik in my opinion even thought there's stalls everywhere that does them (the plain chocolate in amazing from those). After exploring the little streets eating our pastries, we headed over the bridge which was very cold! We wanted to get a view of the city from a different angle so we headed up the Powder Tower which had a lot of stairs before we made it to the top. It was amazing to see the tops of the houses and see the gorgeous sunset - it was worth every penny and we knew we wanted to head up a few more of these towers during our stay. 

After an afternoon walking around, eating our way round and seeing the sights, we headed out for our evening meal. As a fussy eater who happens to be a vegetarian, I wasn't expecting there to be much on the menus, but we were quite disappointed with the lack of choice. If we were staying for a shorter period of time, I think we wouldn't noticed it being an issue, but we did tend to sway more towards the pizza, pasta and burger restaurants. 

On the first night, we wanted to do something before heading back to our hotel, so we spotted the Sex Machines Museum which we heard a little bit about, but it exceeded expectations. If you want a chuckle it's definitely worth a visit - you'll be sending pictures to your mates in no time. 

After spotting the Prague Castle on our drive in to the city (it's hard to miss it on the top of the hill), we knew that's where we wanted to head to the other side of the river on our second day. St Vitus Cathedral was extraordinary to see and I'd recommend not paying any money to visit any of the extras on the castle tour as it's just as good without. We went up the tower again and this time the stairs were three times longer than any we went up before, but was worth every step. The view was amazing and you got to see the buildings at angles you wouldn't usually see. 

Although there's trams everywhere and the metro system, we chose to walk instead as it was down the little side streets that you find the best gems. Kampa Island was one of these places I'd heard about, but randomly stumbled upon when walking around. It's multicoloured houses make for the perfect photography opportunities. 

Prague has lots of museums to visit, so it's worth a Google to see which ones you have the most interest in. I would recommend leaving most of the museums and shopping to the evening as they're all open quite late which means you have more time to explore the tourist attractions during the day. 

On the third day, we went to explore all the places we hadn't been to yet including the Lennon Wall which was amazing alas very busy. Our third day was on the Friday, so it started to get a lot busier as the crowds hen and stag parties arrived. It didn't get very busy until the Saturday that we were due to leave, so that's something to note if you prefer quieter city breaks with less crowds. We explored the Lesser Town a lot more and of course I made a trip to Sephora to pick up a few bits I had my eye on. 

Overall, the trip was amazing and well worth a visit. The history on the city is amazing and I felt like it was a well rounded trip of exploring, learning new things as well as having a cocktail or two to relax as well. It's well worth making a list of places you want to go and marking them on a map if you're going to be walking your way around as this will make it easier to tick them all off. I would recommend looking up a lot more as all the buildings have amazing architecture and don't be afraid to wander away from the crowds. 

- A Few More Things To Note -

We booked the trip just before Christmas after finding a good deal online for just over £140 per person for a five star hotel and flights included. All we needed was spending money after that and we both took £200 for the four nights which was enough. Although I've heard the city is cheap, we didn't find it to be so. The beer was reasonably priced and so was the food, sitting much cheaper than London prices, but would probably be equal to how much money you spend on eating on in your own town. 

As for changing up money, we did this before we went, something we later regretted as they offered a better deal in the city. You can use card pretty much everywhere too which makes it super easy if you want to make a few other purchases outside of food and drink.

If you want to make your trip cheaper then I'd say make sure you stay away from the centre when eating out and avoid the stalls selling food as they're more highly priced. Instead, opt for a supermarket to make up your lunches.  

Have you been to Prague before? Where's next on your travel list? 

Favourite Winter Face Masks

- This post is in collaboration with SBC Gels, but all thoughts are my own - 

Face masks are my favourite part of my skincare routine, they make my skin feel softer, look clearer and help how smooth my makeup goes on too. Today, I thought I'd share with you some of my go-to's for Winter season. 

The SBC 3 Piece Mask Wardrobe has been one of my go-to's recently as I like to use the three to tackle different problem areas on my skin. The witch hazel and zinc offering helps to clear the skin as the salicylic acid gets to work on any blemishes I have. The reason why I love this mask so much is because it's similar to a clay based offering, but it's super gentle, so it doesn't irritate nor dry out my skin. Initially I thought the cucumber hydrating gel mask was my favourite out the bunch, but it's so hard to choose. This one feels super soothing on the skin, keeps my complexion feeling nourished and looking extremely glowy too. If I want a good allrounder that does it all then I reach for the collagen radiance mask as in ten minutes this clay pick helps to tone, hydrate and reduce the appearance of lines too. For £23.50 for the three, you do really get an amazing deal as they work so wonderfully on my skin! You can buy them from QVC now. 

When I want to really want something to get to work on the dry patches on my skin I go for the Drunk Elephant Babyfacial which unfortunately still isn't available in the UK, but it's AHA/BHA ingredients resurfaces the skin and improves it's overall texture. I follow this up with something that will quench the skin like the Glossier Moon Mask as it makes my skin look radiant. Whenever my complexion looks a little lacklustre, I always use this to plump it back up again which is a regular occurrence at this time of the year. 

Another option is the Fresh Rose Face Mask, a mask that I have now had multiple tubs of. It's a lightweight formula that can get to work in just five minutes and it smells divine. It's soothing, refreshing and visibly changes the way my skin looks too. 

What are your favourite face masks? 

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Is The Sam McKnight Cool Girl Mist Worth The Hype?

Ahhh, Instagrammable haircare - the bane of my bank account. I just can't help, but gaze at the dreamy pink packaging and the clearly picked typography... and wonder if the products stand up to the hype. When I purchased the Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Mist I was expecting fireworks and life changing results, but did it do just that? 

The answer is no, well sort of. The results certainly weren't what I built them up to be in my head, but it did help with the dreaded flyaway hair that follows after washing my locks and helped to add a little va-va-voom. The problem I have with it is with my seven day wash circle, it only really did something two of those days at the beginning and the other five when my hair no longer felt as soft and unmanageable, I just didn't see a difference. 

This doesn't mean I wouldn't repurchase it though, I think I would go for the smaller can next time as I don't think I'll make my way through it any time soon. It definitely means that I can throw my hair up into a bun without it falling out ten minutes later due to my locks feeling too soft which is great and it doesn't leave any residue in my hair either meaning I don't feel like I need a good ol' shampoo a few days too early. 

I simply tip my hair forward and spray towards the roots, scrunching my hair up as I go for a tousled look. I would rather use a salt spray or something that adds more texture throughout the week, so will stick to using this just after wash day. I think if you're looking to give it a try to see what it's like for yourself then I'd say yes, but if you're not into adding any extra haircare into your routine then I'd recommend giving it a miss. 

Have you tried the Sam McKnight Cool Girl Spray? 

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Travel Skincare and Makeup Bag

I'm off to Prague for a few nights and I have the task of packing all my skincare and makeup into two small bags. I'm not the best when it comes to packing light, not forgetting anything and making sure nothing leaks, but I'm giving it my best. 

I like to make sure I take any miniature shampoos I have laying around or refill the empty bottles at least as I don't wash my hair more than twice whilst we're away so there's no need to pack that unnecessary weight. The same goes for shower gel and this isn't just because of the extra room it'll take up, but you run more of a risk of it going all over your toiletries. 

As for skincare, I like to keep things to a minimum as much as I can, opting for a travel sized eye makeup remover, a smaller cleanser and a moisturiser too. I don't like anything too fancy when I'm away and as Prague is currently in the minus degrees, I don't know how my skin is going to be. I like to make sure everything is moisturising and I have a lip balm to hand too. 

Makeup is where it gets a little trickier as I don't want to bring makeup that I'd be devastated if it got broken, but equally I know I'll miss some items if I go without. I tend to go for a foundation (with a secure lid!), a concealer, a liquid eyeliner, mascara and a brow pencil as my basics maybe throwing in a nude lipstick for good measure. This time though I'm also going to bring the Hourglass palette as it's got everything you need it one place so I don't need to take separate bronzer, blusher and powder compacts with me. 

What are your top tips on packing light(er)? 

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Valentine's Day Fragrance Gift Guide

- This post is in collaboration with Fragrance Direct, but all thoughts are my own - 

Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day, whatever you chose to celebrate, is a great excuse to buy yourself or a loved one a new perfume to try, but it can be hard if you're not sure what to go for. Fragrance Direct continues to save the day when it comes to purchasing fragrances at great prices. 

When it comes to buying perfume I think it's always good to stick the classics if you're unsure and the Paco Rabanne Lady Million is the perfect pick for many. There's great savings on every size, but it's the 50ml gift set thats a great find with a £34.55 save on it. The scent itself is familiar and comforting, yet it's still fresh on the skin. Another classic that I think would be a great option is the Chloe Signature, a floral fragrance that I've been wearing since October. It's rose, peony and freesia notes make the scent unique, yet subtle on the skin. 

An iconic scent that's worth looking at is the Thierry Mugler Alien EDP which I've owned since I was a teenager and honestly it remains one of my all time favourites up until this day. It's super long lasting when worn, perfect for Valentine's Day and the warming notes are very fitting for this time of the year. 

A newer addition to my perfume collection and one that I think would be a great fit for a girlfriend is the Elie Saab Girl Of Now Shine EDP which orange blossom, patchouli and almond scent makes my heart sing. It's gold casing makes it feel ultra special and would make the perfect gift for a loved one. 

Moving onto men now and just like the women's perfume, I always say go classic if you're unsure what to go for. The Paco Rabanne 1 Million Gift Set is my top pick as it's reasonably priced and the iconic scent is a favourite for a reason. Another one I love is the Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Homme which is super dreamy when worn and love how fresh it smells too. I would recommend it to anybody looking to sway from the usual fragrances. 

What are your top fragrances to gift this Valentine's Day? 

- All links in this post are affiliate links. - 

A Homeware Wishlist

Homeware is my weakness at the moment as I've been meaning to switch up my bedroom, office and living room for some time now. Adding little accessories to help compliment the room is one of my favourite things to do, but there's a big purchase I want to make this (that I talk about later in this post). If you want to be enabled then read on! 

Chickidee is a new found favourite of mine and I discovered it through ASOS. Their homeware is reasonably priced and their Knot Cushion would look great on my sofa. Their Hanging Macrame Wall Decoration is one that I'm looking at picking up as it'll compliment the colours in my print wall perfectly and fit into a space there too. 

There's quite a few other homeware places that I love, but I never knew that River Island did interior pieces. This Embroidered Tassel Cushion is perfect for my home and I'm looking to pick it up alongside this Cream Chevron Stool. I haven't bought anything from them before, so I don't know what the quality is like, but all of them look great. 

Marks and Spencer is very underrated and although I'm trying to stay away from any trinkets, this Gold Hexagon Box is calling my name. This Iris Dobby Spotted Bedding is a set that every blogger seems to own and I'm trying to resist, but it is hard as this set is so up my street. 

Onto a big item now, but I'm currently on a new sofa search. We've had the one we've got since we first moved in to our first flat, but I think it's looking a little too shabby and is no longer to be taste. The John Lewis Arlo 3 Seater Sofa which is the kind of shape that I want to go for, but the 

What are you currently lusting after? 

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Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector Review

It dawned on my a few weeks back when I was running my hands through my rather dehydrated locks that that it's been eleven years since I started dying my hair and pretty much the same time since I started using heat on it too. I've used shampoo, conditioner and hair masks over the years that definitely help with the overall condition of my hair, but I decided it was about time I really invested in my locks starting with trying out the very well rated Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector. 

I've used it a few times now, so I thought I would give you the run down on whether I like it, whether I would repurchase and the effects I've seen on my hair so far. From the first use, I knew that I wanted to leave it on as long as I could and in the end I smothered it all over, tied it up and left it to do it's magic for around 5-6 hours. When it came to washing it out, I initially shampooed and then thought I would need to condition my hair. Once dry, I knew I had to give my hair another wash as it felt slightly greasy, yet super dehydrated at the same time. After rectifying this situation with the use of my favourite hair conditioner, my locks instantly felt so smooth, soft and easily manageable - the difference the one step made was one I wasn't going to forget again! 

I've got medium length hair which isn't very thick either, so this bottle has lasted me three applications so far no problem. It was one of the issues I thought I'd have because I'm bordering on needing two boxes when I dye my hair and I wanted to make sure you get your moneys worth out of Olaplex before recommending. I think I'll get another four or five applications before I run out depending on how much I decide to coat my hair. 

Overall, I've been really enjoying using Olaplex and would definitely repurchase it. It does take a little getting used to adding it to your routine and making time for it, but even if you leave it on whilst you watch TV at night or even for half an hour whilst you get ready in the morning - it'll all start to make a difference to the way your hair feels. I found that my locks look less dehydrated between washes and this has just continued to get better with each Olaplex use. I'm looking forward to seeing how well my next hair dye (which is due!) is going to take and whether or not it looks better. 

Have you used Olaplex? What did you think? 

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A Sunday Riley Duo

- This post is in collaboration with Cult Beauty - 

I've been meaning to try out Sunday Riley products for some time now, but never got around to it as my skincare pile was always full to the brim. Now that it has dwindled, I've got two of their products to try out and I wanted to give you my thoughts on them today. Cult Beauty's brand of the month is Sunday Riley, which means that they're offering free worldwide delivery on Sunday Riley orders. 

The Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil* is exactly what my routine needed as it delivers a great deal of hydration, whilst making my complexion look less lacklustre. It's a dry oil which means it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy, so if my skin is feeling particularly dehydrated, I can use it underneath my makeup. I'm looking forward to how it reacts over the next couple of months because I've already seen an improvement in the texture of my skin over the few weeks I've been using it. 

I had a trial sized pot of the Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream* and fell in love with it pretty much after a couple of uses. Then, a few weeks after I got sent the full sized version and I'm very happy to say the least. It's a nourishing moisturiser that I have been using day and night at the moment to replenish my skin. It goes on super smooth, feels ultra lightweight and cooling - perfect for if you're feeling sensitive and inflamed. 

What are your favourite Sunday Riley products? 

- If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. All links are affiliate links. - 

Winter Wardrobe Wishlist

- All links in this post are affiliate links - 

Winter is always a weird time for my wardrobe as I don't particularly like splashing out on coats and jackets, I'm super fussy with jumpers and I tend to spend the whole time longing for Spring outfits instead. I invested in a new coat after a fair few years without one that was substantial in terms of keeping my dry and ever since I've been longing pairing it with a variety of outfits and getting experimental again. Today, I have put together a few of my favourite picks from my Winter wishlist to share with you. 

I'm trying to keep my boot collection to a minimum, so I tend to switch between a heeled pair I got about 6 years old, a black short pair that are quite old now too and a newer leopard print offering that I use to jazz up all black outfits. The Topshop Brooklyn Crocodile Effect Boots are such a gorgeous colour though that I'm debating whether or not I'll get enough wear out of them before Spring arrives. I'm currently eyeing up these ASOS Bow Shoes as they look like they'd be great to pair up once the weather starts to get slightly warmer (one can wish ay?). 

Adding a pop of colour to my wardrobe is what I'm trying to do at the moment whether it's a new skirt like this Missguided one or this Aldo Circle Bag which would look great with a this Prettylittlething Leopard Print Midi Skirt and jumper tucked in. 

What's on your Winter wardrobe wishlist? 

Winter Skincare Routine

It's been a little while now since I switched up my skincare routine, but as I've been rather poorly recently and my skin needed some extra TLC, I thought these past few weeks would be the perfect time to make my way through my to-try list and rediscover some old favourites. Here are my top Winter skincare picks: 

First up is my cleansers, starting with the offerings that I reach for when I need to take off my makeup quickly. The Alpha- H Cleansing Balm* is one that I've sadly just ran out of, but I enjoyed every ounce of it. It removes your makeup easily, whilst feeling nourishing along the way too. If I've got harder to remove eye makeup on then I go for the Charlotte Tilbury Take It All Off* which I got from their advent calendar - it removes like no other and I'm very impressed. 

When it comes to my second cleanse, I either go for an exfoliating offering with the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate* which makes my skin feel super soft or the Clinique City Block Purifying Cleanser* which helps to make my complexion feel a lot cleaner. 

If I go with an acid based cleanser then I always skip this next step and go with a hydrating toner instead, but the Pixi Glow Tonic* is a firm favourite in my skincare routine even more so at this time of the year when my skin feels more dehydrated. It helps to get rid of dry patches and perk up my complexion too - I cannot fault it! 

For moisturiser, I've been using one that I got towards the end of November/start of December in an advent calendar and I've now got the full sized version for an upcoming blog post I have coming up. It's the Sunday Riley Tidal Cream* which I've got to admit I wasn't expecting to love as much as I do, but it's a great all rounder that can easily be used underneath makeup or at night too. If used at night, I tend to layer it up with the Sunday Riley Juno Oil* which is another one that I'm testing out and so far I love it! 

At this time of the year, I really rely on face masks and I have so many that I love that I'm going to be dedicating a full blog post to them all soon. One that you always hear me talking about is the Fresh Rose Face Mask*, a long time favourite of mine which helps my lacklustre skin look brighter, smoother and softer. 

What are your favourite Winter skincare products? 

- This post contains affiliate links. If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. - 

Five Programmes To Watch On TV Now

Despite starting the year off with a chesty cough and the flu, I did manage to make my way through lots of TV shows. I failed to get into Brooklyn 99 and I've had a few other switch offs too, but on the whole it's already been a great year for TV show discoveries and I wanted to share with you my top picks today. 

Derry Girls | Set in the 90's in Northern Island, I found this programme on the whim whilst looking for new funny finds to put on whilst I work. It follows the lives of four girls and it's a light watch if you want something to make you giggle. The only downside to this programme is the fact there's only one season and at under half an hour an episode, you make your way through it very quickly. 

Sex Education | One of the best ways I've seen Sex Education described is that it's a mix between Skins and End Of The F*cking World with High School Musical outfits. Despite the odd American/British mash up, 70's houses and 90's outfits, I really enjoyed this programme and can't wait for the second series (fingers crossed there is one). 

You | We ended up binge watching You on Netflix in two nights. It was so gripping and I would recommend it if you don't fancy something funny like my other two picks, but want something that you'll really get in to. 

Netflix Bandersnatch | If there's anything Netflix related released, I'll always be the first one there. I know Bandersnatch received some mixed reviews, but I thought the interactive element to it made it very unique. We were watching the programme for a good few hours and even now I'm not sure if we got to watch all the outcomes. 

Luther | Season five of Luther prompted us to re-watch all the older series whilst we were poorly a few weeks back and I'm so glad we did as it was so good. I would say that the last two seasons aren't as good as the first three, but they're worth a watch nevertheless. An honourable mention has to made to another TV show which was Hidden, a BBC welsh police drama (also known as Craith) which follows the story of a girl who has been kidnapped - a great pick if you like the likes of Thirteen and Luther. 

What programmes would you recommend to watch? 

Winter Beauty Favourites

With Christmas out the way, my main focus has been on getting my skin back to feeling and looking in tip top condition. Despite being poorly for all of January so far, it's held up quite well, but the constant blowing of my nose has caused a few dry patches and my complexion is looking a little lacklustre. I wanted to share with you a few of my Winter beauty favourites, the products I've been using a lot over the past month or so and ones that I will continue to use until Spring arrives. 

I've been using the miniature Sol De Janeiro products that I treated myself a lot recently, both of which I want to repurchase the full sized versions of too. The Brazilian 4-Play Shower Gel is one I've been using sparingly, but when paired with the complimenting Bum Bum Cream my skin smells good enough to eat and feels incredibly nourished too. 

Moving onto the skincare and I've not switched up much except for my moisturiser. I got a trial size pot of the Sunday Riley Tidal Cream* and loved it so much that I'm super happy to own a full sized now (full blog post coming soon!), but it's actually the Alpha H Cleansing Balm* that I've been super impressed with. It delivers great cleansing abilities, whilst leaving the skin feeling hydrated too. I follow up with a second cleanse of the Clinique City Block Purifying Gel* then a few swipes of the Pixi Glow Tonic* to keep my skin feel soft and looking clear. 

The festive period really made me fall back in love with some of my Charlotte Tilbury favourites including the Beauty Light Wand, a liquid highlighter that sits on the skin beautifully and illuminates my complexion. The Hourglass Ambient Light Unlocked Palette had to make it into this round up even though it's much harder to get your hands on it right now. It's made up of six powders that mattify, bronze and highlight your face and it's practically all I've been using on a day to day basis since I got it. 

I discovered the Nars Climax Mascara back in October and have been using it ever since. It's nearly come to the end of the tube and I'm currently deliberating whether or not to get another one as I loved it so much. I'm not usually loyal to my mascaras and I like to switch them up whenever I can, but this one makes my lashes look fuller and longer, all whilst lasting for a good time too. 

Even though the weather outside may be on the dull side, I like to keep my perfumes fresh to help perk up my day. The Diptyque Philosykos has been well worn over the last few months - it'll continue to be a favourite in the Spring no doubt too. 

What are your Winter beauty favourites?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. Every link in this post is an affiliate link. 

3 Ways I'm Tackling The New Year Lull

I actually find January a calming time of the year; a fresh start after a rather hectic twelve months and a time when I haven't got endless Christmas parties and events to attend. Saying this, my 2018 hasn't got off to the best start as I've been battling the flu and a chesty cough since the New Year and I'm yet to shake it off. I wanted to share with you a handful of different things I want to do to get my month back on track and start to feel like myself again. 

Find A Routine | I never knew what day it was over the festive period and I struggled pretty much up to the weekend too - Is it a Sunday or is a Tuesday? Who knows! When I'm out of routine, my sleep suffers and so does my motivation, meaning I can end up not doing a lot of work and rather wasting my days. I want to give myself a little routine for the rest of the month or at least until we go away, just to ensure that I wake up at a similar time everyday, exercise a few times a week and get back my usual habits of simple things like ordering the weekly shop online. 

Not Being Too Hard On Myself | I think it's easy to expect so much of January and if you're anything like me, the thought of having to be uber-productive after the Christmas break will bring you out in a cold sweat. I like to ease myself back in gently, not having to tackle my whole email inbox in one sitting and maybe giving myself a break or two during the day - starting the year as I mean to go on and all that.  

Start Exercising Again | I find getting outside, getting some fresh air and spinning my legs for a couple of hours a few times a week really is a great way for me to feel better. After a two week hiatus from running, cycling and exercise classes, I think my lungs are getting better now and after testing this statement out for two hours on Sunday, I'm very happy to be back in the saddle (quite literally). I know it's a simple statement to make come January and is nothing groundbreaking, but it's a nice reminder for me. 

Other ways I'm tackling the January lull: 

- Find my love for reading again. Picking a book I can't put down!
- Binge watching my favourite TV series. 
- Starting a fresh notebook - nothing feels better. 
- Finding new homeware to refresh my living space. 
- Organising my monthly diaries briefly, so nothing feels too overwhelming. 

What ways do you like to tackle the January blues? 

A New Year Beauty Haul

The New Year didn't bring me the motivation I had hoped for, but instead it made me have the urge to treat myself to some new beauty pieces. I've been feeling under the weather recently with the flu and a chesty cough, so having a Cult Beauty voucher was the perfect excuse to spend and pick up a few pieces that I've wanted to try for a while. 

Haircare was something I wanted to focus on, as I've used up a few of my favourites at the end of last year during the party season. I'm still on the hunt for a sculp scrub or mask - I'm currently eyeing up the Bumble and Bumble Scalp Detox and the IGK First Class is on my to-buy list too. 

Wishlist addition aside, what I actually picked up was Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector, a product I've been meaning to try for a while as I've heard its great at restoring dyed hair and making it good as new. I've already tried it once and my hair has honestly never felt better, so I can't wait to continue use and see what it's results are in a few weeks time. I would say that if you're planning on using it though don't skip on conditioner, as the feel and look aren't as good without it. I'm thinking of doing a full review on it soon. 

Another product I've lusted after is the Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Spray which drew me in because of the aesthetics lets face it. It promises to had texture to your hair for easy, tousled looking locks and I'm super looking forward to giving it a whirl. 

Last up in the hair department is the Davines The Purity Circle which was an on the whim purchase at the last minute. I thought it'd be good for rejuvenating and clarifying my tresses post-Christmas after neglecting my hair over the last few weeks. 

Moving on to a repurchase of mine which is the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation that I picked up in a different shade than I usually go for, but I'm unsure if it's too much on the orange side for me. It's one of my favourite foundations in terms of formula as it sits beautifully on my skin and looks flawless too. 

Then I picked up the Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner in the shade Incognito. It's the perfect colour for my lips as they make them appear fuller and more defined. The lip liner itself is a lot chunkier than I thought I'd be and the lip brush on one of the ends isn't very useful when it's a lighter shade, although I think if you were opting for a red then you could use it to apply a complimenting lipstick. 

Have you picked anything up recently? 

- All links in this post are affiliate links - 

2019 Goals + January To-Do List

I know this post is a few days late, but it's better late than never. I wanted to share with you my 2019 goals and what I've got on my to-do list for January too. I feel like last year just whizzed by, so I'm determined to tick off more from my list over the next twelve months. 

Make The Most Of Working From Home | I think I'll probably do a blog post on this in more depth in the upcoming months, but as someone who has worked for themselves for a while now, I still haven't worked out a good day-to-day routine. I often get guilt surrounding taking time off for holidays and illnesses, but this year I want it to be different. I work hard every day, so I want to make sure I take time off to reflect this. 

Travel More | Ahhh, the goal on everybody's list. I've got a trip to Prague planned for the end of January and I've been eyeing up Wroclaw and Budapest too. These are just two of the places on my list for 2019, but I'm hoping to fit in a couple of weekends away to either cities I want to go back to, have always wanted to visit and even ones in the UK too. I've got a week long trip to Scotland booked for June too where we'll be cycling and I'm already looking forward to it! 

Reach 10k | When revisiting my old goals from last year, one of them was to reach 10k on two platforms and although I did that on Twitter (yay!), I'm still yet to get to it on Instagram. Instagram is general is something that I want to continue playing around with in the New Year, exploring more ways to shoot fashion content and generally making it more of an extension to my blog. 

Do Three Things I've Always Wanted To Do | This is something that's quite vague and even I'm not sure what this will entail yet. From taking up snowboarding again (I did it for 5 years and then stopped!), getting another ear piercing or even just saying yes to going on that friend date, I want to make sure I do three things this year that I've wanted to do for a while. 

I think I've spoken enough about my 2019 goals now, so I wanted to share with you just a quick run down of what's on my January to-do list. 

- Plan what we're going to do in Prague. We go at the end of the month and I wanted to make sure I have a bit of a plan to follow. Recommendations welcome! 

- Finish the books I was reading in 2018. I want to get back into reading, but I've still got half of two books I'm yet to finish. 

- Get back into work. I took two weeks off over the Christmas period and honestly it was amazing, but I'm ready to start getting creative again. 

What are your goals for 2019?