Muji Makeup Storage Declutter

- If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample, but was sent under no obligation to review. All links in this post are affiliate links. -

Back in 2015, Muji storage was all the rage, every blogger had them to store away their makeup and although times have moved on, I still think they're pretty efficient ways of arranging your beauty products. That being said, I definitely haven't utilised the space as much as I should have, so after a declutter of my beauty storage in general, I decided to give my muji drawers a Spring clean too and I thought I'd share the overhaul with you. 

The first drawer is dedicated to my lipsticks that I've collected the most of, starting with Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick. You've probably seen my talk about these time and time again (I've done a full Charlotte Tilbury round up!), but I knew that I wanted to make sure they sat pride of place in my collection. Having them in the top drawer at the front really makes them stand out and as I reach for them on a regular basis, I now have them all in easy reach. We have the classics like Pillow Talk* as well as a limited edition Dance Floor Princess* which are both gorgeous pink shades that can be worn on a daily basis. 

Although I don't wear MAC lipsticks anymore, I've been collecting them for as long as I can remember and I feel quite nostalgic about some of the lipstick shades I decided to keep. As half of these probably aren't safe to use, I just wanted somewhere that I could keep them all as I don't want to get rid of them and I thought at the back would be the perfect place. 

Still on the top drawer, we have the Clinique Pop Lip Colours which probably serious throwback lipsticks if you've been reading blog posts for a fair few years. They've since come out with a lot of different variations including a matte offering, but I still think the originals are my favourite. If you're looking for a comfortable everyday lip product however, then the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments* are my go-to. I've had quite a handful of shades over the years, but these are the ones I've still got left that I haven't used up - definitely give them a go as they're dreamy and delicious! 

Onto the second drawer down now and in here I decided to store my Hourglass collection and although a couple of pieces are missing that I need to track down, I have everything from my limited edition palette from a couple of Christmas' ago as well as my Hourglass Ambient Light Blusher* that is one of my favourite formulas ever. 

In the third drawer, I have another layer dedicated to lipsticks. This time it's got my NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, Pixi Liquid Lipsticks* and a few Clarins Lip Perfectors*. I don't tend to reach for these much anymore, so I'm hoping that having them in easy to reach storage will make me wear them more often. In the back of this drawer I have the Nars Orgasm Blusher* and Laguna Bronzer* which are two of my favourites, so I thought they'd be safer stored away rather than floating around in my makeup bag. 

In the final drawer, I have temporary stored my Nudestix collection as everything I own from this brand fits snuggly and gives them a home without cluttering my other beauty drawers. The products come in tins which I tend to keep them in just because I feel like throwing them out is wasteful. 

On the top, I decided to slim down what perfumes I put on top. My fragrance collection has got a little out of control, so I have a separate place to store them all, but wanted a couple of my favourites on top of the Muji storage nevertheless. We have the Diptyque perfumes that I've started to collect since my 21st birthday and my Marc Jacobs fragrances as they're just too beautiful to hide away! 

Have you had Muji drawers? How do you use them? 

Tips and Ideas For Creating Content At Home

After spotting a similar post written on With Love Yossy's blog post (who you should totally check out!), I thought I would do my own version as I've been creating content at home for the last couple of weeks and I know a lot of you who follow me may be doing the same and looking for some tips. If you want to see these photos in action, then don't forget to follow me on my Instagram as I'm currently uploading daily. Here are a handful of ideas that you can use as inspiration whilst we're all staying at home: 

Nails |  I'm not the best as sharing my #nailfie as I never think my manicures are particularly inspiring, but after posting them on my Instagram a few times recently, I realised that people love them no matter what! I take a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest where there's at-home art that you can try as well as ombre nails, heart tips and even just the simple gold shimmer on the ring finger nail. 

Recipe Posts | Although this isn't something I'd usually share on my Instagram, I've been loving creating food for my Insta stories as well as sharing the recipes on my blog too. I've had fun playing around with food photography and have had a great response to my indulgent brownies and easy cheese straws that I posted last week. 

Netflix Recommendations | Sharing your TV show or film recommendations can sometimes be a blog post to overlook, but I know that I love to read about what people have been watching to give myself new ideas. Share a cute snap of your Netflix space at home on your Instagram with a concise line up or just for a full round up on your blog instead!

Share Your OOTD | I think that one of the positive to take from this recent situation is that a lot of us will be sharing on the spot content and more close to reality outfit of the days. From loungewear to pyjamas, floaty culottes to a Spring dress, share the fashion content you usually would, but have a play around with angles and corners of your home. For me, I've loved doing headless shots (like above!) of my outfits as it's the content I love to see on my Instagram feed, but I've never really got creative at creating them for myself. Up close shots of jewellery, hair accessories and belts always go down a treat too!  Why not share them on your blog if you have one? 

Selfies | Theres' nothing wrong with a selfie and it's a great way to share your daily makeup and any new looks that you've been experimenting with. Play around with hair scarves, add a red lip or put in your pearl hair clips to jazz up your selfie at the same time. 

Although I'm cheating a little with this one, you don't have to just stick with selfies of your face, why not share what you're wearing on your feet or a photo of favourite hat from behind - would that be considered a hatfie? 

A Snap of Your Bed | Although 90% of the content you see from your favourite Instagrammers is more than lightly to be curated, I can't help but love when people share photos of their perfectly unmade beds that look like you can jump right in. Add a couple of candles, fairy lights and whatever you're currently watching on Disney+ and you've got yourself a very Instagrammable photo - don't forget to share it on Pinterest too! 

Cosy At-Home Shots | I'm a self-confessed lover of all things cosy, so of course I had to share one of the best categories on Instagram. I think being inside all day has made me play around with this a little more as I shared a snap from my bath the other week and it received lots of great comments, so I think it's safe to say you loved it. All I did was share a real-time photo of my bubble bath with candles scattered around and a book in hand. 

Other ideas for similar photos could be, a favourite corner of your house with books piled high, a trialling house plant in the corner and candle burning in the background - sometimes I think the simpler they are, the more I'm inclined to like and engage with the content. On top of this, I would recommend playing around with what you have lying around, maybe it'll inspire you to give your space a little bit of a rearrange, using any mirrors, blankets or prints you may have. I personally want to make use of my record player more and I think mug in hand shots give the cosiest feel for a Sunday photo! 

Beauty Flatlays | This is definitely one I mostly save for my blog as I've been trying to keep up to date with my beauty content over on here. Creating flatlays always gives me such joy as I rearrange the products and pick the best props to make them pop! Why not share your skincare routine, current makeup or the products you've recently use it. Get creative, use sunlight if you can and have a play around with your camera settings to get some super unique and interesting looking photos. 

Just Add Flowers | I love adding flowers to the corner of my flatlays, but I think they are always welcome in my interior photographs as well as looking beautiful if I take a quick shot of a blossom tree on my walks. This is probably one best saved for peony season as they never fail to spruce up a photograph when you've got a bunch in your hand or hung delicately over your shoulder. 

Share Your Space | You've probably seen my fireplace, book shelves and bedroom mirror time and time again, but it was only recently that I realised I barely ever show my kitchen, let alone my bathroom. It's just a space that I never thought was 'Instagrammable enough', but being at home I've had time to do a little rearranging as well as playing around with different angles to get the right shots. 

Tip Blog Posts | Just like this blog post, why not share your own ideas on how to work best from home, your favourite workout videos or simply how you stay motivated?  You can use cosy shots of your home that you created for Instagram as accompanying photos if you're doing a full round up. Just use your daily life as inspiration and I'm sure you'll have the ideas flowing! 

Don't forget to follow my Instagram if you want to see photographs like the one's I've shared in this blog post! 

Did you find this blog post useful? 

What To Watch On Disney Plus

Disney Plus got released in the UK a few days ago and although I had no intention of getting it, the extra time we've got to stay in paired with a little convincing from those who have it already, I caved! I'm not a die hard Disney fan, so this guide to what to watch is perfect for those who are casual fans and are wondering if it's a streaming service they'd like to invest in. 

Marvel | I'm starting off with one of the main reasons why I got it and that's the Marvel films and series on there. The likes of Avengers End Game and Thor Ragnarok have quickly been consumed, but there's also Agent Carter that I want to delve into over the coming weeks as well. If you're into your superhero's then this will be a great shout as they have almost all the movies from the latest Ant Man, Captain Marvel and Black Panther era. 

The Classics | Of course it goes without saying that they have the classics on there, all of the princess films and animations. From Tangled to Frozen, Snow White to Cinderella, they've got the live action versions too - I can't wait to watch the new Aladdin film in particular. 

Alongside those, there are so Alice in Wonderland, all of the Pirates of The Caribbean and Ice Age's too. I've already watched the second Wreck It Ralph and Zootropolis, but I've got Coco and Inside Out on my to-watch list too. 

Old Throwbacks | I'm not sure why, but when I first read the list of what's on Disney Plus and I saw the likes of Freaky Friday, Cheaper By The Dozen and Hocus Pocus, it made me even more inclined to get, although I could easily get them elsewhere. That being said, there's some serious throwbacks on Disney Plus in terms of old series like Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Lizzy Miguire and That's So Raven if you're in to watching those sorts of things. 

Pixar | I'm actually a huge Pixar fan especially when I was growing up, I loved Toy Story, The Incredibles and A Bug's Life in particular, but new favourites have been Ratatouille and Up. It's nice to have them all to hand and they're serious throwbacks of mine, so no doubt I will devour them all in the next couple of months. 

Star Wars | I'll put my hands up and say I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan, I loved the recent one's, but I only think I've watched the old films once or twice. That being said, I thought it was a category that would interest people. The Mandalorian is one that I've heard a lot about, so I can't wait to watch that, although I'm going to wait until they release a few new episodes before I get started. 

Have you got Disney Plus? What have you been watching? 

An At-Home Self Care Routine

- If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample, but with no obligation to post. All links are affiliate links. -

I feel like now more than ever, it's important to practice self care and treat myself to a routine that will relax and unwind me. In today's post, I will mostly focus on the products I've been using as part of my regime, but I'll be sure to share some of my favourite ways to practice self care at-home in an upcoming post. 

First things first and I like to start off with a steaming hot bath with an abundance of bubbles and dreamy scented candles scattered on the side - with my Spring playlist of course playing in the background. In the bath, that's when I start nourishing my body with the Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil which is perfect when you're shaving your legs or you just want a boost of hydration all over. 

When I step outside the bath, I instantly lather my body up with the L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate* which smells incredible and sinks in super quickly, so you don't have to stand around for too long whilst it hydrates. When I want to treat my pins to something a little extra, I apply the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil* to my shins and over my thighs as it leaves a gorgeous sheen that makes you feel SO good!

With all the hand washing and sanitising going on as of late, I think that a lot of people could do with an intensive hand cream. I've been using the L'Occitane Almond Delicious Hands* as it feels super luxe and you only need a little amount to get your hands feeling in tip top condition again. 

I've already done a transitional skincare routine, so I won't go into too much detail, but I recently dug out my Fresh Deep Rose Moisturiser* and my skin absolutely loves it. I think the change in weather and general stress has got it flaring up with dehydrated patches and blemishes too, so this moisturiser is a great treat for my complexion. I finish it all off with a layer of the Nuxe Reve De Miel* on my lips to keep them nourished especially overnight! 

What's your favourite self care products at the moment? 

Spring Makeup Shake Up

- If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample, but was sent under no obligation to review. All links in this post are affiliate links. -

Wearing makeup might be low down on your list at the moment, but every couple of days I've been making an effort to put on makeup and feel normal. Spring makeup for me is all about cream products and glow-inducing bases that will perk up my transitional skin (that's very temperamental!) and I've had a makeup bag shake up recently that I thought I'd share with you. 

I've been trying to use my NYX Bare With Me Foundation up recently as I'm not relying on products for longevity, but instead I want a glowy base that'll look good on my currently quite dehydrated skin. I haven't really been powdering or adding concealer to my face as I've been keeping simple, so this base offers all that I want, a flawless finish with a natural look. 

I've been relying on cream products as of late and the Milk Makeup Baked Bronzer* is definitely a go-to of mine as it's such a good colour for contouring, but also remains looking natural. At this time of the year I always go back to the Glossier Cloud Paints as they can be mixed together to create different shades and they offer quite the punch when it comes to pigment. If I want I tend to go for something a little more natural, I reach for the Bobbi Brown Rot Rouge Blusher as it's a more wearable tone that will stay put all day.  For a glow on my cheeks, I have been using the Glossier Haloscope which I dug out and I'm so glad I did as it makes my skin look glowy and radiant when the sun hits it! 

On my eyes, I've been keeping it simple, just opting for a slight wash of colour in the form of the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise, but mostly I've been keeping my lids bare with only a couple of layers of mascara. The Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara is my favourite for keeping my lashes looking long and full. 

For my lips. I've been using the Glossier Balm Dot Com again, I'm not sure what it is, but my lips aren't looking the best right now and I find the birthday version is great for adding a little sheen to the lips to make them look healthy. 

What makeup do you wear in Spring? 

The Easiest Cheese Straws Recipe

When I was a child, I use to spend hours in the kitchen with my Nan baking cakes, scones and bread, so being in the kitchen cooking up a storm has always been rather relaxing for me. We used to work from the same recipe book and I've been dreaming of these cheese straws for some time, so after a quick phone call and pulling out this magical book, I managed to get the recipe to share with you today. They're deliciously buttery, but still flakey in all the right ways and the hint of pepper makes them incredibly moorish!

As the book is quite old everything was done in ounces, I had to do a little converting as I grew up baking in grams, but I know most of the internet now goes for cups. If you want to add spice to your straws then be my guest and do so, I think sesame seeds or smoky paprika would be delicious. 

Ingredients (Makes 12) - 

100g Plain Flour 
50g Butter
50g Cheddar Cheese 
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika 
1 Teaspoon Water 

Method - 

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and prep the baking tray with parchment paper. 

Start off by measuring out your flour and putting it into a mixing bowl. Add the butter on top and work the flour and butter together until it resembles a breadcrumbs texture. 

Add the water and seasoning to the mixture and continue to mix. 

Then add your cheddar cheese. The mixture should start to resemble a dough like consistency. 

Dust flour over your worktop and roll out your dough. Cut the dough 1inch wide and 4 inch  long, however you can shape the straws however you want! 

An added step to add a golden brown sheen to your cheese straws would be to add milk or egg to the tops before baking. 

Place in the oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown. After baked, place them immediately on a drying rack and wait to cool. Enjoy! 

Did you enjoy this super easy cheese straw recipe? 

The Best Budget Loungewear Sets

 - All links in this blog post are affiliate links. For more info head to my disclaimer. -

I think it's safe to say I'll be in loungewear and pyjamas for the next few months and although if you asked me last year about my collection of soft clothing, I would tell you that I had an adequate amount  I've come to the conclusion that since owning some of these PJ's some time now, they've lost their comfort what with the array of holes and tears. I immediately went online and I couldn't believe how many dreamy loungewear sets especially on a budget, so I set out to treat myself to a couple of pairs and thought I'd share my favourite finds with you too. 

Nasty Gal is my go-to place and I picked up this Heart Pyjama Short Set as I thought I'd be great for when the weather starts to get warmer and I want something cute to lounge about it. I'm glad to report that the set is super soft and as the t-shirt is slightly cropped, but the shorts are high waisted, I like how it looks like a romper, but without the faff of actually being a romper! 

They also have some gorgeous long trouser sets, which I wouldn't usually go for, but this High Waisted Blush Pink Ribbed Duo looks like it'd go perfect with a cosy evening in, candles and hot chocolate! That being said, I do think this Burgundy Shorts Lounge Set is a high contender for the next piece I treat myself to - the hoodie looks like I could get away with wearing it outside the house too for ultimate comfort. 

ASOS is also another favourite of mine, but I think I've come a little too late as most of my favourites are sold out in my size. I should have snapped up this ASOS Mix and Match Mint Trouser as it looks so comfortable and I love the pastel shade! 

A Cheerful Spring Playlist To Listen To

My current favourite pastime is making playlists on Spotify and after making one back in the Autumn titled 'rainy Sunday' which complimented my long hot baths perfectly, I've been inspired to do the same for the new season as well. These songs for Spring are great for listening whilst pottering around the house, in the background whilst you're reading a book or just chilling with a glass of wine. 

It's giving me flashbacks to adding playlists to your Tumblr page and giving yourself a fright every time you load your soft grunge theme with a complimentary pale rose background and have The Neighbourhood blaring out at you because you forgot that auto-play was on. Who ever thought auto-play was a good idea? I'm pretty certain a lot of twenty year olds suffer from tinnitus because of those! 

Let me know if you like seeing my curated playlists as I'll share them more, but if you just want to have a browse of the other ones I have listed then you can follow me on my Spotify 'pintsizedbeauty'. There's 'mood boosters' which is of course full of Paolo Nutini and I have 'is this tumblr 2013' which will have some huge throwbacks on there! 

Did you enjoy listening to this playlist? Find any new music to add to yours? 

The Most Indulgent Brownie Recipe

 I think I've made the most overindulgent dessert ever?! A delicious fudgy brownie on top of a chocolate chip cookie base topped with mini eggs - it doesn't get much better than that! This came about when I decided I wanted to share an Easter recipe with you and my mind went straight to something with mini eggs, but before I know it I was using the box brownie mix that I have had stored in the cupboard and putting it on top of a buttery, shortbread type biscuit mix and sharing it with you. 

I've made brownies a lot and I always use the same recipe, so I decided to save time and use a box mix this time around and concentrate on getting the cookie base just right. I'm glad I did as these are super delicious and indulgent, but beware, they are HUGE! 

Ingredients (Makes 9) - 

A box brownie mix or this recipe from Kirbie's Cravings. 
A packet of mini eggs 

For the cookie base - 

130g flour 
110g butter 
100g brown sugar 
1 Egg 
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 
Chocolate chips 

Method - 

Line a 9inch square tin with parchment paper making sure to cover all corners and sides. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.  
Start by making the cookie base. Add 110g butter and 100g brown sugar in a bowl with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. 

Add the egg and mix until creamy. 

Place 130g flour into the mixture and stir until it's smooth. Add the chocolate chips into the mixture and stir again. 

Pour the mixture into the square tin making sure that all areas are covered. 

Then make your brownie mix either by following instructions on box or the recipe post I linked. 

Pour the brownie mixture directly onto of the cookie dough mix. Make sure when smoothing the mixture that you don't mix the two. 

Place in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the mixture is cooked through. At 20 minutes into cooking, get out the tin and sprinkle slightly crushed mini eggs on top and let them melt, but be careful they don't burn. 

Once out of the oven, wait until the tin has cooked before removing. Cut into squares and enjoy! 


Do you think you'll make these mini egg cookie brownies over Easter? 

3 Productive Things To Do Right Now

- This is a paid collaboration with The Share Foundation. - 

When I want to have a productive day, half the problem is getting started and knowing what to do. I'm pretty good to tackling daily tasks like cleaning and finishing all my work, but when it comes to things that don't often cross my mind like wiping down your laptop screen and keyboard or re-arranging your food cupboard, I have to admit I often forget about them. Here are three productive things you could right now: 

Find Out If You've Got Missing Money | Were you born between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011? Or do you know somebody that was? I have partnered with The Share Foundation to let you know that if so, there may be money with your name on it -and there's no catch or charge! To put it simply, several years ago the government set up a scheme to encourage saving habits in children called the Child Trust Fund. All newborns were issued with an account, which their parents or guardians were responsible for claiming. But not all of them were claimed at the time and others have now been lost or forgotten. I certainly didn't know about this and, as I know a lot of people including a lot of you reading this blog post could be eligible, one of the most productive things you could do today is to find out if you (or a loved one) is missing money! 

You can do it from the comfort of your own home right now! If you're 16 or 17, simply ask your parents or guardian if they remember opening an account for you. If they don’t, head to https://findctf.sharefound.org/ and complete the request form. Once you’ve done that, print it, sign it and pop it in the post and HMRC will let you know where your Child Trust Fund is and how to access it. There could be hundreds of pounds waiting for you to spend on driving lessons, your first car or to put into a savings account for later in life to buy a house or go travelling. It’s really important to put the money back into the pockets of young people - where it belongs – so please help The Share Foundation to spread the word! #ShareFound

Clear Your Photos On Laptop or Your Phone | I'm the worst person for this, but I'll screenshot or save random images and over six months or so, they build up and start slowing down my laptop or using up my phone storage. Sitting down for half an hour, skimming through your old photos can clear space and make you feel super productive in the process. Whilst you're at it, deleting old contacts on your phone and changing that password you've been meaning to for the past year are all helpful tasks that can take five minutes. 

Throw Out Your Out of Date Beauty Products | I'll put my hands up and say I'm the worst person for this, but it's so important to get on top of used and out of date beauty products so you're not putting very old foundation on your face and then wondering why it feels like it's burning or has gone three shades darker since you last used it. Your skin will love you and you will streamline your collection in the process - win win! 

What productive things would you like to tackle right now?  

15 Easy To Watch Netflix TV Shows

The world is a little crazy at the moment and I think we all deserve a little bit of time out and although it's hard to go anywhere without hearing the news, I've been turning to Netflix to cheer me up with light hearted TV shows to watch in the evening. As we're all in the same boat at the moment, I thought I'd share my favourites with you today as hopefully it'll brighten somebody's day even if it's only for 30 minutes. 

If you want something to be engrossed in then look no further as Sex Education will be your best bet and there are two seasons to catch up on which is even better! I'm even tempted to re-watch them both again as they're funny, but you'll get invested in the characters in no time. Another programme I think I'll be rewatching over the coming weeks is GBBO, an old favourite that never fails to give me all the cosy Autumn feels and makes me want to cook up a storm in the kitchen. If cosy is what you're looking for, you could always start (I mean where have you been if you haven't watched it already?) watching Gilmore Girls, but warning it will probably make you want to move to Stars Hallow even quicker now. 

For a classic funny pick, I'd recommend Derry Girls and Friday Night Dinner as they are light hearted and always make me chuckle. Although I Am Not Okay With This isn't exactly laugh out loud funny, it definitely was super easy to watch and we managed to binge watch the entire series in a Sunday afternoon. It's great if you want a bit of time away from your phone to get into a TV show. Below are a list of my top days to watch Netflix picks: 

• Great British Bake Off  
• Sex Education 
• Living With Yourself
• Cheer 
• The Good Place  
• Friday Night Dinner 
• Derry Girls 
• I Am Not Okay With This 
• Gilmore Girls 
• Love Is Blind
• Dead To Me
• Ru Paul's Drag Race
• Bad Education
• The Umbrella Academy  
• Santa Clarita Diet

What Netflix TV shows have you enjoyed watching recently? 

Spring Transitional Skincare Routine

 - If a product is marked with a * it has been sent to me, however I'm under no obligation to talk about it. All links in this post are affiliate links. - 

I always struggle at this time of the year when it comes to my skin as this is the season for hayfever to start kicking in, so my complexion gets more dehydrated and irritated. The slight change in weather and temperature that experience means my skin also gets more oily and spots start to appear in places I didn't know they could. I've been switching up my skincare a lot recently, trying to find a routine that caters for all of my skin concerns and I think I've found the perfect combination, so I had to share. 

My first cleanse is the Soap and Glory Ultimelt* which I've done a full review of, but it's great for getting rid of your makeup quickly. I wash it off with my Face Halo or just a muslin cloth and my skin feels ready for my next cleanse which is the Pixi Milky Hydrating Cleanser*. Although I was unsure to begin with how I felt about it, my skin has grown to love it and as long as I use a toner afterwards, my skin feels soft and looks great! 

Talking of toner, I'm still using the Nip+Fab Gylcolic Fix Night Pads* a couple of times a week as they really perk up my skin and they don't feel as harsh as using a physical exfoliator which is great because I know my skin can be temperamental at this time of the year. To calm everything down the Pixi Rose Tonic* is perfect as it's a simple formula that makes my complexion feel fresh and look glowing - I've really grown to love it recently.

I'm all about adding as much moisture into my routine as possible, but from experience I know that my skin can react in weird ways if I start layering up too many products. I've kept to the staples, just a serum, moisturiser and an eye cream if I'm feeling particularly dry. The moisturiser I've gone back to is the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream* which is freshly opened after storing it away for a couple of months. I mean if you can't open your favourite moisturiser during a global pandemic when can you? 

I've been relying on is the Jade Roller* a lot recently too as I like to pop it in the fridge until it's super cold and then do a facial massage with it twice (or as many times as I want) a day. I particularly like focusing on the jar line and underneath the eyes as this is where I get puffy the most and it really soothes the skin if it's feeing irritated from hayfever or just general stress like mine is. 

What are your staple Spring transitional skincare favourites? 

5 Things That Are Making Me Happy

Inspired by Michelle and Olivia, I thought that I would write up a blog post all about the little things I've been loving recently. The world is a strange place recently what with all the hoarding of toilet roll and pasta in-between anxiety inducing new articles and the general panic in the air. I wanted to share a positive post which will hopefully boost spirits even if it's for a five minute read, so I hope you enjoy and don't forget to let me know what you've been loving and getting up to at the moment (whether you're in self-isolation or not!). 

Made A To-Read Pile | As a self-proclaimed hoarder of books, I feel like the idea of having to stay inside for two weeks would give me the perfect opportunity to finally make my way through my to-read pile. I've proudly gone through all my books shelves and picked out five books I've been meaning to read for several years now and I can't wait to settle down in the afternoon with a blanket and cup of tea in hand to make a dent in them. Currently I've got the last couple of ACOTAR's books to catch up on as well as the more light hearted The Flat Share. 

Baking Up A Treat | My kitchen has looked like I've been wrestling with flour and butter over the last couple of weeks, but it's a sight I love to see. It started with us needing to use up some rolled oats and chocolate pieces that had been sitting in our cupboard for a while, so I turned them into deliciously gooey flapjack and since then I've experimented with scones, rich chocolate cupcakes and lots of different recipes. 

Feeling Stronger | Although as you're reading this I'm actually sat on the sofa, I've actually been working on my core and upper body during workouts a lot more over the last few months and the hard work is finally paying off. I'm feeling a lot stronger all over, but in particular on my upper arms, which if I'm honest muscle was pretty non-existent. 

Getting Excited For Spring | I know it can be hard to get excited for the new season with so much going on, but it's been nice seeing glimpses of what Spring has to offer. The blossoms have started to bloom and the daffodils have come up in a lot of gardens which means I'm seeing these yellow beauties everywhere. I've even started to notice that some of my plants are getting happier now that they have actual sunlight beaming through the windows and the fact I've scattered some tulips around the house is always a mood booster. 

Treating Myself | We were supposed to be going to Rome and Harry Potter tour at the end of this month, so now that they are cancelled I feel like I want to treat myself to something new for the house. As boring as it sounds, I want to get myself some floaty curtains for our bedroom or a fresh set of bedding for the Spring, just to perk up the areas and get something a little positive! 

What are you enjoying recently? 

3 Ways To Tackle The March Blues

I mentioned this in my most recent monthly to-do list, but March is one of, if not my least favourite month of the year. Motivation is low and I also find that my constant lusting after the warmer weather causes me to be rather unproductive too as I feel like I'm done with Winter content, but it's also too early for blossoms, floaty dresses and picnics! If like me you struggle with March, I've written a list of my favourite ways to tackle the blues this month. 

Switch It Up | As I work from home, one day can look very similar to another and therefore if I'm struggling with inspiration this doesn't help all that much. I've been splitting my days into two several days a week which essentially means I get an extra long lunch break to exercise, walk to the shops or clean the house and when I head back to work in the afternoon, I choose to work later. This technique has definitely helped me tackle the midday slump, but I know not everyone can do this. 

The other way I've been switching it up is by changing the simple things including meals. A perk of working from home is that I can often make whatever food I fancy, but just like a lot of people who may take pack lunches into work, you can fall into the trap of eating the same sandwich or having the same porridge toppings everyday. It may sound simple, but even switching up one or two meals a day once or twice a week can perk you up! 

Start Your Day Off Right | After getting into a few bad habits over the Winter with work/life balance as the lack of daylight means I have cram as much as I can in the day including getting outside for exercise and taking photograph whilst the sun is still out. When March rolls around you can feel that the evenings are staying lighter for longer and knowing the clock change is just around the corner is even more comforting. 

I've been taking advantage of the brighter mornings by going out on my bike before the day really starts, so that I get my workout in pretty early. I've also been eating my breakfast and having a peppermint tea outside when the weather permits as I find this sets up my day right especially as it allows me to think about the day ahead without any distraction from my phone or laptop. 

Have Something To Look Forward To | With my trip to Italy almost definitely cancelled, we've got the Harry Potter tour to look forward to now to get me through March. Even if it's just setting yourself a challenge of no takeaways for a month, reading 4 books this month or beating your PB at running, setting yourself targets throughout the month can make it go a lot faster (and fun too!). 

What are your favourite ways to tackle the March blues? 

My Favourite Everyday Jewellery Pieces

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Over the years, despite my best efforts, I've learnt that I'm really not a jewellery person. I don't wear my engagement ring everyday and other than the earrings that are permanently in my ears, I was hardly wearing any jewellery at all. That all changed over the past year and after receiving some gorgeous Missoma pieces for Christmas and treating myself to some new picks from the high street, I'm now absolutely loving using necklaces and bracelet to spruce up any outfit. 

As I mentioned before, Missoma is my go-to brand for luxe feeling pieces that I know will not only stand the test of time, but they go with lots of different outfits too. The Gold Mini Helical Hoops are my absolute favourites as they're small that you barely notice them, but I find the little details the most impactful. The other Missoma piece that I wear nearly everyday now is the Gold Star Bracelet which is so simple, but it can be stacked with other pieces easily. 

The other brand that I've been really enjoying is on the other end of the price scale and it's H&M! I went in there only for a pair of tights, but came out with lots of new jewellery and I've been obsessed ever since. The Pendant Necklace looks like a dupe for lots of the high end brands that I've seen, but for £3.99 you really can't go wrong. If you like the stacking necklace trend I would recommend that you buy separate necklaces to stack up as not only can you change them depending your outfit or mood, but they don't get as tangled up when worn. 

I wasn't going to mention hair accessories, but if you follow me on Instagram then you'll know that I love a headband and hair scarf at the moment so I thought they would fit into this blog post perfectly. ASOS always have some of the best pieces for affordable prices. I constantly wear the Designb Braided Headband which is a dreamy burgundy colour that goes with a variety of my outfits, but I want to get a couple more in other colours as I think they're going to be a staple come Spring and Summer for keeping my hair out my face. 

Hair scarves don't have to break the bank and my H&M Rust Spotted offering is a favourite, but unfortunately I don't think they sell it anymore although they do have lots of other shades to choose from. The ASOS burgundy hair scarf in the photos above is a little longer, so it makes more of a statement which is great if I'm wearing a particularly plain outfit. 

What are your favourite jewellery and hair accessory brands?