April Life Favourites

April has been a tough month but I still have many things to be grateful for and many things that I have enjoyed surrounding myself with.

Plants.
It seems that I can't make a trip to Ikea without coming out with something from the plant section. And I'm totally okay with that. This little guy was stuck at the back of a shelf getting a bit squashed so I decided to rescue it. 

Flamingo 'Bubblegum' Candle*
Flamingo candles are brilliant, they really do smell exactly like they say they will. This one reminds me of the sweet shop I used to visit when I was little and I really like it because it's not too cloying. The scent fills the room but it manages to linger in the background so it's not too overpowering. Lovely.

Crystals. 
I was in a little shop in the village looking at candles and I got talking to the lady who owns the shop about crystals. She is very passionate about them and I think some of her enthusiasm has rubbed off on me. I've been making some jewellery with semi precious stones recently as a way to wind down after a busy day and it's been really therapeutic. And even with all that aside, they're also incredibly tactile to hold and beautiful to look at.

Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling with illustrations by Joel Holland.
This is just a little illustrated book of J.K. Rowling's commencement speech at Harvard University with the profits going to Lumos and the financial-aid program at Harvard University. I have listened to the speech countless times so it's nice to have this sitting on my bookshelf now, and I'm certain I'll refer back to it as a little bit of a pep talk periodically.

Florence + the Machine - St Jude

Do you have any 'life favourites' from April?

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xoxo

April Beauty Favourites!

What a month April has been! I'm really quite pleased that it's almost over and I'm hoping things will pick up a little in May. I only have a couple of beauty favourites because I've been keeping things really simple, but I thought they were worth mentioning because they've been working incredibly well throughout the month.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
It seems I may have finally been converted to a cult classic cleanser that I previously didn't like at all. My skin has changed dramatically over the last couple of months, it's even more dry than usual and it's been reacting badly to a lot of products. I've been trying to keep things really simple and I decided to pick out one cleanser to stick with for at least two weeks. Has this been a miracle worker? No, but it has been gentle and it hasn't made things any worse. For now that's more than good enough for me! 

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
Before I purchased this I read a lot of reviews. And I mean a lot! Mainly because I wasn't sure which colour would match me the best (I went with Terre Neuve and it's great) but also because this stuff is expensive! Is it a product that blew my mind with how amazing it is? No, but it's nice and there's 50ml in the tube so the price does kind of balance out. It gives more coverage than I was expecting it to and it blends in nicely without me having to do much work. With my skin being incredibly fussy at the moment, the less I have to touch my face the better - so this has been a staple in my daily routine.

Sleek Pout Polish in Bare Minimum
I mention this far too often, but for good reason - it's an all time favourite lip product. It would be absolutely perfect if it weren't in a pot, but sometimes we can't have it all. It gives a hint of nude peach to my lips whilst keeping them hydrated and feeling smooth.

Lord & Berry Lipstick Pencil in Kiss
This came in my Glossybox this month and although the colour intimidated me a little at first, it looks so pretty when used to give a hint of colour. It also looks equally as pretty when left matte, or with a little clear balm on top for a bit more shine. It's versatile and I like that. 

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What was your favourite beauty product in April? 

xoxo

Birthday Wishlist!

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• London Grammar 'If You Wait' Vinyl 
• Kaweco Fountain Pen
• Reborn by Susan Sontag
• Hold Your Own by Kate Tempest
• Mortimer the Black Crow
• 100 Artists' Manifestos
• Turtle Desk Clip
• How to be both by Ali Smith
• Flamingo Candles in 'Green Apples' and 'Vanilla & Black Pepper'
• Cover FX Custom Cover Drops

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The older I get the more appreciative I become of the wonders of a really good pen. I'd like to work on my novel this year just to prove to myself that I can do it, you know? And I do like to plan things by writing them down so a nice pen would be very appreciated.

There are also a lot of books on my wishlist, which I think is just going to be a thing for forever now. You can bet that I'm planning a big book order when I graduate in a few months time and there's going to be a lot of Ali Smith on there. I read my first Ali Smith novel last month and it was brilliant so I'm pretty excited that there's so much more of her work that I can delve in to.

But really as long as I can have a slice of cake, be free of assignments for a couple of days, and toast to being another year older, that's the best gift I could wish for!

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xoxo

I Love Spring Tag!

Ah, spring! You have no idea how happy I am that you're finally here! 

Favourite thing about spring?
Seeing the sunshine a little more often, it's been a very welcome addition to daily life after the long, incredibly cold winter. 

Are you a spring cleaner?
I'm a bit of a year-round spring cleaner. I like going through drawers and cupboards regularly to see if there's anything I haven't used in a while or don't really need to hold on to anymore. I used to really like being surrounded by things, but now I find it quite overwhelming.

Favourite spring candle?
Recently the only candle I've been burning regularly is Bubblegum* from Flamingo Candles. There's been a lot of buzz around this brand over the last couple of months and they really are as lovely as everyone has been saying they are.

Favourite spring accessory?
These cameo earrings used to belong to my Grandmother and I adore them.

Favourite spring nail polish? 
Barely-there nail colours are my absolute favourite so I was really pleased to see this shade from Color Club, appropriately called Barely There, in my April Glossybox. It makes my nails look a little more polished but it's not a very noticeable colour so I don't feel like I've tried too hard and it doesn't really matter if it chips a little because you can't really tell. Perfect.

Favourite spring lip colour?
Again sheer colours are my favourite and this Dior gloss adds a hint of pink with its smooth, non-sticky formula.

Favourite spring blush?
The Stila Convertible Colours are difficult to top in general, but they're especially perfect for a classic spring make up look. The colour range is incredibly beautiful, the formula offers good pigmentation with a lightweight texture and the slightly dewy finish is really quite perfect. 

Favourite spring base? 
I'm still having issues with bases sitting nicely on my skin after a reaction to something a few weeks ago but the NARS Tinted Moisturiser hasn't let me down yet. I also like mixing in a little of the All Over Glow from Jelly Pong Pong*. 

Favourite spring scent? 
Stella by Stella McCartney is my favourite fragrance and I like to wear it all year round, but I think I reach for it more than usual during spring. It's a real classic and I can completely see why it is a favourite for so many. It's rose but a really refined rose that smells modern and a little bit sultry. Lovely.

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What's your favourite thing about spring?
I tag you!
 
xoxo

Vote.

My birthday this year coincides with the UK general election and whenever someone asks me what I would like my answer has been: 'If you're unsure about it, I'd really like you to consider using your vote'. The deadline for registering is today and even if you ultimately decide not to vote, I truly think it's worth registering to keep your options open.

Ultimately I know that I can't make anyone go, the choice is an entirely personal one and I will always respect someone's decision, but I really want everyone to believe that your vote, your voice, your opinions matter and can make a difference even if it doesn't feel that way.

Sometimes politics can be a baffling and seemingly impenetrable subject, but there are some brilliant online tools (thank you internet!) to help us to decide which party best represents our views; PositionDial and Vote for Policies are great. And you may ultimately decide that no party is deserving of your vote, and in that case I think spoiling your ballot paper says it all.