June 2015 Favourites | Beauty & Life!

End of June already? Where has the time gone? But the weather is warming up, I'm working with Wimbledon on the TV on in the background (strangely calming), and I'm going through ice lollies like they're going out of style. I've heard that bubblegum calippo's are a thing and I'm making it my July mission to track one of those down!

Anyway, here are the things I really liked during June...

Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara
I'm pretty sure this is my favourite mascara I've ever used. Although I usually gravitate towards those massive bristley brushes, this one is a small plastic wand with a slight curve and it works brilliantly. It's super easy to get into those little inner corner lashes, the formula dries quickly and it holds a curl all day. Love. It!

Essence Nail Polish in Electriiiiic
Blue nail polishes are my favourite and this one is a real beauty! The formula isn't fabulously long wearing, but it does apply evenly and dry quickly, so I can forgive it - especially because these are under £2 a bottle! 

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter
This smells so good, all almondy and lovely, that I almost want to eat it. My skin is all over the place right now, in the warmer weather it gets super dry and I need something that feels a little more nourishing. Sometimes I have to go all out with the intense Oilatum, but right now this is working perfectly and that's okay with me because I'm all for delicious smelling products. 

Soap & Glory Peach Party 
My summer make up look this year is peachy-bronze, I've decided. For far too long I've been ignoring peach blushes, but it's time to bring them back into my daily make up, especially because they tend to look nicer on my skin tone than a lot of pink tones do. Peach Party has a tonne of shimmer packed in there so it's one I can only wear on a good skin/good concealer day, but it's so worth it. Hello healthy glow!

Skull Desk Tidy* 
Mortimer got a lot of love in last Friday's post and he's been a total favourite of mine all month. He sits on my desk, usually wearing a pair of my specs, next to my Harry Potter crystal goblet and they compliment each other perfectly.

Silly bunny card
My mum gave me this and wrote it as if it came from Ralphie. To be honest I can totally see him chilling in an inflatable ring with sunnies on, he is the master of relaxation after all. It's not often you see things with black bunnies on so I'm going to have to keep this one out on display!

Busy B Planner* 
In an attempt to finally get my life in order, I've delved back into the world of planners and I'm loving it so far. With digital calendars it's too easy to move undone tasks to the following day with no guilt, but when things are written down unfinished tasks have to be crossed out and rewritten for the next day, and that's definitely guilt inducing! I've undoubtedly been more productive and I'm hoping this will continue next month too!

Orla Kiely Earl Grey Candle* 
This is such a delicate scent, it's an absolute pleasure to burn. It does take a little while for the scent to fill the room, but once it does it's so lovely. It's warm, with a hit of citrus that cuts through keeping everything super fresh. The jar is stunning too, a classic Orla Kiely pattern looking resplendent in grey, it's one I'll definitely be holding on to.

Birdy by Jess Vallance* 
I don't read a lot of YA anymore and I really need to fix this because I live for uncovering incessantly smart books for young readers; gotta get them sucked in early! Birdy is delightfully creepy and I flew through it yesterday morning. Okay so I knew what the twists were before they happened, but it didn't dampen my enjoyment or totally ruin the experience at all. I'm definitely much, much older than its target reader and I've watched a lot of creepy TV in my time, so I wasn't expecting to be floored or anything. And I wasn't. But I still liked it. 

Other Things..

• Serial Podcast - can we just talk about this for a little bit?! Innocent or guilty?
• Florence + The Machine at Glastonbury - Queen! 
• My beautiful June advertisers; Sunny Sweet Pea, Wander to Wonder, MYLILYOTV, Loved by Laura & A Little Freckle! 

* * * 

Was there anything you especially loved during June?  

Follow

The time is now...

To say I love you.
To say I'm sorry, or I miss you, or you were right.
To let go of regrets.
To be there, even if it's complicated.
To say yes.
To believe in yourself.
To be yourself, unapologetically.
To appreciate what you have in this moment.
To strive for more.
To make a plan. 
To put that plan into motion. 
To sign up for that class and learn something new.
To begin, or start over.
To open your mind to new possibilities.
To write, or sing, or paint. 
To sign up to that yoga class, or pilates, or spinning.
To write down the first 5 things that come to your mind that make you happy and hold on to them dearly. 
To call to make plans.
To call for a catch up.
To call for no other reason than just because, to say hello.
To talk things over.
To forgive.
To forget.
To love freely.
To surprise someone. 
To look out for yourself.
To make that decision you've been putting off.
To wish someone a wonderful day. 
To trust yourself.
To follow your heart.
To remember that you are special and that you're enough and that you and those you love deserve the best. 

* * * 

Follow

Love Love Love.

Hello and happy Sunday! Today I have some beautiful blogs to share with you. I've spent the last four weeks getting to know them and the lovely ladies who pour their hearts into their posts, and I would truly love if you could stop by each of them to say hello.

* * *

Sunny Sweet Pea // Branston, Always Branston.
Jenny is a total sweetheart and her writing inspires and delights in equal measures. When Jenny writes, she pours everything into it and I really feel as though I'm catching up with an old friend. If I could describe Sunny Sweet Pea in one word, it would be authentic. When you become a published author, (it's going to happen, I can feel it in the air!) I'll be first in the queue to get my copy signed!

* * *

Loved by Laura // The Happy List
Laura's blog is the perfect mix of beauty, health, and lifestyle. Her posts are varied, but her beautiful personality always shines through in her writing, and I adore that. I think that her recipe posts are my favourite. She recently shared a Duffin recipe - a muffin mixed with a doughnut - and they looked incredible! I think we'd have lots to talk about if we met in real life, a good natter about books would definitely be on the cards!

* * *

Wander to Wonder // 
Miho's blog has been a firm favourite for a long time now. She is the absolute sweetest, one of those people who you know you would be able to rely on. I think if we knew each other in real life we would be firm friends, and we'd certainly visit lots of yummy restaurants. I've learnt never to stop by Miho's blog when I'm feeling hungry because I'll only leave feeling even hungrier!

* * *

MYLILYOTV // My Bullying Story
Danielle is a brave writer. Her bullying story really touched me, as I'm sure it will many others too, and I think it proves that she is a truly beautiful person, both inside and out. She makes the sweetest youtube videos and I can't wait to see where the future takes her!

* * *

A Little Freckle // Summer Ball: What I Wore
Emma's blog is a true reflection of herself and her life. It's friendly, warm, and always a lot of fun to read. I loved her post about her summer ball, I never went to one when I was at University, so it was lovely to see her and her friends having a brilliant time! We've never met before, but I definitely feel like we're friends because she's so super relatable.

* * * 

P.S. If you'd like to advertise with me next month there is 1 'Ahoy' space and 3 'Icebreaker' spaces available. 

More deets here!

Follow

xoxo

June Playlist

Jessie Ware : Say You Love Me 
Florence + The Machine : Leave My Body 
Nirvana : Come As You Are
The Civil Wars : To Whom It May Concern
The Shins :  Australia

* * * 

Follow

P.S. Please check out my first "All Aboard" advertiser Sunny Sweet Pea! 

And my first "Ahoy!" advertisers Wander to Wonder, MYLILYOTV & Loved by Laura!

A few things that aren't particularly important but that I've noted down in my notebook anyway in the form of a list, because lists are brilliant

The other day I accidentally knocked one of my plants on to the floor and immediately after I spent a solid three minutes apologising to it. Do you think it hates me now?

My mum has birds that have just left the nest hopping around her garden. They're very sweet. Unfortunately for the dog though their presence means he can't go outside without being on his lead, and to say he's thoroughly fed up would be an understatement. 

After spending a good chunk of yesterday evening listening to podcasts, I now fully understand why they're so popular. Hello compulsive listening. I started Serial yesterday afternoon thinking I'd maybe listen to one part a day, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't going to finish the whole thing this afternoon.

My reading void is officially over, I think. I hope. After much deliberation at my bookshelf, because picking a book after a long time of not reading anything is always risky (what if I make the wrong decision and I stop reading again?! Kind of joking but not really), I opted for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by David Shafer. I've been told there's a bit of a curveball in there and it takes a bit of an unforeshadowed turn, but I'm ready for it. There are three very well voiced protagonists in there, which I think can be tricky to pull off in itself, so it's going well so far! 

This is Mortimer*. I was given him a few weeks ago and he's been sat on my desk organising bits and bobs ever since. I also think he looks pretty swish in a pair of my spectacles. I thought about maybe spray-painting him gold, but I like him just the way he is.

It's nearing the end of June and I haven't consumed nearly enough bowls of strawberries & vanilla ice cream. It's Wimbledon next week so I plan on making up for it then because it's the rules.

Seventeen Doll'd Up mascara might just be my absolute favourite. Ever. Bold claim, right? I know!

I recently learnt that my boyfriend does not like sour things and will shudder if I bite into a chunk of lime in front of him. His reaction is so over the top it's hilarious. Apparently my Grandmother used to like biting into chunks of lemon in her drinks, so I think I know where I've got that from. It's nice discovering little quirks shared with someone who is no longer with us. Comforting almost. Like a connection that hasn't been fully broken.

Happy Friday! 

* * * 

Follow

P.S. Please check out my first "All Aboard" advertiser Sunny Sweet Pea! 

And my first "Ahoy!" advertisers Wander to Wonder, MYLILYOTV & Loved by Laura!