Stationary Haul!

Whenever I see Back 2 School stationary I get so excited even as a 19 year old. The best thing about going back to school for me was going shopping with my mum to buy everything I needed and more! However, towards the end of the year I'd be left with a pencil, a pen given to me by a friend from the "I forgot my pen" day all shoved in my blazer pocket.

So I have finished my first year of University and there was no reason for me to buy any stationary as everything was done on computers. Now that I have decided to take a different path and go back to college again (long story) I feel that I have an excuse to spend my money on stationary.

I went to Wilkinson's which is one of my favourite stores. I love to look round the shop, dream about the items I'd buy if I had my own home and eye up the Pick 'n' Mix stand. It is also my favourite shop to pick up cute but cheap stationary.

 Yes... you caught me! I really did buy pencils with the times tables put on there, they will be helpful by refreshing my memory. I haven't done maths in a while so I can check my answers as I like to remember them off by heart rather than working them out. I love the note book saying 'Do What You Love' it's really fitting for my situation at the moment due to my life changes, the size is going to be perfect to fit in my bag. I bought the 'I really should' to do list as I'm always creating lists so why not get a one with flowers on? The Thoughts, Ideas, Plans and Dreams notebook is so cute I had to get it. I can jot down notes for future blog posts and all different types of ideas as I am very organised and love planning. As for the other note book with the diamonds, I thought I'd take this to work with me because I'll always need to jot down notes and again create endless lists. I love the flimsy notebooks from Wilko's they always do these but in all different colours and patterns, I've had them before and the different styles are again so cute! And of course I bought two packets of pens because why not!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, do you have the same love for buying stationary as I do? I could have said 'cute' many more times but I had to stop myself.

Louise x

Everyday Full Face Makeup Routine

My everyday routine definitely is not the minimal no makeup makeup look. I go all out but maybe when I start my new job and I have to get up early, I won't have time and basic makeup will be brought back. But anyway for now here are the products I use on a daily basis.

So I start with a moisturiser. I apply this mainly to my forehead as it can get very dry and cause my base to flake off and end up a patchy mess... which is not a good look. I find that my skin breaks out from every moisturiser I use so until I find the product for me I use the Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream SPF15.

I use L'Oreals' True Match Foundation which is my abosulute favourite and I can't imagine using any other foundation. The application is so easy because it is slightly runny therefore alot goes a long way. I use 2 pumps, put it all over my face with clean hands followed by a brush to buff it all in and its blended within less than a minute! I wear fake tan everyday and the shade Golden Natural is obviously a true match! Therefore I'll never have a face that doesn't match my neck again! Of course I don't need to say anything about Maybelline's Eraser Eye Concealer it is a frim favourite of everyone's. This is perfect for under my eyes which I then set with the M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish in the shade light which adds a tad more brightness! To set my face I use M.A.C Studio Fix Powder Plus in the shade NC30. My makeup never lasted all day till I found this so it quickly moved into my everyday makeup routine. I love how if my makeup comes off due to the heat I can apply this with a buffing brush and I have coverage again!

To contour and highlight I apply Sleek's Cream Contour Kit in light (obviously before powder). I only use the darkest colour as you can tell. I have experimented with the lighter colours but I did not like them personally. I wish I they sold them separately. To set the contour I use Maybelline's Master Sculpt Contouring Palette which I thought I'd never buy however my friend used it on me and I was sold! It's brown however has a slight ashy tone to it but it doesn't look like I have a grey line on my face unlike other contour powders I've used. To bronze it has to be Benefit's Hoola Bronzer, I use this on my cheeks and temples. To finish off I highlight my cheek bones with Mary Lou Manizer by The Balm and this is amazing! I would recommned the highlight to anyone.

My eyebrows are a nightmare! Yes I know... there supposed to be sisters not twins but mine are not even sisters... they are strangers!  I use the Brow Drama from Maybelline to comb my hairs into place and give them some kind of tint. I found that the only product  which give me hope for the perfect brow day is the Soap and Glory D-I-Y Brow Bar which contains the perfect ash colour for my eyebrows. In the pan it literally looks green but it's honestly the best shade I have found if you have blonde hair.

Lastly, I use the Rimmel Colour Precise Eyeliner and create a flick with the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. My favourite all time mascara is the Benefit Roller Lash however I ran out so I have currently been using the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara which everyone compares to the Roller Lash however I don't see any comparison and I recommend Roller Lash for sure! If I have time I create an eyelook with Urban Decay's Naked Palette using the shade Naked in the crease followed by some Smog on the eyelid.

My makeup is never finished till I have applied M.A.C Soar Lip Liner, M.A.C Honey Love Lipstick and Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shade Nude Thrill. 

If I am going to be out for the whole day I spritz the Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Amazing Makeup Fixing Spray all over my face and I feel like this adds something extra.

So 30 minutes of sitting at this dressing table I am left with...

This! I know I used a lot of products but I like to think that I make it look natural. I like how the amount of eye product I use help to make my eyes stand out when I wear glasses. I hope you liked this post and if you have any good product recommendations please leave them in the comments!

Louise x

My Interview Tips For Beginners

So I have had three interviews and I am still a beginner however I feel that I have improved so much and I have (sort of) mastered them (on a basic level)!

I'm sure we have all been there with the bad, awkward first interview for a full time job... or is that just me? I did not prepare so I had no idea what to say when it came to answering about 10 questions on the spot. My older self kicks my younger self... I could have saved myself from the embarrassment, but it's safe to say that the job just was not for me. So here are my tips to hopefully prepare you for a perfect interview!

Prepare Prepare Prepare!

There's nothing more important than this. Think carefully about what you are going to say. Google some popular questions for the sector you are interested in. Think about how all your skills and experience you have gained links to the job role. Once you have researched these questions you hold everything you want in your head to show your real ability and nothing will be forgotten! I wouldn't advise learning a script let it flow!

Research about the company!

It is a bit annoying when you research about the company and the interviewers tell you about the company anyway. Except on my third interview they actually asked me so I am glad I thought about everything I wanted to say. So don't just give the basic history of the company obviously they know that. Think about the values of the company, their goals and what you can bring to meet the standards of the company.

Dress smart!

If you are like me and you like to doll yourself up every morning it might give you more confidence. Wearing formal clothes will allow you to feel grown up and feel nice. At the end of the day, they will be judging you on your appearance no matter what.

Greet the interviewers!

It is important to smile when you walk into the interview room as well as shake the hands of your interviewers, this just helps break the ice.

Think before you speak!

You don't need to rush into your answer, take a few seconds to think about what you want to say instead of avoiding the awkward "ummm". Don't be scared to ask them to repeat the question and elaborate if you are stuck. If you are still unsure then just talk about your skills on a key word they may have said.

Be confident and have fun!

It's easier said than done but make sure you are confident. If you're not then fake it! Just think, you'll be talking to these people for max 30 minutes and then its over! And for fun I mean show your personality and maybe crack some (appropriate) jokes!

Thank you for reading my interview tips and I hope they help you for your next interview or maybe your first! These are just from what I have experienced so I am not a professional. So if you are applying for a job for a high up professional job then maybe take these tips on board and also search somewhere else haha! These interview tips could help you for college, apprenticeships and university or even your job.

Louise x

My Experience With Eyelash Extensions

I was anti eyelash extensions until I was so fed up of applying mascara. I would always ruin eyeshadow, poke myself in the eye, blink and get it all under my eyes and ruin my concealer!  Plus I have rubbish eyelashes so no matter how hard I tried they were not going to look nice and my eyes did not stand out at all.

So I did some research and decided I really want to have these extensions. Fake eyelash strips was not an option for me as I am useless at sticking them on plus I can't trust them to not hang off during the day which would be very embarrassing! I was scared about having major gaps but I realised that lashes are glued to every individal eyelash and will only fall out with your natural lash cycle so I thought I would just go for it. I might aswell experiment they can always be taken off at the end of the day.

So I booked an appointment with a girl I have known since I was little and 2 hours later I was SO amazed at how good my eyelashes looked. I didn't go for long lashes, just full. I also had my own lashes tinted so that they looked extra black seeing as I have light eyelashes.

The only thing that is annoying about having eyelash extensions is that I find it hard to apply eyeshadow as well as taking it off. Also I like to rub my eyes when I'm tired and when I wake up in the morning so its really hard. Would this be a deal breaker for you? On the plus side I can do my makeup quicker and always have nice lashes.

So what do you think? Do you like them?

Louise x

25 Facts About Me

Hi guys, so I have not uploaded a blog post since 2014... crazy! I lost interest and was super busy (in building a career I thought I wanted... well, we will get back to that another time) so my poor blog was just abandoned. But 2 years down the line and I'm ready to get back into blogging! I have decided to start fresh with a tag so you can learn a bit more about me since it has been a while! 

What is your middle name?: Marie

What was favourite subject at school?:  None I hated school! But if I have to pick then probably ICT as my closest friends were in that class and I got a top mark!

What is your favourite drink?: Diet coke (no, I'm not on a diet)

 What is your favourite song at the moment?: Justin Bieber- Cold Water

What is the last thing you bought?: MAC lipstick in the shade Stone

Favourite book of all time?:  Looking for Alaska by John green

Favourite Colour?: Pink of course! But you'd never see me wearing something pink!

Do you have any pets?: I have a black and white cat called Missy and then she gave birth to kittens and we kept one and called it Harvey.

Favourite Perfume?: Alien by Thierry Mugler

Favourite Holiday?: Christmas!

Are you married?: No, but I would like to be when I am older!

Have you ever been out of the country, if so how many times?: I have been to Ireland, Spain, America and Cyprus.

Do you speak any other language?: No

How many siblings do you have?: I have a brother

What is your favourite shop?: Primark and Newlook

Favourite restaurant?: Nandos

When was the last time you cried?:  I cry all the time, I am a very emotional person. I can easily cry over nothing.

Favourite Blog?:  I don't have a favourite it's too hard to pick!

Favourite Movie?:  Cross Roads (it's really old and has Britney Spears in it)

Favourite TV shows?: I have so many I can't name just one so I'll name a few: Pretty Little Liars, 90210, Gossip Girl, Scream, Bates Motel, Jane the Virgin and Love Island

PC or Mac?: Mac

What phone do you have?: iPhone 6s

How tall are you?: 5”4

Can you cook?: I try!

I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you have done this tag leave a link to it in the comments I'd love to read it! Thank you for reading and I hope you come back for more!

Louise x

My Autumn/Winter Wishlist

Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons of the year. There are always wishes that I make to myself (they never happen but that is besides the point) which make me happy. Having an aim is something to live for and I find myself accomplishing almost one thing. I can look back at my wishes and do something about them to make them happen. I made a Summer wish list in July which seems not so long ago but summer is now gone and I have new goals for the upcoming months. As new school terms have started there are things I'd like to change to help me enjoy the seasons more.

Keeping up and staying on track

Motivation is something I lack and I always wish that some would come upon me so that I can achieve important things which will benefit my life. As a college student who has other things on my mind coursework is something that I tend to put off and will find myself doing something else
like watching The Vampire Diaries which is what has distracted me recently. As I relaxed in summer and did whatever I wanted to do I need to come out of that and stay focused. The first day back at college was already stressful from the amount of resubmissions I need to complete let alone other assignments I need to start! It's overwhelming and I just wish some motivation will come soon so that I can stay up to date with everything work doesn't pile up like I left it do in my first year.

Spending more time with my family

As a child I had no care in the world it was so much easier, but as a teenager you find yourself thinking that your 'reputation' is all that matters, and everything you do makes you want to care about what others think. I'm sure everybody feels embarrassed being seen out with their parents/grandparents etc and that was me. I am not completely out of this stage but I can tell I have recently started to not care and get on with what I want to do, because at the end of the day family is what matters the most and the memories created with your family are the best. Therefore, I want to start spending time with my family. I also want to spend time with them more because I am mostly in my room in a mood thanks to hormones.

Get in the festive mood

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I want to get into the mood rather than waiting for it to come. As you get older the preparation and build up for Christmas is fun. I want to do this by going ice skating, going shopping with my friends to buy gifts, visiting Winter Wonderland, spending time at London- the decorations and lights really make it feel like Christmas and most of all watching Christmas films with friends and family. Last year I let my mum decorate the tree herself, I'm not even sure if my brother helped as we was moody teenagers who just wanted to be on the Internet. However this year, I want to create special memories and help out rather than being lazy which brings me on to my next point...

Spend less time on the Internet

This is something that I must do in order to achieve in life. In the future I will ask myself why I spend so much time on the Internet rather than studying and working. TV shows have taken over my life and it's almost turned into an addiction. I also spend way too much time on my phone too speaking to my friends or going on social networking sites. I need to spend time with my friends in person instead. If I stay off the Internet things will get done such as my coursework and revision for GCSE re-takes. I don't mean stay completely off but I spent way too many hours on my laptop and sometimes it's just procrastination.

Hope you have enjoyed this post, what is on your wishlist?

Louise x

Autumn/Winter Essentials

In autumn/winter the fashion is at it's best. Warm coats, heeled boots, jumpers are my favourite things to wear and on lazy days hoodies really come in handy to keep warm- I currently have an obsession with anything with text on as you can see from the 'I love sleep" choice. I am hoping for snow this year so I can get my wellies out, £80 worth of wellies don't just need to be sitting with the rest of my shoes for a whole year again. Autumn/Winter is when my lipstick craze comes out, red and purple lips are my favourite colours to wear therefore I am looking forward to wearing dark lip colours and my M.A.C Up The Amp lipstick is feeling rather unloved. I will not go out without my lipstick in Autumn/Winter and my nude colours are pushed slightly to the back of my collection. Glitter makes nails look so pretty for Christmas time. Accessories such as head warmers and gloves are also an essential as it is vital to keep warm, especially when I have to walk to places.

What are your Autumn/Winter essentials?