PLAYING WITH ELEPHANTS – THAILAND

As well as visiting Bangkok in Thailand,  my friend Laura and I also went to Chiang Mai on our travels. While we were there, we knew we wanted to spend a day with elephants, both because elephants are one of my favourite animals and it’s a ‘once in a lifetime’ sort of event.

We researched a lot about which elephant reserve we wanted to visit before heading to Thailand as the majority of parks will perform cruel acts towards the elephants and only care about getting your money. We knew we didn’t want to go to a reserve that partook in elephant rides as this is one form of cruelty to the majestic animals. Basically, if you are able to ride an elephant it is because it went through torture to tame it when it was young which is obviously not okay. Also, their backs are not designed to carry heavy loads so over the time these rides are causing serious long-term damage.

If you care about these animals, I’d recommend visiting Elephant Nature Park. This park was established in 1900s by a lady named Lek whose mission is to save elephants from a life of abuse as well as rehabilitating them. The elephants found in the park today have been rescued from many walks of life such as tourist rides/shows, illegal logging and street begging.

There are a few different packages you can opt for, but we decided to go for the Single Day Visit. This allowed us to spend a full day at the park.

We were picked up from our hotel by a bus along with others who were to spend their day at the park (an incredibly, friendly American family and a middle-aged couple from England who took Laura and I under their wings). This was our tour group for the day and we were so lucky to be with such lovely people.

The journey consisted of a rural drive through the countryside while watching informative videos and hearing explanations about elephants themselves and the sanctuary. During this time, we were also given a safety briefing because they are wild animals!

On arrival, we were taken to the feeding platform where we had the chance in turn to feed the elephants fruit which just seemed so surreal and exciting. We really were here!

Once all the fruit in the basket was demolished, our guide took the group for a walk in the grasses where the elephants roam freely. We got to meet, take photos and pet the elephants while the guide would share the names and lives of each elephant. Standing next to these animals was a little nerve-racking but amazing more than anything.

After some decent elephant viewing time, we were walked back and treated to an Asian buffet. If Asian food isn’t your scene, don’t worry, they also served international dishes. We were given some free time during our lunch break so Laura and I decided to go and visit the enclosures of other animals that the sanctuary have rescued. As well as elephants, there are also rescued cats, dogs and even buffalo.

In the afternoon, we were taken on another walk. This time we went down to the river where we were able to see the elephants bathing and relaxing in the heat.

This was pretty great in itself but we then had the chance to get our feet dirty and head into the river ourselves. We were each given a bucket and had the chance to bathe an elephant. This was one of my favourite parts of the day, it was great fun.

The whole day comes in at 2500 baht, which is equivalent to around £57. This might seem slightly expensive but when you think this will go towards the care of the elephants, your travel and food for the day, it really isn’t that bad!

If you are considering going I suggest you bring suncream as you will be out in the open all day and also some insect repellent. As you might be able to tell from my arm in my first photo, I was bitten.

Overall, it was an amazing adventure and something I would recommend to anyone. The park itself is a great place for these elephants to heal and be treated the way they deserve. It really was a superb experience that I will never forget!

 

Would you like to go here? If you’ve been I’d love to know what you thought!

Thanks for reading,

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OOTD | GREY, FLUTE SLEEVES & KOKO COUTURE

I’m grey obsessed, anyone that knows me can tell you this. When it comes to fashion, grey (and black) is the colour of the majority of my wardrobe so it seemed fitting to talk you through how I styled my new favourite grey pieces.

Frills and flute/bell sleeves are everywhere at the moment and it’s a trend I have completely fallen for. Moving on from bell sleeved winter jumpers for the transition into Spring, I’ve picked up a few lovely pieces recently such as this blouse from Topshop. It’s grey of course, with a slight lilac tint which makes it perfect for this season. Unfortunately, this blouse is no longer on their site but I’d urge you to have a look anyway because Topshop are killing it with this trend and there are some very similar tops to purchase! I think I’m even away to add some into my basket after I finish writing this post…

Black jeans are my go-to and it’s unlikely you’ll see me in anything else. I’ve always been a Topshop jeans kind of girl but recently I’ve been trying to move out of my comfort zone and try some from other stores. I found this black distressed pair from New Look and instantly knew I had to have them. Ripped knees is a trend that has been around for a while now but what I love about this particular pair is that they also have ripped hems, which renews the style and brings them straight into ’17.

I’ve gone metallic mad in the last few weeks so these boots were a must-have! They are heeled but I find them incredibly comfy and can walk in them for hours and they jazz up any average outfit. Again, I picked these up from New Look and even better in their sale! There are a few different styles to choose from here so grab them before they run out.

Now for the star of the show – my bag. When it comes to bags, I’d say I was pretty snobbish and would only buy one if it were designer as I was all about the quality. That was until I had the opportunity to try out the Zoe Large Faux Suede Clutch bag in Grey from KoKo Couture. This bag is only £20 and it’s completely changed the way I view bags, which my bank balance is incredibly grateful for! It also comes in White or Tan if those colours are more up your alley.

This bag is perfect for a night out and is large enough that you can fit everything you need in it – purse, phone, keys, makeup – plus plenty room for more. It has a detachable silver chain strap making it versatile for different occasions and metal embellishments on the fold over closure adding a little extra oomph. The quality of the bag seems to be great and for the price I’m insanely happy with it.

If you are after this bag, you can purchase it from KoKo Couture‘s website but what’s even greater is that they are being stocked in Topshop stores so these beautiful bags are now even more accessible, along with more of KoKo Couture‘s line.

Have you ever tried KoKo Couture bags? What do you think of them?

Thanks for reading,

 

VALENTINE’S DAY CUT CREASE

It’s the day after Valentine’s day but a lot of you will probably still be celebrating into the weekend. Or if you’re like me, you might even be celebrating next week! So to keep myself in the spirit, I thought I would create a Valentine’s makeup look. This look might not be for everyone but it’s fun and that’s the way I tend to go when creating themed looks so I hope you like it.

I’ve tried to keep this makeup tutorial drugstore product based so it can be achieved by anyone and of course, the products I’ve used can be changed to suit what you already own.

I start the look by applying my base as usual.  I’m not going to go into detail about what I use because the focus of this post is the eyes.

I prime my eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden which helps keep the eyeshadow I’m about to use in place, while concealing any darkness and veins.

I then use the lightest, cream matte shade in my Makeup Revolution Redemption Essentials Mattes 2 Palette all over the lid to set my primer.

Using a blending brush, I take an almost neon matte pink eyeshadow into the crease as usual, gradually adding more to make the crease more vibrant. I continue by adding a selection of darker pinks and a hint of purple to make the crease even more defined. Using the same pink shades, I add some colour to the lower lash line. The palettes I chose to use for this are BH Cosmetics First Edition 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette and Makeup Revolution Redemption Acid Brights Palette.

To create the cut crease, I carve out my eyelid with concealer and blend this in. I also take the concealer out as far as I would when applying winged eyeliner. Keep your lines straight and clean cut. Again, I set this with the same light matte shade as before, then I use an off-white shimmer shade all over the lid. If you want to keep your look matte, then miss out this step.

Moving onto eyeliner, I take the NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Fire, which is a red/pink shade, and create a thin wing to define my eyes.

With the NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Petal (a pale, baby pink) I draw small hearts along the winged eyeliner, evenly spaced out. I find this step pretty tricky but if you take your time it should work out fine. If not, practice makes perfect!

I then go back and add any definition I think is needed to make the pink cut crease pop, ensuring I avoid any part of the eye where I applied concealer.

I finish off by applying some L’Oreal Paris False Lash Flutter Mascara and theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter in my inner corners and along the brow bone and I’m ready to go.

I hope you all like the final look. If you try this out, please let me know and direct me to any photos because I would love to see!

I also want to know how did you spend Valentine’s Day this year? If you’re like me and haven’t celebrated yet, how are you spending your time?
Thanks for reading,

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REVIEW | NYX VIVID BRIGHTS EYELINER

Are you looking to add a little bit of colour to your life? Well, what better way than adding some bright, playful eyeliner to your makeup look!

Since arriving in Boots, NYX has quickly become one of my favourite drugstore brands so when I saw these Vivid Brights eyeliners I knew I had to try them out.

I originally purchased the pastel purple eyeliner in the shade Blossom and over time I’ve kept going back for more and at a very affordable price of £5.50, can you really blame me?

Packaging

Each eyeliner bottle comes packaged in a cardboard box (in my opinion, this box is far too much for the product and does seem a waste) and long and slim in shape. The brush in each tube is a fine tip brush which allows for a thin application of colour to be applied to the eye. Personally, I don’t get on too well with the brush as I prefer a pen-type nib for applying eyeliner and I find anything else doesn’t give me the same accuracy but others I’ve spoken to swear by the Vivid Brights brush!

Quality

Let’s start with the formula of the eyeliners. It is quite watery in consistency but dries down completely matte. I suggest applying a thin layer of product because if you apply more than necessary it can have a tendency to crumble which is not what anyone wants but if you apply the correct amount it will last all day. I love wearing these above black eyeliner to intensify and add some dimension to a look or on their own to really give that pop of colour. Each way works great!

After two coats, the pigmentation of the Vivid Brights is opaque and indeed colourful. I would say some of the shades, such as Envy (green) and Halo (yellow), aren’t as bright as you may expect them to be so I would swatch the colours to know what you are buying and to avoid disappointment. For me though, this isn’t a problem and I like that some of the shades are more pastel as this makes them more wearable. For colours such as these, I recommend wearing above black eyeliner to define your eye since they are paler than some of the others. Fire and Sapphire are two of my favourite shades that do remain true to colour and are as vibrant as you would expect. These are beautiful worn on their own for a statement cat eye look.

Colours

There are 9 colours in the collection available at Boots which cover all your needs.

Of the 9 shades, I have 6 which are pictured above – minus the pastel yellow eyeliner in Halo as I couldn’t find it…

From top to bottom:

– Blossom (pastel pink)

– Petal (baby pink)

– Fire (hot pink/red)

– Sapphire (royal blue)

– Envy (leaf green)

Overall, I absolutely love these eyeliners to add some fun to a simple makeup look and they are perfect for fancy dress/Halloween. They are super affordable and I’d highly recommend giving them a go. I’ll definitely be picking up the other colours!

Which is your favourite shade?

Thank for reading,

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WHAT I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS 2016

Christmas came and left in a flash. All that build up for one day sometimes seems a bit excessive but when you see the face of loved ones when you give them their gifts it does seem worth it in the end. I had a lovely, quiet Christmas with my family and I hope you all had a wonderful time too.

It’s now February so this post is long overdue! I considered not even posting this but you splendid lot still wanted to see it.

So here is what I got for Christmas.

From My Parents

I felt very lucky this year with my presents from my parents. I was treated to a lovely shoulder bag from Dune and a simple, classic-looking watch from Olivia Burton, both of which I love!

My parents also know I am stationery obsessed so I found myself with some new notebooks, a weekly planner, washi tape for decorating my Plum Paper planner (if you want to see a post about how I decorate mine, let me know) and some very cute post-it notes that are stacked to resemble a pile of gifts.

My parents know how much I am longing for a Mini as my next car but right now I can’t afford one. I’ve wanted a Mini since I were little so they couldn’t resist finally buying me my ‘first Mini‘. They thought they were hilarious when I opened the box up to find a toy car.

I also received some workout gear, which I’m hoping will help me find some motivation to complete Kayla Itsine’s Bikini Body Guide, some cute jumpers and some pretty, dainty pieces of jewellery .

If there is one other thing my parents know about me, it’s that I love all things beauty so I ended up opening a fair few beauty bits on Christmas day, much to my delight!

I received some body care products such as a Body Shop gift set in the Wild Argan Oil scent and a selection of Soap & Glory products which are some of my favourites (is it Christmas without some Soap & Glory though?)

I don’t wear much perfume as overpowering scents can give me headaches so I grudge paying too much for one. The perfume I was gifted is from Zara and is perfect for me. Also, the bottle is gorgeous and different to the packaging normally found which I love.

I was also lucky to receive some makeup bits from my parents. I’ve been on the hunt for my first high-end foundation and I think Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation could be the one. I’ve only used it a few times but I’m really enjoying it so far.  I was also given some NYX products such as the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Budapest, which is now a staple in my collection, as well as a personalised Makeup Obsession palette with a selection of eyeshadows, blusher and contour pans. The palette will be perfect for travelling!

From My Sister, Hannah

Speaking of travelling, my sister was very thoughtful and made me a hamper of travel related gifts since she knows I want to jetset all over the world.

First off, I received a travel pillow in the design of a monster which will be perfect for my long flight to Japan this year. Another useful gift for Japan is the marble print passport holder and luggage tag, so pretty!

She also bought me some travel themed notebooks to add to my evergrowing stationery collection.

The last present in the hamper was a scratchable world map. I really like this as I can scratch off where I am been in the world so I know where I need to visit next as well as having something to look at to remind me of the amazing holidays I’ve been on.

From My Best Friend, Holly

Holly and I are as obsessed as each other when it comes to makeup so I knew I should expect a very exciting gift from her.

She gifted me a few bits some the Sleek Rockstar Collection such as the i-Lust Palette which has some colourful shimmer shades for brightening up an eye look. On the same theme, is the palette from BH Cosmetics. This palette has two layers eyeshadows in every colour you will ever need. I am so excited to play with this and create some fun makeup looks.

Holly knows I’ve been lusting over Jeffree Star highlighters so she picked up one in Lavender Snow for me which is the most perfect, blinding highlight and now I want more.

To complete an already amazing present was the Film Noir Nights Makeup kit from Charlotte Tilbury which includes an kohl eyeliner and an exclusive lipstick in the shade Opium Noir. It’s gorgeous!

From My Boyfriend, Blair

I wasn’t expecting much from Blair as we haven’t been together very long and even then we have only known each other for a short time but from the gifts he gave me I can tell he already knows me so well!

Something you might not know about me is that I have a love for all things skulls. I have an assortment of skulls in my room, in the form of candles, ornaments, prints etc, and I also love a cup of tea. So when I opened up the box to find a skull mug, I was ecstatic.

Blair, as well as everyone in my life, knows about my makeup addiction but for him to pick out a Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick, one of my favourite liquid lipsticks, I was so shocked and impressed. I have quite the collection now too so for him to pick out a colour that I don’t own impressed me further. He obviously pays attention. I also love that he picked a bright, out-there shade since he knows I like to experiment with unique lip colours.

He also kindly paid for our tickets to see The Kooks in Manchester in April which will be an exciting, little trip for us. If anyone has any recommendations for what we should do when we are in Manchester that would be amazing!

As you can tell, I was truly spoilt and I am very grateful for everything I received from my friends and family this Christmas. I can seriously say I love everything I was given!

What did you get for Christmas?

Thanks for reading

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MOXY HOTEL LAUNCH – ABERDEEN

At the end of last year, I was invited to the opening of a brand new hotel in Aberdeen. Situated near Aberdeen’s International Airport, this hotel – The Moxy – is the first of its kind in the UK and if the launch party was anything to go by, I think we will be seeing many more of these hotels popping up over the UK in top destinations.

Moxy Hotel is a fun, quirky brand that aims to bring the customer a boutique-feeling stay at an affordable price.

The magenta Moxy logo is vibrant and really sets the tone throughout the hotel.

Inside, we were greeted with a free bar that made cocktails on request and stocked a selection of drinks you could just help yourself to, such as wine, champagne and not forgetting local beer brand, Fierce Beer.

Now, I have never been a fan of beer but I actually really enjoyed this. Check them out here.

BLOG GOALS FOR 2017

It’s nearly been a year since I started my blog and I love it. I’m happy with my content, I’ve been able to go to blogger events and meet some really lovely people.

So, in 2017, I want to step things up a gear and put even more time and energy into my little blog.

I’ve made a list of the goals I want to achieve throughout the year and hopefully I can look back in 2018 and feel proud of how far I have come.

So here are my goals:

1. Stick to a blog schedule of at least 1 post a week

I’ve always aimed to do this but sometimes life gets in the way. From now on, I am going to have a few posts written in advance so that I always have a blog post to launch. My upload day will be a Wednesday.

2. Collab with other bloggers for the first time

This is something I wanted to do last year but never really knew how to go about it. Over the past few months though, I’ve got to know a lot more bloggers so hopefully I can come up with some fun collab ideas. This includes finally meeting my fellow Mcfly fan, Karina , and cracking out some exciting posts for you all. I’ve known Karina for over 10 years now so it’s crazy we are yet to meet each other in person.

3. Increase my social media following

Social media, I feel, plays a very important part in the running of a successful blog. You can have the best written content ever but if no one knows about your blog your posts won’t be read. So, I aim to increase my following on Instagram to 2000 followers and Twitter to 1500 followers by the end of the year. My links will be below if you fancy helping me out!

4. Hit 15,000 views on my blog

This is quite a large goal for me and one I’m not sure if I can reach but I will give it my best shot!

5. Reach 1000 blog followers 

I know it’s not all about numbers but I do feel a sense of achievement when I reach certain milestones and to reach 1000 would be incredible.

6. Go to more blogger events

I went to a few blogger events in 2016 and they are some of my favourite memories from the year. Hopefully, I get to go to many more this year and get to know the bloggers in my city even better. It would also be great to go to some events outwith Aberdeen and get to meet even more wonderful people.

7. Comment and interact with other bloggers more often

This is something I find myself pretty bad at. I plan to take more time out to read others’ posts and actually leave comments rather than just liking them.

8. Improve my photography

I do feel I have made some improvement already with my blog photography. I now have a softbox to help me with lighting which helps a huge deal, but I definitely have work to do on the arrangement of flatlays and figuring out how to actually work my DSLR. With more practice, I will get there.

I’m very motivated this year to achieve great things with my blog and I’m so happy I took the plunge almost a year ago. If you are on the fence about beginning one like I was, I say just go for it! I can almost guarantee you will not regret it.

If you are also a blogger, what are your blog goals for 2017?

Thanks for reading,

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Around this time of year, we all begin to start thinking about what we are going to do differently in the year ahead. For 2017, I have thought of a few things I am aiming to do to make the year a good one and I’ve decided to share them with you.

GET BACK INTO MY FITNESS

By this, I mean both completing in regular exercise again as I have recently fallen off the bandwagon and also eating healthier. This year, I started Kayla Itsine’s workout guide and was the fittest I have ever been. I then went on holiday and found it very tough to get back into the swing of things when I came home. Through eating healthier and starting the workout programme again, I aim to get back to that level of fitness. I still want to have fun though, I am allowed treats.

CHRISTMAS TAG

I’ve seen Christmas tag posts all over social media at the moment so I thought I would join in.

1. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE?

My favourite would have to be either The Santa Clause or Elf, they are two films that really help me get into the Christmas spirit and will watch every year! Saying that, I haven’t watched either yet – must get on that.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS COLOURS?

Up until this year, I’ve always loved gold at Christmas as our whole house has always been decorated in that colour so that signifies Christmas to me. This year, however, I am really into red decor.

COLOURPOP LIQUID LIPSTICK HAUL

Part two of my Colourpop haul is on the ultra matte/satin liquid lipsticks. If you want to see the first part on their eyeshadows, check it out here.

Colourpop has become my favourite brand for liquid lipsticks. I find they are the most long lasting of any brand I’ve tried and I have quite the collection. They are incredibly affordable at  $6 each, bearing in mind that these are coming from the US and you will be charged a customs charge when they arrive in the UK but I still think they are worth this extra cost.