Tag: Lifestyle

5 TIPS FOR SELLING ON DEPOP

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 10, 2022
No Comments on 5 TIPS FOR SELLING ON DEPOP

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Recently, I’ve been having a clear-out of my wardrobe. There’s lots that I don’t wear anymore and I could do with an overhaul as my style has really changed. I also seem to have developed an addiction for gym wear since starting my fitness journey so I’m going to need to make some room for that!

Over the last few months, I’ve been using Depop to sell my clothes. At first I didn’t have much success but after picking up a few tips and tricks here and there I’ve managed to make quite a bit of money. So, if you’re organising your wardrobe or want to make some extra money, here are 5 tips for selling on Depop!

1. Make an effort with your photos

If you want people to even notice you, let alone purchase what you’re selling, you need to put some time and effort into your photography. Consider lighting, background and how you want to display your item. You can lay things flat on the floor or your bed, model them or show them hanging up. If you’re able to model the clothes yourself, do it. It’s a great way to give customers an idea of how an item will look on them. Depop recommends that you use all 4 photo slots to increase your visibility, so make sure that you do this! Take a picture of the front, the back, the label and any other details you want to capture. Always include a photo of any signs of wear or damage to the item too!

2. Upload regularly and consistently

This is key for getting people to notice you and your shop. I personally find that batch uploading is a great way to do this. I take a load of photos in one go, quickly make them into drafts on Depop and include information like the material that the items are made of or the condition that they’re in. This means I have the photos and information ready to upload wherever I am. It makes it so much easier and quicker to do! The more regularly that you upload, the more your shop gets shown to potential customers.

3. Refresh your listings

This might not have crossed your mind. It didn’t cross mine for weeks and I was missing out on a lot of sales because of it. Depop is a big place and there are millions of items being uploaded every single day. People are very unlikely to see your listings weeks after you’ve uploaded them. Refreshing your listings is really simple. Firstly, select an item, perhaps the one furthest down in your shop and choose the “Edit this item” option. Then you want to type a space somewhere that it can’t be noticed, like at the bottom of the description that you’ve written. Once you’ve done this, press save. Your listing will shoot right back to the top of your shop and will go back into the Depop algorithm as if it were brand new. I like to do this a few times a week whilst I’m watching TV or whenever I have a few minutes spare. You’d be surprised at how much this helps!

4. Don’t forget costs & fees

Depop take a 10% fee for every item sold. Make sure that you keep this in mind when pricing your item and whether or not you want to charge for postage. Depop sometimes remove seller fees for a short period of time which I highly recommend making the most of!

5. Use relevant hashtags and keywords

This is a huge help for getting buyers to find what they’re looking for. If you’re selling a pair of pink leggings from ASOS that someone wants, how do you help them find it? Make sure you’re using keywords such as “ASOS”, “Leggings” and “Pink”. Do the same with hashtags; “#ASOS #Leggings #Pink”. You want to try and include all of the terms that someone wanting to find them would use. Avoid using irrelevant hashtags. It is misleading and also actually prevent you from being found.

So there you have it, my top five tips for selling on Depop! I hope you find them helpful. If you’d like to have a browse for yourself, check out my shop here. Do you sell on Depop? What about other selling apps? Do you have any tips to share? Let me know in the comments!

N xxxx

Tags Depop, eBay, FASHION, Lifestyle, Making Money, Photography, Photos, Selling, Thrifting, Tips

FITNESS LIFE

THE FITNESS DIARIES: GETTING STARTED

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date September 29, 2021
No Comments on THE FITNESS DIARIES: GETTING STARTED

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Today’s post is the start of a new series here on my blog called “The Fitness Diaries” (not the most creative but it is what it is). I decided this summer that I was going to give my life a makeover, starting with my mental and physical health. I want to track and share my progress with you so I thought I’d begin with the hardest part, starting.

As someone with clinical depression, I have highs and lows that often seem to come from nowhere. However, I have noticed that some things can trigger a dip in my mental health. One of those is around identity. If I don’t feel a sense of purpose I tend to get really down. I had a really bad dip in late 2019 and early 2020 which I never really recovered from. Taking care of my mind and body had completely stopped being a priority. I gained some weight and I looked tired and miserable. Every time I looked in the mirror, I didn’t like what I saw and I didn’t recognise myself. I tried some home workouts but I never stuck with them.

Joining the gym was something I had been debating for a really long time. Despite wanting to get fit, I was scared of walking into a fitness focused environment and feeling intimidated and overwhelmed. I was worried I would end up comparing myself to everyone else and losing sight of my own goals. Secondly, I had completely forgotten what to do in that environment. Would I would stick out like a sore thumb around people that knew what they were doing? What if I drop a weight? What if I look stupid? Sigh, we really are our biggest critics sometimes.

In terms of goals, I have none other than to lose a little bit of weight (no amount desired – just until I feel comfortable), tone up and improve my mental health.

Week One (1 hour of cardio/day)

June 2021: Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I had to at least give it a go before decided I’d hate it. So I walked in, signed up and I went to the gym that evening. To make me feel more comfortable, I covered up in a baggy t-shirt and leggings so that I wasn’t bothered about how I looked. I walked straight over to a treadmill, jumped on, put my headphones in and marched away for an hour. I was sweating like you wouldn’t believe but when that hour was up I was so proud of myself. Just to keep it real, I literally had to sit on the floor in front of a fan afterwards to catch my breath. A member of staff even came and asked if I was okay (dying laughing as I write this). I was so embarrassed but we’ve all got to start somewhere.

I decided that I was just going to to use the treadmill every day to begin with. No weights or machines, just me and my legs walking for an hour or so. I went every evening, and slowly I stayed for longer, listening to podcasts and music that I loved. If I was really enjoying what I was listening to, I would increase the incline and speed, so I was distracted whilst working harder! Within a week I had lost some weight and I was looking much happier and healthier. I found it easier to eat better too as I could literally see my hard work taking effect. I didn’t cut any food out, I simply made better choices.

It wasn’t all easy, it’s hard to do something like this when you don’t love yourself. There were definitely some low points this week. I was fighting my own demons all the time and I could barely look at myself in the mirror. The last thing I wanted to do was get changed and walk to the gym but I did it.

Week Two (2 hours of cardio/day)

June 2021: It was in this second week that I started to look and feel like a different person. The weight was practically dropping off me, my mind was a much more peaceful place and I finally started to respect myself. For the first time in years, I had actively forced myself to think about me for at least an hour a day. I put all my energy into bettering myself and something clicked.

Suddenly I found myself waiting for gym time and I practically skipped there when 6 o’clock came around. I was no longer dragging myself there every evening, I actually wanted to go and I looked forward to it. Within such a short space of time, I started to feel a sense of community at the gym. I was becoming one of the regulars (gasp) and I started chatting to people that would go at the same time as me. I finally started to feel as though I belonged there.

Week Three (40 minutes of cardio & 1 hour of full body weight training/day)

June 2021: This week I ordered myself some leggings (linked below) and some new gym gear. I was now going every day and the wash loads were becoming ridiculous! By this point, I had definitely noticed a lot of physical changes. The weight I had gained during lockdown and through depressive bingeing was nowhere to be seen. I felt good about myself. I was still starting each session with about an hour on the treadmill but I now felt confident enough to start using machines. A whole session dedicated to one thing was something I still wasn’t sure about yet, but I felt I could manage a bit more. I started using the leg press machine, seated press machine and lots of other equipment to work my whole body.

Here are the links to the red leggings and the navy leggings!

Two months (20 minutes cardio & 2 hours of focused training/day)

July 2021: Excuse the moody face and hand gesture. The first picture was sent to my best friend BUT take a look at those abs please! I was in such good shape at this point. I looked lean and toned and my skin was the best it had ever been. At this point I was doing dedicated training days; legs, glutes, core, arms, back and chest and I could see the difference. It was at this point that other people were noticing a change in me, physically and mentally. I was receiving compliments which made me feel great about myself and encouraged me to push harder.

Three months (20 minutes of cardio & 2 hours of focused training/day)

August 2021: I was starting to love myself. I respected my body a lot more after seeing what it was capable of and after putting so much work into sculpting it. I was eating better, drinking lots of water and I was much more confident. I’d ordered myself some shorts to wear at the gym, which was a huge deal as I never felt confident with my legs out. I had made a few friends at the gym and I was also sharing my progress on social media. The response had really encouraged me to keep going. I felt a huge sense of achievement as by this point, I’d been going to the gym on a daily basis, for three months for a minimum of two hours each day. I’d never stuck to something for this long and I’d never been this focused on myself before.

Here’s the link for these black shorts

Four months:

September 2021: long story short I went through a whopper of a breakup and I hit rock bottom but I was determined not to lose the progress I had made. I kept going and I kept showing up every day. This was definitely a moth for learning about myself. I figured out that I needed a whole lotta self-love, not the kind that focuses on the future but the kind that is content with who you are today.

I realised my worth and I recognised how much I needed to believe in myself and I spent a lot of time reflecting on different periods of my life. Having been in a relationship for the last five years, I had completely forgotten who I was as an individual. I had sort of lost myself and the gym was helping me work on that. All of that sob story aside, this month was when I looked and felt my best physically.

So there you have it, my first few months of progress after starting at the gym. My mental health has improved immeasurably and becoming physically fit was an added bonus as far as I’m concerned. In terms of my physical health, I’m really in shape, I feel good about my body and I feel much more confident than I used to in certain outfits for example. I think my next goal is to just maintain this level of fitness, I don’t want to lose or gain any more weight, I just want to keep this as a hobby and as a form of daily self-care. Do you go to the gym? Are you wanting to start? Do you prefer to workout at home? Let me know in the comments!
N xxxx

Tags blogger, Fitness, Gym, Lifestyle, Photography, Photos, Summer

MANCHESTER PLACES

VISITING THE FEEL GOOD CLUB IN MANCHESTER

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 3, 2021
No Comments on VISITING THE FEEL GOOD CLUB IN MANCHESTER

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Last weekend I visited the Feel Good Club in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. I had a lovely catch up with an old friend and we ended up staying there for almost six hours. I had such a lovely time and luckily I remembered to take lots of photos, so I simply have to share it with you all!

What is the Feel Good Club?

The Feel Good Club is a coffee house but not just any old. It’s also a space for anyone and everyone. It’s a coffee shop with a real focus on mental health and wellbeing and it’s the first of its kind in the city. Their mission is to make you feel good every time that you visit! Not only do they serve delightful delicacies and cosy cuppas, they also offer the opportunity to take part in yoga classes and movie nights, to listen to guest speakers and to visit pop-up galleries showcasing local artists and businesses. If that wasn’t enough for you, their staff members are Mental Health first Aid trained to help support their customers in the best way possible. Something I was particularly impressed with was the way they displayed supportive and positive messages on billboards across the city, encouraging people to keep going. Also, get this – on Fridays, they open the space up for “Freelance Fridays”, to encourage self-employed people to use the venue for free as a place to network and feel part of a community!

Adverts in Manchester city for the Feel Good Club with positive mental health messages

What is their story?

The Feel Good Club was created by wives, Aimie and Kiera Lawlor-Skillen. They wanted to design a space where people could talk about mental health openly and honestly and where people would feel happy and safe. They originally started the initiative online, creating a huge community across various social media platforms. After being such a huge hit, the couple wanted to take it a step further and bring it to life, so The Feel Good Club opened in 2020! Despite the pandemic giving them all kinds of unexpected challenges, Manchester received the coffee house with open arms and it proved to be extremely popular.

My Experience

We ended up choosing this coffee shop because my friend said she had heard great things about it…little did we know we would end up spending the whole day there! The moment I stepped foot in the place I felt calm. It was so bright and cheerful. It’s very open, which I love as I can often feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. There were lots of seating options, including the windowsill with some cushions which looked perfect for days where you need to study or get some work done.

The place is filled with joy and colour. It’s such a positive place to be and the vibes were immaculate *chef’s kiss*. Towards the back of the room, they had a little section dedicated to their own merchandise and some goodies from local businesses. One of which, Fruit Loop Studios, need a shoutout of their own – check out their Etsy page here. There was even a little affirmation station where customers could write a positive and encouraging note for someone else to discover. It was such a human place, with a real focus on mental health at the core.

Biscoff stuffed cookie at the feel good club in Manchester

Avocado on sourdough bread at the feel good club in Manchester

Tea and stuffed cookies at the feel good club in Manchester

Obviously I had to be all millennial about it and order myself something avocado related (with a sprinkling of radish and spring onion) but let me tell you this was DELICIOUS. I also had some Earl Grey with vanilla supplied by local business Tea Keepers, which was heavenly. We were there so long that we needed to eat something else later on, and that ladies and gentleman is when I fell in love with a biscoff stuffed cookie. I mean look at it? I limited myself to a bite every few minutes to make it last as long as possible. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

What did I think?

I absolutely love this place. It set me up for the week and that was on a good day so I can only imagine how fantastic it is to visit on a bad day. I felt calm, relaxed and comfortable enough to spend the day there which is unusual for me as I normally feel a bit boxed in after a while in a coffee shop or restaurant. The prices weren’t stupid either which is always a bonus for a city-based hangout. I love that they encourage freelancers to use the space to create a community of their own. It’s also lovely to see somewhere promoting local businesses in almost every aspect of what they do. I will absolutely be going back, maybe with my laptop to do some work, in the future. I can see myself being in there alone and feeling safe and totally chilled, which again is rather unusual for me. I look forward to seeing what else they do with the space and whether or not they open up any more Feel Good Clubs across the country. I can see them doing very well in other cities too – especially as a place for people to take a break after a stressful day or to stop by in their lunch breaks. I’m excited for them, I really am. If you’re visiting Manchester, or you’re here already, be sure to go and see it for yourself!

N xxxx

Tags Cafe, Coffee, Lifestyle, Manchester, Mental Health, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Travel, Travel Guide, Wellbeing

LIFE

THE BEST SHOWS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX IN 2020

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date March 20, 2020
No Comments on THE BEST SHOWS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX IN 2020

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all as well as you can be in these difficult times. I know that the majority of us are self-isolating right now so our good old friend Netflix is getting plenty of use. Given the circumstances, I thought now was the perfect time to produce the ultimate list of the best shows to watch on Netflix whilst we’re all at home… I’ve included shows that I have watched and loved as well as recommendations from friends and family – enjoy!

Also if you’re looking for a new skill to learn in lockdown, check out my post all about how to do gel nails at home!

CRIME DRAMA

Unforgotten
Breaking Bad
Better Call Saul
Happy Valley
You
One of Us
The Sinner
Line of Duty
Peaky Blinders
Bodyguard
Collateral
Criminal
The Alienist

Mindhunter
Manhunt: Unabomber
Prison Break
Sherlock
In the Dark
Unbelievable
Luther
When They See Us
Narcos
How To Get Away With Murder
Power
Fargo
Elite

DRAMA

Gossip Girl
Vampire Diaries
Doctor Foster
Spinning Out
Safe
Broken
Dirty John
The Stranger
Riverdale

Orange is The New Black
Bloodline
Mad Men
Suits
The Crown
Living with Yourself
Sex Education
The Society
Shameless

TRUE CRIME

The Staircase
The People vs. O.J. Simpson
Three Girls
The Investigator: A British Crime Story
Making a Murderer
Cold Case Files
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem & Madness

The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
The Pharmacist
I am a Killer
The Keepers
Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
The Confession Killer
Who Killed Little Gregory?

SITCOM

That 70s Show
Friends
Friday Night Dinner
Gavin & Stacey
White Gold
The Office

How I Met Your Mother
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Big Bang Theory
The Good Place
Schitt’s Creek
Grace & Frankie

COMEDY

Gilmore Girls
After Life
Outnumbered
Orange Is the New Black

Derek
Atypical
The Thick of It
Arrested Development

FANTASY

The Witcher
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Once Upon a Time
Locke & Key
I Am Not Okay With This

Lucifer
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
The Letter For The King
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments

SCI-FI

Black Mirror
Altered Carbon
Stranger Things
Sense 8

Orphan Black
V Wars
Love, Death & Robots
Lost in Space

HORROR

American Horror Story
The Haunting of Hill House
The Mist
Dead Set

The Returned
Hannibal
Marianne
Scream

DOCUSERIES

Cheer
Planet Earth
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
100 Humans
Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father
Dogs
Formula 1: Drive to Survive

Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends
Our Planet
Chef’s Table
Frozen Planet
Diagnosis
Intervention
Pandemic
Babies

REALITY

Love is Blind
Queer Eye
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Sugar Rush
Next in Fashion
The Final Table
Haunted

Derren Brown – The Push
Tidying Up
Back with the Ex
Jailbirds
Death by Magic
Derren Brown – Miracle
Girls Incarcerated

There we have it folks, the ultimate list of the best shows to watch on Netflix. What are your favourite shows on Netflix? Let me know if I’ve missed anything in the comments. You can find other places to follow me below!

N xxxx

Tags Best Shows, Binge Watch, Lifestyle, Netflix, Netflix UK, Photography, Photos, Self-Isolation, Series, TV

LIFE

3 PODCASTS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date October 8, 2019
No Comments on 3 PODCASTS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Since I’ve come back from university, I’ve been struggling a bit with figuring out how best to spend my time. I’ve got a LOT of tidying and organising to do, I need to build on my social life a bit more and also keep my blog and social media up and running. When I think about everything that I need to do, it’s hard to stay motivated so I’ve been looking for ways to keep upbeat and motivated whilst I’m tackling these tasks. I’ve always enjoyed listening to podcasts whilst I go about my day as they can be playing in the background and I can crack on with other things in the meantime. I’ve been particularly loving and appreciating the funnier podcasts out there recently and I thought I would share a list of my favourites with you!

I’ve actually written a post about some of my favourite podcasts here if you’re interested!

My Dad Wrote a Porno

Oh my god this is so funny. I don’t think I’d ever experienced a full on laughing fit on my own before I’d listened to this. It often has me wheezing in public and crying with laughter on public transport. It’s just flipping brilliant. I’ve actually already mentioned this particular podcast before on my blog (here) which has in fact (claim to fame) been praised by the porno author himself! The podcast features a guy called Jamie Morton, who’s father (pen name being Rocky Flintstone) happens to have written a porno series called Belinda Blinked (totally normal). He sits down with his friends Alice Levine and James Cooper and they read and analyse a chapter of the porno every week. The writing itself is hilariously bad, but the content will have you in pain from laughing so hard. They often have celebrities as guests on the podcast, including Elijah Wood, Daisy Ridley and Michael Sheen. Take my word for it, it’s the funniest podcast out there.

**Image** **Source**: https://chrisramseycomedy.com/podcast

Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed

This is just brilliant and I’m actually listening to it whilst I’m writing this! It features Chris and Rosie Ramsey, the most down to earth couple ever. Every week, they discuss the things that they find most annoying about each other, the pains of parenting and they answer questions from the public and from celebrities too! It’s just so human and relatable. This podcast is my favourite thing to listen to when I’m cleaning or when I’m getting things done around the house. It’s SO good and has me laughing like a weirdo to myself every week. They both have those kind of laughs that are incredibly contagious and you cannot help but start cackling along too. Chris is currently on Strictly Come Dancing too!

**Image** **Source**: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com

No Such Thing as a Fish

If you love the comedy show Qi, you will absolutely LOVE this podcast. Every week, the writers from the show all sit down together to share the best facts they’ve found out. Of course, just like the show, there’s no shortage of witty banter here. Not only do I love this podcast because it’s funny but I love that I actually learn something from each episode! I doubt I can use most of these facts in daily conversation but that’s besides the point… you never know when you’ll need to let someone know that in the time it takes to listen to the Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), the International Space Station travels 500 miles, then 500 more. Pub quizzes I’m coming for you…

What podcasts do you listen to? Have you listened to any of these before? Let me know in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would come and say hi!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags Comedy, Lifestyle, Podcast, Podcasts, Qi, Technology

LIFE

GRADUATION & LEAVING UNIVERSITY

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 23, 2019
2 Comments on GRADUATION & LEAVING UNIVERSITY

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m still not quite over the fact that I’m officially a graduate now…how on earth did I manage that? I thought it would be a nice idea to document my experience with graduation and ultimately, leaving university life behind.

My final term at university seems like one big panicked blur now, as I look back on it. In total, I had 7 assessments including a presentation, my dissertation (gag) and three exams. Keeping it real here, that period of my life was such a low for me, it was extremely stressful. You know when you’ve been doing something for so long you don’t know what you used to do before that? Eat, sleep, work, repeat! The days kept slipping away and the deadlines loomed closer until finally, it was all go and it was time for the exams. Have you ever come out of an exam totally convinced that you’ve failed? One of mine went so badly that I actually started laughing halfway through it! There was no doubt in my mind that I had completely screwed it up. I remember coming out of university to meet my dad and my best friends and all I could do was cry and panic. I proceeded to get very drunk and tried not to think too much about how I was probably going to be repeating the year again…but apparently I thought wrong!

Weeks later, drunk in the back of a taxi, (classy, I know) I got my results and I had absolutely smashed it! I got a 2:1 in Psychology with Criminology and I had completed my degree. The relief that I felt that night was enough to make me dizzy (that could have been all of the gin too) and I remember crying my eyes out on the phone to my dad at 1am telling him that I would be graduating a few weeks later. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud of myself – I was on top of the world!

I woke up feeling sick with nerves for graduation, which is strange when you think about it…we were literally gathering to celebrate our achievements – why were nerves involved? To be honest I think a lot of it was to do with the thought of me tripping over on stage, which thankfully didn’t happen. I’ve actually written about my day over on my pal Becca’s blog if you fancy having a look. So once we’d tottered to campus in our heels, we collected our robes and I had to get that god awful monopoly board of a hat fitted onto my tiny pea head. Speaking of which, I had a spot on my forehead (the kind that deserves it’s own postcode) and so I asked if it could be adjusted a tiny bit so my concealer would not be disturbed. When I said “a tiny bit”, I don’t think they heard as they proceeded to scrape my fringe back and make it look as though I had a five-head. Cheers guys!

Typical Trent spoiling all the fun with that sign in the background

Everyone on my course sat together in the University Hall, cheering each other on and getting some last minute mortarboard faffing done. We were ushered row by row to go downstairs before walking on stage to shake hands with the vice chancellor. I panicked so much before I went on stage that instead of saying “thank you” all I could think of was “sorry” which was rather unfortunate but at least it gave us something to laugh about. I did manage to avoid stacking it or wobbling in my heels so I’m pretty chuffed with that! We all went to grab some Prosecco afterwards and said our final goodbyes to some pals and to some of our tutors and lecturers. My favourite part of the day was definitely getting lots of photos with my friends and family – especially trying to explain the concept of a boomerang to my Dad…

It’s not graduation without a few outtakes, is it?

Leaving university was bittersweet. On the one hand, I couldn’t wait to get out into the world and leave behind the stress of academic life but on the other hand, it was so sad to say goodbye to a city that I love and a home that I had made my own over the last two years. Despite struggling a lot at university, I’m actually really going to miss student life. I’ll miss my friends and being able to just go to the pub or go for a coffee whenever we wanted. I will definitely miss the spontaneity of everything, random nights out and plans made at the very last minute. I’ll miss living with my boyfriend and seeing him every day, as we’ve been living together for three years now! I’ll miss the hustle and bustle of city life and all of the shops and the restaurants.

It felt like I spent years dreaming of the day I would finally go to university and now, I’m finished with it and I’m back home in my bedroom reflecting upon it all. What now? I know that it’s totally normal to experience feeling a little lost and slightly empty after such a big life change, some even describe it as “post-university depression”. I don’t really know who I am when I’m not in education, working with a timetable towards deadlines. I’ve kind of forgotten how to live like a normal person doing normal things! I’m doing my best to figure it all out slowly and I’m taking each day as it comes. For now, I’m working really hard on my blog and on my social media.

Have you recently graduated? Are you about to start university? Let me know in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would come and say hi! Also, for those of you that are about to start university or you’re moving into a flat, look no further, I have a post featuring all of the bedroom essentials that you will need!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags blogger, Graduation, Lifestyle, Student, Studying, University

LIFE

GETTING MY FIRST TATTOO

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! In the midst of all of my deadlines and a very important final year at university, I accidentally stumbled into a tattoo parlour and booked in for a two hour session. I think the main thing holding me back, was the unknown. How much will it hurt? What if it goes wrong? What does it feel like? Will they be nice? Can I bring someone with me? I thought I would talk you through the process itself and answer as many of those questions as possible. I hope that this helps those of you that are scared or apprehensive about getting tattoos and for those of you that have been there and done that, I hope you like how mine turned out!

First things first, make sure that your blood sugar levels aren’t low on the day. The most common cause of fainting whilst getting a tattoo is because of the sudden drop in your blood sugar levels. It’s how your body naturally reacts when it feels pain so that is totally normal! My session was booked in for 1 o’clock so I had time for a proper breakfast and then I topped up on some sugary snacks and drinks whilst I was waiting. Once I arrived, my tattoo artist, Magda, sat down with me and showed me the design, which I LOVED! She printed off a few different sized templates for me to choose from and once I had made a decision, she stuck it to my ankle so that I could see where it would sit and how it would look.

I couldn’t figure out what all of the wires and the equipment was for when I first looked at it. It all looked so intimidating and I started to panic a tiny bit. I think that’s natural when you start to see all of the actual tattooing gear.

It was when I saw the bed that my nerves really kicked in. I’m sure lots of you will be thinking what’s all the fuss about, it’s just a tattoo, right? Well it was my first ever experience of getting one and it wasn’t just a small symbol either. With two hours ahead of me, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was shaking like a leaf and I couldn’t stop fidgeting! I made the mistake of sending my Dad this photo and he kindly replied “Looks like an operating theatre…” – lovely, thanks Dad? Magda suggested that I should lie on my side so that she could easily access my ankle and my leg and so that I would be comfortable.

I climbed on and lay there shaking (pathetic I know) whilst I clung onto my pal for support – her fingers actually went purple at this point. I asked Magda to count down from three so that I knew when it would begin and so I could see what it felt like before we carried on.

Let’s talk pain. Yep, it hurts. Not all the time, but it does hurt. Some people say it does and some people say it doesn’t – I think it totally depends on where you’re getting the tattoo and the shading that your design requires. The best way that I can describe it is that it’s like a persistent, sharp cat scratch. It’s actually more of an annoyance than anything else. We’re talking claws out, get off me you little shit kind of scratching.

Some parts were more painful than others. For example, the back of my leg was really painful but the front was something I became used to after a while. Like I said, I think it totally depends on the location of your tattoo. The shading was also quite painful but again, it was bearable once I knew what to expect. When it was time for my second tattoo, I was totally fine with it and I was even disappointed when it was all over!

What does getting a tattoo feel like? My first Tattoo experience

Excuse the blotchiness and the unflattering angle but this was the finished design! When we first moved into our house, my Dad planted a Cherry Blossom tree in our garden. We had a swing set right underneath where the blossom would fall. We used to spend hours in the garden playing on the swings, particularly during the Summer. It was one of our favourite things to do! After Ben died, I knew I wanted a tattoo that represented something that we had together. I wanted something that at first glance, people wouldn’t understand, something unique and personal.

That’s when I knew I wanted Cherry Blossom. One year, whilst we were playing in the garden, we both came face to face with a bee that seemed to be leaking something all over the paving stones. I started screaming that the bee was having a wee and Ben began to howl with laughter (we were only little, hence the toilet humour) and it became one of my favourite and funniest memories!

This one was designed with my mum in mind. Every night before I went to sleep, mum would come into my room and talk to me about my day. If I was anxious or worried about something she would say the following Chinese proverb to me: “Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still.”. The words clicked with me and they began to really mean something as I got older and was able to grasp the literal meaning behind it. It continues to shape me today and it has been the most soothing of thoughts at some of the hardest times in my life.

I thought the best symbol to represent these words was a semi-colon: not quite a full-stop but a pause before continuing. I’ve been struggling with chronic anxiety and depression since childhood. There have been times when it’s been manageable and there have been times when it’s just unbearable but it’s been a huge part of my life for many years. The one thing that has remained consistent is the support from my mum. I knew that the semi-colon was also a symbol for mental health so it all began to click into place from there! Mum has always loved painting in watercolour, so I wanted to incorporate that with the proverb that she has always told me.

*UPDATE – I returned for my touch-up and I asked for a couple of small changes. Don’t get me wrong, my original tattoo was beautiful and I was really happy with it but once it had healed and I had gotten over the initial excitement of it all, I realised it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. I had a chat with my tattoo artist and she was more than happy to include these changes in my free touch-up! I explained that I wanted something that looked like a watercolour painting, much softer and almost like you could see the water splashes and where the paint had bled. After an hour, I basically had the tattoo that I had always dreamed of.

If you compare the pictures, you’ll see how much it has changed. There’s so much more detail and the whole thing looks softer and more delicate. Moral of the story is, if you have ANY doubts about a tattoo that you’ve had done, say something! Even if you’re worried about it being an awkward conversation (a professional wouldn’t allow that anyway), it’s on you for life so it’s more than worth it just to make sure you’re happy.

Do you have any tattoos? Are you planning on getting one? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media – come and say hey!

N xxxx

Tags Art, blogger, Blogging, Cherry Blossom, Design, Flowers, Lifestyle, Photographs, Photos, Tattoo

BEAUTY SKINCARE

5 FACE MASKS THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 8, 2019
32 Comments on 5 FACE MASKS THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! It’s always at this time of year that my skin needs a boost the most. I’m not sure why I’m so shocked by this, every single time January rolls around (actually, I sort of roll into January after all I’ve eaten over Christmas). It’s no surprise that my skin is in protest after all that I’ve put it through! The weather doesn’t help either, my face feels as dry as a raisin. So, I’ve come up with a list of my favourite face masks to battle the blemishes and drench those dry patches. New year, new skin!

This post contains affiliate links

L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Blue Algae Blemish Rescue Face Mask

What is it: This mask is an absolute game-changer. It’s the one thing that I’m constantly recommending to everyone. I first tried it last year and since them, I’ve lost count of how many pots I’ve bought since. The mask combines three Pure Clays with Marine Algae extract, known for it’s spot-fighting properties. The mask feels creamy and hydrating and it also smells incredible! These amazing ingredients target pores by unclogging blackheads and reducing the appearance of blemishes. Surprisingly the mask leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh without drying it out whatsoever!

How to use it: After cleansing, I apply a thin layer all over my face. I usually wait for about 10-15 minutes, looking like a Smurf, before washing it off with warm water.

Dr. Botanicals Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask

What is it: I love skincare already but masks that work overnight are on another level. I don’t always have an afternoon to sit and wait for a face mask to fix my face. That’s why this Dr. Botanicals mask became an essential in my collection! It’s enriched with Pomegranate Extract, an antioxidant that smoothens and brightens for a glowing and radiant complexion! The mask nourishes dull and thirsty skin, which is perfect for January right? It’s also vegan-friendly and PETA approved too!

How to use it: I apply a thin layer all over my face and then I give it a few minutes to sink in before I hit the hay. Voila! That’s literally all you have to do! When I wake up, my skin feels so soft and refreshed – it’s kind of magic actually. Bye bye dry, hello glow!

Quick Fix Facials – Black Peel Mask

What is it: Quick Fix Facials are one of my favourite brands when it comes to face masks. I’ve always got at least one of their tubes on the go and my latest obsession is this Black Peel Mask. Packed with Activated charcoal, Witch Hazel and Allantoin, the mask targets blocked pores, excess oil and impurities. The charcoal helps to purify the skin by drawing out impurities and dead skin cells. Witch Hazel helps to keep the skin clear and tighten pores. Allantoin smooths the skins texture for a more even complexion. Basically, it gives your skin the deep cleanse that it really needs!

How to use: Apply and thin layer onto dry and cleansed skin, avoiding fine hairs (pain like no other, you’ve been warned) and allow it to dry for about 15-20 minutes before peeling off. Prepare for the most satisfying moment EVER. If you’re really gross like me, you can look at what the mask has drawn out, it’s mind-blowing! If there’s an residue left, you can just wash it off with some warm water and a flannel.

Argan+ – 5-Oil Miracle Clay Mask

What is it: They’ve actually rebranded and this mask is now called “Lift and Renew” and I’ve linked the new version above! This mask is amazing at renewing, nourishing and revitalising the skin. Enriched with Argan Oil and Shea Butter, it helps replenish and smooth fine lines. It also features Kaolin and Green Clay help draw out impurities. I use this mask whenever my skin is looking dull and

How to use it: Apply generously to clean, dry skin and allow to dry. Rinse off with warm water. I tend to use the mask once a week when I’m having a pamper night!

Good Things – Five Minute Facial Anti Blemish Face Mask

What is it: I discovered this in my local T.K. Maxx! They actually seem to be the only place that stock their masks at the moment, but you can always order from their site too. Whenever I can feel the blemishes creeping back – this magical tube comes to the rescue! It’s a multi-tasker, aiming to make your skin clearer, brighter and smoother – all in one go! The ingredients include green clay and kaolin to draw out impurities, avocado oil to nourish and moisturise, goji berry extract to soothe and willow bark extract for radiance. What a combination! When it comes to masks that target blemishes, I always worry that they will dry my skin out, but surprisingly this one leaves my skin feeling silky soft!

How to use: After cleansing, apply a thin layer and allow five minutes for it to dry. Splash with warm water and rinse off using warm water and a flannel. Use weekly.

There we have it ladies and gents! Five face masks that you definitely need in your life! What are your favourite face masks to use? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to follow me on my socials – come and say hi!

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, blogger, Dr Botanicals, Face Mask, Lifestyle, Mask, Photography, Photos, Skincare

LIFE

MY GOALS FOR 2019

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! 2018 has been both good and bad for me. I’ve had some difficult things to deal with, as well as celebrating some amazing achievements too. I want to try and make next year the best it can be and I thought I would share my 10 goals for 2019 with you! I’m hoping that because I have an entire blog post dedicated to this, I have no excuse but to stick with it. This time next year, let’s see how many of these goals I have achieved! I’d love to hear what your goals are for the new year, so be sure to comment some at the end of the post!

When I was younger, I used to read all the time! In the car, at school, before bed – I was always reading something. Even though I’m already struggling to manage my time in my final year of University, I definitely need to make time to read more. I regularly read peoples blog posts but it’s just not the same as having a story to get stuck into. I’m going start the year by absolutely rinsing Amazon’s stock of books! Does anyone have any recommendations, the kind that you can’t put down?

ACE MY FINALS

I’m slowly getting closer and closer to my university finals (as well as handing in my dissertation) and with that comes the pressure to do well. I don’t just want to scrape it, I want to be able to say I did my best and that I achieved a grade that I’m really proud of. So far I’ve been working my socks off so I’m hoping that next year when it comes to my exams, I’ll still be feeling this motivated!

RECOGNISING WHAT I DO WELL

I’m sure the saying goes; “you’re your own worst critic” and that’s very true in my case. I’ve always found it much easier to criticise everything that I do, rather than see the good in it. I will always manage to find a “but…” in response to compliments. I’m like this with my writing, with my singing (I used to perform regularly) and with my academic work. I once sung a massive song (Alive by SIA) and I didn’t hit a note the way that I wanted to. The performance was recorded and all I could think of every time I heard it back was how awful it was, even though nobody else could tell. It’s actually quite exhausting as I never seem to let myself off the hook. I aim to celebrate my successes far more next year. Although it’s good to give myself some criticism to improve, I need to make sure that I’m not being too harsh!

REACH 3K ON INSTAGRAM

I barely have time to keep up with social media whilst I’m studying but whenever I manage to dedicate the odd 10 minutes to it here and there, it always pays off. In 2019, I’m going to consider it as a side project, so that I always keep it going in the background – even when I’m really busy! My next goal is to hit 3K and fingers crossed I manage it! Be sure to follow me here!

PUSH MYSELF LITTLE & OFTEN

Last year, I found myself having at least two panic attacks a day and that was almost always because I’d tried to push myself too much. I kept doing things that made me anxious, just to keep everyone else happy or so that I wouldn’t miss out. For example, I sometimes find social things really stressful and at university – that’s hard to get away from! Rather than taking it easy, I kept pushing myself to attend everything which only left me feeling exhausted and deflated. This year, I want to continue to push myself little and often, so that it’s more manageable.

EAT MORE HEALTHY FOOD

Whenever I come home from university, I always lose so much weight and no doubt, it’s down to my eating habits. I share a flat with my boyfriend in central Nottingham, which means we always have access to Deliveroo and UberEats. At home however, the apps don’t work – so you do the math. I need to stop snacking and make sure that I eat proper meals every single day – no excuses! The odd dominos here and there never hurt anyone but I need to restrict myself to one every now and again rather than the nights when I can’t be bothered to cook.

START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL

This has been my dream since I was about 13 years old. I’ve always wanted to be creative and blogging has allowed me to do that, however Youtube has always been what I want to do. After I graduate – I can finally do it! I have the camera and the equipment ready and waiting so all that’s left to do is pick up the camera and go!

HAVE A SORT OUT

One of the things that makes my anxiety worse, is feeling like I’m constantly moving from one place to the next. Since moving to Nottingham and certainly since my Dad moved to Manchester, I feel like I’m constantly packing bags and living out of suitcases. At university, I spend most of my time doing work or in lectures on campus, so it never really feels like home. At my Dad’s, I haven’t had much of a chance to move my things in properly and make my bedroom my own. At mum’s I keep landing and dumping my bags before I have to head off somewhere else – it’s just a mess and I don’t feel at home! You know when you just have piles everywhere and bags that need unpacking? In 2019, once university is done and dusted, I’m diving straight into a (much needed) big sort out!

SUPPORT MORE SMALL BUSINESSES

It’s so easy to stumble into the usual high-street shops or Costa’s but I actually really enjoy discovering new and local places to visit. Since I started working for myself, I’ve realised how much every little helps – especially when it comes to word of mouth. I always like to recommend quirky coffee shops and sweet little gift shops to my friends. In 2019, I want to discover lots more as well as letting others know all about them! I read something the other day, about how Netflix didn’t need to advertise their new film, Birdbox, because we did it all for them on social media! If we can make Netflix some extra cash, think how powerful a like or a share is for a small business.

Join me in December to see how many of these goals I’ve smashed! Let me know what your goals are in the comments too.

N xxxx

Tags 2019, blogger, Books, Business, Goals, Lifestyle, New Year, Reflection, Resolutions, YouTube

2018 BLOGMAS

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2018: PERFECT PRESENTS TO SUIT YOUR POCKET*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 2, 2018
22 Comments on CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2018: PERFECT PRESENTS TO SUIT YOUR POCKET*

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Welcome to Blogmas Day 2! Today’s post is a HUGE Christmas gift guide. I’m really not a last minute buyer, as I like to be organised and ready for christmas early. No Christmas Eve panics for me, thank you very much! With my nearest and dearest it’s not that difficult. In fact it’s a pleasure to shop with them in mind – but I do sometimes suffer from gifter’s block. I often search online for inspiration, so I thought I’d offer you something here and now, as you read, to sort out your own seasonal challenges within your own comfortable price range! I’ve also included prices and links to everything so that you can make a purchase straight away if you see something that takes your fancy.

This post contains paid content for Ronny Colbie. This post also contains affiliate links which do not impact your purchases, but may mean that I earn a small amount of commission as a result.

FOR HER: UNDER £5

1. Jack Wills – Lip Balms // 2. M&S – Festive Dog Mug // 3. Santuary Spa – Cosmetic Bag 4. Zoella Beauty – Mini Supernova Collection // 5. Champneys – Hand Cream // 6. Yankee Candle – Tealights // 7. Sleek MakeUp – Ultimatte Lips // 8. Zoella Beauty – Milky Way Bath Powder // 9. Wilko – Pedicure Set // 10. Soap & Glory – Flake Away Body Polish // 11. Charbonnel et Walker – Heart Truffle Box // 12. Champneys – Harmonious Hands

FOR HIM: UNDER £5

1. The Real Shaving Co. – Weekend Kit // 2. Green & Blacks – Chocolate Mini Bars // 3. Black Ring // 4. Mocktail Scented Candles // 5. Expresso Martini Popcorn // 6. Coffee Syrups // 7. Bulldog – Sensitive Face Wash // 8. Gold Binder Clips // 9. Splice Storm Towels // 10. Chocolate Stones // 11. Red Leather Card Holder // 12. Sea Salt Caramel Truffles // 13. Storm Bath Bomb // 14. Artificial Succulent

FOR HER: UNDER £10

1. Sleep MakeUp – Star of the Show // 2. Real Techniques – Mini Miracle Sponges // 3. Zoella Lifestyle – Pencil Case // 4. John Lewis – Coffee Collection // 5. Baylis & Harding – Trio // 6. Missguided – Matte Liquid Lipsticks // 7. Holdsworth – Truffles // 8. John Lewis – Gin Made Me Do It Cocktail Recipes // 9. Boots – Stripes Cosmetic Bag // 10. Soap & Glory – Glitz the Girl

FOR HIM: UNDER £10

1. Black Diary // 2. House Shelf // 3. Banksy Calendar // 4. Baylis & Harding – Black Pepper & Ginseng Trio // 5. Cocoa Collection // 6. Champneys – Mens Duo Kit // 7. Camera Tin with Fudge // 8. Classic Ale Collection // 9. Brisk Grooming Trio // 10. Jack Daniels – Sauce Duo

FOR HER: UNDER £20

1. Benefit – Get the Pretty Started // 2. Zara – Animal Print Scarf // 3. Strawberry Truffles // 4. Gold Jewellery Holder with Mirror // 5. Pixi – Glow Tonic // 6. Slippers // 7. Compact Mirror // 8. All The Jingles Ladies Gift Set // 9. Missguided – I Believe in Me // 10. Laura Ashley – Candle // 11. Penguin Mug // 12. Bobble Hat & Mug

FOR HIM: UNDER £20

1. Wooden Ibed Lap Desk // 2. Seagrass & Linen Candle // 3. Jack Wills Travel Kit // 4. The Bodyguard – Box Set // 5. Whisky Selection // 6. Ploughmans Box // 7. Wash Bag // 8. Hotel Chocolat Goody Bag // 9. Throw

FOR HER: UNDER £50

1. Benefit Vanity Flare Palette // 2. Jo Malone – Peony & Blush Suede Candle // 3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Palette // 4. Babyliss Soft Waves Wand // 5. Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette // 6. Charlotte Tibury – Magic Eye Rescue // 7. Zoella Beauty – Wish Upon A Spa // 8. Ted Baker Card Holder // 9. Croft Collection Cafetiere // 10. Molton Brown Gift Collection // 11. Neom Wellbeing Set // 12. Whistles Clutch Bag

FOR HIM: UNDER £50

1. Champneys – Gym Holdall Set // 2. Red Dead Redemption // 3. Cards against humanity // 4. Paco Rabanne – 1 Million // 5. Johnnie Walker – Whisky // 6. Zara – Scarf // 7. De’Longhi – Coffee Maker // 8. Philips Electric Shaver // 9. Edinburgh Gin Christmas Gin

FOR HER: LUXURY

1. UGG Slippers // 2. Michael Kors – Leather Purse // 3. Swarovski – Bracelet // 4. Hourglass Ambient Light Palette // 5. Tiffany – Infinity Earrings // 6. HP Sprocket // 7. Ultimate Ears Speaker // 8. Huda Beauty – Nude Palette // 9. Rosefield Watch // 10. Neom Essential Oils // 11. ghd Gold Hair Straightener // 12. Cushion // 13. Swell Drinking Bottle // 14. Macbook Pro Case // 15. Kate Spade Makeup Bag // 16. Jo Malone Candle // 17. Lulu Guinness Leather Purse

FOR HIM: LUXURY

1. Hamper // 2. Bronte by Moon Herringbone – Throw // 3. HP Sprocket // 4. Apple – iPad // 5. Bric’s Life – Small Holdall // 6. All Saints Scarf // 7. Ronny Colbie – Luxury Candle // 8. Johnnie Walker – Whisky Collection // 9. Bose Speaker // 10. John Lewis – Laptop Case // 11. Hugo Boss – Fragrance // 12. Tom Dixon – Candle Set

Now if you are seeking something really special, and I mean LUXURY is the word, then take a look at these examples of Ronny Colbie’s luxury bouquets and wreaths. Today’s post is in collaboration with this company, which was founded by Ronny himself, a designer and creator of gifts that are truly individual. His range includes perfectly beautiful luxury candles, one of which was included above! Everything is created with such imagination and exudes understated elegance.

I really hope you enjoyed this post. Personally, I’ve always loved looking at Christmas gift guides, especially if they offer a wide price range. I’ve tried to cover all bases! So do let me know if anything was just what you’re looking for!

Click here to read yesterday’s post!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags 2018, Bargain, blogger, BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, For Her, For Him, Gift Giving, Gift Guide, Gifts, Lifestyle, Luxury, Photography, Photos, Presents, Shopping, Stocking Fillers, Zoella

BEAUTY SKINCARE

DOES THE NIP + FAB – TEEN SKIN FIX PORE BLASTER WORK? – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date October 30, 2018
4 Comments on DOES THE NIP + FAB – TEEN SKIN FIX PORE BLASTER WORK? – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

With the transition from Summer to Autumn well underway, my skin, as usual, panicked and decided to bless me with some spots – hooray! The change in weather either causes me to break out or just get ridiculously dry skin for a little while before it finally settles down, does anyone else have this issue? Typically, most of the year round, I don’t suffer too badly with my skin. However, if I’m stressed or the environment around me changes, I tend to get a period of breakouts. It shouldn’t, but it always makes me feel incredibly self conscious. Instead of hiding away indoors I decided to invest in some skincare to see if I could banish the blemishes as quickly as possible. This involved spending an hour in Superdrug trying to decide what product to invest in. There’s so much available these days! It’s hard to make a decision without feeling like it was perhaps the wrong one and that there might be something way better available down another aisle. However, today I’m doing the work for you. If you aren’t sure, scroll down and have a read!

*This post contains affiliate links

I use a lot of skincare by Nip + Fab and so far, so good. I love their products and they make my skin look and feel great. I wouldn’t say that I have “problem” skin but I do get little bumps and blemishes, particularly when I’m stressed. I have been prescribed topical gel that works but it can bleach things and leaves my skin feeling quite sensitive and dry. So I decided to dive into Nip + Fab’s Teen Skin range. I was slightly put off by the name, as it made me feel a bit silly buying something that’s aimed at teenagers at the peak of puberty however I went for it anyway and I now have zero regrets. I noticed there were lots of different products in the range, all aimed at blemishes and problem skin. I chose to try the 2 in 1 Scrub and Mask Pore Blaster first.

Nip + Fab 2 in 1 Teen Skin Pore Blaster Review

The product is aimed at congested skin and it works as a mask or as a scrub. I love multi-purpose products as I feel like I’m getting more for my money and as a student, that’s important when it comes to buying skincare. I don’t usually use scrubs as I feel like they can sometimes be too harsh on my face but this one isn’t at all! I can tell that it’s really getting to work but it’s doing so gently, which is why I enjoy this product so much! It doesn’t feel like you’re going to scrub yourself so that only your feet remain.

It stops my skin from breaking out any further as well as stopping any excess oil from building up. It contains volcanic pumice to exfoliate the skin, salicylic acid to unclog present and further breakouts and wasabi extract which acts as a powerful antioxidant. I simply wet my face and then massage the scrub onto my skin before rinsing it off with warm water. When I used it as a mask, I just apply a layer over my face and leave it to dry. Both methods have completely transformed my skin! I’m so glad that I discovered this product as it’s made such a huge difference to my confidence as well as my face. I’m looking forward to trying the other products within the range as I’m sure they will be just as fantastic and effective.

So, what’s the verdict?

I strongly recommend trying the Nip + Fab 2 in 1 Scrub and Pore Blaster. I haven’t experienced any issues with it so far and my skin had cleared up within a couple of days of using it! I’d say it’s probably not the right product for everyone’s skin, but it might. be worth a try if you also struggle to get rid of those pesky pimples once they appear. What are your holy grail products? Let me know in the comments.

N xxxx

Tags Acne, Advice, BEAUTY, Blemishes, blogger, Favourites, Lifestyle, Nip + Fab, Photography, Photos, Skincare, Spots

LIFE PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG AUGUST 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 17, 2018
2 Comments on PAPERGANG AUGUST 2018: REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! How quickly has this summer gone by? I’m fed up of blinking and finding that another week has gone by! Either way, one of the perks of the time passing by is that I got my August Papergang box in the post and it might be one of my favourites! I always include a little bit of info about Papergang and what they’re all about so if you just want to see the review, keep scrolling until you see some photos!

Ohh Deer, a company I have SO much love for, was founded in order to allow illustrators and artists to showcase their work and find people that would be interested in buying their designs. The company sells the most amazing quirky and arty products – I simply can’t get enough. I love the fact that Ohh Deer offers artists the opportunity to get noticed and therefore get something back for all their hard work that otherwise we might not have seen. Some of their clients include Paperchase, ASOS, John Lewis and Oliver Bonas (my all-time favourite shop) and some of their collections have been specifically designed for the Tate Galleries and the Science Museum!

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

Ohh Deer decided to create a monthly subscription service for stationery addicts, such as myself called, Papergang! Each month you will receive a box filled with brilliant papery goodies and desk accessories. Some examples are notebooks, greeting cards, wrapping paper and art prints. It costs £10.95 and then a £2.95 for shipping which in my opinion, after receiving their boxes, is a great deal. Every box has a different design and theme by a different artist and for every 4 boxes, 1 tree is planted in partnership with the fantastic charity, Tree aid. To find out more about their connection with this charity here.

I am a huge stationery addict and this subscription box is probably my favourite out of the many I am a part of. I always look forward to opening my box every month and using all my new bits and pieces! Most of the products you receive are exclusive the Papergang subscribers for a while before they get sold in Ohh Deer’s shop.

Like the sound of it and want to subscribe to Papergang? Click here to use my invite!

Just look at that design! This box was created by Iraville, a wonderful artist based in Munich! She creates the most beautiful watercolour illustrations and I absolutely love her work. How perfect is this design for Autumn? The browns and oranges are gorgeous together and I can’t wait to whip out the matching stationery when the leaves are turning the same colour outside (call me a weirdo, but seasonal stationery updates is a must)

Follow Iraville –

Insta – @iraville

Every month we receive a printed calendar as a bonus item and I really love them as they’re perfect for keeping on my desk in a cute little frame! I can’t bring myself to throw them out so by the end of the year I’ll be swimming in them. I love the little tree illustrations – again, perfect for Autumn!

A5 (ish) NOTEBOOK – £9.95

I love a notebook so I’ll never complain when one turns up in my Papergang box. You can never have too many right? To be honest, if I can’t fit anymore into my drawers, I can give them to friends and family as gifts instead! This one is particularly lovely though, and I’ll definitely be using it for planning my Autumn content! The cover is soft but I can tell it’s still high quality. I always get stressed when there’s a blank space on the cover a notebook, just incase I can’t write neatly enough on it! The book is filled alternating blank and lined pages which I find handy for notes and sketches.

3 x PENCILS – £3.95

As sad as it sounds, I was so excited to receive these. I’m a collector at heart and one of the things that I love about Papergang is that a lot of the items are the same but with different designs on them, so I’ve managed to collect quite a few of these pencils and they all just look so good together. I did warn you, I’m a weirdo. If ever things start to spiral out of control, at least my desk has got it’s shit together and I’ll have a lovely pot of pretty pencils there to support me. I always use them to write up my blog statistics, as they change every day so this means I can edit them easily! I love all of the little illustrations featured on them too – so cute!

WASHI TAPE – £2.50

Well, you should all know by now, that I have a stupidly large collection of Washi Tape. I apparently keep justifying buying more and more but hey I could be collecting worse. I love using these tapes in my bullet journal and scrapbooks. I love the illustrations on this one and I reckon I’ll be using it a lot during October and November in my notebooks. I tend to look on Pinterest for washi tape ideas and there seems to be hundreds of different ways to use them!As usual, they’ve been incredibly generous with the tape size – it’s 10m long!

GREETING CARD – £2.50

How gorgeous is this design? I always seem to have a stash of cards ready for any special occasions thanks to Papergang! It’s always nice to be prepared and the cards are always such lovely quality that I genuinely look forward to sending them! I might sound fairly old school but I love receiving cards from people, it’s sometimes nicer than receiving a text.

In conclusion, this was another great Papergang box. I love everything that I received and I know I will use everything too! I like that this box was seasonally themed too, which makes it easier to imagine myself using all of the wonderful products inside when Autumn comes! The box values at £18.90 and considering that I pay £13.90 per month, that still works out at great value. You really do get your money’s worth, and usually a bit more too! I love that every month is a total surprise and each time, the products are always amazing.

I really hope you enjoyed this post and I’ve linked all of my social media down below so go and give me a follow and come and say hi!

N xxxx

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Tags Art, blogger, Bullet Journal, Design, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Notebook, Ohh Deer, PAPERGANG, Photography, Photos, Review, School, Stationery, Student

LIFE

BACK TO UNIVERSITY: BEDROOM ESSENTIALS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 10, 2018
No Comments on BACK TO UNIVERSITY: BEDROOM ESSENTIALS

Hey Guys,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m aware that lots of you are heading back to uni and some of you are about to start your first year! I thought it would be fitting to give you a list of essentials, with links included so that you can order any last minute bits and pieces! I’m in my third year and I reckon I have some alright-ish advice to give, although I am no guru and I still have lots to learn – even during my last few terms!

This post contains affiliate links

First of all – check out my post all about how to revise properly, it will help you get organised before you start and that way you’ll have all of your stationery on point by day one! Also, have a look at this post if you want to hear about what university has taught me so far!

BEDDING

Get yourself something nice but also something cheap. You never know what the washing machines will be like and whether or not your bedding will return to you fit for a barbie doll rather than a human. I buy most of my bedding from Asda as it’s great quality, the designs are lovely and it’s very affordable. It also means you get to personalise your room a little bit! Sometimes, bedding can be reversible and these are the best to buy in my opinion, as you get two for the price of one!

LINKS: White Bees – Purple Paisley – Jungle Animals – Terrarium Print

LAUNDRY BASKETS/HAMPERS

Depending on how much floor space you have, a laundry basket can be a total life saver! If you don’t have much space, lots of the hampers can hang on the back of your door (if you dont have a hook, dont worry I have the perfect solution for you next). The reason I’ve included a hamper is because whilst your in halls, people tend to just walk in whenever and you might not want your underwear all over the floor when they do! It also makes it so much easier when you want to set a wash going as you have all of your dirty clothes in one place! My boyfriend and I bought one from Wilko and they have such an affordable range I’ve included a few for you to have a look at.

LINKS: Pop Up Laundry Bin – Vintage Basket – Yellow and Grey Bin – Colours/Darks/Whites

COMMAND STRIPS & HOOKS

When I first moved into halls, I was so keen to get some fairy lights up but I didn’t have anything that would make them stick other than blue tak, which annoyingly leaves marks behind. That’s when I discovered these amazing little strips and hooks! You can hang fairy lights or canvas art and you can stick posters and prints to your walls with no marks left behind! I even use them at home! They’re cheap and easy to get hold of either through Amazon or Wilko – I would highly recommend! You can get them in lots of different sizes depending on what you need to use them for. If you’re looking for hooks, I’d suggest getting the transparent ones as they’re pretty much invisibile so they’re perfect for tacking lights to your wall! Also, like I mentioned previously, you can use the hooks to hang things on the back of your door like coats/jackets and laundry baskets!

P.S. I’ve just seen that you can get ceiling ones too!

LINKS: Str i ps – Plain Hooks

FAUX PLANTS

I absolutely LOVE these! My boyfriend and I have been sharing a house for our second and third year and we have a plant in every corner! The great thing about faux plants is that you don’t have to bother watering them, they just sit pretty all the time – regardless of the time of year or lighting. It’s also really nice to have a pop of green in every room as it makes the space feel much brighter! When I was in halls, we had the dingiest rooms ever so brightening up the space with faux plants really helped. They’re very easy to place too as they don’t take up much room (depending on the size of the plant but usually they’re quite small) and you can sit them on any surface! There are so many options these days however I’d suggest looking in IKEA or Primark as they have such amazing prices and they’re always bringing out new products. I sometimes find really nice ones in Homesense too so keep a look out there!

LINKS: Faux Aloe Plant – Set of 2 Succulents – Llama Succulents – Copper Succulent

STORAGE

Depending on where you’re living, you may or may not have a lot of storage space. When I was in halls, we had some drawers under our desks, space under our beds and a wardrobe. I just about managed, however I’m the kind of person that has lots of things, so it was tricky! Now that I have my own space, I own a lot more storage! The first thing I did was buy lots of boxes and baskets to keep my surfaces clear. The great thing about boxes is that you can fill them with whatever you want and then stack them to save on even more space – plus you can get some really pretty ones too! I also used copper/gold baskets for anything that I needed quick acccess to – they work so well! I buy most of my boxes from homesense but seeing as they don’t sell online, I’ve found some alternatives for you!

LINKS: Confetti Boxes – Pink Set of 4 – Set of 3 Rattan

MIRRORS

Most of us had mirrors in our rooms however they were horrendous. You know the kind that are attached to wardrobe doors and sometimes make you look twice the size you are? Yep, lucky us! They’re also a nightmare for doing your makeup, as you can’t necessarily sit in front of your wardrobe to do it in the first place. Myself and most of my friends used these little ones instead! You can actually see what you’re doing which is always a bonus, hey? Plus they barely take up any space. Highly recommend grabbing one!

LINKS: Blue – Black – Rose Gold

HANGERS

What’s the point of a wardrobe with no hangers? Usually, halls don’t supply things like this so it’s always best to bring your own. I bought a whole load of new ones for uni because I knew I would end up taking advantage of the student discounts and buying a lot more clothes! Plus, if you can’t be bothered to iron, at least hang your clothes up so the creases can drop out. I buy mine from Wilko and Homesense!

LINKS: Copper Wire Hangers – Pastel Skirt Hangers

DOOR STOPS

Believe it or not you’ll be needing one of these. I shared my flat with 5 other people and after a while we all started propping our doors open so we could chat to eachother whilst we were doing things in our rooms. The annoying (but necessary) thing about most uni hall doors is that they are fire doors, so will swing shut automatically because they’re so heavy. This was a nightmare when we were trying to get things in and out of our rooms (washing etc.) plus, some flats have doors that automatically lock and this is where door stops come in very handy!

P.S. For any Game of Thrones fans out there I just found some that say “Hodor” & “Hold the Door” on them (if you don’t get the reference, just accept that it’s a touchy subject)

LINKS: Blue Snail – Plain Grey – Cheese Wedge

CARDS

I didn’t realise how much we would be using these, particularly during freshers. There’s bound to be a lot of drinking games and cards are usually involved so have a pack prepared just incase. Most of the packs end up getting sticky and ruined so it doesn’t hurt to have a few between you all. They’re also pretty good at breaking the ice with other flats in your block. During our first week, we visited the flat next to us and thank GOD we brought cards because the awkward silence definitely wouldn’t have been as entertaining. If you’re not into drinking, I’d still have a pack on you as they’ll stop you all getting bored on those rainy evenings in! Oddly enough, one of the best places to look for card games is in charity shops and as someone that works in one, I can vouch for that!

LINKS: Black Waterproof Playing Cards – Cards Againt Humanity – What Do You Meme – F**k The Game – WTF Did You Say? – Never Have I Ever

PORTABLE SPEAKERS

I can’t tell you how handy these are. First of all, when you’re at pre drinks and you don’t want to sit in silence, always have one available. I mean how else are you going to get wrecked without some tunes in the background, am I right? They’re also great for having in your room to drown out whatever is going on outside. I was lucky enough to have a flat mate directly opposite me that loved having his music full volume at all times – YAY! They’re also handy if you all want to watch a film in someone’s room or something!

LINKS: Black Skull Candy Speaker – KitSound – Pink Wonderboom

CANDLES

Okay so some halls don’t allow these but some do. As long as you’re careful and you don’t set off the fire alarms then you should be fine! I buy nearly all of mine in Homesense but there’s some great ones available in other stores too! I’d recommend using tea lights too as they’re so cheap and they work just as well! They were so helpful for getting rid of the smell of cooking and also for disguising the smell of my delightful flat mate’s past-times that used to float through the vents into my room- love my life x

LINKS: – Rose & Oud – Tropical Passion Fruit & Blueberry – Mango Peach Salsa

FAIRY LIGHTS

If your room is looking pretty dull and you need something to brighten it up, definitely opt for fairy lights. These are game changers I tell you! As soon as we put them up in our rooms, everything looked so much better! They’re also perfect for when you want to chill in the evenings but you don’t want all the lights on (we had bright white lights that reminded me of hospitals). Strongly recommend grabbing some! You can get so many different styles and designs that it’s worth having a look because you might be able to get hold of some that match your interior – if you’re a nerd like me…

LINKS: Pineapples – Geometric Copper – Copper Leaves

TOWELS

Don’t take your lovely ones from home. Get something cheap that will get you through the year that you don’t mind getting ruined (might not happen but you never know). One night, my boyfriend and I came home to find our mate using our shower, washing his pink hair dye out after a night dressed as a fairy (like I said you never know).

LINKS: Pink – Polka Do t – Terrazzo Print

I hope this has been helpeful for some of you! I just thought that I would’ve benefited from reading some posts like this before I started uni as I took so much uneccessary stuff with me as well as forgetting important bits and pieces! Can you think of any other university bedroom essentials? Let me know in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would give me a follow – come and say hi!

N xxxx

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Tags Advice, Bedroom, blogger, DIY, Friends, Hacks, Interior, Lifestyle, Results Day, School, Shopping, Studying, University

INTERIORS LIFE

INTERIOR EDIT: FANTASTIC FLAMINGOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 24, 2018
No Comments on INTERIOR EDIT: FANTASTIC FLAMINGOS

Hey Everyone,

I haven’t written a post about interior design in such a long time so I’m super keen to be back with another one for you! Today’s post is all about the summer trend of flamingos – they are EVERYWHERE! I’ve chosen a few favourites to share with you from bedding to candles so keep scrolling for some goodies! I’ve included links to everything so you can have a look for yourself if anything takes your fancy!

This post contains affiliate links

John Lewis – Sara Miller – Thermal Flask

How freaking cute is this? I love using flasks during the winter at university. It makes those 9ams so much easier when I have a nice hot tea with me! I love the print, it’s so quirky and different! With the cold weather on it’s way, grab yourself one of these to keep cosy!

CHECK OUT THE FLASK HERE

Amazon – Final Touch Flamingo Wine Glass Markers

You’d be surprised at how handy these things are! Whenever we have lots of people round for dinner and drinks, I always stick these on everyones glasses so people know which belongs to them! I hate putting a drink down and not knowing which one it is an hour later. Plus they’re cute and quirky!

CHECK OUT THE GLASS MARKERS HERE

Argos – Pieridae Flamingo Bedding Set

How gorgeous is this bedding? I hadn’t bought any bedding from Argos before so I was slightly worried that it wouldn’t be much good. However, I ordered some a while back and I have zero regrets! It’s so comfy and affordable, it’s perfect if you’re going to uni and you want some fun bedding to brighten up your new room!

CHECK OUT THE BEDDING HERE

Sass & Belle – Ziggy The Chevron Tropical Flamingo Mug

If you didn’t know already, I own far too many mugs. For some reason, I keep buying them and I can’t stop. I always go for the bigger ones so then I can have a huge cup of tea! I particulalry love the look of this one, I mean look at the handle, it’s too cute to miss out on. I love Sass & Belle and I’ve bought lots of things from them before! If you’re interested in homeware then definitely check out their website, they have some amazing bits and pieces. They’re also amazing when it comes to looking for gifts!

CHECK OUT THE MUG HERE

John Lewis – Fenella Smith Flamingo and Pineapple Ring Plate

I really love using plates like this to keep all of my trinkets and bits and pieces in one place. I have one on my bedside table to put my earrings and rings in before I go to sleep and I have a few on my desk to hold paperclips etc. They come in so handy – particularly at uni! They stop all of those little bits going missing under the bed or behind your drawers. I love the little illustration is as well – adorable!

CHECK OUT THE RING PLATE HERE

John Lewis – Sanderson Flamingos Wallpaper

Bathroom GOALS! Look at how pretty this wallpaper is! It’s like my dream design to have in my future bathroom. I’ve always liked the idea of having a feature wall in each room, this would make a great one right? I’m one of those people that can’t manage to get themselves together on a daily basis but somehow has planned their future home out – in depth. Is anyone else like that? I blame Pinterest.

CHECK OUT THE WALLPAPER HERE

If you read my other tropical themed interior post, then you’ll know how much I love flamingos and all things summer. I just love the pop of colour and the idea that you can make a room feel different with just the addition of a little pink bird! It’s strange how suddenly it started trending but I think the idea of a tropical interior is becoming much more popular as the years go by. I’m excited to see what next summer brings! This year we’ve had cactuses, flamingos and pineapples – who knows what is to come!

What do you think of this trend?

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N xxxx

Tags blogger, Decor, Design, Favourites, Flamingos, Furniture, Interior, Interior Design, Lifestyle, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Tropical

BEAUTY

HOW TO GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP WITH FEATHER AND DOWN*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 20, 2018
19 Comments on HOW TO GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP WITH FEATHER AND DOWN*

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Is anyone else finding it difficult to get anything done in this heat? I’m literally melting away as I’m typing this. Either way, I have some lovely bits and pieces to share with you! I was kindly gifted these by Feather and Down, however all thoughts, of course, are my own! If something takes your fancy, you can buy it in Boots, however I’l also include links to everything so you can order them too!

* Unpaid AD & Affiliate Links

Today, I’m going to be reviewing some of the Feather and Down Sweet Dreams range! After finishing my second year at university, I have never valued relaxation and wellbeing more. With the stress of deadlines and exams, I decided I needed to spend much more time concentrating on my health and one way that I did this was through using products containing lavender. Not only does it help me sleep but it keeps me calm and collected – particularly the night before an exam. I absolutely love the packagaing, it looks so elegant and luxurious – perfect for a pamper evening!

All Purpose Sleep Balm – £7.00

I’ve used sleep balms before and I’ve found them so helpful when I’m trying to drift off. This particular balm contains Lavender and Chamomile essential oils (it smells unreal) to keep you calm and relaxed. It’s not sticky either so don’t worry about getting stuck to your pillow! Apparently, massaging it onto your pulse points (temples, neck and wrists) makes it last longer due to your heartbeat! I apply this just before I get into bed and I have the best night’s sleep as a result!

CHECK OUT THE BALM HERE

Melting Shower Cream – £6.00

In summer, I prefer to have showers as baths are just too hot for me at this time of year! This shower cream is amazing! Not only does it keep you clean and fresh, it also melts into an oil when you massage it onto wet skin, leaving you feeling soft and silky. I used to hate using oily products until I realised how good they were for my skin. I’ve started putting oils into my bath too, to help me relax and also to keep my skin moisturised and nourished. This shower cream smells incredible too, featuring lavender and chamomile – perfect for bedtime. If you take a shower before bed, the warm water actually causes your body to relax and eases any tension built up throughout a long and stressful day!

CHECK OUT THE SHOWER CREAM HERE

Pillow Spray – £7.00

I’ve been using this product for a while now. It was so helpful when I was extremely anxious about my exams late at night (there’s a theme here) and I couldn’t get to sleep. I simply sprayed this onto my pillow and I was able to calm down and drift off! Lavender and chamomile actually help to reduce anxiety in order to experience a better night’s sleep. In fact, lavender increases the brain waves that are associated with relaxation, so as you can probably tell, this pillow spray contains all the right ingredients!

CHECK OUT THE PILLOW SPRAY HERE

I absolutely love these products and I can’t find a single thing wrong with them. They’re not only beautiful to look at but they’re a joy to use! I’ve never found anything that works this well at helping me drift off. I will definitely be using these around exam time next year when I’m going to need all of the sleep that I can get! I feel so pampered and relaxed after using these products and I can’t see myself not using them now as they’re part of my night-time routine. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before as I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you use to help you sleep?

I’ve linked all of my social media so come and say hi!

I’ll be back soon with another post!

N xxxx

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Tags Bath, BEAUTY, blogger, Chamomile, Lavender, Lifestyle, Mindfulness, Photography, Photos, Relaxation, Review, Shower, Sleep

LIFE PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG JULY 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 17, 2018
No Comments on PAPERGANG JULY 2018: REVIEW

Hey Guys,

I hope you’re all doing well and you’re not melting in this heat. I hate to be that ungrateful Brit but I just can’t cope when my room feels like a sauna all day. I just want it to rain and cool down a bit, plus the grass currently looks like straw so I reckon it’s hoping for the same! I always include a little bit of info about Papergang and what they’re all about so if you just want to see there review, keep scrolling until you see some photos!

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

This month’s box was designed by the wonderful John Bond, one of my favourite illustrators. His doodles of dogs are just adorable! I love the colour and design of this box, it’s definitely making me want to go travelling! I particularly love that little elephant. John suggests that he illustrates as a form of therapy, which I think is really interesting. I love that his work is always fun and quirky and I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Follow John –

Insta – @iamjohnbond

Every month we receive a printed calendar as a bonus item and I really love them as they’re perfect for keeping on my desk in a cute little frame! I can’t bring myself to throw them out so by the end of the year I’ll be swimming in them. I particularly like how this one has space for any important dates as I have a few coming up that I’ll need to make a note of!

A5 TRAVEL JOURNAL – £12.95

You know me, I love a notebook so I was more than happy to add to my collection with this gorgeous journal. It’s one of those notebooks that feels expensive if that makes sense. The first page is a gorgeous little map featuring some of John’s cute little illustrations. I like the fact that the elastic on the front is in a different place to usual and I love the compass design too. I’ve never owned a travel journal and since starting university, I’ve been visiting lots of new places in my holidays and I think it’ll be really fun to record those trips in this book!

3 x POSTCARDS – £2.25

Since starting my blog, I’ve really started to appreciate how handy postcards are when it comes to props! I love using them in my flatlays and they work a treat! Obviously, I was thrilled to be sent three more and I can’t wait to use them – keep an eye out for my instagrams as I’m sure they will feature soon!

AEROPLANE PAPERCLIPS – £3.95

These are just adorable. Paperclips are those things that I always say I won’t need until I’m desperately searching the house for some! I just love that these are in the shape of tiny planes, it makes a change from the usual style. Even my dad wanted some when he spotted them on the table. I know these will definitely come in handy when I’m trying to irganise my life during third year!

GIFTWRAP – £1.75

This giftwrap features the same illustrations as the box – which I love! I really like receiving samples of wrapping paper in my Papergang boxes. I don’t just use them for wrapping gifts either! I love using them as backgrounds for my scrapbook pages and as props in my photos. There’s so many uses for these so keep them coming please Papergang!

I really loved this month’s box. I can see myself using all of these products and I don’t have any issues with anything included. I like the fact that travel was the main theme as it’s made me so excited to go on holiday and explore some new places this year, with my travel journal in hand! If anyone is looking for a surprise every month, I cannot recommend Papergang enough. It’s the best thing ever when you’re feeling a bit rubbish and then suddenly one of their beautiful boxes arrives and you have absolutely no idea what will be included. This box values at £20.90 when you add all of the bits and pieces together. Considering each box costs only £10.95 plus £2.95 for delivery, that’s such good value!

I really hope you enjoyed this post and I’ve linked all of my social media down below so go and give me a follow and come and say hi!

N xxxx

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer, click here!

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Tags 2018, Art, Design, Holiday, Illustration, July, Lifestyle, PAPERGANG, Photography, Photos, Review, Stationery, Subscription, Travel

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JULY 2018: SAY YES TO ADVENTURE – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 13, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX JULY 2018: SAY YES TO ADVENTURE – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I’m back! I’ve been very busy recently as I’m committed to jury service (last week and this week) so I haven’t been able to post as frequently as I’d like to. I hope you can bear with me as I’m doing my best to keep up with everything! I post regularly on my instagram (pretty much every day) so go ahead and give me a follow as I’m always active over there – @ninalouiselaw. Today, I’m unboxing and reviewing the July Birchbox! I love these posts because discovering new beauty products is my favourite thing to do and I know lots of you enjoy doing that too! Anyway, below I’ll include some info all about Birchbox, who they are and that they do, so if you just want to see the review – keep scrolling!

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY JUNE BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

*RRPs correspond to full-size items in the Birchbox shop!

This month’s box is absolutely beautiful! Instead of the usual drawer-like boxes that we receive, this one came with a lid which I love as I can use it as storage in my bedroom! I love the abstract watercolour design too, it’s so pretty and summery. It also happens to match the colours in my room too so I’m very happy about this!

This month is all about being bold and trying something new – which I am all for! I really enjoy stepping outside my beauty comfort zone and experimenting with new products. This month I’ve been pushing myself in all kinds of ways, whether that’s academically, with my blog, with my makeup or with my anxiety, so this box came at a great time! As usual, we were sent a variety of products including skincare and cosmetics.

Manna Kadar – Long-Wear Powder “Trifecta” – £15

I’ve mentioned before that I have received lots of Manna Kadar products and I love all of them! They have a lot of multi-tasking products that often come as a “2-in-1” or a “3-in-1” which I absolutely LOVE. It means you can carry less makeup and still have everything you need at the same time. This powder is a 3-in-1 brow, eye and cheek product (wow, as it can act as a bronzer, eyeshadow or brow filler. I was so surprised at how buttery and smooth it felt when I was swatching it – it was so easy to apply. I love that it adds a pop of colour wherever I need it which is perfect for the summery warm makeup looks I like to create at this time of year!

CHECK OUT THE POWDER HERE

Browcote – Waterproof Brow Gel – £6.99

I’ve been using a lot more brow products to get the look that I want and recently, I’ve been investing in brow gels and brow mascaras! I really like how they can make it look as if you have nothing in your brows and it’s also so much quicker to do if you’re in a hurry. This award-winning brow gel keeps your brows in place all day as well as being waterproof! One of my pet peeves is a brow gel that leaves your brows feeling cripsy and crunchy and you’ll be pleased to know that this one doesn’t do that! It doesn’t clump up any powder or pencil that I’ve used before it either.

CHECK OUT THE BROW GEL HERE

What’s in it for Me? – Shower Scrub – £7

I’m a shower girl when it comes to summer so I’m always looking for scrubs to keep my skin smooth and exfoliated! This scrub smells incredible! It features walnut shell, almond oil, orange and jasmine flower extracts – WOW. It’s such an uplifting and energising scent, it’s perfect for those early morning showers to wake you up. I love using this before I go in the sun, to scrub away any dead skin cells so that my tan can sit on fresh skin plus this will make it last longer!

CHECK OUT THE SHOWER SCRUB HERE

Merci Hand – Hand Cream in ‘Cherie Cherry’ – £4.90

This packaging is so dreamy! It reminds me of a lollipop or an old fashioned diner – not sure if anyone will know what I mean by that?! I absolutely love having a tube of hand cream in my bag at all times and I get through lots of them throughout the year. The first thing I noticed about this product was the amazing scent – it’s honestly divine. It’s the perfect fruity floral fragrance for summer! I also noticed how quickly it skins in, as I hate hand creams that leave a sticky residue behind and this one doesn’t! I really recommend getting one of those for on-the-go moisturising, plus it’s currently on sale and it’s going for £1.96!

CHECK OUT THE HAND CREAM HERE

Balance Me – Congested Skin Serum – £16

This is my favourite product in the July box! I love skincare but particularly things that keep my skin clear and blemish free! I’ve used some of Balance Me’s cleansers and face washes before and they are fantastic. This serum contains Chamomile, anti-bacterial may chang, calming lavender and eucalyptus which together, make the ultimate spot-fighting team. It smells like one of those really expensive and luxury spa treatments! It’s also non-drying which is great as that’s quite common when it comes to spot treating skincare. Another product that I really recommend!

CHECK OUT THE SERUM HERE

I was really pleased with this month’s box and I know that I’ll be using all of these products over the summer period. As usual, all of the products are fantastic quality as well as some being award-winning! I’ll definitely be keeping the beautiful little box to keep bits an pieces in! What do you think of this box? Would you be happy with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments as usual, I love to hear from you! I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

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*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blog, Cosmetics, Lifestyle, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Subscription, Trends

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

GET ORGANISED WITH THE MINKY STYLING DOCK

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 6, 2018
14 Comments on GET ORGANISED WITH THE MINKY STYLING DOCK

This product was sent to me in exchange for a review

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m counting down the days before I go on holiday and I’m so excited! Are any of you going on holiday this summer? Today, I’m going to be talking about a very cool storage solution that I was kindly sent in exchange for a review and as usual all thoughts are my own! If you’re looking for something to keep your life more organised, keep reading…

This is the Styling Dock by Minky Homecare! It’s the perfect storage solution for anyone that hates tangled wires and derelict hair tools. It’s heat resistant silicone body helps to prevent any accidents, which is super important, particularly if you have any kiddies running around. It’s made up of three storage compartments for hairdryers, tongs, wands and brushes and it includes two storage pots for any small accessories like clips, grips and hair bands! I’m always unsure of what to do with my straighteners or curlers after I’ve turned them off as they’re still extremely hot so it’s really helpful to have something to put them into whilst they cool down. Fun story – at Christmas, I stood on my straighteners and I couldn’t walk properly for a week – AGONY I TELL YOU – so I can’t stress enough how much I love this product (plus how much I need it obviously).

The dock also includes removavle cable reels – perfect for travel and a hook that allows the entire unit to hang from a rail. I love that I can tidy my cables away without having them all over my floor. I’m possibly one of the most clumsy people that I know and I’m always tripping over, so it’s definitely for the best that I’m using this to keep everything out of my way!

CHECK OUT THE STYLING DOCK HERE

This is such a fantastic product. It doesn’t look clunky or ugly and it stores all of my tools in one space. It’s meant that my dressing table is clear and tidy and it’s also made my bedroom floor a much safer place for my feet! I love how versatile it is and how easy it is to adjust to my needs. I use every compartment and I can chop and change what I’m storing, whenever I want to! I really recommend this to anyone that needs to keep their hair tools safely stored and out of the way, it’s a 10/10 from me. How do you store your hair tools? I’ve linked all of my social media below so come and say hi!

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N xxxx

Tags 2018, BEAUTY, Bedroom, Hair, July, Lifestyle, Organisation, Photography, Photos, Storage, Style, Summer

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

CAPTIVATED BY CASEAPP*

Hey Guys,

If you didn’t already know, I am a tad obsessed with phone and laptop cases. I know it sounds weird but I just love the idea of chopping and changing what they look like! I’ve always had about ten different cases on the go but I think I’ve found the best place to go when I need some replacements! Today’s post is in collaboration with Caseapp, a brand who offer hundreds of different designs for cases but also allow you to make your own custom cases. They kindly gifted me two lovely acccessories however all opinions are completely my own!

*Unpaid AD & Gifted Items

The homepage is so straightforward and it’s super easy to navigate your way around the site. I love the idea of being able to customise your own laptop and phone cases as well as being able to choose from hundreds of pre-made designs! CaseApp have accessories for Iphones, Androids, Macbooks, Ipads – there’s just so much choice.

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Here’s a mini selection of my favourites – look how gorgeous these designs are! There’s literally pages and pages of different designs to choose from (this is just a tiny amount of the iphone cases available) so you’re bound to find something that is perfect for you.

I even tried designing my own case too which didn’t turn out too badly if I may say so myself. It was SO quick and easy. I just uploaded a photo that I loved and then bam it was made into a phone case ready to order!

I ended up going for the “Banana Leaf” Iphone 8 case and the “Green is Mean” Macbook skin. I have a thing for all things tropical print so this was a no brainer for me! There’s so many other prints available and yet I was immediately drawn to these.

How pretty are these?! I am obsessed! The laptop skin was so easy to stick onto my Macbook, it literally took less than a minute and it’s there to stay! The phone case protects my phone whilst also looking 10/10 so what more could you want? I really really recommend checking these guys out as they have so much to offer and I reckon you will love them. Their products don’t just look good, they’re really well made and will definitely do a great job at keeping those screens protected!

If you decide to order some goodies, go ahead and use my discount code NINALOUISELAW20 for 20% off

CHECK OUT CASEAPP HERE

What do you think of these cases? Which ones would you choose? Let me know in the comments! I’ve linked all of my social media below so come and say hi as I love to hear from you! I’ll be back on Friday at 6 o’clock with my June favourites post, I hope you’ll be there too!

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N xxxx

Tags blogger, Design, Iphone, June, Lifestyle, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Technology, Tropical

LIFE PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG JUNE 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 19, 2018
No Comments on PAPERGANG JUNE 2018: REVIEW

Hey Guys,

Somehow, it’s time for the June Papergang review! I hope you’re all doing well and that you’re enjoying the nice weather that the UK has blessed us with over the last couple of days. I always include a little bit of info about Papergang and what they’re all about so if you just want to see there review, keep scrolling until you see some photos!

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

This month’s box was designed by a green fingered goddess, Maddy Gale, a photographer and a gardener, which totally explains the beautiful floral packaging. Although the base of the design is quite dark, it’s brightened up with pretty little flowers and petals. It’s like a dark and less pastel version of Cath Kidston patterns.

Follow Maddy Gale–

Insta – @SoWedgier

A4 (ish) NOTEBOOK – £4.95

This notebook features the same design that the box features (which is also my phone background thanks to Papergang’s downloadable wallpapers!) Inside it’s much more of a diary as every other page features a task list, space for a date, appointments and doodles, whilst the other pages are lined for notes.

A6 NOTEPAD – £3.95

I get through HEAPS of these! I can get through one a month if I’m super busy. I just find them so useful for having around the house and I love that there’s space for a whole list because if you’re anything like me and leave everything until last minute, you’ll be needing a whole page at a time! I was very happy to find this little goodie in my June Papergang box!

WOODEN RULER – £3.50

I actually really like this! One month, we receievd a fleuorescent pink plastic ruler and I just wasn’t a fan – read that review here – however this one seems much more girl-boss and it gives me “I am currently adulting” vibes which occasionally I’m going to need believe it or not! Even though it’s wood, it’s very light and could easily pop into your pencil case plus it only goes up to 13cm so it’s perfect for a spot of bullet journal editing etc.

BRASS PEN – £5.50

Okay, so as most of you know, I am a huge gold and rose gold addict, so first glance I thought I would love this however I’m still unsure. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and it’s clearly a very high quality pen, but the design absolutely bamboozles me. Maybe I’m just a simple being but every time I pick it up, I can’t figure out where to open it! I spend more time trying to get the pen to show itself than I do using it which is a bit annoying. I’m sure there are lots of people out there fully able to use it properly but unfortunately I don’t seem to be one of them! When I finally get the lid off, it works just fine, it just seems a bit of a faff to me! I do appreciate that it’s much prettier than my current selection of pens though!

GIFTWRAP – £1.75

The design is the same as is featured on the box and the notebook which is a shame as I would’ve loved to see something different. However, I really love getting giftwrap in Papergang boxes! Not only does it come in super handy, but it’s also nice to wrap gifts in beautiful designs like this! I like to go all out with my wrapping, particularly at christmas so this is going straight into my pile of wrapping paper waiting for December to arrive again!

Overall, I did like this box! I had a few teeny tiny issues with some things but I appreciate that not every Papergang box can please everyone. All of these items are clearly created with high quality in mind as usual and I know that I’ll use all of them on a regular basis! i love the design, I would’ve liked to see some more though. This box values at £19.65 and considering I paid £10.95 plus £2.95, I think that’s pretty good value! I’ve linked all of my social media down below so go and give me a follow and come and say hi!

N xxxx

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Tags Art, blogger, Design, Floral, Lifestyle, Ohh Deer, PAPERGANG, Photography, Photos, Review, Stationery, Subscription

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So, what’s the verdict?

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Insta – @iraville

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BEDDING

LINKS: White Bees – Purple Paisley – Jungle Animals – Terrarium Print

LAUNDRY BASKETS/HAMPERS

LINKS: Pop Up Laundry Bin – Vintage Basket – Yellow and Grey Bin – Colours/Darks/Whites

COMMAND STRIPS & HOOKS

LINKS: Strips – Plain Hooks

FAUX PLANTS

LINKS: Faux Aloe Plant – Set of 2 Succulents – Llama Succulents – Copper Succulent

STORAGE

LINKS: Confetti Boxes – Pink Set of 4 – Set of 3 Rattan

MIRRORS

LINKS: Blue – Black – Rose Gold

HANGERS

LINKS: Copper Wire Hangers – Pastel Skirt Hangers

DOOR STOPS

LINKS: Blue Snail – Plain Grey – Cheese Wedge

CARDS

LINKS: Black Waterproof Playing Cards – Cards Againt Humanity – What Do You Meme – F**k The Game – WTF Did You Say? – Never Have I Ever

PORTABLE SPEAKERS

LINKS: Black Skull Candy Speaker – KitSound – Pink Wonderboom

CANDLES

LINKS: – Rose & Oud – Tropical Passion Fruit & Blueberry – Mango Peach Salsa

FAIRY LIGHTS

LINKS: Pineapples – Geometric Copper – Copper Leaves

TOWELS

LINKS: Pink – Polka Dot – Terrazzo Print

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WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

Follow John –

LINKS: Str i ps – Plain Hooks

LINKS: Pink – Polka Do t – Terrazzo Print