Daily Outfits // Cobalt Blue Daisies

I recently wore this outfit when seeing friends for drinks, and liked it so much that I wore it again on a day in the West End. So, I thought I would make a post to go into a little more detail!

On Sunrises & The Thoughts That Come With Them

A few nights ago I couldn't sleep at all, and found myself still awake when the sun started rising at around 3AM. I took this photograph at around 4:30 in the morning, while I was working on editing blog photos, sitting on my window sill with the window open letting in the morning air. From a mixture of sleep deprivation and the utterly relaxing silence, I found myself thinking about the film I had seen the night previous.

Once A Week Hair Washing

Often one of the first comments I get when I haven't seen people for a little while is, "Your hair has gotten so long." I don't use any treatments on my hair, but I thought I would share the part of my haircare routine that I think contributes to the fast growth I have - the fact that I only wash it once a week.

What I've Been Up To // West End Festival, Emma Thompson & Ashton Lane

I felt like doing a little lifestyle post today, as I took a few nice photos at the weekend worth sharing. On Saturday it was my gran's birthday, and so the female members of my family headed to the West End of Glasgow to soak up the sunshine.

We headed to allotments near Kelvingrove as they were open for the public to take a look at as part of the West End Festival, and we knew it was something my gran would enjoy. They were a lot bigger (and more interesting) than I thought they would be, and so pretty! My favourite part was definitely the archway covered in flowers.

Wishlist // "If I Were Going Abroad..." ft. Boohoo Holiday Shop

Boohoo have this handy holiday shop set up on their website, where all Summer clothes are bundled together for you to easily browse! Sadly, I'm not going abroad this year (I'm travelling to various places in the UK) so although I can dress summery, I can't quite go the full hog, y'know? But, I wanted to showcase the holiday shop somehow - so here is my "this is what I would buy if I were going somewhere scorching" wishlist!

Staple Jewellery Items

You may have noticed when looking at my (Daily) Outfits posts, that I wear a lot of the same jewellery. I'm the type of person who puts in earrings and doesn't change them for three months, and who picks up the same necklace every day for a fortnight. So, I thought I would share with you the jewellery items that have become staples for me.

'Subtle' Leopard Print

I was always one of those people was never too fond of leopard print. I didn't mind it, but at times I felt it could be a bit tacky and in-your-face. However, in recent times, two items completely drew me in, and for the same reason - the print is subtle.

Skirt // I picked up this Topshop denim skirt in the sale for a bargain £10, I'm a very happy chick. It was one of those "I didn't know I needed this but I do" moments. The mix of the shades of blue in the denim create a lovely worn effect and really tone down the leopard print, making it much more wearable (in my opinion) while keeping it more interesting than plain denim.

Dress // I wrote a detailed post this SheInside dress when I bought it, and I mentioned the small leopard print. Okay, Marilyn ain't so subtle, but I think you can agree that the print behind her is. The dots are so small that from afar the dress just looks spotted, and I'm besotted with it.

So, I may be a leopard print convert. I will not rule it out in the future, but I do still think I'll stick to my subtle patterns!

An Old Favourite // That Gal Brightening Face Primer

I first bought Benefit's That Gal Brightening Face Primer when I was thirteen or fourteen, and I loved it. Well, four to five years down the line and I finally repurchased.

That Gal does what it says on the tin, it brightens your complexion and gives you that lovely "lit from within" glow. Although it doesn't claim to, this pearly peach coloured silky primer also creates a beautifully smooth base for applying foundation over. You can also use it over foundation as a very subtle, dewy highlight. I love to lightly tap it over my cheekbones for a healthy glow, if I don't feel like using a more pronounced highlighter. It also smells amazing, but I can't put my finger on what the scent is!

I can't really fault That Gal, except for the price tag. I'm sure you can find something similar for a cheaper price, but £22.50 isn't completely unreasonable for a product you love, you know? I would totally recommend this if you are in the market for a brightening primer!

Tips & Tricks // Wearing Pink Eyeshadow

Pink and rose toned eyeshadow is a big trend right now, perhaps most famously known through Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette. Seeing as this is the case, I thought I would put together a couple of tips and tricks I have picked up while wearing these colours! I've found that these work really well for me, so I use each of these tips each time I wear rose tones on the eyes.

Highlighting and shadows

Use an inner corner highlight to brighten up the eyes, and a darker colour (it can still be pink toned) in the outer corners of the eyes, and also blended through the crease if you desire. These steps allow for definition which breaks the pink colour up.

Line the waterline

If you're not going for a black or coloured liner on the waterline, then I really suggest using a nude/skin toned one. Unfortunately pink shadows can sometimes draw attention to the redness already in the eye, and make them look bloodshot. Using the nude liner stops this from happening, and also brightens and makes your eyes look larger!

Line the lashline

Whether it's a thick winged liner or the tiniest bit of dark eyeshadow placed along the lashes, I recommend this step. Similar to the first and second tips, it adds definition to the eyes and breaks up the eyes and eyelid, stopping the bloodshot look. For some reason, it just makes everything look better! 

I hope these tips helped any of you who have trouble wearing pink shades on the eyes!

Socks & Sandals

I never thought the day would come when I would enjoy wearing socks and sandals together. Growing up, it was the biggest fashion faux pas, and yet, as I am sure you all know, the trend has become massive.

I recently bought myself this white pair of sandals. They are a bit more shoe-like than the average sandal, in terms of how much skin is on show, but as I'm staying in the UK this Summer, I felt they were a little more appropriate! While they do look lovely with bare feet, I have particularly liked wearing them with ankle socks. I have rocked various styles of sock over my time wearing them, but I think my favourite complimentary pair has to be these dusty rose ones with a cream lace trim.

What I'm Wearing:
Sandals // Ark
Socks // Topshop

I have this real cutesy school girl vibe going on when I wear them, which I have enjoyed immensely! How do you feel about the socks and sandals trend?

The eBay Brushes

I was in the market for some middle sized makeup brushes, and headed to eBay as I didn't feel like spending a huge amount. If you look in the right place, I do think you can find some excellent stuff on eBay, and these brushes are in that category.

Each brush in this set of four is shaped differently. I tend to use the angled one for blending out concealer, as the sharp point can fit around tricky areas like the nose and under the eyes. I like the domed brush for applying cream eyeshadows all over the lid, and the pointed brush is great for applying colours in the crease, when you don't need to be too precise. My favourite brush however, is the flat topped one. I use this for patting and swirling on cream blush products.

I like these brushes and will continue to use them. They're not the greatest makeup brushes in the world, no, but they get the job done nicely. I also think they look very sleek, and the bristles are soft and dense. They also clean well with no bristle fall out, which I know can be an issue with cheap brushes. All in all, I'd recommend you give these a look if you don't want to spend a lot on makeup brushes, as the set is less than £3!

The Lydia Look // Teen Wolf 3x06 Inspired Outfit

Today I have another post in my growing 'The Lydia Look' series! This outfit is inspired by the one Lydia Martin wears in episode 3x06 of Teen Wolf, and is the kind of outfit that I wear a lot. Enjoy looking at my bruised legs!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress // Jack Wills

Jacket // New Look

Satchel // Topshop

Boots // Topshop

Lydia's outfit consists of a black and pink floral dress with sheer panelling at the top, a denim moto jacket, a coral cross body bag, and suede beige ankle boots. I couldn't copy her exactly, but I went with a similar style dress, my denim jacket, and a red satchel. I don't have any boots or shoes in the same colour as hers, so went for my beloved black ankle boots that create the same sort of look. It's pretty simple really - pair a dress with a denim jacket and you're good to go. The dress doesn't even need to be in the same style or kind of print, I'd say you could achieve this look with just about anything!

Other posts in 'The Lydia Look' series:

Teen Wolf Lydia Martin Braided Updo

Teen Wolf 3x07 Inspired Outfit

Feeling Fresh For Summer // ft. Raise.com Closet Swap

Raise.com recently contacted me to ask if I'd like to take part in a blogger challenge, to share what items I'm bringing into my wardrobe as Summer is approaching. As I love a good challenge, and had a few Spring/Summer transition posts in the works, I obviously said yes!

I thought I would talk about "fresh" looking items today, as I find they are what I gravitate towards most when it's sunny. I do not particularly like neons, or insanely bright colours, so I find that cool but still colourful items are what I gravitate towards.

Sandals // Ark
Clutch // Primark
Skirt // H&M
Crop top // Forever 21
Jumper // H&M

As you can see, I have a bit of a white and mint obsession right now... I find that minty blues and greens are a great way to include an eye-catching piece that isn't too in-your-face. I also just prefer wearing those colours compared to warmer ones. White is also a lovely way to make an outfit more Summer appropriate. I find that by wearing a dark outfit and adding just those white sandals, I can still achieve a brightened look. Living in Scotland, I don't get a hugely warm Summer, but I do still like to liven everything up. Overall I just like to incorporate lightweight fabrics and mix some fresh colours into my usually black and grey oriented wardrobe.

I must mention Raise.com also! It is a new website, where you can buy and sell giftcards for popular stores at a discounted price. I have only browsed the website so far, but it looks like a really good idea, despite my puzzled "what's the point in that?" feeling at first! I think it would be a good option if you wanted to give someone a giftcard but couldn't spend too much yourself, or if you were given a giftcard for a shop you would never look in. Unfortunately, it looks like it is only available to the US right now, but I hear they are currently trying to expand!

Let me know what items you love to bring out when Summer comes around!

Some New Skincare

I have just finished my exams, and unfortunately my skin has taken a beating along the way. Through stress and less cleansing due to being inside and makeup-less (aka, lazy) most days, it has introduced some new blemishes to my face. After my usual products weren't cutting it, I decided to try some recently highly talked about items in the hopes of clearing everything up.

First up comes a new cleanser, an oil one in fact. I had never tried an oil cleanser before but was excited to give The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil a shot, and I'm pleased with how it removes makeup and makes my face feel squeaky clean so far! In the form of a toner, I now have Lush's Tea Tree Water Toner. It's really lovey to use, there is always something so fun and refreshing about spritzing your face with products.

Obviously this isn't a review, just some quick reactions as of now as I like to use skincare items for at least a month before properly reviewing. I am sure these will pop up on the blog in the future though, so keep an eye out!

The Perfect Playsuit?

I have always loved the look of playsuits. But, being petite, I have never found one that fits me perfectly. Until now, that is. I purchased this black playsuit with purple and yellow flowers from Choies, and adore it. Because of exams, I haven't had a chance to take separate photos of it, so I have to use these ones of me wearing it out!

ALSO WEARING: Denim jacket // New Look, Bag // Topshop // Socks // Topshop, Boots // Topshop, Necklace // Kukee, Sunglasses // Primark

ALSO WEARING: Earrings // H&M, Necklace // H&M

Clearly I like wearing it with my hair in milkmaid braids, huh? Ordering something such as a playsuit online was a bit of a risk, in terms of sizing, but I lucked out. It is figure-hugging in all of the right places, hits my waist at the correct point, and doesn't look too long for me. The print is also beautiful - black, so still in my comfort zone, but with that added pop of colour to bring life and a Spring/Summer vibe to the look. The only problem I have is getting it on and off. My waist-to-hip ratio is both a blessing and a curse, so I do have to partake in a fair amount of shimmying!

When buying this playsuit I was weighing it against an almost identical one, except in white. After my delight with this one, I think I'll bite the bullet and buy that one also. It'll be perfect for Summer! Let me know what you think and if you know of anywhere else that supplies pretty playsuits to the tiny for a reasonable price - I've fallen in love with wearing this one!

Finally Grazing

Yes, I have finally jumped onto the Graze Box trend. Previously I have been a little "take it or leave it" with the idea of their nibble boxes, but after browsing the website and working out that I probably spend that much on snacks anyway, I signed myself up for a box.

With Graze, you receive a box of four snacks straight through the door, ready for you to eat. You can decide how often you want the boxes to arrive, and can even postpone boxes which is a great option if, like me, you sometimes find yourself broke mid month and don't want to pay for anything unnecessary. For £3.99, however (so £1 a snack), I think it is a fair price to pay every now and then. You can also rate items so you are sure to get something hand-picked for you that you will (hopefully) enjoy!

In my first box I received Florentine, Cheddar Gorge, Brooklyn Bites and Popcorn with a twist of black pepper. While I'm never quite sure if I actually like pumpkin seeds or not, I have to say I've enjoyed this box and I'm going to test out another. I'm actually not a very big snacker, but when I do it's pretty boring things like cereal bars, biscuits or fruit. Graze is a great way to have some tasty, different snacks that aren't unhealthy for you!

If you would like to give Graze a shot, you can either click here or the image at the side of my blog, and get your first box for free! After the first free box you can unsubscribe for no cost if you don't fancy it, so hey, you may as well give it a shot!