What's in My Work Bag

20 April 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
 Luxury is not having to lug three ring-binders around on a daily basis. Everything I need, I leave in the office, which means I can fill my bag with my 'essentials' without having to worry about folder space. This Fiorelli shoulder bag was bought from TK Maxx at £44.99. Fiorelli has remained a reliable source of handbags and accessories for me as they produce high quality products at reasonable prices. Their products are also available across a range of stores from Asos to Debenhams, so they're never hard to find. I bought this bag last summer in an eager bid to add colour to my wardrobe for the remainder of the season. Since then, I have carried this bag just about everywhere and it's remained in great condition. The bright blue coordinates well with a lot of items in my wardrobe which makes it very easy to carry. Inside, there's a small zip pocket, as well as a pocket on the back of the bag.
 Books. I have a 2015 day-to-day planner with me everywhere I go. this planner was bought from Staples at £5.50 at the beginning of the year. Inside, I plan every minute of my day because I would be completely lost without some sense of organisation. It even includes blog posts that are scheduled to go live, and times I need to remember to actually use my social networking accounts like Instagram and Twitter - which I occasionally neglect. As I'm at work for most of the day, I usually plan out my spare evenings as time just seems to slip away! In my bag, I also carry a plain black, lined journal from Paperchase. I use this notepad for jotting down every idea that ever pops into my mind. From blog posts, to feelings and so on. Having an hour for lunch is great as I spend the entire time in the library, coming up with post ideas and writing out ideas I can't forget.
 Valuables. My Karl Lagerfeld purse was bought from TK Maxx at £9.99 - that's the truth. This is one of the most valuable items in my bag as it contains the key to my bank account, along with travel passes and discount cards that I never remember to use. The purse is real leather and usually ends up getting lost at some point during the day. My iPad Mini was a bit of a luxurious, offbeat purchase as I don't really like to splash out now it's my own money. But this tiny tablet is extremely useful, for daily use as well as blogging. The iPad is wifi-only, but this doesn't stop me from using the Microsoft Word app to type up posts when I'm too lazy to write! When wifi is an option, I use the tablet just like a laptop! My glasses are incredibly valuable to me, mainly because they're my only pair. The Tommy Hilfiger frames were bought from Specsavers and there's not much I can do without them. I also carry two lip balms - you can never have too many. Baby Lips by Maybelline and Happy Lips by Blistex are my top ranking balms for the spring. They're around the same price and I would recommend both.
I'm a little bit of a germ-freak, I like cleanliness and can't live without a high standard of hygine. So I was incredibly lucky when I found out a travel size anti-bacterial gel and cleansing wipes set were being sold in the "Strawberry Laces" scent! Carex have helped me through the stuggle of public transport with their useful range. The wipes can be used on face,body and hands which makes them useful for work and while I'm on the go. The scent, unlike most antiseptic products isn't abominable and unbearable. I also carry a hand cream by Carex, which I use at least once every three hours. My teeny tiny tooth comb is from Superdrug and was only 99p! Finally, I carry a make-up bag with a few essentials such as mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and a basic eye-shadow palette to top up during the day.
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Hi-Five for Hi-Shine

10 April 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Barry M has always an ultra-popular brand after it's successful nail polish range. As someone who prefers painted nails, I am in a constant search for a good polish to promote and wear on a regular basis. With nail polished that are at an affordable price, they're often quite low quality which is usually why the price is so love. Barry M's Nail Paint is quite the opposite. Out of their whole range, I have taken a liking to their Gelly Hi-Shine varnishes after reading positive reviews in the blogging atmosphere; plus a few metallic paints too. For those who don't love a shiny look, Barry M also do a range of matte finish polishes online and in stores. The great thing about the Nail Paint is the wide range and durability. For me, it's important my nails stay chip-free for at least a week. Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine can last around 11-14 days with two coats before any chips appear. That's excluding the fact that I usually smudge my nails seconds after painting them. The gel paint is also very easy to remove, which is great for me as someone who love to change the colour of my nails frequently. With a lot of high-market brands, the nail varnish is almost impossible to remove with a cotton pad and remover which gets really frustrating. I prefer the Hi-Shine as it dries in a reasonably quick time and can be removed without having to dig out the chainsaw.
Colours L-R: Blood Orange, Blue Grape, Plum.
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YouTubers I'm Obsessed With

7 April 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
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I spent a little too much time on YouTube. Over the bank holiday weekend, I have been catching up on my subscriptions and a few creative minds I just can't live without. Their videos are entertaining and great to watch on the go,  and they have become the five YouTubers I'm obsessed with.
HeyClaire aka Claire Marshall
Claire is by far my favourite YouTuber. Her channel is a mix of fashion, beauty and vlogs, alongside the occasional food and lifestyle video. The first thing that drew me to Claire's channel was her phenomenal editing skills. With a lot of subscriptions, I find myself skipping through videos simply because I lose interest. However, when I watch a new HeyClaire video I enjoy every minute. From her New York Fashion Week and everyday life vlogs to the top tips on eyeliner and what beauty buys are worth a try. I also love Claire's personality, she's a very relatable person with a hilarious sense of humour which makes her really easy to watch. I adore her cat Bruce, and her incredible creative lifestyle.
Clothes Encounters aka Jenn Im
I discovered Jenn's channel after spotting her in one of Claire's videos and falling in love with her sense of style. The fashion videos on the Clothes Encounters channel range from outfits of the week to closet favourites and "what I would wear" tags. Jenn's fashion choices are a great inspiration and template for creating your own unique wardrobe. I was also really impressed with Jenn's description of clothing - not usually something most viewers point out. Her voice-overs are clear and descriptive which makes her videos so enjoyable to watch!
LustreLux aka Katy
If I'm ever in need of a new make-up look, this is the channel I head to. Katy's make-up routines are spotless and incredibly easy to follow. She recommends products that are genuine, and would be beneficial to her viewers, rather than just plugging anything that is offered. I learnt how to blend eyeshadow and create out-of-the-ordinary looks for each day. This channel is great if you're wanting to experiment with different looks, or even if you prefer to refine the eyeliner skills you have. It may take a while to master the perfect cat-eye Katy has, but with the help of her videos I'm sure I'll get there.
Shameless Maya aka Maya Washington
Maya's videos don't have a set theme, but I had to include her in my life simply because I adore her. She is a very inspiring person, and after watching a few of her videos, you feel motivated to get up and work hard for what you want or where you want to be. Her channel also includes fashion and make-up videos which are great for gaining that extra style stimulation. She has a series called Maya's World which features vlog-like videos and updates on her life which I love to indulge in!
Lauren Elizabeth
Lauren's videos have become a favourite of mine after recently subscribing to her channel. I came across Lauren on Twitter and quickly realised how entertaining she is. Her videos always leave me smiling are great to binge on if you're feeling down and need someone relatable to watch for a few hours. Lauren is very active on social media so you can never miss and update. Her twitter feed is constantly buzzing which is great from an almost-addict like me.
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How I Stay Healthy

31 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Now that I'm working and busy nearly all the time, it's not as easy to stay in shape. I have never been and will never be a gym person. Swimming isn't my favourite thing to do as I'm too lazy. However, I am extremely competitive which is the only way I can encourage myself to actually work out. I'm lucky to live in in area with a lot of hills, quiet areas and enormous landscapes so there's plenty of places to run or walk. Playing netball with friends every week is the one thing I look forward to. There's plenty of opportunities to run around and increase my fitness level without going overboard and being surrounded by friends. Taking long dog walks or hikes are the typical weekend workout activities which help me to stay in shape.

The app, RunKeeper has become a favourite when I chose to take a jog in the evenings. The app keeps track of everything you need to know, from distance to heart rate and average pace while helping me reach goals and remain motivated. The application includes an area to log your motivation, including photos as well as your goals and training plan. There' s also the option to share your achievements which RunKeeper keeps a track of once you make an account.
PumpUp is an app I used to use after school in the evenings to see if I could squeeze in extra exercise after walking home. The app creates workouts for you based on equipment available and level of fitness. This was helpful as a beginner, but after learning which moves I prefer, I created my own workout schedule complied of positions I find more comfortable.
My Fitness Pal is a great app I used to use to keep track of what I ate. Unfortunately, logging everything I ate wasn't as easy as it sounds and I found it much easier to just note down what I have eaten rather than keep track of calories and fat.

I drink herbal tea throughout the day which has helped my skin a lot, but also settled my hunger habits. Taking a packed lunch or planning what I'm going to eat for work has helped me keep my diet in line. Eating large meals in the morning is impossible for me, so smoothies are the best bet to keep me awake and ready to go. Working in a big city means there's unhealthy food on every single corner, from Subway restaurants next door and the train station being lined with Starbucks and KFC stops. The high prices are enough motivation to stay away, but on a busy day it's easy to give into temptation. When I bring my own food to work and actually take time to eat it, I've found that I'm less likely to nip into a corner stop and buy an unhealthy snack to settle the hunger. Making a salad in the morning doesn't take too long, and I like to bring a piece of fruit along if I get peckish during the day.
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Wrapping in the Warmth

29 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Travelling between train stations are the moments in my day I least look forward to. The busy atmosphere and malfunctioning ticket gates don't get to me. It's the cold northern breeze that runs through the enormous grey building that leaves me frozen solid. I have lived in Yorkshire my entire life, but I still can't get used to the chilly temperatures. Despite this time of year being a season I treasure, there is nothing I dread more than stepping out into that crisp wind. There are a few ways I like to stay warm without dressing up like the Michelin Man.
Thermals Work.
I used to take these toasty gems for granted. Almost every item of clothing is available in a thermal form. From coats to dresses and even tights. I underestimated the power of such a fabric that has been around for so many years. Not only are thermals available in most camping/outdoor stores, they're usually in neutral and basic colours so can be disguised and blend well with normal clothing. Thermals are advantageous because they're often quite thin and great for layering.
Layers, Layers, Layers.
A technique used by our ancestors to keep warm throughout the colder season. One of the main reason I adore fashion at this time of year is because I can experiment with layers - mixing colours, textures and patterns to create an interesting look. It's a great way to spice up an everyday look and create multiple statement pieces without going overboard. Throwing thermals in the mix is the key to finding extra heat. I usually have a mix of scares, tops and jackets to try and layers, keeping the top-half warm.
Beautiful Boots.
I have always worn ankle boots as a quick and easy casual style pick. Thigh high boots are immensely popular, especially among celebrities with suede being the favoured pick. Unfortunately, they don't suit everyone including myself. However, there are so many different styles available in high street stores with end-of-season sales being only a few weeks away. I prefer a tiny heel, because they elongate the legs and can pull an outfit together. Being drawn to black boots is a habit I'm desperately trying to break; I've also found that good quality boots don't need to be real leather which helps when you're shopping on a budget.
Accessorize!
Now that I actually have to abandon the internet and go outside everyday, I value my woolly knits more than ever. I recently bought a Michael Kors beanie hat from TK Maxx which keeps my enormous head warm and ears hidden. The thick knit is perfect, and the dark charcoal fits well with many other colours. There's nothing better than finishing work at 5pm and wrapping up in a super soft and extra long scarf. My hands are always cold so the extra pair of "magic gloves" do the trick perfectly. Earmuffs are also available in stores such as Claire's and Accessorize for great prices.
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