Birthday Presents

Morning!

As you know, it was my birthday a week or so ago, the 19th to be exact. And boy, did I get some goodies! Not everything is featured on here, (it would of been a loooong post) but I'll give you a quick run through at the end of anything else I got! Here goes;

Sian brought me some right goodies. Two listographies, (I'm a massive list maker) a current one and a future one and this beautiful notebook, that has now become my blogging notebook! I'm also a woodland creature fan, trees, foxes, birds - I love them. Perfect gifts! I still haven't filled them out because I just don't want to ruin them with my awful writing!

Candles! I got this beautiful White Chocolate Bunnies Yankee Candle off my nan, it smells divine, literally I spend minutes just sitting there and sniffing it. I also got Honey Blossom off my lady, Sami. This also smells beautiful and I can't wait to light both of them! I also got tea light versions of the Honey Blossom off my work colleagues, which is a massive bonus!

Yes, yes, yes. I'm currently working my way through this beauty. My friend, Jess brought me this (I hinted I wanted it) and it's actually really helpful. I'm only a few pages in and I already want to buy everything in it! Especially the brushes. Why are Bobbi Brown brushes so damn expensive?!

Oh Lord. Possibly one of my favourite presents. My beautiful lady, Kerry knows how obsessed I am with Tom Hiddleston, especially when he plays Loki. The story is... I had a dream that I was his wife, but he was a horrible husband, so I ran away with Thor. He came after me, they both fought over me, but I went back with Loki cause let's face it, every girl loves an evil Lord. Obviously, that dream could definitely turn into reality.. Not. But this will be framed and stuck on my wall. Oh, and it's signed ;) 

So there's just a few of the bits I got for my birthday. I also got a pair of straighteners, a hell of a lot of chocolate, make-up brushes (which will be reviewed) nail polishes, gift cards, accessories. I've actually forgotten a lot of stuff, oops! 

PS: Today is my driving test, wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

- Charli, xo

Favourite Folk - March Edition

Hello, hello, hello.

It's that time again! Where I tell you who I've been obsessing over this month! I've met some lovely people over the last couple of months and I'm sorry (not sorry, really) to say that most of the people from last month's FF and also in this months. Let's get started;

Sian Marie's Beauty Blog

Here she is, right on cue. Another month where I have adored scrolling through her posts and wanting to buy everything she reviews. She hit 150 followers this week and I couldn't be more proud! My favourite posts from this month include her Life in Letters tag and the Get Ready With Me that I'm featured in! She does a lot of reviews, unlike me (I really do try!) and I love reading through her honest thoughts! Please give her a read, it'd make her day! 

Student Life

I've featured Hannah on here before, maybe in my first ever FF? I'm not sure, but I still love reading her posts. She doesn't post as much as I'd like her to, but when she does, I am straight there! I adored her Life According to Beyonce post a few days ago and her Why Don't You Like Me? post had me in hysterics. Her blog is life based and she shares my woes of student life and knowing she can get up and go into Uni each day, pushes me to do the same (sometimes). Give her a look, she's hilarious. 

Steph Ellis

I featured Steph in last months FF and she's back again. I just can't get enough of her face. Seriously, it's worrying. Definite girl crush right here. Moving on.. I love reading Steph's Sunday posts where she sticks up pictures of each hour of her day - cause I'm nosey and I like to see how much more interesting peoples lives are than mine (it ain't hard, trust me). She posted a Personalising Your Parties post this month which has now made me want to throw at least 12 parties in my tiny two bedroom house. You should definitely pop on over, if only to look at her face.

Seek My Scribbles

Not only have a fallen head over heels in love with this girl and her blog - she's from Nottingham! What a small world. I'm hoping Sian, Megan and I can soon meet up, blow our wages in Boots and then drown our money-woes in TGIF cocktails. What do you think girls?! I love this lady's blog, with a mixture of make-up, life and fashion, you just can't go wrong. I love her Little Life Snippets posts because once again, I'm nosey as hell and also her What's on my Wish List? post has got me craving pencils (you'll have to check her out to see what I'm banging on about). She's lovely and just follow her, dammit.

Jo Blogs

I also met this lady this month and boy, am I glad I did. Her blog fills me with little bubbles of joy, if that's possible. Her Spring Is Here post has made me want to dress in yellow floral tops and pink leather skirts. I'd definitely pull that off, I don't care what you say. I really do look forward to her posts and I'm always scanning through my Bloglovin' posts to see if she's posted that day. Go on over and give her some love, you won't regret it! 

Right guys, that's it for this month. This month's was really hard to do! And I could of added so many more, but I think 5 is enough, don't want you guys reading for hours! Or do I?! Anyway, I'd love for you guys to give this a comment, leave your blog links and let me have a good gander! But make sure you give these guys a good read, they're all worth it!

- Charli, xo

The Meadowhall Haul

Morning!

Last weekend I took a trip to Meadowhall with Bear and we had a lovely few hours of shopping. I had some birthday money that I wanted to spend and what better place than Meadowhall?! We also stopped at TGIF (obviously) however I didn't take any photos as I was too busy stuffing my face. Not everything I brought is featured, but this is most of it; 

I've wanted a new make-up bag for ages as mine is seriously gross, so I dragged Bear into Cath Kidston and came out with this little pretty! Bigger than the one I have now, this is a beautiful pale blue with floral (obviously) and I adore it. I haven't even put anything it it yet cause it's too nice! I also took a trip to Boots and purchased two of the new Speckled Egg collection from Models Own. I brought Magpie (green) and Duck (blue) and my lovely friend Kerry brought me Swan (lilac). There will be a review coming up on these in the next couple of weeks!

Bear also let me wander into MAC. What was he thinking? I've been wanting an empty pro-palette since, forever so I took the plunge. At £22.50 I was actually really impressed and the girl told me that the refills are only £10 - then she gave me a £5 gift card! Definitely going back next month for my first eyeshadow! I've also been wanting a new, spring blush for a couple of weeks now. I love my Rockteur but it's being used up fast and I want something a bit brighter. In comes Satin Taupe. Oh my days, what a beautiful colour! It's a very, very light baby pink (it looks dark in this picture, it isn't) so light in fact, I wouldn't wear it on a night out. But for natural days, or days where I don't want to wear too much face cake, this does the job! And at £18, it's cheaper than Benefit!

All hail the Hunters! These are actually what I went to Meadowhall for. My brilliant Bear brought me these for my birthday. What kinda girl asks for wellies for her birthday, I hear you ask? Well, the kind girl that wishes she was a farmer. To be honest, I've needed some new wellies for about a year, the ones I wear to Uni are ditched and, well, cheap. How pretty are these! At £85, they were a bit of a splash, but if you can't buy expensive wellies, what can ya do?!

I also brought two crop tops from Topshop, a black and a stripey one that are currently in the wash, hence no picture. I purchased some Lush items - Fizzbanger, Cosmetic Warrior and Mumkin, but these will have separate reviews. But anyway, a lovely little haul! I loved my day out with my handsome man and shopping makes me want to sqeal with happiness - especially when it's not my money, ameeenn.

What do you think of my products?!

- Charli, xo

A Lush Review - Inhale/Exhale

Morning lovies;

The second product I used from my little Lush haul was Inhale Exhale. Again, I stole this picture from the Lush site as my camera is still away with the fairies somewhere, however - father has given me his old one.. I just need some batteries. Anyway;

This bomb is from Lush's 2014 Mother's Day range. It stands out because it's two coloured, the red side being the inhale and the blue, obviously being exhale. 

What do Lush say?

This is a bath bomb of two halves: created with the two halves of our Breath of God fragrance, Inhale and Exhale. Each half will fizz at different speeds. The Inhale half fizzes quickly, allowing you to breathe in the neroli and rose oils, breathe in and relax. You can then lie back and enjoy the grounding effect of Exhale, which fizzes more slowly to allow the opportunity for a long-lasting, indulgent bath.

As ya know, I'm rubbish at describing scents but this smells very manly. A featured ingredient is grapefruit oil, now, I can't tell you if the bomb smells like this as I don't think I've ever smelt a grapefruit - what a letdown I am. Moving on; I don't rate this bomb to be honest guys. For a start, I was surprised (to the point of shouting at the bomb itself) at how small it is. At £3.25 I expected this to be the same size as bombs such as Twilight and Fizzbanger, which are pretty big. DON'T BE FOOLED. I'd say this bomb is less than half the size, it's tiny. What a rubbish load of smush. Also, I do not think the blue side of the bomb lasted longer than the other, however, I didn't pay that much attention. Bad girl.  

Overall, (what a short, rubbish review this was!) I don't rate this bomb and won't be repurchasing! I think there are bigger bombs, at the same price, that give you a lot more for your money!

Have you used this bomb?

What did you think?

- Charli, xo 

Self-Love Sunday // The Self-Love Tag

Merry Sunday!

So one of my favourite blogs posted this tag - and seeing as I got a good response from my last one, I thought I'd give this one a go. This is going to be hard for me as self-love is not something I do well at, but I'm gonna get straight into it because this is going to be a long-ass post! 

Rules

- Answer the questions

- Nominate at least 5 other bloggers

- Contact them to let them know they've been nominated

Easy! Let's go.

What does self-love mean to you?

To me, it means being able to look in the mirror and smile. It's not all about looks, it's just about you. To be able to look at myself and smile is something I have never been able to do. I'm not content with anything about myself, I could give you 50 faults but not one positive thing. I'm working on it though guys! 

What is your favourite way to pamper yourself?

I love lighting some candles and sitting in the bath with YouTube or a good book, I love using a good face mask and also painting my nails makes me feel good. 

What are your three favourite hobbies/past times?

This is difficult because I don't really have any hobbies. But blogging is a huge one. It's slowly giving me more and more confidence that maybe I'm not as bad as I make out. It motivates me to do something with my time rather than sit and watch Desperate Housewives in the dark. Secondly, eating out? It's not a hobby but I adore eating out with friends, family or just me and Stuart. I think it's a lovely opportunity to catch up and laugh and just eat yourself stupid. Thirdly, shopping is a big hobby of mine :) 

What movie puts you in a good mood when you're not feeling so great?

Bridesmaids! Or generally anything Disney related. I love a good comedy and I'm also a huge Disney fan - Lion King is my favourite film of all time, but it doesn't really put me in a good mood!

Who do you trust the most?

My mum. I have major trust issues and I can't say that I actually trust anyone 100% other than my mum. She has never let me down and even when she knows I'm wrong, she is always there.

What quote motivates you?

I'm not really a quote person? So I have no idea to be honest. So instead I'll just mention one of my favourite lines from my favourite book series.

'I love you, I will love you until I die and if there is a life after that, I will love you then'

When was the last time you took yourself on a date?

This week I went to Centreparcs Spa with my lady, Kerry - I guess because there was two of us it doesn't really count. But it was really nice having a few hours to myself, relaxing in almost pure silence, not having think about the outside world for a while. I really needed it.

What make-up products make you feel like a million bucks?

Uhhmmm, a good face mask? Cause your skin can feel better straight away after using a good one! And also, a good lippy. 

What is the last thing you did for someone else that made you feel amazing?

Probably Christmas? I love watching other people open the gifts I brought for them and seeing their faces cause I know my choices are awesome.

Do you feel comfortable with or without make-up on?

In all honesty, I never feel comfortable. Make-up or no make-up. There have only been a handful of moments where I have thought, I'm not so bad. 

What piece of advice would you give a child about to grow up with the pressures of today's media and it's crushing expectations?

I think it depends on what kind of expectations you're thinking of. If the way of society is to grow up with a good education, get yourself a solid job in whatever you want and live a fulfilled life, then I'd say; Go for it. If the way of society is to be a size zero, to be perfect, to be popular, then I say; Just be who you want to be. Fuck society.

What song puts you in a good mood?

At the moment - Anything Taylor Swift or The Summer Set!

What's the best advice someone gave you?

I don't really listen to advice to be honest. But something that someone said to me quite recently was; How can you expect someone to love you, when you don't even love yourself? - And this kick started me onto this 'Self-Love' journey.

Who makes you giggle?

My sister. I am forever laughing like a horse when I'm with her. She makes my sides and my cheeks hurt so much, I adore her.

What is something about society that bugs you?

People. People make society, people decide what is right and wrong, what looks good and what doesn't. I think we all need to lighten up a bit. Who cares if that girl wants to cover herself in body art? Who cares if that guy falls in love with another man? Who cares if she wants to be a he? One persons actions, is not affecting us, so why should we care?

What is one of your favourite things to do at the weekend?

Well I usually work every Saturday - but I love productive Sundays, as it's the only time I get free. I love completing to-do lists and then spending the evening curled up on the sofa with Stuart and watching crap TV.

What is one of your favourite memories with your friends?

The day Daisy was born. I remember being at Uni and getting a text saying 'Uhm...' and I knew straight away. She was born the next morning and I received a picture message of her and I cried, at 5 in the morning. I was so proud of Sami and two days later when I held Daisy, I (almost) cried again - she was (and still is) the definition of perfect. 

What advice would you give someone who needs a confidence boost?

Don't listen to me, I have the lowest confidence ever - so basically, do everything I don't.

Lastly, how do you plan on investing in self-love?

I'd like a little more me time. I little more time where I'm by myself, because it's okay to be alone. I'd like to spend time trying new things, new clothing, new colours that I wouldn't normally try and also taking more risks and doing things I wouldn't normally do.

So there you have it, I quite enjoyed this tag - however it hasn't made me love myself anymore! But maybe it's time I kicked this 'Self-Love' journey up a notch and tried a bit harder?

Okay, I nominate;

Sian - Sian Marie

Megan - Seek My Scribbles

Hannah - hbbeauty

Nessa - Cats n Bats

Steph - Steph Ellis

If you made it all the way to the end, then thank you very much :) I'd love you all to have a go and let me know in the comments so I can have a read!

- Charli, xo

Spring Wishlist, 2014

Good morning!

As of yesterday (20th March) it's officially Spring! I love Spring and I love the colours that come with it. I'm a massive pastel fan, I love floral print dresses and I'm a hoarder of sandals. So browsing the World Wide Web for pretties to put in this wish list was very dangerous, but seeing as I'm skint this month, I settled for just showing you guys what I'm lusting after!

1) Michael Kors Watch - Bloomingdales $250 (This is also on Amazon, the link just wouldn't work)

I've wanted a Michael Kors watch for a while now. I'm not a watch person, at all. I've never owned a watch, I hate my arms and how skinny they are so I tend to steer away from arm wear, but after seeing these about I've definitely fallen in love. I'm loving the rose gold themes at the moment and this is no different. Someone please buy me one of these?

2) Black Daisy Tea Dress - Dorothy Perkins - £38

I'm loving all the floral prints that are coming out at the moment and especially the daisy prints. Having a God-Daughter named Daisy means I have an excuse to purchase everything daisy related, and I think this dress from Dorothy Perkins is a need - to buy.

3) Bowler Hat - Accessorize - £25

I love hats on girls, much to Bear's dismay (he hates them) and recently my friend Kerry got brought one of these for her birthday and she looks shit hot in it and I tried it on and decided I looked awesome, so now I feel the need to purchase one. Maybe not one for £25 though.. Primark anyone?

4) Ciate Sugared Almonds - Selfridges - £9

If you don't know by now that I'm addicted to nail varnish, then where have you been? Really! Of course a polish had to be involved in this wishlist. I adore all the pastel colours that come out at this time of year and I think Sugared Almonds is a gorgeous peach colour (I actually only own one peach nail varnish) and would look awesome in my collection.

5) Topshop Lips in Petal - Topshop - £8

Again, another addiction of mine. I'm a huge lipstick hoarder, mostly pinks and reds. In fact, all pinks and reds I think. So here's another pink that I think is bloody beautiful and even though I have about 4 others in this shade, I definitely need this one.

6) Blue Faded Mom Jeans - New Look - £24.99

I do NOT wear jeans. I own one pair, that I only wear when I'm training the dogs at Uni. I really don't think jeans suit me in the slightest but I really, really want a pair of mom jeans! Maybe I can buy some and just never look in a mirror? Hmm.

7) Stone Thin Caged Flat Sandals - New Look - £17.99

It's nearly sandal weather guys. I love shoes. Addictions are clearly a part of my nature because Bear constantly tells me I do not need that pair of shoes that look exactly the same as those other ones that I own. I love sandals, I love getting my feet out (I think I have lovely feet, soz) and I think these are beauts!

What's on your Spring wishlist? 

- Charli, xo

23

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to Charli, happy birthday to me!

In case you hadn't noticed all the subtle hints I've been dropping all over my social media - today is my birthday. 

23 years young. Being another year older doesn't really bother me - however it does make you realise how quick time flies. So I think I'm going to do a '24 before I'm 24' list that I'll feature in a couple of weeks! 

Have a lovely day guys!

- Charli, xo

Birchbox Delivery // 05

Morning people;

My 5th Birchbox and it still never lets me down! This month Birchbox collaborated with Lulu Guinness, who according to Sian is a designer. I'm not gonna lie and this may lose me a few followers, but I have no idea who this woman is and in all honesty, I don't have the time to research these things. I'm not into designers, I like my Primark leggings and my Asda slippers, other than make-up I don't tend to splurge on expensive items of clothing. But anyway, she put rock in my Birchbox, the woman is a legend. Oh look, I've rambled again, shall we begin?

Benefit - Stay Don't Stray | £20.50
An eye primer you can count on! Ensure eyeshadow and concealer stays out from AM to PM. Dot above and below the eye, gently blending in with your fingertip. 

I was quite happy to see this in my box - at first I thought it was an eyeshadow, HA how silly of me. I'm quite new to the primer world, I've started using POREfessional on nights out now and now I have an eyeshadow primer too! Ooo, how exciting - and how sad am I that I get excited about primers? Anyway - looking forward to trying this out next week - ON MY BIRTHDAY.

Dr. Brandt - Pores No More Pore Refiner | £39
A favourite of photo-read celebs, this sheer formula minimises pores and absorbs excess oil. Apply a thin layer to your face before make-up and after moisturiser. 

So - is this a primer? Or a cleanser? Or, I don't even know. Guys, why do I even have a beauty blog? I know nothing! I've never heard this brand - but if it's gonna make my skin look good, then I will try it! But £39? Even if this transforms my skin and makes me look like Katy Perry - I will not be repurchasing at that price.

Aroma Works - Nurture Body Oil | £32.50
A blend of sumptuous oils - including nourishing coconut oil - to leave limbs silky and smelling divine. After a bath or shower, massage into skin and enjoy the aroma.

I just made Stuart smell this and this was his response - 'Woah, that's a bit lemony' so guys, this smells like lemons. Which I didn't think I would like, but I actually do. Oils scare the hell out of me, I have a couple that I haven't used. I use one on the ends of my hair, but that's about as far into the world of oil that I've ventured - unless using it for a suntan counts? I think I might use this a few times a week after a nice bath? I dunno. It'll probably go in the 'I don't dare use' box.

Molton Brown - Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream | £10
A fast-absorbing, repairing and deeply nourishing lotion to leave hands delectably soft and smelling sweet. Massage into hands for a moisture kick.

Right. Beauty box makers - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I have enough hand creams to fill a bath tub, please stop putting them in your boxes! There is only so many we can go through - and when you don't even have dry hands, well what am I supposed to do with them all?! I must admit, this smells divine - but UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Stop it.

English Laundry - No. 7 for Her | £47
Top notes of pear and jasmine blend with gardenia, vanilla and sandalwood in this delightful scent. Spritz onto pulse points and enjoy the fresh fragrance.

I still have no idea what sandalwood is - someone please enlighten me. I received a sample of an English Laundry perfume in my first Birchbox and I was so impressed I nearly went and brought it and again, I am not disappointed. This is a very fresh fragrance and if you guys know me at all, you'll know I'm shite at describing scents. I can however, smell Jasmine and vanilla and well, that's all I need!

Lifestyle Extra - Candy Rock
This stripey candy represents the traditional sweet shops that inspired Lulu Guinness' fabulous Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Unwrap and enjoy!

It almost killed me waiting till I had taken photos and eaten this - and once I unwrapped it, it was gone in minutes, my poor teeth! This is my favourite out of the box, I love rock! This was mint flavoured (I expected it to be aniseed) and oooo, yeah.

So, this months Birchbox - maybe my least favourite box so far?! HOWEVER, I'm still not disappointed. Even though there were no full-sized products in this months box :( sad face - I'm chuffed with the Benefit primer, the perfume AND mate, who can not be overjoyed with a stick of rock?

What did you guys think to your boxes?!

- Charli, xo

A bit of Soap & Glory

Alright!

Would you look at that.. I'm doing a review! Nobody panic, I'm not ill, I promise. This is supposed to be a beauty blog, after all. Today I thought I'd do a little review on something I got for Christmas, you know, that event that happened 3 months ago yet I still haven't reviewed ANYTHING I got. Oh well; please don't ask me what this set was, I chucked all the packaging, I do apologise, so I have no idea what it was called! Let's get started shall we?

 Look at that lighting, I'm a pro ;) I kid, it was stupidly sunny outside and this is taken on my Daddy's big boy camera.

Okay kids, so in this set we have; Scrub of your Life, The Righteous Butter, Clean on Me and Hand Food. I definitely don't think these are S&G's best products (other than Righteous Butter) by far but they're handy little products to have round the house. 

Scrub of your Life - I am a massive fan of the Sugar Crush Body Scrub, it smells like heaven in a tub, so this doesn't really excite me at all. I'm not a fan of the smell, where is the strawberry scent everyone bangs on about? It's very boring in my opinion. I feel like this is more of a body wash than a scrub? Compared to the other scrubs they have, Sugar Crush, Star Smoothie - I just don't think it lives up to it's name, at all. It definitely isn't the scrub of my life, in fact, I so strongly believe that it isn't that I feel the need to write a letter, but I won't, because I'm a wuss. Basically - I don't like this product and I think there are way better alternatives for the same amount of money.

The Righteous Butter - Now this is a product I do like. I have started to put this on my legs (because for some reason I only feel the need to moisturise my legs) after a bath or shower and I know it makes a difference because Bear says 'Ooo, ooo them legs are soft' so it has the thumbs up from him. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the smell, again I love the Sugar Crush scents and overall I'm not a fan of the Original Pink scent (which is what this is and the Scrub of your Life are). It is for very dry skin, which luckily I don't have but it doesn't make my skin feel overly oily which is a good thing I guess! This is something I would probably repurchase however, a little goes a long way so it should last a while!

 This product has it's own picture cause I like it more than the others - favoritism much?!

Clean on Me - I had a big bottle of this from last Christmas, that I never used and ended up binning (don't shoot!) so when I received this mini-sized gem, I thought I'd actually give it a go. Whilst, once again, it isn't a favourite of mine, it's actually a really nice shower gel. It lathers up really well (if you're into that kinda thing) and it does leave my skin feeling really clean. Again, the scent. Original Pink, which the whole of this set is scented with, just doesn't impress me. Sorry Soap and Glory, but this pretty much rules out a hell of a lot of your products! CHANGE THE SCENTS, GODDAMMIT!

Hand Food - Oh I'm so tired of hand creams. I do not have a problem with dry skin, other than on my face, so why does every beauty box I subscribe to, feel the need to send me a new hand cream, every single month? Tell me, please, cause it is damn annoying. Anyway, I don't have much to say about this seeing as I don't tend to use hand creams, unless they smell amazing, this doesn't, as we've discussed, so it will probably be binned or given away. 

Overall, it's a nice set, I just hate the scent, as I've said, several times. I think I've put my point across by now. I will use the first three up, but the hand cream is just a no-no!

So guys; did you enjoy my once a year beauty review? Well, it's tough if you didn't cause I actually have tons more scheduled, soz!

Have you tried any of these products?

- Charli, xo

Get Ready With Me - Kind Of

Morning!

What a lovely sunny weekend it's been! What did you guys get up to? Today is ANOTHER life post; I know, I'm pretty sure you're getting sick of them, but truth be told, I do not have a lot of stuff to review at the moment! I'm also not using many products, what with sorting out my house and spending a lot of time without make-up on attempting to do work. But don't fear, I have a few pretty posts coming up for you guys. But in the mean time;

A few weeks ago, me and the beautiful Sian had a trip to TGIF (my favourite restaurant of all time) with a few of our lovely friends. Our plan was to do a joint 'Get ready with us' but it didn't quite go to plan. We left getting ready a little too late and ended up having to rush and not taking many pictures. But today I thought I'd show you the few pictures we did take. It was a lovely evening full of laughter and great food, plus a few cheeky cocktails. Mmm, bubblegum flavour <3 

I actually hate my face, but I love my leggings. Soz tartan.

My favourite drink at TGIF. Bubblegum Daiquiri <3 

Life in Letters

Hello you angels;

So my Sunday posts are usually life related and today is no different. I was tagged by the lovely ladies over at Pretty Lovely Girls to do the Life in Letters Tag. When I first saw it, I thought 'woah there Nelly, that's a lot of writing' but then I actually had a good read through and quite enjoyed it. So sitting down to write this essay is a little daunting, but I'm always up for a challenge and hopefully this will give you guys a better insight into what I'm all about. So get yourselves a warm drink, get a cushion (you're gonna need one) and prepare yourselves for this beast;

A is for Animals: If you've read my early posts, you'll know I have a huge passion for animals. Working with animals is all I have ever, ever wanted to do. I'm currently studying a degree in Animal Science and whilst I'm finding it difficult to drag myself to lectures at the moment, the small amount practical side of it makes all the hard work worth it. Spending weeks obedience training a Labrador who is only interested in doing anything that doesn't involve doing as you say and eventually him doing everything 100% perfectly is one of the most rewarding experiences. I just think working with animals is such an amazing career and I'mma work my ass off till I can cuddle lions and tigers.

B is for Blogging: Obviously! I now have 74 (last time I checked) followers and I remember dying of happiness when I had 3. Starting this little blog has given me the motivation for life that I lost some time ago. I love rambling about pointless rubbish, I love having my own little space on the Internet and most of all, I love the fact that you guys are now a huge part of my life. So thank you for actually reading this crap and wanting to read more! 

C is for Cats: I'm obsessed with cats. If I had my own way, I'd have at least 17 cats by now. Don't get me wrong, I love all animals, I'll have them all, but cats just have this special place in my heart. Ever get that feeling, where you look at an animal and you have so much love for it you just wanna squeeze it's head so hard that it's eyes pop out? No? Just me, then. The crazy cat lady off the Simpsons? Yeah, gimme a few years and that'll be me throwing cats at people that pass by.

D is for Daddy: Of course, D has to be the big man. My Pap does everything for me. He takes me anywhere I need to go, he does anything I need him to do and I don't thank him nearly enough. We don't always get along and at times I'm pretty sure he wants to stamp on my face, but I know he loves me and I love him more. He's my big bear and he never lets me down. 

E is for Even: I hate odd numbers.

F is for Froggatt: I couldn't put her as S but Sian Froggatt has been my rock over the last 5 years and I know that if it wasn't for her I wouldn't of done so many things. I wouldn't have been able to pull through past bad experiences, I wouldn't of started this blog, I wouldn't know the people I know now. It's funny how one person can affect your whole life. I know you'll read this Sian and I just want to say that I love you more than you're ever going to know and you are truly the light of my life. Aren't I cute ;) 

G is for Goals: I think it's really important to have something to aim for. Currently my goal is to learn to drive (driving test is booked bitchesssss) and to finish my degree. Both of which I'm so, so close to achieving. When you find it as hard as I do to get motivated about life, having goals to work towards is essential. 

H is for Humans: Humans, I have a real problem with you. I genuinely think the human race is a terrible, terrible race. We are so full of hate (me included), we are so rude and selfish, we are so disrespectful, the list is endless. And whilst I am aware that there are some amazing people out there and since blogging I've realised that there are more than I thought there was, I do still think the bad outweighs the good. I'm very good at seeing the bad in people, maybe that makes me a bad person? I don't know, I just know that I want to make a difference. 

I is for Italian: Italian food. Italian men. Both together, woah. I've actually never been to Italy, someone take me please? I love spaghetti, I cook a MEAN spaghetti bolagnase - I'm sure the bear would tell you differently but who listens to men, really?! 

J is for Joker: I love making people laugh. I'm not going to lie to you, I'm hilarious and I do find myself hysterically funny. I'm always the joker in the group, in the class, anywhere I go. I actually think it's something I hide behind, as I'm really shy so I just make a fool of myself hoping someone will find it funny. 

K is for Kasper: Kasper is my handsome little Bengal and I adore him. I treat him as though he's my child. He is literally a demon and most of the time I want to throw boxes at him because of how naughty he is, but then he climbs on to me head butting my hands, wrapping his legs around my arm and it takes me about 3 seconds to forgive him. Little does he know, he'll have to share me in a few months when we bring home another kitten, (CUE EXCITEMENT) Luna - fingers crossed they'll get along!

L is for Love: Prepare yourself for the soppyness. L is for Love. I am in love and I love it. Being in love can be the best feeling and the worst feeling all rolled into one and it is one hell of an experience. I thought being in love was like a fairytale (I blame Disney). I thought you woke up everyday smiling, telling each other how amazing the other is, going on walks in meadows and gazing into each others eyes. No. Honey, that is not how this shit goes down. Being in love is putting up with each other. Being in love is looking at someone and wanting to repeatedly smash their head against a wall - and then hold them so tight and never let them go. Being in love is putting up with no sleep because the other person breathes like a dungeon dragon. Being in love is gritting your teeth and saying you're sorry even when you know you're right. Being in love is giving up your last Rolo and I love being in love. 

M is for Mummy: My mum is my best friend, she means everything to me. She's the one person in this entire universe that I trust 100% and she has never, ever let me down. She fights my corner, even when she knows I'm wrong. She's the person I have turned to when my world has been falling apart and she's the first person I go to when my world is perfect. Everyone thinks their mum is the best and I'm no different. She's a right gem!

N is for Nail Varnish: Another unhealthy obsession of mine, I don't really have much to say on this, other than the fact the addiction is getting worse, not better. 

O is for OCD: Before I offend anyone, I am not Obsessive Compulsive. But this has become a long standing joke in many of my relationships because of my many, many obsessions and quirks. I'm extremely fussy when it comes to preparing food. I will only drink milk if I have opened the bottle. Beans on toast is fine, spaghetti on toast however, no. I cannot stir something and then use that same utensil to eat with. I cannot eat off of someone else's plate. The list is endless and I don't know how Stuart puts up with it. 

P is for Percival: Kerry Percival is my lady. This girl has gotten me through a lot in the past couple of years and I like to think I've returned the favour. She's going through some pretty tough times at the moment and I am always thinking about her. She's the girl I plan to travel the world with, she's always there by my side, planning new adventures with me. Oh, and she's covered in tattoos, she has mermaid hair and I definitely fancy her. 

Q is for Questions: I have a lot of questions I'd love to ask people, but never have the guts to say. There are so many questions I want to ask my past self and my future self, does anyone else feel like that? Like, why did you do that, past me? What's waiting for me, future me?

R is for Relationships: I have a few relationships that I wouldn't give up the world but like everyone, I have relationships that I don't really care for. I'm starting to realise that as you grow up, not everyone grows up with you. I've learnt that growing apart isn't a bad thing, it's just a way of life and I think I'm finally at a point where I know which relationships are the ones I need to cherish and which relationships are the ones that will eventually leave my life, having not contributed much. 

S is for Stuart: Stuart is my entire world and more. He is the single, most important person in my life and I love him more than I could ever write in a blog post. He is the best thing to ever happen to me and I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. The fact that he's still here shows that he feels the same. It doesn't matter what shit you keeping throwing at us, it's not going to break us and you aren't going to win. 

T is for Travelling: I wish I had the balls (and the money) to travel the world, whether it be alone or with someone else, but the truth is, as much as I want to see the whole, wide world, the thought of pulling myself away from my family, my boyfriend and my cat, makes my heart ache. If I could travel and take everyone with me, then it'd be perfect! There's so many places I want to see and I try and go to one new place at least once a year but I don't think I'll ever get the chance to be an adventurous backpacker :( 

U is for University: This will be my fourth year at Brackenhurst. I did a two year National Diploma here a few years ago and I'm currently studying for my foundation degree. I could lie and tell you it's amazing and I find it intellectually stimulating but the truth is, I genuinely hate it. I'm not one for sitting in a lecture for 3 hours and there is barely anything practical involved in my course any more which I think is really disappointing. I can't wait to finish in May and find myself a full time job and start getting the practical experience I'm dying for. 

V is for Vampires: I like Vampires. I wanna be a vampire. Who doesn't want the ability to go round sucking the life out of people that don't deserve existence? Who doesn't want to sit and stare at Edward glittering away like the glittery thing he is? I do love a good vampire film, vampire book, vampire boyfriend, yano. 

W is for Walking Dead: What a show. I've spoken about my love for Daryl before and I'll speak about it again and again until he turns up at my door and confesses his undying love for me, sweeps me into his arms and walk off into the sunset, crossbows in hand. I love Walking Dead, end. 

X is for Xmas: Kinda cheating here but WTF am I supposed to put for X? I love Christmas (Xmas) and I start looking forward to it as soon as Summer is over, and what?! I love receiving presents because I'm way too selfish for my own good but I also love seeing people open the presents I've brought for them. I love the food, I love the TV, I love the family time. I just think it's a really, lovely festive time of the year.r 

Y is for Yes: This year I set myself the goal of saying yes and I'm doing a damn good job of it. Hello social life, goodbye homework. I joke (not). I've made so many amazing plans this year all because I've taken the time to say yes, rather than sitting alone watching Walking Dead and Desperate Housewives. 

Z is for Zoos: Who doesn't love getting the chance to be stood pretty much next to the biggest lion you have ever seen, only being separated by a slab of glass?! Whilst there are a lot of opinions of zoos, mine being torn between love and hate, I think they're an amazing way for children (and adults) to get the opportunity to see the animals that many of us would never normally get the chance to see, up close and personal. 

Woah, that was a massive post. If you stuck it out till the end then treat yourself to a McDonalds. 

I'm tagging Sian over at Sian Marie to do this next, and anyone else who wants to give this a go, let me know in the comments so I can check it out!

- Charli, xo