Happy Birthday

Today, my partner in crime turns 26 - you're over half way to 50 now babe!! It's all downhill from here. I would like to wish you a happy birthday and let you know that even though you are thee most irritating, infuriating, annoying person I have ever met, you are MY irritating, infuriating, annoying person and I will love you until the end of time.

Happy Birthday baby, I love you.

1989 Tag

When I saw Sian had done this post, I knew I had to do it. I am a huge Taylor Swift fan, I always have been for as long as I can remember. Dancing round my bedroom to her country tunes and wishing I had blonde, curly hair. I definitely would.

1) WELCOME TO NEW YORK - If you could live in any city, which would it be and why?

I'm not sure to be honest, seeing as I've really only lived in one city my whole life. Where would I go? New York? I'm not a huge city fan if I'm being honest, I want to live in the countryside as far away from human beings, just me, Bear and my 18 cats.

2) BLACK SPACE - What is something that everyone thinks is true about you but is actually false?

People seem to think I'm really nice, I'm not. 

3) STYLE - What is one item in your closet that makes you feel unstoppable?

I have a current pair of jeans at the moment which show off my newly found curves. I've been trying for so long to put weight on and when I wear these, I have legs, I have hips and I have a bum. I feel womanly and they give me the little boost I need to feel good about myself.

4) OUT OF THE WOODS - What is one thing you're afraid of?

Not being able to have children.

5) ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS STAY - Who is someone you wish was still in your life?

I'm lucky enough to have all of my family still around me, but as for others, people walk out of your life for a reason and there is no one that I wish was still here.

6) SHAKE IT OFF - What is something you have had to shake off?

People who don't give a shit - see you later. I have zero time and tolerance for people who have no interest in being a positive part of my life.

7) I WISH YOU WOULD - What is something you'd like to happen right now?

I'd like someone to give me the £10,000 I need for a new house.

8) BAD BLOOD - Has anyone ever stabbed you in the back?

I think there is a point in everybody's life where they have been betrayed by someone they trusted.

9) WILDEST DREAMS - What is something you want to be remembered for?

Being the funniest person they've ever met. Because let's face it, I am.

10) HOW YOU GET THE GIRL - What is your favourite pick up line?

If someone used a pick up line on me, I would probably fart in their drink.

11) THIS LOVE - What is something you got back, that you never thought you would?

Loving and being loved in return. Falling in love and being fallen in love with.

12) I KNOW PLACES - Where is one place you always feel safe?

At home, with my family.

13) CLEAN - What is an important lesson you learnt in life and how did you learn it?

I learnt that you shouldn't surround yourself with people that couldn't care less about you, and I learnt it the hard way.

I tag everyone that is a Swift fan!

- Charli, xo

A Weekend in Whitby

I went away with the boyfriend this weekend, to the beautiful little place that is Whitby. It was amazing to get away, just the two of us and relax. I had such a nice time and I actually got really upset when it was time to come home, I'm not a fan of reality at the moment, so being away from it all was exactly what I needed. 

 

 

£7 in a 2p machine and we finally won the Mario watch | Cute little beach sheds | Beautiful bath bombs and soaps

My favourite person | The BEST fish and chips I have ever tasted | Selfie

The 190 steps that I had to climb up twice | On top of the (rock) world | Boyfriend and girlfriend

The BEST dessert I have ever tasted | The Magpie Café | I can see the sea

 

We spent our two days in Whitby spending too much money in the arcades (the £7 watch that Stuart got overly excited about) and eating amazing food. As a fish and chip addict, I had to try the Magpie Café and I can honestly say it was the most delicious meal I have ever tasted - and the dessert, I discovered I like sticky toffee pudding! After walks on the beach and a little shopping, we'd go back to the room and just watch TV and talk, something which we don't seem to do much in the blur that is life. It was amazing to spend time together, just us, no interruptions, napping for 2 hours and then lying in bed for another just being together. I adored every second. Thank Stuart, for a beautiful weekend, I love you.

A Little Motivation.

If you read my Pressure post from a few days ago, you'll know I haven't been feeling great. As I mentioned in that little rant, I try to steer away from negativity on my little Internet space. Therefore, I have decided to give myself a little motivation, a little way of giving me 'something to live for'. You cannot live a positive life, with a negative mind. I live life a hell of a lot better, when I have something to aim for. I've been wanting to do a post like this for ages and when I read this post by A Little Boat Sailing, I knew it was time. They're not massive life changing goals, just little things to work towards and I know having short term goals is a helpful, motivating thing to have. 

1) I'd like to save £1000, if not more, in the next three months. This is a challenge because of Christmas, but that makes it all that more fun, right? I have to save £7000 - £10,000 for a bigger house and that is extremely intimidating. If I can get over the first thousand barrier then I know I will feel so much better about the situation. 

2) Go home once a week. This is a big one for me, I mentioned in my Pressure post how much I'm missing home, so I've given myself the challenge to go home one evening a week, or on a Sunday. I miss family time so much and I'm interested to see whether I will manage it. I'll be starting this week.

3) Spring clean. In the New Year, I'd like to take a few days off work to completely blitz my house, maybe give it a lick of fresh paint, a few new bits and bobs. Adding onto this goal, I'd also like to keep the house tidy. I'm quite messy (and extremely lazy) and go days without doing any housework. This will be the start of me tackling my laziness.

4) A job in the field I want to be in. This isn't going to happen in the next three months, not with Christmas and then Vegas. But if I can start actively looking and applying for positions I'm interested, I think I'll feel a lot happier about where my career is heading. My job is one of my main stresses at the moment and whilst I love the people I work with, it's time for me to move on, otherwise why did I waste two horrendous years at University.

5) My last goal is something I'm not going to force upon myself. However, I am going to try and post at least twice a week. If I post twice, then that's fine, if I post more than twice, then that's even better. If I don't post at all, the world isn't going to end. I'm not putting 'pressure' on myself with this, it's just something I'd like to give a try - if I can do this for a month straight, I'll be happy with that.

So there we have five little goals for me to work on in the next couple of months. I'm going to write all this down in my diary and make little plans for myself. I'll come back to this post in 3 months - so that's 16th February (THE WEEK BEFORE VEGAS, AH MAH GAHD) and see how far I've got and hopefully set myself some more goals!

I really feel motivated just by writing this post and it's something I urge everyone to have a go at, having something to aim for gives you the feeling of having a purpose and when I've been feeling the way I have, that is exactly what I need.

- Charli, xo

Empties // 03

Whilst on holiday I used Aussie Beach Mate Shampoo and Conditioner. I desperately tried to find a link for this, but apparently it's not stocked ANYWHERE in the colder months - apologies. Known for their use of Macadamia Nut Oil, it is supposed to cleanse your hair. I must admit, I don't actually like the scent of this, I think it smells like plastic and also the shampoo makes my hair feel gross in the shower (it's not a very lather uppery shampoo) but I WILL say that my hair ended up in brilliant condition after using these. Another hair product for you is TRESemme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo. I don't get along with dry shampoo, it just doesn't work on my hair. I received this in a beauty box and was reluctant to use it. Then came Download and dry shampooing was a necessity and it actually worked! I was able to wear my hair down for an extra day! At £5.25 though, I probably won't purchase this. 

I picked this Sure up after using up a smaller bottle which you can see here. I don't like it now. It makes me cough my lungs up when I use it - even if I spray it in the corner of the room then walk away, it literally follows me, enters my mouth and clogs my lungs. For this reason, I'm not purchasing it again. I did use it up though. Gotta get your moneys worth girls!

Onto make-up and skincare! In the first picture you can see my pot of No7 Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation. This is my favourite foundation ever. I buy two of these a year, at most and they last forever. I LOVE mousse foundations and wish there was more of a choice - I'm not a fan of Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse though. I have found that this is the best foundation for my skin, I'm not orange, I don't have dry patches, it doesn't make me shiny. It's perfect and it definitely is beautifully matte. I will re-purchase this over and over again and have done for years now. 

Next we have Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara. I have read quite a few bad reviews on this product but I actually loved it and used it till it was dry and crumbly. It's a double ended mascara, big brush for top lashes, little brush for bottom lashes. I love the little brush and thought it was really useful. The bigger brush made my lashes full and definitely gave them volume, I loved using it. I received this in a beauty box but I would definitely purchase it! 

Last but not least we have Liz Earle Beauty Cleanse and Polish. This is a cream cleanser and I'm undecided as to whether I like this or not. It made my face feel quite dry and tight and I certainly DO NOT like the scent, it smells like old. Just old. Old and Chamomile (which I really don't like) which is one of the ingredients. However, it did do wonders for my skin, other than the drying and I could use it on my eyes, which I struggle with when it comes to cleansers. I probably won't purchase it but it was nice to try a Liz Earle product! 

And there we have it, a rather long Empties post for you guys!

Have you used any of these products? Let me know!

- Charli, xo

Pressure.

Okay, so whilst I try to steer away from negativity on this blog, I feel like I need to share this and just ramble - maybe I'll post this, maybe I won't, either way I think it will help me. 

(This is a very long post, you have been warned.) 

So you might have noticed, I'm not a very consistent blogger. I spend so much time apologising for that fact, when really, why should I be sorry? This is a hobby and I do it for myself, to make myself feel good and I don't feel that it makes me feel that way right now. When I got into this, I didn't realise just how much pressure I would feel. Pressure to post every other day, pressure to take perfect photos, pressure to use social media, pressure to take a photo of my dinner before I eat it so I can put it on Instagram. 

I'm feeling very intimidated by the amount of amazing blogs that are around, blogs that I feel I can never compare to. Blogs with perfect pictures, the perfect layout, the perfect reviews. It's a lot to live up to and I don't feel that I will ever achieve it. My best friend Sian and I, both started our blogs around the same time and she has done amazingly well. She has achieved so much, she is so dedicated and I'm so proud of everything she does. Jealousy hasn't really played a part because she's my world and I'm just too happy for her to be envious, but yes, I do sometimes sit and wish I had that dedication, those opportunities to go to blogger events, that passion that has gotten her this far. But then I realise, I am too lazy to be successful. 

This brings me onto another point. I moved out in May, to live with my boyfriend. Whilst I am loving being with him, I have struggled to enjoy independence. I miss my family, I miss having that protective blanket. I genuinely thought I would see them more than I do and I'm finding it really hard to be away from them so much. Around the same time, I finished University and went straight into a full time job. I have tried, so very hard, to balance out my time. To go to work, to come home and clean my house, to do my washing, to make dinner for the both of us, to make time for friends and family and to sit and write on my little Internet space. Safe to say, I haven't managed it yet. I would much rather come home, not clean my house, not do my washing, not make dinner, not see anyone, not sit in front of a computer. I would much rather get in bed or sit on the sofa under a duvet, watching Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners (oh, the irony).

I am feeling so overwhelmed with everything at the moment. I've also not been very well, probably due to how stressed I've been. I ended up with a mouth ulcer the size of a 5 pence piece. It gave me migrains, my face swelled up, my throat swelled up, I was constantly tired. I ended up being so coked up on painkillers that I pretty much spent every spare moment, asleep. All because of an ulcer. This has just added to my being shit at blogging, because the last thing I have wanted to do is sit in front of a screen pretending I'm happy. 

There is too much pressure in the blogging world for me to deal with right now and you are more than welcome to judge me, to think awful things, to think I'm a hypochondriac - that is completely fine because you are not me and you have no clue as to what my coping boundaries and mechanisms are. I'm not going to stop blogging, I'm just going to think of it as less of a chore and I'm not going to force myself to write a post because it's Tuesday tomorrow and I need a post written. 

I'm not entirely sure what this post is actually about, just me rambling. Maybe it will give you an insight into what it's like being me? I don't talk about myself much on here, when it comes to feelings and all that emotional jazz. I want to be passionate about this, I want to love posting for my readers. I want to enjoy blogging again. Just bare with me guys.

- Charli, xo

Insider's Guide to Blogging

It seems as though everyone has jumped onto the 'blogging bandwagon'. Now you can decide for yourselves on whether you think this to be a good or bad concept, however, to me, being one blogger in a group of a million, is extremely intimidating.

Is my blog good enough? Do I take good photos? Is her blog better than mine? I battle with myself daily, yes daily, with thoughts on my blog. I am forever telling myself it isn't good enough, after scouring through blogs such as Sprinkle of Glitter and Zoella, I constantly compare myself to them. What I should be doing is telling myself they have been doing it for years and I, for less than a year. 

What I'm trying to say is that the blogging world is a lot bigger than I thought it was and it's also a LOT more intimidating and stressful. When I was contacted by Caitlin from Far Fetch, she sent me an infographic that changed my opinion altogether. It filled me with confidence and helped me understand that I'm not alone and we're all pretty much in the same boat. 

If someone could tell me how to make this big enough to read, it'd be much appreciated!

'60% of bloggers use their smartphones to take blog pictures' - this comment alone made me feel so much better about myself because my photos are, I feel, my biggest let down. I can't take good photos, I can't edit photos and I'm not creative enough - that's what I think anyway. But knowing that a whole 60% of us use our phones, is awesome!

It gives you little tips like keeping a journal of ideas, so simple but it can be really effect. I think this is an excellent confidence booster and I really wanted to share it with you guys.

This infographic came from http://www.farfetch.com/uk/ 

- Charli, xo

Hello November

Reading // The Witch of Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper. After reading something that was quite hard hitting, I thought it was time to get into some fantasy, which is my favourite genre of book. I brought this in Waterstones in York and haven't put it down since I read it. As you guys know, I love anything related to vampires, witches, trolls - you name it. This book is just magical.

Listening to // The same stuff as last month really, especially 5 Seconds of Summer - yes, still. I'm also loving The Vamps because I've clearly gone boyband cer-ay-zay. I also actually like Iggy Azalea which is strange because I spent a long time hating her and wishing she'd get slapped in the face with a tuna. 

Thinking about // Christmas. Yes, it's November, it is most certainly acceptable to use the C-bomb. I'm starting to get into the festive spirit now and I'm really looking forward to celebrating with my family and friends and having a really nice last few weeks of 2014, which has definitely been my best year ever. 

Loving // I'm loving blogging at the moment. Since going to my first ever event last week, I've really been making an effort to sit and spend a bit of time writing and scheduling posts. I'm feeling very motivated in the blog department at the moment! I'm also loving - the boyfriend. Ahhhhhhh, cue the soppyness. But no, really, I'm strangely feeling a lot of love for the Bear lately and I'm loving sitting in, snuggling up under a blanket and watching crap TV.

Watching // The Strain. Faking It. Gogglebox (YESSSSSSSS). Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners. You name it, I'm watching it. I literally do nothing but watch TV lately. I've gone from being a girl who never even turned her TV on, to sitting in front of it with every spare moment. I have embraced the laziness of spending nights in front of the box. And I love it.

Looking forward to // Ooo, another busy month. Bear and I are off to Whitby for a long weekend in the middle of the month which I am seriously excited for. Dracula here I come. It's also Bear's birthday at the end of November, so we're all off out for a family meal and I like to spoil him seeing as I don't get to much during the year. I'm just looking forward to spending time with my family!

What are your plans for November?

- Charli, xo