On Sundays

It's been a while hasn't it? Things are probably going to be a little slow around here for a little while as I foray into the real world and becoming an actual adult (?!?!) I started my actual jobjob on Monday (#workinggirl) and so am slowly working on a whole new routine. This now means early mornings. I commute now (!). Prepping lunch the night before. Enjoying dress down Fridays. So bare with me everyone; we will get there! 

In the meantime, here are some things that I have been loving in my absence from here :)

Gap Leggings. And by leggings, I mean the stretchiest jeans I have ever put my legs into. And I only do the stretchiest of stretchy jeans. INCREDIBLE. 

H&M are quite on it right now. I got an incredible work bag from there for under £30 (it seems to have escaped the website), but they have such good things at the moment for Autumn.

I will be enjoying the Lush Sparkly Pumpkin tonight!  

M&S Cookie Dough Bites. Seriously amazing. 

Have you been to Milk Train? See the above photo for why you should!

The Apprentice. Anyone that says thank you for being fired is a legend in my book.

I've rediscovered my love of Vaseline (mainly the Cocoa butter one). I don't care that people say it actually isn't good for your lips; it is so soothing on any dry skin.

This article about career advice was so good.

Got this table mirror from Ikea. It maybe a little too big for my desk, but makes putting make up on so much easier (and I feel a little fancier!)

YANKEE SOFT COTTON CANDLE. Why did I deny you for so long!?

The likelihood that I will be internet free next weekend is high, but I hope to post at least something in the coming days... 

Have a good week, and Happy Sunday!

xoxo

On Adulting | Tidying Up Social Media

Image Credit Kate La Via (via Pinterest)

Have you ever stalked yourself on social media? Yes, it sounds cringey, but also it shows you what you're actually posting and talking about. It lets you see what other people see, and when I say other people, really I mean potential employers.

At my part time job yesterday I took a CV from someone. Upon handing it to the managers, they then facebook stalked him to actually see what he's like. Although they were joking, they called it 'screening'. Social media today is the main way to actually find out about someone before you meet them. I definitely used it before all of my interviews to check out the people I'd be interviewing with!

Even if you aren't trying to get a job, it's still good to make sure that your social media isn't representing you in any bad light. Don't for example, complain about your job or your co-workers. Bad days, and bad weather, sure! But the fact that Dave just got promoted over you again, probably not. It sounds obvious, but you would be surprised by the amount of things we post online that we maybe should shy away from! 

Having a great day or found a really interesting article? Share away! If you are going to post something that will make people stop and think hang on, so that's what they're like, maybe don't post it. Swearing can also come across as quite abrasive, as well as politics and all that jazz. Essentially, just make sure you'd be happy with anyone and everyone reading what you're posting! 

*Note: I am not by any means an expert in these things. However I have done a lot of research and have been in touch closely with recruitment companies so am sharing my findings!

Have you checked out your social media?

xoxo

On Books | The Girl On The Train - Paula Hawkins

I mentioned that I had barely put this book down since getting it the other day. Quite literally. I got it last Wednesday; I finished it yesterday! I really enjoyed it and finally understand the hype! I also thought it was a great autumnal read; it isn't a cosy read, but it's definitely one that you can stay in all day when it's cold and wet and just keep reading. 

The book follows Rachel, who goes on the same trains every day and passes the same houses every day. She sees the same people and has conjured up lives and names for them as if she knows them. Her over active imagination leads her to eventually becoming involved in a murder investigation. Being an alcoholic and emotionally unstable, Rachel is quite a complex character (I can also see how Emily Blunt will be so good in this role!) Her story develops so well throughout the book as more and more of her past becomes unveiled and everything starts to make a little more sense about who she is. 

It also follows two other women, Anna and Megan. Anna is Rachel's ex-husbands new wife. Megan is one of the people Rachel sees from the train. As the book progresses, it becomes very clear that they are all in fact very much intertwined. 

The book is a thriller and gets darker and darker as it continues. I did not see the ending coming until very late in the book. But that's probably just me as I don't like to try and work out how it will end. For some people however it was probably kind of predictable, but I personally did not find that. 

The only negative comments I would make is that it is written by date, then morning and evening. This meant that sometimes I would have to turn back to see how the days were following on, especially when the narrator changed. But this was more my pedantic side than the actual writing was hard to follow. The second is that the ending does suddenly all build up, happen and then just kind of fades out. Again, this may just be me that found this, and it by no means ruined the book! 

I though that Hawkins writing was very direct and she gave the feel of each of the characters really well so that each time the narrator changed it really did seem like another person. I would definitely recommend this book; and if you're like me, read it before the film (which I cannot now wait to see!)

Have you read The Girl On The Train?

xoxo

On Empties | Avon - Conditioning Eye Make Up Remover Lotion

I don't normally post negative reviews as generally I only use or buy things that I have researched or know I will like. However, I got this as part of an eye set from Avon so I just kind of ended up with it! 

I really have very little positive things to say about this make up remover! Firstly, I will put a disclaimer out there that I do not like lotions. In any way shape or form. I do not like face lotions, body lotions. Anything with the word 'lotion'. Thus, seeing as this is a make up remover lotion, it was never going to be my favourite product. If lotions are your thing, then you may get on with this one!

The product itself is very thick. And despite being predominantly aimed at eye make up remover, it just is not very good. It struggles to fully remove mascara, and you have to really scrub your skin to get any form of eyeliner off. It often left the skin around my eyes very red.

Not to mention if you use a bit too much it is very uncomfortable on your eyes! It really irritated mine and would linger in them for ages after having used it. Not at all what you want from this type of product. I would also point out that I was unaware of any 'conditioning' happening, but I am always sceptical with those kinds of words!

A note on the packaging. It does come with a rubber top so that too much shouldn't come out. However mine got stuck in the lid long ago never to come back out so you just had to sort of pour it out. Due to the shape of the bottle and the consistency of the lotion it is also very hard to get out of the bottle once you get to the last drops. These are more notes for the pedantic side but they are still worth a mention! 

Overall I would definitely not recommend this. However I would never have chosen to buy it individually; it just does not fit what I like. On that note; I did lend this to my sister whenever she was at home and she didn't really have any complaints! (Apart from the pouring fiasco). 

So if you do like lotions, and you are looking for a new eye make up remover, maybe give this one a go. (It is currently only £1.50!) But if like me you prefer your cleansers and micellar waters, definitely avoid this one!

What are your thoughts?

xoxo

On Sundays

Lazy Sunday Blog Post? Check! I have spent today with Mother, eating, drinking many hot beverages (above: M&S Hot Chocolate Orange - yes as good as it sounds), and buying things we don't really need. I am finally caught up on Bake Off and have spent the entire afternoon in my dressing gown. 

Here are some things I've been loving this week!

I am loving the Emerald Street newsletter. They email everyday, but it is definitely not spam. 

Benefit Christmas. 

I've been reading The Girl on the Train. Almost read the whole thing in a few days; squeezing it in before seeing the film!

Speaking of films; Bridget Jones's Baby. AMAZING. 

How nice is this scarf?

I really want these make up stickers.

Kaleo - great autumnal listening!

LOVED this outfit.

Got a Lush Butterbear; cannot wait for my bath tonight!

Happy Sunday!

xoxo

On Adulting

Having graduated this Summer, gone to more interviews than I would like to count in a small period of time, written more applications and cover letters than I thought possible, actually getting a job (!!), I am very much on the road to adulting. 

And so I thought that I would share my adulting experiences with you all; the goods, the bads. The highs, the lows. The expected, the unexpected. All of it! There is a lot of discussion on whether our 20s are the best or worst time of our lives. With just over 7 more years of them to go, I thought we might as well all go on this journey together!

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some CV and cover letter tips, interview techniques and all that kind of stuff. (Much learnt from experience.) And most things job related. Let it just be noted that I am by no means an expert nor claim to be (as we speak I am in bed in my dressing gown snuggling one of my cats). 

Yet I have managed to get through some of the adulting process nearly unscathed so far! 

Let me know if there is anything you would like some (rambling) thoughts on! Then maybe we can all adult together...maybe. 

Happy Adulting!

xoxo

On My (Fancy!) Wish List

My spending ban may be officially over but I have still only been buying things that I need. Which means, more wish lists! We all love those items that are just that bit more luxurious than our standard ones; they just make you feel really fancy!

So here are the few things I would love to add to my collection, were money not an object and you know...I needed them!

Carina's Love Lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury. The main reason that I want this is because it is almost almost my name. Secondly, it is a gorgeous colour. I have looked at it in the shops so many times. It's matte. It's red. It's in rose gold packaging. I'm selling it to myself even more!

This palette from Hourglass. Isn't it just beautiful!? It's their new Ambient Lighting Surreal Light Blush, Bronzer and Strobe Powder Palette (breath). It's limited edition (which I have only just realised) and absolutely stunning. I got their Ambient Light blush palette a couple of years back and never regretted it...I'm thinking a very special treat to myself..?!

DiorShow Lash Maximising Primer.  The difference this makes to your lashes makes you wonder why you have never used a lash primer before. It makes wearing just mascara feel like your eyelashes are naked. We can't have that can we?

Dior Addict Lip Glow Awakening Balm. I know this is the second Dior product here and second lip product here, but this is amazing. It's one of those products that's like your lips but so much better. And for Dior I don't think it's too badly priced; cheeky Boots point purchase maybe? ;)

What's on your fancy wish list?
xoxo

On Books | Prep - Curtis Sittenfeld

This book had been on my list for a little while now and I actually ended up picking it up in a used book shop in Kenilworth just before I left university. I loved this book; it wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I really did adore it. 

Prep follows Lee Fiora, from South Bend Indiana, go through all of the trials and tribulations of a big fancy boarding school, Ault. The book starts when Lee is 14 and follows through her four years at Ault. I did not register for a large chunk of the beginning of the book how young all the characters were! They all seemed so mature and developed! (Nothing to what I was like at 14 haha!) 

The book is broken into the four years at the school. My only, and I mean only, criticism of the book would be that it did jump around a little bit. One moment it was Freshman fall, next thing you knew it was Sophomore spring. This did then mean that the story suddenly had progressed a lot, but that might just have been me being pedantic! 

Lee is intelligent and overthinks a lot. In some ways I could see a lot of similarities between Lee and myself; I think the way she handled situations could be relatable for many people! At times she is a bit naive; other times she knows exactly what she wants. In so many ways she is a typical teenager, but other times she is so much more than that. 

This was very much a coming-of-age book and explores all different themes that we all experience as teenagers. Friendships, relationships, sex, rebelling, parents. The whole lot! It is however all done through the eyes of someone that not so much involves themselves, but observes and sees everything. With Lee sometimes looking back on her life and discussing how she feels about the situation now was also a really nice touch. It gave the book that little bit more depth. 

As always, I never like to give away spoilers. There are not so much plot twists here but more things that are inevitable, yet it is still really interesting to see how everything plays out. I was expecting Prep to be very much like Gossip Girl and It Girl, but this was much more about the quiter people of boarding schools, and the ones trying to make something of themselves, as opposed to the privileged students and their scandals.

Sittenfeld's writing is also extremely detailed and indepth. She has been likened to J.D.Salinger, however this is definitely not something I would agree with. (I cannot bare The Catcher in the Rye). Sittenfield's writing is much more thought out and considered with far deeper themes and wide reaching character developments. Not to mention she covers the institution of boarding schools and education within America. 

I really only have praise for this book! It was so well thought out and executed that you cannot help but want to see how Lee ends up. Definitely a good Autumnal read as well! 

Would you read Prep?

xoxo

On Mondays

Happy Monday everyone! Sorry for the delayed post, essentially no internet can be blamed! I hope you all had a lovely weekend; mine was spent catching up on Strictly and doing nothing. It was great! It also included the smallest flat white I have ever seen, as shown above.

I don't have too much planned for this week but I definitely have some errands to run. Top on that list? Eyebrows! 

I recently rediscovered my love of MakeUpSavvy; this was one of the first beauty blogs that I ever started reading and it is just so good!

The Christmas selection in Boots this year is so good. It's not available online yet but my two stores at home are filled with it all!

HomeSense are so on it with phone cases right now. I just picked up a great jigsaw one!

I've already started switching up my nail colours for more autumnal tones. Currently loving this one.

Speaking of MakeUpSavvy and Christmas, Fee has done an amazing post on all the advent calendars coming up this year! 

MintVelvet have such a good sale on at the moment; picked up this beautiful jumper. 

Dupe Ikea pots! (You'll know the ones I mean!)

Have a good week!

xoxo