Saturday 7 March 2015

What's in my bag?

Hi blog viewers!
 I recently bought a new black bag from Accessorize (it cost me £40, which for me is a lot haha!) and have been using it non-stop since. I decided I would share with you what I store in my bag. Just as a little disclaimer, I don't always carry everything listed below, it's just the things I often find in my bag. Enjoy reading!


Main section
*Portable phone charger. You never know when your phone is going to die, and mine is getting quite old now. I'll literally send three texts and it drops 10% battery life.
*Purse/wallet. This is a given, but I decided to list it anyway. I'd recommend buying a good purse, as they are so useful! You can carry all your money, any credit/debit/store cards, receipts and any small bits of paper that would normally get lost in your handbag.
*Keys. Another given, but you'd be surprised by how many times I have forgotten my keys at home.
*Notebook and pen. I'm kind of an introvert, so I love nothing more than blocking out the world and just writing a new song or short story, or sketching any random object I can think of (not that I'm the best artist...)
*Phone and headphones. First of all, you need your phone for communication. Second of all, if you're bored on the train or something, a phone is great for entertaining you. Third of all, if you're in an awkward situation, your phone is the perfect excuse to escape! It's a fool-proof plan haha.


Side pockets
*Emergency makeup. I always bring some concealer, mascara and lip-gloss, just in case your face needs a little pick me up towards the end of the day. If you have a lot of room, you can also include brow stuff, some powder, bronzer, blusher, etc... whatever you feel you need really!
*Paracetamol. I happen to suffer from head and stomach migraines, and yes, abdominal migraines are real things...:( You never know when pain is going to strike, so I always carry some paracetamol on me, just in case.
*Gum. Nobody likes gross breathe. Enough said.
*Hair bobbles. I love wearing my hair down when I go out... until the rain/humidity had killed my style, or the wind is insisting that hair in the eyes and mouth is a good look. That's when I bitterly grab a bobble out of my bag and shove my frustrating hair up into some form of messy bun.


Other random things
*Blister plasters. If you're going out for a long day, I'd definitely suggest you bring along some blister plasters. You can thank me later!
*Perfume. Trains, restaurants and streets and perfect zones for lingering scents to cling on to your clothes. Just head to the bathroom, give a quick spritz and you are as fresh as new!
*Some sweets. Shopping or whatever it is you're doing can be tiring. Bring some sweets for energy (go ahead, tell yourself that's what they're for...)
*Diary. Pretty self explanatory, don't you think?:P


 Hopefully this helps you plan your next day out, or if you're just nosy like me, that this entertained you well enough! See you in my next post- and have a good day!:)

How to... shop!

Hi blog viewers!
 If you are anything like me, shopping is as fun as it is a bother. Don't get me wrong- I love shopping. But saving my money becomes a massive problem, as does the pain in my feet by the end of the day. Here is a few quick tips on how to shop.


Before shopping
-Count how much money you have, and plan to save at least £10. That way, if you have an emergency (like you desperately need to get a taxi or have lost your train ticket, it's not too big a tragedy!)
-Decide what you need to buy, what you'd like to buy and what you shouldn't buy before you leave. That way, you'll (hopefully) make no guilty purchases and will have all the products you need.
-Expect to have to spend money on food. I'm not just talking about lunch- one of my favourite things about shopping is all the café breaks! Just me..?
-Make sure you have everything you need with you. My minimal luggage includes: phone, keys, money, ID and headphones. Check my post 'What's in my bag?' for a more in-depth information.


While shopping
-Stick to what you were planning on buying. Yes, you are allowed the occasional spontaneous buy, but before getting it, think about your wardrobe- do you not have enough tops already? How many red lipsticks have you got? Is that skirt not a bit too expensive? etc..
-Don't be too disappointed if you can't find what you were looking for. The great thing about this generation is the invention of online shopping!
-Try stack you bags. Don't necessarily put the smaller bags in the biggest. Put as many bags as possible in the most comfortable bag (providing it fits).
-When buying makeup products, before you splurge, apply a bit to the back of your hand, go outside, and make sure it looks the same in natural lighting. I'll write a blog soon on how to test makeup.
-I always take products from the back of the pile- you don't know who decided to try out that lip-gloss or stick their finger into that eye-shadow...


After shopping
-With clothes, I'm a bit paranoid. I have to wash them before putting them away- the thought of hundreds of people touching them and wearing them really puts me off haha.
-Put away all your purchases ASAP! You've just spent your money on them- you don't want to risk losing them or damaging them.
-Enjoy using all your new things!


I hope this blog hasn't made shopping a daunting experience for you- I genuinely love it. I hope this has helped though, and that you have a good day.


Lots of love, Nicole x

Cheap(-ish) products I'd recommend

Hi blog viewers!
 It's no secret to anybody around me that I love makeup, but I don't always have enough money to buy all the products that my heart desires! However, over time, I've learnt how to spread my budget. Since I first started to seriously love makeup, my mum has drilled in "If you're going to spend a lot of money on anything, buy a good mascara and foundation", and I have stuck to this philosophy... mainly. That's not to say I haven't ever bought a cheaper alternative, or two! Here is my list of my favourite "cheaper" products.


Eyes
L'Oreal Paris COLOR RICHE eye-shadow pencils (they have a wide range of colours available, just apply them as a 'crayon' and use a brush to spread them over your eyelid evenly.
BOURJOIS PARIS Smoky eyes palette in 01 gris dandy (a black smoky eye palette which is perfect for evenings out)
RIMMEL LONDON Scandal Eyes Xtreme mascara (for volume and length)
No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara (for beautiful curve and volume)
BOURJOIS PARIS Liner Feutre felt tip eyeline (very long lasting)


Skin
RIMMEL Wake Me Up concealer (for an anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow)
MAYBELLINE Dream Matte Mousse foundation (lightweight, easy to apply and has SPF 15)
RIMMEL  Match Perfection powder (I use the loose powder, but with a brush instead of the provided buffer)
MAYBELLINE Dream Sun triple bronzing powder (best for actual bronzing, but can be used for contouring)
BEAUTY UK blush and brush (in the shade no3 Upper East Side- I use my own brush, but the provided one isn't bad)
MUA Blusher (in the shade Cupcake)


Lips
RIMMEL Kate Moss lipstick (in the shade 01- a deep but bright red)
Tanya Burr Cosmetics lip-gloss (in the shade Aphrodite, a pretty coral-pink shade)
No7 lip crayon (in the shade Delicate Pink- a sheer, pink-tinged neutral)
BARRYM Gelly Hi Shine lip crayon (in the shade Vega- a wine-coloured shade)


And finally... Nails!
MAXFACTOR Max Effect nail polish (in the shade 23 Hot Pink)
BARRYM nail paint (in the shade 261 Cobalt Blue)
RIMMEL 60 Seconds Vinyl Stars nail polish (in the shade 623 Wishing on a Star)


If you have any 'cheaper' products which you would recommend, feel free to tell me in the comments! I hope you all have a great day xxx