Beauty Loves in August.

Now that I am no longer working or at college I am able to spend a lot more time working here on my blog and reading content that I love. I absolutely love beauty, there is no doubt about it. As soon as it't pay day I'm online ordering this n that and what not. 

This month I added a few items to my draws... some new purchases and some re-purchases and I thought before I completely forget how much I love all of these products why not create a post all about them. 

L'oreal Smart Bond Number 3.. My new life saver. If you know me or follow my instagram then you will know that I am constantly in the salon changing my hair around because I love to! There is simply no other reason than the fact that I love changing it up all the time. My hairdresser always uses smart bond on my hair to prevent it from becoming damaged and scraggly, but I was saying how I wanted it to be that soft and luscious all of the time which is when she suggested the L'oreal Smart Bond Number 3. It is a conditioner you use once a week at home and you leave it on for about 2-3 minutes and wash it out. I've been using it since the start of August now and every time I wash my hair with it the few days after I feel like I've been to the salon, my hair is that soft! If in your local hair salon they offer smart bond then I would truly recommend it because it is something that saves my hair when I get it coloured.

Another product in which I have loved throughout August and was another purchase in the hope of giving me luscious hair was the Beauty Works Ten-in-One Miracle Spray. Theoretically I only bought this because it said it was a heat protector and everything else so I thought oh finally I can stop putting 4 different products in my hair... I was right. I've gone from putting so many products to make sure I cover all of the bases of heat protector, nourishing, moisturising, split end repair, dry hair.. .you name it I was putting it in my hair. This product from Beauty Works literally does all the work for me and I only need to spray it over my hair... what more can a girl want!!

Moreover I have also been loving the Maria Nila, Head & Hair Heal Mask. Clearly I have been dedicating a lot of time... more like money, on my hair. I probably need to stop damaging it so I don't have to spend more money fixing it! Anyway, this hair mask helps with hair growth which I definitely need because I regret cutting it short a lot. It is also sulphate free which my hairdresser told me to look for in all the products I am putting on my hair so that it doesn't damage it more. This mask has literally made my hair grow quite a bit. I don't know if it is just because I am looking for the change in my hair that I am noticing it more, but it is definitely longer.

Before I move onto the beauty products of this post, the final hair product I have been trying this month is the Tints of Nature Hydrate Shampoo. The shampoo is full of gentle cleansers, meaning while also leaving your hair soft and smooth it will also prevent your colour from fading. Which, as someone who has admitted they colour and damage their hair a lot in this blog post... I need! The shampoo claims to revive even the driest hair, in combination with all the products I have been putting on my hair this week, that is definitely the case!

Moving onto makeup, the first product I have purchased again for I think about the fourth time now is the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. I have tried and used what feels like every different foundation under the sun to find one that I truly love. I hadn't been able to find a high end foundation that suited my skin and looked right on me. I always went for high end products because I always thought they would be better for me skin. Then while in Florida last summer I forgot my foundation so grabbed a cheaper one from the drugstore as it was just to last me a few weeks. I picked it up in a darker shade so that the colour would suit me better with my tan and since have been in love. I switch between 110 and 120 depending on summer or winter and for those in-between months I mix them on the back of my hand. The foundation lasts for such a long time on my skin and doesn't rub off in patches like foundations I have tried previously do. It even matches me PERFECTLY!

Finally I have also loved trying out the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. I have sworn by shape tape ever since I first used it and I still do. But some days I just want to put a bit of concealer on and not bother with anything else so wanted something quite natural. The Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is exactly that. It is perfect for under the eyes as well as on blemishes. It blends beautifully, melting into the skin which I love because it adds to the natural look.

Have you tried any of these products before?


-Abigail x



(Some links within this post are affilliate links. It doesn't cost you anything extra or anything to click through and purchase an item or two, it just means that I earn a very small percentage from the company selling the product)

The Next Chapter.

Unless you follow me on social media, you wouldn't know that next weekend I move into my university accommodation. I wrote a blog post back in May all about where I had been applying to, where I'd been interviewed for and also where I eventually got into! I was indecisive back then as to whether I wanted to go to Southampton University or Kings College London.

Opening my results was the scariest thing I have ever had to do. I had put a lot of pressure on myself because studying Paediatric Nursing has always been my dream and it was as though these grades got to decide for me.

I told my mum to wait downstairs while I opened up the school intranet, I couldn't have anyone around while I was waiting to find out! As soon as I saw the screen I was worried I had picked something wrong..

I had gotten exactly the grades that were required and was accepted into both my first and second choice universities. I remember starting to cry and shout for my mum, who at first was worried my results weren't as we had hoped because of my reaction!

So I guess I'm off to The University of Southampton! Next weekend when you're reading this (the 22nd of September) I will finally be settling into my halls ready to start that next chapter in my life.

Although a lot of what has been on my blog before has all been beauty or fashion with a slice of lifestyle and travel, I'm going to throw another category in there and create some content about applying to university, nursing and all the strange and wonderful things I encounter over the next 3 years!

I hope you've had a lovely summer and if you're back at school now then the best of luck!

- Abigail x

Travel Diary | New Jersey'18

If you haven't already read my blog post about my trip away this summer then you wouldn't know that while I was out in Florida I booked a surprise trip up to New Jersey to see Chloe, who I have infact surprised before.

This time I truly thought Chloe had caught on and would be suspecting that I would surprise her because we'd been talking for months about me flying up. Originally I was going to fly straight from London to New Jersey for Chloe's graduation party (without her knowing of course, who doesn't love a surprise!!) but when the flights doubled in price that plan soon changed! So last minute why not book a cheap flight with United up there!

We departed 2 hours late, oh boy do I love when planes have technical faults and they have to change the parts. Definitely puts me at ease for the whole flight! After sitting on the plane for quite some time before departing I was starting to get desperate to use the ladies. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off I was ready to leap out of my seat to go.... Except the two gentlemen in the middle and the aisle had both fallen into a deep sleep and I felt too bad waking them up. So for the whole, 2 hours 58 minute flight through storms... I sat crossed legged hoping for the best. You can imagine I ran like my life depended on it off that flight.

After getting to Chloe's house quite late I was worried she would be asleep now it was a lot later than expected. When I walked in Clifford and Bailey (Chloe's Dogs) knew who I was instantly and were both excited to see me. When I walked around the corner Chloe was sat in her Pj's watching the telly with her cup of tea. She was shocked to say the least. I had a lovely time in New Jersey, getting to see the beach, where Chloe is going to university, one of Chloe's friends Graduation parties and the biggest milkshake, candy extravaganza you ever would have seen!

As always here are all of my favourite photos from my mini trip away!

-Abigail x

Travel Diary | Florida'18

What now seems like yesterday was actually a rather long time ago. Back at the beginning of July I flew out to Florida with my step-dad right before the rest of the family turned up two weeks later. During that time we explored many more beaches than usual and went on a boat tour called 'The Jungle Queen' getting to see the incredible houses. How the other half live!


When the rest of the family turned up my best friend Chloe's (who I've mentioned on my blog a few times) parents were also in town so they come over to dinner at our house. While sat with them I was talking about how much I missed Chloe who hadn't been able to make the trip down due to work and the idea that I wouldn't see her again for quite a long time stuck in my head. Well if you've read my blog for a while now then you will know that I'm rather fond of surprising her. So while sat there I booked a flight to go and stay with her the following week.


I spent the next couple of days sunbathing, shopping and eating food before it was time to go and fly up to see Chloe. I don't know how, but I did manage to surprise her for a long weekend up in New Jersey, which was absolutely lovely. I was over the moon to get to see her before we both went off to university in September.... You can read more about that trip Here!

Anyway once I was back in Florida I had a day left to top up my tan before flying back to the UK. As always with my trips I love to share my favourite photographs here on my blog.... If you don't follow me on instagram then you may to have seen my highlight on my page which shows you all the random, un-edited things I got up to. You can follow me Here!

Things I'm Loving This Summer...

Summer for me started back on June 8th when I sat my last exam at sixth form. I had officially left full time education. With my summer starting so early, I have such a long period of time to do so many things. I've already been away to Rome with my friends which I talked about in my previous post but I'm now away in Florida with my family. I've already been soaking up the sun and eating as much food as humanly possible but I thought to why not share what I have been loving over summer so far.

The first thing I have been loving is my new suitcase which I actually picked up from TKmaxx. I couldn't not have a pretty white suitcase. I say pretty white... It is now an off white with black scratches all up it from being in the luggage hold... but it is still pretty in my eyes!

Another thing that I have been loving this summer is the Dr Paw Paw Original Multipurpose balm. The balm can be used literally anywhere, I've been using it on my lips after a day in the sun; on my eyebrows while I'm at the beach to keep them under control and even on patches of my sunburn (right down my nose) that otherwise stings with aftersun. This product has become a staple in my makeup bag.

Another thing that I have been loving this summer is the Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette which I bought a while ago and had neglected because I am always buying new palettes. Then when I was packing for Rome I wanted a palette that was small but had a good mirror so I grabbed the Tarte palette forgetting how much I really loved it. Now I'm wearing it all of the time.

Another thing that I am loving this summer is Bandeau tops, specifically the ones from Toyshop. I have literally every single colour now because they are so easy to wear and go with everything! My favourite pairing has been with a denim skirt so I can show off my attempt at a sun tan!

Travel Diary | Rome '18

A little over two weeks ago now I flew out to Rome with a couple of my school friends. We stayed in an Air BnB which is something I've never done before, so I got to experience that! Throughout out stay in Rome we tried to visit as many different places/tourist attractions as possible. Like normal, when I've been away I like to post my favourite pictures on my blog from the trip. We even got to see the Pope... Not up close but from a distance. We still saw him though!!

- Abigail x

Leaving Full Time Education.

It has finally come to that time of year where exams have taken over my life (hence the blog taking a back seat). As of yesterday (25/05/18) I finished Sixth Form, so no more second year teaching for me. I have two exams left to sit now both in English Language.

However with half term now upon us I can take full advantage of an extra couple of hours where I would normally be chatting in class to write blog posts that I haven't had the opportunity to in what feels like forever! I thought coming back online I would start with what has prevented me from being online and talk about what college was like.

On a break from revision I went
for a walk around a lake
near my house and it is full of beautiful flowers.

I studied three subjects at sixth form: English Language, Medical Science and Health & Social Care. If you've been following my blog for a while then you will know that I am hoping to go to university in September and study to become a Children's Nurse which has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I might do a blog post soon talking about how I found this love and passion for wanting to care for other people because thats a whole other story.

When I first started college I loved all of my subjects, everything I did I enjoyed and I looked forward to going to class every week. As things started to get harder I started to struggle a lot more and wasn't seeing the outcome in my grades that I had wanted. I started to realise that the way I revised for GCSEs was not going to work for A-Levels and I took a new approach to learning everything.

I wrote a letter to myself after my AS exams last year because I felt like I had done absolutely terrible and it is saved as a draft blog post... Every time I started to feel as though I was struggling I would read this letter and it motivated me to work harder. I was very surprised at my AS grades because they were a lot higher than any grades I had had the whole year, one of my subjects increased by 3 whole grades which was ridiculous to me! I was so proud of myself for managing to set my mind on something and eventually achieve it and so I've tried to have the same mind set this year.

I've worked so hard towards my exams that I have had so far I just hope that this work pays off and I can get into university to pursue the dream I've always had.

Thank you to any of you that have stuck by me on this journey through my GCSEs and now my A Levels. Here's to you hopefully sticking around to find out if I get into university.



-Abigail x

February in Photographs.

I haven't done one of these posts in a long, long, long time but I was going through my camera roll late one evening looking at all my photographs and found so many things that had happened last month that I absolutely loved.

1st - I got up at silly o'clock to go for a walk around a lake local to me with my best friend.
6th - I finally got a Teddy Bear Coat
10th - I went for Brunch with some lovely bloggers.
17th - I went to my Bosses wedding in the countryside with some of the lovely ladies I work with.
27th - WE GOT SNOW
28th - WE HAD MORE SNOW

1st February

6th February

10th February

17th February

27th February

28th February

- Abigail x

The Lexicon Bracknell - Fashion Trends for SS18*

Three weekends ago now I was invited to the new shopping centre over in Bracknell called 'The Lexicon' for brunch and a chat about the upcoming Spring/Summer 2018 Trends with some lovely bloggers.

We sat in Coffee Barker, the coolest place I've ever eaten in to have coffee and a chat. I learnt all about what the fashion trends are going to be such as the pastel colours on EVERYTHING! Imagine mint choc chip ice-cream or strawberry ice-cream colour on a little t-shirt. Already I want all of these clothes! One item of clothing I already have that will be perfect for an England spring is the trench coat. It is light enough for the potential warm weather but also keeps you dry if it rains. There are many other fashion trends too such as tailored denim, sheer tops/dresses.. sheer everything, slip dresses, pencil skirts and lots of primary colours! I also learnt all about how plastic is going to stay with us until SS18, ready for the festivals. We chatted away  about how to style all of these items and what would work best together. My favourites definitely have to be the pastel colours, the primary colours and definitely the pencil skirts because I love wearing skirts in the summer! We were given a voucher to spend called the 'Lexicon Gift Card' which can be used in pretty much all of the shops. There are so many different stores to chose from including the big department store Fenwicks which contains everything high end that your heart could desire! I picked up a few pieces from Topshop ready for spring focusing on the primary colours because I knew I could then pair these with bright items another time. 

I somehow stuck to blue and picked up a gorgeous Checked Frill Waist Mini Skirt* which was predominately white but had blue and red lines throughout to make it checked. It also as two gorgeous buttons at the top of it, which adds that little bit of extra detail. To go with this skirt I picked  out a blue (surprise surprise) cropped top*, which also had a slight frill in the sleeves and along the hem line. This featured the word dreamer across the left of the chest which was embroiled in some bright colours. After doing some shopping in Topshop I couldn't not head home without at least looking around Fenwick's. 'Accidentally' I picked up a new tube of my favourite Urban Decay Concealer* and finally the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation* so that I can try it out. 

The Lexicon has such a variety of shops that it would suit anyone and anyone. There is also lots of things to do there while you shop including: dining out, cocktails (Coffee Barker serves them in the evening, I need to go back!!) a cinema and so much more! 

At the moment there is a game over in 'Princess Square' called Beat The Clock where you have the chance to win from over 5,000 different discounts and prizes, to spend in all of the shops that they have available. If you are at The Lexicon then make sure you check it out because you never know what you might win, meaning you can head home with something amazing!

I am definitely going back to The Lexicon for my shopping now because of the wide variety of places to shop. If you want to find out more about The Lexicon you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I couldn't not have a Peach Bellini as a pitstop drink before heading home!

- Abigail x

So-Eco Brushes*

I am 'that' someone who always reaches for the same brushes every time they do their makeup. Adding new brushes into my routine is silly right? Especially when I know which brush does what and which brush goes in which colour? Well today was the day I tried out some new eyeshadow brushes to see if they could take over my everyday (probably overused) ones.

The two brushes I tried out were both from So-Eco who promote that their brushes are from eco friendly sources as well as being cruelty free - hence the name 'So-Eco'.

The first brush was the Eye Shading Brush* which is perfect for applying a base colour all over the lid and for cutting the crease! The bristles are so very soft that they glide across your eye without scratching or taking away any product. The brush I find, works better with powders than a cream eyeshadow but works very well with concealer. I don't know what it is but whenever I cut my crease with this brush it works perfectly every-time!

The second brush I have been using is the Angled Eyeliner Brush*. I struggle as it is to use a liquid eyeliner with a pen-like tip so I was curious to see how I would do with a liner brush. I sucked. I was terrible at applying liquid eyeliner with the brush because I don't have a steady enough hand. However, as soon as I swapped to a black eyeshadow it looked amazing. The bristles are packed together to create a small line which is angled and positioned in a way that means you can see what you are doing. 

Both brushes also have a precision comfort grip, which I think definitely helped with me being more accurate in where I wanted the brush to go each time. The Eye Shading Brush I have moved into my 'everyday makeup brushes pot' as it is so good at applying the perfect base! As much as I have loved getting to experiment with the Angled Eyeliner brush I am going to save that for going out instead of everyday use for now as I'm still not good at getting it perfect... after all practice does make perfect.

You can purchase So-Eco brushes from many places but the easiest is probably Amazon as they are available on prime!

-Abigail x

Benefit BADgal BANG! Mascara*

Just last week Benefit released a brand new product, 'BADgal BANG! Mascara' which is similar to their older mascara 'Badgal Lash'. However now having used both, I can see a clear difference in the two and why Benefit caused so much hype around this new product!

The packaging is a sleek matte black, which I was previously worried about when I first saw the new release online. Yet once it turned up at my door the next day, I saw that the sleek matte packaging worked amazingly with the metallic letters. This lid also has a strange bumpy texture but for someone like me who can never open packaging this added extra (even if this wasn't the purpose of it) helps me to always open the bottle even when I have foundation caked slippery hands!

Onto the actual product itself... The 'BADgal BANG! Mascara' claims to have full blast volume, lifted lashes as well as lengthened lashes. On top of everything they claim the mascara is also smudge-proof and water-resistant! I have been putting the mascara to the test for the past week now and have come to my little space online to share with you what I thought all about it.

'BADgal BANG! Mascara' definitely adds length and volume to my lashes and if you follow me on Instagram, then you would've seen me talking about how amazing the wand is with the fact it is so slim it reaches all the tiny lashes from root to tip! I didn't think this small wand would hold up to everything it claims to bring because of its size, trust me this wand doesn't hide away. 

The mascara is water-resistant because I struggle to take it off at the end of the day, even my trusty eye makeup remover struggles with it. The only issue I found with this mascara is that when I applied it onto my bottom lashes it added too much length and I found they occasionally left an imprint under my eye so I just apply a little less now, than I was before. 

Overall I am very impressed with the new Benefit 'BADgal BANG! Mascara', I even convinced my mum to order one with how different it made my lashes look. I will definitely be purchasing this mascara when I run out!

-Abigail x

*This post contains a pr sample, however all views are my own. You can read my full disclaimer here*

Travel Diary | New York City '17

I mentioned in my previous blogpost that I had been away in October '17 (I know it is such a long time ago now but I love the photographs!) and would soon be uploading a travel diary, well here it is.

Back in October I flew to Newark International Airport to go and see my best friend Chloe who I surprised at the same time just the previous year! We did lots of tourist things things in her area such as explore New Jersey, Princeton University and spend a day in New York City with her family. We got to have a mini photoshoot everywhere we went, which I loved because I adore nothing more than taking photographs. Anyway... here are my favourite pictures from the trip!

(and if you want to be nosey at Chloe then here is her Twitter and Instagram)

-Abigail x