My Recent Purchases! Boots, Lush, Superdrug, and more!

I may or may not be one of those people who takes the term 'treat yo self' a little too seriously. I constantly stress about money, and because I'm stressed, I buy nice things to make myself feel better. It's a dangerous cycle. However, I did manage to find some really lovely bits and pieces on my travels, as well as loads of amazing offers and bargains! I'd also just like to point out that this is a collection of things that I have bought over the past few months rather than a haul of one day of shopping.

There's a pretty big Boots in a retail park locally to me, and I managed to find some really lovely items. I could have spent so much money in there if I had the chance - there's so many offers on all of the beauty, makeup, and skincare stuff, like half price Nip+Fab and 3 for 2 on multiple different makeup brands!

I picked up the 7th Heaven Cucumber Peel Off Mask, as well as the Black Seaweed version too. I'm a lover of face masks and already have so many, but I can never resist picking more up!

I also picked up the Boots Face Mask Applicator, which has a rubber tip rather than bristles. I know a lot of people use a clean makeup brush to apply a face mask, but I didn't really like the idea of such a thick product on one of my brushes, so this applicator is perfect!

The RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has been on my wishlist for a very long time, and it was half price! Most of the RT products were half price so I could have picked up a lot more, but I was trying to restrain myself!

I absolutely love Soap & Glory, and noticed they had this Puffy Eye Attack eye cream. I've been missing an eye cream from my skincare routine for a little while now, so I just had to pick it up.

Lastly from Boots, I noticed a new Boots Exclusive makeup counter from C.Y.O. I've never heard of this brand before but I was really impressed with the selection they had on offer, so I decided to pick up the Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation, and the Rainbow Warrior Eyeshadow Palette. They also had an offer for a free Meet Your Matte face powder if you spent over £5!

I've spotted a lot of bargains in Superdrug over the past few weeks, and picked up a few things that I'm really excited to use.

Firstly, I grabbed a pack of makeup sponges as I find them really hands for concealer. I actually picked these up before I found the RealTechniques sponge, so I might not actually get much use out of these!

I've been wanting to try fake tan for a while but didn't want to spend loads of money if I end up hating it. I spotted the Solait Insta Grad Tan Oil which was on offer for just 50p, usually around the £5 mark. I also grabbed the Solait Two Sided Mitt - I don't want bright orange hands!

Superdrug always have fantastic offers on Nip+Fab, a brand that I am loving more and more with each product I try. I can't remember if it was buy one get one free, or half price, but either way, I picked up the Glycolic Fix Night Pads and the Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Scrub. I find Nip+Fab products just work really well for me, so I didn't want to pass up a fantastic offer.

In terms of makeup, I picked up 2 lip liners from Rimmel - Exaggerate in the shade 063 Eastend Snob, and Lasting Finish in the shade Spice. I have a lot of lipsticks and barely any lipliners, so I need to grow my collection a bit. 

I also picked up the e.l.f No Budge Shadow Stick in the shade rose gold. I love a good shadow stick, and I've heard many great things about e.l.f, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I love rummaging around the makeup and beauty counters in TK Maxx, you can find some unbelievable deals if you have a proper root around. I found 2 more Nip+Fab products, the Kale Fix Clay Mask (love me a face mask) and the Kale Fix Protecting Shot. Both of these were well over half price, so I had to grab them!

I also found the Tigi Bed Head shampoo and conditioner in The Range for a really great deal, and I know I love this stuff from when it's been used on my hair at the hairdressers.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I picked up some bath bombs from Lush. I already have quite a collection waiting to be used, but I just can't stop buying them!

I picked up Butterball, one of my absolute favourites for it's super luxurious moisturising properties, and I also grabbed 3 of the new Mother's Day releases! There's the Yellow Submarine, the Floating Flower and the Wild Butterfly. The butterfly comes in 3 different colours and scents, but this one was definitely my favourite.

Have you used any of these products before? Let me know in the comments!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

Top Tips To Ace Your Job Interview

We all know how it goes. You send out application after application with very little responses, and when somebody finally offers you an interview, it rarely works out. Sometimes it feels like you have to attend 100 different interviews before you finally get an offer for a job.

A bit of backstory. The past 6 months I've been dealing with a lot of personal stuff that, unfortunately, affected the way I was working. I ended up jumping from job to job quicker than you can change your socks. I'm feeling a lot better now and I've finally reached out for help, and I've managed to grab myself a little part time job in a lovely restaurant. However, even though I kept chopping and changing jobs, I received an offer after every interview I attended. My friend Brenna mentioned that I seem to be really good at getting jobs, so I thought I'd share my tips and tricks for acing a job interview.

1. Send a Thank You Email

Even though this is something that you do after an interview, as opposed to during, it is my most valuable trick. Simply write an email addressed to the person who interviewed you, and thank them for the opportunity. Reiterate why you'd be a great asset to the team, and why you want to work there. It's so easy, and literally takes 2 minutes. Keep it short and sweet, just a paragraph or two, and you're golden! Since I started doing this, I've never been refused a job.

2. Do Your Pre-Interview Research!

Knowing a bit of backstory about the company that you want to work for can be really helpful. If they have a website or a social media page, check it out! Nobody likes a clueless interviewee, and I find that most of the questions I want to ask are because of something on the website, which brings me onto my next tip.

3. Ask Questions!

You don't need to wait until the end of an interview to ask questions, do it as you go along. Some questions may be a little obvious during the conversation, but it shows that you're really interested, and actually listening to the information they're telling you. Of course, questions at the end are really important too. Even though you're interviewing for them, you need to be happy in the position, so ask whatever you need to know! I often like to ask what a general day would like look for somebody in that particular role. You can find lists and lists of good questions to ask in an interview, just have a quick google!

4. Manners Are Key

If you've been shown to a room to sit and wait, always stand up to greet the person interviewing you, and reach for a handshake. I always found this really difficult because I get so nervous, but it lasts 2 seconds and is generally expected. If you don't reach for the handshake first, they will. Show them you're actually happy to be there and have the opportunity to talk to them by doing it first!

Smile, keep eye contact, and keep your body language open. Crossed arms, hands in pockets, or constantly playing with your hair, doesn't really look great. Just keep your back straight, and your shoulders relaxed, with your hands on your lap or on the table in front of you. 

5. Dress for the Job

This is a really obvious one, but you'll be surprised how many people don't dress appropriately for an interview. The jobs I interview for generally have a smart-casual dress code, so a nice pair of jeans and one of my fancier tops does the trick. Alternatively, for a more 'professional' job, like working in an office, you may want to upgrade those jeans so a pair of simple black trousers and an appropriate jacket.

6. Enjoy Yourself

At the end of the day, you're meeting somebody new with something to offer, so engage with them and be friendly. It may seem daunting, but it's just a conversation, so talk to them the way you'd talk to anybody else.

And that's it! Really simple, but really effective. Of course, if you're interviewing for a job that you're really not the right fit for, or have no experience in, you may not find these tips overly useful. But for those of you, like myself, who have a preferred profession and experience, they'll be happy to have met you. Don't forget the thank you email!

I hope these are helpful to some of you, and I'll see you soon!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

January Favourites

It is finally the last day of January, the most boring month of the year. This month has dragged and dragged, and I am so happy that it's almost over. Bring on Valentines, Easter, Pancake Day and all that spring stuff! So, as it is the last day of the month, I thought I'd show you my favourite products that I have been using.

Monthly favourites are one of my favourite posts to read/videos to watch, and I always enjoyed doing them when I first started blogging. Since we've just had Christmas, I've had loads of new products and different pieces to try out this month, and I have found some firm favourites in my new collection. Some products I've been using religiously this month, whilst others are ones that I found halfway through, or have only used a couple of times but already adore.

Starting with skincare, I'm really loving the Benefit cleanse and moisturise set, containing the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash cleanser, the Smooth It Off Cleansing Exfoliator, the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion moisturiser, and the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion. My mum got these for me for Christmas and I'm enjoying using them so much! They look super cute in my bathroom, and they all smell amazing too. I definitely feel like this range is helping my skin in the horrible winter weather. The facial wash removes all of my makeup very easily and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh, and the exfoliator is so gentle and rejuvenating. I especially love the toner as it has a slightly thicker, oily consistency to it, which I think I prefer over the watery toners. The moisturiser sinks in wonderfully, and the set combined leaves me feeling so pampered.

 I am also absolutely loving the Nip and Fab Hydrate Dragons Blood Fix Plumping Serum. It has that light sting to it that actually makes it feel like it's working, and it definitely does make my skin feel much fresher. I use it after my toner, and before my moisturiser both morning and evening to enhance hydration and plump the skin.

Lastly for skincare products, I've been loving the Dr Botanicals Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask. It smells amazing, and once washed off in the morning, leaves your skin feeling so rejuvenated. It's also cruelty free, vegan, and 98% natural!

Not so much skincare, but definitely related to it, is the Magnitone London Bare-faced2 3D Vibra-sonic Daily Cleansing and Skin Toning Brush. This thing is basically a giant electric toothbrush for your face, and it really works wonders. It gives you a much deeper cleanse than using your hands or a cloth, and is honestly so relaxing. It wakes your skin up and leaves it feeling super fresh and bright. It also has 3 different settings, a cleanse and a deep cleanse, as well as a toning setting to massage your toner into your skin. My brother got this for me for Christmas and I absolutely love it.

Next up is makeup! I've not actually tried an awful lot in the way of makeup this month, but there are a few things that I've been really enjoying, including a couple of foundations.

The first foundation, Revolution Conceal and Define, is the one I've been using longer, and it's one that my friend Brenna recommended to me. I feel like the shade isn't quite perfect, but it's one of the closest I've ever gotten. It's a high coverage foundation, but it is buildable so if you wanted a lighter look you could achieve that too.

Secondly is a foundation that my friend Jade recommended to me, which I've only been using for a couple of days. The L'Oreal True Match foundation blends so well, and I feel like it's a fantastic match for my skin, and will look amazing when the warmer weather comes in.

I've also really been enjoying using the Eyeko London Lash Alert Mascara, which I got in my advent calendar in December. It helps to condition your lashes and wake up tired eyes with caffeine, while making them fluttery and flirty. A winner in my eyes!

Onto random bits and pieces - I've been watching quite a lot of Netflix this month, and like everybody, I went nuts for You. What a wild ride of a show! I'm so excited for the second season to come out, and I really want to read the book too. If you haven't seen You yet, I definitely recommend it. My friend Brenna wrote an awesome review for it - read it here.

I also absolutely adored Sex Education, and I want to watch it all over again. It is so funny, and just executed so well. That vagina scene made my heart swell... which will sound really weird if you haven't seen it yet. Girls supporting girls yo!

Another random thing I've been loving this month is water. That's right, water. I've been chugging it down like nobodies business, and I feel so much better for it. I'm really trying to make a conscious effort to drink more water, but it seems I'm craving it anyway!

Lastly, I've been really enjoying reading through my Happi Cards. My friend Maddie got me these for Christmas and I think they're super cute. They have little inspiration words of wisdom and affirmations on each card, and they really do give you that little boost first thing in the morning.

And that concludes my monthly favourites. Like I said earlier in the post, I really enjoy monthly favourites, so I'm going to make a real effort to do one every month.

What have you been loving in January? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you soon!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

A Trip to the Eden Project

I am a big fan of the Eden Project. It's the heart of Cornwall, and somewhere that I have been on school trips, with friends, and with family. I hadn't been in years, but my brother and his girlfriend had been a few months ago and rekindled my excitement for it, so we decided to take a little family trip and have a day out.

Walkway to the entrance

If you haven't heard of the Eden Project, it's home to the world's largest indoor rainforest, and is basically a huge, amazing garden centre, with plants from across 5 different continents, as well as events, exhibits, and more. Even though it's so much better in the summer, there's still so many wonderful things and inside exhibits to explore during the winter.

An image of the Biome before the completed construction - they built this bad boy in a flood!

"The Eden Project, an educational charity, connects us with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future.

Our visitor destination in Cornwall, UK, is nestled in a huge crater. Here, massive Biomes housing the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions and stories serve as a backdrop to our striking contemporary gardens, summer concerts and exciting year-round family events. Registered charity number 1093070 (The Eden Trust)." - www.edenproject.com

Driftwood horses - the original driftwood horse is now too fragile

It's all about sustainability and learning more about the world around us. There's all sorts of interactive bits for kids, as well as all the information you could possibly want for us plant lovers and those wanting to learn more about sustainable living.

The Core building (featuring my mum and brother)

We parked up in Lime 2 (the car park is in sections named after fruit), wrapped up warm, and hurried down from the top of the hill to grab our tickets. We had a short walk to the Core building, which is where the different exhibitions are held, and I was really quite excited for the Bee exhibition they have on at the moment. There's loads of artwork, as well as a science lab where you can look at bees under a microscope.

There's also an exhibition of bacteria and micro-organisms. There's a huge model of the first bacteria to produce oxygen through oxygenic photosynethis - it blows out smoke rings and has a riveted texture. There's also loads of smaller artworks and information about the science behind them, such as this amazing piece of art depicting the body as a map, with trillions of microbes represented as hand-embroidered french knots.

Something that has been a part of the Core building since the beginning is The Seed - a huge, 70 tonne monument by Peter Randall-Page, made by reducing a 167 tonne block of granite into the seed shape, and then carving 1800 individual nodes in Fibonacci spirals, reflecting the amazing pattern found all around us, in sunflowers, pine cones, and daisies.

The Seed by Peter Randall-Page

After having a little wander around the Core building, we made our way through the gardens to the Biomes. As you enter, there's stairs down to a huge open restaurant, and a walkway with the Mediterranean Biome on the right, and the Rainforest Biome on the left. We headed towards the Med Biome first, as it's the smaller of the two, and were immediately greeted with the smell of herbs, plants, and flowers. Just like the rest of Eden, there's information galore - every plant is labelled and there's informative signs all over the place to educate you on the history and culture surrounding the plants. There's also wildlife including small birds and frogs!

After completing the Med Biome, we made our way downstairs to the restaurant and grabbed some grub - a delicious lemon and sesame chicken and seasoned vegetables. There's multiple different cafe's and restaurants around Eden, and there's plenty of places to sit and enjoy a packed lunch too, but my mum treated us to a meal, and a cake after. Yummy!

After lunch we made our way back upstairs and had a quick nosy around the little gift shop, before heading into the biggest indoor rainforest in the world. This is such a wonderful experience as there's huge waterfalls, birds, and so many plants and trees amidst the rainforest heat.

Since it's the middle of winter, there's not a huge amount of plants in the outdoor gardens, and a lot of the plots are being replanted with new plants. It was getting pretty chilly outside anyway, so we had the choice to go around the biomes again, or head home. There's a huge gift shop at the end, and I do mean huge, with loads of Eden's own skincare, clothing, food, toys, etc, as well as loads of different things surrounding Cornwall and sustainability, from Cornish artwork and Cornish skincare, to books and plants. We spent a nice while leisurely looking at the things they had to offer, and we came home with a few lovely mementos.

Mum absolutely spoilt me, and treated me to a Chilly's water bottle (I've wanted one for ages), an adorable fluffy bee whom I have named Bumblebutt, a gift box of Bomb Cosmetics bath bombs, an Eden Project orange lip balm, a panda candle, and a cute little bee enamel pin.

I also picked up a little Eden chocolate bar, an orange and cinnamon candle, and a mini beeswax candle.

I can't wait to revisit the Eden Project soon, and I get free entry with my season pass which is available to anybody that lives locally! (Cornwall/Devon)

Have you ever been to the Eden Project? Let me know in the comments!

Ciao for now,

Katie x