Choices

As a child most of us had ideas of what we wanted to be when we were older, whether that was a ballerina, teacher, astronaut, etc... (I know that I wanted to be a pop star/celebrity, haha!!) We would then most probably change our minds several times until we discovered a more realistic route that we wanted to follow (for me this was the arty, visual side). 


Towards the end of high school I started to think about what it was I actually wanted to do with my life. I found I was asking myself a lot of questions such as 'What do I enjoy doing most? What am I good at? What will I most likely succeed at? How would I be able to build a career with the path I choose?' (and as you can imagine, the list of questions didn't end there) It was then that I realised that I didn't have a particular route that I wanted to pursue. I knew I would have to decide on something sooner or later as I wouldn't be at school forever, which led me to choosing a college course specializing in several subjects (the choice was also based on what I was best at and what I most enjoyed doing) 

I thought that the time at college would help me figure out the specific subject that I would specialise in and have an interest in (I presumed that I would eventually realise what subject it was that I most had an interest in). However, as time went on I started to worry and panic as I was still unsure of what I wanted to do. It seemed like everyone around me had an idea of what they wanted to do which made the situation feel a lot worse (and I felt like I had to make a decision). It dawned on me that I had become lost and uncertain of my career path. 

When making decisions to do with our future, we often find ourselves having to take risks and try new things. This can be scary and can feel pointless at times (well at least that is what I have found), which can put us off wanting to go ahead with anything. It can often lead us to feeling more confused as there are so many different routes and options that we don't know where to start or which one to take. When we don't know what to do, we can sometimes fall into things that we don't actually like doing. This will happen at some point for anyone (unless the person is extremely lucky). However, everyone has a choice; they can choose whether they want to try something new or they can choose to stick to the same thing. If someone is unhappy then they don't have to stick to the same thing (I think it was my nan that said to me 'The world is your oyster') Constantly changing ideas and trying new things can feel like a waste of time, but it could be thought of as part of a learning process (you would be finding out more about yourself that you never knew before).

At the moment I am still currently unsure of what I want to do and what path to take which is why I have decided to have a year or two to think about what it is that I actually want to do (kind of like a gap year). I have learnt that it is okay not knowing and I've discovered recently that there are so many other people are in the same boat as me (which makes it that little bit easier). People can figure out what there passion is straight away, yet others can go years still trying. I guess not knowing can be a good thing as you get to try out new things that you may have not thought about if you knew what your passion was straight away. I have learnt that there is no point in worrying about it though as something will work out in the end as it always does (my nan believes that our lives are already mapped out for us)

This blogpost is a bit different to what I'm used to as I wanted to try writing about something that people can hopefully relate to. I wasn't too sure whether to do this blogpost originally as I thought it may come a cross too deep (so sorry if it has). It would be great if could let me know what your thoughts and opinions on this are in the comments below. If you have any questions you can also leave them in the comments below. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blogpost and that it has been useful in some way. :)


Lauren
xoxo

February Fashion Favourites

February was an eventful month for me (as it normally is every year) due to there being several birthdays within my family. Me, my Auntie and my Nan have birthdays within 9 days of each other which means that the celebrations for them are quite close together. I tend to often go away or do something within the month, whether that would be a day out somewhere or a short/weekend holiday. 

As it was my birthday in February I decided to go on a little shopping spree and thought it would be nice to treat myself to a couple of new items for my wardrobe. I was also running low on clothes to wear for the winter/spring season so wanted to update what I already had slightly (which I figured could actually just be an excuse for buying more clothes, haha).

I thought that I would share a couple of everyday clothing items that I have been loving and wearing throughout February.  

Britney Garta Soft Knit Jumper Pink
Shop - Boohoo
Price - £12

Long Sleeve Ribbed Funnel Neck Top

Shop - Topshop

Price - £15

 Khaki Ribbed Long Sleeve Crop Top 

Grey Ribbed Long Sleeve Crop Top

Shop - Newlook (both)

Price - £8.99 (both)

Mylton Shirt Red Check

Shop - Jack Wills

Price - £24 (sale)

Sol Cal Graphic Tank Dark Grey

Shop - Hollister

Price £19

I had been wanting to do a 'Fashion Favourites' blogpost and thought that as I purchased some clothes within February, it would be the perfect time to do one. I like looking at other peoples 'Favourites' blogposts which inspired me to do my own. 

I hope you enjoyed reading the post and looking through the different items. If you have any questions you would like to ask me about then you can leave a comment below:)


Lauren xoxo

Animal Safari

In the winter things to do and places to go seem to be quite limited. I wanted to go somewhere close to home with my friends for my birthday so I decided to look into different ideas that we could do. I found there was only a couple of things that would be possible to do within travel distance - go away shopping for the day (which would mean spending lots of money) or go to an attraction park. I decided on the attraction park as I felt it would be more relevant for everyone. I thought that the West Midlands Safari Park would be the best place to go to as it has a variation of things to do there (plus my friends don't like rides so it would be more suitable for them). 

My parents kindly took me and my friends to the Safari Park as none of us could drive. I made up a picnic for everyone so that we wouldn't have to buy food there. We spent 2 hours in the car looking at the animals (which was good as it was cold outside). At one point we couldn't stop ourselves from laughing as my friend had bought a pack of 4 apples to feed to the animals. (We found this funny as you weren't actually aloud to feed them anything besides the animal food that you can buy there. It was also because my friend had spent more on the apples then she would have on herself and decided to give the animals a whole apple each. It may not sound very amusing, but I guess it was one of those times where you had to be there in the moment to find it funny.) 

I decided to take some pictures as I wanted to see how well they would turn out using my phone camera to take them. 

I hope you have enjoyed looking through the pictures and reading about my Safari experience. My overall day was really good, and I would definitely recommend going if you would like to go on a lovely day out somewhere. If you have any questions you would like to ask me then you can leave a comment below. :)

Lauren

xoxo

What I Got For My Birthday

I spent the daytime of my birthday with a friend in Cardiff shopping and had a takeaway in the evening with my family (we ordered a Chinese and Indian). When people wanted to know what to get me for my birthday, I mainly told them that I was interested in getting some new books - this is why the picture mainly consists of different books. Recently, I have started to read more before I go to bed as it helps me get to sleep at night. I didn't know what books I wanted, so to give people an idea of what to get me, I told them that I liked reading 'Girl Online' by Zoe Sugg. I also asked for a couple of cookbooks as I am interested in cooking. 

I chose a couple of the gifts that I got for my birthday to include in this blogpost. I am truly grateful for everything that I got for my birthday from my family and friends. 

Love, Tanya -
Tanya Burr (Youtuber, Blogger,
Author)

The Doorstep Girls -
Val Wood (Author) 

Now That I've Found You - Ciara Geraghty (Author)

Bracelet - Buckingham

Golden Wonder - Lush Bath Set
(Golden Wonder bath bomb 200g, Gold Fun 100g)

The Oh She Glows Cookbook -
Angela Liddon (Blogger, Author)

I decided to do a blogpost on what I got for my birthday as it can sometimes be nice to look at gifts other people get (or that could just be me as I like to be nosey, haha!)
If you have any of these items, I'd love to know your thoughts on them! If you would like to share them with me, or you have any questions, you can leave a comment below. :)


Lauren
xoxo

Movie Marathon

Do you ever feel every now and then its sometimes nice to have a day of doing nothing? (I know I do!) It can be nice to just snuggle up under a duvet and watch loads of movies. On days like this I often tend to have movie marathons where I constantly watch one film after the other for the whole day. 

I normally like to snack on things while watching the movies. A couple of my favourite movie treats used to be popcorn, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Fruittellas, Maltesers and Minstrels. However, as I've started eating healthier recently I no longer have these as treats, (although they do taste great). My favourite healthier alternative treats are popcorn (that I make myself), or a bowl of mixed fruits with a small amount of agave nectar. (What are your favourite movie treats?)

To give myself a variation, I often pick a couple of movies within different genres. I will usually chose a Romance, Action, Adventure, Coming of Age, Drama or Musical. Most of the films will consist of more than one genre within the ones that I listed. My favourite genres though are Action, Adventure and Romance. I am not a big fan of horrors; they are not something I would particularly choose to watch when I am on my own. However, I don't seem to mind watching them as much when I am with other people, (is that just me or?).

There are a couple of movies that I have really been loving recently. (I sometimes struggle to find good new films that I really enjoy to watch.) My recommendations will be based around my favourite genres that I listed in the previous paragraph (so sorry if those particular genres aren't your cup of tea). 


 Love, Rosie                                                       Divergent

  
















    

 The Fault In Our Stars                                            How I Live Now

I hope you've enjoyed reading my blogpost, and I hope it has been useful in someway. I've only given recommendations of things I have personally liked myself (so they may not appeal to you whatsoever). If you did try watching any of my recommendations, or you have ideas of films you feel I may like, I would love to hear about it all in the comments below. :)


Lauren
xoxo

Several Tricks To Thicken Fine Hair

One of the things I've always had a problem with is how fine my hair is. There are so many different hairstyles that I have tried out over time and I always seem to stick to the same one as there are not many that work with my hair thickness. However, I have found several tricks to help my hair appear thicker and feel a lot more fuller than it actually is. I've experimented with several shampoos and other hair products, and I've only found a couple that actually work well. 

Which shampoo and conditioner to use?

There are a wide selection of different shampoos and conditioners that you can buy which vary with the brand name and hair type. Finding the shampoo and conditioner best for your hair type can take a long time as there are a lot of them out there. It took me a long time to find a shampoo and conditioner that works well for me as I found most of them were too pricey to just try out. It's only recently that I've discovered a shampoo and conditioner within my budget that works really well.
I use the L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo and the L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Conditioner.

L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening 
Shampoo and Conditioner 

I decided to try out the shampoo and conditioner as I saw them advertised on TV. I had heard that they were supposed to be quite good, although I was still doubtful whether they would work. Originally I didn't think the products were going to work as I didn't see how a shampoo and conditioner could make your hair look any thicker than it is. However, after using the products a couple of times I noticed the texture of my hair felt an incredible amount thicker. To make sure the products were working I tried using an old shampoo and conditioner for a few days. When I went back to using the new products there was an obvious difference in the texture change. 
I have been using the same products ever since I tried them out. I recommend these products to anyone looking for an affordable shampoo or conditioner to help give their hair more volume and fullness. I often tend to buy several at a time when they have good offers on. You can pick them up in most well-known supermarkets and health and beauty stores such as Tesco, Asda and Boots.  

Blow-drying hair

I find that the technique used to blow-dry my hair is one of the most effective ways of making my hair appear thicker. Why is that you may ask? Well it's a combination of the brush, the heat and the angle you dry the hair at.
When my hair is wet I brush my hair threw gently using a shower comb. 

I purchased this Shower Comb from Asda.

I use a comb instead of a brush as the teeth of the comb are wider than regular hair combs - This helps with knots and reduces the amount of hair loss. I then tip my head upside down and use my fingers instead of a brush/comb to dry the hair. The hair dryer I use is quite powerful as this helps with the volume and gives the hair a wilder appearance. 

I use the Andrew Barton hairdryer as
it is powerful and gives off a
good amount of heat.

I then attempt to scrunch my hair with my hands while drying it as this also helps with volume. Drying the hair upside down helps to give the roots a lift as the heat from the hair dryer styles the hair into position. After drying the hair I brush it through like normal using the shower comb.

How to reduce hair shedding

My hair sheds an awful lot, especially when I brush it too much. I'm always finding pieces of hair on my clothing and on the brush after I have used it. There are several different things I have tried doing which has reduced a considerate amount of hair loss:

Avoiding electrical hair styling devices 
I never use any heat styling devices on my hair besides a hair dryer. I found that every time I used curling tongs or hair straighteners it would cause my hair to break. Another disadvantage to using the devices on my hair is that it makes the hair look limp and reduces the thick texture after blow-drying the hair.

Not dying hair too often
I've dyed my hair for about 5 years now. I only have about 8 foils put in on the top section of my hair as I have it highlighted with bleach which is bad for it. However, since I started having the few amounts of highlights put in, I noticed that the beach helped to thicken the texture of my hair as before it appeared extremely limp naturally. I try to leave my hair for at least 4 months before getting my roots dyed as over dying the hair can damage it causing breakage. 
If you dye your hair or you are thinking about it, I recommend only having a small amount of highlights/lowlights put in. This may help the limp appearance of your hair and may increase the volume slightly. The one thing NOT to do is over dye it - you don't want to reduce or damage the hair anymore if you are already having problems with it. If you are going to have your hair dyed then I also recommend getting it done by a hair dresser, don't attempt to dye it yourself as it could go horribly wrong.

Don't over brush the hair
Whenever I brush my hair, pieces endlessly fall out. This happens with pretty much everyone as it's something we can't help, but there are ways of decreasing the amount of hair that does fall out. 
Instead of using a hair brush to brush my hair I use the shower comb that I mentioned in the 'blow-drying hair' section of my blog post. I find that the shower comb is better suited to my hair type than a regular brush as the shower comb doesn't pull out as much hair as the regular brush does and it detangles knots well. It also helps to keep volume in the hair.
Backcombing is really bad for fine hair (so I suggest not to do it) as it gets knotted easily and can leave it in a broken and damaged condition.  

Giving hair a break
I wash my hair everyday as it gets greasy quickly due to it being fine. Washing the hair too often is bad for you though as the hair needs natural oils to stay healthy and strong. To make sure I don't over wash my hair I have at least one 'break day' a week to keep it in a good condition - this will be on a day of the week I'm at home where I don't have to go out. There tends to be more than one day in the week where I won't wash my hair and want to go out. If I do go out without washing my hair then I will use a dry shampoo on it.
Dry shampoo makes the hair feel and appear fresh. It also gives the hair texture which is a bonus for fine hair as it adds more volume.
I use the Batiste Dry Shampoo Light and Blonde as the roots of my hair look darker when they haven't been washed - it adds a tint of blonde back into my hair, causing it to lighten slightly. 

The Batiste Dry Shampoo Light
and Blonde.

Most other dry shampoos are just as good, only I find the one I use works best with my hair colour. I recommend finding one that works with the colour of your hair.
When my hair is looking unhealthy and I feel it could do with a good treatment, I like putting hair oils on my hair and leaving it over night. 
I use the Advance Techniques Daily Shine Dry Ends Serum from Avon.

The Advance Techniques Daily
Shine Dry Ends Serum from
Avon that I use.

Natural oils are also good for repairing and keeping the hair healthy. I recommend using an Olive oil or Coconut oil on the hair over night. The advantages of using natural oils are that they are more beneficial for you than hair oils and they are quite likely to be found around a household.


I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog post and that some of my tips have come in useful somehow. If you have any of your own tips that you wouldn't mind sharing or want to ask me some questions, you could always leave a comment below. :)


Lauren
xoxo