THANK YOU 2014

It only seems like yesterday I was writing my 2013 blogpost - and here I am now, reviewing the truly amazing 2014. It's certainly been a roller-coaster of a year, the highlight being the amazing summer, prom and parties after finishing GCSEs.

Prom was definitely a night I'll never forget, being surrounded by my friends and celebrating the end of a long year of working hard. Only a couple of days after I flew off to Kuramathi Island, Maldives, enjoying a luxurious ten days in the Indian Ocean; swimming, sunbathing, exploring and enjoying the local delicacies. At the end of the summer, I spent a week caravanning with my best friend at Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall, going to the beach everyday and travelling to local towns.

Admittedly, starting sixth form has been very tough, hence the unfortunate lack of blogposts. The workload is heavy and stressful, and I haven't felt myself for the past few months. But I hope 2015 will allow me to look past that, push on, and live life to the full. 2014 gave me the best summer of my life so far, and it's certainly been the most eventful year I've experienced.

I hope to make time for posting and I appreciate your patience and support.

Have a very happy new year!

FALL

Bobble hat, rucksack, knee-ripped jeans and baseball top - Topshop

Boyfriend cardigan - Boohoo

Shoes - Timberland

Lipstick - Kate Moss 107

What better way to show an Autumn OOTD than exploring the orange and green wilderness? With the brisk misty air and falling leaves, it couldn't have felt more seasonal. A casual but comfy outfit spruced up by a dark red lip.

NOTE: Apologies for my lack of posts lately, I've just had my first term in sixth form and I've been fighting through an intense workload! But winter posts are on their way...

SIMPLE FRUIT SMOOTHIE | A QUICK & EASY TUTORIAL

Ever had one of those days when you're craving a cool, refreshing drink with a burst of flavour that water just doesn't have? When you know you need to contribute to your five-a-day, yet munching your way through fruit doesn't seem that appealing? Have no fear, your simple fruit smoothie is here!

A quick yet delicious blend of blueberries, strawberries and bananas are the main ingredients in a juicy fruity mix. Simply plonk a load of blueberries into your juicer/blender, followed by sliced up strawberries (remember to remove the stalks and leaves which I have unsuccessfully shown above), finally adding sliced banana. I always find bananas which are past their best stage, showing signs of brown speckles on the skin, are best to use for these smoothies. Don't worry, the banana itself isn't 'gone-off', but when they are past being their ripest they are softer and better for blending.

Now all you have to do is simply blend them together, making sure your juicer is on a quick but not vigorous setting, to create the perfect texture. If you're feeling adventurous, feel free to add any other juices before blending. Finally finish your drink with a nice presentation just to add to the enjoyment - I always add a straw because it not only looks good but is also better for your teeth.

Enjoy!

BETWEEN SEASONS | OOTD

Tee and black satchel - Topshop

Jeans and belt - Boohoo

Shoes - Nike

Watch - Michael Kors

Here I have devised my ideal Summer-Autumn outfit, cool but covered. The baseball style tee is nice and airy with mid-length sleeves, allowing the perfect balance of temperature. The ripped jeans are not only on trend but also contributing to the comfortable balance of cool and cosy. Any outfit like this can then be accessorised to create your desired look.

LITTLE WAYS TO RELAX

Products shown - MAC Dame blush and Pink Rebel lustre drops,
The Body Shop Moringa body butter and Tea Tree face mask.

We all have those days where we feel tired, down or uninspired by life. So here a few a little methods to relax and freshen up on those dull days.

A HEALTHY SNACK 

Eating healthy food is not only good for you, but it's refreshing and a good way to cleanse your insides. Plenty of water is a must have.

LISTEN TO MUSIC 

Relaxing tunes or your favourite songs are great ways to stimulate your brain.

READING

Reading not only stimulates your brain but is also scientifically proven to relax it and is a recommended method for stress.

SCENTS 

From bath bombs to your favourite smelling candle, soft and natural scents are good for calming.

FACIAL FREEDOM 

Relieve your skin of makeup for a few days. It's good to let the pores breathe and allow any pesky pimples to heal. It is known that makeup blocks our skin when we're hot due to our pores opening to sweat. Face masks and moisturisers are great ways to exfoliate your skin. Tea Tree and Witch Hazel are good because they are antibacterial. You can tell my Body Shop products are much-loved!

A MAKEUP METHOD 

For when you do want to wear makeup, I always find a natural glow from blusher or highlighter makes me appear healthy on the outside. Yes, it isn't the most natural method, but for when we want to apply makeup I always find this makes me feel better.

So I hope these little ways to relax and freshen up have helped you! Even the smallest things can make you feel that spark you're searching for.

CORNWALL CARAVANNING

Spending the last five days caravanning at Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall was definitely a getaway I've always wanted. Not only being with my closest friend and her family, but away from internet and modern civilisation. Instead we were surrounded by other caravaners with a beach and sea at our fingertips.

Other than evening walks along the beach with breathtaking sunsets and cliff strolls to Constantine Bay, we also travelled to a few other Cornish towns, such as St.Ives and Padstow, which were very busy, but I guess that just added to the summery feel. Luckily the weather was in our favour and we weren't caught in any showers, and I am pleased to say I feel rather sun-kissed.

The Maldives and Cornwall...this has definitely been one of the best summers so far and I can't wait for more to come.

A POP OF COLOUR

All clothing items including hat and necklace - Topshop
Boots - Office
Watch - Michael Kors

We're all our own unique self, however this doesn't stop us from being influenced by other people and modern culture. Arguably, some of us want to keep up with the latest trends, but that doesn't mean we should have to follow the crowd.

It's good to be yourself, like many parents or teachers have morally said to us in the past. But it's true, because having the confidence to show who you really are to the rest of the world and not caring what people think really makes life a LOT easier. Of course, it's not as easy as we'd like it to be. As much as I tell myself that I don't care what people think about me, I still have small confidence issues. But being confident isn't just about not caring, it's about caring and not showing the world you do (I mean this from an appearance point of view). When I started feeling more confident in being who I was, my life felt so much more relaxed and positive.

So how can you express yourself to the world? How can you add that pop of colour? If you're into fashion, there's nothing wrong with following the trends, but add something to your appearance which isn't typical and screams YOU. Don't feel the need to blend in with the crowd, feel the need to stand out from it. If you do have confidence issues which make you feel invisible, express yourself through your appearance and show the world you're proud of who you are.

KURAMATHI | MALDIVES 2014

Spending 10 glorious days on Kuramathi Island in the Maldives with my Mum is something I am honestly never going to forget. Not only did the island offer your typical luxury brochure lifestyle, but it also came complete with dense tropical gardens, a sandbank and some of the loveliest staff I have met.

After a 4 hour car journey to Gatwick Airport, a 10 hour flight to Male (Maldivian capital), an hour's wait and then a 15 minute sea plane to the island, I couldn't be more relieved to finally reach the resort. We were greeted with cold flannels and fruit drinks, where we relaxed in the huge, airy reception and were introduced to the island by the staff.

We stayed in a beach villa, complete with an outdoor shower and air conditioning (always a must-have in a hot climate). On the island alone there were 9 restaurants, 3 buffet and and 6 dining restaurants, each with their own theme and speciality; The Island Barbeque - Meat, The Reef - Seafood, The Palm - Italian, The Siam Garden - Thai, The Tandoor Mahal - Indian... you get the idea!  I came to know the friendliest staff members and enjoyed the truly delicious food.

I never felt bored, which is usually something that occurs halfway through the holiday, because there was so much to do; swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing, adventuring into the depths of the luscious gardens with lizards scuttling past your toes and walking to the end of the sandbank, where riptides from the lagoon and the ocean met. It was utterly spectacular, so amazing in fact I think I am going to run out of adjectives by the end of this post! I was even lucky enough to go to the Kuramathi Spa and have a couple of hennas done, which really added to my desired Maldivian/Indian appearance.

On the last day we snorkelled with schools of fish and ate our last dinner at The Island Barbeque, soon finding myself struggling to hold back tears because I realised how much I loved the atmosphere and the positive vibes I'd felt since the day we arrived. It was hard saying goodbye to people I'd formed friendships with and to leave such a breathtaking paradise. I really hope to return someday.