What I Got for my Birthday 2016

Birthday cake from my Dad

Hey!


On the 3rd of April it was my 19th birthday. The day before I had a meal with my friends at Las Iguanas and went out down town with my boyfriend. Then on Sunday I went for a meal with my family and boyfriend (at the same place!) and we all hung out in the garden afterwards playing with my niece. For my birthday I mainly asked for money, however I did get a few presents! 

• Lush The Experimenter Bath Bomb- My friend Emily bought me this which I'm excited to use as I did have one before but it turned out to be a faulty one!

• Kiko Milano Water Eyeshadow 229- Another one from Emily. She just knows me too well! This is a beautiful high-shine, glittery silver which can be used dry or wet. Will definitely have to review this.

• Paddle Hairbrush- I forgot to note down the brand of this paddle brush before I took it out of the packaging but I asked for a paddle hairbrush as mine has gone manky! This is from my Mum and I find them best for keeping my hair straight.

• Diesel Loverdose- My boyfriend bought me this. I hadn't asked for it but damn that boy knows me. He knows I like perfumes that look alternative like this and it's beautiful. I can't wait to try it!

• Essential Amethyst Tear Drop Necklace- My boyfriend also got me this necklace and I love it. It's a beautiful tear drop amethyst which are purple and has a kind of vine-type swirl going over it. 

• Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare- My fellow book lover Ruby got me this one! I didn't know Cassandra Clare had brought out another book but now I am pleasantly surprised. It is a big book which I love and the cover is quite artistic. I'm a fan of Cassandra Clare's books so I'm sure I will enjoy this.

• Denman Large Paddle Brush- My sister Kelly got me this. I don't think Mum and Kelly knew they were both getting me one! Not a problem though, as it means I have a spare brush when the first one goes a bit yucky. 

• Schwarzkopf XXL Live 'Ultra Violet' Hair Dye- My sister Lisa bought me these because this is the hair dye I have been using for years. I'm trying to save money at the moment so this is helpful as it saves me buying my next batch of hair dye.

• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- Lisa also got me this as again, she knows I use it religiously and it saves me from having to buy my next concealer. Very helpful!

• Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Buttercream- Kelly bought me these and I love Soap & Glory so I was grateful. Every birthday and Christmas I'm always on the look out for body scrubs, creams and gels to save me from having to buy them through the year. The sugar crush smell is incredible too!

• National Book Tokens Gift Card- I received this from my Mum's ex-boyfriend. Even though he is her ex he was in our lives long enough to still keep in contact with my siblings and I. Anyway, he thought I could use this to buy some books or to help with anything I need for University. 

• Disney Cheshire Cat Cushion- My friend Antonia bought me this. I have an undying love for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I love the films, the books, the video games, merch..the list goes on. I even want a Cheshire Cat tattoo. But anyway, she bought me this cushion and I love it. It goes well on my bed with my Pikachu!

• Cheshire Cat T-Shirt- Another gift from Antonia, a t-shirt with the Cheshire Cat on. I will never get over the artwork. 

• Osprey Sirrus 26 Purple Backpack- My sister Kimberley and brother Jamie bought me this for when I plan to go interrailing around Europe with Antonia. I'm super thankful for this as I hadn't thought much about how I was going to carry everything and it seems super versatile. Nice colour too!

Birthday cake from my Mum

I'm very thankful to everyone for what they got me and I had a nice birthday. 19 seems like a weird age to me as 18 is big, 20 is out of the teen years but 19 is just a random age in between. Do not feel like I'm going to be 20 next year! To see what I got for my 18th birthday you can click here.

What I Got for Christmas 2015

Hello all!


I hope you had a lovely Christmas! Because I enjoy reading what other people got for Christmas, I decided that I would share what I got as well, likewise to what I did in 2014. My family and friends were very kind with what they got me and Christmas was super fun!

• Build-A-Bear Workshop Pickachu (Pokemon)
  
• Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge
• Eylure Lengthening Eyelashes No.035
• Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick 'One-Of-A-Kind'
• L'Oreal Paris Lip Liner Couture 'Scarlet Rouge'
  
• Paperchase Travel Map Scrapbook
• Ministry of Sound 'When Cool Was King' CD
  
• The Body Shop Strawberry Gift Set
• Soap & Glory 'The Zest A Girl Can Get' Sugar Crush Gift Set
• Carino Cocnut Shampoo & Conditioner
• Superdrug Destressing Aloe Vera Mud Mask
• The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub
• St Ives Apricot Face Scrub
  
• River Island Black Tassel Bag
• New Look Red/Black Handbag
  
• River Island Purse
  
  
• SuperDry Professional Lip Glaze Trio
• New Look Pure Colour Nail Polish 'Brick Red'
  
• The Girl On the Train by Paula Hawkins
• I Am A Witch and Witches Burn by Josephine Angelini
  
• Animorphia Colouring Book by Kerby Rosanes
• Cats Colouring for Mindfulness
• The Classic Comic Colouring Book
• Staedtler Ergo Soft Colouring Pencils
• Paper Mate Flair Original Colouring Pens
  
• Elvis 'If I Can Dream' CD
• Seventeen Nail Effects Duo
• Lovestruck Perfume by Vera Wang
• Impulse Body Spray Gift Set
• Superdrug Flirty Exotic Fruits & White Chocolate Body Spray
• Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
  
• Lush Let The Good Times Roll Facial Cleanser x2
• Lush Frozen Bath Bomb
• Lush Intergalactic Bath Bomb x2
• Lush The Experimenter Bath Bomb
• Lush Father Christmas Bath Bomb
• Lush Shoot for the Stars Bath Bomb
• Lush So White Bath Bomb
• Lush Peeping Santa Bubble Bar
  
• Lipsy Watch
• Argos Watch
  
• Asda George underwear
• Asda George socks
  
• A Cat's Life 2016 Calender
  
• Grammar Coaster
  
• New Look Black Faux Fur Coat
  
• New Look Black Bandage Dress

What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas on a Student Budget | Gifts for: The Blogger

Hello! 

Once again I am coming to you with another gift guide aimed at students or anyone else on a budget this Christmas. This time, the gift guide is centred around buying for bloggers.

1. Moleskin 'My list of awesome things to write about' Journal (£5.00). If other bloggers are anything like me, I like to list my blog posts which sometimes come to me at random times such as out and about. Because of this, I always like to have a notebook at hand to jot down my ideas. So this would be great just for that job!


2. Paperchase Birdhouse Magnetic Clip Board, Pad & Pen (£6.00). Another organising gift! I actually have a whiteboard I use to organise my posts on and this is a great alternative to that. This would be good for bloggers who like to plan their posts in details and like to type up posts from paper. Plus, this is such a cute design!


3. Primark Garfield 'Sleep is overrated' PJ Top (£5.00). The PJ top isn't on the Primark website any longer so I can't link it or show you the photo of it, but it will probably still be in store! It is basically a pyjama top with the cat Garfield's face on saying 'Sleep is overrated'. I thought this was a good gift for a blogger because not only is it nice to write blog posts whilst in cosy clothing, but I think a lot of bloggers can relate to losing out on sleep because they're writing blog posts!


4. HURKI Queen of the Bloggers Small Mug (£8.48). A simple mug but a fun one to buy for a fellow blogger friend. Think they're a great blogger? Well let them know!


5. Thorntons Continental Milk, White & Dark Collection (£7.00). I know personally I like to snack on things whilst I write, so I thought a box of varied chocolate would be nice to keep someone going whilst they're typing.

6. 101 Blogging Tips: How To Create a Blog That People Will Find, Read and Share (£2.24). Finally I thought I would include a blogging handbook. Not only would this be great for beginners but it would also be good for those trying to up their blogging game or simply just reinforce their already acquired tips and tricks. It is a nice little kindle book that someone can flick through on their phone or tablet.



That's it for this guide! Click here for my student budget guide to buying home decor and this one here for the make up lover.

Christmas on a Student Budget | Gifts for: The Home Décor Lover

1. Next Alphabet A-Z Cushion (£10.00). These cushions make a good personal gift as you can get a letter to suit the recipient's name. You can also get an '&' one so if you were buying for a couple you could get their initials and a '&'! They're simple looking black and white cushions which means that they would go with plenty of colour themes and look good on a bed or a sofa.


2. Next Set of 4 Drinks Coasters in Holder (£8.00). These coasters make a humorous gift with little jokes on such as 'You look like I need a drink' and 'If you can read this, my drink needs topping up'. I think this would be good for someone who frequently has guests over because guests can use the coasters for their drinks and have a little giggle when they see them. Again, they're simple black and white so would go well with many colour themes.


3. H&M Small Metal Leaf-Shaped Dish (£7.99). I spotted this dish and thought it looked lovely and intricate. I think this would be good to place delicate jewellery on such as rings and would look nice on a vanity table. If the person you're buying for doesn't wear jewellery I also think it would be nice to put your house keys/car keys on so you always remember where you put your keys! Then it could look good in the hallway.


4. H&M 'Books I Haven't Read Yet' Metal Bookend (£7.99). If you're buying for a book lover then this is a brilliant idea. This would look wonderful at the end of a shelf or in a bookcase and can help a book lover separate the books they have and haven't read. I for one sometimes forget which of my collection I've read and which I haven't so this would be super helpful! 


5. Yankee Candle 'Snow In Love' Small Jar Candle (£8.99). Plenty of home décor lovers I know are also big fans of candles so a Yankee Candle had to be in my guide.  Yankee candles are well known around the world and are known to have a lasting smell so a Christmas candle would be great. I chose 'Snow In Love' because I thought the name was quite punny and would be good to buy for someone you love. 


6. Tesco House Cement Sign 'LIFE takes you to unexpected places, LOVE brings you home' (£4.00). Finally, we have this little sign that hangs on a rope which reads 'LIFE takes you to unexpected places, LOVE brings you home'. I'd buy this for a whole range of people such as someone who was a recent home owner and are looking to add small details to their home, or even a young student who has recently moved out of their family home and into university accommodation. 



I hope this is helpful! I also have a student budget gift guide for make up, so if you haven't seen it yet then feel free to click here. :-)

#BigBlogmasProject2014 | £15 & Under Gift Guide for Men

Hey guys!

I don't know about you, but I find it really difficult to buy for men. I come from a large family where there are only 2 guys in the family so I am not particularly used to buying for men. So I thought I'd help you guys out by giving you ideas of what to get for the men in your life on a budget with £15 or under! I also did a £15 & Under Gift Guide for Women so to check it out just click here. Anyway, let's get started...

• Boots: LOreal Men Expert The Complete Expert £15.00: For the skincare lover in your life. A hydra energetic face wash, shaving gel and anti-fatigue moisturiser. What could be better? I know my brother likes to use the face wash so I think I am going to probably buy this set for him. 

• Play.com: Wonders of the Solar System by Professor Brian Cox £14.13: For the space/science lovers in your life. With fascinating facts about our solar system and absolutely stunning photos, it is a really interesting book. This is something my brother mentioned he would like to me as he loves photography and is interested in the photography in this book.

• Essential Jewellery: Stainless Steel and Leather ID Bracelet £14.99: For the love of your life. This is one of the presents I have been considering buying for my boyfriend. It is a lovely bracelet with a stainless steel bar which you can engrave. Would be great to engrave perhaps the date you got together or just that you love them.

• Menkind: Dock It Phone Charger £7.99: For the iPhone lover in your life. A cool little gadget that requires no messy wires that you can trip over and the ability to use it whilst still on charge! Just plug it in the wall and put your phone on to the dock standing up and jobs a good 'un. 

• Topman: Black Plum Marl Roller Crew Neck T-Shirt £5.00: For the trendy guy in your life. Everybody needs a basic top that can be paired with any outfit in their life and this is one for the men. A basic, yet lovely coloured, t-shirt with turned up sleeves. Simple yet effective. 

I hope these help! What do you think? 

#BigBlogmasProject2014 | £15 & Under Gift Guide for Women

1. Boots- Ciate Big Beauty Bus Nail Polish Gift Set: £15.00. This is a beautiful nail polish set with 6 different polishes in rich and royal hues. It has beautiful packaging, beautiful colours and is worth the money seeing as Ciate polishes are usually slightly on the expensive side! Great gift for the nail polish lovers.

2. Boots- Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palettes: £7.99. Great for the eyeshadow lover. There are so many palettes to choose from so whether they're in to mattes, shimmers, bright colours or neutrals there is a palette for them! A really good price and the eyeshadows have great pay off. My personal favourite is the Storm palette!

3. Lush- Golden Wonder Bath Bomb: £3.75. If the woman you're buying for is a bath lover then you cannot go wrong with this bath bomb. This is a large bath bomb in the design of a present which does actually have a little present inside! It is definitely one I'd recommend and it would definitely provide a luxurious Christmas bath.

4. H&M- Fine-Knit Jumper: £9.99. I thought I would include a clothing an item. This is a really nice jumper that you can choose in so many different colours with a wide neckline. Perfect for layering and wearing in the colder months! It is easy going and would go with most outfits.

5. Essential- Sterling Silver Boho Pink Mother of Pearl Ring: £10.99. If you'd like to buy a special woman in your life jewellery but don't have a large budget to spend then this is the ring for you. Whether you're buying for your Mum, sister, friend or girlfriend, this ring is absolutely stunning. It has a beautiful pearl in it with a leaf design around it. Absolutely beautiful!

And that is it! I hope I have helped given you some ideas!

Easter Gifts for Babies!

Hello BumbleBeas!

Last summer I had the privilege of becoming an Auntie to my beautiful niece Lisa-Mae whom of which I am very close to. This Easter will be her first Easter and I would like to make it fun throughout her childhood as I know it would have been something I would have enjoyed as a child.

But, what do you do for a 7 month old baby at Easter? She can't eat chocolate eggs and can't go Easter Egg hunting, so I sat for ages and wondered: What on earth could I do for her? I searched the internet for ideas but nothing was helping me! So after I decided upon this idea I thought I'd share it with everyone who may be in a similar situation to me.

First of all I decided I would buy her an Easter egg basket which I would keep throughout her childhood for every Easter. I also thought it would come in handy when she is old enough to do Easter Egg hunts as she can collect her eggs and put them in the basket.
I took a trip to Hobbycraft and found this pink felt bucket with flowers on which was only £1.50!

I then decided on a theme which I made about rabbits. Every item I would collect for the bucket would have to be somehow related to rabbits which just adds to the fun of it.

For my first present I found this cute fluffy rabbit from Ikea. I can't remember the price of it but I don't think it expensive.

Secondly, I found these cute little socks with little rabbit heads on the feet at Baby M&Co which have a rattle inside! I thought of these as practical yet still fun. I am not 100% sure how much they were but I think they were £2.

Lastly, I found a hard book which is baby proof called 'Peekaboo!' in Waterstones for £4.99. It's a touch-and feel book with flaps inside and you have to lift the flap to see something pop out with fun material on to touch. Excellent for learning babies! As you can see there is a rabbit on the front cover and overall I knew my niece would love it.

I doubt I will add anything else to the collection but you never know! I haven't told my sister (niece's mother) about it as I want it to be a surprise for both of them. I hope to continue this tradition always for my niece and I can't wait to design Easter Egg hunts for her! I am really looking forward to Easter now so I can see her smiling face when she sees her presents.

What did you used to do for Easter as a child? Are you buying anything for the child in your life? Let me know and also tell me what you think of my idea!