Saturday 17 August 2013

MAJOR HAUL ALERT!

Hello my beautiful readers (if there's even anyone reading this!) I am so sorry for the lack of "blog" posts. Everything seems to revolve around a Youtube video on here nowadays and I apologise but sometimes I feel it's better to visualise a certain topic or idea rather than describe it in detail through words. 

Lately I've felt much more drawn to making videos rather than putting fingers to keys. I'm sure you can agree that not only is this frustrating for me but also to anybody who enjoys reading my blog! I did mention in the last post that I have some blog ideas that I'm working on and they're still being worked on. I just happen to be working at the pace of a snail...

Sorry, again! But to (hopefully) make it up to you, here is my newest haul video which includes a tiny life update at the very end. 


This video has everything from Primark to Disney so something for everyone! I really hope you enjoy the video and if you do then leave me a comment telling me just that!

Thanks a lot for sticking with me and holding out for a real blog some time soon. I have a million ideas, it's just a case of being able to find the time to sit down and put 100% into my writing. 

Much love and other things xo

Thursday 8 August 2013

Feeling uninspired...


Hello lovely readers! 

I'm aware lately I haven't done many "blog posts" and that's simply due to the fact I've felt uninspired and unmotivated to think creatively enough to actually form a coherent sentence! I suppose all bloggers hit a brick wall every now and again so I'm not too concerned for the time being. 

I've found that in times when I lack inspiration, it's best to focus on things that have inspired me in the past. So this week I went as far back as my childhood and decided to make a Youtube video about something that really had an effect on me in my younger years.

Harry Potter!

I am a fanatic of all things Harry Potter and this video certainly does reveal that.


If you watch it and you like Harry Potter as much as me then you should do the tag yourself. If you're not into Youtube then answer the questions on your blog and link me to your post as I'd love to read them all.

Many thanks if you've read/watched this - it means a lot to me!

I promise I've got blog posts ready to post in the next few days so thanks for sticking with me through this dry spell.

Much love and other things xo

Saturday 3 August 2013

25 random questions tag!

Hi there! Sorry I've been M.I.A I've not been feeling too great lately but today I had a wonderful day and decided to come home and film this video for you all to (hopefully!) entertain you. 



If you enjoyed this video and you've done the tag yourself then link me to your video in the comments section as I'd love to check out my reader's videos! 

If you haven't done the tag, then what are you waiting for? Get it done and link me to it as soon as you're done.

Thanks so much for reading. 

Much love and other things xo

Wednesday 24 July 2013

July Favourites!

Hi there! Ooo look at me, two blogs in two days - crazy! 

This is just a quick one to say I've just done a July Favourites video over on my Youtube Channel which you can find here. It includes a few beauty products and even a few hobbies! 



Please give it a viewing :) and if you enjoy it then do give it a thumbs up!

Let me know in the comments what you have been enjoying throughout July and I hope you all have a lovely weekend. 

Much love and other things xo

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Review: Barry M - Touch of Magic Lip Paint



Hi there lovely readers! So today I went on a bit of a spending spree in Superdrug (I'll be doing a collective haul post at the beginning of August no doubt!) and I decided to do a little review of the Barry M Touch of Magic Lip Paint which I've worn today for the first time!

I first came across this lipstick last year when my friend pulled it out of her handbag on a night out and everyone sort of looked at her like "um, excuse me, that's GREEN you're putting on!" But then of course you see it MAGICALLY turns to a gorgeous pink colour! O.M.G. 

Now I'm a sucker for anything like this. Mood rings, mugs that change colour depending on the liquid temperature etc. you name it, I love it! And it totally helps that my favourite colour is green. 

The Barry M Lip Paint itself is so moisturising even though it's not part of their Ultra Moisturising collection. It's a waterproof formula consisting of aloe vera which states that it lasts up to 8 hours, which for me is great as I found I didn't need to reapply whilst out and about. It's really more of a stain than a lipstick! 

And if you're anything like me and you want to know why on earth it magically goes from green to pink - apparently the lip paint reacts to the alkali level of your lips! Bit of a science lesson for you there, ladies ;) 





As you can see by the swatch on my hand, it appears at first in a light pink colour. However when applied to the lips it varies from a light pink to even a deep fuchsia colour. I really enjoy the fact that it will colour differently depending on each individual. It guarantees an individual look for each user!



I feel it's a really unique product and a complete bargain at just £4.49 on Barry M's website here or you can buy in store from Superdrug or Boots for the same price.

Please leave comments with which lip products you've been favouring as I'd love to check them out.

Much love and other things xo

Friday 19 July 2013

Vintage treats!

Hi there! I hope all you lovely readers are enjoying this marvellous weather we're having. It really does put you in a cheery old mood doesn't it? Well when you're not too busy sweating to death... Anyway! Moving on!

Yesterday I spent the day in the sunshine with my Mum at a very adorable little village in the country where they have vintage shops galore. Literally about three within 10 feet of each other! I am a sucker for all things ornate and old fashioned - hence why my flat is full of clutter, but at least it looks pretty!

I decided to snap a few pictures in one of the stores we went into which had laid out an entire room entitled, very wittily, 'The Vintage Room'. 






It's all so adorable! Please comment if you share my enthusiasm for all things vintage, or if you prefer modern decor then tell me why! Thanks so much for reading.

Much love and other things xo

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Enjoying the little things

Hi there! Just recently I've really been enjoying the little things life has to offer. We all sit and fantasise about a dream holiday in an exotic location or achieving a slightly difficult goal we've set for ourselves; but from time to time it's important to just take a second to see what's right in front of us. 

I know that personally I'm very guilty of not living in the moment and taking life for granted. There are probably days that have passed me by and I haven't appreciated how special they were until they were already long gone. Or I've spent days feeling frustrated because I'm convinced I haven't achieved my full potential yet. But I've realised that in life it's so important to take a moment to realise what we have achieved. And it's okay to be proud of yourself!

For instance, I planted these seeds at my Mum's house back in Autumn and we were convinced they were never going to bloom. I visited the other day and couldn't believe how beautiful they look now! 


This is something I can be proud of. I planted the seeds and now I've created something so beautiful which my Mum tells me makes her smile every time she sees them outside of her home. That in itself is something to be proud of!

So next time you're feeling a bit glum and unfulfilled; take a deep breath and look back on your achievements. Whether that's climbing a mountain, getting past a level on candy crush saga or passing a really hard Math test back in your school days; who cares? We all have our own personal achievements, you've just got to look a little deeper sometimes and appreciate yourself. You're wonderful, so start believing it!

Much love and other things xo

Saturday 13 July 2013

Let's go to the beach 'each...

Hi there! The sun is once again shining in the North of England and oh my what a rare treat this is! I've spent my morning and the majority of the early afternoon at the beach which is 5 minutes away from my flat. I'm very lucky to live in a seaside town and it's days like today that make me appreciate it even more. Here are some snaps I took of my day.






Obligatory writing of your name in the sand!

How are you spending your weekend? When was the last time you went to the beach? Let me know in the comments below and I hope you're spending your weekend with loved ones, enjoying yourself in the sunshine!

Much love and other things xo

Thursday 11 July 2013

Wishlist Wonders #1

Hello there! I've decided to do a regular Wishlist blog post so all you lovely readers can see what items I'm lusting after and see if there's anything to tickle your tastebuds as well. 

Let's get started!


#1 - ASOS CURVE Skater Dress In Summer Blurred Floral£45.00
I first saw this dress being worn by the lovely Louise (Sprinkle of Glitter) and immediately wanted it, no dare I say, needed it. The colours are so bright and vibrant and I adore the sweetheart neckline. The dress is skater style so I enjoy the fact it has soft pleats into the skirt section which travels away from the body in a fit and flare style hiding any lumps or bumps I may feel self-conscious about. Definitely a much wanted addition for my summer wardrobe, I just wish the price were a little less. Alas, I shall wait for the inevitable sale price to roll around before I purchase this key wardrobe item. 

#2 - Yours Clothing Black and Pink Tropical Print Popper Dress£30.00 NOW £19.00
When I feel a little stressed out I thoroughly enjoy 'window' internet shopping. That's exactly what led me to find this little beauty of a dress. Yours Clothing is a Plus Size website and store that I absolutely adore and they have some really gorgeous pieces in a price bracket that's not too expensive. As you can tell from the previous ASOS CURVE dress, I'm all about the florals this season and this Tropical Print dress is no exception. I specifically love the front 'popper' button fastening which runs the entire length of the piece. I also adore the cut out detail to the back of the dress. Reduced from £30 to £19.00 makes this dress even more of a bargain and definitely earns a place on my Wishlist!

#3 - New Look Gold Cat Face Ring - £2.99
I'm not really a jewellery kind of person. I have a few key pieces that I wear every day without fail for sentimental reasons, but when I saw this adorable little kitty kat ring I just fell in love. I have a small obsession with cats at the moment (not sure where this has stemmed from as I've never had a cat, nor do I know anyone with a cat!) and this is just an adorable gold ring. It's a fun accessory which I feel I could add to any outfit this festival season and being priced at less than £3 I feel it's a bargain to be had. 

#4 New Look Cream and Gold Stud Embellished Bowler Bag - £24.99
It's all about the studs for me! My shoes have studs on, my jackets have studs on, my t-shirts have studs on and so I only feel it's fair to want a bag with studs on it too! This embellished bowler bag in cream and gold is a perfect fit for the summer. It's the type of bag I can take when I go on long train journeys to visit friends over the summer and big enough to fit my iPad mini and makeup bag in too! I also feel I could wear a fairly plain outfit and this chic bag will effortlessly add a dash of excitement to it. 

So there you have it, the first instalment of Wishlist Wonders which will become a regular topic on this old blog of mine. If you enjoyed this then please leave me a comment telling me so and link me to an item that's currently on your wishlist. Thanks for reading!

Much love and other things xo




Monday 8 July 2013

10 things about me!

1) I have a BSc (Hons) in Biological and Biomedical Psychology! I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2011 and have basically done nothing with my degree since...oops!
2) I have been cursed blessed with naturally curly hair since birth. There was a time where I would not leave the house without either tying it back in the most restrictive of hair style or frying it to death via hair straighteners. Nowadays I tend to embrace the curls more - I'm not sure whether this is due to being too lazy to do anything with my hair or if I'm finally accepting that curly hair isn't all that bad. 
3) I have a *small* obsession with all things Hello Kitty. I have Hello Kitty towels, socks, purses, hairbrushes, headphones etc. It's a real problem! But it also makes me the easiest person to buy presents for because I genuinely love everything with her cute little kitty face on it :) yes I am a 23 year old very mature young lady, I swear! Ahem...
4) My favourite place in the world is Orlando, Florida. I could quite happily live in Cinderella's castle in Disney's Magic Kingdom or even Hogwarts in Universal's Islands of Adventure. I've been to Florida four times in my life (I'm very lucky, I know!) My favourite trip there was for my 21st birthday where I spent the day in Magic Kingdom being treated like a Princess. The best week of my life! 
5) I'm a geek. A full on nerd. I was a geek before being a geek was cool! Due to having an older brother, I was brought up watching Star Wars and playing Sonic the Hedgehog on our Sega Megadrive. This has led to a life of me being obsessed with all things geeky. My favourite TV show is Doctor Who. I spend a lot of time playing Pokémon on my Nintendo DS. My favourite books are Harry Potter. I can probably recite the Lord of the Rings trilogy by heart... You get the idea!
6) I have two favourite bands. McFly and All Time Low. I'm very fortunate to have met both of them and seen them perform live too many times to remember! I'm one of those people who depends on music and uses it as an escape mechanism. If I'm having a thoroughly rubbish day, I'll go to my iTunes and I'll pop on an old McFly album, which will make me smile in an instant. I've met some of my closest friends through these two bands and I owe them a great deal for my daily happiness. 
7) I no longer drink alcohol. When I was at University I was quite the party animal and even when I returned home I would still enjoy the odd binge drinking session. It's a very recent decision that I've made based on various different factors, but ultimately I've decided that alcohol doesn't do anything good for me. It doesn't make anything better and it really just leaves me suffering for days afterwards. I'm no spring chicken anymore and it's time I start taking care of myself. So I've cut out something that will realistically help me in the long run and it feels pretty darn good. Here's one last commemorative drunken photo just for the giggles...
8) I enjoy the little things in life. I know this might be hard to believe considering I live quite the hectic lifestyle - always at gigs, traveling etc. but quite honestly, give me a sunny day in the park over anything else and I'll be a happy girl. It's something I've come to realise only recently, but I don't take enough time for myself. When I do, I have the most creative thoughts and really feel inspired and it's absolutely wonderful. 
9) I prefer Winter to Summer... I know, I know, what the devil is wrong with me?! I think it's because I'm a Winter baby. Being born in February, I've developed a love of all things snowy and cold. I also like the fact that if I'm cold, I can just bundle up with scarves and gloves. Whereas if I'm too hot it means removing layers, but even when you get down to your skin and it's still sweltering you can't do much else!! So yes, give me all things Christmas and December and snow and I'll be a happy girl. 
10) Phew, thought we'd never get to number 10! Right well number 10 is my biggest goal / dream in life. I want to become a qualified counsellor. I'm a person who is very orientated around helping other people and I love to listen to people's problems and try to help them in some way. What I enjoy most is enabling people to see themselves the way that I see them. Far too often I come across someone who is an absolute gem but they just don't have any self confidence. There's a lot of suffering in this world and if I achieve my dream job then I'll hopefully be able to help reduce that suffering, even if it's only a little bit.

So thank you very much for reading that, if you managed to stay awake then leave me a comment below telling me a random fact about yourself! Or if you've done a post like this then link me to it, I love getting to know new bloggers! 

Much love and other things xo





Saturday 6 July 2013

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Hello there! Today's blog comes to you from a 27 degree (that's centigrade) heatwave here in the North of England! I do feel for the southerners, you're probably in humidity hell down there so keep well hydrated and stay safe where ever you may be.

Today I did something which for me is a pretty big deal. I made my first youtube video! *gasp* here's a little screen shot from it while it uploads.


 I will edit the video into this post once it has uploaded.




It's something I've wanted to do for a while but I've never felt quite confident enough or interesting to really pull it off. But then I had a wondrous realisation; you don't need to be anything other than you to pull something off successfully! It's like a blog or any other creative outlet. If people are interested in what you're talking/writing about then they'll watch/read it and that's all there is to it. As long as you're passionate and committed to your art then you can't go far wrong in life. 

This lead me to thinking about all the times I've held back from doing something for the first time just because I felt like my attempt or what I could achieve wouldn't be as markedly impressive as others. And I realised pretty quickly that that's a rubbish way to look at things. If you go through life evaluating yourself against your peers it's going to be a very long and miserable road you will travel along, my friend. 

I feel like we're currently in a culture where we are very much focused on how successful or popular our internet pages are i.e. how many twitter followers, tumblr followers, Facebook friends etc. I'll be honest, I've got two twitter pages - one has 167 followers and the other 27. My tumblr has 615 followers and my Facebook friend count is around 200. This blog of mine has a grand total of....0 followers. And this is the online space I'm most truthful and most proud of, so I don't care!

Basically, in a very round about way, I'm trying to say don't spend too long dwelling on the fact your friend has more twitter followers or more people reblog their posts on tumblr. It simply does not matter. Don't be afraid to try something for the first time. Do a sketch, make a video, write a song, knit a scarf! Be creative and inspiring to others, but above all else, be yourself. 

Much love and other things xo

P.S. If you've read this post, tell me when was the last time you did something for the first time? Leave me a comment below! xo

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Monday 1 July 2013

I read sometimes...

Hello there! Yes as the post title suggests, this will be a review (of sorts) of the Teen/Young Adult book series by Becca Fitzpatrick which includes: 

hush, hush
crescendo
silence
finale

I must start off by saying that I did intend to blog about each book individually, however due to the fact I read them all within the space of 3 weeks there simply wasn't enough time! So I've decided to review them all in one go and (hopefully!) remain spoiler free.

If, like me, you enjoy reading books that you find in the "Teen" section even though you are well into your twenties or even thirties then you are in safe company and no judgement will come from me! I'm not ashamed to admit that I love the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer. They opened my mind to the possibility of reading other books about all things supernatural. Prior to reading these books I was very chick-lit orientated (not going to lie, I still am...) and it was all a bit new. Well now I'm hooked. After reading Twilight I read The Hunger Games and then after that I read The Mortal Instruments and then after that I read Divergent and THEN I came across 'hush, hush' in a UK book store called "The Works" which does a deal of three books for £5 which is a bargain! 


Anyway, like I said, I bought hush, hush as a part of this deal because the image on the front really intrigued me and also it said it was a best seller so I thought "why not?"  

Basically, the story is told from Nora Grey's perspective. She is portrayed as a normal high school girl whose life is turned upside down when a boy called Patch sits next to her in Biology class. Patch is a bit of a...well...how can I put it...arrogant jerk. Nora knows he's bad news but she needs to find out more about him and can't stay away for long. Now I know for those of you who have read Twilight, you'll be thinking the same as I thought "Well this sounds familiar..." and yes, you're right. It does sound familiar, but give it a chance, keep reading and get sucked in to a world of fallen angels. It's very different; I can promise you that. 

It's a series of books filled with death, bitterness, plot twists, lust and suspense which genuinely kept me interested until the very end. Even if you're not into the whole love story which is doomed from the beginning, I would recommend reading it solely for the hilarious character that is Nora's best friend, Vee. She's curvaceous, vivacious and brilliant, which isn't a character you often see in these YA book series so I was pleasantly surprised. 

I finished the last book in the series, finale, at the weekend and it had everything you would want from a conclusion. If I could criticise anything about the novel, it would be that the ending seemed a bit rushed and a lot of information was packed in at the end but other than that it was a really good read and conclusion to the series. 

So if you're looking for something to read next or you've never ventured outside of your chick-lit comfort zone then give it a go! Even if you read the first few chapters and decide it's not for you at least you've given it a go. As for me, the next series I'll be reading will be 'The Maze Runner' series. So if you've read this or if it's on your to-read list then give me a comment! Or if you've got any other book recommendations for me then leave them in the comment section below as I'm always looking to update my library!

Much love and other things xo


Friday 28 June 2013

Hotel living


Hello there lovely readers. I greet you today from a hotel on the outskirts of Leeds, UK where I will be staying for two nights. It is a special occasion, as the family and I have made a trip for my godmother's surprise 50th birthday bash which is taking place tomorrow evening, shhh! 

So this is where I will be laying my head tonight...


A few snaps taken on my iPhone (apologies for mess and terrible lighting!) 

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to enlighten you all as to why I love hotels. I love, love, love them! I tend to travel quite a bit during the year so I'm always booking into hotels up & down the country. There's something very relaxing about having your own space for the night & being in a new environment. Yes, some may argue it's just a bed and four walls - but I disagree! If I want to take a dip in the pool, I can. Or if I want to go for a nice meal it takes 5 minutes to get to the restaurant and in some places I can even turn up in my comfy clothes (I once turned up in spongebob pyjama bottoms but lets not dwell on that too much...)!

So yes, to summarise, I love hotels and this one I'm in tonight is super lovely. I'll finish this blog post now as I settle down on my bed for the night watching junk tv and waiting for my room service to arrive. 

Much love and other things xo

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Leaping into the unknown

Well, hello there. First blog post from yours truly; not going to lie, I'm pretty nervous but hey ho that's what life's all about! Putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to shiny, new things!

So I thought I would use this first blog post to write a little bit about myself. My name is Heather-Louise but only my mother uses this "Sunday name" when I'm in a spot of bother...so Heather is just fine on its own! I'm currently 23 years of age and I live in a not-so-sunny seaside town in the North of England. This is my face when I've made an effort to look half decent for an evening out on the town (a rare occasion might I add!)...


I am currently in full time employment, which provides security but not fulfilment. This leads to spending the majority of my day dreaming about things I could be doing to make the world a little bit better. Living inside of my head can only be described as a whirlwind of sparkle, magic and unicorns. I'm very imaginative and hopefully one day I'll bundle all of these ideas into a book for everyone to read and enjoy (or at least get a good giggle out of it!) I also write lyrics, short stories and like to sing a song every now and again.

As far as a category of a blog - I'm not going to make any promises; as this will only lead to disappointment one way or another. One thing I can say is that it will be filled with things about my life; whether that's plus size OOTDs, or my thoughts on a new film, or a book I've finished - who can say! It's a blog about me and all of the weird and wonderful adventures I've been on or am about to embark on. 

As for the blog title; it's a lyric taken from the amazing musical "Loserville" - very tongue in cheek and in no way is this a way to attempt to validate the fact I'm not weird... Ahem! Also incidentally my twitter handle is @weirdaboutme so if you'd like to give me a follow then do feel free!  

Much love and other things xo