What's in my Bag: Paul Costello Edition

I want to begin by firstly saying that I am that girl who often carries around stray hair ties, hairgrips and maybe a few stray cake crumbs. Plus, some other female essentials, but I am more than sure you don’t need to see those!? For the purposes of this post I have left out these minor components. I should try and empty my bag more often as I am sure carrying around some of the stuff I do acquire is not good for my back.

Paul Costello Bag:
I got given this beautiful black leather tote bag last year for my birthday. I tend not to use this all the time and go in definite fits and starts of using it dependent on my mood for the moment. I love the size of this bag but it unfortunately does fuel my issue with accumulating stuff.

Purse

This purse is faux suede and the absolutely ideal size for all my cards, money, railcard and holds a mini time capsule of all my past train tickets, receipts and bits of random paper with ‘important’ notes to self.

Student Planner:

Sadly, not the most attractive planner but it does contain my life! I would have a normal planner but this has really useful reminders and tips for your student budget, space for work, deadlines and notes. Basically, what any disorganised student might need. My Mum thinks it nannies me too much, but anything to make my life easier…

House keys and car keys: Well a necessity...

Glasses and Contact Lenses case:

I haven’t needed to change between the two while out as of yet, but better safe than sorry for any emergency.

Snack bars:

Well any type of bar really. This tends to sit in my bag for a while, but if I’ve learnt one thing from my Mum is that having a snack in your bag is a near essential. Having low blood sugar levels not cool.

Chewing Gum:

A rather battered packet but a definite essential. You never know when you might need it!?

A healthy supply of pens:

I do seem to acquire these like my stray hair ties and hairgrips.

Make-up and Beauty bits:

· Carmex: My absolute go to lip salve.

· Chanel: Le Volume de Chanel Mascara: Great for a quick midday volume boost. Maybe this does deserve a place other than at the bottom of my bag pocket.
· Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry: I love how quick this is to apply. I really like the packaging on this too. Very easy for on the go.
· Hand sanitiser: I like to quickly use this if I am getting on and off public transport or if I am out and about having a bite to eat. I am by no means OCD about this but I’m sure it has helped avoid many nasty colds and coughs over the last few months.
· Chloe: A mini which was given to me last year by a lovely friend. It has taken me a while to get through this after having a mini Vera Wang Princess in my handbag. Always good for a quick freshen up during the day.

Now we are moving into Spring I would normally also carry around a pair of sunglasses. Quite often these are tortoiseshell wayfarers. I realised the other day what an issue I have with buying tortoiseshell sunglasses. This year I must break away from that vicious cycle…

Ella xx

6 Tiny Ways to Make Someone's Day

I've wanted to write a post like this for a bit. It is not about the material things in life and often the cheapest, simplest things offer the most happiness to someone else.

Katieandthekids.co.uk

1) Giving your unwanted things to a charity shop
I am currently in the process of moving house so now is the perfect opportunity for me to sort through my unwanted things. Charity shops are always in need of more things. You may not like your floral tops but I am sure someone else will!

2) Smiling at People
Something as small as this makes someone know you have acknowledged them and make them feel appreciated. I often found it difficult to speak to people I don’t know that well but often a smile as I pass them in the corridor or around campus makes them know I care.

3) Leave a message for someone to pick up
This may be sending them a message to tell them you are thinking of them, a sticky note on their desk or sending them a personal letter with something thoughtful inside.

4) Compliment someone on their outfit or hair for the day
I can’t tell you how happy I am when someone compliments me on something. It makes me feel like someone is taking an interest in me.

5) Bake or buy something to share in the office, at school or social gathering
This may not cost you very much but it shows you have thought about everyone else. A little bit of sugar never goes amiss. This kind of thing makes my day too!

6) Ask someone how they are
Allow yourself to be a listening ear, sometimes just showing that you can take the time out of your day to empathise and be thoughtful to someone else is a massive help.

Ella xx

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Five Places I'd Love to Visit

I thought I would post something a little different today as travel is something I love and want to do a lot more over the next few years. Picking only 5 places for this blog post I want to visit was actually very difficult. I have so many other places I want to visit:

1)      East Coast Australia and New Zealand: I’ve always had a bit of a dream to drive a campervan from Cairns to Adelaide or Melbourne. I think there are few places in the world that have such long stretches of beautiful coastline. The sun I think is a big attraction but I have been told that the atmosphere there is amazing.

I am not just thinking New Zealand and Australia in isolation and I would love to visit some of the nearby islands such as Fiji and even Bora Bora… swimming with pigs sounds very appealing!

2)      Marrakesh, Morocco: I’ve always wanted to experience souks. Apparently, a little bit of an intimidating experience but I love the idea of spice markets. There seems so much history in Marrakesh and the food is absolutely delicious.

3)      Santorini, Greece: The beautiful cobbled streets, weather, architecture, views and peacefulness of the place sounds blissful. The food is my absolute idea of heaven too. I feel like here you could really relax and enjoy your surroundings with hardly any distractions.

4)      Cape Town, South Africa: South Africa is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been abroad. I went to Johannesburg in 2014 to work in a school and to go on safari. I have family out near Cape Town so exploring the vineyards and areas such as Stellenbosch sounds absolutely incredible. Plus, if you are sitting on the correct side of the plane when landing during the day time in Cape Town you have the most spectacular views of Tabletop Mountain.

5)      Vancouver, Canada: I am not totally sure why I want to go to Vancouver. I think because I learnt so much about it at school. I love the idea of mountains. I love skiing and it would be nice to ski somewhere other than in Europe which I am very used to. The city has so much to offer too with Water Taxis to help get to different parts of the city.

I haven’t even mentioned wanting to go anywhere in the USA, South America, areas of Eastern Asia or other areas of Africa and even Europe. I will have to do a follow up post in the future and also see if I actually go to some of these places!

Ella xx
(Photo credit)

Benefit: Life of the Party Kit

This beautiful kit was released back in November. I have always thought the packaging on Benefit kits is always amazing. Being presented in lovely metal tins has always made these kits seem slightly different from other makeup brands. Practically, these means that they are much easier to keep clean and always travel much better than other kits I have used.

Benefit makeup but especially Benefit makeup kits are ideal for present giving. May it be your Mum, sister, cousin or a good friend. Well anyone who might like makeup. Benefit always successfully seem to create kits that contain some of the most popular and classic popular products that will suit most skin tones and preferences.

Contents of the kit:
The POREfessional (mini 7.5ml): Not being a full sized tube I know I am going to have to be sparing on when I use this, but a little does go a long way. This sits beautifully on the skin, not being too oily, and has helped my makeup last longer than without. I didn’t notice much difference in a reduced fine lines but definitely made all the difference for pore visibility.

They’re Real! Mascara (mini 3g) I literally cannot stop raving about this. I have used They’re Real before and it is a definite mascara favourite. I am not gifted with the longest lashes but this truly does make all the difference and the rubber wand ensures you get those smaller inner corner lashes too. What does make me slightly sad is how easy the writing seems to rub out on the side of the packaging.

Longwear Powder Shadows (from top): Call my Bluff, Nude Swings and Taupe if Off: Personally, I love these because these are classic shades that are very natural and not too loud. Call my Bluff works very well as a highlighter and the more bronze Nude Swings looks beautiful as an all over lid colour. These have really good staying power and should as the price of Benefit products suggest have great pigmentation. What is particularly sad though is the combination of these three shadows is not available in any other kit.

Benetint (Mini 4ml) One of the first products that Benefit ever released and still clearly a firm favourite among makeup wearers. This was definitely a product I used to be slightly scared of worried I would look more like a tomato than someone with a natural flush or rosy lips. I have slowly grown to trust myself a little more and love this especially as a quick lip product as it does not feel sticky. Be warned a little does go a long way!

Dandelion and Rockateur (split pan) I am not sure whether the colour pay off is great for both the Dandelion and Rockateur and I actually prefer some of my cheaper blushers for better colour. I can  definitely say feel for my skin tone a combination gives me a good healthy, glow though which might not be so obvious on darker skin tones.

Mini Face Powder Brush and a Double-ended sponge applicator I haven’t actually used these yet!

Plus, like many other Benefit kits a little book comes containing tips and tricks to using all the products which for anyone who is just getting into makeup is definitely really helpful.

The only missing thing in this kit is a concealer, foundation and in my case a good brow gel for a full face of makeup but I can be quite fussy on these things so this suits me well.

At the moment Benefit are selling this kit on sale for £19.66, so if this sounds like your type of kit then I would get your skates on.

Ella xx

L'Oreal Studio Pro Ultra Smoothing Cream

Anyone who know me will know I have a massive love hate relationship with my hair. I have naturally very wavy/curly hair that is naturally very voluminous. I often have a massive case of wanting what I can’t have, i.e. hair that will not go frizzy the moment I step into any humidity or at the sight of a speck of rain. I want hair that will look sleek and well maintained.

I have tried a few products that suggest the same results as the L’Oréal Studio Pro Smoothing Cream and have been a bit of disappointment really. Trying this I was originally a little sceptical of its ability to be any different from any other similar haircare products I have tried.

Over the course of the last few weeks I have been putting this to the test smoothing through the lengths of wet hair and then drying normally with a hairdryer. This is where I’ve had to take the next step using hair straighteners to get the desired sleek look otherwise I’ve ended up with hair that resembles hair with no product in. This cream really does have some great staying power and I have noticed humidity and rain hasn’t been so much of an issue for flyaways.

I have not had any issues over using heat on my hair using the Smoothing Cream as this product is formulated with heat protection properties. I don’t like to straighten my hair too often, but I have peace of mind that I am not doing so much damage to my hair. I have been really pleased with how my hair has felt after using this product too. There is always a concern of hair appearing and feeling slightly greasy. No such problem here!

The smell is one which reminds me slightly of going to the hairdresser. Very fresh and subtle especially once applied to the hair. I know this product must be doing the trick if people think my hair is looking healthy and well maintained.

The back also has some handy tips on how to use the cream using their website, so I will have to try using this cream in a different way to see if does the trick when styling also.

Ella xx

Wise Words Wednesday #3

I hope you are all having a really positive week so far. Here is something for everyone to think about this week.

Definitely, an important quote for any walk of life. May it be trying to stay motivated to get a piece of coursework done at school/college/university, but also anyone in their home life or working life. Achievement can only come from us working towards something. Often the prospect of starting something is the worst bit and once started isn't as bad as we think.

If you are struggling try setting small tasks for something much larger. To me this makes achieving something far easier and manageable.

I have faith you can do it!

Ella xx