MY MINI HAPPIES // APRIL

After my quite low post yesterday, I thought that I would do a post reflecting on my mini happy's that I have experienced so far this month. 

I came home for the easter break

My intentions were to stay in Manchester at uni over the easter break, so that I could begin my revision for my May exams and complete any essays that needed doing. However, being in halls by myself eventually drove me to the point of insanity and I decided to come home for a week. I have loved being home; catching up with family and old friends, and having that little break that I think I definitely needed.

We experienced some warm weather

I am a sucker for warm weather, and I didn't expect for it to come so early in the year. For a couple of days whilst being at home, the weather was incredibly beautiful. I didn't pack the most appropriate clothing though for the weather as I didn't expect it at all, but I managed and I made the most out of the weather.

First little driving lesson

It has been nearly 2 years that I have been able to learn how to drive, and I have never gained the motivation to do so. My friend Tom took me to a car park and took me through the driving process. I proper enjoyed it, and it gave me the motivation to begin driving. I loved it. 

Easter eggs

Legally being an adult, I really didn't expect to get any easter eggs this year and I sure didn't mind that. But, coming home to easter eggs made me feel super happy as it showed that my family didn't forget about me when they were buying for my brother and sister. 

Tyler the rabbit

He may only be a rabbit, but I look forward to seeing him so much when I come back from university. Every time I see him his little character changes, and he becomes so much more mischievous. 

Going to see Skepta + special guests

On the 16th of this month, I am going to see Skepta and some of the cast from Boy Better Know. I cannot wait. I have been looking forward to this for a few months now, and I am sure it will be a night I won't be forgetting in a while!

So there are some of my mini happy's from this month so far. What have your mini happy's been?

EARLY SPRING FEELS

Everything pretty ends up coming out in springtime. Daffodils appear at roadside, lambs are being born, the sun (sometimes) shines down on the world making everything glow. However, I can't help but be very sceptical about spring as a whole. 

Whenever spring comes around I have this weird feeling inside of me. It isn't necessarily 'happiness' either, but a constant gloom building up inside. Over the past few years, this feeling has become more intense and I have never found out the reason behind it. Maybe because it is the first season of the year, or the fact everything is beginning to change again- which I hate. I loathe change but sometimes it cannot be helped.

Don't get me wrong, I adore photographing what spring has to offer- like the daffodils springing up in the garden, or just little trinket bits that I find in the garden. Being back from uni for the spring break hasn't really helped my mood either I don't think. I love being home to see my family and friends, but ever since I moved to Manchester I feel like my heart and soul belong there.

Coming from a very country place, I never thought being in the city would be my cup of tea but I was entirely wrong on this perspective. I crave the city when I am back at home, and the atmosphere it has to offer. I used to be such a home bird, and before I moved to Manchester for uni I never thought I would last being in the big wide world all on my own, but I love it. I love having that piece of independence inside of me and waking up to the noises of the city everyday. I adore the people I live with, and I thank the high heavens that I was placed with them in my halls, because they really are great and amazing people. I love them with all of my heart.

I do love my friends from back at home too though. They have been with the through school and sixth form, and I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people to help me grow into myself, and find who I really am. They have shaped me to become the person I am today. This may be good and bad in some senses, but I do thank them a lot. Seeing them over the easter break has made my heart swell that little bit more, and made me realise how much I miss them when I am in the city. 

This time of year makes me reflect on life. I decide which the good aspects of life are at the moment, and I also dwell on the bad aspects. It cannot be helped, but I try and keep myself busy so that I do not dwell on the bad too much. Venting over my blog helps me to realise how much I have going for me, and how much room I have for improvements in my life.

I associate spring with the word 'new'. This could be because it is a new season, a fresh season and to some a happy season and a chance to look at the upcoming year and, and wait and see what it has to offer. I just do not pay much attention to this season and I cannot wait until summer arrives. This could be because of the opportunities I have planned out, but also because this brewing gloom inside of me will eventually disappear. 

I am sorry for such a low blog post today, but venting clears that little piece of my brain associated with darkness for a while, and helps me focus on the happy parts that I have to look forward to. 

On a happier note, meet Tyler my brothers new rabbit. Our old rabbit, Stardust, died from old age. He was 12 (in human years!) so he lasted quite a long time. Tyler is a baby which brings along his mischievous side. He is a very funny rabbit though and the whole family love him to pieces. Bringing Tyler into the family also brought happiness and something for the family to focus on. My brother also adores him and thinks the world of him, which is the most important thing. 

Again, I am sorry for such a sad post today but now that is out of the way I can focus on more uplifting posts for you all!

How has your easter break been so far?

Handmade Burger Co. & A Trip To Manchester Art Gallery

Living in Manchester for 6 months now, I haven't really experienced what the city has to offer. I have either been attending lectures, laying in bed, watching too much Netflix or just messing about with the people I live with. I haven't actually given myself the chance to explore my surroundings.

Yesterday was a really sunny day, and quite warm considering the temperatures haven't really been in our favour recently. Me and my two friends Megan and Isabel decided that we would spend our Saturday being productive and decided to take a trip to the Art Gallery near the city centre. None of us knew what to expect really, but had heard good things so thought we would try it out. 

We firstly went in search of a place to sit down and grab something to eat. Our friend Amber came and met us from work as she had an hours break, and mentioned that she fancied trying out Handmade Burger Co. 

I decided to get a standard chicken burger but in the smaller size but this was still huge. Me and Megan decided to share a portion of chips and homemade coleslaw alongside this, but even this was too much and we were all defeated. Amber got some amazing sweet potato fries, but she had to eat pretty quickly as she had to get back to work. After this we thought it was best to try and find the art gallery. Leaving Isabel in charge of directions wasn't the best idea we have ever had- she managed to take us the wrong way until she realised the directions on her phone told us otherwise.

The art gallery was really cute- huge rooms full of different types of art. In the gift shop area, there was a jewellery area which sold rings, bracelets and necklaces. I was going to buy a ring with a tree imprint, but because my fingers are too fat they didn't have my size! 

Overall the day was really nice, and I feel better about getting out and about and doing something productive with my Saturday, rather than staying in bed for the whole day.

What did you do on your Saturday?

MAC // STUDIO FIX FLUID

We all like a good foundation that will give us sufficient coverage when and where we need it, and that will last quite a long time without having to use so much at once.

Using drug store foundations, I had never really tried a high end foundation apart from Estee Lauder so when I contemplated buying the MAC Studio Fix Fluid I thought I may as well give it a go.

I had heard a lot of mixed reviews about this foundation. Some said to me that it was the best foundation they have ever tried because it gives a solid coverage and doesn't budge, but others stated that it it broke them out with awful blemishes and made their skin feel to clogged up.

For me, this foundation gives the right amount of coverage I look for when I am purchasing a foundation. I always look for a foundation which gives me enough coverage so that I don't need to apply a lot of concealer on any blemishes that I have, and just stick to concealer for highlighting purposes. 

I use the shade NC15 which I guessed is for paler people as this is pretty light! It doesn't provide flashback when taking photo's, and not a lot of powder is needed when setting the foundation. I personally do not think it looks cakey whatsoever. If I am using this foundation throughout the day, then I will not use too much and work it into the skin so it looks a lot more natural. If I want to use this foundation for a night out or an event, then I will use a little bit more than I would throughout the day, but still work it into the skin so it blends in. 

This foundation cost me £21.50 and you can buy it HERE.

If you are not too sure which colour you may be, I recommend visiting a store which sells MAC e.g. Selfridges, and have your skin colour matched up to a foundation. 

What do you think of MAC foundations? 

MAC // MY CUSTOM PALETTE SO FAR

Eyeshadows are my ultimate love in the world of makeup. I adore the different shades, formulas, types, brands... In fact anything I can get my hand on. And then I discovered MAC eyeshadows and I fell much more in love than I already was. 

I decided to create my own custom palette because that way I could choose the colours that I wanted, and know that I would 100% use them all. Don't get me wrong, the palette isn't cheap to put together but I would definitely say that it is worth it, and it gives you something to collect and put together yourself over a period of time. 

(I also own Satin Taupe but I still need to de-pan that one!)

These are the colours that I have accumulated over the past couple of months- and I love them all. All That Glitters must be the most used in the palette purely because I put this all over the lid before applying another colour to the crease. You can wear All That Glitters on it's own or as part of a dramatic eye for a night out, which is what I often do. Brun is my newest to the collection, but I didn't set out to buy this one. Cranberry was what I was hoping for, but unfortunately they didn't have it in stock at the counter so I will have to make sure to purchase it next time I visit! 

Do any of you guys have a custom MAC eyeshadow palette? What shade do you recommend me buying next?

MAC // LIPSTICK IN 'CRAVING'

MAC has always been one of my favourite make-up brands, and over the past few months I have seriously been obsessing over which product to buy next... So how can you go wrong with purchasing another lipstick?

Originally, when I walked over to the MAC counter it wasn't in my intentions to purchase this lipstick. I had my heart set on 'Twig', but when I went over to pay they didn't have that in stock. Instead, I was brought over 'Craving' and I instantly fell in love. 

The lipstick is like a red but it has a more pink undertone, which means you can wear this for either day time or night time. I like to wear this in a day time, but wear a lipliner underneath it if I am going to wear this on a night out as such.

This lipstick also has a satin finish. This means that it looks super shiny on the lips and doesn't leave them feeling dry if you keep on reapplying it. Although I do love the matte lipsticks from MAC, this just seems so much more moisturising and more satisfying to wear.

For £15.50 I don't think you can go wrong. The colour is super pigmented and it lasts forever on the lips... Even through eating and drinking!

2014 Christmas Antics

Hello lovelies. I hope that you had a great Christmas and had an amazing festive period.

Firstly, I can't believe that Christmas is over and done with for another year already. The whole build-up to Christmas came around so quickly for me this year, but I am putting this down to the fact that I am at university so I am constantly busy. However, the fact Christmas is already over and done with upsets me, because it is really my favourite time of year!

A lot of the country has received snow, but where I live when I am not at university, hasn't! I genuinely thought that living in the Lake District would mean we were in line for some white goodness, but unfortunately I was wrong and we have received zilch!

For Christmas, I got a new camera which I am so thankful for and very pleased about! It means no more out of focus phone photographs, and I can take some super snappy images to put onto my blog.

I didn't take many photographs from Christmas day because I had to wait to get a big enough memory card for my camera etc. but here are a few snaps of my Christmas Tree, decorations and a little hat that my auntie made. They are so cute and she attached them to the presents as little Christmas favours.

Over the festive period I went to my Grans house in the countryside and had lunch with her. She took me to her local church where she showed me her flower arrangements, and we went for a walk around her huge garden and I took some snaps. The image of the ducks always takes me back to my childhood days, because every time I would go to my Gran's I would stand at the gate over the path and spend hours looking at the animals in the field opposite.

We also had some family come and visit us who live down south. They are literally the cutest kids ever and they are so sweet. They were obsessing over playing football on the frosty grass, spending time with my pet rabbit and just constantly being cheeky.

Tonight I made a curry for my mum and her partner. I don't usually like to make big meals because I am not confident with the whole 'cooking' thing, but it was tasty even if I do say so myself. If you would like the recipe, comment below!

So my festive season was fun filled and full of family. I had the best Christmas and I already cannot wait for next year.

How was your Christmas?