Cocktail O'Clock

Hello Lovelies! So today I decided to do something a bit different;  I was watching Essie Button's Spring Picnic video recently and saw she made a cocktail that looked absolutely delicious; as soon as she said the words elderflower and mint I knew I had to give it a try! The outcome was delightful and super quick and easy to do, so I thought I'd share it with you (I'm a poet and I don't know it).

 Hope you enjoy!

You will need: elderflower cordial, mint leaves, a handful of fruit of your choice (doesn't have to be strawberries and raspberries, that's just what I opted for) and a glass. (Straws are optional but can be great if you decide to make a substantial amount of the cocktail to share at a BBQ or something)

Step one: Prepare your ingredients 

Chop fruit to preferred size

Step two: Pour elderflower cordial into the glass

Add water

Step Three: Add the fruit

Step 4: Add the mint leaves (vary the amount depending on how strong you want it; I added a fair amount and it tasted delicious, but I do love mint.)

Step Five: Leave to settle for 5 -10 mins to enhance the flavour, then enjoy your super tasty, super refreshing cocktail. I think I'll be making this one a lot this summer!

Kelly x

Study/ Revision Playlist

It's getting to that time of year again... yes you guessed it, that time of year where you do almost anything to avoid working; sitting down at your desk and taking out your pen to miraculously remember that your room needs completely rearranging and that that whole series on Netflix just needs to be watched back to back right now. That's right, its exam period (dun, dun, DUN) 

I know it's not for everyone but I like to have music playing whilst I'm studying and find it helps. Henceforth (dunno why I think I'm Shakespeare or something) I put together this playlist to help motivate you through these dark dark times (okay, okay I exaggerate...kinda). If jamming out whilst revising isn't your thing then just see this as a playlist of songs I love and have loved for a long time and also some I have been busting some (questionable) moves to recently.

Hope you enjoy, and if you are in the same boat as me studying for exams and working towards those deadlines, good luck and hope this playlist makes it slightly more enjoyable!

(PS. check out my old Ipod I found recently, now there's a throw back! Found some right corkers on it... quite proud of 12 year old me actually)

1. Binocular - The Family Rain

2. Shelter Song - Temples

3. Riptide - Vance Joy

4. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Moonlight Runners

5.  Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

6. You Make My Dreams Come True - Hall & Oats

7. Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root

8.  A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

9. I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin

10. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

11. Resolution - Matt Corby

12. Two Doors Down - The Mystery Jets

13. Vienna - Billy Joel

14. Toothpaste Kisses - The Maccabees

15. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala

16. Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel

17. Shut Up And Dance With Me - WALK THE MOON

18. Best Of My Love- The Emotions

19. Chasing Heaven - Flyte

20. Featherstone- The Paper Kites

Kelly x

Liebster Award: Discovering New Bloggers

I was kindly nominated by Ophelia at Shut up, Ophelia to do this tag (Thankyou!) PS. you should all deffo check her blog out! I think it's such a good idea and such a great way to find some new lovely blogs to peruse and hopefully also a way to give you some new ones too.  

The rules are as follows: 

1. Thank and link the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the nominator's 11 questions.
3. Nominate 11 small blogs who have less than 200 followers. You should believe that they deserve this award and include their link in your post.
4. Create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer. Notify these nominees via social media/blog

1) How do you spend your Friday night?

As I'm a uni student I am partial to a bit of embarrassing dancing in the club on a Friday as it's normally old school night and you know what that means... a bit of the ol' running man and a failed attempt to do the worm. Alternatively, I love to curl up on the couch with one too many cushions and a glass of wine and of course a Harry Potter marathon.

2) Who is one person you could not live without? Why?

Myself...Haha! I found this a tough one to answer because I bloody love my family and friends but I think I'd have to say my beautiful mother. She really is the best person ever, with not one selfish bone in her body. She's not just a mother but a best friend.

3) Have you ever been heart broken?

Yes, every time I finish a book or TV series for good. Haha, no I have and it really sucks but in a way I'm grateful because it only makes you stronger I think.

4) What is your main blogging goal?

Just to continue enjoying creating and posting really. I'm kinda new to this blogging thing and I would like to set a schedule so my posts are more consistent. I also really want to start doing outfit posts, just haven't managed getting round to yet but I'm determined to!

5) What is one thing you have been putting off doing?

Uni work... oops. I will get round to it eventually, I will... just after I watch another episode on Netflix. 

6) If you could be a character from any book, who would you choose?

ooooh, I'm a big reader so this is tough, there's so many! Maybe Celia Bowen from The Night Circus because she's pretty bad ass and I wouldn't mind being magic, wouldn't mind at all (please can I be magic pleaseeee). Or maybe Tessa Gray from The Infernal Devices because shape shifting would be pretty cool, not sure about the immortal thing though so maybe Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments because fighting demons seems pretty fun and Jace though. Oooh or Cathy from Wuthering Heights because Heathcliff (need I say more) ... I  just can't decide. 

7) Would you time travel if you could?

Yesss, for sure. From dinosaurs to horse and carriages roaming the streets, I'm in!

8) What is your dream car?

I think I'd have to say an old school Beetle in the light pastel blue; I just love the way they look.

9) Which five possessions would you save from a house fire?

Besides from my family of course, I'd save our box of memories with old photos in, my laptop because I have a lot of photos and work on there, my phone I guess and then as much books as possible, (well two but can a stack of them not count as one object? haha)

10) If you had one wish, what would it be?

Hmmm, maybe that we all could fly, how cool would that be? I always had that thought when I was little; traffic lights in the sky and everything ( younger me thought very seriously about this because if we were all going to fly it would get a bit busy). Just imagine it, flying to work with the wind in your hair. It would certainly wake you up. 

11) What song best describes your current mood?

We Love To Boogie - T Rex (trying to listen to that song without bobbing your head or tapping your foot is certainly a challenge)

I nominate: 
Aesthetical
Maddie's Beauty Spot
Vougescent 
I don't understand the world
Kirsty Leigh
Ohthatsbethany
The Welsh Blogger
Sleepy Heaven
Cherie Chloe
Kirsty Jennifer
The Beauty Behind The Bar

Here are your questions:

1. If you could only use one make-up product for the rest of your life what would it be?

2. What is your favourite make-up brand?

3. If you were a food what would you be?

4. What did you want to be when you were a kid?

5. Do you have a special talent/ party trick?

6. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

7.  Where would your dream holiday be?

8. If you had to live in a different era which one would it be?

9. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

10. What is your favourite film?

11. What are your life goals?


Thanks for reading x

Current Night-time Skincare Routine

Step One

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
I first use the cleansing water on a cotton pad to take off the majority of my make-up; this micellar water works great on eyes to and is not at all harsh on the skin which is great!           

 

Step Two

Vichy Cleansing Milk
I then take another cotton pad and apply a small amount of the cleansing milk to it. I use this to take off the make-up that I missed and to give a more deep cleanse. Again this is really light on the skin, not harsh at all (paraben free to). It is particularly good at getting excess eye make-up off.I then rinse this off with warm water.

Step Three

Origins GinZing Cleanser
I then apply a pea sized amount of this scrub cleanser to a damp face and spread it around my face in circular motions to gently exfoliate. I don't use this every night but at least 3 times a week. It's a gentle exfoliant so it's not too harsh on the skin. This is probably my favourite step of my skincare routine as it's just so refreshing and makes my skin feel down right clean.(thumbs up from me)

Step Four

Origins Super Spot Remover
I only use this when it's needed; a.k.a when I get a pesky blemish. Let me tell you; this really does the job. It really is one of the best spot treatments out there. If I do have a spot I take a very small amount (that's all you need- if you use too much it can be very drying) and apply it to the blemish. You feel it instantly working.

Step Five

The last step alternates throughout the week between these three products, as and when I think my skin need them.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

I use this super hydrating mask maybe once a week, maybe twice if my skin really needs it. Once I have done all the previous steps I will then apply this mask and leave it to sink into the skin overnight. In the morning I will wash the residue (if there is any) off and my skin is always super hydrated and plump. It's great if you know you have something important to attend the next day. I use this mask more as a treatment/ kind of as a treat as well. It smells delish too which is a bonus.





L'Oreal Triple Active Nourish Moisturiser
If I'm not using the mask then the last step in my skincare routine will be this moisturiser (or the next product). I, however, use this one more frequently. It's the newest addition to my skincare routine but so far so good. It's very rich and thick and smells nice to. As far as moisturisers go I don't think it beats my beloved Origins GinZing moisturiser but for the cheap price it's pretty darn good. (£6.49)
* please note - this moisturiser is quite heavily scented so may not be great for sensitive skin.




Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins
Finally, if I feel like my skin is particularly dry and needs more than a normal moisturiser but doesn't need as intense a treatment as the Origins mask then I opt for this. This is definitely not a moisturiser I would use daily like I would the L'Oreal one but it's a fantastic treatment for de-hydrated skin. It has a thick formula yet manages to sink into the skin well; my skin drinks it up. It smells just lovely to. I use this on average once or twice a week.

( I am kind of a fan-girl when it comes to Origins- if you couldn't already tell) 

Thanks for reading x