Look After Yourself During the Holidays

Taking inspiration from Buzzfeed's Mental Health Week a couple of weeks ago (that yours truly was featured in, check out number 21), I have decided to share some of the ways that I cope with stress, depression, anxiety and possibly now, bipolar, however, I think these tips could help anyone just going through a rough patch, because I know we've all been there at some point.

The holidays can be especially stressful with all the gift buying and food preparation, so I feel it is really important to take a step back and to look after your own health during this stressful time of year. I know all too well that if you're not feeling great over the festive period, you will end up burning out and unable to enjoy yourself at all, whilst all your friends and family are celebrating. After a mishap like this last year, I am ensuring this year that I look after myself, and I think you should do too.

If you haven't got, you haven't got

This is my major rule for any gift or food-buying period, whether that's birthdays, parties or Christmas. I find myself stressing out over the smallest of things. I fear I haven't bought enough presents, I haven't catered for everyone or I haven't shown the people around me that I love them. The one thing I've learnt over the years is that the people who matter will love you no matter what, even if you forgot them off your Christmas card list, or couldn't afford the gift they have been hinting at for months.

If you have the perfect presents and haven't missed a single person out, that's great too, but it's important to keep calm about the situation, and remember that there is always a plan B. If you're on a tight budget, why not consider making your own sweet treats or skincare goodies for your loved ones, or if you're stretched for time, only buy presents for those you are going to see until you can head out to the shop again.

Take time for you

For most people, Christmas and other winter holidays are a time for love and making others happy, meaning you'll eventually end up spending more time worrying about other people's happiness levels before your own. Making sure you make small pockets of time to look after yourself are essential.

If you're a huge music fan, take time to listen to your favourite album, or create a happiness playlist that you can stick on to boost your morale and eradicate stress. Crafting is a great hobby to have around the holidays, and small projects can keep you busy during your breaks from festivities, and will even help you with those pesky last minute presents!

Whether meditating or moshing is your thing, make time for it during the season. You want to start the new year feeling as positive as possible, instead of feeling frazzled and burnt out from all the stress of the holiday period.

Learn to relax

This one is a biggie for me when my anxiety takes hold, but it a really simple way to make sure you have an enjoyable holiday. Using apps like Pacifica or Pause will provide new ways to relax that have been proven to help anxiety and stress. Trying different forms of meditation and calming breathing techniques will help you focus and dispel the woes of the holidays.

If apps and guided meditation aren't your thing, try some methods that have relaxed you in different situations in the past. Taking a bubble bath, colouring in and reading a favourite book are all great ways to combat stress and bring some relaxation to your routine at any time of year. With so many resources online, it would be impossible to say you cannot find a relaxation method that suits your needs and routine.

Have a great holiday

The most important tip I can provide is to have a great holiday. Whatever you celebrate and whoever you spend it with, make sure you're having a great time. Try to let loose and enjoy the hard work you have been putting in for weeks.

Spend time with those you love and take care of yourself. After all, it's not just your physical health that matters.

*All pictures are either created by myself or are labelled for reuse on Google Images*

Christmas Gifts for Mum

Can you believe there's only 9 more shopping days until the big day?! Christmas has come around so quickly this year that I have found it difficult to get into the spirit of the holidays, even when I put the tree up which is not like me at all! However, now all of my present shopping is done, my cards are bought and written and I have all my projects planned for the season, I am looking forward to spending a week with my closest family and celebrating being together. 

Whether you want to admit it or not, gifts and presents are a huge part of Christmas, and for some the meaning of the holiday (my personal meaning of Christmas, not being a Christian, is food, family and alcohol, but we'll get to that later) and whilst some people can reel off lists of gifts they would like (I'm looking at you younger siblings), it's usually the older female figures in our lives that are awkward to buy for. Mums and grandmas around the world utter the classic line for months before Christmas - 'I don't want anything but a good day', but I think we have all heard the horror stories of from the people who took this too literally and didn't get them anything, I bet there was hell to pay!

Going off my own personal experiences with buying presents for my Mum and Nan, there are a few fail-safe presents that is guaranteed to impress even the most fussy of mothers.

Candles

I have to admit, my Mum's obsession with candles has been passed down in my blood, as both my 10 year old sister and myself don't feel settled unless the house smells wonderful and there are at least a few candles flickering. One trendy scent this season is Vanilla and Bourbon, not the biscuit, but the alcohol. Yankee Candle's Christmas range features a gorgeous sweet version in a variety of sizes. This small votive cost just £1.80, however you would need to buy a votive holder to burn the candle in, which range from around £1.50 to approximately £10.

The larger candle was a bargain. I love shopping in TK Maxx and find the homeware products to be incredible and amazing prices. This larger Vanilla and Bourbon candle came in at £4.99 and has about 50 hours of burning time. I can guarantee that our house will be smelling amazing on Christmas day, all the way up to the New Year.

Corkcicle Air

This one is a bit more unique. If your mum is a wine lover, why not treat her to a Corkcicle Air? The original Corkcicle was simply an in-bottle cooler for wine that chills to the perfect temperature, unlike an ice bucket or, more simply, the fridge. By popping the giant icicle into the freezer until it is completely frozen, you can have perfectly chilled wine each time.

The Corkcicle Air, however, is a little more high-tech. Aerating wine has been popular for years, and is most common with red wines, however, it has been proven that white wines are also improved when aerated. Gifting this gadget will guarantee restaurant-standard wines from the simplest of bottles and for just £19.99, it's a steal!

Perfume

I have never met a woman who doesn't have her favourite perfume. My mum's usual perfume is Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique EDT, however, as I am shopping on a budget this year I've had to take a cheaper route.

The Cashmere Collection set from Next includes a 30ml EDP, a solid fragrance, a gorgeous candle (can you see what I mean by obsessed?) and a 10ml handbag-friendly EDP. This perfume was discontinued from Next a few years ago for apparently no reason at all, but the look on my Mum's face when I told her that it was back in stock guaranteed that I had made the right decision in buying her this set. Let's hope she is just as thrilled on Christmas morning!

I hope you find this helpful for the more awkward people to buy for. What have you bought for your loved ones this year and what do you hope to find under the Christmas tree on the 25th? Let me know in the comments!

*I was gifted the Corkcicle Air to review, all views are my own*

Happy 1st Birthday Offbeat Emily

Well, it's been a crazy year to say the least. Who knew when I started a lifestyle blog on a whim last year that I would be a year in with incredible new friends, connections with amazing brands and even a second blog? I just wanted to have a personal, selfish post about looking back on my achievements over the past year, not only to cheer me up but also to spur me on.

Graduation

Yes, that's right, I did the impossible. It's probably my most recent achievement from my year of blogging but in September I graduated from the Juice Academy with an advanced NVQ in Social Media. The road was tough and there were so many times I told myself and the other incredible people around me that I was giving up, but I pushed on and I couldn't be happier to say that I stuck it out. Not only did the Juice Academy provide me with a start to an amazing career I didn't even think was available to me, I have also come out of my experience with lifelong friends and priceless experiences. A year full of ups and downs has come to an end and I'll be honest, seeing everyone as a full cohort with our tutors and mentors together for the last time was really emotional.

Bake With Bake Off

Okay so this seems to just going back in time as I go along, I really need to start planning my blog posts!

As you probably remember, a few months ago I was involved with Bake With Bake Off in association with Silver Mushroom. It was an eye opening few weeks, who knew how stressful baking in your own kitchen could be, but the time I spent discussing Bake Off and sharing my recipes with you all was fantastic and I can't wait to see if there is anything for me to get involved with next year. The experience gave me the chance to chat to other bloggers and introduce me to food blogging (which I loved so expect to see a lot more where that came from!). My biggest achievement of the whole event was winning on bread week! My focaccia came out top, so why not try it yourselves?

Confidence

Since I started blogging, I feel my confidence has really been boosted. I'm not talking about my confidence just walking down the street, but I now feel like my writing is getting better, and I actually have something to talk to people about now when they ask what I do in my spare time. At job interviews, interviewers are always keen to talk about my blogs and what I write about, and it makes me feel great that people are actually enjoying what I'm putting out there.

Offbeat's Baby Sibling

I started 4.3.5 after realising Offbeat had taken more of a lifestyle turn. My biggest passion in life is and always has been music, and it was something I really wanted to write about, so I started a sister blog. I have to admit, I have neglected 4.3.5 over the past few months because Offbeat comes first, and as you may have noticed, blog posts on here have been sporadic for a while, but in the next few weeks I am looking to relaunch the blog and I already have tons of unsigned acts chomping at the bit, getting excited to be featured. I have so much to share with you all and I'll warn you, not all the music I feature will be your cup of tea, but for rock and indie lovers, say hello to your new music fix.

I just wanted to use my round off to say thanks to everyone who has been supportive and has given me great feedback to the content on Offbeat. If it wasn't for my readers and the other bloggers I have met along the way, I do not think I would have made it to this milestone that once seemed so far away. Here's to another great year of Offbeat and many more in the future.

Countdown to Christmas

Is it too early to drop the c-bomb? Honestly... I don't care. I am so excited about Christmas this year after such a great festive season last year. Treating my family now I can afford to buy presents, baking incredible food and decorating the house all add up to create me ideal Christmas period, and of course, the daily chocolate!

This year though, I think I'm going to avoid a Frozen chocolate advent calendar, maybe even the Spiderman one too, because I have found a new love during the past few months, Yankee Candles. Over the past few months my bedroom and living room has smelt like everything from birthday cake to dark berries and candy canes to Christmas spices. When I found out that Yankee Candle actually create their own full advent calendar with a different scent every day, I very almost wept with joy! From the first of December to Christmas Eve, my house can have a different Christmas inspired scent, which is honestly a much better treat than a chocolate every day.

The first thing I noticed about the advent calendar is it's beautiful decorations. Nothing too nontraditional, but just modern enough to make me want to display it from now up until Christmas 2016. The stunning artwork on the pentagonal box is breathtaking and immediately screams Christmas. No huge numbers on this one, the small numbers on the doors blend so well into the design, it is hard to tell from a distance that it is not just another Christmas decoration, which I love.

The design of the box means it has to be tied at the top, making it easy to give in to temptation and open it all at once to see the scents that have been added, but a lot harder to use all of them at once which I have never done with a chocolate one... (Disclosure: I have eaten a chocolate advent calendar all at once. I am not proud of it and deny it at every chance I get. The rounded dome reminds me of a well wrapped Christmas present from a department store, so even though this is meant to lead up to Christmas day, I feel like this would be a gorgeous present for a loved one, especially if they love candles like my family.

The Internet Gift Store kindly provided me with this sample. They sell high quality goods from brands like Yankee Candle, Disney, and Ted Baker, often offering up to 80% retail price in their clearance section. With free delivery on orders over £35 and optional next day delivery, I would highly recommend the Internet Gift Store for all your Christmas needs.

#BWBO Week 6 - Mini Seasonal Fruit Pies

So firstly, an explanation. Last week, you may have noticed I missed out week 5 of the Bake with Bake Off competition hosted by Silver Mushroom because of a sugar free disaster (ask me at any point and anything in my life that is sugar free is a disaster). I planned on baking a sugar free lemon cake with a raspberry cream cheese frosting. Safe to say, you shouldn't try to mix cornflour into a frosting without mixing with water first, and your DEFINITELY should not try to make a sugar free lemon cake. Make any other sugar free cake, just stay away from the lemons.
So firstly, an explanation for last week. I missed week 5 of the Bake With Bake Off competition with

This week has been so much better and excess pastry and plum filling means round 2 can happen later on in the week! I chose to use plums because they're in season right now, but you could use cherries (in season in July), apples (from September to February), Blackberries (August to October), Rhubarb (January to June), or any other seasonal fruit you like, apart from maybe bananas, but if you're brave enough to try a banana pie, please feel free to share the recipe with me.

I found this quite a simple bake and you could personalise it so easily. I opted for a lattice top, but you could always have a full covered top, or even no top at all to make some form of jam tart. I really enjoyed making this recipe and I hope you do too!

For the crust
Ingredients

• 5 cups plain flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 cups butter (cold and in cubes)
• 1/2 cup ice water (plus more to hand)
• 2 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. Combine the salt and flour in a food processor, then add the cubed butter and pulse until course crumbs form, or if you have not got a food processor, rub the butter and flour between your fingertips until combined
2. With the processor running, pour in the ice water and lemon juice until the dough forms, if the dough does not form, add tiny amount of water until it does
3. Turn the dough out and shape it into a flattened disc for rolling out later. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour, or preferably overnight

For the filling

Ingredients

• 12 plums (or equivalent in other fruits)
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp corn starch
• 1/2 cup sugar

Method

1. Mix together the cornflour and a splash of water in a small bowl and set aside for later
2. Put the fruit, sugar and water into a large pan and bring to a boil, then turn the hob down to a medium low heat for around 15 minutes
3. Bring to the boil again and add the cornstarch mix and stir to thicken the mixture
4. When the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat, transfer to a large bowl and cover with clingfilm until completely chilled

For the pies

1. When the pastry is cooled and set, roll it out to around 1/4 inch thick and around 6cm in diameter, then mould into a cupcake tray. There is no need to grease the tray due to the butter in the pastry
2. Add the filling to around 3/4 of the way full and set aside
3. Create your tops (if you're making them) by either latticing the pastry or making a full top then add to the top of the pies
4. Egg-wash the pies and sprinkle with sugar before baking at 190C / 170 Fan / Gas 5 for 30 minutes or until golden brown
5. Leave to coll before eating, they will be scolding hot!

I'd love to see any pictures you have of your pies with other tops and fruits! Inspire me with your own creations.

#BWBO Week 4 - Irish Cream & Chocolate Dessert Cake

Dessert week is upon us and this week I decided to take a trip down memory lane, to about 3 weeks ago. This week I have created a devilishly rich chocolate with a luxurious alcoholic twist. Although it is in cake form, this is definitely not an every day, lunchtime treat, this is a grown up dinner party worth dessert.

Of course, there is not enough alcohol to make you even sightly tipsy, but I would be wary providing this cake to children and other people who need to avoid alcohol.

You could always take the easier route and use a dollop of hand whipped vanilla cream with this, but I think the homemade caramel drizzle will show your culinary prowess off to your friends and family. Or so they think. The additional caramel sauce is really easy and if it doesn't all get used, it can be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks to use on ice cream, in coffee or just on a spoon (I definitely haven't eaten this straight off the spoon. Okay, I have.).

Just on a quick side note, I won star baker last week! Don't forget to check out my prize winning sea salt and rosemary focaccia! I am so happy with the end result and I'm over the moon that the lovely people at Silver Mushroom thought the same.

For the cake:
Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 160C Fan / Gas 4 and grease 2 8-inch cake tins
2. Add all of the ingredients apart from the buttermilk and coffee. Stir until fully combined
3. Slowly add the buttermilk and stir in
4. Add the hot coffee and stir, the batter will be of liquid consistency
5. Bake for 35 minutes then allow to cool for half an hour in the cake tin

For the frosting:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsalted butter
• 4 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 1tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Irish cream

Method:

1. Mix together all of the ingredients until fully combined

For the caramel sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp salted butter
• 1/2 cup double cream

Method:

1. Melt the sugar over a medium heat
2. Once the sugar is melted, stir in the butter immediately
3. Once the butter is combined, add the double cream slowly whilst stirring and allow to boil for one minute
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool

#BWBO Week 2 - Pistachio & Dark Chocolate Biscotti

The second week of GBBO saw the bakers start with their speciality biscotti. Not being much of a biscuit baker, I took some inspiration from my favourite flavours and the show itself to create a pistachio & dark chocolate biscotti, and it's safe to say that this has become my new speciality biscuit.

For a first attempt I think these have turned out pretty well. Very crisp with a good snap, Mary & Paul would be proud! Of course, you could adapt the recipe to meet your own tastes. Dipping half of the biscotti in chocolate and swapping the pistachios for hazelnuts would give a Nutella-inspired taste (I may make these in the future, keep a close eye out), or add a small amount of orange zest for a sophisticated take on a Jaffa Cake.

I feel like these biscuits would be great to serve at a dinner party during coffee at the end of the night, and with such an easy recipe, it would be a shame not to treat your guests to some authentic Italian goodies.

Ingredients:

• 175g Plain Flour
• 1tsp Baking Powder
• 175g Caster Sugar
• 100g Roughly Chopped Pistachios
• 2 Medium Eggs (beaten)
• 1tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Bar Good Quality Dark Chocolate

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 160C Fan / Gas mark 4
2. Sift the flour & baking powder with a pinch of salt before adding the eggs, sugar, nuts and vanilla
3. Stir well to form a soft dough, you may need to use your hands towards the end
4. Divide the dough in half and create 2 8-inch sausages
5. Place the dough sausages on a baking tray lined with grease proof paper
6. Bake for 20 mins until very lightly golden & slightly firm
7. Slice into 2cm thick biscuits either at an angle or straight down before placing back on the lined tray, slice side down
8. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes or until the edges of the biscuits are golden brown
9. Allow the biscuits to cool and harden before melting the dark chocolate and drizzling over the biscuits

I'd suggest serving with freshly pressed coffee. 

Thanks again to Silver Mushroom for creating the competition.

Onwards and Upwards

Well, here we are again.

Another post that is way overdue, but there are reasons and there are solutions.

Firstly, I have a new job. After weeks and weeks of the doctors telling me I was far too stressed to work in the environment I was, I packed up and left, Well, more like I handed in my notice and I'm currently having every scrap of paper off my desk posted to me. I've found a wonderful new job, still in social media, working for a TEFL company that sends English teachers all around the world to teach English and learn about other cultures and teach English to a wide variety of people. I can't wait to get started and become a member of such a teeny tiny team (it's just me and my two bosses in the whole company).

This new jobs is a lot closer to home meaning I'll be able to blog more and spend more time sorting my life out, going to the gym and generally having more time to myself to focus on being healthy and destressing after work.

I've also got a huge project/competition coming up on Offbeat with a company called Silver Mushroom. They have created a competition for lifestyle and food bloggers in conjunction with the Great British Bake Off, so expect a tried and tested recipe from my personal collection each week. Silver Mushroom provide all the bake ware for the Bake Off, so hopefully I can impress the judges. Thankfully I won't be threatened by Paul's scold stare or ashamed when Mary tells me I',m doing something wrong!

I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me along this journey, including my dear readers and even other bloggers whom I am yet to meet. When I was at my worst, I couldn't face blogging, writing seemed like such a chore. But writing this post today has made me realise how much of a great outlet Offbeat Emily is for me, and why I fell in love with blogging back in November. There is A LOT of me to catch up on, but from here on out I will continue to be a part of the blogging community and carry on writing, even if you all stop reading, I'll carry on. Nothing's going to stop me now!

Explanations and Awareness

This is a bit weird as I haven't posted anything for a whole month now.

Before I get into the deep stuff, yes, my birthday was excellent, even if a panic attack in the middle of the Trafford Centre set a downer on the actual day, the weekend was great and was spent in great company (my lovely family).

The whole of June has been a bit of a roller coaster for me. I started the month on strong antibiotics which meant I was sedate for most of that first week, which also meant I couldn't go into work. The second week saw me head back to work, continue my birthday weekend with my coworkers with my amazing Minnie Mouse Cake and a card (I forgot to get some pictures, I apologise!) Then with new targets and discussions about my future at my current company, things took a turn for the worst as I started panicking and getting worked up about my performance and whether or not I would have a job or not after I finish my apprenticeship in September.

Because of this, I was singed off for a fortnight, and after a face to face visit to the doctors, I was signed off for yet another fortnight, leading to a whole month off work. It's been very weird not working for such a long time , and I've been getting bored very quickly with little to no motivation to blog or write anything honestly. My social media is bare, I've got no new blog plans and so much that I need to catch up with. In all honestly, I feel like shit.

I described the month as a roller coaster because it hasn't all been crap. I started talking to my best friend again after not speaking properly for around 6 months. She's keeping me going and if I didn't have her, as well as my mum, dragging me out of the house and forcing me to do things, I would be a lot worse than I am now and this blog post would probably be delayed for another month.

I'm also in the process of being referred for counselling! I've had a few people ask me if this is actually what I want, but I'm actually over the moon! I've been trying to get counselling since all this began 5 years ago, but due to my age, I went sent to the 16-19 team who are based quite far away and getting to appointments would mean taking even more time off work, which I can;t afford to do. Since I turned 19, they have bypassed the system and I'm getting real help. It still doesn't feel real.

As for work, I am due to go back on the 13th which looks like it is going to happen. Until then. I promise I will continue blogging and posting and updating my social media until you all get sick of me, even then I'm going to carry on.

I hope you all understand why I've been so quiet. Remember that if you feel the same, the best thing to do is speak up and let people know how you feel, only then can you get help and feel better. Feel free to email me if you would like any advice on doctor's appointments, mental health or supporting your friends and family members who might be struggling.

Onwards and upwards.

Fashion Birthday Wishlist

It's my birthday on Saturday and for some reason I am very excited about this one. Reaching 19 has been odd and I sort of want to shake off the past few years and have a brand new start. What a better way to have a new start than getting a few new key items like these!

1. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Bracelet - Etsy - £43.66

I think this bracelet is beautiful. I've always loved this style of charm bracelet and for me, the more charms the better. Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favourite films and stories, and for some reason I have always related to Alice. This bracelet would be really easy to wear and will go with a lot of outfits, either dressed up or dressed down.

2. Versace Signature Medium Duffle Bag - Streethub - £830

This has to be the mother of all bags! Versace has been one of my favourite brands for a while now due to thee classic, structured designs, much like this bag. It's perfect for rounding off any outfit, whether that's a professional business-wear outfit, or a relaxed shopping outfit. I wish I had the money to afford a bag like this, if anyone knows of any similar high street designs, please let me know!

3. Aloha Beaches Ballet Pumps - H&M - £12.99

These shoes are really cheap and cheerful but they're so summery and put a smile on my face when they caught my eye in store yesterday. Unfortunately I was in a rush and couldn't pick them up, but these will be the first thing in my basket when I next visit H&M!

4. Rad & Refined Union Queen Sunglasses - Forever 21 - £31

I wouldn't normally even consider paying £31 for a pair of sunglasses when they can be bought relatively cheap in a lot of places, but this pretty little pair have really caught my eye. Flowers, unicorns and general girliness is great for adding a bit of juxtaposition to a usually grungy outfit. I've also found out this year that wide, round sunglasses are perfect for my face shape after struggling for ages to find my perfect pair! Unfortunately these are only available in the US :(

5. Casadei Court in Grey - YOOX - £319

Someone once told me i have a problem with shoes. Actually, most of the people who are currently in my life are telling me I have a major problem with shoes, but to me, shoes maketh the outfit and these beauties are no exception. I love suede heels and wedges and cute straps, so when I came across these a few weeks ago I completely fell in love. Unfortunately these are majorly expensive, and even on sale they are still £319, but a girl can dream right?!

6. Chi Chi London Summer Dress in Pink Flower - Zalando - £60

Okay, so this dress might be even more unrealistic than the Versace bag and the expensive shoes. Why? Because I have boobs and strapless dresses are pretty much out of the question. But this is so pretty and I couldn't resist featuring it on my wishlist in case any of you lovelies knew where I could get a similar dress with straps. Please? I' actually begging now!

Brand Favourites

There are some products that I CANNOT live without, but with sensitive skin and hard to control hair, it's hard to find the right products for me.

Micellar Water
If you've not yet used a micellar water, what are you waiting for?! They gently remove make up and dirt build up on your face and they are really soothing. I haven't actually tried any other brand yet, making this a very biased favourite, but I don;t think I will be trying another brand just yet. Garnier's micellar water range are amazing and are the only product I rely on to remove all of my harsh make up without drying up my skin.

Even better, my favourite product is currently on offer at £3.33 in Boots, get it before it goes back up to its full price.

Hair Spray
During London Fashion week I got sent a PR sample of Label.M's hair care products that were used on the models, I found the mousse and texturising spray weren't light enough for my hair and tended to stick clumps of my hair together, but I fell in love with the hairspray. It provide a great light coverage for everyday looks and it can be layered up for a strong hold on nights out.

The Giles Deacon design is limited edition and is a bit pricey at £12.25 a can, but trust me, it's worth it!

Lipstick
I've had a revelation and moved slightly away from MUA lipsticks recently to find something a little more lasting. I found Kate Moss' lipsticks with Rimmel are amazing! I use the Kate Moss matte lasting finish lipstick in shade 107 which might be quite dark for a lot of people, but if you know me, you know that I do not use subtle lipsticks. I'm going to buy a few more darker lipsticks soon and do some swabs so keep an eye out for them.

107 looks quite purpley here, but it's more of a deep plum. It's currently £5.49 which to me is a bargain for the quality of the product.

Hair Dye
Now I know bright and bold hair colours aren't for anyone but I couldn't image my life without them. I've dyed my hair since i was 13, and over the past 5 years, I have used many different brands for my wild colours, but I have now settled on Bleach London's hair dyes. They give a really natural finish and make even the most obviously fake colours look like they could actually be a real hair colour. The graduation gives less of a blocky look which I have noticed with other brands and with Aussie Colour Mate shampoo, the colour lasts for months!

The colour creams are £5 per bottle and go a very long way as they are so thick. My next colour will be Awkward Peach, keep an eye out on Twitter and Instgram for pictures!!

Do you have any favourite products? Let me know what I should try next!

*I got sent some PR samples in line with LFW by the lovely people at label.m*

5 Things I Wish I knew at 15

It's always odd when you look back at old photographs, even from just a few years ago, and realise how much has changed. With apps like Time Hop, it's so much easier to see back to your former years and see how much you have grown and changed as a person and I think it is completely important to learn lessons from how you acted in the past to shape the person you are today. We all have regrets and things we wish we knew when we were younger so here are mine.

1. Friends come and go
We spend a long time thinking the friends we have are the only friend we will ever have, it's a common high school mentality. When I left for a different college, I made a whole new group of friends, then when I left to get a job, I found even more friends, pushing out the ones who weren't going to be there for the long term. The longer you know someone, the more time they have to change and sometimes this isn't for the better. New experiences shape and mould every single person and after major life events, some people will never be the same again. This is okay because it gives you the opportunity to find those who truly care.

2. University isn't the be all and end all
I had it drummed into me from a young age that I would leave high school, do my A Levels then go off to university to do a degree. Then the real world happened and I realised I wasn't ready to move out to go to school and I seriously did not want to continue with the education system after my time in college (I even cut that short). With all the training programs and apprenticeship opportunities available to young people nowadays, it's possible to get a leg up on the career ladder before graduates and have more job experience than those who have gone to university. Yes, a degree looks and sounds brilliant during job applications, but isn't relevant work experience more important?

3. You will not find a career in history
I had my heart set on being a historian during high school. I always got the best grades, it interested me and I thought it was my calling. How wrong was I? After starting college and taking up history at a more advanced level, I completely lost interest. I was covering subjects I had already looked at and the teachers were boring, I felt like it was a complete waste of time and over a period of months I lost my passion for the subject. I wish I had taken business studies to get myself a bit more experience in the field I never even knew existed (social media for business) so I could have spent less time unemployed. But, as they say, everything happens for a reason.

4. Stop fighting for a change in your grades. That A in English Language is brilliant
I used to strive to be the best. Who am I kidding, I still do, but when I was 15, this meant I had to get the best grades and after I was promised an A* in English Language that somehow changed into an A during the marking process, I was gutted. I fought and fought for a better grade, as did my English teacher who invited the exam board in for various meetings, but the grade never got changed. It stayed with me throughout college and I thought it would hinder a lot of opportunities for me, I wasn't actually as good as I had expected. However, when I entered the world of work, I found out grades in high school didn't matter and that B in maths hasn't got me very far. I don't remember half of what to do and I've never applied half of the equations to be every day life.

5. Your family are everything, stop pushing them away
I am very close to my mum, she's been there for me through everything and always respecting my ideas and understands why I act the way I do. She is my rock, but for years I pushed her away, like most stroppy teenagers. As I grew up I realised I only have one family and after a major bust up with my extended family last year, I grew even closer to my immediate family. You lose friends, you lose lovers, but you will never lose your family and I think that is the most important lesson I have learnt over the past 4 years.

Do you have any lessons you want to teach your younger self? Let me know in the comments!

Picture Sources:

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French Government Ban Super Thin Models

I have always advocated a change in the way society views body sizes, especially in high fashion (see my Tess Munster post here), but honestly, it's been a slow process to get where we are today.

France is a trailblazer in the world of high fashion and runway shows, and in the aftermath of Paris fashion week, the French government have passed a law that states bans the use and activity of any model under what is regarded as a safe BMI by the French health authorities. Iran have also passed a similar law, however, after seeing such a huge impact in the country that is home to one of the fashion capitals of the world, we should see some swift movements from other countries.

This law came around due to the pressure that is put on younger people and even children to look like the super skinny models that they see on catwalks, in magazines and on billboards. There are only a handful of people who know what the photo editing process entails, but it is not pretty, honestly, I find it quite frightening that someone sat behind a computer screen can alter an image to create what will become a completely unrealistic goal image that some young people will strive for.

The only way to get themselves to that state; an eating disorder. Another reason France has banned the use of super-skinny models is due to the increase in eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia which are becoming more and more common in our modern day society. Since the 1980s, cases of eating disorders like these have sky rocketed, coincidentally, this is the same time that images of models appeared to be getting sickeningly thin.

What do I hope will happen after this? Honestly, I hope the rest of the world follow suit, especially the countries that shape the high fashion industry such as Britain, Italy and the USA. This will hopefully provide a healthier set of role models for children and young people who aspire to become models, and will protect the models who are currently working in the industry from being told they cannot work unless they reach a certain size.

I think the most important lesson to be learnt, however, is to love your own body and the skin you are in, the fashion industry constantly changes their definition of perfect, but you will only ever have one, strive for your own perception of beauty to find true happiness.

Photo Sources:

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https://edanafashion.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/plus-size-models-4.jpg

The Age Of Quirk

Quirky accessories have always been a favourite of mine because I think they allow anyone to liven up what could be a very plain and boring outfit. I do channel Gaga and Perry a lot with my clothes and tend to stay far away from fully black outfits, but when the time comes, I can always rely on my trusty accessories to make me feel like a megastar.

1. I have just bought these sunglasses! Okay, so not these exact ones but a very close eBay dupe because I don't have a whopping £155 just for a pair of sunglasses. These House of Holland glasses are perfect for the sunny weather we can expect soon (just don;t count on it because, you know, British weather) and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Lady Gaga wearing a similar pair this year. My dupes cost just £4 in a recent eBay auction, keep your eye out for another auction soon.

2. Cat ears on rings are everywhere right now, and I'm not complaining! I think rings like this are perfect for beginners and people who are unsure how to use quirky accessories. Being so subtle can work in a lot of people's favour and comes with a very low risk of getting quirky wrong, This beauty can be found on Amazon at the very low price of £1.18 (don't tell me I never bring you bargains).

3. Lips and eyes have always played a huge part in quirky clothing (can I remind you all of this dress Katy Perry wore a few years ago that I still adore?) and this bag epitomises all that is retro and peculiar. Granted, it is a piece for those who are more adventurous, but this bag could go brilliantly with a number of colours and styles. Just image rocking an LBD with red shoes and this beautiful bag at your next dressy event, perfection! This bag is £195 from Zappos Couture, but look out for similar designs in shops like Primark and H&M.

4. Using food in accessory design has recently experienced a major spike in interest, and designs like this are popping up not only on the catwalks (Moschino's A/W 14 collection was heavily food related) but also at reasonable prices in your favourite high street shops, This bag is lovely, but will only hold a few items (because it's teeny tiny) and will have to be imported from America. It is £30/$45 from Akira.

5. Foxes are too cute not to use as accessories. Obviously wearing fur isn't great, so why not wear something like these cute earrings instead? Earrings are another way for the less adventurous to explore the world of quirk as they can be tiny and your hair will cover them a lot of the time. The adorable little foxes are an old design, however, replicas like these metallic foxes from Not On The High Street look a lot more grown up and will compliment a number of outfits. 

Don't be afraid to liven up that all black outfit or spice up a tired look with a few accessories, even if they aren't as quirky as these, they still have the potential to look fabulous and make you shine like the star you are. 

Sun, Sand and Social Media

I get sent a lot of press releases, and most of the time, I'm really not interested (I got one about the menopause and a website that encourages affairs in marriages recently!) but this one really caught my eye.

'Brits spend more time on social media on holiday than talking to their travel companions'. I know us Brits love social media and it's hard to take a break, but why did you ask these people to come on holiday with you when you;re just going to talk to people back at home?!

This research was conducted by One Poll for Topdeck Travel who provide really adventurous holidays for young people. They found that a third of us Brits have confessed they spend more time on apps like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat whilst on holiday than actually talking to the people they have travelled with. They also found that the average Brit uploads 27 pictures during and after their holiday.

I get it: we just love to boast about our holidays and how much fun we're having. That Instagram selfie in front of that landmark: more likely to be done by a female, whilst guys love to share their stories from foreign adventures. However, instead of sharing this on social media, why not wait until you come back to Britain to share your stories with friends? Whilst you're abroad, soak in the local culture and experience new things.

What made me chuckle the most was the 10 most common holiday social media boasts. These are:

1. 'Me on the beach'
2. The hotel room
3. The hotel pool
4. Friends on the beach
5. 'Me being adventurous'
6. 'Me eating dinner'
7. 'Me with an animal'
8. Absolutely anything that will prove I'm in a foreign country (my personal favourite)
9. Photo out of the plane window
10. Friends doing something adventurous

I have to admit: I have had friends who have gone on some amazing holidays all over the world and I have really enjoyed looking at their pictures, but come on, do what you went on holiday for. Promise me you'll switch off just a little bit? Thanks.