March '15 Favourites

It's been a while since I've done a favourites post and for once it isn't down to the fact that I've just been too damn lazy. Believe it or not I just haven't had any new favourites, or should I say enough new favourites to write a decent post about. These past four weeks however I have discovered and also rediscovered my love for a number of things so I thought I would share them with you all.

Skincare/Fragrance

I'm going to hold my hands up and admit that I'm no skincare expert. I'm rather lazy when it comes to looking after my skin and I don't really have a regime that I follow religiously. Much to my skin's delight however, I have been loving three products this past month. The first is the Green Tea Cleansing Foam from the Korean brand, Etude House. You may remember this product from my YesStyle haul post a good few months back, but I had completely forgotten about this product and it was left sitting on my shelf gathering dust. I decided to try it out again and remembered why I loved it so much in the first place! It leaves your skin feeling fresh, clean and much more awake which is great on the days I'm up at 6am. 

From my face to hands, I have also been loving this chocolate vanilla scented hand cream. I usually stick with Soap & Glory's Hand Food but my friend got me this for my birthday and I can 100% confirm that the stuff smells amazing! I've been putting it on before I go to bed so I've been waking up not only with my hands feeling super soft, they also smelling like chocolate! 

My third skincare favourite is an oldie but a goodie: the Coconut Body Butter from the Body Shop. Their body butters go on really nicely. There's none of that sticky business. The coconut scent is my favourite scent from the Body Shop so this was obviously a winner for me. 

My final beauty favourite is the Vanilla Body Mist from the Boots Extracts range. I'm not usually the biggest fan of body sprays and body mists as I prefer to wear a fragrance that lasts all day and quite frankly I'm too lazy to spritz myself every hour, but this smells so good that it's definitely worthy enough of a mention.

Book/Music/TV

I'm one of those people that goes through phases with reading. I'll read a lot for about two months and then won't pick up another book for about five. Recently the latter stage has passed and my current read is a bit different from the usual books that I pick up. 'The Hourglass Factory' by Lucy Ribchester is about a young journalist who is trying to solve the case of Ebony Diamond, a trapeze artist who goes missing during a performance. It's set in London in the early 20th century and the novel also focuses quite heavily on the suffragette movement. Even if this sort of book isn't your usual cup of tea, I highly recommend that you give it a chance! 

Music-wise I have been obsessing over Marina & the Diamond's new album, FROOT.  Marina is by far my favourite female artist, but I was skeptical about how good this album would be. Surely nothing could live up to her previous record, Electra Heart. And I was right. Electra Heart is still her best album in my opinion, but FROOT comes in at a very close second. My favourite songs on the album would have to be Savages, Forget and I'm a Ruin. Another music favourite this month isn't so much of a new one. I've been listening to 5 Seconds of Summer for over a year now, but recently I have been listening to them non-stop. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the biggest TV watcher. I usually just stick with anime and YouTube videos. One of the few shows that I do watch however is Pretty Little Liars and I have been absolutely obsessed with this last season. I'm not going to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who isn't all caught up yet but what I will say is that I cannot wait for the next season!

App

I don't usually include apps in my favourites but I couldn't not give this game a mention! What happens when you mix Disney with Japan? You get Tsum Tsum, that's what happens. Tsum Tsum is one of those games that you become addicted to the second you start playing it. All you have to do is connect the matching characters in order to make them disappear. You earn coins and with those coins you can buy new Disney characters to play with. Each character has a special feature that you can use to boost up your score! And it's not only the app that I've been obsessing over. I've recently also started collecting the mini plushies! I only have Marie, Eeyore and Pluto so far but I plan on collecting them all. You can find them in Clinton's for £3, and they also sell larger ones.

As I type this it is freezing cold outside and there was ice on the ground when I was walking to the bus stop this morning. You honestly wouldn't think it was Spring. Here's hoping that the weather will warm up soon. I am so over wearing jumpers and big jackets.

Until next time,

Elijah xo

Bloglovin' | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr

October '14 Favourites

This post is a little overdue but it's here none the less. Part of me is a little upset that October is over but the other part of me is jumping up and down with extreme excitement! The end of October only means one thing. CHRISTMAS IS NEXT MONTH! Yes, yes, yes, I know it's still over a month away but Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and if it were socially acceptable I would embrace the holiday all year round. Unfortunately, many people would be more than happy to throw a stocking full of coal at me if I did that..

But I am not here to talk about Christmas. The end of the month brings a new batch of favourites and  have a few wonders to share with you!

American Horror Story: Freakshow
Now, I'm not someone who usually gets overly excited about TV shows, but ever since the forth series of AHS was confirmed I have been buzzing! AHS is probably my all-time favourite TV show. Yes, it beats Doctor Who. Just. Five episodes into the series and I am obsessed with it! I would say it's my second favourite series so far after Asylum. I can't wait to see how fucked up this series gets! Tell me I'm not the only one that thinks the more fucked up, the better..

Zoella Beauty Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion
I've been a huge Zoella fan for around two years now, and I can't quite believe the success she's had since. I subscribed to her before she hit 1 million subscribers and now she'll soon be on the verge of hitting 7 million. It's insane! So, you can imagine my excitement when she launched her very own beauty range.  I knew that I had to buy at least one of the items. This body lotion is a dream! I wasn't overly fussed about the scent to begin with as I usually prefer spicier scents like cinnamon and this scent is a lot more fresh, but I've grown to really like it. I'm also in total awe over the packaging.

Etude House Green Tea Cleansing Foam
You may remember a post I made last month about the Etude House products I recently purchased. That post included this very cleansing foam. I love how it lathers up really easily and how it makes your face feel so much more refreshed and clean afterwards! This is the first time I've ever used a cleansing foam as I'm usually really bad with skin care, but I can safely say that this did not disappoint!

Music Favourites
The month of October saw two music favourites. The first is a song that goes by the name of FROOT by Marina & the Diamonds. Marina is my number one favourite artist and I have been waiting on the edge of my seat since the end of the Electra Heart era for new music. I have had this song on repeat and am still not fed up with hearing it! I literally cannot express how excited I am for her upcoming third album. With Electra Heart being one of my favourite albums of all time it will be incredibly difficult for this new album to be AS good but if FROOT is anything to go by, it could be a very close call.

My second music favourite of the month is by none other than Miss Taylor Swift. Her fifth album, 1989, was released towards the end of the month and I am officially obsessed. It's completely different to her previous four albums but is just as good and just as, if not more, catchy. It's not my favourite album of hers (that spot is a tie between Speak Now and Red) but it definitely did not disappoint me in the slightest. My favourite songs would probably have to be Wonderland (which is on the deluxe edition), All You Had To Do Was Stay, Blank Space and How You Get The Girl. And I also feel like I should mention that after almost a six year wait, I will FINALLY be seeing her live in June! It's been a long time coming but I don't doubt that it'll be worth the wait.

I can't quite believe that the next time I write a favourites post we will be in December and the countdown to Christmas will have officially begun. HELLO ADVENT CALENDAR!
Let me know what you've been loving during the month of October or if you've loved any of the same things I have.

Until next time,
Elijah xo

Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin'

September '14 Favourites

It is officially my favourite time of the year! These last three months are my absolute fave! I love Autumn, Pumpkin Spice lattes, candles, cosy jumpers, fireworks and of course, Christmas! And with the beginning of October it means that it's time for me to share my September favourites. I will admit that there aren't really any new beauty favourites this month. It's been a month of using the same products over and over again. However, I do have a number of random favourites to share with you all.

Nakd. Bars

I have an addiction other than caffeine and it comes in the form of these raw fruit and nut bars. I've been eating these for a few months now, but it's only been in the past month that I've really been hooked on them. It's got to the stage that I'm having one pretty much every day. These bars are super healthy and are literally just a mixture of fruit and nuts! They come in a whole range of different flavours including Cocoa Delight, Cashew Cookie and Rhubarb & Custard. They have recently launched two new flavours, Bakewell Tart and Christmas Pud, which I'm excited to try (if I can get hold of them. I still haven't managed to find the Caffe Mocha flavour which I am pretty distraught about). Who needs a chocolate bar when you can eat these bars of goodness?!

Pumpkin Spice Lattes

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER! Yes, I am one of those avid lovers of the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. Every year I shed tears at the end of the season. The PSL is my favourite Starbucks drink of all time. Yes, I even prefer it to the Chai Tea Latte. I was super excited when I found out that they were launching them a month earlier this year! It's clear that these bad boys are high in demand and naturally I have been taking every opportunity to treat myself to one before they are replaced with the Christmas drinks.

MCM Comic Con '14

At the beginning of the month I went to Comic Con for the first time and it was AMAZING! One of the best weekends of my life. I won't speak too much about it here as I made this post a few weeks back talking about my experience. I'm so ready for next years event and am eagerly waiting for the tickets to go on sale.

Attack On Titan Hoodie

I have pretty much lived in this hoodie ever since I bought it at Comic Con. It's so soft and comfy and I am refusing to put it in the wash in fear that the softness will be lost. Does anyone else only put their hoodies in the wash like once a year? I feel like it's a completely normal thing to do and is in no way frowned upon. I have no regrets about spending £32 on this.

Doctor Who
It would be an injustice if I did not include Doctor Who in my favourites this month. September saw the 12th Doctor explode onto our screens and I have to say, so far Capaldi is doing a fucking fantastic job. I was unsure about how I would feel since Matt was my favourite Doctor (yes, I preferred him over David. Don't shoot). But I seem to have taking a shine to the new Doctor. I love how they decided to keep the Scottish accent and wish they did the same with David. The story lines still aren't the best. Much like a lot of Whovians, I prefer the stories of the Russell T. Davis days, but the series has still managed to hold my attention and continues to be one of my favourite TV shows.

[Photo credit to BBC]

And so another favourites post comes to a close. Let me know what you guys have been loving this month or if you've been loving any of the same things I have!
Until next time,
Elijah xo

Follow me on Bloglovin'

Monthly Favourites - August '14

Where the hell has August gone?! It's crazy how fast the months are flying by. Before we head into September and the cold weather kicks in, it's time that I share what I've been loving for the past four weeks.

The Body Shop Coconut Lip Butter

For about a year now the only lip balm product that I had been using were the Maybelline Baby Lips, but recently I have been cheating on it with this bad boy. Not only does it do wonders for my lips but it smells AMAZING! I am absolutely obsessed with anything coconut flavoured/scented and this product does not disappoint. I know I'm a bit late to the game with these lip butters but I never really ventured into the Body Shop all that often. I also purchased the strawberry lip butter as it was buy one get one half price but I've yet to try it.

Nude T Bar Dolly Shoes from Missguided
These T Bar style shoes have been on the scene for quite a while now but despite desperately wanting a pair I could never quite justify buying them. However, this month I finally caved and I'm so glad that I did. These shoes are just the cutest and are perfect for the transition from summer to autumn. I had originally wanted them in black but unfortunately they didn't have my size so I decided to opt for the nude ones. And did I mention that they were only £19.99? Bargain.

Burgundy Bag from Primark
I've never really been the type of girl to obsess over bags. I'll only really buy one if I need one. However, this month I seemed to fall into the trap of buying a bag that I could easily live without. How did I justify this purchase? It was only £8 and I'm in the process of giving my wardrobe an Autumnal make-over. The bag is a fairly decent size and is able to fit the basic necessitates. It has a gorgeous pattern engraved into it and it also has a pretty pattern on the inside of it too. I can already see this becoming an Autumn staple.

Great Divide by Twin Atlantic
I have had this album on repeat for the past couple of weeks. There isn't a single bad song on it! My favourites on the album are Cell Mate, Actions That Echo and Hold On. I'm seeing them live next month and I seriously cannot wait! If you've never listened to Twin Atlantic and are into alternative rock music then I highly recommend you give them a listen.

[Photo credit]

Yoghurt & Granola
I won't say too much about this month's food favourite as I've already written a post about it. I've made it several times this month and have been mixing the ingredients up. I recently tried it with a summer berry mix and I have to admit, I think I preferred it than with the blueberries which is definitely saying something since blueberries are my absolute fave. If you haven't already, you can check out the recipe here.

And that's us for another month. Feel free to leave a comment below telling me what you've been loving throughout August and if you're excited for the new season. I know I am. Autumn is my favourite time of year alongside Christmas and I am so ready for pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters and Halloween!

Until next time,
Elijah xo

Follow me on Bloglovin'

Monthly Favourites - July '14

Hey everyone.

Did you know that it is less than five months now until Christmas?! I doubt I am the only one to feel that this year is flying by. As we step into what I like to think as the final month of summer, I bring you everything I have been loving throughout the past four weeks. 

Eco Tools make-up brushes

I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I am a make-up brush expert because I am far from it. Up until recently I applied most of my make-up with my fingers and had never stepped into the make-up brush/sponge territory but I wanted to change that. I didn't fancy spending a lot of money on my first set of brushes so instead of going for the obvious blogger/beauty guru favourites of the Real Techniques brushes, I opted for these Eco Tools ones. Not only are they cheaper, but they're made from natural and recycled materials! I only have the powder brush and the foundation brush but I'm eager to complete the set. They apply make-up well and the flat foundation brush gives a smoother finish than when I used my fingers. I can't compare them to other brushes as I haven't used any others, but I feel these do the job well!

Montagne Jeunesse Creamy Coconut face mask

As with the brushes, I had never really taken any notice of face masks until recently. I actually received this particular one at Christmas but decided to keep it for when I went on holiday. What else was I supposed to do with my free time in the evenings due to the lack of wifi? I automatically fell in love with it! Not only does it leave your face feeling smooth and refreshed but it smells AMAZING! I love anything coconut flavoured or scented so this was a winner for me.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

This cleansing water will put an end to all your make-up removing worries. Just apply some to a cotton pad, wipe and BOOM your make-up is gone. It works on your face, eyes and lips and no rinsing is required at all. Not only does it remove make-up but it also hydrates your face in the process and leaves you feeling refreshed. Did I also mention that you don't need to rub at your make-up either? No more red eyes as you try to remove that mascara.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon

Recently I have gotten into the habit of buying magazines for their free gifts. This is both a good and a bad thing. The bad is that I now have a pile of magazines in my room that I don't really have the space for, the good is that I basically bought a make-up/beauty product for less than half the retail price and potentially found a new love like I did with this chubby stick from Clinique. I received this free with Glamour magazine which cost me £2 so I like to think that I bought a higher end lip product for that price. But back to the product itself. I know I'm a bit late to the game with these chubby sticks but I now see what all the fuss was about. Not only are they super moisturising but they also give your lip a bit of colour.

In The Flesh [TV series]

I don't usually watch a lot of TV and I'm not the biggest of fan of zombies but OH MY GOD THIS SHOW IS SO GOOD! In The Flesh aired its first season last year on BBC3 and the second season has only recently ended. I'm useless at summarising things so here's a short summary taken from popdesign: "Following his death four years ago, Kieran's family believed that they'd never see him again. After his funeral though, thousands of people who have passed away came back to life as zombies. Following months of rehabilitation and medication, they are gradually allowed to return to their homes." If you're into anything supernatural then you're guaranteed to love it!

[Photo credit to the BBC and Digital Spy]

Meridian Almond Butter

Sorry peanut butter, but I ain't got no time for you no more As I was on holiday earlier in the month, my parents kindly allowed me to choose a slightly more pricey nut butter and I have now officially left the peanut behind and have moved onto bigger and better things with the almond. It tastes good on toast, caramel Snack a Jack rice cakes, apple slices and celery sticks but it can also be used in loads of recipes!

Feel free to leave a comment below telling me what you've been loving over the past month or if you've been loving any of the same things as me! 

I'd also like to quickly mention that I'm currently selling a few things on Depop. Unfortunately I'm selling to UK only right now, but feel free to check it out.

Until next time,

Elijah xo