June Favourites!

Hello all welcome back! Sorry for the missed post last week, I was so busy that blogging slipped my mind, however this week I'm back on track with my June Favourites, I've tried to include a little bit of everything and I hope you enjoy it!

First up, fashion! June has been a month of all seasons in North East England (where I live), with some days being hot sunshine and other days just being wet and windy. However, there have been a couple opportunities for me to get out my summer clothes and dust off my sandals!

L: TKMaxx, £19.99 // R: Tu Sainsbury's on sale £8

I seriously love both these pairs of shoes and they were both such a great find that I've been wearing them as much as possible this month. The sandals on the left are the Tropical Print footbed sandals from White Mountain available from TKMaxx. I got these while on a hunt for a pair of Birkenstock sandals, they've been in fashion for a while now and I've had my eye on some big time. However after trying a pair on, decided that these were more comfortable and for £30 less I couldn't say no! I love the tropical print, it gives a bit of colour to my more boring outfits.

The loafers on the right were a real bargain from Sainsbury's as I got them on 1/2 sale for only £8! I love pairing these with ripped jeans and a simple tee or my black dungarees. 

Casio unisex watch, TKMaxx, £6.99 // bulldog clips, New Look, £3.99

I've never been one for wearing a watch but saw this one and couldn't resist, I love how simple it is and the plain black doesn't clash with anything I'm wearing. I got this from TKMaxx for the bargain price of £6.99 but it's also available here.

As the weather has been a little bit warmer I've been really enjoying letting my hair air dry. If I'm in a hurry I use a diffuser, however I find my hair curls nicest when I let it do it's own thing. To keep it out of my face I've been loving using these bulldog clips from New Look. The top clip in the image is one I've been using for years, but any little clips are great for keeping the front sections of my hair neat and tidy!

Next, beauty! I've been all about glowing skin in June which sometimes even meant ditching foundation and reaching for a great face scrub!

Sun cream, Boots, £7.50 (full size) // Cleansing lotion, Boots, £2.79

These two products have been top of my list throughout the month, first up is this handy travel size sun cream from Garnier. I try to wear SPF all year round however I amp it up in the summer to protect my skin even more. I am super pale which means carrying round sun cream on a sunny day out is a must. This one is from the Garnier range 'Sensitive advanced' and is specially formulated for people with 'fair, sensitive and sun-intolerant skin'. This is SPF 50+ and protects against UVA and UVB rays. I love this because it's light on your skin and doesn't leave you feeling greasy at all.

Next up is this cleansing lotion from Boots. It's colour and fragrance free and enhanced with aloe vera. Despite its cheap price I find it removes my full face of make-up (inc mascara/eye liner) really well and leaves my skin feeling clean and soft.

Finally non-beauty! Some random non-beauty favourites for me this month range from plants to music and I thought I'd share a couple.

My boyfriend and I recently took up bouldering. For those of you who don't know, it's basically the same as indoor rock climbing but you're not attached to any ropes or harnesses. We had a lesson at our local centre and have been loving it! It really works your whole body out but doesn't leave you feel gross and sweaty. Plus, climbing up 12/17 foot walls really gives you a sense of achievement!

I also have been buying things to add to my university room once I go back in September. Last year I had a few personal touches but I really want to add to that in year two. One thing I really wanted was plants to give a bit of colour and life, but didn't want anything which I was going to have to care for properly which is why I've opted for succulents! They're perfect to keep in containers and are really hardy (especially the varieties I've chosen).

I've been all about girls when it comes to music recently and have been catching up on albums I've missed out on such as Taylor Swift, 1989 and Little Mix, Salute. But I've also been listening to Beyonce's self titles album (still) and really enjoying more pop in my iTunes playlists!

Let me know what you think of my favourites in the comments below and I'll be back next week with a new post! 

Stay golden, Gracie xo

2015 Reading challenge: Update!

Hello all and welcome back! Since finishing my first year of university I've been reading like mad and that means that this week’s post is an update of the 2015 reading challenge I'm taking part in. Now, I’ll stop babbling on and let you guys decide for yourselves whether these three books are good or bad!

If you want to catch up on my reading challenge, check out THIS and THIS.

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

(A memoir)

Reasons to stay alive is a book written by fiction author Matt Haig, it's different from what he usually writes as this is a non-fiction book and is kind of a memoir. The book is all about the authors struggles with mental illness, more specifically depression and anxiety. Haig starts the book when he was a teenager and goes right through to present day, the story is incredibly well written and really lets you understand what it must have been like for him to suffer from such illnesses. Despite the topic of the book being something you would usually associate as being bad, somehow the storytelling is still funny and the way it is written makes the content interesting. I think that everyone should read this book as it really does make you think differently about not only mental illnesses but life in general.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

(A book that made you cry)

I originally bought this book before Christmas but have only just gotten round to reading it, and I'm so glad I did!

It's set in 1986 in Omaha, Nebraska and follows the story of Eleanor, who is the new girl at school and Park who is just a regular kid, he's not super popular but isn't cast out either. Eleanor comes from a big family and lives with her mother, step-dad and younger siblings but has just returned after being kicked out. Eleanor's mother doesn't have a lot of money and is abused by her step-dad, it's through Eleanor's life that the author brings to light lots of issues which aren't usually talked about, especially not in YA novels. I really loved this book, you learn a lot about the characters especially as it's written from both of their points of view which let's you learn information about them and their backgrounds. I wasn't expecting to cry, however in the last few pages I really did, but don't let that put you off reading this, if you like other YA novels like those written by John Green, Gayle Forman and E. Lockhart then you'll enjoy this.

Paper Towns by John Green

(A book set in a different country)

I've been meaning to read this book for ages and with all the buzz surrounding the movie eventually got round to buying myself a copy. I've read Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars and really enjoyed both of those so I already knew this was going to be good. Despite really enjoying the characters and the plot of this book, I couldn't get into it as much as I have done with other books which meant it did take me longer than usual to read. That being said, I thought that it was really different from other YA novels and it was really really well written. I love John Green as an author, he always writes in a way that makes me want to just carry on reading his books forever and I really could of with Paper Towns. What I liked most about this book is that it wasn't all focused around Q and Margo as a possible couple, and instead portrayed Q as almost obsessed with the idea of Margo he had inside his head. I would really recommend this book if you're looking for something slightly different to read.

I hope you enjoyed my Reading Challenge update and if you have any comments about these books then please leave them below, I love getting book recommendations so leave those too! I'll be back next Sunday so please come back! Stay golden, Gracie xo

Summer Make-up Essentials!

Hello and welcome back! For me there are 3 things which I always finding myself turning for from my make-up bag as the weather heats up. That’s why this week I thought I would share with you this year’s picks for a light, dewy foundation; a warm, matte bronzer and a dark brown eye-liner!

Linked below // £8.99

The first thing I swap once the weather turns sunnier is my foundation. Through the winter I like using more high coverage foundations and use more powder, this year I've been using the Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation which provides great coverage but isn't too heavy. However in the summer I like a more natural look, and therefore chose the Rimmel London Wake Me Up foundation. I love Rimmel foundations as their shade 'light porcelain' matches my skin perfectly and they're not very expensive. Their Wake Me Up foundation isn't a new release, however this is the first time I've used it and so far I'm loving it. I find I don't need to use powder to make it last and it's sheer enough that you can still see my freckles, but you can't see my dark circles or blemishes! It's also got an SPF 15 which is an added bonus.

Similar product linked below

The next product I use mostly in summer is a bronzer. I'm super fussy with bronzers as I'm pale and think it's easy with a fair skin tone to over bronze, which is why I prefer a matte bronzer which I find to look more natural than one with a shimmer. I don't use a bronzer in winter - I prefer a more grey shade - but I like one in summer to add a little warmth and create a little definition as well. The one I'm using now I've featured in past blog posts and bought around Christmas time, and that is the L'Oreal Paris Glam Bronze, in the shade 00 Blond Sun. This is a really great bronzer and is very pigmented but still blendable which means you can either go for a natural or bold look super easily. Since buying this from boots I've not been able to find it online in the same style i.e. one colour in a compact packaging with a mirror underneath, however Boots online do sell the L'Oreal Paris Glam Bronze Duo Powder which I assume is similar.

Linked below // £5.99

The final product I turn to in summer is a brown eye-liner. I do still love and use a black liquid eye-liner but on sunny days I think that using a brown eye-liner, either pencil or liquid, can just add to that summery-bronzed glow and look beautifully natural. The one I've recently purchased to try out is the Maybelline New York Master Precise liquid eye-liner in the shade forest brown, this is a super dark brown but just looks more simple and undone than a solid black and has a super fine tip to make a cat eye really easy. 

I hope you've enjoyed this post, please feel free to let me know what make-up you enjoying using in the summer months! New blog posts go up on Sundays! 

Stay Golden, Gracie xo

2015 Reading Challenge: Update!

Hello all and welcome back. Today I'm doing an updated ‘2015 Reading Challenge’, if you want to catch up on the two posts I've done on this so far you can find them HERE and HERE. I've been super bust with uni over the past month but wanted to do one of these posts so I've chosen two books which are two of my all-time favourites and one which I read in late December 2014. I'm just about to start One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey so look out for that one in my next update!

Waterstones // £8.99

The first book I've chosen is The Ladies Paradise written by Emile Zola. This fits the category, a book set in a different country, as it is set in France. I read this after watching the TV show The Paradise (On UK Netflix), the show is very very loosey based on the book and is set in Britain rather than France. The book follows the idea of a town getting its first big department store and follows the story of Mouret, the owner of the store, who falls for Denise a shop girl. Denise is kind of portrayed as an underdog character who gets picked on by some of the other girls in the shop, who see themselves as better than her. I really love this book, it’s a classic and is one I go back to time and again if I'm not wanting to start something new.

Waterstones // £7.99

The second book is the one I read – for the second time - in late 2014 and that is Looking For Alaska by John Green. I read this after reading The Fault In Our Stars, and it was recommended to me by my boyfriend who read it before me. I find after reading John Green that his style of writing is so captivating that sometimes the only book that can fill the gap of finishing one of his books, is another of his books! I really enjoyed reading Looking For Alaska, it was better than I was expecting it to be and I ended up not being able to stop reading it once I had started – my favourite quality in a book. If you've read other book by John Green I would definitely recommend this one.

Bought from TKMaxx for £14.99

The final book is one I read 2-3 times a year, or whenever I have nothing to read or just when I'm not in the mood to read something new, and that is, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Now I'm completely obsessed with this book, not just the story but the language used, the characters and really everything it involves! The version I have is the complete Lewis Carroll collection which includes both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, among other Lewis Carroll stories. The category I'm fitting this into is a book with non-human characters and that is simply because not only are many characters non-human but they’re also completely made up!

I hope you enjoyed this reading post, stay golden!
Gracie xo

March Skincare Favourites

Hi all, welcome back! This week I wanted to share with you some constant skin care favourites which I have been using throughout March and which I have been loving! Some are new products and others are old favourites

These first two products are ones I have been using on and off since January (I've done a blog post on the body lotion here) however I really got into them in March. It’s been unseasonably warm recently which led to me being very pale and unprepared and getting slight sunburn on my shoulders, the Sanctuary body lotion really helped with this, not only does it smell lovely but it’s super lightweight and moisturising which helped with the sore skin 100%! The hand cream from Vaseline is one that I have again been using loads recently to keep my eczema at bay, it smells lovely and soaks quickly into the skin.

The next three products I have been using are face products, starting with these Simple Kind to Skin brightening face wipes. I use these on days when I've not been wearing make-up to clean my face before bed, they make my skin feel clean and are super sensitive. Next up is the Q10 face cream from Aldi, this is a really nice face cream which isn't too thick or thin and it also has SPF 15. Finally, my holy grail lip balm which is Vaseline, this is such a multi-purpose product and this conditioning version is especially great to heal your lips if you share my terrible habit of biting them!

I hope you liked my skin care favourites, check back next week for a new post!

Stay golden! Gracie xo

New Years Resolutions update

Hello all and welcome back! This week I'm going to be updating you on my gym routine and overall fitness. Earlier on in the year I did a post all about my New Years Resolutions and one of those was to get in the gym and improve my fitness and health and maybe even lose a little weight in the process.

Before I tell you about what I do and show you some of the clothes I wear to the gym let me tell you a little about my overall fitness/weight loss journey! I've always been plus size and naturally gain weight very easily, but I'm also not a naturally active person and have inherited a killer sweet tooth from my mam, thanks for that!

I work out in the gym for an hour, 3 times per week but sometimes I do choose to go for a walk/jog outside instead, I find if I've been in lectures all day I'm craving fresh air and a leg stretch so that works better for me. I had a shock aged 16 when I found myself just finished my GCSE’s and gaining not only qualifications but also weighing 13 stone 9lbs, this was the heaviest I had been in my life and I was only getting heavier, my plan of action was to go on a very strict diet (mine before this was shockingly unhealthy), lowering my portion sizes and going to the gym 3-4 times per week. 

I lost 3 stone in just over three months at which point I was nearly 10 stone and a lot happier with myself, the diet I was on wasn't ‘me’ enough to be long term so I slowly started increasing treats (but still kept them low) and kept on with the gym, this got my weight to level out at 11 stone and it has remained pretty stable ever since. Fast forward 2 years and due to exam stress from my A-levels (I eat when I'm stressed) I’d gone up to 12 stone 8lbs and although this isn't much over what I had been I knew if I didn't act I would soon be unhappy with my weight again. 

Now I'm at university I have a cheap gym 3 mins away and I'm in control of everything I eat all day every day. I try to eat as much fruit and veg as possible and try to keep my diet balanced and healthy while still having the odd treat- I'm a sucker for Cadbury’s chocolate! Now let me show you what I wear to the gym…

Everything here has now been discontinued (typical) however I'll attach links to the brand website or to similar items!

Trainers - Avia, these have curved soles to work your legs more while you train

Sports bra - Sports Direct, I have a seriously flat chest so wear this more for comfort than support

iPod touch, 4th generation

iPod case from eBay

Running headphones from Best Buy in America

Running leggings - Matalan, these have a tiny zipped pocket on the back perfect for putting a gym card/house key in

I don't buy expensive gym gear since I can't afford it but I love the stuff from Matalan and also from Sainsbury's. When you're working out the most important thing is that you're comfortable so don't worry if you're not in branded stuff. Also remember that you should do whatever you're happy with, whether that's working out 7 days a week or none. Body confidence isn't about other people, it's about you and if you're happy with your body and yourself then that's what's important!

I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into my life and fitness and I'll have another post up on Sunday!

Stay golden! Gracie xo

15 Facts About Me!

Hello all and welcome back! I've been busy with uni work all week and thought I’d post a quick ‘15 facts about me’ blog. I've tried to make these new and unique but I may repeat some things you already know from past posts, I hope you enjoy!

1.    I really love Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore is both mine and my mam's favourite character, he’s so gloomy I just want to give him a hug!
2.   I love patterns, I have different patterns on my bedding, blankets and cushions in my uni room. It makes the plain white walls not so boring!
3.   I love my iPad, I have the iPad Air and only got it in October but I take it everywhere, it’s so convenient for in lectures and to entertain myself on train rides
4.   I get really cold, really easily and therefore always have thick socks on and a thick hoodie
5.   I really love the band Paramore and can’t name a song of theirs I don’t like. Plus, Hayley Williams is so beautiful!

   6. I love stationary, this notebook from Paperchase is my latest purchase!

   7. I play Pokemon games when I'm bored and my brother taught me everything I know, Pokemon Ruby for GBA is my favoruite

   8. I dislike the flavour of mint and therefore always chew strawberry gum

   9. I love Nintendo and have played a lot of Mario in my time, Yoshi is one of my favourite characters

   10. My favourite biscuits are plain digestives

   11. Batman is my favourite superhero

12. I love wearing shirts and wear them with anything! These are my favourite three

13. I mostly wear black jeans and vests and usually jazz them up with colourful accessories/ jackets

14. I really love Guinea Pigs and really want some when I eventually get my own flat once I’ve finished uni

15. My boyfriend is called Curtis and we’ve been together for just over 2 years

Those are my 15 facts about me, this really made me think and I hope it was interesting for you! If you want to know more just leave a comment below and ask.

Hope your week has been good and stay golden! Gracie xo

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Sanctuary spa review!

Hello all, welcome back! 

In the boxing day sales I managed to grab myself a deal with the Sanctuary Spa 'Love the Little Things' mini's tin and thought I would bring you a review. I got this tin because I love sanctuary products, they're one of a few products which are coloured and scented but don't irritate my skin. Sanctuary Spa is also a cruelty free brand which a huge bonus. 

I got this set for £5 (RRP £10) from Boots in store it's also available online, however it's currently sold out on the Boots website.

The set is made up of a body lotion (75ml), body scrub (50ml), body wash (75ml), bath soak (75ml) and body puff. I personally don't have access to a bath and therefore it's the only item from the tin which I haven't tried out.

I love Sanctuary as a brand as all of it's products work really well and the original products (with the orange packaging) have the most amazing scent which really does create a spa-like vibe. These mini sizes are great for travelling but also allow you to indulge in a luxury product without having to spend a lot of money, perfect for a treat on a budget!

Hope you like this review! Be sure to comment if you want me to do more product reviews in the future, and if you have any products in mind.

Stay golden! Gracie xo

My Winter Favourites!

Hello all, welcome back!

I rarely try out new products when it comes to my skincare, especially in Winter, mostly because I have dry sensitive skin and unless I've read lots of reviews I won't go near it! With this in mind I thought I'd share my winter favourites, these are things which I automatically turn to as soon as the weather starts getting cold!

From left - right:

Vaseline petroleum jelly cocoa - available from Boots/Superdrug as well as most supermarkets

Nivea Creme - £3.56 from Boots

Nivea express hydration primer - £4.99 from Boots

Real techniques buffing brush - part of the core collection, £21.99 from Boots

As you can see my winter skincare and makeup is all about keeping as much moisture in my skin as possible! The Vaseline and the Nivea creme I use on a night, they both work wonders on dry skin however are better used when you can leave them to soak in, not when you're about to put foundation on! 

I don't always wear face makeup in winter. However, when I am wearing makeup I use the Nivea hydration primer, although this is a primer and not a moisturiser I find it works really well at moisturising the skin enough to create a lovely base for make-up and keeps it on well throughout the day. I usually use a sensitive skin moisturiser, such as the ASDA Young Skin matte moisturiser or the ALDI Q10 dry & sensitive day cream with SPF 15.

Finally, onto tools! As my skin gets more sensitive in the winter I don't like wearing lots of makeup, hence why I turn away from my beauty blender and towards my buffing brush!
Although I love my beauty blender, for day to day makeup in the winter months I prefer a lighter coverage and by using the buffing brush I still get all the coverage I need without feeling as though I'm wearing a full face of makeup. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my winter favourites, please leave any skincare recommendations in the comments!
Unfortunately my laptop has broken and after being sent for repair twice, PC World have deemed it unfixable, this means I'll be without one for sometime (not sure how long) but will post updates from my iPad so you guys know when I'll be back posting. Hopefully it'll be as soon as after New Year, I restart university on the 11th so fingers crossed it'll be not too long after that! Sorry for being a bit absent in the last few months, having a broken laptop has been not at all helpful but 2015 should be a better year!
Hope you all have a great time over the next few weeks, whatever holiday you celebrate!

Stay golden! Gracie xo 

Edinburgh at Christmas...

My favourite thing about living in Edinburgh is Christmas! It's my favourite time of the year and is especially amazing when you're surrounded by the festive delights that Edinburgh has on offer.

In Edinburgh there is loads going on at Christmas the European market and Scottish market are my two particular favourites, so many amazing Christmas gifts and of course the food! From Bratwurst sausages at the European market through to seafood chowder at the Scottish market there's everything you need to keep warm on a chilly December day!

I've been to both the markets quite a few times (I'm totally addicted to them) and thought i'd take the opportunity to show you guys what my Christmas so far has been made up of.

 Hope everyone has been having a great month, stay golden!
Gracie xo

 PS: all images in this blog post are my own and taken and edited by me

My recipe's: breakfast favourite!

Hello all, welcome back!

This Sunday has been pretty hectic for me as I've got a psychology essay due in tomorrow - yikes! Following that I have a 2 hour lecture and *fingers crossed* I'll make it to the gym for an hour after that, because it's all systems go I wanted to make sure I had breakfast ready to eat - quite possibly in a lecture if I'm late. 

It's times like this when I look to overnight oats (sometimes called summer porridge). This simple breakfast is something which has recently become insanely popular, and quite possibly because it's quick, easy and can be super good for you. 

The recipe that I make is a mix of a few different recipes that I found online using ingredients that I always have in, the beauty of this is that you can completely cater it to suit your diet and your life. So, here's my version:

ingredients available at any supermarket // measuring cups/spoons £1 for both, Poundland

Ingredients:

> 1/2 cup Quick Cook Porridge oats- I like ready brek as it gives a super smooth texture

> 1/2 cup milk- I like using semi-skimmed

> 1/4 cup Greek yogurt- I use non fat, but just choose your favourite Greek yogurt

> 2 tsp honey

> Cup measures and spoon measures

> A pot with a lid- any you want, I use a small circular tub so I can eat on the go if need be, but you can transfer your oats to a bowl if you have more time in the morning

> PLUS any fruit/nuts/seeds you wish to add for extra flavour

Method:

Literally all you do is add everything into your tub, stir together, put the lid on and refrigerate overnight. So so simple!

I used chocolate ready brek for this to add more flavour(I plan to add orange segments when I eat it) but you can add a whole range of things, pretty much whatever you want! Fruit works especially well, you can add this fresh/frozen/dried/pureed,nuts and seeds also work great, as does peanut butter. On my Pinterest account (Grace Collinson, @collinson0579) I've created a board called Blogstuff where I pin things related to blogs posts, you'll also find a few overnight oat variations, I find that experimenting is the best way to find out what you like.

Not the best looking but it is the best tasting!

I'm hoping to make this into a 3/4 part mini series so you can get a glance of some of my favourite things to eat, now I'm at uni I find making your own can often be the cheapest way to shop, especially if you're smart with your ingredients and have the time to make food. It's also a great way to make food and freeze it for when you're short on time- or money!

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know some of your favourite breakfast dishes! See you on Sunday!

Stay golden, Gracie xo

We Were Liars book review

Hello all, welcome back!

Firstly, I'm sorry for missing Wednesday, I had a very busy day of uni work and blogging completely slipped my mind. Because of this I've decided to update only on Sunday's. So every Sunday from now on I'll upload but no more Wednesday's, this means I can juggle uni work, blog stuff as well as having a day off and time to do stuff. 

Anyway, now onto the actual blog!

This week for my final weekday blog I thought I would give you all a small book review of We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. 

I read this book just over a month ago and have been meaning to do a review ever since! I'm a huge bookworm - as nerdy as that may be - and since moving to uni I've had way too little time dedicated to reading. 

I hadn't heard of this book, nor its author, when I bought it (from ASDA for £3.85) but the blurb sounded good and for £4 I thought it would make a decent read for the 2 hour train journey to Edinburgh, if nothing else. But now I've read it I am so glad I got it, this book is about a girl called Cadence Sinclar Eastman and her family who all live on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts in America. The book takes you through the adventures she has with her cousins over the course of summer holidays over a few years, it goes through good times and bad times both personally and with issues surrounding her family. The great thing about this book is that it's so relatable in many ways which means you can really put yourself in the story and get into it. It makes you laugh as well as cry and is such a heartfelt honest book. It's only 250/300 words which means that it's not going to take you weeks on end to finish, and you can quickly get into the story and follow the characters individually. 

I would highly reccomend this book to people who like reading books such as The Fault In Our Stars and Perks of Being a Wallflower. If you have read it please let me know what you thought and also let me know any books which you've recently read and think I would enjoy!

Thanks for reading, stay golden! 

Gracie xo