How to keep on top of your blog or youtube channel

Hi everyone,

 

Juggling a blog or YouTube channel, or both, is not easy. You need to have a high level of commitment to it. Especially if you want to succeed. So I try to follow certain things to keep myself on top of it. Its so easy to fall behind and then get stuck behind on work. So I like to keep on top of it so then I can spend evenings in bed watching Netflix. So here are my top tips.

 

1. Stay organised...

 

I do this by keeping a calendar with all my blog posts planned on it. I then take notes for my posts so then when it comes to writing them, I can write them fluently. I keep all my paper work for my posts in a folder. This way when I am looking back over posts I can easily find out anything I need to know. By keeping everything in as folder you can make sure you don't lose anything and you can take it wherever you need to.

 

2. Keep track of your statistics...

 

I love doing this. Every month I keep a track of what my statistics are for the previous month. I love to see how they have changed. Also it helps for you to work out if you have had a good month of posts. You can then tell what your reader/viewers want to see.

 

3. Listen to what your readers/subscribers want to see...

 

This is something I swear by. I believe if you listen to what your audience wants, then you are guaranteed to please. But also make sure you are filming/writing what you want to, its all about the balance. I also think this is an awesome way to connect with your followers. So get them involved and start getting this creative river flowing.

 

4. Plan ahead...

 

To me this is one of the most important things, plan ahead. Don't get to an end of the month and have no idea what you have coming up. I aim to have a month planned ahead, and it works. Even if its just written in the calendar. Its there, it can be changed, nothing is set in stone. I think there is nothing worse than getting to a week where you have no idea what your writing about. Firstly that puts you behind and then you start to rush things. I like to make sure everything is perfect before I publish it. So plan ahead, it really doesn't take that long. A great way to plan is to use a whiteboard to write your goals on, this keeps you on track.

 

5. Keep anyone you are working with up to date...

 

Whenever I work alongside another blogger/Youtuber or a company I always make sure we email regularly. If you are both kept up to date with what's going on this helps to keep up the communication. Then everyone knows where they stand. This will also build trust as you will both know what to expect from each other.

 

6. Keep a calendar or diary...

This is the perfect way to keep track of what your doing. It is then all laid out in front of you. You can easily see what you have planned and can then act on it. Also remember things change, you can play around with your calendar it isn't stuck there once you have written it.

So they are my tips on keeping on top of your blog/YouTube channel. Do you have any that I haven't mentioned? Let me know in the comments.

Love
Zoe x
 

New additions to my room

Hi everyone,

As you know back in July I redecorated my bedroom and I have been slowly building up how I want it to look. I am an absolute sucker for home-ware and if I see something I like, I cant help but buy it. Normally this results in me bringing things home and realising that I just don't have the room in my bedroom. Or what I find happens loads is it just doesn't go with the image I have in my head of how I want it to look. But I just adore home stuff and if I like it, it somehow ends up in my basket. So the colour theme I am going for with my room is greys, coppers and white. I love all these colours. Then throughout the seasons, as they change I add small amounts of colours to the room. Which I just love. So I thought as I have picked up some new items for my room, that I would share them with you. 

Light box:

I have wanted one of these for so long. Then I came across one in Tesco and thought I just have to get it. I really wanted one to go in the back of my YouTube videos, which I am still yet to do. But I keep this up on my floating shelf. I love the quote that I currently have on there, but it does change quite a bit. These are super fun as you can change what it says with the changeable tiles. I love having this on in the evenings with my fairy lights as this makes my room look so cosy. I just wish I had gone out and got one sooner, as I absolutely adore mine. 

Zoella storage pots:

I have been searching high and low for these pots. Pretty soon after Zoella released these I tried to get them, but nowhere had them in stock. So the other week I got thinking about them again and decided to look on Ebay. And there they were. I quickly ordered them so I had no time to change my mind and a couple of days later they arrived. I bought these to store my makeup brushes in. They are copper and marble, which let me say is two of my favourite things for home decor. The marble is white and fits perfectly with my image I have for my room. I am even considering if there is any other ways I can get more marble into my room, I love it. These pots fit my makeup brushes in perfectly and they are so much easier to find the ones I am looking for. These look amazing on my white dressing table, it has never looked so good. 

Bird fairy lights:

I saw these on the Matalan sale and fell instantly in love with them. They are glass birds and they are the most delicate things I have ever seen. When they arrived I had the sudden thought of, oh where am I going to put them? I knew they had to go somewhere where they wouldn't fall as they are glass. So I have these hanging round my copper grid above my dressing table. They just look so adorable. They look amazing when they are switched on and make my room look super cosy. You all know how I love my fairy lights.

So they are a few extra things I have purchased for my room. I absolutely love all of them. They all tie in perfectly with what I am aiming for in my room. Have you got any ideas of other things I could purchase for my room? Let me know in the comments.

Love

Zoe x

Maybelline New York The Nudes Palettes

Hi everyone,

 

Always looking for them perfect nudes? Well look no further than The Nudes palettes by Maybelline New York. There is honestly a colour here for everyone. I know what your thinking, Zoe nudes are boring. I really don't agree with you, you will find a lot more inside these palettes than just your basic nudes. With 4 palettes to choose from, you are destined to find the right shade for you. So lets delve into these and find out what is on offer.

 

 

The Nudes:

 

This was the first of the palettes I purchased and holy moly I loved it the moment I bought it. This is the perfect nudes palette. Full of all the natural shades you will ever need. You will find a mixture of creams and brown shades. These are a mixture of shimmer shades and matt shades. Which can be used to create the perfect natural smoky eye. This is a great palette for all beginners who are just starting out with makeup. It is super easy to use and the colours blend very well.

 

 

The Blushed Nudes:

 

This one is for the girly girls. The pinkie shades in this palette are absolutely stunning. This again is a matt and shimmer mixture. I love using this palette to create a perfect pink shimmery eye. The best palette for the biggest girly girls out there. The shades in this are really subtle and are great for people who want to try something new but don't want anything to daring.

 

 

The 24 Karat Nudes:

 

If your looking for beyond gorgeous, I think I may be about to show it to you. I mean come on, how stunning is this palette. The array of colour in this is full on shimmery shades, what more could a girl be looking for. I have been loving wearing the burgundy shade in the outer corner of my eye to create a smoky look. It is a lot darker and more vampy than I would normally wear but I cant get enough of it. Being a typical girl I am also really into the gold. How pigmented this is, is insane. I have had my eye on the green, but I am yet to brave it.

 

 

The Rock Nudes:

 

To all the rock goddesses out there say hello to this beauty. I fell instantly in love with this palette, even though it is entirely out of my comfort zone. The mixture of nude, metal and blue shades really make this palette something special. If you are a girl who is always rocking their smoky eye, you need to look no further. This is perfect. I am still yet to use this one and push myself out of my comfort zone. But trust me I will be using this palette.

 

 

So that is the four palettes out of The Nudes range. Absolutely beautiful, all of them. They are all put into such stunning packaging. Which looks incredible among any makeup collection. Have you used any of these palettes if so what did you think? Let me know in the comments.

 

Love

Zoe x

 

Spongedry and foudation blender review

Disclaimer: The company did kindly send me everything you see in this post to review. All opinions are my own.

 

Hi everyone,

 

So I seriously can not tell you how excited I am to be writing this post. So a few weeks back the company Basic Beauty Tools got in contact with me asking if I was interested in working with them. Well of course I jumped at the chance. They kindly sent me a PR package which contained everything they sell. So today I'm going to tell you a bit about them and what they sell because trust me, its good. I just know your going to love it just as much as me. 

 

Its only right we start with who are this amazing brand that I'm talking about. Basic Beauty Tools are a new company who specialise in beauty tools. So ladies get ready this is going to be your new go to brand. They currently sell two different items. One is called the Spongedry and the other is a Foundation Blender. Once you see these products believe me you will fall instantly in love, I know I did.

 

I think its only right to say how beautifully packaged their packages are delivered. Honestly for a new company a lot of thought has been put into this and I think its only right it gets recognised. All deliveries are wrapped in coloured tissue paper which is sealed with the iconic Basic Beauty Tools sticker. Once you are inside the tissue paper your products are neatly packaged and then stuffed with tissue paper to ensue nothing within gets damaged. This is honestly one of the best packaged deliveries I have ever received. Which I believe is always a good sign for a company. If they take that much care over their packaging the products themselves must be to a high standard.

 

 

So lets get into the Spongedry. This is sold with a foundation blender and they come in some awesome colour combinations. This is a collapsible stand/dryer for your foundation sponges. This can be used with any foundation sponge on the market, as long as it is a teardrop sponge. The idea of this convenient holder is that your sponge sits on it and when it is wet it allows it to dry evenly. This helps to avoid bacteria and mould forming on the sponge. I love all the colours this comes in, they are all so jazzy. The Spongedry does look great on any dressing table or with your makeup. Being collapsible it is perfect for travelling, wherever you will be going. It comes with a perfect sized pouch to keep it in when travelling. I love this and I will definitely not be going anywhere without mine.

 

 

So now we have the Foundation Blender. This is the first ever foundation sponge I have ever used. why did I not start sooner. I mean this is like the holy grail of beauty tools. Where have I been living. So these come in three colours, obviously I love them all. This sponge is a teardrop sponge. Which means it comes with a fatter end and a pointed tip. The rounded end is great for applying foundation to all the main areas of your face. The pointed tip is perfect for them hard to reach areas. So no need to buy smaller sponges this one does everything. I use this to apply my foundation and concealer. I then blend my cream contour and highlight with it, which it does a perfect job of. The sponge is super soft and does not retain water. So this means you can use less product. Can we just talk about the flawless application you get from this. I mean its like awesome. My foundation has never looked this good, and super natural. Also what shocked me the most was that this is quicker than using a brush. Like I never would of thought that but I couldn't be more happier about this. Hello 15 minute makeup, love it. 

 

 

You can purchase both of these items at Basic Beauty Tools website. The Spongedry retails at £14.99 and the Foundation blender retails at £5.99.

 

As I said these products were sent to me. So I would love to say a massive thank you to Chantal for sending me these amazing products to try.

 

I will be uploading a YouTube video which goes into more detail about these products, so keep your eyes peeled for that on my social media. I will also be uploading a makeup tutorial using the foundation blender just so you can see how it can be used.

 

Do these products catch your eye? Well I will be doing a couple of giveaways in March. So keep checking my social media for details about that. Also until the 31st March you can use my discount code ZOE10 on their website to receive 10% off your order. So enjoy.

 

Love

Zoe x

 

Bloom candles review

Hi everyone,

 

If I'm not talking about skincare, I seem to be talking about candles. You all know how much I love my candles. Well in January I went online and had to check out these candles I kept seeing on Instagram. What attracted me to them was the fact that they are in jam jars. Its like nothing I own, so I knew I had to have some. I could hardly pick which ones I wanted, which was basically all of them. So I ended up picking two of them, trust me its not as easy as it sounds.

 

 

The first one is sherbet lemon. Now not only does this look beautiful, it also smells it. The first thing you notice is the iconic jam jar it comes in. Super beautiful and an eye catcher wherever you keep it. The colour of this is this awesome yellow, which instantly makes me think of sherbet lemons. Now I love sherbet lemon sweets so I just couldn't wait to find out if this smelt just like them. Guess what, it actually does. This is one of the most beautiful candles I have ever smelt. This burns incredibly well and the scent fills the room evenly without being over powering.

 

 

Surprise is the next one. This one is this incredible rainbow candle. Which is like nothing I own, hence why this had to be purchased. The scent of this one is mango sorbet. Yes it is amazing. Super fruity and tropical. Honestly just believe me when I say the scent is mind blowing its so amazing. Again this candle burns really well. It burns evenly so you don't get any excess candle down the sides of the jars. I cant praise this candle enough. What more could a girl want than a rainbow candle that smells amazing?

 

 

One thing I love about this company is that they are honestly so cost effective. The candles retail at £5.99. Now come on there are not many places you can buy candles for that. The delivery is also really quick, I was very impressed. I would seriously recommend these to everyone. They are good for women and men. They are perfect for gifts or just as a little something for you. This is the must have home item you have been looking for.

 

You can find bloom candles here.

 

Have you tried bloom candles? Let me know if you have in the comments.

 

Love

Zoe x 

Neals Yard Remedies Palmarosa Facial Wash Review

Hi everyone,

 

Yes I have yet another review for you, it wont be the last. This month has been a crazy month of trying out some new awesome things. So its only natural I want to share them with you guys. All I will say is be prepared there is even more on the way. Also here we are again, another skincare product, so I holla out to all my girls out there who love skincare as much as me. But lets not forget the guys to, this one could be a winner for you too. As you know I love my NYR products and this is no different.

 

If you haven't heard about Neal's Yard Remedies before they are a British company who specialise in organic products. Their products are all incredible and made with such care. These are the no nasty products you always hear about. All displayed in the stunning blue glass bottles or jars, these are iconic products. That will definitely made a huge statement on your dressing table or in your bathroom. NYR don't only do skincare. They also do makeup, home fragrance, supplements, books and loads more. Definitely somewhere for you all to check out.

 

This facial wash is aimed at people with oily and combination skin. This is the perfect product for all of you, who like me, suffer with them pesky blemishes. When my skin is really bad this is my go to facial wash. It helps to calm and get rid of any blemishes I have on my skin. I love how super gentle this is and it gently foams on the skin, without the dreaded after affect of dry skin. This is oil-balancing but I can reassure you this will not dry your skin out like other facial washes. I have used ones in the past that after I have used them my skin feels like sandpaper. Which come on, not really what we're looking for. The purifying palmarosa in this wash removes impurities from the skin, with out drying it out and not stripping the natural oils.

 

 

To use this take a couple of pumps in your hand and apply in circular motions to damp skin. It will gently foam. Then rinse off and dry your skin.

 

So what do I love about this, well that obvious everything. Firstly as I said above its organic. I love the idea that the products I am using on my skin are good for it. Some products on the market have all sorts of nasty's in them and we don't want that, hell no we don't. This comes in their signature glass blue bottle. I mean hello where would this not look good? My skin is always left feeling super clean and as I only use this in the mornings, I want that fresh clean feeling skin. The last thing I can really say about this is the scent. To me this is a truly beautiful thing, my sister disagrees. But I love it. It is super fresh and the essentials oils are strong and relaxing.

 

This product retails at £16.00. Which I know sounds a lot but trust me when I say this is honestly worth it. You can purchase that here.

 

So that's the palmarosa facial wash from NYR. I think its clearly obvious I love it. Have you tried this or any other NYR products? Let me know in the comments.

 

Love

Zoe x



Nivea daily essentials moisturisers review

Hi everyone,

 

So you all know me and I love my skincare. I adore my Neal's Yard Remedies almond moisturiser and when I ran out I was left thinking what to buy. I was shopping in Tesco and came across the Nivea range. Now I have never used any of their skincare products so thought I would give them a shot. I picked up the daily essentials light moisturising day cream and the daily essentials regenerating night cream. So I thought I would share with you my thoughts on them today. This is the first time I have ever used a separate day cream to night.

 

Both of these products are aimed at my skin type which is normal/combination skin. This means that my skin is normal but can suffer with dryness and oiliness on areas of my skin. It is always important when purchasing a skincare product that you look into what skin type it is for. This will tell you if it is suitable for your skin.

 

The packaging these came in is adorable. With them both coming in boxes that match the product themselves. Both boxes clearly state the main facts about the products you need to know. It was actually one of the main things that made me pick these up because I saw it and thought ohh that packaging looks nice. Once inside the boxes, the day cream comes in a really handy tube. The night cream comes in an adorable dark blue pot, which looks super cute on your dressing table.

 

 

So lets talk about this day cream. Lets start with this has an intense moisture which leaves you with moisturised and protected fresh feeling skin. Who doesn't want that fresh feeling? I mean lets be real about this, what's the point of it if you cant feel how amazing your skin feels. Its what's inside this moisturiser that counts. With vitamin E, lotus extract and hydro IQ, your guaranteed the moisture your skin requires. The main fact about this product that really appealed to me was the fact that this has SPF 15. Now I never buy moisturisers with SPF in, I don't know why I just don't. Your probably thinking Zoe its winter, yes I am aware. But you have to start sometimes and we do still get the odd sunny day here and there in England, so why not start now. The consistency of this is fairly light and goes into the skin nicely. You don't need a lot at all. With this being aimed at combination skin this refreshes the skin and supports the natural balance. 

 

 

To apply the daily moisturiser you apply a small amount to your skin once you have cleansed it in the mornings.

 

 

Right now we have the night cream. Again this is full of vitamin E, which is super good for your skin. This leaves you skin intensively moisturised and regenerated making sure you wake up with fresh feeling skin in the morning. This provides deep moisture and supports the skin regenerating process at night. This is thanks to Provitamin B5. The consistency of this product is more on the thicker side. But it does provide you with that intense moisture feeling.

 

 

Just apply this in the evenings onto cleansed skin.

 

 

There is one thing I have found with these two products that could put me off buying them again. I do find they make my skin slightly oily. Also when I first started using it I found my skin felt quite itchy, that has since gone. I'm not saying I wouldn't purchase these again because I would I have really loved trying them out.

 

So that's a little about the daily essentials moisturisers from Nivea. I have loved these. I also forgot to mention how insanely good these smell. I will definitely continue using them and possibly even repurchase them in the future. Have you used either of these or any Nivea skincare? Let me know in the comments.

 

Love

Zoe x

 

Lipsticks I'm loving

Hi everyone,

I am typically not a lipstick wearer. But I love to try new things and the pile of lipsticks in my makeup drawer, just kept screaming at me. So I thought I would start using them more because why just leave them sitting there. As its still pretty cold here in England I have a mixture of different shades. A couple of pinkie colours and the rest being red toned colours. I have been loving using the darker lipsticks, I think I have just found my new love in makeup. So keep reading to find out the lipsticks I have been loving so much.

Babylips in Pink Punch:


This is super conditioning for your lips. Especially in the colder weather. I absolutely adore the colour of this. It looks super neon pink in the bullet but on your lips it can look really natural. Prefer a bright colour? Build it up so you can have the full neon effect. The consistency of this is extremely creamy and goes on to the lips like a dream. I love this colour because its that bit brighter but its not over the top.

 

Sexy Mother Pucker in Fuchsia-Ristic:

This one is technically a gloss lip crayon, but it is a must have. Again this one looks scarily bright in the packaging, but on is a stunning colour. I mean this looks even more neon than the one above but the colour, is truly beautiful on  your lips. This is perfect for that bright pink lip your trying to achieve. They apply very well and leave your lips feeling and looking great. 

Maybelline New York Color Drama Lip Intense Velvet Pencil in 520 Light It Up:

The perfect red has landed. This is the purest cherry red I think you will ever find. In the form of a pencil, the application is easy. Making sure you don't get any tell tale lines from your bright lipstick. I love this colour, though it is not one I wear often. It is always one I am pulled towards. This looks stunning on and perfect for that night out. I have definitely been picking this one up a lot when filming my YouTube videos.

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick in 107:

This is for the girl who loves the dark lip. Well here you go. This beautiful dark red plum toned lipstick is one of my favourites. I have owned this for quite some time and only recently have I been reaching for it. It is honestly one of my favourite lipsticks I own. Though I wouldn't wear this to work as the colour is so dark, it is my go to any other time. This lipstick has great staying power. This is the perfect berry lip. This is typically my autumn colour but it stayed for winter this year and boy have I loved it.

Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipstick in 338 Midnight Plum:

If you have watched my January favourites you will have seen this. I have literally been wearing this to work everyday. It looks like an extremely deep purple with a shimmer in it. Which let me just say is so beautiful, I never thought I would wear a lipstick with glitter in it. This does not look as dark on your lips as in the bullet, but this is the perfect colour. I honestly can not tell you how much this lipstick has changed my world, like I never wear dark colours. I have owned this for so long and I am super happy I can finally get some use out of it.

So they are the lipsticks I literally can not get enough of. What are your favourites? Also do you have any other darker shades you would recommend? I seriously cant get enough. Let me know in the comments.

Love
Zoe x



Current netflix addiction

Hi everyone,

Netflix was one of them things I had friends saying for ages Zoe get Netflix you will love it. I kept saying yes ok I will get it at some point. Then one day I thought oh well lets do this, if I don't like it I will just cancel it. Well that free subscription went and I just kept going. I love it. I mean I am watching it as I write this. That's how much I love it. Since having Netflix I have watched so many different things from movies to TV series. So I thought today I would share with you my current Netflix addiction. You all know what I mean. You start watching a series which then you begin to binge watch. To the point where you cant stop every spare moment you have it on. Well here is mine.

Image: http://watchonlinelivetv.com/watch-once-upon-a-time-season-6-episode-1-online/

Its once upon a time. Now I don't want to give to much away but this is a story about all the fairy-tale characters you can think of. A young boy seeks out his mother to take her home to his home, storybrooke. Only thing is Emma doesn't know she is the reason the curse of the town will be broken. Storybrooke is a town that holds every fairy-tale character around. But they don't remember who they are. If Emma can break the curse all will be restored. But can she do it?

This is the kind of programme that you start watching and then you cant stop. Every episode leaves you wanting to watch more to find out what happens next. If you are into your Disney then this is perfect for you. The storyline of this series is perfect, its easy to keep up with and enjoyable for all ages.

Think of all your favourite fairy-tale stories all mashed up in one programme. But these stories are not how you remember them. They get intertwined into each other, making stories you have never heard of. Each characters story goes so much deeper into their past than what we all remember from the books. Characters know each other that we never as children knew from the books. Paths are crossed and friends and foes are made, some you will be surprised by. One thing I will guarantee you is these are fairy-tales like you have never seen before. 

As with most series I watch this one has yet again managed to bring me to tears, and I'm only on season 2. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a love story. They get me every time. This series has a massive 6 seasons. Which lets face the facts here, that's pretty impressive. I am hoping all the rest of the seasons will be as good as the two I have watched, because they have been awesome.

So lets sum this up, if you love fairy-tale stories with an awesome twist, then this is for you. You have the good, the misguided and the damn right evil. The question is can you handle it? I think everyone should give this a go if it sounds like something you would be into. I know I love it.

Love
Zoe x



January favourites

Hi everyone,

How is it already February? Its super crazy this year is already running away with us. But hey ho, a bonus to this is I get to write my first favourites post of the year, yay. I am so excited to write this post, I tried so many new things throughout January. So its mega exciting. I cant wait to share all these things with you.

Hair:

Garnier ultimate blends the sleek prefector oil...

I have been using oils on my hair for some time now. I just find they work with my hair and keep it in the best condition possible. Like without them my hair would be awful. I love all the oils I have tried. But I still haven't found that one I love the most, well I thought I hadn't. Until January came around. That's when I picked up this little beauty. This is made with pure coconut oil, you know how I love my coconut oil. This product has so many different benefits its truly unreal. Firstly it is aimed at dry, frizzy hair. No my hair isn't frizzy but boy it is dry. It also claims that your hair will be sleek and smooth for up 72H. I would definitely say this is true but having said that my hair is not that unruly anyway. Like oils I have used in the past you can use this on dry or wet hair. The coconut scent of this is insanely beautiful, I just love the way it makes my hair smell. The consistency  of this one is lovely, its thicker than others I have used but it is still lightweight. I love this product it ticks all the boxes for me.

OGX coconut water conditioner...

So yes I am coconut crazy at the minute but seriously I cant get enough of it. In my last favourites post I was raving about the shampoo that goes with this. I mentioned in that post that I had picked up the conditioner as well but not started it yet. Well say a big hello to it now because it made its big break through in January. I fell in love with it the first time I used it. This range is aimed at dehydrated hair. It screams I am good for your hair. With its lightweight formula it hydrates the hair with coconut water, electrolytes and coconut oil. Guaranteed to take dry parched hair to silky, shiny perfection. This conditioner is super thick, which is what I always go for. The scent is incredible, again with that perfect coconut scent I just cant seem to get enough of. Used alongside the shampoo you have a winning combination. Using the shampoo and conditioner and the oil above, my hair has never felt this good.

Beauty:

Neal's Yard Remedies garden mint and bergamot hand cream...

Its cold in England and your hands are always the first to tell you so. Also having my hands in water all day washing peoples hair, does not give me a helping hand. So I always look for good hand creams. I have a drawer in my bathroom with about 10 different tubes of unopened hand creams in it. Honestly I don't know how I have so many, but they do come in helpful. I am currently loving this Neal's Yard Remedies one. It is super nourishing and leaves your hands feeling silky soft. I do love these products as you know. With the scent of freshly picked garden mint and zesty bergamot essential oil, this is the perfect energising hand cream. With Neal's Yard Remedies hand creams you are guaranteed there will be no nasty's in them, so they are super kind on your hands. I sometime find that if hand creams are to heavily fragranced they can make my hands worse, but these ones are just right.

Maybelline New York lipstick in 338 midnight plum...

I have never been much of a lipstick wearier. I own quite a few but I just never find the right time to wear them. So over December and January I was trying out wearing them to work and in January I fell in love with one. Now I know to look at you automatically think oh my god its purple. But it looks incredible on your lips. So to talk about this product I feel I must start with the packaging. I mean come on you can see for yourself it is stunning. With the purple casing with the silver it is definitely one that will catch your eye. No chance of losing this in the bottom of your bag. The lipstick itself looks insanely purple, but when on skin is this beautiful pinkie, purple lipstick. It has a slight shimmer running through it which I love, because all girls like a bit of shimmer. The finish of this product is a very glossy finish, which I love as it doesn't feel like a lipstick. The consistency is very creamy which makes it very easy to apply. This is definitely a lipstick I will continue to wear through the colder months.

Biore charcoal pore strips...

If you haven't seen my review of these you can find it here. I mean what can I say, I love these. Currently my two product obsessions are charcoal and coconut. These are super easy to apply and they work much better than most products I have tried in the past. With natural charcoal powder these work to draw out impurities deep into the pores. Trust me this is no joke, I had the proof on the first one I ever used. It was gross, yet satisfying. Because of the charcoal powder these act like a sponge and literally pulls the grime out of your skin. These are perfect for anyone who suffers with blackheads on their nose. I would recommended these to everyone I know.

Food:

Christmas chocolates...

I know I got a lot of chocolate at Christmas but its February, I have no idea how I am only half way through it. Considering throughout January I ate a hell of a lot of it. I do love chocolate and having the temptation there was too much. I will admit there was many evenings in the past month where I have sat eating chocolate while writing blog posts. I can say its brain food right? But then there was also quite a few evenings spent watching Netflix eating chocolates. That one I haven't yet thought of an excuse for. Plus I am female I am pretty sure we are programmed to love chocolate. I mean right now the tin with loads of it in is sitting right next to me, I am resisting the urge though.

New York Bakery cheese bagels...

I do love a bagel. Be that for breakfast, lunch or simply just a quick snack. When I saw Tesco was selling these cheese bagels. I had to buy them. I have been eating these throughout January with just a bit of mayo and some ham in them. They have made the perfect lunch. There is just the right amount of cheese on the top so it is not to over powering. These are definitely a must for any bagel lover out there. I love New York Bakery bagels as they are always just perfect.

Other:

Bloom candles in sherbet lemon and surprise...

You all know how I love a candle and for once I'm not talking about Yankee Candles. Even though they are still one of my favourite candles, I do like to try out other ones. While I was browsing the internet I came across the Penny Rose Home and Gifts website. I follow them on Instagram. I saw that they done candles. They sell these candles who are by the company Bloom Candles. They are beautiful. In little jam jars they are the perfect addition to anyone's candle collection. They sell so many. I chose one called Sherbet Lemon. This smells just like the sweets. It is absolutely stunning when the room fills with this scent. The second one I chose was called Surprise. When you read about this on the website it actually tells you the scent is Mango Sorbet. All I can say is wow. This one is something special. I mean one, the smell is out of this world and two, it is rainbow. I mean come on girls, what more really are we looking for. These burn extremely well. Better than more expensive candles I have purchased in the past.

Orange is the new black...

Image: https://www.mallatts.com/blog/articles/costume-ideas-for-women-orange-is-the-new-black-part-1

So in January I finally finished orange is the new black. I mean what can I say it may not be to everyone's taste but I loved it. The stories you learnt about each character gave the show something special. You were always left wanting to watch more. I know some Saturday nights I was up till 2am, just because I couldn't stop watching. One thing that really surprised me was that this show actually made me cry at parts. You learn so much personal stuff about each character that when things happen you just cant help it. So if you decide to give this a go have tissues at the ready. I can guarantee tears of happiness, sadness and laughter.

So they were all the things I loved in January. What was you loving?

Love
Zoe x