Photograph of the week: Family

Last week I had my lovely family visit from Italy and Wales- excited was an understatement! I hadn't  seen them in such a long time and the rush of emotions and euphoria cannot be written in words. So why not use this weeks inspirational photograph to sum up the week?!

From seeing my uncles face as he walked into his surprise 50th birthday party to simply relaxing and feasting on typically British food; the week can be personified by two people I see most days, but are incredibly important to me.

Insisting I take a photograph on my iPhone, my nanny and sister, Charlotte snuggled in a woolly patchwork throw. In a quirky little garden, filled with flowers, fairy lights and vintage ornaments; my nanny giggled as she took off her glasses (insisting it would make her look better) without realising she was still waving a cigarette around, caught up in the excitement of the moment.

Two people in a beautiful cottage garden, content with the warmth that a cup of coffee or blanket brings. A moment of complete content and euphoria as my family is reunited. The best week ever!

A blogger entering the world of fitness: GYM PROBLEMS!

Photograph from www.picturecorrect.com 

A glamorous world of boobs, bums, tums, perfect faces and tiny waists or hard graft grunting, sweating and aching? The gym is either loved or loathed. As a curious beauty blogger, I have entered the world of fitness, hoping to get abs like slabs and biceps bigger than my boyfriends. Getting into the routine of going three times a week has been tough, but whilst on my mission, there have been a few things I've noticed. 

1) Couples workouts: Cute or Cringe? 

There always seems to be a couple, perfect in many ways, who are just there to make you feel inferior. Cute? Sometimes. Yes, they must have worked for years chiseling those abs and sculpting that form, but going to the gym topless (the guy) and sports bra and shorts that could be mistaken for knickers (the girl).. really? 

Me and Sam go to the gym together and there are just as many positives as downfalls. Firstly, you have to look hot. Whether it's what you wear to a quick scruffy but sexy up do- that you obviously spent ages doing; you will always try to impress. 

Sam is much more active and fitter than me… unfortunately… and I have to admit that I do from time to time boost the effort level to the same or higher than his to make it look like I can handle the heat. After flying across the gym and landing on my bum after falling off the treadmill, I think I learnt my lesson!

2) Uh oh! Bumping into someone you know: 

It will always happen- at the times you least want to be seen. When rocking out in a messy bun, baggy tee and no make-up, the dreaded call of your name by a familiar being is SO annoying. 

It could be a girlfriend you love seeing, but there is nothing worse than gossiping whilst panting heavily on the cross trainer or treadmill- unless they want to be covered in spit and die at the sight of my painful workout face! 

If it's someone you haven't seen in a long time, it's perfectly acceptable to say "yeah I'm here all the time" to try and impress. Who doesn't want that "she's looooookin goooood since seeing her at college" compliment?

3) Style:

Being a beauty and fashion blogger, of course the first thing on my mind is looking good. Who said you can't look fabulous at the gym? Whether you're curvy or straight up and down, it's important to find the right gym wear for you… as I've learnt. 

My best bud is the cross trainer, but like most of the cardio equipment, it involves a lot of going up and down… bad news if you're a girl with boobs. After looking down and seeing they have a life of their own, I decided to get a decent sports bra. But there's no harm in wearing a bra underneath for extra support! 

A girls best friend is also a good pair of comfy gym leggings. However, I have seen plenty of catastrophes with see-through malfunctions, revealing knicker lines here there and everywhere! Check the lines gurrrrlllsssss. 

4) Competition? 

Girls compare. But at the gym that is just escalated. It's fine to have a sneaky peak at the talent; how can you not with boobs and bums flying everywhere! 

I think many girls have a mental image of what they want to look like when their body is at their best but there's no harm in having a mental notepad… "I  want abs like hers and maybe if I got my arse in gear I could get legs like hers".

Whilst others see it as competition, I use it as motivation. There's nothing more empowering than seeing women grow with confidence and work to be the best they can be.    

5) Which Category do you fall in? 

The gym is a mini society in its own right and there are cliques; if you thought you'd be leaving them in school, you are wrong! I have seen:

- The guys who go just to socialise 

- The guys who like to look at themselves in the mirror 

-The guys who go to actually work hard 

-The guys who like to grunt really loud to show everyone how hard they are working… yes yes well     done. 

- The girls who wear hardly anything and know they look good… god forbid they ruin their makeup! 

- The girls who get down to the nitty gritty and don't care what they look like

- The girls who know what they're doing.. move away lads, it's time for the ladies to hit the weights!

But most importantly… which one are you?

Summer Style- Prep for Barcelona!

Yank out ya faithful bikini and shorts you know are too small for you- a bit of cheek would never hurt anyone; Laura is going on holiday!!. After my first year of university and dipping my toes into the harsh realities that adult life brings, (i.e.spending my money on noodles and beans instead of clothes) a holiday with Sam in Barcelona is like music to my ears! 

My first thought was 'finally I can have a natural tan!', but of course every girl needs a Summer wardrobe to compliment the new bronzed complexion.

You know it's true. A holiday is every excuse to go shopping, and I made it my mission to get myself a few bargains. 

My first purchase was this cute floral, high-wasted skirt from River Island, and a sale item at just £12! 

I absolutely love the bold print. Orange and clashing patterns scream the style of Summer! With a plain tee or body, this skirt is the perfect key piece for a bold but girly ensemble. 

Okay, this denim beauty wasn't in the sale but I couldn't resist. Originally I thought a light wash would be a bit risky because I don't have airbrushed pins like Miley Cyrus but hey ho, they'd look great with a tan!

I also love the high-waisted aspect of these shorts. Look cute on the beach in a bikini top or wear them tactfully to hide a midriff harbouring a food baby (me all the time). 

What a way to make shorts look more badass than to add a gold lion to a black chunky belt… BADASS! 

(Excuse the orangeness but Lady Gaga had more of a tan than me at the time)
I teamed my new fave shorts with a bright peach tee (also from River Island). I can't wait to wear them on holiday with some glads or flip-flops but why not go all Miley Cyrus on the world and team with some Docs?

I desperately needed some sunnies for my holiday because unfortunately my last ones cracked… from the heat of the sun… oh the irony. But I loved this tortoise shell pair from New Look- at just under a fiver, why not! *grabs a few more pairs*.

NEW: Benefit Big Easy: multi-balancing complexion perfector

I FINALLY found the time to spend my Debenhams gift card on this beauty! Newly launched, Benefits Big Easy multi-balancing complexion perfector had me slightly puzzled at first; now it's made it onto my very much sought after professional favourites list (more like a piece of scrap paper with scribbles of my best buys) but even so, in all of its glorious packaging, it's fabulous.

At first, I was curious to try out a new product with such bold promises- can a liquid really turn into powder? But after trying it I was pleasantly surprised. It seems like it was sent from the heavens specially for my skin type because I have annoying clogged up, oily skin. So whenever I buy a foundation I have to buy its best buddy, a powder, to fight the pesky shine here and there.

Big Easy, once applied, leaves a soft warm complexion that once rubbed in creates a matte finish; no longer do I have to waste so much money on powders- Just what I need!

*Quick Tip*  It also transforms to the correct shade of your skin if you warm up the product by rubbing a little between your fingers before application. I have a relatively light skin tone- so I thought until I had a beauty consolation- but light/medium is perfect for me because I like to alternate between my natural ghostly white skin tone to a light tan.

This product is fabulouso for everyday use, with a light weight finish and light coverage (I only use heavy foundations when I go out) although you can build up the product if you want higher coverage. It also has SPF 35 so it should be handy when the good old British summer makes an appearance!

Thumbs up to ya Benefit, you've created a gooden!

It's all about the big brows!

After weeks of growing my bushy brows, I am finally satisfied with the outcome. With these new babies, I may as well be mistaken for Cara Delevingne- the queen of androgynous beauty.

This year, brows (no longer the eyes) are the 'nipples of the face' and are crucial when deciding what look you are trying to achieve; just like your hairstyle, they can frame your face and flatter its shape.

After sporting the typically thin brows that are verging on the dreaded 'nike tick' resemblance, I decided it was time for change, to hang up the tweezers for good and let them grow into their natural form- a step that more women are taking this year as it's confirmed… IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIG BROWS.

It was a big decision that I had to make at some point, but of course I had to endure the 'untamed' look for weeks. With hairs sprouting everywhere like no tomorrow, I felt I had to explain every time I engaged in conversation with someone, gawping at the furry beasts sitting above my eyes: "I don't normally let them get like this, I'm reshaping them.. honest!".

But the hard work payed off because I'm finally happy with the results. I find that thinner eyebrows can age you- at eighteen, that is not good. Bigger brows are easier to maintain with minimal plucking and a bolder effect.

So I am on the road to becoming an androgynous queen like Cara… now all I need is an androgynous wardrobe to complete my look. *looks at bank balance*.. maybe I'll save that for another time.

However, I also need to dip my inexperienced toes into the sea of eyebrow pencils, powders, brushes (the list goes on) so if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment!

Bloggers Love Fashion Week

Hello world! Yes yes I'm still here. Sorry blog for neglecting you due to never-ending exams and assignments; I solemnly swear to never neglect you again… until the next batch of assignments and exams! 

Now, there has been plenty of hype about Bloggers Love Fashion Week, and I was lucky enough to be invited on day 2- hosted by Debenhams! Firstly, the venue couldn't have been better. Who wouldn't want to sit in Penthouse looking over Leicester Square with the perfect backdrop of the London Eye and Big Ben. It's one of them moments when you think "ahh, this is why I'm living in London". 

The Debenhams spring/ summer collections were gorgeous considering I only ever shop in the beauty department. With beautiful bold prints, colours, androgynous tailoring and ombre ensembles from Jonathan Saunders, Preen and Todd Lynn; I have truly been inspired to update my summer wardrobe.  

Check out some snaps from the event! (with my loyal Lumix camera that only just recovered from being drenched in water..oops) 

Glamorous jewellery by Red Herring

The cutest cupcakes that I felt guilty for devouring… look how adorable they are though! 

I probably took about ten photographs of this dress. I'm quite fussy when it comes to fashion, but when I spot something I like, that means I LOVE it! The colours are perfect for summer and the cut is cute and casual- definitely something you find in my wardrobe.

These are a few bits I picked up from the event- lucky me! I will be posting more soon about some of the products, so keep an eye out fellow bloggers!

BRAND NEW: CLINIQUE ANTI-BLEMISH SOLUTIONS: CLINICAL CLEARING GEL

Clinique has always been a little god send for me. When my skin was really bad a couple of years ago, I used most of the anti-blemish range; my skin magically cleared within weeks. So whenever my skin starts to misbehave again and no cheaper products do the trick, I always end up running back to Clinique; almost like a lovesick relationship- I can't help myself!
When I found out that Clinique had a new clinical clearing gel, I just had to try it! Launched exclusively in all Boots stores from 28th February and nationwide from the 21st of March, the new gel promises to clear and prevent blemishes with its innovated oil controlling, non-irritating formula.
It may be a budget blasting £14 for 15ml and £20 for 30ml (for a student anyway) but it does the job and gets rid of all those pesky blemishes that like to make an appearance when you least expect it.

The 15ml works for me because my skin is fairly clear but- annoyingly- I never don't have a blemish here and there, so this size allows me to dab a little on at night without using it all up in a week. The new formula also helps to look after my skin, balancing its moisture without making it oily- unlike Quinoderm that burns and dries the skin like mad.
It's also really light so I sometimes like to dab a little on any blemishes before applying my makeup; say hello to a spot prone solution that works all day and night!

Well done Clinique, you've done it again ol' friend!