A Very Happy Autumn!

A Very Happy Autumn 

Autumn as you will probably know if you follow me on Insta, is one of my fave times of year. 

It's just so pretty and luscious. 

I also find it fascinating how everything is so beautiful, despite the fact that it's life is coming to an end.

Leaves turn burnt red and orange as they start to shrivel and fall to the ground. 

Crisp leaves crunch under your feet as they lie there waiting to disintegrate, as winter slowly draws in and takes hold. 

And yet it's stunning. The trees, the berries, the sunsets. All of it. 

I have already spent a great deal of autumn outside enjoying it, taking it in and I intend to do a lot more before the trees become bare and winter fully sets in. 

There's something so uplifting about being outdoors, especially at this time of year. 

Hope you enjoy my pics,

Jodie xx

A quick catch up

 

A quick catch up!

It's been so long since my last blog post. I've been meaning to write since I got home from Florida as I have so many posts I want to do. 

Yet despite my good intentions, I have just been too busy living my life and enjoying it to actually sit down and blog about it. 

In a nut shell; I absolutely loved Florida and didn't want to come home, I ate and shopped till I dropped and have a seriously large haul to do very soon. September means back to uni and lots to do, so there's also been that keeping me away from my blog page. 

And autumn. I just love autumn. I cannot get enough of being outdoors, walking the dog, watching the sunsets and taking pictures of all the stunning autumn shades (which I will post about very soon).

This weekend should be a quiet one for me.. so I'm hoping to get some posts done as I have an awful lot to write about.

 I've finally left the weekend consuming world of retail and have been enjoying spending time with my loved ones instead of working my weekends away.

Jodie xx

Hello September...

Autumn is here

  Crossing the bridge from Summer to Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year. As the nights draw in and the leaves begin to fall and change from green to beautiful golds and reds, my excitement starts to build. I enjoy Spring and Summer but there is something about Autumn and Winter that makes me feel so happy, especially as the countdown to Christmas begins. As a university student, Autumn  also feels like a fresh start for me as I prepare to start a new semester, setting myself new goals and challenges and motivating myself to achieve them.

  Although I love this time of year, leaving the house in the dark and getting home in the dark can take its toll on my mood. So to keep myself in the lovely Autumn and Winter spirit, I have compiled a list of all the things I love so much about these beautiful seasons. 

Autumn Happiness....

• Autumn leaves - Being the big kid that I am, this is one of my fave things about Autumn. Kicking them, walking the dog through them, taking pics of the pretty jewel colours which adorn the pathways in the woods, leaf prints with the kids at nursery. Basically I love autumn leaves.  

• Wrapping up warm - Most people hate the cold, I am that strange person who can't wait for it to get cold so I can wrap up warm and wear all of my winter accessories at once. 

• Candles - I love my candles, especially Yankee's all year round. But when the nights draw in and it's cold outside, my Autumn scented Yankee's are even more lovely and relaxing than usual.

• Winter drinks - Starbucks, mulled wine, hot Pimm's. All perfect for keeping those cold nights at  bay. 

• Bonfire Night - Black peas, toffee apples, sparklers, fireworks, all whilst wrapped up and huddling around a bonfire.

• Halloween - Pumpkin carving, candy corn and snuggling down with the candles lit to watch Hocus Pocus.. the film that my childhood Halloween's were all about. .

• Conkers - You're never too old for conkers. Cracking open the shells to reveal the dark,shiny, conker inside... I polish them up and put them in a bowl for a lovely Autumnal feel.

• Nights around the fire - We have a new fire pit for the garden and I'm very excited to use it. I can't wait for cold nights around the fire with drinks and toasted marshmallows.

• Shopping & beauty products - Dark berry lipsticks, autumn nail shades, Primark scarves, winter coats, UGGs, oversized H&M jumpers. So much love for Autumn/Winter fashion & beauty.

• Food - Warm winter stodgy food... yum. Stew, roast dinners, winter soups, pie. I love you Autumn.

• Long walks in the woods - Me, the boyfriend, the dog.. Autumn leaves, puddles, sunsets. Happiness.

There's so much to look forward to, So here's to Autumn 2015.. make memories, take photos and enjoy it!:) xx

  

The Tinder Debate.. Reasons to Swipe Right

The Tinder Debate 

  In case you haven't heard Tinder is a hugely popular online dating app, that has attracted a lot of attention for its seemingly controversial nature. To sum up how Tinder works: You decide whether you find someone physically attractive based on pics they have uploaded; if you like them you swipe right, if not you swipe left. If you both swipe right then you are able to message one another privately. 

 The nature of this dating app has continuously come under fire for being shallow and basing attraction entirely on the way a person looks. Add this to the feature being nicknamed 'the hook up' or 'casual sex' app and you begin to understand the negativity surrounding it. 

 However my only previous knowledge of the app was an article I read in Cosmo about the Sex & the Single Girl columnist who was ending her column as she had met her boyfriend and fallen in love.. through Tinder.  

  Now in January 2015 I found myself single and ready to begin dating again; however it began to dawn on me that the men in the area in which I live are not exactly for me. I decided I wanted to meet someone new with no mutual friends in common. A fresh start, so to speak. As I lay in bed that Sunday evening, contemplating how I was ever going to meet a guy who wasn't a drunken mess and struggling to stand in a bar. I vaguely remembered hearing about Tinder and it being a dating app etc. I figured I  really had nothing to lose, and if nothing else it would ease me back into the whole dating game again. 

 As I began flicking through the numerous pictures of random men, I must admit I had mixed feelings about the situation. It wasn't long before I matched with a few guys and started chatting etc but no one really stuck in my mind. As a week or so passed I had found myself engaged in conversation with a few guys and very little evidence to back up these 'awful' experiences that people claim to have on Tinder. By mid Feb however, my 'date' for the evening cancelled last minute and I began to lose faith in the nature of Tinder. This night in question was also to be the night which changed my view of the app for good. In a good way. 

  Shortly after my last minute cancellation had occurred I got a Tinder message from Michael, we got chatting and seemed to click pretty well. Three days later and our conversation was still going and we had arranged a date. 

  One date turned into another and by our third date, I had pretty much fallen for him. 6 months on, we are getting ready for our first holiday together and looking forward to a lovely future. People may be quick to dismiss Tinder but my own experience of it was very different. I met an amazing guy, who has changed my life in so many incredible ways. 

 So there you have it, no casual sex, deceit or married men. Just a happy ending.. or more appropriately, a happy beginning. 

 My advice to anyone using this app is to not listen to other people's views, build your own through experience. Obviously be safe, but don't assume every person on there is after the same thing. 

Lipstick... The Nudes Collection

The Nudes Collection

  I think most of us girls that are into our lipsticks will confess to a love of nude shades. They're so versatile and the variations on shades are pretty much endless. Recently my love for nude lipsticks has gone into overdrive and my collection is building up nicely. I have really got into layering different shades for a unique colour as well. So far i'm loving mixing my more pinky hues with some of my fave nude shades. I'm currently into MAC Creme Cup which I recently featured on my Insta page (roseandcrown26) mixed with MAC Bombshell which is a muted shimmery pink tone. 

My Current Nude's Collection 

(Left to right, back row first)

1. Maybelline Colorsensational - 725 - Tantalizing Taupe
2. L'oreal Color Riche - 233 - Boreal Taffeta 
3. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 08
4. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 38
5. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 03
6. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - (nude collection) - 48
7.  L'oreal Nude Collection - Eva's Nude
8. MAC Creme Sheen - Creme Cup
9. Barry M - 165

My Nude's Lust List

1. MAC - Hue
2. Chanel - 93 Intime
3. MAC - Pure Zen
4. Burberry - Nude Beige No1
5. Charlotte Tilbury - Bitch Perfect
6. MAC - Velvet Teddy 
7. MAC - Please Me 
8. Estee Lauder - Pink Sand 
9. NYX - Soft Matte Lip Cream - London 

Please comment your fave nude lipstick shades below.. I love finding new brands & new shades to try!

Jodie 

xx

Mini Primark Haul

Mini Primark Haul

I cannot resist a little Primark binge. I think it's becoming a problem. The best kind of problem to have though of course. I picked up a few bits whilst out in Bury with my friend Kayleigh and her little boy. It was a gorgeous day so we decided on a shopping trip and Costa date in the sun. 

 The thing I love about Primark is that even when you're waiting for pay day and feeling pretty skint you can always find something cheap and pretty to cheer you up! And that's exactly what I did. 

Pretty Floral Shorts

  I found these cute little floral shorts whilst I was looking for some new slippers, they're adorable. They only cost £3.50 which is an absolute bargain and I had to have them. I tried them on when I got home yesterday and they are extremely short and light weight, so I'm thinking they will be the perfect sleep wear for Florida.

Fluffy Thumper PJs

 If you follow me on Insta (roseandcrown26), you will probably have witnessed my love for all things cute, fluffy and Bambi & Thumper related. So it was love at first sight with these cuties. I like to buy my clothes etc a season ahead and these pyjamas are perfect for a cold winter's eve. They're so soft and lovely I can't wait to snuggle down in them. They were £11 for the set which I think is pretty reasonable considering they're a lot thicker than your average pyjamas. 

Super Soft Socks

  I'm a huge fan of these socks, I love how soft they are. They're like a hug for your feet. I like to buy a couple of new pairs every few months as they lose their softness when they've been worn a lot. There are a lot of cute designs to choose from and seen as I'm in a pink phase, I thought I'd go with these nice bright fluffy ones. They cost £2 for 2 pairs which makes them the perfect pre-pay day treat.

& Homeware Piece 

  I posted this on my Insta page last week. I just love it. It's so unique and I'm loving the copper colour. I'm also after the other stationary bits from the Primark home ware range, but sadly they will have to wait until after my holiday.

Lady & the Tramp Socks 

 The cutest socks. Ever. I already have these, but I love them so much I thought I'd get another pair as I have an awful habit of losing my fave socks. They're so, so cute, and they make my feet very happy!

All in all it was a successful shopping trip & a lovely day in the sunshine!

My Life, A Year On

My Life A Year On

  I have been in a very reflective mood this week, mostly because it is nearly time for me to go back to uni after taking a year out, but also because this year has gone by so quickly and I cannot believe it is nearly autumn time again. So much has changed in my life this past year for the better, so I have decided to have a look back and see how far I have come since the end of last summer. I hope this post demonstrates how quickly things can turn around in your life and that things can always get better.

 This time last year things were pretty rubbish, I was stuck in a bad relationship, feeling miserable and not at all prepared to head back into my second year of uni. My degree is something I have wanted to achieve for a long time, yet despite this I was unable to motivate myself to get back into study mode. Things only got worse as the year was drawing to an end, my grades weren't anywhere near as good as they needed to be and I was moody and beginning to withdraw from my social life. Work was my only salvation, as I enjoyed my time there and the people always cheered me up. 

  It was a night out with work friends that changed my entire perspective on life. I had been avoiding going out but on this occasion, I decided I was fed up and that I would get myself back out there. During that night out I realised that my 4 year relationship was over and that I needed to move on and sort myself out.  Although I put the break up off for a few weeks, I ended things just before Christmas and despite the bad timing, it felt as if a weight had been lifted. It wasn't as if all of my other problems just disappeared but this was the beginning of me sorting myself out and working on feeling like myself again.  

  January marked a fresh start for me as I headed off on my dream trip to New York with my Mum. This was something I had been dreaming of since I was a little girl watching Home Alone 2, so to finally experience it was life changing, especially with my Mum. NY was incredible and I ticked some major things of my dream list and most importantly I came home ready to change my life. Once I had settled back into life in Manchester and come down from my NY high, I decided that the best decision for me would be to postpone my studies and return in September when I had got my life in order. 

  When I left uni that February morning, I felt stressed, anxious and worried about whether I was making the right decision for myself and my future. However 6 months on, I can honestly say I made the right choice. The time out has allowed me to really take time to focus on myself and my relationships. This year saw me gain new friendships which have made me truly understand the meaning of honest, selfless and caring friendship and I would be lost without these girls in my life. Whilst new friendships have been formed, other negative ones with no positive influence in my life have been left behind, I feel like it is important to surround yourself with only positive people who
want the best from you.

 The most influential change in my life this year happened on the 21st February. I met Mike. We clicked instantly and I can honestly say this relationship is different any other that I've had in the past. He makes me so happy and I cant imagine my life without him. It is amazing how a person can change your life so quickly.

 Now as I find myself preparing for the start of my second year at uni again, I know that this time I am ready. I feel as though I can handle whatever the next 12 months of my life has to offer and I look forward to reflecting on my life again a year from now.

  The presence of people who care within my life has been extremely influential over these past 12 months and I know that they have contributed greatly to helping me get to where I am now; a place of happiness and content. However I know without taking the time out to work on myself and understand who I am and what I want none of this would be possible.

  So to end this post I will finish with a quote that I feel conveys the importance of reflection and self awareness perfectly. I hope this helps if you are feeling down or in anyway looking to change the direction of your life.

'The most important relationship you have in life, is the one you have with yourself.'

Diane Von Furstenberg