Wishlist - Summer Capsule Wardrobe

// Blue Dress // Coral Playsuit  // Nude Flats // Grey top // Necklace // Orange Beach Cover Up // Cream Mini Satchel // Bikini Top // Bikini Bottoms // White Top // Lemon Clutch Bag // White Kimono // White Sandals // Mint Top // Floral Playsuit // Grey Shorts // Trousers // Peach Top // 

All the glorious sunshine we've had in the UK recently has made me realise just how under prepared my wardrobe is for this time of the year. It's all autumnal colours, long sleeves and jumpers, none of which is exactly suitable for the summer months. In fact, it makes me wonder what I even wore last summer, knowing me I probably just lived in my denim cutoffs.

So, what with me going on holiday in just over a months time (eek!), I've set myself the challenge of putting together a capsule wardrobe to compliment what clothes I already have. My personal favourites include the high waisted H&M bikini bottoms that I could totally mix and match with different coloured bikini tops, the stunning Miss Selfridge Floral playsuit perfect for glamming up for evenings out as well as the white sandals from Forever 21 because lets face it, white goes with everything. Only problem now is finding the money to buy it all... any chance I could borrow a fiver? 

What do you guys think of what I've picked? Let me know below!

I Don't Like Mondays

So you may have seen my previous post on Saturday where I mentioned just a few of the things that never fail to put a smile on my face, well now it's Monday, eurgh! Back to school, back to work, whatever it means for you, Mondays SUCK! However, there are a few more things that annoy me even more than Mondays: 

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The fact that 3 day weekends don't exist.

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The days when I worry about EVERYTHING.

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People with no common sense.

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Waking up early.

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When an amazing book ends.

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It not being acceptable to eat chocolate for breakfast.

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When my cat bites me. Then lets me pet him. Then bites me again. I fall for it every time. 

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Charging my phone overnight then realising it wasn't plugged in.

Do you know what though, those things don't really make me sad because a, I pretty much have everything I could ever ask for including amazing friends and family, b, I live in a free country and c, pictures like this exist...

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Things That Make Me Smile

I was in one of those moods yesterday, you know the one where you feel a bit down but don't really know why. Basically I was just being a mardy bum but it's ok, I'm feeling back to my normal chirpy self today. However, as a little insurance for the next time it happens I've decided to write this post which'll hopefully give my future mardy self a big kick up the butt! So without further ado, here's a few things that make me smile: 

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Puppies!

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Walking in the rain (yes really!)

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Getting lost in a good book

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Any Audrey Hepburn film

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Blossom in the Spring

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Mmmm doughnuts

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Mmmm Zac Efron

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The weekend!

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My Sister and her disgusting sense of humour

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 A smile from a stranger

So now it's your turn, what makes you smile?

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipstick - 'Ole Flamingo!' Review

Having heard lots of good things about the new Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks from Bourjois, I was really eager to get my hands on them so I took a little trip to boots this week to give them a try. So first things first, the colour range is pretty limited, 6 colours in total, a mix of pinks and reds and all very vivid and real statement colours. After swatching all six I went with 'Ole Flamingo!' (Please tell me I'm not the only one who has to say that in a Spanish accent!), a beautiful cerise pink that I just couldn't resist because a, I'm a sucker for bright pink and b, I thought it matched the colour I mixed up in my post from a few days ago (see here). 

First impressions, I love the cute packaging and yes I know it's not really anything special but I just really like that the lids match the colour of the lipstick, I'm easily pleased! Once opened I have to say I was surprised at just how much like a lip gloss it looks but once on the lips it's an altogether different story. It dries VERY quickly in to a matte stain which means you really have to be neat with your application. Mistakes are quite difficult to rectify without staining all round your mouth and subsequently looking like someone who shouldn't be aloud anywhere near lipstick.

It is however incredibly long lasting, it really does live up to it's boast of 24 hour hold as my hand swatches can testify! It's very lightweight to the point where I actually forgot I was wearing it and got a little shock when I looked in the mirror. The colour fades only slightly so a little top up is needed every so often to keep the colour looking as intense but you could just as easily not bother and be good for the whole day. 

  

I do have one slight niggle though, the velvet finish took me a little while to get used. If I'm honest I was tempted to put a clear gloss on over the top to make the colour look less 'flat' but I stuck with it and after a while it grew on me. Plus, unlike some other matte lipsticks it was very forgiving on the lips and didn't show up any dry areas which is something that has put me off matte lipsticks in the past.

I can really see these being a big hit for the upcoming music festival season, I love that they look great with barely any makeup, just gorgeous vivid lips that still look as if you've made a ton of effort. I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up a few more of these in the future, here's hoping they expand the colour range to more neutral tones too.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipstick - £8.99 boots.com

10 Ways To Deal With Stress

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1. Remember you're not the only one -  Remember that everyone has s***t they have to deal with, they're probably just as good at hiding it as you are. Learning that you're no different to anyone else means you'll stop feeling sorry for yourself. When that happens it's so much easier to move forward.

2. Be kinder to yourself - Stop giving yourself such a hard time, think about what you would say to a friend in the same situation. You would be kind and understanding so there's nothing stopping you from showing the same compassion to yourself. 

3. Ask yourself what/why - Straight out ask yourself what it is that's bothering you, think it through rationally and try to come up with a solution. Ignoring a problem or telling yourself not to think about it will only make you stress more so get straight to the point and try to figure it out.

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4. Be open - It doesn't help anyone to keep your stresses/worries to yourself so talk to someone you trust. It really helps to be open and honest about how your feeling and you never know, they might be able to come up with a solution for you. Even just writing down your thoughts can help, seeing it all on paper can give you a different perspective.

5. Let go of the past - You can't change it so there's no point stressing over it. Use what you've learnt and discard the rest, happiness comes so much easier when you're moving forward instead of being stuck in the past. 

6. Remember all the good things - It's so easy to forget about all the good stuff when you're stressed out. We give priority to the bad stuff when really what makes us happy is more important than anything else. Make a list of everything you are grateful for and look at it every day just to remind yourself the good far out weighs the bad.

7. Watch something that makes you laugh - Even just a half hour break from stress can do a world of good so put something funny on the tv and laugh your socks off. It'll release all those lovely happy hormones and more than likely you'll be able to think a bit more clearly. If you're feeling happy then the positivity will flow.

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8. Learn mindfullness - It's the art of staying in the here and now, concentrating on what's going on outside of your body. Practise when you're walking along the street, focus on each step you take, how your feet feel in your shoes or how the sun feels against your skin. The more you practise during your everyday routine, the easier it will get until it's just something you do naturally. This is a great technique to learn if you're especially prone to getting lost in your own thoughts.

9. Go for a walk/run - I know exercise seems like the last thing you want to be doing when you're stressed out but trust me, it's a great way to clear your head and afterwards, with all the endorphins released, you'll be feeling ready to face the world again.

10. If all else fails, tell yourself to stress about it later. If it's a problem that's not going to go away just give yourself some time off from it instead. Make an allotted time during your day to worry for half an hour straight. Just knowing you have that time to worry as much as you like eases your mind for the rest of the day and makes it easier to forget about it.

I know how it feels to have your life be ruled by worry and stress, I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder about six years ago which thankfully I'm now recovering from. During that time I learnt about so many techniques for dealing with worry, testing out all the ways that worked for me and those that didn't. Obviously I'm not a medical professional so I can only advise you on what helps me but I think most of these ideas can be translated to any kinds of stresses you may be having, big or small. It's so important though that if you feel like your worry is becoming overwhelming then speak to your GP, there's so much they can do to help.

Please don't hesitate to email me: elliebostel@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you too are suffering with anxiety, I'd be more than happy to try and help you out or even just have a chat. :)

Useful links:
http://bemindful.co.uk/
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anxiety/pages/introduction.aspx
http://www.samaritans.org/   Phone: 08457 909090 (UK)
http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/

Wishlist - Spring Wardrobe Updates

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I could spend a serious amount of money in the shops right now, there's so many things I've seen that I really want but unfortunately my bank balance doesn't match my imaginary one. I feel like I go through phases when I don't want to buy anything at all but as soon as the seasons change there's a hundred things I want, does anyone else do this?!

For me Spring is the best time to update your wardrobe, here in the UK there isn't much of a difference in weather between Spring and Summer (i.e. it's pretty cool) so I tend to think about layering up with light jackets and thin trousers or long floaty skirts. This gorgeous Peach Jersey Bomber from Monki for example is perfect for Spring/Summer, it would keep you warm on a breezy day but is lightweight enough to carry round if it gets too hot. It's probably now obvious that I like my fashion practical AND stylish, I blame my Dad for never letting me leave the house without a jacket!

I also can't get enough of these Nude Skater Shoes from Dorothy Perkins, they look delicate and girly but with a tomboy edge, I really need to get my hands on them, like now. Oh and how perfect would this Embroidered Kimono from Topshop be for a festival, I can just imagine myself wearing it flapping my arms up and down in time to the music like a complete idiot. I just need to decide which festival to go to this year, suggestions please!

Anything you're particularly excited about wearing now spring is here? Let me know below!

Spring Nail Colours

Essie, Ciate and Barry M are my favourite nail polish brands at the moment so I thought I'd share my favourite Spring colours from my already over flowing collection. I have literally tons of nail polishes, far more than any one girl would ever need! I could have included far more colours but I managed to cut it down and these ones I've picked are my absolute favourites that I wore all through last Spring/Summer and will continue to do so this year too. 

Each year Spring comes around I really look forward to being able to start wearing gorgeous, bright colours. Don't get me wrong I love wearing rich, jewel toned polishes for Autumn/Winter but I just love pretty pastel shades even more. Who can resist a baby blue or a dusky lilac adorning your fingertips? Not me! 

// Ciate Ferris Wheel £9.00 // Ciate Kiss Chase £9.00 //

// Essie Mint Candy Apple £7.99 // Essie E-nuf Is E-Nuf £7.99 //

 

// Barry M Gelly Blueberry £3.99 // Barry M Gelly Prickly Pear £3.99 //

I'm supposed to be staying away from nail polish for a few weeks to let my nails breathe as they're really not in the best condition at the moment. I think having the central heating on every day since October has really dried them out and they're all flaky, if anyone knows how I can fix this then please let me know! I still can't help myself from painting them though, it's a little relaxing hobby I get to do every few days plus it gives me an excuse to sit and do nothing for an hour afterwards. (I'm sure those that know me would say I don't need an excuse however!)

I'd love some recommendations for more affordable nail polish brands (besides Barry M) or even of any shades you think I might like so if you have any, make sure to let me know in the comments below.