Think Happy Thoughts.

So, last week was a really tough week for me and a really horrible start to the new year as I had to say goodbye to my dog, Pippin, my best friend of 15 years. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but I am so happy that he was in my life for such a long time and that I have so many great memories of him. That got me thinking, I need to be more positive in life and focus on the good.

Now, unless you know me really well then I come across as a very positive person always smiling and encouraging others to do their best. However, I am a dweller and an over analyser with a very overactive imagination, so I have decided to create a jar of happy thoughts to encourage me to focus on the good.

The idea of this jar, for me anyway, is basically whenever something good happens, makes me smile  or laugh or whenever I have a moment of gratefulness I simply write it down and pop it in the jar. Writing that moment of happiness down helps me remember it more and focus on the good not the bad, then whenever I am having a bad day I can simply look at how many happy moments I've had so far this year and if it's a really bad day I can read a few of them to cheer myself up.

My jar contains everything from a good party to people telling me they read my blog, from booking a holiday to having great people in my life. There are no rules to my jar, except one... Think Happy Thoughts.

This is such a simple idea and doesn't require a lot of time or money. The jar was from home bargains a while ago, the ribbon was off a cake and the white paper can be picked up from anywhere. It looks super cute in my window and every morning when I open my curtains it reminds me to think positive. 

I hope you like this idea.

I love you little fella

xxx

The Ripped Jeans & Jumper Dress.

Always wash jeans inside out with the zips and buttons done up.

Link to jeans below, cannot currently find jumper online.

Yesterday whilst in town booking my holiday, I decided to go and try on the Moto Blue Vintage Wash Jamie Jeans at Topshop, £42, that I had been eyeing up for ages. Three pairs of ripped jeans just isn't enough! I tried them on and they look just as fantastic on as they do off.

If you've never worn Topshop jeans before then you are missing out. They have a slight stretch to them so that they're comfy to be in all day, they're fantastic quality when it comes to both washing and wear and they come in a variety of waist sizes and leg lengths, from petite to tall.

Whilst in Topshop, I couldn't help but to have a browse, much to my boyfriends disappointment, and I am so glad I did as I came across this gorgeous Khaki Jumper Dress, £28, also available in different colours. Now, although called a jumper dress the curved hem only really allows it to be worn as a dress by someone small.. Lucky me! But don't worry it looks fantastic with a pair of jeans too or you could opt for the next size up, which made the dress both looser and longer. I love the fit of this ribbed number and I am so disappointed I could only afford to purchase it in one colour, but I definitely think I made the right decision with the Khaki. 

Both of these items are not only gorgeous but very versatile. The rips in the jeans and the colour make them perfect for all year round, teaming with different colours and the style also means you can dress them up or down. Turned up with some chunky heeled shoe boots will definitely have you looking bang on trend. As for the jumper you can either wear it with jeans and boots, jeans and heels or just on its own with a pair of thigh high boots for a sexy sixties inspired look. The thickness also keeps that chill off without getting you too hot! Great for a walk to the pub or teamed with a coat for a day out shopping. I know I'll be wearing this a lot right through to spring.

Here are my three favourite ways to wear..

Worn together with black chunky heels and hobo bag. The jeans teamed with a white oversized boyfriend fit shirt, H&M, and converse. The jumper dress with thigh high leather boots, Dune.

I would love to know what your thoughts are!

How To.. Brows.

I used Sleek Makeups Brow Kit in Dark £8.49 @ Boots.

Your eyebrows are your best accessory, they help shape your face and frame your eyes so you should take care in how you present them. Perfect brows should be based around the natural shape, size and colouring, ideally starting from in line with the centre of your nostils and ending diagonally from the edge of your nose past the corner of your eye.

Here I have created a step by step guide to get those brows you've always wanted as unfortunately we can't all be blessed with beautiful big brows.

1) Using an old and clean mascara brush, brush your eyebrows up and out.

2) Take your tweezers and see where your brows should start and end and then pluck any stray hairs.

3) Using the angled brush in the brown wax create a smooth sweeping line from inside to out just below or on the bottom line of brow.

4) If your eyebrows aren't very full do the same again along the top of your brows, ensureing you create a nice finish.

5) Still using the angled brush and wax coat the hairs from 1/4 of the way in and fill in any gaps. Ensure to use the brush in outwards strokes following the way the hairs are growing.

6) Very carefully and gently in upward strokes fill the inner part of your eyebrows. The inner part should be lighter than the outside.

7) Taking the rounded brush dust the brown powder over your brows carefully, only a small amount is needed.

8) Using a light matte eyeshadow or white eyeliner, highlight under the arch of your brow, be sure to blend it well.

Brush up & out - line underneath - line above & fill outer edge - carefully fill inner brow and highlight arch.

I hope this was helpful! What are your tips for getting the best brows?

Lipsticks.. Save. Spend. Splurge.

Finding the perfect lipstick can be hard, you want the right colour that's going to last without going flakey and drying out your lips, chapped lips are not attractive, and you want it at a good price. So I got out my lipsticks, tested them all and here are my top three at a Save, Spend and Splurge.

Save: Natural Collection Lipstick £1.99 at Boots.
At a price like this it's hard to criticise, but its also hard due to the fact that this super cheap lipstick is actually rather good. In the darker colours this lipstick goes on really well, it doesn't cake up and it makes your lips feel and look soft. It is quite wear resistant however, when you're eating and drinking, it can start to fade in the centre and you may look like you've just drawn around the edges. The lighter colours in this range aren't as great as the darker ones as not much colour shows and it can tend to just be visible in areas that are chapped.

Spend: SEVENTEEN Stay Pout Lipstick £4.49 at Boots.
With this product being available at Boots, you will probably be able to find it as part of an offer, saving you a bit of money. I have used SEVENTEEN lipsticks for a very long time and I must say I do still like them. Unfortunately, once again the lighter colours aren't that great,  they're quite shiny so there's not much colour, so I am just going to skip that part and talk to you about the darker colours. They go on brilliantly, they're very true to colour and have just the right amount of shine. They make my lips feel very soft and it lasts a good amount of time, for the price I am happy to reapply that little bit more often than perhaps needed with more expensive brands.

Splurge: MAC Lipstick £15.50 at MAC Stores.
I love, love, love, MAC lipsticks and they come in so many different colours! Though being quite a bit more money than drug store brands, they're definitely worth it. They go on brilliantly, they're extremely long lasting and all their colours look fantastic on. Even my personal favourite YASH, which is in matte, doesn't look or feel dry. If you've not used MAC lipsticks before I would definitely recommend trying them out, even if you only buy one or two just to use for special occasions.

These three brands all have wonderful lipsticks and I personally like them all but I have to say although more money, MAC get first place off me.

The two that didn't make the cut. I also own Barry M Lip Paint (£4.49) and Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturizing Lipstick (£21). The only colour I use by Barry M is the red which is long lasting and goes on quite nicely, as for the other colours, although fairly long lasting, can appear very caked on. As for those by Elizabeth Arden, as lovely as they go on and don't dry out your lips for the price they don't last as long as I'd like.

I hope this was helpful and I'd love to know which lipsticks you like best?

Lights. Camera. Dresses.

Freddie Wears: ASOS Suit & Tie.

I Wear: TFNC Dress & ASOS Shoes.

The party season may be over but that can mean only one thing, it's nearly wedding season and if you're like me you'll already be on the search for that perfect day to evening dress. Plus you'll be after getting the best snaps of you looking hot to trot, and of course the beautiful bride.

When I started this blog there were a few reasons behind my decision to do so, my love for writing, my ever growing list of hobbies and of course the fact I love all things fashion and photography, so my friends glamorous birthday bash gave me the perfect opportunity to write about both of these. 

So first of all a little bit about my camera, the Samsung DV150F. With dual LCD screens, perfect for selfies, this pocket size camera is great for taking with you to any occasion, no matter how small the clutch bag! I love the fact it has wifi, meaning I can upload my pictures to fb at the touch of a button, you can also activate multishare so that any snaps you take go straight to your phone. The photo quality is great and so is the zoom, the only downside to this camera is that when it comes to taking photos in dull or dark lighting it can be a bit temperamental if the flash in inactive, something which I must say I have experienced with a lot of cameras. Now I don't want to bore you with all the specs, half of which I don't understand, so if you would like to read more about this camera here is a link to PCmag. However, I think there review is a bit harsh.

Time for the fashion. For this Hollywood themed night I bought this gorgeous Grecian style TFNC Dress from Topshop. The style of the dress shows off just the right amount of flesh and the wrap allows for a bit of over indulgence on the party food, which after this Christmas and New Year I definitely needed. The beading and fabric on this dress is simply stunning but be warned, due to the style, on some photos this dress may make your bum look huge as it did mine! 

Now for me, an all day wedding requires an elegant yet fun dress to take you from day to night, something that I think this particular dress does well. The length, colour and beading keeps it all very classy and sophisticated but the split gives it that element of sexiness and fun.

Finding the perfect dress is no easy job so I thought I'd start it off for you.

Fitted Dresses.

Ginger Fizz Pencil Dress £39 - Lipsy Lace Panel Cami £60 - ASOS Blossom Print £70

Floaty Dresses.

ASOS Fit & Flare £55 - Little Mistress Bandau £58 - ChiChi Floral Midi £55

Wrap & Peplum Waist Dresses.

Lipsy Shift Dress £60 - Asos Floral Peplum £55 - Lipsy Wrap Dress £55

Those are just a few of my favourites.. I hope you like them.