Posted on 15th April 2016

The Rantings of a Retail Worker

Hey every one! I thought I would end this week with a rather light hearted post – yet quite a rant for me. I’ve had a faaaairly stressful week so I wanted to end it with some laughter.

I have now worked in retail for over 5 years, and as with every job, I have little pet peeves and daily annoyances which I think many of you will be able to relate to.

1. The newbies. You probably started the job bright eyed and ready to put a smile on the faces of all you met. But now you are older and much wiser. You pity those newbies who have such high hopes, yet envy them slightly for their optimism. You probably clock in for each shift with an inward sigh and your bones creak when you bend down. Don’t worry, it is all a part of a natural process. All newbies eventually become sceptical and trust no one… Sorry to break the news.

2. Picky people.

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Those customers who change their mind about a tin of beans or want a discount because it has a dent – oh they’re just the worst. “Oh, sorry to be annoying but….” Well you aren’t sorry at all are you? If you were you wouldn’t be forcing me to walk to the other side of the store to replace a perfectly edible tin of beans. Ohhhhhh the fury!

3. THE fake laugh – which you don’t even force any more. So many times have colleagues turned around to me and said “that laugh was soooo fake” – and I didn’t even mean to do it! But you just can’t help yourself. Some customers tell the cheesiest jokes, and it would just be plain awkward if you denied them the laugh which they have fought so hard to get!

4. The jokes you’ve heard 100 million times. 

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PS, they don’t get any funnier. Trust me, I’ve heard them all, and I’ve heard them FAR TOO MANY TIMES. Sometimes I do just think to myself – if I hear that joke one more time I’m going to hit my head against the checkout. Of course I wouldn’t do that… But these jokes have pushed me pretty close to the edge.

5. “Are you working?” This is a huge eye-roller for me. I will be standing at my checkout with no customers, trying to smile and seem welcoming when I am astounded by this ridiculous question. What on earth else am I doing? I’m not on a day off but fancied sitting on a till for a while! I’m not spending my break smiling at customers…. OF COURSE I’M WORKING. One day I intend to test this and say “nahh”.

6. The customers who take phone calls whilst being served.

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 Errr… Sorry – who do you think you are? This is beyond rude to me. In most cases I will actually refuse to serve the customer until they acknowledge me or end the call. GRRRRRR.

7. People who get angry when they have ‘forgotten’ their ID. Come on now, you know you don’t look 25, and therefore you will probably be ID’d. The fact that you have come to me in the hopes that I would overlook that is not my problem. Sorry, but I am not risking losing my job, facing an extortionate fine and a criminal record, all so you can have your can of Jack Daniels.

8. “I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER!” 

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Wow – calm down! I can of course call a manager but you will have to stand there and wait, only to be told exactly what I have told you – but by someone wearing a suit. I resent being undermined and my authority being questioned – especially by people so rude.

9. A weekend? What is one of those? Ohhhh yeah, those things which are apparently a great time to socialise with your friends and family, make some memories, have some laughs… No I can’t quite imagine what my life would be like with one of those!

10. “You look bored!” / “Cheer up”

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Look I’m sorry if I look a bit glum, I don’t know if you have noticed but I am at work. Excusing that – I am a customer assistant with NO CUSTOMERS. When this happens, unfortunately all I can do is stare into space, and after a certain amount of time I will probably zone out and my mechanical smile will drop… So, sorry about that… But not really.

11. The reaction to the 5p bag charge. Okay, I get that some of you are bitter – no one likes to spend money on something that was once free. But there is a very simple solution to this… Bring your own bags! On the odd occasion that you forget (every single week) you only have yourself to blame. If you choose to opt for the 5p bag, please don’t chew my ear off about how it’s daylight robbery. I don’t make the rules, I’m just asked to enforce them – so whining to me really won’t change anything – it will just make me grumpy.

12. The elaborate excuses for not having a loyalty card.

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If I’m honest, I am only asking you if you have it out of politeness. If you tell me that you don’t have one/ don’t want one I promise you I will take no personal offence. But I really don’t need to know that your ex wife has it and refuses to return it or that it was lost to the mouth of your dog.

13. That customer who changes their mind after the till has opened and decides to contribute an extra 22p to “make it easier”. I am not a maths genius, in fact I really am out of practice. So you messing up my digital calculator and forcing me to do mental arithmetic is the furthest thing from making it easier for me, despite your best intentions.

14. The dirty looks from your queue when you are stuck with a chatty customer.

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Ahhhhhhh I’m sorry okay! I can see that you are in a rush but what do you want me to do? Should I tell Doreen that I don’t care that her husband has not long passed away and that this is her only chance to speak to people? All I can do is smile and be polite so don’t you huff and puff at me!

15. Damaged vouchers with codes a million miles long. Oh goodie – I can’t wait to manually type in 40 vouchers, thank you so much for screwing them up into your pocket, so considerate of you! Yes of course I will do that for you, not a problem. Ergghhghgenijnemf.

16. “Behave! Or the lady won’t let you have your sweets!”

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Ahhhh that’s where you’re wrong. I really don’t care if you want to make your child even more bratty and hyper – so please don’t use me as a threat, because I promise you I won’t enforce it. You will only be teaching you child that they can and will get away with murder.

Now, having said this, I do love my job… It’s just that some of the people I have to put up with… Erghhhhh!! Do you have any horror stories from working in retail? Any customers just grind your gears and make your mind boggle? Please comment below – feel free to vent, trust me it feels goooooood!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts.

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Posted on 12th April 2016

Review of Sleek Au Naturel Palette

Hey guys, I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and this miserable weather isn’t bogging you down too much! I thought I would kick-start this week with my very first review; this is of my Sleek Makeup eyeshadow palette in Au Naturel; a gorgeous present which I received from my house mate and best friend Katie at Christmas!

Exterior Sleek Palette au naturel

I was a bit scared of eye shadow on coming to University because I always managed to make myself look like a train wreck whenever I wore it, but I was always envious of how amazing Katie’s looked so for Christmas I not-so-subtly hinted that I’d love an eye shadow palette and some! As always, Katie delivered and went beyond!

Exterior Sleek Palette au naturel 2

At first I struggled with matching the correct colours and with shaping my eye in order to compliment it, but with the help of Pinterest and trusty video tutorials, by January I was finally confident enough to use it every day. Practice makes perfect after all! One thing I love about this palette is the great range of colour which is available to you.

Sleek Palette au naturel with brushes2

Apologies for the used appearance of my palette – I wasn’t clever enough to take photos before I used it

There are plenty of nude colours which can be combined to make a lovely, subtle day time look – but there are also some really nice dramatic colours which I love experimenting with!

Sleek Palette au naturel - colour names

As you can see above, Cappuccino and Honeycomb are my most used shades – for my daytime look I usually use Honeycomb on my lid and Cappuccino on my crease line. The colour is really pigmented so a little goes a long way! Although these colours appear quite neutral, it really makes my eyes pop, without going overboard.

Sleek Palette au naturel with brushes

The glittery shades have to be my favourite to experiment with. I have made some really nice dramatic looks out of Conker, Moss, Mineral Earth and Taupe. When paired with my winged eye liner, a tutorial for which I have here, I find that these shades are amazing for a night out. Next I think I will have a play with Regal – I have seen some absolutely gorgeous red smokey eyes out there at the moment and although this seems a bit adventurous for me, I am ready to take the plunge!

Sleek Palette au naturel swatches2

Downwards from top left: Nougat, Nubuck, Cappuccino, Honeycomb, Toast, Taupe. Downwards from top right: Conker, Moss, Bark, Mineral Earth, Regal, Noir.

As you can hopefully see in this swatch, one side of the palette is gorgeously subtle – perfect for a nude look, whilst the other is dramatic and bold – and one which I love to experiment with!

I am so happy with this palette, and as a beginner with eye shadow I found it has everything I could possibly want. It allows me to master both a nude and a more dramatic look. I love the colours and that it has a combination of matted and glittery shades.

I was really impressed with this product, so much so that I have since had a look online out of curiosity to see how much this set Katie back – and to eye up future purchases of my own. I couldn’t believe that this product only costs £7.99!! It’s incredible! If you are ever desperate for new eye shadows but you’re tight for cash, I would highly recommend you check out Sleek’s I-Divine range.

Sleek Palette au naturel with brushes3

Alternatively, you can buy Sleek products from Superdrug, and if they don’t have the product you’re looking for? You can order it into Superdrug for free! No postage costs for you!

Do you have any Sleek products which you would like to recommend? Or any beautiful eye shadow palettes that I should try next? Please comment below – I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts.

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Posted on 8th April 2016

Primark Home Bargains

Happy Friday everyone!

I was sitting in my room this morning admiring my new bargain purchases and I thought I should share these little goodies with you! After my last two more serious posts [which you can find here and here] a post about decor seemed fitting. And besides, Primark are seriously on it this spring with their home section.

My house mate and best friend Katie went in there the other day and told me that there were a lot of new monochrome bits and items featuring elephants… SOLD!! I was there like a flash, ransacking the shelves, unable to see where I was going because my items were piled up past my eyes. I am a rational woman, but I have my vices. Monochrome and elephants just happen to be two of these – oops.

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My little goodies, in all their monochrome glory.

When I return home from University, I’ll be redecorating my room for the first time in about five years. As we rent our home, I won’t have complete freedom but I can make the best with decor and I am so excited to make my room a home! For so long I’ve felt like a visitor at home, as all my efforts have gone into decorating my University room, all the while neglecting what should be my home.

I’ll give you a little break down below of each item, why I love it and how much it cost – you will be amazed – even for Primark it’s a bloody good deal!

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Jacquard Square Cushion in Black and White – £7

I was split between buying this cushion and one with an elephant logo [I may have a slight obsession] but this one captured my heart as it was the perfect size and struck me as such a gorgeous statement cushion. I love the pattern and texture of it, yet it is soft and cuddly [yes I tested it’s cuddleability in the shop – haters gonna hate]. I have fallen asleep twice with this wonderful cushion today – I foresee a wonderful affair.

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SS16 Milk Bottle “100% Thirsty” – £3

I’ve had my eye out for a cute little cup like this for a couple of weeks now, as when my parents came up to University to drop me off after Easter, my younger sister nabbed mine… I could hardly say no to that cute little face. I wouldn’t have minded but I relied on that cup for pre-drinks! I don’t trust myself to hold a normal cup like a big girl after one drink. I’ve particularly liked the milk bottle shaped cups for a while, and this gave me the perfect excuse. I love the cheeky little pun written on the bottle and once again, the monochrome sealed the deal for me. My favourite part for me however was the rose gold lid – I think this is absolutely gorgeous and makes the whole thing stand out! And for only £3, I just had to get it.

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Zebra MDF Plaque – £1.50

God knows why it’s coming up on my receipt as a zebra plaque… It is clearly a beautiful ELEPHANT!  I love elephants because they’re so powerful and majestic, yes such peaceful creatures. I also love the “elephants never forget” idea, whether it actually has any truth behind it I don’t know. For obvious reasons I love this piece – and it’s only £1.50!!! I blame Katie for my strange new obsession with plaques, but I forgive her because this is now hanging proudly on my bedroom door and I just love looking at it!!

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Be Awesome Glass Plaque – £4

Although one of my more pricey items, it’s still such an amazing steal! I’m really into motivational quotes and I love the positivity which they portray and evoke! In an ideal world I’d be surrounded my quotes like this at all times but unfortunately that’s not possible – I’m happy to pay such a small price to have them hanging all over my room though! The item itself looks to be worth much much more than £4 which is also a huge bonus – it really is great value for money.

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Printed Smile Plaque – £3

This is definitely one of my favourite purchases. I love its rustic feel with the straw-like string and the old and worn looking frame. The design makes it look like it has been hand stitched, like in the olden days – it has so much character! Once again I am a big fan of the motivational quote – you’re never truly dressed without a smile after all. I think when I return home I will proudly mount this above my desk to provide inspiration and to keep me motivated and positive!

That’s all my goodies on this occasion – I really did hold back! I could have easily doubled this list but I am tryyyying to be good with my money. Having said that I only spent £18.50 on this trip which definitely isn’t bad considering how much I managed to get! I would definitely check out Primark’s website if I were you – even if monochrome isn’t your thing [are you maaaad?] there are so many pretty bits and some gorgeous bedding sets to get your hands on this spring!

If you have any of your own home bargains which you would like to share with me, please comment!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts. Links are posted in the sidebar.

Jade x

Posted on 7th April 2016

My Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: part two

Hello lovely people! This post is a continuation of my previous post on polycystic ovary syndrome, which you can find here. In this post I will talk about my medication, how my PCOS has effected me and how I keep control of the symptoms. I will add the same disclaimer to this post which I added on my last: please remember that every experience is different and if you have any concerns after reading this, ask your GP. I am not a doctor and I know through my own mistakes to never self-diagnose.

I finished my last post by sharing my moment of diagnosis, so I will continue where I left off and share my medication with you. When prescribing me with the contraceptive pill, the doctors had to be sure that I did not experience/ have a family history of migraines or blood clots, as this would be dangerous on the pill. It is also important to note that smoking does increase the risk of blood clots and other complications on the pill – I am silly enough to continue to do so but I plan on quitting within the next year.

As I am lucky to not have a family history of blood clots or experience regular migraines, I was placed on the 3 week contraceptive pill Rigevidon – which means that I take the pill for 3 weeks and on the fourth I don’t take the pill and I get a period. This is great because my periods have finally regulated – yaaay!!

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Rigevidon 3 week contraceptive pill

Now, I know that this pill isn’t for everyone – some people gain a lot of weight, their skin breaks out, they start getting regular migraines [if this happens contact your GP]! Some people get really bad stomach cramps etc. Basically, this pill isn’t for everyone but I have been on it for roughly 3 years now and I’ve had no issues! From what I have gathered, this is the first pill which the doctors will prescribe on diagnosis.

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The pill comes with this lovely discreet sleeve which makes it easier to carry around in your handbag.

So this pill has been an absolute god send. After the first few months of being on this pill I had to return to the hospital to have another ultrasound to check on the growth of my cysts – and Hurrah! They had significantly reduced in just a few months! Which was obviously a huuuuge relief!

A downside of the pill is that at first they will only release 3 months worth of pills in one appointment for the first year – and only 6 months worth following that. This means that every 6 months I have to go to the doctors to get a new bunch of pills! Although this is annoying, I think it is necessary because they take my blood pressure and my weight and let me know if I am on track and am keeping my lifestyle healthy!

One symptom which the pill hasn’t helped – for me – is the weight gain. One symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome is an increased level of testosterone hormone: which means hair growth and weight gain. Although the pill gives you oestrogen to balance this out, I have found that my weight is still quite difficult to budge – something very common for the contraceptive pill is weight gain.

When you have polycystic ovary syndrome, it is important to maintain a healthy weight [and I do mean a HEALTHY weight – not trying to get yourself as small as possible]. Due to the testosterone, that isn’t always easy [typical]. So when I gain weight, I find it near impossible to get it off! I am a pretty consistent weight at 10 stone, but I do sometimes reach 10 stone 7 and have to work my ass off to get it back down. According to my BMI [something which I don’t agree with because it doesn’t take into consideration muscle mass but that’s a rant for another day] I am only just a healthy weight…

BMI calculation

This calculator is available on the NHS website

I try to keep on top of my weight and fitness so I don’t spiral out of control – but at the same time I don’t want to give myself eating issues by obsessing over my food or my weight so I try not to lose sleep over it. In an ideal world I would like to be 8 stone 7 or 9 stone in order to be safely within the ‘healthy’ range but it is SO HARD to work it all off I’m telling you. I’ve been 10 stone for as long as I can remember and I can’t imagine it changing any time soon.

In order to stay on top of my weight I try to eat healthy fruit and vegetables as snacks and get in green tea when I can – I also avoid eating too much take away. I try to exercise as much as possible – I really enjoy the gym, yoga, dancing, and I try to enjoy running… It hasn’t been successful yet but hopefully one day!

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My babies

If you would like to know more facts about PCOS please follow this link for official information from the NHS.

I hope this post has been informative and you have all learned a little something or have been able to relate to some of my experiences. Please spread the word so that others can find the medical help they need!

If you can think of any more tips and suggestions in reference to living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, let me know in the comments! I am no doctor, and knowledge is power!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts. Links are posted in the sidebar.

Jade x

Posted on 5th April 2016

My Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: part one.

Hi everyone, this post today is a little different from my usual posts about beauty and life at university as I will be discussing something which effects so many of us: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – or PCOS for short. It sounds very scary and clinical but it honestly isn’t that daunting.

Now you may be asking yourself: why is she writing about something so personal? or why should I read a post like this? Well, you may be shocked to know that it is thought to affect at least one in five women in the UK – so the chances are that at least one member of your family or friends have it.  So I think it is important to spread the word about PCOS so that people are aware of the symptoms; and also to break the taboo revolving around female illness and their bodies. The following image sums up how I would like this subject to be approached and how open I try to be about my own body:

My-Womb-Says-Hi- libertyantoniasadler

Artwork by Liberty Antonia Sadler

So with that long introduction aside: In this post I will be discussing my own personal experience with PCOS – my initial symptoms, why I felt the need to go to the doctors and the diagnosis experience. Due to the length of this topic I have chopped the post into two – so in my next post I will discuss my life with PCOS and how it has been effected since the day of diagnosis. Please remember that every experience is different and if you have any concerns after reading this, ask your GP. I am not a doctor and I know through my own mistakes to never self-diagnose.

My PCOS journey began at age 16: all my friends had long started having periods and I was feeling left out and a little worried about why I was so late. I was very athletic – I danced for a minimum of 17 hours a week; 9 of which were on a Saturday and when my Mum was younger she was athletic and didn’t start her period until the age of 17 – so I chalked up my late start up to that.

One day we were doing stretching exercises before our ballet class [I was wearing the signature pale pink tights with a leotard in the box splits…. Nice and exposed. *winces at the traumatic memory* when all of a sudden I felt a warm sensation at my crotch, as though I was weeing myself. Having had many informative conversations with my friends I knew that the day had finally come. I excused myself from class and took a friend with me, and she coached me through the bathroom door the complicated procedure of attaching a sanitary towel to my pants.

Life Over GIF

After my first period, I waited with anticipation for my next…. I waited and waited and waited. Four months went by until it came again. I was embarrassed and didn’t tell anyone about this and told myself that my periods must just be irregular. I was noticing quite a bit of weight gain and skin breakouts – not helped by the fact that I was no longer dancing thanks to Sixth form and my new part time job – so once again, I chalked my weight gain and bad skin up to a lack of exercise.

My gaps between periods were becoming larger and larger each time – at one point I went half a year without one. When I was due I was having excruciating pain, but no blood. There were times when I would make the hour journey to sixth form, to have to turn back in agony. On one of these occasions my mum sternly told me that I need to book an emergency doctors appointment because something was clearly wrong for me to be in so much pain and so lethargic at the end of the day, at this point I was 18. So I dragged my sorry self to the doctors surgery, my stomach knotted with cramps, sweat covering my entire body. The doctor poked my tender abdomen [OUCH] and diagnosed me with indigestion and prescribed me with Gaviscon… GREAAAT.

Great GIF

I was too timid to say anything so I took the gaviscon and shuffled home. My mum, for obvious reasons, wasn’t content with that diagnosis and booked me an appointment with a female doctor who came recommended for issues like mine. I obviously didn’t hold out much hope, having been pretty much dismissed as a hypochondriac but I went anyway, and was told that from the sounds of my symptoms: weight gain, very painful and irregular periods and excess hair growth, she thought I had polycystic ovary syndrome and booked an ultrasound for me at the hospital.

At this point I was TERRIFIED. I’ve always been very healthy and have never been diagnosed with anything so permanent in all my life. The ultrasound experience was interesting. Apparently my bladder wasn’t full enough so I had to have an internal examination [at this point I once again hadn’t had a period in several months], and during the process I felt a bursting sensation and I came on my period, covering her “wand” as she called it in blood.

Embarrassed GIF

The consultant was really understanding and let me go ahead and clean up. When I returned she informed me that the wand and actually burst one of the cysts on my left ovary which she managed to measure before it happened – and it was the size of a golf ball! EEK! No wonder I was in so much pain! So I finally had my answer: I had polycystic ovary syndrome and my left ovary is the issue. Following my ultrasound I had to have a blood test to be 100% sure before they prescribed me with medication.

In my next post I will be discussing the medication which I am on, the lifestyle I lead and how I try to deal with the symptoms of PCOS.

If you would like to know more facts about PCOS please follow this link for official information from the NHS.

Thank you so much for reading this everyone – I hope you have a giggle at my cringy period experiences and find this post informative! Please spread the word so that others can find the medical help they need!

Do you suffer from PCOS? Do you know anyone who does? Have you found any tips to deal with the symptoms? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts. Links are posted in the sidebar. And stay tuned for my next post on PCOS.

Jade x

Posted on 1st April 2016

My Pandora Wishlist

Hey guys! It is my boyfriends mum’s birthday soon and she has asked me for a Pandora charm, so I visited the website for the very first time … I don’t buy Pandora charms, I just get them! [If you haven’t watched Mean Girls you won’t get that reference, sorry!] giphy

Now I have been on the website and actually browsed through potential charms, I have racked up quite the wish list [oops] – so I thought I would share some of these with you!

When Pandora bracelets first became a “thing” I really wasn’t that interested and quite frankly saw it as a waste of money. But on receiving one as a gift, I’ve got to admit – I couldn’t have been more wrong!!!

The reason I love Pandora is that the charms are all so personal! Every time I look at my bracelet it makes me smile because each charm has it’s own significant meaning or memory behind it!

Pandora's so far...

1. This was a gift from Dan, and for obvious reasons I love it.

2. Me and Dan have always called each other “snuggle bear” – it’s soppy I know, but we just love bears!! Both the wild and cuddly kind. This charm does little rolly pollys and ahhhh it’s so cute!

3. This was a gift from Dan’s mum, my first ever charm in fact! She got it in Jade green which I love.

4. A Christmas gift from Dan’s mum, that little reindeer is too adorable!

5. My most recent charm: Dan got me this one for my birthday and I love it! He wanted to buy me a book charm, due to my obsession with reading, but he was sold when he saw the fairytale book. On the other side of the book is an image of the princess and the frog, which is one of my absolute favourite Disney films!!

I have provided links to my charms when they were available but it would seem that most of my charms are no longer sold by Pandora 🙁

 

Here I have compiled a little collage of a select few from my Pandora wishlist:

http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791395
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791502nsb
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791377
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791392cz
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/790536
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791189

From top left to right:

  • Bear Hug Charm – Referring back to what I said earlier about bears: this charm would remind me of Dan; aaaaagh it’s just so cute!!
  • Graduate Owl Charm – This would be the perrrrrrfect graduation present *hint hint*
  • Lion Charm – I LOVE big cats, especially lions. They are just so powerful and majestic! I’m planning my next tattoo to be a lion’s portrait so I think this charm would be a nice symbol for that.
  • Moon and Star Pendant Charm – Me and Dan watch Game of Thrones together and we were slightly obsessed with the romance between Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo. It may be slightly cheesy but we adopted their cute little greeting “Moon of my life” & “My sun and stars”. I feel like this pendant suits us perfectly!
  • Study Book Charm – Books, books and more books!! What could be wrong with a charm with books on it? NOTHING.
  • Swan Embrace Charm – The University of Lincoln mascot is a swan, and there are swans both in Lincoln and back home in Ely, where me and Dan are from. We also have a rather sweet story about swans but I shan’t bore you with that soppy detail.

View my full Pandora wish list here

Hopefully this wishlist has you inspired for potential gifts for others [and maybe the odd one for yourself of course] If you have any suggestions for other customised jewellery places like Pandora which you would like to share with me, please comment!

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts. Links are posted in the sidebar.

Jade x

Posted on 31st March 2016

How I Wing It: My Liquid Eye Liner Tutorial

Hey guys! I thought I would take this opportunity to write about something which I am frequently asked and praised about: my liquid eye liner.

At this point I think it’s important to admit… I definitely have an addiction to my wings. I have been practising and perfecting my technique over five years… FIVE YEARS – and it has been my every day make up for this amount of time. Here are a few photos to mark my progression:

January 2011

January 2011 – the wings are born! Very Winehouse-esque

October 2012

October 2012 – these wings definitely makes me cringe!

July 2013

July 2013 – a post gym sweaty photo: apparently I only wanted my eye liner to cover half my eye [?!]

June 2014

June 2014 – MUCH better! This was a very good wing day, my brows on the other hand… EEK.

March 2016

March 2016 – We’re up to date!! I’m sure there will still be both good and bad days but I think we can all agree that I have come a long way!

In the past five years I have tried many different types of liquid eye liner but there has only been ONE which I have always been able to rely on, and that is Rimmel London Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner in 100% black

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Rimmel London Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner in 100% black

The applicator brush on this eye liner is sturdy enough to confidently glide across my eyelid without it flinging all over the place – an issue which I have encountered with many other liquid eye liners.

Another major plus is that this eye liner is SO long lasting – I have never had a smudge or fade issue with this product. A massive thumbs up from me!

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Rimmel London Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner in 100% black

 

 

So here is my brief step-by-step guide on how I actually apply my winged eye liner:

STEP ONE – Glide the liner across the lash line, making as straight and smooth a line as possible

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You can make this line as thick or as thin as you like. For me, it totally depends on my mood and how dramatic a look I’m going for.

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You can already see such a huge effect on the eye and how it notches up your day time look to make it THAT much more dramatic.

 

STEP TWO – Create the basis of your wing by making a line from the outer lid to the corner of your eye

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I find it helpful to angle the eye liner by following the line on the bottom lid.

 

STEP THREE – Fill in your wing. I try to make this joining as smooth as possible in order to create a more ‘natural look’

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Once again, you can adjust these instructions to make your wing as thick or as thin as you prefer.

 

THE FINAL PRODUCT:

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I hope this tutorial was as fun to read as it was to make! If you have any more questions or tips I’d love to hear from you, so please comment below.

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts. Links are posted in the sidebar.

Jade x

Posted on 25th March 2016

Seven Things I Have Gained Through University

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Handing in the all-important dissertation!

University has always been a goal for me, ever since I was little. This was partially due to hearing my Mum’s University lifestyle stories, but also due to my burning passion to learn.

However, on completely my A Levels, I had zero motivation to start looking for prospective Universities or to even consider picking up a novel, and I was in no place to rush such a huge decision. I chose to procrastinate and took a gap year, one of the best decisions I have ever made, because let’s face it – University is SUCH a big decision nowadays – we have extortionate tuition fees to thank for that! But I’d better move on before I get too heated on that subject…

In that year, I worked two jobs and spent lots of money on a holiday with my friends and many nights out enjoying my freedom as many 18-year-olds desire to do! I made some wonderful memories in that year. I spent quality time with my friends and family, and importantly it was also in my gap year that I first started to get close with my boyfriend, Dan <3

Here are a few photos of the great experiences I created with my friends in my gap year:

My very first holiday away from my family!
A lot of crazy drama happened on this holiday, but I wouldn’t change it for the world
My very first holiday away from my family!
Reading music Festival!
We saw EMINEM live and I cried with joy… literally
We saw our friends play on the main stage – which was a totally unforgettable experience!
My bestest & oldest friend came on a Brit caravan holiday with my family
We took SO many photos for just one week, but I love looking back at how different we once were!

As you can see, no part of me regrets taking my gap year to sort my head out and to enjoy a little part of my early adulthood!

I am now in my third and final year at University of Lincoln, my dissertation is behind me, and there are just a few assignments and one exam between me and that graduation cap!

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With the last few years of experience behind me, I thought now would be the perfect time to share with you why I am so glad to have taken the leap and to have gone to University.

So here are my 7 things I have gained through going to University

1. Life skills

This one seems pretty vague – but I shall elaborate. I never really thought about the details when I eventually did decide to go to University. I only thought of my education, the friends I was hoping to make and finding a place to work. But one VERY important thing I have learned is how to live independently and more importantly, how to take care of myself. Two years on and I am a fairly confident cook, and actually enjoy planning and preparing my evening meals. I look forward to laundry day, I separate my washes by colour, I can iron efficiently and have created a cleaning rota for my house mates… [I rule with an iron fist]. I’m actually kinda dreading going back home and having to work as a team to get these daily activities done.

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2. A new-found respect for money

Wow… They weren’t kidding me when they talked and laughed about the poverty of students today. I’m in that rubbish middle bracket according to Student Finance, and therefore receive… well, not enough to cover rent. My family are unable to subsidise me through University [regardless of what Student Finance have concluded], which meant that I have had to work two jobs. I work at Tesco full time, transferring from my store at University to my store back home in the holidays. My second job is doing administration work in an office in Cambridge in the holidays. The lack of free time sucks, but it has got to be done in order to survive unfortunately. One good outcome however: I am SO much better with money than my three years younger self.

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Ohhh… I wish Kimmy K </3

3. SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE

Although this seems like a given, I cannot believe how much I have learned over the past two years when I think about it. There are so many theories, theorists and novelists which have changed my life, and I may have never even encountered them were it not for this degree! An example? FEMINISM! I honestly did not know what feminism was before I came to University, though I have always believed in gender equality. It feels so great now to be able to say “I’m a feminist” and to share my beliefs and to have the knowledge and confidence to talk about big issues within society!

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4. The love of my life

Coming to University forced Dan to make a decision as to where our relationship was going, and he drove the 90 miles to see me on my first weekend, which really proved to me his commitment. What can I say? We have been best friends for three years, dating for two. Long distance relationships can be hard, but we make it work. He is absolutely amaaazing. We squeeze in short phone calls throughout the week and he drives up to visit me each and every weekend [I’d hate to think what I owe him in petrol money]. Dan truly is my rock, I’d be totally lost without him.

 

5. Time management skills

I cannot stress this one enough! Before I came to University I was a very ‘last minute’ type of person. I skipped breakfast, I snoozed my alarm and I was always arriving to work two seconds before my shift started. Having four novels to read in a week, alongside socialising, 12+ hours at work and making time for friends and my boyfriend have taught me that I can no longer be that kind of person! Now I set an alarm thirty minutes before I actually have to get up [whether I actually wake up to it is another issue entirely].

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6. The most amazing friends I could ask for

I have met some of the most amazing people at University, and have made friends for life in my house mates. In particular, Katie [my best friend], Tom and Dan. These guys are so incredible and I know that we will continue to meet up afer graduation. The thought of not living with them next year literally brings me to tears. In them I have found a real support system, and I will cherish their friendship forever!

 

 

7. The unforgettable memories

If there’s one thing I’ll definitely be taking with be after the last two years, it’s a wonderful set of invaluable memories which can never be replaced!

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I hope you have enjoyed this post! Are you a student at University? Do you have any burning questions which are slowing your decision? Please comment below with your experiences of University!

Thank you so much for reading! Don’t forget to follow me on my other social media accounts! Links are posted in the sidebar!

Jade x

Posted on 23rd March 2016

Winging it…

I am finally doing it; I have created the Blog which for months and months I have been wanting to make.

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There’s one thing you should know about me… I am really… really… REALLY good at putting off things which I long to do, I shall give you a few examples:

  1. Dying my hair white/silver – Being a natural blonde, this really shouldn’t have taken me THREE YEARS to do. I browsed Pinterest for what now seems like days on end, making boards of my favourite styles, reading reviews online of the best dyes and the do’s and don’ts for dying at home; yet I still put it off.
  2. Going to University – I love education. I love learning, I love reading, I love the classroom environment, I love what potential there is through education. Yet I still took a gap year, working two jobs with X amount of excuses as to why I shouldn’t go “right now”.
  3. Driving – I am twenty one years old, and I am only now contemplating taking my first driving lesson. My sister (who is five years younger than me) will probably be behind the wheel and on the road to independence long before me.
  4. Confronting my now-boyfriend about my feelings – It took me an entire year to finally come clean to my boyfriend that I had feelings for him, which meant that we only started dating when I moved to University, 80 miles from him. Although not the longest distance, it is almost laughable that back home we live less than a mile apart.

Phew… After writing all that down, I’m thinking: “It’s a miracle it only took me a year to make a Blog”.

But this issue of procrastination is one which I am trying to tackle, hence my name; “Wing it with Jade” (which also refers to my borderline addiction to winged eye liner). I’m trying to stop over-thinking things to the absolute extreme, when really I should be grabbing life by the horns and accepting all opportunities which are so readily available to me!!! In other words, I should be more like Monica at a party…

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Through this Blog I’ll discuss hair, make up and fashion; how I wear it, reviews and do’s and don’ts. I’ll also discuss fitness as I am slowly learning to enjoy a healthy lifestyle – with the occasional binge of course. Anything else lifestyle related which interests me will be posted on here, be it book reviews,  personal life changing events, or advice based on my own experience. If there’s anything you guys would like to see from me, please comment or get in touch!! I’d love to hear your ideas!!

Thank you so much for reading! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram!

Jade x

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