H E A R T A U T U M N

For as long as I can remember, Celebrity Big Brother has been my go-to trashy reality show. We all love some crap TV (you're lying if you don't) because it just gives us an escape. It's an hour or two each night where we can just switch off for some easy viewing. There's no gripping storyline to follow and you don't have to think about it. But this time I've opted not to watch it. My mum was very surprised when I said this, which tells you how into it I normally get. But truth is, after the 7 weeks I dedicated to Love Island (and have absolutely no regrets about, fyi), I decided I didn't want to get sucked into more nothingness when I can be doing far more productive things with my time. It might not sound like much, an hour each evening, and it's 9pm when you generally start winding down anyway, but it is! An hour a night, 7 days a week (longer if its an eviction) and it all adds up. You find you're telling yourself 'I'll do that when I don't have an episode to watch' and it's stupid really, isn't it? My pile of 'to read' books is getting out of hand; there's a list as long as my arm of recipes I want to try (snacks to make for through the week to stop me grabbing biscuits constantly); and I want to really focus on upping my blog content. Just generally being more productive with my time really! I've been slowly getting better with my shoots over the past 2 months, finding new locations and being a bit more adventurous and I just want this to continue. 
I was talking to a friend recently about my blog, and how although I've had it for 2 years, it's only really in the past 6 months that I've really been putting the effort in. I've been trying to work hard at it and make it something I'm really proud of. This is actually my first shoot with an actual photographer (profesh, I know!) so I thought it only too fitting to talk about how I want to continue improving my content.



Hitting Publish More Often
Everyone always says 'you don't need to have a blogging schedule' but honestly? I do. Every person is different, but when I have set goals and ~deadlines I work far better. I work best under pressure, even if it's just pressure from myself. In July, I was putting out 2 posts per week and my only real limit on not doing this all of the time, is having the time to shoot photos. So I want to get better at shooting in bulk and having a backlog of photos to use so that I can continue posting twice a week. Even if this means more flatlay style photos and wishlist posts, because I enjoy the writing and have so many ideas for posts and things I want to say! Ironic that this is coming after a week of no posts, but times are a changing!



Forgetting About The Numbers
This is another thing that everyone always says, and this time it's something I actually need to start listening to. I've spent so much time recently trying to grow on Instagram (damn that algorithm!) and while it has been working somewhat, I've kind of been neglecting other things. I could've put that time into getting another blog shoot done, promoting my posts or simply reading others posts and sharing some love! So I'm gonna concentrate my effort on putting out the best content that I can and not so much on trying to grow.



Making Friends
I'm always seeing posts about how amazing blogging has been for people in making friends, and yeah there's girls I talk to on instagram DM's and always share the love on each other posts - the lovely Natasha actually included me in her post all about this - but I'm yet to get close enough with bloggers to actually meet up. I sometimes need a little nudge when it comes to socialising (anxiety is real fun guys!) but small steps like joining in twitter chats is all I need to do for now. I always seem to get online just as ones wrapping up though!



Get A Blog Header
Last of all, not a big goal, but I need to actually get myself a decent header for my blog. I had one last year that I'd cobbled together myself and it wasn't all that great, so I swapped it out for just the font which I've stuck with for quite a while now. But I just want something a little more personal; something pretty! So if you have any recommendations for this, hit me up!



Blazer - Missguided

T-Shirt - Topshop (similar)

Skirt - Missguided (similar)

Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

Bag - Valentino (no longer available)

Socks - Primark

Trainers - Converse


Photos by Matt McCormick

When you get absorbed in reading blogs and scrolling through Instagram each night, you can easily find yourself with a wishlist as long as your arm of clothes and beauty items that you just absolutely need. You discover a new blogger who has the dreamiest style and just have to have that jacket she's wearing in her latest snaps; you read a post about the 'best foundation ever' and find yourself sucked into wanting to try it; the Gucci belt that you can't scroll through Instagram without seeing, I absolutely must have it. There's a reason the 'youtube made me buy it' tag began, became a hit and transformed into youtube/bloggers/instagram made me buy it! There's a pull to be 'relevant' in what you're blogging about and the products which you feature. Why am I sharing photos of this outfit if half of the items aren't available anymore? Because it doesn't matter. People aren't reading your blog and liking your instagram photos because they want to emulate your exact wardrobe, sorry. Yeah, they like your style and might buy a lot of what they see you in, but for me it's all about the styling. How yoy've worn a piece makes all the difference, and if it's not current stock, there will always be something similar available. Trust me. In my last outfit post I had a moment of 'why am I wearing these faux fur boots when they're from Topshop 2 seasons ago and no longer available?' Turns out Nasty Gal have an almost identical pair available right now!



As I mentioned, for me, it's all about how someone has styled their outfit, how they've put pieces together that I wouldn't think to. This then makes me reevaluate how I put outfits together, and yeah, those patterns clash, but in a good way. I see a post on how a bloggers styled some gingham trousers and I already have a pair so I don't want another - they're a little different in style, but I can still wear them with an outfit much like she has. There's loads of bloggers out there slaying in their vintage pieces and charity shop finds that none of us will be able to grab. Because you can be inspired by someones style without having to copy. You can link any number of similar items in a blog post and people will still be interested.



That's not to say we don't all want to buy pieces we see our favourite bloggers wearing - because we do! Of course we do! But the point is, you don't need to be doing hauls every week to be relevant. You don't need a Gucci handbag and a realisation parr dress. You don't need another Urban Decay Naked palette to sit in your drawer barely touched. (I'm totally making assumptions here, I'm allergic to eyeshadow so what do I know?!) But you get my point.

I've put myself on a shopping ban twice this year and when you aren't buying new clothes you can really dig through your wardrobe and find those pieces that haven't seen the light of day in months (if not years!). You can style them up in ways you've never thought to before and it's like you've been shopping without the spending - which is what we all dream of really, isn't it?




SHOP THE STYLE

So as you may or may not know if you're a regular reader, this year I have been setting myself different challenges each month, because why not? January I started with vegan-uary; February I put myself on a shopping ban, March I gave up fizzy drinks; you get the idea! So for August I thought I'd use this as the kick start I need to do something I've been wanting to for a while: going cruelty free. I'm already mostly plant-based with my diet so this was the next progression, because it's 2017 fgs, leave the bunnies alone! This obviously won't just be a month-long challenge like the others, but it gives me the kick up the bum I've needed to actually get started in researching brands and clearing out my products. 

There's a lot of information out there on cruelty free make-up and my favourite, Charlotte Tilbury, makes the cut, but other things like haircare are harder to research. I don't want to just use Lush 'BIG' like everywhere suggests, that shit dries your hair out like crazy, thank you very much! So that's where Neäl & Wølf come in. A range of cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free haircare products with very aesthetically pleasing packaging is everything you could ever want, no?



Combining Luxury and Affordability
The brand are very clear about the ingredients which they use and the potentially harmful chemicals which they have chosen to leave out, and hence are used in salons up and down the country. They are designed for 'all hair types' so if you like more specific shampoo and conditioners, these may not be for you, but the styling products sure will be! You can find the whole range and all the info you need on the Neäl & Wølf site if you wanna have a nosey. (Let me tell you, the ENHANCE volumising mousse* and VELVET nourishing hair oil* are two must-haves!!)

Aside from them being a new brand (to me) ideal for all of my cruelty-free needs, there was another reason to me trailing some Neäl & Wølf products: a new launch. Be Inspired is their summer launch focusing on three different looks: Enchant, Epiphany & Awaken. Obviously I opted for Awaken, because am I ever awake enough? I feel like a constantly exhausted mess trying to juggle a full-time job, blogging and, y'know, life! So if my hair can give off awake vibes then I'm down for it! Plus, it's summer waves and very much the look I aim for everyday of summer.

The Awaken look focuses on the AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo* & Conditioner* which I would definitely give at least an 8 out of 10. I haven't been using them all that long really, but long enough to say that they've been good for my hair. They're nice and light, smell good (although I can't really pinpoint what the scent is?) and don't leave your hair feeling dry which I've found a lot of ~volumising shampoos can do. The main downfall for me is that they haven't really helped my scalp. I have very sensitive skin and so my scalp gets all dry and flaky easily - but they aren't anti-dandruff products, so you can't expect everything!

Achieve the awaken look:

The first step which I don't even need to tell you: Wash your hair. Using the AMPLIFY shampoo* & conditioner* that I've just raved about, obviously.



Once you've dried your hair off a little with a towel (or left it wrapped in a towel long enough for you to apply your make-up and get ready, if you're me!) apply the UPLIFT volumising mist* alllll over and follow with a squirt of the ENHANCE volumising mousse* because you can never have enough volume in your hair, can you?



After blow drying your hair, use the GUARD heat protection spray* and go crazy with a curling wand! Or if you use the straighteners to curl, or prefer to straighten over plaits, your choice!

















Spruce your hair up a bit, add some VELVET nourishing hair oil* for fly-aways, finish with the FIX Hold and Shine spray*, and voila!