Day In The Life: Brighton Edition

This trip was many months in the making, so I was so glad when Monday morning rolled around - something I do not usually say - as it meant that the Brighton adventure was here!

For as long as me and Jess have been friends we have been discussing visiting the growing heart of British Youtubing, which is a hobby closely woven into both our lives. Plus, Brighton is also the motherland of another favourite of ours - coffee shops. So with all these things in mind we knew that a day out this summer was definitely on the cards.

It only came to my attention when we were on the train to Brighton that Jess has never been before, so I felt it was my duty as a frequent visitor myself to take on the role of tour guide and make sure she got her moneys worth out of Brighton. This meant hitting up all the crucial sights, starting with the pier.

Brighton Pier is the most iconic landmark in the town and therefore it is a must visit on any trip to Brighton. Not even a gale force wind was stopping us, and we had a look around the rides and the arcade, breathed in the sea air mixed with the scent of the famous pier doughnuts and decided that this was time for a selfie.

The smell of the doughnuts was making it very clear that it was time for some food, so we headed into The Lanes - my personal favourite part of Brighton - in search of the perfect cafe. And in Cafe Coho we found just that!

Cafe Coho, 53 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AF

With a board stating that this is the winner of Brighton's best loved coffee, how could we not go in. And oh my chai.....I have sampled a large selection of chai lattes in my time, but this without a doubt THE nicest. The perfect amount of spice, but also very sweet and the texture was so creamy....I have been dreaming of that stuff ever since! Just when I thought things couldn't get better, they brought out our sandwiches, and I think I shall let the visual do the talking.

Sundried Tomatoes and Balsamic Dressing,
 the King of side salads

As if this hadn't already ignited some hunger , the next item of the agenda is enough to make anyone's mouth water. Choccywoccydoodah, does sound like we have stepped into Willy Wonka's Factory, and trust me inside the shop it looks and smells like you have too. Inside the shop are some spectacular cakes and true works of art all using chocolate as the base. Upstairs there is a cafe, which we felt would be rude not to check out, and this was a wise choice. The décor alone is enough to make whimsical lovers like me hooked instantly, but then you try the hot chocolate and new levels of enjoyment are reached. It would be too simplistic to call this hot chocolate but rather this is a every chocolate lovers wildest dream come true, whilst also the very possible risk of heart disease!

The atmosphere and the service was so welcoming and cosy that we felt perfectly comfortable having a good old chat for a solid couple of hours enjoying our cups of heaven. After swapping various recommendations of books, TV and films we took our last mouthful of chocolate lava and headed to the shops.

For the next couple of hours we wandered around The Lanes and then into the shopping centre. The main pit stop was to hit up the beauty halls, in which we must have swatched about 30 YSL lip products and spritzed a whole concoction of perfumes - I think I may have found a new favourite in Vera Wang Princess.

All the retail therapy had made us very thirsty so what better way to quench your thirst but with a cheeky Pimms. We found a lovely bar/pub on the sea front, ordered some drinks, found a cosy corner and proceeded to chat for the next few hours. There is honestly nothing better than at the end of an amazing day reminiscing and knowing that these are memories that you have made for life. 

 

After a final walk along the sea, it was time to head back up the hill to the station and jump on the train home. I think it is safe to say we were both exhausted: all the sea air, walking and mainly talking, had worn us out. So after a rather sleepy ride home and a farewell, I made it back to my bed with just enough time to watch the season finale of The Mindy Project - aaaahh Danny and Mindy!

Overall I had the most amazing and lovely day with Jess and I am so happy that we finally put into place a plan that had been hypothetical from pretty much the first time we ever spoke and made friends! I cannot recommend Brighton enough to anyone in the South East for a day trip to the seaside, or if you are visiting from further afield it makes the perfect long weekend destination.

Thank you for reading, lots of love, B xx

Get Ready With Me: London Drinks

Last night I went out in London for drinks and dinner with a really good friend from university. I thought seeing as I was actually putting some effort into my makeup and outfit I would do a 'get ready with me' style of post.

On my face:
Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52
Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot Powder
Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel
Stila In The Lights Eyeshadow Palette
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Damsel
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Nior
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Lady's Choice

On my nails:
Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Varnish in Summer Orange

I love catching up on TV when I do my makeup and at the moment I'm completely addicted to The Mindy Project. I laugh hysterically at every episode, Mindy Kaling is officially my new favourite person!




With my face on it was time to pull together an outfit. Despite it being August, weather can never be guaranteed in the UK so I opted for a jeans, jacket option. Although the outfit is quite casual, I think the makeup gave the overall look a bit more sophistication.

When a bit selfie crazy, but here is my outfit!
Sunglasses - COW Vintage
Jacket - Primark
Top - Zara
Jeans - Forever 21
Shoes - White Converse
Watch - Rose Gold Michael Kors

Onto the train and as usual the headphones came out. My music taste at the moment can fit into two categories: Disney and Country, so this meant that I was jamming out to the Tangled Soundtrack and the music from Nashville, which is another TV show I highly recommend, particularly if you like country music.



Pulling into London Bridge and the view isn't so shabby - minus the cranes which do slightly detract from the overall image! 










I then met Lauren and after about 10 minutes of hugs and 'aaahhhs' - we hadn't seen each other in about 6 weeks, which after spending every day together for the last year at university was a very long time. We walked along to Tower Bridge and took in the spectacular view over the river and decided it was time for some wine. We went to this really cool bar and had a couple of glasses having a proper girly catch up, covering all the important topics - holidays, clothes and of course boys!

Brigade, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ

The time well and truly ran away from us, a sign that you are having a good time. After perhaps a few too many, we wandered back to London Bridge and separated in ways, promising that we will definitely see each other again soon. I once again put my headphones to drown out the rain that was now pouring heavily and made my way home to a much appreciated bed!

Thank you for reading, until next time, B xx

With nothing but your T-shirt on

The T-shirt is a staple of all wardrobes regardless of age, style, size or gender. What makes the T-shirt such a staple is that it is so versatile, with so many different versions to choose from it can pretty much be styled appropriately for any situation.

Here are my top 6 T-shirt options to suit various occasions:

The V Neck T-shirt

 Topshop

This pale purple marbled V Neck T-shirt is the perfect option for a slouchy day on the sofa. It is super soft and extremely comfortable. This style of T-shirt can pretty much be styled with anything: jeans, leggings, shorts etc. I own this top in various other colours including white and navy, and I wear all three of them far too regularly!












The Stripy T-shirt

Zara

The stripy T-shirt is another prime example of comfy, every day wear. What I personally love about stripey T-shirts is that they give the same level of ease and comfort as the regular T-shirt but add slightly more style and effort into an outfit. The Zara TRF range has an amazing selection of T-shirts which I highly recommend checking out if you are in the market to restock on basic items in your wardrobe.









The Graphic T-shirt

Disney Store

Whilst my option for a graphic T-shirt express my inner 6 year old who is still obsessed with all things Disney, there are various options and styles you can find in the graphic T-shirt department. Paired simply with a pair of jeans this is an effortless way to make wearing T-shirts more personal to your style and interests. H&M and Primark are some other places I would recommend if you are looking for T-shirts of this style.










The Embellished T-shirt

Topshop

I think this is a very versatile piece as you can either dress this T-shirt up and wear to a more formal occasion or can be worn on a more casual basis. I have worn this embellished T-shirt both ways and I think it works well for both. For someone who is not massively into jewellery this gives the effect of the statement necklace, which is an alternative way off incorporating that trend into your wardrobe in potentially a less daunting way.










The Collared T-shirt

 Primark

The collared T-shirt has for many years been on trend both for casual attire but also for office wear. This particular top also incorporates the open lace feature which is very flattering and girly, which makes the slightly more edgy collar look easy to wear for some. Like I said, I have worn this top in a office, work place environment but also casually day to day.











The Silky T-shirt

Primark

This is personally one of my favourite T-shirts in my collection as it is both comfortable to wear whilst also being fun and a bit more exciting than your average T-shirt. I picked this up with the purpose of wearing it to work to add some colour to my outfit, but have also worn it on nights out for a more sophisticated look. Being primarily neutral colours and then the pops of neon pink make it an easy way to incorporate the neon trend without going over board and feeling like a highlighter pen.

This is just a selection of my favourite styles of T-shirts but there are clearly several more. As you can see from my list above there are so many ways in which the T-shirt can enhance your style. So when you are next going through your wardrobe, having a look through your basic pieces may help you update your look just by adding a few more T-shirts to your collection.

Thank you for reading, until next time, B xx

A Week By The Sea

Dress - Primark

So if you follow me on twitter - quick plug @cloudbelle25 - you will know that I have been in Cornwall for the week with my family. Specifically we stayed in The Lizard, a small village which marks the most southerly point in the UK.

Snapshot of my wardrobe for the week

Day 1 - first morning we headed out on a walk to The Lizard Point which has some truly stunning views and with the help of a far more knowledgeable couple than us we even saw some seals. The cliff edge, whilst slightly off putting with a strong wind and the waves crashing beneath you, did provide some perfect photo opportunities.

Dress - New Look

Jacket - H&M

Bag - Primark

Shoes - Black Converse

Day 2 - after a fairly long drive praying that the sun would break through the ominous clouds, we parked up at Carbis Bay and caught the train to the idyllic, picture perfect harbour town of St Ives. A complete tourist trap, there are amazing restaurants and cafes as well a whole host of art galleries. 

The best millionaire shortbread ever!

Sea Food Cafe

If you are in the mood for something fishy - in a good way - then head to the Sea Food Cafe on the main high street. This really modern and sophisticated restaurant, without the price tag serves the best mussels I have ever had! For a touch of art and interior design appreciation check out The Whistlefish Gallery which is on the sea front and is the dream for those with slight shabby chic obsessions like myself!

Day 3 - time for the beach! One of the best parts about Cornwall is that you are never to far from the beach, which for me is a complete result. For me a day at the beach contains a few staples: a good book, sunglasses and ice cream! Ice cream is just another thing that Cornwall does best, you cannot understand the joy of ice cream until you have tried the deliciousness that is Cornish ice cream.

What better place than the beach to take a few selfies!

Top - Zara

Dress - Primark

Sunglasses - COW Vintage

 

Day 4 - This was a chill day with another Cornish delight, cream teas! As a lover of all things tea related, when scones, jam and clotted cream are added to the equation it can only mean good things. And though I fear this post may have become slightly food heavy, we then headed out to the pub for an incredible dinner and may or may not have had a couple of pints of Rattlers Cider - Cornwall seriously know how to do cider well!

Playsuit -  Primark

Day 5 - our last full day I will call our day of culture. We began by driving to Penzance to visit St Michael's Mount, a beautiful castle on an island. The historian in me and the little girl who always dreamed of being a princess in a castle both appreciated this trip.

St Michael's Mount

Then for probably my favourite part of the whole holiday, we drove up the cliff edge - rather Mum than me, it has to be said - and collected our tickets for The Producers which we saw at The Minack Theatre. This is a must if you are visiting Cornwall, The Minack is a theatre set into the side of a cliff with the most stunning views over Porthcurno Bay. Whilst the seats are rather uncomfortable, to say the very least, the show was great, a musical comedy about the backstage of a Broadway production in the 1950s. I think more than the play itself the experience of the Minack makes the visit worth it.

That sea, that sky - Cornwall looking very Caribbean if you ask me!

And that pretty much sums it up, my week in Cornwall. I love it in Cornwall, and it is definitely somewhere I can see myself revisiting for years to come. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and are having an amazing summer too, until next time, B xx

Top 10 Under £10

As a student I am constantly on a tight budget so finding beauty bargains is extremely important. Over my years endlessly browsing through Boots and Superdrug I have come across some high street/drugstore gems.

Whilst there are some products and brands I am willing and prefer to spend more money on whether that be as a staple piece or an unplanned splurge item, there are also some things which I believe can give great results for the grand sum of £10 or less. 

Here I have pulled together my personal favourite list of 10 products under £10, enjoy!

List from left to right

1) L'oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Protect Styling Spray Waves - £4.99
Elnett is seriously worth the hype it gets, this stuff is amazing! I apply it to wet/damp hair and then blow dry and it gives this lovely natural looking texture to the hair. It is also great for using before heat styling hair for adding extra hold and body. Plus it also smells incredible.

2) Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara 100% Black - £6.99
My tube of this is looking seriously beat up and that alone shows how much I love it! This is the kind of product I could never be without in my collection, it is a mascara that I have been using since I was about 13 and for 6 years now it is the one I always come back to. Super black, holds a curl, long lasting and adds amazing volume and length whilst also being separating - it's true this mascara can do it all!

3) Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Pink Brandy - £7.99
Best Lipstick Ever. Think that says it all, but just in case I will say more....the formula is creamy and smooth yet also has great lasting power. Unbelievably pigmented, but not drying. Whilst I therefore love the whole line this colour in particular is my favourite, a pinky coral that is both sophisticated and very fun and bright.

4) Vaseline Spray and Go Body Moisturiser - £3.32
A fairly new discovery for me, but nonetheless it has already made its way into the top 10. I am the kind of person who finds moisturising my body a chore, so the fact that this product is basically convenience in a can means that it will always be a winner in my book. Another major bonus, the smell which is very fresh and sweet, lingers and I must say I have been complimented several times after just using this!

5) Boots Natural Collection Apple and Lime Body Spray - £1.99
An absolute bargain of a product, and a complete dupe for the DKNY Be Delicious perfume, another one of my favourites. Whilst this clearly does not have the strength or the longevity of the perfume, it makes the perfect handbag staple to top up your scent during the day. 

6) Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot - £12
So £12 is not under 10.....this is my cheat item of the list and I feel I can justify this. Firstly Soap and Glory is pretty much permanently on some kind of  special offer in Boots/Superdrug, so you are likely to get this powder for under £10 anyway. And secondly, even if not, this is a drugstore highlight in my opinion, the best translucent powder I have ever found, and as someone with oily skin trust me I have tried many!

7) Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - £3.32
A Bioderma dupe that is far cheaper and far more accessible and works just as well. I use it every day to remove my makeup befire using my cleanser, works well even on waterproof eye makeup. On a lazy day, after a long day at work or a night out it also gives me no excuse not to take my makeup off, and is much better than using makeup wipes.

8) Essie Nail Varnish in Fifth Avenue - £8
Essie do my favourite formula of nail varnish in the drugstore, have the largest range of colours and definitely have the cutest names of all makeup products full stop. Fifth Avenue is for me the perfect red, not too pink and not too orange. A true red that looks good all year round.

9) Revlon Colour Stay Ultimate Suede in Socialite - £8.99
To me this is a mystery product, because it is something I never see in peoples blogs or videos and I do not understand why, as these lip products are incredible! I would compare them to the texture of a cremesheen by MAC but without the price tag. This is my favourite shade and I use it as my every nude, but I have most other shades and wore It Girl pretty much all summer last year and I wore Trendsetter to my Leavers Ball at the end of school.

10) Alberto Balsam Shampoo in Coconut and Lychee - £2.59
This shampoo comes in a range scents which are all targeted to different hair types and problems. This one is designed to help nourish the hair and scalp, and the coconut scents really lingers in your hair. My other favourite is the apple scent which is specifically for cleansing greasy hair which my definitely is after a few days.

There were a host of other products I could have included in this list, but these were 10 that I feel are some of the best items I own in my entire collection that also have the bonus factor of not breaking the bank!

Thank you for reading, until next time, B mwah xx

The Freshers Review

The build up to results day will forever be one of the most stressful times, but it suddenly all becomes worth it when you receive the place you have been waiting and dreaming of. I was lucky enough to gain a place at my top choice of university, which means that at the end of September I was off!

Nothing could ever prepare me for the whirlwind that was my first day, and almost a year on I can still remember exactly how I felt, the rush of every kind of emotion. More than anything it was the feeling that this was the place and these were the people that I was about to embark a whole new chapter of my life with. And my advice would be hold onto every second in that first week because those are the memories you will cherish.

On our last night of first week!

It couldn't be more true when they say that university is the time to meet new and exciting people like you've never done before. For me this is what I will always be grateful for, the people and the friends I have made this year. Without some of these people my first year would have been extremely lonely and dull, and I wouldn't be the person I am today.

For me the place that made this all possible was my halls of residence, and for me choosing to live in halls was one of the best decisions I made. My hall became my home from home, a small bubble in which everyone inside became part of this amazing community. Whether this be chilling out on 'the quad' or having Made in Chelsea viewing parties in the JCR or simply queuing with our trays for the awful canteen food at dinner, hall life was the best part of freshers.

My favourite girlfriends

Once you have got to grips with the people and the place then is when the actual study begins, and for me this was to dive into the past, as I am now undertaking a History degree. Whatever it is you study, it is important to manage that work-play balance, which as an 18 year old with a whole new sense of freedom it is often difficult to maintain, I will have to be the first to admit. And whilst those 9am lectures becomes an increasing struggle when you are lying in bed, potentially slightly fragile from the night before, something has to make that £9000 a year worth it!

It would not be a full review of this year if I didn't talk about how along with all the amazing highs, there are also the
lows. And for many this often comes in the form of homesickness. For me, and I'm sure for many others, moving out and into university is the first time living away from home and that can be a real shock to the system. Though I would like to believe I am fairly independent, it would be a lie to say that there weren't times that all I wanted was to be with my family and friends, and just to be in the safety net that is home.

Night out the crew!

I believe that rather than pining over what you miss about home and your old life, it is important to embrace the life you have now. And for me a way I love to do this is by going out with my friends. I have had some of the best times of life on some nights out at uni, and to me it presents the perfect opportunity to consolidate the relationships you are building with people.

Among these people you are meeting brings the potential to make relationships of all kinds. And whilst I may not have finished freshers with my prince charming on my arm, it has given me new experiences and truly opened my eyes to the complicated world of boys and dating.

All of this being said, once the friendships have been made, the tequila has been drank and the dating drama has subsided, exam season suddenly dawns. What is important to remember is that, if you are fortunate as I was, is that first year doesn't actually count towards your overall degree grade. So the way I saw freshers was as a trial run to try new things, make mistakes, so that next year the real race can begin.

Festival at the end of term 

The stress of revision, the all nighters and the cram sessions will not last forever, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that is the promise of the post exam freedom and fun. For me, my last few weeks of uni was when I truly came to appreciate and have time to look back over the year I had and thank every one of my lucky stars at how happy I was.

Just like that first year is over, you made it, I made it! Freshers is complete and I can honestly say it was the best year of my life so far, and to anyone who was a part of it I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And thank you for reading, until next time, B xxx

Best year with the best friends

About Me

I thought it would be a good idea for you to learn a little bit about the girl behind the screen, so here are a few of my all time favourites:

Film - How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Pocahontas, Catch Me If You Can

Book - The Other Boleyn Girl, The Kite Runner and the entire Harry Potter series - major Potterhead over here!

Perfume - Miss Dior Cherie and DKNY Be Delicious Green Apple - these two scents for me are absolute classics, and two that I could never not have in my collection
Lip Product - Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks
Celebrity - Kate Middleton - my love for the royals is borderline obsessive, and to me Kate is truly an icon and an inspiration

Accessory - Sunglasses
Drink - this is very season dependent, in winter nothing beats a chai latte, and then in summer I cannot go very long without an iced coffee of some description my favourite being an iced caramel latte
Shop - Topshop
Colour - Pink (of course!)
Day of the Week - Friday - is there really any other answer

Alcoholic Drink - cocktails, and that is of all descriptions, all year round, but my favourites would be mojitos and the British classic that is Pimms

Food - Mexican
Sport - Tennis to watch, Netball to play
Place - Covent Garden, to me is the hub of quintessential London, with amazing restaurants, coffee shops and bars, places to shop and constant entertainment, and even more special at Christmas. Another one of my favourites as the biggest fan EVER is of course Disney Land. I have been lucky enough to visit both Paris and Florida, and they truly are the happiest places on the planet

Restaurant - Wagamammas, Nandos, Chipotle
Music - Taylor Swift - who appears to have an uncanny ability to make every one of her songs feel as if it has been written about your own life. She is also perfect for all occasions whether that be cruising along in your car to Love Story, crying over a boy listening to Teardrops On My Guitar or blasting out We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together before a girls night out

These is just a small collection of some of my favourite things which I hope begins to give an insight into my life

Thank you for reading, B mwah xx