Liebster Award

I have been nominated by the lovely Isabel from iisforiz.blogspot.co.uk for the Liebster Award! Her blog is lovely so you should all go and visit!

Rules

Answer the questions that are sent to you

Nominate 10 bloggers who have under 200 followers on twitter

Ask them 12 questions of your own

Notify them that they've been nominated

My nominations are;

Followinglisa

Love--Lauren 

Thebeautespot

Thesarahjudithdiaries

Thelifestylejunkie

Thegreatcatsbyx

Tallgirl97

Printsandprettythingsxx

Georgiapj

Bethasbb

Me answering Isabel's questions:

1. If you could dye your hair any other colour, what would it be?

I was extremely tempted to go for a lavender greyish dip dye for a while but chickened out.

2. When you're not blogging, what do you do for fun?

If I'm not blogging I'm usually working, in Hula in the Northern Quarter or catching up on Netflix.

3. On a big night out, are heels a must?

Depending on where you go! I think heels sounds formal but you can get some casual heels too which are great for me because I don't like being too overdone.

4. What is your favourite item of clothing you own?

Probably my kimono just because it's so wearable I've literally worn it with so many differnt outfits like over a bikini or with high waisted jeans and a crop top!

5. Where would you love to be right now?

Somewhere with cocktails.

6. What is a name you really hate?

Any names that are inspired by cars or alcohol.

7. Who is your celebrity idol right now?

Blake Lively! Beautiful and classy.

8. Guilty pleasure music?

One Direction. Always.

9. Name three essential items you need in your bag when you go out.

Besides the usual phone, keys and money: concealer, body spray and mints!

10. Favourite dessert.

Lemon meringue pie. Preferably my grandmas home made!

11. Describe an ideal weekend.

Summer, friends, camping, beach and drinks!

My questions:

1. If you could own a house anywhere in the world where would it be?

2. Who is your biggest inspiration?

3. If you could have a dinner party with any 3 living or dead celebrities who would they be?

4. Your reasons why.

5. What is your favourite season?

6. What is the best advice you have ever been given?

7. What inspires you to run a blog?

8. What bloggers do you admire?

9. If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life what would it be?

10. Favourite song of the year.

11. 3 make up items you couldn't live without.

12. Sweet or savoury?

Have fun guys!

World Mental Health Day - reflections

Today is World Mental Health Day and I have only just heard about it now, it's 9pm. I feel like this has prompted me to say something because mental illness has been a big part of my life since i can remember.

Mental health isn't exactly the most spoke about subject and quite often it gets pushed to the back of people's minds. A mental illness is just as bad and equally devastating as a physical illness yet there seems to be a huge stigma attached to talking about our mental wellbeing.

My personal experience with mental health really widened my eyes and it really changes the way I look at people. 

I am an ordinary girl, people probably see me as a happy go lucky 23 year old, making my way through life and trying to find where I fit in but that is just the outside. I have personally suffered from depression since my early teens and only had the courage to go to the doctors when I was 17 years old. I was scared to tell someone how I was feeling and to be quite honest I was embarrassed and ashamed. I had a loving family, friends and lived in a nice house. What did I need to be depressed about?

I think that is the most assumed thing about depression. People think you need to have a reason and it's not like that for everyone. Depression is such a controlling and vile illness. It grabs hold of every thought in your head and vanishes it into thin air replacing it with only dark, lonely and sometimes frightening thoughts. You feel like you are trapped within 4 walls with no door to escape. There are some days when I crossed the street I would hope to god that a car would hit me and I wouldn't have to be here anymore. Depression has ruined friendships and relationships and I lost someone I loved more than anything because it wouldn't let me see and experience how amazing my life was.

Depression obviously isn't the only mental illness out there and it's important that people don't look at people with mental health issues as 'mental'. We are not mental. Our mind thinks in a different way to yours and that's just the way it is.

What's annoying is the statements people tend to make or advice they try to give you about your situation. 

"Why don't you just be happy?"

Or

"You just need to change your frame of mind."

Oh if it was only that simple. You think I enjoy feeling this way do you? 

When will step back and realise that not everything is in our control? I haven't had cancer but I can sympathise and understand how horrific it is and devastating it is on an individual's life and wellbeing. I would really hope that one day people get to this point with depression and understand that just because it's not visible to the eye, it's there and it's not a matter of 'being happy' or 'changing your frame of mind'. It's about support.

What I'm really saying is, please talk to someone. It can change your life. I suffered for years only myself knowing what I was putting myself through and that is no way to live. Not everyone is going to understand. I once had a close friend tell me 'I don't believe in depression' and I was genuinely baffled. It literally is pure ignorance but I can promise you that not everyone is narrow minded and you may realise that others around you are feeling the same way. I am lucky I have friends and family who have been through the same and are able to offer me support and advice when I really need it.

If you need help or support please go to http://www.mind.org.uk or ring 0300 123 3393♥

What do you think about the stigma attached to mental illness?

Glossybox September 2014 - Karen Millen Edition

Products:

1.  More Brows Fibre Gel by Models Inc

Review: As I have grown older, my eyebrow game certainly has got stronger. From a teenager over plucking my brows to using a pencil and doing the whole 'scouse brow' look (not a good look I may add) to learning to use the right tools and actually make my brows a much loved part of my face! A few years ago I wouldn't have been excited if I had found a brow product in my Glossybox but I was really pleased when I received this brow gel. I usually use the Maybelline one but I really do not get along with it. I find the brush awfully difficult to use and give up pretty quick trying to over coat my brows after afine dust of brown eyeshadow to shape. This brow gel is my saviour. My eyebrows do not move once I apply this bad boy. It may be a little light for me personally but I can make it work. Definitely going to repurchase this once it runs dry. (£14.95 for the full size of 3.5ml)

2. L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil

Review: Any product that's oil based it quite risky for me as I get greasy hair easily  but I'm usually ok if I just stick to applying on the ends, and I must say I have actually been really impressed with this. As I said I apply it to the ends of my hair before I dry it after washing. It dries so beautiful and glossy and the funny thing is when I curl my hair afterwards I notice the curl tends to stay rather than drop when using this product which is a bonus! (£15.95 for the full size of 125ml)

3. SkinPep Enzyme and Acid Peel and Peeling Gel

Review: I must say that when I read 'acid peel' I was genuinely terrified and did not look forward to trying this one out. I have very sensitive skin and I can break out pretty easily so I'm careful when it comes to putting things on my face. I did end up trying it out but I didn't actually notice any difference which was disappointing, which I suppose is good in some ways, could have come out in red spots! I think for the price (£89.99 for the full size at 180ml) is absolutely ridiculous! I'd want a new face for that!

4. Nails Inc Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat

Review: I am really into the whole matte nails trend at the moment so was super excited to try this after buying loads of the Barry M Matte varnishes and being very disappointed. Unfortunately the disappointment didn't end with Barry M. I found the coat dried really quickly which I think is amazing as I literally can't sit still when I have wet nails and end up having an itch or something and smudging it everywhere, but the colour just looked really.....crap. It actually made me miss high shine nails and shiney topcoats if I'm honest. For the price (£12 for the full size) I wouldn't even bother. I went to bed with freshly painted dry nails and woke up and it was chipped and horrible. No idea what I do in my sleep but I'm sure it can't have been that bad.

5. Nivea 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

Review: I recently started using the Garnier Micellar Water around April and absolutely fell in love with using this rather than using a make up wipe and never feeling like it was enough to remove all my make up, so when I received this in my Glossybox I was quite happy, as I was running low on my other. I have to say, that I much prefer this Nivea one. My skin felt like satin, it was so so so soft. I will never go back to make up wipes and as my skin is super sensitive especially around this time of year, I think it really makes a difference to the way my make up applies the next day. It is a bargain at £4.07 for the full size of 200ml so I have no excuse of not repurchasing!

Have you tried Glossybox or any other type of beauty boxes?

Autumn Picks

So Summer came and went like the blink of an eye and luckily for me my favourite season has started to take over my little town in Manchester. Crunchy brown leaves below my feet and frost in the air covering windows and cars (thank god I don't drive and don't have to be doing the whole scraping the ice off the windows in a mad panic before work).

Never one for showing too much skin, I love layering and keeping things covered (things being my no-gym body and hideous eczema that likes to pop up around this time) so Autumn is my season. I tend to stick with my usual 'no colour colour scheme' although was proud that there was a little bit of pastel in there!

1. Black Sateen High Neck Shell Top - New Look £17.99
2. Colour Block Tote Bag - River Island £40
3. Black Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket - River Island £65
4. Black Check Blanket Scarf - River Island £15
5. Light Acid Molly Jeggings - River Island £35
6. Felt Floppy Hat - Topshop £28
7. Fluffy Cornelli Tee - Topshop £22
8. Brick Front Zip Boots - Topshop £40

That's it for me. Need to start ticking this wishlist off ASAP! Any trends you have been enjoying for this Autumn?