Love In my Language Book Review

I recently discovered Alexandra Elle on Instagram, (all places to find her I will leave at the end) after liking a photo, of a quote, very apt to my life at the moment, I decided to check out the rest of her account. I was very pleased, to discover the quote had come from a book, her book, Love in my Language (available on Amazon) and without hesitation I brought it. 

The book is a cute, and very unique take on Love, with poems and writings, exploring love from different angles from the author. From the moment you pick this book up, you are captivated, to its diverse range of rich language, and its exploration into feelings, which many of us can relate to. I love the layout of this book, each page adorned with a different tale, each as empowering as the other, whether its a three lined poem, or a two page story. You cant put the book down, You don't want to put the book down. 

I also liked the simplicity of it all, the black cover, with simple white writing, the non- frilly language, and the amazing idea of having a notes section at the end to 'write your language' spurring you on to believe you too can write your own language for love. 

I enjoyed this book, as it was a light read, I don't read as much as I would like to, and unfortunatley I am someone who is on social media all the time! But this book gave me the relaxing time out I so desperately needed from the real world, and transported me to a world of Love from Alexandra's point of view.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, one in which I think will inspire me for years to come. 

Where to find Alexandra Elle: 

Instagram: Alex_Elle

Twitter: AISFORALEX

Healthy Snack Inspiration

Now that the nice weather has actually arrived, and it's starting to really feel like summer, it's the perfect time to get healthy snacking and take advantage of eating fruit. 

I am on a bit of a health kick at the minute, and I am trying to eat better, and drink more water, and so far I'm not doing too bad. However, I am a serial snacker, and I am a bordem eater, which now I am home from university, I find myself bored a lot of the time. But I am making a conscious effort to swap the crisps for fruit and vegetables... and these are two of my favourite snacks.

I love making fruit salads. They're so versatile, you can put any fruit in and mix it up any way. 

In this case I used banana, Strawberries and Grapes, and sprinkled with some Canderel (a lot fat sugar). This is so quick and easy, and is actually really filling, as you feel like you're eating more than you are, especially if you eat it slowly. 

The beauty of this, is that you can use almost anything, for instance, low fat Greek yoghurt, a sprinkle of honey, or even a meringue nest, which are really low in fat. 

One of my other favourite snacks is carrot sticks and dip. I literally go on a binge of these sometimes, like I actually worry I may wake up orange haha!

This literally takes 5 minutes, and again is so versatile, with what dip you could use.

All you need is to peel the carrot and then cut them into stick like shapes, and add a little dish of dip. 

My personal favourites are Low Fat Salad Cream or Sour Cream and Chive dip, or Humus.

This is great for when you are studying and need a little snack to get you through that dreaded essay, or great for when you have some friends over and you want to mix it up from the traditional crisps, nuts or pizza. 

Don't forget to drink lots of water too, it really does make a difference to every aspect of your body, including lovely healthy skin.

What are your favourite healthy snacks? 

Bloglovin

Hey guys, I have just joined the marvellous BlogLovin, a great way to find new and exciting Blogs, with all things that interest you! I would be really grateful if you guys would follow me on there, or suggest me blog's you guys love. If you're new then definitely go and check it out! 

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Review

I purchased this product a while ago (and mentioned it briefly in a previous post), but have only just started to use it... and boy do I LOVE it!!! This is one of the most amazing powder's I have ever used. This is a light textured powder, in various shades, the one I use is Light+, and retails I believe for around £20 (don't quote me on that ha ha), it sounds a lot of money, but I have used it a lot already and it doesn't look touched. I can tell this will last me quite a while. I use this for a gentle, light coverage over my foundation, to get rid of any dewiness or to powder any oily patches I may have on my skin at the time, I have particularly found this good on spots and blemishes, as it covers and leaves a flawless finish, I apply this with a real techniques powder brush, for a swift and quick cover. This is quickly becoming one of my day to day beauty must haves and I would highly recommend this to everyone.

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish natural

Real Techniques Powder Brush

Let me know what your favourite powder is, and your favourite applicant. 

Becoming a 'Youtuber'

As I'm sure many of you are aware, there are hundreds of people taking to YouTube to share their lives and fashion advice with us, giving us great fashion tips, make-up must haves, and life lessons and advice. I have watched, and at times re-watched, some of my favourite You-tubers (The one I love most has to be Velvetgh0st), each time wanting more and more to be able to do what they do. I am undeniably interested in make-up and fashion, and love seeing the latest must haves, for me to scurry to the shops and buy, and would love more than anything to become, in my eyes, a 'Beauty Guru'. This for me isn't something I will see as a career path or I am just doing to be 'Famous' but more for a relief from uni work, and a little extra fun, something I can get involved in, that's just for me. I have wondered, however, how you even get started, what camera to invest in, how to get 'noticed' what do people actually want to see, and of course the self doubting questions of 'will I be any good?' 'Will anyone actually like me?'

I am writing this as a call for help, for advice on how to get started, more than anything else, and to see whether any of you fellow bloggers, are wondering the same as me?

Memory jar of 2014

Recently, I have seen a lot of people on Instagram, upload pictures of decorated jars with the title 'Good moments of 2014' written on them, which seem to be quite a hit with a lot of people. The idea of this special jar, is to fill it throughout the year with little things that make you happy and good things you have achieved or just general moments that make you laugh. At the end of the year; on December 31st, you empty the jar, in preparation to make a new jar full of new things for the upcoming year. It gives you a chance to reminisce over the events through the year that have meant something to you, making you realise the year probably wasn't as bad as you thought. So I decided to do one myself, I brought a jar from a local 'bits n bobs' shop (£1.29), but I know you can pretty much get them anywhere, and decorated it with Cath Kidston floral wrapping paper (John Lewis £2), covering all sides, bottom and the lid in a cute print. I made a small label with 'Good moments in 2014' on which I stuck to the front. I hope that by the end of the year the jar will be pretty full, and I will have a lot to look back on, and even if I am sad from time to time, I can take a few out of the jar to cheer myself up.

Here are a two of my favorites I have found on Google, to give you a little decorating inspiration. 

 

Happy Memory Making.

Thing's to do by 2014

I cant actually believe its October, and I will be turning 21 this month. I have just started my third year at uni, and its that time to start planning dissertations, and at times I just cant believe how quickly the year has gone. Everywhere is now setting up for Halloween with pumpkin everything, or Christmas, with Santa themed clothes and tinsel popping up all over the shops. There is so much I wanted to do before the end of the year, and I don't think I have achieved half of what I set out too, so I thought, that maybe if I compiled a proper list, it might spur me on to get going, so when I look back on my 2013, I will smile and be proud of some of the things I have done for myself. My list doesn't really have anything crazy on, like a bungee jump in Australia, but to me, the things still mean just as much, but on a smaller scale of accomplishments. So here it goes, my To do list before 2014; (In no particular order)

• Try a Macaroon 
• Volunteer
• Read another Jane Austen book
• See a shooting star
• Spend a day watching old movies
• Try Coffee
• Go star gazing
• Own a Macbook 
• Go a day without swearing 
• Do something in photography, i.e. take a course 
• See Jessie J in concert
• Finish my Wreck This Journal
• Get a tattoo
• Go abroad 
• Attend every lecture for at least one week
• Join a Gym, and do a class like Yoga
• Be happy with my life

If I am honest, I don't know if I will achieve everything on my list, but I am hoping that I only miss completing this by a couple of things, and I am going to give it my best shot. I am ready to start 2014, with a new set of things I would love to achieve by then. I think it makes for a more exciting year by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, after all you're not young forever. 

Have any of you done a list like this, or preparing one for next year? I would love to hear some of the crazy things you would love to achieve in the next few months.

DP X

Introduction

I'm not going to try and sound remotely clever, or funny, by telling you a cool story about myself. I am just going to simply state why I have decided to create this blog.
I am 20 years old, I study English at University, and have a part time job. I love to write, and believe this will be a great way to not only get my opinions out to everyone, but help me on a personal level with my degree.
I intend to write about everything that takes my fancy. This will include, film and music reviews, make-up and fashion information, places I have travelled to, and even work from my course.
I hope that people find my blog helpful and enjoy reading it as much as I will enjoy creating it, and that people find my post's interesting and helpful.
So please, bare with, on my literary journey, with everything to do with life, and I hope you enjoy enough to follow me.

DP. X