Merry Christmas everyone! I can't believe that it's finally here after weeks of anticipation and I've honestly had such a wonderful and festive day. The Christmas period is probably my favourite time of the year and so I really try to make the most of it when it arrives, not just on the 25th but throughout December. It's the perfect opportunity to get cosy, pamper yourself and feel the festive spirit, so I do everything possible to instil this in my evenings. I thought it'd be nice to share my Christmassy evening routine with you, so I hope you like this post.
The first step to my festive evening routine is getting a nice, warm bath. This is a great way to feel cosy, particularly if you've been out in the cold all day, and never fails to leave me feeling relaxed. If you want to go all-out then why not treat yourself to a festive bath bomb and candles to create the ultimate Christmassy atmosphere. I also like to take this opportunity to check my phone, read a book or listen to some Christmas music to entertain me.
It's important to give my skin a thorough cleanse and take off my makeup using the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. This removes any traces of makeup, leaving my skin feeling fresh and gleaming, and I also find that it helps to prevent any spots. If you'd like an in-depth review of this product then you can find that here. I follow up this by toning and moisturising my skin to ensure it's in good condition and protected from the brutal winter weather.
I then like to get cosy and change into my pyjamas. I love wearing my fluffiest ones at this time of year, as it's freezing in December and so they make me feel very cosy and comfortable. Making a hot water bottle is also a nice addition to make me warm, although usually my dog wants is just as much as I do! Once adorned with plenty of blankets and cushions, thus making me incredibly comfortable, the rest of my evening can begin.
Watching Christmas films is a necessity for me throughout December, as it really helps me to get into the festive spirit and I'm actually a huge fan of Christmas films, so I have to watch as many as possible. I personally like to save my favourites until it's very close to Christmas, so it's usually either Elf, Home Alone or The Polar Express that I'll be watching on this day. Whichever one I decide on, you can guarantee that I'll be snacking on chocolates and drinking peppermint tea throughout - the perfect evening snack.
I also spend most of the evening browsing through the Internet on my laptop and phone. I love going through all of the festive posts on Bloglovin and Instagram, as well as chatting to my blogger friends on Twitter, so I spend a lot of my night doing this. Many of my favourite Youtubers also do Vlogmas, so I ensure that I have time to watch all of these throughout the evening.
I like to finish off my evening by reading a book, simply because this is routine for me and helps me get to sleep easily. I love feeling all cosy in bed with a good book, and so this is something I make sure to do on the cold winter evenings. If you're looking for a festive read then I'd definitely recommend What Light by Jay Asher, which I reviewed last week, or My True Love Gave To Me by Stephanie Perkins, as both are incredibly enjoyable novels that put me in a festive mood.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about my festive evening and once again, I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading this post, I hope you've had a wonderful day and I'll see you next Sunday with a new post.
Love from Daisy x
Love from Daisy x
Merry Christmas everyone! I can't believe that it's finally here after weeks of anticipation and I've honestly had such a wonderful and festive day. The Christmas period is probably my favourite time of the year and so I really try to make the most of it when it arrives, not just on the 25th but throughout December. It's the perfect opportunity to get cosy, pamper yourself and feel the festive spirit, so I do everything possible to instil this in my evenings. I thought it'd be nice to share my Christmassy evening routine with you, so I hope you like this post.
The first step to my festive evening routine is getting a nice, warm bath. This is a great way to feel cosy, particularly if you've been out in the cold all day, and never fails to leave me feeling relaxed. If you want to go all-out then why not treat yourself to a festive bath bomb and candles to create the ultimate Christmassy atmosphere. I also like to take this opportunity to check my phone, read a book or listen to some Christmas music to entertain me.
It's important to give my skin a thorough cleanse and take off my makeup using the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. This removes any traces of makeup, leaving my skin feeling fresh and gleaming, and I also find that it helps to prevent any spots. If you'd like an in-depth review of this product then you can find that here. I follow up this by toning and moisturising my skin to ensure it's in good condition and protected from the brutal winter weather.
I then like to get cosy and change into my pyjamas. I love wearing my fluffiest ones at this time of year, as it's freezing in December and so they make me feel very cosy and comfortable. Making a hot water bottle is also a nice addition to make me warm, although usually my dog wants is just as much as I do! Once adorned with plenty of blankets and cushions, thus making me incredibly comfortable, the rest of my evening can begin.
Watching Christmas films is a necessity for me throughout December, as it really helps me to get into the festive spirit and I'm actually a huge fan of Christmas films, so I have to watch as many as possible. I personally like to save my favourites until it's very close to Christmas, so it's usually either Elf, Home Alone or The Polar Express that I'll be watching on this day. Whichever one I decide on, you can guarantee that I'll be snacking on chocolates and drinking peppermint tea throughout - the perfect evening snack.
I also spend most of the evening browsing through the Internet on my laptop and phone. I love going through all of the festive posts on Bloglovin and Instagram, as well as chatting to my blogger friends on Twitter, so I spend a lot of my night doing this. Many of my favourite Youtubers also do Vlogmas, so I ensure that I have time to watch all of these throughout the evening.
I like to finish off my evening by reading a book, simply because this is routine for me and helps me get to sleep easily. I love feeling all cosy in bed with a good book, and so this is something I make sure to do on the cold winter evenings. If you're looking for a festive read then I'd definitely recommend What Light by Jay Asher, which I reviewed last week, or My True Love Gave To Me by Stephanie Perkins, as both are incredibly enjoyable novels that put me in a festive mood.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about my festive evening and once again, I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading this post, I hope you've had a wonderful day and I'll see you next Sunday with a new post.
Love from Daisy x
Love from Daisy x
Probably two of my favourite things are reading and Christmas, so joining the two is the perfect combination. When I first heard about Jay Asher's newest novel, What Light, and how it's set around Christmas, I could tell that it'd be a favourite of mine. This upbeat, lighthearted story is filled with friends, family and festivities that make it a perfect read for the holiday season.
Plot Overview
Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love."
The Characters
Sierra is the epitome of an almost-perfect character, but in this context I really liked it. To be honest, constantly reading books where the main character is unrealistically unique and drastically flawed gets quite repetitive, and I wanted something more upbeat and lighthearted, particularly from a Christmas book. Sierra is smart, quirky and a genuinely caring person, making the audience instantly connect with her. She seems to be very intuitive and moral, making her an enjoyable central character to read about and I honestly wanted everything to work out in her favour by the end, simply because she deserves it.
Caleb seems like a kindhearted, charitable character on the surface, but also has a troubled past that he has to deal with. We get a lot of depth and dimensions from him, seeing different motives and aspects of his personality as the plot progresses - a great sign that his character is well-developed. I'll let you decide on where you stand with him and whether you'd forgive Caleb for what happened or not, but either way, I found that his character was a nice addition to the story and definitely added more drama than Andrew and Devon.
The Setting
What I Liked
What I'd Change
Themes
The Writing
Overall Opinion
Thank you for reading this review and I'd also like to thank Pan Macmillan for sending me this book to read, as I really enjoyed it. I hope you liked this post and I'll be back next week with another one, although I'll be posting it on Saturday instead of Sunday as it's Christmas. Have a nice week and I'll see you then!
Love from Daisy x
Probably two of my favourite things are reading and Christmas, so joining the two is the perfect combination. When I first heard about Jay Asher's newest novel, What Light, and how it's set around Christmas, I could tell that it'd be a favourite of mine. This upbeat, lighthearted story is filled with friends, family and festivities that make it a perfect read for the holiday season.
Plot Overview
Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love."
The Characters
Sierra is the epitome of an almost-perfect character, but in this context I really liked it. To be honest, constantly reading books where the main character is unrealistically unique and drastically flawed gets quite repetitive, and I wanted something more upbeat and lighthearted, particularly from a Christmas book. Sierra is smart, quirky and a genuinely caring person, making the audience instantly connect with her. She seems to be very intuitive and moral, making her an enjoyable central character to read about and I honestly wanted everything to work out in her favour by the end, simply because she deserves it.
Caleb seems like a kindhearted, charitable character on the surface, but also has a troubled past that he has to deal with. We get a lot of depth and dimensions from him, seeing different motives and aspects of his personality as the plot progresses - a great sign that his character is well-developed. I'll let you decide on where you stand with him and whether you'd forgive Caleb for what happened or not, but either way, I found that his character was a nice addition to the story and definitely added more drama than Andrew and Devon.
The Setting
What I Liked
What I'd Change
Themes
The Writing
Overall Opinion
Thank you for reading this review and I'd also like to thank Pan Macmillan for sending me this book to read, as I really enjoyed it. I hope you liked this post and I'll be back next week with another one, although I'll be posting it on Saturday instead of Sunday as it's Christmas. Have a nice week and I'll see you then!
Love from Daisy x
I'm back with another festive post! This week, I decided to do my first ever craft-related post, which was very exciting! I made numerous different ornaments and decorations that were inspired by some popular Pinterest hacks, as well as a delicious DIY treat at the end of the post. They're all very straightforward and easy to make, meaning they're perfect for adding some festive flair to your house with Christmas right around the corner.
Salt Dough Christmas Tree
The first craft that I made was a salt dough Christmas tree, which was possibly one of my favourites to create. Whenever I'm on Pinterest, there's always many salt dough craft ideas floating around, and so I wanted to try making one myself, especially since everyone claims that it's very easy.
To make the salt dough, I started by combining a cup of salt with an equal amount of plain flour. I mixed these together and then began to slowly add water, mixing it first with a spoon and then by hand as it thickened. I continued adding small amounts of water until it reached a dough-like consistency.
At this point, I started to knead the dough and then rolled it out into an even layer. I had five different star-shaped cookie cutters so decided to cut out two of each to make up the Christmas tree. A helpful tip is to make sure you have plenty of flour on your work surface, as otherwise the dough will stick to it and the stars will be hard to lift up.
I used a straw to poke a hole approximately in the centre of each star, as they will eventually be threaded together. I left the dough to sit at room temperature for a few hours before placing them in the oven at gas mark 4 for 2 hours, keeping an eye on them during this time.
Meanwhile, I decided to prepare the plant pot for the Christmas tree. I found some brown buttons in various sizes and decided to glue them together, giving it a homemade feel. It's much easier if you stick one button at a time opposed to glueing all of them and holding it together, as the buttons tend to slide around quite a lot and it's a fiddly process.
The next step was to paint each star. I alternated between a pale grey and white, ensuring that I'd painted the top, bottom and edges of each star. Once these were completely dry, I threaded them together using a piece of string, ensuring that they were in size order to replicate the shape of a Christmas tree. To achieve the best effect, I rotated all of the stars so that they weren't all facing one direction but were instead more mismatched. For the finishing touches, I added a bow to the top and stuck the pot to the base of the tree. I love how this ornament turned out and there's definitely lots of room to personalise it and make it unique.
Speaking of other options for making ornaments with salt dough, I decided to make this gingerbread man with some of the leftover dough. I followed the exact same steps as above, using the straw to create a hole in his head so that string could be added. I painted him white and added a bow around his neck to complete it, and I think this is a fun yet adorable way to use up some of the excess dough.
Scrabble Letter Ornaments
This craft is easy to achieve and has a handmade aesthetic that I think is very cute and original. I started by deciding what phrase I wanted to make and gathering the right letters. If you don't have any Scrabble letters to use then it's no big deal, as packets of these are sold online and in craft stores. 'Let It Snow' is the phrase that I went for, but some alternatives that I really liked were 'Oh Deer' and 'Santa Paws', which you can see below. It's entirely up to you which phrases you create, but it tends to work best when the words are different sizes.
To create the hanging ornament, I started by glueing all of the letters together in a regular arrangement, so that each word was positioned centrally. Once this dried, I attached a piece of string to the back so that it could be hung from my Christmas tree. The final step to creating this decoration was adding some cotton wool to the top edges to look like fallen snow. I did this using some PVA glue and I feel as though it tied everything together, as well as relating to the phrase I used. I also sprinkled in some iridescent glitter to really make it sparkle and stand out.
Personalised Printables
If you take a look at Pinterest then you'll definitely see a variety of free printables that you can use. I hunted down some Christmassy ones that I liked and printed them off onto A4 card. I think these are all really cute and are an easy way to add some artwork to your house for the festive season, whilst still being budget friendly. The printable that you can see above is from Yellow Bliss Road.
I decided that I wanted to personalise each printable and add to it so that it was unique. I added some iridescent glitter and adhesive gems to enhance the white trees and falling snow, giving the image an extra sparkle and dimension. To finish it off, I placed it in a frame so that it looked like a true piece of artwork, opposed to just a printed image. I really like how this turned out and I think it definitely makes a huge difference without requiring much effort.
This is another alternative which is much simpler yet still looks effective. All it required was to print three 'h's and secure a button next to each one so that it replicated the phrase 'ho ho ho'. I framed this one and added a bell to the corner to add some interest. This is definitely a more minimal route but I still think it's pretty and will take you only a couple of minutes to recreate.
Hanging Button Star
This one was very easy to create, but I wanted something that would feel Christmassy whilst still having a shabby-chic vibe, thus fitting in nicely with my Christmas tree. This is probably the easiest of the crafts to recreate but I still think that it looks very cute, and you can create a variety of different looks based on the size and colour of the buttons you choose.
I arranged some lollypop sticks into the shape of a star and stuck them all together so that it was secure. I then used a variety of buttons to cover each section of the star, ensuring that there were no huge gaps. All of the buttons were of varying sizes and included different colours, mostly being blues, beiges and creams since this is the colour scheme of my house.
To complete this decoration, I attached a piece of string to the back so that it could be hung from my Christmas tree. I really like how this craft turned out and it didn't require much effort to make, so it's definitely one that you can easily recreate at home. You can also play around with different lollypop stick arrangements to create some alternate looks.
Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
It wouldn't be a DIY crafts post without a recipe included! Whenever I'm scrolling through Pinterest I always see some incredible treats and delicious goodies that look almost effortless to create, so I wanted to have a go at one. Considering it's close to Christmas, I made white chocolate and Rice Krispie Christmas trees, which I have to say were delicious!
I started by taking some baking paper and tracing around a plate to create some circles. You can do these any size that you want, but the bigger they are the larger the finished treats will be. After cutting out the circles, I cut a line across the radius and made the paper into a cone shape. This was secured with sellotape around the outside, to ensure that the cone shape was maintained for the tree shape.
Afterwards, I melted some white chocolate in a bowl placed over a jug filled with boiling water. Breaking up the chocolate into smaller pieces ensures that it'll melt quicker and evenly, so I'd recommend doing this. I then added green food colouring to match the appearance of a Christmas tree. Initially, I used liquid food colouring but found that this made the chocolate stiffen up and turn into an almost paste-like consistency, which is apparently due to the imbalance between the oil in chocolate and water in the food colouring.
To prevent this from happening, I used gel food colouring in my second attempt to maintain the thin consistency of melted chocolate. I added about 50 drops to get this shade of green, but you can add more or less depending on what you want. I then stirred in about two handfuls of Rice Krispies, ensuring that they were all coated with chocolate, and then condensed them into the cones.
After leaving these to set in the fridge and ensuring that they were completely set, I removed the baking paper and began to decorate them. I sprinkled some icing sugar over the top to replicate snow and added some sprinkles to look like baubles. The finished trees definitely weren't the neatest, but I like how they turned out and they taste amazing - which is the most important thing!
I hope that you liked seeing all of these crafts and I'd love to know if anyone recreates them. If you've posted any craft blog posts then I'd love to take a look, so make sure you share them with me in the comments. Thank you very much for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you next week!
Love from Daisy x
I'm back with another festive post! This week, I decided to do my first ever craft-related post, which was very exciting! I made numerous different ornaments and decorations that were inspired by some popular Pinterest hacks, as well as a delicious DIY treat at the end of the post. They're all very straightforward and easy to make, meaning they're perfect for adding some festive flair to your house with Christmas right around the corner.
Salt Dough Christmas Tree
The first craft that I made was a salt dough Christmas tree, which was possibly one of my favourites to create. Whenever I'm on Pinterest, there's always many salt dough craft ideas floating around, and so I wanted to try making one myself, especially since everyone claims that it's very easy.
To make the salt dough, I started by combining a cup of salt with an equal amount of plain flour. I mixed these together and then began to slowly add water, mixing it first with a spoon and then by hand as it thickened. I continued adding small amounts of water until it reached a dough-like consistency.
At this point, I started to knead the dough and then rolled it out into an even layer. I had five different star-shaped cookie cutters so decided to cut out two of each to make up the Christmas tree. A helpful tip is to make sure you have plenty of flour on your work surface, as otherwise the dough will stick to it and the stars will be hard to lift up.
I used a straw to poke a hole approximately in the centre of each star, as they will eventually be threaded together. I left the dough to sit at room temperature for a few hours before placing them in the oven at gas mark 4 for 2 hours, keeping an eye on them during this time.
Meanwhile, I decided to prepare the plant pot for the Christmas tree. I found some brown buttons in various sizes and decided to glue them together, giving it a homemade feel. It's much easier if you stick one button at a time opposed to glueing all of them and holding it together, as the buttons tend to slide around quite a lot and it's a fiddly process.
The next step was to paint each star. I alternated between a pale grey and white, ensuring that I'd painted the top, bottom and edges of each star. Once these were completely dry, I threaded them together using a piece of string, ensuring that they were in size order to replicate the shape of a Christmas tree. To achieve the best effect, I rotated all of the stars so that they weren't all facing one direction but were instead more mismatched. For the finishing touches, I added a bow to the top and stuck the pot to the base of the tree. I love how this ornament turned out and there's definitely lots of room to personalise it and make it unique.
Speaking of other options for making ornaments with salt dough, I decided to make this gingerbread man with some of the leftover dough. I followed the exact same steps as above, using the straw to create a hole in his head so that string could be added. I painted him white and added a bow around his neck to complete it, and I think this is a fun yet adorable way to use up some of the excess dough.
Scrabble Letter Ornaments
This craft is easy to achieve and has a handmade aesthetic that I think is very cute and original. I started by deciding what phrase I wanted to make and gathering the right letters. If you don't have any Scrabble letters to use then it's no big deal, as packets of these are sold online and in craft stores. 'Let It Snow' is the phrase that I went for, but some alternatives that I really liked were 'Oh Deer' and 'Santa Paws', which you can see below. It's entirely up to you which phrases you create, but it tends to work best when the words are different sizes.
To create the hanging ornament, I started by glueing all of the letters together in a regular arrangement, so that each word was positioned centrally. Once this dried, I attached a piece of string to the back so that it could be hung from my Christmas tree. The final step to creating this decoration was adding some cotton wool to the top edges to look like fallen snow. I did this using some PVA glue and I feel as though it tied everything together, as well as relating to the phrase I used. I also sprinkled in some iridescent glitter to really make it sparkle and stand out.
Personalised Printables
If you take a look at Pinterest then you'll definitely see a variety of free printables that you can use. I hunted down some Christmassy ones that I liked and printed them off onto A4 card. I think these are all really cute and are an easy way to add some artwork to your house for the festive season, whilst still being budget friendly. The printable that you can see above is from Yellow Bliss Road.
I decided that I wanted to personalise each printable and add to it so that it was unique. I added some iridescent glitter and adhesive gems to enhance the white trees and falling snow, giving the image an extra sparkle and dimension. To finish it off, I placed it in a frame so that it looked like a true piece of artwork, opposed to just a printed image. I really like how this turned out and I think it definitely makes a huge difference without requiring much effort.
This is another alternative which is much simpler yet still looks effective. All it required was to print three 'h's and secure a button next to each one so that it replicated the phrase 'ho ho ho'. I framed this one and added a bell to the corner to add some interest. This is definitely a more minimal route but I still think it's pretty and will take you only a couple of minutes to recreate.
Hanging Button Star
This one was very easy to create, but I wanted something that would feel Christmassy whilst still having a shabby-chic vibe, thus fitting in nicely with my Christmas tree. This is probably the easiest of the crafts to recreate but I still think that it looks very cute, and you can create a variety of different looks based on the size and colour of the buttons you choose.
I arranged some lollypop sticks into the shape of a star and stuck them all together so that it was secure. I then used a variety of buttons to cover each section of the star, ensuring that there were no huge gaps. All of the buttons were of varying sizes and included different colours, mostly being blues, beiges and creams since this is the colour scheme of my house.
To complete this decoration, I attached a piece of string to the back so that it could be hung from my Christmas tree. I really like how this craft turned out and it didn't require much effort to make, so it's definitely one that you can easily recreate at home. You can also play around with different lollypop stick arrangements to create some alternate looks.
Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
It wouldn't be a DIY crafts post without a recipe included! Whenever I'm scrolling through Pinterest I always see some incredible treats and delicious goodies that look almost effortless to create, so I wanted to have a go at one. Considering it's close to Christmas, I made white chocolate and Rice Krispie Christmas trees, which I have to say were delicious!
I started by taking some baking paper and tracing around a plate to create some circles. You can do these any size that you want, but the bigger they are the larger the finished treats will be. After cutting out the circles, I cut a line across the radius and made the paper into a cone shape. This was secured with sellotape around the outside, to ensure that the cone shape was maintained for the tree shape.
Afterwards, I melted some white chocolate in a bowl placed over a jug filled with boiling water. Breaking up the chocolate into smaller pieces ensures that it'll melt quicker and evenly, so I'd recommend doing this. I then added green food colouring to match the appearance of a Christmas tree. Initially, I used liquid food colouring but found that this made the chocolate stiffen up and turn into an almost paste-like consistency, which is apparently due to the imbalance between the oil in chocolate and water in the food colouring.
To prevent this from happening, I used gel food colouring in my second attempt to maintain the thin consistency of melted chocolate. I added about 50 drops to get this shade of green, but you can add more or less depending on what you want. I then stirred in about two handfuls of Rice Krispies, ensuring that they were all coated with chocolate, and then condensed them into the cones.
After leaving these to set in the fridge and ensuring that they were completely set, I removed the baking paper and began to decorate them. I sprinkled some icing sugar over the top to replicate snow and added some sprinkles to look like baubles. The finished trees definitely weren't the neatest, but I like how they turned out and they taste amazing - which is the most important thing!
I hope that you liked seeing all of these crafts and I'd love to know if anyone recreates them. If you've posted any craft blog posts then I'd love to take a look, so make sure you share them with me in the comments. Thank you very much for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you next week!
Love from Daisy x
The festive mood has really kicked in this weekend, and so I thought what better way to continue this feeling than to upload something Christmas-related on my blog? It's been a long time since I've done a tag post, but I saw this one making it's way around Twitter and just couldn't resist contributing. I'm definitely a huge Christmas fan and love everything about this time of year, so I thoroughly enjoyed answering these questions for you.
1. What are your favourite Christmas movies?
I'd have an incredibly hard time narrowing it down to just one, but some of my favourites include Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Elf. I've watched these film repeatedly for years and they never fail to get me in the Christmas spirit. There's something about them that feels really nostalgic and special whilst still having funny, lighthearted moments, and so I'd definitely say they're Christmas classics.
2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
My brother and I always open our presents on Christmas morning. I feel as though part of the fun is when you're lying in bed on Christmas Eve, eager for the next morning to arrive so you can see what presents everyone has received, so I couldn't imagine opening them all before Christmas Day.
3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
All of my Christmasses have been equally special and lovely, so I doubt I could pick a favourite memory from them. I love every aspect of Christmas and have had so many amazing ones that it'd be virtually impossible for me to limit myself to just one memory. However, a Christmas that definitely stands out is when we first got our puppy, Georgie, as it truly was a surreal day that I'll always cherish.
4. Favourite festive food?
Christmas dinner is hands-down my answer for this question - it's not just my favourite festive food but probably one of my favourite meals in general. I also love the tins of sweets that are sold around Christmas like Quality Street and Heroes, as they're delicious and definitely get me feeling in the Christmas spirit. And you can't forget about Terry's Chocolate Orange, which I'm already looking forward to eating.
5. Favourite Christmas gift?
As I mentioned earlier, getting Georgie on Christmas was definitely my favourite 'gift', as he's incredibly special and means the world to my family. My brother and I were both 12 and had wanted a Shih-Tzu for quite a while, so to come downstairs on Christmas morning and meet Georgie was truly the best feeling ever. I can still remember how surreal everything felt to finally have a dog and it's a Christmas that I'll always cherish.
On the left is my first proper photo with Georgie - we'd had him for only a few days at this point. Almost four years later and needless to say I still love him so much.
6. Favourite Christmas scent?
Whether it's spiced berries, pine tree or anything in between, it's probable that I'll like it. I'm a huge fan of most Christmas scents and so I love burning candles around this time of year. There's something about candles in particular that makes me feel really cosy and warm, so when they're Christmas scented then it's definitely a win in my books.
7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Something that my family and I often do on Christmas Eve is go to the cinema to watch a film together. I don't really know how this tradition started but it's something that I enjoy doing, especially as I don't go to the cinema very often. I also love getting in the Christmas spirit with some festive music or a Christmas film and having a bit of a pamper.
8. What tops your tree?
This year, we have a shabby-chic snowflake on top of the tree, which I really like and think is a nice change from a standard star. I'm actually in love with our new Christmas tree, as it compliments the rest of the house and is different to what we usually have - yet it's completely to my tastes. I love everything about it, from the colour scheme to the lovely ornaments, some of which I made myself. You can find out how I did that in next week's blog post, so make sure you come back for that.
9. As a kid what was the one gift you always asked for but never received?
I've never really been the type of person who asked for lots of things at Christmas, especially now that I'm older. I tried thinking of an answer for this question but my mind is actually drawing a blank, simply because I never usually ask for specific things and instead I'm surprised by my family.
10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
I don't think I could choose just one thing, as Christmas is possibly my favourite time of year and I love everything about it. If I had to, I'd probably say that my favourite aspect is spending time with my family, where everyone is feeling happy and festive.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my answers to these questions and I invite all of you to do this tag post, so make sure you let me know if you have a go and answer them aswell. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another festive post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
1. What are your favourite Christmas movies?
I'd have an incredibly hard time narrowing it down to just one, but some of my favourites include Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Elf. I've watched these film repeatedly for years and they never fail to get me in the Christmas spirit. There's something about them that feels really nostalgic and special whilst still having funny, lighthearted moments, and so I'd definitely say they're Christmas classics.
2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
My brother and I always open our presents on Christmas morning. I feel as though part of the fun is when you're lying in bed on Christmas Eve, eager for the next morning to arrive so you can see what presents everyone has received, so I couldn't imagine opening them all before Christmas Day.
3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
All of my Christmasses have been equally special and lovely, so I doubt I could pick a favourite memory from them. I love every aspect of Christmas and have had so many amazing ones that it'd be virtually impossible for me to limit myself to just one memory. However, a Christmas that definitely stands out is when we first got our puppy, Georgie, as it truly was a surreal day that I'll always cherish.
4. Favourite festive food?
Christmas dinner is hands-down my answer for this question - it's not just my favourite festive food but probably one of my favourite meals in general. I also love the tins of sweets that are sold around Christmas like Quality Street and Heroes, as they're delicious and definitely get me feeling in the Christmas spirit. And you can't forget about Terry's Chocolate Orange, which I'm already looking forward to eating.
5. Favourite Christmas gift?
As I mentioned earlier, getting Georgie on Christmas was definitely my favourite 'gift', as he's incredibly special and means the world to my family. My brother and I were both 12 and had wanted a Shih-Tzu for quite a while, so to come downstairs on Christmas morning and meet Georgie was truly the best feeling ever. I can still remember how surreal everything felt to finally have a dog and it's a Christmas that I'll always cherish.
6. Favourite Christmas scent?
Whether it's spiced berries, pine tree or anything in between, it's probable that I'll like it. I'm a huge fan of most Christmas scents and so I love burning candles around this time of year. There's something about candles in particular that makes me feel really cosy and warm, so when they're Christmas scented then it's definitely a win in my books.
7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Something that my family and I often do on Christmas Eve is go to the cinema to watch a film together. I don't really know how this tradition started but it's something that I enjoy doing, especially as I don't go to the cinema very often. I also love getting in the Christmas spirit with some festive music or a Christmas film and having a bit of a pamper.
8. What tops your tree?
This year, we have a shabby-chic snowflake on top of the tree, which I really like and think is a nice change from a standard star. I'm actually in love with our new Christmas tree, as it compliments the rest of the house and is different to what we usually have - yet it's completely to my tastes. I love everything about it, from the colour scheme to the lovely ornaments, some of which I made myself. You can find out how I did that in next week's blog post, so make sure you come back for that.
9. As a kid what was the one gift you always asked for but never received?
I've never really been the type of person who asked for lots of things at Christmas, especially now that I'm older. I tried thinking of an answer for this question but my mind is actually drawing a blank, simply because I never usually ask for specific things and instead I'm surprised by my family.
10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
I don't think I could choose just one thing, as Christmas is possibly my favourite time of year and I love everything about it. If I had to, I'd probably say that my favourite aspect is spending time with my family, where everyone is feeling happy and festive.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my answers to these questions and I invite all of you to do this tag post, so make sure you let me know if you have a go and answer them aswell. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another festive post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
The festive mood has really kicked in this weekend, and so I thought what better way to continue this feeling than to upload something Christmas-related on my blog? It's been a long time since I've done a tag post, but I saw this one making it's way around Twitter and just couldn't resist contributing. I'm definitely a huge Christmas fan and love everything about this time of year, so I thoroughly enjoyed answering these questions for you.
1. What are your favourite Christmas movies?
I'd have an incredibly hard time narrowing it down to just one, but some of my favourites include Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Elf. I've watched these film repeatedly for years and they never fail to get me in the Christmas spirit. There's something about them that feels really nostalgic and special whilst still having funny, lighthearted moments, and so I'd definitely say they're Christmas classics.
2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
My brother and I always open our presents on Christmas morning. I feel as though part of the fun is when you're lying in bed on Christmas Eve, eager for the next morning to arrive so you can see what presents everyone has received, so I couldn't imagine opening them all before Christmas Day.
3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
All of my Christmasses have been equally special and lovely, so I doubt I could pick a favourite memory from them. I love every aspect of Christmas and have had so many amazing ones that it'd be virtually impossible for me to limit myself to just one memory. However, a Christmas that definitely stands out is when we first got our puppy, Georgie, as it truly was a surreal day that I'll always cherish.
4. Favourite festive food?
Christmas dinner is hands-down my answer for this question - it's not just my favourite festive food but probably one of my favourite meals in general. I also love the tins of sweets that are sold around Christmas like Quality Street and Heroes, as they're delicious and definitely get me feeling in the Christmas spirit. And you can't forget about Terry's Chocolate Orange, which I'm already looking forward to eating.
5. Favourite Christmas gift?
As I mentioned earlier, getting Georgie on Christmas was definitely my favourite 'gift', as he's incredibly special and means the world to my family. My brother and I were both 12 and had wanted a Shih-Tzu for quite a while, so to come downstairs on Christmas morning and meet Georgie was truly the best feeling ever. I can still remember how surreal everything felt to finally have a dog and it's a Christmas that I'll always cherish.
On the left is my first proper photo with Georgie - we'd had him for only a few days at this point. Almost four years later and needless to say I still love him so much.
6. Favourite Christmas scent?
Whether it's spiced berries, pine tree or anything in between, it's probable that I'll like it. I'm a huge fan of most Christmas scents and so I love burning candles around this time of year. There's something about candles in particular that makes me feel really cosy and warm, so when they're Christmas scented then it's definitely a win in my books.
7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Something that my family and I often do on Christmas Eve is go to the cinema to watch a film together. I don't really know how this tradition started but it's something that I enjoy doing, especially as I don't go to the cinema very often. I also love getting in the Christmas spirit with some festive music or a Christmas film and having a bit of a pamper.
8. What tops your tree?
This year, we have a shabby-chic snowflake on top of the tree, which I really like and think is a nice change from a standard star. I'm actually in love with our new Christmas tree, as it compliments the rest of the house and is different to what we usually have - yet it's completely to my tastes. I love everything about it, from the colour scheme to the lovely ornaments, some of which I made myself. You can find out how I did that in next week's blog post, so make sure you come back for that.
9. As a kid what was the one gift you always asked for but never received?
I've never really been the type of person who asked for lots of things at Christmas, especially now that I'm older. I tried thinking of an answer for this question but my mind is actually drawing a blank, simply because I never usually ask for specific things and instead I'm surprised by my family.
10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
I don't think I could choose just one thing, as Christmas is possibly my favourite time of year and I love everything about it. If I had to, I'd probably say that my favourite aspect is spending time with my family, where everyone is feeling happy and festive.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my answers to these questions and I invite all of you to do this tag post, so make sure you let me know if you have a go and answer them aswell. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another festive post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
1. What are your favourite Christmas movies?
I'd have an incredibly hard time narrowing it down to just one, but some of my favourites include Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Elf. I've watched these film repeatedly for years and they never fail to get me in the Christmas spirit. There's something about them that feels really nostalgic and special whilst still having funny, lighthearted moments, and so I'd definitely say they're Christmas classics.
2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
My brother and I always open our presents on Christmas morning. I feel as though part of the fun is when you're lying in bed on Christmas Eve, eager for the next morning to arrive so you can see what presents everyone has received, so I couldn't imagine opening them all before Christmas Day.
3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
All of my Christmasses have been equally special and lovely, so I doubt I could pick a favourite memory from them. I love every aspect of Christmas and have had so many amazing ones that it'd be virtually impossible for me to limit myself to just one memory. However, a Christmas that definitely stands out is when we first got our puppy, Georgie, as it truly was a surreal day that I'll always cherish.
4. Favourite festive food?
Christmas dinner is hands-down my answer for this question - it's not just my favourite festive food but probably one of my favourite meals in general. I also love the tins of sweets that are sold around Christmas like Quality Street and Heroes, as they're delicious and definitely get me feeling in the Christmas spirit. And you can't forget about Terry's Chocolate Orange, which I'm already looking forward to eating.
5. Favourite Christmas gift?
As I mentioned earlier, getting Georgie on Christmas was definitely my favourite 'gift', as he's incredibly special and means the world to my family. My brother and I were both 12 and had wanted a Shih-Tzu for quite a while, so to come downstairs on Christmas morning and meet Georgie was truly the best feeling ever. I can still remember how surreal everything felt to finally have a dog and it's a Christmas that I'll always cherish.
6. Favourite Christmas scent?
Whether it's spiced berries, pine tree or anything in between, it's probable that I'll like it. I'm a huge fan of most Christmas scents and so I love burning candles around this time of year. There's something about candles in particular that makes me feel really cosy and warm, so when they're Christmas scented then it's definitely a win in my books.
7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Something that my family and I often do on Christmas Eve is go to the cinema to watch a film together. I don't really know how this tradition started but it's something that I enjoy doing, especially as I don't go to the cinema very often. I also love getting in the Christmas spirit with some festive music or a Christmas film and having a bit of a pamper.
8. What tops your tree?
This year, we have a shabby-chic snowflake on top of the tree, which I really like and think is a nice change from a standard star. I'm actually in love with our new Christmas tree, as it compliments the rest of the house and is different to what we usually have - yet it's completely to my tastes. I love everything about it, from the colour scheme to the lovely ornaments, some of which I made myself. You can find out how I did that in next week's blog post, so make sure you come back for that.
9. As a kid what was the one gift you always asked for but never received?
I've never really been the type of person who asked for lots of things at Christmas, especially now that I'm older. I tried thinking of an answer for this question but my mind is actually drawing a blank, simply because I never usually ask for specific things and instead I'm surprised by my family.
10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
I don't think I could choose just one thing, as Christmas is possibly my favourite time of year and I love everything about it. If I had to, I'd probably say that my favourite aspect is spending time with my family, where everyone is feeling happy and festive.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my answers to these questions and I invite all of you to do this tag post, so make sure you let me know if you have a go and answer them aswell. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another festive post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of The Body Shop's Christmas blogger events, where I was able to see all of the new launches, sample and try out products to my heart's content and also chat with like-minded bloggers who were equally obsessing over the amazing new releases. We all got in the festive spirit, nibbling on mince pies and chocolates whilst taking endless amounts of photos and adoring the new Christmas range. I discovered some amazing products whilst there and could instantly tell that The Body Shop will be a go-to store for Christmas shopping - having everything from affordable stocking fillers to the most amazing advent calendars. I thought I'd use this chance to talk through all of the new products for this Christmas, forming the ultimate Body Shop gift guide.
STOCKING FILLERS
One thing that The Body Shop does exceptionally well is creating cute and exciting stocking fillers, allowing you to try some of their products at an affordable price and in miniature form. The Merry Kiss-Mas Wands are absolutely adorable and are the perfect gift for anyone who likes lip products and desires a hydrated and slightly tinted finished look. If you're a hand cream fan then the Handfuls of Happiness set will be right up your street, giving you six different hand creams to test out.
Still on the subject of hands, there are two nail care sets on offer: the Hand and Nail Set which provides you with a hand cream and nail file in a chosen scent, and the Expert Manicure Set which contains the same products along with a four-way nail buffer and pair of nail clippers. These are perfect to use ready for your glam festive nails and will prevent your hands from becoming dry during the cold months.
Also worthy of a mention is the Bath Fizzers, which are incredibly affordable and you simply can't turn them down. Styled to be like pick-and-mix sweets, these are so cute and are definitely a fun way of livening up your bath. Coming in the scents berry bliss, vanilla delight, candied plum and frosted flower, there's something for everyone in this mini collection and you simply can't turn them down.
FESTIVE PRODUCTS AND GIFT SETS
The Body Shop have really outdone themselves with the Christmas scents this year, with each one feeling incredibly festive and not too overpowering. I honestly couldn't choose a favourite between Frosted Berries, Spiced Apple and Vanilla Chai - the three scents that they're currently offering. Each one is unique in its own way and they immediately put me in a festive mood after smelling them.
Although I sampled a lot of the products in this range while at the blogger event, an instant stand-out was the Softening Body Butters, which live up to the name in being incredibly smooth and luxurious on the skin. They melted in nicely, hydrating my skin and leaving it feeling silky and pampered. Other products within this collection are the Exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub, Shimmer Mist and Shower Gel, just to name a few, so there's definitely a wide variety to get your hands on.
If you don't want to buy these products individually, there are some gorgeous gift sets containing them that you certainly can't pass up. The apple-shaped Festive Tin is such a cool and creative concept, looking very effective whilst housing a shower gel, body butter, body scrub and body lotion. Coming in all three scents, this is the perfect way to trial some of the different products or treat a friend to them instead. There are loads of other gift sets containing a selection of these products, so there'll definitely be one best suited to you.
BATH AND BODY GIFT SETS
If you're not a big fan of the Christmas scents this year (although I find that hard to believe!) then there are plenty of other gift sets to choose from containing products from the core collections in the Body Shop. The Festive Picks Collections are the perfect way to sample some of the necessities and favourite products, with each gift box including a shower gel, body butter, soap, body scrub and bath lily. Whether you're wrapping it up ready for a friend or just wanting to treat yourself, you can choose to purchase this set in any of your favourite existing scents, including coconut, argan oil and green tea.
For any fragrance lovers out there, there's also something available for you. Both the White Musk and Black Musk fragrances have been raved about recently, and so are available within gift sets for you to try. There are various ones to consider, some of which containing other products aside from the actual perfume. The White Musk Eau De Toilette 100ML gift set also contains a body wash and lotion, if you're looking for the scent to stick around on your body all day, and means that you can treat yourself to some luxurious body care products if you know that you like that particular scent.
ADVENT CALENDARS
December 1st is right around the corner, meaning it's almost time to crack out the advent calendars. The Body Shop have really surprised us this year with not just 1, but 3 to choose from. These lavish calendars make a nice change from the regular chocolate ones and ensure that every day in December is filled with a beauty treat. The 24 Happy Days Beauty Advent Calendar may be the standard one that they're offering but it's far from being underwhelming. If you'd like an upgrade and want a more premium calendar, they're also offering a Deluxe Beauty Advent Calendar and an Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar, depending on your budget and what you're looking for. Regardless of which one you choose, you'll be treated to 24 lovely products, some being miniatures and others being full sized, so it's definitely worth getting your hands on one.
MAKEUP AND BRUSHES
The Body Shop's makeup range is seriously underrated, and whilst at the blogger event I discovered that all of their products are of an extremely high quality. A particular stand-out is the new Eye Colour Sticks, which are gorgeous shimmery eyeshadow crayons that have serious potential. They swatch beautifully and wouldn't budge from my hand all night. Also on the subject of eyes, you need to try the Eyeshadow Quads. Their colour payoff is incredible and they have a creamy formula that makes them a dream to apply. Needless to say, I was hovering by these for quite some time and couldn't resist swatching each shade multiple times.
Liquid lipsticks are still an incredibly popular makeup product, and so it's almost a necessity to try the Body Shop's new Matte Lip Liquid, coming in 12 different shades. The pigmentation is insane from these and they set in an instant, meaning they won't budge on your lips and last throughout the day. The shade range is also impressive, giving you an option for any occasion, whether you're looking for a baby pink or striking berry tone.
In terms of tools, the Body Shop have just released their new range of vegan makeup brushes. It's great to see more brands taking a natural and cruelty-free approach, and so I'm completely on board with this launch. All of the brushes are incredibly soft - I'm not joking by saying that they're some of the softest I've ever felt - and there's also a variety available, so you can find one for every step in your makeup routine. I'd definitely look further into these if you're a vegan or looking for some completely natural brushes.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about all of the amazing Christmas releases at The Body Shop this year, and I'd like to thank them again for hosting and inviting me to such a wonderful event. I'd love to know your thoughts on any of the products I've mentioned, so make sure to let me know what you think down in the comments. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another Christmas blog post.
Love from Daisy x
Christmas at The Body Shop - My Gift Giving Guide
Sunday, November 27, 2016 • Beauty, Blogmas, Makeup
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of The Body Shop's Christmas blogger events, where I was able to see all of the new launches, sample and try out products to my heart's content and also chat with like-minded bloggers who were equally obsessing over the amazing new releases. We all got in the festive spirit, nibbling on mince pies and chocolates whilst taking endless amounts of photos and adoring the new Christmas range. I discovered some amazing products whilst there and could instantly tell that The Body Shop will be a go-to store for Christmas shopping - having everything from affordable stocking fillers to the most amazing advent calendars. I thought I'd use this chance to talk through all of the new products for this Christmas, forming the ultimate Body Shop gift guide.
STOCKING FILLERS
One thing that The Body Shop does exceptionally well is creating cute and exciting stocking fillers, allowing you to try some of their products at an affordable price and in miniature form. The Merry Kiss-Mas Wands are absolutely adorable and are the perfect gift for anyone who likes lip products and desires a hydrated and slightly tinted finished look. If you're a hand cream fan then the Handfuls of Happiness set will be right up your street, giving you six different hand creams to test out.
Still on the subject of hands, there are two nail care sets on offer: the Hand and Nail Set which provides you with a hand cream and nail file in a chosen scent, and the Expert Manicure Set which contains the same products along with a four-way nail buffer and pair of nail clippers. These are perfect to use ready for your glam festive nails and will prevent your hands from becoming dry during the cold months.
Also worthy of a mention is the Bath Fizzers, which are incredibly affordable and you simply can't turn them down. Styled to be like pick-and-mix sweets, these are so cute and are definitely a fun way of livening up your bath. Coming in the scents berry bliss, vanilla delight, candied plum and frosted flower, there's something for everyone in this mini collection and you simply can't turn them down.
FESTIVE PRODUCTS AND GIFT SETS
The Body Shop have really outdone themselves with the Christmas scents this year, with each one feeling incredibly festive and not too overpowering. I honestly couldn't choose a favourite between Frosted Berries, Spiced Apple and Vanilla Chai - the three scents that they're currently offering. Each one is unique in its own way and they immediately put me in a festive mood after smelling them.
Although I sampled a lot of the products in this range while at the blogger event, an instant stand-out was the Softening Body Butters, which live up to the name in being incredibly smooth and luxurious on the skin. They melted in nicely, hydrating my skin and leaving it feeling silky and pampered. Other products within this collection are the Exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub, Shimmer Mist and Shower Gel, just to name a few, so there's definitely a wide variety to get your hands on.
If you don't want to buy these products individually, there are some gorgeous gift sets containing them that you certainly can't pass up. The apple-shaped Festive Tin is such a cool and creative concept, looking very effective whilst housing a shower gel, body butter, body scrub and body lotion. Coming in all three scents, this is the perfect way to trial some of the different products or treat a friend to them instead. There are loads of other gift sets containing a selection of these products, so there'll definitely be one best suited to you.
BATH AND BODY GIFT SETS
If you're not a big fan of the Christmas scents this year (although I find that hard to believe!) then there are plenty of other gift sets to choose from containing products from the core collections in the Body Shop. The Festive Picks Collections are the perfect way to sample some of the necessities and favourite products, with each gift box including a shower gel, body butter, soap, body scrub and bath lily. Whether you're wrapping it up ready for a friend or just wanting to treat yourself, you can choose to purchase this set in any of your favourite existing scents, including coconut, argan oil and green tea.
For any fragrance lovers out there, there's also something available for you. Both the White Musk and Black Musk fragrances have been raved about recently, and so are available within gift sets for you to try. There are various ones to consider, some of which containing other products aside from the actual perfume. The White Musk Eau De Toilette 100ML gift set also contains a body wash and lotion, if you're looking for the scent to stick around on your body all day, and means that you can treat yourself to some luxurious body care products if you know that you like that particular scent.
ADVENT CALENDARS
December 1st is right around the corner, meaning it's almost time to crack out the advent calendars. The Body Shop have really surprised us this year with not just 1, but 3 to choose from. These lavish calendars make a nice change from the regular chocolate ones and ensure that every day in December is filled with a beauty treat. The 24 Happy Days Beauty Advent Calendar may be the standard one that they're offering but it's far from being underwhelming. If you'd like an upgrade and want a more premium calendar, they're also offering a Deluxe Beauty Advent Calendar and an Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar, depending on your budget and what you're looking for. Regardless of which one you choose, you'll be treated to 24 lovely products, some being miniatures and others being full sized, so it's definitely worth getting your hands on one.
MAKEUP AND BRUSHES
The Body Shop's makeup range is seriously underrated, and whilst at the blogger event I discovered that all of their products are of an extremely high quality. A particular stand-out is the new Eye Colour Sticks, which are gorgeous shimmery eyeshadow crayons that have serious potential. They swatch beautifully and wouldn't budge from my hand all night. Also on the subject of eyes, you need to try the Eyeshadow Quads. Their colour payoff is incredible and they have a creamy formula that makes them a dream to apply. Needless to say, I was hovering by these for quite some time and couldn't resist swatching each shade multiple times.
Liquid lipsticks are still an incredibly popular makeup product, and so it's almost a necessity to try the Body Shop's new Matte Lip Liquid, coming in 12 different shades. The pigmentation is insane from these and they set in an instant, meaning they won't budge on your lips and last throughout the day. The shade range is also impressive, giving you an option for any occasion, whether you're looking for a baby pink or striking berry tone.
In terms of tools, the Body Shop have just released their new range of vegan makeup brushes. It's great to see more brands taking a natural and cruelty-free approach, and so I'm completely on board with this launch. All of the brushes are incredibly soft - I'm not joking by saying that they're some of the softest I've ever felt - and there's also a variety available, so you can find one for every step in your makeup routine. I'd definitely look further into these if you're a vegan or looking for some completely natural brushes.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about all of the amazing Christmas releases at The Body Shop this year, and I'd like to thank them again for hosting and inviting me to such a wonderful event. I'd love to know your thoughts on any of the products I've mentioned, so make sure to let me know what you think down in the comments. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week with another Christmas blog post.
Love from Daisy x
If you're not a stranger to Pinterest or Instagram, I can guarantee that you've heard of bullet journaling - the new organisational method that has gained an increasing amount of popularity over the past few years. Scrolling through the endless images of aesthetically-pleasing spreads and gorgeous calligraphy is definitely inspirational and instantly makes you want to start you own. I decided to make the jump and start planning my own over the summer, ready to start in September. Since then, I've discovered many pros and cons to the system, including ways that it could be tweaked, and so I thought it'd be helpful to share this for anyone who is thinking of starting a bullet journal.
The Pros of Bullet Journaling
If you make a bullet journal, you can decide on how the pages are set out, from the size of each box to its position on the page. This gives you much more control and the ability to do what you actually want with it, opposed to being stuck to the guidelines set out by a regular planner. You can alter the design based on what works for you so that your planner is the most functional and suited to you that it can be. This is particularly useful if you want to customise your journal to suit being a student, as you're able to add a timetable, homework tracker, revision schedule and many other school-related pages that wouldn't otherwise be included in a regular journal or diary.
Creative Outlet
With most traditional planners, you simply write in any important events and to-do lists, which helps to keep you organised but can become quite monotonous. There's barely any room to be adventurous and creative with how you enter information in your planner, but the bullet journal provides a solution to this. Whether you show creativity through quotes, drawings, fonts or colours, all of this can be included in your bullet journal as well as important details and events. You can also use washi tape, stickers and coloured pens to decorate, which can actually be therapeutic and provide much more of a creative outlet for you, transforming bullet journaling into a hobby. If you're feeling stressed by school or in need of a relax, this can also be a good option for winding down and exerting your creativity elsewhere.
You Can Mix Things Up
Once you get a shop-bought journal, you have to commit to that layout and style of entering your tasks. With bullet journaling, it's a completely different story. If you opt for a vertical spread one week but decide you don't like it, you can easily change it for the future. Or if you draw out a monthly overview but find that you hardly use it, you simply don't need to draw it out next month. There's also the possibility to try out new things and explore different styles of journaling, knowing that you don't have to stick with it as you can easily revert back to normal whenever you want.
Everything Is In One Place
It can be hectic and unorganised to have a separate diary, notebook and calendar, as well as random notes on your phone and scrap pieces of paper. With a bullet journal, you can condense this all into one place. This means that you'll know exactly where to look for something and so will never forget a task. I've also seen quite a few people who have combined their bullet journal with a revision book or for class notes, meaning even their school work is contained in this one organised place.
It's Unique For Everyone
Everyone will have different uses for their journal and things to enter, so it's only right that each journal should also be unique. You are able to find a method that is suited entirely to you, making planning much more efficient. If you're a blogger and find that regular journals don't include any place for you to plan posts, you can easily add this in. Or if you want a section to track all of your school grades, you can implement this in no time. Whatever you find works best for you can be employed so that journaling is the most efficient and enjoyable it can possibly be.
Creative Outlet
With most traditional planners, you simply write in any important events and to-do lists, which helps to keep you organised but can become quite monotonous. There's barely any room to be adventurous and creative with how you enter information in your planner, but the bullet journal provides a solution to this. Whether you show creativity through quotes, drawings, fonts or colours, all of this can be included in your bullet journal as well as important details and events. You can also use washi tape, stickers and coloured pens to decorate, which can actually be therapeutic and provide much more of a creative outlet for you, transforming bullet journaling into a hobby. If you're feeling stressed by school or in need of a relax, this can also be a good option for winding down and exerting your creativity elsewhere.
You Can Mix Things Up
Once you get a shop-bought journal, you have to commit to that layout and style of entering your tasks. With bullet journaling, it's a completely different story. If you opt for a vertical spread one week but decide you don't like it, you can easily change it for the future. Or if you draw out a monthly overview but find that you hardly use it, you simply don't need to draw it out next month. There's also the possibility to try out new things and explore different styles of journaling, knowing that you don't have to stick with it as you can easily revert back to normal whenever you want.
Everything Is In One Place
It can be hectic and unorganised to have a separate diary, notebook and calendar, as well as random notes on your phone and scrap pieces of paper. With a bullet journal, you can condense this all into one place. This means that you'll know exactly where to look for something and so will never forget a task. I've also seen quite a few people who have combined their bullet journal with a revision book or for class notes, meaning even their school work is contained in this one organised place.
It's Unique For Everyone
Everyone will have different uses for their journal and things to enter, so it's only right that each journal should also be unique. You are able to find a method that is suited entirely to you, making planning much more efficient. If you're a blogger and find that regular journals don't include any place for you to plan posts, you can easily add this in. Or if you want a section to track all of your school grades, you can implement this in no time. Whatever you find works best for you can be employed so that journaling is the most efficient and enjoyable it can possibly be.
The Cons of Bullet Journaling
It's Too Time Consuming
One of my main criteria for planning is that it should be quick and easy to do. Whether it's entering important dates or creating new spreads, I should be able to spend a minimal amount of time on it. This is especially important as a student, as I need to quickly and efficiently jot down any homework tasks, notes and revision before it disappears from my brain. However, I found that bullet journaling took up a lot of my time, and I couldn't enter something into my journal without either having to draw out a completely new page or spending lots of time to make sure what I was entering looked nice.
I'm a Perfectionist
When I was creating my spreads, I didn't want to settle for alright. I wanted perfection and that's pretty hard to achieve. I was measuring boxes to be accurate down to the hundredth of a centimetre (this is how extreme I was going!) and constantly erasing things that didn't look quite like how I'd envisioned them. Although I was pleased with the final spreads, it took too long to get to that point and I'd always notice something that could be tweaked or altered to make it perfect. With a homemade journal like this, I was never going to get it 100% right.
When I was creating my spreads, I didn't want to settle for alright. I wanted perfection and that's pretty hard to achieve. I was measuring boxes to be accurate down to the hundredth of a centimetre (this is how extreme I was going!) and constantly erasing things that didn't look quite like how I'd envisioned them. Although I was pleased with the final spreads, it took too long to get to that point and I'd always notice something that could be tweaked or altered to make it perfect. With a homemade journal like this, I was never going to get it 100% right.
Some Spreads Were Unnecessary
When deciding what spreads I wanted in my bullet journal, I went a bit crazy and overboard. Some of the pages I included were a bucket list, the tracker of all the books I read and a list of things that made me happy. Although all of these were nice additions, none of them were really necessary or could've been fine just on my phone. I spent way too much time making these additional pages look nice, even though I'd hardly use them in my day-to-day life.
When deciding what spreads I wanted in my bullet journal, I went a bit crazy and overboard. Some of the pages I included were a bucket list, the tracker of all the books I read and a list of things that made me happy. Although all of these were nice additions, none of them were really necessary or could've been fine just on my phone. I spent way too much time making these additional pages look nice, even though I'd hardly use them in my day-to-day life.
It's Difficult to Plan Ahead
It's understandable that you won't have time initially to draw out every page and spread for the next 12 months, and this can start to become an issue. Bullet journaling was great for planning in the moment, or for that particular month which was already drawn out, but as soon as I found out the dates for a holiday next summer or important exams in the future, all of this went out the window. There's nowhere to immediately write down these things without drawing out all of the spreads between now and that moment, which I didn't want to do as there may be changes or alterations that I wanted to make in the future. For this reason, I found bullet journaling a lot harder to maintain, especially when considering long-term tasks and goals.
It's understandable that you won't have time initially to draw out every page and spread for the next 12 months, and this can start to become an issue. Bullet journaling was great for planning in the moment, or for that particular month which was already drawn out, but as soon as I found out the dates for a holiday next summer or important exams in the future, all of this went out the window. There's nowhere to immediately write down these things without drawing out all of the spreads between now and that moment, which I didn't want to do as there may be changes or alterations that I wanted to make in the future. For this reason, I found bullet journaling a lot harder to maintain, especially when considering long-term tasks and goals.
I Don't Have Enough to Enter
Although I do have plenty of college-related tasks to keep track of, I don't really have much else apart from that. Particularly in the holidays, I could have weeks with nothing going on and so a blank journal. This was hard to accept with my bullet journal, as I'd just spent lots of time drawing out each spread only to not even use it. Considering the amount of time and effort that was put into setting it up, it just wasn't worth it for only a couple of tasks or to-do lists.
Now that I've shared with you all of the pros and cons of bullet journaling, are you eager to start one or rather give it a miss? I'd love to know all of your thoughts on bullet journaling and also any resolutions to any of the cons I listed, as I'd love to start it again if I solved these issues.
Thanks for reading this post and remember that I'm currently running a giveaway, which will be ending in a week from now (27th November). To enter simply click the link here or check out my previous post. I'll see you next week with a new post, and I hope you're excited as the Christmas content officially begins!
Love from Daisy x
Although I do have plenty of college-related tasks to keep track of, I don't really have much else apart from that. Particularly in the holidays, I could have weeks with nothing going on and so a blank journal. This was hard to accept with my bullet journal, as I'd just spent lots of time drawing out each spread only to not even use it. Considering the amount of time and effort that was put into setting it up, it just wasn't worth it for only a couple of tasks or to-do lists.
Now that I've shared with you all of the pros and cons of bullet journaling, are you eager to start one or rather give it a miss? I'd love to know all of your thoughts on bullet journaling and also any resolutions to any of the cons I listed, as I'd love to start it again if I solved these issues.
Thanks for reading this post and remember that I'm currently running a giveaway, which will be ending in a week from now (27th November). To enter simply click the link here or check out my previous post. I'll see you next week with a new post, and I hope you're excited as the Christmas content officially begins!
Love from Daisy x
If you're not a stranger to Pinterest or Instagram, I can guarantee that you've heard of bullet journaling - the new organisational method that has gained an increasing amount of popularity over the past few years. Scrolling through the endless images of aesthetically-pleasing spreads and gorgeous calligraphy is definitely inspirational and instantly makes you want to start you own. I decided to make the jump and start planning my own over the summer, ready to start in September. Since then, I've discovered many pros and cons to the system, including ways that it could be tweaked, and so I thought it'd be helpful to share this for anyone who is thinking of starting a bullet journal.
The Pros of Bullet Journaling
If you make a bullet journal, you can decide on how the pages are set out, from the size of each box to its position on the page. This gives you much more control and the ability to do what you actually want with it, opposed to being stuck to the guidelines set out by a regular planner. You can alter the design based on what works for you so that your planner is the most functional and suited to you that it can be. This is particularly useful if you want to customise your journal to suit being a student, as you're able to add a timetable, homework tracker, revision schedule and many other school-related pages that wouldn't otherwise be included in a regular journal or diary.
Creative Outlet
With most traditional planners, you simply write in any important events and to-do lists, which helps to keep you organised but can become quite monotonous. There's barely any room to be adventurous and creative with how you enter information in your planner, but the bullet journal provides a solution to this. Whether you show creativity through quotes, drawings, fonts or colours, all of this can be included in your bullet journal as well as important details and events. You can also use washi tape, stickers and coloured pens to decorate, which can actually be therapeutic and provide much more of a creative outlet for you, transforming bullet journaling into a hobby. If you're feeling stressed by school or in need of a relax, this can also be a good option for winding down and exerting your creativity elsewhere.
You Can Mix Things Up
Once you get a shop-bought journal, you have to commit to that layout and style of entering your tasks. With bullet journaling, it's a completely different story. If you opt for a vertical spread one week but decide you don't like it, you can easily change it for the future. Or if you draw out a monthly overview but find that you hardly use it, you simply don't need to draw it out next month. There's also the possibility to try out new things and explore different styles of journaling, knowing that you don't have to stick with it as you can easily revert back to normal whenever you want.
Everything Is In One Place
It can be hectic and unorganised to have a separate diary, notebook and calendar, as well as random notes on your phone and scrap pieces of paper. With a bullet journal, you can condense this all into one place. This means that you'll know exactly where to look for something and so will never forget a task. I've also seen quite a few people who have combined their bullet journal with a revision book or for class notes, meaning even their school work is contained in this one organised place.
It's Unique For Everyone
Everyone will have different uses for their journal and things to enter, so it's only right that each journal should also be unique. You are able to find a method that is suited entirely to you, making planning much more efficient. If you're a blogger and find that regular journals don't include any place for you to plan posts, you can easily add this in. Or if you want a section to track all of your school grades, you can implement this in no time. Whatever you find works best for you can be employed so that journaling is the most efficient and enjoyable it can possibly be.
Creative Outlet
With most traditional planners, you simply write in any important events and to-do lists, which helps to keep you organised but can become quite monotonous. There's barely any room to be adventurous and creative with how you enter information in your planner, but the bullet journal provides a solution to this. Whether you show creativity through quotes, drawings, fonts or colours, all of this can be included in your bullet journal as well as important details and events. You can also use washi tape, stickers and coloured pens to decorate, which can actually be therapeutic and provide much more of a creative outlet for you, transforming bullet journaling into a hobby. If you're feeling stressed by school or in need of a relax, this can also be a good option for winding down and exerting your creativity elsewhere.
You Can Mix Things Up
Once you get a shop-bought journal, you have to commit to that layout and style of entering your tasks. With bullet journaling, it's a completely different story. If you opt for a vertical spread one week but decide you don't like it, you can easily change it for the future. Or if you draw out a monthly overview but find that you hardly use it, you simply don't need to draw it out next month. There's also the possibility to try out new things and explore different styles of journaling, knowing that you don't have to stick with it as you can easily revert back to normal whenever you want.
Everything Is In One Place
It can be hectic and unorganised to have a separate diary, notebook and calendar, as well as random notes on your phone and scrap pieces of paper. With a bullet journal, you can condense this all into one place. This means that you'll know exactly where to look for something and so will never forget a task. I've also seen quite a few people who have combined their bullet journal with a revision book or for class notes, meaning even their school work is contained in this one organised place.
It's Unique For Everyone
Everyone will have different uses for their journal and things to enter, so it's only right that each journal should also be unique. You are able to find a method that is suited entirely to you, making planning much more efficient. If you're a blogger and find that regular journals don't include any place for you to plan posts, you can easily add this in. Or if you want a section to track all of your school grades, you can implement this in no time. Whatever you find works best for you can be employed so that journaling is the most efficient and enjoyable it can possibly be.
The Cons of Bullet Journaling
It's Too Time Consuming
One of my main criteria for planning is that it should be quick and easy to do. Whether it's entering important dates or creating new spreads, I should be able to spend a minimal amount of time on it. This is especially important as a student, as I need to quickly and efficiently jot down any homework tasks, notes and revision before it disappears from my brain. However, I found that bullet journaling took up a lot of my time, and I couldn't enter something into my journal without either having to draw out a completely new page or spending lots of time to make sure what I was entering looked nice.
I'm a Perfectionist
When I was creating my spreads, I didn't want to settle for alright. I wanted perfection and that's pretty hard to achieve. I was measuring boxes to be accurate down to the hundredth of a centimetre (this is how extreme I was going!) and constantly erasing things that didn't look quite like how I'd envisioned them. Although I was pleased with the final spreads, it took too long to get to that point and I'd always notice something that could be tweaked or altered to make it perfect. With a homemade journal like this, I was never going to get it 100% right.
When I was creating my spreads, I didn't want to settle for alright. I wanted perfection and that's pretty hard to achieve. I was measuring boxes to be accurate down to the hundredth of a centimetre (this is how extreme I was going!) and constantly erasing things that didn't look quite like how I'd envisioned them. Although I was pleased with the final spreads, it took too long to get to that point and I'd always notice something that could be tweaked or altered to make it perfect. With a homemade journal like this, I was never going to get it 100% right.
Some Spreads Were Unnecessary
When deciding what spreads I wanted in my bullet journal, I went a bit crazy and overboard. Some of the pages I included were a bucket list, the tracker of all the books I read and a list of things that made me happy. Although all of these were nice additions, none of them were really necessary or could've been fine just on my phone. I spent way too much time making these additional pages look nice, even though I'd hardly use them in my day-to-day life.
When deciding what spreads I wanted in my bullet journal, I went a bit crazy and overboard. Some of the pages I included were a bucket list, the tracker of all the books I read and a list of things that made me happy. Although all of these were nice additions, none of them were really necessary or could've been fine just on my phone. I spent way too much time making these additional pages look nice, even though I'd hardly use them in my day-to-day life.
It's Difficult to Plan Ahead
It's understandable that you won't have time initially to draw out every page and spread for the next 12 months, and this can start to become an issue. Bullet journaling was great for planning in the moment, or for that particular month which was already drawn out, but as soon as I found out the dates for a holiday next summer or important exams in the future, all of this went out the window. There's nowhere to immediately write down these things without drawing out all of the spreads between now and that moment, which I didn't want to do as there may be changes or alterations that I wanted to make in the future. For this reason, I found bullet journaling a lot harder to maintain, especially when considering long-term tasks and goals.
It's understandable that you won't have time initially to draw out every page and spread for the next 12 months, and this can start to become an issue. Bullet journaling was great for planning in the moment, or for that particular month which was already drawn out, but as soon as I found out the dates for a holiday next summer or important exams in the future, all of this went out the window. There's nowhere to immediately write down these things without drawing out all of the spreads between now and that moment, which I didn't want to do as there may be changes or alterations that I wanted to make in the future. For this reason, I found bullet journaling a lot harder to maintain, especially when considering long-term tasks and goals.
I Don't Have Enough to Enter
Although I do have plenty of college-related tasks to keep track of, I don't really have much else apart from that. Particularly in the holidays, I could have weeks with nothing going on and so a blank journal. This was hard to accept with my bullet journal, as I'd just spent lots of time drawing out each spread only to not even use it. Considering the amount of time and effort that was put into setting it up, it just wasn't worth it for only a couple of tasks or to-do lists.
Now that I've shared with you all of the pros and cons of bullet journaling, are you eager to start one or rather give it a miss? I'd love to know all of your thoughts on bullet journaling and also any resolutions to any of the cons I listed, as I'd love to start it again if I solved these issues.
Thanks for reading this post and remember that I'm currently running a giveaway, which will be ending in a week from now (27th November). To enter simply click the link here or check out my previous post. I'll see you next week with a new post, and I hope you're excited as the Christmas content officially begins!
Love from Daisy x
Although I do have plenty of college-related tasks to keep track of, I don't really have much else apart from that. Particularly in the holidays, I could have weeks with nothing going on and so a blank journal. This was hard to accept with my bullet journal, as I'd just spent lots of time drawing out each spread only to not even use it. Considering the amount of time and effort that was put into setting it up, it just wasn't worth it for only a couple of tasks or to-do lists.
Now that I've shared with you all of the pros and cons of bullet journaling, are you eager to start one or rather give it a miss? I'd love to know all of your thoughts on bullet journaling and also any resolutions to any of the cons I listed, as I'd love to start it again if I solved these issues.
Thanks for reading this post and remember that I'm currently running a giveaway, which will be ending in a week from now (27th November). To enter simply click the link here or check out my previous post. I'll see you next week with a new post, and I hope you're excited as the Christmas content officially begins!
Love from Daisy x
Rimmel has recently relaunched one of their most popular mascaras, with the new Scandaleyes Reloaded range being highly anticipated by beauty enthusiasts and bloggers alike. I was lucky enough to be sent this amazing collection - consisting of two mascaras and two eyeliners - and so I couldn't wait to share them on my blog. This post will contain a run-down of the entire collection, including what the products claim to do, my opinions and any other information about them that is worth noting.
But first, I've got an exciting giveaway for you to enter. If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this collection - consisting of two brand new eyeliners and mascaras, then you can simply enter by using the widget below. To enter, you will need to follow my blog on Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin. Once all of these have been carried out, you will unlock further entries, such as tweeting about the giveaway and commenting on a blog post, so there are plenty of ways you can enter and be in with a chance of winning.
This giveaway is only available to UK residents and will be open for 2 weeks, so make sure you enter while you've still got the chance! The winner will be contacted via direct message on Twitter, and if no response is gained after a week and multiple attempts of contacting them, then a new winner will be selected. Good luck to everyone who is entering!
Click the link to enter the giveaway!
Now that you've had the chance to enter the giveaway, keep reading to hear my opinions on these products in the form of a review...
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCANDALEYES RELOADED AND THE ORIGINAL SCANDALEYES?
Although I haven't tried the original Scandaleyes Mascara, I've gathered from the press release that the main difference between these two mascaras is the brush. In the Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascaras, there are hollow, flexible fibres that allow your eyelashes to access the formula at the very core of the brush. The shape has been redesigned to make it smaller and tapered, allowing for more intricate application and ease in reaching each individual lash, which is particularly useful if you have small eyes.
THE CLAIMS
Rimmel claims that this mascara features an innovative formula that allows lashes to look 11 times more voluminous in comparison to regular lashes, whilst still being lengthening and clump-free. Each lash is supposedly plumped, stretched and separated to give an eye-opening yet defined effect. This mascara also boasts its sweat-proof, smudge-proof and humidity-proof formula, meaning it shouldn't budge throughout the day - except for when warm water is used for an ultra-easy removal. This product definitely has some extravagant claims, and so I was really excited to test it out and see if it lived up to them.
PACKAGING AND APPEARANCE
This mascara comes in two shades: Black and Extreme Black, both of which have different packaging. The former's appearance is definitely bold, to say the least. It's vibrant orange casing makes a huge statement, feeling modern and funky, immediately enticing you to try it. The Extreme Black shade comes in sleek, black packaging that makes it easily recognisable and almost mirrors its counterpart. The tube itself is fairly large, being maybe slightly bulky but having a really eye-catching appearance.
The brush is large and tapered, with its original bristles and classic shape really appealing to me. There are no gimmicks in the form of a curved wand or oddly shaped brush, meaning it looks just like you'd expect from an average mascara. The tapering of the tip is a redesigned feature that allows you to easily reach all of your eyelashes and supposedly fits the shape of your eyes better than the original brush.
APPLICATION AND APPEARANCE ON THE LASHES
Something that really impressed me is how the clumpiness of the mascara is minimal, and even after applying numerous coats my lashes will still look fairly defined. I personally like this, as I'm not a huge fan of the clumpy lash look, and it also means you can layer this mascara to your heart's content for some added drama.
I definitely feel as though this mascara isn't as voluminous as it claims to be, although it's still a product that I've loved using. After applying a single coat, my lashes were incredibly defined and looked longer, but there wasn't a huge difference in the ways of volume. I do find that it can be built up for a more dramatic look with a few more coats, but it didn't quite deliver the wow factor that I was expecting.
I feel as though this product is very dependent on how your original lashes are, as I've heard from people who don't have the best lashes that it isn't the best choice for them, whereas other bloggers who already have nice lashes swear by this product. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you're considering this product, but I personally really like how it looks and have used it non-stop over the past few weeks.
DURABILITY, LASTING POWER AND REMOVAL
My favourite element of this mascara is that it truly stays in place throughout the day, and I find that it's entirely intact when I come to remove it of an evening. There's minimal smudging or transfer, even after exercising and rubbing my eyes, and so this mascara definitely achieves a five-star rating in this department.
Removing this mascara is also easy, and I find that a tiny bit of cleanser is all it takes to remove any traces of the product from your lashes. You don't need to tug or rub at your eyes to remove it, as the mascara quickly lifts off your lashes during removal. It's honestly crazy how a product can last so well throughout the day, but when you come to cleanse it removes with ease.
SCANDALEYES RELOADED EYELINERS
With the launch of these mascaras also came two new eyeliners, which I was quite excited for as I'm always on the hunt for a good quality yet affordable liquid liner. There are two different tip styles: The Precision Micro which provides an ultra-thin tip for incredible accuracy; and the Thick and Thin which has a slanted edge enabling you to draw both think and thicker lines, depending on how you hold it. They are supposed to be extremely black and stay put for up to 24 hours, lasting through heat, water, sweat and tears. I have yet to fully try out these products, yet from swatching them on my hand and using them a couple of times it's clear that they don't budge after drying, staying crisp and fresh-looking opposed to flaking away. I definitely feel as though these products have potential, especially for people who aren't liquid liner experts, and so I'm looking forward to experimenting with these more in the future.
OVERALL OPINION
I have to say that I'm a huge fan of these products, especially the mascara which I've been using everyday since being sent this product. I definitely hope that whoever wins the giveaway will also love these products and I can't wait to hear what you think of them.
Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the support, as without it things like giveaways wouldn't be possible. Remember to enter the giveaway within the next two weeks to be in with a chance of winning! I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the support, as without it things like giveaways wouldn't be possible. Remember to enter the giveaway within the next two weeks to be in with a chance of winning! I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Rimmel Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascara and Eyeliners Giveaway and Review
Sunday, November 13, 2016 • Beauty, Makeup
Rimmel has recently relaunched one of their most popular mascaras, with the new Scandaleyes Reloaded range being highly anticipated by beauty enthusiasts and bloggers alike. I was lucky enough to be sent this amazing collection - consisting of two mascaras and two eyeliners - and so I couldn't wait to share them on my blog. This post will contain a run-down of the entire collection, including what the products claim to do, my opinions and any other information about them that is worth noting.
But first, I've got an exciting giveaway for you to enter. If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this collection - consisting of two brand new eyeliners and mascaras, then you can simply enter by using the widget below. To enter, you will need to follow my blog on Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin. Once all of these have been carried out, you will unlock further entries, such as tweeting about the giveaway and commenting on a blog post, so there are plenty of ways you can enter and be in with a chance of winning.
This giveaway is only available to UK residents and will be open for 2 weeks, so make sure you enter while you've still got the chance! The winner will be contacted via direct message on Twitter, and if no response is gained after a week and multiple attempts of contacting them, then a new winner will be selected. Good luck to everyone who is entering!
Click the link to enter the giveaway!
Now that you've had the chance to enter the giveaway, keep reading to hear my opinions on these products in the form of a review...
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCANDALEYES RELOADED AND THE ORIGINAL SCANDALEYES?
Although I haven't tried the original Scandaleyes Mascara, I've gathered from the press release that the main difference between these two mascaras is the brush. In the Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascaras, there are hollow, flexible fibres that allow your eyelashes to access the formula at the very core of the brush. The shape has been redesigned to make it smaller and tapered, allowing for more intricate application and ease in reaching each individual lash, which is particularly useful if you have small eyes.
THE CLAIMS
Rimmel claims that this mascara features an innovative formula that allows lashes to look 11 times more voluminous in comparison to regular lashes, whilst still being lengthening and clump-free. Each lash is supposedly plumped, stretched and separated to give an eye-opening yet defined effect. This mascara also boasts its sweat-proof, smudge-proof and humidity-proof formula, meaning it shouldn't budge throughout the day - except for when warm water is used for an ultra-easy removal. This product definitely has some extravagant claims, and so I was really excited to test it out and see if it lived up to them.
PACKAGING AND APPEARANCE
This mascara comes in two shades: Black and Extreme Black, both of which have different packaging. The former's appearance is definitely bold, to say the least. It's vibrant orange casing makes a huge statement, feeling modern and funky, immediately enticing you to try it. The Extreme Black shade comes in sleek, black packaging that makes it easily recognisable and almost mirrors its counterpart. The tube itself is fairly large, being maybe slightly bulky but having a really eye-catching appearance.
The brush is large and tapered, with its original bristles and classic shape really appealing to me. There are no gimmicks in the form of a curved wand or oddly shaped brush, meaning it looks just like you'd expect from an average mascara. The tapering of the tip is a redesigned feature that allows you to easily reach all of your eyelashes and supposedly fits the shape of your eyes better than the original brush.
APPLICATION AND APPEARANCE ON THE LASHES
Something that really impressed me is how the clumpiness of the mascara is minimal, and even after applying numerous coats my lashes will still look fairly defined. I personally like this, as I'm not a huge fan of the clumpy lash look, and it also means you can layer this mascara to your heart's content for some added drama.
I definitely feel as though this mascara isn't as voluminous as it claims to be, although it's still a product that I've loved using. After applying a single coat, my lashes were incredibly defined and looked longer, but there wasn't a huge difference in the ways of volume. I do find that it can be built up for a more dramatic look with a few more coats, but it didn't quite deliver the wow factor that I was expecting.
I feel as though this product is very dependent on how your original lashes are, as I've heard from people who don't have the best lashes that it isn't the best choice for them, whereas other bloggers who already have nice lashes swear by this product. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you're considering this product, but I personally really like how it looks and have used it non-stop over the past few weeks.
DURABILITY, LASTING POWER AND REMOVAL
My favourite element of this mascara is that it truly stays in place throughout the day, and I find that it's entirely intact when I come to remove it of an evening. There's minimal smudging or transfer, even after exercising and rubbing my eyes, and so this mascara definitely achieves a five-star rating in this department.
Removing this mascara is also easy, and I find that a tiny bit of cleanser is all it takes to remove any traces of the product from your lashes. You don't need to tug or rub at your eyes to remove it, as the mascara quickly lifts off your lashes during removal. It's honestly crazy how a product can last so well throughout the day, but when you come to cleanse it removes with ease.
SCANDALEYES RELOADED EYELINERS
With the launch of these mascaras also came two new eyeliners, which I was quite excited for as I'm always on the hunt for a good quality yet affordable liquid liner. There are two different tip styles: The Precision Micro which provides an ultra-thin tip for incredible accuracy; and the Thick and Thin which has a slanted edge enabling you to draw both think and thicker lines, depending on how you hold it. They are supposed to be extremely black and stay put for up to 24 hours, lasting through heat, water, sweat and tears. I have yet to fully try out these products, yet from swatching them on my hand and using them a couple of times it's clear that they don't budge after drying, staying crisp and fresh-looking opposed to flaking away. I definitely feel as though these products have potential, especially for people who aren't liquid liner experts, and so I'm looking forward to experimenting with these more in the future.
OVERALL OPINION
I have to say that I'm a huge fan of these products, especially the mascara which I've been using everyday since being sent this product. I definitely hope that whoever wins the giveaway will also love these products and I can't wait to hear what you think of them.
Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the support, as without it things like giveaways wouldn't be possible. Remember to enter the giveaway within the next two weeks to be in with a chance of winning! I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Thank you very much for reading this post and for all of the support, as without it things like giveaways wouldn't be possible. Remember to enter the giveaway within the next two weeks to be in with a chance of winning! I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier is a book that I read during the summer, but I knew that I wanted to produce a review on it. All of the novels that I usually talk about are my absolute favourites, getting five-star ratings and endless recommendations. This novel is a bit different - I liked it but I didn't exactly love it. I wanted to produce a review where I could really unpick the novel and carefully select the things I enjoyed and those that I didn't, rather than blindly singing its praises for ten minutes, and so I thought it'd be interesting to share my thoughts on this novel with you.
First published as a German trilogy, Ruby Red was translated into English and soon became a hit with YA readers. This book has received a lot of recognition and has equally been praised, so I was definitely eager to read it. Being a mixture between contemporary, historical fiction and some fantasy, this novel featured all of my favourite genres and elements and so was a recipe for success.
| Synopsis |
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust."
| Characters |
A common feature of young adult fiction is that the main characters are developed and incredibly detailed, whereas secondary characters don't receive as much detailed. I feel as though this was flipped in Ruby Red, with us seeing many different sides to characters, such as Gwyneth's mother and Lesley, whereas Gideon and Gwyneth both seemed quite one-sided in their thoughts and actions. However, I hope that they will develop throughout the trilogy and I'm looking forward to seeing how their characters alter and react when faced with new situations.
Gwyneth is your average 16-year-old girl, quirky and spunky yet with an element of vulnerability. Her character is an exact embodiment of the trope of the main character thinking they're ordinary but aren't, yet for once I actually loved how this was portrayed. Seeing the normality of her life at the start of the novel provided an evident juxtaposition to the time travelling scenes later on. It really helped to show how she was just a young girl thrust into a new world, yet still had to deal with the regularities of life. Despite being the 'chosen one', her character is supposed to be mediocre - her grades are average, she has no particular skills and nothing stands out as being unique or special about her. However, this worked in favour of the storyline, and although I'd usually hate it when the main character is plain and boring, it enhanced the story and its plotline in this case.
Gideon is your typical YA romantic interest, although our main character actually shows more of an anger towards him in the beginning. The budding romance between them is typical and fairly expected, but I quite like how his character was portrayed and the dimension he'll bring to the novel. He came across as quite stubborn and rule-abiding in certain parts of the book, but I'm hoping that his character will loosen up and relax throughout the rest of the trilogy.
Charlotte is the snooty, goody-two-shoes cousin of Gwyneth who is portrayed to be quite jealous and sanctimonious, yet I actually feel quite sorry for her. She had been prepared for time travelling for the entirety of her life, and so to have all of that taken away in an instant - and by her cousin - I can really sympathise for. Despite there being a clear barrier between her and Gwyneth, I hope their relationship develops and they become closer throughout the trilogy, as Charlotte ultimately has all of the knowledge Gwyneth needs to help her.
Time travel was the pivotal element of this novel, yet I felt as though the explanation we were given was somewhat simplified. This definitely helped in terms of understanding it (unlike The Square Root of Summer, for example, which completely lost me with its detailed scientific reasoning behind time travel) but at the same time it felt as though there would've been major repercussions of the actions of both Gideon and Gwyneth that were brushed aside to not complicate the story. For example, the cell phone being used while in a different era would've likely caused a ripple effect and drastically changed both the past and the future, yet these minor elements were completely ignored.
Aside from this, I enjoyed how time travelling was presented throughout the novel. The concept of it being instilled in your DNA is unique and definitely intrigued me, and I loved how more fantasy elements were incorporated into this aspect of the novel to make it seem less scientific and factual. Since Gwyneth was new to the world of time travelling, we got to learn all about it as she did, which helped with understanding and meant that I was never confused. I'd personally love to know a bit more about the history of the device they use, as well as how Isaac Newton was able to calculate the birth dates of the time travellers, but it's possible that these will be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
I found that this novel was a great introduction to the trilogy, providing us with any necessary information and a detailed history that'll hopefully guide us throughout the other books and give us a flavour of what to expect. This book was primarily an exposition, spending a lot of time introducing the characters and premise of the storyline before anything actually happened. This meant that once the action did kick in, we understood everything well. However, at times it did feel as though we were treading water and not making any progress, having to surpass over half of the novel just to get into the main plot and action.
Another great thing about this novel is how any information and concepts that we needed to understand were creatively implemented, unlike in other novels where it can seem to be a droning history essay. Conversations were used often to raise our awareness of the more important features, which I much preferred rather than simply being told the facts. The glimpses of London in different eras were also fascinating, with the elaborate descriptions giving us an interesting insight into how things have changed.
One thing that I'd change about this book is the amount of action and drama within it. Although it was great as an introduction to the world and for providing an insight into the characters and concepts, I wish that more would've happened in relation to the plot progression. The book had a slow, almost leisurely pace, with there being no major dilemmas or much action until the very end. I think that this trilogy would've hugely benefitted from being one large book, as we would've received much more action without having to wait for the next novel, plus I didn't feel as though the cliffhanger was large enough to anticipate an entirely new book. Having said this, I expect that the second and third books in the trilogy will be filled with much more drama and action, considering they don't have to spend time setting up the world and characters, so I'm looking forward to reading these.
I also found that the plot was fairly predictable in places, with the main twist of this novel being quite obvious from the get-go - I even think it was hinted at on the blurb. However, since this twist came so early on, I can guarantee that there'll be more surprising ones littered throughout the rest of the series, hopefully which are less predictable and anticipated.
This book is definitely split between being a historical fiction and a contemporary, with the balance between Gwyneth's regular life and time travelling being perfect. Although there was potential for a more sci-fi approach, I much prefer how this novel handled the topic of time travel, and instead we were presented with much more mystery. There was lots of intrigue and speculation around the different families, societies and all of the history behind what was happening, which definitely attracted me and gave the book an adventure-like feel to it. There were some elements of romance in this novel, but for the most part, they felt forced and only there to fill the criteria rather than to enhance the plot. However, as Gwyneth and Gideon get to know each other better, I'd expect this to develop and be furthered throughout the series.
One thing that I found about this series is that it'd probably be more suitable for a middle-grade audience, despite being labelled as a YA novel, as I found it to be quite young and watered down in places. This definitely isn't entirely negative, as it helped us to see the plot progression much easier and witness what was happening, but it lacked the complexity and challenge that I wanted. A lot of the dialogue between the teenage characters seemed a lot younger and immature, as well as some of the concepts being over-simplified, meaning I feel as though this novel would be appreciated much more than someone who is younger than myself.
In conclusion, I found this book to be a great introduction to the storyline and world of Ruby Red, preparing us for some hopefully exciting twists and revelations. The mystery is still prevalent at the end and so is really intriguing me to read Sapphire Blue, however, I'd hope that it had more action and intrigue than this novel. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're in it for the long-haul, but if you're just wanting a quick read that'll tie up any loose ends, this book may not be for you.
Thank you very much for reading this review and I hope that you enjoyed it! I really enjoy reviewing books so if there are any others that you'd like to see me mention then make sure to let me know down in the comments. I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Charlotte is the snooty, goody-two-shoes cousin of Gwyneth who is portrayed to be quite jealous and sanctimonious, yet I actually feel quite sorry for her. She had been prepared for time travelling for the entirety of her life, and so to have all of that taken away in an instant - and by her cousin - I can really sympathise for. Despite there being a clear barrier between her and Gwyneth, I hope their relationship develops and they become closer throughout the trilogy, as Charlotte ultimately has all of the knowledge Gwyneth needs to help her.
| Time Travel |
Time travel was the pivotal element of this novel, yet I felt as though the explanation we were given was somewhat simplified. This definitely helped in terms of understanding it (unlike The Square Root of Summer, for example, which completely lost me with its detailed scientific reasoning behind time travel) but at the same time it felt as though there would've been major repercussions of the actions of both Gideon and Gwyneth that were brushed aside to not complicate the story. For example, the cell phone being used while in a different era would've likely caused a ripple effect and drastically changed both the past and the future, yet these minor elements were completely ignored.
Aside from this, I enjoyed how time travelling was presented throughout the novel. The concept of it being instilled in your DNA is unique and definitely intrigued me, and I loved how more fantasy elements were incorporated into this aspect of the novel to make it seem less scientific and factual. Since Gwyneth was new to the world of time travelling, we got to learn all about it as she did, which helped with understanding and meant that I was never confused. I'd personally love to know a bit more about the history of the device they use, as well as how Isaac Newton was able to calculate the birth dates of the time travellers, but it's possible that these will be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
| What I Liked |
I found that this novel was a great introduction to the trilogy, providing us with any necessary information and a detailed history that'll hopefully guide us throughout the other books and give us a flavour of what to expect. This book was primarily an exposition, spending a lot of time introducing the characters and premise of the storyline before anything actually happened. This meant that once the action did kick in, we understood everything well. However, at times it did feel as though we were treading water and not making any progress, having to surpass over half of the novel just to get into the main plot and action.
Another great thing about this novel is how any information and concepts that we needed to understand were creatively implemented, unlike in other novels where it can seem to be a droning history essay. Conversations were used often to raise our awareness of the more important features, which I much preferred rather than simply being told the facts. The glimpses of London in different eras were also fascinating, with the elaborate descriptions giving us an interesting insight into how things have changed.
| What I'd Change |
One thing that I'd change about this book is the amount of action and drama within it. Although it was great as an introduction to the world and for providing an insight into the characters and concepts, I wish that more would've happened in relation to the plot progression. The book had a slow, almost leisurely pace, with there being no major dilemmas or much action until the very end. I think that this trilogy would've hugely benefitted from being one large book, as we would've received much more action without having to wait for the next novel, plus I didn't feel as though the cliffhanger was large enough to anticipate an entirely new book. Having said this, I expect that the second and third books in the trilogy will be filled with much more drama and action, considering they don't have to spend time setting up the world and characters, so I'm looking forward to reading these.
I also found that the plot was fairly predictable in places, with the main twist of this novel being quite obvious from the get-go - I even think it was hinted at on the blurb. However, since this twist came so early on, I can guarantee that there'll be more surprising ones littered throughout the rest of the series, hopefully which are less predictable and anticipated.
| Themes |
This book is definitely split between being a historical fiction and a contemporary, with the balance between Gwyneth's regular life and time travelling being perfect. Although there was potential for a more sci-fi approach, I much prefer how this novel handled the topic of time travel, and instead we were presented with much more mystery. There was lots of intrigue and speculation around the different families, societies and all of the history behind what was happening, which definitely attracted me and gave the book an adventure-like feel to it. There were some elements of romance in this novel, but for the most part, they felt forced and only there to fill the criteria rather than to enhance the plot. However, as Gwyneth and Gideon get to know each other better, I'd expect this to develop and be furthered throughout the series.
One thing that I found about this series is that it'd probably be more suitable for a middle-grade audience, despite being labelled as a YA novel, as I found it to be quite young and watered down in places. This definitely isn't entirely negative, as it helped us to see the plot progression much easier and witness what was happening, but it lacked the complexity and challenge that I wanted. A lot of the dialogue between the teenage characters seemed a lot younger and immature, as well as some of the concepts being over-simplified, meaning I feel as though this novel would be appreciated much more than someone who is younger than myself.
| Overall Opinion |
In conclusion, I found this book to be a great introduction to the storyline and world of Ruby Red, preparing us for some hopefully exciting twists and revelations. The mystery is still prevalent at the end and so is really intriguing me to read Sapphire Blue, however, I'd hope that it had more action and intrigue than this novel. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're in it for the long-haul, but if you're just wanting a quick read that'll tie up any loose ends, this book may not be for you.
Thank you very much for reading this review and I hope that you enjoyed it! I really enjoy reviewing books so if there are any others that you'd like to see me mention then make sure to let me know down in the comments. I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier is a book that I read during the summer, but I knew that I wanted to produce a review on it. All of the novels that I usually talk about are my absolute favourites, getting five-star ratings and endless recommendations. This novel is a bit different - I liked it but I didn't exactly love it. I wanted to produce a review where I could really unpick the novel and carefully select the things I enjoyed and those that I didn't, rather than blindly singing its praises for ten minutes, and so I thought it'd be interesting to share my thoughts on this novel with you.
First published as a German trilogy, Ruby Red was translated into English and soon became a hit with YA readers. This book has received a lot of recognition and has equally been praised, so I was definitely eager to read it. Being a mixture between contemporary, historical fiction and some fantasy, this novel featured all of my favourite genres and elements and so was a recipe for success.
| Synopsis |
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust."
| Characters |
A common feature of young adult fiction is that the main characters are developed and incredibly detailed, whereas secondary characters don't receive as much detailed. I feel as though this was flipped in Ruby Red, with us seeing many different sides to characters, such as Gwyneth's mother and Lesley, whereas Gideon and Gwyneth both seemed quite one-sided in their thoughts and actions. However, I hope that they will develop throughout the trilogy and I'm looking forward to seeing how their characters alter and react when faced with new situations.
Gwyneth is your average 16-year-old girl, quirky and spunky yet with an element of vulnerability. Her character is an exact embodiment of the trope of the main character thinking they're ordinary but aren't, yet for once I actually loved how this was portrayed. Seeing the normality of her life at the start of the novel provided an evident juxtaposition to the time travelling scenes later on. It really helped to show how she was just a young girl thrust into a new world, yet still had to deal with the regularities of life. Despite being the 'chosen one', her character is supposed to be mediocre - her grades are average, she has no particular skills and nothing stands out as being unique or special about her. However, this worked in favour of the storyline, and although I'd usually hate it when the main character is plain and boring, it enhanced the story and its plotline in this case.
Gideon is your typical YA romantic interest, although our main character actually shows more of an anger towards him in the beginning. The budding romance between them is typical and fairly expected, but I quite like how his character was portrayed and the dimension he'll bring to the novel. He came across as quite stubborn and rule-abiding in certain parts of the book, but I'm hoping that his character will loosen up and relax throughout the rest of the trilogy.
Charlotte is the snooty, goody-two-shoes cousin of Gwyneth who is portrayed to be quite jealous and sanctimonious, yet I actually feel quite sorry for her. She had been prepared for time travelling for the entirety of her life, and so to have all of that taken away in an instant - and by her cousin - I can really sympathise for. Despite there being a clear barrier between her and Gwyneth, I hope their relationship develops and they become closer throughout the trilogy, as Charlotte ultimately has all of the knowledge Gwyneth needs to help her.
Time travel was the pivotal element of this novel, yet I felt as though the explanation we were given was somewhat simplified. This definitely helped in terms of understanding it (unlike The Square Root of Summer, for example, which completely lost me with its detailed scientific reasoning behind time travel) but at the same time it felt as though there would've been major repercussions of the actions of both Gideon and Gwyneth that were brushed aside to not complicate the story. For example, the cell phone being used while in a different era would've likely caused a ripple effect and drastically changed both the past and the future, yet these minor elements were completely ignored.
Aside from this, I enjoyed how time travelling was presented throughout the novel. The concept of it being instilled in your DNA is unique and definitely intrigued me, and I loved how more fantasy elements were incorporated into this aspect of the novel to make it seem less scientific and factual. Since Gwyneth was new to the world of time travelling, we got to learn all about it as she did, which helped with understanding and meant that I was never confused. I'd personally love to know a bit more about the history of the device they use, as well as how Isaac Newton was able to calculate the birth dates of the time travellers, but it's possible that these will be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
I found that this novel was a great introduction to the trilogy, providing us with any necessary information and a detailed history that'll hopefully guide us throughout the other books and give us a flavour of what to expect. This book was primarily an exposition, spending a lot of time introducing the characters and premise of the storyline before anything actually happened. This meant that once the action did kick in, we understood everything well. However, at times it did feel as though we were treading water and not making any progress, having to surpass over half of the novel just to get into the main plot and action.
Another great thing about this novel is how any information and concepts that we needed to understand were creatively implemented, unlike in other novels where it can seem to be a droning history essay. Conversations were used often to raise our awareness of the more important features, which I much preferred rather than simply being told the facts. The glimpses of London in different eras were also fascinating, with the elaborate descriptions giving us an interesting insight into how things have changed.
One thing that I'd change about this book is the amount of action and drama within it. Although it was great as an introduction to the world and for providing an insight into the characters and concepts, I wish that more would've happened in relation to the plot progression. The book had a slow, almost leisurely pace, with there being no major dilemmas or much action until the very end. I think that this trilogy would've hugely benefitted from being one large book, as we would've received much more action without having to wait for the next novel, plus I didn't feel as though the cliffhanger was large enough to anticipate an entirely new book. Having said this, I expect that the second and third books in the trilogy will be filled with much more drama and action, considering they don't have to spend time setting up the world and characters, so I'm looking forward to reading these.
I also found that the plot was fairly predictable in places, with the main twist of this novel being quite obvious from the get-go - I even think it was hinted at on the blurb. However, since this twist came so early on, I can guarantee that there'll be more surprising ones littered throughout the rest of the series, hopefully which are less predictable and anticipated.
This book is definitely split between being a historical fiction and a contemporary, with the balance between Gwyneth's regular life and time travelling being perfect. Although there was potential for a more sci-fi approach, I much prefer how this novel handled the topic of time travel, and instead we were presented with much more mystery. There was lots of intrigue and speculation around the different families, societies and all of the history behind what was happening, which definitely attracted me and gave the book an adventure-like feel to it. There were some elements of romance in this novel, but for the most part, they felt forced and only there to fill the criteria rather than to enhance the plot. However, as Gwyneth and Gideon get to know each other better, I'd expect this to develop and be furthered throughout the series.
One thing that I found about this series is that it'd probably be more suitable for a middle-grade audience, despite being labelled as a YA novel, as I found it to be quite young and watered down in places. This definitely isn't entirely negative, as it helped us to see the plot progression much easier and witness what was happening, but it lacked the complexity and challenge that I wanted. A lot of the dialogue between the teenage characters seemed a lot younger and immature, as well as some of the concepts being over-simplified, meaning I feel as though this novel would be appreciated much more than someone who is younger than myself.
In conclusion, I found this book to be a great introduction to the storyline and world of Ruby Red, preparing us for some hopefully exciting twists and revelations. The mystery is still prevalent at the end and so is really intriguing me to read Sapphire Blue, however, I'd hope that it had more action and intrigue than this novel. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're in it for the long-haul, but if you're just wanting a quick read that'll tie up any loose ends, this book may not be for you.
Thank you very much for reading this review and I hope that you enjoyed it! I really enjoy reviewing books so if there are any others that you'd like to see me mention then make sure to let me know down in the comments. I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
Charlotte is the snooty, goody-two-shoes cousin of Gwyneth who is portrayed to be quite jealous and sanctimonious, yet I actually feel quite sorry for her. She had been prepared for time travelling for the entirety of her life, and so to have all of that taken away in an instant - and by her cousin - I can really sympathise for. Despite there being a clear barrier between her and Gwyneth, I hope their relationship develops and they become closer throughout the trilogy, as Charlotte ultimately has all of the knowledge Gwyneth needs to help her.
| Time Travel |
Time travel was the pivotal element of this novel, yet I felt as though the explanation we were given was somewhat simplified. This definitely helped in terms of understanding it (unlike The Square Root of Summer, for example, which completely lost me with its detailed scientific reasoning behind time travel) but at the same time it felt as though there would've been major repercussions of the actions of both Gideon and Gwyneth that were brushed aside to not complicate the story. For example, the cell phone being used while in a different era would've likely caused a ripple effect and drastically changed both the past and the future, yet these minor elements were completely ignored.
Aside from this, I enjoyed how time travelling was presented throughout the novel. The concept of it being instilled in your DNA is unique and definitely intrigued me, and I loved how more fantasy elements were incorporated into this aspect of the novel to make it seem less scientific and factual. Since Gwyneth was new to the world of time travelling, we got to learn all about it as she did, which helped with understanding and meant that I was never confused. I'd personally love to know a bit more about the history of the device they use, as well as how Isaac Newton was able to calculate the birth dates of the time travellers, but it's possible that these will be explored in the rest of the trilogy.
| What I Liked |
I found that this novel was a great introduction to the trilogy, providing us with any necessary information and a detailed history that'll hopefully guide us throughout the other books and give us a flavour of what to expect. This book was primarily an exposition, spending a lot of time introducing the characters and premise of the storyline before anything actually happened. This meant that once the action did kick in, we understood everything well. However, at times it did feel as though we were treading water and not making any progress, having to surpass over half of the novel just to get into the main plot and action.
Another great thing about this novel is how any information and concepts that we needed to understand were creatively implemented, unlike in other novels where it can seem to be a droning history essay. Conversations were used often to raise our awareness of the more important features, which I much preferred rather than simply being told the facts. The glimpses of London in different eras were also fascinating, with the elaborate descriptions giving us an interesting insight into how things have changed.
| What I'd Change |
One thing that I'd change about this book is the amount of action and drama within it. Although it was great as an introduction to the world and for providing an insight into the characters and concepts, I wish that more would've happened in relation to the plot progression. The book had a slow, almost leisurely pace, with there being no major dilemmas or much action until the very end. I think that this trilogy would've hugely benefitted from being one large book, as we would've received much more action without having to wait for the next novel, plus I didn't feel as though the cliffhanger was large enough to anticipate an entirely new book. Having said this, I expect that the second and third books in the trilogy will be filled with much more drama and action, considering they don't have to spend time setting up the world and characters, so I'm looking forward to reading these.
I also found that the plot was fairly predictable in places, with the main twist of this novel being quite obvious from the get-go - I even think it was hinted at on the blurb. However, since this twist came so early on, I can guarantee that there'll be more surprising ones littered throughout the rest of the series, hopefully which are less predictable and anticipated.
| Themes |
This book is definitely split between being a historical fiction and a contemporary, with the balance between Gwyneth's regular life and time travelling being perfect. Although there was potential for a more sci-fi approach, I much prefer how this novel handled the topic of time travel, and instead we were presented with much more mystery. There was lots of intrigue and speculation around the different families, societies and all of the history behind what was happening, which definitely attracted me and gave the book an adventure-like feel to it. There were some elements of romance in this novel, but for the most part, they felt forced and only there to fill the criteria rather than to enhance the plot. However, as Gwyneth and Gideon get to know each other better, I'd expect this to develop and be furthered throughout the series.
One thing that I found about this series is that it'd probably be more suitable for a middle-grade audience, despite being labelled as a YA novel, as I found it to be quite young and watered down in places. This definitely isn't entirely negative, as it helped us to see the plot progression much easier and witness what was happening, but it lacked the complexity and challenge that I wanted. A lot of the dialogue between the teenage characters seemed a lot younger and immature, as well as some of the concepts being over-simplified, meaning I feel as though this novel would be appreciated much more than someone who is younger than myself.
| Overall Opinion |
In conclusion, I found this book to be a great introduction to the storyline and world of Ruby Red, preparing us for some hopefully exciting twists and revelations. The mystery is still prevalent at the end and so is really intriguing me to read Sapphire Blue, however, I'd hope that it had more action and intrigue than this novel. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're in it for the long-haul, but if you're just wanting a quick read that'll tie up any loose ends, this book may not be for you.
Thank you very much for reading this review and I hope that you enjoyed it! I really enjoy reviewing books so if there are any others that you'd like to see me mention then make sure to let me know down in the comments. I'll see you next Sunday with a new post, so goodbye for now!
Love from Daisy x
I enjoy sharing elements of my life here on Daisies and Delights and documenting some of my events and achievements, making a change from the usual content about beauty and books. Various things have happened over the past couple of months that I really wanted to share, so I decided to create this post to update you on what's happening in my life right now, as well as to give you an insight into who I am behind my blog, so I hope you enjoy reading it.
STARTING COLLEGE
DANCE COMPETITION
Both routines went surprisingly well and we performed them with little-to-no mistakes, despite such a limited time learning and rehearsing them. At awards, it was announced that our mixed-genre group got 1st place in its category, and our lyrical group also got 1st place in its category. The icing on top of the cake was when the lyrical group received 3rd place overall out of all of the groups, which was an amazing achievement. Above you can see the trophies that we won, which are definitely impressive and are a token of how much hard work went into the routines.
BLOGGER MAIL
BRONZE ARTS AWARD
DRAMA EXAM
Thank you for reading this post and if you liked hearing about myself and what's going on in my life, make sure to let me know. I enjoy writing more laid-back, chatty posts like this one so I can definitely produce more in the future if it's something you'd like to see. As I mentioned earlier, I have a giveaway coming up very shortly, most likely next Sunday, so make sure you come back to check out that!
Love from Daisy x
I enjoy sharing elements of my life here on Daisies and Delights and documenting some of my events and achievements, making a change from the usual content about beauty and books. Various things have happened over the past couple of months that I really wanted to share, so I decided to create this post to update you on what's happening in my life right now, as well as to give you an insight into who I am behind my blog, so I hope you enjoy reading it.
STARTING COLLEGE
DANCE COMPETITION
Both routines went surprisingly well and we performed them with little-to-no mistakes, despite such a limited time learning and rehearsing them. At awards, it was announced that our mixed-genre group got 1st place in its category, and our lyrical group also got 1st place in its category. The icing on top of the cake was when the lyrical group received 3rd place overall out of all of the groups, which was an amazing achievement. Above you can see the trophies that we won, which are definitely impressive and are a token of how much hard work went into the routines.
BLOGGER MAIL
BRONZE ARTS AWARD
DRAMA EXAM
Thank you for reading this post and if you liked hearing about myself and what's going on in my life, make sure to let me know. I enjoy writing more laid-back, chatty posts like this one so I can definitely produce more in the future if it's something you'd like to see. As I mentioned earlier, I have a giveaway coming up very shortly, most likely next Sunday, so make sure you come back to check out that!
Love from Daisy x
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