May Favourites

 

Murano Glass Bracelet from Venice

 

Firstly I have been loving this cute little bracelet from Venice! I received this gem from my parents when they went earlier this month, it was made on one of the small islands just off the shores of Venice where they are famous for glass making. A light blue thread fills the glass alongside scatters of bronze glitter, really making the bracelet breath taking.

 

 

If I stay| Where She Went By Gayle Forman

 

I have recently been getting back into reading before I go bed, and what better way to start off by reading 'If I stay', you might recognise the title from the popular film which is based on this best seller. The sequel of the book called 'Where She Went' is just as good but from a different perspective than the one in the first book. Both good reads, filled with love, passion, tragedy and reality.

 

 

YSL Lip Shimmer

 

Now, I purchased this gem last year on holiday and it has always been a firm favourite in my 'going out' makeup look. The lipstick itself is creamy and smooth, not leaving your lips dry and chapped looking like some, which I like. The colour is girly and wearable for any occasion and outfit with a hint of shimmer throughout. YSL produce many shades and colours which I why I suggest you go and find they best colour for you!

 

 

Bath Cosmetics Soap

 

These two soap bars from Bath Cosmetics are seriously heavenly. The dark pink on the left smells fruity and delicious and the multi coloured one on the right has a more perfumed fragrance. The plus sides of bar soaps, other than smelling nice, is that they literally last FOREVER! I have had the one on the left for over a year now and it still has hardly gone down, great buy and use of money!

 

 

LUSH| Mask of Magnaminty

 

I purchased this skin care product a little over 3 months ago and it has worked a treat. Usually I am too scared to try any other products than that I know on my skin as I have always had bad reactions because my skin is really sensitive, however I brought this. The thing that drew me to the product was the smell! My goodness! It smells fresh and minty, which is my favourite scent! Mint is also very good for skin and this thick mask really scrubs into pores, leaving your face feeling much softer and cleaner!

 

 

Daisy Dream| Marc Jacobs

 

Okay, so finally is the very famous and popular scent from Marc Jacobs. I received this perfume as a gift this Christmas and it has become my every day scent. It smells heavenly, fresh and fruity, the packaging is girly and delicate which totally suits my room décor! A fab scent for summer time!

 

Dealing with Exam Stress

Hello there! This post is focussing on anyone who has upcoming exams, whether that may be GCSE's, ALevels or others, I hope these tips will help you like they helped me last year. Last year I did my GCSE exams, which in the UK are main end of high school exams which determine what you can go onto next, educational wise. 

1. Organise

One of the most important things in achieving your goals, whether it is that C or an A* is planning your time wisely. The reason why I stress this is because you need to have a balance. A balance of work, social life and your own time. For instance a month leading up to the exams I wrote out a time table for me to follow out of school hours. This time table focused on the most current exams and/ or the exams I found hardest like science and maths. However my time table also allows me time to spend with my friends and family, so I did not go insane and time for myself, whether it was a walk or reading a book. 

2. Note Taking

As I am sure many of your teachers will stress that it is important to take notes for later revision. However what I found whilst I was at high school was that they did not encourage me to find a method that suited me best. Whether you like a spider diagram, lists, post-it notes or flash card, USE IT. Use the method you find helpful as everyone is different. I personal found that flash cards and speaking about certain subject e.g.e World War 2 for History helped me remember the kept points. Using different coloured pens and highlighters to make it more interesting also.

3. Maintain your health

It is very easy to get caught up in revision and stress during this tough time, however the only way you can really achieve these exams is by maintaining your health. Eat a well- balanced diet with lots of fruit and veg to keep energy levels up and drink lots of water to keep you from dozing off in lesson! Also sleep is really crucial, I would suggest to go to sleep around about 10 pm, that way you should get enough time for waking up at 7am or whatever time in the morning for you to function. If you have trouble sleeping then reading, writing a diary or even taking herbal tablets help.

4. Good Hobbies

I found that doing hobbies each week helped me greatly as it kept my anxiety down as well as stress. My hobbies include baking, I LOVE to bake, whether it's a cake or a pudding, it was a de-stresser for me. I also kept a diary to write all my emotions down when things got too much. One thing I would deeply suggest doing the night before an exam, before you go to sleep, is Yoga. Yoga is a great way of building your inner core as well as relaxing you. I had trouble sleeping, so by doing 20 minutes of Yoga each night really relaxed me whilst keeping fit. 

Lastly, Good luck with your exams, stay calm, cool and collected :)

-Amy

When in Paris| Day 3&4

Day 3| Eiffel Tower & Louvre 

After an amazing two days in Paris I was excited on Wednesday, once again we woke up bright an early, greeted by a selection of plain croissants and chocolate one's from the local super market. Alongside it was jam, orange juice and peppermint tea. Despite the weather being rather cold it was sunny which is always good when walking outside and taking pictures of famous landmarks in Paris!

The first stop we went to was the Eiffel Tower, it is HUGE! If you have seen it before you will realise why it is such an iconic sight, it's amazingly structured! 

We were lucky enough to skip the hour long queue's to go up the Eiffel Tower by pre booking our tickets months in advance, so we ended up only waiting for 10 minutes! At the top of the Tower you can see over the whole of Paris and it's cute little Parisian streets, the sunlight truly makes the pictures seem extra special.

 Once again the Louvre is stunning, the whole building is massive which incredible design's and layouts alongside the famous glass triangle in the centre. Inside were masses of art and sculptures from around the globe at various decades. I was lucky enough to see the Mona Lisa!

That night we walked back along the streets leading up to the Eiffel Tower and popped into a nearby restaurant where we all indulged in a huge burger and chips. As it was our final night in Paris we took a quick stroll to the base of the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up at night once more before it glittered at 10 pm!

Day 4| Patisserie & home

After packing for home we went once again for a stroll to the nearby cafe that sold us the most amazing croissants and tea! We timed the weather well as it was raining heavily throughout the morning which made me the excuse to venture in some of the local shops. I brought my first ever macaroons from a Hotel shop and they even made it through the flight home with no breakages! When the weather had cleared we walked towards the Eiffel Tower again and stopped in a patisserie shop which had a selection of pretty treats including Easter cakes! I chose a raspberry and chocolate mousse cake which I ate at the base of the Tower under a little shelter to stop me getting soaked by the rain!

Afterwards it was time for home with a final goodbye of the Eiffel Tower and the scary ride around the Arc De Triumph which is seriously so life threatening! 

Overall it was a splendid trip after such a tough start to the year. 

When in Paris

Day 1| Travelling

On Monday morning we mainly spent the day travelling from Cheshire to Paris on the plane, we got our first glimpse of the amazing apartment we were staying in. It was decorated beautifully with views of the Eiffel Tower from the living room and kitchen alongside numerous French doors with pretty Juliet balconies. For the remainder of the day we went on a nice stroll around the Eiffel Tower which was only a 5 minute walk away before searching for something to eat.

 We found a little Italian Restaurant near the arc de triomph where we all indulged in pizza! Afterwards we did take another walk up the main road to see the arc de triompth lit up at night. My goodness it was stunning! The detail of the arch was crazy and everywhere was lit up making the scene more magical than in the day! After a walk around the arch we walked back to our apartment which was a good 30 minute walk away and was taken away by a glittering Eiffel Tower! You may be like me and not know that the Eiffel Tower glittered with thousands of lights on each hour for 5 minutes from 8pm- 12pm, it feel's like Christmas and truly magical! 

Day 2| Religious Day

We woke up bright and early to have a stroll down a market street 5 minutes from where we were staying, we came across a cute little Cafe which sold typical French breakfast including Croissant, Jam, Bread rolls, orange juice and tea/ coffee. It was delicious as the pastries were fresh and warm from across the road and we were greeted by regulars drinking their morning coffee! Afterwards we risked the tube which is like the London Underground, we took a short journey to the Sacre- Coeur, which is a breathtaking cathedral placed on top of a hill giving you great views of Paris.

 Inside it's white exterior was silence, everyone was quiet as you walked around the Cathedral taking in the amazing stain glassed windows. I lit a candle for more granddad who passed away last month and prayed for his peace. Outside was windy and rather cold so we took a departure to find some food, we found a tiny hole in the wall,a walk from the Cathedral which sold the biggest baguettes ever and sat in a nearby bench.

After we then got back on the tube and went to the Notre Dame, which again was a breath taking cathedral, however so different in comparison to the Sacre- Coer, it was a Medieval style Church which appeared very dark inside. I loved how the stain glass windows shone even more through the darkness and the carved stone work on the outside was impressive. 

Haute Couture | Elie Saab

Elie Saab

Elie Saab otherwise known as ES is a famous fashion Designer. He is known best for creating beautiful, glamorous dresses which have featured many catwalks, including the Haute Couture this SS/ collection. I personally love how each dress has significant details, patterned and a very natural colour. I also love how the models were styled, with flowing hair in loose curls and a dramatic eye make-up. What was your favourite dress? Mine is the third one you will see below, I love the pale grey with pretty jewels attached. 

My Battle| Panic Attacks

Today's blog post is going to be completely different from my usual, happy and positive thinking one's, because it is about Anxiety. Anxiety, I feel, has been a huge topic over the past few years, people are becoming more aware of what it is and how it can be helped. More celebrities are opening up about their experiences with anxiety, for instance, the popular YouTuber, Zoella, has highlighted her Anxiety story for years through blog posts, Youtube and now her book. This has only made me more eager to share my story. Everyone has a different story and I hope this can help at least one of you lovely people reading learn how to cope with panic attacks. 

My Story

It started when I was in school, during GCSE Mocks in year 10, I was just turning 15 years old when I had my first known panic attack in form time. I say 'known', because I knew I have had many other attacks before hand, however just brushed them off as a sickness bug, because I never fully understood what 'Anxiety' and 'Panic Attacks' were back then. But this day it hit me bad, I felt like I was dying, literally, I had all the teachers running around after me with cups of water and tissues, with my mum on the phone instantly. 

After that day things did change, my school was so supportive of me, including my friends and family. I had a weekly Councillor which helped me break down this barrier of emotion I put between myself and others, I was finally opening up about how I felt. Things gradually got better and with time I learnt how to deal with my attacks, which happened mostly at school due to stress of exams. But I made it. 

This time last year however I took a turn for the worst, with actual GCSE exams in the loom my stress and anxiety was rising. I started having panic attacks nearly every day, I skived school to get away from it all and had endless nights of crying. I started my exam period in a nervous state,which soon turned to me zoning out. But again I made it, and so can you. 

Here are some tips and tricks I have learnt for panic attacks:

1. Breathe.

Whatever you do, remember to breathe, Not short breathes, but long deep ones where you can feel air sinking into your ribs and out again. A breath should last a good 3 seconds before you ex hail, honestly after doing this for a few minutes you will feel calmer as your blood will be circulating properly. 

2. Position yourself

If you are sitting down, straighten your back, relax your shoulders and have your arms and hands resting on your knees, facing up wards. It's a form of meditation, slowly relax your fingers and hands, you can do this with or without your eyes closed, whatever suits you best.

3. Take yourself to your happy place

A technique which always works for me is, when your are in the correct position, with slow deep breathes, take your mind else where. Think of a past event that made you happy, it may be a festival, a holiday or a walk in the park. Think of that place. Picture yourself being there. For me it was always the beach, I imagine the sound of the crashing waves, the salty sea breeze through my hair and the sand in-between my toes. Picture it. 

4. The rainbow after the storm

It could take 10 or 30 minutes, but hopefully this technique will help prevent a panic attack when it strikes you. You will still feel tired and maybe even sick after that Anxiety storm, however it's better than the actual thing, right?

I hope this strategy helps at least one of you in a time of need, just remember you are not alone, many people suffer from panic attacks for so many reasons, be the rainbow, not the cloud. 

The Paris Guide

In a few months I am heading to the beautiful city of Paris. Popular for the famous, fashion, food and sights, here's a selection of things to visit, if you're planning a trip to the vintage city. 

The Louvre 

The Lourve is one of the most popular destinations in central Paris, being one of the worlds largest museum, it holds the famous painting the 'Mona Lisa'. However many other beautiful artefacts and paintings are held there, from vintage to modern day, a real taste of art. Book a tour or walk around by yourself, capturing the true beauty. You will see a handful of different cultures from Morocco too African, it's your choice what you see. 

Mona Lisa

Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Cathedral is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris, the authentic building looks just as beautiful on the inside than the out, with impressive arches and beautiful stain glass windows. Whether you are a catholic or not, the cathedral is a must. It is nicknamed 'our lady' which refers to the virgin Mary.

Inside the Notre Dame

Eiffel Tower

Of course this would not be a complete Paris post without the iconic Eiffel Tower, the landscape mark of Paris. The structure is positioned in the centre of Paris, giving you a full 360 degrees view of the surrounding area, advice to go on a clear sky day to avoid the clouds blocking your view! Why not walk up it?  

Traditional Parisian Cafe

Cafe De La Paix

Whether it's a random one on the street or one of the most popular ones like, Le Select, you can not beat a Paris cafe. From pastries like croissants and cakes to delicacies like macaroons, washed down with tea or coffee, would be the ideal afternoon treat before hitting the next hot spot! Cafe De Le Paix ranked the best cafe in Paris for it's mosaic tiled flooring, list of celebrity visits and history since 1975. 

Inside Cafe De La Paix

As always

Amy