Christmas Wishlist '14

Hey,

I thought I would put together a few things I have been lusting over, and wouldn't mind finding under the tree this Christmas! 

H&M Parka | Benefit Sweet Tintations | Starbucks Cocoa Duo Set 

Ted Baker Beauty Bag  | Real Techniques Nic's Picks

Sarah x

Positivity Wednesday #1

Hey,

I thought I would do a little series of positivity quotes. We all need a little boost once in a while and as I'm getting so close to the end of my course the stress and negativity is starting to show. 

(source)

Such a simple quote that can have so much meaning!  

Sarah x

D is for Dissertation!!

Hey,

As a 3rd year this is a scary word and is rarely said! Even writing this is making me feel stressed just thinking about it but I thought it would be the best time to do it as you will get a true insight into what it takes to do one! 

I have to do a 8000 word literature review. 

I had thought of my topic before coming into 3rd year as I knew I wanted to do something neonate based but this got changed due to not being able to narrow it down enough. I now have my topic and I'm crossing everything that I don't have to change it again. The one thing to remember when you do it is that every supervisor wants something slightly different so it's very difficult to talk about it with friends because their supervisor may want something done in a different way and it gets extremely confusing and you start doubting yourself.

It's all about pleasing your supervisor.

The longest part of this whole thing is getting all the information to write it and in my eyes is the most stressful but mine is finally starting to come together and with the first section of 500 words done its a massive weight lifted! 

The main thing with this is organisation; get yourself organised from the beginning!! 

This is something that takes up a lot of your life for 6 months so priorities your time well and before you know it will be done....I'm hoping!

Sarah x 

Makeup Bag Treasures!!

Hey, 

Over the past few months I have been experimenting with products; finding out what I like and what I don't and making my everyday makeup bag full of products I would be happy to see when I'm in a rush. When I say rush I mean when I have slept to much and I'm going to have to sacrifice something to get out the door on time!

Base - I have tried so many primers it's ridiculous, but I think I have found one which I will be repurchasing time and time again. The No7 Beautifully Matte Base works a treat at keeping my oily skin at bay!

Foundation - I have picked Revlon ColorStay as my foundation for many reasons! The main one being I can miss out on powder. For someone with VERY oily skin but very sensitive this is my favourite. I never have time to do a full skincare routine in the morning so use cleansing wipes. I have been using hypoallergenic ones but still I'm red faced and this is just the right coverage to hide it in a hurry! 

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection every time! For no other reason than the coverage. 

Blush - Rimmel Lasting Finish Mono Blush. I love this blush as you can't really go wrong with it. I don't have time to be correcting clown cheeks when I have 2 minutes to get out the door. 

Brows - Now this isn't always used; it really depends on the time I have but if I was to open my bag in a hurry and I had time I want to see Makeup Revolutions Brow Kit. This is a great product and has everything I want in one place including a mirror to get up close so I can see what I'm doing. 

Eyeshadow - I wear eye shadow on a daily basis so to save hassle on choosing what to shade; I like them all in one place. This Makeup Revolution Salvation What You Waiting For palette is perfect with 18 shades to pick from and the stay power cant be faulted!

Mascara - My mascara has to be waterproof but I'm not a very loyal when it comes to mascara; I don't think I have ever actually repurchased a mascara straight after it has ran out! I'm currently using Maybelline Great Lash which is very good value for money! 

Powder and lip sticks are applied on the go

Sarah x

My Skincare Routine!

Now I'm one for trying new products when I have finished one so its not very often I will repurchase a product in the skincare department. Currently I think I may have found some real dems that will stay in my routine until I  need a switch up so I thought I will share with you what I'm currently using.

Both my morning and evening routines are pretty much the same other than how I cleanse my face. At night I really cleanse my face well with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for Oily Sensitive Skin (see what I thought of it in this post). I tend to cleanse once to remove my makeup and then a second time to make sure my face is squeaky clean. In the mornings I just use the Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes (also spoke about here). 

I then use the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ which for my skin has worked its magic. My skin was quite spotty on the jaw line which I could never get rid of; now I have. This will stay in my routine until they take it off the shelf because I did go without it a few weeks back and I was getting the odd spot come back. I'm also one of them people who get spots when they are stressed and that has not been happening either so I have a very fond love for this skincare staple.

I then have two moisturisers. Good Things Manuka Honey Daily Moisturiser in the morning and Olay Double Action Night Cream for the evening. For me a moisturiser is a moisturiser and I'm sure I will wont to try something these before I think about buy these again but I do really like them; I just haven't seen them do anything that other ones I have tried have done.

Finally its the lips. For me one of the most important part of this routine is the lips because I wear lipstick on a daily basis but have very dry flaky lips (ew..). I'm currently using Blistex Intensive Moisturiser which is quite thick so is good at bedtime and the Elemis Loving Lips Quenching Lip Balm which I find works great in the morning just before I apply my lipstick.  

My eye makeup remover of choice is the Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Make-up Remover. I first tried this about a year ago and have since tried others but I just keep coming back to this one. I do only use it on the eyes as I don't like putting the oil all over my face but it works amazing on waterproof mascara as it brings it off in seconds.

Sarah x

My Thoughts on 3rd Year

Hey

I still get a funny feeling in my belly every time i think I'm in 3rd year. Everything about it is very surreal. I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park but golly me, I didn't realise it was going to be as challenging as it is. Or should I say sounds, as I have I'm only 3 weeks in!

Stressed?!
We had to go into university for a couple of hours before starting back full time, for what was like a introduction type lecture and golly me, I came out wanting to pull my hair out and that was before starting any proper seminars. All assignments are no less than 1500 words which doesn't seem much but I also need to do as much as my dissertation before starting placement as I possibly can, with an 2 exams thrown in there to make it that little bit more interesting.

Workload 
8000 word literature review (dissertation)
1500 assignment (reflection)
1500 assignment (reflect on learning plan)
Maths exam
Partially seen exam (2.5 hours)
2 placements (12 weeks each)

I can now start to see the end of what has been a stressful but enjoyable 3 years. I don't feel ready to qualify so the feeling is quite scary.

Sarah x

This Month I've Been Loving - September '14

I haven't done one of these for what feels like forever but these are just what I have been loving this month in the beauty department.

Makeup Revolution Eye Shadow Palettes (first link here) (second link here) - I have purchased both of these this month and love them dearly. The first one I picked up was their Salvation palette in What You Waiting For?. This is made up of 18 neural shades; 12 shimmer and 6 matte. The second is their Redemption palette in Iconic 3 which is meant to be the dupe for Urban Decays Naked 3 palette. These shadows just apply to the eye with easy, blend well and stay put all day. Winner for me.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifing Foaming Gel (link here) - This is a magic potion in a bottle for me. I have very sensitive skin but it is also quite oily. Most of the products I have come across in the past that target oily skin cause my skin to become angry looking and very sore. I came across this product when I wanted to try something a little higher in the drugstore price range and I'm so glad I paid what I did. I use this mainly at night and whenever I'm in the shower. As it is free of all the nasties it helps my oily skin while making my skin soft without upsetting it. Love, love, love!  

Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes (link here)- I cant remember whose YouTube video I was watching but these were lovely wipes were mentioned and I remember thinking to myself 'I must pick some of these up' and are now currently playing a big part in my morning skincare routine. They make my skin so soft and ready for the day that I now think these may be a permanent staple in skincare cupboard.

Hair Bun Accessory - Now I cant find this on their website but its from H&M for £2.99 if anyone wants to grab one. I have used this every day since I have had it because I'm quite lazy when it comes to my hair and the quicker its done the better. I came across this when I was in the queue to buy something else and thought 'what the hell is this' . It came with picture instructions which showed that it was for a bun so put it in my basket. I have really long hair which means when I used a normal bun ring I have a load of hair I have to wrap around which I hate; this stops that. You basically put your hair up in a normal pony then thread it through the gap in the middle, spread it and roll it up then bend it into a bun shape like i have done in the picture. Takes 2 mins and uses like 2-3 bobby pins! What a dream!

Sarah x

Its All About The Stationary!

Cant believe its that time again.  I'm off to begin university for the final time so of course I wanted pretty stationary that I'm going to love using.

Stationary makes me very happy and so I have been collecting since the beginning of August because I just couldn't resist any longer. As I'm going into my 3rd year I feel it's very important for me to be as organised as possible, which in day to day life I can find quite hard as I a 'go with the flow' kinda person.

One thing I do do is take pride in my folders. They will be living on a bookshelf once I am done and I want to be able to open them and not be horrified by the the mess that they are in. That was how I reasoned spending extra on these Cath Kidston lever arch folders.

Although there are a lot of pricey brands amongst the mix and you may think to your self is it all necessary. The answer is I saved on a big chunk of them as they were mostly on offer when I purchased. I shopped all over the place and picked them up when i knew I wouldn't get them cheaper.

What a bargain hunter I am!

Sarah x

A Day Well Spent!

Hey

I'm sat here on this lovely Sunday morning watching a boxset with my laptop on my lap thinking to myself; there is no better moment to have a ramble on my blog to you guys. I'm currently going through my annual disorganised period where my life becomes chaotic as I prepare to go back to uni. So although I have so many posts I want to do; I come to my boyfriends without my iPad which has all the pictures on.  

Yesterday me and my great friend went to Birmingham for an open day at Birmingham Childrens Hospital. Its crazy to think that in April I will be applying for jobs. As I'm from the Midlands but train in Buckinghamshire, I felt it was really important that I get my face known up here if I want a job up here. We were a little quick to the mark and couldn't be interviewed because we haven't started 3rd year yet, it was a great opportunity to have a look around and get a feel for the place. We were also given a great chunk of time to chat with staff from the different departments and although I want Neonates, it was nice to here what other areas offer to their their newly qualified nurses. 

I am only from down the road but I don't drive and I don't think I will enjoy the commute everyday so it was great to find out about the nurses accommodation options available and as many hospitals don't offer nurses accommodation so it was music to my ears when I knew this hospital did. 

If your going into your final year, get yourself out there and go and have a look. 

It wont be a wasted day. 

Sarah x

Where Has The Time Gone? - End of Year 2!

Hey,

It feels like 5 minutes ago I was writing one of these posts but that was a year ago; I'm not quite sure I like how fast time is going. In a months time, I will go to board and will be known as a 3rd year student nurse...crazy!!

I went in to 2nd year expecting it to be a tough year as that was what I was told. That was such a lie as it was actually a really enjoyable time. Don't get me wrong I had my stressed out, hair pulling moments but nothing like I was expecting. I had the best placements I have had in the 2 years and my exam result just proved that I'm capable of  a lot more that I give myself credit for.

My one big stress this year was my accommodation. You may have read the posts I had wrote about some of the issue but I'll fill you in anyway. It started with my 2nd year house falling through as it wasn't ready in time and franticly searching for a new place. Found one which sounded and looked amazing in pictures but turned out to be the opposite. I went to view the place to see that it too was not ready but was told it would be before move in day. Move in day came and it still wasn't! A few weeks later when it was ok to move in I started to have problems with my room. These problems were water leaks coming from the flat above every time they had a shower. I spent my entire tenancy complaining and all they did was paint over it for it to then come back. Lets just say I will never recommend the company to anyone I know.

The academic side of the course is not my forte as I have never been the brightest kid in the class but this course has tough me how I learn best so I'm improving as the time goes on. To start the year off I had to do a presentation on a public health issue. I chose smoking as it is something I am passionate about especially as I'm doing children's nursing and passive smoking is worse than smoking yourself. That went ok but we were not given enough time at all as there is so much to cover. That was followed by an assignment which was a critic on a research article. This amazed me as we were told it was very hard but once I had wrote all my notes it was very easy to put together. The assignment was due in as the exam was due to be sit so this was a real hair pulling time but both came with great grades and that's all I ask for.

After the exam I had a few days to pull myself back to reality and it was straight into placement. My first placement was a general ward which looking back wasn't my favourite but while I was there I thought it was great. I had an assignment which needed writing during my first and second placement so I got a lot of that done on night shifts to help the heavy eyes which happened every time I sat down. My second placement came health visiting which every 2nd year has to do. I loved this placement mainly because the ladies as they were just so lovely in the office and working 9-5 was a novelty. My final placement was on a neonatal unit and I could talk about this placement so much but I wont bore you to much. I'll just say it is where I want to be when I qualify. I knew from previous ward placements that babies were my favourite patients and having a whole unit of them just made me very happy and I felt at home. I also had the greatest mentor who knew I was good at what I do and knew I knew my own limits so I was able to do everything you are allowed to as a student. Of course there are a few things like IVs that that you have to be qualified to do, but there was always something else to do while these sort of things where being done so I didn't really feel like a student as I always had something to do and was trusted to do it all by myself.

Overall, 2nd year has been great and I'm looking forward to 3rd year as this time next year, this chapter of my life will be over and I will be starting a new one as a qualified nurse.

Sarah x

 

The Summer Tag!

Hey,

Now I know this tag my be a little behind everyone elses but when better to do it then when we are going through a British heatwave! I was tagged to do this by Carol over at Carol Clarke Blogs.

1.  What's your favourite thing about Summer?

How light it still is at 10pm! 

2.  Do you have a favourite Summer drink?

Anything cold!! I wouldn't say I have a favourite drink but a cold lemonade wouldn't go a miss. 

3.  Is there a location you like to go to each Summer?

A beautiful lake somewhere. I love fishing and the summer is my favourite time to do it. 

4.  Favourite makeup look for Summer?

Very minimum makeup! Dr Jart BB cream is my go to product and then a bit of blush and mascara. 

5.  Dresses or skirts?

Dresses 100%! Although I wouldn't go for a maxi dress when we are in a heatwave as I need my legs out. 

6.  Sandals or ballet pumps?

Flip Flops? I don't wear ballet pumps 98% of the year and sandals can take so long to put on with their silly buckle! My summer wardrobe needs to be easy to wear and that includes the shoes. 

7.  Do you prefer to wear your hair up or down for Summer?

Up! my hair is down to my hips and is very thick. Its unbearable in the heat but its solved with top knot. 

8.  Deep smokey eyes or bold lips?

Bold lips! MAC Girl About Town is my go to this time of year. 

9.  Favourite perfume for Summer?

Can we just call this, favourite summer scent? If so then I would say Soap and Glory Mist You Madly! I love floral scents all year around. 

10.  Last but not least, favourite music for Summer?

I have a thing for 90's music in the summer. All the old classics that I grew up to listening to in the car. 

Sarah x

Bedroom DIY!

Hey

I have wanted to add splashes of colour into my room for about a year since painting it cream, but with being away at uni 80% of the year it has been a slow process! I don't want to spend to much money on it so I'm trying to think of ideas for DIY projects I can do when I'm at home. This one is the first which I did while home for Easter.

What I used:

• Canvas - These were from B&M and cost a whole £2.99 for 4; BARGAIN!! I have only used 3 because of where I want to put them in my room but for the price, I wasn't to bothered about not using one of them.  
• Magazines - I seem to collect these without even knowing about it.  
• PVA Glue - I purchased this from The Range for £1. It's a great glue bottle as you don't have to pour it out to make sure you don't get massive blobs of glue where you don't want them.
• Paint Brush - Who doesn't have one of these laying around in the house!  

When I cut pictures out of magazines I don't just go for beauty items; I like having models on them and anything that looks like it could be used but make sure there is no prices or writing over them! I also just cut out until I get bored. I find being creative and hands on with a little project therapeutic so I managed to get plenty with some left over, which is always nice to have so you are not restricted to use pictures that don't quite go with what is already on there. 

Once cut out, I start to lay them out on the canvases to get a feel for them and move pictures around until I'm happy with what is in front of me. When happy I glue; trying to move as little pictures as possible. My trick for this is to take pictures of them on a phone, so there is always something to refer back to if you sneeze and they go flying. 

This DIY really does add colour and would be perfect in a beauty room, if your lucky enough to have one!

Sarah x 

Whats Caught My Eye! #1

Hey

Over the past couple of months, I have picked up some goodies. I'm the type of girl that goes out and gets stuff because I think I may need it soon but normally that's not actually the case. Lately i have been in a weird buying mood and have only brought stuff when i have actually ran out of something and have brought products i have not tried before.

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector

This is a new and exciting product for me, as anything to help with dry hand is golden to me and I'm willing to try new products I have been recommended. Normally I will carry a Soap and Glory Hand Food mini in my pocket on placement but it ran out and when I went to repurchase, I was in the mood for something I hadn't tried before. When I picked this up, I went in for the small 30ml as it would fit lovely in my pocket but the big 100ml was the same price so picked it up; would have been silly not to!

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Velvety Soft Toner

I love trying different toners. I don't think I have actually repurchased a toner yet as there are so many out there on the market. This is lovely as it has a thicker consistency than just the average toner has so I'm excited to test it out.

Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray 

Everyone should own a tin of this beautiful product. I wanted it because I heard it was the dupe for the Oribe Dry Texturing Spray, but also because as my hair has got longer it has got curler and I want something that will allow me to embrace my hair without using any heat tools. I have used it a couple of times and so far I'm really impressed

P.S. Love Your Skin Gentle Cleansing Wipes 

I have started to use face wipes in my morning skincare routine as I just don't have the time to wash my face with my cleansing system in the morning. I picked these up because they seem to sell really well and in my local store and they go really fast so I wanted to see what was so great about them. They are £1 to 2 packs which is great value for the quality of them. I have used a whole pack of them now and I'm definitely going for more of them when I next go shopping.

Look Lipslick Lipgloss - Raspberry Crush

This product I just love. I have had my eye on these lip glosses for probably about a year but never picked one up because I'm not a great lover of lip glosses as I hate having sticky lips. When I had another look at the Look Beauty stand in Superdrug they had a half price sale on, so I would have been silly not to give something a try when it was £2.50. Its not sticky but the wear life doesn't seem to be very long. Its a beautiful colour though so i don't mind touching up in the day.

Garnier Eye Makeup Remover

I need to start remembering the blog posts I read! I brought this just to try because I liked the look of the bottle; yes you read that right! I don't think this works as good as their other makeup remover (Garnier Simply Essentials 2-in-1 Makeup Remover). and because I loved that makeup remover and used it right until the end I thought the eye one would be just as good! I take my makeup of when I cleanse so only feel the need to take my eye makeup off with a solution and I loved the fact it was in a smaller bottle. I wont be repurchasing this and with probably replace this very soon!

Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Spray

I don't know what is going on with my hair lately; it has gone very dry at the roots but I go greasy quickly at the roots so I thought I would purchase this to try and replace my other Organix Moroccan Argan oil which i feel is probably past its shelf life date! I'm hoping this is going to help as I have heard lots of people talking about it.

No7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick - Rose Blossom

I haven't stopped using this since the day I purchased it! I'm not normally a No7 fan but this blush stick caught my eye the day it came out and I just had to but it in my basket. It has a beautiful pop of colour and is quite pigmented which means it is sure to last. I may just have to try more from them.

Sarah x 

Botanics Ultra Calm - Skin Relief Serum

Hey,

With the weather change over winter my skin seems to have gone all super sensitive on me (boo) and all my skin care products have had to change to help calm my aggressive skin down.

This Botanics Ultra Calm Skin Relief Serum has become a must in both my morning and evening skincare routines. On the box it states you should notice a difference within 2 week and I will say I did; without a dealt! I would say you can tell its doing something after a few days even using it morning and night.

After using it for 2 weeks I noticed that my skin is a lot less red and I would probably go as far as saying my skin is back to a normal pigmentation. Another point I noticed was that it didn't just work after you put it on but it was working to keep the skin calm at all times, because before using this product I was coming out the bathroom after washing my face with a very warm red face. After the first week this was still the case but a lot less aggressive and after the 2 weeks, it doesn't happen at all which is fab!

I would recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin who struggles to find products that work with their skin. Even though I don't have the red skin anymore I will continue to use this product until they take it off the shelf.  

you can get your hands on this product for £7.99, but if your quick its on offer for £5.33

Sarah x

Brush Collection!

Hey

I don't have the biggest of brush collections for someone who is completely obsessed with makeup; I have the bare minimum. So if  your like me and hate using fingers, this is what you need! 

Avon All-Over Face Brush

I have had this brush for about a year and I'm not ready to replace it yet so I must be loving it! I use this brush to apply my setting powder. It picks up just the right amount of powder and is easy to glide across the t-zone. I don't believe you have to pay lots of money to get great quality brushes and would purchase more brushes from Avon!

Barbara Daly Blusher Brush 

This brush is probably my least favorite of the bunch. I purchased it around Christmas because I was sick of my Primark one but still to this day I'm finding the odd bristle on my face after I use it! I should probably replace now. I'm not sure if this brush is still available from Tesco as I got it at a bargain price.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

This has to be my favorite brush of all because it allows me to apply my foundation perfectly. there isn't a whole lot to say about this brush apart from if you don't have it you should.

Real Techniques Contour Brush 

This brush does not get used for contour, as personally I feel its a little to small for that so I have given it the job of concealer. It works perfect as its small enough to fit in the corner of the eye but big enough to have the ability to blend the concealer into the skin without leaving any lines.

Primark Blusher Brush 

Back in the day when I used my fingers to apply most of my makeup, this was one of the only brush I owned. I still think this is a good brush and would repurchase but as a blusher brush I now feel it is just a little to big for my liking. I wouldn't be without this brush though as it still gets used when I forget how pigmented some of my blushers are!

Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush

Does anyone use this brush for foundation? This brush is a bit of an odd bod in my collection. I use this for concealer that I just want to tap into place but don't want to use my fingers.

Superdrug Blending Brush 

This is a great brush! I purchased this because only having one eyeshadow brush was driving me crazy! It picks up a lovely amount of product and applied it to the eye evenly. i must get my hand on more of these.

Real Techniques Shading Brush 

After applying eyeshadow with the Superdrug blending brush, I use this brush to blend the edges into the skin and would say it is the perfect size for the job. I also use it to apply a second shadow to the outer corners and blend.

Real Techniques Detailer Brush 

This brush doesn't get used daily/weekly; its used when I have super bad skin which thankfully I haven't had for a while. It is great for people that hate using their fingers at all as it works just like a little finger when it comes to covering up all those unwanted little spots.


Are there any brushes you would recommend? 

Sarah x

Uni Can Be So Stressful!!

Hey,

I haven't blogged for about a month because of this whole uni malarkey...its tiring work! So the last time I blogged about uni, I had just finished my first placement and started my second! Well now I have just finished my second and on Easter break...yay!!

I had mixed feelings about my health visiting placement, as a student nurse there was only so much I could do and the majority of the time I was shadowing a health visitor on their visits which is a bit slow paced for me and a huge difference from my first placement! But saying that I loved the team I was in as they were so friendly and were there to answer any questions; how ever silly they were!

While I was on placement it also hit me that I had 2 assignments to produce and submit before Easter! This is why this blog has been so quiet, as I just haven't had any time to breath; I have either been on placement or in the library! I get my results for those mid May so fingers crossed I get good grades!

While I'm on this Easter break, I plan to blog, blog and blog some more so I'm good to go when I start my next placement and hit with the lovely night shifts again.

Sarah x

 

Whats in My Bag!

Hey,

Going back a few months I did a 'Whats in My Uni Bag', but as I'm not in uni at the minute and actually have a grown up bag full of things I now use on a daily basis I thought I would share it with you! Everything in this day was in there when I pulled it out to take the picture and yes there is no rubbish!! I hate a bag full of rubbish!

(Bag from Primark for £12)

Umbrella - Who in England does not need to carry one of these on a daily basis! The weather is so unpredictable. This was from Primark probably about a year ago and its still going strong!

Pencil Case - I was planning on going to uni today to get some work done but that of course never happened but this carries my memory stick so it got thrown in there this morning.

Keys - If I didn't carry these I would be lock out of my flat until some grumpy person let me back in again...that has never happened thank goodness!

My Organiser - This is new and from Wilkinsons for £2! Great value for money and currently the pen on paper version of my blog! Great for getting the blog organised with its, planner, notes and to do list sections.

Academic Diary -  I'm really poor at making sure this is kept up to date with things I'm doing in it as I always forget! I do try though as my doctors appointments are always so far apart.

Anti Bac Gel - Who doesn't need one of these in their bag!! Its great to have at hand while I'm out in the community on placement too! You never know what sticky situation you may find yourself in!!

Hand Cream - I currently have a Soap and Glory Hand Food hand cream but its almost gone so will be needing to replace it soon! This stuff has got me through so very long shifts of washing and gloving my hands so often! I haven't tried that many hand creams so any suggestions are welcome.

Lip Balms - I have a serious problem! Not only have I got a cosmetics bag full of lip products, I also have a Chap Stick and a Elemis lip balm! No wonder I cant find one at night when I want one to put on before bed because my bag is eating them all up.

I.D Cards - The 2 cards are that squeezed into one card holder get me everywhere! one is my uni card that get me into the library and the other is the hospital trust card that im with while on placement! the trust card gets me on my bus for free which i use to get to placement and also to some of the supermarkets so these are always in my bag.

Cosmetics Bag - I got this cosmetics bag for Christmas but for my makeup its a little to small. I have now filled it with my everyday lipsticks which I may want when out and about and other little things. It contains a Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Darling Cherie, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie, Natural Collection Moisture Shine in Rose Bud, a Model Co Ultra Lip Gloss in Berry Pink and a Baby Lips in Cherry Me. I also carry a pack of tissues, Cath Kidston mirror, a hair tie and a little clever devise that can be put on a table to stop your bag from being put on the floor.

Sarah x

Placement Update!

Hey,

Wow, it feels weird sitting down and writing a post as it feels like forever since I last did one....its been about 2 weeks! Life has got in the way of everything during that time so haven't had time to do anything blog related but loved ones must come first!

My first placement is over and went great. I received great feedback at my sign off. The placement was only for 5 weeks which really is not long enough when you get stuck in. As a second year student I was given lots of responsibility and was given my own patients and workload to manage which kept me nice and busy and made it very clear that this is the job for me. On a general ward it gives you lots of opportunity to see lots of different illnesses and things that children are admitted with and helps you into the direction of preference that you would like to work with when you have qualified. I had the chance to go to resus a couple of times during the five weeks which I loved more than anything I have done so far; this made me think I work better under pressure and with a very ill child in front of me.

My current placement is out in the community with a team of health visitors. On day one I knew I never wanted to be out in the community when i have finished training but its giving me an insight into what they actually do because I just thought they weighted babies and checked their development but how wrong was I.

I have only been with them a week so I will do another update when I have finished, with all the things i have been up to in it. Its not the most exciting of placements but it helps having a lovely team of people in the office.

Sarah x

This Month Iv Been Loving - February '14

Hey

This months favourites have all been new purchases for me this month which I love because its not very often something I buy becomes an absolute love straight away!

My newest love has to be my new Cath Kidston makeup bag! I brought this only 2 weeks ago from Bicester Village and wasn't to sure when I got it because its smaller than what I would normally get but I did that on purpose so I could cut down on what is in my everyday makeup bag! I LOVE IT!! I don't really give myself that much time to get ready in the morning because I love my sleep to much so having a makeup bag that only has room for what I need makes getting my face on so much quicker! The size of it also stops me putting to much in there.

The EcoTools Sleep Mask may seem a strange favourite because its been a god send while I have been on nights! I am one of those people that cant nap during the day mainly because I have to sleep in pitch black to fall asleep, this is kind of tricky when its daylight outside! I cant even be without this at night now too but I think that is because its just so comfortable.  

The lovely French patterned notepad is from Wilkinsons and my goodness it has been such a steal of a buy this month, costing a whole £1! I brought this mainly because I prefer to handwrite my blog posts and it was just so pretty so had to buy it! It didn't end up being used for my blog but has ended up in my placement folder! I have been loving this because on night shifts its very hard to stay awake on a quiet shift at from 3am so I have been either planning assignments coming up in it or I have been doodling and its really worked to keep me awake until the end of my shift! I never really thought it would be so loved when I brought it!

My last favourite of this month is Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer! My favourite primer of all time is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and I can honestly say this is really giving it a run for its money, and that is an achievement considering the one primer everyone raves about (Benefit's POREfessional) did not wow me at all. It works great at keeping my oil skin matte for as long as 6 ish hours and keeps my makeup on all day!! what more could I ask for from a primer.

Sarah x

Beauty Haul!!

Hey

Thanks to the lovely Boots for having practically a 3 for 2 offer on everything, I have have picked up a few things this last week!

Charles Worthington Front Row High Gloss Serum (£5.49) - I brought this because I have a million fly a ways! I used to have something like this years back but then stopped using it! This has a unique scent but I'm hoping to love it! (For some reason i cant find this on there website but its definitely in the shop)

LOreal Paris Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner (£3.99) - I am yet to find a toner that really does something to wow me, so I picked this up in the hope that it does something before I venture into higher end toners!

Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Facial Scrub (£3.99) - I love a good face scrub and since my face has turned very sensitive I haven't been able to use any that I have in my bathroom so I thought I would give this a go, it also says it works well with the moisturiser in the range so it won me over. 

Umberto Giannini Beauty Beauty Secrets Catwalk Hairspray (£6.00) - I have been on the hunt for a nice hairspray for some time now and haven't been very lucky with finding one that i like and that works with my thick wild hair! I thought I would spend a little more money than normal in the hope I will like it and so far so good!! 

Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser (£4.27) - This was a recommendation from my sister over at Carol Clarke Blogs! I have super oily skin but its also very sensitive so she told me to give this ago and so far I'm loving it.

Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo (£5.49) - I have wanted this stuff for so long! As you may know if you read my blog I have used the Lee Stafford hair growth conditioning treatment in the past and LOVED it but I wanted to try something new as I love new products to try! I have heard this does dry your hair out a little but I have lots of condtioner on standby just in case because my hair falls out like you wouldn't believe and i wouldn't mind a couple more inches on my hair so I'm willing to give it a go! 

Botanics Ultra Calm Skin Relief Serum (£7.99) - This is also a product I brought in the hope it will help with my sensitive skin! I have been using it night and day for a couple of days now so I'm hoping it will work! 

Sarah x

A Lovely Day #1

Hey!

Last weekend my sister and nephew came to visit! We decided to take a trip to Bicester village as I live a couple of station stops away on the train and I have been living here for 18 months and I had never been before now. I mainly went because i needed a new purse and knew they had a Cath Kidston there! I will be straight back there when i next get paid...the place made me a very happy person! Here are a few pictures I took throughout the day!

I'm still terrible at remembering to keep my iPhone at hand to take more but this is a massive improvement so expect to see more of these posts!




Sarah x

Recent Empties #2

Hey,

Wow my empties bag has been filling up since I have been back at uni and I'm only just getting around to writing this post and finally binning my rubbish!! I have used up other things that are not in this picture but they clearly went straight in the bin.

First up are these Dove Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo and Conditioner. So many people have raved about these and I really don't understand it! I have really dry ends so thought these would be amazing but they just weighted down my hair and it didn't do anything to help the dry ends! I've been loving Dove lately for there body wash and dry shampoo but i wont be repurchasing these!

The Batiste dry shampoo in Wild was such a lovely scent and I think my favorite out the whole range that is available in Boots. I do like Batiste but I'm not 100% excited about the chalky feeling it leaves! I would use it again though so the chalky feel cant be all that bad! Its all about the scent for me!!

I'm a really picky mare when it comes to hair sprays. I have been on a bit of a hair spray trial lately and have been buying different ones to try! After trying a few this L'Oreal Elneet is definitely not my favorite!! And the reason you may ask..... it didn't do anything!! My hair is thick and wild but it just seemed to disappear within 30 minutes! So the  hairspray hunt continues!

The Lee Stafford, Treatment For Hair That Never Grows Past A Certain Length has to be my all time favorite haircare product! Yes a year ago I had hair that the title of this product describes to a tee, but now its a good few inches longer! Looking back at pictures I used to have hair that was just past my shoulders and that is where it stayed. After using one of these following the instructions step by step (i didn't use the shampoo and conditioner in the range), it has grown a very noticeable amount! I may do a post on this magical stuff when I repurchase and will show before and after pictures so look out for that!

The Soap and Glory The Ultimelt definitely wasn't my favorite cleanser, as I'm not the biggest fan of cream cleansers but if you are into cream cleansers I'm sure this will be a hit with you! This product lasted me around 3 months and did leave the face lovely and smooth but its just not for me.

In the past I would not go a day without a new spot on my face so I have been on the look out for scrubs to use (so that I'm not using spot treatments on a daily basis) to try and clear them up! I did like this Garnier PureActive Exfoliating Scrub but it just didn't wow me and I have no clue why! I now have much clearer skin so I'm not using any spot treatments currently!

I love Sanex products! I have had their roll on deodorants in the past so when this was on offer I snatched it up! I have already repurchased this and will be doing the same when my current one is ran out too.

This Original Source shower gel was so lovely! The scent of it is just so girly. I wont be repurchasing it because I did get bored of it half way through and have a stash of shower gels waiting to be used but i would definitely say you would like it if you like girly sweet scents!

Finally I have a REN mini! This is another creamy cleanser and it smells a little too earthy for me so I wasn't the greatest fan, but it did feel nice on the face so i will be looking into more REN products to see what they have to offer in the further! 

Sarah x

Dove Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo

Hey,

About a year ago I would never use a dry shampoo...EVER and now I cant be without it! 

I used to be one of those girls that would wash their hair every night without fail because the conditioner I used made my hair all smooth for the next day which I loved...but really....it was washing away natural oils etc and drying it out! 

When stretching your washes you tend to go a little greasy so this is where they beauty comes in handy! 

For the past 10 months I have been using Batiste which I was getting on with and it did the job. I came across this Dove Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo when I was in Boots looking for something new to try, so picked it up to give it a whirl! 

I would personally say this was better than Batiste as it is not chalky, which I find Batiste can be and it just smells fresh!! I'm not really interested in all the funky smells that can be put into a dry shampoo, I just want one that smells like i have just washed my hair! 

This dry shampoo ticked all boxes after my boyfriend complimented me on how my hair smelt!! 

Sarah x

Dr Jart+ Platinum Beauty Balm!!

Hey, 

I purchased this about 3 weeks ago now and I'm so impressed! The main reason for me to buy this was to stop using such a heavy foundation as I am becoming more excepting of my combo skin...Yayy!  

Everyday Wear

I can’t really fault this product when I'm wearing it as my everyday makeup! My university flat is quite cool and of course it’s very cold outside so I haven't been sweating it off so it looks great all day long! I have been wearing it with a primer which I think has definitely been helping the length of wear! It’s not shiny buts gives that natural illuminating look with powder over the top, which I like and sure going to be loving this spring/summer.

If you looking for an everyday BB cream replacement for your foundation but still want a nice coverage that is not heavy, this could be a product you may want to give a go because I know I'm glad I purchased it! 

Hot and Stuffy Nursing Environment 

Wearing makeup while being a nurse is one of those parts of beauty that is normally a no go area; mainly because it is so stuffy on the wards that you end up sweating it off a few hours in! Most nurses working on wards I have been on go makeup free! I'm not 100% comfortable with my skin yet as it’s still a little red on my cheeks so I have been trying this instead of my trusty Revlon Colorstay Foundation!

I personally wouldn't say this was the best product for this kind of wear for those that have the same skin type as me! My skin becomes very shiny after about an hour on the ward and the product just slides right off my face! 

Pros

• A light product but has a medium coverage 
• Gives a nice illuminating look which will be great for spring/summer 
• A good 6 hour wear time when worn with a primer 
• Contains SPF 30
• Brightens skin 

Cons

• Can leave skin looking shiny (oily skin type)
• Make up slides of face in warmer climates 

You can get this currently from Boots website here for £14.67 (Normally £22) 




Sarah x

Whats Currently Keeping Me Clean!! #1

Hey,

Showering has to be one of the most important hygiene routines and its something I don't see talked about much so I thought I would share with you what I currently have sat in my shower!

(how I keep my shower organised)

Shampoo and Conditioner 

I seem to love Herbal Essences as  get bored of them so change to something different but I always come back to them! I'm currently using their Seductively Straight Shampoo (I have no idea why as I have curly hair naturally) and their Hello Hydration Conditioner which is so nourishing! The first thing I do is put my shampoo on and quickly massage and wash out! I was once told that leaving shampoo in can dry your hair out so its on my hair 2 minutes maximum! I then put my conditioner in and leave it in until washing it out is the last thing to do before stepping out!

Body Wash and Moisturiser 

I'm currently using the Dove Go Fresh Revive Body Wash! I'm not really bothered about what brand I use and although nectarine is a bit of a strange scent for me to wash myself with as its not really my thing but I actually quite like the Dove range! I also have a Nivea In Shower Moisturiser at hand in the shower but if I'm truly honest it doesn't get used as much as it should! I probably use this once a week if I want to leave my conditioner on a little longer, but its definitely not something I make sure I do every time....lazy I know!!

Essential Extras 

I can not take a shower without a puff (is that what you call them?) and my razor if I want to come out feeling squeaky clean!! This current puff came in a Dove Christmas set and I think its a lovely size (normally they are a little bigger). The razor I am using is the Wilkinson Sword Extra 2 Beauty Disposable Razors! I did change them up once and got the worst shaving rash in my life so i went straight back and don't plan on changing again!

Frizz Serum

I keep this John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original Serum in my shower, as I was told it was best put on straight out the shower hair and if it wasn't here I would forget all about it! I was given this by my sister who didn't need it and at first I didn't see what it actually did but now that I wear my hair natural 70% of the time I do see a change in how wild my hair can go or not go as this seems to control it!

Sarah x

Primark Insoles!!

Hey,

In my job it is so important that you look after your legs...we do walk what feels like a marathon by the end of a 12 hour shift! After my first shift back into placement I noticed my feet and legs absolutely killed me and but was just blaming it on the fact it was my first 12 hour shift in 6 months! I took my shoes of that night and took a good look and found that the insole had completely worn down. I don't want to be buying new shoes so thought a nice extra insole would help!!

I knew Primark did insoles so went and had a look and founds these for a whole £1!!! BARGAIN!!

I'm actually really impress as they are really thick and comfy, which is what I want. These claim to:

• relieves pressure on the foot
• prevents heel shock
• supports arch of foot
• helps increase your stability 

Apart from the Stability I need all of what these little treasures have to offer!!

I have done a few shifts since putting these in my shoes and I cant say a bad word about them. I am currently doing 12 hour shifts which normally makes me dying to take my shoes off as soon as I get back through my front door but since these have been in I'm not so bothered! The one thing I was worried about was the insole flattening and staying like it but they haven't yet which in my eyes make them so worth the £1 and a repurchase!! They only have prints of my foot on them but they bounced back as soon as my foot were out about 5 minutes!!

These will be great for anyone who walks on their ball of their feet like me! And for £1 I think I will be stocking up on for when these wear down!

Sarah x