February Favourites

February 15, 2016, 1:40 pm

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February already, say whaaaaat?! I can't get over how quickly the weeks are flying in, especially since I've just started a new telly job and each day feels like it's over in the blink of an eye. Which is good, because it's super busy! But it means that the weekends also pass by a little too quickly. At the weekend just there we celebrated mine and Pete's anniversary with cocktails and dinner at a local tapas restaurant which was DELICIOUS. We caught up on lots of sleep, I spent saturday afternoon at Cafe Strange Brew with Lori, Lynsay and her lovely pals for a Galentine's gathering, worked on my new blog layout (what d'ya think?) had pizza for dinner on sunday, and watched a few movies (Oh, and started on the new X-Files, holy smokes it's good!)  This has been a pretty great month so far, even though we're only half way through. So I thought I'd share a selection of my February favourites!

1. Kikki K Stationary 

I can't believe I hadn't properly stumbled across Kikki K until now. I heard Carrie from Wish Wish Wish speaking about them on her snapchat recently (my username is hellorogue if you wanna come see pointless snaps of me and the cats) and then my business mentor bought me a notebook, vision board cards and a lovely cotton drawstring gift bag back in January. I finally went on to check out there website, and, well... STATIONARY PORN. I almost love them more than Paperchase. Okay that was harsh, I love them and Paperchase equally. Can't wait for payday so I can place an order for lots of paper paraphernalia which I don't need. Stationary fiends, I cannot be held responsible for what ends up in your shopping basket if you go have a look. It's all so damn pretty!

2. Merumaya Exfoliating Toner 

After falling in love with quite a few of the Merumaya skincare products because they gave such quick and effective results, I was sent their Gentle Exfoliating Toner to try out. I need to be honest, I've never used toner in my life, ever (despite always hearing the traditional cleanse, tone, moisturise mantra) So, that's exactly what I've been doing. Cleansing, toning and moisturising in the mornings and evenings, with a Lush face mask once or twice a week (currently on Cup O Coffee, love it!) Trying to keep my routine simple and it seems to be working. I was intrigued by the fact that this toner also exfoliates your skin, due to the natural AHA's which munch away at the dead skin cells, unblocking and cleansing your pores. I'm not used to using cotton pads so the first few times I poured out much more product than what I needed, but I seem to have got the hang of it now. It's helped with my blemishes and still leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated.

3.Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani -

I never realised that there were going to be any more products in the UD X Gwen collab after the eyeshadow palette, and ohhhhh how I was wrong. I've died and gone to blusher heaven with this beautiful palette. It's a bit big to carry around in my makeup bag so I shall use it in the mornings or before I head out, then keep it safely stored at home like I do with the eyeshadow palette. I was initially worried about letting the lipsticks and lip liners bash around my makeup bag, because look at that beautiful packaging! In the photo I've got the Lipsticks in Wonderland, Rock Steady and Firebird along with the matching liners (which I definitely think you need, as the lipsticks are quite glossy in consistency and no matter how neat I was I couldn't stop them from bleeding slightly along the lip line) And in the shameless selfie at work today I was feeling sassy with Firebird and Easy blush from the palette. They have also released another Brow Box with this range which would be perfect for you blonde haired folks out there. I'm still using their original Brow Box which I mentioned in my makeup vlog, and feel like I'm getting a much more natural feel with my brows these days.

4. Random acts of kindness

 A couple of unexpected surprises have came my way this month, which got me thinking about random acts of kindness and how I'd like to pay it forward more often. I received a lovelylittle  valentines parcel from Laura full of cute polaroids with inspirational quotes, a photobooth strip and a card - all beautifully wrapped with adorable hand made trimmings. I'd had a really stressful morning on the phone dealing with dreaded life admin stuff, and was suitably raging when I went to answer the door to my postman. Her surprise parcel couldn't have came at a better time, and certainly helped lift the red mist which had descended after a frustrating morning. Lynsay also did a bloody lovely thing and invited me along to a super cute Galentines lunch with her friends on Saturday. We had coffee and cake, took part in a hilarious quiz which Lynsay made for us, and left with cute little goody bags full of girly treats and a GLITTERY GEL PEN YOU GUYS. Using this pen for all serious business work hence forth. Especially signing important girl boss contracts and cheques! Being surrounded by such kind and supportive people makes me want to be a better person every day. So thank you, ladies.

5. Bonnie Bling

 I went on a bit of a happy rant on Facebook about personalised things and how they're still a total novelty to me, as I found them pretty much impossible to get as a child (Thanks for the awkward name, Mum! JustkiddingIloveit) I've been wearing this custom name necklace from Bonnie Bling since the day it landed on my doorstep. They have loads of different options but I opted for black and silver on a silver chain, as I wanted it to go with everything. I don't wear a lot of jewellery, pretty much just this and my Bloody Mary Metal crossbones ring which Leah got me. I'd definitely like to add to my silver ring collection though (which consists of um, three so far) Just anything that doesn't eventually turn my fingers green would be great (Topshop your jewellery is pretty but I'm lookin' at you!)


So, that's about it on the February favourites front. As long as I can continue to keep a happy balance between work and play, and not let myself get overwhelmed, then 2016 should pan out to be a pretty good year. I still have days where my anxiety is a total battle but the good days currently outweigh the bad, so long may that continue! Thank you, as always, for stopping by my little corner of the internet.

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Caring for coloured hair

February 22, 2016, 2:31 pm

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I've had my fair share of different hair colours in the past 5 years or so. Growing up with a hairdresser Mum, she let me experiment with semi permanent dyes and various slices and flashes through my hair (Fudge paintbox, anyone?) However I'm not gonna be pulling any of those photos out from the dark depths of the internet! It wasn't until going blonde for the first time in my early 20's that I really started to take my colour into my own hands (no offence, Mum!) I think she was just worried about me ruining the quality of my hair, like so many others she had seen (and ultimately had to fix) over the years. To this day, despite my hair being pushed to the limit a few times, I think it's pretty safe to say it's still in a great healthy condition. So today I'm gonna share some tips on how I care for coloured hair.

My natural colour is quite a warmish brown, almost strawberry blonde! So I went from that, to blonde, to pink, to blue, to dark brown, to ginger, then most recently re bleached and a variation of pastel colours including lilac and green. Thanks to my awesome hairdresser Paddy at Rainbow Room George Square, as of the weekend I am now a sort of Opal and Iridescent mix with pinks and blues and silver... to be honest it looks different in every light. I love it! Not gonna lie though, my lil dude Dexter = ULTIMATE hair goals.

I absolutely love the work which Paddy has done for me since I first met him last year. My Mum is a massive fan of him too, so I feel good that she knows I am in extremely safe hands. Each time I sit down in the hairdressers chair it's a totally open collaboration of 'right, what shall we try this time around?' I tend to give Paddy a very brief idea of what I'm after, and he just runs with it! Adding in his own suggestions and creative twist. I'm really enjoying having a blonde base, it feels like a blank canvass where we can very easily build something different on top each time.

The only problem about toners and semi permanent dye, is the obvious fact that they are indeed semi permanent and will start to fade with each wash. In order to help make my colour last as long as possible, I only wash my hair every few days now. Which is a HUGE deal for me, as I used to wash my hair every single day! But at that rate, I would need to get it dyed almost every week and it would just be impossible to keep on top of. So, washing my hair only 2 or 3 times a week definitely helps, and when I do wash it I make sure to use a shampoo which is specially designed to help preserve colour. Right now I am using the Colour Protect Daily Shampoo from Paul Mitchell, which smells amazing and makes my hair feel extremely clean, with very little colour run during each wash. I tend to rotate this with Daddy-O Shampoo from Lush, which is almost like a mini toner and really helps to eliminate any brassy tones in your blonde, keeping it super fresh and bright. My hair definitely needs that extra nourishment after being bleached, so I use The Conditioner (again from Paul Mitchell) which is actually a leave in conditioner, but the thought of not washing a product like that out my hair freaks me out a bit, so I just use it in the normal way rather than leaving it in.

Once a week (normally while chilling in the bath) I pop on the Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask. OH MY DAYS. Absolute luxury in a bottle. It makes my hair feel so soft and shiny, when I team this up with a face mask at the same time I come out the bath feeling like a new woman. The Rahua mask is a seriously intense treatment, similar to something you would get in a salon, and unfortunately has the price tag to go with it. At £47 a bottle I don't know if I could justify repurchasing this regularly despite how fantastic it is, but I've also heard good things about the H'Suan Wen Hua treatment from Lush too, so I'll need to give that a try soon. Before blow drying and straightening, it's really important to prime and protect your hair, so the Colour Protect Locking Spray does that  perfectly, with powerful UVA and UVB protection to help prevent colour fade.

I'm all for the products which help extend the life of your hair colour, so when it comes to not washing for as long as possible - dry shampoo is your best friend! Fed up of the nostalgic T In The Park smell of Batiste, I changed to No Drought while I was working at Lush over Christmas (which is a powder form rather than a spray) and I absolutely love it. It soaks up any excess moisture without looking powdery, and smells really fresh too. After a couple of days of dry shampoo and wearing my hair down, it's all hands on deck with kirby grips and head scarves! I'd pestered Amanda for ages about how she always beautifully ties her head scarf (along with making it looking effortless, dang gurl) and found this tutorial from her and Sheri - aka the Colour Pop Girls - extremely helpful! Practice makes perfect when it comes to using these scarves, and after watching their video a few times I can tie my hair up much quicker, and no longer need to use ten million clips like I did first time around.

// Scarf & Cardigan - Miss Selfridge //

(Picked up in the sale before my hair appointment on Saturday, cause it's still bloody freezing in Glasgow!)

I've been making a conscious effort this year to go completely cruelty free when it comes to my beauty, skin and haircare routine, and I'm really glad I've been able to find such great products by brands who do not test on animals. I'm using up the last of any items in my possession which are not cruelty free and I won't be repurchasing them. So I might be needing your suggestions for various alternatives very soon! I'll continue to expand my database of CF brands, and if you have any recommendations then please leave them in the comments box or drop me a message on twitter or instagram (@hellorogue) Next on the hair colour chart for me... I'm not too sure to be honest! What has been your favourite colour of mine so far?

Mama, I love you

March 1, 2016, 2:25 pm

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When it comes to personal posts like this, I legit feel like my heart is going to burst before I even begin writing the first sentence. I have so much I want to say, but I don't even know where to start. How much detail do I go into before it snowballs into a full blown word vomit of emotion and tears and all of the feels. Basically, I bloody love my Mum. I love her, I know her, and I feel like I understand her. As a woman, and a friend, as well as a mother.

I remember when I was around 16, hanging with the wrong crowd and generally just being a little dick, I ended up staying with my Gran for a few months and I will never forget the day that my Mum confronted me in the hallway, saying 'Ayden, I really don't like you right now'. That was the first and last time me and my Mum have had an sort of confrontation, and she was right. I was a horrible shit of a person and truly didn't care for anything or anyone, especially not myself. My mum was a young, single Mum, so we had a super close relationship growing up and I think of those awkward teen years as a bit of a blip, as most of us go through at some point. I'm glad I got it out of my system and learned my lessons at 16, rather than 26!

Despite not living with my Mum since my late teens, and not speaking to her every single day, I feel like at this very moment in time we are closer than ever. She gets me, and I get her. She accepts me for who I truly am, right down to the bare bones and the mistakes I have made. She fixes me, sweeps up any heartache and always gives me a safe place to retreat back to. She builds me back up again and helps me take that scary step forward into the unknown. I remember a few years ago when she said to me 'Ayden, learn from my mistakes, I've made them first so you don't have to!'  My brain is taking me back to late last year, the day after me and my best friend fell out and I was starting a new job. I was so heartbroken, I lasted an hour in that job and walked out. I was broken, mentally and physically and should never have started the contract in the first place, after feeling the warning signs of burnout in the weeks leading up to that day. I walked straight into my Mum's house, with a hot cup of tea and a blanket on the couch, crying until I'd exhausted myself so much I fell asleep.

A few months later when I was feeling much more together, I went into hospital to get some irregular cells in my cervix removed (Don't ever miss a smear test ladies... I promise, it could save your life one day) I took my Mum and Gran with me, as if it was some strange family outing (jokes, we had plans for coffee and cake afterwards, because why not make a day of it!) and my Mum came in with me while my Gran sat in the waiting room. The whole procedure was, unpleasant, to say the least. I cried, and cried, and cried. Not so much because of the physical pain, but the fact that it felt like a complete intrusion (emotionally, strangely) and I was terrified at the thought of what could and would have happened, had I not went for that smear. My Mum did a fantastic job on letting me squeeze her hand until it turned white, and fanning me with one of those cardboard pottys while they tipped the bed backwards because I felt like I was going to faint.

I don't know what I'm trying to say here, but through these happy tears I just want to write the words down and truly take mental note of the fact there are so many instances in my life which I feel like I couldn't have got through without my Mum. She inspires me no end. I guess I could say that when I grow up, I want to be just like her! I hope I'm as good a mother to my own children as she has been to me. I feel like every single person on this planet deserves to have someone in their life who fufills this role for them, whether it be your birth mother, adoptive mother, surrogate mother, step mother, mother in law, grandmother... a friend, a male or female, or any family member in general. My heart breaks for the people who have had this special person taken from them too soon.

After a lovely catch up on the phone with my Mum a few nights ago, I went online shopping to look for a Mother's day gift for her and decided to make up a little gift guide. Mum, I'm really sorry I haven't bought you everything in this post! But I like to think I've chosen a nice assortment of bits which reflect your style and personality well (You Netflix loving, coffee drinking Girl Boss that you are!) I promise to give you first dibs next time I clear out my wardrobe too. We definitely have similar taste in food, fashion and accessories, and I'm proud that my Mum's influence has had a positive impact on me over the years (I can hear her sigh of relief after my full on chavvy/goth/emo phases ran their course) Well, more so my adult years!

1. Living for naps & netflix pencils - £4 from La La Land

2. Rose Oil Blend face oil - £26 from Pixi

3. Robbery In A Sweet Shop Silk Twill Scarf - £110 from Karen Mabon

4. Grey Suede Petite-Lux rose gold watch - £119 from Abbot Lyon

5. Passion For Life A5 notebook - £8 from Paperchase

6. Rose Golden Luxury makeup brush set - £55 from Zoeva

7. A4 Recipe Cards - £3.50 from Kikki-K

8. But First, Coffee mug - £9.00 frpm Kikki-K

9. Monu Rosewood Reviving Mist - £11.95 from Monu

10. Some Things Take Time print - £40.53 from Congo Studio

Mum, you are an absolute legend and my soul mate. I couldn't navigate this life without you.

"Though she be but little, she is fierce"  ♥

Maison De Moggy, Edinburgh

March 13, 2016, 3:48 pm

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Sorry all was a bit quiet on the blog front last week. Telly land has well and truly taken over for the time being, but only two weeks left of this job and then I'll have a nice wee break before I'm onto the next one. I've very much been living for the weekend while having such busy weekdays at work. So last Saturday was a pretty epic one. I finally got to visit Scotland's first Cat Cafe, Maison De Moggy in Edinburgh.

For those of you who haven't been to or heard of a cat cafe before, you don't actually take your cat in there with you (although I'm sure Dexter and Binx would have loved it - so many toys, platforms to climb and places to hide!) Maison De Moggy is home to the cutest little cat gang, which all belong to the owner Laura. I booked an hour slot for me and my friend Clare, which cost £7 per person, then you pay for your drinks on top of that. There was a lovely menu of locally produced teas, coffee and cakes, all which are prepared in a cat free environment. I found that Mog On The Tyne in Newcastle had a bigger menu (including sandwiches etc) but to be honest, you're really there to sit and socialise with these beautiful felines so a slice of cake was more than enough to compliment our visit.

During our visit I manage to snap some pictures of Sebastian the British Short Hair, Elodie the Sphynx kitten, Guillaume the Chinchilla Persian (SO FLUFFY I COULD DIE) Fabian the Norwegian Forest Cat, Pauline the Maine Coon, and Alain the Ragdoll. Oh, and that sassy fella chilling on the desk in the first photo is Jacques, who is also a Norwegian Forest Cat. There are 12 kitties resident in the cafe in total (they sleep and have private space in some fancy living quarters out the back) and I was so impressed with their facilities, and how happy and settled they all seemed. Animal welfare is super important to me, and it was nice to see these kitties all healthy, content and playful in their home. They were not phased at all by these strangers coming to visit. It was essentially like going round to your pals house for a cuppa and a blether, and getting to meet the best house mates ever! If you can't make it through to Edinburgh to visit Scotland's only cat cafe, then you're very welcome over to mine for a cuddle with Dexter and Binx. I'll get some cakes in and pop the kettle on too ♥

Can you be a girl boss and have a healthy work/life balance?

March 29, 2016, 2:25 pm

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I'd say the answer to the above is yes. But my goodness it takes a hell of a lot of practice and much trial and error before things feel 'right'. That horrible feeling of overwhelm is the biggest source of my anxiety, with too much to do in too little time being the ongoing theme throughout my life. Not enough time to do all the things I wanna do, and see the people I wanna see. While squeezing a bit of time in between myself to do absolutely nothing (Cause we all need a bit of that sometimes, right?) Or simple pleasures like reading, baking, painting... things which I hardly do these days because I just guilt myself thinking I could be clearing up, or doing that pile of washing, or getting some tax paperwork done! Yay to adulting! Yay to being freelance and spinning an abundance of plates at the one time, always knowing that if you let one drop then you might not pay your bills that month. But y'know what, it's okay. I've just spent 7 weeks on an extremely enjoyable but intense job, and I feel like for the first time in forever I didn't feel anywhere close to burn out at any point during it.

Bag - New Look (old) // Iron Fist kitty shoes - Spartoo

Throughout that last job I decided to do things I would never usually do, while working an average of 12 hours each day. I socialised in the evening after work a few nights a week, got my dancing shoes on and went out with the girls at the weekend, and went for lots of walks and lots of food with Pete. I made an effort to get to bed at a decent time and get up in the morning with no rush, enjoying doing my makeup, ironing my clothes and making a coffee for the road. I even wore my new cat hairband (random ebay find) to work a handful of times just for the hell of it, and found a silly wee thing like that really boosted my mood for the day! And it made other people smile too. (They probs think I'm cray cray but you can get away with it when you work in the art department) I guess what I'm trying to say is if you're stuck in the same routine, and sick of getting the same results, then you need to make a change. I would normally lock myself away during busy periods of work, with my only priorities being sleeping, eating, and working. Yet I was still tired, and the isolation from not chatting to my friends or allowing myself to have a social life made me even more miserable. For the past 7 weeks I've let myself have a social life, still got to bed at a decent time, which in turn has made me much happier at work because I don't feel like the long crazy hours are depriving other parts of my life. For a couple of years I told myself I'd sold my soul to the TV industry. I realise now, that was such a negative and destructive outlook to have! No wonder I began to resent my routine. My life is my life, and I'm lucky to be in the position where I get to be my own boss and call the shots. The way I earn a living should enrich my life, not take away from it. It's crazy what a slight change in perspective can do for you.

The only thing which did still suffer a bit was my blogging schedule, along with replying to emails and texts which often took me a bit longer too. But my friends and family are pretty understanding if I take longer to get back to them than what I usually would. And I hope by now you guys all know I've not dropped off the face of the earth if I miss a blog post for one week! This blog is pretty damn personal to me, so I really struggle to feel inspired to write a post when I'm in a tired or pissed off mood. Understandable right? Why would you force yourself to do your hobby if you just don't feel like doing it that day? Any hobby should be a pleasure rather than a chore, and you should never force yourself to do something that you don't wanna do. Unless it's paying a bill or attending a dentist appointment then YES you should probably just get it over and done with! But no one is gonna come knocking on your door if you don't publish that blog post, or finish that cross stitch, or list those bits and bobs on ebay. I laughed out loud last week when during a chat with Lynsay she text me saying 'Wait... who's that at the door? Is it the blog police? NAW - they don't exist!'

I've always had a feeling my skin problems were partly stress related, and right now my skin is the best it has been since it started breaking out around a year ago now! I think it's half down to the products I'm using (more on that in the next post) and half down to sleeping well, eating well, and letting my hair down every so often. I got some lovely new Moschino glasses from Specsavers at the Glasgow Fort, which has really helped at work and with any computer related headaches as it turned out my prescription has changed quite a bit since my last test! They're open until 10pm on weeknights and were super efficient in testing my eyes and helping me find new frames. That sort of customer service is much appreciated when you've already been on your feet for 12 hours that day. I'm learning to look after my body now as well as my mind, and self care in any form is so bloody important. Shake up your routine and don't be afraid to keep experimenting until you find your balance (and this applies whether you are self employed or work 9-5) Now it's time to even up how super wordy this post has been thus far, so here's some photos to break up my word vomit and show how I've been playing hard as well as working hard!

// I fell in love with freddar cheese and the most squishiest of buns when the new Byron Hamburgers opened in Glasgow a couple of weeks ago! Did you know that their oreo milkshake with a lil' shot of baileys added is essentially heaven on earth? Byron, we will be back to work our way through the rest of that awesome menu soon //

// This year the Corinthian played host to Debenhams SS16 press day. I couldn't get enough of the Floozie by Frost French Bikinis, beautiful beaded Jenny Packham clutch bags, and I NEED EVERYTHING from the Savannah Miller sleepwear and lingerie range for Nine. Ended up treating myself to this gorgeous lace bodysuit (for £22.50, how could I say no?) //

// After being like passing ships in the night with Pete during the week, we had a little date day with some retail therapy at Braehead. Mainly for stocking up on our bath bomb stash with some of the special easter themed bits from Lush. Yo Sushi have just launched their new menu, so we stopped there for lunch followed by dessert at Krispy Kreme //

// Clearly needing to burn all those burger and cake calories, me and my work bestie Chloe went along to Airspace for an hour session in their indoor trampoline park. It was SO MUCH FUN. And must have been quite a work out as my legs were sore for days afterwards. So many kids doing backflips and we could barely bounce for 30 seconds without feeling absolutely knackered //

// My friend Clare invited me along for a gin afternoon tea at Cup in Merchant City. The cakes and sandwiches were delicious, along with the gin inspired cocktails which came in this gorgeous teapot! Drinking gin from a teacup should be a regular Sunday ritual. If only my handbag was big enough to quietly smuggle that tea set home... //

// I thoroughly enjoyed working on that last job, I won't mention the name of it until closer to when it airs (halloween night!) but our director Greg Hemphill was an absolute joy to work with. After being a massive fan of Chewin' The Fat and Still Game, I was slightly fan girling the entire time. Okay... maybe majorly fan girling. Can't wait for you to see in October on your telly boxes what we have made! //

// Last but not least, I treated myself to this light box from Firebox, for a blog event me and a bunch of Scottish Bloggers are hosting soon. I can't go into any detail yet, but I promise you it's gonna be a good one! ♥ //

So I guess you could say in a short space of time I've realised that you CAN be a girl boss, and maintain a healthy work/life balance. Will I be able to be keep it up when the next job starts in a couple of weeks time? I'm not totally sure... I really do hope so though. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to. I need to have more faith in myself, but I'm just shocked that a simple change in mindset and regular self care has helped establish a balance which I've enjoyed in 7 short weeks - out of the (almost) 6 years I have been my own boss. I know you can't be all things, to all people, all of the time, but you can take control of your life and your schedule and learn the value of saying no to things if you are feeling overwhelmed (which is often even more important than saying yes) I've never been great at prioritising, I just wanna do EVERYTHING and I want to do it NOW! But basic planning and list writing can really help make the most of your time, and establish what NEEDS done right now, what you SHOULD probably do soon, and what WOULD be nice to do but isn't urgent. Think of it as a sort of green light system and label your lists red, orange and green. Do I have this whole adult thing down to a T yet? Not quite, but I'm closer than I've ever been before. We are all just making life up as we go along, I honestly don't think that anybody on this earth is 100% sure of what they're doing. In the meantime let's not be afraid to have some trial and error and share our lessons with one another.
After all, 'happiness is the journey, not the destination'

A newbies guide to cruelty free beauty

April 6, 2016, 1:54 pm

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I love animals. All creatures great and small. Even little Barry the Bath Pug here, who keeps me company every time I take a dip. After working at Lush over the Christmas period, and learning so much about their strong stance and pro-activity when it comes to things like ethical buying, environmental policies, and fighting against animal testing, a little light bulb in my head switched on. Why should any of the products I use on a daily basis be tested on animals?

Bear with me here, this post is called a newbies guide for a reason so although I am by no means an expert in this subject, I thought I would touch on my experiences so far in case cruelty free beauty is something that you've been thinking about recently. Or maybe you've not thought about it at all? I was the same, despite being an animal lover I never quite opened my mind to the thought of animals suffering for the sake of cosmetics. A part of me feels like a hypocrite for even writing this post, as I am not a veggie or vegan, so I guess you could argue do you actually even care for animals if you eat their meat?

This is something I have been thinking long and hard about as well, and I think I will make this transition sooner rather than later. But I'm taking it one step at a time and trying to educate myself as much as possible in the process. We rarely buy meat in our house, but when we do there is always a mega conscious effort to make sure it has been sustainably raised. Meat which has produced without destroying the environment or threatening public health, and its sale supports responsible farmers who choose to use sound agricultural practices. Unfortunately, it’s more expensive to raise animals sustainably than to mass-produce them on a factory farm (these industrial operations benefit from hefty government subsidies, and don’t have to pay for the damage they cause!) As a result, sustainably raised meat usually costs more than the cheap meat churned out by factory farms. Which leads me to another point, of how companies and their labelling can be SO misleading.

Some brands claim that they don't test on animals, but some of these claims are a blatant lie. There are a lot of loopholes when it comes to the statements companies make. There is no regulation over the general phrase 'Cruelty Free' - so a product can be described as just that without having to show any proof. 'WE do not test on animals' might mean that the company don't, but that doesn't mean that they don't pay a third party to do it for them.'THIS PRODUCT was not tested on animals' is another misleading one - just because the final product wasn't tested on animals doesn't mean that the raw ingredients used to make it weren't. And finally 'We do not test on animals, EXCEPT WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW'which essentially means that as soon as a company sets up shop in a country where it's a legal requirement (such as China) then those products need to be tested on animals.

The biggest learning curve for me has been reading up on companies and trying to cut through these statements and find out the truth about which ones I should and shouldn't be using in my transition to going completely cruelty free. Even some of my favourite brands such as Urban Decay and The Body Shop don't test on animals (directly) - but their parent company who owns them does. So by buying these brands are we essentially still funding the testing at a higher level? With the money all going into the one pot, I guess so. Right now I still feel okay using the likes of Urban Decay, but I think with time my stance on that, and the companies which they are affiliated with, will change. The Body Shop (who made their name by opposing animal testing) maintain they will sustain the values and beliefs at the core of their business and perhaps may even be able to influence their parent company, however the money spent there will ultimately line the pockets of L’Oreal. Would you support a brand which doesn't test on animals, but is under the same umbrella and owned by a bigger company who does? L'oreal own Urban Decay, The Body Shop, Kiehls, Maybelline, Lancome and Garnier (to name a few) and Estee Lauder own Bobbi Brown, Mac, Clinique, Origins, Smashbox and Aveda.

The learning process of this has really been a minefield so far, but not an impossible one! There are so many fantastic brands who are completely cruelty free. Amanda writes regularly on her blog about cruelty free beauty, so I know if I'm looking for anything in particular then she will be my go-to gal for information. There are also tonnes of other bloggers who dedicate a lot of time to emailing companies and updating their sites with information on every brand you can think of. Elephant Room has been a fantastic resource for me in helping to understand the in's and out's of everything, and is a great starting place if you're looking to learn about it all.

A few examples of staples which I use every other day and have been looking to replace quite quickly (I'm not gonna throw out every animal tested product I own, I just won't repurchase once I have used them up!) are face masks, cleanser, exfoliator and an all purpose soap. Lush is an obvious staple, as absolutely none of their products or the ingredients are tested on animals! I use Cup O Coffee as a body mask/scrub when I'm having a soak to really refresh my skin, and the Glow Mud Mask from Pixi is fantastic too. When it comes to face masks I love a thick, clay like texture (which is extremely satisfying to apply, cause I'm a weirdo like that) and it feels like I've given myself a mini facial when I team it up with the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and the Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser. Give my skin anything with glycolic acid, salicylic acid or aloe vera, and it thanks me big time. I also couldn't not mention Forever Living, as all of their products are cruelty free too. I use the hand and face soap for a few extra bubbles in the bath (as my skin has been quite dry lately) and by the bathroom sink for general hand washing. These are the items I found I used most often and needed to replace first. I'm starting to run out of everything else slowly but surely, starting with foundation a couple of weeks ago so treated myself to Illamasqua Skin Base, and I love it!

I'm still a total newbie at this, so would love to hear your thoughts and experiences so far if you've been in the same boat as me. I'll leave you with this lovely picture of my face, enjoying the Glow Mud Mask, along with a really helpful infographic from Elephant Room about the different cruelty free certificates and what they actually mean. I keep this handy guide saved on my phone, along with The Little Book Of Cruelty Free, which is great to keep on hand especially when I'm out shopping and want to check a brand quickly.

Rocking the rainbow roots!

April 10, 2016, 11:21 am

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It feels pretty appropriate to be sharing my colourful new doo on such a sunny Sunday in Scotland (I actually saw a double rainbow last week, as did most people in Glasgow on my facebook, does that mean we all get to make a wish? Or something magical along those lines) A couple of weeks ago I had a trip to Rainbow Rooms in George Square to let the awesome Paddy loose on my hair again, and do these fun-tastic rainbow roots!

Paddy gave me a trim, freshened up the blonde, then went on to paint a selection of bright shades onto my middle parting, using a little artists pallette (you can see the video on my instagram, @hellorogue) As I sat in the chair I was seriously excited to see how they would turn out, and this was the finished result. You have no idea how much I wish my natural roots grew in like this, there would be no need to dye my hair EVER AGAIN.

I've been trying out some new products on my fresh colour, including this Marula Oil Rare Oil Treatment (the light version) applied to damp hair before blow drying. My hair is still in pretty good condition considering how much it has been bleached, but the aftercare is extremely important and I make sure to use a treatment like this each time I wash and dry my hair. I normally find most oils to be far too heavy (Moroccan Oil, I'm looking at you!) but this light version of the Marula Oil is perfect for hydrating and taming the ends, which often end up looking the most frazzled. They also do a normal version, along with a hair mask, a styling collection and the shampoo and conditioner too - so pretty much everything to match depending on what amount of nourishment your hair needs.

Oh my DAYS. I need to speak about the KC Professional Pearl Colour Mask
shampoo and conditioning mask for a minute too. This has to be one of the strangest and most brilliant combinations I've ever used, but leave it on for too long and your hair could end up a rather pinkish shade of pink! Which is great if you're already in that colour zone and are looking for a way to maintain between washes. However if that's not the case then use with caution, this stuff is extremely nourishing but also pretty strong. Sort of like how people use a purple shampoo to keep their blonde hair looking fresh and silvery, the colour mask duo works in the exact same way but is much more, well, pearly! First time I used it in the shower, it only took the time for me shaving my legs for the conditioner to really take effect and there was a rather pinkish hue to my hair when I dried it. After the next wash with my purple Lush shampoo it came out, and second time around I rinsed it a lot quicker and was just left with a lovely warm but fresh/clean looking pearly blonde.

Alas, a couple weeks later and my rainbow roots are starting to fade into more of a pastel vibe, which is totally fine by me but I'll definitely need to go back for a top up again soon. At the most recent appointment with my girl Lia at Swoon, I got her to match my nails to my hair - because why the hell not! She came up trumps with these cute lil' striped pastel and white beauties. (I actually typed shite instead of white the first time there, these are definitely not shite! Haha) Lia has just officially become Calgel's first UK Brand Ambassador, and has a 6 month waiting list for appointments. Which is absolutely crazy, but it's because she is crazy good. Keep an eye on her Facebook and Instagram for cancellations. I managed to pencil in another visit for May, so I'll need to start thinking what sort of creative magic I'd love her to conjure up next.

The Scottish Blogger Shop

April 15, 2016, 7:14 am

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I'm super excited to announce that at the end of the month, myself and eight other Scottish Bloggers will be taking over a unit in Buchanan Galleries, to hold the first ever Scottish Blogger Shop! If you love a bargain and fancy shopping some of our wardrobes (or just wanna come hang and say hello) then on Saturday 31st April and Sunday 1st of May you can do just that.

Shoes - George @ Asda // Skirt - Forever 21 (Old) // Jumper - Naf Naf @ Spartoo // Jacket - Topshop

10 points from Gryffindor for attempting to take my own outfit photos (Y'think a blogger would know better by now, huh?) I really should invest in a decent tripod and get some timer action on the go! I'm sure by now you all have an idea of the sort of style of clothes I wear, I have quite an eclectic mix (I tend to dress depending on my mood) and I'll be selling everything from clothing, shoes, accessories and unused/unopened makeup and other cosmetics at the Blogger Shop too. If my style ain't quite your thing, you'll also be able to browse and buy from Honey Pop Kisses, Miss West End Girl, Forever Yours Betty, Bee Waits For No One, Thank Fifi, Wardrobe Conversations and Florals & Corals.

There will be a fantastic range of styles and sizes hopefully to suit everyone, along with some special guests over the weekend including nails from NAF! Salon, and makeup by Sara Hill. The event will be taking place in the old BANK unit, just to the right of the Concert Hall steps on Buchanan Street (or across from River Island if you're inside the shopping centre) We will also be raising money for Give A Dog A Bone, a charity which supports the elderly in adopting a rescue animal. Really hope you can make it along to our pop up shop, it's gonna make for a super fun weekend and we all look forward to seeing you there!

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Sunday lunch at the Drygate, Glasgow

April 17, 2016, 5:30 am

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Happy Sunday folks! As you're reading this, I'll be on my way down to the coast for my bestie Heather's hen do, but I thought I'd schedule in a rather delicious review of the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow, where me and Pete went for lunch on Easter Sunday. Think you don't like beer? Me either, so do read on...

Citizen Mag asked me and Pete to choose a place to review in Glasgow, and eager to try somewhere we hadn't been before, I booked us a table at the Drygate on a sunny sunday afternoon. Since it was Easter Sunday and Pete was off work the next day, we were able to make it a slightly boozy one. Pete's a big fan of craft beer, and I just like anything light and fruity which is often not a category that beer falls into. Turns out I was wrong, and that there is definitely something for everyone, even when it comes to beer!

The menu was a decent size, not too big but still a good range of options to choose from. We started off by sharing a bottle of Voodoo Mango Astronaut Ale, which was absolutely delicious. Light tasting and slightly fruity, just what I was looking for. Plus look how awesome the bottle is! (I did take it home in my bag once we had finished, and the waiter said they get asked that by people quite a lot) For my main, I went for the Featherblade Steak with bone marrow, truffled chips, smoked tomato and pepper sauce. The steak was a perfect medium rare, really tender and full of flavour, and the little pot of peppercorn sauce... SO GOOD. I drowned my chips with it and Pete stole some for his chips too. Pete's main was the Venison & Blue Murder Burger, which he said was delicious and an interesting change from the usual beef burger option normally offered on menus.

When it comes to going out for lunch or dinner, I'm a two course sorta gal and that combination tends to include choosing a dessert rather than a starter! Service was slightly slow after our main course, so we had a read over the beer menu and when I asked the waiter for his recommendation he suggested a few then actually got the head barman to come over and chat to us. I thought this was quite a nice touch, as they didn't know we were in for review purposes so it's not like they were trying to give us the special treatment. These guys are extremely passionate about beer, and it definitely shows! I'd tried Timmerman fruit beer before, but they had peach on offer which I'd never tasted before, so while waiting on dessert I ordered a bottle of that while Pete had a pint of Glad Eye IPA, one of the Drygate's own brews.

For dessert I had the Drygate Doughnuts, in vanilla and tonka bean sugar with white pepper toffee sauce. I was super excited for these as reading the description reminded me of the hot sugary doughnuts I used to get on a Sunday down the Barra's market (which is also in the east end) with my Gran and Papa. These had a touch of a citrus taste to them though, which I wasn't a fan of. They were still yummy but I don't think I would order them again. Pete got the Dark Chocolate & Mark Matter Rum Tart, with chocolate and cumin fudge, accompanied by orange, lemon and vanilla creme fraiche. Beautifully presented, and inhaled by him in a matter of minutes. I'm not a dark chocolate person but Pete is, and it seemed to go down very well.

After our meal, we had a nosy at the Drygate's in house bottle shop, where you can buy a selection of their own brews along with some other specials. At the back of the restaurant you can also see into the Brewhouse where the Drygate make all of their beer. They also do tours every Sunday for £10 per person, so this could be a nice pressie for any beer lover in your life (or new beer convert like me!) Despite it being nestled in front of the massive Wellpark Brewery (where Tennents is made) the Drygate is the only microbrewery operating in the ancient brewing heart of Glasgow.

Coffee is always a good idea

April 23, 2016, 8:16 am

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A few weeks ago I took a little day trip through to Edinburgh with a handful of other Scottish Bloggers, for a coffee themed event with Curry's! My day actually began with a trip to see the fantastic Dale at Pixie Hair and Beauty for some brow tlc and makeup, but more on that later. You all know how much I love coffee (and my lil' death before decaf tattoo tribute) so I was super intrigued to try some Nespresso infused dishes. Coffee flavoured coffee, yes. Coffee flavoured food? Let's see how this goes...

To begin our sensory dining experience, we were presented with a blindfold which we were to wear for the starter. I am the first person to scrunch up my face in sheer disgust when discovering a coffee flavoured Revel (especially in the cinema when it's dark and you've played roulette with the shape, hoping it will be an orange or malteaser one!) So being in the dark, literally, for this first course was quite a nerve wracking experience. Luckily... it was delicious! And turned out to be buffalo mozzarella with tomato jam and Nespresso Rosabaya coffee bean jus. I am a big fan of anything cheese related, and the jus was a lovely smooth but slightly bitter addition to the creamy mozzarella and zingy tomato jam. Here's what was on the rest of the menu:

Italian style risotto flavoured with Nespresso Coli, yellow pepper, fresh tomato petals and a micro cress salad.

Pan fried venison loin, sauteed mixed wild mushrooms and fried Nespresso Kazaar flavoured custard.

Vanilla ice cream, Nespresso Vanillito pannacotta, chocolate sauce and chocolate and Nespresso Caramelito crisp.

We finished up with some coffee (the actual liquid kind!) and frangelico truffles. Suitably stuffed, the whole dining experience was great fun and I must say despite not being a fan of coffee flavoured food, I actually really enjoyed it. The risotto was a bit overwhelming, and probably my least favourite of the three, I think because I always associate risotto with being creamy. The fried custard was interesting, I'm not a custard fan in general but it actually worked quite well in this form with a savoury dish. The panacotta was a big hit, as coffee flavoured desserts are always quite popular! But it was definitely interesting to see coffee infused into savoury dishes too. Tempted to sneak a bit of this inspiration into my home cooking and see if Pete notices!

I started the day off quite hungover (thanks to some pop punk karaoke at Bloc the night before) but after a coffee filled day we headed back to Glasgow feeling rather giddy with a spring in our step! As I mentioned at the start of the post, I have the amazing Dale to thank for the wizardry she worked on my makeup and brows that morning. I rocked up to the beautiful Pixie salon on Dumbarton road, looking and feeling like a shell of a woman. Fast forward an hour and a half later and I literally felt transformed! You can see more of Dale's work on her instagram. After a good tidy up and tint of my brows, she used some beautiful brown shades to give me a warm smokey eye, with a gorgeous matte colour on my lips. Coffee coloured makeup for a coffee inspired event, that's some java-tastic coordination right there! Seriously though, I can't wait to go back and see Dale soon. She made me feel like a million dollars, I think I've found my favourite new beauty salon in Glasgow. Now, this post has got me in the mood for a cuppa...

The Scottish Tattoo Convention 2016

April 28, 2016, 12:29 am

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Every year on the last weekend in March, the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh plays host to one of my favourite days out... The Scottish Tattoo Convention! Scotland isn't the only holder of weekends like this, there are annual conventions all over the country (and all over the world too I guess!) throughout the year - in the likes of London, Brighton, Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle to name a few. I thought I'd share some pictures from this years Edinburgh convention, to give a little insight as to what actually happens at them apart from the obvious tattooing.

Tattoo artists from all over the world gather at these conventions, and the list of artists attending is normally released a good few months before the event takes place. So if you've had your eye on getting tattooed from an artist who isn't from this country, conventions are the perfect opportunity to get booked in with them. It will save you a flight or a train trip, as long as you don't mind getting tattooed in a busy (but still clean and safe) environment, with lots of passers by who will often stand and have a little nosy while you're under the needle. I've been to conventions in London and Carlisle, but I have to say that Edinburgh is still my favourite. It's a good size, not too big and not too small, with a great selection of stalls selling everything from jewellery, clothes, prints, homeware and gifts. A few of my favourite vendors this year were Custom Plugs, Dr Martens (with a whole load of boot customisation going down!) and Vanity Thrills Vintage Beauty Parlour.

Photo by Pictures In Blood



First photo and the above by Moff @ Photography

There is normally some sort of on stage entertainment at weekends like this, led by a compare who will run tattoo competitions for best in show (hey, just like Crufts! Minus the dogs...) And at this years Edinburgh Convention I was super impressed by Death Do Us Part Danger Show, the lovely ladies who entered into Miss Scottish Pinup 2016, and some fire juggling wizardry from Cervena Fox. Even if you don't fancy getting tattooed, you can browse all the artists portfolios and pick up some prints of their artwork. This year I did get tattooed. And I was sorta glad for it to be happening in such a public place so I had to put on my brave face! Thanks so much to Darryl Mullen for doing this awesome little captain on my hand. I'm actually booked in with him again at Irezumi next week to get the other paw done - wish me luck ♥ Sheri and Amanda (AKA The Colour Pop Girls) also filmed a great vlog from the convention which you can see on their youtube channel here. Keep your eyes peeled for my guest appearance!

Do you have any tattoos? And would you ever fancy going to a Tattoo Convention?

Lazy Sundays with The Trading House

May 3, 2016, 1:51 pm

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I meant to publish this post on Sunday but I was tenderly nursing a hangover from my bestie's leaving do the night before. I still can't believe that Leah is moving to Canada on Saturday for two whole years. I am so proud of her, but man I'm gonna miss her. There's gonna be tears at the airport, that's for sure. What I reeeeally could have done with on Sunday, was to spend the afternoon at The Trading House like I did a few weekends ago. Coffee, a couple of newspapers, great banter, and a good old Sunday Roast - yes please!

Tshirt - H&M // Star Belt - Gant // Skirt - Forever 21 (Old) // Shoes - H&M

As you can see I appropriately wore my carbs t-shirt in great expectation of what was to come. Sheri and Claire invited a group of us for lunch and a catch up. I've just noticed that the little boy statue to the left of me looks like he is hanging his head in shame, haha. I know my fashion sense isn't the most on trend, but I do like to dress to suit my mood, and sunday means super comfy attire, minimal makeup and hair tied up in a messy bun.

The Bloody Mary trolley looked fantastic but unfortunately they're not to my taste, so I opted for a Booster Mocktail instead which was super zingy and refreshing. Perfect for a weekend pick me up if you've had one too many the night before. The actual roast hit the spot too. I could eat yorkshire puddings and gravy every day for the rest of my life. Laura was a step ahead of us all and ordered an extra yorkie, so I shall definitely be doing that next time! For  £11.95 you can get Roast Chicken or Roast Beef (they do a veggie option too) with all the trimmings on the side. For children it's £6.95, and they get two scoops of ice cream too. The portion sizes were really generous, but just enough that I didn't feel like rolling over into a food coma afterwards. Do you enjoy a lazy Sunday on the sofa with some home cooked grub, or do you prefer dusting off the cobwebs and getting out for a nice brekkie or lunch?

A Hen Weekend at the Old Nunnery

May 8, 2016, 6:12 am

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I'm at the age now where it feels like everyone on my facebook is getting married, buying a house, or having babies! This doesn't freak me out or bother me in the slightest, I guess it just illustrates that 'grown up' life is in full swing for most of my peers. I squee in excitement when one of my friends tell me they are expecting, or that their other half has popped the question. I'm like shit, does this mean we are all becoming adults now?! I don't feel like an adult! When my Mum was my age (26) I was three years old. Right now I'm caring for a three year old cat rather than a three year old human, but that's cool with me! There are no rules or time limits as to when and how we should be moving through this life. It's hard not to compare yourself to others, and think 'by THIS age, I should have my dream job and be on the property ladder' and 'by THAT age, at the very latest, I really want a ring on it and lots of lil' babies crawling around at my feet'. You might want all of these things or you might want none of these things. And that is totally cool. Don't let anyone tell you any different, or feel like you have to explain yourself to anyone. I've went off on a bit of a tangent here but I just wanted to say I am just as excited watching my friends go through their journey as I am venturing on my own. On sure fire way of uniting lots of ladies from different friend groups and walks of life, is at a hen party!




I met Heather through an ex boyfriend around 5 years ago now, we hit it off from day one and have been really close ever since. I was chuffed to bits when she asked me to be a bridesmaid alongside her sister and two of her oldest and dearest friends from school. The wedding is in July, so a few weeks ago it was time to party and bring all the hens together for a weekend at The Old Nunnery in Skelmorlie. Right down at the sea front between Wemyss Bay and Largs, this old victorian residence was formerly a Bishops home, nunnery, and religious retreat. Quite an ironic contrast to the groups of people who now rent it out for party weekends (and I am pretty damn sure the place is haunted...)




We welcomed Heather and the hens with goodie bags packed to the brim, glittery wine glasses made by Heather's sister Nina, along with lots of prosecco and a ridiculous selection of Funkin Cocktails to get the party started. On our first night we were having a six course meal prepared for us by the nunnery chefs later in the evening, so tucked into these gorgeous cocktail flavoured cupcakes from Eat Me Ltd while we settled into our new home for the weekend. I can't thank Lesley enough for matching our colour scheme and delivering them to us at such last minute. They didn't taste overwhelmingly like alcohol, but were sweet, light and fluffy - and went down an absolute treat with all the girls. We were pretty organised leading right up to the weekend, but I now know what folk mean when they say a hen's work is never truly done!




After our six course dinner (which was absolutely delicious, and catered for the vegetarian and vegans of the group too) the bikini's were on and a bunch of us hopped into the hot tub for a few hours. The living room was massive with big comfy sofas, so we all sort of congregated between there and the hot tub for the rest of the night. I do feel sorry for any neighbours who might have heard singing and dancing until the early hours of the morning. I'm sure they (and the ghosts of the Nunnery, LOLZ) are pretty used to it by now.




I retreated to bed at around 1.30am, so was one of the first up the next morning and had a wee tidy while helping Jacs prepare our big breakfast. One by one, ladies started to appear sheepishly from their rooms with crazy bed hair and sore heads to match. Breakfast definitely helped perk everyone up, and we spent the rest of the afternoon receiving facials and massages from the beauty therapists which can be booked via the Nunnery (along with the chefs from the evening before too) We had quite a chilled day, everyone nursing hangovers and bubbling away in the hot tub or going for a walk down the sea front. We started getting ready for the night ahead, which consisted of masquerade masks for everyone and lots of silly hen party games. We also presented Heather with her wedding present from a group of us, which is a LookLook photobooth for on the big day.



Only a couple of months now until the wedding, and I know it's gonna absolutely fly in. The invites are out, and we get the final fitting for our bridemaid dresses this weekend. It was great to spend a few days getting to know more of Heather's friends and family. This girl is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, inside and out, and I truly mean it when I say she deserves all the happiness in the world. Her and Andy are a match made in heaven, and to see two people so in love about to spend the rest of their lives together... well that just makes me go all gooey inside! Andy, I am very sorry if we traumatised you with the blow up Andy doll who ended up in various forms of fancy dress and unmentionable photos over the weekend. It is a hen do, after all!

Pastel Dreams and Braids 4EVA

May 12, 2016, 8:14 am

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I remember the first time when I was little and my Mum styled my hair into what can only be described as a pineapple pony tail (half up, half down, with the pony swinging about like nobody's business) and I made her put my hair like that every day for the whole summer. This is pretty much how I felt at my recent visit to Paddy for a colour refresh. I'm obsessed with anything Opal at the moment, and my new colour definitely fits the bill. Business in the front, braid party in the back!

Without sounding like I know anything about Coachella, Paddy's idea was to create some Kylie Jenner-esque colour fades with some festival friendly braids. I don't plan on going to a festival any time soon but I absolutely LOVED having my hair braided like this. It was a nice change to a ponytail (which is normally how I scrape my unwashed hair up after a few days) and prevented me having to wash my freshly coloured locks for a little bit longer. This is a big step for someone like me who used to wash her hair every single day. Having this sorta hair washing rehab over the past 6 months has been an absolute god send, not to mention giving me time for an extra snooze in the morning.



To keep my braided look intact, all I used were these three gems above. Dry Shampoo from Paul Mitchell Express Dry, along with a finishing spray and texturizing sea spray from the Awapuhi Wild Ginger range. I've used many dry shampoos in the past but particularly love this one at the moment, as it doesn't leave an overly powdery residue like a lot of dry shampoos do. Plus, it smells fantastic and really fresh! So I was able to spray my roots liberally with this, along with some special attention to my fringe (it's always the first section of my hair to go limp and oily) and tidy up any flyaways with the finishing spray. It had a great firm hold but didn't make my hair look or feel frozen in time - which is always a fear when it comes to strong hairsprays. The texturizing sea spray is also absolutely spot on. I used it on the side parts of my fringe which were hanging down and twirled around my finger, just to give them a bit of life without having to use straighteners. I'm going to have another go of it letting my hair dry naturally and see if I can achieve proper beachy waves all over. Summer, I'm ready for ya!

My hair appointments seem to be very well in sync with my nail appointments, so of course at my last visit to Swoon I got Lia to match my nails to my hair, like she did with the rainbow roots previously. My brief was holographic disco unicorn vibe, and although she didn't have any silver unicorn decals in stock we ended up going for a moon, heart, tooth and eye - which I think worked just as well! Along with some glitter fade and a lavender and mint base. I finally got my other hand tattooed thanks to my wee Forever Living team buying me a voucher for doing some graphics for them. Let's just say this hand was MUCH sorer than the other one! I almost had to tap out half way through but Darryl kept me going. Glad that's them all done now, I'm totally in love with them both (Although I can't say my Dad feels the same... Sorry Dad!)

Top - Naf Naf @ Spartoo // Skirt - Illustrated People @ Topshop // Bag - Moony Mood @ Spartoo // Boots - New Look (old) // Glitter Lips - Beauty Boulevard

I finally had to take the plunge and wash my hair at the weekend for Leah's leaving night. Quite a bit of the colour came out with the first wash, but I've been topping it up going between silver shampoo and the pearl colour mask I mentioned a few posts back. This felt like a pretty laid back outfit for a night out in town, but I rarely do heels these days and prefer to be comfy (Man, I'm getting old...) Plus I feel like an absolute magpie for anything opal, pastel or glitter related right now. Hence the glitter lips! I popped them over some pink lippie, and I've got a red version too which will be perfect for over red lips. I really need to up my confidence when it comes to taking outfit pictures, touching my hair seems to be the go to move. And I apologise on behalf of my extremely patient photographer Pete for the big shadow in the side of that photo. There were a few better ones but that one above was the only candidate where I was happy with my awkward looking face. Posing for outfit photo tips... please share below!

A Bespoke Facial at 33 Dowanhill

May 20, 2016, 2:10 am

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The last 12 months have been an absolute roller coaster ride for me in terms of my skin and skincare routine. It was around a year ago now when we started filming Shetland (the very first day of filming, actually) that I came home from work having worn a beanie hat that day, and finding my forehead was itchy and had broken out into a sort of under the skin rash. You can read the post I wrote about it here (suitably named a mid twenties skin crisis!) From that point, my skin progressed from bad to really bad, and I can honestly say it was a huge knock to my confidence that I wasn't expecting. Makeup made my skin look and feel worse, and I spent so much money overwhelming my face with a boatload of different products every week, not to mention the expensive facial peel which scared the absolute life out of me. Your skin literally does peel, almost like sunburn or a snake shedding a layer of skin... you think I would have realised that before I went for one huh? Anyways, I recently went for a bespoke facial at 33 Dowanhill and thought I'd give an update on how my skin is looking almost a year on.

I'm gonna start this off and be totally honest by saying Joanna is an absolute angel. Seriously. I flew in the door feeling extremely frazzled and stressed, and as soon as we started talking I knew I was in extremely safe hands. At 33 Dowanhill Joanna doesn't believe in a 'one size fits all' facial, and since she has no association to any one brand it means she can use the most suitable and luxurious products from across the entire skincare market which will work best for your skin. You can see from the first photograph the eclectic selection of products which she used for my facial. I also loved the fact that her choice of skincare products are as ‘clean’ as possible. Joanna takes time to research the most effective products that have high concentrations of low molecular weight ingredients and those with high levels of natural fatty acids and essential oils. Out of the 14 products Joanna used on my skin, only one wasn't cruelty free and that was the Nuxe eye cream (Nuxe does not test their ingredients or finished products on animals, but they do sell their products physically in mainland China, which means their products are tested on animals, as China requires mandatory animal testing for all foreign cosmetics that are sold within the country) I never realised this until after the facial, but next time it would be easy to swap for an alternative product so hopefully that appeals to you fellow Cruelty Free skincare users out there.

The facial its self? Absolute bliss. We did continue gabbing for the first 25 minutes until I started to drift off into a very relaxed, sleepy state. Every facial includes advanced massage that encourages blood flow and production of collagen, and I was interested to hear at the end that while massaging around my eyes, Joanna had found and worked on little nodules of fluid that had gathered. All around your eyes you have lymph channels and sinuses that carry fluid, which can cause puffiness and dark circles. The basic principle is to use light pressure to move it out of the eye area and move down and out through the face and neck. I'd never heard of this before and felt extremely comforted (and rather impressed!) by Joanna's extensive knowledge on more than just the top layer of our skin.

Once your facial is finished, Joanna doesn't just bid you farewell and send you off into the world with a happily pampered face - she can also make up bespoke skincare boxes to suit your budget and individual needs. The picture above is an example of one of the boxes she prepared which was being collected by a customer that afternoon. They all come with a personalised plan of how and when you should use the products. I'm quite happy with my routine at the moment but skin is changing, and looking better, so I think I might need to adapt it soon for the state which it has improved to. The key to clearing up my skin has been keeping things simple and consistent. It took me months to get into the swing of things and find a routine which really worked for me! Starting from the inside out - so drinking plenty of water and 60ml of aloe vera gel every single day. Then product wise, for cleansing I use Agera Deep Cleansing Salicylic Wash, Forever Aloe Scrub, Aloe Propolis Cream, along with a face mask once or twice a week. Alternating betwen the Forever Marine Mask, or one of the fresh face masks from Lush ('Cosmetic Warrior' and 'Don't Look At Me' are my favourites!)

So, here's my before and after, 9 months apart. As you can see, my skin still has blemishes and scarring but it's much calmer and clearer than what it was last year. I'm still really happy with the progress and only hope it can continue. My stress levels also had a big part to play in this, so I think the medication I'm on for anxiety has also really helped clear my skin up too. The Signature Facial at 33 Dowanhill is £68 for 60 minutes, and although I received this free of charge in exchange for a review I couldn't recommend Joanna highly enough! I would pay it again and again for how fantastic she made my skin feel. I turn 27 next month so I'm going to book myself in for another facial soon and perhaps treat myself to a bespoke skincare box for summer. Not to mention her beautiful shop is only two doors down from my go-to tattoo studio - this could be my new favourite street in Glasgow you guys! Haha. How is your skin looking and feeling at the moment?

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#Dothelot with Intu Braehead

May 25, 2016, 1:54 pm

≫ Next: Undearwear as Outerwear & A Lingerie Wishlist

≪ Previous: A Bespoke Facial at 33 Dowanhill

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 I love challenges, and competitions, and shopping - so combine the three and I am GAME! If you follow me across my other social media channels then you might have seen this little video already. I won a competition recently with Intu Braehead, and they armed me with a £100 gift card and challenged me to 'do the lot'.  Since Braehead opened when I was a teenager, I've always loved the convenience of being able to drive 10 minutes out of the city centre to a place with late night shopping, free parking and loads of places to eat or meet friends for a coffee all under the one roof. Not forgetting to mention a cinema, bowling, more food, and a ski slope within a few minutes walking distance over at Soar. Already being a regular customer and having worked at Lush in Braehead over Christmas, I knew exactly the places I wanted to go with my gift card. You'll need to watch the video to find out where (and enjoy having a laugh at me being a goofball in the process!)  Wendy from Thank Fifi, Hayley from Love Is In The Detail, and Paul Thomas Bell also took part in the challenge, so if you'd like a nosy at their videos too you can find them here. Thanks again to Intu Braehead for such a fun morning and the generous voucher. The only thing they are really missing is a Paperchase - the stationary fiend in me has just gotta put that out there to the universe! ♥ 

Undearwear as Outerwear & A Lingerie Wishlist

June 1, 2016, 4:52 am

≫ Next: #tastetheworld at Giraffe, Glasgow

≪ Previous: #Dothelot with Intu Braehead

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BOOOOOBS! Do I have your attention? Put a bunch of bloggers in a room with a rail full of beautiful clothes from House Of Fraser, a selection of bralettes from the new Ultimo SS16 collection, and a photographer... well, this is what happens!

Last month I was invited along to an event with Ultimo at House Of Fraser in Glasgow, where we were challenged to style up an outfit chanelling this seasons 'underwear as outerwear' trend. I wasn't feeling brave (or tanned) enough on the day to go all out, as I'd just rolled into town straight from work - hence the slightly disheveled hair and makeup look I've got going on. Let's just say I was taking inspo from the catwalks of Paris and that it was totally intentional! Myself and a few others ended up taking advantage of some sheer shirts and dresses, layering them with our chosen bralettes which created a lovely silhouette underneath. They're the sort of bra and straps which you don't mind being visible through your clothes or peeping out the low cut back or side of an outfit.



I honestly think that summer can sometimes be too warm for heavy underwire bras, and while I could never let my boobies roam free under a dress or shirt in the sunnier months, I do love the idea of bralettes for comfort and adding another bit of detail to your outfit. I know that these type of soft bras aren't for everyone (especially if your boobs are quite big!) so I made a little wishlist of normal bras from the Ultimo range which I think would look quite sweet peeking out from under an outfit too.



1 - Cher // 2 - Pearl // 3 - Cara // 4 - Arabella // 5 - Kori

So, what do you think - underwire or not to underwire? Lace, cotton or silky, what's your favourite sort of underwear and would you ever try turning it into outerwear?

P.S Thank you to Liam Bradley for taking our photographs, and the bloggers who bonded over boobs and bras were Two Blondes One Blog, A Life With Frills, Glasgow Beauty Blogger, Honeypop Kisses, Bee Waits For No One, and Miss West End Girl.

#tastetheworld at Giraffe, Glasgow

June 9, 2016, 2:23 am

≫ Next: Introducing Bronson

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Last month I was invited down to Giraffe in Glasgow to try out their new Spring menu. I've only been to Giraffe once previously when me and Katrina were down in Brighton around 4 years ago now. The menu is extremely varied with a little bit of something for everyone, and dishes inspired by loads of different countries, so their #tastetheworld hashtag is pretty spot on!

Me and Pete turned it into a little date night, and to be honest a restaurant with a varied menu like Giraffe is perfect for us. We aren't fussy when it comes to food, but I often find we are out of sync when it comes to 'what are you in the mood for?'. I genuinely think we spend 50% of our relationship deciding what to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner! So with a super mixed menu (and not one which is too big either - I get extremely overwhelmed when restaurants have that!) I was intrigued to see what we would both end up ordering, and if they would be from the same part of the world.




For starters, Pete had the Chicken Yaki Gyozas which were lovely and crispy, with a delicious nouc cham sweet chilli dipping sauce. I went for the Grilled Halloumi Skewers (because HALLOUMI YOU GUYS) and to be honest I could have done with a 3rd skewer or double portion. Maybe just because I'm greedy and could probably eat a whole pack in one go? I have no shame.




For the main course, I had the Chicken Katsu Noodles and Pete went for the Chilli Beef Burrito. Pretty much us both down to a t! Pete is such a burrito fiend whereas I tend to avoid them, as after eating I feel like I'm carrying a small baby in my belly. Both of our meals were really fresh and tasty, with a decent portion size which didn't make you wanna go into a food coma straight afterwards. We  shared a side of onion rings with a BBQ dip, and maaaaan they were good. I have a fear of soggy onion rings, but these were crispy with a decent onion to batter ratio, and not too huge either! (Onion rings the size of bangles just ain't my vibe)

After two courses and a few beers, we couldn't manage to squeeze a full desert in each so opted for  the churros to share. They arrived nice and hot, and I even managed to dribble chocolate sauce all down my nice new tshirt. Always the sign of a good meal, right? Next time I think I'll skip starter and go for main and a full desert, the White Chocolate & Passionfruit Cheesecake, and Salted Caramel Sundae both looked amazing!

For a restaurant that is really giving you a taste of the world by offering so many different dishes, I was worried that it would feel like a 'jack of all trades but master of none' situation. However we were pleasantly surprised. Each meal felt like it could have easily belonged in the style of restaurant it would usually be served in (particularly my Katsu Noodles, watch your back Wagamama!) The dishes are extremely reasonably priced, and I think this is the perfect kind of restaurant if you're going out with a mixed crowd and want a menu with something for everyone. Even a fussy food loving couple like me and Pete who take ages to decide on where to go for food! I absolutely adored the decor too, and my only worry was how quiet the restaurant was for 7pm on a Saturday night. This initially had the alarm bells in my head ringing, but I think it's probably to do with the fact that this restaurant is fairly new and is tucked away on West Regent Street, so perhaps doesn't get a lot of 'passing' trade. All in all, Giraffe - we like you! I'll be back soon for that Salted Caramel Sundae.

Introducing Bronson

June 19, 2016, 2:35 am

≫ Next: My Summer Essentials

≪ Previous: #tastetheworld at Giraffe, Glasgow

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If you follow me on instagram, twitter or facebook, then you'll have seen that two weeks ago me and Pete became the proud owner of a French Bulldog puppy. Everyone, meet Bronson...

Bronson was part of a litter of four and today he's 10 weeks and one day old. His brother Max (the mostly black pup) is staying with the breeder, then there's Luna (who had left when I went to collect Bronson) and this little lady above is Olive, who is now home with our very own Sheri from Forever Yours Betty. Brother and Sister got reunited at my birthday last weekend, it was so bloody cute seeing them meet each other again after some time apart. Sheri stays in Glasgow too so we will be able to have plenty of puppy dates and hopefully Bronson and Olive can grow up to be BFF's for life! I'm really looking forward to his second jags being out the way so we can take him out proper walks and get him socialising with other dogs too.

Bronson has been an absolute sweetheart from day 1, he is a total handful but a really lovely natured dog and has taken to the crate training and toilet training extremely well. He's getting on brilliantly with the cats, which was never a major worry for me as they are both so laid back, but it was still a relief to see them accept this little guy into their home so quickly and with no confrontation. I want to thank Ashley for coming with me to Dundee to pick him up (as Pete was away down south with his band) and for taking these gorgeous pictures of him! Big thanks to Michelle too for giving me a last minute puppy prep talk the morning I was going to collect him. Despite being totally prepared, I was still worried because as a cat lady I know what they need, their body language and how these animals are. Dogs are complete unknown territory to me and I was going to be alone with him for the first week before Pete came back from England! Our wee family is all united now and absolutely loving this new addition to our furry gang.

Between work and looking after a new puppy, life has pretty much been on hold for me so I apologise that things have been a little quiet around here. I'm hoping to get back to normal weekly posting as soon as possible, I've just been feeling a little overwhelmed recently and trying to work out a good routine and balance without having a complete melt down! It's not my job's fault, or Bronsons fault, it's just a combination of absolutely everything being mega busy lately along with the typical timing of my anxiety being really bad. I've upped my medication for the time being after a long chat with the doctor, so hoping that will help in the coming weeks just to take the pressure off a little. My brain is constantly over active and worrying, so that's taking up a lot of my energy which I could be productively using elsewhere. I don't want to put a downer on this super cute puppy filled post, I just wanted to let you know why I might take a little longer to reply to emails and comments, with longer gaps between posts. I'm still here, but just trying to work stuff out in my brain. This little bundle of cuteness has been a total ray of sunshine and has probably helped with my anxiety in the long run, by giving me something positive to focus on and care for ♥

My Summer Essentials

June 29, 2016, 10:04 am

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On the 11th of June I turned 27 (yikes!) and every year it feels like my birthday properly marks the start of summer. Even if the weather doesn't quite match up to it (I'm looking at you, Glasgow) This time of year is always really busy for me work wise, as the longer days are always used to their full advantage by film & tv crews. This current BBC job has been super busy, we started filming on Monday and surprisingly I've had quite a nice spring in my step all week. It's probably a lot down to my medication kicking in right about now (Thanks for all the nice messages after that last post ♥) but also to do with the extended daylight! It gives me such a good buzz and I feel like I get a lot out of my week. I've felt inspired to kick start my self care regime again properly, refresh my routine, and spring clean (in summer!) my clothes, makeup, and pretty much every nook and cranny of my house. Anyways, whether this summer ends up being filled with rain or not, my brain is in a much better place now so I really don't mind. Here are my top summer essentials while the season is upon us.

1. De-Clutter

 Okay, this might still look like clutter to you pinterest worthy makeup organisers out there, but for me this is a significant improvement! Sharing very little storage space with a boy means that most of everything I own gets shoved into the back of a drawer and forgotten about under a pile of other 'stuff'. I got some lovely new makeup bits for my birthday from Illamasqua, Kiko and Sara Hill, so took the opportunity to completely clear out my makeup drawer good and proper. It's looking much more organised now, and for on top of my dressing table I got these two storage pieces from A Place For Everything. I can neatly keep my most used items on display, along with making a vow to myself to rotate my lipstick and blusher options every so often. Hoping it will stop me from reaching for the same shades again and again, and then feeling fed up that my makeup always looks the same. I want to wear lots of bright colours this year rather than sticking to the same old faithfuls.

2. De-Fuzz

Hair removal isn't for everyone, some people do and some people don't. Personally, I do! But that doesn't mean this needs to be an essential part of your own summer routine. The only sort of waxing I'm brave enough to endure is that of my eyebrows (which currently look like hamsters but luckily I'm booked in with Dale tomorrow night!) The shaving of legs, under arms and bikini lines can get so damn tedious, and this is the first summer where I've added an alternative approach to my de-fuzzing routine. I was sent the Braun Silk Expert IPL to review a couple of months ago, and to be honest it took me a month to pluck up the courage to use it. Pete ended up having to pin me down on the hall floor and try it out on my legs for me. So many false starts and me pulling my legs away and screaming, I don't know why I thought it was going to be sore?! Anything unknown like this is enough to spook me. You guys, IPL isn't sore! It's basically just high-intensity pulses of light that cause your hair follicles to shed. I've been using it on gentle mode but I'm happy to switch to the normal setting now. With continues periodic use your hair becomes weaker, thinner, lighter and grows slower, which has already started to happen with me after using it once a week for four weeks. No lasers burning your skin like I had initially thought.

This clever cookie adapts to the colour of your skin tone, and it's most effective on light to medium skin tones with hair ranging from natural blonde to dark brown/black. Apparently it's not meant to be as effective on very blonde, red, grey or white hair, so I would definitely recommend having a check on the website before purchasing any sort of IPL. For me, it's been fantastic on my underarms and bikini line but the only downside is that I can't use it properly on my legs, due to my tattoos! They cover 50% of my legs, and you can't use it over tattooed areas as the IPL can't distinguish the difference between pigmentation from the hair root and your skin. It would most likely fade my tattoos and I don't want to take any chances on that happening. I did try going round about them, but it was too awkward as I would still have to shave random portions of my legs. So do be careful if you plan to use one anywhere near your tattoos. Apart from that slight inconvenience, it's a great machine and completely PAIN FREE (thank f*@k!)

My IPL was a combo box which also contained a Skin Spa Exfoliator. I've been using this after my bath along with Ocean Salt from Lush for a right good scrub! I need to order the smaller attachment for it which is suitable for using on your face. Unlike the IPL you charge this up separately so it doesn't need to be plugged into the wall while you're using it. A replacement brush head is around £10 from Amazon or slightly more expensive in Boots, but I'm hoping that's something I won't need to replace too often. I've used it over 10 times now and the brush still looks good as new (and this is coming from someone quite heavy handed who replaces her toothbrush every other month) Exfoliating is probably one of my favourite things to do to my skin, so this little wizard has been super helpful. Perfect for prepping the third part of my summer essentials...

3. De-Pale

If you're not gonna give me some sun, Scotland, then I'll need to fake it myself! Fake tan is another thing which isn't for everyone, but I do enjoy wearing it and feel like it gives me a little confidence boost having a healthy glow. Whether that be natural or from the real sun, but for now I've gotta fake it until I make it (with Pete in Singapore come September... that guy just glances at the sun and turns a beautiful golden brown) I have tried so many tans, each one being triumphant in colour, odour, or longevity... but none really mastering them all, and Fake Bake is always the one I end up going back to as I know exactly what I'm paying for. New kids on my radar Bellamianta Rapid Mousse and Self Tanning Tinted Lotion are my go to tanning products at the moment however! They're in a similar price bracket to Fake Bake, are also cruelty free, and I must admit once my tan washed off the next morning there was absolutely no trace of smell whatsoever. Bellamianta insist that their tan smells so good, they have made a candle to match the scent hahaha. Srsly tho, it's burning in my bedroom and is v.delicious. Some of it did transfer onto my sheets overnight, but that's to be expected with any tan (Sorry Pete) They have also came up with the best tanning mitt I have ever used, hands down (get it? LOLZ!) it has a thumb, is double sided, and machine washable. Shut up and take my money!

Dress - Spartoo // Breakfast - Cafe Strange Brew // Bumping into Miss West End Girl - Unexpected!

Honestly though, my biggest and most important summer essential? Friends. Surrounding yourself with the people you love and who love you right back. I've been a hermit for the past wee while as I got my head stuck into work and looking after the dog. But he's getting bigger now so I don't need to worry as much or wrap him in bubble wrap. Bronson is a great little companion when I'm out and about, so I have no excuse not to see more of my friends and family in the evenings or weekends as I can take the little dude with me. Socialising is good for the soul, and when I don't feel like it is ironically when I most need it. Lynsay is an absolute diamond of a human being, who I don't think I would have met if it wasn't for this blog. She's recently moved to the south side, and we ended up bumping into one another at our local caf' on saturday morning. New makeup, fresh tan and summery dress, topped with unexpected brunch with some of your favourite people - now THAT'S my essential summer vibes right there ♥