Ciara Sims

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Wash (£4.99) has been my face wash of choice this month. I love everything about it from they way it subtly smells of grapefruit to the way it leaves my skin feeling smooth and looking clearer. It tightens my skin without completely drying it out and it really brightens up my skin. It's not a miracle worker, it wont banish every spot, blemish and black head but it is a really nice, easy to use daily face wash.



I still can't get over how much I love the White Company White Lavender Pillow Mist (£15). I wont ramble on about this too much as I did a full review recently, but this stuff really is amazing. It smells beautifully of lavender and if you do struggle with sleeping or are after something to relax you before bed, then check this out. I have been spraying it on my pillow every night religiously since I got it for Christmas.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer (£23.50) has been so well loved this month. This product is great for contouring or adding a quick bit of colour to the cheeks. It looks so natural and is buildable so it is impossible to go over board. Great for me as I am quite heavy handed! This bronzer is great for all year round and I love the fact that it is matte as I cant be dealing with overly glittery cheeks! You can check out my full review of Hoola here.


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My Oh My. Words cannot describe my love for the incredibly talented Jake Bugg. I have had his latest album Shangri La on repeat this whole month. It is just fantastic. There aren't many albums that I can sit down and listen to the whole way through, loving every song. But this one is just perfect. If you haven't heard it already then I seriously suggest that you give it a listen. It is so hard to pick but my top tracks off this album are Slumville Sunrise, Messed Up Kids, Me and You, A Song About Love and Simple Pleasures. I NEED to see him live.

So there's what I've been loving in January. What about you, what have been your favourite things this month? Let me know in the comments.

Ciara x

At the moment I've been really loving minimalist nails. I think there is something so elegant about them and less really is more. *Ciaté Cream Soda (£9) is the perfect colour for a minimal mani. This subtle cream grey is soft and super wearable. It is really understated and classy.

This one is quite sheer. I applied 3 coats but I think that really 2 was enough to make it opaque. Even though I applied quite generous coats, the polish still dried super quickly and wasn't streaky at all. Great for me as I just can't seem to manage to sit still long enough for my nails to dry! It doesn't chip easily either. Win Win.


I think this colour is so lovely as a quick wash of colour but would also look really nice used in a lovely piece of nail art. If only I had the talent!

What nail trends are you loving at the moment?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

After months of worrying and stressing, I finally received my GCSE mock results last week. I had convinced myself that I had failed everything. When I opened up my results I was over the moon, I had managed to get 7 B's an A and an A*. I had spent weeks and weeks worrying and getting myself in a panic for absolutely nothing. I am constantly too hard on myself and I put myself down straight away, something that I am trying to change. When I got home my parents were thrilled as they knew how hard I had worked to achieve these grades, but my brother being a little stirrer said - "Well they aren't all A's are they". And there was a part of me, a tiny little part in the back of my mind, that agreed with him.

I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve perfection when really it isn't needed. I got amazing grades, and grades that I am extremely proud of and that I would be happy with if this was the real thing and yet I still felt a little bad? That's not right at all.

Not everybody is going to achieve a perfect score of all A's and A*'s and I think we need to stop comparing ourselves to the people that do. It is okay to strive for perfection but it is not okay to beat yourself up for it when it doesn't happen. One persons idea of perfection may be completely different to the person standing next to them.

All that matters is that you work hard in order to feel good about what you have done, and achieve the best that you can. It's about setting yourself a goal and working towards it. Worrying wont solve anything, it will just make you feel bad about yourself when actually you are doing pretty well. Don't compare your winnings with somebody else's. They don't know the journey that you had to take to get there.

Be a warrior not a worrier.

Ciara x

Lush Golden Wonder (£3.50) is my favourite bath bomb everrrrr. I got Golden wonder for Christmas and I have actually already mentioned it on my blog before, but I just couldn't leave this beauty without a full review.

For starters, it smells a-maze-ing. It contains lime oil and orange which are so fresh and citrusy. I'm a sucker for citrus scents so if I could bottle up the smell of Golden Wonder and spray it all around my room, trust me I would. The smell also isn't too overpowering which is just perfect.

This beauty is filled to the brim with surprises. As this isn't a bubble bar, Golden Wonder doesn't create any bubbles, but what it does is slowly turns the water this beautiful deep teal colour. As it fizzes it creates white foam that makes little whirlpools all over the bath, however this seems to disappear quite quickly. Then into the water, little spheres of colour are released and you get pockets of pink, yellow, purple, orange and green spinning around your bath. Oh and if that isn't exciting enough, hundreds of tiny shimmery gold stars are released into the water, making the whole bathing experience truly magical.

The gold lustre on the outside of Golden Wonder fills the bath with really fine shimmery gold glitter that leaves your skin looking really radiant and like you have been blessed by the gods. The stars also dissolve by the time you are finished with your bath, so there isn't any grime in sight. A bonus in my opinion.

I love this bath bomb and I am so sad that it is only part of their Christmas range. I need Golden Wonder in my life all year round! If you can get your hands on it then I seriously suggest that you do.

What is your favourite Lush bath bomb?

Ciara x

Barry M Cobalt Blue Nail Paint (£2.99) is an amazingly pigmented deep royal blue colour as suggested by the name. This beauty is opaque in one coat, glides on like a dream, dries quickly and is long lasting. It is just the perfect polish. I love to wear blue nail polishes and I love this one in particular as it reminds me of Coraline which is one of my favourite films.


I love the simplicity of the bottle and think it looks elegant while showing off the colour inside well. There isn't really much to say about this polish. It is just gorgeous and I love it to pieces.

What is your opinion on blue nails?

Ciara x

As I have said on numerous occasions, I long to have been born with gorgeous, voluminous, uncontrollable curly locks when instead I have flat hair that cannot make up its mind and doesn't do as it is told. On a recent search for the miracle product that will bring me such gorgeous waves, I found the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray (£7). I was really excited to try this out as I've heard quite a lot about it but never managed to get my hands on any of the products from the brand.

When I first tried it out I was hugely disappointed. I expected far too much from this product and believed that a few spritzes and scrunches were going to leave me looking like a mermaid. In reality I ended up with a knotty mess. Yes it gave me loads of texture, but there weren't any waves in sight. If you're looking for a quick and easy spray to give you some waves then I really recommend the Aussi Dual Personality Texturizing and Conditioning Gel Spray. However, when I sprayed it in my hair before plaiting or curling it, I did notice that the curls were more defined and lasted so much longer. Not Your Mother's recommended using the spray on damp hair, but I think it is fine to be used on dry hair if you are in a hurry, just use sparingly otherwise you will end up with knotty, crispy hair.

The spray contains dead sea salt and sea kelp which unfortunately leaves the spray with not the most pleasant of smells and the salt does have a tendency to build up on the nozzle. However, I love the design of the bottle and think it is so cute.

Not a huge love for me really, I expected a lot more and was let down. Although, it does provide me with lots of texture, perfect for big hair on a night out.

Have you tried any products from Not Your Mother's before? What did you think?

Ciara x

What songs got you through 2014?

Ciara x

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 Ahh Lush Snow Angel Bath Melt (£3.95). This little angel is packed full of glittery moisturising goodness! Not to mention that it's seriously cute.

Because this is a bath melt it doesn't create any bubbles however, there are still surprises ahead. Typically, bath melts don't really do anything to make your bath that exciting. But Snow Angel creates this layer of white foam across the bath, like snow and then underneath is this wonderful glitter filled bath. I think the water was supposed to turn gold but really it went a bit yellow and then quite green. It was still quite pretty though as there was loads of glitter which caught the light and made the bath glisten.

It melted really slowly, fizzing a little bit which I liked because it just lasted so long, so you could have a really long relaxing bath. The top white layer melted away quicker than the gold, leaving a white sort of mist across the bath.

Snow Angel Bath Melt is rich in cocoa butter and contains a blend of rose, benzoin and cassie absolute which gives it a lovely light floral and delicate marzipan scent. I was given the Snow Angel Bath Melt for Christmas and I'm not that keen on marzipan so this isn't my favourite Lush scent. However, it is really nice and sweet. Luckily for me it wasn't too overpowering so I did enjoy it. The cocoa butter in Snow Angel means you leave the bath feeling really moisturised. I found that there was no need for any extra moisturiser at all. Fantastic.

My only issue with Snow Angel is that it left a really nasty rim around my bath and I had to rinse out all the excess glitter that settled at the bottom of my bath. It wasn't hard to rinse away though so maybe I'm complaining about nothing!

What do you think of Snow Angel Bath Melt?

Ciara x

*Ciaté Mineral Positivity (£5) is a thick textured black and antique gold polish. This beautiful midnight black is speckled with a galaxy of gold glitter and is completely unlike any polish I have seen before.

It's quite thick and so you could actually get away with only one coat, but two will make sure it really is opaque. *Mineral Positivity was so easy to apply, the brush is wide meaning your can cover your nail better and it dries very quickly. It is quite rough and bumpy which means it is more prone to chipping around the nail tip, but this isn't too noticeable. Personally I wouldn't use a top coat with this polish as it has quite a rugged look and a top coat would make it look far too shiny.

I do like the rough texture as I think it is quite unique and I don't own anything like it, however I was disappointed as it didn't come out as gold as it appears in the bottle. Still, I love this nail varnish and I think it has a sort of rock chick vibe going on. Just me?

I am so glad that this was in the *Ciaté Mini Mani Manor otherwise I would have never got to try it.

What's your go to nail polish at the moment?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

I do love a good face mask, especially a peel off, but I often find that some of them are a bit too harsh for my skin. I picked up the Mudd Peel Off Mask (£3.05) on a whim from my local chemist and I've been loving it.

The Mudd Peel Off Mask clenses gently and has an exfoliating action. Extracts of gingseng are combined with natural lemon peel, grapefruit and cucumber fruit AHAs to produce a vitamin enriched mask that cleanses and exfoliates. It is also non-comedogenic so it wont clog pores or cause blemishes. Can it get any better? It can. It is also dermatologically tested and alcohol and lanolin free so it wont strip or dry out your skin.

The mask is so simple to use. You just clean your face beforehand as you usually would and apply this bad boy thinly over your whole face (avoiding the eyes). You then go off and do whatever you normally do when you've got a face mask on for 15 minutes, or until the face mask has dried. Then starting at the cheeks you begin to peel off the mask gently toward the centre of your face. Now just go and rinse your face to make sure it is all off. Easy peasy, lemon squeasy.

Because it is a peel off, the top layer of dead skin cells and impurities are peeled away leaving your sin feeling really soft and smooth instantly. I really like to use this when I feel like my skin is feeling a bit down but I am thinking of getting into a routine and using a face mask once a week.

This pack is also really handy as it is resealable and you can get loads of applications out of it. On the front of the pack it says up to 5 but I have actually managed to get 8 out of one pack before.

What is your favourite face mask?

Ciara x

I received the *Seventeen Mini Lipgloss Library (£6) in my stocking for Christmas and although it may not look like much, it really is something quite lovely. It contains 6 mini lip glosses that are perfect to throw in your bag and take you from day to night.

The set contains four shimmer based shades and two that don't have any shimmer and can be built up to achieve a really nice look. The shades are lovely but if you are a glitter hater, this set it not for you. I do like all the shades however the two non shimmer shades are my favourite. For a budget brand, the formula of the lip glosses are amazing. They aren't sticky or fragranced, they seem to add a bit of moisture to the lips and they are really easy to apply. The lasting power isn't anything amazing and as with all lip glosses, they do come off as you eat and drink. Also I did find that the red shade faded badly and left the dreaded rim around my lips, so this one will need a bit of upkeep. However, what does annoy me is the fact that there are no shade names.

Here is a little run down of all the shades from left to right:

1. A pearly pink shade with shimmer. This has been my go to lip product since I started back at school. It is really subtle but lovely and just adds a gloss that shimmers when caught by the light. This is also a great shade to be applied over lipstick to the middle of the lips to create the illusion of fullness.

2. A sheer cool toned rose shade with a delicate shimmer. This one is really buildable and lovely as it isn't over glittery but when it catches the light it gives off a really pretty shimmer.

3. A sheer flamingo pink shade with shimmer. This one isn't as buildable as the other colours but it is really pretty and adds a shimmer and gloss to your lips. It is quite subtle and the glitter isn't gritty at all.

4. A creamy coral shade. This shade is absolutely beautiful, worn alone it gives a really lovely pink that can be built up in layers. I also love layering it over my Revlon Pink In The Afternoon Lipstick as I think they are quite similar in colour and this just helps to amplify the shade and give it a little gloss.

5. A sheer berry shade with shimmer. This one is quite sheer but it is buildable and again the glitter isn't gritty at all. Probably my least favourite shade in the whole set, but it is still really pretty.

6. A pigmented red shade that is beautiful on its own or paired with a bright red lip. It's buildable so can be layered to really pack a punch. Although be careful as it does fade leaving a rim.

I already have all these shades scattered throughout my bags and coat pockets. They are just so easy to use and are absolutely way better than the price and packaging seem to suggest.

What do you think of Seventeen products?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

So White Bath Ballistic (£3.20) is a huge round white bath ballistic. It doesn't look like anything special but it smells gorgeous. Before it has been used it smells like apples. Which is slightly odd as it doesn't actually contain anything that would suggest that it smells of apples. This bath ballistic contains bergamot oil, rose absolute, orange flower absolute and neroli oil.

When first plunged into the bath it fizzes a lot and begins to spin around the bath. It doesn't create any bubbles, but creates a white sort of froth which covers the bath. It reminded me a bit of snow. This lasts for quite a long time, whilst the beautiful smell begins to fill the room. Then, and at first I thought this was my eyes playing a trick on me, So White begins to turn the bath pink. It happens really gradually and So White continues to spin all around the bath. eventually what you're left with is this really nice pinky purple coloured bath water. And this is coming from a girl who doesn't really like pink. I then thought that the scent changed slightly and to me it began to smell like Palma Violets. Yum.

I was really surprised how long So White seemed to last. It continued to spin around the bath for the majority of the time that I was in there. Although it may not be the most exciting of Lush Products, this bath ballistic is still very very lovely. It leaves a gorgeous scent that lasts subtly on the skin and is really nice at the end of a long relaxing day.

What is your favourite Lush bath product?

Ciara x

I'm getting a lot more into nail polish all of a sudden. I think I've actually spent more time wearing nail polish than not recently and that is a big thing for me. My school is quite strict about uniform and we are not actually allowed to wear nail polish to school. But if you are sneaky then you will get away with it.

*Ciaté Amazing Gracie (£9) is the perfect nude ballerina pink nail polish and is perfect when you only want a subtle hint of colour. It's really sheer and so 1 coat will add shine to the nails and you can layer it up to create a more opaque finish. I applied 3 generous coats in the picture above and you can see that the tips of my nails are still showing on some pictures. I think this colour would be fantastic for a classic French manicure.

This colour is really pretty and applied easily and lasted long. Because of the amount of coats that I had to apply, it did smudge on a couple of my nails but because of the nature of the colour this is really hard to see. The brush is fantastic and again this nail polish is from the *Ciaté Mini Mani Manor. While this is probably not my most favourite nail polish it is a great one and a classic colour.

What's your favourite nude nail polish?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

I originally saw the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 415 Pink In The Afternoon (£7.49) on Bird's Words and I knew straight away that I just had to have it. It is an absolutely gorgeous mid toned pink with a creamy finish. It is perfect for the day time and I even wore it to my birthday party as I think there is something quite classic and elegant about it. It reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's which is one of my all time favourite films. It is subtle but really finishes a look.

It applies really easily, lasts long and is non-drying. Also it fades naturally without leaving that dreaded rim around the outside of your lips. It is so effortless and chic and feels a lot more expensive than it is. I have already got tonnes of wear out of this beauty. It is just so easy to stick on, whack in your bag and walk out the door.

One of my favourite lipsticks in my collection, the packaging is really stylish and the lipstick is gorgeous and really high quality. I think Revlon are seriously underrated and you should definitely take a look at their lipsticks.

What is your go to everyday lipstick?

Ciara x

*They're Real! Mascara (£19.50). This stuff is amazing. It lengthens, curls and adds volume to the lashes without clumping or smudging. It's really easy to use, the brush gets hold of each lash and it has a domed tip which is really handy for fanning out the eyelashes on the outside corner. Even though this is a small bottle, I think it is going to last me ages as there is no need for loads of applications, just a couple of wiggles and you're done. I don't often get excited over mascaras but I am loving this one.

*They're Real! Push-Up Liner (£18.50). I have read so many reviews on this liner it is not even funny. It seems to promise just about everything from being the blackest and easiest to use eyeliner out there to it having magical properties that will make your eyes bigger. I didn't run out and buy it because of fear of it all being just hype. I received a free sample from an Elle magazine and I absolutely hated it. (However, I just put this down to the sample being so ridiculously small and fiddly that I kept dropping it). But, even with this bigger sized version of *They're Real! Push-Up Liner, I just can't seem to manage to use it. I find it really annoying. You twist the bottom to release the gel eyeliner out of the slanted nib, but it just comes out all wrong and flakes off when you try to apply it. Yes it is very pigmented and when you do manage to apply it, it doesn't smudge and lasts all night, but it is extremely difficult to remove and I end up with faded black lines all over my eyelids for the next 3 days. Sorry Benefit, I'm really not loving this one.

*Hoola Bronzer (£23.50). I don't usually wear bronzer as they are usually a bit too orange for me but I think *Hoola has managed to convert me. It is a really natural colour that can be used all year round as an all over 'tan' or to contour. It is completely matte but it doesn't look flat on the skin and it isn't too harsh so you can build it up gently. In this set you don't get the brush that *Hoola normally comes with but you can apply it with any blusher or bronzer brush. At the moment I love using it with my Eco Tools Retractable Kabuki Brush (£12.99) which I think I will probably do a review of eventually.

*The POREfessional Primer (£24.50). This was the first primer I ever tried and I absolutely love it. I have even converted my mum to it! It minimizes the appearance of pores and leaves skin feeling so smooth. It's a balm but when applied feels almost like a powder, it is also translucent, oil free and contains a vitamin E derivative to protect the skin. You can apply it over and under makeup although personally I have never tried applying it over the top of my makeup. This primer is just absolutely lovely and makes applying any base a breeze.

*Benetint Lip and Cheek Tint (£24.50). This Rose tinted stain is super super pretty. I haven't yet tried it as a blush as it scares me a bit, but the time will come and when it does I think it will create a really pretty flush. As a lip stain, personally I think it is a bit too liquidy, but it does create a really sheer but nice lip stain that isn't drying and lasts for ages.

*High Beam Liquid Highlighter (£19.50). This is a really pretty, feminine, satiny pink liquid highlighter. I think this will compliment nearly all skin tones as it blends easily and really adds a radiant glow. I love putting a couple dots onto my cheekbones and then blending, it really helps to lift the whole makeup look and is perfect for day and night.

*Boi-ing Concealer in shades 01 and 02 (£17.50). This stuff covers everything without creasing or fading through the day. Using your finger tips just pat *Boi-ing over whatever you want to cover and you are good to go. It is quite creamy and really easy to blend. I use shade 01 which is perfect for me, shade 02 is much to dark. Benefit offer 5 shades so you should be able to find one that works for you.

Swatches from left to right: *Boi-ing 01, 02, *High Beam, *Benetint, *Hoola, *They're Real! Push-Up Liner

What is your favourite Benefit product? Let me know in the comments.

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

I've been after a new perfume for ages. One that I can wear day and night and that could hopefully become my signature scent. I had had my eye on *Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl Eau De Toilette (£16.99) for a while and finally got my hands on it when I received it as a birthday present. Since the first spritz this has been my go to perfume. It smells absolutely gorgeous and I always receive loads of compliments when I am wearing it.

*Tommy Girl is a refreshing, bright, floral fragrance that has apparently been inspired by wildflowers "gathered from the American landscape" (yeah, whatever..!) All I know is that I'm not usually a fan of floral scents but this one is so unbelievably gorgeous, I just can't get enough of it. *Tommy Girl contains notes of camellia flower, apple blossom, mandarin, tangerine, honeysuckle, butterfly violet, Cherokee rose and wild heather. I think the mix of floral and citrus scents are perfect together.

The scent lasts on the skin for ages and doesn't seem to change as the day goes on. It's fresh enough to be worn during the day but interesting enough to be worn at night. You also get a decent amount (100ml) in the bottle and it isn't expensive either. I may have to go down and stock up just in case Boots decide to raise the price!

I think the bottle is also really pretty. It is simple yet elegant and looks really nice on my chest of drawers. If you have never smelt *Tommy Girl then I seriously suggest that you get yourself down to your nearest Boots and give it a sniff.

I think I may have just found my perfect perfume.

What is your signature scent?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.

Lush Butterbear Bath Bomb (£1.95) is a gorgeous cocoa butter and vanilla scented, bear shaped bath bomb. I think that it is probably the cutest bath bomb from Lush that I have ever tried and it left my skin feeling amazing.

When first popped into the bath, it didn't really do anything special, there was no colour change and no bubbles. It just sort of fizzed a bit and melted into the bath. However, the room was filled with the sweet and rich scent of cocoa butter and vanilla and when I got into the bath I could instantly feel how luxurious the water had become.

Because this little Butterbear contains cocoa butter, it moisturises your skin leaving you feeling silky smooth and smelling amazing. There is also no need for added moisturiser afterwards. Even the next day my skin felt really soft. Because of how rich and moisturising this little bear is, I did have to let all the goodness sink into my skin for a couple of minutes, however this didn't take long at all or leave my skin feeling greasy.

I love this little bear and think the results are much more luxurious than the price!

Have you tried Lush Butterbear? What did you think?

Ciara x

I've always struggled with my sleep. I've just never been any good at it. When I was little my mum used to take me to sleep therapists because I would just go days without sleeping. Since then my mum and I managed to find things that helped (the therapist was not one of them) and I am much better now, but still some nights I find it hard.

One of the things I found that really helped me was putting a couple drops of lavender oil on my pillow every night before bed. Then my mum bought me the wonderful White Company White Lavender Pillow Mist (£15) for Christmas and since then my nights have been filled with blissful, undisturbed sleep.

The Pillow Mist smells absolutely gorgeous. On first hit it smells of lavender (obviously) but it also contains, neroli, basil, Sicilian lemon and vertivert. It's really relaxing and homely, you become almost wrapped in the smell, like it is giving you a huge hug.

All I do is use a couple sprays on my pillow each night before I go to bed and it automatically relaxes me and helps me drift off to sleep so much quicker. This really is an almost life changing product for me and words cannot describe how thankful I am that it actually works for me. I can't promise such amazing results for everybody but this really has helped me massively and I hope that it continues to.

Plus the bottle looks super cute on my bedside table.

Do you struggle with your sleep? If so I would love to know if there is anything that helps you.

Ciara x

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I was Nominated by Emily Mace to answer a couple of questions about last year and the next. I'm new to blogging so I think this will give everybody another little chance to get to know me. So, let's get cracking:

1. What was your biggest achievement of 2014?

I think my biggest achievement this year would be the fact that I can now make it through a whole netball match without the need of my asthma pump. I am by no means super fit but I've learnt to control my breathing and gradually built my fitness up and I am so proud of myself because I really didn't want to have to become dependant on my pump. Now I can play and enjoy it, rather than feeling like the devil is having a party in my chest!

2. What do you want to achieve with your blog by this time next year?

As I've said I am new to blogging and I haven't even been blogging for a year yet! So I think this time next year I would love to have a better blog design and over 100 followers. I know to some blogs that probably doesn't seem like much at all but it is for me and I'm going to build up my blog in little steps.

3. Name one thing you want to do next year that you can tick off your bucket list.

Not the most interesting thing on my bucket list, but I would love to go camping with a group of my friends to hopefully celebrate our GCSE results!

4. What are you most looking forward to next year?

I haven't really got anything planned but in September I will be able to learn how to drive! That's pretty exciting!

5. Your happiest moment of 2014?

In 2014 my little brothers friend finally beat cancer and I think that has got to be one of the happiest moments in my whole life. I've never known a nicer family and I was so happy for all of them.

6. What new years resolution are you actually planning on sticking to?

Well as I said in my resolutions and goals post; in May I will be sitting my German and French GCSE, so I really need to stop using Google Translate for my homework!

7. A personal goal for next year

Definitely to surround myself with people that make me happier and to stop jumping through hoops for people who wouldn't even cross the road for me.

Thanks for tagging me Emily!

I would like to tag: Taylor from Repressing The Crazy, Amelia from Amelia Anastasia and Andie from Andieology. However if any of you would like to join in with the tag then leave me a link below because I would love to read them.

Ciara x

2014 was a weird year for me. It was filled to the brim with ups and downs. Things that I thought were going to be amazing weren't and things that I wasn't excited for at all turned out to create some amazing memories. I started this blog, joined a local netball team, had 3 sets of mock GCSE's, I visited Berlin and Paris, grew close with people that I never imagined I would and grew apart from ones that I thought would be there forever.

Actually the friendship thing has been a big thing for me this year. I learnt that sometimes you grow out of friendships and it's not because either of you have done anything wrong and it isn't something that you can necessarily stop, you just grow out of each other. But that's okay. Sometimes it's healthy to form new friendships and talk to people that you never thought you would have anything in common with, and maybe just maybe that person could become a much better friend to you than your old friend was. I'm not saying that means you should completely ditch your old friends, I'm just saying that it is okay to perhaps not be as close with them as you used to. Some friendships will last for a life time and others wont, that is just life. The real trick is being able to spot which friendships are worth investing your time into. I've made this mistake a lot but I think I am getting better at it. If you do one thing this year then please, please, please let it be this: Surround yourself with people that make you happy. That is one of my goals this year, as cheesy as it sounds. Be with people that make you laugh and that you make laugh, the ones who check up on you and distract you from things when you're feeling down. You don't even have to have the same interests as them. Sometimes you meet somebody and you just click. Look out for those people and trust your gut instinct and do whatever it takes to keep yourself okay and happy. And if ever you want to talk to somebody, then remember that I am here and I am only an email away.

I am due to sit my GCSE's in May so obviously my other goal this year is to get the best possible grades that I can, so I am able to continue in further education. This is going to be probably the hardest thing I have ever had to so far and revision will be beginning extremely soon. I figure little and often is the way to go? If anybody has any revision tips for me, I would be hugely grateful!

That brings me on to my New Year's resolution: No more Google Translate. I am currently studying for a German and French GCSE and I have 5 months to go, yet I am still letting Google Translate do my coursework and homework for me. This has got me into many sticky situations as my teacher firmly believes that I am capable of achieving an A* while in reality I scored a C in my mocks. Whoops.

Okay so here's to knuckling down and being happy. 2015 - Let's do this!

What are your goals/resolutions for the New Year?

Ciara x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wow can you believe we are into a new year already? 2014 was one hell of a year for me, filled to the brim with ups and downs. Over the year I fell in and out of love with a lot of things so here is what I was loving in 2014. (The bits I can remember anyway!)

L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation (£9.99). This has been my go to base ever since I discovered it. I know that was only in October but I didn't really wear foundation before that and I have used it so much since then so I'm going to let that count! I wont talk too much about this as I have done a full review, but this is the lightest foundation I think you will ever find. It is literally like water and just blends into the skin so you don't even feel like you are wearing anything. It also contains an SPF. Perfect. Although the shade range isn't amazing, I managed to find the perfect shade for me. It is definitely worth a look if you are on the paler side like me.

*Superdry Neon Orange Perfume (£35). I've loved this perfume ever since I got it for Christmas 2013. I wore it on and off for the whole of 2014 and whenever I wore it after a break of not wearing it, I couldn't remember why I had stopped. I did a full review of *Neon Orange and all the other *Superdry Neon fragrances back in August so I wont bang on too much but this perfume is beautiful. It's citrusy but also contains musks which makes it really versatile and easy to wear all year round. A firm favourite of mine and I will be so sad when this runs out.

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The Kaiser Chiefs. I have always loved the Kaiser Chiefs. I think they are amazing. They released a new album this year - Education, Education, Education and War (£5) and I have had it on repeat ever since. It really is my favourite album from anybody in a long time. It is very rare that I like every song on an album but this one is just perfect. My favourite songs are The Factory Gates, Misery Company, Ruffians On Parade, and My Life. Seriously, go and give them a listen if you haven't done already.



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Skins. I think it is safe to say that I am addicted to Skins. I mentioned Skins back in my September favourites post and since then I have managed to complete series 3 and 4. I've already watched Skins before but this year I decided it was time for me to have another little watch. I've fallen in love with Skins and all the characters all over again and it is a show that I would recommend to everybody. It is so raw and real. You can watch all the episodes of Skins on 4OD.

White Converse All Star Low (£44.99). I think these have been my favourite purchase EVER. They are so easy to wear, comfortable and they go with just about everything. I've worn these with jogging bottoms on quick runs to the shop, with jeans around town and even with dresses to parties. They have become my footwear staple and since buying them my other shoes haven't really had much of a look in. Yes they are white and get dirty easily but you can bung them in the washing machine and they look nearly as good as new. Perfect.

Eyeko London Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black (£12). This stuff is amazing. I actually got this from a magazine but Eyeko was a brand that I really wanted to try out. I spoke about this in my Black Eyeliner On A Budget post and I honestly love it so much. I wont ramble on too much as I have actually given it a full review. All I will say is this: If you think you are bad at eyeliner, then get your hands on this bad boy because it will just make your life so much easier. Two swipes and you're done. Sorted.

So that's what I was loving in 2014. What were your favourite things in 2014?

Ciara x

*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full disclaimer.