Let's get organised!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
I'm an organised person. Ask my friends, ask my family - that's just the kind of person I am, and always have always
been. I have countless lists and list making apps, more highlighters than one person could ever
need, and I get a rush of crossing that last task off for the day. Luckily it's just something that
comes naturally to me, which really helps when fitting blogging around being a full time student.
However, not everyone finds keeping organised quite as easy, so I thought I'd compile a list of my
top tips and tricks to keep your life in order - trust me, you'll be a changed person! These aren't just tips for blogging, but for generally keeping your life in some sort of order!
Find your motivation:
You really have to find out what motivates you to get things done. I literally cannot express the satisfaction I get from ticking everything thing off my to do list - so I put things I don't like doing, like hoovering or doing laundry on there so I have to do them in order to finish my list. It may sound silly, but if I didn't, god knows when it would get done. So, what satisfies you? Is it ticking off, crossing out or highlighting?
Start the day out right:
If you know you've got a long list of things to do, then you need to get up and at it. Don't laze around in your bed for too long after waking up - get up, have a shower and prepare yourself for the day ahead. Personally, if I stay in bed for longer than 30 minutes after waking up, I just know that I'm not going to be as productive. You need to jump start your day in order to get anything useful done.
Choose your poison:
I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for stationary. Nothing gets me in a more organised and productive mood than a gorgeous notebook or a cute weekly planner. Are you more of a technology person, or do you prefer to make notes by hand? I'm a bit crazy, so I tend to do a bit of both, but there's something for everyone. I like to plan my blog posts on Pages on my iPad Mini, then insert them into my calendar when they've been written and scheduled - which I then sync to my iPhone and Macbook so I never miss a beat. I use technology more for long-term projects, but for me, you can't beat a highlighter, a pen and a good ol' Post-it note for day-to-day to-do lists - my that was a mouthful!
Find out when/where you work best:
Although I don't like getting up early, when it comes to getting anything done, whether an essay for uni or a couple of blog posts - I'm a morning person. The problem is, I'm a huge procrastinator, so the later in the day I leave things, the chance of them getting done lessens. So, I like to get up, work, and then later in the day I can relax a bit, rather than worrying about what I've got left to do. I also like to work at home, generally at my dining table, but when I get a bit stir crazy or lack inspiration, I pop down to Costa or Starbucks and get stuff done accompanied by a lovely hot chocolate. Now, that's just me, but everyone works differently. I have friends that can only work after 10pm, whereas I make it a rule to be finished by 7pm latest unless I absolutely have to. So, what kind of worker are you? An early bird that loves to work in coffee shops, or a night owl that can only get stuff done at home? That's something you need to experiment with any figure out for yourself.
Reward yourself:
Now by this I don't mean grab a chocolate after each task is completed, but something a bit more compelling. Say you have been meaning to pop down to Boots to look at that new Bourjois release, or to Topshop to finally buy that metallic grey nail polish you've been eyeing up for months - save it. Say to yourself, I cannot leave the house to go and do 'ABC' until I've finished 'XYZ'. Been dying to watch the newest episode of The Big Bang Theory? Not until you've written at least 500 more words for your Spanish history essay. Catch my drift? You might need to play around and see what really works for you (in my experience, not nearby food as it's far too tempting!), but you should be able to find a few 'rewards' here and there for attaining certain goals.
So that basically rounds it up. Before I leave you though, I though I'd link you to a few of my favourite tools that help to keep me on track; the Calendar and Reminder apps on my iPhone/iPad Mini/Macbook, a cute weekly planner pad, lined post it notes, a lovely notebook or two (...or three), and a zillion highlighters. Have you got any tips to keeping yourself organised. Please do let me know in the comment section as I'm always looking for new ways to be more productive!
'And God Created The Woman'
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
NARS And God Created The Woman - £40.50 (exclusive to SpaceNK Online)
In early 2013, this exclusive NARS palette was introduced to the world and the blogasphere went into overdrive. I passed it up when it first appeared as I already have a zillion neutral eyeshadows, but as soon as it vanished from the shelves, I was devastated. Always want what you can't have right? Then, in November, I was perusing the online heaven that is SpaceNK's website - as one does - when I spotted it. That was my chance, and it took me all of four seconds to add it to my basket - it was to be mine. The set comes complete with a palette of six shadows (four shimmers and two mattes), a sample of Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow base (which I’ve always wanted to try out), and an eye shader brush. From top to bottom, left to right we have; Alhambra, a shimmery champagne, Bellisima, a matte grey-toned taupe, Kalahari, a warm-toned taupe, Galapagos, a rich brown with golden flecks, Coconut Grove, a deep chocolate matte brown and Night Clubbing, a black with golden shimmer running through it. There is literally nothing else a girl could possibly need to pull of any sort of neutral eye look - from everyday casual to deep, dark smokey eyes - NARS has you covered.
Bedtime Skincare
Monday, February 10, 2014
REMOVE: Before you can do anything, you have to get everything off. Although many people don't like makeup remover wipes, I like to use them as a sort of pre-cleanse - to help get the bulk of makeup off before using anything else. I have pretty sensitive skin, so my wipes of choice are the No7 Beautiful Skin Wipes, as they are incredibly gentle but very effective. Got a bit more slap on that usual? My favourite heavy duty makeup remover is the Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make Up Remover from The Body Shop, which I've talked about here. This is truly amazing for removing heavy eye makeup as it removes it so effortlessly, without damaging or drying out the sensitive skin around your eyes in any way. Right, so you think you've got rid of the bulk? What's next?
CLEANSE: Apart from the obvious removal of makeup, your also need to get rid of any pollutants, dirt, and any other nasties that may be hanging around on your skin's surface. This is where cleansing comes in. I seriously cannot overstate the importance of cleansing your skin, in fact, I often double-cleanse my skin just to make sure I've got rid of every last speck of dirt and grime. I like to start out with something gentle, like Bioderma's Hydrabio H2O Micellaire Water. This really helps to remove impurities, whilst helping the skin to retain as much moisture as possible. Even though the micellaire solution is aimed at keeping dry skin hydrated, I usually like to go in with a balm cleanser next. My current favourite is the Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm from Balance Me, which is natural oil-based and contains little bits of oatmeal to gently polish away dead skin cells and enhance cell renewal. I like to remove this with a muslin cloth, and after my skin feels smooth and squeaky clean.
TREAT: This is the part in my nighttime routine where I like to treat any skin issues I'm having. My main concerns are dryness, dehydration and the odd pesky spot. To keep my skin as hydrated as I can, I like to apply the Origins Make A Difference + Rejuvenating Treatment day and night before my moisturiser. This is a product specifically aimed at helping your skin to retain as much moisture as possible - making it a must for me. Then, to help treat any nasty spots, I like to use Origins Super Spot Remover - a small but powerful bottle that can help to eliminate any blemish within a matter of hours.
MOISTURISE: Finally, the last step is to inject as much moisture back into your skin as possible. No matter what type of skin you have, moisturising is key - as steps like cleansing and spot treatment can dry out your face in a big way. To keep your skin in tip-top shape, you need to find yourself a good moisturiser. Of course, it's going to be different for everyone, but one of my current favourites is the Bioderma Hydrabio Riche. It's perfect for dry, sensitive skin, so if your skin type is similar to mine, then this is definitely worth trying. Need a bit of an extra boost? Try an overnight mask like Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask which will leaving you with a smooth, glowing complexion, and your skin will be overflowing with moisture.
What I've Been Loving #16
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light - £38.00
I'm not going to ramble on about this miracle powder for too long as I've already sung it's praises
enough here - but let me break it down for you. Incredible texture, flawless, airbrushed finish and
beautiful packaging. The only downside? The price point. It'll cost you a pretty penny to bag
yourself one of these beauties, but if you take the plunge you'll never regret it.
Burberry Lip Mist in Copper - £22.50 (for full size)
I got this beauty in a Glossybox a while back and although it's stunning, it kind of fell into the back
of my draw and was forgotten. Then the other day, whilst I was rustling through my stash to find
some bits for a 'Rediscovered Beauty' post, I found it, swatched it, and remembered how gorgeous
it actually is. It's a sheer nude, perfect for everyday and great for travelling or putting in your bag as
it's a cute little travel size.
NARS Blush Duo in Orgasm/Angelika (LE) - £30.00
NARS duos are probably one of my favourite things from the brand as you get two gorgeous blushes in one. I have a few of their duos, but this one - Orgasm & Angelika - is probably my favourite. Having not used this duo for a few months before now (as I left it in Bath whilst I was in Russia), I forgot just how much I love Orgasm . The peachy-pink golden goodness of this cult blush looks simply spectacular on practically any skin tone. Angelika is also a stunner - a bubblegum pink with silver shimmer running through it - providing a gorgeous natural flush. Definitely one of my favourite duos to date.
NARS duos are probably one of my favourite things from the brand as you get two gorgeous blushes in one. I have a few of their duos, but this one - Orgasm & Angelika - is probably my favourite. Having not used this duo for a few months before now (as I left it in Bath whilst I was in Russia), I forgot just how much I love Orgasm . The peachy-pink golden goodness of this cult blush looks simply spectacular on practically any skin tone. Angelika is also a stunner - a bubblegum pink with silver shimmer running through it - providing a gorgeous natural flush. Definitely one of my favourite duos to date.
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