6 New Years Resolutions

Every year we make resolutions that end up been broken within a matter of days, yet we still think that this year it will be different. I know that's the case for me anyway. But I'm laying out what I am to do in 2015 and number 1 is something I'm going to have to work very hard on!

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1: Chill out more - don't get stressed over little things. This is a massive issue for me and I'm told I'm going to get a heart attack very early on if I carry on getting so stressy haha! This also ties in with becoming more patient - I just need to relax if someone is taking forever doing something rather than spend my life rushing around.

2: Keep more up to date with work/lectures. At the start of first year I said this - it never happened. At the start of second year I said this - it didn't really happen. I'm starting a few more modules in Semester 2 so I am really going to try and make a conscious effort to know all the content as I go along. This also includes catching up on this semesters material before next semester starts. The joys.

3: Exercise and healthy eating. Probably on everyone's resolutions list. I do eat reasonably healthy at uni and I have a gym membership so just keeping up with this is going to be something I'll try. I'll go to the gym when I have time and if I don't have time, I won't beat myself up about it.

4: Skincare. Keeping up a regular skincare routine. If you saw my What I got for Christmas blog post, I got some Clarins goodies and I'm keen to put a routine together to ensure alongside healthy eating, that my skin looks better than ever!

5: Blogging more. I want to blog more. However, next semester is going to be hectic with the amount of work I have to do and I obviously will have other commitments too. I will try schedule ahead where I can and try to come up with some fun unique posts. I want to start something where I share pictures of what I've done in the month - a series called 'Highlights  Of' January, February etc. Lifestyle posts, particularly photo based, are my favourites to read so hopefully some of you will like that.

6: Keep a journal. I want to write down something about everyday so I can look back at it in the future. Especially as I'm at university, I really want to look back and reflect on what I did and how I felt. I wish I had of done it in 2014 so I could have looked back at it now.

So there are my 6 New Years Resolutions for 2015. I was reading an article: 25 New Years Resolutions every person should actually make for 2014 - link here - and it's quite a good one haha.

What are your resolutions for 2015? Let me know in the comments section below! Hope you've had a great year!

Lots Of Love,

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What I Got For Christmas 2015 | alicekatex

I love nothing more than buying someone a present and that person really enjoying it! But obviously everyone loves receiving gifts too and Christmas is all that extra bit more special seeing the pretty paper and bows sitting under the Christmas tree. It's obviously not all about how much you get so don't judge if this is a lot to you or not a lot at all. Everyone gets different amounts of things and it's all very materialistic to really think about those things.

Anyway cracking on, here's a few bits I got!

I also got a few giftcards and some money which I'm sure I will be spending very soon! Hope you liked this post and leave a link to your post if you have done one of these, I'd love to see it!

Lots Of Love,

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WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TAG

Happy Christmas Eve everybody! I hope you're all very excited for the big day tomorrow - I know I certainly am! Now we're merely hours away from the big day I thought it'd be only right to do a Christmas themed post so here I am with the Wonderful Christmas tag. The tag has questions about all things Christmas and I had so much fun answering them! I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit more about me and my Christmas traditions ...

1. On a scale of 1-10 how much are you in the Christmas mood?

I'm not a scrooge but I'm not even THAT excited. It's Christmas Eve so I'd say I'm a 7 but Christmas in my household isn't totally big - it's me, my sister, mum, dad and granddad and is just like a typical day really except with the presents and yummy food!

2. When wrapping presents is it a fail or are you a pro?

I'm pretty crap to be honest! I wrapped some presents this year but it's purely wrapping paper and cellotape and not a lot else! I didn't go fancy this year and the wrapping isn't the neatest. I aim to go all fancy when I have the dollar to do so when I'm all grown up living in my own house!

3. When did you put your Christmas decorations up and do you do anything special while putting them up? 

At the start of December, me and my housemates put the decorations up at uni whilst listening to christmas music and making paper chains! When I came home, the decorations were already up as it was the 20th December!

4. Do you get dressed up or stay in your pjs on Christmas day? 

I don't stay in my PJ's but I usually just wear some jeans and a jumper or some joggers and never really wear much makeup. This year I'll probably stick some red lippy on to feel more festive and it will be easy to touch up if I'm in the house!

5. What would be your dream place to go during the Christmas season? 

Probably somewhere like Dubai or Australia. I'd love to have Christmas on the beach and I know a lot of people will disagree with me on that one! I'd just love to celebrate it in a different setting and don't really like staying in all day!

6. What is your Christmas tree decorated like?

I came home to just a fibre optic tree this year which I wasn't too happy about! It's pretty though and all the other decorations in my house look lovely.

7. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeers? ( without googling ) 

I'll try! Rudolph, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen. That's as far as I can get! Just looked and I should've got Blitzen and Dasher shouldn't I!

8. Are you on the naughty list or the nice list this year? ( be honest ) 

The nice list! I wouldn't like to think I'm a mean person and try my best to do things for people so hopefully I'll never be on the naughty list.

9. Name three things you love to do coming up to Christmas? 

1. Going to christmas markets (the German market in Leeds is fun & I'm going to Winter Wonderland in London this year - yay!)

2. Watch christmas films eg The Holiday! 

3. Buying and wrapping peoples presents :)

10. Any Christmas Wishes?

I just want my family and friends to be happy and healthy and all enjoy their lives. I'd love to be the same too!

11. Name 10 Christmas songs you love? 

Wow, I can't even think of 10 but here's a few faves ...

1. Driving Home For Christmas

2. Fairytale of New York

3. Do they know it's Christmas?

4. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

5. Last Christmas

6. Merry Christmas Everyone

7. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

8. Santa Claus is coming to town

9. Jingle Bells

10. Silent Night

Is there even many more?

12. Name 3 Christmas movies you love? 

1. The Holiday

2. Love Actually

3. Elf

Also love Home Alone, can I have 4?

13. Do you like white lights or coloured? 

I think white lights look much more classy and magical but I still love the cheesy coloured lights and flamboyant decorations!

14. Which do you like a little better, Christmas day or Christmas eve?

I'd say Christmas day due to the presents and food and just general chilling.

15. What is your favourtie Christmas make-up look to wear? 

If I'm going out on christmas eve or new years eve, I'd probably go for a gold smokey eye but I will be wearing red lips tomorrow!

16. Right now as your answering these questions, how long is it till Christmas? 

I'm writing this on Christmas Eve, so it will be tomorrow!

17. Do you have any presents that you open on Christmas eve? 

No we don't do that but I'm always so tempted!

18. Name three things on your Christmas list?

1. Some good Nike trainers.

2. Himalayan Detox Bath Salts.

3. Any Makeup I don't have basically haha!

19. Your having a down day, Your not in the Christmas mood. What do you do to change your mood and become Christmas happy? 

Listen to some christmas tunes or watch a christmassy movie in my dressing gown!

20. What is the best thing on your plate when you have your Christmas dinner? 

Definitely the pigs in blankets and the bread sauce! They're the two things I don't have on my weekly Sunday dinners at home. YUM!

I hope you enjoyed reading this tag and maybe some of you can do it yourself? I'll be happy to read them as I'm v nosey hehe! And MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Lots Of Love,

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Gift Guide | Beauty

As a beauty blogger, it's almost essential to do a beauty gift guide. My other one was more general but this one would be great for beauty addicts and bloggers in particular. These gifts are more on the expensive side but I shall also be doing a stocking fillers gift guide next as well as a mens gift guide!

HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDER PALETTE / REN GENTLE CLEANSING MILK / BENEFIT HOOLA BRONZER / ZOEVA BRUSH SET / YSL LIPSTICK / BABYLISS ROLLERS / LAURA MERCIER LIPGLOSS / CHARLOTTE TILBURY LIPSTICK / NARS PALETTES / NARS MATTE LIP PENCILS (SATIN ONES LOOK GREAT TOO!) / CLINIQUE BLUSH / URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE / SOAP AND GLORY GIFT SETS

Do you have any of these products and if not would you like them? I know I would!

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Gift Guide | Non-Beauty

If you're still struggling for gift ideas and haven't yet bought all your gifts, hopefully this will help. I've personally bought all my christmas presents for this year but I know a lot who haven't! This is mostly aimed at women/girls but obviously some ideas adapted will be great for men too!

ROSE GOLD HEADPHONES / MISSGUIDED PLAYSUIT / NIKE TRAINERS / CAMERA LENSE CUP / DANIEL WELLINGTON WATCH / JO MALONE FRAGRANCE / RAY BAN SUNGLASSES  / BLACK FRINGE CLUTCH / FANCY BRA / TIFFANY EARRINGS / SHOES / PANDORA RING / SCRATCH MAP / NANDOS PERI PERI SALT / PANDORA CHARM / BLOCK HEELS / DOM PERIGNON CHAMPAGNE / HOTEL CHOCOLAT GIFT SET / GINOS ITALIAN ESCAPE COOKBOOK / NEOM CANDLE 

What are you buying for people this Christmas?

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Random Beauty Haul

I finally have a camera charger so can take photos and carry on blogging - yay! I recently picked up quite a few beauty bits as I'm really getting back into shopping for products (despite my bank balance been significantly low!) Here are a few bits I bought:

Ardell Demi Wispies / Link / £5.49 - These eyelashes are the best lashes I've tried as they add dimension to your eyes without having that 'fake' look. They wisp out slightly at the end but ever so slightly it's not overly noticeable. For around £4-5 these aren't a bad price at all.

MUA Pro Brow Kit / Link / £3.50 - I absolutely love the brown shadow in this kit - it's the only part of the kit I really use. I sweep an angled brush into the powder and sweep across my eyebrows to make them fuller and it literally takes about 30 seconds. My previous palette has lasted me about 2 years and it's all use: for £3.50 you can't really go wrong.

Maybelline Rocket Volume Express Mascara / Link / £6 - I expected more from this and it didn't really give me much. I much prefer Rimmel's Volume x10 mascara which gives much more length whilst giving volume at the same time.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 'Peach Club' / Link / £8.99 - Again, not so impressed with this one. I didn't really know what I expected but I just don't really like the colour. I think a bright colour would give more effect but I also felt like it was quite creamy so it easily smudged off my lips. I quite like the applicator and the idea is there, but I don't think I'll be purchasing another one of these.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation / Link / £8.99 - I rekindled my love for this foundation by buying it again and it gives such an amazing glow! I had been using L'Oreals True Match Foundation which I absolutely adore but it's nice to change things up a bit every now and then. 

Alpha H Liquid Gold / Link / £29 - This skincare cult product is a chemical exfoliator containing glycolic acid which resurfaces the skin which aims to make your complexion brighter and clearer. I definitely think this makes my skin clearer and the next morning my skin is super smooth. It also claims to diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage which is always a winner.

Vitage Correct and Perfect Skin Serum / Link / £21 (£15.75 at the moment!)  I was looking for a serum but didn't have much cash to spend and saw this on the beauty bay website for £14. It's a very lightweight serum which helps minimise breakouts and prevents blocked pores. Breakouts are my main skin issue so this was a great choice for me. It's infused with vitamins A, C & E which are anti-inflammatory and healing so perfect for those with angry red spots. (Note: serums and moisturisers are just as necessary for spotty oily skin than they are for other skin types!) Zinc is also included which reduces excess sebum production so it not only targets the redness of your skin but also the actual cause of spots. It's usually £21 but if you fancy trying it out, it's currently on offer for £15.75, just follow the link (and there's free delivery!)

Do you like any of these products??

Lots Of Love,

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My Christmas Wishlist | Beauty

So it's that time of the year, Christmas! We've just put our Christmas decorations up in my student house and it's really got me in the mood for this festive occasion. There's so many beauty things I've picked out from beauty gift guides that I desperately want so here we have my dreamy Christmas wishlist.

1 - NARS Satin Lip Pencils / £18 / Link. These are raved about so much and Anna from 'Vivianna Does Makeup' makes me want them a hella' lot more. They look extremely pigmented and as a lip product lover, they have been on my wishlist for a long long time!

2 - NARS God Created The Woman Palette / £40.50 / Link. I've seen this palette for a while but what better time to ask for a NARS palette than at christmas? I received one last year and am still loving it now!

3 - Himalayan Detox Bath Salts / £38 / Link. I have trouble sleeping around nervous/exciting times like exams and holidays. I've heard that these really make you sleep like a natural sleeping pill. I've been wanting for so long!

4 - Charlotte Tilbury Luxury palette 'The Rock Chick' Edition / £38/ Link. Having never tried anything from Charlotte Tilbury, I think it's about time! Charlotte Tilbury has created many different make-up looks in which you can buy products to complement that look. I like the 'Supermodel' look but the rock chick look appealed to me too as I'm very into deep smokey eyes. This eyeshadow palette would create such a gorgeous sultry eye and I want so badly!

5 - Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow / £49 / Link. This face sculpt and highlight duo looks amazing on the models and I know it's probably over exaggerated and/or photoshopped but I really really want this. Gorgeous packaging and I'm sure the product is great too. So pricey though!

6 - Urban Decay Glide On Eye Pencil Set / $52 / Link. I still haven't owned an eye pencil from Urban Decay which is surprising as I have 3 of their eyeshadow palettes! I could only find this set on Sephora which is in american currency but I would really want to pick it up if I was in America and try out all the different colours.

7 - Aromatherapy Associates Essential Travel Oils / £33 / Link. Just looking at this product makes me feel luxurious. I haven't really used bath oils before but I think they would be a perfect addition to a spa night in and for travelling like suggested.

What's on your Christmas wishlist?

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