REFLECTION: 2014

So here we are. The last day of 2014 and the last day of blogging everyday for this month. I have to say, I am super proud of myself that I managed to stick to and get something posted every single day. I am possibly going to take the first week of January and do nothing as I am a bit poorly at the minute and I need a recharge.

As everyone will have every year, there's been high points and low points but let's look at the good...

This year I travelled more than I've ever done before. I'm very much hermit and never really leave my little town. In January I was a crazy person and went to Russia for a week. We visited Saint Petersburg and Moscow and the average temperatures were around -26C everyday. Slightly chilly...
It was a lot of fun and a great experience. I was so nervous beforehand as it was something totally different and I don't like not being in my normal routine so I'm really glad I did it and especially in Winter to get the proper experience!

SO COULD I BE A DAILY BLOGGER?

This month I set myself the challenge of posting on here every single day of the month. Other bloggers do this all the time so shouldn't be too hard, right?
At the start of the year I said I'd try be more active and regular on the blogging front but that didn't really last. I dip in and out of posting regularly. I love it when I do it but sometimes it's really hard to find the motivation. So I figured, if I could attempt daily blogging for a month then maybe I'd kind of force myself into a routine. I never wanted to come out of the challenge and then be all "I'm a daily blogger now" because boy... I definitely cannot keep this up! But if I can get myself into some kind of routine for maybe 2-3 posts a week, that'd be good.

What are the drugstore brands best at? | Urban Decay Naked On The Run palette review | New Years Eve make-up | A powder better than MAC?! | Book review: Sali Hughes; Pretty Honest    

NEW YEARS EVE MAKE-UP LOOK

It's only a few days until we see out 2014 and welcome in 2015. I'm staying in this year with a couple of friends and we're going to cook some food and have drinks and play games because at nearly 23 I am SO hardcore it practically hurts...

Whether you stay in or go out, I think it's always nice to dress up a little so here is the make-up I wore on a night out recently that I'll most likely be using again for NYE.

 

2014 FAVOURITES

I don't tend to do monthly favourites but I do enjoy seeing everyones end of year favourites. I've put together my favourite things from beauty and skincare to films and music so let's do this!

IF I WON THE LOTTERY...

I hope you've all had a lovely last couple of day with whatever it is you've been up to. I have still blogged so if you weren't online then please go and have a catch up.
There's now only 4 more days left of blogging everyday this month and I can't quite believe how fast it's gone. There's going to be a full post about that in a couple of days though.
But for today I thought I'd do a "Luxury Beauty Wishlist".

I was a bit wary and cautious of posting this prior to Christmas Day. I just can't get comfortable with the idea of presents and I didn't want to seem as though it was coming across as throwing hints and boasting or something. Which I'm more than sure it doesn't but yeah!
Besides, it's sale time now so what better time to get luxury products for a cheaper price?!

BOXING DAY BEAUTY

I hope you all had great days yesterday doing whatever you got up up to. Yesterday's post was a little more serious and if you didn't see it then you can click here.

But on to today... Let me guess - yesterday you ate a lot of food, perhaps had a few glasses of wine and completely demolished a tin of Celebrations? As well as getting about 5 hours sleep? Feeling good today? Possibly not.
Well, let me talk you through a mini Boxing Day pamper routine...

GIVE GOOD GIFTS

I didn't want to do a proper beauty related post today as it seems a little pointless. I originally wrote out a post about it being okay to not like Christmas and not to go after those people with metaphorical pitchforks. Which is still true, it is okay to not like Christmas. In our house, Christmas is just like any other day. We sit together, watch films, play games and eat loads. I like that, and by not having tinsel there doesn't make it less valid.

But then I thought I could be using this space to raise awareness instead of spreading what could be interpreted as negativity. We all know that this time a year is for giving but it's also a time of year when we suddenly don't have any spare cash at all as we left everything to the last minute. That being said, I am so uncomfortable with gifts. I like to give people presents but receiving is hard. I don't really get why we do presents... anyway, going off on tangents once again!
I'd much rather people gave their money to people who actually deserve it and need it.

I give money to two charities every month - Alzheimer's Society and Mind. They're both very close to my heart. If you can spare any money and actually want to it'd be so lovely if you could send them, or any charity at all, a little gift today and I'm sure it's going to be appreciated more than they could say.
Also, blood donations are needed more than ever this time of year. I have given blood a few times but for medical reasons, I'm no longer allowed to give. If you are healthy and able to give blood then you really should consider it. Their website tells you were is nearest to you.

I really hope you all have the loveliest day and I hope you're with the people you love.
And if you do have to be alone today, you can use the hashtag #joinin on Twitter. There's more information here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.


Disclaimer: it should go without saying that nobody has asked me or paid me to talk about these charities. I just wanted to post about them because they deserve attention and donations more than I do.

SLIGHTLY FESTIVE NAILS

First off, apologies for the iPhone photos. I did today's post a little last minute. 

I figured with Christmas Day tomorrow I should add a bit of glitter to the talons. We're just spending all day at home tomorrow but it's nice to dress up a little and everyone likes a bit of sparkle.

I decided not to go OTT so they're not really festive nails but that just means I don't have to take them off too soon ;)

I used a Seche nail polish in Lumiere that came in a Glossybox (I think...) I love this polish. Only need one coat and the colour is beautiful even in its own. Plus I love the name!

I put over the top (a pretty old) Barry M nail paint in Pink Iridescent. It just adds a slight sprinkle of glitter and I think they look really pretty together.

Just so you know, I do have a post ready for tomorrow. It's not beauty related and it's only a little one but quite important so if you do get chance to get online, please pop back over for a read.

If you don't get online then I hope you all have the loveliest day tomorrow and get to spend it with people you love.