LIFE | EYE OF THE WOLFE #2

Fresh out of university, the main thing on our minds is probably finding a job....or as I may have mentioned last week, deciding what to watch on Netflix! Sidenote: OMFG Orange Is The New Black Season 3 XD.

So you’ve found a job, you're waiting in anticipation to start, probably nervous and excited all at the same time. Am I right? Well that’s definitely how i’m feeling as I’m due to start a new job soon. There’s a few little things I’ve been doing to help me prepare and stem those unwanted feelings that i thought i’d share with you career gals out there!

RESEARCH YOUR COMPANY

Obviously, I presume you know who your working for! If not, that's probably NUMBER ONE on your priority list. Type their name into Google and have a good read of their goals, motto etc or if you know anyone who used to work there or who still does, ask for a bit of information so you can go in knowing your stuff! No doubt you’ll get trained but it makes you look inquisitive and motivated if you have a bit of background knowledge on the role and company.

PLAN THE JOURNEY TO WORK

Getting to work can be the worst part of the day, the hustle and bustle, the early morning, the travel... so find a way to work you can enjoy. If there’s a scenic route from your house, take that...providing it doesn’t turn into a cross country marathon! You’ll feel better getting to work having seen some beautiful sights on the way. If you live in the city like myself, make yourself a great playlist that gets you psyched up for the day, you can annoy/impress your colleagues with your constant humming of that song you’ve had stuck in your head all day, happens alllll the time. Travelling on a bus, train or driving can get very samey...music and/or some nice sights can help you start of your day right.

VAMP UP YOUR WARDROBE

An excuse to buy new clothes! Yaaaay. Honestly, it’s a very brilliant, very valid excuse! Since I used to juggle university and a part-time job, my wardrobe was primarily workout wear and dance gear. In serious need of some new business formal items! Buying a few pencil skirts, nice shirts and some work trousers can help you to feel fresh and sassy when you walk through the door everyday. Mix and matching some of your more casual clothes with business wear is always fun too. Just make sure you check your company's dress code! No bikini’s in an office, no suits on the beach.

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS

There may be a few things you can brush up on if you have some spare time before you start. Sales jobs, why not explore some new ways to build up rapport with customers or if your working in a more office based setting, what about looking up some Excel or Word tips and tricks. Being on top of your skill set and knowing what you're good at when you start a new job will give you an inner confidence boost that will shine out to your new employers.

FIRST DAY

It’s finally here and guess what...you’re going to be fine. The first day of anything is daunting, school, college, university, jobs. You’ve had loads of first days, and did you make it through them. HELL YEAH! Although your at work to...yep, work! Your also there to enjoy your job, you chose this job for a reason, look at it as yet another chapter in your life. Don’t take yourself too seriously but commit yourself 100% and you will succeed!

Thanks for reading!

BEAUTY | Nude Nails: OPI & Barry M

Without my nails painted I feel undone, incomplete. I’m serious. Even when a nail is chipped or the polish isn’t perfect on each nail I have a mini freakout in my head and discreetly look for the nearest nail bar. Okay, maybe I don’t do the latter but you get the picture.

Lately, I’ve been loving pastel colours and even more so nude! Normally I wouldn’t opt for browns or nudes as I think they blend with my skin tone too much and I end up with never ending fingertips, however that all changed when I came across the Barry M Nail Paint in Lychee and it seems to have won me over! The polish is in their Gelly Hi Shine range which I’ve been an avid fan of since they launched (collected over 15 colours, ooo make that 16 with the new addition) and took £3.99 from my pocket, not bad not bad. This beautiful creation is non-gloopy and gives such a brilliant shine once it’s dry, bringing me to my next high-five to Barry M..it literally dries within a minute or so meaning your next coat can be applied and dried within 5 minutes total! Winning! Especially since I always always try to do something just after painting my nails and it becomes smudge central for my fingernails then out comes the nail varnish remover for a redo, sigh!








Once i’d painted my nails the lurrrrvely nude I decided to give one special member of my finger family a bit of glitz 'n' glam! Thanks to OPI's Make Light Of The Situation from their new 2015 Soft Shades collection, coming in at £9.95, my ring (no...only using the name..no ring in sight) finger got a little shimmery! This polish is down right stunning, when I first saw the bottle, the first word that sprung to mind was ‘princess’...oh how I wish one slick of polish would give me a castle and a tiara, oooo and a moat, everyone who's anyone should have a moat! It looks almost iridescent in the bottle, but applied over any colour definitely adds an element of ‘WOW’ to your nails. As far as i’m concerned OPI and Barry M are the go to brands for nail polish, yes the price tag’s are a little bit of a stretch from each other, but well worth it in my opinion.

What nail colours make you feel like a princess? Or even a little villanous if you prefer the darker shades?

Thanks for reading!

BEAUTY | Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes & Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Review

Fabulous, fluttery, flirtatious. That’s what we want from our eyelashes right? I have the smallest, like almost microscopic eyelashes! Back in the day, i remember piling on layer after layer of Rimmel’s Voluminous mascara, and then using a needle to separate my eyelashes. I’d strut out thinking my eyelashes were being admired, little did i know it just looked like i had spiders on my eyes and people were probably looking in horror! To compliment our eyelashes, sometimes we have days when we want to cover up our dark circles too, after that long night working or playing. Which is where concealer comes in oh so handy in faking that wide awake, i certainly wasn't out last night look. I picked up the Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes mascara and Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Harvey Nichols, and now that i'm coming to time when i need to re-stock, i thought what a perfect time to do a review!

Nowadays, there are so so many different wands, combs, and formula’s for mascara it’s difficult to know which one will work for you without actually testing it. And unfortunately, that’s one make-up piece you can’t test out, conjunctivitis…. no thanks!

With describing words such as…

CURL 

VOLUME

3D-EFFECT

FLUTTERING

There's even a mascara out there called…..*whispers* Better Than Sex

It’s hard to not be enticed by the expansive choice we have. I do tend to try out a new mascara every time i’m running low. I'd heard so much about Full Fat Lashes and even watched a video of Charlotte herself applying it to a model, and hell I was sold! I purchased it for approximately £32 from the desk at Harvey Nichols, but it's available on Amazon too for a little more including delivery, which I've linked above if you want to take a look. The mascara itself when applied gives your eyelashes separation but not so much length. I found that after applying maybe three coats I got the length and volume I kind of wanted, not what I expected unfortunately. If you already have long lashes, it's probably perfect for you as I think it would have more effect. There's no fallout from this mascara which I love, who wants flecks of black all over their face halfway through the day! Removal is fairly easy too, although go easy on your eyes if you've triple layered like I do!

Concealer time! My usual concealer brand is MAC, but I wanted to explore other brands as a bit of a change up, a friend recommended the Nars Radiant to me and it's a product i'll definitely be picking up again. Priced at £27, again approximate as I've seen it a few different places at different prices. As I tend to use my concealer as the highlight of my contour routine, it's not too heavy to do so, but still gives a good coverage for those dark circles. The applicator is like a lipgloss sponge, acquiring just the right amount of product, one dunk for each eye and easy to draw a straight line down the nose for those no-surgery nose job contours!

Have you tried either of these products? What are your next purchases in the eye department?

Thanks for reading!

LIFE | Eye of the Wolfe #1

Why, hello there again, fancy seeing you around these parts.

You may have noticed this space has been a non-existent, dusty little corner for a good few months, something i'm not too proud of. However, I am proud of the fact that I've now finished University after a looooong four years.

I DID IT! I BLOODY DID IT!

I thought i’d do a little series on my blog every week called …., ‘Eye of the Wolfe’. It’s going to be a weekly post every Friday/Saturday with a little insight into some of the things I get up to, with hopefully a few words of advice too. Let’s see how it goes!


After finishing all the exams, essay’s and assignments, we all inevitably get that stomach curdling feeling….WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?!
Don’t panic, it’s a normal feeling, myself and every friend post-uni has had this feeling, the first thing to do is stop, look back and realise how well you’ve done, you’ve managed to get through three years of hard work and even harder partying, I jest! Go you! Now is the time to have some well deserved rest...and that doesn't have to mean lying in bed day after day watching Netflix, or alternating between the sofa, then bed, back to the sofa, I must admit I did take up these activities for a few days after my final hand in. By rest I mean taking the time to do what you want when you want! Obviously work might take up some of your days if you have a part time job, or even the majority of your week if your lucky enough to have a full time job lined up after finishing. But whatever you choose to do after these stressful few months, just remember don't put more pressure on yourself, live comfortably for a few weeks knowing you've just worked your ass off and can have some time to relax!


After deciding to follow my passion and study Dance as a career, I enrolled at Leeds Beckett University, formerly known as Leeds Metropolitan University! I've learned so much over these three years here ( I also did a year at Teeside Uni - not for me AT ALL) ...and not just in terms of education, but also in terms of my self. Yes yes, we hear all this stuff about 'finding yourself at uni, it's the start of a new beginning, bla bla. Which yeah I guess it kind of is, but I've noticed it's also completely up to you to mold your experience of uni yourself.
There aren't any teachers to keep you in check, so it's up to you to get to class and if you decide to walk halfway to uni and then turn around for the comfort of your bed that's okay too. That's not imagination, I actually had a friend who did that....almost everyday haha. Naming no names! Personally I wouldn’t advise doing so every day...yes, even if your head's splitting in two after chucking back those shots that are 'so-cheap-you-won’t-know-your-own-name-after-5’ and the last thing you can think of doing is sitting in a lecture theatre, or attempting to pirouette across the room. It's difficult, it takes motivation and it takes determination to get that degree at the end of it all. But you can do it!

Nerves, fear and pressure are three emotions I've felt frequently throughout my time, but those are also three emotions that have pushed me forward and made me keep going. So now as I take a step into a new chapter of my life, i'll always remember those difficult mornings where i pushed myself to get into class eyes half open, those never ending days in the library and those hours filled with stress as you attempt to submit an essay online with no internet connection. But what i'll really remember is the people I've met along the way, the support network I've built up in a new city, the nights out filled with dancing, fun and mischievous adventures, the feeling of relief when you get your marks back at the end of a semester and most of all the huge sense of achievement now that I've finally come to the end.

University can be daunting, exciting, pressurizing, interesting and downright challenging. Whether you decide it's for you or not, to me it's another jigsaw piece in the puzzle that is my life which fit perfectly.

Who else has just finished uni and is feeling like i am?! 

Thanks for reading!

BEAUTY | Victoria's Secret Power of Three

Apologies for my brief hiatus, but i'm still here *waves* I’ve had and still have so much university work to do, 3rd year is no walk in the park. They really make you work for this degree don't they?! If I’m not planning an essay, I’m researching something about something or thinking of how to create my performance. Then if I’m not doing that I’m working and sleeping. But I missed not updating my blog for two weeks, so if i post less frequently, please forgive me! Soon as i've finished this semester, i'm going to be working hard to make this a beautiful space for myself amidst you lovely other bloggers.


What are the first three things you think about when you hear the words Victoria's Secret? For you males, it might be significantly different to us females who I’m sure it screams 'unbelievably beautiful goddess like women, who I wish I looked like, but I’m currently sat eating a tub of chocolate ice-cream, planning my fitness regime for the next 6months' Am I wrong?

I picked up these three body mists from VS the other week, and now I’m walking round smelling good enough to eat! I’m all for body spray over perfume, don’t get me wrong, I still use perfume for special occasions and nights out, but during the day I find it’s so much easier and certainly cheaper to spritz myself with one of these beauties. Being able to go spray happy with these water-based products is better than wasting a cloud of Michael Kors’ in my opinion. All three scents at a bundle price of 3 for £24. Not too bad is it? I could have spent an extra £6 and gathered up 5 for £30 but I’ve got to set myself some limits now.

Victoria's Secret Fantasies Coconut Passion Body Mist

Vanilla and Coconut scented; refreshing formula is infused with conditioning Aloe Vera and calming Chamomile.

This scent takes me back to my childhood so much, I think having afro-carribean hair, my mum was always using products that had coconut oils, I believe for its detangling properties. Yes, I was one of those children who screamed whenever a comb came near my head…combing curls hurts okay?! So although this takes me back to painful hair brushing days, the vanilla gives off a sweetness I can’t resist.



Passion Struck by Victoria's Secret Body Mist


Fuji apple and Vanilla Orchid fragrance mist. This refreshing formula is infused with conditioning Aloe Vera and calming Chamomile.

I can’t be sure exactly what ‘fuji’ apple is, but I know what apple is, and this fragrance is definitely sprinkled with a few appley notes. The more prominent smell is the vanilla for sure, but the apple makes it smell so much sweeter and fruity. I’ve got to say this is probably my go to scent when I’m looking for something I know will make me smell good instantly.


Love Addict by Victoria's Secret Body Mist


Wild orchid and Blood Orange fragrance mist. This refreshing formula is infused with conditioning Aloe Vera and calming Chamomile.
Quick observation. All of these are infused with conditioning Aloe Vera and calming Chamomile. I’ve just noticed, couldn’t have written that sentence more often if I tried could I. Awkward. Anywaaaay, the last body mist I picked up is a new spring addition to the range and it’s got that floral, girly girl smell. You know, that smell that’s fresh and fun. The wild orchid is responsible for this I believe and it does a damn good job too!

Certainly a lot of passion and love in VS isn’t there? It’s coming up to warmer weather soon…I hope and I’m looking forward to all the shops re-arranging and making way for new spring products.
What’s your favourite VS Body Mist?

Thanks for reading!

BEAUTY | A (Lush) Valentines Day

The title...I know I know I'm already cringing inside. However, you can't deny it magically draws everything together. It's Valentine's Day and this post is about Lush products. Lush. Valentine's Day. A Lush Valentines Day? See...go me!

Anyway, down to the true nature of this post ey. Whilst wandering around Leeds City Centre today being a wingwoman for my friend Valentines Day shopping i decided to love myself and got some treats. Once over the perfumed/organic scent blast you receive upon stepping through the doors of many Lush stores, i sought out the bubblebar counter. Lush's bathbombs make having a bath the best damn thing you've done this week. And with that thought in mind i ended up at the till with this trilogy of nose pleasing beauties.



Lonely Heart Bubble Bar 

At £3.50 this little glittery heart is well worth the pain of having glitter constantly stuck to your hand after holding it for 1.2 seconds. Once you crumble some of this under the running hot water, comes the foaming bubbles set to put you in deep relaxation mode. THEN you get to be a Edward Cullen the 2nd with your glittering skin once you get out. Slightly annoying if your off to work, not at all if it's bed time! You only need half of this bar to produce a bath full of bubbles. That's two, at a push three beautifully smelling pink/red glittery baths.



Heart Throb Bubbleroon

The shape of this bathbomb was the first thing that hooked me. It's an unusual sandwich of red hearts with a filling of gold glitter. Yep, more glitter all over everything...i am aware. Not as much as Lonely Hearts though. I love that this bubbleroon, as it's called, has a large helping of shea butter mixed in, leaving your skin moisturised and lovely. The scent is quite vanilla based with the familiar 'lush' mixture of goodness. £3.65 and its yours!


The Godmother Soap Block

Now, this one isn't actually from Valentines Day/Spring range. However...it is pink...and smells declicious. This one has the Snowfairy scent that comes in the bathbomb form but only at Christmas. Booo. Until then i can have my skin feeling smooth and smelling good enough to eat with this hot/dark pink block of soap. You can buy this from the huuuuge big bars on one of the counters and they usually weigh it out per 100g, i got my chunk for £3.66 to be precise and it weighed 116g. This literally does melt in your hands too, so quick quick quick.

Whatever your doing this valentines day, i hope it's filled with friends, fun and laughter. And of course..*cough* LOVE. I'm not sure what my plans are yet, but i'm 99.9% it's now going to involve one of the above and a hot bath!

Thanks for reading!

LIFE | Waterfall Walks

The other day I was thinking about the direction and purpose of this blog. I don't want to make a half-arsed effort this time round, my old fitness blog Step by Step became a staple in my life for a good 43 days (good effort Amiee *eye roll*) I'm proud to say I managed to write about the Insanity workout and my meals EVERY SINGLE DAY. Then I got lazy and started university again so it came to an abrupt end unfortunately.

With this blog, I can write about what I love and share it with you! But then I think the best thing about having a blog is that I can look back at all these memories. The world is changing so fast, and we constantly have something else to look forward to, another plan to make, sometimes we can end up forgetting the good memories in the past. So I want to be able to look back through things I used to love, and places I’ve been and the times before everything gets all hover-crafty and super technological.

So a few weekends ago, me and a few friends decided to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Leeds city life and drive a gazillion miles, or 43, into the country side. I always used to be a ‘why on earth would you want to walk…outside…where it’s windy….and cold’ kind’a person but I can admit I have been converted. Once I’d wrapped myself up properly (I’m always the one without a coat, complaining it’s cold….I know, I know!) and we arrived, I began to appreciate the sights around me, even took a few pictures too didn’t iiii.

Ingleton falls are waterfalls…..in….. Ingleton. I don’t wanna go and give you a big backstory about this place, because to be frank I don’t know it, and I just want to write about it as I saw it. We parked up in the adorable little village with curvy hills, narrow roads and pebble-dashed cottages then walked the rest of the way to the actual waterfall trail. Yep, an official trail, 8 km I’ll have you know. And I made it! As it was quite a fresh day outside, the trees and ground were coated with that glistening frost that’s not quite there yet you’ll slip on your ass as soon as your foot touches it. Beautiful, but dangerous to those of us without shoes that have grip. And to be fair it did make everything seem magical…or my dream of being a pupil at Hogwarts whose letter just got lost in the post may yet be a reality. As you’ll see in a few pictures we took a wilder beast with us! Kidding, we took my friend Sophie’s Japenese Akita….everyone, meet Oscar! He’s good at scaring away bears and forest-lurking creatures, but he’s a big softie really and looks so cute padding around in snow.











The whole walk was alongside this river, it went on for ages, just miles of bubbling water and rocks! What had me the most was how tall and huge the trees were here, seriously they were like those tree men things from Lord of the Rings. But still, we walked and walked, i tripped a few times, then we walked some more.





The waterfall below was the largest of the trail and probably about half way round i'd say. More stairs winding into the hill took us to the very top, and as i looked down i realised it's not what it looks like in films. It looks vicious. The water crashes off every rock and pools into the black waters below. Quite scary, but at the same time beautiful and mesmorizing.






This marks the start of the end. We began to walk back just as it turned to twilight (my favourite time of the day) ...I love how the sky takes on a deep blue sometimes almost purple hue and everything looks so peaceful. Oh but first, the moon. During the day. Above mountains. The photo is slightly blurry however it never fails to amaze me when the moon shows that clearly during the day.

Look! A heart and an A. Ta-Da! With Love A. It's me!

Once we arrived back into the cute little cottagey town, we stumbled upon a little cafe with THE most amazing cakes and pastries on little cake stands. Frumenty and Fluffin. It was such a quirky space. Each wall painted a different colour, every chair a different cushion, the walls were covered in mirrors and pictures. Seeing the choice of desserts up front, it only seemed fitting after walking a loooong 8km we deserved a treat, right? Right! We chose the huge butter scones filled with a heap of whipped cream and jam. Another swirl of cream dolloped on top and a strawberry to finish, they were so big the full size cake box wouldn't close. Ooooops.











All in all, i thoroughly enjoyed my day frolicking among trees and waterfalls. My legs ached, i wont lie, from the sheer amount of steps but the fun and views and memories definitley make it worth the pain. Sometimes i feel i can get wrapped up in the social media, tv and work sides of life. It's refreshing to get out into the country, breathe in some fresh air and stop for a moment.

Thanks for reading!