In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take

I don't really know where to begin with this post, so I guess I'd better just start with the big news - I'm moving to Dublin!

Day Trip to Howth

At the start of the new year my partner relocated from England to Dublin for a new job. Since his relocation I've tried to visit as much as possible, and I set visit to Howth on my agenda after being hearing so many good things about the place. Luckily only 2 months into him living there we got to visit this lovely town, and I thought I'd share our trip with you.

What's in my Handbag? Work Edition

I've been meaning to post a 'what's in my handbag' post for a while as I always love these kinds of posts. Anything to do with storage/organising etc, I'm in there. (My boyfriends theory is that it's so I can find new ways to store more useless 'stuff'.. he's probably not wrong!) As the majority of my time nowadays is spent in the office, I thought I would do a work edition of 'what's in my handbag'. I love this bag from H&M, though annoyingly I couldn't find it on their website to link to it. It's very sleek and simple, so it's easy to accessorise with whatever I decide to wear to work.

So without further ado,  here are all the things I keep hidden away inside:

Red.Soul - Dreams Are High

This post is a little different than usual, but it's one I wanted to share with you all. Like most people music does play a huge role in my life and I constantly surround myself with it. I'm lucky to come from a family who loves music just as much as I do (if not more), and that I got to grow up around such creative people. I remember when I was young, my cousins, sister and I would always hide away at family gatherings, singing to our favourite songs and dreaming of one day being a Spice Girl (ha! Don't pretend you didn't..).

I am so proud to see how far my cousin has come since then, and how hard she is working to pursue her dream. Her and her fellow band member have just released their first single, and I wanted to share it with you all because, although yes she is my cousin so I am going to be a bit biased, regardless of this I do see very bright things for hers and their future. Just watch the video below and see for yourselves!


As this is their first single, I thought it would be nice to get to know Red.Soul a bit more, and see what their new single means to them.

Tiny Tea: My First Impressions

More and more recently I've started to be much more aware of my diet, and the crap I put into my body. Too often I find myself low on energy, feeling sluggish and not being able to focus properly. Plus having food allergies, food has started to rule my life in a bad way.

So I've decided to actually take control of what goes into my body, and hopefully I will start noticing benefits from this.

Bedroom Inspiration

One of my new years resolution was to be a bit more organised with my room and try and get rid of some clutter. But I've decided thats not enough, so instead Im going to have a complete overhaul of my room!

My room worked well for me whilst I was at uni - I had all of my work, stationary and design supplies there, plus (obviously) my clothes, makeup etc. But its become so cluttered and so full of stuff that I don't really like to spend time in my room, and the way it is just encourages more clutter.

Now Im no longer at university I want a clean, pretty and spacious bedroom. I'm planning on redecorating it, getting rid of old furniture for new, and completely changing the layout.
The annoying thing is that I've realised at least 75% of the stuff in my room needs to go.

I thought I'd share some images that are inspiring the design for my new room:

I've already bought a double bed (finally! No more being cramped up in a single) and a few bits and bobs to go around my room. 

The only problem is I've realised for the double bed I obviously need a new mattress, duvet, covers etc!

Whilst Im in the process of changing everything around I'll be posting regular updates of things I find, and keep you updated on the progress.

In the meantime you can see more on my Pinterest board as I'm always updating it with images that inspire me.

If you have any links to bedroom inspiration, or similar posts you've written, I'd love to see!

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Fitness February

After dedicating January to getting organised, February is going to be the month where I'll be focussing on fitness and becoming more active.

After years of failing at keeping my resolutions, I've realised that changing everything all at once is just going to lead failure. This is why I've decided to focus on one thing per month, hopefully this will lead to things becoming a habit, not a chore.

I really do need to focus on fitness asap because I just eat rubbish all the time, and spend most of my day sat down. The only time I'm 'active' is walking to and from my car, and walking to and from town on my lunch break. Seriously pathetic, I know. I can feel myself slowly turning to jelly, it's not cool.

The trouble is, when I get back from work in the evenings, I know that as soon as my backside hits the sofa I'll be stuck there for the rest of the night. I have no willpower from that point to get up or do anything.

I need to be more proactive with my time and plan workout sessions. I do have exercise equipment at home, as well as workout dvd's. Plus Youtube has a tonne of fitness videos, so there's really no excuse for not doing anything.
So my goal for this month is to fit in one session of exercise a day - even just 15 minutes on my Yoga app will be better than being a couch potato!

By the way I really like this Yoga app. I have it on my Macbook, but you can also get it on the iPhone/iPad and the Android market too! I would definitely recommend downloading the free version and seeing how you get on with it.

Feel free to join me on my mission to get fit - It would be great to know Im not suffering alone have some moral support!
How are your resolutions going so far?

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Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2013 is already here! Is it just me that thinks 2012 went by way too quickly?

I'm really looking forwards to this year, and I'm hoping to achieve a lot more than I did last year. I will definitely be back to blogging regularly! 

I have come up with a few new years resolutions for 2013, and I'm going to try my hardest not to break any of them! 

 New Years Resolutions

Utilise Wardrobe

I recently had a huge clear-out of my wardrobe to make room for new buys, but ended up re-discovering items that I didn't even realise I owned! I've realised my problem with clothes is that I'm too lazy to look at what I already have, so I get stuck in a rut playing it 'safe' and wonder why I never have anything to wear! I'm going on a spending ban with clothes so I'm forced to make outfits out of clothes I already own.

Stop Hoarding

I am a massive hoarder, and my boyfriend recently looked around my room and said to me "...You just love stuff, dont you?!" I really need to be ruthless and get rid of about 60% of the crap I'm holding on to. I do not need to hold onto boxes from products I've bought, and I definitely do NOT need 3 desks in my room (sadly I'm not exaggerating). Even Tereza has told me I need to make this one of my resolutions haha.

With regards to clothes - any items of clothing that either I cannot make into an outfit or that I have not worn by April (excluding summer wear) will be sold or donated.

Fitness

This is the one resolution I make every year but always break!

I NEED to strengthen my core at the very least. I also want to make fitness a part of my daily routine - even if it's just a small amount a day. 

Blog

Of course I need to blog more! I've neglected my poor blog for too long. I also want to take more outfit posts and focus a little more on fashion, and make it more 50/50 fashion and beauty focussed. 

Live!

I need to do more with my life. You only get one, so I want to do as much as I can with it. Whether thats socialising more, going on more days out or focussing on the future. As long as I waste as little time as possible I'll be happy. I spent way too much of 2012 doing nothing, I definitely want to look back on 2013 and say I spent it well!

I wish you all an amazing 2013 and hope it brings you everything you wish for!

Have you made any resolutions for the new year?

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What Happened Next...

Since finishing uni, I've had a bit of a mini break from blogging (amongst other things) just to get my head together, and I'm happy to say I've got the blogging bug again! I thought to get back into the swing of things I'd let you guys know what I've been up to during my break.

Graduation

You may have seen from previous tweets/posts that all my struggle and hard work paid off at uni, and I passed my degree! My mark isn't really anything to shout about, but I'm so happy I've finally finished! It's been a bit of a struggle with various things going on with my health etc, most recently with my back. But I learnt a lot, and graduated on the 3rd!

Back Injection

Last week I went to hospital to have a steroid injection on my lower back. I had to be put to sleep for it, and woke up with a severe case of Bambi legs after! I seriously couldn't put one leg in front of the other until the next day, it was really annoying haha!
Basically my back had been causing me so much pain which was getting worse, to the point where I could hardly walk or do anything. After an MRI scan I was given two options: a steroid injection which might work, or have an operation to remove the two discs that are causing the problems. Obviously I went for the injection, and so far there is a big difference, though the pain isn't completely gone. I'm really hoping it will last long enough though. We'll see!

***

Those are the two most notable events that have happened (I'm not going to bore you with everything I've been up to, don't worry!), and these are definitely both two huge milestones for me. Thank you all for your kind words through my uni stress/graduation/injection, and for sticking by my blog - You're all amazing!

Next thing on the agenda now is to find a job! (Easier said than done..)

I'm really happy to finally having the chance to be blogging regularly from now on, and I have a few more posts lined up this week so keep and eye out for those! Until then do check out my previous post (if you haven't already) on how to make your own DIY Coffee Scrub, I absolutely love it!

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I'm still here!

You've probably noticed that I completely failed with the fashion challenge!
I've been so busy with my uni work, but I've handed in a huge project which I'm really proud of, and have begun my last one which is a pretty hectic one!

Some of my uni work

I have 2 weeks left at uni until I finish my degree, and you can probably guess it's hell right now trying to get everything done! So the blogs been a little neglected. I finish on the 29th, so expect to be inundated with blog posts from me from the 31st onwards (on the 30th I plan to hide under my duvet all day!)

I am still pretty active on twitter (even though I should be doing my work!) and am just about keeping up with the fashion challenge on Instagram too, so feel free to follow me there (my username is notjustskindeep).

I feel so bad for neglecting this blog for so long, and I have a list of posts as long as my arm to write about (not even joking), plus a few more DIY skincare products which I've been using for a while now and LOVE. One of which is actually amazing at clearing up any breakouts!

I'll leave you with photos of my instagram challenge from where I left off:

#StyleMeMay, Days 4-17

Top Row: Day 17: Style Icon | Day 16: See Me Blush | Day 15 Ivy League Preppy | Day 14: All About The Eyes | Day 13: Seen on a Style Blog

Middle Row: Day 12: Garden Party | Day 11: Colour Below the Ankles | Day 10: Classic White Shirt | Day 9: Used to Scare You | Day 8: Fresh Lipstick Colour

Bottom Row: Day 7: A World Traveller | Day 6: Layer Jewellery | Day 5: Put a Scarf on it | Day 4: Always Gets Complimented

I'll be back to blogging soon, and hope to take part in another challenge next month if there are any about!

I've also had a request to post about my scary lipstick collection, so that will be up sometime after the 30th.

Cant wait to be finished with this degree and back to blogging again!

Birthday Instagram

A few of my presents | Sunny skies | CCO

Las Iguanas to celebrate with my boyfriend | At the restaurant | My OH

OCC Haul | Birthday nibbles | Late night reading on my new Kindle

It was my birthday yesterday, and I turned 24 *updates blogger and twitter profile*. I didnt do much on the day as I have soooo much work to do :( 

I ended up trekking into London to buy a ten tonne of fabric, but I did get to spend some of it with family which was nice. 

Its also my boyfriends birthday tomorrow, so at the weekend we went to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth for the day, and went to our favourite restaurant to celebrate. 

-Seriously, you all need to get yourselves down to a Las Iguanas and try the xin xim, it is amazing!

I loved all my gifts, but I was so happy to see I got a kindle! I've wanted one of these for far too long.

I love reading, but haven't picked up a book in so long because of studies, so this will be the perfect thing to get me back into it. Also with my back problems it means I wont be weighed down by carrying anything heavy. On my list of books to read are "The Hunger Games" trilogy, "The Uglies" quartet, and "A Game of Thrones" series. Currently working my way through the beast that is "Great Expectations" first (down to a deal I made with my boyfriend to bribe him into reading), so it looks like I'm going to be busy!

Catch-up

I've been away from blogging for a couple of weeks, and so as my first post back I thought I'd share with you all the things I've been up to!

Teds Band

Me and my boyfriend with The Blanks!!

Please excuse my pastiness and bad hair lol

If you follow me on twitter then you may have seen me tweeting about going to see The Blanks (Ted's Band from Scrubs) with my boyfriend on the 21st June.
It was so surreal seeing them in real life, and they were seriously AMAZING!!
They were so funny, and incredible performers. And I cant believe I got to stand next to Sam (Ted)!
I stood there like a bumbling idiot though, I had NO clue what to say lol.

Cyprus
2 days later me, my boyfriend and 14 other people flew off to Cyprus!

There are more photos, but I've ruined a lot of them (I really hate photos :/)

Usual Day:
The girls got up early to relax by the pool, the guys slept most of the day away! lol

There were a few buggy rides, and trips to the beach. Often during the night some of the girls would lose the room key and have to spend the night by the pool lol.

Usual Night:
Pre-drinks in one of the rooms, then off the the bar strip in Ayia Napa.

Me (far left) and most of the girls

Me and a friend sat waiting in the tattoo parlor

This was my first ever group holiday, and has ended up being the most alcohol I have ever consumed in my life.
I had an amazing time, but I'm pretty much put off alcohol forever! Haha, no lie.

Me (far left) and another friend out for lunch

Number of paid-for bar crawls: 1
Number of tattoo'd bums: 2 (not me haha! tattoos were as a result of losing at games)
Number of 'dougies': Too many, worst 'dance' craze ever! (if I can do it, it's really not a great dance)

Photo of all us girls on the 'Party Hard' bar crawl
Minus the 10 guys

Regrets:
I never got to drive a Quad Bike (or a buggy-I was the passenger though)
I never got to see the Sea Caves
I never got to Sea Kayak

Next time I go to Cyprus I plan to make sure none of those 'regrets' remain :)

Note: I haven't included photos of everyone on here, or names of those in photos for privacy reasons ;)