best bodycare products of 2012.

This year my body and skin has taken a lot of drastic changes, from the melting hot weather in Tunisia (my summer holiday) all the way to the freezing temperatures of London's winter. My bodycare 'routine', even though it's more of a 'what I feel like using on that day' sort of thing, has been important to keep it hydrated throughout the year.

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~ Original Source Lime Shower Gel (I will be doing a full review very very soon!) - I won't go into too much detail as I will definitely do a review of this is January but basically, this is incredible. It has such a gorgeous but not overpowering lime scent and it's really refreshing.

~ Garnier 7 Day Body Lotion in Aloe Vera (I've featured this in a favourites post here) - This is amazing and I know I've promised a full review of this, which I will do very very soon, but this is great for those days when you just need instant hydration and don't want to wait ages for it to absorb in. I would say that this is more suited for summer as it isn't as heavy but it works just as well in winter.

~ Dove Go Fresh Pomegranate Body Wash (I've done a full review here) - If you want an in-depth review of this, definitely check out the link to the review as I go into much detail. In a nutshell, I never thought a body wash could change my skin so much but this has. It makes your skin so soft and smooth and when I finish this, I will definitely repurchase it, but maybe in a different scent!

I hope you liked this and be sure to check out my other best of 2012 posts!

Kayla x

december favourites.

Oh my, has December flown past or what? I'm still in shock that the year is almost over.

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~ The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash (I've done a full review here) - I've been using this wash every morning this month and it's great to get rid of excess oil on your face, especially on the T-zone. I won't go into too much detail as I've done a full review but this is definitely a cult product for me and you need the tiniest amount so it will last ages!

~ Europe Night Map Top by Tee and Cake (Topshop) - This is actually no longer on the Topshop website but I've featured it in an OOTD here. I love this top to bits but I find that the neck scoops down lower than I expected so I'm frequently pulling it up!

That's actually all I have for this last favourites of the year, I hope you all have had an amazing month and year!

Kayla x

ootd // i'll make my mark, i've got my spark.

top: tee and cake at topshop

jeans: pull & bear (in medium blue) 

I'd firstly like to say a very belated merry Christmas and I hope you all had a great day yesterday! So this is my ootd of what I wore yesterday when I visited family. I absolutely adore this top from Topshop which shows a map of Europe at night. I went with a super casual and comfy look.

I hope you liked this quick cheeky post!

Kayla x

best haircare products of 2012.

Unlike my 'best books of 2012' post, I'll try and keep this one a tad shorter so this is my list of favourite haircare products this year. My hair has undoubtedly been a pain in the bum, as usual, and my unruly curls have driven me mad so my haircare routine has been pretty vital. However, I do apologise as I only have 2 favourite products really because I haven't found anything outstanding.

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~ Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo and Conditioner - This has ultimately become my best haircare purchase of the year. I didn't expect anything spectacular but wow, was I amazed. They are extremely hyrdating and make your hair super soft, shiny and smooth. When I ran out of my shaving cream, I often used the conditioner temporarily and it worked a wonder, even better than shaving cream!

~ Charles Worthington Frizz Free Serum - I actually have owned this for over a year and really only started using it properly now so the packaging I have is different to the one shown on the link to Boots so I'm not sure if they have reformulated it. Anyways, this is awesome for side fringes as you need a tiny tiny pump and run it through the ends of the fringe and after you blowdry it, voila! You'll end up with super sleek hair and no frizz in sight. However, I have heard that this is not suitable if you have coloured hair so beware.

Kayla x

best books of 2012.

I've definitely have read a lot of books this year and a couple have stood out to me from the rest.

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~ Looking For Alaska by John Green - I first read a quote (“So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”) from this book on someone's tumblr ages ago and I was very intrigued. So as anyone my age would, I copied it into Google, read the plot of the book and lusted for it. This book has become extremely popular and it actually has a good reason to be as it is awesome. This was the first book I read by John Green and ever since, I have never looked back. I've read this book twice already which is quite odd for me as I usually read a book and neglect it for several years after.

"BEFORE. Miles Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event until he starts at anything-but-boring Culver Creek Boarding School and meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating she pulls Miles into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. But when tragedy strikes, and Miles comes face-to-face with death he discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.

AFTER: Nothing will ever be the same."

This book is definitely perfect for teenagers and young adults, although I'm sure any aged adult would find entertainment in this book too. I found it very easy to relate to as a teenager and like all of John's books, it is not a typical lovey dovey story. Looking for Alaska is very compelling and addicting to read as it left me feeling that the story was almost reality.

~ The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (I have wrote a small review here) - I'll be honest to you, 90% of my all-time favourite books are quite literally by John Green so you may see a recurring pattern going on. Anyways, I cannot really put into words how I feel about this book. It's one of those books that after reading  it, you claim that it really has changed your life. Like a lot of his books, the importance of youth and life runs throughout it and what's more life threatening than a terminal illness?

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."

Although it somewhat resembles a love story, and in it's essence it actually is one, but that aside, it is something much more than that. It's a tale of friendship, love and more importantly, the short-lived tragedy that we call 'life'. I found my heart warming to Augustus Waters, as if he was real, and without spoiling it, I was left both upset and speechless at the end.

~ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I found that when I finished the trilogy, and in the running up to the film, this series was very overhyped. I think that it is a very compelling book but I found that it got progressively worse as the books went along, as the first book was the best and the final book was the worst.

"Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. But Katniss has been clse to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. The Hunger Games is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever..."

I think if you're a sucker for action-packed story lines, then this is the book for you. However, after reading John Green's books, I realised that this book really did not compare as it wasn't as good. I highly recommend that you read the books before watching the film as it is much much better, trust me. I would say that this trilogy is more for teenagers rather than young adults as it has a very twilight-esque feel to it.

~ The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (I wrote a small review here) - After finishing this book, I felt almost desperate to find another book by Stephen but to my disappointment, there are none other than this book. There are not many adjectives that could ever give this book justice and the only ones I can think of are relatable and utterly beautiful. 

"Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor."

Like Looking for Alaska, it's a story of youth and the daunting yet exciting tales of high school. There will always be at least one part of the book where you can say 'I've done that' or 'I've felt like that' and it's strangely comforting to know that you are not alone in high school and one person, despite being a fictional character, has felt like that too. This book is perfect for teenagers and young adults.

I hope you enjoyed this and I apologise for it being so long! 

Kayla x

diy: gift baskets.

Late on Christmas shopping or just celebrating a special occasion and can't find that one perfect gift? No fear, here is a super cheap and quick DIY.

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1. Get a basket - the basket isn't exactly compulsory. You can swap the traditional wicker basket for a box (that you can decorate) or you could even wrap the gifts in a sheet of plastic and tie it with a bow. You can buy a small, medium or large white wicker basket from eBay from £3.49

2. Decide on a theme - this is the most important step. Think about the person you're giving it to and what they're like. Like if they're really into beauty, you could have a theme of makeup. Or if they really like cooking, you could have a theme of global ingredients.

3. Fill up the basket - once you've decided on the theme, simply buy several items to put in the basket (make sure you have a realistic budget!). Depending on the size of your basket/holder, make sure they will all fit, i.e don't buy insanely huge items for a tiny basket and vice versa. For example, if your basket is based around the theme of makeup, you could add items like eyeshadow, eyeliner, nail polish. Tip: try not to buy specific items, like foundation, as you may not know their preferences in colour or shades based on their skin colour.

4. Gift receipt - always always always attach a gift receipt incase they need to return something, eg. if they are allergic or just don't like it much. The best things about the gift receipts are that they don't say how much you spent, instead they can only exchange items.

5. Spice it up - add a bow or glitter or anything really to jazz it up a little. Presentation is really key here as if it looks scruffy, it won't look like much thought or appreciation has gone into it, unless the scruffy look is what you're going for!

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #6 - (12/12/12).

First of all, I'd like to say that this will be my final post for cheap and reduced christmas gifts, well for this year anyway. Also, I'm probably the only person who got slightly giddy this morning when I found out it was 12/12/12! Okay I admit I did cheat a little here. As it was my final post on this, I thought I would add a couple more expensive items, such as the bracelet.

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For her: 9ct White Gold Herringbone Bracelet (h. samuel)
Reduced from £119 to £84.99 (Free gift for orders over £49!)

For him: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX100 Camera (john lewis)
£164 (£30 cashback)

Teenage girls: OnGoingLoveAffair Orange Python Clutch - LESS THAN 3 DAYS LEFT! (bella rue)
Reduced from £215 to £85

Teenage boys: Casio Men's Stainless Steel Watch (h. samuel)
Reduced from £34.99 to £24.99

Kids: Monopoly - The National Gallery Edition - LESS THAN 2 DAYS LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £34.99 to £30

Under £10: ASOS Compact Mirror (asos)
Reduced form £8 to £6

Under £20: Dior Rouge Haute Couleur Voluptuous Lipstick in Ara Red - LESS THAN 6 DAYS LEFT! (bella rue)
Reduced from £22 to £15

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #5 - (10/12/12).

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For her: D&G Rose The One Eau De Parfum 50ml - LESS THAN HALF A DAY LEFT! (buyapowa) 
Reduced from £52 to £32

For him: De Vallois Champagne 75cl (tescowine.com)
Reduced from £120 per case to £60 per case
Enter the code XXYYYN at the checkout to get the discount

Teenage Girls: YSL Rouge Volupte Perle - #107 Impetuous Beige Lipstick - ONE DAY LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £23.50 to £18.50

Teenage boys: Maca Root Cleansing Duo (body shop)
£7 (40% off if SANTA code is used - free delivery on orders over £5)

Kids: Aubin & Wills Farleigh Top (aubin & wills)
Reduced from £20 to £9.50

Under £10: Midnight Bakula Eau De Toilette (body shop)
Reduced from £15 to £7.50 (40% off if SANTA code is used - free delivery on orders over £5)

Under £20: Indian Night Jasmine Eau De Toilette (body shop)
£15 (40% off if SANTA code is used - free delivery on orders over £5)

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #4 - (09/12/12).

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For her: OPI Germany Collection Ger-minis (asos)
Reduced from £12.95 to £10

Teenage Girls: Soul Cal Deluxe Fairisle Snood (republic)
Reduced from £15 to £11.25 (25% off in store and online - applied at checkout)

For him: Philips AJ1003/12 Clock Radio - LESS THAN ONE DAY LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £52.99 to £28.50

Teenage boys: Crafted Beanie Hat (republic)
Reduced from £8 to £6 (25% off in store and online - applied at checkout)

Under £10: Korres Limited Edition Mini Shower Trio Set (asos)
Reduced from £10 to £8

Under £20: Cowshed Limited Edition Uplifting Grumpy Duo (asos)
Reduced from £16 to £12.50

Kids: Aubin and Wills Shenley Chino (aubin and wills)
Reduced from £45 to £19.50

Kayla x

ootd // when our eyes meet, we can see each others soul.

dress: h&m (old)

belt: primark

cardigan: hollister (old)

tights: primark

Last night, I went to a party to say bye to my friend Sam as she spent her final night in London before she moved away :(

I decided to whip out my festive cardigan as we are so close to Christmas now and I hardly ever get to wear it! I added on an old shirt dress and tied it in with a plaited belt. I didn't get to take a picture but I was wearing my brown Dr Marten serena boots.

Kayla x

my current favourite 3 books (fiction) #1.

Ever since I got my Kindle in April, I've literally been addicted. Not only does it save me money as eBooks are generally a lot cheaper than paperbacks/hardbacks, it's saved a lot of space on my shelves. I have two shelving units, quite large ones, crammed with books from my childhood/recent purchases from about a year ago, that I can't bear to throw away. So now my Kindle is filled with mature books, unlike the books on my shelves, like the Famous Five series.

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Lately, I've loved reading books on the Kindle and in general really. I've found that I've got through a lot of books really quickly and maybe in the new year, I'll do another post with my other favourite books!

~ The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - this book is incredible. I read it on holiday in Tunisia and at first, I didn't enjoy it at all. It's about a boy called Charlie who is new at high school and writes about his new experiences and friends to an anonymous person though letters. I found it quite difficult to understand at first as it had an unusual format of telling a story through letters. Once I got through a quarter of the book, I was hooked. I really like how throughout the book, we see the Charlie slowly coming out of his shell. If you haven't yet seen the amazing film, I recommend you read this first as the film cuts out a lot of vital information, making it quite hard to understand. The only thing I dislike about the book is the length. I found it was so short and I was wishing it could be longer somehow because I didn't want to end as I loved it so much.

~ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - you may soon see a pattern in future posts as several of my current favourites are by John Green. John is a fantastic writer, probably one of the best I have come across. He has a very influential way of writing. He writes as if he is your friend casually talking to you but the way he writes is so mesmerizing at the same time, if that is even possible. The book is about a girl called Hazel who has cancer. It also features a boy called Augustus Waters, who also has cancer, and well, it's pretty much a boy meets girl story. Despite being so predictable, which I usually hate, he writes in a way that makes you know what's coming up but slowly doubting your certainty. Even though it is predictable, it's still so touching and awe-inspiring at the same time. I definitely recommend this for nearly everyone, even if you aren't a fan of love stories, it's got a real good storyline, which is a characteristic sometimes lost in typical books about love.

~ The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - I watched this film before I read the book and that is possibly one thing that I regret. I'm a firm believer that books are better than the films produced out of them and this was no exception. I found myself knowing what was happening next and I definitely didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. The book is about a girl who is murdered by her neighbour and watches down on her friends, family and killer, in purgatory. It was really touching to read her slowly accept her death and move on and eventually, go to heaven. I must say that even though the film was amazing, the book is just so good, words can't describe it. This book is not for the faint-hearted as I found it was a tear-jerker, which is very strange for me as the only book I've cried through is Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman.

I hope you liked this and if you want me to do more posts like this, please let me know!

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #3 - (03/12/12).

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For her: Silvermood Jewellery £40 Gift Card - LESS THAN 3 DAYS LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £40 to £30

Teenage Girls: Motel Tote Bag (asos)
Reduced from £13 to £8

For him: ASOS Men's Satchel (asos)
Reduced from £25 to £18.50

Teenage boys: Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD Monster Headphones (iwantoneofthose.com)
Reduced from £199.99 to £119.99

Under £10: Thorntons Classics Dark Chocolate (thorntons)
Reduced from £8.49 to £5

Kids: Leapfrog LeapPad2 Explorer (very.co.uk)
Reduced from £90 to £75

Under £20: Babyliss 2100w Pro Power Dryer (very.co.uk)
Reduced from £36 to £18

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #2 - (01/12/12)

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For her: Armani Code Pour Femme Eau De Parfum 50ml - LESS THAN TWO DAYS LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £54 to £37

For him: Fujifilm Finepix L55 12 Megapixel Camera - LESS THAN ONE DAY LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £59.99 to £37.49

Teenage Boys: Nike Blazers (nike.com)
Reduced from £65 to £45.49

Teenage Girls: ASOS Cream Envelope Clutch (asos)
Reduced from £18 to £13.50

Kids: Hello Kitty Coin Bank (very.co.uk)
Reduced from £10 to £5

Under £15: Silver Beaded Bracelet (very.co.uk)
Reduced from £20 to £12

Under £10: The Body Shop Shea Shower and Moisture Set (the body shop)
Reduced from £10 to £7

Kayla x

cheap and reduced christmas gifts #1 - (29/11/12).

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Children: Collection of 4 'Cat in the Hat' books by Dr Seuss - LESS THAN ONE DAY LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £15.96 to £10

For her: Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet Eau De Toilette - LESS THAN ONE DAY LEFT! (buyapowa)
Reduced from £73 to £55

Teenage girls: ASOS Spike Bracelet in rose gold (asos)
Reduced from £8 to £6

Under £10: ASOS Leather iPhone case (asos)
Reduced from £10 to £7.50

Teenage boys: American Apparel Men's Polo Shirt in Orange (asos)
Reduced from £22 to £13

Under £15: Kardashian Leopard Print Scarf (dorothy perkins)
Reduced from £12 to £10.80

For him: ASOS Multi Dial Men's Watch (asos)
Reduced from £20 to £15

Kayla x

braces advice and tips.

I've had braces for about 7 or 8 months and I have definitely learnt a lot. So this is a post to help you if you have braces or are going to get them or if you would just like to learn a little more!

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I'd like to start of by saying that braces actually don't hurt, well not for me anyways. When I first got them, they ached because it felt weird that there were pieces of metal stuck to my teeth. I get it tightened every 6 to 8 weeks and again, they ache for a couple of days but don't really hurt.

~ brush daily - brushing at least twice a day is super important, especially if you have braces. I use the Boots Orthodontic Toothpaste but I don't really know if it's working but hey! I also think that electric toothbrushes work better than normal ones when you have braces. I'm not sure the specific model of my toothbrush but I know its from Oral B, helpful, I know. ;)

~ mouthwash - use a mouthwash daily too, especially at night to keep bacteria at bay. I use it at morning and night just because I like a super fresh mouth. I use the Boots Orthodontic Mouthwash but the Corsodyl mouthwash is great if you have ulcers and cuts due to your braces.

~ interdental brushes - interdental brushes from TePe are great to use to brush behind the wires as sometimes its a bit harder with all the wires in the way. They come in different colours according to their size and I would say the green one is the perfect size.

~ orthodontic wax - wax is great to use in your mouth, especially if you have recently got braces and they're aching/cutting your mouth.

The Boots Orthodontic range is absolutely amazing if you have braces. I hope you liked this and found it useful! If you would like me to do another post giving more advice on braces, just comment below.

Kayla x

november favourites.

I know a lot of people, but it's really quite amazing how fast the year has gone. It feels like last week when my dad was doing Movember and here I am again, for an early edition of my november favourites!

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~ Some Nights by Fun. (album) - this is such an amazing album, it is a real shame that some of it is autotuned because they're so talented.

~ Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel (I did a short review here) - I put this on any spots and leave it on overnight and voila! Spots and blemishes are instantly minimised.

~ How I Met Your Mother - this is an insanely hilarious tv show, if you haven't watched it yet, you need to. I've managed to watch 3 seasons this month (I have a lot of spare time) and I have loved every minute of it. 5 more seasons to go!

~ Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash (I did a review here) - I use this face wash every morning and it has definitely reduced the appearance of spots and my break outs.

I hope you liked this super short favourites, my ones always seem so short!

Kayla x

my bucket list.

Hey, so I thought I would take a bit of a break from beauty/fashion related posts and just be a little laidback, so here is my bucket list! For those of you who don't know what a bucket list is, it is basically a list of things you want to do before you die. This won't be my complete bucket list as it would be super long but maybe in a few months later I'll add and update to it.

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1. Visit Australia and Greece - I've actually wanted to go to Australia ever since I was young. I was supposed to move there when I was around 10 years old as my dad got offered a job there but me and my brother were so scared to leave our life behind so we begged our dad not to. That is probably one of the few things I actually secretly regret because I always wonder what my life would be like. Plus, I just want to go to Greece because it has so much history and it's such a beautiful place.

2. Go on a gondola (canal boat) in Venice - I know a tad of Italian (learnt it at school for 2 years before I dropped it for GCSE) and I've always thought Italy is an amazing place. Everytime I see people going on gondolas on canals in Italy, I always think it's so romantic, not to mention serene.

3. Write a book - maybe this is will be one of the few things I won't achieve but I'm determined. Maybe if I wrote a book, it wouldn't get published but I wouldn't mind just writing a book for just me to read.

4. See the Northern Lights - for years I've been obsessed with the Northern Lights (ever since I read the book when I was 8-ish) and I always have wanted to see it with my very own eyes, not just in pictures.

5. Visit all 7 continents - you can probably tell already that a lot of my things on this list is to do with travelling. I would love to visit at least one place in each continent but to visit Antarctica the Arctic would be pretty difficult but it would be incredible to tell people that I've been there.

6. Visit Igloo Village - Igloo Village is literally rows of heated igloos in Finland.

7. Watch the sunset at Stonehenge - this isn't that hard for me since I live in England anyways but to be honest, I've visited more attractions abroad than in my own country. To see the rays of sunlight peak through the holes between the stones would be an awe-inspiring experience.

I know that only a few of these will become reality and some will stay a mere dream. I hope you liked this and I will definitely add to this in time. What's on your bucket list?

Kayla x

ootd // "i fell in love the way you fall asleep; slowly, then all at once".

blouse: zara (old)

skirt: primark £10

tights: primark £2

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've actually posted an ootd picture so I thought, why not? Today, I'm off to a birthday dinner so I decided I should dress up a bit but stay pretty casual. By the way, sorry for the terrible picture quality, my phone has an extremely bad camera!

I hope you like it!

Kayla x

top 3 blemish busters.

For most of us, perfect skin is something we weren't born with. There are very few people I know, my dad being one of them, that are blessed with clear skin. My dad claims all you ever need is good health and a bit of soap and water to wash your face but I disagree, strongly! In this post, I'll be telling you some of my favourite products to get rid of those nasty spots.

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Your health plays a big part in your skin so you've got to be healthy. I wrote a whole post on the '10 Commandments for being healthy' and you can read it here.

1. Body Shop Tea Tree Mask - (I did a post on it here) This mask is great for blemish prone skin and works wonders on your skin, especially good for oily skin. It's really cooling and after washing it off, you're left with super soft skin.

2. Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel - This gel is great to put on blemishes at night and when you wake up, you can see a big difference in the redness. Although it is a very small amount, it really works and you only need the tiniest dab.

3. Toothpaste - Toothpaste isn't the most glamorous thing to put on your skin, however if you have a spot, dab a little toothpaste on it, it may sting a little, and wash if off in 10-15 minutes. As the toothpaste dries up, it will dehydrate your spot and hopefully, reduce the size of it!

Kayla x

autumn to winter transition pieces.

I was looking at my old posts for some ideas and I saw one called 'summer to autumn transition pieces' and I thought, hey why not do one for autumn to winter, so here it is!

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Winter and autumn are pretty similar but in winter, you need a lot thicker knits, well here in the uk anyways!

~ snood/scarf and gloves

~ a good warm coat

~ knitted tights/knee high socks

~ oversized cardigan

~ snug hoodie (not very fashionable, I know!)
~ thick fluffy socks, perfect for boots
~ boots
~ woolly hat

Kayla x

the body shop tea tree face wash review.

Tea Tree Facial Wash (£7)

This facial wash is by far, the best one I have ever used. It has a gel consistency, which is actually better for people with oily skin. However, I do have combination skin, but this wash is great for getting rid of the excess oil on my T-zone. I do feel that it does make the skin around my nose a bit dry. 

For £7, this is totally worth it as you only need about two small squirts to use for your whole face but I finds because its a gel, it doesn't really lather or foam up every well.

I use this every morning and I've found that my skin is a lot more matte and clearer, as the tea tree helps fight those blemishes.

I hope you found this useful and I recommend you get this as right now, in the Body Shop, all skincare and makeup is 3 for 2.

Kayla x

my top 3 face masks.

Face masks are great pampering treatments for your skin once and week and here are my top 3!

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1. Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask (£10 from the body shop) - This is definitely quite a pricey mask as it costs £10 but it is definitely worth it, trust me. This cooling face mask, with tea tree oil, is aimed to get rid of blemishes and it feels amazing on the skin. You leave this on for 10-15 minutes, I usually wait 15 minutes, and when you wash it off, you're left with soft skin. This mask doesn't dry or tighten your skin, but it does leave it feeling slightly tight but as soon as you wash it off, that feeling disappears immediately. It's an absolute dream to wash off as it feels really creamy. The only thing I dislike about this mask, as well as the entire tea tree range, is the smell. It does smell terrible, in my opinion, but after you wash it off, you can't even smell it anymore.

2. Garnier Pure 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub and Mask (£5.99 from boots) - This mask is a great alternative to the body shop one, especially if you don't want to splash out £10. This £5.99 mask is an absolute bargain as it is an multipurpose product, however I have only used it as a mask. You only have to leave this on for 3 minutes but it does make your skin feel tight. As soon as you wash it off, you're left with gorgeous skin and the microbeads in it exfoliates your skin at the same time. The only thing I dislike about this product is the microbeads as it can be hell to wash them all off, but it's totally worth it.

3. Ayuuri Ayurvedi Purifying Sandalwood Face Mask (£5.95 from ayuuri.co.uk) - The best thing about this mask is that most of the ingredients are natural, so you know that you're not pilling on loads of chemicals on your face. I don't know a lot about this brand but this mask really smoothens your skin. Like the body shop mask, you leave this on for 10-15 minutes and wash it off. Again, the only thing I dislike is the smell, I guess I have a sensitive nose!

I hope you found this useful!

Kayla x

what i'm loving this week #3

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Music: Jack Johnson - Never Know

Book: Papertowns by John Green

Film: Skyfall

Skincare: Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser

Hair: Charles Worthington Frizz Free Serum

Fashion: Black Skinny Trousers from Pull & Bear

Blog: etcllymlrs

Youtuber: FashionRocksMySocks

Kayla x

naked renew strengthening shampoo review.

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£3.98 (250ml) from nakedbodycare.co.uk

Firstly, the Naked body and haircare ranges are pretty unknown on the internet. I have never heard anyone talk about it except missbudgetbeauty, even then I've only heard her mention it once but I could be mistaken. Naked is an awesome range that I discovered quite recently. The first product I used from them was an Anti-Dandruff shampoo, which is great, but this Strengthening shampoo is even better!

The best thing about this brand is that it is au naturale and has no sulphates, no animal testing and 97% natural ingredients. This shampoo is actually aimed at weak, brittle and mature hair but I have none of those things but it still makes my hair feel gorgeous.

After washing your hair, it makes it feel super soft and hydrated. It also cleanses your hair well as sometimes you can rub your hair in the shower and it will make a small squeak! The only bad thing I could ever say about this is the smell. I'm not a fan of the sweet, almost sugary smell but hey, I could put up with it. 

Kayla x

how to grow luscious long and healthy hair.

First of all, I would like to say I haven't got a magic potion to give you hair as long as Rapunzel's overnight. These are just some tips to help keep your hair healthy as well as helping it grow in the long term :)

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1. Your hair is what you eat - eating junk food and food with little/no nutrition will make your hair very unhealthy. Make sure you eat the right food and have a healthy diet. I recently did a post on the '10 Commandments for being healthy', you can read it here.

2. Oils - coconut oil, mustard oil and olive oil are great for your hair. Any oil will do and you just put it in your hair an hour (or more) before you wash your hair. I also did a post on how to keep your hair healthy and how I use oils in my hair. You can read the post here.

3. Easy on the washing - don't wash your hair everyday as it was get rid of your hair's natural oils, causing your hair to be dry. I wash my hair around 2-3 times a week. 

4. No heat = healthy hair - try to reduce the amount of heat you put onto your hair as overheating you hair can cause it to stunt its growth, so it will take longer to grow. If you do use heat, always use a heat protectant. 

5. Trim regularly - trim the ends of your hair every 4 weeks (each month) as it was reduce split ends and hair breakage. I always trim my own hair as I don't trust hairdressers because they always seem to cut off too much!

6. Less is more - try to use as little products on your hair as possible. More products will lead to product build up, causing you to wash it more often.

7. Be realistic - don't expect your hair to suddenly become long. This process will take years at a time so you have to be dedicated.

I hope you found this useful, just remember that you need to care for your hair!

Kayla x

the 10 commandments for being healthy.

I definitely am not the healthiest person in the world and I can't give you an overnight miracle to get you to be healthy but all these tips will help you in the long run, I promise!

I'd like to clear something up first though: I am not super skinny and I have never dieted (I love food too much haha). I don't really believe in diets either because when you stop eating, or eat very little, your body thinks that you won't be getting food for a while so it stores up all the fat. Storing up the fat means that you will basically gain weight, defeating the purpose entirely. 

Secondly, I have little desire to be skinny. I would personally rather be my size, which isn't fat nor skinny, and still eat the food I like. I won't be a hypocrite and say eat 5 fruits and veg a day because I definitely don't do that but being a vegetarian, means that I do eat a lot of vegetables.

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1. Exercise - when you do hardcore exercise like marathons, etc, you may be thinking that you've burned loads of calories. Wrong. You've actually just used up a lot of the water stored in your body. To burn and get rid of fat in your body, you have to exercise daily. Not exercise like running down the road once, I mean tough exercise like marathons. As it may seem, marathons don't appeal to most people so find what suits you. I particularly like to do yoga and I play tennis every Saturday. 

2. Be with friends - get your friends to try being healthy too, it will be much easier as you've got people to support you. 

3. Be happy - it's easier said than done. Being happy means that you won't start eating out of boredom or sadness - trust me, I've been there. Being happy also links to exercise as it releases endorphins, keeping you happier.

4. Sleep - make sure you get at least 8-10 hours of sleep, if not more. You need your sleep so your body can be restored for the next day. Also, when you're tired, you mainly start to drink caffeine to keep you awake. This is a complete no no. Caffeine is not good for you, especially if you have it everyday.

5. Be a water baby - it's not scientifically proven that you need 6-8 glasses of water a day but make sure you always drink enough water.

6. Queen of the crop - eat veggies and fruits, daily. If you hate most fruits and vegetables, like me, find a fruit that you like and eat it everyday. I chose bananas and I eat it pretty much daily.

7. Salads - an easy way to get your 5 a day is to eat salads. If you're like me and really fussy, try and only put stuff in it that you like. I always put lettuce and tomatoes in mine. I recommend that you don't eat salads everyday as if you use dressings like olive oil or salad dressings, this would be really unhealthy and could lead to high cholesterol.

8. Quit it - smoking and drinking alcohol too often will deteriorate your health and body. Try and quit, it's better late than never. 

9. Easy on the supplements - try not to take a lot of vitamin supplements. As I don't eat my 5 a day, I take 2 daily vitamin supplements that are actually designed for kids. I would say that the daily limit for vitamins is 2 as if you take anymore, they will literally pass through your body as your body can only take in a certain amount of each vitamin and mineral. So you will basically be left with very expensive urine.

10. Hygiene - personal hygiene is super important, especially if you have a low immune system and don't want a nasty flu or cold. I always carry around a bottle of hand sanitiser whenever I go out.

I hope you found this useful and you can always tweet me @kaylathreads if you have any questions!

Kayla x

october favourites.

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~ American Apparel - I know this is a bit odd to put as a favourite but I've really been loving their clothes this month and hopefully, some time next week, I'll be able to go to their store in central London and pick up a few clothes.

~ Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran // Everything Has Changed - I adore this song and as a huge fan of Ed, I've been waiting to hear it for ages now and it has definitely lived up to my expectations.

~ Teen Angst...Naaah by Ned Vizzini - you may have seen this a couple times in my 'What I'm Loving This Week' posts and it is a hilarious autobiography by the charming man himself. It's a funny account of his teenage years and I half wish that I read this before I started secondary school, it definitely would've given me a couple tips!

~ Ed Sheeran - I've loved the great man himself for many years now but on October 14th, I went to his gig in Hammersmith Apollo, London. If I can, I'll try to put up some pictures and videos from the night but oh my, it was insanely amazing. He had 3 support acts but my favourite was a gorgeous guy called Passenger, (real name is Mike) and he is a beautiful singer. Also, I managed to get a cheeky last minute picture with Mike!

~ Garnier 7 Day Body Lotion (Aloe Vera) - This body lotion is literally the best lotion I've ever used. It absorbs quickly and keeps dry skin at bay. I might do an in-depth review of this, let me know!

I hope you liked this!

Kayla x

10 autumn essentials.

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1. lip balm/chapstick

2. snood/infinity or circle scarf

3. gloves/mittens

4. cable knit sweater

5. ankle/knee high boots

6. quality coat

7. knee high socks

8. denim/plaid shirt

9. leggings

10. jeans

I hope you liked this cheeky little post.

Kayla x

the A/W wishlist: updated.

Pull and Bear Black High Waisted Jeans // American apparel Helvetica alphabet T-shirt

Topshop Cable Knit Pom Pom Hat // American Apparel Velvet Skater Dress (youth)

H&M Black Wool Hat

As you can see, I've added quite a lot to my autumn/winter wishlist compared to my last one here. You may realise that the AA alphabet top I show above actually shows the letter 'n'. I'd just like to clear that my middle name starts with 'n', it's Nadia by the way, and I prefer it to my name, Kayla. 

I hope you liked this post!

Kayla x

how to redecorate your bedroom on a low budget.

I originally planned to do a post on how to redecorate your bedroom for free until I realised that there were a lot of things I wanted to say but they actually costed money. So here is my ideas on how to redecorate your room on a low budget, emphasis on the low. Just to let you guys know that I'm not going to talk utter rubbish as this time last year, I completely changed my room, you wouldn't even recognise it now!

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1. Pick a theme - you should pick a colour scheme or theme in your room. My room's colour scheme is red and white, with three walls being white and four walls red. A really great idea is to pick one wall to be a feature wall and it could have a different colour to the other walls. If you're on a super low budget, try checking if you have any pots of paints at home and you could use those.

2. Less is more - when choosing your wall colours, you should always remember that the colour(s) you pick have to be suitable for all seasons. Bright colours aren't advised as they are super distracting. If you're going minimalistic, try using neutral colours like whites, beige and creams.

3. It's all in the details - if you can't paint your walls completely, buy a small tester pot of paint. You could draw an outline of anything you like on your wall, eg. your name, and you could paint it on. Tester pots are really cheap and are around £2ish.

4. Move it all around - by simply moving your furniture, you could really change your room. 

5. Mirror, mirror on the wall - whether you're a girl or a guy, we all need a mirror in our room. Small ones are really cheap or you could get a big one so you can see your whole outfit. 

6. Shed some light - a lamp is really great to light up your room. If you have a bedside table, it's a good idea to put your lamp there so you can use it before you go to bed. Alternatively, you could put it on a desk.

7. Make it your own - select a wall or an area on a wall to personalize. In this area, you could add pictures/photos, posters and loads of things that give you good memories! On my wall, I have a couple of pictures of me and my friends/family, a couple of gig tickets and an autograph from the amazing singer songwriter, Passenger, you should all check him out!

8. Tick tock - add a clock to your room. It could be a totally cheap one to give your room a vintage/antique look or you could customise one by adding things around it!

I hope you found these tips useful!

Kayla x

what i'm loving this week #2

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Music: Passenger - The Last Unicorn

Book: Looking For Alaska by John Green

Film: 21 Jumpstreet and Guess Who?

Skincare: Boots Botanics Calming Day Cream

Hair: Naked Renew Strengthening Shampoo

Fashion: Serena Dr Martens

Blog: dizzybrunette3

Youtube: NiaSays

I hope you liked this, even though a couple of them were the same as last weeks! 

Kayla x