february favourites.

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~ Original Source Vanilla Milk and Raspberry Shower Gel - I'm literally in love with this. I only just recently bought it but it smells so nice. I have no idea what vanilla milk smells like but this smells so sweet and sugary and it reminds me of a sweet I used to eat when I was younger (can't remember the name but it was tasty I assume!). 

~ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I read this about a year ago but I decided to re-read it again this month. Although I knew what was going to happen, it felt just like the first time. I definitely recommend this to absolutely everyone and I'll be sure to do a review of this soon.

~ Witch Blemish Stick - Okay, I'll be honest. I've only had this for probably a week so it hasn't exactly been a whole monthly favourite but oh my, it's amazing. It's in a stick form, a bit like a Chapstick but wider, and you dab it on your skin. I've found that when it dries on your skin, it becomes flaky so to avoid this, I just use my finger to 'blend and mix' into my skin further.

As usual, this post is super short. I'm starting to find that as I write these posts I actually start to forget what I've been loving, oops!

Kayla x

current haircare routine: updated.

My last haircare routine was back in September last year (here is the post) and I thought it was time to update it. My hair is still quite curly but if you compare the picture in the previous haircare routine post and this picture below, it has become less curlier. This is mainly because my hair has grown quite a lot so the total weight of it has caused the curls to become more wavy rather than ringlets. 

I wash my hair every 3/4 days still and only ever do rough blowdrying to hair and properly blowdry my fringe. My hair is mid-length to me (just in the middle of my shoulder and elbow) but I'm sure if I straightened it, which I hardly ever do, that it will be much longer.

Shampoo:

Naked Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - I have no idea why I'm suddenly getting a flaky scalp but I'm sure it's a mix between my bad food choices lately and the sudden change in temperature here in England. So this shampoo is kinda good at getting rid of it but I find it doesn't clear it up completely.

Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo - I just bought this a couple of days ago but I haven't tried it out. I've tried the Dove Damage Repair shampoo and it made my hair feel incredible so I'm sure this will be just as good.

Conditioner:

Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner - I have the super big salon sized bottle so I still have it and I know it was in my last haircare routine. I'm desperately trying to finish it. I find it is no longer that moisturising and it would be better for fine hair as it doesn't weigh down my hair. However, I do have thick hair and I find it doesn't work too well.

Extras/treatments:

Boots Coconut and Almond Leave-in Conditioner - this doesn't really make a difference to my hair but again, I'm still trying to finish it and I don't like to be wasteful. I think it is better as a detangler than a leave-in conditioner as it isn't hydrating or conditioning.

Charles Worthington Frizz Free Serum - a serum is vital for me, especially for my fringe. I use a small pump for my fringe and about 2/3 pumps for the bottom half of my hair. It's great for when you're blowdrying your hair as it minimises frizz.

This is actually really similar to my last haircare routine and I've only really changed a few items. 

Kayla x

mini fashion and beauty haul - february 2013.

I went shopping yesterday in Pull & Bear and got a few tops from their sale. Usually, their clothes are pretty overpriced but in the sale you can get them at a bargain! And then today, I just popped out to Sainsbury's and got a couple of beauty stuff.

red peplum top: was £17.99, now £5.99

grey heart fringed top: was £17.99, now £5.99

black beaded shoulder top: was £19.99, now £9.99

Apart from the black top, these clothes had been reduced several times. The red one was reduced from £17.99 to £9.99 and then to £7.99 and finally to £5.99 so it was a huge bargain! All of these tops are still in the shop but in different sizes as most of them were in large-extra large but I managed to grab these in size small even though they are still slightly baggy on me.

Then I went to Sainsbury's today to get some shampoo but I got a couple of other stuff in offer.

dove intensive repair shampoo: £1.54 (on offer - save 1/3)

original source vanilla milk and raspberry shower gel: on offer - 2 for £3 

original source lemon and tea tree shower gel: on offer - 2 for £3

I really only needed shampoo but since Original Source was on offer, I decided, hey why not? I'm excited to try all 3 of these out as I've only ever tried the Dove Daily Care shampoo and the Original Source Lime Shower Gel (review here).

Kayla x

original source lime shower gel review.

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Original Source Lime Shower Gel - £2.30 (boots)

This shower gel had been lurking at the back of the cabinet in the bathroom for ages now and only in December had I reached back and began to use it again. I had no clue why I stopped using it but I've fallen in love with it all over again. It has a very refreshing and zingy smell and for it's price (£2.30), it's an absolute bargain!

As with all Original Source products, it smells and feels good. It makes your skin feel soft and smell great. Despite being quite zingy when you squeeze it out, after you come out of the shower, it smells a lot more subtle which is great if you don't want to be a walking lime.

I'll definitely be repurchasing this but I want to try out some other scents. What are you favourites?

Kayla x

ootd // plagued by pain in their heart.

shirt: primark

top: i heart ny* - a present from when my cousin visited new york

trousers: pull&bear

Happy Valentine's Day or how I like to call it: Thursday. I'm so lazy today that I'll be lounging around with my best friend, Luke, who totally wanted a shoutout on my blog haha. I would show you guys his picture but he's so shy that he won't let me :(

Anyways, we're going to watch films all day so this is basically my casual outfit even though I didn't show it in my Valentine's Day last minute outfit ideas post here. We've already watched 'A Lot Like Love' with the amazing Ashton Kutcher but now we're about to watch the 'American Pie' films which I hear are hilarious!

I hope you've all been having a great day, 

Kayla x

valentine's day last minute outfit ideas.

I know I know, Valentine's Day is tomorrow and well frankly I've waited too long to put this up but hey, better late then never as they say?

Going out/dressy

dress: boohoo 

 This gorgeous red maxi dress from Boohoo is perfect for going out with your significant other or just with your friends. It was in the sale (no longer on the website) and was knocked down from £20 to only £15! It has a rose gold metal necklace attached to the top of the dress giving it a class look but I must say that when I wear it, it's a pain to put on as the necklace gets in the way.

Dressy/casual

dress: red herring at debenhams (old)

This skater dress is still quite dressy but casual too. It can be dressed up by pairing it with a blazer or dressed down by pairing it with trainers, like converses or vans. 

Ultra casual and laidback

top: hollister (old)

shorts: debenhams (old)

This is the ultra casual look, perfect if you're spending Valentine's Day alone or just lounging around with friends. Pair some shorts with a top and trainers and you're good to go! 

Going out for lunch

top: zara (old)

skirt: primark

This is still quite casual but it's perfect if you're going out for lunch with friends or having a casual date with your significant other. You can dress this up by adding a blazer and some heels.

I actually forgot to add shoes in my pictures but if you want to go for a casual look, add some trainers or flats. If you want to go for a dressy look, add some heels and finally, if you're looking for something inbetween casual and dressy, add a pair of heels but with a medium sized heel.

Kayla x

my favourite films for valentine's day.

Whether you're going to be alone this Valentine's Day (like me) or you're going to spend it with your significant other, there are loads of films to get you in the mood.

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~ No Strings Attached - a film starring Ashton Kutcher about two friends that decide to have sex without being in a relationship but things take a different turn...

~ Friends with Benefits - very similar to No Strings Attached but more recent and with a more famous cast, aka Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.

~ How to Lose a Guy in 10 days - a good film but slightly predictable. It has a good storyline though: a guy has a sort of bet that he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days but the same girl has to make a guy ditch her after 10 days so she can write a magazine article.

~ 10 Things I hate about you - an amazing film with Heath Ledger (I'm just in love with him) and it's an old teen comedy but an absolutely classic.

~ (500) Days of Summer - I absolutely love this film. It has Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in it and it's about a guy who falls in love with a girl but they remain platonic friends.

~ He's Just Not That Into You - I adore this film really because it shows how oblivious we are to other people's feelings. It's pretty self-explanatory but a great film.

~ Maid in Manhattan - With Jennifer Lopez, this film is about a maid who falls in love with a politician.

~ The Proposal - I love this film, mainly because Ryan Reynolds is in it. It's about a guy who's forced to marry his boss so she doesn't get deported.

~ 27 Dresses - James Marsden is perfect in this, end of. It's about a girl who is obsessed with being other people's bridesmaids and she becomes friends with a newspaper/magazine columnist. 

~ Definitely, Maybe - this film reminds me of a shortened version of How I Met Your Mother as it's a father telling his daughter the story of how he met her mother but there are different women in the story and she has to figure out who is her mother.

So if you're spending the night alone or with your significant other, just remember that life isn't a film and it's much much better!

Kayla x

blog book and clothes sale.

NEW ITEMS JUST ADDED!

The Silk Sisters Series - All 3 books included (15.50, incl P&P)

Monsoon Cropped Cardigan (Children) 10 - 12 years (£10.00, free delivery, NOW £9.00, FREE P&P)

High School Musical (1 & 2) Books (£5.20, incl. P&P)

Marks & Spencers Limited Girls Grey Skirt - 13 years (£8.00, FREE P&P) 

Marks & Spencer Black Boys Suit - Size 11 years (£27.00, NOW £25.00 FREE P&P)

I Am Number Four - £5.00 incl. P&P)

I'm selling these old books and clothes just to clear up some space. Click on the links below the pictures to be directed to eBay/amazon. 

Thank you!

Kayla x

i support marriage equality..do you?

Since Valentines Day is fast approaching and marriage equality is now finally legal in the UK, I felt I need to write this post. Not to suddenly change someone's views but to just preach my own. I know this is not the kind of post you would expect on my beauty/fashion blog but hey, change is good.

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It's ironic isn't it, how for years we've been campaigning for equality for women in the workplace and in daily life but we've never thought to campaign for marriage equality. "Gay" and "lesbian" are words thrown around easily. Ever since I was young, "you're gay" was a common insult and now we all see it as a habit. But, what's wrong with being gay? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

I don't see how we should have ever even pass a law that allows same-sex marriage. Why did we even have to think about it? It's the 21st Century. Most of us expected hoverboards or telekinesis by now, but no, we've only just allowed same-sex marriage. Just like none of us have the right to chose when a person dies, none of us should be able to decide who gets married to who.

Same Love - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

People think it's a lifestyle choice. People think it's something you sign up for. People think it's something you can change in the blink of an eye. Yes, back in the day it was frowned upon but this is the modern day, why can't we accept everyone? There will always be racism, discrimination and hate but can we ever accept?

I understand this is controversial and many religious people believe it is wrong. But which God would hate one of their children? I'm sure any God or Supreme Being would accept each child no matter their sexual orientation.

Now it's legal in the UK, in 18% (9 in 50) of America's states and other countries, such as Iceland and Denmark. But how long will it be until the whole world can accept it?

We all label it as "gay marriage", but do you know what I call it? Marriage.

It's a basic human right. Don't hate, appreciate.

Kayla x

silver linings playbook by matthew quick // book review.

After watching the film of this book, I was quite interested as I had heard the book was much better and so when I received the book as a christmas present from a friend, I was overjoyed!

Silver Linings Playbook*: £5.59

I'll be honest, this book was slightly disappointing for me. After watching the film, I knew what was coming up and even though a lot of the book didn't make it to the film and the story line was altered, I found it to be slightly boring.

The plot says:

"Pat Peoples knows that life doesn't always go according to plan, but he’s determined to get his back on track. After a stint in a psychiatric hospital, Pat is staying with his parents and trying to live according to his new philosophy: get fit, be nice and always look for the silver lining. Most importantly, Pat is determined to be reconciled with his wife Nikki. Pat’s parents just want to protect him so he can get back on his feet, but when Pat befriends the mysterious Tiffany, the secrets they've been keeping from him threaten to come out..."

I found the main character, Pat, to be extremely naive and almost childish which annoyed me. However, I did find the story line a lot better than in the film and I wish I didn't watch the film first as I know I would've found it more interesting as I wouldn't anticipate what was coming up next.

Honestly, nearly every book I've read since I had a sudden rush to read all of John Green's books haven't been all that good for me. For me, no author will ever top John Green and I hate to compare, but this book in comparison is quite dull. The language is pretty simplistic, the story line is predictable but quite interesting.

Throughout the book, I felt annoyed at Pat for not understanding simple things but I also felt sympathy for his childlike attitude.

I think this book is great if you like a romantic love story with a twist and don't mind it being borderline predictable.

Kayla x

ootd // i could spend my life staring at the sky.

Firstly I'm so so sorry for being so M.I.A lately but I've been so stressed out with exams so now they are nearly over, I'm back!

top: hollister (old)

shirt: primark (old

trousers: pull & bear

I went to my cousin's house yesterday and went for a bit of a casual look. This shirt over my hollister top is a change as if you've seen my other OOTDs, I'm usually wearing a cardigan. I definitely need to buy some more checked/plaid shirts as they are my absolutely favourites!

Kayla x