Monthly Favourites: January

Oh hi there, anyone remember me? I need to start this post by apologising for my absence. I had a insane week last week where I completely lost track of the days and then spent the end of the week and the weekend suffering from some sort of stomach bug. All is well now though and today I'm back (a bit later than planned) with my Monthly Favourites. I was going to try and change the format of these posts this year and only share five favourites each month but this month I have an absolute ton I want to talk about and I couldn't bring myself to cutting it down to just five.

I haven't been wearing a lot of make up this month and have been more focused on adapting and curating my skincare routine. Some things I've stopped using completely whilst others I've replaced with other products and some like my first favourite have been a welcome addition. The REN Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic has become my new daily AM toner and has compeletely changed how my skin looks and feels. With a AHA based formula consisting highly of Lactic Acid, this works to resurface, retexturise and brighten skin. Ever since I started using this my skin has felt softer, looked smoother and looked a lot brighter and more revitalised as ever. I don't understand why it's taken me so long to try this but I know for a fact that this is going to be a highly repurchased product in the future.

I am so fussy when it comes to eye creams and I'm always on the look out for one that'll work better than the last. I'd like to say that I've found 'the one' but I'm also trying another eye serum at the moment. However for the majority of the month I've been using and loving the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. Usually a product calling itself 'Wonder' makes me wary as they usually turn out to be disastarous but this eye cream happily lives up to it's name. My under eye area has never looked as good before and I believe it's all to do with this cream. It's lightweight, hydrating and helps to reduce the appearence of my dark circles. Again this is another product that's been added to my repurchases list.

The last beauty favourite I've got this month is something I was extremely wary of using but now can't get enough of. The Revolution 30% AHA-BHA Peeling Solution is a high AHA based mask. It looks and is advertised exactly the same as The Ordinary's 30% AHA-BHA Mask but I haven't tried that so I can't compare. What I can say is that this may seem hella intimidating but in fact is what my skin has been crying out for. Not for those with extremely sensitive/reactive skin, this intense exfoliator works to resurface, retexturise and brighten the complexion. And oh boy does it do that. After I use this my face feels as soft as a baby's butt. Like I can't stop stroking my face after I use this and it's effectiveness really shows when I apply make up afterwards. My foundation/concealer doesn't stick to any rough or dry patches. It just glides on and blends nicely into my skin. I highly recommend trying it out, I even managed to persuade Jasmin to buy a bottle.

January has been a month full of sleeping issues. There has been many a night where I've found it hard to drift off, to shut my brain off whilst other nights I wake a good two or three times and find it hard to get back to sleep. Which is where my next favourite comes in. The This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray has been a godsend to me. Lavender based, this gentle mist works to help relax and soothe senses, lulling you easily into the land of nod. I've used this so many times when I've found it hard to sleep or hard to get back to sleep that I've actually had to purchase a full size bottle so I don't run out.

And to go alongside the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is the This Works Stress Check Breathe In. I need to buy a full size one of these I've used it so much. A lot of my trouble sleeping is because I have a tendency to overthink everything which leads to me getting worked up and anxious about something that hasn't happened or won't even happen at all. A little bit of this on my pulse points or anywhere on my skin that'll get warm and I'm instantly at ease. Sure the things I've been overthinking still niggle at the back of my head but they pushed far back enough that I can relax and eventually drift off to sleep.

Paperchase this month released singlehandly the best mug I'll ever own. Yes those are boobs of all shapes and sizes adorning my morning tea cup. I absolutely adore this mug and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to get it. I've not stopped drinking from it and it's even managed to raise a few eyebrows in the family. It's cheeky yet unoffensive and possibly the best nine quid I've ever spent.

Back in December I brought what has become my all time favourite sweatshirt of all time. This Nightmare Before Christmas sweatshirt cost me a bit more than I admittedly like to spend on sweatshirts but has been worth every penny. I brought this in a 2XL so I it's extremely oversized and cosy and I can't stop wearing it. No matter where I go, I have to wear this. It even manged to get me a compliment off a cute guy from HMV.

Another sweatshirt/jumper I've lived in this month is this super soft, super cosy pj sweatshirt from Primark. It's extremely hard to put into words just how soft this is. It's perfect for cosying up when it's cold with a cuppa in my boob mug and watching a film or reading a book (another obsession of mine). I again got this in a 2XL as I wanted it to be super oversized and it doesn't disappoint. I've even gone and brought it in blue I love it that much.

January was a good TV month for me. I started the month watching the amazing series called Killing Eve. I'd seen it advertised when it first aired but didn't really care for watching it. However I got a clip of it online and just had to watch it. I marathoned all eight episodes in three days and am eager for the next season to be released. Sandra Oh was amazing as Eve but it was Jodie Comer as Villanelle that really blew me away. The multiple layers she had as a character partnered with the physcotic manner in which she worked made me love her more than a villian should. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. All eight episodes are currently available on iPlayer, trust me you won't be disappointed.

If you live in the UK and are an avid watcher of the BBC, you'll know that every January is Silent Witness month. It's singlehandly one of my favourite crime shows on TV and this series has to have some of it's best episodes to date. With a star packed cast, present and realistic storylines and a good deal of humour to lighten the tone, this show is a firm favourite in my house and anyone who watches it will understand why. Some of the stand out moments this year for me has been seeing Clarissa out in the field more, Nikki and Matt's relationship and just Jack in general. He's a total babe and these last two episodes that have aired have been very Jack heavy and I can't complain about that.

And my last favourite is one whose return I've been waiting for, for what seems like forever. STRIKE BACK IS BACK! Can you tell I'm happy about that. Only the season opener has aired so far but I'm already hooked again and dying for the next nine episodes. Alin Sumarwata, Dan Macpherson and Warren Brown are all back in their much loved roles but this time they are joined by newcomers Jamie Bamber, Yasemin Kay Allen and Varada Sethu. I can't wait to see how they interact with the three musketeers and where this season takes them. Only one episode in and we're seeing a darker, grittier side to the team that could lead to some interesting sub plots later in the season.

Monthly Favourites: August

It's the end of the month and frankly, I'm quite happy to say goodbye to August. September is shaping up to be a good month for me and I have tons of new content that I can't wait to share with you all. It also means Autumn is one step closer and my Autumn/Winter baby heart is going into overdrive. This month has been a weird month for favourites, I've spent most of it make up free because of the weather and haven't really deviated from usual skin products. I have however added a couple of new additions into my routine but the majority of my favourites have been more lifestyle related this month.

I'm going to start with the beauty bits as they're what I have less off. The first favourite is a bit of a problematic favourite. I absolutely adore it but it doesn't always seem to agree with me. It's the newly released Nip And Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme 6% Scrub. This makes my skin feel so so soft, it's unbelivable. It doesn't dry my skin out or leave it feeling tight and any texture I have is pretty much non exsistent. However everytime I've used it, the day after I wake up to find a new friend on my face. Which is where my dilemma lies. I love how it makes my skin but I don't want to have to fight a blemish or two every time I use it. I thought my skin would get used to it like it did with their 6% liquid toner but I don't think it's going to get better with time and I don't really feel like putting my skin through that repeatedly when I could easily just use another scrub that agrees with my skin.

My next two beauty favourites both centre around the eye. The first is the Garnier Moisture Bomb Under Eye Masks. These are fantastic under eye patches/masks that have changed how my under eye area look completely, well these and my next favourite. Both eye masks leave my under eye area looking hydrated, puff free, with a great reduction in the appearence in my dark circles which as a combination makes my whole eye area look more awake and alert. I've gone through numerous packets of these already and have a good two or three packs as back ups. I haven't repurchased my holy grail Rodial under eye patches since I started using these and that's saying something as normally I'd need at least one pack of those in my possession at all times.

My last beauty favourite is again focused on my under eye area but is definitely less budget friendly than the Garnier. I recently recieved a sample of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream to try and I instantly fell in love. From the first use, my under eye area looked smoother, hydrated and my dark circles look/ed reduced but not completely eradicated. I had a feeling I'd like this as I love the Advanced Night Repair Complex from them and I wasn't wrong. It's extremely thick for an eye cream but I find that it doesn't leave my under eye area feeling greasy and actually sinks into skin quite quickly but obviously works a lot longer than you'd think. I'll happily buy a full size when this runs out.

Now for the non beauty favourites I don't even know where to start. Actually as I type this and look at my notes for this post, I have a good idea of where to start. BAKE OFF IS BACK! Now I know it hasn't actually started tonight (Channel 4 8pm, if you've forgotten) but I don't even need to watch it for it to be a favourite this month. Bake Off is one of my absolute favourite programs of all time and I always find myself waiting impatiently for it every year. It is the only show that will get me to put my iPad down for an hour and fifteen, I won't even reply to Jasmin's texts until afterwards, and that's saying something as she's one of the only people I reply to quickly. Ir's what inspires me to continue baking and one day I'd like to maybe even apply even though a lot of my friends and family think I should apply for next year. So for the next twelve weeks I'll be curled up in my pjs at 8pm with a snack and a hot drink, enjoying Bake Off to it's fullest.

My next favourite is somewhere I went at the beginning of the month and loved every second of the day, even if I didn't manage to stay awake past half nine that night. At the beginning of the month me and my mumma had a week off together and one of the days we went to the zoo. Marwell Zoo to be more precise. And it was beautiful. I went last year with my friend Lauren and her little girls but I'd completely forgotten how beautiful it was until I got there. The big cats were my favourites (crazy cat lady in the making) but every animal we saw was beautiful to see in the flesh rather than on a TV screen. I took over three hundred pictures that day and still to this day can not whittle it down to a favourite. I post ten of the best over on my instagram so I'd suggest going over and checking them out.

I have a new favourite YouTuber and her name is Brogan Tate. She is an amazing lifestyle, beauty, Disney vlogger who I discovered when I stumbled across her Florida Disney vlogs and I've been hooked ever since. Not only is she a lover of Disney but she's extremely down to earth and shows exactly what day to day life even if it's not the greatest. There's something extremely calming about her videos and I love watching them after a long day at work. She creates amazing content and I find myself prioritising her videos over anyone else's new uploads and I'm excited for her next batch of Florida Vlogs. If you haven't watched any of her videos, I highly recommend you do. I can guarantee you'll be hooked just like me.

A song I've been hooked on this month is God Is A Woman from Ariana Grande. I wasn't too sure about it when I first heard it but then I watched her perform it live and I found myself listening to it over and over again. After Carrie Underwood, it's one of my most played songs this month. I love everything about it. Her vocals kill it, the beat is amazing and I love the message she's putting through the lyrics. I'm not a big fan of what I've heard of Sweetner so far but I think if I listen to it again, I could be hooked on the rest of the album as I am on this song.

My last favourite this month will not be to everyone's taste but I absolutely adore it and that's all that matters. I'm a huge fan of the Disney film The Nightmare Before Christmas. I've loved it from a young age, with one of my earliest memories is of me sat in front of the TV watching this on repeat, literally rewinding the video (I'm a child of the nineties) back to the beginning as soon as the credits started rolling. I apparently did it that much, my mum had to hide the video. But even twenty odd years later I'm still a huge fan of it so when I saw what Disney had released to comemorate the twenthy-five year anniversary of it's release, I just had to have it. This beautiful purse with Lock, Shock and Barrel on the front was one of the easiest purchases I've ever made. I absolutely adore it, it's the type of purse I like, it has plenty of room inside for cards, cash and coins and is just the softest material I've ever felt. It was definitely the best twenty quid I ever spent. 

Top 5 Halloween Songs

Welcome back to Halloween Week! As today is Friday and the start of the weekend I only thought it fitting to share a few Halloween based songs for any upcoming parties you may have.

Let's start with the most obvious song. Thriller by Michael Jackson is probably the most overplayed song during the buildup to Halloween but it's also one of the most fitting songs to date. And if you say you have never tried to recreate the dance with your mates then I will not believe you. Everyone has tried to do the dance routine one time or another. There may even be some of you brushing up your moves ready for you upcoming parties and with that I wish you good luck.

Another overplayed song is Time Warp, most popularly known from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And it's another song that everyone has danced to at least once. Don't worry I'm not judging you on those dance moves, I've pulled a few of them myself in the past. I may even break a few out this weekend.

One song that doesn't have a distnct dance routine but does have a memorable sound is Monster Mash. It's like the holy grail of Halloween songs and if you don't know this song then you have never enjoyed Halloween fully. It's cheesy, it's fun and it's a fitting song for any Halloween Parties.

And finally we're onto my personal favourite. It's not one of the most well known or played Halloween songs but if you grew up on A Nightmare Before Christmas like I did then this is an integral part of any Halloween. Not only is this ridiculously catchy but it also perfectly describes Halloween in under four minutes. One that'll stay in your head for ages afterwards and will create a brilliant atmosphere.

Top 5 Halloween Films For Kids

Welcome back to Halloween Week! Today's post is for all of us big kids out there and those horror films haters. Every year I pull out a select few films and watch them on repeat until Halloween comes. And the majority of them just happen to be kids films. So today I thought I'd share with you my Top 5 Halloween Kids Films.

Every year since I was probably about 4 The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a firm favourite of mine. It comes out at Halloween, at Christmas and anytime I need a little pick me up. This comes from the brilliant mind of Tim Burton and whilst it's got that gothic style and creepy characters, it's not too scary for younger children. Plus it has a brilliant soundtrack that'll get stuck in your head for hours, even days after you've watched it.

Up next is another yearly favourite that I happily pull out every October 1st. Hocus Pocus is a firm family favourite that'll yet again be entertaining for all ages. Starring Bette Midler and a very young Sarah Jessica Parker this film has a little bit of something for everyone. Laughs all round and a perfect mood setter for the upcoming holiday, Hocus Pocus is probably going to be my most watched film this year.

This next film is a little harder to come by but can always be found on iTunes. Halloweentown is more of a older child's film but won't scare any younger viewers if they happen to watch it. An old school favourite that'll still entertain kids these days, Halloweentown also has several sequels that'll keep everyone occupied and entertained for hours. Definitely my favourite throwback movie.

The Addams Family is another family classic that I've watched time and time again. Not creepy, full of laughs and suitable for the whole family. It's catchy theme song will be stuck in your head for a long time after you've watched this. Another film that comes with sequels so are perfect for a movie marathon. Another brilliant throwback movie.

Paranorman isn't your normal Halloween movie but considering it's narrative is based on zombies returning then it fits in well with the holiday. It looks a lot like it would come from Tim Burton with it's stop motion animation but alas it's not. There are a fair few laughs, loveable characters but some scenes may be too creepy so may just be best for older children.

Top 5: Halloween Films

This Saturday coming is Halloween and if you like me have no plans except a cup of tea and popcorn while watching a film or two then I thought I'd share my top 5 Halloween Films. You can probably tell from the picture above that I'm more a fan of the kids Halloween films than the scary ones that make you jump every five seconds.

My first pick for this top 5 is a film that has been one of my all time favourites for as long as I can remember. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favourite Tim Burton films and I can watch this repeatedly without getting bored of it. It has a brilliant range of characters and the soundtrack is amazing, I always have a good sing along when watching this much to my neighbours dismay. If you haven't seen this one I recommend you check it out, it's one that will keep you entertained for years. Plus you can break it out at Christmas as well as you get the best of both holidays in it.

My next pick is Hotel Transylvania. Yes I know it may seem silly and childish but around this time of year where work gets busy and I start to see the first Christmas rush of the year I just love turning to this film. With a host of recognisable voices, this feel good film gives a twist to the monstrous side of Halloween. And if I'm honest I watch this throughout the year, purely for the feel good vibe it gives me everytime. Plus if you've seen the advert for number two and weren't planning on seeing it as you hadn't seen the first then this is a great time to watch it.

My third pick is a film I only discovered this year but instantly fell in love with. And too be honest who wouldn't fall in love with Bette Midler as one of the main characters. It comes across cheesy but that is exactly what I fell for. Good laughs, a brilliant cast and a young Sarah Jessica Parker has put this well on truly on my Halloween Film List.

My next pick is another that I've loved for as long as I can remember. It's just a shame though that it can't be brought on DVD in the UK. I remember loving it every Halloween when Disney would show all these films in a row. If you haven't seen Halloweentown, it's about a girl called Marnie who's a witch but doesn't know it until her grandma comes home from Halloweentown one year. Then and only then does Marnie find out about her powers and the existence of Halloweentown. And of course from then on, there is a villian who's out to get Marnie and her family. However I won't go into too much detail in case you plan on watching it this Halloween.

And finally my last pick of this top 5 is The Craft, the only grown up Halloween Movie in the mix. I was torn between this and Practical Magic but this I've seen more so it had to be part of this. I think the main appeal of this movie to me is that instead of being the damsels who end up being killed, the female characters are woman not to be messed with and to me that says a lot. Not one I've watched this year but definitely one I'll be breaking out before Saturday.

So that's my Top 5 Halloween Movies. What are yours? Were any of them the same as mine? Let me know in the comments.