Tuesday 29 December 2015

Certainly Wood, Yule Log Review*



Traditionally the Yule Log was welcomed into the house on Christmas Eve. After this, a Christmas blessing was set over it and it was sprinkled with wine before being set alight. After this, it was burnt over the 12 days of Christmas with the remains being used as kindling for the following year.

Certainly wood, based in Herefordshire has revived this old Christmas tradition in the shape of a yule log. Each of the Oak Yule Logs is beautifully gift wrapped and as you can see below is very well packaged and is priced at £25, making it a lovely unique gift for someone. The box also contains a box of handmade ‘flamers’ which are certainly wood’s natural firelighters, along with kiln dried kindling which makes lighting the fire a lot more simple and straightforward.
 

A Yule Blessing

Come, Bring, with a noise,
My merry, merry boys
The Christmas log to the firing;
While my good dame she
Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your hearts desiring,
With the last years brand,
Light the new block, and
for good success in his spending.
On your psalteries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-teending

Tuesday 8 December 2015

*A Winter Evening with Olpro


Hey Guys!

I recently had the opportunity to review a café mug from the new Olpro, tableware collection. I loved the design of the mug and the fact that it was also environmentally-friendly gave it an additional bonus.

Olpro is a leading UK camping and outdoor equipment manufacturer. The new innovative tableware is created from discarded rice following the rice harvest. This therefore makes them extremely environmentally friendly and also bio-degradable.

One of the best things about the mug and the tableware collection is its great value for a unique product. They can be used in the microwave, are lightweight and also hardwearing.  
 

My only negative that I can say for this product is the handle is quite small, which could make it difficult to hold and carry.


The mug can come in a range of different colours, adding a personal touch and the collection is now available to buy at www.olpro.co.uk these are great for winter and when using I found that it kept my hot chocolate warm for longer, making it good to use when sitting at a desk working.

x~Jess~x

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Treaclemoon #BeYou project

Hey Guys!

In collaboration with treaclemoon I want to talk about their #BeYou project and also the products that they have to offer. 

"We like to act differently to other brands...have faith in our story, be brave and most of all we place out customers at the centre of every thought" - Charles Henry Nelson


The product I chose to review was the marshmallow hearts bath and shower lotion. This is a very sweet smelling lotion and is definitely unique and the sweet smell is something that appealed to me. I have tried other treaclemoon flavours before but this would definitely be one of my favourites.

The main focus of this post however is to talk about their #BeYou project. Working with BulliesOut they aim to make every individual realise their potential and self worth.
In today's society we are so interconnected and whilst this makes it great for communication one of the major drawbacks of being so connected is that it is so easy, almost unavoidable to compare ourselves against others. We may be bullied in all types of situations whether this is at school, in the workplace and more commonly than ever this is happening online. 



If you're directly affected by bullying and need someone to talk to you can email a mentor at BulliesOut at mentorsonline@bulliesout.com

x~Jess~x

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Anxiety

Anxiety is something that has been a big part of my life and I feel that despite the vast amount of awareness there is on anxiety it can still be really difficult for those that don't live with it to understand what it's like. 
Recently my anxiety has got worse, a few years ago was probably when I could say I was at my lowest. I would have panic attacks before going to school and sometimes wouldn't be able to get out the car. I tried drinking water, breathing exercises and other things that people say help in these situations and just nothing seemed to work. 
Eventually I learnt to control this feeling, I'd still get nervous and a little panicky but I was able to force myself out the car. I think a lot of this helped by changing some of the friends that I had at the time. 

It's not always obvious whether or not a person has anxiety, gradually you can adopt methods of almost hiding it, I still don't like telling people that I have anxiety and very rarely talk about it. If I start to feel anxious and someone asks what's wrong it's hard for me to say that I'm anxious so I'll cover it up by saying I just don't feel well. It usually works.

I try not to let my anxiety stop me doing things and whilst I still manage to go out when I can if I am feeling anxious it's not always the best of times. I'm ambitious, I want to go and travel the world and I don't want anxiety to hold me back but I have to accept that at some point, it probably will to an extent. 
It's physically exhausting, I'm really surprised how tired anxiety can actually make you. I'll go from feeling on top of the world to having no motivation to do anything and there's no way I can even explain how or why that happens. 

I try not to let anxiety define me, it's a difficult thing to talk about. I know that if all my friends knew I had anxiety they'd be asking if I was ok whenever something was a little abnormal or we did something a little different, I don't want that. I don't want my friends to feel as though they have to be worried about how I'll react in certain situations or that I need looking after. I just want to be able to be like the rest of them, I'm sure anyone with anxiety will understand that. 

If you know someone with anxiety I think the best thing to do is be there for them as it can be a very lonely experience. If you know they're panicking don't push them into telling you what's wrong, they will in their own time. Letting you know that you're there for them is probably one of the most simplist and meaningful things you can do. 

x~Jess~x

Thursday 29 October 2015

Anatomicals review*

Hey Guys!

So I was recently sent some products to feature on my blog by Anatomicals. These are a unique and bright range of skincare and makeup products and I'm going to share how I found them!


The packaging is very bright and upbeat which really appealed to me and made the products stand out. I love trying new face masks and these were fantastic. The tropical one in particular had quite a strong scent but on both my face felt very hydrated and clean after using them so I can say they were very effective. 


I found the lip balm packaging very unique and amusing. It was definitely different to any other I'd seen before and whilst it is slightly weird it is very cleverly incorporated. 


There was also a headache balm included in the set which we decided to test on mum as she had a headache at the time, she said there was a very strong burning sensation that she felt and it had a very strong scent, nevertheless, her headache did disappear. 

There was also a dry balm included which I decided to test on my elbows as I suffer with dry skin particularly there. The product was effective for me as my skin definitely felt a lot smoother however some body butters may work just as well.

http://www.anatomicals.com.mt/

Thank you for reading! 

x~Jess~x

Wednesday 14 October 2015

5 Questions With: Madia & Matilda

Hey Guys!

Today I am going to be introducing a brand which I have recently discovered. Madia & Matilda have a strong focus on sustainable clothing, launched in 2013 this unique brand has a really creative edge. I asked them a few questions to find out more about how they've grown and their plans for the future.



Where did the inspiration for the clothing brand start?
From my love of sustainable clothes, grown from a university project

How has sustainable clothing developed since its launch?
The sustainable market is constantly growing, developing as more and more consumers find out more about sustainable living
 

Which have been your most successful designs and why do you think this is?
Our pleated skirts are always a bestseller, I think its because they're a staple item, which is timeless.


Who is your main target market, how do you promote to them?
Our target market is 16 to 39, however with our new alterations service we also reach up to the age of 70

Do you have any further plans for expansion in the future?
Yes we have a number of different plans in the pipeline. The alterations service being one of our new operations, which we will provide in our new sustainable lifestyle section.

I have added some of my favourite designs below and also their links to their website, tumblr and Facebook here so you can discover them for yourself!

 
This stunning black dress is a must for every girls wardrobe

 
A casual but elegant style, a particular favourite of mine



For a more casual look, this set is perfect for those warmer autumn days
 
 
 
x~Jess~x
 
Twitter: @simplyjess97
Instagram: @heyitsjess97





Tuesday 22 September 2015

Growing Up And Taking Chances

Hey Guys!

It's scary to think that in just a few weeks I'll be celebrating my 18th birthday! Of course, I am excited but I feel a sense of fear at the thought of growing up, school seems to have gone so quickly already and the panic of what I am going to do after school has started to occur.

I decided from an early age that I didn't want to go to university, despite a lot of my friends who have now started the application process, I felt that it wouldn't be the right decision for me. I have been wanting to set up my own business for a few years and hopefully I will have the opportunity to do this after school, that's the plan anyway.

This year I have felt like I have started to grow up a lot more, in a good way. I went on a weekend away with friends and had the most amazing time, started learning to drive and looking at going travelling next summer, for the first time in a long while I have started to feel excited at the opportunities that are to come.
There are so many things to look forward to in life and I am feeling very optimistic about the future, despite the pressure on things such as school there is a sense that everything will be okay in the end.

x~Jess~x

Saturday 5 September 2015

A few days in Ingoldmells/Skegness

Hey Guys!

So I recently had a few days away to end the summer holidays with my boyfriend and one of my best friends. I always enjoy getting away and the beach is one of my favourite places to go, although I also enjoy adventure and always being on the go, I hate sitting still! 

This was my first break away just with friends and I had a lovely time, we hired a lovely caravan near fantasy island which was very reasonably priced at £100, I would definitely go again!

On our first night we decided to eat at a place called the beachcomber which was recommended to us, we didn't realise it was a 3 mile walk away until it was too late!

We discovered a play park in skegness on the second day which nobody seemed to be using, although I've been to Skeg a few times I never knew this was there! We enjoyed the rides and being by the beach and generally having a very busy day



On our last day we decided to go to the beach which was good to have a bit of a rest as we were all quite tired by this point (and feeling slightly ill) the waves were massive but absolutely freezing 




Thank you so much to Hannah for taking all of these photos (I think the others were a little camera shy) 

x~Jess~x

Saturday 15 August 2015

A week in Zante!

Hey Guys!

I know I haven't posted much recently and I'm really determined to try and getting better at more regular and consistent posting. 

Yesterday I got back after spending a week in Zante, the island is beautiful and it was lovely to be able to get away from everything and relax, travelling is one of my passions and everytime I go somewhere like this it makes me appreciate the world and makes me curious to explore it more. 



I'm not the type to sit by the pool and aim to get a tan, I don't tan I burn too easily, so I was determined from the start to explore the local area as much as I could. I went on two trips, to see the turtles and a jeep safari of the island to take in some of it's amazing views

One of the most curious things I saw whilst there was a floating shop, I thought if was such a great idea with all the boat trips around the area and had a unique appeal, I thought there was something genius there.


From a young age my parents have always seen the importance of travel, I live in a small village and although it is lovely to be able to know everyone and be in the countryside it is also good to know that there is more to this world, there is so much left to explore and one day I hope to travel to world even more! 


Let me know what you're up to this summer and if you have anything excitif planned

x~Jess~x

Monday 20 July 2015

#TrySomethingNew

Hey Guys,

So today's post is only going to be a short one to let you know about a challenge that I am taking part in, starting at the beginning of next month.

The challenge goes by the #TrySomethingNew which is when I will aim to try something new whether that be a new activity, food or place that I have never tried before.

The purpose of this for me is to experience new things, I love travel and experiencing new places and the idea of change excites me, I'm looking forward to doing something that's out of routine.

I will try and post as much as I can during the course of the month, however as it is unlikely that I will be able to post everyday I will do a quick mention on twitter of what I've been getting up to and try and update the blog as regularly as I can.

If you'd like to get involved with the challenge let me know in the comments so that I can keep up to date! I hope as many of you as possible will get involved.

x~Jess~x

Twitter: @simplyjess97
Instagram: @heyitsjess97

Thursday 18 June 2015

Lincolnshire Garden Show

Hey Guys!

So I've always tried to get out and about as much as I can, my mum is really into her gardening so recently we went to a garden show at the Lincolnshire Showground,

Admiringly, this wouldn't usually be my sort of thing although it happened to be linked with a dog show which was also taking place which was interesting to watch and kept me occupied whilst mum was looking around for plants.


There was lots of activities going on throughout the day and lots of different stalls to nose around!


Despite not being a big fan of plants and gardens myself, the variety that was at the show meant there was something for everyone and it would be something I would attend again.

After we left we went to a local cafe called The Tea Cosy which is a lovely village cafe serving a range of hot food and snack and has a lovely community atmosphere. 


I have been here many times with family and friends and the staff make the effort to get to know you which adds to the community feel.


It is also decorated with vintage ornaments which adds a shabby chic look to this cosy cafe.

x~Jess~x

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Ah, Politics.

 
 
 
 
 
Hey Guys!
 
So recently the news has been full of the build up and the results of the general election and what another Conservative Government means for the UK.
When I was younger I used to sit and listen to my Grandad talk about politics and generally thought that it was a concern to the older generation, I realise now that it actually affects the younger generation (or us) quite a lot.

A lot of young people don't vote and I understand why, I'm not old enough to vote yet but when I am I will do. I think it's a case of being unsure of the policies and generally a lack of interest and trust in politics.

I have had a bit of experience and gained some knowledge about politics. My parents were never interested in politics so I'm not sure where this interest came from but I have always believed in standing up when you disagree with something and that is what I hope I can do.
 
When I was younger I joined the Conservative Future, this wasn't particularly because of the party, I didn't know too much about the Conservatives then if I'm completely honest but it was the only group for young people interested in politics that I know about in the area.

I learnt a lot from that experience. I was the youngest person in the group and I wanted to have a voice, particularly for young people. They were nice people but our views often contrasted. I remember one meeting they had a debate between comprehensive and private schools, I admit, I was at a disadvantage. Everyone in the group had gone to private school except me. I knew that there was going to be someone giving a speech on why private education was better and so I thought it only fair to do the same, with comprehensives.

I was nervous. Very nervous. I've always struggled with confidence and I knew I was fighting a losing battle and everyone in the group would disagree. The other speech was a lot more articulate, using complex vocabulary that I didn't understand and still probably wouldn't. It wasn't about that for me, it was about getting my point across in a relatable way.
 
The truth is, for me it's not about who's in power. Politics is weird and that's the only way I can think to describe it. Whoever is in power and whatever they're doing there's always going to be someone else that isn't happy about it. The message I think is to most importantly, stand up for what you believe in and if you don't like something, don't moan about it, have a go at getting your voice heard and you never know you might change it.
 

Tuesday 12 May 2015

It Doesn't Have To Be Perfect

Hey Guys! So today I thought I'd try and clear something up. I started blogging through an enjoyment of writing, I liked the fun and the confidence it gave me. It felt great when people commented on my posts or told me they enjoyed reading one of them but for me, it was never solely about followers, it was more about a voice. I admit, I have to been caught up in this culture of blogging 'competition' a few times myself. There is so much pressure for everything to appear perfect but in fairness, the blogging world is an entirely different world to reality and that is exactly why my blog is not perfect. My layout isn't professionally designed, I make some mistakes in spellings sometimes, my photos don't always fit properly and I am definitely one of the least technologically 'savvy' people. But despite its many flaws I enjoy writing here. I know mainly its about fashion and beauty but I definitely want to bring a new side to the blog on subjects that have affected me and are of a concern to me. I want to share more about my life and I hope that by doing this it could help go someway into helping others too. There is so many posts around now on blogging content, design, tips, stats etc.. and although many of these posts are by successful bloggers who I respect and have many followers I think to an extent the real reason behind blogging has been lost. I believe it should be done through passion. I know this is a slightly different post and I understand that everyone has their own blogging preferences, this post is probably most likely for bloggers like myself or new bloggers who don't know too much about layouts etc but enjoy the concept of blogging for what it is and the experiences it can provide. x~Jess~x

Saturday 18 April 2015

My new phone case - ZeroGravity*

Hey Guys!

So I recently had the opportunity to review a phone case from the company ZeroGravity. 
They are a modern and unique brand offering a range of stylish cases for various iPhones. The design is definitely something that appealed to me.

I chose the Aloha iPhone 5C case which is priced at $24.00. I felt like the design brought out the sense of travel and adventure that this blog aims to convey. 


The case is light and easy to use. It is very durable and although I have never had a case on my phone before I adjusted to it really well. I tend to drop my phone lot, particularly down stairs for some reason and these cases offer extra protection for similar situations. 





The case came neatly packaged in a box with the name and logo on, which added to the excitement and gave it a personal feel. 


Finally, the case came with these sets of stickers which can be used which I though was a really lovely touch. I really like the ZeroGravity phone cases and if any of my friends or family was looking for a case I would without a doubt recommend them. 

You can get in touch with ZeroGravity and see the range of their cases on their website www.touchzerogravity.com

x~Jess~x

Monday 6 April 2015

Top 3 travel bucket list destinations

Hey Guys,

So today I thought I'd share with you the top 3 places that are on my travel bucket list. I absolutely love travel and experiencing new things and places, these are some of the places I haven't been to yet but have been noted down for the future

1. Anywhere possible to see the northern lights


Like many, the Northern Lights fascinate me. I love the mix of colours and swirling rainbows. I think to see them in person would be a truly surreal and unforgettable experience. There is something very spiritual about them and I believe to be there would be a great opportunity to clear your mind from the everyday stresses. I actually have a print of them above my bed in my room, although it doesn't quite have the same effect. 

2. New York


Of course, New York had to be on this list. There is so much to do there and living in the countryside I think it would be a massive buzz to see the life of New York and all it has to offer. Of course, it won't be possible to do everything but particularly visiting Times Square and Central Park, maybe there would even be time for some shopping too. 

3. Italy


Italy is the final of my top 3. I love the scenery in particular, the historical buildings packed tightly, yet neatly together along the beautiful canal. Whilst the scenery is stunning they are also renowned for their cuisine which is something I'm sure my taste buds would crave. Very much like the Northern Lights, I think it would be a great place to relax and unwind. 

I hope you liked these choices, let me know in the comments what destinations are in your top 3.

x~Jess~x

Sunday 22 March 2015

The importance of being you

Hey Guys! Recently I went to Cambridge as part of a poetry competition. I really enjoyed the experience and it was amazing to be able to stay in a Cambridge College. However, I realised very quickly that a lot of the people I was surrounded by were quite different from me. I had always used very simplistic language and considered myself to be very down to earth yet I found myself conforming, using more elaborate vocabulary to try and fit in or at least be accepted by the others around me. It wasn't until I was alone in my room that I really thought about this, why so many individuals found themselves conforming to 'fit in'. The great thing about personality is that it's yours. Everyone is individual and acts, talks and behaves in different ways and that's amazing. When there's a group that are all behaving and acting in the same or a similar way that is simply all it is, an act. It's so structured and so robotic that I feel that really, it can't be real it's definitely one of the things that makes me wary of others. When I was younger I used to be energetic and outgoing, joining several theatre groups throughout my childhood. I enjoyed it fully but there was always this feeling that everyone else there was better than me, so I ended up leaving something that I loved out of the fear of not being good enough for others. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, be individual. Embrace it. It's never a bad thing to interpret the world in a slightly different way than somebody else. Most of us are trying so hard to fit in that at times, we loose who we truly are. You're interpretation is valued. x~Jess~x

Saturday 14 March 2015

OOTD - moving into Spring

Hey Guys! 

I'm so glad that it seems to have appeared to be getting slightly warmer, although not by much the sunshine always seems to bring me out into a better mood. 

There been a lot of grey and black clothing items in the shops recently and I've really taken to it. I've never had an oversized cardigan before but I'm really glad I decided to venture into H&M to pick up this little number. 


The top is from Miss Selfridge and has been hidden in the back of my wardrobe for too long. The sequins help to brig then up what would otherwise be a fairly dull outfit.


                  Cardigan - H&M
             Leggings - Miss Selfridge
                  Boots - New Look
                 Top - Miss Selfridge 

Let me know what else you would like to see on this blog!

x~Jess~x

Sunday 8 February 2015

Greg Michaels Jewellery!

Hey Guys! 

Sorry for the little break from blogging recently, there seems to be a bug going around at the moment and so have been caught up in that.

I recently had the opportunity to review some lovely jewellery from Greg Michaels, they have a stunning range of jewellery and handbags on their website which from what I have experience are all great quality and very reasonable prices. 


Their jewellery comes in some lovely gift boxes with a certificate of authenticity, adding to their quality. 



I chose to review the Aura Clear Crystal Earrings which are lovely and I wear them so much! They're perfect to wear with a casual outfit as I do to school or even with a more formal outfit. They are currently on sale at $31.00 on their website.

"Greg Michaels sets the standard in crystal jewellery with high-end translucent crystals in every piece. Our crystals ensure that every piece of jewellery sparkles like certified diamonds creating works of art out of accessories. Fashionable and trendy, Greg Michaels will embellish your favourite outfits."


The second piece of jewellery I reviewed was this gorgeous Joie de Vivere ring available on their website. I wore this ring to my Dad's birthday meal so had a slightly more dressy outfit than I would have at school and I think this ring went really well with that. I love rings and have gathered quite a collection over the years but this is lovely to wear with a slightly more formal outfit.



You can also connect with Greg Michaels on their website or social media pages

What do you think of the Greg Michaels collection? Let me know in the comments

x~Jess~x

Sunday 11 January 2015

Pedikur Review and Giveaway!

Hey Guys! So I recently had the opportunity to review the Pedikur Herbal Hand and Foot cream and luckily for you I also have one to give away. The product was provided to me for the purposes of this review and competition however as always I will give my honest opinion. Firstly I noticed that the cream was extremely moisturising, I used it on both my hands and feet but found that it made more of a benefit on my feet, especially since they had been quite rough recently it really helped and I would definitely recommend this for feet as it made them feel so smooth and is definitely one of the best ones that I've tried. There was also a pair of cotton socks (available for £2.50)with the cream which helped to secure the moisturiser and I found that it was a great extra! Although the product is priced at £10 I feel that the quality of the product would be worth the investment. It didn't make as drastic of a difference on my hands however, my hands are not particularly rough anyway. My family are very into herbal products and although I haven't really tried any in the past I will definitely be using more in the future after this and can see why my family enjoy using them! I found Pedikur to be unique to other products that I have tried and also very effective! You can view the Herbal Hand and Foot Cream as well as other products on their website www.pedikur.co.uk I'm also giving one of my readers the chance to own the Herbal Hand and Foot cream for themselves! All you have to do is follow the rafflecopter instructions below - good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway T&C's - UK only - Over 18's - Prize will be sent out by Pedikur - Non transferable - Competition ends midnight on 25th January x~Jess~x