Travel | what's in my hand luggage

Firstly, please appriciate this bag. I have had some very strange looks & comments when using this!

I wish I could like in the 90s still it's my favourite thing and I love it. As soon as I saw this bag I flashed back to being a kid again and just had to have it. 

Some of you may know that I'm off to the USA for a holiday so I wanted to jump on the band wagon and kick off some holiday posts to get me in the mood. 

My main reason for breaking girl code, and using this instead of a handbag for hand luggage, is that I'm debating getting a new bag whilst over in the states so if I do this one will deflate (LOL) and take up next to no room in my suitcase whilst still being roomy enough for all my stuff. 

Firstly, and most importantly, my passport. 

My glasses, it's no fun being blind for 3 weeks. 

I am so fortunate & super excited to stay that I'll be seeing eminem whilst I'm over there so the tickets were a must! 

Comfy socks for the plane - Boys socks are my favourite. 

My purse, a pen & a travel size moisturiser. I'm hoping the 12 hour flight won't ruin my skin too much with a bit of moisturising help. 

My iPad loaded up with iBooks & films for the plane. 

These cat eyed glasses are my current go to's so they made it to the hand luggage. 

iPhone and headphones.. Why do they look so grubby here!? Ew. 

I'll probably grab a bottle of water & some snacks at the airport too. 

Make sure to subscribe to see what's in my suitcase! 

Work life | Mid week mini series | The work saga: part 3 (3)

Week 3 of jewellery for work.

This is probably as colourful as it gets and the least used items in my collection at the moment. 

The ring was £1 in primark so an absolute bargain and I love the blue. The earrings I actually can't remember where there from as I have had them quite a while now. Most likely new look or primark tho for a few quid. 

These earrings were from riverisland, I got them when I was in year 11 and I had a purple uniform. There quite heavy so I don't wear them regulary I think I got them for around £8. The ring I got for 50p in a primark sale.. I still can't believe primark actually has sales!

Make sure to subscribe so not to miss the last in part 3! 

Beauty | Empties!

I have been meaning to do this post for so long now! I've been hoarding all the used up packets even since before I moved so I actually ended up packing empty products for the big move.

1) Batiste dry shampoo in blush

This is a product I have used up and repurchased countless amounts of times & blush is my go to option. It's so great for in between washes & I've not found another dry shampoo that can compete with this. 10/10

2) Nivea invisible deodorant 

There's only so much you can say about a deodorant isn't there. It done the job so 10/10

3) hair dye conditioners

This is quite a random one, I colour my hair fairly often and tend to use a couple of dyes each time so end up with silly amounts of these conditioners. I just wanted to get them used up really so not to waste. 7/10

4) yankee tea candles in pink sands 

The smell of these are amazing and I've used up 3 or 4 now. The only issue I found is that the wick burns out before the whole candle is burnt and they only work if you use the whole candle at once. 6/10

5) primark tea tree wipes

I know wipes are frowned apon in beauty world but I can't live without them. Whether is wiping make up off my hands and desk or removing make up in a last minute attempt to save your skin on a late night. I repurchase these regularly and think they look loads better now that they've changed the packaging! 8/10

6) max factor lasting performance foundation

I have loved this foundation since I was about 14 I think! I have tried countless others but always find myself going back to this one. Firstly, it's the bargain price of £10 and I just find the consistency works for me. 10/10

Do any of you use these products? What did you think of them? 

Work Life | Mid week mini series | The work saga: part 3 (2)

I'm going to go straight into it this week, the same format of my work jewellery consisting of statement earrings and costume rings.

Exhibit A 

No pun intended. I love this scrabble ring.. It's so quirky yet so tacky but sometimes it makes a nice change and simple earrings look better when I have my big plait dos that you might have witnessed in part 1 of the work saga. 

I got the ring on eBay a few years back and the earrings were part of a set from new look if I remember right. 

Exhibit B

These are my new favourite earrings, I don't know why, they remind me of pat butcher but I felt like I needed them and they look less tacky for work than normal 'dangly' earrings. The ring I first brought I'm black and decided to go back and get the white because I liked it that much. 

Both were from primark around £1.50 each. 

Lifestyle | Slim fast

Some of you may be aware that I started using slim fast shakes just before I went on holiday. 

This was a completely new concept for me and I have found the process of cutting out 2 solid meals a day a strange one but I thought I would share with you my thoughts in case any of you are intrested in using slimfast. Be warned it's a bit of a ramble. 

I opted for the powder 'make your own' shakes purely because it was the cheapest all round option. My reasons for wanting to use slim fast was that I was going on holiday and just wanted to loose a few pounds. To completely honest I wasn't all that motivated and had a few cheat days! 

I decided to have 2 shakes a day for breakfast and lunch and stick to my normal dinners. At first I was having regular cereal bars as snacks but then I just cut out the snacks all together - I never found myself to be hungry I just craved treats in the evenings, that was my biggest struggle.  

I first tried the strawberry flavor which I liked instantly. Next up I tried vanilla, firstly the smell. I found it repulsive and really didn't want to try it and the first time I did try it I found I hated the taste too. After 2 or 3 tho I found that I actually really liked the flavor - Bizzare. 

The last flavor I tried was rich chocolate. I was apprehensive to try this as although I love chocolate shakes the 'rich' part made me thing of over powering coco hot chocolates but this is actually my favourite! 

There all a bit powdery but if you make sure to stur well there actually quite nice. I made a horrible mistake of pre mixing them in the mornings to take into work for lunch - do not do this. For some bizarre reason pre mixing them some hours before, regardless of them being stored in the fridge, made them taste like rotten copper. Vile. 

I now just take in my pre measured milk and a small Tupperware box with the measures out powder in and only mix the 2 when I am about to drink them. 

The shakes do keep you going all day and are so cost effective (£4 per can in boots which makes 12 shakes). I found it much easier than a standard diet as you know your portions and you don't have to keep thinking of meal ideas and things going off. And you always have your evening meal to look forward to. 

I am going to repeat again when I'm back off holiday and actually measure the differences. I carried this out a bit  halfheartedly and am now wishing I did it properly as all my cheats weren't due to hunger at all! 

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Have any of you done slim fast before?