The New Bloggers UK Tag

Hey guys, 

Recently, I have been tagged in quite a few tags, and due to my ridiculous amount of uni work, I haven't really been able to keep up! However, I am going to try and write them and get them published as soon as I can, so keep a look out for my next upcoming posts! 

This is The New Bloggers UK Tag, which is a new Instagram account that aims at bringing together bloggers within the UK! You should definitely check it out, and I will leave the link here. 

I was tagged by the very lovely Hannah Barnes from The Hannah Louise blogs, you should definitely check her out too, she posts about all things beauty, and her make up is amazing! 

What is your favourite brand and why?
My favourite brand varies on product, as for all things mascara, I love Benefit, yet if I'm looking for a new lip product, I will definitely head to Mac! However, my favourite drugstore brand is definitely Rimmel, as I love their foundations and they have the best range of nail varnishes.

Why do you wear make-up and what does it do for you?
I wear make up as it just makes me more confident. Also, as unfortunately I look 12 with no make up, it makes me look a bit older, yet still doesn't make me look my age. Literally, I have to carry ID everywhere, as people think I'm 15/16 (I'm actually 19, I promise!).

How would you describe your personal style?
I don't think I've got a particular style, I just wear what I feel like wearing that day! I wouldn't say I'm particularly daring with my style, as I stick to quite plain colours, such as white and black, but sometimes I'll branch out and go for blue or grey. (I'm not that adventurous with clothes, as I'm quite pale and some things just wash me out).

What is your favourite beauty product for under £10?
I'd say my favourite beauty product under £10 is definitely the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, as I use it every day, and it covers my dark under-eye circles, as well as any redness. At only £3.99, you can't go wrong! 

Who is your biggest blog inspiration?
I love Inthefrow, as her style is amazing, and she always has the most beautiful make up!

What is the one beauty tip you swear by?
I always put mousse in my hair before drying my hair! As my hair is so straight and quite thick, it lays quite flat, so if I add a bit of mousse before drying and dry my hair upside down, then voila! Instant volume!

What’s one make-up product you can’t live without?
I cannot live without mascara, it just makes me look so much more awake! Plus, it accentuates my eye colour, which leads away from my nose, which is always a good thing! (as you can tell, I really don't like my nose!)

What’s one make-up product you can live without?
Probably blusher, as I hardly ever wear it. I can never find the perfect shade for my skin, as I'm so pale, even the smallest amount makes my cheeks look ridiculous!

What is your favourite thing about blogging?
My favourite thing about blogging is the social media side of it! I love interacting with other bloggers on Twitter, and I love how supportive everyone is of one another. Plus, I have just started an Instagram account for my blog, and I love looking at other blogger's feeds for inspiration, everyone's pages are so pretty! If you want to check out my social media, here are the links for my Twitter and my Instagram. 

What advice would you give to other bloggers/aspiring bloggers?
My issue with starting a blog was that I was always nervous to, as I always worried about what people would think. However, now that I have started, I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have made! I have met so many amazing people, and actually love blogging, it's such a great release from Uni work, and it's just something I really enjoy doing!

So there are my answers for the New Bloggers UK Tag, I hope you have enjoyed reading! I tag anyone reading this post, as it's been really fun to do! If you do answer this tag, be sure to tweet me with your link (my twitter username is @tnlblogs) or comment below, as I'd love to see your answers! I hope to see you all again soon.

Much love, 

Grace x

50 Things That Make Me Happy

Hey guys,

Recently, I have come across a few of these posts, and I have to admit that I love reading them. It's great to see people focusing on the positives in their lives. Therefore, I thought that I would spread
the joy, and write my own post on '50 Things That Make Me Happy'. Hope you enjoy!

1. My family.
2. My boyfriend. (cringe, I know)
3. My friends. (Okay, the top 3 are incredibly cliche, but they honestly do bring me so much happiness)
4. Blogging, obv.
5. When it's sunny. It doesn't necessarily have to be warm (although that is a plus), but just when it's bright.
6. Having freshly painted nails.
7. Going on nights out with my mates, whether it be just for drinks or to a bar/club.
8. Lazy days after a stressful week.
9. Lush bath bombs. Honestly, you cannot beat a Lush bath.
10. Singing and playing the piano.
11. Reading a good book.
12. Disney. Whether it be a film, a cuddly toy or Disneyland, anything Disney, I love!
13. Cherry lips.
14. Chocolate.
15. Food in general.
16. Travelling to places I have never visited, whether it be a day out somewhere or somewhere else in the world, I love visiting new places! I have a bad case of Wanderlust.
17. The countryside, which I always used to complain about when my parents dragged me there when I was young, but now that I have moved away to a big city, I miss it!
18. Christmas. I love the decorations, the lights, the songs, everything! I am THE most annoying person in December.
19. Binge watching a new series of Netflix.
20. Candles. My favourite scent is Apple Blossom.
21. Shopping.
22. Going to the match with my Dad. UTB
23. When Boro actually win a game.^
24. Trying out new make-up.
25. Coronation Street (guilty pleasure)
26. Snow!
27. Listening to music.
28. Going to a concert.
29. Going to The Station Cinema at Richmond, having a meal and watching a film with the family.
30. Snorkelling.
31. Planning trips/holidays.
32. Walking on the beach, but with shoes on because I hate sand.
33. Drinking hot chocolate when it's cold outside.
34. Making other people smile.
35. Trying food that I have never tried before.
36. Playing squash with my mum (probably the only sport you will ever see me play).
37. Watching re-runs of Friends on repeat.
38. Going to the theatre, and meeting the actors at the stage door. Through this, I've met Matthew Perry, and Jack O'Connell, who I love.
39. St Ives. Visited here annually when I was younger, and I love it. Surfing and body boarding at Porthmeor Beach is basically my childhood.
40. The smell of freshly laundered clothes that have just come off the washing line. I also love the smell of ironing.
41. Walking into Yarm to meet my mates for a cuppa. Or a crepe. Or two.
42. Grandma's Sunday lunch.
43. Mum's risotto.
44. Playing on the wii (I'm a child, I know).
45. Wearing a new outfit.
46. I'm an adrenaline junkie, so I love all kinds of water sports and high ropes courses.
47. Putting on a onesie after a nice, warm shower or a good bath.
48. Not needing to set the alarm, and being able to sleep in until midday.
49. Flowers, I love the smell of roses and honeysuckle.
50. A starry night; I used to love astronomy as a kid. Plus, in Birmingham, the sky is always brown due to light pollution, so I love coming home and being able to see a clear sky.

So there you have it, 50 things that make me happy! I tag anyone reading this post, as it's such a lovely thing to do; spread those positive vibes! If you do, make sure to tell me in the comments or tweet me a link (my Twitter is @tnlblogs) and I'll go and check it out, as I'd love to read them!

Much love,

Grace x

Day Tripping - Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

Hey guys,

So, as I am home for Easter, I have been spending quite a lot of time in the countryside of North Yorkshire, as I am really quite lucky to have it on my doorstep. I love North Yorkshire, as, as well as being super pretty and tranquil, when the weather is nice (to be honest, this is a rare occasion, we are in the north after all), it is honestly one of the most amazing places to visit.

Therefore, me and my family thought that we would take a trip to Fountains Abbey, a world heritage site, which is located near Ripon. Founded in 1132 in Britain, it is one of the largest and best preserved Abbeys in England, and is owned by the National Trust. So, for all you history lovers, this is an ideal day trip. To be honest, even if you aren't the biggest fan of history (like me), it's worth a visit purely due to the stunning views. You can access the website for more information here.

Whilst there, I thought that I would take a couple of pictures (I know, I'm terrible at taking pictures, but I gave it my best shot).

As you can see, the weather also changed about 5 times when we were there; one minute it was sunny, the next it was clouding over! But hey, you've got to love British weather!

After our walk, we decided to head off for tea. However, we had no clue of restaurants/pubs nearby, so decided to check good ol' trusty TripAdvisor, and found a local pub called The Sawley Arms. And thank goodness we did, because otherwise I wouldn't have eaten this amazing meal. I had steak, with skinny fries, onion rings, mushrooms, watercress and roast tomato, and it was beautiful. I also included my sister and mum's meal in the shot, which was the fish platter. My dad ordered this also, and they all said it was REALLY good. The link to their website is here.

So there you go, a day out to Fountains Abbey! I know it's a bit of a random post, but I hope you enjoyed it! Where do you like to go for days out? 

Much love, 

Grace x

Review - Estee Lauder Double Wear

Hey guys, 

I recently took a trip to Edinburgh, and, as I have almost used up all of my Nars Sheer Glow (sad face), I decided to go and buy some new foundation. Due to this, I took a trip to Harvey Nicholls and proceeded to browse the make up counters. However, as some of you may know, I'm trying to stop buying the same products over and over again. Therefore, as I have heard many raving reviews about this product, I thought that I would give it a try. 

Estee Lauder is a brand that I have never tried before, so I was a bit wary of what it was going to be like, as in, would it suit my skin, would it blend, would it be an every day foundation? The answer to all these questions is yes! The shade, which in my case is Shell (this is the palest shade that they do in Double Wear), matched my skin tone perfectly. To be honest, it's the first foundation that I have found that matches my skin tone; you can't really tell that I'm wearing much make up. However, it gives a great coverage, and covers any blemishes without looking like you are caked in make up. 

As I am especially wary with foundation, as I have sensitive skin, I thought I had better check it out and ask what skin type it was ideal for. However, when I went to the Estee Lauder counter, the shop assistant was so lovely, and they were actually doing an offer where you can get a free sample of Double Wear along with the Illuminating Perfecting Primer, which had 10 applications worth of product. Therefore, I got to try it before I purchased it, and instantly fell in love. Also, in my opinion, it rivals Nars Sheer Glow in its lasting power and is SPF 10, so protects your skin as well.

Overall, I would recommend this if you want a medium/high coverage foundation, as you can easily build it up, and it lasts all day! 

What's your favourite foundation, and what beauty products have you been loving recently?

Much love, 

Grace x