Reflections of a Twentysomething

hi Lovelies, I hope you're all keeping well.

its been a while since I've blogged and that's due to the fact I've been horrendously busy, work has been crazy and I've also been working in the evenings doing various things.

anyway... today is my last day as a twenty something... that's right I turn 30 tomorrow, and I couldn't let this momentous occasion pass without a blog to mark it... So without further ado.. please enjoy my ramblings!

Reflections of my 20something self....

I don't feel like I'm turning 30... and in all honesty I don't know how a 30 year old is supposed to feel. Is there a specific feeling, a specific way I should act? behave?, do things in general?

I've been told by many that the thirties are the better decade to go through... and I hope that's true... with that in mind I am encouraged to embrace turning 30 but before I do, I want to reflect on the past 10 years being classed as a twenty something.

I achieved alot in my 20's ...

I got my first full time job aged 21, after 5 years working several part time jobs
I fell in love
I got my first little car
I pretty much figured out my career choice, commenced part time study as I worked and subsequently graduated
I went on my first (of many) holidays abroad without my parents in tow
I stared up my own business
I commenced personal training... and stuck at it!!
I achieve grade 8 singing
...and I got engaged to the love of my life

Life certainly has had its ups within the 20's... but I've experienced the lows also... stress & anxiety, money worries, car trouble, relationship strain, family health issues... but the important thing is... I and those involved in these things have come through to the other side.

In my twenties I've witnessed my relationship bloom until I've been sure he's the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with. I've become more comfortable with my body and my appearance, and I've stopped experimenting with hair colour :-) and been happier with what God gave me. I've maintained my commitments to Church and GB... albeit with many a complaint... and I've grown closer to my family. 

People throw alot of negativity on growing older.and I let myself be dragged down with the negative comments and bad attitudes... but i have realised I'm entering into a decade which promises alot more.

I'm moving into a new decade with the promise of a new home with the one I love, gaining more independence from my family.. and starting up a new one with the excitement of our own home and a marriage... the possibility of immigration, more responsibility in my life. I have spent 4 years paying off debts from bad money choices, and within the beginning of 2014 I will be free of those and restoring my credit to where it should be... its an exciting time... and I don't intend to waste it.

God blessed me with more than many could hope for. I'm not rich, I work hard every day for a minimal wage, but I know that that wage i get.. I earned, I'm not lying on the benefits system, I am earning my keep... I am blessed with good health, a wonderful fiance, a wonderful family and  that is more than many have.

I can complain about turning 30, but there are people who will never see 30, there are parents who buried their children, there are young people terminally ill, there are people who've missed on their youth for various reasons.. I got to live out my teens and twenties relatively easily in comparison and for that I am eternally grateful...

So yes... Tomorrow I turn 30... and I am blessed everyday that I have this opportunity to live. I get low and unhappy with the best of them sometimes, but this reflection of the past has shown me, if nothing else... that I have lived well so far, and I hope to continue that for years to come

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Philippians 4:11-13 

Thank you all for allowing me this time to reflect
I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween wherever you are.


Natasha x

OOTD October 7th 2013

Good Morning Lovlies,

I am surprisingly chipper for a monday morning... probably because I had a lovely breakie at a local cafe that set me up for the day


Anyhoo... I felt like doing a wee OOTD just because I'm liking todays attire. 

Enjoy!

check me and my killer pose out lol 

So today I am rocking my favourite pattern which is tartan... I have always loved tartan and worn it for years, and I'm a both happy and annoyed that Tartan has become the latest trend for the following reasons

Its crap because..... I've always worn it but now people say oh you're so trendy wth your tartan... was I not before when I always wore it but it wasn't deemed a "trend" Grrr  and also EVERYONE is wearing tartan now, I preferred when it was my own little thing

On the plus side though it means Tartan is more readily available now at cheaper prices.

anyhow here I am wearing a new purchase of a cute red tartan shirt with roll up sleeves. I bought this in primark for £7 and I love that its light cotton

Below it i'm wearing a navy vest from Primark also which was around £3...I've had it a while

My jeans are from Aeropostale and I love them, I bought them in Toronto in 2011 and i love that I can wear them with heels or flats and they're very flattering, the white belt is also from Aeropostale. I think the 2 items cost about $35 dollars and I got another pair of jeans there for $15... bargain.

The shoes are a lovely pair I actually got in a local charity shop but they're River Island branded and had the brand new tags on them, I'm not sure the RRP but they cost me £6. they're fleece lined and super comfy and I love that they give a nice height to me without the need for clumpy boots

(The socks were from a set of 3 for £2 in Dunnes... last of the big spenders eh? lol)

I went for minimal makeup today, I was extremely sleepy still when I woke and rushed the hair and makeup stage by dry shampooing my hair and slicking it back into a high ponytail.

my makeup is minimal... I'm wearing AVON BB cream, MUA Concealor palette, MUA Matte powder, 17 brown eyebrow pencil, MUA Mascara, a little bit of white and brown eyeshadow from my L'Oreal palette, pink MUA cream blush and plump it up MUA lip gloss.

All of these items have been mentioned in Makeup bag Tag and reviews so check them out if you don't know them. i love all the products and think they did the job of keeping my face natural but covering up the necessary imperfections 

Finally, as always I need my specs, contacts in work are a bad combo as I get dry tired eyes quickly. these are my favourite pair from Glasses direct. I have a half rimmed pair of smaller frames but need to get the prescription changed this month then i'll add them to the daily routine to mix it up a bit :)

jewellery wise I'm wearing my engagement ring, watch and white gold necklace which have been featured before

and thats my casual work attire today

hope you enjoyed

don't forget to like and subscribe to my blog and feel free to leave comments about anything you liked or disliked about today's outfit or link to your own OOTD posts!

byeeeeeeeee xx N

Rather than doing a blog....

Today rather than do a blog, I just felt like doing one of them long survey thingys... I sed to do these all the time on bebo and the like when I was younger, anyhoo this is a long one and ic an see me doing this over a ffew hours and publishing it tonight... but here goes!

Are you ready to answer these questions honestly, even if it starts to get hard?
BRING IT!

How old is the last person you kissed on the lips?
27

Who was the last person to carry you?

MY FIANCE PROBABLY

What color shirt were you wearing when you had your last kiss?

BLUE VEST TOP

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

MY FUTURE SISTER IN LAW... BECAUSE SHES SO MATURE AND LOVELY!

What are you currently listening to?

NOTHING ACTUALLY PLAYING, BUT STILL MY SOUL BE STILL BY KEITH GETTY IS IN MY HEAD

Do you wish someone would turn up at your front door right now?

NO, BECAUSE IM AT WORK

Who was the last person you had a face-to-face conversation with?

MY COLLEAGUE

Who are you talking to right now?

NO-ONE

What were you doing at 12AM last night?

WATCHING DAILY BUMPS ON YOU TUBE

What’s in your wallet?

CARDS, RECEIPTS AND A BIT OF CASH

Do you sleep with anything?

2 STUFFED LAMBS AND  STUFFED PUPPY OCCUPY MY BED

Has someone ever called you beautiful?

YEAH

Are you wearing short shorts?

NOPE

Do you miss anyone?

YEAH ALWAYS

What are you drinking?

WATER

Did anything dramatic go down today?

NOTHING AS YET ASIDE FROM I GOT A CALL TO SAY MY ENGAGEMENT RING IS IN THE JEWELLERS AFTER BEING RESIZED

Are you afraid to stay at home all alone?

NOPE, USED TO BE, NOW I LONG FOR BEING HOME ALONE

Does the person you like like you back?

YEP

Do you ignore people when you’re mad/upset with them?

YEH I DO

Did you kiss or hug anyone in the last forty-eight hours?

YEP, MY FELLA :)

Do you plan on sleeping in tomorrow?

NOPE, I WORK

How often do you hold back from saying what you are thinking?

I TRY NOT TO

Do you like to take walks?

SOMETIMES, IF ITS NOT RAINING

What were you doing at 12:30 this afternoon?

ANSWERING WORK EMAILS 

Did you last kiss take place in/on a bed?

NOPE AT FIANCES FRONT DOOR

Have you ever cried ‘cause you were so mad?

YES, I DO THAT ALL THE TIME

What is on your wrists right now?

NOTHING

Did you sleep alone last night?

YES, ASIDE FROM MY CUDDLY TOYS :)

How many hours of sleep did you get last night?

7 (ISH)

Reason for the last tear shed?

I WAS FRUSTRATED

Last person of the opposite sex you gave a hug to?

MY FIANCE

Are you sitting or standing?

SITTING

Are you keeping a secret from anyone?

NOPE

Are you in pain? Why are you in pain?

I'VE A SLIGHT HEADACHE FROM COLD THATS GOING AWAY

Do you crack your knuckles a lot?

NEVER

Do you have clothes that are not yours?

NO

Have you ever been called a babe or baby?

YEP

Does it bother you when girls have a new boyfriend every week?

ITS A BIT WIERD I GUESS BUT WHO AM I TO JUDGE? NOT MY LIFE

Isn’t the value of the word “love” meaningless as time goes by?

IT SHOULDNT BE

How many people like the last person you kissed?

I DUNNO, ID SAY A FAIR FEW

Once a cheater, always a cheater, right?

NOT NECESSARILY

If the last person you kissed saw you kissing someone else right now, do you think they would be mad?

OH YES

Do you act differently around the person you like?

NO

Are there any relationships you wish could have lasted longer?

NO

Has anyone told you they would never leave and left?

NO

Can you read other people’s expressions?

YES PRETTY WELL

Do you give out second chances?

NOT REALLY

Have you ever kissed someone with a tattoo?

NOT SURE

Are you sick or becoming sick?

TAIL END OF A COLD JUST AND IMMINENT PMS

Is the taste of beer good to you?

ONLY WHEN MIXED WITH LEMONADE

Do you think extensions look fake?

THEY CAN DO

Is love worth fighting for?

TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YOU CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE FIGHTING ALL THE TIME

Are you high?

LOL NO

If someone cheated on you, what would you do?

TAKE IT EXTREMELY PERSONALLY, CRY, BE MAD

Do you think that your name defines who you are?

NO

Has anyone ever told you that they like you as more than a friend?

YES

What would you do if the person you kissed before the last person you kissed broke down and told you they loved you?

THAT TIMES WAY PAST AND I DON'T WANT THEM IN MY LIFE

Would you be able to name everyone you kissed in 2012?

YES

Who’s the one person who can always calm you down?

MY FINANCE

Name one person you wish you could fix things with?

LISA PROBABLY

How was today?

SO FAR ITS OK

Who was your last text from?

FIANCE

What are you excited for?

GETTING MY RING BACK TOMORROW

Do you ever get “good morning” texts from anyone?

YEP MY BETTER HALF

When did you last straighten your hair?

SUNDAY

Do you know anyone who should not wear tight clothes?

LOL YEAH

If you woke up next to the last person you texted, what would your reaction be?

YAY

Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

HAPPIER

Did the person who hurt you the most recently apologize?

YEP

Is your life falling apart or coming together?

BIT OF BOTH

Could things possibly get any better?

ALWAYS

Today, would you rather go forward a week or back a week?

FORWARD

Are you the type of person who likes to be out, or at home?

HOME, AS LONG AS I'M WITH MY FIANCE

Think back to the last person you kissed; how many times have you laughed together?

SO MANY TIMES

Is there a girl that knows everything about you?

HMMM DUNNO

Could you go a day without eating?

NO WAY

When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in their face?

OH PROBABLY A FEW DAYS AGO

If you could have one thing right now what would it be?

A HOUSE

If you’re single, then why don’t you get a girlfriend/boyfriend?

NOT SINGLE

Describe how you feel right now in one word?

HUNGRY

Would it be hard to kiss the person you currently like/love?

NOPE

Who was the last person to comfort you as you cried?

MY FIANCE

Do you miss the way things used to be between you and someone else?

NOPE

Is there anything or anyone you’re losing faith in?

YEH

Is there a specific moment you can replay in your mind perfectly?

A FEW

If you died today, would you be happy with your life?

SOMEWHAT

Don’t tell me lies - is the last person you texted attractive?

YEP HE IS

When was the last time you ate Taco Bell?

NEVER

What did you do last weekend?

TOOK CHURCH PRAISE GROUP TO DINNER AND TO SEE ICE HOCKEY, THEN SPENT SUNDAY WITH MY MAN

Do you still talk to the last person you kissed?

YES EVERYDAY

What is your hair looking like right now?

HENNAED RED AND CURLY

Give me some lyrics of the song you’re listening to.

STILL, MY SOUL BE STILL, AND DO NOT FEAR, THE WINDS OF CHANGE MAY RAGE TOMORROW

Have you ever regretted kissing someone?

YES

What woke you up this morning?

MY ALARM

Are you too hot, too cold, or just right at the moment?

Just right

Would you rather it be sunny or rainy?

Sunny

Who’s the last person you hugged, not including family?

FIANCE

Would it suck to have to share a bed every night?

NOPE

When was the last time you saw your best friends?

YESTERDAY

Superdrug Haul!!

What qualifies as a Haul?? 
Can anyone tell me? Is there a set rule? Because in my mind its when I buy more than I'd intended to buy... so I'm sticking to that rule and just thought I'd blog about my latest 'Haul'

There is a grand total of 6 items in my haul... shocking right? but they are items that I sadly get excited about... so I thought I'd share them with you.

Superdrug has increasingly become my go to store for Makeup, and toiletries and since they updated our local store and brought in the MUA makeup range I've visited frequently, unfortunately they've been slow in stocking up. Anyway the whole haul thing started when I was out doing some work messages and realised I'd forgotten my eyeliner, I'd used it the other day and left it on the window sill and as I'm working late tonight for an event, I decided I'd pop-in and buy another one as they're only £1 and I really like them.  So I went in, and wayhey they'd stocked up the MUA stand somewhat.

What did I buy?

MUA Pro-Base Conceal & Brighten Kit in shade Natural - Medium Rose £2.50

I have hmmmed and haaaed over buying this product for some time, and decided to hold off until my current products I was using were done. I currently and for a long time have used Natural Collections green tinted pigment concealer and their fair tinted concealer for blemishes, dark circles and the like, but I've heard good things about this product so promised myself I'd try it (and review it)... so they finally had the closest shade to my skin tone available and my other stick concealer's are pretty much done. £2.50 is a great price for this product which has a highlighter and two diff shades of concealer which you can mix or use separately to whatever degree you feel necessary. I like that its flat packaging which is space saving for my makeup bag, so I'll give it a go, and review it in the near future.

MUA  'Out There' Plumping Lip Gloss in shade Buff

I've said in previous makeup reviews that I don't wear lipstick really, I have thin lips and i've never grasped the whole bright lipstick trend, I just don't feel it looks right on me... so where lip products are concerned, I love neutral colours that give off high shine as opposed to bright noticeable colours. That's not to say I don't like bright lipsticks, I just don't feel I personally can pull them off! anyhooooo... I usually would use a little lip tint within my makeup palate and finish it off with a lip gloss or with some lip balm; but I'm always intrigued by the promise of plumping up my lips and in the past have liked glosses that also add a little plump (even if its a placebo effect kind of thing as opposed to actual fact). MUA had this product sitting out for suckers like me to see, and i really liked this shade which is called Buff. it had a nice neutral tone but one that is noticeable, below is a pic of it on the wand, and also then a pic of it on my lips

Its gorgeous on, I feel. It has a high shine factor, it evened out the tone of my lips and my top lip is noticeably smaller but it has made it seem larger, it also has the lovely tingly feel I like from plumping glosses. I felt it was a bargain at £2

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising wash

I went in to get a new bottle of the Garnier Pure Active Make-up remover purifying gel 2 in 1 I had previously used...(you can read the review of it HERE) but was pretty excited to see a further range of products and a 2 for £5 offer. face washes are something I love trying, as I mentioned in the past review. I like ones that can take off eye makeup, but most products advise you to avoid the eye area, that being said I'll give most a go. all of the Garnier washes seem to have Salicylic acid in them which is great for acne prone skin, I also have oily skin, so I look for products that work for that. I used to use a scrub at night and a wash in the morning and with this deal, decided to go back to that routine, as I felt it gave me better cleansing than just using the garnier gel wash twice a day. this product I chose because I've used products with extracts of Grapefruit and pomegranate and been impressed with them. also, I admit, the colour was asthetially pleasing to me also. It also promises a fruity cleansing zing during cleansing, which is something I love, and is designed fro my skin type of oily to combi skin so once again I shall review in due course.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive Charcoal Scrub

As mentioned above I do like using scrubs, particularly in the evening. and I have read of the benefits of charcoal so I thought I'd give this one a bash as it was in the 2 for £5 deal (I saved £4.98 buying the two products) This product is for oily to spot prone skin and is gentle enough to use daily apparently.  as well as having 2% Salicylic acid it also has the ultra absorbent charcoal which acts like a dirt magnet helping to eliminate impurities and excess sebum... hmmm the marketing people must love folks like me who'd buy anything. we'll see.. again I'll review this in about a month or so.

Superdrug Facial Cleansing Wipes (Chamomile & fragrance free)

Because I bought two face products that don't specifically have eye makeup removal properties, I felt I should start removing my eye makeup properly. I do wear mascara and eyeliner a fair wee bit, and just would have scrubbed it off with whatever face product I used (the last one was for eye makeup) but before that it wasn't and even so, there'd be residue left, or I'd have sore sensitive eyes. So I decided to buy some cleansing wipes solely to remove eye makeup. the own brand chamomile appealed to me, so I lifted them  and on way to the till a specials basket had all the different types of their own brand wipes sitting with a 2 for £1.49 deal, so I lifted a fragrance free set also. I'll review these also in a week or so. i plan to mainly use them for eye makeup removal

So that's my Haul.

Not huge I grant you, but more than I'd planned to buy... and ironically I never even bought the eyeliner I'd intended to purchase in the first place!

have you used, reviewed, liked or disliked any of the above products, let me know in the comments below!

byeeee

N

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Our Story... TAG

So this tag is to tell a story of you and a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, pet or anyone else you can think of! I'd like to know how you met, their 3 top likes, 3 top dislikes and your favourite thing about that person, AND your lease favourite thing about them

So here is mine.

This is Richard... also known to me as Ichie, pet, babe and loads of other silly names

Richard and I worked together in a local cinema about 9 years ago, without really knowing each other that well as he's super quiet... and i'm well... not. Ironically it wasn't until I got a full time job somewhere else that we actually sort of kept in touch and started hanging out when we'd spare time. this gradually just kind of became a relationship as we realised we loved being together and as more than friends. 

I'm not once of these people that has a set date for the day we became an item, All I know is we saw Muse in November 2004 for my birthday and at the end of it I realised that was probably our first real date!

So we've been together 8 years now, know pretty much everything about each other, he's my best friend and vice versa, and i'm very lucky to have him in my life, and this August he asked me to marry him; cue lots of excitement as we start looking for homes! Yay

Richard loves healthy foods like Salads and fish, he buys pretty much any martial art film he can... especially if Donnie Yen is in it and he loves drinking Tea

He hates his job, having the cold, and wearing jeans... even though he looks soooo good in them!!

My favourite thing about Richard is his caring nature. He doesn't lick up to people or pretend not to like them if he doesn't but he is a genuinely caring person who treats me like a princess, and looks out for those he cares about.

My least favourite thing about him is hes a total hypochondriach, and as someone who was a huge one of these when I was younger I can categorically say... he is ten times worse. for example, we both have the cold... but his is flu!, like real bad flu (it's not!)

so... TAG you're it! 

I want to hear all your stories, no matter how slushy/weird or long. Link me back so I know you have done one and I shall be sure to read.

I tag everyone that is reading this right now. That means YOU! :)

I got this Tag Idea from sprinkle of glitters blog.. so here is a link to her version

sprinkleofglitter's TAG