Friday 28 February 2014

Friday Favourites #16

Wow, my 16th week of Friday Favourites! How time flies! This week I would like to introduce you to my new best friends - McVities Double Chocolate Digestives! Holy Cow these are so so yummy and so so moreish! It's so hard to stop yourself from polishing off a whole packed! They are probably my favourite naughty treat at the moment! And as well as their yummy Digestives...they have an amazing new advert too! If you haven't already seen it, you will squeal with excitement (I love cats!)



This week I used the Nails Inc. Treatment pack which is amazing! I think I will have to do a full review of this because it's so awesome. One of my closest friends works in the beauty industry and occasionally surprises me with lovely free beauty gifts and last week it was this! It is Treatment Pack 3 which is used to combat dry and damaged nails. So far I have only used the 4 Way Nail Buffer and A&E Protein & Vitamin Treatment. The Buffer is insane, it left my nails feeling so smooth I almost didn't want to add the nail treatment on top! But as it acts as a moisturiser and conditioner for your nails I decided to give it a go. You need to apply it everyday for a week - I have only been using it for three days and my nails feel so much healthier already!


Last on my list is Junior Paramedics, a new series on BBC3. Did anyone watch Junior Doctors? I absolutely loved it so when I saw Junior Paramedics advertise I immediately knew I would love it...as well as the fact that I have always wanted to be a Paramedic. I am always in awe of Paramedics so seeing the intense training these Students are going through is inspiring! If you haven't seen it, be sure to catch up on iPlayer!

What have been you favourites of this week?

 
ZoFlo

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Midweek Motivation

Okay, so it's not quite "Midweek" but I have been feeling extremely motivated these past couple of days and wanted to share another little gem with you that I found on Pinterest, in the hope that it will keep you all focused & motivated for the rest of the week!


I feel like this can apply to any situation. For me, it's staying focused for my last 5 weeks of University and staying on top of all my assignments. Unfortunately I am not enjoying my final year, so it's difficult to stay motivated when I know I have a lovely family & the bestest girly friends back home - but I know they will all be proud of me when I can finally say I have a BA (Hons) Sandwich Degree in Event Management! Hooooraaay!

 
ZoFlo

Saturday 22 February 2014

Friday Favourites #15 (The Saturday Edition)

I know I am a day late with this one, but I had such a super busy Friday tackling Uni Work, applying for jobs and entertaining my niece (no idea how Single Mummies handle this kind of thing full time!) that I didn't have time to finish my Friday Favourites. But finally, a day later, here they are....

Last week I noticed a friend had painted her nails the most beautiful shade of Blue. It was so eye catching and I loved it. The nail polish she used was Models Own (I'm not sure what the exact polish was called), which unfortunately isn't available in any of the shops close to where I live. So I decided to find a similar shade with Rimmel. I managed to find one almost identical called 503 Mind The Gap, Victoria. What do you all think? I am absolutely in love with it. Rimmel Nail Polishes never fail in my eyes, I have had this one on all week and it hasn't chipped once. My 2 year old niece also appreciated it - "Nice nails ZoZo, my nails have come off. I need to do them again. Not now, but maybe later" #Adorable!

The Great British Sewing Bee is back! Hooraaay! Obviously this is one of my favourite TV Programmes, although it really makes me want to get creative. I wish I had the outstanding skills that these sewers have, everything they make (even when it is described as "awful") I am completely envious of. I am counting down the days until I finish University so I can get my sewing machine out and relive my college days! If you are in love with all things crafty - like me - then you will love this! Check out the trailer below. Have you completed any crafty projects recently?


Finally on my Friday Favourites list is the amazing Ellie Goulding! I absolutely love her newest track Goodness Gracious! I have been listening to it on repeat in my car this week and it is getting me so excited for when I see her (15 days to go)! What do you think? I absolutely love the Music Video as well! Ellie Goulding is most definitely my all time favourite artist and winning Best British Female at the Brit Awards 2014 was well deserved! If I could be anyone in the world....


 I hope you have enjoyed this weeks Friday Favourites. Don't forget to leave any comments you have in the box below - I love hearing from you all :)

 
ZoFlo

Friday 21 February 2014

101 Things in 1001 Days #11


Yes, you are correct - I have a new car! Yippeeeee! Please enjoy my new little beauty!


Although I am extremely excited about having a car, I am also incredibly scared too. I haven't driven in four years as not only have I been at University where I haven't really needed one, but a few months before moving away to University I cleverly decided to crash my car...making it a complete write off! Well done to myself. Don't worry, I was completely fine and most importantly so was the other driver (thank goodness). For anyone who has been in a car accident, I'm sure you can sympathise with me and understand how scary it is. So stepping in the drivers seat for the first time in four years is extremely daunting for me.

Nick will be taking me out for the first couple of days to refresh my memory - parallel parking anyone? So that will be good fun for him to laugh at me learning to drive all over again! And please note, I will NOT be driving my car on the 125 mile trip back to University...it will be staying safely on the driveway, waiting for me to come home! This is one of my 101 Things that I needed to achieve before a finish University, as I need a car to drive to work (another of my 101 Things I am yet to fullfil). But I feel like I am well prepared for real graduate life...all I need now is an actual job and perhaps a lovely Mulbery Bag too!

 
ZoFlo

Wednesday 19 February 2014

101 Things in 1001 Days #40


So for me, Valentines Day isn't a big deal. It's way too commercial and although it is lovely to spend the day being kind to your Girlfriend / Boyfriend - is this not something that should be happening all year around? I think Birthdays & Anniversarys are much more important than Valetines Day, but each to their own I guess. This year was mine & Nicks first Valentines together and we planned to spend it 125 Miles away from one another as it fell on a weekend that we hadn't planned to see one another (I live away at University & he lives back home). This wasn't a big deal for us. I recieved a card in the post which I was competely over the moon with - and of course I sent Nick a card in the post too. I really wasn't expecting anything else...so when he knocked on my bedroom door at my University house & walked into my bedroom I was perhaps a little surprised. Okay that's a lie, I was so excited & extremely happy; I couldn't stop smiling! It was one of the loveliest things anyone had ever done for me. And the fact he had brought with him Flowers, Chocolates, Wine & an Indian Meal for Two made it all the more cute!


It was such a lovely gesture but he has set the bar high now! I wonder what he will pull out the bag next year?
 (If you're reading this Nick...I'm joking - kind of)

What did you do for Valentines Day?

 
ZoFlo

Tuesday 18 February 2014

How Much Is My Face...?

Typically, us girlies all spend way too much money on make-up, don't we? I know I'm guilty of this for sure. So I thought it would be interesting to tally up what I actually spend on make-up to figure out what my face is "worth".
 
First up, is the Benefit Boi-ing Concealer. As you all know I got this one in my Best of Benefit Gift Set for Christmas. I wasn't so sure of this concealer at first, but it is beginning to grow on me. Although I only have the sample size (which is still pretty big) the full size product is £17.50 in Boots.

Since being a student I have had to change what brands I use, so I am currently using - and completely loving - the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation. Rimmel is my favourite high street brand and this foundation is, hands down, the best foundation...possibly even a close contender with my all time favourite Clarins Extra Firming Foundation. This one comes in at £5.99 in Boots - great for a student budget!

Next up is MUA Pressed Powder. I won't lie, this isn't my favourite product but my usual powder is Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder - a product that just doesn't fit with a student budget. But the MUA Pressed Powder does the job and for only £1 in Superdrug, I can't complain too much! 
*I purchased this instore & cannot find this product on the Superdrug Website* 

Make -up Products I Use Daily!
 
Although I previously used the Sleek Contour Kit - which I couldn't live without - recently I have switched to the Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer & Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder. Both of these products are amazing and create the perfect dewy, healthy, bronzed glow for me! The Complexion Enhancer is £19.50 in Boots & the Bronzing Powder is £23.50 also from Boots.

Sleek is a relatively new Brand to me. After Hannah recommened their products to me, I purchased the iDivine Au Naturel Eye Palette which I use every day for my Eyebrows and occasionally for Eye Shadow. I'm more of a minimalist (amature) when it comes to make-up so don't always opt for Eye Shadow - but I am beginning to get the hang of blending different shades together (honestly, it's that bad)! This palette costs £7.99 in Superdrug.

I have always prefered to apply Eyeliner with a brush rather than using a Pencil. After my beloved MAC Eyeliner ran out, I replaced it with Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner. It goes on so easily - must be my years of practice - and stays on all day. I never have smudged eyes by the end of the day; something I always had problems with when using Pencils. This one only cost me £11.50 in an Outlet Shopping Centre, however it retails at around £16.00 in Boots.

And finally, I have mentioned previously that I am massively loyal to MaxFactor when it comes to Mascaras. Although I do love the Benefit They're Real Mascara, I use the MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara daily. It's absolutely perfect; it goes on easily and doesn't clump my Eyelashes together - a massive pet hate of mine. This product costs £10.99 in Boots. 

So now it's time to reveal the grand total of my face - how much is it worth? To make myself look beautiful everyday (or atleast try to!) it costs £97.97. Wow! I won't lie, I wasn't expecting that as many of my products are great copycat versions of the more expensive brands & as I said, I am quite a minimalist with make-up as well. Perhaps I will do another post when I am a working girl, as I'm sure there are many products I will "treat" myself to when I graduate.

How much is your face?

 
ZoFlo


Friday 14 February 2014

Friday Favourites #14

Happy Friday My Lovelies!

This week I have been super busy working (so I can earn some pennies!) and doing Uni work. Stress. So I do apologise for neglecting my blog this week - hopefully I'll bring you some more exciting posts next week!

First on my list of Friday Favourites for this week is....the Winter Olympics of course! I have been watching it at every spare moment I get! I have been loving the Figure Skating (obviously) and the Snowboarding. Although watching it does make me so envious that I am not as talented as these amazing Athletes. I love sport and was always so sporty as a child...but it kind of wore off as my studies began to take over my life. Perhaps when I finish University I can get back into it - maybe even become a Top Figure Skater in time for the next Winter Olympics. A girl can dream, right? And don't forget, today is Torvill & Deans Anniversary - 30 years ago today they won Olympic Gold!

Torvill & Dean - Image taken from BBC News

The next two are another of my new favourite songs. I feel I may just have to start doing a seperate music post every now and again to summerise my favourites as music is popping up a lot recently. Anyway, I have always been a fan of Bombay Bicycle Club and I know their track Luna has been out for a while now but I am absolutely loving it. It is definitely my favourite of their tracks so far - and the video makes me want to go swimming! Another great track is American Authors - Best Day of My Life. This was on an advert right? I can't remember which one but I have been hearing this a lot on Radio1 recently - aka the source of all amazing music - and it's another great, feel good tune! I have added both of the YouTube videos for these tracks below. Let me know what you all think :)



Outnumbered has always been a complete favourite of mine and the recent series on BBC Two is as funny as always! I still can't get over how much Karen has changed! But Ben is still as witty (and slightly odd) as usual and the whole crazy family storylines are so realistic and have me in stitches. I think this is a programme everyone can appreciate and if you haven't seen it yet, catch up on BBC iPlayer - and get all the other series on DVD (as I think the earlier series are the funniest!)

Okay so just one more song - goodness I am treating you all this week. I heard this song for the first time this morning on Radio1 and it's so great that I couldn't possibly wait until next weeks Friday Favourites to share it with you all! So my last one for this week is Recover by Chvrches - It's one of those songs that I loved it immediately. I can't tell you why, because I don't know why. I just love it. What do you guys think?


I hope you have enjoyed my extremely lengthy Friday Favourites this week. Let me know what you think of my three favourite songs & please do tell me what you can't stop listening to recently. I love stumbling across new tracks!

 
ZoFlo



Friday 7 February 2014

Friday Favourites #13

This week, I tuned into Fearne Cottons Radio1 Show for the first time in such a long long time. I absolutely love Fearne and she always plays music that I always fall in love with. The first song she played on Tuesday's show was Riptide by Vance Joy and I immediately loved it! I have been listening to it all week and cannot get it out of my head. I can always rely on Fearne to introduce me to new music - she never lets me down! Check out the video below and let me know what you think.


Next up is BBC Three Series Pramface. I watched this AGES ago when series one was first released. I swear after series one it just disappeared for a really long time - unless I was just completely clueless and somehow managed to miss it. So I have been catching up with series two on BBC iPlayer. If you haven't watched it before I would definitely recommend it. It's such easy watching and is slightly comical in places. I loved series one, but series two is probably the funniest of the two. Have you seen it before? Let me know what you think.

This week my beloved MAC Fluidline Liquid Eyeliner ran out (boohoo) so I have started using SmashBox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner. I purchased this from an outlet makeup store in Swindon Outlet Centre when I went to visit Hannah last summer . It was £11.50 and the girls working in the store said it was exactly the same if not better than the MAC Fluidline (rrp £15). Currently I am loving it. It is a great product which I am proud to have in my Beauty Box. The packaging is a little plasticy and tacky - if that makes sense - compared to the glass packaging used for the MAC eyeliner, but other than that it is perfect. It stays on really well all day (just like the MAC version) and considering its Waterproof, it isn't difficult to get off at night.

 
What would you include on your Friday Favourites for this week? 
 
ZoFlo


Tuesday 4 February 2014

Music Festival Wish List

As I'm sure many of you already know, I have a major love for Music and Festivals! Unfortunately, I have only ever done Glastonbury Festival as it's so close to where I live (and so amazing). So I'm not sure how I would find going to a different one. I have been twice now and will be going again this year too! But as I have said in my 101 Things list, I do actually want to go to a Music Festival that isn't Glastonbury! So I decided to do a little research to figure out which ones I would like to attend in the future - kind of like a Wish List! Let me know if you have been to any of these and if they are worth going to! 


Bestival is a four day Music Festival held in Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight. It takes place in September, which I think this would be an awesome way to end the Summer! With tickets costing £195 plus a booking fee, it is up there with the more expensive Music Festivals, but in my opinion it is usually worth every penny. I cannot think of anything better than chilling out in the sun (or rain) with a can of cider (or beverage of your choice) listening to Live Music! Previous acts include Snoop Dogg, Bastille, Florence & the Machine, Two Door Cinema Club & Ellie Goulding. It all sounds pretty amazing too me; this may well be one for me to seriously consider in the future! Have you ever been to Bestival? Let me know what you thought of it, or whether it's a Festival you would like to go to as well.

  
This is a Music Festival that is a little more local to my home (taking place on the Wiltshire/Dorset border) and I therefore question why I have never been! It has been described as one of the most family-friendly festivals around, so I doubt there would be any worries of the occasional odd ball approaching you & offering you drugs (this sometimes happens at Glastonbury - Sorry Mr Eavis). This Festival last for five days, with live music playing on all of those days! Many of the previous acts who have played I do not recognise; but there are a couple of familiar names such as Van Morrison, KT Tunstall & Paloma Faith. However, with Comedians such as Russell Kane, Tim Minchin & Alistar McGowan having made previous appearances, the idea of going to this Festival is quickly growing on me. And as well as this, they also have a Secret Garden area that offers Swedish & Thai Massages & Indian Head Massages!! Wow. It is clear that Larmer Tree Festival offers plently more than just Music!


The Reading and Leeds Festivals take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same acts. Such a random yet excellent idea as it allows people from opposite ends of the UK to enjoy the Festival! Having looked at the previous headliners and with some of this years acts having been announced, this is probably the most suitable to my music taste. I don't actually know many people who have been here, so if you have please let me know what you think of it - I would love to hear from you in the comments box below.

 Radio1's Big Weekend

I am absolutely dying to go to the Radio1 Big Weekend one year. I'm sure you are all aware, but just incase you aren't, Radio1's Big Weekend is a Music Festival run my Radio1 and is held in a different location each year. You cannot buy tickets. You have to register to apply for tickets which are completely free, but allocated at random. This years festival is in Glasgow and I would love to go. I have never been before and I think the fact that although they have 60,000 tickets to give away, it is still so exclusive. I register every year and am yet to be lucky enough to get a ticket! As one of the biggest free ticketed music events in Europe, I think it would be an amazing experience as well as a once in a life time opportunity - as the chances of being allocated a free ticket more than once is probably pretty slim! Have you ever been?


So that is my Music Festival Wish List. Let me know if you have been to any of these yourself, or if you have any others that you would recommend.

 
ZoFlo

Saturday 1 February 2014

Liebster Award



I have been nominated for a Liebster Award - How exciting. For those of you who don't know, a Liebster Award is a great way to find new blogs - particularly those who are newer to the world of blogging. I have been nominated by the wonderful Kelly who has her own blog called Along Came Kelly. You must check out her blog if you already haven't. She has some excellent posts about Fashion and Beauty, and is doing the 101 Things in 1001 Days too! I have seen this on a few other blogs and am so pleased that me and my little blog have been noticed. So without further ado, here are my answers to Kelly's questions:

What do you like most about blogging?
The thing I love most about blogging is being able to share my experinces and thoughts with other people. I read many blogs before I decided to take the plunge and I loved being inspired by what other people had to say - whether it was beauty, fashion, fitness or craft. I decided that I wanted to join the blogging community so I could inspire others too!

Make Up or Skincare?
I would say Skincare! Although I do love make up and would struggle to live without Mascara, I think it is way more important to take care of your skin first. You want to have a lovely base for all your wonderful make up don't you? I am a sucker for skincare products too. I always want to try out different lotions, balms and masks - whenever I go to Boots it's a nightmare. I have quite sensative skin so I do have to be very careful with what I use. My favourite Skincare range is Simple. They are absolute experts when it comes to sensative skin and I have never had any reactions to any of their products - unlike the time I got a gammy eye due to Nivea "sensative skin" make up wipes.

Who would you most like to have a sleepover with? Dead or Alive.
This is a difficult one...I think I would have to cheat and have two people at my sleepover (is this allowed?) First would be Kirsty Allsop! I'm quite a crafty girl at heart and love making new things so having  a sleepover with her would be absolutely ideal! She could teach me all her crafty ways. Secondly would be Michael Eavis (founder of Glastonbury Festival)...I just want to know his ways and how he succeeded in the Event Industry! Perhaps he could give me some tips on how to successfully set up and run my own Music Festival too.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I would say I am more of an early bird. I don't function well when I haven't had much sleep so would much prefer to get a nice early night and start my day early too. It's good to make the most of your day and I am always so much more productive first thing in the morning too.

What would be your dream job?
My absolute dream job would to become a Festival Organiser / Manager for my own Music Festival. Obviously I love going to Festivals myself, and I am always so envious of the people who have played a part in planning them. Having recently been told that Music Festivals is actually the hardest sector of the Event Industry to get into, as well as the worst paid, I am beginning to feel like my dream job will never be achievable..but I will continue to dream about it nevertheless.

If you had £20 to spend in Boots, what would you buy?
As I have already said, I am a sucker for Skincare. I think I would have to put it towards my favourite ever cleanser - the Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser. It is the best cleanser I have ever used and my skin always looks healthy and glowing when I use it. As I am still a student, it is a little out of my budget but I will definitely be repurchasing this one when I graduate and join the working world!

Sweets or Chocolates?
Easy, Chocolates! When I was younger I was some sort of chocolate eating machine. It sounds awful, but when I went to visit my Grandparents I would go straight to the cupboard where they stashed their chocolatey treats. Obviously I don't do this anymore - okay sometimes I do. My favourite Chocolates are Ferrero Rocher - I never get sick of them. And if we're talking Chocolate Bars, my favourite is just a standard Cadburys Fruit & Nut! YUMMY.

What is your favourite type of cuisine?
It use to be Chinese, but right now I am loving Indian! I will usually order a King Prawn Tikka Masala with a Peshwari Naan. I know we always say this about our local restaurants / takeaways - but the one where I live really is the best. I also LOVE Poppadoms with Mango Chutney. I am salivating just thinking about it...

Lipgloss or Lipstick?
Lipstick! I think Lipstick is a little more high maintenance - especially when you opt for a bold colour. But I just cannot stand when the wind blows and my hair gets stuck in my Lipgloss. I am definitely more of a Lipstick girl! I love the Kate Moss Rimmel Lipsticks and the Sleek ones are lovely too!

Whats your lucky number?
My lucky number is 2. I don't really have a very valid reason for this...but I am the middle daughter of three girls (child number 2), I grew up in a house that was number 2 and my Birthday is on the 20th October (which has a 2 in it). So pretty poor reasons, but I just like the number! Not sure that it has ever brought me any luck though...

Whats your favourite Cocktail?
I would usually opt for a Mojito, but when I go out in Salisbury, my favourite bar - YOYO - do Sherbert DibDab cocktails! They are such a dream and you even get a little lollypop to dip into it! If you ever go there, please order one.

So that's it - I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me. I nominate the following bloggers:
 
Katie Lou
Lipstiick and Lemon Drops
Hannah Heard
Eppie's Blog
Barbie and Pie
The Li'l Sparrow
Lauras Concept
Lillies and Love
Mollie Jess Blog
LayItBare
Nails and Teapots

 And my questions to these lovely bloggers are:

  1. Why did you want to start blogging?
  2. What song is the theme tune to your life?
  3. Favourite nail polish - colour and brand?
  4. If you had to be an animal, what would you be and why?
  5. What is your favourite movie scene? 
  6. What is your guilty pleasure?
  7. High Street or High End beauty products?
  8. What is your most expensive purchase (apart from Car / House)?
  9. Any embarressing celebrity crushes?
  10. What is your favourite blog?
  11. An unusual fact about yourself...

Enjoy ladies - and don't forget to tag 11 people with 200 followers or less!

 
ZoFlo