Treating Myself

Today was my first Saturday off both work and volunteering since my birthday (in July) so, naturally, I was going to make the most of it. And by make the most of it, I meant going into Belfast and treating myself... because I'm worth it. Sorry, I couldn't help it. So I hopped on the train by myself because all my friends work weekends and off I went.

There's something so rejuvenating about taking a long train ride by yourself. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I think it has something to do with having the ability to plug in your music without being rude and turning it up full volume, looking out at the world speeding past and just having time to think. It's beautiful.

The journey ended too soon for my liking even though it was like 45 mins and I was thrown back into the drastically swift world of the city. My first stop, after Paperchase that is, was Lush. I haven't been to Lush in over a year, regretfully, so I decided that I had to buy at least one thing before I was allowed to leave. I was wandering around aimlessly when one of the employees thrust a rather large beaker under my nose and told me to smell. It was Christmas in a jug. Perfection. He asked me what I was looking for, and under my request he showed me the moisturisers. I was treated like a queen. When I eventually left 20 minutes later I exited with plenty of free samples and the nicest smelling moisturiser ever. 

I then made a beeline for one of my favourite places: Waterstones. For those of you who read my blog and don't know what Waterstones is, firstly, shame on you, and secondly, it's basically the British version of Barnes and Nobel. Sadly on this visit I didn't buy any novels, but I did however buy a beautiful notebook that I cannot wait to fill with whatever takes my fancy.

Since I ended up staying in Waterstones for much longer than I anticipated (as per usual), I decided to head upstairs to their little in store cafe where I had the most beautiful strawberry cream filled muffin with a cup of coffee. As I always have a book in my bag, I just whipped out Hollow City by Ransom Riggs and sat in quiet contentment for an hour and watched the world go by. 

I then decided that I should actually buy something to show for my trip, so I headed on into my favourite shops, namely H&M, Topshop and New Look. I bought a cheeky little mustard coloured sweater, because autumn, and a new pair of ripped black jeans.

My final (and favourite) place in Belfast is this iconic little second-hand bookshop called Keats & Chapman down one of the city's backstreets. It's one of those shops that has no order and has books piled right to the ceiling in stacks that are sure to topple if you move the wrong book. After a good half an hour of searching, I found and bought myself another copy of The Great Gatsby that I could annotate and make notes all over without feeling guilty about it. It was the perfect ending to a great day.

That's all for now guys! I hope you enjoyed reading this little post and I'd really appreciate a comment or a tick in one of the three boxes below to give me some feedback!

ttyl,
N x

5 Autumn Essentials

The nights are darkening, the leaves are turning red and gold, the air is cooler. Autumn is coming...

Autumn is one of the most loved and fashionable seasons of the year. Out with the bright and vibrant pinks and yellows and blues of the summer, in with the golds and burgundy and forest greens. It's the favourite season of many vloggers and bloggers, and this blogger is no different. So I've decided to tell you about my top 5 essential items for autumn.

My first autumn essential is lipstick. Now it has to be said that I'm not really a lipstick kinda gal, but I've made an exception for this Maybelline beauty. I have it in the shade 725 Tantalizing Taupe and it perfectly matches the shade of my lips, allowing me to wear it to school unnoticed. It's colour allows it to beautifully compliment almost any outfit, and as the cold air starts to settle around us it is very effective in keeping your lips cute and hydrated.

My next essential is this Body Shop body spray in the scent Vanilla. It has to be said that vanilla is one of, if not my favourite scent, and although it can be seen as a summery fragrance, I find it adds a quirky finish to any outfit. There are many different scents available, but for me it's a signature staple, and fits perfectly into your handbag to be used whenever!  

Now I know that a tank top doesn't seem to be like an autumnal item, however when you live in a cold country like I do, a tank top is the perfect thing to place under a shirt or blouse to add that little extra layer to keep you warm and cozy. I got this tank in grey as it perfectly compliments the majority of the clothing I already own and won't look out of place. This top, and others like it, are available in almost any clothing shop, however I got this on in New Look for £2.99.

There was no way I would be able to complete an autumn essentials post without including a scarf. Scarves are the perfects autumnal accessory, and as the new season of clothes comes into the shops, scarves are among the most loved. When buying a scarf, be sure to keep in mind the colours you have in your wardrobe and try and find the best one to suit you. Also, it must be soft and warm, it just has to be, don't question it. I bought this scarf from New Look for £9.99 and it will go well with any colour coat or jacket.

Finally last, but certainly not least, everyone needs a pair of ankle boots. These gorgeous brown boots are again from New Look (I know it seems like I'm a bit obsessed with this shop, but I got everything on pay day and it's the closest fashionable in my town) for £19.99, and once again, they will compliment the clothes I already own, yet still scream 'Autumn!'.

And that's it for this post guys! I hope you enjoyed my first of probably many autumnal posts, and I would really appreciate a comment or a spread to let me know what you think and what you'd like to read about next time!

Song of the day : 'Henrietta' - The Fratellis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpMlAiqcjU

N x