ThoughtfullyTasha: 2016

2016

Spring Lip Edit - featuring Charlotte Tilbury & Topshop!

04:01

Spring has officially sprung! And now we're deep into one of my favourite seasons I thought i'd do a line up of the lipsticks which I am reaching for more now that everything is bright! 3 affordable options and one nude higher end option, all with brilliant formulations and great pigmentation!

FAKE MAC // LOVELORN

As you can see from the subtitle I have clearly stated that this is a fake mac, again this is another spur of the moment Ebay purchase, even though it comes branded as MAC when it's advertised on the site it isn't marketed as MAC so you know exactly what you're getting. To be fair I did mainly buy this for the vibrant packaging, it's pretty cute. This is £2.49 from Ebay and it's a really creamy lipstick, at first the formulation seems really iffy and you seem to be getting more of the wax than the actual pigmentation but on the second use you get a nice creamy wash of sheer colour which is really nice and build able if you're someone who is looking for a more opaque shade. They have thousands of different variations of this lipstick on the site, including different formulations as well as different packaging. I definitely want to give a few more of these a whirl just to see if the standard is consistent throughout the entire range.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY // BITCH PERFECT

I'm a sucker for a creamy coral nude, especially one that has a witty name that kind of suits my personality as well! This little beauty was gifted to me by a friend and has been my most worn lipstick since getting it. It is a super creamy lipstick which deposits colour evenly across the lips without tugging at them. I definitely now see the hype for these lipsticks among the youtube beauty gurus and Charlotte is one of the most fascinating people to listen to when it comes to makeup and her philosophy behind it. At £23 a pop it's definitely one of the most luxe products in my makeup collection and definitely a good thing to add onto any birthday lists.

MUA MATTE LIPSTICK // PEACHY KEEN

Firstly the bad, this lipstick is super drying and it is probably best to mix it with a lip balm to get a sheer hydrating pop of corally goodness. However, I do adore the colour, it can be patted in the lips to give a subtle hint of brightness or really packed on to create an opaque shade. Obviously with it being £1 it isn't going to be hydrating, or a wonder product but I still quite like it (I mean even the mac matte lipsticks aren't hydrating amirite?). I do prefer the normal formulation a lot more but for an affordable option that you can sheer down it definitely works for me.

TOPSHOP LIP POLISH // PRODIGY

For anyone who knows me they will know about my mission to find the ideal orange lipstick, so far two Topshop lipsticks are my current top the first one is Infrared which is a Zoella staple but the one I want to talk about in this is the Lip Polish in Prodigy, unfortunately I think they've discontinued this as I managed to pick it up for like £2 in the Christmas sales. As the theme of this post seems to be showing is that I love a simple sheer lip, something very understated and something that wont leave me looking like a clown when it fades. This colour is something I pick up among every season of the year but definitely more in the Spring and Summer time. It leaves a lovely orange tint on your lips which adds an extra something to your makeup. It's glossy which has to be one of my favourite lip finishes, I think it just looks quite glam even with understated makeup. If you're after something like this definitely take a look at the Topshop lipstick range, they price from £8 and are brilliant in their formulation!

What is your ultimate spring lippie?

Tasha x

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2016

My illness essentials // Featuring, LUSH, Garnier & Imperial Leather!

05:35

And the inevitable has hit yet again and i've come down with my (what it feels like) monthly bout of Tonsillitis! So whilst I have a few days where I feel like doing absolutely nothing but binge watch Full House or House of Cards on Netflix I thought i'd compile a list of my Illness essentials and the little things I do whilst ill to nurse myself back to health, when really I should be attempting to begin that pile of uni work i've been avoiding for weeks!

It's all in the diet...

So typically when i'm ill my appetite becomes a complete minimum, if I was offered toast or McDonalds i'll take the toast because the thought of having to actually eat a full (and greasy) meal makes me extra sick. Typically I like to make sure I have a lot of fruit around, especially oranges which have a good amount of vitamin C in them which helps get rid of flu and cold like symptoms because of the antioxidant qualities which help the immune system. Also, this next part is 100% a placebo effect but it's something i've done (and my parents have done) since I was really little, but whenever I'm ill I always drink a hell of a lot of lucozade because obviously it's a good idea to keep your fluid intake high especially if your appetite is at a bare minimum but I like to think the lucozade gives me the energy to attempt to get a few jobs done when i'm down because of the glucose in it! Also the fact that it's slightly fizzy helps with a sore throat because it's supposed to get rid of some of the mucus (don't take my word for it, again another thing my Dad told me!) - Definitely a placebo, but i'll keep up with it for years to come!

Buh-bye chapped lips...

When I get ill I tend to suffer quite badly with dry, chapped lips like most people do. So my second essential is to make sure you always have a good moisturizing lip balm to hand. The two I currently have in circulation (one in my handbag, and one in my dressing gown pocket with a lot of tissues) are; I have one by a affordable brand called Lipsilk, it's kind of a knock off EOS balm - I don't know if it's an exact dupe as i've never purchased an EOS so I can't back it up on these points but I still think it looks damn cute. I got it from Savers for £1, and have it in Blueberry and I also have a Strawberry flavoured one that I picked up from Home Bargains for a similar price. It's pretty hydrating and it tastes nice! The second one I have is this Nivea Pearly Shine one which is hydrating, and also gives your lips something other than their normal colour it's kind of a my lips but more glossy and full effect. The only downside is it can make your lips look quite pale so i'd probably recommend blending this with a pinky lipstick if you're going out but it's good to just chuck on if you're around the house. You can get the Nivea one here for £1.49 at Superdrug (regular price £2.29)!

Bath time is the best time...

For anyone who knows me will know that I practically live in the bath when i'm back at home but this is definitely doubled when i'm Ill. This time i've been suffering so badly with a sore back which has meant the only thing to soothe it has actually been a really warm bubble bath (sometimes twice a day). I tend to use this Imperial Leather Fruit Salad scented shower gel to make some bubbles as I love the scent, it definitely makes me feel all nostalgic and when in use as a shower gel It actually makes my skin feel all soft! The scent doesn't linger for a long time which I think is actually a bonus because if mixed with a perfume I can imagine that it would be quite sickly and strong. You can get the shower gel from Superdrug for £1.80. If I feel in the mood for an extra pamper (which is basically all the time!) I like to stock up on Lush bath bombs, the other night I decided to use the Ickle Baby Bot as it was my pre-bed bath and this one is designed to make you feel all relaxed, it is primarily designed for children hense the robot shape but I like the gentle scent from the lavender and we all could probably use some aids when it comes to a gentle night sleep! Get it here for £1.95.

Show your skin some love...

When i'm ill I typically tend to condense my skincare routine quite heavily, this is just because I tend to just want to hop into bed without the hassle of having to put loads of different things onto my skin. I am going to do a post about my skincare routine so I wont go too heavily into it. But I tend to have a 2-step routine when ill. Firstly, I cleanse with the Garnier Micellar water, I have loads of small bottles of this lying around in both houses I live at because typically ASDA do them for £1 so I tend to stock up and it just makes it so much easier for transportation - the bottles have lasted me for quite a while as well! I like this micellar water as it's really gentle on my skin and works well and grabbing all the dirt out especially around my nose, it's also a big staple in the beauty blogging sphere and that's primarily because it's affordable and it does the job. You can get both sizes here and here. My second step is a good moisturizer, my skin gets so dull and dry when ill especially around the nose area due to constantly rubbing at it with tissues. I tend to use medicated creams on the really tough area but my new favorite moisturizer is by Superdrug in their Vitamin E collection, I bought this a few weeks ago along with the Hot Cloth Cleanser and I really like this product, from the scent to what it does to my skin - it soaks into the skin easily so you're not sat around waiting for it to work before you jump into bed, and my skin feels amazing the next day! It's £2.99 from Superdrug and they're currently running a buy one get one half price promotion so definitely pick up the Hot Cloth Cleanser as they work a dream together!

Do you have any illness essentials?

-Tasha x

P.S I just made a brand new Insta account for this blog! You can find it under Thoughtfullytasha

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2016

£1.99 Eye-shadow Palette!? - Famous high 5 by Sue Moxley // Smouldering

07:49

Another installment in the saga that is 'All the cheap beauty bits Tash finds whilst late night browsing on Ebay' (maybe need to work on the title a bit!). But as the title suggests this is a little first impression post on a recent purchase after a browse on ebay's beauty area.

Sue Moxley is a brand (or designer) I have never even heard of let alone having heard any reviews about her products, so as this product was really affordable I thought would I actually be losing much just by giving it a try?

I've decided to do each part of the product in separate areas (packaging, colour, application & longevity) and rate each of these out of 5.

THE PACKAGING

My initial thought is the packaging is quite tacky, I personally really dislike the use of leopard print and glitter it just screams 'made for a 12 year old' which maybe this is who the brand is aiming their products at? Other than the design the plastic is quite sturdy, and I think it would take a lot to destroy it - plus it's compact which makes it perfect for travel. I like that you can see the colours which makes it easier when I try to find a palette to wear from my ever growing drawer of beauty products. Overall the packaging works, minus the design and you're probably onto a winner! (3/5)

THE COLOUR(S)

I'd say i'd probably wear 4/5 of these colours the most just because I don't typically think peachy pink tones work on my eyes but other than that the other four i'd definitely get a lot of wear from. I like mixing the darker brown and the goldish colour (1st & 3rd colours on top photo) together for a semi-brown smokey eye look for the daytime but I also like to add the reddy colour when it comes to an evening event. The white is also quite good as a base colour and inner corner highlight just to brighten up the look. (4/5)

THE APPLICATION

The application of these shadows is actually really good and easy! They definitely rival some of the best in the drugstore (such as L'Oreal or Rimmel). They are soft and easy to blend and work with fingers or a brush and they also have minimal fallout which is definitely a bonus! (4/5)

LONGEVITY

The first time I wore these I decided to try it on a night out because this is typically the time where I wear a lot of shadow and I personally think nights out are the ideal place to test makeup longevity as your skin is sweating and anything can happen on a night out! I got a lot of compliments on how they looked from the start through to the end of the night and my shadow was still intact at the end of the night! I'd say there was a tiny bit of fallout underneath but other than that it worked really well! (4/5)

OVERALL SCORE

15/20 - So overall this product scored quite well for it's price! I definitely think if you are looking for quite a neutral palette with a pop of colour definitely have a look at these! For £1.99 you can really not complain! They also come in two other colours which are aimed at the more adventurous people - £1.99 with free delivery linked here!

Have you tried anything from the Sue Moxely range? Or where is your favourite place to pick up a beauty bargain?

-Tasha x

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2016

Barry M Mani Mask First Impression! // Birthday Suit

09:34

Behold, another nude polish which has made it's way into my collection of straight up nude polishes. If anyone knows me well enough they'll know I used to have a serious nail polish addiction and it hit to around 150 odd nail polishes. But after chucking away various brights one area of my collection which keeps growing are the nudes, a low maintenance colour which goes with pretty much anything will always win over my heart!

After dealing with a week (so far) of illness and having to pop in and collect my order from Superdrug I decided to have a little browse, I knew MUA had new nail colours in which unfortunately my local branch do not stock so I went for my favourite brand (even though I probably shouldn't have). None of the Gelly or Speed-Dry colours were calling to me so I carried on looking and came across the treatment section and saw this cute nude shade which also claims to help with bad nails. I suffer with an underactive thyroid, which means I naturally have brittle and dry nails and I'll admit i'm not the best when caring for them so they break a lot!

As this is a first impressions I can't really go into whether the formula lives up to it's conditioning claims but I will do a run down on what I think of the colour, finish and the formula so far.

As for the colour it totally ticks the box for me, it's a beautiful low-maintenance sheer nude which obviously builds up with more layers. To get to the colour above I used about 3 thin coats and it also dried reasonably quickly. The finish is semi-matte which I didn't think i'd like at first as I personally am not a matte nail kinda girl but I do absolutely love this polish as it's something completely different to what I have in my collection. I also like the fact that it's a pinky-nude which again is something I don't have as I've never really liked pink colours on my nails or have never been able to find anything that compliments how pale my hands are!

I'm going to do an update further on in the week as well as a run-down of my other favourite polishes!

-Tasha x

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2016

Newest beauty buys! (Featuring Zoeva, MUA & Revlon)

09:10

So this is a small collection / first impressions of all the things I've recently bought myself some were absolute needs whilst others were absolute wants! I've had them for over a week and thought I'd weigh in on my initial thoughts!

ZOEVA // COCOA BLEND PALETTE

So this product was an absolute want, I've been mming and rrring about what palette I should add next to my ever growing collection of eye-shadows (i'm pretty sure this is the most extensive part of my makeup collection!) and after watching tutorials, and reviews of it I decided this was something that I absolutely wanted and nothing was going to stop me getting it! So it was definitely a late night beauty bay impulse buy and £15.50 and 2 working days later it was mine! As much of an impulse buy it was it's definitely not regretted, I've worn it practically everyday since I got it and begrudgingly my Bobbi Brown palette has been shunned to the back of my drawer. My most worn shade is Sweeter end which is a dusky cool toned mauve with a golden shimmer which works amazingly all over the lid as the perfect everyday colour. My other favourites in the palette include Pure Ganache which is a Warm Gold, Substitute for love which is a very warm matte brown which is perfect for the crease and Freshly Toasted which is a very warm dark brown which is also a matte! I think these work well with the colour of my eyes which is probably why i'm drawn to them so much but lord knows if darker colours suited me (or i could work them well) i'd have Delicate acidity on my eyes everyday as it is such a beautiful cool plummy taupe with a slight shimmer. I definitely think if you're someone after a good quality neutrals palette this is one to try, it's good quality at a good affordable price and it has everything you could possibly want with a pop of colour! Get it here for £15.50 with free delivery.

REVLON // ULTIMATE ALL-IN-ONE MASCARA

So if you've been under a rock these past few weeks you will be totally unaware that Revlon discontinued all their previous mascaras and re-formulated, and packaged a new set where each mascara aims to do a different thing for your lashes, there are 5 mascars in 3 different formulations (black waterproof, black, and dark brown). 2 aim around length, one on volume, one on definition and the one I have aims to help with all your lash needs! Even though I absolutely adore my Barry M mascara as soon as I heard about these I was sold, my lashes are terrible at the moment, i'm not sure if this is down to using an eyelash curler or just natural causes but I seem to be lacking in the curl, definition and volume department so a mascara which aims to fix all these issues is a winner in my eyes! My first impression is that i'm impressed with the sleekness of the packaging, at first I wasn't so sure and didn't know if the shape was good but I definitely like the finish on the bottom half it's a matte black plastic which contrasts well with the smooth red plastic on the top. I got this in the waterproof blackest black formulation as waterproof is known to hold a curve better and anything that stops me looking like a panda is great. My first opinion of it is that the formulation seemed very wet, I for one don't work well with wet formulations and end up looking like i've cried for about 5 hours so I was very skeptical. But the few times i've tried it it's been a massive win, it definitely does what it says on the tin and my lashes definitely look so much better so hopefully if my lashes grow back i'll have a winning set! The whole range is currently £6.99 at Superdrug and Boots!

COLLECTION // GORGEOUS GLOW BRONZING BLOCK

I'm not really going to go into too much detail about this product as i've had one before and was devastated when it smashed so when I saw that Superdrug had it for £2.99 I knew it was definitely going to be repurchased. It's a beautiful bronzing block which adds warmth to your skin whilst also giving a nice glowy effect to your skin which makes you look incredibly healthy. I also find that they work quite nicely as shimmery eyeshadows, and I typically use the lightest colour as a browbone and inner corner highlight. So if you are looking for that healthy, warm skinned glow definitely pick this up as it's worth the money and is also a good multi-use product.

MUA // UNDRESS YOUR SKIN SHIMMER HIGHLIGHT PINK SHIMMER

Again, this is a product i'm not going to go into too much detail about as i've not actually had it long to give a thorough investigation on. But this basically does what it says on the tin, it's a lovely pinky powder highlight which works well as a light dusting over the skin or if you want to target specific places such as the cupids bow, the nose and tops of the cheekbones. It's not as finely milled as most people would probably like from a highlighter but for £3 what can you really expect? I have the cream version of this which has visible chunks of glitter in it and this definitely looks so much more natural!

VO5 // HEAT PROTECT SERUM SMOOTHLY DOES IT

I have a serious love/hate affair with my hair straightners, I love them, however my hair does not! I've used straightners since I was about 11 year old and my hair does suffer a lot from my over-use. I've tried tonnes of sprays in the past which claim to do amazing things for your hair but I never seem to notice a difference. However, when I was browsing in Superdrug the other week I noticed this little gem, it was £3 and i've basically been using it everyday for about a week and a bit. I put it through damp hair just after i've gotten out the shower and then blowdry and before I start straightening my hair I put it through the ends of my hair to ensure that they are extra protected. This works, this product lives up to everything it claims on the bottle my hair feels smoother, looks so much shinier and doesn't seem to be getting any more damaged. It helps with fly-aways which is a massive issue i'm dealing with due to the over use of heat. But if you're someone who does struggle quite badly with heat damage definitely pick this up as your hair will love you!

-Tasha x

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2016

99p Lipstick?! (LP City Color Matte Lipstick - Viva Pink)

15:32

A few days ago I was having a boredom browse on Ebay's beauty section and I came across the LP City Color Matte Lipsticks, they were priced at 99p with free shipping however when I clicked on them I noticed that the only one which was actually 99p was the colour 'Viva Pink' even though the others were priced at £1.45 which obviously isn't bad either! The name city colour rang a bell because a few days before I had watched Jessica Braun's youtube review of their products - I don't think this is the same brand however, but I'm not sure and will probably do more research into this. I thought as I'm someone who is always looking for amazing affordable cosmetics it would be silly to not give this a try so I ordered the 99p priced one as I thought if it was naff I had only spent £1 on it essentially.

First up postage on this was actually incredibly quick, I think I ordered this Sunday around 2pm and it arrived today (Wednesday) Mid-day by royal mail which is brilliant as most cheap cosmetics on Ebay tend to be from China and take weeks to arrive.

Next, the colour that arrived is actually different to the colour that was advertised I was sort of expecting a soft bubblegum pink whereas in this person I'd probably liken it to a highlighter shade of pink which is a bit off-putting. The packaging is very cheap, it's a nice shape and I like the slim size of it as it means it sits quite nicely in my hand - I personally have no issue with packaging as of course you get what you pay for! Now, the formulation is stated as matte, but I would definitely not class this as a matte formula for me it's very buttery, and glides on and actually feels really comfortable on the lips. The colour you get at first is actually very sheer but it builds up so easily and still feels comfortable after a few layers so it's definitely surprising to say the least! I actually really like the shade this comes out on my lips as my lips are pigmented slightly rosy so it definitely comes out as a bubblegum pink when layered up! I'm not sure on the longevity of this product yet as i've only tried it in the past hour but I think it would be a great low-maintenance lipstick if it wears off nicely (which is yet to be tested!). They also smell quite nice and sweet. The lipsticks are easily found on Ebay and go from 99p-£1.98(ish) with free delivery in the UK!

I've definitely already added Ice Mauve and coral reef to my basket!

-Tasha x

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2016

Photography Tag!

09:07

1) I want to apologize for the lack of posts these past few weeks, I've been swamped under deadlines and I also went back home for a bit just as a break and to see everyone for my friends 21st!

2) If you find this post lack-lustre feel free to click off as I know not everyone is interested in Photography and see it as a cop-out of a course or career but I thought I'd create a Tag for anyone who is interested in Photography and if you do feel free to take it for your own blogs!

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1 - Film or Digital?

I work more with digital because it's so easy to use, and it keeps up with the state of our current climate, there's a strong demand for photography for uses of advertising, or even people just wanting photographs for the family album. But I do love the process of film, the fact that you do have to take your time and think through every step logically and thoughtfully and I find that the darkroom is actually one of the calmest places out there especially if it's empty and you just have your headphones in.

2 - Favourite style/medium?

I don't really work with a specific style of photography, I mainly play around a lot with different styles. However, I really want to get back into portraiture as this is something I do really enjoy but however I don't have as many potential models down here as I do in my hometown.

3 - Colour or Black and White?

I honestly think it depends, I prefer colour especially muted, cool tones. I think colour can be way more expressive with an image and give off more of a feel than black an white even though with black and white you have the freedom to play extensively with contrast but i'd 100% say I prefer colour.

4 - Favourite practitioner?

My favourite practitioner will always be Stephen Gill or Barbara Kruger. Gill because of his experimentation in his practice, he pushes a lot of boundaries when it comes to his photographers even in relation to image quality as a lot of his stuff is shot off cheap toy cameras which he has gathered from charity shops etc. Kruger is also a massive influence of mine because of the way she tackles feminist issues, she asks the right questions in respectful ways.

5 - Future Goals?

My future goals are to actually finish my degree, and hopefully land a job which is somehow linked to photography, whether this be working freelance or even as a gallery curator - I just wont ever do wedding photography!

6 - Airbrushing, Yay or Nay?

I think airbrushing is a massive issue, especially in the fashion photography industry and people are always being attacked. I think small airbrushing is ok, like eye brightening and spot removal because let's be honest who wants their photograph splashed around the world with a massive outbreak on their face? I know I wouldn't! But when it comes to weight, or size I think we need to stop focusing on how skinny someone is and just praise everyone's bodies for what they are because at the end of the day without them we wouldn't be here right?

7 - Favourite photograph you have ever taken?

This is really not a difficult question to answer, my all time favourite photograph is one I took of my sister whilst I was in college and was working with fashion/environmental portraiture and I wanted to base an entire shoot around 'Fall Fashion' - My sister is literally the worst person to work with as she will always pick out her flaws in photos and makes me edit them until she's unrecognizable but with this one I did as minimal editing as I could and I think it works.

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If you wish to check out any of my work my website is Natashaking.uk! And I will definitely try to get back into a blogging roll over the next few weeks!

Tasha x

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2016

Deadline stress tips

09:02

Sorry this isn't going to be a massive post, and it could potentially be quite boring - sorry in advance. But this week is my first big deadline for my second year at uni. We've had over 12 weeks to create a project for our digital sda (self directed assesment) piece and whilst I feel totally ready for it I still have my occasional moments of stress so I thought i'd give my top 3 tips on how to deal with stress.

1) TAKE BREAKS

This probably sounds like a completely obvious one, but I know quite a few people who attempt to just whack all their work out in one big load without taking necessary breaks whether this is 5 mins, or even a few hours we all need a bit of time to calm our brains down and this can also help bring more creative ideas or logical ways to solve problems within our work.

2) CUPS OF TEA / COFFEE / HOT BEVERAGE OF YOUR CHOICE

I'm a firm believer that a good cup of tea can help solve any problem, well not solve it but make it a little bearable. When i'm in work mode I will always have a hot drink at hand so much I should probably have a boiling tap in my room just to save the trek downstairs. Plus the idea of caffeine literally helps me stop falling asleep into my workbook.

3) ASK FOR HELP

During college I'd never ask for help from my tutors, even if I was in a massive ditch. But now we're having frequent tutorials at university and I feel this is a vital time to ask peers as well as my tutor for help/feedback to help push my projects, or to just see someone elses view/approach can really help you change direction with your work or just gives it a brand new outlook.

Like I said, short and sweet. But so far i've only had one near breakdown whilst doing this work and this was right at the beginning when I couldn't even think of an idea. If you want to look at my current work it is Anonymityproject.tumblr or Projectanonymity on instagram.

-Tasha

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2016

Indie Businesses - Bohomoon & LoveLayla

06:51

So today I was very excited when two little parcels made their way through my letterbox. I wasn't going to write a post on them but I thought as I haven't really done a post this week I'd give a bit of love to the companies that don't really seem to get that much coverage - definitely the underdogs of their prospective areas within retail. One company being LoveLayla which specializes in humorous cards for all occasions, and BohoMoon a company which specializes in affordable bohemian jewelry.

The first company LoveLayla I stumbled across ages ago after someone had tagged me in one of their images which was a quote about being a crazy dog lady and with my mums birthday coming up I thought it was the perfect time to make an order as I'm never really one to send soppy cards - especially to my parents. The one I decided to pick was the "I love how we don't have to say out loud that i'm your favourite child" because I do have an older sibling who actually lives in the same town as my parents so she gets to see them all the time (but we all know the youngest is 100% the favourite!. I was definitely over the moon with the service from this company, the card itself was £3.95 and i'm not sure if this included delivery or not but I still think that's a pretty decent price for a handmade card which comes in a good sturdy packaging to ensure it doesn't get ruined during delivery. I will definitely be ordering from them in the future as the service is amazing, and it's just different to see a company that strays away from the conventional sentimental card filled with mushy stuff.

And the second company Bohomoon was one I stumbled across during a late night browse on the hunt for some new rings. They sell beautiful, but affordable bohemian jewelry which also has a good shipping price (£1.50!) as well as jewelry they sell tapestries, harem trousers and Iphone cases! Again the service from this website was amazing, they shipped fast and the packaging was also to absolutely die for, I actually am going to re-use the sparkly bag as I'm pretty much a sparrow when it comes to shiny stuff. I got 3 rings, and a necklace - I did have other stuff in my basket but I wasn't quite prepared to blow my student loan (just yet) But they all also came beautifully packaged, the necklace was in a bag by itself and then the 3 rings were put together, none of the items were damaged when they arrived. Plus their social media team are so lovely and chatty when it comes to uploading your buys, or even just asking questions about the products. - Definitely give them a follow on Insta & Twitter.