PurePotions Hair Range Review

PurePotions has to be one of my absolute favourite skincare brands. I first worked with them a few months ago where I reviewed some of their Skincare Salvation range, most of which I still use daily. They are a cruelty free band who use natural ingredients to make their wonderful products meaning that they are all vegetarian friendly, with some products also being vegan friendly. All of PurePotions products are made especially for people with sensitive skin, excmema, dermatitis and other dry or itchy skin conditions.

Recently, PurePotions has brought out a new range of hair and scalp products. The range consists of a natural shampoo, natural conditioner and a scalp oil. Over the last few weeks I have been testing out the shampoo and conditioner, which are free of parabens, purfumes, petrochemicals and SLS/SLES.

Admittedly it took some time getting used to the two products. They're much more natural than what I'm used to using so they felt quite different to use. As the Shampoo is made up of 99.9% natural ingredients, it doesn't lather up as much as other shampoos due to its lack of chemicals, but after a couple uses I managed to find the right quantity and technique to spread it throughout my hair. The smell of the Shampoo is amazing, to me it smells like citrus and ginger, but sometimes I find it smells quite similar to pumpkins. It is pale orange in colour and has the same sort of consistency as other shampoos, but without the horrible ingredients.

The conditioner I found a little harder to get used to. It is made of 99% natural ingredients and is much gentler than the conditioners I normally use as I have fairly dry hair due to constant hair colouring/dyeing. I didn't get the same silky smooth feeling I'm my hair when I rinsed out the conditioner, however, I did notice my hair felt soft and shiny once it had dried. I think that this is due to it not containing ingredients such as silicone, which would normally build up in hair and give it a different texture. I'm perfectly happy to give up that silky feeling with this conditioner though as I know that it's only putting good things into my hair and giving my hair/scalp the nutrients it needs. Unfortunately, I'm less keen on the smell of the conditioner than the shampoo as it's main ingredient is hemp oil, which is quite prominent in its smell. That being said, I can only smell it when I'm applying it, once it's on my hair the smell is much more subtle and I can comfortably leave it on for a long time.

Overall I'm quite impressed with the two products. My hair feels lighter which brings out the waves in my hair more and I love that. I also noticed that my hair doesnt get greasy as quick so I don't need to wash it as frequently, which it fantastic for me as it means my hair colour will take longer to fade. The shampoo and conditioners are both £18 each which is a bit pricier than I would normally spend on hair products (damn student budget!) but I think that if you have problems like excmema or a sensitive scalp and struggle to find non-irritating hair products, then the PurePotions range is definitely worth the money.

You can buy the shampoo and conditioner as well as products from PurePotions' other ranges from their website, Boots, Holland & Barrett, QVC, Revital, Waitrose and Wholefoods.

*Disclaimer* The products in this post were sent to me free of charge to review. All thoughts and opinions in this post are honest and completely my own.

Life Update

Let's be honest, I've been missing from the blogging scene for a good few if not several months. At first this was so that I could focus on revision for my first year exams at University, but after I finished, I just couldn't seem to get back into it. I went from writing a post once or twice a week, to really struggling to think of anything to post that wasn't the simple and easy subscription box review (although I will still be doing these too!).

So what have I been up to? Well, I've successfully survived my first year of university and passed all my exams (yay!), I've seen my boyfriend play a lot more gigs with his band The Cardinal Kings and I got to photograph them at a couple of festivals too. I had a weekend away in London with my best friend who I hadn't seen in over 6 months, I changed my hair colour (yet again) and I visited my brother and his girlfriend who live in the Isle of Wight and have just bought their first house together!

I must admit that I really missed blogging and just writing in general. Although it might seem like I've been busy, in general I wasn't actually up to much any more as I wasn't in University or working, so I often found myself stuck in my own head, which is not a good thing for me at all. I decided that enough was enough and I needed to really get on with the things I had planned to do over my summer break.

Firstly, I really needed to change up my routine that I had gotten into of staying up until 4am watching Netflix and not getting up until early afternoon. I started planning out projects I wanted to do and began sorting out the giant mess that is my room. You know what they say, tidy room, tidy mind. Although I haven't actually finished sorting out my room, (there's still a lot that needs doing for it to be fully tidy, eek!) I have made some progress which has helped me feel a lot better. I went through my entire wardrobe and tried to be strict with myself about what I should and shouldn't keep, some of which I'm selling on my Depop at @evelyngrace24. This was a big thing for me in general because I am very much the type of person who likes to keep things because I might need it again or because I have a specific memory that goes with it. I also moved around some of my decoration pieces and purchased some new storage items so that I could actually put away all of my stuff and be organised for once!

I'm still not exactly where I want to be but I'm gradually achieving little steps to help me sort out my life and become more like the person I want to be. I still have a long way to go in terms of both my mental state and the state of the environment around me, but that's okay. I've never been the kind of person to get a lot done in one day so it would be super unrealistic of me to think I could get everything sorted in a few days.

There are so many things I want to do before I return to University in September and I really want to push myself to actually do it all. I want to finish the projects I planned out/started, I want to read more books, I want to draw more, I want to leave my house to do something more than just to go to my boyfriend's house or the shops. I want to challenge myself once in a while, whether that be singing in an open mic (I have bad stage fright!) or trying to be able to jog without feeling like I'm dying by September. I want to do these things and to be perfectly honest I NEED to challenge myself to do more than just sit around all day thinking about doing these things.

Well that's about it for my mini life update/open pep talk to myself. You can expect to be seeing more from me as I shall hopefully be posting more frequently again and I give you permission to nag at me if I don't!

Until next time,

Evelyn Grace

x

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PurePotions Skincare

I know it hasn't been long since I did my last skincare post, but I recently discovered these products and I just had to write about them! They're all from PurePotions, a cruelty free brand that uses almost all natural ingredients with their products handmade in the UK. PurePotions has a fantastic range for dry skin called Skin Salvation and all of their products are suitable for people with eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other dry or itchy skin conditions.

As you will know if you read my previous skincare post, I have conmbination skin, but my main issues are being spot prone, with dry and sensitive skin. Because PurePotions uses mainly, if not all, natural ingredients, I was really excited to try out their products in hopes of it being less irritating on my skin, like some other brands I have used in the past.

Intensive Lip Balm - £4.99

The first product I tried was the Intensive Lip Balm from the Skin Salvation range. This is made from 100% natural ingredients including beeswax, meaning that its not vegan, however, it is suitable for vegetarians and as with all their products, it is cruelty free. Now I have to say this lip balm is amazing! I often get really dry lips that crack and peel often, especially in the colder months. I use this everyday and it has made such a difference to my lips. They're so much more hydrated, they're softer and even a little bit plumper, its as if this balm has put the life back into them! It does have a slightly odd smell to it, however, it is really faint so it doesn't bother me that much as I don't notice it when its on my lips.

Scar Oil with Rosehip - £18.99

The next product I tried is the Scar Oil with Rosehip. As always this product is cruelty free but it is also vegan and all ingredients used are natural. This is 100% my new holy grail skincare product! First off, it smells SO good. Rosehip is definitely the main tone in this scent and I think it smells really lovely. I also find that when I shower after using it, the scent gets a little stronger and gives the steam a similar smell that makes the shower so much more calming. The Scar Oil is the product I was most excited to try out. I have struggled with hyperpigmentation and scars on my face left behind by spots, for a long time. I also have a lot of stretch marks on the top of my thighs and my butt.

I honestly cannot tell you how much this oil helped my skin. It reduced the redness and scarring on my face and it has started to make my stretch marks fade a little. Because its an oil, its also really hydrating, so it has really helped get my skin's natural moisture back. I also use it on my elbows and knees when they're feeling really dry. The photos below show just how much the oil has helped my skin. The first two show my skin before I used the oil for the first time. The second two are the morning after I first used it, before applying it again. The final two show my skin after using the oil every morning and night for 5 days.

Now I don't know about you but I can see a massive difference between the first and last images. The redness has reduced, the spots have healed up much better than they would normally and my skin tone is generally just much more even that usual. The only other product I was using on my face (apart from my normal washes and scrubs) was my Dr Spot, spot treatment from Soap and Glory, and this was only applied on the big spots on my cheek and jaw. I truly am so impressed with this oil and I can't rave about it enough.

Daily Moisturising Cream - £13.99

The final product I got was the Daily Moisturising Cream from the Skin Salvation Range. It is vegan, cruelty free and made from 99% natural ingredients. I'm really bad at using a body moisturisers frequently so my legs and arms are often quite dry. I have tried out a few different body moisturisers in the past but I've never found one I liked enough to stick with. Until now. Similar to the lip balm this does have a slightly odd smell but again its faint and isn't particularly noticeable when on my skin. Its quite a thick cream but once you spread it around it does sink into the skin really well. I can see the difference it makes straight away just by comparing my legs after applying it to the first one. With most moisturisers I've tried, by the end of the day my skin feels dry again but that's not the case with this one, my skin stays hydrated all day. Something else I've noticed with this moisturiser that I haven't with others is that when I shower, my skin becomes silky smooth, especially my legs when they're freshly shaved, it feels so weird but so lovely at the same time.

Since trying these products I have absolutely fallen in love with PurePotions. I would definitely buy these products again and I'm keen to try out more of their products, especially in the dry skin range. Normally I don't like spending a lot of money on skincare products, but I think that PurePotions is very reasonably priced for the size and effectiveness of the products. I plan on doing a skin update after a few weeks of using the Scar Oil to see how it affects my skin over a longer period of time and to see if it has any effect on how many spots appear on my face. 

All of PurePotions products are available on their website at www.purepotions.co.uk. They are also available in Boots, Holland and Barrett, Whole Foods, QVC, Waitrose and Revital.

Until next time!
Evelyn-Grace

xx

Disclaimer: These were sent to me free of charge to review, however I would definitely buy these at full price.

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My Favourite Liquid Lipsticks

I have to say, when liquid lipsticks first became popular in 2015, I was really curious to try out this new magic product. I haven't been a fan of lip gloss since the early 2000's, I hate the sticky texture that everything gets stuck to it. So when I heard there was a new style of lip product that goes on like a gloss but dries like a lipstick, I was really keen to try it out. I can't remember what my first liquid lipstick was but it was probably something cheap from boots or superdrug.

These are my current favourite liquid lipsticks. They are all highly pigmented and range from a light nude to a very dark, almost black, purple.

The first is Stockholm, a soft matte lip cream from NYX, a cruelty free makeup brand. This is quite a pale nude with peachy tones. This is great for when I fancy a bit of a girly look as I'm not really a lover of pink lipsticks. The texture of this liquid lipstick is definitely a lot creamier than other I have used and it feels lovely when I apply it. I LOVE the smell of the NYX soft matte lip creams. I can't put my finger on what it does smell like but it reminds me a lot of the scent of cocoa butter or something similar. Honestly, even if you're not wanting to buy one, its worth trying out the testers just to get a good whiff of them!

Secondly, is Beeper Ultra Matte from Colourpop, who is also cruelty free. This is a lovely nude brown shade, with some purple undertones, although before it dries it looks like a pinky nude. This is a perfect shade to wear as a statement nude and I love pairing it with a golden eye look.

Next, is Soft Spoken Liquid Suede from NYX. This is my go to shade for going out. On my lips, it dries to a deep nude with purple undertones. Its the perfect in between shade because its bold without being too much of a statement. It is a little darker than my other nudes but its the kind of shade that goes with pretty much any look which makes it perfect for going out in the evening. The applicator for this shade with quite large compared to a lot of the other liquid lipsticks out there. I still find it quite easy to apply but I have to be a bit more careful when doing the edges of my lips. However,  if you find you really don't get on with the applicator, you can always apply it with a brush.

The fourth is Tulle Ultra Matte by Coloupop. Tulle dries to a dark burgundy on me which I love. Its the perfect shade in-between a red and a purple, which means it goes with a lot of different looks. I absolutely love wearing this shade in the autumn because of its warm undertones and it looks lovely paired with a burnt orange eye look.

The next one on my list is Diva, a liquid velvet from Ciate London, which is vegan, cruelty free and the most recent in my collection. This is the perfect classic red shade and I'm in love with it. I found this so easy to apply and you only need one layer of it to be streak free, which can be quite rare with liquid lipsticks. Unlike my other liquid lipsticks, this doesn't completely dry and it truly is a velvet texture. I normally prefer my liquid lipsticks to fully dry, however, I don't mind compromising that with this product because I love everything else about it. But, due to its more velvety texture, its no where near as drying as some of the others.

The second last is Avenue Ultra Matter by Colourpop. This is a lovely dark red shade and is great for a bold look. I often find that the darker the shade, the more layers you need to avoid streaks and this is true for Avenue, but, you only need a couple layers to be streak free. I love wearing this for a night out but it can come off fairly quickly when you eat or drink so if you are wearing it to dinner or a night out, just be aware of this as you'll probably need to re-apply it.

And last but not least is Guess Ultra Matte by Cololurpop. This is a very dark purple that is almost black. When I bought this shade I had hoped it would be more of a deep purple, but I still love it. Its fantastic for Halloween and for doing dark ombre lips as well as for darkening other shades. If you are looking for a black lip, I would definitely recommend this as its not quite as harsh as black. This is also because it has warm undertones so I think it will suit more skin tones than a black without making you look washed out.

So that's it! I'd love to hear about your favourite liquid lipsticks in the comments below!

Until next time!

Evelyn-Grace

x

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My Curent Favourite Skincare Products

My skin has never been that great. I have combination to sensitive skin and I've have issues with skin picking for a long time. This mainly affects my fingers but I've also had problems with picking at spots and scabs on my face, causing worse scabs and even some scarring. Anything that helps my skin, I'm a fan of. These are the products I've been loving for the past few months and have been doing my skin some good. I'll link all the items beneath their description so you can try them out if you want to. Most of the skin care and beauty products I buy are drugstore as I'm a big fan of finding products that work without the big price tag.

First is the Garnier Skin Active Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing Water. The original Garnier micellar water has been quite popular with beauty guru's over the last year and I completely understand why. I started off with the original but then switched to the oil infused version to see if it would help hydrate my skin a bit more and boy oh boy it did. This water is so gentle on my skin and is really easy to use. Just shake the bottle, pour some onto a cotton pad and then wipe away your make up. It does take a few goes to completely remove the make up but I much prefer it to wet wipes. It is fine around my eyes but I tend to use make up wipes to remove my mascara just because its take a bit longer to get rid of with the cleansing water and I'm too impatient. This product is available in most drugstores in the UK and I personally bought mine from Boots for £3.99.

www.boots.com

Now this is a real skin saver. This is Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Expert and I bought it as part of a 3 piece set. I use this before I go to bed and I always wake up with incredibly smooth skin that also looks clearer and more radiant with fewer red marks. It's a product that really feels luxurious. If you put on a little more than it says, its acts similar to a moisturiser, which I do from time to time when my skin is really in need. The gift set was initially £20 but I bought it when it was on sale for £15 from look fantastic.

www.lookfantastic.com

This is the second product from the gift set and its the Thermal Spring Water spray. Its a very light and gentle spray used to help calm the skin. Its great for when my skin needs a little pick me up, especially when I'm traveling or working, which is why I keep it on my desk. I'm really looking forward to using it the summer to cool my face down when it gets hot out and to help keep my skin hydrated throughout the day. On the package it also says that it can be used to help soothe sunburn, razor burn and its even gentle enough to help diaper rashes.

This is the final product of the trilogy, the Cleanance Cleansing Gel. I use this everyday in the shower after using a scrub and it helps clear off any remaining dirt on my face and leaves it feeling squeaky clean and smooth. Ones of the things I love about this product is that a little goes a long way and I really do mean a little. You only need half a pea size and it easily creates enough lather to cover my entire face and neck. Its a fairly small bottle but considering I've used it everyday since around October and I'm only now coming to halfway through the bottle, I think the sizing is quite good.

This is the Soap & Glory 'Dr Spot' and its the first spot treatment I've found that works for me and is at a reasonable price. This is a clear gel that you simply dab onto a spot and over a few hours it will reduce inflammatory and help the spot go away faster. I usually put it on any spots before going to bed so it works while I sleep and it really helps me because if I can get rid of the spot early on, I'm less likely to pick at it later. I bought mine from boots for £8 and its another product where a little goes a long way, I've been using it for a couple months and the tube looks barely used.

http://www.boots.com

Now this is a product I've actually been using for a couple years. Its the Mask of Magnanimity from Lush, meaning that it is also cruelty free and Vegetarian friendly. I have spot prone and sometimes oily skin so this mask is perfect for me. Although it's a mask, its also exfoliating so I sometimes use it in the shower as a scrub and then leave it on while I shave my legs and wash etc. and then rinse it off at the end. Because of the mint it contains it smells really great and its also cooling on my skin, which I love. There is both a self-preserving and a non self-preserving version of this mask, I personally get the self-preserving one so that I can keep it in my shower ready to use rather that in a fridge. I usually buy mine in store (partially so I can look at and smell all the other goodies) but you can also order it online for £6.50 for the 125g pot that I have above. When I used to use this almost everyday I would buy the next size up, 315g for £11.50.

https://uk.lush.com

So this is a mask I use for when I feel like I really need to get all the crap out of my skin. Its a 3 clay and active charcoal detox mask from L'Oréal. The mask feels quite tightening as its drying and I love seeing the colour change from a dark to light grey. It leaves my skin feeling really smooth and looking a lot clearer, but it can be quite drying so I tend to follow it with a moisturiser. The mask is usually £7.99 but its currently on sale for £5.99 from boots, however mine was actually bought as a gift from my mum when I started university.

http://www.boots.com

This is my everyday exfoliating face scrub which I use in the shower before the cleansing gel. It contains active charcoal and is meant to 'target spots and blackheads'. I love the exfoliating bits in this scrub are a little larger that some of the fine scrubs you can get because it feels like its really getting into my pores and getting everything out. The Garnier Skin Active Intensive range is fantastic for spot prone skin and I've rebought this scrub a couple times. This scrub also contains blueberry extract and 2% salicylic acid, which is what helps attack the spots. What initially attracted me to this scrub is that it is meant to help reduce marks, an issue I really struggle with, and I do think this scrub does that a bit, but not as much as I wish it did. I bought mine on sale in Asda last time but its currently cheaper in Superdrug for £3.29 instead of £4.99.

 http://www.superdrug.com

I hope you enjoyed finding out what products helps my skin and I'd love to hear what helps you guys and if you have any recommendations in the comments below.

Until next time!
Evelyn-Grace
xx

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My Tips for a Successful Relationship

Back at school! July 2011

I met my boyfriend in school when we were 14 years old. Even then I knew it was love at first sight and we’ve been happily together for the last 6 years. These are my top tips for keeping a good and healthy relationship.

1.      Attraction

Let’s face it, if you don’t feel attracted to your partner physically or mentally, are you sure you want to be with them? Attraction means different things to different people but to me it is simply what makes your partner appeal to you. Do you think they look attractive? Do they have a great sense of humour? Do they share you love for animals? Etc. Many people think that after the honeymoon stage, the attraction between the yourself and your partner fades, however I find that the attraction gets stronger. I find out new things about my boyfriend every day that make me that little more attracted to him and love him even more. The honeymoon phase will fade but that doesn’t mean the relationship can’t be fun anymore and it certainly doesn’t mean you will never feel butterflies in your belly again when you see them.

2.      Communication

Communication is key! My boyfriend and I have only had one argument and many people are shocked when I tell them this. The main reason behind this is because after that argument, we learnt that we needed to start telling each other when something was bothering us, rather than keeping it to ourselves because as cliché as it may be, a relationship really is a two-way street. Do they keep doing something that bugs you? Tell them. Do you wish they would show their affection for you a bit more? Tell them. Obviously don’t constantly be putting them down and nagging at them, but your partner might not know that something is bothering you if you don’t tell them!

Prom! June 2013

3.      Show your affection and appreciation

Don’t forget to tell your partner how you feel. If you can see they put an effort in how they look for a date, make sure they know how good you think they look. If they’ve done something nice for you, whether that’s surprising you with a gift or even something as simple as making you a cup of tea when you come home from work, make sure you thank them for it. Even simple little signs of affection make a big difference in the relationship and it’s a great way to remind your partner how much you care about them.

4.      Talk about the future

My boyfriend and I love talking about our future together and it gives us something to look forward to. Its also a great way to find out if you both want the same things. You don’t have to ask them everything at once, but find out if they want to get married, if they want kids and if so how many, if they want to travel, if they want to have any pets etc. For example, my boyfriend and I both want to live together and get married, but we want to wait until after I finish university. If you want to get married somewhere in the future but they don’t believe in marriage, then it’s probably something you’d want to discuss fairly early because you don’t want to be 2 years into the relationship wanting to get married and start a family only to find out they hate children.

5 year anniversary! March 2016

5.      Discuss your morals

Having the same or similar morals to your partner is a huge thing and I think it can be quite a deal breaker if there are big differences. For example, if I found out my boyfriend didn’t believe a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion, I would be out of that relationship quicker than he could say ‘baby’. You don’t have to sit them down and ask them to tell you everything they believe in straight away, but bringing things up in conversation every now and again and seeing their view is really important.

6.      Make time for each other

You could be a great pair and get on fantastically, but if you keep choosing nights out with your friends over dates/nights in with your partner, they’ll quickly feel underappreciated and as if you’re not that into them. Now that doesn’t mean you can never see your friends and you have to spend all of your free time with your partner, but it does mean making the effort to see them. Whether that be having a slouchy night in or getting dressed up and going out for dinner, keep some time aside for each other. This also goes both ways though and you can't expect your partner to spend all their time with you. You need to let them have time to themselves and with their friends, even if you're not that keen on who they are friends with, you need to learn to trust them and give them some freedom of their own.

7.      Trust and loyalty

Continuing from my last tip, trust is very important. If you can’t trust your partner to go out with their friends because you think they might flirt or cheat on you etc. then you are going to have a tough time. It’s normal to be a bit anxious about them finding someone else, but that is where the trust and loyalty comes in. As well as trusting your partner and expecting them to be loyal to you (unless you’re in an open relationship with is absolutely fine as long as you discuss where to draw the line etc.) you also need to be loyal to them and earn their trust in you.

New Years Eve! Jan 2017

So, those were my tips for a successful relationship! Obviously, all relationships are different so the key thing is to find what works for you. I hope this helped and I’d love to hear any tips you have in the comment below.

Until next time!

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10 Songs I'm Loving Right Now

This was initially meant to only be 5 songs but I've been listening to these songs so much that I couldn't only choose 5. Most of these songs are from a Spotify playlist called 'Jack Garratt Presents: My Split Personality'. This playlist has a mix of instrumental songs and songs with vocals. I love this as it makes it great background music for when I'm doing work as it's not too distracting.

1. Laputa - Hiatus Kaiyote

I only recently discovered Hiatus Kaiyote, from Melbourne, Australia, when I stumbled upon this playlist. This particular song is quite short at only 2:25, but I was instantly drawn into its neo-soul sound. I struggled to choose my favourite song of theirs as there are a few on the playlist, including Ocelot and Molasses, all from their most recent album, 'Choose Your Weapon'.
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2. Heartattack and Vine - Tom Waits

Tom Waits is a musician from the 70's and 80's, with a very raspy voice, which I absolutely love. Heartattack and Vine is a fairly slow song, with quite a simplistic sound. It reminds me of the kind of music you'd hear in an American run down bar/diner in a film.

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3. Brooklyn - Youngblood Brass Band

I'm in love with this song. Youngblood Brass Band is a brass band (obviously) with a punked-out hip-hop sound. Brooklyn is an instrumental song which allows the instruments to be the main focus. I think it's climaxes and mini solo's are just great and the song in general just puts me in a really good mood.

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4. Old Songs - Tom Grennan

Tom Grennan is the reason I found this playlist in the first place. His accent as well as a slight raspy-ness makes his voice so interesting. I chose this song in particular because it was stuck in my head for a few days and I didn't get sick of it once. It has quite a simplistic sound consisting of his vocals and an acoustic guitar as the key instruments, with a drum kit and piano adding some more depth in some parts of the song.

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5. Sheila - Jamie T

Similar to Tom Grennan, Jamie T's accent adds a lot of interest to his songs for me. I love the funky drum rhythm and simplistic bass line as well as added vocal samples and synths. This song is another that was stuck in my head for a few days, even before I knew the name of the song.

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6. Queen of Wonderland (feat. Thundercat) - D*aVeY

This song is created much more electronically than the previous songs, featuring a lot of digital drum beats and modified vocals. The almost strained vocals of the chorus is part of what attracted me to this song. D*aVeY draw inspiration from soul, funk, hip hop and new wave and I love the blend genre they've created.hdhdhdhd

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7. Scars on Scars - Martin Luke Brown

Brown's voice sounds almost soulful and is describe as a 'gritty, souly, hippie boy'. Scars on Scars features backing vocals which remind me a bit of a gospel choir and I am a big fan of it. I just love the overall tone of this song and I think that Brown really succeeds at expressing his emotions in his voice.
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8. Back Pocket - Vulfpeck

Back Pocket is such a joyful song and shows their funk influence from the very start. The soft and upbeat vocals help create a chilled out and uplifting vibe throughout the song. The lyrics are quite simple and very repetitive but the tempo they are sung at makes their repetitiveness an effective part of the song. I love Vulfpeck's funk sound and I could easily listen to their music all day long.
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9. Girl - The Internet (feat. KAYTRANADA)

This is another song with quite a chilled out feel to it, which I love. I find the vocals in this song quite soothing and some parts I think even sound almost seductive. The lyrics are the main thing that caught my attention with this song with lines such as 'I can give you the life you deserve, just say the word'. I really enjoyed the lyrics because to me it's saying that you're worth more than you think and I will show the world how special you are to me, which I think is great.
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10. Have I - Little Simz

Similar to 'Girl' I was attracted to this song mainly because of the lyrics. It's not my usual genre of music but I really enjoyed the point of the song. Some of my favourite lines are 'Relax your mind, don't panic, Impact the lives of the planet' and 'I'm to young to be stressed, but never too old to chase dreams'. Every time I listen to the song I find a new lyric that I relate to or interpret in a new way and I really love a song that has the ability to do that.

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Let me know what songs your loving at the moment in the comments below!

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Harry Potter Tag

Thank you to my best friend and creator of All Aimee Writes for tagging my in the Harry Potter tag which was started by Danielle on her blog, Underland To Wonderland. Although I haven't finished reading the all of the books, I have watched the films multiple times and I love the series.

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good...

Are you Pure-Blood, Half-Blood or Muggle-Born?

I'd like to think I'm a half blood as my father also loves the series, however my mother isn't as interested.

Which wand chose you?

On Pottermore I got a Cypress wood with dragon heartstring core 11 3/4" and surprisingly swishy flexibility.

Did you take an Owl, Cat, Rat or Toad with you?

Definitely an owl. I think they're beautiful creatures who are quite useful in the wizarding world.

Where did the Sorting Hat put you?

On the original Pottermore I was sorted into Ravelcaw, however after the update I made a new account and was sorted into Slytherin!

What house did you want to be in?

I believe I share the more characteristics with the Ravenclaw house. Silimar to Aimee, I have a love for Luna Lovegood, who I would love to have as a friend, is also in Ravenclaw.

Which lessons are your favourite and least favourite?

I think I'd enjoy Defence Againt the Dark Arts and Study of Ancient Runes. My least favourite would probably be History of Magic as I struggle remembering dates.

The form your Patronus takes is...

On Pottermore it is a hedgehog.

Pottermore

However I think I'm more similar to a panda, lazy and clumsy!

When confronted with a Boggart, what does it look like to you?
Probably watching myself isolated or being rejected and humiliated by the ones I love.

Do you partake in any school sports or magical hobbies?

I think I'd like to watch Quidditch but I'd struggle to play due to my fear of falling! I do think I'd enjoy ghoul studies though, as I have a love for learning about the supernatural.

If you had free time, where would you be found hanging out?

Probably in the Ravenclaw Common room or wandering around Hogwarts and the surrounding land.

You're most likely to get detention for what?

Falling asleep in class.

What career do you want after leaving Hogwarts?

Maybe a travel/journalist photographer (not for Rita Skeeta though!).

...Mischief Managed!

I'm tagging all of you to do this tag and I'd love to see you answers in the comments!

Until next time!

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Rambles of an Anxious 19 year old.

That constant feeling of being overwhelmed. The need to think multiple times about what you want to say and then you finally choose the right words but it’s no longer relevant. Having thoughts running through your head at what feels like 100 miles a minute. Going from thinking a conversation is going well and believing you can be ok around other humans, then hearing them exhale slightly heavier and think they’re sighing at you. Suddenly you realise their obviously fed up with you and hate you and that you’re so beneath them that they shouldn’t be seen talking to you.

That meltdown you have every time before you go out to try and be social, because you look disgusting in every outfit you try on, even though you felt amazing when you tried them on in store.  When you finally find something to wear that doesn’t make you completely hate yourself and then you meet up with your friends and realise how you’re the ugliest in the group. You try to work out what you could add the conversation without sounding like a complete idiot. Then the paranoia hits and you just know that everyone in the room is judging you. You know they’ll judge you for being too quiet so you start talking and instantly realise it doesn’t make sense and regret ever saying anything because now they’re judging you even more.

Having work to do but being so conscious about doing it right that you get so scared of doing it wrong because you know everyone else’s will be better than yours anyway. You’ll obviously fail so why try? You keep delaying it and procrastinating, but then the amount of work builds up and it becomes this terrifying thing that you shove to the back of your mind for another day. And when that day comes that you feel brave enough to attempt to do some, that hatred of your work come crawling back as you do more and more until finally you have to stop because it’s all just too much.

All of these thoughts racing through your mind and then your heartbeat follows. So fast and harsh that it feels like it will leap out of your chest at any second. You start trying to slow it down by focusing on your breathing but you’re already in panic mode and if you don’t act quick you’re going to start hyperventilating. You try to distract yourself with anything. Checking your phone and social media to try and calm your thoughts. You binge watch those episodes on Netflix to try and escape your mind and yourself. Twiddling with your thumbs and picking at the skin until it bleeds, anything to calm you down. Anything.

Sleep. Sleeping is one of the hardest things to do when your thoughts are going at 100 miles a minute. Breaking down in tears because all you want to do is shut off your brain for a few hours so you can have a break, but your thoughts won’t let you. Lying next to the love of your life, but your thoughts make you feel so alone that you start sobbing next to their sleeping body. Torn between hoping you don’t wake them up because you don’t want your episode to disturb them, and hoping they wake up so they can hold you and tell you they love you. After finally getting some sleep, you wake up feeling absolutely exhausted from all the effort of trying to feel ok. You often end up trying to sleep for longer to escape it all and then feel guilty about wasting most of your day because at the back of your mind you know the long list of things you need to do that day.

You need reassurance from your friends and loved ones that they don’t hate you and don’t think you’re the worst person in the world. But you hold such high expectations of them and hope that they will just know to remind you they love you every day. Then you feel crushed when they don’t even though you’ve been too scared to tell them that’s what you need them to do so you don’t feel alone. Being so in love with your partner and knowing they love you too, but if they don’t reply to your text within 10 minutes you start creating scenarios about why they haven’t replied yet, each one worse than before. After 30 minutes, it’s obvious to you that they’re cheating on you because you weren’t good enough for them and before you know it they’ll reply with ‘we need to talk’. All the while they’re actually just too busy at work to message you right now, but they will as soon as they can.

Anxiety affects everyone differently but its still a horrible thing for anyone to experience, even briefly. In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK alone. Most the time, all of this is happening underneath the surface and you can’t actual see if someone is suffering or not. If you are someone who struggles with anxiety or any form of mental illness, please get help. Whether that be going to counselling, talking to friend, or even reading a self-help book. Reach out. I know it might feel hard to do right now but there are many techniques that can help, you just need to find yours.  To everyone else, please educate yourself. Chances are you someone you know is struggling and you never know who could need your help.

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Get to Know Me

This is my 'get to know me' tag which I think is great way for you guys to find out more about me and who I am.

1 - Full name - Evelyn Grace Harris

2 - Age - 19

3 - Employment - Product Design student at Brunel University London

4 - Current Relationship Status - I've been with my boyfriend for almost 6 years now

5 - Zodiac Sign - Taurus (Aries if you look at the updated one)

6 - Favourite Songs - Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root is my all time favourite feel good song, but I tend to go through periods of obsessing over certain artists or songs for a while until I find something new.

7 - Any Piercings or Tattoos? I have 5 piercings in one ear and 4 in the other. I also have 3 professional tattoos and 5 stick and poke tattoos.

8 - Hair Colour - Blue!

9 - Celebrity Crush(es) - Angelina Jolie, Craig Roberts and Michelle Rodriguez.

10 - Hobbies - Binge watching TV shows on Netflix, singing and making things.

11 - What I want to be when I'm older - Happy! I know it's cliché but I really do believe that if you're happy why would you need anything else?

12 - Something I fear - Falling, not heights just falling.

13 - 3 Things that make me happy - My boyfriend, music and dogs.

14 - Pet Peeve - People who take up the whole pavement but walk really slow.

15 - Bad Habits - Picking the skin by my fingernails, overthinking about things

16 - Favourite Clothes Store - I'm definitely more of a high-street than high-end kind of gal. I mostly shop in H&M and New Look as they're more in my price range, but recently I've been really liking some pieces in Topshop.

17 - Where do I want to travel to? Everywhere! I want to explore more countries outside of Europe as although I love it, most of my holidays have been in Europe and I want to see more of the world.

18 - What I want right now - Food, a nap and a puppy.

19 - Favourite Youtubers - There are a few I have been watching for a long time and really love. These are Samantha Maria, Helen Anderson, Kiera Rose and Savannah Brown.

20 - Something I want to change about myself - My confidence. I often don't wear the clothes I want to or do things I want to because I don't have the confidence to and it really frustrates me but it is something I'm trying to work on.

21 - Favourite Sport - I don't really play any sports but I love watching rugby.

22 - Where have I lived before? Rochester in America for 1.5 years, but apart from that I've lived in the same house in a small town in Bedfordshire.

23 - My worst personality trait - Overthinking.

24 - What's my poison? Jack Daniel's Honey whiskey or a sweet flavoured cider.

25 - Random fact about myself - I have some freckles on my left forearm that are in the form of the big dipper star constellation.


I tag all of you reading this to at least answer the questions in your head. If you do decide to complete it and post it, then please link it in the comments as I'd love to get to know you too!

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