so I'm back!

I have been absent for a long long time but for good reason!

It was exam season so my days and weeks have been filled with revision cards, mind maps and essay plans. But now that's all over and I can get back to blogging and not feel guilty about it. 

I do have a teensy bit of news however, I got a full-time job!

Which, suffice to say, is so far making me feel both very grown up and very tired!

So, expect a lot more regular blog posts from me, I'm really excited to get back into it :)! 

Lots and lots of love, Beth xxxxx

"too young"

Hello lovely, this is a bit of an impromptu post about something that has got me rather... not angry, irritated I think is the right word. 

People saying "you're too young for XYZ". 

Obviously I don't mean things like drinking, or getting tattoos, things you literally can be too young for legally. I mean things that require emotional maturity, like being "in love", deciding what job you want, or getting married.

It frustrates me so much when you hear older people, saying "ooh 18 is too young to know what you want to do with your life" or "you can't possible be in love when you're only 15". 

How can anyone determine how many years you have to have been on this planet to make a decision so personal? Does that mean to say that a 5 year old can't love their mum or their best friend? I understand it is a different kind of love, but there are a million kinds of love so who's to say that there is a specific age at which you can experience different kinds. 

The same can be said for deciding what job you want to do, it's absurd to think that you know exactly how someone else feels about something so individual to them. How do you know that 10 year old isn't deadly serious about being a hairdresser, doctor or Prime Minister and willing to put the work in?

Okay I'll stop ranting now, I could go on for pages and pages but that would be fun for no one!

What do you think about it? Do you think you can be "too young" for certain things or is everyone different?

I really would be interested to know, leave your thoughts in the comments :) 

Lots and lots of love (hell yeah I'm only 18 but I love you!) Beth xoxoxoxo 

Happy Nearly-New Year!

Hello gorgeous, 

I don't know about you, but I personally love this time of year!

All of the good things seem to snowball together into one big ball of happiness; Christmas, New Year, my birthday, Valentines Day. They all go so fast but bring so many fun times!

And as cheesy as it sounds, I think I love new year most of all (not for the parties as I don't really drink), because it holds a promise of a new beginning.

So I thought today I would share with you my new years resolutions.

1. Get healthy!

I'm sure this is on 99.99% of peoples new year resolution lists and to be honest it is a reoccurring resolution for me, so no explanation is really needed! 

2. Save!

I have recently decided that the whole Uni thing may not be for me... So this has quickly cut down my plans to move out of home and into halls, however I am still determined to move out by this time next year. So save save save!

3. Look to the future!

I have a *very very bad* habit of thinking things like "oh I'll revise for that test tomorrow" or "ah don't worry that course-work can wait until you get back tonight". This resolution is to try and prevent that thinking and make me think what will happen if I fail that test, or if I don't hand in that course-work.

4. Be positive!

I think everyone should have this resolution if I'm being honest, to stop the last resolution I mentioned taking over. I do want to look to the future but at the same time, I'm 17 and I need to remember not to get too negative thinking about the future. Just like every other person out there needs to learn to find at least one positive to take away from a situation.

I think that's everything my lovelies! 

What are your resolutions for the new year?

Do you even believe in new year resolutions?

If you fancy reading more blog posts from me in 2013 then by all means pop your email in the box up there and get notifications when I post...

Have a great new year honey!

Lots and lots of love, Beth xoxoxo.

p.s. have you got twitter? mines @LookLifeBeauty 

if you have a blog tweet me it and I promise to give it a read :) 

top 5 fave Christmas "things"!

Hello lovelies!

I have been a poorly girl the past few days, however (ever one to look on the bright-side) all this being snuggled under a blanket at home has make me feel insanely Christmassy.

So, this post has no real point... at all! But I just thought I'd share with you my top 5 favourite things about Christmas :).

The Nativity Play!

I absolutely love going to see little school nativity plays, this year is Ember's (my little sister) first one and she is going to be a beautiful little angel :). I think it's a mix of the adorable child acting, the cute costumes and beautiful Christmas story that just makes my heart melt into a Christmassy mess. This year however, I am a completely heartbroken big sister, I will be in Ireland when Ember does her play, so I've made Mum promise to record every second! 

Christmas Films! 

There's really no explanation needed for this favourite, who doesn't have a few films that they have to watch snuggled up with the fam on the cold winter nights. For me, they are definitely Jingle All The Way, a classic from childhood, the same can be said for Muppet Christmas Carol. Love Actually on the other hand, is a new Christmas obsession for me, only started this as a tradition a few years ago but has quickly become a big part of Christmas Eve.

Starbucks/Costa!

For me, Christmas officially starts when I can walk into either Starbucks or Costa (I'm not fussy!) and  get a Peppermint Hot Chocolate or Honey Comb Hot Chocolate. 

Christmas Trees! 

Much like Kevin in Home Alone (comment if you get the reference ;)), Christmas isn't right without a Christmas tree. Not only is it where all the presents go and the fam sits around in their jim-jams in the morning, it's a family activity to put all the decorations on. Which brings me onto my next favourite...

Decorations!

Now, our tree (as you can see above!) never really has a theme as such, never really looks like an amazing amount of time has gone into it nor is it ever colour coordinated. But each decoration is loved and has been collected over the years and because of that it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I look over at it :). 

What are your favourite things about Christmas time?

I'd love to know!

See you next time, keep warm and snuggly beautiful;

Beth xoxo.

p.s. Follow me on Twitter if you fancy? @LookLifeBeauty

Ramblings of a Mad Lady...

Well, I am knackered and currently using this blog as a handy little excuse to avoid college work for as long as humanly possible...

If you don't know, I'm a second year college student and at the moment I am not happy about that little fact.

Just in case you're reading this and you are at secondary school (/whatever the last stage of compulsory education is where you are), don't take this post to mean that college is a horrible evil thing. It's not! 

It is however- hard work
                    exhausting
                    more effort than expected

I'm studying my A Levels; psychology, history and law. I love law, it is by far the most interesting subject I have ever taken, but psychology and history? Horrible! Just not for me I think. It might have something to do with the fact that I have taken law as a Btec, which basically means I get my end grade by doing coursework, no exams. Whereas with the other subjects I have big scary exams and I'm supposed to show a stranger everything I've learnt in a year!

College is getting me down a lot at the moment, the only thing that is really keeping me going back is the fact that if I wasn't, what would I do? I have a job but it's only part time and not exactly what I want to be doing forever! 

At secondary school I was a straight B student, B's in everything (and an unexpected A in maths). But since then, I have slipped a considerable amount. As sad disheartened as this makes me, it concerns me more than anything. I'm concerned that I just wont try anymore.

Bit of a weird blog this, but I suppose I just wanted to say that, if you are in the same situation as me; going to college/school/uni and just not being happy with the lessons or workload or people... Stick it out! You're not the only one. 

I'll leave you with the thought that keeps me relatively sane, when you're old and thinking back on your life, you will not be thinking "oh, I could have done better at *insert subject here* when I was *insert age here*...". So why stress about it now?! I know it's easier said than done, trust me, but you should just know that now isn't forever.

Lots and lots of love, Beth xoxoxoxo
p.s if you liked this post, please please please give this blog a follow, add a little cheeriness into my day to counteract all the sad school work!
p.p.s. if that isn't your cup of tea why not chat to me on twitter? @looklifebeauty if you give it a follow you'll still get updates from me when I feel like posting
p.p.p.s how are you today? comment below, I'd be very interested to know!
p.p.p.p.s how many "p.s"s are too many? Hmmmm I think I may have the answer to that one...
                      

chatty chatty chatty :)

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I told a lil' porky pie and didn't start blogging again when I said I would. But now I am back at college so I shall try to get into more of a routine with this!

Now that's over and done with, this is going to be a bit of a chatty-blog to try and get back into the swing of it.

As I may have mentioned in a previous blog (lately there has been a lot of writing blog posts and then deleting them because they suck...) I have got a job, whoop whoop! At Boots, it's lovely, for once I am not broke :).

I have also just started my second year of college, currently I am doing two A Levels, and a Btec. If you're not in England/at college that probably means nothing to you! But the subjects are Psychology, History and Law :). Last year I also did English, but we are only allowed to carry on three subjects and English didn't make the cut.

*moment of cheesiness coming right now, you have been warned*

To be honest, I've been a bit out of this whole blogging malarkey recently, didn't really see the point in it. I adore reading blogs, I have for years, and I only made this blog because I figured it would be something to do. But then I started thinking "well what's the point if no one is reading it?" but now I understand that this is something I should do for me, not anyone else.

If, by any freak of nature you are reading this, and you're considering writing a blog, do it. I'm glad I have and I regret stopping for so long.

There are thousands of blogs out there and the chances of mine being one that anyone sees/actually enjoys are very slim. But the chances of this being something I can be proud of are significantly higher.

Any-hoo...

This is only a tiny blog, a micro-blog if you will (hehe images of micro pigs in my head now... eeek cuties).

So I shall go before this turns even more ramble-y...

I love you lots!
Cheerio, Beth xoxoxoxo




p.s. here are some cute piccies...

my baby Lola sleeping...

watching Momma work...

baby Lola and old man Ruben chillin'...

Sorry!

Today is a day of mass apologies.I've been gone for over a month and to be honest I have no big dramatic reason, but I do have a few little excuses...
I got a job!
I started my university applications!
I went to Poland!
I went to Bournemouth!
I (ended an old and...) started a new relationship!

So, it's been busy and blogging just kind of got lost somewhere in the mix. But I've got a sudden surge of energy (maybe something to do with the 3 cans of Red Bull...) so I'm going to do a big ol' batch of blogs.

Coming up there should be:
July Favourites
What I Did In Poland
Everyday Make-up
My Make-up Wish List
and a more in depth update on everything that's been happening :)
Probably not in that order, that's more there so that I have to actually write them!

I shall be posting again here very very soon!
Lots and lots of love, Beth xxx

7 days catch-up!

Hello there dear!

How are you doing? :)

This is my catch-up blog for the 7 things in 7 days post (thanks to Sprinkle of Glitter). Okay then I can feel this is going to be depressing if I've done none of them...

1. Organise

This has been done to some extent, I still have outstanding work to do for college... But it's now all in pretty piles on my floor...

2. Exercise

Well, just to make myself sound a little bit better, I'd just like to point out that I did say I wasn't going to predict miracles with this one! I have walked the doggies a lot more, so in my eyes I think I'm classing this one as a win, a little bit is better than nothing :).

3. Read

Not going to lie, this I have sort of, kind of, not really, but a little bit, done. I brought a new book the day after I posted the last blog, a book that I'd seen in a haul video, The Polaroid Book. Yes I am well aware that there is no reading involved in looking at pretty polaroid pictures, but I've got a new book that I lalalalalove so I'm going to say it counts ;).

4. Smart Shopping

I have only brought two things these past 7 days, both not needed, but both in celebration... I got a job! I had an interview on Wednesday, and I now have a proper weekend job. So I spoilt myself a little bit... *The book I just mentioned I'm not including in this, as it was a present from my lovely mother for the job and because I'm off to Poland for a few days next week and so I needed a new book for the plane.* I'm sorry, I know it's bad but they were both lip products, I know I know it's awful after everything I said about "Smart Shopping"... In my defence, they're soooo pretty! And technically they match so it's just good sense that if you get one you have to get the other... There will be a separate blog post on them soon to give you more info :)!

5. Stop with the snacks

I am happy to say that this little task was a full success! Healthy eating is definitely the way forward!

6. Charity trip

Done and done! Yaaaaay :).

7. Catch Ups

All done, it was blooming lovely and to be honest one of the bestest things to do when life is a bit meh, getting an old friend's advice and having a good ol' chat :).

So, that's the whole list (mostly) completed! Rather proud to be honest, seems like such little achievements but it's better than nothing!

Now, I've suddenly gone really really sad and "meh" so I'm off to have a loooong shower *that did say "bath" until I remembered the bath is broken, sad times) and look through my book of pretty pictures :).

Cheerio m'dear! Lots and lots of love, Beth xoxo

Joining in with Sprinkle Of Glitter's 7 things for 7 days

Hey there honey,

Louise, the gorgeous genius behind these posts!
 http://sprinkleofglitter.blogspot.co.uk/

Like many other bloggers, I am going to be joining in with Sprinkle Of Glitter's "7 things for 7 days" posts.
If by some freak of nature you haven't seen these posts, they're linked above, definitely check them out and join in :).
It's basically just a list of 7 things to do over 7 days (or however long you fancy!) to motivate yourself into sticking with a goal. For someone as useless as me with sticking to one objective, let alone 7, publishing them onto the internet might give me a good kick up the bottom!
Here goes...



1. Organise-
I have zero organisational skills, whether it's home or college. And because of where I am in life at the minute, I'm meant to be organising open days for uni, massive amounts of coursework and preparations for next year. So, this week I'm going to start getting everything organised. I'm sitting just surrounded by papers that I have no idea what subject they are for, but not for long!

2. Exercise-
Much like Louise, I'm not going to be unrealistic and claim that I'll get amazingly fit within the next week. But I can promise to do a little bit more, I can sense that this will be a reoccurring item on these lists. This week (what's left of it) I will do more running, take the dogs out on longer walks and generally not be such a lazy bum!

3. Read-
The subjects that I'm doing at college, do mean that I have to do a stupid amount of reading. So much so that I have stopped reading for pleasure. So this week I want to just start a new book for fun, I have lots and lots lined up, all waiting. I shall pick one tonight and start reading!

4. Smart Shopping-
I do love shopping, and I'll admit when I first wrote this list, item no.4 was "Stop Shopping". However that is just not going to happen... I know, I know that's awful but baby steps people, baby steps. I've changed it to "Smart Shopping", just so that I shop for things that I know I will use a lot, that I've researched first (make-up etc.), clothes that I know I will wear and things that are worth the money!

5. Stop With The Snacks-
This links in with no.2 on my list, I'm not expecting to turn into a size 8 over night, I'm not an idiot that will never happen! But just feeling healthier in myself would suit me just fine. I'm not going to ask for the stars and start a diet, I hate the things, too many restrictions. However I do know that the meals that I eat (as a vegetarian) are pretty darn healthy. So just stopping snacking so blooming much would make me feel a lot better!

6. Charity Trip-
Again, linked in with no.1, I've recently had a clear out of my clothes and lots of them went to charity. Giving things to charity hardly makes me Mother Theresa, but it does make me feel like I'm doing some good! I'm aiming this week, to do the same with all my old books and surely lugging those up to the shops will count as some exercise ;)!

7. Catch Ups-
There's a few of my friends that I've lost touch with, so this is a nice goal for this week. Just catch up with a few of them, I miss them rather a lot and just a cuppa coffee and a chat, I know will make me feel a lot happier. Short 'n' sweet!

If you like the idea of this do pop over to Louise's blog and join in...

Lots and lots of love, Beth xoxoxo

my little list for a happier you :')

Hello m'dear,

This is the second blog that I'm writing today, it's been a blooming awful day. One of those where nothing bad has really happened, everyone around me has just been a bit blergh, and so now I'm a bit blergh...
Anyway, I had begun to write a "What's In My Make-up Bag" type blog, but I was rambling far far too much and it wasn't going very well. So lets scrap that idea.
So here goes the second attempt, sorry this isn't even a little bit planned but here's my top tips for keeping yourself a little tiny bit happier when you've had a bit of an iffy day....

1.Get the kettle on love!
Okay, so the first thing on my list of "making myself happy" activities (oh god this sounds like a very very different post now, I mean in a completely PG way...) is quite simply get a warm drink. Be it coffee, tea, hot chocolate, one of those weird teas that my parents like that smell like candles *herbal tea, that's the word, I feel silly for not remembering that now...*. I'm not sure how scientifically true it is, I think it was some girly magazine that I read it in, but it said that if your body is physically warm when you're on a date with someone (like if you go and get coffee, ya see where I'm going with this theory?) then you're more likely to connect with them, because you'll associate the physical warmth with warmth towards them! So, my theory, and it does work for me, is that if I'm sad, I'll get myself all toasty warm, and then all the bag negative thoughts don't seem so bad! Very British but a good cuppa tea really does help!

2. Chill!
Second on my list, mainly useful if you've had a horrible day at work/school/anywhere outside of the house where you've had to get all (or partially) dolled up, is just a good old fashioned face mask. My personal favourites are Superdrug's own Mud Masks, they come in tube-full amounts rather than little packets which I do love! A brilliant excuse to scrape your hair back, take off all your make-up with your fave cleanser, get into some joggers and a hoodie and listen to soothing music (or in my case Kill The Director by The Wombats on repeat :D). There's nothing more satisfying than not caring how you look and laying on the sofa in joggers.

3. Hey there pretty lady!
Right then, completely contradicting myself here but, here's an alternative if you don't want to look like you've made no effort and slob around for a few hours. This tends to work for me if I'm just about getting over an illness; get all dolled up! You don't have to go out, you don't have to be doing for someone special, just make yourself look as gorgeous as you want to. Try out that bright pink lipstick you've been dying to but have been a bit scared how it will look, if it looks horrific you're only inside the house, who's going to know? ;)

4. I'll make the popcorn!
This is now back to the whole slobbing around idea, it is a very obvious one, Disney/cheesy/girly/funny/just plain bad movies (or telly of course), whatever floats your boat. My personal favourites are Jeremy Kyle, Hercules, Hancock, Breakfast Club and Clueless. This one doesn't really need to be said to be honest, but I figured for the sake of being thorough I should include it!

5. Run girl run!
Next is for more of a, not wanting to wallow, wanting to give that nasty sadness a kick up the bottom! And the item on my list for that kind of mood is short, sweet and simple, get on your joggers (gosh that seems to be my answer to everything, I don't wear them that often I promise!) and go for a ickle run. Not one so massive that you want to sleep straight after and ache in the morning, just one big enough to get your endorphins jumping about your body and make up for the fact that you've been a slob and laid on the sofa with a face mask on watching crappy films...

6. Tidy room, tidy mind!
Along the whole, kicking sadness in the behind train of thought, one thing that helps me a helluva lot is just tidying up my room, sorting out my bag, cleaning out old make-up, taking stuff to charity, selling it on Ebay. Basically get rid of all your old junk, clear out negativity from your room and it will go from your mind :). Cheesy but true.

7. Happy happy people!
I'm really sorry, this blog was meant to be finished and posted last night when I started it, however quite conveniently Louise (Sprinkleofglitter) and Zoe (Zoella), both Youtubers and bloggers, did a Blogtv so I got a little distracted. However it does provide quite a good little link to my next suggestion. Surround yourself by people that make you happy be it people on telly, YouTube, friends, family. Anyone who makes you smile, for me that's my best friend, my Mum and Dad, and lots of different YouTubers :D! Very specifically for this, it only works for me if they aren't pushy people that will try to cheer you up, it needs to be those people that automatically make you smile.

8. Window shopper!
Now this one depends very much on you, it does involve a shopping trip. I'm hardly the richest girl out there, I would say I am certainly broke for the vast majority of my life, however I find great joy in window shopping. *If you don't please do just skip to the next paragraph!* For me, wandering around clothes shops, book shops, make-up shops, jewellery shops, having no intention of buying anything is fine. I'm not saying go and take away the shop assistants time asking questions when you have no intention of buying a product or item. But strolling around Boots swatching pretty new colours or walking around Waterstones reading the back of 10000 books, is a really really calming activity. I know some people would get saddened by this because they aren't going to buy any of the pretty or interesting things, but I prefer to think of it was forward planning for a time when I actually do have money! This also works just as well if you've already completed the other tips on this list and you're laying in bed with a laptop, no make-up on, and just making wish-lists on Ebay and Topshop...

9. Soak in the scenery!
Kind of connected to no.5 on this list, go for a walk. I'm sure this will get your endorphins pumping a little bit but that's not the point, the point is to clear your head. It's all very well doing every other item on this list, they will help cheer you up. But there's nothing like going for a walk, when you're in the mood of just blergh and you don't know why, a walk is just the thing to put everything into perspective.

10. So long Mr Rut, I won't be seeing you any time soon!
This final tip is one that works wonders for me every time, and one that I'm doing right now in fact. I've been in a bit of a rut lately, so I started this blog. This tip is just to start something new, doesn't have to be skydiving or skiing. Could be re-painting your room, making a collage from bits of magazines (that is awfully fun...), learning to bake, starting a blog. Do something, I'm clearly not knocking the idea of mooching around in your scruffiest clothes (as several of these tips have shown), but when you're done doing that, do something new.

Well then chick, I do hope at least one of these has helped you, if you've got any little tips I'd be very very keen to hear them! I do now have a Twitter for this blog (@LookLifeBeauty) so tweet me, leave a comment :)

lots and lots of love, keep smiling xoxoxoxoxox

p.s. I will do a beauty type post soon, promise :)