BOOK REVIEW: THE HANDMAID'S TALE

I am returning from a very long hiatus with a review of an absolute classic - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I'm sure not many of you have missed the major success of the recent TV adaptation of the novel, however I am on of those poeple who must read the book first. So I have avoided all of the hype and spoliers and finally dusted off my copy from my 'to read' shelf and my goodness am I pleased I did.

BOOK REVIEW: THE SHOCK OF THE FALL BY NATHAN FILER

For some reason, it's taken me a while to get around to reading this book, and now that I've finished it, I really don't know what has taken me so long! The Shock of the Fall deals with mental health in the most delicate and believable way that I have ever read in a novel.

KINDLE VS PAPERBACK - IS TECHNOLOGY KILLING THE PAPERBACK?

If you'd asked me back in 2007 - that was almost a DECADE ago by the way!!!! - when Amazon first released the Kindle if I would ever buy one, my answer would have been a firm no. I was whole heartedly in the paperback club and couldn't think of anything worse than reading a book on a screen. Oh how times have changed...

5 MUST TRY MAKE UP PRODUCTS

Everyone has their own set of products that they absolutely swear by - be it the ultimate coverage concealer or the perfect last-until-the-end-of-time bright lipstick. I love to read about the products that people adore and perhaps try a few of them out for myself. For me, these are the 5 make up products that I will repurchase time and time again (or until they're discontinued...)

GOALS FOR 2016 - 5 MONTHS ON

Way back in January, I shared my goals for 2016 with you all. Seeing as though we are now 5 months into 2016 - 5 months, can you believe it?! - I thought that I would take a little look back at the goals I set and see how I'm getting on with them! *Don't panic Laura, there's still another 7 months left*

MY SIMPLE EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE

As skincare routines go, I can't say that I have a routine that is set in stone. I like to switch up the products I use on a daily basis, depending on how my skin is looking and feeling. I think it's important to listen to your skin and cater to its needs, rather than sticking to set products just because they're meant to be cult buys. With that being said, I thought I would share with you a simple skincare routine I like to use in the evening when my skin is behaving itself.

3 NAIL POLISH COLOURS FOR SPRING

As the sun finally starts to grace us with its presence - better late than never, right? - what better way to perk up an outfit than with a splash of nail polish. When it comes to nail polish, my heart lies with Essie; the brush is the perfect size, the formula is super long lasting and the colour selection is insane - if you can't find a colour that's right for you, then you aren't trying! Personally I'm not a huge fan of the typical pastel shades that most associate with spring, but I have tried to cover all bases with my three picks - a nude, a bright and a pastel.

SPRING BEAUTY WISHLIST

As the sun is at last shining here in England, I'm praying that this is the start of the warmer weather to come! Without wanting to jinx it, I thought I'd share with you my Spring Beauty Wishlist to get us all in the mood for the summer months ahead.

THE 3 SKINCARE GAME CHANGERS

After sticking to the same skincare routine for what seems like forever, it appears that my skin has had enough of it. My T zone has gotten oiler, whilst at the same time my whole face seems to have become so much drier. Since the products I was using were clearly not cutting it any longer, I began the hunt for products to balance my T zone and to up the hydration. So what better excuse to branch out and try some brands that I haven't really used before.

HOW TO RELAX AND DE-STRESS

With technology and social media now literally at our fingertips, I'm willing to bet that a lot of us now forget to switch off - literally and figuratively! - and spend some time to focus on 'me'. Technology has now become a major part of the majority of our lives and I'm all for it, but I do think that there comes a point where we need to take a step back from our screens and spend some time on ourselves. I know that from my own personal experience, staring at a screen late at night really messes up my sleep pattern and gives me nasty headaches. Making time for myself has really helped to improve my mood and helps me to unwind and relax away from the constant whir of social media. That being said, here are my top tips for relaxing and de-stressing.

MY TOP 5 ESSENTIAL MAKE UP PRODUCTS

Being a make up devotee, I'm always switching up the products that I use in my search to find my holy grail items. But no matter how many different products I try, there is a core few that I find myself coming back to time after time. Most days, I use these same five products and I'm yet to find anything that will outshine them! So without further ado, please meet my top 5 essential make up products.

WHY I STARTED BLOGGING

There's no getting away from the success being had by bloggers, vloggers and social media stars. From book deals to make up and clothing lines, they have expanded their brand into so many different outlets and personally, I find it so inspiring to watch the growth of the 'digital age celebrity'. Everyone has their own reasons for starting a blog, here's mine.

FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

I can hardly believe that it's March tomorrow - where is this year going?! Winter seems to be trying to cling on with the frosty mornings and occasionally snow flurry, but it's clear that spring is well and truly on it's way - the days are getting longer, the tulips are in season and the shops are replacing jumpers with swimwear. I may be getting a little ahead of myself here, but I'm so ready for Spring! In the meantime, here's what I've been loving this month.

ORIGINS HERO FACE MASKS

When it comes to face masks, I swear by Origins. From hydrating to purifying to smoothing the skin, they have you covered.

TOP 5 ESSENTIAL MAKE UP BRUSHES

To me, make up brushes are one of those things in life where you get what you pay for. If you are able to invest in make up brushes and spend a little bit more on them, they'll last longer, wash better and your make up application will be noticeably improved - in my experience at least.

5 SIMPLE BEAUTY GOALS

After posting my goals for 2016 last month, I've been thinking about a few goals that I have in the world of beauty. Well, I wouldn't say that they're goals as such, it's more a case of breaking a couple of bad habits, but I just thought it would be fun to throw these into the mix too!

BEAUTY REPURCHASES

Doesn't it seem that sometimes all of your favourite products run out at the same time? Great excuse to go out shopping, not so good for bank balances! When I find a product that works for me, particularly with skincare, I like to stick to it - if it isn't broke, don't fix it! Of course I like trying out different products or new launches, but some things I find myself coming back to time and time again, here are a few of my faves.

FACE OF THE WEEK #2

MY FAVOURITE FRAGRANCES

Perfumes and fragrances are inarguably very subjective and personal - it's rare that two people are completely in tune scent-wise. That being said, it's always nice to get some recommendations when you're shopping for a new scent, which is why I have put together my current favourite fragrances.

FASHION: A CASUAL WINTER WEEKEND

Jeans/Zara   Jumper/Topshop   Trainers/Converse   Bag/Accessorize   Watch/Olivia Burton

In the winter, I'm all about staying warm and being comfortable. Cold, crisp days are my favourite - blue skies, sun shining, but with an icy chill that means wrapping up warm. Whether it's winter sale shopping, grabbing a coffee or going for a brisk stroll - this outfit has you covered.