Handbag must haves

Here are all the items that are must haves in your handbag.

• Phone
• Wallet
• ID
• Tissues
• Perfume
• Mints/gum/tic tacs
• Pen
• Notebook
• Bobby pins
• Hair tie
• Hand sanitiser

Shopping tips

I am a huge fan of shopping, I love just browsing around shops and discovering new styles but sometimes I get a bit carried away. So these are some tips I like to remember when I go shopping.

Tip 1: Make a list
I always make a list before I go shopping. I will go through my clothes and look around my room to see what I should buy. Then I write down things I need in one colour and things I would like in another, that way I know what I'm actually looking for.

Tip 2: Shopping buddy
When you go shopping you should always find someone to go shopping with. But you need to find someone who will give you their honest opinion about what looks good and if something is worth it. If you go shopping with someone who you don't know really well they may be too nervous to tell you the truth. So call up a sibling or a best friend to help you out, besides you get to spend they day hanging out with them.

Tip 3: Choose where to go
When you go shopping you should choose to go somewhere that has a lot of the shops you like to shop in. Shopping malls are a great shopping destination as they have a wide variety of shops and styles.

Tip 4: Time
You need to make sure you have enough time to go to all the shops you want to visit. To do this you may need to put aside a whole day, half a day, or just a few hours for shopping. While you are shopping you should be thinking about what shops you need to look in and make sure there is time to visit them.

Tip 5: No impulse buys
If you see an item you really like but don't know if you need it, don't just buy it for the sake of it. Firstly look at your list and see if it's on there. If it isn't on your list but you still really want it think about whether another shop will have it for cheaper.

Hopefully these tips will help make your next shopping trip fun and successful.
 

Journaling: Equipment and inspiration

I've been keeping a journal for the past couple of months and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The thing I love most about journaling is that it is completely personal, I can write about what ever I want and I will be able to look back on it when I am older and see what I used to be like. My journal is like a review of my life, I write about my day, how I'm feeling, my idea's etc. Jouranling is a great way to clear the mind and stay organised because if there is something that's bugging you, you can just write about it and get it off your chest. A journal is also a great place to keep to do lists because you can flag it and then come back to it without having a loose piece of paper lying around.

When I was younger I made various attempts of keeping a journal but I never stuck to it because I was never happy with how it looked. I always ended up ripping out pages and eventually I just threw the whole thing away. So when I started my current journal I wrote down a few promises to myself. I promised to never rip out a page even if I'm not happy with it, to try and write regularly, and to make my journal as pretty as possible. I think that making an effort to make my journal look appealing really helps me keep my other two promises because whenever I open my journal it looks fun and creative.
Here is some of the things I use to decorate my journal:

• Washi tape 
• Sticker letters
• High lighters
• Stickers
• String 
• Tags

Some days are really exciting and I will just write about my day but other days I sit down and have no idea what to write about, so I will usually look at my journal ideas page for inspiration. Most of the ideas are things about me that I will be able to look back on when I am older. If you are looking for some ideas, here are some that I have on my list.

• Holiday bucket list - write down what you want to do during the holidays
• A list of your fears
• Write about your pet peeves
• Life goals
• Wishes
• Current mood
• A list of things to do when bored - (check out my post on DIY bored jar for ideas)
• Things that make you happy 

So there are a few ideas for starting your journal and how to decorate it.

Nail Care

 

Growing your nails to be long can be hard, but keeping them at that length can be even harder. I found it really hard to grow my nails long because my nails were quite brittle and I am very hands on seeing as I own a horse so they were constantly breaking. Here are some tips for getting your nails long and strong.

1) Cuticle oil
One of the most important tips I have to use a cuticle oil. I use the Manicare Cuticle Therapy. Cuticle oils help it condition and moisturise dry cuticles which ends up helping your nails to grow strong. All you have to do is apply a drop of oil to each cuticle and massage it in for 30 seconds every night.

2) Polish
By keeping a layer of polish over you nails you are adding extra layer of strength so you nails are less likely to break. This scan also help if you have brittle nails that end up peeling. At the moment I'm wearing the Bourjois Paris 1 Second Gel polish, this polish is really opaque and it has a square brush which make application really easy. On top of that I have the O.P.I Rapidry top coat.

3) Moisturise
 I thinks it's good to moisturise your hands as well. When you do this you are moisturising your cuticles and the skin around your nail which will help stop hangnails. I use Vaseline intensive care.

4) Be aware
My fourth tips is be aware of what you are using your nails for and think about whether what you are doing can damage them or put them at risk of breaking. Some things to look out are things like picking at things, opening cans or taking a key off a key ring.

DIY Bored Jar

The other day I was scrolling through Pinterest and I saw this pin so I decided to try it out.

This is my Bored Jar, inside are ideas for what to do when you are bored. This craft is perfect for children who need constant entertaining or anyone who needs a little bit of inspiration.
There are so many options for what activities you want to put in the jar, also they will change for who you are making this for. Here are some ideas for different age groups.

Children:

• Draw a picture
• Do a painting
• Make play dough
• Make a pet rock
• Play with chalk on the path
• Ride a bike or scooter
• Climb a tree
• Write a story
• Make a card
• Have a paper airplane competition

Teens and adults:

•  Learn how to do some nail art
• Take some cool photos (maybe for Instagram)
• Sew something
• Write a blog post
• Try a new hair style
• Do some baking
• Go for a bike ride
• Go for a swim (if you can)
• Start a journal

Summer Activities

It is summer here in New Zealand but sadly it is raining today. So I've decided to come up with different ways to have fun this summer on hot sunny day.

The first idea I have is to go swimming, whether that's at your own pool, at the public pools, at the beach or in a lake. Swimming is a great way to keep cool during these hot months, also swimming is a great way to keep fit when running makes you too hot and sweaty. You could also invite a bunch of friends around, that way you can hang out, stay cool and have a great time.

Here in New Zealand Barbecue's are a summer must have. This is a great way to enjoy the warm weather and spend time with the people you love. You can ask your friends and family to all bring a salad, a meat pack or drinks, that way it's affordable for you. While your waiting for the meat to cook you can organise games to keep people entertained, some ideas for this can be backyard cricket or a water fight.

Picnics are a great way to get children outside and they are a perfect date idea. All you need is a basket of food, drinks and a blanket. A great place to have a picnic is at the park, at the local gardens or even in your backyard.

During the summer you will probably spend a lot of time hanging out with friends and catching up with family, but sometimes it's nice to take some time for yourself. So go for a walk or a bike ride alone. Think about you and your life. Just find some time to do something that makes you smile, you could try something completely new and find out you love it. you never know.