I'm so excited for the new season of Awkward which premiers in a few days because I have become obsessed with this show. I have no idea how long it took me to watch all four seasons so far, but let me tell you, it wasn't very long, at all. I think its the fact that all of the characters are still in school and are at a similar age group to me which is why I like it so much because I always find myself relating to half of the things they do and say. Plus, no one can resist 20 minutes of Matty Mckibben every week. Throughout four seasons of my Awkward journey, there have been a few things that I have come to learn about being a teenager and basically dealing with everyday life in general. Here are the valuable life lessons that Awkward taught me.

1. You break up, you make up - If I was to watch all four seasons over again to count all of the break ups and makeups then I think I would possibly lose count. There was friendship dramas, relationship dramas, and even family dramas. Drama is an understatement for what went down at Palos Hills.

2. Nothing lasts forever - Don't get used to continuity in Awkward because change was happening all over the place. One thing was happening after another and I couldn't even keep up with it half of the time but hey, thats teenagers for you.

3. Popularity is not important in the real world - Sure there were cheerleaders, jocks, nerds, creepy stalker guys, and the girl who tried to kill herself (aka. Jenna Hamilton) but when it all came down to it, Awkward showed us that the popular cheerleader can be friends with the math geek. I mean, even Sadie, the most popular cheerleader in school worked together with Jenna to try and save Matty from his psychotic stalker girlfriend. Cliques are so high school musical days now and were not going to stick to the status quo.

4. You get by with a little help from your friends - Friendship is a beautiful thing, and even more so in Awkward. There were a lot of dilemmas and problems that each character had to deal with, but with a little guidance and sympathy from their friends, they were able to overcome their problems and put matters aside.

Ah, Once Upon A Time. This show is my absolute guilty pleasure because its so flipping addicting. The only struggle I'm having with it is how long it takes to get through each season. I love starting a show, being able binge watch episode after episode, and actually manage to get somewhere, which is why I love American sit-coms because they're not too long and I can watch them whenever. However, with big drama shows like Once Upon A Time and PLL, it takes a little longer as they're normally on for 45-60 minutes and you normally have to really focus on watching them to understand what's going on, so it's harder to sit and watch them when I normally want to multi task and do something else too. The seasons normally have a lot more episodes too, which is why I'm only on season three even though I've been watching it since the start of July. When I have the time to sit down and relax, then this is the show that I've been going for. Every storyline is so thrilling and if anyone is interested then you shall know that my favourite characters are of course Emma Swan and Hook. My OTP right now!! 

Gilmore Girls

I finished Gilmore Girls a while ago, but nothing stops me from revisiting a few of my favourite episodes every now and then when I'm in the mood for some witty Rory and Lorelai humour. I was gutted when I finished the last episode, but hey, all good things must come to an end. Although, I actually really liked how the ended it and thought it was nice to finish when Rory graduates from Yale since most of the show has been about her growing up and moving into adulthood.

I honestly never thought I would like this show, but oh man, I do. There is a lot of inappropriate things that I would have preferred to be turned down a notch, but once I got past that and started to really get into each season and storyline, I was hooked and didn't turn it off until I was practically dying of sleep deprivation. I prefer Murder House and Asylum more than the other two, but they were all so hooking to watch. Instead of watching Christmas films on Christmas Eve last year, I was watching AHS. As much as I wanted to sit and watch Elf, I couldn't help it, I was drawn in by it.

Full House

I started watching Full House on Saturday because I had just finished Awkward and wanted another light hearted comedy to watch when I'm not in the mood for Once Upon A Time, and I already love it. I can't believe I've never decided to watch it until now because its always been on my list of things to watch. I've already half way through season one, but its not as bad as it sounds because they're only on for twenty minutes or so.

I regret to inform all my lovely readers that I, for the first time in four years (which is probably the amount of time that I've been wearing makeup), have been disappointed by a No7 product. No7 has been there for me through some rough skincare times, but when in need of a new eyeshadow palette, I was sadly mislead by my own expectations.

Okay, so maybe that was a tad bit dramatic, but honestly, I really was let down this time by one of my favourite high street brands. No7 always have an amazing selection of skincare products on offer, and even though I've only tried a couple of two of their mascara's, which I was completely impressed with, I was expecting so much more. Before I tested out each shade, I felt like I was already starting to fall deeply in love with yet another makeup product because the packaging was absolutely stunning and was so unique. Most eyeshadow palettes now tend to be sleek and basic which don't get me wrong, looks gorgeous most of the time, but it was nice to see a pop of colour, especially since Summer isn't over yet. The case was also magnetic so seemed perfect for on the go and travelling because it was going to open in your makeup bag and get all over your stuff. Broken eyeshadow's never end well.

I've had this eyeshadow for a good few months now, maybe since the start of the year, and I'm not really sure why I put off using it but ever since I got my Laura Geller eyeshadows at Christmas, it seems like they're all I keep using. I also never bought it myself as it was given to me by my nana since she doesnt wear a lot of makeup, so all I know about it was that it came in a gift set which I now dont know the name of and has also stopped being sold on No7 counters, but I did find a few dotting around on eBay. However, if I saw this in Boots back then, I probably would have considered buying it after being persuaded by the packaging and a somewhat decent assortment of shades. 

When I swatched the colours by hand, they seemed fairly pigmented and most of them had a metallic shimmer, whilst a few remained matte. The colour pay off didn't wear off easily and I still had some residue on my fingers after wiping them with some tissue. Most of them looked fairly soft and neutral and I thought they would be perfect for those days when I'm not particularly feeling a full face of makeup and just want something simple, which is pretty much every college day, but then, it happened. My disappointment.

The second I loaded up my brush and began to sweep one of the colours on my eyelid, I saw nothing. I even resulted in facing my window to get some natural light and building up the colour, but they still weren't remotely noticeable. The only shades that I could get some colour out of were the blue and navy shades at the end of the palette. The first shade, which was sort of bone coloured was almost none existent on my eyes. I was utterly disappointed with the results and would not have repurchased the palette if they were still being sold separately.

So that does it. Has anyone else tried a No7 eyeshadow before? How were they for you? If the other palettes are much better then I would love to give No7 makeup another try to see if they can change my mind, but for now, I'll stick to their skincare range.

Inspiration is a huge aspect in the blogging community. In every blogger twitter chat that I've participated in, the word always pops up. I know that the very reason why I started my blog was because I was inspired and most of my blog post ideas come from things that I have seen or thought of because of something that inspired me. Without inspiration for our new creativity and ideas, everything would be so monotonous because there would be no originality. However, realistically we can't all feel inspired all of the time and I know for a darn fact that I don't. There are some days where my mind goes completely blank and my pen doesn't even touch my list of blog post ideas. I've found myself endlessly browsing through other blogs and searching the internet for new ideas. Here are thirty of the best ones that I've come across which will still ensure that you write a good quality piece and not something that your not particularly sure of just for the sake of writing a blog post. I've  also organised them into the three aspects my blog is based around because the majority of my audience read my blog because of our shared interests in these three areas.

1. Be a photographer for the day! Go somewhere local that you have never been to before and take advantage of your surroundings by capturing every moment. Local parks are a great place to go. It's also an amazing opportunity to show off your photography skills.

2. Ask a blogger to guest post. You could brainstorm a few questions and ask a fellow blogger to answer them. Make sure that their blog is of a similar style to your own so that your questions will be interesting for them as well as fitting for your own blog. Guest posts are great for any blog and can be about absolutely anything. I did a Summer Beauty Guide for Plorri.com in May about my favourite summer essentials.

3. Take a photo each hour that your awake to show your day's progress.

4. Share your favourite films right now. A movie junkie like myself is always looking for new films to watch so share your favourites and give a girl some help.

5. Do an instagram diary. Make a collage of all your recent insta snaps and share them on your blog with the captions so your readers know what you've been up to. It's also a great and sneaky way to promote your feed, so don't forget to link your profile below.

6. Share your tips and tricks on something that your passionate about.

7. Is there an event or trip coming up? Bring along your camera and document your day to share with your blog readers.

8. Share your blogging journey with tips you have learnt along the way for those newby bloggers.

9. Set the records straight and answer a bunch of questions that you get asked all the time.

10. Write a post about your weekly/monthly/yearly goals and how your going to go about reaching them.

I've just realised that I've never done a review on a body lotion before, but hey, theres a first time for everything right? I think the reason I put off doing reviews on body lotions was because I didn't think they would be all that interesting to read about. They're not like other beauty products and no matter what brand they're from, reviews will always be the same because every body lotion gives pretty much the same results. I doubt this will be a long review, but I actually prefer doing small, refreshing posts rather than the mini novels which I know I am guilty of, but I can seriously write paragraphs and paragraphs and not even notice.

I love the packaging of this body lotion and think the glossy sheen looks absolutely stunning. The bronze tones looks like something that I would take with me abroad to a hot country or something because bronze has always reminded me of summer for some reason. Does anyone else get that feeling or is it just me? It states that it "Keeps skin soft and hydrated all day long" and is also light and absorbs quickly into the skin. As for my own thoughts about this lotion, it does have a light consistency and feels very moisturising on the skin. Depending on how much you apply, determines how long it takes to soak in. When I put on a lighter layer, it doesn't take too long and soaks in fairly quickly, but one time I applied a much thicker layer on my legs for a deeper moisturise and it did take longer. Although, it should be expected because its normal for a thicker layer of lotion to take longer to absorb than a thinner one.

There's no sticky residue which is why this is has become one of my top skincare essentials because I absolutely hate sticky lotions that literally take all day to fully soak in; if it doesn't rub off onto your clothes first. Once its fully soaked in, it leaves your skin smelling so good and feels really soft, with the most subtle radiant glow. I have it on right now and I keep taking typing breaks to smell my wrist because its absolutely gorgeous. It's definitely more of a summer scent than autumn/winter which is probably another reason why this would be my ideal summer holiday lotion, but because of how moisturising this actual lotion is, I would probably use it anytime of the year. I can't find any specific fragrances labelled, but there is coconut oil and shea butter in the ingredients which both probably play their part in the divine scent.

You know how at the end of my Simple Skincare post I said that there was a 1/2 price deal on at Superdrug and I was probably going to have a little browse online? Well thats exactly what I did and I was itching for my credit card before I finally decided to be sensible and buy one thing. It was a real challenge but I restrained myself and decided to pick the Kind To Skin Deep Cleansing Face Mask. I don't have a lot of face masks and wanted to try out a new one, so I thought what better brand to try than my favourite little Simple. Lets cut straight to the point, I've only tried this mask once and I feel like its enough to be able to tell you how much I already love it. I love fast results and definitely received them when I used this product.

It has a creamy consistency which is perfect for those of us with dry skin, but it actually goes on lightly and looks almost invisible once you apply it to your face. I felt like I used quite a lot to cover all of my face but its not like face masks should be used everyday like other skincare products and even though the packaging was a lot smaller than I expected, I have a feeling that it will last me quite a long time, especially since I only use a mask once a week and now have a few to choose from. It also recommends that you use it for 3 minutes but I actually put it on before I went in my bubble bath and washed it off once I got out so that I could get the most out of the mask.

It also contains natural clay which draws out dirt deep within the pores and absorbs excess oils, it's also natural too which is another one of the many reasons why I adore Simple (EVERYTHING is natural), seaweed extract which is a natural skincare moisturiser and helps to rejuvenate the skin, and finally, there is bisabolol which I had no idea what on earth it was or how it helps the skin, so I had to do some research. Bisabolol is frequently used in Simple products and is derived from Chamomile. It "acts as an anti-inflammotory and helps to soothe and calm the skin".

My skin felt so smooth and fresh afterwards, like I had a really good double cleanse. This mask is perfect if your on a budget and you want something affordable but also something that actually works since it is quite cheap. My nana always says that I should never trust anything cheap and you always get what you pay for. I always agree with her in most cases, but I'm afraid not this time, sorry Nana. This is the best £2 I've ever spent (its actual RRP is £4.99 when it's not on offer).

Photo from 16 Birthday Celebrations

Last year I decided to get a LOT of my hair chopped off which was one of the scariest decisions of my life because it was so long, but it was also getting really dry at the ends and I felt like I needed a really good cut as well as also wanting to try out a new style. Having short hair was also a lifesaver when washing and styling because it took me half the time than it does now. I actually can't believe how fast it's grown to the length it is now. I was happy with short hair but I am so much happier having long hair, even if it does take me hours on end to wash, dry and style it. I figured that the reason it's grown so long so fast must be because of something that I've been doing, so I thought I would share some of my tips as well as products that I use if you are having trouble growing out your hair.

1. I never wash my hair too often

This is such a basic and cliché tip but it's honestly so true. I can't think of anything worse than washing my hair every day. Mostly because its so thick and long that it would just take too much time out of my day to get ready. It would literally be time for bed before I finished getting ready for the day. Okay, so maybe I was exaggerating a little, but it still takes me so much time to dry and style it after I wash my hair, which is why I can never be bothered and always let it air dry.

Washing your hair every day also strips away your hairs natural oils which you need to keep your hair looking healthy. I don't have a strict schedule for washing my hair and generally just do it when I feel like it and when it looks like I have no choice but to wash it. I also don't get oily roots easily so I can get away with for a couple of days. However, if you want something to stick to then every other day is perfectly fine. One of my favourite shampoo and conditioner sets are the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Total Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, but I can always do a separate post on them to avoid this post turning into a little novella.

2. Buy hair products that are formulated and targeted towards YOUR hair type

There wouldn't be different shampoo's and conditioners for people with dry hair, coloured hair and oily hair if they weren't formulated differently to suit each one. They all have different ingredients in order to do exactly what you want your shampoo and conditioner to do. If you have dry hair then there is obviously going to be more moisturising properties in them than those that are targeted towards people with oily hair. People who colour their hair can also suffer from terribly dry hair and are going to need products with richer moisturisers, as well as ones that keep the colour lasting.

3. Keep away from heat as much as possible

I know, I know. As I write this post, I am soon realising that these tips are so generic and you have probably all heard them before, but I swear that they have all helped me and if they work then why not promote them all as best as we can so that we can all have hair like Jennifer Aniston? I try to stay away from my hair dryer as much as possible and always allow my hair to air dry unless I have somewhere to be and need it to be dry as quick as possible, but who am I kidding, it's impossible for me to stay away from my straighteners. Not using my hair dryer all the time is my excuse for using my straighteners pretty much all the time. A hidden extra tip is to make sure that you protect your hair with heat protecting products before you apply heat. It will make all the difference and save your hair in the long run.

4. Take care of those dry ends

The reason for getting trims is to trim off all of those darn split ends which look absolutely awful if you leave it too long. However, if you take care of your hair ends then you won't have to get a trim too often. Remember, your hair grows from the roots, not the hair ends and as healthy as getting your hair trimmed is and I fully recommend it, it still chops off that couple of inches that took you months to grow. Split ends are caused by lack of moisture which have probably been stripped away by heat or hair dyes. So try a deeply moisturising hair mask now and then and make sure to particularly focus it on those ends.

5. Get your 8 glasses a day

Last month I made the decision that I would try to drink 2L of water every single day and you'll be surprised to know that I have reached that goal every single day and come to think of it, I should probably drink some after I've finished this post so that I don't ruin all of my good work. I wouldn't have been able to get as far as I have done without my trusty water app which tracks how much I've drunk and how much I still need to drink before the end of the day. I am now starting to see the results of drinking more water and my hair and nails have never looked healthier. It's encouraged me to keep going with my little water detox and I feel so good for doing it. Download a tracking app and fill up a water bottle because you will not be sorry.