FASHION TRENDS FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2018 - HIGH STREET FINDS

I don't know about you but I'm beyond excited for Autumn already. The recent weather has been so calming for me which has actually helped me overcome my blogging coma and get my arse in gear to finally write this post. Now, I'm not one to say that you should follow seasonal trends but you might end up liking some of the outfits I've picked out for this post.

The inspiration behind this post was taken from Vogue's September issue, high street shops from my consistent visits and my own wardrobe. Be sure to expect a lot of chunky knits, patterns and boots!


Boohoo.com

Outfit 1:

Jeans £25
Cardigan £15
Belt Bag £15
Open Toe Shoes £19

Outfit 2:

Dress £20
Cardigan £12
Bag £18
Boots £32

Outfit 3:

T-shirt £10
Jeans £22
Mules £18
Belt £6

Outfit 4:

Skirt £18
Shoes £25
Tights £8
Coat £30
T-shirt £6
Bag £16

Outfit 5:

Top £15
Skirt £14
Bag £20
Boots £25

Outfit 6:

Dress £12
Boots £38
Jacket £32
Bag £18

H&M

Outfit 1:

Top £19.99
Skirt £39.99
Shoes £19.99

 Outfit 2:

Jumpsuit £39.99
Coat £59.99
Shoes £19.99

 Outfit 3:

Shoes £19.99
Jumper £79.99
Jeans £8.99
Bag £34.99

 Outfit 4:

Shoes £19.99
Top £19.99
Skirt £24.99
Jumper £17.99

 Outfit 5:

Shoes £19.99
Jacket £149.99
Skirt £39.99
Top £8.99

 Outfit 6:

Shoes £19.99
Jeans £8.99
Coat £249.99
Top £19.99

Missguided

Outfit 1:

Dress £15
Boots £40

Outfit 2:

Jumpsuit £22
Boots £40
Coat £45

Outfit 3:

Dress £15
Coat £65
Boots £40

I hope you enjoyed looking through my top picks for Autumn-Winter 2018. Let me know if you think I'm missing any staples or if you liked the pieces I've picked out!

*This post does not contain any affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

SS18 ESSENTIALS FOR BEAUTIFUL LOOKING FEET

Ever since I can remember I have always struggled with taking care of my feet as nothing seems to work. My feet are naturally quite dry and sensitive, so when I do apply some sort of ‘special’ foot cream it starts to sting and makes it unbearable for me to walk. This is why I started to try different products, and instead of spending loads of money on regular pedicures, I started to do them myself. I will write a full routine post for you later on but for now, let's focus on my new favourite foot care product.

The foot cream I recently tried out has become my new holy grail skincare item. I came across it when I went on a shopping spree with my mum, and I wish I bought more! It is the Origins' Reinventing the Heel Mega Moisture for Dry, Cracked Feet and retails at £24 so it is quite pricey. I have had it for nearly 3 months now and been using it on and off and have noticed amazing results. Because of the salicylic acid in the cream, it strips the dry skin off while moisturising the fresh layer ensuring your feet are very soft and comfortable. Since I've been using this foot cream it has really boosted my confidence when it comes to having my feet out and wearing sandals and other shoes that expose a bit of my heel.

Because of the lovely weather we've been having, my love for sandals keeps growing, so when I was offered to test the services of FootWay I was beyond excited. Anyone who knows me or reads my blog will know how much I love shoes and that I buy about 3 pairs a week. I have always loved Birkenstock shoes, so just had to get a pair with the voucher I was offered by the company. The pair I decided to go for was the Arizona Regular Birkoflor Myda Espresso which were only £60 in the sale compared to the usual price of between £75 to £90 - bargain! They are sooooo comfortable and make any outfit look super cute, even though you might think they’re granny shoes! I would usually pair them up with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans and a flowy top, or a midi dress in the summer. 
The FootWay website is very easy to navigate as it asks for your shoe size and it can either show you all brands sorted by price or you can select the type of shoes you're looking for. There are many styles to choose from and I struggled a lot picking a favourite pair (because I love all shoes) but have found shoes that are perfect for me. They don't look too bulky on my feet which is great as I find that many buckled sliders look a bit manly, the colour is also very nice as it's a brown-black shade with speckles of glitter (yay). I would highly recommend FootWay for those looking for shoes on a budget as they offer new collections as well as discontinued pairs. I couldn't be happier with the service I received, plus the delivery only took 3 working days which is always a plus especially if you need some shoes for a special occasion or before a holiday! These will definitely be coming with me to Majorca this year.

So my summer essentials for 2018 are the Origins foot cream, fresh pedicure and a comfy pair of sandals. What are your essentials for beautiful looking feet?

*I was sent the pair of shoes to review by FootWay. This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2018 || WHAT'S HOT THIS SPRING/SUMMER - WHAT TO WEAR & NEW TRENDS

In my previous post, I had mentioned that I was recently gifted with a few goodies from Tobi. This outfit includes 2 out of 3 items I was sent and I cannot stress enough to you that the quality of these clothes is absolutely phenomenal. I wasn’t expecting them to be as true to size either as usually I find that some 10’s are either too tight in certain places and too loose in others. 

It’s so hard to find a denim skirt that will fit all body shapes. I struggle with finding one that fits nicely around my waist but isn’t too big on my hips as I do prefer a tight fit. This cute That Thing You Do denim skirt is very stretchy and has enough room for me to feel comfortable even after having a big meal (I'll have 2 pizzas and 4 doughnuts pls). I know for a fact that I’ll get a lot of wear out of it this spring & summer, and I seriously think that I need it in other colours too… This skirt can be dressed up with a button shirt and a pair of strappy heels or dressed down with an oversized t-shirt and a pair of trainers.

This Same Old Love off-the-shoulders lace crop top is very in season right now. You’ve probably been seeing them everywhere since last year but this time you definitely need one in your wardrobe. As you can see, this is a different style of a Bardot top as it has 3/4 sleeves which are very flattering for top-heavy gals like me. I don’t really like to have my arms out much but because this top covers up the bits I dislike, it makes it easier for me to feel more confident while wearing off-the-shoulder tops.

This top can be worn with a pair of high waisted jeans for a dressed down look or a midi skirt and kitten heels for a special occasion. I would also pair it up with a cute round shoulder bag and maybe even a flowery headband if I was going to a festival or on a holiday.

You can shop these items here: Top & Skirt. I'm wearing size 10/M and still have a little more room for food ;)

*I was sent some clothes by Tobi in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored post but does include some affiliate links. All opinions are honest and my own. The photographs were kindly taken by my talented sister.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2018 || WHAT TO WEAR TO A PROM/GRADUATION/FORMAL BALL THIS SPRING/SUMMER

I often find it very difficult to find the right outfit for a formal event. This summer I will be graduating from university and I couldn't be more excited and proud of myself. I remember how long it took me to find my prom dress and it wasn't even my first choice but I had to pick something, right? So now I am more prepared for my formal event this time and have picked around 5 different outfits to choose from (you will see the 'chosen' one in an upcoming graduation post).

In this post, I will share with you my top pick from an online brand that I think would make a great outfit for a formal event this spring/summer. I'm a huge fan of dresses at the moment which is a massive change for me as I am more of a jeans-and-tshirt kind of gal, but I can't say that I'm not loving it!

After a thorough research, I found that lace, mauve and lilac are very stylish colours and material to wear this year. I was kindly gifted with a gorgeous dress by Tobi which is an online clothing brand based in the US and has something for everybody.

I was really excited to receive my parcel from Tobi as I haven't previously shopped from there but have wanted to for a while now. It was difficult to choose the outfits I liked the most, but once I did and they arrived I couldn't be happier. One of the items that caught my eye straight away was this beautiful Kinsley Lace Ruffle Skater Dress.

The quality of this dress is absolutely exquisite and I couldn't fault it at all. It is very comfortable and true to size, I was worried it'll be see-through as I wore it without a bra but it really isn't! It looks great on and is very flattering on my figure - we're not all blessed with a tiny waist(!).
If you did want to wear a bra for extra support, then I would suggest wearing a strapless or stick-on bra as then you won't be able to see it, but do make sure it isn't a balconette bra but more of a low-cut style one like this one here.

The off-the-shoulder lace sleeves are very flattering for people with broad shoulders. I don't particularly have very wide shoulders but I feel like this dress looks quite nice on my arms and makes them look more toned than they are, which is always a plus! The length is also perfect as it isn't too short but not too long either, making this dress a great outfit to wear in the summer - (bear in mind that I had these pictures taken when it was 3 degrees outside).

What drew me to this dress the most was probably the neckline detail. I have always been a huge fan of drawstring type of tops and to see it on a classy dress is always a positive. The strings are adjustable so you can show as little or as much cleavage as you like, but it's also great for gals who are a different size in their top half to the bottom half as you can really adjust the way it looks and sits on your figure.

Now I really want to get it in the other colours too! You can shop this gorgeous dress here (BTW IT'S IN THE SALE, GO GO GO!)

*I was sent some clothes by Tobi in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored post but does include some affiliate links. All opinions are honest and my own. The photographs were kindly taken by my talented sister.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || THE NEW AND IMPROVED MOISTURE SURGE 72-HOUR AUTO-REPLENISHING HYDRATOR

Some of you may already know that I recently started working for Clinique, and I couldn't be happier to be sharing one of my all-time favourite products with you. The original Moisture Surge Hydrator has been around since 1980's and has not been spoken about enough. Moisture Surge has been labelled the UK's number 2 best-selling moisturiser of all time which is very well deserved. I have tried many moisturisers for my oily-dry combination skin and none of them seemed to work as well as this one.

The first Moisture Surge I have tried was the newer version which was released in 2012 (I think) and I absolutely loved it. It felt very lightweight and soothing on my skin and made the perfect base for my makeup. The new, and improved version, however, is pretty much the same texture as the previous one but with more benefits.

The inspiration behind this miracle in a jar was to bring our skin to a baby-like condition. As we mature, our skin loses its ability to create its own hydration, becoming drier and losing its natural suppleness and healthy glow. Now, the new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Hydrator has been designed to keep your skin hydrated for up to 72 hours from within the dermis even after washing your face! This, of course, does not mean that you shouldn't apply the product twice a day, but what it does mean is that it will deliver a continuous flow of hydration to every living layer of the skin - sort of like watering a plant you can see the water sink in to the roots and that is exactly what this product does.

There are actually 7 different ways you can use your Moisture Surge Hydrator, which make it so much better value for your money! These include:
5-Minute Moisturising Mask - apply a generous amount to your entire face and wash off after 5 minutes for a hydrating face mask.
Cuticle Treatment - tidy up your cuticles in seconds by massaging the product over each nail bed to soften and soothe dry and rough cuticles.
Frizz Fighter - get rid of frizzy hair by applying a dime-size amount onto your palms and running your hands lightly through the ends or any frizzy bits.
Glow on the Go - apply a small amount of the product on the back of your hand alongside a thick swatch of the Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, mix both products in together and apply the mixture to the high points of your face as you would with a liquid highlighter.
Dry Spot Soother - apply a small amount directly to any dry spots in need, even over your makeup.
Sheer Bronzer - mix in a liquid bronzer then blend the mixture all over your face for a sun-kissed glow.
Wow Now Practice - apply Moisture Surge onto the back of one of your hands and dab over with face powder - apply only powder onto the other hand and compare results - you should see how smooth the hand will look where you've used the hydrator.

My initial thoughts on this new Moisture Surge are that it made my skin feel like velvet and baby-like. If you've read my Porefessional review you will know what sort of feeling I meant by this, but it is quite indescribable unless you've tried the product yourself. Once I've applied the Moisture Surge I let it sink into my skin for a couple of minutes, (it does have a tacky feeling to it so if you like to put your makeup on such consistencies then go right ahead as it will make it last longer) and go on to apply my makeup. I've found that my makeup sits on my skin a lot better when I use Moisture Surge 72-Hour and actually lasts longer without my foundation separating. Even after I take my makeup off, I can feel how smooth and velvet-like my skin is - this is definitely the best product of 2018 and it's only February! So, well done Clinique! You have really outdone yourself this time!

*Available in UK stores from the 2nd March 2018.

You can purchase the new Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator through their website here.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

WHAT'S IT REALLY LIKE FOR ME TO STUDY, WORK AND BLOG ALL AT ONCE?

Not many of you will know this but I’ve been blogging since around the age of 9-10 when I was going through a hard time due to personal reasons and found that it made me feel invincible. I had my first blog at that age and it was a creative writing and art website (it’s been deleted years ago, but I really enjoyed writing it and creating original images using Photoshop and other software). To say that I did all that at such a young age is crazy, but that’s when I knew it was definitely something I’d want to pursue further as a teenager as I felt that I wasn’t old enough to put myself on the Internet - my blog at the time was anonymous. 

My current blog, my little baby, has actually turned 5 years old this month and I’m very excited to start sharing some more content with you all. After being absent for over a month, I feel like I need to get back into the game and I’m sorry for that, but I will explain what’s been going on with my life for me to not engage fully with my blog and audience.

Let’s be honest, blogging isn’t an easy job to do. I love it, but having to stay on top of my social media accounts, engage in group chats, schedule posts, and reply to all emails is getting a bit too much for me to handle. I’m a third-year university student so you can only imagine the ton of work I’ve got to do this upcoming semester. The blogging community is also not what it was last year, I mean I’ve made a lot of friends but I have also come across many bitter people who see everything as a competition rather than a hobby. Blogging for me is a hobby and something I’d love to do full time if it paid enough, but it seems like so many people join this creative community to get free stuff and bring others down...

I recently left my job at the Disney store and moved onto something bigger - a job in makeup. My new job suits me very well and I love it, I love making others feel beautiful in their own skin and other perks that come with the job, such as the clientele, colleagues and discounts of course. But since starting my new job I feel like I’ve fallen behind on my blogging, not only because I’ve been away on training or had to learn a lot of things, but also because I see beauty at work so don’t want to talk about it all the time on my blog too... hence why I’ve decided to create more fashion content this year as these posts seem to go down very well with you all. I will by no means neglect the beauty side of my blog, I will continue to do product reviews etc. But I will also share makeup looks on my YouTube channel to which you can subscribe here. 

Being a third-year student, I find it really difficult to manage my time especially as my work rota constantly changes making it even harder for me to plan out my days. I would ideally like to do at least 20 extra hours a week of uni work as well as post 3 times a week on my blog, and daily on Instagram and twitter but I don’t see that happening anytime soon... I also recently decided to change my diet completely and slowly transition to being vegan which I’m very excited about and cannot wait to make lots of delicious recipes from The Little Blog Of Vegan. 

With my poor spending habits, I have bought many notepads including a daily diary which will help me manage my time better. I have one for normal everyday tasks and a separate one for my uni work. I also bought a budget planner which I find very useful because it does help me with my spending a lot, and even though I have treated myself a lot this month as it was my birthday recently, I have saved more money than ever and I couldn’t be prouder of myself. This has actually helped with my mental health and I feel a lot more in control of my mind and what goes through it. No more overthinking, and no more letting little things bring me down.

As I have neglected my blog, I will try to write more now that I’m getting back on track with my life, however I find it difficult to schedule posts on time with all the work I have got to do, so please bear with me and I promise I will reward you with a giveaway soon. But for now, I will work my butt off to produce the best content ever for you as well as try to engage myself in more Twitter chats, Instagram stories and posts.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 16 - THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES (ZOELLA'S RECIPE)

These might not be the most appetising-looking cookies in the world, but they sure do taste good! I always make some festive treats this time of the year, so I thought it'd be useful if I shared with you my favourite sugar cookie recipe.
This is actually a recipe I got from Zoella's blog and I absolutely love how these came out (taste-wise) as I'm not the best at decorating cakes due to lack of equipment but hopefully I'll be able to share more recipes with you in my new house soon.

You will need these ingredients for the cookie batter:
140g Icing Sugar
250g Butter (cut into chunks)
1 Egg Yolk
1tsp Vanilla Extract
375g Plain Flour

For the icing:
225g Icing Sugar
1 Egg White
Cold Water

The Method:

Preheat the oven to 190oC.

In a mixing bowl, add butter, icing sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Once you're happy with the consistency of the batter, start adding in the flour bit by bit and mix it in until a dough is formed. Wrap the dough in cling film and set aside in the fridge for around 30 minutes.
Spread some flour onto a worktop/chopping board and roll out the dough with a rolling pin (I don't have a rolling pin so I used a cucumber wrapped in cling film hahaha - desperate times call for desperate measures!). Once you roll out the dough, pick your favourite festive cookie cutters and start carving out some shapes. I actually used a pumpkin cutter as I couldn't find any festive ones, so I tried to turn them into baubles but as you can see in pictures they look like something a 5-year-old would make haha. Now that you have your cookies cut out and ready to bake, place them on a baking tray laid out with baking paper to avoid sticking and pop them in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
While the cookies are in the oven, you can now make the icing mixture. In a bowl, mix in the icing sugar and the egg white until smooth. If you find the consistency a little bit too thick then you can add a bit of cold water to make it more spreadable. Once you have a perfect consistency, put the icing into a piping bag and decorate your cookies once they're cool. And voilá! 

Obviously, my cookies don't look good at all (it's okay I already laughed at my failure), but they really do taste great and are very easy to make! I feel like this is an easy family task everyone would enjoy - especially when it comes to decorating.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 15 - GIFTS FOR HIM - AFFORDABLE LUXURIOUS SHIRTS FOR MEN FT. MILL NO. 8

I always struggle to buy gifts for my boyfriend or my dad, because who wants to receive tons of skincare products or alcohol every year for all occasions? Not the men in my family, that's for sure... So when I was contacted by Nehal from Mill No. 8 asking if I wanted to try out their service and receive a free shirt, I jumped to the opportunity as I know my boyfriend loves to wear shirts on special occasions and our 5 year anniversary is just around the corner.

First of all, the website is very easy to navigate so it does save a lot of time when you're looking for something in particular. There is a huge variety of different clothes to choose from - the images included throughout the website are very high fashion and almost persuade you to buy the whole outfit thanks to the photographers and models, of course.

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 10 - CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR YOUR MUM - LUXURIOUS PRODUCTS

Who doesn't love a good old scented candle as a gift? Well, I found my new favourite this year and it is the Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon candle. These are very pricey, this 200g one costs £45 so it is not in everyone's price range, but it does make a beautiful gift for someone special. My mum is a huge lover of candles and I know she'd love this one because of how good it smells. There is a huge variety of different scents and sizes of candles so you really are spoilt for choice!

Another item you could get your mum is a fragrance set. I know it's difficult to buy perfumes for others as you don't know what they like, but Lancome's La Vie Est Belle is a scent that everyone will like. All women in my family have one of these because of how neutral this scent is, and it will smell different to everyone - I find it quite light and fresh but others might find it a little bit heavier.

It seems like either one of these will be a winner, so good luck to you all struggling to find the perfect gift for your mum! I hope this post helps!

What will you be treating your mum to this year?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 9 - A CHRISTMAS GUIDE FOR A SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE - BEST FACIALS FOR ALL SKIN TYPES FT. DECLÉOR

I recently had my very first facial and back massage done properly and I couldn't stress enough about how amazing it made me feel not only on the outside but on the inside too. I've been feeling very stressed out the past few weeks hence my lack of absence on social media and this blog (I do apologise to those who actually take their time to read my posts).
Because I work in the beauty industry, I had the opportunity to book myself for a facial and massage with Decléor for free which was amazing. At first, I was taken into the beauty room and asked to fill out a form which had a variety of skin problems/allergies etc. to fill out, so I circled my main concerns as prone to breakouts, acne scarring, redness, and oiliness. After I had filled out this form, I was asked to strip down to my knickers and cover myself in a towel and lay on my front. The masseuse then used oils to massage my back and put pressure onto my knots to get them out. You can only imagine how relaxed I had felt at this point, I do wear heels a lot so my back hurts quite a bit, but the way she relieved the pressure in my back has really helped.

Moving onto the facial, I don't exactly know what she did but I know it felt amazing during and after! I really loved the mousse cleanser and the phytopeel exfoliating peel which made my skin feel amazing. She also used this clay face mask on me which I really liked and ended up buying as she advised me to wear it overnight to have very fresh and soft skin in the morning. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to book in for another treatment soon! I think one a month is vital for good skin health, and it's very affordable as you get your money back in products. I know for a fact that I'll be buying a full-size mousse cleanser and the exfoliating peel next.

Have you tried any Decléor products? Would you treat a loved one to a facial treatment?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 8 - WHAT I'M READING AT THE MOMENT - THE CHRISTMAS SECRET BY KAREN SWAN

I don't really like to read too much this time of the year as I find myself drowning in university deadlines and revision, however this year I picked up The Christmas Secret for half price at WHSmith's and I'm glad I did.
I find myself enjoying a light-read from time to time and this is a very heart-warming book. Obviously it is very girly, but that's the types of books I like to read when I'm feeling down, so I would highly recommend this one for anyone wanting a little bit of a festive romance.

This book is definitely for girl bosses who enjoy novels about powerful women kicking butts, and falling in love with the right (wrong?) men. I won't say much more as I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this is my current read and I am loving it so far!

What's your favourite festive read?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 7 - THE SUNSHINE BLOGGER AWARD

I was recently tagged in The Sunshine Blogger Award post by the lovely Chloe from Tints of Autumn. The rules are that you have to answer 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you, and then come up with your own 11 questions and nominate 11 bloggers, and so on and so forth.

Here are the questions I was asked to answer:

1. What is your favourite season and why?

I definitely love Autumn the most as it's still quite warm outside but there are no horrible bugs anywhere! I would usually say that Summer is my favourite season but I can't stand insects and other nasty creepy crawlies that come with it!!

2. Who's voice could you not live without?

My mum's ❤️

3. What do you love most about the blogging community?

I love how supportive some bloggers can be. It's so difficult to share your feelings and opinions online, but the blogging community makes me feel like I can open up to my readers and speak about important issues which need addressing.

4. What is your favourite blog post you've ever written and why? (link it!)

Erm, I don't particularly have a favourite post but if I had to pick one it would be my Rome Travel Guide, as it is definitely something I'd love to have read before I visited the capital. It took me a long time to write this guide and I am sort of proud of it, so do give it a read if you're planning on going to Italy, or have already been and want to compare our experiences!

5. What is the weirdest dream you've ever had?

Probably the one where I get chased by some weird monsters hahaha?? I don't know, all my dreams are weird tbh!

6. Where in the world would you most like to travel to?

Definitely anywhere in the USA. I'm hoping to go somewhere exciting next year, so finger's crossed!!

7. What did you last watch on Netflix (or the last thing you watched if you don't have it)

I think it was 5 Children & It? I've never seen it so it had to be done on Sunday afternoon with dinner! The last thing I watched that wasn't on Netflix was Grey's Anatomy on Amazon Prime - I started watching it from the beginning because I love this show.

8. Favourite lipstick shade and brand?

My favourite lipstick has to be Brave by MAC as it was my first luxurious lipstick and the shade really compliments my makeup, no matter what I wear.

9. The life motto you live by is...

Treat others as you'd like to be treated.

10. Who means the most to you?

Hmm. This is a tough question because there's a lot of people in my life who are very dear to me and mean the world so I can't just choose one. It'll have to be my family and boyfriend as they have helped me through difficult times and I couldn't be more grateful.

11. Sum up your life in one word.

Adventure.

Now you've read my answers, here are my questions:

1. What is your biggest achievement so far?

2. What was your favourite subject at school, and why?

3. If you could be an animal for a day, what would you be and why?

4. Have you ever found yourself in a writers' block?

5. How long have you been blogging for?

6. Do you think you could blog as a full-time job?

7. What career did you want to have when you were little?

8. What is your favourite memory from childhood?

9. Do you have a favourite beauty product that you swear by, if so, what is it?

10. Who's your favourite influencer and why?

11. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

The bloggers I nominate are:

Hannah from Luxury Blush

Kate from Kate Loves Makeup

Candice from The Blog Social

Kate from It's Kate Rose

Emma from Emma Lisa

Lauren from Lauren Ann Beauty

Isobelle from Isobelle Jane

Chloe from Coco V London

Katie from Life With KTKinnes

Abby from Abby Clare

Justine from Girl Gone Dreamer

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 6 - MINI CHRISTMAS HAUL

You might have already read my Blogmas Day 1 post and seen that I picked up a few lovely bits on one of my trips to Primark. Of course, I had to go back to see if they had brought out more festive goodies. I picked up the most gorgeous tea towels for only £3.50 and I couldn't be happier! I usually buy my tea towels from there anyway but these festive ones were a must-buy.

I also bought the cutest little gingerbread men tealights for around £2! I know for a fact that I'm going to feel awful when they start melting but they'll make amazing picture props in the meantime!
Anything to do with gingerbread screams 'festive' to me, so you can only imagine how excited I was to find such bargains! I really want to make my flat look very cosy this Christmas but I'm still waiting for some bits and bobs to arrive before I show you all my first ever Christmas decorations at my own place. They probably won't be as nice seeing as I'm currently trying to save up for a house so we're living on a budget until we can figure things out, but I'm excited to share with you the next days of Blogmas 2017!

What's your must-have Christmas decor?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 5 - MY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

I don't usually ask for much when it comes to Christmas presents as I have a part-time job so whatever I want/need I just pay for it myself, so you can imagine how difficult it was for me to come up with a Christmas list for 2017.

1) Thierry Mugler Aura Fragrance Set
I remember walking into Debenhams in the summer and coming across this beautiful and unique fragrance. I was on my way to get some euros for my holiday to Rome and the money office just happened to be right next to the fragrance department and of course, I took a detour...
I don't think I ever loved a fragrance as much as this one. Mugler's Alien is definitely one of my all-time favourite scents to wear this time of the year but since I ran out of it a few months ago I thought it was the perfect time to ask for this newbie to be added to my collection.

2) Lilo & Stitch Pandora Charm
Not sure if many of you know this already, but I used to work at the Disney Store for over 2 years and have recently left my position as a Cast Member. Disney was a big part of my childhood and I loved watching the movies as I was growing up, so you can only imagine how much I loved working for the company. I still feel very attached to the company and it will forever hold a special place in my heart, hence why I asked for a Disney Pandora charm this Christmas. I asked for this one in particular as I always loved the movie and my sister is my best friend, just like Lilo and Nani. Also, every time I'll look at my bracelet it'll remind me of my time working for Disney and my love for my Ohana.

3) Diptyque Candle 
Once, I was very close to buying one of these myself when I misheard the price of '£40' as '£14'... Come on now, £40 for a candle?! I don't think I'd ever spend this much on one myself but it's a great gift for home-makers. I'm currently looking into buying a house, so I want to start collecting nice bits and bobs for it which makes Christmas gifts a little bit easier. I also love Yankee and Bath and Body Works candles but they can get quite pricey. Another brand I love for luxurious candles is Jo Malone as they look so fancy and smell so good, plus I get some discount on them as I work for Estee Lauder Companies (win-win).

4) J. K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Book
Joanne is one of my favourite authors since I was about 6. I love her style of writing and thanks to her, my childhood was filled with much needed magic. I also admire her as a person, she's always striving for greatness and is pretty much a Twitter Queen. Anyway, going back to the book - I wanted to get it when the screenplay came out as I love the cover of it but I'd much rather have the original book, because if I wanted to know the screenplay then I'd just watch the film!

5) Urban Decay Ultimate Basics Palette
This palette has been on my list for ages now, and hopefully, I'll be able to get it for Christmas! If not, my birthday is in January so I can wait til then hahaha!! I love matte shadows and this palette is perfect for this time of the year.

What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2017 || DAY 4 - MY TOP 10 CHRISTMAS MOVIES

1) Love Actually:
This is probably one of my all-time favourite movies ever made, not just for Christmas! It's very heartwarming and a great film for the whole family to watch together.

2) Elf:
Well, what can I say?! This is the number 1 family movie. It is funny, it is sweet, it is suitable for kids from a young age... Elf is many people's favourite movie and an obvious choice for this list.

3) The Holiday:
This is the perfect movie if you fancy something light-hearted and need to restore your faith in love (or humanity in some cases). This movie always makes me appreciate older people and their past, as well as driving me to do more good deeds.

4) Home Alone:
Duh! I don't think there's much I can say about this film other than that it is something I grew up watching every year on Christmas Eve before bed. It has a lot of sentimental meaning to my family and I'm sure I'll be watching it in 20 days!

5) The Nightmare Before Christmas:
Some people will find this film scary and others will argue that it's a Halloween movie, but to me, it will always be a Christmas film I enjoyed watching when I was little.

6) A Christmas Carol:
Yet again, this film can be a little scary for little ones because of the ghosts in Scrooge's life, but it is a classic and a must-watch every Christmas for me.

7) The Polar Express:
I have a very fond memory of this movie as it was the very first time I watched a 3D film at the cinema. I loved the storyline and the characters in this film, and it will bring Christmas spirit to all the Scrooges out there!

8) Arthur Christmas:
I have only watched this movie for the first time a year ago, but I have seen it around 5 times since because of how good it is! I love how happy and excited James McAvoy sounds as Arthur, and it just melts my heart!

9) The Santa Clause:
I can imagine my dad really enjoying this film, I'm not sure if he's already seen it but it's his type of humour! It'll definitely make its way on my movie playlist this season.

10) Fred Claus:
Last but not least, a Christmas comedy that's worth watching! I absolutely adore Vince Vaughn, I think he's a fantastic actor and any film with him is great but this one is definitely one of the best!

What do you like to watch during the festive season? Can you recommend any more movies for me to watch?

Lots of love,

Maya xo