Payday goodies...

Hey everyone...

Its my favourite time of the month, PAYDAY. Every payday I treat myself to some things to say well done on working so hard and so I can have fun before I have to buy necessities like rent, food etc. This month I really treated myself here are some of the things I treated myself with...

CK underwear.

(It is very hard to photograph bra's well, sorry)

I have been in love with the modern t-shirt bra and pants for a long while and I decided as a motivation (to look great in it) I got it. I am still waiting for the pants to arrive but I am already so in love with the bra. It is well worth the price. It is so comfy and soft it is almost as if I'm not wearing it. That may be too much information but I am more than comfortable sharing about the worlds greatest bra. 

Trainers.

(Snazzy new nikes)

With my recent purchase of a gym membership I felt that I really needed to get myself some decent gym gear so I am more motivated to actually go to the gym. I really liked the look of these trainers as they aren't too much which is great as I like to lay low at the gym, which is hard when I am normally dying on the cross trainer.

Sports Bra.

(I love this print, I should have got more)

Again, I was in desperate need of gym stuff and I LOVE this crop top/sports bra. Although I like to lay low at the gym it doesn't mean I can't get fancy with my sports bra's. This one has this really cool tie-dyesque print which underneath my gym top makes me feel uber funky and teamed with my funky playlist it gets me ready to really kick butt and work hard.

Have you got yourself anything nice this payday? Let me know on Twitter/Instagram. Stay tuned for my next post all on what I'm looking forward to the next month.

See you Thursday,
Love Katie x

Self Love Summer Revisited...

Hey Everyone,

You may have seen at the beginning of summer I posted about how I wanted to decrease my insecurities and have a summer full of self love. Well as summer is drawing to a close I am reflecting back on the summer to see if my little experiment worked. (Featuring pictures from throughout the summer, some selfies, sorry)

(Giggles on a night out with friends)

Overall I would say that I am definitely happier. I started this summer ridiculously hung up on someone who was not worth even an ounce of my time and I shouldn't have let it effect me but I did and it did not make me feel great about myself at all! It is safe to say that I don't feel hung up on him at all and can stomach myself a little more (crazy how us girls let guys make us feel so bad) and looking back I realise it was just stupid. I am in a much better place and enjoying my own company and I am 100% ok being single and if I meet someone I meet someone and if I don't it is all ok.

(Spontaneous hair chopping = instant confidence boost)

Exercise wise I didn't do too great. The running didn't stick for long, but hey I tried. I did however join a gym last week and I just got loads of new gym gear so hopefully I can get the bug and then my body confidence will go through the roof. However I do love my lumps and bumps a little more. Diet wise as well I did start eating better but long days with no structure did take their toll and biscuits were well needed. I tried and I will definitely try again once back at work (even with tea and cake friday).

(Surprise birthday drinks, reminding me I have the best friends ever and I am more than loved)

I recently got into a whole new beauty regime and new make-up which has made me feel so much more confident with my looks. Buying new clothes every month although it has killed my bank balance has also made me feel 100% better about myself as I realise I can pull off the latest trends and in fact I do really enjoy a lot of them.

(This cheeky little pup has been making every day a barrel of laughs)

Even if we haven't had much of a summer (the weather has been awful) I definitely feel better in myself. Being that little bit selfish and focusing on me has done me wonders. I smile a lot more, which for a girl with a usual 'speak to me and i'll kill you' resting face, this has done me wonders as people have found me so much more approachable. Obviously I still have my moments where I panic about things and I have evenings where I get emotional and sad but those nights have gone down an awful lot. It really has been an eye opening summer and I am so glad I did it. I am also hopefully going to try and continue this mentality throughout the rest of the year and I'm sure in no time at all I'll be loving myself even more (but not too much, I don't want to be an arrogant diva, ok maybe I want to be a diva... just not an arrogant one).

(a night out in an outfit I thought I rocked)

Did any of you have an eye opening summer like me? Are you loving yourself a little more after this summer? Let me know on Twitter/Instagram.

See you Sunday,

Love Katie x

Payday Treats...

Hey everyone,

ITS PAYDAY. This means its time to have a little splurge on yourself to make yourself feel great. My other payday posts have been very music and film based, this month it is a little different and I am bringing you what I purchased today, Yes, my first fashion and beauty based haul.

(Images from Topshop)

With my university graduation just around the corner I have been looking high and low for an affordable graduation dress, after almost giving up (as my first choice was out of stock everywhere) I found this beautifully simple dress from Topshop. My graduation robes are dark grey and red so I didn't want to get anything patterned, bright or too over the top in case it clashed. This made this dress perfect, the plain creamy white will go perfectly with my robes and the asymmetric wrap of this dress gives it a unique edge so it isn't too simple. I also got these stunning platform sandals to go with the dress, the white on white is tres chic and gives me the opportunity to play with bright nails and lip colour. Also after reading the reviews these shoes should be comfy enough to walk around in all morning and not too high that I could potentially trip on the stage.

(Image from Forever 21)

I also have been thinking about an outfit for my birthday (which is three weeks today). I am planning a festival themed garden party so need the perfect festival themed outfit. I looked to Forever 21 as I never fail to find something I love on there, they also have really good festival wear. I didn't take me long to come across this beautiful maxi which is perfect for me. It flows and is open at the sides and back, this is perfect as if the weather is warm I wont be fanning myself to keep cool, or worse downing the frozen cocktails. It also has a grungey festival feel which suits me to a T as I am more 90's than 70's.

(Image from Lush Cosmetics)

I recently ran out of my favourite shampoo which means I have to buy more, obviously. It is one of the few beauty things I will splurge out for because I fall out with my hair so much. Costing £17.95 for a 500g bottle you must think I am mad. However, this shampoo has made my hair the softest it has been in years and it is naturally and gradually getting lighter and is currently the nicest colour. This is all due to the violet and lemon in the shampoo, it smells delicious. The shampoo also lasts a while, a 100g bottle lasted 2 months and my larger bottle almost 4. I personally feel its worth every penny and teamed with Garnier The Silky Smoother polishing scrub and Aussie's The Reconstructer my hair has never been better and its growing again. Despite still desperately needed a cut, my split ends have been smoothed and are not as obvious which is a little triumph until I do get my hair cut.

Have you spoiled yourself this payday? let me know what you got on Twitter or Instagram.

See you Friday,

Love Katie x

Self Love Summer...

Hey everyone...

This week marks an important start for me, the start of my self love summer. It sounds a little silly but having left uni and being thrown into the adult world it's about time I start to really appreciate myself. I have struggled with self love for a long while. Most people who know me would say I am a confident, bubbly person and I don't deny I am, but behind all that I have a lot of worries. I panic daily that I could be really annoying, or I'm being left out for a reason, maybe I'm not cool enough etc etc. I also have a lot of body confidence issues, I have never loved the way I looked in a mirror but I attempt to put up a confident front about it. I am determined to lessen this self-loathing if not abolish it for good. Here's what I plan to do to help me conquer my hatred and if you fancy jumping on the band wagon this will help you to.

(Image from Pinterest)

1. Exercise.

(Image from Pinterest)

I am all for being comfortable in your own skin and you should appreciate your body the way it looks, so I am not exercising to lose weight to love my body more. In fact I am going to start exercising because after I feel amazing, like I could conquer the world. Its this great feeling that I want to be part of my life everyday, ok, almost everyday. Also when I was at school I used to be pretty good at long distance running, I wasn't the fittest or fastest but I loved the distance. I want to be able to go for a long distance run again without having to stop every minute. I started couch to 5k Monday and I will keep you all updated on how it goes on my Twitter. Also dancing until the sun comes up counts too, cocktails in hand maybe not.

2. Diet.

(Image from Pinterest)

I am not dieting as such either. I am trying to eat better, try new things just to expand my mind and feel better. A plate full of veggies will make me feel happier than the chocolate in the long run. However, if I see that chocolate or cake and I fancy it nothing will stop me having it. You only live once and I don't want to be on my death bed regretting not eating cake that one time.

3. Spontaneity

(Image from Pinterest)

I am one of these people that have to plan every last detail of their day, and it is very restricting. This summer I am going throw out the to do lists (not for everything) and just go do something. Whether it be a cinema trip one evening or booking a trip away, this summer will be spontaneous, well after a double check of the bank balance.

4. Following your dreams.

(Image from Pinterest)

If there is anything that keeps me beaming it following my dreams. This summer I am going to do more to discover more dreams and to keep my self on the road to achieving current ones. One dream of mine currently is to be best friends with Taylor Swift but thats a bit too far out of reach (unless your reading this Taylor, get in touch).

5. Music.

(Image from Pinterest)

This summer will be full of sass and feel good songs. I will not actively be listening to anything that does not promote my happiness. Whether its some sassy Beyonce on my runs or some Alt-J to chill out to before bed nothing that makes me sad will pass into my ears (hopefully). This hopefully will keep the pep in my step and keep me motivated.

6. Be Selfish

(Image from Pinterest)

This one is a little controversial but I don't mean it in a mean way. Just put yourself first when you need to, don't hang out with people you don't want to, if you don't want to go for a drink with that guy from tinder who keeps nagging you, DON'T! Don't do things that bring you down just to make others happy, especially if they aren't (or you aren't) high on the priority list. It isn't worth your precious time. Remember this is SELF love summer, not love everyone else summer. Although if your mum/dad is asking you over to help them out, probably best you don't put yourself first too much, you may need their help sometime soon. This is also great if you are trying to avoid drama, if you don't want drama, walk away.

Is there anything you feel I should do to love myself this summer? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram. Also keep up to date with how my summer is going with the #BOTTSelfLove or #SelfLoveSummer. When I head back to work after summer I will be doing a post on how I feel the summer went and if my little experiment worked and I feel any better about myself.

See you Friday,

Love Katie x