My favourite beauty buys for this season.

Even though I've had my dead ends chopped off, because I have fairly wavy hair (and because I dye it a lot..) my hair can get really dry and break very easily. When I saw this, I thought I may as well give it a go because it's fairly cheap so if it's rubbish I've not lost out. It's actually incredible! You just put on to your ends after you've washed it normally and leave it. You can feel and see the difference when it's dry; it's not frizzy or anything. It also smells so good!

I normally tend to opt for salon brands when I go for hair masks, simply because you get what you pay for. However, I thought if the Herbal Essences Split End Protection Cream was so good then surely so should their hair masks - and because I wasn't going for salon brands, I got two, which still worked out cheaper than one Toni and Guy reconstruction mask! They both smell so nice, and leave my hair feeling great. I would still totally recommend the Toni and Guy reconstruction mask if you're not on a budget though.

Pretty much everyone has been raving about sea salt spray at the moment, and I now know why! My hair is naturally wavy/curly and I don't even know how but this just makes my waves looks so much nicer. I put it into damp hair, rather than dry hair simply because I like the effect more, but it's up to you! I spray it pretty much all over, scrunch up my ends a little, and then when I wake up I look in the mirror and I'm like 'I feel like a beach babe with beach babe waves'. DEFINITELY A MUST.

I saw this recommended on someone else's blog so I thought I'd give it a go because of how much it was praised. Now, I like it, it does the job, and it does it well, but you have to be careful not to brush it into your roots as you're brushing it out as it can make your roots and finger tips very greasy! It also has an aftershave kind of smell to it which I'm not too keen on. I do like it as a product though.

I actually got this in one of the sets The Body Shop do for my birthday, and the whole Moringa range smells absolutely incredible. When I buy creams and things from The Body Shop I tend to opt for the 'safe' scented body butters like Strawberry, but I think from now on I will always get this one! It smells amazing, and because it's still really cold outside I think it's a must to keep your skin hydrated! I use this all over, especially on my elbows and knees and it leaves my skin feeling mega soft all day.

HEY BIG SPENDER! ....on a tiny budget.

I'm going to America on the 22nd of March for 2 weeks (too excited to get back there!) and because I'm trying to save money so that I can spend spend spend when I go to America, and so I can go travelling around Europe for a month with my best friend in August, I could only really buy essentials. I thought it was going to be really difficult because normally when I go shopping I see about a million things I love and just grab them all. So I wrote a list of things that I'd consider to be essentials before I went shopping. I'm not gonna lie, it was difficult, but I did it. And here is what I got, all for under £100.

Black faux leather shorts. These look great as they are, and also if you roll the legs up to make them more a pair of hot pants than casual shorts.

Pink denim hot pants. Considering throwing these in some bleach for a bit so they become less vibrant and more of a baby pink.

White lace shorts. These are perfect because they fit like high waisted shorts without making your bum look abnormally long.

Blue and black skinny jeans. I haven't worn light blue jeans for so long so I thought I may as well now we're slowly getting into spring!

Coral blouse. I love how you can make this look smart with a blazer or just chic with a nice jumper or a pair of skinnies. Certainly one of my favourite buys!



Brown leather sandals. I don't know about you, but I cannot stand the sandals that go in between your toes; they just irritate me far too much. So these are perfect, and so comfy for walking around all day.



Faux crocodile skin loafers. I don't think I need to say anything; they're gorgeous.

Yes, I would consider pretty underwear to be an essential; if you're wearing pretty underwear, you feel pretty. Simple.

Family, friends, recognition, and hard work.

Lately I've been in a really low mood. Nothing that's a big deal just lots of little things that are slowly starting to build up. As many of you know, I've been at boarding school since the age of 9, and I think I grew out of it in the middle of lower sixth. I'm now constantly homesick and just want my family around me all the time. I think now I'm older, and because I've been away for so long, I've really grown to adore and respect them, so being away from family is starting to be a killer for me. And although, technically Hannah isn't family, I would regard her as my sister. Since she left England last year my life hasn't been the same; I'm used to living with her, as I have done for 6 years. What really amazes me though is that even though she's now in Germany, we're still so close, probably closer, and even though I miss her like crazy, I could not be more grateful to have been blessed with someone like her because I know it's not everyday you find someone who you know will be there for the rest of your life.
Recently things have come to an end with someone who's had a rather large impact on my life, and even though I know it was the best thing to do, it's made me feel rather 'put to the side'. I'm really not sure if that makes sense but it's the only way I can describe it! I do know this seems rather niave of me, but I do know that I'm young and that more people will come around.

I've also been rather stressed out with putting together my portfolio, preparing for my university interviews, and really trying to push on with my most recent art project whilst still trying really hard to make sure everything in my other A Levels are clear in my head. I'm not saying I'm the only person going through this, but I do wish I could have a break for a week! After having a chat with my mum, she said some very simple words that managed to put a smile upon my face, 'Just work hard, and the world will be at your feet.'
I've been brought up being told this. My parents have never pressured me into anything I don't want to do, or pressured me to get those As and A*s, they've always said that aslong as I try my very hardest, that's all they can ask for. & I think everyone should live by this.

My friend Matthew is also extremely ill in hospital at the moment, and that feeling of being completely helpless is just the worst. But he never complains, and it just puts everything into perspective for me. I have issues with my body image, and he's lying in hospital bed dying, but fighting. I need to get over myself!

I have many things to look forward to this year: Poland this month, Orlando in March for two weeks, followed by Hannah staying for a week, for which I have many little suprises planned, and I'm going to Sarah's for the weekend for a dinner party with a few of the girls. It should be lovely and I cannot wait.

The message I'm trying, and maybe failing, to show is that if you're feeling down, don't be embarassed about it, because everyone feels down. Wallow in self-pity for a while! You probably need it! But always have in the back of your head that family, friends, remembering you could be worse off, and hard-work will get you through anything. Of course I'm still feeling low, but I know I'll get their eventually.