Almost 20.

This year has flown by.

I say this every year, and each time the new year rolls around it seems to go by quicker than the last.

In just under a week I am 20.

The big 2 0.

I can't believe I'm not going to be a teenager anymore.

I feel like I now really need to get my act together. Even though I feel more like a child than I ever have.

Does anyone else feel like there parents are trying to keep them a child? I definitely do.

Its like they say all the things to make it seem like they want me to grow up, yet when i get serious about moving out or travelling all of a sudden they think I'm too young.

But I'm almost 20 and I know I need to get out. They drive me insane.

Anyway I'm not doing anything major to celebrate, just chilling with one of my best girlies. This year has been tough, but i definitely want next year to be better.

For my 20 birthday I want to buy myself a little something, because if you can't shop on your birthday when can you?

I'm thinking the hourglass ambient lighting edit, or a new watch? But I just don't know. I want something I want but I also don't want it to be a wasted purchase. I just don't know if I will the makeup because day to day I just don't wear it.

What would you buy for your birthday?

Lots of love
Laura x

Christmas Baking.

I love baking.

I love christmas.

Put the two together and you get the most epic festive cakes.

My hope is to bake of make something every week leading up to christmas. This week I made a 3 tier  gingerbread cake with espresso icing and decorated it with gingerbread cookies.

Isn't that the most christmassy thing you've heard?

My mum took it in to her work and it went down a treat. Everyone loved it!

So I thought I would create a little post on it.

The espresso icing creates a gingerbread latte taste, which means its not gingerbread sweetness overload and the bitterness just adds another flavour element.

 Taa Dah!

This was the outcome. Over 2 days I created this. I make the cookies, cake and cake icing however I did cheat slightly with the cookie icing and bought designer icing from Sainsburys.

The photos aren't great but I am so so proud of my first christmas bake this year. And its went down well which is amazing. I love baking but normally I stick to cupcakes, cookies and cute individual things. Which makes this a big feat for me.

Tanya Burr's video inspired me. And I had so much fun making this. If nothing else make the cookies! it was so fun decorating them.

Hope your feeling festive.

Lots of love Laura x

What I am Listening To.

Its December.. which means christmas music is now allowed to be played at all times, full blast!

I will be part taking in this with a playlist already ready to go on my phone and I have my first of many christmas jumpers on!

However before the christmas music commences thought i would write my 10 top songs at the moment:

1. Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum

2. Do You Go Up by Khai

3. Sorry by Justin Bieber

4. Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

5. Lay It All On Me by Rudimental

6. The Hills by The Weekend

7. A Drop In The Ocean by Ron Pope

8. Do It Again by Pia Mia

9. Human by Christina Perri

10. Don't You Worry Child - Acoustic by Conor Maynard

Okay so there is quite a mix there. But this list really reflects all the emotions I have been feeling recently. Sad happy and everything in between.

But anyway now its time to get christmas in to full swing!

Hope you have a great day!

Love Laura x

Love List: Christmas Jumpers

Its nearly CHRISTMAS!!!

Can you tell I'm excited?

Are you excited?

I'm so excited!!

Anyway when this time of year comes around I always start searching for a new christmas jumper.

Here I have compiled my favourites from ASOS. I would also highly recommend super dry for a good fair isle jumper.

I know one of them is mens. But I love it and I thought a christmas jumper is a christmas jumper! I pretty sure a girl could rock it too.

Here are the links to my top 5 ASOS Jumpers:

Dear Santa, I can explain

Ombre Christmas Tree jumper

Mens Gingerbread Man

Minnie Mouse Sweater Dress

White Fairisle Jumper

These are my favourites from asos, and after doing this post I think I may have to make an order. I really am loving the mens ginger bread jumper and the sweat shirt. 

Think my bank account may be feeling a little sorry in about 20 minutes time.

Lots of love 

Laura x

Vegan Breakfast.

I am a firm believer that you should eat breakfast everyday. No matter how big or small you should have something.

I am vegan, so all of the breakfast I have are vegan and these are some of my favourites.

Every day except Wednesday I have porridge. Now its winter I want something warm for breakfast so porridge is my go to.

I make my porridge on the hob with water. I normal throw in some cinnamon, and some frozen raspberries. This is my go to, its easy and quick and I love it.

But here are a few of my more exciting breakfasts.

I always start with 60g of oats, then top with water until covered. Cook until desired consistency. I like mine thick. And then add your toppings.

Toppings: Raspberries, Almond butter, Banana & Apple

Peanut butter, Raspberries, Apple & Cacao nibs

Apple, Peanut butter & Cinnamon

Raspberries & Banana 

Strawberries & Cinnamon

So there are a few of my breakfasts. Everyday they don't look this pretty but sometimes I like to make an effort.

Hope thats given you some foodie inspiration.

Lots of Love

Laurax

Urban Fruit.

What can I say about urban fruit?

I love their dried fruit. They have a huge variety and are always bringing out new mixes.

They fruit is always flavourful, and has the perfect texture for dried fruit. Its never to hard or too soft. Just chewy sweet perfection.

After recently finding a rogue piece of place in my pineapple, I contacted their customer services, purely to inform them incase it had gotten in to any other packages.

Their customer service was amazing. They responded with in the same day. Asked me for the specific details they need AND offered me compensation.

I never wanted this from letting them now, but of course who would turn down some freebies from a company they love.

After receiving the package I was over whelmed with the generosity of them. I got 7 fresh packages of dried fruit. The package was incredible.

I have dealt with companies for other more stressful complaints and it had left a bad taste in my mouth. On one occasion I was actually yelled at?!? I mean WHAT?!?! I thought the customer was always right? Or is that not the case anymore?

Catherine at Urban Fruit has restored my faith in customer service. She has been lovely and incredible through out the whole thing.

These are all the amazing products i received and I'm super excited to try them as many I have never had before.

I really recommend this company. I have never had any issues with their products before, and they sorted this minor issue of with ease.

Thank you so much

Laura x

Lush Skincare.

For the longest time I have dipped in and out of skincare.

My skin is acne prone, to the point where I'm on medication for it, but I still get spots and redness a lot. Or atlas to me it feels like a lot. I can't remember the last time I didn't have less then 5 spots. I know my skin could be a lot worse, but it still gets me down daily.

For  a while I used the Clinique 3 step skin care system for oily skin, but as a teen i couldn't afford to keep repurchasing the whole system so that slowly fell away. I used make up wipes for convenience, But my sensitive skin doesn't enjoy them, and for the longest time I would just by whatever was on offer at the super market.

THIS IS A BIG NO NO!

I wouldn't recommend doing this, your skin will hate you for it, or at least my skin hated me for it.

No my skincare routine has changed.

One of my friend Elin works for lush and she has saved my skin life.

After a full consultation I picked out a few products. I wanted to keep it simple as I work really early or really late, and I didn't want to spend forever doing a full extensive routine. Also my skin is very sensitive so I didn't want to overload it with products.

I chose the Cleanser "aqua marine"

Aqua Marine - £6.95

This is the description from lush: A mineral rich-seaweed and calamine face and body cleanser to absorb excess oils and leave you with a clear complexion. We use kaolin and calamine to absorb oil and cleanse the skin, and aloe vera to restore moisture. Irish Moss gel (a type of seaweed) is full of restorative minerals and vitamins, and we’ve even included a sprinkling of sea salt for very gentle exfoliation.

For me this cleansers makes my skin feel soft and clean, whilst the calamine lotion soothes the redness around my spots. I don't know what it is but my skin instantly looks better after washing my face with this. 

Skin Drink - £12.95

The I picked up the moisturiser "Skin Drink"

The description from lush: Quench thirsty skin with this cream packed with nourishing oils and butters, avocados, aloe vera and a light rose and orange neroli fragrance. Forming a light barrier against the elements, this is ideal for all weathers and is especially good for soothing the skin and helping it feel more supple.

Out of all the products, this is my least favourite. And thats only because it smells very strongly of sesame, due to it being made with sesame oil, and thats not one of my favourite scents. But it really is a lovely product so the smell really doesn't affect my opinion that much. before using this my skin felt very dehydrated. And now my skin feels 10x better and it hasn't broken me out, and keeps my skin feeling soft all day.

Full Of Grace - £8.25

 My favourite product I got by far is the full of grace serum. Its is a bar serum that you just smooth over your face at night.

Lush say: A deeply moisturising facial serum in solid form that glides on to leave skin feeling renewed without heaviness. We've created a skin-feeding blend of oils and mixed with Portobello mushrooms for their skin-protecting vitamins and minerals, whilst chamomile blue oil and calamine powder calm the skin – and the latter controls greasiness too. Warm on the fingertips or glide it across the skin like a massage bar, allowing the bar to melt and all the beautiful ingredients to soak in.

This product again has calamine in it which soothes the redness on my skin. And I swear over night i can see a visible reduction in my acne. This was a personal recommendation from Elin. I took her work for it and I am so glad I did. Its AMAZING.

Dream Cream - £6.25

As a little extra she also through in a sample of Dream Cream. I Have been suffering from an allergic reaction from something and Elin suggested this to heal and calm the rash. I have used this all over my legs 3 times and I still have some of the sample left. And my skin definitely looks better for using it. So i shall be purchasing a full size once I have finished the sample.

Anyways thats my little lush review. I am so thankful to have a proper skin care routine now, I have definitely seen the results to convince me to continue using these products.

Thankyou so much to my local lush shop! The staff in there are amazing.

Lots of Love

Laura x


*disclaimer: all products were purchased with my own money and the opinions are my own. I have received no compensation for this review,  I just really love the products.