August 31, 2014

Chatty Origins Mini Haul!

Having never done a ‘haul’ post before (as I am not one for going on a splurge trip) I decided to document my recent purchase at origins.co.uk which contains five things I am very excited to receive.

I first heard of Origins when their Clear Improvement active charcoal mask was included in someone’s favourite’s a while ago, and then their Drink Up intensive overnight mask appeared in someone else’s favourites. This is what started my on my Origins journey.

From then forth I have heard buzz after buzz around almost every product they sell, most of all being their Super Spot Remover. I decided, as one almost always does, to Google ‘Origins’; and there I discovered their website.

The first thing that struck me was the stark, uncompromising layout that to me didn’t look very planned or thought about…but then I saw the photography. The products are pictured with points of nature such as flowers, berries or plants which compliment the packaging and product perfectly, giving a much softer feel. The back-to-nature vibe of their products and photography is so intriguing. It makes one think that they have harnessed the simplest aspects of nature and transformed them into such an intricate, exquisite and careful formula that it will perform even the most acute of tasks. The ‘force of nature’ is also used, giving products a sense of power and strength, further encouraging the purchaser to trust it’s effectiveness. Even through their photography, it has now become clear to us, in our minds, that the products are exquisite, soft yet powerful, effective, intriguing, intricate…and we want them. NOW.

This is how I felt when viewing Origins’ website. I wanted everything remotely relevant to my skin…and some stuff that just looked pretty. I browsed and browsed, day after day, well aware that I couldn’t afford anything. It was very upsetting.

Then, the other day, I noticed that an offer had been launched up on the Origins website:

‘FREE 3 DELUXE SAMPLES with any serum or moisturiser purchase‘ *PLUS get a free pouch!

Now, being signed up to the Origins newsletter, I was well aware that this offer was coming. I was ready. I was prepared. I was damn excited.

But I didn’t know it was only serums and moisturisers.

‘I don’t want serums and moisturisers!! I want a face mask!!’ my rather upset mind began to think. ‘this sucks.’

But, having waited for a painfully long time for this offer, I decided to check if there were any serums or moisturisers I would want. I was feeling pretty hopeless because I don’t use serums at all and I had just bought myself a new moisturiser which I am perfectly happy with, so I wasn’t going to splurge on a much more expensive and probably no better one (besides, Origins aren’t exactly famous for their moisturisers).

I clicked on ‘shop serums’, scrolled right to the bottom and found…the Super Spot Remover! This had been one of my most wanted products from Origins (and my forehead had just exploded with horrible spotty blighters) so I was SO happy it counted as a serum even though it says it’s a gel! I have heard loads of buzz about it and apparently it REALLY works…so I splurged. Oh yes I did.

It was then time for me to choose my 3 deluxe samples. It wasn’t difficult – I was given a choice between 3-4 products I DESPERATELY wanted and some other ones I was completely uninterested in! I was SO happy to see my top two most wanted products, the Clear Improvement active charcoal mask and the Drink Up Intensive overnight mask on the menu, which I immediately clicked. It was then a choice between the Drink Up hydrating lip balm in Berry Splash and Modern Friction nature’s gentle dermabrasion. I was pretty certain I was going to choose the lip balm because I am a lip balm addict and I already have 4 full scrubs at home, so I did a little research on the scrub, just to make sure, and it turned out it was supposed to be age-soothing which I have no interest in anyway. So I went with the two masks and the lip balm. Yay!

I was very very excited for the arrival of these things so I could begin to clear up my skin in time for Sunday’s impending party. They arrived two days after they were ordered (best delivery service I’ve ever had!) and here they are…

No, I don’t have huge hands, the Super Spot Remover really is that small. Whilst reading about it I did hear a lot of ‘it IS tiny, but you only need such a small amount that it lasts so long’, which is why I was prepared for it to be a small, but not this small! It’s bigger in it’s picture on the website! I have to agree that you only need a tiny amount however, I put it on after my pamper session this evening and it absorbs beautifully leaving a nice matte finish, unlike some other spot solutions. How annoying is it when they don’t absorb at all and leave a horrible shiny finish? This isn’t like that at all, it’s so much better! Smells kinda weird though.

For the price I’m almost expecting it to eliminate my spots overnight, which would be ahmazing, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard people say it does just that. Fingers crossed!

I was slightly disappointed with the size of the masks when I first saw them, I usually use a lot of face mask to get a thick covering so I’m worried how long these will last me. They are supposed to be deluxe samples meaning they’re supposed to last more than one use, so let’s hope they’ll live up to that. I’m definitely saving them for special occasions!

The lip balm size I’m a lot more happy with, I really think it will last me ages and it’s a perfect handbag size (much more convenient than a full size one). Excited to try this out later.

Grab use of this amazing offer now and click the link to purchase Super Spot Remover!

Before you go, leave a comment telling me if you have ever tried anything Origins. And be sure to leave your blog link if you have one! :)

Love from,

SASHA x

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This post was in no way endorsed or contributed to by Origins.

August 26, 2014

What Goes On My Lips!

Sasha Hope Home, Purchasing Regrets 2 Comments

My lip stuffs are a bountiful and beautiful collection, however not particularly diverse. It consists mostly of lip balms which I use to keep my lips from drying up and falling off, which takes a lot of work thanks to my abysmally dry skin. I have brands from The Body Shop to EOS, each providing different levels of effectiveness and longevity on the lips.

I am trying to get more into lipstick but at the mo I just have a few colours. I seem to own a lot of lip gloss despite the fact I don’t wear it very often as it annoys me (actually probably more because I moved all my lip products on a really high shelf far away from my mirror and all my other make up so I can never be bothered to go up and get it) but I used to wear it quite a lot so I have a bit of a collection! All drugstore though, I had a tiny excuse for a budget back when I bought these!

As I have already sort of mentioned, I don’t use half of these products. At all. But writing this post has inspired me to get back into lippy products and now I plan to use the hell out of them! Except the unopened ones which I think I’m going to give away because I have way too many anyway.

So there’s my collection! Most of it were gifts if I’m honest but I have contributed quite a few pennies to get this far! Ironically I bought another lip balm just after taking these photos, but it will have to remain a mystery until I blog about it separately later. Half of these things are things my grandma gave me for Christmas when I was younger, one being the Astor shine deluxe prismatic gloss which claims to last up to 6h. Granny has managed to give me eight of these over the years. I have to say, Granny – you did good! This is the best clear lip gloss I have ever tried; it’s the most long lasting, it makes my lips look plumper and gives them serious shine and glossiness, on its own or over any lip colour. It can also be layered up really thick depending on how much glamour you wish to inject into your look. It is my go-to lip gloss for a night out, especially when I want that extra boost of chic. I cannot sing its praises enough. It is truly a holy grail lip gloss.

From the left: Max Factor 894 Raisin, MAC A63 Lady Danger, Rimmel Kate Moss 05

Click the links to shop the products!

The Max Factor one was given to me by my mother in a kit containing that and some other Max Factor products in a cute folding bag with a how to use guide. This is my oldest and probably most used lipstick. Max Factor do not sell the exact same lipstick any more but they do sell the same colour in a different range which is what I have linked above.

And here are my lip glosses! The ‘lip gloss’ tube in Cranberry Twist was my most used one when I was younger. I used it every day along with the other two that came with it in a set. Unfortunately I lost these other two and lost interest in the remaining one, veering instead towards the better known brands. This leads us on to the Rimmel Stay Glossy tubes which were given to me by my make up artist friend who had a few spare (she has worked for so many brands who give her free samples and now has so many that she simply gives them away…living the dream I say) and I really like the one in the middle – it’s got shimmer and glam and it would be my first choice if I wanted a tinted gloss on a night out. It’s fairly used for this reason, but I haven’t found it to have any out-of-this-world staying power despite what the name might suggest. The bottom one is slightly darker – DEFINITELY for eveningwear – and the top one is a barbie pop pink that’s nice to add a little fun to the mornings. The Body Shop ones were gifts and ones I will probably never use despite really liking them because I am one of those people who does not like sticking their finger in the pot. I want glossy lips, not sticky fingers!

From the left: EOS lip balm in Mint, Marks and Spencer Ingredients Shea Nut Lip Butter, The Body Shop lip butter in Shea, Lip Lishuss Vanilla Scent Lip Balm

Those not linked are part of sets

I forgot to include my Carmex Soothing Lip Balm because I don’t keep it with the others. I keep it where I can access it easily because sometimes my upper lip starts to flame up from chemicals in other lip products (if I overuse them) and this always sorts it out. Designed to treat cold sores, this ultra-soothing tingly balm contains camphor which alleviates burning and aloe butter, a natural plant-derived substance that heals and soothes. Menthol also cools and refreshes, offering relief from discomfort. I love this product as it’s tailored to my needs, feels GREAT on my lips (tingly and minty and soft…mmmm!) and it lasts for ages! I now permanently have my eye on Carmex.

The Body Shop lip butter smells good but does nothing for my lips. The Body Shop Shimmer Lip Balm in Lychee gives my lips a clear sparkle, but often sets off the irritation so I’ve stopped using it so much. The Miss Sports Dr. Balm is a tinted balm the colour of the packet and came free with another Miss Sporty purchase. I’ve not used it yet.

So that’s my collection! I could write more but I feel like I’m going on a bit so I’ll stop here and say thank you very much for reading!

Before you go, leave a comment telling me if you share any of my views or have your eye on any of these products, and be sure to leave your blog link if you have one!

Love from,

SASHA x

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August 23, 2014

On-Trend Sixties Retro NOTD – Cookies and Cream

Sasha Hope Home, Nails 0 Comments

Hello everyone! Smile because you can, and as a good friend often tells me, you’ll live longer. Unfortunately this usually leads to me thinking of death.

Retro is a word that for me gleams like a dazzling diamond out of every blog page, tweet or magazine and draws me in like a siren. I love anything retro, from outfits to nails to hair, which is why I’m currently thrilled that this delightful style has stormed the internet and firmly deposited itself on-trend. We are currently experiencing a nineties comeback (yay!) but the sixties are beginning to make some noise and I couldn’t be happier.

I have created a sixties-inspired retro nail look to share with the world and encourage the rise of the sixties. I used the two nail paints above. First I applied Max Factor Glossfinity in Snow White (bottom in the picture) which did the job perfectly and provided opaque colour in just two layers. It also claims to keep my nails glossy for 7 days – I’ll be putting this to the test but it’s doing well so far – and we all know sparkles last forever so I’m hoping this will stay for a while! Next I applied one coat of Model’s Own Glitter Collection in Mixed Up which was bought from TK Maxx for only £2 (over half the regular price) on a whim – I’m sorry but I don’t think it is possible for any functioning human being to see that deal on that nail polish and just walk away – TOTALLY going against the ban I placed on myself from buying nail polish (click here to see why). And, voila! A black sparkly sprinkle over a snow white base. Reminds me of cookies and cream. Mmmm I want to eat my nails now that can’t be good

Since this nail look is basically monochrome, it goes with a huge variety or outfits and is casual, smart, and party proof! Wear anywhere, any time, for anything. Who can go wrong with cookies and cream?! Great for dieters – instead of eating the cookies, wear the cookies!

Love the sprinkle, hate the colour? Here are some other ideas:

From the left: Northern Lights by Model’s Own, Blizzard by Model’s Own, sparkle nail polish by Claire’s, Pink Fizz by Model’s Own and Sparkle Touch in Glitter by Miss Sporty. Go on, add a bit of sparkle to your life! I always love spicing up a nail look by adding spinkles, even if it’s just to the ring finger nail. I absolutely love these nail polishes, they all create such different looks and last forever on your nails (although they can be a pain to remove)!

Read more about them here, and my recommended remover here!

Thank you so much for reading, but before you go, comment below telling me if you like the look, or if you are a fan of retro styles too!

Love from,

SASHA x

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August 20, 2014

Awesome Life Hacks

Sasha Hope Haircare, Home, Nails 0 Comments

Aloha everyone. Today I’m sharing with you some super cool tips and tricks I use in everyday life to make everything that little bit easier, and you can use them too!

I read about life hacks A LOT, and most of the time they never seem to be relevant to problems I have or things that I need to do. I instead made up my own little life hacks that are relevant to me and my life, hopefully meaning it would be relevant to the people around me as well. It’s a mix of beauty, hair, DIY, food, travel and everything really! Enjoy!

1. Struggling to find space in your handbag (especially in that tiny clutch on a night out)? Take out that bulky hand cream, pop down to the Body Shop and ask an assistant for a sample of one of their hand creams. You’ll get a dinky little pot which you can just slip in to your handbag without fuss! It lasts a good few uses too and is super light, unlike a full tube! And you’ll be doing your hands a favour – the Body Shop hand creams cater for specific needs such as ageing and weak nails (that’s the one I use) and do well to soften and moisturise hands.

When the little tub runs out (or if you find it doesn’t work as well as your normal hand cream), you can always fill it up again with the hand cream of your choice, so you can continue to save space in your handbag. Recently I’ve been trying out dermaV10 anti-ageing hand & nail cream which was sent to me by the brand along with an anti-ageing moisturiser. DermaV10 is the UK’s fastest growing beauty brand and prides itself on providing cruelty-free products with prices starting from under £1. The brand has been around for a while but are just starting to make some noise! They rely on your positive feedback as advertising so they can keep product prices low. Their motto ‘Love yourself for less’ stays true to their products and this one doesn’t disappoint. It smells scrumptious and is formulated with beeswax and vitamin E which gives a rich formula to nourish and enrich the skin. The hand cream also has anti-ageing properties (you’re never too young for this) and SPF 10. This is from the Q10 Innovations range.

And whilst you’re at it, you could swap your normal perfume bottle for a little sample vial you seem to collect everywhere, or just add that in if you don’t already carry perfume. Spritz once or twice throughout the day, or when you think the scent is wearing off. Quite long-lasting too; I can usually get a good two weeks use out of a sample vial. A good chance to try the perfume sample out before you buy!

2. Having a hairy frizz-attack? CAN’T FIND YOUR SERUM?! Don’t worry. Hand cream (in small amounts) can work as a temporary solution. Spread the cream around your hands as usual, but instead of rubbing it all in, tame down the frizzy parts of your hair. It’s probably best to wash your hair that evening. Also, be very careful not to use too much, especially on the scalp, as your hair can get greasy fast.

3. Still battling that frizz? This DIY leave in conditioner will tackle tangles and fight frizz for that extra day of no washing. Take a spray bottle (possibly an empty leave in conditioner bottle, if you’ve ran out and need a new one fast) and pour in it one part normal conditioner to three parts water. Add another part water if you are using a thicker conditioner, and stir stir stir! A few sprays throughout the day will keep things under control.

4. Use white eye shadow as a base for your other colours to make your eyes stand out. It helps the colour lasts longer and gives bright colours a pop. I can’t remember the first time I heard this tip – it’s so simple and easy yet surprisingly unknown!

5. Making pancakes? I am the worst at keeping the mix in the ladle on that dreaded journey from the bowl to the pan. One thing I’ve learnt from the internet? Put pancake mix in an (EMPTY) ketchup bottle for a reusable, no-mess experience! It also gives you a lot more control over how much mix you want in the pan. A squeezy ketchup bottle is best for this, not the chug-chug ones.

6. Going on holiday? Well, it is the summer – and who doesn’t want a tan? Tie a small piece of brightly coloured or easy to notice fabric to your luggage handle. This makes collecting your bag after a flight so much easier, as you can immediately see which bag is yours!

I hope those tips helped you along in your daily life and made things just that little bit easier!

Before you go, leave a comment saying what your favourite tip was from the list above, or drop us your own little tip (and be sure to put your blog link if you have one)

Thanks so much for reading,

SASHA x

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August 17, 2014

20 Questions Tag

Sasha Hope Home, Nails 0 Comments

Well hello everybody! This is my first post after my holiday and I have to say I missed all of you :(

This post is the 20 Questions Tag (well done Captain Obvious it’s in the title) for which I have been tagged by the lovely Karin J R (click that link right there to read her post) and will henceforth complete to the very best of my ability.

I have also been nominated for the Liebster award by katrionakinsandjuliekins, missbeautytricks and matildaelizabeth for which I am very grateful. However I have already received the award and have over 200 followers on twitter and bloglovin, so therefore I no longer qualify for this award :(

Here we go!

1. Thing you cannot leave the house without?

This is probably cheating but NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT RULES so I say my handbag with all my normal stuff in it e.g. hand cream, lip balm, PHONE obviously, perfume etc.

2. Favourite brand of make up?

OK, who asks a beauty blogger this question?! I refuse to answer this out of protest for respecting the bblogging world and our inability to commit. Also because it would take me about a week to decide and who wants a week-late post?

3. Fave flowers?

I’m not a big flowers person, I don’t own any nor will I buy and or be given some any time soon. I always do love it however when I see little snowdrops on the ground, looking white and preened and perfect, and it reminds me that beautiful things don’t always come from the most high-class environment.

4. Favourite clothing stores?

I’ going to say ASOS because it’s a brand that fits so many style needs and personalities and I always, ALWAYS find something I like there…not always a good thing, hello unhappy bank statement (I think I’ve used that before but whatever).

5. Fave perfume?

Honestly don’t have one! I haven’t bought myself a perfume in years, I get them as gifts and samples from magazines or make up stands. I’m currently using a Chanel Coco Mademoiselle sample, but I might go back to the Kylie Minogue Darling bottle I got for my birthday (read the review here).

6. Heels or flats?

I like to wear heels for special occasions but 90% of my life you’ll find me well grounded.

7. Do you make good grades?

Yes, I think so.

8. Fave colours?

Gotta love me some pastels, but I do tend to go for pink quite a lot too (I sound so girly).

9. Do you drink energy drinks?

No, I don’t really like fizzy drinks and I’m well aware all the sugar, chemicals and caffeine aren’t good for me anyway.

10. Do you drink juice?

Mmmmm, juice. I’m a juice snob so most of the time I’ll only go for freshly squeezed juices and otherwise I’ll have water (Mmmmm, water). But whenever I get the chance to have a freshly squeezed juice, I’l take it no matter the price! I could make it at home as I do own an orange pressing machine, but I generally cba to find the machine, clean the machine, set up the machine, etc etc. And you’d be surprised how little juice you can get out of one orange. Sure is good though.

11. Do you like swimming?

I love swimming! I wish I could go more often and it’s SO good for you because every part of your body gets exercise.

12. Do you eat fries with a fork?

…No.

13. What’s you’re favourite moisturiser?

Yu-Be. It isn’t my daily moisturiser because I only have a sample from a Latest in Beauty box and I’m saving it for times when I really need it, but it’s super fantastic for reasons which I describe in this post.

14. Do you want to get married later on in life?

I definitely want to get married at some point.

15. Do you get mad easily?

I personally don’t think so but it would probably be best for someone else to judge this.

16. Are you into ghost hunting?

No.

17. Any phobias?

Death and maggots.

18. Do you bit your nails?

If you saw my last NOTD post, you would be aware that I have beautiful, long, smooth and healthy nails. This is all thanks to my mum who payed me to stop biting my nails when I was 10.

19. Have you ever had a near-death experience?

Not yet!

20. Do you drink coffee?

Only if I really need it; for exam or similar.

There we have it! Now you all know a little more about me I encourage you to share a little about yourselves! Instead of tagging another blogger, I invite everyone to comment below an answer to one of the questions above (and be sure to leave your blog link if you have one!) Happy commenting!

Love from,

SASHA x

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August 14, 2014

GUEST POST – Colour Blocking

Sasha Hope Home 2 Comments

Style Guide–color block

Color blocking is a method of wearing multiple solid colors in one outfit.

In color blocking no stripes or patterns are used only solid block colors.

You can color block with clothes,shoes,bags and even accessories,colors like black ,white,or nude can be used as base colors for your outfit,but try not to color block more than three bright colors in one outfit.

Colors That go together .

In order not to cause a color disaster you can use a color wheel to create a great color block outfit.

Use the brighter colors to dress the part of your body that you want to show off and the darker clor used for a slimming look.

Be creative,ply with your colors ,don’t feel bad if you mess up we learn from our mistakes be confident be chic colors are a beautiful thing. Until next time …xo kattz.

Cathlee Patterson
stylzbykattz@aol.com

August 11, 2014

Step By Step NOTD – Sea Crush

Sasha Hope Home, Nails 4 Comments

Hello All! As you’re reading this, I will be away on an internet-free holiday! Apologies if I DIE from internet withdrawal symptoms. So I still love receiving comments so although I won’t be able to approve them until I get back I would still love you to write them for me! Same goes for bloglovin and twitter, I still love you to follow me even if I can’t follow you back right now! Thanks so much guys and I really hope you’ll continue to read my blog even when I’m not promoting it on twitter :)

Speaking of which how nice would it be if I came back to a massive milestone of followers?! That would make me so happy hint hint nudge nudge

Right, enough shameless self-plugging. This post is actually about what I’m wearing on my nails! This is not one, but two nail polishes, and it’s a combination I wear quite often. I named it sea crush because the colour is a mix of blue and candy apple green and it reminds me of the bluey green of the sea. It also has sugary bobbly bits on the top which reminded me of crushed sugar, hence the name sea crush!

Hope you enjoy!

Coat your nails in The Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil before filing. I do this because I like to use all my nail products when I paint my nails! This also really sounds like something that would do my nails and cuticles some good. It makes my nails super shiny too!

Next, file your nails into the desired shape. I like my nails to be long and rounded and I use this rectangular nail file from Claire’s. TOP TIP: File in one direction only on each side of the nail (from the sides upwards towards the middle), do not go back and forth as this weakens the nail fibres leading to breakage and splits.

This hand and nail cream from Neutrogena strengthens the nails by up to 200%. I rave about this cream a lot and use it very often, as you can see I’m running out!

Apply the cream as so with a miniature dollop on each nail, then rub it in until it has all been absorbed by the nail.

Your nails are now ready for some colour! This creamy, sugary green colour from Models Own reminds me of a mint milkshake!

And it’s scented too! It’s one of the Models Own Fruit Pastel range, they’re all scented and come in simply gorgeous pastel shades, perfect for summer! This colour is called Apple Pie.

Apply the polish with firm and even brush strokes.

As you can see, one coat doesn’t really give you solid colour. In fact, the clear unevenness of the nail was what inspired this look in the first place – I knew it would be terribly thick, globby and even more uneven if I did another coat of the same polish, so instead I used something more opaque to add a bit of texture.

Now it’s time to apply the second nail polish! This one is Atlantic Road 324 from Barry M. Loving the name – the colour is like the Atlantic and the texture is like a road! I actually had no idea it was textured when I bought it (yes, I am aware it says it on the bottle), I just liked the colour! I also own the colour Kingsland Road 316 from the same collection, it’s a peachy baby pink colour. They go together as a baby pink and baby blue!

Apply so it covers all the green, but don’t make the blue colour too thick and opaque or you won’t be able to see the green underneath, making the whole thing pretty pointless.

And here’s the finished nail! Super cute, right?

Look at it compared to the previous colour – it smooths out the pigment whilst adding a bit on totally on-trend texture!

This was my first NOTD post so I really hope you guys liked it!

As always, I love to receive your comments even if I can’t approve them just yet! I’d love to have a lovely long list when I get back! :)

Thank you so much for reading <3

Love from,

SASHA xxx

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August 8, 2014

Guest Post – Back to Class Top 5 Essentials

Sasha Hope Home 0 Comments

Whether it’s back to class, back to uni or back to work, there is simply no reason to deny yourself of some of the gorgeous stationary available on the high street at the minute. (There’s no reason anyway, I’m shamefully addicted to pretty stationary). I’ve handpicked five of my ultimate favourites and definite purchases I will be planning on making before the new semester begins!

1. Acrylic desk pot from MUJI

When I’m on a beauty blog roll, scouring the internet for interesting beauty posts and new bloggers to follow, there’s a reoccurrence of acrylic storage! Simple and unobtrusive, why not use the storage for stationary, too? I’ll be saving up to purchase a whole collection. Also, Muji is so affordable and cute.

2. Filofax from Paperchase*

I don’t know where I would be without my Filofax, I currently use my mums old red leather one, but this colour is a sure fire way of keeping Summer colouring with you even if the sun doesn’t stick around. They’re so handy, from planning lectures, keeping notes on events and birthdays, and for bloggers it’s a great way to plan posts when you’re out and about and have an idea!

3. Sharpies from Ryman*

What on earth is the point in writing if you can’t make it pretty?! I’m kidding, but it does help. I can’t study notes unless I’m looking at something appealing but that’s just me. It’s always handy to have a beautiful set of colours on hand for when you fancy them. They’re also on offer at the minute!

4. Abstract Wooden Notepad from Paperchase*

Just something a little different really. I love how the pad has a wooden cover, which means it won’t rip or get damaged (I tend to carelessly chuck things in my bag at the end of a busy day). Paperchase stock gazillions of notepads and notebooks, from navajo to floral – it’s really worth having a look, this was my personal favourite.

5. Heart Sticker Sheet from Ebay

Because…Why not? They’d look super cute stuck on important days in your diary, act as jazzy alternatives to bullet points or would even be a little inexpensive way to personalise your room – be creative!

So that’s my checklist of things I’ll make sure I take to university when I return in September. What are your ultimate stationary must-haves? Are you a bit of a stationary hoarder too?

(Items marked with asterisks indicate websites that provide STUDENT DISCOUNT! YAY!)

Written by the lovely Eleni from http://elenimac.blogspot.co.uk/ :)

August 5, 2014

7 Haircare Tips I Couldn’t Live Without

Sasha Hope Haircare, Home 12 Comments

Hello, all! I have been doing rather hairy posts recently and I thought I would add to the hairy fun with my 7 Haircare Tips I Couldn’t Live Without. I, along with most of you, have hair and am always striving to make the most out of it. To help you on your haircare journey of discovery here are some tried and tested tips to voom-ify your hair.

1. This one is courtesy of my hairdresser at Regis salons. She told me to treat my hair like my favourite fluffy jumper. You wouldn’t wash it unnecessarily at regular intervals in the week, you would only wash it if it got dirty or really needed it. This preserves it’s colour, texture and quality. The moral of the story is don’t wash your hair too often. It may be tempting to wash it before it gets greasy but overwashing is damaging to your hair and does it no good at all. Wait until it needs the wash, then wash it.

2. Thick, voluminous hair in an instant? Oh yes! This tip was found in an earlier edition of Vogue magazine. Although blowdrying your hair upside down is a surefire way to increase volume, a lesser known daily trick is to brush your hair upside down (and then again the right way up if it needs it). This is a lot quicker and can be done every morning without heat-traumatizing your hair. It pumps up the volume without side effects…have we died and gone to hair heaven here?!

3. Talking of blowdrying, anyone suffer from frizz-mania after they’ve finished? I used to, until I discovered what I was doing wrong. This tip is from the Elle magazine website. Point the airflow of the hairdryer down the shaft of the hair – if the hairdryer points down, the hair will stay down! Makes sense really, doesn’t it? Point the airflow upwards and the hairs will rise upwards individually, therefore hello frizz.

4. This is a very simple fact that I’ve found is surprisingly unknown. When your hair is wet, it is very fragile and susceptible to breakage. Using a normal hairbrush will cause damage and breakage to the hair fibre as it is much too harsh. Instead, use a wide tooth comb or a tangle teezer when your hair is wet, which are much gentler on the hair and will not cause breakage. For blowdrying, use a tangle teezer whilst the hair is still substantially wet.

5. This is something I have been doing for a long while to smooth down flyaways in my braids. Apply hair gel to your already braided hair to increase the longevity and neatness of the braid. It can also be used to direct flyaways back into the braid to keep it smooth and tidy. It makes your hair super shiny too, which is always a bonus!

6. Another braidy tip for my long haired chums is to apply a deep conditioner to the remaining hair at the end of your braid. It is a great way to keep your ends nourished so they don’t get dry or (shock horror) split, and this can be a real problem when your hair gets really long because the nutrients in your scalp oils don’t travel so far down the hair shaft. It is also much more subtle to apply when your hair is in a braid than if it was down. You could even apply it to the whole braid if your hair was really troublesome!

7. This is one I hate doing, but it works just the same so I thought I should share. Rinse hair with cold water post-condition. This leaves hair silky smooth and radiant. It also seals the cuticle of the hair which reduces frizz. Personally, I can’t stand having cold water on my head after a nice cold bath! But it’s a great tip for the more brave amongst you!

I hope you enjoyed my haircare tips! My hair is a big part of my look so although I am not an expert in all things hair, I have spent a lot of time and money and tried and tested many different techniques so I feel I can at least help to guide you towards your perfect hair destination!

Before you go, leave a comment with your favourite haircare tip (and be sure to leave your blog link if you have one!)

LOVE FROM

SASHA x <3

August 2, 2014

Guest Post – “Cheeky” NOTD and Midi Ring Love

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Well hello there, this is actually my very first guest post! Oh wait, I forgot to introduce my self.. I’m Amy and a run a little fashion and beauty blog called Style Storms. The lovely Sasha has let me share my ramblings on her blog! Yay!

I’ve decided to chitter chatter away to you lovely lot about my recent purchase and a “cheeky” nail of the day.

Midi rings are just cute little accessories aren’t they? I was browsing the Black Tied shop on Esty, when I seen these beauty’s. They arrived in the post yesterday and I just had to share them with you.

I have to admit my nail aren’t the greatest or longest but they just refuse to grow. Anyhow, I don’t let it stop me from using my huge Orly collection. I’m currently loving this shade “Cheeky” from their range. I think it’s a kind of peachy pink shade, would you agree? It’s very cute and girly. Just how I like my nail shades.

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Two ways which I’d wear my midi rings, I haven’t decided which I prefer best yet. So I’d love your thoughts on it! I’m adoring the little cross detailing too.

Usually when it comes to rings, I swear by my Pandora ring the boyfriend bought me. I can see myself mixing it up more after getting these.

Hoped you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing! If you fancy hearing more of my chatter you can find me at: http://stylestorms.blogspot.com/