Quote of the Week..

Sorry for not posting much this week..has been very hectic working to get a bit of money on my week off but also squeezing in uni work and two photoshoots..one being a baby bump shoot! Will show photos once my new photography blog is up and running!

In the meantime, here's a little thought...

(Taken from google)

Hope you're all having a good week and get lots of sweeties given to you tonight for halloween :) x

My hair routine and product reviews..

Hi lovelies, hope you're all having a good week. I thought I'd pop up a post about my hair routine as have had a few people ask me what I use on it so here goes...

My hair is the type of hair that I can't wake up in the morning and it be fine..I either have to wash it or put it up which is a huuuuge nuisance. I want to be able to have it down without washing, but can't find a way for it to not look frizzy if I've not washed it. As soon as I brush it, it either goes huge or a big ball of frizz..so annoying..so if anyone has any tips, let me know!

1. Hair finished and dried, 2. Hair straight out of shower, 3. Hair with 1st product (leave-in conditioner), 4.Hair with second product (curl definition serum) 5. Hair after diffusing, 6. Hair after drying and fringe straightened, 7. Hair finished but not fully dry

Once out of the shower, I use a Boots own brand 'Coconut & Almond Leave-In Conditioner.' It has only been the past couple months that I have started to use this after my hairdresser recommended it to me. It's not very often that your hairdresser recommends a Boots own brand so was very pleased!

The description on the bottle reads,

"With extracts of coconut and almond, Boots Ingredients Coconut & Almond Leave-In Conditioner is specially formulated to moisturise and smooth, leaving hair soft and tangle free," and is designed for normal to dry hair.

Directions For Use:
After shampooing, towel dry hair.  Spray conditioner from root to tip and comb through. - As with every hair product, it talks about for best results using with other same branded products which I hardly do, so can't tell how well that actually works.

Although Liam doesn't particularly like the smell, I love it, and spray quite a lot of it on my hair..it makes me feel as though I'm abroad! And it does say to spray from root to tip.. those are my excuses when I am having an OTT spraying day! After that, I comb through with a wide toothed comb as find that easier to get through my curls especially when wet. I know it's bad to brush when wet but that's the only time I really can so always use a wide comb to do so. Before using this product and with any other leave in conditioner, I found my hair to curl and knot on itself by the end of the day. This however, is great for moisturising and leaving your hair silky smooth without leaving any stickyness behind. I can honestly say that before using this my hair was always knotty and dry, but now I can actually run my fingers through it and the condition of my hair has improved dramatically since using it. It also doesn't leave the horrible residue and hard bits in your hair like others do from spraying too much product. It smells great and is a bargain price at just £1.39...couldn't ask for anything more! (For that price, I think everyone should test it..even if it's just for that holiday feeling ;) !)

Next I use something from my favourite brand 'Aussie.' This is a tiny bit of the 'Aussie Dual Personality Curl Definition Soft Feel Serum.' It claims 'to revive and separate each curl. Giving unbelievable definition Aussie's serum conditions and softens hair leaving it shiny with beautiful, bouncy curls.'
 I use this when my hair is still damp for scrunching before blow drying, but have in the past used it on my hair once dry. Directions are to 'Use on wet or dry hair. Dispense a coin-size amount into your palm, rub your hands together and work through hair, distributing evenly. Use more as needed depending on the length of your hair.' When I say tiny, I use a 'coin' size as described but for me that's a pretty small amount but does the job! It makes my curls smooth and silky, but when too much is used it can make the hair a little greasy which with fine hair, I imagine could be seen. However, as I have thick curly hair this isn't noticeable.

I dislike mousse and products like that for curly hair, as although they seem to do what the bottle states, they often leave residue and hard sections of hair..these don't which is the reason for my love of all these products. On the bottle it does state that this has no hold which would perhaps make a small improvement, but as it doesn't leave hard bits, I'm not complaining. It softens my hair, calms down the frizz and doesn't look like there's any product in my hair at all which is great! But for anyone just curling their hair and wanting it to stay like that, I can't imagine this product to be that useful. Yes, it will calm the frizz down, but you'd also need a lot of hairspray to keep the curls there.

Once I've used these couple of products, I then use a diffuser on my hairdryer to get rid of the majority of dampness in my hair. A diffuser helps to dry individual parts of my hair meaning the curls are more defined, and I feel, less frizzy than when I use a normal hairdryer. I don't like to dry my hair fully as it goes a little frizzy, so find letting the last bit dry naturally helps in the long run. Once it is dried to how I like it, the last routine product I always use is another Aussie fave: 'Aussie Dual Personality Anti-Frizz Conditioning Milk.' (Whatever gave you the idea that I'm wanting to get rid of frizz..!)

It is described as helping to 'bring flyaways back into line-without getting heavy. Finally, gasp with astonishment as your moisturized hair does what you tell it, for once.' Directions which I don't really obey to are: 'Apply to wet or dry hair. Dispense about half a pump of creme into your palm. Starting at the tips, work evenly through hair. Comb through to distribute evenly-but don't rinse. Now blow dry using a diffuser or let Mother Nature dry it in her own sweet time.'

I only ever apply this to dry hair, hence not using it before diffusing it. This, unlike the curl serum from the same range, has a little bit of hold, and I find when using it on completely wet hair, it has more hold than I like. I literally use it as a styling creme at the end and just to smooth down the curls, so once it has been dried I just scrunch the end of hair. It leaves the curls bouncy and smooth, looking like it has some kind of texture which I love.

And that's it! Sometimes I decide to straighten my sweeping fringe which I have cut in.. especially when I have just had my hair cut as it looks a bit stupid curly, but when it has grown out a little, it doesn't look out of place.

All 3 products can be found in Boots, the Aussie products are often on 3 for 2s!

Hopefully I didn't bore you with all that..but those are definitely some products to try! I'm now off to paint my nails and decide what to wear to meet my blogging beauts, Charlotte and Rachel tomorrow! Have a good night :)

Gina xoxo

Quote of the Week..

After reading another bloggers post this week, it has made me think and resulted in this being my quote of the week...

 

Weekly Ins and Outs..

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a good week!


Ins:
This week, again, there hasn't been much going on apart from uni really where we've been working in the studio. However, I'm still loving it which is great :)

At the weekend I watched the Stand Up To Cancer programme on channel 4. It brought many tears to my eyes and definitely hit a nerve as it is very close to me.. (you can read my posts on this here & here) so obviously anything to do with that means a lot. I cannot wait until a cure is found!

As we are on reading week next week, if I get any spare time in between that and working, I will be setting up an official photography page - eek! I'm really excited but also nervous as don't want people to say my works rubbish or whatever!

Next week I have been asked to do a photography shoot for a friends mum, bit nervous as have never done official team photograph shots for people to buy but should be good. Also, as my friend is nearly due, have organised to do a parent and bump shoot. Again, I've never done one before but it's experience and it's a special time so thought we'd do it :)

One type of shot I would like to get taken from google :)

Towards the end of this week I'm meeting up with my two blogger friends, Rachel and Charlotte, in Sheffield. Should be a great day of shopping, food, and catching up! Can't wait :)

Outs: 
Not been to the gym as much as I should have been... perfect tummy has not got off to a good start.

It seems to be a bad time of month for lots of money going out at the moment...roll on next pay day!

Later on the week I will be holding a giveaway for reaching 100 followers so keep your eyes peeled and there are also a couple of reviews coming up! I'm off to get an early night and get ready for Made in Chelsea. Have a good evening :)

Gina xoxo

Weekly Ins and Outs..

Hi everyone, again, sorry for the lack of blogging (All I seem to be doing is apologizing at the moment but I am really sorry!)

Ins:

This past week I have just been at uni and gymming. However, I am loving it! I have had a great week at uni, learning new bits and pieces and am looking forward to setting up a photography page soon. In the meantime you can check out my flickr account where I've uploaded a few things.

I have also started to try to get fit again! I hardly fit into any of my jeans now, and I know I'm not huge but just want to get more toned and fit back into things again. I only went twice in the week but next week will try a little harder. However, am pleased with myself for actually doing it. If anyone has any tips of how to love the tummy and side bits, let me know ;)

 I want a belly like that!!

Liam and I are looking for a 2 bed flat together to live in from September and thiiink we may have found the one! :)

Friday night I went out for a Dodgeball social. My boyfriend is part of the University of Manchester Dodgeball Society and even though I don't go to Man Uni, I go along to that. It's always a good laugh and was also my housemates birthday who we got quite worse for wear! We went out for a curry and then to a cheese night at BOP-namely B*Witched, Steps, and stuff like that which is amazing! We also did (I'm sure) amazing dance to Gangnam style.

Me eating curry, some of us at the curry, lads being stupid when out

Yesterday was a very lazy day with a little bit of uni work done and today I drove some of the girls down to Coventry for a Dodgeball Tournament. The girls have never won a match before but today came 4th out of 9...it was amazing and if any of you have seen my twitter, that's what all the tweets were about! And photos will be uploaded to facebook soon if you're interested.

Outs: 

There haven't really been any apart from neeeeeding to save money for moving into our own flat from September. Apart from that, it has been a great week!

I'm off to watch X factor now to see if there's any more drama like last week - I love Louis and Gary's banter..and want Rylan off now as he's ruined Gangnam style for me!

Gina xoxo

University has begun...

Firstly, I am so sorry for not posting for the past month. It has been manic as I have just started a new degree in Photography!

I can finally say it is something I look forward to going to each day and learning new techniques etc but it is a lot of work hence the distance from the blog! In the near future I will be setting up a facebook page, so please all check it out :)

Secondly, thanks so much for getting me over 100 followers..it means a lot and I will be having a giveaway very soon so keep your eyes peeled!

In the meantime I will have a bit of a catch up post..

One of the most important bits of information is that Liam now has a nephew named Gethin McKay Baker and he is the cutest little thing ever! I cannot believe that he is a month old today!

(Photography by me)

I have started university again! It is so good and minus the stresses of not getting any student funding anymore (boooooo!) I am having such a great time meeting new people and learning everything. Just hope I learn enough new bits by the time the wedding in February comes round! Eek!

It was great to do freshers again even though I know everyone I live with as am living in the same house as last year when I had graduated. I did the whole going to the Freshers fair though and picked up loads of free bits and bobs including a More magazine and makeup pack.. was quite lucky! I love having the chance to dress up and go out for drinks that are no more than about £2! 
Recently, we have done a couple of fancy dress events - one was a friends 21st party and the theme was the year she was born, 1991. So, I dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast..love my disney films! On Wednesday was a Dodgeball social and Olympics was the theme so I sneakily used the same outfit as I did when we dressed up for pub golf at home (saving the pennies!)

Towards the end of freshers, it was one of my best friends hen do's as you may have seen on a previous post. A couple of days before it we went round to her house for a girlie beauty evening. I had my nails done and we got our t-shirts given to us all ready for the Saturday :)
Early on the Saturday morning I turned up at Kay's house with hen do banners all over my car and the journey consisted of giggles and people blowing up inflatable willies whilst I was driving! In the meantime we had bought a game from Ann Summers which meant people had to ring the groom to be to find his answers out before asking Kay so the other car load of girls did all that....was just embarrassing when asking her the questions over lunch as we took it in turns to ask a question and ended up always being her mum or mother-in-law asking the "what's your favourite sex position / sex toy" questions!! Was great fun though! Whilst in Cardiff we went to see Dream Boys which was a good laugh and then just danced the night away in TigerTiger. Now, whenever I hear 'Gangnam Style' I just think of that weekend! Looking forward to the parties in January when they get back from their proper wedding!

1. Heart Ikea plates I wanted for uni but I was told no :( 2. The 4 of us in TigerTiger 3. Us in the car driving to Cardff 4. Us all out in Cardiff 5. The Hens 6. Fancy Dress for a 21st. 7. Me ready for first Freshers night 8. 1991 fancy dress 9. Shellac nails and t-shirt all ready for Cardiff 8. Freebies from freshers fair 9. 1991 fancy dress with birthday girl as Luigi

I hope you have all had a good few weeks, especially to those who have settled into uni now! I will be posting more frequently I hope, and if it is a little slow then please bare with me!

Gina xoxo

University Advice...

Hello! I posted almost this exact thing a year ago but am sure it will still come in handy (I hope!) So here goes...grab a cuppa and some biccies and get ready for quite a bit of reading!

It comes to this time of year again when people disappear off to uni and start new beginnings. As I am someone that has had my three years at uni (and going back-eek!), I thought what would be better than to tell people about my experience along with advice and what to expect!

The Beginning:

When I said I wanted to go to university I think everyone (especially my family) were quite shocked. I have alwaysss been someone that loves home, and although I enjoyed going to people's houses and on holidays with others etc, home is where I'm used to. I knew I wanted to do something different though and decided on uni. However, leading up to going to uni, I cried and cried and cried. I thought I had made a HUGE mistake in deciding to go and the weeks leading up to September everyone assumed I'd last just 5minutes and be on my way home again. Nevertheless, I did what I'd heard other people doing and what UCAS advised, and joined a site called yougofurther 

Through this site, I could search for people at my uni, in my halls etc and quite quickly found people. Do not get disheartened if you can't find many / any though as I now know lots didn't..I suppose I was just lucky. This is where I met my flatmate and now one of my best friends Zara. She was on my course and living in my flat, so felt like I had already made a friend before I started.

 

Once arriving in Leeds, I was sooo nervous! I am always so shy in front of new people but one thing I would advise is even if you're quiet, make sure you talk. People are feeling exactly the same as you, they just express it in different ways. I was quite surprised.. although I felt homesick, I didn't cry and sit in my room all of the time, and I am glad about that. I just thought what's the point...mum had told me to at least try it out until christmas else you'll never have a proper experience of it. This is true. I know people that quit way before christmas, within a month infact. People are still just getting to know one another then so there is no way you'll have a proper idea on if you'd like it or not. (Just my opinion.)

Decorating my room with photos of people at home and things that just brought a smile to my face definitely made me happier. Just make sure in the first few weeks, you keep yourself busy. That is key. No one wants to be friends with someone that just sits in their room with the door closed acting as though they don't want any friends. People can only do so much to help. A huge piece of advice I would give is stay strong. Just try to be confident even if you don't feel it inside. Prop your door open so that people can just pop their head in to say hi..this is how lots of friends were made in my halls! Chances are, people you have met will have met other people and this is how everyone generally gets introduced.

My little room :)

This was my board getting more & more full of photos during uni..but I had quite a few there to begin with to smile at :)

Here it is broken down...


Freshers Week:

Is just like a holiday and will be the best week of your life if you just relax and enjoy it. Yes, you spend a lot of money, but you have fun! (Or at least make sure you do!) You will end up spending hours getting ready for nights out, pre-drinking and having fun and games, then going out, getting some food on the way back home, getting to bed about 3 at the earliest and sleeping for most of the next day...possibly fit some shopping in to the day time and some kind of fast food / takeaway (both of which I did far too much of!!)

I remember my brother going off to uni last year and him saying to me, "isn't it awkward introducing yourself though?!" Yes and no...obviously it's a bit forced as everyone is saying it, but you get very used to asking and hearing, "What's your name?", "Where do you come from?" "Where are you living?" "What are you studying?"...

The main advice I would give anyone about Freshers Week is just TALK. I tried my hardest not to be shy and to make friends although I felt so so nervous! These are the first couple of weeks that people are making their friends and will be the easiest weeks to do so as everyone is in the same position.

First year freshers tops we had made!
(L-R Zara my flatmate, Zainab, me, Kayla and Bev)

First year freshers (L-R) Oceana, School Girls fancy dress, Gatecrasher, Halo, Chilli Whites UV night, first night out ever in Leeds! (How young do I look?!) x

Relationships:

When I went to university, I began a long distance relationship. This lasted for the first year, but due to reasons not to do with me being at uni, it ended. I then began a new relationship which was also long distance with my current boyfriend, Liam. He was at home for a bit of the first few months together and then moved to Manchester to start uni for himself. Although Manchester is a lot closer to Leeds, it is still an hour away and still what I would class as a long distance relationship. Yes, we were lucky and saw each other a lot more than other couples I know, but it was still every weekend, or every other weekend we saw one another. 

Every relationship takes work, but these kinds of relationships take a lot more work. A lot of people say that long distance relationships don't last, they certainly do if you want them to and if you try hard enough. I am not at all saying that they're easy..infact, they're the opposite. It's very tough when the times you're free to call, they're busy, when they're making new friends and are out in evenings and you just want someone to chat to. You just need to communicate as frequently as possible, even if this means planning times when you're both free. Skype and MSN (as old school as it is) were my best friends! Trust plays a huge part in this too, if you don't 100% trust your partner, things are not going to go smoothly. But whatever you do, please do not worry. It is just the two of you important in your relationship and if you both want it to work, it will. Ignore what others say :)

Money:

As soon as you move out, money plays a huge part in your life. It sounds silly but I never realised quite how expensive things I took for granted cost in the long run. I certainly didn't realise how much Mum and Dad spend on what I think are pretty standard things for me and my brother! Going to uni I had a tiny bit of savings from my part time job that I was going to use towards treats for me..(shopping trips, alcohol, that kinda thing).

The main thing students need to do is budget. I know so many people, who as soon as their student loan came in, just went on a shopping spree and it disappeared. Yes, I shopped a lot, a little too much as I have recently realised, but I have never been in the position where I have spent it all and not had enough for essentials!

Although in my overdraft now, (as the majority are when finishing uni), there are ways to stop this. Many people I know had a part time job at uni, but I didn't want this to get in the way of my social life and university work so I chose not to do this. Make sure you look out for any student offers, an NUS card was an essential for me as it gave soo many discounts and is only £11 a year! 16-25 Railcards were also a must have as it saves 1/3 off your travel, and only costs £28 (free with my Natwest student account!) Also, when doing fancy dress nights, Primark becomes your best friend!!

University and work:

I was quite shocked how unlike college university was. You do not have someone telling you to do a piece of homework and bring it in the next day. You don't have people sat pretty much guiding you along. They let you get on with it. If you don't pass, you haven't worked hard enough. You will only get good marks if you work hard. My university course was an art one and so was a little different but for more academic subjects, I would suggest taking something to record the lecture, or if you type faster than you write, take in your laptop / notebook to make notes. Lecturers talk fast. Make sure you ask for help if you need it. Just remember although you are at uni to have fun, you are paying a lot of money for an education so you want to get something worth remembering out of it....a good grade as well as good friends! 

Main points of advice:

• Keep records - When you move in to your accommodation, take photos of any marks / anything broken etc - places will try to charge you for all they can when you move out so you will need proof it was like that to begin with.

• Make your room homely - This is where you are living for the next year so you want to make it pretty, full of things you love and not somewhere you don't enjoy being. - I had photos everywhere, as well as a heart rug and fairy lights as these are things that made me feel right at home!

• Get blankets and cushions for your bed - You want to be cosy and will spend a lot of time in your bed..and it will probably become your sofa in your room!

• Buy storage bits - These can be found in places such as Wilkinsons, Primark, Home Bargains and B&M bargains. They are all pretty cheap and help to de-clutter your room. I was quite lucky as I had a few drawers built in, space under my bed and a wardrobe yet me being me needed more space, and ended up buying some portable drawers for more clothes and a 4 drawer slim set that fitted snugly into my bathroom. It is definitely easier to decide what storage bits you need and what size they can be once you're there though! No point buying and then realising they don't fit.

•  Buy quick to cook meals - For the first few weeks, make sure you have lots of ready meals, things that are easy to make (pot noodles!) but that fill you up. You want to be eating a good size meal so you don't end up throwing up! but you won't have time in the first few weeks to start going through the student cook books you have no doubt been given or bought whilst preparing for uni!

Second Year at uni - (L-R)
Peter Andre at Evolution, group of friends, Sailor night out, Carnage Doctors & Nurses, Evo.

• Buy your alcohol before going out - This comes under budgeting! Although drinks at student events are dirt cheap, you will save a lot by pre-drinking with friends in someones flat. - It also helps you learn a lot about some people if you play drinking games such as 'I have never...!' (Just remember about the tidying the next day!)

• Stay smiley and friendly - Keep your bedroom door open when you want company / want to meet others. People will take the hint :)

• Meet anyone you can - You don't want to make friends with 3 people then in two months down the line realise you don't actually get on with them as well as you thought you did...

• Go to Freshers Fairs - You get loads of free bits and bobs including Domino pizza offers as well as loads of others. This is somewhere you can normally sign up to a doctors surgery in case of any problems as well as a number of societies, another way of meeting new people.

• Actually go to lectures - You haven't paid thousands of pounds to get into debt and get nothing from it!

• As you can see in my photos, quite a few times we did something called 'Carnage.' Quite a few cities do it and basically, it's like a pub crawl. You pay for a t-shirt which is your ticket for the night..you can customise and cut it up however you like and then all you have to pay for are your drinks as all your entry fees to about 5 pubs and a club are paid for! It's a great way of meeting new people, and knowing that you only need money for drinks too!

• Make sure you wear flats if doing a pub crawl!

• Get used to taking naps!! Before uni, you think they are for old people. Whilst at uni, you realise you cannot live without them!

• Take loads of photos! You want to remember uni for the good reasons :) - memories and friendships made through uni are priceless.

• Lastly, have fun and just be yourself! 

Although my time at uni was tough with the actual uni course turning out to be a course I did not enjoy..health problems with my Dad back home.. massive fall outs in second year between friends and 3 of us having to move flats, I got through it! I especially enjoyed my first year, meeting such a huge variety of people and have some of the greatest friends now! Uni has definitely changed me for the better, and that I will always be glad of.

Year 3 (L-R) Pre-drinks in the flat, Kayla's LBD themed 21st, Pre-drinking before out for kay's 21st, out for birthday, Carnage PJ party, Carnage Beach babes xx

Just remember as much as you want to do well at university, don't spend every spare minute studying. I should have taken my own advice on this part in my last year rather than getting so so stressed and literally being in uni 8-8 then working all night, that everyone needs to cut loose once in a while. Always being surrounded by uni work can drain you, but don't forget that the studying is the main reason you are there!

If anyone wants any tips / advice at any time, just message me at ginab1989@hotmail.com or on twitter  and I will try to help out. I know exactly how you are feeling and just wish I had had something like this to tell me everything would be okay so am here if anyone needs me! And I hope a teeny bit of this may have helped you in some way.

I am so looking forward to doing freshers all over again but in Manchester for my new course! :)

Gina xoxo

Birthday books we bought each other to remember uni and the good times x