Liebster Award!

I've been nominated for the Liebster award! The award is to help new and up-and-coming bloggers spread the word about their blog. I was nominated by Emma; a lovely 17 year old from the UK. Like me, she has dreams of living in Australia in the future which is awesome. Emma has given me a list of 11 questions which I have to answer on my blog. I then create 11 new questions for 11 bloggers to do (which I will tag in this post.) 

1. What's a massive positive influence in life?

The positivity of my boyfriend and my mum; both help me stay sane and happy!

2.What's your favourite movie?

The Great Gatsby 

3. Tattoos...yes or no?

No, too scared I will regret it if I do!

4. What is your favourite memory?

My first holiday with my friend Megan. I felt so cool and grown up. We were 14 years old and she helped me through my first time on a plane. She filmed it and it's incredibly embarrassing. 

5. Favourite crystal?

Turquoise, as it's my birthstone colour :)

6. Favourite online clothes shop?

Asos

7.Favourite instore clothes shop?

Urban Outfitters, I currently love everything in there!

8.At the moment, who is your favourite blogger or you tuber?

Emily Victoria Canham, I started watching her videos recently. She's gorgeous and seems so lovely!

9. Instagram or Twitter?

Twitter, I'm addicted.

10. Favourtie restaurant?

Anything that has pizza.

11. Favourite make-up brand?

At the moment I would say Benefit. I don't normally buy too much high end makeup - I'm a student so i'm poor. 

I nominate:

http://awalkbesideme.blogspot.co.uk 

http://www.unkhanny.com

http://lavie-bienaimee.blogspot.co.uk 

http://www.tanyalsk.ru 

http://houseofsummersville.blogspot.co.uk 

https://nkdboutique.wordpress.com 

http://janetteamelia.blogspot.co.uk 

http://ohsnapanna.blogspot.co.uk 

http://www.usedluck.com

http://themonarca.com

http://tricyoppong.com

My questions:

1) Would would be your dream job?

2) Who was the first Youtuber/blogger you subscribed to?

3) What's your favourite post on your blog?

4) Favourite TV Programme?

5) What country do you want to visit the most?

6) What's your favourite quote?

7) 3 best moments of 2014?

8) Favourite sweet treat?

9) Do you prefer online shopping or shopping or real life shopping?

10) If you were given 1 Milliom pound what would be the first thing you buy?

11) What makes you the most happy?

Have fun! x

‘The perfect body’

From an Instagram filter to a professional who Photoshop’s images for a living, everyone has the ability to manipulate an image to make a person look ‘different.’ With this in mind, it’s no wonder that celebrities, and even your everyday woman, feel the pressure to now use plastic surgery to permanently look like their ‘manipulated photograph.’

It’s been happening for years. Take Kelly Clarkson for example; in 2009 she posed for the front cover of Self magazine, which promotes nutrition health and advice. She showed off her ‘new slim body,’ which was a noticeable difference from her fuller figure in previous years. However, a few days after the magazine was released, Kelly appeared on Good Morning America, and she didn’t exactly look the same. Even though the magazine is meant to promote body confidence, as said on their cover, the magazine had slimmed down the image so make her look a lot thinner than she was. Of course, her body still looked great, but Self magazine thought she needed some touching up.

A quick pop to the shops, looking though a magazine, or sitting in your room on Tumblr; the pressure to be slim is everywhere. Magazines are full of fad diets and slim models, and it just makes you think ‘why am I not allowed to look the way I want?’ The first thing I notice when I look down the magazine isle is the front covers full of gorgeous, slim, edited women.

It’s examples such as those that are the reason that the ‘everyday woman’ feels the pressure to look the new sense of normal. Mothers who gain weight during pregnancy compare themselves to Kim Kardashian West; a gorgeous celebrity who was slated for gaining weight whilst pregnant in 2013.

What’s your idea of a ‘healthy body?’ Does it look like the top or bottom image?

Both were released in the same year, but both show different versions of women. 

It’s not just women that are affected; men and children are too.  January 2015 was the month Justin Biebers photo-shoot with Calvin Klein was released. It was later revealed that almost every part of his body was photoshopped. His chest, arms, and even bulge were enhanced, making him look more muscular.

It's your decision how you view your body, or what your idea of the perfect body is. 

January Favourites

January seems to have flown by, and already we are into the second month of 2015! January has been a stressful month with starting semester 2 at university, and trying to find our student house for September. Let's hope February isn't as stressful.

There's a few things I was loving throughout January and I thought I'd share them with you;

Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter - I got this from my boyfriend for my birthday at the end of december and can't stop using it! I never used to use body lotion/butter but now I can't stop. This body butter smells amaaazing and leaves a scent for quite a while - which is the main reason why I love it. Also, if I apply it in my room after a shower then my rooms smells of it which is fab.

Love Tanya - Although I have never been an avid reader, as soon as I saw a sneak peek of this book on Tanya's Youtube, I instantly knew I would love it - and I was right. The book is a mixture of autobiography, beauty, baking, and life. You can purchase it here for the very reasonable price of £6.49 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Tanya-Burr/dp/1405921404 

Benefit High Beam - For Christmas my parents got me a set of small Benefit items. Along with the high beam came the Lolli Tint, Posie Tint, and Bene Tint. The consistency of the highlighter is slightly thick, presumably so that it doesn't run off your face, and is super easy to apply. I apply this to my chin, cheek bones, and down the bridge of my nose and it lasts all day! I will definitely be purchasing the big bottle of this. 

Ed Sheeran X - Another Christmas gift was Ed Sheeran's newest album. I've been listening to Ed Sheeran for quite a few years now, and this album didn't disappoint. I love pretty much every song, and would 100% recommend downloading/buying this!

Wagamama - On the 6th January I had my first Wagamama, and have been there 3 times after that. A good friend of mine, Megan, took me there when I visited her in London and oh my goodness it was amazing. I had the Teriyaki Chicken Donburi which is "grilled juicy chicken glazed with orange teriyaki sauce, sticky white rice, with thin sliced carrots, pea shoots, spring onion and sesame seeds and a side of spicy kimchee." 

 Long story short is was delicious. sorry for the bad quality images of my food, they were the only ones on my phone that I could find.

Hope you all enjoyed this post, see you soon, Lauren x