Happy Holidays :)

Everyone like to get away for a few days every now and then, I'm definitely no exception to this!

As much as I love the thought of sun, sea and sand, sipping cocktails by the pool and getting a tan, this year it just wasn't an option due to the lack of funds. I am however going to Edinburgh for a few days next week!

Gareth and I first went to Edinburgh together in January and totally fell in love with it. Its the most beautiful and romantic city, brimming with history around every corner.

Roll on Monday =D

xx

My Tattoo

O.K I'm just going to start this post by saying that I don't think anyone should get a tattoo without first thinking long and hard about; 1. what they are going to get, 2. where they are going to get it and 3. who they are going to have do it for them.  I know so many people who regret getting their tattoos because they think it's a silly tattoo, it's in a really bad place or there are mistakes in it.

At the end of the day a tattoo is permanent and yes there are ways of fading it but realistically you will be left out of pocket and probably have scars!

My tattoo is of a koi fish, there are two reasons I decided to get this tattoo; 1. It reminds me of someone who I have lost  and 2. It has a very powerful meaning which i can strongly relate to. I waited a year before getting my tattoo because I wanted to be sure about it, I've had it for a year and I don't have any regrets, I think it is a beautiful work of art and i must give credit to the artist who did it for me; Sailor Bill II. He is a freehand artist which means he doesn't use any stencils. He gave me lots of advice when choosing my tattoo, and whilst he was actually tattooing me he talked me through all the after care i needed to know to keep my mind off the pain (Tattoos do hurt! anyone who says otherwise is lying).

Some history about the meaning of the koi...

The koi is said to climb waterfalls with bravery with the goal of being transformed into a dragon, but if caught  it would lie on the cutting board accepting its fate whilst showing no fear. Chinese legend tells us that any koi who managed to succeed in climbing the falls at a place called Dragon Gate on the yellow river would be transformed into a dragon. From this legend the koi has become a symbol of aspiration, courage and the strength taken to overcome life's difficulties to reach our goals.

Tresemme Split Remedy

 

I've recently been using the new tresemme split remedy shampoo and conditioner. Both the shampoo and conditioner have a lovely consistency and smell really nice. My hair had pretty bad split ends and after using this combination I really noticed a difference.

My hair is a lot healthier looking, much shiner and smells amazing... BONUS :) 

Stylist pick

A few months ago i discovered Stylist pick, this is a site selling accessories: shoes, handbags and jewellery. I love the idea behind this site. Basically you take a quiz and answer some questions about styles you like and enter your information e.g. shoe size. The site then takes your answers and compiles your very own personal showroom accordingly whilst you register.

The site has different stylists including Cheryl Cole and all the items are very reasonably priced with the added bonus of free delivery and returns!

These shoes are the second item I've purchased from the site, they are from the Louise Roe collection and they are called Talitha.

 When you view a particular shoe you can see a selection of pictures of that shoe from different angles and what it looks like being worn, but i have to admit that one of my favorite things about Stylist pick is that when viewing each show the stylist gives their advice of how they would wear it.

Both the orders i have received from Stylist pick have been delivered very quickly, I haven't had to wait more than 4 working days which is brilliant if you want to buy something at the beginning of the week for that weekend. The quality of the products are set off initially by the packaging, a lot of effort and care goes into this. They arrive in a brown parcel with the sites logo on it, when you open that box you see the black Stylist pick bag which contains the shoebox, the shoebox has a ribbon tied around it with an attached label thanking you for your purchase.

 Inside the shoebox each shoe is individually wrapped in tissue paper and sealed again with the sites logo, the shoebox also contains an envelope which holds your delivery note and a sticker with the picture of you're new shoe. The added effort in the packaging of their products definitely makes them stand out and is one of the reasons I have no doubts that I will purchase more from the site.

They're so beautiful! Can't wait to get wearing them :)

Catching Fire & Mockingjay

I love the Hunger Games!! <3

The first book i devoured in practically 3 sittings, i just couldn't put it down. The next two books i ordered off the internet because i knew i wouldn't be in the town to pick them up; however this did mean that I had to wait for them to be delivered. I ordered them last Friday and they arrived while i was at college on Wednesday so arriving home to that particular parcel deffinatly made my day!

I started reading the second book (catching fire) as soon as i opened the parcel and I by two o'clock on Friday i was finished both books, this is not an exaggeration, these books are so addictive!

Catching Fire

So Katniss and Peeta managed to survive the hunger games but President Snow is angry about how Katniss rebelled against the rules of the games to achieve this. There is talk everywhere that a rebellion against the Capitol has begun and President Snow makes it clear to Katniss that he believes this is largely her fault and she is being idolized for it.

When the hunger games where formed it was decided that every 25 years the anniversary would be marked by a Quarter Quell (an extreme version of the games.) This year is the 75th anniversary and it is announced that the tributes will be chosen out of those who have won the games in the past meaning Katniss and either Peeta or Haymitch will have to compete. Katniss knows that this was designed to make an example of her and she is not planning on surviving.

Mockingjay 

Katniss survives the hunger games again but she discovers that many secrets have been kept from her and now when the land is in the middle of a revolution she is expected to take her place with people who she feels she may not be able to trust. 

I have tried hard not to give too much away about these books encase i spoil it for anyone who hasn't read them yet but its quite hard to explain the book after you know the big story lines in them. The second book was just as good as the first and it really lived up to my high expectations. The third was amazing but in a different way, I actually cried throughout the third book and that's not something that happens easily. Suzanne Collins did an amazing job connecting the reader to the characters and because the books follow on from each other you almost feel apart of it.

Sorry if this was a bit too long, i tried to limit what i said about each book as much as possible whilst still doing them justice. I honestly haven't read such a good book in a long time and then to find three is amazing, I would recommend this book to anyone and i dare you not to fall in love with it ... 

The Hunger Games

Everyone is talking about the hunger games trilogy, i hear it mentioned everywhere i go and now that the first book has been made into a film I'm also seeing it advertised. 

I watch a lot of book reviews on you tube and again this trilogy just keeps appearing so I finally gave in and bought the first book  which I've just finished ... I can't get enough, its not at all what I expected it to be like and from the very first chapter i didn't want tot put it down, it was amazing! I've already ordered the next two books and I can hardly wait for them to arrive. 

The story begins with Katniss Everdeen on the day of the reaping, this is the day when twelve boys and twelve girls are chosen to compete in 'The Hunger Games'. One boy and one girl form each of the twelve districts are chosen to compete in this competition which is performed on live T.V ,the only rule is 'kill or be killed'. 

The story is mainly told from Katniss point of view and the author did an amazing job, i got completely sucked in and felt all the emotions along with the characters!

I really can't wait to read the next two books and I'm even more excited for the film to come out on 23rd March. Thank you Suzanne Collins!

Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3480581/a-day-in-my-life?claim=xx2c5gqva4t">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>