Boost Your Energy With A Spring Cleanse: Guest Post By Mia Taylor

While spring is a colourful, vivid season where everything is awake and in bloom, we don’t always feel excited to experience it. With spring allergies and fatigue, seasonal changes can sometimes affect our bodies in bad ways. If you’re constantly sleepy, unfocused and feel sore for no real reason, you might need a good detox to get your vitality back and help you feel cheerful about spring flowers and nice weather. Read on for some tips to help boost your energy and make you feel good.

Change your diet

Heavy, winter food is delicious and necessary when the weather is cold, but spring is the time to eat lighter meals and help our bodies fill up on natural goodies. Artichokes, asparagus, zucchini, spinach and broccoli are all in season, and there are many delicious recipes for you to incorporate these healthy, powerful foods into your diet. It’s time to go easy on the meat and dairy and give your stomach a chance to rest. Eat things like soups and salads and avoid processed foods and canned goods. Eat rice instead of bread, and use healthy spices such as turmeric, nutmeg, fennel, ginger and coriander. It’s okay to eat meat, but stick to fish and chicken for a while and avoid anything sugary, or fried. You want nutrient rich food that will help your body recover and feel vibrant.

Remember to drink enough water as well. Green tea and black tea will help with the detox and you can drink up to three or four cups a day. Avoid coffee and soda completely, as they will only make you feel thirstier and besides the unwanted weight gain, you’ll deal with their negative effects on your body.

Get moving

No better way to get rid of the toxins than to sweat them out. We need about three hours of exercise each week, and with the summer coming, now’s the perfect time to shape up. You don’t have to go to the gym to work out, you can do it at home, on your own terms. Take up dancing, kickboxing, yoga, or any other alternative to the gym. Go out for a run, or take long walks, go hiking, or put on your roller blades and drive them around the neighbourhood. The best way to get fit is to find something you enjoy doing and then become passionate about it. It will help you stick to training and you’ll have the added bonus of having fun. Working out is also a good way to gain more energy and balance your sleep cycle.

Use the right herbs and supplements

Sometimes our digestive tract needs some help to stimulate the cleansing and detoxification process. Simple herbs like dandelion and burdock root can help with this, or you could try the Renew Life detox products which have a lot of all-natural cleansing ingredients that are a really good way to help your body flush out the toxins on its own. Combine these with dandelion, milk thistle and ginger tea mix and your body will be full of energy in no time. The recipe for the tea is: bring water with peeled ginger root to a boil, then pour over the dried herbs (dandelion, milk thistle and cinnamon). Add a little honey and lemon juice.  Let it cool and you have a delicious drink that you can sip through the day.

Get enough rest

Sadly, no matter what you do, you can’t skip sleep if you want your body to be well-rested. You must get at least seven hours of sleep every night and do your best to go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day. Your body enjoys a routine and a hectic sleeping schedule will wear it out pretty quickly. The effects of sleep deprivation are pretty serious, so keep your health in mind and take time to get enough rest every night.

Spring is a wonderful time to turn our attention back to our health and develop good habits if we haven’t already. Follow these tips and you’ll soon feel fresh, happy, and full of energy.

Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and

writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on a lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips. Twitter | Facebook

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The Upside of Unrequited Review: Guest Post By The Bibliophile Girl

It's 00:27 and I've literally just finished reading The Upside of Unrequited and I can tell you this: it had all the feels. My heart was crushed but it also soared because of how amazing Albertalli's writing is... Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love - she's lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can't stomach the idea of rejection. So she's careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie's orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly's cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster boy sidekick. Will is funny, flirtatious, and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's an awkward Tolkien superfan, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

For me, the character of Molly is so relatable. When I was younger, I used to crush on so many people - just ask my best friend - I crushed on so so many people throughout high school, it was crazy. Unlike Molly, I have had long relationships but I could still relate to how Molly felt when she thought no one would want her because of her weight (I feel the exact same way), and I could relate to how Molly always felt left out when she was around other couples.

For me, The Upside of Unrequited is on the same level as Simon v The Homo Sapiens Agenda and even thought SVTHSA had a better storyline, I feel like the diversity within TUOU put it on the same level as Albertalli's debut. At least 50% of the cast was diverse. There were lesbian Moms, Cassie who is a lesbian, Molly who is heterosexual, Mina who is pansexual and Korean-American, black side characters, Jewish main characters, a main character that suffers from anxiety, and white characters. I mean, how awesome is that diversity? Sure, the main character - Molly - is heterosexual, but she's described as overweight which challenges other young adult books where the female protagonist is always described as gorgeous.

"When you spend so much time just intensely wanting something, and then you actually get the thing? It's magic."

- Becky Albertalli, The Upside of Unrequited

What was also amazing about this book was that it was around the time when gay marriage was legalised in the U.S.A and I loved it when Nadine drove Molly to the White House to see the building lit up in the LGBT flag. I thought it was such an amazing moment. And I also loved how we witnessed a lesbian wedding as that is something that we never see within young adult books. Another thing that I absolutely loved was that when given the opportunity *slight spoiler ahead* Molly didn't choose the 'attractive hipster guy', she chose the geeky, slight overweight Reid and she defied all expectations. She chose someone who made her feel comfortable with herself and who made her laugh - which I think is really important.

I know that I've just rambled on about the diversity within the book but please, how could I not? It was amazing to see this kind of representation in a YA book. I also loved the sisterly relationship between Cassie and Molly. Even though there is seven years difference between my sister and me, I could still relate to the turmoil that Cassie and Molly went through and I recognised a few of the arguments that they had. It was nice to see a sister relationship development arc be one of the main elements of a book instead boys being the main focus.

Overall, this book was amazing and considering that they're doing a film of Simon v The Homo Sapiens Agenda, I would love to see The Upside of Unrequited get a movie deal as well. I think it would be brilliant to bring the diversity to the big screen. Yet another fantastic book from Albertalli and I can't wait until she graces us with her next book. I'm eager for it already.

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Released 11th April

Huge thanks to Kirsty of The Bibliophile Girl for this wonderful guest post. If you enjoyed this one then be sure to visit Kirsty's blog where you will find plenty more book reviews. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin.




Image via Goodreads. Copyright not my own

8 Productive 'Blog Related' Things I Do When I Can't Sleep

While you're all snuggled up in bed dreaming of nice things, I'm often lying awake writing posts like this one. I didn't always have problems sleeping but over the last few years I tend to wake up on an hourly basis and sometimes I just cannot get back to sleep for love nor money. But rather than lie there worrying about the days events or counting sheep - seriously did that ever work?! - I make use of my insomnia by being as productive as possible.

I know, I know. You're gonna tell me that I'm not exactly helping myself. That any form of blue light emitted from electronics will keep my brain active and be bad for my health. Still, if I'm lying awake anyway then I'd rather get stuff done.

So what exactly do I get up to in the dark of the night?

1. Schedule Tweets

I love scheduling. It has been a life saver seeing as I work full time. I personally use Hootsuite and so far I can't fault it. It's absolutely spiffing! The odd time a tweet will fail but as it's a free app I'm hardly going to complain.

2. Catch Up 

I scroll through Bloglovin catching up on posts, bookmarking my '#SundayBlogShare' and '#MondayBlogs' favourites as I go. I tend to share any of my favourite reads on Twitter on a daily basis but on Sunday and Mondays I like to make use of the two hashtags mentioned as it helps to get my tweets noticed by more people.

3. Search For Blog Opportunities 

On Twitter I'll search for any tweets featuring the hashtag '#bloggersrequired and #bloggerswanted.' On Facebook I'm part of the UK Blogger Opportunities group but I also again search for posts with relevant hashtags.

4. Organise Images

As I don't always get chance to take my own photos I do still use Pexels for images as and when required. I find it easier if I've got some saved to my phone already so I know exactly which image will be used for which planned post.

5. Comment Spree

Commenting on other blogs is a surefire way to encourage other bloggers to check out your own. And quite often they'll leave comments in return which is always nice. I like to do a commenting spree at least once a week. Just make sure if you do this that you write authentic comments rather than just 'great post,' otherwise it'll come across like you can't be bothered or that you haven't actually read anything.

6. Write A Post 

I often write a full draft post so all I need to do is edit and publish it the following day. Bonus!

7. Jot Down New Ideas

Weirdly I get some of my best ideas in the middle of the night. And let me tell you, don't do as I used to do and plan to make a note in the morning because nine times out of ten the idea will be forgotten in the cold light of day. I could kick myself for this. Needless to say I now always make a quick note.

8. Network

By networking I mean I go through Instagram liking photos and commenting on any I really like. I do the same with tweets too. Fast forward a few hours and when I check my notifications I usually have a high response from people returning likes, follows and comments.


And that's about it. I do sleep sometimes honest! :)


Do you have problems sleeping through the night? What do you do while you're lying awake?


Until next time...  Justine xxx





Image via Pexels



Fun Bit *Choice of word 'Spiffing' used in this post as challenged by Peter of FinalCheck. Do you have a word you want me to feature in a future post? Please drop me a line and let me know! :)

Bring Spring To Your Bedroom*

I don't know about you guys but I personally cannot wait for the sunnier weather to arrive. There's something about the Spring season that literally puts a bounce in my step. Obviously the sunshine does help, but it's not just that. I love that this season brings with it new challenges and the opportunity for fresh starts. It's not just the perfect excuse to spring clean my bedroom, but also to give it that much needed makeover.

My bedroom is my safe haven, my 'go to' place when I need to escape from life. When I'm not at work or out and about, you'll usually find me curled up on my bed either reading a good novel or writing blog posts. As I spend so much time in this one room, it's hugely important that I create the perfect environment for myself.

I can't afford to go splashing out on new wardrobes or furniture right now and I know many people reading this are in the same boat, but that doesn't mean you can't change things up a bit.
Who says it has to be expensive? Just by altering the colour scheme or the duvet and curtains, a room can appear much brighter. Aside from the other life essentials (inspirational wall quotes and a glass of wine) a cosy bedspread or duvet is an absolute must for maximum comfort.

When I saw the beautiful range of bedspreads at The Yorkshire Linen Store I just knew I had to have one. I've always been a real 'girly girl' and a fan of anything neutral coloured so I fell in love with this Opulent Jacquard Champagne Bedspread as soon as I saw it. There's also matching duvets, pillow cases and cushion covers. All I'll need to do is put down a nice new carpet, add a lick of paint and 'Bob's your uncle' as they say!

Wayfair also have many pretty designs to choose from and at reasonable prices too. I seem to have relatively luxurious taste so typically was drawn to the Luxury Duchess Bedspread in gold. Both of the bedspreads mentioned are machine-washable and tumble-dryer friendly, although if we get some warmer weather I'll definitely be hanging mine outside to dry!

Photo: Opulent Jacquard Champagne Bedspread

Why not bring Spring to your bedroom with a gorgeous bedspread? If neutral colour isn't for you then you'll find plenty of alternatives on offer. What's more, The Yorkshire Linen Store currently have a sale on! What are you waiting for?


Here's wishing you all a lovely Spring.


Until next time...


Justine xxx


P.S. If you like the look of the Yorkshire Linen range featured above then you may also like these which, FYI, are all half price! Bargain...

Anna Black Bedspread

 

   Ethnic Floral Patchwork Berry Bedspread/Throw

Shelbourne Duck Egg Bedspread

*Collaborated post
All photos taken from Yorkshire Linen website

Five Easy Ways You Can Spread Some Positivity: Guest Post By Aimee Of AimeeRaindropWrites

I think it’s safe to say the past twelve months have been a bit of a disappointment, right? We’ve lost
some truly awesome celebrities; Prince and David Bowie, to name a few. We saw the country divided
over Brexit; and the fallout wasn’t pretty, either. And, to top it all off, we saw Donald Trump sworn in as President of the United States. So, now I’ve reminded you of all the reasons we have to be miserable and gloomy, I’m going to share with you five really easy ways you can spread some positivity!

1. Always share a smile. Now, I’m not suggesting you walk around with a permanent grin on your face, but a simple smile can make someone’s day. Try this; flash a smile at someone in passing, give your cashier/barista a big grin, or greet your partner with a smile when he walks in the front door (save your complaints for later!)

2. Leave little notes everywhere you go. Before you go out next time, grab a few Post-Its and jot down a few lovely messages. Think; “You have a lovely smile,” You’ve got this,” or “You are so brave.” Then, leave them somewhere! On a supermarket shelf, in a book at the library. The possibilities are endless, and your little note could make someone’s day!

3. Strike up a conversation. I know, I know. When you’re stood on a freezing cold bus stop, waiting for your bus to work, the last thing you want to do is take out your headphones and actually talk to someone. But you might just make someone’s day with a little bit of conversation; and for some people, that might be the only conversation they have all day!

4. Compliment someone. An oldie, but a goodie. You know how good you feel when someone pays you a compliment? Why not make sure someone else feels that way; compliment their outfit, hair or even their latest blog post! Paying someone a compliment takes only a minute or two of your time, but it can mean so much to someone!

5. Check yourself. This might be the most important way you can help spread positivity! About to spread some gossip that trashes someone else? Check yourself. About to moan about Brexit/Donald Trump/the latest celebrity death? Check yourself. By not spreading the negativity, you’re helping someone else stay positive!

The above are five really easy ways you can spread positivity; adopt them into your daily life, and I guarantee that you’ll start to feel more positive too! Because spreading love, happiness, and positivity doesn’t just give others a much needed boost; it gives you a boost, too. Try it, and see for yourself!

What are some of your favourite ways to spread positivity?




Huge thanks to Aimee for writing March's guest post. If you enjoyed this then why not pop on over to Aimee's blog - AimeeRaindropWrites. And if you missed February's guest post by Jemma of Dorkface then catch up here.


If you would like to see your own post on GGD then please email me - jamachin14@gmail.com 

8 Things I'm Loving This Week

I do love a good lists post. Both reading and writing them. In fact I enjoyed writing this one so much that I might make it a regular thing. Without further ado, here are eight things I've been loving this last week.


1. Katy Perry's new blonde hair. How bloomin' gorgeous did she look at the Grammys?? It's got me desperately wanting to go get my hair done. Wouldn't mind her face either. She's beautiful!


2. My mood. This time last week I was feeling all over the place what with messing around with my medication. Two weeks back on the usual and I'm feeling somewhat calmer and content. Lesson learned there.


3. Bloglovin. There has been so many fantastic posts lately it's hard to keep up. Thank goodness for the save button hey? Mental note to self. Must read back over all at some point.


4. My ad slots being booked up for the next three months. It's nice to know that people want to advertise with me. Little old me!? I still wonder why but hey I'm not complaining and I'll work my backside off promoting you wonderful lot!


5. Tracy. My new work colleague, partner in crime and now also friend for life. (Sorry Tracy but you're not getting away ha ha!) She always seems to know what to say to make me feel better about myself when I'm having a down day and she lifts my spirits. I know loads of people but I can count my best friends on one hand and Tracy is now one of them. Oh and she's as nutty as me which kind of helps. If you like bespoke crafts, aromatherapy bath time treats or pretty keepsakes then check out her Facebook page Tracy's Treasures.


6. My nephews. It goes without saying that I always love my nephews but this week they surprised me with a visit at work. Just seeing their smiling faces makes me feel instantly happy.


7. My cute Valentines gifts. I hadn't expected anything so this was lovely.


8. My bed. I've been super tired lately so I've been going to bed early just to curl up and read. It's one of my favourite places to be.



Don't forget to let me know in the comments what you've been loving this week.


Justine xxx



Image via Pexels

9 Things We Can All Relate To Sometimes: Guest Post By Jemma Of Dorkface

There are moments in life that we all go through, no matter how wildly different we may be. They shape us, taunt us and teach us as we go; like a rite of passage we all must go through sometimes! Some of them are absolutely awful, and some are downright awks. I wanted to share some things that I think we've all related to at one point or another, so that you guys know you aren't alone!

1. Getting irrationally angry at strangers.

What can I say? Sometimes we're just moody, and people infuriate us without ever intending to. Like those people who walk sooooo slooowwwww in front of you somewhere busy, or cashiers in stores who take way too long to serve you when you're late for work! Arghhh!

2. Struggling to make even simple decisions.

Ever have days where even deciding what underwear to wear is like, a REAL struggle?? Yep, me too. Deciding on what to do for the day, what to wear, what to eat, where to go, when to go and if you're gonna be comfortable in those new shoes or regret it instantly. Some days I'm so overwhelmed by all these basic decisions that I just want to get back in bed to be honest.

3. Shopping solves everything.

Call me materialistic, but I refuse to believe you've never blown a hole in your bank balance on something you didn't need, but felt amazing. The worst part is when you feel regret, and start to feel guilty... and so you shop again to feel better. Vicious cycle, eek!

4. Feeling super over protective of your favourite music artists. 

Is it just me?? Surely not. For me, this applies to Eminem. See, my other favourite music artists include Placebo, Blink 182 and The Cure. And as much as I TRULY LOVE them, I could believe that someone else is a bigger fan than me, and I'm fine with it. However, Eminem? Nope, not happening. This is my hero, this is my musical obsession, this is the music artist I've most connected to for the past 15 years. Every album, every lyric, every photo, every tour, every interview, every inch of my soul.... So NO you are not taking this away from me, I am the bigger fan!

*ahem* Please do let me know that I'm not alone on this one?

5. Getting drunk with friends and talking utter bollocks.

For some reason after a few vodkas and a shot or two, we think everything that comes out of our mouths is absolute GOLD. We put the world to rights and we can't believe how smart, sassy and wise we are. We only hope we don't put this on Facebook for all to see, and to have instant regret in the morning.

6. Avoiding awkwardness at all costs.

Purposely not looking at someone you sort-of-know in the street, to avoid having an awkward half arsed conversation - We all do this, right? You're not going to go out of your way to have a chat with whatshername from that one place, that one time; and it's fine, she's probably avoiding you too.

7. When you hate someone, you really hate them.

It's almost like a skill, we're that good at it. As soon as you decide you don't like someone, everything they do repulses you. Even if they told the funniest joke ever; you'd refuse to smile out of sheer persistence.

8. Getting lost in social media.

Ever start scrolling Twitter, and an hour goes by without you realising? Or maybe you get lost down a Pinterest hole for a whole afternoon? Don't worry, we all do it. Just try to come up for air every now and again.

9. Not wanting anyone to touch our phones, EVER.

That feeling when you want to show someone a photo, but you don't even want them holding your phone, so you hold it out in front of their face. If they take your phone, instant panic will grip your heart. I'm not saying you have to have anything shady on your phone for this to happen, it's just that these days our phones are our lives! They hold every little inch of our lives on there, and no we don't want others getting their hands on it. So don't swipe, just hold!


Thanks for reading guys! J

Huge thanks to Jemma for writing February's guest post. If you enjoyed reading this then be sure to check out her blog Dorkface. You can also find her on Twitter here.

Next months guest post is from Aimee of AimeeRaindropWrites.


If you would like to see your own post on GGD then please email me - jamachin14@gmail.com

Taking Time Out Is Important Too

Hello lovelies. I hope you're having a pleasant day. Today is going to be a short post as I'm spending the day with my sister and nephew, but seeing as I've been on a roll posting three times a week, I didn't want to break the cycle.

Sunday is traditionally a day of rest so when I get back home later I shall be taking some much needed 'time out.' This last week has been crazy busy at work and I'm exhausted.

I have to give Tracy a mention as I know she'll be reading this - *waves hello. She has recently joined our team at the practice and has already become a really good friend. She's literally my new partner in crime! (Don't worry Zoë, you've not been demoted. You're still in that category too!)

I've also been busy working on various projects outside of my day job but that does mean I've left very little time for just relaxing and to be completely honest, I'm not very good at it. I'm someone who likes to keep busy and is always on the go. The only time I probably fully relax is when I'm sleeping. As my friends keep reminding me - see I do pay attention :) - I need to make some time for myself so that I don't burn out. Hence my photo above. I'm going to don my pyjamas and curl up with a book. If you're someone who is also always on the go, make sure you take some time out too.


Wishing you all a lovely and peaceful Sunday.


Justine xxx

Girls Night Out At Turtle Bay

Up until last night, it had been ages since I'd been out with the girls from work. My anxiety had kept getting the better of me. Not any more though! (Granted my friend did give me a lift so if I had tried to back out she'd have no doubt dragged me kicking and screaming from the house... Ha ha!) For the first time in as long as I can remember, I was honestly excited about venturing out. Progress!

I've never tried Caribbean food before so I wasn't really sure what to expect. The first thing that hit me when we wandered into Turtle Bay was how busy it was. It's obviously a very popular place.
Pretty lights were strung throughout and what I'm assuming was either Caribbean or Jamaican music played in the background. (Well I say background but it was pretty loud, I found myself shouting to talk to the others but I guess that's a sign I'm getting old! :P)

There was so much choice on the menu that I worked in reverse picking my dessert first, then my main then starter. If you know me then this will probably come as no surprise.
Dani and I shared our starters. We had 'Duck Roll' and 'Garlic 'N' Herb Flatbread' between us. The duck was slow roasted and shredded with onion, tamarind, soy sauce, chilli and sugarcane. It was served with sour orange chutney. The flatbread was stone baked with herb, chilli and garlic butter. Both tasted heavenly but the flatbread did have a bit of a kick and I found my eyes streaming somewhat. I can't handle spicy food so don't let this put you off, the average Joe would be fine.

The girls (apart from those driving) tried various cocktails and rums whereas I stuck to my white wine. Hangovers and I do not go down well! I did however try a sip of Kiera's 'Island Iced Tea' out of curiosity. If I could hold my alcohol I would have been trying everything because happy hour was on from 10pm which meant cocktails and wine were on a two for one deal.

For the main I opted for the famous 'Jerk Chicken' that I have heard so much about. I have to be honest. I had no idea what jerk chicken was. The name has always reminded me of those dog treats. Anyone else know what I mean? But after being assured that no it was in fact NOT dog food - ha ha thank you Jody - I ordered it with cheesy fries. The chicken itself had been marinated for twenty four hours and grilled. It was served with sour orange chutney and coconut shavings.
As soon as it arrived - well, after taking photos for the blog of course, I must have driven the girls mad! - I tucked straight in. I didn't bother adding any extra sauces because it had enough flavour without and I devoured the lot.

Although I didn't taste any of the other mains, the girls gave positive feedback on all their dishes.

'Banana and Toffee Cheesecake' was my go to choice for dessert. I am a HUGE cheesecake fan. And this one didn't disappoint. In fact it didn't even touch the sides.

 

 

Overall it was a brilliant evening and not too expensive either. The food was fantastic, the staff friendly and of course I was with amazing company - see what I did there girls?? :P

If you have a Turtle Bay near you, definitely try it. This evening gets a ten out of ten! Bring on the next... Until next time xxx

 

Turtle Bay links:

Website: http://www.turtlebay.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Turtlebayuk
Facebook: https://twitter.com/Turtlebayuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtlebayuk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TurtleBay2012?feature=watch

Blog Love

 

I think it's nice to spread a bit of blog love around so today I'm sharing with you my recent favourite blog reads. If you've been following me for a while then you know even before you scroll down this page that Dorkface and Hello Miss Jordan are gonna be featured ha ha! If you don't already follow these girls, then go do it now. They consistently produce amazing blog posts and photos. Forget Zoella. It's all about these two for me. Happy reading. Happy Sunday! xxx

'Thank You' by

Jemma is the brains and talent behind blog 'Dorkface' and also the growing bloggers community 'GirlGang.' Click HERE for more info or to join for free. The caption on her Instagram account reads 'Colourful blogger/illustrator hoping to inspire.' Well you can certainly see for yourself just how much colour this lady injects into everything she does. But in terms of inspiring? I can honestly say that Jemma continues to motivate and inspire me EVERY single day. It's no easy feat making a decision to work freelance full time and yet she's doing it. Bloomin' brilliantly too if you ask me! Not only that but she seems to have her hand in every pie going. Pop along to her Etsy shop and you can even get stickers designed by the lady herself! I got some in the mail the other day and the girls at work were all cooing over them. One other thing to note about Jemma's blog, she knows how to keep it real. Which is what blogging is meant to be about right? An honest sometimes raw account of every day life. Jemma ticks all the boxes with Dorkface. Click HERE to be redirected to Jemma's website. And if you want to check out or even buy some of her cute stickers just click right HERE! :)

Other favourite reads from Dorkface... 9 Easy Ways To Support Your Favourite Bloggers, 2016 Blog Goals Update, I'm Making Stickers, The Guilt I Carry, Help Me I Need To See The World, 50 Thoughts This Week, Five Things I've Learned About Relationships, Struggling A Little, 2 Years Blogging Giveaway... Ok you get the gist. They're all pretty awesome!

Take a glance at the photos below from Jemma's Instagram account (click HERE for more) and you'll instantly see what the attraction is. Always cheerful and full of colour. Puts mine to shame. No I'm not jealous. Really. Well ok, maybe a teensy bit. But I heart this girl BIG time and consider her to be a friend. She's been nothing but lovely and supportive and sorry to get all mushy here but I just feel lucky to know her even a little bit. I can see her doing great things in the future with both her blog and illustration career! Time will tell just how so...

 

'Washed in Happiness' by



Meet Jordan. Real life Disney Princess. No really. You ought to see her Instagram pics!! I've shared some below. It has to be said that I am slightly in awe of this lady. She is incredibly talented and beautiful to boot. The competitive side in me says that there should be a smidge of jealousy, but instead I find myself just adoring her and willing her to succeed in everything she does. Jordan's posts are always just so 'readable' (for want of a better word) and the fashion photos look like they've been styled by a professional. I lust after most of her outfits and damn if I could look just half as good as her then I'd be one happy bunny! The other thing that gets me is just how nice she is! Like REALLY nice. She'll always take time out of her busy schedule to reply to an email or message. Yup. Jordan is a star in the making alright. Watch this space...

Other favourite reads from Hello Miss Jordan... The Misunderstood Curse of Shyness, The Rapunzel Ring, Fields of Gold, A Goodbye to Brighton, Where Have I Been, Summer Styling with New Look. So basically every post! :) Click HERE to be redirected to Jordan's website.

Photos like THESE are why you should go follow Jordan's Instagram account. Click HERE to see more!

*All photos taken from respective blogs and Instagram accounts except header image which is my own. Lipstick stickers from Dorkface Etsy shop.

Brand New Favourite Blog Reads

Wow you guys created a lot of incredible blog posts this last week! So much so that I had pretty much picked out all featured posts by early Tuesday evening. 
First up it's Victoria from InTheFrow showing us how to put Christmas party outfits together. There's also a few Christmas gift guides if you've yet to do your Christmas shopping! My personal favourite is 'Gift Ideas For The Book Lover In Your Life.'
If your skin is in need of some TLC then check out the Trilogy Organic Rosehip oil. Definitely one for my shopping list! 
Gal Meets Glam features once again because I simply love her incredibly gorgeous photos! 
Those who read blogs on a regular basis will probably have heard of The Sunday Girl but have you heard of new blog The Sunday Teen? With posts written by The Sunday Girl's younger sisters it's one to check out!
Finally, if you're looking for an excellent career opportunity then check out the post from Camille Styles who is looking for a new intern!
As usual, click on the relevant image to be re-directed to each blog post.
Make a brew, perhaps grab a slice of cake and enjoy the read. As for me? I'm off to enjoy a lazy Sunday... Pah! Who am I kidding? I'm actually off to work on my new series of blog posts, the first post of which will be live this coming Friday evening!
May this week bring you all good things and bearing in mind recent events... Be safe!

Justine xxx 

 'What To Wear To Your Christmas Party'

by InTheFrow

'60 Gift Ideas For The Book Lover In Your Life (Part 1)'

by Reads And Recipes

'Are Beauty Christmas Crackers The New Beauty Advent Calendars? My Top Picks For 2015'

by London Beauty Queen

'Trilogy - Certified Organic Rosehip Oil'

by Emma Laa Beauty

'5 Books To Teach Kids Kindness'

by A Cup Of Jo

'Christmas Cracked: Beauty'

by All That B

'Cara Delevingne Makes $13,057 Each Day'

by Teen Vogue

'Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette & Brush Now At Sephora'

by Temptalia

'Golden Hour At Home'

by Gal Meets Glam

'3 Beauty Essentials That Help Me Look And Feel Awake'

by Song Of Style

 'Three Quick Fixes To Save Your Hair'

by The Sunday Teen

'These 6 Stylish Bloggers Know Exactly How To Wear Red'

by Bloglovin' - The Edit

'10 Times Jennifer Lawrence Killed It On The Hunger Games Red Carpet'

by WhoWhatWear

 

'15 Gorgeous Gift Ideas For Savvy Stitchers'

by HeartHandMade

'25 Ways To Get Into The Festive Spirit'

by Makeup Savvy

'We're Hiring!'

by Camille Styles

*All photos taken from relevant blogs. Copyright not my own. If I've used an image that you own copyright on and you would like it removed please just ask
*Header photo edited using basic PhotoCollage