Have A Break and Be The Inventor For Once! | KitKat Chocolatory Bars Review

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new post! I've been gone a while. due, to writing a ten thousand word dissertation. As we all know, we are in hard times at the moment. I thought, that, I would create some content to hopefully help you all escape the problems that we are all going through for a good five minutes.

On that note, I thought that today, I would talk to you all about KitKats. Yes, you heard right. These aren't any ordinary KitKats though! These are weird and whacky KitKats that the people at KitKat Chocolatory have created.

KitKat Chocolatory is a concept brought to you by the wonderful people at KitKat. You get to make your own KitKats from a plethora of combinations. This concept was at York Chocolate Factory, but it might now be at John Lewis at their Oxford Street branch. Don't take my word for it though, as that's only what I have seen on the internet. Along with this create your own concept, KitKat Chocolatory have also created some innovative and interesting bars that you can also get at the Factory or John Lewis. I got mine from my local John Lewis a few weeks ago. They do a mixture of singular bars which come with six fingers, or a multipack of two different bars. I decided to get two packs of the multipacks to enjoy as many flavours as I could possibly get my hands on.

The Explorer: 

'A pack of 12 crispy wafer fingers covered in chocolate. The pack contains six KitKat Springtime in Japan wafer fingers with a cherry-flavoured and apple filling covered in high-quality Ruby couverture chocolate, as well as six Jewels of the East wafer fingers with a pistachio and rose petal filling covered in smooth dark chocolate.' - KitKat Chocolatory.

Springtime In Japan:

The bar looks magnificent even before you've tried it. On the front, it looks like your traditional KitKat but on the back, it looks like a magnificent art piece. The back resembles a Cherry Blossom with blasts of red and green running through the bar. The reasoning of this is due to Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) normally come into full bloom during the Spring.

The Cherry comes through instantly when you bite into a finger of this delicious delight. The Cherry is a sort of less intense Sour Cherry flavour which cuts through some of the milkiness of the Chocolate. After this, your mouth gets an intense textural contrast, via, the smoothness of the chocolate, the crispiness of the wafer, and the chewiness of the Apple pieces. Last but not least, the fruitiness of the Ruby Chocolate comes blaring through. The Berry sort of hint from the Ruby Chocolate makes you realise how elevated of a KitKat this is.

I honestly hope that KitKat, well KitKat UK bring this out as a permanent within the future. I think that it would be a great Spring product in the UK, as most Spring time sweet things are based on Strawberries and Cream, therefore this would be a fresh stand out against all of that.

Jewels Of The East: 

I liked this one, but I also had a problem with it.

I love Pistachios. I love the flavour they bring and the texture. So. it was great to have a different texture within the KitKat. I love the texture of the wafer. but having that little bit extra crunch just made the chocolate bar that little bit better. I love the sort of fresh nut flavour that the Pistachios brought, as it cut against the slight bitterness of the Dark Chocolate.

Sadly, my problems included the Rose Petal element of the bar. I love Rose anything. I love the taste of Rose in things, and I love the slight sweet floral scent that Rose brings to a lot of things, Saying this, the petals didn't really add much to the bar, except aesthetics. They just didn't add anything and it was a bit of a shame. I think that having Rose Oil within the bar might have been a bit better.

The Mixologist 

'A pack of 12 crispy wafer fingers covered in chocolate. The pack contains six KitKat Whisky & Ginger wafer fingers with a whisky flavour and ginger filling covered in dark chocolate, as well as six Zingtastic Gin & Tonic wafer fingers with a gin and tonic flavour caramel filling (made with sugar and sweetener) covered in milk chocolate.' - KitKat Chocolatory. 

Zingtastic Gin & Tonic: 

I'm not the biggest fan of Gin and Tonic, but these are pretty fantastic. The Caramel is slightly crunchy which gives a different textural element to the bar. The Gin and Tonic flavour isn't too full on that you only can have one, but its not too subtle that you're looking for the flavour for a good five minutes after you've eaten a finger. I'd definitely have these again.

Whiskey & Ginger: 

Okay, so I'm already going in with a bit of a bias, due to loving both Whiskey and Ginger. I love this one. When you bite into it, the Whiskey instantly hits you, but after a minute or so, the Ginger punches through and stays there for the rest of the flavour experience. I love the taste of Whiskey and Ginger and Dark Chocolate as the Ginger kind of cuts through the Dark Chocolate slightly and the Whiskey gives you a hit that you weren't expecting.

Have you tried any of these? What's your favourite flavour of KitKat to date? Are you a two finger, a four finger, or a chunky sort of person? Let me know down below!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x

Let's Pound It Into Our Faces! | Poundland #6 Skincare Review

Hey everyone!

How are you doing today?

Welcome to a brand new post! I thought that today, I would talk to you all about, the No 6 range from Poundland. I've been reviewing it for a while and I thought that it was time to tell you my thoughts on the range.

#6 Anti-Ageing Day Cream

Yes, I know, I'm 22 and I don't need anything that has Anti Agin or Anti Wrinkle... Saying that, are two words on a box going to stop me from trying a beauty product from Poundland? Hell no!

This oroduct states that, it will fight visible signs of ageing with Collagen, Ceramides, Sweet almond oil, Algae extract & Vitamins A & E.

When applying it, it spread very easily and felt like a slightly water based cream. This is mainly expected from a day cream, as a night cream is thicker. I enjoyed this as it meant that I could apply it quickly first thing in the morning before a busy day. When the product had settled, it felt quite matte, but didn't feel dry. That sounds weird, I know, but I thought that this was great as it meant that I knew that it had settled down on my skin but that it wasn't going to dry my skin. This meant that for cold days, I knew that this would be great. I used this for a good month, and honestly, I loved it. It made my skin feel smooth and like I wasn't waiting hours for an expensive cream that boasts to do everything but actually does nothing to sink into my skin.

Now, the product does claim to have Sweet Almond Oil, which should give it a sweet smell. Sadly, I didn't think that this was the case with the #6 Day Cream. It smelt more of Baby Powder than anything else.

#6 Eye Masks

I love a good under eye mask. Well, I love any eye products. Anything to make my eyes look like I've actually slept within the past month, instead of anxiously thinking about the real life nightmares within society and my life, are always a godsend.

Sadly, I can't find any details about them online, so I'm just going to dive straight into my opinion.

These were slightly more watery than I was expecting. I've only really used the gel ones. These stuck on really well but honestly, I didn't feel much results. My eyes did feel more hydrated but I'm not sure if that was because of the masks or, because well, the water was just hydrating my eyes. You do get at least 6 pairs of these in a pack which is a great price compared to most eye masks on the market!

#6 Anti-Ageing Eye Cream

Everyone needs an eye cream in their life. The under eyes are one of the thinnest skinned parts of your body, so, we should all be taking extra care of them.

This product states that, it fight visible signs of ageing with Collagen, Ceramides, Algae extract & Flaxseed oil.

Again, this has a very watery texture... Thinking about it, it might be the Algae extract that is in all of the #6 Range. It is very cooling and is wasy to apply. The product does come in a nozzle based bottle which means that you can dot some straight onto the eyes, or control the amount that you're putting on via putting it on your finger and then applying it to the under eye area. I love this one, but my main critique with it is, that I wish it contained some Caffeine or something to help cover up under eye dark circles to make it a powerhouse item to use when getting ready in the morning. I do love it though and it is amazingly priced for only £1.

Check Out The Range Here.

Have you tried any of the #6 Products from Poundland? Let me know down below! 

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

Thoughts On Dressing Against The Norm

Hey everyone!
Welcome to today's post. I thought that I would write something different today, about dressing against the norm, within life and social situations, eg work which relates more to the picture below.

Dressing against the norm — what does it say about you? From eccentric socks, to dressing against our gendered expectations, many people push the limits of social norms when it comes to fashion. Research has shown that non-conformists can be viewed as being of a higher status and more competent than those who follow the rules of fashion. Let's take a look at what different clothing says about the wearer…

Against gendered expectations. The line is becoming increasingly blurred between male and female clothing. Many people are speaking up, opposing the ideas that men and women should be dressed according to their sex. But, are you presenting yourself in a different way when you dress against the gendered expectations? Although fashionistas are saying that they don’t agree with gender rules, some research suggests that we’re still stuck in our old ways. Psychologists in New Jersey found that attitudes towards gender stereotypes hadn’t changed much between 1983 and 2014.

There is an argument that shows that it’s favourable for women to cross the gender barrier but perhaps not men. Back in 1990, it was found that despite the sex of the applicant, if the clothing that they wore was more masculine, they were more likely to be hired. When men dressed in pink however (a colour commonly associated with females, which I think is a very false conception, as most men wear pink), they were seen as less intelligent than women who were wearing the same colour.

Eccentric wear,which is seen as another way of going against the grain, when it comes to style it through eccentric clothing. When we think of outrageous outfits we may think of people with brightly coloured hair, patterned clothing and over the top jewellery. But, there are other ways to express freedom through dress. For example, people who wear unconventional socks are viewed as being rebellious and expressive. One of these people is Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada, who shows off his fun side by wearing funky socks with a traditional suit. You can make your own subtle ‘eccentric’ changes through patterned socks by CT shirts, online retailers of men’s formal shirts and accessories. Or make yourself stand out from the crowd through bright scarves and other extras.

By dressing against the norms, studies have shown that you build a brand of being ‘gutsy’. And in fact, people have the potential to see you as more brilliant, creative and successful. One study, published in 2014, found that those who go against conformity can be viewed as of a higher status than those who don’t. They were also considered to be more competent — potentially influencing the impression that they give off in the workplace.

Not only does it affect people’s perceptions of you but it can also affect the way you think, feel and act — this is through ‘embodied cognition’. Since eccentric dress gives you greater potential to express your individuality, it’s possible that it can make you feel more confident and comfortable in different situations. This could then go on to improve your performance at work or in challenges where you want to push yourself.

I love wearing bright coloured clothes, as mentioned slightly above, it helps me to stand out from the crowd, but I also think that in today's world of social media, its amazing to express your personality and creativity via bright coloured clothing, because if someone scrolls past your photo of the said outfit on social media, then they will talk about it and want to know more about it.

Going against the dress code. In some situations, for a job interview perhaps, it can be argued that dressing in accordance with expectations is the best thing to do. Under some circumstances, we think that people with extraordinary appearances are more successful, which can be reinforced, via social media and other forms of new media such as digital television and the internet as a whole.

Men who wear smart, fitted suits as they are often expected to wear in a formal situation, were perceived as being more confident, successful and thought to be earning a higher wage. This was compared to men who weren’t dressed as smartly in a loosely fitted suit. I believe, that this is the case sometimes as I have felt more confident when walking into an interview or formal event whilst wearing a suit. A brand of suits that I absolutely adore, is Charles Tyrwhitt. I wish that I could try out more of their items.  If I wore one of their suits to an interview, or work, per se then I would definitely feel more confident, and therefore feel more successful due to the confidence.

In one study that looked at the effects of clothing, it was found that senior managers were rated less favourably if they were dressed more ‘provocative’. This was a skirt slightly above the knee and one button on the blouse undone. It’s clear to see that it is important to consider our dress style carefully as people can make many assumptions without any evidence.

As we can see, dressing against societies expectations can have many effects on the opinion of others and your own performance. Although it’s important to express yourself through dress, you don’t want to hinder your work or your impression on others in formal situations. Wear a pair of crazy socks underneath your day-to-day outfit instead… 

What's your opinions on this? Let me know down below. 

I hope that you've enjoyed this interesting post about fashion. I hope that you come back next time for another post.

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

This post was in collaboration with Charles Tyrwhitt. If you want to find out more about then click here. All views and opinions are my own. 

Slamming The Newspaper To The Floor | Slam Dunk Festival 2018 First Announcement

Hey!

Welcome to a brand new post! I know that festival season has finished for the year but I thought that I would talk to you guys all about the news of Slam Dunk Festival 2018.

A bright pop art based poster with an animated pattern containing different colours with Slam Dunk in bold white font, Festical in smaller black font in an bright orange banner and different band titles in different sizes of black font in a light grey rectangular box. 

If you love music and festivals then you will understand how it feels to wait for a line-up to drop when it comes to a music festival. Slam Dunk finally dropped a headliner and a few other bands that have decided to perform at the infamous pop-punk centric festival Slam Dunk Festival 2018.

The first headliner that has been announced is Jimmy Eat World who are an Rock based band from Arizona with nine studio albums. For those who don't really know this amazing band, you may know of Jimmy Eat World via Tayor Swift covering one of their songs, The Middle, via Taylor Swift lip syncing to it within an Apple Music advert.

The other amazing bands that are coming along to Slam Dunk including Taking Back Sunday, Sleeping With Sirens, Four Year Strong, State Champs and Trash Boat so there is something for anyone who loves Alternative Music from those who have only listened to a little bit of the genre all the way to those who live their life by the genre.

Slam Dunk South has also changed it's location for 2018. Slam Dunk South will now take place at Hatfield Park. In previous years, it has been held at the University of Hertfordshire. Hatfield Park is situated directly opposite Hatfield train station. The Slam Dunk South Afterparty will be held at University of Hertfordshire which is also known as Hatfield Forum.

Do you listen to any of the bands mentioned above? Have you been to Slam Dunk Festival before? Let me know down below! 

Check out everything Slam Dunk here.

I hope that you have enjoyed this music based blog post. I hope that you come back next time for another blog post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

This blog post has been in collaboration with a press release from a PR. All opinions and ramblings are my own. 

What My Mental Health Was Like Within First Month Of Uni

Hey!

Welcome to a brand new blog post! The title probably explains what this blog post is going to be about. I've been at University for over a month and I just thought that it would be good to talk about how my mental health has been within that time.

University is a challenging thing especially when moving into a flat/accomodation which is normally the first independent living space that they've had, meeting new students, finding campuses, getting used to new lecturers, getting used to the course, getting used to the city and their surroundings, budgeting, coping with freshers and getting used to juggling everything with assignments and reading materials on a weekly basis.

Moving into somewhere new always takes it's toll on anyone but especially someone that suffers with mental health problems because honestly, mentally it takes a lot out of you getting used to somewhere new once the moving situation has been sorted with. I also think that it took me a while getting used to the place that I'm living in for the first year of university due to living behind a big music arena especially after the tragic events that happened in Manchester this year.

Getting used to new campises and getting lost can be a struggle on anyones mental health especially if you suffer with anxiety because you double check everything and try to make sure that the app has got your route opened up already so you're prepared but what happens normally includes your phone or app screwing up, taking a wrong turn or everything going well and okay but you still don't think you're going the right way so you end up self doubting yourself yet you're too anxious to ask anyone thats passing in case it makes you look completely stupid and then you end up checking your phone or watch several times to ensure you're getting there by the time you've been told to arrive and then you try to calm down for the next twenty or so minutes.

Homesickness normally happens within the first few months of living alone at University but I didn't feel homesick due to being quite close to home as it's only two buses away. I think only knowing mainly citizens of Leeds who work quite a lot compared to me whos got two days off a week which are spent either going home, sorting things for uni out or looking for jobs, it means that spending time with them is rare which honestly made me feel a bit lonely within a major massive city such as Leeds which just triggered my depression and made me wonder if all of this is really worth it and was I trying hard enough to make friends on my course?

Freshers doesn't appeal to me in any form whatsoever. The most I did at my Freshers Week was sit in a room and drink some tea and eat a good amount of cake for free and in my opinion that beats spending so many hours not remembering whats going on the morning after. The latter has a time and a place but cake normally beats it in my opinion. I don't get drunk off alcohol. I get more aware of my surroundings and then end up needing to go outside and then I end up having an anxiety attack of some sort so going into a nightclub where it's dark, sticky and loud wouldn't help it much.

What I'm attempting to get at is that things can be tricky when attempting something like University and its good to take a breather. Everything isn't great for me at the moment but I'm sure it'll get better when/if I get a moment to think and breathe.

Try to talk to your GP and get things sorted if possible or try and talk to your university and see what welfare services even though the NHS has had as many cuts as possible including mental health services, they are doing the best that they can.

Thanks for reading my rambly mental health student based blog post and I hope to see you next time for another blog post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

Spinning The Record Right Round | House Of Vinyls

Hey!

Welcome to a brand new post! I've been checking out a brand new website that is made for all you music lovers out there and I thought that today I would tell you guys all about it!

Provided by www.pexels.com 

House Of Vinyl was started by Keith Matthews after he left his job suddenly and needed a quick way to pay the bills. Keith has always been in and out of the music industry and had quite an impressive record collection. He decided to start selling some of his more expensive pieces and get lots of less expensive items. This proved instantly successful so as well as paying the bills. Keith reinvested some of the money he earned into buying more vinyl. This turned into the business he is running today which is known as House Of Vinyl. 

HOV (House Of Vinyl) is a website that focuses on items such as Vinyls, CD's and much much more. They offer these musical discs at different prices and are a great website as Vinyls are coming back into the limelight within society so if you want a Vinyl, you normally have to participate in a race to find the one that you're looking for. 

HOV also create amazing pieces of merchandise in the form of comfy clothing such as tshirts and comfy sweatshirts which could be worn listening to music around the house, whilst you're out and about or whilst you're at a gig/festival. 

Click here if you want to find out more about House Of Vinyl. 

Do you like Vinyls? Let me know down below! 

I hope that you've enjoyed this little music based blog post and I hope that you come back next time for another great blog post! 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

This blog post was in return of goods/services. All views, opinions and ramblings are my own. 

Casting A Spell This Summer | Lush Summer 2017 Range

Hi!

Welcome to a brand new post! Lush have recently brought out a plethora of products for the face, bath, hair and body therefore I thought that it would be a good idea to talk to you guys about the brand new Lush Summer 2017 range.

As you may know, Lush decided to remove a good quantity of their products for many reasons. The main reasons that I know of are that they couldn't afford the ingredients for various reasons or they believe that worldwide its not selling as well as well as it can therefore Lush decided to release a brightening and uplifting Summer range full of gorgeous goodies. Sadly, the Summer range is available in 15 Lush stores. (Don't hold me to that if I'm wrong though.)

Jelly Face Masks 

I know that Jelly Face Masks sound completely unusuak but the best way to think about is the a thicker face mask or a face mask with the texture of a shower jelly. The way to use this innovative product, simply pinch off a piece of the mask and work to a paste between clean, dry hands. Apply to the face and let it work its magic for 5-10 minutes. Wash the mask off with warm water or with a cloth/a flannel. 

The Jelly Face Masks contain Carrageenan Extract in which makes the texture what it is. Carrageenan is an extract from Seaweed which is sustainable via Lush collecting it from waters that are located near their factories within Poole.

Just To Clarify

This product was named apparently due to someone within the Lush Poole Factory who said just to clarify a lot, so in a slightly light hearted joking way, they honoured via naming this face mask after her. As Clarifying means exfoliating and revealing, this product has ingredients in to get deep into the skin such as Bamboo Stem which is a fine exfoliant. Papaya Juice brightens the skin so if your skin is looking a bit dul then I'd check it out.  A staff member demo'd this on me and it did feel weird going onto my hand but it settled and I quite liked it. As I said the Bamboo is more of a fine scrub which gets into the skin without being too full on compared to something that's very gritty like Ocean Salt. The smell reminds me of Chocolate Orange Digestives which sounds odd but if you go into a Lush store and try this out then you might get what I mean.

Bunny Moon

This mask has Honey in which sadly means that this product isn't Vegan friendly but Honey is a great for those who need a little bit of moisture and is also has antiseptic properties. Bunny Moon has Rose Oil in which helps soothe the skin and also gives the mask a slight bit of floral scent to it. It also contains Marigold and Chamomile Infusion which again is an antiseptic but also calms the skin down. Scent wise, Bunny Moon contains Vanilla Absolute which gives the product a soothing smell to it.

1000 Millihelens

1000 Millihelens was inspired by two people. The first woman is the infamous Helen Of Troy who's face launched a thousand ships and Lush Co-founder and Product Developer Helen Ambrosen. This product contains Fresh Apple Juice which helps to brighten the skin due to the enzymes within the juice and Green Tea which helps to tone the skin. It also contains Witch Hazel which helps the skin due to it being antibacterial and Sicilian Lemon and Brazilian Orange Oils which give a good scent to the face mask and again helps to brighten the skin. Due to the toning effects of this face mask, it's great for those who need a product that will help to firm the skin. If you need a firming product for the face then check 1000 Millihelens out!

The Birth Of Venus

The Birth Of Venus will ensure that you feel like you have been born again! This mask contains Fresh Sea Water to tone and refresh the face (which is also used within Lush's Face Toners), Lavender Oil calms the skin and helps to sort the sebum oils in the face, Rose Absolute to soothe and balance the skin and Carrageenan Extract which is within the mask helps the skin to feel extra soft. If you want your face to feel smoother than a Babies Bottom then definitely try this out!

FOMO

If you don't know what FOMO stands for then let me tell you. FOMO means Fear Of Missing Out therefore the purpose of this face mask is to ensure that you don't miss out on having great skin! This Mask contains Calamine Powder which helps to soften and calm the skin (which is also in Catastrophe Cosmetic), Neroli Oil which evens skin tone and Rose Absoute which helps to balance the skin.

Body Sprays: 

Rose Jam

If you love the Rose Jam Shower Gel at Christmas, Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, Ro's Argan Gourmet Soap or anything Rose from Lush then you will love the new Rose Jam Body Spray. If you haven't smelt Rose Jam before then the best way to describe it is a Zesty Rose scent mainly due to the scent consisting of Rose Oil, Rose Absolute and Sicilian Lemon Oil. It's an amazing scent for the Spring!

Twilight

If you love the Twilight Bath Bomb, Sleepy or anything that has Lavender in then you will love this body spray. This product contains Lavender & Ylang Ylang Oils and Tonka Absolute. Lavender helps to calm the mind and Tonka Absolute gives a slight sweetness to the scent and reminds me of Malted Hot Chocolate in a way. I think that this is a great product for anyone who loves a sweet scent or Lavender.

Bath Bombs & Jelly Bath Bombs:  

Rocket Science

Y'know when people say 'it's not rocket science!' Well what if it actually is? This bath bomb says that it's actually Rocket Science. This rocket shaped bath bomb contains Sicilian Lemon and Bergamot Oils to create a deep Citrus scent. It contains bits of Electric Blue, Vivid Yellow and Hot Pink to create a mesmeric bath. If you like Yellow Submarine then you might like this.

Cheer Up Buttercup

This Bath Bomb is based on the good old British childhood classic of putting a Buttercup under your chin and if it glows Yellow then you love Butter. I love how Lush are referencing British childhood culture! Uplifting Lemon Myrtle, Lime and Neroli Oils help to cheer you up hence the name. If you like Citrus scents or Avobath then you will love this.

Green Coconut Jelly Bath Bomb

Lush has got a lovely bunch of Coconuts and they want to share them with you in the Bath! A Jelly Bath Bomb sounds strange, I know, but it spreads across the top of the bath and softens as it goes which then in turn helps to soften your body. This Bath Ballistic contains Coconut Cream and Cinnamon Leaf Oil which creates a Summery Beach scent with a bit of an Spicy, Earthy background. If you love Coconut scents then you will love this!

The Big Sleep Jelly Bath Bomb

Again, the jelly rises to the top and disperses itself to melt away to ensure that the bath is softening as it can be. This bath bomb contains Lavender and Neroli Oils, Tonka Absolute and Chamomile Powder which help to soothe the skin and calm the mind. Lavender helps to relax and Chamomile is used in a lot of Sleepytime Tea. This also shares the same scent as Ickle Baby Bot so if you're not keen on the Jelly then you can always get that version of it.

Dark Arts Jelly Bath Bomb

Do you like to dabble in the Dark Arts? Do you like to dream of getting that letter in September to say that you're going to Hogwarts? If so then this one is for you! Tendrils of Black slowly give way to allow Love Potion Pink to the surface within the bath. The Jelly works in the same way above. This contains Almond, Brazilian Orange and Cinnamon Leaf Oils.  If you have ever enjoyed Cinders Bath Bomb at Christmas a couple of years ago then you wil love this as it shares the same scent as Cinders!

Hot Oil Treatments 

The way to use these is to boil some water into a cup and stir the stick with the treatment on the end into the cup until it creates a creamy paste and then applying to the hair and leaving for 20 minutes or so and then rinsing until all of the product is out of your hair. 

Marilyn

Do you want to keep your Blonde Hair as Blonde as it can possibly be? If so then Marilyn Hot Oil Treatment is for you! This contains Extra Virgin Olive Oil which helps the hair, Lemon Juice and Saffron which brighten the hair and a load more incredible ingredients such as Lemon and Chamomile Oil which both do amazing things to the scalp and mind.

New

As it says, New is for well New Hair! New is about stimulating your hair to create new hair. Sadly, if you're bald then this won't create for you. This amazing stick of loveliness contains Cinnamon Leaf and Clove Bud Oil which helps to stimulate the hair to create new hair and Bay Oil which conditions the hair and at the same time is an antiseptic. The colour of this product is red but it will not dye or stain your hair.

Hair Doctor

The Hair Doctor is here to prescribe you a good dose of what your hair needs! This hot oil treatment helps the scalp as well as the hair. It contains Peppermint Oil which helps to invigorate the hair and helps to sort out anything thats wrong in the scalp. Almond Oil also helps to condition the hair which is what we're all looking for when we want a good hair mask. The mask also contains lots of other gorgeous goodies to help the scalp and hair.

Damaged

Damaged does what it says on the label! It sorts out damaged skin whether this has happened from bleaching, heat or anything of that sort. This hot oil treatment contains lots of lovely oils to nourish the hair such as Extra Virgin Olive, Almond and Organic Avocade Oils which help strengthen the hair.

Yuge

Yuge is a Hot Oil Treatment which helps the hair with volume but as Lush like to be cheeky, they've played on the fact that Donald Trump can't say huge properly especially as Trump is against what Lush stands for. This treatment contains things like Sea Salt which give volume and Jojoba Oil which gives hair a good shine. If you like your hair on the huge side then you will want to try this out.

Other:

Rump

Again, Lush have played on that... Well, that people think that people think Trump is a bit of a derriere and therefore have decided to create a product out if it. This is a product that helps to firm places such as the thigh area therefore it's perfect for those who exercise/get 'chub rub; sometimes. Obviously, this won't stiop any of that or firm it up straight away but instead it will help it. This product contains Aloe Vera Gel and lots of different Butters to ensure that the skin is lovely and smooth with a slight bit more firmness to it.

What's your favourite Lush Summer 2017 product? Let me know down below. 

Don't forget to check out Lush here or go to your local Lush store.

I hope that you've enjoyed this beauty based blog post! I hope that you come back next time for another interesting blog post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x

All of these pictures are via Lush and they own the right to them. 

Five Ways On Displaying Your Photo Collection

Hey! 

Welcome to another blog post! I thought that today I would talk to you guys about weird and wonderful ways to display your photo collection.

Gone are the days where printing a photo meant handing in a disposal camera at the chemist and going back for your prints a couple of days later – praying that everything turned out ok and you didn’t have your finger over the lens for your entire holiday. Nowadays, photo printing is so easy, with most major supermarkets having photo centres where you can print photos of all different shapes and sizes, from your phone’s picture library, in a matter of seconds as well as photo printers available to buy for your home. In an Instagram and Facebook obsessed society, having instant access to photo prints is a necessity. Although it is nice to have a regular photo print in a nice frame, if you fancied a change there are literally endless ways you can display your photo’s thanks to a vast range of printing options that are now available. From T-shirts and mugs to canvasses and collages, you can have some fun with some of your most treasured memories. Here’s my pick of the best:

Wood Printed Photos

There are a few services online that offer to print your photos on blocks of wood. This is a great, unique gift idea or even a perfect treat for yourself. The wood will look great in any home that has a rustic feel and will also mean your photo can either be mounted on the wall or stand alone. Most sites will offer just one photo or a montage of many, depending on the look you are going for and the amount of photos you would like printed! These are definitely a great alternative to regular photos and will ensure your prints last a while as well!

T-shirt Printing

If you ever wanted someone’s face (or even your own) on a t-shirt then now is your chance. Personalised t-shirts have taken the hen and stag do world by storm but can be used for all kinds of different occasions. There are many companies that will print photos onto t-shirts for you, so your best bet is having a shop around to find the best value for money. It depends on whether you want a good quality t-shirt as a keepsake or whether you are just ordering in bulk as a joke for a weekend away! Don’t want a t-shirt? Why not enjoy a brew out of a mug with one of your favourite photos on, or how about having a collage of pictures printed on the back of a phone case? Printing onto objects is becoming a fast growing trend that isn’t set to slow any time soon.

Food Prints

The printing industry will stop at nothing when it comes to photos and you can now even buy food with your loved one’s face on it. From M&M’s to regular chocolate and even marshmallows, the dream of eating your own face (or someone else’s) can quickly become a reality. These are great as a gift but are also great for parties and other events. In some major supermarkets you can also purchase personalised birthday cakes. Usually a regular birthday cake sponge smothered in white icing, you can then have a photo of your choice printed onto the top. Genius.

Photobooks

Perhaps a little more conventional, but a great idea all the same, there are companies that will make your photos into books which are a really nice keepsake either for yourself or as a present for someone else. A great way of keeping memories such as weddings or birthday parties together, because you can’t hang up every single photo! The photobooks can be easily created online by simply selecting the photos that you would like to be included in the book. The company will create the book and send it to you in the post- you will usually get pick of colour schemes and borders around the photos as well as sizing options.

Birthday Cards
This has become a huge business with the likes of Moonpig and Funky Pigeon and it is a great way of avoiding the generic birthday cards you can find in shops. You can print a single photo onto the card and adds your own caption or you can use on of their ready-made cards, simply putting your chosen photos into the available spaces. Definitely a popular choice when it comes to photo printing.

How would you display your photo collection? Let me know down below. 

I hope that you've enjoyed this blog post. I hope that you've learnt something and that you come back next time for another blog post. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x 

This post was in collaboration with a business/company. All views and opinions are my own. 

Checking Time Ten Times | Travelling With Anxiety

Hey!

Welcome to another blog post! I thought that today I would talk to you guys about travelling whilst having anxiety. If you've read my blog for a good amount of time then you will know that I think that it's necessary to talk about mental health. My mental health hasn't been that great recently which is one of the reasons why I'm writing this post.

Anxiety can make the easiest things become difficult and complex. It can make going out of the house a struggle. It can make day to day activities difficult but most of all it can make meeting friends or going to different places very challenging.

A stock image of a rectangular long white train with a black rimmed window on black train tracks with grey gravel. All within a train station with a dome of glass with black beams going across it on a bright background.  

Making Plans: 

Before you even try to travel can be an absolute nightmare. Making plans can be troublesome and frankly very anxious. You have to ensure that it's somewhere you've been before so that you know where it is otherwise there's a good chance you might have an attack if you're like me who gets anxious if they don't know exactly where they are. There's also the fact that the meet up place might be packed which might trigger your sensory overload. Once you've sorted a place out then there is the whole thing of timing. You end up agreeing with whoever you're meeting which then you question if you're still meeting at that time ten times after confirming. If you're going to somewhere with a fixed time then you end up setting several alarms beforehand to ensure that you're up and ready way before that time.. The same normally goes for meeting someone.

Transport: 

I end up setting off an hour beforehand getting transport to travel because a billion things go through my mind like what if the bus is late? What if the train comes in early? What if there's really bad traffic? If I'm getting a train I double check that I'm on the right train and stop everything that I'm doing until the man has spoken via the tannoy to ensure that I know that I'm on the right train. I also sometimes count how many stops and when I'm meant to get in for. If I'm meeting someone at the station then I have an app on my phone to ensure that I know what train they're getting and when it's meant to come in so I know I don't have too long to awkwardly wait where we said that we would meet.

I know that all of this sounds stupid but it's just second knowledge for me to do this otherwise I know that at some point I'd probably have an attack and I'd feel embarrassed. I've had anxiety attacks in train stations before and it feels disastrous when train staff members have to try and calm me down.

I hope that this little rambly post has given you some insight on what goes down when I travel to places for things such as blogging events and meeting friends.

I hope that you have learnt something and hopefully enjoyed this blog post. I hope that you come back next time for another post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x

Phinexi Phone Charging Case Review

Hey!

Welcome to another blog post! Today, I am talking about charging cases. Phinexi sent me a charging case to use which was fantastic as I always need one due to blogging, being a blogger and always using my phone.

The Phinexi charging battery case is powerful and protective. Are you like me who is tired of your iPhone only lasting half a day? Are you one of those people who constantly carries a charger around with you for those just in case moments? The Phinexi is the slimmest charging battery case ever! A revolutionary patented smart charging case. The Phinexi really is a powerful battery extending, protective iPhone Skin. Did you know the iPhone 6S contains a 1715mAH battery built-in? The Phinexi adds an additional 2400mAh. Even when it comes to things like emailing, music play, Bluetooth and texting all day. As long as you have a Phinexi, your Phone will not need charging for at least 16 hours.

Some of the features of the phone case include:

• 140% longer battery life: 2400mAh capacity provides an extra 48 hours standby, 5 hours audio, 15 hours 3G talktime, 12 hours video, 11 hours web browsing or 4 hours 3D gaming to your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S
• Keep your iPhone charged throughout the day and night or just recharge when battery is low
• UV coated rear cover to protect your iPhone from the harmful sun rays
• No ned to remove your case to charge your case and phone
• The world's slimmest power caseAdds just 2mm to the width and 4mm to the depth
• Adds only 73g in weight 
• Durable - Protect your iPhone from wear and tear
• Aluminium alloy perfectly matching the iPhone colour ways 

I used the case for over a week for many things such as emails, music, wifi, photos and other things and honestly my phone was still on a high amount of charge left. The case had a luxurious boutique feel to it especially with the slim design and the deep colour of the product. The silver accents made the case pop. The product was very light as well which meant that it didn't add that much bulk to the phone which I liked as sometimes you can feel the bulk of the case in your pocket and think that its something different and not your light phone and then you end up in a frenzy. I don't know where I would be without this case whilst I've been testing it out. 9.75/10.

If you click on Phinexi in this post then it shall send you to their website where you can check them out.

Have you used a charging case before? Let me know down below!

I hope that you have enjoyed my blog post!

Thanks for reading!
Jamie x

Making Teeth & Hair Stronger Than The Avengers | Hairburst & Mr Blanc Review

Hey,

I thought that today it would be good if I did a short post and as the end of January is literally tomorrow I thought that it would be best to talk about a couple of things that have made my January that littNle bit more inspiring.

Mr Blanc:

Mr Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips are a non peroxide whitening product proven to safely whiten teeth with enamel friendly ingredients. Mr Blanc works on and underneath the enamel. This product visibly whitens in just 14 days by removing existing nnslightly stains and preventing the generation of new stains.

On the first day of using these, I was put off them due to the texture of them being in my mouth which in my honest opinion made this product a lot worse than deepthroating for the first time ever also wasn't keen on the duration of leaving them in your mouth, 30 minutes seemed a bit too long to me. (First opinions didnt go well!)

Once I got over the first few couple of days, I actually didn't mind them. They are a bit ott price wise but at the same time they are worth it if you want a good quick way to whiten your teeth. £25 for 14 sachets at Boots or via their website which I will link here.

Hairburst:

Hairburst are a UK based, natural health supplements company, committed to delivering lasting results with affordable solutions to enhance your natural beauty. Hairburst believe healthy skin and hair starts from within. By using natural ingredients in formulas that are clinically tested and proven, we hope to assist the overall health of their customers by spreading messages and information regarding health and beauty. Hairburst products can also be added into your existing hair care regime.

Hairburst gives you everything you need to grow the healthiest longest hair possible such as growing longer and stronger hair, nourishing your hair from within and increasing hair strength.

I used this for a full month and by the end of the month my hair felt completely different., Instead of it being its dry brittle self it felt absolutely nourished and different. It felt like I had completely different hair but then a couple of weeks later I got bored with my hair and chopped it off but I absolutely loved the results of Hairburst. I didn't feel like people were judging me on my dry brittle hair.

These products aren't 100% going to work on everyone for thousands of different variables but if you try them then let me know down below.

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog post. I hope that you have had an joyful January.

Thanks for reading!
Jamie x

I was sent these but all the views and ramblings within this post are my own.

When Jamie's Preparing For Sex

Hey, I wrote a sex post last year (tap here if you want to read it) and it did really well with you guys so I thought that it was a good time to write another one, This one is all about me preparing for sex. It might not be that relatable but it's still going to be a rambly yet readable post so I'm sure that you will enjoy it nevertheless.

I tried to find an image via stock images but there was nothing so I had to use pinterest. Don't judge me please.

Pre-warning: This post isn't for everyone's taste and is going to mainly be based on male homosexual sex but it will also making references to heterosexual sex. I will also be referencing partners within this post. It doesn't mean someone that you're in a relationship with. It just means the other person that you're having sex with so that could be your other half or a friends with benefits etc.  Condoms:  This is the main thing that everyone should be doing when it comes to preparing for sex. Having protection is always necessary, If you have some in a makeup bag or a 'pre-sex bag' then it means that you and your partner are prepared. (I always have some in a bag just in case.) It also cuts out the 'who's getting condoms' question that we all ask our partner when it comes to sex. You may not need them when it comes to actual activity but its always good to be prepared! Trimming: Yes, I know that this one might be a bit of a debate but I honestly think that it is a necessary. If you prefer hair down there on whoever you're having fun with then thats up to you but in my opinion I don't really want to be choking on a pube whilst going down on someone. I mean getting choked is a whole other story but I really don't want to have to awkwardly stop everything to ensure that I don't have a coughing fit over a strand of hair. As I said, it's a personal preference at the end of the day.  Lactose:  Look, if you've read my blog for a while then you'll know that me and lactose don't have a great relationship and if you've somehow stumbled onto this post without reading any of my other content whatsoever then hi I'm Jamie and I'm lactose intolerant. Being lactose intolerance comes with certain consequences like stomach discomfort and as homosexual sex sometimes means anal sex this means that I have to prepare a day in advance and avoid lactose. Simply, I don't want to be halfway through doing the sex and then make it awkward by poop coming into the equation. I know that for some (apparently) it's a kink but its a no from me. Cleaning:  I prefer everything to be clean. Why shouldn't everything be clean especially if your penis is going anywhere in me. Why would I want that to be dirty when it comes to sex? I want it to be clean and ready for action simple as. Clothing:  I'm going to leave it at this for my last topic/thing to talk about. I'm going to wear what I want if we're having sex. You're going to take everything off at some point so why should I really make the effort? So I look 'sexy' for you? Fuck off! I'm not going to look less sexy if I wear something that I feel comfortable in compared to something that I look 'hot' in and if I'm going to wear something that I look bangable as fuck in then let me make it clear its for me so I can feel confident about! I also sometimes find hook ups via Grindr and honestly if its 8-9 at night I don't really want to be spending an hour finding a good outfit just to come home after to take it back off. Comment down below with anything that you do before having sex. There you go, there's some things that I take into consideration before having sex. Let me know if this post was any good because honestly I'm always a bit petrified doing sex based posts. I hope that you come back next time for another post. Thanks for reading! Jamie x

Giving For Christmas | Men Rocks For My Beardy Beloved Giveaway

Hi!

This is going to be a short post! I hope that your first day of December is going well and that you have opened your advent calendars whether they are beautiy based, chocolate based or filled with anything else that is amazing.

Whilst I was sorting out things for all three of my gift guides which has taken a while, I was kindly sent a gift set from Men Rock. I always try to include brands that I love the sound of or already love within my blog posts so I also asked if it was possible to do a giveaway as I think that it is great if you get the chance to get something from a gift guide,

Today, I am giving away an For My Beardy Beloved Gift Set (worth £30!) This beautifully boxed beard kit contains everything a beard enthusiast needs to keep his beard in tip-top shape. The kit includes both a Men Rock Awakening Beard Soap a lovely Men Rock Awakening Beard Balm and some gorgeous Men Rock Awakening Moustache Styling Wax. It's everything you need for perfect whisker formation and comes gift boxed.

All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this page to have a chance of winning! 

The T&C's include following both my Twitter account & Men Rock's account and tweeting that you have entered the giveaway are mandatory. All other forms of entering via the Rafflecopter form are optional but they give you a better chance of winning, You also have to live within the UK. The giveaway will finish on 1st of January 2017 at 00:00. If you do not fulfill any of these T&C''s then the prize will go to someone else. As this competition prize is being sent via Men Rock's PR, it is their responsibility to send it to you and not mine. 

This gift set is an amazing gift for any guy that loves his beard this Christmas or a great gift for yourself if you want to keep your beard in beautiful shape. 

I hope that you enter this giveaway and good luck! 

Thanks for reading this little post and I hope that you come back next time for another blog post. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading! 

Happy 1st of December!

Jamie x

How Much Do Celebrities Get Paid For Reality Shows?

Hi!

Today, I'm talking about how much celebrities get paid when it comes to reality shows which you probably guessed from the title. I thought that it would be a good time to talk about this kind of thing due to I'm A Celeb and Strictly being on and then once these shows finish, Celebrity Big Brother will be back...

I think the best way to do this post is to talk about the statsics which have been brought by Conversations By Her and Cash Lady. If I have the time then I will embed them at the bottom of the post. The three shows that I will talk about are I'm A Celeb, CBB and Strictly Come Dancing.

I'm A Celeb: 

Spencer Matthews (known for his roles of himself in Made In Chelsea & The Bachelor.) ended up controversially being in the media during his time on the reality TV show due to taking steriods and not informing the producers of his intake beforehand. Spencer earnt a whopping amount of over £300,000. Susannah Constantine (known for being a fashion journalist, a designer and for her role of herself in her many ITV shows with costar Trinny Woodall) made a total amount of over £200,000 and the nations favourite Lady Colin Campbell (known for being a writer and socialist) earnt around £70,000.

Celebrity Big Brother: 

Christopher Biggins (who is known for being an actor/a presenter) earnt £150,000 for his short time due to a controversjal conversation earnt £150,000 for appearing on the show. Samantha Fox (former glamour model, singer and actress) earnt an amount of £110,000 for appearing on CBB and made her voice heard on the show and the winner Stephen Bear (known for appearing on Shipwrecked & Ex On The Beach) earnt £12,000!

Strictly Come Dancing:

Favourite to win and Olympian Claudia Fragapane made a successful amount of £100,000 for appearing on Strictly Leslie Joseph (star of ITV's Birds Of A Feather) earnt £25,000 and Will Young earnt the least amount of money on the show due to quitting. He earnt £5,000!

If you want to catch up on I'm A Celeb then watch it on ITV Hub or catch up on Strictly over on iPlayer. I hope that you have enjoyed finding out about how much celebrities earn from reality shows. I hope that you come back for more entertaining posts!

Thanks!
Jamie x

This is a collaborative post.

The Body Shop Briggate Store Revamp Preview At Lamberts Yard

Hey!

I got invited to an event that was all about the relaunch of The Body Shop Leeds Briggate store which will be open by the time this post goes up so I do urge you to go and have a look if/when you are next within Leeds.

It started off with myself and Luke heading off to Lamberts Yard, a venue that I had never ventured to before, but once we arrived there we couldn't exactly figure out why the doors were not opening so after a good five minutes hmming and a swift tweet from the tap of my fingers we were in.

We walked up the festive inspired staircase's which led to the event space. Once we had entered the event space, myself and Luke were greeted by Annika and Lisa and was told about what was going to happen throughout the event which I will go through with you in a bit more detail throughout the post.

The first thing that I dragged Luke to was the 'watering hole' because I am an animal and I needed a drink due to humidity of the day. At the watering home, there were two drinks on offer. The first one was a Vodka and Raspberry Cocktail which was loosely based on the new Frosted Berries range and a non-alcoholic Apple Sling for the drivers of the night. This drink was based on the new Spiced Apple range that is also a part of the Christmas range at The Body Shop.

Come to watering hole, its where all the animals go to cool down!

We then chatted to a couple of bloggers including Lizi and Lucy. Myself and Luke then crawled like a lion over to the beauty bar where there were demonstrations, expert advice and hand and arm massages going on. I watched the lovely woman apply products to Lucy's arm. These products were to help Lucy's skin out for the cold weather. Whilst that was going on, I had a little play of the face masks that The Body Shop have on offer. (These include a Charcoal mask, a British Rose one, an Acai one, a Honey one and a Ginseng based one. They're all priced at £15 per mask.)

A mixtyre of The Body Shop products, 

Lucy's arm. 

I then grabbed another drink for myself and left Luke where he was stood as a presentation about all of the wonderful things that The Body Shop have to offer was abou to start. It started off with an animalistic version of Jingle Bells which was dubbed Jungle Bells. After this, the presentation was about the details of the new Leeds Briggate store which includes a personalise your own body butter bar, an events space, a complete new layout and a community wall for Leeds.

Body butters that are all about Leeds! Cute panda! 

After this, I found a little stand which had most of the Christmas range on so I decided to use Snapchat to promote the new range, The Christmas range consists of three scents. Frosted Berries, Spiced Apple and Vanilla Chai. These scents cater to everyone as you have a fruity scent, a clean scent and a creamy scent. I tried some of the products including tthe beautiful body butters, the new body gel lotions, the shimmer mists and lip balms.

Let's get wild! 

Frosted Berries contains juicy berries, white flowers, praline and fresh vanilla which creates a sort of fruity pastry tart fragrance, I was a bit hesitant on this as I loved the Frosted Cranberry range last year but I had one whiff of this range and instantly fell in love with it, It's like the Cranberry range but a tad bit sweeter.

Spiced Apple consists of crisp apples, cinnamon, orange and white flowers. This scent reminds me of the Glade Apple fragrance that comes out at Christmas as it's Apple & Cinnamon based. I'm not the biggest fan of Apple scents but I do love Cinnamon and as Orange gives it a slightly festive yet citrus hint, it means that I love this scent! It's just so warming!

Vanilla Chai consists of Madagascan Vanilla, Milk, warm spices and brown sugar. I'm not the biggest fan of anything with a scent of milk and honestly I wished that there was more spices in this for myself as I love anything thats Chai but it is a scent that is sweet and comforting! It kind of reminds me of the scent of Cocoa Butter in a weird way!

We also had some amazing food during the night which included Goats Cheese & Red Onion Chutney Panini's, Salmon and Guacamole, Cheesecake and Brownies. I was a bit hesitant when it came to trying Smoked Salmon and Guacamole together but it really worked! The cheesecake was a bit messy to weird to eat due to it being on a big tablespoon but I still devoured it anyway and the brownie was gorgeous especially with the garnish of cream and strawberry on top of the dense yet decadent treat.

Some of the make up that is at The Body Shop. 

Myself and Luke had a wander around and then said our goodbyes. When we said our goodbyes, the superb staff handed myself and Luke a goodie bag which contained an advent calendar which I'm going to refrain from opening until December and then throughout December I shall be opening the doors of the calendar via my Snapchat (which is thejamiesowden if you want to add it.)

If you live anywhere within Leeds or in the surrounding areas then I urge you to go and check out the new concept store at The Body Shop which is located on Briggate in Leeds opposite Harvey Nichols and Victoria Quarter.

Look at the cute panda! 

Have you tried any of the new Christmas ranges from The Body Shop? Let me know down below!

Personally, I had an amazing time at the event and would like to thank the PR team and everyone that was at the event via The Body Shop for putting on an amazing event! I can't thank them enough for gifting me an amazing advent calendar.

Thanks for reading this blog post! I hope that it has entertained you and hopefully it has persuaded you to have a look at the new ranges!

Thanks!
Jamie x