The best eyeshadow palette, like ever?! | Urban Decay Born to Run palette review

Hello.

I haven't started a blog post with "Hello" ever, I don't think. Maybe once, or twice, but certainly not for a beauty post. I thought I would for this one as I believed that "Hello" was well over due. I haven't chatted to you guys in forever, I really miss that. I miss the feeling old school blogging gave me, that excitement to write a post and that buzz I got when I uploaded it. This mainly happened with beauty posts, so that's why I thought I'd write one about my current go to palette today.

Before this turns into some sort of life update post (I've done enough of those) let's get onto the actual eyeshadows, because I know the anticipation is too much.

The Urban Decay Born to Run palette. Ah. I bought this palette when I was in the US, hence the flag, and instantly fell in love. Well I actually fell in love with it as soon as I saw the sneak peeks on Instagram, I knew I had to get it. When I saw it IRL, I fell in lurrvvvvvvvvv even harder. The exterior packaging first of all, is so gorgeous and very travel appropriate. It's covered in city and countryside pics from all over the world, dreamy destinations that I am personally dying to go to. It's pretty sturdy too, definitely not fragile or easily breakable.

Inside is where the magic happens. Obviously.

The main reason I love this palette is because of its versatility. I am not a massive fan of neutral, browny eyeshadows. I just don't think they are very flattering on me. For some reason, bolder shades tend to compliment my colouring better. I like bright, warm oranges as they bring out the blue in my eyes, and I also love a good hot pink or teal. I don't really know why, I just do.

This palette has it all. (Almost). It's the perfect mix of plain and pretty, subtle and sassy. It has those pale transition shades. It has those peachy, fun oranges. It has those browns - however plain they may seem, they are necessary. It has lovely juicy cranberries and equally as stunning smokey shades for when you need that intensity. It also has some blues and greens, which I want to eat. It may be missing the super hot pink or classic teal that I lust over, but lets be real, they wouldn't fit into this palette. I describe this palette as the modern neutral. It's a neutral palette, and it can be just that. But it also has that flexibility to create something bold, yet stunningly beautiful.

Shall we talk about the formula now?

You probably already know that Urban Decay eyeshadows are probably some of the best. With a decent price point (this palette retails for around £39.50, but it is currently £31.60 on John Lewis) it is honestly a steal. It was what my collection was lacking, and with quite the surplus, I haven't felt like that in a while. Easy to use, bendable and reliable, it's definitely become my number one go to, for all my eyeshadow needs. I am never disappointed or underwhelmed when I use this palette, it always just performs.

You can sign up to UniDays here to get discounts on Feel Unique and other stockists too.

I would say that this palette, along with it's perfectly sized mirror, is my palette of the year. My 2018 recommendation, my love.

What is your palette of the year?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know if you did. I certainly enjoyed creating it.

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

What I have been eating at Uni so far (Vegetarian)

I thought I would throw together a little post of the majority of the meals I have had so far, whilst living alone, at Uni. Hopefully this post could offer some inspiration for anyone who has just moved to Uni/is living alone for the first time. They are pretty basic, but with a few twists here and there. You will see ingredients repeated as I have been trying to use things up. Just to note, I do know how to cook and enjoy it, it was something I did when I lived at home, so it hasn't been difficult in that sense. Also, I am a vegetarian, so none of these include meat.

MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST.

I love eggs on toast/crumpets, so I have had that a couple of times. A great source of protein and really filling!

THE FIRST EVENING MEAL.

Yes, I said "Evening Meal" in an attempt to avoid the Dinner/Tea argument. (It is Tea by the way)

I had homemade - Chinese style - Veg Fried Rice. Made with frozen mixed veg, this needs a little work in terms of flavour.

A HUGE HIT.

My favourite veggie burgers are the Linda McCartney Mozzarella burgers, and in a pitta, with spring onion, they are lush.

YOUR TYPICAL PASTA?

Here is bolognese pasta (with veggie mince), which was yummy. I also added spring onion to this, and shredded cheese.

POTATO POTARTA

Jacket Potatoes (or Baked Potatoes if you're not from the UK) are a personal fave. This was a lot, so I didn't eat it all. I just had to cook them both as they were going out. One had garlic and herb cream cheese with extra spring onion, and the other just had cheese.

FREE CURRY!!!

On this night, I was invited to a free curry buffet with my uni. Uni's run many events like this in the few weeks, for particular courses/programmes. I would really recommend taking advantage of these. They are not only a great way to meet peers, they are great for getting a lot of free food, obviously. They had a million veggie options at the restaurant too which very pleasantly surprised me. Pictured is a plate of the starters and a plate of the mains.

A LITTLE BIT RANDOM.

This is probably not the most cohesive meal, but I had Quorn nuggets, roast potatoes and cucumber. The roast potatoes were made out of frozen, left over jacket potatoes that I had to panic freeze after they were going off. Worked a treat!

NOT QUITE A DOMINOS.

Frozen pizza life. This was from Iceland, and it was pretty basic. I added extra cheese in an attempt to revive it a little. It was okay. For frozen pizzas, my favourites are Ristaronte or ones from the Co-Op.

THE FIRST MICROWAVE MEAL.

I succumbed. I had the first microwave meal. Just kidding, there is nothing wrong with that, I just find it funny as it is very typical of a Uni student. It was spinach and ricotta Cannelloni. It was lovely, and accompanied by pitta and orange for afters. I have loved having oranges, they have definitely become staples.

GOTTA LOVE A VOUCHER.

Last night I took advantage of a free burger voucher I received from Nando's. It was a part of the dig in box that was in my room when I arrived at Uni. Turns out you have to spend 7 pounds to get it, so I bought some peri salted chips and halloumi to go along with the butternut burger.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Tonight I am going to cook Spaghetti Bolognese, veggie style, with Quorn mince. I can't wait.

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

My current favourite hair products! (Eco Cosmetics)

Today I wanted to shine the spotlight on my two current favourite hair products, from Eco Cosmetics. 

They are a hair spray and a mousse, made with natural ingredients and stored in slimline, modern packaging. I love the look of these products firstly. I think they really represent the brand well and they are great sizes. 

Starting off with the hairspray, it gives a really firm hold, but doesn't feel to heavy, sticky or greasy. It locks in my baby hairs and prevents any wispiness. The mousse provides my hair with a smooth, glossy finish. I love putting it in prior to blow drying my hair. It gives me a lot of volume and adds that extra bounciness which I like. 

If you haven't checked these out already, I would really recommend doing so. I was sent these a long time ago, meaning I have been consistently using them for months. I like to give things a good go and I definitely have with these. 

Bye for now,

Tamzin xxx

The Selfie Bag review

A few months ago, I was sent the Selfie Bag to try out and review. As you will know by now, I like to give things a proper go before I review them fully, and I like to also take my time to consider how I will show you a product or service. I never want to seem pushy to you, and I will never talk positively about something I don't like just because I got sent it for free. Your trust is integral! 

I want to start off by saying that I really like the design of the bag. The black with the gold gives a modern face lift to the typical reusable cotton bag. The size is great, perfect for grabbing and using on the go, whether that be for shopping, days out or visiting the beach. It has an inside pocket, which is great for a few small items such as a lightweight purse etc. I say lightweight as the bag doesn't have a lot of structure obviously, so if you put something in the pocket that is heavy, it weighs down the one side and makes it kind of flop over - if that makes sense. With that said, it's a given with this type of bag, and I do like that it has a pocket as many don't. It means you can take this out shopping, but not have to take a separate bag for your keys or purse. 

So what makes this a "selfie bag" I hear you ask. Firstly, it has a holder for a selfie stick, which is cool and different if you have one. I don't have one anymore, but it would be good for a tripod or something similar. I blog and vlog, so a designated, easy to grab space for something like that would come in handy for sure. 

The other "selfie" aspect of this bag is the reflective screen inside. It is like a mirrored sheet which can be used to reflect light, and thus create the perfect ambiance for your selfie. When I tried this out, I don't think it made a huge difference to any pictures I took, but maybe given a different lighting set up, it could help, if you had some really bright lights that you wanted to evenly light you up, or only a little bit of light where you were wanting to spread it out a bit more. 

Overall I like this bag, more for the bag part than the selfie part. I think it's a nifty little thing, and if the extra features work for you they are just an added bonus. I see myself using this mainly for picnics and beach days etc, where I need a good size "chuck it all in" sort of bag. 

Bye for now,

Tamzin xxx

*this product was sent to me free of charge. In no way does that shape or form my opinion! :)

Turtle Bay Sheffield review (Vegan/Vegetarian perspective)

Yesterday me and my Mum went to Turtle Bay in Sheffield to try out their glorious new menu.

Loaded with an array of fabulous vegan and vegetarian options, we were in our element. My mum is a vegan and I am vegetarian, so it was very refreshing to see a chain restaurant that has more than 5 fully vegan choices.

I actually attended Turtle Bay's launch party a few months back, and you can check out that post here. If you aren't already aware, Turtle Bay is a chain of Caribbean restaurants in the UK, serving up many different meals with true authentic twists. 

To drink, I had a rum based cocktail (I had to go for the rum, obviously) and my mum had an elderflower crush (she was driving). Very refreshing, and perfect for a Caribbean setting. I have actually been to Jamaica, so I had high expectations for the food and drink to live up too.

To start, I had the sweetcorn fritters, as I had tried these at the launch party, and my mum had the doubles. I loved the fritters, they are similar in consistency to dumplings and they tasted great. Completely vegan and not compromised on taste at all!

After we had had our starters, the mains took a little while to come, to say it was a Monday night. However, it was a little busy in the restaurant, and I think they were just experiencing a few delays/set backs which made the wait more than normal. 

I ordered the chickpea and calaloo curry, which was yummy. It was quite hot, so if you are not into spicy food this may not be for you, but I do love a bit of a kick so I really enjoyed it. My mum got the other vegan curry (yes, there are two Vegan curry options!) which was aubergine. Hers was more of a creamy coconut base, so if you like something milder, this one would be for you.

I got the dumplings as my side (I really do love dumplings) and they were delicious, and very kosher. My step mum's mother is Jamaican and she has cooked me dumplings in the past, and I have to say, these were very similar. My mum got the dirty curry fries without cheese to share too, and they were really good. Think re invented chips n curry from the Chinese, they were epic! Loaded with spring onion, which is a personal favourite as well.

When it came to dessert, the Vegan option was the one that really caught my eye. It was a rich, salted caramel brownie with a vegan chocolate ice cream and a sprig of mint. My mouth is watering at the thought of it again. It was so gooey and gorgeous, the ice cream really complimented it. The only complaint I would have would be the mint, it seemed to have really infused into the brownie and it's not really to my taste. However I could see past this and enjoy it none the less!

I hope you enjoyed this round up of some of Turtle Bay's vegan/veggie options and my thoughts on their truly scrumptious food. Have you been yet? Or are you planning to go soon?

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

*I was invited to try out the food and service complimentary. In no way does this shape or form my opinion! :)

Oh you're changing your heart?

I couldn't help but quote 1234 by Fiest with the title. It is such a bop.

I am sure at least one person reading this has had to deal with the ever fun situation which is as follows. You're talking to a guy or girl, everything is going a - okay, and all of a sudden, they "change their mind". A polite way of saying, they led you on.

How are you meant to deal with such situation? IT SUCKS. You're there, thinking that they are the love of your life, and that is not how they see it at all. You're planning the wedding, thinking of baby names, decorating the nursery, and boom, tis no longer.

Something I realised recently after going through this quite a few times, is that you don't want to be with them anyway. You honestly don't. Effort is a two way street and you don't want to be the one putting it all out there. Even if something does happen between you and your crush, beau, or whatever the kids call that awkward "talking" stage nowadays, you are going to know in your hearts of hearts that you were the one that orchestrated this situation and they are not putting their all into it. Like I said, effort is a two way street and if the other person isn't prepared to give their all, you shouldn't be expected to either.

Thinking back on the great memories I have of being led on, and always being the effort giver - I learnt one thing, however much you want something - you can't make someone else want it too. Could have probably put that more poetically, but I am struggling with the ol' words. As the ever gorgeous Sam Clafflin once put it (he was in character in Love, Rosie, granted) "You deserve someone who loves you with every single beat of his heart, someone who thinks about you constantly, someone who spends every minute of every day just wondering what you're doing, where you are, who you're with, and if you're OK." DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!

But lets talk about the flip side.

As my mum always says, being the libra that she is, "you only get out what you put in". 

If you're honestly, truly, completely in love with them (sorry, I can't stop quoting Love, Rosie, it is my *all time* favourite film) then yassss girl (or boy) go get it. Show em what you're made of. Show em that you are da one. Maybe they are just not used to love. Maybe they are blind, and can't comprehend why you'd love them. Maybe they just need showing that you are right. It does really depend on the situation.

So now I have realised that me writing this blog post is probably useless because I have just counteracted my own argument, I want to know why us humans are so prone to these situations. How do people find themselves in such fairytale states that it all works out in the end. Unrealistic I tell you.  One day, you'll find the Alex to your Rosie (just watch the film if you haven't already), the Gavin to your Stacey or the Jim to your Pam. (If you understand all of these references, you are 100% meant to be my boyfriend, just saying)

I guess what this post was meant to be was a gentle reminder. (Like all my posts)

A gentle reminder that you will find your person! You will find someone that makes you happy, loves you back (that one is key) and that will put the effort in back. If they don't put the effort in back, maybe a) they aren't the one. or b) they need to be shown how to love. Maybe they just aren't very good at it. Communicate, and let it work itself out. Advice: if you're a stubborn (or fixed) star sign, avoid other stubborn signs. LET. ME. TELL. YOU.

It is navigating that and figuring it out which is the complicated part. Knowing if they are a or b. I'll leave that down to you.

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

Feeling confident with Norvell Ultra Vivid Colour Collection

Summer is a time of short shorts and cute bikinis. Unfortunately, short shorts aren't my thang, and cute bikinis show off too much of my body for my liking. One thing that does make me feel better when I get my body out though, is fake tan.

I only converted to the world of fake tans recently, after a few brands sent me theirs to try in the run up to summer. Not being blessed with being able to tan well too, all the fake tans did come in handy. What is it about being more tanned that makes you feel SO much better?!

Norvell recently launched their Ultra Vivid Colour Collection, and I have to say it certainly will put a pep in your step.

This range covers all ground, and with just this collection, you'd be set for life. It includes a 1 hour rapid tan, my personal favourite, which is perfect for those last minute summer outings. We also have the tan extender, which is great for me too as a gradual tanner. I love my self a gradual tanner, they are so low maintenance and easy. If you are new to tanning, I would really recommend starting off with one or something along those lines. The Amplify PH equaliser is a nifty and cool product too, you apply it before your fake tan to help even out your skin tone. Think of it as a base coat for the best application. The Hi-Res Colour Creater is really fun product too as its a spray which is best used like a spray tan. An at home spray tan. So convenient! The last product is the Skin Refining Scrub, and if you know me, you know I love me a good body scrub! Especially when it comes to tanning, it is crucial to start off with a clean slate, as well as having the scrub handy for getting rid of the tan when it is time to put a new layer on.

I really hope you enjoyed this post of me talking through all the new products. Be sure to check them out. I love all of Norvell's tans in general, the make some of the best out there in my opinion. Both me and my mum are obsessed, she has stolen my Norvell face one as she loves it to death!

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

*these products were sent to me free of charge. In no way does that shape or form my opinion! :)

Catching up

This is one of those blog posts where I have a lot to say but I have no idea on where to begin. 

I feel like I haven't spoken on my blog for a while. I did 2 posts whilst I was away, but apart from that, I have felt rather disconnected from it. I want to get back into posting consistently, and talking to you guys just like I used to all the time. 

Blogging is weird. A lot of the time you feel like you are just talking into a void and nobody is listening. I have addressed this in a post before, but sometimes the feeling of talking to nobody is kind of cool, because you feel like you can vent and express your feelings. 

So, let's get caught up, and all ready to start afresh. There is a lot of exciting things coming up, but it would make more sense if I told you about what has been happening before I told you what's about to happen. 

Recently, I finished my job/apprenticeship, and flew to America to visit my friend Andrea. That was intense. America was interesting. I will do a whole blog post soon about what surprised me and some tips on travelling alone / going to the states for the first time. I spent two weeks there, before reluctantly coming home and back to reality. I think two weeks was a good amount of time, but now I am home, I wish I was back. That is always the case isn't it. If you want to see what I got up to in America, you can check out the vlogs on my YouTube channel or watch the highlights on my Instagram stories. 

I also got my third tattoo whilst in America. I am thinking about doing a post or video about all my tattoos if that would be of interest. For now, please enjoy the pic of it below. It was so painful! 

Since being back, I have tried to get back into working on my blog, YouTube and other side projects, but it has been a struggle. It's been a struggle to get motivated and stuck in, when I have literally been stuck in bed all day. I have not been ill, just very tired. I think the jet lag just made me that way. It's finally easing up after a week and a bit, but I am still very much struggling to get up in the mornings and actually do stuff. I am only writing this post because I decided to come to a coffee shop to do work today, as there is no way I'd do it at home when my bed and the Office box set is there. Side note, I have become obsessed with the US office. That is all. 

So, what's coming up? Well, I am going to Guernsey mid August to visit another friend of mine which is SO exciting. I have not seen her in over 18 months and I cannot wait! I am going to leave my MacBook at home (well I am still trying to convince myself that this is a good idea) and just have 4 days of total chill time and fun. I am going to take my vlogging camera though of course, I really want to capture the mems to look back on further down the line. I am just going to leave the edit until I am back and make the most of the time there. EEEEEEEE I am that excited. 

For the rest of the summer, I don't have any other concrete plans. Days out and catching up with friends and family for sure, but no more trips for now (I don't think ;)) sadly. I am just going to try and make the most of life, my family and Sheffield before I move to Derby in September. I am going for Uni, and I am really looking forward to the change. However, I am eager to make the most of my summer before that change and all the studying and stuff that goes along with it. Plus, I am so stoked to go homeware and stationery shopping! Yay. 

I am going to leave this post here before it gets too long, but I hope you liked it!

Bye for now,

Tamzin xxx

Learning to live, love and let go

You can't have everything the way you want it in life.

Whether that be a bikini clad body, or the fit guy you fancy.

Not everything can always be exactly how you'd like it. This can be hard to except, but as soon as you except it, you can learnt to live, love and let go.

I am never going to be a size 0, nor am I going to suddenly grow a new face that I am ultimately comfortable with. Nor am I going to instantly get over the past, or be able to overlook all my flaws. Regardless of what it is that plays on my mind, there is always going to be something. Or someone. It may be a thing or a thought or a person that you can't stop obsessing over. But as soon as you make the conscious decision to let go, a weight will suddenly disappear, or your shoulders will feel a lot lighter at least.

Negativity is the kill joy of happiness. An obvious statement but a true one none the less. Constantly thinking negatively about yourself, your image, your past, your future, is just going to distract you from the beauty that surrounds you and the hear and now. You start to realise that life is precious, you only get one and you shouldn't waste time hating that extra belly roll or the person you are still kinda in love with. Even though they are things you might not be able to change, there is a large bunch of things that you can. You have choices always, and it's time you started making them.

I am an advocate of moving on. Learning to live, love and let go. Learning to adapt to change and new situations and new people. Learning to say "you're forgiven" after someone has done you wrong because they are the words that they may so desperately want to hear. Reach out if necessary, speak to those who love you, eat that pizza, jump in that pool, quit face tuning that selfie, smile a lot and laugh at your own jokes. Choose to surround yourself with people that make you happy, not people that are good for your image. Love despite. Sing songs from the top of your lungs and reconnect with people that will never leave your heart.

If you are reading this, I strongly encourage you to do all of that, and then some. Make someone elses day, tell them how much they are needed and wanted. Speak your mind for once, no one ever does. Don't live in fear, live in excitement. Don't lust, aspire. Be the change you want to see in the world. Read the book you've been meaning to for ages, text someone you miss just to see their words if you have to.

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

Thoughts from the air #1

I’m currently typing this whilst on my way to Phoenix, Arizona. In America. A place I have never been before. As in I’ve literally never been to the states. And I’m currently sat on a plane, in the air, alone, going. Over 6 hours in, and feeling good. The ride so far has been relatively smooth, if you dismiss the odd turbulence here and there. I’ve been fed extremely well (I thought plane food was crap!) and I’m snuggled up, in a food coma, watching rom coms and living my best life. Who would have thought it. Who would have thought that I’d be here. Travelling to the other side of the world as an independent woman, doing my own thang. I may be travelling alone, but I won’t be alone more or less as soon as I step off the plane. My bestie Andrea, is waiting for me on the other side. Imagining that right now is making me so happy. Imagining us making eye contact after not seeing each other for 9 months irl is getting me so excited. We’re going to have such an adventure.

11 hours on a plane means no means of social media. I’ve completely switched off, and it feels great. No checking Instagram, or seeing if someone has text me back or not. I feel free! It’s crazy what a lil bit of downtime can do for you. Even if you can’t hop on a plane to do it, just turn your phone off for a while, you won’t regret it. I’ve watched films, ate food and listened to my favourite music with no distractions, except the occasional one from the air stewardess to tell me there’s another snack on the way. Those sort of distractions I don’t mind. 

Even though I had a few mini internal freak outs in the airport, I feel good. Calm. Level headed. I’m not scared of flying, I actually like plane journeys and I am really enjoying this one. I love being able to chill as mentioned previously, and I love being able to watch the virtual map to see where we are in the world. We’re currently going across Canada, you wouldn’t be able to tell that from outside however. Thick layers of clouds mask the world underneath, and I feel like I’m in a safe haven, up here away from the mess but home that Earth is.

I get scared of airports and business and crowds and people but I’ve got on with it and I’m okay. 

I’ll speak to you soon, I hope you enjoyed these thoughts from above. That sounds kinda creepy. I’m not some god like power. Even though some would call me a goddess ;)

Peace & Love 

Tamzin xxx

Catch Flytes not Feelings | Clean Energy Drinks

Sometimes you just need a "pick me up" to get you through the day. Often, in times like this, we will grab a high sugar, chemical fuelled energy drink. One where we have no idea what is in it, and one where it will probably doing more bad than good. We have all experienced "the crash" whether that be from Coffee or other caffeine sources. You know the one where you have a great spike of energy for a while, before you crash back down to ultimate tiredness. 

Flyte is different. I will allow them to explain as I am sure they know more about themselves than I do! 

"Flyte is an energy drink that works like your regular energy drinks but without the copious amounts of sugar and chemicals! All our ingredients are sourced from nature. Even our sweetener is extracted from the Stevia leaf. With less than 60Kcals in each bottle you can feel great that Flyte looks out for your waistline too! Flyte has 100mg of organic caffeine extracted from green coffee. You could say its a refreshing alternative to a double espresso! You'll be safe and sound if you drink FLYTE (if you're over 18 and not pregnant)! As FLYTE has caffeine, we recommend that you drink up to 2 bottles a day. Experts say 6mg of coffee per kilo of body weight is safe."

You can find out more via their FAQ's here. 

I tried Flyte for the first time yesterday and I really enjoyed it. The Red Berries is my favourite flavour, it's ultra refreshing and best served chilled. For some reason, I kind of expected it taste like coffee, which it doesn't at all. They are fruity and delicious and light, with a slight fizz. It definitely spiked my energy levels in the afternoon. I usually have a nap before I go to work in an evening on a weekend, but I didn't do that for once. This may or may not have been down to Flyte, but it was the only thing I did differently! 

If you want to try Flyte for yourself, you can pick up a free taster pack here. 

Bye for now,

Tamzin xxx

*this product was sent to me free of charge. In no way does that shape or form my opinion! :)

5 things to take in your hand lugagge that you may not think of

I fly to America in less than 3 weeks now, and even though I have plenty of time, I am organising myself pretty early to avoid any last minute stress. I haven't packed yet, no, but I have made "piles" of stuff in my room to make myself feel more at ease.

Today I thought I would share with you 5 things to take in your hand luggage that you might not of thought of. Often when packing we can get so caught up in the essentials, such as passports and passes, that we forget the smaller things that may actually make the journey run slightly smoother.

Talking of making things smoother, hand cream. Hand cream is not only great for your hands, it can be used as a general mosituriser to keep your body hydrated. Think of it as a multiple purpose cream, you can use it on your feet, elbows and face. Hand cream is very rich and thick, meaning it is the perfect product to use when your skin is dying for a drink. The one in the photo above is from Soap and Glory.

A change of Underwear. And a change of clothes too. (If they can fit) You may loose your main luggage, but you can't loose your hand luggage as it is always with you. Because of this, you should always carry a change of underwear, and a change of clothes too if you can. This means that in case your checked luggage gets lost, you will still have something to hand. My mum always says you should take a bikini in your hand luggage too, you know, just incase you need to go for a swim before your bag arrives.

Wipes. As Caroline Hirons once notoriously said, face wipes are for Fannies, Flights and Festivals. Side note: I hate that first word. It makes me cringe so bad. You know how some people hate the word moist? Well that first word is my least favourite word EVER. I use face wipes for my face often actually, as a first step in a cleansing routine. However, Caroline says that they should only be used on the three occassions above. Flights is an important takeaway from that I think. A good face wipe on a plane is needed, if you want to take off your makeup or freshen up in between connections. They are also handy for wiping down seats (plane seats carry a lot of germs) or wiping kid's hands if you are flying with a family.

A scarf. A scarf is such a handy thing to take on a flight, even if you are jetting off to a hot destination. They can be used as pillows on the plane, or blankets as it can actually get quite cold up in the air. As they are so multi use, it is really worth packing one. Well, you don't even have to pack it, as you can just wear it through security! You could take an oversize cardigan instead, as these are super cosy as well!

Something you can write with. So a pen or something. This is a must for long haul flights as apparently (especially with me going to America) there are quite a few forms you need to fill in prior to landing. I will be sure to chuck one in my bag just in case!

Let me know in the comments if I missed anything. The countdown is now on until I fly, and I really don't want to miss a long haul essential! I haven't lown long haul since I was 12, so it has been quite a while!

Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx

Long Distance Friendships

I have several "Long Distance Friends". Some of them I met "In Real Life" first, and they moved away, and some are "Online" friends that I have met since beginning to talk to. Let me say before we divulge into this post, that my "Long Distance Friends" and some of, and if not are, my best friends. Here's why.

You treasure them.

You treasure all your friends, of course. But there is something special about being friends with someone that you may not talk to everyday, but you hold so much trust in them, that you know they will be there, for you, regardless. You also know that when you are to see them again, nothing will have changed. Your friendship contains so much excitement, because you don't get to see them IRL very often, which means the time spent with them physcially is so special.

I have 3 close LD friends that I thought I would tell you about today. I thought I would tell you how we met, and how we stay great friends, even if there are a lot of miles in between us.

1. Imogen

Imogen was my first online friend. We began to speak in early 2015 when I joined twitter to engage with YouTubers that I was watching at the time. I started watching YouTube the year before and felt that I needed to join Twitter so I could be a part of the online communities. Within a very short space of time after opening my account, I joined a group chat with a few other girls. I was in it for a while, and so was Immi, but she decided to message me privately as she felt we had a lot in common respectively. And she was right. We began chatting almost every day, constantly messaging, facetiming, tweeting, you get the jist. Of course, you get the comments "how did you know she was real?!" I am not stupid. You constantly get told about online catfishes etc, which is fair, and understandble with the height in online fraudsters. But it's not all bad. Once you meet someone you get along so well with, and click, it's worth savouring that friendship. So ignore the haters, please do. Immi and I met for the first time IRL in December 2016, over 18 months after we first began to speak. Now almost 2 years on from meeting, we don't speak as much as we used to, but we are defo still amazing friends, and I still hold amazing memories from being with Immi that Christmas and all the other times we have shared, whether that be over the phone or face to face.

Here is what she had to say about long distance friendships:

2. Alex

Alex was one of my very first best friends in the whole world. We met when we were around 2, and we're 18 now. Alex moved to America when we were 16, and despite this, we have stayed in touch every day since. He is such a wonderful friend of mine. He's the kind of deeply caring, considerate and lovely people that you just really want and need in your life. He always make me smile, and I'd say he is one of the few people that really truly know me. I cried (a few times) when he left, because obviously I was worried about how it would affect our friendship. But I shouldn't have had any fear, as we have probably grown closer since he moved.

Here is what Alex had to say about long distance friendships:

"The things about having friends far away is that, if they're true friends, when you see them it's like you never left. You don't have to see people all the time to know your friendship means something. I actually think it makes it better in some ways because the time you do spend together is so much more valuable. You never lose something to talk about. I also think distance does an incredible job at weeding out the people in your life who are just there for convenience. Some people are just friends because they live near you, or are in the same classes. These kind of people disappear and make room for better friends. I feel like before I moved I had 50% proper friends and 50% convenience. Then I moved and now I have lots of incredible friends all over the world that I can visit any time. Currently, all my friends are moving away to uni. They're spreading all over the states. My best friend just moved to El Paso yesterday, 14 hours awake from Bentonville. And I'm moving home to the UK in September. But that kind of distance doesn't scare me anymore because I know I can see her whenever, all we have to do is put in effort. And that effort will make seeing each other so much more special. And besides, Skype/Facetime are incredible, you never really have to move away."

3. Andrea

Andrea was my first YouTube friend, my soul sister and BFF of course. We made friend's in Fleur De Force's comment section back in June 2016, and we have been close friends ever since. Both having blogs and YouTube channels, we would interact via them, before it changed to talking on social media, and now Whatsapp. Andrea and I met for the first time "IRL" in November 2017, in London, when she came over to visit her favourite city. I had to take the opportunity to go and meet her, as we got along so well online. It couldn't have gone any better. Andrea mentioned in one of her vlogs that she was apprenhensive of meeting YouTube friends because she was worried about what they would be like in person. I said the same, there is always that chance you don't click with someone when you come face to face. Kind of like when you go on a first date (I have been on a couple) and it seems great on text but then when you meet up, there isn't that connection. I shouldn't have been worried, and Andrea agreed. We got on like a house on fire. We had and have so much in common, way more than we even first thought. Even though we may seem like 2 completely different people living two completely seperate lives, our paths have intertwined and crossed and it was totally meant to be. I can't imagine my life without Andrea, whether that be via text or physically in person. I am flying out to Arizona to see her next month and I couldn't be more hyped for it. I just can't wait to spend 2 weeks in her company. I miss London with her so much, so this is 2.0.

Side note. I smile so much whenever I watch the vlogs above or look at the screenshots. I was so happy whilst I was in London. You can read a bit about it here, and hear about my experience with Travel Anxiety. I was so so content in London. Down to the fact I was so proud of myself, excited to see Andrea, and overwhelmed at how well we got on. 24 days and Counting. USA here I come!

Here is what Andrea had to say about long distance friendships:

"Long distance friendships are hard, but they’re the strongest. Tested by time zone differences, miles and sometimes oceans between you, absence from daily coffeeshop chats or birthday dinners, long distance friendships are tested in ways other friendships aren’t. But because of that they’re the best friendships of all. Only two of my best girlfriends live in the same town as me. My other best friends live in Michigan, England, and China. Some of them I only see in person every year or so.  Some I text and FaceTime almost daily or chat with them on social media. Others, like my friend in China, we hardly speak in between her visits in the summer and at Christmas. A 15 hour time difference and her internet difficulties make video calls and social media difficult. But when she comes home to visit we pick up exactly where we left off. Only the truest and best of friends can manage that. One of my friends in England, I see once every year or so when I visit and usually every few months on FaceTime. She has three kids and there’s an 8 hour time difference and she’s not on social media, but when we catch up it’s the best thing and I know that if I have good news or bad news she’s always there to listen. My other UK bestie, is one of my newest friends but it’s literally like we’ve known each other forever. Despite the distance of time and miles we seem to be constantly chatting on WhatsApp or Instagram DMs, sometimes managing multiple conversations on multiple platforms at the same time lol. At the end of the day, despite all the difficulties of long distance, these are all the women that I turn to to celebrate my wins or when I need a virtual shoulder to cry on. I talk to them more than I talk to friends who live in the same town as me. Each of these women met me at a critical time of my life and we formed an instant connection. A connection that couldn’t be broken because they moved away. So while it’s hard to be away from them, and while I often wish they were here or I was there, I would never give up any of my long distance friendships, because I honestly don’t know where I would be without those women."

I love my best friends a lot. Of course I have other best friends who live close to me, and aren't long distance currently, but with moving out to University soon, I am aware my situtation and friendship with them will change - or just adapt. As all of my friends mentioned above, you know a friend is a true one when you see them again after so long, and nothing has changed at all. Writing this post has made me choke up several times. I miss my friends, and yes I am slightly worried about moving away from my other friends, but I know how amazing my LD friends are, so I am not scared about having some more. 


Bye for now,
Tamzin xxx