Why A Hoodie Doesn't Have To Be Boring

I absolutely LOVE a good statement piece in an outfit. Something that just stands out and takes the stage. I makes me feel powerful, strong and independent - like I've really got something to show off...something unique. I never used to be one to show off an outfit because I never really felt good in the clothes I wore; mostly because I was dressing for other people rather than for myself. Now, I take so much pleasure in wearing pieces that stand out and make me feel confident. They don't even need to be flattering! As long as I feel comfortable I'm happy.

Over the past few years my style has consistently changed, moving with the times and maturing the older I got. Stepping out of your style comfort zone can be a tricky process for anyone. Taking the reins and 'just doing you' is MUCH easier said than done, but it's a must if you're ever going to feel comfortable in the style you wear. I think that I've finally come to a point in my life where I know what 'my' style is, and I'm enjoying every moment of it.

Now, I'm the kind of person who will happily walk around in a hoodie and a pair of jeans/leggings forever. I find the combination so easy and comfy and it's just an timeless pairing, one that I'll probably stick to forever because you can't really go wrong with a casual outfit like that. It's convenient, it's simple and you really don't have to think too much about it - but lets be honest, the usual combo can get a little bit old sometimes. Why not switch it up with a completely different style of hoodie?

I found this little number on ASOS in the mens section (spoiler, all the best hoodies are in the mens section) and I have been wearing it ever since. In fact, I am sat wearing this exact hoodie as I type this in front of the fire and the telly watching Nigella Lawson. It's the perfect lazy day hoodie, the perfect statement piece and it's one of the comfiest hoodie's I've ever worn! You can buy this jumper here. Go on, treat yourself, it's nearly Christmas...

All photography by Nicole Shola.

By God, I Think I've Done It || Ultimate Curly Hair Routine

I used to hate my curly hair when I was in secondary school. I was called things like ‘Hagrid’, in reference to the well-known and beloved Harry Potter character whenever I chose to brave it at school, and I once heard a boy say “It looks like she’s been electrocuted…”. This had a huge knock on my self-confidence because I thought that something that was naturally my own, was something that made me undesirable. Since I've left school I've realised that this wasn’t the case at all. I had spent the last 3 years straightening the life out of my hair every single day, due to the opinions of small-minded individuals. Now, I celebrate my curls, and these are some of the products I use to help me achieve the looks I love.

1. Aussie ‘Miracle Moist’ Shampoo and Conditioner:

I love washing my hair using these products because they help me create a really silky texture, which is sometimes a task to achieve with curly hair like mine. I wash my hair hanging my head upside down because I find it drags the curls out more and gives me the loose-curl look that I LOVE. I always try to leave the normal conditioner in for as long as I can (sometimes for the whole day if I know I’m not going out anywhere), and then brush my hair with it still in, letting it settle in for anywhere between 30 minutes to an entire day will make a huge difference. Wash it out after you feel it's done enough!

2.  Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner:

This is my absolute go-to hair product for my kind of hair. It’s a complete lifesaver for me and I use it every single time I was my hair. It’s a leave-in conditioner so you don’t wash it out, and the moisturiser within it just settles into your hair creating a really lovely, smooth look and texture. It reduces frizz completely for me and I love it. Used once after every hair wash, my bottle lasts for about 2 months. Depending on the amount of hair you have of course. For example, my hair requires about a 50p sized coin amount per wash which is a tiny amount in comparison to the bucket of normal conditioner I use prior to this stage...   

3. Hair Therapy with Argan Oil:

After putting leave in conditioner in my hair, I always use Superdrugs own ‘Hair Therapy with Argan Oil’. This comes in quite a small container, and because I use so much of it (about 15-20 squirts after washing my hair), it does become slightly pricy. For this reason, I also always have a pot of coconut oil to use in case I run out – you can buy a small pot of coconut oil which should last about a month if you use it sparingly for as little as 95p, so it’s definitely worth a try if you want to create a slightly shiny look.

4. Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker 14-in-1:

You know those products you stumble across one day and never look back? This is one of them for me. I would honestly go as far as saying it's my favourite product I have ever used on my curls, plus it's cheap as hell for the size of the bottle. As well as a moisturiser, it's a leave in conditioner, a styler and a hair protecter so it's also brilliant for anyone thinking about going natural! I use this during my full-wash routine at the very end, as well as during the week when all I have time for is to wet my curls and then use this because it honestly still looks like I've freshly washed my hair. When using this product I recommend air drying for best results (that said, I ALWAYS air dry my hair because I find that even when I use a diffuser my hair goes frizzier than I'd like it to). 

Shop The Products

Buy Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner HERE

Buy Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner HERE

Buy Hair Therapy with Argan Oil HERE

Buy Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker HERE

These are just a few products I love to use on my hair throughout the week – if you’re interested in any of the other products I use or just want to know more about my beauty routines such as skincare, just let me know! I'll be starting my YouTube channel up again towards the middle of the month so I'll be posting a lot of information there too!

All photography by Nicole-Shola. 

A Few Things I've Done To Improve My Every Day Life

I couldn't count the amount of times I've heard someone say that they "don't have enough time" for self care.

When it comes to self care, a lot of people automatically think that they need to take the whole day for themselves; that self care is an activity that takes a large amount of time and can ONLY be seen as self care if you have a spa treatment done, then get your nails done, make yourself your favourite meal or order some of your favourite foods and ultimately make the whole day about yourself. Now, don't get me wrong, that IS self care and sometimes you do need to take a day to treat yourself and focus completely on you, but that doesn't mean you can't look after yourself every single day in small ways that will make a difference to your quality of life as a whole. Personal growth can be a long, difficult, sometimes ugly process, so here's a few ways I like to take a bit of time out of every day to always make sure I'm looking after myself. I hope some of these work for you too!

1. Make Your Bed Every Morning

This is a tiny thing I've started doing every single morning. I'm definitely the kind of person who needs to be living in a clean environment for my brain to function properly (A.K.A. If my room is a mess, my head is a mess). My bed is the centrepiece of my room, so if my bed looks messy throughout the day, my whole room looks messy throughout the day and that honestly just stresses me out. Making my bed the moment I get out of it means two things. One: I won't get back into it, which is a definite way of securing the fact that I'll actually do some Uni work that day. Two: It means that my head already feels a lot more clear and I love knowing that I'll be getting back into a freshly made bed that night. 

2. Check In With Friends To See How They Are

I find that when life gets busy, I often forget to check in with how the people in my life are. I get very wrapped up in my commitments and that can be stressful, so just taking a few minutes out of your day or out of your workload for a phone call to your best friend, or sending a quick text to tell them how much they mean to you can make a huge difference to both your mood and their's. Good friends are important and I think that sometimes the value of friendship can get forgotten in the midst of 'adult-ing'. I'm new to this too...

3. Eat Something You Love

Diet culture is bullshit, to say the least. The idea that you shouldn't eat a doughnut/pizza/burger/ice cream without feeling at least a slight sense of guilt afterwards is just an absolute shit-storm and I refuse to buy into it. I've suffered from an eating disorder for years now (shall touch on this a bit more in posts to come), but I'm finally getting to a point I'm happy with. I live a very healthy lifestyle. I go to the gym on a regular basis and I eat wholesome foods, but that's not to say that I don't eat whatever I want. If I want a McDonalds I'll eat a bloody Mcdonalds, and you should do the same! Whether someone eats junk food every day or hardly touches the stuff, nobody should be allowed to comment on another's way of life just because it doesn't fit the standards of their own. You do you and let others do them! It's as simple as that. 

4. Go On More Walks

As I've mentioned before, and as I will probably mention again, the colder months are my FAVOURITES and I love being outside for them. As well as Uni, I've got a part time job. This means that I spend a fair amount of time throughout my every day life inside. I still live at home and do the majority of my University work from there, so if I need a break I find the perfect thing to do is to go on a walk. I've got dogs, so sometimes I'll take them out, but even things like walking around on my lunch break at work helps me to clear my head. You don't need to be surrounded by wonderful scenery to have a nice walk. Of course, it helps, but some of my favourite walks I've been on have been through the streets of my town on my own in complete silence. 

5. Listen To Good Music

Sometimes there's just nothing better than putting your headphones in and blocking out the rest of the world for a few minutes (or hours). Whether you're at the gym, on a walk, laying in bed or listening with friends, music is a remedy and I'll stand by that forever. 

6. Learn Something New About Yourself

I'm almost 20 years old and there are so many things I don't know about myself. Life is a continuous journey of learning new things, and that includes getting to know yourself better! I'm learning what I like, and what I don't. I'm learning my worth and I'm feeling so much better about myself than I ever have, and I genuinely feel like it's so important for you to take some time out of every day to notice new things about yourself.

Shop The Look

Jumper HERE

Jeans (similar) HERE

Trainers HERE

So there we have it! 6 things I've done to improve my every day life. They've worked for me so hopefully they'll work for you, let me know if you try adding any of these little things into your days x