Even for me, I found this book to be quite a quick read. However, the lack of words is quickly made up for by the vast amount of personal photographs and doodles; a real insight into Alexa's life and musings. The top 10 best seller covers everything from heartbreak, to how to get dressed in the morning, and even tips for the perfect selfie (it helps if you have Alexa Chung's face). If you're looking for a witty read, I'd definitely recommend 'It' - also available in paperback.

On my recent trip to Dublin I picked up these beautiful heels in Penney's (our Primark), that can't help but make me channel my inner mermaid. They're maybe the most beautiful shoes I've ever purchased and just happened to be a bargain at €18. They really do shine in their blue and green glory, in real life like they do in these pictures - I haven't edited these one bit! Plus, not only do they look the part but they're also quite comfy thanks to the thick heel. However, not so ideal on Dublin cobbles. As we all know, Primark/Penney's don't have an online store (sob), but I'm pretty sure these will still be in store. Fingers crossed!

I've just turned 22, and for my birthday my lovely mum was kind enough to get me this gorgeous Olivia Burton watch. My mum, like I'm sure a lot of mums, needed a few little hints and maybe a not-so-obvious link or 2 to the Olivia Burton website! I've wanted a watch for a while now but was fed up with everyone having a Michael Kors or Marc Jacobs on their wrist. Daniel Wellington watches had caught my eye, but it wasn't until my friends were eyeing up the Olivia Burton watches, that I soon fell for the brand. I'm basically copying my friend Kathryn, who had the genius idea of ordering an Olivia Burton straight from the ASOS website to benefit from the student discount. Fun fact - the duo behind the brand actually have fashion experience in buying for ASOS and even Selfridges.






The Olivia Burton brand is the genius love child of the duo Lesa Bennett and Jemma Fennings, who met on their first day at London College of Fashion, cute! And there was me thinking it was created by someone called Olivia Burton. Wanting to make a statement with my watch, I opted for the big dial in black, with a matching black soft leather strap and gold frame. I also received a gold Alex and Ani bracelet for my birthday from my friend Lauren, that goes perfectly with this watch - blog post coming soon.



Having received this for my birthday I wanted it to be extra special, so I added the personalised option on the Olivia Burton website. For an extra £30 you can choose up to 6 letters (A-Z only in caps) to be embossed on the leather wrist strap. After an extensive Google search I could only find 1 example of their personalised watches, so I'm hoping these pictures will help anyone thinking of paying the extra money. My name is 6 letters long, but rather than the obvious 'Hannah' I opted for 'HM' instead, 'M' being the initial of both my middle and last name - safe for if I ever get married in the distant distant future! If I'm being honest, I'm a little disappointed that the embossing isn't that clear, but it doesn't make me love my watch any less! I'm more of a less-is-more kind of girl but if that isn't your thing, they have a ton of illustrated and colourful watches to choose from.

You can't go wrong with a pair of nude heels, and I've just picked up these beauties from Public Desire for a bargain £27.99. (If you have a Unidays account you can also get 10% off.) 'Camilla' is comfortable to wear, high but not break-your-ankle high, and also comes in black and white. The gold metallic heel is definitely a step up from your average strappy shoe. Public Desire have only just turned 1 this week - meaning the future can only bring more great shoes!

Churros with cinammon sugar and chocolate dipping pot, £4.95

I'm just back from a few days in Liverpool visiting my cousin. Every time I visit, I never want to leave! I haven't been to many cities but this one might just be my favourite. It's not surprising that Liverpool John Moores is the #1 choice of university for Northern Irish school leavers. One of the places I went to for food just so happened to be Salt House Charcuteria and Tapas Bar on Hanover Street - purely for the promise of churros on the dessert menu. Come on, I mean look at them!

'Malaga Fried Fish' - fried calamari, prawns, and cod, £5.95

116 Blush Brush

Until recently, I'd favoured other brands over MAC brushes and most of my collection is from Real Techniques. I still love Real Techniques, but it wasn't until I lost their Contour brush (which isn't sold separately), that I was dying to find a brush similar. My friend Lauren let me try her 116 brush, and it was love at first blend. The 116 is small enough to fit the contours of my cheeks perfectly, but isn't overly dense so any powder is easily blended. The MAC 116 brush also has a longer brush handle than the Real Technique contour brush. The longer handle allows for lighter application - hold the handle nearer the end for less pressure. The one downside to this brush is that it's prone to casting bristles and leaving them on my face. I'm hoping after continuous use or washing, it will eventually stop shedding.



Pro Longwear Concealer

I'd been experimenting with a few high street concealers from ELF to Rimmel with good results, but longed for something with better coverage. I've used MAC concealers in the past including their Studio Fix, and Mineralize concealers. I found Mineralize to be a good concealer but wanted something with more coverage, and although Studio Fix covers basically anything, it was quite drying and cakey around my eye area. However, in my opinion their Pro Longwear concealer combines the best of both. Its provides a good buildable coverage, isn't drying or cakey and perfect for the under eye area. It also comes with a handy mess-free pump. I went for shade NC20, a shade lighter than my foundation.




Lip Pencils - 'Stripdown' and 'Oak'

I've been on a search for the perfect nude lip pencil for what seems like forever. I prefer lip liners over lipsticks purely because of the precision on application and I find them a lot longer lasting. Lean towards a liner if you're after that Kylie Jenner overdrawn look. I fell in love with Collection 2000's bargain lip liner in 'Nude Rose' which is the perfect pink shade without being frosty in colour, but can be a bit drying. After many Instagram and Google searches for swatches, I narrowed it down to 2 MAC pencils and couldn't pick between them. When the 2 shades arrived, their tips where basically identical and it's only on application that you can see a shade difference.

Oak is my go-to day time shade. It's light enough for a natural look, but not so light that my nude lips look covered in foundation (awful teen makeup flash backs). Think of it as a 'your lips but better' kind of shade. Stripdown however, is slightly darker and warmer in colour. It's one that I would wear mostly at night and is neutral enough that it can be paired with almost any eye makeup. I'd describe both pencils as to put it frankly - shades of brown, but I remember reading somewhere that apparently brown lips suits everyone. The pencils are on the more expensive side but the quality and length is well worth it.








Studio Fix Fluid (Sample)

Studio Fix Fluid - the first high end foundation I tried and loved in my teens. I've used Studio Fix for years and only recently switched to Estee Lauder's Double Wear (you can read a comparison of the 2 here). Receiving this sample made me doubt why I had ever switched in the first place. However, after wearing it for a few days I noticed my skin got drier than usual and the foundation never lasted a full 8 hour shift in work, back to Double Wear! Shade NC25 is perfect for me and I tend to stick to yellow based foundations because I find them to be more flattering.

I'm a sucker for a cat eye, but who isn't? For a while now I had just been using a kohl pencil on my lid, but thought that the colour wasn't strong enough. I then came across Soap & Glory's Supercat which just so happens to be blacker than black and super intense. The eyeliner is almost like a felt tip and it's very easy to use - the dense tip gives me enough control to get right up against my lashline without causing havoc.

I'd definitely recommend Supercat if you're an eyeliner beginner or just not a confident 'flicker'. Other eyeliners I've experimented with tend to have longer applicators that aren't stiff enough to guarantee perfect precision each time. I've also had experience with liners flaking but this stuff will last you all day and isn't the slightest bit drying.

If you find it difficult to apply liner it can be easier to go step-by-step, repeating each part alternatively on each eye so as to keep things symmetrical. You can also practice your liner with a pencil first getting your basic shape, and then apply a liquid over the top if you're nervous. Also, if you're not sure of what shape to follow, simply imagine the curve of your lower lashline continuing on and the same angle - easy! Oh, did I forget to mention that it's only £6. I know, amazing right?

Personally, I can't go on a night out without looking like I've stepped off a flight fresh from Ibiza. Having a tan is the confidence boost that comes before dutch courage - sporting a tan makes most women feel slimmer and frankly more attractive, one woman being me. I've been through my fair share of fake tan with Rimmel, St Moriz and Lauren's Way to name a few, but Vita Liberata is my new found favourite. The above photo shows the tan fully developed.

For a girl that's been loyal to £2.99 St Moriz tan for years now, it was always going to take something amazing to make me sway.  At the slightly more expensive price of £22.50 a bottle, it definitely makes up for quality. Not only does this tan look a lot more natural on me, it's also odourless before it develops, and can last up to 7 days. Depending on your skin and tan preference you may disagree, but I recommend trying before buying if you can - I experimented using my housemate's.




Like a good friend would, Lauren is demonstrating the tanning results straight after application. The tan hasn't started to develop but has already improved her colour dramatically - see first picture for full development. We experimented with the Vita Liberata mousse on her upper body but the tan was barely showing, and it had an almost green tinge to it. I much prefer lotion when it comes to tan. I find that lotion is easier to apply, especially when it comes down to tanning your back alone!

I hadn't heard of the Arizona based brand Seacret until I had visited Budapest, and was given a demonstration by a very enthusiastic sales assistant from their store in the Westend Shopping Centre. I was told their Mineral-Rich Peeling Gel was best suited for my skin - suitable for all skin types but acts as an exfoliator, removing dead skin cells and leaving your face clean and purified. The main ingredients include minerals from the Dead Sea, cucumber, aloe vera, camomile, and ginseng, and the gel has the most gorgeous scent - so clean and refreshing. All Seacret products are extracted from salts and minerals from the Dead Sea, and are manufactured in Israel.