Home and Decor, Lifestyle

The vintage touch feat JD Williams*

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For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted a dressing table in my bedroom. I’ve trawled the charity shops and Ebay and also asked friends to keep a look out for anything they thought would be suitable. I wasn’t really that fussy, but I knew that I wanted something that would add the vintage touch to my room.

I found a gorgeous vnitage dressing table on Ebay, with plenty of storage and a huge mirror! The seller was not too far from me and the listing was ending on new years eve so I knew I had a great chance of winning the auction for a great price. I sat there as it was ending and I put in a maximum bid of £11 and I WON!

Once I had the dressing table home, I began to upcycle it. I chose to go with a cream paint and a dark wood, the same as I have done with all of the furniture in our bedroom. It looked so flawless when I had finished I was so proud as it had taken me a whole weekend to perfect!

I was then contacted by JD Williams, who asked if I would like to try some new bedding and I thought it was a great opportunity to add something to my newly arranged bedroom. On going to their website, I was really surprised to see that they had such a wide range of different bedding sets, there was literally something for any type of theme or feel, and it took me a while to choose which one I really wanted. I knew I had to get something that added the vintage touch to the room along with my new dressing table.

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Beauty, Lifestyle, Makeup, Skincare

Beauty Bucket List – Part 1

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So I thought for today’s post I’d try something a little bit different. Welcome to my Beauty Bucket list. There are 15 different things on my list and I’m going to split it up across a few months and reveal 5 things on my list in each post!

Have you ever thought “I’d love to try that” or “I wish I could apply that better”, that’s what this beauty bucket list is all about! It’s all the little things I wish I could do but just never get around to it. So here we go, the first part of my beauty bucket list counting down from 15:

15.  Master winged eyeliner

We’ve all seen the beauty gurus and makeup artists online who are so amazing at applying eyeliner they are just showing off. Why can’t mine be that easy, it literally takes me 5 minutes on each eye, I always have to have the wipes ready and the line never looks completely flawless. So I’m tired of just being able to apply a wing, I want to master it! I have a weird eye shape on the outer corner so i’d love to be able to find the right wing for my eye shape.  I’d love to venture into the world of gel liner too, which I only use on the lid if I want to do a dramatic smokey eye.

14. Try a fringe

Ok, so I have been growing my hair for years now and it is finally all the same length. I’d love to get a fringe cut in just to see what it is like. The problem is I am so scared to do it. What happens if I don’t like it

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Beauty, Skincare

Starting a new skincare routine with The Ordinary

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So, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have no doubt heard about The Ordinary. A brand under the Deciem umbrella, that has quickly become a cult favourite for it’s amazing active skincare products at very affordable prices.

I’ve been wanting to revamp my skincare routine for a while, but had no idea where to start. I know that I have problematic skin. It’s extremely oily normally, I have redness, hyper pigmentation, blemishes and acne scarring. I have very acne prone skin and find that some of my regular skin care products can make this worse once spots appear. I also do not have much of a budget, so The Ordinary was an extremely affordable option for me.

New Skincare routine with the ordinary, emma ellis, the plus size of life, plus size blogger, plus size blog, beauty blog

For someone who is so used to just cleansing, toning and moisturising with products from the drug store, I was well out of my comfort zone when I visited The Ordinary website. Although there is a small guide on there, I decided to research a little bit about the products and found some great advice in this post from Victoria Health amongst others.

One of the main things I was able to get my head around was the difference between AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids) exfoliants and how these might benefit my skin. The biggest difference is that AHA’s work on the skin’s surface and that BHA’s work on the surface and in the pores.I was able to read the information and choose products which I thought would be best suited to my skin type and would help to improve the things I wanted to target.

I thought I would go through each of the products that I chose and then at the end I will share with you my new skin care routine. I will then update each month with how I think the new routine is going.

Direct Acids

New Skincare routine with the ordinary, salicylic acid,emma ellis, the plus size of life, plus size blogger, plus size blog, beauty blogSalicylic Acid 2% Solution – £4.20 for 30ml

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Lifestyle

Looking forward in 2018!

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So this isn’t going to be a new year’s resolution post, god knows I hate all that crap that’s floating around at this time of year.

I wanted to take this opportunity to just let you know that you should not let anyone make you feel like you need to change because it’s diet season, if you’re happy then just try your best to roll with it and be you. At the same time, if you want to diet and exercise that is also cool, you go for it and make sure you’re doing it for you. Also remember not to thrust your views on others, everyone has their own journey and you never know where someone is at. The best way to think about it is “I’m doing this for me” and keep opinions to yourself, that way you don’t upset anyone.

Anyway, I felt like I just had to get that out of the way, time to move onto what I really wanted to talk about in this post.

A huge thing for me this last year was that I’m definitely not where I wanted to be with my career at all. Towards the end of 2017, day to day work was becoming a MASSIVE chore for me. I’d wake up and not want to go at all (I don’t know why but I just wanted to cry at the thought of walking in) I think it’s various things, but mainly I suppose I just feel like I should be doing more. Now that I’ve had some time off and spent some quality time with my family I’ve realised that this is one major change I need to make.

 

I started to neglect blogging and social media quite a lot. I’m sort of getting back into it but I just need to stop making excuses and put the time in. It can be hard when you work full time and have a family but I know that I can do it, especially if I want it to be successful! My main goals for the blog will be to post regularly, interact on social media and become more active in the Plus Size community. I’m not fussed about creating goals around stats or numbers really as long as I’m doing what I love and people are loving my content I’m happy 🙂

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Beauty, Beauty on a Budget!, Makeup

Party Season Makeup Tips – Get your glitter on!

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Without a doubt, this is my all time favourite time of year. I just love the glitz and glamour of party season and it means I can wear glitter to my hearts content without having to justify myself. In the first post of my Party Season Makeup Tips, I’m going to be helping you to get your glitter on by sharing my favourite products to give you that extra sparkle! All are hopefully budget friendly, like nothing is over £10 so let’s get stuck in!

Collection – Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner

I’ve talked about this product before on the blog, but it is still an essential part of my makeup collection today! I love these Glam Grystals Gel Liner’s becuase they are so versatile and dry nicely without looking crusty on the eye. With them you can add glitter to your look by lining under your eyes or adding a full on cat eye and ditching traditional black liner. You can also use them on your lid for a more dramatic look, like in a cut crease look or just all over. They definitely are alot more subltle and easier to use than some other produtcs on the market. They are so precise so if you’re new to using glitter, then these are definitely for you! These are priced at just £2.99 each at Superdrug

Primark PS – Glitter Obsessed Palette

Ok, so this is definitely another one for you beginners. Beauty bloggers have raved about this and seemingly it is hard to find in Primary stores, but I’ve had mine for quite a while now and have seen it recently in my local store. The palette contains 28 different glitter creme shades that are soooo perfect for adding a bit of glam to any makeup look. There is every colour you could ever need in this palette, from golds and bronzes to blues and purples this palette will take you from party season to festival season so it is definitely worth investing in. I like to pat the creams onto the inner corner of my eye or all over a neutral smoky add to add some drama. Beware though, do not go CRAZY with application, these are creme formulas so if you apply too much it will crease up on the eye! For £4 can you really make an excuse not to try this?

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Beauty, Beauty on a Budget!, Fashion, Lifestyle, Makeup

Plus Size Fashion and Beauty Black Friday Deals!

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So, it’s that time of year again where we all go mental for a bargain before Christmas and with party season just around the corner, what better way to shop this black friday than for your favourite fashion and beauty essentials! All the deals I’m sharing are for either plus size fashion or beauty! Please not this post contains afilliate links, please check out my disclaimer for more info!

Black Friday Beauty Deals!

Tam Beauty – The home of Makeup Revolution amongst others has up to a massive 70% off across their site at the moment. This deal lasts until 27th November! Not only that but as a standard you get free delivery on all UK orders over £30! Shop here

Superdrug – If you’re in the market for some new makeup brushes,you can save up to HALF PRICE  on selected Real Techniques! It’s time to stock up on those Miracle Complexion Sponges I think!  This offer is running until the 02/12 so grab yourself a bargain by clicking here 

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Lifestyle, Nightlife, Travel

Our time in Koh Phangan!

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Hi loves! Another travel related post today! I suppose I’m really pining for a holiday and the trouble is when you want to get away you start thinking about the places you have visited that you will remember for the rest of your life. Today I wanted to talk about my time in Koh Phangan in Thailand!

There are lots of different types of Thailand holiday’s, so when my husband and I traveled to Thailand for a friend’s wedding, we planned our trip so we could visit as many places as possible and at the top of the list was to go to a full moon party. We however wanted a nice balance between relaxing and partying!

Now I think we all know that Koh Phangan is the place to experience the full moon party. So after a little bit of research, I booked us a hotel at the other side of the Island to the town where the full moon parties happen. Obviously before you go, you make assumptions about the type of place you are visiting. I presumed that this Island would be the place to be for nightlife and partying, James and I do love to party, but we are a little bit older so like to relax as well.

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Lifestyle, Travel

How to prepare for travelling – if you’re a newbie

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If you’re about to embark on your first travel experience, you’re in for something special. With so much around the world to see and do, it’s important you’re making the most of it and seizing every opportunity. With that being said, it’s equally as crucial to prepare adequately to ensure smooth sailing on your travels.

Here are just a few suggestions on how to prepare for travelling if you’re a newbie.

Pack the right things

One of the most important things to consider when preparing to go travelling is what to pack. If you’re used to bringing your entire life with you on your holidays, it’s a habit you’re going to have to shed – travelling doesn’t allow for masses of belongings to be hauled around with you.

Make sure you limit yourself to the bare essentials. Ideally you want to bring a backpack with you instead of an actual suitcase, as you won’t be staying still for long when travelling – and your bag won’t be forgiving should you want to bring too much. A few reliable outfits are enough to last you – leave the singlets and vests at home, though – and if you want to bring some gadgets, your phone and camera will do. And, of course, don’t forget the important paperwork.

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Beauty, Giveaway, Lifestyle, Review

Xtava Satin Wave 5 in 1 Curling Wand review and giveaway*

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In terms of styling my hair, I probably use tongs more than anything else. In fact I live for curly hair and my old trusty Babyliss hair tong was coming to the end of its life. Buying a new one just was not an option for me at the moment, plus there are too many out there to choose from so I was really excited to be sent the Xtava Satin Wave 5 in 1 Curling Wand set to review and giveaway one set also to my readers!

xtava satin wave 5 in 1 curling wand, emma ellis, the plus size of life, plus size blog, review and giveaway, beauty blog

I was taken back by how well packaged this was! It felt so luxurious. Inside the box you get the curling tong with 5 different interchangeable wands/barrels, a travel case and a heat resistant glove. All items are in sleek black and my first thought was that this felt so high end and fabulous. My next thought was that itcould be used for SO many different styles! If you’re looking for a professional quality styling set for only £21.99 here (usually £45.99) then this is the one for you!

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Beauty, Review

SENSSE Go Mini Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush Review!*

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So, skincare is a really important part of my everyday routine. I have incredibly oily skin and that means that I am prone to acne and black heads. Sometimes, I have to change up my skincare routine in order to prevent breakouts, so I was really happy to be sent the SENSSE Go Mini Sonic Facial Cleansing brush to try! To be honest, I’ve wanted to try an electronic cleansing brush for a while and it came at the perfect time as I was going through a difficult breakout that I could not clear alone!

Sensse go mini sonic facial cleansing brush, review, emma ellis, the plus size of life, beauty blogger, plus size blogger

The Sensse Go Mini Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush retails on Amazon for £39.99, so it is perfect for those of us who are on a budget. When the package arrived, I was blown away, it is packaged so well, it feels sleek and sophisticated and I could not wait to get it open and give it a try!

Inside the box is the cleansing brush, two seperate brush heads, a brush head guard and a USB charger.  I was pleasently surprised and it quickly became easy to see why this product is a great choice for so many.

Sensse go mini sonic facial cleansing brush, review, emma ellis, the plus size of life, beauty blogger, plus size blogger

It’s compact, meaning that it’s not only easy to store but easy to take with you anywhere. The brush head cover means that it won’t get dirty between uses or covered in anything else that might be in your luggage whilst you’re away. The USB charging option makes it easy to charge this brush anywhere, even though the generous battery life means it lasts for 180 uses!

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