Surprise Trip to Brussels!

Hello! I recently turned 23 and was whisked away on one of the most special (surprise) trips I've been on and I thought it was too good not to share the story of the surprise, and the beautiful trip itself! 

So the day started with me believing I was going to Cambridge to celebrate my birthday/birthday weekend, which is exciting, but when you're woken at 6am to go there, the novelty wears off! So we get ready and head to King's Cross to grab the crazy early train and my boyfriend hands me the tickets to Cambridge. 

Given the look on my face, he mentions he has two tickets, (to which I assume he meant one for me and one for him!), but he asks would I rather go somewhere else? Naturally, I was super confused and super intrigued! So I had to choose between Cambridge and the 'mystery place'.. I chose the mystery place! (But not before asking if I could bring liquids to the mystery place as I'd brought all of my best stuff!).

 Within seconds I'm being whisked off to St Pancras and I was the most excited, giddy girl in the world!! I'm frantically reading the departures board for clues as to where we're going... (Oh yeah, I saw Disneyland, haha!). After a short wait and lots of guessing games, we head to the platform for the Eurostar to Brussels. 

It's only once we checked into the most gorgeous hotel, (Radisson Blu!), that it sunk in where I was and what we were doing! 

We were so lucky to arrive in Brussels on the one weekend that occurs every two years where they lay down the most spectacular 'Flower Carpet' around the Grand Palace, although Laury says he arranged the whole thing, haha! The whole ground is covered with stunning patterns made from real flowers, we couldn't imagine seeing the Grand Palace without it! Of course, this means tourists and locals flock here to enjoy the weekend and celebrations, but with a little, (a lot), of patience and some perseverance, we got some amazing views of the carpet. 

The rest of our first day was spent eating delicious pizza, wandering around the city and eventually to the beautiful park where we sat down, people-watched and relaxed. Perfect! We also stumbled across a fun Jamaican street concert so we danced into the night until it was time for sleep! I was so excited for the following day.. birthday day!!!

Ever since I can remember, I've always had major excitement butterflies on my birthday, even at the ripe old age of 23! We had the comfiest bed in the world, so waking up early and jumping around totally wasn't on my agenda, but when I spotted some mysterious boxes on my bedside table, it was time to get up! (Presentsssssss!), (those were my exact words!).

Throughout the day I was given the most special, thoughtful gifts in the most special way. I actually cried at the last one. I could see the thought, effort and love that had gone into every step of the trip and me being an emotional girl anyway.. crying in the bar, yep! 'The tears are falling out of my eyes, I can't stop them!', hahaha.

During the day we went to a waffle making workshop and made our very own Brussels waffles from scratch! Laury is way more artistic than me, so he decorated his beautifully with bananas, Nutella and strawberries, (see below), and me being me, I slathered mine in icing sugar, Nutella and was ready to eat as many as possible.

With super full tummies, we headed back to the hotel for a short rest before getting dressed up and ready for birthday drinks and dinner. (There's nothing more attractive than seeing your man suited and booted!). We went to The Dominican for a drink, such a chilled place with cool cocktails, (mine came in an actual bag..), and then we headed over for some Italian food! (Allllll the lasagne and spaghetti!).

We also took full advantage of the spectacular lights show around the palace. Seriously, you have to book a trip to Brussels the weekend of the Flower Carpet, even just for the lights show, it was like magic and we were completely in awe. One more drink in our hotel and we were off to bed! I felt like a princess all day, (all weekend actually), and didn't want the day to end!

The next morning was time to explore a little further out of the city, so we hopped on the Metro and made our way to Mini Europe! We didn't have too much time so we didn't go inside the Atomium, but we got great views of it from Mini Europe.

Mini Europe is basically as it sounds, it's a selection of cool landmarks in every country in Europe in miniature form. It's definitely a fun place to take your children, or just a fun way to get a taste of the cool buildings in Europe! We've visited a lot of them in real life, so it was fun to see the tiny versions. I'm a sucker for the miniature places in Legoland so this definitely released my inner child! We even got to play ourselves in a virtual video game!

If you've never been to Brussels before, add it to your list! It's such a cool, beautiful city. There are so many fun things going on, but you can also totally chill out and enjoy the city at your own pace. We took the Eurostar which made the whole trip even better, we could pack what we wanted and not worry about crazy security and check-in queues. We had comfy seats and Wi-Fi... it's a yes from me! I'm so grateful for being able to experience these places with the person I love. I can't wait for the next trip!!

Moving to the Big City - London

Hello! It's been such a long time since I posted on my blog, my little space on the internet I created over 5 years ago. It's a space that although I neglect for periods at a time, I always find it to be my happy place when I return. 

So much has happened in the last year, mainly my big move to London! Since I practically grew up to and froing from London, I always wanted to move there, especially as I got older and knew that's where I belonged. I had the urge in me so much more in the last year and finally landed myself a job and moved in with my boyfriend down South. 

I kind of had, but mostly hadn't taken into account the impact of leaving the home I'd lived in for the last 23 years. You miss the little things you would always take for granted, such as dog cuddles, mum cuddles(!) and not paying for most day to day things.. (definitely one to make the most of!). Of course, home is only a few hours away and I can visit whenever I want to and I'm so grateful for that.

I've been living here for over two weeks now and I'm still yet to explore so many cool places, but me and my friend Julija took an after-work detour to the Millenium Bridge to shoot these cool pictures around the Thames, St Paul's Cathedral and the Shard. We just about caught the last of the summer sun! I haven't done these kind of pictures for years, (due to low confidence), but I'm so happy with how they came out! I definitely want to shoot more pictures and hopefully create better content.

Like I said, I haven't explored a lot since moving to London as I've been so incredibly busy with work and trying to find a work-life balance. I used to work for Clinique, part-time in a department store so jumping from that to full-time work, (London hours!), is a huge time of adjustment for me. I'm loving my new job, it's a totally different type of work for me and I already feel in my element and I enjoy the fast-paced environment and reliance on me to get things done! I was so afraid to make such a drastic change, but it's felt like such a seamless transition and I finally feel like I have prospects for the future. 

I get that city life isn't for everybody, but I've always felt so comfortable and truly in my element hopping around the tube, feeling tiny amongst the huge buildings. I find myself wandering around on my lunch hour just getting lost in the beautiful streets and immaculate gardens. (I work in a beautiful area!).

That's all I have to say for now, I just wanted to share these amazing pictures and chat about my new move! I'm so excited to explore more of my new city. We have lots of cool travels coming up soon, and whilst I don't see myself vlogging again just yet, I'd like to share them in blog posts/travel guides!

Nicole x

Sephora Shopping In Paris

I've just got back from a beautiful weekend in Paris with my boyfriend, and of course, it was incredible in every way, with the most beautiful buildings, and even better pizza, but me being me, I had to take a trip to Sephora! Us beauty-obsessed British guys and gals have a huge Sephora shaped hole in our hearts, and I feel like I've returned to the mother-ship everytime I visit one! Have a look at what I picked up on this trip!

Marc Jacobs Air Blush in Lines and Last Night

This was my splurge item, the item I almost left the store without but quickly made a mad dash back to the counter to grab it! I didn't realise it, but I'm actually a bit of a blusher collector. I can't resist a peachy glow on the apples of my cheeks, and this has been so highly spoken about that I wanted it in my collection! It looks so beautiful, and if like me, you love a peachy blush, I'd say it's worth the dollar bills!

Sephora Collection Bronzing Powder in Bali

This isn't something I intended on purchasing as I'm not really looking for a new bronzer, but the colour was gorgeous, and the price was right! I kept swatching it and it was so soft and buttery, and upon application on my face, it blended out beautifully. I've actually not stopped using this since I purchased it, and I even use it in the crease of my eye for a warm bronzed everyday eye look!

Sephora Orchid Sheek Mask

Sephora Avocado Sheet Mask

A classic Sephora purchase, whether you're a regular shopper there, or just visiting, you just have to pick up a sheet mask or two! I'm not convinced they're life-changing, but they're definitely fun! At just under 4 euros, they don't break the bank either. I decided to pick up two new ones, the orchid mask and the avocado mask! I haven't tried these yet, but if they do blow my mind, then I'll pop up a review!

(From L to R - Dusty Rose, Ashton & Coral Sunset)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks in Ashton and Dusty Rose

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Coral Sunset

Probably the most exciting purchases! I'll start with the Sephora cream lip stain. I picked another one up last month in Rome, and I fell in love with the formula, so I knew I wanted to expand my collection asap. I picked up the shade 'Coral Sunset', which is a beautiful burnt orange, my favourite! I probably should delve into the brighter oranges now we're nearing Summer, but I can't help loving this autumnal hue! The Sephora make-up range is pretty well priced in general, so I didn't think twice about picking another one of these up, and I'm sure it'll become tradition to keep adding them to my collection!

Now, the babies. I see ABH liquid lipsticks to be the first on the market, correct me if I'm wrong, but they're the first ones I ever saw a few years back! Because of this, I've always dreamt of owning my own, but they're so ridiculously hard to get a hold of in the UK for some reason?! I didn't even know they had an ABH counter in the Paris Sephora, so I made a bee-line for it when I spotted it! It took me no time at all to pick up the highly coveted shades, 'Ashton', a warm brown, and the self explanatory 'Dusty Rose'. The formula of these is actually lovely, and I'm definitely going to need a few more!

Huda Beauty Harmony Lashes

Huda Beauty Samantha Lashes

I am a huge Huda Beauty fan, even huge is an understatement. Of both the family, and the brand, I'm inspired by them daily, their work ethic, the love they have for eachother, and everything they've achieved together, it's beautiful. Despite not being big on spending a lot of money on my lashes, I will always support Huda and her brand, so I picked up my favourite pairs! I bought my first pair of Huda Beauty lashes a few years ago in Dubai, and they remain untouched as they're almost like a little souvenir for me! Obviously I'm going to use these ones, I'm particularly excited about the Harmony lashes!! 

I hope you've enjoyed this haul-style post! I love reading these myself, and I wanted to share my purchases! You may see one or two things crop up in a favourites post! Have any of you been to a Sephora? And are you as crazy as me in there?! To be fair, this was pretty well restrained. Let's just say, let me loose on those US brands and me and my bank will have a problem! Haha!

Goodbye 2016, Here's To 2017!

I'm sure most of you are beginning to eye roll at these 2016/2017 posts, but I'm totally immersed in them, and I find them to be inspiring and motivating. There's nothing like reading a years worth of peoples success to give you a kick up the ass!  I won't quite be putting together a post on my list of achievements from 2016, I don't feel I pushed myself to the limit in every aspect of my life, and that's why it's time to take the reigns and begin my own successful journey. 
I did, however, have some of the most amazing experiences. I went abroad with some of my best friends to Tenerife, and we had such a fabulous week together. Lots of spaghetti, pizza, chips.. oh, and of course sun, cocktails and pools. I'll never forget this trip, partially because the tan lines from wearing an oddly designed swimsuit won't let me!

This is also the first full year since the days of high school where me and my best friend Heidi have been back in each others lives! It's like those years apart never happened.. dramatic, I know!

Too many good memories to share, but the fact this is the only picture I could salvage from my Instagram ain't no good! 

(If you know me, you know I sure as hell didn't drink that champagne! Smoke and mirrors people!).

Possibly the biggest, most exciting thing to happen to me this year was meeting my wonderful boyfriend. My little heart warms up every day with him, and I couldn't be a happier girl. He's taught me to exit that dream killer, 'the comfort zone', and to go out and kick ass. I've learned I'm so much more capable than I ever thought! We've shared so many amazing memories together, and I can't wait to see what 2017 brings. Expect some travel content from me! 

I also got very involved with fitness, I've been a very regular member at my gym, and thats something I'm really proud to say! A year ago, I could barely run to a bus stop, and whilst 15 minutes might be nothing to most of you, the fact I can run for that length of time now is such an achievement, and I plan to increase that this year!

I can feel the passion for improving myself burning inside of me, and thats across the board. For health, fitness, work, hobbies, every aspect of my life, I want to take it to the next level and beyond this year. I want to see how far I can push myself, I want to prove to myself I can do damn well anything I set my mind to. 

Here's to 2017!!

What's In My Travel Makeup Palette?

Recently, I've been doing a lot of travelling, meaning I've been having to narrow down what make-up I travel with quite dramatically! 

I'm the kind of girl who will travel with six different palettes, purely because I like one shade in each. I finally came to terms with the fact that that's completely unreasonable.. thank God for Makeup Geek!  I decided to custom create my own little palette, using their Travel Vault Palette, which is basically Makeup Geeks own 'Z Palette'. It's slightly larger than a regular 'small' Z palette, and way more attractive. With a gunmetal finish, and a huge mirror on the inside, this is a dream to travel with. 

Okay! So what's on the inside? Everything in this palette is by Makeup Geek, besides my Benefit Hoola bronzer. I do own a few of the Makeup Geek contour shades, but Hoola is my perfect contour and bronzer combined. If you're wondering how I de-potted this, it was actually part of the 'Real Cheeky Party' palette from their Christmas range, but I'm sure there's ways of de-potting this powder from the regular box! 

For blusher, I popped in Makeup Geeks 'Spellbound', which is the perfect, universal shade. It's not too warm, not too cool, and not too pink.

As I mentioned before, I use Hoola as my contour and bronzer, and for highlighter, the eyeshadow 'Shimma Shimma' by Makeup Geek works perfectly. (Isn't it great when you find multi-use products?!). 

(From L to R) -  Spellbound (Makeup Geek), Hoola (Benefit), & Shimma Shimma (Makeup Geek).

As for eyeshadows, this was not a decision I enjoyed making. As a self-confessed eyeshadow junkie, it was like choosing between children. In the end, I followed my heart and went with warm/orange tones. These are shades I generally lean more towards, and I find them to be flattering on my skin tone. 

(From L to R) - Mirage (matte), Chickadee (matte), Morocco (matte), Cocoa Bear (matte), I'm Peachless (duochrome) & Shimma Shimma (shimmer). 

I use Mirage to set my eyeshadow primer down, and also to highlight the brow bone.

Chickadee is the perfect light orange transition shade, and Morocco is great to intensify the crease, and add a little more definition. 

To deepen the outer corner, I use Cocoa Bear, and for lid shades I have the options of I'm Peachless, for something a little more dramatic, or Shimma Shimma as a nice wash of colour, (and as an inner corner highlight!).

So that's what's in my travel makeup palette! You can purchase the Makeup Geek products here, and Benefit's Hoola bronzer here!