I found the Harry Potter Tag on Jessica’s blog the other day and as a Potternerd I think it is only right that I take part. I think just about any 90’s child was into Harry Potter, it is a classic! It has taken me a while to read the books but around this time of year you will more than likely find one of the films being played on my TV whether that is in the background whilst I am doing something or because I am actually watching it.
What house are you in?
According to Pottermore, I’m a Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs’ are hardworking, dedicated and loyal which I think describes my personality quite well however they are apparently quite patient which I know that I’m definitely not! Personally I think I am a mix of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
What is your patronus?
Pottermore states my patronus is a dolphin but I’m sure it will probably change overtime.
What is your wand?
Again according to Pottermore, my wand is beech wood with a Phoenix feather core 9 3/4″ and reasonably supple flexibility.
What would your boggart be?
Mine would be a spider. No doubt about it. As soon as a spider crawls into the room, I can’t jump high enough!
What position would you play in Quidditch?
I actually hate sports. Can I be the supporter? The one standing around the arena supporting my team. That seems like a good position to me. I’ll be less likely to cause a scene that way too.
Would you be a pure blood, half blood or muggle born?
I would like to think I can be a half blood but in reality I’ll probably be muggle born.
What job would you want to do after graduating from Hogwarts?
A dragon keeper, does that even exist? Perhaps something with animals, similar to Newt’s job.
Which of the Deathly Hallows would you chose?
The cloak of invisibility of course! Who wouldn’t though?! I would love to be able to spy on people all the time.
What is your favourite book?
I actually loved the Order of the Phoenix and the Philosopher’s Stone is a classic too.
What is your least favourite book?
Chamber of Secrets. It took me a super long time to read it cause I just didn’t understand it as much as the others until I watched the film.
What is your favourite film?
Harry Potter of the Philosopher’s Stone is my favourite with Goblet of Fire coming in as a close second.
What is your least favourite film?
Chamber of Secrets. I don’t know why but I just don’t like it as much as the others.
Who is your favourite character?
Nymphadora Tonks, Dobby, Snape or Luna Lovegood.
Who is your least favourite/most hated character?
Peter Pettigrew. I didn’t like him from the moment he went on the screens. He is such a chicken and needs to stand up for himself a bit more however his character in the books is okay.
Who is your favourite teacher at Hogwarts?
Snape, of course.
Who is your least favourite teacher at Hogwarts?
Dolores Umbridge. Does anyone else think she is just a bit of a bitch?
Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series?
A lot of people in the Potter community think that Harry Potter himself is weak but honestly I think they are completely wrong. I can go into great depths about this but at the end of the day he has had a tough start to his life and then was given the task to find the hocruxes by himself. Of course, he is going to need help from a range of different people.
If you could save one character from the final battle, who would it be?
Hedwig. I would love to be able to save Dobby too.
If you would like to do the tag, feel free to steal the questions? What house are you in? I would love to know!
♥
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I have always been the type of person who has struggled to fit in, always. I was so jealous to see all the groups of people at school because I longed to be part of my own group and find my people. I feel like some of you may understand what I mean by that. Even nowadays I am the worrier. The one who is wondering whether they actually like me or not. I don’t know what to say or do because I don’t want to make a fool of myself. Do you know what though? It’s okay to be socially awkward sometimes because us introverts need our own space however it is also important to push ourselves out of our comfort zone sometimes. It can be scary but it feels amazing afterwards!
If you have been an avid reader of mine for a while, you might remember when I went down to London two years ago and took a wander around the flagship store on Oxford Street. I thoroughly enjoyed my time looking around the store and seeing all the Lush exclusives, of course, I treated myself to a lot of products too. I wasn’t nervous entering the store on my own which nowadays I would really struggle with. I started speaking to a lovely sales assistant called Bella who gave me a guided tour around the whole store for nearly an hour. She explained all the products to me whilst suggesting her personal faves. In that situation, if anyone was nervous it would have probably been Bella to approach me rather than the other way round. So I don’t know when things really changed for me. Perhaps it is the case of as I have grown up, I am more nervous and anxious about these kind of situations when I really shouldn’t be.
Last week I took a massive step which I would usually make up an excuse for not going or just not organise whatsoever. I, little old me, messaged the lovely Chloe asking if it was okay to meet up with her to take some outfit photos and have a hot drink. Now we all know that Chloe has a huge following, in fact her blog was one of the first ones I started reading and now she has over 3,000 followers on Instagram. At first I felt so uncomfortable because I was well out of my comfort zone but after some time had passed I was fine. I started to feel comfortable not only in front of the camera but in front of someone completely new. Looking back on the situation, I don’t even know why I was so nervous for however I do know if someone came up to me at the start of the year and said this was going to happen I would have laughed in their face. I just need to remember that moment of feeling extremely proud of what I have achieved and run with it. I also need to remember that the other person is probably feeling the exact same because everyone feels nervous about something whether that is meeting new people, dealing with a spider in the bathroom or combating a fear of heights.
So here’s a question – why do we feel overwhelmed and anxious when meeting new people? We all work in the same community. As bloggers, we have all started with 0 followers and nearly everyone who I speak to online are supportive, kind and caring. They back you when things happen in your life that you don’t know how to cope with or deal with. It’s like one massive community and despite the amount of followers someone has on socials, we are all in the same boat. It will always be easier to speak to someone online rather than meeting them in person but that’s because you have time to think about a reply and gather your thoughts before typing a reply when you don’t have that advantage in person.
At the start of this year I attended the #CarnLIVal event with Alice and I felt like such a fan girl when I met Katy and Sam even though we had been talking online for ages. The event was in aid of Student Minds and St Rocco’s Hospice. We paid a small fee for the tickets to attend but that also ensured us a raffle ticket with some fantastic prizes. We were early for the event due to traveling down from Newcastle and as I stood outside the Hope Street Hotel, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed especially when lots of other people started turning up. Don’t get me wrong, I was super happy to have had Alice there to support me all the way because I knew I wouldn’t have been able to handle that situation on my own. When we finally settled into the event room which was filled with confetti balloons, a photo booth, a poetry competition table and an Easter Egg hunt, it was time to mingle. I was super nervous as you could imagine. I never met so many people at one time in my life before but at the event I made friends with: Emily, Hannah and Hannah who made both Alice and I feel so welcome.
I think I just need to remember that everyone is nervous when meeting someone new whether it is for a friendship because you have been speaking for years online or because you have met someone on a dating app. No matter the situation, I am still trying to figure out at what point do you start to feel comfortable around meeting new people. For now I am just going to continue pushing myself out my safe bubble because I will never know who I might meet if I don’t do that.
♥
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Last week, I was invited along to the Prince’s Trust Awards. I was nominated for the Rising Star Award which recognises young people who, despite having faced substantial personal obstacles are in employment as a result of a Prince’s Trust programme.
Believe it or not, I actually WON! I found out in October and if you follow my Twitter you will probably already know. I couldn’t quite believe it and right up to the day of the awards it didn’t feel real. I kept thinking that it isn’t really that important but my god was a wrong.
There was time to mingle on the night which gave me chance to meet the sponsors of the award, Barclaycard and others. Everyone who I met said congratulations to me and I was still so in shock. I caught up with Amy, whose brother won the Young Ambassador of the Year Award, as well as my old Team programme tutors who won an award as well. I was still super nervous and anxious until the moment I was handed the award. All in all I loved the evening and by the end of the night I felt so proud of myself which is a very rare feeling.
♥
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Yesterday was my birthday however this post is more important than that. Today I am going to be talking all about my day at the magical Harry Potter Studio Tour! I was going to talk about my whole weekend but I just wanted to share as much of the wizarding world as possible with you. I’ve been dreaming about the visiting the studios for such a long time and last week I managed to live the dream and walk inside the doors of the Great Hall and experience all the magic. Honestly, it was brilliant and I would highly recommend it to everyone!
Firstly, if you don’t want the tour spoiled for you. I would switch you tab over to another one of my posts.
Let me walk you through the tour…
The first part of the tour is, obviously, the Great Hall of Hogwarts. It’s like a replica of the films. You are shown where they are actually filmed, costumes, props and the oak tables that they aged with axes and chains to make them look more realistic. It was so impressive. I was lucky enough to open the doors to the Great Hall as I was celebrating my birthday. As you leave the hall, you enter a massive area with the rest of the sets. This is where you really get shown behind the scenes of the films.
Without revealing to much, this is where you see the most iconic sets such as Dumblerdore’s Study, the Potions Classroom, the Gryffindor Common Room, the Forbidden Forest, the Ministry of Magic, Dolores Umbridge Office – there is just so much to take in with secrets about how the filmed different parts of the film. There’s guides who are so informative and enthusiastic that they are willing to answer any questions that you want the answers too. You can’t touch the sets however you can still get up close and personal with all of them.
This is probably the main part of the tour so if I was you take your time and enjoy every second of what you see because there really is so much to learn. You can also discover the magic behind Quidditch, ride on a broomstick for yourself using the green screen with plenty of photo opportunities and even have a lesson using a wand.
Next up is Platform 9 and 3/4 where you get a chance to go on the train itself to see all the props, take photos with luggage trolleys as if your going onto the platform and go on a train journey yourself. There’s also a shop which I highly recommend you looking and treating yourself to something because there’s some exclusive items which you can’t get in the usual gift shop.
You then enter the outside area where you can stop for a drink, a snack, wander around the sets and props as well as have a taste of Butterbear – it tasted so good! If you have a sweet tooth like me then you will probably love it just as much as I did. You can step onto the Hogwarts Bridge, take a look inside Privett Drive, jump into Hagrid’s motorbike and sidecar or the Weasley’s car and take photos on the Knight Bus. I loved going into the house the most as it’s where Harry Potter essentially started from.
The next part of the tour is all about the creatures. You can learn the secrets of Dobby and all the details of the many creatures in all of the films. The detail is extraordinary. I was so amazed that I didn’t take many photos. You then reach Diagon Alley which I never knew was filmed indoors… Gringotts Bank is at the end whilst the Weasley’s Joke Shop is at the other.
You turn the corner to see a glass cabinet full of models of the different buildings and sets in Harry Potter and stunning pieces of artwork. Then you turn the corner to see this…
The actual 1:24 ratio model of Hogwarts!! It was used in the movies for various different shots but I am telling you it’s phenomenal. I cried because it was so emotional. I just loved walking around and seeing all the detail. You can take photos at various different angles and see how detailed it really is. It really was something that was out of my dreams.
Finally, you walk into a room full of wand boxes that have all the names of everyone who has ever worked on the films with the actors and characters in the films.
Overall, I think going to the Harry Potter Studio Tour was definitely worth waiting for and I can’t wait to head back for the Christmas season. I found the whole experience breathtaking and full on amazing. If you haven’t been then I highly recommend booking a visit as soon as you can and for those of you who have then let me know when your free so I can come with you.
Have you ever been to the Harry Potter Studio Tour? What’s your thoughts?
♥
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Last week, I shared my Ultimate Cruelty Free Gift Guide that focused solely on cruelty free beauty and skincare for both men and women. This week, I am sharing with you the Lifestyle Christmas Gift Guide which has a lovely mix of lifestyle bits ranging from books and chocolate to stocking fillers ideas suited for anyone in the family. I have tried to include something for everyone. So whether you are looking for some inspiration because you still haven’t got a clue what to get anyone or you are needing to find a little extra present to put in your boyfriend’s stocking – I am hoping this list will help you out a little.
Books are a lovely idea to gift someone as you have so many options and can really make it personal by writing a nice message inside. I have bought many people books this year including this Personalised ‘My Adventures With Peter Pan’ Book* for my nephew. Even though he can’t read it yet, it will be a lovely keepsake for him in the future and it’s really personal to him as it includes his name, birthday and a little message inside from myself.
Some recent book releases that I have really enjoyed is the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Jim Kay’s illustrations are so beautifully designed that it makes reading the books even better. I have also enjoyed reading Girl Online: Going Solo written by Zoe Sugg. I am half way through at the moment and really enjoying it. The books always keep me intrigued and wanting to read more and more.
If they aren’t a particular fan of reading books, their favourite comic could be a good idea. I went to see Batman: The Killing Joke earlier this year and I know the Blu-Ray is coming out before Christmas so I thought it would be a nice idea to get the comic book for the film too.
Personally, I am a stationary addict. I would happily admit that too. An illustrated print, a quoted notebook to write lists and blog ideas or some cute highlighters with little faces on always makes for a lovely present. There are a lot of lovely stockists that sell really amazing quality products including Sighh Designs and Dot Creates. My favourites are the ‘I Totally Have My Life Together’ Notebook which would be lovely for anyone that has moved out of the family home to write down budget lists and their income/expenditure. I use it to keep up to date with paying back any debts that I have and help with savings. If you are buying a gift for a blogger, they will adore The Ultimate Blog Planner to help them plan their content and keep up to date with their stats across social media. You might not understand but it is super difficult to keep track especially during busy periods.
Another creation for Dot Createswhich any blogger, student or illustrator would love to find in their stocking is this lovely set of Gold Foil Pencils. I love the crisp white design and the little slogans on the end. The rubber actually works properly too unlike any of the supermarket pencils. I have also thrown in the ‘I’m A Blogger. What’s Your Superpower?’ Print from Coconut Lane because it would make a lovely gift for any blogger that is eager to create a statement wall. Coconut Lane are another company worth looking into if you wanting to buy a Christmas present for a blogger. They have everything from cushions and socks to phone cases and jewellery.
Chocolate is next on my list of ideas. What is Christmas without chocolate?! If you’re looking for a vegan friendly option I highly suggest Thortans Chilli Chocolate Block especially if you know someone who loves hot foods. Another option could be the Sainsbury’s Freefrom Chocolate Coins or the Moo Free Merry Moo Selection Box. If they aren’t a chocolate lover and have more of a sweet tooth then I highly recommend heading to your local Magic Candy Factory as they have created the world’s first 3D gummy candy printer which gives you the ability to customise vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free gummies. They are made with vegetable based gelling agents and natural fruit and vegetable extracts so they don’t even feel as though you are having a treat. You can get text, images and shapes printed and beautifully gifted in a box for £10.00 which personally I don’t think is too bad.
Music and films are always a great option for anyone. They are a nice stocking filler to give to someone or you could treat them to their favourite box set of films or TV programmes. As I mentioned earlier, I got Batman: The Killing Joke but one which was definitely on my list is Finding Doryand any other Disney films that I haven’t got yet.
Music is another one loved by all. If you know that they are into their YouTuber’s, Dodie’s Intertwined EP is a lovely listen when your writing blog posts. If you know the person that your buying for is really into their music, you could buy them a subscription to Spotify or Apple Music. These are really good options for students as the subscriptions can be really expensive.
Other miscellaneous ideas include a Photo Frame with images that are personal to the receiver of the present, slippers, cosy socks, a candle such as The Body Shop Candle and cookbooks are a useful gift to anyone whether it’s your Mum, Brother-in-law or Student. My particular favourites are The Vegan Stoner Cookbook and The Hungry Student because the recipes are all really easy to follow and are so affordable.
I hope this was helpful to any of you who still are looking for ideas. Let me know what your favourite budget friendly present ideas are.
♥
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Christmas is on it’s way guys and if you’re anything like me I have been lost and confused with everything to do with present shopping this year. From expensive wrapping paper and five different types of sellotape to 3 for 2 deals and blogger gift guides suggesting everything under the sun including £280 toothbrushes and Primark’s affordable makeup range. There has been all sorts under your radar this year but in the mist of it all, it can be hard to distinguish what is cruelty free and what is tested on animals. With the intention of making things a little bit easier for you, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite cruelty free picks for you to give to loved ones or perhaps add to your Christmas list this year.
Starting with the skincare maniac, there are so many affordable offers when it comes to skincare. The Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser set is brilliant for someone who is just starting to get into skincare. It’s definitely on my wish list and has been for sometime now. Many bloggers have wrote in-depth reviews about how much it does for your skin too so it is definitely something worth considering. For those shopping on a budget I know that Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanseris a much more budget friendly option and would be great for a stocking filler too.
Superdrug usually have many deals on when it comes to cruelty free skincare. I picked up their Fruity Trio Cube for my cousin’s girlfriend because it was super affordable and packaged beautifully. They have the options of three scents: Raspberry & Strawberry, Satsuma and Coconut & White Peach, however, if you have a lot of friends to buy for Superdrug have you covered. They have an amazing Fruity 18 Piece Shower & Bath Set with six different scents all with a body scrub, shower gel and body butter. You could open it up and pair them with a shower lily and create little pamper night packages.
The Body Shop have some great deals on at the moment and if you are an O2 customer like me it is worth keeping an eye out on the Priorities app as there is usually deals where you can get a certain amount off when you spend money in store or online. One of my favourites is their Handfuls of Happiness Collection because you can easily add them into gifts divided between friends and family. Another option from The Body Shop is their Body Butters, especially their Christmas scents – Spiced Apple, Frosted Berries and Vanilla Chai. In selected stores, they have the option to personalise the body butter with their favourite zoo animal and 11 characters of your choice which is such a unique idea.
One more idea which would be perfect for a bath enthusiast and skincare lover is one of Lush’s Bubble Wands. They are such a lovely gift idea for a stocking. The Bubble Wands can be used for multiple baths and can create so many bubbles just from a small amount of product. The one pictured is the classic snow fairy scented Magic Wand, however, there are another three to choose from. On the topic of Lush, they have some amazing gift sets for bath lovers as well such as the Christmas Bathtime Favourites that I unboxed on my YouTube channel.
If you have a makeup lover to buy for then their are some amazing palettes on the shelves at the moment. My personal favourites are Urban Decay’s Limited Edition Full Spectrum and the Ultimate Basics Palette that everyone is raving about at the moment. I think what I like about them is that they are two completely different palettes. The Full Spectrum includes a lot of colourful shadows that are surprisingly really wearable whereas the Ultimate Basics include some amazing matte shades that they could create many neutral eye looks with.
If you are looking for something a bit more affordable then I would recommend Sleek’s A New Day Palette as it includes a range of shimmers and matte shades that are ideal for creating subtle smokey eye looks. Another option from Sleek which is super affordable is their Mini Matte Me Collection which includes four mini Matte Me Liquid Lipstick shades including the oh-so-famous Birthday Suit which I can say is gorgeous for every day wear.
Perfume is another lovely idea for women in your life whether that’s your Mum, Aunt or Sister. The Library of Fragrance is a lovely brand and have really affordable and unusual scents. My current faves at the moment are Blue Spruce and Myrrh because they are both scents that I think anyone can wear easily. I also know that Eden Perfumes are a good choice for those who love a certain perfume but are wanting to shop more cruelty free.
Moving on to the men in your life, the ones who I really struggle to buy for – why are guys so hard to buy for? I feel as though they would get offended if we brought them something to smell nice but I do have a couple of ideas which can help you. The Bulldog Skincare Trio Set is the perfect cruelty free option for your man – whether he is your partner, Brother or Dad. It is an affordable option for anyone on a budget so even if he doesn’t use all of the products in the set, it doesn’t much matter.
The Body Shop is another great option for men as they have four different scents for you to choose from. At first, I did feel a bit overwhelmed but I worked my way round the problem buy choosing a scent that I liked. I went for White Musk Sport but you also have the option of five other scents that include: White Musk For Men, Activist, Kistna, Arber and For Men Maca Root. The Body Shop are usually really good with sets and sell the deodorant spray, hair & body wash and eau de toilette in a set for £20 which I think is really affordable.
Lush are really good for men as well with the option of buying Kalamazoo Beard And Facial Wash for your bearded friend. I bought one for my Dad earlier this year and he loves it! I have used it too when I have forgotten my cleanser and it is great for removing makeup but it also leaves your skin feeling so nourished. The almond, jojoba oils and cupuaçu butter will leave his beard so soft whilst the fresh pineapple juice is brilliant for cleansing the skin. Another stocking filler idea is one of Lush’s Shaving Creams – I recommend Dirty Shaving Cream and Five O’Clock Whistle Shaving Cream because they are both really caring on sensitive skins.
I hope this was helpful to any of you who still are looking for ideas. Let me know in the comments what you get for the men in your life.
♥
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