FAVOURITE BODY PRODUCTS OF 2014

Looking back over the selection of products that I have chosen, they do seem pretty random but they are the products that most stood out to me and the ones that I most enjoyed using in 2014. Most of these products were also discovered in 2014 - I think! 

Laura Mercier ambre vanille 

I first discovered how amazing the ambre vanille range smelt when my sister and I went to London to see Taylor Swift. We stopped off in Covent Garden to do some shopping and obviously found our way to Space NK. I sprayed the ambre vanille fragrance on my wrist and for the rest of the day I was sniffing my wrist non stop, like some crazed addict. It's such a gorgeous and unique scent. My mum and sister kindly bought me the fragrance and body cream as graduation presents. The only issue is I use the body cream so sparingly as it's so ridiculously expensive, but then I don't want it to just go off, so I better start slapping it on! 

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

I didn't think something so simple as a hand cream could be so luxurious. I've tried using cheaper hand creams, as lets face it, it's just hand cream. The Clarins cream leaves your hands so much softer and hydrated and also helps to keep your nail bed area from getting dry. As an added bonus, it has that classic Clarins scent to it. 

Xen Tan Moroccan oil 

I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with all fake tan products; even the most hyped about products do not seem to work for me. I often apply the darkest shades, spend the next 8 + hours looking and smelling like 'biscuit girl,' as my dear boyfriend likes to call me. I then wash it off and have a slight golden glow to show for my hours of trying to achieve a dark tan. The Xen Tan Moroccan oil is definitely one of my favourites to use, as it gives the best colour, lasts well and I feel that the moroccan oil element to it really helps the skin, as a lot of fake tans can be quite drying. I also loved the Lauren's Way Rapid tan, for it's obvious speed, but like I said, the Xen Tan wins for me as it gave the best results overall. 

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

The Sugar Crush range has an absolutely amazing scent to it; it's so fresh, fruity, zingy and just so invigorating. The scrub elements are tough enough to leave your skin really smooth, yet not too rough and harsh. 

I've just realised that I seem obsessed with scents, which is probably true, but I just can't get into products that don't smell lovely too. What were your favourite body products of 2014?

BRIDESMAID FOR MY BEST FRIEND

I was planning on writing up this post about a week ago but apparently my laptop wasn't too keen. I had just about turned it on when it completely and literally died right there in front of me. Luckily, it was just a quick and fairly cheap fix and now we're back up and running - maybe it heard how close I was to trading it in for a shiny new Mac book (happy bank account but I'll keep dreaming). 

Last month my best friend got married and I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid. I was really excited for the day as I love going to weddings, even though I definitely never want to have my own, I like to see other peoples. 

I started off the day very early so that I had time to get myself ready, travel to the hotel and then do the brides make up. It always feels so good making someone look their best for such a special day in their life. 

The wedding went so well and was such a beautiful day. The bride had not so kindly decided that all four of us bridesmaids should do a speech. I feel okay about public speaking as I've done it quite a lot, however it was still pretty hard to plan what to say, while trying not to bore everyone else and instead hoping for the odd laugh!  I tried to think through every conversation that we had ever had, to find something worth sharing. I thought about so much that I could say, but knew it had the potential to come out wrong and then people wouldn't get it and it would be very awkward. I had a kind of eureka moment; I remembered that we both love One Tree Hill and that she had told me that her now husband, had proposed to her just after she was watching OTH. I felt like a genius! If you are also a OTH fan you'll know what I'm referring to; I decided to quote a part of Haley's maid of honour speech to Brooke. It was great as it related to myself and her but also joined her and her husband. 

I didn't think I would be nervous but I think the fact that the other bridesmaids had been stressing, made me over think mine and become nervous, my hands were shaking but apparently I hid it well. Luckily my speech went smoothly and I managed to say exactly what I wanted to and I even managed to make people laugh! 

The rest of the day was so much fun and I even danced a little bit. Did I mention I don't drink so I was completely sober and dancing makes me feel so awkward, but I got into it when some good songs were playing. 

My speech - god knows what I'm doing/saying but it seems to be going down well!

My boyfriend, Jamie and I 

 There's something pretty alien about wearing exactly the same dress and accessorising it exactly the same as three other people, but you get used to it. I'm now looking forward to the next wedding I get to go to, even though there isn't any in the near future just yet!