March Favourites

I can't quite believe that three months of the year are gone and we are already in April, although I am not complaining as I am looking forward to the warmer weather now that Spring has sprung, as well as a few exciting events coming up for me in the next months. These past few weeks I have actually tried quite a lot of new beauty bits and pieces for what feels like the first time in ages, with some of them making it into this month's ensemble, as well as a couple of random, non-beauty things to round out my March Favourites...

Avene Hydrance Optimale Light

I mentioned this a bit in my recent Skincare Routine so I won't harp on too much about it here, but in the last month it has definitely become my new favourite moisturiser. It is perfect for my combination skin as it is extremely lightweight, yet still provides enough hydration for any dry areas of my face. It sinks into my skin really quickly and, as it provides a slightly mattifying effect, I have noticed that my skin looks less oily since using it which is always a bonus!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

I am always trying out new mascaras and after seeing this one featured in a number of February Favourites I thought I would give it a go, especially as Maybelline is one of my favourite brands for mascara. It is definitely one of the best mascaras I have ever used, as it lengthens and volumises my lashes, yet there is no clumping or flaking. For everyday wear, one coat is enough to give a pretty, fluttery look to my lashes, however it is easily buildable to give a more dramatic, false lash effect.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I have been using Real Technique brushes for a few years now as they are so affordable yet such good quality, and the Stippling Brush is no exception. For me I think it's the perfect brush to apply foundation, as the duo fibre bristles give a completely airbrushed finish to my base makeup, and as it is less dense than the Buffing Brush, it gives a lighter, less heavy look to my foundation, which I have been favouring recently. Definitely one to try if you haven't already!

All The Light We Cannot See

Now I must admit that this is a very recent favourite as I am not even halfway through it yet, but I have fallen in love with it so much that I had to include it in this months favourites. It tells the story of a blind French girl and a German boy during the second World War, offering perspectives from both characters throughout the novel. I was actually a little hesitant to read this at first as I haven't read a book like this for quite a few years, yet I loved stories set in World War II as a child so decided to give it a go, and I am so glad I did. I can't wait to read the rest of it as it promises to be a beautiful and moving story, and I will definitely do a full review once I have finished it. 

Drawing

Quite a random one, but in the last month I have really gotten back into drawing and sketching, so much so that I have even set up a separate instagram account for all of my artwork (it's @mgnkt_art in case you want to check it out!). I find drawing to be a really relaxing past time, and for me it is a great way to destress and take a break from technology and social media for a couple of hours.

Easter 
Lastly, I couldn't get through my monthly favourites without mentioning Easter as it is always one of my favourite times of year. I love going to Church on Easter Morning with my family before eating copious amounts of chocolate over the bank holiday weekend, and I also love the fact that it happens in Spring as the weather is slightly warmer and everything feels fresher now that Winter is out of the way. 

What have you been loving this month?

Megan  

Book Review- Career of Evil

"When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman's severed leg. Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible - and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality. With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into he dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them..."

I love a good whodunit and having read and enjoyed Robert Galbraith's (aka J.K. Rowling) previous two instalments in the Cormoran Strike series, I was pretty excited to finally read Career of Evil which, unsurprisingly, is a masterpiece of a mystery and left me gripped until the very end. 

When a gruesome and unexpected package addressed to Robin Ellacott is delivered to Cormoran Strike's detective agency, four suspects immediately come to light, all with links to Strike's past. After dismissing one of the men, Cormoran and Robin investigate the remaining three primary suspects, including Strike's stepfather, as the search for the identity of the "Shacklewell Ripper" becomes even more dangerous for the detective duo.

   

Whilst I immensly enjoyed the previous two novels, I think I would have to say this one is my favourite so far, as the plot becomes a bit more gritty and chilling due to the eerie perspective of the killer being presented throughout, along with both Strike and Robin's point of view. You also learn a lot more about the two protagonists pasts, with many secrets being revealed, leading to a slightly more intimate novel as Cormoran and Robin's characters, as well as the relationship between the two, is explored so much more closely than in A Cuckoos Calling and The Silkworm. 

The tension and suspense is built up right until the very end of the novel, when the mystery is finally unravelled after so many twists and revelations throughout. After ending on a slight cliffhanger, I am extremely eager for the next instalment in the series, which I hope will be just as captivating and compelling as this one.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Megan

My Current Skincare Routine

I am quite scrupulous when it comes to skincare and I have recently found that I have settled into a bit of a routine with the products that I have been using. At the moment I am pretty happy with the appearance of my skin and whilst I do find that diet and hormones sometimes play havoc with my skin, the actual products that I use and the routine I have going on is working pretty well for me. So without further ado, here is an overview of my skincare routine featuring my current skincare staples...

To cleanse, I use this Yes To Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser as I have combination skin, and so need a product that removes excess oils and impurities from my face. I have been using this cleanser for a good couple of years now, and it has really maintained the appearance of my skin, reducing blemishes and redness, whilst making my skin feel clean, soft and smooth. I use it both morning and night and I think it will forever be a staple in my skincare routine. Before cleansing in the evening I also use the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water on a cotton pad as it quickly removes any makeup as well as leaving my skin feeling refreshed. After cleansing I then sweep the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic over my face and neck which soothes and refreshes my skin, and doesn't leave it feeling dry, unlike many other toners that I have tried in the past. 

I never used to be very strict with eye cream and it used to be something I only used occasionally when I remembered, however recently my under eye area has been slightly sensitive, with more prominent dark circles and an overall more tired appearance, so I started using the Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Eye Cream, which has a gel like texture containing green tea and vitamin E to improve the under eye appearance. I gently pat this into my skin before moisturising, both in the morning and evening and since using it I have noticed quite a difference, as my under eye area seems more hydrated and smooth. 

Moisturisers are the one skincare product that I often switch up, however at the moment I am using two which I am really enjoying and will probably stick with for a while. As I have combination skin I need a light, hydrating moisturiser to combat any oiliness without drying out my skin and this Avene Hydrance Optimale Light is perfect. I use this in the mornings as it acts as a really nice base for makeup, giving a slight mattifying effect to the skin, yet still hydrating enough for any dry areas of my face. It feels really nice to apply, sinks into the skin quickly and has a fresh subtle scent. I love it! For the evening I tend to favour a slightly more hydrating product, and at the moment I am using the Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Night Cream which helps to revitalise my skin overnight, yet it isn't greasy or too heavy when applied.

Lastly, products that I don't use everyday yet they are a staple part of my routine are the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Scrub, which is a gentle exfoliater to remove any dead skin cells and I find it also helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes, as well as leaving my skin feeling softer and smoother. I also use the Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Clay Mask about once every two weeks to help unclog my pores and leave my face looking more balanced and refreshed. Despite containing Salicylic acid it is quite a gentle mask and as I only leave it on for five minutes, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dehydrated.  

What are your skincare staples? 

Megan

Easter Rocky Road Recipe

As it is only a week until Easter Sunday, I thought I would share one of my favourite recipes to make at this time of year, which is Easter Rocky Road. It is super quick and easy to make and tastes delicious, crammed with the best Easter treats. 

Ingredients 

500g Milk Chocolate

100g Mini Marshmallows

100g Cadbury Mini Eggs

100g Digestive Biscuits

150g Mini Creme Eggs

Method

Line a square tin with greaseproof paper.

Break the milk chocolate into chunks and place in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Heat until all of the chocolate is melted. 

Put the marshmallows, broken up digestive biscuits and creme eggs into a seperare bowl and mix together. Pour this into the melted chocolate and mix well. (You have to be quick doing this step as the chocolate sets quite quickly!) 

Pour the mixture into the lined tin and push the mini eggs into the mixture, before placing in the fridge for 2-3 hours.

Once set, cut into pieces and enjoy!

What are your favourite Easter treats?

Megan

My Favourite Apps

 Like most people I am pretty much addicted to my phone and I am constantly checking my social media feeds to stay up-to-date with what's going on in the world throughout the day. With that being said, I thought I would share my favourite apps at the moment as there are quite a few that I currently love, with some old favourites and a couple of new additions. 

Tumblr: This is probably my all time favourite app after getting hooked on it a couple of years ago and I have been pretty obsessed ever since. As a bit of a self-confessed fangirl, I can spend ages scrolling through the app, reblogging and liking numerous posts related to all of my interests. I love it!

Instagram: I must admit I never used to be a massive fan of Instagram but I've really gotten into using it lately and it is probably my favourite social media app. I love scrolling through all of the different accounts, looking at the different styles of photography and getting pretty envious at some peoples themes. I actually now have two accounts, one a more personal, blogging account (@megankatemelody) as well as an art account (@mgnkt_art) which I have recently set up to share some of my artwork. 

Pinterest: I have always loved creating inspiration/mood boards and so Pinterest has become one of my favourite apps for this very reason. It is very easy to use, and you can create as many boards as you like, for example Quotes, Fashion/outfit inspiration, weddings and recipes, to name a few of mine. Be warned though- it can become pretty addictive!

Duolingo: This is actually a recent addition to my phone, yet it has quickly become one of my favourites. I have always wanted to try and learn a new language, and since I have pretty much forgotten my whole GCSE German vocabulary, I thought I would give Spanish a go. It is an extremely interactive app, and involves translating, speaking, writing and matching words and phrases to learn the language of your choice. There are loads of topics from food and animals to numbers and places, and each topic has a few lessons to really allow you to master the vocabulary. Now, I'm not expecting to become really fluent, but it is actually quite a good and fun way to learn something new. 

VSCOcam: I have tried numerous photo editing apps over the last couple of years, but this one is definitely one of the best ones I have ever used. It is great for editing Instagram photos as it has loads of features, such as a range of filters as well as the standard brightness, contrast, shadows etc, to create beautiful, bright photos.

Spotify: I love Spotify and it is probably one of my most used apps as I am constantly listening to music. I have created so many different playlists to suit every mood that I am in and it is also a great way to discover new songs and artists. 

What are your favourite apps?

Megan 

Spring Fashion Wishlist

 As much as I love Autumn and Winter I always get pretty excited once the weather becomes slightly more warmer and the evenings start getting lighter, as it means Spring is finally on the way. After months of wearing dark colours and heavy patterns, I always like to inject a bit more colour into my wardrobe, whether that be through subtle pastel pieces or full on floral patterns, as well as tending to go for quite a boho vibe...

Midi skirts are the best seasonal transition piece in my opinion, and there are so many different styles available at the moment, but my favourite is this pleated one from New Look, as the pretty pink floral pattern is perfect for either a casual or dressed up look in Spring. I would pair it with this pale pink lace top, also from New Look, which would still be a great cover up for the slightly chilly spring weather. 

Cropped trousers are my go to item to wear throughout Spring and Summer, and this denim pair from Topshop is a great alternative to skinny jeans in the (hopefully) warmer months, especially paired with these Seventies style tan ankle boots from Next. These boots would also go pretty well with this floral printed dress, which is also seventies style- can you spot a theme in the wishlist? Sticking with the boho inspiration, I love this Asos embroidered jacket, which is the perfect Spring cover up and I can't wait to get my hands on it. 

As for accessories, this small coral bag adds a slight pop of colour into any outfit, perfect for holding all your everyday essentials, and I love this floppy wide brimmed hat- great for bad hair days! 

What is on your Spring Wishlist?

Megan  

 

50 Things That Make Me Happy

With so much doom and gloom in the world nowadays I think it is always a good idea to think about the things that make you happy and, as one of my favourite types of posts to read are 'Things That Make Me Happy' Tag, I thought I would share everything that cheers me up and never fails to put a smile on my face. 

1. Reading a really good book, especially ones with a good twist

2. Having a lie in at the weekends

3. Singing my heart out when I'm home alone

4. Surprises- I love both recieving surprises and surprising others

5. Making other people happy

6. The Big Bang Theory- It is my favourite TV show and everything about it makes me happy, from new episodes to cast interviews 

7. Tumblr

8. Reaching milestones

9. Lazy days

10. Getting dressed up for a night out

11. Playing games with my family- Mario Kart tournaments and Cluedo are my favourites

12. A long bubble bath with a Lush bath bomb

13. Watching Jimmy Fallon on Youtube

14. Receiving a compliment

15. Cooking for my family and them enjoying my food

16. Hanging out with my friends

17. Autumn time

18. Harry Potter- I am a huge fan and I pretty much re-read the books every year

19. Adele

20. Movie Nights

21. Buying new clothes

22. Drawing and being artistic

23. Fireworks

24. The smell of burnt candles

25. Fresh Sheets

26. The sound of rain against the window when I'm cosy in bed

27. New York City

28. A traditional English roast dinner

29. Looking at the stars

30. Road trips

31. Good hair days

32. Looking at old photos and reminiscing about the good times

33. Eating fresh, warm brownies

34. Accomplishing things that I thought were impossible

35. Fresh flowers

36. Watching/listening to someone playing the piano

37. Science- I am a massive geek for science and get really excited by everything from advancements in treatments to space

38. Sunsets

39. Pizza

40. Drinking hot chocolate on a cold day

41. Making plans

42. Good customer service

43. Buying new stationary

44. The smell of popcorn

45. Getting an answer right on university challenge- I got 15 right one week and it was probably one of my proudest moments

46. Being patriotic

47. Going to the beach

48. Giving people presents

49. Freshly painted nails

50. Travelling

What makes you happy?

Megan