What's In My Bag?

One of my favourite type of blog posts to read is What's in my Bag, as I love having a little peek into someone else's handbag to see what they carry around! Having never gotten around to doing one of these posts, I thought it was about time to share the bits and bobs that I carry around with me in my bag on a daily basis...

My handbag is the Michael Kors Hamilton Traveller, which I treated myself to whilst in New York for my 18th birthday back in December 2014. It has pretty much been my go to bag for the past year, as it is the perfect size for carrying around all of my essentials, as well as looking great with any outfit.

In terms of what is actually in my bag, the essentials which I always carry are my Michael Kors purse, which contains all of my cash, cards, and ID, my Iphone 5S, and my house key. I also carry my epipen, in case of any accidental peanut consumption, and my diabetes kit, including my blood glucose monitor and insulin pens, which I have to take in my bag everywhere. 

Other than the essentials, I also carry around my trusty, leather Harry Potter notebook and a pen, in case of any sudden inspiration whilst I am out and about, as well as to keep a note of things such as appointments, events or even shopping lists. 

Lastly, I always have a few beauty items in my bag, such as a comb to help fix any bad hair moments, and a mini packet of wipes, which are great for removing numerous lipstick swatches off the back of my hand! I also tend to keep a lip balm in my bag, such as this Body Shop Passionberry one, which is my current favourite, as well as whatever lipstick I am wearing that day, which at the moment happens to be Mac Syrup. I also keep a hand cream in my bag, as my hands can get dry quite often, especially in winter, along with my favourite scent- Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia- which I keep in a compact perfume atomiser. 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my handbag! What are your handbag essentials?

Megan

Book Review- The Ice Twins

 "After one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcroft move to a remote Scottish island, hoping to mend their shattered lives. But when their surviving child, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity - that she, in fact, is Lydia - their world comes crashing back down."

Thrillers are my favourite type of books to read at the moment, as I love their ability to leave me on the edge of my seat always wanting more, and S. K. Tremayne's The Ice Twins was no exception. Set on the fictional Torran Island, the narrative shifts throughout between parents, Sarah and Angus, as they face the reality that they may have mistaken which of their identical twin girls died in a tragic accident two years previously. 

What makes this book so chilling and dramatic for me is the setting, as it creates a strong sense of isolation and tension, further fuelled not only by the revelation of the surviving child, but also the interweaving storylines of the Moorcrofts declining relationship, as well as the family's adjustment to living on the lonely Scottish island. The writing is brilliant too, as Tremayne manages to convey quite sensitive and difficult topics at times without it feeling too heavy. 

My only negative thing to say about this book is that I didn't really find any of the characters particularly likeable, however, as the overall story was so secretive and twisting, I could easily overlook this, and it left me completely gripped until the very clever ending.  
 

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Megan

Mini Lush Haul

After recently using up all of my Christmas Lush products, I thought it was about time to pick up a few new bits and pieces. I did have to restrain myself otherwise I would have purchased the whole store, but I finally settled on these three for now...

As soon as I smelt The Comforter bubble bar I knew I had to have it, as blackcurrant is one of my favourite scents. It is a huge bubble bar, so I'm sure it will last for a good couple of baths, and no doubt it will turn the bath water a bright, vibrant pink.

The bright pink, sparkly Rose Jam bubble bar caught my eye as soon as I walked into Lush and it quickly made it's way into my basket. With ingredients such as cocoa butter, lemon and rose oil, it will make your skin feel super soft as well as leaving a light rose scent, perfect for an uplifting bath!

Finally, I picked up the Tisty Tosty bath bomb which is also rose scented, as well as containing geranium, jasmine and seven real rosebuds. Admittedly, it probably isn't the most exciting bath bomb that Lush has to offer, yet I feel it will be perfect for a soothing bath to unwind and relax. 

What are your favourite Lush products?

Megan

January Favourites

As we are finally at the end of January I thought it was about time to share some of my favourite products of the past month. It is quite a random assotment of new things that I have discovered and used this month, so without further ado I'll get started...
 

Q and A a Day: 5 year Journal
I have had this journal for about three years now after receiving it as a stocking filler one Christmas, and whilst I initially used it every day I eventually ended up forgetting about it for a year or so. However, as I love the concept behind it I decided to try and stick to it a bit more religiously this year. It is a great substitute for a diary as you simply answer the question posed that day (which are a mixture of funny, quirky and philosophical) over the span of 5 years. It is also particularly interesting to read back on your previous answers to the questions to see how things have changed since then.

How to Get Away With Murder 
I stumbled across this one day whilst browsing Netflix and instantly became hooked. It follows a group of 5 law students who become involved in a murder case whilst interning for their teacher/defence attorney. The story features both flashbacks and flash forwards, as three story lines are played out simultaneously. It is extremely addictive and unpredictable, and there was many a time where I was left open-mouthed in shock at the latest revelations.

Breville Blend Active Personal Blender
As I had vowed to become a bit more healthier in 2016, I decided to buy a new blender to make smoothies and juices, as I had had my old one for years and it was a bit behind the times. After reading various reviews, I finally settled on this Breville one as it was highly recommended by a lot of people. It is extremely easy to use as you simply add all of your ingredients to the bottle, attach the blade and blend. It has no problem blending frozen fruit or ice cubes, it's not trouble to clean, and you can even drink it straight from the bottle - perfect for on the go smoothies!

Little Black Lies
I am a massive bookworm, so every Birthday and Christmas I receive a stack of new books, and last year this was one of them. It's a highly dark and thrilling novel of tragedy and revenge, set over a period of five days, with three different narrators throughout. The setting of the Falkland Islands is the perfect backdrop to the story as it adds to the eerie atmosphere, whilst suspense is created by the cliffhangers left before the narration changes. Despite there being many revelations throughout, the ending is a completely unexpected shock.

The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter 
I have become slightly obsessed with anything cherry blossom scented at the moment, so when I spotted this body butter in the body shop before Christmas, I knew I had to have it. It is extremely rich and moisturising, yet feels incredibly light on the skin, whilst the delicate, floral magnolia and cherry blossom scent lasts all day long. 

Dr Martens Black Patent Boots 
I have wanted a pair of Dr Martens for ages and since receiving a pair for Christmas I have been wearing them constantly. They are really comfortable to wear once broken in, and are perfect for the winter weather. They look great with any outfit, but I especially like wearing them with ripped boyfriend jeans or dresses. 

What are your favourite things at the moment?

Megan