The Daily Bucket #1

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of the week again! This time I'm sharing the contents of my makeup bucket with you...yes I keep my makeup in a bucket....It's my personal version of a makeup bag video. I hope you enjoy, thumbs up and subscribe! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon  

Saving Your Pennies

I've always been rather good at saving my money. Even from a young age I was able to save everything I earned until I reached the ultimate goal (which, for the longest time, was a dog, then I spent the money on a laptop instead). I spent the last half of last year and a good part of this year trying to restrain myself as I was saving for our overseas holiday. After we got back I decided to let loose and not save for a while. The thing with that is now I'm worringly low on money, have a burgoning shopping addiction and plenty of things to save up for. I'm forcing myself to go on saving overload for the next couple of months, so I figured I would share how I'm going to do that. 

Make Lists 
Making wishlists gives me something to aim towards. But I find having one withlist with everything I have ever wanted to be too broad. I end up writing anything I see down without any rhyme or reason. Instead, I break it up. I have a list of the big things I want, the things that I need to save for, and that is the goal that keeps me saving. Then I have a more simple wishlist with things that I could buy (such as books, cheap makeup or clothes) and will treat myself with every once and a while. Buying things of my cheaper list will give me satisfaction but keep me on the path to the bigger things. 

Keep Track 
Write down all of the money you spend per week or per month and figure out exactly where your money is going. Obviously, if you're self sufficient, you will need to calculate how much money you need to set aside for bills and other things to keep you alive (such as food). For people like me who still have their parents to do that, just figure out what you're wasting your money on and try to stop it. If you know what you spend most on you can work to cut that down. 

Be Nice To Yourself 
Some goals are easier to achieve than others. I know that buying GHD Hair Straighteners will be far easier than saving up for a car, but that shouldn't stop me from striving to get both. That being said, fulfil your easier goals first if that will give you the encouragement to keep going. Also don't cut out all of the fun, make sure you still treat yourself every now and then to something off the cheap wishlist. 

Literally Save Your Pennies 
I find that one of the best ways for me to save money is to not use my coins. When I go to a shop and pay with cash, I often get change. When I get home this change goes straight into a jar instead of spending it next time I go shopping. These coins actually add up, and by the time my jar gets full and I take them to the bank, I have well over $100. 

They're some of my money saving tips, what's your number one tip to saving money? I'd love to know. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Wise Words #6

With thoughts of the future being shoved down my throat at school at the moment, I thought this little quote was appropriate. It shows that you need to try and find your own niche, rather than trying to do exactly what everyone else is doing or what is considered to be 'normal'. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Trends to Try

Kimono By Love | Moto Denim Short Dungarees | Mix Tribal Print Jersey Tapered Trousers | Palm Print Crop Top | Garden Print Crop Overlay Sundress | 

Kimono By Love | Moto Short Denim Dungarees | Aztec Side Stripe Jersey Tapered Trousers | Rib Crop Tee | Penny Dress By Motel | 

It is about this time every season that I get bored and start wishing for the next. I am finding myself looking lovingly at Summer videos and trauling the likes of ASOS and Topshop for spring-time ware. This is something I know I shouldn't be doing, it's only half way through winter, but I can't stop myself. I know that during Summer I will be looking at knit jumpers like the love heart eyes emoji. 

All of this online window shopping has gotten me thinking about my own personal style. Or more so my lack of one. I don't really have a specific look that I stick to, which I think is totally fine because it gives me room to try out new things. This realisation has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and set myself a goal to try 5 new trends before the year ends. Here are the ones I want to try and why: 

Croptops
Don't tell me. They've been in for AGES. I know. The thing is, I've always been a bit scared of the good old crop top. They look fabulous on really fashionable people but they can ere on the side of trashy if you don't go about it properly. In the fear of looking trashy, I have barely dipped my toe in the crop top water. This year that will change because I'm going to invest in some nice ones and some high waisted bottoms to pair them with. 

Dungarees/ Overalls 
All the cool kids seem to be sporting dungarees (or as I call them, overalls, long or short) nowadays, so I figured I should jump on the bandwagon. They're super cute with a crop top underneath, two trends in one?! Oh yeah. 

Day Dresses 
This isn't so much a specific trend as a thing that almost everyone bar me does all the time. I never think to wear a dress on a day to day basis, I always associate them with special occasions. I often hate wearing denim shorts during spring/summer because my butt hangs out and they're uncomfortable, so I'm going to start sporting dresses some more! 

Pyjama-Look Pants
These are out of my comfort zone but they look so comfy that I'm just going to have to get used to wearing them out of the house. 

Kimonos 
They're not quite jackets but they cover you up more than just wearing a singlet. These are so pretty and girly but they are also practical when warmer days become slightly cooler nights. I also love the idea of dressing a boring outfit up with a bright floral kimono. 

I'm going to make a few investments and try these trends. What is the trend you are looking forward to trying? 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Huge Holidays Haul

On Sunday I uploaded my newest video, which is very exciting. I've been shopping a substantial amount lately so I decided to turn it into a haul! Make sure to check it out and subscribe to my channel. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Blogging Essentials

I realise that all you REALLY need to run a blog is something with a working internet connection, but I'm still going to share what I consider to be my blogging essentials with you. I try really hard to keep myself organised (but I often fail) and there are a few must-haves when it comes to doing so. 

Computer
Obviously, this is the most important of the equipment. Without it I would not be able to get on blogger and write up my posts, let alone edit photos or videos. My Macbook Laptop and I have an unhealthy attachment to each other and I don't know what I would do without it, blog or no blog. 

Notepad, Pen and Highlighter
I really love writing lists and I find this to be the easiest way to keep myself organised. I have two notebooks in which I write ideas for blog posts, plan out specific blog posts and keep a calender of when I'm publishing each blog post. I need a nice pen to take all of these notes because: a) I like it all to match and b) I usually write lots at a time, so it needs to be comfortable. The highlighter is so that I can mark off a post when it is scheduled or posted. That gives me great satisfaction. 

Camera and an Extra SD Card
I actually use a Canon 60D SLR Camera to take all of my pictures and film all of my videos, but since I needed to use it to take the picture above I had to chuck an old point-and-shoot in there. Taking the photos is one of my favourite parts of blogging, though it can be hard to get good lighting (especially in winter). This one is especially for when you're filming videos; it is always a good idea to keep an extra SD card on hand. If you get a bit carried away taking photos or you already had some stuff on the card, they often become full and it will stop recording video. 

Phone
I use this for many different tasks, but there are two main things I use it for when it comes to blogging. The first is social media. I love to use my phone to check up on twitter and instagram so that I can promote my blog and interact with other bloggers. The other thing I use my phone for is reminders to do tasks that I will often forget to do otherwise. With my phone bleeping away at me, it's a lot harder to ignore. 

Headphones 
Again, this is especially useful for videos. I sometimes like to listen to music while I take photos/edit photos/write a post and headphones can come in handy then. Mostly, I hate having my own voice filling up the room saying the same thing over and over again so I use headphones when editing. I don't know why but headphones make the whole process more bearable.

The Product I'm Reviewing
I always need the thing that I'm talking about right beside me. I am likely to forget the name or how it smells when I'm writing about it and getting up to look for it wrecks my flow. 

If I have all of these things, then I'm set to blog and make videos forever. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Wise Words #5

Sometimes we all get caught up in the stress of our own lives and we forget to remember the beauty of it all. Take some time today to just stop. Smell the roses and think about how lucky you are to be on this amazing planet with all of these amazing life forms. Maybe if we all did this a little more, we would be more appreciative of each other and work in a closer harmony. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

They Made Me Buy It: Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil

If you're not into total raving reviews (or really long titles, oopsies) don't bother reading this one. I simply adore The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. I picked this up because I'm coming to the end of my Clinique Foaming Facial Cleanser, that is also very good at removing any and all makeup. This time I decided to go for something a dash cheaper, though not that much cheaper in reality, and go with Amelia Liana's recommendation. The lady who sold it to me told me it was like 'acid for your face...but like good acid' which was actually really accurate. This melts all the makeup off your face the second it begins to be massaged into your skin. 

It feels a bit weird to be using an oil cleanser for the first time, as it legitimately feels as though you are rubbing cooking oil into your face. The smell does a lot to combat how uncomfortable the texture made me feel, as it smells really nice and fresh (I'm assuming it smells like camomile but I wouldn't know for sure). This helped me convince myself that it was an okay product to be applying to my skin and now I'm an old hack at it, I actually enjoy the feeling. I was worried that this might break me out, as I am with all new skincare. Though I have been going through a bit of a rough skin period, this cleanser has nothing to do with it. I had bad skin before and it is starting to clear up with the help of some other products, all while using this. It also doesn't sting my eyes, which is unusual with any product as my eyes are hella sensitive. 

The only problem I could spot with this is how quickly it will be used up. I use two pumps on an average day and three on a more intense makeup day. Because of this, I would say that the Clinique makeup remover would probably end up cheaper because there is not more than a $10 price difference but you would use at least twice the amount of the Body Shop Cleansing Oil. That doesn't really bother me that much because the product works so amazingly well. Also I would watch out when taking this traveling, just because the oily consistency has a tendency to leak ever so slightly if it is tossed around. A zip lock bag would fix this issue, as not enough product is lost to make a fuss over, there is only a small chance it will leak at all. Just something to keep in mind. 

All in all, if you're looking for a new all in one makeup remover, I highly suggest giving this baby a try. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

What's In My Handbag?

Here we go! The first video on my channel. Make sure to give it a watch and then subscribe if you enjoyed it. 

Lots of Love,

Shannon

A New Hobby

I thought I would just sit down and have a quick talk to you about how I am branching out with this blog. I have decided that I am going to bite the bullet and start my own Youtube channel. Having enjoyed Youtube as a main source of entertainment for some time now, I have always kind of wanted to give it a go. Nerves and the fear of people I actually know finding out about online ventures (that's also why I put off starting this blog for a long time) have frightened me out of it time after time. 

Now I am finally telling myself that nothing bad could possibly come of it and diving in. So here is what I know so far about my plans: 

- My channel is called Lots of Love, Shannon, just like my blog so that it is easy to find the correlation between the two and follow me on both. 

- I want to post on this channel AT LEAST once a week. At the moment I have three videos on the go, which should all be up within the next two weeks because I'm a bit excited.

- I have not yet decided what day of the week these videos should be on. 

- I don't just want to make beauty videos. I think the way I want to do it is have the current channel as weekly beauty videos (because I really do love them and they're some of my favourite to watch) and then start a whole new channel for everything else. I would use that one as my experimental channel where I would try rants/chatty vlogs/daily vlogs/skits or anything else I want to give a go. What do you think of that? Is it a good idea? I really don't know. 

- I'm already really enjoying the whole creative process of making videos. The initial filming was nerve wracking and the uploading (which is happening as I type) is also quite daunting, but it is still giving me a real sense of accomplishment. I have also always enjoyed editing, so I'm hoping to improve my skills in that sense. 

I would be lying if I told you that I was expecting anyone to actually watch these videos, I'm doing this more for me than to gain an audience. That being said, feel free to head over and check out the channel (HERE) if I have peaked your interest. I'm going to be trying to improve it and make it much more pleasing to the eye as time goes along. 

Please share your opinions on anything I just said in the comments below or tweet me. I would love to get other peoples opinions on what I should do. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Our Top 10 Go-To Products (with AmeliaEllenBlog)

AMELIA

Hey! My name is Amelia, I enjoy red lipstick and denim jackets and I want to live in Paris. I blog over at ameliaellenblog.blogspot.com.

Girlz Only Dry Shampoo

I've said this on my blog, but I promise I'm not gross! I do wash my hair, but dry shampoo is just really good for the days in between washes. And this brand is especially good, only $2 for a can and it works perfectly. 

Natio Eyeshadow Trio

I adore this trio! A complete eye makeup look in one little palette, you can use a little bit for a day to day look, or a bit more for when you're going out somewhere nice. I think these colours suit my complexion and eye colour well.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

I have oily skin, so powder is definitely a must and an everyday thing for me. Honestly I'm not too picky with powders, but this is my current one and it seems to do the trick pretty well!

Essence All In One BB Cream

This BB cream really smooths out my skin, but is only low coverage of course, so I feel like myself but I feel fierce. It just adds that little bit of confidence that on some days, I need.

Hair Mask

This is the first hair mask I have tried, so I don't really have much to compare it to, but damn do I love hair masks after this. My hair feels so clean and shiny, gosh, I love it.

SHANNON 

Pixi Natural Brow Duo
I have invisible eyebrows naturally so I have to use this every day to give my face some shape. The pencil end is great at filling the brows in and then the gel makes it look more natural and keeps everything in place. 

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara
If you're a regular reader you will know that I talk about this ALL.THE.TIME. I'm sorry about that but it is just the best combination of everything amazing. 

Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Fast Dry Top Coat
My nail polishes always last for at least a week and though I attribute some of that to luck and good nails, this top coat does most of the work. It keeps everything shiny and in place for ages. 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
I need concealer in my life every day and this is the best one I've ever found. It is nice and creamy with not too heavy coverage, which is perfect for everyday wear. It is super easy to dot over any problem areas with the doe foot applicator and then blend out with a brush or fingers. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel

Having weird dry/kinda not always dry skin would be annoying if it were not for this moisturiser. It sinks into the skin easily but still gives it a great dose of hydration. 

Thank you so much to Amelia for helping me with this post. We also did a post on her blog where we talk about each of our top 5 statement pieces, so make sure you go over there (Click HERE to do so) and check that out. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Wise Words #4

Dr. Seuss speaks the truth. Enough said. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Treat Yourself to a Movie Night

I'm by no means a movie aficionado but I have had my fair share of movie nights. From those I feel as though I have generated enough knowledge to give you some suggestions on what to watch when you treat yourself to a movie night. 

21 Jump Street
This is an hilarious movie and it is the perfect thing to watch if you're thinking about heading out to see the sequel (which I have seen, it is equally as hilarious). This is quite a ridiculous film and as a fan of the original series 21 Jump Street it is not even close to as realistic. You need to go into this one with an open mind and ready to hear a ton of swearing. If you watch this with the right attitude, you will be crying with laughter by the end. 

Hancock 
This seems to have gotten some pretty awful reviews but I actually quite enjoy it. It is a good mixture between action, drama and comedy. Sure the name is obsurd but the main actors (Will Smith and Charlize Theron) are both amazing and highly acclaimed. The basic plot is there is a man named Hancock who has super powers but ends up living as a bum because he only ever destroys things. The film is about him trying to become a proper hero who helps people. 

August Rush
A heartwarming film about a boy who just wants a family. Awww, so sweet. I've actually done a school report in this movie and it is one of the only ones I've watched for school that I actually enjoyed. This is a drama with the occasional song (it is certainly not a musical, they're just musicians) and I highly recommend it. I don't want to explain too much or it will be ruined, but boy can August play that guitar. 

Made of Honour 
The most underrated rom com of our generation, Made of Honour is simply hilarious and sweet. Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan play best friends. When Michelle's character announces she is getting married, she asks him to be her maid of honour only for Patrick's character Tom to realise he is in love with her. Rom com-ness ensues. It's not exactly Oscar worthy, but it is awesome all the same. 

The Jungle Book
If you're looking for a fun kids movie, look no further than The Jungle Book. The songs are so catchy, they will be stuck in your head for weeks and the story is really cute. I feel as though this movie is not appreciated as much as other classic Disney films, so I just had to give it some love. 

Inception
You'll have to pay attention to this one if you want to watch it, it isn't for the faint hearted or the easily distracted. It has quite a complicated plot line and an intense thriller vibe. I wont even begin to try and explain the plot to you, you're just going to have to watch it to see. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Treat Yourself to a Nice Perfume

I have a top 3 perfumes that I rotate between daily, so they're the ones that I would recommend if you are looking for a sweet new scent. Any fancy schmancy wording about the way these perfumes smell, I have gotten from the packaging/company because I'm not that good. 

Miss Dior
Apparently this was 'created for an “elegant and spirited young woman in love” and I can see where they got that idea. It is definitely a young fragrance (and by that I mean under like 35) but it is in no way childish like something a child would wear. I would say this is a great scent for anyone over the age of 15. I would describe it (with the help of some ideas from the official description) as a floral scent that has a hint of fresh citrus. There is also a slight hint of musk in there that makes it just mature enough and brings the scent back from being TOO girly. I requested this for Christmas from a family member after deciding on it purely because Jennifer Lawrence was in the advertising. That is how sophisticated my perfume choosing skills are. I think I made a good choice because this is a lovely scent to wear out at night when I want to feel glamorous and lady-like. 

Lola by Marc Jacobs 
Admittedly, this time I was drawn to the perfume because of the bottle. Once again my shallowness wins out over any attention to the actual smell. I recieved this from my Mum a couple of years ago and for a while it was the only scent I wore. Though I have branched out a bit more now, I still go back to this often (partially because I'm slightly obsessed that this will be the first ever perfume I finish completely). It is described on the Marc Jacobs website as having a signature note of fuchsia peony and an overall floral fragrance. I agree with this wholeheartedly because it is a lot more floral than the Miss Dior. It doesn't smell like any one particular flower to me, but it has the overall scent of a beautiful garden. I will wear this at any time because I think it transitions beautifully from day to night. It is good for days when I'm feeling a bit fancy and floral but it is dark and interesting enough for the evening. 

Bright by GAP 
This is the most affordable and my most worn of the perfumes. It has a really original scent that is unlike anything I have ever smelt before. It is a fresh fruity scent that does have some woodier undertones. I feel as though when I spray it on in the morning it makes me smell clean, which is weird I know. I think it is the fresh smell that kind of reminds me of soap and that it why I associate it with being well washed. The only issue with this perfume is that it doesn't exactly radiate off you. This is more of an issue if I wore it as a night time perfume where I want to make more of a splash, but I usually keep this one for school or average days. I don't always want to go to school smelling like I have just rolled through a rose garden so this is perfect. I have had many the compliment from friends when I have waved a hand in front of them that I'm smelling good that day, so I'm going to say this one is a keeper. 

Though I really love all of these perfumes, I'm actually looking out for another to add to my collection. If you know of a darker/muskier/woodier fragrance that is still suitable for my tender age, comment below or tell me on Twitter. I'm after something to wear when I'm feeling a bit darker and less floral. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Treat Yourself to a Pamper Evening

If you are going to treat yourself to a proper pamper evening, there is a few things that you must include. These things will leave you feeling relaxed and special, without the exorbitant costs that come with going to a proper spa. 

Candles
There is something about candle light that is so relaxing and calming. I find lighting some candles to be the perfect first step for a relaxing evening. Choose your yummiest/favourite smelling candles and light them all around your bath or pamper area. 

Exfoliate
Though it can be a bit of a tough job, and slightly painful at times, exfoliating is a necessary step of any pamper evening. I could make up some metaphor about scrubbing away your troubles, but in all reality there is a much more simple reason. It will make you feel good. Not necessarily on a deep inner level, I mean it literally. Your skin will feel better to the touch if you exfoliate it well first. At the moment I am using the really gritty Body Shop Shea Body Scrub. 

Hair Mask
Your hair deserves some pampering too, especially if you use heat tools as much as I do. They leave the hair feeling silky and soft, far more than an average conditioner. I generally wash and condition my hair in the shower as normal, then I will turn off the shower and apply the Edward Beale Argan Oil Masque. I will wrap my hair up and go about my business for 15 minutes and then get back into the shower to wash it off. 

Face Mask 
Another pamper evening staple, the face mask is a must. It depends on your skin type or the issues you are trying to combat, but at the moment I am using the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. This is meant to clear out pores and leave the skin feeling incredibly clean. You could also use a moisturising face mask or even a nose pore strip (or both). 

Moisturise
After you have washed off all of your masks, go in with a good quality moisturiser. Make sure you apply it everywhere; legs, body, arms, face, hands and feet all need to be taken care of. Of course, you will probably need a few different types of moisturiser to target different areas of the body. My favourite body moisturiser of late is the Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter because it is really heavy and I know it is giving me a lot of hydration without being sticky. 

Manicure
I like to give myself an at home manicure when I'm treating myself. I cut and file my nails until they're the perfect shape after taking off any polish that may have already been on there. Then I will go in with my favourite nail care system of the moment the Sephora Formula X cleanser, base and top coats. I start with the cleanser then paint the base coat over the top. My polish of choice at this time is Essie Cute as a Button and then I top it off with a top coat to keep everything shiny and locked in place. 

After I've done all that, I settle in with a book or a movie and relax for the rest of the night. I love how I feel after a pamper evening. I feel clean, soft and relaxed. I find that I feel a bit more ready to face the world in the morning if I have treated myself to some beauty time the night before. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Treat Yourself to a Yummy Snack

Whether you're craving something sweet or something savoury, I've got you covered with this post. Sometimes I want something a little more than a carrot stick or chocolate bar, but it isn't time for a proper meal (though the bagel is a very good lunch) and these are the two simple recipes I go for every time. 

Bagel Pizzas 

There is no recipe for this, it's just a great way to use whatever you like and have. I chose to keep it simple and use a tomato paste base with some ham and cheese on top. First you toast the bagels until they're lightly toasted and then you put on the toppings. Finish it off by putting it under the grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese is all melted and yummy. Simple! 

Brownie in a Mug 

To make this quick sweet treat that is especially good when you don't have any baked goods in the house, you simply mix all of the above ingredients together in a mug. Microwave for a minute if you want it slightly molten or 75 seconds if you want it fully cooked (these times depend on your microwave, of course). Simple! 

These are two great ways to treat yourself to something delicious without having to put in a massive amount of effort or leave the house. Yummy things are even better when they don't cost you any money. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon