Make It Your Best Sunday

For most people, Sundays are a time for people to relax, catch up on Netflix and go through Pinterest. Oh no, not for me, I go to work. Not that I'm complaining but I'm a retail worker and Sundays are one of my shifts unfortunately. All I want to do is stay in bed but no, I've got a 6 hour shift to work on my own!

I work in a bath bomb shop, known by many in the North East, which sells candles, soaps, burners etc all sorts. It starts with a 7am wake up call as the park and ride buses don't run on a Sunday which means my boyfriend needs to take me to work because parking is really expensive in Durham. I then get to my shift and spend my 6 hours working. My boyfriend picks me up around 4 and I'll probably get home just before half 4 depending on traffic leaving Durham. NOW it's time to relax. No matter what the season, it's chill time. Unless I coax my boyfriend into going to the cinema, which I'm doing tonight.

I think for everyone, the best thing to do to make it your best Sunday is to embrace your relationship status. Whether you're single or in a relationship. If you're in a relationship, be with the one you love, if you're single, have a bit of you time and binge watch your favourite show with your favourite snacks. Just remember, nobody can pinch those Haribos from you! Netflix, Netflix, Netflix. I say this about every single day of the week, not just a Sunday, but this is the time to binge watch your favourite show. Currently I'm watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and I'm going to attempt to watch Pretty Little Liars from the beginning before the new episodes come out for the final season.

My friend asked me once what I think about Sundays and before I used to work them, I used to say it's just another day except you can be lazy which I think everyone is entitled too. So I'm going to be lazy tonight, well after the cinema anyway. I'm going to come back home, run a hot bath and put my Macbook on the toilet so I can watch it from the bath (ultimate laziness goal achieved), put on my favourite snuggly pyjamas, order a takeaway (I may be on Slimming World, but I'm entitled to a treat once a week, right?!) and continue binge watching a series. I may even throw in a peppermint vodka hot chocolate. Just remember, you've got to make good use of your Sundays as you have to wait 7 days for another. Make it your best Sunday!

"This is a Sunday evening reminder that you can handle anything this week throws at you". - Courtesy of Pinterest.

Amyleigh x

The Body Shop's Tea Tree range

As someone who battles with quite bad acne, I have never found a skincare routine that works for me apart from one wonder brand who I will mention in another post. However, I have tried items in The Body Shop's tea tree range in the past and have loved them as a quick fix, so I have decided to invest in just about the whole range (except from the body wash, BB cream and daily solution). I did want to try the daily solution but unfortunately, it wasn't available. All of the products mentioned below were bought in a 40% off sale so if you can catch the sales, I would highly recommend! All of the prices listed are their normal retail prices. 

Tea Tree Oil:
On The Body Shop website it states "Tea tree essential oil is renowned for its powerful, purifying properties. We sustainably hand-harvest our Community Trade organic tea tree leaves within 12 hours, so we can bottle our purest, most potent oil. Our iconic Tea Tree Oil is a cult classic, and is great for on the spot application.

• Our iconic purest concentration Tea Tree Oil
• With purifying tea tree oil grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya
• Use on targeted areas of concern
• Reduces blemishes
• A cult classic"

And also expresses that it is for young and oily skin. I would say I have quite youthful skin as I am 21 and still getting acne, but not oily skin. If I had to stretch anywhere near oily I would say I had combination skin. 

It is honestly quite pricey at £8.50 for 20ml but honestly, you need the tiniest bit for a spot and it honestly works miracles. I like to use this when I feel a spot coming through because it really does stop it from getting bigger, if anything, it might remain the same size for a day or so and then reduce in size. The best use I find for this tea tree oil is that it helps to eliminate acne scars!

Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub:

The Body Shop Website states "Infused with pure, organic tea tree oil, our Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub is a daily facial exfoliator perfect for blemished skin. Biodegradable bursting micro-beads gently buff the skin surface, removing impurities and dead skin cells for skin that feels smooth and appears more clear and shine-free.

• With purifying tea tree oil grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya
• With biodegradable exfoliators
• Gently foaming
• Skin feels smoother
• Skin looks clearer, pores appear unclogged"

Personally, I do not use this everyday only because of the amount of tea tree products I do have and I don't want certain areas on my face to become even more dry. Usually, I only use scrub on my T zone as thats where I get quite dry patches but thought I needed to give this a go. My dry patches have visibly reduced and the texture of my face feels amazing once I have used this. I understand that this product is probably designed as a light scrub with it being for every day use but I really hope they bring out the same formula but with bigger granules, then this thing would be perfect for me! However, if you're a light scrub exfoliating Queen then this would be great! For £7.50 for 100ml, you can't go wrong! 

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash:

This product is probably my favourite in the range. "This Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash infused with potent tea tree oil, cleanses blemished skin with each use. A cooling lather removes impurities and excess oil, leaving skin feeling refreshed and purified. Use daily for shine-free, visibly clearer results.

• Daily facial wash
• With purifying tea tree oil from the foothills of Mount Kenya
• Deeply cleanses blemished skin
• Cooling and refreshing on skin
• Skin appears visibly clearer
• Reduces oiliness and shine"

Again, I do not use this everyday and only tend to use this if I haven't wore make up through-out the day and when I wash my face at night. The feel of my skin when I use this is amazing and I don't believe the smell is so potent it would make your eyes water but it still is really a strong smell. It feels as though you can smell it working, is that weird? I believe if you were to buy any 2 products from this range it would be this and the tea tree oil to work in combination with each other. Also, it works well even on my dry areas.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask:

This was the first product I ever tried from the tea tree range. I actually have a friend who works in The Body Shop and went in for some advice on what I could do for my acne and she was the one who got me hooked onto this range. Thanks Alison! "Cool and deeply cleanse your skin with our Tea Tree infused clay mask. Perfect for blemished complexions, the instantly cooling sensation refreshes skin, without over drying. This mask will help to clear impurities whilst absorbing excess sebum, leaving skin feeling smoother and clearer looking.

• Rinse-off cleansing clay mask for blemished skin
• With purifying tea tree oil grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya
• Deeply cleanse to remove impurities
• Soothes and calms skin
• Helps to promote clearer looking skin"

I use this once a week and apply with a cheapish make up brush instead of getting clay mask stuck behind my finger nails. The make up brush also allows for a smooth and even application. I don't apply this to my T-Zone only because I am afraid that it may dry out my skin but I may have to try it out some time. I'm one of those people that hates waiting for their masks to try so always sit in front of a fan or waft myself with a book in order for it to dry. No joke, you can feel it working. The first time I ever used it, I could feel it tingling my spots. It didn't hurt or was stinging, it was the weirdest sensation. Thankfully my acne has diminished since using these products and I only get a cluster when mother nature calls (TMI, I am sorry) but this stuff works miracles. I apply this to my face when I feel the spots coming in. If a pesky few do manage to get through, I use this clearing mask, rinse off and then apply some tea tree oil before bed. 

As mentioned above, I do have combo/dry skin and a lot of tea tree products are tailored to oily skin. I like to finish all of my routine's off with The Body Shop's Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet. 
*All photos from The Body Shop Here. 

Amyleigh x

'So what will you be doing after University?'

Like many of you reading this, you will have experienced or will be experiencing the hell that is third year. Along with the horrendous assignments and exams, you have the dreaded 'So what will you be doing after University?'. I do not know. To put it short and sweet, I literally have not got a clue. You have possibly seen that I am a Criminology student and as many of you may know, it is classed as one of those jobs which people take for the fun of it because it sounds interesting. However, I decided to study Criminology as I wanted to become a tutor or teacher in the prison sector, not an easy gig especially when I realised half way through second year, I did not want to do post graduate study in order to become a teacher. Honestly, I never thought I would say this but I am sick of education. I just know I'm going to come back to this in a few years time and will have picked to do a postgraduate degree, I just know it.

In my mind there are 6 possible things that I can do after university:

1. Postgraduate study - As mentioned above, there is a chance there to do post graduate study as I predict myself a 2:1. My problem is, what would I do postgraduate study in? Would it be stick to what I wanted to do when I decided to study Criminology and go into post compulsory education training? Or do I go into something like Primary Education (something I have always wanted to do, alongside Midwifery but this will be a completely different post) or Social Work? Do I go with what my heart says now and study statistics, something which I despised in school but absolutely love now? 
2. Postgraduate jobs - The competition for postgraduate jobs are like no other. Most of the country who do not know what they want to do in life will more than likely be applying for the same graduate jobs and schemes and will not be able to get past the online assessments, because they're that bloody daft! I'm not being funny but giving me a 4 statements in a scenario or to best suit my personality but giving the teeniest tiniest most background information to the scenario is bizarre, I'd do different things in certain situations! Surely, the main aim of a candidate is to know there are differing situations in the world and all answers are not concrete and static in nature? When I see these types of candidate sorting, I think may fortune favour the brave because I am not brave and I am out. Those tests eat me alive, especially when you get the rejection letter. I'm not scared of rejection, I'm really not. If anything, I build upon it but I much prefer to go into a job where the employees can see me for who I am rather than choosing one statement out of 4 (most of which I wouldn't even do in the first place) in extremely basic situations.
3. Job - Get a job! Simple as that. Whether it's carry on the job you are doing and increasing your hours or going for a promotion, it seems the easiest way to get a job. Whilst I love the place I work, I do hope that I can put my degree to some use and go out into the field. I'm currently in the middle of several applications for jobs within the Government, so hopefully all goes well. To be frank, and some people might question, yes some of these job applications do include those dreaded statements as mentioned above but I find you are more likely to be called to interview as there is a smaller influx of potential employees!
4. Volunteer - If you know the area you are wanting to work in, go and volunteer or get some vital experience. Doing something like this gives you time to do something you love doing, or seeing whether you love the job and potentially apply for some jobs. It also takes away some of the heartbreak of applying to jobs and either not hearing back or getting rejected as you are able to apply when there are less of an influx of prospective candidates. If I was sure in the direction I wanted to go, this would definitely be my step!
5. Take time off - Why not?! Most people who are finishing university have never had a break from education since they were 4 (oh wow, that is a long time..) and deserve time to find themselves, especially after being divulged in all of those books, and taking time to find out where you want to go in life. Go travelling, spend time with family, the world is your oyster.
6. Be Your Own Boss - If I had the money to do this and an idea, this would be a winner. Many times I have thought about starting my own market stall or online store after I finish university but then I think, have I wasted my 3 years at university? In a nutshell yes but also no. 

In regards to being your own boss and whether you have wasted your time at university of your degree, you have to remember, at university you gain a valuable insight to your course and all it has to offer in order to get you ready for the world of work.. BUT it also allows you to learn new skills, skills that if you had never took the course, you would never have experienced. Criminology has made me a lot more open and understanding of why people do certain things and also my knowledge of theory and history has grown. I hated history in secondary school and wanted nothing to do with it past GCSE, however through Criminology I have learnt to love something I really despised learning about and taught me about second chances in a very sneaky and small way.. life can be like that sometimes. You really do grow up during your degree and learn vital lessons and skills, so not using your degree in your life is not a dumb thing to do.

If you're going through university hell right now, just know I'm there with you! If you're about to go into third year, start your dissertation plans now because life catches up with you pretty quickly and you will be left in the lurch, a lot like I am. I have loads of things I wish I could say but will keep it for another day, another vlog. Happy studying,

Amyleigh x

Disneyland Debate

Just a quick one today, although it might be long as I feel a huge ramble coming on in a short space of time. I'm currently getting ready to go to one of my good friends 21st birthday celebrations but needed to check in. A check in about the ongoing Disney Debate going on in my relationship!

 Having previously been to Disneyland Paris on numerous occasions, I'm now questioning, should I go back?! Disneyland Paris has been a much loved holiday destination of mine and it was and still is mine and my boyfriend's favourite place to go. If my boyfriend got his way, we would be at Disneyland Paris or Disneyworld tomorrow but for me, I'm just not so sure.

Do we save up to go to Disneyworld? The only downside to this is that it is around £1500 each to go to Disneyworld for 10 days. The major catch is that you have to pay extra for food, none of this all inclusive lifestyle that I love to lead on holidays! I find £1500 is a massive chunk of money to just spend on flights and a hotel as this price doesn't even include of tickets! I would do this, I'm not going to kid you, I really would do this. Save up loads of money and splash out for an amazing experience but as a university student and someone who is working weekends, looking for a house and saving money for a mortgage, I simply can't afford it!

Do we go to Disneyland Paris? Me and my boyfriend love it there, we really do. I have been there 5 or 6 times, and we have been there once together. Instead of going again why not save up and go to Disneyworld? Then it raises the questions above! It's like a never ending circle. Then we thought, why not go all out, go to Disneyland Paris but pay to have breakfast with the characters, go to a more expensive hotel but then it's the question of, that money could be going towards America!

Do we just not do Disney? We have only ever been to Disneyland once as a couple but have been on 6 abroad holidays and we love the sunshine. We went to Disneyland the week before Christmas and it was magical but couldn't imagine the place in the summer when it was hot, the queues are long and there are too many people. However in other places like Salou, Tenerife, Cape Verde, the holidays and quiet and tranquil and you can soak up every last drop of sunshine for a fraction of the cost and go all inclusive!

Don't get me wrong, we found an amazing Disneyworld deal. Return flights from London in September (would be there for my birthday!), 7 nights in one of the All Stars hotels then a 3 days Disney Cruise around the Bahamas for £1400 a person, inclusive of park tickets and free food on the cruise! Now that is an absolute bargain but I just can't seem to push myself to go and I'm questioning myself why. Does it seem selfish that I want a house instead of experiences? Houses can wait, experiences can't! But then I think, in the future we could go with children and properly experience the magic.

I always have too many thoughts racing around my head, not knowing which way to turn and find it hard to make a decision when it's this big. Feeling a bit like Nelly and having a dilema! I'm sure a solution will be found and hopefully, whatever the result of the Disney Debate you will see a blog post about it soon!

Amyleigh x

Top Netflix Picks No.1

It goes without saying, I am a Netflix-aholic. You will either find me on Netflix or Youtube rather than dealing with anything in life and rather submerging myself into programmes about finding out who Uber A is or as to why Nostradarmus is hidden in somebody's basement.. I lie, you may also find me on Disney Life. If you do not have a Disney Life account, I highly recommend. Someone I know went on a huge Cheetah Girls binge last weeks, naming no names.. The following are my top 10 TV programmes available on UK Netflix (films to come next week):

*I would like to point out that I feel as though I am not doing any of these TV programmes any justice but trust me, they are go to staples on Netflix. A few of them, you need to have a comedic heart. However 7 and 9 is not for the faint hearted!

TV programmes:

1. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Oh does this bring me back to my childhood! I believe this series ended when I was born but the amount of re-runs on channel 4 I believe, was insane! If you're from the UK, you will more than likely know the theme tune yourself or somebody that does. It is a regular song to play at a party or a night out. Moving away from the song, this show is about Will (Will Smith), a man from Philadelphia, USA who has been sent away from his home to live with his rich Aunt and Uncle in Bel Air (as the song goes, literally..). The comedy still rings through today and with the complete series available, this is my current top pick!
2. Pretty Little Liars - How could I not include this mind-rambling show? I was quite late to this show. I am someone who does not 'jump on the bandwagon' in terms of being up to date with the new TV shows (if you expect Orange Is The New Black on this list then I'm sorry, I haven't seen a single episode!). There are so many storylines involved in PLL that I don't know what information to include without giving away any spoilers, however, the main jist of the show is that a popular girl named Alison suddenly goes missing and is assumed dead, all whilst her 4 friends are tormented by a unknown person named 'A'. We are now however onto Uber A. I started watching this show when it first came onto Netflix and I believe 4 seasons were on. I am absolutely hooked and have rewatched a good 4/5 times. Now there are 7 seasons, with 10 episodes left until the series finale. If you can hold out until April and binge watch the series, I would recommend waiting. The suspense is killing me!
3. Full House - What a classic. I remember being obsessed with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as a child and had every single one of their films on tape and CD's, yes they released music (Dog, he ate my homework being a personal favourite). One day I decided to Youtube Mary Kate and Ashley and a video called 'Michelle and Uncle Jessie' appeared. This is where my love of full house began. Not that I can recall much from my youth but I'm very certain Full House wasn't aired in the UK by the time I was born, as I said I could be wrong. Full House follows the story of Danny Tanner and his 3 daughters DJ, Stephanie and Michelle who have very sadly lost their wife/mother. Danny then takes it upon himself to move his best friend Joey and brother-in-law Jesse into their home. This light hearted comedy in short 20 minute episodes will show you the true meaning of family.
4. Fuller House - What's that? Have I mis-typed Full House? Wrong! Fuller House is the new up to date version of Full House and a Netflix Original, following the lives of DJ and Stephanie (Mary Kate and Ashley played Michelle and are "running their fashion empire" -quoted from the show). Life has gone full circle and DJ Tanner is living with her 3 sons Jackson, Max and Tommy after their husband/Dad lost his life being a firefighter. Her sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy decide to move in and the story line goes on, extremely similar story lines but with current comedic humour! 
5. Pramface - One of my favourites and definitely only available to those in the UK. This BBC Three season was by far one of the best ones they have created. It follows Laura and Jamie, 2 soon to be parents floating through lives after a one night stand. They are from 2 different classes and backgrounds and is addressed through good old British humour. Definitely a one to watch with a nice glass of wine!
6. Gavin and Stacey - My favourite programme ever. Hands down, no competing. I make Gavin and Stacey references in my daily life and I'm not ashamed. Many people will know about Gavin and Stacey in the UK but as will followers of The Late Late Show with James Corden as he played Smithy, Gavin's best friend, best character in the show. He is also the producer and writer of the show. It focuses on two main characters Gavin and Stacey, Gavin being from Essex in England and Stacey from Barry in Wales. It follows of their lives of a quick relationship and also the lives of Nessa (Stacey's best friend) and Smithy after Nessa finds out she is expecting a baby with Smithy. They outwardly detest each other but secretly they are the perfect match. This show can easily be watched in a binge as it is only 3 episodes. If I could only recommend one UK sitcom, it would be this one.
7. Reign - Taking a different direction for a moment, I never would have put myself to be a lover of a show like this. It follows the life of Mary Queen of Scots and having to protect her beloved Scotland whilst also taking care of France, where she resides with Prince Francis who is to marry her. There are multiple story lines running through this series and definitely a one to go back and watch to see if there's any bits you missed. When writing this, Reign has been cancelled which I'm extremely sad about but at least it is coming to an end because the show has me in so many emotions I feel as though I need to sing in the shower to emotional ballads. Even though it has been cancelled, I feel as though it is more on the basis of Mary Queens of Scot's life. The story of her life is long winded and already there have been a few seasons and they have only just introduced Queen Elizabeth, her cousin and who can take her throne. If you know the story of Mary Queen of Scots, you will know how this should end, however I feel as though it may be different as there has been some discrepencies through-out this show. (If you did not understand my Nostradarmus reference at the beginning of this post, this is the show in which he appears.. many a storyline my friends!). If you love history and a bit of mystery, this is one for you!
8. Bad Education - My favourite comedian Jack Whitehall is the main teacher in this series and by God was I excited when I found this was on Netflix. It follows Alfie, a teacher, and his class and the mischief they get up to. He's honestly a horrendous teacher and more like a friend to the class but this show covers bullying, romance, transgender and youth culture in such a way that it is comical but you actually learn a lesson from it. It truly is a hilarious watch, however if you do not understand British humour I would stay away from this one as you might find it a tad offensive!
9. Making a Murderer - As you may know, I am a Criminology student and anything like this interests me. This is a factual and true life story of Steven Avery who has been put in prison, along with his nephew (who I now believe to be released from prison) for the murder of Teresa Halbach. The documentary is filmed in the point of view against the county police department but watching the documentary, you can't help question why things like this is allowed to happen. I mentioned above about 'jumping on the bandwagon', maybe I did with this one but I swear I watched this before most people and I was begging people to watch it to discuss it with me. I believe this is a watch for anyone interested in documentaries or the penal system or just to be divulged into a series. Currently, there is an ongoing trial to get Steven Avery out of prison as evidence has been found to suggest he is not the murderer of late Teresa Halbach.
10. Jane The Virgin - I binged watched this like no other! I watched this series on Netflix and it turned out that Netflix had more episodes available than what were released on the TV in the UK so I binged watched and have been suffering with a lack of episodes for what feels like an eternity. I am making it my mission after this blog post that I see if channel 4 have aired any extra episodes to what Netflix have available! A bit of a tangent, I digress.. Jane The Virgin follows the life of Jane who is artificially inseminated with her boss' sperm. There are many relationship triangles in this story as she is madly in love with her boyfriend Michael but then falls for her baby daddy. However, things have took a slight change.. there's new relationships, twin sisters, murderers, secret tunnels etc etc. You have to watch it to understand the storyline, I promise I am not doing this TV programme justice. Binge watch it, that's what I did and now every time you go to the Doctors, you hope that aren't going to be artificially inseminated or injected with a random medication which isn't yours.. 

Other watches:
How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, A Series of Unfortunate Events, One Day At A Time, Dance Academy, Black Mirror, Line of Duty, That 70's Show, Outnumbered and Prison Break (If I didn't say this, my boyfriend would not be happy!)



I hate having these programmes in my 'others' list as some of them really would make it into my personal top 10 but I believe anyone starting out with Netflix, the list above should be the main ones you watch!

Amyleigh x