My Night Time Routine!

Routines are some of my favourites to read so I thought that I'd share with you all my night time routine

I usually begin winding down for the evening at about 10pm, I go to the kitchen and make myself a cup of Lady Grey Tea, which if you've read my March Favourites, you'll know that I absolutely love! 

I then head back on upstairs to my room and turn off my main light for my bedroom and turn on the sets of fairy lights that I have around my room, It's a much warmer light and just looks so much prettier. I also light some candles because I love a good scented candle, put on some music and I'm ready to begin relaxing.

I begin by removing my make-up with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water on a few cotton pads. I then jump in the shower and if it's a weekday evening I'll wash my hair. Recently I've been using the Herbal Essences Clearly 0% Naked Shampoo and Conditioner and they have done absolute wonders for my hair, it's got so much more volume and it feels so smooth, I highly recommend you give these a try if you haven't already. 

Following this, I put on my pyjamas..I don't even think I can call them that, it's usually just a concert tee and a pair of shorts. I head back into my bathroom and tie my hair back to get it out of my face whilst I cleanse my skin. I take my Spin For Perfect Skin (I'll do a review on it very soon, I'm still testing it out) with the exfoliating brush and my Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser and just move it around my face in circular motions, specifically concentrating in my T-zone. I then switch to the cleansing brush and take the Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser and as with the previous one move it around the skin in circular motions. I then dry off my skin and apply the Pond's Moisturiser. 

Next, I take my hair down and give it a brush through with my tangle teaser and separate it into two at the parting. As I've got pretty curly hair it won't last through the night with me shoving it up into a ponytail so I twist each section of my hair into a bun and secure it with a hair tie, it's a bit of a Miley Cyrus look but I've been doing it for 4 years and it works very well, so anyone that sees me in the evening will just have to put up with it. 

I then move onto moisturising my skin. I've been using the Palmers Coconut Oil Body Cream (paraben free) recently and I love it so much, it's so soothing hydrating. I then sit on my bed and catch up on all of the blog posts YouTube videos that have gone up throughout the day whilst sipping on my tea. By the time eventually settle down into bed it's usually about 12/1am ish. I'm a night owl if you hadn't guessed that already.

And there you have it, My Night Time Routine. I hope you're enjoying my blog. If there is a specific post that you'd like me to do then either leave me a comment below or contact me on any of my social media, linked below.

I'll see you next Thursday for another post.

Love, Lily

xoxo

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @lilyblogss
Instagram: @lilyblogss
Snapchat: lilyblogss

Revision Tips and Tricks

I know for many people exams are coming up in the next month or so, whether you're doing GCSE's, A-Levels or University Exams, I've compiled a list of things that I do that will help you be organised and stay on track for getting a good grade. Here we go...

ONE
Have a timetable to follow. So, I know most people would've done this months ago but if you haven't, I'd strongly suggest that you do. I find it really helps me stay on track with what I need to know and by when. I created mine using Get Revising way back in September. It not only allows you to  create a colour coded timetable but you are able to insert when you have other commitments so won't be able to study. Other features it offers include emailing you when you have a revision session coming up so you're not able to forget as well as having in built flash cards that you can either make yourself or if relevant, the ones that other users have created.

TWO
Set a structure. Everyone is different when it comes to how long they can stay concentrated. For me its 45 minutes. After that my mind starts to wander and I'm not fully focused at all. So, I work in 45 minute slots giving myself a 5/10 minute break in between. Something like this:
Study : 45 minutes
Break: 5 minutes
Study: 45 minutes
Break 10 minutes
Study: 45 minutes
Break: 5 minutes
Study: 45 minutes
Break: 25 minutes
I generally combine two 45 minute slots for one subject and then after my 10 minute break change to another subject, because if you're anything like me you'll get bored easily!

THREE
Reward yourself. When I have a break, whether it be  5, 10 or 25 minutes. I will allow myself a 'treat' or something I really want to do. That could be as simple as watching TV for a while or browsing through twitter. But I find once you've done something that you want to do, it really motivates you to get through the next 45 minutes of revision.

FOUR
Remove yourself. I think a big mistake that people make when doing revision is locking themselves away in their room for 3 hours. This is a massive no no from me. I can't sit still for 10 minutes let alone 3 hours so in my breaks I will go downstairs and see my family or make myself a cup of tea, something like that. But even if I've chosen to just look through Twitter, I won't stay in my room.

FIVE
Don't study on your bed. I know, it's oh so tempting but never a good idea. I used to do this but more often than not found myself slumping into a ball of over emotional teenager and taking a nap resulting in me getting absolutely nothing done. Instead I study at my desk in my room. I do also have one in the study but that room is freezing and rarely used so I much prefer the one in my room. If you don't have a desk then you could always just go and sit at the kitchen/dining room table.

SIX
Be comfy. There is no point in sitting down to revise being totally uncomfortable because that'll just distract you more. Instead put on some comfy clothes and sit on the comfiest desk chair you own. Sounds basic but a lot of people still use the most uncomfiest basic stools that will make your bum go numb within 5 seconds of being at on it and nobody wants that.

SEVEN
No Technology. I get distracted easily, I'm not going to lie. So, I remove all technology from where I'm doing revision so any phones, tablets or iPods. I did this recently expecting it to make absolutely no difference but oh my, I concentrated so much better I didn't have the dings of notifications going off so there was nothing for me to worry about. (Except I forgot that I hadn't told any of my friends I was doing this so one of them kept messaging me thinking that I was ignoring her...I wasn't)

EIGHT
Keep hydrated. I always keep a glass of water next to me when I'm revising because I just can't concentrate full when I'm dehydrated. Pretty simple really

NINE
Have foods that you like to nibble on. Whether that be sweets, chocolate, or carrot sticks. I like to keep something that if I'm feeling peckish I don't have to stop my revision to go to the kitchen and grab something to eat. It also helps if you say to yourself  "I can't have another sweet until I've finished this section" It makes you more motivated to get it done a little quicker.

TEN
Get enough sleep. The same applies to a night before you have a big exam too. If you don't give yourself the amount of sleep required before a day of revision then your retention isn't as good so the revision is less effective. Getting enough sleep helps this to improve so you're more focused.

ELEVEN
Use Colour! When making revision notes make them bold and colourful that way if you're in an exam and you need a piece of information you can think back and say "Okay, I wrote that in purple". It doesn't help everyone but it helps me!

TWELVE
Go for regular walks. On days when you're stuck inside revising this is key. Get yourself out of the house even if it is only for 10 minutes it can really help you feel energised.

THIRTEEN
Don't limit yourself. If you're on a roll with something you're doing and that 45 minutes of revising time is up continue, it's only a guideline it doesn't have to be stuck to by the minute.

There we go, some of my revision tips and tricks that I thought may help some of you who have exams coming up.

I'll see you next Thursday.

Lily

xoxo 

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @lilyblogss
Instagram: @lilyblogss
Snapchat: lilyblogss

Easy Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream

I thought I'd do some easy baking last weekend and so these cupcakes were perfect. They have 5 ingredients and are super simple to make. This recipe makes 12 small cupcakes or 6 larger cupcakes. Personally, decided to do larger cupcakes which take slightly longer to bake. Here's the recipe you'll need to give them a try!

Vanilla Cupcakes

For the cupcakes, you will need:

90g Self-Raising Flour

90g Softened Butter

90g Caster Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 170 C
2. Put both the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until there are no lumps of butter visible.
3. Add in the eggs one at a time mixing in between.
4. Pour in the vanilla extract and stir.
5. Sieve in the flour and incorporate well until smooth and pale in colour.
6. Spoon the mixture evenly into the cupcake cases and bake for 15 minutes or until bouncy and golden brown. (larger cupcakes will need 20 minutes)
7. Once baked, remove from the oven and place them onto a wire rack and allow them to cool.

When baking, it is easier to get the
ingredients all prepared before you
begin.

The cake batter should look smooth
and of a uniform colour, this ensures
that everything is well incorporated

I use an ice cream scoop when putting
the batter into the cases as it makes the
  quantity going into each case even

Place into the centre of a pre-heated oven
and avoid opening until it is ready to
remove them, this will stop them from
sinking

Vanilla Buttercream

For the buttercream, you will need:

100g Softened Butter

200g Icing Sugar

1 tbsp Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Food Colouring (if desired)

1. In a mixing bowl add the butter and half of the icing sugar. Combine with an electric mixer. If you don't have a freestanding mixer with a lid, I recommend that you cover the bowl with a cloth at first to avoid your entire kitchen being covered in Icing Sugar.

2. Gradually add in the other half of icing sugar and whisk until completely smooth.

3. If the buttercream is too thick at this point add the milk to make it slightly thinner.

4. Add in the vanilla extract and stir well.

5. Once the cupcakes are chilled add a spoonful of icing to the top of the cupcake and smooth it round with a palette knife or the back of a butter knife. Repeat on all cupcakes.

Once again, I have all of my ingredients
prepared beforehand

By adding the icing sugar in two halves
you ensure that it is incorporated fully 

I prefer not to use a piping bag as
I like the home made feel, however you
 can of course should you choose to

The icing should be smooth and light
in colour when whisked.

I hope you enjoy giving these cupcakes a try, if you do tag me in a photo on either Instagram (@lilyblogss) or Twitter (@lilyblogss).

See you next week,

Lily

xoxo

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @lilyblogss

Instagram: @lilyblogss

Snapchat: lilyblogss

Superdrug Haul

Hello everybody,

 In Case you're new to my blog, I'm Lily, I post every Thursday  at 5pm. I've just got back from town and spent way too much but it was all just too lovely not purchase. I thought I'd share with you the delights that I've bought. This is a Haul/First Impressions I guess.

The first thing I picked up was a triple pack of round cotton wool pads, an essential for me. A single pack on its own is £1.89 so I got a complete bargain. No doubt that I'll go through them pretty quickly though!

Next I got the Nivea Men Sensitive Cooling Post Shave Balm. You may be thinking...what, why? But if you hadn't heard already it's recently become popular for using as a primer. I heard this through Sophie Foster, she mentioned it in one of her videos and seemed to love it. Pretty random, I know. But, I thought I'd jump onto the bandwagon and give it a go because why not!

I also got some Antibacterial Wipes because putting me in a drugstore is never a good idea, I'll come out covered in lipstick swatches and I hadn't got any wipes with me so I decided to pick some up. They'll also be really handy when I go back to college just to shove in my bag and when I next need them they'll be right there.

The majority of the single packet face masks were on 3 for 2 so I picked some up. I got the Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask, the Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask and also the De-Stressing Mud Mask. I thought I'd give myself a little pamper because I can really. I also really like buying the single packet face masks because it means that I don't give my skin an opportunity to get used to the product so I feel as if it will always work, I don't know if this is an actual thing but it is now.

I picked up a Bubblet bath infusion t-bags with summer fruit tea. These are bath salts contained with in a little mesh bag, they're really cute and have to be one of the most divine things I've smelt! It's honestly insane how good they smell I can not even explain!

Lastly, I got the Revolution Highlighting Powder Palette. Now I've never used a highlighter before but it was relatively cheap and so I thought I'd give it a go, and if it goes terribly wrong then I've just got myself some new shimmer eyeshadows!



Prices:
Triple Pack of Cotton Wool Pads - £3
Nivea Men Sensitive Cooling Post Shave Balm - £3.52
Antibacterial Wipes - £0.69
Single Packet Face Masks £0.99 each
Bubblet bath infusion tea bags - £3.99
Revolution Highlighting Powder Palette - £8

I hope you're enjoying my blog. If you want to find a specific type of post, I've recently added the menu feature at the top of the page so hopefully now it'll make it much easier for you. If there is a specific post that you'd like me to do then either leave me a comment below or contact me on any of my social media, linked below. 

I'll see you on Thursday for another post.

Love, Lily

xoxo

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @lilyblogss
Instagram: @lilyblogss
Snapchat: lilyblogss