3 Ways To Wear a Denim Jacket

At the end of May I purchased this light wash denim jacket from Pagani. For my readers outside New Zealand, Pagani is comparable to River Island, Oasis and Miss Selfridge – high street fashion featuring the latest trends and styles at affordable prices. If I could describe my wardrobe it would be classic, comfortable and stylish (I try anyway). I have a lot of neutral pieces I can interchange but I also like colour.

Stylist notes:

• Ten buttons
• Silver hardware
• Four front pockets
• Relaxed, boxy fit
• Cropped cut

The light wash is flattering against my  fair skin and I do like the boxy, cropped fit of this jacket, it looks more tailored. I do have to roll the sleeves up but they aren’t too long. A denim jacket is one of those pieces that goes with just about everything and can be worn year round – I’ve constantly been wearing mine since I bought it.

Outfit #1: Day Date

Jacket: Pagani
Top: Glassons – Grey Merino Blend Boxy Jumper
Pants: Glassons – Black Ponte Pants

This outfit is my favourite of the three. I’d had my hair done the previous day and felt extra nice in it. I wanted to be comfortable and warm on the date as it was still the end of winter. Side note about the date: I met a guy for lunch. He seemed nice but neither of us felt a connection so it didn’t go anywhere. The jacket isn’t bulky and allows for layering so it was perfect. I paired it with a lightweight grey jumper and black pants.

Outfit #2: Floral Dress

Jacket: Pagani
Dress: Glassons – Floral High-Low Dress

This outfit would work year round, just add some stockings and cute boots! If I’m brave enough I will wear this outfit in summer with bare legs and sandals. Legs are the body part I like least about myself and worry about the most. My legs look bigger than other parts of my body and they are very pale so I have to be careful they don’t burn. I don’t fake tan and whilst I’m not embarrassed about my pale skin I do tend to cover up.

Outfit #3: Casual and Comfy

Jacket: Pagani
Top: Glassons – Black Merino Curve Blend Hem Jumper
Pants: Glassons – Navy Seal Ponte Pants

Outfit one and three are similar but I feel they are reflective of my style. Ponte pants are like leggings but they are thicker, warmer and just as comfortable. Like leggings they are elasticated and can be dressed up or down. I love navy as an alternative to black and it means I can wear black on my top half without wearing black head to toe – there’s nothing wrong with black but I do like the two tones of blue from the jacket and pants with this jumper. The jumper is also super stylish on it’s own, it has a curved hem and a small zip up the back. Both jumpers skim over my tummy which is a bonus!

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Do you own a denim jacket? Which outfit was your favourite?

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Black Friday Shopping Haul

Black Friday shopping is becoming more popular in New Zealand and while a lot of brands and stores have good deals I didn’t actively go seeking anything out. The weekend before Black Friday I’d gone shopping and the products I ended up buying during the Black Friday sales were impromptu purchases. Earlier in the day I commented on an Instagram post saying I hadn’t caved and bought anything… I tempted fate. Let’s get on with the haul!

Starting with The Iconic:

1. Alexis Fluffy Knit – I already know jumpers are one of my weaknesses but fluffy jumpers I love even more! This white jumper is super soft, has long blouson sleeves and doesn’t feel heavy. I do think I could have got away with sizing down as it is a relaxed fit, especially around the neck, but having it slightly bigger allows me to tuck it in or wear layers underneath.

2. Missguided Chunky Sole Trainers – The Spice Girls are back and so are chunky trainers! I saw a friend post a picture of trainers similar to these and instantly fell in love. These will look nice with jeans and the metallic silver detailing breaks up the white. I originally ordered a UK size 6 but also ordered a size 5 to see which was the better fit. I kept the 6 as there is more room around the toes. Because these are white I don’t think I’ll wear them all the time, I want to keep them clean.

Onto xoBeauty:

3. Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder – Lucent – I purchased the pink, champagne shade, Aurora, a few months ago and I’ve been loving it; I knew I wanted to pick up Lucent as well. Lucent is a glowing, sandy golden shade and the more pigmented of the two, but both suit any makeup look. The powders are soft, easy to blend and can be built up if you want a more intense highlight. These also double as all over face powders to give your skin a natural radiance.

4. Detail Face Brush – I picked up this brush because it will be perfect to use with the xoBeauty highlighters as well as my others. This brush lets you pinpoint exactly where you want to highlight. The bristles are lovely and soft and I see myself reaching for this brush often. It reminds me of the Setting Brush from Real Techniques, a small, fluffy, multi-purpose brush.

5. Philocaly Lipstick – This lipstick is one of xoBeauty’s best-selling products and I can see why! It is in a similar vein to Brave by MAC – a mauve toned down pink – with less of a satin formula. The lipsticks all have a creme brulee scent which doesn’t linger if you don’t like scented lip products. This shade also looks pretty with a light pink gloss dabbed over the top to make lips look fuller and less matte.

6. Kairos Lipstick – I have eyed this shade up a few times when I have browsed the website and I finally took the plunge and added it to my cart. Kairos is described as a medium, muted peachy-pink but it looks like a bright coral on me. I like the colour and it will be fun for summer, I’m excited to experiment with toning down the boldness and wearing this shade muted. xoBeauty has a similar liquid lipstick shade called Nam Jai which is more pink and one I can see myself picking up in the future. The liquid lipstick formula is creamy, comfortable to wear and doesn’t dry completely matte.

xoBeauty swatches:

Top to bottom: Philocaly, Kairos and Lucent.

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Leave a comment with what you picked up in the Black Friday sales!

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End of Year Haul (Beauty & Fashion)

To celebrate my new job I decided to treat myself. I definitely go through stages with buying and most of the time I’m good but it’s getting close to Christmas and that’s a good excuse to treat yourself, right?! For Christmas this year mum and I are considering not buying presents and everyone buys something nice for themselves with the money they’d spend on others. I didn’t want to miss out so I got in early!

MECCA:

1. Stila 3D Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow Set 

Rachael from Helpless Whilst Drying absolutely loves the Stila Magnificent Metals and this set is a great way to introduce myself to the product. The set features 3 x 2.25ml tubes in the shades Kitten Karma, Perlina and Golden Girl. These seem perfect for simple, easy eyeshadow looks. I don’t like to spend a lot of time on my eyes if I don’t have to.

2. Stila Nude Attitude Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set 

I’ve never tried Stila before so why not buy two three piece sets in the same order?! The Liquid Lipstick sets intrigued me and the one I chose – Nude Attitude Stay All Day – features one matte (Patina) and two shimmers (Illuminaire and Miele). It will be interesting to compare the formula of the matte shade to the two shimmers.

3. Clinique Merry Moisture Set

I have always wanted to try Clinque’s Moisture Surge moisturiser and this set offers a 30ml tube of the moisturiser and a mini lipgloss in Rosewater Pop. The gloss looks like a pretty colour and aims to be hydrating, weightless and not sticky.

The Body Shop:

4. Strawberry Fragrance Mist

I have previously tried and loved the Strawberry EDT from The Body Shop and figured this is mostly the same but there’s more product and it’s cheaper! I am nearly finished both the White Musk and Black Musk fragrance mists so purchased this is a backup. Strawberry is one of my favourite ranges from The Body Shop.

5. Black Musk Body Lotion

I prefer body lotions that come in bottles or squeeze tubes rather than ones with a pump as there it less wastage and it’s easier to get product out. I do like the spiciness of the Black Musk range and this will be a really nice lotion for autumn/winter. The Body Shop lotions aren’t the cheapest but they soak in quickly and the scents are long-lasting.

6. Metal Lip Liquids in Pink Nickel and Plum Titanium

I don’t like matte liquid lipsticks. Granted, I haven’t tried many but the ones I have I didn’t have a good experience with. I’ve been loving the look of metallic lips lately (not full on glitterball but shades with more of a subtle shine). I saw these online and swatched a few in store and they are so pretty! Pink Nickel is a soft pink-rose gold shade (not to be confused with the actual rose gold shade called Rose Gold) and Plum Titanium is a beautiful berry red. I have worn both shades and the formula is very comfortable and lightweight. The formula applies streak free and doesn’t dry down straight away so it gives you time to perfect your application.

Glassons:

7. Oversized Knit Jumper

My name is Chanelle and I’m addicted to jumpers! Jumpers make me feel cosy and if I could wear them year round I would. The colour of this jumper is called ‘Salt and Pepper’ and it is a lovely light grey. I don’t own any other grey jumpers. This jumper is also lightweight so it will be better for the warmer months and in summer I imagine this could be worn with just a bra or a singlet underneath.

8. Axel Bleach Wash Cropped Jeans

I have blue jeans, black jeans, grey jeans and white jeans but something about the light blue wash was drawing me in for summer. I haven’t worn my white jeans a lot because they are quite stark against my skin and I’m worried they will stain easily. I’m considering selling them. The white and black jeans I have are also these cropped jeans from Glassons and on me they are the perfect length! If you’re on the shorter side, try cropped jeans.

What the Glassons pieces look like on:

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I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’ve picked up over the past couple of weeks. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

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Collective Clothing Haul (White Fox Boutique + Glassons)

Does anyone else feel like treating themselves to some new pieces of clothing when they lose weight? I haven’t lost a significant amount but I look slimmer and I’m feeling more confident. I was in need of a few basics and the two crop tops I thought would be really cute for summer with jeans, leggings or a skirt if I’m feeling brave enough to get my legs out! Let’s jump straight in!

Starting with what I got from White Fox Boutique:

1. “I’m So…” Slogan Crop White

I don’t really have any slogan tees and this one looks girly and stylish. White tees are a really good wardrobe staple and everywhere at the moment. I love the calligraphy style writing of the word obsessed on the front and it’s a pretty light pink colour. I ordered a couple of sizes bigger so it will be more of an oversized fit. The sleeves are a good length as well and I much prefer round neck tops to v neck.

2. Smoothie Crop White

This smoothie tee is adorable! The little drink detail reminds of a Starbucks frappucino and strawberries are one of my favourite fruits and one of my favourite flavours. This is basically identical to the obsessed crop top and again I ordered bigger for an oversized fit. These two tees are part of a collaboration with New Zealand beauty vlogger Shaaanxo. She designed them herself and I can’t get over how cute they are!

(I’m sorry about the dirty mirror, I really need to clean it!)

Moving onto Glassons:

3. Linen Blend Pleat Back Shirt – White

Like the crop tees from White Fox Boutique this top gives me summer vibes. The colour and linen material make it light and breezy and as with everything else in this haul will go with so many things. I’m a fan of the rolled up sleeves because full length is too long on me and it gives the shirt a more relaxed, casual feel.

4. Long basic legging

Leggings are so comfortable and one of my go to pairs of pants. I haven’t bought a new pair in a while. My mum has a pair of these ones from Glassons and says they’re really good because they’re thicker than pairs she’s tried from other brands. They are not too long at the ankle either which is a bonus when you’re short!

5. Cotton Blend Scoop Neck Tank – White

I have a basic white tank top but it’s very low cut so I have to be mindful when I wear it. I bought this one as a backup. Tank tops are great for layering under blouses when the weather starts changing or on their own under cardigans on cooler summer evenings.

6. Ribbed Tank Top – Navy

This tank top was on sale for $7! I really like navy as similar to black, white and grey it goes with most things and you can mix and match with lots of outfits. This tank top has a ribbed pattern giving it a point of difference from the white one.

Wearing the white shirt, white tank top and black leggings from Glassons. I apologise for the creases in the shirt as it had been folded and I tried it on straight away.

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Which item is your favourite? Have you splurged on any new clothing lately?

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Shop With Me: Glassons

Over the past year or two Glassons has become one of my favourite places to shop! I purchase in store and online and their delivery service is great. Glassons have a quality mix of stylish and affordable pieces. All of the items in this post are tops, I tend to buy those the most and mix and match them with different pants. The first two blouses were bought in store and the two t-shirts and hoodie were ordered online.

1. Frill hem blouse – milk

I fell in love with this blouse on the hanger. 3/4 sleeves are what I personally like to wear and the sleeves are beautiful and flowy – I feel a bit like a fairy. I am short so the length of the blouse is perfect and it emphasises curves in all the right places without clinging. There is also a cut out detail on the back but it’s only small so nothing is on show. This blouse would be lovely to wear on a casual day out or in the evening if you’re going out.

2. Frill Blouse – Black

This blouse is similar to the first one but there are some differences. The sleeves on this are long and not as flowy and have cut out detailing with a button at the wrist. This is a peplum blouse so it’s slightly more fitted around the middle but like the first blouse doesn’t cling and shows off curves. This also has the same back cut out detail. This top could be worn casually too or would look nice for a job interview.

3. Slim Fit Crew Tee – Fairy Bread

T-shirts are an essential, they are nice to wear on their own in summer and can be layered up when it starts to cool down. I have a small criteria when it comes to t-shirts: I don’t like v necks and I don’t like the sleeves to be too short. The material of this tee is super soft and the colour is unlike anything else I own, it’s a pretty peachy-rose pink.

4. Crew Tee – White

This t-shirt also has a crew neck but the material is slightly different, it’s thicker and not as soft (not in a bad way). You can’t go wrong with a classic white tee, it goes with everything!

5. Waffle Crop Hoodie – Blue Me Away

I don’t know what it is about blue jumpers but they always sucker me in. I wanted a casual hoodie and liked the look of this one. The length is cropped but I find lots of cropped things are the correct length for me. The material is light with a waffle pattern and the hoodie sits nicely on the body. You can definitely layer up underneath or even wear a coat/jacket over top.

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What was the last clothing item you purchased?

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Casual Makeup + OOTD

Sometimes even on my days off I wear makeup if I have things planned or I want to look nice. Last Thursday I went into town for my first visit to Kmart and did a little bit of shopping. I opted for a casual, comfortable outfit and simple, pretty makeup. Hope you enjoy this post!

Outfit:

Can’t go wrong with stripes and monochrome!

• Top: Dannii For Target
• Jeans: Glassons

Makeup:

Products listed in order of application:

1. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – This primer helps my foundation apply more smoothly and keep everything in place longer.
2. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – You know how much I love this by now! Look how small the pencil is getting.
3. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain – Despite this no longer being my favourite foundation it is still good for everyday wear and one of the best colour matches for my skin. It looks nice with the primer and I notice the difference if I don’t use the primer.
4. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – This concealer is my all time favourite. It blends like a dream and the colour match is perfect.
5. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I love pairing this bronzer with the Rimmel foundation as it warms up my skin ever so slightly and still looks natural. The bronzer is extremely difficult to overdo. It also makes a good base for eyeshadow which I used it for on this day.
6. Max Factor Excess Shimmer in Pink Opal – I applied a small amount of this on the inner corners of my eyes to make them stand out more.
7. MAC Pigment in Tan – I applied this over the rest of my eyelids with my finger after going in with the Max Factor shadow. It gives the most beautiful sparkle. I love how you can go in light or heavy handed with this depending on the look you’re going for.
8. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (Blackest Black) – This mascara makes my lashes look long and full and black – it is amazing! I apply two coats to my top lashes and one coat to my bottom lashes.
9. Dainty Doll Powder Blush in You Are My Sunshine – This gorgeous peachy-coral is my favourite blush. It gives the prettiest flush to the cheeks and I only need a small amount as it is pigmented. I love to apply this with my Real Techniques Setting Brush. It is small and fluffy and allows me to be precise with my application.
10. Dainty Doll Lipstick in Material World – This is quite a warm shade of pink but it’s extremely beautiful. I think of this lipstick as ‘my job interview lipstick’ because it is a neutral, sophisticated shade. The formula is nourishing and has a kind of demi-matte finish. It’s very comfortable to wear and stays put and doesn’t slide around.

The Finished Look:

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What items of clothing and makeup products do you associate with a casual look?

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Beauty Bean + Glassons Haul

Hi everyone!

I have been on an unintentional makeup low buy this year and have barely purchased anything new… until last week. I first heard about Beauty Bean through a work colleague. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular at the time and it wasn’t until I was Googling foundations that the website popped up again.

Long story short, I made an order and purchased three items. The prices are really reasonable and if you buy three or more items shipping is free. Everything is stocked locally in New Zealand and shipping was a breeze, my order arrived within days.

1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup W1-2 Porcelain Ivory

If you saw my recent post about Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation you’ll know that I used to adore it until the formula changed and my shade was discontinued. I’m not a fan anymore and I am simply using it up because it’s not bad enough to throw away and I don’t like wastage.

Buying foundation on a whim isn’t something I normally do but I know a lot of people enjoy L’Oreal’s True Match and I’m guessing this is meant to be the more dewy, luminous version. According to the ingredients the foundation is 40% water for all day hydration and contains antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E for improved clarity. Sounds like a dream for dry skin, right? I was a little worried about the colour match but I looked up swatches online and they don’t look any darker than my Max Factor foundations which I’m a big fan of.

First Impression: The shade doesn’t look dark for me at all. The formula feels light and blends easily. It seems to layer nicely as well. I’m impressed!

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (Blackest Black)

Ever since this mascara launched I have heard nothing but rave reviews for it! The mascara goes under the name Paradise Extatic if you live in The UK and it has gold packaging. I recieved the American version of the mascara in a gorgeous, metallic light pink tube which I am glad about – I love pink! This is supposedly a dupe for Too Faced’s Better Than Sex and while I haven’t tried that, this L’Oreal mascara is half the price of Better Than Sex (in NZ). The wand isn’t plastic and is big which I like – I am used to working with a similar size wand on my favourite Rimmel mascara. I ordered the washable mascara and opted for blackest black because I love my lashes to be super dark.

First Impression: The formula isn’t wet which I like and the mascara doesn’t smudge or flake as the day goes on. My lashes look similar if not better to how they do when I use Scandaleyes Lycra Flex from Rimmel.

3. Real Techniques Sculpting Brush

This brush was added to my cart because I needed a third item for free shipping. It was a toss up between this brush and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Since I prefer to apply foundation with a brush I went for this. The brush has really good reviews and like many of the Real Techniques brushes has multiple uses. This brush can be used to apply foundation and also to highlight and contour. The shape of the bristles means the brush fits perfectly under the cheekbones.

First Impression: The bristles on this brush are so soft! It blends foundation quicker than my Expert Face Brush also from Real Techniques and doesn’t eat up product. I haven’t tried to contour or highlight yet but I will.

Onto the Glassons part of the haul:

Glassons is a popular clothing store across Australia and New Zealand and price wise I’d say it’s mid-range. You get stylish, quality items for a good price, clothing isn’t cheap but isn’t expensive either. I have shopped in Glassons for years and have made numerous online orders and in store purchases in the past year. Shipping was also free as I spent over $40 and the order arrived less than 48 hours after I placed it.

1. Seagrass Sloppy Cardi

This is described as a lightweight, sheer cami for the trans-seasonal weather which is exactly what New Zealand is going through right now. The mornings and evenings are cooler but the days can still be warm. I really like the colour of this, it’s almost a light khaki and I love the way it was styled online.

2. Black Flare Sleeve Knit Jumper

I love my cosy jumpers and this reminded me of one Lily Pebbles wore in THIS VIDEO. Black is a staple colour in my wardrobe but I think I only have one other black jumper. I like the flared sleeves and the material is super soft.

3. Black Cropped Jean

I have a pair of these jeans in white already and they are super comfortable. As I am short these are full length on me and the jeans are stretchy and really nice to wear. I bought these to replace a pair of black jeggings I intend to get rid of. Black pants/jeans go with just about anything!

I shared this Instagram snap of me wearing the cardi and jeans:

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Have you tried any of the makeup items?

What did you purchase in your last haul?

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Fashion Haul: Glassons & Boohoo

Over the past couple of weeks I have added some new clothing to my wardrobe and the pieces are all stunning! Glassons is a popular New Zealand and Australia fashion retailer and I quite often pick up items on sale. I check their website regularly and I have signed up to their mailing list. Boohoo is a company I have heard of numerous times but had never purchased from before. Let me show you what I bought!

Glassons

1. Black Chenille Cardigan – 2017 has been the year of the cardigan! I have found a couple of different styles that suit my shape and this one is especially lovely. The fabric is beautiful and soft but also warm and will be good going into Spring for layering. I wore this cardigan to a job interview a few weeks ago and this is a piece that works dressed up or down.

Note: The cardigan in the image is blue, I couldn’t find a picture of the black one.

2. Ponte Pant and Rib Panel Ponte Pant – I have been after this style for a while. I love leggings as they are so comfortable and these are like leggings but thicker. They stretch and have an elastic waist so they are easy to wear. I purchased both pairs for $50.00 (NZD) and both in black. Black goes with anything and these pants are nice for any situation. My favourite of the two pairs is the ribbed pair, it’s a simple detail but it adds interest to an otherwise ordinary pair of black pants.

Boohoo

3. Hollie Denim Dungarees – I have been loving this trend for a while now and I’m glad I was able to pick up a cute pair of dungarees. I went for black as I preferred the look to normal blue denim and if I wear coloured tops over/under the dungarees the colour will pop more. I like the distressed detailing as it makes them more edgy and playful.

EDIT: Since writing this post I received the order from Boohoo and will be returning the dungarees due to poor fit. Denim can be a snug fit so I went up a size but the dungarees still aren’t the right size for me. To prevent this from happening in future I will only purchase dungarees I am able to try on in a shop first.

4. Mara Slinky Wrap Long Sleeve Bodycon Dress in Berry – This was a risky purchase. I have never worn a bodycon dress before and I didn’t know if it would suit me as I’m curvy. I fell in love with the Berry colour which is another risk. I don’t wear red clothing because of my hair but this is deeper rather than a bright red. I’m hoping the ruched, wrap style will hide my tummy. 

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Do you like the look of these items? What’s on your clothing wishlist?

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My Three Year Blogversary!

MY BLOG IS THREE TODAY!!!

For anyone who knows me well, you’ll know I absolutely love the number 3! ( I don’t know why, maybe it’s the shape of the number or that it’s odd and sometimes I feel like a square peg in  round hole so I can relate). This feels like a huge milestone.

The past 12 months have flown by extremely fast and I can hardly believe it’s a year since I held a giveaway to celebrate the blog turning two! I won’t be announcing a giveaway this time around (sorry to disappoint) but I’m not ruling it out sometime in the near future. I don’t want to host a giveaway for the sake of it, I like to plan and organise prizes and bits and pieces I think a recipient would like.

Since Chanelle Hayley turned two there have been some changes. At times I feel like I’ve lost my blogging mojo and I no longer post three times a week. I have been aiming for two lately but there are moments I consider stopping blogging altogether or only writing when I feel inspired. It would be so easy to stop and quit but I think I’d miss it and I’d dislike not having an outlet anymore. Not to mention the amount of friends I have made in the past three years, we share a passion and entertain each other.

This is my annual thank you to everyone reading this, my fellow bloggers, those who stumble upon my blog, people who want to start their own and anyone looking to escape for five or ten minutes. This blog has become so much more than I could have ever imagined and your comments, likes and interactions mean more than you’ll ever know. I have grown as a person, I’m more confident, I’m more knowledgeable and I’m grateful I get to share some of my best moments with such a wonderful bunch!

I know my blog isn’t ‘popular’ or the most cool but I wear my heart on sleeve and talk about things that are real. I don’t obsess over PR opportunities and working with brands. In a strange way I’m proud that I have never received financial compensation and don’t monetize my blog. I’m not against it but that’s not what my blog is. My blog is about a girl who believes in happiness and thinks too much, a girl with a big heart who will always try to brighten someone else’s day.

Love,

P.S. I didn’t mean for this post to sound gloomy. I’m very proud of where my blog stands and how hard I continue to work at it. I’m not ready to give up just yet.

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May Favourites 2017

May, where have you gone?! This month has zoomed past and I’m struggling to comprehend where all the time went. This month has been a bit of a lazy one, I haven’t always felt motivated, I’ve felt tired and I think that’s down to the the colder weather. I’m very much looking forward to my time off in June to take time out and relax.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor – When I heard my favourite band were reuniting for a second time at the beginning of the year I was over the moon! Steps are the ones who made me want to be a singer because their music is so joyous and uplifting and makes you smile when you listen to it. Last month they released their fourth studio album and first album of new material in years. I have been listening on repeat on Spotify as a friend from The UK is sending me a signed physical copy. I haven’t got anything signed of theirs and I can’t wait to hold the album in my hands. Steps have created current pop tracks mixed with their traditional sound. Their music has a deeper meaning and poignant lyrics but always sounds happy. Standout Tracks: Scared of the Dark, You Make Me Whole, Story of a Heart, Firefly and Glitter & Gold.

2. Victim: The Secret Tapes of Marilyn Monroe by Matthew Smith – I know who Marilyn Monroe is but I don’t know a great deal about her. I have been meaning to read this book after seeing it lying around home numerous times and let me tell you, this book was a real page turner. The book speculates a few ways she could have died and presents evidence for each case. The author remains neutral and lets the reader make up their mind. The author does lean towards the stance that Marilyn didn’t commit suicide and discusses how the tapes Marilyn recorded in secret for her psychiatrist support this theory. I don’t know what happened to Marilyn but thinking about it makes me sad. She had a beautiful spirit which lives on. 

3. Beanie – The weather has cooled down significantly over the past couple of weeks and it means I can get my beanie out. I love this beanie because it is so soft and the pom pom on top is ever so fluffy. I like the fact that it’s navy as it makes a change from my usual black accessories and means if I’m wearing black my outfit still has colour.

4. Keep Cup – My brother ordered this for me when he visited in April and I love it! I got to choose the colours myself (it’s a very Chanelle colour scheme) and the fact it’s personalised makes it more cool. I don’t often get takeaway drinks but on the odd occasion I do I will be able to use this from now on.

May’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in May?

P.S. Don’t forget to leave any questions in the comments section of *THIS POST* for my upcoming blog Q&A! Alternatively you can tweet any questions to @ChanelleTheSats.