My Travel Diary: London Day Trip

So on the Saturday before I went back to school, I went to London on a family day trip. It was a great day and we got so much packed into one day. We’ve been to London many times before, so have already done a lot of tourist attractions, but I would definitely recommend the places we visited. I hope you enjoy this, also this may be the last ‘my travel diary’ in a while now summers over.

So we went on the train to London (which I was hugely excited by, as I love travelling on the train), and got to Paddington by 8:30 in the morning. My job was to organise a schedule for the day trip and all the tube journeys and stops, I did pretty well as we didn’t get lost or confused once! We started our trip by visiting Notting Hill- the one in the film ‘Notting Hill’. There was a lovely market on the Saturday morning, and we also enjoyed visiting the book shop (like the one in the film) and having a tasty English breakfast.

Next, we went to the British Museum, a huge museum near Russell Square. It was really interesting, and I especially enjoyed the exhibit on Ancient Egypt. While we were there, we also got to see the Rosetta stone, which I loved after having had learnt about it in primary school. If you are visiting London, I would definitely recommend giving this place a visit.

After this we went across the roads and stopped in Starbucks. I finally got to try a ‘Mocha Cookie Crumble’ but it wasn’t really that good, I much prefer the coconut one! After, we travelled down to Covent Garden. We shopped and looked around the market, but then it was time to move on.

The next destination on our list was tower hill, to visit the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. At the Tower of London, there is currently an exhibition for Remembrance Day, where the tower is surrounded by a sea of bright red ceramic poppies- one for each death. Without doubt, I would recommend visiting this as it really was breath-taking. It’s only there until November the 11^th though, so visit it while you can. It is free to see from the outside of the Tower of London, but you could make a day of it by visiting inside!

Then we walked over Tower Bridge and back. We even saw the bridge rise! It’s definitely a good destination to see, as it is so iconic to London and when you are there you can see a lot of London’s skyline, like the Gherkin and the Shard.

So to finish the day, we decided to have a few hours to shop in Oxford Street. However, by the time we got there we were all exhausted and our feet were killing. I did by a dress from H&M but had to take it back recently. I also bought my school bag  (see: School Haul Post) while we were there.

The day finished with a tube ride to Paddington and then the train home, we got back at about 9 but it felt so much later! As soon as we got in I went straight to bed!

So that’s all from this post. London is such an interesting city, and there is so much to see. If you’re ever visiting the UK, it should be on the top of your list! I hope you have an amazing day,

August Favourites

So this post is going to be my august favourites. August was such a big months for me; I did so much and had such a great summer. These are just a few products that I loved.

So first is my Ultimelt. I bought this to really give me a push into doing skincare and I loved this product. The Ultimelt hot cloth cleanser from Soap&Glory, is such a luxurious item and feels like it’s high end, even though it’s still a drugstore price. It’s £10, but there are always a lot of Soap&Glory offers on in boots so you can easily get it cheaper. Link: http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%E2%84%A2-The-Ultimelt%E2%84%A2-Deep-Purifying-Hot-Cloth-Cleanser_1364162/

The next item is the new concealer I bought. After a slightly disappointing one from Rimmel, I was keen to find one that would be good. I looked online and decided there were two I wanted to give a go: the Rimmel wake me up concealer and the Collection lasting perfection concealer. In the end I bought the collection on and I really like it. It gives good coverage and, in the summer, it gives me all I need on my skin. Again it’s so cheap as it’s from the drugstore, and comes in a few shades. It’s £4.19, http://www.boots.com/en/Collection-Lasting-Perfection-Concealer_1436032/

The third product is a nail polish. The summer offered me a chance to try out a few new brands and colours, and I really loved this. The trend of white nail polish never appealed to me, but one day I was in boots and I decided to give it a go. And I love it. It looks so grown up and stylish, as well as the fact that it matches everything. I love it for nights out and in the day, and I will definatly be wearing it over the end of summer and beginning of autumn. The brand I used was the Rimmel Rita Ora 60 second polish. One thing I would say is that it is quick but it needs at least 2 coats. It’s also very cheap at just £3.69. Link: http://www.boots.com/en/Rimmel-60-Seconds-Rita-Ora-Nail-Polish_1450794/

A fashion favourite for me over the summer has been my denim jacket. For those colder evenings or chilly days, my denim jacket has been perfect. It matches my style and goes well with everything. Mine is a handy down, but I would defiantly recommend investing on one is you feel you are missing a layer. They are available in so many places and at many different prices.

A song I have been loving is Stolen Dance by Milky Chance. I don’t know why I like this, it isn’t my normal music taste but it makes me feel summery. This has been one of the songs that made my 2014 summer playlist, I would defiantly recommend giving it a listen to.

Another favourite of mine is peanut M&Ms. I recently went to London and re-discovered my addiction to these. I don’t really like peanuts or peanut butter but these are AMAZING! You can find them in normal supermarkets and I think they are quite cheap, so if you have a sweet tooth you might love these too!

The next thing I’ve loved is a hairstyle. I have always liked plaits but this month I seem to have worn them more. I learnt how to do a Dutch plait this month, and also mastered a French plait. I’ve worn fishtail plaits, and normal braids, and have just enjoyed having my hair out of my face but not up in a pony or pigtails.

Activity of the month: Camping. This month I went on two camping events. A four day family camp in Brixham, see travel diary: http://mydaisychaincloset.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/my-travel-diary-brixham-devon.html , and a weeklong guide camp. I would defiantly recommend camping if you’ve never been before, it’s great fun, a little messy but a real laugh.

The final favourite for me is my photo editing. Hopefully you've noticed that my title images, for my posts, have changed and I made them look a little bit more professional and interesting- I'd love to hear what you think so please let me know and compliments or criticisms. 

So that’s all, I hope you enjoyed this and I’d love to know what your favourites have been, please comment down below. I hope you’re all enjoying back to school, have a great day, 

Haul ~ School Supplies | Back to School 2014

Hey,

So it’s time for another back to school post, I go back to school on Wednesday, so I thought I’d do a quick haul of all the supplies I’ve bought. I love stationary; new pens, pencils, rubbers- a new set can really put you in a good mind-set for school work. Therefore, I decided to show you what I have bought ready for year 10!

So these are my favourite writing pens. I only like to write in black, and prefer an inky- type pen. These pens are great, they are inky but dry quickly so you don’t need to worry about smudging. They are a little bit pricey but last for months, and the fine point nib means the pen is a multitask-er. I bought the pack from Tesco, but they are only available in store. They were about £6.00, for a pack of three.

Next are some more pens. So I consider myself a visual learner, and colourful notes really help me to learn and revise. I have never used these ‘Inkjet’ pens before, but have high hopes for them. The pack comes with pink, blue, green and purple; giving me lots of colour choices. I bought them from Tesco, and the pack was really reasonable for just £1.75. Link: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=282920332.

One of my subjects is art, and to write up my work I use biros. This is because they work better on painted surfaces. I also use them for pen drawing in art, as they are great for creating tone and contrast. This pack of about 10 pens, is from BIC and the pack is £1.50. Link: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=263331384

 

The last pens I bought were a bit of an impulse buy. I bought this pack of pastel coloured sharpies but was unimpressed when I began to use them. The colours aren’t the same as on the packaging, the pens go through the paper and the ‘fine point’ is still as thick as a felt tip. I bought the pens from Asda, and they were just £2.00. Link:http://direct.asda.com/Sharpie-Fine-Permanent-Marker-Pastel-Colours---4-Pack/000668187,default,pd.html?dual=0

I also got a pack of 4 pencils, which are just basic patterned HB pencils. These are great for art, textiles and sketching diagrams in maths and science. I bought these from a cheap UK store called Home Bargains.

So next is something so cute but useful. This pack is called the ‘ikit’ and includes a mini stapler, sharpener, whole punch and more. It was really affordable, and although I won’t take the whole kit to school, I will take a few! I bought the pack from the Range, website: http://www.therange.co.uk/

The next item I saw were these sticky note things. I thought they were great for highlighting things and bookmarking things to recap when revising. I don’t know if I’ll use these a lot or not, they were from Asda but I can’t find them online.

So these aren’t new but I wanted to include them because they are a school essential for me. The Stadler highlighters are the best ones I’ve used. The pack comes with a yellow, blue, pink and green, but when I saw the purple one- I had to buy it. The pens last months and the pack of 4 come to £2.50. Link: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=260119366

So, as my pencil case from last year is still in good shape, I decided I would keep it. The blue floral pencil case is my main one, and has lasted really well. It holds a lot but isn’t bulky.

The red floral flat pencil case is also from Tesco. I bought this as a felt pens, coloured pencils case. I like to have these for my creative subjects but I like to keep them separate. I can’t find it online but it should still be available in stores!

So my last item in this haul is my new school bag! I am so excited to get a new bag, I’m a bit of a known addict and replace my school bag a lot. However I think this bag will last really well and I prefer it as it is simpler than my past school bags. The brown satchel is from Accessorise and was £32.00. It’s big enough for A4 and I really like it, but I’m only 99.5% sure. If I change my mind and send it back, I’ll let you know. Link: http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_17,acc_10.3/6891462200

And that’s it! Sorry the post was later than I normally upload but I was very busy this weekend! What are your school essentials, let me know in the comments,

The Foodie Tag

Hey,

So a short time ago, I was tagged by Nia Elinor Mair to do ‘The Foodie’ tag. This tag is a little random for this blog, but I guess it is to do with lifestyle so I thought I’d do it! Here are the questions and my answers! Enjoy!

What is your favourite cuisine?

I would say that my favourite cuisine is Italian. Ever since I was little, I would always choose the Italian option on the menu. I adore pasta and love how they are all different. Bolognaise, carbonara, lasagne, pasta bake, tomato…etc. I am picky with pizza, but a good pizza is heaven! When I went to Italy in July, you can imagine I ate a lot of Italian cuisine and IT WAS INCREDIABLE. 

What is your favourite fast food restaurant?

I’m not a huge lover of fast food, but sometimes you have that craving and it can be so satisfying. It is probably the chicken from MacDonald’s for me.

What is your Nando's order?

I love Nando’s but I order something different every time. I not good with spice though, so I have either original or lemon & herb. I do love the wraps and burgers and… all of it!!

What pizza toppings are your favourite?

I have two topping choices. Either the classic Hawaiian ham and pineapple or just cheese and sweetcorn. I don’t like too many complicated toppings, and homemade pizzas are defiantly the best.

What is your Starbucks order?

Sadly there are no Starbucks in my town. The nearest store is in the mall, a bus ride away, which I have only been to twice. Both times, I have had the iced drinks and really enjoyed the ‘Mocha Coconut’. I am keen to try the similar ‘Mocha Cookie Crumble’ soon too.

Do you prefer eating out or home cooking?

For special occasions I do prefer eating out, I just think it feels more special and you know you are guaranteed to have a successful meal. I do love home cooking, but it goes wrong a lot and can sometimes not live up to expectations.

What are your favourite breakfast foods?

I love granola. Its normally a weekly treat for myself, but I adore the ‘Dorset’ chocolate granola. I just add milk and it tastes so good! A tip would also be to add it to vanilla ice cream for a dessert.

What is your favourite curry?

No doubt, it is a chicken tikka. As a said earlier, I’m not good with spice, but chicken tikka is a good mix of spice and plain. I love poppadoms and naan breads too, but the curry is normally the highlight.

What is your all-time favourite meal?                   

I love my Dad’s chicken pie. It’s a Jamie Oliver recipe, and it just tastes so delicious. The pastry isn’t homemade but the flavours make it. I would recommend it, I think it comes from the 30 minute meal cookbook.

I also decided to add my own question to the mix, feel free to include or exclude this!

Favourite dessert?

I’m totally a sweet girl, and adore all thing sugary and chocolaty. I know it’s bad for you, but there is simply nothing to compare dessert to. I found this so difficult to pick, I love so many things like New York cheesecake, hot chocolate puddings, apple and raspery tarts/ crumble… but I choose a bit of an unusual one- tiramisu. I love the creaminess of it, the sweetness of chocolate and then the kick of alcohol.

So now it’s my turn to tag some people! I choose-

Trinket Box- http://trinketboxblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/simple-back-to-school-hairstyles.html

A Latte Lipstick- http://www.alattelipstick.com/2014/08/benefits-of-raw-honey-vs-honey.html

I would also love to see YOU do this tag, link it in the comments and I’ll give it a read! I hope you liked this, the summer is running out and so are the 3 posts a week! 

REVIEW- Honey Bee, Lush Bath Ballistic

So this post is going to be a review of an item from lush. I’ve only ever tried one other item from Lush (see review: http://mydaisychaincloset.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/dragons-egg-lush-bath-bomb-review.html ), so I was excited to try a new ‘bath ballistic’.

I was shopping with a friend one day, and we decided to pop into the shop, taking time to smell each bath bomb. I liked a few but wasn’t 100% grasped by them, however when my nose smelt the sweet scent of the ‘Honey Bee’ ballistic, I knew it was the one for me.

It smelt so sweet and sugary, and the honey aroma was so tempting. I love the smell of honey, and I found it strong but not overpowering.

I kept the bath bomb for a special occasion, after a week long camp, and was so thrilled about using it. I ran a warm bubble bath and took the yellow sun from its wrapper. Taking one last deep smell of it, I placed the bath ballistic into the water. It fizzed up and down in the water, releasing a strong yellow colour. The smell was fragrant and the colour vivid. I thought a yellow bath might feel a little like I’d weed in the bath water, but the yellow was too intense and I enjoyed it.

I would definatly recommend the ‘Honey Bee Bath Ballistic’ for anyone who likes sweet scents and a simple but effective bath bomb. Great for those who like a mixture of scents, or as a gift- as it is not too overpowering and is likable. It one of the larger bath bombs that Lush makes, and is only £3.25, so great for treating yourself to a pamper session. Buy online? https://www.lush.co.uk/products/honey-bee

Hope you liked this short and sweet post,