Lush Haul!

So I went shopping to delve into the post christmas sales, and obviously I had a little peek into Lush. They have an amazing sale on with most of the Christmas stock 50% off, so I bought a few to treat myself! I really don't' mind using the Christmas stuff after Christmas because I love it either way. And to get 5 bathbombs for half price I'm not complaining! Snowfairy was sold out so I am really guttered about that as I was so excited to use it :-(

THINK PINK

This bath ballistic is quite small and dinky, and it's bright pink! It looks so cute and pretty, and I really hope it makes my bath really really pink.


CREAMY CANDY BATH
I've only ever used one of Lush's bubble bars once and it was ages ago, so I've wanted to try another for a while! This smells so incredible, like sweets-I'm rubbish at describing scents so it's probably best if you just try it in the shop :). I love that you can break a little off and use it bit by bit, so it's not all gone in one go. I love bubbles, and when I tried a bit of this it made my bath so bubbly and relaxing.

SNOWMAN

This one is super cute! It smells quite almondy and calming, and I love the way it has a little scarf and carrot nose :) It looks so adorable and I can't wait to use it on a cold winters day :)

FATHER CHRISTMAS
Father Christmas bath ballistic is a pink and white Santa face. It smells really festive and gorgeous!








GOLDEN WONDER
This is my third golden wonder this Christmas! I love it so much; it turns the bath turquoise and so glittery, and I always feel like I'm in an exotic ocean. It kinda reminds me of when I went to Mexico. It smells so so incredible! It's shaped like a present so is a brilliant gift for someone (It's not that festive so it's a great present for a birthday too) so I would defnitely reccomend snapping it up before it dissapears until next Christmas! I think it's about £2 reduced from £4, which is so reasonable. It's one of my favourite bath ballistics from Lush and I loveeeee it.

Did anyone else get anything from the Lush sale?

Emma-Kate

xxxx

The christmas tag!

Hey everyone,
I can't believe that in less than 48 hours it will be christmas! I'm so excited, and I thought
 I would do the Christmas tag because it seems so fun and festive. I am so excited for new year and I have loads of posts planned so I can't wait :)

Questions

What is Your Favourite Holiday Movie? 
Home alone 2 or the polar express!

Whats Your Favourite Christmas Colour? 
Red, gold and a pine tree green.

Do You Like To Stay in Your PJs Or Dress Up For Christmas?

In the morning, me and my brothers and sisters all run down stairs and open any presents in our pyjamas, and then later when I go out to a church service I wear a casual dress or skirt or something. We usually spend christmas day witho ur family and it isn't really formal, so I like to wait until a new year party to dress up properly :)

If You Could Only Buy One Person a Present This Year Who Would It Be?

Either my Mum or Dad, because they do so much for me and they deserve endless presents :)

Do You Open Your Present Christmas Eve Or Christmas Morning?

On Christmas eve, me and my siblings all give it each other presents and we give presents to our parents, but any presents from my parents to us are opened on christmas morning!

Have You Ever Built a Ginger Bread House?
Yes, I buy one from IKEA every year and spend an afternoon building it :)

What Do You Like To Do On Your Christmas Break?

I've had write a few exams before I broke up for the holidays, so I chill out, watch festive films and do some baking, and just relax and allow myself to have a bit of 'me time'. From Christmas day onwards, it's really busy because we meet up with both my mum's and dad's side of the family, and we go and stay at my Auntie's farm in Wales for a night or two. It's so amazing seeing everyone!

  
Any Christmas Wishes?
For all the family to be together and have fun, because my Grandad hasn't been well so I will be so grateful if we can all have a laugh together without any health worries. Also to just destress :)
 Favourite Christmas Smell?
IKEA berry candles (So amazing) or the Yankee candle 'Christmas eve'. I also love Cinnamon stick too!
  
 Favourite Christmas Meal Or Treat?

Mince pies...I love them so much! Or vegetable crisps; that sounds so weird but they taste amazing and as I don't eat normal crisps they are such a tasty but healthy snack :)

Thanks for reading everyone, and I hope you all have an amazing Christmas <3

Hello December.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/241787073718020911/

Long time no blog! I have been soo busy lately and I feel really bad for not blogging. On Friday I have two exams and the week after I have one, and in January I have got some too! I'm so stressed about it but today I thought I'd just take a step back, breathe and blog. So happy December everyone! 

December is my favourite month EVER. The frosty air, merry atmosphere, twinkling lights, wrapping presents and cosy socks in front of the fire is my dream scenario and I am so happy Christmas is coming up! My brother is coming home from university on Friday so I am so excited to see him and have Christmas with the whole family together :D 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/310396599289172576/

                                        What is your favourite thing about December? 

                                                                             ♡  

DIY christmas present idea: Peppermint foot scrub ♡ | Handpicked Beauty

I am wanting to start doing loads of DIY posts, as I am a crazily obsessed DIY person, and for Christmas I am making pretty much all of the presents I'm giving to people. It's much cheaper, funner and you can personalise to make extra special, thoughtful gifts.

For my Mum, I am making her a Peppermint foot scrub as it is so easy to make, and I know she will love using it and really appreciate me making it for her. I was inspired by seeing this one from the Body Shop and realising I could easily make it for a fraction of the price. It's so easy to personalise, and you can use any essential oil of your choice to create a different scent, but as it is christmas I thought peppermint was really cute and festive. I think this is a great present to get for anyone and it is ridiculously easy to make!

What you will need:
Adjust the quantities according to the container you are using, I just used rough measurements but you can add or take depending on your preference.

♡ 2tbsp granulated sugar( doesn't really matter what kind, but the granier it is, the more exfoliating it will be)

♡ 2tbsp brown sugar

♡ 1 tbsp olive oil(you can use any type of oil you want; e.g: almond oil)

♡  A dash of peppermint extract

♡  1 tbspHoney


The sugar gently exfoliates dead skin cells, the olive oil softly moisturises, the peppermint essence adds a fun scent and the honey is antibacterial and leaves the skin feeling super soft!

How to make it:



















♡add the granulated sugar ♡add the brown sugar ♡ add the oil ♡add the honey ♡ add the peppermint extract ♡ mix it all up and add it to a pretty jar ♡

I put it in a cute jar and added a checked piece of fabric with twine and a homemade label. I think it looks so pretty and festive and it's so easy to make :)


Let me know if you try this, and if you want to see any more DIY posts! Lots of love, Emma-Kate 

xxx

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

  ♡  

Products I have been loving lately! ♡

I was going to call this post 'October favourites' but then I realised that October has been and gone, so this is my 'Products I have been loving lately'!

I haven't done my monthly favourites for a really long time, as I haven't been trying many new products but recently I have bought a few bits and pieces which I've been loving for the Autumn season. I decided to just write them out on my blog this time, and enjoy taking photos and describing the products as I haven't felt up to doing YouTube videos lately(hope you all understand!). However, I adore blogging and can't wait to show you my favourite products of the moment!

OPI shatter nail polishes

I treated myself to some OPI nail polishes recently, and I have been absolutely loving these shatter colours 'Silver Shatter', 'Red Shatter' and 'Shatter the scales'. They look amazing over a black coat of nail varnish, and the emerald shade is sooo gorgeous for the Autumn season! I think Silver shatter is lovely over any polish and is so gorgeous on the nails, and I also think the red and silver are really festive and christmassy :)

Rimmel stay matte pressed powder

I only just got round to trying this powder, after hearing sooo many people rave about it. I was previously using the Rimmel Clear complexion powder because the stay matte wasn't in stock when I bought it, but it smashed when I took it to Mexico in August so I have been using my natural collection one since then (which I really don't like). I finally bought the stay matte powder and I love it! It's so natural and finely milled, and isn't cakey at all. You can barely tell when it is on and it keeps my skin non shiny and clean throughout the day. I absolutely love it and after previously considering a Mac mineralise skin finish, I'm so happy I tried this and saved myself £20+! 

Maybelline Fit me concealer

I am so excited about this concealer! I bought it because lately I have really gone off my Collection lasting perfection one, as it seems to be quite cakey and thick when covering up blemishes. It is the only liquid concealer I've tried so I wanted to try something new, so I bought Fit Me in York. Although it is a little bit dark for me, it looks SO natural and it blends seamlessly into the skin; so perfect for school. It literally blends so so so well and covers up any redness amazingly, so I can work with the slightly off shades. I was hesitant to buy this, but I have loved it so much so far! I will be doing a full review after I have been using it for a little longer :)

MUA lipliner in 'Brooding Plum'

I picked up this lipliner because I was looking for something to go with my beloved Rimmel 107( review coming very soon). It is a dark red/burgundy shade and it looks amazing on the lips. I sometimes use it on it's own, or with lipstick to highlight and shape my lips. I always feel so confident when I wear it as it just looks so beautiful and perfect for Autumn. It can slide a little bit, but nothing too bad! And for £1 you can't really go wrong- definitely buying more shades!

The BodyShop berry lip roll on

This is basically a lip moisturiser in the form of a roll on. It's so easy to use and so hydrating for the Autumn weather when my lips get so cracked and dry. I apply this whenever I'm wearing lipstick as it leaves my lips so smooth and soft, and is such a lovely product to whip out of my handbag.

                             What are your October favourites/ products you've been loving lately?

                                                                                  ♡ 

Please let me know if you would like me to review any of the products mentioned in detail (as you can tell I have a lot to say about them but I don't want to bore anyone! :P ) xxx

My top 5 picks from the Cath Kidston sale | ♡ handpicked beauty

I was browsing the Cath Kidston site as usual, and I noticed they have a huge sale on at the moment! For me, Cath Kidston is really expensive so as soon as they come out with a sale I literally squeal with excitement and add everything to my basket before it's all sold out. It is one of my all time favourite shops. Also, as christmas is coming up I like to snatch bargains while I can, so I can get pretty presents for my friends and family without having to spend ridiculous amounts of money. 

I thought it would be fun to show you guys my favourite picks from the sale, so you can get a gorgeous bargain too ♡  

Circle Ditsy tin bin £5:This bin is reduced from £15 to £5, and I have this myself and I adore it! Such a gorgeous staple piece in my room, and a big discount! 
                                                                            ♡
Mini Trains iPhone 5 case £12.50: This phone case is reduced from £24.95 and is so vintage and pretty! I think this is a gorgeous phone case for Autumn and if I owned an iPhone 5 I would definitely be buying this, as the normal price to pay for CK iPhone cases is a little steep!
                                                                           ♡
Star collection assorted lip glosses £6: These lip glosses are reduced from £12 and would be such a great present for someone, or even for yourself to slip in your handbag 
                                                                          ♡ 
Brighton Daisy bikini £25: This is reduced from £32 and is a lovely, colourful bikini. I think it's great to pick something like this up for next summer, so you don't have to pay the full price. I think £25 is quite reasonable for such a pretty, floral bikini.
                                                                        ♡                                                                      
Car stationary tin £7: I think this tin is a super cute present for someone, as well as being gorgeous storage for any pens or miscellaneous items and buttons. I would love to get this for my 4 year old cousin, he loves cars! This is reduced from £12 
                                                                        ♡ 

disclaimer; I am not associated with Cath Kidston in the sense that this is completely my own opinion, and I wrote this post because I genuinely love the shop and was so excited to share with you my picks from the sale. Rest assured, I am not paid to say any of this, all these products I absolutely love and I want to share with everyone :) x

Lush bubblegum lip scrub | Handpicked Beauty

Hey everyone,

During the winter season I get really cracked, dry lips. It’s horrible to apply lipstick on, and they are so dry and chapped. ( I know, so attractive ;)) I know a lot of people have this issue, and I wanted to review this popular lip scrub from lush because for me it is an absolute winter essential.

I showed how to make your own DIY lemon lip scrub -here- but although I think they’re equally effective the lush one is brighter, happier with a bubblegum flavour for dark winter days.

I love Lush packaging and this is no exception; in a gorgeous cute tub with the unique Lush branding, this product is really distinctive in my makeup drawer and feels like an expensive product due to the glass jar.

I do have to admit I think the lush lip scrub is overpriced for what it is, but I definitely don’t regret buying it. However, if you want a more budget version you can just make the lemon lip scrub, massage a towel over vaselined lips or simply use a toothbrush. These all work just as effectively, but the Lush one is pink with a bubblegum flavour which is a cute treat for your handbag.

It tastes so delicious (i could eat it from the jar with a spoon)!!!

I gently scrub it over my dry lips and then lick it off, and my lips feel so smooth with no flakiness whatsoever. This is the perfect product to use before applying lipstick as it it so softening too. I then apply some Carmex and I feel like I’ve had a lip spa treatment!

I use this about once a week, or whenever I am wearing a bold lipstick so my lips are more smooth.

Overall, I think this is a lovely Winter product to treat yourself to and it gives your lips some extra love in the cold weather.

                                                               <3

Pastel Bedroom

Hey everyone,

I am currently decorating my bedroom, and I really wanted to show you a moodboard of what I am hoping my room will be like. I'm going for pastel, vintage items with white walls. I've been out of my room for a week and it will be done in about 2 weeks, so I'm staying in my brothers room while he is at university. He has awful wifi in his room which is why I've been unable to blog, so I am typing this on my phone hoping it will work! I'm so excited for my room to be finished and I will be doing a room tour when I get to 100 YouTube subscribers (hint hint link is to the right ;)) If anyone knows where I can purchase any cute decor please comment below, as I am looking out for accessories for my bedroom.

Dressing table: IKEA
Pillow: Cath Kidston

Duck egg throw: British Home Stores 

Bed frame: IKEA 

Candle: Yankee candle 'Pink Sands' 

Emma-Kate

<3

No.7 blush in number 12; Coral Flush

Today I thought I would review a blusher which I have had for a veryyyy long time! It is the No.7 blush in number 12; Coral Flush. I have a special place in my heart for this product, as it was one of the first makeup products I bought with one of those 'Get £5 off no.7' cards from Boots, with my Dad about a year and a half ago. It was the only blush I owned for a very long time, and as I still don't have many blushes this remains my go to item!

The packaging is so sleek and cute, and I can clearly see the colour through the packaging so it saves time having to open up all my blushes to decide which one to use. It hasn't broken or anything and the packaging still clicks shut.

Like I said, I have had this blush for ages and used it nearly everyday, and I haven't even hit pan on it at all! If I do use it up, I will definitely be buying it again and I would love to get more shades.
The product itself is so long-lasting and pretty. It is a gorgeous coral shade, so perfect for Spring and Summer! You only need a tiny amount because it's so pigmented, and it makes the skin so bright and fresh, and I also use it for contouring too. It's also beautiful for the Autumn/Winter time as it gives that lovely 'I've just been outside' glow. If I am wearing absolutely no makeup but I put on a bit of this blusher, my skin looks so radiant and happy. It also looks so natural, so it appears like the gorgeous blush on your cheeks is real.

Overall, I absolutely adore this product. I can't believe i've only just got round to doing a review of it! I haven't even hit pan on it; it is so worth the money.
Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

A chat about candles and my Yankee Candle collection!

Recently, I have become a candle person.

I have really gotten into all the different scents and as I love collecting things, I've decided to collect candles. It started about a year ago when I thought I would collect a Yankee candle tart for each season, and I would decorate my room with that candle in the season to make my room festive and fun. Since then, my love for them has spiralled a little bit and I've recently decided I want to properly collect them and accumulate a reasonable amount. I mainly collect yankee candles because I love how they all have different unique scents and their own cute label, and I think they look great as a collection. I don't burn the tart ones as I like to keep the label on and I think they look super cute around my room, but I do possess a couple of the glass jar ones which I do burn. When I finish them I will definitely keep the jar for accessories as they're so beautiful! I especially think the red ones will be so festive in my room for Christmas.  I don't burn them in my bedroom because it would probably end badly, so the glass ones are around the house. I thought it would be fun to show which ones I have so far and have a chat about them! I really want to buy some more tart ones as they are only £1.25 and I really want some cinnamon, christmassy ones and some of the cotton scents. I don't have a lot yet,  but my collection is rapidly increasing and I would absolutely love to hear any recommendations! <3

//Sweet Strawberry- Such a gorgeous, berry scent which is perfect for the Spring season!//

//Waikiki Melon- A tropical, fruity scent which reminds me of Summer days and Mexico//

//Sun and Sand- A gorgeous summer scent which smells of the waves //

//Pink Dragon Fruit- A lively, strong fruity scent//

//Bahama Breeze- A relaxing, calming scent which reminds me of holidays!//

//Pink Sands- A calming, girly scent of sweetness and bliss//

//Beach Wood- A lovely outdoor scent which reminds me of long walks in orange Autumn leaves//

//Black Cherry- The nicest autumn scent in the world. It smells absolutely incredible and reminds me of cosy jumpers and sitting around the fire. My favourite Yankee candle by far.//

Autumn 2013 wishlist!

I am so excited for autumn!  It's my second favourite season, closely behind Winter, and I absolutely love it. The thick jumpers, chunky boots, dark nails and lips, sunset tones and scented candles really make me happy. I love Summer too but I am not a big fan of hot weather (haha I'm strange) and I just adore the weather in Winter and Autumn. I love sitting around the bonfire, eating toffee apples and snuggling up in a blanket. I like it when the weather is cold because the house feels so cosy with the heating and log burner on. And firework and bonfire night are my favourite nights...eveeerrr!

 These are a few items I have my eyes on for the autumn season- if I could get all these things I definitely would! I am so in love with the wedges and the parka coat. I think the wedges would look so amazing with the fox jumper, the orange nail polish and the cream cardigan! I am definitely going to be purchasing that fox onesie, it looks so cosy and I could imagine sipping a caramel hot chocolate in front of the fire whilst wearing this gorgeous print. (In case you can't tell, I have a massive love of foxes when it comes to fashion) I want all of it! I'm so excited :D What is your favourite item?

What are your favourite things about Autumn/fall?

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

Essie Alligator Purse// New look fox lightweight knit// Topshop Cream cardigan//Fox print socks//Jack Wills dress//Onesie//Essie bahama mama//Parka//New look wedges//

Balance me pure skin face wash review | Handpicked Beauty

Hey everyone,

Recently I have been using a new cleanser, and I am absolutely crazily in love with it! It's the Balance me pure skin face wash for normal to combination skin, which retails for £11 (50 ml version). There are other sizes for a higher price, but I actually think it is great value for money as you only need a tiny amount to cleanse your entire face.

I actually got this in Cosmopolitan magaizne a few months ago because I saw this in it and I really wanted to try it! I didn't even read the magazine, but  it was only a few pounds and as this cleanser is worth £11 I thought it was a bargain, regardless of whether I read the magazine or not (my mum did in the end). I've been using it for a few months because I wanted to make sure I really tested it and loved it before I reviewed it, and I definitely, absolutely do!

The first thing I love about this product is the naturalness. The ingredients used are sulphate and petroleum free and full of natural goodness and essential oils, such as ylang ylang. It's also packed with antioxidants. It doesn't strip away your natural moisture levels and just keeps the skin balanced and healthy. I have combination skin and this cleared up my breakouts after only a few uses. I also think this would be great if you have dry skin too, as I personally think it would work for all skin types. I get quite dry skin sometimes and this keeps everything balanced-not too dry, not too oily.

The packaging is really cute and easy to use. You just squeeze the tube to get the product out, and it's really functional as not too much comes out. A downside is that you can't see how much product you have left, which I find quite annoying.

I tend to use a tiny drop, and I run a bit of warm water over it to form a lather. I then just massage it over my entire face, starting with the eyes and then moving onto my cheeks, chin, nose and forehead. It doesn't sting at all, and I love the way the eyemakeup just melts away! At first I thought it would sting my eyes but it honestly doesn't affect them at all. I thoroughly massage it in to every nook and cranny of my face for about 2 minutes to make sure absolutely all the makeup is off, and then rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel. It's so quick and easy to use, so is perfect for when you have lots of makeup on but can't be bothered to spend ages scrubbing it off. It feels so smooth and luxurious! I follow up with an exfoliator, the Simple toner and the Simple Kind to skin hyrdrating light moisturiser.

As I only use a tiny amount, I think this will last me a really long time. Like I said, I've been using it since July and the tube still seems quite full.

It has a really calming scent so I loveeee using it before bed. It says it has a frankincense, ylang ylang and grapefruit scent but I can't really smell the individual scents, to me it just smells really calming and luxurious. It's quite strong so not everyone will like it but after you've washed it off the smell goes completely so it's not a huge deal in my opinion.


Overall, this product ticks every box of for me: scent, packaging and how well it works. I would give it a 10/10 and I will definitely be repurchasing it, as it has become a holy grail cleanser for me. I haven't wanted to use any of my other cleansers for ages now, including my Liz Earle Hot cloth cleanser.

Have you tried any of the Balance me products? After this, I am incredibly eager to try some more of their products!

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

What's in my school bag?

So as I am unfortunately going back to school on wednesday I thought it would be fun to show what I take in my school bag on a day to day basis! I haven't included school books because obviously I haven't got them yet.

For some super super annoying reason Blogger won't let me link my video here, so I will just leave the web address! Would mean so much if you guys watched it <3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc2OSEzEth0

Super cute plasters I take to school

Notebook,vaseline and gum! :D

My 'emergency bag'; blotting tissues, bobbles, handcream etc :D

I really hope  you like the video! I'm sorry the quality is bad, I really don't know why that is, but hopefully I should be getting a new camera soon! Has anyone got any suggestions to good cameras I could get? Thanks so much for watching :) And please leave nay requests below :) xxx


Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

MUA 'Undress your skin' foundation review.

Hey everyone,

A few weeks ago I bought the new MUA undress your skin illuminating foundation from Superdrug for £5.  It's really cheap and I watched Miss Budget Beauty's video about it and she was really impressed with it, so I thought I'd give it a try! I don't usually buy foundation because it's hard for me to find a shade pale enough, and I don't really like wearing it as it's not completely necessary for me personally. But I thought for £5 this one was worth a try.

Firstly, the colour is really good for my skin tone. I got the palest shade; and it isn't orange at all. It looks exactly like my own skin. When it's applied, it isn't noticeable at all because it blends in immediately and isn't cakey whatsoever. For such a cheap foundation, I was expecting it to be quite cakey and nasty but I actually prefer this to every other foundation I have because the quality is so so good.


The packaging looks quite cheap unfortunately, but I can live with this, as it fits easily into my makeup bag and unlike some bottles, you don't have to worry about it leaking or breaking. The product squeezes out of a little hole at the end which isn't a brilliant way of getting the foundation out, but it's not awful.  I find that either a tiny bit comes out, or absolutely loads, so that can be pretty annoying, but it does the job.

The foundation is a light to medium coverage in my opinion, as it covers up small imperfections really nicely, but doesn't fully  mask them, so your natural skin can still show through. I think it's such a nice coverage as it isn't thick at all and you can barely tell it's on the skin. On the other hand, it is buildable if you want more coverage and I wouldn't describe it as sheer or light.






It claims to be an 'illuminating foundation' which springs negative connotations to my mind, such as 'full of glitter', 'really sparkly' and 'fake'. Although it does revive and wake up your complexion, I've never seen any glittery particles or anything, so don't be put off by that! It is brightening, but it isn't fake looking or princess-esque.

Overall, I am so impressed with this foundation as it's so affordable and so amazing. I would definitely recommend this to everyone! Also a big thank you to Miss Budget Beauty as I probably wouldn't have even considered getting this if it wasn't for her amazing review. I think MUA are bringing out some amazing products lately: their lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners are all great too, and so affordable. Have you tried anything from MUA?


Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

Update.

Hey everyone,
So this is just going to be a little update on some things I have been up to recently! I haven't blogged for a while because of the hectic start my summer has had, so I htought it would make sense to share a few adventures I've been on...
I broke up from school about a month ago (yaaaay)! I'm so happy because I worked really hard this year in all my exams and I found it quite stressful, so it's amazing to have some time off to see friends and family, and generally have lots of fun. I am positive baout going back to school, and I am going to try to be soo organised (go to bed early, eat healthily, do all my homework straight away etc).

Me and my two best friends (Tom and Lydia) on camp

Me and Lydia

Lydia 5 STRAND BRAIDED my hair! :O :D

I went on a Christian summer camp for a week, one which I've been on since I was 10. As always, it was such an incredible week as I got to see my best friends who I barely ever see as they all live in Wales, and also I was so encouraged in my faith as a Christian. My best friend Lydia who I met on camp when I was 10, means so much to me and I tell her everything, but as we hardly ever see each other spending a whole week being stupid together was so fun. It's been a huge highlight of my year so far, and I already miss it so much! I hate saying goodbyes to everyone, knowing I won't see them for at least several months, and it was pretty embarrassing crying in front of everyone (Wish I wasn't so emotional haha). I met so many new people who by the end of the week I'd become so close to I could actually call them best friends! Weird situation :p
So I had so much fun on camp, going on trips, staying in a dorm with all my best friends, learning about God and having spontaneous heart to hearts with people I've known for a matter of days.

Me and my siblings in Mexico!

I went to Mexico for two weeks!! I think I mentioned I was going, but I decided against doing lots of 'how I packed my makeup bag' type posts because a. I was unsure about everyone knowing where I was and that I was away from home, for obvious reasons. b. I didn't want to keep going on about going on about it, because it's not that interesting to other people who didn't go. Anyway, I had such an incredible time there!

Starbucks in playa del carmen! ahhh

So I got back today and I am really jetlagged. I have been awake for 24 hours because of weird time differences and 10 hour flights and complicated problems, ao I am so tired and I feel like it's the middle of the night, yet in England it's 10AM. I feel completely put off flying now! The aeroplane was nasty to say the least, and I wouldn't want to go on a 10 hour flight ever again. Sat in a tight seat next to one brother who screams if I 'nudge' him and another brother who bounces around for 10 hours and won't let me sleep, was a very...unique experience. Everyone had their own mini TV where they were showing films, but nothing really attracted me. It was cool as I saw two sunsets in one day...in Mexico and in England! When we put our suitcases on the conveyor belt, all of our luggage was a LOT over the allocated weight per person. We got into quite a problem, as my dad has a separate bag for all of his scuba diving equipment which was 10 Kilos over, and he was saying 'MY BCD ISN"T EVEN 10 KILOS! HOW CAN I FIT TO 10?' Pretty comical really, until they demanded we hand over all of our electronic devices for them to weigh...Mexican airports are definitely interesting!

Incredible Mexican sunset!

The beaches are so golden and soft and the sea is a turquoise jewel stretching out into the pastel horizon; it's so idyllic. By far the prettiest place I've ever travelled to! I tried to take as many photos as I could.

The beautiful ocean

Me, my mum and my sister <3

Mexico is such a beautiful place. We stayed right on the coast about an hour away from Cancun, in such a stunning resort! The weather was sooo hot and humid so my hair wasn't amazingly cooperative but it was worth it. I went in the pool and sea basically every single day, so now I'm in a bad routine of washing my hair every single day. I got so sunburnt there despite wearing factor 50 all over! And I am covered in mosquito bites, but I had injections to go so I will be fine.

Boring plane journey

Sipping a tropical 'mocktail' by the pool

We went on a lot of trips, the most exciting being swimming with sharks. Literally, they weren't caged or anything, I was just wearing a bikini and a snorkel and I swam right next to them! I was terrified but I'm so glad I did it in the end, as 'swimming with sharks' seems quite a cool claim to fame. And mexico is one of the only places in the world you can do it, and it's only in the months July and August! We also went to an ecological waterpark and to see the ancient Mayan temples, which was really interesting although the intense heat is my excuse for not listening much. Although when the tour guide came right in my face and said 'Hasta la vista, baby!' I was pretty shocked ;P

Reading 'looking for Alaska' by the sea 

So what has everyone been up to recently? I am going camping but apart from that I'm home now. I loved all the business, but I'm glad to be in my own room, especially as I'm in the process of decorating it!

Lots of love,

Emma-Kate 

xxx