Fall in Love...

FALL IN LOVE...With Instagram

Last December, I finally got Instagram after seeing a few odd friends occasionally posting photos on Facebook.

I wasn't really sure on it when I started...

• No inspiration on what to take photos of...
• Didn't really understand the concept of #hashtagging...
• Felt weird letting people I didn't know 'Follow' me...
• Felt weirder Following them back!
• Sure as hell didn't want to take a 'selfie' and post that up!
• Wasn't sure if people would like me...

I got bullied at school on and off for various things - 

1. That I wasn't pretty like the other girls I hung around with
2. I had thick wavy hair that didn't see straighteners until I was in year 10 (that made me 14)
3.  I had a weird sense of humour
4.  I had a cackle laugh
5.  My teeth were crooked - then it was because I had braces
6. I dressed differently to everyone else in my year group (dungarees and belly tops....?!)
7. Or the fact I had a 2 year crush on a guy called Phil who was WAY out of my league back then... and people in my D&T class found out via a 'friend' of mine and I never lived it down...

Gosh I sound so wonderful! Such a catch eh?!

Luckily as a I reached college I found that there was a completely different attitude to my personality and made some life long friends! Still, school certainly screws up your self confidence....

So can you just IMAGINE how I felt using Instagram for the first time where literally THOUSANDS of STRANGERS could judge anything and everything I posted, and the pure FEAR I had posting my first face-on selfie...

Here, I was a bridesmaid at a wedding...

Surprisingly...it wasn't that bad..

In fact...I quite liked it...

I #hashtagged a few pictures and got a few likes...

I started searching common tags and found other people who liked the same stuff I did...

I started following their accounts...some even followed back...

I got a few comments...I even got COMPLIMENTED!

Suddenly I had 50+ followers who actually liked my photos and even the ones of me!

It was fantastic! 

It's not even a vanity thing, or an attention seeker thing...It's acceptance for the way I am. And I loved it.

So now nearly 1 year on, I only have a humble 200+ followers, I have a handful of die-hard followers who literally comment on and like everything I post (I call them my Instagram Family), I post what I like and currently that's about 500 different pictures, I've made some great friends from all over the world, I've seen some great videos and photos of animals I never knew existed, It's a great style inspiration and I can say what I want on there without an angry Mob coming at me with torches and pitchforks because they don't agree!

(Like you can say ANYTHING on Facebook without the risk of some huge F***ing argument, you can't even delete the sodding thing without everyone questioning you and taking it personally!)

I feel more confident with my appearance too on IG - being accepted for the way you dress, look, act can definitely make anyone feel beautiful...even if they're actually only commenting on how beautiful Gimli looks!

Yes - Even Gimli has her own #hashtag and large worldwide fan base!

#gimlithedragon

In my opinion... everyone should get Instagram!

If you have it why don't you follow me on there?

 @hailienellie

Hailie

xo

How To: Chic Top Knot

This is my very first attempt at a hair tutorial so I do apologise if it's hard to follow...

Today I thought I'd demonstrate how to so a sleek top knot like this:

What you'll need is:

Hair that is one or 2 days 'old'...

Silky clean hair will be a lot harder to stay up like this.

You can do this with curly or wavy hair but it looks best and sleek when your hair has been straightened.

A hair tie, some kirby grips (or bobby pins...whatever you call them), a smoothing brush, and a topsy tail (the black loopy thing)

  

1. Start by brushing all your hair through making sure it's smooth and de-tangled.

2. Tip your head upside down and brush all your hair into a high pony tail

 3. Tie and smooth out any bumps so it looks sleek.

4.  Put your pony tail through the loop in the topsy tail

 5. Using the tail part, start threading underneath the pony tail up. (Look at the photo if you get stuck) Look how the loop is around the pony tail, and the 'tail' is poking out the top.

 6. Pull the pony tail through the hole so it rests on top of your head.

 7. Lift the pony tail up and tighten the hair tie.

 8. Back comb the ponytail gently.

 9. Smooth out the front and gather all the ends...it should look really puffy.

 10. Pull the ends backwards, and just give it another smooth over.

 11. Tuck the ends under, and roll back towards the hair tie. Secure with the grips, but try to hide themin the hair if possible. It makes it look more professional if you can't see the grips.

12. Go over the rest of your hair gently with your smoothing brush and spray a light mist of hairspray all over. A little shine spray on the top knot for evenings will give it a more sleek look.

13. DONE! 

Remember to practise - not everyone will get this prefect first time!

Did you like this look? 

Will you try it?

Send me photos if you decide to give it a go!

Hailie

xo

Product Review: Eyebrow & Eyelash Dye

Today I'm doing a product review on:

Eylure Dylash 

Eyelash and Brow Dye Kit 

Basically it's a 45 day mascara. And if you're like me and have dark hair with fair eyebrows and the end half of your lashes are fair, you might look into alternatives to mascara and eyebrow pencils every day.

You can get this service done in most beauty salons, but it can be pricey and you might not always like the look (especially on your eyebrows) that the beautician gives you.

I think this kit cost me around £8 and you can get it from most stores that sells make up supplies.

I got mine from Superdrug.

I've tried to show you everything in steps so, hopefully I haven't missed anything out.

Make sure you follow ALL the instructions yourself as I will not be covering those in detail.

This is a review on ease of use, value for money, and end results only!

 Ok so the box looks like this ( Sorry its sidewards!) I've gone for 'Dark Brown' but I think there is a 'Black' too.

When you open it you get the instructions, dye cream, activating solution, a mixing stick and mascara wand. The plastic container has a little dip in the top corner for you to mix the solution together. 

You will need cotton wool, and vaseline - I recommend getting a lot of cotton buds too!

 

Ok, you have to have clean, oil free lashes and brows to start with or it doesn't work very well.

(Yikes I look tired!)

 You have to squeeze the dye into the mixing 'bowl' then add the liquid activating stuff.

 Then you have to mix them together into a paste. For this they give you stupid little white stick which doesn't do anything. Personally I'd add more dye and liquid and mix it with a cotton bud. I ended up mixing mine with a cotton bud forgetting it would absorb some of the mixture!

Right, once it's mixed you have to use the little mascara wand to apply it to your lashes. 

It's recommended you do one eye at a time so you can sit with your eye closed for the development time. I didn't keep my eyes closed the whole time because I was doing my eye brows at the same time. I did do one side at a time though.

 That mascara wand is really hard to use, you will get little blobs of dye on your skin and that's why you need vaseline and cotton buds...

Don't do what I did and attempt to use the mascara wand on your eyebrows. It's really hard to get the shape right. Also remember you're dying the eyebrow HAIRS not reshaping or drawing new eyebrows!

I used a cotton bud with some dye on one end for application and used the other end to tidy up and shape. Much, much easier!

 After 5 minutes I wiped off the dye on my brows, I want a natural looking colour, not man-brows.

After another 5 minutes (10 minutes in total) I wiped off the rest of the dye on my eyelashes.

So, overall I'd say it's rubbish as a eyelash dye. It didn't make much of a difference to my lashes, it's hard to apply in the first place and it can get quite messy.

As an eyebrow dye it's pretty good actually, easy to apply when you use a cotton bud instead of the mascara wand and there is an obvious difference in the results.

I have used this a few times before and my results are always the same.

 Now I have it though, I might as well get my full use out of it as an eye BROW dye seeing as it can apparently last 16 applications or something.

Personally I'd say, save your money. It's not worth £8 for only an eyebrow dye and it's pretty useless as an eyelash dye. 

It's nice to treat yourself to a little pamper every 6-8 weeks anyway!

Have any of you ever used this product? Did you get different results?

Hailie

xo

Ways To Dress Up A Basic T-Shirt

I used to be a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. And sometimes I still am...

But just lately I've been trying really hard to dress up my everyday and casual outfits, starting with different ways to wear t-shirts without a pair of jeans in sight!

Here's a few ways I wear my basic T's

Patterned Trousers

 I absolutely love this combination. The clashing colours and the busy feather pattern just work really well together. This outfit looks best with strappy wedges.

 This coral necklace is hand made out of wood and is from Cuba.

 The Top is from Topshop, The Trousers are from Warehouse

 Again I've mixed up the colours and fabrics with this look, the trousers feel slightly silky, and the rope necklace add another texture on top.

 The Top & Trousers - Both from H&M, The Necklace is from Primark

I would wear this outfit with tan brogues and lots of different gold coloured bracelets.

Skirts

                             

 This look could be used for any time of day, the skirt is a sheer material and the dip hem is really flattering on most body shapes and sizes. 

 I added a waist belt to add some shape, and a double chain necklace in grey and black to tie in with the colours in the skirt

 The Top and skirt are from H&M and the necklace is from Warehouse. I would wear black wedges for and evening look and black loafers for a day time look.

 More of a casual summer feel with a the teal and coral combo. I'd wear flip flops with this outfit as it's summery.

The Top is from Topshop, The Skirt is from Warehouse, The belt was given to me by a friend.

 Knee length skirts are great for day time or evening depending on the materials they are made out of. This lace skirt looks great on a date, out for lunch or dinner or for evenings on holidays.

 Skirt and Necklace - Warehouse, Top - H&M, Belt - Same as before.

 This would look good with knee high boots, Loafers or Wedges.

 I love this skirt. It is so flattering and versatile. I paired it with teal for a nice colour pop twist.

Top - Topshop, Skirt - H&M, Necklace - Warehouse.
I'd wear this with flip flops in the summer, Black wedges in the evening and black biker boots in the winter.

Blazers

Blazers automatically add a classy and dressed up look to any outfit. This could be worn with Jeans if you wanted to dress them up, but if you're trying to avoid the jeans scene like I am, I'd wear with a skirt or Shorts...Even patterned trousers! Calvin Klein Blazer.

Waistcoats

 The same goes for waistcoats as blazers really  They can be dressed up with jewellery and worn with jeans. For the summer they look great over t-shirts and maxi shirts or shorts. 

First waistcoat - Primark, Second waistcoat - Warehouse.

Can you think of any more ideas that don't involve jeans?

Hailie

xo