· Paris, Je t'aime ·

Good evening to you all :) 

I thought I would do just a little post tonight whilst I wait for my dinner to cook! 

Source: Pinterest

I went to London at the beginning of this month *I can't believe it's almost been 2 weeks since I was there..* to see my best friend Paris. I have known Paris for a little over 5 years now, and I've worked with her for most of that time, been lucky enough to have our own flat for a little while and even luckier to know that despite the fact she lives in London, and I'm in Cardiff.. I can still call her my best friend. 

Paris moved to LDN a little while ago to follow her dreams and I am so happy for her!

The only thing is, I don't see her as often as I'd like and it's not always the easiest either. We both work full time and we both have to watch our money! She comes down most weekends, but I leave her be to see her boyfriend Ian as she needs to cherish that time. However, I decided to book a long weekend off work to travel up on the mega bus to see her! I didn't get too many photo's from the weekend as I was too busy enjoying myself but I really truly realised how lucky I am to have a friend like her.

 I didn't have the best of weeks, so it really was a great way to lift my spirits. 

So all I'm trying to say here is, sometimes it doesn't matter where your friends are, if they are that important to you and are true friends, distance doesn't make a difference. 

I am lucky enough to have that :) 

Good night! 

elfums x

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· a product i'd love to love ·

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted on here. Where is the time going? It's just flying by, and I really wish I got myself into a routine of when I post on my blog. In time.

Anyways, I'm on a lazy day off finally (which will probably actually consist of homework, cleaning and pancake making). However, before I get up out of bed eventually, I remembered I wanted to write about a certain skincare product that I have been trying to use over the last month or two. 

The first time I saw this brand was in a Miss Glamorazzi YouTube video. It was in a favourite's video I believe, however the thing that drew me to the product was the name! It's the 'Yes to Cucumber' skincare range. Now, there's quite a few different products and also different varieties of 'Yes To's'. There's the Cucumber, Carrots, Coconut, Tomatoes, Blueberry & Grapefruit range. So when I saw them eventually in Boots, I just had to have a snoop. I didn't have a huge amount of money to spend, but I'd heard Ingrid & also Fleur de Force talk about them by then, so I picked up some of the 'Yes to Cucumber Facial Wipes'. I had it in mind to use them for my lazy nights when I may not have the energy to go through my entire skincare routine. Naughty naughty. 

What I loved about the brand is that they're 98% natural, oil free, hypoallergenic, cruelty free and much more. So I got them home and tested one out..first of all, I love the packaging. Normally with face wipes you get just a plastic flap that never sticks back down and the wipes dry out. These have a click in pouch system which keeps them hydrated! Secondly, they smell AMAZING! So fresh. 

However, as much as I really wanted to love them, my face does not. Generally on my cheeks and forehead, I don't have an issue. But my eyes, and the surrounding area stings so much whilst using them. It's not just a little sting, it's a mega sting! I was so annoyed. My skin is so sensitive anyway, but I thought these might have been quite cooling. I don't want to waste them, so I've started to just use them on my cheek and forehead area, and use a different cleanser for my eye makeup. 

I'm going to maybe try out some other products from the 'Yes To' range as I really like this company and what they're doing - so hopefully some others won't sting my eyes! I'd say if your skin is really sensitive, then maybe steer away from this product in particular. But check this brand out as they are lovely :) I will keep you updated if I try anything else out! 

Have a lovely Tuesday! 

elfums x

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· positivity monday ·

· Source ·

Good evening everyone!

I'm sitting in my flat waiting for my dinner to cook after a pretty bizarre day and thought I would write a little post for you to read.

This morning I woke up to my favourite, but then spent the rest of the day with the worst headache and then it proceeded to turn into a migraine. I had to wait a few hours in Alfie's house until it eased, but I had to get home to do some household chores so I had to eventually leave. 

I made it home feeling super queasy and out of it, and then slept for a few hours. 

I was meant to do homework today, but my head just wouldn't let me. 

I'm also having some major flat issues, I can't use my sink or washing machine and it's causing me a whole heap of stress with my agency. 

I then had to wash most of my clothes in my bathroom. 

This then got me thinking. 

As much as I'm so stressed out with my flat, exhausted from work all the time, trying to squeeze in my geography course where possible and I wish I had more money..

I'm extremely lucky. 

I get the luxury of having my own place, I have the best parents/family/friends in the world, and I also have a gorgeous and caring boyfriend. 

I hate complaining about things - there are some people in the world that don't have any of these things, and every time I complain, I feel extremely guilty. 

As the picture states above, focus on the good. 

My parents and Alfie always tell me that it will all get better.

It will. No matter what, it will. 

As much as it feels rubbish now, it will get so much better.

I keep thinking, it's just a blocked drain, it will get fixed *at some point*

I keep thinking, it's just a job, it's letting you live. 

I keep thinking, your course is hard, but it'll pay off in the end. 

I will always stress out, and I will also think negatively, but you have to train your brain otherwise because it will just eat you up. 

It's hard to do, but let positivity win! 

This is just a little rant because my brain wants to. 

I guess this is some sort of advice, and I hope it helps if you're like me! 

Listen to the ones that care about you, and it will get better :) 

Now back to watching the SacconeJoly's!

Hope you all have a lovely week :) 

elfums x

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· Aladdin PMI Flask Review ·

Hello everyone on this lovely Tuesday! 

This is going to be a slightly different post - a review of sorts to be exact! 

Earlier on this month as you know I went to the Lake District. In one of the little towns we visited, there were SO many camping shops. So many. I wanted to buy lots of things, but this particularly caught my eye. When it comes to shopping, I'm like a magpie. 

I always carry a flask around with me, whether it be to work, out & about, my boyfriends house, travelling back home..I will ALWAYS have one. I don't know why, but I feel without one. 

My parents last year got me a Sky Pro Cycling water bottle that I absolutely loved, and always had it, but generally when I got home, I'd drink from a normal glass. Then on a holiday the water spout broke and I was devastated! So they replaced it will a Slazenger one from Sports Direct, that pretty much did the same job for me...up until NOW! 

In one of the camping shops, I spotted a range of rather pretty water bottles that I was just attracted to super quickly and I couldn't leave one there. I'd seen them somewhere before, but never looked into it. There were a couple of different sizes and colours. In the end I picked up this flask, which I then took on mine & Alfie's hike the next day. So worth it, due to how big it was, enough squash for me! 

Look how pretty! Needless to say, I haven't drunk out of ANYTHING else since. It's for cold beverages, so anytime I have water or squash, this is what holds it. I love it! 

If you are looking for a flask, then go check out Aladdin's website, they do a variety of different hot & cold flasks etc, including mason tumblers. 

This company believes in keeping a healthy planet by watching our footprint, which includes recycling, composting and using energy efficient lighting.

16% of their products are made using eCycle, which is recycled plastic, made by them. 

I'm very happy with my purchase! 

Thanks for reading :) 

elfums x

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· a lake district adventure ·

Good Evening! This is my first post since August - time is FLYING! 

·

It's coming up to my favourite time of year, autumn/winter. I just LOVE it. All the cliché's.

Crunchy, colour changing leaves, earlier sunsets, sweater weather, wearing my favourite beanie, autumn adventures with my favourite.. the list is endless, but I always spend the most time waiting for summer to end, just so I can get to all of these things. 

·

So just before it truly arrives, here is a post of my last summer adventure to the Lake District. 

My parents took myself & Alfie away, kind of a birthday trip for me, and it was lovely to get away. 

We had such a lovely view of the mountains from our bedroom window, hot tub every evening before bed, adventures up the mountains, sheep all over the place, crazy comfy bed, jaunts out in the car (albeit my car sickness didn't enjoy that), exploring the surrounding areas, and spending time with my three favourites. 

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Here's some photo's from the trip! Hope you enjoy :) 

elfums x

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· birthday camping vibes ·

Good Evening! 

So, on Wednesday, 20th August it was my 24th birthday! Alfie took me away to Pembrokeshire for our first ever camping trip together, which I was super excited about. For my main present he booked a whale & dolphin spotting boat trip for the morning after my birthday. Unfortunately, on the Thursday morning the wind was too strong for the boat trip. We re-organised it for the Friday morning, but again, the wind was again not on our side so we were unable to go on the boat. We were both really gutted about it. Alfie has been before on that trip, but he wanted to go with me. So we both had sad faces, however he is going to organise something else as my present instead.

·

That aside, I had an extremely lovely time! Firstly, I got to spend my birthday with Alfie, which I'm extremely grateful for. As I get older, birthday's aren't the same anymore. Plus my parents live in North Wales, so it's not so simple to see them! We'll both be going to the Lake District next week with them for a late birthday trip so it's not all bad! Secondly, I got to go camping. I grew up camping as my parents were scout leaders. The first time I went camping, I wasn't even a year old! I was brought up spending time with the scouts in different areas of Wales/England and I absolutely loved to camp. In rain or shine, it was one of my favourite things. So it's literally been years since I've done it..so to camp on my birthday was such a lovely feeling. Thirdly, the weather was truly on our side. Minus the horrendous wind conditions, spoiling the boat trip, we still got to go on long walks without any weather problems. My forehead did burn quite a bit (now sporting some very attractive peeling!) and the wind on the walks meant I had to go the whole way with my hood up as it was freezing. The sun did shine about 90% of the time! 

·

We first got an early train to Haverfordwest from Cardiff, and then a bus to St David's, which by the way is such a cute little city (I thought it was a town, but it has a Cathedral! Who even knew!). Then from there we took another bus to White Sands, where we took a little pit stop. From there it was about a 2 & 1/2 mile walk to St Justinian where we were set up our tent. To our dismay, when we turned the corner into St Justinian, right in front of the camp site was a mighty big crane! Not cool! They were doing some work by the boat area, but it wasn't great for views. We managed to get a spot that didn't interfere too much with the crane. It was a lovely little camp site, even had a place with showers & toilets! So clean as well! I didn't bother showering as I didn't want to catch a cold with the wet hair etc. However lovely facilities! I recommend it muchly. 

·

As we couldn't go on the boat the next day, we walked to St David's in the morning for some lunch and then caught a little bus to Pontyclais. Again, such a lovely little area. From there we took a 5 mile walk along the coastal path back to our camp site. Thats where these photo's are from! 

·

All in all, I absolutely loved my camping trip & I'm super lucky to have Alfie take me there. 

I was super exhausted at times which made for a grumpy & snappy girlfriend - but the fact that I was so comforted and happy being outside and with the outside & natural world, those feelings took over. 

·

Here are some of my favourite photo's I took from the trip and I'll also be putting up a project on my behance profile & here's some of my Instagram posts from the last couple of days. 

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Hope you enjoy these photo's & look here if you want to head to the same place :) 

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We also became super seal watchers :) we kept seeing their little heads popping out of the water in some remote areas, and I was so excited about it! Alfie got some shots of them as he had a longer lens so I hope they've turned out ok! Love those little dog faces! 

·

Night night everyone,

elfums x

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· Photo an Hour: Monday 18th August ·

Hello loves!

Just before I go camping tomorrow for my birthday, I thought I'd do this little post.  

I nabbed the idea from Lyzi from 'Being Little'  and it's the 'Photo An Hour' post. Here is her's if you want to have a little looky: · Lyzi's Post · I wasn't doing much yesterday of much importance so I occupied myself & decided to do it myself!

· time to wake up · face of the day · ootd · house details ·

· clouds through my skylight · silly lunch · camping list ·

· starting to pack · dressing for autumn in summer · 

· in the car with rich & steve · new walking boots & coat · 

· time to watch jumanji with the gang · 

It was actually quite hard to do this! A. to actually remember to take a photo every hour of the day, but also to find something to photograph. I did manage to do it between 9am & 7pm however when my friends were round, I was busy scuttling around making cups of tea, dinner etc etc. 

Anyways! I hope you enjoyed these little snap shots of my day :) 

I'll be back soon with a few posts I'm sure - including a packing for my camping trip post! 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

elfums x

                                                                                   

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Hello, Nash Point

Happy Monday everyone! 

I've just got back to my own flat after having a super lazy day with Alfie and suddenly had the urge to write a blog post before I eat my dinner. 

A couple of weeks ago, Alfie & I took the train to Llantwit Major, about 40 minutes away from Cardiff. From there we took a nice long trek to Nash Point. We followed the coastal path most of the way there, but also traipsed through lots of reeds and bushes and bits of forest. The views a long the way were incredible and it was so nice to be out and about and not feel close to a city one bit. 

On the way back we mostly walked a long the beach and pebbles, also finding ammonite fossils on the way which always makes us happy. The weather was very strange this day but thankfully, even with storm clouds above us, it hardly rained. We walked for miles and miles and we definitely felt it. 

Our feet were killing, I wore the wrong kind of back pack because our little trip was a bit of a spontaneous one! I didn't have any walking stuff with me at Alfie's! Lesson learned. 

I recommend going to Nash Point if you're ever in Wales. There is a spectacular lighthouse there, and some really nice secret places to venture to overlooking the sea. It's amazing when the tide is in! Also, as I mentioned before, many an ammonite! I love finding them!

Hope you enjoy my photo's from the day! I didn't take many on my DSLR as I wanted to explore more than photograph that day, but Alfie sure did. Speaking of him, he's recently started up something a long side his own work on Instagram called 'Explore Wales' - when you go on an adventure or somewhere you think should be shown off, then hashtag #explorewales and he might put it up on the feed! Plus you get to see some really great shots of our beautiful country. 

Hope you all have a great week :) 

elfums x

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