I'm not a cat person. Dogs are better. Fact. Sorry but it's true. That being said, I am quite fond of the funny little fluffballs so when I happened to stroll past a cat cafe on my solo trip to Leeds a few weeks back I virtually ran inside.
I wasn't really sure what to expect, and I really really wasn't sure if it would actually be an enjoyable experience on my own but I was more excited than anything so I paid my £6 entrance fee and off I went. I didn't know there was an entrance fee at first, there didn't seem to be signs anywhere, but I guess it makes sense as this particular cafe works closely with a cat rescue centre.
Once inside and shown to my seat I was allowed to wander around, I was actually encouraged in fact. This seemed like a good idea at first, the cats were great at hiding and I didn't fancy waiting for them to come to me so I got up to find them.
On my first walk I didn't actually see many cats, I can only assume they were hiding/ sleeping/ fed up of being poked by children all day. Admitting defeat I headed back to my table for a cup of tea. Being the clean freak I am I didn't want to actually eat food in a place full if kitties, no matter how clean it looked.
On a second thought maybe I should have ordered a snack or two to entice the cats over to me. I spent most of my 1 hour slot frantically trying to take photos of various cats as they desperately tried to run past my table without being touched or so much as looked at. These cats were wild.
Not having much luck with my furry friends in my seat I decided on yet another walk around. This would be my second of many attempts to see some kittens. Whilst there were various cats lounging around in comfy hiding spots, for the most part they were all out of sight.
It was on this wander that I realised why they were all tucked away, and that would be because of the children. Actually scrap that, it was because of the people acting like children. Old and young alike seemed to spend their hour slots chasing and poking the little fluffs as they went about their day. It's no wonder really that practically all of my photos from that afternoon are of cat coloured blurs.
So I took some snaps, drank my tea, and off I went to think about whether cat cafes are actually a good idea. So what did I think? Well on the one hand they are a fun way to make some money for good charities. Most of the cafes I've heard about are linked to a cat rescue in some way by either adopting cats, donating money, or both. That being said I also can't help but think there should be sort sort of 'stay in your seat' rule. I don't even know how they could enforce something like that but letting children run around after terrified cats isn't the best business plan i've ever seen to be honest.
So would I go back to one again? Maybe. I did enjoy it don't get me wrong but it wasn't the magical kitty utopia I imagined. It might be a better idea to visit these kind of places in the week, that way it wouldn't be full of wild children and maybe the cats would be more inclined to make an appearance if the room was a bit quieter.
I love animals and I love a good cuppa, so combine the two and for me you're on to a winner. Maybe I wouldn't go out of my way to visit a cat cafe again, but if I happened to walk past one I would probably give it another go.
Have you ever been to a cat cafe before? What did you think?
Thanks for reading!
x
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- Posh Burgers and Cocktails - A taste of Miller & Carter
- Afternoon Tea at Mckenzies
Another month has come and gone. How we are in November already I don't know, but as its the start (ish) of a new month it's time for me to write down my three keys to happiness again. So what have I got to look forward to in November?
Something to look forward to...
The first thing is my Dad's 60th which is actually tomorrow. We are going out for Chinese food which I am super excited for. On the weekend we're also going to the Bear Grylls Adventure over by the Airport which looks amazing! We will be doing obstacle courses, escape rooms, and even indoor skydiving. It's going to be wild.
Right at the end of the month is the Vuelio Blog Awards. I went a few years back and had a crazy night (see here & here) and I can't wait to do it all again! I've been given a plus 1 this time around so I'm taking my sister and were having a bit of a girly weekend in London which will be really really nice.
Something to be proud of...
So what am I proud of? Well apart from just generally keeping my shit together and staying on top of most things, I finally booked my first solo trip! So I know I haven't got to the scary part yet, but to me just having something booked and knowing there is no going back is a big step. I'm going to Belfast in January for 3 days and I don't have much planned yet so feel free to send me all of your recommendations!
Something to do...
What have I been up to and what am I going to do? Well when I'm not working or studying I've still been blogging (sometimes) and jogging (occasionally). I've been so lucky to have been offered lots of fun bloggy things lately and I still get excited over every single opportunity, even if it does sometimes take me a little while to reply!
I've also mostly been keeping up with jogging although I did manage to tear a muscle which has put me out for a couple weeks. What am I like? But I have been getting better and I've even been enjoying it amazingly!
Here's to a fab November!
Thanks for reading!
x
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A few weeks back I popped down to Resorts World to check out their brand spanking new Beauty Outlet. As a lover of all things beauty I was excited to smother my hands in swatches and bring home some new bargain products to try out.
So what did I pick?
Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mist in 'Secret Charm' - I've had scents from Victoria's Secret before and I've always loved them. They're not as long lasting as perfumes but they're still pretty good. That being said I do think they are pricey so when I saw this little bottle for just £8 I knew it was destined to live on my dressing table.
Exposed Cosmetics Sahara Sunset Palette - Heard of Exposed Cosmetics before? No? Neither had I. This palette was a complete impulse buy but I just fell in love with the shades! I've used it a few times now and although the shades aren't as vivid as the likes of Mac or Urban Decay, they aren't bad for a palette under £10.
W7 Makeup Remover Cloth - I've had makeup remover cloths in the past and I will more than likely buy them again in the future. They are so much softer than wipes or flannels and they actually do take your makeup off without any product. I paid a tenner for my first cloth but this one was only £1.99 and works just the same.
Blistex Happy Lips - I have about 400 Lip Balms dotted around the house and in various handbags but I thought one more wouldn't hurt. I actually picked this up to keep in my desk at work (I have an actual adult job now you know) and at less than £2 it didn't break the bank.
Sally Hansen Cuticle Eraser & Balm - I haven't tried this out yet but I am very excited to. I have the worst cuticles known to man but I'm too lazy to do anything about them. If a simple cream can handle that mess I will be very very happy.
Bourjois Rouge Velvet Lipstick in shade 02 'Flaming Rose' - Now this beauty I have tried and loved. It's a little darker than my usual lip colours but I do think it suits me well and its super long lasting too. I did find that it dries almost like a chalky liquid lipstick so I just apply a thin layer of lip balm before wearing it.
Bag full of W7 goodies - This is the only product I didn't pick out myself and if it wasn't gifted to me I'm don't think I would have chosen it in all honesty. Its a bag filled with W7 products and at only £10 it's not a bad price. It holds practically every product you could want if you were just getting into makeup but as someone with a pretty solid collection it didn't offer me anything special.
Cover FX Highlighting Powder in 'Moonlight' - Like a lot of the brands in the Beauty Outlet, I'd not tried anything from Cover FX before. It's one of the higher end brands in store and had a good selection of quality products. I fell in love with this highlighter as soon as I set eyes on it and I wasn't disappointed. It's a little darker than my usual highlight but it gives me a great little glow.
Rimmel Lipstick in shade 650 'Pretty Penny' - I'm a sucker for a lippy so obviously I went home with two. Both shades I chose were similar but this one is a lot more sheer and shiny than the Bourjois one which is probably why I haven't reached for it too much yet.
L'oreal Paris Colour Riche Eyeshadow in shade 500 'Lumiere' - Now this little beauty I haven't tried out yet but I cannot wait to. It's a gorgeous bold gold shade that is going to be perfect for the festive season. I've been trying to build my eyeshadow singles collection this year and I'm very glad I picked this one up. If I remember right it was only about £3 aswell!
TRESemme Perfectly Undone Sea Salt Spray - I'm slowly but surely trying out every sea salt spray I can get my hands on. I haven't tested this one yet but I usually get on well with TRESemme products so I do have high hopes.
So those are the goodies I took home with me from the Beauty Outlet. I honestly could have picked up so much more as there are loads of products from various brands at decent discounted prices.
Thanks for reading!
x
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* I was gifted a number of items which I chose myself in exchange for an honest blog post. I would never promote anything I didn't believe in.
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I did it. I joined the instagram club and took myself off to do a photoshoot with some pumpkins. I'm not even sorry, I actually enjoyed it. Okay so it wasn't the cute little pumpkin patch I imagined it to be but I had a lot of fun and took some fab photos with my pals and my friends little girl. Its her first Halloween so we had to do something special! I enjoyed it so much I'd happily go 'Pumpkin picking' again next year, even if they are already picked for you ha!
Since the start of October when photos of perfect girls holding perfectly round pumpkins started to appear on my timeline, I knew I had to get in on the action. It wasn't all that easy to find a pumpkin patch in the Midlands though, there doesn't seem to be that many at all. After what seemed like hours we did eventually track down Pumpkins R Us just down the road in Kenilworth. I'm not sure how you'd get here without a car as it's out in the stick but lucky for me most of my friends drive!
It's not the prettiest place for a photoshoot I'll admit, but do you think that stopped us from taking 4000 snaps? Spoiler - it didn't. And we weren't the only ones. There were dozens of parents carefully placing their children and even new born babies on top of various sized pumpkins just to get that special shot. I would usually judge parents for doing weird shit like that but it's exactly what we went there to do. I also made my friends take a million photos of me too, I mean if you don't put it on instagram did it even happen?
In between our mini photoshoots we did actually pick up a few pumpkins. As tempting as it was to go for a giant one we were all very boring a chose a nice selection of teeny weenie pumpkins that will probably take us about 5 minutes to carve. I also picked up the cutest striped pumpkin and Sophie grabbed a handful of miniature ones for the baby. I think she was pretty chuffed with her little pumpkin haul even though I'm sure she had absolutely no clue what was going on.
If you just can't resist doing a little autumn photoshoot of your own, Pumpkins R Us are open from 10am until 7pm everyday, but be warned it gets really busy. We arrived around midday on sunday and by that time it was already rammed! I do think it's well worth a taking trip this halloween though. Whether you've got kids or not it's a bit more fun than rummaging through a supermarket crate trying to find the least bruised pumpkin in the pile!
Thanks for reading!
x
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I'm sorry but what happened to September please? That month came and went quicker than my last paycheck! But in all seriousness I cannot believe how fast this year is going, time flies when you're having fun, right? So what fun things am I doing this month to keep me happy? Last month I wrote down my three keys to happiness and now here are my October keys...
Something to look forward to
I had so much to look forward to this month, but I do feel like most of it has already happened now. I've done so SO much fun bloggy stuff in the last few weeks and I don't want it to end! From fancy cocktails at my fave Dirty Martini, to picking out goodies at the new Beauty Outlet, and having a little get together at the Prezzybox Jingle Mingle, I've done it all.
I've also just booked quite a bit of holiday off work so I am excited to start filling that! I do also have a very exciting trip half planned at the moment that I'm hoping to book in the next week or so! I will reveal all soon!
Something to be proud of
Whilst I was planning this post earlier today I did have to think long and hard about this one. What am I proud of this month? I haven't really done anything major but the more I think about it, the more I am just proud of me right now. I'm getting on with things, I'm smiling more, and I'm crying less. Of course I have down days but they are just so few and far between now. I have moments of just pure overwhelming happiness and its amazing. I'm doing okay.
I've also started exercising more. I know I know, pick your jaw up off the floor, but its true. I've even started jogging(!!!) I'm not going to become a gym bunny anytime soon but I am starting to look after myself a lot more and having the motivation and willpower to do that is something I never really thought I'd have.
Something to do
Well where do I even start with this one? I am just so bloody busy right now. Sometimes it's good busy and sometimes it's just flat out boring, but I have no time for anything either way.
College is eating up a lot of hours with studying, and I'm spending as much free time as I can meeting up with friends, so relaxing isn't exactly something I'm specialising in right now but thats okay.
For the first time in a long time I feel like my life is full and that I am getting somewhere. I've had a bit of a shake up lately but I'm feeling good. I know I am going to live an amazing, beautiful life and I cannot wait to see how it all turns out.
Thanks for reading!
x
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If you haven't guessed I'm a beauty fan by now you obviously haven't been paying attention. I love makeup, and skincare, and haircare etc. But I especially love it when all those good things don't cost a bomb! Let's be honest, good products can sometimes be a bit pricey, but do they have to be?
I buy beauty products from budget, mid range, and high end brands. I like to mix it up a bit and if I'm truthful, I can't always see a massive quality difference between cheaper things and the much more expensive. There are some products I have to spend a bit of money on; eyeliner, lipstick, and usually eyeshadow, but the rest I'm pretty flexible with.
So when I was given the heads up about a brand spanking new Beauty Outlet in Resorts World Birmingham I had to get myself down there. The store only opened a few weeks back but I've already seen so many of my fellow bloggers and beauty addicts spend a small fortune in there.
The shop stocks everything from well known brands such as; Real Techniques, Rimmel, and Barry M, to lesser known brands that I had not come across before. It also sells a mix of high, mid range, and budget beauty. Although cheap and cheerful is what it does best, you can find a decent range of more expensive Stila and Clarins goodies which start at about the £5 mark.
I was also quite surprised to find a good selection of vegan products for sale. Now call me ignorant (and I probably am) but I didn't even know makeup could be non vegan, I mean what is in regular makeup that vegans can't have? Who knows, but it's good to see companies trying to cater for everyone's needs for once!
Now I'm not massively into nails (as I'm sure you can tell by the photos) so the huge polish section didn't impress me as much as it probably should have. Don't get me wrong, I do like to have pretty nails but once they start to look a bit sorry for themselves I'm usually too lazy to clear it up. Someone who is big on nails however is my sister. Every week or so she's wearing a gorgeous new colour, so imagine her surprise when she found her favourite gel varnishes in store for just £5! That girl dropped about £30 on the spot!
I think I swatched pretty much every lipstick, sniffed every perfume, and stuck my fingers in every eyeshadow before finally deciding on some treats. I was in there well over an hour playing with various products - it really is just so easy to lose track of time (and money) in these kind of places. Think of it as a casino for beauty addicts!
It's a great place for beauty fans looking for a bargain and also anyone just starting to get into beauty as you can pick up your whole makeup bag for less than £20 in there. I was lucky enough to be treated to some goodies to take away with me so keep a look out for a haul and various product reviews coming soon!
What is your all time favourite budget beauty product?
Thanks for reading!
x
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* I was gifted products in exchange for a blog post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I would never promote anything I didn't love.
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