1. No7 The Ultimate Collection BOOTS START DEAL: LIMITED TIME ONLY! £32 normally £65
2. THIS WORKS I Have A Dream Deep Sleep gift set £75
3. Real Techniques Sam's Picks Limited Edition Set £34.95
4. Valentino Valentina Gift Set 50ml £47.99
5. Naked 3 Palette £37
6. Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glacé Collection - Bold Brights £31
7. James Brown Big Box of Tricks £25
8. Pixi Soft Focus Fresh Palette £25

1. Oasis honeycomb jacquard scarf £16.50
2. Alexa Chung It Book £16.99
3. Camera Lens Mug £12.50
4. Cork Multi Aperture Photo Frame £20
5. Yankee Candle: Snowflake Cookie £19.99
6. Cream Sequin Stag Cushion £22.40 was £28
7. Vtec Fisheye Lens for iPhone 5 & 5s £24.95
8. Listography Book £11.99

1. MARC BY MARC JACOBS Enamel Logo Disc Stud Earrings £22.52 was £37.53
2. Gold Heart Necklace £12.50
3. Circle Facet Chain Necklace £12
4. Stone Ring Pack £10
5. Estella Bartlett Linked Heart Silver Plated Necklace £18
6. AURORA 18ct Gold Plated Aquamarine Studs £25
7. Sterling Silver Open Heart Link Bracelet £16
8. SWAROVSKI Heart Bangle £20

1. Eyelure Katy Peryy Lashes Set £15
2. Pixi Perfection Palette £24
3. O.P.I Christmas Pastel Liquid Sand Mini Trio Nail Polish Set £11.55
4. Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml £19.95
5. Topshop Exclusive Tangle Teezer £12.25
6. Latest In Beauty - The Glamour Edit £14.95
7. First Class Flirts Benefit Travel Set £24.50
8. Estée Lauder Delectable Nail Lacquers £25

1. Monkey Nail Dryer £8 (it's a monkey that blows air onto your nails, I couldn't not leave this one out!)
2. Sheep Hottie Body Warmer £8
3. Topshop Socks £3.50
4. Coral Fairisle Knitted Socks and Hot Water Bottle Set £9.99
5. Lonely Planet's Best Ever Photography Tips Book £4.99
6. Wreck This Journal £6.29
7. Pillowcase £3.99 (getting a pillow for it aswell will obviously make a much better present!)
8. Monogram Mug £8

1. Orelia Rose Gold Toned Small Star Stud Earrings £10
2. 2PK Point And Twist Midi Rings £6.50
3. Love Pendant Necklace £7
4. Susan Caplan Exclusive For ASOS Vintage Lock & Key Padlock Anklet £9 was £12
5. Gold look ID bangle £4.55 was £6.50 (if you could get this engraved with anything, it would be the perfect gift!)
6. Essaouira Stacking Ring Set £10
7. Grey Pearl Embellished Chunky Gem Necklace £7.99
8. Thin Glitter Hoops £6.50

1. Cath Kidston Lime & Mint Travel Box £7 usually £10

You're probably as surprised as I am to see a blog post uploaded by me.
Firstly I've named this #1 because I may do a blog series around this (Let me know your thoughts?).
Secondly, yes I've used a hash tag to mark a  number, not to get likes on my instagrams, or retweets on my tweets.

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Finally.....
In the past 2 months, I have produced no such thing that can be categorised into 'productive', or even anything close. That's a lie. I put the christmas decs up sunday, and have clicked on the facebook and twitter app icon constantly - does that count?

Starting from the beginning (of October), I decided to quit college. After countless mornings, and nights of begrudgingly thinking of and travelling to and from college, to study four subjects I didn't know I wanted to pursue, I looked at my situation; and just said no. Regardless of knowing I "apparently" have a better chance in life if I further my education, I decided to do what makes me happy. College made me far from happy.

At first, I was labelling this time period in my life "An Early Gap Year", and was getting those family members (family members who, in the nicest possible way, like to think their opinion is valid in every situation) off of my back by telling them I'd return in a year. I got a reply of "you won't go back, we've seen it happen before". I then argued "I will, I want to." I've now decided I don't. If it made me super unhappy, like really low unhappy, then what makes me think it will be different next year? I now look at it like this - College isn't the be all and end all!

Personally, I feel like my High School emphasised the whole expectation of going to college, and then Uni thing a bit too much. They never touched on the complete Apprenticeship path, but rather skimmed over this, only 'helping' us on college applications. And that's now what I'm considering - an apprenticeship. I for one don't want to be at home 24/7 or stuck in a job I don't enjoy. In no way have I left my education as the past, with the idea to slack off.

I already hold a part time job, but am suppressing from finding a new full time one, or increasing my usual contracted hours.
Why? Because I want to know what I want to do, what is right for me, and what makes me happy.

I'm so so so sorry for not writing regularly or keeping up to date with the popular beauty and fashion posts. But, the L word's above that banner too y'know (Lifestlyle, not the other one), and I suppose this is what this post will fall under. I pinky promise once I get my inspiration back, I'll bombard you with my shoddy writing.

Thank you for staying with me. And you; do what makes you happy too!

Chloe

I always seem to find stuff when I'm not looking for it! Yesterday I just happened to pop into Dorothy Perkins, when there happened to be a sale on, a pair of shoes actually happened to fit me perfectly, and in the end, I happened to make a few purchases...

SALE: £5

SALE: £3

SALE: £3

SALE: £3

SALE: £12 Have you found any bargains in the mid season sales recently? X

L-R: The view from our garden whilst we had a BBQ / Me and my best friends at Prom / Packing for holiday / Fistral beach, Cornwall - Surf Central / Porth Beach, Cornwall / Mussels at Porth / Cornish ice cream by the pool / Race for life 2013 / Stila Purchases / Oscar / FOTD - drugstore&mac / Pouty selfie / Girls night with Leanne / Midnight Monopoly with the cousins / Filming "My sister does my makeup" / Chocolate Éclair Keeping you in the know, if you don't have instagram! If you liked this post let me know and I can make it a regular thing! If you want to see previous photos I've posted on my Instagram and keep up to date on future ones, follow me: agirlbehindalens X

Me when I was about 5 or 6! (Sorry about the quality.. it's one of those photo's of a photo) (this wasn't actually originally taken in 2008)

So after seeing many of the "50 facts about me" and then the "25 facts about me" posts I decided to finally join in! Here are 25 facts about me, because it was hard enough to think of this many, let alone 50!

1. I was born on the 30th of September 1996 but was meant to enter the world on the 18th.
2. I have a weird obsession with mugs, duvet covers, and candles. I like mugs and end up buying lots when I have no room or no need for even 1 more. 
3. I have never been on a bus.
4. My favourite type of food is Italian... or Chinese.
5. I am starting college this year and I'm taking Photography, Media, Textiles, and Sociology.
6. My mood can change instantly (this is definitely not a good thing!).
7. I've only been abroad once (to Portugal) when I was very young.
8. I've only had one operation in my life which was when I had my tonsils removed.  
9. My favourite colour is purple.
10. I'm always late. I was born late so I'll just blame it on that.
11. I have a scar on my forehead from when I ran into the side of an open door and cut my head open. Yes, that isn't a mistake...it was actually open.
12. I am one of the most clumsiest people you will meet. I have ruined the following by repeatedly knocking over the bottle of nailpolish remover: the freezer,the dashboard in the car, the dining table, the coffee table, the carpet, and the bathroom cabinet. I constantly spill drinks everywhere. I drop everything and seem to trip over nothing. I fell out of my back door and ended up with my elbow in a cast for a few weeks.
13. My favourite film is The Holiday. I love most Cameron Diaz films in fact.
14. If I find a new song I like, I will play it 24/7 until it annoys me and I no longer like it as much.
15. I've only ever had one pet which is the one I have now - a cat called Oscar.
16. My favourite thing to watch on TV is Hollyoaks.
17. I prefer to watch Youtube videos than I do TV most of the time.
18. I have a brother called George who is 5 years younger than me.
19. I love to cook!
20. I laugh most of the time and will find the unfunniest things funny!
21. I won an award for the young volunteer of the year when I was 11.
22. The first concert I ever went to was Peter Andre.
23. I get addicted to things very easily.
24. I drink green tea instead of normal tea.
25. Going to the Paralympics in London last year was probably one of the best days of my life.

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(This is ridiculously late...sorry!)

It's not every month I try new products and like them enough to put together a Loves of Last month post, but in April I began using some products that I absolutely love now and so as we're only just in May I thought
I'd share them with you!

So.. The first product I purchased very early on in April was the MUA Undressed Eyeshadow Palette which I have been using on a daily basis recently. It is an exact dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette and even though the £4 price tag may make you think there's no way on earth they're going to have good pay off, the MUA palette actually contains pigmented, good quality shadows, which are by far great value for the money you would have spent on it!
                     

In April I also purchased the Real techniques Core Collection from Amazon at a great reduced price. At the time, the Core Collection cost me around £14 so I couldn't pass up the chance to get myself on the Real Techniques bandwagon. The collection brushes are still at a discounted price, but the discount isn't as big as it was when I made this cheeky little purchase at the beginning of last month. Before, I was using Fearne Cotton's brushes and although they used to be my go to brushes and were covered in a pretty floral pattern, these have been pushed to one side. The Core Collection kit works wonders on perfecting the base for any look and I highly recommend them, knowing I will be investing in the other kits and single brushes very soon!
If you want to check these out get over here now.

Last Month was the month when I began making more of an effort with my nails and really got into using pretty pastel shades to complement my winter to spring outfits. After seeing millions of posts (this is definitely an exaggeration, I didn't actually sit reading a million blog posts) on the Barry m Gelly Hi-shine nail polishes I had to get myself one to try out too! I chose Prickly Pear which is a lovely shade of lilac, and loved using it last month.

There have been two main hair products I have used A LOT, which I only really started using in April after purchasing them months ago. The first one is the Tresemme 24 hour body blow dry lotion. I apply this to the roots of wet hair, and then blow dry it using a round brush. I find that this product gives my hair more volume at the roots of my hair which is where I need it most. I have naturally thick hair but I only really get great volume at the bottom of it. I've loved using this spray in the previous month and have found it great for balancing my natural volume out and giving my hair more of it at the top.

The second hair product is also a spray. It is the Trevor Sorbie protect, flatten & shine spray. Last year I used to straighten my hair everyday using the Vo5 heat protector spray, and even though I made sure to protect it against any heat, it wasn't ever going to do my hair a great deal of good. So earlier this year I learnt to embrace my natural hair (wavy to curly) and stopped straightening my hair like I did before. It was only until last month that I began to get my straighteners out again, promising myself not to go back to my every day heat required period of time. I thought I'd try out the Trevor Sorbie protect, flatten & shine s

pray as it's been hidden away since I purchased it in January this year, and overall I've been really impressed with it. Usually I find that heat protector sprays have quite a strong and harsh scent but this one smells really nice and leaves my hair smelling fresh throughout the day. As it is also specifically for use when straightening hair, it also helps me in doing this and leaves me not needing to set my straighteners on such a high temperature. I really like this heat protector spray and favour it over any other I've previously tried.

In love with this image! Reminds me of Spring so much :) (source)

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