My colourful hair trip!

I used to have really healthy, long, naturally brunette hair until I stupidly decided to completely dye it bleach blonde 2 years ago and unfortunately my hair has never fully recovered.

This is me in 2011 with Megan, one of my best friends at University. I can't believe this was 3 years ago! Time really does fly by :(

My sister, Katie dyed my hair in the garden at my Mums house that summer. My Mum went absolutely mental and kicked us both out the house for some reason... I had soaking wet hair from where Katie had tried washing out the dye and we ended up in Spoons toilets drying my hair haha .. classy!

My stepmum whose a hairdresser had to then help make my hair look better by applying a full head of blonde highlights to my brunette hair. The result was this ...

My hair looks in pretty good condition considering it had been completely bleached from brunette to bleach blonde. However, as time passed I had to constantly have my roots done and consequently my hair started to fall out and become extremely thin and unhealthy. 

As you can start to notice from the pictures, my hair was starting to get worse and worse. I never really looked after it by applying deep conditioning masks or avoiding heated appliances, therefore it kept getting worse. 

I started missing my gorgeous long, healthy locks and decided to buy hair extensions to give me some volume and thickness. I wanted my brunette hair back again and stupidly dyed it brunette again. 

From this point, I knew I had to start sorting my hair out and looking after it more. From here onwards, I invested in so many different highstreet products that claimed to make your hair grow thicker. My favourite product was the L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology thickening shampoo and conditioner as well as the deep conditioning mask. I bought these products from Boots and was pleased with the results, so I will keep purchasing these until my hair is back to its normal, healthy thickness. 

My top tip is NEVER dye your hair... Jokes! But if you do make sure you always look after it otherwise you'll pay a massive price for the mistake and be left with thin, short, horrible, brittle hair and nobody wants that. 

What hair products do you use? 

Amy xx 

I'm back!

Hello everyone!

Today is such a miserable day, so I've decided to spend some time working on my blog and updating everyone with what's been going on recently. (Apologies for not blogging in a while, I have been extremely busy.)

Firstly, I can very happily say that I have completely finished my degree! Thank god! It has been a 3 year roller-coaster and I can only hope that it's all been worth the hard work, late nights and huge amounts of effort.

Since February, I have been working solidly on my FMP - dissertation so I have neglected my blog a lot but the good news is that now my degree is finally finished, I can blog all day, everyday!

MY FMP was a brand extension for Glamour magazine, called Glamour Interior. I came up with the concept of creating a unique magazine that would be useful for first time buyers that want glamorous interior, on a budget. I thought the magazine was so good and I'm not just saying that because I came up with the idea and then created the mag from scratch. I honestly think that many girls buying a house would purchase this magazine because if you think about it, what interior magazines are out there for our age group? Ermmm literally none, so I think this is a really good idea!

As you can imagine, creating a magazine from scratch and all by myself took MONTHS! Yes, months, quite literally! So, it's really nice to finally chill out and return back to my lovely blogging world.

I contacted the Editor of Glamour magazine and informed her of this interior magazine and she was very keen for me to come in and show it to her. I need to email her back but it's such a massive and scary thing... aggghh!

I've definitely decided that I want a break away from Journalism for a few years and chill out before starting my career. I mean, the thought of leaving my student lifestyle and going into a full time position just seems like absolute hell to me. Many of my Uni friends are going travelling and taking more time out to just do what they want. For many people who work full time already and haven't experienced the student way of life, would probably read this in absolute horror, but nowadays this is what so many people are doing and it seems to be perfectly accepted.

A way that I relax is by lying on a sunbed for about 10 mins, closing my eyes and imagining i'm in Barbados or somewhere exotic, so I've decided that instead of splashing more cash that I don't have on alcohol and travelling the world, I will hopefully secure a job as an air hostess. I mean, spending endless days in the sun definitely appeals to me!

Sorry again for not blogging for a while but hopefully now I will be back to regular postings. If you have any specific topics that you would like me to cover then please just hollaaaaa!

Amy xx  

Glamour interior

As many of you already know, I am in my final year studying magazine journalism and feature writing at southampton Solent Uni. For my final major project (dissertation) I have chosen to create a brand extension for one of my favourite magazines, glamour! I decided to blend my passion for interior into this magazine and hence the name glamour interior. It's basically a magazine for young/ first time buyers on different ways to style their house on a budget.

I have only just started this project - left it extremely late in doing so and am consequently spending my entire life in the library now dedicated to this. 

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in this magazine then please do let me know! 

Here's what it looks like so far ...

Dreaming...

I've just had the best nights sleep ever and I've woke up remembering the lovely dream that I had, which is pretty unusual for me. 

Last night I had a nice hot, relaxing bath before sinking into my big double bed with fresh bed linen. It was heaven! 

I dreamt that I finished my degree and was thankfully able to wave goodbye to southampton and never return again. I was living in my own apartment and Glamour Interior - the brand extension magazine that I'm currently putting together for my FMP had taken off and Glamour had actually invested into it and I was obviously the editor. 

My life seemed bliss and what made my dream so good was that I jumped on a plane and headed to Australia. I've realised that my true happiness comes from doing the things I love, being in charge of my life and destiny as well as living in a baking hot climate. 

I saw this quote last night and thought it would fit nicely here 

You only live once so do what you want and have no limits! This little message really stood out for me and made me realise how I have been conforming to what's seen as normal and right in society. 

Start living today ....

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

VO5 heat defence

If you haven't already tried the VO5 heat defence cream then I strongly recommend you purchase this on your next shopping trip.

You can lay your hands on this product from virtually any store so it's definitely worth keeping your eye out for it! 

I've been using this product on my hair for many years now and absolutely love how it makes my hair feel. 

After towel drying my hair, I squeeze a 20p sized amount of this cream onto my fingertips and run it through the tips of my hair. I then blowdry it straight and my hair looks, feels and smells amazing! 

If you're looking for a heat protection, then look no further, this is the one! 

Enjoy! 

Different approach ...

Today is all about positivity, hope and believing in yourself. 

As many of you are already aware, 6 months ago my heart was completely torn out by a person who I thought loved me more than anything in the entire world. We had a beautiful home together and I was blissfully unaware of what was going through his head. My ex partner dumped me over the phone and gave me no reason for the split, consequently we had to move out of our home and I was left to find Student accommodation just 1 week before I started my final year at university.

For 6 months I couldn't stop thinking why he had done this to me and taken away everything that we had together. I was torturing myself and crying practically every night, so after half a year apart I decided to go to his office which was a 3 hour walk from where I lived, but I did it. I got lost on the way so I asked a kind man working in a butchers for directions and he drew me a very helpful map. However, this map took me into a dual carriageway and by the time I realised where I was, I knew that there was no other way but to walk on this road. I felt like an absolute weirdo but I had been walking for such a long time at that point and I was only 5 minutes away so I just had to do it, even if that meant risking my life! 

I felt like singing that song: 'Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep from you!' But we're not even together and before you even think it, yes I'm fully aware of how sad, pathetic and humiliating I am haha.

Seeing Lloyd was really nice but I am now able to be free of my depressive self as I finally have closure on the situation that's been hanging over me for so long. I know that we will never be together again so it's time for me to move on. 

After feeling such a low, it makes you appreciate everything else in life so much more. This post is all about positivity and a bright future, and it all starts with a smile. 

Now it's time to take a different approach to my life and take the route of happiness! I'm never allowing a man to enter my life and make me feel so worthless and sad because it's not worth it one bit. I found two small messages that truly sum up how my ex felt about me and looking back, I'm glad it's over. 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Positivity

It's a Monday morning, and for many people, today is their least favourite day. For me, Mondays are a fresh new start, a day where we can begin the week positive and are able to leave last week behind us. 

This post is all about positivity - as you can tell! I've woke up feeling happy and content and wanted to share the love, so if you're currently sat on a train/ bus travelling to work and reading this, then smile and have hope that today you will achieve goals, work hard, but most of all do it happy because when you're happy, you can achieve so much more. 

I remember when I was at school and sat next to this guy I liked. I was so happy that my work truly reflected that. Now, I'm not saying that guys are the answer because I know they're not, but wherever you are, and whatever you're doing, do it with a smile today! 

Amy xxx