1 Year Blog Birthday...

Although I originally started to blog back in September 2012, I never fully committed myself to it, as I was going through my final year of GCSE's. I continued to blog on and off right up until June 2014 however, this continued to be very sporadic often going weeks months without blogging because after GCSE's came A-Levels which again took up a lot of time.

Once I'd finished my A-Levels in June 2014 and with a lot of free time on my hands until I started university, I decided I wanted to get back into blogging but this time to do it properly which meant getting more organised and blogging more frequently. This lead to me completely revamping my blog, giving myself a new URL and layout and getting myself a blog diary.

From June 30th 2014, I've managed to blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday so that's why I'm classing June 30th as my official blog birthday! 

'Happy 1st Birthday That Northern Gal!'

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Fringing, fringing everywhere...

This season, the 70's are in full swing (quite literally too!) the Spring/Summer catwalks were booming with fringing from hemlines to handbags and even shoes it's certainly one of the biggest trends of the season. Below, I've put together some of my favourite pieces from the high street to inject a bit of fringe into your wardrobe this season.

1. White Crochet Waistcoat | Miss Selfridge | £24.50

2. Suede Fringe Gilet | Topshop | £85

3. Cream Fringed Hem Shell Top | New Look | £29.99 

4. Black Leather Fringed Heels | New Look | £29.99

5. Tan Suede Fringe Bag | Miss Selfridge | £35

6. Fringe Mom Shorts | Topshop | £38

The fringing trend is definitely my favourite of the 70's trends that are circulating the high street right now. Are you loving it as much as me? If not let me know your fave!

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This Month's Playlist: June...

Here we are once again, at the end of another month, meaning its time for a round up of what I've been listening too (see last month's here). I haven't really been listening to anything in particular, often just putting the radio on whilst I get ready. 

Ariana Grande - My Everything | Although this album came out last year, I've never actually listened to it properly until this month. I don't really listen to much pop music, but I'm loving this album from Ariana. The majority of the album is very upbeat and just generally puts me in a good mood however, there are also a few calmer songs. My favourite tracks are 'One Last Time', 'Best Mistake', 'Be My Baby', 'Break Your Heart Right Back', 'Love Harder' and 'Just a Little Bit of Your Heart' (so pretty much the whole album!)

Florence & the Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful | At the end of May, Florence's third album was finally released and its just as amazing as I was expecting. I love her previous two albums and this one has not disappointed. I've already featured this in my April playlist, as I loved the tracks she released from the album before its official release. My favourite tracks from the album are 'What Kind of Man', 'St Jude', 'Queen of Peace'  and 'Third Eye'.

Let me know what you've been listening to below!

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A basic item but a wardrobe staple...

"I'm like every other woman: a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear: So I wear jeans." 

- Cameron Diaz

Jeans, everybody loves them. Pretty much everyone has a pair (or 20 in my case) in their wardrobe. Whether they're dressed up or dressed down they're a staple item to have and with the huge variety of styles and colours available (who knew there were so many shades of blue denim?!) there's something for everyone.

All jean lovers will have their favourite store to go to for their jeans; some will rave about Topshop, others Zara and others Primark but my favourite has got to be Miss Selfridge (my personal favourites are the STEFFI High Waisted!)

Here are my top picks from Miss Selfridge...

1. STEFFI Black High Waisted Jeans // £34

2. ESTHER White Boyfriend Jeans // £38

3. STEFFI Pretty Blue High Waisted Jeans // £34

4. LIZZIE Black Razor Knee Jeans // £38

5. LIZZIE Blue Shredded Jeans // £40

What is your favourite store for buying jeans?

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FAVOURITE FILMS | Chick Flicks...

At the beginning of this month, I shared with you my favourite musicals; today, I'm sharing my favourite chick flicks with you all of which are perfect for a girly night in alone or with friends.  

BRIDESMAIDS

THE NOTEBOOK

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

THE SWEETEST THING

 PITCH PERFECT

SHE'S THE MAN

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU

 ROMMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

 SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS

There's quite a few more I could add to this list but it's already a pretty big one! Let me know your favourite chick flicks below!

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Review: The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask...

If you've been a follower of my blog for a while, one thing you've probably noticed, is that I'm a huge fan of The Body Shop. The latest product I've been trying from them is their Warming Mineral mask and I've got to say, it's one of my favourite products I've ever bought from them.

This kaolin clay cleansing mask, infused with ginger and cinnamon oil draws out impurities and deeply cleanses the skin leaving your face feeling clean and revitalised. Despite being a clay mask, it isn't drying in the slightest as the mask itself doesn't dry unlike the Seaweed Mask. 

After applying this mask, you will immediately feel a warming sensation (so don't be alarmed) I actually really like the sensation it gives and find it very relaxing and spa like, perfect for nights when you want to pamper yourself. 

I apply a generous layer of this all over my face once a week after cleansing whilst I have a bath however, if I'm feeling a bit congested throughout the week, I'll apply it on my nose and chin which immediately refreshes the skin. 

As someone with sensitive skin, I haven't had any issues with this mask so it's definitely one I'll be repurchasing and at £10 it's a bargain! 

Verdict

Statistics

Skin Type: All

Application: Fingers

Size: 100ml

Cost: £10.00

Positives

-Great for calming breakouts/reducing breakouts

-Unclogs pores

-Refreshing

-Only need a small amount for the whole face

-Nice packaging (travel friendly)

-Affordable

-Nice scent (well to me!)

Negatives

-None

Have you tried this face mask? What's your favourite Body Shop mask?

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Gym Starter Kit...

At the beginning of this month, I finally got my ass into gear and re-joined the gym. As it's been quite a while since I was at the gym, I decided it was time to get myself some new gym gear as I'm a firm believer that if you feel good and look good, you'll be more confident in the gym.  

1 | Work Out Leggings (Adidas Response 3/4 Tights £30) | I opted for 3/4 leggings as opposed to long ones as I personally find them easier to work out in and more comfortable. These one's from Adidas are made from Climalite which is a fabric that sweeps sweat away from your skin helping your remain cool in the gym and not all gross. 

2 | T-Shirts (Nike Burnout Tee £25) | There are lots of different styles of T-Shirts out there but I wanted some that where loose fitting and a little bit longer at the back these ones from Nike were exactly what I was after. 

3 | Trainers (Miss Guided £20) | I wasn't overly fussed about splashing out £70 on a fancy pair of trainers so when I came across these ones on Miss Guided, I knew I had to have them. They're comfortable and light weight and also a lot more stylish than some high street trainers out there.

4 | Sports Bra (New Balance £12.99) | It doesn't matter whether your boobs are small or large, a sports bra is a must for working out as everybody needs a bit of support! I love this New Balance one as its created from a fast-drying material and has great moisture regulation whilst giving the support needed.   

What are your workout essentials?

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Review: Stila 'Eyes are the Window' Palette in Spirit...

No matter how many neutral eye shadows I add to my collection, there will always be room for more, that's what comes with being a neutral addict especially when they're in the form of beautiful palettes like this delightful number from Stila.

Over the last few years, Stila has become a lot more popular in the UK yet despite this, I struggled to find this palette (I couldn't find it in any stores selling Stila) then one day as I was browsing Very Exclusive, there is was and I knew I had to have it especially when I had a discount code for 30% off!

I'd say this palette is a mix of both warm and cool shades, although definitely more warm. There are 12 shadows in total 10 metallic/frost finishes and 2 matte encased in a stunning rose gold case. The texture, pigmentation and blendability is incredible, even the lightest shades have amazing payoff. They also have great longevity on the eyes before becoming a bit dull (I'd say at least 8 hours). One thing to be wary of is just how delicate these shadows are, unfortunately, when my palette arrived, the dark blue shade has shattered and gone into the other shadows luckily, I was able to salvage it.

Here's an overview of the shades:

 Kitten - Champagne

Puppy - Soft Brown

Pigalle - Rusty Red

 Oasis - Pale Gold

Jezebel - Copper

Barefoot - Warm Brown

 Wheat - Yellowy Gold

Golightly - Bronze

Espresso - Deep Grey

Chinois - Creamy Off White

Slate - Grey

Pewter - Deep Bluey Grey

Overall, I am really enjoying using this palette, in particular, Kitten all over the lid for a simple day-to-day look. You can find this palette for £30 on Very Exclusive or why not take a look at the others in the collection: Soul, Body and Mind.

What do you think of this palette?
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Splurge or Save #2...

Today's post is another 'Splurge or Save' where I share with you a collection of drugstore products that are pretty damn similar to their high end sisters for a fraction of the price, so whether you want a bargain or something a little more pricey there's something for you.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar // £39

I Heart Makeup Chocolate Palette // £7.99

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush // £28

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush // £8.99

Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish // £15

Models Own HyperGel // £4.99

Maybelline Color Tattoo // £4.99

Make Up Forever Aqua Cream // £17

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight // £19

No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter // £9.95

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural // £22

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder // £3.99

If you'd like to see my previous 'Splurge or Save' post click here. Let me know what products you think make good dupes! 

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Father's Day Gift Guide...

Sunday 21st of June is Father's Day and lets face it, buying for men can be difficult extremely difficult. So if you're stuck for ideas on what to buy your dad or the father figure in your life, I've put together a few suggestions.

1. Cadbury Chocolate Hamper // £20

2. Amazon Fire HD Tablet // £89

3. Fragrance Gift Set // Prices Vary

4. Virgin Experience Day // Prices Vary

What will you be buying your dad for Father's Day?

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Review: First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads...

Exfoliating acids are all the rage at the moment but after a painful experience with Alpha H Liquid Gold last year, I was pretty afraid of trying others. After becoming more and more frustrated with my skin, I knew I had to try out some more and thought it would be best to start with a safer option - that's where First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads come in!

So what are they? They are pre-soaked pads containing glycolic and lactic acids to help exfoliate the skin, cumber and Indian gooseberry to tone skin and lemon peel and liquorice root to brighten the skin. What's great is they don't contain any nasty and unnecessary chemicals meaning they're ideal for sensitive skin like mine.  

I've been using these pads every night since April the 9th and I officially ran out last night meaning I've had enough time to see how they work with my skin. 

First things first, when I wipe these pads over my face, I feel pretty much nothing at all not even a tingle (unless I have an open wound) meaning they really are super gentle. Since using these pads, I've definitely noticed that my other products like serums and moisturisers apply better and that my skin has a slight glow, unfortunately, I haven't really noticed much difference in terms of my skins overall quality, I still have occasional dry patches and pesky under skin bumps (although there definitely are fewer of these!)

As much as I have enjoyed using this product, I have decided to move onto Pixi Glow Tonic which is slightly stronger but still gentle because although I have sensitive skin, these pads just don't give my skin the kick its needs. However, I'd definitely purchase these again if my skin reacts badly to the glow tonic. 

  

The First Aid beauty Radiance pads are available in pots of 28 or 60 and would be great for somebody like myself who is relatively new to the world of exfoliating acids as they make a great starting point to see how your skin handles things (don't jump in at the deep end with something like Liquid Gold.) 

The only thing I wish is that First Aid Beauty would sell the solution that these pads are soaked in separately so you could put it onto your own cotton pad and would last longer! 

Have you tried these radiance pads? What did you think of them?

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SHOP THE POST

FEEL UNIQUE // LOOK FANTASTIC // BEAUTY BAY

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Drugstore Products I'll Continue to Repurchase...

As much as I enjoy trying out different products from the drugstore, there's definitely a few I'll continue to repurchase. One thing you'll notice is they're all base products which mainly comes down to the fact that once I find base products that work with my skin, I very rarely change them.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99) | Don't get me wrong I love my higher end foundations, especially Nars Sheer Glow but on a day to day basis and even for special occasions, I'll often reach for True Match. This foundation has a smooth, silky texture and leaves my skin looking matte but with a luminous finish. It has a nice medium coverage but it can be built up for a fuller coverage. It also has great wear time - I find it lasts a good 6-8 hours. You can read my full review here.

Collection Concealer £4.19 | Pretty much every beauty fanatic raves about this concealer and I myself am one of those! The cover of this concealer is incredible, I use a light shade to highlight my under eyes and cover my dark circles and a one to match my foundation for pesky blemishes. The coverage is so amazing only a tiny amount is required. I definitely must be on about my 8th tube of this. 

Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer £10 | Yep, another concealer but another incredible one. Although I use the Collection one to cover blemishes, this one comes in handy when I need a bit of extra coverage when I have bad break outs. 

I love love love these three face products and think they're incredible for drugstore products, even better than some highend ones I've tried. I'll continue to repurchase these products as long as the brands don't discontinue them (fingers crossed!) Let me know below what products you'll continue to repurchase from the drugstore. 

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FAVOURITE FILMS | Musical Edition...

If there's one things I love, its sitting down and watching a musical; I've loved them since I was a little girl and despite the fact I'm tone deaf, its always great to sing along! Here's some of my favourites (be warned its GIF heavy!)...

BURLESQUE

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

DIRTY DANCING

FOOTLOOSE

 GREASE

MAMMA MIA

There are so many more musicals that I like but this post would be far too long so I've only included my main favourites. 

Let me know your favourite musical below!

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