Photos That Make Me Happy...

Hi everyone!

So I am back! :) 

I try to promote happiness on my blog and in my life as much as possible, so today I decided to do my post on ten photos that make me happy! Leonie actually did this post a couple of months ago and I thought it was a really cute and unique idea, so all credit does go to her for this one!

So I guess due to me kinda stealing this blog idea from Leonie, my first photo should really include her! This photo was taken before we travelled to London for the second Miranda Sings Show in August this year. I remember being so exhausted as we only had about 4/5 hours sleep the night before but equally being super excited to meet Colleen again. This is one of my favourite pictures of us and one of my favourite memories together, I wish we could do our London weekend all over again!

My second picture is of my friends dog, Mia! We had just got our conservatory re-done and the floor was brand new which is why the room looks so empty! I was having breakfast before work and I turned around to see her sat waiting for me with her toy in her mouth. I couldn't resist taking a quick snap because she looked so damn cute! I did then play with her as she waited so patiently for me.

Following on from my first picture, the third picture that makes me happy is the one with Colleen. These were actually taken at the second show where I asked her to be Colleen for pictures and not Miranda. The pictures from the first show are horrible so I'm really happy that these ones turned out better! I have so many fond memories from this weekend and actually being able to meet one of my favourite people makes it even better!

The fourth photo that makes me really happy is of my friend, Annabel, and I during our Halloween themed weekend at work. Everyone makes fun of us and calls us Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum because we do everything together and can be quite annoying (oops!). So we decided that it would be funny to play on that idea and actually come to work dressed as those characters. We didn't tell anyone our idea and just turned up together in our outfits. We also tried and failed to do everything together, we were on the same till points and tried to walk in sync. I think my favourite thing was to see the customers reactions, the majority of them just stared at us but didn't say a word.

The fifth picture is kind of random, but it is a picture of my feet in some leaves. Autumn/Winter is my favourite time of year, I love the colours, I love the fashion and I love the cold days! Christmas and my birthday are also during this period which makes me so happy! I'm also a huge photography nerd so I love going out with my camera and capturing Autumn at its best!

The sixth picture is of Amelia, Leonie and I at Capital's Summertime Ball last year. I love this picture but I love the memories that go alongside it more. We travelled up to London together by train which was...an experience lets say! I had so much fun with my best friends listening to some of our favourite artists, and it is a day that I would very much love to repeat!

I took the seventh picture while I was on holiday in America last year. We went on a mini road-trip and one of the places we stayed was Boston. We went Whale watching for the afternoon and it was such an amazing experience! We saw so many Whales up close, including a calf! I think seeing nature in its natural habitat is really cool and is something I will never forget!

My eight picture was taken a couple of Christmas' ago when I went to my aunties house for our annual Christmas family weekend. I had to take some portrait images for a photography project I was working on and these two cuties couldn't stop posing for me! This is still one of my favourite pictures as Evie and Thomas both look so happy!

My ninth picture that makes me happy is a picture of a picture! Leonie and I took these Polaroids on New Years Eve last year. I remember this day so vividly and how happy I was to be seeing the New Year in with my very best friend. We ordered pizza, exchanged Christmas gifts and laughed a lot! We also filmed the Yoga Challenge for my Youtube channel which is one of my all time favourite videos as it makes me cry with laughter every time!

My final image is of the New York City skyline taken from the Rockefeller Building. I like the picture itself as you can see the whole city so well but it also brings back so many happy memories. I've wanted to go to New York ever since I was little, practically begging my parents to go and this year they surprised me with plane tickets for my 18th Birthday! Safe to say I cried like a baby! I loved New York and am dying to go back again!

I hope you enjoyed this post, its slightly different to my usual posts.

Ellie xx

Instagram: cottoncxndyheart

Taking a break...

Hey everyone!

So I took a little break from blogging and from the internet in general as my life has got super hectic. I also started to feel very overwhelmed with everything that has been going on so I thought the best option would be to slow down and only do the things I needed to do.

However...I am now back and will resume posting with my normal schedule of every Thursday at 6pm starting next week! 

If you want more daily posts then be sure to follow my instagram: cottoncxndyheart

Ellie xx

September Favourites...

Hi Everyone!

So it's that time again where I show you some of the things that I have been loving in the month of September. This month has been really busy for me so trying to juggle work, blogging and YouTube has been somewhat difficult. I'm trying my best so bear with me!

So the first items on my are beauty related (shock!)

The first item on my list is Ariana Grande's new perfume called "Sweet Like Candy". This is her third fragrance in her line after Ari and Frankie, unfortunately you can't get Frankie in the Uk so I was super happy when I saw Sweet Like Candy in stores here! I bought the 50ml bottle for £30 from Boots. This was on special promotion when I got it which meant I also got a water bottle and some fluffy pyjama shorts for free! The perfume has a sweet scent and is quite long lasting on the skin. If you want a full review on this product, then just click here.

My second favourite this month is the Garnier 24hr Hydrating Face Cream enriched with Rose Water. I only got this because it was part of a promotion when you bought a micellar cleansing water, but I am very happy with the purchase. It leaves your skin feeling very soft and hydrated. If you have dry skin like me, then you will definitely love this product, my face feels moisturised for the whole day. I have also noticed a change in my skin since using it, my skin no longer feels tight or dehydrated.

I'm now going to move onto fashion items. The one thing I have been obsessed with this month are bomber jackets! I picked up a thin sateen jacket in the sale from New Look for £12. It has cream sleeves and a black body with floral print, I'm totally in love with it! It's coming into autumn now, my favourite time of year, which means jackets are becoming a necessity but thick winter coats aren't. This jacket is perfect to throw on for those chilly mornings but still thin enough to not make you overheat during the day.

Due to my love of this jacket, I treated myself to a thicker bomber jacket, again from New Look for £24.99. I got it in a deep burgundy colour, perfect for Autumn. It goes really well with any outfit and is super warm.

Another favourite of mine this month are these 'Old Skool' Vans my Dad got me from America. I've been wanting these for ages after living in my Disney vans and I'm so happy that they didn't let me down! I chose to get them in black to make them more versatile outfit wise. They are so comfy and I wear them all the time.

My next favourite is a bit random, and that is Oreos! Again, I asked my dad to pick me up some Oreos from America as they do lots of crazy flavours that we don't have over here. I asked for Birthday Cake and Cinnamon Bun flavour. I only asked for two and my Dad went a bit over board with 6 packets, I mean it's safe to say that I didn't complain!

My final favourites are music favourites!

The first is Defying Gravity from the musical, Wicked. I have been obsessed with this song ever since I saw Colleen perform and now I am constantly singing it. When I'm doing things around, I will randomly burst into song - kinda embarrassing really!

My next music favourite is Jason's Song (Gave it Away) by Ariana Grande, let me tell you that this song is a bop! I can't stop listening to it!

So those were my favourites, what were yours?

Ellie xx

Instagram: cottoncxndyheart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/featured

Introducing...Boots Emporium!

Hi everyone!

So today I wanted to talk about something very exciting which is happening at Boots! Available in 30 stores and online is the brand new Boots Beauty Emporium!

The Emporium is a premium beauty area which displays all the latest products and trends to always keep you up to date. It also has lots of different makeup and skincare tips. These are displayed via the electronic screens which also show clips from London Fashion Week and advertise new products. The main aim of the Emporium is too experiment with the latest trends and brands in beauty right now.

The whole feel of the Emporium is very luxury with white surfaces and mirrored sides. It feels clean and smart, making it very appealing to its target audience. Following the beauty theme, the Emporium has specific stations set up for customers to have makeovers and advice from consultants from Benefit and No7. This includes the opportunity to try out the No7 match made service - something I would really recommend!

Moving through the Emporium, you will find the "Test and Play" station. This consists of key makeup essentials for lips, eyes, eyebrows and nails. All products are laid out neatly to make it super easy to find the product perfect for you. Testers are also available to help you make the right choice. On the shelves below, you will find a range of makeup brushes and bags to go with your chosen product. I think this completes the whole shopping experience.

One of my favourite areas of the Emporium is the "build your own palette" station. This side has a huge array of eyeshadows (£2 each) and highlighters, blushes and contours (£3 each), all from a brand called Makeup Obsession which appears to be very similar to Makeup Revolution. The colours are really pretty and the product is super pigmented. You can either buy them all individually or buy an empty palette to put them in. The palettes come in two sizes to fit 12 and 6. The type of palette available does vary between store, but the full range is available online at Boots.com.

Next to this, you will also find beauty miniatures from Benefit and Estee Lauder, which you can buy 3 for £25 along with your chosen gift box - an ideal present!

Moving along to the final area of the Emporium, and one I am most excited for - the gift wrapping/engraving station! It is here where the personalised present ideas really come in to play! Any product you buy in-store can be engraved for an extra £3. You can engrave anything from someone's name, too a long Christmas message. I think this adds such a special touch as is makes the product more unique to its recipient.

The engraving does work best on glass objects such as perfume bottles but equally makes plastic and metal objects look great too. Whether you engrave a gift for a friend or make your own makeup collection more unique too you, the engraving machine is really worth checking out!

Personalised ribbon is another great way to make a gift more special to receive. You can write any message onto a ribbon (maximum 75 characters) and print off to fit either a small (£4), medium (£5) or large (£6) gift box. The colours come in pink or grey.

 Adding a more personal touch to a perfect gift will really make someones day.

Whether your store has the full Emporium or just a gondola end, I would really recommend checking the products out. Its the ideal opportunity with Christmas just around the corner. You can find out more details at Boots.com/Emporium where you can also watch tutorials on the latest beauty trends.

Don't forget to share your look by using #BootsBeauty on Instagram to be in with the chance of appearing on the selfie wall!


Ellie x

Ariana Grande: Sweet Like Candy Perfume Review...

Hey everybody!

So I recently picked up Ariana's new perfume 'Sweet Like Candy' after waiting for ages for it to be released in the Uk. I already have her other perfume, 'Ari', which I love, so I had high hopes for this one too. I got the 50ml bottle which retails for £30 at Boots.

I think the packaging for this product is really cute! She is still following the same theme with all her perfume bottles which I think brings the brand together nicely. I like that you can take the pom pom off of the bottles, this makes it easier for travelling and allows you to put the pom pom on other things if you wish too. The only downfall which the packaging for 'Sweet Like Candy', is that you cannot see into the bottle. Therefore you have no idea when you are running out, so you just have to guess. This is an inconvenience but it wouldn't put me off buying the product.

The scent is a lot sweeter compared to her first perfume and again is quite hard to describe. I find that this perfume also lasts a lot longer on your skin compared to her other one. This is better as you are getting more for your money because you are not wasting as much product. I don't know whether Ariana has changed the formula to make it more long lasting or if it is due to the scent being a lot sweeter and stronger.

When you buy the 50ml or 100ml 'Sweet Like Candy' perfume from Boots, you also get a free gift. You get some super cosy pyjama shorts, they are so fluffy and warm I'm obsessed! You also get a water bottle that says 'Team Ariana' on the side. The gift is subject to availability so you have to be quick if you want it!

Overall, I love this new perfume and would definitely would recommend it. 

Ellie xxx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/videos
Instagram: cottoncxndyheart

The Liebster Award...

Hi everyone!

So I was recently nominated by Leonie for the Liebster award, which is basically a tag where you share 11 facts about yourself and then you answer 11 questions that the previous blogger has left you. So thank you Leonie for nominating me!

The rules for the tag are:

1. Post 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer 11 questions that the nominator has asked
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers
4. Give them 11 questions to answer
5. Let the blogger know that you have nominated them

So lets get started!

11 facts about me:

1. I have green/blue eyes and medium length light brown hair, I'm actually growing my hair because I want to cut it and send it to a charity that make wigs for poorly children!
2. I love photography and am always taking pictures wherever I go.
3. I would love to travel more and I would love to go back to America again soon.
4. I love the whole Ballinger family and I met Colleen, Rachel, Gwen, Tim and Kory in London exactly one month ago, which made me very happy!
5. My favourite tv shows are Dance Moms, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Made in Chelsea.
6. I love Ariana Grande and I hope to get tickets to see her on her European tour.
7. I am constantly singing and I love to belt out Disney songs when I'm home alone.
8. People used to think that Leonie and I were twins, even our teachers would get us muddled, so we played along to confuse everyone.
9. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with, it makes me so happy.
10. I love to cook and bake in my spare time.
11. I am a huge animal fan and I am convinced that I am going to be a crazy dog lady when I'm older.

11 questions for me:

1. Who is someone that inspires you?

Okay so you probably know the answer to this one...Colleen Ballinger-Evans. She is always so positive and spreads happiness all the time which I think is so important. She takes time out of her day to interact with fans which not a lot of people do. When I met her, she was the exact same person you see in videos, there is nothing fake about her at all. However, I also get inspired by the people around me. I like to surround myself with positive people that make me a better person.

2. If you were to create another blog, what do you think it would mainly be about?

That is a difficult one because I don't think it would be any different to this one. I would probably write some more posts that were inspiring or gave some more life advice as I personally love reading those types of posts.

3. What is one thing you aspire to be?

Happy.

4. Where is your phone right now?

Right next to me, charging. I am currently snapchatting Leonie.

5. When was the last time you proved yourself wrong?

I'm not too sure! I love when I get really nervous about something, or worry about about it a lot and then I do it and it's not as bad as I think. I like when I step out of my comfort zone and get over my shyness.

6. How many concerts have you been too?

5, soon to be 6. I have been too; Jessie J, One Direction, Radio 2 Festival in a day, Lily Allen and Capital Summertime Ball. I am seeing Shawn Mendes in June as well.

7. Which one are you? A pen writer or pencil writer?

Pen! I hate writing in pencil!

8. Are you excited or worried to see what the future will bring, why?

A bit of both. I'm worried because I have no clue what I want to do with my life but I am excited to travel, educate myself, laugh, love, work etc.

9. Would you describe yourself as a brave being or a fearful fella?
Again, I would say a bit of both. If you read my post about my fears, then you will know that I get scared easily. However, I can be quite brave when I want to be, when I'm in the right mindset, I love stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something that I wouldn't normally do.

10. Do you believe in Ghosts? If so, any spooky stories to tell?
Yes I do! I once saw a ghost in my bathroom, it didn't look like anything in particular, but it was almost like a cloud. It wasn't steam either as it was during the day and the shower hadn't been on. I also feel a presence looking over me and the candles flicker really weirdly in my room. I find ghosts and spirits quite interesting and I really want to do a Ouija board!

11. Have you ever overcame one of your fears?
There isn't a moment that really sticks out for me no, but I have got a lot braver when it comes to swimming in the sea. I can swim a bit more and don't feel quite as nervous, unless I'm on a pedalo or kayak away from the shore.

The 11 bloggers I nominate are:

Amy's Life
Geraldine's Wonderful World
Amy
Sarah Goswell
Lily Lea
Kirsty Angela
Charlotte
Laura
Izzy
Lauryn
Lexi

My 11 questions for you:
1. What is your dream job?
2. What is your biggest fear?
3. What is one song that makes you happy and that you can play over and over again?
4. Favourite memory during school/college/university?
5. Where in the world would you most like to travel too? Why?
6. Are there any bloggers that you love to read and inspire you?
7. If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
8. Favourite social media?
9. Who/what inspires you the most?
10. Favourite ice cream flavour?
11. What is one thing that you wish you could tell your younger self?

If I didn't tag you but you still want to do the tag, then you are more than welcome to use my questions.

Ellie xxx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/videos
Instagram: cottoncxndyheart

Things that made me happy this week...

Hi Everyone!

For me, I find being happy quite hard, and although I may always seem smiley and bubbly, the majority of time I'm not feeling like that on the inside. However, over the past 6 months, my happiness and confidence has improved so much which I think is mostly due to my job and the people I surround myself with. So I thought I would do a weekly blog post on things that have made me happy during the week to remind myself of things that have happened whenever I am feeling a bit down. I have found this week a bit difficult and I was fed up of feeling sad. So with that said, here are the things that made me happy this week...

• My Dad came home from America. He went away for a week to do a charity event in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I know he was only gone for a week, but my Dad and I are very close so I missed him a lot! He also bought home a tonne of crazy flavoured Oreos so that is a huge plus too! 

• I managed to get tickets to see Shawn Mendes in June at the O2. I'm going with Leonie and Annabel from work and 2 of her friends. I can't wait!

• Colleen Evans liked two of my tweets of me shading her and it made me laugh! I miss her a lot!

• Rachel Ballinger followed, liked my tweet and Dm'ed me four times on twitter and I couldn't stop shaking, she made me so happy!

• My manager at work was really impressed with some things I did at work and said some really nice things to me. She is always lovely but when your manager says that you're doing a good job then it kinda means a lot and made me very happy! So thanks Amy :)

• My Nan got some great news on her house which means she can now move closer to us. I'm so happy to see her more than I do now. I will most likely be round every other day for tea (sorry Nan!)

What has made you happy this week?

Ellie xx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie/featured

Instagram: cottoncxndyheart