MY TOP FIVE TIPS FOR AU-PAIRS

After my experience of being an Au-pair this summer I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog post which will help future Au pairs!

1. Your host parents are most likely going to give you some jam-packed schedule with exact times you must do this or you must do that. However, I must stress that no matter how much you try to keep to this schedule it is not going to happen. There is no way on this planet that the children are going to take exactly half an hour to have there breakfast or an hour to do their homework. Some days, most days, well in fact everyday they're going to go completely off schedule and that's okay! I've found that as long as I get everything done, who cares what order it's in or how long it took?

2. IMPORTANT! So, no one wants to be the strict Au-pair that the kids hate but you have to lay down some ground rules with them. In the first week be a little bit stricter and a little less fun just so you don't become wrapped around their little finger, cos believe me it can happen. 

3. If, like me, you're going to be an Au-pair in a country that you don't know the language be sure to learn a few key words and phrases to help you get by. It can be very overwhelming when you're constantly been spoken to in a language you do not understand and it can also be very frustrating for the kids. 

4. Make friends with other Au-pairs! I honestly cannot express enough how making friends with other girls in the same situation as me made this experience a whole lot better. You need to get out of the house in your free time, have fun and just feel normal again. Trust me, after a long week of taking care of the kids you'll be itching for some freedom. 

5. Be kind and respectful to your host parents. Remember that you are living in another persons house, yes they want you to feel at home and like part of the family but don't take that for granted. I was lucky, my host parents were amazing and we got on really well. 

Don't forget to have fun and stay positive! Being an Au-pair is what you make of it. So make it a enjoyable experience that you can look back on and be happy with. I hope you all have as much fun as I did! If you have any further questions about Au-pairing please leave them in a comment below, I would be happy to answer them.

Lots of love

Hayley x 

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YVES SAINT LAURENT AND No7 MAKE-UP HAUL

I cannot contain my excitement over the fact that I finally, finally bought YSL's Touche Eclat! So, not that long ago, I took myself on a little shopping trip specifically to get new face makeup as I felt that the products I was using were having a bad effect on my skin. I have a combination skin type and the sections of my face which are oily are very prone to spots if I am not using an oil-free foundation and concealer. So I bought these beauties. Expect reviews of these products very soon, I can't wait to try them!

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation and Match Made Concealer

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation - £13.50

No7 Match Made Concealer - £7.50

For my day-to-day foundation and concealer I did not want to buy products that were too expensive as I wear them so often that I know I'll finish them pretty quickly. No7's Beautifully Matte range is oil free and designed to minimize the appearance pores therefore leaving you with a more flawless complexion. Their Match Made concealer is a high coverage concealer, which again is oil-free and designed to erase the appearance of blemishes. They're both perfect for people who are prone to spots like me as it is not going to add to the oil in those areas of your face. 

YSL Touche Eclat

YSL Touche Eclat - £25.00

Unlike the other two products I am certainly not intending to wear my glorious YSL Touche Eclat on a day-to-day basis, it is too amazing for that. This is an illuminating concealer, it is not going to give you a high coverage on spots. However it is going to instantly brighten your under-eye area and highlight your best features! (This is not an oil-free product.)


Lots of love,
Hayley x

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REVIEW - THE BODY SHOP'S ALOE CALMING FACIAL CLEANSER

As a student I know all about the struggles of sticking to a budget and attempting to avoid the temptation of buying the expensive versions of things you need. So I thought it would be a good idea to write a new Beauty on a Budget blog post each time I find products that I really like and are budget friendly.

A couple of weeks ago I finally bought The Body Shop's Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser after reading a number of bloggers recommending The Body Shop's skincare range. The cleanser costs £8.50 for a 200ml bottle. 

I have sensitive skin and it is quite hard for me to find a budget friendly cleanser that doesn't aggravate my skin. So when I saw that this cleanser was especially suited to people like me, with sensitive skin I thought why not give it a go and see if it works? It is described on the bottle as a 'skin-kind lotion proven to cleanse without irritating' and as a customer I would agree with that statement.

I use the Aloe Calming Cleanser morning and night. It is very gentle and does not cause my skin to sting whatsoever which is a recurring problem I have had with a lot of other cleansers. My skin type is combination and I am quite prone to blemishes. However since using this product I have definitely saw an improvement in my skin. This cleanser is also good for removing face make-up however I would not recommend it as a way to take off your mascara.

Also, just as an added note, a really good thing about The Body Shop is that they often have offers on. The day I bought my cleanser it was actually half price! So I would definitely keep an eye out for these offers to grab yourself even more of a bargain.

Lots of love,

Hayley x

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HAIR UPDATE: I'M BLONDE AGAIN

One of my very first blog posts was a guide to DIY Hair Stripping. Although it did work, I can't imagine how long it would take to completely strip your hair using this process. However here is a link to the post for anyone who wants to give it a little read, and try it out. The post also gives a brief background on my hair colour history.

http://hayleysbubble.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/diy-hair-stripping-how-to-naturally.html

After using this method continuously for three weeks I went to Madrid to be an Au-pair, where I stopped this and instead let the sun work it's magic on my hair. Well, I say magic... Yes, it turned my the mid-lengths and ends of my hair blonde but it also made them very dry. Therefore I spent the last three weeks or so of my trip dreaming of nothing else but a hair cut. As you can tell I lead an exciting life if that's what I dream of! 

So that's what I did, I booked in for a cut and a full head of blonde highlights. I got foils, rather than the cap, and asked for a cool sandy blonde. I'm extremely pleased with the result and very glad I went to a professional. Although I am quite dreading the upkeep of it, I don't plan on going back dark anytime soon.

So that's my latest hair woos and woes, what's yours? 

Also, now I'm back from Madrid, I plan to keep my blog updated with weekly blog posts. I'm back to university next week so there will be lots going on so I'll have lots to post about! 

Lots of love,

Hayley x 
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So I'll Never Forget...

Today is my final day in Madrid and I still hadn't bought anything to keep as a lasting memory of the trip. However that was soon to change, whilst in a little shop in the town I am living in I spotted this bracelet. It is the colours of the Spanish flag and has a cute little elephant charm. It's perfect! I am even more pleased that I found it in a shop in the town I have lived in for 6 weeks, as it makes it even more significant. 

Lots of love,

Hayley x 

An Evening at The Royal Palace of Madrid

Well not quite... More like a quick 10 minutes of taking a few pictures after seeing the never ending queue to get inside. Nevertheless it was a beautiful palace to see. After seeing the palace me and my friend, who is a fellow Au Pair, endulged in some retail therapy and McDonald's eating before heading home. Find pictures of the palace below... 

Lots of love, 

Hayley x 

My Halfway Mark

Today is the halfway mark to my Madrid adventure. I have been here exactly 21 days. On one hand I can say that the time has flown past, I honestly don't know where the days have gone. On the other hand I feel like I left home months ago. That's probably just the homesickness kicking in though...

So far I have had an amazing time in Madrid. Being an Au Pair, I will obviously admit that some mornings I wake up feeling totally unprepared for the day ahead of me but then, on an evening I realise that I had nothing to worry about. After hearing some horror stories, I am grateful to have such a kind host family! 

So, I've got exactly three weeks left until I go home and I certainly plan to make the most of it! This evening I am going into Madrid with a few friends to do a bit of sightseeing, so I'll be sure to make a blog post about that with lots of pictures. 

Lots of love,

Hayley x 

I Visited Monasterio de El Escorial

On the drive from Madrid Airport to my host family's home, one of the first things my host mum told me was about Monasterio De El Escorial. It is one of the most famous renaissance architectures of Europe and was built in the 1500's. So this week my host family took me on an evening trip to see the monastery, and it certainly did not disappoint! It is beautiful. I walked around it for at least an hour just taking it all in. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I had the chance to visit it whilst in Madrid. 

 

Until next time,

Hayley x 

Madrid Adventures Week 1

I was told by a friend who was once an Au Pair that 'the first week is hard but you will get through it.' Here I am, 9 days in, and I'm alive and feeling pretty good! Yes I've dealt with tantrums and tears but I've also enjoyed playing games and getting to know the children I am looking after. 

On my days off I am able to explore the city of Madrid, and I do so with other Au Pairs that I meet through Facebook. (Sounds dodgy, I know, but it's legit!) On Sunday I visited Buen Retiro Park and Temple of Debod with two other girls. Here are some pictures that were taken on the day. 

I plan to write at least one blog post a week about my little Madrid adventure, and my experience of being an Au Pair. I would write more, however me and the internet connection here are not the best of friends...

Until next time.

Hayley x

I'M AN AU-PAIR

Sorry I haven't blogged since Monday, it's been a hectic week! Let me fill you in on what's been happening in my life...

On Wednesday, I traveled from my hometown in England to Madrid to be an Au pair for the remaining duration of summer. I must admit that I had very big expectations for this trip. In the lead up to my little adventure all I could think about was how much fun I was going to have. However, on my first day of working as an Au pair those thoughts vanished and were replaced with woes and worries. My main concern being the language. I will tell you now I do not speak Spanish therefore it was a little overwhelming when I was faced with a small army of aunties, uncles and grandparents speaking to me and I could not understand a word of what they were saying. 

Fortunately I am not someone to shy away from my thoughts and although it took a lot of courage on Thursday evening I spoke to my host mother and voiced my concerns. I'm very glad I did this because the following day was great! I am really being made to feel part of the family, I get along well with the children and parents and I am beginning to feel more settled in. 

I'm writing this blog post as I lay on my sun lounger by the pool, thoroughly making the most of my weekend off. It is paradise, minus the one too many wasps... Tomorrow I am meeting up with another Au pair in the city to explore together, so I will definitely make a blog post about it! (Which will hopefully be a little bit more exciting than this one.) 

That's about it for now, I think! 

Lots of love, 

Hayley X

My Three Holiday Beauty Essentials

Here are my three must have holiday beauty essentials. They're key to keeping me feeling refreshed and looking composed rather than, quite frankly, a humidity stricken, chaos.

Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Mist 

This gorgeous sweet fruity fragrance is my favourite odour for summer! My Mum bought me this a few months back and as soon as I smelt the fresh, dreamy and almost delicious scent, I knew that I had to save it for my holidays. This fragrance is quite strong however as it is so sweet it is not overpowering. Whenever I wear this it gets tons of compliments, which is always a good sign. Most importantly is that the scent stays with you pretty much all day! So I'd say this 100 ml bottle will certainly last at least 3 months and that's if you were wearing it everyday, not bad at all for £7.50. 

VO5 Smoothly Does It Frizz Free Creme

I can only describe my natural hair as a frizzy, curly and untamed mop with a mind of it's own. Over the years I have tried product after product and very few can keep my hair tamed in England's mostly miserable weather, never mind in a hot country! I picked this up in Tesco, specifically for my first holiday of this summer which was earlier this month, for something like £4 which is cheap for a syrum of it's kind. I must admit I was not expecting much purely due to my hairs history for being defiant against frizz taming hair products. However I was pleasantly surprised when I used it for the first time when in Barcelona and it worked just like it claimed to on the box! In the humid weather it kept my hair feeling soft and smooth until the next wash. I was so relieved that I didn't have to spend as much time as usual on my hair as I normally do when on holiday. 

Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser 

As I suffer from sensitive skin I am not very experimental with what moisturisers I use, especially for my face. Simple is a brand that specialises in sensitive skin so I often buy their products and I am yet to have a problem with them. I really love this rich moisturiser because it makes my face feel baby soft and keeps it replenished and moisturised all day. I also find it helps to ease breakouts and make them go away quicker, which is always good! 

Until next time,

Hayley x

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Barry M Lip Liner Review

Today's blog post is a review on the Barry M Lip Liner in shade Mulberry 9. 

Over the past year my love for lipstick has rapidly increased so I thought it was about time that I invested in some lip liners to go with my substantial amount of lipsticks... So about a month or two ago I headed to Superdrug to find a lip liner to start my collection. I wanted to buy one that was reasonably priced because well firstly I'm a student, and secondly I wasn't 100% sure whether I would like lip liner so I didn't want to spend too much just in-case. 

I ended up buying this Barry M Lip Liner in the shade Mulberry 9 for £2.99 which, I will tell you now, has become one of my most used pieces of make-up! Below is the colour on my hand and lips so you can see what the colour will actually look like. 

Pros

•  Lasts for a good 4-5 hours before it starts to fade
• Very pigmented so you do not have to spend ages building up the colour
• Can be worn as both a lipstick and lip liner
• Glides onto your lips smoothly
• Retails at £2.99
• Comes in a range of different colours from pinks to purples to nudes

Cons

• It does not have a fragrance 

All in all for £2.99 I think with this product you get your money's worth and more! I know that the next lip liner I will be adding to my collection is going to be Barry M's Lip Liner in the shade Tan. I hope you have enjoyed this post and that this review has been helpful to anyone on the search for a new lip liner.

Until next time,

Hayley x

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H&M Haul - Last minute bits from H&M before Madrid ☀️

On Wednesday I am travelling to Madrid to be an Au Pair for 6 weeks, which I will talk about in more detail in a blog post or two's time. It's going to be a completely new experience for me and I can't wait to meet my host family and explore the city. 

Today I went to my local city centre intending to get some euros and toiletries, but of course, I couldn't resist buying two last minute dresses to take away with me. Both of these dresses are from H&M and they only set me back by £19 well, £18.98 to be specific... Bargain ey! 

The first dress is this flowery smock dress which I actually bought in a size bigger to make it even more baggy for when I am abroad. That way it will keep me nice and cool in the scorching 30 degree heat. I am also lookin forward to wearing this dress in Autumn for university. This cost £14.99, the more expensive of the two but definitely my favourite.

The second dress I bought is actually a vest I think? Don't worry! I got it in a Large so that it is long enough to wear as a dress. At only £3.99 it is an absolute steal. I only wish there had been more colours as I would have definitely got a few more. 

This is such a small haul but I plan on doing lots more shopping in Madrid. So I'm trying to stop myself from buying things here otherwise my suitcase is certainly going to exceed the luggage weight on the return journey.... I'm ridiculously excited to go to Zara as I've heard it's amazing in Madrid! Expect bigger hauls in the very near future. 

Until next time,

Hayley x 

DIY Hair Stripping - How to Naturally Strip Hair Colour

In this blog post you will find...

Background - A little bit of information about my hair, how many times I have dyed it, how many colours it has been and why I wanted to strip it

What? - The products I use to naturally strip my hair

How? - The method I use to naturally strip my hair

Overall Opinion - Pretty much explains itself doesn't it

Background

For as long as I can remember I have never been happy with my hair colour. I'm one of those people who, as a child, had blonde hair which naturally darkened to a medium brown as I got older. Since I have dyed my hair lots of colours, some intentionally and some unintentionally... Red, purple, blonde, orange, green almost black and many shades of brown. You can probably guess the unintentional hair colours I have supported, where my hair dying skills have failed me... Orange and green! At this moment in time I have brown hair. Well I have bleached hair, which I dyed over brown after having a bit of a attempted home ombre disaster the day before I was due to go on holiday! My only option was to reach for the brown box dye and so I dyed my hair with L'Oreal Preference Mousse Absolue Permanant Hair Dye in the shade Natural Dark Brunette 400. I couldn't face going on holiday with a half blonde, a quarter orange and a quarter brown hair.

What?

It has now been three weeks since I dyed my hair dark brown and it has started to fade (yipee!!!) However, impatient little me has been doing some 'googling' into how to speed this fading process up at home. DIY hair stripping you could call it. The most commonly suggested method was anti-dandruff shampoo, bicarbonate of soda and vitamin C. So for the past two weeks I have been washing my hair four times a week with these three items. I can certainly say I have noticed a huge difference in my hair colour. The ends of my hair which were bleached blonde before I dyed it brown have really lightened up again, as has the top but not as dramatically as the ends. 

Unfortunately I haven't got any pictures of my dark brown hair without extensions in, but as you can see my hair completely matched my extensions and was a very dark brown. The picture on the right is my hair now, a medium brown on the top and dark blonde at the ends. 

How?

I'm no DIY hair stripping expert but I am under the impression you can buy whatever brand anti-dandruff shampoo, bicarbonate of soda and vitamin C tablets you fancy because they all do the same job, don't they. Here are some pictures of the ones I am currently using.

Before washing my hair I make the mixture. I firstly use a rolling pin to turn my vitamin C tablets into a fine powder, I then add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda and a generous amount of anti-dandruff shampoo and then I mix it all together. I then proceed to the bath or shower to wash my hair. I use it as I would shampoo, I layer it on, leave it for a few minutes and then rinse it off. However I have read other blogs where people put the mixture on their heads, wrap it in clean film to keep the heat in and leave it on anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour. Although I would recommend doing it the gradual way, as I am, because I find even when I leave it on for 5 minutes my hair can be left feeling very dry... So don't forget to use plenty of conditioner afterwards, and even use an intense conditioning mask on your hair once a week to keep it looking nice and glossy!

Overall Opinion

I would definitely recommend this DIY Hair Stripping method to anyone who's had a hair disaster or has lots of colour build up and doesn't want to:

A) Spend a fortune at the hairdressers
B) Use chemicals to strip their hair

It is obviously not going to give you an overnight result BUT I can see a change in my hair after two weeks, so it's proving to be not too long of a process. 

I hope this blog has helped anyone like me who's indecisive and can't keep their hands off home box dyes... I am 99% sure that in a months time I will have changed my hair colour yet again and I will be here writing another blog post about it!

Until next time,
Hayley x
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A Snippet of Hayley

I suppose you could call me someone who jumps in with both feet, dives in head first, an eager beaver; as my very young self may have embarrassingly said. Once I cook up an idea in my head I am determined to pursue it. I guess this could be an explanation as to why this is my third attempt at blogging. I highly anticipate the start of something, but I tend to shy away from the end. What does this say about me? It could be that I have the attention span of an ant, or it could be something much more complex than that. Although my bet is on the first option. It is most likely that I, a self-professed fidget, has the attention span of an ant.

I am a third year student studying Public Relations. This so meaning that my time at university is soon coming to an end. Oh how I will miss living off chicken nuggets, chips and microwave meals. Having nights out and lie-ins. Glorious Sky TV where I can watch reality TV and soaps until my heart is content. However to me what is most important is the amazing friends I have made along the way. I plan on making the most of my last year at university, before I am ready to face the big and wonderful world.

Here I will write about things I like, things I don't like, things that intrigue me and things that confuse me. Significant events in my life and all the other little things in between. Popular culture, travel, fashion, beauty, public relations and anything else that tickles my fancy!

Well that's me, this is my blog and here is a silly picture of me in Spain...

Until next time,
Hayley x 
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