Probably since turning a teenager was when I first noticed my skin being an issue. I sometimes feel I have been a bit harsh and under appreciative of my skin because in hindsight it has not been nearly as bad as some. I have never suffered from acne, other than the odd spot and I know I have been very lucky for that. However, I have had visible, enlarged pores, a very oily t-zone, patchy colouring and raised skin coloured bumps which have all contributed to my skin looking uneven, unsmooth and not very fresh looking. After trialling and testing a large number of screams, treatments, scrubs and washes to try to fix the problem without any luck, throughout my teens I stopped the skincare and turned to covering up the problem with make-up. Looking back, I think this only made the problem worse when I could have been treating it if I had kept up a skin care routine. 

I'm writing this now becauase I am going through one of those phases where I am completely stuck on what to blog about. I haven't posted in a while and feel bad for neglecting my blog in favour of university and work lately, and now I'm too busy to create big set ups and can't be bothered to take pictures for an outfit post. I've been looking for inspiration from other blogs, Pinterest etc and now have a few ideas I can make happen over the next few posts. Since I was looking for help, I thought I'd make a post offering that help to my future lazy-blogger self. Hopefully someone else can benefit from this list too.

1. Latest buys or month favourites

This can just be a mini haul of everything you have bought recently. If you're strapped for time or bother, just pick your favourite buys, readers aren't going to mind if you forget to picture your Head & Shoulders shamp. If you're feeling super lazy, lay our your items on a clear space (I like to use the wooden flooring and turn it white using Facetune), take a group shot for the head image and maybe zoom in on a couple of the products for a few extra pics. Bash in a few opinions and post! Quick and easy!

2. Life hacks

Maybe you've come across a really cool idea that makes your life a little bit easier, or a cheap and easy way to make your bedroom look hella' marble, share it with your readers! I'm actually planning a post about thrifting and upcycling. This is really easy as it doesn't require much thought, just a quick explanation of whatever your hack is and maybe a picture or two. If it is something you can't physically picture, lay out of couple of your posessions or pretty products. If it is to do with blogging, maybe include your laptop, iPad, a notebook and pen or something like that - love all that stationary shiz.

3. Going somewhere? 

If you're going on holiday or just a weekend away, while you're packing, take some pictures! I love to see what people take away with them and how they do this. With spring/summer coming along, this is gonna be a post most of us are gonna wanna read and create. 

4.  Been somewhere?

Whether it was just a trip out for the day, visiting a beach, a country walk or a shopping day, take some snaps, upload them all and give your readers a little diary entry about your day out. If you want, take an outfit post to go with it. If you can't do it yourself with a tripod or something, just get someone else to take it. I find simply turning away from the camera, looking into the distance or into a shop window, is a quick and easy way to get a decent outfit post without having to endure 100's of retakes because your lipstick wasn't on right. 

5. Review something unusual

 If you're used to reviewing makeup products and are getting fed up with the usual 'it blends well, it's pigmented' etc, which can get a bit repetative and uninspiring, do a special review on something completely different. In the past I have reviewed my dressing table with lots of pictures and added links to matching or similar items from the place I bought it from. Also try camera reviews, if you think you produce HQ photographs, tell everyone about it, I'm sure there would be someone wondering how you get such great images. 

6. Your favourite apps

Show readers how you edit your pictures, include screenshots or maybe a video on how you use the apps. Demonstrate what features the app has, show before and after images. This one may take a little longer if you choose to go all out, but you can make this post as detailed or brief as you like. I think people are always interested in how people edit their pictures, so I'm sure this would be a big hit if you're stuck on what to post next. 

7. Wishlist

A major cop out but a really easy post to throw together in a couple of minutes. You don't even need to take any pictures! Have a browse on some clothes websites, decor stores or even holiday sites, screen shot or save the image and slap it right into your blog post with a big 'I WANT'! I am a bit dismissive with this sort of post, but if you have an active readership, it could be quite helpful to someone who is looking for something - you may just introduce them to the right place. This could also work for a gift guide. If you don't want to disturb the look of your blog with someone else's images, next time you go shopping take some pictures of things you like and put them in the post instead. 

8. Outfit post without the fit

Again, if you're looking for a relatively quick way to update your blog but don't want to be bothered with dressing up, putting your best makeup on etc, then grab your outfit selections and lay them out on the floor instead. I like to use some marble or white wood effect vinyl just spread on the floor as my backdrop for this. You can get it from Wilko or Amazon or eBay for about £5. You could lay the clothes out properly or neatly fold them. Since getting some of those copper hangers from Primark, it looks nice to hang outfits from those on a rail or off the top of a wardrobe. Easy!

9. Bedroom/home tour 

This is a super easy one because the things you're going to be picturing are already set up! Literally just go around whatever room and take some close up snaps of any sweet little trinkets and ornaments as well as a wide angle view of the whole room. I recently did this with my bedroom and it worked well for a quick and easy post. If you don't want to do it on your own house, check out a furniture shop like Next or Dunelm and take some photos of how they have set out their home products for some inspo.

10. Vent about an issue

I'm doing a masters course and I've come across a subject I'm really interested in about how social media actually makes us unhappy (ironic, I know), so I'm going to take a few sections out of my recent essay on this matter and post onto here as I think it is really interesting. Maybe think about what interests you, perhaps a news story has recently sparked your attention or something you've experienced at work or school that you thought was or wasn't fair or good. Just type it into Google and do a little research, no need to go deep into the scholary sites like I have to with uni, but have a look at a couple articles and put together your own article, venting your own opinions or frustrations with whatever you've chosen. I think it is all too easy to post about the latest foundation, your newest skirt, where you're off to on holiday. Just have a go at talking about something a little less materialistic and see what happens. 

I think the key to blogging is producing high quality content, so by no means do these suggestions suggest to get any old crap out there just to make a post. There are ways in which you can create a good looking, well informative blog post without having to put in a whole day's worth of effort - not all of us are full time bloggers. Hopefully these suggestions on what to post when you're super stuck will help inspire you to post something great with ease. 

What is your go-to post when you have the dreaded blogger's block?

Do you have any more suggestions?

 

Up until recently my bedroom has always had a shabby chic, french theme with lots of creams and rich golds. I've loved this look as it is really simple to find items that suit my room such as my dressing table from Melody Mansion. The subtle, clean look also makes the room look bigger and less cluttered. 

However, recently I've been given several bits of pale or blush pink items for Christmas etc and they've just been too pretty to not use! Blush pinks are super in right now, again making it really easy to spot different pieces for the home in this colour. Along with Instagram and Pinterest, I've been inspired to add a few tonal blush and pale pinks to my white and gold theme and I really wanna share these with you. I love pink, I think my bedroom has been screaming out for a pop of colour for ages now and these pale tones are the perfect accompaniment without looking messy. 

Fluffy Blush Tonal Cushion / Primark / £8

Unicorn / Tiger / £6-9?

Blush Contrast Cushion with Gold Stripe / H&M Home / £6.99

Gold Sequin Cushion / Primark / £5?

'Lets Move to Paris' Cushion / The Paris Hotel, Las Vegas!

White 'J'adore Paris' Cushion / Primark / £6?

'Dream Big' Pink and White Cushion / The Card Factory 

Gold Throw / Primark or Next do similar

Blush Pink 'Throw' / H&M / £12 

Tip: This is actually a very large scarf from H&M. Some throws are so expensive whereas this oversized scarf does the job for a fraction of the price! Have a look for scarfs to use as throws! 

Large Blush Pink Continental Cushions / Matalan / £12 each

Plain White Bedding with Embroidery Detail / Primark or Matalan / £12-25

What colour is your bedroom?

I walk through Primark every time I go to work so I've been itching to have a look around and especially since lots of bloggers have been boasting of their amazing finds in there lately. So I'm gonna join the club and share my finds with you all now! My total spend came to around £50 which I think is bloody good because I got pretty much everything I wanted. I was careful not to impulse buy and actually went in looking for certain pieces, which I'm proud of haha. All prices are listed at the bottom of the post and I bought these just this week on the 30th to give you an idea if you can still get these. Enjoy!

I'll start by mentioning the make up brush thing. I don't know what they are actually called, but they seem super popular at the moment. I have the larger one from Primark and omg it is amazing! I thought my RT blending sponge was a god send but I feel the brushes may actually top it. I hate how the sponge gets saturated with product, yuck. Anyway, I loved the larger one so much I wanted a smaller one to get around my nose and eyes. I have lash extensions so the bigger brush kind of got in the way of them. I was surprised to find Primark did more than one size, I think they do about three, so this will make applying foundation a whole lot easier for me. 

I spotted these little delights for the first time. They're lip crayons and come in three metallic colours - gold, rose gold and brown. I'm definitely going to be going back for the brown as I am in love with these, I can't believe they are from Primark! The rose is a beautiful colour, it is really flattering, my best friend got it as well and I think it looked flattering on her too, so I'm sure it would suit a lot of people. They also feel very moisturising and not at all drying. I like the gold to go on top of other lipsticks to add a metallic shine. I think both of these would be great for using as eyeshadows as well. 

I've seen a lot of Instagram people with these aviator style prescription glasses, so I wanted to see what I'd look like in them so picked these up for a couple quid just to try. I think with the right make up these look really cool. I have a voucher for Specsavers, even though I just got new glasses, so I may see what glasses they have so I can put my actual prescription in them. A great buy if you just wanna mess around with selfies and stuff. 

I've been after a big bottle like this to take to work for ages now and I just haven't found one that really grabbed me, I know it isn't the most important issue in the world, but I just wanted a nice one haha. So when I saw this Beauty and the Beast one, I knew I needed it, it just made me laugh so much. I love a good pun. 

I've never really worn chokers before but this grey velvet effect one caught my eye. I think it is a little more subtle than starting with a black one as I'm not used to them yet. The lace detailing is really pretty too, I think it could make a plain jumper or top a little more special and a modern alternative to a necklace. 

I'm really loving sweatshirts at the moment. I think they're great for layering to create a smarter look or just for being cosy in. By sweater I mean this kind of smooth, fine knit material, not a knitted jumper. I know loungewear is really popular at the moment and this is my nod towards that. I'm loving grey and the white detailing and I like that it mentions New York because that is one of my most favourite places on earth. I don't like buying slogan clothing just for the sake of it, slogans like "I woke up like this" or "so-in-so goals" just repulse me haha! Also, when did Primark start doing size 4s? This is great.

I've seen this jumper around Instagram as well and I'm surprised I actually managed to find it in my local Primark in Plymouth. It is very similar to a jumper I wanted from TopShop that had unfortunately sold out, so this is what initially attracted me to this jumper. Again, I just love the pastel pink, I am so glad this colour is so hot right now as I've always loved pastel pinks. The material of this jumper is kind of weird, I don't know how to describe it, sort of a very fine, slightly rough fleece material. I think it may go bobbly and out of shape quickly but we shall see. 

I've been after a pinafore for so, so long and this one is almost exactly what I've been after! I actually wanted a pinafore short dress so I could wear it with tights while it is still chilly but this one is more of a wide leg jumpsuit and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The leg length is sort of three quarters, which is lovely but I think it will be a bit too cold to wear without tights as your ankles are gonna be exposed, and I think it would look odd with tights. So I'm not overly sure about the length of it, I may need to take it up. But, how gorgeous the top section will look with shirts, jumpers, sweats! I've paired it here with the two tops I mentioned before and I'm loving it. It is just a shame about the length not being exactly what I wanted. 

Prices / All Primark

Small makeup brush / £2.50

Metallic lip crayons / £2 each

Gold aviator glasses / £2

Beast Mode bottle / £4

Bow choker / £2

Grey sweatshirt / £5

Frill neck jumper / £8

Pink check jumper / £12

Pinafore culottes / £15

1. Nude Lace Embroidered Bodycon Dress / Missguided / £45

This is probably one of my favourite dresses that I ordered. I like it because it still shows your arms, without feeling the chill. The embroidery detail is gorgeous too and a really popular trend lately, it seems to be on everything. I'm not sure if the pictures fully pick up the colours, but the dress itself is a neutral cream colour with beautiful champagne thread - love this little touch.  I think the length is good with this one, I don't like dresses to come below or on the knee because I think it makes me look short - something I don't need since I already look about 14 years old!! The only downside is that the silky lining in the skirt doesn't stay in place very well, it could do with a few more stitches to stop it shifting around when you move. Overall, the dress is beautifully elegant and perfect for seasonal parties and occasions. 

Similar here or here

2. Pink Bandage Contrast Long Sleeve Bodycon / Missguided / £25

This dress is a really odd material, very thick and well structured so it is good for keeping you warm and its gonna hide any lumps and bumps, creating a beautiful silhouette. The striped panels are even more elongating and the blush pink and purples are hot colours at the moment. Something, I think is going to be sticking around for a while. Again, it is a nice length and think a ring necklace would make this outfit. Excuse my hair in these shots, slightly gross and needing a wash!  

3. Luxury Malina Grey Pleated Tie Back Top / Pink Boutique / £28
Luxury Taina Grey Pleated Wide Leg Trousers / Pink Boutique / £32

I love this two piece so much! Anything pleated, give me right now! This does stray from my no skin rule, and therefore I think this is more of a summer outfit, but I just love it. I really wish Pink Boutique did smaller sizes as this is an 8 and is too big for me in all honesty. The leg length is also very long, even with 6 inch heels you'd need to take the bottoms up. It is a very baggy look, so I think the size is okay, especially for feeling cooler in summer. The back of the top is exposed, a tie simply doing up at the back, so there really is a lot of skin bared with this piece. It also comes in blush pink which is what I really wanted but my size wasn't in stock and an electric blue.

4. Addiction Gold Sheer Embroidered Crop Top / Pink Boutique / £19
Flirtation Gold Embroidered Mini Skirt / Pink Boutique / £25

I love this little set! Very similar to the first dress with the champagne embroidery and netting but also has the same shifting around of the skirt lining which is a bit annoying. I think the lining could do with being a bit longer. I think this is a cute outfit for nights out all year round. It could even be separated to go with other pieces. Pink Boutique also do a halter neck top and also a black version, have a look at their 'two piece' section for all of the variations of this piece.



5. Versacia Nude Lace Bardot Mini Dress / Pink Boutique / £35

This is a really cute dress for a special occasion, I think like a wedding or something. As I said I don't really go much on longer dresses but I surprisingly like this one. I think the mesh below the min thigh makes the difference because it isn't solid material, you can still see my legs. The colour is a very pale pink/nude which is really soft and I think would look lush with a bit of tan. The lace detail all over it is very soft and can easily pull so I'm gonna have to be careful with that. I like the V neck line, I feel most dresses that have a V tend to fall so low down, it is just no good for my little boobs. This one is the perfect V that I can get away with, I can even choose between wearing a bra or not.




6. Lovefool Blush Bardot Frill 3/4 Sleeve Mini Dress / Pink Boutique / £25

I think this is a really good, simple dress for the odd night out or social gathering when you don't know what to wear. I love the blush pink colour and the material doesn't feel cheap and nasty. Frills are big this year and I love the exaggerated frill detail here. It's great that it is a bardot, a really flattering cut, but also allows you to cover up the top of your arms with the big frills - a good transition from winter to spring I feel. Again, PB don't do smaller sizes in this style so it is a little big for me, the sleeves are elastic but don't feel tight enough to hold them where I want them to sit. The bardot sleeves do tend to fall down with movement which is a shame. Overall, I think everyone needs a simple dress like this in their wardrobe, it is an easy way to get a bit of fashionable frill into your closet without going overboard.

So that's my roundup of 6 pieces I would wear to a party of occasion this side of Christmas. Some of these picks can even take you into spring/summer too which I think is a great investment and money saver. I'm especially loving two piece sets as you can really mix them up to create different looks. I'd not heard of Pink Boutique until quite recently, they have some really lovely pieces on there at reasonable prices so I urge anyone to take a look there if you're stuck for inspo. Hot looks for the coming months are definitely frills and blush tones and I think pleats are gonna carry on through as well.