Tropic Lip Fudge

I’m always a sucker for a new lip balm and finding the most moisturising and nourishing one I possibly can. If you’re an original follower of my blog, then you may well remember this. Over the years I have tried and tested many, and there are a few old reviews of some I’ve previously tried and loved. However, the search has never subsided and I’ve continued to look for the right one. 

This particular one basically fell into my path as it was a present from someone I knew at work. It’s branded as a ‘lip plumping’ balm which initially put me off and to be totally honest with you, it sat in my drawer for probably a good month. I finally decided to get it out and give it a whirl and boy am I glad I did! It’s super moisturising and seems to have very small exfoliating beads in to help keep your lips super soft. It’s a lovely scent a mix between a bit fruity but also a slight hint of minty fresh (it sounds a bazaar combo which I’m definitely not describing well, but trust me it works). I mainly use this product before going to bed, as that’s when I find my lips getting particularly dry, and it keeps them nourished all the way until morning. Then if my lips feel particularly dry during the day, I’ll reach for this lip balm too. It’s simply just the perfect all rounder and I would definitely recommend this to anyone on the same search as I am! 

Latest Lockdown Reads

Obviously I have continued to read masses of books during lockdown and now my ‘read’ pile is forever growing, I thought it best that I share the latest ones with you. I simply cannot wait until I can get back into some charity shops and purchase some new books to read!

Landline by Rainbow Rowell 

This was a quick read for me and personally not one of my favourites, I think it’s more of a teen book but still a good storyline nonetheless. A lovely read if you’re a little bit younger, want something easy that you can get into quickly and not too bulky. Good length chapters and well written, it is a good book just not my personal cup of tea.

Never Greener by Ruth Jones

I loved this book! Another really easy to read book with again good length chapters. It’s really well written and is a romantic novel, again not my usual genre. However, this one seemed more based at my age group therefore I enjoyed it a lot more. Definitely keeping my eyes peeled for Ruth Jones next book out later this year.

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry 

My favourite genre.. it took me a few more chapters than usual to get into the storyline however, thoroughly enjoyed it when I did. A good couple of twists in there to keep you reading and definitely some tense, thriller moments. 

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter 

First thing about this book was the super long chapters, which I personally don’t like! But it was a very gripping storyline, you simply just didn’t know what was going to happen next or where the book was going to take you. 

ASOS Wishlist

Sandals - here

Shirt dress - here

Mom jean - here

Sweatshirt - here

Bardot dress - here

Leggings - here

I don’t know about you, but recently I’ve been finding myself scrolling through the new in sections of many fashion websites.. it must be all this free time I have! The one site I’ve found myself most drawn to is Asos. I have the Asos app on my iPad and have just found myself clicking on it daily to search through the new fashion pieces/styles, especially with this lovely weather we’ve been having in the U.K. 

So because of this obsession I seem to have taken up, I thought I would share a few pieces with you that I’ve put into my saved items. Firstly, the Nevada Sweatshirt is just the perfect piece for lockdown as it looks super comfy and would look great oversized with some cycling shorts. I’m not super tall but I do find that I can’t get away with normal mini dresses, without flashing something, so for this style dress I usually opt from the tall range. This Bardot denim look one is exactly that but from New Look on Asos. I’m not sure how white it would stay on me but is such an easy outfit with some summer sandals and crossbody bag. Now I’ve just said white things may not stay white on me, and I’ve saved some white mom jeans! But I’ve seen so many people style these with a simple tee, tucked in with a belt and either sandals or trainers and I’m all about the simple fashion so had to include them. 

Another dress from the tall section is this shirt style which I loved because of the tie waist which you’d be able to cinch in, a feature I personally love. Again another super simple outfit paired with sandals or trainers. I keep mentioning sandals so I had to feature a pair and boy are these a good looking pair. They’re simple and chunky and black goes with everything. I have the heart eyed emoji all over these sandals! Finally, with it being lockdown, I have actually been finding the time to do some home workouts in my living room, but I definitely don’t have the gear. I found these gym leggings and loved the elephant grey colour of them. These are super affordable too!

That’s my current saved wish list on Asos, let me know your Spring/Summer staples and please tell me I’m not the only one scrolling through new in! I’ve actually done an Asos haul, awaiting delivery, so head on over to my Instagram to find out what I picked up @simplyjustnatalie 

Currently Pinning: House Renovations

Since lockdown I’ve found myself rediscovering platforms that I’d kind of put to one side and left abandoned. I mean the main one was actually my blog, which is slowly getting back into motion, but another platform that I used to use all the time was Pinterest. I used to pin a bit of everything and could spend long periods of time scrolling through the website, not even narrowing my search but still finding inspiration and ideas that I loved. This being one of the highlights of the site, from what you’ve previously pinned it narrows searches down to things you may be interested in (yes I know that’s not new news to most of you!). However, since moving into our ‘granny bungalow’ as we refer to our home to nicely, I’ve been pinning the odd bits here and there. Now, in lockdown, I’ve been doing it a lot more and not just home decor. Although, I am planning on showing you some of our bungalow renovations in future posts because calling it a ‘granny bungalow’ is being kind... we used to call it the ‘sh*t hole’!

However, if you’re not on Pinterest and are looking for something to keep you occupied during lockdown, definitely look into signing up to it! It will keep you entertained and make you want to try new hacks, diy your furniture and buy new fashion trends.
If you wish to follow me and have a look at what I’ve been currently pinning then you can use the widget on the side of my blog >>>> or my username is: natalieellis23

Hair favourites

I thought this post would follow on quite nicely from my previous one, reviewing the Babyliss air styler, so I thought I would share my two current hair staples. I’m sure I’m not the only one when I say that during lockdown I haven’t been making the most effort with my fashion choices or beauty regime. However, there are a couple of products that I’ve continued to use throughout and I will be sharing these with you. So I thought I would star with hair care products today.

First is the Schwarzkopf got2be detangling spray which I purchased from Boots a couple of months ago. Now I am always after a detangling spray simply because my hair is so thick, it just gets so tangled. I often find it hard to locate a detangling spray, there never seems to be many out there, so when I saw this one I snapped it up. I simply spray this on damp hair and then use my tangle teezer to work all of the knots out of my hair, and it works a treat! This product is super affordable and usually hair brands, like this one, can be found on offer. Definitely a product I use every time I wash my hair therefore a firm staple for me.

Secondly is this Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo in Bloom from Sainsbury’s. Firstly I must say this smells incredible! Not floral, as the name would suggest, just fresh and super lovely. Not only does this smell amazing, it does a great job at putting washing your hair off for that extra day. It leaves a little bit of white residue but it easily massages into the hair, and then you’re ready to go. This product is super affordable and I believe I only paid a bargain £1.50 for it! If you’re looking at trying a new dry shampoo or your current one is nearing the end, I highly recommend giving this one a whirl.

Babyliss Smooth Dry Airstyler

I brought this product on a bit of a whim a couple of months back as I saw it on offer in the supermarket. I had always wanted to give one a go but always thought they wouldn’t really work on my super thick hair. However, I was intrigued and used some of my built up Nectar points to buy it. I’ve been using this instead of my normal hair dryer ever since and have not looked back! I never used my hair dryer that often, usually more in the winter then letting it air dry in the summer months. When using this I try to let it air dry a little more than I would, if I was going to use my normal hair dryer, as this requires a bit more precision. I then tend to split my hair in half down the back and then use one of the clips pictured to further section each half of my hair. This is also when I cover my hair in a heat protector, my current one being from VO5. It’s super simple to use, I just hold the brush with the prongs facing upwards and slowly move it down the lengths of my hair. If anything, I would say it takes a little longer to dry my hair using this but the results are so much better. My hair is practically straight afterwards and I would normally tend to loosely tie it in a low ponytail overnight. It may need little touch ups in the morning if I want to wear my hair down but it’s perfectly fine to leave if I want to style it into a low pony or bun. Overall I’m super impressed with this hair tool and would highly recommend it! Like I said it takes slightly longer but in the long run, it saves time as you don’t always need to then use your hair straighteners afterwards. This tool is also super affordable so if you’re looking into getting something like this, then definitely take a look at this one!

Bedside Must Haves

I’m a sucker for a routine, especially at night time. I just find that it helps me sleep that little bit better, as most nights I struggle getting to sleep and rarely manage a lay in past 7am! There are 3 key products that seem to work for me, so I thought I would share those with you today.

First up is the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil which is a re-purchase for me, which says it all really. I previously had the raspberry one and absolutely loved it! This one is the blackberry which I’m not as keen on, only reason being that it kind of tints your lips slightly, whereas with the raspberry one it was transparent (which I personally preferred). However, it is still the same product and works wonders on my lips overnight. If I don’t use this I find myself waking in the morning with slightly shrivelled lips shall we say, but using this product is a game changer. It’s not sticky, it doesn’t feel heavy as if you’ve got an oil on your lips and is simply comfy as the product states.

Next I always use Bach Rescue Night Drops every night. As I mentioned, I struggle to fall asleep and find after using these they just ease my mind slightly enabling me naturally fall asleep that little bit easier. They contain natural ingredients which ease a restless mind, irritability and help switch off repetitive thoughts. You simply just drop a few drops on the back of your tongue and you’re done, they taste pretty good too! It’s got to the point where if I don’t use these, then I really struggle to sleep. Hence why they sit right next to my bed!

Finally is the Clean Beauty Pillow Mist in the scent Lavender and Vanilla. If I’m being honest I will use any lavender pillow spray I can get my hands on, again I’m addicted to these. This one in particular has to be my favourite I’ve ever used! I’m a sucker for a vanilla scent, so adding that to lavender is just bliss. I simply give my pillow a few sprays before slumping my head down onto it. Using this alongside the Bach Rescue Night Drops is just perfect for me and just become my every night routine, that I cannot live without.

Reading my way through isolation

I couldn’t not re-start my blog with a book review... or 3. This isolation is making me read even faster than I usually do, which I am NOT complaining about. Just slightly worrying about how many new books I am going to buy during this unknown period *place your bets now*. Anyway lets get started, these are the 3 last books I have read so I thought I would share my thoughts on them with you.

Cilka’s Journey
A MUST read if you have read ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ they are both like no other book I have read before, and I think I’m going to struggle to explain. I will start by saying that I’ve never really been into history that much however, my partner is and I hear snippets of info here and there when he tries to ignite my interest in certain historic periods. After reading the first book, I asked for this one for Valentine’s Day and read it super quick. It’s harrowing what happened and the way the Author, Heather Morris, portrays this is amazing. I was gripped. Whilst reading, I did sometimes forget that this was real. Then I really thought about it and that’s when it really made me think. Overall this book is so good and I highly recommend it to anyone. I would suggest reading ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ first though!

The Secret
A charity shop find, where I try to get most of my books, and without realising an Author I have read before. It’s a police detective storyline that is so thrilling you can’t help but just keep on turning the pages. The Author, Katerina  Diamond, writes twists like no other and you literally do not know what is about to come around the corner. As I mentioned, I have read another book by her before and I believe it may be a mini series? I remembered the characters however, I don’t think I read it in an order and although it may have helped it definitely didn’t matter.

The Prison Doctor
Recommended to me and when ordering a few bits off Amazon, it just happened to fall into my basket. A similar-ish book/layout to the doctor book by Adam Kay, but set in a prison. The Author Dr Amanda Brown takes you with her through the various prisons she works in, as a doctor. Reliving the highs and the lows of what the job entails, and how she copes/manages. It is very detailed and opened my eyes to the goings on ‘inside’. For me, this book didn’t grip me as much and I found myself ‘just reading’ it (if you know what I mean).

Come back?

I’m not sure this is the greatest time ever, to try and make a blog come back, but nevertheless here I am. I will continue to ask myself that if I don’t do it now, when will I do it? Or will I ever do it? I’ve been thinking about starting my blog up again for the past few weeks. Previously, I never really made a decision to stop blogging, it just kind of happened naturally. Therefore there was always a part of me that wanted to come back to it and start afresh. So here I am, with all the time in the world currently, and hopefully some fresh new ideas for any of you who may wish to read. I’ve never stopped reading my personal favourite blogs and follow these on different forms of social media. You could even say it’s these people who have inspired me to come back and give this blog another kick up the back side. So let me give this a go and just see what happens. As I mentioned, I am not currently working (some work is being done from home) due to the current worldwide situation. I’m not going to pressure myself with scheduled posts and just write a blog post when it feels right, when I have content or when I wish to share something with you all. The content presented in the coming weeks may be slightly different to what you were used too, if you’ve been here before. However, my interests haven’t changed so it may seem no different.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming content on my blog and continue sharing my passion for my little part of the internet. I also hope you are all staying safe within your own homes as much as you can. I cannot wait to get started again!
Speak to you all soon, Natalie :-) x